Congratulations to GreenCraft Builders LLC and the architect William Peck & Associates for their award winning entry in the 2010 Energy Value Housing Award.
The Colleyville Eco House began construction in May, 2008 and is a demonstration project for the US Department of Energy's "Building America" program. The Colleyville Eco House has been selected as one of the finalists for the People's Choice Award. Your vote can help them secure the award!
The Colleyville Eco House has been recognized for: certification as an Energy Star home; a Gold rating by NAHB Green; and by USGBC LEED-H with a Platinum rating.
The 4800 square foot home is being monitored by the Building Science Consortium. The average monthly heating and cooling goal is $150 per month. The heating and air conditioning system has a separate electric meter, and will be monitored for one year.
GreenCraft Builders LLC and William Peck & Associates, both based in Lewisville, Texas, are encouraging you to vote for the Colleyville Eco House for the 2010 People's Choice. Link here to the EnergyValue Housing Award site and place your vote today. (The deadline is Tuesday, 01/12/2010 at noon, eastern time.)
Monday, January 11, 2010
Monday, December 14, 2009
Wash Away the Winter Blues
Wash away the winter blues and do right by your skin and the earth when you use soaps made from natural ingredients.
Synthetic soap is made from harsh detergents and chemicals (some of which have been shown to cause cancer). One quick way to tell if the bar or liquid you are using to suds with is a natural soap is if it says "soap" on the label. If the label you have states "beauty" or "moisturizing" bar, it is not natural soap. Only soap can have "soap" on the label.
One locally made, all natural real soap is from a wild soap bar out of Austin. Their soaps feature cold pressed or extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants and skin nutrients. Coconut oil provides the bubbly lather, organic palm oil increases the longevity of the soap (while protecting the rainforest) and the creaminess is accomplished with the addition of castor oil.
A wild soap bar has a wonderful selection of natural soaps, including some Texas favorites like Bluebonnet, Mesquite and Prickly Pear. If you need something for Fido, consider WooF WiLD Natural Dog Balm or Shampoo Bar.
Products from a wild soap bar can be found in San Antonio at HEB, Central Market, Whole Foods and Green Fields. You can also order online before December 15th for delivery by Christmas.
Synthetic soap is made from harsh detergents and chemicals (some of which have been shown to cause cancer). One quick way to tell if the bar or liquid you are using to suds with is a natural soap is if it says "soap" on the label. If the label you have states "beauty" or "moisturizing" bar, it is not natural soap. Only soap can have "soap" on the label.
One locally made, all natural real soap is from a wild soap bar out of Austin. Their soaps feature cold pressed or extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants and skin nutrients. Coconut oil provides the bubbly lather, organic palm oil increases the longevity of the soap (while protecting the rainforest) and the creaminess is accomplished with the addition of castor oil.
A wild soap bar has a wonderful selection of natural soaps, including some Texas favorites like Bluebonnet, Mesquite and Prickly Pear. If you need something for Fido, consider WooF WiLD Natural Dog Balm or Shampoo Bar.
Products from a wild soap bar can be found in San Antonio at HEB, Central Market, Whole Foods and Green Fields. You can also order online before December 15th for delivery by Christmas.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Carbon Neutral Texas Retailer
Based out of Houston, Texas, the Olive Barn carries unique home and garden items, featuring items made from talented artisans throughout the world. The Olive Barn also prides themselves on using environmentally friendly shipping practices. They participates in the Carbonfree program. The Carbonfree program, available through Carbonfund.org offsets the carbon emissions generated by the shipping of Olive Barn's products. Olive Barn has calculated their carbon emissions and donates money to carbonfund.org that goes towards a renewable energy project or reforestation.
The Olive Barn's commitment to greener shipping includes reusing boxes, recycling incoming boxes, using recycled boxes for shipping, wrapping delicate items in recycled paper, using limited quantities of reused bubble-wrap and using corn starch packing peanuts.
