Seven years ago the first edition was launched, diving into the world of eco-friendly ideas for manufacturers, designers and those who were transitioning into sustainable design. It was a time when hybrids, biodegradable cleaners and tree-friendly flooring were nearly unknown.

Fast forward to 2009 and the revised edition. Sustainable production and consumption are married with contemporary design in this must-have guide to everyhing eco-friendly. The combination of increasing our well-being while reducing the impact on the planet are the two main concerns, all within a sourcebook showcasing hundreds of earth-friendly items.

ecoDesign is divided into three sections: Objects for Living, Objects for Working and Materials. Each of those, too, have a myriad of subcategories, covering everything from Lighting to Water Purification to Polymers.

Each design within the book is accompanied by a table and a description. The tables deliver the name and nationality of hte designer or manufacturer, the name and country of the manufacturer, the main materials, its eco-design strategies, and if it has won any awards.

Take the Your Stool 2, for example, an adaptable and multifunctional piece of furniture. This plywood creation can easily be assembled and re-assembled to what you need it as – be it a rocking horse or rocking chair. (see more at their website redesigndesign.org)

Or what about the Fab Tree Hab? A conceptual design/living strcuture that is supported by a reusable scaffold prefabricated using Computer Numeric Controlled Machines. The crew from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Human Ecology Design Team have developed dwellings that are an integral part of the ecological community. (read more from archinode.com).

The last section of the book is filled with Resources, covering everything from designers to strategies to an in-depth list of further reading.

Regardless if you’re seeking out inspiration for your next reno-project, or doing your best to stay planet-friendly in your business, ecoDesign is the perfect solution to all your sustainable, stylish eco-savvy needs.

Get it here: ecoDesign: The Sourcebook

Well, just imagine if that uniquely American, keeping up with the Joneses, one-upmanship attitude that we have towards consumerism and home improvement, which results in the U.S. consuming about 25 percent of the world’s resources, actually solved some of our environmental problems instead of just creating them.

Here’s how it would have to play out:

• After you notice that your neighbors have switched out all of their home’s incandescent light bulbs, in favor of energy-saving LED lighting, you then decide to purchase an array of solar panels for your home. Now your newly purchased, low-wattage light bulbs are powered by the sun while your neighbors still receive monthly power bills from a coal-burning energy conglomerate.
• A co-worker comments to you that she has just completed a home window replacement project, which she estimates is going to cut 20 percent off her home’s annual power consumption because her new vinyl windows are insulated with double glass panes that have energy-saving reflective coatings. Suddenly, you’re motivated to replace your home’s old single-pane windows with new triple-paned models. Plus, you install some R-50 insulation in your home’s attic and replace your ancient, oil-burning furnace with a new ground-source heat pump. After completing a home energy audit, which estimates that you may have helped reduce your home’s annual power consumption by a third, you boast to your co-worker about your goal of becoming a carbon-neutral household within five years.
• During a holiday meal, your brother-in-law brags that his family has dropped its household water consumption by one-third simply by installing low-flow showerheads and ratcheting back the number of days they water their lawn to once a week. Not to be outdone, at the next family get together, you show your brother-in law the rain harvesting barrels that you have purchased, which are connected to drip irrigation lines that feed your new organic vegetable garden and the drought-tolerant native landscaping around your house and…

Well, you get the picture.

All it takes to accelerate our country down a path towards energy-efficient living and environmental sustainability are some groundbreaking changes in how we spend our home improvement dollars. If only we could covet our neighbor’s super-insulated house walls instead of their super-sized, four-car garage.

Image courtesy of solarpowerauthority.com

Under controlled conditions, the researchers found that these items do not have the health promoting nutrients that once was thought.

The difference between organic and conventional growing is in fertilization and soil fertility. These two factors affect the output of plants, in both taste and (once thought) nutrient content. The topic is clearly up for debate, with past studies showing otherwise.

However some things are just so easy to truly Do It Yourself, that you can’t resist, well, doing them. Here are our favourites.

Flower Vases

Not sure what to do with your empty wine, olive oil, and other glass bottles? Turn them into elegant vases by using glass enamel. Even if you don’t have any on hand, chances are your neighbours and friends will, or take a trip down to the local recycling plant.

