If you’re looking for a way to reduce your carbon footprint, consider unplugging, recycling or simply not buying any number of electronic and battery-operated gadgets. Since so many gadgets are already fully integrated into our lives, (think Blackberries, iPod docking stations and speakers, and wireless mice), manufacturers are starting to develop eco-friendly gadgets that can help us all stay connected while lowering our global and individual carbon footprints.

Some eco-friendly gadgets are solar powered, wind powered, or powered using kinetic energy. Gadgets are also being developed with more efficient processors, longer battery lives (which reduces the time needed to plug in and power up), and increased durability (for longer lives). When making your purchasing decisions however, keep in mind that the greenest route is also the one that doesn’t involve your actually buying anything! While green gadgets are an excellent step towards lower carbon emissions, you make the most impact when you choose not to make that purchase at all.

There will always be a need for certain gadgets, so make sure you choose wisely when you’re ready to make your purchase. Try to stay clear of totally useless or unnecessary consumer goods. Do you really need a Canine Treadmill? Will your life be that much more complete with a Cooper Cooler to chill your beverages on the spot, or are there other appliances in your life that can take care of that job? And honestly, how many crimping irons, curling irons, hair dryers and other power-hungry hair gadgets does one really need? The same holds true for the number of televisions, cable boxes, video game consoles, DVD/Blu-ray players, cell phones, MP3 players, blenders, and bread ovens in a given house – do you really need all that you have?

Next time you’re thinking about buying a new gadget, first consider whether you really need it or if you simply want it before making your purchase. If it turns out to be one of those gadgets you just can’t live without, make sure you buy green when you can, unplug it when it’s not in use, and use recycle the packaging materials if possible. To learn more about the impact your gadgets have on the environment, check out these recent articles:

Today’s New Gadget Gift Could be Tomorrow’s eWaste by Jordana Huber in Canada.com.

Home Electronics Significantly Impact Electricity Costs and Carbon Footprint by Dave Lewis of National Semiconductor on Green Supply Lin.

Green Gadgets on Green Inc., the New York Times environmental blog.

Finally, check out green-focused media outlets, blogs and consumer goods companies before buying any new green gadgets. Companies like Popular Mechanics are good sources of information when you’re looking to buy any kind of electronics equipment. Their recent article, Top 4 Eco-Friendly Gadgets Coming This Year by Seth Porges profiles the best green gadget’s from this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.? TerraPass sells eco-friendly gadgets and chargers in their online store, and sites like EnviroGadget always have the latest news on eco-gadgets for people interested in cutting-edge consumer goods.

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It’s possible to stay true to your eco-beliefs this holiday season by giving gifts that aren’t actually things. Instead of buying clothes or books or electronics for your loved ones, consider investing in non-profit organizations that are working to preserve, conserve, and protect open spaces, watersheds, parks and wildlife habitats across America. By giving gift memberships, having trees planted in honor of your friends, or buying from merchants who give a percentage of their profits to environmental organizations, you positively impact the environment and stand up to consumerism and excess.

There are all kinds of organizations that are committed to protecting, preserving and restoring the wildlife, forests, open spaces and bodies of water in this country. Before buying your friends and family more stuff that they may or may not need, consider giving your money to one of these organizations and using your consumer power to do good now and throughout the coming year.

For Hikers: With a mission to the preservation and management of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail’s natural, scenic, historic, and cultural resources, a gift membership to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy helps provide primitive outdoor-recreation and educational opportunities for Trail visitors. Membership includes a subscription to A.T. Journeys: The Magazine of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, as well as discounts at the organization’s Trail Store and an Appalachian Trail Conservancy decal and patch.

For Bird Lovers: If you have loved ones who spend their weekends trekking through wetlands in search of elusive birds, a Gift Membership to the National Audubon Society might be the perfect gift this year. Having advocated for the preservation of natural habitats and wildlife for over a century, Audubon lobbies Congress to preserve and protect wildlife habitats, and restore already damaged ecosystems by building parks and wildlife preserves. Members receive a subscription to Audubon, the organization’s bi-monthly magazine, as well as access to Audubon sanctuaries and preserves around the country.

For Outdoor Enthusiasts: Founded in 1922 to save outdoor America for future generations, the Izaak Walton League is dedicated to restoring watersheds, reducing air pollution, protecting open spaces, and instilling conservation ethics in outdoor enthusiasts. Your gift of a Membership will help further clean air and energy campaigns, wilderness and public land protection programs, and efforts to save vulnerable watersheds and streams. The Izaak Walton League offers members discounts on publications and merchandise, and provides subscriptions to their quarterly publication, Outdoor America, to thank members for supporting the organization.

For Urban Adventurers: The Central Park Conservancy works to restore, preserve, and maintain Central Park as a beautiful place for leisure, recreation, and the appreciation of nature. If you’re looking for a unique way to support the organization’s objectives and beautify the city, you can purchase daffodil and tulip bulbs and have them planted in honor of those special people in your life.

For Boaters:The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is the only independent non-profit that is dedicated to saving and restoring the Bay and its tributaries, and has worked non-stop to “Save the Bay” for over 40 years. You can honor a loved one this holiday season by having a tree planted in the Bay’s watershed by donating $25 to the organization.

