The latest episode had Monica Horan, from Everybody Loves Raymond, and all of the green goodness she has added to her own house. It gave me some great ideas for my own little shanty…

Solar Roof Tile: I’m a big stickler for things being aesthetically pleasing, so when I saw that Monica Horan used Solar Roof Tiles instead of just plain ole ugly solar panels, I was very excited!

[from premierpower.com] The secret behind the sleek, streamlined design are interlocking solar tiles fit to the exact shape of your roof. This exclusive interlocking technique blends with the style and architecture of your home.

• The solar panel is a deep blue color that blends well with the brown and gray tiles of roofing.
• The solar panels are light; they weigh about 2.5 lbs per sqft.
• They are seamlessly constructed.
• These solar panels are very low maintenance and very durable.

Besides these things being much, much, much better looking, they can to cover all sides of your roof. That way they don’t have to move to find the sun like some traditional solar panels.

Solar Panel Patio Cover: Now you can turn that patio out in your backyard into a solar panel AND block the sun when you’re barbecuing. Now, granted, it’s not as pretty as the “hidden” roof panels, but it’s pretty multi-functional.

[from premierpower.com] Using the same panels we install on our solar roof mounted systems, Premier Power is able to create functional structure for your garden enjoyment. A solar design has many benefits:

• Offers shade for your garden patio.
• Produces up to 200-300 kwh of clean, green, and FREE electricity.
• Requires a small 250-450 square feet for installation.
• Looks great to everyone, even the Homeowner Associations!

You can even use this for small sheds/buildings throughout your land! Genius!

Now if I had my way, the entire roof and front porch would be covered in the Solar Roof Tiles and my back patio would be topped off with the Panel Patio Cover System. I know that they are expensive, and that’s what’s always stopped me from ever even thinking of using them for my real houses… well, that and the fact that I’m still renting.

But wait!  There’s a new solution for that, too!

The Citizenre Corporation RENTS solar panels!  This is the wave of the future!  Not everyone can afford solar panels (uh… that’d be me), but anyone can afford to rent them!  Are you as excited as I am??  Then check out how it works here.

*Photo from LivingwithEd.net.

So while I was digesting the very yummy Thanksgiving dinners, I caught my very first episode of Living with Ed.

And you know what?  I was immediatly hooked!

There is something so charming about Ed’s obsessive planet-saving and Rachelle’s complete exhaustion with her husband over said planet-saving. Plus I love that I’m picking up new Green Tips while laughing at their witty banter.

And now I’m a little obsessed with getting a white picket fence made from recycled milk jugs, too!

Catch a Living with Ed marathon on Planet Green on December 11th!  Or watch Seasons 1 & 2 on DVD…

Send them a very merry Eco Starter Kit from Eco Hatchery.

Get the tools you need for greening your home, conserving energy and water, and saving money - in one box. The Eco Starter Kit helps a typical US household cut utility bills by $260 per year and shrink its carbon footprint by 2.5 tons.

The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is equivalent to:

-Replacing a mid-sized car with a Prius Hybrid

-Eliminating 5,500 pounds of garbage from landfills

Not only do you get amazing ideas for earth friendly crafts and gifts, such as:

- The Fabric Garland

- Edible Bird Decorations

- A Flock of Festive Birds

But you also get a little lesson in what Christmas can do to the environment:

“Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are now widely recognized as the two most polluting days of the year:  the equivalent of three weeks of carbon dioxide emissions and three billion tons of extra garbage are generated worldwide over this short period.”

“If everything in the trash cash was recycled, it would save enough energy to fly Santa Claus in a plane around the world 64,500 times.”

So make your holidays not only merry and bright, but also organic and healthy, too.

When I first came across Commander’s Wild Side, by Ti Adelaide Martin & Tory McPhail, I immediately thought of my husband - the hunter. Just like any good ole Kentucky boy, he grew up hunting (and eating) deer, squirrel, and other little woodland creatures. I, however, grew up on Kroger steaks and frozen turkeys, thinking that all little woodland creatures were like Bambi and Thumper. So, of course, he’s been pushing me for years to give game meat a try. And I’ve always said no… and no…a nd NO! Quit Asking Me!!

But, as I have a tendency to do, I grow a little more adventurous when given “an assignment.” Need a particular nature shot? I’m more than happy to climb down that steep ledge and hang over sharp rocks 200 feet below. Give me a cookbook to review and I’ll try any deer, buffalo, or wild boar recipe that you throw at me. I know, I’m surprised, too.

However, I was also incredibly surprised at how completely appetizing and mouth-watering these recipes looked. Yes, you’ll have to get over that the animal you’re eating isn’t your typical cow or chicken, but it’s worth it, I promise.

Let me just say first that this was a big meal for me… I’d never eaten venison OR turnips… and I was pleasantly surprised by both. But before we talk about what I think, let’s get the opinion of the real expert.

