Jet skis are harmful to the environment
You know jet skis are dangerous (and loud), but did you know that they leak as much as 30% of the fuel directly into the water? Ditch the machine in favor of a pedal boat or kayak and you’ll be doing the environment (and your waistline) a favor. ITbikes.com has several models (including a water bike!).
We have to remember and be reminded to be good stewards of our earth. We cannot continually follow our selfish pleasures and desires without experiencing consequences. The choices we make today to live a more sustainable life is not only good for today, it has a lasting impact on the future. Our children need to know we are protecting the earth and their future.
By making the decision to own a man powered boating vessel you have the opportunity to be aligned with nature without consuming, reducing or contaminating natural resources. What a great way for families to slow down and truly enjoy what nature has to offer.
Once you proudly own a man powered vessel. you need to visit Discovery Bay, CA where you have an opportunity to participate in the annual Paddle For Fame. It’s usually held in June at the end of the month.
According to the Delta Sun Times, Discovery Bay broke it’s own World Record Saturday, June 25th, 2011 for the largest raft-up of man-powered vessels. The unofficial count is 492, which beats last years record by more that 100 paddlers.The
Have you ever lit a soy wax candle from Tierra Verde Soy Candle Company?
Don’t you hate lighting a candle that doesn’t have any scent? Does it take away the ambiance or mood or make you feel like you are missing an integral part of the candle experience? Have you ever lit a soy wax candle? If you haven’t got any worthy candles to light, you should investigate the titillating soy wax candle scents created by Jeanette Maurer, Partner and Co-Founder of Tierra Verde Soy Candles
Tierra Verde Soy Candles was conceptualized in June 2010 by Jeanette and her brother Bill. The economy and favorable circumstances brought the two of them together in realizing a vision that they wanted to step away from corporate America and be different by creating a quality sustainable product that was useful and kind to the earth. Tierra Verde means “green earth.” The soy wax candles are produced locally outside Turlock in a 3,000 square foot “pour room” as creating soy wax candles is difficult without a controlled temperature.
A portion of Tierra Verde’s profits are donated to a non-profit horse rescue farm called “Heaven Can Wait” which is located outside San Luis Obispo. It is home to many retired race horses or horses that are injured or abused.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Jeanette at the San Francisco Green Festival in April 2011. I had to stop at her booth as my eyes feasted on the beautiful array of recycled alabaster glass. My nose enjoyed following the wafting scents as I inhaled the high quality aroma of each candle. I received an extra benefit from Jeanette as she educated me on the benefits of purchasing soy wax candles from Tierra Verde Soy Candle Company
Soy wax candles purchased from Tierra Verde Soy Candle Company are:
• produced from a natural and renewable resource.
• non-toxic and water soluble so it is easy to clean up.
• contained in stunning recycled alabaster glass
• clean burning candles that burn longer at a very touchable temperature
• eco friendly the lid is biodegradable with flower seeds that you can plant
• refillable so you can continue to use your favorite candle glass
Their candles are a versatile product that sells well in spas, salons, casinos and gift shops. They make affordable and memorable gifts. You can catch Jeannette at various spa shows or order on-line. If you can’t wait to try them you can purchase them at the following local Bay Area locations:
Artistic Edge (925) 454-0369
21 S Livermore Ave
Livermore, CA 94550
Charlottes Web
2160 Railroad Ave
Livermore, CA 94550
http://www.ci.campbell.ca.us (408) 866-2119
51 North Central Avenue
Campbell, CA 95008
Frizelle Enos
265 Petaluma Ave
Sebastopol, CA
Skinsense (925) 283-7546
925 Village Center #1
Lafayette, CA 94549
Good Vibrations 530-258-GOOD (4663)
278 Main St.
Chester, Ca 96020
KURE Wellness Retreat 925 837-7600
145 E. Prospect Avenue Suite 202
Danville, CA 94526
Patio Fireplace 925.648.0293
3426 Camino Tassajara
Danville, CA 94506
Sonoma Home (707) 939-6900
497 1st Street West
Sonoma, CA 95476-6608
Trinidad Trading 707.677.0711
460 Main Street
Trinidad, CA 95570
University Art Annex Palo Alto (650) 328-3500
267 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
El Camino Hospital Gift Store (650) 940-7000
2500 Grant Road
Mountain View, CA 94040
The Gardens at Heather Farm Sustainable Gardening in Walnut Creek
If you are embracing the fresh spring breezes and are looking for an ongoing display of the beauty that spring bestows upon Contra Costa County, then it’s time to visit The Gardens at Heather Farms in Walnut Creek. 