For Arborists: You can help protect the forests and ecosystems of America when you donate money to American Forests as this holiday season. The organization plants trees “in the right place, for the right reason,” and one tree is planted for every dollar you give. American Forests is a world leader in planting trees for environmental restoration, a pioneer in the science and practice of urban forestry, and a primary communicator of the benefits of trees and forests.

Happy Holidays!

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Image via Wikipedia

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I like the simplicity of Thanksgiving – that on this day you are meant to join together with friends and family, eat a large, lovingly prepared meal, and give thanks for all the blessings in your life.

I also know that Thanksgiving can be a stressful time for all kinds of reasons – vegans and vegetarians may have a hard time finding food that suits their philosophies (and often have to fight their families about their beliefs), people battling eating disorders are barraged with food at every turn, and those struggling to take charge of their diets (for health reasons, for philosophical reasons, for monetary reasons), are usually forced to give up control and eat what others have prepared.

If you’ve arranged your life around organic and locally produced foods, Thanksgiving might seem like the beginning of the end – it’s the official kick off of holiday parties, holiday food and holiday meals that are filled with foods you might otherwise never touch! While you may have to take a few deep breaths this season and eat what others have cooked, you don’t have to drop your efforts at organic if you’re making the meals. Small and family farmers all over the country raise organic turkeys under humane conditions. While you may have to place your orders early (most of the sites I saw listed November 21 as the cut-off date), you will be rewarded when a healthful, fresh, organic turkey arrives on your doorstep ready to cool.

Organic Turkey Farmers & Retailers

The Diestel Family Turkey Ranch raises Heidi’s Hens – Certified Organic Turkeys that are range grown on the family’s ranch in the Sierra Foothills, fed certified organic corn and soy, and blessed with the Certified Organic label by Oregon Tilth. Diestel Family Turkeys can be found in stores all over the US and in nationwide Whole Foods Markets.

Lobel’s Organic Free-Range Thanksgiving Turkeys are raised in an all-natural environment that is free of hormones and sub-therapeutic antibiotics. The turkeys are fattened up on a diet of certified organic grains, and arrive fresh (never frozen) on your doorstop on the day of your choice between November 21 and 25. Lobel’s turkeys are from 10-24 pounds, and range in price from $75-$140.

Organic Whole Young Turkeys from Organic Prairie are small birds (less than 14 pounds each) that are produced by an independent cooperative of organic family farms. According to their website, Organic Prairie farmers never use antibiotics, or synthetic hormones or pesticides in production, and for turkeys, organic management starts the first day out of the egg. You can purchase these birds through the website or find a store that sells the turkeys near you.

Tropical Traditions Pasteurized Turkeys are free-range turkeys that are raised on Cocofeed – an organic turkey-feed ration that contains no soy products and has been specially developed by Tropical Traditions for their turkeys. Tropical Traditions is a family farm in Wisconsin where they’re allowed to roam free on diversified farms practicing sustainable agriculture. Tropical Traditions turkeys cost from $75 – $140 and the are shipping now for receipt before Thanksgiving.

Willie Bird Organic Turkey from Williams-Sonoma are raised on natural grains and vegetable proteins and certified by the Oregon Tilth to be free of artificial pesticides and chemicals. These 10-18 pound birds are shipped overnight from Oregon and arrive at your home the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Orders can be accepted until noon on November 21, and cost from $72-$105.

You’ll obviously need more than organic turkeys to get you through the season, and while you might already have a whole list of organic and local food providers, it never hurts to connect with new famers or find farmers when you’re traveling. LocalHarvest is an organization committed to preserving the connection between farms and communities by providing information on small, locally-owned, and family farms. LocalHarvest maintains a Turkey Guide to help people find turkeys that have been raised under organic conditions on small-scale and family farms. Most of the turkeys in the LocalHarvest guide are certified organic and have been raised without the use of antibiotics or hormonees. You can also find information about all kinds of other foods through the LocalHarvest website, including all the fixens you’ll need for your holiday meals.

If you’re interested in learning more about organic and heritage turkeys, check out these resources:

Heritage, Organic & Wild Turkeys: Better Than Butterball? in The Nibble

How to Have an Organic Thanksgiving from iVilliage

Take the Local, Organic Thanksgiving Challenge! from The Green Fork

It’s come to my attention recently that I have not been entirely fair in presenting a selection of eco-friendly products that work for both men and women. Since writing for the Green Buy Guide, I’ve realized that, while it’s relatively easy to find interesting, hip, stylish eco-goods for the ladies, tracking down equally cool goods for guys is a little trickier.

In tracking down products for this publication, I’ve come across hundreds of eco-businesses owned by women who design cool, interesting and stylish clothes, shoes and accessories specifically for women. When it comes to finding similar products for men however, I often come up short. Perhaps it’s because women buy more clothes, shoes, and accessories than do men, thus creating a larger market for their wares. Regardless, I’ve decided I need to work harder and uncover more green goods for my male readers. In the spirit of my previous post, I thought I’d start by introducing eco-boots that guys can wear too.

