By Pablo Pereira, KNBC

First of all - I am not a LAWN Expert. Let me repeat that... I am not a LAWN Expert! But for our Going Green segment, we will take a look at alternatives to the traditional green lawns so many of us have come to expect.

Let me start off with a little history. I am not a LAWN expert. Did I say that already? My history with lawns is not a good one. I have struggled with lawnmowers, chemicals and weed eaters all in search of the perfect green lawn for my home. Despite my best efforts my lawns always seem to look different than the neighbors. My first home was not a problem, at least in the beginning. The house was small and the lawn area even smaller. So in most cases, I was able to keep the lawn somewhat green, but with time the problems would arise. Too much water? Too little fertilizer? I haven't a clue. But brown patches would develop. Weeds would take over the lawn and I was no longer sure what I was mowing. My solution was to always water, water, water. Probably too much. Trying to figure out what fertilizer to use was always an issue for me. This one in the spring, that one in the fall and another for the summer - can't forget winter! Those spreaders you worked by hand always seem inefficient... so my solution was always to just grab a handful and toss it everywhere. No wonder my lawns never looked good.

By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com

On Earth Day, I joined over 150 NBCU volunteers to plant trees in Harlem. The Green Is Universal team selected the specific location at Lenox Avenue and Malcolm Boulevard because the neighborhood had a low tree population and a high children's asthma rate. (A few weeks ago, my husband wrote Green Medicine: Solutions to the Children's Asthma Epidemic if you want more information on how trees can lower the incidence of asthma.)

I signed up because I thought planting trees would be fun... I welcomed that chance to get out into the sun (and away from my Blackberry) for a few hours and celebrate Earth Day with my fellow green friends. I pictured us placing small saplings in little holes, cutting a few ribbons and posing for a few photo ops. Let's just say that I learned a lot this Earth Day...

By Steven Leckart, DVICE.com

Welcome to the final installment in DVICE's off-the-grid experiment. Since Earth Week kicked off Monday, I've been blogging from my home office in San Francisco without plugging into the municipal power grid.

Life has been anything but normal, and I'm now officially tallying up the seconds as this week comes to an end (39,600, but who's counting?... oh right, me). To celebrate, I tried cooking low-tech for the first time since I failed to brew a cup of solar joe. Get the smoking-hot details and my reflections on this stressful week after the Continue jump.

By Leslie Goldman, iVillage.com

I have recently come to realize that I am the most horrifying monstrosity of non-eco-chicness to ever walk the face of our ailing earth.

Or the floors of my local gym, anyway.

It started to dawn on me when I found myself tossing plastic cup after plastic cup away during my daily workouts. Considering the fact I live in a near-constant state of dehydration - I hate H20, preferring Diet A&W and Starbucks Americanos instead - I've always been grateful to my health club for the water and ice machines dotted throughout. The span of time between 6 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. is pretty much the only time I actually gulp water with pleasure and abandon, during and after a sweaty StepMill session. But all of my cups, along with my co-members', go straight into the garbage. The non-recyclable kind. I've had it in my mind to say something to the owner of the place but haven't gotten around to it.

By Phil Lempert, iVillage.com

When Kermit first uttered this now famous line, he didn't even imagine the implications for supermarket shopping. But now, as more of us want to do our fair share to protect the planet and ease the impact of products' global footprint by choosing wiser, we need a bit of help to really understand what these labels do (and don't) mean.

USDA Certified Organic - organic foods seem to be everywhere, but did you know there are different designations?

100 percent organic - Organic standards require that the land used to grow organic crops go through a three-year "transition period" to make sure the crops are free of synthetic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. All organic agriculture prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, irradiation, sewage sludge, and growth hormones, and no genetically modified organisms can be contained in anything labeled organic.

If you weren't able to sign-up for greendimes.com service at the NBC Experience Store during Earth Week, you can still sign up for their services at greendimes.com.

$20 seems like a pretty good deal for 5 years worth of mail monitoring, but if you feel like saving all the fun for yourself, here are a few things you can do:

By Anne Chertoff, iVillage.com

If you're looking to do a little more for Mother Earth on your wedding day, and you've already ordered recycled paper invitations and organically and locally grown flowers for your arrangements, here's another item to add to your eco-chic wedding.

Instead of reserving a limo or Rolls Royce for your trip from the church to the reception, put an eco-friendly car on hold. Commonwealth Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation is now offering environmentally friendly hybrid cars to customers in Boston and New York.

By Ginger Zee, NBC - Chicago

When I fondly reflect on college, the cafeteria surely doesn't pop as a positive. But at Loyola University in Chicago, it will be for one group of students changing the world with leftover grease from the café. It's Chicago's own on the cutting edge of bio-fuel technology.

I ran across this story while covering another 'green' event at a new restaurant in the Windy City (The Uncommon Ground). A fully acoustic and dedicated green group of rockers - The Giving Tree Band - were playing as I enjoyed an eco-tini (like s martini - just friendlier - earth-wise). When suddenly a group of seemingly marauding college students rushed the kitchen and said, "We're taking your grease!"

By Jorge D. Bernal, Al Rojo Vivo -Telemundo

Green. Never has this color been in the spotlight like it has been recently. Sure we know the Hulk, the Grinch, the 'special' green M&M's...but now green is more universal than ever, and for good reason.

I must admit that I had never been 'involved' in the planets affairs...Sure I planted my trees on Earth Day like every other school kids, but that was about it. Maybe it was because Mother Nature wasn't doing so bad back then. But boy have things changed.

According to the U.S Census Bureau, the world population is expanding at a mind-boggling rate. It's expected that by 2050, the world's population will reach 9 billion! That's a whole lot of people sharing the few natural resources we have left...definitely affecting the standard of living for our kids and grand kids. So, what can we do? How can we help preserve our clean air, our fuel resources and soil?...nothing major really. It's actually quite simple to be 'green'.

By Kris Sanchez, NBC KNTV

I like wine... from the good stuff to the stuff that comes in a box my roommates and I loved in college, I'm not too picky. I'd like to think I have a decent palate, but I have rarely sent a glass back. That being said, tasting biodynamic wine was a whole new experience for me.

First of all, I thought biodynamic wine sounded like something out of the future, engineered and tweaked in a lab. In a visit to the Bonny Doon Vineyard in Santa Cruz, I found out quite the opposite is true.

As I am expecting my second child, I took my husband Chris along for the tasting along with my 20-month old daughter Isabel. Turns out, founder Randall Grahm's own young daughter was part of the impetus for the sale of his more commercial labels which sold 400,000 cases a year to concentrate on making just 35,000 cases of biodynamic wine he says are better for the body and the environment.

