How To Afford Organic
Organic products often cost more than “traditional” ones.* So how can a family do right for the environment and their bodies without going broke? Well, here’s how we Blankenships do it.
Heirloom Seeds
When you plant heirloom seeds in your garden this year, you’re protecting America’s biodiversity and culinary heritage. Seventh Generation’s blog shares what heirloom varieties mean to us and where to find them.
The Story of Stuff
The Story of Stuff is the story of world consumerism and why now is the time to change. Call its agenda environmentalism, Christian stewardship, or just common sense, but the message is the same: Do not be ruled by the stuff you own. “Keeping Up With The Joneses” is a marketing ploy to make you unhappy, wasteful, and ignorant.
You Don’t Have To Believe In Global Warming To Be an Environmentalist
I am here neither to prove nor disprove global warming. I can only point out that my Christianity and belief in biblical creation seem to stand at odds with evolution, and therefore, global warming. But I absolutely consider myself an environmentalist. Then how, you may ask, can my Christianity and environmentalism coexist?
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Is Your Organic Beauty Product Really Organic?
Many personal care products claiming to be “organic” aren’t. So the National Organic Standards Board is asking the USDA to enforce the same organic standard on beauty products as it does on food. The Organic Consumer’s Association has the story and a list of brands perpetuating the fraud. Visit Skin Deep’s searchable database to find almost any beauty product’s toxicity level.
Homemade Chemical Free Fabric & Paper Dye
This recipe for cranberry dye from ReadyMade Magazine looks scrumptiously easy and fun. The idea of creating my own papers and textiles is always enticing.
Why Is Bottled Water Evil?
“Evil“, you may say, is too strong a word to describe an inanimate object. Well, maybe yes. But when you consider the systems that produce it and even the psychology of why we want it, I think it’s not far-fetched to say bottled water is a moral issue. See this infographic for reasons why.
Razing Cities
The recession is forcing law makers confront yet another difficult question: what to do with ever-declining cities? Dan Kildee, treasurer of Genesee County, Michigan, says some need to be returned to nature. While his solution might seem “defeatist,” Kildee “insist[s] it [is] ‘no more defeatist than pruning an overgrown tree so it can bear fruit again.’ ” I think I might agree.
How To Get Kids To Help You Do Chores
While friend Meg Wilson swears her son Gardner LIKES to help with the chores, playing pretend never hurts in the cause for a cleaner house. I remember imagining myself as the cloistered Cinderella while dusting or vacuuming per Mom’s directive. My hardship became justified yet romantic.
No Impact Man Movie
One man, “his espresso-guzzling, retail-worshipping wife Michelle[,] and their two year-old daughter” are living for a year without making any environmental impact. Author Colin Beavan takes his family on quite the journey in this new movie, coming to theaters September 4. While I question the do-ability of their endeavor, I’ll certainly be entertained watching them try.
