EcoHearth.com Blogs Feed

Airline Food: Staying Healthy and Eco-Conscious at 30,000 Feet

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Tonya Kay | Blog Entry) — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 05:00:00 +0000

So you fly a lot, as I do, and you have successfully navigated eleven countries, all fifty states and the realization that "just because it's free does not mean I'm hungry," saving your already time-zone interrupted, altitudinally exposed and frequent-flier seat-restricted digestive tract from thousands of roasted peanuts, cheesy goldfish and unidentifiable thrice-heated meals. Then you are off to a good start as far as staying healthy as you trot around the globe. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Ten Steps to Socially Responsible Investing

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Guest Contributor | Blog Entry) — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 05:00:00 +0000

You want to meet your financial goals, but want to do so without harming others, and in a manner that promotes the public good. This is a loose definition of socially responsible investing (SRI).

If you are opposed to pollution, war and worker exploitation, you wouldn't want to buy stock in a company that profits from one or more of these. If you think the use of fossil fuels causes global warming, you might choose to invest in the alternative energy sector, for example. It's not difficult to put your money where your beliefs are. Here are ten easy steps to get you on the road to to socially responsible investing. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

The Journey Is the Destination: Traveling the Unbeaten Path

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Rich Bard | Blog Entry) — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Hiking off the trail is the physical equivalent of free association. Think jazz with your daypack on. Jackson Pollack in hiking boots. With each step, you have 360 degrees to choose from. You have no agenda, no destination, no appointments to keep. You're out for a hike (or snowshoe in the winter), open to seeing what you see, making it up as you go. Now that's my kind of hiking. In fact, it's such an integral part of my life that I named my blog after it. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

How to Make Kombucha: My Raw Kombucha Recipe

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Tonya Kay | Blog Entry) — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 05:00:00 +0000

As promised, I'm going to tell you how to make kombucha, but not just any kombucha. Here’s my top-secret, uber-economical, super-green and wildly delicious raw kombucha recipe developed over years of toil and research (aka: learning to get out of nature's way). To start your own home raw kombucha fermentation project, I recommend first doing three successful test runs on cane sugar. Then once you have the standardized fermentation process down, you can start having some fun by varying my raw kombucha recipe. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

Welcome to the Anthropocene Era

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Marita Prandoni | Blog Entry) — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Since the advent of the industrial revolution, human activity has significantly altered natural environments—to the extent that the time dating from the steam engine’s invention in 1784 to the present is considered a new geologic period. It is known as the Anthropocene Era, a moniker coined by 2000 Nobel Laureate and atmospheric chemist, Paul Crutzen. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

No Car Required: The World’s Top Public Transit, Pedestrian and Bike-centric Cities

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Evan Miller | Blog Entry) — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 05:00:00 +0000

With global warming a growing concern, anything that spews CO₂—a major cause of climate change—is a no-no. Cars are responsible for about 35% of all CO₂ emissions, so it’s fortunate that some forward-thinking cities have used urban planning to provide attractive alternatives to the automobile—primarily transport by foot, bike, bus and train. Not only are these better for the environment, but they make us healthier, save time and increase our bank accounts. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Organic, Biodynamic and Sustainable Eco Wines, Part 7: Why Eco-Consciously Produced Wine Is Best

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Tonya Kay | Blog Entry) — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Some select the foods they eat solely on the basis of taste. Some are trying to affect their body's health or shape. Others make food choices based purely on convenience. Children often don’t get to choose at all; they eat what they are given by the adults in their lives. The reasons for food selection are as numerous as the stars in the sky. One thing is certain: to those of us living in the United States, at least, it usually is a choice. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

‘The Eco Tourist’ Web Series: Great Travel Tips for the Eco-Conscious Globe Trotter

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Tonya Kay | Blog Entry) — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 05:00:00 +0000

It doesn't take a cast of thousands or a studio budget to produce media anymore. As soon as I switched to a Mac computer, I became a media mogul. I joke to myself sometimes that "I was born content"—in other words, I was born with an adventurous spirit, a desire to communicate and the talent to entertain. With such user-friendly creative tools on the computer nowadays, nothing holds me back from sharing the entertaining and hopefully thought-provoking content that is my life. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

Does Intentional Eating Require Relocation to a New Climate?

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Jessica Dallas | Blog Entry) — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 05:00:00 +0000

The average consumer’s eco footprint comes largely from his food. I choose not to eat meat, dairy and processed food as it tends to leave a big carbon footprint. I encourage my kids and my spouse to do the same.

We juice and get creative with what goes in our bodies. We tend to look at food as nourishment rather than entertainment. This is not to say that our food isn’t exciting, colorful and tasty. The wonderful thing about raw foods is the abundance of gorgeous ingredients from the world over. However, a primarily raw-foods diet and reducing one’s carbon footprint can be contradictory. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Land Trusts: Grassroots Conservation at Its Best

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Rich Bard | Blog Entry) — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Who owns your favorite hiking trail? Who is responsible for the pristine mountain, valley, lake or stream that you see every day on your way to work, or where you go to get away from it all on the weekend? In the American West, the government owns millions of acres of public land, but in other parts of the country, most of the land that we use for hiking, scenic vistas, camping, fishing, birding, boating and generally rejuvenating the human spirit, has been preserved by land trusts. They also conserve historical sites, important wildlife habitats and even family farms. Do you know what land trusts have done to preserve land where you live? {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Eco Tube: What's Your GREEN New Year's Resolution?

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (EcoHearth) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 05:00:00 +0000

EcoHearth took its video crew down to Times Square, New York City, and asked passersby what they plan to do during the next twelve months to be better stewards of the Earth. To see the video containing a representative sample of their responses, click here.

An Achievable New Year’s Eco Resolution: 'Not-Doing'

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Marita Prandoni | Blog Entry) — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 05:00:00 +0000

I’ve never made New Year’s resolutions. They can end in feelings of guilt and drudgery. Sometimes they lead to consuming more, like buying exercise equipment—when getting outdoors for regular walks might have a more lasting effect.

I propose a different strategy for next year: Be less ambitious and, in Carlos Castaneda lingo, practice “not-doing.” This will shrink our impact on the resources and ecosystems that make it possible for us to survive. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Happy Holidays From EcoHearth

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (EcoHearth) — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 05:00:00 +0000

EcoHearth wishes you and yours a wonderful holiday season and much happiness in 2015. Please visit the site often for new ideas on how to be happier, healthier and a better steward of the Earth. To enjoy more beautiful and thought provoking photos like this one, visit Jennifer Esperanza's EcoHearth blog called Planet Esperanza Photos.

