King Corn focuses on co-producers Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis as they move to Iowa, rent an plot of farmland, and attempt to grow an acre of corn using typical industrial methods: genetically modified seeds, nitrogen fertilizers, powerful herbicides, and government subsidies. They show us exactly how industrial corn production works today, from seed to table, in the convoluted journey of a commodity. From Ian and Curt’s one acre, they harvest enough corn to make 57,348 sodas, 3,894 burgers, or 6,726 boxes of cornflakes. And yes, corn is a major ingredient in all of those foods.

The two major corn byproducts King Corn focuses on are high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and beef. The average American consumes 73.5 pounds of HFCS per year, mostly in the form of soda. Ian and Curt talk to a cab driver whose family is plagued by diabetes and who lost 100 pounds, just by cutting soda out of his diet. They also visit a beef feedlot: a large percentage of corn grown in the US goes to feed beef, even though cows’ bodies are not designed to eat corn and it can make them seriously sick and definitely uncomfortable. But, as the panoramic shot of a feedlot populated by 100,000 head of cattle shows, indigestion is the least of most cows’ worries — they barely have room to turn around on their way to the slaughterhouse.

Cheney and Ellis are fairly charming, but leave little impression on the viewers other than they seem like nice guys with whom to share a beer. The time spent on the backstory of their families’ connection to Iowa is unnecessary and detracts from more content Woolf could have included about the impact of corn: namely the environmental impacts of industrial corn production at the scale we’re at right now. Just when I felt the filmmakers were about to talk about the degradation of topsoil, the carbon impacts of CAFOs and corn-fed beef, or the externalities created from industrial agriculture, they skirted away and went in another direction. And although they do inform on the gross use of farm subsidies and how those subsides have changed over time, they neglect to mention the impact of government subsides to American corn farmers on corn farmers in other countries, namely our Mexican neighbors.

However, industrial agriculture is a wicked problem, and the filmmakers do note that they wanted to focus on the food system. In my mind, though, you can’t talk about the problems with the food system without talking about the condition of the land we use to grow our food. With the environment so prominent in current discourse, one would think they would have at least touched on that area.

Despite this, I was entertained and informed, and not just because I’m a born-and-raised Iowa Girl. The vast majority of Americans have no idea how their food is produced, and King Corn gives a general glimpse into what Old MacDonald’s farm has become. If you liked Super Size Me, Sicko, or The Future of Food, King Corn is a hybrid of the three, and well worth checking out. Just don’t expect green themes to be prevalent.

In McKibben and the Step It Up Team’s new book, Fight Global Warming Now: The Handbook for Taking Action in Your Community (Henry Holt, $13.00), the authors show how normal, everyday people, without any community organizing background, were able to create successful events to rally support for addressing climate change. Reflecting on the success of Step It Up allows the authors to repeat what worked–and discard what didn’t. Their seven tips (make it credible, snappy, collaborative, meaningful, creative, wired and seductive) are a framework for understanding how community organizing works in the 21st century.

The book is a quick read written in simple, conversational tone that empowers the reader. Really? Is it that easy to organize a rally? McKibben and group seem to think so, and highlight many anecdotes from the first Step It Up to show how novice activists can create powerful events. These anecdotes also serve as a type of scrapbook of the first Step It Up 2007, illuminating the hundreds of events and thousands of individual experiences. Just in case you might need some help with your own event, the authors clearly outline areas for concentration to establish credibility, drum up publicity, and finance your event. There’s also a resources page directing you to further reading on both climate change, activism, and other resources necessary for creating your own successful event. From online networking to how to create aeriel art, from media attention to attracting politicians, someone who did it for April’s Step It Up has advice for you.

McKibben and team make it seem so simple. How else can they get people to realize that we have everything we need to be activists? We don’t need to sit around and wait for Al Gore to organize a carbon-spewing concert. We all have within us the ability to lead, to create, to organize. They’re just providing a little push. If you’ve ever wanted to organize, but never thought you could, this is a must-read that will give you the tools you need to call yourself an activist and organizer. Step It Up is happening again on November 3rd. It’s never too late to get organized. In fact, the theme for November’s event is "Who’s A Leader?"

Fight Global Warming Now was released October 22nd.

You might be thinking, "is the October issue so bad that she can’t even bring herself to write about it?" Not at all! As usual Body+Soul came out with another great issue that I could put down; in fact, I finished it in two days.

Take charge of your life! In our latest issue, learn the essential strategies you need to break free from stress, curb your food cravings, and take control of your heart health. Find out the secrets to natural beauty, tips to greener living, and our picks for fall beauty. Plus, we’ve done the research, now see the results: Body+Soul’s "best of yoga."

It is highly ironic that I was having such a hard time writing about a publication whose feature store is about how to "Stop Stressing [and] Start Living!" After reading this piece by senior editor Terri Trespicio (the magazine would truly not be the same without her), it became quite noticeable just how many times in the day I start to stress and/or worry about silly things that didn’t deserve my mind’s time. I’m sure having clinical anxiety doesn’t help, but that doesn’t mean I need to be fretting about things that a) I can barely, if at all, control or b) don’t have any impact on my personal happiness or the joy of those around me.

"We identified six types of worriers and asked experts … to show us how each type can get a handle on their hand-wringing. Chances are you’ll see yourself in more than one of the following worry profiles - and that’s okay (we did, too)." Boy, did I ever! Three of the six "types" hit pretty close to home with me: the generalist ("I worry all the time about everything."), the rehasher ("It’s not voluntary; I get stuck in a mental loop."), and last but not least, the worldwide worrier ("I worry about the generic engineering of crops and animals. I worry that the bees are dying."). One article isn’t going to change my mind’s odd process, but it is a good start. Terri did a beautiful amount of research and talked to a range of expects (the Buddhist psychotherapist was one of my favorites) and I think this piece can really hit home with just about every reader.

One of the big things that I worry about is my health, which, thankfully, I do have a fair amount of "control" over (genetics aside). My mother is currently on medication for high blood pressure (mostly from stress, I’m sure) and my father passed away last year from a rare bleeding-of-the-heart issue, so anytime my ticker gets funky, the rest of my body and mind goes on high alert. New info and articles about managing our cholesterol come out all the time, but Carolyn Edy’s "Take Charge of Your Cholesterol" is one of the few that didn’t make me feel anxious after reading it.

