Green Re-Creations

Consult Before Greening to Ensure Right Direction

2008-11-05T08:37:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite "downtime" tv shows is My House is Worth What?, hosted by former Apprentice winner and real estate professional Kendra Todd.

The show features homeowners throughout the country who call in a real estate professional to evaluate their home and tell them what it could sell for in the current market.

Last evening's show featured a couple from California who had spent $450,000 on "green" renovations to their home.

Needless to say, I was eager to see just what they had done for that amount of money.

Their real estate consultant had the "ecobroker" certification (same certification I am planning on obtaining next year) which qualifies her to recommend green renovations and upgrades.

Interestingly, it was what this couple didn't do that had an impact on their home and its "greenness".

They did use recycled roofing materials, and had Energy Star appliances.

However, the windows throughout the home were not energy efficient. They were not even double-paned. Windows are a huge expense when renovating a home, whether green or not, but they are a simple way of saving money and energy in a home. And it's something you definitely see a return on when you go to sell your home.

So one thing this couple didn't do was install, cost-effective, energy saving windows.

Another thing they didn't do was consult an ecobroker or other green consultant before spending money on renovations.

After the evaluation, it became clear that some of their money was misspent and did not do much in terms of really creating a healthy, money-saving green home environment.

Please visit my website at www.greenrecreations.com to see what services I can assist with.

Please Pass The Pumpkin!

2008-10-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted about having a green Halloween and not using plastic pumpkins...and the real ones are so much more fun, aren't they?

But what to do with it after Halloween is over, besides relegate it to the compost heap?

Here's a fantastic pumpkin salad recipe from Heidi at 101 Cookbooks! Enjoy!
I am reprinting her photo here.

Roasted Pumpkin Salad Recipe

I know many people have an aversion to cilantro - feel free to leave it out. This will change the personality and flavor profile of the dressing, but it will still taste delicious.

3 cups of pumpkin (or other winter squash), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
extra-virgin olive oi
fine grain sea salt

12 tiny red onions or shallots, peeled (OR 3 medium red onions peeled and quartered)
2 cups cooked wild rice*

1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons warm water
1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 375.
Toss the pumpkin in a generous splash of olive oil along with a couple pinches of salt, and turn out onto a baking sheet. At the same time, toss the onions with a bit of olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and turn out onto a separate baking sheet. Roast both for about 45 minutes, or until squash is brown and caramelized. The same goes for the onions, they should be deeply colored, caramelized, and soft throughout by the time they are done roasting. You'll need to flip both the squash and onion pieces once or twice along the way - so it's not just one side that is browning.

In the meantime, make the dressing. With a hand blender or food processor puree the sunflower seeds, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and honey until creamy. You may need to add a few tablespoons of warm water to thin the dressing a bit. Sit in the cilantro, saving just a bit to garnish the final plate later. Taste and adjust seasonings (or flavors) to your liking - I usually need to add a touch more salt with this dressing.

In a large bowl, toss the wild rice with a large dollop of the dressing. Add the onions, gently toss just once or twice. Turn the rice and onions out onto a platter and top with the roasted squash (I'll very gently toss with my hands here to disperse the pumpkin a bit). Finish with another drizzle of dressing and any remaining chopped cilantro.

Serves 4.

* To cook wild rice: Rinse 1 1/2 cups wild rice. In a medium sauce pan bring the rice and 4 1/2 cups salted water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Cook for 40 minutes or until rice is tender and splitting open, stirring occasionally. You'll have enough for this recipe and some leftover.

Have a Green Halloween!

2008-10-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite childhood memories is of Halloween. I loved making my own costumes (my favorite was being a gypsy because I got to layer on lots of beads and bracelets that my father brought me from Mardi Gras, plus put on a little makeup!).

I gathered my loot in a paper grocery sack or pillow case, then at the end of the night dumped it all on the living room rug to sort through my treasures. I was very excited if I got Hershey miniatures, and not so excited if I got the black and orange wax-paper wrapped peanut butter kisses :(

My highest prized treats, though, were either homemade popcorn balls, or a big juicy red apple!

As an adult, I love passing out candy to the kids...I even dressed up, too. But with more Halloween festivities taking place at churches and school, and even malls, I haven't had any trick or treaters in years :(

Halloween sure has changed since the 60s. Wal-Mart and other stores are filled with ready-made costumes, even for infants. And all the plastic pumpkins! Geez...not to mention plastic bats, crows, witches, scarecrows, spiders and more.

If you're like me and longing for a simpler--and greener--Halloween, Woman's World magazine offers some great tips:

1. Free costumes!!! Make your own from stuff you already have around the house, or host a costme swap party where you bring your kids' old costumes and trade them for costumes that are new to you!

2. Pass on the plastic pumpkins...Woman's World says the hottest green trend this Halloween are eco-freindly canvas bags and pillowcases for hauling home the loot.

3. Got leftover empty cookie wrappers from all those school and church Halloween parties? Sign up at terracycle.net, send in the wrappers for free, and receive up to 5 cents in donated funds for your favorite school or charity. The empty wrappers get turned into tote bags, bulletin boards, and even plant food.

4. Buy candy in bulk to save on packaging.

One tip WW didn't add was to carve a real pumpkin, and then add the "innards" to your compost pile. Hmmm...I bet if you saved those seeds, next year you could have a backyard pumpkin patch of your own.

So...have a safe, green Halloween and send any extra Hershey miniatures my way!

Horse and Buggy pictures from pennsylvania photos on webshots

2008-09-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

Horse and Buggy pictures from pennsylvania photos on webshots

One Person's Future Is Another's Past

2008-09-30T05:29:00.000-07:00

I belong to an email group in the Nashville area that is titled "ecology". I joined the group because I wanted to meet other people who are also interested in the environment. (The group has monthly, in-person meetings, but unfortunately they are usually in some far-away destination like Lewisburg or Humphreys County. The one time there was a meeting close to us, were were out of town).

Anyway, as I read the email posts, I find I am not quite in harmony with these good folks as to what constitutes living in harmony with our environment.

For example, a recent thread contained lots of information about "How To Get Ready for the Future". I guess this is in light of recent economic events.

I expected to see the usual stuff about reducing energy usage and so forth.

And while I do agree that we are sometimes too interdependent on each other for goods and services, I was very amazed to see the following information posted on the group. Some suggestions are good, like growing protein crops, making cheese, and raising chickens, while others are downright weird, imo.

Here's the downlow:

growing protein/carb rich crops like sweet potatoes, white potatoes, beans, and grains

caring for dairy animals and making cheese and yogurt

raising chickens/other livestock/hunting wild game and knowing how to dress and preserve it

knowing how to care for, ride, and drive horses, and how to make tack for them

knowing how to use simple tools to work wood and metal into everyday useful items like hoes, hair and toothbrushes, buckets, bicycle parts (good luck on handmade bike chains!)

knowing how to make/fix acoustic musical instruments, including how to make guitar and violin strings from gut

knowing how to make shoes and buttons

knowing how to make matches, or bowdrill skills to make fire

knowledge of medicinal plants, how to grow/make/apply them, including that basic preventive medicine, SOAP--not gourmet soap but simple, everyday soap

skin stitching and bonesetting skills

making/mending clothing--how to darn/knit/make socks (there are enough clothes around right now to last us a decade or so, but sooner or later we're going to need something new to stay warm/keep the sun off our asses)

knowing how to build a house in the old-fashioned, pre-stick framing ways, including hewing timbers and cutting planks by hand, making and sharpening saws, chisels, and files/whetstones, chimney construction, how to make your own mortar, thatch/wood shingle roofs that reliably shed water

how to make writing implements and paper---as with soap, not gourmet paper but something that will work for daily use--as our old clothes start to wear out, i guess they will come in handy for this!

improvising fixes for solar electric systems from old car parts

I guess the main ones I think are weird are, making writing instruments and paper, "as our old clothes start to wear out"!!! yikes; handling horses, ok, that's find but making tack???? I don't plan on riding horses anywhere for transportation, especially not to a meeting of this group in Lewisburg, and finally...making shoes???? Get real! I am not a woman who accumulates vast amounts of shoes, and Jimmy Choos are something I only know of from Sex and the City, but come on...making our own shoes??

This is one person's vision of the future, but imo, it looks too much like a vision of the past.

What are your thoughts?

My Vegetarian Adventure

2008-09-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

It's been nearly three weeks since I embarked on my vegetarian eating adventure, and I feel great!

What's more, I've lost nearly 6 lbs with basically no effort, I have more energy, I have not had one single low blood sugar attack that has plagued me since childhood, AND I enjoy meal planning, shopping, and preparations--tasks I previously disliked and moaned and groaned about.

I'm also grateful that Steven got on board with vegetarian eating. He still eats meat, however, just not at home.

Vegetarianism is something I've been thinking about since I graduated from college in 1979. Back then, there weren't too many options, especially in the south. I remember going to a health food store and buying Brewer's yeast (ugh) and some wheat germ, and maybe some yogurt. Other than that, I wasn't exactly sure what to eat.

The only vegetables I remember having growing up were southern-cooked greens, lima beans, and green beans, candied sweet potatoes, occasionally corn (creamed southern style), and frozen spinach.

That's it...seriously. So I knew virtually nothing about vegetables, much less cooking them. (I did not inherit the southern cooking gene from my grandmother!)

Basically, I gave up vegetarian eating in 1979 but thought about it a lot over the years. As I grew older, meat became less palatable to me, less easy to digest, and I became concerned over animal cruelty and the effects of the meat industry on the environment.

Two years ago I went to a nutritionist and told her I wanted to become a vegetarian. After sending me to St. Thomas Hospital for testing, she told me I needed more protein in my system and advised me to eat more meat.

So I listened to her instead of myself. My health worsened instead of getting better, and I gained aobut 25 lbs. I grew more and more frustrated over cooking meat, too. I just didn't know what to cook, and grew tired of feeling ill every evening after I ate dinner.

So what exactly have I been eating?

Lots of yummy dishes from Vegetarian Times magazine and a few vegetarian cook books I've acquired.

One night we had refried bean tacos with lettuce, tomato, avacado, black olives, and plain yogurt instead of sour cream. They tasted so fresh and delicious!

I've fixed lots of bean dishes, and some wonderful homemade tomato-based vegetable soups.

Tonight we're having fettucine with sauteed yellow and zucchini squash with Asiago cheese, and a corn frittata.

For breakfast I usually eat oatmeal with peanut butter or sometimes boiled eggs and Ezekiel bread. Lunch is often egg salad, or Morningstar veggie burgers. Last week we tried their fake fried chicken patties on a bun and they were so good! It tasted better than real chicken to me, and Steven liked it, too.

I'll be posting some of my favorite recipes in the coming weeks, so be on the lookout!

Photo courtesy of Vegetarian Times e-newsletter. Curried sweet potatoes with spinach and chickpeas...can't wait to try it!

Give The Green Guy a Break

2008-09-15T10:02:00.000-07:00

Well, former Vice President Al Gore has taken another beating in the environment vs. wealth battle, according to an article in this morning's Tennessean.

This guy gets whacked at every turn for being wealthy and an environmentalist! Except, thankfully, by the Nobel Prize Committee...at least they have some sense.

This time, the flack is over Gore's new houseboat, the Bio-Solar One, which is docked at Center Hill Lake where the Gores have been vacationing for years..

Does anyone want to give Gore props for greening up his house boat with 36 solar panels and biodiesel fuel (according to the dealer who sold it to Gore, it's the "greenest" houseboat he's ever seen"), much less for vacationing close to home?

