Where to Find This Girl’s Gone Green:
Blog URL: http://blog.food2gro.com/
Category: Green Living, Gardening, Lifestyles

This Girl’s Gone Green

A Costa Rican coffee farm might sound like an unlikely place to find a paralegal and her professional husband, but within the next year or two that is just where you’ll have to look to find Jennifer Long, or “Jubie” (her nickname) and her husband “Dr. Science”. The two share a dream to retire early to a greener life on a beautiful tropical farm—and they’re making plans to live it!

This Girl’s Gone Green - Why You Should Go

This Girl’s Gone Green is one of three blogs that Jennifer maintains; she also hosts a blog about funny goat stories (to know them is to love them—truly!) and a professionally-oriented blog about immigration. All three are great blogs, but the one that really stands out is This Girl’s Gone Green. The content of the blog—primarily centering on greener gardening and living—is reason enough to read this blog, but probably what is even more inspiring is Jennifer’s real enthusiasm and transition to her farming life in Costa Rica, and the illustration of the fact that it really is possible to dream big and achieve your goals and dreams, even if that means undertaking seemingly drastic life-changes (although maybe those changes are really just a return to Jennifer’s true self?).

Summing Up This Girl’s Gone Green

There are plenty of reasons to visit Jennifer’s blog—go for the green living info and inspiration, go for the inspiration to live your life’s dream, or go to see the fantastic photos of a beautiful part of this world. Your dream may not be to farm in a foreign nation, but regardless you will find the fact that a woman and her husband can go from the concrete jungle to the natural jungle a source of inspiration and motivation.

Go here to check out This Girl’s Gone Green.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2009

The point of Earth Day is not just to fix it once and forget it; it is to draw consciousness to the struggles of the planet and to induce people to change and action.

Blogs are excellent resources for ongoing learning and lifestyle change.  Many of the “green” blogs that have been reviewed here on Digg It are perfect examples of that, and ideal resources for the average earth citizen looking for realistic ways to achieve cleaner, more sustainable living.  Today, I’ve gone back through our archives to pull out some of the best environmentally friendly blogs of the past.

Blasts From The Green Past

We’ve got quite a few excellent green and environmentally friendly blogs in the Environment category, but here are a few of my personal favorites:

• Tree Hugging Family was our first green review.  It is a blog run by a dynamic duo who is providing us daily with tips, tricks, and gadgets for better and cleaner living.
• Green Living Tips is Australian Michael Bloch’s contribution to bettering the planet.  Michael is a very well-respected writer in this area, and his site is absolutely packed with information and resources–including carbon-clean web hosting options!
• 365 Days of Trash started as Sustainable Dave’s journal of his experiment not to throw anything away for an entire year.  Dave succeeded quite admirably, and gained much fame in the process.  The original experiment has grown into so much more, not the least of which is his educational efforts and outreach.  His blog still goes strong to educate and support clean living initiatives.
• The BusinessGreen blog is dedicated to helping us take greener, cleaner living throughout all aspects of our life, not only at home but in the workplace, too.  This is a blog that helps to round out the process and create an entire core of action toward real change and environmentally friendly practices.

We have many more excellent environmentally-friendly blog reviews within this category.  Be sure to check them all out and subscribe to a few of your favorites so that you have the daily resources you need for daily better living and maintaining a cleaner, greener, lifestyle.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2009

Where to Find Earth Day Network:
Blog URL: http://network.earthday.net/
Category: Environment, Personal Interests

Earth Day Network

Today is Earth Day; our day to pay particular attention to our planet and to plan and strategize ways to improve and protect it. This is a day that has been recognized for well over thirty years now, and one that we all know needs to extend beyond the reaches of just this annual date. That is just what the Earth Day Network of blogs has been designed to do.

Earth Day Network - Why You Should Go

The Earth Day Network was founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970. It is designed to be a place to continually prepare for the annual event, and also to blog and discuss events and topics of importance related to preserving the Earth and her natural resources. The site describes its mission in this way:

“Earth Day Network is a driving force steering environmental awareness around the world. Through Earth Day Network, activists connect, interact, and have an impact on their communities, and create positive change in local, national, and global policies. EDN’s international network reaches over 17,000 organizations in 174 countries, while the domestic program engages 5,000 groups and over 25,000 educators coordinating millions of community development and environmental protection activities throughout the year. Earth Day is the only event celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities. More than a half billion people participate in our campaigns every year.

Our mission is to grow and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable planet.”

Summing Up Earth Day Network

The Earth Day Network is home to a great variety of blogs all with a focus on bettering life on this planet at home and abroad. Each blogger has his or her own perspective and agenda, so you can be sure that your personal tastes will be represented here. Get involved or just come to learn how to live more environmentally friendly, starting small with you and yours in the comfort of your own home.

Celebrate Earth Day today and….

