Community Seeds Eco Magazine

The New 2011 Fall Issue Is Out!

2011-09-24T13:47:00.000-07:00

The Summer Issue Of Community Seeds Is Out!!!

2011-06-25T12:51:00.001-07:00

The New 2011 Spring Issue Is Out!!!

2011-03-20T05:49:00.000-07:00

Get Published!

2011-01-16T17:13:00.000-08:00

Send us your articles for the spring 2011 issue before Feb 10 and you can be published! See our website at http://www.communityseeds.com/ for more information! We look forward to you sharing your green ideas with our readers!

Visit us!

2010-09-06T13:52:00.000-07:00

visit us at http://www.communityseeds.com/!

Power Where you are

2010-08-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

Mobile Solar Power Generator

Portable diesel generator using clean solar energy,combing mobility and environmentally friendly accessibility. Simple and realistic for any location. This structure is perfect for any site, and can be set up, and used by any single person. Pure Power solar systems use clean fuel each day with no enviromental impact- no noise, smell, or harsh effects from emission of diseal fuel. With the most trusted names in the industry, General Electric Polycrystalline panels, Xantrex inverters and charger controllers, Hawker/ Interstate industrial batteries are some of the leading names in energy.

Pure Power Vision

To provide and deliever to everyday people and businesses. Economically and enviromentally sensible alternatives to energy needs through a clean energy alternative.

for contact information go to : www.purepowered.com/contact

Its the small choices that we make daily that influence our world. Being sustainable isnt about buying the most organic products, or reducing your consumption of trash.. but its the thought process you go through. Think about how each decision you make and how you can change that choice into an eco-friendly option.

for more ideas on how to be Eco- concious in your community,

visit us at http://www.communityseeds.com/

Accomplishing Better Health: Farm 2 City 2 Your Home

2010-07-28T20:41:00.000-07:00

Farm to Family

"Feeding the Community One Stop at a Time"

Farm to Family is a link between farm and city, taking locally grown food to families in urban, rural areas while educating people about food security. Mark Lilly converted a 1987 international diesel school bus into a mobile market on wheels. His philosophy, " Why go to the market, when the market can come to you!"

Through his mobile market idea, Lilly strives to provide urban communities with fresh, locally grown produce and other homemade products. Its important for Farm to Family to target areas that don't have equal access to fresh food, and to teach people the importance of the produce, as well as how to cook it. One of their biggest goals is to be proactive about changing bad eating habits of those across the nation.

Along the way, Farm to Family builds personal relationships within the community, bringing people together, and focusing on reconnecting people with real food. By growing, and sourcing produce within the community, Farm to Family aspires to have everyone growing their own food and using the bus as vehicle to help sell and distribute their fruits back into the community in which it has grown.

By becoming the bridge that links farming, produce and community together developing a sustainable food distribution system has become one of the main strengths of this bus experience. Not only are Lilly and his family bringing the farm to you, but he is also giving you a unique shopping/educational experience.
For more information on where to find F2F log on to www.FarmtoFamilyonline.com/Where---when-to-find-us . Also, there is more about what will be at the market weekly, donation information, Summer CSA program info/ CSA updates, and intern and volunteer opportunities!

Learn more about how to get involved in your community, visit us at www.Communityseeds.com : It's never too late to start making your Eco- foot print.

Donate, get informed, and live a "greener" life today !

Are you making a difference?

2010-07-23T14:15:00.000-07:00

Musician Jack Johnson has created a social action network All At Once, where you can take action in your local and world community. Through this network Johnson separates the ways you can accomplish change, Your Action, Your Choice, Your Voice. Each category allows supporters to find volunteer opportunities, ways to donate, how to speak out about your Eco concerns and many forms of creating local and global change.

This year's All at Once campaign is focusing on supporting Local Sustainable Food Systems, and Plastic Free Initiatives. On his website, http://www.allatonce.org/, there are numerous ways to get involved. Whether you contribute by small everyday strives to live more sustainable, or become a member of All At Once. It doesn't take much to make a difference, but once you do, the impact is contagious.

