(photo: mykeuken.blogspot.ca)

While we have enjoyed some very warm weather it has been fleeting and inconsistent. In fact, just a little while ago we had bright sunshine, cold wicked winds, torrential rains and hail on Mother’s Day. This doesn’t seem like the kind of weather that is conducive to plants thriving outdoors.

What is quite curious is that the farmer’s almanac said that last frost of spring for my area would be in the beginning of May and that is not the case. Traditionally, I plant towards the end of May, but I am not afraid to buy my plants and keep them outside.

I am lucky enough to have a covered area outside so I can shade them, but I don’t know when the ground will be soft enough to till and plant. Some things are already growing as the grass in my yard is green and vibrant, my bulb flowers are starting come up and my lilac bush is ripe with green foliage. Should I take these as good signs when it comes to start planting my organic garden?

Another issue to contend with is that I want to have the pick of the litter, so to speak, at the nurseries and garden centers. I found that last year and the year before when the seeds I started myself failed to thrive in the garden had to be replaced when it was well into June. The plants I was left with were not strong, robust, or even hearty and in the end they didn’t yield much in the way of produce.

Therefore I find myself at a crossroads, I’m afraid to plant or even leave my plants outside because of the weather, but I want to buy them early to get great plants. So, I have to ask what would you do?

At this point I think I’ll have to wait a week or so to see what the weather is like. If the weather looks like it is evening out I guess then, and only then, will I take the next step, which is buying plants. Even if I have to buy the plants and hold them on my veranda for a few days that would be fine, if the weather holds. I’ve not had an issue like this for years, as usually the weather is a little less spastic this time of year.

If you have any organic gardening advice, tips, or tricks, please share. Until next time happy growing.
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

(photo: Absolut)

So far in our sustainable living series we’ve shared with you how to reuse: plastic bags, paper towel rolls, tin foil, old t-shirts, coffee cans, coffee grounds, tennis balls, potatoes, tea bags, ice cube trays, old towels, wine bottles, wine corks, citrus scraps, mascara wands, pop can tabs, baking soda, old pantyhose, plastic bottle lids, mason jars, tissue boxes, bananas and their peels, coffee filters, olive oil, milk jugs, mint tins, shower puffs, lemons, rubber bands, shower caps, silica gel packages, onions, seltzer/soda water, cardboard, bread tags, bread bags, Q-tips/cotton swabs, old bed sheets, safety pins, contact lens cases, plastic cups, maps, chalk, K-cups, nail polish, bobby pins, toothpaste, and old toothbrushes. Today we’ll be adding to this list with 10 new uses for vodka. This list was inspired by the thedailygreen.com. Let’s get started.

1. Clean eyeglasses: Wipe your glasses with a soft cloth soaked in vodka. The vodka will not only clean your glasses, but kill any bacteria on them.

2. Poison ivy treatment: If you pour vodka on the affected areas it helps to wash away the urushiol oil, which causes the itching.

3. Stain remover: dip a clean cloth in vodka and use to blot the stain out, rinse with water and then launder as usual. This will help remove lipstick and grass stains. Be careful and always test any stain remover on your fabric first to ensure it won’t damage the garment.

4. Freshen laundry: if you’re traveling or are unable to wash cloths that are otherwise clean, but smell musty, vodka is the solution. Put vodka in a spray bottle and do an out of the way test patch first on your garment. If you’re fabric isn’t damaged by the vodka, spritz then entire garment with it and it’ll smell fresh it in no time. Also, this is a chemical free version of store bought fabric freshener.

5. Healthy hair: Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo to have healthy and shiny hair.

6. Get rid of shower mold and mildew: fill a spray bottle with cheap vodka and spray onto the affected area, let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub away with an old toothbrush.

7. Get your fixtures shining: to get your chrome, glass and porcelain fixture shining, wipe them with a soft cloth soaked with vodka. It will take a little work on your part, but the shine will be restored to your household fixtures.

8. Preserve flowers: everyone knows to add a teaspoon of sugar to the water you keep cut flowers in. However, to really keep your blooms perky you’ll want to add a few drops of vodka along with the sugar. You should change this mixture out daily, but it will keep your bouquet fresh.

