Simple, elegant Scandinavian design – this single story prefab home is located on Muskö Island in Sweden.  The living room and kitchen lie betwixt the two bedrooms, which are positioned at either end of the home.

It is the second home that design firm Claesson Koisvisto Rune has created for the Arkitekthus catalog.  The guest house and sauna (essential) were designed and created specifically for this client.

see more CKR designs @ ckr.se

• One itty-bitty problemo…the coalition of “no” doesn’t read climate reports…Climate Report Publicized in Runup to Senate Climate Bill – reuters
• Iceland Volcano Ash Plume Prompts Health Worry – natgeo
• I thought you’d need to know…The Seven Most Horrifying Things Ever Found in a Human Body – cracked.com
• Could you take my steak off the grill? Meat, Especially if it’s Well Done, May Increase Risk of Bladder Cancer – sciencedaily
• Deserving recipients…Six Get $150K Each for Eco-Activism – msnbc
• No – this isn’t about a messy basement…Everest Death Zone Set for Spring Clean-up – reuters
• We’ll know we’ve evolved as a species when this story isn’t news…Volcanic Ash Hits “Iron Man 2″ Premiere, Strands Stars – yahoo! news

Oceano Seaglass created these beautiful earrings from reclaimed and recycled green sea glass perfectly shaped and polished by mother nature and dangled from hand formed and polished recycled sterling silver.

a fashionably fitting Earth Day gift  – $35

Every Earth Day celebration should include a little art – that, in combination with my having made a couple of mixed tapes back in the day and my burning affection for all things ‘eco’ – draws me to this print’s message and imagery.

Artist Julia Pott does some great, eclectic illustrations.  This is an A3 Print (16.54 in by 11.69 in) and it features animals & ships & mountains with text reading ‘You Made Me a Mix Tape, now you’re my boyfriend’.  It is full color and printed on 192 gsm archival matte paper.  Signed and dated on the back – this print will make a great Earth Day gift.

$25 @ Julia’s online shop

A new age in local waste management is dawning.  In a move that will keep the Chesapeake Bay watershed just a little cleaner, local and regional leaders today broke ground on an innovative facility that may be the first-of-its-kind to turn both excess manure from local farms and waste from yards and kitchens into compost and prevent polluted runoff from reaching Lancaster County’s streams and rivers.  By composting manure from local farms, food waste from local schools and restaurants, and leaves and yard waste from Manheim Township, the new facility — Oregon Dairy Organics — will turn trash into treasure for organic farmers, home gardeners, landscapers, and park and athletic field managers.  Oregon Dairy Organics will be selling finished compost by this fall.

source: prnewswire

EARTH WEEK TIP:  Spring brings lots more local, fresh produce to market and as we know, organic, locally-grown produce is best for your body and planet.  But if you can’t buy organic all the time, which fruits and veggies contain the most and least pesticides?

Here’s a handy Shopper’s Guide outlining the top 12 fruits and veggies that contain the most pesticides when grown conventionally, and the Top 15 that contain the fewest pesticides.  Available at no charge, you can download the pdf, print it out and take it with you when you shop; or it’s also available as an app from iphone.

Be sure to try to Buy These Organic (most toxic):

Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Blueberries
Nectarines
Bell Peppers
Spinach
Kale
Cherries
Potatoes
Lettuce
Grapes (imported)

Not necessarily a must-buy; The Clean 15 (lowest in pesticides):

Onion
Avocado
Sweet Corn
Pineapple
Mango
Sweet Peas
Asparagus
Kiwi
Cabbage
Eggplant
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Sweet Potato
Honeydew Melon

via:  Environmental Working Group

UPDATE: MARCH 2011 : WE HAVE CLOSED OUR OPEN SKY SHOP.

Here’s a very special offer taking place not only today, but now through Friday, (April 19-23) in honor of Earth Day’s 40th.

Anyone who purchases any item from our OpenSky eco boutique will receive:

• a free Earth Day Storybook.
• An automatic entry to win a customized Organic Beauty Package from SweetP’s.  This luxurious gift set includes:  Organic SunBlock, Hand & Body Wash, Therapeutic Bath Salts, Organic Hand & Body Lotion, Organic Hand & Body Whip and the winner gets to choose their favorite scent from over 20 toxic-free options.
• good karma — 15% of all Open Sky profits will be donated to Waterkeeper Alliance – a nonprofit, dedicated to preserving and protecting water from polluters.

We’ll be featuring new and exciting green goods in our shop every month.  These are products that we use and love; and we hope that you enjoy them, too…happy Earth Day, everyday!

• Icelandic Volcano May be No Weather Changer - bloomberg
• My risk vs reward analysis…leads me to one conclusion…no! Drill or not Drill in Northeast Watershed? – msnbc
• Picture of the day – the squid worm…In Pictures (above): Ocean’s Tiniest Creatures – bbc
• He’d better work fast…fall Congressional elections are coming…Obama’s Gambit to Marry US Policies on Environment and Energy – cs monitor
• The economic downside…Volcanic Ash Weighs Down Airline, Tourism Shares – yahoo! news
• One stop shopping…NYC OB/GYN Sells Sex Toys – aol news
• Climate change is complex and sometimes transitory…Link Between Solar Activity and the UK’s Cold Winters – sciencedaily
• Weird -  I think I saw the word ‘bipartisan’ used…Obama Will Focus on Energy Bill After Bank Reform – reuters
• No hens – he’ll lay eggs himself…‘Hencredible’ Cockerel Changed Sex – orange uk

I’m in search of a little gifty for a foodie friend, and remembered this cool way to keep herbs fresh. Thought I’d dig it out of the archives…

Smart, clean-looking design. This ceramic pot from Sagaform allows for the handsome presentation and preservation of fresh herbs. Insert a bunch of basil or chives in the enlarged opening, and keep them hydrated by pouring water into the corner hole.

The broad base ensures that all those little stalks have access to water, while allowing air to circulate so herbs keep from becoming limp and waterlogged. Easily separated for cleaning. Fresh basil — nothing better!

Packaging: Gift Box Size: 4.5″x 3″ $20.00 @ aplusrstore.com