Johnson is teaming up with over 150 non profit groups on his To The Sea tour. These groups focus on plastic free initiatives, sustainable local food systems, and environmental education opportunities that include oceans & watersheds, tree planting and many hands-on community projects. All tour proceeds go to these groups and support their projects.

I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to be informed about what some non-profits are doing in order to make our world a better place. Next, self reflect on what your doing or not doing to actively make a difference in your community. Remember, here at Community Seeds we believe that its the small changes people make through information and encouragement that really produce a better world- the best thing you can do is be informed socially and environmentally.

For more ways to get involved with Community Seeds go check us out at: http://www.communityseeds.com/

The Community Seeds Foundation

The Community Seeds Foundation is the non-profit, philanthropic part of Community Seeds. We are dedicated to provide information, resources, and an a publication, Community Seeds Eco-Magazine, in order to promote sustainability. With your help, we can continue to educate, support, and inspire the local community and world communities through our publication and outreach.

Donate today and help us support sustainability, community, and charity groups. You can make a donation at any time and we will publish your name in our next issue under a special section called "Making A Difference". To donate and for more information go to:
http://www.communityseeds.com/ and click on the "Community Seeds Foundation".

"Be the change you want to see in the world.." - Mahatma Gandhi

Summer Squeeze Challenge

2010-07-19T16:04:00.000-07:00

Make your own fresh juices from fruits and vegetables this summer season. It's an easy and sustainable way towards living a healthy lifestyle. By using a juicer, your not only making a healthier choice, but your also reducing waste. Eliminate plastic bottles and even reuse the extracted pulp. The pulp that is left behind is filled with fiber and be used in many ways to enrich your meals every day.

Ways to reuse pulp:

Put pulp back into fruit juice for some extra nutrients
Add fruit pulp to batters for a healthy boost to any baked good
Substitute oils and butters by using vegetable and fruit pulp in recipes to cut calories
Vegetable pulp can be added to sauces and soup bases to thicken
Make a frozen treat by adding fruit pulps, juice and non fat plain yogurt together generating a Popsicle for any hot day

Remember to separate your fruit and vegetable pulp and keep in air-tight containers, preferably in the freezer.

Another benefit to "juicing it up" this summer is saving money. Fresh produce can be easily grown in the comfort of your home, or purchased every week at your local farmer's market. Can you imagine a refreshing drink without artificial ingredients, preservatives and no colors added? Yes, we sure can!

Community Seeds wants to challenge you this summer to pick some of your favorite fruits and vegetables, get juicin', and make that choice toward a healthier, more sustainable life.

Need some help getting started? Try a few of our favorites!
For a refreshing fruit drink try one of these combinations:

1 apple + 1 pear + 7 strawberries
2 carrots + 2 apples
2 pineapple spears + 1 orange (peeled) + 1 apple
7 strawberries + 1 orange + 1 mango

Try a homemade vegetable juice:

1 carrot + 1 celery stalk + 1/2 beet + handful of spinach + 2 small tomatoes + salt and pepper
1/2 half red bell pepper + 2 small tomatoes + 1/2 cucumber

Frozen Treats:

7 strawberries + 1 apple + strawberry pulp + 1/2 cup non-fat plain yogurt (Try Fage 0 % Greek yogurt)
3 oranges peeled + 1/2 lemon peeled + 1/4 cup of orange pulp
Juice 7 strawberries + 3 tbs of strawberry pulp to ice cube trays and freeze - Add to any adult cocktail for a cool festive treat

For more tips, article, and ideas for a healthier, more sustainable you, visit us at http://www.communityseeds.com/

Downtown Chico presents summertime favorite

2010-07-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

Saturday July 17th, 2010

starts at 9am!