The Gardens have received several accolades. First, the non-profit organization was established in 1972 as a volunteer educational facility with a focus on creating and maintaining a sustainable environment. Their primary mission is “to educate and inspire the community about sustainable gardening and stewardship practices that preserve and protect our environment.”
The Gardens at Heather Farm has a wide variety of environmental education field trips and classroom presentations that can be interweaved into grade school curriculum. The text book teachings are brought to life through interactive presentation and hands-on activities. To access youth programs, click here.
Adult gardening programs are also available. You can learn how to design your garden, how to attract pollinators to your yard and flower arranging. to access the calendar. Click Here
Second, they are a certified wildlife habitat. You have the opportunity to see many different species of wildlife such as river otters and many different waterfowl such as bufflehead and other birds like the white breasted nuthatches. Of the many garden settings one that is worthy of mentioning is the waterfall garden. If you look closely you will see Caddisfly larvae on the rocks bottom which is an important bio-indicator that the water is pollutant free, clean and fast flowing.
Third, they are a certified Contra Costa County Bay Area Green Business. They are associated with many other like minded individuals, and businesses that continually strive to protect, preserve and sustain our environment.
This purpose driven organization is mainly supported through many volunteers and various fundraisers. You can be a garden volunteer or an instructional docent.
Third, they are a certified Contra Costa Bay Area Green Business so they belong to a network of like minded individuals, groups and businesses that share a common goal of continually working towards protecting preserving and sustaining our environment.
The Gardens at Heather farm have over 20 different types of gardens for your viewing pleasure. Probably one of the most spectacular one to view is the Cowden Rose Garden featuring 1000 roses. You can even have a wedding in a gazebo right next to this garden.
The Gardens at Heather Farms are definitely a Contra Costa backroad you should keep plugged into your GPS as you will want to visit the gardens each time the seasons change to get the full scope of what this location offers.
Obtaining Transparency in Recycling Through Green Halo
What is the purpose of Green Halo? Green Halo Systems is a fully integrated web based management system that provides the necessary tools for contractors, recyclers and other businesses to transparently comply with local, state and federal recycling guidelines.
This online line software resource allows you to track, report and follow projects in real time with precision and accountability. The Green Halo project is taking a giant step forward in supporting the green movement and should play a very important role in meeting the newly enacted CAL Green guidelines.
Over time, Green Halo should be able to accurately predict how fast the momentum of the green movement will progress as builders join forces with like minded sustainable suppliers so the price of using the right materials will become more affordable. Building design techniques should take a giant leap ahead with the objective of designing with less waste. These trends should be easily visually documented in a short period of time.
As a big advocate of reusing and recycling I look forward to observing what creative and innovative ideas develop for repurposing the waste and recycled items that are introduced through this program.
Wouldn’t it be a great goal to eliminate the need for our landfills? By removing recyclable material from our landfills we can definitely slow down the rapid need for more landfill space. Our common goals should be to educate and train businesses and consumers how easy it is to change a few habits. Over time we can all collectively make a difference.
What did Uplifting Green Learn Since Earth Day Last Year?
My journey this past year into becoming a more responsible, sustainable and environmentally good steward of the earth and the resources has proven to me that I can change. Through my diligent writing, research and undying curiosity of needing to know the truth, I’ve made friends and have started developing a like-minded audience.
Let me preface my accomplishments this year by stating that when I made the proactive and conscience decision to live a “greener” life I was definitely “talking the talk” but did not know how to begin to “walk the walk.” Now I have the drive and ambition to peel another layer off the onion this next year and I hope to achieve more and pass my knowledge and experience along to whomever wants to listen.
So how did I start becoming an actively conscience steward of my environment?
First, I needed a broad view of what comprises of my worldy sustainable issues. For me, I realized I consume too much of everything. I use too many resources, I aimlessly throw away anything and everything not fully realizing the impact of my actions.
What did I do with this information?
Second, I asked lots of questions. I follow treehugger.com, planetgreen, mygreenpurse, I watch “Living with Ed” I read books two especially good ones were, No Impact Man by Colin Bevin
What did I learn?
