Varieties

Those fuzzy-skinned peaches are a member of the stone fruit family. There are loads of peach varieties, but we we’re more accustomed to referring to them by their main categories: freestone and clingstone.

Freestone peaches have pits that are easily removed from the fruit. These are the peaches that you can break in half and remove the pit, then munch away.

Clingstone peaches are firmly adhered to the pit; that it, you have to eat it like an apple. They come a little earlier in the season.

How to Buy

When buying peaches during FPT, select those that are free of bruising and have a deep, fruit aroma. They should be yellow or creamy white, free of any green undertones. If they are green, they were picked too early and won’t ripen very well. They also won’t be very sweet.

Often we look for that signature red blush on the fruit for ripeness, but that isn’t the case. Instead, this just indicates a certain variety.

When they are at their peak, peaches will yield to gentle pressure along the seams. They should be slightly soft; avoid those that are very soft.

If they aren’t quite ripe yet, but you plan to ripe them at home, choose peaches that are

firm, but not too hard. They will soften and become juicier as they ripen, but will not become sweeter. Place peaches in a paper bag, close it, and keep it at room temperature for 1 to 2 days, checking daily for ripeness.

Once they are ripe, store them in the refrigerator and use them within the next couple of days. Do not put unripe peaches in the refrigerator–they’ll become mealy.

How to Prepare

You can eat peaches with the skin or without… That’s a taste preference. They are often pealed when used in desserts, such as pies.

Always wash them before serving, and they are best served at room temperature.

If you are enjoying a freestone peach, you can pit it before eating it. To pit it, cut it lengthwise into halves around the pit, then twist the halves in opposite directions to separate them. Clingstone peaches cannot be pitted, but can be sliced into chunks around the pit or eaten out of hand.

What They’re Good For

One medium peach has only 40 calories, and is a good source of vitamin A, as well as vitamin C. They also pack in some fibre, are relatively low in sugar, and are naturally sodium free.

How to Enjoy Them

• Smoothies: add peaches, yogurt, spinach and your other favourite ingredients into a blender, and process until smooth.
• Top your creamy snacks, like yogurt, cottage cheese, and pudding.
• Puree with a little agave nectar, cinnamon and nutmeg, and pour over your favourite ice cream (try these vegan varieties).
• Use in savory dishes, like salads and stirfries.
• Mix with tomatoes, jalapeno, onion, cilantro and garlic for a quick sweet and spicy salsa.
• Grill halves of freestone peaches to enjoy alongside your dinner.

Tell us… How do you love your peaches? Link your recipes here or tell us about them!

Image courtesy of rubbahslippahsinitaly.blogspot.com

These stars, NGC 3603 and RMC 136a, were explored in detail. NGC 3603, located 22000 light-years away from the Sun, is a cosmic factory where stars form extended clouds of gas and dust. RMC 136a is located inside the Tarantula Nebula, in a neighbouring galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud, 165 000 light-years away.

The team found that the surface temperatures of many of these stars was over 40 000 degrees, which is seven times hotter than the Sun. They were also tens of times larger and several million times brighter.The star R136a1, found in the R136 cluster, is largest star ever found.

“Unlike humans, these stars are born heavy and lose weight as they age,” explains Paul Crowther. “Being a little over a million years old, the most extreme star R136a1 is already ‘middle-aged’ and has undergone an intense weight loss programme, shedding a fifth of its initial mass over that time, or more than fifty solar masses.”

He continues: “[The R136's] high mass would reduce the length of the Earth’s year to three weeks, and it would bathe the Earth in incredibly intense ultraviolet radiation, rendering life on our planet impossible,” says Raphael Hirschi from Keele University, who belongs to the team.

These rare stars keep the researchers puzzled; theorists, however, want to continue to explore the challenges to determine what makes them what they are, and how they form.

Not only is R136a1 the most massive star that has been discovered, but also the brightest, close to 10 million times greater than the Sun. “Owing to the rarity of these monsters, I think it is unlikely that this new record will be broken any time soon,” Crowther says.

For the full article, see Science Daily.

Image courtesy from apod.nasa.gov

Seriously.

And vegan ice cream isn’t just for vegans. Oh, no. Once you try these ice creams, free of animal fats and cholesterol, you’ll want to come back for more.

Here are our top six. Have a favourite we didn’t list? Add it below!

Purely Decadent Dairy Free Soy Ice Cream

They were making the best vegan ice cream before folks were even thinking about vegan ice cream. This certified vegan ice cream contains less than half the fat of premium dairy ice cream. It only contains 65% of the calories and has zero trans fats.

It comes in a wide variety of flavours, from Cherry Nirvana to Cookie Avalanche to Key Lime Pie. The best part? Most of them are gluten-free, too… even chocolate chip cookie dough.

Our favourite flavours are Chocolate Peanut Butter Zig Zag, a rich chocolate ice cream base filled with chocolate flakes and chunks of peanut butter, and Chunky Mint Madness, a base of chocolate and mint packed with rich chocolaty cookie pieces.

Check them out at turtlemountain.com/products/purely_decadent.html.

Purely Decadent Coconut Milk Ice Cream

In addition to their soy ice cream, the folks at Turtle Mountain also make some awesome coconut milk-based ice cream. They are sweetened with agave nectar instead of sugar and lower in fat and calories than most premium ice creams.

The coconut milk delivers a smooth, creamy taste that surpasses anything else. Some of the same flavours of the soy-based desserts are repeated in these; we love the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough… And yes, it’s gluten-free.

Visit turtlemountain.com/products/purely_decadent.html.

Temptation Vegan Ice Cream

The folks at Chicago Soy Dairy have focused on a creamy, authentic taste, made in a dedicated dairy-free facility. They include some not-so-typical flavours, such as coffee, green tea, and our favourite, Peach Cobbler.

Around the holidays, they have seasonal flavours, including the likes of pumpkin–yum!

Explore their other offerings at gotemptation.com

Living Harvest Tempt™ Non-Dairy Ice Cream

Made from smooth and creamy Hempmilk, Tempt™ frozen desserts are a delicious alternative to soy. They are also free of gluten, cholesterol, and are non-gmo and kosher.

Hemp seed delivers a slightly nutty flavor with a focus on creamy goodness. There are five flavours to choose from, but we love their Coffee Biscotti the best, with a hint of organic coffee and sweet, sweet chocolate.

See more at worldpantry.com

Good Karma Foods Organic Rice Divine™ Ice Cream

This organic, gluten free, dairy free  and vegan ice cream is one you’d never believe is made from rice. Organic Rice Divine™ comes in 10 succulent flavours, from simple Very Vanilla to comforting Banana Fudge.

All of the ice creams are organic, lactose free, gluten free, non-dairy, trans fat free, vegan, and support green farming. We especially love Mudd Pie, a mixture of Organic Columbian coffe eand naturally sweet organic brown rice, mixed with organic almond pieces, chunks of real organic chocolate cookies, and a ribbon of rich organic fudge running through it. Fabulous.

