ecollo

Muji: The Japanese Minimalist Lifestyle Trend That May Be a Sign of Things to Come

Leafy Green — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:52:00 -0600

One of the biggest and most obvious trends in the North American consumption landscape has been the rise of the monolithic big-box superstore represented so well by retail outlets such as Wal-Mart and warehouse club stores like CostCo. They represent human ingenuity, efficiency and put our bottomless consumption on display 30,000 square feet at a time.

There is a certain amount of glitz and glamour that goes along with our shopping experiences. Even simple utilitarian items like tooth paste and razor blades can be found double and triple-packaged with sparkles, stickers and an extra layer or two of plastic wrap. All of this overzealous packaging is really marketing: put on a pretty display to get our attention, mark up the price an extra dollar, and convince us that a package of razor blade is somehow worth over $20.

There is a culture around this appeal for texture, colour and pizzaz. The same whizz-bang factor that puts bums in seats for the latest movie theatre action blockbuster also attracts us to buy products that are bright, loud and impossibly trendy.

It's not an "American thing" either, most of this behaviour is just human nature. Don't believe me? Next time you go grocery shopping with your 5-year-old show him a big box of Froot Loops cereal and then one of those generic sacks of no-name brand Fruity-O's stuffed on the bottom shelf. Which do you think he'll choose? Nine times out of ten Toocan Sam will win. It's all about the box.

Still, despite this trend many of us eventually "grow-up" when it comes to our consumer habits. First Froot Loops get replaced with Bran Flakes which may eventually get replaced with scooping cereal out of bins in the store's bulk section. If you want to get all artsy-fartsy about it you could say that many of us become more sophisticated in our tastes. I'd say the truth is many of us just get tired of Toocan Sam and opt to eat something healthier and save a dollar at the same time.

So what does this have to do with a Japanese lifestyle store? Well, first let me allow Muji to introduce themselves (courtesy their official web site):

MUJI is not a brand. MUJI does not make products of individuality or fashion, nor does MUJI reflect the popularity of its name in its prices. MUJI creates products with a view toward global consumption of the future. This means that we do not create products that lure customers into believing that "this is the best" of "I must have this." We would like our customers to feel the rational sense of satisfaction that comes not with "this is the best," but with "this is enough." "Best" becomes "enough".

Basically, think of Muji as a cross between The Gap and Ikea except even more minimalist, simpler, toned-down. The clean aesthetic and less-is-more attitiude has made Muji so popular in Japan that they dub the Muji-obsessed "Mujirers". And now that the brand has gone global there are bound to be "Mujirers" popping up all over the place.

So what's the big deal? The inside of a Muji store is almost, well boring. Small piles of beige clothes, neat stacks of clear plastic storage containers. But that's the whole point.

A well-travelled friend of mine once described Japan to me as a place where "New York and Las Vegas got together and threw up all their worst parts on a zen garden." Japan is no more immune to the appeal of flashing lights, slick product packaging and gaudy overdesign than we are. Yet concepts like Muji may just represent a bit of a post-materialist shift in Japan.

There is certainly no reason why similar concepts wouldn't work around the globe, especially in light of the financial problems of this generation. Less can be more. We can be satisfied with having enough. We can even do it The American Way - imagine a big box store without the cardboard displays, plastic wrap and styrofoam.

From Muji:

Unless we adopt values informed by moderation and self-restraint, the world will find itself at an impasse. All people living today deep down are probably already beginning to consider greater self-restraint as a way of life.

The appeal of a lifestyle store such as Muji is its appeal to that desire in us to use and accumulate less "stuff" in our lives. I think we're seeing the early signs of some big changes in the way we act as consumers and they way we judge value in products. We may all have to grow up a little faster, but ultimately we'll all be the better for it.

Hit the jump to learn more about Muji and where you can buy their products.

Get your free Stampede breakfast courtesy of Community Natural Foods!

Pinky Bean — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:57:00 -0600

For those cowfolk who haven't experienced enough of the Calgary Stampede and plan to be in the area tomorrow morning. be sure to check out the Greenest Stampede Breakfast in Calgary (no really, that's an almost-official title). Local food store Community Natural Foods is hosting its annual Stampede breakfast at its Chinook Station location on July 11 from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m.

Not only will the food served be natural and organic, the organizers are planning it to be a zero-wate event. For starters, it's B.Y.O.D - Bring Your Own Dishes, which the store is encouraging participants to do. However if you forget, don't fret because Earth Distributors and PEL recycling will be on-hand to recycle and compost all of the plates, cutlery and food. If that isn't green enough for you, you'll be happy to know the event will be powered by wind and solar power, thanks to local Calgary companies Bullfrog Power and SkyFire Energy.

As for the food, yes it's natural, yes it's organic, and there will also be vegetarian and gluten-free options available, as well as fair trade coffee and real maple syrup (an essential component of any good Canadian breakfast event, of course). Visitors will even have a chance to meet some of the farmers that provide food to the market. All that is asked of you in return is that you bring a donation to the Calgary Food Bank in exchange for a delicious, healthy breakfast.

Hit the jump to find out more about the event and to learn more about Community Natural Foods!

How to cook dried beans, peas and lentils

Leafy Green — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:14:00 -0600

Dried beans and other legumes get no love in the grocery store aisle. Ususally near the soup section or the baking section (or the rice section....) you can find bags and bags of nutritious, delicious legumes and beans that cost virtually nothing. At no-name and warehouse stores you can likely buy jumbo-sized bags that could last you for months for just a few dollars.

So why is it that these food sources that are dietary staples around the world are ignored and bottom-shelved here in North America? Beans and their bretheren are the foundation of countless soup recipes, hearty stews and spicy delights and they deserve our attention. Maybe we just forgot how to cook 'em? Let's face it, collectively our culinary skills pale in comparison to those of our grandparents. Most of us have the ability to buy the bag of dried kidney beans but that's where our expertise ends.

Luckily I came across the perfect introductory guide to cooking beans and other legumes on the Whole Foods web site. They break down the process into simple steps with clear instructions that'll get you started cooking with legumes right away.

Green Grilling 101: Alternatives to lighter fluid

Pinky Bean — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:44:00 -0600

Lighting your barbecue is one of the more eco-unfriendly aspects of the whole outdoor grilling process. As we established last week, lighter fluid contributes to ground-level ozone pollution by releasing toxic fumes, also known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. The problem occurs when the VOCs mix with other air pollutants and are exposed to sunlight, and the resulting ground-level ozone can be detrimental to the health of particular individuals such as those with lung and heart disease, active children and the outdoor athletic type. Even if you don't fall into one of those categories you could still be a victim, as the fluid may leave a toxic chemical residue on your food.

Fortunately there are alternatives to using traditional lighter fluid when you fire up the grill. Try one of the following options instead. While they may not be quite as convenient as lighter fluid, they'll have less of an impact on the environment.

Charcoal Chimney Starter: This device consists of a wide steel pipe with air vents at the bottom, a grate in the middle, and a heatproof handle. The charcoal or wood is loaded on the grate and a sheet or two of crumpled newspaper is tucked into the bottom of the chimney. After the newspaper is lit, the coals will be ready to be poured onto the fire grate in about 15 minutes. It is best to use heat-resistant gloves when pouring the charcoal out onto the grate.

Electric charcoal starters: This electric coil will need an extension cord to be plugged into the electrical outlet closest to your grill. Simply place the starter in the coals and heat for the manufacturer’s suggested time. Then unplug the starter, remove it from the coals, and place the starter on a heat-proof surface away from children and pets until it cools down. Once the charcoal is lit, allow them to heat for 15 minutes or until they turn ash gray.

Propane/natural gas grills: Depending on the type of grill, propane or natural gas can be used merely to start the charcoal or to complete the entire cooking process. The use of propane or gas completely eliminates the need for lighter fluid, which improves air quality. Before starting up a gas grill, clean all pipes to remove cobwebs and other obstructions. Do not store extra propane tanks near the grill or in the house. They should be placed in a cool outdoor location.

Know your fruit: Down by the bay, where the (square) watermelons grow.

Pinky Bean — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:42:00 -0600

Making watermelons grow without seeds isn't the only modification being made to the summertime food staple: creative and crafty Japanese farmers are the ones responsible for the once round-only fruit being turned into a cubical masterpiece.

Square watermelons weren't created just for esthetic appeal - their shape was actually modified to make them a more convenient shape and size. If you've ever tried to set a round watermelon down in the refrigerator or place it on a cutting board to slice into it, you're undoubtedly familiar with the hassle the oblong-shape can present. However, a watermelon that rests comfortably on one side without rolling or slipping is a whole lot easier to manage. That was the logic behind the original design in any case.

So just how is this feat accomplished? Well growing a square watermelon is simply a matter of forcing it into its new shape by way of a box, made from materials such as glass or polycarbonate plastic. When using a plastic case, it's possible to grow these watermelons yourself by adjusting the case to the necessary specifications. You'll not only need the plastic box, but some hinges, hinged clasps, and some tools such as a power drill and a hand saw, among other things.

You may also want a refresher (or an introduction) on how to actually grow a watermelon before you begin. You'll want to get planting right away since watermelons take 70-85 days to grow andyou need to plant and then transplant them in the boxes.

See how to grow your own square watermelons after the jump!

Goji berries: the next big superfood

Leafy Green — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:58:00 -0600

Forget blueberries. Strawberries are so last-year. And aloe? Puh-leese! With a taste described as "cranberry mixed with strawberry mixed with raspberry", the goji berry (also known as wolfberry) just might be worth checking out at your local organic market.

These delicate little berries are available dried in bulk and in cereals and energy bars. Goji berries can also be found in a variety of juice belnds, teas, and even in capsule form. So what's so great about these little red berries? They are super anti-oxidant and bursting with b vitamins and contain more vitamin c than an orange.

In terms of anti-oxidants they really are super. One hundred grams of goji berries contain about 20 times the anti-oxidants found in 100 grams of spinach. There are claims that goji berries can cure cancer, help you lose weight, and enhance sexual function. Whether or not any of those claims are true, the fact is that there's so much good stuff in these berries that you owe it to yourself to keep them in your pantry as a food staple.

Green Grilling 101:Choose a grilling technique

Pinky Bean — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:22:00 -0600

Barbecue season is back after months of pan-frying, baking, sautéing and boiling indoors. Any type of "real" cooking is going to have at least some impact on the environment, whether it be flipping on the stove or lighting up the barbecue. However now that the warmer months are upon us it would be naive to expect you to keep your barbecue turned off. Let's be honest, when the weather is so hot you can cook an egg on the sidewalk (come to think of it. that's green cooking!), you're not likely going to want to switch on your oven. I made the mistake of baking cookies on one of the hottest days of the summer when I was 13 and still hear about it from my parents who walked into the house after work and were convinced the only explanation of heat that extreme was that devil had taken up residence in the living room.

You may not be able to grill with absolutely no emissions unless you really do try to cook your organic steaks on the sidewalk, but there are other ways you can minimize the impact of firing up the barbecue this summer.

☆ Charcoal grilling may make your meat taste like a little piece of heaven, but it's hell on earth. Charcoal releases more carbon monoxide, particulate matter and soot into the air than any other method of grilling.

"Charcoal grills and lighter fluid also contribute more to ground-level ozone, which is produced when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic chemicals [VOCs] combine in hot weather conditions," says Ana Gomez, of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

You're better off using propane or electricity, which burn cleaner than charcoal.

☆ When fat from meat and fish drips onto hot coals, they produce carcinogenic hydrocarbons and puts them right back onto your food thanks to smoke and flame-ups. Choose lean meats and trim the fat from anything you cook to avoid a carcinogenic treat.

☆ If you're addicted to the smoky flavor created by charcoal, use lump charcoal as opposed to briquettes, which are made of wood scraps and sawdust from lumber mills, but usually contain coal dust and other additives that help them light more easily.

"Lump charcoal comes from a genuine tree and isn't ground up or processed in any way," explains Rob Bailis, a PhD student in the University of California at Berkeley's Energy and Resources Group.

You can also counteract the effects of grilling by finding ways to minimize your impact in other areas. Say by using a Tera cotta beer chiller instead of the fridge to keep your refreshments cold. Plus that means you can keep it nice and close and don't have to go tromping inside the house every time you need another drink. Now that's smart thinking.

Go organic with La Cense Beef

Pinky Bean — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:49:00 -0600

It's evident that the news surrounding the beef industry as of late has been less than favorable, both from environmental and health perspectives. It's always a breath of fresh air to hear about a beef producers like La Cense, who are trying to change the perception of red meat by offering an organic product that doesn't contain the hormones and other additives you'll find in the typical grocery store selection.

La Cense takes a natural approach to ranching, meaning their animals are 100 per cent grass-fed, and because they also take care of the entire process themselves - from the ranching to the packing and selling of the meat - they can guarantee high quality. They even use a sustainable methods in their beef production!

La Cense cattle are raised in a healthy, more humane way, free from pesticides and antibiotics and are left to graze in open pastures on a huge Montana farm. And, because they are grass-fed, they are a lot healthier. As you know, we live in a country that is concerned with weight and as such, La Cense beef has fewer calories (for example, a 6 oz. steak has 100 fewer calories) and is high in omega 3 fatty acids, which enhances heart health and reduces the risk of obesity. La Cense is ideal for foodies who are concerned about the planet but don't want to give up flavor.

