You may have a green message to share with your customers, but be careful. Many consumers — as many as 70 percent, according to one study — consider environmentally friendly, eco-green claims as marketing scams.

And with astonishingly good reason, according to TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, which analyzed 1,018 consumer products making 1,753 environmental claims in six categories of goods found in big-box retailers. Of the 1,018 products analyzed, all but one made claims that were, at worst, demonstrably false to, at the very least, misleading.

From that study, TerraChoice developed a list of what it calls the six sins of “greenwashing” — a relatively new term for the practice of misleading consumers regarding the environmental benefits or friendliness of products or services.

Those six sins are the hidden trade-off, no proof, vagueness, irrelevance, fibbing and the lesser of two evils, which is defined as a green claim that may be true but distracts from a greater environmental risk, i.e. “organic cigarettes.”

But honest and effective eco-messaging can happen. It starts with knowing your audience and speaking to them with honesty.

A study by TNS, “The Green Life,” categorized consumers along an eco-spectrum. Eco-Centrics (13 percent of population) are highly educated, high-income urbanites who take pride in doing their part to protect and nurture the environment. On the other end of the spectrum, Eco-Villains (7 percent) are Midwestern, middle-income men in small and midsize metro areas who have dismissed environmental concerns.

That just means businesses must figure out levels of knowledge and layers of concerns for their target audience.

For instance, Eco-Centrics want to know how products are made, is there animal testing and does the company make sure overseas workers aren’t exploited. But for the Frugal Earth Mother (17 percent of the population, characterized as practical prudent women in lower income, rural households), the focus should be on dependability and safety.

For Kansas City-based Indigo Wild, getting out the word on its environmentally friendly soaps, candles and lotions did not mean climbing the mountaintop and shouting “We’re green, green, green!”

Instead, Indigo Wild lets its products speak for itself.

“When people scream ‘green this, green that,’ that becomes their sole focus, and that’s not who we are,” said Sally Nielsen, vice president of public relations. “We’re very particular about our ingredients — it’s a culture that we’ve lived instead of a label we’re putting out there.”

But for Weston-based McCormick Distilling Co., nothing less than going to proverbial marketing mountaintop — Times Square — would do when it came to trumpeting a new eco-friendly 360 Vodka.

And vitally important, said Robert Tomei of TNS, is walking the talk, which for 360 Vodka means a number of initiatives, including bottles made of 85 percent recycled glass, labels made from recycled paper and printed with soy ink, and vinyl billboards that are repurposed into purses, handbags and totes.

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3 ideas

•When developing an eco-friendly marketing message: Be honest. Be accurate. Be transparent.

•Learn more about the six sins of greenwashing at www.terrachoice.com.

•Know your audience — most marketers agree there’s no point in wasting time or money targeting Eco-Villains.

By JENNIFER MANN

http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/656540.html

             

Whether by lowering your thermostat or unplugging seldom-used appliances, chances are you’ve recently attempted to scale back on energy use.

In fact, you may be one of the consumers who have bought more than 1.5 billion Energy Star-qualifying products since the label was introduced in 1992. Last year, one in three people reported using the label as part of a purchase decision, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. If they’d bought an Energy Star-qualified commercial dishwasher, they might be saving an estimated $200 per year, according to the Department of Energy. Those that took home an Energy Star refrigerator can look forward to a 15% less expensive monthly electricity bill.

Other ways of saving energy include fixing a leaky faucet and checking your insulation levels. But the most comprehensive way might be to figure out exactly how much damage you’re inflicting so you’ll know how much to cut back.

Author Alexandra Shimo-Barry knows how. In her new book, The Environment Equation, Shimo-Barry, a national reporter for Maclean’s in Canada, teaches readers how to quickly calculate their carbon footprints, or the amount of greenhouse gases in units of carbon dioxide, they’re producing by using the following formula:

A.) Multiply your monthly electricity bill by 105

B.) Multiply your monthly gas bill by 105

C.) Multiply your monthly oil bill by 113

(if you don’t use either B or C, enter 0.)

D.) Multiply total yearly mileage by .79

E.) Multiply the number of flights–4 hours or less–by 1,100

F.) Multiply the number of flights–4 hours or more–by 4,400

G.) Do you recycle newspaper? If no, add 184. If yes, add 0.

H.) Do you recycle aluminum and tin? If no, add 166. If yes, add 0.

A+B+C+D+E+F+G+H = your carbon footprint. A number below 6,000 (reflected in pounds per year) is excellent. Over 22,000? Not so great. Good is anywhere from 6,000 to 15,999, while 16,000 to 22,000 is average.

If your number is higher than you would like, there’s good news–there are hundreds of ways you can shrink your carbon footprint, and many of them aren’t as sacrificial as you might expect.

That’s because Shimo-Barry says that lack of will, not austere alternatives, is the No. 1 barrier blocking would-be waste-reducers.

“There’s still inertia when it comes to making small changes,” she says. “But Americans emit 20 tons of carbon dioxide per year. Even if we cut that by a ton–which isn’t difficult–it would make a huge difference.”

Simple Steps
Eating locally grown food is one of the easiest ways to reduce your footprint. Whether you begin visiting the farmer’s market every Saturday to pick up local fruits and vegetables or, if you are able, dining at restaurants serving regional fare, eating locally allows you to eat well without funding the emissions used to import food from other countries and regions.

Jason Karas, founder of Cambridge, Mass.-based Carbonrally.com–a gaming Web site that challenges users to reduce personal emissions through online competitions–says that drinking locally microbrewed beer is another way to shrink your footprint, for much the same reasons as eating regional food.

“It’s also a great way to support local entrepreneurs,” says Karas.

Buying second-hand is another luxurious choice. For many, vintage shopping has become as chic as getting on the list for the newest pair of Christian Louboutins. Buying vintage clothing and accessories is more than looking sharp: These practices will reduce your carbon footprint by eliminating the energy it takes to produce something new. What’s more, you might get that Hermes Birkin for $2,000 instead of $8,000. Those not so used to buying second-hand should read “Shopping Tips for Vintage Clothing Collectors.”

How are you cutting back on energy use? Weigh in. Add your thoughts in the Reader Comments section below.

Sustainable wood furnishings are another smart lifestyle alternative. Before you redecorate your home by raiding the Conran Shop, consider buying pieces from eco-friendly shops like Vivavi and Environment Furniture. Both offer stylish, modern goods–like a mid-century-styled credenza or a curvy bamboo rocking chair–that are Forest Stewardship Council-certified, which means they’ve met 57 earth-friendly criteria established by the organization. These include minimal pesticide use, protection of local wildlife and unionization for loggers.

In the market for a second home? A penthouse on Central Park South might not sound like the most efficient way to cut carbon, but city living is often friendlier to the environment. That’s because many urbanites rely on public transportation. And even a two-floor penthouse in the Trump Tower uses far less energy than a sprawling seven-bedroom mansion. What’s more, when water, sewage and electricity are shared, less copper–which is found in plumbing and electrical systems and is one of the largest contributors to landfills–is needed.

