The Green Life

Mr. Green Book Signing

We’ve heard a rumor* that Mr. Green fans from Japan have been swimming to California. Readers from New York started walking last month, and eager environmentalists from Vancouver are biking to the Berkeley. That’s right, Mr. Green (a.k.a. Bob Schildgen) is signing books in Berkeley, California, and the whole world wants to be there! So swim, walk, bike, or take the train to Mrs. Dalloway’s on Thursday, May 15th at 7:30 p.m. to meet our favorite know-it-all.

*Note:  This rumor is purely fictional--readers, please do not attempt a trans-Pacific swim.

Painting the Town Green

Hey, Mr. Green is coming to town! For the lucky folks in San Francisco, Sierra magazine’s resident advice guru, Bob Schildgen, will be signing copies of his new book and doling out green tips at Stacey’s on Thursday, May 1st at 12:30 p.m.

Earth Day and Poetry Month

Social calendar filling up already? You could celebrate Earth Day and National Poetry Month at the same time at Jiyeon Song's One Day Poem Pavilion, a clever low-impact light show. Sunlight passes through holes in the sculpture (pictured above), projecting a different poem according to the season and time of day.

Writing poetry is also a great Earth Day activity for children. Find some kid-friendly songs and poems here, and then help your children submit their own Earth Day poems here.

--Della Watson

Sources:  Academy of American Poets, Monster-Munch, Craft, photo by Jiyeon Song

A World of Options for Earth Day

Still searching for an eco-friendly way to spend Earth Day? We’re not out of suggestions yet.

• Snag a free energy-efficient CFL bulb in Rapid City, South Dakota.
• Eat cookies from a solar oven in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
• Attend an electric car parade in Upper Lake, California.
• Take the Earth Walk Adventure in Marysville, Washington.
• Join the Annual Earth Day Fox River Cleanup in Aurora Illinois. 

Find out more information about these events or search for your local Sierra Club chapter’s celebration here.

Earth Day is April 22, how will you celebrate?

If your calendar is empty, we’ve got a few recommendations: 

Hear composers interpret the poetry of farmer, environmentalist, and Sierra contributor Wendell Berry at New Music New York's Earth Day event.

Paper piling up? Simsbury, Connecticut, will be home to an Earth Day Shred-a-Thon to benefit the Farmington River Watershed Association.

After you’ve donated that used paper to a good cause, replenish the planet by helping the Nature Conservancy plant a billion trees.

Let us know what you're doing, and stay tuned for more suggestions!

Source:  Envirolink

A Fresh Look at Water

Though water covers almost three-fourths of the earth's surface, we can only drink one percent of it. "It's just a tiny sliver on this enormous globe that supports us," says Eleanor Sterling, a museum curator who's made such abstract facts vividly concrete with satellite images of water's global distribution, dioramas of ecosystems that depend on it, and a miniature interactive river that demonstrates water's power. The exhibit, Water: H₂O=Life, runs through the end of May at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Science on Tap

Global warming, stem cells, and invasive species aren't typical fodder for happy-hour chitchat. But "science cafes" bring experts to the corner pub for freewheeling conversations on just such topics. It's like the best college lectures--plus beer and minus the exams. The grassroots phenomenon started in 1998 in the United Kingdom; since then, at least 50 cafes have bloomed in the United States, bridging the gulf between great discoveries and regular Joes and Janes. To find an event in your area, visit sciencecafes.org. --David Ferris

(Illustration by Adam McCauley)

Things To Do This Weekend

Thursday: Enjoy your organic turkey, tofurkey, or other ecofriendly holiday meal while watching the carbon-neutral Lions-Packers game.

Friday: Avoid the hordes--stay home and buy nothing.

Saturday: Tune in to Sierra Club Radio for interviews with columnist Paul Krugman, global-warming leader Fran Pavley, and Cindy Kang of Green Corps, plus a political update from Carl Pope and some tips for heating water efficiently.

Sunday: Veg out. It's good for the environment!

Monday: Check back here for a gander at Sierra's green-gift guide. Yep, it's that time of year again.

Got Something to Say?

Then why don't you just come right out and say it?! On October 15 (that's tomorrow), some 14,000 12,000 bloggers are going to be writing about the environment for their collective audience of more than 12 9 million readers. Sure, we do that every day, but it's going to be great to see what bloggers who usually focus on tech, books, music, or martial arts bring to the conversation. If you've got a blog, add your voice to the mix. We'll round up some of the most interesting entries on Tuesday.

Happy Park(ing) Day!