Get more from goodkarmafoods.com

Luna and Larry’s Coconut Bliss

Last but not least is the epitome of coconut ice cream. This is our favourite, with flavours that makes your mouth water just at their mention.

Simple flavours are highlighted in a creamy base in their flavours Vanilla Island, Dark Chocolate and Naked Coconut. All versions are gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free and soy-free.

But we have to say, the Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge takes the cake. Creamy chocolate ice cream filled with hazelnuts and chocolate chunks, it tastes like a deconstructed Nutella that tickles your tastebuds with every bite.

For more, visit coconutbliss.com

Image courtesy of transfairusa.org

Go smooth

Do away with jerky, sudden movements with the gas pedal. One second of wide open throttle creates the same amount of carbon monoxide emissions as 20 minutes of normal driving, so be a little more gentle with the gas.

Try: Circles Into Squares – Relaxing Renaissance & Celtic Music for Yoga, Massage & Meditation, a new CD guaranteed to calm you while driving.

Early to shift

Manual transmission drivers should avoid revving their engine unnecessarily – no matter how “cool” it sounds. Your engine burns less fuel if you shift a little earlier than you normally would.

Try: Blue Planet’s Recycled Eyewear – you’ll look even cooler than revving your wheels. Check out Wilder
and Jaia, two of our favourites.

Plan your route

Need to do a lot of errands? Have an appointment on the other side of town. Staying away from congested areas, hills, different speed changes and stop and go traffic allows you to burn less fuel to your destination.

Try: a Garmin nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch GPS Navigator or keep it simple with an 2010 United States Road Atlas.

Use the cruise

A constant or steady speed burns less fuel than frequent and abrupt changes, so if you have the option, use the cruise control when you can.

Try: With your car in cruise, you can be a little safer while simultaneously enjoying your morning coffee. Enjoy it in an Aladdin Recycled and Recyclable 16-Ounce Mug. Comes in a variety of bright colours!

Go for shaded parking

Your car’s interior will be cooler, and the air conditioning might not be necessary – letting your car drive a little cleaner while you cool down.

Try: An eco-friendly alternative to plastic or reflective sunshades, like the Jumbo Cardboard Sunshade

Never idle

Drive-thrus, canal bridges, border crossings, and waiting for someone should be avoided at all costs. Do what you can to shut it off if you know you’ll be longer than a brief moment.

Try: Have a book on hand in the car for times that you might be stuck in the car. Check out new eco-driven titles, such as Good for Business: The Rise of the Conscious Corporation, The Green Workplace: Sustainable Strategies that Benefit Employees, the Environment, and the Bottom Line, and Frugillionaire: 500 Fabulous Ways to Live Richly and Save a Fortune.

Image courtesy of arval.be Buy car insurance Paramus Honda

Confused.com go to a wide range of Car Insurance providers to find the deal best suited to you, and can save you money in the process.

Visit farmer insurance agents | California Traffic School

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.

From guest blogger Marina Chernyak

A mosaic is created by inlaying small pieces of colored materials, whether of the same size and shape or not, in order to form a picture of a pattern on a surface. Often times, it is made with the use of colored tiles, broken pieces of glass and stones.

However, mosaics can also be created in many other ways, such as with the use of pieces of paper. It can also be a painting style, where in one draws and paints on these shapes on. In addition to these techniques, eggshell mosaics are popular arts and crafts projects for kids.

With the advent of modern technology, too, computers can also generate mosaic-style images using a set of your own pictures. Whatever form of mosaic one chooses, the end result is still the same: it adds a WOW factor to your space.

Creating your own mosaics can be a fun and relaxing way of spending a lazy afternoon, and believe it or not, it’s quite easy to do.

Plus it’s a great way of recycling old stuff in your home. Talk about turning trash into treasure!

The chosen material is chipped or broken ceramic plates; the best options are  when these materials are colored or hand-painted. Old floor tiles are also good options. You can also buy some, like this package of 1000 Tiny Mosaic Glass Tiles An added bonus to using these materials is that breaking these into smaller pieces is a great stress reliever.

To be safe, I put them inside an old pillowcase before breaking them with a hammer. The only drawback with this type of material is that you often end up with unevenly shaped pieces, which is not necessarily a problem unless you prefer using a uniformed tile. You can also try using a tile cutter, but I prefer the uniqueness of the hammer method.

Other materials you will need for a project like this would be the following:

• A project “base” or something to stick the pieces on. For example, an old terra cotta pot or empty wine bottle. It could also be your old table top, a mirror, a wooden box or even the lid of an empty ice cream can.
• Tile or cement glue such as Duco Cement Multi-Purpose Household Glu An alternative for this is a glue gun. Although the glue gun does not harden as much as the tile or cement glue does, it is quite effective and in case you make a mistake, it’s easy to remove.
• Mosaic sealant, although if you’re doing a glass table top or a mirror that does not need waterproofing, you can forgo this.
• Tile grout like Weldbond Tile Grout Sealer to fill up the spaces between the colored tiles (stones, plates, or whatever it is you use)
• A tile squeegee to spread the grout. Don’t use your fingers as this can lead to a lot of cuts and injuries!
• A sponge or paint brush to clean up the final project and cover with sealant.

How to go about it:

1. Prepare the tiles you will use (be it the broken plates, cut-up pieces of paper, etc.). It would be best if your tile pieces were flat and of the same thickness. This ensures that your final design will be even and have a flat surface.

2. Sketch out your pattern on your base. If you are using an old table top, you may need to prep this This will help guide you in placing the tiles.

3. Glue on the tiles on the appropriate spots of your design. Make sure you leave a little space in between each tile for the grout. This is what will make your design stand out.

4. Prepare the grout by following instructions in the package. Using the squeegee, spread over the entire design making sure to fill up the spaces between the tiles. Scrape of the excess and wipe the design down with a cloth or towel. Be careful when doing this as the tiles may move since the grout and glue may not have set yet.

5. Leave to dry for several hours before wiping down with a damp sponge to remove excess grout. If need be, cover with sealant.

Of course the easiest way is to go out and purchase a mosaic tiling kit, just choose your design and everything is all set. However, doing this from scratch adds a more rewarding feel to the project.

These projects can also be a good family activity, given of course that the tiles you decide to use are suitable to your child’s age. This can be a fun way for them to learn colors, patterns and more importantly, patience and perseverance!

Marina Chernyak is the co-owner of 1001Shops LLC, a one stop shop of unique imported products like Limoges boxes, antique Walking canes and many more.

Image: Recycled Bangles Mosaic Art Bird Sculpture Nek Chand India – Ant Smith

Like in the past years, the company encourages folks to visit www.odwalla.com/plantatree to help determine where the new trees will be planted.

