Greetings!
Some of us plant heirloom tomatoes because we're tired of paying high prices. Others would rather eat spinach from the backyard than ship it in from across the state. Still others simply find a way to get close to nature in suburbia, or to know where their food comes from. Whatever your reason, it's the planting season.
Learn which composter Damon G. uses to keep the peace in his suburban home, what Cris B. loves about worm poop, and why Jenn A. uses fiber instead of peat in her garden.
Make sure to check out how to make your own compost in this week's Green Video of the Week, and read up on all the latest gardening news in our In the News section. |
Featured Product: Garden Gourmet Composter
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 Despite the environmental benefit of compost, piles of garbage in peoples backyards does have the tendency to depress neighborhood property values. Read on to see which composter Damon G. recommends the suburban gardener use to keep both gardens and neighbors happy.
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| Green Gift Guide: Mother's Day
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Your Mom loves you, and she wants your world to be filled with joy. This Mother's Day, get your Mom something she will really appreciate, and helps steward the planet you're inheriting. Check out the SustainLane Green Gift Guide for some ideas. While you're there, you might even find something for yourself!
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Featured Business: Terracycle
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Tom Szaky and Jon Beyer were two Princeton students until they saw the wonders a friend's worm composter worked on his plants. They liked the idea of worms turning waste into fertilizer so much they dropped out of school and started Terracycle, a fertilizer company that does just that. The materials used to package Terracycle's products are all post-consumer, but it's what's inside those old soda bottles that's truly amazing. Tell us why Cris B.Click for Terracycle
5***** for the EcoPreneur!
"I found out about TerraCycle as an environmental activist. I love their
start-up story and want to support them by using their plant food
product. Which is timely, because I just finished up the very last of
my Miracle-Gro. Did you know..." click here to read more
Do you like Terracycle's Worm Poop Products? How about different Terracycle products? Share it in a review at
SustainLane.com!
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| Heirloom Fruits and Vegetables
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One of the joys of gardening is growing food you can't buy at the store. Check out the links below for a few sites to help you shop for heirloom seeds for edibles you didn't even know existed (Black tomatoes? Really?). Amishland Heirloom Seeds sells organic, handgrown seeds for just about any plant under sun sun. Tomatofest: tomato seeds of every shape and size (we really mean EVERY). Most cities have seed exchange events where gardeners go to swap their prized heirlooms. If you can't find one near you, check out iVillage's Garden Web. They have more varieties than you could eat in a lifetime, plus it's barter only, so no money ever changes hands. Do you have a favorite place to get your seeds? Write a review on SustainLane.com and share the wealth! |
Staff Pick: FiberGrow Eco Pots
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Did you know that we harvest more peat for use in gardens every year than a peat bog can generate in 200 years? Read on to see why SustainLane site producer Jenn A. recommends using fiber pots instead. Click for FiberGrow Eco PotsAre you a Green Gardener?
"At the Orchard Hardware & Supply, I noticed that they had "fiber"
pots instead of peat pots. I read the label and was shocked to discover
that peat pots are not at all good for the environment!
The fiber pots I purchased are made out of Coir -- the outer husks of coconuts -- a totally renewable resource. Coconuts grow..." click here to read more
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Gardening in the News
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"How fair is a garden amid
the trials and passions of existence." Benjamin Disraeli
We couldn't have said it better ourselves. Keep reading to see what other people have to say about why it's time to bring back the victory garden.
Science Daily explains all the ways gardens help fight global warming (hint: there are more than you think).
Don't have a backyard? Take some tips from NBC on how to start a community garden in your neighborhood. Check out the most unique gardening method we've ever heard of. Thoughts about these headlines? Email us at community@sustainlane.com and let us know!
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| Forward This Newsletter - Win a Klean Kanteen
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Do you like getting green
product and business information from SustainLane every Wednesday? Think you know
someone else who might like it too?
SustainLane
has partnered with Nubius Organics to reward five lucky
subscribers who pass on this week's newsletter with a limited
edition Earth Day Klean Kanteen.