9. Adhesive Remover: If you have a stubborn sticker or price tag on an item, vodka can help remove the problem. Soak a clean cloth in vodka and rub over the sticker; the vodka will help dissolve the adhesive.

10. Insect repellant: Put vodka in a spray bottle and spray on your skin to avoid getting bitten. As with any home remedy do a test patch on your skin first.

This list can be used as a starting point because once you begin to repurpose everyday items you’ll see that your options are virtually endless.
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

Our Meatless Monday recipe tonight is for tasty lentil tacos, which come by way of tasteofhome.com. Let’s get cooking.

(photo: tasteofhome.com)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon canola oil
• 1 cup dried lentils, rinsed
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2-1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup salsa
• 12 taco shells
• 1-1/2 cups shredded lettuce
• 1 cup chopped fresh tomato
• 1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
• 6 tablespoons fat-free sour cream

Directions:

1. In a large nonstick skillet, saute the onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add the lentils, chili powder, cumin and oregano; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until the lentils are tender.

2. Uncover; cook for 6-8 minutes or until mixture is thickened. Mash lentils slightly. Stir in salsa.

3. Spoon about 1/4 cup lentil mixture into each taco shell. Top with lettuce, tomato, cheese and sour cream. Yield: 6 servings.

Our lentil taco recipe will yield six servings. This is an easier Meatless Monday recipe to make during the week as it takes ten minutes to prepare and thirty-five minutes to cook. Also, this reheats well so you can enjoy any leftovers throughout the week.

If you don’t have the spices needed for this recipe on hand you can substitute the spices for a pre-made taco spice packet. Another tip is in place of vegetable broth you can use a vegetarian beef stock to give these tacos a meatier flavor. Know that this recipe works well with hard or soft taco shells so you can enjoy this filling any way you like.

Tacos are an interactive meal and you can serve it with whatever your family enjoys. Taco bar topping ideas include: salsa, shredded lettuce, chopped fresh tomato, fat-free sour cream, grated cheese, jalapeno peppers and any other of your family’s favorite toppings.

To complete this meal you can serve it with some Mexican brown rice. To make Mexican brown rice, simply replace 1/3 of the water from the rice instructions with salsa and cook to box instructions. This is a tasty side dish you’re family will come to love. Enjoy!
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

(photo: spoonful.com)

First, the main element has to be something you’re upcycling. For this craft that would be the paper, as you’re repurposing or upcycling old magazines.

Second, the craft should be made up of items you have on hand. The purpose of this is to save on time, money and resources, and it also reduces the waste associated with crafting. For this craft everything needed is something easily found in your home from magazines and glue, to scissors and paper fasteners.

Third, the craft has a purpose afterwards. As we stated above this is a versatile piece because children can use it for a myriad of purposes like decorating their bedroom door, a gift or even as a refrigerator magnet, but more on that later.

Today’s glossy paper flowers eco-friendly craft for kids comes by way of spoonful.com. Let’s get crafting.

What you’ll need:
• Scissors
• Old magazines
• Glue stick
• Paper fastener

How to make it:

1) To make a bloom, cut two to four flower shapes in various sizes and patterns, as shown. Ours measure 1 1/4 to 5 1/2 inches. Tip: For a symmetrical flower like the ones pictured, trace a circle onto a magazine page and cut it out (we used an old CD as a template). Fold the circle in half several times, as you would a paper snowflake, then cut the folded paper into the desired petal shape, making sure you don’t cut through the pointed tip.

2) Roll a single magazine page into a slim tube for a stem and secure it using a glue stick.

3) Stack the floral shapes and secure them to the top of the stem with a paper fastener. Pinch or fold the edges of the petals to add dimension.

When making this eco-friendly craft you can easily customize it according to what you have at home. If you’re a scrapbooker you might have some interesting paper left over which would be perfect for this craft. Other kinds of paper you could use in place or with the magazine paper could include left over pieces of wrapping paper, construction paper, or computer paper. One more thing you could use as the paper for this craft would be the large front and back panel of ripped or worn gift bags. That’s right if you have gift bags you just can’t use again or even brightly coloured paper shopping bags, cut out the front and back panels and save them for craft time.

