Here are some great references I got from the web. Sites you can check out today for info on these great new Solar Home opportunities. In the past, the first concerns for switching to solar included the cost (it has been prohibitive), efficiency (what efficiency?) and aesthetics (big windows on the roof). And who stays in the same home for 30 years these days? We are always trading up, if we can. So when do we realize the payback on big investments like solar? And what good will the expensive panels do you in your new home? Does it even add value to the selling price of the old one? Hmmmm..

But there is a solution to all of these concerns, and more! Check out Sun Run . What they do is unique, and does quite a thorough job in eliminating all of the old obstacles to solar. You do not have to buy, lease, rent or take out a loan to purchase a solar home as Sun Run retains ownership of the equipment. and guarantees a certain amount of power generation. How does that sound? At the least, you must admit, this is interesting. Read More...

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon

Cats Claw



Long used in traditional herbalism and throughout history in the practice of paganism and witchcraft, Cats Claw is not generally well known among the populace. It has a kind of witchy name, with cats having a reputation as being familiars and guardians for witches. How witches got such a horrible reputation I'll never know! All the witches I have ever known like to drink Wine, dance naked and grow herbs. Very few of them care about turning anyone into a toad. But this reputation, deserved or not, has sort of bled over onto the kitty cat, too. It is true that black cats are rare because they were associated with Satanism throughout history and were killed as "evil spirits". People began breeding black cats with white cats to keep them from being burned, shot or strangled. That's why there are more black and white cats today than purely black cats. But enough of my historical lore chatfest and on to the subject at hand: Cats Claw. The herb also called Una de gato.

Cats Claw is mostly found in South American rain forests and must be wild harvested and cannot be grown successfully on an ordinary farm. Most of the wild harvesting is being done in Peru and Brazil. It is prominently used in South American folk medicine and is often associated with Santeria... another dark religion that people mostly scorn. The herb has absolutely no use in cooking or in any form of edibles, for that matter. It is only used in medicine. But Cats Claw is not commonly used in witchcraft or pagan rituals and for those who think it's used only by witches, I must point out that you are probably thinking of Cats Eye, Cats Foot and Cats Milk, which are indeed herbs only used by witches and no one else. Witches also use Catnip, Costmary and Basil just like you do but the Cats Eye, Foot and Milk herbs are used only by witches in their herbal healing practices.

Now that we have all of that straight and we now know what herb is what, I want to give you a wonderful pharmacopoeia of uses for this lovely herb. It has a long history in herbal healing, dating back to the middle ages, and the uses are proven safe and effective for most of us. However, here are the warnings I must issue: DO NOT USE if you have an Autoimmune Disorder (Lupus, MS, HIV, Tuberculosis, etc..) or are immune compromised. Safety is not assured for women who are pregnant or nursing. In many countries it is illegal to mix Cats Claw with hormones, insulin, blood plasma or vaccines. I would suggest you avoid doing this anyways. As always, consult a doctor before treating yourself with any herb. And with that said, here are the recipes for some great remedies using Cats Claw. Read More

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon

This another cool little item I just had to post. It shows just how much and how fast the green technology concept has caught on here in America. It is growing fast overseas, with the Japanese and French way ahead with the first fully Hydrogen and Electric Cars (no gas) on the market there. I am just thrilled to see that we are following suit rather rapidly rather than dragging our heels in favor of past comfort, hoping to steady the craft and continue in our age old fashion. Viva change! I finally believe we are all up to the challenge.

GE Energy Financial Services, based in Stamford, Conn.is currently making a project of putting $100 million into three New York wind farms. This current effort has pushed renewable energy investments past the $4 billion mark this week for GE. This is a great harbinger of things to come and a marker of the swiftness with which energy related investors are responding to the need.

The GE unit, along with Noble Environmental Power, its partner in the three-farm deal, has invested in more than 80% of New Yorks' statewide wind capacity. By 2010, GE Energy Financial Services expects renewable energy to comprise as much as 25% of its overall energy and water portfolio, compared to a measly 10% back in 2006. In a statement issued by Alex Urquhart, President and CEO of GE Energy Financial Services, GE says: "We have reached the $4 billion milestone just five months after hitting $3 billion, confirming that renewable energy is our fastest-growing business."

Construction already started last month on the wind farms. When finished later this year, these wind farms will generate a total power output of 330 megawatts. Combined with Noble's Bellmont wind farm, both of these forward thinking projects will pump more than $300 million into the local economies! Think of the jobs and the new areas open to investment! In another eye opening effort, GE conducted a study and released the results last month. This study concluded that tax revenues generated by wind farms offsets the value of federal tax credits.

