Consult Before Greening to Ensure Right Direction

One of my favorite "downtime" tv shows is My House is Worth What?, hosted by former Apprentice winner and real estate professional Kendra Todd.

The show features homeowners throughout the country who call in a real estate professional to evaluate their home and tell them what it could sell for in the current market.

Last evening's show featured a couple from California who had spent $450,000 on "green" renovations to their home.

Needless to say, I was eager to see just what they had done for that amount of money.

Their real estate consultant had the "ecobroker" certification (same certification I am planning on obtaining next year) which qualifies her to recommend green renovations and upgrades.

Interestingly, it was what this couple didn't do that had an impact on their home and its "greenness".

They did use recycled roofing materials, and had Energy Star appliances.

However, the windows throughout the home were not energy efficient. They were not even double-paned. Windows are a huge expense when renovating a home, whether green or not, but they are a simple way of saving money and energy in a home. And it's something you definitely see a return on when you go to sell your home.

So one thing this couple didn't do was install, cost-effective, energy saving windows.

Another thing they didn't do was consult an ecobroker or other green consultant before spending money on renovations.

After the evaluation, it became clear that some of their money was misspent and did not do much in terms of really creating a healthy, money-saving green home environment.

Please visit my website at www.greenrecreations.com to see what services I can assist with.

Please Pass The Pumpkin!

Yesterday I posted about having a green Halloween and not using plastic pumpkins...and the real ones are so much more fun, aren't they?

But what to do with it after Halloween is over, besides relegate it to the compost heap?

Here's a fantastic pumpkin salad recipe from Heidi at 101 Cookbooks! Enjoy!
I am reprinting her photo here.

Roasted Pumpkin Salad Recipe

I know many people have an aversion to cilantro - feel free to leave it out. This will change the personality and flavor profile of the dressing, but it will still taste delicious.

3 cups of pumpkin (or other winter squash), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
extra-virgin olive oi
fine grain sea salt

12 tiny red onions or shallots, peeled (OR 3 medium red onions peeled and quartered)
2 cups cooked wild rice*

1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons warm water
1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 375.
Toss the pumpkin in a generous splash of olive oil along with a couple pinches of salt, and turn out onto a baking sheet. At the same time, toss the onions with a bit of olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and turn out onto a separate baking sheet. Roast both for about 45 minutes, or until squash is brown and caramelized. The same goes for the onions, they should be deeply colored, caramelized, and soft throughout by the time they are done roasting. You'll need to flip both the squash and onion pieces once or twice along the way - so it's not just one side that is browning.

In the meantime, make the dressing. With a hand blender or food processor puree the sunflower seeds, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and honey until creamy. You may need to add a few tablespoons of warm water to thin the dressing a bit. Sit in the cilantro, saving just a bit to garnish the final plate later. Taste and adjust seasonings (or flavors) to your liking - I usually need to add a touch more salt with this dressing.

In a large bowl, toss the wild rice with a large dollop of the dressing. Add the onions, gently toss just once or twice. Turn the rice and onions out onto a platter and top with the roasted squash (I'll very gently toss with my hands here to disperse the pumpkin a bit). Finish with another drizzle of dressing and any remaining chopped cilantro.

Serves 4.

* To cook wild rice: Rinse 1 1/2 cups wild rice. In a medium sauce pan bring the rice and 4 1/2 cups salted water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Cook for 40 minutes or until rice is tender and splitting open, stirring occasionally. You'll have enough for this recipe and some leftover.

Have a Green Halloween!

One of my favorite childhood memories is of Halloween. I loved making my own costumes (my favorite was being a gypsy because I got to layer on lots of beads and bracelets that my father brought me from Mardi Gras, plus put on a little makeup!).

I gathered my loot in a paper grocery sack or pillow case, then at the end of the night dumped it all on the living room rug to sort through my treasures. I was very excited if I got Hershey miniatures, and not so excited if I got the black and orange wax-paper wrapped peanut butter kisses :(

My highest prized treats, though, were either homemade popcorn balls, or a big juicy red apple!

As an adult, I love passing out candy to the kids...I even dressed up, too. But with more Halloween festivities taking place at churches and school, and even malls, I haven't had any trick or treaters in years :(

Halloween sure has changed since the 60s. Wal-Mart and other stores are filled with ready-made costumes, even for infants. And all the plastic pumpkins! Geez...not to mention plastic bats, crows, witches, scarecrows, spiders and more.

If you're like me and longing for a simpler--and greener--Halloween, Woman's World magazine offers some great tips:

1. Free costumes!!! Make your own from stuff you already have around the house, or host a costme swap party where you bring your kids' old costumes and trade them for costumes that are new to you!

2. Pass on the plastic pumpkins...Woman's World says the hottest green trend this Halloween are eco-freindly canvas bags and pillowcases for hauling home the loot.

3. Got leftover empty cookie wrappers from all those school and church Halloween parties? Sign up at terracycle.net, send in the wrappers for free, and receive up to 5 cents in donated funds for your favorite school or charity. The empty wrappers get turned into tote bags, bulletin boards, and even plant food.

4. Buy candy in bulk to save on packaging.

One tip WW didn't add was to carve a real pumpkin, and then add the "innards" to your compost pile. Hmmm...I bet if you saved those seeds, next year you could have a backyard pumpkin patch of your own.

So...have a safe, green Halloween and send any extra Hershey miniatures my way!

Horse and Buggy pictures from pennsylvania photos on webshots

Horse and Buggy pictures from pennsylvania photos on webshots

One Person's Future Is Another's Past

I belong to an email group in the Nashville area that is titled "ecology". I joined the group because I wanted to meet other people who are also interested in the environment. (The group has monthly, in-person meetings, but unfortunately they are usually in some far-away destination like Lewisburg or Humphreys County. The one time there was a meeting close to us, were were out of town).

Anyway, as I read the email posts, I find I am not quite in harmony with these good folks as to what constitutes living in harmony with our environment.

For example, a recent thread contained lots of information about "How To Get Ready for the Future". I guess this is in light of recent economic events.

I expected to see the usual stuff about reducing energy usage and so forth.

And while I do agree that we are sometimes too interdependent on each other for goods and services, I was very amazed to see the following information posted on the group. Some suggestions are good, like growing protein crops, making cheese, and raising chickens, while others are downright weird, imo.

Here's the downlow:

growing protein/carb rich crops like sweet potatoes, white potatoes, beans, and grains

caring for dairy animals and making cheese and yogurt

raising chickens/other livestock/hunting wild game and knowing how to dress and preserve it

knowing how to care for, ride, and drive horses, and how to make tack for them

knowing how to use simple tools to work wood and metal into everyday useful items like hoes, hair and toothbrushes, buckets, bicycle parts (good luck on handmade bike chains!)

knowing how to make/fix acoustic musical instruments, including how to make guitar and violin strings from gut

knowing how to make shoes and buttons

knowing how to make matches, or bowdrill skills to make fire

knowledge of medicinal plants, how to grow/make/apply them, including that basic preventive medicine, SOAP--not gourmet soap but simple, everyday soap

skin stitching and bonesetting skills

making/mending clothing--how to darn/knit/make socks (there are enough clothes around right now to last us a decade or so, but sooner or later we're going to need something new to stay warm/keep the sun off our asses)

knowing how to build a house in the old-fashioned, pre-stick framing ways, including hewing timbers and cutting planks by hand, making and sharpening saws, chisels, and files/whetstones, chimney construction, how to make your own mortar, thatch/wood shingle roofs that reliably shed water

how to make writing implements and paper---as with soap, not gourmet paper but something that will work for daily use--as our old clothes start to wear out, i guess they will come in handy for this!

improvising fixes for solar electric systems from old car parts

I guess the main ones I think are weird are, making writing instruments and paper, "as our old clothes start to wear out"!!! yikes; handling horses, ok, that's find but making tack???? I don't plan on riding horses anywhere for transportation, especially not to a meeting of this group in Lewisburg, and finally...making shoes???? Get real! I am not a woman who accumulates vast amounts of shoes, and Jimmy Choos are something I only know of from Sex and the City, but come on...making our own shoes??

