This the fourth post in Theresa Gould’s series on her organic farming learning experience.

My husband, Robert, and I have had to go solo these past two Stateline Farm Beginning classes due to our childcare not being well and the fact the class is on Thursday evenings this month.  Hopefully in January when the classes go back to Saturdays, we can arrange for childcare for those full days.  It’s a little disappointing to be going separately, but we knew childcare would be our biggest challenge in taking the course since we don’t leave our children with just anyone.

Back to the task at hand – sharing what we learned from Class Number 4.  Class 4 focused on budgeting and cash flow.  My husband said it was definitely a numbers class as they went over a financial statement of one of the guest farmers who was speaking.  The farmer did a complete cash flow presentation.  She even shared how having laying hens and selling eggs is really unprofitable.  This is something we keep hearing over and over again from the farmers.  How sad is that?  Yet most of the farmers agree that selling eggs is necessary as it (more…)

Over consumption has become as American as apple pie (organic apples, please). The holidays are a perfect time to examine our lust to consume, and adjust our priorities for the betterment of the planet.

As you ponder your Naughty and Nice list, if you’re not sure of someone’s size or taste, or feel intimidated by the person who has everything — there are lots of worthy causes that you can donate to in another’s name. Here are just a few of the long list of worthy green causes you may want to gift to; everybody feels good when contributing to the greater good.

central park conservancy

nyc habitat for humanity

heal the bay

national audubon society

natural resources defense council

one shared world

sierra club

world monuments fund

american forests org

i love mountains org

oxfam america unwrapped

make it right nola

coastal conservation association

conservation international

surf rider org

environmental justice foundation

new american dream

green blue

student conservation association

justgive.org

Want a add a more natural touch to your Christmas decorations?  These laser-cut bamboo ornaments are made from renewable bamboo by Sub Studio in NYC.  The surface engraving reveals a darker layer beneath.

They come in a handcrafted 5 piece variety pack that goes for $28

• Is the dark side winning? Copenhagen Climate Conference Negotiations Suspended – bbc
• We’re lazy and conflicted…American’s Attitudes Toward Environment Aren’t Reflected in Actions – cs monitor
• Change is a comin’…Toyota to Sell Plug-In Hybrids to Consumers in 2 Years – reuters
• For all you cat obsessed individuals…Cat Uses Human Loo – ananova
• Who’s going to fight for the arctic musk oxen? List of ‘Unsung’ Wildlife Affected by Climate Change Released – sciencedaily
• Zoo to Pandas: Give Us Some Cubs – aol news

Get into the spirit of the holidays!  You want to give back to the community, and by doing so in a green way you can spread a little bit of eco-love around to those who often don’t see it.  There are three ways to give this holiday season: food, money and time.  Make each of them green.

1.  Food
Every year 49.1 million people in the United States feel the effects of hunger.  While we’re trying to decide which brand of organic snacks will fill that craving for a mid-day snack, many people can’t afford a dinner of any kind, let alone an organic one.  You can help.

Organic food is a luxury for most people, but if you can afford to buy organic for yourself you can afford to buy it for a holiday care package.  If you can’t do organic, don’t stress.  There’s more to healthy donations that just that little green sticker.  Think chemical and pesticide free, think local and think sustainability.  Think whole foods with single-ingredients.  Avoid highly processed, individually wrapped foods.

Canned foods are what we usually think of when we donate food, but make sure you avoid cans lined in BPA.  This is hard to do, many times, but Eden Organic is one company that provides BPA free canned goods.  Look for glass or cardboard cartons if you’re not sure about the BPA content.    (more…)

Just the other day I received 5 free bars of Goat Milk Soap from Creamery Creek Farm, and I couldn’t wait to lather up.

I’m not sure which appealed to me more — knowing that the cakes were handcrafted using the finest ingredients, or the inviting packaging.  Simply encased in matte, cream colored paper with a charming logo of a sweet goat surrounded by a dragonfly and flowers, the lavender, green and grey color palette evoke a pastoral feel befitting its Utah home.  Once unwrapped, the hefty bars are embossed with Creamery Creek’s sweet logo as well.

I decided to try the Unscented cake first, and was pleasantly surprised by its wonderful scent.  Comprised of fresh goat milk, olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, castor oil, shea butter, soybean oil and without any scents or colors added; you can feel mother nature at work.  I love washing my hands with Unscented at the kitchen sink; it leaves my skin feeling squeaking clean, soft and moisturized.

Of the four remaining bars, Honey Almond Oatmeal, Aloe French Clay, Lemongrass ‘n Herbs and Lime Sugar, figuring out which soap would live in my powder room was a no-brainer.  With Christmas around the corner, Lime Sugar won hands-down.  Rich and creamy, it makes me feel good all over.