All evidence that living grandly can do the earth well, as long as you know where to cut back.

Lauren Sherman

http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/2008/04/15/green-carbon-living-forbeslife-cx_ls_0415carbon.html

             

HGTV is bringing viewers a full day of Earth Day programming and making it even easier for viewers to get their green on. Throughout the day the network will be highlighting different ways to embrace a greener way of life, featuring everything from easy, eco-friendly tips and trends to a behind the scenes look at some of the world’s most extreme ‘greenists.’

24 Hour Design - Episode 307- 6:30 AM - 7 AM ET/ PT
Kick off your Earth Day with 24 Hour Design as Angelo and crew serve up a master bedroom that’s green and serene.

Red Hot & Green - Special - 7:00 AM - 8AM ET/ PT
Learn how to “live green ” with out sacrificing style…Each home features cool design, innovative architecture and simple, but effective ways to incorporate green design into your home. Also woven throughout the special is a ‘green’ makeover led by a designer who creatively and colorfully remakes a room with the environment (and budget) in mind. It’s green without the guilt, proving that living ‘green’ is attainable, affordable and best of all, can be done with style.

Living With Ed - Marathon - 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM ET /PT
Check out Ed and Rochelle as they bring you a who’s who of Hollywood ‘green living.’

Living With Ed 106 - Ed and Rachelle are living yet another Hollywood dream…in Utah. They have been invited to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City. Ed insists on driving the hybrid, but Rachelle wants to arrive in style on a plane. The last-minute trip has the Begleys scrambling to finish a long “to do” list, including Ed’s visit to his environmentally competitive neighbor, Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Living With Ed 201- Ed and Rachelle do a green audit at the Bel Air estate of super model Cheryl Tiegs.

Living With Ed 202 - Ed and Rachelle visit the solar powered mansion of TV legend Larry Hagman.

Living With Ed 203 - Is Jay Leno in hot water? Ed takes a close look at Hollywood pal Jay Leno’s eco-savvy water heater.

Living With Ed 204 - Ed and Rachelle visit the eco-friendly ranch of music legend Jackson Browne.

Living With Ed 206 - “West Wing” actor Bradley Whitford gets a tour of Ed and Rachelle’s eco-friendly home in L.A.It’s Easy Being Green - Special - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET / PT
Fine Living TV brings you this fun guide to adopting a greener way of life…

It’s Easy Being Green, is an entertaining, fun and upbeat look at the growing ‘green’ lifestyle and the latest trends in sustainable goods, services and technologies. Hosted by noted chef, author, and green lifestyle consultant Renee Loux, viewers learn that it’s not about throwing away everything you have and changing your lifestyle dramatically; it’s about infusing your life with options that make sense.

House Hunters - Episode PREMIER 2602 - 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM ET / PT
Eliot and Lauren Stenzel are an environmentally conscious couple who love their current place. However, after visiting Oregon, they fell in love with its coastline, and decided to look for a second home to serve as the perfect, eco - friendly beach retreat. Waterfront property can get pricey, but the Stenzel’s are confident they can find the right place for the right price.

Curb Appeal - Episode 2008 - 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM ET / PT
Watch as we give this homeowner hand with her yard to create a beautiful, eco-friendly outdoor space.

Designed to Sell - Episode 1505 - 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM ET / PT
Check out these eco-friendly updates for a home’s basement, dining room and backyard that still manage to keep an eye on getting the property sold.

Curb Appeal - Episode 2011 - 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM ET / PT
Learn how to use indigenous plants to bring eco-friendly elements a home’s exterior and landscape.

Spice Up My Kitchen - Episode 208 - 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM ET / PT
Check out this ’70s kitchen transformation; ancient appliances and bad wallpaper get an eco-friendly update.

Deserving Design - Episode 209 - 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM ET / PT
Watch host Vern Yip as he helps this couple go green with a fabulous Yoga studio.

HGTV Green Home 2008 - Special - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET / PT
HGTV and Carter Oosterhouse as giving away more than a home…they’re giving away a lifestyle. Carter’s easy going attitude and ability to give simple eco-friendly tips makes this the perfect opportunity for one lucky viewer to adopt a greener way of life.

Riding on the coattails of HGTV Dream Home 2008, the biggest giveaway on HGTV and in cable, this new eco-friendly home giveaway is sure to be a huge hit with viewers. This new home is earth friendly and totally livable. It’s completely mainstream, and not at all over the top or extreme. It features the latest building technologies and materials so the future homeowners can minimize their impact on the environment without giving up lifestyle. But, the giveaway is much more than a home…we’re giving away a lifestyle. Located near Hilton Head, SC the HGTV Green Home is nestled in a town with 4500 wooded acres and amidst 450 acres of tranquil lakes. With the additional convenience of so much shopping and dining nearby including a major supermarket, homeowners won’t need to drive for miles and struggle with traffic on the highway just to pick up a few “necessities.” Carter’s easy-going attitude and ability to give simple eco-friendly tips makes him the perfect talent for HGTV Green Home 2008.

Carter Can - Episode 111 - 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM ET / PT
Join Carter as he helps this family get their backyard geared up for a family reunion with an outdoor kitchen and eco-friendly decking.

World’s Most Extreme Homes - Episodes 406 - 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM ET / PT
Check out energy efficient and design forward homes from Ontario, Canada to Lima, Peru.

20 Ways Your Home Can Save the Planet - Special - 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET/ PT
Wrap up your Earth Day with host Chi Lan, one- hour tour that that gives you a taste of all the best green ideas, products and tips that will get your home green and gorgeous without breaking the bank.

             

Flowers, chocolates and diamonds will top many people’s shopping lists as Valentine’s Day approaches. Unfortunately, the items most associated with romance are also marred by environmental and social justice concerns.

As the green movement gains momentum, and support from Hollywood heavy hitters such as Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio, consumers are becoming increasingly aware that the items they purchase might be obtained in ways harmful to the Earth and its inhabitants, according to experts in the diamond and flower industries. Frontline workers in Latin American countries, key suppliers of chocolate and flowers, and Africa, where the majority of diamonds originate, are most affected, dealing with hazardous working conditions and unlivable wages.

With diamonds, demand for conflict-free stones spiked after the 2006 movie “Blood Diamond,” which addressed the link between diamonds and political unrest and violence in Sierra Leone.

“People were shocked that for such a beautiful gemstone the history behind it could be so tragic,” said Beth Gerstein, co-founder of Brilliant Earth, a San Francisco-based company specializing in conflict-free diamonds. “More and more people are starting to ask questions about where products are coming from and demand a more socially and environmentally friendly product.”

The trend is rippling through the flower industry as well.

“People are getting more concerned about the broader implications of what they buy. I want to make sure my purchasing decisions don’t hurt someone else in another part of the world,” said Amy Stewart of Eureka, Calif., author of “Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful.”

There are ways to make Feb. 14 special for your loved one and still be environmentally and socially responsible. Here are some tips to consider.

