By Kelly Kilpatrick

Although the organic movement is larger than ever, it’s still pretty difficult to find helpful information out there. Fortunately, there are a number of bloggers out there who have made it their mission to spread information about conscientious shopping and consumption. We’ve highlighted 50 of the best here.

Parenting

Child-rearing usually involves the purchase of a lot of stuff. These blogs will give you advice on how to reduce the amount of this stuff, and make sure that what you’re buying is responsible for your family and the world.

1. Busy Moms Go Green: This mom is raising six "green" kids, and sings the praises of organic eating.
2. Enviromom: These two stay-at-home moms are newbies in the green and organic movement, and they’re chronicling their baby steps.
3. Eco Child’s Play: On Eco Child’s Play, you’ll find advice for toys, food, and more.
4. It Takes a Planet: This mom focuses on natural resources for her family.
5. Healthy Child Healthy World: Learn about organic food, pesticides, baby care, and more from this blog.
6. Green Baby Guide: Get insider secrets on organic and sustainable baby gear from Joy and Rebecca.
7. Ask an Organic Mom: These authors of The Complete Organic Pregnancy answer questions and give advice on making your pregnancy and child care as organic as possible.
8. Raising Peanuts: This mom works to live as naturally and organically as possible.
9. Crunchy Chicken: This family grows and makes their own food.

Consumption

Learn more about being a responsible organic shopper through these blogs.

10. The Alternative Consumer: The Alternative Consumer blog writes about comparison shopping that goes beyond price.
11. Egglog: The Egglog has lots of information on organic and green marketing.
12. Organic Consumers Association: This association promotes the views and interests of socially responsible and organic consumers.
13. Knowmore: Check out responsibility profiles for the companies you patronize.
14. Leafygreen: Look to Leafygreen to learn more about organic and natural products.
15. Fake Plastic Fish: Check out Beth Terry’s blog to learn how she’s living in a world without plastic.
16. Life Less Plastic: With this blog, you’ll learn how to cut down on plastic products and find out how plastic negativelty affects our world.
17. OrganicMania: Lynn at Organic Mania makes it easy to research and find information on organic products.
18. Diane’s Big Green Purse: Diane believes that we can pressure polluters where it hurts-in the marketplace.

Lifestyle

These blogs will show you how to use organic products and principles in your daily life.

19. Down to Earth: On Rhonda Hetzel’s blog, you’ll learn about gardening, green cleaning, and living a simpler life.
20. The Accidental Environmentalist: This blogger writes about her lifestyle changes, and how she’s grown into a greener person.
21. Green Eggs and Planet: Green Eggs and Planet provides readers with insight on healthy living through organics and beyond.
22. The Lazy Environmentalist: Check out the Lazy Environmentalist for tips on how to go green and organic without sacrifices.
23. Organic Picks: These bloggers find organic and sustainable products for their families.
24. Alotta Errata: This blogger loves organic and local products, but admits that she doesn’t always get things right.
25. Ideal Bite: Ideal Bite breaks "doing the right thing" into bite-sized ideas.
26. La Vie Verte: Follow this guide to green living in France.

Home

Organic products aren’t limited to food-you can use them in your home, too. These blogs will show you how.

27. Building Gypsy Rose: Learn how one house is being built in a sustainable way.
28. design^sprout: In this design blog, you’ll find lots of great ideas for conscientious home design products, organic or otherwise.
29. Low Impact Home: Find out how one Tennessee family is working to make a low impact home, from less plastic consumption to more organic products.
30. Earth Friendly Gardening: Check out this blog to learn how you can create an earth-friendly garden of your own.
31. My Green Home: This blog has loads of information about greening your home, from organic products to builders.
32. Crafting a Green World: Check out this blog to learn about conscientious crafting.
33. Broomhuggers: On the Broomhuggers blog, you’ll learn how to clean your home in a more organic and sustainable fashion.

Food

Learn more about organic food, recipes, and more with these blogs.

34. Chews Wise: On Chews Wise, you’ll get information about the food system and where your food products come from.
35. Culinate: Culinate aims to make food decisions easier, from when to buy organic to finding out where your food comes from.
36. 100 Mile Diet: Learn how to eat food that’s produced within 100 miles of your home with this blog.
37. Eat Local Challenge: Check out this group blog to learn all about eating locally and organically.
38. Envirovore: Envirovore subscribes to the thought that we are what we eat, and they want to eat responsibly.
39. Green Lemonade: This blog covers sustainability in food, asking you to become aware of what you put in your body and the effect it has on the world.
40. Bean Sprouts: Melanie Rimmer’s household grows some of their own food, and works hard to be "green."
41. Eat. Drink. Better: Discover more about the world of food from this blog.
42. FoodShed Planet: This blog discusses sustainability in food any beyond.
43. Edible Nation: Learn about eating local, organic, and tasty food from this blog.

Ethics, Safety and Policy

Learn about the political side of organic consumption in these blogs.

43. Muddy Dog Roasting Co.: Check out this blog to learn more about sustainable coffee.
44. The Ethicurean: This blog encourages readers to "chew the right thing."
45. Coffee & Conservation: This blog illustrates the connection between coffee and the environment, particularly bird habitats.
46. Beyond Pesticides: Learn about the environmental and health hazards of pesticides, and alternatives to their use in this blog.
47. Farm Policy: Hear about the latest in food politics from this blog.
48. Organic Horizon: Learn about organic food and farming in the US from this virtual farmer.
49. Blog for Rural America: Read this blog to learn about what American farmers are facing today.
50. Mulch: Hear commentary on agriculture, policy, and food safety on this blog.

By Kelly Kilpatrick

When going green is discussed, your kitchen isn’t usually the first thing to come up. But you can’t forget that your kitchen is a huge energy hog, with your refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, and the food you consume. Follow these tips to take steps both small and large toward reducing your kitchen’s environmental impact.

Appliances

Get a handle on your energy-burning appliances with these tips.

1. Go solar-powered: Get a solar-powered refrigerator to cut out waste from this traditional energy hog.
2. Buy an Energy Star refrigerator: If you’re not ready to make the leap to solar power, at least invest in a more efficient Energy Star refrigerator when your old one goes kaput.
3. Install a range hood: Keep your indoor air quality cool and top-notch by installing a range hood that exhausts outside.
4. Use an induction cooktop: These cooktops use induction heating, which causes a heating reaction in a ferrous pot or pan.
5. Cover foods and liquids in your refrigerator: Uncovered foods will release moisture into the air and make your refrigerator’s compressor work harder than it needs to.
6. Keep appliances in good repair: Always make sure that your appliances are in good working order so that they’re as efficient as they can be.
7. Buy efficient appliances: Always look for the Energy Star logo on any appliance you buy.
8. Get a solar cooker: Use the sun to heat your food with a solar cooker.
9. Replace outdated appliances: Although it’s best to keep appliances as long as you can to cut down on waste, some older appliances are woefully out of date and horrible for efficiency.
10. Get an electric ignition system: Buy a gas stove that uses an electric ignition system instead of a pilot light to save gas.
11. Wash with a full load: Wait until you have a full load in the dishwasher to make the most of your energy, water, and detergent.
12. Keep appliances separate: Keep your cooling refrigerator away from your heating oven, for example.
13. Look for blue flames: When using gas, make sure your flame burns blue. If it’s yellow, that means it’s burning inefficiently.
14. Store water in the refrigerator: Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the tap run until it’s cool.
15. Get a dishwasher drawer: Use a small dishwasher drawer for small loads, and you’ll use less water.
16. Use an aerator: Put an aerator on your tap, and you’ll get good water pressure while using less water.
17. Give your refrigerator a checkup once a year: Unplug your refrigerator and wipe off its condenser coils to prolong its life.
18. Choose a top and bottom refrigerator unit: Instead of a side-by-side model, choose a top and bottom refrigerator, which lets less cold air escape.
19. Keep your refrigerator at an appropriate temperature: A good temperature would be between 36 and 40 degrees Farenheit for a refrigerator, and between 0 and 5 degrees Farenheit for a freezer.
20. Invest in a recirculation pump: With one of these pumps, you’ll keep hot water at the tap, which saves water because you don’t have to run water while you wait for it to warm up.
21. Use a tankless hot water heater: Another option is a tankless hot water heater, which also heats water at the source and uses less water and energy.
22. Get a self-cleaning oven: Self-cleaning ovens are often better insulated than others.
23. Get a convection oven: Use this smaller, more efficient type of oven to heat small quantities of food instead of a conventional oven.
24. Check your refrigerator’s seal: Shut your refrigerator door on a dollar bill and see how easily it slides out. If it comes out easy, cold air is, too, and you need to replace your seal.