Slice of Chico is Downtown Chico's annual summertime tradition filled with great shoppinng, sizzling deals and refreshing FREE slices of ice-cold watermelon! Merchants throughout Downtown Chico will be postinng deals in and outside of their shops bringing thousands of locals for some good, old-fashion customer service. Be sure to arrive early and take full advantage of this great tradition!

Happy Fourth of July!

2010-07-04T13:58:00.000-07:00

Our Summer Issue is here!

2010-06-15T21:32:00.000-07:00

Just in time for Summer!

Our Summer issue is officially available online and ready for review.

Be the first to read about all the fun you could be having this summer while being green!

Check it out! Located on the front page of our website:

http://www.communityseeds.com/

We are very excited about this issue, highlighting some of the best ways to be Eco concious while enjoying your Summer season. Be sure to check out our delicious Summer recipes, Eco- friendly must have products and how other non profits are changing communities around the world.

Love what you see? Interested in writing, advertsing or crurious how you can contribute to Community Seeds?

Check out our website and discover how you can help make a difference.

http://www.communityseeds.com/

Patrick Ranch County Faire

2010-06-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

Come spend an afternoon this Saturday, June 12th and Sunday June 13th at the Patrick Ranch County Faire!

This is a perfect opportunity to spend the day out with the family, and support your local community. The festivites include an artisan faire, children activities, food court, live music, and more!

Dont forget to stop by the Community Seeds booth, located in from of the mansion.

Hope to see you there!

For more information please visit:

http://www.patrickranchmuseum.org/

http://www.communityseeds.org/

C.S. Eco Non-Profit Foundation

2010-04-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

The Community Seeds Foundation

With help from the North Valley Community Foundation, Community Seeds has set up The Community Seeds Foundation, dedicated to giving back to the community and world communities. As part of our commitment to promoting sustainability, we have vowed to donate to non-profits, charities, fund raisers, and events. We will also make a special section of the magazine where contributors to the foundation can share what they are doing to make a difference. Join us in promoting small changes to better the community and beyond!

You can donate to that foundation to help us support sustainability, community, and charity groups. We will publish your name in the magazine in a special section called, “Community Seeds Eco Magazine Gives back.” All donations are all tax deductable.

You can make a donation at any time. You can donate online at http://bit.ly/9O2T6y.
Checks can be made out to The Community Seeds Foundation.
Mail to:
The Community Seeds Foundation
c/o the North Valley Community Foundation
3120 Cohasset Road, Suite 8
Chico, CA 95973
(530) 891-1150

Email us for information at info@communityseeds.com.
You may also leave a message at (530) 570-5581.

***Ad sales are not part of this program and are available for your advertising needs. Please see our media kit (http://bit.ly/dmRwkw ) and contact us for ad sales.

The Spring Issue is Here!

2010-03-05T16:54:00.000-08:00

This issue is filled with articles on green living and sustainability issues. There are also articles with a focus on health and social responsibility. Don't forget to look for the pictorials to see if you are in a photo or if you recognize someone.
Thanks for being one of the thousands of readers who enjoy Community Seeds Eco Magazine. Please forward this email or send the link to family and friends so they can enjoy this free, green resource as well.

Please support our efforts to promote sustainable living by purchasing advertising or by becoming a sponsor. Please see our Media Kit for ad sizes and pricing.

You can read the Spring issue of the magazine now! Go to: http://www.communityseeds.com/ .

Note From The Editor- Spring 2010 Edition

2010-02-18T22:21:00.000-08:00

The spring issue will be released March 1, 2010.

So many times I have written about the community support that we have received and I continue to be surprised at the number of dedicated readers that follow Community Seeds Eco Magazine (AKA CS Eco Magazine). As we have grown and developed, we have maintained our commitment to sustainability and to the community. These commitments have taken us down a path of assessment and speculation about the current status and future of the magazine. We want to continue to offer the magazine as a free resource, educational publication, and forum for sustainability articles. However, with our donations of 25% to non-profit organizations, the free help that we offer sustainability and community groups with fundraising, the overhead of running a business, and the costs of independent contractors, we are not able to continue the magazine as it stands.