Hit the jump to learn more about La Cense beef (filet mignon and prime rib and steak burgers oh my!) and to place an order online.

Know your food: Where have all the watermelon seeds gone?

Pinky Bean — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:48:00 -0600

Ah watermelon - is there any other fruit that can so perfectly conjure up the feeling of summer? If there is, you'd be hard-pressed to find it. Whether it was your mom cutting you a big wedge to cool you off on a hot day or participating in a seed-spitting contest at a picnic, it's definitely the food for the season. However, depending where you live and buy your watermelons, perhaps you've noticed a new trend in recent years that makes the aforementioned seed-spitting contest somewhat impossible: the seedless watermelon.

Like other fruits that have gone seedless over the years (you think grapes originally came without seeds?), the watermelon has been cross-bred to create the newer seedless variety. It's a bit of a technical explanation but bear with us: the normal watermelon plant (known in scientific circles as a diploid plant) undergoes a process in which its number of chromosomes is doubled. This creates a tetraploid plant, which has four sets of chromosomes.

Still with me? Good. Next, the tetraploid plant is cross-bred with a regular diploid plant, from which the result is a triploid plant. The triploid plant is then pollenized with diploid pollen, and then - ta-da! - you have yourself a seedless watermelon.

If you're thinking of growing your own watermelon and seedless is what you're after, you will actually have to plant both standard watermelon seeds, as well as the triploid seeds. Because seedless watermelons (from the triploid seed) cannot grow unless pollenized by the diploid, you'll have to plant both varieties and trust the busy beeds to do their job and cross-pollinate.

A Veggie Primer

Leafy Green — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:54:00 -0600

There are lots of great reasons to consider adopting a vegan or vegetarian diet, not the least of which is that for the most part this type of diet consists of food sources that are more sustainable than a typical burger-and-pizza diet is.

Over at the Mayo Clinic web site they have a fantastic primer on vegetarian diet and nutrition. There's no lectures or pictures of abused chickens, just excellent well-written information on how to adopt aspects of vegetarianism into your diet while maintaining a healthy nutritional balance.

Whether you're a hardcore lifelong vegan or just someone considering cutting back on your intake of red meat you owe it to yourself to hit the jump and learn more.

Eliminate your use of plastic with Fizbags

Pinky Bean — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:11:00 -0600

If you haven't yet heard using plastic bags is sooo 2003. It seems every retailer you shop at these days offers some form of reusable bags which is a fantastic concept - if you actually remember to reuse them. Often times they get left at home or in the trunk of your car and by the time you finally remember them, it's far too late to retrieve them. That's why it's super-convenient to have a reusable bag (or two or three) small enough to keep with you at all times. Enter Fizbags.

While it may seem kind of ironic to keep a bag in your bag when was the last time you were able to fit a carton of milk, a loaf of bread and a bag of apples into your purse or briefcase? It's probably safe to assume that's a rare occurence. Fizbags have a "bag in a pouch" design making them extremely compact so you can toss it in your purse, your pocket or attach one to your keychain. They are also one-third larger than an average plastic bag, extremely durable (hey four liters of milk gets pretty heavy!) and machine washable.

Amanda Overland, the creator of Fizbags, is a busy mother of four who was inspired to design the compact reusable bags based on her own experiences.

"I started feeling really guilty about the number of plastic carrier bags I was throwing away. I kept them in a drawer with the intention of re-using them, then after a few weeks I'd just throw them in the bin because there were too many. I then started seeing images of wildlife and birds being tangled up and sometimes swallowing plastic bags. I knew we had to ban plastic carrier bags but for this to happen we needed to have a PRACTICAL bag for life.

I found the problem with the big shopping bags was that I had to plan ahead, and I wasn't going to carry an armful of huge bags around with me just in case I bought something! I always left them in the boot of the car or at home. Reusable bags have to be minimum hassle when you are busy with day to day life!

Now, I keep 3 Fizbags in my handbag at all times and don't even notice they're there. I haven't used a plastic bag since."

Hit the jump to visit the official Fizbags site and check out all of their cool designs, including funky leopard print!

Wheat rust makes a comeback

Pinky Bean — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:50:00 -0600

It was a discussion about wheat rust that initially fascinated Norman Borlaug and set him on the path of plant pathology, which ended up saving millions of lives. Borlaug's contributions to the development of disease-resistant wheat secured the crop's supply and even had it thriving in Mexico, Pakistan and India beginning in the 1940s and continuing into the 70s. A couple of weeks ago we asked who the next Norman Borlaug would be and it seems the answer to that question would certainly be helpful now.

Wheat rust isn't exactly a new problem (obviously since it piqued Borlaug's interest during his young adult days), however it's still a serious problem, as evidenced by the Ug99 fungus, which scientists estimate could destroy more than 80 per cent of the world's wheat crops. That's a pretty scary prediction, especially when food shortages and starvation are huge problems now and predicted to become much, much worse in the future. The problem has started in eastern Africa, but already spread as far as Iran and potentially ready to attack crops in northern India and Pakistan. And in the event you're thinking that that's too far away for you to have to worry about, consider that agriculture expers figure it's only a matter of time until the wind will bring the disease to Russia, China and North America.

When swine flu began to appear in multiple countries, it was all anyone could talk and worry about. It's probably safe to assume Ug99 won't receive the same attention, but the implications of it are just as scary. It's been coined a "time bomb" by industry experts and is the top threat to wheat, the world's most widely grown crop.

Scientists are working against a pretty intimidating deadline: develop wheat varieties that are immune to the fungus or watch famine spread across poor, developing countries. The process of doing so can take over a decade adn by then, the disease may already have made its way west and wreaked havoc on crops. Then again, in the 1960s, nobody thought India had a prayer of surviving famine (scientists predicted millions of people would starve to death) due to lack of wheat, yet the country maanged to double yields of the crop in a matter of five years thanks to Borlaug's work.

Could the 94 year old come out of retirement and do it again or is there another Borlaug waiting in the wings, ready to solve this potential crisis? There doesn't seem to be a lot of time to find out, so let's hope someone steps into his shoes soon.

And the winner of the 2009 World Food Prize is..

Pinky Bean — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:37:00 -0600

Norman Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal for his success in increasing the food supply in hard-hit areas of the world such as Mexico, India and Pakistan. Not wanting to be the only one recognized for making substantial improvements to the quality and availability of food around the world, he established the World Food Prize in 1986 to recognize other individuals who were carrying on the legacy of helping provide food to those who need it the most.

The 2009 recipient of the prize was recently announced, and this year's honor goes to Dr. Gebisa Ejeta, an Ethiopian American plant breeder and geneticist who has made huge contributions to the advancement of sorghum, the world's fifth most important cereal grain. Ejeta is a professor at Purdue University who developed Africa's first commercial hybrid variety of sorghum that is drought-tolerant. Eventually his discovery of methods to produce sorghum that was also resistant to striga (a deadly parasitic weed) led to the development of seeds that yielded four times more sorghum that traditional varieties, notably in drought-stricken areas of Eastern Africa.

"Ejeta's accomplishments in improving sorghum illustrate what can be achieved when cutting-edge technology and international cooperation in agriculture are used to uplift and empower the world's most vulnerable people," said Norman Borlaug, founder of the World Food Prize and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

While sorghum is used mainly for livestock feed in the U.S., it is a staple food crop in Africa due to its high protein content and ability to digest easily.

Watch the video below (which features an appearance by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton) to see Ejeta receive the 2009 World Food Prize.

Happy Fourth of July!

Pinky Bean — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:12:00 -0600

Happy Fourth of July to Ecollo's American friends! We hope you enjoy some barbecues, parades, picnics, baseball or whichever activity you choose to commemorate Independence Day.

The Muppets can't seem to decide whether it's the Fourth of July or Christmas, but regardless, Hal Linden showed up to help them celebrate the occasion in the clip below. Enjoy the video and your long weekend!

CSX reveals new green goals as an official Climate Leader

Pinky Bean — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:34:00 -0600

Last fall, transportation company CSX invited Ecollo to Chicago to get a first-hand look at their GenSet Locomotives, as well to attend part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Leaders conference. During the conference, CSX officially announced a partnership with the program, and now the company has announced its Climate Leaders program goals in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company's commitment to the program is the first from a major U.S. transportation provider and a natural next step from a company that already developed the GenSet, an ultra-low emitting method of freight rale that achieved an 80 per cent reduction in nitrous oxide and particulate matter emissions.

Now CSX has set its sights on reducing carbon emissions by eight per cent per revenue ton mile by 2011. This will account for a carbon savings of 2.4 million tons, or the equivalent of removing 441,000 cars from the road on an annual basis. In terms of the company's non-rail operations, goals include using building space more efficiently, improving HVAC systems and installing energy-efficient lighting and automatic computer-shutdown software. And by the end of this year, another 1,200 CSX locomotives will feature fewer emissions and lower fuel consumption (nearly 10 million gallons worth!) thanks to ongoing upgrades.

Freight rail is considered one of the most eco-friendly ways of transporting goods, as a train can transport one tonne of goods on a single gallon of gas, a far greener option than shipping by truck or airplane.

“Freight rail is the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly surface transportation option. We are pleased to enhance these benefits with our firm commitment to reduce CSX’s carbon footprint,” said Michael J. Ward, Chairman, President and CEO of CSX. “The Climate Leaders Partnership shows that by working together, business and government can serve our nation’s economic needs while improving our environment.”

Treat a sunburn naturally

Pinky Bean — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:47:00 -0600

In a perfect world you wouldn't have to worry about sunburn. You could go outside without religiously applying lotion to any and all exposed skin and never have cause for concern. However, this isn't a perfect world and few things in the world compare to the discomfort of a sunburn. Anytime you stretch or move the wrong way, you feel it. If a friend claps you on the back - well, let's just say you would probably be forgiven for clocking him or her.

Unfortunately vacations are ripe with the potential for sunburns. If you're in a warm, sunny climate there's a good chance you're probably spending a great deal of time outdoors, whether you're lying on the beach or doing a lot of walking. If you apply sunscreen properly and frequently, especially after going in water, you should be fine. However there's always the chance your sunscreen application may be neglected and even just one time can leave you with a nasty, painful burn.

If you're far from home, you'll want the most convenient option to treat a sunburn. Watch the video below to see a natural way to do so, and even though it's not covered in this tutorial, be sure to travel with aloe vera gel. The general rule of thumb is you hopefully won't need it if you have it, but as soon as you go away without it, you'll be wishing, praying, crying for the cool relief.

How To Treat A Sunburn With Lemon

What's green, red, white and blue? Your eco-friendly fourth of July!

Pinky Bean — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:08:00 -0600

The official countdown to fourth of July celebrations across the U.S. has begun. Traditionally red, white and blue are the colors of the day, however if you've embraced the eco-friendly lifestyle you can easily add some green into the mix.

Drink Local
July 4 is a day of celebration and what celebration is complete without good beer? If you aren't sure what your options for locally brewed beer are, stop buy your local liquor store and ask the experts there to recommend a product made close to home. It travels far less miles to get to your store shelves and there's a good chance it will be fresher and less expensive than an import. Plus you can get that warm fuzzy feeling from knowing you've supported a local business (or from an alcohol-induced buzz, whichever you prefer). Alternatively if you know of a local brewpub in the area, find out if they sell six-packs of any of their products that you can enjoy from home.

Stay local
Speaking of home, stay as close there as you can. Fire up the grill (using our green grilling guide of course) and celebrate in your yard. If you have plans for the day that will take you away from your area, consider taking public transportation or car-pooling with friends heading in the same direction. Wherever you end up, if you'll be outdoors, make sure to protect yourself and your family with adequate sunscreen and insect repellent.

Eat local
If you'll be eating at home or going on a picnic, buy local produce and meat from a farmer's market or local butcher shop.

Ditch the disposables
If you are eating at home, use real plates, utensils and cups. If you'll be leaving the home, consider taking along your serve-ware or call up your local natural food market (if you have one) to see if they sell sugarcane-based biodegradable (compostable!) options. If not, consider sticking to finger food.

Recycle and Compost
Always recycle the leftovers from your celebration: beer cans or bottles, napkins, you name it, find a home other than a landfill for it. Put your composter to good use with any remaining food scraps.

Kid Plant-Green Sun Spray by lavera

Pinky Bean — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:17:00 -0600

Figuring out how to keep your kids still long enough to apply sunscreen is enough of a challenge nevermind the difficult decision of trying to decide which product will effectively protect their skin without irritating it. lavera (spelled with a lowercase 'l' intentionally) solves both issues with their Plant-Green Sun Spray SPF 25. Green plant pigment leaves a temporary colored residue on the skin so you can see exactly where the lotion has been applied - and more importantly, any areas you may have missed.

Once the green color disappears you don't have to worry because the product doesn't, even when the kids are splashing around in the pool, lake or ocean. Not only is the formula waterproof, it's 100 per cent mineral based, with vitamins and essential oils to keep skin nourished and moisturized. You don't have to fret about harsh chemicals and parabens because lavera products are natural and free of toxins.

Now all you have to worry about is trying to figure out how to dislodge sand from places God never meant it to be in the first place.

Defining genetic fingerprinting

Pinky Bean — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:11:00 -0600

Most people tend to think of a set of fingerprints as a human characteristic, however years ago scientists started applying the term "genetic fingerprinting" to crops as well. Like humans, crops are considered living organisms and as is also the case in humans, the "fingerprints" can provide valuable information about that crop.

