Green Leaf

We really have to change the way we use our cities. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2yqT9L7 https://ift.tt/33ZNneU

The bean's big comeback. From longevity and weight control to being a better choice for the planet, here's why the humble bean is so mighty. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2ARnmjW https://ift.tt/2DYBlrj

Our photo of the day comes from Merced, California. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/39Bnxip https://ift.tt/2UUgDzP

The threat of climate change is becoming more and more real. It doesn’t just mean weird weather now, it could have a huge impact on generations to come. However, we’ve… The post How to Be More Sustainable in Everyday Life appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/33WdWll https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

All the stuff I once viewed as clutter has become a precious resource for my socially-isolated family. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2ykyic5 https://ift.tt/2UODFrD

As we collectively begin to consider the long-term impacts of pandemic , the possibility of disruptions to the supply chain for groceries has a lot of people considering a vegetable garden for the first time. Experienced gardeners already have strong opinions about — well, everything actually — but especially about whether to use pesticides. But newbies may be confused. Why wouldn’t you kill pests? If you’re wondering about the pros and cons of pesticides, here is your primer. What Are Pesticides? Technically, anything that kills pests is a pesticide. Pests are any living thing that interferes with human activity. Pesticides are used to avoid bug bites, eliminate bugs and small animals from our homes, and to protect crops — the use that interests us here. In general, when people use the term pesticide, they are referring to synthetically manufactured chemicals that were first developed around the middle of the 20th century. Some of them were originally used as chemical weapons du...

Did you know that the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, gave us three gifts? We can thank the movement for the U.S. Clean Air Act , Clean Water Act , and Environmental Protection Agency . What gift can we give the Earth to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day? Print or share We Earthling posters to inspire others with your stories. Would you like to share a photo and story?  Drop by the Earthling Forum  to contribute your photos and ideas. You Might Also Like… The Problems With Pesticides March 31, 2020 We Earthlings: Earth Day Gifts March 31, 2020 Gardening Tips: How To Get Kids Involved March 31, 2020 The post We Earthlings: Earth Day Gifts appeared first on Earth911.com . from Earth911.com https://ift.tt/2xGUvkb https://ift.tt/2UV6Yci

Spring is already pushing its way out whether you are ready for it or not! I am definitely ready to welcome the birds, the buds, and the scent of freshly turned earth back again. And if you’re like me, you’re anxious to get your garden started. This year, is it time to get the kids gardening, too? The benefits of getting your kids involved in the garden are numerous and worth the extra effort. Whether you are growing fruits and veggies, or attracting birds and butterflies with beautiful flowers, your garden provides the setting for a fun learning experience for children. Gardening Benefits Gardening puts children right in the center of a bright and interesting world that they will naturally crave to know more about. Image Credit: Studio 37 / Shutterstock What makes gardening so beneficial? Here are a few ways I think kids benefit from gardening. Healthier Food One of the first and most obvious benefits is that you are letting your child help you provide the family with food...

If you need to be out and about during physical distancing, please mind your sidewalk manners. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2JqRZRP https://ift.tt/3aw1WcG

We should think differently about our material and finish choices. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2vZVHil https://ift.tt/2xvJCBP

Earth Day is great for raising awareness, but it isn’t helpful if we only think about the environment once a year. Fortunately, kids love watching movies, and many family-friendly films touch on environmental topics. Keep your kids thinking about the health of our planet all year long. These movies have a strong environmental message you can share with your kids. Wall-E (G, 2008) The truly all-ages Wall-E does so many things right it earned a 95% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The main plotline may be about a lonely robot’s trip to outer space, but there’s no overlooking the fact that Wall-E is lonely because humans have literally trashed the planet, making it uninhabitable. Even as audiences root for the little robot, the lesson of the film is clear: People made a mess of their planet, and people need to clean it up. Nim’s Island (PG, 2008) Critics were divided on the quality of Nim’s Island . But kids will connect with Nim, a young girl who lives on an isolated island wit...

Outdoor access may be limited these days, but there are still some things you can do. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2UQyt6w https://ift.tt/2UqL2qa

Our photo of the day comes from Rockyview County, Alberta. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2WUkU91 https://ift.tt/3dCMHk1

Shipping boxes of dirty diapers across the country seems inefficient and unnecessary. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/3bzJvnn https://ift.tt/2yeCnhW

Many of the personal care products for children found in stores contain harmful and even toxic ingredients . Soon-to-be parents often start getting concerned about the personal care products they use on their children, but it can also be hard to decipher which are actually safe and natural alternatives. Often, product labels are quite misleading, leaving parents confused. Making your own personal care products for children can be a fun and rewarding experience. If your children are preschoolers or older, you can involve them in the process. Very young children can help with mixing and selecting essential oils . Older children can probably make these products themselves as most are quite simple. Before You Start Keep in mind that babies especially can have sensitive skin and may find strong scents overwhelming. As a result, many baby products are unscented. Also, some essential oils can aggravate sensitive skin and especially the eyes so use them sparingly. In many cases, essential ...

Companies face growing demands from consumers, government, and NGOs to reduce their carbon footprint, decrease their overall environmental impact, and to provide just work conditions. Ramprate.com , an innovative sourcing advisory firm that pioneered data services based on renewable energy, has launched a scoring system to track the impacts at every step in a company’s supply chain: Syzygy Sourcing Impact. As Ramprate explains it, the world is in the midst of a statistical revolution that will help to optimize human productivity to live prosperously within the planet’s carrying capacity. The Ramprate team partnered with CSRHub.com and others to examine the financial, environmental, and social responsibility performance of more than 1,300 companies to develop the Syzygy system. We talk with founder and CEO Tony Greenberg and chief strategy officer Alex Veytsel about how Ramprate evolved from helping its clients reduce telecommunication costs to tackling climate impacts from energy...

Waste to Energy or WTE technology converts the non-recyclable wastes into usable energy forms. The heat from combustion is used to generate the superheated steam in the boilers and this… The post Waste to Energy: The Opportunities and Challenges appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/3aFuwIs https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

As the pandemic spreads around the globe, shutting down stores and disrupting supply chains, we find ourselves in a crucial moment for the global fashion industry. No matter if we emerge from social isolation two weeks or from months from now, we’ll find a very different world of fashion awaiting us. The question is whether those of us who care will rise to the occasion, and demand that we use this opportunity to build a better world. If we’re going to be effective, however, we need to have a deeper understanding of both fashion’s history and the possibilities that lay before it. That’s where the following reads from experts and journalists come into play. I recommend you order yourself copies that you can sit with, away from your screen. I hope you enjoy them! Fibershed By Rebecca Burgess As global supply chains shut down, a more localized fashion economy is starting to look pretty good. Rebecca Burgess, founder of the California advocacy group Fibershed, is the expert on what it ...

If you own a small business, and wish to create a brand out of it, there’s no better way to do it than design a great label for your product.… The post Labelling Your Product: A List of Do’s and Don’ts to Keep in Mind appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/39vBXks https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

There’s no doubt that when you are living the green lifestyle, it should extend to all areas of your life, including the small pleasures of life. It’s a bit of… The post Drink sustainably with these 18 eco-friendly alcohol brands appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/3dKicsG https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

But does building it out of refurbished shipping containers make any sense? from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2vThE2q https://ift.tt/2UmVf6Y

When the things are feeling grim, the idea of self-sufficient living seems even more appealing. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2UkSXFA https://ift.tt/2vVapHp

These flatpacked rest and recovery units could take the load off hospitals in a hurry. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2wKgvuz https://ift.tt/3dwWjNe

Our photo of the day is a lesson in efficiency. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/3asv8Bi https://ift.tt/3dIIICK

School and nursery closures are upon us in the UK as the serious health crisis unfolds beyond our control. In preparation, I thought I’d better come up with a plan of action to keep my family sane for when we’re all thrown together indefinitely — I have two children who are nearly 3 and 6. A little bit of structure goes a long way — for adults and children alike — so I have created an activity timetable (see below). I’m feeling a little better already. I set aside blocks of time for the day-to-day necessaries — cooking, exercise, bathtime — but also included activities that center around resourcefulness, imaginary play, and community-mindedness. My goal is that these activities bring a sense of higher purpose in these challenging times. The timetable is geared towards younger kids and is available as a free PDF on my website. Called A Plan of Action for Families — Spring 2020 , it lists a variety of environmental awareness and educational activities for children with links to help...

A few decades ago, the environment was not even a subject of the school program, and only colleges had such a course for the interested students. Today, with the rising… The post 8 Tips on How to Write Great Environmental Essay appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/33PD110 https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Today’s quote is from writer, businessman, and conservationist Simon M. Lamb. In his book, Junglenomics: Nature’s Solutions to the World Environment Crisis , he suggests that nature provides solutions to help us reform our environmentally destructive economic practices. Lamb writes, “As in nature, so in economics — what provides survives.” Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click the poster to get a larger image. You Might Also Like… Earth911 Inspiration: What Provides Survives — Simon M. Lamb March 27, 2020 DIY Men’s Personal Care Products March 26, 2020 Earth911.com Quiz #17: Food Waste in the US March 26, 2020 The post Earth911 Inspiration: What Provides Survives — Simon M. Lamb appeared first on Earth911.com . from Earth911.com https://ift.tt/2UG9nY8 https://ift.tt/2wFTFEm