Planet Forward

Late Show with David Letterman Green Tips

The Ecolectual — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:05:46 +0000

David Letterman has been known for making eco-friendly television, and we have blogged about it before, if you remember the in-depth look into his interview with former United States Vice President Al Gore. Knowing that The Late Show host has an interest in the environment, it is not surprising that one of his bits was about green tips.

This foray into eco-friendly television was started when Letterman said that “everyone is concerned with the planet blowing up and we want to preserve life on this planet”. He then launched into The Late Show’s green tips, so here are possibly some of the funniest and worst tips ever:

People leave grass clipping on their lawn as natural fertilizer. In Las Vegas they are paying people to pull out their lawns and replace it with a natural desert landscape because they don’t have enough water for people to water their lawns.
Replace paper napkins with reusable cloth napkins.
Buy food from local sources when possible.
Breath fewer times per minute.
Turn off the lights when you enter a room.
Cut the electricity you use by purchasing a toaster powered by a wind turbine.
Instead of a hot pockets switch to lukewarm pockets.
Save $50.00 a year on your phone bill by speaking in a lower tone.
Instead of using a fuel wasting lawn mower encourage your kids to graze.
Reduce your carbon footprint by flying on the backs of large birds.
Use cloth diapers rather than disposable diapers on your pet monkey.
Instead of using bottled water carry a wet sponge.
If your appliances do not have the energy star seal simply draw one on
Pealing the skin off your chicken will not only be healthier, but also provides you with inexpensive and biodegradable gift-wrap.
Switch from a standard to low flow toilet.
Save paper by printing all green tips on one page.
Leave old unwanted family member by the side of the road.
Reduce your hour-long show at 10 pm to a more economical half hour show at 11:30.

This was eco-friendly television at its best as it was light hearted, funny and somewhat educational. As absurd as many of the tips are you must confess that they will, at the very least, catch you off guard if not make you laugh at loud. On a more serious note it is refreshing to see that late night television can be eco-friendly television, as Letterman has proved time and time again bringing awareness through laughter.

Tags: Al Gore, Biodegradable, Bottled Water, carbon footprint, David Letterman, Eco-friendly Television, eco-friendly TV show, Energy Star, green tips, Late Show With David Letterman, planet forward, reusable

Land, sea and air - how our noise pollution is impacting other creatures

Tim — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:05:02 +0000

We tend to think of pollution as something we can see or at least quantify, whether it be a river strewn with waste, a harbour full of plastic bags, or broken glass along the side of a highway. We are also aware of the damage we do to our air quality as we read about the particles of pollutants in the air we breathe or the ominous impacts to our ozone layer. Sometimes however our pollution impacts our environment simply due to what we consider our evolution and animals suffer from something we can’t even see - noise pollution. I was amazed to read about some of the ways our progress is impacting animals in terms of noise and wanted to share some examples with you.

Female gray tree frogs struggle to listen for and then locate male frogs who seek them during the mating season. The reason is the ever growing noise from traffic near to their habitats. The population declines as the different species either struggle to find a potential partner or in the case of the European tree frog they’ve simply stopped trying by limiting their calls to ‘occasional’ versus the instinctive constant. A frogs way of saying I can’t compete with your noise.

The hermit crab evolved to have the ultimate in protection from enemies via their shells but this provides no buffer from noise. Studies show that the noise emitted from boats traveling nearby confuses the crabs to the extent that they fail to notice or hear the predators who seek them in the water. Delayed response time due to confusion results in the crabs being caught as prey rather than making safe in their shells. Hermit crabs that live in quieter locales survive at a much higher rate as their evolved protection in doing the trick - they react quicker and live longer.

We’ve made it harder for the creatures that fly also, as many bats, owls and birds, are finding noises from planes, construction, machinery and vehicle traffic is changing the way they live. Environmental noise has been shown to impact the way that bats and owls seek and hunt for prey. Bats such as the Bechstein’s bat are less likely to hunt in noisy areas and will move to other areas that don’t provide equivalent food sources and starve. Many waterbirds, birds of prey, and starlings have adapted to urban volumes by simply being louder themselves, other birds with lower frequencies are not as able to change their tunes, which potentially causes them to fail to communicate with and find each other for mating.

