We know it can be a large change, and there are plenty of things you have to decide regarding your new future and how it will pan out. Factors such as current lifestyle, finances, location, and other elements will play a big role in how you can approach this. Your skill levels will also play a factor – are you willing to do all of your own plumbing, for example? And, realistically, can  you? You’ll have to consider areas like this–among many others–to help your final decision.

Some Basics

Basically, off-grid living means taking care of your electric, gas, water, sewage, and other utilities independently, rather than paying a company. If you’re just starting out, the best way to approach the situation is to research, research, research. Check out details about your home/building you live in, electricity, plumbing, water, gas, engine, repair, electrical, and more.

At the on-set, it is also important to note that it does cost a little more to get started, so unless you’re rolling in some wealth, you will need to establish some savings and money for the things you need. Build a prioritized checklist, including things like implementing solar panels, or learning about breaker boxes, piping, and so on, and start to scour the Internet for cheap and used sources.

What’s the Point?

Many people choose the option of off-grid living because they have to. They may have lost a job, or their home due to foreclosure, or perhaps a natural disaster took its toll. Others, though, are worried about the future of the environment–and opt to look into renewable resources as a widespread solution. It also increases self-sufficiency, decreases bill payments, and moves towards a relaxed lifestyle.

Food and Drink

Food and water obviously play a big role in living, though living off the grid doesn’t necessarily play a roll in preserving much of it. This is why stocking up on dry foods, dehydrated foods, and canned goods–basically things that don’t require refrigeration–is necessary. Since you’ll be looking for options in bulk, make sure that these items are stored properly in order to not attract animals. When it comes to water, consider the option of a water tank, and use a filter  or purifier to make sure it is safe to use. Because we use water to drink, cook, wash, and water the areas around us, we definitely need this in abundance. Many folks who live off the grid use different forms of water collection systems in their homes, such as wells, rain barrels, and grey water systems.

Ridding the Waste

We already know that a reason for moving off-grid is that municipal waste systems, such as garbage pick-up, are costly and not the best for the environment. To help remedy this, consider composting.  Composting is an excellent way to put scraps and waste back into the environment, replenishing it with much needed healthy nutrients to help it thrive. You can scatter it over a garden, grass, or any outdoor space, or create an indoor vermicompost bin.

If You Want to Build

If you’ve decided to move out of the old place, buy some land, and build an off-grid home, it’s not as intimidating as you might think. It’s quite possible you should consider an expert: after all, the worst approach would be to buy cheap building materials, using sketchy contractors, over-estimating your building capabilities, or try to do too much. Let the professionals be the professionals, learn everything you can, and take the time down the road to eventually take the power in your own hands.

Another thing to keep in mind is that before you buy, you should double check if you need permission. There are sometimes restrictions on what you can build on, so be aware. In some situations, it might even be more viable to buy land that already has a building on it that you can knock down and replace. Yes, the upfront cost will be more, but it could also save you money if you have the electrical connections, drainage services and pipes, and other elements that you still might need.

Worrying About the Weather

We’ve definitely seen some wet weather in our day, and if you live off-the-grid, this can be a lot more menacing. If you’re moving to a new location, you might want to choose somewhere that you’ll have greater protection from flooding and rising sea levels all year round. Some places, such as Australia, Indonesia, France, and the Philippines, for example, have seen larger amounts of rainfall and snowfall in the past years since global warming has really moved in place. Because temperatures are continually rising, the warm air expands to hold more moisture–which results in more rainfall.

So what can you do?

When you’re looking for an area, avoid areas that have previously been flood-prone, and seek out information to find out what might happen if you’re in an area where there could potentially be a flood. Some certain things could cause health issues — IE if the local sewage becomes flooded — so you’ll want to know if there are risks involved. Make sure that in the case of a wind storm–whether minimal but strong or a hurricane–that your building is secured, too. And if the seasons are brutal, there can definitely be a lot of preparedness needed for winter off-the-grid.