Chocolates

Organic and fair-trade chocolate still has all the calories of regular chocolate, but at least it helps alleviate some of the guilt. Wild Oats-Whole Foods in Vancouver offers a variety of organic and fair-trade chocolate bars in several flavors. The store carries Alter Eco, a fair-trade label; Equal Exchange, organic and fair-trade chocolates; and Seeds of Change, an organic line. The bars range from $3.69 to $4.59.

Equal Exchange also offers a variety of organic, fair-trade certified chocolate through its Web site, equalexchange.com. Options include Organic Milk Chocolate with Ground Hazelnuts, Organic Mint Chocolate and Organic Very Dark Chocolate. A 3½-ounce bar costs $3.95, plus shipping, and a case of 12 bars is $40.50. The minimum order is $25.

Dagoba, an Ashland, Ore.-based company, also offers organic and fair-trade chocolate bars and syrup, hot chocolate mix and chocolate-covered ­coffee beans. Products can be ordered online at ­dagobachocolate.com.

Based out of Seattle, Theo Chocolate offers fair-trade, organic and vegan chocolate bars through its Web site, theochocolate.com.

The Uncommon Gift in Camas sells Moonstruck Chocolate Co.’s organic dark chocolate bar for $3.95. The regular bars are $3, but the extra 95 cents is worth it to some eco-conscious customers, said The Uncommon Gift co-owner Carrie Schulstad.

Flowers

Surprise that someone special with a bouquet not tainted by pesticides or imported from thousands of miles away. Many area florists buy from local growers whenever possible to support their community, know more about the products they’re selling and save on the fossil fuels and other non-renewable natural resources required to ship merchandise long distances.

Garside Florist Inc. in Vancouver gets its roses from Peterkort Roses in Portland, and buys tulips from Holland America Bulb Farms Inc. in Woodland.

Although most of Garside’s flowers come from Colombia and other Latin American countries, many of these farms are VeriFlora-certified for sustainable practices. Esmeralda Farms is one such operation, and supplies many of Garside’s carnations, poms and daisies.

For Valentine’s Day Wild Oats-Whole Foods will be offering organic roses from Biogarden.

To send blooms to a long-distance­ love, check out ­organicbouquet.com. The site sells certified organic and VeriFlora lilies, irises, roses and other flowers.

Diamonds

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but not if they come at others’ expense. Industry-wide, most jewelry manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers are aware of conflict diamonds and try through the Kimberley Process to maintain a pipeline of conflict-free jewelry, said Erik Runyan, owner of Runyan’s Jewelers in Vancouver.

Runyan’s has written guarantees from its vendors stating that their diamonds, to the best of their knowledge, are conflict-free. Most of Runyan’s diamonds are mined in South Africa and cut in Belgium, but Runyan’s also sells some Canadian diamonds.

Because it’s hard to track the origin of diamonds from mine to jewelry store, buying Canadian gems is the best way to assure an ethically sourced stone, Gerstein said.

All the diamonds Brilliant Earth sells come from Canada. Brilliant Earth also designs sapphire pieces using stones from small, family owned mines in Australia and Malawi. The yellow and white gold and platinum settings Brilliant Earth creates are recycled metals.

Other gift ideas

Give the gift of philanthropy. CharityChoice gift cards allow the recipient to choose a cause to support from among more than 100 charities. Charities range from the Sierra Club to the American Red Cross to Special Olympics International Inc. Electronic cards start at $5 and are tax-deductible for the purchaser of the card. For more information or to buy a card for your sweetheart, see ccgiftcards.org.

There also are many fair-trade gifts available locally and online created by artisans worldwide.

The Emancipation Network sells handicrafts made by survivors of human trafficking and slavery. The organization’s store, Made By Survivors, provides jobs for women and helps them become entrepreneurs. Products are available online at madebysurvivors.com and include beaded bracelets from Nepal ($10), batik scarves from India ($30) and handwoven cotton napkins from Thailand ($20 for a set of four).

Wild Oats-Whole Foods carries World of Good products, a line of fair-trade jewelry and women’s accessories handcrafted in Colombia and other South American countries. Prices range from about $15 for a bracelet to $40 for a purse.

Vancouver-based Organic Products Trading Co. develops and imports organic and fair-trade coffees from around the world. Its Café Feminino line is fair-trade, organic and shade-grown. Roasters have agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds to either local women’s shelters or the Café Feminino Foundation. The beans are available locally at Trader Joe’s and Café Sip-n-Play.

If your paramour enjoys a romantic dinner brimming with fresh, locally grown ingredients, try a gift certificate to Roots Restaurant & Bar in Camas or 360° Pizzeria in east Vancouver near the Camas border. These restaurants, both owned by Brad Root, feature produce and meat from Northwest farms.

Or visit Seres, a new, upscale Chinese restaurant in east Vancouver. Seres emphasizes organic, local ingredients and boasts an energy-efficient kitchen and menus made from recycled paper.

For an elegant and educational experience heavy on local fare, get a group of four or five couples together and sign up for a demonstration dinner at Applewood Northwest Cuisine and Catering in the Cascade Park neighborhood. The dinners are offered Tuesday nights at 6 p.m. They last about two and a half hours and include four courses and wine. Meals are prepared step by step, and recipes are provided. The cost is $75 per person.

For an inexpensive but poignant gift, try a love letter. The Paper Lantern in Camas sells cards made from recycled materials, so you can save a tree and give your honey a note to treasure. And though perhaps not as romantic as an actual card, virtual cards are environmentally friendly. Sites such as greetings.yahoo.com and 123greetings.com allow people to personalize and e-mail electronic cards.

Did you know?

Fair-trade certification means that farms receive a reasonable price for their products, and that employees on those farms work in safe conditions. Forced child labor is not tolerated. With fair-trade goods, importers work directly with farmers whenever possible. Farmers and workers also receive a premium to invest in community development projects. Harmful agrochemicals and genetically modified organisms are eschewed in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods. Fair-trade certification is available for coffee, tea, herbs, cocoa, chocolate, fresh fruit, sugar, rice and vanilla. Look for the Fair Trade Certified logo on products.

VeriFlora certification signifies that flowers and potted plants were produced in an environmentally and socially conscious manner. Look for the VeriFlora logo, or ask your florist if the wholesaler he or she uses works with VeriFlora-certified growers.

Kimberley Process certification regulates trade in rough diamonds. It aims to keep conflict or “blood” diamonds out of the retail market. Conflict stones, those that help fund civil wars, have been particularly devastating to central and western Africa. When shopping for diamonds, inquire about retailers’ policies on conflict diamonds. Ask to see a System of Warranties statement, a written guarantee that the diamonds come from legitimate sources and are, to the retailer’s and supplier’s best knowledge, conflict-free.

Products certified organic meet U.S. Department of Agriculture standards. Organic farmers emphasize the use of renewable resources, as well as water and soil conservation. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic farming emphasizes biologically based pest management, as opposed to pesticides. In addition to the farms, companies that handle or process organic food on its way to restaurants and grocery stores must be certified organic. Any product labeled organic must be certified by a nationally accredited agency.