Sadly we are even having negative noise related impacts under the ocean waves as noise from sonar, commercial shipping and drilling for oil and gas are causing great harm. It appears that whales, dolphins and porpoises can become scared by the high-pitch sounds, causing them to surface in too shallow water that is beyond their physical limits and beach themselves. Communication within these species also falls foul of noise pollution like sonar, which has caused some dolphins to go temporarily deaf and whales to be separated from their calves. The potential problems in the the oceans may be the most perilous of all as due to climate change, the oceans are expected to get noisier as molecules that absorb sound waves are being changed as the water becomes more acidic. Some are predicting that sound absorption in the ocean may decrease by 60 percent and that underwater noise may travel 70 percent further in the future as a result of climate change.

The fragile ecology of our earth never sounded so at risk.

Tags: air pollution, Bechstein’s bat, commercial shipping, dolphins, drilling, ecology and noise, gray tree frogs, hermit crab, impacts of noise on wildlife, noise pollutants, noise pollution, planet forward, sonar, sonar damage, water pollution, whales

Upcycle with these 5 unique ways to repurpose your old jeans

Tracy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:08:01 +0000

In today’s more environmentally conscious world, people are finding unique ways to upcycle by repurposing old jeans. When you upcycle, it means you are converting something that is no longer useful to you into something new and different with better quality. Therefore, you’re turning something useless that would otherwise be waste into something functional and new. So, if you don’t wear those old jeans any longer, it doesn’t mean they are useless. Repurposing your jeans is a great way to go green while being imaginative. Call it eco-friendly craft-making with a fabric that’s extremely durable and machine-washable.

We’ve linked the upcycle ‘how to’s’ for these 5 ways to repurpose your old jeans:

1) Shopping bags – make your own fashionable denim shopping tote.

2) Quilt – cut out denim square patterns to create your own unique quilt.

3) Blue Jean Notebook – when your child is looking for a little extra flare in the classroom, this is the perfect craft for them.

4) Apron – a stylish apron for the cook in the kitchen.

5) Baby Bibs - a practical, durable, washable and cute solution for mealtime.

And here’s 3 more common ways for you purists out there:
Traditionalists typically repurpose jeans into shorts or a denim skirt, or even a new pair of jeans for your toddler. There are so many ways to repurpose your old jeans that it really gives you an opportunity to be creative.

Other ways to upcycle your old denim would be place mats for your kitchen table, pot holders, pillow covers, business card holders, pencil cases or makeup cases, purses, you name it – there are a multitude of denim repurposing options waiting for your craftiness. Tap into your artistic side and make something old look new with something blue - upcycle by repurposing those old jeans.

Tags: blue jean notebook, crafts, denim apron, denim baby bibs, denim quilt, denim shopping bag, eco friendly crafts, eco-friendly craft, environmentally conscious, how to repurpose jeans, jean shorts, jean skirt, planet forward, reduce waste, repurpose, repurposing, repurposing crafts, repurposing denim, repurposing jeans, sustainable choices, sustainable crafts, Sustainable Living, toddler jeans, upcycle

The 82nd Academy Awards, even Oscar is greener

Tim — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:11:36 +0000

So did you watch the 82nd Academy Awards last night? Did you notice (when you weren’t grinning at images of George Clooney or Keira Knightley) that a number of the nominated films had an eco-theme to them? You probably spotted at least one as it was nominated for almost everything (9 nominations in all) including best picture but there were four films in total that had a semblance of green or environmental messages contained within.

Hollywood gathers every March to honour the most creative and talented movie-makers in the industry but last night marked the first Oscars ceremony that so many films which asked their respective audiences to consider matters green were all nominated. In years past the closest we tended to get to films with a global message about sustainability were typically apocalyptic in nature but last nights nominations asked questions both large and small about the way in which we live. So before I get started can you think of the four films that went before the Academy for consideration?