How to Celebrate Winter Solstice: The Ultimate Eco-Holiday

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Kim Ridley | Blog Entry) — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 05:00:00 +0000

The way our culture has come to celebrate the December holidays often leaves me feeling more miserable than merry. All of the shopping, the stuff and the stress seems to crowd out the anticipated joy of the season.

So, refusing to let cynicism prevent me from seeking the sacred, I decided to start a new tradition: honoring the original December holiday, the winter solstice. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Christmas Is Trying to Kill Me

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Tonya Kay | Blog Entry) — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Whoa, what has happened to my world in the last three weeks? Just when I thought Los Angeles traffic couldn't get more ridiculous, parking structures more cumbersome, or drivers grumpier and less safe, the holiday season began.

I'm driving to an audition, which is a usual part of my day, and suddenly there are three cars in front of me making dangerously bad moves and screaming out their windows about who is 'right'—like children... like jerks. I wonder if they even realize how miserable their holiday cheer has become? {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

The Importance of Handmade Gifts

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Charleen Touchette | Blog Entry) — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 05:00:00 +0000

When I was a girl, soon after the fall harvest I began making holiday gifts for my family, friends and teachers. Using whatever handwork or cooking skills I learned that year, I would knit, sew, embroider, bake, paint or sculpt homemade presents. As a young mom, the presents were jars of preserves, bottles of wine or dried herbs and sachets made from the gifts the Earth gives throughout the seasons. One year, I sewed placemats and napkins out of cloth remnants for each family member, and the children made punched tin napkin rings to go along. The joy we felt giving these gifts was deepened by the many hours we spent making them. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

How the Poinsettia Became a Christmas Plant

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Krista Fuentes | Blog Entry) — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Glance in any direction this time of year and you're sure to spot a poinsettia. The lush plant with broad green and red leaves has come to signify the holiday season... but why?

It's certainly not due to a natural preference for cold weather. In fact, the euphorbia pulcherrima is a tropical plant, originating in Mexico, that does not do so well in temperatures below 50 degrees. Rather, like I do, it thrives at a sunny un-Christmas like 72 degrees. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

A Creative and Environmental Giftwrap Alternative

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Krista Fuentes | Blog Entry) — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Don't buy so much (or any!) wrapping paper this holiday season. There are many alternative ways to decorate the birthday, anniversary, holiday and other presents you pass around.

One of my favorites is to wrap gifts in the pages of discarded fashion magazines. The photos and illustrations are often colorful and stylish—and they make attractive patterns when folded around a box. You can even make "bows" out of the same magazines by cutting them into snowflake or other patterns and layering them on top. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

The Greenest Consumer Is the Non-Consumer

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Tonya Kay | Blog Entry) — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Bless the well-intentioned consumer. The biodegradable soap, the hemp briefcase and backpack, the energy-efficient light bulbs—and all of the other "guilt-free" end products of conscientious consumption—are becoming increasingly popular and make us feel much better about ourselves. But in the final analysis, just how much better, really, are these purchases for the environment? {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Eco Tube: What Would You Give Up to Help the Environment?

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (EcoHearth) — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 05:00:00 +0000

EcoHearth took its camera crew outside the Tiffany & Co. store near Wall Street in Manhattan to ask passersby, "What possessions or activities might you forgo to help the environment?" To see the video containing a representative sample of the responses, click here.

Does All This Environmentalism Really Matter Anyway?

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Tonya Kay | Blog Entry) — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 05:00:00 +0000

There it is—right there! And even more over here. In fact, kale is all around. So, why can't I eat it for a salad today?

Catering on the set of this television show has oodles of kale—underneath the turkey slices, garnishing the deviled eggs, and floating wearily amidst melting ice under the serving bowls that hold… the iceberg salad option. Is my world set up to work against me? {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Eco Tube: An Environmental Thanksgiving

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (EcoHearth) — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 05:00:00 +0000

EcoHearth took its camera crew to the farmer's market in downtown Brooklyn, New York, and asked passersby, "Environmentally speaking, what are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving?" To see the video containing a representative sample of the responses, click here.

Sprouting Seeds, Activating Nuts and Germinating Legumes

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Tonya Kay | Blog Entry) — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Those who control seeds control the world. If you have the power to grow a plant that will nourish and feed you and your family, you have freedom. You do not have to accept rationing, insure yourself for medications, believe what they sell you or starve, so long as you possess food plant seeds and know how to grow them. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

Peat Forests: The Green Gold of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (André Oosterman | Blog Entry) — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 05:00:00 +0000

About eight years ago, I worked for several weeks in Palangka Raya, a small provincial capital in Indonesia. My job was to help the provincial government prepare a master plan for the rehabilitation of the world’s largest peat-forest area. On the day of my arrival, the local newspaper ran an article about the “Green Gold of Central Kalimantan.” I soon discovered that the newspaper was talking about an intangible form of gold. By rehabilitating its peat swamp forests, the provincial government of Central Kalimantan hoped to reduce CO₂ emissions from these forests, and sell these reductions to overseas buyers through REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation). REDD is a carbon finance mechanism that is under development by the international community. What follows is a short lesson in modern alchemy: how to turn improved peat-forest management into gold. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

The Joy of Fermentation

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Guest Contributor | Blog Entry) — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 05:00:00 +0000

I’m addicted to fermentation. It started innocently enough—my boyfriend’s mom gave me the old yogurt maker that had been sitting unused in her cupboard since the 1970s. I simply had to plug it in and leave some milk (and a little yogurt culture) to incubate for six hours, but I soon realized the vast potential for experimentation. What if I tried a different kind of milk? Or left it out for 12 hours instead of six? I could make it sour or sweet, thin or creamy. With little tweaks to the process, I could sculpt a unique creation that precisely fit my tastes. Or it could surprise me! {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Smudge: The 'Clean Coal' Ad Parody

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Rick Theis | Commentary) — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 05:00:00 +0000

In a direct challenge to the coal industry's ubiquitous "Clean Coal" campaign, The Reality Coalition has issued a counter ad. The hilarious spot, called "Smudge," is a devastating parody of the shameless greenwashing efforts of Big Coal—helped along by many Republicans and even some Democrats from coal producing states. It also reflects poorly on disingenuous green advertising in general, like that of fellow environmental villains, Big Oil.