Do I eat enough fruits and vegetables? No. Do I exercise at least 3 times a week? No. These are two of the main things that I know I need to improve; that’s obvious. According to the Healthy Heart Action Plan that accompanies the article, I am doing a few things right already — maintaining a healthy weight, taking supplements, limiting refined carbs, and relaxing. Like most readers, I’m not perfect, but now I have a solid education of the topic of cholesterol and how to manage it without stressing or eating like a rabbit.

Other swank highlights from the October issue:

• Pantry Primer: Nuts (page 60)
• Think on Your Feet (page 94)
• The Secrets to Natural Beauty (page 122)
• The Best Yoga for You (page 137)

Whether you desire to buy trees to help the environment for personal reasons, for investment purposes or you simply refer others to buy trees through our Affiliate Program,  PanAm BioFuels has made the process so simple that everyone can find a way to participate in it.

1) Purchase Trees for Investment

Jatropha trees can be bought directly from Pan-Am Biofuels for only $4 each in lots ranging from 250 trees for $1000 to 25,000 trees for $100,000.  Though delivery is possible for larger volumes, we will believe most people will take advantage of our Contract Farming Program where we will actually plant your trees on our plantations. 

With our Contract Farming Program we do all the work from planting to harvest to sale of the oil.  The only fee for all of this is a 10% fee from profits.  Then 90% of the profits are passed on to you, the tree owner.  All you have to do is purchase your trees in lots for only $4/each.

If you have priced trees at your local nursery you will see most prices range from $10 to $25. So now you may be thinking…

"How can you produce, plant and sell these trees at only $4 each?"

There are several reasons, including, but not limited to,

• Because the cost of living as well as labor is much cheaper in Central America where our nurseries are located.
• The efficiencies and economies of scale we enjoy by the huge volume of trees our nursery outputs allow us to save a tremendous amount of money passing the savings on to you.
• Our nursery is in close proximity to our Jatropha Tree plantation in Costa Rica where our Contract Farming Program is being implemented so there are minimal transportation expenses.

"So how much money do I stand to earn by buying your Jatropha Trees? What is the return on my investment?" 

Your trees can potentially bring  as much as 45% PER YEAR calculated  from your original investment once the trees start producing within 3-4 years.   Jatropha trees start bearing seeds the second year and reach maximum production at about 4 years.  You can review the full details and Financial Projections once you register and login.

Pan-Am Biofuels has truly created a unique situation and opportunity for the average person to take advantage of.

Now you can participate in an industry that has produced the wealthiest individuals and corporations in the world. The only difference is, instead of drilling for oil and destroying the environment, you will be growing oil and restoring the environment by owning oil producing Jatrpha Trees

2) Sell trees for Commissions as an Affiliate

We will pay you to refer customers! Pan-Am Biofuels has created a lucrative opportunity for webmasters,  business owners and individuals alike. By becoming an Affiliate you can help promote our Jatropha tree project, earn commissions and at the same time you’ll be doing your part to better our environment.  Learn more about how our Affiliate Program works.

The Weather Makers

The Future of Nature: Writing on a Human Ecology from Orion Magazine (Milkweed Editions, $18.00), just might be that book. A collection of thought-provoking essays selected and introduced by Barry Lopez, The Future of Nature includes writings by such heavy-hitters as Wendell Berry, Bill McKibben, and Derrick Jensen, all originally published in Orion, the seminal magazine covering the intersection of culture, nature, and the environment.

Released this past Thursday, the book is divided into six loosely-themed sections. Actions runs the gamut of activism, from small suburban grassroots efforts to stop construction on a SuperTarget store to bailing out direct-action activists in Appalachia. Refugees discusses those displaced by humanity’s interactions with the environment, giving a face to the faceless victims of climate change and the unending hunt for resources. Boundaries addresses the idea of the wilderness and our relationship with it. Reverence discusses how appreciation for nature, a love of and respect for it, is the essential guidepost for sustainable living. Monsters lays out just exactly what sorts of devastating things we’re doing to our only home, and Native leaves the reader with both hope and guidance for living in harmony with our ecosystem.

Highlighting both theory and practice of sustainable (and unsustainble) living, the causes of our ecological crises, and a vision for a lasting future, The Future of Nature provides a plethora of contexts for understanding just why we desperately need to change the way we live. Elegantly written and compiled, this book should be required reading for those interested in sustaining our future on Earth. The themes balance each other nicely; the reader understands the reality of the direness of humanity’s situation but is left with hope that good things are happening everywhere, those little pockets of positive change that will lead to a more balanced way of life. It immediately made me want to go read not only Orion, but every other piece of writing by this insightful group of writers.

Her statement details the establishment of the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, in honor of her mother. "Set to open in October the state-of-the-art facility will enable [Mount Sinai's doctors] to continue to learn new ways for all of us to live healthier, more productive lives and will teach patients, caregivers, and physicians how best to manage the aging process."

After a lengthy paragraph about how each of her publications is contributing to this healthy living commitment through its editorial content, she closes with a very intriguing, yet general, paragraph about her eco-intentions.

It is impossible to celebrate the value of healthy living without considering the health of the environment in which we live. We believe that all companies can be more mindful of our environmental impact. With that in mind, we are exploring ways of making greener practices part of our business plan, including the creative content we generate, the products we offer, and the materials we use to keep our offices clean. You’ll hear more from us on that in coming issues.

What does the September issue have to offer readers? Here’s what Body+Soul’s website has to say:

Get healthy now! Our newest issue gives you 138 ways to look and feel your best. Learn the key to lasting weight loss, make delicious recipes featuring the ultimate power food, and discover natural anti-aging secrets. Plus, our complete guide to supplements for a healthier heart, brain, bones, and mood and a no-fail walking guide.

The introductory "Whole Living" section of the magazine is filled to the brim with useful tidbits, taste tests, product recommendations, and the latest health research. An interview with "traveling chef" Jim Denevan is on page 27, detailing his spectacular efforts on strengthening people’s appreciation for where our food comes from. Eco-entrepreneur Nau is featured on page 30; a personal favorite of mine, it’s great to see the brand getting such wide-spread attention.

