With their loud engines and nasty gas fumes, it’s hard to imagine that anyone would find cutting the lawn with a gas-powered mower to be relaxing. On the other hand, using a push reel mower actually could be a relaxing experience because hello? No ear-splitting combustion engine, no fumes, no filling the old gas can, no carbon guilt! Push reel mowers are a real classic that have been around since your grandfather’s day but the modern incarnations are much lighter and easier to use.  And of course, there’s the whole environmentally-friendly aspect — reel mowers cut the grass blades like a scissor and leave fine mulch clippings behind to further feed the lawn. Get yourself a push reel mower and you’ll be the quietest lawn groomer on the block plus you’ll actually be able to hear your neighbor say hi while you’re cutting away, providing the perfect opportunity to tell them all about your groovy green mower!

Find It Here: Clean Air Gardening

By Sarah, August 25, 2008  
Filed under: Gardening, Home

The only way I garden is organically. Why use mainstream pesticides and herbicides when you can achieve the same thing organically? Sure, it may take you a bit longer, but your garden (and your health) will thank you for it. One of my favorite resources is OrganicGardening.com. On the site you can find regular features such as Fresh Picks, which features short articles such as Meet the Beneficial Insects; Slide Show, a feature centered around photos, and OG Solutions, a series of guides that cover everything you need to know for organic gardening success. Keep informed with their free newsletter, visit the community message board to discuss gardening topics with other gardeners and be sure to enter the weekly giveaway for some great prizes! Organic Gardening is also available in print format and whether you’re an organic gardener already or considering becoming one, it should be at the top of your ‘Must Subscribe’ list.

Find It Here: OrganicGardening.com

By Kris, June 1, 2008  
Filed under: Gardening, Read

Planting season is upon us and whether you’re just beginning or a “seasoned” pro, Seeds of Change is a great resource for all your certified organic, non-GMO seed needs. Since 1989 they’ve strived to help promote sustainable, organic agriculture and to preserve biodiversity in an ever-changing environment. With over 600 different varieties of traditional and heirloom seeds available, the hardest part might be choosing what NOT to plant. Got kids? You can get them involved with the Children’s Garden Collection of seeds. On the eco tip, Seeds of Change recently switched their seed packs to new, reusable, recyclable envelopes. They have a longer shelf life, can be resealed to store unplanted seed, reused for other purposes, or recycled as #1 plastic. You can order from their catalog, on-line or by phone, as well as sign up for their monthly e-newsletter to keep up with everything that’s happening on at Seeds of Change.

Find It Here: Seeds of Change

By Kris, May 17, 2008  
Filed under: Eat, Gardening, Organic, Resources, Sustainable

The Mother Earth News website, a companion to the print version, is a great resource for tips on DIY projects, renewable energy, organic gardening, sustainable farming and more. In the Fresh Content Daily section, there is always something new to read. Curious about how and when to plant potatoes or what is the best organic milk? You’ll find it there. You can also browse through the most popular articles, diverse blogs, even the current issue of Mother Earth News. Also handy is the 38-year archive completely available on-line which features an archived article every day on the main site.

Find It Here: Mother Earth News

By Kris, May 9, 2008  
Filed under: Gardening, Learn, Organic, Read, Resources, Tips

As a busy mom, I have limited time to spend beautifying my yard, but I want a beautiful yard nonetheless. Luckily, I have a solution - naturescaping! Naturescaping is the practice of using native plants to design a landscape. Plants that are native to their environment require little to no watering, fertilizing or care, and they are less likely to require pesticides because they are less susceptible to pests and disease. So while it may take me some effort to learn which plants are native to my area, the outcome will be totally worth it because I’ll have shrubs, trees, and flowers that can be maintained without chemicals or constant watering. Check out PlantNative to learn more about the art of naturescaping, and check out their native plant database to find out which plants are native to your area. Not only will your yard be beautiful and low-maintenance, but you’ll be increasing biodiversity, reducing water usage and reducing health risks associated with traditional landscaping. That’s taking green to a whole new level.

Find It Here: PlantNative

By Sarah, April 5, 2008  
Filed under: Gardening, Home, Learn, Resources, Sustainable

Are you a new gardener? Struggling with where to start? As you probably already know, the market is loaded with fertilizers that promise bigger blooms and heartier produce, but there are safer, more earth-friendly organic options available and Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening has all the tips and techniques needed to produce beautiful flowers and gardens, tasty herbs and lovely organic fruits and vegetables. Even an experienced gardener could likely learn something new from Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening; a great resource for both beginners and more seasoned gardeners and for anyone who just really doesn’t dig handling or eating toxic fertilizers and pesticides.

Find It Here: Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening

By Sarah, March 9, 2008  
Filed under: Gardening, Home, Learn, Read, Resources