In various times, places, and cultures, the “green” roof was the norm. People lived in earthen homes that were sometimes dug out of hillsides or creek banks, and the native grasses and wildflowers grew naturally on top. Other homes had sod or thatched grass roofs. Modern people are discovering the merits of this kind of roofing. If you are planning to install a green roof, here are some things to consider and keep in mind. Read the rest of this entry

Are you looking into replacing your roof? If you go with a regular asphalt shingle roof, you will be doing the same thing in a decade or so. Also, asphalt roofs may leach chemicals into rainwater, which are then carried in the storm run-off and into the creeks and streams. There are several eco-conscious roofing options available these days. Here are some of them. Read the rest of this entry

PETA is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1980. Its intent was and is to defend the rights of animals in the United States and abroad. In fact, this Virginia-based organization has affiliates as far away as India and Germany.

PETA does not focus on the keeping of animals as pets. In fact, PETA does not officially endorse companion animals, and some PETA employees claim that keeping animals as house pets is demeaning. PETA’s philosophy involves the moral equivalence of animals, and it tends to focus much more on the use of animals in industry. Fur, food, cosmetics and clothing are the main commercial venues that PETA addresses. Read the rest of this entry

I absolutely adore this children’s tea set made from recycled plastic milk jugs. It comprises 17 pieces: an attractive rose-colored tea pot with a purple lid, 4 blue cups with green saucers, 4 yellow spoons, one blue creamer and one purple sugar pot. The set comes in a 100% recycled cardboard box, which can be recycled again.

Can you imagine your kids’ surprise when you tell them that this attractive tea set is made from the milk jugs you put outside on collection day for recycling? It is a great way of teaching kids why recycling is so good for mother earth. It turns something used into something beautiful, which in turn will be treasured and reused.

The tea set is produced in the USA and has undergone many stringent toy safety tests to keep your kids safe from harmful materials. Made in USA means that the transportation miles have been kept low.

Overall, this recycled tea set would make every little girl happy. She’ll soon be enjoying a special tea party together with her friends. A great product!

When we think of the typical garden, it often conjures up images of perfectly groomed and trimmed plants and flowers amid a clean bed of mulch. Many gardeners choose their plants based on what “look” they want to achieve, or other desired benefits. However, that approach does not take native species into account. There are so many reasons to choose native species over mass-produced, ubiquitous landscape plants. Here are some of those reasons. Read the rest of this entry