As Mothers Day approaches, let’s not forget the mother that provides for us all…
Enjoy!
Eat Local Produce
Spring is here & the growing season is upon us.
Now is the time to support your local economy, save money & make an impact on the environment.
This article from On Earth Magazine on Feb 26 reminds us of the importance & helps us find the freshest local produce in our areas.
“Pop over to your nearest chain grocer and you’ll find the world at your fingertips, from Australian oranges to authentic Thai rice. And though offering your houseguests Chilean grapes may sound splendid, by now many of us know that it comes with a hefty price tag: those juicy orbs contributed to the 7,000 tons of global warming pollution emitted each year in the transport of Chilean grapes. NRDC’s new Web feature, Eating Local , tells you which fruits and veggies are in season in your state and then connects you to the location of your nearest farmers’ market. Visit http://www.nrdc.org/health/foodmiles .”
Happy Earth Day!
To celebrate earth day anyone reading this blog can save $5 off any purchase of $25 or more at SweetOrganicsandNaturals.com
with the coupon code: earth08
In addition 5% of your purchase will be helping local animal welfare agencies!
Feel free to share this coupon code with anyone you like!
Offer good through May 1, 2008
Here are 10 easy ways to make it a better Earth Day (April 22) and a better year for the Earth: 
- Turn it off. Switch off lights and appliances that aren’t in use. Shut off the faucet while you shave or brush your teeth.
- Turn it up (or down). Raise the temperature on your thermostat during the summer months to keep the house a bit warmer, and lower it during the winter months to keep the house a bit cooler. Dress accordingly.
- Turn it over. Use both sides of paper. The back side of paper can be used to print drafts or jot notes. When you print and copy new documents, choose double-sided printing.
- Turn it down. When you shop, carry your own tote bags and say “no thanks” to paper or plastic store bags.
- Turn it in. Do some spring cleaning and give away clothing, house wares, small appliances, toys, and games that you no longer need.
- Turn it around. Use and reuse what you already have. Extend the life of what you own with proper maintenance. Follow instructions for recharging batteries to keep them in tip-top shape.
- Turn it away. Reduce your waste at the source—don’t buy what you don’t really need. For example, take a look at last year’s spring and summer clothes before you start shopping this year.
- Turn it back…into something else. Recycle! Your old containers and paper products become brand-new stuff—from containers and paper to furniture and insulation.
- Turn it under. Compost your yard and garden waste, as well as your fruit and vegetable scraps, to create a nutrient-rich soil amendment.
- Turn it on. When you are excited about taking care of our Earth, you’ll get others excited, too. So turn on your charm and tell your story!
Things That Make You Say Fab
Ultra chic and Eco-Friendly Home Accessories
These industrial strength pieces by designer Tammy Roy, were created in part, or entirely of reclaimed steel and celebrate a raw, eco-inspired look. They are as tactile and beautiful as they are strong and unique-reflecting the spirit of the maker.
Available at Sweet Organics and Naturals
Algae Could One Day Be Major Hydrogen Fuel Source
ScienceDaily (Apr. 2, 200 
— As gas prices continue to soar to record highs, motorists are crying out for an alternative that won’t cramp their pocketbooks.
Scientists at U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory are answering that call by working to chemically manipulate algae for production of the next generation of renewable fuels – hydrogen gas.
“We believe there is a fundamental advantage in looking at the production of hydrogen by photosynthesis as a renewable fuel,” senior chemist David Tiede said. “Right now, ethanol is being produced from corn, but generating ethanol from corn is a thermodynamically much more inefficient process.”
Some varieties of algae, a kind of unicellular plant, contain an enzyme called hydrogenase that can create small amounts of hydrogen gas. Tiede said many believe this is used by Nature as a way to get rid of excess reducing equivalents that are produced under high light conditions, but there is little benefit to the plant.
Tiede and his group are trying to find a way to take the part of the enzyme that creates the gas and introduce it into the photosynthesis process.
The result would be a large amount of hydrogen gas, possibly on par with the amount of oxygen created.
“Biology can do it, but it’s making it do it at 5-10 percent yield that’s the problem,” Tiede said. “What we would like to do is take that catalyst out of hydrogenase and put into the photosynthetic protein framework. We are fortunate to have Professor Thomas Rauchfuss as a collaborator from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana who is an expert on the synthesis of hydrogenase active site mimics.”
Algae has several benefits over corn in fuel production. It can be grown in a closed system almost anywhere including deserts or even rooftops, and there is no competition for food or fertile soil. Algae is also easier to harvest because it has no roots or fruit and grows dispersed in water.