From Odwalla

Odwalla_® Expands Plant a Tree Program to All 50 States; Doubles Tree Donations in 2010

Half Moon Bay, Calif., May 24, 2010 ­–– All 50 states will be competing for trees this summer when Odwalla launches its third annual Plant a Tree program. The program is a partnership between Odwalla and America’s State Parks to support the environment and help with important reforestation and planting initiatives.

Beginning May 25, visitors to www.odwalla.com/plantatree can click on one of 50 state park systems where they would like to plant a tree, free of charge. Odwalla will double last year’s donation – which went to the 11 participating states – and plant 200,000 trees through the 2010 program. Tree locations will be determined by website visitor designation.

In addition to the Odwalla website, a portion of the trees will be allocated via codes found in the Park Visitor Welcome Kits at participating State Parks. Fans of Odwalla on Facebook also can create their own virtual Microforest by encouraging others to donate trees via the Plant a Tree program.  Fans will get virtual credit when their friends participate in the Plant a Tree program – helping to spread the word about the program. As more friends designate tree donations from Odwalla, the fan will get a virtual forest planted in their name.

“It was great to see the overwhelming response to the Plant a Tree program in its first two years and we’re delighted to be able to expand its reach to all 50 states in 2010,” said Chris Brandt, Odwalla vice president of marketing. “Odwalla began with a simple vision to make great juice, do good things for the community and build a business with heart. The Plant a Tree program is just one of the many ways we are able to recognize this vision today.”

The website portion of the Odwalla Plant a Tree program runs from May 25, 2010 through August 15, 2010. Codes found in the State Park Visitor Welcome Kits can be redeemed through December 31, 2010. The species of trees donated will vary by region and will be planted in fall 2010 and early 2011.  Odwalla has donated 160,000 trees since the program began in 2008.

About America’s State Parks

America’s State Parks brings together the state park systems of all 50 states representing more than 2,000 parks nationally. Our state parks encompass natural and cultural treasures, and provide recreation opportunities for more than 725 million visits each year. Learn more at www.americasstateparks.com.

Odwalla, Inc., the nation’s leading natural health beverage company, delivers nourishment coast to coast with the Odwalla family of juices, juice drinks, soy beverages and nourishing food bars.  Odwalla has been making juices and innovating in the natural health beverage category for 30 years.  Its nourishing beverages and food bars are available in natural food stores, select supermarkets and specialty outlets throughout the country.

To learn more about Odwalla products and Odwalla’s commitment to the environment, please visit  or call 1.800.ODWALLA. Also follow Odwalla on Facebook (www.facebook.com/odwalla) and Twitter (@Odwalla).

From the Rainforest Alliance:

Leaders in Sustainability Honored at Rainforest Alliance Gala

New York – The Rainforest Alliance, an international nonprofit organization focused on sustainable farming, forestry and tourism, names the 2010 honorees for its annual gala on May 12 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.  Companies continue to make bold commitments to sustainability, despite an uncertain economic landscape, and these commitments improve livelihoods and conserve biodiversity on the ground.  The annual gala recognizes companies and individuals for their work with the Rainforest Alliance on making sustainable supply chain decisions, or for their longtime support of conservation work.

“Twenty years ago, the Rainforest Alliance had only a handful of companies working with us on their supply chains, and now we have thousands,” said Tensie Whelan, president of the Rainforest Alliance. “The companies and individuals honored during our annual gala are those that show leadership in their efforts to make farms, forests and tourism operations more sustainable so that future generations may also enjoy them.”

The 2010 honorees are:

Sustainable Standard-Setters (recognizing businesses and individuals with strong commitments to sustainability that champion conservation, improve the environment and support local communities):

Pierrick Chouard of Vintage Plantations Chocolates

Columbia Forest Products

Côte d’Or Chocolate

Glenn Jampol and Teresa Osman of Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation & Inn

JD Wetherspoon

Kenya Tea Development Agency

Willamette Valley Vineyards

2010 Gala Co-chairs:

Luigi Lavazza S.p.A.

Suzano Pulp and Paper

The honorees and co-chairs will come together on May 12 with other business leaders and representatives from the Rainforest Alliance for a day-long workshop on marketing sustainability and certification at a location in downtown Manhattan. Following the workshop, they will join other Rainforest Alliance supporters for an awards dinner, dancing and a silent auction at the American Museum of Natural History. Gala proceeds benefit the Rainforest Alliance’s work in sustainable agriculture, forestry and tourism.

Achievements of the 2010 gala honorees:

Pierrick Chouard of Vintage Plantations Chocolates

In the late 1990s, Pierrick Chouard – at the time, manager of a French chocolate company – paid a visit to the Dominican Republic to research local cocoa farms.  It was an eye-opening experience for Chouard, who was unaware of the depth and complexity of the social, environmental and economic challenges facing cocoa farmers in Latin America and the Caribbean.  Following the trip, Chouard developed a class to introduce cocoa farmers to better farming practices and began contemplating launching his own line of sustainably grown specialty chocolate.  Chouard approached the Rainforest Alliance with a generous donation to jump-start a development project in the Dominican Republic and a desire to identify a sustainable source for his new line of chocolate products. Together, we agreed to connect with potential suppliers in Ecuador, where the Rainforest Alliance was already engaged with a number of farmers. By 2004, Vintage Plantations Arriba chocolate had hit the shelves and become the first-ever cocoa product to bear the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ green frog seal. Today, 100 percent of the cocoa used in Vintage’s delicious chocolates comes from farms that protect the environment and the rights and welfare of local communities.

vintageplantations.com

Columbia Forest Products

In the late 1990’s Columbia Forest Products — North America’s leading producer of hardwood plywood and hardwood veneer — identified certification as an opportunity to differentiate its products in the marketplace.  Soon after, it became the first manufacturer of its kind to secure a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)/Rainforest Alliance Chain-of-Custody certificate, and more than a decade later it provides the industry’s most comprehensive line of FSC-certified decorative hardwood panel products. Columbia has incorporated other game-changing practices into its operations, too — for example, eliminating the use of urea formaldehyde from its manufacturing process. According to Columbia, working with the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program “positioned us to make substantial changes in the makeup of our product lines and helped our merchandise to resonate with increasingly sophisticated and environmentally-conscious consumers.”

columbiaforestproducts.com

Côte d’Or Chocolate

Thanks to a momentous commitment and pioneering efforts from Kraft Foods, consumers across Europe and North America are experiencing the delicious taste of sustainably grown cocoa. With Côte d’Or premium line of chocolate products now containing at least 30 percent Rainforest Alliance Certified™ cocoa content, Kraft Foods is demonstrating its meaningful investment in sustainability and responsible agriculture.  It’s a commitment that will continue to deepen: by 2012, all of the cocoa in Kraft Foods Côte d’Or and Marabou chocolate products will be sourced from certified farms. For thousands of West African farmers and their families, this means access to health care, safety equipment and education services.