I’ll start with the most obvious, that being James Cameron’s blockbuster Avatar. The film that has now broken all global box office records didn’t win the biggest prizes on offer for Best Picture or Director but in terms of influence you have to acknowledge the audience worldwide. In just 12 weeks the film has grossed some $2.6 billion and remarkably more than 70% of that is from markets outside the US making the film a record breaker in all markets. Has the green message of the film been lost on those who were captivated by the special effects? Research suggests no and that it was impossible to disregard the message in relation to the future of our planet - Cameron suggests the film was to be ‘motivational and ‘a cautionary tale’.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The second film you may have seen, as it received just the one nomination (best documentary feature) and also won it. The Cove was more than a film, it serves as a call to activism which you can certainly support via their website. I won’t give away everything as it’s a film that should be explored on a personal basis but the synopsis is as accurate as can be:

Utilizing state-of-the-art techniques, including hidden microphones and cameras in fake rocks, the team uncovers how this small seaside village serves as a horrifying microcosm of massive ecological crimes happening worldwide. The result is a provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure and arresting imagery, adding up to an unforgettable story that has inspired audiences worldwide to action.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Our third green Oscar nominated film was a documentary that I reviewed on the blog back in November, and like ‘The Cove’ I heartily recommend that you take the time to rent or download a copy of ‘Food Inc’. It’s a film that at best will change the way you consume food or at worst will make you suggest others watch the film. We have to review the way we gather, raise and process our food. It really is as simple as that.

Finally something a little lighter but no less pertinent. I’ll even give you a clue that it was created from the book by the wonderful (and marginally subversive) Roald Dahl. Dahl had an uncanny knack of combining children’s stories with messages that reflected just how much the adults have taken us away from our goals as a society. If that seems a lofty goal for a kid’s film its because you’ve yet to see the ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’ which manages to combine both. The film, nominated for best animated feature film and best original score features Mr Fox leading a campaign against a collection of evil farmers. You need to see it!

Click here to view the embedded video.

So if you are hoping to see the Oscar nominated films one wet weekend, why not start with these four?

Tags: 82nd academey awards, avator, dolphins, eco films, farming practices, Food Inc, George Clooney, Global Warming, green movies, James Cameron, keira knightley, movies with a green message, planet forward, rain forests, roald dahl, Sustainable Living, sustainable practices, the cove, the fantastic mr fox, the oscars 2010

Meatless Monday with Porcini Parsley Pasta from Rachel Ray

The Ecolectual — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:04:29 +0000

It is another Meatless Monday and we find ourselves asking the all important question: What’s for dinner? Well, here is an eco-friendly organic recipe, that is easy to make and the ingredients are readily available. This recipe comes courtesy of my favorite food-network-personality-turned-daytime-talk-show-host Rachel Ray. This recipe does say that you can use either vegetable or chicken stock, but please remember that if you want the taste of chicken stock without having meat in the pasta you can use an eco-friendly organic vegetarian chicken stock mix. Another way to make this an even healthier meal is to use either whole wheat or spelt pasta, whichever you can find in your supermarket.

Ingredients:

Salt and Pepper
1 pound pappardelle or fettuccine noodle Pasta
1 quart vegetable or vegetarian chicken stock
1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
4 tablespoons butter
4 large organic shallots, chopped
1 cup packed flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 cup dry white wine
A wedge of Pecorino Romano cheese, for grating at the table

Preparation:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt it, add the pasta and cook to al dente. Drain.
While the pasta is working, in a saucepan, simmer the vegetable stock and porcinis until the mushrooms have softened, 15 minutes.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the shallots and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 7-8 minutes. Add the wine and reduce heat to low.
Remove the mushrooms from the stock and finely chop. Add them to the parsley-shallot mixture. Ladle in the stock, leaving some behind to avoid the grit at the bottom of the saucepan.
Toss the pasta with the porcini sauce and parsley. Serve with a little grated Pecorino Romano on top.