Sources: transfairusa.org; veriflora.org; kimberleyprocess.com; diamondfacts.org; ams.usda.gov/nop; David Granatstein, Washington State University sustainable agriculture specialist.

Mary Ann Albright

http://www.columbian.com/lifeHome/lifeHomeNews/2008/02/02062008_A-love-thats-sustainable.cfm

             

IF YOU’RE DREAMING of a white Christmas you’re in the minority this year. “Green” is the preference for 71% of consumers, who say they plan to buy eco-friendly or energy-efficient products when possible this holiday season, according to a survey by price-comparison search engine PriceGrabber.com. Beyond a desire to save the planet, these consumers are motivated in part by escalating fuel prices, which are projected to increase U.S. household heating costs by an average of 10%, according to the Energy Information Administration.

But those same skyrocketing energy costs that increase the appeal of, say, a 15%-more-efficient Energy Star furnace, are also making it tough to stomach the premium price tags such eco-friendly goods often carry. Why shell out $65 for Levi’s jeans made with organic cotton, for example, when the brand’s conventional versions start at $48?

With careful shopping and a few energy-saving measures, you can go green this winter without busting your holiday budget. Consider these simple switches for common seasonal expenses:

Christmas Trees

Some 32.8 million Americans buy real trees each holiday season, according to the National Christmas Tree Association, a grower’s group. If you’re among them, celebrate the fact that a real tree is the more eco-friendly choice. “It’s a lot more environmentally sound than a fake one, which is made from petroleum,” says Deborah Gangloff, executive director of conservation group, American Forests. Real trees also offset greenhouse gas emissions during the decade or so they grow on farms, and as a crop, new trees are planted to replace each harvested. If the use of pesticides bothers you, you can even find an organic-farmed tree.

Once the needles start littering the carpet and it’s time to dispose of your tree, find a local recycling program through your county or city environmental department. Jefferson Parish, La., sinks bundles of donated trees to protect marshland from erosion, while Cook County, Ill., uses them as a nesting habitat for herons and egrets. Plenty of areas also mulch the trees for use in local parks.

Real trees can be economical, too. A six-foot Blue Spruce is just $20 at the Bees, Fleas and Trees farm in Litchfield, Conn., or $15 at Juneau’s Christmas Trees & Reindeer Farm in Foster City, Mich. Meanwhile, a lifelike 6-foot-5-inch artificial version from specialist Balsam Hill goes for $259. Sure, a good-quality artificial tree will last for years, but once thrown out, they won’t biodegrade in the landfill, says Gangloff. (Click here for tips on which type of tree you should buy.)

Fireplace

Use your fireplace incorrectly, and you might as well be burning logs of greenbacks. “Fireplaces tend to draw more warm air out of the room than they provide,” says Jennifer Thorne Amann, a senior associate with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. “It all gets sucked out the chimney.” To avoid watching your energy bills go up in smoke, turn down the heat when you set the blaze. Close off the room if possible to limit heat loss in the rest of the house. And remember to close the damper once the fire goes out. Otherwise, you’ll be losing your pricey heated air around the clock.

Gift Wrap

Americans accumulate 25% more garbage between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day than they do during the rest of the year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Filling up the trash cans are the boxes, wrapping paper, ribbons, tissue paper, cards and envelopes that are all too familiar during the holidays. Reducing your expense and waste is possible, though — even if you’re not willing to resort to the standard advice of saving every scrap of wrapping paper for next year, says Constance Richards, author of “Creative Giftwraps.” “Using things that don’t need to be thrown out is the ideal,” she says. Gift bags are the obvious choice; especially if you’ve saved ones gifted to you in previous years. Bought new, you’ll need to weigh the cost-effectiveness: Will the items you stuff in a $1 bag use up at least one-third of a $3 wrapping paper roll? Lessen the hit with a trip to the dollar store, where gift bags are often two or three for a buck.

A more earth-friendly option is to forgo wrapping paper altogether and use part of the gift itself as wrapping. Stash DVDs in a big decorative bowl, for example, or place assorted beauty products in a traveling case. Or, just wrap with items that you would have thrown out anyway, advises Richards. Newspaper is the classic no-frills wrapping choice, but she also likes maps and glossy magazine pages, which are a little more offbeat and eye-catching.

Holiday Lights

Deck the halls with strings of LED lights instead of the standard incandescent bulbs, and you could cut the holiday light portion of your electric bill by a whopping 90%. One 300-bulb string of LED lights will cost of just 47 cents for the whole season, assuming you have them lit five hours a day for 45 days, according to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. In comparison, lighting the same length string of incandescent bulbs would cost $4.92. You will pay slightly more in upfront costs, however. At specialty retailer 1000Bulbs.com, a 70-light string of multicolored mini LED lights is $14.31, while a 100-count string of the incandescent version is $9.04. But because LED bulbs last up to 100,000 hours and are much hardier than their incandescent counterparts, you’ll spend less cash — and time — over the long run replacing or repairing defunct strings, says Ronnie Kweller, a spokeswoman for the Alliance to Save Energy.

To help cover the upfront cost of LED lights, look for rebates through your local utility company. The Maine Public Utilities Commission offers consumers a $1.50 coupon per string of LED lights, while Anaheim Public Utilities in California offers $10 and $20 gift cards for Starbucks, Borders or Home Depot, based on the number of bulbs you buy.

Presents

If you’re on the hunt for eco-friendly presents, try specialty search engines Shop Green with Price Grabber and The Find Green. Both scour the web for the lowest prices on green items. Preset categories can help narrow your choices or offer eco-friendly options you might not have thought of, like organic lipstick ($20 for Cargo’s Plant Love line) and wine ($14.95 for Frey Vineyards 2005 organic pinot noir).

Turkey

Looking for one holiday splurge? Try an organic turkey, advises Kristi Weidemann, a spokeswoman for Consumer Reports’ Greener Choices. Poultry is one of the organic foods that offers the most value for your buck, according to the Environmental Working Group. The birds are raised without the aid of antibiotics or growth hormones, and consume feed that was itself grown without pesticides or other chemicals. But it’s not without a heftier price tag. At Safeway, for example, the store-brand conventional frozen turkey goes for $1.19 per pound, while its organic counterpart costs $2.69 per pound. For a 16-pound bird, that’s an extra $24. To cut your costs, stick with a USDA-certified organic bird. Labels that indicate free-range, certified humane or heritage breed — although desirable — add to the cost. (Click here for more tips on buying organic foods.)

By Kelli B. Grant

http://www.smartmoney.com/dealoftheday/index.cfm?story=20071128

             

By Rachel Forrest

One of my friends was finally going to meet her son’s girlfriend at Thanksgiving a few years ago. She called me up all excited about meeting her and gushed on about how she was going to welcome the girlfriend into the family with the whole traditional Thanksgiving dinner — her grandmother’s sausage and apple stuffing and the giblet gravy, the Brussels sprouts with bacon and of course the 25-pound turkey. Two days later she calls again, totally panicked.

“Oh by the way, Mom,” said delightful son. “Sarah’s a vegetarian.” What to do, what to do?