Heck, no! The whankers are whanking again about this good man who I believe is honest, sincere, smart, and knows what's he's talking about.

If you don't think so, think about how backlash from Hurricane Ike, which hit the Texas coast Saturday morning, flooded Chicago this weekend!

Anyway, Gore previously has taken a lot of flack for his extensive air travel, having three homes, and for his big ole 1920s mansion in Belle Meade...which by the way, has been greened up. That thing must have been a ginormous energy hog before Eco-Build TN came in and reinsulated with foam, installed a geothermal heating system, a tankless water heater, and more.

Today's newspaper article also mentioned that Gore been the subject of criticism since way back when he was in the House of Representatives.

Seems that, in order to not be wasteful and extravagant, he wore the same blue suit all the time. His assistant kept a needed and blue thread in the office to patch tears in it, but everyone made fun of him for not being wasteful and extravagant when it came to clothing!

Finally, a supporter wrote Gore and suggested he go to a tailor to have his pants cut to the appropriate length. That did it!

Gore hired an image consultant to help him upgrade his wardrobe and guess what! He was criticized for that, too.

Normally I don't rant and rave in this blog, but I have been an Al Gore fan from way back (even when he was criticized for being too stiff and formal...by my own mother, among others).

I have even heard him critized on the Planet Green tv show, Supper Club, for pete's sake!

Give the guy a break...after all, it's not like he shoots wolves and bears in Alaska from airplanes!

Photo of Al Gore's houseboat courtesy of The Tennessean.

Green Living Tour At Home Show This Weekend

2008-09-02T12:10:00.001-07:00

This Friday, I'll be at the Nashville Home Decorating and Remodeling Show enjoying all it has to offer...including the Better Homes and Gardens Living Green Tour.

According to an ad in the paper this morning, the exhibit will include a complete green home! (see photo above)

If you can't make it in person, you can experience the tour virtually here: http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/living-green-tour/

What am I most looking forward to?

Everything! Especially the free product samples!

Hope to see you there...

2008-08-28T08:40:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite childhood memories revolves around my mother's cosmetics.

She began using Merle Norman brand in the 1940s and still uses it to this day...and she has a beautiful, glowing, wrinkle-free complexion...but I think that has more to do with genetics than Merle Norman, as my maternal grandmother's complexion was the same and she never used cosmetics of any type!

So...Merle Norman. There was the fire-engine red Super Lube with the texture of vaseline; cool, creamy Aqua Lube; pale pink cold cream with a feel of mineral oil, and the hot pink Miracol, which was a sort of mask. All of these products had soft, pleasant frangrances that I still to this day equite with a mother's loving touch.

When I was 16, my mother took me to the Merle Norman store to get my own cosmetics. I could hardly wait to try the hot pink Miracol...when it dried it got really tight on my face, and burned. Supposedly that meant it was cleansing out all the "gunk".

As it turns out, I was allergic to Merle Norman products even though the saleswoman assured me that they were "hypoallergenic". So I went another route, buying Clinique, Elizabeth Arden, Origins, Estee Lauder, and various drugstore brands over the years.

Now I am ready to go still in another direction, which involves some backtracking. As I read Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano (www.gorgeouslygreen.com), as well as other articles about "traditional" cosmetics, I realize that most of them contain lots and lots of handful ingredients that are absorbed into out skin.

These ingredients are too numerous to mention here; GG does a great job of laying it all out so I'll leave it to Sophie.

Reading her book definitely makes me motivated to change, and again, Sophie provides a wonderful list of natural cosmetics that are good for us and good for the environment.

I also want to get back to the more natural beauty treatments I used as a teenager and young adult, many of which I learned from my mother--that's where the backtracking comes in. And the simplicity, and cost-effectiveness.

One was cleansing one's face with a cold cucumber slice...mmmm...makes your skin feel so refreshed, summer or winter. Another was steaming my face with a towel and hot water, and still another was a mask made of oatmeal and banana that I used quite a bit while I was in college.

Here are some other tips from Natural Home magazine, including how to do the steam facial. I think I'll go try that now!

Nail Nourisher
Break out the olive oil, friends. This rich oil is loaded with moisturizing and skin soothing properties.

Fill a shot glass half full with olive oil. Dip a cotton ball or cotton swab into the olive oil and smooth it onto your cuticles and nailbeds (don't forget your toes!). This will soften your cuticles and prevent them from getting hangnail-ish or irritated.

Use a wash cloth and gently push back your cuticles, but do not cut them with a cuticle trimmer! Your cuticles are there to protect you from bacteria, and removing them heightens germs' chances of getting into your system.

If you have any olive oil remaining, keep it to use on the ends of your hair to soften and seal split ends (just make sure to rinse throroughly with cold water!).

Mini Facial
All you need is a mixing bowl, hot water and a couple drops of your favorite essential oil to get a fresh, steam cleaning for your face.

Fill a large mixing bowl with hot water. Quickly add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil (I like tea tree) to the water. Grab a towel big enough to drape over your head and the bowl. Put your face (if you have long hair, pull it back into a ponytail and use a headband) over the bowl, about 2 inches away to avoid scalding, and drape the towel over your head to trap the heat. Relax, and breathe in the calming or invigorating scents of the hot oils. The steam helps open up pores, and the essential oils are comforting for your senses. Stay under for about 5-10 minutes, then come up for fresh air. Blot your skin with the towel, and enjoy your freshly steamed, flushed face! Remember, reuse the water in your garden.

Natural Hair Rinse
If you have product buildup in your hair, strip it clean of its commercial toxins with our favorite cleaning product: vinegar!

We've all hailed the cleaning powers of vinegar time and time again, but did you know it works wonders on your hair, too? There's no special recipe for this hair detox, so simply mix one part vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar) with one or two parts warm water. At the end of your shower, pour the mix over your hair. Done! You should notice instant shine and bounciness.

Still Time To Claim Some Energy Efficient Tax Credits

2008-08-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

This article is reprinted from simplesteps.org.

The Clock is Ticking on Energy-Efficiency Tax Credits

If you made improvements to your home in 2007 to make it more energy efficient, you may be eligible for a tax credit. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 encouraged homeowners to invest in cleaner technology and energy efficiency by offering credits of up to $500 for qualified insulation, replacement windows and doors, water heaters, and certain high efficiency heating and cooling equipment. Tax credits, unlike tax deductions, are as good as a rebate -- they come straight out of Line 46, the taxes you owe.

But the home improvements tax credit expired at the end of 2007. Despite soaring energy costs and concerns about global warming, the Senate has failed to pass legislation to extend the incentives.

Efficiency tax credits help consumers and businesses reduce their energy consumption immediately, reduce high energy bills, and drive down energy prices. Who could argue with that? Proposed incentives would save consumers a total of at least $50 billion and would reduce U.S. carbon dioxide emissions by 67 million metric tons annually by 2020. Extending tax incentives for multiple years, rather than just two more years, will spur development of even better clean energy technologies.

If you want to create some clean energy of your own, there's still time to install a solar energy system this year and claim a tax credit in 2009. You can get back 30 percent of the cost of qualified solar water heating and photovoltaic systems, up to $2000, until the end of 2008. The credit applies to second homes too.

You may also be eligible for rebates or other incentives from your state when you make energy-related improvements to your home. For state-by-state details, see http://www.dsireusa.org/

Learn more about qualified products and credits on the Energy Star website. Check out IRS form 5695 to learn how to claim residential energy credits.

And if you've got a new hybrid parked in the driveway, don't forget to claim your tax credit. The alternative motor vehicle credit is available for certain hybrid, alternative fuel, and fuel cell vehicles purchased new in 2007 for business or personal use. Credits for purchasing a hybrid vary widely, depending on the fuel-efficiency of the vehicle and on whether the manufacturer has sold its 60,000th vehicle. Use Form 8910 if you purchased your vehicle for personal use and form 3800 if it was for business purposes.

Check with your accountant or the IRS website for full details on these tax credits.

It's Easy To Be Green

2008-08-18T12:33:00.001-07:00

...if you use this simple checklist on retrofitting your home from the U.S. Green Building Council.

As a passionate gardener, my favorite is using native plants for landscaping. I am fortunate to live on 10 beautiful acres in Cheatham Co. In spring, summer, and fall, my landscape is dotted with native Tennessee wildflowers and herbs, but also has an overgrowth of privet which is not native to this area and thus has a tendency to take over.

Even if you live on a small patch of urban ground, you can still create beautiful landscapes with native flowers and grasses. Gardens of Babylon, located at the Nashville Farmer's Market on Rosa Parks Blvd., is a great source for native plants and also has landscapers and horticulturists on hand to help you design a serene, beautiful greenscape in your yard, whatever its size.

My home is surrounded by trees, which do make it much cooler in summer.

And I also like the tip about using "homemade" cleaning products such as vinegar (works great!) and low or no VOC paint.

Here's the link for the full list:
http://www.greenhomeguide.org/guide_for_green_renovation/green_retrofit_checklist.html

Want to Sell A Home Quickly? Green It!

2008-08-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

Last year, Seattle became the second city/region in the nation (behind Portland, Ore.) to offer green building criteria on its Multiple Listing Service.

One year later, research shows that the Seattle area's green homes are selling 18 % faster than their non-green counterparts, and for 28 %-38 % higher value, according to a July 1, 2008 article on Business Wire.

Ben Kaufman, founder of GreenWorks Realty in Seattle, noted that the new data clearly shows that buyers want green and that green homes have more value.

Prior data was mostly based on specualation, according to Aaron Adelstein of Built Green in the Seattle area, while Marni Kahn of the Cascadian Region Building Council says that green home certification "acts as a 'nutrition label' giving homeowners third-party verification that they are making the right decisions for their family's health and the environment, while saving money on energy, water and transportation bills."

From my perspective as a real estate investor (as well as an agent) this is great news for investors who use rehabbing as an exit strategy.

I think in the past, some rehabbers have been hesitant to add green materials because of perceived additional costs, but this data shows that by renovating green you definitely have a competitive advantage as well as the opportunity to benefit a homeowner's qualify of life, both health-wise and financially.

This creates a beautiful circle of win/win that I think is fantastic!

Green Mortgages

2008-08-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

I've recently had an investor inquire about green mortgages, so I've been doing a bit of research. The following article was reprinted from www.frontdoor.com.

What I found extremely interesting is that Jimmy Carter signed signed an executive order for the secondary mortgage companies to offer green incentives, but that few homebuyers took advantage of it until recently.

That was about 30 years ago!

(As a side note, that was the first presidential election I ever voted in).

I guess we did not learn much from the first energy crisis back in the 70s. I sure didn't, anyway.

I remember long lines at the gas pumps but it did not affect me as I did not have a car. I lived in Uptown New Orleans and I walked or took the streetcar or bus everywhere.
I was 21 years old, and it was a much simpler time in my life. I was not a big fan of the bus, but I really did enjoy walking and riding the streetcar...there were always a lot of crazy characters on the streetcar; plus the rhythm of it was relaxing, and I got to really enjoy looking at the details on the houses on St. Charles Avenue.

Well, enough reminiscing...here's the scoop on eco-financing.

The Lowdown on Eco-Friendly Financing

Get a green loan for energy-efficient updates

By FrontDoor.com | Published: 3/27/2008

As the eco-friendly housing trend continues to grow, mortgage lenders are jumping on the green bandwagon. Many lenders are starting to offer bigger loans or discounts to buyers who choose to make energy-efficient improvements to their home.

The idea of an Energy Efficient Mortgage is not new. In 1979, Jimmy Carter signed an executive order that directed the secondary mortgage companies, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to offer incentives to green buyers. But few buyers took advantage of the programs until the recent trends towards energy-efficiency.

