Roasted Green Bean and Arugula Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette

Roasting the beans delivers more flavour than steaming or boiling them. The hemp seeds add a kick of healthy Essential Fatty Acids, while the vinaigrette packs an antioxidant punch. This recipe can easily be doubled.

Serves 4

Vinaigrette
2/3 cup (158mL) pitted cherries
Juice from 1/2 a lemon
Zest from 1 small orange
3 tablespoons (45mL) extra-virgin olive oil
1 to 2 teaspoons (5 to 10mL) agave nectar
1/4 teaspoon (3g) garlic powder
Salt to taste
Fresh ground pepper to taste

Green Beans
1 pound (454g) green beans, trimmed and cut in half
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon (3g) garlic powder
Sprinkle of salt
Sprinkle of fresh ground pepper

Salad
12 ounces (340g) arugula
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons (45mL) hemp seeds

To prepare the vinaigrette, place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and whizz until smooth. Add additional agave nectar if you’d like it sweeter. Place in the fridge until using.

For the beans, preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place green beans on a baking sheet and toss with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Roast in oven for about 15 minutes, stirring halfway, until they begin to brown and becoming tender. Set aside.

To serve, toss arugula with red onion and green beans. Toss with vinaigrette – you may not use it all, depending on how much you’d like. Taste for seasonings then sprinkle with hemp seeds. Serve at room temperature.

Recipe (c) Laurie Sadowski

Launched in January, 2010, Hemptress™ is a cutting edge fashion handbag and accessory brand from Los Angeles, whose bags are made out of–you guessed it–hemp.

Some of these bags also feature repurposed, recycled leather and all are lined with a silk/hemp blend lining (except for the vegan collection, which uses a hemp/RPET lining, instead). Their zippers are also developed from recycled sources.

The company takes their eco-friendly practices further than their materials. They adhere to Fair Trade practices, use hemp and recycled labels, along with recycled shipping boxes.

The company also donates a portion of their profits to animal rights groups as well as Vote Hemp, a

non-profit agency that promotes hemp farming.

Their newest from their fall collection is no exception. Here are our favourites:

Mona Satchel

$179; 16”w x 11.5”t x 6”d 6” handle drop.

The bag features an 100% hemp body with bonded leather trim (repurposed from recycled leather) along with light gold tone hardware. It’s highlighted by raw edged inside-out seams along ruched vertical panels front and back.

The double handle, with removable shoulder strap offer comfort with a top quality metal zipper closure to secure your goods. It has a bonded leather oval bottom with four feet.

The inside is made from 60%hemp/40% silk, with a zippered pocket and patch pocket with section for cell phone. The inside zippers are made from recycled nylon.

Other favourites:

Mona Frame Bag
$98

It’s gorgeous hemp body includes recycled leather, and antique gold tone or brass hardware.

Mona Mini
$108

Cute little bag perfect for stocking the things you need.

Visit them at www.thehemptress.com to see their full collection.

Images courtesy of thehemptress.com

Some of our favourite foods are perfect as natural cleansing products – and can double for dinner, too.

Club Soda

To clean: This fizzy drink is effective in removing stains. Like a bubbling detergent, the same effect in club soda lifts stains from mugs, clothing, and silver.

To drink: Mix it with a dash of pure fruit juice, or a twist of lime. Cooling and carbonated, without the calories of pop or juice.

Baking Soda

To clean: Place an open box in the fridge to absorb odors, and use to clean on counter and stove tops, and in the fridge.

To eat: Use it in baked goods to help dough rise in your favourite muffins, cakes, and cupcakes.

Cream of Tartar

To clean: Combine with vinegar for cleaning encrusted posts, pans, and stove tops.

To eat: Stabilize egg whites in meringues to increase their heat tolerance and volume. It’s also often used in candy making.

Corn Starch

To clean: Have a nasty stain? Cover it with cornstarch. Let sit for about 30 minutes, then vacuum.

To eat: Use as a thickener in cooking, or to lighten up your favourite baked goods, such as in shortbread cookies.

Lemon Juice

To clean: Use for dissolving soap scum and hard water deposits, to clean and shine brass and copper and as a natural bleach. You can also cut a lemon in half, sprinkle baking soda and use it as a scrub for dishes. Polish your furniture with a mixture of 1 cup olive oil with 1/2 cup lemon juice, or clean silver with a paste of lemon juice and baking

soda.