Timberland has a reputation for making high-quality rugged shoes and boots that keep the wet and cold away from your feet without sacrificing comfort. And with the introduction of their Earthkeepers line of footwear, the company has stepped up their environmental stewardship and made a real commitment toward treading lightly on the Earth. Shoes with the Earthkeepers label are manufactured using recycled materials and must meet design criteria around recycled, organic and renewable content, solvent-free adhesives, and reduced climate impact.

The Earthkeepers label includes both work and dress boots that are eco-friendly, comfortable and generally waterproof as well. If you’re looking for heavy-duty workboots, you might like the Earthkeepers 6-inch brown waterproof leather boot. The boot lining and outsoles are made from recycled materials that wick moisture away thereby keeping your feet dry all day, and the soles are designed for all-day comfort. These light-weight boots retail for $160 and are available in black, dark brown and brown. If you’re in need of a dress boot, check out these Earthkeepers Leather Chukka boots. Worn under dress slacks, these ankle-high leather boots are also made from recycled materials, are entirely waterproof and retail for $140.?

If you’re in search of Friday night footwear that you can feel good about sporting, NOVASCAS offers stylish shoes and boots that look like leather but are actually crafted from the finest microfibers and cruelty-free materials available. NOVASCAS products are 100% vegan, are produced in European factories and distributed by a few retailers in US, Canada and the UK. NOVASCAS’s Jacob boot is ankle-high, finished with decorative stitching and could easily pass for leather (at least from the photos). You can purchase the Jacob boot for $140 through the MooShoes site or through one of the other fine retailers listed on the company’s website.

While it’s easy to find eco-boots of any color and style if you’re a woman, there are fewer funky options out there for guys who want to mix it up and make a statement with their footwear. Vegetarian Shoes makes unforgettable footwear using microfibers and biodegradable synthetics (including something called Stretch Fake Suede) in worker-friendly European factories. These shoes are cruelty-free and made-to-order according to your specifications and measurements. Check out these Airseal Paraboots in bright green! These “military-style” 10-eyelet boots are made from Vegetan Micro-microfibre uppers and look, wear, and feel like real leather. Vegetarian Shoes also makes the Acton Boot – a good choice if you’re looking for a tall boot that doesn’t need to be unlaced everytime you kick off your shoes.

I am always looking to expand my database of eco-retailers, so if you know about eco-companies – especially those making products for both men and women – feel free to drop me a line and let me know what’s up. Here’s hoping you can find eco-boots that suit your tastes and that will keep your toes warm all winter long!

When you live in New England, winter starts once Halloween ends, and you have to be prepared for snow, sleet, ice or rain until you think that it will never be warm again (a time most commonly referred to as “May”). And since you’ll be wearing it for so very long, it’s critical to outfit yourself with winter gear that’s warm, well-made and hip enough to wear ALL the time.? With such long winters it’s easy to get sick of your boots – so I’ve compiled a list of companies that are designing eco-friendly boots that will keep your toes toasty and look cool as you slog through the snow.

Beyond Skin is a British shoe company that hand-makes shoes using ethical labor and trade practices,? eco-friendly synthetic materials (non of the company’s products are made with animal products), and sustainable manufacturing processes. Beyond Skin products are are crafted out synthetic fabrics (thereby reducing the waste generated by the overall production of the products), and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans who are looking for cruelty-free footwear.? Beyond Skin boots are made with Polyurethane (PU) – a synthetic material that looks like PVC leatherette, but doesn’t contain dioxin – an environmentally damaging chemical.

While Beyond Skin doesn’t offer a huge selection of boots, their slouchy Celeste boots (shown above) are stylish and ethical. Made from faux suede, these mid-calf boots come in brown or black, and will set you back a few bucks (about $374). If you’re looking for ankle boots, Beyond Skin also makes funky black hemp Nadia boots which retail for about $690.

If you want eco-boots and don’t mind wearing leather, you might like the boots offered by California designer Calleen Cordero. Hand-made in a small California factory, these boots are crafted out of beautiful Italian leathers, hand-sculpted wood bottoms, and molded orthopedic foam insoles. Quantities of each product are limited (as each boot is hand produced by artisans), and expensive – though it looks like each pair is well worth its price. If you have the budget to splurge this season, consider outfitting yourself with a pair of Calleen Cordero’s truly unique boots.

If I could pick just one pair of Calleen Cordero boots for my feet, I think I’d go for these sexy Topa Boots (above & to the right).? Hand-stitching on the boot uppers adds a flirty finish that would look great over jeans, and the funky heel makes the boots all the hipper. The $670 Topa Boot is only made in limited sizes – 8 and 8.5 (which just happens to be my size!), and can be purchased online or from boutiques in North America, Europe and Japan. Calleen Cordero offers ankle boots too, including the Adrianna Half Boot (to the left). With 4 1/2 inch heels, these short boots will help you stand out in a crowd and feel confident that your $620 was well spent on eco-friendly footwear.? For further insight into the production of these boots, make sure you check out the company’s online Factory Tour.

Founded in 2005 out of the idea to create a “luxurious, socially-conscious fashion label,” Charmone incorporates the founders’ eco-ideas into the design and production of their high-end shoes and boots. By using microfibers (instead of leather) in their footwear, Charmone products are crafted with the philosophy of “compassionate design,” and product less waste than do leather boots.? In an effort to bring compassion to every part of their business, Charmone shoes and boots are manufactured in sweat-shop free factories where quality craftmanship is encouraged.