The Olive Barn also uses 100% natural corn starch packing peanuts. This packing material is bio-degradable and will dissolve in water. These corn starch peanuts are more expensive than styrofoam peanuts, but do not damage the environment like the styrofoam peanuts.
One of my favorite items at the Olive Barn is the "Seeds of Life Texas Memory Tree Kit" This is a great alternative to cut flowers when you want to send a unique gift that will provide lasting memories. The kit includes at Texas Live Oak or Red Oak, premium soil, decorative moss and easy to follow directions. The decorative gift box is made from rice hulls and is biodegradable.
Unfortunately, due to the drought, the Olive Barn is not offering their scatter seeds filled with Texas Bluebonnets, but they do have
The Olive Barn's commitment to greener shipping includes reusing boxes, recycling incoming boxes, using recycled boxes for shipping, wrapping delicate items in recycled paper, using limited quantities of reused bubble-wrap and using corn starch packing peanuts.
The Olive Barn also uses 100% natural corn starch packing peanuts. This packing material is bio-degradable and will dissolve in water. These corn starch peanuts are more expensive than styrofoam peanuts, but do not damage the environment like the styrofoam peanuts.
One of my favorite items at the Olive Barn is the "Seeds of Life Texas Memory Tree Kit" This is a great alternative to cut flowers when you want to send a unique gift that will provide lasting memories. The kit includes at Texas Live Oak or Red Oak, premium soil, decorative moss and easy to follow directions. The decorative gift box is made from rice hulls and is biodegradable.
Unfortunately, due to the drought, the Olive Barn is not offering their scatter seeds filled with Texas Bluebonnets, but they do have
Monday, November 30, 2009
Possibly the Best Holiday Gift!
I was planning on promoting only local Texas companies for holiday shopping this year...BUT...the reusable Hydros Bottle with its built-in-filter is just too good of a product not to mention.
I placed my order today for several bottles and entered "FILTERPROMO" to receive free shipping and free filters for one year. I did receive free shipping (it is unclear how long the free shipping promotion will last). And since the order confirmation did not mention the free filters, I will wait to see if I receive them in my order.
Right now I use the filtered water from our refrigerator for drinking and cooking. For water at the office, I fill a pitcher at home and bring it to the office. I'm certain that the refrigerator filter helps, but I'm never sure how much.
But the Hydros Bottle with its built-in-filter reduces arsenic, cadmium, chlorine, copper and dissolved and particulate lead. It will be perfect to filter drinking water at the office (so I'm not carrying around a pitcher of water to work everyday).
I've ordered one bottle for the kitchen, so I can filter the filtered water from the refrigerator; one bottle for work; one bottle for my husband; and one bottle for my mother-in-law.
The bottles are expected to ship in December. I'll keep you posted as to when they arrive and if I receive the extra free filters.
Link here for the Hydros Bottle.
I placed my order today for several bottles and entered "FILTERPROMO" to receive free shipping and free filters for one year. I did receive free shipping (it is unclear how long the free shipping promotion will last). And since the order confirmation did not mention the free filters, I will wait to see if I receive them in my order.
Right now I use the filtered water from our refrigerator for drinking and cooking. For water at the office, I fill a pitcher at home and bring it to the office. I'm certain that the refrigerator filter helps, but I'm never sure how much.
But the Hydros Bottle with its built-in-filter reduces arsenic, cadmium, chlorine, copper and dissolved and particulate lead. It will be perfect to filter drinking water at the office (so I'm not carrying around a pitcher of water to work everyday).
I've ordered one bottle for the kitchen, so I can filter the filtered water from the refrigerator; one bottle for work; one bottle for my husband; and one bottle for my mother-in-law.
The bottles are expected to ship in December. I'll keep you posted as to when they arrive and if I receive the extra free filters.
Link here for the Hydros Bottle.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Gift Guide for the Texas Gardener
For anyone interested in staking-out their own organic vegetable garden, "Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening: The Total Guide to Growing Vegetables and Other Edible Plants the Natural Way" by J. Howard Garrett is a great gift.