No problem! There are plenty of ways to honor the vegetarians at the Thanksgiving table and, while doing so, to honor your own inner vegetarian. First off, there’s the interesting Tofurky way to go. The stuffed roll is made from tofu, wheat and wheat gluten and has the spices in it to make it taste like turkey and simulate turkey in style. I’ve tasted it and it’s really pretty good.

While I’m not a big fan of making foods seem like meat — I do understand the nostalgia factor in bringing back some of the Thanksgiving feel for everyone by having something turkey like for the vegetarian. But I prefer to offer a very interesting vegetarian main dish instead with a meat-free gravy as well. That and a huge variety of side dishes, which you’re making anyway, is just fine.

You can make all of your appetizers and pre-dinner snacking fare vegetarian too in ways that everyone will like. Hummus, guacamole, bruschetta — you really needn’t change a thing. Make sure you prepare a vegetarian stuffing baked in a separate dish in the oven — if the stuffing is cooked in the bird, it’s not vegetarian. And find out if your guest eats dairy or eggs as well. If you put cream in your mashed potatoes and you have a vegan coming for dinner, make some mashed with vegetable stock or pureed parsnips instead or in addition to your usual.

Some other tips are to call a vegetarian-friendly restaurant like the Green Earth Café in Exeter, Madeline’s Totally Organic Kitchen in Portsmouth or Susty’s in Northwood and order up an entrée you can pick up. Arrange for some or all of the guests to contribute a dish. And sure, you can go faux with Tofurky (www.tofurky.com) or the Celebration Roast from Field Roast (www.fieldroast.com, a wheat flour faux turkey with a butternut squash and apple stuffing.

An easy vegetarian gravy can be made by boiling some in season root veggies like carrots, parsnips and turnips with herbs and onions until soft, straining out the vegetables, reducing and thickening with a roux just like you would a gravy made from pan drippings. And stuffing could simply be your bread with mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes for even more flavor. Moisten the stuffing with a nice apple cider or white wine. There’s plenty of late harvest produce for the sides so go nuts.

Some great main dish ideas are lasagna with winter squash or a hearty risotto with mushrooms and squash. A veggie shepherd’s pie is a great option as well, made with mushrooms and even a red cabbage. This is one my friend made on that fateful Thanksgiving Day when her son brought the new girlfriend and announced their engagement. Surprise! Bring Mom a big bottle of wine! And what are you serving at the wedding mom-in-law?

Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie

Pre-heat oven to 425° F. Caramelize one large chopped Vidalia onion with 2 tablespoons butter. Add 3 cloves of chopped garlic and sauté for about a minute. Add 3 tablespoons butter and 2 large sliced portabello mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes. Add 1 cup of red wine and 2 cups water or vegetable stock. Stir in ¼ cup tomato paste. Simmer for 15 minutes, then stir in 1 teaspoon chopped basil and 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar. Remove from heat.

Make mashed potatoes in whatever way you like (check about that dairy factor) using about 3 cups of diced potato. Press the mashed potatoes into the bottom and up the sides of an 8 by 12 baking dish. Spoon the mushroom mixture into the dish. Cover with the rest of the mashed potatoes. Bake for 15 minutes or until the tops are browning. If your guest isn’t vegan, you can top with cheese as well. Serves six.

The Dish

There are still farmers markets for the Holidays! On Nov. 17 and Dec. 22, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., McIntosh Atlantic Culinary Academy (MACA) will sponsor and host the Holiday farmers markets with more than 20 vendors from around the Seacoast attending to sell their goods. Vendors will arrive at MACA, 181 Silver St., in Dover, and set up their locally grown produce. The market provides an arena for residents to support local farmers and food producers. It’s all the great stuff you got every week from the farmers markets in May to October, but in November and December! Get heirloom variety pumpkins and maple syrup, cookies, lamb, produce and even greens. Participating farms and local food businesses include the Back River Farm, McClary Hill Farm, Andy’s Greens, Meadow’s Mirth, New Roots Farm and White Heron Tea among many more. Support local farmers at 181 Silver St. in Dover. For information, call 750-1500 or visit www.seacoasteatlocal.org.

Rachel Forrest is a former restaurant owner who lives in Portsmouth. Her column appears Wednesdays in Go&Do. Her restaurant review column, Dining Out, appears Thursdays in Spotlight magazine. Hear her on Wine Me Dine Me with co-host Susan Tuveson at 6 p.m., Fridays on WSCA-FM 106.1. She can be reached by e-mail at rforrest@seacoastonline.com.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/OPINION/711140304/-1/OPINION05

             

By ADRIA VASIL

Q Do you have suggestions on how to build a movement that advocates buying green/local/ fair trade during the holidays?

A Let me preface this with a note to all the Santa-haters of the world: please don’t lob sharp objects at me for bringing up a Christmas-related question one week after Halloween. This is exactly when all the gaudy garlands and silver bells start popping up en masse in the malls. If you want to counter the marketers who’d sell us reindeer poop if they could, you have to start early.

Begin by checking out your competition. You might learn a thing or two from, say, the clever former Adbuster editor and Mennonites behind the Buy Nothing Christmas campaign. I mean, jeez, the site sells absolutely nothing, but it’s got a Buy Nothing Catalogue, a script to a Buy Nothing Musical and catchy Buy Nothing carols (including my fave, Consumer Wonderland; www.buynothingchristmas.org.)

Not that you need to pen a whole play, but a little Eaton Centre carolling of your own with a local theme could go over well. You know, like “Dashing through the malls / On a maxed-out credit card / Is way less fun / Than a local craft fair / Where kids don’t make the toys. Hey!”

Even some good old-fashioned flyering in high-traffic shopping zones (where mall security can’t get you) could snag some attention. Just make sure you print on recycled paper.

There’s no denying a great deal of green activism happens in the virtual world. A how-to-green-your-Xmas website could reach a lot of eyeballs without your ever having to leave your living room.

You can link to earth-friendly independent shops that sell the kind of goods you’d like to see people buy (like www.grassrootsstore.com, www.organiclifestyle.ca and www.ecotoytown.com; look for lots of other green prezzie sources in the NOW gift guides November 22, 29 and December 6).

And don’t forget to post info about your movement in online forums on general-interest green websites (like www.grist.org) and mainstream sites (like www.canadianliving.com).

Your concept could spread like a California wildfire if you start hobnobbing through social networking sites like Facebook. Set up your Dreaming Of A Green Xmas facebook group or whatnot, keep the page fresh and watch it grow. (Note: This is not an opportunity to nag me about joining Facebook. My long-term goal involves more time away from my laptop, not less!)

And don’t just blog on Facebook. Join green communities on sites like Livejournal.com and start blogging there, too. Actually, my Web-savvy colleagues insist you should cross-post your blog on as many blog sites as you can to get the word out.

But before you do any of this, you need to flesh out exactly what you’re going to say when someone comes to you for tips on having an eco-friendly, fairly traded, local holiday.