If you want something really different this winter, consider Charmone’s moss green Darjeeling ankle boots. Crafted out of microfiber faux suede and faux leather, these $250 vegan boots will look cool peeping out from under your jeans. Darjeeling boots also come in black, but I think the mossy color is what really makes these boots! Charmone also makes a knee-high boot called the Dragonwell – I like the how they look,? but the boot heels don’t really suite my pragmatic winter needs.

Form & Fauna is another eco-shoe company that makes hip and funky footwear using sustainable materials and practices. Using non-traditional and renewable materials to manufacture their boots, Flora & Fauna is committed to reducing their environmental impact on the Earth. Fabrics and materials included in the production process include Italian synthetics, organic hemp, bamboo and regenerative wood (for the heels), rubber outsoles, recycled fibers and breathable eco-liners for inside the shoes. These Cocca Hot Rod thigh-high boots (to the left) have Anil Kid uppers and rubber outsoles that keep the eco-conscious in stylish attire.

Terra Planet makes sustainable footwear that fits into three primary categories: 21st century artisan (shoes made using classical designs with modern technologies), Recycled (shoes made from recycled materials), and Barefoot (shoes that are as close to the principle of going barefoot as possible). While Terra Planet does manufacture their shoes in China, they work hard to develop life cycle metrics for all of their products and to minimize their negative environmental impacts through better sourcing, the use of sustainable and recyclable materials, and a professional code of conduct for all of their factories.

The Terra Planet Janis boot (shown at right) is made from vegetable tanned leather and is adorned? with a recycled quilt panel (made from recycled Pakistani and Bangladeshi quilts) in the shape of a flower on the boot’s back. These $295 boots eco-boots are held together with minimal glues (to reduce their environmental impact), and built with recycled materials when possible. Finally, if you’re looking for some really different boots this winter, make sure you check out these quilted ankle Lauren boots. These high-heeled short boots are also made from recycled quilts, are vegetable tanned and locally sourced.

The boots and companies listed here are just a sampling of the eco-comitted businesses out there who are dedicated to designing, crating and selling environmentally friendly goods. If you have an eco-business, or know of eco-companies that you’d like to see promoted, let me know! I am always looking for new sites to visit and new products to share with the eco-aware.

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• Good for the sole

A few weeks ago my mom and I set out to find me a new winter coat. I had donated 2 coats to charity at the end of last winter in an effort to force myself to buy a new coat before it got cold this fall. Thinking that it’d be easy enough to find a reasonably priced, attractive and eco-friendly garment at Macy’s, my mom and I set out to the mall with high hopes of finding something quickly and with little effort.

The mall was a bad idea (isn’t it always…) – the coats were all overpriced ($400 – $700 for “brand name” wool overcoats manufactured in countries like Bangladesh and China), unflattering and ugly, and poorly made. After trying on 2 or 3, I knew my new coat wasn’t at Macy’s, but I noticed something else as well… the coats all smelled like formaldehyde! Yeah – no. My mom and I were out of there as soon as we both realized what the smell was, and we both realized the need to stop supporting companies that don’t manufacture sustainable goods.

From our horrible experience at Macy’s, my mom and I headed over to REI – I had wanted an overcoat but decided to go with a ski coat instead. My new North Face jacket was designed in a LEED-Certified building that’s powered by 100% renewable energy, and sold by a cooperatively-owned company that takes environmental concerns into consideration when buying products and working with vendors. In an effort to help others out there who may be looking for outwear and winter gear, I’ve compiled a list of eco-committed companies who make great coats that DON’T smell like formaldehyde when they’re unpacked and tried on.

Patagonia - Patagonia’s commitment to the environment is evident when you visit their home page – instead of having an environmental policy that’s buried in the “About Us” section of the site, Patagonia advertises their environmental policies in the site’s navigation bar, and directs users to learn more about how their company is “leading the examined life.”

Patagonia has developed an online tool that I’ve been searching for, but had yet to find until I checked out the company’s environmental policies. Dubbed the “Footprint Chronicles,” Patagonia has built an interactive site where you can track the environmental impact of Patagonia products – from design through delivery. I have always wanted to know the carbon footprint of bumper stickers and t-shirts, and while I can’t track the exact carbon footprint of a “Visualize Whirled Peas” bumper sticker, I can track the movement of Patagonia t-shirts and know that each one produces 3.5 pounds of CO_2. In addition to tracking their products as they move across the world, Patagonia includes commentary on each of the products they track, and points out the positive and negative impacts generated by each item.

In researching all kinds of companies and looking over their eco-policies, I would have to say that Patagonia ranks pretty high in terms of their commitment and actions related to reducing their environmental impact. Look for shoes, clothing, outwear, and backpacks on their site and feel confident that Patagonia is looking out for the Earth and spending their profits wisely.

REI - OK, before I get started with REI, let me just disclose that I am a partial owner of the company, and have been since about 1990. REI is a cooperatively run company, and members are invited to vote on the Board of Directors (who are responsible for the overall direction of the affairs and the performance of REI), examine the company’s financial statements, and share in company profits in the form of annual dividends.

