It’s a bright, cool morning in the valley between Portela de Unhais and Pamphilosa da Serra when the barking of eight dogs wakes us up.  The windmills perched on the ridges above have been spinning since around six, pumping energy down into the valley, past our little organic farm.  A friend and I were WWOOFing here in Portugal, a volunteering agreement between farmers and volunteers.

WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) – and thus the term WWOOFing – was born in 1971 in Britain, when Sue Coppard put an ad in her local newspaper looking for people interested in helping out on a farm.  Coppard had grown up in the country but had since moved to London and was missing her rural roots.  (more…)

• T-Bird plant recycled…Ford Plant Expected to Shift to Solar Panels – msnbc
• Save paper…Stop Clipping and Start Clicking! Top Grocery Stores Go Online With Coupons in Northeast – earth times
• Sustainable avian pest control…Beware the Attack Bird: Vineyards Turn to Falcons – npr
• Luckily, I’ve only got 6…7 Thoughts That are Bad for You – livescience
• Inquiring minds want to know…Are Tigers ‘Brainier’ Than Lions – sciencedaily
• Road rage…Celebrity Macaw Attacks Police Officer – ananova

UPDATE – It’s official, our 2 lucky winners are Jessica C. and Tracy H.  Thanks to everyone for participating, and be sure to check out our next Great Green Giveaway.  (original post follows…)

Some of us do our best work in the bedroom.  If you’re dreaming of lounging around in soft eco little ditties, listen up.  I just was turned on to a set of organic cotton jersey intimates that are swoon worthy.  Feminine, but not overly fussy or frilly.  They’re the ultimate in sensual comfort.

2 lucky ladies will each get to choose from either O Girl Babydoll, (at left, retails $66) or Natural Woman Set, (at right, retails $98) in their preferred size.  Generously sponsored by Eberjey Intimates, here’s how to get into this eco sexy game.

To Enter this Random Drawing, simply:

• Visit eberjey.com and sign up for their newsletter.
• Then leave a comment on this post, answering the following question:  prior to this Giveaway, were you already familiar with Eberjey Intimates?
• Add the following address to your email address book: m at AlternativeConsumer.com.

Two winners will be selected in our Random Drawing, and notified by email.  Contest ends Monday, September 21, 2009 at 11:59p (EST).   Winners have 24 hours to claim their prize, or offer is null and void.  Winners’ names will also be included on this post.  Giveaway includes free shipping, anywhere in the USA and Canada.

*One entry per person.

*EXTRA CREDIT If you have your own blog, you can post about the giveaway with a link back to this giveaway post. To make sure we know, you can come back and leave a comment with a link to your blog post. If you Twitter, you can tweet about the giveaway (once per day), and be sure to refer to @altCon, and leave a comment linking to the status. You can also receive additional entries 3 more ways: subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on Twitter or become a friend on FaceBook. (If you’ve already signed up, just enter a comment to let us know.)
Time’s ticking, so start clicking – Good Luck!

For the well-heeled, whether dressing up or down, we’ve got you covered in animal-friendly style:

(above L) – Step out in sustainable style with Simple’s Green Toematillo ankle bootie with hemp uppers, coconut buttons, bamboo wedge heel and lined with organic cotton fleece (on sale, $76.85) @ zappos.com (more…)

How much of your day do you spend on the phone?  The “Charlotte” bag will help you fully express the all-consuming obsession you may have for talking, texting and emailing from your (more…)

Operating out of their renovated factory in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, IceStone creates great looking, highly durable surfaces for both homes and commercial spaces.  IceStone’s products are created with 100% recycled glass in a cement matrix via a process designed to conserve both water and energy.  The company makes surfaces for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, tabletops and patio surfaces.

IceStone’s surfaces contain high recycled content, VOC-free ingredients, and they’re the first durable surfaces company to receive the MBDC’s Cradle to Cradle™ Gold certification, (very green).  The company’s products are ideal for projects seeking LEED certification.

learn more @ icestone.biz

NYC is aflutter with all sorts of Fashion’s Night Out special events and activities designed to give shoppers an incentive to spend some time and money in retail shops.  If you’re looking to perk up your fall wardrobe, it’s a good time be treated like a VIP, and save some cash on special deals.

My very short list of places for eco finds:

• Kaight on the lower east side – everything will be 15% off, and beginning at 6p, refreshments will be provided by 44 North Vodka and tasty bites by Rabbit Mafia.  discounts also apply via online @ kaightshop.com for reasonably priced designer wear.
  
• 429 West 14th Street, Stella McCartney’s shop will feature eco fashion tips from Vogue’s Tonne Goodman, organic cocktails and vegetarian snacks. expect pricey designer wear.
• find lots more @ fashionsnightout.com

The idea of harvesting solar power from space has been circulating for quite some time.  The advantages are obvious – constant sunlight independent of weather conditions; so, what we normally factor into the feasibility of solar panels on Earth – such as the geographic region, weather patterns, and equipment placement – no longer applies.  Given such ideal conditions, it’s no surprise that the solar energy in space is ten times that on Earth, making solar satellites sound like a not-half-bad idea.

In an announcement last Tuesday, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and IHI Corporation are teaming up with 14 other companies to develop a solar power generator based in outer space.  The project, led by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), will consist of four square kilometers of solar satellites housed 36,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.

The technology in development will be able to convert the harnessed energy into radio frequency energy, and then wirelessly transmit it to a receiving station back on Earth, erasing the need for any cables.  Its completion is set for 2030 with the launch of its first prototype set for 2015, and is estimated to generate one gigawatt of energy, enough to power nearly 300,000 homes.

The project, however, comes with a hefty price tag, costing an estimated $21 billion.  And, of course there is the issue of whether the energy these solar panels can generate is worth that of the energy and costs to produce and transport them into space.  A fan of the idea, but I’m on the fence when it comes to feasibility.  What do you think?

Can paint be hip?  New eco-paint purveyor, Bungaloo, makes the analogy that color, much like music, can dictate mood and enhance one’s mental well-being and attitude.  Hence their new line of vibrant, youthful, zero-VOC “color liquids”.  The aim, create colors that appeal to the “I’m not Martha Stewart” younger generation.  The company is getting their message across at concerts and festivals like Berkeley’s Caltopia and Bonnaroo events.

An interesting tidbit, Bungaloo’s website features a widget that let’s you define your musical, fashion and pop culture tastes – the site then recommends a color palette to fit your profile. Hmm…

via: prnewswire