Being Prepared

Living off the grid is also all about being prepared. Though everyone should be prepared anyway — after all, natural disasters can wreak havoc on any home or building. If you are foreseeing a natural disaster on the way, you should be prepared with the following:

• one gallon per person per day of water
• non-perishable food to feed each person per day
• can opener
• battery-powered weather radio with tone alert
• batteries
• flashlight
• hand-cranked flashlight for backup
• hand-cranked radio for backup
• first aid kit
• moist towelettes
• garbage bags
• cell phones and chargers (or other devices, like tablets)
• towels
• duct tape
• dust masks
• whistle or horn for help signal

However, if you are living off the grid, you should have plenty of these anyway. Always be prepared, starting months in advance, with canning, collecting seeds, fire starting methods, drinking water, ammo and weapons, escape routes, solar panels, extra gas, and more.

Get Crafty

When you start to live off the grid, you want to start thinking of incorporating a little more “do it yourself”. DIY projects will save you money, time, and, if done right, energy, as well. When you are trying to just hanker down the basics, these two projects can help get you started, and check out some ways to get cooking the low-carbon way.

DIY Washing Machine: Gather a five gallon bucket and a toilet plunger. Cut two or three holes in the plunger so the water can flow through, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Put your laundry int he bucket, fill it with enough water to cover the clothes, and add in some laundry soup. Cut a hold in the lid that will fit the handle of the plunger. Put the plunger in the bucket, put the lid on (sliding it down over the handle), and begin to plunge.

DIY Laundry Soap: Take a bar of soap and grate it finely, trying to get it as powder like as possible. Add equal amounts of borax and washing soda, measuring by volume. (One part: one part: one part). Put in a container, mix well. Use about 1 to 2 tablespoons of the mixture per wash load.

An Easy Way To Start

Living more efficiently can definitely be intimidating, so an easy way to incorporate a little more off-grid living into your life is generating your own electricity. There are plenty of options, and although some are costly, they generally begin to benefit you down the road. There are a few things in bear in mind when you get started. For example, wind turbines, well, they might die down if there isn’t any wind, and if there is battery back-up, it might not always be enough. Some circumstances might require more sources of backup to ensure that they can be counted on. Having a backup generator is key, an you can use a gasoline generator to back the batteries. Gasoline generators run about ten percent of the fuel cost to a coal-fired power plant and, of course, you don’t use it nearly as long.

The biggest key here is to do your research. There are plenty of ways to move toward a life that is more off-the-grid, benefiting your wallet and the environment — a win-win situation. If you’re a part of the lifestyle already or just moving into it, the time is definitely now: getting started will bring you closer with our planet, which will be the biggest benefit of all.

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We’ve compiled a pile of our favourite vegan breakfast remedies, hearty, full-of-love, and brimming with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

If these aren’t enough, here are some of other ideas that we’ve compiled over the years:

Easy Spring Soup Side Dishes

Maple Apple Oat Bake

Vegan Pancake Recipes

Even More Vegan Pancakes

Quick Breakfast Ideas

Tofu and Kale Scramble

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 red onion, chopped
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
4 cups finely chopped kale
16 ounces firm tofu, pressed, drained and crumbled
1/2 cup finely chopped tender sundried tomatoes
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, turmeric, and ginger. Cook until the garlic and onion and are tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in the bell pepper. Continue to cook until softened, about 3 more minutes. Add the kale. Cook until tender, about 2 minutes, adding a splash of water if necessary.

Add the tofu and sundried tomatoes. Turn to low heat and cook for 5 additional minutes, adding water if needed until heated through the tofu has absorbed color and is fragrant of the spices. Generously season with salt and pepper.

Baked Hash Brown Patties

3 cups very thin onion slices
2 teaspoons chili powder
5 cups coarsely grated Yukon Gold potatoes (about 2 pounds)
1 teaspoons sea salt
1/4 cup nondairy margarine, melted

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease a large rimmed nonstick baking sheet. Put the onions in large bowl. Add the chili powder and mix well. Toss the  potatoes with about 1/2 teaspoon of the salt in medium bowl. Let stand 5 minutes. Using your hands, squeeze out all of the excess liquid from the potatoes. Add the potatoes, the remaining salt, and the margarine to the onions. Mix well.