Cheryl Richardson’s monthly life coach column does a delightful job of explaining how you can make your life better and more meaningful by subtracting energy-draining activities and people: "addition by subtraction," as she calls it. On page 53, this month’s power food is papaya; admittedly, I’ve never had one. Of course, after reading all of this tropical fruit’s benefits (along with a two taste-bud tempting recipes), I’m a bit more open to trying them out. I know that creamy dressings aren’t the healthiest for you, but when I didn’t find mention of them in page 58’s "Dress It Up" article, I was notably disappointed. Personally, my first choice is always ranch, and I’d be amped to find out about a less fattening, do-it-yourself, Martha Stewart version.

While it is pretty obvious that our food choices can cause us mental stress (Why did I have that last slice of pizza? How many calories were in that cake!?), medical studies have proven that the old phrase "you are what you eat" is more true than ever. "Food + Stress" is a very informative piece about how what we eat affects all manner of our mental functions. The accompanying "Good-Mood Foods" chart is already hanging on my fridge, right next to where I write my grocery list.

A favorite in the green community, Ideal Bite founders Heather Stephenson and Jennifer Boulden are featured in a two-page spread, starting on page 70. Along with their back story, a selection of their favorite "eco-creature comforts" are featured, including Sigg reusable water bottles, bamboo cutting boards, and recycled note cards. The following article, offering up four mix-it-yourself cleaning recipes, is common knowledge for most sustainable readers, but the additional "helpful hints" that follow each concoction are more than useful.

For many of us, aging reminds us of medicine cabinets full of prescriptions, nursing homes, and tearful goodbyes. Tracy Gaudet, M.D.’s article "Aging Well", starting on page 91, presents a much more pleasant, accomplished, introspective view of what getting older means. Yeah, I’m only 23, but hey, I want my 50th and 60th birthdays to be loads of fun, too, so reading this piece helped to put a lot of things in perspective. I recommend it to people of all ages.

Weight loss … do we really want to hear about this again? I was a bit hesitant when I started to read Celina Ottoway’s "Beyond Willpower" article, but even before I finished the first page, I knew this was something different. Three kids and a job make it quite tough to find time to eat right, let alone exercise. A week-long visit to the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts gave her an invaluable depth of information. The most useful part of the article covers her return from the weight-loss program, when she is thrust back into her real life. A feature like this is all the more proof that a change in perspective and a bit of effort can do wonders for your well-being - mentally, physically, and emotionally.

"The Best Supplements For Your Health" is another piece that, at first, I assumed I knew all of what I was about to be presented with. In terms of the specific supplement information, I was correct, but the "What To Look For In A Multivitamin" proved to be most useful. I’ve been taking the same organic women’s multivitamin for about a year now, but was very surprised (nay, shocked) to find that it didn’t meet half of the requirements suggested in the chart on page 122.

Written by senior editor Terri Trespicio, "What You Get From Giving" sheds light on the unique benefits of giving with compassion. After the article’s introduction, readers are presented with a host of ways to give back to others, whether it be in your day-to-day life or via a specific volunteering opportunity. In the end, not only is giving (no matter the form) helpful for our own personal health, it benefits the community and society as a whole, making it a priceless part of our humanity.

You’re stressed and you need to clear your head - what does every magazine suggest you do? Talk a walk, of course. B+S takes it to next level in "Get Walking" by providing us with four different walking "plans" to help improve our fitness, stress relief, posture, and inspiration. Each plan is easy-to-follow and well-explained, making this a perfect tear-out-and-keep reference article.

This is just a small sampling of the great coverage in September’s Body+Soul magazine, so stop by your favorite newsstand and pick one up - you’ll be pleased, I assure you.

I wish I had known about infant company Matisse & Jack’s before my trip. They’ve created two bake-at-home energy bar mixes using real ingredients that I could actually identify. I was initially going to review both the chocolate chip version and the cranberry walnut version, but my dog got ahold of the former before I could, which was a disappointment, but I forged ahead with the cranberry walnut

The directions seriously couldn’t be easier: combine the dry mix with three options of wet ingredients (original, dairy-free, or less sweet). I opted for "original", which involved applesauce and yogurt. I stirred it all together with a spatula, spread the batter in a 8"x8" pan, and baked for approximately 30 minutes. While baking, the bars filled my kitchen with a pleasant cinnamon smell.

After the allotted baking time, I couldn’t resist cutting a corner off and tasting it while it was still warm. I was pleasantly surprised. The cranberries, dehydrated in the dry mix, plumped up, and little chunks of walnut, oatmeal, and flaxseeds provided great texture. The bars were sweet, but not even close to overpowering. In fact, these sweet treats didn’t taste like energy bars, but more an oatmeal muffin or a scone. They were moist, yet held together without the extreme chewiness of some energy bars. I really, really liked them. In fact, I had to remind myself that these were supposed to be energy bars, not bakery-fresh treats.

The box recommends toasting lightly if you are into something a little drier. I had another bar the following morning, and it was perfect for a quick, healthy breakfast on the go. That’s probably what I would use these for: baking a pan during a busy week to serve as my breakfast. The bars provide a good dose of fiber, protein. and Omega-3s without a lot of calories (180 per bar).

Matisse & Jack’s are also committed to the environment. In fact, the idea for the mix came from the fact that there are virtually no energy bars on the market that aren’t individually packaged. The mix comes packaged in a 100% recycled (65% post-consumer) paperboard box, and although the mix is inside a plastic pouch for now, the company is working on developing a corn-based, biodegradable replacement. 30% of their ingredients, by weight, are certified organic, and M&J’s is looking to increase that number as well.

Take it from someone who normally hates energy bars: these aren’t your typical bar. They’re awesome, and I would absolutely make them again. They’re available online from M&J’s website, and and select supermarkets in Northern California and British Columbia.

The guide is timely and up to date. (This is actually a recently revised second edition of the guide. The first edition was produced in 2004.) In discussing various materials or approaches to construction, the guide is very comprehensive in trying to include as many things as possible. Both the positives and the negatives behind each choice are addressed, and while the information is not exhaustive, it is an excellent starting point.

“This guide is meant to enable you to compare building materials and make your own educated choices to affordably seek out safer, more sustainable products. It is also meant to help you evaluate the larger life cycle implications of all the products that you buy and use.”

