Bogota is a true testament of how a city can be transformed. Through “radical” action for a better city and clean green transportation, Bogota has become a leader in bicycle transportation.

One step ahead of Basel, Switzerland on this list, Bogota boasts an amazing transformation in the transportation infrastructure and alternative transportation usage of a modern city. Unlike many cities that are renovating primarily for cars or, more admirably, mass-transit, Bogota made sure to put a lot of focus on improving their city for bicyclists and pedestrians as well, the greenest transportation modes!

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According to researchers at Columbia University, peridotite rocks could be harnessed to capture carbon dioxide in large quantities, potentially offsetting billions of tons of CO2 emissions each year. The rocks, found in Oman, California, New Guinea and elsewhere, produce calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate rock (both solids) upon contact with CO2.

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Instead blend your own creativity and contribution and come up with your own vision and project for promoting sustainable agriculture and local food. Come up with your own project to work towards a secure, healthy food system. Think out of the box and beyond just the dollars you spend at your farmers’ market. How can you contribute your skills, interests and enthusiasm toward bigger-picture change?

Melinda and Dan Hemmelgarn provide super-sized inspiration in such self-initiated, purposeful volunteering. Long-time supporters of their local farmers’ market in Columbia, Missouri, this creative couple blended their talents and passions into creating a calendar featuring area farmers: Farm Hands – a Tribute to the hands that feed us.

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Yet what can we do to express such thanks? How do we channel such inklings of gratitude? Here’s where a dash of out-of-the produce box thinking can stir up rewarding ways to contribute to your local food system in creative ways above and beyond shopping routines. Yes, you could join a committee or existing organization. But sometimes the volunteer path less traveled can be the route to go, coming up with your own vision and project.

Just ask Melinda and Dan Hemmelgarn, long-time supporters of their Columbia Farmers’ Market. Blending their photography and writing talents with their passion for local agriculture, the imaginative duo created a fund-raising calendar featuring area farmers: Farm Hands – a Tribute to the hands that feed us.

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The Palma Collection, based out of La Jolla, California, is pioneering a new, versatile option for green accessories - tagua nuts. The "fruit" of a particular breed of palm tree in tropical South America, tagua nuts are referred to as vegetable ivory and it widely used as a replacement for inhumane elephant ivory. "The nut is harvested seasonally, only after it falls off the palm tree. Furthermore, it’s non-toxic," according to the company’s website. While used specifically by the Palma Collection to make jewelry, the tagua is often used for buttons and figurines as well.

Alvaro Toledo from Palma also gave me some insight on the treatment and benefits for the workers in Columbia that make the jewelry.

All the artisans are paid a living wage and they are hired as permanent employees so they can get all benefits as required by the laws in Colombia. This includes paid vacations, sick days, and a bonus at the end of the year. Additionally, the manufacturer we deal with provides such benefits as: providing economic help for employees’ kids under 18 years of age during the beginning of the year for school materials; yoga workshops to improve the posture of employees; teaching of exercises to rest the back and head; option of paid work at home on Saturdays so employees can share more time with their families; and workshops about human values.

But what about the jewelry? Don’t worry, I was getting to that. Alvaro was nice enough to send me three of the very affordable and stylish necklaces from their first collection. Ranging from $10-$44 for each piece, earrings and bracelets, along with the aforementioned necklaces, comprise the Palma Collection. Other than the impeccable, vivid colors I was greeted with, the most arresting characteristic is how lightweight tagua nut jewelry is.

For clarification’s sake, I’m not one to wear jewelry - why, I’m still not sure, but it seems needless most of the time. I also happen to favor classic and somewhat simplistic style, letting the person beneath the clothing and accessories shine thorough. So, now that we have that out of the way, I can safely say that you will be able to catch me walking around San Francisco with a Palma Collection necklace hanging from my neck. Why? Because the beauty of nature only stands to enhance the bit of beauty that humanity has left within itself. From a logistical standpoint, you barely notice that you are wearing anything until someone stops and says, "hey, great necklace!" (I can’t even begin to tell you how many times that has happened in the past week.)

So, how do you end a review here on Green Options? Well, if we are going to use a star system, I would give them a 3.5 out of 5. Pros: natural ingredients and dyes, fair labor, "uber" stylish, comfortable for everyone. Cons: No fair trade certification (will help sales and brand credability, I bet).

UPDATE: The Palma Collection was so happy with this review that they’ve extended a special offer to GO users: enter the coupon code "greenoptions" (without the quotation marks) at check out, and you’ll receive 10% off of orders placed by September 1st.

Ciclovia — roads closed for bikes and coordinated events on Sunday mornings

Image Credit 1: Velaia (ParisPeking) via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 2: themikebot via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 3: a_isacson via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 4: Velaia (ParisPeking) via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Great Bike Roads & Paths

Image Credit 1: taisau via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 2: pattoncito via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 3: pattoncito via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 4: pattoncito via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 5: pattoncito via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Bicycle Art

Image Credit 1: _physicist sight via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 2: Carlos Caicedo via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 3: invisible consequential via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Bicycle Shippers

Image Credit 1: Velaia (ParisPeking) via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 2: Velaia (ParisPeking) via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Secure Bike Parking

According to the photographer: “Near Transmillenio station. Spaces for 100 bikes and a full-time guard. Elevator to more bike parking on the right.” Great little bike storage facility!

Hope you enjoyed this information and photo tour of Bogota. To keep yourself updated on the next eight photo tours, keep your eye on EcoWorldly or even subscribe to its feed or email list. Have something extra to add? Comment below!

Image Credit: taisau via flickr under a Creative Commons license