To eat: Enjoy instead of vinegar on your favourite salads, and add a twist of citrus to your favourite marinades, especially seafood. Have a little more time? Nothing beats a lemon buttermilk cake.

Salt

To clean: Salt can combat deep stains, such as wine and blood. For wine stains, cover with salt, then rinse with cold water; for blood, soak in cold salt water, then wash in

warm soapy water, followed by boiling it after the wash. Left a ring on your favourite

table from a wet glass? Rub together a thin paste of vegetable oil and salt on your fingers, let it stand for a couple hours, then wipe clean.

To eat: Add flavour to everything, including sweet treats – salt enhances the natural and

added flavours of your ingredients.

White Vinegar

To clean: The queen of cleaning, white vinegar is the ultimate in all purpose products. It’s cheap, safe to use on most surfaces, and effective. Mix equal parts vinegar to water in a spray bottle and you’re set. (Check out the wealth of info at vinegartips.com)

To eat: Tons of uses, from dressings to activating baking soda, a great tip is for when poaching eggs: add a little white vinegar to the water, and the whites stay better formed.

Pantene Pro V, Covergirl and Max Factor Brands are all receiving a make-up makeover with a new eco-friendly packaging derived from sugarcane. This new plastic is a renewable source,unlike the traditional plastics which is made from non-renewable petroleum.

The new packages are to hit the shelves over the course of the next two years, starting in early 2011.

More research is showing that about four percent of the total world’s oil is used to make plastics, with chemicals leaching into plastic production and, thereby, inside the bodies of the individuals using them.

“P&G’s commitment to use renewable bio-derived plastic in its global beauty and grooming product packaging is an important step forward in its efforts to improve the environmental profile of its products,” said Dr. Jason Clay, Senior Vice President of Market Transformation of World Wildlife Fund, U.S. in the press release. “We applaud this announcement as part of their leadership in finding innovative solutions to the sustainability challenges facing the world today.”

Currently, only a small percentage of plastic products can be recycled, and the rest end up as trash, polluting our lands and waters.

As more and more top-brand companies begin to use safe plastics, hopefully the practice will become widespread, and Proctor and Gamble is taking many of the right steps towards a more sustainable company.

“Using sugarcane-derived plastic represents another step in P&G’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the development of sustainable innovation products,” said Len Sauers , P&G Vice President, Global Sustainability. “P&G is making significant progress in environmental sustainability through our work with external partners. Together, we are working on creative solutions that deliver science-based sustainable innovations.”

The company also recently announced that they’ve joined forces with the National Geographic Society, National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD to develop an interactive in-school conservation program. This program, called Find Your Footprint, has been created to inspire students, families and schools to reduce their eco-footprint this school year, focusing on energy, waste and water tips, along with a contest for the schools. Read more about it here.

See more about Proctor and Gamble’s sustainability efforts here.

We’re quick to broadly label food as being either “healthy” or “unhealthy”.  As an example, the Papaya fruit would most likely get a stamp of approval in the Healthy Food Category. Hawaiian Papayas, however, are now affected by alterations in their genetic composition. While Hawaiian Papayas may have once been considered healthy food in their natural state with the ability to contribute to one’s wellness, they now have the potential to damage it.

A savvy, proactive and concerned populace who recognizes Genetically Modified Foods as a serious health and environmental threat (especially without proper labeling) can avert the rise of preventable diseases and environmental damage for generations to come.

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is produced when genes from one species are inserted into another, in order to obtain a desired characteristic through the process of Genetic Engineering [aka Genetic Modification (GM)].  Those in favor of GM foods claim that this technology will allow decreased pesticide use along with increased food production in an effort to feed the world.

Environmental Damage¹

• Genetically engineered organisms cannot be cleaned up or recalled once released into the environment, unlike chemical and nuclear contamination, which can at least be contained. We cannot isolate and separate Genetic pollution from the environment in which it is spreading
• New species with genetic modifications could develop through birds, insects or wind that carry genetically altered pollen to other lands thereby pollinating plants and arbitrarily creating these new GM species.

