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. Green Car Tyres.

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. Green Motorhomes for Sale

Image courtesy of arval.be Buy car insurance Paramus Honda

From the Rainforest Alliance:

This Valentine’s Day spoil your loved one without spoiling the planet with the Rainforest Alliance’s green guide to gifts and activities that help to protect the environment and the rights and well-being of workers around the globe.

Rise and Shine

Kick-start your day with a cup of Rainforest Alliance CertifiedTM coffee. Then, surprise your love with certified blooms, available at Whole Foods Market, Trader Joes, Costco and online at FTD.com. Rainforest Alliance certification is your assurance that coffee, flowers, tea, cocoa, fruit and other farm products were grown using methods that protect forests, soils and waterways on farms that provide decent wages, housing, education and health care to workers and their families.

Just because I love you

Take a minute to let your loved one know how you feel by sending a romantic e-card. E-cards are environmentally-friendly, saving paper, emissions and also money!

Picnic in the Park

Take a break from your work day with a picnic. Warm up with a hot thermos of Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee, tea or cocoa, and a sweet chocolate treat! Make sure your picnic basket includes products that feature the green frog seal of approval. Rainforest Alliance Certified farms protect tropical forests and ensure that farm workers and their communities benefit from a decent standard of living. Choose from a selection of delicious Rainforest Alliance Certified chocolates including Bissinger’s, Endangered Species, Newman’s Own Organics and Vintage Plantations.

Intimate Night-In

Enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner at home while saving carbon emissions and saving money. When selecting the perfect bottle of wine to complement your meal, look for wineries committed to sustainability. Willamette Valley wines use cork certified by the Rainforest Alliance to meet the environmental and social standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Mediterranean cork forests provide refuge for the Iberian lynx and other endangered species and support local farmers who sustainably harvest the cork bark without damaging the trees, leaving them standing for future generations.

End your evening with a super sweet delight — a chocolate fondue! Indulge in this decadent dessert while supporting wildlife and workers alike by buying fruit and chocolate that bear the Rainforest Alliance Certified green frog seal.

Romantic Get-Away

Rekindle your love with a romantic get-away. Visit www.SustainableTrip.org to find hotels and lodges that conserve natural resources and contribute to the well-being of local communities. Recently launched by the Rainforest Alliance, SustainableTrip.org lists sustainable tourism businesses in the Caribbean and Latin America.

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 keetsa.com

• Homemade ornament ideas
• Eco-friendly wrapping paper
• Gifts under $20
• David Suzuki recommended gifts
• Vegan recipes and tips
• A load more recipes
• More gift ideas

And also check out the awesome swag (like this gorgeous pillow) from etsy artisan NestaHome.

This hemp pillow is hand stamped with antique text printing blocks using water soluble inks onto a dark red 50% hemp/50% cotton fabric.

Check them all (including non-holiday options) out here!

No one.

Regardless of what we plan to spend, giving green is the way to go, whether it is a donation, an eco-friendly gift, a homemade treat or a (still intact) regift.

But if you plan on buying, here are some of our favourites that you can score under $20.

Bambu Bowls

bambuhome.com

$12

Traditional bamboo craftsmanship combines with gorgeous, sustainable design in these bamboo-based bowls. Each bowl is developed through Lacquerware, is hand coiled, shaped, and finished. They use a clever layering process that delivers 18 laters of natural laquer to create a waterproof and durable finish. Suitable for both hot and cold foods, these bowls are available in a variety of colours, among them cayenne, blue corn, green apple and naked.

Available in 4″, 6″ and 11.5″ diameter, made of bamboo and natural lacquer.

Mini Creamers

branchhome.com

$14

Handmade by Lisa Jones and  Pigeon Toe Ceramics in Portland, O, these clay, earth-friendly canisters are finished lead-free glaze and fired in a kiln that’s powered by renewable energy. Perfect for serving cream (or nondairy creamer) at your next coffee/cookie gathering. Available in Yolk, Peacock, and Meadow (green). All glazes are non-toxic and food safe.