Biodynamic growing is about getting back to old world ways of winemaking, letting the vines extract everything they need from the soil they're planted in and the air around them. Okay, up to this point, I think this sounds like the organic movement. Here's where it gets a little out there.

By Terry Ruggles, WCAU NBC 10 Philadelphia

Like a fog that touches everything "going green" is growing. Once a passion for tree huggers, the environment is now mainstream. You'll find environmentally friendly people from living rooms to corporate boardrooms.

By Nicole Ohebshalom, Radiant Living Wellness

The global food and agriculture system produces 1/3 of humanity's contribution to greenhouse gases. The concern is not just paper or plastic anymore. Consumers are turning their attention to their meals and food shopping experience. These conscious consumers who want to tread lightly are becoming more concerned about their carbon footprint. When choosing food people are shifting from "Will this make me fat?" to "Is it good for the plant?"

By Perri Peltz, WNBC

Does the sight of carbon dioxide spewing from a tail pipe send you into a frenzy? Do 70 degree days in the middle of winter put you into a panic- do you try and avoid air travel because you don't want to expand your ever growing carbon footprint? Or do you worry that your city will one soon become one with the ocean?

If you answered yes to any of these, unscientific, questions, then you may be suffering from the latest neurosis to hit the city streets- it's called Eco Anxiety, and believe it or not its real.

By Susanne Sonderhoff, Marketing Manager, HP Social, Environmental Responsibility

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone in New York and around the country that has come out during Earth Week 2008 to responsibly dispose of their old electronics. While there are many industries that have a very obvious impact on the environment, technology is not typically the first that comes to mind since the production and use of technology products doesn't directly involve carving holes into the earth, felling trees, or using up excessive amounts of water. So why are tech companies taking environmental issues so seriously?

Dear Mr. Green,

To my horror, there is a trend running through my neighborhood. The cutting down of trees! One of the houses is being prepped to sell and yet another neighbor's home had just been sold, when - buzz - there went a beautiful old maple and a few ornamental cherry trees. Mr. Green, I ask you, in this day and age, how can the lack of greenery on a property make it more saleable or appealing and how can I get my neighbors to stop this nonsense?

Signed,
Tree Hugger

By Nicole Walters, GreenisUniversal.com

The kind folks at mokugift.com have even made it easy for you. Just send GreenisUniversal.com an eTree and mokugift will work with Sustainable Harvest International to get a real tree planted.

It only costs a dollar a tree, plus look at how lonely our little bunny is...

By Kevin Hall, DVICE.com

You've been babied by power outlets for far too long -- if you want charged gadgets, then put a little elbow grease into it! The Hand-Crank USB Power Charger will work on most phones (and the rest, with adapters), cameras... anything with a USB port, really. It may just be your best friend on the road, where outlets are nowhere to be found, or sitting in an airport when you need some extra juice in a pinch.

Follow the links and clues through ecofabulous.com and greenisuniversal.com archives to find answers to the daily trivia questions!

Submit your entry and, if correct, you will be eligible to win the prize of the day! Winners will be selected at random from the list of eligible entrants. Submissions for each daily trivia question will end when a new day's clue has been posted. All winners and answers will be posted at the end of Earth Week, April 27th.

Good Luck!

Day 5: Trees and Paper!

By Michael Marano, SCI FI Weekly

1. Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster, aka Gojira tai Hedorâ (1971)

In this demented and very likely LSD-influenced classic, which featured in its English version the insufferably catchy song "Save the Earth!", Hedorâ, a space spore, settles in Tokyo Bay like a kind of invasive algae and starts feeding on the pollution there. Billions of little Hedorâs eating oceanic pollution might sound like a great idea, but the little buggers merge into a series of different, larger forms: a giant sludge tadpole, a kind of humanoid that takes hits off of smokestacks the way Harold and Kumar take hits off of bongs and a stingray-shaped flying thing that mists the city with sulfuric acid and dissolves tens of thousands of people. The big monster also spits out a corrosive, toxic goop like something pulled from a well sunk into Love Canal. It's up to Godzilla to kick some polluted butt in an infamously campy and protracted battle atop Mount Fuji. Noted for playing on a double bill with the also-eco-themed wildlife-run-amok movie Frogs.

By Dan Estabrook, GreenDimes.com

I spent yesterday beginning the process of "greening" the NBC Universal Corporate Mailroom at 30 Rockefeller Plaza by eliminating the company's junk mail. If you don't know about GreenDimes, we are the trusted leaders in eliminating junk mail for consumers. When you purchase our full service reduction service, we also plant 5 trees to help offset the waste even more. You can find out more at www.greendimes.com.

GreenDimes is working with NBC Universal during Earth Week to promote junk mail elimination. If you visit the NBC Experience Store, you will find a kiosk where you can order our service. The windows at Rockefeller Center are decorated with junk mail exhibits and it was amazing to see the GreenDimes logo in the middle of it all. The whole display is eye-catching and very cool.

I arrived to the mailroom to find 17 boxes filled to the brim with junk sent to NBC over three days last week. I expected volumes, but I was shocked to find over 1,000 pounds of junk mail. Over an average week, that works out to just over 2,100 pounds (assuming not so much comes in on weekends). Per day, it equals 300 pounds (as much as the average household receives in one year, based on our data). That's three entire trees!

By Nicole Walters, GreenisUniversal.com

Grab your kids!  Or if you are just a big kid at heart, like me, sit down and prepare to be entertained!



When it comes to music, like most people who are not inclined, I say, I know what I like and what I don't like.  With this song, as soon as the flowers sung "so hot, we're so hot" under the shade of the tree, I knew "like" was not strong enough a word. The next day I was still humming it. So I reached out to one of the co-creators, Harry Garfield, to see if I could put the video on GreenisUniversal.com. Catchy tune aside, the message, after all, is Green and to add to the Universal, Garfield is Executive Vice President of Music for Universal Pictures.

Tires and Milk Jugs and Hemp... Oh My! ECOSNEAKS have arrived.

Shoes are personal. They not only protect your feet to get you to and from, but more importantly they help portray your personal style and at times can make a statement all on their own. I'm not going to lie, I participated in the jelly shoe trend and rocked heels of oh so many inches that at times I questioned my own sanity and love of fashion.

By Dana J. Robinson, NBC Universal

If you don't know what a hex code is, don't sweat it - there are plenty of other ways for you to go green online! There are tons of ways to be proactive about saving the environment conveniently located on the web, which means you don't have to leave the house to participate. (Added bonus: you're also reducing your carbon footprint by not driving anywhere...win/win!)

