I’ve learned the best way to find earth-friendly products at a discount is to surf the web. My most recent find: Ecobunga! A well-stocked portal of green deals, sweepstakes, coupons and downright free green goodies.

We link shoppers to great bargains and prizes while helping companies get the word out about their eco-friendly products and services, says their website.

After only a few moments I found deals on:

Seventh Generation products – buy one, get 50% off the second

Simple Shoes for as low as $10

40% off of a home wind generator system, and free shipping

10% off of the purchase of an electric bicycle from Currie Technologies

Bulk savings on Eden Organic Foods

Save a buck coupon for Knudsen Organic Juices

There are also contests to win items such as:

Sigg reusable bottle

A Ford Fusion car

Bamboo Sheets

Eco Mist cleaning products

The Modern Vegetarian Cookbook

Good luck, and let us know if you come up lucky!

Image: AMagill

Forgive me, but I never fail to get excited about pretty green things. And while it’s not breaking news that vintage is a fabulous way to shop, I can’t help but shout when something old becomes new again – especially when it’s something made with an exquisite emphasis on craftsmanship rather than mass production.

The Gustavian Vintage Bed at VivaTerra caught my eye for just that reason. The sensuous curves of its arched headboard fit perfectly with the strength of its frame. Made of reclaimed Douglas fir that grows more beautiful with age, the bed reveals all the special details of weathered wood.

The designer uses only “low VOC, water based materials and water based, non-toxic stains” on its furniture as well as water soluble, formaldehyde free glues. There’s a whole lot of eco-friendly going on here.

The Gustavian would look comfortable in a country home or the sleekest of modern abodes. Dressed in anything from these sheets to any of these, sweet dreams are only an eco-second away.

Available in sizes Queen, King or Cal King at VivaTerra for $1675 – $1775. (That’s 15% off until February 5th!)

There’s nothing I dread more than moving. Even if you’re just coming from the other side of town, a day of lugging furniture and countless boxes of accumulated items is more of a workout than the most grueling spinning session. So, when one of your gal pals relocates, welcome her to the new digs with a stylish housewarming gift that won’t break your budget.

The Kitchen Essential set from ARE Naturals will imbue this room with some much-needed personal warmth. Stylish salt and pepper shakers and an eco-friendly towel woven from cotton and bamboo come in a seagrass box that can be used for decoration or storage.

Get her off to a good start by purifying this living space with the Himalayan Salt votives from VivaTerra, made with ancient crystals that give off negative ions to wipe away those stray remnants of previous tenants.

Crafted from pliable bamboo, the Wine arc from Zanisa is sleek and chic. And, to help her unwind after hours of exertion, you’ll definitely want to complete this piece with a bottle of her favorite sauvignon blanc.

I love Indian food with its various curries, aromatic basmati rice, and fluffy, warm nan bread. Fortunately with a few good spices and fresh vegetables it’s not too difficult to create a tasty meal in a tolerable amount of time. But for those days when product over process is your mantra, enter Tasty Bite simmer sauces.

On a recent visit to the Natural Products Expo East convention in Boston I was drawn to the Tasty Bite booth much like a sailor to a siren. I watched the demo chef cook tofu and vegetables on her tiny stove, gently stirring in the Good Korma simmer sauce. One thing in particular that I like about this product line is that they aren’t too salty like many packaged sauces are. And you have to love their sense of humor. The Good Korma container reads:

Meditating on dinner? Look within. An entrancing serenade of spices, cashew, coconut and the gentle ringing of a sitar. Your souls will want seconds.

I also recommend Tikka Masala simmer sauce, with chilies, cumin, cardamom, coriander, clove and onion. Find all four simmer sauces in stores from Acme to Whole Foods, or online at Tasty Bite. Then rent some Bollywood flicks and have a Punjab party. Your taste buds will thank you.

TastyBite is offering EcoSalon readers a discount of 15% off any order over $30 made on the Tastybite.com website. Enter ECOSALON in the code box during checkout.

If I’ve heard it from one client, I’ve heard it from 10. “We can’t spend any more money.” Well, that ain’t no fun. Woefully, my plans to do that Far East theme took a bad turn when the economy went south. Now what?

Here are a few tips from your resident EcoSalon designer on how to squeeze the remaining juice from your bruised budget.

Prioritize Adequate Lighting

Highlight the items you can’t live without and can still afford with your new budget constraints. If you can’t read without good lighting in the family room, purchase floor lights to flank that sofa you splurged on. There are many good green options, like the Brookfieldâ„¢Deluxe Full Spectrum Floor Lamp from Verilux, which has the profile of a turn-of-the-century design with 21st Century efficiency. For $150, you might as well buy a pair. We can’t go blind just because corporate greed messed up our investments.

Paint Works Wonders

Table your plans for new dining furniture for now and paint, instead, using natural milk paint. Most clients have decent breakfast room and dining room furniture but seek replacements as part of their stylish redux. Good dining furniture can be quite costly. Instead, why not paint existing kitchen wooden tables a mod or warm shade to color you happy until things pick up and you can splurge? Chairs can be great accent pieces with fun shades.

No Beddy Buy

   
New headboards and beds may be a luxury right now. If you have one on your to-get list, save it for when you’re feeling flush and focus on the bedding for now. I cannot live without nice sheets and duvets and there are super chic organic choices that won’t set you back too much. You might as well be swathed in soft cotton to shelter the storm. See Purists Give a Sheet for a glimpse of what’s out there.

