Green

Today, reading and understanding labels on nearly anything can be a difficult task, especially when there's limited transparency, as is often the case with beef and poultry. Trying to decipher the difference between "Natural," "Natural and No Antibiotics Added," "Certified Organic," and "Grass-Fed" can become complicated, especially when price points, taste, and marbling come into play. And the pretty pictures of cows grazing in the meadows don't really help either.

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To learn more about grass-fed beef, we turned to Paul Alward, the President and CEO of Hudson Valley Harvest, which is a relatively new company that sells meat and produce from the Hudson Valley in New York. He defines grass-fed to mean cattle that have been raised on pasture and are fed only on hay and forage and never receive any grain. (Check out our definition cheat sheet below for information on the other types of beef.)

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By Sofie Sausser

You've probably heard the tip about putting dryer sheets in your vacuum or bottom of the trash can to keep things smelling fresh. You haven't? Well, it's true. And here are ten additional ways of fluffing up your abode with downy freshness (we always suggest using non-toxic dryer sheets!)

1. Dusting Use dryer sheets to dust blinds, fans or almost any surface. The anti static properties in the sheets will help repel the dust. They are easy to hold and you can dust your laundry room after folding the clothes. Don't forget to dust the TV and reduce static on the screen.

2. Reduce Static Cling Rub on your dress or stockings to keep your dress from riding up. You can also use them on your computer and TV screen. Even rub on your hair to prevent ecstatic flyaways.

3. Pets Rub a sheet on your wet dog to take away the "wet rug" smell after a swim or bath. Towel him or her dry first. You can remove pet hair from your clothes and furniture with them as well.

4. Fresh

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Whether you are new to gardening or old-hat, there are plenty of myths out there that need to be squelched. Here are 5 myths about gardening I've found from reputable sources online. Feel free to comment on them or pass them on to other friends and family members who might believe these myths.

5. Watering the lawn at night is better than watering it in the morning

A popular belief about watering the lawn is that it's best to water it at night so the grass has a longer time to absorb the moisture. In fact, allowing your lawn to remain in this moist, dark environment all night long enables fungal pathogens to thrive. It's best to water the lawn early in the morning so it has all day to dry out.

Green Living Tips for the Garden - Simple Ways to Save the Environment and Save Money

4. Plant tags are always accurate when it states the final size of a tree or shrub

Even dwarf varieties of trees have the potential to surpass what is supposed to be their top height at matu

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Even if you don't love gardening, digging in the dirt may be good for your health -- and it has nothing to do with a love of nature or the wonder of watching things grow. The secret may be in the dirt itself: A bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae that acts like an antidepressant once it gets into your system.

That's right. A living organism that acts like a mood-booster on the human brain, increasing serotonin and norepinephrine levels and making people feel happier. It was accidentally discovered about 10 years ago, when Dr. Mary O'Brien, an oncologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, tried an experimental treatment for lung cancer. She inoculated patients with killed M. vaccae, expecting the bacteria -- which is related to ones that cause tuberculosis and leprosy -- to boost their immune system. It did that, The Economist reported in 2007, but it also improved her patients' "emotional health, vitality, and general cognitive function." Later experiments with mice confirmed

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by Toni Salter

For a variety of reasons, people are cooking meals at home more often and there are now television networks devoted entirely to cooking shows.

Celebrity chefs are turning out wonderful meals in 30 minutes, while basic home cooks are serving up 3 course gastronomic delights under the sometimes grueling and stressful conditions of TV challenges.

While we at home may follow every step and the dishes may look great, oftentimes the challenges are won or lost on the taste test.

Our dish may look the same, however when it comes to taste, what makes one dish better than the other? It is true that individual taste is subjective and much of the population has diluted their palette with too much fat and sugar to really appreciate subtleties.

There is one thing that most chefs agree on, that they overwhelmingly prefer organic produce to that which is conventionally grown. Chefs prefer organically grown ingredients, not so much for environmental or moral

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