This eco-friendly organic meal serves four, so you can adjust it as needed. Plus, this dinner supports the Meatless Monday non-profit initiative which favors plant-based meals one day a week instead of animal products – you can learn more about it at meatlessmonday.com. Also, there are a number of very good eco-friendly organic wines available on the market, remember that you never want to cook with a wine you would not drink. If you don’t drink or are making this for kids, you can rest assured the alcohol dissipates in the cooking process leaving only an additional layer of flavor behind. If you feel strongly about this you could easily eliminate or reduce the amount of wine and perhaps add extra stock so you have the right amount of liquid. Enjoy!

Tags: carbon footprint, eco-friendly organic recipe, eco-friendly recipe, eco-vegetarian, eco-vegetarianism, healthy recipes, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School, Meatless, Meatless Monday, Meatless Mondays, organic cooking, planet forward, porcini parsley pasta recipe, porcini pasta recipe, Rachel Ray, Rachel Ray Show, recipes, Vegetarian, vegetarian cooking, vegetarian recipes, vegetarianism

The height of Eco-Friendly - World’s tallest buildings face new contender

Tim — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:37:43 +0000

London's Post Office Tower

It all started with the church in the village where I grew up , it’s stone spire could be seen from a few miles away as it was the tallest building in our little town. As a youngster I was ridiculously impressed by tall and grand buildings, as a little kid when visiting London I was amazed at the twin spires of Westminster Abbey (69 M 225 FT) and the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral (112 M 366 FT), before then being transfixed by the tallest tower (at the time) in London - The Post Office Tower (now named the BT Tower standing at 188 M 617 FT). As a small boy that building seemed impossibly tall and so it remained until the first time I visited Paris on a school trip when I was about eight. It was there that I first saw the Eiffel Tower - not so much a building as a steel observation deck but certainly enough to thrill me and the tallest yet (not to mention very metric exactly 300.0M or 984 feet).

burj-khalifa in Dubai

My dad used to travel to the US and Canada on business a lot and when I was ten we were taken on a family trip which was really masquerading as a business trip but my tall building buzz saw new highs. We flew into JFK and I was lucky enough to visit and go to the top of the Empire State Building (381M) and The World Trade Centre (417M 1368 FT). At more than double the height of the Post Office Tower plus the incredible vastness of the building I remember just looking up in awe - and of course there were two of them! It seemed to my 10 year old brain that the trip was designed around my tall building hobby (it wasn’t) as we also visited Chicago which of course features the Sears Tower, the tallest in the world at the time (442M 1451 FT). My holy grail was visited and I had the photos to prove it.

As I grew older my interest in tall buildings waned, and although I ended up living in one and working in one for a short time I found other interests that replaced my early passion. I’ve paid marginal attention as the Sears Tower was trumped by new skyscrapers in Asia and wept (for reasons beyond the obvious) when the twin towers in New York came crashing down on that dark day in 2001. My interest was rekindled by the recent construction and opening of the new top tower in Dubai - the Burj Khalifa is a staggering height (828M 2717 FT). I can’t even conceive of a building being that tall and photographs and videos such as the one beneath make it seem computer generated against the desert background.

Click here to view the embedded video.

From an environmental perspective the newest buildings are also using more methods of green construction. Not just smaller buildings and homes are benefiting from new concepts of sustainable construction by skyscrapers around the world are also incorporating design ideas that consider more than height. There is now news of a potential tower being constructed later this decade in Miami, Florida that would not only been taller than the current pinnacle in Dubai but also potentially the one of the largest eco-friendly buildings ever built.

The proposed Miapolis

The proposed structure is the Miapolis, if it gets built the 975 meter high tower could potentially beat out Dubai’s Burj Khalifa as the world’s tallest building if built. Designed by KOBI KARP, Miapolis would be more than just a building - it would be a vertical self-contained city. They utilize the most cutting-edge sustainable systems and practices within the design, it would be the largest LEED-certified structure at any rating level in the United States. The staggering 160-floor tower would contain entertainment and residential spaces within including an amusement park, observatory, restaurants, 2 million sq ft of shops, over 1000 apartments, 1 million sq ft of office space and a 792 room hotel. *(some elevators too I’m guessing)

Miapolis’ eco-credibility includes the use of 60% wind energy, a modular green roof, greenhouse gas management, water desalinization, storm and wastewater management, solid waste management and much more. Will it actually happen? There is a list of proposed super towers as long as my arm that never came to fruition - but to think that the tallest building in the world might also boast a very green core - that would be the height of eco-friendly.