The short version is that SIGG shouted out creative,  imaginative designs that were to be produced on a limited edition SIGG bottle.

Folks used the  provided template, submitted their design, and then the public voted for the best, along with SIGG and guest judge Sarah Backhouse.

Over a span of seven weeks, they recruited about 2,000 designs from 78 different countries.

Winning designs are featured on .4 liter; .6 liter; 1 liter sizes of a limited edition bottle of SIGG which will be distributed and sold in U.S. retail stores and on SIGG’s official website.

First place winners also receive $1,000 cash, 5% licensing fee of all bottles sold (wholesale value), a feature on SIGG’s official website and social media channels, and  collection of 100 bottles of their winning SIGG design.

The three runner ups and People’s Choice winner will receive the same features on social media channels, as well as $500.

The creativity and the level of talent blew the judges away, according to the President of SIGG North America, Rob Dewar. “Narrowing down the finalists was a very difficult task as there were so many standout designs,” he explained. “Ultimately we selected designs that would best align with SIGG’s future collections.”

Backhouse added that because each design has their own story of conservation and eco-awareness, “it was inspiring to explore all the different graphics and see how art and ecology came together for these artists.”

Folks can purchase the winning bottles on mysigg.com starting in Fall of this year. The 0.4 liter bottles will be $19.99, 0.6 liter bottles $21.99, and the 1.0 liter bottle $24.99.

To see more submissions, visit www.talenthouse.com/design-for-sigg

But not everything that we bring into our workout routine might be great. We’ve scoured some new and planet-lovin’ products that are perfect for making your spring resolutions a little more environmentally sound.

Here are our favourites:

For the Yogis

Gaiam has launched an eco-friendly yoga mat, made from 100 percent recyclable and biodegradable material. The mat, dubbed the Suddha Eco Yoga Mat, comes from the Sanskrit word for purity. It is made from a material called TPE, which has a closed-cell structure that locks out moisture, odor, and germs.

The mat is also slip-resistant, a huge plus if you do hot yoga, too, with superior cushioning and excellent traction. It comes in lavender and gray, and measures 68 inches by 24 inches by 4 millimeters.

For Your Fuel

If you’re looking for a simple and delicious way to get much needed nutrients, all wrapped in a whole foods-based, natural and organic bar, look no further than Good Greens. The folks at Good Greens focus on delivering every body with the vitamins, probiotics and antioxidants that it needs. Understanding the difference that superfoods can make in a person’s health, company founder Keith Pabley was inspired to create something delicious after realizing that most green superfoods tasted awful.

The result was Z-52, the core of their Good Greens powder, which they’ve integrated into their great tasting products. Z-52 is a mixture of 52 different superfoods, which provide over 40 antioxidants, 3 different types of probiotics, and 100% of your daily fruits and vegetables. According to their website, the benefits of their products have also gone through some notable clinical research, including that they deliver key phytonutrients that are absorbed by the body, reduce oxidative stress, can  positively impact markers of systemic inflammation, support a healthy immune system, and benefit cardiovascular health. All items are also 100 percent vegan and gluten-free,with a soy-free version available.

For the Cyclist

If you need some eco-friendly cycling gear, Indie Freeride from Ibex makes a great option, especially for the transitional months. The Indie Freeride is an all-natural jersey made from merino wool, a material that is completely renewable and biodegradable. It looks good, too, with a pretty, laid-back detailing to bring out the feminine side. The semi-fit makes it light, loose, and cool, with an 11 inch 11’’ invisible front zipper, single back stash pocket with invisible zipper, fine needle details, and more. It’s also easily machine washable.

Merino wool is an excellent source for active gear. In his case, the people at Ibex designed this fabric so the weight resembles that of a high quality t-shirt, working well worn next to skin baselayer or on it’s own. It is 100 percent New Zealand Merino.

For Everyone

Everyone gets thirsty, right? And even if you don’t, having a reusable water bottle is key. That’s why we were excited to discover a new–and great!–one. Enter the Bobble Water Bottle, from Move Collective, a certified eco-friendly bottle that filters while you drink.