The ad drives home the point that "clean coal" is a myth. In fact, some 600 coal-fired power plants in the US cause a third of our carbon dioxide emissions, a major contributor to climate change. And presently not one of these plants captures and stores its global warming pollution. This is not likely to change anytime soon because the coal conglomerates and their front groups are spending more on "clean coal" propaganda than on research into how they might actually rein in coal plant CO₂.

See the "Smudge" commercial parody here

See other eco-themed videos in our Eco Tube secton

Eat Life = Receive Life: Eating a Diet of 'Living Food'

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Tonya Kay | Blog Entry) — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Raw foodists ideally try to eat actual living foods as the bulk of their diet. "Eat life = receive life," that's how I think of it.

So what's the easiest way to tell if a food you intend to eat is still alive? Go for the rot! That is, if your food continues its life process by fermenting and eventually composting, it still has life in it. If it sits in a can, box or bag in the middle aisles of your grocery store without changing much, it's a dead food. Simple as that! {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

Enjoy Life and Still Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Tonya Kay | Blog Entry) — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 05:00:00 +0000

I met a woman from Spain while staying at an organic farm/hostel at the base of Japan's Mount Fuji. She said that humans (specifically, she was speaking of Spaniards) are leaving very deep footprints on the world. She, like me, obviously wishes to leave lots of footprints all over the world through travel, but perhaps prints more like those from snow shoes over freshly fallen winter powder. Or, better yet, like sandy beach prints washed away entirely by the next tide. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Hyper-Individualism: Bad for Children, Bad for the Earth

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Marita Prandoni | Blog Entry) — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 05:00:00 +0000

A recent BBC story by Mark Easton called “Selfish Adults ‘Damage Childhood’” piqued my interest, especially when it cited too much competition in education as a key reason. Easton summarized a three-year study by the Children’s Society called “The Good Childhood Inquiry” in which the panel concluded that children’s lives in Britain have become “more difficult than in the past.” It cited “family break-up, unprincipled advertising, too much competition in education and income inequality” as key reasons. The report also says that individual freedom and self-determination have been good for society, but that too much of this can lead to the decline of emotional health in children. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

'Lacto-Fermented Root Beer' Recipe

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Guest Contributor | Blog Entry) — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 05:00:00 +0000

As I will freely admit, I adore fermentation. I wrote about my fascination with it in a recent blog entry on this site. What's so great about fermentation? Well, it's fun, healthy, saves money and connects us intimately to our food. And, as I mentioned in my blog entry, "nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment I get from the sour-tangy taste of well-fermented food." You'll find plenty of fermentation recipes scattered across the Web, but one of the easiest and most delicious that I've found is for lacto-fermented root beer. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Eco Baby: Green Nursery and DIY Mobile Project

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Jessica Dallas | Blog Entry) — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Having a baby can be an amazing time. Full of ups and downs, preparations and discoveries. It is also a time when we call to mind our basic values and decide what should be passed on and what can be left behind.

I wanted to perpetuate a greener environment and a greener nursery with the birth of my child. The best way I saw fit to follow these principles was through a simple nursery design with elements that reflected what was reasonable for our economic bracket and conservationist values. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Debunking Soy’s Superfood Image

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Marita Prandoni | Blog Entry) — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 05:00:00 +0000

I have a beef with soy. The Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Dow Chemical, DuPont, Cargill and Monsanto corporations don’t want me to tell you this, but soy could be hazardous to your health—and it is certainly brutalizing the Earth’s ecosystems.

Many vegetarians and vegans are under the impression that soy-based foods provide a beeline to a high-protein longevity Mecca. Though I don’t argue that there are excellent plant foods that can supply our bodies with sufficient protein, soy is at the bottom of my list. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Parallel Teachings from Youth and Nature: Sharing, Reciprocity and Accepting Limits

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Marita Prandoni | Blog Entry) — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Once weekly, I tutor Spanish to a 15-year-old girl from Tesuque Pueblo, New Mexico. The extra hour is aimed at boosting her competence in grammar, vocabulary and listening comprehension. But this spirited young lady—I’ll call her Leticia—prefers not to jump right into the lessons at hand. She likes to shoot the breeze, chew gum, doodle—anything to delay studying Spanish. Then, in the last 15 minutes or so, she launches into the homework, probably hoping I’ll give her the maximum amount of help to finish up, having already extracted the maximum amount of fun. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Avocados: Nature’s Perfect Food for Baby, Mom and… You

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Jessica Dallas | Blog Entry) — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Avocados are celebrated by raw-foodists the world over. Their bumpy green exterior disguises an internal delight that—once “cracked open”—is the fruit equivalent of butter… the creamiest and dreamiest base to build decadently raw treats upon.

Avocados are also a great staple to carry with you as a parent. They require no tools to prepare other than a spoon to remove the pit and a fork to mash the contents. And, by eating them, your kid will be magically transported to the land of omega 3s. “Happy baby, happy mama,” I like to say. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Shorebirds: A Miracle in the Flesh

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Rich Bard | Blog Entry) — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Albert Einstein said, "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

Personally, I believe we are able to flip back and forth between these two extremes, though we tend to take most of the natural world for granted most of the time. Predictable natural phenomena, like gravity, the homing instinct of a honeybee and a six-year-old boy's fascination with butts become hum-drum, everyday occurrences. Every now and then, though, we hold up one of these miracles to the light, take a good look and become lost in the vast mystery of our natural world. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

How Your Business Can Put the Green in Christmas

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Steve Graham | Blog Entry) — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Christmas can really separate the grumpy, green, Grinch-like environmentalists from the festive, red-and-green, Earth-loving elves of generosity among us. The Grinch is the one calculating the elf’s coal use while watching him string up Christmas lights (you’ll see which one I am below). As a business owner, you’ll certainly want to celebrate Christmas with your employees and customers. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for businesses to get into the holiday spirit sustainably, inexpensively and merrily. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Masdar City: Beacon in the Desert, Glimpse into the Future

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Guest Contributor | Blog Entry) — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Even though the fallout from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station disaster has almost completely disappeared from the headlines, catastrophe-proof renewable energy continues to be thrust into the spotlight as a safe, long-term energy alternative. And, as if on cue, on the edge of the Arabian Desert, an experiment is unfolding with a grand vision for a clean-energy future: It’s called Masdar City and it seeks to be the most sustainable city in world history. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

The One Gift You Should Absolutely NOT Give Your Kids This Christmas

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Joy Nicholson | Blog Entry) — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 05:00:00 +0000

No more Chihuahuas for Christmas!