¹SustainableTable.org

Health Hazards

• The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) calls for a moratorium on GM food as it poses serious health risks in the areas of toxicology, allergy and immune function, reproductive health, and metabolic, physiologic and genetic health without any clear benefit. The AAEM recommends immediate long-term independent safety testing and appropriate labeling requirements, which is essential for the health and safety of consumers.
• The Cancer Prevention Coalition highlights the risk of increased Breast, Colon and Prostate cancer from Genetically-engineered bovine growth hormone (rBGH) in milk.
• The Institute for Responsible Technology released a publication that exposed several health risks, which include allergic reactions, liver problems, reproductive problems and infant mortality, based on laboratory studies in animals.
• Potential for Antibiotic Resistance in humans due to antibiotic-resistant marker genes in GM foods. This poses a great public health threat; as treatment with currently available antibiotics would not be sufficient to cure the infection.

What Can You Do Today?

• Understand the reasons for buying Organic Food, as organic foods are grown in harmony with nature and would not allow Genetic Modification.
• Look for “Non-GMO” labeling. Dairy products should have the label ‘No rBGH or rBST,” or “artificial hormone-free.”
• Download the Non-GMO project Iphone App or print Dr. Mercola’s non-GMO shopping Guide.

Once you’ve understood the importance of eating non-GMO foods in your own life, you can then make a greater impact on a global level (which in turns make things easier on yourself) by supporting the removal of GMO in the marketplace.

It’s becoming impossible to avoid every environmental and health threat within our food supply.  Imagine eating at a restaurant or going grocery shopping without GM Foods available in the first place. Therefore, advocating on the grassroots level is worthwhile.

Check out the following organizations to get involved: Organic Consumers Association, True Food Network, and Sustainable Table.Org.

Image courtesy of organic-center.org

Whether you favor a crumble topping, an easy-to-make icebox pie, or a traditional crust with not-so-traditional filling, nothing beats a pasty adorned with the natural sweetness of local farmers’ fruits.These three pies are guaranteed to have your mouth watering, and beg to be topped by a scoop (or two) of your favorite vanilla ice cream (check out our non-dairy/vegan favorites!).

Ginger Plum Pie

1 Easy Pastry (recipe follows)
5 cups plums, quartered and stoned
1 cup sugar or Sucanat, plus more for sprinkling
1/4 cup flour
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 to 3 teaspoons ground ginger (to taste)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon butter or non-dairy margarine

Preheat oven to 425F.

Line a 9-inch pie plate with your pastry. Place plums, sugar, flour, lemon, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large bowl. Combine well. Pour into the pastry shell, and dot the filling with butter or margarine.

Moisten the edges of the bottom crust and cover with the top crust. Finish the edges and use a sharp knife to create a few slits in the top. Sprinkle with additional sugar.

Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350F and bake for an additional 45 to 60 minutes until plums are tender and crust is golden. Let stand at least 2 hours before serving.

Fruit Crumble Pie

for the crumble:
3/4 cup flour
6 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch salt
6 tablespoons butter or non-dairy margarine, chilled and cut into pieces

for the rest of the pie:
1/2 Easy Pastry
5 cups fruit (blueberries and peaches make a good mix)
3/4 cup sugar or Sucanat
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Pinch salt

Start with the crumble. Mix all ingredients except for the butter/margarine into a small bowl. Use your fingers to distribute the butter/margarine throughout the mixture until large clumps form. Place in refrigerator until needed.

For the rest of the pie, preheat the oven to 400F. Mix the fruit with the sugar, flour, lemon juice and salt. Pour into prepared pastry and sprinkle with the crumble topping.

Place in oven and bake for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350F and bake until fruit bubbles and crust is golden brown, about 1 hour longer. Let cool at least 2 hours before serving.

Easy Pastry

2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar or Sucanat
2 sticks unsalted butter or 1 cup non-dairy margarine, chilled and cut into pieces
4 tablespoons ice cold water, plus more as needed

Mix flour with salt and sugar in a medium bowl. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut in the butter/margarine until  the mixture resembles a coarse meal.

Add water and mix until the dough comes together, adding just enough water until no longer crumble. Do not overhandle the dough.

