Mmmm. CANDY! Just smell the bowl full of those darling, little bars of CANDY. Just look at those chewy bites of CANDY!

Now, walk away. That’s right. Walk away and no one will get hurt.

Halloween is really one of the hardest nights to stay disciplined, to focus on staying healthy and stick to your local, organic fare and not endorse one night a year when it’s okay for kids to rot their teeth and poison their bodies with sugar and trans fats.

We get hundreds of visitors to our suburban-esque San Francisco hood and once the bell starts ringing, it tends to get frenetic. You can’t spend the evening just bobbing for organic apples but you can make some changes in your holiday routine.

Here are some good tips for staying focused for a  healthier Halloween:

1. Plan ahead pumpkin head!

Eat a really big, healthy dinner around 5 p.m. Give your kids a good dinner, too. Usually they’re too excited to eat, so just threaten them: No green stuff, no brown stuff. Growing up, we always had chili dogs on Halloween, but no one will eat that anymore. A veggie pizza is yummy and filling, and toss a massive salad for yourself and your friends. And don’t forget, many good foods stem from the pumpkins you carve, i.e. delicious and beneficial dried seeds, soups and desserts. Pumpkin is one of the super foods!

2. Pluck fruits of the vine, Frankenstein

Here’s something novel. Buy healthy treats to give away so if you have a few it won’t hurt: Organic fruit snacks, like the new ones from Amy’s,  Fair Trade organic dark chocolate squares, Z-bars. Don’t get carried away and give out toothbrushes, though. Everybody hates neighbors who give out toothbrushes. They deserve to get tee-peed.

3. Keep a Healthy Stash, Monster Mash

Keep a healthy, beat-the-blues treat aside for yourself, such as an organic dark chocolate bar, a bowl of fresh fruit or popcorn. I don’t know who made up the rule that giving away candy means you can’t snack on healthy treats throughout the night. Popcorn is high in fiber and I like to season mine with a bit of Cayenne pepper. Look out!

4. Slurp to your heart’s desire, thirsty vampire

Drink tons of water all night (from your reusable bottle, of course). Keep a water bottle by the front door, and keep sipping. Staying hydrated is a surefire way to keep up your energy throughout this high energy night, and to keep yourself from eating unhealthy foods that will just make you feel lousy in the morning  – you know, that Halloween hangover.

5. Sit on the porch and stay present

This is a great night to interact with neighbors, neighbors we are usually isolated from during the busy work week. Pull up a chair on the front steps with your bowl of healthy giveaways and haunt your old friends. It’s good for the spirit!

Top image: Doug88888

Image One: Organic Authority

If you’re sending correspondence through the mail these days, why not design your own stamps to promote your green message?

Many sites, including Zazzle.com, allow you to either select from their designs or customize your own using photos or images downloaded from your computer.

If you decide to make stamps for a special occasion, remember to weigh whatever you’ll be mailing before you order so you can specify the correct postage amount. If you aren’t going the route of Evites or other email invitations, using stamps that say something special, and green, is a great option.

Here are ten designs I found at Zazzle with cool green themes:

1. Six Reasons to Plant a Tree

2. Fair Trade Only

3. Got Bamboo?

4. Dreaming of a Green Christmas

5. Hang Dry

6. Love Your Mother

7. Love it or Leave It

8. Kiss Me

9. Like No Tomorrow

10. Burn Fat Not Oil

Images: Zassle.com

Jewish is going greenish.

It’s a phenomenon I like to call Oy-Soy, the marriage of ethical Jewish values with eco alternatives – everything from the artifacts that help color our heritage to a back-to-nature approach to living more sustainably.

I guess it’s all in line with the goals of tikkun olam, the repairing of the world, which we Jews perform in a variety of ways, from donating to our communities with charity and acts of kindness to taking stock in our resources.

Is being green a blessing? Try these out and see:

Recycled Ketubah

The wedding contract, called a Ketubah, often emerges as a gorgeous work of art which couples frame and hang on their walls. This exquisite design on handmade recycled paper features pressed wild flowers and ferns, along with embossed plants for a touch of the early garden. $195.00 from Ahuva (shown above).

Eco-suede and Fair Trade Kippots

For greener coverage, try a golden kippot made of eco suede, the friendly vegan alternative to a suede-leather. These yarmulkes are made of recycled cardboard. $2.50 each from A-Zara. Or, opt for colorful crocheted, fair trade head coverings made by sixty Maya artisans working in the Guatemalan highlands. With the purchase of the woven caps, you are dong a mitzvot by helping women artisans earn a steady income for their families. $16 each at the Globale Exchange Store.

