My push to “Build for the Environment” (the “Economic Environment”) underscores my commitment as a GREEN builder to continuously identify and employ wiser and smarter building solutions and energy-saving concepts. This is especially important as we head into the fall and winter months where increased energy costs are expected.

To define energy-saving solutions it’s imperative that we first shore up and understand what and where our energy costs are currently going. To do this, it’s best to employ a simple yet solid GREEN concept by “Doing the Basic Things the Best.” In doing so, we find that core energy costs generally derive from electrical and water usage, resulting in the following energy-saving tips:

• Electrical – Shut off electrical draining gadgets when not in use, particularly before bedtime. Focus on “left-on” household computers and automation games and you’ll see at least a 20 percent reduction.
  
• Water – Police water usage times to ensure overuse is not occurring. Look at the biggest culprits such as long shower times, oversized and overused outdoor sprinkler systems and even drilling-down on clothes washing; if it’s not dirty, don’t wash it!

Become an energy-miser! Identify household areas where energy is typically overused or wasted, allowing you to hone in and smartly manage it. You can do this manually or by using a wide-array of smart automated energy shut-off / shut-on systems. Any way you look at it, by “Doing the Basic Things the Best,” you’ll be in a position to be environmentally correct while saving money!

Fred Koch, founder of Koch Development, is LEED certified and BuilditGreen certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. Koch Development has been designing, inspecting and building conventional and green homes for over 20 years throughout Southern California.

To contact Fred Koch or Koch Development, visit www.kochdevelopment.net

Exuberant and gorgeous, Rebecca Woodland is the “Blonde Vegetarian.” After a bout with breast cancer in 1996, she became vegan, and her journey into healthy eating and cooking began. Frustrated by complicated vegetarian cookbooks and the false idea that healthy food couldn’t be tasty, she went on a mission to make vegan cooking delicious and easy—for even the blondest of blondes. Along the way, she discovered more healthful ways to enhance the true flavor of food. Bragg Live Foods Liquid Aminos, Apple Cider Vinegar and Nutritional Yeast became flavoring staples in dozens of her recipes. Healthy Living recently caught up with Rebecca to discuss her new book The Blonde Vegetarian and her love of Bragg Live Foods.

Healthy Living: After you recovered from breast cancer, why did you become vegan and eliminate dairy, eggs, meat, poultry, caffeine, sugar and artificial sweeteners?

Rebecca Woodland: Because of the way “food” is produced in this country (factory farming, with overuse of chemicals, growth hormones, antibiotics, etc.), it was best for me to eliminate the foods that are products of factory farming (dairy, eggs, meat, poultry). Sugar feeds cancer cells, so I had to eliminate that. Artificial sweeteners are seriously bad. I believe that there are serious long-term consequences, and no one should partake of any artificial sweeteners. Besides, I don’t like the taste. About caffeine, a little is not a problem, but I had gotten into the habit of drinking too much coffee and accompanying it with sugary foods. Also, the acids in coffee aggravated my stomach.

HL: What guiding principle or philosophy inspired the recipes found in The Blonde Vegetarian?

RW: I was absolutely determined to make healthy food taste good, and it had to be easy to prepare. I knew that if it didn’t taste really good I wouldn’t eat it, and if it wasn’t easy to prepare I wouldn’t make it.

HL: The recipes are low in fat and sodium content. Many of them include Bragg Liquid Aminos. Can you tell our readers what Bragg Liquid Aminos are?

RW: Liquid aminos are a liquid protein concentrate derived from non-GMO soybeans and purified water. That’s all. They contain 16 amino acids. They are not fermented or heated. Gluten-free, alcohol-free and all-natural, they have a small amount of naturally occurring sodium and are an ideal replacement for tamari or soy sauce.

HL: What kind of flavor does Bragg Liquid Aminos bring to a dish?

RW: A little salty, sort of like tamari or soy sauce, but without a strong, distinctive Asian flavor. Bragg Liquid Aminos do not overpower any dish. They add depth of flavor and are especially good on rice, beans, potatoes and in soups, broth, gravies and stir-fry recipes. A little goes a long way.

HL: You recommend apple cider vinegar in your book as well. What is so special about this type of vinegar?

RW: Apple cider vinegar has been used for about 2,500 years as a remedy for all kinds of ailments. It supports a healthy immune system, helps digestion and is rich in enzymes and potassium. I use it because it also tastes really good.

HL: Why do you prefer Bragg Certified Organic Apple Cider Vinegar over other brands?

RW: Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar is organic, unfiltered, unrefined and tastes much better than the other brands. It is more natural and I believe more beneficial. It is the only apple cider vinegar that has “the mother,” which occurs naturally as strand-like enzymes of connected protein molecules.

HL: Why do you prefer Bragg’s Nutritional yeast? Does it differ from brewer’s yeast? What does it add in terms of flavor and health to dishes?

RW: Nutritional yeast is a totally different product than brewer’s yeast. Brewer’s yeast tastes horrible. Nutritional yeast tastes good. It looks like a flaky powder, has a slightly cheesy flavor (like good parmesan, not the stuff in a can) and is a good source of vitamin B12, which is lacking in many vegan diets. I use it in pesto and other recipes instead of parmesan. Nutritional yeast cannot be used for fermentation or as a rising agent in baking. Bragg Nutritional Yeast is high quality and comes in a convenient container, which makes it much easier to use and store than other nutritional yeast that can only be purchased in bulk.

HL: What do you value and trust about Bragg Live Foods?

RW: Bragg is very selective in the kinds of products it produces and markets. Their nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and liquid aminos are quality products that taste good. Bragg products have a real, live person backing up their quality and reputation. I trust Patricia Bragg, a living example of dynamic good health at any age.

Resources

www.theblondevegetarian.com

www.bragg.com

Bragg Liquid Aminos, Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, Premium Nutritional Yeast Seasoning, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil and other products are available at health food stores nationwide. And you don’t have to be blonde to enjoy them!

There is a special tropical pain solution today that you need to know about when looking for a natural way to soothe sore muscles, tears, rips, strains, sprains, even lower back pain, and really, all the everyday aches and pains of our active lives. It's called noni, the most remarkable gift from nature humankind has ever discovered for pain relief. This South Seas tropical fruit is crafted into lotions and fruit leathers for a total natural preparation.

Noni, Morinda citrifolia, is in the family Rubiaceae, which includes such notables as coffee, gardenia, and cinchona, the quinine tree. It is one of perhaps 80 species in the genus Morinda, spread worldwide through the tropics. Many of these species have origins in the area that includes Borneo, New Guinea, Northern Australia, and New Caledonia: it is out of this population that noni is thought to have evolved and spread.

Traditionally, the whole fruit was consumed raw in almost its entirety and also applied topically for medicinal use to treat muscle aches and pains.

Today, athletes, including University of Hawaii’s Warriors’ football and basketball squads, now use topical noni. And thousands of other weekend warriors are also using topical noni, some of whose amazing stories we’ve reported on in past articles.

HOW NONI RELIEVES PAIN

Scientists themselves have been exploring the pain-relieving benefits of noni, and they’ve discovered there is a scientific basis for this amazing healer. The sensory neurons that mediate pain sensation are known as “nociceptors.” Their endings or receptors, located in skin, muscles, joints and internal organs, are activated by pain.

Studies have demonstrated that noni is rich in scopoletin. Among its wide-ranging pharmacological effects are anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and sedative activities. The body also utilizes scopoletin for smooth joint movement.

In the January 2010 issue of Phytotherapy Research, researchers from the University Clinic, Hamburg, Germany, found that noni is a “tropical plant with a long tradition of medicinal use in Polynesia and tropical parts of eastern Asia and Australia. One of its favorite uses is the treatment of painful inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis.”

The analgesic activity of noni fruit “reduced the pain sensitivity comparably to the central analgesic drug tramadol.” An alcohol extract of noni fruit puree also caused an “effect [that] was comparable to hydrocortisone.”

The findings suggest that preparations of noni “are effective in decreasing pain and joint destruction caused by arthritis.”

A QUALITY PREPARATION

Hawaiian Health Ohana's organic noni farm on the garden isle of Kauai.

No one does lotions and all-natural noni better than Hawaiian Health Ohana. Their certified organic noni farm is located in Hawaii, on the Garden Island of Kauai. So many people have discovered the noni lotions and fruit leathers of Hawaiian Health Ohana and have experienced for themselves their amazing pain-relieving properties, that sales of their noni products have turned into a global trade by word of mouth alone.

“As we harvest our noni for our leather and lotion, we have learned to cultivate the noni and present it raw with processing below 115 degrees F. The powerful phytonutrients, brain and pain-relieving chemicals and enzymes in it remain highly biologically active,” says Steve Frailey whose noni lotion and leather are global favorites.

That’s why the farm that is introducing noni to the world is one of the island’s most popular tourist destinations. People have pain. Whether it’s trauma, arthritis, aching joints, fused spinal discs, a bad hip—it doesn’t matter. Noni helps those with pain and arthritis and physical injuries. People come. They spread the word and order globally.

Hawaiian Health Ohana has received thousands of testimonials. Their lotion is just something else. If you’re seeking the amazing benefits of noni, try the versatile fruit leather and the wonderfully fast-acting noni lotion and experience noni the way that it was meant to be.

Hawaiian Health Ohana is a family-owned, organic-certified farm that is totally self-sustainable. They even produce all of their own soil amendments which provides total control.

Steve Frailey began organically farming noni fruit in 1981 when he and his wife started the farm.

They use pigeon peas and cow peas for hedges for improving soil nitrogen (since they are a no-till farm). No animal products are ever used, so they can avoid potential contamination with antibiotics or other drugs used in veterinary medicine. They are a totally vegan farm. “The care we take in making our farm fertile results in an even better raw food noni,” says Steve.

“We mulch like crazy,” he adds. “The trees stay green in the hot, dry summer and you can see the soft tilth of the soil. We don’t till the earth and turn it over, which is a whole philosophy. There is a whole microbial city going on in the soil, breaking down things naturally, and when you turn things over those microbes get disturbed, which changes everything, so we mulch.”

The farm has two 42-foot tall wind turbines with 12-foot blades and a solar array, reducing their carbon footprint and offering power for the entire operation.

In all ways, this is a raw food noni. Both the leather and lotion are exceptional. Buy them today at your local health food store, natural pharmacy or wherever nature's finest pain relievers are sold.

WHAT LAVENDER AND ICYHEAT LAVENDER NONI LOTION USERS ARE SAYING

Helps with Osteoarthritis

“Aloha, I have osteoarthritis in my ankles and knees, but have NO pain or swelling, because of your Lavender Noni Lotion.  And I have to need to take any aspirin-type products.”

Sincerely, Barbara Wilcox

Painful and Swollen Feet

“I suffer from peripheral neuropathy of the feet due to diabetes.  I get burning pain from my toes at night.  I tried the Icy Heat Lavender Noni Lotion and it decreased the pain more effectively than any of the other products that I have tried in the past.”

Thank you, JFG, PharmD

RECOMMENDATIONS

Here’s how former University of Hawaii head trainer Mel Toth advises weekend warriors use noni for the types of injuries active people are most likely to experience:

Sore ankles and heels. Toth recommends rubbing Lavender Noni Lotion or IcyHeat Lavender Noni Lotion on your ankles and into your heels prior to working out and immediately following workouts.

Tired legs. Toth said that one of the major uses for Lavender Noni Lotion or IcyHeat Lavender Noni Lotion was for tired legs, especially where there is very little rest time allowed. So for athletes who want to work out two days in a row or who do work out regularly, say three or four times a week, she recommends massaging a thin layer of noni into all portions of your legs after your work out.

Quadricep and hamstring injuries. For quadricep and hamstring injuries, Toth strongly recommends electrical stimulation with micro-currents, icing, and then noni. She advises that many acupuncture clinics can provide electrical stimulation with micro-currents.

Low back pain. Almost everyone suffers from low back pain every now and then. Once again, says Toth, noni is excellent for relieving pain. She advises massaging it into the affected area four times a day.

Trauma and minor contusions. Most of us experience trauma or minor collisions. Use Lavender Noni Lotion or IcyHeat Lavender Noni Lotion four times daily on the affected area.

Repetitive motion injuries. Golfers and tennis players, in particularly, are likely to experience soreness from repetitive motion. Once again, noni applied to the affected area offers excellent pain-relieving properties.

Warming up massage. For warming up the muscles prior to working out, Toth recommends IcyHeat Lavender Noni Lotion with menthol and camphor to bring immediate heat to the area.

Cramps. By applying lotion five minutes before games, muscle cramps can be avoided.  Also, use lotion for nighttime cramps if they develop.  (We hear a number of major college basketball  players are now using IcyHeat Lavender lotion to avoid cramping and help heal their sports injuries.)

Resources

Hawaiian Health Ohana’s Lavender Noni Lotion, IcyHeat Lavender Noni Lotion and their 100-percent-certifi ed organic fruit leather are available at health food stores and natural food markets. Visit Hawaiian Health Ohana at www.nonifruitleather.net to use their store locator service or call 888-882-6664 for more information.
 

For someone living with diabetes, infrared therapy might well be their best friend.

Doctors have discovered that infrared light—a completely safe spectrum of the sun that penetrates the dermis and provides inner warmth—has amazing benefits for people suffering from chronic pain and arthritis, can improve mood, relieves mild depression and seasonal affective disorder, and enables the body to detoxify.

And, as the latest research shows, some of the most far-reaching benefits are for people with diabetes or who are prediabetic with a constellation of symptoms known as Syndrome X, which was first made popular as a term in this decade, and reflects a number of dysfunctions involving cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and obesity. As it turns out, these underlying conditions all respond remarkably well to infrared sauna therapy.

Latest Study Shows How Infrared Therapy Benefits People with Diabetes

The most recent good-news study was published in the April 2010 issue of Acta Med Okayama, where doctors from the Department of Physical Therapy at KIBI International University, in Takahashi, Okayama, studied the effect of infrared therapy on patients with type 2 diabetes. In this study, they examined the effect of leg hyperthermia on oxidative stress in bedridden subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus using 15-minute sessions of infrared rays over a two-week period.

Fasting markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were measured at the start and at two weeks after infrared therapy had begun. Results showed that markers for total oxidative stress levels “were decreased significantly.”

Help with Syndrome X

An October 2001 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found positive results. Researchers from Kagoshima University, Japan, sought to determine whether sauna therapy improves endothelial (blood vessel) function in patients with coronary risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking.

Twenty-five men with at least one coronary risk factor and 10 healthy men without coronary risk factors were enrolled. Patients in the risk group were treated with a 60 degrees C infrared-ray dry sauna for 15 min and then kept in a bed covered with blankets for 30 minutes once a day for two weeks. Two weeks of sauna therapy significantly improved vasodilation, improving circulation and nourishment to all the tissues. “Repeated sauna treatment improves impaired vascular endothelial function in the setting of coronary risk factors, suggesting a therapeutic role for sauna treatment in patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis.”

The evidence is becoming increasingly clear that infrared saunas will benefit people with diabetes. Be sure to choose Sunlighten, as this is the only brand with clinically backed Solocarbon®  technology, which has been clinically studied and proven effective. The latest mPulse Series provides immediate biofeedback for heart rate and calories burned with an LCD interface that links to an online biofeedback center.

So if you are one of nearly 24 million Americans with diabetes and you want to do something smart for your health condition, consider Sunlighten.

Resources

Riverside Building, Leamouth, Tower Hamlets, London. Photographer: Fin Fahey. Modular live/work units built using old shipping containers.

Don’t be so quick on the draw to say “No”. Container architecture is actually taking the world by storm, a very resourceful storm.  Recycled freight containers offer efficiency and affordability to green buildings.

These durable boxes are inexpensive building blocks, not as cheap as LEGO bricks, of course, but less than building materials for the average American home. “The total cost of a house—between $150,000 and $175,000 after the buyer settles upon the various options—works out to be between $73 and $90 per square foot, about half the cost of the conventional $200 per square foot for reasonable quality, new construction in the Northeast,” says Adam Kalkin, of New Jersey-based Architecture and Hygiene.
 

Shipping containers connect and stack to create modular, efficient spaces, and their hollow, metal insides, once used to ship cars from Germany and textiles from China can be easily modified to fit your modern comforts—and hold the most precious cargo of all, yours.

SG Blocks LLC™ is just one of many emerging companies that are turning shipping containers into green building blocks used in all types of building construction. Check them out at www.SGBlocks.com.

Nearly two-thirds of laundry detergents sold in America today are contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical called 1,4-dioxane, which is as potent a carcinogen as many chemical pesticides that have been banned for use around homes, according to a new study carried out by the Organic Consumers Association and Green Patriot Working Group under the direction and supervision of David Steinman, a leading consumer advocate and former representative of the public interest at the National Academy of Sciences.

Virtually every recognizable mainstream brand of laundry detergent is contaminated with this cancer-causing chemical, according to the study results.

Levels of the chemical were as high as 55 parts per million (ppm) in Tide from P&G and 25 ppm from Purex (Dial).

Only a few brands—most from the natural products industry—tested free or very low for this powerful cancer-causing substance. Earth Friendly Products tested completely free of any traces of this dangerous chemical.

The health risk from 1,4-dioxane in laundry detergents has become a matter of considerable debate among public health experts and advocates. The same study group has also tested many other cosmetic and personal care products, as well as other types of household cleaning products for the presence of this chemical. High enough amounts were found throughout the testing that many companies have come under legal scrutiny.

Clearly, the risk from dioxane’s presence in children’s bubble baths, shampoos and adult products such as body wash seems obvious to the public—since the products are applied directly to the skin. In this case, under pressure by the California attorney general and public interest groups’ legal arms, many manufacturers began eliminating or markedly reducing the amount of dioxane in their products.

