Solar grows up to power elevators and air conditioners

The Mezolift solar elevator

The idea of using solar to power all kinds of devices isn’t a new one. But the opportunity to ride a solar-powered elevator or tie a solar air conditioner to your solar power system is now an exciting reality.

Voluntary recall for Annie’s Pizza

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that Annie’s Inc. has initiated a recall of all varieties of their “Annie’s Homegrown Rising Crust” pizzas.

The 2013 Good Food Awards

Seeding Projects, a self-styled “do tank” that works collaboratively to support the sustainable food movement, recently announced the winners of the third annual Good Food Awards in San Francisco. Our of 1,350 applicants from across the country, representing nine categories of Good Food, including beer, charcuterie (i.e. cooked pork and/or cold meat products), cheese, chocolate, coffee, confections, pickles, preserves and spirits, 114 winners were chosen.

The two-edged sword of banning plastic bags

As more and more communities and countries pass a ban on single use plastic bags – over 50 so far in California alone – high-end small retailers find themselves placed in sometimes awkward positions. Charging top prices for luxury products such as fine jewelry, the thought of adding a 5 or 10 cent fee because a customer doesn’t have a reusable bag for their purchase seems ludicrous.

A view of the North Pacific Garbage Patch

I came across a video about the North Pacific Garbage Patch (vs. the newly discovered gyre in the South Pacific Ocean). I’ve written a number of times about this whirling maelstrom but have rarely seen footage that displayed it like this.

Victoria’s Secret agrees to detox its fashions

Who would have thought that something as simple and as elegant as Victoria’s Secret lingerie could be toxic? But like so much of the rest of the fashion industry, their creations are chock full of hazardous chemicals such as phthalates and other toxic chemicals. However, a news report today says that after “urging” from Greenpeace and its Detox campaign,, Victoria’s Secret’s parent company Limited Brands and the Benetton Group have agreed to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from their supply chains and products by 2020.

Farm Dog Naturals offers safe, cruelty-free pet products

As the proud owner of a newly rescued dog, I’ve been gathering the necessary supplies to help keep my new buddy healthy. While searching one of my favorite green product websites, I came across Farm Dog Naturals, whose products are geared toward helping to reduce trips to the vet naturally.

Farm Dog Naturals’ top quality herbal products are vegan, cruelty-free, nontoxic, biodegradable and can be used in conjunction with each other or individually.

New “garbage patch” discovered in South Pacific ocean

Many are getting familiar with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch or the term “gyre”, referring to areas of our oceans where large amounts of plastic debris lay swirling in ever-growing dimensions. Now a study published in he journal Marine Pollution Bulletin marks the first documentation of a defined ocean garbage patch in the Southern Hemisphere, where little research on marine plastic pollution exists.

EcoScraps – real organic garden products

EcoScraps garden products are made from fruit and veggie waste

Very likely you haven’t thought about feeding your trees since it’s the middle of winter. But now’s the time to start thinking about it.

February is a good time to fertilize your trees, said Pam Eagelston of Gold Leaf Nursery.

“Feeding the soil is as important as fertilizing the tree,” she said. “It feeds the beneficial microorganisms in the soil, improves the texture of the soil and helps dissolve the nutrients to a form that the roots can absorb.”

If you don’t want to use chemicals this year, there’s an effective organic option.

Pod of orcas trapped in ice in northern Quebec

Right now up to eighteen orcas have become trapped within a breathing hole in the sea ice of northern Quebec. So far, the Canadian government has done nothing to help these animals, who could all perish without rapid assistance from humans.