The Slime’s Where All the Flavor Is

They’re nutritious, free range, a touch rubbery, and have graced the plates of Europeans for thousands of years. Instead of picking the snails off your lettuce, why not add them to your salad? High in protein and low in fat, these sustainably foraged appetizers will just slip down.

A Golden Future for Our Environment

When you’re caught short, head for the garden. That’s what the Pee Outside movement believes, citing the 3 gallons of water used every time the toilet flushes. Since exposing yourself in daylight is generally frowned upon, please grit your teeth until nightfall – remember, it’s for the planet.

Energy from Motion (the Other Kind)

In a form of alchemy beyond even the wildest dreams of Isaac Newton, the Sintex turns our poop (and other organic waste) into enough energy to run our homes. Elsewhere, dirty diapers are turned into diesel fuel. In the search for the next big sustainable energy source, we’d be wise to start at the bottom.

Oh! What a Lovely Green War

It’s a dilemma for the eco-conscious military man: is there a sustainable way to bomb 10 shades of cr*p out of the enemy? Now there is, with the low-fallout, low pollution eco-bomb, because some smoking craters are greener than others. Alternately, why not just aim for the real deal?

Skimpies Your Man Will Love (if His Phone Powers Out)

Ever shimmied along the beach in a two-piece number, wondering if your iPod had enough charge left in it? You’ll need the Solar Powered USB Bikini, then. As you’re a walking electrical supply, it’s probably best to avoid the water. Or if you like to parade through the sunshine in your smalls, why not try this multifunctional organic cotton outfit complete with solar panel and cleavage-mounted drinks dispensers? There are some designers out there who are deeply single.

Tasty, Tasty Weeds

Why should goats have all the fun? Before we discovered how to process food until it barely sustains us, we ate things straight out the ground wherever we found them. It’s still possible, as we illustrated yesterday (and here’s a British version, courtesy of Guardian Environment), but oh boy, you’d better be sure you’ve got the right plant.

Commuting, Getting Fit and Looking Dumb for People in a Hurry

Never mind that cycling and walking have been popular for hundreds of years and forever, respectively – some people think they’re a waste of good exercise-time. The Floating Human-Powered Gym wants you to tone up as you lift-share – while the Speedfit wants to, well, make you look bloody stupid. Nothing wrong with generating energy as you work out, but exercise some common sense.

Don’t Wave Flags: German Football Fans Score Own Goal for Environment

When proud German football supporters fixed flags over their cars in the run-up to the Euro 2008 football season, the Austrian automobile club cried foul, claiming that it was bad for the planet. It seems that a fluttering flag reduces the fuel economy of your car, draining the world’s remaining oil reserves and kicking us shrieking into the dark ages. How utterly selfish.

Images: WTL photos, cameronparkins, Gizmodo, jemsweb, chichacha, Army.mil, hans s

We’re halfway through 2009 – how are your greening efforts going? By now, you’ve switched to energy efficient lighting, kicked disposable water bottles to the curb, bought a reusable shopping tote and you’re hungry for more.

Here’s some extra eco wisdom to make this year your greenest (and most bank-account-friendly) yet:

Replace your chemical-ridden cleaners with natural alternatives.

Put up a clothes line and hang your clothes out to dry. This simple act saves energy, cuts the cost of utility bills and helps your clothes last longer. Plus, there’s something about the sweet scent of fresh air that an energy-sucking dryer and wasteful dryer sheets just can’t simulate.

Invest in a water conservation shower head to save approximately 3000 gallons of water each year.

Stock your fridge and pantry with organic food. Grown without toxic pesticides, herbicides and insecticides, organic food is a much healthier choice for both your body and the environment. But, going organic is not all you can do. Buying food that is locally grown will also reduce the amount of fuel used to get it to your table.

Regularly change air conditioning filters for a more efficient system that is more energy efficient.

Invest in biodegradable trash bags. Made from corn starch, these eco-friendly alternatives only take weeks to break down, while those that line your trash cans now will pollute the planet for decades to come.

