Earthstone,Turtle Bay Exploration Park’s New Outdoor Exhibit: A Massive Sculptural Art Piece

Editor:  The following article is focused on a northern California event but as it combines art, music and the environment, perhaps it’s something you readers will appreciate. Enjoy!

Earthstone – a remarkable newly installed outdoor sculpture by artist Colleen Barry. Photo by Debra Atlas

Outdoor art is nothing new for Redding (California). Just look around at Caldwell Park or in front of the United Methodist Church.

Art can capture our imaginations and inspire us, although we’re often too busy for this to happen. But Turtle Bay Exploration Park is hoping folks around Redding – plus those who visit – will make the time for such worthy important things.

On a very hot Saturday, June 13, Turtle Bay launched its newest outdoor sculpture, Earthstone. Created by well-known Redding artist Colleen Barry, Earthstone sits in a circle with stones around the circle on a hillock, across from the Australian gardens, surrounded by new greenery and young trees, toward the eastern side of the McConnell Arboretum gardens.

How landfill waste inspired a symphony

Landfill waste turned into musical instruments for Recology’s musical artist / composer Nathaniel Stookey

Music is the universal language. It soothes humans and animals alike. Its beauty inspires us, lifts us up. But what inspires composers to write their music?

Perhaps the last answer you’d ever consider would be trash. Yet that’s exactly what inspired composer Nathaniel Stookey to write his symphony, aptly named Junkestra.

Lake Tahoe’s newest attraction – a skateboard ramp on the lake

Along the lines of whacky but fun, Lake Tahoe – known for its beautiful blue waters, tourism, casinos and nature trails – has a new attraction – a floating skateboard ramp.

21 Green Experts Reveal Their Best Tips for a Green Remodel

Editor’s note: The following article is one I had the privilege of contributing to. There are plenty of great suggestions here to help anyone considering going green(er) in their next remodel.

In this post you’ll discover some incredible insights that will help you navigate the overwhelming process many face when remodeling their home with “GREEN” on their minds.

Recology hosts exhibition for artists-in-residence who promote recycling and reuse

Recology’s stunning art exhibit at San Francisco Airport is, alas, long gone. Those of us fortunate enough to have seen it can attest to the remarkable creativity of the artists, turning what had been trash into fascinating and often beautiful works of recycled art.

Tonight and tomorrow (Saturday, January 25th), if you’re going to be in or near San Francisco, you’ll get a chance to meet some Recology’s Artists-in-Residence at an exhibition and reception/ This exhibition is the culmination of four months of work by the artists who have scavenged materials from the dump to make art and promote recycling and reuse.

Eco-innovation on the radio!

I recently was interviewed by Diane Brandon, who hosts an online radio show on BlogTalkRadio. Ms. Brnadon asked some great questions, including what is an eco-innovation and what does the term “green” really encompass.

We discussed a wide variety of green products that I’ve tested and written about and the impact they have for consumers. It’s a delightful and informative program that can be really useful to help expand your knowledge about what really is and isn’t green and how to know the difference.

Click here to listen to the entire interview. Due to technical difficulties (telephone-related), after the introduction you’ll want to fast forward to around 5:45 minutes into it. Skype definitely saved the day!

Enjoy and let me hear from you afterwards!

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.

Putting the green in theme parks

Amusement and theme parks are getting greener these days

As consumers demand for green products increases, businesses of all kinds are jumping on the green bandwagon. So to are theme parks across the U.S. and around the world.

Many modern parks are boasting eco-friendly and sustainable features that can make you feel good about enjoying yourself.

Daily Grommet gives smaller companies visibility

You may not know what a grommet is or even heard of one before. But you’ve seen one. It’s a ring of metal, plastic, or rubber that’s used to reinforce a hole or protect the sharp edges of one. You’ll recognize it as the eyelet on a shoe, or the metal ring at the top of a nice shower curtain.

There’s a different kind of grommet, one that’s helping to redefine online shopping.

US Post Office goes green with new stamps

Always looking for ways to encourage consumers to use snail mail, the USPS has issued some pretty nifty looking green-themed stamps.

These new “forever”stamps feature 16 ideas on how to live a more green lifestyle – ways we can easily help the health 0f the environment. All are pretty much commonsense suggestions like turn the thermostat down, use public transportation and turn off lights when not in use. Take  a look  and see how many of these ideas you already follow. Then see how to add some or all of the rest.

Going green isn’t hard. It’s just about changing old habits. And you can do that, can’t you?