Approximately 2.25″ diameter x 2.25″ tall

Wood Print Art

petitcollage.com

$15

Made with water-based inks and printed on chemical-free maple veneer, these prints are beautiful for kids, families, and any room in the house! The veneer is derived from U.S.-grown trees milled by companies that practice sustainable-yield forestry techniques

8″ x 10″ (larger sizes and different types of prints available)

Green Interior Design by Lori Dennis

Amazon.com

$16.20

Award-winning designer and author Lori Dennis shows that interior design can be both stylish and eco-friendly. This easy-to-use, entertaining guide discusses every aspect of interior design—furniture and accessories, window treatments, fabrics, surface materials, appliances, plants, and more—from a green perspective in terms of reducing waste and pollution and turning a home into a healthy, comfortable environment. Readers will learn how to use sustainable materials, the best ways to search thrift shops and antique stores, find the ultimate green products, use local materials, switch to nontoxic products, and become energy efficient.

Hard Drive Case

Amazon.com

$16

We loe BuiltNY for their awesome lunch bags, so why not bring your hard drive around in style, too? The Built NY Hoodie Portable Hard Drive Case is a stylish and helpful way to keep your back up in the best place possible. With a rigid EVA core and an elastic neoprene custom fit, your portable hard drive is sure to stay safe. It looks cool, too.

Fair Trade Fare

tenthousandvillages.com

<$20

There is loads to choose from at Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit Fair Trade Organization (FTO), designed to benefit artisans, not to maximize profits. They market products from handicraft and agricultural organizations based in low-income countries, providing consumers with products that have been fairly purchased from sustainable sources. There are plenty around the world–we recommend checking one out near you or shopping online.

Image courtesy of petitcollage.com

Regardless of what it is, one thing is for sure: simple tweaks have big results.

This goes along with our daily purchases, from bills to groceries to activities. With a few small switches, the savings will add up. Here are some of our favourites, that we might not necessarily think of otherwise.

Get a refill
Spending the afternoon in a local coffee shop? Most places offer free refills for about 50 cents – just ask, and save yourself a couple of dollars on your next brew.

Double the drugs
If you take a prescription that requires refills, ask your doctor to double the quantity, saving you the costs to get the next batch.

Keep at eye at the check-out
Watch the prices and items as your cashier scans your groceries – quite often, they make errors or sale prices fail to show up. When she rings your conventional bananas in as organic, you might be shelling out 50 cents more per pound.

Step away from the bookstore
Bookstores can be wallet drainers, but the library doesn’t always have the titles you want. Check out bookmooch.com, an online organization that arranges book swaps for free.

… But if you need to buy it…
Take a look at the prices at amazon.com, amazon.ca, and chapters.ca, which will save you on books, DVDs, music, and more – some at discounts reduced to just a couple dollars.

… And while you’re at it
Take a look at everything else they have to offer.

Free 411
Just dial 1-800-GOOG-411, say where you are, what you’re looking for, and choose from the options the computer gives you; they connect you, too – for free. If you have text messages, they send you info about the business, and if you have Internet, they send you a map.  Check it out here.

Go generic
The generic brand is often just as good as the brand name. And if you don’t like it? Most of them are store-owned, offering a money back guarantee. your car

Most SUVs, trucks, and some vans are gas guzzlers, but also require more insurance and often cost more for maintenance. If you don’t need it for specific reasons, switch it for a smaller sedan or compact.

Don’t opt for the econo-size
At the grocery store, check the price comparisons from small versions to large ones. Usually the price is listed per unit, and you can see if you really are getting a better deal – don’t assume that bigger always means cheaper.

Image courtesy of channel4.com

Sure, we could save ourselves a few bucks and grill them up some dinner, mow the lawn, or simply spend time together. But it’s also nice to surprise them with that awesome gift. Something a little off-the-wall. Maybe they wouldn’t buy it themselves. But it connects to them somehow and they love it just the same.