Go here to check out the Earth Day Network.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2009

Where to Find Backwoods Essentials:
Blog URL: http://backwoods-living.blogspot.com/
Category: Outdoors, Lifestyles

Backwoods Essentials

Backwoods Essentials is the work of J.S. Crews, an American living a simpler, “backwoods” lifestyle. Although this may seem like a new concept, it really is not. There is a fairly large population of people choosing this sort of (usually) “off the grid” lifestyle all across the world, and Crews is one helping them do it.

Backwoods Essentials - Why You Should Go

Crews’ blog, which is an accompaniment in part to his Backwoods Essentials storefront, is a collection of news, information and tutorials for backwoods and survival living. Although it caters largely to that “backwoods” crowd, it also caters to the more general populations of outdoor enthusiasts, campers, and even urbanites who are looking to become a little more self-sufficient and prepared. The blog is described as

“A blog to discuss life on a rural homestead; including gardening, long term food storage, alternate energy, emergency preparedness, survivalist and self-sufficiency topics.”

As such, it has information available for a wide variety of uses, and offers up useful knowledge that can be applied regardless of where you live.

Summing Up Backwoods Essentials

With life gone crazy, some people are finding refuge in getting back to the basics and simplifying life a little more; others are simply being better prepared in a world that at times can be very unpredictable. No matter what your intention, finding out how to achieve that goal will be a lot easier with Crews and his many resources.

Go here to check out Backwoods Essentials.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2009

Where to Find BusinessGreen Blog:
Blog URL: http://blog.businessgreen.com/
Category: Environment, Business

BusinessGreen Blog

One of the biggest hurdles for environmental change is overcoming the issue of economic stability and business viability. We live in a world where so much of the economy (whether it be local, regional, national, or global), is reliant in some way on dirty fossil fuels. That makes change hard for many who flounder as they try to find a way to make money and continue to thrive as they move toward greener practices. Many simply give up trying.

It’s understandable that going green with a business would be an overwhelming task. It’s understandable that those businesses would need resources and guidance. That is what the BusinessGreen Blog exists for.

BusinessGreen Blog - Why You Should Go

The BusinessGreen Blog is the blogging arm of UK Incisive Media’s BusinessGreen Website. Its mission is to be that much-needed resource for businesses so that they can continue to grow and thrive while moving towards new green, sustainable business practices. From BusinessGreen:

“Businessgreen.com is a business website that offers companies the latest news and best-practice advice on how to become more environmentally responsible, while still growing the bottom line.

Companies of all sizes are coming under increasing pressure to make their operations more responsible and sustainable. Considerations of social responsibility have become important in customer satisfaction and staff retention, in the award of contracts and in stock market valuations.

Businessgreen.com is the first publication in the UK that is dedicated to green business information.

Businessgreen.com provides companies with information on how to plan and undertake successful green initiatives that both cut costs and enhance the brand values of their organisations.”

Summing Up BusinessGreen Blog

There are plenty of green blogs and websites dedicated to greener living, but few that focus specifically on business. BusinessGreen takes environmental awareness to the next level, working to solve an important piece of the planet-protection puzzle. It’s a must-stop for business owners, but also a place where the average consumer can go for information and news from the business world to see which companies are giving it their all, and to learn about green business practices that might be brought back to businesses and employers.

Go here to check out the BusinessGreen Blog.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2009

Where to Find Ecotravel News:
Blog URL: http://ecotravelnews.blogspot.com/
Category: Travel, Environment, Green Living

Ecotravel News

Ecotravel is among the many industries to have grown from the movement to greener, more environmentally friendly living. It’s the latest buzz-word in the travel sector, but a topic that still remains elusive. Here is a blog that helps to make clear just what ecotravel is, and how you can extend your environmental consciousness to your vacation life.

Ecotravel News - Why You Should Go

One of the best ways to make responsible decisions when planning for vacation and travel is to get educated ahead of time. Resources like this site make that easy. As with all of green living, there are many more ways to “go green” than one might expect, and many more issues of concern and note that are too easily lost in the fray. The Ecotravel News blog helps to wade through the resources and information overload, and bring to the forefront the more important among these issues. It helps you to know who and what are the greener players and options, as well as delivers tips and advice for places to go, things to do, and ways to do it better, cleaner, and greener.

Summing Up Ecotravel News

Ecotravel News is an all-encompassing blog project that delivers a little of everything for green travelers and vacationers. To learn how to take your green initiatives on the road with you,

Go here to check out Ecotravel News.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2009

Category: Green Living, Environment

We first met Sustainable Dave back in August with our review of his blog, 365 Days of Trash. Back then, Dave Chameides was about mid-way through his life-project of not throwing anything away for an entire year. Now, as his year begins to near a close, Dave is drawing even more attention.

Dave’s efforts were recently the headline story on Yahoo! News. Upon searching, there are many more stories about Dave’s innovative approach to greener living. He has also been the feature of stories in Time Magazine and several others.

Proof We All Can Do Better

Dave’s year-long project stands as proof of just what he set out to show—that 1600 pounds of trash for the average family is too much, and that with some conscious effort, we all can live well, live sustainably, and leave far less of an impact on the earth behind us.