This project sets an example and functions as working proof that renewable and natural energy sources are the wisest choices for our future. In the wake of faltering industry and manufacturing opportunities in our country, this new idea should send us to the Moon with joy. The project proves that it is not only wise for our economy and for the job market as well as the earth and the future of our planet, but it is a reasonable investment with a projected growing return.

According to Kevin Walsh, GE's Managing Director, "Local people have already been hired to construct the wind farms, build and plow the roads, and eventually maintain the projects. As we showed in a study we released last month, wind farms will create tax revenues for local and federal governments."

Everybody, let's raise a toast of our homemade herbal Wine to GE! Let the future begin.

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon

If you are currently or soon to be in the market for a new car, there are some important considerations you must have in mind about today's world when you buy. There is fast rising inflation, a disintegrating real estate market, widespread global warming, terrorism and dependency on Middle East Oil, rising energy demands worldwide and insecurity in the banks and lending industry. Do you want to take out a long term loan on a car? You probably need to scale down because most of us were buying up big cars and SUVs which are now huge gas guzzling burdens. The entire picture is huge and overwhelming. So I've sort of boiled it all down to a few simple rules. Only know how much you can afford to spend on a new car and whether or not you will buy new or used, but there are measurements for many other factors that are easily sorted out and made sense of.

In this article, I am striving to list the cars with the lowest MPG, highest fuel efficiency, lowest carbon imprint and most reasonable size and comfort factors. Saving on fuel and mileage is great but it stinks if you have to squeeze into a tiny car with no trunk to do it. There is one thing I'd like to cure you of but I'm not sure I can. I'd like you to stop caring so much about how a car looks and worry more about how it performs. An ugly car that saves you a bundle, as long as it's comfortable, is far more desirable than a gas guzzling zoomer with a hot body and a big carbon footprint. All of us stare at the good looking people but no one wants a high maintenance bombshell with a lot of baggage. So be realistic and mature when you go car shopping. Pick out the best performer for the best price and pass the others up. Here is my list to help you make better sense of all of it. ... Read More...

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon

Herbal Cleaning Methods

If you are like me, you have a need for cleaning supplies for the home and would be miserable if you didn't have something to help you rid the home of dirt, dust and bacteria. I have recently backed off of all the "antibacterial" stuff for fear that we lose our immunity when we lessen exposure. I now think there can be a happy medium that works well for all of us. I have begun to implement more natural remedies for old fashioned cleanups. For instance, instead of tossing old sponges into the landfill or spritzing them with bleach or ammonia, I now pop them in the microwave for 15 seconds or so and wala! Bacteria free. They even lose that sour smell they seem to get even after a bleach bath and a soak.

So if you are looking for cheap, easy and natural alternatives to the manufactured items available in the stores, then you will enjoy these projects. You will love the results and want to repeat the experience. Luckily, this will be easy for the most part and the ingredients are cheap and readily available. Some are even free if you are willing to take a walk through the woods. Dig in and enjoy! .... Read More...

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon




Ethyl Alcohol (denatured) (500 mL.)

Herbs have a long tradition in the making of soaps and tonics as people were always trying to find ways to eliminate body odors and clean the skin of dirt. You cannot imagine the incredible time and effort it took to clean, fluff and maintain the huge layered and ruffled dresses, the large pontoon pants and balloon sleeved shirts. In may Castles throughout Europe it took a legion of handmaidens to wash, iron, repair and "fluff" the clothing of the period. Herbs were used for almost everything, much as they are today. They just didn't come in a colored box with a brand name and lot of extra chemicals to extend shelf life.

If you are interested in making soaps, including Herbal soaps, I have some recipes here that will help you do that rather simply. I will give you a standard method of making basic soap and then toss in a few Herbal soap recipes for fun. Some of the more successful Herbal Soap manufacturers started as a cottage industry in someone's kitchen. Perhaps you could do the same. Read More...

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon

I have this blog because I feel strongly about our treatment of Mother Earth and her children. I am not trying to promote various causes or push people to think differently but I do want to reach other earthies and greenies and herbies and give them the information, the power and the recipes for creating changes in their own daily lives. The information I have included in this post came from Care2. You can visit the Care2 Website here: Check It Out

A clean energy future awaits us. From flying windmills to hydrocarbon fuels derived from fermented sugar, countless innovations exist that can fight global warming, grow our economy and increase our energy independence. But we need the right national energy policies to make all of this happen.

Congress and the Bush Administration are dragging their feet, preferring the old methods of pressing for more oil drilling and giving tax breaks to big oil. While we are in an energy crisis, our "leaders" are clinging to their old earmark bonuses and the free lunch bennies they get from oil lobbyists.

