With her first-ever post, we welcome our new California-based contributor, Frances Ho, a senior at UCSD, majoring in Environmental Systems & Urban Studies and Planning.

The First Lady keeps getting better.  She’s been promoting her “Let’s Move!” campaign to solve childhood obesity, and decided to make a stop at a community garden in City Heights of San Diego last month.

The garden is a project started by the International Rescue Committee in June 2009 that gives jobs and fresh, organic produce to the international refugees and their families that work on the 2.3 acre farm.  Extra produce is sold at farmers markets or to local restaurants for a little extra income. It’s a source of income and food, but the garden also plays a role as a haven for the refugees to reconnect with their native countries that they have had to leave behind.

Michelle Obama along with The California Endowment, are trying to get people – especially children – to eat and live healthy by promoting farmers markets, community gardens, and walkable neighborhoods.

What can you do? Start your own garden in your backyard or right on your kitchen counter.  Fresh herbs and veggies have never been easier to grow (and eat)!

Related:  previously on altCon – gardening

UPDATE:  It’s official! Our 3 very lucky winners are Margaret, Kimberly and J. Sutton.  Thanks to everyone for participating.  If you didn’t win, don’t despair.  Check out our latest Green Giveaway – hey, you never know…  (original post follows.)

We’re excited about this Great Green Giveaway, sponsored by IPATH.

(above, L to R, Langston and Reed, both made of hemp, from IPATH’s current collection)

3 very lucky guys will each receive a complimentary pair of their choice of any shoe on IPATH’s entire website.  What’s your style – vegan or hemp?  Or check out all the new arrivals.

Can’t wait a week?  Right now, receive 20% off any order.  Just enter code altconhemp at checkout.

To Enter:

• check out IPATH and find your favorite style.
• Then tell us which is your favorite, and why.
• Add the following address to your email address book: m at AlternativeConsumer.com.

Three winners will be selected in our Random Drawing, and notified by email. Contest ends Monday, May 24 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.  Prizes valued at approximately $50-80 + free shipping to anywhere in the USA.  (Note:  this particular giveaway is open to USA residents only.)

*One entry per person, but here’s how to get some extra credit:

• Have your own blog?  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.
• Follow Twitter?  Tweet about the giveaway (once per day), and be sure to refer to @altCon, and leave a comment linking to the status.
• subscribe to our RSS feed (leave a comment; if you’re already a subscriber, just let us know.)
• follow us on Twitter (leave a comment to let us know)
• follow IPATH on Twitter (leave a comment …)
• friend us on FaceBook (leave a comment …)

Since their inception in 1999, IPATH has been carving a green path and supporting environmental sustainability for the benefit of present and future generations of skateboarders. They’re proud to offer footwear and apparel made of alternative materials such as hemp and organic cotton, and are on a never ending quest to create the best products possible, while striving to maintain a low carbon footprint on the planet.

Save the date – don’t miss out…

• Eberjey camis, briefs, babydolls, thongs, pjs and swimsuits… all at 50-70% off.
• when:  Tues, May 18, 8:30a-7p & Wed, May 19, 9a-5p
• where:  231 West 39th Street, Suite 1102, NYC

• New measures “appear” to be reducing leak, but are they really just PR? Oil Spill Response to be Assessed on Capitol Hill – cnn
• Permanent fix is needed…US Says BP Move to Curb Oil Leak ‘no solution’ – bbc
• As BP Siphons Oil, Worries Grow Over Oil Spill’s Path – msnbc
• More on oil: Wasn’t Iraqi oil supposed to pay for the war? Iraq Signs Oil Field Deal With Chinese, Turkish Firms – yahoo! news
• Is this good news or bad? Nissan Says Leaf Electric Car to Cost Under $38,100 – rueters

Spending these past several days and nights on Sarasota’s beaches and Bay is bringing out the beach bunny in me.  With sun, salt and surf everywhere, one thing’s for certain – wrapping one’s bod in sustainable comfort is rule one.

When you worship at the alter of the sea, it doesn’t get much cooler than Surfmonk for hip shorts, shirts, dresses, robes, totes, beach blankets, body care, jewelry and more.

Apre wave bashing, luxuriate in roomy, uber soft, bamboo and organic cotton blends – whilst sipping your favorite libation, of course.

Now grab your board (or drink) and get in the game.

Find eco fashion and accessories for the entire clan @ surfmonk.com