Fair Trade Challah Cover

Bring some exotic Boho flair to your Shabbat table by covering your  organic holiday bread in this handwoven, fiesta blue cloth embellished with a bright colored star and borders. 15″ x 20″. 100% cotton. $38 at Artistor.

Guilt-Free Organic Nosh

Nosh like an eco fresser with the organic bagels from Rudi’s Bakery (multigrain, honey wheat, white and cinnamon raisin); Nancy’s organic cream cheese (thick like you mean it); top with Vital Choice kosher, wild sockeye salmon Nova Lox. Head to your local farmer’s market for the tomato and onion and gorge without guilt!

Organic Kosher Wine

Such a blessing, the organic fruit of the vine, like Hafner Queen Esther Reserve Pinot Noir ‘04, which is produced under the strict supervision of Rabbi A.Y. Schwartz in Vienna. $11.08 for a bottle at Online Kosher Wine. Or open a bottle of  the Baron Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, $29, made of grapes selected from vineyards in California’s Central Coast areas of San Luis Obispo and Edna Valley and the northern coastal areas of Sonoma.

What’s even scarier than the scariest of Halloween costumes? How about the labor abuses suffered by women and children in third world countries?

This year, little Hannah Montanas and Harry Potters can have a treat up their sleeves as they get out the word about beneficial Fair Trade sales to the homes they visit on October 31st.

It’s called Reverse Trick-or-Treating and allows participants in the U.S. and Canada not just to receive candy from neighbors but also distribute Fair Trade certified chocolate donated by companies. The participants are looking to promote the work they are doing to give poor people a fighting chance to make a living and provide for their families.

A card accompanying the chocolate informs recipients of poverty and child labor problems rampant in the cocoa industry that produces much of the bite-size candy eaten at Halloween and other products consumed throughout the year. It explains how Fair Trade certified chocolate combats that poverty by supporting and creating labor opportunities.

The candy has been generously donated by Equal Exchange, Alter Ego, Sweet Earth and La Siembra. The participating non-profit organizations taking the lead in the effort include:

• Africa Action
• Amherst Fair Trade Partnership
• Ballston Spa Fair Trade Coalition
• Fair Trade Federation
• Global Exchange
• Green America
• International Labor Rights Forum
• Jeannette Rankin Peace Center
• Montclair Fair Trade Coalition
• Not For Sale
• Oasis/Stop The Traffik
• San Diego Friends of Fair Trade
• Taos Fair Trade Steering Committee
• Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
• United Methodist Church (UMCOR/GBC

You can order the chocolate and cards for free from Global Exchange’s Sweet Smarts Network from now until the October 1st deadline and will only be charged $5.50 for shipping and packing supplies. Just fill out the order form and you are on your way.

Let us know how your neighbors responded to the lovely gesture of receiving not just a thank you but also a chocolate from your family this year.

Image: Matt McGee

Starbucks: people either love ‘em or loathe ‘em. My husband likes their coffee and admires their business brains. I, on the other hand, can’t stand them for their homogenized, yuppie style. Having grown up in grunge-era Seattle, once a land of artsy coffee shops crammed with kitschy sofas and local color, cookie-cutter Starbucks look to me like a department store: void of soul and chock-full of useless merchandise.

But how bad is Starbucks, really? I decided to find out.

1. Clean water is such a precious commodity in the world these days, but Starbucks didn’t seem to care. Their “leave the tap running all day” policy created an eco-scandal to the tune of 23 million litres wasted every day. Less than a year later, they’re installing water-saving faucets which purport to reduce water wastage by 150 gallons per day, per store. Note, they only changed their wasteful ways after they got caught.

2. Although some people claim that having a Starbucks in the neighborhood is actually good for local mom & pop cafes, the long-running belief is that Starbucks turns the uniquely local neighborhood vibe into cookie-cutter corporate…well, crap. Perhaps it’s really just a matter of taste, but most of your dollars spent at a Starbucks location will end up in the pockets of distant executives – and not circulate in your local economy.

3. Ever keen to new marketing strategies, Starbucks has decided to co-opt the unique neighborhood vibe. What you think is your local indie cafe might actually be a Starbucks in disguise. To try and get the business of economic locavores, Starbucks has sent out scouts to cop the look and feel of various neighborhoods, then create a “unique” coffeeshop under a different name. Some might call this a brilliant business strategy, but I think it’s pretty underhanded.