My Baby Tree - http://www.mybabytree.org
The Indonesian rain forests are disappearing at an alarming rate, thanks to factors such as the country's massive rubber and palm oil industries. According to the site, forest the size of 6 football fields is destroyed illegally. People and animals, both in Borneo and around the world, need these forests in order to thrive. For a small donation, you can pay for a new tree to be planted...but it doesn't end there! You get to watch your tree grow up right before your eyes (and from the comfort of that sofa you're probably still on... ahem!)

By Nicole Walters, GreenisUniversal.com

If you went to grade school with a girl who used oral reports as a forum for environmental issues, chances are you went to grade school with me. Since I can remember, I have been an advocate for the environment. So last year when my project launching hulu ended and the Green Is Universal project came across my desk, I jumped at the opportunity. It seemed a natural progression, no? From hand drawn posters of recycling bins and the ozone layer to digital versions of the same... and this way I get to save paper.

Being an advocate and actually being someone who does things to save the environment are two very different things. Launching a website like GreenisUniversal.com shined a light on all of the things that I wasn't doing, and as my knowledge grew, so did my list of personal commitments.

By Ludi Hernandez, NBC Universal

A lack of water to meet daily needs is a reality for many people around the world and has serious health consequences. Globally, water scarcity already affects four out of every 10 people. The situation is getting worse due to population growth, urbanization and increased domestic and industrial water use.

The nation consumes about 402 billion gallons of water a year. The average North American consumes 170 gallons per day, more than seven times the per capita average in the rest of the world and nearly triple Europe's level. Wow! That's a lot of water!! While we consume more than we should, there are many people, globally, that face the challenge of getting adequate clean water, one of the most valuable resources essential to the environment and our lives.

Knowing this, I feel it is my responsibility to take action to save water! Here are a few things I do to save water at home (it also helps with reducing the water bill).

At home, there are every day appliances that can be water guzzlers! Following some of these easy steps can help reduce the amount of water we waste:

- Replace your Showerhead with an ultra low-flow version, saving up to 2.5 gallons per minute. This item can save you a couple hundreds of dollars on your water bill.

Follow the links and clues through ecofabulous.com and greenisuniversal.com archives to find answers to the daily trivia questions!

Submit your entry and, if correct, you will be eligible to win the prize of the day! Winners will be selected at random from the list of eligible entrants. Submissions for each daily trivia question will end when a new day's clue has been posted. All winners and answers will be posted at the end of Earth Week, April 27th.

Good Luck!

Day 4: Green Your Cleaning

It's Day 4 of the Eco Fact Finder Treasure Hunt! Today's theme is Green Cleaning!

Read the fact and clues to answer the trivia question for a chance to win a set of fantastic, earth-friendly Method cleaning supplies from Spring home store in San Francisco.

By Carl Eckersley, Manager, Personal System Group Product Stewardship

I consider myself very fortunate and I am proud to work for a company that has valued corporate citizenship for over 50 years, caring for the environment and caring for others is part of who we are at HP. Even if your company doesn't have a history of environmental responsibility, it's never too late to get started. There are lots of simple things that any employee at any company can do to help reduce the impact of their workplace on the environment.

To get started, take a look at power use in the office. As an individual, you can ensure your PC always has power management features enabled, which will put it in "sleep" mode after a short period of inactivity. Some PCs, like those from HP, are built with energy-efficient features and ship with power management enabled, so looking for those types of features is always the energy smart choice when purchasing new equipment.

By Susan Ballentine, NBC Universal

The NBC Universal volunteers were ready to roll. All of us boarding the big buses, donning our Green is Universal.com t-shirts, gloves in hand, hats and lots of smiles. The excitement on the bus was contagious - like when we were kids heading out for a school field trip. As we arrived at Griffith Park, the sun was warm and the air was crisp. The folks from the LA Conservation Corps, LA City PRec and Parks, LA City Councilmember Tom LaBonge and our company President, Ron Meyer were happy to see us and we were happy to be there.

By Rob Morrison, Anchor, WNBC


Here we are (Chris, Otis and me) reporting for duty in East Harlem.  We were proud to join about 200 NBCU volunteers and members of the New York Restoration Project to plant trees at the Martin Luther King Jr. Housing Campus.  It's all part of our ongoing Green is Universal "Earth Week."

We didn't mean to strike this Three Stooges looking pose, but we needed to fill out some forms and there was very limited table space, so...

Rob Morrison
Anchor, WNBC

By Sheryl Hausman, NBC Universal

Getting up at the ungodly hour of 5am the morning of April 22nd is not my usual routine but for the day's activities, it was definitely worth it. I was going to be planting trees in East Harlem through NBC Volunteers to beautify the area and help reduce the rate of childhood asthma in that part of New York City.

By Nada J. Ruddock, NBC 5/KXAS-TV

We had 74 volunteers work the Earth Day Going Green NBCU/GE Volunteers event. Employees came from NBCU Volunteers as well as GE Volunteers, Groundwork Dallas, and the Jubilee Park neighborhood.

By Paul J. Gough, HollywoodReporter.com

NBC Universal's push toward green business is sweeping over its newsgathering operation.

During Monday morning's "Today" show, the network is scheduled to take the wraps off what it calls the "mean green streaming machine," a hybrid SUV that leaves less of a footprint as it collects and transmits news from the road.

The white and green Ford Escape hybrid uses not only electric and gasoline power but also solar panels and wind turbines to recharge the batteries for its electronics gear.

By Scott Rankin, VP of Technology Merchandising, Staples

Staples/HP Earth Week Campaign Has Recycled 6,000 Pounds of Technology Waste (& Counting)

To celebrate Earth Week, Staples & HP have teamed up to give New Yorkers the chance to recycle their outdated electronics for free. The campaign, which kicked off on The Today Show on Mon. April 21, lets anyone drop off their electronics for free recycling at Rockefeller Center Plaza and at Staples 76 stores in the five boroughs and Long Island from April 21-25th.

So far, the campaign has collected 6,000 pounds of electronic waste - including computers, monitors, cell phones and other electronics. By responsibly recycling this waste, we're keeping it out of landfills where it can pollute our air, water and soil.

By Andrea Strong, Top Chef

This week at NBC we're celebrating everything Green, going an extra mile to try help fight the Global Climate Crisis. Eating vegetarian dovetails nicely with this mission. Thankfully, going vegetarian doesn't mean just bowls of sprouts and tofu anymore. New York City is home to some fairly sophisticated vegetarian restaurants that also happen to support local farmers and agriculture, which helps minimize the size of that carbon footprint caused by transporting out-of-season foods from places like California and South America to New York City.

While I am not a vegetarian, my brother and future brother-in-law are (they're both actually vegan), so I am no stranger to the issue of being an omnivore in a veggie-vore world. But honestly, these restaurants are so good, I frequent them even without my vegan crew in tow. Check them out and let me know your favorite Vegetarian restaurants too.

