Good Green News

How would nature build a house?
Earlier this year I had the good fortune to take part in a daylong biomimicry workshop offered by the American Institute of Architects’ Committee on the Environment and led by Dayna Baumeister of the Biomimicry Guild.
Biomimicry is a new methodology based on Janine Benyus’s highly acclaimed book, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired [...]

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Salvaged wood helps protect endangered forests—and the quality and beauty often can’t be beat.
For your next home improvement project, rather than buying new wood, consider using wood that’s been around the block a few times. With half the planet’s original forests already gone and global consumption of wood expected to increase 50 percent by mid-century, [...]

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For years I would perk up my ears whenever I heard about someone who kept chickens in their backyard. “Wouldn’t that be the cat’s meow,” I’d think. “Eggs as fresh as can be, humanely treated hens, fertilizer for the garden, plus the antics of lively creatures right outside your door.”
And then I’d become, as my [...]

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I begged this recipe off of architect Cate Leger, whose mother Toni Putnam picked it up while traveling in Greece. The vibrant color of this easy souffle-like dish will brighten any meal. Serves 4.
8 eggs
1/2 to 3/4 lb. cheddar cheese, shredded or cubed (see note)
2 cloves garlic
Leaves from 2 to 4 sprigs of fresh basil
1 lb. fresh [...]

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Can’t make it to an in-person event? Listen to Jennifer and Dwell editor Frances Anderton discuss the growing green movement at dwell.com/daily/podcasts/5853706.html.

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On April 14, 2007, people all across the U.S. will rally in their communities to call for action on climate change. Get involved: stepitup2007.org

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April 18, 2007  Sunnyvale, CA  7–8 pm
Dream Green Kitchens
Hosted by the City of Sunnyvale. Info & reservations: sunnyvalerecycles.org or (408) 730-7484.
Join Jennifer for a talk about what green means when it comes to the kitchen. Learn about techniques and products being used today to create kitchens that are beautiful, healthier for people and easier on [...]

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May 12, 2007  Petaluma, CA  10am–2pm
Remodel or Retrofit to Live Well
Hosted by Daily Acts and the City of Petaluma. Info & reservations: daily-acts.org or (707) 789-9664.
A talk by Jennifer on green home remodeling will be followed by a tour of a 1940s Petaluma house that was remodeled to be super green and use zero net [...]

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The Return of the Solar Cat Book by Jim Augustyn. Greening your house doesn’t mean you have to check your sense of humor at the door. In this update to his 1979 solar energy classic, Augustyn mixes cat wisdom and humor with science and eco-politics. solarcat.com

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My Pet Chicken. If you’re hankering after hens for your backyard but can’t meet the 25-chick minimum order set by many hatcheries, go to mypetchicken.com. They’ll ship as few as three baby chicks via the U.S. Postal Service, in a box complete with its own heat source.

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