Dressing warmly for your next outdoor adventure doesn’t mean bundling up like Nanook of the North … we’re crushing on Krimson Klover‘s flirty yet practical line of knit sweaters, scarves, stockings, and hats impeccably handmade of washable ultrafine merino wool. Built-in bonus points – the company is socio responsible and committed to the environment.

(above L to R) Where to buy? Lola chunky handknit tunic $166 & Polka Dot Whimsey Skirt $105 @ moose mountain trading company, steamboat springs, colorado.

No doubt, the fix is in @ metamorfixx. New York City native and eco-designer, Petra Hanson, loves to play in a pop band, solve puzzles and turn trash into one-of-a-kind couture. This talented butterfly transforms once-loved pieces into new found treasures. (above L to R) Apres Ski Birkini and stay buttoned-up as you traverse from slope-side to street-side.

(above L to R) Tread lightly and carry a small footprint – a couple of responsibly made standouts for fall-winter: Greenbees’ Emma boot $280 available at embodies.com and Coclico Nuala Bootie $328 @ embodies.com

(above) Hand crocheted with yarn spun of good old cotton (with a touch of Spandex for comfort), make a splash in Ambika bikinis while picking up beach trash on your favorite island …

related: more eco-fashion previously on altCon

New York designer Vilma Farrell creates her eco-friendly lamps and lamp shades by hand, from recycled coffee filters. Light passed through the patterns of stains on the used filters produces a wide array of unique, atmospheric lighting patterns.

Farrell, a former journalist, constructs each handcrafted lighting fixture from scratch; building each lamp’s frame by hand-cutting and assembling a wire cloth frame which is then covered with recycled (hand cleaned) coffee filters.

The lamps feature either their natural coffee-stained coloration, or subtle color variations created by dyeing the shade with spices or vegetable coloring. (more…)

• Is the weather crazy in your area? IPCC: Climate Impact Risk Set to Increase – bbc
• Fortunately, Criss Angel was not involved…Vanishing Jumbo Squid Mystery Solved – livescience
• In this case – more is indeed better…Biodiversity Can Promote Survival on a Warming Planet, Study Shows – sciencedaily
• The poop scoop. Did you know that World Toilet Day is tomorrow? Matt Damon Talks Sh*t for World Toilet Day – ecorazzi
• Cause and effect…expect heavy lobbying pressure from power companies and threats of rate increases…EPA to Propose Utility Carbon Emissions Rules Next Year – enn
• Ghost Alps of Antarctica Reveal Their Secret – yahoo! news

Related: more Eco News from The Alternative Consumer

We generally support any process that creates commercially viable, earth friendly products made out of recycled materials. One such product is the Crush line of tiles from San Jose, CA based Fireclay Tiles. Crush tiles are made from 100% recycled glass sourced from the pre-consumer raw waste glass of  a major window cutter located just 15 miles from the Fireclay plant.

Fireclay crushes (thus the name) and processes the glass in its local manufacturing facility, and then transforms the material into great-looking recycled glass tile.

The color names are inspired by natural elements (Acai, Poppy, Walnut, etc), mimicking the organic nature of Fireclayʼs localized sourcing and production of the Crush tiles. The result is a sustainable recycled glass tile line that is available immediately for residential and commercial projects, and contributes towards LEED construction credits. (more…)

Whether you’re ready to stuff yourself full of turkey or just stuff yourself full in general, here are some guidelines on how to prevent yourself from stuffing the landfill with trash and the atmosphere with unnecessary carbon emissions – all while also maintaining your good health this Thanksgiving!

• Got family or friends who live in a nearby city coming over for the big feast? Encourage them to carpool with each other. According to Rideshare, one can prevent 1,500 lbs of CO2 emissions by just cutting off 25 miles of driving per week. As an added bonus, the car ride may provide some interesting conversation starters, later, around the table.
• Try to use as many natural ingredients in preparing your delicious feast as you possibly can. Consider purchasing a free-range turkey that has not been injected with antibiotics or growth hormones. Dive for that bird that was raised on 100% vegetarian feed and local!
• Making your cornbread from a mix? Ensure that it is made of whole kernels and, again, natural ingredients. If budget allows, opt for organically grown produce.