Cooking

With these tips, you can reduce the waste you create by cooking meals.

25. Put less water in your kettle: By using less water to heat your cup of tea, you’ll take less time and energy to make it.
26. Work in naturally-lit areas: Cook in the sunlight so you don’t have to use artificial light.
27. Use the right size cookware: Use the smallest size pot or pan that you need to cook, and you’ll use less energy.
28. Use smaller appliances whenever you can: If your microwave will do just as good a job as your oven, use it instead.
29. Turn off your stove and oven: Turn your oven or stove off earlier than you normally would, and let residual heat finish the job.
30. Cook smaller portions: If you’re throwing away food, you’re wasting it, so cook only what you need.
31. Avoid preheating: Most new ovens come up to temperature quickly, so preheating is not necessary.
32. Put lids on pots: You’ll bring the contents to a boil faster, using less energy.
33. Match your cookware to your burner: Use a burner that is smaller or the same size as your pot or pan, and you’ll waste less energy.
34. Cook in batches: Cook once, and store your leftovers to eat again.

Textiles & Cleaning

Make sure that your cleaning supplies and towels are earth friendly by using these strategies.

35. Carry groceries in a reusable shopping bag: Cut down on plastic bag waste by using a bag that can be carried over and over again.
36. Buy bamboo: Buy towels, rugs, table runners and more made of bamboo, and you’ll be using a renewable resource.
37. Buy hemp: Just like bamboo, hemp is a renewable resource, and makes for a great scrubber.
38. Use biodegradable kitchen bags: Make sure that your trash has a fighting chance at biodegrading in the landfill by putting it in a biodegradable bag.
39. Run your dishwasher at an off-peak time: Use your house-heating dishwasher at a strategic time, like in the cooler evenings during the summer, or cold winter mornings.
40. Set up recycling stations: Make it easy to recycle with handy places to throw reusable plastics and other materials.
41. Take advantage of recycling events: Find toxic recycling days in your area to dispose of items that are too toxic to put in the trash.
42. Use cloth towels and napkins instead of disposables: Reuse your napkins and towels instead of buying paper ones.
43. Air dry your dishes: Open your dishwasher’s door at the end of the cycle, and they’ll dry naturally in less time than you think.
44. Find eco-friendly dishwashing cleaner: Choose natural, biodegradable, and harmless chemical-free cleaners. You can also look for cleaners sold in bulk to save on packaging.
45. Open your windows: Let fresh air in instead of using air freshener sprays.
46. Use vinegar whenever possible: This natural cleaner is effective and free of harmful chemicals. Baking soda and lemon are also great natural cleaners.
47. Clean your air with a plant: Filter air with a broad green leaf plant.
48. Start a compost: Put food scraps like banana peels into an under-the-sink compost, and you’ll save waste while gaining fertilizer.
49. Skip air fresheners: Instead of using air fresheners, boil cinnamon, cloves, or other great-smelling herbs.

Furniture & Fixtures

These tips are especially helpful if you’re planning to remodel, but even the small steps highlighted here will make a difference.

50. Hire a green pro: If you’re undergoing a complete remodel using a contractor, hire one that knows how to go green, and will dispose of waste properly.
51. Buy healthy cabinets: Invest in cabinets that are made of solid wood, wheatboard, and other alternative materials to avoid the off-gas urea-formaldehyde.
52. Run your water on cold for small jobs: If you’re only using a little bit of water, make sure you put your faucet in the cold position so that you won’t be heating water that never reaches the faucet.
53. Get salvaged materials: Find cabinets, countertops, and more that have been previously used or repurposed.
54. Find alternative countertops: You can find countertops made from recycled paper, hemp, or even recycled glass.
55. Replace outdated plumbing fixtures: Invest in low-flow products to cut down on water consumption.
56. Avoid granite countertops: Although granite looks great, it’s definitely not sustainable. Once it’s removed from the earth, you can’t put it back.
57. Stain your concrete: Instead of bringing in flooring, spruce up the concrete below.
58. Use eco-friendly wall coverings: Check your paints, wallpaper, and other finishes for VOCs.
59. Get linoleum flooring: Linoleum is making a comeback with its natural materials and durability.
60. Avoid recessed lighting: Generally, recessed cans will allow hot air to escape into your attic. They can work, however, if they’re airtight and use fluorescent bulbs.
61. Create an indigenous stone countertop: Use stone from your area, often found in salvage.
62. Walk on glass: Check out EnviroGLAS to find beautiful recycled glass flooring and other products.
63. Install skylights: Use a sunny skylight, and you won’t need bulbs in the daytime.
64. Use safe finishes: Make sure that your paints, stains and finishes are safe and water-based with no VOCs.
65. Don’t throw away old kitchen fixtures: If you’re remodeling, give away or repurpose your old kitchen appliances and fixtures, or at least research how you can dispose of them properly.
66. Step up insulation: Whenever possible, use good insulation to keep the cool stuff cool and the hot stuff hot.
67. Work with what you’ve got: Going green doesn’t have to mean a full kitchen rehaul. For example, instead of throwing out your old cabinets, repaint them with low-VOC paint, and update the hardware.
68. Shop at Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity has many local stores that sell unused supplies for great prices.
69. Use a high-efficiency fan: Improve ventilation and cool with less energy using a ceiling fan.
70. Get Energy Star windows: Keep your environment more efficient with well-insulated windows.
71. Use fluorescent lighting: Let your old incandescent lights burn out and replace them with more efficient fluorescent bulbs.
72. Use alternative woods: Get cork or bamboo floors for durable, renewable flooring.
73. Install sensors: Use motion and occupancy sensors to save energy by automatically turning lights off and on when you need them.

Food

Make the way you purchase and eat your food just a little bit greener with these tips.

74. Walk to the grocery store: If you’re within walking distance of a good grocer, make the trip using your own power.
75. Buy local: Transporation of food has a great impact on the environment, particularly through fossil fuels, so cut down on this by purchasing food that’s from your region.
76. Avoid processed and prepared foods: Make your own food, and you’ll cut down on preservatives and packaging.
77. Pack reusable lunches: Use a lunch bag and reusable containers instead of plastic and paper.
78. Grind your own food: Retain the nutritional value of grains by using a hand grinder at home.
79. Grow your own: Eating from your own garden means you know all of the chemicals that have gone into growing your food, and you’ll save fossil fuels from transportation. You’ll also cut down on waste because you can use food as you need it.
80. Get a reusable coffee filter: Instead of throwing away a paper coffee filter every day, get one that can be used over and over again.
81. Start a dinner co-op: Take turns creating meals for several families, and you can buy ingredients in bulk while saving time and energy.
82. Reuse scraps: Before you throw out scraps, consider whether they’d make a nice stew, stock, or a snack for Fido.
83. Buy in bulk: Buy food in bulk to cut down on packaging, then freeze or share with a friend.
84. Eat sustainable seafood: Choose fish that are not subject to overfishing, like tilapia, striped bass, and Pacific halibut.
85. Buy organic: Organic foods are less taxing on the earth to produce, so they’re an obvious choice if you’d like to make your food a little more earth-friendly.
86. Let food cool: Save energy by letting your food cool naturally before putting it in the refrigerator.
87. Get a water filter: Instead of buying purified water in bottles, get a water filter to enjoy the same quality without the waste.

Tools

Get your gadgets to go green with these tips.