The concept is simple: Homes that use less energy will have lower utility bills. The money saved can be counted as income, thus allowing the homebuyer to qualify for a bigger loan to increase his home's efficiency.

These loans don't cover any old green update; the updates need to lower the home's energy costs. That means environmentally friendly products like bamboo flooring and recycled glass tiles don't qualify. If in doubt, ask yourself: Will this update save on my energy bill? If not, it's probably not eligible.

To apply for an energy-efficient mortgage, you'll need to get a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) report to measure your home's efficiency. The evaluation rating is on a scale from 0 to 100. A "0" means the home uses an infinite amount of energy (not a good thing) and a "100" means it uses almost no energy (a great thing). The average home built to code minimum typically has a rating of about 80.

Once the inspector looks through the house and gives a rating, you'll get a list of suggested updates. You'll show your report to prospective lenders.

The Programs

The simplest energy-efficient programs offer discounts to buyers who are purchasing an eco-friendly home. Bank of America has a Green Mortgage Program which offers buyers a $1,000 credit or an interest rate deduction if their future home meets Energy Star requirements.

Other companies offer discounts for a green lifestyle. Bluegreen Financial, which is based in Orlando, Fla., gives discounts on its broker fee for buyers who buy Energy Star homes and appliances. The company also awards discounts if the buyer works at a green company, drives a biodiesel, electric or hybrid car, or has no vehicle at all. In addition, the company donates 5 percent of its profits to the Rainforest Alliance or the environmental charity of your choice.

The more complex programs offered by Fannie Mae and the Federal Housing Administration incorporate the cost of energy improvements into the cost of the loan. Find an FHA lender, to get started.

To qualify for the FHA's energy-efficient mortgage, the buyer must:

Make a 3-percent down payment
Spend more than 5 percent of the purchase price for energy-efficient improvements, not to exceed $8,000
Make improvements that are cost-effective
Determine the cost of the improvements and estimate of energy savings from a HERS report. The cost of the report can be financed into the loan

The Fannie Mae program has similar requirements, though the rules vary by lender. Once you're approved, your lender will put the money for the improvements in an escrow account. You'll have to pay for the improvements upfront, and you'll be reimbursed after an inspection verifies that the improvements were installed.

There are also several state programs that help homebuyers go green, so be sure to research your area's options.

Memphis Habitat Goes Green

2008-08-06T07:21:00.000-07:00

Photo courtsey of the Memphis Chapter of Habitat for Humanity

The Memphis Chapter of Habitat for Humanity International recently announced that it will partner with Home Depot to build a 38-home green development in Memphis, according to an article in The Daily News.

Memphis was chosen as one of the pilot cities for a green building project, the result of collaboration between Home Depot and Habitat's international office.

I am excited about this for several reasons, the chief of course being that these Habitat homeowners will have energy-efficient, money-saving residences that also are better for their health. And that they opportunity to have green homes is being made available to those in lower-income brackets.

But also, because Memphis is my homwtown and I have volunteered (in the office; I'm not a hammer-weilder!) at the Memphis chapter on many occasions. I am happy that they are the recipient of this wonderful gift!

Nationwide, the Home Depot/Habitat collaboration makes $30 million available to build roughly 5,000 green Habitat homes in 30 areas, both rural and urban, in the coming years.

This funding is critical because, according to an HD spokesperson, building green can add several thousand dollars to the cost of building a home. And since Habitat affiliates are operating on limited budgets dependent on donations, a few thousand dollars per house could be otherwise prohibitive.

The products used will come from Home Depot's eco-friendly line of building products.

Five Gold Starts to Home Depot and Habitat for making sustainable, green building available to low-income homeowners.

Hello Green Home, I Love You!

2008-07-31T13:51:00.000-07:00

Today, Steven and I visited with our buddies, John Price and Ryan Nichol, of Hello Green Home. (visit their website at www.hellogreenhome.com)

A lot of Baby Boomers gripe about Gen Y, or the Millenial Generation (born between 1980-2000) but not me...I think they're great!

And John and Ryan are two of the finest examples of Millenial smarts, entrepreneurship, hard work, and heart, that I've ever seen.

Their green home at 514 S 11th Street in East Nash is a tribute to beauty, efficiency, and greenness....and...it's back on the market. Their original buyer could not sell their home in Goodlettsville so...back up on the MLS it went a few weeks ago.

We love that house, so we've decided that if timing does not work out for us to buy it, we will have "the boys" as we call them, custom build us a green home in either East Nashville or 12 South so that we can walk to cool shops, coffee houses and antique stores. After living in a rural area since 1993, that would be a real treat!

My favorite thing about the house other than its energy efficiency, is its efficiency of space. The main living area has an open floor plan; the kitchen is not huge, but it is so well-thought out that when I stood in it I enormously good feelings about preparing meals there, and having friends and family over to visit while I cook.

Also on the main floor is space for a home office, with a bay window and octagonal shape. It's designed so that you can bring clients in and they won't even be able to see if you have a dirty dish in the sink!

Upstairs is a huge bonus room, and an amazing master suite. I love the river tile in the separate shower. And the balcony off of the bedroom!

Bamboo floors, solar tubes, foam insulation, moisture-preventing black plastic in the crawl space, Energy Star appliances, energy efficient windows...and more, more, more.

This home is unique in Nashville.

Nashville is at the tipping point of "green". Metro government is on board to make this the greenest city in the Southeast within the next few years.

John and Ryan are talking about doing green rehabs, the same idea Steven and I had.

It really comes down to educating people about the benefits of either rehabbing green or building green...financial savings, health issues, aesthetics, efficiency.

So what I plan to do over the next few weeks is put together a talk I can give at Rotary Clubs, or anywhere else that will have me speak, about all the advantages green living can offer.

Grow Nashville Potluck This Thursday

2008-07-28T11:40:00.000-07:00

GROW Nashville and Metro Parks will host a Harvest Potluck to celebrate gardening in Nashville and the growing of local food from 6-8 p.m. July 31 at East Park Community Center at 700 Woodland in East Nashville.
Please bring a dish to share and enjoy fresh food with friends and neighbors while learning about community gardening in Nashville.

GROW Nashville will give guidance on starting a fall garden, talk about community gardening, and provide vegetable seeds to getyour own garden growing. This year’s event will include the viewing of a very special community gardening documentary by director Maria De Luca titled, “Green Streets”. To register for the Harvest Potluck or for more information call 352-6299.

Summer Beauty, Summer Bounty

2008-07-28T09:25:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with this photo of Herb Salad that I found on the website, www.101cookbooks.com. This is why I love summer (just get rid of the humidity, please!)

Here's the recipe, if you'd like to try it...I plan to make it for dinner later this week.

Hopefully, I can eat local by making it over to the Nashville Farmer's Market or the East Nashville market at Turnip Truck later this week to pick up some fresh, Tennessee-grown veggies. The basil I already have growing in my garden!

The dressing really sounds delicious!

2 ears sweet corn, husked

1 big handful lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces

3 big handfuls green beans or haricots vert, blanched for 20 seconds in boiling salted water, cooled completely under cold water
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

1 bunch of chives, finely chopped

1 handful cilantro, loosely chopped

1 small handful of small/medium basil leaves

1 handful of pepitas, toasted
fine-grain sea salt

1 clove garlic, peeled

1/3 cup Greek yogurt1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 medium avocado
Cut each ear of corn in half and carefully cut kernels from cobs. Combine the corn, lettuce, green beans, red onion, herbs, and pepitas in a large bowl.
Now make the avocado dressing by sprinkling a big pinch of salt on the garlic clove. Chop and crush it into a paste. Place the garlic in a medium bowl along with the yogurt, lemon juice, and avocado. Puree with a hand blender. Taste, add salt one pinch at a time until properly seasoned. If you aren't dressing the salad immediately, cover with plastic, pressing into the top of the dressing to prevent browning.
Gently toss the ingredients with a couple big dollops of the avocado dressing. Taste, add a bit of salt and/or more dressing if needed.
Serves about 6-8.

Corporate and Green

2008-07-23T08:30:00.001-07:00

Follow this link to read about Nissan's new eco-friendly HQ in Franklin:

It's great to have this trail-blazing company in Middle Tennessee...plans were also announced to partner with the State of Tennessee to produce a zero-emission vehicle.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080723/BUSINESS01/807230423/1906/GREEN

Save Bell's Bend!?

2008-07-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Save Bell's Bend...what exactly does that mean?

For non-Middle Tennesseans reading this, I wish I had more time to explain about Bell's Bend but I actually need to be in the shower right now, getting ready for meetings.

I did want to take a few minutes to share that my email inbox has been filled lately with messages about "evil rich people" and "greedy developers" who want to pave Paradise and put up a parking lot...and condos...and office buildings...and retail.

Normally I am not one to speak out, but I just had to respond yesterday when I got yet another inflammatory message about saving Bell's Bend. Whanking on people who have money is just not the way to go, IMO.

I am sharing my response because I received quite a few favorable replies from people who saw my response on list servs and thought it presented a balanced viewpoint. I was surprised at the support I received, to be honest. It was suggested to me that I need to present this perspective to the group fighting the development, led by Dave Cooley, former deputy governor of Tennessee. Not being one to follow politics, I had never heard of Dave Cooley--my apologies, Dave.

So I am trying to figure out how to best do that. Have I suddenly turned into Barbara Hunter, community advocate? If so, that's definitely a new role for me and it goes to show that you never know what a day will bring...

So here is what I wrote on the Nashville Green Drinks group:

Dear All, I wanted to put out a heart-felt response to the email re: survey on the Nashville Business Journal. First of all, when my boyfriend and I opened up The Tennesseean one morning last winter and read about the Bell's Bend development we were: a) excitedb) curious as to where Bell's Bend was While we are passionate nature lovers (and I am a gardener as well) both of us moved here a few years ago from very large metropolitan areas that focused on doing business at a global level and being "world-class cities". While we enjoy Nashville, we felt it was lacking in some areas...areas which we were used to having at our fingertips, namely being a "world-class city". This is just our perspective; what we were used to and grew up with. And we did not know a thing about Bell's Bend or even where it was until April when a friend took us over there to the park, and we drove in the surrounding area. We were in awe over the beauty and serenity, and do want to see it preserved. Now that I've seen it, if I had my way I'd want it to remain untouched. But... I hope there can be a compromise since it's unlikely that plans will be totally scrapped, since the land has already been purchased and this is America; the land was up for sale, someone had a vision and bought it to fulfill their vision. Perhaps these developers will "build green" both for offices and homes. It's coming anyway that new office construction will be required to be built green. I know from attending the Green Building Council Nashville chapter meetings that our Metro government is on board with everything green. Hopefully community gardens and greenscape can be incorporated. There are lots of ideas and possibilities to bring all points of view and all needs together. Has anyone talked to these developers? Maybe they would like input from people who want to grow green, grow gardens, and grow communities based on shared values. Let's work together on this issue, and honor everyone's perspective and vision for this city. I am in the real estate field and while I guess there are some "greedy" developers out there, the ones I've met do what they do because they are visionary and passionate; the money they make is a result of their thinking and acting big. In my experience, people who are greedy usually fail over the long run so if these developers are operating from greed then there's nothing to worry about anyway! I also am a freelance writer and have written many articles for the Nashville Business Journal; they are good folks there and IMO have always presented fair and honest reporting. It is a business publication so it's natural that that's who they will write for. NBJ serves an important need in the community, IMO. There are a lot of definitions of "green" out there; my personal definition is living an aware, awake life based on honor and respect for all life on this planet. I don't think there any bad guys or good guys here, or right or wrong--just an opportunity for people of differing perspectives to come together in unity to create something wonderful. Thanks for the air time~ Barb

Quote of the Day

2008-07-11T14:19:00.000-07:00

"A happy life is just a string of happy moments.But most people don't allow the happy moment,because they're so busy trying to get a happy life."– Abraham-Hicks

A Summer Afternoon

2008-07-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

This has nothing to do with green living per se...yet it kinda does.