Fingerprints in humans are an identifying characteristic, something that is unique to each person. Similarily, though nearly all human DNA sequences are the same in every person, the DNA is different enough in each one of us to distinguish us from others, hence the phrase "genetic fingerprinting." Still with me?

In terms of food, genetic fingerprinting is used to examine DNA and identify and study the specific traits of crops, thus allowing scientists to select the most desirable and benficial characteristics for plant breeding (This shouldn't be confused with full genome sequencing, which determines an organism's entire DNA sequence). In the recent case of assessing the genetic fingerprint of rice, researchers can conduct diversity analysis to determine gentic similarities and differences, which allows them to select the best traits of the rice and transfer these when breeding other varieties of the crop. In the end, they hope to find the most robust varieties of rice that provide the most significant yield in diverse growing conditions.

Using genetic fingerprinting as a way to identify the best methods of growing crops is just another way science and technology are being used to further improve the condition of the world's food supply, just as Jeff Simmons predicted would be necessary if we don't want the world to face a food crisis of biblical propotions in the future.

Calgary Stampede offers good, clean (and green!) fun

Pinky Bean — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:44:00 -0600

The Calgary Stampede strives to be green all year long, by instituting several environmental policies including a commitment to recycling and land and water conservation. However, while these measures are ongoing during the 355 days a year the actual Stampede is not taking place, the 10-day festivities also feature some earth-friendly measures.

As we mentioned last week, the Alberta SPCA and Calgary Humane Society are onsite during all rodeo events to ensure the animals are treated properly. The animals are also moved in the evenings so they are a safe distance from the nightly fireworks display, as the noise can be distressing to them. And as re-purposing material is a significant goal of Stampede organizers, the bedding waste from the livestock is turned into garden fertilizer by a local company.

Besides the rodeo and chuckwagon events, rides are another popular attraction at the Stampede. North American Midway Entertainment, the company that provides the rides, is currently working on making their own operations are earth-conscious as possible. Soy biofuels are used to power the Midway whenever possible. The lights on rides are also kept off from down until dusk to conserve erngy, and several of these lights have even been replaced with LEDs, an initiative that is expected to continue.

The improtance of recycling is not just emphasized to Stampede employees with their extensive on-site recycling program, but is also promoted and encouraged among visitors to the Stampede grounds. Recycling wagons and receptacles are set up sporadically through the grounds, allowing guests to avoid using the garbage can when possible. The Stampede is part of a new, pilot recycling program which allows for recyclable materials to be commingled. All materials must be put in clear plastic bags, but sorting is no longer required. Hired sweepers, as well as volunteers from local clubs collect these bags of recyclables and take them to local recycling centres for processing. In fact, the company that is handling the Stampede's recycling is the same one that is running the city of Calgary's new recyclingi program. Additionally, plush toy recycling centres are set up on the Midway to encourage patrons to find a new home for any unwanted toys they win while playing games. The response to this initiative was so overwhelming in 2008 that another one was established this year.

And for those skeptics who believe events such as this only serve as a cash-grab for the organizations that plan them may be surprised to learn the Calgary Stampede organization is just that: a non-profit organization that puts any money made from the event back into the community, such as agriculture and music programs.

To learn more about the Stampede, including how you can buy tickets or plan to attend in upcoming years, hit the jump to visit the official website!

Happy Canada Day!

Pinky Bean — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:44:00 -0600

Happy Canada Day to all of our friends from the north!

If you've ever wondered what's so great about this great land, check out the two videos below. The first is a classic Canadian commercial (seriously, as in Molson Canadian) that goes down in the history books as one of the greatest ads in the country's history. The second is another true Canadian classic which hopefully sheds some light on the nation's obsession with hockey. Stompin' Tom Connors is an icon whose anthem "The Hockey Song" has been played at every Canadian NHL game since it debuted in 1973.

Now we're off in search of some maple syrup in honor of the day!

The Fight Against Famine

Pinky Bean — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:13:00 -0600

Norman Borlaug didn't become a Nobel Peace Prize winner overnight. The documentary below was created by students at Redmond Jr. High School in Redmond, Washington as part of the 2009 Washington State National History Day competition and ended up winning first place.

While the documentary provides a summary of Borlaug's life and achievements, it also explains that the seeds of his agricultural success were planted early (ha, seeds, planted - get it?). Agriculture was in Borlaug's blood, as he grew up on a farm. However rather than taking over the family farming business, Borlaug was encouraged by his grandfather to pursue higher education. He attended the University of Minnesota and was later accepted in the institution's College of Agriculture. There he met Alvin C. Stackman, the head of the plant pathology department, whose discussion of wheat rust disease fascinated Borlaug. It was Stackman who encouraged Borlaug to pursue the field of plant pathology. This, as well as a job with the Civilian Conservation Corps, a public work relief program for unemployed men, had a huge influence on Borlaug. He said of the program, ""I saw how food changed them...All of this left scars on me."

The video also outlines Borlaug's agronomical innovations:

1. High Volume Crossbreeding - Developing rust-resistant wheat by crossbreeding thousands of different lines, rather than dozens which was the typical approach by plant breeders.

2. Shuttle Breeding - Borlaug bred wheat in the central highlands of Mexico and then immediately took the seeds north. This was to take advantage of Mexico's two growing seeds, allowing more crops to be cultivated each year.

3. Changing the wheat's architecture - By changing the structure of the wheat by cross-breeding a Japanese dwarf wheat with high-yielding American wheat, combined with Borlaug's disease-resistant wheat cultivars. The result: six times higher wheat yield in Mexico than a decade earlier.

In other words, the young people at Redmond Jr. High School have done their research and show how Borlaug's childhood and young adult years would eventually lead to his status as one of the most influential humans who has ever lived. Check out the 10-minute documentary below to learn more about Borlaug and his life story.

How to cheat at composting

Pinky Bean — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:20:00 -0600

Shhhh...don't tell anyone, but Lars over at Composting Instructions is going to teach you how to cheat at composting. His method uses the f-word, but don't worry, it's probably not the one you're immediately thinking of. He doesn't necessarily endorse the prospect of cheating whole-heartedly but seems to agree that some composting is better than no composting, even if it means taking the occasional short-cut.

You must be burning up with curiosity now, so watch the video below to learn Lars' dirty little secret.

Land, water and wildlife are Stampede priorities

Pinky Bean — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:49:00 -0600

Last week we told you all about the ongoing efforts the Calgary Stampede is demonstrating can be undertaken to minimize the environmental impact of a major event. The 10-day exhibition and rodeo is consistently working on new initiatives to add some green to the event and all of the behind-the-scenes action throughout the rest of the year. Ecollo was recently taken on a tour of the grounds by Cori Thiessen, environmental coordinator for the Stampede, and shown the different programs offered by the organization, such as extensive recycling, efficient technology and new transportation. It doesn't stop there though - read on to discover the other ways the event is being eco-friendly.

Land and river conservation
The Stampede grounds are situated along the Elbow River and the Stampede organization goes to great lengths to ensure the river and its aquatic life are thoroughly protected. All Stampede employees participate in an annual riverbank clean-up, from which three to seven tonnes of waste is collected, which many including anything from slabs of concrete to refrigerators.

Certain drains in the park are also marked with yellow fish to indicate the drain flows directly to the river and extra caution should be taken to ensure they are kept clear of any harmful materials. As such, any use of detergents or soaps in non-designated areas is prohibited to prevent the chemicals from entering the water system. Park staff are also careful to ensure any and all spills are immediately cleaned up.

In 2005, the river banks experienced significant erosion thanks to an onslaught of inclement weather, including rain, hail and melting snow. The Stampede organization decided to utilize advancements in bio-engineering to help restore the river to its natural state and prevent further damage in the future and installed willow wattle fencing. Cori explained this innovative fencing uses live willow stakes and cuttings from the local Ghost River area; the stakes are driven into the ground and the cuttings are then woven through. Over time, a natural "living wall" is formed as the stakes sprout live branches and take root. This whole process creates a natural barrier for erosion control, eliminating the need for man-made methods such as a concrete wall.

As the river continues to recover, the organization plans to completely move operations off of the riverbank within the next three to five years.

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Parking
Nobody is paving paradise to put up a parking lot here - even this aspect has been taken into consideration as the grounds have undergone several design changes. Storm sceptors were installed in parking lots and are designed to separate sediment, hydrocarbons and oils from the waste water. This prevents these contaminants from entering the water system. The sceptors are vacuumed out with special equipment on an annual basis, at which time approximately four feet of sediment and 12 to 14 inches of oils and hydrocarbons are captured. The contaminants are separated from the waste water, and both contaminants and waste water are disposed of safely and properly.

Initiatives to protect surrounding land and water aren't necessarily restricted to big programs or initiatives. When new parking lots were constructed years ago, the Stampede organization went as far as to protect a tree, estimated to be 200 to 300 years old and considered a historical landmark in the city. Plans for the parking lot were adjusted to build around the tree and ensure it remained standing for hundreds of years more.

Animal treatment
One major misconception many individuals have about rodeos is the treatment of animals, paticularly in events such as bareback riding. The gist of bareback riding is that a competitor must hang onto a bucking horse with one hand for eight seconds without being thrown off or touching the horse with their free hand. It's long been rumoured that flanks are tied to an animal's genitalia to cause them to buck wildly. This commonly held belief is absolutely untrue, emphasizes Cori. In fact, the flanks you see attached to horses are made of a very soft sheepskin and are not fastened too tightly, so as to not irritate or hurt the animal. In fact, the natural instinct of a horse when scared or in pain is to run away, not buck.

Rather, the horses used in competition are especially bred from long lines of horses that have a natural propensity to buck. As Cori points out, the animals involved in the Stampede are treated as professional athletes. And just in case you're wondering about accountability in terms of animal treatment, the Stampede actually works closely with the Alberta SPCA and the Calgary Humane Society to ensure proper safety measures are being followed, and both organizations are present on-site during the events to monitor animal treatment.

You can learn more about the Calgary Stampede (including how to attend if you'll be in the area in July!) after the jump, and be sure to check back on Wednesday to learn how the Stampede injects some green during the actual event!

Potato consortium hopes to decode the genetics of the humble spud

Pinky Bean — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:50:00 -0600

Did you know that such thing an international Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium even exists?

Sure enough, it's true - in fact, the group held their annual meeting a couple of weeks ago. That in iitself isn't exactly newsworthy, however the work of the 20 research groups involved in the consortium is. By 2011 they are hoping to have successfully sequence the entire potato genome.

Genome (or DNA) sequencing is a process in which the sequence of nucleotides (a group of molecules that form the structural unit of DNA) is determined. By doing this, scientists can thoroughly understand the genetic information of an organism and in the case of food, breed certain foods more effectively. The DNA sequence of rice has already been determined, and potatoes are another staple food crop that are being worked on, along with wheat and maize. The consortium has already been successful in improving the potato's resitance to potato cyst nematode, a pest that can reduce the crop's yield by up to 60 per cent if not caught in time. It can take more than a decade to develop a successful potato variety under normal circumstances and members of the consortium hope to expedite the process to increase potato production.

Successfully identifiying desirable genes and then cross-breeding to improve the characteristics of these crops (such as disease resistance) are seen as being imperative to the security of the food supply in the future.

DIY Solar Power System

Pinky Bean — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:23:00 -0600

Fortunately these days the Internet makes do-it-yourself projects simpler than ever. More often than not, another brave soul somewhere out there has attempted a project you're considering and can offer helpful tips and advice. Or in this case, a step-by-step tutorial to guide you through the process.

Today's project is building your own solar power system. Now I'm not entirely sure what an AWG cable or a mechanical lug actually is, but luckily I'm fairly certain someone else in my household does. In fact, you can pretty much guarantee that particular individual will likely build this entire thing themself while I supervise (read: while I sip a glass of wine and call off instructions and the necessary tools for a given step). I do love some good teamwork.

This instructable will show you everything you need to put together a pretty good sized electric solar panel system. Things you will need:

Supplies:
Solar panels
Charge controller
Battery charger
2 AWG cable
At least one 12 Volt marine deep cycle battery
Mechanical lugs
1 power inverter
1 Rubbermaid tote or other container
1 battery charger

Tools:
Cable cutters
Red electrical tape
Screwdriver
Drill
Crescent Wrench

Step One: Preparing the batteries
The first thing you want to do is charge your batteries with a charger. This will insure they are charged to capacity and ready to go at set up. I purchased my batteries new and were only at about 60%.

While the batteries are charging, you can set up the solar panels and get them wired up and ready to go.

Hit the jump to see the rest of the instructions for this project so you can get started!

Wardrobe recycling: Turn his cast-off into your favorite team t-shirt

Pinky Bean — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 05:32:00 -0600

Every guy has that awful t-shirt full of holes and stains that still holds so much sentimental value, even the mere suggestion they get rid of it makes you public enemy number one. Then there are the shirts that sit at the bottom of his drawer, unworn and (mostly) forgotten, but could hold loads of potential for updating a girl's wardrobe.

Let's face it, many women aren't all that interested in going on a public outing wearing a baggy Green Bay Packers tee that their significant other/brother/friend has lost interest in, but a few easy transformations can turn something oversized and unappealing into the perfect shirt for hanging out a pub or attending a local sporting event. Check out the first couple of steps below and then hit the jump to find out to to make a boat-neck shirt that may just become your own comfy favorite you can't bear to part with.