Yes, they are cute. Yes, they are small and helpless. Yes, they make a fabulous huge-eared captive, adoringly wiggling in a fuzzy Christmas stocking—if you are that sort of human. But it’s uncool. Immoral even.

No one likes to talk about the actual ethics of Christmas presents—and I don’t either—but let’s just say giving a cute, wiggly, live photo-op is, well, evil. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Israel's Disappointing Brand of Environmentalism

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Shira Siegel | Blog Entry) — Wed, 21 May 2014 05:00:00 +0000

For a young country that has transformed itself, despite scant resources, from proverbial no-man’s-land to thriving slice of the Middle East in 60-odd years, Israel and its people place environmental concerns and recycling surprisingly close to the bottom of their priority lists. Israel is a politically fragile state; people are more concerned about security, religious politics and whether or not they’ll be blown to pieces in a suicide bombing or rocket attack than about lobbying their municipalities for recycling collection or composting. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

A Sweet Alternative: In Brazil, Cars Run on Ethanol from Sugarcane

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Victoria Cho | Blog Entry) — Fri, 16 May 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Brazil has become the first country to incorporate sustainable fuel on a national scale and as a result is nearly energy self-sufficient. By capitalizing on its indigenous cane sugar crop, it has minimized carbon emissions and alleviated its dependence on oil. Currently, the country mandates that all fuel blends incorporate at least 20% of the sugar-derived ingredient. These strict regulations maintain Brazil’s leadership in the biofuel movement and draw admiration and envy from other countries, including the oil-addicted USA. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

When Is a Coyote Not Just a Coyote?

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Rich Bard | Blog Entry) — Mon, 12 May 2014 05:00:00 +0000

What exactly is the creature that roams the forests and fields of the northeastern US and eastern Canada under the name “coyote?” Can it be the same species as that found in the western US, an animal half the size of its eastern counterpart? Is it a completely different animal? Or is it some combination of coyote mixed with dog or wolf genes? I’ve written about coyotes a few times now and, based on the comments I get, people want to know more about this mysterious creature. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Pro Adoption Is Pro-Creation

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Joy Nicholson | Blog Entry) — Sat, 10 May 2014 05:00:00 +0000

One thing the planet has no shortage of is human life. That’s why I’m always puzzled when people celebrate octuplets, and become irate that people like me don’t have—or intend to have—kids.

“If you didn’t rescue animals, you could be doing something truly meaningful,” I often hear. Translation: “If you were a kind, lovely woman, you would be having children.” {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

'Creamy Cheesy Dipping-Sauce' Recipe

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Guest Contributor | Blog Entry) — Thu, 08 May 2014 05:00:00 +0000

This creamy, dreamy cheese sauce is so good that you won’t guess it is raw and vegan—unless you know what’s in it! With hemp and cashews for protein and minerals, bell pepper and nutritional yeast for vitamins, and garlic and onions to boost your immune system, cheese dips have never been so delectably healthy! {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Questioning the Sacred Cow of Cultural Sensitivity in the Name of Animals, Part 1

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Joy Nicholson | Blog Entry) — Thu, 08 May 2014 05:00:00 +0000

In visiting many, many other countries and cultures, over many, many years, I’ve been offended by only one thing.

I don’t care about the ‘wiping with the left hand and a squirty bottle of water thing’ instead of toilet paper, and I don’t care about sleeping on a straw-y-mattress thing, or the sleeping-on-a-slab-thing, or even the sleeping-on-buffalo-dung thing. (I don’t even care about the closets the Italians rent out in Rome as actual ‘hotel rooms.’) {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

France's Waterwheel: Industrial Boon or Environmental Disaster?

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (André Oosterman | Blog Entry) — Tue, 06 May 2014 05:00:00 +0000

In modern history, most countries have lost the vast majority of their forests. Japan is a well-known exception. In the 17th century, the Tokugawa regime outlawed logging on penalty of death. The ban was successfully implemented, partly because Tokugawa controlled an island nation effectively isolated from the rest of the world. Nowadays, almost 70% of Japan is covered by forests. A much less-known exception is France. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

'Tahini and Fruit Spread' Recipe

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Guest Contributor | Blog Entry) — Thu, 01 May 2014 05:00:00 +0000

My dad used to make me tahini and jam spreads all the time growing up. For a raw jam, blend fresh fruits with agave nectar until sweet and of a consistency similar to cooked jam. It's nutricious, delicious and so easy. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Pregnant Yoga: Lessons for Life and the Environment

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Jessica Dallas | Blog Entry) — Thu, 01 May 2014 05:00:00 +0000

I’ve been a yoga practitioner for about ten years. It’s an on-again, off-again love affair marked by the usual drama found in dysfunctional relationships. I grow in my practice, take a few steps back, grow some more and then kick my mat into the basement for a spell.

I was schooled in ashtanga yoga, which is a fairly vigorous form. Ashtanga and pregnancy don’t play well together, due to increasing weight gain and the inability to jump in and out of postures with one’s usual ease and grace. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Earth Day: Not Just for ‘Greener Than Thous’

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Marita Prandoni | Blog Entry) — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 05:00:00 +0000

"If we could tap into the environmental concerns of the general public and infuse the student anti-war energy into the environmental cause, we could generate a demonstration that would force the issue onto the national political agenda.”
- Sen. Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day Founder

When Gaylord Nelson launched Earth Day 42 years ago, he envisioned it as a grassroots teach-in to make Washington aware of growing public concern over the state of the environment. Historically, our lawmakers have been more concerned with the Gross National Product—maintaining economic growth at any cost—than the ecology. It’s odd that the environment should take a back seat to the economy. The environment is the economy. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

'Fertility Goddess Smoothie' Recipe for Valentine's Day

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Guest Contributor | Blog Entry) — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 05:00:00 +0000

A true fertility potion, this smoothie features maca and Brazil nuts, both known for increasing fecundity in men and women. An added attraction are the strawberries, a treat for the tongue and rich in PEA, which is also known as the "molecule of love." This drink is the perfect beverage to serve with a piece of raw chocolate to the object of your desire on Valentine's Day—or any other day of the year! {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil’s Cousins May Be Forecasting a Fate Worse Than a Long Winter

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Marita Prandoni | Blog Entry) — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Prairie dogs are the eyes of the community.
- Terry Tempest Williams

Groundhog Day is most famously celebrated in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where almost always, Phil retreats, forecasting six more weeks of winter. But it is west of the Mississippi where Phil’s cousins, the prairie dogs, may well be offering a more dire prediction—about the fate of humanity. This is why there have been efforts to establish Prairie-Dog Day to bring attention to the plight of these creatures, under attack by ranchers and developers who consider them pests. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

'Everyday Smog': A Typical Day in Xi’an, China

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (John Marten | Blog Entry) — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 05:00:00 +0000

It was sometime in January this year, in Xi’an, a Chinese provincial capital. Smog hung so thick in the air that you couldn't see the smoke from the burning garbage piles that lined the streets.