This is one person's vision of the future, but imo, it looks too much like a vision of the past.


What are your thoughts?

My Vegetarian Adventure

It's been nearly three weeks since I embarked on my vegetarian eating adventure, and I feel great!

What's more, I've lost nearly 6 lbs with basically no effort, I have more energy, I have not had one single low blood sugar attack that has plagued me since childhood, AND I enjoy meal planning, shopping, and preparations--tasks I previously disliked and moaned and groaned about.

I'm also grateful that Steven got on board with vegetarian eating. He still eats meat, however, just not at home.

Vegetarianism is something I've been thinking about since I graduated from college in 1979. Back then, there weren't too many options, especially in the south. I remember going to a health food store and buying Brewer's yeast (ugh) and some wheat germ, and maybe some yogurt. Other than that, I wasn't exactly sure what to eat.

The only vegetables I remember having growing up were southern-cooked greens, lima beans, and green beans, candied sweet potatoes, occasionally corn (creamed southern style), and frozen spinach.

That's it...seriously. So I knew virtually nothing about vegetables, much less cooking them. (I did not inherit the southern cooking gene from my grandmother!)

Basically, I gave up vegetarian eating in 1979 but thought about it a lot over the years. As I grew older, meat became less palatable to me, less easy to digest, and I became concerned over animal cruelty and the effects of the meat industry on the environment.

Two years ago I went to a nutritionist and told her I wanted to become a vegetarian. After sending me to St. Thomas Hospital for testing, she told me I needed more protein in my system and advised me to eat more meat.

So I listened to her instead of myself. My health worsened instead of getting better, and I gained aobut 25 lbs. I grew more and more frustrated over cooking meat, too. I just didn't know what to cook, and grew tired of feeling ill every evening after I ate dinner.

So what exactly have I been eating?


Lots of yummy dishes from Vegetarian Times magazine and a few vegetarian cook books I've acquired.

One night we had refried bean tacos with lettuce, tomato, avacado, black olives, and plain yogurt instead of sour cream. They tasted so fresh and delicious!

I've fixed lots of bean dishes, and some wonderful homemade tomato-based vegetable soups.

Tonight we're having fettucine with sauteed yellow and zucchini squash with Asiago cheese, and a corn frittata.

For breakfast I usually eat oatmeal with peanut butter or sometimes boiled eggs and Ezekiel bread. Lunch is often egg salad, or Morningstar veggie burgers. Last week we tried their fake fried chicken patties on a bun and they were so good! It tasted better than real chicken to me, and Steven liked it, too.

I'll be posting some of my favorite recipes in the coming weeks, so be on the lookout!

Photo courtesy of Vegetarian Times e-newsletter. Curried sweet potatoes with spinach and chickpeas...can't wait to try it!

Give The Green Guy a Break

Well, former Vice President Al Gore has taken another beating in the environment vs. wealth battle, according to an article in this morning's Tennessean.

This guy gets whacked at every turn for being wealthy and an environmentalist! Except, thankfully, by the Nobel Prize Committee...at least they have some sense.

This time, the flack is over Gore's new houseboat, the Bio-Solar One, which is docked at Center Hill Lake where the Gores have been vacationing for years..

Does anyone want to give Gore props for greening up his house boat with 36 solar panels and biodiesel fuel (according to the dealer who sold it to Gore, it's the "greenest" houseboat he's ever seen"), much less for vacationing close to home?

Heck, no! The whankers are whanking again about this good man who I believe is honest, sincere, smart, and knows what's he's talking about.

If you don't think so, think about how backlash from Hurricane Ike, which hit the Texas coast Saturday morning, flooded Chicago this weekend!

Anyway, Gore previously has taken a lot of flack for his extensive air travel, having three homes, and for his big ole 1920s mansion in Belle Meade...which by the way, has been greened up. That thing must have been a ginormous energy hog before Eco-Build TN came in and reinsulated with foam, installed a geothermal heating system, a tankless water heater, and more.

Today's newspaper article also mentioned that Gore been the subject of criticism since way back when he was in the House of Representatives.

Seems that, in order to not be wasteful and extravagant, he wore the same blue suit all the time. His assistant kept a needed and blue thread in the office to patch tears in it, but everyone made fun of him for not being wasteful and extravagant when it came to clothing!

Finally, a supporter wrote Gore and suggested he go to a tailor to have his pants cut to the appropriate length. That did it!

Gore hired an image consultant to help him upgrade his wardrobe and guess what! He was criticized for that, too.

Normally I don't rant and rave in this blog, but I have been an Al Gore fan from way back (even when he was criticized for being too stiff and formal...by my own mother, among others).

I have even heard him critized on the Planet Green tv show, Supper Club, for pete's sake!

Give the guy a break...after all, it's not like he shoots wolves and bears in Alaska from airplanes!

Photo of Al Gore's houseboat courtesy of The Tennessean.

Green Living Tour At Home Show This Weekend

This Friday, I'll be at the Nashville Home Decorating and Remodeling Show enjoying all it has to offer...including the Better Homes and Gardens Living Green Tour.

According to an ad in the paper this morning, the exhibit will include a complete green home! (see photo above)

If you can't make it in person, you can experience the tour virtually here: http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/living-green-tour/

What am I most looking forward to?

Everything! Especially the free product samples!

Hope to see you there...

One of my favorite childhood memories revolves around my mother's cosmetics.

She began using Merle Norman brand in the 1940s and still uses it to this day...and she has a beautiful, glowing, wrinkle-free complexion...but I think that has more to do with genetics than Merle Norman, as my maternal grandmother's complexion was the same and she never used cosmetics of any type!

So...Merle Norman. There was the fire-engine red Super Lube with the texture of vaseline; cool, creamy Aqua Lube; pale pink cold cream with a feel of mineral oil, and the hot pink Miracol, which was a sort of mask. All of these products had soft, pleasant frangrances that I still to this day equite with a mother's loving touch.

When I was 16, my mother took me to the Merle Norman store to get my own cosmetics. I could hardly wait to try the hot pink Miracol...when it dried it got really tight on my face, and burned. Supposedly that meant it was cleansing out all the "gunk".

As it turns out, I was allergic to Merle Norman products even though the saleswoman assured me that they were "hypoallergenic". So I went another route, buying Clinique, Elizabeth Arden, Origins, Estee Lauder, and various drugstore brands over the years.

