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Lovely Lokta is naturally died paper made from the Daphne or Lokta bushes that grow in the Himalayan mountains. And it IS lovely . . . but it also is made quite sustainably - no trees were harmed in the production of this paper!

Here’s what makes it so groovy and green:

Lokta paper is handmade and sun dried, so there are no machines or chemicals involved;

The bush grows quickly and actually needs agressive pruning or it would die, but the bush also helps stabalize the soil and protect rural Nepalese villages from mudslides during the monsoon season;

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Lately I’ve been reading Liz Lark’s 1,001 Pearls of Yoga Wisdom ~ Take your Practice Beyond the Mat. In fact, today as I picked up the book for a burst of inspiration I came across this Ralph Waldo Emerson quote:

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment”

And as I was reading this in the morning over tea, blackberries, honey and toast, life became miraculously better with another burst of yogi wisdom in my cup of Yogi Tea with a charming quote on the teabag tag reading:

“The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment.”

Indeed we try! Read the rest of this entry »

As a former publisher of a regional sustainable living magazine and as a perennial editor, writer and content producer, I get a lot of products to review. This is definitely one of my favorite parts of what I do. Not that they are all winners, but honestly most of what I’ve gotten has been truly interesting and largely useful.One of the cleverest new products to hit my doorstep lately is a new concept called ReProduct from a company called C2C, a cradle-to-cradle design company.

Re-Usable greeting cards?

When I first heard about the idea, I mistakenly thought it involved erasable ink and a new envelope. Wrong. I’m not as stupid as I sound, but this was not an easy concept to grasp initially, but now that I’ve seen the cards and read a little more about the process (if you’re anything like me, reading directions isn’t always the first thing I do), I’m pretty excited about the whole thing.

The cards in the pic here were designed by singer/songwriter John Mayer for ReProduct! So, not only is he hot, he’s talented in more ways than just the tunes AND he clearly cares about creating a more sustainable way of being.

Back to the cards and how it works . . . it’s a little like Netflix, and if you love movies and haven’t tried it yet - DO IT!!! The idea of mailing movies back and forth seems cumbersome and awkward or something, but they make it so easy, that once you try it, you are sold.

ReProduct has taken the idea of making re-mailing very simple and easy and applied it to the all-American custom of sending greeting cards. By the way, the cards are beautiful. First of all, the cards are made from healthy, non-toxic materials that minimize chemical waste in the manufacturing process and if folks follow this new concept, they don’t end up in landfills - or at least not for a VERY long time.

Here’s how it works:

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Have you heard of Rescue Remedy?

Well, they say it is Yoga in a Bottle and many a holistic health practitioner will tell you the same. I like the idea of flower essences formulated to rescue someone all tied up in knots. The remedy claims to have “become every woman’s emotional ally for its calming and centering energy and is now relied upon by people around the world to provide unconditional support during demanding times.”

The site graciously offers tips on how to unwind in a bind with what they call: Cool, Calm and Relaxed: Read the rest of this entry »

The work of Byron Katie is brilliant! She has been tagged by the 11th Hour Action network as an expert on their list of gurus. Her mission is to end human (mental) suffering.

Byron has posted a number of talks to her site called The Work which  “is a simple yet powerful process of inquiry that teaches you to identify and question thoughts that cause all the suffering in the world. It’s a way to understand what’s hurting you, and to address your problems with clarity”

The Work begins with a four step worksheet: Read the rest of this entry »

The New York Times reviews eco-beauty in a special feature called Green Goddess! They have gone out of their way to do some “off the grid” style research this season. Now the online mag has decided to offer some great spa finds they call Clean Breaks featuring:

1. The Organic Pharmacy, London
   Offers a wide range of herbal, homeopathic remedies, as well as in-house treatments. Rose Crystal Lymphatic Facial, starts with lavender-infused breathing exercises.
2. Natural Body Spa and Shoppe, Southern and mid-Atlantic states
   At one of the first green chains in America, now you can drop off your old BlackBerry for recycling before enjoying a treatment! Read the rest of this entry »

Lately I’ve noticed there have been questions as to why Madonna has been gracing the cover of green articles this season. The recent Elle article online left me searching for more answers about her new documentary and I soon discovered the reason she is gracing a magazine cover holding up a globe is because Madonna has recently produced and narrated the new film “I Am Because We Are.” This groundbreaking superstar-lead film is a documentary about AIDS orphans in Malawi. The new movie will be screened in its entirety at Cannes 2008. More Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know joining a conservation revolution is as easy as purchasing a Wildlife Works product?

Wildlife Works’ has a visionary company mission to create brilliant sustainable solutions for wildlife conservation enabled by the power of the global purchaser, a term they coined Consumer Powered Conservation.

Why am I in awe of WW? Because their promise to every customer is to use the proceeds of the sales to save endangered and threatened wildlife around the globe. Their dream and guiding principle is to protect wilderness habitats, build schools, create jobs, and bring benefits for those people who share land and resources with wildlife!

In our first location in Kenya, Africa, we created the 80,000-acre Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary, where elephants, cheetahs and 45 other large mammal species now roam freely. In addition, we built and operate our Eco-factory next to the sanctuary, where we employ members of the local community to create some of our products.

Wildlife Works gear is as good for the planet as they are for your soul: “You’re wearing the brand that says you won’t sit quietly by while the last wild things in the last wild places disappear forever.”

Placing a phalaenopsis orchid (shown here) removes toxic xylene from the air which comes from the electrical equipment around you including TVs and computer monitors. UK based Style Wll Save Us (SWSU) has a great book review out on this topic called Eco-friendly Houseplants - 50 Indoor Plants That Purify the Air in Houses and Offices. 

I discovered the peace lily absorbs alcohol, acetone, trichloroethylene, benzene and formaldehyde. The lilies are also known to help reduce allergies. No wonder I’ve seen them as ‘get well soon’ arrangements in hospital gift shops.  Indoor gardening brings oxygen, beauty, and joy and removes toxic icky particles from the air.

So where do these problems in the air start? Well, trichloroethylene is released in printers. Formaldehyde is traced back to gas cookers, upholstery, wood stains, curtains, floor coverings, varnishes and ceiling tiles.  Acetone is in many cosmetics. Benzene is common in carpets, paints, varnishes, adhesives and wallcoverings and alcohol is present in perfumes and mouth wash. The houseplants reviewed purify the air better than any expensive air purifier by absorbing the bad air and sending out oxygen to heal and invigorate.

I was eager to test this fact so I went to look at Read the rest of this entry »

For those of us who hate the thought of slathering on dangerous chemicals like DEET just to enjoy a summer picnic without mosquito bites, there is good news!

Bug Bam has created these fantastic wristbands that resemble “cause” bracelets and are amazingly effective in repelling mosquitoes. All-natural (made with plant oils), DEET-free, and 100% recyclable, these wristbands are waterproof, sweat-proof, and last up to 100 hours.

You can even put them on the chair legs as you sit down to enjoy your outdoor barbeque feast. They have a citron-y fragrance, but you don’t smell like you’ve been dipped in citronella wax. For just a few bucks, Bug Bam can help you can stay safe, stylin’, and most importantly, unbitten. Read the rest of this entry »