cotedor.com

Glenn Jampol and Teresa Osman of Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation & Inn

For conservation-conscious tourists and eco-curious coffee lovers, Finca Rosa Blanca is an essential destination. A coffee plantation and inn, it has been awarded a prestigious five green leaves and a perfect 100 percent score from Costa Rica’s Certification for Sustainable Tourism program and Rainforest Alliance certification (plus wide recognition) for sustainable farm management. Finca Rosa Blanca has also

demonstrated a real commitment to the betterment of its local community. For the past 20 years, the inn’s owners have donated five percent of their annual bar and restaurant revenue to community projects, enabling the construction of a new library, dining room and computer center at their local school, developing a community-wide recycling center and providing continuous support to the Children’s Food Bank and Kitchen.

fincarosablanca.com

JD Wetherspoon

With ongoing sustainability initiatives at its 757 pubs and 16 hotels located throughout the UK, JD Wetherspoon has been quietly demonstrating its commitment to ethical business for some time. In 2004, Wetherspoon launched a company-wide recycling initiative and began bringing all of its recycled waste to a national distribution center. In 2009 alone, nearly 5,500 tons of cardboard, used cooking oil, plastic packaging, paper and steel were recycled through the initiative. The company is also working to reduce its energy consumption by 15 percent by the end of 2010 and collaborating with suppliers to minimize packaging. In addition, Wetherspoon has begun adopting responsible sourcing practices and now purchases 100 percent Rainforest Alliance Certified™ coffee for all of its pub locations — a real boon for coffee growing communities, wildlife and the environment.

jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Kenya Tea Development Agency

Producing some 60 percent of Kenya’s tea, the Kenya Tea Development Agency (also known as KTDA) has been working with its farmers to make the case for socially and environmentally responsible agriculture for some time. In 2006, KTDA and one of its main buyers, Unilever — supported by the UK’s Department for International Development — launched a pilot program to demonstrate the value of sustainable agriculture among its small-scale farmers. The project was a resounding success. By the close of 2009, KTDA had achieved Rainforest Alliance certification on more than 38,000 of its smallholder tea farms- a development that has truly benefited the agency, farmers and factory employees. Today, KTDA’s Rainforest Alliance Certified tea is commanding a higher price, workers and farmers have critical safety equipment and employees and farmers now understand the very real value of soil, water and wildlife conservation.

74.63.45.6/cmss4

Willamette Valley Vineyards

If Willamette Valley Vineyards wanted to save $250,000 a year, it could stop using natural cork stoppers and transition to metal screw caps or plastic stoppers. Fortunately, the winemaker understands that that number does not reflect the true cost to the environment, which is why it pays a premium to seal its bottles with cork harvested from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)/Rainforest Alliance Certified forestlands in the Mediterranean. An overriding commitment to social, environmental and economic sustainability is apparent throughout Willamette Valley Vineyards’ business operations. All of the company’s properties have been certified by LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) as well as Salmon-Safe. The vineyard also offers ten cents for every wine bottle returned to its tasting room (regardless of origin), uses recycled paper throughout its facilities and recycles all plastic, aluminum, paper and cardboard.

willamettevalleyvineyards.com

Achievements of the 2010 gala co-chairs:

Luigi Lavazza S.p.A.

One of Italy’s oldest and most popular coffee roasters and sellers, Lavazza strives for quality and innovation while maintaining a respect for tradition. Since 2004, the Rainforest Alliance and Lavazza have collaborated on ¡Tierra!, a project to help small coffee growing communities in Honduras, Peru and Colombia improve their living and working conditions and become more competitive and self-sufficient. Through the initiative, farmers have learned to protect wildlife, waterways and forests by using eco-friendly techniques – for example, controlling pests without the use of dangerous agrochemicals and replacing inefficient coffee mills with modern machinery that conserves water and controls pollution. The project has borne fruit: Since 2005, Rainforest Alliance Certified ¡Tierra! Coffee, a 100 percent premium Arabica blend, has been sold in specialty and retail stores in many countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy. Soon, Lavazza plans to introduce ¡Tierra! to coffee-growing communities in Tanzania, India and Brazil, as well.

lavazza.com/corporate

Suzano Pulp and Paper

Endangered species like the Juçara palm and the Bahia rosewood thrive on Suzano Pulp and Paper’s responsibly managed forestlands in the states of São Paulo, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Maranhão and Piauí. The 86-year-old pulp and paper company – which sells its products in more than 80 countries around the globe – has made environmental stewardship a central part of its business strategy. It’s a commitment that has paid off. One of the ten largest pulp producers in the world, Suzano attributes much of its business success to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)/Rainforest Alliance certification on its well-managed forestlands. With approximately 40 percent of its 597,000 hectares set aside as reserves — and the rest complying with the FSC’s strict standards for social, environmental and economic sustainability — it’s clear that Suzano’s commitment has been profitable for the environment as well as the company’s bottom line.

suzano.com.br

Gala sponsors: Domtar, Gibson Foundation, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, National Geographic Traveler and Nestlé Nespresso SA

BACKGROUND

Established more than 22 years ago, the Rainforest Alliance seeks to conserve biodiversity through its programs in sustainable forestry, agriculture, tourism and climate in over 76 countries worldwide.  Through third-party certification of forests and farm land and training on sustainable tourism practices, the organization helps promote sustainable livelihoods.  It also works with companies of all sizes on improving the sustainability of their supply chains.  During 2009, the organization saw continued growth in the number of companies buying from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms or forests — an increase of 26 percent from the previous year.  In agriculture, the volume of Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee sold in 2009 grew 41 percent from the previous year to 87,583 metric tons. In forestry, the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program certified 22.2 million acres (9 million ha) of forestland, increasing the program’s overall forest management area 18 percent to 145 million acres (59 million ha) worldwide. For its work in tourism, the Rainforest Alliance received a 2009 Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award for upping the ante for sustainability standards in the tourism industry.  The climate initiative has also seen an upsurge in activity, to date validating or verifying 11 forest carbon projects representing 1,897,239 acres (768,113 ha).

The Rainforest Alliance works with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travelers. From large multinational corporations to small, community-based cooperatives, businesses and consumers worldwide are involved in the Rainforest Alliance’s efforts to bring responsibly produced goods and services to a global marketplace where the demand for sustainability is growing steadily. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.

Image courtesy of fincarosablanca.com

So I bake a lot for them. And it’s makes them happy.

But what if you aren’t a kitchenista? No problem. Here are seven more ways to say “I love you” to mom this Mother’s Day, for little to no cost.

Pamper Her Pretty

Bring over your curling iron and a bottle of your favourite nail polish. Warm your hands with some scented oil (we like Natures Alchemy Carrier Oil) and get to work on her neck and shoulders. It’s a day for mom, and it’s time she relax. Do up her hair, her toes, and give her a massage – awhile enjoying some good quality chocolate (try Green & Black)and some good sappy movies.