It was a good reminder on my hurried way to work: "Breathe." The sign, put up by a downtown yoga studio, hung over a small plot of green space where a car would usually park, part of an international effort to celebrate--and advocate for--public space. In the United States, groups from Portland to Providence, Miami to Missoula, are transforming a corner of their towns for the day. If there's a park(ing) space near you, take a break this afternoon and check it out. If not, watch a video of last year's event and get inspired to create your own temporary park next time around.

The Sound of Sustainability

The San Francisco Bay will be rocking this weekend, with 28 electronic and indie-rock bands bringing live music to Treasure Island for the first time in 65 years. Along with good grooves, attendees can expect to absorb a bit of eco-consciousness, as the Treasure Island Music Festival will continue the trend of venues and festivals going green by providing zero-emission buses for transport to and from the island, running generators on mix of biodiesel fuel, printing materials on recycled paper, and donating leftover food to local shelters. Concert-goers will even be able to win prizes for recycling bottles and cups. Now that's got a good ring to it.

Check back next week for an interview with the cofounder of Reverb, a nonprofit that helps bands make their tours more ecofriendly.

Park Parking Only

On September 21, your city may have a little more green space than usual--at least for an hour or two. Sparked by the "art-ivism" of the San Francisco-based group Rebar, people around the world will be turning parking spots into temporary parks to reclaim public space from cars. Here's how to join the fun:

1. Find a vacant parking space and feed the meter.

2. Roll out a tarp and some sod.

3. Add plants, benches, and other amenities.

4. Chat with passersby and tell them about the project.

5. Clean up your site and reuse or recycle all materials.

Illustration by Josef Gast

Greening Man

With 25,000 people camping out in the desert for a week, Burning Man abides by the "leave no trace" principle--efforts organizers are now expanding from the festival's northern Nevada site to the entire planet. For this year's event, tickets are being printed on tree-free paper; the radio station, medical outpost, and other facilities will be run on biodiesel; and a green art theme will see Black Rock Desert decorated with the likes of solar-powered sunflowers and a trash-fueled 80-foot mechanical slug.

See You In September!

If it's been quiet around here lately, it's because I've been getting ready to go on vacation, and won't be posting again until the middle of next month. In the meantime, we'll keep sending out the green daily tip, and look for some material from the new issue of Sierra starting in September.

What's on this weekend:

• Sustainable Table rolls through Lawrence, Kansas; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Iowa City, Iowa, on its Eat Well Guided Tour of America
• Boise, Idaho, celebrates beer and bicycles (two ecofriendly tastes that go great together!) with the New Belgium Brewery's Tour de Fat
• Burning Man participants head out to the Black Rock Desert of Nevada to celebrate community, self-expression, and the environment

And, since I'm feeling guilty about my not-so-ecofriendly travel plans (a dear friend's wedding in Istanbul), which will cancel out most of the benefits of my apartment-dwelling, public-transportation-taking, maniacally-recycling day-to-day life, I leave you with an entertaining new way to confess, discuss, or revel in your own enviro-guilt: True Green Confessions: Because saving the world ain't easy.

On the Air

Tune into Sierra Club Radio on Saturday for the scoop on plug-in hybrid cars and this weekend's big marches to stop global warming, plus some tips from me on remodeling green. For more on that last subject, check out "Remodeling Right" in the July/August issue of Sierra.

Real Readers of Genius

C'mon now, don't be shy. We see the clever tips you submit to our mailing list and we know there have got to be other ReadyMade and Make aficionados out there in Green Life land. So if you've got an eye for the DIY, why not share your brilliant, environmentally friendly ideas with the world? Instructables, Popular Science, and Treehugger are sponsoring a "Go Green" contest and they want to know "how you're reducing your environmental footprint, and hopefully saving some cash in the process! Are you modding your gear, simplifying your life, or building something awesome? Tell us what you're doing to go green, and teach us how." Enter by August 19 for your chance to win a Breezer bike or a Solio solar charger. We'll be rooting for you!

Revel With a Cause

Sure, you're still busy cleaning your grill after yesterday's festivities, but it's time to get ready for the next party! If you don't already have plans to rock out with 2 billion of your closest friends and (world) neighbors on Saturday, well, where you have you been? Tickets for the best (IMO) Live Earth show, at Wembley Stadium in London, are sold out, but that event--featuring performances by the Beastie Boys, the Foo Fighters, and Spinal Tap--and the 24-hour concerts from six other continents (yep, even Antarctica) are being broadcast online and on TV as part of the international effort to provoke action on global warming. Find--or host--a viewing party near you, and tell us, which bands are you most excited to see?