Intro: Refashioned Beefy Tee into Boat Neck Top
In this project we'll show you how to refashion a man's tee into a boat neck top with cap sleeves and a fitted waistband. (Please be sure to check with your beau before snaking his shirt for this project!)

It's that time of year again, when baseball fans get excited because spring training is under way and a new season is about to begin. Oh boy! Part of the fun of going to baseball games (aside from the hot dogs, peanuts, and ice cold beverages of course) is rooting for your home team. And clearly, rooting for your home team involves wearing the right outfit. Clearly.

If you're a baseball fan (or hang out with one that plies you with icy cold beverages to get you to watch the game) you know that team shirts are usually big, boxy and not flattering on us gals. (There are girl versions that come in pink and fit like a baby doll tee from the nineties. No thanks, we'll make our own!)

Step 1: Cut from the team
Start by cutting off the bottom of the shirt, about 1.5 inches above the hem. Hold onto this part as it will become your boat neck collar.

Baking soda: a natural solution for health and beauty

Leafy Green — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:31:00 -0600

Unlike many of the products in your local pharmacy or salon, baking soda isn't flashy or sexy. It can usually be found in a plain utilitarian box and most of us only buy it to put in our refrigerators to remove odour.

But did you know that adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your shampoo can help remove styling product buildup from your hair? Or that a mixture of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part liquid soap can wash fish, garlic and onion odour off of your hands? Baking soda can even be used as a natural under arm deodorant: first apply corn starch with a powder puff and then baking soda!

This is only a few of the amazing uses for this handy product. Hit the jump to read the full article. After you read it you'll likely feel compelled to go buy a few more boxes of Arm & Hammer to use around the house.

Cows are now being tweaked to be less gassy

Pinky Bean — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:29:00 -0600

Cows are gassy creatures, there's no denying that. Unfortunately last year Australian scientists discovered that flatulence from these animals (more specifically, the methane they emit) was a big source of greenhouse gas emissions in that country. You probably also have to assume this is an issue in other countries as well, which is why a Canadian scientist and professor has developed a prototype of a more eco-friendly cow.

Yep, you read that correctly: Stephen Moore, from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, is working to breed a greener type of cow that is expected to produce 25 per cenat fewer emissions than their conventional brothers and sisters. Moore is identifying the genes of the cow that generate methane in its four stomachs and has used traditional techniques to breed animals that are more frienly toward the environment.

And interestingly enough (the word "interestingly" is being used loosely here), it's actually not just the farts that come from cows that are a huge problem - apparently their belches would make Homer Simpson proud and need to be curbed as well.

And while Moore is focused on the solving the problem through genetic changes, dairy producer Stonyfield Farm is taking a different approach to reduce their cows' methan emissions, and increasing the animals' consumption of alfalfa, flax or hemp. The company has apparently reduced their cow's emissions by about 12 per cent using this method.

'If every U.S. dairy farmer reduced emissions by 12 per cent it would be equal to about half a million cars being taken off the road,' said Nancy Hirshberg, vice president of Stonyfield's Natural Resources department.

Experience natural body care with Wild Wind Soap Company

Pinky Bean — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:38:00 -0600

Wild Wind Soap Company believes one of life's simple luxuries is bathing with a soothing bar of natural soap. That's why all of their products are free of synthetic fragrances and preservatives.

The company offers a line of bath and body products that are deeply scented (naturally of course) and provide specific purposes such as moisturizing or exfoliating. The collection of bar soaps include Honey Oats & Almond, Lavender, Patchouli & Walnut and Prairie Mint, all of which contain essential oils. A liquid soap is also available that will not dry out skin as some products that contain harsh chemicals might do. Spa and body treats feature an olive oil lotion and a face cleanser, as well as Shea Butter Cream. The lip balms provide moisture with ingredients such as sweet almond oil, cocoa butter and aloe oil. There are also sample packs and gift sets which make the perfect present for someone special, including yourself!

As part of their ongoing efforts to be eco and socially responsible, Wild Wind Soap Company wastes as little as possible by re-using all boxes and packaging materials. Company print materials use 100 percent recycled, post-consumer waste paper and the soap wrappers are made of recycled paper and free of chlorine, acid and lignin. The products are never tested on animals and are biodegradable.

Visit the Wild Wind website to begin shopping for natural products that will leave you feeling clean and green!

Treat a bee sting the natural way

Pinky Bean — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:56:00 -0600

Like it or not, it's bee season. Those little guys (or in some cases, frightfully large) will be out and about conducting regular bee business like pollinating and making honey and producing wax for beeswax candles. No matter your outdoor activity of choice, you'll inevitably encounter them. With all of the news surrounding massive bee deaths last year, you might feel guilty killing one should it land on you. It would of course be preferable to avoid getting stung altogether, but sometimes it's unavoidable.

Thankfully there's a simple and natural process for removing stingers and treating the pain of stings. The bonus is, if you're on vacation and not close to your hotel or a pharmacy, a local restaurant and your wallet should hopefully have what you need to take care of the problem. Intrigued yet? Watch the video below to see how you can easily and effectively treat a bee sting.

How To Treat A Bee Sting With Lemon

Go Camping UK offers truly green adventures

Pinky Bean — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:55:00 -0600

What makes an eco-friendly holiday truly green? More than just hopping on the bandwagon says Ian Peet, the director of camping and cycling and a co-founder of Go Camping UK. According to Peet, environmentally-conscious traveling goes beyond booking a vacation at a hotel with a green label.

"A genuinely green holiday is something that is achieved not by trying to be green, but by utilizing the environment and its natural attraction. Our camping and cycling holidays are a quiet and efficient way to tour an area unobtrusively. Customers appreciate what the natural environment has to offer, so rather than change the local environment we use it as a showcase for the flora, fauna and sounds of the countryside.

What better way to pass the summer days than by cycling through peaceful countryside, watching and listening to the wildlife that flourishes in the local nature reserves. People enjoy the quiet life of the Suffolk countryside, sampling the excellent local produce, the quaint pubs and the quirky individual shops found away from the bigger towns; not to mention that most people like the idea of sitting outside a tent, passing time and watching the sun go down. It’s very informal and relaxed.”

Go Camping UK has been providing green travel vacation since long before the trend began. Travelers will find camping trips and cycle tours along the Suffolk Coastal Route that are ideal for families, couples, groups or singles. Customers also have the opportunity to decide the duration of their trip, with weekend, mid-week and seven-day bike tours available, as well as weekend camping breaks or single site camping trips for those that want a less structured option. For individuals or families that don't wish to carry all of their belongings on their biking trip, the company also offers pre-pitched eurotents complete with the comforts of home including a refrigerator, barbecue, electricity, camping beds and a dining area containing cookware and dishes.

Hit the jump to book your trip and learn more about Go Camping UK.

Leave the hamster wheel behind and go hiking this weekend!

Cee Bee — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:12:00 -0600

You can suffer the bombardment of top 40 hits while running on a treadmill. You can enjoy the throbbing pain in your knees as you jog around your block over and over again. Or you can get together with friends and explore the world. Leave the sweaty gym and concrete maze behind... you can get all the exercise you need this weekend while reconnecting with nature.

Hiking is one of those activities that has little downside. You can go at your own pace and you rarely have the same experience twice. You get to deal with varying terrain and elevation, plus carrying a pack automatically adds resistance. A 150-pound person will burn roughtly 240 calories for every hour spent hiking.

You'll need a few things to get started: rain gear, a hat, a day pack, water, snacks and sunscreen... oh, and of course a good pair of hiking boots!

Hit the jump for more information on the benefits of hiking and tips to help you get started. Plan a trip this weekend!

This week on the web: Carnivores and yard sales

Pinky Bean — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:08:00 -0600

☆ Allie's Answers examines The Carnivore's Dilemma.

☆ If Tinseltown wants to really demonstrate eco-friendliness, Boots on the Roof says the famous Hollywood sign should be solar-powered.

☆ Get the scoop on stunning paper-mache recycled art from Modern Eco Homes.

☆ Turn an ordinary yard sale into a fun group even,t says Urban Branches.

☆ The Organic Beauty Expert lets you know which sea salts are worth your hard-earned money.

The West goes green at the Calgary Stampede

Pinky Bean — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:30:00 -0600

While certain traditions and staples of the first Calgary Stampede, held in 1912, have remained (think cowboys and a rodeo), the greatest outdoor show on earth has undergone significant changes, as one would expect in a 97-year period. In fact, with attendance now topping over 100,000 people each day and the park more than double the size of the 94-acre fair grounds the first Stampede was held on, Guy Weadick's wild west show would be unrecognizable to anyone who attended the initial Frontier Days and Cowboy Championship Contest (the original name bestowed on the festivities).

However if you were to go beyond the rodeo, the rides, the games and the multiple food stands, you would soon discover that these days Stampede organizers are working hard to minimize the environmental impact of the celebration. No one will deny that there's a definite footprint attached to so many visitors descending on one city at one time, whether they're arriving by planes, trains or automobiles. That being said, this isn't exactly a party you can experience by teleconference (the Ferris wheel just isn't the same), so attracting an audience from all over the world isn't unexpected.

This makes it especially important to ensure that all environmental initiatives extend throughout the entire year, not just the 10 days the Stampede is happening. Recently some Ecollo-ites had the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Stampede grounds, where environmental coordinator Cori Thiessen took time to explain some of the programs and initiatives the organization is working on to create a greener future for the show.

Recycling and waste management
For starters, recycling on the grounds is emphasized among Stampede employees, with seven major recycling centres set up on-site, which collect common recycling materials including paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, aluminum, batteries, coffee grounds, organics, grease and cooking oil. Beyond this, other materials are repurposed, including asphalt which is ground and recycled, and wood which is turned into mulch chips for gardening. One of the major components of any stampede is of course animals. Even their waste finds new life, with bedding waste collected and sent to a local composting company, who turns it into garden fertilizer.

Any hazardous waste collected is sealed and stored, then safely and properly disposed of, with special measures being taken to ensure none ends up affecting the city's water supply or sewage system.

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Technology
The measures taken to incorporate energy-efficient technology and practices run the gamut, from using LED street lights (which save 730 kWHs and 657 kg of carbon annually) to a "Turn It Off" program, which encourages staff members to pay attention to their electricity-consumption habits and shut down their computers, monitors and personal devices prior to leaving the office each night. It may sound easy, but the simple efficient practice of turning off the 350 computer terminals on-site results in a savings of more than 900,000 kWHs each year.

Thousands of liters of water are conserved annually thanks to five dual-flush toilets and two waterless urinals housed in the Operations building, as well as 10 waterless urinals in the Grandstand area and another four in Indian Village. In the future, older units will be replaced with water-efficient ones when possible.

As for the items that actually do end up in the trash, they end up in one of the six solar-powered trash compacters located on-site. These eco-friendly compactors not only run entirely on solar energy, they also reduce the amount of collection trips needed, as well as greenhouse gas emissions associated with trash collection.

Transportation
Whenever possible, park vehicles run on biodiesel, ranging from five to 35%. The fleet of vehicles used on-site recently underwent a re-sizing to minimize the size of vehicles used. Any vehicles with V-8 engines were switched over for a smaller V-6, however during the warmer season, light vehicles including golf carts are used as a means of transportation around the park. Additionally, no vehicles older than eight years old are used for business purposes and the park adheres to strict anti-idling policies.

The aforementioned operational practices and policies go a long way toward demonstrating the commitment of Calgary Stampede organizers to looking out for the earth, but they are by no means all-inclusive. Check back Monday to learn how the actual environment around the Stampede grounds is protected and conserved, and then again next Wednesday to learn how the Stampede encourages eco-friendliness during the actual 10-day event in July.

A great online resource for your pet's health

Leafy Green — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:48:00 -0600

The Natural Pet Health Blog is a great resource for pet owners looking for more information on pet ailments and treatments.

From feline cancer to ear mites, cat acne to canine obesity, this blog is an excellent resource to turn to if you've recently discovered your pet has health problems. Filled with tips and advice, interviews with veterinarians, and recommendations on natural treatments, this is a blog that should be in every concerned pet owner's favorites list.

Borlaug's solution: Food production and population control

Pinky Bean — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:33:00 -0600

Hopefully by now, the name Norman Borlaug is at least on your radar. Quick recap for those just joining us: he saved millions of people from starving to death India and Pakistan back in the 1960s, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970, was heralded by some of the most influential people in the world including Jimmy Carter and George Bush, as well as by lesser-dignitaries Penn & Teller.

Contrary to what you might be thinking, even though Borlaug won his Nobel prize nearly 40 years ago, the words he spoke in 1970 while accepting the honor are just as relevant today as they were back then. Check it out:

It is true that the tide of the battle against hunger has changed for the better during the past three years. But tides have a way of flowing and then ebbing again. We may be at high tide now, but ebb tide could soon set in if we become complacent and relax our efforts. For we are dealing with two opposing forces, the scientific power of food production and the biologic power of human reproduction. Man has made amazing progress recently in his potential mastery of these two contending powers. Science, invention, and technology have given him materials and methods for increasing his food supplies substantially and sometimes spectacularly, as I hope to prove tomorrow in my first address as a newly decorated and dedicated Nobel Laureate. Man also has acquired the means to reduce the rate of human reproduction effectively and humanely. He is using his powers for increasing the rate and amount of food production. But he is not yet using adequately his potential for decreasing the rate of human reproduction. The result is that the rate of population increase exceeds the rate of increase in food production in some areas.