Each filter in these BPA-free, recyclable water bottles equates to 300 single-serve bottles, so we obviously can see the heavy-duty impact on the environment. Considering that the world goes through about 200 billion single-serve bottles per year, switching to a reusable one is an obvious answer. Bobble Water Bottles also supply a jug, similar to a Brita, as well as filters and accessories. And the best part? They start at a mere $8.99.

mini 13oz/385mL

899

The Candy-Free Easter Basket

There are plenty of ways to give your kids an exciting Easter basket without making it a chocolate and confectionery explosion. Consider gifting them with a few good quality, low sugar, and organic options to fulfill the sweets quota, then top the rest of the basket with toys, certificates, and more. Check out our Nine Candy-Free Easter Basket Ideas, each with a theme that will suit whatever your kids love, with everything from gardening, to sleep overs, to video gamers, to art supplies.

All-Natural Egg Dyes

Egg kits are notorious to contain little tablets made from chemicals. Though they are easy to use and create great-looking eggs, they also inevitability gets on your (and your kids’) skin, which, in turn, absorbs the additives into your systems. These food colourings have been linked to various developmental issues, such as ADHD. Lucky for us, it’s super easy to Dye Your Own Eggs Naturally.

Delicious Spring Produce

With Spring finally in the air, one thing is for certain: we are basking in the produce that comes along with it! Our favourites include fresh artichokes, completely worth the prep time; slender, green asparagus stalks that are tender and delicious; antioxidant and fibre-rich blueberries, perfect for pie; sweet plump peas excellent for a Mint Pea Soup; crisp, bright stalks of rhubarb in a simple, but Classic Rhubarb Pie; mixed and matched with brightly colored, plump strawberries. Check out all our tips in Spring Produce 101. berries with their leaves intact.

Fiddleheads Two Ways

If you want to serve your guests something a little different, opt for fiddle heads. These little spirals carry a nutritional kick of carotenoids and phenol compounds, both of which make fiddleheads an antioxidant powerhouse. What does that mean for our bodies? They can halt the growth of cancer-causing cells and taste amazing, too. Read more about preparing these little veggies, along with some recipes, in The 411 on Fiddleheads.

Organic Easter Basket Candies and Chocolate

Instead of using Easter baskets, try reusable bags. Swap that shredded recycled paper for plastic Easter grass, and enjoy  dinner filled with organic, local ingredients. But the most important part of Easter? Keeping those goodies; just make sure that they are Organic Easter Treats instead.

The Easter Lily

If you’re visiting family or friends over the holidays, consider giving them a lily as a gift. With their large, bright white, trumpet-shaped flowers, subtle yet notable fragrance, and beautiful simplicity, Easter lilies are a traditional Easter-time bloom that brings brightness to any room. If you’re not sure how to take care of it, whether it is your own or to offer others some advice, here is our Easy Guide to Easter Lilies.

Make Your Own Easter Grass

Growing your own Easter grass is far more environmentally friendly than the plastic scraps you use to fill your children’s baskets. Even better, it is a great activity for the family to do together. All you need are wheat berries/seeds, vermiculite or potting soil, a basket to grow it in, a spray bottle filled with water, a piece of plastic, cellophane, or similar to line the basket, and a sunny spot. Here are the instructions for DIY Easter Grass.

Recycling the Egg Cartons

After we sit with our families, friends, and children in our  kitchens, dipping hard-boiled eggs into food colouring solutions to create a vibrant creations,  what can we do with those left over containers? Luckily, egg cartons are perfect for a dozen convenient household tips and techniques. These are our favourite ways to Reuse Egg Cartons After Easter.

With that in mind, this consumer-driven holiday tends to also be pretty bad for the planet. Lots of money is spent on wasteful items, plenty of gag or one-time-use gifts, and flowers that don’t come from sustainable sources.

Here are some tips for keeping this Valentine’s Day waste free, along with plenty of other ideas to celebrate it sustainably.

Say no to paper cards

Instead of purchasing cards that, sure, might shed a brief tear, make a smile spread across a face, or get you a romantic kiss, consider delivering an e-version instead. This doesn’t waste paper, and, really, does the job just as well. Save the in-person gift in the form of a hug or kiss, instead.

