The Monthly Newsletter of greenlight magazine

How will you celebrate Earth Day, which for some of us has leaped ahead of Halloween, and certainly Labor Day, and is creeping up on Thanksgiving in the holiday hit parade? Maybe you'll partake of a low-carbon diet, keep your car in the garage for the day, attend a big national event or mellow local celebration, change your light bulbs to cfls, read the green issue of Vanity Fair (now more welcome than their Oscars issue). There are so many easy steps we can take to make the earth a greener place—satisfying to the soul and our pocketbooks, respectful to generations to come. Myself, we'll celebrate with a meal from the local farmers market—anything with organic green garlic, I hope. I'm planning to plant a Japanese maple tree, which will also count for Arbor Day. Join with me to raise a glass of organic wine or, wherever appropriate, organic milk, to the farsighted founders of the holiday. Happy Earth Day!

—Bill Marken, editor in chief, greenlight magazine

In this issue:

• Farmers market update
• Gardening the green way
• Short trip alternatives?
• One Green Step at a Time

While the official beginning of spring happened last month, for many of us April really starts the season and sparks our desire to get out and about. We can think of no better way to fulfill your pent-up desire to hit the road and simultaneously stock up on fresh produce. We're talking, of course, about your local farmers market.

Currently there are well over 4,000 markets around the country. That's the good news. The not so good is that there is a shortage of standards that govern how an individual market runs. Here are some things to look out for and perhaps encourage your market to consider.

» Read More…

As spring encourages the gardener in you to bloom, consider these ways of making sure your garden is delicious, organic, and earth friendly. You'll benefit from the Vitamin D the sun creates while warming your skin, and then you end up with the pride of accomplishment while eating extra-fresh, extra-local produce you grew all summer and into the fall.

• Using a small plot of land for summer/fall vegetable and herb gardening is a great way to teach young children why they should love the earth. For regular advice, consider the gold standard, Rodale's Organic Gardening Magazine. When planning your organic garden consider plot size, plant variety, and pest control before starting. To help guide you, the Organic Gardening Tips site has plant specific tips and overall guidelines for every aspect of the process.

» Read More…

Q: With around 40% of the trips Americans make being 2 miles or less… shouldn't we be emphasizing that the most important and effective thing is to drive less often?
— Reader Kris

Ah, yes. I remember this particular conundrum all too well. And certainly not with any particular fondness. Can there be a more perfect description of drudgery than piling into the car for a series of short trips around town? But fear not, gentle and intrepid readers. It's no secret that I have for the most part sworn off driving for a few years now, so I can now tell you with absolute candor and confidence that a little foresight, thought, and planning goes a long way here.

» Read More…

Celebrities create green nurseries for their babies.

In Turin, sheep instead of power mowers cut the lawn.

Timed for grilling season, a new cookbook designed for grass-fed meat.

Stanford studies the continued greening of Wal-Mart.

Celebrate Earth Day with a low carbon diet.

Green Videos

» See video now.

Editor's Picks

New Read: Go Green Live Rich: 50 Ways to Save the Earth (and Get Rich Trying), by David Bach.

Smart Seed from Pennington Seed. Genetically engineered grass that needs 30% less water.

Credo Mobile, the mobile phone company that gives 1% back.

News, Community, Comedy + Videos. April 08 new Web launch: Alternative
Energy.com

The Green Pages at MSN.com

» See All Links