Greeninteractshere

By Sarah Rogers

The organic, all-natural life is becoming a widespread trend amongst the health and environmentally conscious, as there's a move towards food awareness. Documentaries detail the process of food cycles, from a seed's beginning to grocery store shelves. Farmer's markets and health food stores boast pesticide-free, ethically grown products. People want to know what they're putting into their most valuable possession: their bodies.

Planting your own garden is a strong way to combat the damage being done by corporations to both yourself and your world. During Earth Week, treat yourself to gardening tips that will help bring organic living to your backyard - or front yard or porch - in a globally mindful manner.

1. Read up. There are plenty of books, blogs, and articles on this subject. Even a simple Google search will turn up some fascinating reads. "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver follows Kingsolver's year-long journey of radical change towards locally grown food.
2. Go to the experts. Nursery employees are generally knowledgeable on various plants. Pepper them with gardening questions like what's in season or how much to water.
3. Be inspired. Local farmer's markets feature an array of fruits and vegetables. Strike a conversation with a grower and hear their story. Buy locally grown products and taste the difference.
4. Experiment with ingredients. If you're not sure what vegetable or fruits to plant, pick an heirloom plant that you can't buy in stores. Did you know there are pink tomatoes? Cautiously choose where you buy to avoid purchasing a genetically enhanced plant.
5. Plant a recipe. Pick a recipe you enjoy and plant the fresh ingredients for a homegrown flavor. Salsa, for example, can be made from your own tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and/or garlic.

You don't need a particularly green thumb to start making the earth a healthier, cleaner place. A little bit of research sprinkled with passion goes a long way! This Earth Week, take small steps to make your home and life environmentally friendly by planting a garden.

By: Ruben Carreno

Some say that humans are responsible for global warming. But isn't earth always going through changes? And if so, can global warming be completely our fault?

In the past, there were times when the planet was covered in ice. The sun, losing the battle of supremacy over planet Earth, gave way for imposing glaciers to grow, merging continents. Liquid to solid, the earth was seemingly in an everlasting winter.

Then there were periods of time when that ice melted. The sun defeated massive glaciers, whose water flowed to the oceans, raising the sea level. Solid to liquid, the planet changed.

Founded in 1970, the EPA brings global warming and other environmental issues to the forefront in the United States. The World Meteorological Organization does the same, but on an international level. Both organizations agree that global warming does threaten human life. As for global warming being the exclusive fault of humans, that point is up for debate.

Don't get me wrong, I believe that we all have a duty to live a greener lifestyle to help sustain human existence. Also, living in Los Angeles, I know all too well that it is very difficult to achieve a green lifestyle in a big city. Is the only thing that will get people's attention the threat of being fined for their actions?

On a local level, nonprofits and other community groups work hard to get laws into place to force people to recognize that their actions affect the community and the surrounding environment. It takes a conscious effort to separate your trash into piles of compostable, recyclable and waste. Making that effort is just a small part of what one can do to help. The Clean Air Council found that less than one percent of plastic bags are recycled each year. How many plastic bags have you recycled this year?

It's ultimately up to us as individuals to change our habits. Where do you see yourself fitting in the fight for a greener planet?

By: Horacio Rodriguez

I've always had an aversion towards insects. I'd see one on the ground and invariably send it to its grave with a swift stomp from my foot. In particular I'd single out roaches and bees. Stomping roaches seemed pretty obvious. They're disgusting, they're responsible for far too many restaurant closures and with the ability to survive nuclear winter, they'll probably rule the planet someday. They don't need an advocate. No regrets for those tiny lost souls.

As far as bees went, stomping on them seemed like a preemptive strike. A bee trotting around on the ground could silently take flight at any given moment like a pilotless drone and strike without warning, leaving me with a nasty sting. Although I've never been stung by a bee, I'd seen people who cower in fear at the potential trauma from a repeat event. I'd also come across those unfortunate folks allergic to bee stings who would run from a bee with the same fear in their eyes teenagers in slasher movies have while running away from a machete-wielding hockey-masked serial killer. So bees were villains and needed to be squashed.

That all changed when I started reading about their mass disappearance. Bees seemed to be dying off in large numbers on a global scale.