Dioxane appears in products as a result of a process called ethoxylation in which relatively harsh low-sudsing ingredients are combined with ethylene oxide, a known human carcinogen, in order to produce softer detergents that produce more suds. In this process, the ethylene oxide undergoes a slight modifi cation and reappears in the product disguised as diethylene oxide, also known as 1,4-dioxane or simply dioxane. For many years, dioxane contamination was routinely overlooked as a serious concern by manufacturers and even our federal watchdog agencies. But recently, as a result of public pressure stemming from the OCA-Green Patriot Working Group studies, consumers have begun pressuring manufacturers to produce cleaner products.

Although many consumers visually associate dermal exposure through the skin and scalp via shampoos and bubble baths as an obvious and unnecessary risk to themselves and their children, in fact, the risk from laundry detergents, is more complex—and involves both immediate exposures and long-term consequences to our precious drinking water resources.

Dioxane is considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be an emerging threat to water supplies across the country. Towns as diverse as Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Newport Beach, California, have all found their water supply fouled by this chemical.

In Orange County, California, dioxane-tainted sewage water was injected into fresh drinking water supplies for Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Fountain Valley. Public authorities closed many wells. The cost for the cleanup was over $10 million, and Newport Beach alone spent hundreds of thousands of dollars importing water for its residents.

Yet, even today, according to experts, trace levels appear in the water supply. Other sources such as greywater systems that contain laundry detergents and personal care products also contribute to the dioxane contamination.

The reason it is being found at trace levels even after removal of the major source is that the water experts there are looking for it. Because it has been unknown, it hasn’t been tested for. Testing is costly and requires the most advanced technologies, not available to water districts routinely. In California, when dioxane has been tested for, it is found in upward of ten percent of well samples. Nobody knows how many private wells and groundwater resources are being polluted by greywater from washing machines that trickles into the major water supplies but again with more testing it is likely to be found more frequently.

According to researchers writing in the March 2008 issue of Chemosphere, “As a groundwater contaminant, 1,4-dioxane is of considerable concern because of its toxicity, refractory nature to degradation, and rapid migration within an aquifer.”

For example, only recently it was reported in April 2009 that 1,4-dioxane was found in the drinking water of residents of Plaistow, New Hampshire. The dioxane had migrated from a waste oil site and fouled more than a dozen residents’ drinking water. Residents have been advised not to use their tap water. The chemical has been found at three other locations in the state. Yet, the state just began testing for the chemical in 2008. And when detected, its removal is likely to be costly.

Yet, California law prohibits any amount of a carcinogen to be released into drinking water supplies. Clearly, when people dispose of their laundry water it is eventually going to end up in water supplies. In California, reclaimed sewage water is now being injected into groundwater supplies as a means of replenishing their stores. This means there is potential for low levels of dioxane to be injected into groundwater.

Today, dioxane can be easily removed from the finished product through vacuum stripping or alternative ingredients can be used that do not require the ethoxy processing. In particular, the remarkable success and popularity of ECOS from Earth Friendly Products, clearly the major player in the natural products industry, shows that a laundry detergent should not only include performance and value, but leadership in environmental stewardship. These are clearly safer for families, workers, and our precious natural resources.

Tide Total Care (P&G) – 55 ppm

Ivory Snow (P&G) – 30 ppm

Tide Free (P&G) – 29 ppm

Purex Ultra (Dial corp.) – 25 ppm

2x Ultra Gain (P&G) – 21 ppm

Cheer Bright Clean (P&G) – 20 ppm

ERA (P&G) – 14 ppm

Arm & Hammer (Church & Dwight Co.) – 5 ppm

2x Ultra Wisk (Sun Products Corp.) – 3.8 ppm

Woolite Complete (Reckitt Benckiser) – 1.3 ppm

ALL (Unilever) – 0.6 ppm

Dreft Powdered (P&G) – ND

Sun Burst Sunsational Scents (Sun Products Corp.) – ND

ECOS (Earth Friendly Products) – ND

Seventh Generation Free and Clear – ND

Life Tree – ND

Method Squeaky Green – ND

Clorox Green Works – ND

Planet Ultra – 6 ppm

Mrs. Meyers – 1.5 ppm

Resources 

To find super clean laundry detergents visit www.ecos.com.

You may not have made it to Oscars this year, but once in a while everyone gets invited to a “red carpet” event—a hot date, big party, anniversary, reunion or wedding—that inspires a hair and makeup transformation. And even if your daily routine is full-on green, most of these pre-event transformations typically involve a retreat to paraben-heavy pancake, super-leaded lipstick and hairspray shellac that sends your carbon footprint up a size—or four.

Newsflash: Sustainable hair and makeup works just as well—or better—than its chemical cousins to get you ready for your big night!

As we’ve found in two years of EcoCelebrity interviews, even celebrities green their hair, makeup and fashion routines for the red carpet. Many pay thousands of dollars to high-profile stylists who can find them one-of-a-kind sustainable gowns, shoes and accessories, makeup artists who give them glowing, gorgeous skin without hormone-altering chemicals, hairstylists who create signature looks that last for hours without toxic sprays and manicurists who polish their nails in the chicest colors that won’t leave them stained yellow from formaldehyde. 

But who has thousands of dollars to throw at a stylist? Read on, ecoista. We’ve got you covered.

ABOUT FACE

As Jessica Alba proved at Global Green’s 7th Annual Pre-Oscar Party last week, beautiful makeup starts with perfect foundation. But typical liquid foundations and concealers are loaded with parabens, artificial colors and other harmful ingredients, and way too many are tested on animals.

For a flawless, Earth- and animal-friendly face, we love NVEY ECO Certified Organic products, especially the amazing Erase concealer, which hides imperfections like dark circles, age spots and blemishes.

Once you’ve concealed, if you’re looking for full coverage, opt for NVEY’s Crème Deluxe or try their tinted Moisturizing Liquid Foundation for a dewy, barely made-up look.

Matte-addict? Make sure your skin is photo-ready with a dusting of NVEY’s Compact Powder—a great product to pack in your clutch if you tend to, you know, glow.

Like Jessica, your knockout red-carpet dress probably shows some skin—which typically calls for a tan. But exposure to UV rays can lead to sun damage, premature skin aging and skin cancer. As for sunless tanning products, though they may save you from an unhealthy solar sizzling, many have their own associated risks. So-called “tanning pills” typically contain canthaxanthin, which can cause eye damage and liver injury, while plenty of “safe” sugar-based sunless tanning creams are still chock full of parabens, propylene glycol (antifreeze in your fake-bake, anyone?) and artificial fragrance.

Instead, get a glow that saves your skin—and the planet—by using cruelty-free, drugstore-brand Physician’s Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Bronzer to achieve your just-blew-in-from-Barbados shade. We’re big fans of the dual-tone bronzer palette, which contains organic rice silk and organic jojoba seed oil—but no parabens, synthetic preservatives, synthetic colors, synthetic fragrance or GMOs—to create a subtle and slightly shimmery effect.

LIP LOCK

Between greeting (even air-kisses warrant a lip smack) sipping, snacking and talking, lips get a workout on red-carpet nights, and you need lip color that will stick with you until the DJ packs it in. Disturbingly, many long-wear lipsticks contain carcinogenic colors, lead, chemical preservatives and phthalates, long associated with hormonal disruption, including liver, kidney and lung damage—no cause for celebration.

That’s why we’re so excited about Lip-Ink, which adheres to the principles of PETA and the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, while turning out wax-free, paraben-free, kosher, vegan, long-wear lip color that’s loaded with more than 40 natural herbs, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Applying Lip-Ink lip stain is a three-part process, involving lip-prep, color application and shine coat, and we will caution you that the color does tingle briefly, but intensely, when applied. But once we got this stuff on, it stayed on, and on and on and on, through laughing, smiling, smooching, drinking and eating, until we swabbed it off with Lip-Ink’s all-natural Off color remover. The best part? You can layer several Lip-Ink shades (they’ve got zillions), to achieve your perfect color. Smooch!

THE MANE EVENT 

And then there’s hair. What to do with one’s tresses is almost always a source of stress for even the mellowest party girl. Up or down? Tousled or tight? And what about those propellants, petrochemicals, skin irritants, neurotoxins and carcinogens so often found in hair sprays, mousses, gels and other holding products?

Not a pretty picture.

So we’re thrilled to offer a lesson in fancy ’do’s from eco-hair expert and Carla Gentile of Steam Salon in Los Angeles, CA, who blew our minds at GreenBlogCon2009 by using some of her miraculous eponymous pomade, a wide-tooth, rat-tail comb and mixed-bristle brush (Mason Pearson, made from cruelty-free, naturally shedded boar bristles, natch) to back-comb her way to gorgeous, indestructible, product-free updos like the one pictured above.