It's Friday afternoon, and as I am somewhat caught up on chores and various other activities, I am going to spend the afternoon reading a perennial summer favorite, Carney's House Party by Maude Hart Lovelace.

Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy series is based on her own experiences growing up in a small town in Minnesota at the turn of the last century.

They were my favorite books in childhood, and still remain so.

Carney's House Party is set during the month of July, so it just seems appropriate!

If I hadn't gone into the office so much this week, I would not appreciate this stolen afternoon so much. Contrast is a wonderful tool.

It's Amazing...

2008-07-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

Nature is so Fascinating!

I have two tomato plants so of course I have the dreaded tomato hornworms. I have picked off three so far this season.

Those guys can strip a tomato plan in no time flat!

My Tennessee tomatoes are faring much better than the plants I had in Mississippi.

When I was living in Mississippi, commuting 2 hours a day, and working fulltime, my tomatoes would be totally stripped of foliage by the time I got home from work. I never did get a good harvest.

Now I am home more often (although less these past 10 days because of starting real estate training at Keller Williams), so I can keep an eye on them.

I was curious about where tomato hornworms came from (ugly buggers! and they are the same color as the tomato plant so they're hard to spot).

They are actually catepillars of a six-winged hawk moth! Who Knew? I sure didn't and neither did my mother, who probably picked zillions of hornworms off tomato plants during her childhood on the farm.

One of the three I picked off this season had weird white things sticking out of it...they made it a lot easier to see. I was curious about that, too, and learned from the internet that the white things are the eggs of a type of wasp that kill the hornworms!

Even though I'm at home more, I am glad to have some help getting rid of the hornworms!

Thank you, wasps!

What Makes You Happy?

2008-07-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

I just read an interesting article on Yahoo! News.

Basically, a new study shows that the world is getting happier.

Scientists previously thought that happiness remained static (how in the world could someone think that???? but they did...)

The happiest country is Denmark, while the most unhappy is Zimbabwe (civil war, dictatorship government).

The U.S. ranked 16th, and the reason shocked me...

It said it was due to Baby Boomers (my generation) generally being miserable.

The researchers attribute the rise in happiness to democratization, and increasing economic conditions in countries like China...

While "money doesn't buy happiness" it can buy more freedom and more choices and opportunities, which leads to greater happiness.

What I want to know is, what do Baby Boomers have to be so miserable about? Maybe selling out and taking corporate jobs. I know that made me unhappy...

As for my own happiness level, right now it's soaring and it shows on my face.

I just got home from Keller Williams Realty where I am transferring my real estate license, and Steve commented on how it showed in my smile, demeanor, sense of humor...everything.

It's a good choice. It's nice to be able to have freedom and choices.

And to up the happiness ante, Steve's daughter just left a msg while he was on the other line, saying she loves and misses us.

As usual, my cup runneth over!

Growing in the Right Direction

2008-06-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

As my second month of blogging comes to a close, I am excited to look back and see how this blog project has evolved as the summer has unfolded.

During my first month, May, I mostly copied and pasted content from other green websites. I wasn't really sure in which direction I wanted to go, other than to heighten awareness about green living.

But during June, something started to click.

I began making more personalized posts, and adding photos...either taken by myself or grabbed from the internet.

I also began to formulate my own personal definition of green living, which is more broad than narrow...in a nutshell, green living for me is about more than reusable bags and denim insulation. it's about living consciously with love, sharing with others, being more joyful, getting back to soem of the values of our parents' and grandparents' generation without sacrificing some things I enjoy about 21st century life...

This blog also has rekindled my love affair with writing, which had waned after years and years of journalism and other type of writing jobs that sucked the life out of me!

As I blog, I am learning that it's not so much about being perfect (as I had to do in jobs)...it's about sharing.

So that means I'm going to have to step out of my comfort zone and develop more of a readership! Scary...but exciting!

Water, Water Everywhere!

2008-06-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite childhood memories is of putting on my bathing suit and playing in the sprinkler.

The water coming through the hose, had a certain scent that I can't even begin to describe. It just smelled fresh, I guess...quite different from water coming from the tap inside even though it was the same water.

I liked to drink it from the hose because it had a fresh taste that matched the smell.

I also loved to play in the street gutters after a rain! If it was a heavy rain, water would be rushing and gushing down the gutter towards the storm drain.

I loved to put on boots or some other type of rubber shoe and splash and splash! If the weather was really hot, as it often was in Memphis in the summer, the water would heat up from the pavement. Or sometimes the water would feel cold, depending on the time of the year.

I enjoyed playing in the water no matter what the season.

I could take this opportunity to talk about stormwater runoff as an environmental issue...but I won't.

I'll just continue to savor those simple childhood memories.

Wormy Stuff!

2008-06-26T15:27:00.000-07:00

Wow! I am fired up about composting with worms...it seems much easier than making a compost bin, etc. The worms do all the work! Of course I do have to supply them with some bedding...shredded newspaper.

Check out this link at wikihow.com on how to compost with worms. It may take me a few weeks to get everything together (ie, order the worms) but I hope to have a full report soon...

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Worm-Compost-System

What to do with cinnamon basil?

2008-06-26T15:20:00.000-07:00

Every year I plant cinnamon basil in my herb garden because I love the scent...it's totally different from "regular" basil or even varieties like purple ruffles...

But I never know what to do with it, other than sniff it a lot!

So today I searched on the internet for recipes using cinnamon basil and found this:

I plan to give it a try soon...

Cinnamon Basil Cupcakes

1/4 cup fresh cinnamon basil

1/3 cup oil

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 cup sour cream or milk

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Puree cinnamon basil with oil in a blender. Combine with sugar and egg. Sift together flour and baking powder and add to oil mixture with remaining ingredients. Bake at 200C for 12 minutes.

Rags for Sale!

2008-06-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

Until he was about 5 years old, Steven, his parents, his older sister, Kathy, and his younger sister, Carol, lived in a brick bungalow on Keating Street in Chicago.

One of Steven's vivid memories is of a man in a horse-drawn wagon coming down the back alleyway shouting in a creaky old voice, "Rags for sale! Rags for sale!" This was in the late '50s/early '60s.

I remember my grandmother speaking of the "rag man" as well.

Back in the day, everyone recycled! It was a way of life that was just natural and normal.

In an effort to reduce paper towel usage, I've been using more "rags". Instead of paper towels or paper napkins at meals, we've been using cotton dish towels. They get kind of yucky after a day or two, especially considering how much pizza we eat, but there is something satisfying about using them.

Since we needed more than the pitiful two or three I already had, yesterday when I was in Wal-Mart I purchased 12 of what are now called "bar towels" for $5.50. I was pleased with that bargain.

I used one this morning to clean all the kitchen counter and table surfaces with vinegar and water, then threw the whole lot into the washer along with the cotton kitchen rugs, place mats, and a few other items.

Then I hung them out to dry on the line!

The few minutes I spent outdoors hanging clothes was really special. Yes, it was hot...over 90. But it was so quiet! No traffic noise, no noise from the neighbors. Just one bird singing, and Bits and Bubs asleep on the porch, and my Mr. Stripey heirloom tomato quietly growing in his 5-gallon bucket.

I don't get much alone time, so I really enjoyed hanging out the wash.

And now, a few hours later, it's time to bring in the fresh-smelling "rags" and rugs. What wonders will I discover on this visit outside?

As a postscript to Steven's life on Keating, we revisited the old house last Christmas Day, and went back into the alleyway where the rag man used to drive past shouting, "Rags for sale! Rags for sale!".

Saturday at the Market

2008-06-23T07:54:00.000-07:00

Going to the Franklin Farmer's Market is a treat we enjoy at least once a month. Franklin is far enough away from Ashland City to make it seem like a mini-vacation.

This week's market was nearly double in size from several weeks ago!

Some highlights: meeting a couple (about our age) who operate a personal chef/detox business in Cool Springs to assist people with detoxing and eating healthier. We plan to set up an appointment when we figure out our vacation plans.

Meeting the good folks of Peaceful Pastures, a new vendor. They offer organic beef, chicken, lamb, duck, pork, and goose, and have a CSA program.

Purchasing some yummy pattypan squash from Eaton's Creek Organics and making it into Creole Squash using their recipe. Basically, cut up the squash, boil it w. onion and bay leaf, drain and mash, add brown rice, Tabasco, and can of tomatoes (although all I had was tomato sauce and it worked fine) and some parsley or other fresh herbs.

Purchasing a ginormous bunch of kale and having my mother cook it--she's much better at it than I am.

Buying my mother some fantastic looking green beans that she had been wanting.

And finally...purchasing some gorgeous soaps from a new vendor whose name I unfortunately can't remember....here they are, in a beautiful gauze bag! I am so crazy about the color combo I almost don't want to use them. But I will!

You Make Me Feel Like a Natural...Home

2008-06-19T14:07:00.000-07:00

My new issue of Natural Home magazine (http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com/) came today, and as usual it's packed with fantastic stuff!

This issue is the publication's special 2008 Reosource Guide, filled with 500+ "great green products."

Just so there's no confusion, the above photo is last year's resource guide which I grabbed off the internet, and as you can see there are now 100+ more great green products!

Natural Home is what led me to greener pastures, and I'm grateful for it!

It's 4 p.m. here in Nashville, time for my afternoon siesta, so it's not hard to guess what publication I am going to curl up with today!

Young Green Entrepreneur

2008-06-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

There was an excellent story in yesterday's Tennessean about a young, green, entrepreneur named Nathan Zack.

His story reminds me of stories from The Depression, with a modern twist.

Now 27, Nathan's dad died when he was 15. Because money was tight, he quit school to help support his mother and siblings. His first venture was a lawnmowing business in Farmington Hills, MI, where he and his family lived.

Nathan eventually went to work for his uncle, who had a scrap metal business. That experience, combined with his mother's environmental activism, gave him the idea to create Great Lakes Electronics.

Basically, Nathan's company recycles computers, a much-needed service.

His employees wipe the data clean, and test the products. If the item works they sell it on eBay. If not, they break down the parts and sell them to various recyclers.

Great Lakes Electronics has done so well that it has warehouses in Florida, the Chicago area, and the Atlanta area as well as Detroit. Although he started out asking neighbors for old computers, he now has K mart and other large companies in his customer list.

Since it's a privately owned company, Nathan is not required to disclose sales data, but his mother says she has to "pinch myself" to believe it.

Can you imagine the commitment and determination this young man had, to quit school to help his family and then build a successful business that supports not only himself and his family but his employees and the environment as well?

What an amazing young man!

Woo-Hoo!

2008-06-16T08:33:00.000-07:00

No more Ortho! After being there for several weeks, it went away after I published the post about it a few moments ago!

Advertising--Oi vey!

2008-06-16T08:25:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it!!!

I've got Ad Sense on this blog and several weeks ago I published a post about using vinegar to kill weeds.

So ever sense, the only ad I've had on the blog is for Ortho weed killer, which I'm sure is loaded with noxious toxins I'd never use in a million years.

I am going to have to figure out something that will shift it to another, more green product.

