{ gathering home }

Green Houses of the Future - Design Ideas

I was told of a Wall Street Journal post on The Green House of the Future, and while many of the plans are a ways off, far beyond solar panels and other currently available technology,  it’s still very informative.  The WSJ asked several architects to design the most energy-efficient houses they could come up with.  All are very creative and in the imagination state but, very green!  Architect William McDonough of the Charlottesville, Va. came up with a leaf-like exterior design that absorbs sun, like solar panels, but is embedded in the actual exterior.

Another company, Cook + Fox came up with a home with a “biomorphic” skin that reacts to weather conditions. Sort of a solar chameleon, the home would turn dark in the sun to insulate the house from heat and cloudy or stormy outside, the home turns clear to absorb the maximum amount of energy. And, the home features a facade that captures rain and condensation (to meet the home’s water needs).  There are others, how about an edible house?  If you’re interested in some imaginative (maybe soon to be possible) green home designs, with images, check out the full WSJ post

Personal Post: Thrifted Napkins

       What is red and white and green?  The Italian flag, right?  Well, yes, and a few other flags as well.  In this case, though, I’m talking about one of my latest thrift shop finds – terrycloth napkins.  The edges are hand crocheted with red cotton floss – a combination of blanket stitch and chain stitch.  I wouldn’t have the time to make them, but someone did, and clearly loved them – they are spotless.  The set of six cloth napkins (only one is modeling for the photo shoot) are so beautifully “green”. I love the idea of one less thing in the garbage, many fewer paper napkins used (and thrown away), an appreciation of the handmade – a remembrance of a slower time.

Rodale, Inc Helps Out With NYC's PS 19 School / Community Garden

 

This week, Rodale Inc announced their support of a new community garden and playground at NYC's P.S. 19, the nation’s largest elementary school, in Corona Queens. Previously a asphalt lot, the new $1M P.S. 19 Community Playground was developed by the Trust for Public Land (TPL) in partnership with NYC's PlaNYC initiative and HANAC Corona Beacon, along with private funding.  “Rodale is honored to work with Mayor Bloomberg, The Trust for Public Land, and others in support of the new garden and playground at P.S. 19,” said Steven Pleshette Murphy, Rodale President and CEO. “We’re proud to bring our commitment to health and wellness to life for the benefit of the vibrant, energetic P.S. 19 community.”   The playground, which includes a community garden, a running track, multi-purpose courts, a water play spray, trees, an amphitheater, benches, play equipment and painted games, will be accessible to the school’s nearly two thousand students, along with families from the surrounding community.

At the playground’s grand opening event on Tuesday, April 21, Rodale’s Organic Gardening team helped some of the school’s 4th & 5th graders plant vegetable seedlings and seeds.  In addition, Organic Gardening is donating gardening books to P.S. 19 to enhance teachers’ lesson plans and bamboo for students to create and build a garden trellis.  Scott Meyer, Exec Editor of Organic Gardening said, “School gardens are an invaluable outdoor classroom that give teachers the opportunity to engage students with practical lessons in math, science, history and geography. And research shows that kids who tend a garden are much more likely to eat healthy foods. That’s a priceless lesson that lasts a lifetime.”

(Photo credit Junius Salazar)

"Gifts From Our Garden" To Help Others

President Obama recently asked Americans to look out for each other in these tough economic times. But how to help others if your income is not even enough for yourself? Here's an wonderful idea; donate the excess fruits & vegetables from your backyard to the needy and get a tax deduction, talk about a win-win situation! One city in the Bay Area of California has already started the "Gifts From Our Garden" movement.  GH readers, please watch the video clip below and spread the word (to local politicians, journalists, friends/neighbors) so this program can expand nationwide !!! And, thanks to video journalist, RichGail.

The Edible Schoolyard in Action

Check out this video clip from edutopia on the Edible Schoolyard campus gardening project - 

and get a tour of the Edible Schoolyard gardens!  Read our Edible Schoolyard (book) post below.

"Edible Schoolyard"; Children Learn to Eat What They Grow

 One of America's most influential chefs, Alice Waters created a revolution in 1971 when she introduced local organic fare at her Berkeley, California restaurant Chez Panisse. Twenty-five years later she and a small group of teachers and volunteers turned over a long-abandoned plot of land at an urban middle school in Berkeley and planted the Edible Schoolyard (from Chronicle Books). The schoolyard has grown into a universal idea of Edible Education which integrates academics with growing, cooking and sharing wholesome delicious food! With inspiring images of the garden and kitchen (photos by David Liittschwager) and their young caretakers, the Edible Schoolyard is a visionary model for sustainable farming and childhood nutrition as well as a call to action for schools across the USA.  

 

Ms Waters is president of the Chez Panisse Foundation and vice president of Slow Food International as well as the recipient of numerous awards. She is the author of many books including the Chez Panisse Cookbooks.  David Liittschwager is an award-winning photographer who has contributed to National Geographic.

Earth Day DisneyNature Giveaway WINNER !!

And the winner in our DisneyNature EARTH contest is...  Sue from Durango, CO !  Congrats!!  We¹ll be sending Sue a variety of Earth products including a canvas tote, a biodegradable tumbler, and a tree seedling!  