By Kim Jack-Riley, Petside.com

Depending on where you live, Spring means something different to people all over the globe. But no matter what your climate or geographic region, it's generally agreed on that it's a season for new birth and fresh air... or, well how fresh exactly is it? Mosquito repellents, BBQ smoke and pollen mixed with pollution, all add to breathing difficulties... even for your pet.

Over at petside.com we've got a unique take on Earth Week and celebrating Spring with your pet. There are some happy thoughts that come to mind, like bunnies and robin's eggs... there's nothing my Sheltie loves more than sniffing around in a field of daffodils. Check out some pet-friendly ideas for enjoying spring with your pet here.

Follow the links and clues through ecofabulous.com and greenisuniversal.com archives to find answers to the daily trivia questions!

Submit your entry and you will be eligible to win the prize of the day if your answer is correct! Winners will be selected at random from the list of eligible entrants. Submissions for each daily trivia question will end when a new day's clue has been posted. All winners and answers will be posted at the end of Earth Week, April 27th.

Good Luck!

Day 3: Candles

It's Day 3 of the Eco Fact Finder Treasure Hunt! Today's theme is candles.

Read the fact and clues to answer the trivia question for a chance to win a gorgeous set of clean burning Kobo Candles Spring Home Store in San Francisco.

Dear Mr. Green,

I'm committed to being green and I want to create my own compost pile this year. Problem is, I don't like messes and a whole bunch of rotting garbage and worms seems like a big one to me. Any ideas on how I can contain the mess to a small area with out being unsightly or smelly?

Signed,
Clean Cut

So Green Wednesday, the day after Earth Day, is here. Today is a day when consumers can vote Green with their dollars and reward those companies who offer eco-friendly products. I've been saving up my greenbacks and researching my Green Wednesday purchases for weeks. It hasn't been easy to think of new green things we can do since our lifestyle is already very green, but I'm ready to start exercising my purchasing power!

My environmental commitment is focused in three areas: "good for me" green, "good for my family" green and "good for the planet" green. Here's where I'm putting my money today:

By Ryan Hanrahan, NBC Hartford

Jeff Bradley knows what it means to "go green." Several months ago I toured his unusual 10,000 square foot workspace in Clinton, CT to get a glimpse at how he works to preserve the past and preserve future.

Bradley is an exceptionally talented woodworker who has merged his love for woodworking with his strong belief in preservation. His company, New England Outbuildings, works tirelessly to rescue antique barns that are slated for demolition. Piece by piece, he takes apart barns that have dotted the landscape of rural New England for the past few centuries. After bringing the salvaged lumber back to his warehouse he begins the painstaking task of reassembling it by hand.

By Lesley Chilcott, Unscrewamerica.org

When I walk through any store, a little mantra repeats in my head. "Every dollar is a vote... Every dollar is a vote." Sometimes I hear "Waste equals food" as Bill McDonough says but most of the time it's just, "Every dollar is a vote." Now back in 1970 when Earth Day started I think people were thinking more along the lines of use less, rather than buy more, but let's face it, we DO need to buy things. And when we buy, we need to do so more responsibly. So after you've saved energy all day buy using natural light but you find you actually DO need a bedside table lamp, consider what you put in that lamp. In February we launched a little non-profit called Unscrew America. Basically, unscrew your regular energy-wasting light bulbs and screw in more energy-efficient ones like CFLs and LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). We did this because of radical facts like this one; Switching to LEDs could reduce U.S. energy consumption by 10%. That's a rather astounding fact. Memorize it. We also need people to know that when you use CFLs you must dispose of them properly due to their mercury content. We're peddling facts and safety. And we tell you about how to pick bulbs and make some suggestions on where to get them. And did I mention we have a dancing kangaroo on the site?

By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com
So Green Week is finally here...we kick it off with Earth Day 2008 on Tuesday, April 22nd - a day when being eco-conscious is the norm and in preparation, the media is filled with eco-friendly advice, green product discounts and eco-success stories. I'm soaking it all up like a sea sponge.

And then we celebrate Green Wednesday on April 23rd - a day when you can vote green with your dollars. Let's make eco-conscious choices and vote with our purchasing power. We'll join the "buy-cott" by choosing to buy green products on Green Wednesday.

Since navigating all this greenness can be overwhelming, I thought it might be useful to provide a little "Going Green Guide" of websites where you can get super eco-smart this week. Consider this a cheat sheet for your Green Wednesday commitment on April 23rd!

Instructions:

Search in ecofabulous.com and GreenisUniversal.com archives (links and clues will be provided) and answer the daily trivia question with the information you find! Submit your entry and you will be eligible to win the prize of the day if your answer is correct! Winners will be selected at random from the list of eligible entrants. Submissions for each daily trivia question will end when a new day's Clue has been posted. All winners and answers will be posted at the end of Earth Week, April 27th.

Good luck!!!

Day 2: Eco Friendly Fabrics

Welcome to Day 2 of the Eco Fact Finder Treasure Hunt! Today's theme is eco friendly fabrics! Follow the clues and answer the trivia question for a chance to win a gorgeous set of (earth friendly) towels.

By Van Jones, founder, Green For All

The "winner" of this year's presidential contest will inherit the world's toughest job at one of the toughest times in U.S. history. Today's challenges would intimidate even our greatest leaders.

The occupation of Iraq will drag on. Carbon emissions will continue to super-heat the atmosphere leading to ever-unpredictable (and deadlier) weather. Rising energy prices could slow economic growth while inflating the cost of everything.

Fortunately, both Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama are promoting one solution that offers good medicine for the economy... for the Earth... and for U.S. foreign policy.

By Anne Chertoff, author of From "I Will" to "I Do"

Can you believe it's April? Where did the time go?

Earth Day is today, and I thought it would be important to highlight eco-friendly wedding sites and products throughout the month. It's quite common for today's bride to look for organic and earth-friendly products for her wedding. From eco-favors and details to organically grown flowers, planning a "green wedding" is not difficult to do.

I think the best places to look for eco-wedding advice and ideas are from eco-bloggers who specialize in wedding content. I've written before about Emily Anderson's useful book and blog, Eco-Chic Weddings, but I've come across another great eco-blog that I wanted to share with you.

By Patricia Andreu, WTVJ

When I pitched a "green" series to my News Director nearly two years ago, I had no idea that it would take off the way it has. My initial hope was to produce 4 or 5 stories -- AT MOST -- about eco-friendly ways to save energy and money. I wanted to get the word out to viewers that being "green" could be quite easy and even help trim the household budget. But thanks to the support of my ND -- and great timing in terms of the "green" avalanche of information and initiatives that soon followed -- Going Green has been airing each and every week on NBC 6 since October 2006.