In the office where I worked on the east side of the city, we used to measure the air quality by what was the farthest building we could see. Usually that was the construction site three or four blocks away. Sometimes it was the white tower on the other side of the hospital, about six blocks. And on one strange day, we could see all the way to the mountains that ring the city. Even some of the natives gave a puzzled look and commented, “I didn't know there were mountains over there.” {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

'Winter Solstice Vegetarian Chili' Recipe

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Kim Ridley | Blog Entry) — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

There’s nothing like a big pot of spicy chili to bring back the glorious warmth of the sun on a cold, dark winter day. I’ve been tinkering with chili recipes for years, and this winter solstice version is a real crowd pleaser. Chipotle peppers puréed in adobo plus a sprinkling of Hungarian smoked paprika give it a wonderful smoky heat. Vegetarians and carnivores alike love this dish because it’s meat-free yet hardy, with a great texture thanks to bulgur. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Handwork for Happiness and Longevity

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Charleen Touchette | Blog Entry) — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Watch spiders weave a web, bees create a hive and beavers build a dam. Earth’s creatures thrive when occupied with productive work and interaction with materials from the Earth.

When I was a girl, nearly all of the women and girls did handwork like knitting, crochet, embroidery, needlepoint, appliqué, quilting, sewing and tatting; and the boys and men kept their hands busy whittling, tying flies or tinkering with engines and radios. Children grew up seeing the many ways raw materials like fiber, cloth, metal, wires, nails and wood could be transformed with time and determination into something new that didn’t exist before. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

DIY Birdfeeder: An Eco-Ninja Project for Kids

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Jessica Dallas | Blog Entry) — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

I love to do environmental projects around my neighborhood to better it. And I always try to make them into fun and educational activities that include all of the children in the family. In this regard, I’ve devised an ongoing ritual known to many as “Eco Ninja.” These are stealth projects that are undertaken by only the bravest and craftiest among us… usually the children. They’re fearless. Being small and quick doesn't hurt either. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

'Super Nettle-Green-Juice' Recipe

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Guest Contributor | Blog Entry) — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 05:00:00 +0000

This drink is easy to make, full of nutrients and very refreshing. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Air-Drying Laundry Does Both Earth and Wallet Good

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Marita Prandoni | Blog Entry) — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 05:00:00 +0000

When I went to pick up my daughter from her friend’s this summer, I noticed fresh laundry pinned to an extension cord strung across the family’s back patio. The friend’s mother apologized, saying the dryer was broken. I probably run my dryer fewer than five hours a year, I bragged. Why beat up your clothes in a hot, noisy machine for an hour when nature can do the job gently in half an hour? {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

A Frog Blog

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Rich Bard | Blog Entry) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 05:00:00 +0000

I'm standing in the dark, eyes closed, brow furrowed in concentration. For five long minutes, I remain as still as possible. I'm listening to the chaotic chorus of croaking frogs from a nearby wetland and I don't want to miss a single note of this pastoral symphony. A cough, a foot shuffling in the sand on the road shoulder, even the sound of my pant legs rubbing against each other can mean I may lose some important data.

The North American Amphibian Monitoring Project (NAAMP) enlists volunteers who each "adopt" an amphibian survey route. Several times a year, depending on where they live (it's three times here in Maine), they drive a mapped route, stopping at ten predetermined locations to listen for frogs and record which species they hear. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Farmers Markets: Where Less Is More

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Marita Prandoni | Blog Entry) — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Friends think I’m crazy to shop weekly at the farmers market. Organic food is widely available at many stores in my town, often at a lower price. On my meager income, surely I could get more for less if I weren’t such a, um, food snob. But shopping the farmers market is a festive, convivial experience where getting less and paying more is actually a better deal, for the consumer and the farmer. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

Ghost Traps Haunt Our Beaches and the Ocean Floor

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Rich Bard | Blog Entry) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 05:00:00 +0000

There is a certain stretch of beach that I walk regularly. Being part of a naval base, it is closed to the public, but I have permission to do shorebird surveys there. Only once in three years have I seen another person’s footprint in the sand, most likely from a boat that landed there.

As I walk slowly along the sandbar, focusing on identifying and counting birds, I could easily forget about the outside world of man, except for one problem: the tons of trash that wash up on the shore of this otherwise pristine little paradise that I have all to myself. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Food Independence or Interdependence?

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Marita Prandoni | Blog Entry) — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 05:00:00 +0000

More and more, people are experimenting with local eating, many inspired by bestselling books like Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and The 100-Mile Diet by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon. My primary motivation, though, comes from examining a food system that has been hijacked by multinational agribusiness. For me, eating locally is not just trendy or health conscious. It’s political. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

The Faint Green Tint of Factory Farms

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Steve Graham | Blog Entry) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Mass feedlots and slaughterhouses are inhumane and dangerous—and they generate disease and pollution along with their cheap meat. But corporate agriculture giants are driving innovative renewable energy developments. So all is forgiven. Not really, but it goes to show that everything’s not as black and white as the 1906 stockyard photos from Upton Sinclair’s Jungle days. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

In Much of the World, Pedestrians Rule the Naked Streets

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Dawn Marshallsay | Blog Entry) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

When the streets get naked, the pedestrians come out to play. It sounds strange that road accidents are reduced when you remove the curbs, signs and traffic lights that were designed to maintain safety, but this removal forces drivers to make eye contact with pedestrians and travel slower in case they need to break sharply—you never know where or when a pedestrian will want to cross the road. It’s therefore no surprise that naked streets, or so-called “shared space” schemes, are spreading across the globe. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

La Défense: Europe’s Largest Business District Sets a New Standard for Sustainable Development