These stories are well-timed as we look back at our blog reviews from the past year. This is a great reminder that there are people like Dave Chameides out there doing great things and maintaining a high quality of modern life. It’s proof positive that sustainable living is achievable living, and something to strive for as we look to improve our lives in the coming year and preserve the planet for our children.

Revisit Dave’s blogs, and take away some new things for you to try this year. Perhaps the commitment to throw nothing away is still a bit elusive for you, but nevertheless, as Dave has worked so tirelessly to show, there is much that you can do and hardly feel a pang in he process (more likely, you’ll find multiple benefits to you your more sustainable life).

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2009

Where to Find Alternative Energy:
Blog URL: http://livingclean.com/alternativeenergy/
Category: Environment, Green Living

Alternative Energy

Alternative Energy is one of three blog projects maintained by Anna, a woman with an interest in all things relating to global warming, the environment, and using alternative energy.

Alternative Energy - Why You Should Go

As mentioned, Anna’s Alternative Energy Blog is just one project of three, the other two being a Living Clean blog and a more focused alternative energy blog specifically discussing Solar Power. On this particular blog Anna works to provide information and resources related to the larger topic of alternative energy. She delivers news and updates, explanations and discussions in categories that include

• Alternative Energy
• Broad Scale Solar Power
• Facts about Solar Energy
• Global Warming
• Save Energy
• Solar Battery Charger
• Solar Cells
• Solar Panels
• Solar Power
• Solar Water Heating
• Wind Power

Summing Up Alternative Energy

Probably the best description for Anna’s blog is the one given by her Blog Catalog commenter/reviewer:

“…great informative blog on alternative energy. Interesting and informative posts and articles on all sorts of clean energy technologies.”

If you are looking for a place that brings together meaningful information on Alternative Energy, in posts that are both understandable and informative, this is a blog you’ll want to see.

Go here to check out Alternative Energy.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2009

Where to Find Digital Immersions:
Blog URL: http://stephenfrink.blogspot.com/
Category: Photography

Digital Immersions

Stephen Frink, author of Digital Immersions, has many credits to his name. He is Director of Photography for Scuba Diving magazine, a published author, and one of the most frequently published underwater photographers. He also runs his own self-named School of Underwater Digital Imaging, a work that serves largely as the base of his blog. With a resume like that, (and that’s just the beginning) it’s hard to imagine him having time to blog, too. But he does, and his craft is our gift at his Digital Immersions blog.

Digital Immersions - Why You Should Go

The resume sort of clears up this question, but to be more specific, Stephen’s blog is first and foremost a place of education. He uses it in many ways as an extension of his imaging school as a way to reach out to a larger audience and share his tips and techniques with a more far-reaching crowd. If you’ve any interest in underwater photography, this is a blog for you.

That aside, this is a place to go even if you have no interest in ever snapping a single pic of the underwater world. As mentioned, Stephen is a true professional, and the blog is worth going back time and again just to enjoy the sites. The images Stephen captures are nothing short of amazing, and something few of us will ever have the fortune to experience.

Summing Up Digital Immersions

Stephen’s blog is worth your time, for all the reasons mentioned here. Go for the facts or go for the fun, but prepare to be entertained either way as you see things from this diver’s eye view.

Go here to check out Digital Immersions.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2009

Where to Find No Impact Man:
Blog URL: http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/
Category: Environment, Lifestyles

No Impact Man

In true Sustainable Dave fashion, No Impact Man is carving his own path of exemplification in the interest of compelling us all toward personal environmental and global responsibility. Colin Beavan’s No Impact Man blog is the journaling of that journey.

No Impact Man - Why You Should Go

So what is No Impact Man about? In a nutshell,

“A guilty liberal finally snaps, swears off plastic, goes organic, becomes a bicycle nut, turns off his power, composts his poop and, while living in New York City, generally turns into a tree-hugging lunatic who tries to save the polar bears and the rest of the planet from environmental catastrophe while dragging his baby daughter and Prada-wearing, four-seasons loving wife along for the ride.”

A description surely fit for a Hollywood screenplay (or a real-life documentary, based on a real-life book). All kidding aside, though, this is a serious blog about a serious subject and the way one man and his small family have set out to deal with it. Translation in more serious terms:

“No Impact Man is my experiment with researching, developing and adopting a way of life for me and my little family—one wife, one toddler, one dog—to live in the heart of New York City while causing no net environmental impact. To do this, we will decrease the things we do that hurt the earth—make trash, cause carbon dioxide emissions, for example—and increase the things we do that help the earth—clean up the banks of the Hudson River, give money to charity, rescue sea birds, say.

In mathematical terms, in case you are an engineer or just a geek who likes math, we are trying to achieve an equilibrium that looks something like this:

Negative Impact + Positive Impact = Zero.

No net impact. Get it?”

Summing Up No Impact Man

Like Dave and his peers, Colin Beavan is putting his money where his mouth is and actually doing something about the global environmental crisis facing us. Colin takes on the subject quite seriously (but not without humorous charm) to truly educate others to more sustainable living. See what No Impact Man is doing and learn some ways you can live more environmentally friendly, too.

Go here to check out No Impact Man.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2009