But if you need a card…

If a printed card is absolutely necessary, make or purchase recycled ones instead. If you are choosing to hand make it, look for materials such as reclaimed paper, and cut and paste from old cards. If you must buy, there are many options made of recycled material.

Figure out the flowers

Flowers are a classic option, so be sure to ask your florist about the source of the flowers you’re about to buy, and look for those from local farmers. You can also order organic options from web sources such as Organic Bouquet.

The right drinks

Need a bottle of wine? Do a little research to find organic wine sources, and supporting local growers if possible. There are also plenty of choices for ethical champagne. If it is something vegan you are after, Barnivore is a great source for figuring out what alcohol is vegan.

The right food

If you’re celebrating by going out to dinner, look for restaurant choices that thrive on local, organic foods. Many areas often have at least a handful of restaurants that look toward local sources for their menus.

The right gifts

Nope, your boyfriend doesn’t need a gag gift that he’ll never use. And, honestly, your wife hates teddy bears. And those trinkets for the kids? They’ll be forgotten about in a couple of hours. Check out our links below to a load of ideas to bring the right gifts to the forefront this year.

Eat chocolate

When all else fails, there are plenty of organic and ethical chocolate options for you to munch on. Even Cadbury has gone fair-trade! Look for high-quality chocolate sources to satisfy that sweet tooth of yours.. and your lover’s. By purchasing fair-trade chocolate, you will help developing nations help establish themselves and move out of poverty.

Need some more inspiration?

If you need some other ways to spread the love this Valentine’s Day, check out these articles, too!

Top Four Eco-Valentine Gift Ideas for Her: for everyone from the culinary queen to just spending time in the bedroom.

Six Vegan Valentine’s Day Desserts: Nothing says love from desserts made with love. Sorbet, fondue, biscotti, and more!

Ideas for a Sustainable Valentine’s Day: our friends at Rainforest Alliance created a great green guide to gifts and activities especially designed for lovers to have an eco-friendly Valentine’s Day.

Top Four Eco-Valentine Gift Ideas for Him: after picking out the best gifts for her, here’s our follow-up for what to buy for your man this love-filled holiday.

Going Green on Valentine’s Day: Here’s another great green guide from Rainforest Alliance, perfect for promoting love, without promoting damage to the planet!

Sweetheart Vanilla Macaroons Dipped in Dark Chocolate: a yummy recipe that’s super easy to make… and it’s raw vegan, too!

Cheezy Fondue with Roasted Vegetables: round out a romantic meal with this perfect vegan dish designed for two.

Image courtesy of keetsa.com

But I only have three things on my mind: fireworks, food, and family and friends.

So how are you enjoying your long weekend?

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Perhaps you need some weekend recipes to get you started? Read more here for some homemade guacamole, corn chips, stuffed zucchini, and marinade ideas.

While you’re at it, check out our twist on a classic broccoli salad as a great side dish.

And you can never saw no to grilled corn on the cob. Have you never had it? Trust me… those sweet, juicy kernels with a hint of that delicious char.. You’ll never boil those babies again.

Spend the time with family and friends going on a leisurely bike ride. If you don’t have one already, here’s a short guide to buying the perfect bike… and take the weekend to relax and peruse the local shops for what they have to offer.

If you have nothing planned, take some time to do some yard work. That might include tending to your garden, looking after your lawn, or getting that clothes line ready for eco-friendly laundry.

Hopefully, no matter what you do, the weather complies, and you can spend it outside, relishing in nature’s own vitamin D.

I can’t understand why you wouldn’t want to end it with some ice cream. Sure, these ice creams are vegan, but they’ll be the best you’ve ever had. Really.

Need some more? Here are some other tips from July 4th, 2010.

Here are our top ten posts of ways you can give back to the environment this Earth Day.

Get On a Bike

If you don’t already own a bike, it’s time you did. Not only are they better for the environment than an automobile, but they are also a great way to improve your health and enjoy the outdoors. Unless you give in ice-laden land, a bike is a great investment to add years to the planet – and your life.

Read more in our article, How to Buy the Perfect Bike.