It's been quite a ride! Personally (and I don't mean to sound like I'm bragging) but I've learned a helluva lot from these stories! But, as the "green" reporter (a title I hold with great pride), I've also had to walk the fine line between being a "believer" and a "hypocrite". While I haven't incorporated every single tip into my daily life (I have not gone out and bought all new Energy Star appliances... my current ones are fairly efficient and work just fine), my family and I are a much more eco-friendly than before.

By Scott Erickson, HP Environmental Initiatives Manager, PSG Consumer Products

Like a lot of other folks, I seem to be collecting more and more computer "stuff". For a while the old stuff tended to trickle down to the kids and get used, but now the old products truly are at the end of their useful life. As a family, we are dedicated recyclers, with regular trips to the nearby recycling center and everyday items in the curbside tub. But the electronic equipment posed a problem, because neither of these recycling facilities accepted them.

Luckily there are a number of convenient options I found that anyone can take advantage of. But before recycling an old computer, it also makes sense to see if it has any value left. Major PC companies like HP offer a variety of programs for products nearing the end of their useful life. Through HP's trade-in program you may qualify for money back on your old equipment, whether or not they are HP branded, that can be used to purchase a new HP PC. Or HP can help you donate your old gear to a worthy organization and qualify for a tax benefit.

By Steven Leckart, DVICE.com

Welcome to my first dispatch! Earth Week is off and running here at DVICE, and just like I promised, I'm going off the grid for five days. Yep, all week long I'll be getting my power from green sources like solar panels and hand cranks -- no wall outlets allowed. From my laptop to my phone to my coffee maker, it's all renewable, all the time for me.

It's early here in San Francisco, but the sun's shining and there's not a cloud in the sky. Comforting, since the bulk of power for my laptop will come from the slick 56-inch, 110-watt solar panel pictured above. Sunday, as it turned out, was not a day of rest either for myself or my dog Gus (dude loves lounging in the sun, so I figure I might as well put him to work rocking Solio's Hybrid 1000 -- that's that thing dangling from his collar -- which I'll be using to juice up my cellphone in a few hours). Sometime yesterday, though, it finally hit me: this experiment is crazy. Find out just how nutty after the Continue jump.

By Adam Smith, Environmental Marketing Manager, HP

Earlier this year, I set my self the challenge of reducing my personal environmental impact at home and at work. I started with the simple things like replacing the light bulbs at home with compact flourescent bulbs, bringing a reusable water bottle into the office rather than using disposable plastic cups and making sure my office printer was set to duplex mode. Then I began to look further afield and realized that I spend about 10 hours a day using a particular electric powered device - my HP notebook.

By Gail Simmons, Top Chef Judge

About a year ago, I made a very conscious choice to Eat Green. I have always felt strongly about preserving our planet. My father, a chemical engineer and avid nature lover, has spent most of his life actively trying to clean up the mess and waste we have created. He taught me from a young age that this planet is precious. Everyone must take responsibly for his or her actions especially with regard to the impact we have on the world around us. But it was only recently that I decided to reexamine what I personally can do to tread more lightly on the Earth.

In honor of Earth Week, NBC Universal has partnered with Electronic Recyclers International, the Environmental Media Association, Hewlett-Packard, Staples and The School of Visual Arts to launch the "Green Screens" initiative, a recycling drive for collecting electronic waste.

Electronic waste, or e-waste is defined as all obsolete or outdated computers, televisions, cell phones, printers, PDAs, and any other devices commonly used in homes and offices.  While these nifty gadgets seemingly make our lives easier to manage, they are quickly filling up our landfills as we search for smaller, faster, more efficient models.  The environmental impact left behind... not so easy to manage... which is why we started Green Screens and teamed up with the experienced group of e-waste partners below.

Dear Mr. Green,

I recently married the love of my life! We have the perfect relationship in every way except for... the garbage. Knowing so many singles in NYC, I suppose I should be counting my lucky stars that this is really our only difference of opinion. You see, I am a serious recycler and he, I have come to learn, could care less. I have 4 separate bins in my kitchen. One is for garbage, one for glass, aluminum and plastic, one for cardboard and paper, and one for batteries. They are all clearly labeled and he knows my dedication to reducing waste yet, when I come home from work, I find everything in the garbage bin. How can I get him to cooperate?

Signed,
Garbage Picker

By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com

In preparation for Earth Day on Tuesday April 22^nd, the media has ramped up their coverage of the global climate in crisis and their offering of environmentally-friendly suggestions. As consumers, we should expect a tidal wave of helpful, eco-friendly tips over the next few weeks. As environmentally conscious consumers, what shall we actually do with all this information?

Let's activate our new eco-knowledge by celebrating Green Wednesday on April 23^rd. On Green Wednesday, the first day after Earth Day, let it be the first day of a new green resolution - a commitment to "buy-cott" by choosing to buy green products with your green dollars. Everyday we face buying decisions. These can be conscious choices where consumers vote with their purchasing power and choose to buy green, environmentally friendly products instead of their regular choice.

Here are ten simple Green Wednesday solutions to help you get started on a greener path.

1. Try natural, fluoride-free and sodium lauryl sulfate-free toothpaste (I like: Kiss My Face's Wake Up with organic aloe vera)
2. Order organic coffee for your daily Starbucks fix (I drink their Tazo Organic Chai tea)
3. Take mass transit instead of driving to work
4. Reach for organic, hormone and antibiotic-free milk (I recommend Organic Valley)
5. Buy a few reusable grocery bags (my favorites: Envirosac and Ecobags)
6. Treat yourself to ecocentric, natural body care products (I'm addicted to Pangea Organics who has a 20% discount offer for April at their online store)
7. Purchase safe, effective non-toxic cleaning supplies (I suggest you start with Shaklee's Get Clean Starter Kit)
8. Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs (I use GE Energy Smart)
9. Toss the take-out dinner and try organic, natural, ready to cook meals (we enjoy Amy's Kitchen vegetarian meals)
10. Slumber in safe, organic bamboo bedding (we love Gaiam products)

Please feel free to chime in and share your own favorite green solutions. And maybe next year, every Wednesday can be a green one.

Mary Beth Gonzalez iVillage.com Please join my Going Green group and read my Green Blog

By Leah Zerbe, NBC 10 Philadelphia

Gardeners spend hundreds of dollars every spring on flowers, shrubs and trees in an effort to beautify their tract of the great outdoors, but many environmentalists say that they're unknowingly doing more harm than good.