4. Then there was the Ethiopian coffee debacle. In 2006, the Ethiopian government attempted to trademark regional coffees such as Sidamo and Harar because these specialty brews sell for up to $26 a pound, with only about $1 getting back to the Ethiopian coffee farmers. Starbucks, working through the National Coffee Association, blocked Ethiopia’s trademark bid, helping ensure the continuation of poverty in an already impoverished region.

5. Did you hear about the tip scandal? A former (and clearly disgruntled) Starbucks barista successfully sued the corporation on behalf of all California baristas in a class action law suit. Starbucks was ordered to pay $100 million to baristas to make up for tips that had been given to shift supervisors. It sounds like the ultimate low blow, but there is a grey area here: although California law prohibits managers and supervisors from receiving tips, Starbucks’ shift supervisors do help customers and make coffee. They’re paid much more than the baristas; do they also deserve a cut of the tips?

6. After years of customers haggling them for recycling bins, or at least recyclable cups, Starbucks has finally launched a recycling pilot program. Puh-lease…coffee shops the world over have already had recycling and composting systems in place for years. Starbucks should have been able to do better, and faster – why has it taken them so long to jump on the greenwagon?

7. Starbucks has decided to increase their purchases of Fair Trade coffee – but that’s only after years of pressure from Fair Trade groups. Considering that the worldwide coffee trade is a huge source of oppression and poverty in third world countries, buying Fair Trade goes far to support better wages and working conditions for coffee farmers. So far, only a small percentage of Starbucks coffee will actually be Fair Trade Certified, but they’ve still created a marketing campaign around it. I’d expect better from a large corporation; since Starbucks is large enough for the world to pay attention to its products, they could push some powerful change by using their influence for the greater good.

8. No matter what they do to be a little more green, if Starbucks won’t pour coffee into a reusable mug, they’ll never win my heart. My husband informed me of his own infuriating Starbucks experience where they refused to fill his travel mug, instead handing him his latte in a disposable paper cup and telling him he could fill his travel mug himself. He’s not the only one who’s had eco efforts thwarted like this at Starbucks.

9. And besides, McDonald’s beat Starbucks in a coffee taste test. Ouch!

So what do you think? Personally, I think Starbucks can do better and set a positive example for the coffee business in general, but they won’t do that unless they feel the heat from customers.

Image: D3 San Francisco

Triple Certified coffee – the gourmet, deluxe, connoisseur’s brew. Coffee that’s organic, fair trade and shade grown. Coffee that’s good for the people, the forest and the birds.

Here’s a guide to the cream of the cup. These sites are worth browsing for the grower’s stories and photos of the people and the farms.

Café Altura
Café Canopy
Café Fair
Caffe Ibis
Café Mam
Coffee-Tea-Etc
Dean’s Beans
The Groovy Mind
Grounds for Change
Heine Brothers Coffee
Higher Ground Roasters
Higher Grounds Trading Company
Nectar of Life
Peace Coffee
PT’s Coffee
Pura Vida
Sabino’s Coffee
Tree Frog Coffees

Drop us a comment below if you know of any other Triple Certified coffees.

Image: Jeff Kubina

Wal-Mart is taking big steps to give a measurable definition as to how green their products are with an initiative to put eco-labels on everything in their stores worldwide, from t-shirts to bicycles.

The idea is to give products a simple, standard rating that allows everyday shoppers to determine at a glance how sustainable a product is, similar to a nutritional label on food.

Understandably, this is a huge endeavor and many wonder if the megachain will be able to accomplish it. If it succeeds, this will change the future of retail forever and have an amazing impact on the culture of purchasing on the cheap.

Coral Rose, founder of Eco-Innovations and a former buyer at Wal-Mart, is a recognized sustainability strategist and eco-educator. A featured speaker and panelist on the subject of sustainable textiles, she’s also a member of the University of Delaware’s Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies Advisory Board (the first University graduate program in Socially Responsible and Sustainable Apparel Business).

Her own blog, Sustainable Action Leadership, is one of the most widely-read websites on sustainable textiles.

I caught up with her recently to see what she had to say about the proposed Wal-Mart green ratings system.

As a former buyer, and the first Wal-Mart associate to implement sustainable fabrics for the Sam’s Club division of Wal-Mart, what do you think about Wal-Marts new approach to figure out the full environmental costs of making their products and to create a green rating for shoppers?
Is this something they can actually make a reality?