Using Intelligent Nutrients certified-organic and all-eco-all-the-time products, here are Carla’s favorite red-carpet redo hair tips:

For Volume: “Always towel-blot the hair so it is semi-dry. Don’t rough dry the hair with a towel! This will wreak havoc on your ends and increase breakage. Then tip your head upside-down, spray with a light-hold hair spray like Intelligent Nutrients Volumizing Spray and secure hair in a high pony tail until dry. Shake it out for full, natural volume that requires no electricity or product at all!”

For Curls: “Towel blot your hair, then work through Intelligent Nutrients Hair Balm. Towel blot again to remove excess product and moisture. Section the hair, roll it into curls and pin using curl clips, making large pin-curls all over your head. Let your hair dry naturally, or, if you don’t have the time, use your hair dryer on a low setting to finish drying. The most eco-friendly way to achieve these curls is roll them in at night before you go to bed. When the hair is dry, simply remove the clips and shake your hair out for soft texture and wave.”

Now, go work that carpet, baby!

Visit EcoStiletto for more green tips!

I just needed to speak out when I read David Steinman’s article on, “We Need Green Patriots,” in Healthy Living magazine (13.10).  For years I have been compelled to bring home recyclable material from my workplace. 

For over 13 years I worked in a hospital as a laboratory supervisor.  It was part of my employees’ “training” to learn how to rinse out the reagent bottles we were done with and collect them in a bag, along with any aluminum foil and paper we ended up discarding.  I then brought this bag home with me, adding it to my home material at the curb weekly.  Now, at my current job which is a laboratory manufacturing company, I’m taking home a full box or bagful DAILY. 

I’ve tried in earnest, at both locations, to bring in a more professional service…to have EVERYTHING recyclable actually recycled.  And at both, I have been responded to with plain anger for even making such a suggestion.  How ludicrous could I be to suggest given the COST?

I’ve been reading on how so much of our recyclable material actually goes right to the landfill with the rest of our garbage, or how toxic the chemicals are that are used or which are bi-products of the recycling process are.  So yes, while I work hard urging my fellow people to care about our earth, I’m still searching out the best ways to do it! Well, so onward I will continue…taking home my loot to put out weekly.

-Natalie Lynn Lichtenbert

One of the most ominous secrets today about household cleaning products—namely Windex—is that a synthetic chemical commonly used in their formulas has shown some evidence of carcinogenicity. The secret has been deeply buried throughout the years in a little publicized technical report from the National Toxicology Program. While the report overall did not condemn the chemical as a carcinogen, its findings represent what could be the beginning of the end of this chemical in consumer products.

The report was published in March 2000 and is part of the National Toxicology Program’s Technical Report Series.

The chemical has a lot of aliases and is known as butyl cellosolve, 2-butoxyethanol, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGMBE or EGBE) or as a member of the family known as ethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers. It is used extensively as a solvent in surface coatings such as lacquers, enamels, varnishes, and latex paint; in paint thinners, paint stripping formulations, and inks; and in degreasers and industrial and household cleaners.

2-butoxyethanol was nominated for study because of its widespread use in industrial and consumer applications, the potential for exposure to workers and the general population, and the absence of chronic toxicity data, according to the report. In the study, it was found that, “There was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of 2-butoxyethanol in female F344/N rats based on the increased combined incidences of benign or malignant pheochromocytoma (mainly benign) of the adrenal medulla. There was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of 2-butoxyethanol in male B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of hemangiosarcoma of the liver. A marginal increase in the incidences of forestomach squamous cell papilloma and an increase in the incidences of hepatocellular carcinoma may have been exposure related. There was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of 2-butoxyethanol in female B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of fore stomach squamous cell papilloma or carcinoma (mainly papilloma). Increased incidences of forestomach neoplasms in male and female mice occurred in groups in which ulceration and hyperplasia were also present.”

When a chemical causes cancer in both sexes of two species of animals or more it is generally thought of as being a potential carcinogen (its final classification based on a sophisticated review of many additional studies and evidence). So—this chemical is very close.

But there’s more scary news. In a December 1998 article in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, doctors treated seven clerical workers after exposure to vaporized 2-butoxyethanol, which had been applied overnight to strip the floor of their file room. At the time of exposure, they had noted intense eye and respiratory irritation, marked dyspnea, nausea, and faintness. All seven workers later experienced recurrent eye and respiratory irritation, dry cough, and headache.

Four months after the exposure, cherry angiomas began to appear on the arms, trunk, and thighs of six workers, who voiced concerns about the possibility of cancer. New cherry angiomas have continued to appear 5 years after the acute exposure, as the initial ones persisted. “These angiomas occur in healthy persons as they age but in this instance appear to have resulted from a single overexposure to 2-butoxyethanol.”

Ironically, the researchers concluded, “We felt confident in reassuring the workers that they would suffer no serious consequences from this exposure.”

Yeah, sure! No serious consequences?

The scary thing is millions of homemakers, janitors and other folks are using this chemical today, not fully realizing their harmful effects. The brand of window cleaner most closely associated with its use in their products is Windex. But many other products, including some Fantastik, Formula 409, Lysol and Simple Green formulas also contain this chemical. Unfortunately, finding out which products contain this chemical requires sleuthing and looking at company data since there are such lax labeling regulatory laws, requiring little to no specific ingredient disclosures.

Does that mean these products are dangerous and should never be used? Well, nobody knows for certain how much damage these products can do, but one can speculate that one would not want to be using ALL or several of these products (especially at the same time) without protection while working in the home and cleaning on a daily basis. But, unfortunately this scenario is probably the one we see most often. Homemakers do a lot of cleaning. They use a lot of these products. They rarely use protection, and worse, they might be pregnant. This affects everyone, but one can imagine the hundreds of thousands of people in cleaning jobs who are being exposed. It is hazardous to their health, their babies and society! Besides, these products transmit what are called volatile organic chemicals that become airborne and can be inhaled 24/7 in the home. In one media report, Lysol came out as the worst of all products tested. Rates of environmental cancers continue to rise. Some studies link occupational exposures to cancer, including homemakers. Do we really need to be adding another potential carcinogen to the pool of toxic chemicals to which we are being exposed?

The Better Choice

You don’t have to buy products with this chemical to get perfectly clean and clear streak-free windows. We’ve put a lot of different cleaners to the test and while Windex no doubt does a great job on your windows, other cleaners we have tested do just as well without having to use what appears to be a highly toxic chemical where even low chronic doses might present an unnecessary risk.

With all of this in mind, our clear choice for all-around performance and value has become relatively easy: Earth Friendly Products has tested free of not only this chemical, but all petrochemicals including dioxane and formaldehyde. Their products are available everywhere. They work just as well (we know as we’ve tested them). They’re comparably priced. AND, they end up protecting you and your family.

Resources

Earth Friendly Products, including their window cleaner and all-surface cleaner, as well as their Wave automatic dishwashing gel and ECOS laundry detergent, are the smart, green choice. They don’t contain phosphates, dioxane, or any other chemical toxins. Visit them at www.efpclean.com.

The Beauty Bus Foundation enhances the quality of life for home-bound, terminally or chronically ill patients and their primary caregivers by providing free of charge, in-home beauty and grooming treatments such as facials and manicures. derma e^® Natural Bodycare, a pioneer in natural skincare, is product sponsor for the Beauty Bus Foundation. “In donating our nourishing skin-care formulas, our wish is to help Beauty Bus continue to touch lives in such a warm, gracious and caring way,” says Dr. Linda Miles, L. Ac. D.O.M., vice president of derma e.

Resources

Find out where you can catch the Beauty Bus at www.beautybus.org. derma e products are available at natural health retailers nationwide, visit them at www.dermae.com.

David Steinman with Global Green's green-building expert, Michael Lopez

It was only four years ago, but for many people it seems like it was only yesterday. At the time, I was on the plains of Iowa, near the Nebraska border, listening to the loud thunder claps of the storm and then waking up and visiting a plant called NatureWorks, where plastic was being manufactured from non-polluting corn and turned into all sorts of neat and useful things like beer mugs for sporting events, yellow coffee cups, and even blankets.

Half a continent away, in the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Katrina was looming, big, getting bigger, refusing to budge from its target: New Orleans, Louisiana. What proceeded to happen in the next few days was as devastating a natural disaster as Americans had seen in several decades, perhaps a precursor of what is to come with global climate change. I remember flying back to Los Angeles to my three children. I was alone; but not nearly as alone as the people of New Orleans would find themselves in the days following the arrival of Hurricane Katrina. We all know the story—the story of the great flood of 2005. We know about the terrible failures of the levy system that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed and of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), in light of drowning, looting, dislocation, death and more deaths, thousands (some 1,836).

The Holy Cross Project's green demonstation home.

For the last four years, most Americans have talked about NOLA (New Orleans, LA) without being there. It really isn’t fair, if you know what I mean, to gossip about what you don’t know.

On December 30, 2009, I visited the Ninth Ward of New Orleans with my fiancée Ana. We were in a Ford F-150 pickup with Global Green's Mike Lopez, assuredly one of the most knowledgeable green builders today. The home of the future—one that is small, compact, super efficient, and affordable—might well have been invented right here in the burgeoning Holy Cross neighborhood of the Ninth Ward by a group whose founder, Mikhail Gorbachev, was once part of the Evil Empire (that he helped to dismantle with his program of Glasnost).