With that said, I can honestly say I feel good about the fact that I’ve held an REI membership for so long – the company is committed to environmental stewardship and gives serious thought to how they manufacture, source, package, distribute and sell their products. REI has developed a strategic focus in planning for the future, and in doing so has identified 5 environmental-+ priorities in which they want to create change: greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, green building, paper sourcing, reducing waste and recycling, and responsible product stewardship. You can read the company’s Environmental Stewardship Report to learn exactly how REI is cutting their greenhouse gas emissions, reducing their reliance on paper, eliminating waste, building greener retail facilities, and designing ecoSensitive gear.

In terms of immediate benefits to consumers, REI has started the ecoSensitive Label – clothing and gear made using eco-friendly fabrics and materials that include bamboo, organic cotton, organic wool, Polylactic acid (PLA) – a biodegradable and recyclable polymer, recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) – an easily reclaimed and re-purposed recyclable type of plastic, as well as post-industrial recycled polyester from Polartec.

The North Face - A dedicated ski gear company, The North Face is named after the coldest side of a mountain, and sells clothing designed to keep people warm in the coldest of places. As with much of what the company does, The North Face approaches sustainability as a journey, and has been developing and tweaking their technologies over time to create the most sustainable products possible.

With LEED-Certified headquarters in Quebec, and renewable energy powering their North American operations, The North Face has identified 4 key areas where they are committed to focusing their eco-energies: the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; the design of innovative and sustainable products; the elimination of waste in operations; and the encouragement of employees and customers to “Live the Brand” (I am not sure what this means, but I am guessing it is related to volunteering and giving back to the community/the environment in the name of North Face).

While I found plenty of information about the technologies The North Face uses in designing their products, the R&D section of their site didn’t specifically call out any environmental benefits realized by these practices. From looking over the corporate website, I get the impression that they don’t have anyone updating the environmental policies being put into place by the company – their page on sustainability was last updated in May, and while I know that my coat has tags explaining the various eco-policies used in its design, there was nothing like that on the site. If you’re looking for the warmest gear around, check out North Face products and don’t be shy about asking sales people or telephone representatives to explain the eco-benefits of your purchase.

Marmot – Founded in 1974 by UCSC grad students working in Alaska, Marmot is a premiere manufacturer of clothing, outerwear, tents, sleeping bags, backpacks and other outdoor gear for men, women and children. With a Code of Ethics to outline their sustainability practices, Marmot has built eco-practices into the foundation of how the company does business. The Marmot Code of Ethics applies to “every employee, executive officer, agent, representative, consultant, and intern of Marmot Mountain LLC, and…directs the conduct between any employee and our customers, distributors, competitors, vendors, and contractors.”

In defining their goal of reducing their negative impact on the environment and creating a company that will be sustainable for years to come, Marmot has declared a corporate ethic that seems to guide how the company makes business decisions, designs products and selects vendors and partners with whom they will work. You can also read about the small steps the company (and their employees) is taking to clean up the planet and do their part for the environment.

Many products produced by Marmot (and the other companies listed here) are made from GORE-TEX fabrics; if you want to learn more about the environmental stewardship of GORE-TEX Fabrics, you check out the W.L. Gore & Associates Environmental Statement.

You can find other gear companies that are doing their part below:

Keen Footwear – Learn about how Keen is rethinking their product design on their Hybrid.Think page.

Columbia Sportswear – Find out how Columbia gives back to environmental organizations.

Timberland – Read about New Hampshire-based Timberland’s Environmental Stewardship.

Mountain Hardware – Learn how Mountain Hardware is funding eco-organizations.

Merrell - See which eco-based companies Merrell has been supporting.

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When you consider how you live your life, what principles you hold dear to your heart, and the intersection of your actions and beliefs, does everything add up? There are many of us out there who are truely committed to sustainability, yet still struggle to incorporate the concepts into our everyday lives – and that’s OK. As I mentioned in a previous post, there are plenty of eco-sins that I’m constantly trying to overcome, but I still haven’t broken all of my bad habits. And while I feel guilty when I continue to commit actions that impact the Earth negatively, I also understand that my ability to achieve a wholly sustainable lifestyle is tied both to shifts in my thoughts and actions, and also to shifts in how society as a whole thinks and acts.

To better explain this concept, I went in search of organizations that actively promote sustainability. The Sustainability Institute (an organization focused on understanding the root causes of unsustainable behaviors in complex systems, and shifting society toward sustainability) has developed a philosophy that I think defines and explains this concept clearly:

“…unsustainability does not arise out of ignorance, irrationality or greed. It is largely the collective consequence of rational, well-intended decisions made by people caught up in systems – ranging from families and communities to corporations, governments and economies – that make it difficult or impossible to act in ways that are fully responsible to all those affected in the present and to future generations.”

The EPA has basic information about sustainability available on their website, though I must admit that I no longer fully trust the organization’s integrity and commitment to creating and disseminating unbiased scientific information. I loath to make such a statement, and hope that my feelings of mistrust toward the civil servants who work at the EPA will end once this administration is removed from power.