Invasive plants and other plants with little or no wildlife quality can be found in just about any garden superstore, making it difficult for the everyday person to make informed decisions about planting the most environmentally friendly garden.

Luckily, native plant gardening is becoming increasingly popular as the going green theme becomes more and more of a household name.

What Is A Native Plant?
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, a native plant is one that occurred within the state before settlement by Europeans. They include ferns and clubmosses; grasses, sedges, rushes, and their kin; flowering perennials; annuals that only live one year; biennials, which have a two year life cycle; and, of course, the woody trees, shrubs, and vines which covered "Penns's Woods" when the first settlers arrived. There are over 2,100 native plant species known in Pennsylvania.

An introduced or non-native plant is one that has been brought into the state and become established. An invasive plant is a species that has become a weed pest, one DCNR describes as growing aggressively, spreading, and displacing other plants. Although some native plants are aggressive on disturbed areas, most invasive plants are introduced from other continents, leaving behind pests, diseases, predators, and other natural controls.

Native plants are aggressively being lost to habitat destruction, invasive plants and introduced pests and diseases. By 2000, 5 percent of Pennsylvania native plant species had been eliminated and another 25 percent were in danger of becoming so.

Environmental department urge gardeners to buy nursery-propagated native plants and remind people to never remove them from the wild. Environmentalists also urge gardeners to practice responsible landscaping techniques, which means avoiding fertilizer, chemicals and products like Miracle Grow as much as possible.

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Delaware Riverkeeper's Top 10 Reasons To Go Native

Natives Are Tough: Native plants evolved in harmony with their ecosystems and as a result they require less care, need less water and have a higher survival rate than non-native plants. After establishment, just sit back and watch your garden grow.

Give Critters A Break: Native plants provide a refuge for wildlife, attracting and providing food for a variety of birds, small mammals, amphibians and pollinators throughout the year. As a result, native plants ensure that our local ecosystems are more stable and productive.

The Kids Will Love It: Have a high quality educational experience in your own yard and add hours of exploration for little ones and their neighborhood friends.

Pay Less For Your Apples: A 2006 study showed that pollinators (like honey bees) are declining in drastic numbers and scientists are not sure why. As a result, this season it is already projected that apples may be three to four times as expensive, since farmers have had to import honey bees for the first time since 1912.

A number of factors have cut pollinators' numbers in recent decades, but providing a chemical-free native plant garden of diverse plants that these pollinators can use can only help them. Animal pollinators fertilize more than 187,500 flowering plants worldwide.

Be Less Toxic: Because native plants evolved natural defenses against predators, you won't need to buy or use nasty chemicals to keep your garden beautiful.

Diversity Is Good For The Eye: Tired of seeing the same plants in your neighborhood and a boring landscape? Native plants are unique and usually rare in typical garden habitats. Your neighbors will be asking you all about your new garden plants. So when its time to divide those perennials, they'll be plenty of takers.

Help Decrease Flooding: By replacing part of your lawn with a native plant garden, you help rainwater soak into the ground and decrease the amount of stormwater runoff that flows quickly into our local streams and causes flooding.

Stop The Spread Of Invasive Exotic Species: Many of the garden plants that we can buy are exotic, and some of these exotics escape from our gardens and threaten natural areas. By planting only natives, you avoid the spread of exotic invasive plants.

Preserve Our Natural Heritage: A 2000 study showed that 5 percent of Pennsylvania native plant species have been eliminated and another 25 percent were in danger of becoming so.

An Argument Against A Manicured Lawn: People spend lots of time and money obsessing over perfectly manicured lawns, when if fact, they're often doing more harm than good.

Many environmentalists will suggest planting native shrubs, trees and plants instead of keeping a manicured lawn because its benefits to nature far outweigh that of planting grass.

The idea of a perfect lawn may have emerged during the post-WWII era, when more and more people were able to take pride in owning their own homes, complete with white picket fences. But keeping a lawn looking good often involves harmful chemicals.

Also, trimmed grass lawns with few shrubs or taller plants attract Canada geese because to them, it resembles the birds' native tundra terrain.

People plagued with geese loitering in their yards and littering it with waste can easily solve it by turning their yard into a native plant garden and cutting out larger tracts of plain, low-cut grass.

Leah Zerbe
WCAU NBC 10 Philadelphia
http://www.nbc10.com/goinggreen/

By Zem Joaquin, ecofabulous.com

Quoting Bill McDonough and Michael Braungart, "Waste equals food," so shouldn't we stop treating it as garbage? Worm poop - may not sound so fabulous, but worms and plants have fed off one another in beautiful symbiotic harmony for billions of years - helping to create the majesty that surrounds us. When worms consume dead plant matter, they excrete castings, a natural fertilizer that helps new plants flourish. Terracycle has taken this biological process and set a precedent with the first and only product that is entirely waste - from the contents to the packaging. Terracycle's main product is an organic fertilizer that is made from feeding university dining hall table scraps to earthworms, who in turn create a potent fertilizer rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It's then packaged in soda bottles collected through their Bottle Brigade Program where Terracycle pays 6 cents per salvaged bottle. It's even sent in recycled misprinted boxes from other companies. For all you gardeners out there, nourishing your green thumb has never been more natural. Now that is pretty eco-flippin-fabulous if you ask me.

Zem Joaquin
ecofabulous.com

By Nicholas Gonzalez, MD

A few weeks ago, I shared my general concepts of "Green Medicine" involving three components: the use of dietary, nutritional and natural substances (what I call our "personal green"), living in a clean home and office (our "local green") and working to keep the greater world in which we all must live clean for the health of us all (our "global green"). As Earth Day approaches, I thought I would take a look at asthma - a specific, epidemic and potentially dangerous problem, particularly as the disease occurs in children, the most vulnerable of us all, and walk though my "Green Medicine" approach to this disease.

Asthma 101
First, some basics. Asthma is a major health problem in the US, its incidence increasing yearly and with cases up a whooping 75% since 1980. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports the disease afflicts 20 million Americans, and is responsible for nearly one fourth of all emergency room visits. Some nine million children under age 18 suffer from asthma, with some four million of these victims of serious attacks last year. The costs, in terms of missed time from school, are staggering; in 2002 for example, the disease accounted for over 14 million lost school days.

To understand asthma, we need at least a basic primer in lung physiology. To live, we need to breathe, and with each inspiration, fresh air, and with it life sustaining oxygen, travels into the lungs within the bronchi and bronchioles, tube-like structures that reach into the furthest recesses of the lungs, the small alveoli. Here, our red blood cells absorb much needed oxygen and release carbon dioxide, good old CO2, a byproduct of normal metabolism, which we then breathe out of our lungs with expiration.