Shop for Pop

Bring a little green into Dad's life with these low-impact, last-minute gift ideas for Father's Day:

• For the busy dad: Surprise him by tackling some of those pesky household chores he's been meaning to get to. Replace incandescent lightbulbs with efficient CFLs or LEDs and let him know how much he'll be saving on his energy bill each month.
• For the dad who loves to travel: Lonely Planet's ecotourism guide, Code Green: Experiences of a Lifetime, is printed on 100 percent recycled paper and chock-full of dream destinations and practical tips.
• For the dad who's always on the go: The Solio portable hybrid solar charger will be a hit. It uses the energy of the sun to recharge cell phones, digital cameras, and MP3 players--and it's available at any REI store.
• For the well-groomed dad: Pick up some Preserve razors from Recycline--the handles are recycled (made from old yogurt cups) and recyclable. Look for these environmentally friendly alternatives to disposable razors at Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats, Trader Joe's, and other natural-foods stores.
• For the 9-to-5 dad: Keep him looking sharp at the office with an organic hemp neck tie. Or spoil him with a new hemp courier bag or work tote. (If it's not going to arrive before Sunday, just make him a card with a picture of the item on order.)
• For the beer-loving dad: Kick back and enjoy an organic brew with your dad, and help him pop it open with a funky Resource Revival bottle opener made from old bike chains.
• For the musical dad: Opt for an iTunes gift certificate instead a CD and take the wrapping paper, plastic packaging, and drive to the store out of the picture while still giving the gift of music.
• For the active dad: If he'd rather be biking, riding, or hiking, or doing anything else outdoors, a Klean Kanteen water bottle is a no-brainer. It's reusable, lightweight, and cased in stainless steel that won't leach chemicals into his water. Or splurge on a pair of Greenscapes Mountain sneakers from Timberland. The recycled-rubber soles, recycled-plastic laces, and hemp body earned a 3.5 on the company's Green Index, a ranking of environmental impact on a scale of 0 (best) to 10 (worst) based on greenhouse-gas emissions, chemicals used, and resources consumed during production
• For the dad with a green thumb: Organic and water-saving garden supplies from Seeds of Change or Home Depot's Eco-Options line are a gift that grows.
• For any dad: Instead of wrapping a bunch of presents, plan to spend an afternoon together: Take Dad hunting or fishing, play a round of golf, or cook him dinner. Or arrange a family outing in nature and take him to the beach or a park. He'll love the quality time with his favorite son or daughter and you'll cut back on waste.

By Emily Meinhardt and Hannah Simon

A Tip a Day...

...keeps global warming at bay. (And other environmental problems too!)

Want to start living a lower-impact, higher-quality lifestyle? Not sure where to begin? Sign up for our new Green Life newsletter and receive an easy tip every day about a small change that can make a big difference. Simple steps like replacing conventional lightbulbs with more efficient ones, keeping your car tires properly inflated, or adjusting your thermostat a degree or two can save you money, reduce waste, and help save the planet. Don't delay, sign up today!

Mom's the Word

Fresh out of green gift ideas for Mom? HGTV picked this cute countertop compost pail as its Mother's Day selection for the "eco-friendly mom." Our suggestions:

• For the foodie mom: Treat her to brunch, lunch, or dinner at a restaurant specializing in seasonal, regional cuisine. Or reciprocate for all those home-cooked meals by whipping up a fresh organic feast yourself.
• For the literary mom: A purse handcrafted from an old book or made out of recycled newspaper.
• For the quirky mom: A bracelet made out of recycled flatware, earrings refashioned from old tin cans, or a necklace with a china-shard charm.
• For the socially-conscious mom: A beautiful bowl, scarf, or picture frame made by artisans in a developing country.
• For the traditional mom: Organic or VerifFlora-certified flowers, of course.
• For the fashionable mom: Elegant fair-trade jewelry that supports women's rights.
• For the meditative mom: Organic-cotton yoga pants or a hemp journal.
• For the outdoorsy mom: Recycled-steel earrings reflecting her favorite active pursuit or sportswear that incorporates recycled fabrics.
• For the indulgent mom: Organic or fair-trade chocolate. (You know she'll share!)

Lights, Camera, (Energy) Action!

Love movies? Looking for something entertaining (and enlightening) to do this weekend? Many Sierra Club chapters and other groups are hosting Energy Film Festivals as part of their Earth Day celebrations--with the cinematic events continuing throughout the year. I've already seen a number of the selections, including The Appalachians, Being Caribou, and Homeland, and they were all fascinating. So grab some popcorn and get ready to get fired up about sustainable energy.