A section on “Talking with your Designer and Contractor about Building Green” is one of a number of sections that is excerpted on the website as well. This section approaches the beginning of a project in much the same way that I would: by asking questions. This helps to direct in figuring out your particular green goals and determining what is most important for you in terms of Energy and Water, materials and Toxins, and Space Use, Appearance and Purpose. It also addresses the (unfortunately all-too-frequent) view of green building as an add-on or a commodity, rather than as a fundamental and integral part of any building project.

“Don’t start by asking yourself: “Do I want a green building?” This inadvertently suggests that you can treat sustainability as an add-on process. If sustainability is the real deal (and it is!) it needs to be a part of every project in some way and it should be as natural to all of us as breathing. The rest of the green building guide will give you a great starting place for talking more with professionals about your building choices.”

The book is divided into sections. A preliminary section talks about “What We’re Up Against” and lays out the issues surrounding a number of materials and chemicals found in construction and discusses them both in terms of the problems they can cause and the possible alternatives that can be used.

The main focus of the book though is construction. Here the sections address issues to be considered “Before You Build” including site issues and the size of the building, renewable energy options, the selection of building materials, and the aforementioned “Talking with your Designer and Contractor about Building Green.” “Time to Build” addresses green aspects of a range of building materials and helps with some guidance for making good green choices for material selections. Materials from the basement to the roof are presented along with information about the various options in each case. A small third section deals with “Building Outside” and covers outdoor decks and landscaping issues.

The book also contains a number of resources for finding suppliers, further information, and professional advice, but is specific to the state of New York in most instances. Though there is some regionalism in the guide, it is so full of good information that it is worthwhile no matter where you live.

If you aren’t inclined to read an entire book like this online, this is one instance where printing out an online document makes good sense. This is a manual that I am going to refer to again in the future. More importantly, I am going to recommend to clients and friends who are interested in building or expanding their homes that they read this book.

Plenty: One Man, One Woman, and a Raucous Year of Eating Locally

Still, Smith and MacKinnon, a 30-something couple from Vancouver, relate their year-long local eating adventure with such warmth and humor, it’s hard not to wholeheartedly root for their success as you read through the book. In alternating written-by-him/written-by-her chapters, the authors describe in near-confessional detail the highs, lows, little successes, huge aggravations, cravings and, yes, great satisfactions they discover in cobbling together a healthful, sustainable diet from sources no farther than a few hours’ drive away.

It all starts with lots and lots of potatoes.

Smith and MacKinnon make the unfortunate decision to start their experiment in a big city … in Canada … in March:

"(A)s one week turned into two and three on our 100-mile diet, I began to wonder how long I would have to go without tossed salad," Smith writes. "Where were the fresh green shoots? Our local farmers’ markets wouldn’t open until May. I looked despairingly at the rows of days left on the calendar. Even the local beets were gone from store shelves now. I wondered if we had done it single-handedly. Who else eats that much borscht?"

The ensuing months, though, bring a bounty of local foods found mostly beyond the grocery store: pickles and cheese curds from the farmers’ market, strawberries from a u-pick farm, pumpkin honey from an apiary, cod from a fish market, eggs from a free-range chicken farm, even — miraculously, after more than eight months without bread — flour from a rare wheat farmer on Vancouver Island.

Plenty is more than a "what-we-ate-for-breakfast-lunch-and-dinner" diary, though. Smith and MacKinnon also delve into the hows and whys of today’s "normal" food system: the decline of family farms, the ever-growing distance food travels from farm to plate, the apparent wealth of food proffered to us at a steep cost: our near-complete loss of connection with where real food comes from and how real food tastes.

"I had expected the 100-mile experiment to be a platform to think about many things, among them a long list of bummers from climate change to the failure of whole generations to learn how to recognize edible mushrooms," MacKinnon writes toward the end of the book. "What I could see around the table now was a less tangible consideration: a sense of adventure. We are at a point in world history where bad news about the state of the Earth is just as jaded and timeworn as the idea that there is nowhere left to go, nothing new to explore. Put those two statements side by side, however, and something hidden is revealed. Of course there are new things to do, and no shortage of them. We need to find new ways to live into the future. We can start anytime; we can live them here and now."

Throughout Plenty, Smith and MacKinnon tackle their subject with such refreshing affability, you find you don’t want to let them go at the end. Fortunately, readers who enjoy the book don’t have to: the couple continue to write about their local eating experiment at their website: "The 100-Mile Diet: Local Eating for Global Change."

After owning two very different yoga mats myself, I was eager to try what NF had to offer. The first mat I owned was made from natural rubber as well, but the traction on it was terrible: in less than 10 minutes, I was slipping and sliding all over! My second acquisition was also made of natural rubber, but was much better at helping me stay stable in my poses. The downside? It was quite heavy to tote around. When presented with the chance to test out the Natural Fitness Professional Yoga Mat, I accepted with excitement.

My new mat arrived speedily, packed in recycled newspaper. The label holding the mat together is made of strong, recycled materials (feels like flexible cardboard), and features info on NF's Zero Impact Program. An inch longer than standard mats, the smell of the natural rubber was immediately noticeable. As an individual who has a fondness for rubber, this didn't bother me, but for others, you might want to wipe down and air out the mat before you use it. Though it may seem small, the reversible factor of the mat was most pleasing, allowing me to choose which earth-toned color suits my mood for that particular day.

Wanting to give my new mat a tough time, I practiced three times in a row, in heavy cotton and with the windows closed (read: sweaty!). Despite the pseudo-pummeling, the mat's traction was fantastic - I didn't slip once. Having weak knees, I also made sure to do more than a fair share of kneeling poses, none of which caused me more than noticeable amount of discomfort. You'd be amazed how much an uncomfortable, unsupportive yoga mat can make you avoid practicing as often as you know you should. With a Natural Fitness mat, I look forward to my practice every day, along with that nice smell from the rubber trees. The rest of NF's products are more than worth exploring, all made from either natural rubber, bamboo, or hemp. After such a pleasant experience with my new mat, I'm bound to make another purchase from their website soon.

Note: As obvious as this may be, if you are allergic to rubber, then I wouldn't recommend using this mat.

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.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

The family raised an astonishing array of vegetables, fruit, meat, and eggs. They did buy supplies like flour, coffee, and olive oil from the grocery store, but they were able to grow the vast majority of their food at home or buy from locals. Besides Kingsolver’s accounts of the ups and downs of pulling weeds or dodging testosterone-crazy roosters, husband Steven L. Hopp provides fascinating food facts sprinkled throughout the book. He explains that if we all ate just one meal each week made of locally raised organic meat and produce, we could reduce our country’s oil consumption by over 1.1 million barrels of oil per week. Kingsolver’s nineteen-year-old daughter Camille offers sidebars of meal plans and recipes (my looming zucchinis thank her for the zucchini chocolate chip cookie recipe).

