It’s Friday – time to think about looking good and keeping it green.

(above) As seen on Alter Eco donning the Biplane tee, Adrian Grenier is no eco poser (see bleow).  Created by Santa Barbara-based ecozuzu.com; ($46.99) on etsy.com

(above) With truly nomadic roots, originally peddling goods out of a van, nomadshempwear is now based in Nelson, BC – ecofashioning hip and comfy threads from hemp, soy, organic cotton, and a touch of Spandex — for men, women and children. Super comfy and reasonably priced; vegan and fair trade made.  Angel Tank, undies and skirt above, available online  @hornetmountain.com

(above L to R)

Having just sailed through Alligator Alley to reach the suncoast of FL, I find myself drawn to this oversized v-neck tee with an alligator inspired pattern. 50% recycled polyester/50% organic cotton by Generation Love.  It’s a splurge fest, ($80) – find @ generationloveclothing.com

Here’s a spiffy little number with trippy details – the Expedition Dress, 100 percent organic cotton; made in NYC by Samantha Pleet; ($276) @ kaightshop.com

(above R to L)

Manufactured in Canada with a portion of their sales donated to various nonprofits to help raise eco awareness, this distinctly feminine Gazelle dress by lav&kush.com is made of Modal and Spandex, ($156 CAD) available @ mudsharkstreetwear.com.  Or go all Posh (you know, Victoria Beckham); Cape Jacket and Shorts are sold separately, also available @ mudsharkstreetwear.com

So that’s it for today…Here’s to a fun, low carbon impact weekend.

Related:  previously on altCon

2.1.08  13 ways to spot an eco poser

3.2.09  how to spot an eco poser Part Deux

6.1.09  mr happy – a faux green poser

A food management crisis was narrowly averted here at the Eco Dog compound.  One of our human decision-makers (they will go nameless…we may need them later) neglected to note that our usual dog chow supply was getting dangerously low.

The good folks at Holistic Select had fortunately chosen to send my two canine buddies and me a fresh supply of their Anchovy, Sardine and Salmon Meal, and Chicken Meal and Rice Radiant Adult Health dry food, along with a few Large and Giant Breed samples for taste testing (I’m a svelte 29 lbs while Madison the newfie weighs in at 125 plus).  Result: crisis averted, 3 well-fed canines with licked-clean bowls – we ate a few small meals as opposed to 1 large to transition between foods – and a newfound appreciation for healthy eating.

You’d think a dog food packed with a variety of “Select Actives” – healthy grains, enzymes, minerals and antioxidants would taste like medicine cabinet – but this food tastes really, really good.  These folks take their pet nutrition very, very seriously.

Taste: 5 dog bones*
Health: 5 dog bones
Digestibility: 5 dog bones

*you can’t do better than 5 bones

Urban Green Energy has introduced its new, easy to install, small wind, vertical axis wind turbine called ‘eddy‘.   Eddy is a quietly handsome wind turbine designed for residential and small business installations.  The turbine is said to be easy to install (under an hour), will snatch wind from any direction and can be pole or roof mounted.  The turbine can be readily integrated into an existing solar panel system with a hybrid controller.  Comes with a 3 year warranty and is designed to keep producing off-grid wind power for 20 years.

Cut-in wind speed is around 8 mph and eddy can survive winds up to 112 mph.  The amount of energy your site will produce will depend on how much wind is present.  It appears eddy requires moderate wind to create significant power.

Comes in different configurations starting at just under $5,000 and qualifies for a 30% federal tax credit.

Storey Publishing, who published a book we formerly reviewed called Keep Chickens!, generously sent me three more books to review, so you can expect to hear more about this green publisher.

The Healthy College Cookbook is the book I wish I’d had when I was a freshman in college.  My story is a common one: I arrived at my new campus home with a car full of clothes, books, a bike, and some office supplies.  Yes, I had two cookbooks in there.  But I didn’t know how to cook, and university life left me busier than I could have imagined.  Plus, I was on a budget.  I made cornbread a few times, and pancakes during sleepovers.  I knew how to boil pasta.  And once I baked a birthday cake for my friend.  That accounts for a grand total of four recipes, so I can’t say I got much use out of those cookbooks.

I was inspired to cook a few other times but soon grew frustrated when I didn’t know the difference between “dice” and “chop,” when the cost for ingredients was twice the amount I would have paid had I gone to a restaurant, and when I ended up spending two hours on a meal I’d hoped to have done in thirty minutes.  My idea of a quick meal at home became (more…)

Here’s a nifty little lighting product.  The Eco-i-Lite is a low energy consumption LED nightlight, a rechargeable emergency LED flashlight, and an emergency light that automatically goes on if your power goes off – all rolled into one.

The green gadget’s 8 LED lamps and rechargeable lithium ion battery never need to be replaced.   Lasts up to 7 hours as a hand-held light.

Designed and created by Florida-based Capstone Industries.