But did you know that technologies exist that could solve it all if they were just given funding? There is solar ink that could revolutionize the way we think of solar energy, devices that harness the energy of waves, and a geothermal power plant that can power an entire village.

These innovations will only do our economy and our environment good. We can be the leaders in the world energy economy and decrease our dependence on foreign oil, but we must start now. This is an amazing opportunity. It is our responsibility to pressure the old coots in Washington to wake up and face the future! If they won't, then we must vote them out of office.

Get started doing your bit to change this situation today. It's as easy as watching a video and signing a petition. From there, we can all watch and see what happens. And take further action as needed.

Watch the video and sign the petition here: Watch Video

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon

This from the Independant UK:

Scientists are warning that an Antarctic ice shelf the size of Northern Ireland is on the verge of disintegration, even though it is now the middle of the southern hemisphere's winter.


The European Space Agency says new satellite pictures show that the Wilkins shelf - the largest to be threatened so far - is "hanging by its last thread". Extending for approximately 5,600 square miles, it has been held in place by a thin ice bridge connecting it to an island, but this is now fracturing.

The shelf, which lies near the base of the Antarctic Peninsula, had not been expected to collapse until the early 2020s. It provides further evidence that the planet is warming more quickly than predicted.

Scientists are stunned that it is continuing to melt in the depths of winter, and believe that warm water is welling up from the ocean to attack it from underneath. So far seven shelves on the peninsula have collapsed due to climate change.

On Friday, President Bush - who last week told the G8 summit "Goodbye from the world's greatest polluter" - defied a 2007 ruling by the US Supreme Court to take action on global warming under the Clean Air Act.

©independent.co.uk

An important message from Goodwill Industries:

Imagine you have a TV that is no longer seeing service in your home. Or a computer. Or a monitor. You know that tossing it in the garbage is a big no no. Where do you take it? More than likely, if you're in the US, to Goodwill. Or if you're really progressive, you make a little money by going through Second Rotation or Tech Forward. A fine step forward, for sure. But what happens to donations to your local Goodwill?

Depending on where it is, a number of things: If it's functional, it may get resold. If it's not, it could get recycled. Or "de-manufactured," that is, disassembled and the parts sold to vendors who can use them to create new machines. Or in some cases, especially with old CRT televisions, consumers don't have options via their local waste management company or charitable organizations, and it ends up dumped. Goodwill, which makes a point to recycle them, generally has to pay per pound for the right to do so. 17 cents in the case of Austin, Texas, apparently one of the lower fees in the US.

Now do the math: Each television is at least 30 pounds. Austin processes a truckload worth each month. 48 pallets. And in 2009, with the plug being pulled on non HD TV signals, there will be millions of televisions rendered useless, unless people make the effort to buy a signal converter. And where will those go? You guessed it... Read More...

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon

There are a lot of money saving tips out there. I see them all over the web and every newspaper I read offers some sort of bargain or deal. The economy stinks so even my local newscaster is discussing ways I can save a dollar on the local level. And I have returned to my beloved habits of shopping at flea markets, thrift stores and online discounters. I am always on the look out for a money saving opportunity and I'm sure you are, too.

But the ones that interest me the most are the ones that both save me money and help to save the planet, too. I care as much about caring for the environment as I do about tending to my wallet. Being an animal and environmental "activist" of sorts, I am always thinking of new ways to make better use of the resources around me. It only makes sense. So, if you want some great ideas on how to save moolah and also be a greenie, here are a few new ones I found. I hope you like them.
Read More...

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon

This is a very cool and fascinating item I found online. Scientists have discovered reef structures off the coast of Brazil's Bahia state and these structures double the size of the Albrolhos Bank heretofor considered the largest and richest reef system in the Atlantic Ocean.

This reef structure is far more abundant in marine life than any other. Researchers from Conservation International (CI), Federal University of EspÃrito Santo and Federal University of Bahia announced their discovery in a paper presented today at the International Coral Reef Symposium in Fort Lauderdale.

This is an exciting find for those of us who care about the planet. It is also unusual to find a structure this large that also has so many fish. Previously, the Abrolhos Bank was considered one of the world's most important reefs because of a high number of marine species found only in Brazil. This includes species of soft corals, mollusks and fish found only in the Abrolhos shelf. Read More...

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon


You Can Learn How To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint And Help Reverse The Effects Of Global Warming. Keeping My Earth Green Is A Three Part Series That That Will Enlighten You And Your Family To The Facts And Fixes To Help Preserve Our Mother Earth.
Click Here!

