Get to Know Your Farmer

Five Farms is a combination of audio stories and photographs produced by Wesley Horner Productions and the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University and distributed by Public Radio International. It shares the stories of five different farming families throughout the country in an effort to connect the food on our tables with the people who worked hard to grow it. Through a series of five one-hour radio documentaries and accompanying photos, you will get to know the individuals in each of these five families - hear about their stories, their struggles, and their triumphs - as they provide others with sustenance. I'm pleased to say that one of the families showcased is a hard-working couple in North Carolina - Eddie and Dorothy Wise from Wise Family Farm near Whitakers. Their farm is home to about 250 hogs raised from brith without hormones or antibiotics and even sold to a local pork processor. Their story is inspiring, as their journey to own their own farm was a long and hard one. Find out more about this amazing family and four others through Five Farms: Stories From American Farm Families.

Healthy Home Tips

If you've kept up with this blog, you already know that we're big fans of the Environmental Working Group and the wealth of information they offer consumers. Last month they began their Healthy Home Tips Series for Parents. You can sign up via e-mail to be alerted of the next installment of the Healthy Home Series, and you don't have to be a parent to benefit from the content. The series is check full of ways that you can ensure your home is as healthy as possible. The latest installment is all about personal care products and how you can be a better label decipherer. Click your way on over to a healthier home for you and your family!

Personalize Your Drink

Sure, your water bottle is BPA-free, but does it represent you as an individual? SIGG bottles now can be designed specifically for you! There are thousands of designs to choose from, but with seven special-edition designs you can actually add your own wording. Just go to Cafe Press to design your SIGG bottle. You can even preview just how it will look clipped to a backpack or sitting on your desk. Now you can cut down on disposable bottles AND be your own unique self while doing it!

Go Green Tube

Haven't you ever wished for an all green YouTube? Well, now you have it! Go Green Tube was launched just a year ago. It hosts videos with information on the environment, green technology, products and services. Find out how you can repurpose your old t-shirt into a sexy little number. Join a New Yorker on his fire escape to see how he's gardening organically in buckets. It's all at Go Green Tube!

Company Practices

You already spend time looking at the products you purchase and how your purchasing behavior can impact the environment, but what about looking at the companies behind the products? Is a green product still green if it's made by an un-green company? Should a company be considered green if it treats the environment well but not its employees? We're getting so philosophical here! Before I start asking about trees falling in the woods, let me urge you to take a look at the Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire. It's a great resource to learn about socially responsible steps that companies are taking. The great thing about it is the wide range of topics that are covered. Not only can you sign up for news on the environment, green building and renewable energy, but also on such topics as diversity, fair trade and socially responsible investing. CSRwire can provide you with a wealth of information on which companies are taking socially responsible actions in today's marketplace.

You've Got the Green Power!

EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that supports organizations purchasing green power options. You can look at their Top Partner Rankings which highlights the annual green power purchases of leading organizations across the U.S. It is updated quarterly, so you can always see which companies are making large-scale efforts to power themselves with alternative energy options. It's interesting to see which companies are listed as well as which companies don't show up on the list. It's a quick way to see who os taking the lead in supporting alternative energy, because hwith so many companies out there making green claims, it's gettin' kinda hectic!

You Mean I'm Supposed to Observe the Speed Limit?

Go to FuelEconomy.gov for their helpful Gas Mileage Tips. Learn how you can drive more efficiently, keep your car in shape, plan and combine trips and choose the most efficient vehicle possible in order to save fule and funds! FuelEconomy.gov is maintained by the US Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the US Environmental Protection Agency. The information on the site helps consumers make informed fuel economy choices when purchasing a new vehicle and helps them achieve the best fuel economy possible from the cars they already own. If you're looking for fuel economy estimates, energy and environmental impact ratings or fuel-saving tips, go to FuelEconomy.gov!