We all know how tricky it is to grow fruit that is purely organic because so many garden pests love the sweet, luscious taste of the fruit crop as much as we do.  Plus, fruit trees can also be victims of sunburn and all the problems it causes.  I discovered a product that seems to nip this in the bud.

While visiting the Chicago Botanic Gardens last week, we were walking around their fruit orchard and discovered they were using a new organic spray.  Being naturally curious, I decided to find out what they were using, it is called Kaolin Crop Spray. (more…)

So much of the time, simplicity is the heart of invention. That’s certainly the case with these clever biodegradable plastic lids, designed by Northumbria University grad Jack Bresnahan and featured at last month’s New Designers show in London.

Shown as a set are nine lids that transform a used, tin can into one of several common household items: vase, soap dispenser, sugar caster, tea and coffee canister, toothbrush holder, money box and desk organizer.

According to Dezeen.com, Bresnahan’s “aim… is to create products (more…)

• Crappy East German compact car to go solar and electric…Green Power May Help Trabant Trundle Back to Life – reuters
• Is that you sniffling? Most U.S. Money Laced With Cocaine – aol news
• Protection Plan for Deep Sea Coral Reefs Considered – yahoo! news
• First cows, now this…Stressed Crops Emit More Methane Than Thought – sciencedaily
• Natural born killers…Herbs Can be Natural Pesticides – bbc
• It’s all so ‘piezoelectric’ or What’s the frequency Kenneth?…Good Vibrations Generate Electricity – livescience

We’re always pecking around for the latest offbeat, organic cotton t-shirts with a green message.  This hand-dyed one from GreenGirlsGlobal packs a few different meanings.

The Chicks in the City “T” may announce your support for urban farming, cute double entendre, citified barnyard fowl, DIY egg creation and/or your local farmer’s market.  It’s all in the mind of the beholder.

$26 @ greengirlsglobal’s earthetsy shop

Istanbul based, Gursan Ergil Design Studio, practices “environmental modernism” in the making of these great looking, handcrafted pieces of furniture. The furniture is created from reclaimed and recycled wood using traditional handcrafted joinery, wood shaping techniques.  Finishes are all eco-friendly.

Spontaneous shoppers beware: there’s a new site online and not only is it tempting in its peddling of green goods, it’s addictive too.

Each day, one new eco-friendly product takes center stage on www.Guffly.com, be it an organic dog bed (take note, Seamus) or a cool clutch. One “good stuff for good living” product per day—it’s that simple.

To keep the eco impact minimal, the company drop ships directly from supplier—a concept that’s integral to green biz, cutting overall carbon emissions and increasing cost savings. Look for labels that denote a product as recycled, organic, fair trade, sustainable, biodegradable or energy-efficient.

Founded by Jordan Contreras and Channel Scott, Guffy is a small-shop start-up (love to support ‘em) born in Bizdom U, a Detroit-based entrepreneurial academy.

It has always been a goal of mine to bring inside some of our herbal plants for the winter to have a fresh supply of herbs at my finger tips.  With fall just around the corner, The Plant Cottage attracted my eye and is just too charming not to share.

The greenhouse’s cabinet is made of pine and measures 25″ L x 12″ W x 40″ H.   Included in the set-up is an energy-saving T-5 fluorescent bulb — to last up to 30,000 hours, and with an extra long power cord.

The Plant Cottage was a recent winner of a 2009 MGA Green Thumb Award which recognizes outstanding new garden products available by mail or online.  “The winning products were selected based on their uniqueness, technological innovation, ability to solve a gardening problem or provide a gardening opportunity, and potential appeal to gardeners.”

I love that it has a rust-resistant metal liner, drawers to keep small gardening tools in or perhaps leftover seed packages and a shelf for watering cans, extra pots or to display gardening books. I agree with the MGA. This is a nifty little product that I would love to have grace our home.

Additional photos of different features of the Plant Cottage may be found at gardeners.com. (Judging by the Cottage’s price tag it must be the Mercedes of greenhouses.) Its cost is $399.00

We’re recharging our batteries before launching the redesign of our site, (coming soon), but didn’t want to leave you high and dry, so here are a few blasts from the past to help keep you green this summer…

• eco sunglasses and off the shelf readers
• feelgoodz flip flops (25% off) that are compostable
• splaff flip flops from recycled tire, bike parts and hemp
• organic and natural sunscreens for lips and skin
• tees and swimsuits for beach bums from BTC Elements
• stylish totes and beach bags from recycled plastic
• wrap up of all green summer essentials from head to toe.

• Perhaps they can leverage change through investment…Norway Oil Fund Expands Green Activist Role – rueters
• Good news – production may be green, bad news – another crappy movie…“Wolverine” Sequel Gets a Green Light – ecorazzi
• Not good…June’s Record Ocean Warmth Worries Fisherman, Environmentalists – yahoo! news
• This may be one program we should think about funding…Report: Nasa Can’t Keep Up With Killer Asteroids – myway
• For all you exterminators out there…Biological Clocks of Insects Could Lead to More Effective Pest Control – sciencedaily