88. Use a bamboo cutting board: Chop away with a bamboo cutting board, and rest assured that you’re using a renewable resource.
89. Buy tools that last: Get utensils, cookware, and other tools that will last, so you don’t have to throw them away and get new ones.
90. Avoid one-use tools: Find gadgets that deliver multiple uses, such as an egg slicer that also works for avocados.
91. Buy eco-friendly disposable silverware: If you must use disposable products, make sure that they’re made of eco-friendly materials.
92. Get reusable plasticware: Instead of disposable plates and utensils for outdoor eating, invest in some plasticware that can be used over and over again.
93. Avoid Teflon: Teflon has been debated as hazardous, and it has a limited useful life.
94. Use cast iron cookware: Cast iron is durable, so you won’t need to replace it for quite some time, and it has excellent heat retention, so a little heating goes a long way.
95. Buy high-quality knives: Get knives that will be useful for a long time, and that you can sharpen by hand.

House Rules

These rules are good to keep in mind with everything you do in your kitchen.

96. Use recycled materials: When shopping, look for products that are made of recycled materials, like paper towels and toilet paper.
97. Use renewable resources: Using renewable resources like solar power, bamboo, and hemp will give you a green step up.
98. Always recycle: Whenever possible, recycle every piece of waste that your collection will take.
99. Repair before replacing: Don’t jump the gun and make a new purchase when all your appliance or fixture needs is a good repair.
100. Always buy reusable items: Invest in cloth napkins, a reusable travel mug, and other items that replace disposable options.

By Jessica Hupp

The Internet is full of foodies who love to share dishes of all kinds. It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for-you’re bound to find exactly what you want online. These sites in particular are great places to stumble upon great recipes, whether you’re craving something ethnic, or just feel like baking a fancy cake.

Communities

Dish and share the recipes you love in these cooking communities.

1. Allrecipes: Find more than 40,000 community-created and reviewed recipes on this site.
2. CDKitchen: Check out the recipe box, review recipes, and submit photos of your own creation on CDKitchen.
3. Online Cookbook: Check out Online Cookbook to find and share great recipes.
4. Food Geeks: Are you geeky about food? This is your place to share recipes, discuss cooking, and organize your own recipe collection.

General

These recipe sites specialize in everything-from holiday cooking to jazzed-up box cooking, you’ll find it here.

5. The Pioneer Woman Cooks!: This country housewife shares her favorite recipes, and they’re sinfully delicious. Note that there’s a lot of butter involved, and that’s a good thing.
6. Epicurious: Find loads of great recipes from this site, Bon Appetit, and Gourmet.
7. The Cake Mix Doctor: Find easy to use recipes for get-togethers on this site.
8. My Wooden Spoon: My Wooden Spoon features delights like bruschetta burgers, Mexican cornbread, and pineapple upside down cake.
9. Snacksby: Use Snacksby to create a recipe based on the ingredients you have in your kitchen.
10. RecipeMatcher: With RecipeMatcher, you’ll be able to create delicious recipes and drinks based on what’s already in your kitchen or bar.
11. Recipe Land: With more than 50,000 recipes, this site is sure to have what you’re looking for.
12. Betty Crocker: Check out recipes for just about anything on Betty Crocker’s site.
13. Wokking Mum: See what this stay at home mom cooks for her family.
14. Food Network: Get recipes from celebrity chefs and more on this food site.
15. Out of the Frying Pan: This site has recipes for speed queens, vegetarians, and vegans alike.
16. Top Secret Recipes: Use this site to make brand-name products at home with regular ingredients.
17. Food Network: On Food Network, you’ll get loads of recipes and party ideas.

Ingredient-Specific

If you love a certain food, like cheese or apples, check out these sites that specialize in them.

18. About Seafood: Check out this fish food site for healthy eating.
19. Hidden Valley Ranch Recipes: Discover how versatile and tasty ranch dressing can be with these recipes.
20. I Love Cheese!: Cheese lovers, unite! This site has recipes for entertaining, snacking, and so much more.
21. Eat Chicken: This chicken council site serves up some delicious recipe ideas, chicken cookbook reviews, and cooking tips.
22. The Nut Factory: Check out standard banana nut bread, chicken, and lots more.
23. Hummus101: If you love hummus, you’ll adore this blog, which offers recipes, trivia, and a whole lot more.
24. Vanilla: On this site, you’ll find recipes for creme brulee, pear tarte, and so much more.
25. Top Ramen Recipes: Upgrade your ramen to a main dish with these recipes.
26. Apples for Health: This site offers lots of fun and healthy ways to eat apples.
27. Chicken of the Sea: Find all sorts of different ways to eat tuna and other preserved fish on this site.
28. American Egg Board: The egg board serves up loads of different ways to eat an egg.
29. Muir Glen: Enjoy organic tomatoes in a variety of ways using this site’s recipes.
30. Crisco: Put Crisco’s oil to work to create great baked dishes, dinners, and more.
31. The Other White Meat: Find loads of tempting pork recipes on this site devoted completely to pork.

Organic

On these recipe sites, you’ll find concoctions that can be made with organic food.

32. Organic Valley: This co-op has lots of great recipe ideas that you can use with their food products.
33. Healthy Organic Recipes: Get garden-fresh goodness in these tasty recipes.
34. Eden Organic: Eden offers more than 840 tasty organic recipes.
35. Organic Homebrew Recipes: If you’d like to make your own organic beer, check out this site.
36. Mambo Sprouts: Find recipes for every meal in an easy, printable form from Mambo Sprouts.
37. Delicious Organics: Learn how to make tasty foods out of just about every organic ingredient out there.
38. OrganicToBe: This team blog serves up delicious organic recipes.
39. Healthy Organic Recipes: Check out this recipe database to find healthy and fun organic recipes.

Fast Cooking

In a rush? These recipe sites are happy to help you get through cooking fast.

40. I Shot the Chef: This classically trained chef specializes in quick, easy, and healthy food.
41. Microwave Cooking for One: Learn how to make quick and easy meals in your microwave with this recipe site.
42. Fast, Easy Recipes: Find quick and easy recipes for any meal or ingredient here.
43. Quick Dinner Recipes: The Skinny Cook offers up quick dinners, culinary travels, and more.
44. Best Simple Recipes: Here you’ll find loads of quick recipes and meals that taste great.

Healthy Cooking

Whether you’re on a diet, or just want to be a little more health-conscious, these sites are here to help.

45. Delicious Decisions: This recipe finder from the American Heart Association will help you eat healthy with your heart in mind.
46. Healthy Recipes: This site offers healthy food recipes and advice for weight loss.
47. Cooking Light: Browse menus, find recipes, and keep your own recipe file for healthy eating with this site.
48. Healthy Cooking Recipes: This site offers recipes that are both healthy and delicious.
49. KidsHealth: On KidsHealth, you’ll find healthy, kid-friendly recipes.
50. FoodFit: Learn how to make healthy food on the go with this site.
51. Mayo Clinic Healthy Recipes Center: Find special-diet, low-fat, and low-sodium recipes from the Mayo Clinic.
52. Eating Well: This site is a place where "good taste meets good health."
53. Fit Woman: This site offers healthy recipe favorites for both women and men.
54. Eat This!: Find healthy recipes and other healthy eating information on this site.
55. SparkRecipes: Check out SparkRecipes for healthy recipes and a tool that will help you find the nutritional value of your food.

Veggie and Vegan

Find delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes on these sites.

56. VeganImprov: This site celebrates vegan cooking without boundaries.
57. Regina’s Vegetarian Table: Regina has loads of international vegetarian favorites on this site.
58. VeganYumYum: VeganYumYum’s photos will make you want to eat everything in sight.
59. The Conscious Kitchen: Drool over this conscious cook’s tasty creations.
60. Fatfree Vegan Kitchen: This site is "sinlessly delicious," offering concoctions that don’t hurt the world or your waistline.
61. The Vegan Kitchen: This kitchen features delicious-looking dinners, dips, and holiday treats.
62. Veggies Unite!: On this site you’ll find vegetarian and vegan recipes for every meal.
63. Lily and Chew: This blog’s rule is that nothing dies for their dinner.

Holiday Recipes

Celebrate the holidays with the recipes on these sites.

64. Noel Noel Noel: Save these tasty recipes for Christmastime, or enjoy them year round.
65. Easter Recipes: Check out this site to find chocolate eggs, traditional Easter breads, and more.
66. Santa’s Favorite Food: This site has great ideas for holiday treats.
67. Bella’s Holiday and Seasonal Cooking: Find all sorts of yummy special occasion recipes here.
68. Christmas Baking with SusieJ: Susie has a whole lot more than just Christmas cookies on her site.
69. Christmas Recipes: Find Christmas favorites and beyond on this site.