Just wanted everyone to know I am not promoting Ortho weed killer on purpose!

My Vegetable Patch

2008-06-16T08:11:00.001-07:00

Well, folks...when I say I am taking baby steps to be more green, I really mean baby steps since my vegetable garden consists of 2 tomato plants. One is "Mr. Stripey", a low-acid heirloom, and the other is Arkansas Traveler, a pink tomato.

Back in the winter, Steve and I had big plans of finding someone who wanted to have an organic garden but did not have the yard space. We have the space, but not necessarily the time and energy to keep up with a garden.

We asked around at the Ashland City Farmer's Market but couldn't find anyone.

So here it is, my two tomato plants! Better than nothing, I say. And they seem to be thriving. I didn't have good luck with tomatoes a few years ago but now I realize I wasn't planting them deeply enough. My friend, Candace, plants hers in a five-gallon bucket so I decided to do the same and it's working.

I also have some herbs growing in clay pots...pineapple mint, thyme, cinnamon basil, regular basil, and tarragon. I also planted some millet in a clay pot, first because it's beautiful and also for the birds. I just learned the other day that you don't need to put Miracle-Gro or other plant food on herbs but I had already fed them twice by the time I learned that.

So far I have not cooked with the herbs, I just enjoy having them and inhaling their scent every time I walk out the kitchen door.

Wake Up!

2008-06-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

I guess this is a day for reprinting others' words on this blog, but this quote from Eckhart Tolle just came to my inbox via the Unity Church e-newsletter and I thought it was very applicable to green living.

I've noticed in the few short months that I've been taking baby steps towards living green, that I've started to wake up and be more conscious. Things that I once did routinely--like leaving the water running while I brush my teeth, or constantly reaching for paper towels--are now becoming acts of sacred consciousness because I want to do them differently, more consciously.

This awakening, to me, is at the heart of green living.

And now--Eckhart!

"Here is a spiritual practice that will bring empowerment and creative expansion into your life. Make list of a number of everyday routine activities that you perform frequently. Include activities that you may consider uninteresting, boring, tedious, irritating, or stressful. But don't include anything that you hate or detest doing. That's a case for either acceptance or for stopping what you do. The list may include traveling to and from work, buying groceries, doing your laundry, or anything that you find tedious or stressful in your daily work.
Then, whenever you are engaged in those activities, let them be a vehicle for alertness. Be absolutely present in what you do and sense the alert, alive stillness within you in the background of the activity. You will soon find that what you do in such a state of heightened awareness, instead of being stressful, tedious, or irritating, is actually becoming enjoyable. To be more precise, what you are enjoying is not really the outward action but the inner dimension of consciousness that flows into the action. This is finding the joy of Being in what you are doing. If you feel your life lacks significance or is too stressful or tedious, it is because you haven't brought that dimension into your life yet. Being conscious in what you do has not yet become your main aim."
Eckhart Tolle, in "A New Earth"

2008-06-16T07:49:00.000-07:00

From friend Tom LaRotonda come these words of wisdom. Although he does not speak directly of environmentalism, his comments underline my belief that simple acts of using fewer paper towels and hanging clothes on the line once in a while can make a difference:

"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”Scot Adams Every moment of your life your thoughts, words, and actions send forth a powerful energetic ripple that is destined to make a difference somewhere in the world. Those thoughts, words, and actions are like pebbles that strike the surface of a cosmic pond of life, initiating that ripple. It doesn’t matter how significant or insignificant you believe your actions are. Once a pebble comes into contact with the pond’s surface the ripple’s momentum cannot be stopped. Your ripple has the same transformational potential as those of the most powerful and influential people in the world. Everything you do - contributes to the overall consciousness of the planet. It is not a question of, “Do my thoughts, words, and actions make a difference in the world?” New spiritual and scientific discoveries continue to build mounds of evidence that we are all energetically connected. Given the significance of our unified connection, the life changing question before each of us is, “What difference do I consciously wish to initiate in the world by casting purposeful pebbles?” In a world besieged with the reality of war, disease, global warming, natural disasters, starvation, genocide and economic collapse, it’s hard to fathom that an action as ordinary as helping a neighbor dig their car out of a snow-bank in Colorado can send a positive ripple that eventually will save a starving child in Africa. It’s hard to believe that an anonymous act of forgiveness directed at an aggressive and rude driver could possibly neutralize an incalculable number of hateful thoughts occurring elsewhere in the world. Yet for a moment, imagine how different your life would be if you knew beyond any question of doubt that even the smallest act of kindness carried this kind of power. It truly makes you think, doesn’t it? Take a moment to recall a small act of kindness that was directed at you. How did it make you feel? Call to mind any details of how it changed the course of your day. Did it inspire you to do a similar act of kindness for someone else? Truly recapture that moment. Now imagine that ripple continuing to spread…that the person you did something for in turn did something for another person, and so on. Imagine the chain is never broken. Eventually all 6 billion plus people in the world would be touched by this one act of kindness. Just imagine - billions of people positively uplifted by one person casting a purposeful pebble containing love, kindness, and compassion. To transform the fear-based consciousness that is gripping our planet we must fill the world with ripples of love. Just think what could happen if each person reading this would commit to one conscious act a day filled with hope and inspiration! Robert F. Kennedy said to a delegation in South Africa in 1966, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” You do not need to achieve the stature and influence of a Robert Kennedy to make a significant difference in the world. Your pebbles are equally as powerful. But they will never have power if you don’t toss them. Your pebble may be the one that greatly influences and inspires the direction of a future leader…but you must toss it. Your pebble may be the one to inspire someone to totally change the course of their life…but you must toss it. The impact caused by each act of kindness cannot be logically conceived. Some people believe that their pebbles have more power if they are cast as part of a great and worthy cause. This belief will limit you. The fact that you never followed your dream of joining the Peace Corps or participated in building a Habitat for Humanity home does not reduce the power of your daily actions. The purposeful pebble that your inner voice is telling you to toss today, no matter how small it may seem, is destined to flame the winds of great change. My inspiration to you this day is that you cast purposeful pebbles filled with hope and inspiration. Know that the ripples your pebbles initiate are cosmically designed to make a difference far beyond what your mind can conceive. What power you have in your grasp! Use it wisely and lovingly. Till Next Time – May You Empower Your Life,

Tom Tom LaRotonda is the owner of Core Matters LLC, a transformational leadership organization based in Denver, Colorado. He is a keynote speaker, free-lance writer, life/executive coach, leadership consultant, and seminar facilitator. His life purpose is to inspire his clients to boldly pursue their life dreams by taking the road less traveled. One of the foremost and leading edge speakers on the concept of Inspirational Living, he has addressed audiences around the world. Tom brings passion, excellence and dedication to his calling as a transformational leadership path-finder.

I encourage you to share these messages with your friends and family. You also have my permission to reprint any message in your newsletters, websites and message boards providing you include full authorship, copyright, and subscription information. I also welcome your comments and feedback. Subscription Info: To subscribe to the Core Reflections weekly message simply send an e-mail to tom@corematters.com. You have my commitment that all personal and professional data will be held in the strictest of confidence. ©2008 Tom LaRotonda All Rights Reserved

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T15:41:00.001-07:00

Salvation Sacks

2008-06-15T13:15:00.000-07:00

Lots of women are shoe-a-holics...not me, I'm a purse-a-holic!

So I was extremely excited to learn about Salvation Sacks.

These handmade bags in several styles are made from vintage clothing, leather, jewelry, and even shower curtains!

What's really cool is that the creator/designer is a former corporate attorney who left the rat race to make these fun, eco-friendly bags.

They're a bit pricey, but if you join the club you get $35 off!

Check out the website at http://www.salvationsacks.com/! I'm saving my money for a red one with vintage men's neckties!

Baby Steps

2008-06-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

Well...as previously reported, I had been forgetting to use my brand-new reusable bags from Wal-Mart.

Friday night, though, I turned the corner. Steve and I dashed down to WM for a couple of frozen pizzas and remembered to carry the bag into the store!

Of course, when we were at the self-checkout, I almost forgot to use it! We had to take the pizzas out of the plastic bag and put them in the reusable bag, thus confusing the computerized checker as to whether our items were bagged or not...but it was worth it.

Another baby step...since my hair is so thick, I also decided this morning to turn the shower off while I soaped and washed my hair, and it worked well. For some reason, I got a little dizzy when the water was off so I just grabbed onto the grab bar.

I'll keep doing it!

Are You "Putting Up"?

2008-06-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

Back when I lived in Mississippi, my closest friend, Larry, was a third-generation farmer.

A bachelor, he lived in the original family farm home with his mother, Miss Anna Lou, while his brothers and their families lived down the road.

Every summer during July and August, when I called the house to talk to Larry, Miss Anna Lou answered the phone.

When I asked what she was up to, the response invariably was, "I'm canning (fill in the blank)"

Being from The Depression generation, and a lifelong farm/country dweller, canning everything in sight in the middle of hot summer weather was a way of life for Miss Anna Lou.

I was interested in canning myself; however, I worked full-time and commuted 2 hours a day, and by the time the weekend came I was just too lazy! Plus, a friend of mine said he and his wife got fired up about making homemade jam, but reported that it was a hassle and everything was so expensive that the jam wound up costing about $5 a jar. I guess you have to be committed, organized, and do a lot of canning to make it pay off.

I did go so far as to attending a class on canning and buying a water bath canner and a case of jars, but they remained unopened in my cupboard for several years. I wound up giving them to my neighbor when I moved to Nashville.

But now that I am working at home and even partly taking this summer off, I am considering doing some canning.

What to can?

Probably mostly tomatoes and tomato products, like salsa or maybe even homemade ketchup.

Maybe some green beans. Corn, I would probably freeze.

It's all just a matter of getting organized, not my strong point.

How about you? Do you "put up"? as we say in the South? Will you this year, given rising food costs?

Do you have a favorite canning memory from childhood? (no one in my family canned while I was growing up).

For some canning tips, here's a great article from Radish Magazine:

http://radishmagazine.com/stories/display.cgi?prcss=display&id=302583

Letting Nature Takes Its Course--Amazing Wind Power

2008-06-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

Steven has been busy this week, helping to secure funding for a Colorado-based wind farm. Energy production from wind farms is up 45 percent from a year ago, and wind power is being used to power 4.5 million U.S. homes.

It's been interesting to learn more about the process of starting a wind farm. The wind farm is to be built on acres and acres of previously unusable land in Colorado. Since wind farms are becoming more popular, there is about an 18-month wait to obtain the wind machines.

And they are quite costly, with larger ones taking tens of millions to construct.

The government has been providing tax credits for wind farms, but an article in today's Tennessean (view it at http://www.tennesseegreen.com/), noted that the current program expires in December and the new the bill has stalled in Congress. The House passed the extension in May, but the bill has failed the Senate three times, probably because it's part of a larger package bill.

I don't want to get on a rant about politics, but...wind power is vitally important to our future and I hope the future of some of these farms is not jeapordized by political posturing, disagreeing, and back-scratching.

It's Just a Matter of Time...

2008-06-13T07:06:00.000-07:00

It's just a matter of time before I begin to use my reusable shopping bags...

Monday when I went to Wal-Mart to purchase the week's worth of groceries, I grabbed three of their reusable shopping bags and added them to my cart.

At 99 cents each, they're a great bargain as well as a great way to be more green.

I felt much more peaceful about using them...I really don't like coming home from the store with zillions of plastic bags that I feel like I can't really throw out, yet...they become clutter.

I have to admit, they do come in handy as "free" liners for the small bathroom garbage cans, or for a few other household uses.