Online at Reuters.com, I saw a report from Mexico City. It is reported that the Mexicans have planted more than 8 million trees as part of a push to correct it's reputation for environment indifference. It has become well known that Mexico has been poor in their environmental management, even to the extent of rampant mismanagement and that illegal logging of trees is common practice.

The government supplied the saplings and large groups of volunteers trekked up and down Mexico wielding shovels and wheelbarrows. They planted a 8.3 million trees, the environment ministry said.

Illegal logging in Mexico destroys some 64,000 acres (26,000 hectares) of Mexican forest each year, according to government reports, putting Mexico near the top of a U.N. list of nations losing primary forest fastest. Worldwide, environmental activists say the figure is much higher. Read More...

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon

5 Book Deal - 1. Build A Wind Generator 2. Biodiesel 3. Install Solar Panels 4. Build Your Own Home 5. Renewable Energy Solutions For Home, Car And Business .Find Free Solar Panels, Free Off Grid Batteries- Look Us Up www.off-grid-living.com.
Click Here!

Non toxic bug controls: Easy DIY!

Ever since I first heard that you can kill garden pests with soap, I have been experimenting with different kinds of homemade soap sprays. I have found that they all work to some degree, some better than others, some better on certain bugs and not so good on others.

My soap sprays are non toxic and easy to make. But I also have a litany of other bug killing techniques that do the trick. Some involve herbs, many don't. All of them can be made at home with easy to obtain ingredients. All of them work beautifully.

Today I'll tell you about a few of them that have worked for me and are easy to work with. All of these tried and true methods are good for the environment, safe for the kids or the pets and will rid your garden of plant eating bugs without destroying the foilage, the bees, the birds or the butterflies. You've heard of some of them, of course. I'm just hoping that maybe there's one or two you haven't heard of that can help you out today. Read More...

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon

How to save money and the planet at the same time

Here are some tips that I've picked up from all over the web on how you can save money and also save the planet. Green in the pocket and green in the life. How fun! I thought you'd like it.

I got these ideas from various greenie sites and tossed in a few of my own. Everything from saving money on electricity to saving the planet with recycling. You've heard some of these before, but hopefully there will be some new ideas that you find useful.
Read More...


del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon

I have finally finished with the makeover I wanted to give the blog. For those of you who have been reading it since the beginning, when it was named diy herbs, I want you to know that I am still posting about herbs, crafts and natural resources. But I wanted the blog to have a more universal focus and to include my other personal pet issues such as recycling, going green, saving both money and resources, animal welfare and reducing carbon dependency. So the blog needed a new name, a new face and a wider focus. So that much is done. No more changes are coming. It is now "The Seed" and it's message is simple: One Seed Can Change The World. This was taken from the saying, one seed can build a forest. The theme is still natural living, just on a larger scale. Thanks to my readers for hanging in there with me. Look for a newsletter in the fall.

Even Illegal Herbs Are Good For Us!

I saw this on the local news and found it fascinating. It's about time that science applies itself to herbs, including illegal ones like Marijuana. And so the local station is reporting this great new find and I wanted to pass it along. Credit goes to WFTV-9, Orlando, Fla.

According to the newscast, a report in the journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology delivered the news that our body not only makes chemical compounds similar to the active ingredient in marijuana (THC), but these play an important part in maintaining healthy skin.

This report was put together from findings of Scientists from Hungary, Germany and the UK and could lead to could lead to new drugs that treat skin conditions ranging from acne to dry skin, and even skin-related tumors.
Read More.....

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon

Part One of The Series:

I know that you are busy most of the year digging, yanking and dosing your yard to rid it of weeds. When you fertilize your favorite weed, lawn grass, you dose the yard with weed killer meant to take out any other weed and make your yard look like a clean carpet. But you are making a huge mistake. You make this mistake because you are misinformed. Manufacturers spend an awful lot of time trying to shape your view of the world and there is money to be made in fertilizers, weed killers, grass seed, lawn mowers, weed pullers, hoes... etc.. and not much to be made from a free garden weed.

If you can just realign your view of beauty and look at these weeds with an eye for real value, you'd be surprised, first by all of the money you'll save and second by all the work you will no longer have to do!! And, guess what, you're getting greener and wiser in the process! And I know you just can't beat all that. So I am going to tell you all about weeds today, which ones to look for and what to do with them when you find them. You will be shocked to realize just how much good stuff you've thrown away all these years.
READ MORE....