Thanks to all who entered !

The BIG GREEN LIES... What Are Yours?

Seventh Generation has produced "BIG GREEN LIES", a new eco show that premieres April 22, 2009 at 9pm ET/PT on FLN (Fine Living Network).    The show endeavors to find fact from fiction in our new "Green" world and see if what we think is "eco" really is, some topics below... Watch the video clip after the break !  

The Real Meat of the Organic Food Debate
Everyone’s hungry for organic food, and it’s easy to see why: These foods are produced without chemical insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers not to mention antibiotics, hormones and genetically modification. But are they better for the environment?

Should a Pollution Alert be Issued for Your Living Room?
Probably. And they will tell you why.

The Inside Poop on Diapers
If there are infants or toddlers in your life, there may be no bigger environmental decision than whether to use cloth or disposable diapers – the typical child requires up to 8,000 diaper changes before he or she is toilet trained. So which is better for the environment?

Don’t Sweat the Gasoline
For years our elders have counseled that if we really want to save gasoline, we should drive with our car’s air conditioner off. Roll down your windows instead goes the popular wisdom. You may eat a some truck exhaust, but you won’t have to gas up at every exit. Is that really the case?

Buy a Hybrid Car?
In an age of fluctuating gasoline prices, hybrid cars can seem like automotive salvation. But are hybrids really the answer for everyone?

Read more at Seventh Generation .

Three Singer/Songwriters To Launch THE VESPA EXPERIMENT in California

Starting April 30th, singers/ songwriters Jason Reeves, Brendan James and Amber Rubarth embark on The Vespa Experiment, a two-week tour of the California coastline during which they plan to raise awareness about global warming. The three artists will leave behind the concrete jungle of L.A. and ride Vespas up the scenic CA coast with just the basics: camping gear, musical instruments, and a vision to inspire young people to consider their impact on their environment.

"It seems like back in the late 60s and early 70s, people turned to folk singers and songwriters for inspiration and answers to difficult questions," Reeves says. "We were very motivated by that idea and hope to influence a new generation to become more environmentally aware as they grow up and take command of their future."

EARTH DAY 2009 Free Offers !!

The world's gearing up for Earth Day on April 22, 2009 and many companies & organizations are participating by giving away free products !  Now, using Earth Day to promote a brand/company is not necessarilly the best way to honor the planet, I thought you would want to know what is available (to reward you for your hard work).

Earth Day Free Stuff:

• Free Starbucks Coffee – Canadians (why not USA, Starbucks ??? )get a free coffee from Starbucks on Earth Day. Just bring in your refillable travel coffee mug and enjoy.
• Jones Soda - Sign the Jones Soda Earth Pledge and you'll get a coupon for a free Jones Soda (make sure to recycle the bottle). UPDATE- 5/1/09 Due to high demande and IT problem, Jones was unable to process many of the "Free Soda" coupons, they're now offering a less attractive "buy 1, get 1 free" coupon thru their customer service dept !
• Home Depot - Home Depot is giving away 1 million free EcoSmart compact fluorescent light bulbs. Starting April 19th, consumers can  get one free 14W CFL light bulb, from participating Home Depot stores.
• Disney Gift - Bring in three plastic bottles to a Disney store near you and receive a free gift.  
• Wake up and Smell the Planet Book – Just register between April 9 and April 23 to download your  free copy of this award-winning book.
• S.H.O.P Acts of Kindness Totes – Register between April 1st and April 22, 2009, to win a free tote from Calypso.
• Wegmans Grocery - Free, reusable shopping bag, (April 25, 2009 11a til 3pm) 
• Reynolds Wrap Foil Rebate - Download the rebate form on Earth Day for your free 100% recycled aluminum foil. This offer begins at 4:22 a.m. EST and supplies are limited. A $3.99 value.
• Aveeno EnviroSax – The first 1000 entrants will receive a free, limited edition Envirosax reusable bag and samples of Aveeno Shampoo and conditioner. Aveeno will donate $10 to Global Green USA for each bag given away. Sign up April 22nd.
• Walgreens – Get a free Walgreens Shopping Bag on April 22nd, and see this link for a 15% off coupon.

And, a cool contest- check out Amazon.com Earth Day Sweepstakes. Enter for a chance to win one of 20 ENERGY STAR-qualified prizes.

Free Earth Day Cards:
Recycle your paper cards, and send a free Earth Day electronic greeting card.  Help spread the word about Earth Day '09 and help the planet. 

• World WildLife Fund– Send a free electronic greeting from the World WildLife Fund.
• Nature Conservancy - Send one of these beautiful greetings from Nature Conservancy.  The photography is simply stunning.  8 free cards are available.
• Hallmark - Send a free Earth Day card from Hallmark.  8 cards are available.
• Send a free Earth Day Card from Care2.com - Many different choices are available.
• 8 Earth Day Cards from 123 Greetings

If you know of any other FREE offers, please share with other GH readers by COMMENTING below !!

Check out the selection of Earth Day DVDs on Sale !