Hey, Mr. Green

Today's green book review is by Anna Hackman of Green-Talk , a blog she started while in the process of building her house using the greenest materials possible. It is about greening your home and garden, and topics include green building and living products, recycling tips, and a mix bag of green content based upon Anna's personal experiences. This post was originally posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2008.

Hey, Mr. Green is a cumulative assortment of green every day questions and answers posed to Bob Schildgen (aka “Mr Green”) for his column in the Sierra Magazine. The column was started in 2005 to provide useful answers to question posed by their confused or curious readers who wished to protect the environment in their daily lives.

When I received the book, I thought the questions would be based upon in depth, tree-hugging, environmental concerns given my perception of what Sierra Club is all about. I was pleasantly surprised since the topics were practical and right-on with everyone’s concerns. It was divided into five sections: “At Home” ( domestic details,) “Food for Thought” (eating and drinking better while spending less,) “Out and About” (fueling up and the great outdoors,) “The three Rs ( you know what this means, ) and “The Big Picture” (environmental politics, religion, and other interesting meal time topics.)

I am not normally a fast reader, but I read this book quite quickly. Due to the amount of questions and light hearted short answers by Schildgen, I was never bored. His writing style is easy going with the right mix of humor and authority.

What were some of my favorite parts of the book? It is funny, but the questions posed on the front of the book cover were some of my favorites: “Should I buy my beer in bottles or cans?” and “What’s the greenest oil company?” I guess the editor or Schildgen liked these questions too! Other parts that I enjoyed included the discussion about nuclear power plants and when to replace your appliances. He even included his salsa recipe that I am eager to try.

When I received the book, my intentions were to give this book away to one of Green Talk’s lucky readers. Since reading the book, I have changed my mind and decided to selfishly keep it for myself. Schildgen’s book is a great resource that I will refer to again and again. It contains a terrific topic index as well as the author’s resource notes for his answers.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who struggles with living a greener lifestyle. Schildgen’s common sense approach to every day environmental dilemmas can make that transition so much easier. The book can be pre-ordered at a special price of $11.25 here. Books will be shipped in mid-May.

Photo by permission of the Sierra Club

Related Book Reviews:

Green Chic: Saving in Earth in Style

Big Green Purse

Wake up and Smell the Planet

Cody's Books

To anyone who's from the San Francisco Bay Area, there's no need to introduce Cody's Books. This famous Berkeley independent bookstore has been around since 1956, when it was founded by Pat and Fred Cody as a small storefront, and even played a part in (The People's Republic of) Berkley's interesting political history in the 60's and 70's. In fact, Pat Cody wrote a book about it in Cody's Books: the Life and Times of a Berkeley Bookstore, which I heard is quite worth hunting down.

So today's announcement is that Eco-Libris finally plays a small part in the current chapter of Cody's history book. As of last week, our “One tree planted for this book” eco-friendly stickers are on sale for $1 at the book counter, and the Berkeley literati can now plant a tree for every book they buy at Cody's.

In a recent SF Gate article, journalist John King outlined Cody's somewhat iconic saga, which illustrates the exciting yet treacherous road of independent book retail these days. Pat and Fred Cody's little storefront endeavor grew over the decades to include two Berkeley stores, the flagship being a big storefront on Telegraph Avenue, and an additional third shop opened in downtown San Francisco in 2005.

However, the times being what they are, the Cody's of today is back to basics. After a recent move, the former chain is back to being a single store in Berkeley on Shattuck and Allston. That's good news to all book lovers in the area, because it hopefully means that this great resource is going to be available for yet another generation.

So definitely check out Cody's at their new location, when you are around. Meet an author, buy a book, and of course, plant a tree. For a complete list of upcoming event please check out their events calendar

Yours,

Eylon @ Eco-Libris

Plant a Tree for Every Book You Read!

Green Options - Minnesota Cooks Rock: New Book Showcases Tasty Local Fare

As part of Eco-Libris' ongoing content partnership with Green Options Media, we feature a post that was originally published by Lisa Kvirist on April 22nd on Eat. Drink. Better. Today's post is about a new book that is a love song for local food of Minnesota, and don't miss the recepie at the end!