As we stated above one use for this eco-friendly craft could be as a refrigerator magnet. If you make a smaller flower you could hot glue and old magnet to the back to jazz up your refrigerator. Also, in place of a bow on a birthday gift this spring, you could use a larger flower.

In the end it’s not about what you make with your kids, but the memories you’ll share for a lifetime. Happy crafting.
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

(photo: people.com)

DiCaprio’s wildlife charity auction brings in $38.8 million. From Reuters: “Actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Christie’s auction house raised $38.8 million through a charity art auction and donations, Christie’s said on Tuesday, with proceeds to benefit environmental and conservation causes. The 33 works in The 11th Hour Auction organized by the star of the new film “The Great Gatsby” sold for $31.74 million on Monday evening and set 13 records for artists including Carol Bove, Joe Bradley, Mark Grotjahn, Raymond Pettibon and Mark Ryden among others. A $5 million matching donation for three of the lots and additional gifts from donors brought the overall total to $38.8 million for The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, according to Christie’s. At the opening of the auction, DiCaprio, who has supported environmental issues through his foundation since 1988 and also produced and narrated the 2007 documentary “The 11th Hour” about the state of the environment, urged the audience to dig deep into their pockets. “Bid as if the fate of the planet depended on us,” he said.” It certainly worked. Kudos to Leo for being such a fantastic advocate for the environment.

Scary News: Carbon Dioxide Level Highest In 3 Million Years. From care2: “It’s official, and it’s scary: on May 9, the daily average concentration of climate-warming carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere passed the milestone level 400 parts per million for the first time in human history. By analyzing fossil air trapped in ancient ice, along with other data, researchers have determined that the last time levels were this high was at least three million years ago, during the Pliocene epoch, long before the evolution of modern humans (that happened in East Africa, about 200,000 years ago). At the Pliocene time the Arctic was ice-free, the Sahara was covered in savannah, and the sea level was over 100 feet higher than it is today. The extreme speed at which CO2 in now rising, perhaps 75 times faster than in pre-industrial times, has never been seen in geological records, and only by striving to reduce global emissions can we avoid the consequences of turning the climate clock back 3 million years.”

Natural disasters forced 32 million people from their homes last year. From the Toronto Star: “More than 32 million people were forced to flee their homes in 2012 because of disasters like floods, storms and earthquakes — almost twice as many as in 2011, says a new report. Most disaster-induced displacement was caused by climate and weather-related disasters, the report by the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre says. More than 98 per cent of the people displaced were in developing countries in Asia and Africa. “Thirty-two million people . . . that is the human cost of climate change,” said Gordon McBean, director of research at Western University’s Centre for Environment and Sustainability in London, Ont. McBean said he isn’t surprised by the staggering numbers. “The impact of climate change isn’t small. That’s what these numbers say.” Wild weather struck all corners of the Earth in 2012. Massive floods in northeast India and most of Nigeria displaced almost 13 million people collectively, 41 per cent of the global total. In the Philippines, almost two million were left homeless by typhoons and floods. In Russia and Spain, floods and forest fires forced people out of their homes.”

Meet Earl, your solar-powered backcountry survival tablet. From Treehugger: “If you need a rough and tough gadget to take with you to the backcountry, you might want an introduction to Earl, an Android-powered, solar-charged, two-way radio enabled, waterproof tablet. Currently in the crowdfunding stage, meet earl has a glove-friendly e-ink touchscreen, mono-crystalline solar cells that can provide a full charge in five hours, and is completely dust-, mud-, shock-, and waterproof (capable of surviving full submersion in 3 feet of water for 30 minutes). The device can handle altitudes up to 40,000 feet, and operates in temperatures ranging from 0-50 °C. This tablet also plots your precise location, direction, and elevation with their GPS chipset and integrated “cutting-edge motion, force and orientation sensors”, and gives users access to some 300,000 trail maps. Earl also features a built-in AM/FM/SW/LW radio tuner for your listening pleasure, and an integrated two-way radio (FRS, GMRS and MURS) will connect users to digital or analog radio frequencies up to 20 miles away, letting them communicate with others in ‘walkie-talkie’ mode. And because this device runs on the Android platform, users have access to thousands of compatible apps, extending functionality even further, and Earl’s open API lends itself to further development and integration with apps and guidebooks.”
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