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Matthew Monfuletho | Blog Entry) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

From every corner of the globe, an estimated eight million visitors flock to Paris every year to marvel at world-famous architectural wonders such as Notre Dame, the Louvre museum or the Tour Eiffel [tour means tower in French. – Ed.]. Yet, few tourists extend their cultural visit to take in what is often referred to as "the world's museum of modern architecture"—La Défense, Europe's largest business district. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Winter in Maine

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Rich Bard | Blog Entry) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 05:00:00 +0000

It's almost the end of February. Still the dead of winter in Maine. Night time temps regularly dip below 0º. Nothing but snow and ice as far as the eye can see. Skin gets all pasty white from lack of sun. (Not being the most racially diverse state in the US, most Mainers start the winter fairly white anyway.) People resort to desperate measures to help them through the rest of the winter: TV, alcohol, garden catalogs, full-spectrum lighting, ice hockey, you name it. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

'Winter Kale-Goji Salad' Recipe

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Guest Contributor | Blog Entry) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

This delicous and filling raw-food salad features calcium-rich kale, cleansing cranberries, nutrient-dense goji berries (that are high in antioxidants and a great source of complete protein), mineral-packed pistachios and a sweet dressing. It is great to serve during the winter holidays, or any time of year. And it's so colorful and tasty, that it's sure to impress your non-raw-food friends! {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Don’t be Greenwashed by Company Annual Reports

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Steve Graham | Blog Entry) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

It’s time for companies to release another round of annual reports, which for some becomes a major greenwashing opportunity. Many businesses also generate separate corporate social-responsibility reports that largely focus on environmental and labor practices. These days most firms want to jump on the sustainability bandwagon—or at least appear to be on board. To be sure, many are reducing their carbon and water footprints, and taking important strides toward protecting the environment. But some only say they are. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Choking on Costs: The Price of Air Pollution in China

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (John Marten | Blog Entry) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

From time to time we see images of smog-smothered streets in Shanghai, Beijing and other major Chinese cities. Surely it's uncomfortable to breathe this fetid air—perhaps we even feel a sympathetic scratchiness in our throats or sting in our eyes—but how about its deleterious effects on the health of that nation and its people? And why is China having such difficulty keeping its air clean and breathable? {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Life on the Edge

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Rich Bard | Blog Entry) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Donning my snowshoes, I leave the plowed, shoveled and accessible world that we humans carve out of the winter snows. Each snowfall is cleared from what is “in bounds” for human use during the winter—and the plow banks and piles of snow grow taller each time. Anything outside of that maintained boundary is by necessity off limits—unless, of course, like me you put on your snowshoes. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Confessions of a Garlic Geek

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Joy Nicholson | Blog Entry) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 05:00:00 +0000

I hate to be a geek brand-whore, especially ‘cuz I’m not paid by any company. (That sounds so luxurious, to be paid by a company, eh? Think of company-provided hotels and massages. Mmm!) But Kyolic Garlic is the company I buy from as far as garlic health stuff is concerned. With no discount. No love. Total capitalism. And full price. I promise if I drop dead they won’t send a wreath. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

'Banana and Caramel Dream Smoothie' Recipe

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Guest Contributor | Blog Entry) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Featuring creamy, nutritious bananas and natural caramel-like flavors, this delicious smoothie is truly dessert in a glass! Yet, when was the last time your sumptuous dessert contained generous amounts of fiber, vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B9 & C) and minerals (selenium, potassium, copper and magnesium)? To top it off, this recipe is very quick to make if you have Brazil nut milk already prepared, and is both filling and satisfying! {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

This Thanksgiving, I’m (Somewhat) Thankful for Corporate America

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Steve Graham | Blog Entry) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 05:00:00 +0000

As a good environmentalist, I know I’m supposed to be thankful for organic food, the national parks and the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife. I am, but I’m also unexpectedly thankful this year for corporate America. Large companies that I have ignored, boycotted and even protested are now friends of the environment. Here are a few good firms, or at least firms doing good things: {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Never Miss a Chance for an Ecological Lesson

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Rich Bard | Blog Entry) — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 05:00:00 +0000

“Look at that,” I say to seven-year-old Max as we linger in the back yard on an autumn afternoon. “Those two are both maple trees. That one’s already lost almost all of its leaves, but this one has barely started to change colors. Why do you suppose that is?”

“Can you push me on the swing now?” comes the non-sequitur reply. So much for the open-minded wonderment of youth. I never even got to my other point about why maple trees lose their leaves before the oaks even start to change colors. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Growing Plants from Seeds—A Fun Way for Kids to Learn About the Earth

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Dawn Marshallsay | Blog Entry) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 05:00:00 +0000

As a child, I used to plant everything from pepper seeds to ash keys (winged seeds from ash trees) in pots in the disused greenhouse at the end of our garden. I’d water them every day, waiting for the thrill of spotting the first green shoots pushing up through the soil. Any failures were part of the experimentation—the unpredictability fascinated me. Do children have the time, space and patience to plant seeds in the technological age? If we want future generations to care about the environment and look after it, we must involve them in its creation. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

'Parsley and Hemp Tabbouleh Salad' Recipe

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Guest Contributor | Blog Entry) — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 15:00:00 +0000

I often look to ethnic recipes for their high nutritional value. Usually, the ingredients of which they are comprised have been combined—consciously or not—through trial and error over many centuries to ensure maximum absorption of nutrients while having an appealing taste. This salad is a great example. It supplies more than 50% of our iron requirement for the day, as well as a generous 20 grams of protein. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Babies Go Diaper-Free With 'Elimination Communication'

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Guest Contributor | Blog Entry) — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 15:00:00 +0000

“What's the deal with this potty training before she is even one?”

A dear friend of mine responded with this question when I emailed her pictures of my daughter, Asa. Included in the set were shots of her sitting on the potty reading a book. I figured people would comment on Asa reading, not on the fact that she was using a potty at what I’ve since learned is a controversial age for potty training in the United States.

Before my daughter was born, I decided without question that I would use cloth diapers. I believed it was the environmentally responsible choice, and being well aware of the toxic lifespan of the disposable diaper, I went ahead and stocked up on cotton pre-folds and Velcro diaper covers that I would wash at home myself. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

'Take Me to the Box of Bugs!'—On Children, Composting and the Future of the Planet

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Rick Theis | Blog Entry) — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 05:00:00 +0000

One summer afternoon, when my nephew Michael was 3 or 4, he came for a visit. We were going to camp out in the backyard that night, but had made no plans for earlier in the day.