Tags: burj khalifa, dubai tower, eco-friendly buildings, eco-friendly construction, empire state building, green construction, greenhouse gas management, history of tallest buildings, LEED, miapolis, modular roofing, New York skyscrapers, post office tower, sears tower, skyscrapers, St Pauls Cathedral, tallest building, tallest buildings, water desalinization, wind energy, world trade center, world's tallest buildings

An eco-friendly Garry Marshall movie – Valentines Day

The Ecolectual — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:03:09 +0000

Did you know that the mega-successful movie Valentines Day, directed by the incomparable Garry Marshall, is the first movie ever to go green? Well, it was. Garry said that even in the beginning Warner Brothers and New Line Cinema were both behind the idea of an eco-friendly movie set. Marshall explained that both the studio and production company understood that this might cost more, but that it needed to be done. However, in the end, Marshall says that it turned out that they were able to break even, in the sense that the addition cost incurred was nullified by the savings that an eco-friendly production like this can yield.

So how did they merge the idea of social responsibility with an eco-friendly focus? It was done in ways both big and small. Marshall mentioned that they did something as simple as change the plates used by craft services to biodegradable plates. Ashton Kutcher, One of the many stars of the movie, explained to Mother Nature Network’s Ecollywood that “there was a lot of dedication on this movie to using solar panels and clean energy and recycling. The fact that the movie was shot in L.A. actually made that easier to make happen. I think that every opportunity we have in our industry to make what we’re doing a more environmentally conscious effort is a good thing.”

The film utilized reusable set pieces, solar-powered lighting, hybrid or biodiesel vehicles, solar and biodiesel generators to achieve an eco-friendly movie set. Warner Brothers estimates that it reduced the carbon dioxide emissions by 67 metric tons. This all showcases the idea of corporate social responsibility (CSR) because every level of this production understood why they should be implementing these changes. Garry Marshall has been quoted as saying “there are a lot of things wrong with our environment, so to ‘go green’ seemed to be a very good thing. It’s not that big and effort; if we could do it, others can do it”.

This movie has received tons of press because of its all-star cast including Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift, Emma Roberts and Julia Roberts, bringing heavyweight star power to a film with an eco-friendly production behind it. The first ‘green movie’ also has the distinction of being the biggest box office opening of a romantic comedy ever, proving that being green can make serious green. This just might serve as a template for future productions on how to make an eco-friendly movie that is profitable.

Tags: an eco-friendly, an eco-friendly movie, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Biodegradable, biodegradable plates, biodiesel, biodiesel generators, biodiesel vehicles, Bradley Cooper, carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide emissions, clean energy, corporate social responsibility, CSR, Eco Friendly, Ecollywood, Emma Roberts, environmentally conscious, Eric Dane, Garry Marshall, George Lopez, green movie, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Julia Roberts, Kathy Bates, New Line, Patrick Dempsey, planet forward, Queen Latifah, Recycling, romantic comedy, Shirley MacLaine, Social Responsibility, solar panels, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift, Topher Grace, Valentines Day, Valentines Day movie, Warner Brothers

Driving an eco-car never looked so good

Tim — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:07:02 +0000

We’ve come such a distance in the last decade in terms of innovation for alternate energy vehicles. The truth is we’ve only just begun to make the conversion to making the automobile industry an environmental one without the dependence on fossil fuels. Twenty years ago miles per gallon / km per litre were among the selling points of a new vehicle, my sincere hope is that within the next decade these old terms will be replaced by range per charge or range per cell. Electric or fuel cell vehicles will be the future with the right application of investment and technologies - our innovation in automobile design has rarely gone stagnant and the new age we enter is exciting and hopeful - but also requires marketing, strategy, research and innovation. None of this touches on something that appeals (at one time or another) to almost all new car buyers - what does the car look like. The news on that front is excellent too as you’ll see beneath.