“If you have terrestrial plants like corn, you are restricted to where you could grow them,” Tiede said. “There is a problem now with biofuel crops competing with food crops because they are both using the same space. Algae provides an alternative, which can be grown in a closed photobioreactor analogous to a microbial fermentor that you could move any place.”
Tiede admitted the research is its beginning phases, but he is confident in his team and their research goals. The next step is to create a way to attach the catalytic enzyme to the molecule.
Funding for the research was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences.
Adapted from materials provided by DOE/Argonne National Laboratory.
Biogasoline?!
Look at the story I just came across. This is exciting to me as they can used non-food sources for our fuel!
Plants Converted Directly Into Biogasoline, Not Ethanol
MADISON, Wisconsin, March 27, 2008 (ENS) - A Wisconsin bioscience company and Royal Dutch Shell say they have developed a process to convert plant sugars directly into gasoline and gasoline blend components, rather than ethanol.The collaboration aims to create new biofuels that can be used at high blend rates in standard gasoline engines in place of fossil fuels. This could potentially eliminate the need for specialized infrastructure, new engine designs and blending equipment.
The patented and trademarked BioForming process pioneered by Virent Energy Systems, Inc. of Madison converts plant sugars into hydrocarbon molecules like those produced at a petroleum refinery. The biomass feedstocks are converted into conventional hydrocarbon fuels and products, including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
“The technical properties of today’s biofuels pose some challenges to widespread adoption,” said Dr. Graeme Sweeney, Shell executive vice president Future Fuels and C02. “Fuel distribution infrastructure and vehicle engines are being modified to cope but new fuels on the horizon, such as Virent’s, with characteristics similar or even superior to gasoline and diesel, are very exciting.”
Traditionally, sugars have been fermented into ethanol and distilled. These new “biogasoline” molecules have higher energy content than ethanol or butanol and deliver better fuel efficiency.
“They can be blended seamlessly to make conventional gasoline or combined with gasoline containing ethanol,” the companies said Wednesday in a statement.
The sugars can be sourced from non-food sources like corn stover, switchgrass, wheat straw and sugarcane pulp, in addition to conventional biofuel feedstock like wheat, corn and sugarcane.
The companies have so far collaborated for one year on the research. They say the technology has advanced rapidly, exceeding milestones for yield, product composition, and cost.
Future efforts will focus on further improving the technology and scaling it up for larger volume commercial production.
Dr. Randy Cortright, Virent chief technology officer, co-founder and executive vice president, said, “Virent has proven that sugars can be converted into the same hydrocarbon mixtures of today’s gasoline blends. Our products match petroleum gasoline in functionality and performance.”
“Virent’s unique catalytic process uses a variety of biomass-derived feedstocks to generate biogasoline at competitive costs. Our results to date fully justify accelerating commercialization of this technology,” said Cortright.
Virent has 68 employees located in a state-of-the-art catalytic biorefining development facility in Madison. The technology is based on the Aqueous Phase Reforming process, which Virent has exclusively licensed from the Wisconsin Alumni Redation.
Cortright says the biogasoline process delivers more net energy and offers a scalable, cost-effective alternative to traditional biofuel production routes.
Headquartered in the Netherlands and the UK, Royal Dutch Shell companies have operations in more than 130 countries, with businesses including: oil and gas exploration; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids; marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals; and renewable energy projects including wind, solar and biofuels.