In determining whether my current lifestyle is sustainable, I decided I needed to first ask myself what it means to live sustainably, and from there determine if my lifestyle choices fit the model.

Here are the questions I have been pondering – I haven’t answered all of them for myself yet, but plan to write more about this as I figure out what sustainability means to me. Take some time and ask yourself the same set of questions, let me know if I have missed anything in my list, and feel free to share your definition of what it means to live a sustainable life.

Food: What do you eat? Where are the foods and beverages you consume grown, manufactured, processed and packaged? Where do your food dollars land once spent? Is your food money removed from the local economy and sent to some faceless corporation, or does it benefit others in your community? How is the food you eat produced? Have you ever met any of the people responsible for growing or making your food? How often do you eat out? Do you use reusable mugs for coffee and other drinks? Are fossil fuels used to make,? process, package, distribute what you eat?? How much waste is produced as a result of your food purchases? Do the foods you consume nourish you or simply feed you? Do the foods you eat contribute to your overall mental and physical health?

Housing: How do you live – alone or with others? Do you live in a new building or an old building? Is your building energy efficient? What kind of energy powers your home? How much energy do you use on a monthly/yearly basis? Do you have excess electronics in your home that increase your energy bills? Do you use any reusable resources to power your home? Do you have more space than you need in your home? Do you take measures to ensure you are not wasting excess energy in your home? What products and chemicals are used in the upkeep and maintenance of your home? Do you use eco-friendly products in your home when possible? Do you have a yard? If so, how is it maintained? Do you have grass that needs to be mowed and fertilized? Do you have a garden? Do you use chemicals to maintain your outdoor space? Do you use water to feed the grass and other plants? When working on your home or outdoor space, do you consider the environment and select materials accordingly?

Transportation: How do you get around? Do you walk, bike, take public transportation, drive, carpool, fly? How often and how far do you travel when you leave home? Do you own a car? If so, what kind of gas mileage do you get, how efficiently does your vehicle burn fuel? If you own an older car, does it meet emissions standards? Where do you go and why do you go there? Do you ever carpool? How far do you live from the places you visit the most often? Are there car trips you take that are unnecessary? Do you walk when you need to go someplace within a mile of your home? Have you taken steps to reduce your reliance on petroleum as a fuel?

Consumer Behaviors: What do you buy and why? Do you need all that you purchase? Do you reuse what you can and purchase new things only when you need to do so? Do you throw away things because they’re broken, worn, stained or old? Do you buy goods from environmentally-conscious companies? Do you consider the ecological footprint of your purchases, including the materials used and externalities created? Do you buy eco-friendly products? Do you consider the impact of your consumerism on the environment before you make any purchase? Where, and under what conditions, are the products you purchased manufactured? How far do those products have to travel to reach you? Are your consumer dollars used for corporate profits or are the people who make the products being paid a fair wage (or both, if possible)?

Waste: Do you recycle what you can? Do you compost your organic waste? Do you take the time to sort and process through all of your waste products in order to send as little as possible to landfills? Have you gone paperless in areas where it’s possible? Do you encourage recycling at work or other places you frequent and have an impact on policy? Do you pick up trash on the street? Do you refrain from throwing out recyclables until you can find a recycling container? Do you package food in reusable containers instead of one-use packaging? Do you use things until they can no longer be used? Do you make it easy and convenient to recycle at home? Do you have a dedicated space where you store recycling materials and do you have recycling tagged as a dedicated task assigned to someone each week? Do you resist the urge to print?

Family: Do you encourage your children to reduce, reuse and recycle? Do you feed, clothe and gift your children with organic and eco-friendly goods? Do you explain why it is so important for people to tread lightly on the Earth? Do you encourage eco-practices in your childrens’ classroom? Do you set a good example and practice what you preach to your children (and not just when they are watching)? Do you ever say no to buying things your children want because of the negative ecological impact those purchases have? Do you stick to your eco-principles when it comes to birthday parties, Christmas, and other “special events” and holidays?

These questions are by no means exhaustive – rather, they are meant to get you (and me) thinking about the everyday practices of sustainability, and help us define what we all need to do in order to live sustainable lifestyles. I certainly don’t have the answers to all of these questions, and I fear that some of my favorite things in life (chocolate, coffee) are generally not considered sustainable goods (in my defense, I buy mostly organic, fair trade chocolate). Living sustainably isn’t necessarily going to be easy though – it will require sacrifices and compromises. In an era of uncertainty and impending environmental degradation however, it’s time we all stood together and started making the hard choices and doing what’s not fun and what’s not easy.

Party’s Over Folks, It’s Time To Get Real!

If you’re interested in learning more, check out the Wikipedia entry for sustainability – there’s all kinds of information about the various types of sustainability, as well as links to scientific references, articles and websites.

After 9 months of writing for the Green Buy Guide, it dawned on me today that I’ve never actually defined what it means to be green! All this time I have been posting articles about green goods, green politics and lving a greener life with the assumption that there’s a single definition of what it means to be green, and that everyone reading knows what it is! The irony, of course, is that I don’t even really know what it means to be green – I have a pretty good idea, but when it comes to really promoting green living, I should probably be better informed.