Make Like a Maid

Send her away for the afternoon or ask a friend or family member to hit the town with her… While you get to work on her house. Wash the floors, do the laundry, dust, vacuum (especially if she has a Dyson ) and make the beds… Then have dinner ready and waiting for when she returns home.

Photo Collage

Dig out old boxes from your childhood and beyond then put together in collages, frames, or scrapbook style. Touch on old memories, favourite trips, and countless moments of the two of you spending time together. Find some quotes and write some fitting captions to bring it all together.

Skill Swap (without the swap)

So you have a skill? Use it on your mom. Whether you’re a seamstress, professional organizer or a handyman, lend your mom a helping hand with what you know and do best.

Perfect a Playlist

Does mom love her music but is a little, er, iTunes unsavvy? Pick out her favourites and put them all together on a few CDs or directly onto her MP3 player. Make a few playlists – one featuring her current faves, one highlighting bands and songs that you know she’ll love, one from her youth and family favourites from the past.

Make it a Date Night

Invite her over for a formal dinner, complete with courses and some good wine. Go all out with taking the time to recreate her favourite dishes or trying something completely new. Dress to the nines and leisurely serve courses over the evening. (Try out new recipes with Great Chefs Cook Vegan)

Sow Some Seeds

Get gardening in your home by planting some seedlings to transplant to her garden. Or start some container herb gardening for her indoor use. Either way, she’ll appreciate the bounty of vegetables that will continue to gift-give all summer long. (Get some organic seeds here)

Image courtesy of gardenerresource.com

Rainforest Alliance Certifies Massachusetts Private Forests to FSC Standards

New York – The Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program announced today its certification of a Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (MA DCR) group to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards.  The group, made up of private forest landowners throughout the state of Massachusetts, is only the second program run by a state forestry group to receive FSC certification.

“We see state forestry certifications as a growing trend,” said David Bubser, SmartWood regional manager for the Rainforest Alliance.  “States are opening up to the idea that independent, third-party verification can demonstrate that they are implementing responsible forestry practices.”

MA DCR’s certification follows the December 2008 certification of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Managed Forest Law group.  MA DCR is the first state-run group certification, however, to use an “opt-in” system, which means that land owners must request to be involved in the certification.  An “early adopter” group of seven landowners who own 700 acres were audited in June 2009. Since the audit, an additional 92 landowners who collectively own another 19,300 acres have declared their intentions to join the group. MA DCR anticipates the enrollment will continue to expand as members learn of the benefits of FSC certification.  This certification is separate from the FSC certificate awarded to Massachusetts State Lands from 2004 to 2009.

“The forestry programs offered by MA DCR Bureau of Forestry assist private landowners in maintaining their forests as forests,” said Doug Hutcheson, green certification private lands service forester. “The emphasis of FSC certification on sustainable forest management is consistent with that effort.”

Roger Plourde, a landowner who opted into the group, owns more than 285 acres of oak and white pine forest in Spencer, MA. “I see the DCR-sponsored FSC certification program as a great opportunity for woodland owners in Massachusetts,” said Plourde.  “Practicing sustainable forestry often requires postponing the harvesting of valuable crop trees until regeneration goals are achieved.  I am hopeful that FSC certification will increase the profitability of the small diameter wood products produced in early thinnings.  Without DCR’s funding of third-party audits, green certification would be too costly for small acreages.”

Forests certified by the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program must meet FSC standards of responsible forestry.  FSC-certified forests provide habitat for wildlife, sequester carbon, protect soil and waterways and improve worker safety and training. Continuing growth of FSC-certified forests helps to slow global deforestation rates, which is an effective and cost-efficient way to reduce atmospheric carbon.

Due to the growing demand for sustainable wood for furniture, pulp, paper and green buildings, FSC-certified forest owners often experience better market access and value for their timber.  As part of the certification, the Rainforest Alliance will conduct annual audits to evaluate continued conformance.

With MA DCR’s certification, SmartWood has now certified 14,218,680 acres (5,754,096 ha) in the United States and 153,205,337 acres (62 million ha) in 67 countries worldwide.

The Rainforest Alliance, a nonprofit international conservation organization, was instrumental in the founding of the FSC in 1993.  It is the world’s leading certifier of forestlands to FSC standards, which is considered the gold standard of well-managed forest certification.  In addition to certification, the Rainforest Alliance verifies legality of timber, analyzes supply chains for risk, designs and implements procurement policies and helps communicate partner successes.

For more information on the Rainforest Alliance, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.

Image courtesy of rainforest-alliance.org

With over 50 million people across 35 countries participating, we’re bound to hear some good stories. Last year, over 4000 cities in 88 countries switched off their lights – this year, you should, too.

Organized by the WWF, almost five million supporters and over 100 countries, we’re excited for another year.

This year Earth Hour takes place this Saturday (March 27th) at 8:30pm local time.

Supporting the Cause

Not sure what to do? Here are some ideas from Earth Hour’s website:

You can support Earth Hour by:

1. Turning off your lights at 8.30PM on March 27
2. Showing your support and adding yourself to our world map
3. Adding Earth Hour widgets, logos and banners to your blog or website to help us spread the word. You could even be our Earth Hour Online Supporter of the Day.
4. Talking about Earth Hour in your social network by updating your Facebook status, grabbing a Twibbon, tweeting about your support, and more
5. Get together with your friends and family, by hosting an Earth Hour party or holding your own candlelit affair
6. Rally your local council or community group to run an Earth Hour event for your community
7. Encourage your employer and workmates to take part in Earth Hour and make energy savings every day
8. Make an Earth Hour Lantern as a symbol of hope for the future
9. Be creative! Find a new way to mark Earth Hour and let us know all about it!

Tell us below what you did for Earth Hour. Better yet, drop us a message as a guest blogger!

Image courtesy of EarthHour.org; Seven Earth Hour lanterns were released over the City of Cape Town, South Africa, (in front of Table Mountain) symbolizing the seven continents taking part in this global call to action on climate change. Credit: © WWF / Sean Kelland

From the Rainforest Alliance:

New Rainforest Alliance Standards Verify Companies’ Wood Purchases as Legal

New York – Illegal logging throughout the world’s forests continues to undermine efforts to promote social equity, environmental conservation and sustainable economic growth in many nations.  In developing countries alone, it has been suggested that illegal logging may result in lost assets and revenues of more than US $10 billion annually.  To address the problem of illegal logging, the Rainforest Alliance released at the Chatham House Illegal Logging Forum in London last week updated timber legality verification standards to help companies protect their supply chains and comply with new laws.

While it is difficult to accurately quantify the extent of illegal logging, estimates in some countries indicate that illegally harvested timber exceeds that of legally harvested.  The social impact of illegal logging is significant, contributing to poverty and resource inequity while jeopardizing the natural resources on which many people rely.

