June 24 – GOOD NEWS – Nau’s back online and with a retail shop as well.  From Green LA Girl, nau’s back in biz.

May 2 – NEWS UPDATE: Good Bye for NAU – Unfortunately, nau is going out of business. Link here for the official announcement. For a limited time, these clothes and more will be available at 50% off — all sales final. Go to their website, they have a very nice farewell announcement and a great sale.

(above L) – ladies’ Lithe pant offers comfy protection on windy days — interior provides wicking while exterior protects from the elements. 95% from recycled polyester, sourced from recycled consumer waste. 5% spandex stretch double-weave.

available in mushroom or carbon, (originally $118, now 50% off)

(above R) – men’s slim fitting, straight legged, 100% organic cotton denim. Fine details: label-free waistband makes for a comfy fit, extra belt loop on left side to stow excess belt material, front right pocket has small inside pocket to stow smalls, nickel-free hardware, machine wash cold and line dry only.

comes in 2 shades of denim blue, ( originally $148, now 50% off)

more @ nau.com

Let’s face it there’s no one else like Mom. She’s one of a kind, and deserves to be Queen for a Day at least once a year. In my case it’s a little more often than that, but that’s another story, (it’s all good).

May 11 is fast-approaching, so plan to spend some quality time with mamma. Go for a leisurely stroll, enjoy a spot of tea and reminisce about crazy fun times, give Mom that what she gave — a piece of yourself!

If you’d like to kick it up a notch, here’s a short list of little ditties that just might suit her fancy, and reflect your appreciation for mother and nature.

Mom’s Day green gift ideas

Most outdoor or athletic water bottles end up in the landfill. This solar lighting product from SolLight, extends the life of your trusty water jug by repurposing it as a solar lantern. The Lightcap 200 solar LED cap is the lightest, brightest LED cap available.

Use a colored bottle or add some colorful Kool Aid and you’ve got yourself an outdoorman’s lava lamp.

$19.95 @ sollight.com

• An appalling picture of a chihuahua in scuba gear. Mondex the Frog Dog – ananova
• Let’s talk EMF’s – Fear, But Few Facts, on Hybrid Risk – nytimes
• Aren’t giant agribusinesses and Big Oil run by the same people? Making a Killing From the Food Crisis – enn/organic consumers assoc.
• We have and do more stuff. Carbon Footprint of Best Conserving Americans is Still Double Global Average – science daily
• 10% of the energy mix is just not enough. U.S. Renewable Energy Could Quadruple in 10 Years: GE – reuters
• Study: Giant Squid Has Biggest Animal Eyes in the World – yahoo! news
• Earthtalk: Where Can I Find a Green Computer? – cs monitor
• Having a party? Put high price tags on that cheap Boone’s Farm. Study Shows Wine Tastes Better When it Costs More – earth & sky
• Siphoning Off Corn to Fuel Our Cars – washington post

I have to admit I have not embraced the move to wireless headsets. I still like the feel of a traditional cell phone in my grasp. I can often mistake individuals strolling down the sidewalk yammering breathlessly on their hands-free headsets for schizophrenics talking to their imaginary friends. But enough about me…

For those who have more fully embraced modern technology there is the relatively plain looking, Iqua 603 SUN headset. A solar-powered Bluetooth headset for those multi-tasking commuters and type-A personalities that love their hands-free blathering with a touch of green.

This baby has its own tiny photovoltaic cell that charges the headset from any light source, both indoors or out.

The Iqua SUN possesses all the features of your standard Bluetooth headset. From a practical standpoint, the solar cell adds about a dime’s worth of weight to the gadget and it needs to have some power left in the tank for the solar cell to charge (you need to plug it in to charge if the battery runs down completely).

$99 @ shopiqua.com

• The southwest U.S. may need to follow suit. Australia Splashes $13 Bln to Secure Water Supplies – reuters
• I must concur. Iranian Official Cites Barbie Doll Threat – aol news
• Tracking the carbon footprint. Supermarket Chain Trials Carbon Labels – bbc
• Is chasing an animal for 35 miles by snowmobile hunting? Hunters, Activists Face-off Over Wolf Hunts – msnbc
• No snowmobile needed. Such easy targets. Paris Hilton and Britney Spears: Pet Owners From Hell!! – ecorazzi
• A gift that keeps on giving. ‘Extinct’ Pygmy Elephants Found Living in Borneo – natgeo
• Don’t buy it, be happy. Happiness Tip: Want What Your Have – livescience
• Specially Groomed Eyebrows a Headache at Oregon High School – myway

Artists Margaret Taylor and Simone Wilson make a variety of folk art and home furnishings from reclaimed and repurposed materials which are sold through Miss Taylor’s Atlanta-based company, dryads dancing.