Why are bees so critical to our survival? Because they are responsible for the pollination of thousands of plant species of which a large chunk are staples of the human food supply. Consider how lame your next Super Bowl party would be without salsa (bees pollinate tomatoes!), guacamole (hey bees, thanks for the avocados!) and coffee (I had too much at that Super Bowl party yesterday and I need a cup of strong Joe). Seriously though, if the bees vanished we humans would be in all kinds of "Soylent Green" plus "Hunger Games" trouble with a side of "Matrix" (because machines don't eat).

The USDA issued a report in 2010 and gave the mysterious bee disappearance a name: Colony Collapse Disorder. It's not one thing killing off the bees but a combination that includes viruses, parasites as well as (this is where we humans come in) pollution, urbanization and pesticide overuse. Lots of really smart people around the world are working on fixing the bee permanent vacation problem but in the meantime we all need to do our best to keep their world (which is after all ours too) a little more hospitable.

So bees. We're good. Roaches? Watch your back.

You love your pet and you love the earth, right? So here are five ways to support both, as told by Pucci the pug and Coco the Boston Terrier!

1. Don't use stinky cleaners that sting our eyes! Use natural cleaning products for cleaning up pet and household messes. There are so many eco-friendly products on the market these days that it's easy to skip out on toxic cleaners. Check labels to make sure cleaners are both eco-friendly and pet-safe, then get scrubbing! And we'll try not to throw up on the rug.
2. Spay or neuter your pet. We both got fixed and we feel great! Plus, this prevents adding more homeless/stray pets into the population, or in a shelter where they will likely be put down. That thought just makes us sad.
3. Get creative with recycling for pet toys/beds. You can take an old suitcase and convert it into a dog bed. Or even simpler, an old pillow covered in easy-to-clean fabric makes a comfy perch. Our toys and blankets are constantly getting washed so we can reuse them over and over, plus they smell really fresh!
4. Try making our treats at home. (So far, our mom has not embraced this one, but we think she'd do okay.) There are lots of good pet treat recipes available, just try to skip fillers like corn. Here's a good one we found for veggie dog bones:

Veggie Bones Ingredients:

2-3/4 C. Flour
2 Tbsp. Bran
2 tsp. Baking Powder
3 tsp. Minced Fresh Parsley (good for doggie breath)
1/4 C. Shredded Carrots
1/4 C. Shredded Cheese (your choice--mozzarella, cheddar)
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/2 tsp. Flax Seed (optional)
1/2 C. Water

Veggie Bones Ingredients:

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Mix together parsley, carrots, cheese and oil. Combine the dry ingredients separately from the veggie mixture. Slowly add 1/2 c. water and mix well. Dough should be moist but not wet. Knead for a minute.
Roll out dough to 1/4" thickness. Using cookie cutters of your choice, cut out shapes and place on baking sheet.


Bake 20-30 minutes until biscuits have browned and hardened slightly. They will continue to harden as they cool. Store in an airtight container once thoroughly cooled.


Makes 2 to 3 dozen

5. Pick up our poop! We know it's not the most pleasant task but if you use biodegradable bags, that scooped poop won't clog up a landfill or contaminate the ocean through a sewer drain. For cat owners, consider eco-friendly litters that use newspaper and wheat.

By Jessie Daley

The latest energy-conserving trend surrounds those wall chargers that are sucking the life out of our outlets (and our pockets). Apparently when a charger is left plugged in without a device attached, it still drains energy. These appropriately dubbed "vampire chargers" account for a $3 billion annual loss in the U.S., which seems to me like a ridiculous amount of money to waste on the simple convenience of not having to unplug your charger.

When I learned this factoid I was pretty horrified; here I was leaving my cell phone and laptop chargers in 24/7, carelessly wasting energy day in and day out. The great thing about this problem is that it has an easy fix... just unplug your chargers when you're not using them. Simple enough, right?

I'm ashamed to admit that the convenience of not having to plug in my charger often takes precedence, especially when an outlet's in a hard-to-reach place. I'm a relatively green-conscious person, so I figure that if I'm a victim of this kind of laziness, chances are a lot of other people are too.

Luckily, there's a new product hitting the market to cater to our forgetfulness. GreenZero chargers by Bracketron can tell when a device is fully charged, at which point they automatically stop providing juice to a phone. And the chargers know when your phone is unplugged, too, so no need to flick a switch on a power strip to fight the drain of vampire energy... a small investment for a big saving! If you easily fall victim to the vampire chargers like me, consider finding a product that will let you keep your chargers plugged in, guilt-free.