Now I am ready to go still in another direction, which involves some backtracking. As I read Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano (www.gorgeouslygreen.com), as well as other articles about "traditional" cosmetics, I realize that most of them contain lots and lots of handful ingredients that are absorbed into out skin.

These ingredients are too numerous to mention here; GG does a great job of laying it all out so I'll leave it to Sophie.

Reading her book definitely makes me motivated to change, and again, Sophie provides a wonderful list of natural cosmetics that are good for us and good for the environment.

I also want to get back to the more natural beauty treatments I used as a teenager and young adult, many of which I learned from my mother--that's where the backtracking comes in. And the simplicity, and cost-effectiveness.

One was cleansing one's face with a cold cucumber slice...mmmm...makes your skin feel so refreshed, summer or winter. Another was steaming my face with a towel and hot water, and still another was a mask made of oatmeal and banana that I used quite a bit while I was in college.

Here are some other tips from Natural Home magazine, including how to do the steam facial. I think I'll go try that now!

Nail Nourisher
Break out the olive oil, friends. This rich oil is loaded with moisturizing and skin soothing properties.

Fill a shot glass half full with olive oil. Dip a cotton ball or cotton swab into the olive oil and smooth it onto your cuticles and nailbeds (don't forget your toes!). This will soften your cuticles and prevent them from getting hangnail-ish or irritated.

Use a wash cloth and gently push back your cuticles, but do not cut them with a cuticle trimmer! Your cuticles are there to protect you from bacteria, and removing them heightens germs' chances of getting into your system.

If you have any olive oil remaining, keep it to use on the ends of your hair to soften and seal split ends (just make sure to rinse throroughly with cold water!).

Mini Facial
All you need is a mixing bowl, hot water and a couple drops of your favorite essential oil to get a fresh, steam cleaning for your face.

Fill a large mixing bowl with hot water. Quickly add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil (I like tea tree) to the water. Grab a towel big enough to drape over your head and the bowl. Put your face (if you have long hair, pull it back into a ponytail and use a headband) over the bowl, about 2 inches away to avoid scalding, and drape the towel over your head to trap the heat. Relax, and breathe in the calming or invigorating scents of the hot oils. The steam helps open up pores, and the essential oils are comforting for your senses. Stay under for about 5-10 minutes, then come up for fresh air. Blot your skin with the towel, and enjoy your freshly steamed, flushed face! Remember, reuse the water in your garden.

Natural Hair Rinse
If you have product buildup in your hair, strip it clean of its commercial toxins with our favorite cleaning product: vinegar!

We've all hailed the cleaning powers of vinegar time and time again, but did you know it works wonders on your hair, too? There's no special recipe for this hair detox, so simply mix one part vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar) with one or two parts warm water. At the end of your shower, pour the mix over your hair. Done! You should notice instant shine and bounciness.

Still Time To Claim Some Energy Efficient Tax Credits

This article is reprinted from simplesteps.org.

The Clock is Ticking on Energy-Efficiency Tax Credits

If you made improvements to your home in 2007 to make it more energy efficient, you may be eligible for a tax credit. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 encouraged homeowners to invest in cleaner technology and energy efficiency by offering credits of up to $500 for qualified insulation, replacement windows and doors, water heaters, and certain high efficiency heating and cooling equipment. Tax credits, unlike tax deductions, are as good as a rebate -- they come straight out of Line 46, the taxes you owe.

But the home improvements tax credit expired at the end of 2007. Despite soaring energy costs and concerns about global warming, the Senate has failed to pass legislation to extend the incentives.

Efficiency tax credits help consumers and businesses reduce their energy consumption immediately, reduce high energy bills, and drive down energy prices. Who could argue with that? Proposed incentives would save consumers a total of at least $50 billion and would reduce U.S. carbon dioxide emissions by 67 million metric tons annually by 2020. Extending tax incentives for multiple years, rather than just two more years, will spur development of even better clean energy technologies.

If you want to create some clean energy of your own, there's still time to install a solar energy system this year and claim a tax credit in 2009. You can get back 30 percent of the cost of qualified solar water heating and photovoltaic systems, up to $2000, until the end of 2008. The credit applies to second homes too.

You may also be eligible for rebates or other incentives from your state when you make energy-related improvements to your home. For state-by-state details, see http://www.dsireusa.org/

Learn more about qualified products and credits on the Energy Star website. Check out IRS form 5695 to learn how to claim residential energy credits.

And if you've got a new hybrid parked in the driveway, don't forget to claim your tax credit. The alternative motor vehicle credit is available for certain hybrid, alternative fuel, and fuel cell vehicles purchased new in 2007 for business or personal use. Credits for purchasing a hybrid vary widely, depending on the fuel-efficiency of the vehicle and on whether the manufacturer has sold its 60,000th vehicle. Use Form 8910 if you purchased your vehicle for personal use and form 3800 if it was for business purposes.

Check with your accountant or the IRS website for full details on these tax credits.

It's Easy To Be Green

...if you use this simple checklist on retrofitting your home from the U.S. Green Building Council.

As a passionate gardener, my favorite is using native plants for landscaping. I am fortunate to live on 10 beautiful acres in Cheatham Co. In spring, summer, and fall, my landscape is dotted with native Tennessee wildflowers and herbs, but also has an overgrowth of privet which is not native to this area and thus has a tendency to take over.

Even if you live on a small patch of urban ground, you can still create beautiful landscapes with native flowers and grasses. Gardens of Babylon, located at the Nashville Farmer's Market on Rosa Parks Blvd., is a great source for native plants and also has landscapers and horticulturists on hand to help you design a serene, beautiful greenscape in your yard, whatever its size.

My home is surrounded by trees, which do make it much cooler in summer.

And I also like the tip about using "homemade" cleaning products such as vinegar (works great!) and low or no VOC paint.

Here's the link for the full list:
http://www.greenhomeguide.org/guide_for_green_renovation/green_retrofit_checklist.html

Want to Sell A Home Quickly? Green It!

Last year, Seattle became the second city/region in the nation (behind Portland, Ore.) to offer green building criteria on its Multiple Listing Service.

One year later, research shows that the Seattle area's green homes are selling 18 % faster than their non-green counterparts, and for 28 %-38 % higher value, according to a July 1, 2008 article on Business Wire.

Ben Kaufman, founder of GreenWorks Realty in Seattle, noted that the new data clearly shows that buyers want green and that green homes have more value.

Prior data was mostly based on specualation, according to Aaron Adelstein of Built Green in the Seattle area, while Marni Kahn of the Cascadian Region Building Council says that green home certification "acts as a 'nutrition label' giving homeowners third-party verification that they are making the right decisions for their family's health and the environment, while saving money on energy, water and transportation bills."

From my perspective as a real estate investor (as well as an agent) this is great news for investors who use rehabbing as an exit strategy.

I think in the past, some rehabbers have been hesitant to add green materials because of perceived additional costs, but this data shows that by renovating green you definitely have a competitive advantage as well as the opportunity to benefit a homeowner's qualify of life, both health-wise and financially.

This creates a beautiful circle of win/win that I think is fantastic!

Green Mortgages

I've recently had an investor inquire about green mortgages, so I've been doing a bit of research. The following article was reprinted from www.frontdoor.com.