But still...they are clutter in my house and clutter in the environment.

So...I was all excited about my reusable bags.

I took one to Nashville with me on Tuesday when I stopped at Kroger to get my mother some blueberries they had on special...and forgot to use it.

I also forgot to use it Wednesday when I went to Rite-Aid, and even worse...forgot to use it yesterday when I went back to Wal-Mart to get some ice cream!

Is this old age, or what? I guess sometimes it does take time to teach an old dog new tricks, but this dog eventually intends to use her reusable bags everywhere! And when I do, I'll feel really great about it!

Guilt-Free TV

2008-06-09T05:27:00.000-07:00

Finally!

Guilt-free television!

Planet Green made its debut June 4, but I did not get around to discovering whether we had it on Directv (www.directv.com) until this weekend.

Yes!!!! If you're in the Nashville area and have Directv, it's channel 286.

I thoroughly enjoyed the programming.

I watched a couple of 30-minute shows about homeowners doing green renovations (one couple was expecting a baby and wanted the new addition to their home, plus the baby's crib and all, to be healthy, organic, and environmentally friendly), and I also watched a program by Bill Nye (remember the Science Guy?) on breakfast foods.

Did you know that pig farmers feed fishmeal to pigs? This has led to overharvesting of sardines and anchovies, leaving lots of penguins and pelicans without enough to eat.

He also discussed shade tree coffee, orange juice (squeeze your own like our mamas used to do when we were kids), and eating fruit seasonally instead of having an apple trucked 3,000 miles from Washington, or worse, New Zealand (I don't plan on eating any Braeburn apples after watching this show).

There's plenty more good programming on Planet Green including a documentary on Greensburg, the Kansas town destroyed last year by a tormado that is being rebuilt as the world's first all-green community.

I'm planning on tuning in a lot this summer, in between my two favorite summer shows, So You Think You Can Dance? and America's Best Dance Crew.

I do have to put in a plug for those dance shows, because they showcase the talent, charisma and commitment of many of our young people. I love to hear how dancing has changed some of these kids' lives, ie, got them out of gangs.

Now that I think about it...how green is that?

Recipe for Refreshment

2008-06-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

I have always loved water, even before it was hip to drink it, but for some reason I don't find it as refreshing in the summer.

In summer, I like lemonade, tea, or other "flavored" beverages that sometimes contain high fructose corn syrup...like the Minute Maid Limeade and Pomegranate Tea sitting in my fridge.

So I was delighted to find a recipe today for homemade flavored water.

Basically, just add some lime (or lemon, I prefer lime) slices, cucumber slices, and mint, to a pitcher of water.

It's delicious...and refreshing.

Because I've had some digestive problems today, I also added a splash of aloe vera juice and Ok---a bit of the pomegranate tea for color. It's quite pretty as well as tasty.

I have an abundance of mint in my garden so I added both pineapple and lime mint. The flavor that stands out the most is the cucumber, since those mints are subtle.

It made me remember a beauty tip my mother taught me when I turned 16: use a cucumber slice to cleanse and tone your face.

So after I made my water, I took an extra cucumber slice and ran it over my face. Wow! It made my complexion look fresh...and young! Very important when one has turned 51!

And you can't get much greener than that! It even comes with its own natural packaging, and best of all...no animal testing.

Cheers!

Nashville's Gettin' Green!

2008-06-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to a Lunch 'n' Learn session sponsored by the Nashville chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

It was my first time at the event, and I was pleasantly surprised to see about 40 people there. I was expecting around 6-8.

Apparently, there is a lot more green stuff in Nashville than the abundant hardwood trees covering the hillsides...

The topic was Metro government's new Green Permit for building. Anyone who is building a residential or commercial building and becomes LEED or EarthCraft certified can apply for, and receive, the Green Permit from Nashville.

What are the advantages?

Besides marketing (there was a lot of discussion how anything with the word "green" in it is instantly marketable these days), the Green Permit creates a permanent record for posterity that the structure was built to green specifications.

Codes Administrator Terry Cobb and Council Mike Jameson were the speakers, and during their talk let it be known that under the new leadership of Mayor Karl Dean, Nashville has set a goal of being the greenest city in the Southeast within the next 8 years.

In fact, despite being smaller than other major cities in the Southeast, Nashville is already ahead of the curve, being outstripped only by Austin, which is much, much larger.

I was very excited to hear this, and also to see how the Metro government is supporting green issues. I hope this will trickle on over to Williamson and Rutherford Counties, and eventually to Cheatham, where we live at present.

As a side note, one bizarre topic came up...apparently a couple from California (one of the zillions of Californians who have moved here in the past few years) purchased a brand new house...never lived in...then tore it down to build a "green" home!

This apparently got a lot of media buzz even though I never heard about it. In fact, it apparently got a lot of positive media buzz, which shows how ignorant the media is...at least, here in Nashville.

The woman who brought this up was outraged. While I don't want to get outraged about something which is someone else's personal business, I am thinking, "What the.....?"

While they could have just greened up the existing home, I decided they probably didn't want to deal with off-gassing.

A better solution would have just been to purchase a lot and build a green home to begin with!

It is kind of ridiculous to think of all the labor and expense that went into the original home, and that all the materials are now sitting at a garbage dump somewhere. I hope at least someone salvaged cabinets, windows, and so forth.

Anyway...time to sign off now and go out to dinner!

Reel "Em In!

2008-06-02T07:26:00.000-07:00

There is so much going on this coming weekend (it's only Monday at 9:27 a.m. and already I am dreaming of the weekend!)...downtown development tours, art gallery crawl, Love Drums concert, and much, much more...

And one of the coolest events IMO, is the Fishing Rodeo at Centennial Park on Saturday.

Alas...I am now too old to participate but when I was a young 'un growing up in Memphis, TN, there were few things I enjoyed more than the annual fishing rodeo at Audubon Park. I don't remember ever winning any prizes but I sure did have a great time!

Did you ever participate in a fishing rodeo as a kid? Do you still love fishing?

Here's the scoop on this weekend's Nashville event, taken from www.tennesseegreen.com:

Cumberland River Compact and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency presents the Sixth Annual Catfish Rodeo. This family festival is about connecting children to local waters. The day involves 2,000 pounds of catfish stocked in Lake Watauga, two flights of fishing, educational booths and activities for children to enjoy with their parents. For ages 5-16. Each child must register before the event. For more information and to register visit www.cumberlandrivercompact.org/events_catfishrodeo.shtml

Green Detergent

2008-05-28T11:15:00.001-07:00

The Wal-Mart brand is great!

I swear, I think the clothes were cleaner, and they did not have a "perfumey" smell...when I lay down on the newly changed sheets and pillowcases, they were soft and had a nice fresh feel...almost like I had tried them on the line.

Speaking of which, one of these days I am going to start drying clothes on the line! My mother always does...I love to come home in the evenings and see sheets, pillowcases, and old-fashioned housedresses fluttering on the line!

Vinegar as a Natural Weed Killer

2008-05-28T11:09:00.000-07:00

Woohoo!

I haven't been using chemicals in my yard for years, and as a result have suffered with pesky weeds. This is especially the case now with our gravel driveway and a flowerbed outside the breakfast nook that the previous owner filled with pebbles.

I doubly don't want to use chemicals because of the outdoor kitties, Bubba and Bitsy, but am sooo tired of looking at weeds while eating breakfast!

So I was excited to get the following info in my email this morning from about.com. (www.about.com) It's about using vinegar as a natural weedkiller.

I'll let you know how it goes...

What about you? Have you ever tried vinegar? Would you?

by David Beaulieu
For organic gardening, vinegar can function as a handy natural weed killer. It's the acetic acid in vinegar that gives it the power to kill weeds. The higher the percentage of acetic acid in the vinegar, the better it will operate as a natural weed killer, technically speaking. Vinegar used for culinary purposes is relatively low (5%) in acetic acid, so repeated applications will be necessary when using it as a natural weed killer.
Vinegar As Natural Weed Killer: Limitations
If you're battling lawn weeds, take care to apply the vinegar directly onto the weeds themselves, not letting it come into contact with your grass. Why? Because the fact that vinegar is a natural weed killer doesn't mean it can't be harmful if misused. Vinegar is non-selective, and this natural weed killer can harm your grass!
To avoid damage to grass, consider "painting" the vinegar directly onto weeds with a brush. If you do spray with vinegar, don't pull the trigger until you're right up close to the targeted weed. Don't spray on a windy day, as the wind could carry your vinegar spray where you don't want it to go -- on your grass.
Because of this limitation, I don't think of vinegar as being an especially effective natural weed killer for lawn areas. It makes more sense to use vinegar in areas where lawn grass and other landscaping plants won't be in the way, such as on patios or walkways (where you have weeds pushing up through cracks).
But if you're already in the process of digging a dandelion out of the lawn, it wouldn't hurt to supplement your efforts with vinegar. After you've removed as much of the taproot as possible, carefully pour some vinegar into the hole. The vinegar will seep down into the soil, killing any portions of taproot you may have missed. Afterwards, shovel soil into the hole and sow grass seed on top, lest any opportunistic weed seeds should fill the vacuum.
There's another limitation in using vinegar as a natural weed killer, but this limitation extends to chemical weed killers, as well: namely, that you'll probably have to re-apply the vinegar to get the job done, as weeds often refuse to go quietly. This is especially true of established perennial weeds, toughened by years of coping with environmental challenges; vinegar will be more effective on younger weeds.
But considering that vinegar is safe and relatively inexpensive, this objection is hardly a telling argument against the use of vinegar as a natural weed killer. If your goal is to use a natural weed killer, one assumes that you'll be motivated to make repeated applications, as necessary.
Vinegar As Natural Weed Killer: When to Apply
When practicing natural weed control, take to heart the dictum, Know thine enemy! Study up on the weeds you're battling before you use the vinegar on them. Target annual weeds with your vinegar natural weed killer before they set seed, to prevent them from spawning a new generation to give you headaches next year.
By contrast, early fall is the best time to use this natural weed killer on perennial weeds. Early fall is when you'll want to apply vinegar to dandelions (but snap off the flowers whenever they appear, to prevent them from going to seed in the meantime). Dandelions, although their leaves die back in winter, do live on through their roots. So preventing them from going to seed isn't enough.
Fortunately, knowing a little botany can help you considerably in your battle with perennial weeds like dandelions. You see, in early fall, nutrients are transferred from the dandelion leaves down to the roots. This transfer, which continues until the first killing frost, presents you with an opportunity to hit dandelions where it really hurts! Vinegar natural weed killer applied during this time is absorbed by the leaves and passed on to the roots, following the same path down as the nutrients. The plants are killed -- naturally. Repeated applications may be necessary.
Vinegar As Natural Weed Killer: How to Apply
Listen to your local forecast, and find out when your region will be experiencing a few continuous days of sunshine. At the beginning of this period, spray or paint the vinegar onto the weeds you wish to kill.
Why is a sunny period required? Two reasons:
You need to saturate the weeds' leaves with the vinegar, and rain would wash too much of the vinegar off the foliage.
The real damage to the sprayed weeds begins the next couple of days after the application, when the sun hits the leaves.
Some people who use vinegar as a natural weed killer like to boil the vinegar, prior to application. Through such boiling, you may actually be able to gain a concentrate higher in acetic acid, although I haven't yet experimented with this option in any scientific way. But it certainly can't hurt to boil the vinegar; in fact, many folks report success killing weeds by simply pouring scalding water on weeds! So I suppose the use of boiled vinegar allows you to attack weeds on an additional front.
Vinegar As Natural Weed Killer: The Stronger Stuff
It is possible to buy products with a higher acetic acid content than that found in ordinary vinegar. Such products can be purchased at farmer's stores or from restaurant supply businesses. But the potency of these acetic acid products can render them less safe to use than household vinegar. To me, that puts them at odds with the whole concept of using "natural weed killers." Besides, you have to go out of your way to find these products, and the idea behind the present article was to introduce a handy natural weed killer, something you can just pull off a kitchen shelf and experiment with.
Other Uses for Vinegar
Those of you who have held an ongoing grudge against vinegar for its ability to make your mouth pucker may finally be able to grant vinegar forgiveness. For that same sourness makes vinegar the natural weed killer of choice for organic gardening. Vinegar can also be used for cleaning purposes around the home, as an alternative to chemical cleaners.
So if you rarely open that vinegar jug for purposes of seasoning your food, don't despair: The uses for vinegar extend well beyond the culinary.