There can be no permanent progress in the battle against hunger until the agencies that fight for increased food production and those that fight for population control unite in a common effort. Fighting alone, they may win temporary skirmishes, but united they can win a decisive and lasting victory to provide food and other amenities of a progressive civilization for the benefit of all mankind.

Interesting, especially when you consider the news as of late: A growing population will be starving by 2100 unless we figure out how to grow more food, while science and technology will have to be embraced in order to meet this demand, at least according to some experts in the industry. The issues being dealt with in Borlaug's heyday don't sound all that different than the ones we are facing in 2009: millions of starving people and the growing desperation to find a solution before it's too late. However, while Borlaug made results happen and developed new drought-resistant crops in the 1950s and 1960s, these days there seems to be more argument than action regarding on the best way to proceed. Organic farming? Cloning crops? Accepting that science will inevitably play a part in any solution will address the problem on a large scale? Everyone has their own opinions on the best ways to succeed. Now if only someone could get some definitive results the way Borlaug did...

Get Out And Play: Walk your way to better health

Cee Bee — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:42:00 -0600

There are plenty of activities, sports and chores we can use as an excuse to go outside but why not go outside with no goal at all, just go outside for the physical and mental health of it. Instead of telling yourself, ‘I have to walk to the mailbox’, or ‘I’ve got to take the dog for a walk’, tell yourself your going outside just for the fresh air, sunshine, wind in your hair or even just to see what’s happening in the neighborhood.

As soon as you’ve walked to the door and put on your shoes you’ve already started benefitting from the exercise. Your heart rate has probably risen considerably since you were sitting at your desk cruising the net. Once you open the door you’re starting to breath in some different air and now your lungs are benefitting. Even if air pollution is a consideration in your town let’s face it you can’t really escape it, your house is circulating the same air from outside. At least when you’re outside you’ll gain the benefits of a bit of wind.

You felt a quick chill as you stepped outside but after walking down the steps and onto the sidewalk, the legs are loosening up and feeling good, the blood is flowing through your muscles and your warmed up again.

How about the senses, your nose is already kicking into second gear as it picks up the smell of the burger joint down the street. Oh, and what’s that, smells like the neighbors are barbequing something yummy. This is much better than the same old stale smell of your apartment. Oh and now something is catching your eye in the window of a store you pass, you’ve been looking for that item for a while, that’s something you wouldn’t have noticed while whizzing past in your car.

You’re passing an open window and you hear someone’s stereo playing that song you haven’t heard for years, who sings that one again? Here comes your neighbor you haven’t seen around in a couple weeks, let’s see what he has to say. Five minutes into your walk you’ve already got your brain working in ten different ways than it was at home. When you get back home or to work you’ll be refreshed and twice as productive.

The benefits of short frequent trips like this one are endless. To start with you’re probably going to sleep better from the fresh air and exercise. You’ve likely built up an appetite or maybe you’ve just burnt off a couple calories after a big dinner. Bring a friend to talk to and you’ve turned your solo adventure into a social event and a chance to catch up, plus your burning even more calories just from the conversation. Your brain has had a break from whatever you were doing and is recharged and ready to go again. The more you get out, the better you’re going to feel, and you’re going to be more alert and have more energy for all your other activities.

Hit the jump to see more health benefits from walking.

Organic cotton and recycled polyester brought to you by MEC

Pinky Bean — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:19:00 -0600

It may be time to update the entire family's wardrobe for summer and what better place to do it than one that offers sustainable outdoor clothing for every family member, right down to the youngest ones?

Mountain Equipment Co-op offers a wide range of comfortable, practical and versatile attire for families that are active and require apparel that can keep up. The collections include clothing made from organically-grown cotton and recycled polyester.

If you're planning to spend a lot of time outdoors with this summer, this is the line for you. The recycled polyester clothing includes fleece jackets, insulated vests, water-resistant long john's and wind-proof pants

A cotton visor beanie, cargo capri pants and hoodie are part of the line clothing created using organically-grown cotton. Also part of this range is clothing for the kids, including a Pitcher t-shirt, a bucket hat, and shorts.

For the water-loving family, also be sure to check out the PVC-free personal flotation device (PFD) line, among other must-have items for the lake or beach excursion.

Hit the jump to see more of MEC's eco-friendly outdoor clothing line.

Reduce your yearly (and lifelong!) pile of paper

Pinky Bean — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:29:00 -0600

Paper goes in and out of our lives without us realizing just how much we consume. Create a pile containing the amount of paper we use in a year on the other hand and you start to get a picture of what that looks like. According to Mandy Aggith, a woman a woman who has worked on reducing paper waste in the UK, her travels around the world once revealed Canada as one of the biggest offenders, with 90 per cent of its output comes from the country's forests.

"...it was Canada that depressed me the most," she says. "Canada is incredibly wealthy, yet 90 per cent of its logging is from old growth forests and its pollution record is horrific. It has some of the worst cases of paper mill pollution I found. Native Americans living near the mills have nerve and skin diseases and soaring rates of cancers from the bleaches used on the pulp."

Canada is also relentless in its pursuit of profit. "Ten years ago I was one of the blockaders fighting to stop the building of logging roads into the temperate rainforest of Clayoquat Sound on Vancouver Island," she says. "It's a vital forest of giant red cedars and spruce and home to bears and wolves." After years of campaigning, a moratorium was finally set to halt the felling. "To my horror, on my return, I discovered this had been arranged to last only 10 years. I had to watch as the logging trucks drove past me and back into the forest. It was chilling."

Even though Haggith released this information last year, her tree-saving tips to help reduce paper waste are as relevant now (and will continue to be) as they were in 2008:

☆ Avoid using paper napkins in restaurants

☆ Pick and choose what you need to print and use both sides of the paper when you

☆ Make sure all paper you buy from toilet paper to computer paper is from recycled sources

☆ Reuse paper bags and shred receipts and bills and compost them

☆ Share magazines between yourself and friends and send any unwanted catalogs back to the sender

☆ Reuse envelopes and make your own cards

☆ Never check off a box that asks if you want "more information"; it's an invitation for junk mail

☆ If your office doesn't already use recycled paper, ask the person in charge of office supplies to make the switch

One fish, two fish, red fish....green fish?

Pinky Bean — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:58:00 -0600

Back in the 1950s, Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby sang Gone Fishin', a duet about - you guessed it - their love for a leisurely day spent fishing. They aren't the only ones; millions of people all over the world participate in the activity in some form, whether it's a career or simply for sport or pleasure. It's actually estimated there more people fish than play football on a global scale, which isn't surprising since the risk of grievous bodily harm is much more minimal when you're sitting in a boat rather than being tackled or run down by an defensive line. An additional bonus of choosing fishing as a summer activity is that you don't necessarily have to travel far to do it, unlike say, playing in the ocean, which may not be feasible for those who live far away.

There are a few ways to make your fishing trip a little more environmentally-friendly, so you can have your salmon and eat it too (or not...)

Skip the motor
Canoeing may one alternative to firing up a motorized boat, but the same goes for fishing: if your favorite spot is in the middle of a lake, grab a paddle and start rowing. As it turns out, kayak fishing is growing in popularity, so if you enjoy both activities enough, buying a kayak will serve a dual purpose. Alternatively you can avoid the entire boat conundrum altogether by sitting on the dock of a lake or standing at the river's edge if you aren't particular about where you fish.

Keep it legal
We've discussed the harmful effects of overfishing in the past. Several fish species are dwindling and lakes are being emptied because of the widespread problem, so make sure you know the rules and possession limits of the spot you've chosen and follow them. The general rule of thumb is also 'don't catch more than you can eat.' If you or someone you know won't be eating the fish, limit yourself to two or follow the catch and release method. Speaking of which...

[jump]

Catch and release
No, not the dismal 2006 film starring Jennifer Garner, but rather the process of catching a fish and instead of killing it, releasing it back into its habitat. This is the ideal choice for those who enjoy fishing, but have no real desire to cook their catch of the day. A couple of tips to keep in mind if this is your preferred fishing tactic:

☆ Be gentle and keep the fish in the water as much as possible

☆ Remove the hook carefully to avoid tears and cut the line if the hook won't come out easily. Artificial lures are recommended for their tendency to hook fish in the lip region.

☆ Hold the fish and move it back and forth gently until it swims away

☆ Never move fish from one water source to another

☆ If you kill it, eat it or find someone who will.

Clean up after yourself
Other than releasing fish back into the water, never leave anything else behind. Avoid tossing old fishing line, plastic or any other form of litter into the water. Wait until you get back to land and dispose of your waste in it's proper receptacle. Another closely-followed policy: What comes with you leaves with you. Simple as that.

The perfect cup for Silikids

Pinky Bean — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:12:00 -0600

If you're a parent (or older sibling or babysitter or - you get the idea) who is already familiar with the concept of the popular "sippy cup," it's about time you learned about "Sili" cups.

The Silikids company was started in 2006 by two friends who also happened to be mothers. As concerns about toxic materials grew (BPA, products made in China and the like), the company was formed with the idea of producing safe, clean, hygienic accessories for children made from silicone. Silicone was already used in a number of common products including bottle nipples and pacifiers, and was ideal in that it is resistant to bacteria thanks to its non-porous nature and is also resistant to high temperatures. Silicone is also hypo-allergenic, free from bisphenol A, recyclable and dishwasher-safe. In short, the perfect material for parents concerned about their child's health and the environment.

Silikids makes a variety of products including Silibibs, "Silipads" (cotton kneepads with silicone padding for crawling babies and toddlers) and glass bottles encased in "Siliskin" to provide your child with good grip while protecting their hands (and yours!) from heat and preventing the bottle from breaking if dropped. The products are available in a range of bright, kid-friendly colors and are offered at very parent-friendly prices.

Silikids is also preparing to launch their latest product next month, the Siliskin Glass, a six-ounce drinking glass that helps kids transition from drinking from a bottle to drinking from a "big kid" cup. The glass is of course, non-toxic, and the Siliskin on the outside offers the same benefits as it does for the bottles, reducing the chances of the glass slipping from your child's hand and breaking on the floor. The cup will retail for $7.95 and will come in aqua and lime colors.

Check out Silikids online after the jump to view their full line of products and place an order!

I'm addicted to you, don't you know that you're toxic (soil)?

Pinky Bean — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:41:00 -0600

The soil is countries like Africa, Indonesia and South America isn't exactly known for producing high-yielding quality food crops, mostly due to the presence of aluminum, which doesn't exactly create the best growing environment for plants. So you can imagine how happy scientists have been to discover that just one genetic tweak can turn nearly half of the planet's toxic soils into ideal, safe space to grow food.

Even though some plants can still grow in this type of soil, biochemist Paul Larsen points out, "Among agriculturally important plants, there aren’t mechanisms for aluminum tolerance."

The whole explanation of how this works is pretty long and complex, especially if you don't possess a scientifically-inclined mind, however in a nutshell, Larsen managed to find the gene in a flower commonly used in basic plant research that reacts to aluminum. When he modified the gene - bam! Suddenly a plant that would normally perish when exposed to aluminum was thriving. That might be simplifying the process a bit, but you get the general idea. Larsen also said genetic engineering may or may not play a part in the process in the future. Smart breeding which uses genome sequencing to breed resistant strains of plants may be another consideration using this new technique. And how is this for heart-warming? Larsen says he doesn't expect to make a profit with his new discovery, but would rather see it used for agriculture in developing countries.

"I don’t expect to make any money off it," he said. "I’d like it to trickle down to the people who need it.

However thorough and extensive testing is still needed to determine if the process is even safe and feasible in terms of growing food crops, but it's yet further evidence that Jeff Simmons' wasn't way off base when he predicted that scientific technologies and innovations would play a big part in plans to feed the world in the future.

Capture outdoor memories

Pinky Bean — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:39:00 -0600

Can you keep track of the number of photos you or someone you know has on Facebook? It's safe to reason probably at least 80 to 90 per cent of these photos are of the individual in question and about half of these involve the awkward hold-the-camera-in-front-of-you-and-try-not-to-avoid-the-straight-up-the-nose shot of yourself. Well point that camera in the other direction for awhile. Your local landscape is ripe with potential to produce some stunning photography as you enjoy the great outdoors this summer. ,

Taking a photo of something, even seemingly mundane and ordinary, can offer a whole new perspective on that particular subject matter. A flower in your garden suddenly becomes picturesque after it rains or in the morning dew if you capture an up-close view of droplets of water. Likewise, if you're traveling somewhere with abundant natural beauty and wildlife, the potential for beautiful shots is limitless. Keep reading for practical tips to help you take the best photos possible!

☆ For the best results, take photos outside when the sun is rising or setting to minimize the harsh contrast between dark shadows and light highlights. Just make sure you adjust the aperture, shutter speed and ISO setting on your camera if you are shooting manually.

☆ If shooting at home or in a local park, observe how light hits the area at different times of the day. If you're traveling, familiarize yourself with your surroundings by watching weather reports and examining the area.

☆ Be patient. You can't force the perfect photo to happen when working with nature, just make sure to have your camera ready for when it does actually occur.

☆ If you decide to do close-up shots such as the aforementioned dew drops on a flower, don't make the process overwhelming. Choose a small area, approximately 20x20 feet, and spend some time finding close ups in that space.

