Conservation 101: the Compete to Conserve Blog

Winter in Juneau, Alaska

Winter is here (or almost here) for many people across the United States.  While it doesn’t quite feel like it in sunny Los Angeles, it’s pretty hard to ignore, having just returned from a icy vacation in Alaska where I witnessed the first snow of the season. 

This week, we’ve gathered eco-friendly tips across the web to help you cope through the impending chilly season:

• The Daily Green posted a slide show, highlighting natural remedies for 12 Winter Aches and Chills.
• VegNews shared some chic earth-friendly fabric ideas to keep you feeling toasty throughout the season.
• Yahoo! Green revealed a few helpful home tips for saving heat during those cold, blustery nights.
• TreeHugger outlined ways to get better gas mileage under these cold conditions that overwork your vehicle.
• Care2 unveiled a a natural remedy for dry winter skin, as recommended by health expert for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Dr. Brent  - goat milk soap.  Who knew?!?!

This week, I am blogging from Juneau, Alaska with a special round-up/aggregate of news and videos petaining to the environment on this side of the planet:

• TreeHugger.com reported on the legal settlement between the Secretary of the Interior, the Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace, and the NRDC to designate “critical habitat” for the endangered polar bear by March 31, 2010.

photo credit: jessicafm

• Ecopreneurist.com introduced Toby Foster’s organic vodka, made from locally grown Alaska potatoes and glacier water, marketed under the name Permafrost vodka.
• Yahoo!Green re-posted this time-lapse video from The New York Times’ Dot Earth blog, which documents the erosion of the Alaskan coastline from late June to late July of 2008.

• The Beluga whale was recently added to the list of endangered species in Alaska.  Check out these adorable creatures in a video posted by GreenDaily.com.

photo credit: Mannequin-

In the spirit of the fast-approaching Election Day 2008, here are a few links to recent election/political chatter across the environmental blogosphere - non-partisan, yet informative - just how we like it!

• TreeHugger highlights Obama and McCain’s discussion on environmental issues from an exclusive interview in Backpacker Magazine.
• Plenty reminds us of the good news that both presidential candidates support science, despite their differing environmental policies.
• Red Green and Blue links to the WWF’s environmental mandate to our candidates entitled, “Greenprint.” Topics covered include Climate Change, Agriculture, Foreign Policy and Conservation, Water and Food.
• The Christian Science Monitor’s “Bright Green Blog” posted an interesting article on “clean coal.”  Just what exactly is it?
• And last, on a lighter note, Planet Green listed “10 Ways to Get Green Tax Breaks.”  Hopefully there will be even more incentives for people to save the planet no matter who gets elected in two weeks!

photo credit: zenera

Because animals like to hug trees too:

• The Altertative Consumer featured artistic sustainable doghouse designs from Sustainable Pet Design.
• TreeHugger linked to the latest issue of Readymade on-line, which gives detailed instructions on how to craft fantastic accessories for your pets, including a jet-set dog bed, scratching post and quilted dog jacket.
• Fig and Sage posted a rave review for Dog on Holiday dog shampoo from Scrub Your Butt Soap Co. (not a joke!).
• Eco Salon listed “Ten Great Tips for Reducing Carbon Paw Prints.”
• Ecorazzi revealed the 2009 Celebrity Pet Calendar, featuring A-list celebrities who have donated their time to help raise money for the Animal Rescue Fund.

The holiday season is upon us, beginning with Halloween.  In response to Anne’s blog about the billions of dollars consumers are set to spend this year on my favorite holiday,  here are some thrifty ideas across the blogosphere for an affordable green Halloween: 

The Daily Green has a really funny slide show up, showcasing recycled Halloween costume ideas submitted by their readership.  Vote for your favorite.  This one gets my vote!        

Green Halloween is packed with cool ideas, including a decorative hand-made garlic wreath to ward of vampires. 

River Wired features additional eco-friendly decoration ideas, featuring crafty ways to create pumpkins and bats out of egg cartons. 