What I found extremely interesting is that Jimmy Carter signed signed an executive order for the secondary mortgage companies to offer green incentives, but that few homebuyers took advantage of it until recently.

That was about 30 years ago!

(As a side note, that was the first presidential election I ever voted in).


I guess we did not learn much from the first energy crisis back in the 70s. I sure didn't, anyway.

I remember long lines at the gas pumps but it did not affect me as I did not have a car. I lived in Uptown New Orleans and I walked or took the streetcar or bus everywhere.
I was 21 years old, and it was a much simpler time in my life. I was not a big fan of the bus, but I really did enjoy walking and riding the streetcar...there were always a lot of crazy characters on the streetcar; plus the rhythm of it was relaxing, and I got to really enjoy looking at the details on the houses on St. Charles Avenue.

Well, enough reminiscing...here's the scoop on eco-financing.

The Lowdown on Eco-Friendly Financing

Get a green loan for energy-efficient updates

By FrontDoor.com | Published: 3/27/2008

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As the eco-friendly housing trend continues to grow, mortgage lenders are jumping on the green bandwagon. Many lenders are starting to offer bigger loans or discounts to buyers who choose to make energy-efficient improvements to their home.

The idea of an Energy Efficient Mortgage is not new. In 1979, Jimmy Carter signed an executive order that directed the secondary mortgage companies, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to offer incentives to green buyers. But few buyers took advantage of the programs until the recent trends towards energy-efficiency.

The concept is simple: Homes that use less energy will have lower utility bills. The money saved can be counted as income, thus allowing the homebuyer to qualify for a bigger loan to increase his home's efficiency.

These loans don't cover any old green update; the updates need to lower the home's energy costs. That means environmentally friendly products like bamboo flooring and recycled glass tiles don't qualify. If in doubt, ask yourself: Will this update save on my energy bill? If not, it's probably not eligible.

To apply for an energy-efficient mortgage, you'll need to get a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) report to measure your home's efficiency. The evaluation rating is on a scale from 0 to 100. A "0" means the home uses an infinite amount of energy (not a good thing) and a "100" means it uses almost no energy (a great thing). The average home built to code minimum typically has a rating of about 80.

Once the inspector looks through the house and gives a rating, you'll get a list of suggested updates. You'll show your report to prospective lenders.

The Programs

The simplest energy-efficient programs offer discounts to buyers who are purchasing an eco-friendly home. Bank of America has a Green Mortgage Program which offers buyers a $1,000 credit or an interest rate deduction if their future home meets Energy Star requirements.

Other companies offer discounts for a green lifestyle. Bluegreen Financial, which is based in Orlando, Fla., gives discounts on its broker fee for buyers who buy Energy Star homes and appliances. The company also awards discounts if the buyer works at a green company, drives a biodiesel, electric or hybrid car, or has no vehicle at all. In addition, the company donates 5 percent of its profits to the Rainforest Alliance or the environmental charity of your choice.

The more complex programs offered by Fannie Mae and the Federal Housing Administration incorporate the cost of energy improvements into the cost of the loan. Find an FHA lender, to get started.

To qualify for the FHA's energy-efficient mortgage, the buyer must:

• Make a 3-percent down payment
• Spend more than 5 percent of the purchase price for energy-efficient improvements, not to exceed $8,000
• Make improvements that are cost-effective
• Determine the cost of the improvements and estimate of energy savings from a HERS report. The cost of the report can be financed into the loan

The Fannie Mae program has similar requirements, though the rules vary by lender. Once you're approved, your lender will put the money for the improvements in an escrow account. You'll have to pay for the improvements upfront, and you'll be reimbursed after an inspection verifies that the improvements were installed.

There are also several state programs that help homebuyers go green, so be sure to research your area's options.

Memphis Habitat Goes Green

Photo courtsey of the Memphis Chapter of Habitat for Humanity

The Memphis Chapter of Habitat for Humanity International recently announced that it will partner with Home Depot to build a 38-home green development in Memphis, according to an article in The Daily News.

Memphis was chosen as one of the pilot cities for a green building project, the result of collaboration between Home Depot and Habitat's international office.

I am excited about this for several reasons, the chief of course being that these Habitat homeowners will have energy-efficient, money-saving residences that also are better for their health. And that they opportunity to have green homes is being made available to those in lower-income brackets.

But also, because Memphis is my homwtown and I have volunteered (in the office; I'm not a hammer-weilder!) at the Memphis chapter on many occasions. I am happy that they are the recipient of this wonderful gift!

Nationwide, the Home Depot/Habitat collaboration makes $30 million available to build roughly 5,000 green Habitat homes in 30 areas, both rural and urban, in the coming years.

This funding is critical because, according to an HD spokesperson, building green can add several thousand dollars to the cost of building a home. And since Habitat affiliates are operating on limited budgets dependent on donations, a few thousand dollars per house could be otherwise prohibitive.

The products used will come from Home Depot's eco-friendly line of building products.

Five Gold Starts to Home Depot and Habitat for making sustainable, green building available to low-income homeowners.

Hello Green Home, I Love You!

Today, Steven and I visited with our buddies, John Price and Ryan Nichol, of Hello Green Home. (visit their website at www.hellogreenhome.com)

A lot of Baby Boomers gripe about Gen Y, or the Millenial Generation (born between 1980-2000) but not me...I think they're great!

And John and Ryan are two of the finest examples of Millenial smarts, entrepreneurship, hard work, and heart, that I've ever seen.

Their green home at 514 S 11th Street in East Nash is a tribute to beauty, efficiency, and greenness....and...it's back on the market. Their original buyer could not sell their home in Goodlettsville so...back up on the MLS it went a few weeks ago.

We love that house, so we've decided that if timing does not work out for us to buy it, we will have "the boys" as we call them, custom build us a green home in either East Nashville or 12 South so that we can walk to cool shops, coffee houses and antique stores. After living in a rural area since 1993, that would be a real treat!

My favorite thing about the house other than its energy efficiency, is its efficiency of space. The main living area has an open floor plan; the kitchen is not huge, but it is so well-thought out that when I stood in it I enormously good feelings about preparing meals there, and having friends and family over to visit while I cook.

Also on the main floor is space for a home office, with a bay window and octagonal shape. It's designed so that you can bring clients in and they won't even be able to see if you have a dirty dish in the sink!

Upstairs is a huge bonus room, and an amazing master suite. I love the river tile in the separate shower. And the balcony off of the bedroom!

Bamboo floors, solar tubes, foam insulation, moisture-preventing black plastic in the crawl space, Energy Star appliances, energy efficient windows...and more, more, more.

This home is unique in Nashville.

Nashville is at the tipping point of "green". Metro government is on board to make this the greenest city in the Southeast within the next few years.

John and Ryan are talking about doing green rehabs, the same idea Steven and I had.

It really comes down to educating people about the benefits of either rehabbing green or building green...financial savings, health issues, aesthetics, efficiency.

So what I plan to do over the next few weeks is put together a talk I can give at Rotary Clubs, or anywhere else that will have me speak, about all the advantages green living can offer.