Well, everyone has there own opinions, some more drastic then others but the end result is there are many people who want to change their ways and many people are changing their lifestyles, careers and attitudes based on wanting to live a more sustainable, responsible and eco friendly lifestyle.
What did I specifically do to change this past year?
1) I made friends and I started this blog, I’ve joined many green forums and green groups. I want to know as much as I can and I want to tell everyone about what businesses and services are doing it right.
2) I made a few personal changes. I try to carry a commuter cup into Starbucks and my friends always commetn on it but I do make a statement and an impression.
3) I started really recycling. I compost my food scraps and some of my lawn trimmings. My daughter is earning money from our recycling efforts too. My trash can is usually only half full by the end of the week.
4) I joined freecycle.org and instead of buying new things I try to reuse and repurpose. It’s really kinda fun.
5) I became a Contra Costa County Bay Area Green Certified Business. That was pretty exciting and it really got me motivated to make changes around the house. We know have all CFL lighting and I’m much more aware of my energy consumption. This is an area I want to work on for the next twelve months.
What do I want to accomplish for the next twelve months?
I want to write about all the businesses in my area that are doing it right. I want to share their ideas and visions so we can start making better purchasing decisions and spend our dollars more wisely. I realize there are many greener options than I’m aware of and if I was unaware of them how could you know about them? How are we going to start supporting the right people producing the best products and services that are sustainable, responsible and eco friendly?
Two Cool Concepts I read in Go Green, Live Rich
In my opinion, I think I found my #1 green resource book for this year. David Bach & Hillary Rosner.
“>Go Green, Live Rich is about 50 simple ways to save the earth. Although I am already familiar with many of the subjects they discussed such as driving an energy efficient car, changing my light bulbs and recycling I did find several new concepts that I hadn’t thought of and am looking forward to exploring this year.
Concept #1 - Green Investing
Investing green as a way to build your portfolio. Developing more of a conscience regarding where you invest your money is something I never really thought about. As I invested in my 401K, I innocently let everyone else decide where it was going to be invested. Now that I am older and wiser (haha) I want to change the world and one way to do that is to invest more responsibly, I want to reward and endorse companies that are producing sustainable products and services that are socially and environmentally responsible. How else are we going to make a change? These days change certainly isn’t coming quickly enough through our voting power.
A couple of places to begin your research is Morningstar.com. David Bach also has his own investment alerts at www.greengreen.com
Concept #2 - Take a Volunteer Vacation
In this current economy everyone is talking about taking “staycations.” In my opinion this is not a real vacation. A volunteer vacation is 
where you save money and have a terrific adventure by providing valuable manpower on a project that is helping the plant and all its inhabitants. Depending upon the type of project you choose, you can be a place with spectacular scenery with time to spare to enjoy it. In most cases by volunteering your food and lodging are included.
A couple of places to check out are the Sierra Club www.sierraclub.org and Habitat for Humanity ” www.habitat.org
As I stated before Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich Trying
“>Go Green, Live Rich discusses 50 simple ways to save the earth. I highly recommend this book if for no other reason than to tap into all the internet resources that are available.
Going Green, Burning Fat and Drinking Organic, Fair Trade Coffee from Boresha®
Okay my loyal fans, I really want you to give this a fair sip. If I told you I found a coffee that is 100% certified organic, as well as fair trade certified, and helps you burn fat would you be interested in hearing about it? I’m banking on the fact that you are reading this blog because you want to make better buying decisions this year and you want to burn off excess fat.
We’ve all been continually reading and watching the news and know that coffee beans are the #2 internationally traded commodity but not all coffee is treated equal nor are the people who work hard to cultivate, produce and deliver it to our doorsteps.
Boresha International roasts coffee in Concord, CA. Did you know that the United States does not grow any coffee except in Puerto Rico and Hawaii? The coffee beans purchased by Boresha arrive from the Ethiopian, Ugandon and Tanzania regions. These beans are grown on farms that are environmentally sustainable and boast of the following certifications.
(OCIA) - Organic Crop Improvement Association which is the oldest, largest and most trusted leaders in the organic certification industry 100% shade grown organic.
USDA Organic - The United States benchmark for standard agricultural practices. Operations must be certified by a state or private entity that has been accredited by the USDA.
Fair Trade Certified - The coffee was grown responsibly, the farmers received a fair price and no child labor was used.