(photo: frigidaire.ca)

Our first tip might just be the most basic of them all: don’t put uncovered food in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture so they make the compressor in your fridge work harder. By placing leftovers in reusable containers you’re able to cut back on the energy that your refrigerator needs to run properly. Not to mention, that the food will stay better because it won’t dry out.

Secondly, your refrigerator works best when it is full, but not over stuffed. To help your refrigerator work well when it’s not anywhere near capacity place large ceramic or glass pitchers of ice water in it. This may seem counterintuitive, however the cold water works in the same way ice does in a cooler, it aids to insulation of the fridge, and helps to keep everything cold.

Thirdly, vacuum the back of your refrigerator. By pulling out your fridge and vacuuming the back of the unit you can eliminate the dust that builds up on the condenser coils there. By getting rid of the dust, the wasted heat is carried off faster and your refrigerator will run better. This should be done at least once a year. Know that some models have the coils located under the refrigerator so may still want to pull it out to get rid of dust and debris on the floor.

Fourthly, cool hot food before putting them in the refrigerator. If you make a pot of soup or stew let it cool, as much as possible, before putting the containers of leftover or freezer meals away. Putting very hot food into the fridge makes it work harder to cool them down and can breed bacteria in your food. This tip also works for food you want to freeze as well. To help your freezer let your food cool, then place in the refrigerator overnight and then place in the freezer.

Fifthly, be aware of the placement of your refrigerator. If possible move the refrigerator away from your stove, dishwasher, or direct sunlight, as heat near the fridge will make it work even harder to keep it cool.

This proves that you don’t have to replace your refrigerator before it’s time, and can still make it run more sustainably without buying a newer model. By using the tips we shared with you today you’ll be saving energy and that means saving money. In the end, these simple changes can have a positive impact on both your family’s carbon footprint and budget.
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

(photo: blogs.mcgill.ca)

So far in our sustainable living series we’ve shared with you how to reuse: plastic bags, paper towel rolls, tin foil, old t-shirts, coffee cans, coffee grounds, tennis balls, potatoes, tea bags, ice cube trays, old towels, wine bottles, wine corks, citrus scraps, mascara wands, pop can tabs, baking soda, old pantyhose, plastic bottle lids, mason jars, tissue boxes, bananas and their peels, coffee filters, olive oil, milk jugs, mint tins, shower puffs, lemons, rubber bands, shower caps, silica gel packages, cardboard, bread tags, bread bags, Q-tips/cotton swabs, old bed sheets, safety pins, contact lens cases, plastic cups, maps, chalk,  seltzer/soda water, K-cups, nail polish, bobby pins, toothpaste, and old toothbrushes. Today we’ll be adding to this list with 10 surprising uses for onions. This list was inspired by care2.com. Let’s get started.

1. Clean your barbecue grill: if you have half an onion left over and drying out in your refrigerator, use it to clean your grill. Once your grill is turned on, put the onion on the end of a fork and move it back and forth over the grill. Continue rubbing the onion until the grill is clean. Then discard the onion.

2. Insect bite treatment: Rub an onion on inflamed insect bites. Onions are known to have anti-inflammatory effects, so it should help with the itching and swelling.

3. Get the rust off a knife: If you have a knife with a little rust on it slice a raw onion with it. Continue slicing through the onion until the rust has been removed. Then wash and use the knife.

4. Polish metal: Slice an onion and then crush it into a paste. Mix the crushed/paste onion with some water and then rub into your metal with a soft cloth. Continue rubbing until clean. Then wipe the residue away and your metal will be shiny and clean.

5. Sooth burns: This same water and onion mixture you used for your metal polish can be used to help sooth burns and help prevent infections. Reapply as needed.