As the authority on venison, my husband Drew said that this was the perfect intro meal for a non-game eater. Most people start with Deer Chili, and, while good, tends to overpower the taste of the venison. And compared to previous meals he’s made with deer, this one is a little fancy for your typical farm boy… but still ranks as one of the best he’s had. And that is saying something considering his previous meals come from little southern ladies that grew up cooking what their hunters brought home.

His favorite part of the meal, hands down, was the syrup. It was the perfect compliment to the venison - which, he assumes, is exactly what our chefs and authors, Ti Adelaide Martin & Tory McPhail, were going for. This red-wine based syrup, while probably pretty good on your typical steak, brought out all the flavors of the meat while taming down the game flavor.

Now, as a non-game eater myself, I was, as I mentioned before, a little hesitant to give this a try. But once it started cooking and filling up the house with the most amazing smell, I was hesitant no more. As the meat browned in the cast iron skillet - which, by the way, is the only way to cook game - and as I smashed up those turnips, I felt a warm and cozy feeling come over me.

This is comfort food.

The meat was tender and juicy dripping with red wine sauce as it made its way to my mouth. The turnips, while a little bitter since we had to use one large turnip instead of several baby ones, had the consistency of smashed potatoes and tasted just as good.

To say that I recommend this cookbook would be an understatement. The recipes are rich, succulent, and come from our land, sea, & air … appropriate for any household, whether you were raised with game meat or not.

I’m looking forward to the less “wild” Pepper Crusted Beef Sirloin with Crispy Oysters and Horseradish Cream tomorrow night. And if Drew had is way, we’d be cooking from this book every night until we ran out of recipes… and then we’d start all over again.

Blackened Venison Steaks with Bacon Mashed Turnips and Red Wine-Black Pepper Syrup

Serves 4

Bacon Mashed Turnips

2/3 c chopped bacon
1 c chopped onions
1lb. small turnips, chopped
3 c milk
2 T unsalted butter, at room temperature
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Red Wine-Black Pepper Syrup

1/2 c dry red wine
1/2 c Steen’s pure cane syrup
1/4 t freshly ground pepper
Four 8oz venison steaks, about 1/2 thick
4 t Creole seasoning
4 t vegetable oil

Prepare the bacon mashed turnips: Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring, until the fat is rendered and the bacon is just beginning to color, 4 minutes. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 4 minutes. Add the turnips and milk, bring to a simmer, and cook until the turnips are tender, about 45 minutes.

Drain the turnips in a colander set over a bowl; the milk can be saved if you like. Return the turnips to the pan and add the butter, salt, and pepper. Stir vigorously with a heavy wooden spoon until roughly mashed. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Prepare the red wine-black pepper syrup: Combine the wine and cane syrup in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer gently until reduced by two-thirds, about 18 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the pepper, and let cool to room temperature before serving.

Pat the venison steaks dry with kitchen towels (paper towels will stick to the meat). Sprinkle the Creole seasoning on both sides of the steaks. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until it is very hot and just smoking, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the oil, swirling to coat the bottom of the skillet. Add the steaks and sear until dark brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the steaks over, reduce the heat to medium, and sear for 3 to 4 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer the steaks to a platter and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Serve the steaks drizzled with the sauce, with the turnips alongside.

Need to get rid of carpet, but don’t have any idea
how to do it in an earth-friendly way? 

Visit Carpet America Recovery Effort!

Wonder what in the world they actually do with the carpet?

Old carpet is going into composite lumber (both decking and sheets), tile backer board, roofing shingles, railroad ties, automotive parts, carpet cushion, stepping stones, etc. For a detailed listing and color photos see our Market Development webpage and the CARE 2003 Annual Report. You can also download the document, “Reclamation Opportunities for Post-Consumer Waste Carpet,” which lists green products made from old carpet. Many of these products last far longer than those they replace and avoid the cutting down of trees or the use of chemicals as preservatives. You can help keep carpet out of landfills by requesting these products or specifying these products in your projects. Recovery of the energy content from old carpet, since it is made from crude oil as a raw material, is also an important outlet.

Still have questions? Check out their FAQs to find all you need to know…

*found via Hygge House

I’ve got baking soda and I’ve got vinegar. I’ve got natural brushes and natural buckets. My house is clean and doesn’t smell like chemicals. But what in the world do I do with all my old cleaners??

Yes, I have my Mrs. Meyers that I will continue to use until it is gone, but I’ve had three tubs of Lysol wipes sitting on my shelf for years. I’ve had Clorox toilet brush heads for, I kid you not, about 5 years. And don’t forget about those darn bleach tablets for the toilet tank? What do I do with it all??

What’s worse? Throwing them out before using or throwing them out after use? And if I do throw them out, how in the world do I dispose of them?

I need your help fellow Greenies! Give me your advice, and don’t hold back!

Besides the beautifully staged photographs, I was immediately pulled in by Christina’s heartfelt and passionate writing. After only the first page, I suddenly wanted to live a more simple, green, clutter- and chemical-free life.