Mow it Right

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, gas-powered lawn mowers are  responsible for 5% of air pollution, and various studies have compared lawn mower emissions to those of automobiles – the Union of Concerned Scientists contrasted one gas mower running for an hour with an equivalent in pollution as eight cars driving 55 mph for the same amount of time.

Read more in our article, Going Gas-Free When It Comes to Your Lawn.

Gift the Right Gifts

All of a sudden we’re remembering to buy one more thing here and two more things there… And suddenly, we’re feeling a little overwhelmed.

Read more in our article, 101+ Best Holiday Eco-Gift Ideas (good gifts for all-year round!)

Move Away from the Meat

Paul McCartney has recently launched Meat Free Monday, an environmental campaign to raise awareness of the  impact of meat production and consumption has on climate change. Although eating meatless a few times a week to help the environment is old news, having a celebrity backing helping launch a worldwide initiative will, hopefully, fuel the fire a little more.

Read more in our article, Meat-Free Monday, Are You In?.

Get Those Weeds

Luckily, there are plenty of eco-friendly, natural ways to control weeds before they start to cause havoc in your garden.

Read more in our article, Killing Weeds the Natural Way.

Drive Greener

Driving green doesn’t mean investing in a smaller, fuel-efficient car or opting for a hybrid. You can easily start driving green with what you already have. Here are six tips to help you get started.

Read more in our article, Six Ways to Drive a Little Greener.

Clean Your Home Naturally

Everyday ingredients can do double duty in cleaning your home. By utilizing foods found in the pantry, you not only help out the environment, but also your health and your wallet. Some of our favourite foods are perfect as natural cleansing products – and can double for dinner, too.

Read more in our article, Cleaning Aids Found in the Kitchen.

Try Veganism

But I will tell you (and recent media will back me up on this) vegetarianism is one of the foremost things we can do to help the planet. I am not alone in saying that maintaining animals for food is causing more havoc on the planet than anything else. Our land, water, and air quality are all at increased risk with more and more animal-based consumption.

Read more in our article, Veganism and the Planet.

Eco-Friendly Listening

We sure love our music. iPods and MP3 players are quite constantly plugged into our ears. Unfortunately, they aren’t exactly made of 100% eco-friendly materials. But don’t worry – your earphones can be.

Read more in our article Eco-Friendly Earphones by Thinksound.

Get Away the Right Way

Looking for a place to stay for your next trip within Canada? The Hotel Association of Canada has developed a Green Key Eco-Rating Program that can give you advice on where you can sustainable stay on your next trip.

Read more in our article Find a Place to Stay with a Green Key Eco-Rating.

Earth Day 2011 is focused on the recognition of the power of millions of individual actions. Dubbed as A Billion Acts of Green®, with a goal to highlight personal, organizational and corporate pledges to live and act sustainably.

A Billion Acts of Green® campaign is the largest environmental service campaign in the world. Steadily rising, with over 45 million acts to date, individuals, corporations, and governments our coming together in honor of our planet.

This campaign inspires and rewards all acts — whether small and simple or large and measurable. No matter the project, the goal is to reduce the impact on our planet and support a greener lifestyle.

This year’s Earth Day goal is to register one billion actions of greeness in advance of the Earth Summit in Rio in 2012. Their website, EarthDay.org, tallies these acts with an online registration tool. You can submit them by going here http://act.earthday.org.

There are many elements to this year’s Earth Day campaign highlighted on their website.

These include:

Why not stay in this Valentine’s Day, make a meal to remember, and (on your way home from work), grab a single rose and some good quality dark, fair-trade chocolate.

Then, whip up a simple snack, like this vegan fondue (sans cheese, but full of taste). (recipe follows)

But if that is not enough, check out our other ideas, too.

Our friends at Rainforest Alliance have put together a Green Guide to Valentine’s Day, perfect for promoting love, without promoting damage to the planet! (Check out the full article here)

The folks at at LUSH have love-worthy bath fun in romantic and fun choices for that special someone! (Read the full article here)

Our friend Marlie, from barefootandfrolicking.blogspot.com, has concocted some Sweetheart Vanilla Macaroons dipped in Dark Chocolate. The perfect raw vegan Valentine’s Day treat. (Get the recipe here)

What are you planning this Valentine’s Day?