FORD DELIVERS ULTRA-CLEAN HYDROGEN POWERED BUSES TO DETROIT METROPOLITAN AIRPORT
I wonder how long it will be until we have hydrogen passenger cars available?Ford Motor Company and U.S. Congressman John Dingell and the Wayne County Airport Authority today announced the delivery of two hydrogen-fueled Ford E-450 shuttle buses to be used for transporting airline passengers between terminals at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).Today’s delivery is the result of a partnership involving Ford, the Wayne County Airport Authority and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). The project is being funded with a Department of Energy grant that was supported by Congressman Dingell, who represents Michigan’s 15th District. “These buses represent part of Ford Motor Company’s strategy to deliver transportation solutions that emit less CO2 and reduce our dependence on oil,” said Ziad Ojakli, Ford group vice president, Government and Community Relations. “We are pleased to partner with the State of Michigan and Wayne County to place these buses into service so that locals and visitors alike will be able to experience this unique form of clean transportation. The buses also serve as a visible demonstration of Michigan’s commitment to innovation and sustainable mobility.” “I’m so glad that people coming through Detroit Metropolitan Airport will see this fine example of American engineering when they visit,” said Congressman Dingell, who played a critical role in securing the funding for the project. “Ford is building some of the finest green vehicles on the road today. The company proves time and time again it is committed to reducing greenhouse gases and producing efficient vehicles. The airport and SEMCOG are also to be commended for helping protect our environment and deserve credit for their fine work on this project.” “The Airport Authority is grateful to Ford, SEMCOG and especially Rep. Dingell, for bringing this opportunity to Detroit Metropolitan Airport,” said Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Lester Robinson. “This cooperative partnership will provide the Airport Authority with new technology to support our ongoing commitment to reducing airport emissions and to transport customers in a more sustainable manner.” “We applaud the partners for providing these energy-efficient buses,” said Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. “This is another example of the commitment in Wayne County to alternative transportation fuels. Wayne County already is one of the leading governmental users of biodiesel, having purchased nearly one million gallons since 2006.” Ford was the first automaker to deliver hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles for real world use in several cities. Ford has delivered buses to Greater Orlando Airport Authority (GOAA), Orlando Convention Central District, SeaWorld Orlando, University of Missouri Raleigh, city of Las Vegas, the San Mateo (Ca.) County Transportation Authority, and 10 buses to Canada for use in Prince Edward Island, Ottawa and Vancouver. To date, 23 buses of the 30 built have been delivered to customers for commercial use. Power for the Ford E-450 shuttle buses is provided by a 6.8-liter V-10 internal combustion engine that has been supercharged and modified to run exclusively on hydrogen fuel. DTW’s new buses will be fueled by a hydrogen pumping station located in Taylor, Mich., located just east of the airport. Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Technology Hydrogen Part of a Broader Effort Ford’s strategy for sustainable mobility is built around multiple technologies. This flexible approach allows the company to meet goals for customer needs, environmental impact and shareholder interests. The strategy does not focus on a single solution, but offers a flexible array of options, including near-term technologies such as Ford’s recently announced EcoBoost line of gasoline turbo direct injection engines. EcoBoost will allow Ford to deliver better fuel economy to millions of vehicles without sacrificing vehicle performance or affordability. Ford also continues to develop other alternative fuel technologies such as hybrids, clean diesels, biofuels, hydrogen fuel cells and plug-in hybrids. About Ford Motor Company About the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport |
Co-op America
Sweet Organics and Naturals
has just been approved by
The Beauty of Lokta
Announcing the start of Sweet Organics and Naturals Lokta Gift Wrap line!
A paper that is exquisite, strong, sustainable and beautiful!
So far we have many colors of wrapping paper, a gift bag & 3 colors of lokta paper ribbon in our gift wrap line!
In addition to the gift wrap we also have lokta computer paper & envelopes that are sure to impress potential bosses or clients.
Now a bit of lokta paper information:
Lokta Paper
Lokta paper is made from the Lokta bush or Daphne bush that grows Himalayan mountain region at 6,500 to 10,000 feet. There are many different species of Daphne but only five of them are really suitable for making paper. The paper is handmade in the mountains of Nepal from the inner bark of this bush. Popular as the most exquisite and versatile papers on the planet, Lokta handmade paper has four deckled edges and is a very strong fiber.That all sounds great, but what makes Lokta paper so eco-friendly?
· Lokta paper is handmade and sun dried, so there are no machines putting C02 or other emission into our air.
· It is made from a bush that grows quickly and needs to be pruned to the ground every 3- 4 years to grow stronger. Without this pruned it will wither and die. The root base grown during this period of regeneration keeps the soil more stable and helps protect rural Nepalese villages from mudslides during the monsoon season.
· The bush grows in the shade, so bushes grown for commercial purposes don’t require that the forests are cut down to farm them. It can be grown in tiers so that the plants will be ready to prune in different years.
· It is grown without chemicals and requires no bleaches or other chemical processing.
· While only the skin of the Lokta bush is needed to produce the paper. The artisans dry the remaining stalk of the bush in the sun so that they can use it for fuel to cook with. Therefore the entire plant is used and there is no waste.
· The paper is colored with either azo free dyes or organic dyes such as indigo, tree barks, flower etc.
· The strength of the paper makes it easy to reuse and the beauty of it makes you want to.
Using Lokta paper is not only good for the environment, but it helps the rural people of the Nepalese of the Himalayan mountain region. Not only does the root growth help protect their villages, but paper making is their only source of income.
Lokta is a wonderful alternative paper source that is oh so versatile!
Lokta wrapping paper, gift bags, ribbon, computer paper and envelopes are available at my online boutique