I always tell people to make their own gifts. And, no, you don’t have to be a crafty Martha Stewart Living subcriber to actualize this one. Of course, you can go learn how to make your own candles, sew a scarf or bake some cookies (www.diynetwork.com has lots of good crafty ideas, by the way), but you can also give out your time with a homemade coupon for a free guitar lesson, a babysitting session or a home-cooked meal.

Easier still, send people to one of the millions of craft shows in church basements and community centres over the next month, where they’ll connect with all kinds of amazing local artisans, instead of to cookie-cutter chain stores pushing junk.

Give them links to ecards (like www.care2.com) so no trees have to suffer for our season’s greetings. Post tips on making your own wrapping paper with magazines or old fabric scraps.

Invite people to toss in their own two cents and tell their stories of holiday greening. Soon enough, you might just have enough momentum to give Rudolph a run for his money.

http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2007-11-08/goods_ecoholic.php

             

Want to know how you can reduce your carbon footprint and be more ecologically friendly as a family? As part of the Western Mail’s Environment Month, Friends of the Earth Cymru have come up with a 60-point guide to going green

AT HOME
The global warming carbon emissions we produce from our homes account for a massive 25% of total emissions in the UK. So everything we can do to reduce this will help

1. Just boil the amount of water you need for one cup of tea, rather than half a kettle full and save cash with each cuppa.

2. Use a lid on saucepans. In this way you’re saving energy and money with every meal.

3. Switch to energy-saving light bulbs. They cost a little more, but save up to 10 times the price over their lifetime and use at least two-thirds less energy than standard bulbs.

4. Turn off appliances. Switch off PCs and TVs when not in use. And never leave them on standby – appliances on standby wastes at least 6% of domestic electricity use in the UK.

5. Make sure your hot-water tank is dressed correctly. A British Standard lagging jacket costs £10 and the insulation for the pipe leading to the hot-water tank from the boiler costs £3 a metre. The yearly saving on your bill? Up to £20.

6. Produce your own energy by installing small-scale renewable energy systems, such as solar panels or wind turbines. Grants are available from the Low Carbon Building Programme. See www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk if you’d like to find out more.

7. Save water. Did you know that having a shower instead of a bath can save about 40 litres of water? But avoid power showers as they can use more water than baths. Install spray taps for new sinks, as they use less water than normal taps.

8. Do all you can when it comes to household recycling. If you have a collection service – use it! Go to www.recyclenow.com for lots of information on recycling in your area.

9. Avoid disposable batteries and use rechargeable ones. You can even use a solar-powered recharger – try www.naturalcollection.com for eco-gadgets.

10. Recycle mobile phones and printer cartridges. If you really need that new phone, find a home for the old one. Recycle through your local Oxfam shop or call ActionAidRecycling on 0845 3100 200.

11. Most high-street opticians will take your old glasses to give to people in need around the world.

12. Only print when absolutely necessary. If you do print, use both sides of the paper.

13. Candlelit dinners are not just for the romantics. Inside and out, try leaving the lights off to save electricity. Citronella or beeswax candles will also keep insects away.

14. Try a local grocer or a vegetable box delivery scheme instead of highly-packaged supermarket goods.

15. Buy refills. Using refills saves you money on the products you use in large quantities like laundry and dish-washing detergents.

16. Glass bottles can be re-used as many as 20 times. So use your milkman!

17. Buy green kitchen appliances. Choose fridges and washing machines which have the highest energy rating and the longest guarantees.

18. Close the fridge door. Each minute the fridge door is open takes three minutes of energy to cool down again. And don’t put hot or warm food straight into the fridge – allow it to cool down first.

19. Defrost your fridge regularly. It keeps it running efficiently and cheaply. If your fridge seems to frost up quickly, check the door seal.

20. Keep your freezer in a cool room or garage. It won’t need to work as hard, and so uses less energy.

21. Wash at low temperatures. Wash laundry loads on the low-temperature programme.

22. Dry your clothes outside. Use a washing line whenever it’s not raining, and you can enjoy the fresh smell that only comes from line-dried clothes.

23. Don’t dry clothes on a radiator. It stops heat reaching the room, creates damp and encourages mould.

IN THE GARDEN
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, there’s so much more you can do. Growing your own veg, making compost, helping wildlife and avoiding nasty chemicals can all help create a green haven just outside your door

24. Avoid energy-hungry patio-heaters. There are 2.3 million domestic patio heaters in the UK. Every one of them uses twice as much energy as a kitchen hob. For those evenings in the garden when it gets a little chilly, put a jumper on.

25. Collect rain water in water butts for using in the garden. A garden sprinkler uses as much water in an hour as a family of four uses in a day.

26. Make your own compost. Almost one third of our domestic waste could be composted, but ends up in landfill. Shop-bought compost for the garden costs about £2.50 for 20 litres. A heap in your back garden is absolutely free.

27. Get your children into gardening. Give them their own little veg patch and enjoy the cheap food. A bunch of radishes costs about 45p. A packet of 1,000 radish seeds costs about £1.

28. Grow hedges. For £25, you can buy 50 hedge plants that will give you 10m of thick hedge. Takes time to grow, but a lot nicer than a typical fencing panel which costs £25 for just under 2m, excluding the cost of posts and concrete, and wildlife and birds will love you for it.

29. Go peat-free. Avoiding peat-based composts means stopping the destruction of our peat bogs, which are invaluable habitats for a wealth of wildlife.

OUT AND ABOUT
Going green doesn’t need to stop once you leave your front door

30. Use the car less. Cycle or walk instead and get some exercise. The average cost of a gym session is around £3.80, but the cost of pedalling fast to work is nothing.

31. Stick to 70mph where it says so – or keep under it. Not only is it illegal when you go over, but fuel costs can go up by as much as 4p a mile for small cars cruising at 80-85 mph on the motorway. According to the Slower Speeds Initiative, driving at 50mph instead of 70mph can reduce fuel consumption by a further 30%.

32. Use retreaded car tyres. You don’t need to always buy new. For more info, contact the Retread Manufacturers Association.

33. Start a walking bus group. Get the kids to class without having to do the school run twice a day.

34. Become a skipoholic. Rather than spend, spend, spend at the DIY store, look out for usable materials in local skips. Ask the owner of the contents before taking from any skips.

35. Libraries don’t just loan books. Lots of them hire out music cassettes and CDs, movie videos and DVDs, and even PlayStation games. Use your library to save yourself the cost of building up your own collection.

36. Shopping locally will cut out food miles and support your local economy. Large out-of-town supermarkets are driving the smaller local shops out of business so support your local shops and help the environment too.

37. Re-discover your local area. Holiday nearer home to avoid excessive travelling. You’ll be supporting the local economy, and discover a new appreciation for your area.

38. Avoid flying. It’s easy to get to anywhere in Europe by train. One call to Rail Europe on 0870 8371 371 will tell you all you need.

SAVE CASH AND SAVE THE PLANET

If you think going green is just for those who can afford it, think again. Lots of what you can do that’s good for the planet is good for your wallet too

39. Carry out a financial health check. Could your money be doing better financially and ethically? You could be banking with an ethical institution and getting as good a deal or better.

40. Do you really need it? Buy less and avoid waste. You can then spend more on things which you really need, and buy quality that will last.