Grow Nashville Potluck This Thursday

GROW Nashville and Metro Parks will host a Harvest Potluck to celebrate gardening in Nashville and the growing of local food from 6-8 p.m. July 31 at East Park Community Center at 700 Woodland in East Nashville.
Please bring a dish to share and enjoy fresh food with friends and neighbors while learning about community gardening in Nashville.

GROW Nashville will give guidance on starting a fall garden, talk about community gardening, and provide vegetable seeds to getyour own garden growing. This year’s event will include the viewing of a very special community gardening documentary by director Maria De Luca titled, “Green Streets”. To register for the Harvest Potluck or for more information call 352-6299.

Summer Beauty, Summer Bounty

I'm in love with this photo of Herb Salad that I found on the website, www.101cookbooks.com. This is why I love summer (just get rid of the humidity, please!)

Here's the recipe, if you'd like to try it...I plan to make it for dinner later this week.

Hopefully, I can eat local by making it over to the Nashville Farmer's Market or the East Nashville market at Turnip Truck later this week to pick up some fresh, Tennessee-grown veggies. The basil I already have growing in my garden!

The dressing really sounds delicious!

2 ears sweet corn, husked

1 big handful lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces

3 big handfuls green beans or haricots vert, blanched for 20 seconds in boiling salted water, cooled completely under cold water
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

1 bunch of chives, finely chopped

1 handful cilantro, loosely chopped

1 small handful of small/medium basil leaves

1 handful of pepitas, toasted
fine-grain sea salt

1 clove garlic, peeled

1/3 cup Greek yogurt1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 medium avocado
Cut each ear of corn in half and carefully cut kernels from cobs. Combine the corn, lettuce, green beans, red onion, herbs, and pepitas in a large bowl.
Now make the avocado dressing by sprinkling a big pinch of salt on the garlic clove. Chop and crush it into a paste. Place the garlic in a medium bowl along with the yogurt, lemon juice, and avocado. Puree with a hand blender. Taste, add salt one pinch at a time until properly seasoned. If you aren't dressing the salad immediately, cover with plastic, pressing into the top of the dressing to prevent browning.
Gently toss the ingredients with a couple big dollops of the avocado dressing. Taste, add a bit of salt and/or more dressing if needed.
Serves about 6-8.

Corporate and Green

Follow this link to read about Nissan's new eco-friendly HQ in Franklin:

It's great to have this trail-blazing company in Middle Tennessee...plans were also announced to partner with the State of Tennessee to produce a zero-emission vehicle.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080723/BUSINESS01/807230423/1906/GREEN

Save Bell's Bend!?

Save Bell's Bend...what exactly does that mean?

For non-Middle Tennesseans reading this, I wish I had more time to explain about Bell's Bend but I actually need to be in the shower right now, getting ready for meetings.

I did want to take a few minutes to share that my email inbox has been filled lately with messages about "evil rich people" and "greedy developers" who want to pave Paradise and put up a parking lot...and condos...and office buildings...and retail.

Normally I am not one to speak out, but I just had to respond yesterday when I got yet another inflammatory message about saving Bell's Bend. Whanking on people who have money is just not the way to go, IMO.

I am sharing my response because I received quite a few favorable replies from people who saw my response on list servs and thought it presented a balanced viewpoint. I was surprised at the support I received, to be honest. It was suggested to me that I need to present this perspective to the group fighting the development, led by Dave Cooley, former deputy governor of Tennessee. Not being one to follow politics, I had never heard of Dave Cooley--my apologies, Dave.

So I am trying to figure out how to best do that. Have I suddenly turned into Barbara Hunter, community advocate? If so, that's definitely a new role for me and it goes to show that you never know what a day will bring...

So here is what I wrote on the Nashville Green Drinks group:

Dear All, I wanted to put out a heart-felt response to the email re: survey on the Nashville Business Journal. First of all, when my boyfriend and I opened up The Tennesseean one morning last winter and read about the Bell's Bend development we were: a) excitedb) curious as to where Bell's Bend was While we are passionate nature lovers (and I am a gardener as well) both of us moved here a few years ago from very large metropolitan areas that focused on doing business at a global level and being "world-class cities". While we enjoy Nashville, we felt it was lacking in some areas...areas which we were used to having at our fingertips, namely being a "world-class city". This is just our perspective; what we were used to and grew up with. And we did not know a thing about Bell's Bend or even where it was until April when a friend took us over there to the park, and we drove in the surrounding area. We were in awe over the beauty and serenity, and do want to see it preserved. Now that I've seen it, if I had my way I'd want it to remain untouched. But... I hope there can be a compromise since it's unlikely that plans will be totally scrapped, since the land has already been purchased and this is America; the land was up for sale, someone had a vision and bought it to fulfill their vision. Perhaps these developers will "build green" both for offices and homes. It's coming anyway that new office construction will be required to be built green. I know from attending the Green Building Council Nashville chapter meetings that our Metro government is on board with everything green. Hopefully community gardens and greenscape can be incorporated. There are lots of ideas and possibilities to bring all points of view and all needs together. Has anyone talked to these developers? Maybe they would like input from people who want to grow green, grow gardens, and grow communities based on shared values. Let's work together on this issue, and honor everyone's perspective and vision for this city. I am in the real estate field and while I guess there are some "greedy" developers out there, the ones I've met do what they do because they are visionary and passionate; the money they make is a result of their thinking and acting big. In my experience, people who are greedy usually fail over the long run so if these developers are operating from greed then there's nothing to worry about anyway! I also am a freelance writer and have written many articles for the Nashville Business Journal; they are good folks there and IMO have always presented fair and honest reporting. It is a business publication so it's natural that that's who they will write for. NBJ serves an important need in the community, IMO. There are a lot of definitions of "green" out there; my personal definition is living an aware, awake life based on honor and respect for all life on this planet. I don't think there any bad guys or good guys here, or right or wrong--just an opportunity for people of differing perspectives to come together in unity to create something wonderful. Thanks for the air time~ Barb

Quote of the Day

"A happy life is just a string of happy moments.But most people don't allow the happy moment,because they're so busy trying to get a happy life."– Abraham-Hicks

A Summer Afternoon

This has nothing to do with green living per se...yet it kinda does.

It's Friday afternoon, and as I am somewhat caught up on chores and various other activities, I am going to spend the afternoon reading a perennial summer favorite, Carney's House Party by Maude Hart Lovelace.

Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy series is based on her own experiences growing up in a small town in Minnesota at the turn of the last century.

They were my favorite books in childhood, and still remain so.

Carney's House Party is set during the month of July, so it just seems appropriate!

If I hadn't gone into the office so much this week, I would not appreciate this stolen afternoon so much. Contrast is a wonderful tool.

It's Amazing...

Nature is so Fascinating!

I have two tomato plants so of course I have the dreaded tomato hornworms. I have picked off three so far this season.

Those guys can strip a tomato plan in no time flat!

My Tennessee tomatoes are faring much better than the plants I had in Mississippi.

When I was living in Mississippi, commuting 2 hours a day, and working fulltime, my tomatoes would be totally stripped of foliage by the time I got home from work. I never did get a good harvest.

Now I am home more often (although less these past 10 days because of starting real estate training at Keller Williams), so I can keep an eye on them.

I was curious about where tomato hornworms came from (ugly buggers! and they are the same color as the tomato plant so they're hard to spot).