Increased efforts have been undertaken on international, national and private levels to address the problem of illegal logging.  In the United States, the government has amended the Lacey Act to include a ban on illegally harvested wood and wood products.  The European Commission’s Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) has focused on promoting the availability, utilization and trade in legal forest products imported by the European Union (EU).  New regulations are under development to define the requirements for timber importers who place wood and wood products in the EU markets.

Increasingly, committed businesses that want to eliminate destructive and illegal forest products from their supply chains are creating purchasing policies and seeking independent legality verification and independent forest monitoring.

“In order for those voluntary initiatives to be credible, third-party auditing is critical,” said Christian Sloth, verification services manager for the Rainforest Alliance.  “We developed standards for verification of legality to respond to a growing need for companies to provide assurances – to customers, owners, investors, or the general public – that answer questions about the legal status of timber sources.”

The Rainforest Alliance approach to legality includes a step-by-step approach starting with two levels of legality assurance; the first level is Verification of Legal Origin (VLO).  Verification of Legal Origin (VLO) verifies that timber comes from a source that has a documented legal right to harvest, according to the laws and regulations of the local government. Suppliers of VLO timber must follow and maintain documented chain-of-custody systems.

The second level of legality verification is called Verification of Legal Compliance (VLC). The VLC standard expands upon the basic component of VLO by verifying that timber harvesting complies with all applicable laws and regulations related to forestry, including laws relating to environmental protection, wildlife, water and soil conservation, harvesting rules, worker health and safety, and fairness to communities.

The Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program updated legality verification standards can be downloaded from the legality verification site on www.rainforest-alliance.org.

In 2007, Greenpeace carried out an evaluation of existing legality verification standards and the Rainforest Alliance’s legality verification program received the highest score of all systems evaluated.

The Rainforest Alliance verification program has developed quickly over the past year. The program has verified almost 20 companies and forests in Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia.  New verification clients are under evaluation in Laos, China, Paraguay and Congo.

As a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-accredited certifier, the Rainforest Alliance recognizes FSC certification as a core element to a sound company purchasing policy.  However, for companies with extremely complex supply chains, it can take time to “green” their supply chain and increase volumes of certified supply.  Companies that have requirements (voluntary or mandatory) to demonstrate progress in increasing the percentages of legal and sustainable forest products can work with the Rainforest Alliance’s forestry team to establish a sourcing plan. There are many steps to this – phasing out unknown and uncertified wood; phasing in known, legal, or controlled wood (as per FSC standards); sourcing from those engaged in a stepwise program for certification, such as the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartStep program.

“By working within the realm of sources that have the potential to be legal and sustainable, we can increase the amount of responsibly managed forests over the long run,” said Sloth.

The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.

Image courtesy of rainforest-alliance.org

Apple Crisp

Serve plain or with Vanilla Creme Sauce or Vanilla Ice Cream (both of which are available in her book)

Makes one 8-inch crisp, 8 servings

Equipment: cutting board, peeler, 8″ chef’s knife, paring knife, measuring cups, measuring spoons, food processor, rubber spatula, small mixing bowl, 8″ square glass pan

2 apples, peeled and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup pitted medjool dates, soaked
1/2 cup raisins, soaked
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups Crumble Topping (see below)

Toss the sliced apples with 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice and set aside. Place the chopped apples, dates, raisins, cinnamon and remaining 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a food processor fitted with the S blade and process until smooth. Remove from the food processor and mix with the sliced apples.

To assemble the crisp, press 1/2 cup of the Crumble Topping into an 8″ square glass baking dish. Spread the apple filling on top using a rubber spatula. Using your hands, knead pieces of the remaining 1 1/2 cups of Crumble Topping until they stick together. Lay these pieces of topping on the apple filling to form a cobbled appearance, allowing some of the filling to peek through. Serve at room temperature or warm in a slow oven or dehydrator (see note). Covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator, Apple Crisp will keep for three days.

Note: To warm, preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Turn off the oven, insert the Apple Crisp, and warm for 15 minutes. Alternatively, heat the Apple Crisp for 30 minutes in a food dehydrator set at 105 degrees F.

Crumble Topping

This topping tastes like it was freshly baked! Use it on crisps, as a crust for Apple Crumb Cake or eat it straight.

Makes 2 cups, 8 servings

Equipment: measuring cups, measuring spoons, food processor, rubber spatula.

2 cups raw walnuts or pecans, unsoaked
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded dried coconut
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup raisins, unsoaked
8 pitted medjool dates, unsoaked
1/4 cup whole can sugar or maple syrup (optional, for a sweeter topping)

Place the walnuts, coconut, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in the food processor fitted with the S blade and process until coarsely ground. Add the raisins and dates and process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs and begins to stick together. Don’t over process. Add the optional whole cane sugar and process briefly. Stored in a sealed container, Crumble Topping will keep for one month in the refrigerator or three months in the freezer.

Image courtesy of wellsphere.com

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

Stop smoking

Millions of cigarettes swamp our coastlines, and according to TreeHugger,  one tree is destroyed for every 300 cigarettes (over 600 million trees in total). This doesn’t even begin to touch on the negative effects on our health.

Reduce water use

Decrease your water waste by adopting these two practices: stop flushing and stop washing. Well, sparingly, of course. The average toilet wastes up to 5.5 gallons per flush – so if it’s just a tinkle or two, figure out if flushing is really necessary.

Same goes for clothes, dishes and yourself – wash when dirty.

Lose some weight

Seriously. Did you know that about 70% of folks over 20 are overweight? And about 15% of kids aged 6 to 11 are, too. (more) We need to get moving more often. Try swapping your car for a bicycle or your feet for shorter trips and distances.

Recycle and compost

These two simple steps are super easy to start. You’ll be baffled at the amount of garbage you don’t have.

Have more ideas? Add them below!

Image courtesy of bbc.co.uk

Just send us your info with a few writing clips and tell us why you’d be a great choice. We’re looking for topics on anything eco-related, whether its the latest in NASA research, the coolest new product, or a recipe that you love highlighting local ingredients.

If you aren’t sure if you’d be a good fit, check out our articles. We write in a friendly, conversational style on anything to do with the planet.

Whether its a one-off article or you’d like to pen a couple a week, we’re keen on having you aboard.

Simply contact us and we’ll be in touch within a day or two to let you know!

Add your story to the comments below – remember, it must somehow relate to sustainability, living green, or karma – and we’ll pick a winner at random!

Details to follow, but for now, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and everything in between.

Fear not. We’ve compiled a list that is sure to help you combat any last minute gift shopping woes you might have.

First check out our Top 10 eco-health gift ideas for 2009 for those on your list with an interest in all things health. Then go discover our article Gifting green for those extras on your list with a few more ideas for your teachers, babysitters and what have you.