☆ If shooting low to the ground, use a beanbag to support your camera. Push the camera into the softness of the bag so it is supported and movement of the camera is minimized.

lavera Sun Block SPF 40 Neutral

Pinky Bean — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:34:00 -0600

As you enjoy your outdoor playtime this summer, make sure your sunscreen is as safe as possible, not just for the earth, but for you as well. lavera makes natural, toxin-free products for both kids and adults.

lavera Sun Block SPF 40 Neutral is completely fragrance free and can not only be used on your body, but is safe to use on your face as well. This sunscreen is ideal for anyone and everyone since it was developed with those suffering from allergies and skin conditions such as eczema in mind. Among the things you won't find on the ingredients list are fragrances, parabens or gluten. What you will discover are organic ingredients such as evening primrose oil and liquorice extract, as well as almond oil, jojoba oil and vitamin E.

The sunscreen is also waterproof so when you do decide to take that dip in the water, you won't have to worry about immediately frying your shoulders and back, a common problem since water reflects the sunlight and can cause you to burn much more quickly. However, despite using waterproof sunblock, you should always remember to apply your sunscreen every few hours as per the instructions on the bottle, and if you're not sure how to properly do so, check out this video tutorial for proper instructions.

A Great Resource for a Greener Car

Leafy Green — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 03:24:00 -0600

I came across a great resource the other day: GreenerCars.org. It's a web site with over 10,000 vehicle ratings and lots of great articles on how to drive green, green automotive technologies and much more. If you're considering buying a new or used vehicle you should definitely visit this site. Hit the jump to check it out for yourself!

Coffins get green and creative

Pinky Bean — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:04:00 -0600

Not only are graveyards going green, now coffins are following suit. CreativeCoffins.com works to ensure that an individual's eco-consciousness and unique personality is reflected in each coffin they create. Or as the company puts it, they try to "provide a green solution for those who want a distinctive and practical funeral."

The coffins are all constructed from Compakta© cartonboard produced from unbleached pulp containing at least 60% recycled paper plus wood pulp sourced from sustainable forests. Natural starch-based glues are used to assemble the coffins as opposed to bolts, screws or tape, while the handles are made from natural woven cotton. Every coffin weighs less than 10 kilograms, making transport a much easier process than that of a traditional coffin.

Even more distinctive are the designs available. Rather than a traditional wood or solid color, these coffins come with a variety of photos or patterns, from dignified and beautiful to quirky or humorous. Many are pre-designed, however the company is also able to accommodate custom orders with a short turnaround time.

Check out CreativeCoffins.com after the jump to see some of their amazing designs!

Cleopatra's Milk Bath by The Organic Pharmacy

Pinky Bean — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:49:00 -0600

Bath time doesn't just have to be for the kids in your home. A bath is one of the best ways to unwind after a long, hard day spent at your computer in the office or pulling weeds in your garden.

For a truly revitalizing experience, add Clepatra's Milk Bath by The Organic Pharmacy to your tub. Rose, jasmine and Ylang Ylang essential oils soothe tired skin and sore muscles, while the exfoliating properties of lactic acid in milk will leave your skin feeling silky smooth. Plus you'll not only have the luxurious scent to make you feel like royalty, but the addition of rose petals floating atop your bathwater as well.

Clepatra's Milk Bath is described as one of the best ways you can bring the spa experience into your own home. It also makes a great gift idea, be it for your sister's birthdady or best friend's bridal shower.

Amazon Lights Garden Candle

Pinky Bean — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:23:00 -0600

On a warm summer evening there's almost nothing more enjoyable than heading out to your deck to unwind after a long day. Unfortunately that's also prime time for pesky mosquitoes to come out and start feasting on your inviting flesh, which of course turns the aforementioned enjoyable time into a frustrating experience of swatting, slapping and scratching.

Avoid this scenario by surrounding your patio with a few Amazon Lights Garden Candles to keep mosquitoes at bay. The all-natural candles contain ten per cent essential oils from Brazilian Andiroba, citronella (a natural mosquito repellent), rosemary and thyme, and are made from 100 per cent palm wax. The candles will last for up to 28 hours. That's a whole lot of sunsets you can enjoy itch-free!

Amazon Lights is a supporter of community trade in the Brazilian Amazon, acquiring the Andiroba oil they use in their products from the Amazon Co-op. You can feel good by knowing when you purchase any Amazon Lights products, you're providing a means of trade for indigenous tribes, allowing the Co-op to promote sanitation, dental care and education programs.

Find out how to order Amazon Lights products after the jump!

Eye Make Up Remover by Green Beaver

Pinky Bean — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 06:18:00 -0600

Eye makeup remover can be a sensitive subject - literally. The skin around the eyes is delicate and if you tend to suffer from allergies or reactions to products, your eyes can be one of the prime spots affected. Even those who don't have overly sensitive skin may notice eye make up remover can sting or irritate their eyes and as much fun as the itching and watering action that ensues (and the resulting redness and bloodshot appearance), finding a natural product would probably be a better option.

Enter Green Beaver with their aloe and vitamin E-infused eye make up remover, which replenishes and soothes the area around your eyes. Natural emollients from the seeds of plants provide the function the product is meant for, and dissolves make-up without irritating skin. Even better, the product isn't just limited to use on the eyes, which means you can use it to remove any other cosmetics and impurities on your face.

Green Beaver is committed to providing personal care products using safe, natural ingredients that you can feel good about using for yourself and your entire family. All products are completely biodegradable, vegan and gluten-free, and also free of paraben or hydantoin preservatives, sulfate detergents, artificial aromas, fragrances or dyes and propylene glycol. Learn more about their pure skincare products for adults and babies after the jump.

SIGG comes to Canada!

Pinky Bean — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:12:00 -0600

Canadians get ready: resusable water bottle maker SIGG is heading north and they're bringing their safe, durable products with them!

Those who follow Ecollo regularly may already be aware of the Bean family love of SIGG bottles. They're non-toxic, free from BPA (also known as bisphenol A), completely recyclable and ouf course, a great alternative to buying plastic water bottles, many of which end up in landfills and are responsible for a whole lot of waste. SIGG recently announced the Swiss-made bottles would officially arrive on the Canadian retail market in an effort to help Canadians continue their commitment of reducing plastic waste.

"Canada is lucky to have some of the best water in the world," says Steve Wasik, CEO, SIGG Switzerland. "SIGG bottles offer Canadians a safe way to take their tap water on the go, while expressing their personality with a range of great bottle designs."

SIGG bottles feature an EcoCare bottle liner that does not contain any volatile organic compouds or leech any chemicals. The bottles are made in an eco-friendly facility and always thoroughly tested and certified to be safe. The company is also a member of 1$ For The Planet, which allows them to donate one per cent of worldwide sales of SIGG products to environmental causes. If that weren't enough to get you lined to to buy your own bottle, just check out the great range of designs, from classic and simple to fun and eclectic. The bottles come in a variety of sizes to accommodate the smallest and largest members of your family.

"Canada is a leading global force behind both environmental and product safety efforts," says Wasik. "SIGG is extremely excited to be launching a subsidiary in this very important market."

The Man Who Fed The World

Pinky Bean — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:26:00 -0600

We already know Penn and Teller wear their "I ♥ Norman Borlaug" t-shirts loudly and proudly ("loud" being the operative word in Penn's case), and now you can learn exactly how Borlaug gained a reputation as one of the greatest people in history.

The Man Who Fed The World is a Borlaug biography written by Leon Hesser, who first met Borlaug in 1966 when Hesser was in charge of increasing America's food supply and Borlaug was in Pakistan, which was facing mass hunger at the time.

While the book describes Borlaug's many accolades (Nobel Peace Prize anyone?), it also discusses the work he did long before any awards came his way, such as the fieldwork he performed in Mexico in the 1940s, when he first developed new strains of disease-resistant wheat. You'll also learn (in detail) what Borlaug did to earn his Nobel Prize (hint: those starving people in Pakistan, as well as India have him to thank for saving them from starvation).

The book gets one heck of an endorsement from Jimmy Carter (hey, we didn't say it was a new book), with a foreword that says:

Norman Borlaug’s scientific achievements have saved hundreds of millions of lives and earned him the distinction as one of the 100 most influential individuals of the 20th century. I commend Leon Hesser for making more people aware of the remarkable life and achievements of this American hero.

And if you're still skeptical about Borlaug and his achievements, ask yourself when was the last time Jimmy Carter had such positive things to say about you. 'Nuff said.

Why Vegetarians Are Winning

Pinky Bean — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:31:00 -0600

Eating organic food and following a vegetarian or vegan diet are both common practices of those trying to live a greener lifestyle. However, just because they're common doesn't necessarily make them the only way to be eco-friendly. According to this article written by Andrew Campbell, half the battle is properly educating people about how agriculture, the farming process and more specifically, how food is produced.

A few weeks ago my fiancée’s cousin from New Zealand came for a visit. Like many other families, a cousin coming half way around the world called for big meals, drinks on the deck, and lots of story telling.

But what made this even more interesting – was the fact this cousin is very vegetarian, all in the name of animal rights. When it comes to eggs and dairy, free-range and organic is the only way to go. And the same organic policy is in effect for most other foods.

Now being the farm kid of the group, you can bet we don’t see eye to eye on a few of these issues. To avoid a family fiasco though, neither of us brought up the subject and kept things as content as we could. However, just being around her, I was able to learn a couple of tough lessons fairly quickly. Lessons that I think each farmer and farm organization needs to realize.

First of all, as farmers, we must realize the consumer is always right. Now in the case of the belief of the mistreatment of animals, of course we know it’s not right – but the consumer believes they are and they prove that by where they spend their dollar. In the case of this cousin, she believes she is right by not buying any meat.

Second. There are more and more people who are getting so far removed from the farm they can’t even say they spent the summer at Grandma and Grandpa’s. This classic line from politicians works for the middle-aged population. It doesn’t work for those just wrapping up their college or university educations who have known nothing else but the suburbs. This is proven by a recent study asking urban-dwellers about agriculture. One of the numbers jumping out at me put 56 percent of respondents believing beef farmers properly fed and watered their animals. Does that mean 44 percent believe they don’t? That’s a real issue of people simply not knowing.

And third, this trend is only going to continue as these young consumers start their own families, sharing their traditions and values of the importance of an organic pine-nut salad versus a thick and juicy steak.

So how do we turn this around?

Hit the jump to read the rest of the article and find out!

Cloning is no longer limited to meat and fictional robot armies

Pinky Bean — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:01:00 -0600

Meiosis and mitosis - if you took high school biology, you might be familiar with these scientific terms. If you didn't take the class or if it's been far too long for you to even begin to recall, here's a refresher:

Meiosis - During meiosis, the pollen and ova of most major crops becomes "genetically shuffled" when a single cell splits into four cells. Each cell carries one-half of the parent cell.

Mitosis - Some plant species reproduce asexually and generate seeds by splitting into two cells with matching genes, of which their offspring are clones.

Why it's important
In a study published Monday in Public Library of Science Biology, French biologists found that this form of reproduction is linked to a gene mutation that stops sex cell division after the first parent cell split. When they added this and two other meiosis-regulating mutations to A. thaliana, the plant produced genetically matched pollen and ova through mitosis rather than meiosis.

What this means
Though this has only been tested on A. thaliana thus far, the next step will be finding out if the process works on other plants, notably staple crops like wheat and corn. This could change the way plants reproduce and mean a whole new way of growing food in the future. Though it's probably safe to assume we're still years away from eating cloned crops, it will be interesting to see if the food that results from these genetically-altered crops faces the same controversy as cloned meat has.

Go-Green.ae launches new online directory

Pinky Bean — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:09:00 -0600

If you're searching for a place to get your fix of all things green, be sure to check out Go Green. The site recently launched an online directory featuring eco-friendly products and services. Business and organizations can showcase their products and services on the site for a small yearly fee, and the site will soon launch an online store where consumers will be able to shop for green products.

Go Green.ae provides green news stories from around the world, demonstrating the steps corporations are taking as part of their commitment to preserving the planet. Several prominent businesses including Panasonic, Toshiba, Discover, Dell, HSBC, Google, Emirates Airlines, Marriott, Nissan and Mazda have green innovations that consumers should be aware of and Go Green wants you to be in the loop regarding what these companies are up to.

The site also offers a Green Heroes section to recognize individuals who have contributed in the fields of renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainability, while the Green Tube page features recent news-worthy videos, and the Green Podcasts section allows you to tune into series', interviews and stories featuring news, tips and advice about living the good, green life. Go Green also provides tips and ideas for thinking, eating, shopping, building and reading green, as well as a section showing kids where they can go to learn more about their eco-footprint. And if you're wondering about the environmental events happening around the world, the Green Events page will clue you in to what's happening on a global scale.

Go Green recently won the Alternate Energy Award at ADIPEC (Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference) in recognition of its contribution to promote environmental awareness. Check it out after the jump!

Going green with the Clean Calgary Association

Pinky Bean — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:43:00 -0600

Knowing where and how to start being green isn't always easy, especially if you aren't familiar with the ways of the eco-world. Fortunately many communities are beginning to recognize the need to assist others in learning how to live in an environmentally-friendly way.