41. Babies don’t need special baby food, especially not at up to a pound a jar. Buy a hand-held blender for £5 and purée ordinary, UK-grown organic food, such as potato, carrot, cauliflower and pear.

42. Give your time. Rather than searching for a present that may never be used, you could help with decorating, gardening or a big clear-out.

43. Cut the cost of cleaning. Add lemon juice (59p for 250 ml), soda crystals (51p a kilo) and bicarbonate of soda (44p for 200g) to your shopping basket to get your taps sparkling, dissolve grease, and shift stains on your work surfaces. All for £1.54.

44. Banish aerosols. Air fresheners fill your home with a toxic soup. Avoid wasting money and open a window instead.

45. Ditch disposable nappies. Switch to reusables. This could save you up to £600 in total. A set of 10 reusable nappies with simple Velcro fasteners costs about £70 new.

46. Save energy, save money. Use less energy in your home by improving insulation, draught-proofing, heating controls etc. Call the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012 for free advice.

47. Pack your own lunch. Making your own sandwiches instead of buying over-packaged snacks could save you more than £4 a day.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

There’s only so much that each of use can do in our daily lives. But there’s a lot more that our politicians can do that affects us all. Make sure the Government knows that you want a greener Wales

48. Campaign. Take part in letter writing campaigns, postcard campaigns, petitions, online actions – it does make a difference, honest!

49. Demand strong leadership on climate change. We need strong leaders to take tough decisions and come up with creative solutions. If Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ken Livingstone can do it, you can too, Rhodri Morgan.

50. Educate and inform. Ask the Welsh Assembly Government to launch a high-profile awareness raising campaign to improve understanding of climate change and the many solutions we can implement to reduce its impact.

51. Demand they spend our money wisely. The Assembly Government should move some of the expenditure from roads (50% of Welsh transport budget at present) to support better public transport, cycling and walking schemes.

52. Email you MP now. Ask your MP to take strong action on climate change by emailing them at www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/press_for_change/email_mp.

GET TOGETHER

If there’s so much that each of us can do alone, there’s so much more we can achieve if we work as one

53. Join a Friends of the Earth local group. If you want to do more for the environment both locally and globally, join one of Friends of the Earth’s many local groups around Wales. For information on your nearest group phone 029 2022 9577 or visit www.foe.co.uk/cymru/english/local_groups.

54. Have a clothes swapping party. Get together with you friends and swap clothes. This way you can get a whole new wardrobe for nothing and save the planet too!

55. Use your affiliations to magnify your input. As an employee, a union member, or a member of a club or society you’ll have more influence, so encourage your organisation to make itself heard.

56. Make your town a Transition Town. The transition network is all about people taking control of their own communities, and making a difference by working together. Find out more at www.transitiontowns.org.

57. Join ‘Cymruaction’ at www.foe.co.uk/cymru/english/press_for_change/mailing_list and become part of a powerful email campaign to protect the environment of Wales.

58. Share transport. Get together with work friends to car share.

59. Share tools and DIY equipment. Does every house in your street need a £70 lawnmower, a folding workbench for £30, and a steam cleaner at £100? Share with your neighbours, and it’ll do wonders for your community spirit too.

60. Join Friends of the Earth’s Big Ask Online March. Film yourself on a digital camera or a mobile phone and upload it at www.thebigask.com, and you’ll be joining Welsh luminaries Cerys Matthews, Goldie Lookin Chain and Huw Stephens and many others in asking the Government for a really strong climate change law. Or go along to The Point tonight at the Cardiff Swn Festival, where you can visit Friends of the Earth Cymru’s video stall and they’ll do the filming for you.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/feature-news/2007/11/10/60-ways-to-go-green-91466-20082759/

             

Paper or plastic? If that’s the only issue that crosses your mind at the grocery store, you have some catching up to do. As concerns about the environment have gone mainstream, consumers are finding more and more ways to turn a typical grocery trip into an eco-friendly experience.

Getting started on your Saturday run to the store doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Experts in green living say taking small steps is a great beginning.

“It’s not about going home today and trying to change everything or opening your cupboards and saying, ‘I’ve done it all wrong,’ ” says Sara Snow, host of “Get Fresh with Sara Snow” on the Discovery Home channel, which is relaunching as Planet Green early next year. “It’s all about trying one thing. Just try one thing this week, try another thing next week and baby-step your way to a more natural way of living.”

Here are eight ideas on how to make your weekend grocery run a little friendlier to the Earth.

Try a reusable bag. Opponents of plastic bags are piling up almost as rapidly as the nonbiodegradable totes themselves. A site called Reusablebags.com estimates the average family gathers 60 bags in four trips for groceries.

“People have seen the sheer accumulation of plastic sacks in our trees, in the garbage, everywhere. The sheer ugliness of that phenomenon is really encouraging people … to bring their own bags,” says Paul McRandle, deputy editor of the Green Guide, a publication and Web site from the National Geographic Society.

Reusable bags are a hot new item and fashion trend, but they’re not commonplace yet in metro Detroit. A simple way to start is with one bag, like Linda Consiglio, 56, of Plymouth, who keeps a Lands’ End tote given to her by her sister in her coat closet. “It’s one of those spur-of-the-moment things, like with an umbrella,” says Consiglio. “You always try to remember to bring it.” Also, keep in mind that paper and plastic bags are reusable, if you save them at home and actually go to the trouble of using them again.

Think reduced packaging. In today’s rushed world, grab-and-go snack packs are sometimes a necessity. But saving time now can fill a waste dump later. “Think about how much packaging went into all those little bags of chips instead of one big bag,” says Snow. “It’s terrible, and it goes beyond food.”

One way around the packaging problem is buying in bulk, advises McRandle, who adds it also is a way to save money. If bulk isn’t your thing, try to become more aware of packaging choices in general: Couldn’t you buy a regular-size bag of cookies and divvy them up into snack sizes at home?

Then again, won’t that create another problem with sandwich bags? Not if you view those bags differently. “They’re not necessarily bad if they’re reused,” says McRandle. “If you can get the kids to bring them home instead of throwing them away, there’s no reason not to, especially for cookies or something dry that can be shaken out.”

Consider alternatives to bottled water. Americans have a love affair with bottled water. They drank more than 8 billion gallons of bottled water last year and purchased more of it than any other beverage besides soda, according to Time magazine.

Know another drink that tastes good? Tap water. “Our water that we have in this region is a Top 10 for water quality in the United States, so we really should be drinking our water out of our faucets,” says Oakland County Sierra Club conservation organizer Melissa Damaschke.

Even if you need to keep bottled water around for emergencies, think about toting tap for everyday use. Fill up a reusable bottle and refrigerate it the night before or add ice to give it that cold snap of bottled water.

Buy local, buy organic. Buying local can mean a fun trip to the farmers market and the chance to eat fresh, delicious produce. Plus, it helps the local economy and addresses issues like the energy needed to haul food over vast distances, Snow says. The challenge is to make the most of whatever is in season.