• You may be wondering if there’s a place where one can cheaply purchase many Thanksgiving food items. One answer is Trader Joe’s! In their Pacific Northwest newsletter, (I’m Seattle-based), this store is offering some sweet deals. Trader Joe’s All Natural Turkey Gravy (made gluten-free) is available in a 17.6 ounce container for just $1.49. Buy their All Natural, Brined, Fresh Young Turkeys for $1.99 per pound. This store even sells kosher turkey! If a Trader Joe’s is not near you, try looking for a store that offers similar services.
• Save a bird – forgo the turkey and create a tasty feast that’s simply meatless. Opt for veggies that are local and in-season. Try some vegan thanksgiving recipes.
• Martinelli’s now offers USDA certified organic sparkling cider – so let the kiddies join in on the fun.
• Save your leftovers. And if you are feeling up to experimenting, combine some of your leftovers into one container for storage. Seriously, peas, mashed potatoes, and a croissant roll make for a most delicious trio. Be sure to use either glass storage containers or bio-plastic that’s BPA-free. Try HealthyKitchen for a good selection of glass or stainless steel options; Preserve.com for BPA-free food storage ideas or reuseit.com for peace of mind.
• Reduce, reuse, and recycle (in that order). Try your absolute hardest to only purchase what you will need for your Thanksgiving meal. Reuse any containers and decorate them if you so feel the urge. Recycle any cans that once held your condensed milk, yams, beans, etc. Also, be sure to recycle any plastic that your local recycling service will permit.
• You’ve probably heard of it, already, but I’d like to mention, anyway. I dare you to take the 100 Mile Challenge! That is, gather as many food items that were grown, produced, and sold within no more than 100 miles of your home as time will allow. One of the best ways to do this is to check out your local farmer’s market. After your friends and family have filled their tummies with delicious yum, reveal to them just where you got those potatoes that they could not help but take third helpings of. Observe their memorable reaction!
• Dress your table with the real thing – china, glass and cutlery. If that’s impossible, be sure to use bio-based, compostable alternatives instead. They’re widely available and much easier on Mother Earth when compared to disposable plastic and paper-ware. If you just can’t avoid the single-use disposable items, we favor Bambu for earth-conscious disposable table ware. You can also find compostable dinnerware from Branch.com and VerTerra reusable plates are a good option as well.

After all, Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate what we are thankful for and a time to look back on fun memories with some of the people we are fond of most. Why not create a ‘green Thanksgiving’ memory while you’re at it?

Related: more healthy food previously on altCon

Looking to perch yourself above ground and really commune with nature? Treehotel is branching out and now offers rather posh mirrored prefab cube abodes ready for tree-mounting. Designed by Scandinavian architects, Bolle Tham and Martin Videgård, as a turnkey solution, Treehotel handles construction, transportation and installation at your tree-loving location of choice.

A simple yet luxurious eco-friendly hideaway, exterior walls are made from reflective “spyglass” whereby infrared film placed within the glass makes Mirrorcube visible to birds and other animals. The film is invisible to humans. Interior walls are wood with windows allowing natural light, warmth and vistas; ladder leads to rooftop terrace, your personal stairway to heaven.

The centerpiece of the space is the living tree, hug it at your leisure; built-in queen size bed and ash ladder come with the space, as do all lighting fixtures and furnishings. Electricity is (more…)

As part of this week’s ongoing series highlighting great products made from recycled materials … we acknowledge Hipcycle‘s ever evolving array of affordable and cool items for your home, office or garden.

Dedicated to keeping perfectly good materials out of the wastestream and into the use-stream, take your pick of kitschy  (more…)

• The recipe for smog: thousands of cars, millions of people, dozens of coal-fired power plants and some unique geography…Cough…the 20 Most Polluted Cities in America – msnbc/Forbes
• The secret is in the microbes…Can Algae Save the World? A Q&A with Craig Venter – livescience
• Dozens of Illegal Rhino Horns Seized in Hong Kong – bbc
• It used to be called “global warming”…Erratic, Extreme Day-to-Day Weather Puts Climate Change in New Light – sciencedaily
• This goes against most health organization recommendations…Florida County Says “No” to Fluoride in Drinking Water – npr
• Only in America – high on crystal meth the suspect was avenging the death of several cockfighting roosters…California Man Charged with Killing, Skinning and Eating Bobcat – mercury news

This week, in acknowledgment of America Recycles Day (November 15th), we’re featuring products made from recycled materials like this very cool wall clock made from a recycled bicycle wheel. The one of a kind clock is made from a real bike tire so it has the commensurate scuffs, dings and character of a used wheel.

The clock mounts directly to the wall through the hub using a hollow wall anchor, giving the clock the illusion of floating just off the wall. The timepiece features a high torque German quartz movement mounted and concealed behind a set of rear bike gears. The clock measures roughly 20 inches in diameter and runs on two included AA batteries.

Made in the USA by Allan Young and sold at his pixelthis Etsy shop for $129

Related: more clocks made from recycled stuff by pixelthis