When writing "Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening", Garret and C. Malcolm Beck take their years of organic gardening expertise and provide step-by-step instruction on how to work with nature to produce vegetables, nuts, fruits and other food crops. You'll understand the importance of, and learn simple techniques to control disease and pests, improve the quality of your soil, utilize friendly bugs and how to cultivate, harvest and store what you grow.
J. Howard Garrett, a 1969 graduate of Texas Tech University has years of experience as a gardener, landscape contractor, maintenance contractor and landscape architect. Garrett has helped several large commercial projects convert to organic programs, including the Frito-Lay's National Headquarters in Plano, Johnson and Johnson Medical in Arlington and Collin County Community College also in Plano.
Garrett and Malcolm Beck also worked together on the "Texas Bug Book". The "Texas Bug Book" provides great information about how to manage and eliminate unwanted bugs from your home, garden and yard using environmentally friendly techniques. The "Texas Bug Book" also discusses the best bugs to have in your yard and garden.
Malcolm Beck is the founder of Garden-Ville Fertilize Company and the winner of the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence in 1997.
When writing "Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening", Garret and C. Malcolm Beck take their years of organic gardening expertise and provide step-by-step instruction on how to work with nature to produce vegetables, nuts, fruits and other food crops. You'll understand the importance of, and learn simple techniques to control disease and pests, improve the quality of your soil, utilize friendly bugs and how to cultivate, harvest and store what you grow.
J. Howard Garrett, a 1969 graduate of Texas Tech University has years of experience as a gardener, landscape contractor, maintenance contractor and landscape architect. Garrett has helped several large commercial projects convert to organic programs, including the Frito-Lay's National Headquarters in Plano, Johnson and Johnson Medical in Arlington and Collin County Community College also in Plano.
Garrett and Malcolm Beck also worked together on the "Texas Bug Book". The "Texas Bug Book" provides great information about how to manage and eliminate unwanted bugs from your home, garden and yard using environmentally friendly techniques. The "Texas Bug Book" also discusses the best bugs to have in your yard and garden.
Malcolm Beck is the founder of Garden-Ville Fertilize Company and the winner of the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence in 1997.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Support Texas this Holiday Season
This year I am making an effort to be better organized and plan our holiday purchases. Many of my family members live outside Texas, and this year I am going to give them a "taste of Texas". If you are considering a Texas meat gift, check-out Thunder Heart Bison.
Thunder Heart Bison produces fine, premium-grade Bison. The animals are raised on over 13,000 acres in the South Texas grasslands. They are free-range bison, and never injected with or fed growth hormones, steroids, or other supplements. Here the animals are treated with respect.
Meat from the grass-fed Bison is vastly superior to that from grain-fed animals. With that guiding principle, they raise Bison whose health and powerful immune systems are legendary. Healthy animals pass along those properties of health to anyone lucky enough to consume their meat.
Bison meat in general has more protein, iron and nutrients — but less fat and fewer calories — than beef and chicken. The flavor is sweet and robust, never gamey.
To ensure the quality of our product and reduce stress, all animals are field-harvested under the supervision of a licensed inspector from the Texas Department of Health.
By adhering to the path of the natural world in raising the animals, Thunder Heart Bison is creating a model for long term sustainability and biodiversity. This concept of sustainability and restorative practices is also exemplified by the cultural rebirth of those who have lived on the land for thousands of years.
Thunder Heart Bison produces traditional cuts of meat, Sirloin Steak, Tenderloins, Stew Meat, Shank, Rib Eye, Sirloin Tip Roast and NY Strip. Unique to the Bison is a cut of Bison Hump. Buffalo Jerky, from the same grass-fed Bison is made without preservatives and contains no artificial ingredients.
If you or those on your holiday list are not big meat eaters, Thunder Heat Bison also produces leather items (a weekend travel bag, a backpack and a purse) and limited quantity of Buffalo Rugs.