Tide Better Get on the Stick!

2008-05-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

During my growing-up years, my mother never used any laundry detergent other than Tide. www.tide.com.

When I got out on my own, I experimented with different detergents when I had a coupon or store special, but I always came back to Tide because I believed it was the best.

However, the other day I was in Wal-Mart and saw that they had an environmental friendly laundry detergent (herbally scented, no les!) under their Great Value label.

Hmmmm.....Now that I have become more environmentally conscious, I started wondering about Tide.

Sure enough, I checked their website and I don't see anything on there that indicates an environmentally friendly detergent.

They do have Tide Coldwater, but...the thought of washing undies and towels in cold water doesn't cut it with me. Ugh!

So...I'm about to head out to Wal-Mart to do the weekly shopping. Laundry detergent is on my list, so I am going to give the Great Value brand a whirl. I know there are other brands (not "name" but new ones that have sprung up the past few years, like Myers) but they are a bit more expensive and I want to stick to my budget.

I'll have a report later this week on how the Great Value brand worked! I usually don't like Wal-Mart's house brand products but hopefully this will be different.

How about you? Are you using a green-friendly laundry detergent? If so, what are the results?

Tax Incentives--A Good Way to Promote Green Building?

2008-05-19T06:45:00.000-07:00

The following article is from www.hgtvpro.com.

What are your thoughts? It all makes sense to me...

WASHINGTON -- Calling green building "the next evolution in residential construction," the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told Congress last week that the best way to help small home builders promote residential energy efficiency and sustainability technology in home construction is by extending tax incentives for new energy-efficient homes.
Testifying before the House Small Business Committee, Michael Hodgson, president of the Stockton, Calif.-based energy consulting firm ConSol, said these incentives dovetail with the normal supply and demand for home construction. "A tax credit program leaves important production decisions in the hands of builders, buyers and home owners and does not require expensive administrative oversight that is usually associated with a mandate," he said.
Under current law, builders who construct a home certified to achieve a 50 percent reduction in energy use are eligible to receive a $2,000 tax credit. That credit is set to expire at the end of this year, and although pending legislation in the House and Senate would extend it, there is still no agreement between the two chambers over the appropriate budgetary offsets.
"Unless Congress can end the political debate and extend this credit soon - with or without offsets - it will be a tremendous loss for my business and will eliminate the only federal incentive for efficiency in new homes," said Hodgson.
He also urged Congress to increase the dollar amount of the credit, because achieving the 50 percent threshold required by statute is costly, especially for small builders.
Hodgson said that the housing industry is committed to the advancement of green building techniques that reduce energy consumption, improve indoor and outdoor air quality and conserve water and natural resources in both new and existing homes - all hallmarks of the NAHB National Green Building Program.
"NAHB members are leaders in the green building movement and were active on this effort long before the recent media interest in climate change and global warming," he said. "In fact, NAHB will be hosting its 10th annual National Green Building Conference in New Orleans next month and has consistently been ahead of the curve in promoting and developing energy-efficient and environmentally friendly construction techniques for the mainstream home builder."
NAHB and the International Code Council are awaiting final approval by the American National Standards Institute for the National Green Building Standard. The goal is to offer local jurisdictions an "off-the-shelf" green building program for all new homes and remodeling projects that is consensus-based and truly green, but flexible, said Hodgson.
"Green building means making intentional decisions that positively impact energy efficiency, resource conservation and indoor environmental quality throughout the entire design and construction process," said Hodgson. "Green means doing the right thing for the builder, the home owner, and, most importantly, the environment."
With the economy teetering on the edge of recession, Hodgson also called on Congress to move quickly to enact a housing stimulus package that will jump-start housing, save jobs and restore consumer confidence.
Specifically, NAHB urges Congress to include the following tax initiatives in the bill:
--A temporary home buyer tax credit. Hodgson noted that a provision in House bill H.R. 5720 could shore up home prices by stimulating sales and reducing excess inventory in housing markets.
--A net operating loss deduction carryback expansion. Allowing companies to carry back net operating losses beyond the current two years would help all hard-hit businesses -- including financial institutions and manufacturers -- to weather the economic storm, make their payrolls and emerge from this downturn in a position to grow.
--Expansion of the mortgage revenue bond program. This would help struggling home owners seeking to refinance their loans and would be especially useful for communities trying to avoid a wave of foreclosures or an extreme excess of inventory.

7 Great Prayers for An Abundand & Blessed Life

2008-05-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

Several years ago I attended a Unity church in Memphis http://www.unityonline.com and received a copy of 7 Great Prayers for an Abundant and Blessed Life.

These prayers really helped me feel more peaceful, and more joyful so I wanted to share them here:

I Love You, God

Thank You, God

God, You Are Inside Me

God, I attract Your Blessings

God, I see You Everywhere

God, Bless .....

God, Help me To Help You

Time's Top Green Websites

2008-05-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

Check 'em out here!

http://http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1730759_1731034,00.html

Are You Willing to Trade?

2008-05-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

Are you willing to trade space for energy efficiency in a new home?

Nashville-area developer Randy Chastain is betting some of you will.

Chastain, who was interviewed in Monday's business section of The Tennessean, said he's been involved in the homebuilding industry for 30 years but only recently began thinking about energy efficiency.

Cambridge Park, on 19 acres in Antioch, is Chastain's newest...and smallest...building project. It's also his most efficient.

His registration with the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program makes him one of the first homebuilders in Tennessee to jump on the "green homebuilding" bandwagon.

Chastain says that sound environmental practices will add about 8k-9k in cost to each Cambridge Park home, which will be in the 250k-270k price range. They also will be 1,300 SF to 2,100 SF, which is about 10 percent smaller than comparably priced homes nearby.

This pioneering builder believes that buyers will forego extra space for energy efficiency.

However, a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders revealed that the majority of buyers would sacrifice space for high quality amenities but not for energy efficiency.

What about you?

What would be most important to you if you were buying a new home: space, amenities, or energy efficiency?

Surely there can be a way to combine all three.

Those Pesky Ants!

2008-05-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

This is the third spring we've lived in our home and the third spring that we've been invaded by ants in the kitchen.

The first year, we wound up spraying chemicals in the kitchen because we did not know what else to do.

I am very uncomfortable doing that, because of the toxic fumes that are harmful to humans and our three kitties...and I just don't like having that stuff in the kitchen.

It did get rid of them for awhile and then they came back.

We tried vinegar and it did not work.

Last year we pretty much tolerated it, because there weren't very many, maybe because of the heat and drought? who knows...

But this year, they're out in full force, so I researched some natural remedies on the Internet.

I think I will try the jelly/borax mix first since I have both on hand and it's easier than the molasses paste.

Have you had any success with getting rid of household pests the natural way? If so, please post about it!

If not, check out this link:

http://http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/47674/get_rid_of_ants.html

More on Being Green and Clean

2008-05-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

Last week I posted about using vinegar and water in a spray bottle to clean the bathroom mirrors and marble countertops and how well it worked...

Although it was my first experience using vinegar, I've been using borax to clean sinks, tubs, and toilets for years, with great results.

Baking soda also is a good, natural cleaner.

I also did not know vinegar works as a copper cleaner until I found the following formula on the internet:

Copper cleaner
White vinegar
Water
Salt
Mix equal parts of vinegar and salt (a tablespoon of each should be enough to start, make more as necessary) and apply to the surface with a rag. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with water afterwards, otherwise it will corrode. Don't use on lacquered finishes.

I'm eager to try it, because I don't like using chemical-based copper cleaners due to the fumes and their impact on my respiratory system.

How about you?

Have you tried any green, natural cleaners like baking soda, lemon, and/or vinegar? What were the results?

If not, do you think you'll try some of them in the future? Why or why not?

Green LIght!

2008-05-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

I've been interested in making my own soy candles for awhile now, because they're better for the environment and of course, are more natural.

I decided to look into making my own because soy candles are still a bit hard to find in Middle TN, and they're pricier.

So this morning I did some research and found several websites that give instructions on how to make soy candles. It's not that hard! So I'll probably order the supplies soon...and if I enjoy it, I might even make some extras to sell at the Farmer's Market.

I'll provide the link to the company that supplies instructions and soy wax, but first, here's something from http://www.caringconsumer.com about why soy candles are better from an environmental standpoint:

They're great for helping you relax or igniting some passion for a romantic rendezvous, but did you know that candles often contain ingredients that snuff out animals? Many candles are made from beeswax stolen from industrious bees' hives, stearic acid made from tallow (a slaughterhouse product derived from beef or sheep fat), and cetyl palmitate, a waxy oil taken from sperm whales' heads or from dolphins. Although some paraffin candles are animal-free, they can be bad for your health and the environment. The soot given off from the burning of petroleum-based paraffin candles is essentially the same as that given off by burning diesel fuel. Fortunately, it's now easier than ever to find or make soy candles, which burn cleaner, last longer, are better for the environment, and do not depend on killing and stealing from animals. Check out our list of compassionate candle companies, or get crafty and make your own.

http://www.cajuncandles.com/

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T04:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all!

It's a windy, rainy, cool day here in Middle Tennessee...

This year we decided to fix a barbeque lunch for my mother. There is not a bbq restaurant within her driving range (just a few miles from home into Ashland City) so we decided to bring one of her favorite treats to her.

So yesterday we went to B&C Market at the Nashville Farmer's Market (http://http://www.baconandcaviar.com/files/) where we got a pound of "Q" (my dad's name for it) and some sauce.

I am fixing some baked beans and potato salad, and also made some yummy bananna pudding yesterday afternoon which we already have dipped into. Good thing I made a ginormous bowl of it!

Steve and I got up at 6 a.m. so we could go to early church, http://www.firstchurchunity.org, then be home in plenty of time to prepare the meal for noon.

It should be an enjoyable day even though we won't be able to eat outdoors.

A Greener Way to Mop From Fly Lady

2008-05-09T07:04:00.000-07:00

I love Fly Lady's organizational and household cleaning coaching and tips, and also her products...I've purchased the "office in a bag" and some of her other items...

Now she has come out with a mop similar to a Swiffee...but the cloths are washable so you don't have to keep purchasing...and wasting...cloths like you do with a Swiffee.

Swiffees changed my life by making cleaning much easier, and now Fly Lady's "green" mop will make it greener as well as simpler.