Watch Jimmy weigh the pro's and con's of Green Week here!

Like any proud homeowner, I love the idea of feathering my nest. Most weekends you'll find me right at home, getting things done. Whether it's cleaning up the yard, building a set of shelves or repairing a hole in the drywall, there's nothing quite as satisfying as getting chores scratched off the honey-do list.

And like any red-blooded homeowner, I've got a garage full of power tools: belt sander, orbital sander, planer, reciprocating saw, circular saw, table saw, mitre saw, bandsaw, cordless drill, corded drill - you get the idea. Each and every one of them has its place, and there's no denying they can help you get more done in less time. But lately I'm taking a new tack: manual tools.

Yes, those high horsepower gadgets are getting a rest once in a while. There's just something elegant about pulling out a mitre box and fine tooth handsaw to finish cutting some molding right inside the house - and not waking up the neighbors' new baby in the process.

Power orbital sander to smooth out that drywall patch? Leave it be. The rhythm and feel of a sanding block in my hand becomes a meditation on smoothness.

A leaf blower? Please. Not only are they now officially illegal in my town, there's something downright wrong with the man who's in such a hurry he can't find time to enjoy raking leaves on a fall afternoon.

You probably know where all this is going. Using less electricity isn't just good for your planet and your pocketbook, it's also good for you.

Harvard Medical School estimated the calories burned for a 185-pound man doing a few routine home improvement activities:

Raking the lawn: 178 calories/hour
Painting: 222 calories/hour
Carpentry: 266 calories/hour
Cleaning rain gutters: 222 calories/hour

Now there are times when a power tool is just the way to go - you've got a big job to do and not enough time; the storms are coming; the kids need help with their science projects. It happens. But here's a bid to slow down, unplug and take care of some of those satisfying home projects the old-school way: by hand. You may find that unplugging gives you a newfound energy.

It used to be that when I imagined eco-friendly, environmentally conscious recycling types I visualized caftans and Birkenstocks. I could almost smell the patchouli. Now, however, I consider myself one of those types and I don't own ANY sensible shoes (trust me). One of the most fashionable ways to "go green" is to shop vintage. I know what you're thinking, "Vintage is a nice word for hand-me-downs from the Good Will." Not true! There are actually a lot of high-end resale boutiques that offer designer clothing at a fraction of the cost. If you live in the Los Angeles area, a great spot is It's A Wrap. They have two locations, one on the Westside and one in Burbank. They specialize in "gently used" production wardrobe. One of the fun parts of shopping there is that they have a code attached to each item that tells you what television show or feature film it is from. I once found a Prada suit from "All My Children" for $200. PRADA! They have everything from men and women's clothes to shoes and even a kid's section. It's also a great spot for killer Halloween costumes. Another great spot for new, used and vintage is Wasteland, which also has several locations in Northern and Southern California. Recently, I was in New York on business, and I stopped into Second Time Around on 7th Avenue. If you watch Bravo (when you are not watching NBC of course), then you've probably seen STA featured on the new show "Fashion Hunters." I picked up an Yves Saint Laurent skirt and a Zac Posen top - both of which still had their original tags on them - for a steal! And of course, you can always shop online to find great designer items that are just waiting to jump from someone else's closet into yours.

The beauty is, by buying previously owned items you are saving them from a landfill, which reduces your carbon footprint. Not to mention, you are saving money. Which means more money for shopping - it's genius! So next time you're looking for a party dress, or some cool shoes, find a consignment or vintage shop near you. You'll probably find a unique item for your wardrobe and earn good green karma at the same time!

Green Week kicks off Sunday, November 13th, and we couldn't be more excited. Our goal over the next week is to inspire you to do what you can to protect and support our Earth. We'll cover everything from green weddings to green shopping (go vintage!) and everything in between. You won't believe the effect even a small change can make on our planet. Don't believe us? Check back here each day this week. We'll do our best to entertain, educate and inspire you. Here's hoping that some of these concepts change your mind during this week and beyond.

It had the makings of a perfect, time-efficient workout: cross-trainers laced up tight, water bottle at the ready, my favorite cardio machine lined up with a ball game on the gym screens. Just one critical decision remained: music. Debating briefly between new alternative or classic rock crank, I settled in on The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street and got set to sweat.