Whenever you can, ride your bike or take public transportation instead of driving.

Keep your thermostat in check. Your home doesn’t need to feel like an ice box in the summer and a sauna in the winter. Also, if you upgrade to a digital model, you can cut down your energy use by a third.

Use fewer batteries with rechargeable or wind-up gadgets like radios and flashlights.

Start a compost bin. To make use of waste, just follow this comprehensive composting guide.

Image: Pink Sherbet Photography

Many people in business are secretly hoping the recession will kill off the growing popularity of green issues. Some others are hoping not so secretly, among them the delightful (not) Michael O’Leary of Irish budget airline RyanAir, who had this to say in February last year:

In many ways we would welcome a chill or something even colder. We would welcome a good, deep, bloody recession in this country for 12 to 18 months. It would be bloody good for the industry. It would help see off the environmental nonsense that has become so popular among the chattering classes.

In reality though, environmental issues are not going to go away, and the recession is as much an opportunity for environmentalists as a threat.

Brands that indulged in greenwash or sold a green veneer as a lifestyle gimmick are bound to suffer in these straitened economic times. I think (hope) that discriminating customers with money to spend will continue to seek out truly artisanal eco-friendly products. It’s the brands clambered on the bandwagon in an exploitative, non-genuine fashion that will suffer. I must admit I laughed at AA Gill’s scathing review of Daylesford Organic in London. On the face of things it sounds like a case in point, though I’ve never shopped or eaten there, so I reserve my judgment.

Right now it’s the value-for-money proposition that chimes with the general public. That’s probably why Rachel’s, an organic dairy brand in the UK, recently dropped the word “organic” from its brand name. Many customers regard organic produce as a luxury that they can’t currently afford. Rachel’s is still certified organic – it’s just no longer called Rachel’s Organic on its packaging.

In the battle for hearts and minds, environmentalists can also focus on selling a value-for-money proposition. Even in these tough financial times, people do still care about the environment and are paying attention to green issues. They are just looking for a way to do it without blowing the family budget. The good news is that frugality goes hand in hand with green living.

Environmentalism at its heart is not just about what you buy, though that’s important, but fundamentally about buying less. You don’t really need that new iPhone – and if you are tempted, you might want to check out this amazing photo gallery on Treehugger showing the shocking truth about where the raw materials came from.

It’s not all about deprivation, though. EcoSalon has loads of great ideas for how to save pennies and the planet without compromising on style.

Some simple ideas that will save you money and help the planet include:

Cutting down on your electricity and natural gas consumption. Turn off lights, switch appliances off at the wall, turn the central heating off completely for summer. Simple but effective.

Drive less and instead catch public transport, cycle or walk.

Use the library or book exchange websites rather than buying books.

Barter more generally, not just for books.

Can’t afford to go to the farmers’ market or buy organic brands in the supermarket? Don’t give up on organic food but instead sign up for a vegetable box scheme – you’ll get fresh, seasonal food at great prices. It’s actually often cheaper than the conventional produce in the supermarket. Or grow your own – whatever your space.

Reduce meat consumption and cook more vegetarian food – EcoSalon posts great vegetarian recipes if you need inspiration.

Practise good home economics and use up food. Remember that multi-buy deals in the supermarket are not such a great deal if you have to use it all up by the next day.

Mend your clothes or have a clothes swap. And skimp on dry cleaning.

Holiday close to home or take the train.

And, here are even more ideas. I’d love to hear from you so please share your best ideas for frugal green living in the comments.

Meanwhile, you might take a certain schadenfreude from knowing that RyanAir plummeted into the red after failing to hedge effectively on fuel prices last year. O’Leary’s latest plan to make money is to charge customers to use the toilet on board the aeroplane.