Divide the dough in half, flatten into disks, wrap individually in plastic and refrigerate until needed, at least 1 hour.

Before using, roll the dough on a floured surface into a 14-inch round, then transfer carefully to your pie plate, proceeding as the recipe indicates.

Strawberry Refrigerator Pie

10 graham crackers, crushed
3/4 cup sugar or Sucanat, divided
5 tablespoons melted butter or non-dairy margarine
1/2 cup tart cherry juice
2 quarts fresh strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
1/4 cup tapioca starch
Pinch salt
Whipped cream, for topping
Whole strawberries to garnish

Preheat oven to 350F. Whizz graham crackers and 2 tablespoons sugar in the food processor until crushed. Add butter/non-dairy margarine and pulse until crumbles are sticky. Scrape the mixture into a 9-inch pie plate and press evenly. Place in oven and bake for about 12 minutes until lightly browned, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

While the crust is cooling, place the rest of the sugar, cherry juice, 2 cups strawberries, tapioca starch and salt into a saucepan. Bring to a boil and gently mash strawberries with the back of a fork. Reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until thick, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes, then stir in remaining strawberries.

Pour strawberry mixture into cooled crust and refrigerate until set, about 5 hours.

Before serving, prepare whipped cream, top the pie, and garnish with whole strawberries.

Image courtesy of wikimedia

He gave a few wonderful examples of how sharing databases around the world connects information and leads us to greater understanding of all things on a global scale. The explosion of databases available online since that speech has been rather noticeable, even when simply browsing nonchalantly on the web. Most of these databases utilize the wiki system, including one known as the Green Building Brain a project of the Open vGreen Building Society.

The Green Building Brain is a free to use and add to online database, designed to showcase green building practises, resources, planning tools and more. It is currently still in a beta version, at greenbuildingbrain.org. According to its agenda the goal of the site is to provide green builders, and enthusiasts alike with a place to store and share “an evolving repository of green building knowledge.” The primary piece of the interface is going to be the World Green Building Map.

There will be a large variety of Web 2.0 features including, RSS feeds, tagging, and forums within the interface.

Though in the beta version the content is primarily case studies of green buildings. The hope is that the site will expand to include information on construction methods, codes and standards, products, new technologies, and funding and incentives. Since the project is entirely open-sourced, the founders are constantly looking for more information and people to help push the project forward.

The primary groups running the project are Vancouver Design Nerds a non-profit society of designers and artists, and Recollective, a green building and sustainable community consulting company in Vancouver, Canada. However, there is always appreciation of anyone who wants to contribute.

We are still living in the information age, and with the breakthrough of the internet we have access to vast sources of information, but it is often still difficult to filter through and find credible sources. Utilizing contributions from professionals and showcasing only the most outstanding projects, the Green Building Brain has proven its credibility.

The Green Building Brain is an incredible project that can hopefully allow everyone to find information about Green Building projects that are close to their own home. Sharing databases of information that are built by people across the globe is the future of the information age.

Perhaps in the future, those who understand climate shifts and environmental factors can collaborate with the Green Building Brain, and showcase the ideal places to build certain types of green buildings. Meteorologists could collaborate sharing information on sun rising, and setting times, to maximize solar use. Geologists can assist with databases on rock types that act as the best thermal mass. The possibilities are endless. Our future, is without question a collaborative one.

www.greenbuildingbrain.org

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

Flower Vases

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

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

Wallpaper Cards

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

Wallpaper Coasters

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

Tee Shirt Bag

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

Pocket Purse

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

Cereal Box Organizer

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

Beach Towel Bag

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

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

Image courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

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.

Many folks are unaware that the production of livestock is responsible for a lot more than feeding a few omnivorous bellies. By swapping to vegetarian meals a few times a week, the benefits are pretty darn great.

Pollution

The livestock industry is responsible for up to 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions, some of which are emitted directly in the form of methane from livestock. Methane is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Other emissions include nitrous oxide from manure (which has 298 times the potency of CO2), as well as those from fertilizers and transport.