Steven and Camille’s practical commentary provide a good balance to the author’s more subjective arguments for eating seasonally. For example, Kingsolver implies that the reader will have a greater appreciation for food if they can’t eat apples in January, or that hours spent in the kitchen canning vegetables with the family is a happy time that brings you closer. It sounds great to me, but other readers may be swayed less by a touch-feely argument, and more convinced by the scientific health arguments for organic foods and the greater energy independence local foods bring (a typical meal travels 1500 miles to a dinner table). At times, I did get a bit tired of seeing Kingsolver’s world though the rosiest of glasses. Everything appears to be perfect, lush, beautiful, the most delicious, faster, stronger, healthier. I don’t doubt the superior taste and nutrition of locally grown, organic products, but I was waiting for another side to the story – some sort of significant downside or obstacle they had to overcome. The author admits this herself when she recounts telling a friend about a tranquil summer evening spent with Amish friends on a farm. The friend remarks, “What, not even a mosquito to bother heaven?” But perhaps Kingsolver’s point is that it is easier than we think to eat locally. In spite of the endless positive spin, her humor and thorough research were inspiring enough to get me to contemplate making my own mozzarella.

A thought-provoking surprise was Kingsolver’s adamant argument for eating meat – specifically locally bred, organic meat. She aligns herself with a vegetarian position, she says, except that she eats meat. She points out that “every sack of flour and every soybean-based block of tofu came from a field where countless winged and furry lives were extinguished in the plowing, cultivating, and harvest…To believe that we can live without taking life is delusional.” She goes on to explain that the oft-repeated argument that it takes ten times as much land to make a pound of meat as a pound of grain only applies to the kind of land where rain falls abundantly on rich topsoil. Cultures that live on less productive land like the Navajo, Mongols, Lapps, and Masai would starve without their animals. The argument for eating locally produced organic meat is perhaps a more realistic option for individuals who care about where their food comes from and its environmental and energy consequences, but who aren’t going to stop eating chicken or burgers tomorrow.

In the end, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle has a little bit for everyone. For those ready to set the loftiest goals, take the Kingsolver challenge of canning all fall and making meals from home seven days a week. For someone like me who has a love of food, gardening, and cooking, but who isn’t prepared to give up Cheerios (are they local if General Mills is located 20 miles from my house?), I walked away with a renewed dedication to my farmers’ market, an intensive search for local foods at my grocery store, and the knowledge that buying food that grew up continents away is as much of an energy decision as leaving the lights on.

Body+Soul

Having subscribed to this particular magazine for nearly three years, I've found that not only do the features offer unique insight into the sustainable world, but the simple tips sprinkled throughout the first half of each issue are just as valuable. From the magazine's website, the blurb for the June 2007 issue barely scratches the surface of all the helpful tidbits in this issue.

Live a healthy, full life! Our summer special is full of ideas to help you savor the season. Save energy and money with our home energy guide, learn 20 secrets to keep you healthy and active through Labor Day, and prepare a delicious Mediterranean barbecue for family and friends.

Often overlooked by the average consumer, magazine cover art directly affects the successful sale of each issue. The selection of the cover and inside photography highly reflects the quality of the magazine. Of course, the Martha Stewart crew has a beautiful eye and the pleasing visuals are just as splendid as the information Body+Soul offers. Clean, cozy, and lived-in is often the vibe presented on the cover of each issue, include the June 2007 copy. On the newsstands, you often finds images that are "too perfect", as though you would never see such a picture in real life. Even in a few of the other MS magazines, I personally get that vibe, but B+S feels much more down-to-earth.

While pictures are worth a thousand words, the articles and features are just as important. Each issue begins with a one-page "Action Plan", which includes six simple ways to better your life and the planet, and ends with "Ten Thoughts on Whole Living", providing an overview of the issue's key thoughts and concepts. A common complaint from the average American is that most feel the climate problem is too big for one person to make a difference, but the Action Plan bestows a few month- and season-specific tips to improve the health of your own life and our planet. I've found these two features to be fantastically useful, perfect for ripping out and hanging on the fridge as a daily reminder of how to make a difference and keep your life in perspective.

Instead of the common "Letters to the Editor" section, Body+Soul has a "Reader to Reader" section where you can read a variety of reflections from people all over the country on a particular topic. For the June issue, "readers reflect on the personal choices that have turned their lives in a positive direction." While it is nice to read what others thing of the publication and its past features, being able to learn form others you wouldn't normally meet is quite refreshing - different is good. Following this section is the "Whole Living" area, which provides "quick tips and fresh ideas for living a balanced, healthy life", a.k.a lots of mini-tips. If you are looking to learn a little bit about a number of different topics, then this is your section. For the June issue, just some of the following is included: taste-tested organic ice cream, Q&A with chef Alice Waters, weighted exercise vests, natural nursery products, a refreshing summer soup, trans-fats, antioxidants, TMJ, colon cancer, and much more.

Next, two life coaches answer reader's questions, a collection of similar beauty products are presented, and a select personal care topic is covered - for June, this is specifically healthier deodorants. With all the rumors buzzing around about under arm protection causing cancer, among other dangers, this straight-forward article comes as just the right time (before we all start hitting the beaches). The "Eat Well" section often focuses on a particular ingredients and its nutritional benefits; the June issue picks up peppers - bell peppers to be specific. Continuing the food theme, "Food Friends" is about pairing certain foods together to maximize nutrition absorption. The topic is an interesting one, but only three matches are discussed; I would have expected more, or at least a nice little table that you can cut out and save.

One of the key green features within this issue is one page 66, featuring a great illustration with a wide variety of tips on how to save money, stay cool, and have a smaller carbon footprint. Most of the tips are common for the dark green folks reading (such as using CFL bulbs and unplugging electronics when not using them), but there were even a few that surprised me, making this feature useful for everyone. The fitness section follows, featuring three basic exercises that help to strengthen your knees. Living in San Francisco with weak knees is a bit oxymoronic, but this article gave me hope that even my genetic predisposition for unhappy joints can be overcome to a certain extent.