Image: AMagill

There’s quite a spectrum when it come to green living. Whether you’re a treehugging, protest-marching, tofu-frying greenie or simply trying to figure out where to start on your path to sustainability, it’s always helpful to take a moment to review the basics of going green. Here are 10 simple steps to get you on your way to a more environmentally conscious lifestyle – or to remind yourself of habits that need a little more commitment.

Recycle aluminum and tin cans, paper products, plastics and glass. Compost organic matter. Safely dispose of toxic chemicals.

Unplug electronics when you’re not using them. Ever hear of vampire power? No, it’s not the latest horror movie. It refers to all the electricity appliances waste in standby mode.

During the day, pull back your shades and let natural light guide the way. As long as the sun is shining, there’s no need to rely on electricity.

Use cold water to wash all your laundry.

Switch to compact fluorescent lights or light emitting diode bulbs. Incandescent lights use four times more energy than CFL’s and ten times that of LED’s. Plus, incandescent bulbs last a mere 1,500 hours, as opposed to 10,000 and 60,000 hours for CFL’s and LED’s.

Cut down on gas by gradually accelerating and regulating tire pressure.

Break your bottled water habit. Instead, buy a filter for your faucet and use a reusable thermos.

Invest in a reusable shopping tote. They’re inexpensive and go a long way by reducing the excessive amount of plastic and paper bags wasted with every trip to the grocery store.

Upgrade to paperless banking.

Eliminate disposables by replacing paper napkins with cloth napkins, paper towels with rags, counter wipes with sponges, etc.

Stay tuned for my next installment of tips – and feel free to suggest your own!

Image: Tiago Ribeiro

This month, it’s all about the planet. So, step up your green lifestyle and celebrate.

Plant a tree in your yard. Don’t let Arbor Day hog this fun-filled, eco-friendly activity!

Put in a couple hours of community service and pick up trash from your neighborhood and local parks. In fact, whenever you see litter anywhere but inside a trash can, do your part for the environment and throw away or recycle it.

Flip off the lights and illuminate your home with some soy candles.

Walk or ride your bike instead of driving. After all, it’s spring. Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping and bees are buzzing. So, ditch your car for some fresh air.

Shower less often. Believe it or not, but you don’t have to bathe every single day to maintain good hygiene. Before you turn your nose up at the thought, I’m not suggesting that you go weeks without one. Just take a shower every other day instead to conserve water. Or, try the navy shower.

Start a compost bin to cut down the amount of waste you send off to the landfill.

Take out a book with an environmental theme from your public library, like Most Good, Least Harm, Ecovillages: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Communities, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature and more. If you have kids, try Don’t Throw That Away.

Turn off your air conditioner and open your windows instead.

Take a nature hike. What better way to celebrate Earth Month than by admiring Mother Nature’s pristine beauty?

Donate money to an environmental organization, like Earth Corps, the Nature Conservancy or Earth Share.

And if you take these steps, why stop this month? Every month can be green!

Image: Renneville

I don’t know if it’s irony or hypocrisy that best describes that fact that Prince Charles is heading to South America next month to focus on environmental sustainability and climate change issues but is getting there on a private jet, leaving a massive 322 ton carbon footprint. I’m going to go with hypocrisy. Perhaps the Prince should consider leaving some of his 14-person entourage behind and just hopping on an ordinary plane like the rest of us.

Apparently the Prince does plan on offsetting his carbon emissions. But still, it irks me that he doesn’t see that having his own jet to transport 14 people is ethically incompatible with his “green” stance.

It turns out that this isn’t the first time that Prince Charles has been in the firing line over his mode of transport when traveling in the name of environmental issues. In 2007, he flew first class to the United States…to pick up an environmental award. Well, I suppose video conferencing wasn’t available.

Of course, the Prince isn’t the only one that seems not to notice the hypocrisy of leaving such a massive carbon footprint with his travelling. Other well known people to be tagged for private jet flying include former Vice President Al Gore and California Governor Arnold Schwarznegger. What do you think about this, readers? Is the occasional “Oops, I pumped out more greenhouse gases than the cattle of Brazil last weekend!” something to be overlooked in the grander scheme of saving the planet…and avoiding the hoi polloi?