They are actually catepillars of a six-winged hawk moth! Who Knew? I sure didn't and neither did my mother, who probably picked zillions of hornworms off tomato plants during her childhood on the farm.

One of the three I picked off this season had weird white things sticking out of it...they made it a lot easier to see. I was curious about that, too, and learned from the internet that the white things are the eggs of a type of wasp that kill the hornworms!

Even though I'm at home more, I am glad to have some help getting rid of the hornworms!

Thank you, wasps!

What Makes You Happy?

I just read an interesting article on Yahoo! News.

Basically, a new study shows that the world is getting happier.

Scientists previously thought that happiness remained static (how in the world could someone think that???? but they did...)

The happiest country is Denmark, while the most unhappy is Zimbabwe (civil war, dictatorship government).

The U.S. ranked 16th, and the reason shocked me...

It said it was due to Baby Boomers (my generation) generally being miserable.

The researchers attribute the rise in happiness to democratization, and increasing economic conditions in countries like China...

While "money doesn't buy happiness" it can buy more freedom and more choices and opportunities, which leads to greater happiness.

What I want to know is, what do Baby Boomers have to be so miserable about? Maybe selling out and taking corporate jobs. I know that made me unhappy...

As for my own happiness level, right now it's soaring and it shows on my face.

I just got home from Keller Williams Realty where I am transferring my real estate license, and Steve commented on how it showed in my smile, demeanor, sense of humor...everything.

It's a good choice. It's nice to be able to have freedom and choices.

And to up the happiness ante, Steve's daughter just left a msg while he was on the other line, saying she loves and misses us.

As usual, my cup runneth over!

Growing in the Right Direction

As my second month of blogging comes to a close, I am excited to look back and see how this blog project has evolved as the summer has unfolded.

During my first month, May, I mostly copied and pasted content from other green websites. I wasn't really sure in which direction I wanted to go, other than to heighten awareness about green living.

But during June, something started to click.

I began making more personalized posts, and adding photos...either taken by myself or grabbed from the internet.

I also began to formulate my own personal definition of green living, which is more broad than narrow...in a nutshell, green living for me is about more than reusable bags and denim insulation. it's about living consciously with love, sharing with others, being more joyful, getting back to soem of the values of our parents' and grandparents' generation without sacrificing some things I enjoy about 21st century life...

This blog also has rekindled my love affair with writing, which had waned after years and years of journalism and other type of writing jobs that sucked the life out of me!

As I blog, I am learning that it's not so much about being perfect (as I had to do in jobs)...it's about sharing.

So that means I'm going to have to step out of my comfort zone and develop more of a readership! Scary...but exciting!

Water, Water Everywhere!

One of my favorite childhood memories is of putting on my bathing suit and playing in the sprinkler.

The water coming through the hose, had a certain scent that I can't even begin to describe. It just smelled fresh, I guess...quite different from water coming from the tap inside even though it was the same water.

I liked to drink it from the hose because it had a fresh taste that matched the smell.

I also loved to play in the street gutters after a rain! If it was a heavy rain, water would be rushing and gushing down the gutter towards the storm drain.

I loved to put on boots or some other type of rubber shoe and splash and splash! If the weather was really hot, as it often was in Memphis in the summer, the water would heat up from the pavement. Or sometimes the water would feel cold, depending on the time of the year.

I enjoyed playing in the water no matter what the season.

I could take this opportunity to talk about stormwater runoff as an environmental issue...but I won't.

I'll just continue to savor those simple childhood memories.

Wormy Stuff!

Wow! I am fired up about composting with worms...it seems much easier than making a compost bin, etc. The worms do all the work! Of course I do have to supply them with some bedding...shredded newspaper.

Check out this link at wikihow.com on how to compost with worms. It may take me a few weeks to get everything together (ie, order the worms) but I hope to have a full report soon...

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Worm-Compost-System

What to do with cinnamon basil?

Every year I plant cinnamon basil in my herb garden because I love the scent...it's totally different from "regular" basil or even varieties like purple ruffles...

But I never know what to do with it, other than sniff it a lot!

So today I searched on the internet for recipes using cinnamon basil and found this:

I plan to give it a try soon...

Cinnamon Basil Cupcakes

1/4 cup fresh cinnamon basil

1/3 cup oil

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 cup sour cream or milk

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Puree cinnamon basil with oil in a blender. Combine with sugar and egg. Sift together flour and baking powder and add to oil mixture with remaining ingredients. Bake at 200C for 12 minutes.

Rags for Sale!

Until he was about 5 years old, Steven, his parents, his older sister, Kathy, and his younger sister, Carol, lived in a brick bungalow on Keating Street in Chicago.

One of Steven's vivid memories is of a man in a horse-drawn wagon coming down the back alleyway shouting in a creaky old voice, "Rags for sale! Rags for sale!" This was in the late '50s/early '60s.

I remember my grandmother speaking of the "rag man" as well.

Back in the day, everyone recycled! It was a way of life that was just natural and normal.

In an effort to reduce paper towel usage, I've been using more "rags". Instead of paper towels or paper napkins at meals, we've been using cotton dish towels. They get kind of yucky after a day or two, especially considering how much pizza we eat, but there is something satisfying about using them.

Since we needed more than the pitiful two or three I already had, yesterday when I was in Wal-Mart I purchased 12 of what are now called "bar towels" for $5.50. I was pleased with that bargain.

I used one this morning to clean all the kitchen counter and table surfaces with vinegar and water, then threw the whole lot into the washer along with the cotton kitchen rugs, place mats, and a few other items.

Then I hung them out to dry on the line!

The few minutes I spent outdoors hanging clothes was really special. Yes, it was hot...over 90. But it was so quiet! No traffic noise, no noise from the neighbors. Just one bird singing, and Bits and Bubs asleep on the porch, and my Mr. Stripey heirloom tomato quietly growing in his 5-gallon bucket.

I don't get much alone time, so I really enjoyed hanging out the wash.

And now, a few hours later, it's time to bring in the fresh-smelling "rags" and rugs. What wonders will I discover on this visit outside?

As a postscript to Steven's life on Keating, we revisited the old house last Christmas Day, and went back into the alleyway where the rag man used to drive past shouting, "Rags for sale! Rags for sale!".

Saturday at the Market

Going to the Franklin Farmer's Market is a treat we enjoy at least once a month. Franklin is far enough away from Ashland City to make it seem like a mini-vacation.

This week's market was nearly double in size from several weeks ago!

Some highlights: meeting a couple (about our age) who operate a personal chef/detox business in Cool Springs to assist people with detoxing and eating healthier. We plan to set up an appointment when we figure out our vacation plans.

Meeting the good folks of Peaceful Pastures, a new vendor. They offer organic beef, chicken, lamb, duck, pork, and goose, and have a CSA program.

Purchasing some yummy pattypan squash from Eaton's Creek Organics and making it into Creole Squash using their recipe. Basically, cut up the squash, boil it w. onion and bay leaf, drain and mash, add brown rice, Tabasco, and can of tomatoes (although all I had was tomato sauce and it worked fine) and some parsley or other fresh herbs.

Purchasing a ginormous bunch of kale and having my mother cook it--she's much better at it than I am.