Ethnic & Regional

These sites feature recipes from around the world.

70. The African Cookbook: Find African fish entrees, desserts, and more on this site.
71. Portugese Recipes: Check out this site to find recipes with beans, Cajun flair, and more.
72. Sherie’s Kitchen: Sherie serves up some delicious German, Austrian, and diabetic recipes for your enjoyment.
73. The Global Gourmet: This site features recipes and food tips from around the world.
74. France This Way: Check out this site to find some easy French recipes.
75. Indian Recipes: This site offers a massive collection of authentic Indian recipes.
76. Oriental Food: Check out this site for recipes from all over Asia, and especially China.
77. Spanish Recipes: This site is full of the best food Spain has to offer.
78. Cuisine-France: Cuisine-France is your gateway to French cooking, cuisine, and recipes.
79. Irish Recipes and Baking: Find out how to make an Irish breakfast, soda bread, and lots more.
80. Creole and Cajun Recipes: Learn how to make Louisiana basics and beyond here.
81. Hispanic & Spanish Recipes Directory: Here you’ll find loads of Hispanic and Spanish cuisine.
82. Indian Vegetarian Recipes: Here you’ll find delicious, authentic vegetarian Indian dishes to make at home.
83. French Food and Cook: Get French menus, recipes, tips, and lots more on this site.
84. Texas Cooking: Check out Grandma’s cookbook, traditional Texas fare, and much more on Texas Cooking.
85. Mexican Meals: Find traditional Mexican recipes for south of the border gourmet.
86. Italian Chef: Here you’ll find both classic and new Italian recipes.
87. Food Down Under: Find ethnic recipes by nation, ingredient, method, occasion and more.
88. German Recipes: Come armed with sauerkraut and an appetite when you check out this site.
89. Adventures in Armenian Cooking: Get more than 200 Armenian recipes on this site.

Baking

If you’re in the mood to fire up your oven, check out these sites.

90. The Cookie Tin: Find regional favorites, specialty cookies, and even participate in a cookie exchange on this site.
91. Better Baking: Learn how to make Irish soda bread, pastries, and more on this baking site.
92. For the Love of Baking: Get tips and recipes for home baking on this site.
93. Cookie Recipes from Europe: This site has recipes for favorites like coconut macaroons, gingerbread, and soft sugar cookies.
94. Baking Bits: Check out this baking collection to find from-scratch breads, muffins, and so much more.
95. Your Baking Story: This is a fun site to find baking recipes and the stories that go with them. You’re encourgaged to submit your own baking story as well.
96. Very Best Baking: Nestle’s site offers loads of free recipes and baking tips.
97. Home Baking: On this site, you’ll find recipes for baking from scratch.
98. Joy of Baking: This site features baking and dessert recipes, complete with photos and substitutions.
99. Hershey’s: Hershey’s features loads of dessert and baking recipes that include Hershey’s chocolate products.
100. Cheesecake World: Check out this site for cheap and simple cheesecake recipes.

By Heather Johnson

Can you really expect your children to prefer washing the dishes instead of tossing out harmful plastic-ware? Will your newborn notice the difference between organic onesies and non-organic clothes? Thankfully, raising your kids to be environmentally conscious is getting easier, more affordable, and more rational, thanks to kid-friendly educational websites, online games, special TV programs, networking events, and youth conservation groups that inspire kids to save the environment. Find 100 of the best tips and resources here.

Understanding the Environment

Check below for kid-focused articles, interactive websites and other fun resources that introduce kids to the environment.

1. Understanding the Human Impact: The Save a Snowman group helps kids understand the real human impact on the environment.
2. The Green Squad: School-aged children will learn how their school affects their health and the environment. The Green Squad shares ways to investigate their school’s safety rating according to an Enviro-O-Meter and more.
3. TreePeople: TreePeople specifically serves school children and the communities in the Los Angeles, CA, area, but anyone can benefit from their website, which has resources, tips and event planning ideas for planting trees and finding solutions for urban ecosystem problems.
4. Volunteering: Helping the Environment: PBS Go! asks kids, "Do you love your mother…Mother Earth that is?" Find reasons and tips to take care of the planet here.
5. Discovering the Oasis: This interactive site challenges kids to discover an ecosystem near them and report back by answering questions about what kind of environment they visited, what animals and insects they saw and more.
6. Just for Kids: The University of Illinois sponsors this website, full of games and interactive pages that let kids explore their environment, from insects to plants to planting a garden.
7. The Nature Conservancy Fun Stuff: From nature e-cards to conservation quizzes to slideshows, videos and audiochats about different ecosystems, this page is a great resources for introducing your kids to the environment.
8. A Bigger Splash: This Splash Zone from the Monterey Bay Aquarium is designed to help "children forge a lifelong love for the oceans." They can play in the interactive Coral Reef Kingdom look at pictures from the Enchanted Kelp Forest and more.
9. EPA Environmental Kids Club: The Game Room at the EPA Environmental Kids Club lists "a bunch of games that will help [kids] learn about the environment and have some fun at the same time."
10. EEK! Environmental Education for Kids: Let your kids play around this site to learn about the planet, animals, and more.

Infants and Toddlers

Start raising your kids to be environmentally conscious when they’re babies, and pursuing an organic lifestyle will come natural to them.

11. Organic Baby Food: According to this article on Good Green Fun, "making your own [baby food] is cheaper and safer." Learn how to make your own baby food in this post.
12. Green books series: The Green Eaters: This series of green books for toddlers focuses on five farm animals.
13. Chapter One Organics: The Green Eaters author also designs this organic clothing line for babies.
14. Wholesome Baby Food: Check out this website for wholesome menu ideas for babies from 4 months to 12 months.
15. 10 Ways to Raise a Green Baby: Ecostreet lists ten ways you can raise a green baby, from breastfeeding to using reusable diapers.
16. Cutting Down on Plastic Toys, Gizmos and Doodads: This author knows that when you have a baby, it’s hard to spend the time and money searching for Earth-friendly toys and "gizmos." Read her tips for cutting back here.
17. How to Raise a Green Baby: The LifeScript Connect Network shares "natural and organic choices for your baby" in this article.
18. Are Organic Baby Clothes Necessary?: Check out this post to find out if all the hype over organic baby clothes is really worth it.
19. Phthalates in Baby Care Products: How to Avoid Toxins Without Losing Your Mind: Reduce harmful toxins in baby care products by following these tips.
20. Hazel Wood Children: This online shop specializes in "environmentally conscious products for infants, children and parents," from clothing to furniture to bedding to skincare.

Nutrition

Part of raising an environmentally conscious child is getting them to eat healthy foods, especially all-natural or organic meals. Look to these sources for kid-friendly options that are tasty as well as Earth-friendly.

21. Chocolate Dreams: Chocolate That’s Good for People and the Earth: Most kids adore chocolate, but some chocolate comes from harmful sources that rely on excessive chemicals or even slave labor to work in chocolate fields. Use this guide to find out which chocolate is good for your family and other communities.
22. Make Smart Seafood Choices: The Monterey Bay Aquarium helps eco-smart parents make decisions about picking out ocean-friendly seafood.
23. The Best (and Worst) Products for Making Baby Food: From the potato masher to the mini food mill, find out which tools are best for making your own baby food.
24. Granola Chic: Granola Chic publishes lots of kid-friendly recipes that are also organic, natural and/or raw-based.
25. Organic and Other Environmentally Friendly Foods: Turn to this guide to help you understand the meaning of organic foods, sustainable foods and other natural, Fair Trade or grass-fed foods.

Cleaning Products

Be a green example for your kids by making your own cleaning products and getting creative when doing your household chores.

26. Controlling Mold Without Toxic Chemicals: A moldy house can result in a harmful environment for your kids. Get rid of mold without adding toxins to your air with the tips presented in this article.
27. How to Make a Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit: This guide from the Care2 website shows green moms how to make oven cleaner, window cleaner, furniture polish and other non-toxic household cleaners.

Medicine and Health

Understand how the environment and your kids’ health are intertwined with the help of these resources and guides.