Measuring the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of any one product is complex; measuring the LCA of 60,000 suppliers’ products (hundreds of thousands of actual products) is quite a bold goal. And then applying those LCA metrics to a label is quite a process. Labeling a product with a Sustainability Green Index will more than likely involve setting a standard with benchmarks for quantifiable and verifiable thresholds and then having that standard certified by a third party. That looks like where this might be heading.

Wal-Mart’s Sustainability Index is in its infancy, with many of these core details still yet undetermined; that was the purpose for the multi-stakeholder group meeting last week in Bentonville. This will be a methodical multi-stakeholder initiative, with a phased approach. There will be clear metrics that will measure successes and opportunities; this will allow Wal-Mart to move forward with thoughtful velocity. The Sustainability Consortium jointly administered by the University of Arkansas and the University of Arizona will facilitate the process. My belief is that this is a project that will be phased in over the next few years.

I have been engaged in several industry-wide multi-stakeholder standards and labeling initiatives (third party-certified). The average timing for a process like this from conception to shelf is usually two to three years. We may see a few products hit the shelves earlier than that. We saw the Private Brand divisions presentation of “Great Value Sour Cream” during the meeting. Sustainable value process and product improvements were realized as they took a deep dive into dairy products.

Do you feel this has the potential to alter retail as we know it in a positive way?

Wal-Mart is taking the lead for the creation of a “global”sustainability/green index by which a product’s environmental and social impacts are measured – that in and of itself is ground-breaking.

The scalability that Wal-Mart brings to the table is one of gigantic global proportions. The fact is that Wal-Mart just might make the term LCA an everyday term understood and used by consumers. Now that would be quite a feat for such complex subject matter.

Measuring the environmental impacts of products is not a new concept: Patagonia with Footprint Chronicles, Timberland with their Green Index and Nike’s Nike Considered. All these companies have all been working on supply chain efficiencies and sustainability, while delivering a quality product to their consumers for  the better part of the last decade. So some consumers are familiar with this type of labeling already. Wal-Mart is taking a concept that exists today on a smaller scale to the masses.

What do you suspect will be some of their challenges?

There are many opportunities. One particular dual opportunity will be to create a user-friendly LCA product tool for merchants and suppliers. And on the consumer side, to create a label that encompasses those metrics for that product in the form of an easy-to-digest label. As simplified as the Energy Star label, but with scientific metrics certified by a third party.

Wal-Mart often gets a bad rap. You said in your piece in Future Fashion White Pages regarding buying for Wal-Mart, “I realized that by buying organic cotton instead of conventional cotton, my colleagues and I could improve the quality of life of millions of people. After that insight, how could I not do something?”

How has Wal-Mart evolved with a similar vision?

The core question when we first started this effort in 2004 was: Can you increase the value of a product and increase the sustainability of the value (supply) chain while keeping the product cost neutral?

The decision to buy organic cotton was a solid (values-driven) business decision. The goal was to source a product that was a better value for our member at price parity, thereby giving our members a better sustainable product for the same price as that of a conventional item. I would offer the member a product that was better in value, better environmentally and socially without compromising their expectation of a great quality product. The result was a product that outsold (by a large margin) any other product on the floor at that time.

Today, Wal-Mart is digging deep into the value chain to deliver on “Save More, Live Better.” A Sustainability Index will support and improve the lives of millions of people all around the world.

Do you feel you have you any part in the foundation of what they’re building from today?

From the onset, sustainability was always an internal and external collaborative team effort. Many “innovative and critical thinker” associates who formed the original Sustainable Value Networks continue to be at the forefront of this effort that we are hearing about now.

You said (in an interview posted on your blog) that supply chain transparency is “one of the basic tenets or ‘rules of engagement’ for any 21st-century business model.”

How are big box stores prepping themselves for having complete transparency with their shoppers and does that make them vulnerable?

Complete supply chain transparency is at the core of any LCA effort. Wal-Mart’s first large effort at giving consumers a glimpse into the supply chain has been the Love Earth Jewelry Line. The Sustainability Index will take the concept of transparency to an entirely new level.

Do you see this as a trend, this adherence to being responsible or just the way things have to and will be in the future when it comes to retail?

Business is changing rapidly. Fair Trade products, which define social responsibility, are a key barometer for measuring consumer’s adoption practices for responsibly-produced products. Despite a global recession, worldwide sales of Fair Trade products grew by 22% in 2008.