Because of my lack of knowledge in this area, I’ve taken some time to research existing green standards and certifications, and hopefully shine a little light on what it really means when a company calls itself green.

Furniture & Home Furnishings

Green furniture manufacturers can apply for, and be awarded certifications by global not-for-profit organizations concerned with establishing standards for environmentally sustainable furniture production. The Forest Stewardship Council is an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world?s forests. According to their website:

FSC provides standard setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services for companies and organizations interested in responsible forestry. Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.

The FSC is supported by all of the top environmental organizations from around the world, has certified businesses in 46 countries, and ensures the companies they certify comply with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. If a company wants to achieve FSC certification, they must conform with the 10 principles and 56 guiding criteria established by the organization. Once a company is certified, they can use the organization’s logos and branding in promoting their products, and sell their goods on the global markets (FSC certification removes all barriers to trading through the WTO).

Appliances, Electronics & Computers

If you’re in search of energy efficient household and business products, look for those that bear the ENERGY STAR label. A joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on 35 product categories including computers, appliances, home construction and electronics. While complying with ENERGY STAR standards is voluntary, the program has proven to be highly successful among both manufacturers and consumers.

In order to promote ENERGY STAR standards, the EPA has allotted funds to remove cost-prohibitive barriers to producing and building energy efficient products and buildings. By lowering the initial costs incurred in the development of green technologies, the ENERGY STAR program enhances the market for energy efficient products and reduces the risks involved in developing efficient products.

Building & Construction

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices, and to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. Comprised of 15,000 organizations from the building industry, the USGBC has developed the LEED Rating System to encourage sustainable building and design practices in commercial, governmental and residential construction. Although the LEED Rating System is a voluntary program, federal, state and local governments have started incorporating LEED standards in their new construction and working with LEED certified builders.

Within the building industry, there are organizations who have developed their own sets of green standards. While the development of green standards by industry groups is honorable, there could be conflicts of interest involved if the regulatory body is comprised of those being regulated.? One organization that has created their own standards is The Sustainable Furnishings Council, a non-profit industry association founded to promote sustainable practices among furniture manufacturers, and retailers. Comprised of 250 industry organizations, the Council is launching a public advertising and in-store tagging program for consumers to identify retailers and products which exceed their threshold of sustainability standards.

General Household Products

Green Seal is a non-profit organization that provides science-based environmental certification standards for cleaning products, paints and coatings, lodging properties and other household goods.? To gain certification from Green Seal, a product, service or property must be evaluated at every stage of its production – from the extraction of materials used in production, to the manufacture of the goods, and through the disposal and recycling of waste produced during manufacturing. The federal government’s green procurement program is closely aligned with Green Seal, and works with the organization in identifying and selecting environmentally preferable products.

A Note About Organic

The Organic Label is a whole different kind of green certification that really desearves its own article. I will write about the ins and outs of organic certification and labeling in a future post. If you’re interested in learning more about how the US Department of Agriculture certifies farms, crops, and foods, you can visit their website here.

In researching green standards, certifications and the organizations that oversee the programs, I’ve come to realize that we are still a long way from having a universal definition of what it means to be green. While the EPA is responsible for protecting the environment, they aren’t involved in the wholesale regulation of green goods, services and companies. I’m interested in learning more about this issue, so drop me a line if you are aware of certifications I may have missed or standards that I haven’t listed here.

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To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.
Mahatma Gandhi

I love to grow food and flowers – doing so makes me happy, productive and grounded. Gardening is an easy way to reconnect with the basics of life – soil, sun, water and plants – and to give back to the Earth, your community and yourself. When you grow food, you give the gift of beauty to your neighbors, you contribute directly to feeding your friends and family, and you live in a more sustainable manner.

Growing your own food is also a good way to reduce your carbon footprint, and most farmers are willing to share what they know to help get you started. In researching seed companies, I was heartened to find that all of the companies I checked out offer information on growing organic and heirloom foods. When you choose to grow organic food, you choose to do more than simply plant a garden – you choose to respect the planet and reduce your negative environmental impact on the land. And each time you choose to consume food that’s grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, ionizing radiation or genetic modification, you choose to place your health and the health of your community above the interests of agri-businesses and corporate food suppliers.

Once fall settles in and my garden is packed away for the winter, I like to spend time going through seed catalogs and looking for plants for next year’s garden. Check out the organic seed suppliers below – each company sells organic and heirloom seeds, tools and supplies to help in building your beds, and resources to help you know all you need to get started.

Johnny’s Selected Seeds is an employee-owned farm in Albione, Maine, that offers a selection of over 300 kinds of organic and heirloom seeds through their mail-order catalog or via their website. While they aren’t 100% organic, Johnny’s does ensure that none of their seeds or plants are genetically engineered, and they are expanding their supply of organic products. And when it comes to selection, Johnny’s offers a diverse array of vegetable, herb, flower, and cover crop seeds (such as oats and wheat).