28. Ozone, Air Quality and Asthma: KidsHealth.org helps parents and kids understand how the ozone and air quality affects asthma.
29. Eczema Rise in Kids Worldwide: Is There an Environmental Connection?: This article questions the rise in kids with eczema, and lists several factors that can contribute to or worsen symptoms.
30. Herbal Medicine and Children’s Health: This resources is especially helpful for parents of young children, who can’t take over-the-counter meds to help ease their symptoms.

Special Activities

From starting eco-friendly holiday traditions to planting trees, these special activities will keep kids interested in saving the environment.

31. ZOOM Into Action: This organization partners with local PBS stations to inspire kids to volunteer, recycle, and let other kids know how they’re helping save the environment.
32. Sierra Club Action Center: The Sierra Club’s Action Center website lists current projects like the Help Save the Polar Bear plea. Check back often to find ways your kids can make a difference in legislation, saving the animals, or just learning more about energy and the environment.
33. Plant a tree: School kids have been planting trees on Arbor Day for decades. Make it a family event to plant a tree each month or year in yard, a friend’s yard, or anywhere that’s practical (and legal).
34. 5 Ideas for Eco-Friendly Holidays: Show your kids that the holidays aren’t an exception to green living. This quick guide has tips for keeping the holidays fun and eco-friendly.
35. Visit the zoo or aquarium: Getting to see animals from around the world in replicas of their natural habitat will give kids a better idea of how ecosystems affect one another.
36. Throw an organic birthday party: Bake an organic cake or batch of cupcakes following one of these economical recipes.
37. Visit your local farmer’s market: Visit your local farmer’s market to give kids a chance to talk to the farmers and gardeners who grow their own food. It’s also way more fun than going to the grocery store.
38. Take a drive out to the country: If your family lives in the big city, take your kids on a vacation or just a drive through the countryside. If they’ve never been exposed to nature, they won’t understand how or why to appreciate it.

Tips

Get your kids to go green early by following these Earth-friendly tips.

39. Recycle: One of the easiest ways to get kids to make a difference is to recycle. Set up an extra recycling container next to the trash can for empty soda cans, old papers and plastic.
40. Carpool: Save gas and the environment by taking turns driving the kids on your block to school or practice.
41. Write on both sides of the paper: When your child gets a new notebook or coloring book, encourage them to write on both sides of the paper so it’ll last longer and waste less paper.
42. Get political: If your child feels strongly about a particular issue, help them write a letter to your Congressman or U.S. Representative. You’ll not only promote environmental advocacy, but your child’s participation in the political process as well.
43. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth: Ask your kids to turn off the water when they brush their teeth to cut down on water consumption.
44. Make a birdhouse: Offset urban and suburban development by giving the birds a place to live. Making a birdhouse is a fun activity for kids too.
45. Ride bikes: If you have to run a short errand to the corner store, ride your bikes or strap on roller blades instead of jumping in the gas guzzling, air polluting SUV.
46. Grow your own vegetables: Kids might be more likely to eat their vegetables if they grow them themselves. You’ll also help cut down on the harmful mass packaging and transportation it takes to deliver goods to the grocery store.
47. Make book covers out of recyclable materials: This guide suggests that kids use paper grocery bags and old newspapers to make book covers instead of buying ready-made ones at the store.
48. Be aware of watering rules: Make sure you only water your yard on assigned days, if your city has a shortage.

Toys, Arts and Crafts

These fun activities are eco-friendly and promote environmental awareness.

49. Zen Design Group: The Zen Design Group designs and manufactures fun, engaging, good-for-the-environment toys for kids.
50. Artists Helping Children: This list of resources from Artists Helping Children has online interactive coloring books, homemade art supplies recipes and more arts and crafts ideas, some of which are green, and others are not.
51. Water Filter: Kids learn how to make their own recycling water filter in this quick guide.
52. Send Nature Ecards: Letting your child pick out nature-oriented ecards for special days is fun and good for the environment. Plus, they’re all free.
53. Monterey Bay Aquarium Learning Activities: Even if you don’t live near the Bay Area, you can introduce your kids to the animals and sea life at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This page has printable coloring pages, online games and more fun facts about oceanic ecosystems.
54. Discovering Outdoors Sheets: Projects on this site include bird watching, building a nest box, and growing plants without seeds.
55. Organic Crafts: Kimberly Monaghan posts 75 different Earth-friendly arts and crafts activities for kids of all ages.
56. Art from Recycled Materials: Kids will enjoy turning everyday items like coffee can drums and coasters into art items.
57. Green Crafts: Find organic and Earth-friendly art activities here.
58. Ten Green Toys for 2008: This list of ten green toys, including Fair Trade footballs and a bamboo xylophone, are safe and fun for kids.

Articles and Guides

These articles and guides have tips for parents, as well as fun games for kids that promote an eco-conscious lifestyle.

59. 50 Ways to Save the Environment: The Kids Corner at JustGive.org lists 50 ways for kids to save the environment, from promoting conservation at home, in the yard and at the store.
60. Recycle City: The EPA’s kids’ site introduces children to recycling here.
61. Bindi The Jungle Girl: Steve Irwin’s daughter Bindi has her own show on Discovery Kids, and a website with games, videos and photos that teach kids about respecting animals and the environment.
62. Bringing Up Green Baby: This how-to guide has tips for raising green babies and older kids too.
63. Green Mom Guilt: This post helps guilt-ridden moms feel better about juggling their motherhood instincts and their environmentally-conscious lifestyles.
64. Tree Hugging Family Browse posts about Earth Day, eco clothing, organic cooking, and eco youth on Tree Hugging Family.
65. Mindful Momma: Find out what the Mindful Momma has to say about raising kids to be environmentally conscious.
66. The Green Mommy: This green mommy blogs about consumerism, raising her son to be environmentally conscious and more.
67. Eco Baby Blog: Find out everything you need to know about prenatal vitamins, harmful chemicals, children’s books about the environment, environmentally friendly products and more.
68. Be a Green Kid: If your child wants some advice on what he or she can do to make a difference, direct them to this guide at KidsHealth.org.
69. Can We Build It? : Turn your little kids on to Bob the Builder, if they’re not watching him already. According to RiverWired, Bob is "America’s greenest builder" and takes on projects that use solar panels and hay bales to increase insulation the natural way.
70. Discovering the Oasis: More Resources: This page lists books about recycling, endangered animals and other environmental subjects for kids of every age group.

Games and Interactive Websites

These online games give kids the chance to have fun while learning important facts about the environment.

71. Inspiring Kids Making a Difference: Kids will be inspired when they read about what other kids their age are doing to help animals, other children, and the environment.
72. Eco Child’s Play: This blog is devoted to sharing green finds, from organic toys to kids’ books about the environment to green holiday ideas.
73. Natural Family Online: This website gives tips, resources and products to promote "whole living for the whole family."
74. Kids’ Planet: Kids’ Planet is a colorful, interactive website that encourages kids to be "defenders of wildlife."
75. The Big Blue Bus: This website teaches kids about water consumption, different marine ecosystems, and more through games, a Water Wizards Club and more.
76. Nature Challenge for Kids: Kids take 10 challenges with tour guide David Suzuki to protect nature.
77. Kids Go Wild: Kids Go Wild! is sponsored by the Wildlife Conservation Society and includes fun facts about wildlife, an arcade with different games and more.
78. TMWA Academy: The Aqua Academy has facts, games, science guides and more fun stuff about water, organized for kids in grades K-3, 4-6, and 7-12. There’s also a special section for teachers.
79. My First Garden: This "guide to the world of fun and clever gardening" has a garden gallery, tutorials explaining gardening basics and more.
80. Kids Saving Energy: Kids can play games and learn about renewable energy on this interactive site.
81. NRDC Kids’ Links: Visit this page for even more websites, games and resources for kids interested in energy, air pollution, conserving water, protecting wildlife, and preserving the environment.

Networks

Make protecting the environment a fun way for your kids to make new friends and feel like they are part of a big movement. Read below to find information on eco-driven movements kids can join.