Whether your father is an eco-green fanatic or stuck in ways from the fifties, here are our top eco-picks for every dad on your list this upcoming Father’s Day weekend.

For the handymen

Does he love to help out around the house? Get him the ultimate in energy-saving household items: a push mower. According to the California Environmental Protection Agency, using an average lawn mower for one hour’s work produces the same amount of pollution as  40 late model cars; the same as an automobile driven 650 miles. Brutal.

We like the Brill Razorcut 38 Push Reel Mower as the perfect modern alternative. At about 17 pounds, it features tempered and welded steel blades that claim to stay sharp for up to eight years (four times longer than traditional push mowers).  It also uses sealed bearings, so it won’t need oiling, with enameled or powder coated parts that are built to last.

For the outdoors-lovers

Does dad love the great outdoors? Is he at peace with the trees, at home in a tent, and enjoy roughing it whenever he can? Consider thinking a little outside the outdoor box and planting a tree in his name.

American Forests works to protect, restore and enhance the abundance of trees and forests. Each dollar you donate helps plant a tree (yep, a dollar per tree!) to restore areas damaged by wildfire, where critical wildlife habitat has been lost, and to clean our air and water.

For the techie-types

For the dad that loves his gadgets, he’ll also love this All for One TV controller. By controlling up to four devices, it’ll help him save energy by using to 90% less of standby power consumption. And the best part? He can switch them all off with the press of one button.

Other features include pre-programming on/off times, controlling devices such as TV, DVD, Cable and surround sound, automatic wireless upgrade, and more.

For the businessmen

Looking good and being functional are two key things that business-types look for in their gear. Although they need to dress to impress, it’s nice to have something that is eco-friendly, too. Enter the solar-powered Eco-Drive watch from Citizen. Dad’ll love it because he’ll never need to change a battery… And it looks slick, too.

For the fitness lovers

If you have a little extra cash to spend, why not score dad a bamboo bike? The folks over at the Bamboo Bike Studio have developed the ultimate in green cycling. Although getting on a bike and commuting propelled by your legs is far greener than using your car, this ups the ante just that much more.

Their mission was to develop a simple, self-propelled, affordable and enjoyable form of transportation. They wanted to combine this with making use of renewable resources. Further, they wanted to teacher others to build their own bikes (from scratch) and utilize eco-friendly materials and gear. Read the full information at their website, Bamboo Bike Studio, and consider this as the ultimate dad-gift this weekend.

Image courtesy of e3living.com

From guest blogger Marina Chernyak

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to go about it:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yes, it’s rhubarb season, the sneaky vegetable that we often mistaken as a fruit. With a tartness akin to cranberries, it’s the perfect accompaniment to sweet fruits like apples and berries, sprinkled within your favourite pies and tarts.

So what about highlighting it on it’s own? Rhubarb is a great source of fibre, antioxidants and many vitamins (including C and K), and minerals (like calcium).

But it gets even better – really. Simply wrap it in pastry, douse it in sweetness and eat it warm from the oven.

Classic Rhubarb Pie

for the pastry:
2 1/2 cups flour (whole grain, a mixture of your favourites, or gluten-free)
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chilled non-dairy margarine, such as Earth Balance, cut into small pieces
6 tablespoons ice water

for the filling:
1 cup sugar
5 tablespoons flour
4 cups chopped rhubarb
1 tablespoon non-dairy margarine

Preheat oven to 425F.

Start with the crust: whisk together flour and salt. Add non-dairy margarine and, using a pastry blender, mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add water slowly, a little at a time, mixing just until the dough comes together. Gather into a ball and divide into two pieces. Flatten, wrap in plastic wrap, and place in the fridge for 20 minutes.

When finished chilling, roll out one piece of dough onto a lightly floured surface into a 12″ round. Transfer to prepared pie plate.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, flour and salt for the filling.  Toss with rhubarb and then transfer into crust. Dot with margarine.

Roll out second dough disk into another 12″ round. Cut into 24 half-inch wide strips, then weave into a lattice. Trim, crimp and seal.

Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350F and bake until crust is golden and rhubarb is tender, 35-45 minutes.

Let cool on wire rack for 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm or chilled.

Image courtesy of timesonline.co.uk

So surely, it doesn’t stop there on Earth Day, our one day officially noted to celebrate our planet.

For Earth Day 2010, they are asking their online communities to think about the small actions that they can take to make big changes. Things like remembering to turn your lights off when you leave a room, or purchasing coffee beans that come from farms with environmentally friendly and sustainable practices, are among their suggestions. We at ecoki also suggesting swapping your car for your bicycle, eating  a plant-based meal, and using a reusable water-bottle for your H2O.

They are also asking people to help raise awareness by ‘badging’ themselves green. This means changing their social network profile pictures to a unique Earth Day badge.

Visit the Rainforest Alliance’s website for more information on how to get your own badge, or check out their Facebook page, too.

If you have a blog post dedicated to your Earth Day initiatives, please share it below!

However you’re spending it, we encourage spreading the Earth Day word. Take the time on this yearly celebration to not only cheer for our planet, but to teach our younger generations the importance of doing the same year round.

Here are our top picks for books that revolve around Earth Day and loving our planet, written to bring our kids closer with the planet.

I Love Our Earth

written by: Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson; photographs by: Dan Lipow
$11, amazon.com

Beautiful photographs from Dan Lipow perfectly complement an informative book co-authored by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson. Thirty-two pages are filled with the sounds, colours and impressive  corners of the Earth, devoted to children ages 3 to 6. An amazing book, filled with glorious blue oceans, bright sunny skies, and a taste of all of the seasons.

It’s Earth Day!

written by: Mercer Meyer
$4, amazon.com

Classic Little Critter at it’s best! After watching a film about climate changes at school, Little Critter decides that he is going to combat global warming. And so, he begins a mission to reduce, reuse, and recycle, teaching readers about the importance of saving energy. In this adventure, he plants a tree, makes a climate control machine, and helps the polar bears.

Earth Day: An Alphabet Book

written by: Gary Kowalski; illustrated by Rocco Baviera
$6, amazon.com

Enjoy nature while children explore their ABC’s. Adults and children will both love learning about Earth’s diversity, from  apples to groundhogs to flying fish, all the way down to zucchini and zebras. The bright and vibrant illustrations deliver the essence of flora and fauna in alphabetical order, creating an easy-to-read, enchanting book for young readers to explore with ease!

The Dumpster Diver

written by Janet S. Wong; illustrated by David Roberts
$11.50, amazon.com

Between “The Dumpster Diver”, “Hose Handler #1,” “Hose Handler #2,” and “The Fauceteer”, a myriad of fun characters sets this story alive. As they uncover skis, lamps, and other thrown-out fun, they reformat their goods into newly refashioned projects. Truly the story of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”, the book sheds a new light on reducing, reusing and recycling.

The Earth and I

written by Frank Asch
$7, amazon.com

This touching  picture book narrates the ways a boy and the planet can be friends with one another. From growing together to entertaining each other, the book gives way to living in harmony with the planet. The key message is deeper than most, omitting the typical free-fun of preschool books, and instead painting a serious note of taking care of the planet. This is combined with a gorgeous landscape of watercolours, a rainbow of multicoloured brightness that is the perfect complement to the story.

You see, it’s the simple switches that help make things happen. A little here, a little there; if we all just do our part, the results will truly make that impact we strive for.

Smart Shopping

The folks over at the Earth Day website suggest you “buy what you need, not what you want.” Easier than it sounds – just shift your thinking a little! As much as you might want to buy some wasteful garb, think of what you really need – and it’s carbon footprint, too. If you can, opt for renting and borrowing over buying. Books are a great example, and we love taking advantage of libraries – after all, they are free, wealthy sources of information. And with Spring around the corner? Garage sales are on their way.