Honey from local bees has been show to help protect a variety of people from regional allergy afflictions. With such power, I had a feeling that bees are even more important that most of us knew, and "Healing Secrets of … the Beehive" on page 78 confirms my theory. One of my favorite articles from the June issue follows, called "Cross-Train Your Brain". I already know that I don't get enough physical exercise, but what about my mind? As elderly issues of Alzheimer's and senility become more commonplace, keeping our minds fit should be just as important as the health of our bodies. Seeing an article of this topic in such a widely-available magazine is refreshing and is of use to many. Another hidden jewel is the "Afternoon Rescue" piece on page 88, which gives you a five-minute energizing meditation that you can complete right at your work desk. Turning to sugary treats to help get your blood sugar back up is the first step for most (myself included) when that afternoon lull comes around. Though temporarily effective, this habit causes nothing but long-term harm. Most of the time, a silenced ring tone and a few deep breaths can make all the difference.

Finally, we've reached the features section of the magazine, and there are many more useful things to come. Listed as the main "attraction" on both the June cover and in the table of contents, "20 Secrets to Staying Healthy All Summer!" starts on page 92 and doesn't disappoint. From sunburns and sniffles to heatstroke and blisters, summer is a time for both unpleasant and unavoidable distractions. This particular feature provides a wealth of natural health knowledge of simple and effective ways to treat these and many other common, seasonal ailments. As someone with pale skin and "sweet" blood, I often shy away from any summer activities, worried that my skin will turn into one big heat rash. Though you won't see me spending a marathon day at the beach anytime soon, I do feel more confident about venturing into the great outdoors with a few particular oils and salves in my backpack.

Ah, farm life: rising with the sun; spending the day doing honest, physical work; making a dinner from fresh ingredients; clean air and water … the list of benefits is a long one, unless you live in modern America. As the organic and local food movements grow nationwide, family farms are working their hardest to hold on to their traditions. "Growing Season" follows three women who put their life on hold and attend a year-long organic farming program in New England. We all may not have the option of leaving out usual duties for 12 months, there are a number of helpful things we can learn from the experience of these women. Following this feature is "A Mediterranean BBQ" recipe section from chef Jody Adams. The offerings are light and summery, but I couldn't see myself getting filled up from eggplant and salad.

If the knee strengthening workout earlier in this issue didn't prove useful for you, then maybe the "Confidence Workout" will suit your tastes. I don't see anyone breaking a serious sweat from this routine, but the spiritual and centering benefits make it worth the 30-some minutes it takes to complete. Another of the key green features of this issue follows the workout, called "A Green Dream Home". Moving from San Francisco to Boston, the Reingold family began to built their own house when the wife, Jeanette fell ill with multiple chemical sensitivity. This stood to change many of the previous plans the family had, causing them to investigate any and all types of less toxic alternatives. Even before the trend began, the Reingolds truly put in a lot of effort to find their best possible options. Brands like IKEA, VivaTerra, Loop Organic, Furnature, Looolo Textile, and Flor are highlighted, showing once and for all that living sustainably doesn't have to sacrifice an ounce of style.

Two final articles in the back of the June issue are worth mentioning. "Going With the Flow", starting in page 140, is a personal travel essay from a Utah woman kayaking down the same stretch of river that she met her husband on three years back. The emotional concept of learning to flow with life is important for all the learn, but the environmental poignancy is also prevalent in lines like this: "[The river] looks impossibly low, practically without current." Changes such as these show just how quickly our planet is changing, and not for the better. The second article is a monthly column, called "The Natural Vet". June's installment focuses on organic and healthy pet foods. "You are what you eat" applies to more than just the human diet, and knowing how to read the labels on foods for your pet is key. The article provides a good collection of information, but this is yet another piece that I would have loved to have a table or chart that can be cut out and saved.

Bless you if you have made it all the way through this entry, unless you are already on the way to the newsstand to grab a copy of Body+Soul's June issue - if so, then you rock. For those that have not read a issue of B+S yet, I highly recommend it, and the June issue is a great one to start with. Having subscribed to the magazine for nearly three years, it is safe to say this is one of the issues from the past year and is proof of why I continue to welcome new copies into my mailbox each month.

The Rough Guide to Shopping with a Conscience looks to provide some guidance for getting behind the layers of obfuscation and presents the issues that need to be considered in many of these decisions. The book is divided into three parts. Part I: Issues lays out the alternatives and some of the standards for ethical decisions. Part II: Products & companies goes through different categories in more detail. And Part III: Find out more deals briefly with sources for further information.

The Issues section looks at five approaches to ethical decisionmaking: Going green, Fair trade, Boycotts, Selective shopping, and Buying locally. The authors recognize the complexities in all of these issues, and point out the (sometimes conflicting and contradictory) arguments that can be made about deciding one way or another. In most circumstances, they lay out the different viewpoints, but do not offer any definitive answer, because no such solution exists.

"Once you start thinking about all the positive and negative implications of what you buy and use, it quickly becomes clear that there's no one-size-fits-all approach — no simple list of moral checks and crosses. For one thing, there are always conflicting priorities. Is it better, for instance, to support the local independent cafe around the corner, or buy a fairly traded cup from the global chain across the road? Is it "ethical" to favor local products — doing your bit to limit envionmentally harmful transportation — or does that mean harming impoverished countries that are eager to export?"

The middle section on Products & companies collects information about all manner of products and services, and examines the various concerns and tradeoffs involved in searching for the most ethical choice in a given category. More detailed discussion of particular issues for a given topic. Food is a multifaceted topic, and the discussion includes issues such as the use of antibiotics, by catch in fishing, organic standards (and alternatives to the 'organic' label), vegetarianism and the humane treatment of animals, genetically modified organisms, and more are all discussed.

For example, in many cases, the terms we think are indicative of preferred products may not be as meaningful as we believe. "Free range" poultry, for example, conjures a vision of chickens wandering a barnyard, but "in theory, a coop or stall door could be opened for five minutes a day to satisfy such minimal requirements." We can make well-meaning choices, but what we are actually supporting may be a very different thing. It is difficult to know all of these things, because so much energy is spent to convince us of some beautiful image, rather than the truth of the situation. With fuller knowledge, we can make more meaningful choices.