82. Earth Force: Earth Force is a network of youth who care about saving the environment. The site has lots of "tools for teachers," as well as a list of local offices around the country, and a list of programs, like Earth Force After School.
83. Earth Day Network: Encourage your kids to join the Earth Day Network, or get the whole family to sign up. You’ll find a list of programs held throughout the year, as well as basic information on how to promote Earth Day ideals everyday.
84. Save a Snowman: Save a Snowman is a nonprofit group promoting "a fun, positive approach to solving the climate crisis." Kids can adopt a snowman, and parents can sponsor a family or raise money at work.
85. Ocean Action Team: Join the Ocean Action team, sponsored by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, to get your kids involved in saving the natural habitats of whales, sea otters and other sea life. This page also has quizzes, volunteer information and more.
86. Care2: Care2 is a popular social networking sites for environmentalists. Encourage your teenager to join, or set up your own profile on behalf of the whole family.
87. The Environment Site: The Environment Site has its own MySpace profile for networking purposes.
88. Kids F.A.C.E.: The Kids For A Clean Environment group has more than 2,000 chapters all over the world and sponsors tree planting events and other activities.
89. Idealist.org: Find volunteer opportunities for your kids or show this site to your teens to connect with environmentalists all over the world.
90. Environmental Groups: The Natural Resources Defense Council publishes this inclusive list of environmental and conservation groups alphabetically.

Teenagers

Get your teenagers involved in environmental activism by showing them these sites, resources and ideas.

91. I Buy Different: This website gives teens the message: "You have the power to make the Earth a better place because of what you buy." Encourage them to make responsible decisions.
92. Sierra Club Outings: This page has information about trips around the U.S. and around the world. Travelers will learn how to offset their carbon footprints during their vacation and will meet up with other nature enthusiasts during trips to the glaciers, the mountains and more.
93. Green Alternatives to Typical Spring Breaks: RiverWired’s eco-travel post has alternative Environmental Spring Break ideas for conscious teens.
94. Top 10 Eco Celebrities: Show your teens this list of some of the hottest and most powerful green celebs on the planet to give them some inspiration.
95. Nature Stories Podcast: If your teenagers are stuck in front of their XBOX 360 day in and day out, inspire them to get outdoors and experience nature with these exciting podcasts. They feature adventures from Australia to Mongolia to Appalachia.
96. Eight Ways to Go Green: These environmental tips are geared towards teenagers.
97. How To: Recycle Your Computer: TreeHugger explains the process and importance of recycling a computer.
98. Shop green: Lots of designers, celebrities and stores like H&M, Kate Hudson, Natalie Portman, Stella McCartney and Barney’s have come out with organic or all-natural clothing lines. Shop around for green products that are good for the environment.
99. Drive an eco-friendly car: Even SUV manufacturers are getting in on the action to give consumers more options for driving green.
100. Ecorazzi: Visit Ecorazzi, a blog that dishes up "the latest in green gossip," from animals to shopping to movies to cars.

By Heather Johnson

Going organic is appealing for most, but it’s often an expense that proves to be cost-prohibitive. However, the organic lifestyle does not have to be expensive. In fact, there are a number of things you can do to make organic living more affordable, and we’ve listed 25 of them here.

Food

Food is perhaps one of the largest organic expenses. Follow these tips to trim your grocery bill.

1. Stay away from the supermarket: Traditional supermarkets tend to command a premium price for organic food, so check out alternatives.
2. Shop during the growing season: Buy produce when it’s easiest to make, and you’ll pay less for it. You can buy canned or frozen organic foods in the off-season.
3. Buy in bulk: Split with friends.
4. Don’t buy everything organic: There are a number of foods that are considered to be low in pesticides, so even if you buy cheaper, conventional versions of them, you should be safe.
5. Grow your own: One way to ensure your food is organic is by growing it yourself, and you can often do it for cheaper than you’ll find at the store.
6. Do your own prep work: Buy whole chickens instead of boneless, skinless breasts, and peel your own carrots.
7. Buy "seconds": When you’re at the farmer’s market, ask for misshapen produce that’s just as good as the rest, but cheaper.
8. Consider value: Organic food offers more nutrients for your buck, and it’s cheaper for your health in the long run.
9. Eat less meat, more fish: Organic beef is expensive, but fish isn’t, so if you make the switch you’ll see a savings.
10. Join an agriculture program: In these programs, you’ll pay for a portion of the farm’s operating expenses, and get fresh produce from the harvest.
11. Put your freezer to good use: If you’ve snagged a good deal on some organic produce, freeze your extras for later.

Lawn Care

Don’t spend lots of money on pesticides, weed killers, and other lawn care items. These tips make it easy to take care of your lawn the natural way.

12. Mow high: Let your grass stay reasonably high so that it will shade, and kill, weeds instead of the other way around.
13. Water infrequently: If you ration out your watering, you’ll force your grass roots to dig deep, which will make them stronger than most week roots. Weeds up top will die off in the dry ground, but your grass will get its moisture from deeper below.
14. Add compost: Use your compost to soften up your lawn and help it grow. It’s not cheap to buy, but you can make your own with vegetable scraps and other items.
15. Dust lime on your soil: Put a small dusting of lime on your soil to ramp up earthworm production.

Personal Care

Follow these tips to avoid paying too much for personal care and beauty products.

16. Become a beauty detective: Seek out information on your favorite products to see which ones really are worth the higher price.
17. Don’t fall for the word "natural": Don’t spend extra money on a product just because it says that it’s natural. That doesn’t mean it’s organic.
18. Use less makeup: Carefully consider just how important every beauty product is to you.

Pets

With these simple tips, turning Fido organic doesn’t have to break the bank.

19. Make your own food: It’s fairly easy to turn your organic produce into affordable food for your pet.
20. Make your own toys: Pets are fairly easy to entertain, and you can create entertaining toys on your own with organic cotton and other materials.

General

These tips apply to nearly every type of organic product, whether it’s food, clothing, or gifts.

21. Shop around: Check out different stores to find out who has the better price for the items you buy the most.
22. Change the way you buy products: Focus on higher quality organic produce and other items, and cut down on low quality items like fast food and disposables.
23. Be flexible: Don’t have your heart set on certain items and be comfortable with buying alternatives.
24. Clip coupons: Visit sites for organic products and join their mailing list for coupons. You can also check out alternative publications.
25. Shop online: There are lots of sites online that offer organic products at a discount price, and it’s easier to compare prices in this setting.

By Jessica Hupp

With all that goes into daily life, the average family’s environmental footprint is often wasteful. With soccer practice shuttling, family meals, and vacations, it all adds up. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here, we’ve compiled 50 ridiculously easy ways to cut down on your household waste without a large impact on your lifestyle.

Cooling & Heating

One of the worst environmental offenders in any family’s home is temperature control. Here’s how to tame it.

1. Turn down your hot water heater: Reduce the temperature of your hot water heater, and you’ll reduce the amount of energy required to heat your water.
2. Install a programmable thermostat: Fairly cheap and easy to install, programmable thermostats offer a great way to manage your home’s temperature in an energy-friendly way. You can set them to use less energy while you’re away from home or sleeping, and stay comfortable in your waking hours.
3. Adjust your thermostat: Save energy and money at the same time by turning your thermostat just a bit warmer in the summer, and a little cooler in the winter.
4. Improve your insulation: Help your home stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter by checking to make sure that you’ve got proper insulation.
5. Use house-warming appliances strategically: When you use your washer, dryer, oven, or dishwasher, your house will become warmer, so use them in cooler summer nights and mornings, or anytime you’d like to be warmer in the winter.
6. Use a ceiling fan instead of the AC: Whenever possible, use a fan instead of turning on your air conditioner.
7. Replace your AC filter: Make your air conditioner more efficient by replacing your filter as soon as it needs it. Many new thermostats will tell you when you need to make the change.
8. Insulate your hot water heater: Make it easier for your water heater to retain the heat it has created by insulating it, and you’ll use less energy.
9. Invest in a tankless water heater: If you’re looking for a new water heater, consider a more efficient tankless model.

Electricity

Cut down on electricity usage using these tactics.

10. Turn off and unplug devices: A plugged in hair dryer, cell phone charger, and other devices will all pull energy even when you’re not using them, so don’t just turn devices off-unplug them, too.
11. Enlist the energy police: Ask your family to keep a watchful eye on wasteful electricity by turning off lights that are left on, or TVs that aren’t being watched.
12. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs: When your incandescent bulbs burn out, replace them with more efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Large Appliances

Get more efficiency out of large appliances like your refrigerator and washer using these tips.