All you have to do is forward this newsletter to four or more
friends/colleagues/associates and copy spreadtheword@sustainlane.com
on the e-mail (we won't collect your friends' information; it's for
verification purposes only). Then sit back and relax, and see if you're one of
this week's lucky five!
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| Green Video of the Week - How to Use a Composter
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Composting is a great way to keep your food and yard scraps out of the landfill and make free fertilizer at the same time. But how exactly does it work? And how can you do it yourself? Watch this weeks green video to find out.
Have any ideas for next weeks green video of the week? (the topic is "Summer Veggies") Please e-mail us at community@sustainlane.com and let us know!
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| Upcoming Events
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Green Living & Energy Education Expo The
three-day event is dedicated to demonstrating sustainable living through ideas
and technologies that promote renewable energy and promote energy conservation
in the Florida Keys.
May 9 - 11
Florida Keys, FL
keysglee.com
Greener Homes and Gardens Expo
This year's show
features Green Home Building & Remodeling; Sustainable Landscaping &
Gardening; Renewable Energy & Conservation; Alternative Transportation;
speakers, hands-on workshops, food, live
music and more!
May 17 - 18
Portland,
OR
GreenerHomesandGardens.com
Green Festival Chicago
Enjoy more than renowned
authors, leaders and educators; how-to workshops; cutting-edge
films; activities for kids; organic beer and wine; and a unique
marketplace of more than 300 eco-friendly businesses May 17 - 18 Navy Pier, IL greenfestivals.org
Q Jam: An Environmental Sustainability Fair and Music Festival
To educate and inform the citizens of Albuquerque
about the benefits of living green. We have exhibitors ranging from alternative
fuels, to recycling, to green building practices and more. May 24Albuquerque, NM
qjam.com
Green Your Career Workshop
This three-hour honds on workshop for anyone looking to get involved
in the emerging green economy can help prepare you with where to look for jobs
- and how to position yourself to land one. May 27 Berkeley, CA greencareers.wordpress.com
Sustainable Brands '08
Sustainable Brands is where top brand leaders meet to discuss
sustainability as the new frontier for driving revenue growth and
enhancing brand equity. June 2 - 5 Monterey, CA SustainableLifeMedia.comearthNOW expo
A national business to business
conference and expo where retail store owners, vice presidents, managers and
buyers can learn how to develop and implement green practices in their retail
store operations.
June 4-5, 2008
Las Vegas, NV www.earthnowexpo.com
Mayor's Green Fair
An opportunity to learn about local environmental groups and activities while enjoying live music from local bands. June 13, 2008
Ann Arbor, MI
LOHAS 12 ForumA four-day business conference that brings
together leaders from Fortune 500 companies, LOHAS businesses, the
entertainment industry, and celebrities to focus on how to educate, shape and
influence consumer behavior and purchasing decisions while promoting
lifestyles of health and sustainability. June 18 - 21 Boulder, CO LOHAS.comE.C.O. Trade Show
ECO Wholesale Trade Show. Eco is the acronym for environmentally
conscious and organic. ECO's invitation is for exhibitors
from around the world that support sustainable lifestyles. August 24 - 27 Las Vegas NV www.globalecoshow.comGreen Festival DC
Enjoy more than renowned
authors, leaders and educators; how-to workshops; cutting-edge
films; activities for kids; organic beer and wine; and a unique
marketplace of more than 300 eco-friendly businesses Nov 8 - 9 Washington, DC
greenfestivals.orgGreen Festival San Francisco
Enjoy more than renowned
authors, leaders and educators; how-to workshops; cutting-edge
films; activities for kids; organic beer and wine; and a unique
marketplace of more than 300 eco-friendly businesses
Nov 14 - 16 San Francisco, CA
greenfestivals.org
Do you have any upcoming green events that you would like to have posted here? Please e-mail us at community@sustainlane.com and tell us about them.
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