Buying my mother some fantastic looking green beans that she had been wanting.

And finally...purchasing some gorgeous soaps from a new vendor whose name I unfortunately can't remember....here they are, in a beautiful gauze bag! I am so crazy about the color combo I almost don't want to use them. But I will!

You Make Me Feel Like a Natural...Home

My new issue of Natural Home magazine (http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com/) came today, and as usual it's packed with fantastic stuff!

This issue is the publication's special 2008 Reosource Guide, filled with 500+ "great green products."

Just so there's no confusion, the above photo is last year's resource guide which I grabbed off the internet, and as you can see there are now 100+ more great green products!

Natural Home is what led me to greener pastures, and I'm grateful for it!

It's 4 p.m. here in Nashville, time for my afternoon siesta, so it's not hard to guess what publication I am going to curl up with today!

Young Green Entrepreneur

There was an excellent story in yesterday's Tennessean about a young, green, entrepreneur named Nathan Zack.

His story reminds me of stories from The Depression, with a modern twist.

Now 27, Nathan's dad died when he was 15. Because money was tight, he quit school to help support his mother and siblings. His first venture was a lawnmowing business in Farmington Hills, MI, where he and his family lived.

Nathan eventually went to work for his uncle, who had a scrap metal business. That experience, combined with his mother's environmental activism, gave him the idea to create Great Lakes Electronics.

Basically, Nathan's company recycles computers, a much-needed service.

His employees wipe the data clean, and test the products. If the item works they sell it on eBay. If not, they break down the parts and sell them to various recyclers.

Great Lakes Electronics has done so well that it has warehouses in Florida, the Chicago area, and the Atlanta area as well as Detroit. Although he started out asking neighbors for old computers, he now has K mart and other large companies in his customer list.

Since it's a privately owned company, Nathan is not required to disclose sales data, but his mother says she has to "pinch myself" to believe it.

Can you imagine the commitment and determination this young man had, to quit school to help his family and then build a successful business that supports not only himself and his family but his employees and the environment as well?

What an amazing young man!

Woo-Hoo!

No more Ortho! After being there for several weeks, it went away after I published the post about it a few moments ago!

Advertising--Oi vey!

I can't believe it!!!

I've got Ad Sense on this blog and several weeks ago I published a post about using vinegar to kill weeds.

So ever sense, the only ad I've had on the blog is for Ortho weed killer, which I'm sure is loaded with noxious toxins I'd never use in a million years.

I am going to have to figure out something that will shift it to another, more green product.

Just wanted everyone to know I am not promoting Ortho weed killer on purpose!

My Vegetable Patch

Well, folks...when I say I am taking baby steps to be more green, I really mean baby steps since my vegetable garden consists of 2 tomato plants. One is "Mr. Stripey", a low-acid heirloom, and the other is Arkansas Traveler, a pink tomato.

Back in the winter, Steve and I had big plans of finding someone who wanted to have an organic garden but did not have the yard space. We have the space, but not necessarily the time and energy to keep up with a garden.

We asked around at the Ashland City Farmer's Market but couldn't find anyone.

So here it is, my two tomato plants! Better than nothing, I say. And they seem to be thriving. I didn't have good luck with tomatoes a few years ago but now I realize I wasn't planting them deeply enough. My friend, Candace, plants hers in a five-gallon bucket so I decided to do the same and it's working.

I also have some herbs growing in clay pots...pineapple mint, thyme, cinnamon basil, regular basil, and tarragon. I also planted some millet in a clay pot, first because it's beautiful and also for the birds. I just learned the other day that you don't need to put Miracle-Gro or other plant food on herbs but I had already fed them twice by the time I learned that.

So far I have not cooked with the herbs, I just enjoy having them and inhaling their scent every time I walk out the kitchen door.

Wake Up!

I guess this is a day for reprinting others' words on this blog, but this quote from Eckhart Tolle just came to my inbox via the Unity Church e-newsletter and I thought it was very applicable to green living.

I've noticed in the few short months that I've been taking baby steps towards living green, that I've started to wake up and be more conscious. Things that I once did routinely--like leaving the water running while I brush my teeth, or constantly reaching for paper towels--are now becoming acts of sacred consciousness because I want to do them differently, more consciously.

This awakening, to me, is at the heart of green living.

And now--Eckhart!

"Here is a spiritual practice that will bring empowerment and creative expansion into your life. Make list of a number of everyday routine activities that you perform frequently. Include activities that you may consider uninteresting, boring, tedious, irritating, or stressful. But don't include anything that you hate or detest doing. That's a case for either acceptance or for stopping what you do. The list may include traveling to and from work, buying groceries, doing your laundry, or anything that you find tedious or stressful in your daily work.
Then, whenever you are engaged in those activities, let them be a vehicle for alertness. Be absolutely present in what you do and sense the alert, alive stillness within you in the background of the activity. You will soon find that what you do in such a state of heightened awareness, instead of being stressful, tedious, or irritating, is actually becoming enjoyable. To be more precise, what you are enjoying is not really the outward action but the inner dimension of consciousness that flows into the action. This is finding the joy of Being in what you are doing. If you feel your life lacks significance or is too stressful or tedious, it is because you haven't brought that dimension into your life yet. Being conscious in what you do has not yet become your main aim."
Eckhart Tolle, in "A New Earth"

From friend Tom LaRotonda come these words of wisdom. Although he does not speak directly of environmentalism, his comments underline my belief that simple acts of using fewer paper towels and hanging clothes on the line once in a while can make a difference:

"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”Scot Adams Every moment of your life your thoughts, words, and actions send forth a powerful energetic ripple that is destined to make a difference somewhere in the world. Those thoughts, words, and actions are like pebbles that strike the surface of a cosmic pond of life, initiating that ripple. It doesn’t matter how significant or insignificant you believe your actions are. Once a pebble comes into contact with the pond’s surface the ripple’s momentum cannot be stopped. Your ripple has the same transformational potential as those of the most powerful and influential people in the world. Everything you do - contributes to the overall consciousness of the planet. It is not a question of, “Do my thoughts, words, and actions make a difference in the world?” New spiritual and scientific discoveries continue to build mounds of evidence that we are all energetically connected. Given the significance of our unified connection, the life changing question before each of us is, “What difference do I consciously wish to initiate in the world by casting purposeful pebbles?” In a world besieged with the reality of war, disease, global warming, natural disasters, starvation, genocide and economic collapse, it’s hard to fathom that an action as ordinary as helping a neighbor dig their car out of a snow-bank in Colorado can send a positive ripple that eventually will save a starving child in Africa. It’s hard to believe that an anonymous act of forgiveness directed at an aggressive and rude driver could possibly neutralize an incalculable number of hateful thoughts occurring elsewhere in the world. Yet for a moment, imagine how different your life would be if you knew beyond any question of doubt that even the smallest act of kindness carried this kind of power. It truly makes you think, doesn’t it? Take a moment to recall a small act of kindness that was directed at you. How did it make you feel? Call to mind any details of how it changed the course of your day. Did it inspire you to do a similar act of kindness for someone else? Truly recapture that moment. Now imagine that ripple continuing to spread…that the person you did something for in turn did something for another person, and so on. Imagine the chain is never broken. Eventually all 6 billion plus people in the world would be touched by this one act of kindness. Just imagine - billions of people positively uplifted by one person casting a purposeful pebble containing love, kindness, and compassion. To transform the fear-based consciousness that is gripping our planet we must fill the world with ripples of love. Just think what could happen if each person reading this would commit to one conscious act a day filled with hope and inspiration! Robert F. Kennedy said to a delegation in South Africa in 1966, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” You do not need to achieve the stature and influence of a Robert Kennedy to make a significant difference in the world. Your pebbles are equally as powerful. But they will never have power if you don’t toss them. Your pebble may be the one that greatly influences and inspires the direction of a future leader…but you must toss it. Your pebble may be the one to inspire someone to totally change the course of their life…but you must toss it. The impact caused by each act of kindness cannot be logically conceived. Some people believe that their pebbles have more power if they are cast as part of a great and worthy cause. This belief will limit you. The fact that you never followed your dream of joining the Peace Corps or participated in building a Habitat for Humanity home does not reduce the power of your daily actions. The purposeful pebble that your inner voice is telling you to toss today, no matter how small it may seem, is destined to flame the winds of great change. My inspiration to you this day is that you cast purposeful pebbles filled with hope and inspiration. Know that the ripples your pebbles initiate are cosmically designed to make a difference far beyond what your mind can conceive. What power you have in your grasp! Use it wisely and lovingly. Till Next Time – May You Empower Your Life,