Image: versageek

There’s a saying, “animals make us human.” It’s because the way we treat the creatures in our care shows what kind of people we are. If you care about your own health, what you eat and what kind of home you live in, it’s important that you care about the health and happiness of the animals that share your home. Love is important for your pet, but so is proper care and mental stimulation. Here are the essential basics of providing a good life for your pet:

Spay or neuter your pet. With an overabundance of animals in shelters who already need loving homes, there’s no need for you to supply your neighborhood with more puppies or kittens. Why take the risk of filling the world with more unwanted animals? Feral animals breed like wildfire and usually end up hungry, sick and diseased. Besides, your local bird population will thank you, as a few feral cats is all it takes to hunt them into neighborhood extinction.

Feed them what they really need. If you care about the kind of food you put into your own body, you’ve got to care about your animal’s diet too. You don’t have to buy the most expensive stuff, but take a few minutes to look at the ingredients. Dogs and cats eat meat, and although it’s perfectly fine to include vegetarian items in their food, the first few ingredients need to be real meat. Not “chicken by-product meal” (which means ground up bones, beaks and feathers), but actual chicken. Your pet’s long term health is worth it. Avoid grains and fillers.

Appreciate what they bring to you. You take care of your pet, but your pet takes care of you, too! The unconditional adoration from your dog is pretty hard to find anywhere in the human world, and a cat’s satisfied purr as it naps on your belly has got to be one of the most wonderful things in the world. Take time to appreciate their personalities and companionship – being a good human requires more than just feeding them and taking them to the vet.

Exercise with your dog. Part of the responsibility you chose when you decided to keep a dog is to make sure they get plenty of daily exercise. Unless your dog is blessed with a huge yard and a few other doggy companions, you need to make sure you schedule in trips to the dog park, a vigorous game of fetch, some rough and tumble wrestling or a brisk jog through the neighborhood. The active lifestyle will do both of you a lot of good. Consider your dog your best workout partner!

Play with your cat. If you share your life with a cat, you know they like to sleep for hours, but cats get bored too. They need playtime and stimulation, and it’s easy to create simple, inexpensive toys (a feather on a string, a ball with a bell inside) to keep them active and entertained. Most cats go nuts chasing the light from a laser pointer!

Adopt from animal shelters. If you’re looking for a new animals to expand your pet-family, I urge you to adopt from a shelter. The reasons not to buy from a pet store are numerous, and you’ll really be saving an adopted critter’s life by letting them into your heart and home.

As much as you can, go green. From carpet cleaners to flea control, it’s always best to reduce the amount of chemicals in your personal environment. Guest writer Kathryn Hawkins has a whole list of ways to green your pet’s life (which is part of greening yours).

Regular check-ups. I know, I know, it’s not easy getting your animal friends to the vet. They always seem to know what you’re up to and hide out in the hardest to reach corners of the house. But it’s important they get checked out regularly, because a condition caught early on is much easier to treat than something full blown. Remember the adage: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” (this goes for you too!). Don’t be afraid to explore alternative treatments like animal acupuncture and pet massage.

Teach kids respect for animals. If you have children or kids that visit your home often, it’s important you teach them how to care for and respect your pets. Take the time to show them how to gently pet, and not pester, these critters who are trying to relax in their own home. Kids always learn best by example.

Images: greefus groinks/cloneofsnake/fazen/ElBosco/left-hand/Dr.Hemmert/BigTallGuy/Claudio Matsuoka/masochismtango/annia316/Maschinenraum

I remember when bottled water went on sale in my home town sometime in the 1980s. I was just a kid but I clearly recall that the universal reaction among both children and adults was mockery. Who would be dumb enough to pay for water when it comes out of the tap for free? Fizzy water maybe, but otherwise it was just a waste of money.