Cheezy Fondue with Roasted Vegetables

(recipe credit: (C) Laurie Sadowski)

Choose any vegetables you love to dip, or use as a cheesy sauce. The cumin and peppers add a slightly Mexican flavour. Also delicious on top of tacos and nachos.

2 cups water

1/3 cup cannellini beans

1/3 cup roasted red peppers, chopped

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

3/4 cup nutritional yeast flakes

4 tsp.  cornstarch

1 tsp. cumin, heaping

3/4 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

sea salt to taste

fresh ground pepper to taste

Vegetables, for roasting (such as cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, peppers, green beans, asparagus… Anything delicious and in season)

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Cut vegetables to a uniform size and toss with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast until tender. I recommend cauliflower (about 25 minutes), broccoli (about 20 minutes), and asparagus (about 10 minutes), all perfect for dipping.

In a blender, blend all ingredients except for vegetables until smooth. Transfer to a medium-sized saucepan, whisking frequently over medium-high heat until thickened, about six to eight minutes. Alternatively, place all ingredients in the saucepan, and insert an immersion blender, blending until smoothed. Continue by heating until thickened, as above.

The Frog Prince Bath Bomb

Throw this cute little character in a tub of warm water and marvel as he dissolves in front of your eyes to reveal your very own Prince Charming (a sticker of one of our charming compounders from the LUSH factory)!  And as you would expect from royalty, he has his own exquisite and sultry brand new fragrance – a majestic blend of jasmine, sandalwood, rose and neroli.

It’s Raining Men Shower Gel

Hallelujah!  A divine shower gel scented with our best-selling Honey I Washed the Kids fragrance. Shower with this luxurious honey and tropical flower gel and your skin will be left deliciously soft, scented like crème brulée and extremely lickable.

Love Birds Soap

Something for all those lovers out there, this gorgeous new soap is scented with beautiful aphrodisiac essential oils to make this Valentine’s Day extra special!  This sensual jasmine and vanilla fragranced soap leaves skin delicately scented while it softens and moisturizes.

Ex-Factor Bath Bomb

For all the Valentine-less folks, plan a date with this little guy to cheer you up! He dissolves in the warm water in a swirl of ylang ylang and vanilla to reveal a small pink candy heart.  The delectable mix of essential oils will leave you feeling happy, relaxed and ready to meet someone else.

Magic Mushroom Bubble Bar

Make some magic with this charming toadstool! Crumble this frothy strawberry and cream-scented wonder under running water for masses of yummy skin softening bubbles.

PS I Love You

Tell that special someone what you’ve been meaning to say for ages.  This cute little gift contains four romantic products wrapped up with lovely paper embossed with hearts and love birds.

Includes: Magic Mushroom bubble bar, Strawberry Feels massage bar (mini), Love Birds soap, It Started With a Kiss lip tint.

Be Mine

A sexy selection of six scrumptious treats that’s sure to secure the one you want this Valentine’s Day. Melt into a marshmallow bath and then seal the deal with a chocolate-scented massage. Packed up in a reusable box, they will always remember just how much you love them!

Includes: Melting Marshmallow Moment bath melt, It’s Raining Men shower gel, Sex Bomb bath bomb, Sugar Babe sugar scrub, Soft Coeur massage bar, Lust solid perfume.

Champagne — a sparkling wine developed by fermenting  the wine further to create the effect of carbonation — gets its name from the region in France. It most often uses Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grapes. But now, many North American companies are producing eco-friendly choices that we can get locally (or at least a little closer than overseas).

Domaine Carneros

This is the first champagne-based Californian winery to gain certification from the California Certified Organic Farmers.  There are no pesticides used in their grape-growing and they also use compost for fertilizing. Seven years ago 2003 they also installed a photovoltaic solar system–the largest of any winery worldwide.

Pommery

As the first champagne-winery to obtain ISO 14001 (environmental) certification for sustainability, waste management and water and energy conservation, they also use lighter glass than conventional champagne. This redues both pollution and shipping energy, AND the label is made with recycled paper and printed with water-soluble ink.