Today, the majority of products’ social and environmental impacts are hidden from our view – that is, the effects of a product’s social and environmental impacts (life cycle) before it hits the shelves and consumers’ hands. The average consumer is unaware of the global impacts of their decisions. Hidden from their sight is what lies upstream; all the impacts of growing, processing, manufacturing and transporting raw materials and component parts. Twentieth-century business practices have taught these professionals to focus only on what is downstream (production to consumer). Wal-Mart is now taking us into the 21st Century.

See Coral Rose’s post on “Looking Upstream: A New View of 21st Century Business Practices”.

Image: NNECAPA

How do I know it’s summer? I hear bees and see flowers blooming; I’m working out because that beach vacation is looming. I watch baby birds as they learn to fly; I welcome new beginnings into my life.

And yes, I write terrible jingles that barely rhyme.

Actually, I know summer is upon us because all of a sudden I’m in the mood for dresses. All I want is to bare my legs and to wear strappy sandals. I’ve gathered some of my favorite sexy frocks for frolicking your way through the next few months:

Elroy Larkspur Dress

Don’t be fooled by the basic looks of this little knit dress. Not only does the low v-back say sexy but the long gathered “scarf” that connects to a side seam creates an entirely sensational dress with tons of possibilities. The aqua, chocolate and white are 95% modal and 5% spandex, while the black and royal blue versions are 100% bamboo knit jersey. Find it in sizes XS to L for $122 at Elroy.

Lara Miller Tiered Ronnie Dress

There’s not much to say other than simply stunning when looking at this dress made of organic cotton and bamboo. You might also call it short, sexy and sleeveless in a dirty periwinkle blue they call Iron. Oh, and it’s available in x-small, small and medium for $297 at Nimli.

Doucette Duvall Milly Dress

I adore the red and white checked print of the Milly Dress and its tilt toward the traditional, but it’s the open back with big white buttons that seals the deal. This frock can go just about anywhere melding modern, feminine and mystery. Made from 100% cotton rescued from a mill in Spain, you’ll find it in sizes 2, 6 and 8 for $370 at The Violet Hour.

Organic Zip Front Dress

I happened to be at Fred Segal this past weekend and found myself trying on this dress by Organic. Soft as a baby’s bum, it’s made of 100% biodegradable cupro with a zipper running down the front. The combination of floral, feminine and metal zipper is très sexy”¦as well as very expensive at $565. Find it in sizes 0 through 8 at Fred Segal or online at shopbop.

Eco-Ganik Criss Cross Finale Dress

This long, low cut gown is the epitome of elegant, yet it’s casual enough for a hot summer day. The Bora Flora print is earthy and glamorous; the material is woven 100% bamboo and the criss-cross in its name happens at the back (see top image). It’s available in sizes x-small, small and medium for $273 at Nimli.

FIN Goddess Bamboo Dress

What attracted me to this silky number from FIN is the flowing, almost water-like appearance of the 100% organic bamboo fabric. The gathered detail in the front makes for a form-fitting bodice and feminine streamlined shape. I’m a fan of FIN also because of their overall commitment to carbon neutrality and Fair Trade practices. Find it in sizes 4 through 10 for $432 at Equita.

Loyale Valencia Mini

I showcased a bikini by Loyale in this purplish floral print and everyone loved it, so here’s the same organic cotton and low impact dye floral print in a mini dress. “Flirty and fitted” and the perfect piece to throw on for a date or lunch with friends, it’s available in sizes XS to L for $178 at Loyale. (And for those of you who shy away from anything “mini”, there’s a longer version available for $196).

Edun Andie Shift Dress

This tailored shift dress is suitable for work or play, evening or day. The vertical stripes accentuate the longitude of a woman’s body, while the subtle slit up one leg along with the sequin detailed shoulders make for one sassy, sophisticated outfit. Add a pair of simple black pumps and va va vooom. Of course it’s eco – 100% sustainable cotton, fairly traded and sweatshop-free. Find it in sizes x-small, small and medium on sale for $215 (from $325) at Equita.

Beau Soleil Beau Guard Dress

Here’s a slinky, one-shouldered maxi that’s worthy of a head turn or two, if you ask me. 100% bamboo and simply black, the Beau Guard showcases a sexy metal ring on the shoulder that holds the back and front together. I love a dress that screams sexy while leaving so much to the imagination. It’s available in sizes petite, small and medium for $250 at Nimli.

Sublet Catherine Dress

Last but definitely far from least, this dress from Sublet says classic and functional without being b o r i n g. Covered in pleats made of 30% organic cotton, 67% bamboo and 3% spandex for that special stretch, the Catherine sways and clings in just the right places. Find it in sizes x-small through large in three creamy colors, for $280 at Sublet.