On the second day there, Mike picked us up at the International House, a member of the Green Hotel Association, and we drove out of the French Quarter and Downtown. That was when he told me, “They have repainted downtown so you won’t see the waterlines,” where we drove down Claiborne.

“How was the French Quarter affected by Hurricane Katrina?” I asked.

“Not quite as bad as you might think,” Mike replied. “That’s because in their wisdom, when New Orleans was first settled, people built on the highest ground. That would be the French Quarter,” he said. But as we drove, where so many businesses and hotels lined the boulevard, he said that this section had water that was four or five feet. New Orleans, at least downtown, was back in business, some four years later. We were there for the Sugar Bowl weekend and plenty of good folks from Ohio and Florida were venturing down to support their team. But downtown was easy to get out of.

Debris from the flood remains on roofs.

The farther away we drove from downtown, the more dilapidated the city became, and then we crossed one of the eight canals that surround New Orleans and we were in the Ninth Ward. I was witnessing something on the level of a war zone, something as devastated. We turned from Claiborne Street, which divided the Ninth Ward into two sections. We were about to enter the worst area. We drove down ironically named and nearly deserted Flood Street. We drove amidst the ruins in the lower Ninth Ward, which is thought of as the area downriver of the Industrial Canal. Unlike the Holy Cross area of the Ninth Ward, this portion is really low, below sea level. It is difficult to describe the devastation. It was so complete and thorough. It was like a flood of Biblical proportion had hit the town—but why would God attack the God-fearing people of the lower Ninth Ward? I saw churches everywhere. Some were going strong. Others were abandoned.

“Somehow over the years nobody gave a damn how people built and everyone wanted to believe the Corps,” Mike said. “But now you can see what happens; this was all a manmade disaster.” Vacant lots, overgrown with grass and weeds, covered with foundations, dominated the scene. A few homes were situated along the roads, but very few—and there were no stores, no lights, no lamps, just outcasts of homes, more frightening than being alone in the jungle. Maybe 10 percent of the people had returned—if even that. We saw roofs littered with debris. It just was not happening.

“You see where we are now is one of the lowest areas in the city.” It was difficult to imagine that where we were was once an actual community. Big spray-painted messages from the time of the flood marked many of the homes.

Fats Domino's home survived the flood, although the artist has moved to a different neighborhood.

We passed by the home where Fats Domino had long lived and recorded. “His story is interesting,” Mike said. “It was a few days after Katrina when friends realized they hadn’t heard from him. He was 77 at that time, and he had taken refuge in his attic and there’s a cut in the side of his home, which also used to be his recording studio, where he was pulled out. In that heat and humidity it was amazing that he survived. People say he was emaciated. He lives on the North Shore now.

“The strange thing for the people of the Ninth Ward was that when the storm came and   passed, at first they thought everything would be all right, but as you can see, this area is very low lying and surrounded by levees. The storm came and went and everyone came out on the street and then they heard or saw the wall of water coming, rising fifteen feet in some areas, which is why you still see debris on the roofs of homes, but the surge that came from the Gulf had only begun. The eight canals that crisscrossed the fish-bowl city became conduits for the surge, a frightening overload. Water from the Gulf went up through Lake Pontchartrain. That was when the levees failed. People had been assured by the Army Corps of Engineers that the levees would never fail, but the water kept coming (from some two miles away). The floodwaters were eight to ten feet high. As the water came up, people could not escape, and there was no way to escape through the roof, either. They drowned inside their attics.”

Up ahead of Ana and me were the levees themselves, covered with grass, looking fairly lethal. The Corps always assured the people they would be safe, he said. “But recently the court held the Corps liable for what happened. Sure they will appeal and it will take years, but maybe justice will be done. The Corps is powerful, and it isn’t usual that a decision goes against them.”

The impact on the City of New Orleans has been substantial. When people leave, business leaves. There were no stores. There was about one home per block. Nobody had really returned. Schools were closed down. Churches were closed down. Buildings were boarded.

“But don’t think of this as a socioeconomic issue,” Mike warned. “A lot of people were affected.” Nonetheless, lower income minorities were tremendously adversely affected. It was clear. Still, I understood where he was coming from. Something like this hurts everyone living on low ground.

As we finally made our way across Claiborne and we entered the Holy Cross neighborhood, only the name remained. “The school decided to move,” Mike said.

Global Green's sustainable green homes will be sold only to people who were living in the Ninth Ward as of April 29, 2005.

Yet, the Holy Cross neighborhood is coming back. It is on slightly higher ground and that makes all the difference. In fact, Mike had come from Austin, Texas, where he was overseeing a state-based regional green building initiative, to show how a sustainable community could be built here in the Ninth Ward. The homes that we saw were remarkable and for sale at a very reasonable $175,000 for a fully sustainable 1,100 square feet. What makes the homes remarkable is how energy efficient they are. The demonstration home was completely energy independent.

There were so many innovative features about the home. Consider that it is drawing all of its power and energy from the sun and geothermal. The floor was made with recycled local wood. The home supplies much of its own water by capturing rain. There was a huge underground water cistern. The geothermal system was impressive because you can actually use the stable temperature of the earth to either warm or cool a home, depending on your needs, and it is free, and there is a renewable and endless supply. The solar panels supplied all of the rest of the energy. There was a control panel on the wall that Mike showed me that you touched to learn about your power usage. You can tell when you use peak power or just a little and relate it back to what you are doing, he said. The entire home was Energy Star-certified. It was actually reducing its carbon footprint to a net negative, going beyond “carbon neutral.”

If there is a take-home lesson from Global Green's The Holy Cross Project, it is that we can make a difference even here. I turned to Mike and asked: “I mean, couldn't some of all that money that went to Wall Street have helped Global Green to do its job better and improve a neighborhood in a city that Americans love and need?” He just smiled at me.

New Orleans is a great town. There’s a lot of opportunity. Where the new homes are located is the rebirth of a vibrant neighborhood. The homes are selling for excellent prices and this part of the Ninth Ward is going to emerge stronger than ever. The green shoots are sending hope into the community. Michael Lopez and Global Green are part of the hope. Global Green is conducting tours regularly so that everybody can learn from these homes and “take what they learn to their own projects,” Mike said. “That is what it is all about, man. Spreading the message far and wide—and, of course, helping this community.”

Resources

• www.globalgreen.org

• www.fatsdominomusic.com

• Hear a podcast of Beth Galante of Global Green discuss the Holy Cross Project at www.greenpatriotradio.com

This winter the harsh winds will howl and moan like coyotes and the sun will shine as bright as a fi re, refl ecting off the snow, or you will be confronted with the exhaust fumes of modern urban life in the cold streets of the big city. You can bet that wherever you are (even soaking up the rays in the Sunbelt) that your skin craves a special set of nutrients and herbs just to help it cope with the harsh environment.

Here’s our winter shopping guide to some of the best and most-trusted elixirs that your skin will drink up:

Products containing hyaluronic acid (HA), a “moisture magnet,” are perfect for rehydrating dry skin during these dry, low-humidity times. Hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in water and has the amazing ability to bind moisture to tissue to soften, smooth, tone and rehydrate your skin.

With age, the body’s ability to produce its own HA diminishes and topical application helps replenish the skin.

You definitely want to make HA a key part of your skincare program. Do look for a whole host of products containing HA, including body and hand lotions, rehydrating crèmes, and eye crèmes. (Be sure your HA formula avoids parabens and phthalates.)

COQ10, ESTER-C AND GREEN TEA

A perfect day crème for rehydrating combines HA with Ester-C®, green tea extract, and vitamin E. Ester-C is proven in clinical studies to fill in fine lines and wrinkles, according to proprietary studies the company had performed, and makes a great complement to HA. Vitamin E works with ascorbic acid to actually increase your skin’s antioxidant activity, as shown in an article in the August 24, 2001, issue of Life Sciences. Green tea applied topically is extraordinary for preventing sun- and free radical-related skin damage according to an article in the July 2009 issue of Cancer Biology & Therapy.

Also complementing HA and improving cellular health is retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A.

Around the eyes, HA can help, especially when combined with Pycnogenol®. This remarkable antioxidant, extracted from the bark of the French maritime pine, has been shown to be 50 times more powerful than vitamin E and 20 times more effective than vitamin C in neutralizing free radicals. Pycnogenol also has important anti-inflammatory properties, helps to stabilize the capillary system, improve circulation and increase the skin’s resistance to inflammation, making it an ideal ingredient for those who have sensitive skin or who suffer from rosacea and other inflammatory skin conditions.

During the day, consider a skin-care formula with macadamia oil. Rich in palmitoleic acid, experts believe macadamia has the highest levels of any plant oil. Palmitoleic acid is a key component of human sebum when we are young but the levels decline radically as we age.  Many experts including Weston Price recommend macadamia nut oil for the skin of older people. Plus, it is very stable and penetrates the skin quickly, making it a vanishing oil. Macadamia nut oil is used in France in suntan lotions for this reason. Its fatty acids seem to help the skin maintain high levels of moisture.