The very green (and green) Ferrari 599

Ferrari’s new petrol-electric hybrid 599 can switch between zero-emissions electric power, petrol power, or a mix of the two, cutting emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and boosting fuel consumption. The remarkable prototype appeared at the opening day of the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland and was the star of the show. The hybrid vehicle - which uses the electric motor to support a more traditional 6.0-litre V12 gasoline engine - featured a bright metallic green paint to reinforce its environmentally friendly credentials. Ferrari hope to be able to offer the green technology as an option across Ferrari’s entire range of cars by 2015.

The Mercedes F800 hybrid

Mercedes are also changing the market (and to be fair are closer to greening their fleet than many) and were featuring some eco-friendly prototypes at the exhibition. The F800 4 door coupe (above) is designed to be a plug-in hyrbid and fuel cell car. Market date 2012 or 2013.

The all new green Spyder

Finally for the buyer who wants a true sports car that is also green Porsche have the answer in the near future. The new 918 Spyder (above) achieves the unthinkable, the performance of a top notch sports car with the emissions of a sub-compact. The plug-in hybrid offers 94 mpg and the speed that some need.

I’ll write more soon and feature some vehicles that the rest of us might be able to afford!

Tags: 2010 geneva auto show, alternate energy, alternative fuel, alternative fuel vehicles, auto show, eco-cars, eco-friendly cars, electric cars, emissions, emissions reduction, energy conservation, ferrari, ferrari 599, Fossil Fuels, fuel cells, hybrid vehicles, Mercedes, miles per charge, miles per gallon, planet forward, Porsche, Porsche 918 spyder, vehicle range

Green Gazette (Issue 40) Eco-retailing, Plastiki and winning the lottery

Tim — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:38:05 +0000

It’s March! How did that happen - I’m sure I was just adjusting to it being a new decade just a few weeks ago and suddenly January and February have both come and gone. Nevertheless I’ll move forward with the latest installment of the Green Gazette where we share with you all the green news and ideas that are fit to print (in an online sense).

This is giant retail news from the UK - I can’t think of a good equivalent in North America (perhaps Target?) but the British retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) has announced a green commitment that is beyond compare. You can read all about it via this link from the Environmental Leader but I’ll be happy to share the abbreviated version with you. M&S have made a statement that by 2020 every product that they sell must be able to boast of ‘at least one eco or ethical attribute’. Phase one is that 50% of suppliers have reached the threshold by 2015 and 100% by the end of the decade. It’s a fantastic step and part of the retailers huge ‘Plan A’ which calls for the company, by 2012, to become carbon neutral, send no waste to landfills and extend sustainable sourcing. The actual scope of the project is as ambitious as it is impacting, as the retailer currently carries some 36,000 product lines. Very exciting!

Plastiki

Do you remember Kon-Tiki, the (eco) boat/raft constructed by Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl from limited parts to demonstrate his theory that the native people of South America had constructed a craft to traverse the South Pacific many hundreds of years prior to the European golden age of explorers? No? I had to read the book in school and while many of the details escape me all these years later the name of the boat certainly remains. Thus I found it novel that banking heir turned environmentalist David de Rothschild has named his vessel ‘Plas-tiki’ as a modern day homage to the sailing Dane. Plas-tiki is a remarkable boat also, made up of some 12,000 recycled 2 litre plastic bottles. His mission is of similar stature and involves sailing from California to the infamous Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The giant garbage patch is a huge soup of plastic waste and other man made sludge that circles in on itself in the middle of our largest ocean. Estimates on size range from 700,000 square kilometres (270,000 sq mi) to more than 15,000,000 square kilometres (5,800,000 sq mi) (0.41% to 8.1% of the size of the Pacific Ocean), or up to “twice the size of the continental United States” The area may contain over 100 million tons of debris. His trip is aimed to bring attention to the growing area of the ocean that is essentially dying due to the poor water quality. If he sticks to his plans he’ll not be stuck in the patch and will continue onward to Australia. You can follow his eco-adventure via his blog. Incidentally Kon-Tiki was almost a success, read the book!