Now I’m really in the mood for summer, aren’t you?

First, a link we’ve mentioned before (what’s that called, a relink?) but worth repeating because it’s a foodie’s treasure trove – it’s 50 of the world’s best food blogs. My personal favorite is Chez Pim, where I first learned how to sun-dry my own tomatoes without using the sun – jolly handy for us Brits.

This is upcycling par excellence: yarn created from the unlikeliest of sources including plastic netting, VHS tape, newspaper and human hair! Thanks to Matt and CraftStylish for this one – but as green as it is, the people-hair thing, well, must dash, bye.

Looking to build a new house for next to no money? Dan Phillips is the man to see. His house is 85% landfill – and as you can see in this Texas Country Reporter video, it looks terrific. So far Dan’s helped 8 families build and purchase a recycled home – could yours be number 9?

If you want a reminder that the wrong types of cosmetics, deodorants and chemical cleaners are causing havoc when they spill into the environment, look at the state of Chesapeake Bay and Puget Sound – and that’s 30 years after the Clean Water Act kicked in. (Or take a look at what Luanne discovered last year).

Starbucks continues to play Good Cop and Bad Cop – hot on the heels of this public relations disaster, the company has announced it’s investing heavily in Fair Trade practices, aiming to supporting the development of small-scale farming initiatives with a $20 million investment. Good recovery, guys (and thanks, Treehugger).

Is there anything that looks more shabby than dirty, ripped advertisements peeling off billboards and oozing neglect? Therefore, logic dictates, is there anything potentially classier than advertisements made from natural, temporary materials, such as wheat, sea water and snow? The name of the most exciting thing to hit marketing this year is Curb – and Ecopreneurist has more details.

Obama has just signed a $5.7 billion bill to triple the size of AmeriCorps, touching the lives of millions of people. And every one of them is a starfish.

There’s a word with which science-led types like me are usually uncomfortable. It’s not something you can nail down with hi-tech testing and maths and statistical formulae. But it’s an undeniable part of our relationship with the natural world, so we need to look it in the face and grow comfortable with it. And it’s married with the word “ecology” here, at Green By Design.

Nixon! Sorry to scare you there. The famously grubby-pawed President has become something of a metaphor for monstrous evildoing in recent years (take Futurama’s depiction). Yet it was Nixon’s administration that created the Environmental Protection Agency. Should we be kinder to his legacy? Well, no – but perhaps we should be a little grateful.

Now here’s a vital question: what happens when we start looking long and hard at how rampant commercialism is affecting people during their most impressionable time – childhood? Jennifer Lance at Eco Child’s Play cites the disturbing way that Disney is targeting young boys, apparently enlisting the help of “a researcher with a background in the casino industry”. Where’s the line?

Ugh – celebs. What are they like? Flying their personal trainers back and forth, owning their own private jet fleet, cutting down Giant Redwoods to make toothpicks for their dogs (okay, I made that one up). But while we love to hate celebs, we should also love to love them as well – taking as an example the work of Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle), seen here at Razoo. If you need further convincing, take a look at Kaczmarek’s “Clothes Off Our Back” Foundation.

Feel like your brain has been taxed enough this week? Feeling the urge to fling oranges at illegal loggers? Thought so. Well then, here’s how, thanks to some people at Tropicana with an overabundance of time on their hands. Fruits away!

So many new green sites to keep up with. Take GreenDig, which we definitely do dig now that we’ve had the chance to catch up with it, even though it started up last year. Slow down, Internets!

Eco-news isn’t all bad, as Cailtin recently demonstrated – and if you’re looking for an even more epic shot in the arm, read through these 10 truly colossal green projects that have world-changing significance. Guaranteed to replace the spring in your step!

Finally, an important and timely safety announcement. Beware blueberry waffle mix – more specifically, of becoming an ingredient of it. That is all.

Image: Dreamtroll

These have to be the cutest kids ever. Not just because they’re, well, adorable children, but look at what they’re wearing! Soft, comfy, organic cotton striped clothes! If these aren’t the happiest little munchkins you’ve ever seen…well…don’t tell that to their moms.

And just what are these tykes wearing? Clothes made by Happy Green Bee, a manufacturer of Fair Trade Certified, organic cotton children’s clothing. I found them at a trade show and got sucked into their happy little hive. Not only was it the bright, fun colors that attracted me – but the softness of the clothes, as well. And don’t be intimidated thinking that organic cotton has to be expensive – they’ve got a great sale page too.

Now if only they made this stuff in my size.