I lived in a huge house with a mini TV studio, office, organic vegetable garden, flower garden, an attic full of stuff left by the previous owner, as well as piano, cat, old silent films, antique car, oil paints and canvases, etc., so there was plenty of fun to be had. When he arrived, I reminded him that he'd been there before and knew most of the options. "So, what do you want to do?," I asked. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

'Brazil Nut Superfood Smoothie' Recipe

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Guest Contributor | Blog Entry) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Brazil nuts are a fantastic addition to a healthy diet. Not only are they one of the absolute best sources of selenium available, they have anti-cancer properties and actually help save rainforests. According to the Amazon Conservation Association, Brazil nuts can grow only “in a healthy rainforest ecosystem,” where, as an added benefit, they provide families in the Amazon with roughly half their yearly income. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

A Brief Ecological History of Burying Island

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Rich Bard | Blog Entry) — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Steve rowed the boat slowly, speaking in measured phrases between his strokes. Occasionally he looked over his shoulder to see if we were still on course for Burying Island. He was in no particular hurry. As long as the headwinds weren't too strong, we'd get there in due time. It’s a trip he's made countless times since his family acquired the island, back in 1938, when he was just four years old. Since then, Steve has seen the once nearly clear-cut island return to a forest and watched the wildlife return along with it. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Outbreak: Battling the Spread of Viral and Bacterial Disease in an Animal Population

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Joy Nicholson | Blog Entry) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:00:00 +0000

So I’ve worried about it. A lot. Planned. A lot. Fretted muchly. And now it has happened here at El Rancho de Chihuahua. An outbreak of viral—or possibly bacterial (that old thang we tend not to worry about)—origin.

It’s an actual outbreak. With many of my furry friends and compatriots down, and more almost certainly to follow. I. Just. Can’t. These are my guys! My homies. My soldiers and best friends in life. Is there a battle plan for this? I read Schwarzkopf (Blackhead? Really?). And Napoleon and Robert E. Lee (he was beloved at the time, believe me). {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Environmentally Friendly Baby-Shower Gifts for the Green Mother-to-Be

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Jessica Dallas | Blog Entry) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 15:00:00 +0000

One of my favorite things to do is incorporate old and new into baby shower gifts. I like to inspire new parents with existing green products that are on the market (new) while at the same time tucking in some of my favorite homemade baby-food recipes. I also tend to add something into the package that’s for mom and dad exclusively to chronicle their birth journey. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Improve Your Kids’ Diet—The Planet May Depend on It

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Jessica Dallas | Blog Entry) — Sat, 19 May 2012 15:00:00 +0000

A friend of mine recently gave a talk to an audience of 35 rural kindergartners. Her topic was nutrition. She asked them each to draw a picture of where their lunch came from. Two of the kids drew pictures of cows. The remaining 33 drew one of the following: chicken nuggets, an Oscar Mayer “lunchable” and a Chef Boyardee microwaveable ravioli container. When she told me this I wanted to cry. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Mother? Can You Hear Me? Can You Feel Me Near You?

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Joy Nicholson | Blog Entry) — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:00:00 +0000

It is exceedingly difficult to explain to a very much beloved mother-in-law just why a person who she feels is 1) smart, 2) married to her extremely smart son and 3) such great mother-material would forgo having children and devote her life to dogs. Even worse—to old dogs. To really screwed-up dogs. And on top of that, to—not screwed-up puppies, but to—adult screwed-up dogs! {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Hairy Interloper at Rancho de Chihuahua

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Joy Nicholson | Blog Entry) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:00:00 +0000

We’ve got a hairy interloper here. With quite a few teeth.

Yes, damned if we haven’t added a wayward on-his-way-to-the-gallows Shih Tzu. When we looked up his breed, the name made me laugh in a juvenile way. A ‘shit-zoo?’ ‘Cause that’s what we need here? We don’t take enough shit in our zoo already?

Bad pun. But I adore bad puns!

So, sir Shih Tzu showed up with scrungy food in his beard, a bad case of worms, and a general ugliness problem. I think it’s his haircut. But he might just be hideous. And he had a bad attitude. He bit my face, threw a few tantrums, got all in the grill of my best Buddy, and so I knew he was right for us here. A true nightmare. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Can PB & J Save the World Starting This Earth Day?

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Steve Graham | Blog Entry) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:00:00 +0000

This Earth Day, many cafeterias will be celebrating with a simple culinary classic that saves money and resources—while inspiring inexpensive, effortless sustainability: the peanut butter and jelly (PB & J) sandwich.

Sodexo, which runs college, corporate, hospital and nursing-home cafeterias, is turning to PB & J to honor the Earth. The idea is to convince its 10 million customers to eat plant-based meals, such as peanut butter and jam, that are “low on the food chain.” {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Green Web Hosting Reviews: Help Shrink Your Website’s Carbon Footprint

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Steve Graham | Blog Entry) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Web hosting is not an inherently environmental practice. Even eco-conscious websites like EcoHearth require big, hot, electric computer servers. Unlike an iPod, you can’t recharge a server with a miniature solar panel. In 2005, computer servers around the world consumed the equivalent of 14 standard power plants—that’s enough energy for about 14 million homes. The figure has surely increased substantially since 2005. But you don’t have to use trainloads of coal to run your website. Several companies offer Web hosting services powered by renewable energy. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

When Bad Things Happen To Good Sweaters

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Joy Nicholson | Blog Entry) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

We’re grateful for donations here at the Rancho de Chihuahua. It’s cold and boring for the small, short-haired guys in winter, so donations of dog sweaters and toys can be wonderful. And then again… not.

“Enjoy! It’s sooo great what you do!” said the lovely note attached to the special donation, a pink rhinestone-studded dog sweater—the rhinestones comprising the widely recognizable outline of the Playboy Bunny logo. In case a dog wants to be visually identified with collagen, large human mammary glands and hair extensions? “It” came with another special donation: a Pleather jerkin—a purple, Pleather jerkin for dogs, sans doublet—in case, what? Our pooches need to sit down to a goblet of mead, while waving a leg of lamb at a jousting match? {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

From Brownfields to Green Homes and Parks

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Steve Graham | Blog Entry) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Sometimes new business opportunities are found in the most unlikely places—in this case, poor urban communities with contaminated industrial sites. Three federal agencies—the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development—are working together on a pilot program to cleanup brownfield sites and create sustainable mixed-use developments with better mass transit. The project is part of the new Office of Sustainable Communities. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Operation Chilly Chihuahua

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Joy Nicholson | Blog Entry) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

“Dogs don’t need clothes, they have fur.” Uh huh? And where do you live, Bub? LA? Sydney? Florida? How nice for you!