If you want to send something sweet, consider the Guajillo Honey, with its delicate flavor and beautiful color.
Check out Thunder Heart Bison and place your holiday orders early.
Thunder Heart Bison produces fine, premium-grade Bison. The animals are raised on over 13,000 acres in the South Texas grasslands. They are free-range bison, and never injected with or fed growth hormones, steroids, or other supplements. Here the animals are treated with respect.
Meat from the grass-fed Bison is vastly superior to that from grain-fed animals. With that guiding principle, they raise Bison whose health and powerful immune systems are legendary. Healthy animals pass along those properties of health to anyone lucky enough to consume their meat.
Bison meat in general has more protein, iron and nutrients — but less fat and fewer calories — than beef and chicken. The flavor is sweet and robust, never gamey.
To ensure the quality of our product and reduce stress, all animals are field-harvested under the supervision of a licensed inspector from the Texas Department of Health.
By adhering to the path of the natural world in raising the animals, Thunder Heart Bison is creating a model for long term sustainability and biodiversity. This concept of sustainability and restorative practices is also exemplified by the cultural rebirth of those who have lived on the land for thousands of years.
Thunder Heart Bison produces traditional cuts of meat, Sirloin Steak, Tenderloins, Stew Meat, Shank, Rib Eye, Sirloin Tip Roast and NY Strip. Unique to the Bison is a cut of Bison Hump. Buffalo Jerky, from the same grass-fed Bison is made without preservatives and contains no artificial ingredients.
If you or those on your holiday list are not big meat eaters, Thunder Heat Bison also produces leather items (a weekend travel bag, a backpack and a purse) and limited quantity of Buffalo Rugs.
If you want to send something sweet, consider the Guajillo Honey, with its delicate flavor and beautiful color.
Check out Thunder Heart Bison and place your holiday orders early.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
It IS Going to be a Happy Halloween!
WOW! I know that people can be helpful, but I am totally impressed with the participation of everyone in our First Annual Halloween Costume Drop & Treat!
* Our Partners: Every business we contacted to help collect Halloween costumes for Roy Maas' Youth Alternatives said yes! They proudly placed the poster and box in their business, and spread the word to their customers and staff.
* The community: A great number of people dropped off their gently used costumes. Others gave brand-new costumes, still in the package. I know of one little girl who decided to donate several of her fanciest dress-up costumes because the kids at Roy Maas' need to "feel like princess too".
We made several deliveries to the Roy Maas' Youth Alternative Thrift Shop (3103 West Ave., SA TX 78213). I know we collected over 100 costumes from people who want to help make the lives of others better.
Thanks again to all of you and our partners (Alamo CrossFit, Azuca Nuevo Latino, Blonde Creative, Cariños Boutique, Chili's Grill & Bar, Robert L. Rodriguez DDS, San Antonio Family Physicians and The CE Group.
Remember to save this year's costume for next year's Halloween Costume Drop & Treat and Happy Halloween!
* Our Partners: Every business we contacted to help collect Halloween costumes for Roy Maas' Youth Alternatives said yes! They proudly placed the poster and box in their business, and spread the word to their customers and staff.
* The community: A great number of people dropped off their gently used costumes. Others gave brand-new costumes, still in the package. I know of one little girl who decided to donate several of her fanciest dress-up costumes because the kids at Roy Maas' need to "feel like princess too".
We made several deliveries to the Roy Maas' Youth Alternative Thrift Shop (3103 West Ave., SA TX 78213). I know we collected over 100 costumes from people who want to help make the lives of others better.
Thanks again to all of you and our partners (Alamo CrossFit, Azuca Nuevo Latino, Blonde Creative, Cariños Boutique, Chili's Grill & Bar, Robert L. Rodriguez DDS, San Antonio Family Physicians and The CE Group.
Remember to save this year's costume for next year's Halloween Costume Drop & Treat and Happy Halloween!
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