Being eco-friendly is more than the average person may think. Check out this infographic to see what it means to be truly eco-friendly:

via Ethical Ocean - eco friendly products, fair trade and vegan shopping.

Are you on Twitter? If so, there are lots of green-living oriented Twitter accounts you can follow for great information. If you’re not on Twitter, consider signing up to connect with other green enthusiasts on the web!

Here are ten of the most popular green tweeters:

1. wow green (@wow_green)
Saving the planet one home at a time, living green, living clean

2. Carbonfeet (@carbonfeet)
Green Living Blog - Find Articles, Tips, and Guides on how to live Green. Change is Possible

3.  Vegetarian Times (@VegTimes)
At Vegetarian Times magazine, our motto is EAT GREEN, LIVE WELL.

4. Green Living (@greenlivingblog)
Easy Green Living Tips To Go Green, Eco Friendly Natural Safe And Healthy Home

5. Roberto M. (@beenarboy)
Live,Love,Learn,Travel,Share,Have fun,Free thinker,Live Green,Live with out fear,One world family,Make a postive difference, Follow Me & I will follow you!

6.  Love Green News (@TheGreenOWLS)
Love Green News, Green Blog, Greenest Blog! Think Green, Live Green, Dye Green! The Greenest News in America! #USA #NED Join the Converstion!

7. Robeen (@greenrobeen)
Easy, Actionable, Budget Conscious tweets for Green Living & Decreasing Toxins. Soc Media consultant, avid traveler-90 countries, yoga teacher, mom to twin boys

8.  Green Living (@EcoPulse)
Go green with today’s most chattered about stories from the web’s best eco destinations places like Ecorazzi, Inhabitat & Elephant Journal. Powered by OneRiot

9.  Greener Living Today (@blakew1251)
Greener Living Today offers articles, green celebrity interviews and information on the constantly changing environmental concerns of our planet. Green living.

10.  Enrique Barba (@ConsciousLivin)
Conscious Entrepreneur | Hope Dealer | Green Living & Social Media Fanatic | Striving to positively impact humanity while making friends and influencing people

What are your favorite green Twitter accounts to follow? Let us know in the comments below!

There is a wealth of literature out there  about green and sustainable living, from blog posts to magazines, studies and articles, and of course- books! If you’re serious about living the green life, here are 5 great books that will make you want to paint the town green.

1. Easy Green Living: The Ultimate Guide to Simple, Eco-Friendly Choices for You and Your Home

This book by Renee Loux was written in 2008 and all of the material still holds true to this day. This book dismisses myths about green living and makes it known that living a sustainable lifestyle is affordable - and can even be easy! Most of us think that living green is probably better for the environment, but Loux reminds us that these green practices are also better for us as human beings as well. If you are serious about converting your lifestyle to a green one, then this book is for you.

2. It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living

This handy guide by Crissy Trask is helpful in so many ways. Trask’s easily digestible tips are great for anyone who wants to learn easy ways to be sustainable in everyday life. Some of these tips are so simple they will have you thinking, “hey - why didn’t I think of that?” While others will train your brain into thinking about sustainability a different way.

3.  Sufficient: A Modern Guide to Sustainable Living

This gem by Tom Petherick is a newer sustainable living book compared to many others on the market.  This sustainable living guide with a modern twist is perfect for the knowledgeable reader looking to learn more about sustainability. If you haven’t implemented sustainable living tactics already, after you read this book you will be inspired to do so in every aspect of your life.

4.  Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich Trying

In this book by David Bach, readers will learn that you can most certainly still get “rich” while living a green lifestyle. If you’re worried that living green will cost you too much, I suggest you read this book. Live the great life - live the green life!

5. The Naturally Clean Home: 150 Super-Easy Herbal Formulas for Green Cleaning

This green-cleaning specific book by Karyn Siegel-Maier will open your eyes to the wonderful world of all things green cleaning. Your home will be a safe for your family and better for the environment if you choose to employ some of the green cleaning tactics in this book. Also, learn to clean with household items that you never thought you would use for cleaning!  This book is a great read if you’re looking into alternatives to toxic cleaners.