Pricey Art Not Smart. Do Photos, instead

I’d have art over furniture any day, but I began acquiring pieces years ago as an art writer. Now isn’t the time to invest in large, expensive works. Sure, you can always pick up great finds at various sales and auctions, but for now, why not do a photo wall to cover that wonderful space? I do photo walls all of the time for families. You can have vintage shots enlarged at Kinko’s or other office supply stores, and pick up frames at discount frame stores or even good thrift shops. I often shop at Photograph, a new source that offers affordable, high-quality, do-it-yourself frames and matting.

Opt for Xeriscape Landscaping

Usually, the landscaping comes last in a home remodel or redesign and can sap whatever cash you have left. Bids for large jobs can come in at $50,000 to $100,000 for elaborate lawns, plantings, fountains, swimming pools and trees. Go for the green option, choosing low water use grasses and herbs. You can plant a veggie garden with your kids or neighbors to cover a healthy plot. I also love cactus and other desert blooms as design elements in the creative garden. You can pot great shrubs to maximize volume outdoors. You’ll be saving water and helping the planet stay more beautiful at the same time. Check out ideas at for low water use plants at Laspilitas.

You may have noticed that I’ve been touting the decadent styles created by Viridis Luxe and I’m not going to stop now. Typically on the more expensive side, you can now indulge in this eco luxury at a price your wallet can handle. Jump onto the Nordstrom site and see what suits your fancy. Here are two pieces on sale now that I see fit for fall.

Jersey Sleeveless Top: The bamboo/organic cotton blend may be sleeveless but would look great with a figure-fitting cropped blazer, slim pants, and ankle booties. Add even more flair with some long, layered gold chains and you’ll look like you stepped straight off the runway. (only $60, from an original $147)

Halter Minidress: Shape is back, so show it off in this mini number. Arm yourself with a chic blazer, a boldly colored scarf and knockout stacked heels. Be sure to pop the collar on this one and you’ll attract stares all day long. (only $50, from an original $167)

The high cowl-neck style is a timeless emblem of sophistication. From sleeveless to sweater-dress, cowls are popping up all over the eco-fashion world – and you don’t have to worry about itchy fabrics against your neck.

The new breed of cowls come in sikly smooth bamboos, organic cashmeres, cottons and recycled blends. Here’s a handful to get you dreaming and cowl at the moon as you step out in these beauties this fall.

Above left: a classic sleeveless cowl neck from Peligrose for only $90 (via Erin).

Right, from top to bottom: an organic cotton fleece cowl from BTC Elements with a matching belt for $90. From Edun, a classic 3/4 length cowl in a lightweight wool blend for $145. From Scheroder-Falzone, this very sexy organic-yarn hand-knit pullover cowl neck is $120.

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 labors of Hercules. Luckily these sites have corners that are greening up nicely, such as eBay’s World of Good – but in the main, you’re on your own.

Alternatives? Here are a couple we’ve spotted.

EcoFlip. Founded by Forrest Kolb and Joseph Paone, it’s a "classifieds community for eco-friendly people". It’s free to post, available in 42 countries, and in addition to adverts for sustainable services and products, there’s a section called "Reuse and Recycle" which presumably works the same way as the fabulous Freecycle. I’m particularly impressed with how you navigate around: first up, you choose your state, then your nearest city, and only then can you access all the listings. Start locally and work outwards – the way it should be.

Planet Thrive’s focus is wellness, and the Ask the Expert and Wellness tabs on the front page lead to an impressive range of personal healthcare resources. The site is the work of writer, photographer and holistic health counselor Julie Genser, and she’s aimed for a very personal community feel right down to shared photo albums. You’ll also find environmentally-focused classifieds galore – from eco-friendly housing to green employment opportunities.

Give them a try, and drop us a comment to tell us what you think!

Image: Darwin Bell

The bike path leading to the Golden Gate Bridge has been transformed into a sculpture museum of sorts with 40 brilliantly painted art globes lined like tiki torches along the sandy road at Chrissy Field.

Passers-by are mesmerized by the images and messages within, which direct us to act on behalf of the planet to preserve what we have. My favorite featured polar bears and warnings to “Keep frozen” with regard to its disappearing habitat.

The exhibit, Cool Globes, will remain in San Francisco for a couple of months before heading to San Diego and London. The round-up of these green globes was the brainchild of Chicago marketing professional Wendy Abrams, who says she wants to inspire people by talking about this topic in an upbeat, rather than negative manner.
The globes premiered in Chicago in 2007, where they also got an enthusiastic response.

Cool Globes seem to go with the flow in this spectacular setting of beach, vigorous outdoorsy people and wildlife.  Each globe is sponsored by a company or individuals and is mounted on a large block of cement with plaques that contain statements about the theme and name of the artist.

It really is worth looking at, even it means halting the run or walk for a minute to take it all in. I forced myself to do exactly that, but still would like to return soon with my children to examine each one and appreciate both the process and result.

Pictured clockwise from top left:

Please Fly Wisely, Lee Tracy (yes, “our” very own Lee)
Warm Up: Wear a Sweater, Lindsay Obermeyer
Tall Grass: a Solution for Global Warming, Nina Weiss
First We Scream, Then We Act, Nancy L. Steinmeyer