Finally, check out our fifty-seven reviews, ranging from everything to the best in vegan cookbooks to everything bamboo.

But we’ve decided that’s not enough. In fact, we decided a total of 101 wasn’t enough. Here are thirty-nine more eco-driven holiday ideas, perfect for everyone on your list.

For the car lover, pick up Green Earth Technologies Organic Glass Cleaner. This biodegradable, non-streaking formula is perfect to keep their car looking like new.

Perfect for the bedroom or office, the Panasonic VIERA X1 Series 26-Inch LCD HDTV is a great, all-around, energy-saving tv. It includes an iPod dock, digital photo Image Viewer, and easy access to your DVD and blu-ray players.

Have a clean freak in your life? Get them the Bissell 1400-7 Little Green Multi-Purpose Deep Cleaner. This compact machine is perfect for large and small spills, with a strong spray/suction that cleans quick and easily. We also love that its made from post-consumer recycled plastic with a PVC-free tanks and hose.

For those stockings, don’t forget some Preserve Toothbrushes with a handle made of 100% recycled plastic.

Winter skin gets us all, and we absolutely love Burt’s Bees Hand Repair Kit, guaranteed to cater towards the driest and roughest skin. Everyone will love it.

For the culinary king or queen, you can’t go wrong with the Totally Bamboo Double Salt Box. Not only does it come in handy, but it also looks cool, too.

Have you ever wanted to build your own life-size grasshopper? Get one of these for your kids… But have fun making it with them, too: Frightened Grasshopper Solar Powered Bug.

Have a co-worker who absolutely loves their Sigg? Score them some Sigg Water Bottle Clean Tablets,  letting them know you’re giving them something thoughtful, without getting too personal.

Do your cousins  love to camp? They digg the Coleman Retro Rechargeable Battery Powered Lantern, perfect for deep forest foraging or backyard adventures.

Perfect for that budding toddler is the Kettler Go-Green Trike. This tricycle is made with environmentally friendly material, including recycled steel and 95 percent of plastic parts made from recycled materials.

Think outside the board-game box with Rapelli , a bamboo-constructed game of catepillar fun! Great for the whole family, and we guarantee your kids will love it.

Kids away at school? Are they stuck with some old pots and pans? Score them this great deal on a Cuisinart Greenware Eco-Friendly Nonstick 10 Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set, good for their health, the earth, and their stomachs.

After the younger crew are done with the Frightened Grasshopper Solar Powered Bug, try out the, Solar Car Assembly Kit taking go-karting to a whole new level.

For the yogini or fitness instructor on your list, grab them the Gaiam Everything Fits Eco-Friendly Recycled Gym Bag. Perfect for days at the gym, filled with a ton of compartments for everything you need. The best part? Completely recycled.

Got some not-so-eco-friendly gifts? Balance them out with a Silva Solar Battery Charger, lessening your carbon footprint with reusable batteries.

Written by the chair of the LEED-Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) initiative, Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature is a call to action and introduction to “sustainable urbanism”: combining walkability with building infrastructure, perfect for anyone interested in architecture and urban design.

Have a busy friend who’s always on the go? Opt for the Osprey Resource Elroy Courier Bag.  Constructed of recycled 450D PET fabric, this casual eco-friendly bag is fit to fit all of your must-haves, from your yoga mat to laptop.

Get your little one on the green bandwagon early, with a clever rhyming story Where Is the Green Sheep?

Grandparents stuck with a rotary phone? Get them up to date with a Panasonic DECT 6.0-Series 3-Handset Cordless Phone System with Answering System. Offer to set it up with a smile, too.

For those who can’t get through the morning without their brew, hook them up with a chic and clever “I Am Not a Paper Cup  Porcelain Travel Cup with Lid“. Say goodbye to waste, and hello to delicious, delicious joe.

While your younger crew is reading through Where Is the Green Sheep?, get the next age group hip with Michael Recycle, featuring a super-hero main character who brings kids in tune with the environment. We also love the Seuss classic, The Lorax.

We love eco-toys for kids, and recommend the Wonderworld Twist ‘N’ Roll, a beaded squeeze toy helps your little one develop their hand-eye coordination, assist and encourage babies as they explore, develop and learn, and the Plan Toys Sorting Train is a toy is a 3-D puzzle, sorter, and pull toy, all in one – and perfect for toddlers.

Know someone interested in therapeutic yoga? For that we like the Hugger Mugger Cotton Yoga Mat, bringing a little extra comfort to your practice.

No stocking is complete without Boulevards Organic Dark Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate. Serve alongside your favourite sugar cookies.

Get your teens interested in where their clothes and goods are coming from with the book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. The authors call for a new industrial revolution… Read it to find out what.

This is the holiday for bamboo toys, and the Scivolino Marble Run is no exception. Hours of fun will pass as kids stack the bamboo blocks and add the rails to build exciting marble runs. When they’re ready for an upgrade, choose the Quadrilla Marble Railway, Twist and Rail. Trust us. You’ll be playing it, too.

For the man or woman who loves being handy around the house, they’ll love you even more when Christmas morning greets them with a Black & Decker Electric Mower with a big red bow. Eco-friendly, easy to use, and durable.

Enlighten your child’s mind with Colora Bamboo Collection Magnetic Color Tiles. Colora is a design and shapes game that promotes pattern and color recognition and the understanding of sequencing.

Have a budding entrepreneur? Whether they’re sixteen or sixty, get them a copy of Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich Trying, and put them on the right path.

Keep your kids unplugged by choosing games that are people-powered – not plug and play. Go old school with a Green Toys Jump Rope, coming in a variety of vibrant colours.

For those who love to travel, Disappearing Destinations: 37 Places in Peril and What Can Be Done to Help Save Them is a must-have. It will tell them where to go and how they can help while they are there.

Every kitchenista will love her own Joyce Chen Burnished Bamboo 5-Piece Utensil Set. Comes with everything you need, including a 12-inch mixing spoon, 12-inch slotted spatula, 11-inch tongs and 13-inch stir-fry spatula, all in a bamboo canister.

Have a friend who, well, just doesn’t know what to do? The Union of Concerned Scientists has put together a practical guide to the decisions that matter in The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Help them make their decisions.

“Aw, honey, you shouldn’t have.” Just like the blender that she doesn’t want, she probably won’t be too keen on a Delta Faucet Adjustable Showerhead with H2OKINETIC Technology. But then tell her how much money you’ll save… And that you’ll spend it on her.

A great gift for the whole family, pick up the bamboo-made Battelo Game. This memory and strategy game takes your panda through the forest to collect enough leaves to take back home to its family.

Have more favourites? List them below!

Happy holidays!

Image courtesy of lingslist.com

(From guest blogger Rachel Menozzi from www.greenhabdesign.com)

1. Replace old Christmas lights with LEDs. They use 90% less energy and last ten times longer. And while you’re at it, use a timer so you’re not wasting energy during daylight hours or while everyone is asleep. You can still pick up some last minute GE EnergySmart Indoor/Outdoor Lights.