Simple Savers

Little switches around the house can make a significant impact on your hydro and utility bills. Add weatherstripping to windows and doors to keep cool drafts out, use aerators on faucets to make the most of your water, and replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent varieties. Look for new features on your large appliances, too – for example, my range and television both include eco-friendly options to save a little when they’re idle or in use. Here’s some more incentive to lower the temperature, too: the new “green tax”.

Food Choices

Eat less (or little; or no) meat. Think about veganism. Choose organic, fresh whole foods. Opt for local most of the time. Enjoy foods in season. Plant a garden.

Careful Cleaning

Spring cleaning – it’s pretty inevitable in April, isn’t it? We definitely recommend using homemade cleaners instead of chemical-filled store-bought versions. It’s easy to make pretty much everything you need out of household products, like baking soda, lemon and vinegar. You can even reduce waste and recycle by choosing to clean with newspapers and washable rags, instead of wasteful paper towels.

Don’t Discard

Know what’s trash and what can be reused, recycled or composted. If you take the time to educate yourself to see what actually could go in the waste, you’ll see that hardly any products have the only option of going in the garbage. Use Freecycle or Craigslist to get rid of household goods that might be able to make their way into a new home, learn what can be recycled, and start a compost in your backyard if your city doesn’t have an organics program. Be sure to discard hazardous waste, such as batteries, to local depots, too.

Read the full list from Earth Day Canada here.

What are your favourite eco-friendly tips, easy changes that are perfect for starting out fresh on Earth Day?

Image courtesy of earthobservatory.nasa.gov

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Images courtesy of carspyshots.net

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

We won’t accept that for a moment.

Today the world celebrates being Irish, St. Patrick and lives inspired by the colour green, and here is a savory, vegan, Irish-inspired menu that does just that.

Vegan Irish Stew

4 cups vegetable broth (learn to make your own)
1 1/4 lbs potatoes, cut in chunks
8 oz can white beans or chickpeas
3 large carrots, peeled and cut in chunks
2 large onions, peeled and cut in chunks
2 stalks celery, cut into chunks
1/2 cup quinoa, barley or brown rice
2 tablespoons tamari
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
1/2 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Saute onions in a little olive oil in a large stock pot. When translucent, add broth and potatoes. Cook for ten minutes then add carrots, beans, celery, tamari. Simmer on low for another 20 minutes, then add grain and fresh herbs. Bring back to a boil then reduce to a simmer, continuing to cook until grain is softened.

Vegan Irish Soda Bread

2 cups non-dairy milk
2 teaspoons lemon juice
4 cups whole grain flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons caraway seeds (optional)
1 cup raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 425F. Lightly grease a baking sheet and set aside.

Mix lemon with non-dairy milk and let sit to curdle, about ten minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk together remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir the non-dairy milk/lemon juice, and slowly pour into flour, stirring to combine. Using your hands, knead the dough three times, then place on prepared sheet.

Using a serrated bread knife, make an “X” across the top of the bread. Bake 3o to 40 minutes, until lightly browned and baked through (an inserted toothpick will come out clean). Let cool at least 10 minutes and enjoy warm with stew.

Irish Coffee

1 1/3 cup hot, strongly brewed coffee
1/4 cup Irish Whiskey
1 tablespoon agave nectar
vegan whipped cream (make your own)

Whisk together all ingredients and enjoy!

Image courtesy of ti-journal.com

For the groomer

He’ll love spending a little more time getting ready when he splashes on Herban Cowboy Cologne. Free of additives, dyes and synthetics, it has a great dusk scent that you’ll love, too. It also contains recycled packaging that is biodegradable.

For the guy on the go

If he’s super busy, he’ll never be pleased with a dead watch battery. That’s why we love Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Strap Watch, an eco-friendly, solar powered wristwatch that charges in natural sunlight or indoor light.

For the gadget lover

Does his iPhone never leave his palm? Keep it stick with the True Bamboo iPhone Case, a form-fitting hard case perfectly designed to fit the Apple iPhone 3G S. The cut out design allows easy access to the screen and camera, while leaving you with a durable, protective covering for your favourite toy.