I have proudly dedicated two years to this cause and this publication with no salary or any money from proceeds, ever. In fact, my family has continued to donate funds to keep the magazine going. In addition, we have been able to get a few, wonderful sponsors. Most people do not realize how much money it takes to run a business and have a publication (even on-line). We would like to continue to publish Community Seeds Eco Magazine and give to the community, so we have come to the conclusion that we need to go non-profit. In fact, have already started the process!

We hope that by going non-profit, we can get more financial support and continue our dedication to the environment, the community and to this publication. We encourage readers to become a part of this process by continuing to send in articles, purchase advertising, becoming sponsors. Now, you can also help by making donations. You may also donate service or eco friendly prize items for our raffles. All donations will be tax deductable and at least 25% will be given back to the community. We have a tax ID number and we have been accredited by the Better Business Bureau. We have a few loose ends to tie up and we should have the 501(3) process completed soon.

Once again, we thank our readers, writers, advertisers and sponsors for helping us continue on our mission: to help make us be a little more socially, environmentally, and community aware. I am very excited to head up this new non profit venture and continue to be proud of the work we do.
Have a happy, healthy, green spring!

DeAnna Holman
Editor-in-Chief

Green Tips That Save Money

2010-01-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

Saving Green by Going Green
By Jennifer Arbuckle

In a time of economic concern, it behooves one to acknowledge that taking the time to consider the environment, in the forms of reducing, reusing and recycling, can significantly reduce the weary spender’s costs.

So before all the presents have been appropriately ripped open and, depending on the gift, have either been gouged open, passed around or discreetly kept in the box for the stealthy return, please read the following facts and tips to help ease the holiday strain on your pocket book and on the environment.

Recycling Facts
• An average California household throws away over 34 pounds of plastic water and soda bottles each year.
• Every 90 days a recycled aluminum can makes its way back on the shelf as something useful.
• 80-100 years - that's the lifespan of an aluminum can that gets tossed into the trash instead of a recycling bin.
• 700 years - that's how long a trashed plastic bottle will sit in a landfill taking up space, refusing to degrade.
• 1 Million Years - Put a glass bottle in a landfill and that's how long it'll sit there doing nothing. Recycle it and it can live forever.

Products Made from Recycled Bottles and Cans

• Plastic - Recycled material products made from Plastic Bottles:
o T-shirts: Fourteen 20 oz. plastic bottles yield enough fiber for an extra large T-shirt.
o Carpet: It takes 14 20 oz. plastic bottles to make one square foot of carpet.
o Fleece Sweater: It takes 63 20 oz. plastic bottles to make a sweater.
o Jacket Fiberfill: Fourteen 20 oz. plastic bottles yield enough fiberfill for a ski jacket.
o Sleeping Bag Fiberfill: It takes 85 20 oz. plastic bottles to make enough fiberfill for a sleeping bag.

• Glass - Recycled material products made from Glass Bottles:
o Glassware
o New glass containers
o Decorative home decor
o Fiberglass Insulation
o Tile

• Aluminum - Recycled material products made from Aluminum Cans:
o Picture frames
o Decorative home decor: bowls, vases, etc.
o Baseball bats

2009-12-30T18:14:00.000-08:00

David Bach’s
Go Green, Live Rich
50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich Trying
Reviewed by Amy Behlke

In this time of economic crisis, many people want to help the environment, but fear they cannot afford to. There is often a concern that being eco-conscious is more expensive than just doing things “the old way.” A quick and easy read, David Bach’s Go Green, Live Rich is full of information, ideas and suggestions for leading a more eco-friendly life while saving, and maybe even making, money at the same time.

To get started, Bach helps readers calculate their carbon footprint and “litter factor” in terms of personal impact on the environment. Things that many people don’t even think about on a daily basis, can add up to a serious blow to the planet. Plastic water bottles and wax-lined paper cups used to hold that daily dose of caffeine can add up, and will sit in the landfill for forever.

The eleven chapters in the book are very quick to read, yet packed with interesting facts and ideas. In chapter 2, “Drive Smart, Finish Rich,” I learned that by driving a car that gets 35 mpg as opposed to a car that gets 20 mpg, you can save $884 per year in fuel costs. Bach, being a financial professional, suggests that if that $884 were invested at 8%, it would earn a return of over $108,000 in 30 years. Now that is some serious fuel savings!!

Becoming more aware of your home’s energy usage, saving water, green shopping strategies and recycling are all discussed; with the focus being not only on how to do these things, but how to save or earn money while doing them. Going green in the workplace is often a topic overlooked on a day-to-day basis, but Bach provides easy tips and ideas for making eco-friendly choices in your daily job. Chapters ten and eleven spotlight ways to give and receive in “green” ways. Investment and business ideas are provided, including some interesting links to “green” direct-sales businesses. Many environmental focused causes are cited, along with information about carbon off-sets and how to become an eco-activist.

Each chapter ends with “Go Green Action Steps,” full of great ideas and resources. These suggestions are easy to follow and full of links and other sources where further information can be found. There is also an amazing and well organized index at the back of the book, listing all sources cited in the book by chapter. I love this section because, with so many great links and resources mentioned in the book, I didn’t have to leaf every page and thumb through endlessly to find sites I wanted to visit after reading the chapters. Every interesting fact and statistic is listed by chapter with a short description of the source as well as a link when applicable.

Overall, I found David Bach’s Go Green, Live Rich and enjoyable and helpful book for anyone interested in learning how they can make changes in their lives that will help them tread more lightly on the earth while saving money at the same time. In this time of economic uncertainty, we are all interested in how to protect our investments and increase our income, and Bach’s book delivers with great suggestions for how to do both and help save the planet at the same time.

THE WINTER ISSUE OF C.S. ECO MAGAZINE IS HERE!

2009-12-15T01:29:00.000-08:00

The winter issue of Community Seeds Eco Magazine is here! Take a moment and check it out! There are many articles on green tips for the winter and community connections. http://www.flashedition.com/publication/?i=27447&pre=1

2009-12-15T01:13:00.000-08:00

AN ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE OR A REAL ONE?
Excerpt From Fake vs Real: Which Christmas Trees are Greenest? by Melissa Breyer from Care2.com

I wonder if it’s time to join the 29 million American households who will buy a fresh cut tree this year? Or should I opt for an artificial tree?

ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREES:
Petroleum is used to make the plastics in the trees and lots of carbon dioxide-creating energy is required to make and transport them–and they are difficult to recycle. In addition, three out of four fake trees are made in China under less than favorable labor conditions. Fake trees made in China are required by California Proposition 65 to carry a scary warning label for lead content. The potential for lead poisoning is serious and frightening. Most artificial Christmas trees are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride)—often referred to as vinyl, as well as “the poison plastic.” According to the Campaign for Safe, Healthy Consumer Products, PVC is dangerous to human health and the environment throughout its entire life cycle, at the factory, in our homes, and in the trash. Our bodies are contaminated with poisonous chemicals released during the PVC life cycle, such as mercury, dioxins, and phthalates, which may pose irreversible lifelong health threats. When produced or burned, PVC plastic releases dioxins, a group of the most potent synthetic chemicals ever tested, which can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems.

FRESH CUT TREES:
Nowadays almost all of the nearly 30 million Christmas trees Americans use for decoration are grown on farms—like flowers, or vegetables. Not to be the Grinch here, but when you consider the use of water, pesticides and herbicides, in combination with soil erosion and the energy used to maintain the crop and transport the trees, well, I don’t know.

On the other hand, the trees are renewable, provide habitat for wild animals, absorb carbon dioxide and create oxygen, and the industry provides many jobs. Still mass agriculture is mass agriculture, so if you decide on a fresh cut tree follow these tips.

• Try to buy an organic Christmas tree.
• Buy from smaller, local farms to reduce transportation miles and support a small, sustainable operation.
• Recycle your tree! Check your local municipality to see if there is Christmas tree recycling near you.
• Don’t use tinsel or fake snow spray; they are hard to remove and make your tree ineligible for recycling.

See the article on a local Paradise tree farm on page 34 at http://www.flashedition.com/publication/?i=27447&pre=1

Winter Issue preparations..

2009-10-11T22:24:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Community Seeds Eco Magazine is planning for the winter 2009-2010 issue. We have brainstormed a bit and have come up with a tentative themes for the winter issue: social responsibility.

We would love to know what you are doing to be more green and tips you can give others in our community.

As you might know, our magazine is a forum for the public to come together for a common cause. We would like to encourage our readers to send in an article that would be informative to other readers.

We would also like to encourage local businesses, as well as non-local businesses, with websites to place an ad with us. Our magazine is quarterly, so your ad would run for 3 months. We are one of the cheapest ways to advertise that you will find, and we are targeting a different market: internet users. In the event that you don’t need the advertising, you could also become a sponsor! Being a sponsor is a great way to get involved in a worthwhile cause and as a sponsor you will receive a great deal of exposure.

The deadline to place your ad, become a sponsor, or send in an article is October 25, 2009 so mark your calendars!

For more information, please visit our website at: http://www.communityseeds.com/ or send us an email at: info@communityseeds.com .

Thank you for taking the time to read this and we hope you are having a fabulous day!

-Community Seeds Eco Magazine

2009-10-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

Composting
The Low Hanging Fruit
By Greg Holman

The "Green" Craze
Okay, so there is this "green" craze out there, but I am a bit more pessimistic. Sure, I want to save the earth, but environmentalism has had some bad press over the years. People today are extremely busy and going green often seems like it would interfere with everything that has to get done. Well, let me tell you that there are some changes you can make, with little to no investment in money or time, that can make a difference - and cents! The easiest thing you can do at home is to start composting. This is the "low hanging fruit" of being green. This takes very little time, and ultimately can end up saving you money. How will it save you money? You can eventually downsize your garbage container, and then stop driving to the store every spring to buy organic soil for your plants. Interested? Read on.

Compost can take place in as simple as a pile, to as complex as an indoor compost machine. Your pile will depend on many factors, including your living situation and the space available. Convert one of your now obsolete trash cans into "compost bins." If you do not think that you can dump it daily, get something with a lid. (Again, reuse a coffee can, or work your way up to a ceramic container with an odor filter.)

According to an excerpt from Let it Rot!: A Gardener’s Guide to Composting, this is the number one rule for composting: The realization that no matter what you do, no matter how many little mistakes you make, you are still probably going to come up with reasonably good, usable compost.

Truth Be Told
This is so very true. Your container can be a fancy commercial container, a primitive chicken wire cylinder with two metal posts, or as simple as a compost pile. Begin by adding the "greens" (lawn clippings, and other green scraps) and the "browns" (coffee grounds and dead leaves) in equal parts - six to 8 inch layers of each. Try to keep the pile as moist as a rung-out sponge. If all goes well, the pile will heat up and decompose over the course of a few months. All you need to do is turn it and check moisture levels weekly.

Now truth be told, I never turn my pile, and seldom water it (unless it is raining). It comes down to a few things: space and effort. We happen to have some space for a compost pile, and I have little time for any effort above adding to the pile. Sure, it takes a few more months to make compost, but I am in no hurry.

I strongly suggest purchasing a copy of Let it Rot!(ISBN-10:1580170234). This will give numerous examples of bins, lists of acceptable and not-acceptable ingredients, and the scientific explanation for anyone interested.