What is your favorite green living read? Share with us in the comments below!

We’ve already delved into the truth about bottled water. Now lets take a look at the truth about plastic, a material that has negative effects on our green earth.  The infographic below explains in detail how plastic is affecting our planet each and every day.

++ Click to Enlarge Image ++

Source:Reusable Bags

This information is astounding, and really makes you think about plastic consumption.  What was the most shocking information in this infographic in your eyes? Let us know in the comments below!

Want to learn more about green and sustainable living? Here are some upcoming events in the Phoenix area!

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

via www.GreenLivingAZ.com

2011 Summer Saturday Evenings: June to August
On Saturday nights between 6:00 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., you may find museum docents and junior docents interpreting live animals, celestial wonders, fluorescent minerals, night pollinators, animal eye shine, Sonoran Desert insects, night sounds, and bat, scorpion, or rattlesnake kits.

Admissions after 4:00 p.m.: $7.00, $2.25 for 6 to 12, free for 5 and under.

www.desertmuseum.org

Sustainability and Green Jobs Discussion with the Phoenix Mayoral Candidates

via www.arizonagreenchamber.org

August 3rd
The Green Chamber of Commerce – focused on providing resources and solutions that enable businesses and organizations to advance a sustainable economy – is hosting a unique opportunity to hear from the Mayoral candidates, first hand, on their thoughts and plans to further advance Phoenix’s sustainable economy.
Moderated by Kristin Mayes, former Chairwoman for the Arizona Corporation Commission, we will explore – in depth – how the next potential mayors will plan to enable positive change in the Valley of the Sun.

For more information, visit the event page.

Global Change Music presents: The Be Aware Tour

via www.GreenLivingAZ.com

August 26
Gabriel of Urantia TaliasVan of Tora and The 11-Piece Bright & Morning Star Band. CosmoPop music of the future for minds of the future. Event is held at Tempe Center for the Arts Theater.

Box Office: 480.350.2822

$20 Advance/$25 Door

1/2 Price Ages 6-11 years-old

www.beawaretour.org

The crowds of the cities, congestion of the highways, and lines at airports and hotels can make travel downright miserable. It is not uncommon to find someone who says they are happier just taking a couple of days off from work and staying home. Yet, travel deals are cropping up that make it easier than ever to explore another part of the world. Vast tracts of nature still abound and environmental sustainability is the focus of many hotels and resorts in remote parts of the globe. Central and South America as well as Southeast Asia, Africa, and the isolated Galapagos Islands in the Pacific are just a few such places.

South America has a wide range of climates, but the mountain vistas of Argentina and Chile are some of the most spectacular in the world. There are big cities not far away from vast expanses of nature, such as Buenos Aires and Santiago, and you can certainly start out at one of these places. Treks out to the rugged terrain on a four-wheel drive or on horseback begin not far away. You can explore huge national parks or sip your way through Argentina’s wine country. This is a well-rounded trip because it is possible to get lost in the wonders of nature, and experience cosmopolitan cultures whenever you desire to get back to civilization.

On a trip to Belize and Guatemala, there are dense rainforests to explore. The beaches are spectacular as well, so after hiking the jungle you can relax on white sand beaches and even explore the immense coral reefs around Belize. A vacation package can include small hotels in different spots, to which you can travel to in small planes and all-terrain vehicles. It is also easy to get immersed in the local culture, explore the ruins of Mayan civilization, and just slow the pace a bit and catch up on relaxation.

India is also a top destination for an eco tour. It’s a large country and it would take a long time to explore all of it, though there are more than enough natural wonders, historical sites, and cultural elements to be seen. Safaris offer up close sights of tigers and elephants in their natural surroundings, and long rivers provide slow-paced journeys. In between, you can explore dense, modern cities like Delhi and Mumbai and, on a tour, the lodging can range from modern hotels to small guesthouses. Dense crowds and environmental concerns have been seen in India, so it is one of the best places to take an environmentally sustainable trip. Preserving the environment has become one of the country’s top priorities.