For the outdoorsy type

If he loves going camping and roughing it, you can rest assured his face will stay silky smooth with the Sol-Shaver. This solar-powered shaver lets him shave anywhere, easily self-charging no matter where he might be.

For the culinary queen

Treat her to a V-day red Le Creuset Heart Casserole. The beauty of Le Creuset is that its made of enameled cast iron, which conducts and retains heat and often lets you cook and bake at lower temperatures and shorter times. This version can be used on the oven or stovetop.

For the sweet tooth

Who wouldn’t love Gourmet Vegan Truffles? Best of all… She’ll probably share. The keepsake box contains creamy truffles that come in nine decadent flavours, all of which are 100% Fair Trade, Certified Organic, and Vegan.

For the bedroom

Does it really matter how skimpy the skivvies are? Treat her to something a little more humane, with Only Hearts Organic Cotton Thong. The delicate lace trimmed panties are made with 100% organic cotton, and they’ll look great both on and off.

For the signature scent

More perfumes and body sprays are chock full of toxic additives. This isn’t the case with Pacifica Spray Perfume, a blend of sweet fig, moss, clove, sandalwood and other scents. Made purely from essential oils and natural grain alcohol, a little goes a long way, making it a gift that lasts.

According to the animal activist group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), by replacing the famous Punxsutawney Phil with an animatronic version “the bitter winter that’s made him into an unwilling media attraction will end, making way for a sunny spring that everyone can enjoy.”

For those not in the know, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow then we have six more weeks of Winter. If he doesn’t, then we have an early Spring. But according to PETA, the robot version will undoubtedly give us the warmer weather most of us desire.

PETA expresses that the famous animal is mistreated, and denied of his yearly hibernation. Instead, he is subject to his loads of fans and constant human handling. And so, PETA penned a letter (PDF) to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club expressing their “exciting, innovative” robot option, but that “tradition is no excuse for cruelty”.

What do you think?

We think that, regardless, the movie Groundhog Day is pretty awesome.

Image courtesy of groundhog.org

This four-day event includes a variety of international speakers, including keynote speaker Margaret Webb, a leading Toronto writer and author of ‘Apples to Oysters: A Food Lover’s Tour of Canadian Farms’.

It also includes a variety of seminars and workshops, including topics on genetically engineering, organic certification, climate change, eco-friendly building, food security and more.

For those who might not be able to make time to listen to and explore the presentations, they also a featuring an Organic Expo/Tasting Fair with 160+ exhibitors (including 35 food vendors) on Saturday and Sunday, which is free to the public. And filled with incredible – and delicious – fair-trade, organic products.

Online registration is closed, but you can still register at the door. (Click here for more information).

If you’re heading there, we’d love to get a review on what you think! Drop us an email if you attend.

For more information about the conference, visit guelphorganicconf.ca

Costume ideas

• Make your own costume from odds and ends found at thrift stores. Getting clever is the key!
• If you are going to buy, try to find one that can be used as a toy or even parts of it as day-to-day clothing
• If you have more than one child, choose one that you know will be passed along to the next one in a few years
• Skip the smells-like-a-shower-curtain plastic: cheap, store-bought costumes have both hidden, chemical-releasing dangers and planet impacts.
• While we’re on it, skip the mask, too – choose natural make-ups to transform your mug into something truly gruesome

Candy ideas

• Unwrapped candy can be dangerous, but try to find brands that include recyclable packaging, such as boxes of gummy fruit snacks or raisins. We love Let’s Do…Organic Super Sour Gummi Bears.
• Think outside the sugar-filled box, and find organic, natural treats instead.
• Many companies also donate a portion of their profits to eco-causes
• Instead of mainstream chocolate, seek out Fair-Trade versions (like Alpsnack Fair Trade Espresso Chocolate & Hemp Nuts
• Go candy-free and distribute small toys, instead