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon



Healer's Herbal: Recipes for Medicinal Herbs and Weeds



The EcoHerbalist's Fieldbook: Wildcrafting in the Mountain West



Herbs and Weeds : A Practical Booklet on Medicinal Herbs



Weeds that heal: Ten abundant super herbs

It is crazy how popular teeth whitening toothpaste has become in the past few years. All of a sudden, every toothpaste has a "whitener" and the sales of "high powered whitening kits" has passed the ceiling. The honest truth is that most of these whiteners don't work in the short term and many take years to actually make a difference. With the chemicals in the products if you continue to smoke and drink tea or coffee, you cross out any positive effects the paste may have had. So, in the long run, they are not worth the cost.

So what will whiten teeth? We all know that you can have a professional bleaching done for a big fat paycheck and then your teeth will be thin and sensitive and require special care for your lifetime. Oh, boy, but your teeth will be whiter than they were. Still, if you go back out and smoke and drink tea or coffee, then you will begin to stain the thin and sensitive teeth you have left and then a second bleaching will be out of the question.

So what might whiten teeth without all the trouble and can be done again and again, as needed, without ruining your teeth or costing a fortune? You are going to laugh at the answer. You are going to laugh because you not going to beleive that nobody told you or if they did somebody else told you that they were lieing. Johnson & Johnson and Proctor and Gamble are not about to tell you can do with a few items you already have in your kitchen. Heck, you might not buy their tooth whitening toothpaste. Have you really seen any great benefit in that toothpaste? Only those of you with fairly white teeth to begin with have actually seen any "improvement". Everybody else, you're just imagining it. Read More....

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon

Gasoline prices are now an astounding $4 per gallon for regular unleaded and the only recourse most of us has is to drive a lot less and make plans to trade out for a hybrid or gas saving vehicle. I can't imagine how people who bought SUVs must be feeling right now. Locally, here in Florida, I hear stories of how dealerships are turning SUVs away and won't take them as trade ins. As a result many dealerships are opening up in the morning to find SUVs lined up along their fence line with the keys in the ignition.

The sales of hybrid-electric vehicles are booming, of course. By now, most of us get the message that hybrids - which combine a standard engine with some type of electric-motor- are a lot more efficient than our current vehicles. They aren't the first choice of buyers who like size, speed and style but they save us a lot of money in gridlock.

The hottest item on the hybrid lot is the Toyota Prius. This cutie is a roomy compact car that delivers 48 miles per gallon in city driving and 45 mpg on the highway, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. But now there are challengers against the hybrid models and I suppose there will be many in the years to come. The best of these is the fuel-efficient diesel engine. They've been around us for a long time, most markedly known in the Mercedes Benz, but they were never an affordable every man option........

Read More

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon

This is a new post from the Kashi website. Kashi is a natural food producer who makes some fantastic organic items that are healthy. Specializing in whole foods, their products are not processed and good for vegetarians and vegans. They are pioneers in natural food product development and are forward thinking in the areas of ecology, natural resources and green technology. This post is from their website, which is chock full of useful information. They did not commission me to write a post for me nor is this paid advertising or a pay per post assignment. I am presenting this because I find it useful.

Date: July 24, 2007 Related Topics: healthy eating, home life, and snacking
Written by: Edna Sousa

Stocking a natural kitchen is more than just a fleeting fad. It's a step toward bringing health and wellness into the very center of your home - right to the very heart of it. For many of us, the kitchen is where most of the action takes place in the daily routine of life. So when this important nerve center is loaded with natural foods and snacks, fruits, veggies, and healthy whole grains, your entire home will reflect the change in a positive way. Stocking a natural kitchen is at the very foundation of a healthy lifestyle.

So how do you start giving your kitchen a natural makeover? Obviously, purchasing more organic fruits and vegetables, free-range meats and poultry, and whole grains is an important part of the equation. But where do you go from there? The next steps are about slowly changing some key eating and purchasing habits.... READ MORE

There is an exciting new RSS feed and blog directory that I found and want to share with all of you today. It is named RSS Hugger and it is located at RSSHugger.com. Not only can you submit your feed for readers to access and submit your blog to their directory, but they maintain a top 100 blog list that resets every month, allowing all blogs the opportunity to be listed there for an ENTIRE MONTH. Blogs get on this list by the number of visitors they send to their page.

They also dedicate a portion of the front page to featured blogs, with snappy reviews and details of the blog and a link to visit the blog's RSS right from the post. Their Random Blog page presents various blogs at random, much like the promo pages on other blog directory sites, but with a lot more detail. There are links all over the place, making sure that no reader has any problem finding you and getting to your blog....
Read More

Go to RSS Hugger Now: Click Here

del.icio.us -- ma.gnolia -- Netscape -- RawSugar -- StumbleUpon