Sometimes development is necessary; increasingly, we're seeing sustainable examples. Yet at in some unfortunate cases, it's controversial to say the least. We’ve all seen bulldozers lay waste to once pristine wooded areas in our countries and communities. The latest "People vs. Developers" case is centered on the ancient Angel Oak of John’s Island, South Carolina. The Angel Oak is the oldest living tree east of the Rockies - it is over 1,500 years old. It is truly a sight to behold.

Granted, no one wants to cut down the Angel Oak itself, but in order to make room for the multi-story apartment buildings and 80,000 square feet of retail space, most of the forest around the Angel Oak will have to be destroyed. This forest – filled with other trees that are ancient – is a protected wetland essential for maintaining the local hydrological cycle. Ecosystems are delicate and losing another green space in this day and age is a cause for deeper examination.

Opponents of the building project are suggesting reclaiming old, rundown buildings and turning them into apartments instead, and sparing one of the last, sacred green spaces we’ve got left.

If you're moved to get involved, sign the online petition and help save the beautiful forest surrounding Angel Oak. 

Olive oil has won the world over with its beneficial, heart healthy monounsaturated fat and distinct flavor. But in order to meet with the huge demand for this wondrous oil, some pretty aggressive agricultural practices are destroying Mediterranean ecosystems.

Parts of Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal are being densely packed with ...Read More

Personally, I prefer my grocery stores boutique style. I like a smaller store stocked with high-quality items. I don’t need 20 varieties of ketchup to choose from – just give me a few organic choices, thanks.

Many grocery stores are beginning to follow this trend. Safeway, Whole Foods and even Wal-Mart are ...Read More

When you're searching online for a good green deal, where do you go first?

The two behemoths of the online classifieds world are Craigslist and eBay. Their continent-cracking size isn't always a good thing - sifting out the eco-friendly from the not-so-much can turn into one of the ...Read More

I'd like to bring up a challenging topic for discussion with you all. What responsibility do churches have to encourage their parishioners to be responsible stewards of the Earth? If all animals and ecosystems are part of God’s magnificent creation, isn’t it imperative that Christians (to name just one faith as the predominant example) step ...Read More

Have you ever had your day at the beach ruined by cigarette smoke? You’re there to breathe in the fresh salt air and you just can’t stop smelling that harsh cigarette smoke wafting in from one of your beach bunny neighbors.

The town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, agrees. (I'm on a clean air kick today.) The Barnstable Recreation ...Read More

Biking just got more attractive. The Biddeford campus of the University of New England has created a new program to provide free bikes (complete with lock and helmet) or Zipcar usage to Freshmen who leave their cars at home. Because of recent campus construction, many parking ...Read More

I recently spoke with Susan Dix Lyons, visionary and founder of Clinica Verde, a holistic, community-oriented medical clinic in Nicaragua. Their mission is to serve the local poor with excellent health care and nutritional counseling in sustainably designed buildings with organic gardens. Clinica Verde is ...Read More

It’s contagious – the news starts talking about banks crashing, a bad economy, tough times ahead, and we all freak out. So far, nothing has actually changed in my day to day life, but the news has untinted my rose-colored glasses. The truth is that there are actually good things happening all over the world. Here’s some of the news you need ...Read More

Unfortunately China’s tainted milk scare isn’t stopping with just the tainted milk: some Chinese-made milk chocolate products are sitting on international shelves, and they may be tainted, too.

The milk ...Read More