The Great Garbage patch.

if this doesn't convince you to watch your plastic litter, I don't know what can. We're all a bit responsible for this, but can we make it better? Recycling is the logical first step, and buying products that recycle/support recycling is another good place to start.

Make your own yogurt!

A superb article, and I"m sure quite useable, if you are so inclined. Yogurt isn't some mysterious item you can only buy in groceries...as ARTHUR MAGAZINE columnist and natural-living correspondent Nance Klehm describes in her 'how-to' article, found here:
Human-incubated yogurt

Food, Inc. teaser...

Here's a film that likely won't play near me (Midwestern corn belt), but mark my words-- I will see this on video at some point.
Definitely worth your support. I just wonder what corporate interests will want some of this discredited! Hah!

The Paper Dilemma

Okay, so we all have to use toilet paper, and most of us are pretty well accustomed to using facial tissue (a.k.a. 'kleenex'), and likewise there's always a paper towel handy when you need to clean up that spilled drink. But do most of us think about the trees we are using, and the forests we are destroying whenever we wipe/blow/scrub? With billions of us humans all over the globe, that's a LOT of paper, and paper comes from trees, right? It's said that we, as Americans, use some 700 pounds of paper per year. That's a lot of trees.

Needless to say, I am all for keeping as many trees, wooded areas, and forests intact. I've seen several eco-conscious brands of paper products around, at natural food stores and such, but they are always uber-ultra-expensive. I am but a humble working-class guy with little income. Can't justify it.

Well, along comes Marcal Small Steps - a line of paper that says it's '100% recycled'. They apparently don't cut down ANY trees to make their paper products, and they haven't for 50 years! Sweet! I found some bath tissue priced at $5.99 for a 12-pack of double-sized rolls at a local farm supply store, and, at that price, I think I like it. Anyone else like this stuff? It's not the fluffiest, softest, etc. around, but does the trick better than some store brands. Here's a link to their website.

Marcal Small Steps

Stores like Meijer and Kroger seem to carry it, as does my local (regional) Rural King. Let me know your thoughts!

Bio-Safe Pest Control?

I have some little ants that are making their Springtime debut in my kitchen -- and they won't go away! I've tried keeping my doorway sealed, and sprayed vinegar on the doorway (as well as baking soda) to discourage them, but there's still an odd few that seem to make it through my 'barricades'. Any ideas? It's not an infestation, but annoying nonetheless.

I'd rather not go the chemical/toxic route, of course.

New Belgium Breweries / Fat Tire Ale = Eco-conscious beer!

It's a great time to be alive...one of the craft beers that first moved me to drinking independent brews has finally made it's way East with distribution in Indiana! Woohoo! No need to road-trip to Schnuck's groceries in St. Louis to fill up the ol' car's trunk!!!

Yes, Fat Tire (from the wonderful "wind-powered and employee-owned" New Belgium Brewery in Colorado) is now here. Weirdly enough, it's being sold in 12pks of cans...and larger-sized bottles, but not the regular 12oz. bottles (at least yet). Ah well, it's all good (beer).

Looks like there's a special 'Hoosier' bottle for us Hoosiers, and I've seen the 1554 Black Ale here now, too. Yum.

New Belgium Brewing website

And a brief promo for New Belgium's 'Follow Your Folly' theme, featuring the inimitable Devendra Banhart...

Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure Castile Soaps!

I have become an ardent supporter and proponent of Bronner's Magic Soaps. It's organic, fair-trade, and so very economical, I've been using the same $9.00 bottle for well over a year! I use it as shampoo (not daily, but usually every couple of days), hand (and body and face) wash (25% Bronner's mixed with water in one of those foam-soap bottles), and more. You can find Bronner's in your local health food stores (Whole Foods, local places) as well as mainstream retailers like Target these days. It comes in several sizes, as well as different scents like Peppermint (my favorite), Tea Tree Oil, Rose, Lavendar, Eucalyptus, and more (even a Baby Mild formula). All the ingredients are natural, with no weird chemicals, so you know it's safe and biodegradable. Check their site at:

Dr. Bronner's website

And check out this interesting expose on Bronner's soaps (I can't embed this particular clip, so a link to the official site that features this video). It details California punk rock drummer Don Bolles (The Germs, etc.) and his experience with Bronner's, as well as exposing some untruths about some of the other so-called 'organic' soap products.

Video clip