Two and a bit decades on and it’s quite a different story. Bottled water is big business, worth over $60bn a year. Next time you go out, count how many people you see clutching branded bottles of water.

Yet one of the best things you can do for the environment and your wallet is to go back to tap water. You can install a water filter at your house if you like but really there’s no need – unless you’re living in the developing world and then you probably need more drastic measures, anyway. In countries like the United States, Canada, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and most of Europe, tap water is proven to be very pure, sometimes purer than the spring waters sold in bottles. (Tap water comes out quite well in blind taste tests.)

There are a number of problems with bottled water.

It takes time and energy to pump the water out of the ground, bottle it, label it, market it, sell it and transport it. (Time and energy that is doubling up on what the government is already doing in supplying you with clean, safe, free tap water.) It’s bad enough when the water is from a Scottish spring and sold in London or from two states over in the United States, but when you’re selling Evian from France in Australia and Fiji water from the South Pacific in Denver, there’s something seriously wrong.

What happens to the bottle at the end of its life?

You might get some reuse out of it but ultimately plastic degrades and it’s not safe to continue reusing it more than once or twice.

The plastic is recyclable but that doesn’t mean it’s always recycled.

Given that it’s a product that is frequently bought and consumed when you’re out and about when you may or may not be near recycling facilities, it’s understandable that so many bottles end up in the landfill. The best way to avoid this is to not buy it in the first place.

You are not going to dehydrate from running errands.

If you get thirsty, most cities still have drinking fountains – and they seem to be coming back in fashion. If you need a water bottle for the gym or to go hiking, you’re better off investing in a good quality water bottle that won’t leak – such as a metal Sigg bottle.

It’s a bigger challenge when you travel to countries without a safe water supply. It’s just so easy and tempting to buy bottled water. The problem is that countries without a safe water supply probably don’t have adequate garbage disposal facilities either, let alone recycling. I have visited various countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, and plastic water bottles are quite often the main type of litter – worse by far than the much-maligned plastic shopping bag.

If you can use the hotel kettle to boil your water and then carry it in your own bottle that’s ideal. If not, at least buy the biggest bottles you can and take them back to your hotel room to refill your personal bottle.  Within reason, you can even bring back some of your empties for recycling at home. Every drinking bottle you don’t add to the problem, it will make a difference. It’s harder for sure, but you don’t travel to these places for an easy life. I’ve seen plastic bottles littered in the dunes of the Sahara Desert in Tunisia and washed up on beaches in the Arctic. I know that I can’t clean up the mess single-handedly but the least I can do is not add to the problem.

Finally, as this New Statesman article says, if you’re going to drink from a bottle, make it wine. And if you cement one new habit in 2009 for the greener good, it’s got to be giving up the bottle.

Image: daviddesign

There’s nothing I like more than checking the mailbox and discovering a magazine or two. But it’s not the greenest read around. So I did a little Googling and discovered there are plenty of digital
magazines available to keep me reading for an eternity. And many are free.

Canada-based Green Living Magazine is a quarterly magazine that offers celebrity profiles, engaging features and departments on natural beauty, eco fashion, fitness and active lifestyles, organic food, earth-friendly green gifts, eco heroes and tips for a healthy home.

Eco for You is a new English consumer magazine that aims to provide a variety of views on all aspects of the environment. The current issue addresses global warming and the ozone layer, green energy, recycling, and
much, much more.

Organic Lifestyle magazine has articles on everything from yoga and organic shaving to eco travel and book reviews. This monthly magazine has four issues online so far but am wondering if it is still publishing as the last issue was September 2008.

Organic Spa Magazine is available in both print and digital editions and offers articles and departments dedicated to exploring the sustainable side of life. Focus is on spa destinations, organic products, and food, fitness, and wellness issues.

So the next time you’re thinking about heading to the nearest bookstore for a magazine fix, why not head for the nearest computer instead?

Of course, you can subscribe to EcoSalon for your free green fix anytime you need it.

Image: dirtymouse