Greetings!
Remember when keeping up with the Joneses meant having a nicer house, a greener lawn and a bigger SUV? Today it seems like one-upping the neighbors calls for an eco-responsible lifestyle with all the bells and whistles. Got a Prius, solar panels and shares in a CSA? You could be a contender.
Or maybe it's time for a reality check. After all, last week we showed you how being green can save you a buck (or two). And while we commend an Earth-friendly trend, it's important to show some restraint on the green toy scene. First rule: don't buy what you don't need. Second rule: when it is time to splurge on the best, SustainLane.com is your guide to the newest, coolest gadgets around.
So find a happy middle ground. Strap on a spiffy shopping bag and set your bicycle's course for the farmers market. Oh, and don't forget your shiny new water bottle. Turning your neighbors green with envy is thirsty-making!
Did you know? SustainLane never accepts payment for business and product reviews. Our features are intended to represent the views of the SustainLane community. |
Featured Product: Pocket Rocket Pro
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 Bike culture has been in full bloom for the past seven years. Some of the credit goes to new cool bikes like the Pocket Rocket Pro. We used to dream of having a fold-up car just like George Jetson. Let us know when the Jetson car comes in a plug-in for under 20k. Until then, we're all over this lightweight cycle that assembles and folds up in just a few minutes. Click for Pocket Rocket Pro
Folding Bikes Rule
  "If you want to go anywhere in the world and take a bike, this is the ultimate. You can get any of these folding bikes with a custom travel suitcase and they assemble and disassemble in under..." Click to read more
- Andrew C.Got a great bike story with a green angle? Blog about it at SustainLane.com!
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Feature: Farmers Markets and CSAs
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 How about a trend that extends beyond the gadget world and helps with the necessities of life? Fruits and veggies from Whole Foods are fancy and all, but people in the know are hooked into the farmers market and CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) action. The proof is in the local pudding: CSA farms have grown 40-fold over the past 18 years (from 50 to about 2,000).
For a few hundred dollars per share, paid before the growing season or in installments, CSA share-holders get whatever produce the fields yield. It's like buying stock. You purchase a share of the business, then wait for your investment to sprout. No more wondering: Where did it come from, how was it treated, and how far did it travel? Not sure where to find one? Search by zipcode.
And don't forget to show off your discerning taste in home-grown quality. Try inviting your neighbors over for a delectable dinner. Not crazy about Mr. and Mrs. Jones? Time your deliveries for the moment they get home. Then stand outside loudly ooh-ing and ahh-ing over your goodies.
Share with your favorite folks. Forward this email or have them sign up for our weekly newsletter.
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Featured Business: Flip And Tumble
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 Now that everyone and their sister has caught on to the idea of carrying their own shopping bags, maybe it's time to up the ante and think about the bag itself. Want to be the coolest green cat in the grocery line? Whip out your Flip And Tumble bag and count the dropping jaws.
What looks like a cute little nylon hackie sack transforms in seconds into a durable, washable shopping sack. Stash half a dozen in your purse or backpack and you'll always be ready for that impromptu grocery run!
Click for Flip And Tumble
Flip'n Awesome
 "I am obsessed with these awesome ball bags. I have a huge problem with reusable bags because I don't want to take two or three reusable shopping bags with me on the bus in the morning in addition to all of the other stuff I carry around on a daily basis. . ." click to read more
- Hilary P.Agree? Disagree? E-mail us at community@sustainlane.com!
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Spotlight: Coolest New Cars
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 The celebrity hybrid-driving craze is still going strong and we give kudos to Hollywood for driving up hybrid sales nationwide. Of course, for some stars it's all about image and publicity. With his fleet of four Priuses, Director Paul Haggis is a prime example of fad-over-function.
But is Prius still the "it" car? With a slew of new hybrid and electric cars set to launch next year, one wonders how long these two can stay in the forefront. Check out a few of the coolest cars entering the market...Click to read more
Add your own blog post here |
Staff Pick: Sigg Thermos
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 SIGG is the stylish choice for anyone who knows metal is the way to go. Sure, Nalgene bottles used to be all the rage, but they're made with BPA, a plastic softener recently outlawed for use in baby bottles due to health concerns. Bad for baby or just plain bad? You decide.
Click for Sigg Thermos
As Good As It Gets
"The Swiss-made Sigg Thermos is as good as it gets. Petite and double-walled, my mini thermos goes with me everywhere. Its streamlined body never leaks, complains or asks "Are we there yet?" Light enough to carry around in a purse, it's a water bottle and thermos in one. The top unscrews to reveal. . . " click to read more - Lulu L.
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Green Gadgets In The News
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The Best Garage Ever
Storing your Tesla in a regular garage is okay. But a solar carport? That's awesome.
That's A Car?
Yep, it's a fuel cell car that bears a striking resemblance to a trash can that fell over with two chairs inside.
An Excuse To Go To Bora Bora
It's a top 10 eco-honeymoon destinations. Need an excuse to get hitched? That's another article.
Samsung's Corniest Phone
This new phone made with corn-derived bioplastics has all the bells and whistles.
Celebrities Go Environmental
Emphasis on the "mental". Except Sting. He's cool.
Ethical Computers
Sony is currently the leader in responsible e-waste disposal. How do other computer companies stack up?
Share the news with your favorite folks. Forward this email or have them sign up for our weekly newsletter. |
Write Reviews and Win
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 What did you think of the cool gadgets and trends in our newsletter? Have any sustainable or healthy living products you think are awesome but that we didn't mention? Get those feelings out where they can benefit others - recommend them to the SustainLane community!
As a little incentive, every review or article written on SustainLane in the next week will count as one ticket in a raffle to win a brand new colored Klean Kanteen donated by Nubius Organics. What are you waiting for? Get reviewing!
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Video: Green With Envy
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 Partial to laughter? Check out Merle Hazard and the boys in this animated country music video about a guy whose girlfriend leaves him for a greener fella. Hoo-boy, that's a heartache alright! Click to view
Comments on this week's video? Please e-mail us at community@sustainlane.com and let us know! |
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Win $100
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Have something to say about your city? Send us a piece of your mind by September 1st and you could win $100. Just click below to see all the official rules and regulations.
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