13. Wash with cold water: Unless you absolutely need to, avoid using hot water to wash your clothes. You’ll save energy by not having to heat up the water.
14. Replace old appliances with Energy Star ones: When it comes time to get rid of your old refrigerator or washer, buy a new model that conforms to Energy Star standards.
15. Hang-dry your clothes: Your clothes dryer is one of the biggest energy hogs in your house, so you should dry your clothes outside or in your bathroom whenever possible.
16. Place your refrigerator strategically: Even worse than the dryer is your refrigerator, so make sure you give it a fighting chance at staying cool by keeping it away from sunlight and warm areas.
17. Properly maintain your refrigerator: Once a year, wipe down your refrigerator’s coils to keep it efficient.
18. Let food cool before refrigeration: Don’t take food from the stovetop straight to the fridge, or your refrigerator will have to work to cool it down. Instead, let it cool to room temperature before putting it in.

Water

Practice water conservation at home using these easy methods.

19. Install aerators: By putting an aerator on all of your faucets and showers, you’ll save thousands of gallons a year. These devices work by injecting air bubbles into low water flows, so that your water pressure stays the same even though you’re using less water.
20. Take a shower instead of a bath: Save water by taking a shower, which will almost always use less water than a full tub. Alternatively, you can bathe small children together in the same bath.

In Your Mailbox

Follow these tips, and you’ll cut down on the paper waste your household generates.

21. Cut down on junk mail: Reduce junk mail by asking credit cards to not share your information, manually removing yourself from lists, and signing up with services specifically designed to reduce mail.
22. Sign up for paperless billing: Get bills sent to your inbox instead of your mailbox to save paper and transportation costs.
23. Cancel unread magazines: If you get lots of magazines, but read only a few of them, cancel your subscriptions, or just catch the online version instead.

In the Kitchen

Follow these tips to make your family’s kitchen greener.

24. Eat at home more often: Instead of hitting your fast food joint or picking up takeout, consider eating at home. You’ll use a lot less packaging, and probably eat healthier.
25. Consume less animal products: Commit to at least one meatless meal a week to help cut down on packaging, processing, and transportation of animal products.
26. Eat local: Most food has to travel across countries and regions before it reaches your plate, burning fossil fuels the entire way. Eliminate this waste and support your local community by eating and purchasing food that’s grown in your area.
27. Eat organic: Organic foods are easy on the earth, so eat them instead of conventional foods whenever possible.

Cleaning

Make sure your cleaning doesn’t dirty the environment by following these tips.

28. Use cleaning products that are reusable: Instead of cleaning with paper towels, use a sponge that can be sterilized and reused.
29. Bring in large-leafed plants: Use plants to freshen and clean your air instead of filters and air scents.
30. Clean with baking soda, vinegar, and other natural products: Avoid using harsh chemicals that require lots of resources to produce, and use milder, more natural cleaners instead.

At the Store

Follow these methods when out shopping.

31. Buy recycled products: Look for items that are made of recycled products, particularly paper items like paper towels and toilet paper.
32. Bring a reusable bag: Cut down or completely cut out your usage of plastic bags by bringing a bag that you can use over and over again.
33. Consider every purchase: Although most consumers are trained to buy, buy, buy, put this urge on the back burner and ask yourself how important it is that you buy a certain product.
34. Look for products without a lot of packaging: Cut down on waste by purchasing items that have very little or no packaging.
35. Buy used: Hit the secondhand store or eBay for one of a kind finds that don’t create more waste.

Travel & Transportation

Reducing your family’s travel footprint doesn’t have to mean garaging the car permanently or forgetting about family vacations, but it does require strategic planning, which can be found in these tips.

36. Stay on top of car maintenance: Keep your tires inflated, your car tuned, and all fluids at their proper levels to make sure you’re getting every mile you can out of your car.
37. Carpool: Whether it’s your kids or yourself, make every effort to share rides with work and classmates whenever possible.
38. Get gas in the evenings: Fill up your car when the sun is down to cut down on evaporation.
39. Take direct flights: A lot of the emissions created by airline flights are given off during takeoff and landing, so by avoiding layovers, you’ll save energy.
40. Take fewer trips: Consider taking fewer trips, but staying longer each time so that you cut down on transportation waste.
41. Travel light: Whevever possible, walk or bike instead of taking your car. You can also clean out your car to improve its efficiency.

Waste

Use these methods to make your family’s waste as green as possible.

42. Recycle whenever possible: With the wide availability of recycling programs, there’s just no excuse for not recycling many items. Whether that means using your neighborhood’s curbside pickup, or hitting a recycling center every few weeks, just do it. If you need help finding out where and how you can recycle, check out Earth911.
43. Compost organic waste: Instead of throwing banana peels and garden clippings in the trash, put them in a compost to reduce waste and enjoy a high quality mulch.
44. Use appropriate disposal methods: Never dump paint or oil down the sewer drain. Instead, locate facilities that will accept your waste and dispose of it properly.

General Rules & Tips

Keep these tips in mind when trying to reduce your family’s consumption.

45. Never replace an item when it can be repaired: If you’ve got a shirt that needs mending, stitch it up instead of buying a new one.
46. Share with friends: Whether it means buying in bulk and splitting the cost, or recycling clothing and toys among friends, sharing with others will help reduce your family’s footprint.
47. Use your local library: Cut down on paper waste by checking out books, magazines, and other media at your library.
48. Use renewable energy and resources whenever possible: Whenever you have the choice, always choose renewable energy, like wind or solar, over fossil fuels, and go for rapidly renewable resources like bamboo instead of hardwoods.
49. Show your children the beauty in your own backyard: Encourage your kids to explore your grass, garden and insects so that they can appreciate a healthy environment.
50. Plant a tree: By planting a tree (or ten), you’ll help reduce your home’s energy costs with shade. Even better, they absorb CO2 from the air and create oxygen.

By Jessica Hupp

By now, you probably know that buying locally produced, organic food is best for both your health and the environment. But why not take it a step further, and create that food right in your own backyard? Here we’ve compiled a number of top-notch resources devoted to helping gardeners create their own personal organic farms.

Basics

Whether you’re new to gardening, or just organics, these resources can provide lots of guidance.

1. Basics of Home Vegetable Gardening: This document offers 7 basic rules for organic gardening.
2. What is Sustainable Agriculture?: Get a look at sustainable concepts in gardening and farming here.
3. The Future is Abundant: This publication offers resources for sustainable agriculture.
4. Organic Guidelines: Read about what exactly goes into gardening organically here.
5. How to Grow Your Own Organic Vegetables for Frugal Sustainability: This guide offers tips that even novice gardeners can appreciate.
6. Organic gardening: Kick the chemicals: This article recommends that you carefully look after your soil.
7. Organic Gardening Techniques: Take a look at this guide for in-depth information on organic gardening.
8. Gardening at a Glance: Check out this chart for planting dates, distances, and preservation techniques.
9. Grow Your Own Organic Garden: This guide walks you through the steps of organic home gardening from soil to harvest.
10. Organic Gardening Tips: Find tips for organic gardening in this resource.
11. Organic Vegetable Gardening: This guide covers vegetable gardening from planning to selling.
12. Growing a beautiful edible landscape in an urban neighborhood: This guide takes a look at gardening in a restricted area.
13. Organic Gardening: This guide offers a quick look at organic gardening principles.
14. Plant Glossary: This glossary will help you build your organic gardening vocabulary.
15. You’re a What? An Organic Gardener?: This article offers an easy guide to answering questions about organic gardening.
16. Organic Vocabulary: Check out this glossary so you’ll always know what you’re talking about.
17. Organic Gardening Essentials: This article describes the benefits and requirements of organic gardening.

Inspiration

Take a look at these urban gardeners to see what can be achieved when you work hard on your organic garden.

18. Path to Freedom: This family is part of the homegrown revolution.
19. Reasons to Garden Organically: If you’re not already convinced you should garden organically, check out this article.
20. A day in the life of an urban farmer: See how families are developing their own small-scale farms.

Soil

Healthy soil is the foundation for every successful garden, so be sure to pay attention to these helpful resources.