The Lean Green Family offers an array of green tips, including trick-or-treat ideas.  Leave the car at home when scouting yummy treats to fill up your reusable shopping bags!

This week, we’ve canvassed the blogosphere for a few savvy ideas for ”greening” your home:

1. The Budget Ecoist posted a product review on the Sweep Dreams Broom - a broom made of 100% renewable sorghum and bamboo and available in an assortment of colors.
2. Lighter Footstep recommended a programmable thermostat, which can save you $150 a year while you reduce greenhouse emissions.
3. Green Your Decor introduced an affordable, yet tasteful eco-friendly bed - the Hinode platform bed from Sachi Organics, which is handmade from locally sourced woods.
4. Green Vaccine shared a really great “green” vacuum cleaner find - the Miele Luna 34580.  Made from recyclable materials, this model is designed to last 10-20 years and is energy efficient.
5. Eco Friend unveiled their 20 top choices for green lamps and lighting solutions.

photo credit: thebittenword.com

This week’s round-up focuses on the edible side of an eco-conscious lifestyle.  Chew on this:

1. Planet Green shared some inventive ways to reuse stale bread.
2. The Daily Green advised on foods that pregnant women should eat organic.
3. Eat. Drink. Better. gave tips on growing food anywhere with an organic grow box. 
4. Groovy Green taught us how to tap maple trees for syrup.
5. And last, my favorite of the week - Green Daily uncovered a weird scoop about a Swiss restaurant serving breast milk! 

This week, we take a peek into the eco-blogosphere at some sleek clothing and accessories that are paving the way toward a “greener” wardrobe for the eco-conscious style maven:

1. green LA girl unveiled a hip “bottles to bags” eco-line from Shoreline  that is made entirely of recycled PET plastic (aka recycled water and soda bottles).
2. TreeHugger brought us to the runways of NY Fashion Week, where the Be EcoChic campaign was launched, featuring earth-friendly, designer clothing modeled by celebrity models and actresses.
3. Sprig.com’s Eco Scoop revealed Sheryl Crow’s design of a limited edition, reusable shopping bag for Whole Foods’ A Better Bag campaign in support of the National Resources Defense Council’s Simple Steps program “to encourage shoppers to embrace simple steps in their everyday lives to reduce consumption and consider the environment.”
4. Style Saves The World introduced us to the really sweet  Yuko Collection of headbands from Lucy Notions, made of of vintage silk kimonos.
5. For mothers-to-be, Eco-Chick introduced us to a chic line of maternity wear, designed by Jessica Scott.

At CTC, we can’t get enough of the cool earth-saving inventions and ideas that keep popping up all around us.  Here are some of our favorites of the week brought to you by our fellow eco-bloggers:

1. TreeHugger informed us of Coca-Cola’s new “eKOfresh” vending machines that were exhibited at every Olympic venue in Beijing.   
2. The Budget Ecoist discussed a new motion-powered cell phone charger to be released next year by M2E Power.
3. EcoGeek shared another kinetic energy concept — The Revolution Door from Fluxxlab — generating energy from revolving doors.
4. Environmental Graffiti introduced us to the Green Microgym — a new human-powered gym in Portland, Oregon.
5. While this GreenUpgrader posting is technically from last week, I couldn’t resist including the really hip, yet eerie invention — ARKA Ecopod, a compressed recycled paper coffin!

photo credit: woodleywonderworks

As we get ready for a work-free, eco-friendly Labor Day weekend, CTC would like to take a moment to point out some of our favorite ”green living” tips of the week across the web.  Enjoy!

1. Before you fire up the barbecue grill this weekend, check out the “Green Grilling Guide” on The Huffington Post.
2. For the ladies, Planet Green suggests a really cool and economical way to make homemade blush out of strawberries. 
3. The Daily Green shows us a fantastic and simple way to clean your windows with vinegar and newspaper.
4. GreenStrides touts hemp as the optimal bed linen fabric for your earth-friendly bed.
5. And last, in honor of Labor Day, Ideal Bite advises those who can work from home to do so at least one day a week - save fuel and sleep in!