Leclerc Briant

This eco-friendly winery is keen on biodynamic winemaking.  They use only natural fertilizers, compost cleanly, and always aerate soil to maximize its planet-friendly sustainability.

Images courtesy of articles.sfgate.com and domainecarneros.com

He’s put together some great planet-lovin’ options on his website. (Check out more on his green guide here).

From the Rainforest Alliance:

New York – The Rainforest Alliance today announced that Greentique Hotel of Costa Rica has launched a special promotion for Rainforest Alliance supporters, providing tourists with unforgettable, environmentally savvy vacation options that are also affordable. Travelers can enjoy a discount of 25 percent off reservations at any of three world-class-hotels, located within Costa Rica’s most spectacular regions. Further, Greentique Hotels will donate five percent of the total accommodation cost of travelers to the Rainforest Alliance in their name and travelers will receive a one year membership with the Rainforest Alliance.

“We are thrilled that the Rainforest Alliance and Greentique Hotels have joined forces to promote sustainable tourism,” said Ronald Sanabria, vice president of tourism at the Rainforest Alliance. “By making one of these stunning properties their next vacation destination, travelers will have an unforgettable experience while also benefitting local communities, the environment, and the Rainforest Alliance’s work around the world.”

Through its sustainable tourism program, the Rainforest Alliance helps tourism professionals improve the sustainability of their businesses based on the principles of the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. Initiatives include implementing ecosystem and water conservation measures, reducing energy use, supporting local economies, hiring from within the community and reducing costs. Tourism operations that have been verified by the Rainforest Alliance, certified by independent, third-party programs or recommended by reputable organizations are featured on the Rainforest Alliance’s recently launched website, SustainableTrip.org.

In May 2009, Greentique Hotels of Costa Rica received the 2009 Corporate Sustainable Standard-Setter Award from the Rainforest Alliance at its Annual Gala, recognizing the hotel groups’ ongoing dedication to innovation and leadership in environmental conservation.

“We are very pleased to join the Rainforest Alliance in offering a choice of properties that practice sustainable hospitality here in beautiful Costa Rica. We hope you will take advantage of this exclusive invitation and see how you can travel well and travel right and have exceptional Costa Rica experiences that are easy on the pocket book and beneficial to our precious habitat. We look forward to hosting you as our valued Rainforest Alliance guests,” said Jim Damalas, owner of Greentique Hotels.

By booking your next trip to Cost Rica through Greentique Hotels, you are not only guaranteed an unforgettable experience, but you can rest assured that the hotel you choose will help – not harm – the environment. You are also helping the Rainforest Alliance to ensure that the tourism industry has a sustainable future and that Costa Rica can also be enjoyed by many generations to come.

To take advantage of this promotion, visit www.greentiquehotels.com/ra and use promotion code GTQHRA101.

About the Rainforest Alliance

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.

Images courtesy of Greentique Hotel

If you don’t already know, GMO’s are genes taken from one species, combining them into another, and creating a whole new “modified organism”. These unnatural conditions are, well, unnatural.. And not necessarily something we want to be noshing on. (Read “Are GMO’s an eco-friendly choice?“)

A great way to promote Non-GMOs is shopping at GMO-friendly retailers. If you visit Non GMO Project, you can see a list of their retailers that are registered to participate in Non-GMO Month. They will be educating shoppers about GMOs and the Non-GMO Project. Specific stores listed will even be doing special events on 10.10.10, which is Non-GMO Day.

There is an increasing connection between consuming GMOs and health risks. Because of this, more consumers are looking for GMO-free choices, which only accounts for about 20 percent of the goods in the stores. What’s more is that they don’t have to be labeled.

Thus, a “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal has been created. Manufacturers can earn a seal through compliance with specific non-GMO standards. To date, nearly 900 products have been verified, with thousands more in the process.

For more information regarding genetically modified organisms, GM food, and Non-GMO Month, visit Non GMO Project.

How are you becoming a part of non-GMO month? Share your ideas below!

Image courtesy of redgreenandblue.org

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