Seeds of Change is an organic farm and seed supplier that is committed to living organically and offering organic products to the public.? Founded in 1989, the company’s mission is “to help preserve biodiversity and promote sustainable, organic agriculture” which they achieve by growing 100% organic seeds, seedlings and food. With a selection of over 600 distinct seeds for home gardeners and 100 distinct seeds for commercial growers, Seeds of Change is dedicated to preserving open-pollinated, organically grown, heirloom and traditional vegetable, flower and herb seeds. Looking around the Seeds of Change website, it’s clear that the company truly believes in the importance of living sustainably, and in harmony with the Earth.

Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply is an organic farm and seed company that supports commercial and home growers by offering a wide selection of organic seeds, and by providing their customers with information on organic farming. With a true desire to educate people about organic farming (the company started out in a garage, and sent out 4-page newsletters to growers), the company’s website has a range of resources aimed at keeping growers informed about farming education, grants, publications and news. Searching for seeds is interesting too, as you can “flip through” the company’s electronic seed catalog and flip from section to section with the interactive navigation tools.

The Natural Gardening Company has been around since 1986, and was the first certified organic nursery in the United States. Offering a selection of organic seeds and seedlings for vegetables, herbs, and flowers. The Natural Gardening Company places a high value on the quality of their seeds, and, like the other growers listed here, does not sell any genetically engineered plants or seeds. You can select from over 50+ different kinds of organic vegetable seeds, and spend the spring sowing endive, okra and collard greens if you’re so inclined.The Natural Gardening Company also sells gardening accessories and offers helpful gardening tips on their site.

If you’ve never grown vegetables, I encourage you to give it a try. You can grow some vegetables in containers on your porch, dig up the grass and plant a big, sunny bed, or drop seeds into an existing flower garden – it’s not how much you grow that matters, it’s that you grow at all.

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Image via Wikipedia

Early fall is the best time of the year for tomatoes, and of those available at farmer’s markets, farm stands and grocery stores, heirlooms are the tastiest, most interesting tomatoes on the market. If you’ve ever bitten into a perfectly ripe Brandywine, or savored slices of an Old German varietal, you know the joy that is an heirloom tomato!

Heirloom tomatoes are classified as such when the plants’ seeds have been passed down from generation-to-generation, when they are open-pollinated (meaning they are pollinated by insects and birds instead of by hand), and when there’s been no genetic modification of the plant. According to Wikipedia, seeds used to grow heirloom tomatoes must be at least 50 years old (some claim that heirloom seeds must be at least 100 year-old), as hybrid seeds entered the tomato growing industry in 1945 – at the end of World War II.

Regardless of the exact definition of what it means to be an heirloom tomato, the fact is that there are many varieties of these old-fashioned seeds available from growers all over the country. Gary Ibsen’s TomatoFest site offers over 600 different heirloom tomato seeds to growers interested in preserving this part of our nutritional past. Gardeners can purchase seeds that have been part of a family’s history and grow their own varieties wherever they live. And since heirlooms are all grown using open-pollination, the genetic make-up of the seeds changes over time, as pollinators introduce different genetic materials into the plant during pollination.

Some people don’t like heirloom tomatoes because they aren’t the shiny, bright red, round fruit that we’re used to finding in our grocery stores. Genetically modified tomatoes are produced to be hearty (for transportation), consistently sized (for easy harvesting and storage/transport), and flavored (because people want to know what they’re buying tastes like on a whole). Heirloom tomatoes come in all kinds of sizes and colors and range in flavor from sharp and bitter to juicy and sweet. When looking through boxes full of heirlooms, it’s easy to think that the farmers picked the rejected fruit from the vines and threw them into the bins labeled heirloom!

The difference in the appearance of these tomatoes is in large part due to the open-pollination of the seeds. With hand-pollinated tomatoes, farmers can control the genetic materials that mix with their plants. Once a seed is open-pollinated however, there’s no telling where the insects and birds have been and what pollen they’ve dropped in the process of pollinating your plants.

Here are just a few of the hundreds of heirlooms out there – if you want to taste food at its very best, try to find some locally grown heirlooms before the end of fall. Even if the fruit are funny looking and not what you’d normally expect in a tomato, I bet your mouth will thank you for your efforts!

Yellow Lollipop Cherry Tomatoes, available at TomatoSeeds.net, are small yellow tomatoes that have a sweet lemon-like flavor that is fruity and unique.

According to the folks behind the TomatoSeeds site, the Caspian Pink Tomato originated in southern Russia and produces 1 lb. pink beefsteak tomatoes that rival the famous Pink Brandywine for taste.

The Cherokee Purple, available from the Victory Seed Company, is over 100 years old – having been passed down from the Cherokee Tribes of North America, and is a good producer of medium sized, purple brown tomatoes with darker shoulders.

Offered by TomatoFest, the Peacevine Cherry Tomato is a tiny (dime-sized) tomato that grows in the hundreds per plant. These tomatoes have the highest Vitamin C content of any tomato and, because of their high amino acid content, have a calming effect on the body according to TomatoFest.

Yellow and red in color, these Arkansas Marvels are beefsteaks that can grow to be up to 1 pound. According to the growers behind the TomatoFest site, these beauties have a mild, peach flavor and produce a good yield on the vine.

I hope you find some delicious tomatoes this fall – and let me know if you have tips on how best to prepare these beauties, though I dare say it’s difficult to beat slicing them right off the vine and gobbling the fruit up while it’s still warm from the sun!

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