Organizations like the Clean Calgary Association aim to provide resources and education for both individuals and businesse in order to help the city become "world leaders in urban environmental sustainability." Businesses can access information, education, resources and tools that help reform a company's waste diversion tactics and guide a business in reducing its environmental footprint. One-on-one consultations that include a site tour and interview are available, as well as "Lunch and Learn" presentations.

Healthy Homes Calgary is the newest residential service offered by the association, and provides locals with the opportunity for a free home visit to those interested in improving the eco-friendliness of their residence in areas including indoor air quality, energy, water efficiency and waste reduction.

The association also offers several workshops and courses for individuals, schools and businesses on subjects such as composting, VermiComposting, Waste at Work, Getting There Green (transportation) and Green Cleaning. The workshops cost $8 per person. Longer courses include EcoLogic 101, Master Composter and Introduction to Permaculture. The courses are anywhere from six to 25 hours and cost $350, or $150 with a 25-hour volunteer commitment.

Beyond offering education, the association has also created campaigns encouraging people to recycle their cell phones (a free program they offer), say no to junk mail and turn off their engines through the Idle Free Campaign), which launched this past March and individuals, families or groups can participate in.

Those in search of green products such as baby supplies, hemp, books and household items can also pay a visit to the association's EcoStore, located in downtown Calgary and open Tuesday through Saturday every week except the week of Christmas.

Individuals and businesses can become members of the Clean Calgary Association for a small fee and receive member benefits including a 10% discount at the EcoStore, a discount on the workships, as well as a newsletter and access to library materials. The association also relies on the support of volunteers who perform tasks from representing the association at public events, providing administrative assistance, helping out at the store and facilitating composting presentations, among several opportunities.

Visit the official Clean Calgary Association after the jump to learn how you can become involved or to get an idea of how you can start your own similar community group if your area does not already have one!

Coffee drinkers beware, your habit may be destroying the earth

Pinky Bean — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:29:00 -0600

Alright, I'm admittedly one to talk. The Ecollo team members will tell you I sometimes walk into the office carrying a paper cup from my local coffee shop of choice. There's no particularly good reason why; I own reusable mugs (several of them in fact), yet always have some good reason for not carrying one with me. "Uhhh, I forgot it at home" or "Gee, well my bag was really full today and I couldn't possibly fit anything else into it."

Bottom line: there really isn't any excuse for the waste from paper cups to continue and end up in landfills, as the girl in the video below muses. There are so many good reasons to switch to a personal stainless steel mug. 1) It will keep your coffee hotter far longer than that dinky paper cup, which lets face it, offers up lukewarm coffee at best by the time you actually make it into the office. 2) Stainless steel is truly the best reusable option, as we know that hot liquids in polycarbonate plastic cups or containers can leech harmful toxins into our lattes and 3) Many coffee places are encouraging the eco-friendliness of reusing travel mugs and offer a discount if you bring in your own cup (plus you're saving them a few cents too!).

Watch the video below and in the meantime, I'll hang my head in shame and vow to make my addiction a little greener by carrying my reusable mug on a regular basis from now on.

Welcome to the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth

Pinky Bean — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:15:00 -0600

Hang onto your cowboy hats folks! If you're heading to western Canada in July or are looking for a unique family vacation, head to Calgary, Alberta for the annual Calgary Stampede. The 10-day event is hard to describe - think of it as part carnival and part rodeo, but unlike anything you've probably seen before (unless you've been there, of course).

The first Stampede was held in 1912, organized by Guy Weadick, a famous working cowboy and vaudeville entertainer who combined both his passions by participating in traveling wild-west shows that were popular during that time. The land that would eventually become the Stampede grounds was actually bought well before Weadick organized the first Frontier Days and Cowboy Championship Contest (later to be re-named the Calgary Stampede). Originally a 94-acre property was purchased to serve as fair grounds for the city. In 1923, Calgary's annunal Industrial Exhibition was rolled into the Stampede, which became known as the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede (the official name it goes by today).

The Stampede features a rodeo, chuckwagon races, as well as rides, food and games and a big grandstand show each night of the event, that culminates in a big fireworks display.

With average attendance of over 100,000 individuals each day at the parade, many of them out-of-town visitors, Stampede organizers formed an environmental committee in 1996 in an effort to address the carbon footprint of such a big event. The committee was formed with the intent of examining the possibility of recycling and adjusting the operational practices in order to protect the local environment. The park features several recycling centres and uses 100 per cent post-consumer paper products whenver possible. To reduce fuel consumption, the park also utilizes appropriately-sized vehicles based on the job they are required for, and environmentally-friendly fuel is used as well.

Check back later this week for more on what the Calgary Stampede does to protect the environment during the actual 10-day event and throughout the rest of the year. Don't live in Calgary? If there are any community events or festivals in your area, inquire about the environmental efforts in place to help mimize their earthly impact. If there aren't any, make some suggestions of initiatives that could be undertaken. A good place to start: forming an environmental committee, even if it only consists of one or two members!

THIS lighting created from plastic bottles

Pinky Bean — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:19:00 -0600

The sisters behind eco-friendly lighting company "THIS" consider themselves non-discriminatory - in other words, the "found" items they personally gather from local ball parks, public school grounds and parks are saved from being sent to a landfill and used in their projects. All parts of each and every plastic bottle and container finds a home in one of their pieces.

Therefore the lamps they create are not only handmade, each taking approximately 20 hours to complete, they are also completely original. Each lamps contains anywhere from 30 to 55 plastic bottles that are hardened using a unique fusion process that gives the plastic the appearance of glass. To further reinforce the eco-conscious nature of their lamps, they are designed for compact fluorescent bulbs.

Hit the jump to see more or Reta and Vana's work or visit their Etsy store to purchase one of their stunning creations!

Green Father's Day Gift Idea: Kiehl's Energizing Starter Kit

Pinky Bean — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:04:00 -0600

It seems like just last week we were talking about Mother's Day and here we are in June already, less than a week away from celebrating Father's Day. Don't spend the next few days stressing about what to get dad because five days is still plenty of time to find him the perfect gift. Like Kiehl's Energizing Starter Kit, featuring some of their legendary and coveted skincare products.

The Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash uses vitamin E, menthol and caffeine to remove dirt, surface oil and impurities, preparing the skin for a close shave without ever drying it out. Kiehl's Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap features oat bran, oat kernel meal and pumice to exfoliate and cleanse fatigued skin. The Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream - White Eagle is the company's most popular shave cream, and contains menthol and camphor for a close, soothing shave. None of these products are ever tested on animals and they also come packaged in an earth-friendly bag made from 100 per cent EVA and biodegradable material.

The best feature of course is that this is the perfect gift for even the most practical father, since most men shave on at least a semi-regular basis unless they're going for that overgrown, caveman look (in which case this is a great opportunity to introduce dad to some grooming essentials). And it's all eco-friendly of course, leaving one less objectionable aspect for the father who swore up-and-down that all he wanted this year was a card (yeah right!).

An introduction to curbside recycling

Pinky Bean — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:17:00 -0600

Recycling is something you know you probably should be doing it, even if you haven't gotten into the habit yet. Fortunately many communities around the world have gotten the hint that people are a lot more likely to participate in household recycling if the process is made convenient for them.

In an ideal world, we'd all take the time to sort every recyclable item in our homes and drop them off at the appropriate venues. However speaking from personal experience, if it's not a priority, that's not likely to happen. That's one of the biggest benefits of the curbside recycling programs many towns and cities have adopted. Though these programs operate differently depending where they are being run, they eliminate the need to haul many household items to the nearest recycling depot, offering people greater incentive to actually participate.

The Blue Cart recycling program in Calgary, Alberta began this past spring in one quadrant of the city, and has started to expand so that the whole city will be serviced by July 2009.

How it works
Blue carts started being delivered to homes in the city's southwest quadrant in April, the southeast in May, the northwest in June and finally, will be distributed to the northeast later this month. After the final cart is handed out, over 300,000 single family homes will have them. Unfortunately, apartment-dwellers won't have access to the program, however community recycling depots are still running and recyclables can continue to be dropped off there.

The blue carts can hold approximately 240 litres of material, which is estimated to be substantial enough space to contain the average family's weekly recyclable material. Acceptable items should be put in the container. Once per week on a designated day, recyclables will be collected, typically in the same location that you leave your trash for pick-up.

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What can (and can't) be recycled
Newspapers, catalogues, magazines, paper (such as office paper, envelopes and paper bags), cardboard (including toilet paper rolls and cereal boxes), glass jars and bottles, tin food and soda cans, metal lids and caps, aluminum foil, milk containers, juice cartons and tetra packs. Also, plastic containers with the recycling symbols 1-7, plastic bottles from laundry detergent or shampoo, yogurt and margarine containers and plastic bags, plastic wrap and bubble wrap.

All items must be clean of food and other residue and while lids and caps can be recycled as well, they must be removed and placed in the cart separately. Unlike your trash, the materials do not need to be placed in plastic bags, unless you are recycling plastic bags themselves (in which case, bundle them all into one bag and tie the handles) or have shredded paper (which should be placed in a clear plastic bag with the handles tied). Labels can be left on containers.

Items that cannot be recycled through the program include polystyrene foam (such as Styrofoam), items that contain more than one type of plastic, plastics that are not containers (such as pens) and plastics that do not contain any of the 1-7 recycling symbols. Hardcover books, electronics, clothing, shoes disposable drink cups, ceramic, mirrors and household items such as coat hangers and frying pans should not be put in the cart. It might seem obvious, but hazardous materials such as paint cans, lighters, batteries, oil and aerosol cans cannot be put in the carts either, so be sure to find out where you can safely dispose of these in your area

No sorting required
While it was once necessary to sort materials (ie. glass, newspapers, etc) before dropping them off at a recycling depot, many of the curbside programs do not require the items to be sorted.

Obviously not every curbside recycling program will function the same way as Calgary's, so be sure to find out what types of programs your own community offers and how you can participate. If a curbside program isn't available and you think it might be feasible, contact the appropriate members of your community leadership team to request one be started.

Green Father's Day Gift Idea: Hempy's wallets

Pinky Bean — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:38:00 -0600

Contrary to what your father says, duct tape is not meant to repair anything under the sun and that includes the wallet that's falling apart and would be held together on hope alone were in not for the unsightly silver strands holding it together. Time for a new wallet perhaps? There's no better time than Father's Day to give one to the dad who likes a practical gift he can get everyday use out of.

Hempy's is a self-described eco-technology brand that has an entire line of eco-friendly wallets in a variety of styles since as your dad will tell you, not all wallets are created equal. The Mesh Utility Wallet is a great option for the rough-and-tumble father who would live in his favorite fishing spot if only work weren't holding him back. The Tri-fold Corduroy Wallet has several card holders, ideal for the man that takes every single card and membership he owns every single place he goes. And if your father is one of those people who lives in perpetual fear that he may need to write a check at any given time of the day and carries his checkbook around like a lifeline, the Checkbook Wallet will at least allow him to do so in style while also providing space for his change, keys and (gasp!) credit cards, should he ever need to use one in a pinch.

See the rest of Hempy's collection of wallets after the jump.

Buy, sell and research with Green Car Depot

Pinky Bean — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:34:00 -0600

It's no huge surprise that information available on the Internet about green cars is somewhat scattered. After all, alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) are part of an emerging market and up until a few years ago, a green car usually described the paint job on a vehicle as opposed to its eco-friendly characteristics. However with nearly 70 models available and 11 million vehicles on the road, the AFV industry has taken on a life of it's own. Ken Snoke was aware there were gaps in the information about environmentally-conscious vehicles and it was this realization that inspired his idea for a single location online where people could conveniently research, as well as buy and sell green vehicles.

GreenCarDepot.com specializes in alternative fuel vehicles - that is, any vehicle that does not run exclusively on gasoline - and divides them into easy-to-find categories including hybrid, ethanol, biodiesel, electric, hydrogen, and compressed air. This breakdown allows buyers to easily research the type of vehicle they are searching for and if the exact vehicle isn't available at that time, a free email alert will notify the buyer when one is. The site also has sections for industry-related parts and even careers.

Check out GreenCarDepot after the jump.

DIY project: Bicycle window box

Pinky Bean — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 08:08:00 -0600

One can safely assume that if the economy keeps going the way it has and the cost of gas keeps going up (as is the trend during summer months), alternate methods of transportation may have to be utilized. Hauling your bike out of the garage and dusting it off is a cost-effective and eco-friendly option that will allow you to put away those car keys when they aren't absolutely necessary. If you're going to be spending so much time riding your bike during your commute - or maybe you like to ride it for a good workout - there isn't any reason you can't add some personal touches, like say a window box with some of your plants. Think of it as the bike's version of those furry dice hanging from your rear-view mirror.

Or maybe your apartment is quite literally the same size as a cardboard box used to package a new refrigerator and you truly don't have any additional room for a garden (even a square foot one). Either way, this window box is fun, creative and we can pretty much guarantee it's unique (have you ever seen anyone riding a bike with one?).

Follow these introductory instructions and then see the remaining steps after the jump.

Intro: Bicycle Window Box- For the transient gardener.
A window box for the cyclist who is always on the move, or cycle tourist needing nutritious strawberries and beansprouts..
or simply for someone without a garden....or a moron.