Simply wash the bottle with soapy water and let dry. Prime, then use enamel paint to coat the inside of the bottle. Let dry, and it’s ready to be used. (Read the full How-To here)

Wallpaper Cards

Leftover wallpaper is inevitable from home decorating, and chances are that if you loved it enough to put on your walls, you are pretty keen on the pattern it has. An easy solution? Make cards by attaching it to some colourful cardstock. (Read the full How-To here)

Wallpaper Coasters

Along with the cards, wallpaper makes a coaster – and even better, they’ll match your walls! Although you’ll have to get a local glazier cut and sand glass coaster-sized squares, it will be worth it to showcase in your living space. (Read the full How-To here)

Tee Shirt Bag

By reinforcing your favourite, work out t-shirt with a few sewed-in stitches, you can have it preserved in a convenient reusable bag. (Read the full How-To here)

Pocket Purse

Kids can get involved, too, with this easy-to-do craft. Once they outgrow a pair of pants, help them make a pocket purse! Along with a pretty ribbon, it’s the perfect solution for storing their pint-sized goods. Simply sew two pockets together and attach the ribbon. (Read the full How-To here)

Cereal Box Organizer

Use those empty cereal boxes to make a convenient file system for your home office. Just cut the box to your desired size and wrap with decorative paper (or, better yet, more of that wallpaper!).  Kids and teens can easily do it themselves, and is a great way to stay organized with homework and school projects. (Read the full How-To here)

Beach Towel Bag

If you’re a little more sewing savvy, you’ll definitely want to tackle this one. Take a beach towel and with a few stitches here and there, you’ll have yourself a handy beach tote. Because of it’s material, it’ll dry quickly in the warm air. Personalize it even more with some ribbon for bringing it from home to the beach. Also makes a great gift! (Read the full How-To here)

For these ideas and more, visit Martha Stewart’s website.

Image courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

Lucky for them, researchers at Teesside University may have a solution to their growing waste problem.

In fact, the research team  could help the United Kingdom to avoid paying £180m if they don’t devise a plan by 2020.

The team received £1.76m to find innovative uses for waste in North East England. Both industrial and household waste will be explored, as well as looking at curbside waste.

The money was funded to the Industrial Symbiosis team within the University’s Clean Environment Management Centre (CLEMANCE). This money will help them reach their target goal of reducing CO₂ by over 250,000 tonnes and preventing 250,000 tonnes of waste going to landfill. It will also help provide assistance to 40 enterprises each year.

The money will allow CLEMANCE to explore new uses for everything from household waste to plastics.

CLEMANCE Senior Practitioner Kirk Bridgewood explained that “the study was prompted by the recent collapse in the market for recycled items, which could potentially give councils a major problem if they are unable to sell the collected materials. In addition, there were stories about materials being stockpiled because no one wanted to buy. We want to find out ways of making sure that does not happen again and we will also be looking at the amount of materials exported to places like China.

“We want to see if there are ways in which materials can be recycled in the North East of England instead. Plastics are a good example. There are companies in this area that could use discarded plastics as raw materials.”

Read more from Teesside University and their ongoing projects and research.

Source

Image courtesy of euinfrastructure.com

Released Tuesday, the study delivers a warning that organic pesticides are possibly worse than their synthetic counterparts.

Researchers embarked on a two-year study that compared the performance, effectiveness and environmental impact of two conventional pesticides, two “risk-reduced” synthetic pesticides, and two organic pesticides on soybean aphids.

With a series of field tests, they aimed to discover how well each pesticide worked at killing the vermin, while leaving their predators unharmed.

The study found that the organic pesticides did, indeed, kill off the aphids. However, they also found that it killed the ladybugs that would combat them. They did discover that three out of the four synthetic pesticides caused less impact on the environment, as they were more selective in killing the aphids.

Rebecca Haillet, a University of Guelph professor and one of the researchers in the study, explained that the reason for the toxic effect was due to the fact that when using organic pesticides, a larger amount is required.

Some provinces have already banned the use of these organic and natural pesticides.

The study did not address the safety of traditional pesticides, but instead explored the eco-impact of the natural varieties. They looked ingredients and their toxicity rate on both the environment and wildlife.

The study appears in the current edition of PLoS One.

Green Smoke has launched, what they call, a smarter alternative to tobacco smoking. Their electronic cigarettes contain only nicotine so they cost less and don’t have odor. (And therefore, cleaner for the environment).

They will also save you money, they say. Over $1600, in fact, each year. Quit Smoking with Electronic Cigarette and vapor king.

In addition to the odorless feature, they produce less waste – one cartridge is equivalent to thirty cigarettes.