I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas…

Ah, egg-nog lattes at the coffee shop, mariachi-tinged carols blaring out of raspy car speakers on Mission Street...though the signs may be different in every neighborhood, the holidays are clearly upon us. While you're dusting off your decorations, don't forget to pick up some energy-saving LED lights. And before you make your list and check it twice, check out our ecofriendly shopping tips and other green ideas for the holidays. Elsewhere on the web:

"Simplify the holidays" with New American Dream and sign up to get a free "holiday survival tip" in your in-box every day between now and New Year's.

Healthy-home guru Debra Lynn Dadd shares her holiday list and some suggestions for mindful gift-gifting.

NRDC columnist Sheryl Eisenberg reflects on how "less can be more" with holiday gifts.

Salon's humorous holiday shopping guide includes gift-giving ideas for all your "do-gooder" friends.

Grist readers and editors have put together a new list of green gift ideas, but I'm still enjoying last year's version, with its suggestions for everyone from "the angsty teen" to the sports fanatic.

Ideal Bite suggests stylish, sustainable ways to wrap gifts—and organic cocktails to kick back and relax with once all your shopping and decorating is done!

What fun and environmentally friendly ways have you found to celebrate the holidays? Share your tips in the comments section.

Many Shades of Green

The three-day Green Festival in San Francisco was packed to the gills this weekend, with some 30,000 attendees jostling to look at the hundreds of exhibitors' booths (especially if they were dishing out free samples of organic chocolate, yogurt, macaroni and cheese, or, really, anything else to eat).

It was great to see so much excitement about ecofriendly living, and great to see stylish clothing and homewares, clever techie gadgets, and regular Joes and Janes outnumbering the flowing tunics, aura handbooks, and members of the tie-dye set. Not that I don't love the hippie die-hards, but green solutions have to look, feel, and work great before more people will adopt them. As one of the hip vendors I spoke to described her company's internal motto, "Frumpy is not an option."

Take Back Your Time

Feeling frazzled? Overworked? I know I am, and I'm not alone--Americans work longer hours than they did in the 1950s, and a stunning nine weeks per year more than Europeans do. Makes me tired just thinking about it. Toss in our consumer-oriented, car-dependent lifestyle and it's no wonder we're spending more time acquiring things and less time enjoying them. (Hectic schedules have also fueled environmentally unfriendly trends toward driving more, buying more pre-packaged food and other goods, and being less engaged with our communities.)

I'm thinking about this today because October 24 is Take Back Your Time Day, an annual event to raise awareness about the "epidemic of overwork, over-scheduling and time famine that now threatens our health, our families and relationships, our communities and our environment." This year's theme is "Let's Get Back to the Table." So instead of eating on the run tonight, gather with friends or family, savor some good food (locally grown or organic, of course!) and talk about things that matter. It may be just one meal, but it's time to start somewhere.

Have yourself a wastefullittle Christmas...

While I didn't completely manage to buy nothing on the day after Thanksgiving--I did spend money going out to dinner with friends--it wasn't hard for me to steer clear of the "Black Friday" shopping binge. After all, there was sleeping in to do, organic turkey (not to mention all that non-organic wine and pie) to work off at the gym, and honestly, I'd rather spend the day getting my teeth cleaned at the dentist than lining up outside a store in the middle of the night only to get trampled by my fellow shoppers.

Getting through the rest of the holiday season without succumbing to overconsumption will be a bit trickier. No slouches in the trash-making department any time of year, Americans create an extra million tons of garbage each week between Thanksgiving and New Year's. Holiday spirit is a beautiful thing, but when 67 percent of us buy--and wrap--gifts for our pets, it's hard not to conclude that the merchandising mania is a bit out of control. During this season, Americans:

* throw away 38,000 miles of ribbon
* chop down 33 million Christmas trees
* buy 2.65 billion holiday cards
* consume 27 percent more electricity

For tips on minimizing holiday waste (or, as the Center for a New American Dream nicely puts it, having "more joy and less stuff"), check out the Center's online guide to simplifying the holidays.

Welcome!

"The Green Life" was launched in the November/December 2005 issue of Sierra magazine as a place to showcase trendsetting people, cool products, and empowering ideas. Quickly we saw that there was too much happening, too fast, to limit our coverage to a few bimonthly pages, and thus this blog was born.

When we devoted our January/February 2005 issue to the burgeoning green-lifestyle movement, we saw there was a huge interest in earth-friendly options for living well. What we wear, where we live, how we get around, and how we spend our money affects not only our own quality of life, but the quality of our environment. Fortunately, style and sustainability increasingly go hand in hand, reaffirming our belief that the best things in life truly are green.

What's your favorite green product? What ideas have made your life a little easier and the Earth a little happier? Share your rants, raves, tips, and questions with other readers and us.

--Jennifer Hattam, editor