Random Stumbles - Earth Alive & A New Grid

First of all, I stumbled upon a website that if HALF of it is accurate, it is pretty stunning. Using statistical data, BreathingEarth.net, shows a live animated representation of births, deaths, and carbon emissions around the world.

Second interesting stumble is a story by Jonathan Leake, Science Editor of British newspaper, the Sunday Times. His recent story 'Coming Soon: Superfast Internet' is some serious food for thought. The implications are beyond my comprehension (the story suggests that it may be beyond the scientists who are working on it, so I don't feel entirely stupid). We aren't even finished exploring the capacity of the current Internet! There are some interesting comments on the story, but let us know what your thoughts are here too!

:)GD Meg

Sustainability Poll Results!

Thanks to all those who participated in the poll, What Aspect of Sustainability is Most Important to You? Here are the results:

1. Alternative Energy - 27%


2. Environmental Issues - 20%
   
3. Organic Food/Products - 20%


4. Buying Local - 10%


5. Socially Responsible/Green Biz - 6%
   
6. Climate Change - 3%


7. Eco-Home - 3%


8. Education - 3%


9. Sustainable Agriculture - 3%
   
10. Alternative Transportation - 0% (guess nobody cares about this one!)

If we didn't include an 'aspect' or you have something to add, please chime in!

Meanwhile, check out the new poll on Organic v. Local food . . .

:) GD Meg

Lovely Low-Carbon Wrapping Paper

Lovely Lokta is naturally died paper made from the Daphne or Lokta bushes that grow in the Himalayan mountains. And it IS lovely . . . but it also is made quite sustainably - no trees were harmed in the production of this paper!

Here's what makes it so groovy and green:

Lokta paper is handmade and sun dried, so there are no machines involved;

The bush grows quickly and actually needs agressive pruning or it would die, but the bush also helps stabalize the soil and protect rural Nepalese villages from mudslides during the monsoon season;

The bush grows in the shade, so commercial growth does NOT require any forests be cut down;

The bush grows happily without the use of chemicals;

The paper is colored with either azo-free dyes or organic dyes;

Sweet Organics & Naturals developed this paper and sent me some samples along with some very cool organically dyed twine. The paper is not only nice, it has a great consistency and appears to be strong without being too stiff or wierd. I'm definitely going to use it for all those great eco-gifts for all the showers and weddings coming up this Sping and Summer!

:)
Meg

Green TerraScope - from 3/21 - 3/28

by Jean Brookwell

The Green TerraScope is a refreshing twist on the traditional horoscope - an earth-based system using a combination of tarot, sun signs, and intuition.
As Jean says, "A green mind is a loving mind."


Aries (March 21 - April 19)
With the arrival of Spring, you experience a fresh, green mind. You will no longer be a helpless victim of pollution in your thoughts, or in your surroundings. You decide to change and improve by adopting positive thoughts and adding new green actions each day. A green mind is a loving mind.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
Cutting your ties to poisonous thoughts is as important as ridding your home and work place of chemical cleaning products. Your health and prosperity depend upon it! By purifying your thoughts from negativity, you contribute to the greening of both your mind and by extension your finances.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)
The green you are saving this Spring is your money. Watch your thoughts and emotions when finances are mentioned. It takes great strength to ignore outside negativity and fiscal fears. As you begin to pay attention to strengths and ignore polluting negativity. A loving mind will emerge to benefit all.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)
Eckhart Tolle stated that, "Nonresistance is the key to the greatest power in the universe." How green is that!? You don't have to "do" anything; just observe your resistance. Think of the personal energy you will save in not battling the present, past, or future. A green mind is a loving mind.

Leo (July 23 - August 22)
The Leo old-fashioned adage, "use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without," is re-emerging as green power! As you employ this in your life, you become aware of your personal power, you are freed to go beyond possessions. You are revitalized by what you ARE.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22)
This is the time for you to put your green ideas into action. There is the strong probability of reaping financial gain from one or more of these ideas. Go within and use whatever you find to "turn straw into gold." It is green to save money and make money.

Libra (September 23 - October 22)
The greening of your life can be easily made with small adjustments. You are already living a light Spring green existence. You can increase this to a deep Summer green by taking small incremental steps. As you do this, you will find that your overall satisfaction with life will increase.