The one-of-a-kind, pastel quilted tin frame pictured at left is made from antique ceiling tin, house molding and beaded board.

available in pink, blue, or green and various sizes up to 16×20″

priced ranging from $38 to $250 @ dryadsdancing.com

It’s lawn mowing season and time to take a hard look at what you use to mow that front yard of yours. If eliminating mower emissions, reducing noise pollution and having clean, easy operation are important to you, this Neuton rechargeable electric mower may be one solution.

The CE 6.2 features a 19″ cutting radius and packs enough power in one charge to cut the average 1/3 acre lawn. Starts by squeezing the handle. Charges in about 8 hours, runs for up to an hour on a charge and is 95% recyclable.

Oh, one other solution…damn the curb appeal. Let it grow!

Neuton CE 6.2 mower goes for $449 @ neutonpower.com
(the smaller CE5.2 goes for $349)

Of note: According to the EPA, gas powered mowers contribute up to 10% of the nation air pollution and create more noise pollution than a Def Leppard concert. For more earth-friendly lawn info visit safelawns.org

Strange as it sounds, Earth Day grew into Earth Week for me this year. Quite a nice buzz of activity going on in the Big Green Apple — I won’t bore you with a litany of eco events, but I would like to share a few personal highs of the week.

Due to the generosity of two anonymous Members of NRDC’s President’s Circle who made this special evening at Town Hall possible — it was great to hear first-hand naturalist, Professor E.O. Wilson (”the Father of Biodiversity”) and author Elizabeth Kolbert’s fascinating discussion about Saving Biodiversity. Find a little more insight about Professor Wilson, check out his amazing “Encyclopedia of Life”@ eol.org and link to more info about an upcoming NOVA program, lord of the ants, featuring Professor Wilson, (May 20, 8p on PBS). If you’re looking to support or get involved with a worthwhile organization; learn about Natural Resources Defense Council’s efforts to save wildlife and wildlands in the Americas, and how you can help @ SaveBioGems.org

Another highlight was meeting Maggie Norris and Adria deHaume, eco couture fashion and jewelry designers at the Go Green Gala to benefit Riverkeeper and the Amazon Conservation Association. When I asked Maggie about the most exciting aspect to fashion design right now “meeting all the incredible people associated with the various causes to save the environment,” (referring to the extraordinary individuals who inspired her 2008 collection of eco-couture, created exclusively for the gala).

Shout out to Annie B. and Remy C. — enjoyed our huddle in the dark

Thanks to the man of the hour Bradford Rand for producing such an incredible 3-day Go Green Expo event — the first-ever in NYC — and hopefully many more to come in the future. And good vibes to Megan Roarty of Organic Works for all the good guidance.

Josh Tickell for the important doc, Fields of Fuel — congrats on receiving the Audience Award from Sundance. you rock, man.

Bryan Welch of Ogden Publishing for Mother Earth News, Utne Reader, Natural Home, Motorcycle Classics, Farm Collector and more, for encouraging the enduring legacy, stimulating the imagination and sharing his new found respect for veggies:)

And to Ella of Ella Vickers, Gay of Seltzer, C.A. of Recycline, Peter of Lani dig your dog, Helen of HER Design, Mary of Green Irene and so many other great folks with whom I met, here’s to a great year, and staying in touch.

• Technological Breakthrough in Fight to Cut Greenhouse Gases – sciencedaily
• Save the Environment, One Commute at a Time – msnbc
• I believe what he really sees are profits. Brazil Soy King Sees Amazon as Food Solution – reuters
• Businesses Rush to Cash in on Solar Power - redorbit
• They all look the same. It’s kinda creepy. South Korea to Use Cloned Dogs to Sniff Out Drugs and Explosives – iht.com/ap
• Prayer may be the only solution. Choir Director Brings Prayers for Lower Gas Prices to SF
• Consumer alert! These are foods to avoid! 7 Common Foods That Can Actually Get You High – cracked.com