Now smooth muscle cells line all these air passages along what anatomists call the bronchial tree. These cells, when contracting, can actually reduce the diameter of the bronchi and bronchioles. Such activity can be of benefit, for example when we are exposed to severe pollution, or say smoke from a fire; with reduced air intake, we actually lessen our exposure to potentially dangerous materials.

We also lose considerable water through breathing; just think of a cold day, and the white vapor that follows each expiration. That white smoke is water vapor, exhaled with each breath day and night. If we're dehydrated - during a hike on a hot summer day, for example - we can lose a fair amount of water this way. So it makes sense that our lungs might slow down a bit to reduce the losses, and help keep our fluids in balance until we re-hydrate as needed.

Asthma occurs when our bronchi and bronchioles overreact to irritating exposures in the air, or dehydration, shutting down air flow to the point we find ourselves struggling and fighting for each breath, sometimes, ironically, fighting even for our lives. Scientists recognize a variety of substances that commonly provoke asthma in susceptible people, including pollens in spring and animal dander, as well as a myriad of pollutants. These irritants can lead to an inflammatory reaction in the immune cells lining the bronchi, which in response release histamine and leukotrienes. It's these molecules that then set off the smooth muscle contractions that can, if excessive, lead to asthma.

Asthma's Connection to the Environment
Scientists aren't sure why in so many people the bronchi over-react, but some suspect our constant exposure to increasing amounts of toxic materials in our air must be at least partially to blame. After all, our poor lungs must deal with a constant barrage of noxious materials in the air, literally thousands of different compounds, many of which are irritating to the lungs.

Infection, which creates inflammation, cold air, even exercise can provoke attacks in asthma prone children and adults. Since we tend to lose considerable water vapor via breathing both when it's cold outside, and when we're breathing heavily during exercise, I suspect these situations result when we're just not adequately hydrated, and our lungs desperately try to conserve water - perhaps too desperately.

Standard treatments for asthma include steroids, which reduce inflammation along the bronchi, and bronchodilators, which relax the smooth muscle. In our office, we have some simple approaches to the problem that often help enormously, though I must advise any patient with asthma to follow strictly their doctor's advice, and never change or stop medications without their doctor's approval.

Green Medicine Asthma Solutions
First, as a simple intervention, I always make sure any patient with asthma understands the need to drink plenty of fluids. Considerable debate rages about the amount of water humans need, and a recent study just last week said we should only drink when we feel thirsty. But with asthma, often our thirst centers in the brain seem a little slow to react, so patients end up chronically dehydrated, even though they don't feel thirsty. In my office, we advice anyone with asthma to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water daily.

I have also had a number of patients who improved substantially with the addition of simple apple cider vinegar, two tablespoons in a glass of water 2-3 times daily. Apple cider vinegar contains ample quantities of acetic acid, which we quickly absorb and which quickly acidifies the blood stream. We find that with the blood slightly on the acid side, the inflammatory responses tend to subside, and bronchoconstriction lessens. And though much nutrition advice these days promotes low fat diets, we find many of our asthma patients do better with a fairly regular intake of, yes, red meat. There's a reason, biochemically speaking, why red meat might help. Red meat contains nutrients called phosphates and sulfates that our bodies quickly convert to acid in the blood. Once again, a slightly more acidic blood seems to blunt the exaggerated inflammatory response so typical of asthma.

But, whatever diet an asthmatic chooses to follow, the cleaner the food the better, and that means organic. Fortunately, we live in a time when few doubt that organic food, be it plant or animal, not only provides more nutrients than conventional, but is cleaner. For an asthmatic, I believe organic is the only way to go.

In terms of our local environment, we always encourage our patients to think green. The fewer toxins in the environment, at home, in the office, and at school, the better an asthmatic patient will do. Use non-toxic cleaning agents, and if your house needs painting, use the gentler, greener low VOC paint readily available today. Patients often ask me to recommend air filters, but frankly, we find the best air filter to be plants - but of course, only those that won't lead to an allergic asthmatic response! Scientists now know that plants very efficiently remove pollutants, even the nastiest, from the air around us. One article on healthgoods.com reported that spider plants remove 96% of carbon monoxide, and 99% of nitric oxide, both noxious gases, after only 24 hours. Spider plants, philodendron, and aloe plants are among the most powerful pollution fights around. Plants also give off oxygen, as an added benefit for all of us. In my home and office, we have plants everywhere, and for good reason - not only do they bring a bit of nature to my city life, but they keep the air around me, my wife, and my patients clean.

The cleaner the world, the less pollution and the better it is for all of us, but particularly, the better for asthmatics. Get involved with friends and community groups; help organize a tree planting initiative in your neighborhood. Join national organizations that fight to keep the earth clean. Small efforts can add up, bit by bit, and ultimately have a powerful global effect.

Nicholas Gonzalez, MD
www.dr-gonzalez.com

By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com

Since April is "Earth Month" I find myself with lots of Green events on my calendar - so many in fact that it is hard to attend them all but as with my philosophy about living green, I simply do the best that I can. So yesterday morning I woke up with a little green dilemma... I wanted to attend the Bedford Spring Antiques Show sponsored by St. Matthew's Church in Westchester County. This year's theme: "Renew, Recycle, Redecorate" is part of their "Bedford twenty by 2020" pledge to help Bedford reduce CO2 emissions by 20% by the year 2020. Furthermore, I've been attending the annual event for years and was excited to see their collection of antiques and some old friends. But I had suffered a neck injury earlier in the week and was under doctor's orders to rest. My original plan to lug myself (and whatever I might purchase at the show) from NYC to Bedford and back via trains and taxis didn't seem very restful. And given my stiff neck and lingering pain, I couldn't rent a car and drive myself.

Then I thought... Ozocar to the rescue! I contacted this hybrid car service (Prius and Lexus hybrids) and felt relieved about being as green as can be. When a large black Lincoln town car arrived to take me to Bedford, I was surprised and disappointed. Seems that Ozocar had run out of hybrids, and they didn't think to tell me when they called to confirm. I guess to some folks, a car is still a car. So I reluctantly got in and reassured myself that I had at least tried to go green.

Every year for over 15 years now, I visit Josephine Thrasher's antique jewelry booth at the show. She is nearly 80 years old now and running her small business alone since her husband died suddenly over 2 years ago. The first year after he died, I helped her work her booth at the Bedford show. In the car, I sorted through my Envirosax bag full of goodies I was bringing to her to recycle. Over the years, I had unconsciously collected a very wide assortment of small jewelry store boxes and earring storage envelopes. Josephine likes to give her customers their antique jewelry purchases in pretty boxes so I knew these would go to good use.

