Archive for March, 2008
A 5-step program for gadget addicts
Date: March 31, 2008 | Category: Lifestyle, Tech
If you’re like certain unnamed individuals (my husband - see no name) who have to have the latest gadget, there’s hope for you yet: five services that help you repair, resell or recycle your old e-toys to make room for the new ones.
Our friends at Earth2Tech posted a great piece reviewing five sites that “Want Your Janky Gadgets“.
Read the piece to find our more about:
1. FixYa
3. BuyMyTronics
5. PDAParts
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Toying With Cool Wheels
Date: March 31, 2008 | Category: Kids, Toys
Not so long ago four toy designers joined forces after being disappointed by the negative environmental impact their toys were causing. Their new company, Sprig Toys, uses recycled and reclaimed materials and relies on children’s activities to power the toys. The adventure cars are crafted from SprigWood, a bio-composite material made of recycled wood and reclaimed plastic. No batteries are required to power these stylistically minimalist toys, instead, kids push and pump the vehicles to trigger movement, lights, and noises (imagine that). The headlamps of the eco-explorers light up when placed in the vehicles, and they can be swapped from car to car to hear different adventure audio tales. Not only do Sprig Toys have a smaller impact on the environment than typical plastic playthings, but they’ll turn couch fingerling potatoes into active youngsters. My daughter, who is mortified by phthalates, will be thrilled to drive into this wiser world.
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Biodegradable BBQ
Date: March 31, 2008 | Category: Events, Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Travel & Leisure
Barbecue season is upon us, though the weather is still somewhat unpredictable - we made our first attempt on Saturday and ended up shivering between bites of wild salmon. Of course, it is important to think about what’s going on the grill and the grilling process itself, click here to find out more, but the disposables you’re toting to the park, beach or wherever you may be firing up are just as important. We always serve on china when we grill at home but I understand that it’s not practical to bring your own gear to a tailgate party or a picnic, but that doesn’t mean you should forgo your commitment to the environment. With biodegradable plates, cups and utensils (and even BioBags), you can collect partygoers’ trash (no need to separate leftovers from foodware) and take them home as fodder for your compost bin. Don’t compost or have a Green Bin Program available in your city? This line of clean compostables from Branch can alternatively be recycled. Using bagasse (a plentiful byproduct from the sugar refining process), potato starch and vegetable oil, your BBQ can be just as flavorful as ever and virtually waste free.
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This Dirt Is Clean
Date: March 31, 2008 | Category: Home Furnishings, The Home
DIRT never smelled so sweet. With 100% soy wax from organically grown soybeans, not only do these candles burn longer than their paraffin conventional counterpart, they don’t emit noxious soot into the air, either. Coupled with aroma blends that are free from synthetic fillers or diluters (no phthalates, or any potentially carcinogenic or hazardous substances), DIRT CANDLES snuff the average flicker with unique and complex scents. Take one of their newest additions, the Nitty Gritty, which contains organic soil, ripe tomatoes, fresh Mediterranean sage and hints of Malabar grass and celery seed. Doesn’t sound like the ambiance you’re looking for? Don’t despair - you’ve got nineteen more amazing bouquets to choose from. Encapsulated in recycled glass and paper, I’m diggin’ DIRT.
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Little Green Books
Date: March 28, 2008 | Category: Lifestyle, Media
Turn your bedtime stories into eco-education with Simon & Schuster’s new book line, to be released this fall. Little Green Books, made from recycled materials and printed with soy ink, will instill eco-awareness and supply kids and parents with tips on saving the planet. The series will debut with two cloth books, Little Monkey and Little Panda, and two storybooks, I Can Save the Earth! One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and The Polar Bear’s Home: A Story About Global Warming. The line will extend with board books, storybooks, and, in 2009, activity books. Keeping with the theme of Little Green Books, the marketing initiatives will follow and be eco-minded as well.
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Kopali Proffers Super Food
Date: March 28, 2008 | Category: Food & Drink, Lifestyle
Kopali Organics was borne out of a solar permaculture farm and educational sustainability center in Costa Rica - and of the founders’ desires to connect the struggling organic farmers in their region with the US marketplace. What started with banana vinegar in Whole Foods has grown to encompass a deliciously healthy collection of foods and body care that carry a stamp of ethical approval. Though the packaging could use an overhaul, guilt-free snacking is worth celebrating. Kopali’s Supergood Superfood line includes organic fair trade chocolate and organic dried fruits. The cacao nibs are not just delicious, they are packed full of antioxidants that fight free radicals. To find these munchies near you, click here.
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Avenge Your Garden
Date: March 28, 2008 | Category: Garden, The Home
The start of spring means we get to don our gardening gear once again and spend some quality time playing in the dirt. Unfortunately, weeds love the sunshine and warm weather as much as we do, and so our annual tug-of-war against them begins. Of course, we wouldn’t dream of putting toxic chemicals on our greens, but we have noticed that many natural and organic products don’t always do the trick. Luckily, EPA-certified Nature’s Avenger Organic Herbicide is coming to the rescue of our gardens, patios, driveways, and every other place we want weeds to stop growing! An organic herbicide with a citrus oil base, Nature’s Avenger has stood up in numerous tests against the leading synthetic herbicide as well as beating out other alternative and natural herbicides. It’s also biodegradable, quick working, and has the added bonus of leaving the smell of an orange grove in its wake. Nature’s Avenger is approved for organic production and is safe around kids and pets, so you can make tending your garden a family affair.
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Give the Earth an Hour
Date: March 27, 2008 | Category: Events, Lifestyle
At ecofabulous, we like our actions to be brighter than our words when it comes to climate change. That’s why we are committed to engaging in this year’s Earth Hour - taking place on March 29th (Saturday!) from 8-9 pm local time. Nearly 200 cities spanning the globe and millions of individuals and businesses (form mom-and-pop joints to multinational corporations) have pledged to take part by turning out their lights for this symbolic hour. Organizer, World Wildlife Fund is encouraging people to use the time to engage in eco-friendly activities. From candlelight dinners in San Francisco to glow-in-the-dark ultimate frisbee at the Illinois Institute of Technology, it’s a time to get eco-imaginative. To see how you can get involved, visit earthhour.org.
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Buddha Has the Power to Banish
Date: March 27, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Body Care
Though we don’t expect a balm to banish all signs of PMS (and I’m not admitting to ever falling victim to it), this one from Buddha Nose uses organic and wild-crafted essential oils (in particular: clary sage, rose, geranium, ginger root and black pepper) that can be rubbed onto the belly to promote hormone balance and circulation. In addition, the Girl Balm uses unrefined beeswax (vegans beware), organic hemp seed oil and jojoba to soothe and soften the skin. For surprising relief on those days (even if it only comes from the seductive, recyclable packaging), the Girl Balm is the bomb!
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Get Rich Quick Scheme
Date: March 27, 2008 | Category: Home Furnishings, The Home
The effluents produced by the textile industry are horrific - potentially containing hundreds of chemicals, the most prevalent of which include ammonia, methanol and toluene, all of which are dangerous to human and environmental health (according to the EPA). One way to ensure the fabrics that drape throughout your interiors are of a cleaner derivative is to go with an artisinal, small company that respects their weavers as artists and is committed to green practices. Lulan is known for environmentally conscious, ethnically inspired art cloth. Using natural fibers with low-impact dyes, everything is hand rendered from start to finish and is sure to add a splash of color to any subdued decor, or round out an already rich palate.
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