Here at the Rancho de Chihuahua, we have frozen water that falls from the sky, and even more frozen water that comes up from the ground in the form of ‘dew’ (or shall we say ‘ice!’) five months of the year. Fur plus ice may make a fine, easily shuffled-off combo when dealing with a longhaired, say, chow-dog. It may even suffice for a hardy Shepherd breed.

But we’re talking a 10-pound, shorthaired transplant. They’re about as warm as you are on a ski trip without your fleece gear and whiskey flask. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Making Sustainable Beer Money

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Steve Graham | Blog Entry) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

How did a Colorado brewery land four sets of news stories in one week? By going green.

New Belgium is a Fort Collins, Colorado, microbrewery most famous for Fat Tire, which is becoming nearly as ubiquitous as Sam Adams in bars and liquor stores across the country. Its brewery is one bottle ahead of the rest of the beer industry in sustainability—and that has paid off for the company in spades when it comes to free publicity: {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Stopping Animal Euthanasia: Is It Crazy to Hope for the Best?

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Joy Nicholson | Blog Entry) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0000

One of my all-time favorite utterances comes from my favorite writer, Robert Stone. He is quoted as saying, “Being a realist doesn’t mean believing the worst possible outcome will happen every time.”

I love the optimism of this quote. I hang my hat on it. Admittedly, I wear hats only about twice a year on average.

But what to do when one’s dream is that every animal (human and other) will be loved, cared for, cherished and wanted all its life? Sometimes I wish I had normal dreams, like winning the lottery, having perfect teeth, being a movie star or disliking Snickers bars. At least those dreams might be possible to realize in one lifetime. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Unwrapping Wasteful Packaging

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Steve Graham | Blog Entry) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0000

As part of the Envirofit project, an ingenious group of graduate students and staff at Colorado State University (CSU) have engineered a new type of clean-burning cookstove for developing countries. The initiative not long ago won an ecological design award at the International Design Excellence Awards. But the project undoubtedly deserves an award for innovative packaging as well.

The group saves material, space and shipping costs by making octagonal boxes for the round cookstoves. They realize you don’t need to put a round peg into a square hole. Right now, as we buy, wrap and open boxes full of presents, wasteful packaging is hard to ignore. But companies could save money, be more eco-conscious and reduce our frustration with simpler, easier to open, less wasteful packaging. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Respect Diversity While Recognizing Oneness

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Charleen Touchette | Blog Entry) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0000

The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe... - Black Elk

Nearly everyone has experienced being treated as an outsider or “other.” In the modern world, people are judged and categorized every day. Individuals and groups are designated as “other” based on perceived differences from accepted community norms. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

Eco Investing: Bet on Batteries That Store Solar, Wind Power

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Steve Graham | Blog Entry) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0000

We’ve all seen the projections and heard about the scenarios in which every square inch of the United States will have to be covered in solar panels just to provide a portion of our current national energy needs. These prognostications are extreme, but even so, they fail to account for transmission and storage challenges (as well as conservation, but that’s a whole other ball of silicon). {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

A Message to Heal the Earth

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Charleen Touchette | Blog Entry) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 05:00:00 +0000

In Oregon in the 1980s, when our second son Sage was an infant in his cradleboard, our family hosted an Inipi Lodge for the Portland Indian Community where purification ceremonies were led by Lakota Medicine People. I participated several times a week, which brought me lots of dreams and visions. But one of these visions was special. So I decided to immortalize it. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

Remembering Our Original Instructions

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Charleen Touchette | Blog Entry) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 05:00:00 +0000

The Earth is always sending messages. All we have to do is to look and listen to understand what she says. The most important message is that love is the intelligence connecting all life. Light energy vibrates throughout the universe. It is a tangible reality experienced by mystics and seers, and described by quantum physicists. It is seen in all systems from the microcosm of subatomic particles to the macrocosm of planetary systems and galaxies. {readmorelink}Read on…{/readmorelink}

‘Abandon Earth’: More Faulty Thinking by Top Scientists

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Charleen Touchette | Blog Entry) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 05:00:00 +0000

When I was a schoolgirl, President Kennedy said, “We stand on the edge of a New Frontier,” and directed our young eyes to the stars and promise of the space program. We drank Tang like the astronauts as we sat on the edge of our rec-room sofas with our eyes glued to news coverage of every space launch from Cape Canaveral. We grew up watching Star Trek and introduced our children to Star Wars, rarely questioning why anyone would want to leave the beauty of walking free on this Earth to be restricted in a space suit, confined in a metal cylinder, surrounded by uninhabitable space. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

Weaving and Work

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Charleen Touchette | Blog Entry) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Weaving is one of the oldest arts. Textiles were considered sacred by the Inca in Peru. The Egyptians celebrated weavers in their wall art. European and Asian woven tapestries and rugs embody centuries of creative energy and devotion to religion and culture. But the arduous, dangerous and toxic conditions my French Canadian people endured in the Blackstone River Valley textile mills—the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution—turned the meditative creative work of weaving textiles into spirit-killing wage slavery. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

Recreate the Garden and Free the Trees

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Charleen Touchette | Blog Entry) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 05:00:00 +0000

As a girl, I delighted in the gardens, fields and orchards dotting New England. In the latter half of the 20th century, local farmers grew and marketed produce. Roadside stands were plentiful. Farms grew fruits, flowers and vegetables in orchards, vineyards, fields and kitchen gardens—where a variety of plants, flowers and herbs grew together. To me, they were like the Garden of Eden described in the family Bible. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}

Tend the Garden and Get Fit

EcoContact@EcoHearth.com (Charleen Touchette | Blog Entry) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Summer brings memories of stops at roadside stands along the way to Pépère’s lakeside camp. The hotter the day, the faster I ran to play in the orchards and arbors where life flourished in the dark, moist, cool air. While Maman selected produce for barbecues and clambakes, I imagined I was in the Bible’s Garden of Eden as I played in the microclimates of New England farms. {readmorelink}Read on...{/readmorelink}