• By | Green – Tue, Apr 5, 2011 4:49 PM EDT

    By Carol Bengle Gilbert, Yahoo! Contributor Network

    If your family is like the typical American family, you produce about 1,600 pounds of trash per year, or 4.6 pounds per person per day.

    Those figures are enough to make most of us cringe. We can pat ourselves on the back for our recycling efforts- reclaiming about one-third of what would otherwise go to the landfill--but what about the other two-thirds?

    Here are some tips to help you cut down on the amount of trash your family sends to the landfill:

    Recycle Scrupulously

    With curb-side recycling, it's easier to recycle than without. But even those of us with handy recycling options sometimes get lazy. The plastic jar full of goo, food scraps, and items we aren't sure are recyclable add up faster than we think.

    EPA's Resource Conservation Challenge encourages us to reduce waste to zero. It's a tough challenge, but we can start by recognizing where our recycling efforts need improvement. About 35 percent of municipal

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  • How long should I keep spices?

    By | Green – Mon, Apr 4, 2011 11:58 PM EDT

    By Matt Hickman, Mother Nature Network(Photo: Roadsidepictures/Flickr)(Photo: Roadsidepictures/Flickr)
     More from Guest Bloggers blog

    Q: I'm gearing up for a big spring cleaning session with my sights set on an area I've been avoiding: the spice cabinet. My teenage son has started to call me the "spice hoarder," and my husband won't even get near the cabinet.

    The thing is, I've never known when it's appropriate to throw spices away. I'm not clear on the shelf life, so I keep 'em around. Have any clue as to when is a good time to chuck them?

    A: Growing up, I recall the spice cabinet being, well, overwhelming. I'm pretty sure there were a couple bottles of something or other in there that were certified antiques, pre-dating the Carter administration. And that ground allspice? I think the sell-by date was 40 A.D.

    The shelf life of spices varies, and you never really need to worry about them going "bad" like other foods do. For example, a bottle of curry powder that's been around a questionable amount of time probably won't make you sick … it

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  • better plastics bioplastics biodegradable recyclingbetter plastics bioplastics biodegradable recycling

    Visit the original source at One Green Planet

    In an age where sustainability and eco-friendliness is more than just a fad, and has become a real necessity, the search for better plastics always have been a thorny issue. Plastics are known as tough, durable and versatile materials for wide range of applications. Ironically, these same characteristics make them so hard to dispose when we don't need them any longer. Disposed plastics don't mix well with other materials, which make them a common cause of pollution. In addition, the fact that traditional plastics are synthetically made from non-renewable petroleum also doesn't help their case. Thus, an emerging demand for sustainable and eco-friendly plastics is underway.

    Generally speaking, eco-friendly plastics can be categorized into bioplastics, biodegradable plastics and recycled plastics. Out of these three, the bioplastics sector is already perceived to be the promising, yet gradual step towards sustainability.

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  • vegan lip balmsvegan lip balms

    Visit the original source at One Green Planet

    As March ducks out and we welcome beautiful, bountiful blossoms and butterflies, it's important to keep our lips lubed and kissably soft year-round. Whether you're a die-hard lip balm addict, a nighttime user, or a chap lipped lassie lookin' for immediate relief, know that there are lots of fabulous vegan-friendly lip balm brands and flavors to choose from. No animals were harmed or used in the making of these lip balms.

    Some of the best of the best include:

    1. Crazy Rumors: These lip balms are 100% vegan and come in a variety of fun and tasty flavors: Fresh Squeezed, A La Mode, Brew, Perk, Gumball, Soda Pop and Candy Cane - YUM! They have the perfect consistency-not oily, lumpy or sticky and they are packed with moisturizing ingredients like jojoba oil, organic shea butter, extra virgin olive oil and Vitamin E. They are also naturally sweetened with Stevia. Enjoy life's simplicities sans the guilt: Coffee Bean without

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  • Another birthday's coming up. Some special occasion. Or your preschooler just seems to be outgrowing too many of his toys -- too fast! You walk into the toy store, full of excitement. What's more fun than choosing a toy for a child? You scan, scan, scan the displays.