So now you feel good about the coffee you are drinking, you are supporting the local Concord, CA economy and did I mention you can also burn fat at a rapid rate drinking Boresha’s B-Skinny coffee?® 
Boresha Coffee and Skinny Science joined forces and together have developed a patented fat-burning thermogenic coffee. BSkinny Coffee® received the first and only low glycemic coffee patent ever awarded. This low glycemic patent is for hunger control, balanced energy, and combats stress-related eating. Did you know that drinking coffee causes fat storage in humans? So technically you are getting the buzz you crave but you are stimulating fat storage at the same time. One of the key components of BSkinny coffee® is that is contains “Buffered Caffeine” instead of regular caffeine.
I am personally looking forward to trying Boresha Bskinny coffee® for myself if for nothing else than to know I’m purchasing and consuming a responsibly grown coffee that is being roasted in Contra Costa County. If I burn some fat in the process I’m certainly not going to complain.
If you click here, you can order a free sample, just pay for the shipping.
Buy Sustainable Carpet Made from Recycled Bottles and Corn Sugar?
February 6, 2010 by Diana
Filed under Do It Yourself, Our Blog
Yep, you heard it right here. I am amazed by what kinds of buying choices we can make these days when it comes to
Carpet
From a sustainable standpoint:
• Every 7 yards of SmartStrand carpet produced saves one gallon of gasoline unlike a 100% petroleum based polyester carpet.
• Mohawk uses over 3 billion recycled plastic bottles to manufacture carpet (Mohawk EverStrand carpet)
• The “Triexta” fiber has been placed into their own subclass by the Federal Trade Commission so this fiber is NOT associated or categorized as a “polyester or nylon” carpet.
• The manufacturing process generates on average around 63% less greenhouse gases and 30% less energy that a nylon manufactured product
What is so special about the quality of Trixeta Smartstrand Sorona Carpet?
• Kid friendly
• Allergy Free
• Bleach resistant
• Soft texture
• Virtually no static
• Durable and wears well.
Overall, most of the reviews I’ve read on the internet have been positive. Consumers purchasing Triexta Smartstrand Sorona carpet are making a strong green statement that says we all can make better decisions about what companies we support and that we do have the choice to purchase quality products that make a difference. I encourage you to look in your neighborhood and find a flooring company that carries this carpet and make your own decision.
Uplifting Green is a Certified Contra Costa County Green Business
After a few months of making a few minor changes around the house and developing a few new habits, I am proud to announce that Uplifting Green has joined the group of over 300 small to medium sized businesses in Contra Costa County whom are certified as a “Green Business.” Taking the time to understand what this certification represents and how much of an impact each and every one of us has on our local environment has been a humbling experience. It is my personal goal to heighten the awareness of what each of us can do to live a sustainable, eco friendly lifestyle by continually reducing our carbon footprint. The purpose of Uplifting Green is to bring cities, businesses and consumers together through continually providing information about events, green businesses, and the latest news and tips on the “Green Movement.” It is not enough these days to talk about going green it’s time to take action. Together we have the ability to change law, our buying habits, and we can even make good lifestyle changes that will protect our environment for future generations. I encourage those of you that read this blog to leave comments and ask questions. If you are a green certified business and need a fresh marketing angle, this is the place to be. Green businesses have a voice here. My goal is to write reviews, post green advertising, green classifieds and upload green videos. Let’s make a commitment to “uplift” businesses that are taking the initiative to make our world a better place to live.
If you are interested in obtaining the Contra Costa County Green Certification click here.
If you are interested in “Green Marketing” contact me directly: Diana Dobbie, Uplifting Green 925.513.7241
Which Shade of Green?
| July 18, 2009 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
Select the right products and projects for an energy-efficient and sustainable remodel.
| Where | McCutcheon Construction 1280 Sixth St. Berkeley, CA 94710 510-558-3906 |
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| Who | Organizer: McCutcheon Construction Cost: $15 for advanced registration or $20 at the door. Contact: Angelita Menchaca 510-558-3906 |
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| Description | Even the most basic remodel can include green features that make your home healthier, more comfortable, and energy efficient. In this workshop you’ll learn about heating and venting solutions that increase livability and decrease utility bills. You will also receive information about Home Performance Audits, which provide valuable data on how to optimize home-energy performance. The best green materials and products will be reviewed in detail; you’ll find out where to find them and how to make smart selections. To register or find out more about this seminar, visit www.mcbuild.com, email Avaw@mcbuild.com or call Ava at 510.558.3906. |