Check it out below. According to the Fly Lady email this morning, supplies are limited but they will be ordering more from the manufacturer since the product is a success.

http://www.flylady.net/pages/FlyShop_mop.asp

More Info On My Secret Weapon

2008-05-09T05:41:00.001-07:00

This article explains why you might have streaking when cleaning with vinegar and what to do about it:

By Annie B. Bond, Care2 Green Living Executive Producer
If you have tried to clean your windows with plain vinegar and gotten streaks, there is a simple reason and an easy remedy.
Oddly enough, it was the task of cleaning windows thatturned a huge number of well-intentioned, environmentallyfriendly consumers away from non-toxic cleaning using thesimple ingredients that can be found in most kitchen cupboards.Around Earth Day 1990, every newspaper in the country(or so it seemed), offered tips for cleaning in ways that didn’tharm the planet, and the recommendation for windows wasalmost always to clean them with nothing but vinegar and water.People by the thousands tried this, and many swore off cleaningwith homemade products for good because the formula leftstreaks on their windows. (I wish I had $1 for every timesomeone has said to me, “Well, I tried non-toxic cleaning and itdidn’t work. I used vinegar to clean my windows …”)
The problem was that the commercial window cleaner used before the switch to vinegar left a very fine wax residue. The vinegar alone wasn’t enough to remove it, and the result was streaky windows. If instead, everyone had added a dab of liquiddish soap to the vinegar and water, the wax would easily havebeen removed and the windows would have been cleaned perfectly!My favorite recipe is to combine 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup ofwhite distilled vinegar, and up to 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap ordetergent in a spray bottle. That’s all there is to it. (Make sure tolabel the bottle and keep it out of the reach of children

My New Secret Weapon!

2008-05-09T04:51:00.000-07:00

In 1994, I went to work at a chemical company that made paint thinners and strippers and many other products with toluene and other chemicals that aren't good for our respiratory systems.

Not only were we able to smell the chemicals in the company's office area, it was part of my job go into the plant and tank farm (where the chemicals were unloaded from tank trucks into tanks) to document procedures for ISO 9000 certification.

At the same time, I moved to rural Mississippi about 45 minutes south of Memphis. My home was surrounded by soybean and cotton fields, which were regularly sprayed with pesticides by the farmers.

I was getting a double dose of chemicals, and as a result my health began to deteriorate.

That's a big, long story for another time but one segment of it is that I had to discontinue using cleaning products like Mr. Clean and bleach.

I began cleaning the tub and toilet with borax and found it to be a great cleaning product.

The one thing I still clung to, though, was Windex. Although I had read that white vinegar and water worked just as well, I was skeptical.

Well, finally...yesterday I decided to give white vinegar a whirl in the bathroom and wow! It works BETTER than Windex!

The bathroom is sparkling clean and is disinfected, too! Yes, white vinegar is a natural disinfectant and made the bathroom look and feel fresh and safe. It seems like it took less time to clean, too, but that could be my imagination :)

So for all you who'd like to try it, here's a link to what white vinegar can do in your home. It has more uses than I've ever imagined. I definitely want to try it in the microwave, the process is much easier than scrubbing. Just put a bowl of vinegar and baking soda in the oven (amounts are in the article) turn it on, (time is in the article) and it will loosen caked on food! How easy...and green...is that!

http://http://www.vinegartips.com/cleaning/

Franklin Farmer's Market, Part II

2008-05-08T08:05:00.001-07:00

Here's a photo from last year's market...I can hardly wait till those homegrown 'maters start rolling in!

Franklin Farmer's Market

2008-05-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

Woohoo!

The summer session of the Franklin Farmer's Market opened last weekend...here is a link to their site.http://http://www.franklinfarmersmarket.com/

Attending the Market is one of our favorite weekend activities.

It will be great to hear our favorite group, the Franklin Square Pickers, again as well as check out the new music groups that will begin playing each Saturday at 10:30.

Yesterday I posted some "green" Mother's Day gift ideas. A couple of them were plant related--an herb kit, and planting a flower.

This year, instead of ordering a lavish bouquet over the internet, or even picking up a flowering plant at Kroger that could have been grown who knows where, I plan to buy my mother a green growing present at the Market this Saturday...and enjoy some toe-tapping music, too.

See you there!

Green Up Mother's Day

2008-05-07T14:28:00.000-07:00

Check out these top 10 green gift ideas for Mom!

http://http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/05/top-10-green-gift-ideas-for-mom/

Local Table Link--Live

2008-05-07T12:55:00.001-07:00

oops! forgot to make the link live in the previous post...

http://http://www.localtable.net/intro.php

Food and Farming Guide

2008-05-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

I love the publication, Local Table, which started in Middle Tennessee last fall.

It's a wonderful guide to eating locally grown foods and is attractively produced. You can pick a free copy at Whole Foods...http://www.wholefoods.com...however, since I don't get over there too often I at least check out the Local Table website...that have a tab for events and festivals all over Middle Tennessee.

http://www.localtable.net

What is Green Building?

2008-05-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

What exactly is green building?

The following article taken from the HGTV website may provide some clarification.

By Joe Bousquin
The National Association of Home Builders says more builders are hopping on the green-building bandwagon every month: A recent NAHB survey found that by the end of next year, half of its members will employ some form of green construction in their homes.
"We're starting to see 2007 as a tipping point," says Emily English, green building program manager at NAHB. "Consumers are hearing more and more about green building, so builders are looking to incorporate more of those features into their homes."
The Basics Despite more awareness about green building, there is still a lot of confusion about exactly what green building is. For most experts, there are five main characteristics that define it:
Having an environmentally friendly site selection or "footprint." Some of the factors involved are orientation of the house to maximize natural sunlight for heat and light, as well as shade for cooling. As a result, the home's furnace and air conditioning don't have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable house. Another goal is making a minimal impact on the area in which the house is built. Forget clear-cutting the entire lot; take down only the trees and bushes that would interfere with construction. The remaining trees can help cool the house in the summer and act as a windbreak in the winter. And locating the home near shopping and other services will keep the amount of driving down — a win for the entire environment.
Using energy efficient designs and materials while building a "tighter" home to prevent HVAC loss. The use of sunlight and shade for heating and cooling is as old as mankind, but there are designs and materials specifically designed to keep the house nearly air-tight. With less outside air infiltrating the home, the indoor climate is much easier to control. LED lights use a fraction of regular incandescent bulbs, while Energy Star appliances are certified to meet strict guidelines about how much electricity they require to operate.
Because higher insulation standards and Energy-Star-compliant appliances have evolved over the last few decades, energy efficiency is often the first place builders start when going green. "Energy efficiency is certainly some of the low hanging fruit," says Brian Gitt, executive director of Build It Green, a non-profit, third-party green building education and certification group in Berkeley, Calif.
Reducing a home's water consumption through low-flow fixtures. It's true that the earliest low-flow plumbing fixtures caused problems for some homeowners, but today's versions are as good — if not better — than the old water hogs. One technology is the incorporation of air into the process; the result is a low-flow shower that feels just as strong as the one using much more water.
Promoting a healthy indoor air environment. Yes, air-tight houses are critical to energy efficiency, but an unwelcome result is indoor air quality that is five times more polluted than the air outdoors. Green builders often use some kind of fresh-air ventilation to exhaust the stale indoor air to the outside, bring in fresh air and conserve energy.
Emphasizing material conservation and waste reduction while using sustainable products in design and construction. Engineers in the building-materials business have designed all kinds of products to save lumber by using optimal value engineered (OVE) joists and beams that require minimal trimming and boring for mechanical runs. Green builders can go as far as recycling job-site waste and using it for mulch in the newly planted yard.

Another form of waste reduction is building houses that will endure for years before requiring any serious maintenance. Metal or cement-tile roofing, for example, will hold up much longer than standard shingles; many have life expectancies of half a century.
No national standards To help builders get a better handle on green building, the National Association of Home Builders has created its Model Green Home Building Guidelines. "It's a resource guide for builders who want to figure out what green building is and learn about green building techniques," English says. The Guidelines can be downloaded from the website; it's also available in hard copy and on a CD-ROM through NAHB.
While NAHB's Guidelines provides a starting point, there's still no nationally recognized standard for green homes. Instead, there are about 70 regional groups across the country promoting green building in their own regions. They include Build It Green in Berkeley, Calif., and the Southface Energy Institute in Atlanta, which works with the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association to educate builders. "We don't design and build green homes, but we train and provide technical assistance to those who do," says Dennis Creech, executive director at Southface, whose EarthCraft House program serves as a green benchmark for builders in the Southeast.
A national standard may be on its way, though. The U.S. Green Building Council, a non-profit group based in Washington, D.C., is currently testing its LEED for Homes pilot program in 12 different regions across the country. Jay Hall, acting manager of the program, hopes to "piggyback" with existing local groups such as Southface and have a national standard in place by late 2007. "We're trying to create a national standard for green homes, and send a clear message about what constitutes green as you go from one region of the country to the other," Hall says.

A Healtier Pizza Alternative

2008-05-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

Steven is from Chicago so that means pizza is a staple of his diet!

I enjoy pizza with vegetables so when I found this recipe at http://www.hobbyfarms.com I was pretty excited. Steven liked it, too. Since he does not care for goat or feta cheeses I used mozzarella and it was fine. Also, I did not have any fresh herbs so I used dried.

Using roasted tomatoes instead of tomato sauce cut down on the acid. I used a boboli thin crust, so when we finished eating I still felt "light" instead of the heaviness I usually feel with pizza.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

12- to 14-inch pizza crust, unbaked
1 small or one-half large eggplant
1 small Italian squash or zucchini½ cup red bell pepper, chopped
½ cup white onion, chopped
2 T. olive oil
3 to 4 medium tomatoes, sliced
1/8-inch thick1 T. chopped fresh garlic
4 T. combined chopped fresh oregano, basil and rosemary
½ tsp. salt
2 oz. goat cheese
4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
PreparationPreheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Peel and remove ends from eggplant. Cut into 1-inch-square cubes.
Toss with 1 tablespoon salt, and set aside to let the salt draw out the liquid. After 30 minutes, drain off liquid and squeeze eggplant chunks dry.
Meanwhile, prepare the remaining ingredients.
For the Italian squash, remove ends, slice in half lengthwise, then slice halves in 1/8-inch slices. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy-bottomed skillet.
Add eggplant, Italian squash, pepper and onion;
sauté just until vegetables begin to soften.
Set aside.
Arrange the sliced tomatoes in a single layer on the crust.
Sprinkle with garlic, herbs, and salt.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until tomatoes are soft.
Lightly mash tomatoes with a fork, then top with sautéed vegetables and goat and feta cheeses. Bake until cheese is lightly browned, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Green and Attractive

2008-05-07T09:35:00.000-07:00

Our 2300 SF home built in 1991 and which we purchased 2 years ago, is the biggest energy sucker I’ve ever lived in. So Steven and I are ready to embark on a journey of “greening it up” to save money as well as overall energy usage.

I’ll be reporting on that adventure in this blog, to share ideas and give you some resources.

In fact, here’s one now: we also want to update the home and make it more attractive but keep with in a green framework so here’s my vote for an attractive, recycled countertop material to use instead of granite: http://www.icestone.biz/new/.

We recently watched a segment of This Old House that showed how Ice Stone is made and it was so neat! I love the color mixes, too.

Go Green Nashville

2008-05-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

On Monday, I attended the lunch and learn meeting of Go Green Nashville, a group committed to raising awareness of the environment in our Nashville area. The meeting was held in Green Hills, but will be moving downtown next month to attract more attendees.

I thoroughly enjoyed the speaker, Joe Schanel, who lived “off the grid” for about 10 years, and also meeting others who share a commitment to green living, so I will be sharing information about Go Green Nashville meetings and workshops in upcoming issues.

Green living is really starting to take off in the Nashville area, thanks in part to the new mayor, Karl Dean, who is very committed to the green movement. And of course, it doesn't hurt that Al Gore lives here, either.