What do you think? Great alternative or just fueling the “keep on trying to quit smoking” fire?

Would love to hear your thoughts on this on twitter.

*Update: One of our dear friends suffered with quitting smoking, and her lungs were in pretty bad shape. She tried these “water vapor” electronic e-cigs, after reading the huge report by Boston University, that basically said that there is not a single reason to not try these if you are trying to quit. There is NOT A SINGLE cancer causing ingredient in these devices. She has switched to these, and after a couple months she can breath, and feels great. She is now on a very low dose (2mg) and will soon go to 0mg nicotine. All that she is putting in her lungs is water vapor. These will save her life, they are just the same as nicotine gum, but they have a 98% success rate.

Stop smoking with Long Term Alcohol Rehab Facilities

Web design is no exception, and we love that more and more designers are choosing nature and eco-themes as their inspiration.

An example is CSS Nature (cssnature.org), highlighting the best in nature designs. So why are these environment designs becoming the next best in show?

I can assume its because the simple and rustic – yet flawless – designs have a homey and pleasant feel to them.

They are slick without being pretentious, and gorgeous without being over done.

What are your favourite eco-friendly websites? Any designs that you absolutely love? Post your favourites in our comments below.

But now, the car-maker is ridding itself from its typical construction in favour with going green.

At this week’s Geneva Motor Show, the company unveiled their newest creation: the Ferrari 599. This 200mph electric hybrid has been developed with the environment in mind.

Ferrari’s classic performance, combined with its notable good looks, is married to a pollution and fuel consumption cutting initiative, making their brand just a little greener.

The vehicle is equipped with an electric motor that backs up a more traditional 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine. The typical two-seater design will accelerate from 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds (which, by the way, is faster than its standard counterpart) and to 125mph in 10.4 seconds.

The electric part of the hybrid system also comes into play with braking, taking the energy that is often wasted from putting on the breaks and using it to recharge the batteries. This, then, can move the car simply by electric power.

Carbon dioxide emissions are cut to 270g/km, which is a 35% reduction on conventional models. The company also claims that it is expected to do up to 25 miles to the gallon (petrol- only versions, on the other hand, can do just under 16mpg).

The company’s aim is to harness this green technology as an option in all its cars by 2015, a must with today’s environmental targets to cut CO2 emissions.

It does have a price though. The 599 seems that it will cost twice as much as the £207,000 petrol 559 GTB Fiorano (it’s conventional counterpart). But the company assumes that by time the technology is mainstream, the price will come down to below £300,000.

See other cars unveiled at the 80th International Motor Show’s website. The show runs March 4th through 14th in Geneva.

Images courtesy of carspyshots.net

Also, be sure to check out aluminum radiator manufacturer Mishimoto, who has recently announced their green plan to reduce wasteful packaging by 75%!

Scientists at the University of Colorado at Boulder have found that because of this, more greenhouse gasses will be left in the atmosphere.

Hu, along with ecology and evolutionary biology professor and CIRES Fellow Russell Monson, found that while the growing season was extended, it also lessened water availbility to forets in summer and fall. As a result, these trees could not effectively convert CO2 into biomass.

Because snow is more effective than rain in giving water to the forests, an increase in warmer weather downpours won’t make the difference if there is a lack of snow.

The team found that 60% of the water in the trees could be traced back to snowmelt. But as the snowmelt declines, the rate of carbon uptake follows.

The study also includes authors David Moore of King’s College London and Sean Burns of the National Center for Atmospheric Research and CU-Boulder.

CIRES is a joint institute of CU-Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Read more from their website cires.colorado.edu.

The study is to be published in the February edition of the journal Global Change Biology.

Source: Science Daily.

Image courtesy of rohan.sdsu.edu

Whole Foods Market(R) Invites Shoppers to Welcome 2010 With ‘This Is My Year to…’ Campaign

By Simply Sharing Aspirations, Shoppers Will Also Log Support for Non-Profits

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — To kick off the New Year, Whole Foods Market invites shoppers to share their aspirations for living and giving through in-store declarations and a new Facebook application that will give back to three national non-profit food organizations.

In lieu of traditional New Year’s resolutions, Whole Foods Market’s first-ever Facebook application encourages shoppers to declare “This is my year to…,” choosing a food-related mantra that best describes their aspirations for the coming year. Shoppers and fans of Whole Foods Market’s Facebook page can update their status by deciding their “This is my year to…” aspirations while logging their support for a non-profit group.