Finally a story of good luck and what a lucky couple then did with it. Winning a lottery of over £56 million in the UK (over $82 million) an

Lottery Winners Eco-Farm

English couple did what many winners would do and moved into a new home. After giving their old home to their cleaner (they had a cleaner) Nigel Page and Justine Laycock purchased a 400-year-old dairy farm. Where’s the green in that you might wonder? The farm was restored by developer Paul Lavelle, who spent £2 million transforming it into an eco-friendly home. It features a ’solar park’ where 20 panels captured the (occasional) heat of the sun and store it in rocks in the ground and later distributed to the home. The house uses just 10% of the energy required to run a normal household. The farm is almost 100 per cent carbon neutral, you can read more about it in the Daily Mail.

That’s all for now!

Tags: carbon footprint, Climate Change, Eco Friendly, eco-friendly lifestyle, energy conservation, Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Green Living, greener lifestyle, kontiki, lottery winners eco house, M & S, Marks and Spencer, pacific garbage, planet forward, Plastiki, Sustainable Practice, sustainable sourcing, Target, thor heyerdahl

Meatless Monday with Vegetarian Shepherds Pie

Tracy — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:02:36 +0000

Happy Meatless Monday! Meatless Monday is a non-profit initiative that represents an eco-friendly global movement to reduce consumption of animal products in favor of more plant-based meals to help combat global warming and improve personal health. Today’s recipe is courtesy of Food Network star Aida Mollencamp. It’s a vegetarian twist on a classic favorite – Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie:

Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie – Serves 8

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups low-sodium mushroom broth
1/3 cup dry red wine
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3/4 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, and cut into large dice
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 pounds cremini mushrooms, stemmed and quartered
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
3 medium celery stalks, finely chopped
5 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 medium celery root, peeled and small dice
3 medium carrots, peeled and small dice
2 medium parsnips, peeled and small dice
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage leaves
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
2/3 cup whole milk

Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk together broth, wine, tomato paste, and flour until evenly combined and smooth. Stir in dried mushrooms and set aside to reconstitute, at least 30 minutes. Strain mushrooms before using, reserving liquid.
Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with heavily salted water by 2 inches. Bring potatoes to a boil and cook until fork tender, about 20 to 30 minutes.
Heat the oven on broil and place a rack in the upper third. Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a 3 to 4-quart Dutch oven (or oven-ready saucepan) over medium-high heat. When it foams, add half the mushrooms and cook, stirring rarely, until mushrooms are browned, about 5 minutes. Remove mushrooms from pan, season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and set aside. Repeat to cook off remaining mushrooms.
Return pan to stove over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of the butter, onion, celery, and garlic, and cook until softened and golden, about 2 minutes. Add celery root, carrot, parsnip, and herbs, and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook until browned and softened, about 6 minutes.
Add wine mixture to pan and deglaze by stirring and scraping up any browned bits. Let cook until simmering and slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in reserved mushrooms and any juices that have accumulated and simmer until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and reserve in pan.
When potatoes are ready, drain well. Return to pan and mash until uniformly smooth. Fold in remaining 2 tablespoons butter and milk, and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. If necessary, keep warm over low heat.
Dot potatoes over vegetable mixture and spread to edges of pan to cover completely. Rough up the surface of the potatoes so there are bits that will get browned and crunchy. Bake until top is golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve.

This is an absolutely delicious recipe for Meatless Monday and a must try! If you’re interested in learning more about the Meatless Monday campaign, visit meatlessmonday.com. Enjoy!

Tags: Aida Mollencamp, carbon footprint, eco-vegetarian, eco-vegetarianism, Food Network, gourmet cookbook, healthy recipes, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School, Meatless, Meatless Monday, Meatless Mondays, planet forward, recipes, Shepherds Pie recipes, Vegetarian, vegetarian recipes, Vegetarian Shepherds Pie, Vegetarian Shepherds Pie recipe, vegetarianism