The only hurdle is to make it part of your daily routine. You have no space for a compost pile? Talk with neighbors and make a common compost pile out of an unused corner. You will be surprised how much you can divert from your waste stream! You might even need to move to a smaller, cheaper trash container. Sure, you are saving the world, but more importantly, money! (Or do I have that backwards?) For now, reach up and grab that low hanging fruit!

Community Seeds FALL 2009 issue is HERE!!

2009-09-04T20:12:00.000-07:00

The fall issue of Community Seeds Eco Magazine is here so check it out! There's a lot of great information and tips on how to be more Eco friendly. Best of all- IT'S FREE!!

You are definitely going to want to check out these helpful articles for more information: Reasons to go Green on page 12, What is Actually Recyclable on page 14, Going Solar on page 22, and Home-made Rain Barrel Systems on page 26.

You might also enjoy the article about Restored Clothing on page 30, how to get away closer to home with the Turtle Bay Exploration Park article on page 64, and the Gorgeously Green Diet Book review as well as some healthy, yummy recipes on pages 76 & 77.

There is so much more to look at so check it out at, www.communityseeds.com

Here is some food for thought: According to chicobag.com, a local reusable bag manufacturer, each year the United States consumes 30 billion plastic and 10 billion paper grocery bags, requiring 14 million trees and 12 million barrels of oil. In addition, the average American uses 300 to 700 plastic bags per year. If everyone in the United States tied their annual consumption of plastic bags together in a giant chain, the chain would reach around the Earth 760 times! Those statistics are scary if you ask me, but it starts with you and your commitment to the environment around you...

So please remember when shopping to bring your reusable shopping bags because it starts with the little things that make the big difference! You are in charge of your future and the future of our earth.

2009-09-03T00:41:00.001-07:00

2009-08-08T12:50:00.000-07:00

The Green Revolution
By DeAnna Holman

I still receive a lot of feedback about my eco friendly grandma (I wrote about her in an article in the fall 2008 issue of Community Seeds Eco Magazine at www.communityseeds.com). Many agree that being green seems to be a new term, but not a new concept. People have told me that they, too, remember growing up being environmentally friendly, but not realizing it. Others recalled their parents or grandparents acting conservatively, regardless of economic status. Being green doesn’t appear to be a new concept, but being wasteful or unaware, does.

Many fear the “green” revolution will keep them from having the luxuries they are used to. They are resistant to change and sometimes the extra effort it takes to be greener. Fortunately, if everyone made an easy, small change toward a more eco-friendly lifestyle, it would be good for the environment and the pocketbook. As a country, adopting this new (or old) idea can be good for our environmental and economic future.

Author, and former White House Reporter Thomas L. Friedman, feels that people need to realize that going green is the best thing for the earth and the U.S. In an interview with Reader’s Digest (rd.com), the Pulitzer Prize winner states, “To me, going green is the great challenge- and opportunity- of the 21st century.”

Friedman feels that going green should not be a reaction to the global warming theory, but rather a necessity to preserve our resources as the world population grows. Friedman goes on to say, “In our lifetime, the population of the earth will have tripled. The demand for resources, the demand for energy, the demand for goods and services, will be so enormous that having clean power, efficient power systems and smart grids is going to be a huge advantage in the world we’re going into-even if global warming doesn’t exist at all.”

Friedman’s book, Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution-and How It Can Renew America (an update of his book The World is Flat), examines the advantages of going green and how conservation and climate change affect our future and the future of politics. He explains how globalization and a green movement can be a great thing for the future, in spite of any possible climate changes.

I have enjoyed the responses from the readers of Community Seeds Eco Magazine. Many appreciate articles about being greener, the articles from the community about being green and the articles about being socially and community aware. The responses have inspired me to be more informed on these subjects and have helped me on my green journey. All of us on this green path are at a different point, none of which is less important than the other. It is important to create a dialogue in which we can inform, educate and support one another as we each experience a green revolution of our own.