Lifestyle

Ever since I read the eco-thriller "Eye of the Whale", I've wanted to see whales in the flesh. The fictional novel is fascinating, as it’s full of true whale facts and habits. And I knew I HAD to see a little blowhole sooner than later... When I saw a Philly Dealyo deal for Whale Watching in Cape May, I was almost suspicious that whales wouldn't cross the dirty jersey seas. However, I was quite pleased to find out they did! Five of my friends from an Avalon shorehouse and I decided to embark on the 2.5 hour tour from Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center at 9:30 on Saturday morning. (Find out more & see sweet sea pics, after the jump!)

Fossil fuels are used to fertilize, harvest and process much of the food we eat.  Ample gas is spent transporting food from processor to manufacturer. Considering the valuable resources spent on food processing, it’s disturbing that over 40% of food produced in America is...

Whether you’re hosting a barbecue, enjoying a picnic in the park, or hitting up the beach one last time during this Labor Day weekend keep in mind these simple tips : Reduce your carbon footprint and use public transportation or carpool with friends and family to your destination. Use the final celebration weekend of summer to enjoy locally grown produce like (get more info, after the jump!)

The schoolbus is going round and round... which means for a lot of us, more traffic on the roads. But for that special breed of the population responsible for the development of our future leaders, it means time for to educate our youth. While we gave some tips for Teacher Appreciation Week, it's time to remind teachers to try to remember eco-friendly themes in the classroom. After all, you're the ones molding our children and can help them be environmentally-conscious individuals! Here's a few more ideas of what you can do:

Sometimes you hear a story about someone who has faced adversity and not only risen above their challenges but done something good because of them. Stories like that are inspiring, and have a way of putting things in perspective. In my eyes this is one of them. Alex Elman lost her sight at 27 years old due to complications from diabetes. Her loss of one sense helped heighten another - taste. She discovered she possesses an exceptional palette for wine tasting. Read on after the jump!

GPB reader, Jack asks... Q: I see the term “fair trade” on products. I know this is a good thing but what does fair trade really mean? A: The term fair trade refers to the movement that helps farmers or producers experience better trading conditions. Essentially, the approach focuses on exports coming from developing countries to developed countries and emphasizes paying the producers more (and more fairly.) Read on!

Shark enthusiasts are rejoicing this week as Discovery Channel's "Shark Week" returns to the small screen. Personally, I started off watching the highly-anticipated predatory series Sunday evening with some fine (organic boxed) wine, delicious cheese and a good friend. Although the media portrays sharks as a threat, there's only an average of 5-10 human fatalities per year due to shark attacks... You're more likely to be killed hornets, wasps, bees or dogs. Yet an estimated 73 million sharks are killed yearly - from habitat loss, pollution, overfishing, and most of all, shark finning. (For more on shark conservation and what YOU can do, click through!)

When it comes to saving paper … here’s an oldie but a goodie . Say ‘no thanks’ to receipts from the ATM,  the coffee shop, cabs, drug stores – anywhere you can! I try to let the salesperson know I...

I was scrolling my fav site, Etsy, for gifts (for myself... err others) and found this necklace.. a Wearable Planter Necklace! This jewelry from Holland is totally sweet, and I love plants... but I must ask... how can you keep a plant alive in a small little necklace? Do you have to hang your necklace outside, making sure to 'water your jewelry' after watering your garden? At least you're adding some more plants to wherever you travel. Anyway, this is too awesome not to share. Posted by Julie