Creamery Creek Farm is home to the Shumway Family, who has been lovingly raising goats for 25 years and passionately making goat milk soap for 12 years.  They have chosen to raise Nigerian Dwarf goats; the doe produces sweet milk with 6-10 percent more butterfat and is higher in protein than milk from most dairy goat breeds.  Using real, fresh milk, not powder, the naturally occurring glycerin helps keep even the most sensitive and dry skin, moisturized.

They offer a selection of 6 essential oil based scents, 24 different fragrance oils soaps, as well as Unscented — all are handcrafted, cruelty free and eco friendly, some sound good enough to eat — Mango Mandarin, Coconut Cream, Raspberry Lemon and Chocolate Mint.  At five dollars a pop, these goat milk soap cakes are a little piece of handmade heaven – find @ creamerycreek.com.  In this Tried and True Green Products Review, we definitely give Creamery Creek Goat Milk Soap our green thumbs up.

• Protesters demand strong action.  Climate Talks Advance in Copenhagen Amid Protests – myway
• I think I just got a whiff of a Bruce Willis movie concept… Australia Shipping Alert Over Giant Iceberg – yahoo! news
• Photos: Ten U.S. Species Feeling Global Warming’s Heat - natgeo
• You can ‘deny’ but you can’t hide…Global Average Temperature May Hit Record Level in 2010 – bbc
• A bipartisan plan that cuts out Wall Street…Two U.S. Senators Unveil Alternate Climate Bill – reuters
• I’m afraid of lists…Top Ten Phobias: What Really Scares People – livescience

Santa baby, hurry down the chimney tonight.  Here’s a peek at of some of our favorite little ditties and cover-ups for the ladies.

From across the pond, find ethically made nighties and lingerie for that special someone, (you).  All intimates in this eco boutique are made in the U.K. from sustainable, organic or vintage fabric.  The Annabel Ruched Camisole pictured above goes for £69.
more @ enamore.co.uk.

For the kitten who has almost everything, surprise her with a pair eco-friendly panties.  The Primose Knicker (above R) go for £16 @ luvahuva.co.uk and the organic cotton Lavender Boy Short (above L) will cost you $20 @ faeriesdance.com

Heat up those winter nights with eco-undies like the Santa red Ruffle Bra and Panty (above L) set marked down to $60 from sustainable lingerie maker T-Luxe or go with a retro vibe with a processed bamboo and organic cotton panty & stocking set from Urban Fox for $75 (above R).

This year, treat the eco traveler on your holiday gift list to gear that’s not only great, but will make their life–and journeys–easier.  To help you choose the perfect present for your frequent flier, whether they’re heading south for a safari or simply packing up for a weekend away at an eco B&B, we’ve selected some of our favorite goods “to go.”

Sustainable Suitcases
Heys’ new three piece luggage set is not only lovely to look at, but boasts a kinder side.  Each suitcase is made of 100 percent recycled plastic.  Lightweight, each case is ultra easy to drag down a terminal thanks to four clever spinner-style wheels.  $360 at www.ebags.com.

Eco Carrying Case
Who vacations these days without updating their Flickr accounts and tweeting simultaneously?  Keep in touch with the folks at home by sliding your MacBook into one of these eco-friendly laptop sleeves (above) by ColcaSac.  Heavily padded and suspiciously low-tech looking, nobody will guess that your sleek computer is hidden beneath the all natural hemp.
$33 at www.colcasac.com.

Solar Powered Bluetooth
We’re not huge fans of headset-toting travelers who gab non-stop on the train or absentmindedly body check you, but we are proponents of the cool technology and its ability to keep you connected.  Now, you can keep talking even if you’re not near a charging outlet thanks to the i.Tech.Dynamic solar-chargeable Bluetooth headset.  Sophisticated and clear-sounding, the headset, which features a solar panel along its longest side, allows for up to five hours of talk time in optimum sunlight.
$75 at www.amazon.com.

Recycled Venturing Vest
Patagonia’s Recycled Retro-X Vest is, well, the perfect travel companion. Warm and cozy, it’s made of recycled polyester from soda bottles and post-consumer fabric and available in both men’s and women’s styles for the adventuresome duo. The fact that it’s windproof and mesh-lined is outdone only by its inclusion in the Patagonia Common Threads Recycling Program, which allows you to drop it off when its outworn so it can be turned into something new.
$140 at www.patagonia.com.

Green Travel Guide
There’s no better reading material for a green globetrotter than the Clean Breaks travel book by Rough Guides. Immerse yourself in one of 500 eco-getaways, from mud huts in Jamaica to pink dolphins in Hong Kong. Clearly, it makes for fantastic fodder with fellow travelers – and features 392 glossy pages and 16 full-color maps for planning your next trip.  Want to make it a truly memorable gift?  Slip a round-trip airline voucher and carbon credit certificate inside.  $30 at www.roughguides.com.

Related:  more eco cool gift ideas
(12.04.09)  10 Great Green Gifts under $50 for Him and Her

(11.30.09) a college student’s eco gift wish list