2. Send your holiday cards and family newsletters via e-mail and consider e-vites for parties to avoid sending all that paper to the landfill. If you need to mail the real thing, make sure they’re made of recycled or FSC certified paper.

3. Gift wrap is a big waste during the holidays. Instead, reuse gift bags and boxes. My mom never fills out the little card attached with this in mind. You can also use saved wrapping from the year before or be creative and use old magazines and newspapers lying around the house.

4. When deciding what presents to get, opt for those with less packaging. Gift certificates, concert tickets and charitable donations are great ways to reduce waste.

5. For toys requiring batteries, go with rechargeable. We recommend the Sony Quick Battery Charger.The newer ones have three times the capacity of the earlier versions and are very efficient. And when those toys are outgrown, make it a holiday tradition to donate them.

6. When shopping for all those gifts, try to plan ahead what you’re going to get to avoid aimlessly driving between shopping centers. Also bring your own tote to carry the goods or ask for a large bag at your first purchase and consolidate the rest. Also, refuse any holiday gift boxes if they’re not necessary.

7. For those holiday parties, buy organic and local foods. It will be fresh and in season, which makes for a great traditional spread. And try cutting your grocery list by 20%- that’s how much is usually wasted during the holidays.

8. If you’re traveling over the holidays, consider which travel method has the lowest carbon emissions. If you’re going a long distance, taking the bus is the best alternative. Tied for second are boarding a train or driving a car with high fuel efficiency such as a Prius. Unfortunately, for long distances, driving an average fuel economy car is just about as bad as flying. However, for shorter distances (300 miles or so) take the car over the plane. Short flights have the highest carbon emissions per mile.

9. And finally, if you’re going to get a tree, go with the real deal. Artificial trees consume significant energy and use a polyvinyl chloride (which emits a number of carcinogens) during manufacturing. Fake Christmas trees also contain lead in order to make the needles more malleable and 85% of these trees are imported from China. Furthermore, artificial trees are not biodegradable and cannot be recycled.

When picking out a real tree, make sure the tree comes from a local grower. Tree farms replace each cut tree and therefore forests aren’t being hurt. Many cities also offer tree recycling programs to turn it into mulch or chips. Go to earth911.com to see what’s offered in your area.

Some folks are even opting to replant their trees after the holidays. You can buy a tree with the roots in tact and wrapped in burlap. Another option, if you don’t have a yard or the ground is frozen, is to purchase a smaller, potted tree and keep it year round. That’s what I plan on doing – just one of the many steps I’m taking to make my Christmas a little greener.

Image courtesy of sustainablemelbourne.com

These gift ideas suit every price, taste and age range:

10. Choose organic chocolates like Endangered Species dark chocolate for stocking stuffers. Real chocolate (not the artificial, processed, high fructose flavored imitations) can actually create positive health benefits. The superior taste of organic chocolate equals a win-win situation.

9. Organic Gift Baskets from It’s only Natural Gifts. It is common protocol for companies to give gift baskets to clients during the holidays. Instead of the same old cheese, sausage and crackers box, you can “build-your-own organic gift basket” and choose from a wide variety of organic candy, coffee, herbs, soaps, etc. You also select a natural “basket” that is either an eco-friendly box or canvas bag with the option of adding your corporate logo. Prices range from $5.95 to $154, which is no different from the cost of conventional gift baskets. Now you can impress your clients by gifting the organic, healthy and glamorous!

8. Non-toxic makeup and bodycare products from Ava Anderson. Skip the over-hyped, fruity lotions and bath sprays that people swarm over at malls! If you still have some of those products left over from last year, quickly scan them through the skin deep cosmetics database to determine their toxic scores from a scale of 0-10. Ava Anderson products received the best score of ZERO unlike many of the purported “natural”” products on the market. Besides, Ava Anderson has an amazing story behind her non-toxic start-up ~ this is not your average 14-year old to give you a clue….

7. Gift Cards to local, sustainable, mom & pop restaurants and grocery stores in your community. Instead of giving gift cards from the chain restaurants, support small businesses that work hard to bring organic and green options to your neck of the woods.

6. My heart melts when I hear about kids being introduced to mind-body techniques that will support them through this wild adventure we call life. Very few of us learned how to cope with life challenges in non-toxic and healthy ways during childhood. The Chopra center offers a kids breathing CD entitled I Take a DEEEP Breath! (I Am a Lovable Me).Teaching children about healthy coping skills that will last throughout their lifetime is one easy way to change the world.

5. Remember those juicing infomercials with Jack LaLanne (for the Jack Lalanne Juicer)? I hope you weren’t laughing because the joke’s on you – he just turned 95 years old a couple months ago and is an active, vibrant member of society! Fresh juice made with organic fruits and vegetables cannot compare to anything you buy in grocery stores. Juicing can be a lot of fun when you experiment with different recipes and flavors. A good juicer (like this one – minimal clean up & superior extraction quality) can cost at least a hundred dollars, so give this to a loved one that will appreciate its true value (and to someone you want to enjoy for years to come)

4. A Double sustainable gift would be a subscription to a CSA (community supported agriculture) that will deliver seasonal, fresh-from-the-farm, locally-grown, organic foods throughout the year! Check out localharvest.org to see how it works:

Example: Full Share: $375 per harvest season – 4 harvest seasons per year. Full share members will receive a weekly produce basket for a family of 4. Half Share: $200.00 per season for a weekly basket for a family of 2.

3. Before I begin, Men – please purchase this gift for your significant other IN ADDITION to conflict free diamonds and trips to Patagonia. Water filters (like this one from Watts) aren’t the most endearing gift, nevertheless its short and long-term value is bar none – there is no controversy on the health benefits of pure water. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has an entire program dedicated to helping consumers learn about contaminants in water and tools to help purchase quality water filters (not an easy task). Most importantly, commit to relinquish the low-value-high-cost giving habit and use your holiday dollars to make investments in your health that are truly priceless.

2. Tech toys fly off store shelves on Black Friday but have you ever taken a moment to consider how these items might impact human and environmental health? The EWG developed a user-friendly online tool to present groundbreaking, scientific evidence linking cell phone radiation and its potential to cause cancer and other diseases. Dr. Mercola recommends the BlueTUBE (instead of blueTOOTH) headset technology to decrease cell phone radiation. So add a little precaution to your high-tech gift list.

1. The No-thing gift. If your budget can’t swing the Physical don’t discount the Metaphysical. It sounds corny and cliché but the greenest gift of all is to forgo the consumerism frenzy and give your time to people and organizations that you cherish. As long as you carry a great attitude – YOU can be the non-toxic and no-cost gift . Offer family, friends, charities and strangers your time, energy and joy this season.

Image courtesy of itsonlynaturalgifts.com