    Thought bubble: Will this toy bring joy? Will my child learn from it? Will it last? Will it get lots of play time for a long time, or wind up in the forgotten-toys-basket? Will I find it scattered across the floor in a million pieces every night and curse the day I bought it? Oh yes, and might it expose my child to toxic chemicals, and did its manufacture contribute to the impending demise of our planet?

    Time to take a breath, step out of the store, and have a look at some of these lovely web sites offering eco-friendly toys that are just as smart and fun and charming as we could wish.

    Thought bubble: Being savvy and being green? Easy peasy!

    Oompa Toys - A superb web site with hundreds of European and

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  • The kitchen is the heart of the home, and going greener has many benefits for you and your family.

    by Dan Shapley

    1. Do: Use Your Kitchen
    The first step toward a healthier and more Earth-friendly diet is to cook. It's that simple. Eat in, make your own food and start using fresh ingredients.

    2. Do: Make Room for Vegetables
    A good rule of thumb is to stock bulk grains and legumes, and flavor with fresh seasonal vegetables. Whether you're following the new government recommendation to fill half your plate with vegetables at every meal, or author Michael Pollan's mantra to "eat food, not too much, mostly plants" you'll need to make room for fruits and vegetables in your kitchen. In your fridge, that means using your crisper drawers properly to maximize the longevity of your produce (vegetables require higher humidity conditions while fruits require lower humidity conditions) and in the freezer, it means maintaining space enough to freeze excess fresh seasonal produce when

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  • By Landscape Designer Wells Rawls for GalTime.com

    If you've been thinking of choosing your next landscape company based on your goals of eco-friendly practices, less pesticides, less costs, or all of those things, then you've probably seen certain marketing slogans in everything from phone book ads, to brochures and business cards. They read something like this:

    • "We're committed to the environment"
    • "We treat the planet like we treat our clients"
    • "Our commitment to the planet affects everything we do"

    So how do you know what that means? How does that translate into real world practices happening in your yard and home? Sustainability in landscape design and maintenance means using less energy, reducing carbon emissions, using less herbicides and pesticides, using less water, recycling whenever possible, and increasing native habitat. So, when your interviewing the next batch of landscapers, or you're going to build a new landscape, ask these ten questions to get a

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  • By Christine Lennon, Vogue magazine

    "I have some guidelines when it comes to clothes, or anything really," says Alicia Silverstone, celebrity authority on the vegan lifestyle. "First, I try to find it used so I'm not creating more waste. If I can't find it used, I'll make sure it's made with an eco material. If I can't find it in either of those categories, I'll buy something regular. But I rarely have to do that."

    Her no-waste philosophy is shared by Gregory Parkinson, who designed this dress made from recycled silk that's hand-colored with environmentally friendly, water-soluble dyes.

    Silverstone's book, The Kind Diet, is a New York Times best seller; her blog, thekindlife.com, has become a forum to discuss everything from Umeboshi plum vinegar to the best places to buy leather-free sneakers.

    In the meantime, she's found a comfortable balance as an actor, performing to rave reviews on Broadway (most recently in Donald Margulies's Time Stands Still) and finding small but

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  • By | Green – Wed, Mar 30, 2011 5:32 PM EDT

    By Lauren R., Yahoo! Contributor Network


    Planning a green baby shower doesn't have to be a big hassle as long as there's a good plan in place. The main objective is to accumulate as little waste as possible while still creating a beautifully decorated space that pleases the mom-to-be. With careful consideration and planning, all the aspects of the baby shower, from the invitations to the games, can be eco-friendly. It may take a little more effort to pull it off, but it can be worth it when everything comes together and little to no waste ends up in the trash.

    1. Use Eco-friendly Invitations

    Most baby shower invites get thrown in the garbage, so opt for a more eco-friendly way of informing guests of the green baby shower. One option is to send out e-vites, which allows guests to respond via the Internet. Another option is to send plantable seed paper invitations and envelopes. The paper is infused with seeds so after the guests are done with the envelopes and invitations, they

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  • 11 amazing camouflaged animals

    By | Green – Tue, Mar 29, 2011 9:16 PM EDT

    By Russell McLendon, Mother Nature Network Camouflage is an ancient art, likely not much younger than vision itself, and species around the planet depend on it daily for survival. Whether it's a gecko blending into bark, a jaguar fading into foliage or a Peringuey's viper sliding through sand, good

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