We northern Midwesterners tend to be humble cooks. Too often we don't view our everyday fare as anything special. As a born and bred Midwestern gal, I sometimes fall in line with my peers and lust over hip California cuisine, Big Apple restaurant trends or Food Network designer chefs. The greens may seem greener over the border, which unfortunately results in us under-appreciating how good we have it in the land of cheese, wild rice and rhubarb.

But I'm forever reformed and now proudly flaunt my Midwest roots after bonding with The Minnesota Homegrown Cookbook: Local Food, Local Restaurants, Local Recipes. A new release from Renewing the Countryside, a Minnesota-based non-profit organization that champions the positive stories of rural revitalization, this photography rich book is a love song for local food. Through narrating the stories of 31 of Minnesota's chefs and restaurants, the Minnesota Homegrown Cookbook offers 100 recipes that celebrate locally grown, organic and sustainable cookery.

The passion these chefs - and the farmers they work with - sings throughout the pages of this book. I want to hang out with these people, share some Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler over a lingering pot of coffee. We're part of the same tribe, share the same love for fresh food and go nuts over the first greens of spring. There's no celebrity aura of cheekiness in these pages, just smiling faces next to fresh food prepared with real ingredients by people who love what they do.

"The chefs and growers featured in the Minnesota Homegrown Cookbook support local agriculture because its the right thing to do for both flavor and future generations, " explains Jan Joannides, founder and executive director of Renewing the Countryside and one of the visionaries behind this book. "They're not jumping on some hip, green marketing bandwagon. These are the principles and values by which they have always led their lives and businesses. We hope these stories, along with the delicious recipes, help inspire others to follow these Minnesota culinary leaders."

The leaders portrayed in the Minnesota Homegrown Cookbook may span the state geographically, yet they share common values that can serve as mantras in our own kitchens and approach to food:

• Don't be fanatical -- explore your options.

No one is suggesting you give up your morning coffee or daily chocolate fix and go hardcore local. But as lauded in the book's introduction, do "protest a little when someone tries to sell you an apple from New Zealand in October. French and California wines are great, but try one of the new Minnesota wines . . . this isn't about being fanatical but rather about using common sense - the sense that tells you when something tastes good and is good for you and your community."

• Embrace authentic specials

In our 24/7 world where we can eat just about anything anytime, too often we give up flavor and taste for bland, average food. In reality, the food chain runs on its own schedule, not ours. When foods are in season and available, relish and savor the experience. The owners of the Angry Trout Cafe in Grand Marais, Minnesota, dedicate the restaurant to sustainable operations, while showcasing local fish, produce and even microbrews. Fresh whitefish only comes from members of the Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe, the only commercial fishermen who can fish for whitefish in Lake Superior. "If you ever see fresh whitefish on the specials board, order it right away because it won't be there very long," owner George Wilkes advises.

• Share the local love

Passionate about food, these chefs want customers to cook with local ingredients in their own homes. If a customer likes a certain menu item, the restaurants can help direct them to finding their own local products. This happens all the time at Chez Jude, a restaurant also in Grand Marais. "Last week I made a pumpkin and apple soup that used maple syrup," writes chef Judi Barsness in the book. "I was able to tell people where to find the sugar pumpkins, Haralson apples and Caribou Cream maple syrup."

In celebration of spring fruits, here's a tasty treat that's a menu favorite at the Birchwood Cafe in Minneapolis, showcasing the flavors of local strawberries, rhubarb, cornmeal and butter:

Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler

Filling

3 pints strawberries, quartered

2 1/4 lb. rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 big pinch nutmeg

Toss fruit into cornstarch, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pout into 9x13-inch greased pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes, or until fruit is bubbly around the edges and juices are thickened and clear. Prepare topping while fruit is baking.

Topping

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup yellow ground cornmeal

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, cut into pieces

3/4 cup heavy cream

Combine dry ingredients. Add butter and cut in until the mixture has the consistency of coarse sand. Gradually add cream until dough pulls together. Break off pieces and spread evenly over fruit. Return to oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown.

Serves 8 - 10

Monday's green books series: Climate Change: What's Your Business Strategy?

Today on our Monday's green books series, we're talking business and covering a new book which is actually a memo to the CEO. Maybe one of the most important ones that should be put on their table.

Our book for today is:

Climate Change: What's Your Business Strategy?

Authors: Andrew J. Hoffman and John G. Woody

Andrew (Andy) Hoffman is the Holcim (US) Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan, a position that holds joint appointments at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business and the School of Natural Resources and Environment. Within this role, he also serves as associate director of the Frederick A. and Barbara M. Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise.

John Woody is a Deal Associate at MMA Renewable Ventures in San Francisco, where he works on the development and financing of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

Publisher: Harvard Business School Press

Publication day: May 1, 2008

What it is about (from the publisher's website): Believe or not - climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing the world today. Most of all, it is quickly becoming a crucial business issue. But how will you and your company respond? You need fast and reliable advice from the world's foremost experts. Climate Change delivers just that: four strategies from two MBA professors with broad and deep experience with environmental issues.

Written in a concise, actionable style, authors Andrew Hoffman and John Woody explain how to: measure your organization's carbon footprint; set a climate target that meets environmental needs--and your own; actively engage your operations in climate change initiatives; and help shape future regulations by gaining a seat at the policy development table. Climate Change gives you a first-hand look at how world-class thinkers would react to this pressing issue if they were in your shoes.

Why you should get it:
I like very much the authors' business approach to climate change (you can read more about it here - http://www.hbrgreen.org/2008/02/winners_and_losers_in_a_carbon.html). They see climate change as an important element in the business grid that CEOs and managements shouldn't and can't ignore not because they're green and care about the environment (which is a good thing, don't get me wrong here..), but because of strategic reasons.

Climate change is already they say and you can decide if it will become a risk to your business or an opportunity. It all the depends on the way you choose to respond to climate change and this book is meant to help managements to do the right thing.

These times are full with confusion of businesses that do not really know or sure how to digest global warming and other environmental issues. Many of them see processes such as assessing and reducing their carbon footprint as an expense that is a burden on the bottom line and really not that pressing. Hoffman and Woody show how this is exactly the opposite and how you should react if you want to become a winner and not a loser in the business world.

Some may not like the authors' point of view that the environmental language and the moral language should be taken out of the discussion, when it comes to businesses and only see it as solely business issues, but whether we like it or not, for many businesses - that's the only language they know.

This book is part of HBS Press' new Memo to the CEO series, and it definitely looks like a memo that CEOs should receive and urgently I would add (and not only for the sake of the environment, but for the sake of their businesses as the authors might add..).

One last thing - I liked the fact that there's an option to buy and download the book as a PDF file (it's a relatively short book - 'only' 97 pages).

If you're looking for other interesting green books, you are invited to check out our green books page on our website's green resources section.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!

Muhammad Yunus is launching his new book in Sweden

Muhammad Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, came to Sweden for a launch event of the Swedish edition of his new book 'Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism'.

As I mentioned here earlier, More than 5,000 trees will be planted with Eco-Libris in Malawi, Africa by our planting partner, RIPPLE Africa, on behalf of BookHouse Publishing to balance out this edition. Inside the book you can find our logo ('one tree planted for this book') with details on our vision and operations.

You can see below Prof. Yunus at the event that took place on April 19th and together with the Swedish Publisher Jan Lapidoth .

Foto: Mattias Gregor Ridung

Foto: Mattias Gregor Ridung





















If you want to learn more about Prof. Yunus' vision and work, you are welcome to watch an interview that was made with him on the Swedish TV4 (the video clip below is part 1. For part 2, you can click later on HERE)

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!

An interview with Jenn Savedge, the author of 'The Green Parent'

Three weeks ago I reviewed here the new book 'The Green Parent: A Kid-Friendly Guide to Earth-Friendly Living' by Jenn Savedge, which is also the first book to be published under the Kedzie Press' Million Tree-A-Thon initiative.

Since I'm going to become a parent myself in few weeks, I wanted to learn more about green parenting and the book. Luckily, Jenn Savedge agreed to answer my questions and I enjoyed learning how green parenting is so much cooler now than it used to be and how being a green parent actually helps you saving money.

How did you come up with the idea of writing a green guide for parents?

Before my daughters were born, I was living a pretty eco-friendly lifestyle. I have always been interested in taking care of the environment, and I had the time, money, and energy to devote to this interest. So I was kind of thrown for a loop after my children were born and I was thrown into a world of disposable, plastic, battery-operated, planet-trashing stuff. And on top of all that, I suddenly had no time, no energy, and a whole lot less money than I had before to devote to making sure I made the most environmentally responsible choices. I went to the bookstore looking for a book that would show me how to raise my kids without trashing the planet and how to get them involved in taking care of the environment. When I couldn't find it…I wrote it.

What was the most interesting part of the work on the book?

I thoroughly enjoyed researching and writing this book. This was exactly the information that I had been searching for, and I was thrilled to finally have it all together in one place and in a format that would be useful and accessible to other parents. My favorite aspect of the research was conducting interviews with green parents around the country. Bill McKibben, my long-time hero, was gracious enough to allow me to interview him, as were other green leaders such as Alan Durning, Timberly Whitfield, Leslie Garrett, and Colin Beavan. It was fascinating to talk with these folks and hear their anecdotes and advice from a green parent’s perspective.

If it makes so much sense to go green and be green parents, how come we don't see more green parents around? is it awareness, time, money or people just don't care enough?

I think there’s a misconception that green parenting is difficult to put into practice, and let’s face it, most parents are not really interested in adding extra work to their already busy schedules. The great news is that most parents I meet really want to go green; they just aren’t sure how to fit it in. So once they realize how simple it is, they are excited to get started.

What's the ability of parents to influence their children green attitudes, when the kids get different signals from their school, community, and other social circles that are probably still far behind?

The kids growing up today hear more about environmental issues, in their music, movies, and even in their video games, than any generation before them. And while not all kids are interested in going green, parents can help their own kids make eco-friendly choices by listening to their kids’ ideas and empowering them to protect their planet. In that sense, green living is not just something that children are being told to do; it is a pathway they are carving for themselves.

Have you noticed any change in green parenting in the last couple of years? are there any specific areas in particular?

Green parenting is so much cooler now than it used to be! When my first daughter was born, I could barely find any information about cloth diapering, and people thought I was a lunatic for wanting to make my own baby food. Now that information is everywhere as green parenting has hit the mainstream. I would say that organic foods and eco-friendly cleaning products have seen the biggest boom in sales because they address parents’ concerns about the health of their families and their planet.

How common is the myth that going green, and especially when it comes to children, is only for wealthy people? do you hope that your book will contribute to change that perception?

I think a lot of parents feel that if they can’t afford to put solar panels on their home or buy the latest model hybrid car, they shouldn’t bother going green. But the beauty of green parenting is that it essentially means using less stuff and being more particular about the stuff we do use. More often than not, that translates into spending less money. Green parenting can save parents a ton of cash on their energy, water, trash and shopping bills each month. And my hope is that parents who are on a budget will read The Green Parent and realize that going green is a very simple way to save money.

What's the most difficult practice to implement as a green parent? what's the easiest one?
That answer will be different for every parent. For instance, I have the hardest time remembering to turn off the water when I’m brushing my teeth. I was never taught to do that growing up and so it wasn’t until I was an adult that it even dawned on me how much water I was wasting. Now, even though it is an incredibly simple thing to do, I still forget sometimes because I am distracted or exhausted. So I have to leave myself a little note in the bathroom! What’s easy for one parent may be difficult for another…and vice versa.

I enjoyed very much the interviews in the book, many with known figures whom we know less about their green side as parents (at least I didn't..). Is there any story you've heard during these interviews that made a special impression on you?

Each of the green parents I interviewed for the book made a lasting impression on me and inspired me to be a deeper shade of green. But I think the story that inspired me the most was Alan Durning’s year of living “car-lessly” with his wife and three children. The level of commitment that his whole family showed to the project was outstanding and his honesty and optimism about his car-less way of life was both refreshing and encouraging.

What's the feedback you receive from your daughters on your personal efforts to practice green parenting?

My daughters are still young (they are 5 and 2 years old) so I am fortunate in that they are learning about going green and caring for the planet at a very young age. It’s great because they are very accustomed to things like recycling, turning off the lights, and walking instead of driving whenever possible. In fact, they remind me to do things like grab my cloth tote bag or fill up a reusable water bottle before I leave the house!

But in all honesty, they are still very normal little girls who love all things pink and sparkly and sometimes fawn over these types of products in the stores. Still, they listen when I tell them that these products are not good for them, nor are the good for the birds, bears, squirrels, and dolphins with whom we share the planet. They not always thrilled about it, but they know that if they can’t convince me it’s good for the environment, it’s not coming home with us!

The green world is changing very quickly with new developments coming every day - what would you recommend parents who read the book and would like to stay updated?

My website (www.thegreenparent.com) is a good start. The book gives parents all the information they need to go green and get their kids involved, and the website complements that by providing up-to-date news and information on green living. Another good way to stay informed about environmental issues is to keep track of what is going on in your locally community in regards to things like recycling, public transportation, and pollution.

Thank you, Jenn! The book is definitely recommended to all the parents out who wish to go green, or those who already taken steps in the green direction and want to learn more about green parenting.

Yours,

Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!

It's Arbor Day - Hip Hip Hooray!

Today is Arbor Day in the U.S. and we are very excited as this is the day of the trees. For us, who are involved in tree planting operations and in efforts to reduce the number of trees cut down for printing books, every day is about trees and sustainable reading, but when everyone joins to celebrate and honor the trees, even for one day, it really feels great!

So what's Arbor day anyway? It is the nation's oldest environmental holiday, a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. Founded by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska in 1872, National Arbor Day is celebrated each year on the last Friday in April (in the U.S., in other countries it is celebrated on different dates).

Many people, families, schools, communities and local organizations will celebrate the day in special events and in planting new trees, like RE-TREE WNY (Western New York), a group that was established to reforest the area following the heavy wet snows of October 2006 in Buffalo. RE-TREE WNY will plant today an oak tree in front of a West Side church in Buffalo. More information on events can be found on the Arbor Day Foundation website.

Many businesses and organizations are celebrating Arbor Day with special initiatives as well:

Washington Mutual announced yesterday that it will be making a donation to the The National Arbor Day Foundation to plant a tree in a national forest every customer who chooses to receive their account statements online rather than being mailed a paper statement.

Doubletree Hotels stats an educational initiative - 10,000 students in more than 150 communities will take part in a month-long initiative to raise awareness about the importance of trees through Doubletree Hotels' Teaching Kids to CARE environmental education program. This spring initiative, created in collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation is taking root in Nebraska, the home state where Arbor Day began. The Teaching Kids to CARE spring initiative will help educate 10,000 elementary school students across the U.S. and Canada during the months of April and May about the important role trees play in our everyday lives and the many benefits they provide.

MillionTreesNYC, a public-private partnership between the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and New York Restoration Project to plant and care for one million new trees in New York City by 2017 announced today on Toyota as a new supporter in its mission to improve New York City's environment. Yahoo! News reports that Toyota has signed a three-year $1.4 million sponsorship with MillionTreesNYC that will support tree planting, public education and community outreach activities - all aimed at getting every New Yorker involved in tree planting and stewardship activities.

The Nature Conservancy launched the “Plant a Billion Trees Campaign” at www.plantabillion.org to restore and plant one billion trees by 2015 in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, one of the greatest repositories of biodiversity on Earth. It is sponsored by few companies, including Sponsored Planet Green and Penguin classics. On the campaign’s website, visitors can learn more about the project, explore the Atlantic Forest through an interactive map highlighting the people, plants and animals of this spectacular region, and of course plant a tree by donating to the campaign – one dollar for a tree.

Toyota has also something for Facebook users - the company partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to create a Facebook application called Tree Planter. According to Environmental Leader, users can send gift trees to their Facebook friends in a cost of $1 and for every gift that is sent, the Arbor Day Foundation plants a tree in one of eleven forests. Toyota is supporting the effort by purchasing $50,000 worth of trees, so the first 50,000 users can send one tree to a friend for free.

And of course, you are welcome to check out our website or go to one of the bookstores we work with, and plant a tree for every book you buy.

Whatever you choose to do in this beautiful day, have fun and remember that trees deserve to appreciated and conserved not only today, but each and every day.

Happy Arbor Day,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!

* Picture Courtesy of Sustainable Harvest international