World Hunger

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source

Image courtesy of euinfrastructure.com

Organic Housekeeping

$11.99 / Ellen Sandbeck

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “the air in the average American home is between two and ten times more polluted than the air just outside the threshold.” Sandbeck delivers tips on keeping toxins and pesticides out of the home and creating a balanced, healthy ecosystem. Readers learn that all too often the products use contain toxins and antimicrobials that kill beneficial organisms. From preventing mold and mildew and controlling garden pests, Sandbeck delivers an easy to read resource for keeping it green and clean.

The Vegetarian 5-Ingredient Gourmet

$11.99 / Nava Atlas

Vegetarian expert Atlas offers simple, quick recipes, using easily accessible foods. With more folks adopting a vegetarian diet, it becomes easy to make more meat-free meals with only using five ingredients. From Cold Curried Cucumber Soup to Chickpea Salad with Roasted Peppers, the recipes prove to be simple and delicious. Each recipe carries a suggested menu in which Atlas encourages readers with winning combinations. Great for a beginner or those with busy lives.

The China Study

$11.90 / Thomas Campbell

This study explores over 350 variables of health and nutrition with surveys from 6,500 adults in more than 2,500 counties across China and Taiwan, and demonstrates the link between nutrition and heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Discussing proper nutrition, obesity, and current diet choices, it also discusses social politics and lends a hand to the pros of the vegetarian diet.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

$8.47 / Robert Pirsig

The classic Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance tells the story of Phaedrus, the narrator, who takes a present-tense cross-country motorcycle trip with his son during which the maintenance of the motorcycle becomes an illustration of how we can unify the cold, rational realm of technology with the warm, imaginative realm of artistry. As in Zen, the trick is to become one with the activity, to engage in it fully, to see and appreciate all details–be it hiking in the woods, penning an essay, or tightening the chain on a motorcycle. A must-read and now a classic, we’ll leave the details to you – definitely check this one out, Kindle or not.

Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life

$10.63 / Linda Sivertson

A teen-friendly  manual on green living, Sivertsen and her teenage son draw on science, experience, and interviews with celebrities and teens to provide readers with eco-responsible lifestyle alternatives, green careers to eco-gear. The “Five Rs”—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink, Refuse—provide a framework  for the book, using teen idioms and pop-culture reference.

The Green Business Guide

$11.99 / Glenn Bachman

The Green Business Guide: A One-Stop Resource for Businesses of All Shapes and Sizes to Implement Eco-friendly Policies, Programs and Practices is a comprehensive resource designed to assist organizations to develop green practices into their operations. The book gives guidance to organizations on topics such as understanding the environmental factors that are influencing businesses ability to operate profitably, evaluating the benefits of going green, developing a plan for transforming the organization into a green business, identifying specific actions to reduce energy use, water use, control packaging waste, and use resources efficiently, and communicating and reporting on your environmental successes

The New Organic Grower: A Master’s Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener

$16.82 / Eliot Coleman

Written for the small-scale market gardener, this book is perfect for those seeking information on economically efficient, organic food production. You won’t see any pesticides in this book – not even the organic variety. Instead, natural procedures are solely used. Recommendations, such as crop rotation and use of green manures, are described, as well as information on greenhouses and covers to extend the growing season.

Farm to Fork: Cooking Local, Cooking Fresh

$11.99 / Emeril Legasse

In this newest book, Lagasse continues his commitment to  fresh, local ingredients. Here he highlights farmers, fishermen, and ranchers, in a cookbook filled with fifteen flavorful chapters. Summer bounty is in abundance as he delivers desserts, main meals and even chapters on preserving and making your own cheese.

Green Smoothie Revolution: The Radical Leap Towards Natural Health

$10.59 / Victoria Boutenko

Balanced diets are hard. Green smoothies are not. And according to the author,  Green Smoothie Revolution takes aim at this silent epidemic by restoring balance to our diets. With a little know-how and a lot of nutrition, Boutenko combines fruits, vegetables, and greens in smoothie form, perfect for our busy lifestyles. Featuring 200 recipes, Green Smoothie Revolution offers both simplicity, taste and nutrition – all in the convenience of a blender.

[from guest blogger Richard Adams]

In her book Not Buying It, author Judith Levine sets out to do just this. Fed up with our consumer society after a particularly stressful Christmas, Judith wonders what life would be like to consciously give up spending any unnecessary money.