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)
As you sit amidst plenty and abundance, you fear it all slipping away. Abundance is an idea or concept first and then it becomes an actuality. It has been said that once the consciousness for abundance is established, it can always re-establish itself. You cannot lose by going green and Earth gains.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)
Gain in every area of your life is the theme this year. You will be successful if you go in the direction that YOU want to go in. This is not the time for you to surrender to the urgings of others. It is green to trust your inner promptings.


Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)
It takes courage and perseverance to remain committed in the face of slow improvement and frequent disappointments. Remember the tortoise. Slow and steady wins the race. There are times in both life and in the efforts to save the Earth that we have to be willing to work unceasingly, awaiting future results.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)
Change is what is happening because it is constant and inevitable. Making peace with change is the vital step to learning to love under all circumstances. The first small steps towards greening your life lead to love of yourself and your community. A green mind is a loving mind.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20)
Stop worrying about what DOESN'T work. You do what you do. Sometimes you look for quick results and failing to see them, drop or change your actions. Results are often the last thing to appear. Visible material change is the result of many, many small actions. Green means GO, continue.

Sleepless Stumble - Seriously Living in the Earth

I was having a sleepless night last week. After giving up the struggle for sleep at 3am, I came downstairs and decided I would sign up and try StumbleUpon.com. I was quite skeptical because it involved installing something new on my explorer toolbar. Be it the excessive quietude or the lack of anything on the 300+ channels on the tube, I went for it.

I LOVED IT!

Got really swept away and found some truly interesting things. Of course, I stumbled upon our own sites.

Here's my favorite stumble this week:


THIS is my hobbit DREAM house. I have always absolutely adored the idea of living in an earthen house like this! It must be the pixie in me . . .

This low-impact woodland home was built by a family in Wales, UK.

"It was built by myself and my father in law with help from passers by and visiting friends. 4 months after starting we were moved in and cosy. I estimate 1000-1500 man hours and £3000." (You'll have to do the conversion. Can't deal with math right now.)

A few features include:

Lime plaster on walls is breathable and low energy to manufacture (compared to cement)
Reclaimed (scrap) wood for floors and fittings
Anything you could possibly want is in a rubbish pile somewhere (windows, burner, plumbing, wiring...)
Woodburner for heating - renewable and locally plentiful
Flue goes through big stone/plaster lump to retain and slowly release heat
Fridge is cooled by air coming underground through foundations
Skylight in roof lets in natural feeling light
Solar panels for lighting, music and computing
Water by gravity from nearby spring
Compost toilet
Roof water collects in pond for garden etc.

I highly recommend you find your way to the website for this low-impact, earthen home to see actual plans, more pictures, and some wonderful descriptions of the process.

:)
GDMeg

A Good Green Read

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to
learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.
Douglas Adams

not a new book, but a classic in terms of relevance and delivery. i am still grieving the death of this oddly colorful and weirdly hysterically funny author. i resisted the last chance to see, a book douglas adams co-authored with mark carwardine - i couldn't imagine how he could handle the dreadfully serious topic of what is happening to some of the rarer species on the planet.

in reading this book, i came to realize that my greatest humorist inspiration was also an environmental activist.

mr. adams managed to convey an important story in that fabulous voice of his that inspires moments of hysterical laughter followed by a stunning desire to cry. he and mark stumble through this important piece of environmental journalism to help illustrate the sometimes catastrophic effects of the human impact on the natural world.

how could you not love a book that references bob dylan in a chapter title - 'leopard-skin pill box hat pg. 51'!

read it!

:)
meg

Pizza with Purpose

a couple of years ago, i had the pleasure of meeting george schenk, founder of american flatbread bakery. he is a man with a mission beyond making the most delicious organic, natural pizza. he handed me a handmade cookbook that was hand bound and done in handwriting - his own.

try one of the recipes, which we published in the mag, now found on our website! even the packaging has a story to tell - about artisan bread making, about organic goodness, and about the benefit of supporting your local farmers!

george is an avid localvore (eats locally produced food) and back in 2006 produced a wonderful act of civil disobedience through his chicken event.

their home-base is in the beautiful mad river valley in vermont, but they have hearth-side dining in three locations in vermont, one in virginia, and in order to be sustainable about their production, which is booming, they've opened a bakery in california to accommodate the stores that carry the pizzas in the west.

you can find the pizzas in many stores - go find one!

:) meg