Clothing, money matters, household goods (including cleaning products, furniture, toys, and more), and transportation are all covered in greater depth, as well. Most topic areas have a few listings for websites of suppliers and producers of products or sources for further information.

The final Find out more section is a brief collection of resources for gathering further information and a little bit of information about how to research a company. The websites and books and magazines listed may have some usefulness, but this is more of an addendum than a crucial part of the book.

There is a lot of good information in this book. It is less the sort of thing one should read cover to cover than it is a reference to keep on hand. If many of these concepts are still fresh with you, it is likely to be too much to absorb all at once. The authors do a very good job of pointing out the differing opinions and the tradeoffs involved in these choices, because none of this is black and white. Rather than feeding pat answers, this is a book that will prick at your conscience, and help you to address those decisions you make as a consumer and as a citizen with more thought and care.

Editor's note: Since we missed the weekend review last week, we thought we'd give you a double shot this week.

On Memorial Day Weekend, Americans gear up for summer with BBQs, road trips, and camping. This year, for a twist on the Memorial Day camping trip, I attended the Sasquatch Music Festival at the Gorge Ampitheater in the middle of Washington. The twist was that the festival was carbon neutral, and so was our transportation.

The Gorge Ampitheater is an impressive venue. On the edge of the Columbia River Gorge, the sun sets just behind the stage and the seating is on grass-covered hillside. The view is spectacular, and since Michael Franti and Spearhead were playing, I had to go.

I was thrilled to find out that the concert was carbon-neutral, through a partnership with Sustainable Energy Partner's Carbon Harmony program (which we covered here). And since my boyfriend and I just got our "volksvegan" waste vegetable oil powered VW van up and running, we made most of the trip carbon-neutral as well!

Carbon Harmony projects are not just carbon-neutral, they go a step above by being over 100% offset:

Carbon Harmony is taking the fight against global warming up to 11! Going a step beyond carbon neutral, Carbon Harmony projects result in a net reduction in the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.

Carbon Harmony is taking action against climate change so that an event, vehicle, business or project actually has a reducing effect on the amount of carbon dioxide in the environment. We know that there is already too much CO2 in the atmosphere. It isn't enough to just put out less. We need to REDUCE the amount of CO2. That's what Carbon Harmony is about.

For every carbon harmony project, calculations are done to understand what the CO2 emmisions impact would be. Then, a larger amount of carbon reductions credits are purchased to offset the impact of that project and to actually reduce the overall level of CO2 in the air. Harmony amounts start at 10% more than neutral and can go as high as you want.

The more people that get involved, the less CO2 there will be, and the closer we will be to solving the climate change problem.

Going above and beyond carbon-neutral is definitely a good thing! Unfortunately, the way the event was run would never have led me to believe that sustainability was a major focus of the event. The Gorge may be a beautiful location, but the venue's operations certainly don't promote green living. The overpriced campground was full of mowed grass instead of local plants or even trees, there was garbage everwhere, and aside from one recycling tent, I didn't see a single recycling collection container in the campground or the concert venue. I saw toilet paper being thrown into the wind over the concert just for fun. I waited in line for half an hour only to find out that there were no more veggie burgers, and the only other thing that was vegan on the menu was a $5 cup of fries. So, Sasquatch may have been talking the talk, but the venue certainly wasn't walking the walk.

The low level of eco-consciousness at the venue and in the campground, coupled with the steep ticket, food, and camping prices, was almost enough to make me wish we'd stayed home. Then, they shut down the main stage because of high winds. The Gorge is always windy (and just across the river was a beautiful ridge full of windmills to prove it), but apparently it was too windy for the stage to be safe. They rearranged the schedule a bit and thankfully the wind died down in the evening. But, since the schedule was rearranged, I had to choose between Micheal Franti and the Beastie Boys, and would have really liked to see both.

Despite my disappointments of how the concert was managed, Michael Franti and Spearhead put on a great show of postive, passionate, protest music and made the whole thing worthwhile. I gladly support musicians like Michael Franti and Spearhead that walk the walk (Franti plays for prisoners and soldiers in Iraq, raises awareness of important issues, traveled to the Middle East, and is vegan). Of course, the fact that our test run with the grease system on the "volksvegan" went off without a hitch was a huge bonus to my weekend as well!

I appreciate that popular concerts and events are doing their part to help combat global warming - that's certainly a trend I'd like to see continue. But when the concert experience seems antithetical to the carbon neutrality and eco-consciousness of the event, the green message is only hindered and it makes it all seem like a greenwashing marketing ploy.

Nice try, Sasquatch. It was fun and all, but you can't just slap a carbon-neutral sticker on an event and call it sustainable. Apparently the Sasquatch needs to evolve…

The Lazy Environmentalist

These innovators make it easy for us to integrate environmental awareness into our lives. They understand that while so many of us are concerned about the environment, we don't always have the time, energy, or inclination to do something about it.

I only wish this was written in a less-than-serious voice. In my mind, if you don't have the "time, energy, or inclination" to do something about the environment, than you can hardly classify yourself as an environmentalist. You are looking to alleviate guilt for your conspicuous consumption, a culture of consumption that is devastating our planet. It's exactly the "culture of convenience" that's waging all-out war on our resources. Consider this passage from the chapter on cars:

There really is something for everyone–even those who drive Hummers, the most colossal of all urban assault vehicles…By offsetting the carbon dioxide emissions spewing from your car's tailpipe, TerraPass offers Hummer drivers eco-salvation.

Eco-salvation for Hummer drivers? A little too, oh, oxymoronic, for my tastes. Lazy is definitely geared towards a more high-end clientele, despite it's mention of Wal-Mart as an organic clothing retailer (Yeah, I know what you are thinking…I can't trust them quite yet, either).

Stepping off of my soapbox, for those of us who do have time, energy, and inclination to do something to lighten our footprint still have to buy goods and services, and Lazy provides a well-laid, well-written plan to finding greener versions of those goods and services. If you have to spend money, you might as well spend it on more sustainable products, right?

There are 22 chapters focusing on different products and services, from home furnishing to energy providers to media outlets (what, no shout out for Green Options?) Each chapter begins with a narrative insight into what practices these eco-companies are establishing to go green, then lists several companies, along with their websites and a brief description of what their business does or produces. Reading about different design innovations companies are using was fascinating (BraveSpace's hollow bamboo tables, anyone?), and I'll definitely check out many of the websites listed. If I'm going to save the planet, though, I've got better things to do.

The Renewable Energy Handbook

$mart Power

Wiliam Kemp has written two books on renewable power and off-grid systems for homes, $mart Power (2004) and The Renewable Energy Handbook (2005). (Smart Power actually uses a dollar sign for the S in the title.) These two books are largely a first and second edition of the same text, with the second edition being expanded with several new chapters and additional information.

Both of Kemp’s books are comprehensive volumes. He addresses a range of alternate power generating options. There are chapters on photovoltaic (PV), wind, biomass, and micro hydro. More than just discussing the technical aspects of the generating systems, he also covers efficiency, interconection, “Heating and Cooling with Renewable Energy,” “Living with Renewable Energy,” and the other issues surrounding having a home with renewable systems. He also has a section about making biodiesel and another section about eco-pools (naturally-, rather than chemically-filtered swimming pool systems) and solar heated pools and hot tubs.

The Renewable Energy Handbook and $mart Power both go into some depth about renewable energy systems. Kemp shows all aspects of the various systems, dealing with hardware installation, electrical connection, and the range of what is necessary to install any of the systems he discusses. While I would not rely solely on these books for direction about installing a PV system or a wind turbine, it does provide a greater depth of information. A homeowner can get a better sense of the scope of work required for installing a renewable system, and have a better idea about what is involved, and whether or not it is something they want to take on.

The book is copiously illustrated with many black and white photographs. The systems are more clearly understood when there are pictures to show the components, which people may not be familiar with. And seeing how large a battery bank is, or seeing what an inverter panel looks like helps give some potential owners an idea of what they will need to deal with if they install these units in their own homes. There are also many diagrams and tables with useful information for an owner of a renewable energy system.

Kemp provides case studies in The Renewable Energy Handbook. Five homes where various combinations of renewable systems were installed are shown, including the author’s own 3,300 square foot home. Kemp is a Canadian, and at least three of the examples are located in Canada. Though the other two are not explicitly identified, I suspect that all five of them are in Canada. These are good examples to show that renewable energy systems need not be restricted to only choice locations. Renewable systems can be installed anywhere.

A considerable portion of the book is devoted to battery storage, as well as the chargers, inverters, and other components of a power system for a completely off-grid application. With contemporary inverters, grid-tied power systems only supply power when the grid is active. In most cases, grid-tied houses will use net-metering with the grid as the “backup battery.” That way, the issues of battery cost and maintenance can be avoided altogether. However, some kind of backup power (whether that be with batteries or with a backup generator) will be needed. The battery information may not be pertinent to everyone, but Kemp provides enough information for a potential owner to consider whether or not to choose a battery system.

Kemp is an electrical engineer, and he has lived in his own off-grid house for a number of years. He writes from his own experience in much of what he writes about, and many of the photographs illustrating different systems are taken in and around his own home. While he promotes efficiency, he repeatedly points out that a renewable lifestyle does not need to be a spartan one. There are choices and tradeoffs to be made, but the stereo, the big screen television, and the cappucino machine are not prohibited, they just need to be carefully considered and the best available selection needs to be chosen.

The only issue I would like to see these books address more thoroughly is the question of evaluating which systems are appropriate for a particular location. There are a lot of factors to be considered, and every system is not necessarily appropriate for every location. A chapter that discussed how to decide whether to install a wind turbine or photovoltaics would be a valuable addition to a very comprehensive book that packs in a lot of information.

I am going to lend my copy of The Renewable Energy Handbook to my in-laws. They are beginning to plan for building their retirement home, and they have discussed some ideas for renewable energy that they would like to incorporate there. They are very interested in wind power (since they will be building in a windy location close to the Lake Michigan shore). I’ve discussed some of these system with them, but I think this book will give them good information about the scope of what they will need to do if they build their house this way. And I would recommend the book to anyone else in similar circumstances, or who is thinking about adding a renewable energy system to their existing home.

Ever dreamed about quitting the nine-to-five routine, getting out of the city or suburbs, and moving to a little farm in the country to raise organic vegetables and chickens? Of course you have: most of us trying to live more sustainable lives while maintaining an otherwise conventional existence likely share some version of that dream. John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist's Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life gives a reader a first-hand account of their efforts to live that dream, and shares the knowledge and wisdom they've gained while building both a business and a family in central Wisconsin.

I expected a "how to" book when I first started reading. What I found, to my surprise and delight, was much more eclectic and fascinating. There's a wealth of practical information on renewable energy systems, strawbale building, food preservation and water conservation, but all of that is wrapped in the compelling story of how this couple transitioned from full-fledged yuppiehood to country living with a light footprint.

While not a traditional, straightforward narrative, all of the "how to" sections of the book connect with John and Lisa's personal journey and transformation. A reader will not only learn about different kinds of solar and wind power systems that can be integrated into a rural homestead (or other residences), but also how the couple went about choosing the equipment they now use, how they financed it, and even how new friends such as "Super" Bob, and Phil and Judy, played integral roles in helping these homesteading newbies make the right choices and install their systems. In the spirit of these helpful neighbors and friends, John and Lisa share ample lists of organizations, web sites and books that can help others wanting to build a more sustainable lifestyle. In many cases, there are personal connections here, too: the couple has worked with many of the non-profits and government agencies, met and spent time with authors, and used this information in their own effort.

The book's title might lead a reader to believe that Rural Renaissance concerns the "rebirth" of rural communities that have fallen into economic and cultural decline in recent decades. That's certainly a part of the book, but the renaissance described in its pages is much more varied, nuanced and complex. John and Lisa themselves are "reborn" as they transform the farm into Inn Serendipity, their home and "funky" bed and breakfast. They experience the birth of their child Liam, and the forging new friendships with rural neighbors from a variety of backgrounds. The share fellowship and community with other rural residents, b&b guests, and fellow devotees of "right livelihood." And they discover a way of life that's bursting with connection: to the land and environment, to the people around them, and to each other.

I got a chance to meet and chat with John and Lisa before we opened for business on the first day of the Chicago GreenFest. After reading their book, I hope our paths cross again. They're created a lifestyle that's both enviable and inspiring — I hope they'll continue to share their stories with those of us still dreaming…

For more information on John and Lisa's activities, visit the Rural Renaissance website.