And with this thought, Judith and her partner Paul attempt the impossible. Now, the author is honest from the outset about her intentions. That she still has a mortgage to pay. That she will need fuel for her car as she works freelance and has to visit clients. And that giving up on “unnecessary” spending is a rather difficult to define concept. She and Paul regularly discuss what is really necessary and what isn’t.

Basic food provisions are necessary though wine and fancy overpriced (yet delicious) foods aren’t.

The year starts out a struggle with Judith’s desire for new clothes and other frivolous items  create a constant battle. And she admits to giving in a few times. But as the months progress, like giving up sugar in your tea, things seem to get easier and easier for the couple.

They wean themselves off our consumer culture, looking more deeply at some of the concepts around frugal living and consumerism. They stop going out for expensive dinners and to the cinema and instead spend time at the library and in having friends over for home-cooked meals.

And whilst they deliberately go looking for this low cost or free entertainment, the couple themselves seem surprised at how much they are enjoying themselves after some time, and also shocked at not only how much money they manage to save over the course of a year (including completely paying off a credit card) but also how they have stopped arguing about money.

It should be said that there really in nothing revolutionary about this book. It isn’t written with any green agenda and doesn’t contain too many tips. It is more an easy-to-read story of how one couple coped without unnecessary purchases. We are privy to their few guilty purchases, their struggles over what they should and shouldn’t buy, the jealousy they sometimes feel when friends splash out on new gadgets and their growing acceptance of living on a budget.

If you’re interested in frugal living or our consumer culture then this book makes a pleasant read ideal for reading by the pool on vacation or snuggling up with in bed.

Richard blogs about eco living tips at Eco Living Advice (EcoLivingAdvice.com).

Image courtesy of bluepuntobear.com

But we often associate it more than just becoming free from Great Britain. We’re more prone to think about long weekends, barbecuing and firework displays.

So tell us – what are YOU doing to stay green this holiday weekend?

Perhaps engaging in some recycled crafts with the whole family will be a great time to spend together.

Of if it’s not too hot in the kitchen, a rhubarb pie at the tail-end of it’s seasonal goodness is the perfect dessert with a cold scoop of coconut milk ice cream.

Why not call over family, friends and neighbours, and host an impromptu BBQ with lots of tasty side dishes, like an omega-3 rich potato salad?

If you’re feeling like doing something more complex, take a look at beginning to brew some of your own earth-friendly beer.

For a quick grilled side dish, some corn on the grill at the start of its season if a never-fail taste sensation.

But you might just want to keep it low key and take advantage of your weekend off work with some tardy spring cleaning

Or tend to your lawn and garden the green way.

Maybe you want to get out of the house and head out to play a game of golf – with eco-friendly balls.

If golf isn’t your thing but keeping active is, perhaps going for a run in the beautiful weather will fit the bill.

Invited over to a friend’s at the last minute? Bring a taboulleh salad to please the masses.

Or maybe you’ll just want to relax and saunter over to the Farmer’s Market to check out what is available from your local farmers.

Whatever you are doing to celebrate this weekend, we want to hear about it! Tell us: how are you staying green on this holiday weekend? Drop us an email or comment below. Photos and stories, along with guest posts, are welcome! Spread the green long weekend joy!

Image courtesy of orlandobuzz.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The study appears in the current edition of PLoS One.

Radish and Roasted Potato Salad with Hemp Dressing

Makes four servings

Gluten-free, soy-free, vegan

1.5lb (680g) baby potatoes, halved
1 tablespoon (15mL) extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon (3g) garlic powder
10 to 12 fresh radishes, cleaned and sliced (about one bunch)
2 celery ribs, chopped
3 tablespoons (45g) freshly chopped chives
1-2 tablespoons (15mL-30mL) hemp seed oil
juice of half a lemon
2 tablespoons (30g) hemp seeds
sea salt to taste
fresh ground pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425F. Toss baby potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder. Roast in oven for approximately 25 minutes, until browned and cooked through. Remove from oven and let cool.

Meanwhile, toss remaining ingredients together in a bowl, coating well and checking for seasonings. When potatoes have slightly cooled, add to bowl, tossing to coat. Let sit for at least an hour and serve room temperature.

(c) 2010 Laurie Sadowski