Tom Tom LaRotonda is the owner of Core Matters LLC, a transformational leadership organization based in Denver, Colorado. He is a keynote speaker, free-lance writer, life/executive coach, leadership consultant, and seminar facilitator. His life purpose is to inspire his clients to boldly pursue their life dreams by taking the road less traveled. One of the foremost and leading edge speakers on the concept of Inspirational Living, he has addressed audiences around the world. Tom brings passion, excellence and dedication to his calling as a transformational leadership path-finder.

I encourage you to share these messages with your friends and family. You also have my permission to reprint any message in your newsletters, websites and message boards providing you include full authorship, copyright, and subscription information. I also welcome your comments and feedback. Subscription Info: To subscribe to the Core Reflections weekly message simply send an e-mail to tom@corematters.com. You have my commitment that all personal and professional data will be held in the strictest of confidence. ©2008 Tom LaRotonda All Rights Reserved

Happy Father's Day!

Salvation Sacks

Lots of women are shoe-a-holics...not me, I'm a purse-a-holic!

So I was extremely excited to learn about Salvation Sacks.

These handmade bags in several styles are made from vintage clothing, leather, jewelry, and even shower curtains!

What's really cool is that the creator/designer is a former corporate attorney who left the rat race to make these fun, eco-friendly bags.

They're a bit pricey, but if you join the club you get $35 off!

Check out the website at http://www.salvationsacks.com/! I'm saving my money for a red one with vintage men's neckties!

Baby Steps

Well...as previously reported, I had been forgetting to use my brand-new reusable bags from Wal-Mart.

Friday night, though, I turned the corner. Steve and I dashed down to WM for a couple of frozen pizzas and remembered to carry the bag into the store!

Of course, when we were at the self-checkout, I almost forgot to use it! We had to take the pizzas out of the plastic bag and put them in the reusable bag, thus confusing the computerized checker as to whether our items were bagged or not...but it was worth it.

Another baby step...since my hair is so thick, I also decided this morning to turn the shower off while I soaped and washed my hair, and it worked well. For some reason, I got a little dizzy when the water was off so I just grabbed onto the grab bar.

I'll keep doing it!

Are You "Putting Up"?

Back when I lived in Mississippi, my closest friend, Larry, was a third-generation farmer.

A bachelor, he lived in the original family farm home with his mother, Miss Anna Lou, while his brothers and their families lived down the road.

Every summer during July and August, when I called the house to talk to Larry, Miss Anna Lou answered the phone.

When I asked what she was up to, the response invariably was, "I'm canning (fill in the blank)"

Being from The Depression generation, and a lifelong farm/country dweller, canning everything in sight in the middle of hot summer weather was a way of life for Miss Anna Lou.

I was interested in canning myself; however, I worked full-time and commuted 2 hours a day, and by the time the weekend came I was just too lazy! Plus, a friend of mine said he and his wife got fired up about making homemade jam, but reported that it was a hassle and everything was so expensive that the jam wound up costing about $5 a jar. I guess you have to be committed, organized, and do a lot of canning to make it pay off.

I did go so far as to attending a class on canning and buying a water bath canner and a case of jars, but they remained unopened in my cupboard for several years. I wound up giving them to my neighbor when I moved to Nashville.

But now that I am working at home and even partly taking this summer off, I am considering doing some canning.

What to can?

Probably mostly tomatoes and tomato products, like salsa or maybe even homemade ketchup.

Maybe some green beans. Corn, I would probably freeze.

It's all just a matter of getting organized, not my strong point.

How about you? Do you "put up"? as we say in the South? Will you this year, given rising food costs?

Do you have a favorite canning memory from childhood? (no one in my family canned while I was growing up).

For some canning tips, here's a great article from Radish Magazine:

http://radishmagazine.com/stories/display.cgi?prcss=display&id=302583

Letting Nature Takes Its Course--Amazing Wind Power

Steven has been busy this week, helping to secure funding for a Colorado-based wind farm. Energy production from wind farms is up 45 percent from a year ago, and wind power is being used to power 4.5 million U.S. homes.

It's been interesting to learn more about the process of starting a wind farm. The wind farm is to be built on acres and acres of previously unusable land in Colorado. Since wind farms are becoming more popular, there is about an 18-month wait to obtain the wind machines.

And they are quite costly, with larger ones taking tens of millions to construct.

The government has been providing tax credits for wind farms, but an article in today's Tennessean (view it at http://www.tennesseegreen.com/), noted that the current program expires in December and the new the bill has stalled in Congress. The House passed the extension in May, but the bill has failed the Senate three times, probably because it's part of a larger package bill.

I don't want to get on a rant about politics, but...wind power is vitally important to our future and I hope the future of some of these farms is not jeapordized by political posturing, disagreeing, and back-scratching.

It's Just a Matter of Time...

It's just a matter of time before I begin to use my reusable shopping bags...

Monday when I went to Wal-Mart to purchase the week's worth of groceries, I grabbed three of their reusable shopping bags and added them to my cart.

At 99 cents each, they're a great bargain as well as a great way to be more green.

I felt much more peaceful about using them...I really don't like coming home from the store with zillions of plastic bags that I feel like I can't really throw out, yet...they become clutter.

I have to admit, they do come in handy as "free" liners for the small bathroom garbage cans, or for a few other household uses.

But still...they are clutter in my house and clutter in the environment.

So...I was all excited about my reusable bags.

I took one to Nashville with me on Tuesday when I stopped at Kroger to get my mother some blueberries they had on special...and forgot to use it.

I also forgot to use it Wednesday when I went to Rite-Aid, and even worse...forgot to use it yesterday when I went back to Wal-Mart to get some ice cream!

Is this old age, or what? I guess sometimes it does take time to teach an old dog new tricks, but this dog eventually intends to use her reusable bags everywhere! And when I do, I'll feel really great about it!