Cosmetic and personal care product shoppers love being green. That means safe for you and the planet. That is the other half of the equation. Be sure your products are completely free from parabens and phthalates. Be sure your company is constantly striving to lessen its impact on the environment and improve conservation efforts. Whenever possible, be sure your natural ingredients are sourced from environmentally friendly farms that practice sustainable agriculture and are organic inside 100-percent-recyclable packaging.

In 2009, derma-e® marked the second year manufacturing with wind energy, reducing the company’s environmental footprint by matching 100 percent of conventional electricity use with clean, renewable energy. This renewable energy purchase supports derma e in their continuing effort to completely offset carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Resources

derma e offers a complete line of products to help reduce the signs of aging and resolve problem skin. Visit www.dermae.com for a complete list of products.

What is in that all-purpose cleaner with the label of the bald-headed man with the golden earring, anyway? Why won’t Formula 409 tell me more about some of its pesky ingredients? And if a product says when you buy it you will help to save the planet and calls itself green in its name, then why is it using artificial green colors to make its point? Is that literally the definition of greenwashing?

So when the scrub brush hits the first counter, what qualities should a shopper look for when seeking an effective yet environmentally responsible all-purpose cleaner?

We are all trying to green our homes and make them safer. Certainly, green household cleaning products play an important role. The chemicals in household cleaners are known to be toxic to the kidneys, liver, and nervous system. Some could cause cancer. In addition, many of the products use exorbitant amounts of natural resources in their production, manufacture, and distribution.

To help you through this toxic nightmare, we have evaluated the leading all-purpose cleaners, both mainstream and green, to see which are the safest and which are most dangerous (least safe).

We reveal their toxic ingredients, often not disclosed on labels. And we looked at the companies behind the brands to see which are true green.

by Karolyn A. Gazella  

At Medicine Horse Program, we have seen firsthand how horses can help people. Our award-winning HopeFoal Project provides direct evidence as to the power of the horse-human connection. With HopeFoal, we rescue foals from the Premarin drug industry and match them with depressed, anxious, and troubled teens. The foals are born to mares whose only purpose is to provide urine during their pregnancy for the estrogen replacement drug Premarin, also known as Premelle, Prempac, Prempro, and Premphase. The foals born to these mares are merely byproducts, often sent off to slaughter. They are an after thought, an irritant that serves no purpose in the eyes of the drug company.

At Medicine Horse, we have a different perspective. Teens experiencing “at-risk” behavior help us gentle the foals. The teens can relate to these foals, which come to us anxious, afraid, or angry. Many of the kids in this class often feel they are the “throw-away” children, the byproducts of a life that has become too difficult to live. Along with a trained therapist and experienced volunteers, the foals show the kids that life is worth fighting for.

I remember the first time I shared the HopeFoal Project with Myra Michelle Eby, pioneer of true natural skin care products and founder of MyChelle Dermaceuticals.

“We have to help,” she told me.

A woman of action, Myra quickly made MyChelle Dermaceuticals the most impressive corporate sponsor that Medicine Horse Program has ever seen. Our HopeFoal Project is by far the most expensive and labor-intensive program we offer. Without MyChelle, I am not sure that our HopeFoal Project would have survived. Today, it is not only surviving; it is thriving.

Medicine Horse Program works in partnership with horses to help young people experience enhanced psychological, spiritual and emotional health. We specialize in growth and learning programs that help enhance a child’s self-esteem, manage anger, cope with fear, and learn how to trust again.

“The foals need special attention and care,” explains Corinne Schindler, Medicine Horse barn manager and instructor. “Thanks to MyChelle, we are able to rescue our HopeFoals and successfully integrate them into our herd where they can help more children.” Medicine Horse has a vision of service, sustainability and giving. It is a vision that MyChelle has embraced fully.

Attention To Detail

When working with horses, there is an enhanced awareness that is hard to describe. The horses help instill a sense of honesty and openness that often cannot come from conventional learning or therapy. This spirit of respect and trust is similar to the values that drive Myra to produce the highest quality skin care products possible. Her attention to detail is unparalleled and her commitment to quality is reflected in actions, not just words.

Myra has more than 25 years of experience in the natural health industry and has traveled the world searching for unique, effective ingredients for MyChelle products. Even more important than what is in her products is what is not in them. Extra care and attention is paid to purity. Myra insists that her products are always free of phthalates, parabens, propylene glycol, ureas, EDTA, and artificial fragrances and colors.

“For MyChelle, our mission goes way beyond just producing skin care products,” she says. “We have a commitment to our customers to produce the highest quality products that are not only effective, but that are also safe for the user and the environment. We also go out of our way to use cutting-edge, active, dermaceutical-grade ingredients in the correct molecular structure for optimal absorption and effectiveness.”

The MyChelle mission is fueled by a commitment to truly make a difference—one customer at a time and one cause at a time. To Myra, leading her company with integrity and giving back to the community is paramount.

Top of The World in Frisco, Colorado

Founded in November 2000, MyChelle Dermaceuticals has experienced impressive growth since the moment they began manufacturing their quality skin care products. Myra has listened to her customers and intuitively and expertly crafted a nontoxic, effective skin care product line that her customers appreciate. Customers also value the fact that when they buy a MyChelle product, they are supporting a consciously minded company. In addition to Medicine Horse, MyChelle is a dedicated supporter of the survivors and victims of cancer through the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

“Recent evidence shows us that topical parabens—which are estrogen mimickers—have been detected in human breast tumors,” explains Myra. “I am very proud that MyChelle is one of the very few skin care lines, even in the natural products industry, that is paraben-free.”

It is that commitment that makes MyChelle Dermaceuticals so successful and readily embraced by health conscious consumers. As they celebrate their six-year anniversary, they are more committed than ever to providing the most effective safe skin care products possible.

“We feel like we are on top of the world as we continue to make our dream a reality,” says Myra. “We feel so fortunate to be able to contribute to the health of our customers and the health of our community.”

Company With a Commitment

In these troubling, challenging times, consumers like yourself are seeking companies whose products and corporate ethics reflect your own values. Producing nontoxic cosmetics, coupled with bettering our community, particularly troubled youths, and rescuing poor foals that would otherwise have no lives at all, is what MyChelle is all about. Their inclusion in the Green 100, which is part of the new book Safe Trip to Eden: Ten Steps to Save the Planet Earth from the Global Warming Meltdown, also demonstrates that they are a pro-environment, pro-American green patriot company. This is a great company to support and one that I am proud to be reporting on.

Congratulations to Myra and the entire MyChelle team. On behalf of Medicine Horse Program and all of the participants in our HopeFoal Project, we want you to know that our gratitude is as expansive as is your commitment to quality. Thank you MyChelle!

Karolyn A. Gazella is executive director of the  Medicine Horse Program in Boulder, Colorado, and the co-author of The Definitive Guide to Cancer: An Integrated Approach to Treatment and Healing (Celestial Arts, Berkeley, California).

Resources

MyChelle Dermaceuticals’ skin care products are available nationwide at health food markets and holistic spas. Call 1-800-447-2076 for more information or visit www.mychelleusa.com.

Everybody should go to Paris at least once in their life. If you decide to go, you will definitely want to stay at a green hotel. But, is ecotourism possible in Paris? Yes.

Remember the name Gavarni. That’s Hotel Gavarni at 5 Rue de Gavarni. My fiancé, Ana, and I did and and we were pleasantly surprised by our wonderfully romantic stay at Paris’s best boutique and first independently certified green hotel.

Go green with Gavarni, and you will get everything: value, quality, friendship, and the most beautiful rooms…. Especially delightful was that we were in such a nice area of Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower rising in the background with all of its lights at night, making our stay even more romantic.

Since I was going to France to enjoy its wonderful cultural and natural resources, I wanted to do the right thing, and Hotel Gavarni fit the bill when it came to traveling green. France is actually a very green country, but Hotel Gavarni is the first, and only, hotel I could find that has been certified by the European Union Ecolabelling Board.

“When they came to our hotel,” said assistant director Prisca Scheidecker, “they had a very stringent list of requirements—from our fabrics, to our cleaning products, our foods, even our energy use. We are 100 percent carbon neutral and we use renewable energy through carbon offsets and credits.”

All of the Hotel Gavarni’s lamps had compact fluorescent bulbs, and there was in-room recycling, but who knew that when we sent our clothes out to be laundered they would go to a haute couture green cleaner that used nontoxic methods? In fact, leave it to Gavarni to find the only eco-friendly dry cleaner in Paris, which turned out to be Kennedy Pressing. Here’s the back-story: While most dry cleaners still use toxic perchloroethylene for dry cleaning, Stéphane Sibony, director, uses all natural silicon, which, by the way, was also better for the beads and sequins on Ana’s clothing.