In the spirit of giving, Whole Foods Market with its media partner Health Magazine and vendor partner Odwalla hope to raise awareness for three selected non-profit organizations. Each group will receive a $10,000 donation, and the non-profit with the most votes will receive an additional $10,000.

The application is available for download at http://apps.facebook.com/thisismyyearto. Throughout January, fans can vote for their favorite mantra and its related non-profit organization:

This is my year to…

* Know Where My Food Comes From: The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit collaboration of manufacturers, retailers, processors, distributors, farmers, seed companies and consumers. The organization’s belief is that everyone deserves an informed choice about whether or not to consume genetically modified products, and the mission is to ensure the sustained availability of non-GMO choices. www.nongmoproject.org

* Choose Organic: Mission Organic 2010 (The Organic Center) is an ambitious campaign with an exciting goal: to increase the current market for organic food from 3 percent to 10 percent by the end of 2010. When consumers demand more organic foods, farmers and food companies will supply this growing demand. The result is healthier people and a healthier planet. www.organic-center.org

* Share My Plate: GrowingPower is a national nonprofit organization and land trust supporting people from diverse backgrounds, by providing equal access to healthy, safe and affordable food. Growing Power provides hands-on training, outreach and assistance in developing community food systems that help people grow, process, market and distribute food in a sustainable manner. www.growingpower.org

“We believe small, simple steps are the best way to enjoy healthy eating and living well on a budget, and we hope our shoppers will share their aspirations and ideas with others through the new ‘This is my year to…’ Facebook application,” says Barry Hirsch, Whole Foods Market program coordinator. “Collectively, our shoppers will also be supporting three terrific non-profit organizations.”

Whole Foods Market will highlight five more of its favorite mantras for the New Year in promotions and materials displayed throughout its stores and website: Eat My Greens, Know My Food, Learn to Cook, Save Without Compromise and Make Simple Changes. In addition, stores will host tours to help educate shoppers about healthy food choices, with emphasis on fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Shoppers can also share their personal aspirations in-store where Whole Foods Market Team Members will post customer declarations in a community area.

About Whole Foods Market®

Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com), a leader in the natural and organic foods industry and America’s first national certified organic grocer, was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” in 2008 and was recognized as one of “America’s Healthiest 100″ in 2009 by Health magazine. The Whole Foods Market motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”(TM) captures the company’s mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to its 51,100 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 13 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2008, the company had sales of $8 billion and currently has more than 280 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market, Fresh & Wild(TM), and Harry’s Farmers Market® are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP,LP. Wild Oats® and Capers Community Market(TM) are trademarks owned by Wild Marks, Inc.”

Image courtesy of economistmom.com

Studies have shown that zinc assists in reducing the duration and symptoms of the common cold, slowing the replication of rhinoviruses which often cause colds.

Neti Wash Plus contains a form of zinc (acetate) which is shown to be more effective in shortening the length that the common cold lasts. It also contains Grapefruit Seed and Goldenseal Root extracts, both of which are found to be pathogen inhibitors.

Ingredients: Zinc acetate, Goldenseal root (Hydrastis canadensis), Phellodendron bark (Phellodendron amurense), Coptis root (Coptis chinensis), Barberry root bark (Berberis vulgaris), Grapefruit seed extract, vegetable glycerin and distilled, purified water.

Just add this solution with 1/4 teaspoon salt in and water in the neti pot to cure your sinus-related problems!

Julian Marshall, from the University of Minnesota, and Michael Brauer and Lawrence Frank from University of British Columbia compared levels of pollutants, air quality and pollution in general throughout communities and neighbourhoods in Vancouver.

The results can assist in neighbourhood design and location around the globe.

The team found that downtown areas have more pollution, but also are more walker-friendly. Suburban areas, on the other hand, are far less walker-friendly, but also have high levels of different types of pollution.

The neighbourhoods that have both a low level of pollution and are walker-friendly are a few miles from downtown centres. They call these the “win-win” neighbourhoods, but that they are rare – only 2% of areas.

“Research has shown that exposure to air pollution adversely affects human health by triggering or exacerbating a number of health issues such as asthma and heart disease,” said Marshall, from the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology. “Likewise, physical inactivity is linked to an array of negative health effects including heart disease and diabetes. Neighborhood design can influence air pollution and walkability; more walkable neighborhoods may encourage higher daily activity levels.”