I saw myself in a cotton apron cleaning the floor, a la Cinderella, with my metal bucket and heavy wood brush just scrubbing away the grime of the house. I saw clutter fly off the shelves (except all my books, of course) leaving bright and airy space in front of me. And I saw myself with a home that smelled of fresh air instead of “Fresh Air” by Glade.

I wanted this life for myself so badly that I started decluttering immediately… and the decluttering included my brain and its ideas of what a clean house should entail. And, because of that, I made improvements to two of the rules on my Green To Do Listl:

• Do not buy anymore paper towels. I usually buy a huge pack from Costco, but now I’m going to use the ones I have left, and then only use cloth napkins, hand towels, and cloth rags for what I would normally use a paper towel for.

• Try to only use completely natural products for cleaning. I’m either going to find products that are naturally green or use Christina’s recommended natural solutions of baking soda, vinegar, and lemon. While I’ve been using Mrs. Meyer’s products for awhile now, I’m realizing how many chemicals I still use outside of that… especially when it comes to cleaning the bathroom. Bleach is a regular participant when cleaning out our shower and toilets.

And speaking of using only natural products to clean with, I want to share some of my favorite hints that I’ve gotten from A Guide to Green Housekeeping so that you can start cleaning green TODAY!

Baking Soda:

Soak dishcloths and washcloths in a strong solution of baking soda and water to freshen them.

To reduce the amount of detergent powder used for each laundry load and to make it more effective, it’s a good idea to substitute baking soda for half the normal dose. (Detergent powder contains far fewer chemicals than liquid.)

Vinegar:

To freshen up the toilet and remove stains, spray vinegar around the bowl and brush clean.

To remove stale odors lurking in cookie tins or lunch boxes, dip a slice of fresh bread in vinegar and leave in the tin or box overnight.

In addition to green cleaning materials, A Guide to Green Housekeeping teaches us about :

• Saving Energy at home and in travel
• Composting
• Gardening
• A Healthy Pantry
• Herbs
• Green Gifts

So, needless to say, my next trip to Costco will not be to purchase large amounts of paper towels, but instead to pick up a couple dozen pounds of baking soda and bottles and bottles of vinegar.

But when does Going Green go too far? I think I’ve found my limit…

Stationary kits and journals made from Elephant Poo at Uncommon Goods. Yes, you read that correctly… ELEPHANT POO!

How in the world is this even possible, you ask?

The making of paper starts with the collection and processing of the dung pulp. Elephant dung is typically full of short to medium grained fibrous materials from the elephants diet which, when processed, makes excellent paper.

First, the naturally dried elephant dung is collected from elephant conservation parks and brought back to the paper-making factory.

Next, the elephant dung is pre-rinsed with water, leaving only the fibrous materials from the grasses, bamboo & fruits they’ve eaten.

The fibers are placed into a giant pot of boiling water to ensure the fibers are super clean. After this thorough cleaning, the desired color can be added.

Natural fibers from banana trees & pineapples are added to the dung mixture so the paper will be thicker and stronger.

Once this is all mixed together, the moist fibers are separated into small “cakes” or “wafers” of about 300-400 grams each.

The cakes are spread evenly over a mesh-bottomed tray measuring about 60cm by 90cm.

The tray is leaned up against a tree, angled toward the sun and allowed to dry naturally for a few hours.

Once dry, the sheet of paper is peeled from the mesh tray and you can start making the paper products.

-Courtesy of The Great Elephant Poo Poo Paper Company

Okay, okay… sounds reasonable enough, but if you want to find unusual earth-friendly gifts that do not involve elephant dung, check out Uncommon Goods’ other amazing products in their Recycled Collection.

Some of my personal favorites are the Recycled Fleece Smittens, Billboard Shower Curtain, Reclaimed Patchwood Stool, and the Recycled Skateboard Necklace. They all make great gifts, and Christmas isn’t as far away as you might think!

Trying to find a way to get your kids in on living your Green Life? Then stop on over at Idbids, where they take “iddy biddy steps to a greener world.”

When you take your own iddy biddy steps and purchase a Green Friend for your child (ages 3 & up), you will recieve:

• One 9” Idbid plush toy – Scout the cloud, Lola the flower or Waverly the bright blue water drop – lovingly handcrafted using 100% organic Egyptian cotton which has been colored with natural organic dyes – no two are alike, just like children!
• Organic cotton cinch sack for child to wear
• Storybook and Field Guide printed on recycled paper with eco-friendly inks
• Online reward program
• Kit packaging is made from recycled and eco-friendly materials and includes paper doll cutouts and a playland insert

My personal favorite is Waverly, the bright blue water drop.

He is a little dreamy, very sweet and loves a good laugh - just like me! But I also like him because he teaches us how to protect our water sources and keep them clean.

And once you and your child have read (and reread and reread and reread) your field guide and storybook, you can log online and get a Certificate of Completion!

Is there a better way for a child to get involved in saving Mother Earth than with a new green friend?