The rates are so reasonable. Our package included breakfast. You can enjoy the Gavarni breakfast either in your room or in the pleasant sunlight-dappled, naturally air-conditioned dining room on the first floor. “Gavarni makes the best breakfast in Paris!” Ana declared, while we enjoyed fresh organic fruits, eggs, yogurt, coffee (fair trade and organic), iced tea, and fresh organic orange juice. (Can it get any better than this?)

And what about the shopping and dining close by? I am still gushing over the great buys we found at the many shops along Rue de Passy, and how we loved our first dinner in Paris at La Petite Tour just around the corner from the hotel.

(The time we were there—early August—is a great time for sales throughout France.)

I don’t think I could have asked for a better hotel. A short walk from the Eiffel Tower, the Trocadero, and the Bois de Boulogne and 10 minutes away from the Champs-Elysées, it is a good starting point to discover and enjoy the city of lights. Dante and Jennifer and the rest of the staff were the best. They are friendly and, fortunately for us, they spoke perfect English. They booked our tours at Versailles and the Louvre, took care of our restaurant reservations (try Convivium for wonderful Italian), and even helped us with our car rental at Hertz when we decided to drive to Provence. French caricaturist and illustrator Paul Gavarni was a brilliant artist, and every floor of the hotel features his original illustrations. You will want these for your own walls. And, the good news is that some of his art is available and I think will continue to rise in value. I also loved their jewelry display (though we waited until Cannes to buy jewelry).

I loved that when we went to the room and I needed to connect to the Internet to e-mail, twitter or blog, the hotel’s wireless service was completely free and without hassle. I could stay in touch with my kids and loved ones.

One test of a great hotel is whether or not you would want to stay there again on your next visit. You can be absolutely certain Ana and I would definitely return to the Hotel Gavarni.

Gavarni History

Built between 1907 and 1908 by Henri Lecoeur, a famous French architect, the building was intended, since the very beginning, to be a hotel with furnished rooms. Its name came from the street: Gavarni. First constructed in 1835, the “Rue des Artistes” was renamed in 1875 in honor of Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier (whose pen name was Paul Gavarni), a caricaturist, painter and journalist, who died in Paris in 1866. Gavarni contributed to several nineteenth century newspapers such as Le Charivari and L’Illustration, and illustrated novels by Honoré de Balzac. Gavarni’s works are part of the decoration of the hotel, which displays one of the only known portraits of the artist at reception. The hotel still has its original façade and marquee.

The interior, despite being deeply renovated (last in 2001 and 2005), has maintained its comfortable homey style and atmosphere. The warm decor in each room and suite give it a “home away from home” feeling.

Resources

www.gavarni.com

For the most exceptional personal care products available today, look for the Whole Foods Market Premium Body Care seal. Whole Foods Market has bestowed their seal upon over 2000 products and continues to seek out more every day. Recently added to their list are 40 products from derma e^®, which means they have met the strictest standards for quality sourcing, environmental impact, results and safety.

The Premium Body Care seal identifies formulas that do not contain toxic ingredients such as parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates, artificial colors, synthetic fragrances, and polypropylene and polyethylene glycols.  All products must contain ingredients which allow the formulas to function effectively. Plus, ingredients in these products are recognized for being minimally processed therefore they have little environmental impact during the manufacturing process.

For nearly 25 years, derma e Natural Bodycare has pioneered the development of high-performance antioxidant skincare solutions. Their comprehensive line of natural products is paraben-free, cruelty-free, and 100 percent vegetarian. Additionally, derma e products contain non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) ingredients, which are sourced from environmentally friendly farms that practice sustainable agriculture, and use 100 percent recyclable packaging.

Derma e not only manufactures high-quality products that are safe, they have a deep-seated commitment to the environment. derma e is constantly striving to lessen their impact on the environment and improve their conservation efforts. 

Derma e products are available at fine health food stores and natural product retailers. Use the store locator at www.dermae.net to find derma e near you.  To find out more about their newly bestowed Premium Body Care seal click here.   

For more information on Whole Foods Market Premium Body Care standards
click here. 

I thought I knew everything about laundry detergents. I ended up speaking with some very smart environmental people and realized I knew next to nothing. Hopefully, what I have learned I have conveyed in what I believe is a very important article in the latest issue of The Doctors’ Prescription for Healthy Living (13.7:32). If this article helps to educate you on your laundry detergent choices, wow, that could make a big difference in your local water supply. One amazing fact that I learned while researching this story: laundry detergents are the nation’s second leading cause of human-made inorganic water pollution. In fact, we need to be able to recycle our water supplies for both urban and agricultural uses. But powdered laundry detergents, in particular, are polluting our waterways with sodium salts. When dumped into our sewer systems, treating inorganic pollutants like phosphates and sodium is next to impossible and EXPENSIVE.

And what about cancer-causing chemicals like dioxane that are in laundry detergents? Or how about estrogen-mimicking detergents such as nonylphenol ethoxylates that alter our very reproductive nature? All these have a toll on our personal health and environment. Why don’t we just try to save money as a society and use products that avoid these problems in the first place? But is this even possible?

YES!

A little bit of education could go a long way. Making this change on a personal level will be good for every local community’s drinking water and soil quality.

Boy, at a time when the nation’s fresh drinking water is becoming increasingly limited, particularly in the drought-plagued West, your choice of laundry products truly makes a difference. Let's not waste the very natural resource that makes life possible.

WITNESS TO THE CHANGE

In talking about a truly green economy, I have actually reported this story from the hub of the change. To write this story, I visited the Earth Friendly Products plant in Garden Grove, California where their laundry, dishwashing and other household cleaning products are made for the Southwestern region. There are actually four plants, regionally located, significantly reducing the company’s carbon footprint, making it, I believe, the nation’s first truly carbon neutral household cleaning product company, and with a very significant (and growing) share of the national market.

That’s just the beginning. The day I visited Dr. Van Vlahakis (the company’s founder), his daughter Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks and the rest of the staff, dozens of green collar workers were on the roof, putting in a solar system that would reduce energy usage by eighty percent.

With this investment, the company was putting people to work in the new green collar economy during a really difficult economic time.

Why this success? Because Earth Friendly Products is delivering shopping value and quality—and quality these days must truly embody green living—this is where Earth Friendly Products excels. Their products tested dioxane-free by the Organic Consumers Association and the Green Patriot Working Group. They offer detergents that have the lowest sodium, no phosphates, no formaldehyde, no petrochemicals, and that are truly pH neutral and non-caustic. Both for the laundry and washing dishes, these products perform better, require less detergent, and protect local community drinking water supplies. 

So there I was in the middle of the change, witnessing it! Read the story here.

-David Steinman

On their recent trip to Puerto Vallarta, Dave and Ana went to the Arches beach and helped pick up trash that had washed ashore from the sea.  Think how beautiful our beaches would be if everybody did this or better packed away their trash when at the beach.

by Kim Henderson

Below is an excerpt from 50 Simple Steps to Save the World’s Rainforests to be released in Spring 2011 from Freedom Press

This is one of our favorite steps because it is so simple, delicious—and nutritious. Go to the market, buy some Brazil nuts (organic, if they are available) and eat 'em up.  That's it!

Yes, by simply buying and consuming Brazil nuts (or Brazil nut oil), you will be helping to preserve the Amazon rainforest. Consumer power at its best! 

Here's how it works. Brazil nut trees produce fruit almost entirely in the Amazon's untouched rainforest because they are dependent on a unique, large-body bee for pollination. This particular type of bee depends on orchids that grow almost exclusively in the rainforest. Hence, disturbed forests lack these special large-body bees, often referred to as orchid bees.  Orchid bees do not "behave" (excuse the pun)—they are nonsocial or semi-social—in other words, humans cannot manipulate them to pollinate certain crops by transporting beehives from one plantation to the next. Thanks, in part, to these strong-minded bees, attempts to cultivate the Brazil nuts on plantations have failed (soil content also may be a factor).

Furthermore, because the Brazil nut is a highly valuable food source with profitable European and North American markets, the more than 100,000 Amazon inhabitants who depend on revenue related to Brazil nut extraction have a vested interest in preserving the forest where Brazil nut trees flourish. It's no mistake that Brazil nut harvesters have been called "guardians of the forest." 

Brazil nut trees live for a very long time—estimates range from 500 to 1000 years. If sustainably harvested, Brazil nuts can be harvested for generations and generations bringing income to locals without ever harming the rainforest.

Brazil nuts are considered the most viable non-timber forest product (NTFP) in the Amazon. Bolivia is the top exporter ahead of Brazil, followed by Peru. They are also harvested and exported on a much smaller scale from Venezuela, eastern Colombia, Guyana and French Guyana. By purchasing Brazil nuts, you are helping to preserve the area of the Amazon rainforest that spans across all of these countries. 

It's critical that Brazil nut exports remain a viable market as it provides income to many harvesters who could turn to more damaging avenues for economic survival, like panning for gold, logging, slash-and-burn agriculture or cattle ranching. 