6. Get rid of the smell of paint or varnish: Place slices of onion in a bowl of water in the room you have painted or vanished in overnight and it will reduce the odor.

7. Saved slightly burned rice: If you want to get the burned taste out of the rice that survived a little neglect, place half an onion on top of it. Let the onion absorb the burnt taste. Discard the onion and serve the rice.

8. Preserve your avocados: Place half a red onion in an air tight container first, skin side up, and then place the avocado and seal. This will help keep the avocados fresh longer.

9. Keep your guacamole fresh: in an airtight container place slices of red onion on top of your guacamole.

10. Cold or sore throat: If you have a cold or sore throat boil slices of onion in water for a few minutes and then drink. This will help ease your symptoms.

Remember that by using an onion you now have a 100% biodegradable option, instead of a store bought cleaning product, and you don’t have to contend with the manufacturing carbon footprint of a bought item.

Know that with any home remedy, though there is some science behind this, it may not work for everyone.

Once you realize you can repurpose something as humble as an onion you’ll see that the sky is the limit when it comes to making the most of what you have.
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

Making a vegetarian dish may seem daunting and one that kids will enjoy may seem impossible, but that’s just not so. Today, we’ll be sharing with you an easy and family friendly Meatless Monday recipe. On the menu for dinner tonight is an asparagus bread pudding, which comes by way of Catherine Newman and family.go.com. Let’s get cooking.

(photo: family.go.com)

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf of French bread, cut into 1 1/2-inch slices
• 1 bunch of asparagus, washed, bottoms snapped off, and cut into
• 1/2-inch pieces
• 5 large eggs
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk (or a mixture of low-fat milk and cream or half and half)
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt (or half as much table salt)
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh tarragon
• 1 tablespoon snipped chives
• 1/2 pound cheese, grated (try Swiss, cheddar, Monterey jack, or a combination)

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 350 and grease a large casserole dish. Place the bread on a large baking sheet and toast for 10 or so minutes, until it is dry to the touch, but not browned.

2. Meanwhile, bring a small pot of salted water to a boil and cook the asparagus pieces for 3 minutes, then drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again. Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and herbs.

3. Arrange the bread slices in the casserole dish, overlapping as little as possible, then arrange the asparagus over the bread, sprinkle with the cheese, and pour the custard over all, pressing down any bread pieces that aren’t submerged. Allow to sit for half an hour or so, so that the bread can absorb the egg mixture–or else refrigerate it, covered, overnight. Bake it in the middle of the oven for 35-45 minutes, until it is puffed and brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Our asparagus bread pudding will serve six. What makes this a perfect weeknight meal is that it only takes fifteen minutes of hands on prep time and then forty-five minutes to cook. Thus, you can have dinner on the table in about an hour with very little effort.

You can introduce this vegetarian recipe as a savory French toast, so it makes new flavors seem more accessible to children. However, you know your family best and can easily tailor the recipe to your family’s taste. This might mean leaving out the tarragon, and using flavors that you’re more familiar with.

If you want to make this even healthier you can choose to use a 100% whole wheat or whole grain bread. Remember that spring asparagus will soon be in season making this an economical choice as well as healthy one. Enjoy!
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

Our crafty Mother’s Day gift comes by way of Canadian Living Magazine. Let’s get started.

(photo: allthingslavender.com)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (250 ml) Epsom salts
• 1 cup (250 ml) sea salt
• 3-5 drops essential oil (your choice — lavender is recommended)
• Zipper-type plastic baggie or tightly-lidded jar
• Food coloring, optional
• Jar

Instructions:

1. In a tightly sealed jar or a zipper-type plastic baggie, combine Epsom salts and sea salt. Shake until well mixed.

2. Add about three drops of essential oil to the mix, seal and shake again. The concentration of essential oils can vary, so test the scent of the bath salts after adding only three drops. If the salts don’t smell strong enough, add more of the scented oil, one drop at a time. The oils are potent, so don’t add too much at once or you might end up with bath salts that smell too strong.