The study highlights the importance of neighbourhood location and design and its relationship to pollution levels. The researchers hope to further explore the “win-win” neighbourhoods for future urban design.

The study is published in the November 2009 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.

Read the full story from  Science Daily.

We recommend the New Balance Women’s WW558 Walking Shoe and the New Balance Men’s MW645 Walking Shoe to get you started!

Image courtesy of flickr.

Predictions are difficult, and scientists find it a challenge to deliver a response to the myriad of issues that our planet is currently facing.

New studies

A team at Boston University, including Dr. Abraham Miller-Rushing, are moving forward in this direction, with a recent study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Botany. The study explores how elevating concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) may be affecting our trees, and as a result, the water and carbon cycles.

What we know

Atmospheric CO2 already affects the physiology and behaviour of plants by changing the pores (stomata), among other issues. These pores allow the air, which contains CO2, to pass into the leaf and the water vapour passes out.

The plants use this CO2 to make sugar during photosynthesis.

How it affects it

Because of the increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2, the density of the pores decrease and rates of photosynthesis increase. This means there is also a decrease in water loss through the leaves.

What does this mean?

According to  Miller-Rushing, “These changes in stomatal behavior and water use efficiency can, in turn, have large impacts on plants and can alter ecosystem-scale water and carbon cycling. For example, soil moisture, runoff, and river flows might increase and drought tolerance in individual plants might improve.”

As they understand the responses to how individual trees are affected by climate and atmospheric changes over their lifetimes, they will be able to predict how forests may contribute to changes in water and carbon cycles in the next one hundred years.

The future

“This finding may have important implications for models that predict changes in future climate, carbon, and water cycles,” Miller-Rushing stated. “We also demonstrated a new method that will allow researchers to investigate these questions in greater depth, namely by using herbarium specimens sampled repeatedly from the same trees, as is often done at botanical gardens.”

Source: sciencedaily.com

Miller-Rushing et al. Long-term relationships among atmospheric CO2, stomata, and intrinsic water use efficiency in individual trees. American Journal of Botany, 2009; 96 (10): 1779 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.0800410

Image courtesy of genestho.ca

Among them are 100 plants, 28 fish, 18 reptiles, 14 amphibians, two mammals and one bird species, including a leopard-spotted gecko and a frog with fangs that lunches on birds.

The tally combines with one thousand new species that were discovered  in the same region from 1997 to 2007.

Researchers assume that climate change, floods and droughts, as well as poaching, pollution and habitat destruction will have a great impact on these new species.

Stuart Chapman, director of the WWF Greater Mekong Program, believes that only  some will be able to adapt to some of these, specifically climate change.

“Rare, endangered and endemic species like those newly discovered are especially vulnerable because climate change will further shrink their already restricted habitat,” Chapman added in a statement.

Along with the fanged frog,  Limnonectes megastomias, and the Cat Ba leopard gecko, Goniurosaurus catbaensis, is a bird that doesn’t seem to want to fly. The Nonggang babbler seemed to only use its wings when frightened.

“We are seeing more reports of new discoveries and populations because this region is relatively poorly known, particularly when it comes to cryptic and less fashionable groups like fish and amphibians,” said Simon Mahood, a conservation adviser for BirdLife International.

The new growth in species is due to better access to remote regions, as well as those who often were overcome with political and governmental unrest. More research is underway to protect and identify new species.

The WWF plans to publish annual information of new species in the Mekong.

Source: wwf.ca/newsroom/?4721

Image: Nonggang babbler courtesy of birdlife.org

Researchers have also previously found that the inclusion of houseplants in homes and workplaces  reduce eye irritation and stress, increase levels of motivation and concentration, and reduce air impurities. The positive effect continues by way of healing physical ailments, such as headaches, fatigue and dry skin.

And now, new studies by Texas researchers are showing that this same impact benefits student performance in the classroom. Jennifer S. Doxey and Tina Marie Waliczek from the Department of Agriculture, Texas State University, and Jayne M. Zajicek of the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, recently published a study surrounding the impact of plants in university classrooms.

A recent issue of HortScience outlined their investigation on the impact of plants on  both coursework and the students’ perception of the course and professors.

The study analyzed two classes of the same coursework, in the same room, taught by the same professor. A total of 385 students were a part of the study, attending classes that contained either a room filled with tropical plants or a room plant-free.