Buying organic is just as crucial, Snow argues, because it means less exposure to pesticides. “There’s this whole thing now about local versus organic, which is more important, and in my opinion, they’re both important,” she says.

Snow, who grew up outside Ann Arbor and lives in Indianapolis, also suggests growing vegetables in your backyard. “If you have kids, it’s a great way to teach them a tomato doesn’t come from a can in a store,” she says.

Read labels. Louise Berg, 36, of Northville has two daughters, Charlotte, 2, and Fiona, 6. She has noticed that her older daughter seems sensitive to preservatives in food. “My main focus is the health of my children,” she says. “I try to buy them whole foods and things without preservatives.”

She’s part of the growing group of label readers who are out to avoid chemicals, additives and other ingredients they don’t recognize. Less processing leaves a lighter footprint on the environment, but it also means more actual cooking, which can be hard for time-pressed people.

Try buying enough vegetables, beans or meat to make one homemade dish a week, McRandle suggests. That way, you’ll have leftovers and avoid burnout from vowing to cook every meal from scratch.

Bike to the store. Pam Murray, 46, of Pleasant Ridge spent the summer riding to grocery stores and food markets in Ferndale and Royal Oak. Her son and daughter ride bikes, too, and her husband, an anesthesiologist at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, bikes to work. Not counting vacations, she got by on filling up the car about three times this summer.

Two people on a bike can carry home three or four bags of groceries using carriers and backpacks, according to Murray, who saves up a list for runs to Costco for items like paper goods.

The weather can be iffy in the fall, but on nice days, a bike ride to the store is an enjoyable — and health-conscious — way to give the car a rest. Murray, a former triathlete, considers it a creative way to squeeze in a workout.

Try gentler cleaning products. Choosing eco-friendly cleaners cuts down on your exposure to harsh chemicals, some of which can harm ecosystems. Green cleaning products are especially worth sampling for households with children or anyone with asthma or other breathing problems.

A green multipurpose product cuts down on the number of products you need to buy overall. Better yet, look into basic ingredients that double as cleaners, like vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice and baking soda. They’re a cheap and old-fashioned method of tackling ordinary grime.

Talk to your grocer. Trendy chains like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s have a selection that attracts some green shoppers, as do local markets that focus on produce. But major retailers like Meijer and Kroger are going greener, too, and paying attention to things like energy efficiency and organic foods.

Whichever stores you prefer, talk to the managers about what’s new in their policies and let them know which products and issues are important to you. The more active shoppers become, the more “it will help them feel more connected with the food they’re eating and the community they’re involved with,” McRandle says.

JULIE HINDS at hinds@freepress.com.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071006/FEATURES01/710060391

             

Add accents of natural materials in fall colors to a few rooms

The big trend continues for fall: Mother Nature’s own materials and colors as room accents for a casual, earth-friendly yet stylish decorative scheme.

Some people will interpret this organic Mother Earth movement as “green,” and go forth to buy naturally cream-colored cotton sheets and towels. Ralph Lauren has applied his sterling designer taste to a premier collection of homegoods in 100 percent organic cotton. This Lauren Home collection was in the works for a year and will include, come mid-October, a line of sheets, towels and bed dressing. But Lauren’s reach is beyond the natural color of cotton to eight earthy shades. Examples are sheets in Tidal Pool or Placid Sky. Well, those are certainly subtle tones in nature.

Other shoppers may simply reach for a rock, say a jewel-like geode to display on a sustainable-wood bamboo table.

The thrifty among us may choose to haunt flea markets and take home vintage linens in subtle colors from years of laundering. A few will find those white marble-topped washstands from the Victorian age. If the marble is uncracked and unstained, these practical pieces of bedroom furniture from the pre-bathroom age can be resurrected for multiple uses. Some stand in for bar/servers in living rooms. Marble veining remains one of Mother Nature’s best patterns, but don’t spill on it. Marble absorbs more than granite.

Others with an endless budget will insist on perfectly polished hardwood floors and granite countertops in the kitchen - or an onyx top for a master-suite vanity. Such one-piece bowls and countertops are easy to keep clean, compared to glass vessel sinks.

It’s hard to improve on handsome natural materials such as polished wood, marble, granite, onyx and fibers from sisal to silk.

Autumn is a particularly appropriate time to admire the natural world as plants are shutting down for the cold season ahead, and squirrels and other animals are busy gathering sustenance.

Autumn colors in a normal year are warm and invigorating. Beige and brown may be this fall’s color scheme, due to the drought, but we can always bring on the warm golds and blazing burgundy reds by layering textiles throughout the house.

Somewhere last week, I came across this clever slogan to boost retail sales:

“Life is tough. You need more pillows.”

And given this day’s plummeting temperatures, we all will need more cozy throws on assorted armchairs, sectionals and sofas.

Textiles, even in pillow-sized yardages, are among the most economical ways to warm up the house for fall. Every single retailer, such as Pottery Barn, West Elm, Williams-Sonoma Home, Target, HomeGoods, Linens ‘n Things, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Pier 1 Imports, are trotting out their autumn colorways in the form of weaves.

Go ahead, shop for a new duvet cover, a throw pillow with silk ribbons woven through the center, a shower curtain or new hand towels for the guest bath. With some restraint, you won’t break the bank, but you’ll enjoy seeing the season change inside your own home.

We like furniture weaves as well. Some of the dark-stained, all-weather wicker pieces fitted with comfy cushions can go indoors to a casual room for fall and winter. Carry them back outdoors next spring. They’re lightweight. No back-breaking work moving “woven” furniture around.

More formal is the sustainably designed Copenhagen Water Hyacinth Lounge Chair and Ottoman by McGuire at www.kohler.com (the furniture line is Kohler-owned and linked by Web site to Baker and Kohler plumbing supplies).

McGuire’s is focused “on marrying environmentally-aware materials and fine design. The Copenhagen lounge chair of woven water hyacinth fibers is a renewable natural resource. The Web site says that water hyacinth self-replenishes every four weeks, and the fiber are “hand-woven by expert craftspeople around a handcrafted frame of sustainably-grown rattan from managed forests in Thailand.” Furthermore, the fibers are coated with a non-toxic, water-based lacquer.

Pier 1 Imports catalog shows many woven-fiber furniture styles. That company’s new Web site announced, as of Sept. 1, there is to be an online store no more. It’s hard to maintain a consistent online inventory, and the words “not available” tend to aggravate customers. You can still browse the catalog online, page by page at www.pier1.com.

Pier 1 goods are to be sold in stores only, and there are 1,000 nationwide. What a concept. Everything old is new again.

But you don’t have to buy woven furniture or sustainable-wood furniture and remake every room this fall. One or two fresh new accents can transform any room. Take the Fall Leaves Pillows in the Pier 1 catalog. Autumn-colored appliqués are stitched onto silky polyester for the softest pile of autumn leaves you could ever sink into - without an allergy attack. The pillow colors are named Mosstone, Carafe Brown, Black and Sand.

Shopping for pillows or other textiles is a good way to turn over a new leaf.

By Joyce Rosencrans

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070915/LIFE/709150301/1005