3. If you choose to add colour to your bath salts, use about 10 drops of food colouring. Shake well, or use your hands to thoroughly blend the colour. To use, add liberally to running bath water.

What is perfect about this eco-friendly craft is how you can personalize it with the favorite scent of the recipient. Great essential oil scents include: lavender, rose, lemon and orange blossom. When giving this as a gift you can either gift it in a large reusable freezer bag or in an airtight jar. When it comes to containers you could use a sterilized mason jar, if you have one around the house. You could also go to a dollar or discount store to find fun and cute glass or metal containers and still stay under budget. A lovely way to make the gift more personal is to decorate the jar, even something as simple as tying a ribbon with a little bow on the front will make this look that much better. Most importantly you need label your gift. By using scrap construction paper or even wrapping paper you can make a beautiful boarder for a plain white label. Your label should include the date and what scent you used, so it is easy for the recipient to enjoy.

This is not just a great gift to make for mom, but also for aunts, grandmothers or any special woman in your life. So this Mother’s Day, let someone know you care and that you want to give them a relaxing experience with this thoughtful gift.

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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

(photo: ibm.com)

IBM buys from its own supply of recycled electronics. From Greenbiz.com: “As major electronics companies continue to be accused of planning obsolescence into products, an IBM program focused on making good use of that old e-waste has been thriving. IBM’s Global Asset Recovery Services (GARS) can remanufacture just about any kind of IT equipment, regardless whether IBM made it. Since 1999, GARS has remanufactured and demanufactured nearly 68 million pounds of technology equipment. Last year, the company’s remanufacturing operations processed a quarter-million units of equipment. If you were to stack all the laptops IBM processed in 2012, they would reach 4.2 miles into the sky. Of all the equipment and material that GARS has processed in its demanufacturing centers, over 99 percent was recycled or reused, making IBM a standout in a technology industry where companies have been charged with deliberately undermining the longevity of their products to force users to buy newer models sooner.”

It’s National Pet Week! Here’s how to celebrate. From May 5th to May 11th celebrate with your furry companion during National Pet Week. Treehugger has a number of articles to help you be more eco-friendly when caring for your pet. Check out 21 Natural Home Remedies for Pets; How sustainable is pet food?; and 10 natural and organic pet foods.

Five myths about electric cars. Chris Paine, who wrote this article for the Washington Post is a filmmaker whose documentaries include “Who Killed the Electric Car?”,“Charge” and “Revenge of the Electric Car.” As a long-time driver of electric cars, Paine writes: “The troubles of electric-car-maker Fisker Automotive have fueled another round of debate about whether plug-ins can live up to their promises. The California start-up, which had already halted production and laid off most of its employees, missed a federal loan payment Monday and told a congressional hearing on Wednesday that bankruptcy may be unavoidable. This is likely the end of the road for Fisker. But definitely not for electric cars. Let’s dispel some myths.”

Greenland’s Ice Loss May Slow, But Still Won’t Save Coasts. From Huffington Post: “The flow of Greenland’s glaciers toward the sea may have increased significantly in the past decade, but a new report in Nature finds that rate of increase is unlikely to continue. “The loss of ice has doubled in the past 10 years, but it’s not going to double again,” said lead author Faezeh Nick, a glaciologist at the University Centre in Svalbard, in Longyearbyen, Norway, in an interview. That conclusion, based on a new, sophisticated computer model, makes the worst-case scenario of sea level rise — an increase of 6 feet or so, on average, by 2100 — look less likely to play out. That’s the good news. The bad news is that, in the model at least, the slowdown doesn’t necessarily bring glaciers back to their original, stately rate of flow. And since the heat-trapping gas that has already put into the atmosphere will be there for hundreds of years to come, Greenland will continue to melt indefinitely. The fact that it may not happen quite as fast as the worst-case scenarios might forecast isn’t all that reassuring. Because even if sea level goes up by only half that much, the combination of rising seas and periodic storm surges could devastate coastal areas around the world. Scientists have concluded, based on earlier studies, that the lower figure of about 3 feet is most likely, and while that research didn’t explicitly calculate anticipated sea level rise, it appears consistent with those estimates.”
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !