Looking to go out to eat tonight but want to stay true to your organic eating, this is now easier then ever with these two tools I found on the internet. Eat Well Guide offers a search tool to find a local restaurant that can offer organic choices and healthy foods. It also can tell you about your local market and farms.This site can be limited depending on the area you live in but worth investing your time to put your local listings on their site. It is a valuable tool when you are traveling with your family or on business. I am working on building the Nashville and Tampa database.

There is also another site that is similar ChefsCollaborative, helping you find a local restaurant. Check both out and let me know what you think. Learn and Love Organic Living!

Originally posted 2009-01-22 12:43:58. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I want to share this article  as a member of Co-op  America. Let’s Get into Action now…..

Real Money

WINTER 2009

7 Fixes from the Green Economy

Bold solutions from the green economy are the antidote to the broken economy—and can repair the damage and create a world that works for all.

Everyone now understands that the economy is broken. What our members and readers have known for years— that the economy is not working for people and the planet—is now playing out on Wall Street and Main Street every day.

While many name the mortgage and credit-default-swap crises as culprits, they are only the most recent results of an economy with fatal design flaws. These design defects range from a dependence on growth, consumerism, and the structure of money to the short-term focus of today’s markets, and policy goals that are focused on growing Gross National Product. Yet, when GNP growth includes a whole set of “bads”—from sweatshop labor to manufacturing toxic chemicals—every dollar of GNP growth actually reduces wellbeing for people and the planet.

Taken together, these fatal flaws systematically create economic injustice, poverty, and environmental crises.

It doesn’t have to be that way. The green economy offers solutions that are the antidote to the current breakdown.

Green America members have been trailblazers for green economic solutions for years. We now have a teachable moment to be bold in stepping up with these solutions for long-term change toward sustainability—and helping people through tough times. Now these green economy solutions are more important than ever.

Simply put, we need to move from greed to green.

Here are seven green economy solutions to today’s economic mess.

1. Green Energy—Green Jobs
A crucial starting place to rejuvenate our economy is to focus on energy—for the sake of the economy and the environment. It is time to call in the superheroes of the green energy revolution—energy efficiency, solar and wind power, and plug-in hybrids—and put their synergies to work with rapid, largescale deployment. This is a powerful way to jumpstart the economy, energy independence, job creation (with jobs that can’t be outsourced), and the victory over the climate crisis. The five green-energy keys are rapid, large-scale deployment of:

• Energy efficiency—moving toward 50 percent savings in five years.

• Solar and wind—getting to an all-renewable electric grid.

• Plug-in electric hybrid vehicles (PHEVs)—getting to at least 20 percent of the US vehicle fleet in ten years.

• Smart grid—rebuilding our aging electric grid with a smart grid that makes it easy to scale up energy efficiency and renewables.

• New national and state electric utility regulation and building codes that make it easy to scale up with efficiency, renewables, and PHEVs.

This year, Green America is launching Project LEAP—our Low-carbon Energy Acceleration Plan—to show how to combine these superheroes for real economic prosperity, energy security, and 80–90 percent greenhouse gas reduction. We shared this with our allies on President Obama’s incoming team (along with our idea for the financing mechanism; see #2 below). But you don’t have to wait for Washington—use Green America resources to get started today:

• Guide to Efficiency First!
• Solar how-to articles, and interviews with the solar leaders of our Green Busienss Network™
• Solar High Impact National Energy (SHINE) Plan. [PDF]
• Utility Solar Assessment (USA) Study. [PDF]

2. Clean Energy Victory Bonds
How are we going to pay for this green energy revolution? Green America and our allies at Clean Edge propose Clean Energy Victory Bonds. Modeled after victory bonds in World War II, Americans would buy these bonds from the federal government to invest in large-scale deployment of green energy projects, with particular emphasis in low-income communities that are hardest hit by the broken economy. These would be long-term bonds, which would pay an annual interest rate, based in part on the energy and energy savings that the bonds generate. During WWII, Americans bought over $185 billion in bonds—that would be almost $2 trillion in today’s dollars.

Millions of people are looking for a way to help the country right now. During the townhall- style presidential debate, one person posed this question to the then-candidates: “What would you ask us to do?”

Green America’s answer: Invest in Clean Energy Victory Bonds so our country can start building the clean-energy infrastructure and get people to work in good, green jobs, right now.

Sign up for the Green America e-newsletter to help advance these and our other green energy policy measures all year long.

3. Reduce, Reuse, Rethink
Living lightly on the Earth, saving resources and money, reducing inequality, and sharing —jobs, property, ideas, and opportunities—are the principles crucial to restructuring our economy. This economic breakdown is, in part, due to living beyond our means—as a nation and, in too many cases, as individuals. With the enormous national and consumer debt weighing us down, we won’t be able to spend our way out of this economic problem. From planting gardens to conserving energy to swapping clothes to making gifts—these green economy basics will help us move to an economy that works for all.

As Dr. Juliet Schor, economist and author, puts it, “We’ve lost the ability to profitably … grow our way out of recession. The usual kinds of consumer spending (cars, electronics, furniture, apparel, travel) degrade vital eco-systems and have an economic cost. Business-as-usual puts us deeper into an economic hole.”

Ultimately, we need an economy that’s not dependent on growth and consumerism. So it’s time to rethink living over-consumptive lifestyles, and turn to the principles of elegant simplicity—what Green Americans have known all along.

4. Go Green, Fair Trade, and Local
When we do buy, it is essential that those purchases shift from the conventional economy to the green and local economy—so that every dollar helps solve social and environmental problems, not create them. What we spend our money on—and refuse to buy—does matter. Expanding the green economy is fundamental to the transition to an economy that works for people and the planet. Moving dollars away from conventional agribusiness and toward supporting local workers and local, organic farmers creates more justice and sustainability.

Use the National Green Pages™ to make as many of your purchases as possible from the green economy. Turn to Green America all year long for ways to be intentional with your money—to help create a better economy with the choices you make every day.

5. Community Investing
All over the county, community investing banks, credit unions, and loan funds that serve hardhit communities are strong, while the biggest banks—from Washington Mutual to CitiGroup —required bailouts. The basic principles of community investing keep the community investing institutions strong: Lenders and borrowers know each other. Lenders invest in the success of their borrowers—with training and technical assistance along with loans. And the people who provide the capital to the lenders expect reasonable, not speculative, rates of return. If all banks followed these principles, the economy wouldn’t be in the mess it’s in today.

You can provide capital to community investing banks and credit unions—it’s as easy as opening a federally insured account. Check out the community investing section of our Web site to get started.

6. Shareowner Activism
When you own stock, you are a shareowner and have the right and responsibility to advise management to clean up its act. Had General Motors listened to its activist shareholders, it would have invested in the efficient and electric cars that would have prevented the need for a bailout from bankruptcy. Had CitiGroup listened to its activist shareowners, it would have steered clear of the faulty mortgage practices that brought it to its knees. Activist shareholders are key to reforming companies—from jumpstarting them on the energy revolution to addressing executive compensation to stopping the corruption created by corporate lobbying—for the transition to the new economy. Let’s up the ante.

7. Building Community
“Whatever the problem,” says Dr. Lynnaea Lumbard, psychologist and interfaith minister, “community is the answer.” Connected, resilient communities help people get through tough times—and celebrate during good times. Now is the time to get started. Get to know your neighbors. Do a neighborhood skills inventory—so people can help each other fix their roofs, repair their bikes, mend a torn coat—saving money and building community. Plan a community garden, a neighborhood garage sale, or clothing swap. Start a dinner or home improvement co-op. (Get more ideas and learn more here.)

The Time is Now
It looks like we have a huge opportunity on our hands—a global economic breakdown that is teaching us that we are all interdependent. There’s no “there” to escape to, so we all might as well figure out how to live together —and transition our economy to one that protects vulnerable people and our vulnerable planet. Stay tuned to Real Green all year long. We look forward to working with you on turning today’s problems into opportunities for a more just, sustainable, and joyful world.

—Alisa Gravitz

Originally posted 2009-01-20 14:52:34. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-05-10 – http://tinyurl.com/prvnou #

Originally posted 2009-05-17 09:39:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• just trying to make it through friday…working on a 20 pager. one final down three more to go!! #
• http://tinyurl.com/ddam56 a song i wrote called wasted love!! check it out!! #
• In one week I will be free from stress and sumemr will begin. Till then stuck in the library… #
• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-05-03 – http://tinyurl.com/chs6j5 #

Originally posted 2009-05-10 09:39:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Your little girl wants to have a princess party but you think how can that fit in with our organic, green lifestyle?

With a bit of creativity, you can give your daughter the party of her dreams and keep it green and organic. Follow these steps for a spectacular princess event.

Picking the Location: Choose a location that looks elegant or can easily be transformed into an elegant spot. A garden or transforming a room in your house to give a garden feel is the perfect setting. If you have a local park with a covered area would be another great choice.

Princess Party Invitations: You can make them yourself on a cloth treasure bag that they can bring to the party for the treasure hunt. Simply go to your local craft store buy pre-made or get some fabric and sew them up yourself. On one side, write the party information. You can have a craft activity to decorate them at the party as well. You can also email out the invitation , type up what you want your invitations to say and send.

Princess Decor: Your decor should look extravagant and elegant. This can be done with borrowing plants, a few fresh flowers and the use sheer fabric or tulle to drape around the space instead of paper streamers. Silk flowers are another option and hang a few on the ends of cloth ribbons. Use various sized paper cutouts on the walls embellished with glitter and have all banners printed or drawn on fabric so that they look like fancy scrolls. Cover the seating with sheer pink fabric and secure it in place with large green ribbons. All can be reused for other things or put together a box of your goodies and share with a friend for their princess party

Princess Tablescapes: Cover each table with a solid white tablecloth, pink cloth napkin finish it with a green runner. All layers should be visible. For centerpieces, arrange short vases down the center of the runner and fill them with flowers (vases do not have to match). Inter-weave the vases with pink and white ribbon scraps. Let the ribbons fall into place, you don’t want them to look neat. You can either use all pink, all green ,or all white tableware. For a less dramatic look, mix and match tableware styles and colors.

Princess Party Menu: Think rustic when you’re planning a menu for a princess. Try these totally terrifc treats: Fresh pink lemonade;organic baked chicken fingers; pink ranch dip with veggie tray; fresh fruit chunks with yogurt sauce; Serve all foods on silver trays.

Princess Favors: Wrap dried fruits in sheer fabric to make little princess bundles. Tie them off with curled ribbon.

Princess Party Games:

Treasure Hunt: Hide gems in  sand and let the children collect them and put in they cloth invite bags.After the treasure hunt you can have an activity to decorate the bags with the gems they found.

Princess charades: Kids take turns acting out princess themed characters while others guess what they are trying to act out.

Musical Magic Carpet: Lay out pink squares of carpet, turn on the music and play like musical chairs.
Pin the tail on the dragon: Draw a tail-less dragon on a poster board. Make a separate fabric tail (use velco as the connector instead of pins or tape). Blindfold each child and have them try to “pin” the tail on the dragon.
Court jester: Let the children sit in a big circle around the “it” child. The “it” child has to do whatever she can to make the other kids laugh. First one to laugh is it.

I just launched my second business in Nashville doing singing princess parties and singing telegrams. Check out the website at http://princesspartynashville.com.  I would love to hear your green ideas for a princess party. Please leave me your comments.

Originally posted 2009-01-07 12:07:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• I have never been so busy. Just hoping I make it through till the 14th… #
• Plugged-in chargers continue to draw electricity. Americans throw away 8% of our annual electric bills, wasting billions of dollars. #
• the busiest next two weeks of my life!!!!!! stressing…. #
• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-04-26 – http://tinyurl.com/c5oubp #

Originally posted 2009-05-03 09:39:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• wishing I was running the Music City marathon right now. Actually running at ALL. stupid knees!!! #
• up at 6:30 to start a 5 pg. paper that is due at 9. grrrrrrrrrreat. #
• this has got to stop. starting tomorrow!!! #
• celebrating earth day obviously!! #
• watching the biggest loser, paper writing, and cleaning. then off to bed! #
• I dont get the Miss USA controversy, they asked the question wanting an honest answer and she gave it, so the controversy is????….. #
• busy busy day. at my advising appt. then kickboxing and running! #
• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-04-19 – http://tinyurl.com/dfq3t7 #

Originally posted 2009-04-26 09:39:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• i just dont understand twitter. #
• at babysitting till late. then taking this weekend to organize my life!!! #
• thanks mom for updating my twitter page! haha #
• @taylorswift13 i could hear you singing this song! http://tinyurl.com/ddam56 #
• http://tinyurl.com/ddam56 just posted a new video called Wasted Love, check it out!!!! #
• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-04-12 – http://tinyurl.com/cmj3uf #

Originally posted 2009-04-19 09:39:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I found this very cool website to teach you and your children about what you can do to reduce your ecological footprint. The kidsfootprint is a cartoon quiz to take to get  your children thinking about the their daily activities and the impact it has on our planet. There is also a list of things that you can do in all areas of your life- take action that is very helpful. If you want to take a step further there are one day lesson plans for elementary and middle school children that  you can go over in a fun way with your child.  There is also an adult quiz to take that can give you further insight in ecological footprints that we are living from Redefing Progress. Let me know what you think. Learn and Love Organic Living!

Originally posted 2008-12-16 14:47:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Organic Gift Giving

The holiday’s are a great time to share with your extended family and friends the great choices you have made for your family to eat the best possible foods- organic and give them a taste of it. YOu can bake your favorite organic cookies,mine is organic chocolate chip, pick up  a few pieces of organic fruit, organic nuts and your favorite organic snack, mine is the pure bar. It will take you less then 15 minutes to put together. Be creative in your green packaging that you use. Look around the house  or go to your local craft store to pick up clothe sachets and put your treat in them and combine them in one big clothe sachet, tie a cloth bow around it and you done. If you don’t have time to put together something yourself, check out the link below to beautiful organic baskets. Think of the impact and the conversations that will take place giving a yummy organic gift and about your organic living.  We can encourage others around us one person at a time to Learn and Love Organic Living!

Organic Baskets

Originally posted 2008-12-15 12:23:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter