Reality television has run the gamut from silly to downright trashy. Now, HGTV has its own reality television show all about minimizing our carbon footprint. Living With Ed is a reality show that follows actor, and longtime environmental activist, Ed Begley Jr. Begley and his wife, Rachelle battle it out as Ed tries to convince his wife to use less and give more to Mother Nature. Ed’s wife wants to minimize the waste and energy she uses, but Ed’s tactics border on eccentric and extreme. The show is an entertaining look at the lives of a famous couple and how they work (and fight) to make their home more “green.”

Ed Begley attempts to make his home completely environmentally friendly, which is a source of contention in the Begley marriage (every reality television show has to have drama). Begley’s home features many A.O. appliances, including a hybrid water heater, and an electric hot water pump. Watch Living With Ed on HGTV and learn about new ways to improve your home and lifestyle, and how these ways effect the lives of a celebrity couple.

Back to school supplies are expensive. If you have a child going back to school, you’ve probably received the dreaded laundry list of pens, markers, notebooks and tissues that your student must bring with them. These plastic and paper products waste money, and create an abundance of unnecessary waste. Save money and the environment with these practical earth-friendly back to school supplies.

Papermate makes recycled pencils that are inexpensive ($4.39 for 48 pencils) and made of 100% recycled materials. Even the lead is recycled! Skip the daily brown bag lunch, and send your child to school with a stylish, reusable lunchbox. These lunchboxes are typically pricier, but the rewards to the environment are priceless. Ecojot makes a variety of stylish notebooks made from 100% post-consumer materials, so your little student will be happy to tote around an eco-conscious notebook. There are also a variety of tissue companies that use at least a percentage of post consumer materials when manufacturing their tissues and cardboard boxes. Using supplies that are good for the Earth doesn’t have to be boring. These products create adorable back to school supplies your student will love to carry around this fall.

For the past 7 years or so, on August 27th, a huge hoax has been plaguing email victims by the thousands. This widely spread hoax is one where unsuspecting people on the internet are made to believe that every single August 27th, the red planet known as Mars will pass so close, that from earth, it will appear as if there is a second moon in the dark sky.

This widely spread hoax, which is typically spread via email, typically says that at 12:30 am anyone peering into the night sky should be able to see the red planet and the moon side by side. It is supposed that together they will be roughly the same size and right next to each other. It also says that Mars is only going to be thirty-four million miles away from our planet. This email is written in such good format that its almost impossible not to believe!

Nearly all of the astronomists say that if Mars actually did make an appearance, and was that close the human race would probably seize to exist. If any planet got that close to Earth it would greatly affect our orbit as well as our distance from the sun.

Gardening is a fun hobby.  It can be an environmentally friendly hobby as well.  It is important to think responsibly about what happens in the garden.

One of the first thoughts about environmentally friendly gardening should be the use of safe fertilizers and pesticides.  Fertilizers should be organic in origin.  Fertilizers should not be produced by big chemical companies.  That is not organic or environmentally correct.  Pesticides should be eliminated from the garden completely.  They are dangerous nerve toxins that harm the environment and the person who applies the pesticide.  They work only in the short term and cause major long term biological damage.

Another thought that should be considered when having an environmentally friendly garden is water usage.  Only 2% of all the water on our planet is fit for drinking.  This is not only due to pollution, but only due to all the oceans.  That salt water is not appropriate for plant life either.  Wise water usage is important to make sure there is enough drinking water for our communities.  Rain barrels are a great way to safe water for plants and conserve water for people to drink.

When I first heard this term I had no idea what it meant so first let me tell you what it is; green wiping is when certain products or services are said to be green for marketing services but there is little to back it up that says it really is a green product service. So now that you know what it is, let’s talk about what you can do to protect yourself from being bamboozled into thinking it is a green product.

The first is to ask the person why they believe this product or service is green and listen to them very carefully. A green product must be better for the environment, sustainable and good for the planet. One could argue that battery powered cars are not really green because even thought they are better for the air and can be considered sustainable with a low carbon source, the batteries are not good for the environment and there is no good way of disposing on them making them not so good for the earth. Now you have to decide if this product is “green enough”, or has been “green wiped” and make your decisions from there.

Don’t pretend that you don’t know what I am talking about. It has happened to almost everyone I know; you eat too much food all at one time on Thanksgiving and can barely move the rest of the day. You tell yourself that you are not going to do it again this year and you end up doing it anyway. Well, I have found a way to beat the bulge and feel great about it. I call it spooning.

It’s really quite simple, I get to have one spoon full of anything and everything I want and no more. What I find is a spoon full is about one serving and when you put one serving of the things you like on the plate, there is plenty of food, room for all of it, which used to be a large problem, and once you are done you are satisfied and full. The key is not to go back for seconds and thirds. Drinking water or tea will help you tackle going back to the trough for more and if you need some additional help; go into the bathroom, close the door and raise your shirt and take a real long look at your gut. That should do it!

As we start paying more and more attention to the planet, the animals we eat and how they get to our table as well as the way our actions have consequences in regard to pollution, water and health, there is also something else that is happening; a religion is being born. And just like in other religions throughout history there are those who have gone overboard in their zeal and are turning some people off, which is having a negative affect on some and it would be wise to rethink this attitude.

This is the time to educate, not push an agenda on anyone. That’s because there are more people than ever before looking into changing their lifestyle either for the sake of their health, the planet, to save energy or because they have found out about the cruelty to processed animals and don’t want to add to it any longer. This simply means that many people are coming to the same conclusion without any pushing, whining or guilt trips. With so much information flowing on the internet and documentaries being done for the betterment of our world, people are naturally listening to what is being said because they know deep inside their souls that nature is the best way for us all.

It does seem to be a little strange to be talking about post caps around the Christmas Holiday season but you would be amazed at how many decide to beautify their outdoor spaces and decks this time of year. Most do it for parties and entertainment purposes while others do it because they are going to have company and want to make a great impression. Since installing assorted post caps are very easy and quick compared to other things people could do, it does make since. You can also choose to get the solar caps or other lighted post caps that can really lend  a whole other element to the space as well as safety.

Another advantage to improving your décor with wooden fence post caps is the price. You would much rather spend your hard earned money on gifts and great holiday food items than a bunch of décor that will only be used once a year. These are great twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and fifty-two weeks out of the year. They will add beauty and fun to your outdoor areas that you can enjoy during the holidays and every season thereafter.

Isn’t it funny how once money is injected into an argument things change. Oh the facts don’t change; just the reasons. It seems while the science continues to show the many affects of greenhouse gases and that the world is, in fact, getting warmer, people in America have changed their minds and no longer feel global warming is a threat. And why not? After all, who wants to pay for changing the way we live; not us.

Oh we get up and yell about the deficit and how our children and their children will be paying for our missteps in regard to healthcare, jobs and generally taking care of each other but we don’t give it a second thought to those same children and grand children living in a world where they can no longer live because it’s too hot, the seas are rising and the ice is melting. All because we don’t have the money right now to take care of that so they’ll have to live with the consequences. Wow, as my son says, that makes a lot of since; not!

Everyone knows that in order for everything to come alive next year much has to die between now and next spring. In sounds like a bad thing but is, in fact, a wonderful thing that happens every year and we get rewarded for it each and every year as well. However, many people are quick to hire a gardener or landscaper in the spring and forget that it is just as important to have a skilled professional take care of your yard in the fall as it is in the spring and planting months.

Fall is a great time to get those compost piles turned and ready for winter by adding leaves and other natural debris to have rich and wonderful soil next year. There is a certain amount of green that should be added to the brown and your yard guys can take care of that for you. One of the things most people don’t think about is adding a hardscape such as a patio. The fall is the perfect time to add these types of outdoor living spaces and they will be ready to go at the first sign of spring.