World Wildlife Fund and Tropical Forest Challenge innovators

Tropical rainforest, photo by Debra Atlas

World Wildlife Fund Switzerland has announced the winners of the Tropical Forest Challenge. The World Wildlife Fund helps conserve some of the world’s most important natural places – including the largest tropical rain forests and the most remote areas of our planet – as well as endangered species. The objective of the Tropical Forest Challenge is to discover the most innovative for-profit enterprises from around the world that have a positive impact on tropical forest biodiversity.

Enjoy the deliciously green side of the holidays

The holidays are synonymous with great food, fun get-togethers and even more fun gift giving. Along with favorite family recipes, here are some suggestions that can help spice up the holiday and perhaps give you some new favorites.

Fun and Guilty Pleasures for Mother’s Day

Any Mom would love colorful Joolz Hayworth bracelets!

Amazingly, Mother’s Day is almost here. I’ve come up with some gift suggestions that will definitely say “I celebrate you” this year.

Gaiam – eco-chic dressing for the Holidays

Gaiam's beautiful eco-friendly clothing that lets you look and feel great

With the holidays almost here, there are plenty of details to manage. There’s the food preparation, planning those important friends and family get-togethers and making sure you have all the decorations you need.

Then there’s dressing for the occasion – you want to look and feel great.

5 ways to go Fair Trade for Thanksgiving

Posted by permission this post was written by Alisa Gravitz of Green America

In the spirit of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, it’s important to recognize that making small changes in our purchasing habits can make a profound difference.  (the editor)

When I was kid, my favorite Thanksgiving blessing was the one that ended, “and bless all those whose hands made and grew this food so that we could enjoy this day in celebration of our blessings.” I would picture all the people around the world who had a hand in setting our table.

This Thanksgiving, many will take that same moment to consider all the human connections involved in assembling such a meal. Maybe your cranberries, or potatoes, or turkey came from a farmer you know at your local market, or maybe you traveled to a locally owned pumpkin patch to pick the perfect main ingredient for your pie.

For other ingredients that aren’t so easy to find locally, there are often Fair Trade options that you can choose, to create a world where everyone, everywhere can have a fair deal. The Fair Trade premium associated with these products helps producers build a better life for their families and communities.

Organic Valley’s “Who’s your Farmer” Tour comes to northern California

Organic Valley’s Generation Organic “Who’s Your Farmer” event took place in my hometown in northern California as part of their West Coast bus tour.

The tour was an opportunity for people to learn how their personal choices about food affect their health, the planet and their future.

A unique Halloween event – Reverse Trick-or-Treating

Kids doing Reverse Trick-or-Treating will reach over 100,000 adults this year

Halloween’s a time for ghosts, goblins and the latest cartoon or sci-fi characters. And oh the candy!

This year is the fifth annual Reverse Trick-or-Treating on Halloween. Trick or Treaters around the country will be handing out Fair Trade chocolate to over 100,000 adults who normally would be handing goodies to them.

Green Products for Earth Day (Part 1)

Inspired in 1970 by a U.S. Senator galvanized by a horrific oil spill off California’s coast, a grassroots movement has grown into a global celebration.

April 22nd marks the 41st annual anniversary of Earth Day - a day set aside to celebrate and increase our awareness of what we can do to nurture our planet. What began as a national “teach in” has blossomed into an event filled day that brings people together to learn about progress, issues and technological breakthroughs that are wrapped around the environmental movement.

The Spoonk Acupressure Massage Mat – a healthy healing alternative

Around 80 percent of adults experience some sort of back pain in their lives. Almost 50 percent experience some neck pain.

There are countless remedies to help you get relief – scads of medications including Tylenol and Ibuprofen, chiropractic adjustment and acupuncture, to name a few. All of them are valuable and can make a difference. But there’s another option that’s surprisingly simple and as effective in easing the discomfort.

Green for the new year – fundraising, packaging & schools (Part 1)

Green fundraising, eco-friendly innovative ways to package and ship fragile things and ways to support teachers and schools are important topics.  Here are my top picks.