The Peruvian government understands this and lends areas of forest that are dense with Brazil nut trees as concessions to local harvesters who manage them under contracts with the Peruvian forest service. Brazil nut concessions are privately managed conservation areas that allow harvesters and their families to make an income from the rainforest sustainably. Many of them receive help from a non-profit organization called the Amazon Conservation Association (www.amazonconservation.org) through the Brazil Nut Program, which provides the harvesters in the Madre de Dios river area with the latest innovations for sustainable extraction. The Peruvian harvesters sell the nuts to local shelling factories, which export the product overseas. This activity accounts for over half the yearly income for thousands of families in the Amazon and protects several million acres of forest from destruction.  In fact, Peru's sustainable standard for Brazil nut extraction was recognized by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) — the first FSC for a NTFP.

The lifecycle of the Brazil nut tree is such a beautiful illustration of the rainforest ecosystem, we think it will allow you to appreciate and get to know this large, tasty nut in a new way. Brazil nuts are actually seeds. The tall Brazil nut trees grow to the top tiers of the canopy, about 160 feet. They produce a fruit (also called a pod) resembling a coconut, which weighs from 2-4 pounds and measures 4 to 6 inches in diameter. When the fruit is ripe, they drop from the canopy to the rainforest floor (which can be quite hazardous!). Only a large rodent called the agouti has the capacity with its sharp teeth to gnaw open the very hard shell. Inside, there are 8 to 24 seeds or "nuts" packed like the segments of an orange with a protective shell. Agoutis eat some of the seeds and bury others for later use. Forgotten seeds sit dormant until a fallen tree allows sun through the canopy to allow a new sapling to grow, starting the lifecycle all over again. A harvester simply gathers the pods from the forest floor and opens them with a machete. They gather the nuts in a sack that they carry on their back out of the forest. A full sack can weigh up to 175 pounds! They are the only wild-harvested tree nut in the world.

You can find Brazil nuts and Brazil nut oil products at most supermarkets and larger health retailers or online. We strongly suggest buying organic whenever possible as this is more likely to ensure that the nuts are harvested sustainably. Overharvesting is a potential problem with Brazil nut extraction.  Research shows that there are some heavily harvested areas where new tree sapling populations have declined. Still, most environmental groups agree that it is better to support the Brazil nut industry as more sustainable extraction techniques are developed.

The best part about this step is that Brazil nuts are delicious to eat and they are a treasure trove of nutrition!  

Brazil nuts are rich in selenium, copper, magnesium, fiber, vitamin E, amino acids and essential fatty acids. In fact, they are one of the few nuts to have enough amino acids to make a complete protein. Just one nut contains 780 percent of the United States daily recommended allowance of selenium—a powerful antioxidant that is believed to help protect against breast and prostate cancer. The Brazil nut oil is also used in hair and skin products for its restorative properties.

There are numerous ways you can enjoy these nutritious, rainforest-saving nuts. Enjoy them roasted. It's very easy. Just spread a cup of shelled, organic Brazil nuts out on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle a little sea salt over the nuts. Place them in a preheated oven at 350º F for 10 minutes. Remove and cool. Enjoy them whole or chop them and sprinkle them over salad, pasta, in plain yogurt with honey or on your morning oatmeal. 

Buy them in a nut mix to enjoy at holiday time. Add them in place of walnuts in any of your favorite baking recipes—cookies, breads and holiday fudge.

Brazil nut oil is excellent for salad dressings, adding a delicious nutty flavor.  You can cook with it too!

Brazil nut oil is known for its skin and hair restorative properties. Rub a little into your skin or hair. Or purchase it in bath and body products. The Body Shop® and Burt’s Bees® both carry products with Brazil nut oil (from sustainable sources, too!).

Truth is, all of us at the GPWG have gone a little nuts for Brazil nuts. Go nuts and save the rainforest at the same time!

California Attorney General Gerry Brown is suing five children's furniture manufacturers for failing to warn consumers that their products emit the cancer-causing agent formaldehyde.

Cribs and changing tables containing the chemical have been found at Target, Wal-Mart and Babies R Us, Deputy Attorney Genera Susan Fiering said Wednesday.

“This type of furniture is of particular concern because the baby sleeping in the crib is really closest to the source of the emissions,” Fiering said. “The concentrations are going to vary depending on how large the room is. Often children's rooms are small.”

The suit alleges the five companies knowingly sold products that emit formaldehyde gas without alerting consumers with warning labels, as required by Proposition 65. The law says manufacturers must provide “clear and reasonable warnings” when their products contain chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects and other reproductive harm. These baby products exceed the recommendations for formaldehyde emission set by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the Department of Public Health, the lawsuit alleges.

Brown's office became aware of the problem in May, when the Environment California Research and Policy Center published results of baby furniture tests and identified high levels formaldehyde in six of the 21 products they tested.

The attorney general's office performed its own tests and discovered levels of formaldehyde gas at “many times” 40 mg per day — the minimum level that requires a warning under state law, Fiering said.

The five companies being sued are Child Craft, Delta Children's Products, Storkcraft, Jardine Enterprises and South Shore Furniture.

A trade group that represents makers of children's furniture said the attorney general's findings are erroneous.

“We have some of our members have outside labs do their own testing, and the results of their tests came out differently than those submitted by the environmental group,” said Yarissa Reyes, a spokeswoman for Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association.

Delta Children's Products owner Joseph Shamie issued a similar statement: “Our furniture complies with all federal and state laws … We remain confident that proper testing will further demonstrate the safety of our products.”

Formaldehyde is found in products consumers use every day, from the glues and resins used to make particle board and plywood, to permanent press textiles, fiberglass insulation and cigarettes. Long-term exposure to the carcinogen can increase the risk of developing cancer, asthma and allergies, according to the Environment California report.

“Children in particular are extremely susceptible to being exposed to toxic chemicals because their bodies are still developing,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, an advocate for Environment California. “Chemicals can really wreck havoc on young little bodies.”

Still, there's no evidence that any of the products identified in the report have harmed anyone, Fiering said.

Etienne Chabot, marketing director for South Shore Furniture, said his company already has changed the type of material used to make its “Country Style Changing Table” to comply with new California regulations that go into effect in January. The regulations, which will be rolled out through 2012, require all manufacturers of composite wood products to lower formaldehyde emissions and to have a state approved lab certify that the products comply.

Chabot says the previous model also was safe.

“I'm a father of three,” Chabot said. “And my two-weeks-old baby, we change her every day on our South Shore changing table, and I'm not worried at all about her safety.”

The state also is suing the companies for violating the Unfair Competition Law for "unfairly profiting" by not posting warnings about carcinogens in their products when other companies must do so.

Meanwhile, Environment California is urging the state to adopt new regulations, including requiring chemical manufacturers to prove that the chemicals they market are safe.

Here are the products called out in the Environment California report for failing to report high levels of the chemical and the stores where each were found:
 

• Child Craft Oak Crib (Target)
• Bridget 4-in-1 Crib by Delta (Wal-Mart)
• Kayla II Changing Table by Storkcraft (Babies R Us)
• Berkley Changing Table by Jardine Enterprises (Babies R Us)
• Country Style Changing Table by South Shore Furniture (Target)
• Rochester Cognac Crib by Storkcraft (Target)

Ana gets a feel for her electric motorcycle.

Plug In America co-founder Paul Scott with David Steinman

Green Patriot David Steinman with former CIA Director James Woolsey enjoy a talk about John McCain's environmental policy...what are the two discussing? (You can bet the former director of the CIA knows how to keep a secret.)

Beautiful and stunning Ana Gutierrez enjoys a moment together with David at the home of Who Killed the Electric Car director, Chris Paine.

Below is an excerpt from 50 Simple Steps to Kick our Oil Addiction due out next Spring from Freedom Press.

• In Australia, 83 percent of people who drove to work or study in 2003 did not have a passenger.
• In the United States, single occupant commuting is around 75 percent, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Says the group: “Send us your shoes! We want the leftovers from your closet.  People across North America are cleaning out their closets and shipping their gently worn shoes to one of our warehouse facilities."

Per their website, "Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. The charity distributes these shoes free of charge to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 7 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently donating one pair every 9 seconds.) The shoes have been distributed to people in over 125 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States.

"The idea behind gifts of shoes is nothing new to the Soles4Souls team, as they coordinated relief efforts for the Asian Tsunami and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, netting over one million pairs donated for these disasters."

Here at Freedom Press, our employees are gathering together their gently worn shoes to give to this group, along with a donation to help with their freight costs. I might not be able to get rid of my hiking boots so easily since they are too worn, but we do have some baby and children’s shoes around our home that our kids have grown out of and that would be just perfect to send along. It is a neat feeling to know that soon a child will be very excited about their new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sneakers.

You can drop off your shoes at one of hundreds of participating locations, or ship larger collections of shoes to one of Soles4Souls' warehouses. For complete shipping instructions and more information:

The Green Patriot with his eco-explorers

Sharla on her float down the Rio Pena Blancas		Hunter Hawkins in the Sacred Seeds Garden at Finca Luna Nueva

Iguana sighting