When I got to the Bedford Spring Antiques Show, I immediately saw all the thoughtful ways they were going green. In the entrance lobby stood a recycled cardboard box calling for your recycled cell phones. Signs encouraging you to "Dare to Recycle" led you to the ticket table with a raffle for his-and-her premium bicycles and an electric children's dirt bike. Their show program was a simple and effective 8 pages on recycled paper with listings of the sponsors rather then the typical 50 page, glossy ad filled, printed book. Then a close friend of my parent's, greeted me warmly and handed me a list of the 20 steps for the "Bedford twenty by 2020" pledge and a brown eco-friendly, re-usable grocery bag.

With my own eco-bag of boxes to recycle in hand, I made a beeline for Josephine's booth. She greeted me as only old friends can, with a big hug and wet smiling eyes. She saw my 40+ jewelry boxes and announced that "it must be Christmas!" as it seems she had been running low on her own supply. Conscious of the car service waiting outside, I tried to take in the show as quickly as possible. And I did make one special purchase - an antique 18 carat floral-engraved 200 year old, gold wedding band. A unique, yet more everyday choice compared to my diamond wedding band. Since it was antique and by definition, recycled, it was a green solution too. "A true find" remarked Josephine. Another old Bedford friend arrived at the booth while I was trying it on and called it "my-running-to-the-A&P" wedding ring. I smiled and said "rather, my running-to-the-farmer's market!" ring and paid cash.

On the way home in the car, I thought back to how nice it was that an event I've always enjoyed was now made even more special by going green. I thought about how "green" seeing old friends was because you didn't have to exert as much energy as when meeting new people. And as I twirled my new ring in the sunlight, I saw the inside engraving for the first time. "To Mel love Sylvia 2-12-74". Gosh. While I enjoy going green as much as I can, it sure can be full of surprises.

Mary Beth Gonzalez
iVillage.com
Please join my Going Green group and read my Green Blog

By Nicole Ohebshalom, Radiant Living Wellness

The average American consumes more than 100 pounds of sugar and sweeteners per year. A bit scary? The USDA recommends we get no more than 10 teaspoons per day, yet most of us eat about 30 teaspoons per day. That's three times the recommended daily value. This got me thinking about how much we, as humans, love sweet things. It makes perfect sense; our fist experience of taste comes from the sweetness of our mother's milk.

So, why do you hear from health experts that sugar is harmful for you?

When we play around with Mother Nature to create refined table sugar then it becomes a very different story. Refined sugar lacks vitamins, minerals, and fiber as well as requires extra effort from the body to digest. The body must deplete its own store of minerals and enzymes to absorb the sugar properly. That is when the body creates deficiency instead of providing nutrition to support optimal functioning to your organs.

But sugar isn't the problem. The problem is the vicious, addictive cycle we have created by eating processed sugar, feeling the rush, crashing, and then having to take more sugar to begin the vicious cycle again. If we are on a healthy, balanced diet, nourishing ourselves with milder forms of sweet vegetables, we don't need a big sugar hit from a candy bar or soda to boost our energy level.

As I work with clients that have underlining sugar and caffeine addicted diets, they gain tools that are individualized for their lifestyle to easily find ways to use alternatives to sugar. We begin adding foods such as grains, vegetables, beans and fruits. When unprocessed, sugar contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and proteins. When these foods are chewed and then enter the bloodstream, then they are burned smoothly and evenly, allowing your body to absorb all the good stuff.

Which sweetener should you choose? All common natural sweeteners are available on the shelves of most health-food stores and many supermarkets.

Agave Nectar is a natural liquid sweetener made from the juice of the agave cactus. It is sweeter than refined sugar, but does not create a sugar roller coaster, and has an easier effect on the body's blood sugar level.

Stevia is used in cooking, backing and beverages and does not affect blood sugar levels. Make sugar you get the green or brown form because the white and clear versions are highly refined.

Raw Honey is one of the oldest natural sweeteners. Raw honey contains small amounts of enzymes, minerals, and vitamins. Everyone seems to love honey. It is sweeter than sugar, with different flavors depending on the plant source.

100% Pure Maple Syrup adds a nice flavor to foods and is great for baking.

Brown Rice Syrup tastes like butterscotch and is delicious in recipes. It consists of brown rice that has been ground and cooked, converting the starches to maltose.

Organic Molasses is probably the most nutritious sweetener derived from sugar cane. Different types of molasses have different flavors, but most of them impart a very distinctive taste. Use less molasses than you would sugar.

Keep it simple: Enjoy sweeteners given to you from Mother Earth!

Nicole Ohebshalom, RN,CHHC, AADP
Radiant Living Wellness

By Ruston Grau, NBC San Diego

In San Diego Going Green is not a new idea. For decades San Diegans have realized the importance to protect the earth and her resources. The communities of Southern California experience first hand how their daily actions affect the environment immediately and in the long term. Here in San Diego we know that dirty streets equal polluted water and closed beaches; thick smog can drown out a picture perfect sunset.

NBC 7/39 produces Going Green segments to educate the San Diego community about what they can do to go green. We talk to experts that tell us what we can do about climate change. We talk to businesses that are working hard on new technology and products that we can benefit from, and we also catch up with individuals that are doing their part in the community. At NBC 7/39 we understand that as a member of the San Diego Community we have a responsibility to report on the stories that impact our lives. That is why we produce Going Green to share the progress being made in the community to fight Climate Change and reduce our negative impact on the earth.

Protecting the environment is everyone's responsibility. Through the NBC 7-39 Going Green experience you will learn tips to help you go green everyday. You will also hear and see the work being done by schools, neighborhoods, offices, and about your neighbors that are Going Green.

Ruston Grau
NBC San Diego, Assignment Editor
http://nbcsandiego.com/goinggreen/

By Rachel Gray, iVillage.com

Recently, I was lucky enough to catch a screening of Gimme Green, a documentary about Americans' obsession with their lawns. The film takes a look at the impact excessive watering and toxic pesticides have on our environment -- and our wallets -- as people strive to grow the greenest lawn in the neighborhood.

Did you know that this country spends over 40 BILLION dollars on lawn care? Yup, and as directors Isaac Brown and Eric Flagg point out, that makes our nation's largest irrigated crop...the lawn. Yikes!

The film is funny and a little alarming - watch the trailer to see for yourself. I bet it gets you thinking about your own green spaces.

You can maintain a lush lawn without any of the guilt by going organic in your gardening, controlling weeds without pesticides and uncovering common misconceptions about lawn care.

After all, shouldn't we be as concerned with keeping ourselves and our planet as healthy as we're keeping our lawns?

Rachel Gray, Associate Producer
iVillage.com
http://housecalls.ivillage.com/home/