Trick or treating ideas

• Use a reusable bag for candy. When we were young, we always used pillowcases, but kid-centric grocery bags are a great alternative, and a little more fun. Rich Diesslin’s quirky Zombie Tote Bags
• Instead of spending money on plastic, disposable gear to decorate your house for just a few days, look around the house to find ways to make it creepy without spending the cash! Try toilet paper, cotton balls, ghoulish kitchen concoctions and other items to make your home truly spooky – with just a dose of creativity.
• Try Reverse Trick or Treating (read more), which helps raise awareness while collecting goodies on Halloween
• Keep the karma coming by bringing around a Unicef box

Pumpkin ideas

• Although it’s a little late, growing your own pumpkins is a great way to have the essence of fall right in your backyard! If you don’t, support a local farmer
• Make sure to compost your pumpkin after the fact; they’ll slowly decompose in your garden, enriching the soil with all its goodness!
• Go candle-free: the paraffin in wax candles releases toxic chemicals like toluene and benzene through smoke and soot: choose organic soy candles, instead. Shabbat Eco-Candle tea lights are perfect!

See even more ideas at greenhalloween.org!

Image courtesy of people.brynmawr.edu | Big selection of Halloween costumes | Halloween costume ideas for 2011 | Halloween Experts

Visit them at: www.rainforest-alliance.org or connect with them on twitter:@RnfrstAlliance

Rainforest Alliance Wins Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award

San José, Costa Rica — The Rainforest Alliance received a 2009 Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award for upping the ante for sustainability standards in the tourism industry. Now in its fifth year, the prestigious awards recognize the most outstanding efforts of individuals and organizations working to preserve the world’s natural and manmade treasures.

The Rainforest Alliance was cited for the leadership role it has played in creating a global membership council set to launch early next year that promotes widespread understanding of sustainable tourism principles and will help travelers differentiate between the truly eco-friendly and the greenwashers.

“The Rainforest Alliance is changing the baseline definition for an entire industry standard—a bold step in making sure the criteria for sustainable tourism is universal,” explained judge Céline Simone Cousteau, contributor to PBS’s Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures, spokeswoman for La Prairie, and ambassador to the Clean Up the World Campaign.

The Tourism Sustainability Council (TSC) is a coalition of over 50 members that aims to improve tourism’s potential to be a driver of positive conservation and economic development for communities and businesses around the world and a tool for poverty alleviation by enabling businesses to improve their practices, increasing the transparency of sustainable tourism certification programs, and building demand for green travel.

“We are thrilled to be acknowledged by such a prominent organization for our efforts to make tourism an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable industry,” said Ronald Sanabria, vice president of sustainable tourism at the Rainforest Alliance. “We share this award with our fellow TSC leadership — the United Nations Foundation, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations World Tourism Organization — and all the other stakeholders that have made this achievement possible.”

Other winners include Rainforest Alliance collaborator Ecoventura for charting a new sustainable course of travel to the Galápagos Islands, Element Hotels for its commitment to achieving LEED certification at all of its properties and Sassi di Matera Albergo Diffuso in Italy for transforming abandoned cave dwellings of a UNESCO World Heritage site into guest rooms.

Profiles of all 17 winners along with insights from the jury are featured in Travel + Leisure’s November issue, available on newsstands October 23, and online at www.travelandleisure.com now.

Image courtesy of www.rainforest-alliance.org

Scientists from the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth are investigating how these renewable energy devices help biodiversity and marine environment. Some man-made structures support a wide variety of fish, becoming artificial reefs.

The study, however, also finds that these devices may cause eco-issues, among them noise, loss of habitat, and electromagnetic fields.

It’s important to understand the effect of this energy on the ocean, and the published paper increases awareness of the possible threats. The team also wants to highlight the importance of finding locations where these strategies can safely be implemented.

This isn’t to say that marine renewable energy is negative; instead, that the research is minimal and it needs to be investigated in order for it to proceed safely.

The paper highlights the need for a close look in this area. More research – and potential positive discoveries – will result in an increase of this use of energy.

The study was done by PRIMaRE (the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy), a £15 million institute for research in using energy from the sea.

Read the full story at ScienceDaily

Image courtesy of aquamarinepower.com