There is no government regulation of organic claims on body care products (lotion, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.), so those labeled as organic could have as few as one or two actual organic ingredients. That’s all it takes to be called organic! Here are a few suggestions:

• Read labels to determine amount of organic ingredients.
• Select products that use post-consumer recycled plastics to decrease production of plastics and reduce the release of greenhouse gases.
• Check out some of the bigger retailers that now have their own line of organics (Whole Foods, Safeway) which tend to be more reasonably priced. (Still read the labels, though!)

Put your (garden) gloves on, and get gardening!

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to develop a close, personal relationship with the Earth?

Dig in the dirt, figure out what it needs and provide it, put in some plants or seeds, water when it’s dry, keep it neat, nurture the plants along, and harvest the fruits of your labor.

Everyone can grow something – vegetables, fruits, herbs, grains, legumes, and flowers. Yes, flowers count. They make the world a more beautiful place.

Everyone can plant seeds somewhere – in a field, in a yard, in a pot on the deck or windowsill.

It’s a great hobby for families. Kids can take responsibility for a plant, or they can help with the whole garden. When the peas or cherry tomatoes or strawberries come in, kids love to eat straight from the garden (there is nothing like sun-warmed produce, picked and popped directly into your mouth!).

If you’re leery of gardening, start with a few pots of herbs. If you have questions, ask at your local garden center, ask your neighbors, ask your mom. You already know someone who gardens. If it feels scary or intimidating, remember they’re just plants, and you won’t hurt anyone or anything by trying. If it doesn’t work out exactly as you planned, well then, welcome to the world of farming, and say hello to the financial risk that farmers take every year.

Get familiar with the rhythm of the Earth, the cycle of growth, the balance between wet/dry, cold/hot, early/late. Learn the importance of good topsoil and clean water. Connect with your the lifestyle of your ancestors.

Plant a garden. You’ll grow, too.

Happy Earth Day!

Be sure to read the labels of the products you clean with (not just the food you eat).

Of course you want the most natural cleaners you can find – especially for places you clean frequently, like the kitchen and bathroom. Look for brands approved by Green Seal or EcoLogo, two organizations that identify products that have met environmental label guidelines.

Check the Environmental Working Group’s index if you want to know more about the chemicals on the labels you’re reading.

And never underestimate the power of plain old vinegar and baking soda.

Member Kecia suggests taking a bag along for trash when you go on a walk.

I challenge everyone, while you are out, if you see a piece of trash, pick it up. Think how lovely our planet would be if we all did this every time we walked.

Plus, when you bend down, you can do a squat! Think about how great your booty can be!

~ Kecia

Saving water is good for your health, and for the planet. Even your food choices can make a real difference.

• Eat cereal. It takes 72 gallons of water to grow two eggs. 22 gallons for cereal w/milk. (And less for plant-milk.)
• Eat healthy. It takes 49 gallons of H20 to make a bag of chips, but 18 to grow an apple.
• Skip dessert. It takes 2,847 gallons of water to make a serving of chocolate.
• Skip the fast food. It takes 634 gallons of water to make a hamburger.
• Skip the cocktail. It takes 31 gallons of water to make a glass of wine.
• Enjoy a vegetarian meal. The water footprint of a pound of beef is 1,500 gallons.
• Skip the second cup. It takes 37 gallons of water to make a cup of coffee.

~ from 30 Days of H2O, The Nature Conservancy

Apologies to the Harley riders out there – but we’re talking about riding your bicycle! (People power! No gasoline required in these days of high fuel costs.)

Does your bike need maintenance now, at the beginning of the season? Get it done.

Do you have the accessories you want? Things like a basket (we’re serious about using your bike instead of your car), a horn, mirrors, a holder for your water bottle?

Does your helmet fit? Please wear one.

Start getting in shape with some short rides and build up to longer trips, when you can pack a picnic, or even camp along the route. Find the trails in your area.

Bicycling is a family activity – get everyone involved and have fun with it!

That’s “Good health to you” in Irish Gaelic.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! You don’t have to be Irish to GO GREEN today.

• Evaluate your recycling habits. Can you do more? Check with your recycling provider to find out if you’re taking advantage of all the programs (for example, hazardous materials collections, electronics collections, etc.).
• Add a green vegetable (not salad) to every lunch and dinner. Tired of broccoli and green beans? Look at all the produce you’ve been ignoring, and try something new.
• Check your lawn care products – are they horrible chemicals? There are other options – look for environmentally friendly (earth-, air-, and water-friendly, not to mention people- and pet-friendly) lawn care.
• Reduce your junk mail. Seriously. You get enough in your spam folder; you don’t need it in your actual mailbox, too.
• Drink a green smoothie at least once a week. Just add a couple of handfuls of spinach to your favorite smoothie. (If the color bothers you, put it in an opaque or colored glass or mug.)
• Reduce your energy consumption. Energy costs are skyrocketing between the civil unrest in the Middle East and the issues with nuclear power in Japan. How can you cut back? Where can you walk, or carpool, instead of drive? What can you turn off?
• Make your salads from a variety of greens – get more adventurous than romaine and spinach. Try arugula, mesclun, baby herb mix, butter lettuce, red or green leaf lettuce… there are lots of choices.
• Don’t use the dry cycle on your dishwasher. After it’s done washing, open the door and let everything air-dry. If you start it before bed, set it to “air dry” – everything is dry in the morning.
• Plan – or plant – your garden. Depending on your growing zone, it may be planting season already. Even in an apartment, you can grow herbs in pots. If you have a balcony or deck, you can grow tomatoes and strawberries. If you have a yard, you can grow just about anything.

Seafood is part of the Total Health Makeover® for those who choose to eat animal protein, and Lent starts next Wednesday – fish is a traditional Lenten food, and it’s often on sale during the next six weeks at your grocery store.

Not all seafood is good for you, though. How do you know what’s good for you, and what’s really not so healthy? (Rule number 1 – Don’t automatically trust the person trying to make the sale…)

Monterey Bay Aquarium keeps this information updated and available for everyone. We love that they’ve dedicated themselves to gathering this information and publishing it.

Download pocket guides here – they’re available by region of the US. There’s even a sushi guide!

Or get a mobile application – iPhone users can download this application, or if you have another phone with internet service, just go to mobile.seafoodwatch.org.

The Third Annual Valentine Romance Sneak Peek Oscar Suite at Café La Boheme in West Hollywood gave celebrities a chance to pick up some Valentine’s Day and award season freebies from a wide variety of vendors — including some with green elements, like Aquamantra water, sold in 100 percent biodegradable and recyclable bottles; Gold Canyon candles; which has an Essentially Soy line; and Twisted Silver jewelry, made from reclaimed metals, old spoons and recycled glass. “I love everything here,” said Marilu Henner before snapping up earrings and a ring.

A longtime vegan, Henner (pictured right) pointed out that one can save body, health, animals, the planet and pocketbook by following suit. She also buys natural and organic products for her dog, and just started a garden. She has a big weekend ahead: she’s doing hair and makeup for her son’s school play, a production of “The Servant of Two Masters,” and her Hallmark Channel movie, “Accidentally in Love,” premieres Feb. 12. She plays the mother of Jennie Garth’s widow and single mom in a story written by Garth’s husband, Peter Facinelli.

Henner also has the comedy “Vamps” coming up, which she likened to “‘Clueless’ meets ‘Twilight.’” She plays a dying cancer patient who reverts to her hot former self after a vampire bite. She’ll also be performing live in a one-woman show this spring; so far, dates are set for April 15 and 16 in San Francisco and April 23 in Nashville. But of late, Henner is becoming known for something besides her acting career (“Taxi” et al.) and self-help books: her brain. She’s one of six people confirmed to have super autobiographical memory — which means she can remember everything that ever happened to her, dates and all. Naturally, she’s writing a book about it — and how mere mortals can improve their own memories — that will be published in September.

~ reported on Mother Nature Network

Read the rest of the article.

Did you know that plain water is just as effective at removing germs and pesticides from your produce as those special sprays and washes?

Yes, plain water.

To get ride of bacteria and viruses, use a solution of one part vinegar to three parts water, and scrub or soak the produce, as appropriate. Then rinse under running water for about 30 seconds. That’s it.

Use the cheap distilled white vinegar for this – very budget-friendly!