Students completed surveys at the end of the semester, and researchers found that despite little change in academic performance, significant differences were found in areas concerning”learning”, “instructors’ enthusiasm”, and “instructors’ organization”. Students from the plant-group rated these items higher on the satisfaction scale.

The results showed that plans had the greatest impact on students who were in the classroom that had no other natural elements, as well as that they may be a better solution to window-rich environments.

Undoubtedly a great idea for all schools, let your childrens’ teachers know the scoop, and make their classrooms rich with plants, flowers, and, as a result, better brainwaves.

No green thumb? No problem. Check out: The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual: Essential Gardening Know-How for Keeping (Not Killing) More Than 160 Indoor Plants.

Image courtesy of lakeshorelearning.com
Source: ScienceDaily

These computers also include game for visitors to play; the more its played, the more the computers are used and, therefore, keep the ecosystem growing.

According to its website, Biomodd is an interactive and collaborative art project that integrates nature and technology. It fuses recycled computers, aquaponics, a rainforest ecosystem, Paete woodcarving, and a videogame based on the mythology of Mariang Makiling. (Not familiar? Learn about those with Insight Guide Philippines.)

“…Biomodd is an interactive and collaborative art project that integrates nature and technology. One of aims of the project is to create an art installation in which different forms of plant life coexist with a fully functioning computer system. This system is built almost entirely from recycled computers, and plant growth is stimulated by the excess heat of the working electronics. Visitors can interact with the art installation by playing a multiplayer computer game that runs on this hybrid system.”

The exhibit is meant to instigate discussion on eco-driven and artistic topics, including computer recycling, contemporary and traditional art, and the environment.

Currently exhibiting at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design / mcad (College of Saint Benilde), September 1-25

Biomodd will be on display until September 25th. Vermulen may move the project on to Singapore and Brazil. Report and photos by Beth Morrissey

Read more at their website: Biomodd

Image courtesy of Biomodd; see more images of their project here

The crew from  CSIRO Manufacturing Materials Technology in Melbourne, claim the device increases the shower stream’s volume while simultaneously reducing amount of water by approximately thirty percent.

The average household uses roughly 200,000 litres of water per year, showers reigning about a third of this. Not only will the  Aerated Showerhead save a substantial amount of water, but also save you a few dollars, too. And because it delivers the sensation of a steady water stream either way, it definitely is a great move towards living green – while staying just as clean.

See more innovation from CSIRO.

According to the contest’s website, Mrs. Kemp was a newbie in the gardening world. “Our family planted our first garden this year with absolutely no prior experience. We thought growing a garden would be intimidating, but we just followed a few directions and the plants just did their thing,” Mrs. Kemp wrote in her contest entry. “It makes me feel wholesome to be growing our own organic vegetables.”

Amazing lawns and gorgeous gardens were among the entries – all ground without a speck of pesticides and chemicals.

Winners of the third annual David Suzuki Digs My Garden photo contest have been posted online (naturechallenge.org/dmg09/photo_contest) and include:

• Big Gardens: Bob & Leonore Foster, Kingston, ON

• Small Gardens: Melanie Kramer, Toronto, Ont.

• Cool Climates: Robin Round, Whitehorse, Yukon

• Ornamental Gardens: Max Wallace, Toronto, Ont.

• Starting Off: Heather Kemp (the Kemp family), Balgonie, Sask. (***overall winner)

• Starting Over: Jay Ashworth (Associated Labels), Coquitlam, B.C.

• Vegetable Gardens: Steve Unger, Vancouver, B.C.

• Gardening Fanatics: Maria Martini & Raffaella Shea, Langley, B.C.

For detailed descriptions, check out  photos and stories of the winning entries, visit the Nature Challenge site.

The immense success of the contest is hopefully a movement in the right direction towards steering clear of pesticides used in lawns and gardens. With bans currently in Ontario and Quebec, and many retailers currently having removed chemicals from their stores, it seems like we’re on our way there.

For the full contest details, check out naturechallenge.org

For more tips and great reading, check out David Suzuki’s Green Guide. It’s perfect for those who are feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of being green, laying it out simply and clearly. It’s divided into sections on home, food, travel, waste management and green citizenship, covering all issues with easy steps for carbon footprint reduction.

With a summary of Twelve Guiding Principles of Sustainable Consumption, it’s a perfect way to move forward into a greener world when you just don’t know where to begin.

source: David Suzuki Foundation