On June 4th at 6pm eastern, Discovery debuts the Planet Green channel. While Planet Green is new to cable, it will be replacing Discovery Home so just go to whatever channel that is on your system and you will find yourself watching what I believe will be the most awesometastically amazing thing to happen to cable TV in a really REALLY! long time because hello? Green television! Planet Green, which is aligned with the ultra-fab Treehugger.com in this endeavor, will feature 100% original programming that will include environmental news, humor, lifestyle and much more. And? I have it on good authority, straight from the head honchette of Planet Green, Eileen O’Neill, that there will be some programming relevant to parents and families, too. If this is a dream? Don’t wake me.
Unscrew America
Have you been to Unscrew America yet? It’s this amazingly interactive web site for a national campaign run by Lesley Chilcott, producer of An Inconvenient Truth, to encourage the switch from incandescent light bulbs to more energy-efficient ones like CFLs and LEDs. I know, I know. Light bulbs are kind of um, not real exciting, so how could this site be soooo amazing? Just take my word for it — this web site is way super cool and it has this happy, peppy little soundtrack that totally embeds itself in your brain. In a good way. You have to see it. (Hint: Pull the lever!)
Find It Here: Unscrew America
Whole Foods: They Do a Body Good
If I had limitless free time, I think I would spend at least a third of it in my favorite natural foods store - Whole Foods. I could easily spend hours perusing their aisles. So when I heard that Whole Foods has started a free podcast series that’s all about natural body care, I thought “Cool! Sign me up!” The Be Good to Your Whole Body podcast features experts who discuss topics like healing herbs, natural personal care, and homeopathic remedies for colds and flus. Their latest podcast focuses on natural approaches to dealing with allergies, a very timely topic now that Spring has sprung. Each podcast is under 10 minutes long, which is the perfect amount of information for busy parents looking for some quick and helpful tips from experts in natural health. So do your body a favor and check it out!
Find It Here: Be Good To Your Whole Body Podcast
King Corn
You know that old saying, “You are what you eat”? Well, you might be surprised to find out that if we are what we eat, then many of us are made out of corn! Not so surprising when you consider how many food items contain high fructose corn syrup or that most cattle are fed corn rather than grass. In fact, according to the Corn Growers Association, it’s hard to find anything in the grocery store that doesn’t contain corn. Just check out their loooong list of corn-containing grocery items to see what I mean. Maybe it’s just me, but this factoid kinda freaks me out. If you want to know how corn became so ubiquitous or how its widespread cultivation is negatively affecting rainforests, biodiversity, family farming, and your health, then check out the new documentary, King Corn, which premieres on PBS beginning April 15, 2008. Grab yourself a bag of popcorn (or not), sit back, and watch this entertaining film featuring recent Yale graduates Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis as they trek to Iowa, purchase a plot of land, grow their own corn, and uncover the ugly truth about how this seemingly innocuous crop is profoundly affecting our health and our environment.
Find It Here: King Corn
Congratulations to Erika, Louise, Melonie, Tara and Stephanie, who have each won a copy of the King Corn DVD!
The Green Team Rulez
In a recent Scholastic News online poll, kids ranked the environment as one of their top issues in the upcoming presidential elections. Wow! In response to this, Scholastic has launched ACT GREEN, a fun and educational website designed to motivate and empower kids to take action at home, in school and in their communities to help care for the environment. ACT GREEN provides kids, parents and teachers with customized green plans, expert tips, downloadable tools, inspiring green short films provided by Live Earth, and a “Greenroom” to share ideas with other kids. What’s really cool is that as kids meet the goals of their “green plans” they can track and add their points to the “Greenerator” and see immediately how their efforts have impacted the environment. I can hardly think of a better cause than getting kids engaged in caring about the environment. After all, it is their world. — we’re merely borrowing it from them.
Find it Here: Scholastic ACT GREEN
Win it: If you’ll take a gander at our left sidebar, you’ll see that by subscribing to our very cool and totally not spammy or annoying newsletter, you will be entered to win some really awesome goodies including TWO great books by Scholastic ACT GREEN — You Can Save the Planet: 50 Ways You Can Make a Difference and The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming. Plus? Subscribers are privy to giveaways and other perks not available on this site. It’s like a VIP club that everyone can join!
By Izzy, February 21, 2008
Filed under: Kids, Learn, Read, Watch
Holistic Moms Network
Are you interested in alternative health and natural living? Do you breastfeed, co-sleep or home-school? Do you strive to live green and eat organic? Do you wish you knew more moms with some of these interests? If so, then you might like to check out the Holistic Moms Network (HMN). With more than 115 chapters in the U.S., HMN offers great articles and resources on a ton of topics - from finding a holistic doctor to how to deal with newborn sleep issues. Members enjoy additional benefits, such as the HMN discussion board and e-mail loop. If you want to meet some of the HMN moms near you, find your local chapter here or start one of your own!
Find it Here: Holistic Moms Network
Congrats to winner Julie S. of New York, our 2007 Holistic Moms Network Conference DVD winner!
By Cristina, January 21, 2008
Filed under: Learn, Mama, Resources, Watch, Win
The Story of Stuff
Admittedly, this website is about stuff. Because, okay, you do need some stuff to survive. And if you have to buy something, it’s better to buy the fair-trade, organic, hand-made variety than the Wal-Mart special. However, to be truly “green” at heart, we should really be finding ways to stop consuming so much. If you’ve ever wondered how Americans got to be so stuff-obsessed and how our buying habits are affecting ourselves, other nations, and our planet, this documentary is a must-see. Watch online for free and then send the link to everyone you know. I guarantee you will be both entertained and inspired.
Find it Here: The Story of Stuff
