Lifestyle

Have you procrastinated planting your seedlings for your spring and summer garden? If you're looking for some easy shortcuts, check out some starter plants. Don't run to Home Depot or Lowe's - think small and support local farmers. You'll pump money back into the local economy, minimize the risk of pesticides (or god-forbid!) GMO crops. Although the GMO seeds are unlikely, (find out why you should "go small or go home" and see some awesome bonus photos, after the jump!)

The weather is warming up, and there's a great reason to be excited. Americans spend 90% of their time indoors. Whether you (Find out more, after the jump!)

If you haven't started seedlings yet for your spring & summer crops, it's time to get started. First thing: which potting mix should you choose? Although Miracle-Gro tends to dominate Home Depot & conventional 'home' stores, you may be supporting a scary brand. Miracle-gro has fertilizers and synthetic chemicals, criticized for not improving soil over the long term but instead leaching unnatural chemicals into streams and ponds. (Find out more, after the jump!)

  So when you think of Houston, Texas the image of an environmentally city may not be what you envision. And, well you'd be correct. It's true Houston is well known for big hair, big houses and  big oil;  Plus in my experience residents don't walk anywhere (one exception may be across the popular Galleria mall) and recycling bins in public areas are somewhat scarce. But enough Houston criticizing - for today ;)  While visiting the city recently I found a restaurant gem I had to share. Haven restaurant is all about seasonal fare and inventive dishes. The atmosphere is polished yet earthy and formal enough for a special occasion but not too stuffy for a slightly boozy brunch. Plus, it's a green certified restaurant. Haven's produce, herbs, and honey are grown and harvested from their organic garden located on the property.

Why we're not 'green' One of the biggest complaints about sustainability is how we have to cut back. Stop standing under the faucet and limit yourself to a 5 minute shower. Reduce your energy consumption. Don't buy as much. "The sustainability movement will never completely catch on," a friend recently said to me. "Consumerism drives America." William McDonough & Michael Braungart, authors of the Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability- Designing for Abundance would disagree. Let's go back to those steaming, hot showers. Although I love the environmentalist in me, I also love me some hot, steamy showers on a cold day. But what if we could filter and reuse that water, so I could stand under the faucet until my skin was wrinkly? Instead of worrying about how many fossil fuels the filter process would take, that South Philly wind could power the process. This type of thinking is how The Upcycle challenges you to reconsider sustainability. (Find out more about the Upcycle, released today, after the jump!)

  Gasland Part II will make its World Premier at the famous Tribeca Film Festival in NYC on April 21st. The much-anticipated sequel to the ground-breaking and controversial Gasland will likely frame more heated debates from both fracking supporters and adversaries. Pennsylvania was and is among the states where fracking is a major concern. Gasland and Gasland Part II filmaker Josh Fox has said that 60-65% of PA land is being turned over to gas companies for exploration and drilling.

Spring is here and that means one thing: Time to clean the ish out of your house. Want to truly make the switch to green cleaning? You don't have to buy pricey 'eco-brands' for a green clean. Instead, stock up on pure, safe basics. Here's a short list of what to put in your cleaning cabinet: (Find out what to put in your kit, after the jump!)

Truth: I always thought that the concept of a juice cleanse was a bit of a gimmick and I wanted no part. My thinking was what's 3 or 5 days of juice going to do for me? I try to focus on long-term, big picture health and eschew trends and fad diets. Plus, I love to eat...  I really, really love food and the ritual of meals. I'm the type of person who begins thinking about lunch promptly after finishing breakfast. Spend upwards of $150-200 only to feel hungry and deprived? No chewing? Blah, I can't drink ALL my meals. Nope, no thank you. Though I've been on the fresh juice bandwagon for some time my habit was to incorporate them into my diet in moderation I spent a good amount of time in New York and the abundance of juice bars quickly turned me on to a healthy habit. And when time allows I make juice at home. But here's where I started to realize I might want to take a cleanse for a test spin... Besides being an environmental blogger I also work as a Sports Performance trainer. Over the past few months more & more clients began to inquire about the pros and cons of a juice cleanse. My instinct was to tell them to avoid extremes and focus on healthy eating and exercise! But, I realized I couldn't provide a fully formed opinion without trying one myself. So I decided to try the 3-day Suja juice cleanse. There are a lot of juice options out there these days but Suja appealed to me for a few reasons. Read on for the deets!

Today is World Water Day 2013! In 1993 the United Nations General Assembly declared March 22 World Day for Water. Every year the UNGA focuses on a specific aspect of water conservation. This year the theme is water cooperation.  From the UNGA " (We) recognize that cooperation is essential to strike a balance between the different needs and priorities and share this precious resource equitably, using water as an instrument of peace. Promoting water cooperation implies an interdisciplinary approach bringing in cultural, educational and scientific factors, as well as religious, ethical, social, political, legal, institutional and economic dimensions." One important takeaway from this statement is that water is a shared resource. It is not ours to use as we please at anytime, and it shouldn't be taken for granted. There. is.not.an.endless.supply. By paying attention to our personal and family water usage all year we're taking small steps to help the cause. What can you do?