21. Garden Soil: Why it Matters-Making it Great: Find out how to create healthy organic soil with this guide.
22. Soil Biology Primer: Learn all about microorganisms and other important components of healthy soil in this book.
23. Managing Clay Soils in the Home Garden: Learn how to deal with hard clay soil using this guide.
24. Factors Influencing Soil Health and Quality: Check out this animation to get a good look at what makes up healthy soil.
25. Soil Health: This site has a number of resources and recommendations for healthy soil.
26. How to build new topsoil: Follow this guide to create healthy new soil.
27. Amending Your Garden Soil-Making Good Soil out of Bad: Get the dirt on how you can make any soil good for gardening here.

Composting

Follow these guides to turn household scraps into rich fertilizer for your garden.

28. Compost: The Backbone of an Organic Garden: Find out why compost is important, and how you can make your own.
29. How to Make Compost, a Composting Guide: This guide will help you create rich, cheap compost.
30. Organic Gardening Compost: Consider composting’s benefits and how you can use it with this guide.
31. How to Know when the Organic Compost in your Bin is Ready: This video explains when your compost is ripe.
32. Composting: Find out what the Veggie Lady has to say about composting.
33. Make your compost bin work: This gardener runs down what you’ll need to do to create a good compost.

Planning

Check out these resources for help in creating the perfect organic garden.

34. Planning Your Vegetable Garden: Here you’ll find information for planning your location and space as well as plant selection and schedule.
35. Easy Garden Anyone Can Make: Plan your garden the easy way with this resource.
36. Hey Grow UP!: This article explains how you can make use of more space with fences, trellises and stakes.
37. My Ideal Garden: Use this resource to create a garden you can love.
38. Planning a Child’s Garden: Check out this resource to learn how to create an organic garden your kids can help with.
39. Plan and Prepare: Figure out where to plant your garden and what to put in it with this guide.
40. When You Plan Your Garden, Here’s Some Things to Know: Keep these tips in mind when planning your garden.
41. Plan a Beautiful Vegetable Garden: Follow this guide to create a gorgeous vegetable garden.
42. The Gardening Calendar: Check out this calendar to see what you need to be doing in your garden each month.
43. Fruit Salad in a Pot: Make the most out of a small space by growing fruit in a pot.
44. How to Plan Your Organic Garden: Check out this video for tips related to planning an organic garden.
45. Getting Ready for Planting: This guide offers information on purchasing seeds and plants, as well as getting started before you plant.
46. Know When to Plant What: Find Your Average Last Spring Frost Date: This guide will help you figure out when you need to start planting.

Maintenance

Once you’ve created your organic garden, keep it up with the maintenance recommended by these resources.

47. Caring for Your Vegetable Crop: This document discusses irrigation, weeding, and thinning your garden.
48. Fertilizer Products for Organic Gardening: Check out this report that helps make sense of organic gardening product labels.
49. Vacation: Read this article to find out how to deal with your garden before you leave for vacation.
50. Organic Fertilizer: This resource describes a number of different fertilizers you can use.
51. Garden mulch: Look at different kinds of mulch and how you can use them here.

Pests & Weeds

Staying organic is a challenge for some when confronted with pests, but these resources offer a wealth of chemical-free solutions.

52. Organic Insect Repellents and Insect Control: Find out how to control insects in your organic garden here.
53. Slug & Snail Trail: Check out this site for advice on keeping snails and slugs at bay.
54. Use of Baking Soda as a Fungicide: See how others are using baking soda to keep mildew and other diseases away from their gardens.
55. Ten Steps Toward Organic Weed Control: Follow this guide to take care of your weed problem organically.
56. Plant Disease Control: Take a look at organic disease control methods here.
57. Weed Photo Gallery: Check out this photo gallery to find out which weed you’re up against.
58. Organic Weed Control: Find out how this gardener controls weeds organically.
59. Mulch: The Organic Solution for All Your Weeding Worries: This article discusses mulch as a way to keep the weeds at bay.
60. Plant-Disease Index: In this index, you’ll find details for the various pests that affect gardens.
61. Weeds, Guardians of the Soil: This publication discusses weeds as a positive gardening tool.
62. Beneficial Insects: Find out about the beneficial insects you can make use of in this article.
63. Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America: This site offers lots of information for combating pests.
64. Management of Insect Pests in Organic Vineyards: Find out how the wine business takes care of pets.
65. Insect Pest Finder: Check out this tool to identify pests.
66. Fly Predators: Make use of fly predators for a natural fly control method.
67. Organic Apple Disease Spray Guide: Here you’ll find organic methods for protecting your apples and other crops.

Harvest

Check out these resources to make the most of your harvest with storage, pickling, and more.

68. Harvesting and Storing: Find out how to make the most out of your harvest here.
69. When to Harvest: This guide will tell you when the right time to harvest is.
70. Secondary Edible Parts of Vegetables: Take a look at parts of vegetables you never thought about eating.
71. How to Store Your Garden Produce: This article takes a look at food storage and waste.
72. Home Canning Basics: Get the lowdown on canning here.

Techniques

Here you’ll learn about specific organic gardening techniques like hydroponics, moon cycles, and greenhousing.

73. Grow Biointensive: This technique makes growing large amounts of food in a small area possible.
74. Organic Hydroponic Gardening: This article has great information on the hydroponic technique.
75. Water Features: Check out this article to find out how you can bring water into your garden.
76. Garden Beds: Follow this guide to digging excellent garden beds.
77. Gardening by the Moon: Find out how to garden based on the moon’s cycles with this article.
78. Year Round Gardening with a Greenhouse: Check out this guide to find out how you can use a greenhouse to grow your garden throughout the year.
79. Hanging Basket How-to: Here you’ll find out how to grow in a hanging basket.
80. Saving Water in the Vegetable Garden: This guide has practical tips for conserving water in your garden.
81. Sustainable Soil Management: Here you’ll find out how to create high quality sustainable soil for your garden.

Specific Crops

Here you’ll find a bit of advice with specific crops in mind.

82. Growing Cantaloupes: Find out how to grow cantaloupes with this guide.
83. All About Growing Lettuce: This resource discusses everything you need to know about growing organic lettuce.
84. Herbs: Find out how to make the most out of herbs in your home garden.
85. Blueberry Planting Guide: Check out this guide to get the most out of your blueberries.

Products

Check out these product resources to find tools that will make organic gardening easier.

86. 11 Useful Organic Gardening Products: Here you’ll find 11 really neat and useful products for organic gardeners.
87. Organic Materials Review Institute: Find out how your products stack up with this resource.
88. Garden Seed Catalogs: This resource has great advice for saving money on seed orders.
89. The Organic Pages: Here you’ll find loads of links to useful organic gardening products.
90. Clean Air Gardening: This site features lawn and garden supplies that are environmentally friendly.
91. Better Grow Hydro: This hydroponics supplier is helpful for indoor gardeners.

Blogs & Communities

For ongoing knowledge about organic gardening, check out these blogs and Internet forums.

92. Tiny Farm Blog: Check out this blogger who is working on an organic microfarm.
93. Down-to-earth: This blog discusses the life of a family living simply on the outskirts of a rural town.
94. Seed Swapper: Check out these forums to get your hands on some excellent seeds.
95. Calendula & Concrete: See how well this urban gardener is doing.
96. Organic Gardening Information: This blog offers lots of great links and ideas.
97. Organic Gardening Forum: Share tips and advice on this organic gardening forum.
98. Veggie Gardening Tips: Here you’ll find lots of great tips for cultivating your organic garden.
99. Garden Rant: Check out what these opinionated organic gardeners have to say.
100. Organic Flower & Garden Tips: Follow this blog to make your garden the envy of the neighborhood.

By Christina Laun

When people talk about organics, generally they are referring to foods that have been grown without the aid of harmful chemicals. But organic products aren’t just limited to foods that you put into your body-what you choose put on your body can have an impact as well. Buying clothing and accessories that come from wholly organic and environmentally friendly sources can be an important part of doing your part to reduce the amount of chemicals released into the environment as well, both in the growing process and during manufacturing.

While organic clothing will likely always be a little pricier than its mass produced counterparts, that doesn’t mean that wearing it has to break the bank. Here are some tips and resources for buying clothes that both you and the earth will appreciate.

Quick Tips for Buying

These are some