Step 1: Tools needed
Saw
Hammer/Axe
Drill
Set Square + pen (optional)

Be green when attending a wedding

Pinky Bean — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 08:08:00 -0600

Do you think it might possibly be wedding season? It seems one can hardly go for a walk in a park or play a round on a golf course without stumbling upon a happy bride and groom posing for photos. Given the time of year there's a good chance you have the upcoming nuptials of a family member or friend to attend. Though many brides and grooms are gravitating toward planning green weddings, there are still measures you can take as an honored guest to reduce the environmental impact of attending the blessed event.

☆ You may be tempted to stray from the couple's registry when gift shopping in favor of finding a unique gift. Just make sure it's something the couple actually needs or will use or else a return or exchange may be necessary. This usually involves more shipping and packaging, or at the very least, a car ride to the store where the gift was purchased. You can generally avoid the hassle by purchasing from the registry since most stores update them every day (thus reducing the chances of duplicate gifts) or finding out if they'll actually use the gift you're buying ahead of time, even if you're pretty certain no one else will be giving the same thing.

☆ If all else fails, buy a gift card. You may be squawking in protest because that doesn't seem like an overly personal, but speaking on behalf of newlyweds everywhere, they are still hugely appreciated. Most registries aren't completed after the wedding and this gives the couple a chance to pick up essentials they still need (who's going to use a duvet if they don't have sheets to put on the bed first?). Gift cards also use minimal packaging and are extremely convenient to pack if you're traveling to the wedding. You can always be creative with the gift card and give one for the couple's favorite restaurant or for an activity they enjoy doing together such as a round of golf and lunch on the course at a location they've never tried before.

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☆ It's safe to assume that this next tip will apply more to our female audience. When that wedding invitation first arrives in the mail, within five minutes the thought of "what on earth am I going to wear?" has likely occurred to you. Consider wearing a dress you already own. Unless the guest list is exactly the same as another event you've worn it to, it's going to be new to the people there anyway. If you can't bear the thought of wearing something you've had for awhile, ask a good friend if you can borrow something from her closet or hit a higher-end secondhand store that specializes in more formal apparel.

☆ Watch the weight of your luggage because the heavier it is, the more fuel it requires. It's estimated that if every individual traveling via air packed 10 pounds less, more than three million tons of emissions would be saved on an annual basis. And for every 50 pounds of baggage, the car it's riding in becomes one per cent less efficient.

☆ Book direct flights whenever possible since takeoffs and landings are especially bad for creating greenhouse gas emissions. If the wedding is close enough, consider taking the scenic route and travel by train. Whether you're from out-of-town or live in the same city, try to carpool. If you know the area, you can offer to pick up other friends or relatives from their hotel or even better, ask if you can tag along in another vehicle and contribute some gas money. If you aren't the designated driver and the couple is having an open bar, you've just struck gold!

Eco-friendly planning site helps travelers stay green

Pinky Bean — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 08:16:00 -0600

Looking to travel green and make new friends while you're at it? The creators of istaygreen.org have provided the best of both worlds with a social networking site that allows you to connect with other like-minded individuals and plan an environmentally-conscious vacation or business trip while you're at it. As our reader Richard Varner pointed out, it's "like Facebook, Trip Advisor and Expedia all wrapped up into one site for the eco-friendly traveler."

Site users can submit reviews of accommodations, car rental agencies and activities and what exactly makes them green, or alternatively, how the vendor could improve their eco-friendliness. The service providers are ranked on their green initiatives making it easier to determine which are worth checking out and the ones you'd be better off skipping over. The site will also be initiating a carbon offset tool in the near future for travelers compelled to offset their adventures, or if they're really ambitious, convince their employer to foot the bill as part of business travel expenses. Several groups have also been established so that users worldwide can connect over their experiences with specific destinations and gain firsthand information from those who have already (literally) traveled the same path.

Those hosting a destination wedding or looking to go on a green adventure for their honeymoon will find all kinds of resources conveniently located to make the planning process easy and convenient.

Learn more about istaygreen.org from their official website after the jump!

Organic Lip Balm by Eco Lips

Pinky Bean — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:17:00 -0600

Keep your lips well-hydrated and protected from the sun this summer with lip balms by Eco Lips. The balms all contain organic ingredients - most are 90 to 99 per cent organic - and good-for-your-pucker moisturizers such as beeswax, vitamin E and sunflower seed oil. The products are also free from gluten, hydrogenated oils, petrolatum and animal cruelty.

For a natural look, try the Pure & Simple Collection with flavors such as Grape, Coconut or Kiwi-Strawberry, and if you prefer a hint of color go for Eco Tints in Rose Quartz, Plush Red or Mocha Velvet.

Those who suffer from extremely dry lips or cold sores will benefit from the line of Premium Lip Care, including Organic Eco Lips Gold (available as a stick or in a jar) with organic jojoba oil and vitamin E, as well as Organic Eco Lips Medicinal, which contains organic tea tree oil and organic lemon balm.

Can't decide on a flavor or a tint? No problem, just pick up the Eco Tint 3 Pack or the Eco Lips Lip Care Kit to sample a variety of the balms.. They're so affordable, why should you limit yourself to just one? Visit Eco Lips online to learn more about their products and to order directly from their website.

Find your local chemical drop-off location

Pinky Bean — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:24:00 -0600

Whether it's an old can of paint leftover from when you freshened up your living room or the used oil from the last oil change you did on your vehicle, there's a pretty good chance you have a few household chemicals lurking around your home. As you continue spring (or summer) cleaning, you may be wondering what to do with these. Here's what not to do: never under any circumstances poor these down a drain, either in your home or the sewage ones found on your street. These chemicals can wreak havoc on the environment - specifically the city's water supply - if not disposed of properly. Their environmental toll also means you should avoid tossing them in the garbage whenever possible.

Instead, inquire about your community's household chemical disposal initiatives. Many offer drop-off programs that allow you to take these chemicals to a designated location, where they will be disposed of in a safe and more eco-friendly way. For example, the City of Calgary offers year-round chemical drop-off depots at several local firestations and landfill sites. Just be sure to inform a staff member at any given site of what is in each container so they can properly sort and store these materials. Additionally, always make sure containers are sealed well and labeled clearly (hint: keep them in the original containers whenever possible).

Calgary's drop-off program accepts several common chemicals including vehicle fluids such as antifreeze, vehicle batteries, gasoline and used motor oil; hobby and healthcare products including propane tanks, mercury thermometers and nail polish and remover; gardening products like fertilizer and weed killer; cleaning solutions such as bleach, ammonia and oven cleaner, and home building and renovation products including alkyd, latex and oil-based paints, lacquers, stains, varnishes and paint thinners.

Unacceptable items include dry cell batteries (ie. the kind you use in your remote control), explosives, ammunition, empty dry paint cans and fluorescent bulbs.

Find out your disposal options for these types of materials in your own area to ensure you aren't doing damage to the environment by disposing of them improperly!

Great product idea: Bags on Board

Pinky Bean — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:48:00 -0600

Spotted in a local pet store recently: Bags on Board for dogs, a small dispenser shaped like a fire hydrant that clips right onto a leash and ensures you'll never again be caught empty-handed when the urge strikes your beloved four-legged friend.

Not only are the bags extremely convenient, they're also biodegradable and the dispenser is refillable. You can buy the refill bags separately or with one of the dispensers. The creators also make a Bags on Board Retractable Leash with a dispenser permanently built right into the leash. The company doesn't just cater to dogs either, they also sell diaper disposal bags for babies and a cat scoop that also has a bag dispenser built into it.

We've only had ours for a week and are already wondering how we lived without it. No, stuffing a plastic grocery bag into our pockets wasn't all that difficult, however our little pal would sometimes feel the call of nature more than once on a walk, occasionally leaving us unprepared and somewhat red-faced. And every time we disposed of one of those bags, there was a twinge of guilt for sending another non-biodegradable product to a landfill. Bags on Board took care of both problems with one great idea!

Visit their official site to learn more about their products and to find the closest retailer to you that carries them.

Would you like more beta carotene with your carrots?

Pinky Bean — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:01:00 -0600

As researchers struggle with the question of how to increase the quantity of food to feed the world in the future, other scientific developments may mean such food has more beneficial properties than before.

Earlier this week, we disocvered Penn & Teller are fans of genetically modified foods, which in the past have typically been developed so that one nutrient of a given GM crop is enhanced. That's old news now, on the heels of recent advancements in the field which now make it possible to increase multiple nutrients in a single given crop. This method of altering food means that people in poor countries could one day have access to foods with higher levels of nutrients they are often deprived of.

For example, some of the test corn plants had increased levels of beta carotene, which can help prevent blindness, as well as significantly more folate (especially important for pregnant women) and ascorbate. Carrots are another significant source of beta carotene and a vegetable that has been altered in the past to provide greater nutritional value, however it was always just one component that was increased - until now, that is. Future test crops could contain higher levels of vitamin E, iron, zinc and calcium, among other nutrients.

Such crops are still a ways off from becoming the standard way of growing food, as they still need to undergo testing to determine if these nutrients are properly metabolized by humans, as well as if the crops can be grown in an environmentally-safe manner. That said, the push to find methods of growing more food with less resources combined with these recent efforts of increasing the nutritional value of food, mean Jeff Simmons is probably right - like it or not, new technology and science are going to play a huge part in the food of our future.

Sustainable home improvement with Cali Bamboo

Pinky Bean — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:32:00 -0600

The concept that spawned Cali Bamboo was simple: Create a business that can make a difference. After traveling together on a year-long surf expedition Jeff Goldberg and Tanner Haigwood started to ponder life pre-climate change and excessive pollution. Their musings led to the creation of Cali Bamboo, a San Diego-based company whose main purpose is to promote the use of bamboo for use in everyday products. That's why they sell only goods that are sustainable and have minimal impact on the environment.

Jeff and Tanner chose bamboo due to its strength, durability and fast regeneration. And now that the warm months of summer are finally upon us, Cali Bamboo's line of bamboo fencing and lumber give you the perfect excuse to redo your deck or finally erect a fence to keep your neighbor's dog away from your compost pile. There is a generous range of wood colors and sizes to choose from and three collections of flooring available, one of which is organic.

Cali Bamboo doesn't stop at sustainable flooring and fences. You can shade your windows with bamboo blinds sold by the company, or cover your new bamboo hardwoods with a bamboo rug (do you think guests will pick up on a sort of running theme?). If you're feeling really adventurous and have always wondered what it would be likely to live a completely eco-friendly lifestyle, pick up some of the palm thatching for a roof and build yourself a bamboo hut to live in.

The company even donates on per cent of its product sales is given to various environmental groups, such as Surfrider and Rainforest Relief. And the best part is, you don't even have to live in California to take advantage of these renewable resources; products can be ordered online at Cali Bamboo's website or by phone, and a quote for your project can be requested.

Visit Cali Bamboo online to learn more about their products and why bamboo is the ideal choice for your next big home improvement project.

Penn & Teller think Norman Borlaug is one of the greatest people in history

Pinky Bean — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:46:00 -0600

You might not have known who Norman Borlaug was until recently (and if you still don't, you can read more about him here), but entertaining magicians Penn & Teller sure do. In fact, they classify him as one of the greatest human beings who ever lived, right up there with Albert Einstein. In fact they're so convinced he's great, they're willing to bet their valuables (rings, watches and so for) on it.

Borlaug was the father of the Green Revolution and responsible for saving billions (that's billions with a "b" at the beginning, as Penn points out) of people from starving to death. In the video below, Penn and Teller explain why Borlaug's work was not just important in the past, but why they think he's got a lot more to say regarding what it will take to feed a growing population in the future (hint: he and Jeff Simmons are on the same page regarding technology's role).

Just a warning before you watch the video: the clip is from the Penn & Teller show Bull S--- and Penn uses terms and phrases of endearment that some may find offensive (an f-bomb makes its way in near the end). In all fairness, the guys do give representatives from the Organic Consumer's Association and Greenpeace, as well as other pro-organic activists a chance to say have their say - not that they agree with them. In fact, according to Penn, if you wake up and have food in the morning, you should be doing a dance of celebration rather than trying to prevent advancements in food development.

Watch the clip to see Penn & Teller give their no-holds barred take on Norman Borlaug and the role of genetic modification in the production of food (P.S. We say Penn & Teller, but as usual, Teller doesn't really have much to say here).

DIY Projects: Rainwater collection system

Pinky Bean — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:03:00 -0600

Did you know the average person wastes approximately 30 gallons of water each and every day? Even if you are making conscientious decisions (ie. shutting off the water while you're brushing your teeth or scrubbing your hands), learning how to offset water usage is useful and beneficial to everyone. Now that rainy season is upon us, forget about your childhood chat of "Rain rain go away" and instead welcome it with open arms - or rather an open rainwater collection system.

Learn how to set up one of your own in the video tutorial below and while you're at it, learning how to do a rain dance may also come in handy.

How To Build A Rainwater Collection System

Bicycle Basics: How to choose a bike

Pinky Bean — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:52:00 -0600

Buying a new bicycle may not seem like it requires quite the same deliberation that comes with purchasing a new car, however as any expert will tell you, not all bikes are created equal. Making a few basic decisions ahead of time such as what you'll primarily be needing the bike for and some of the features you'll require will help you narrow down your choices and keep you from spending a ton of money for features you really don't need or even know how to use. For example, you probably won't need to spend the money on a racing bike if you'll be using yours to commute to and from work most of the time.

Watch the video to learn more of the questions you should be asking yourself before purchasing a new bike. Happy riding!

Buying A Bicycle: How To Choose A Bicycle