If cities and civilization are far from your mind, an eco tour to the Galapagos Islands will keep the sight of big crowds away from your thoughts. The Galapagos are all nature, and have been the subject of various scientific studies, including those of Charles Darwin himself. You can visit 13 islands with plant life that is seen nowhere else, and landscapes that have been uniquely created by the volcanoes that constructed the islands. Cruise on small ships, take a walking trip through the wilderness, and stay at small, eco-friendly lodging right on the islands. Here, you know the lodging and transportation are built to protect the local ecology. The Galapagos Islands are one of the most protected areas in the world.

A fifth destination for an eco tour is Tanzania. The natural wonders of Africa rank among the top unspoiled areas in the world. This is a place for adventures like climbing up Kilimanjaro or hiking the hills above the Great Rift Valley. You can also witness wildlife conservation at its best at Serengeti and Lake Manyara. It is also possible to observe wildebeest migrations, and see plant and bird life that can’t be seen anywhere else.

Vacation packages for eco tours abound, and all of your lodging, transportation, and food needs are included. At any of these top locations, you’ll feel like the rest of the world is a universe away. Who doesn’t need to slow down the pace in the most natural surroundings there are?

Kara Taylor is a freelance writer and has been published on several topics including eco tours.

Many people only drink bottled water - convinced that it is better than the stuff that comes out of the tap.  Unfortunately, that’s just not true in many cases.  Also, drinking bottled water is not very green - as only one in five water bottles are recycled.  Take a look at this infographic for more stats:

Presented by Online Education

Who would have thought that drinking water could be so bad for the environment?  What was the most staggering statistic in your eyes? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!

Crafting has been an American hobby for years and continues to be a family favorite. This summer, go green with your crafting projects! Here are five green craft projects you can tackle this summer:

1. Make Clay from Dryer Lint
Who knew there was another use for dryer lint, let alone as an ingredient in modeling clay!

Ingredients:

3 cups dryer lint
2 cups water
1 cup flour
1/8 teaspoon of vegetable oil

Directions:
Add ingredients to a saucepan, stirring over medium heat until the mixture is smooth. The ingredients will bind together. Let the mixture cool. Once cool, use to make sculptures or whatever your little heart desires! If you want a project for next week, let the sculptures dry completely for a week and then paint!

2. Paper Mache
Paper mache is a classic craft, but it is green, as it requires using old newspaper. First, rip up strips of newspaper. Next, make the paste. For the paste, you will need 1 part flour to 5 parts water. Boil the mixture for about 3 minutes and let cool before using.

Then, make a mold you would like to cover with paper mache using household items, Styrofoam, etc., like a dolphin, beads for a necklace or bracelet or a hot air balloon. Then, cover the items with at least two layers of paper mache. Let dry and paint to your liking!

3. Pine Cone Wreaths
Even though it’s only summer, you can never be too early for the holiday season! But you know, wreaths aren’t just for winter anymore! This wreath will look great during any season.

First, gather pine cones of various sizes. Next, get a circular foam base and spray paint it brown. After the spray paint is dry, add a hanger to the back. Next, arrange the pine cones and start gluing them down. Start with the larger pine cones first, then fill in with smaller pine cones. When the pine cones are glued down, you can embellish the wreath according to the season. For summer, add seashells, sand dollars, sea glass, etc.

What green crafts have you done? Do you have any ideas for green crafts? Let us know in the comments section!

Spring brings warmer weather, sunny days and pollen. Lots and lots of pollen. This, of course, triggers allergy attacks in tens of millions of people every year. Allergies are never a fun thing to have to deal with and can be debilitating, making day to day life pretty much impossible. Allergies affect every aspect of life, from appetite to sleep. If you find yourself dealing with allergies this spring, here are a few tips that can give you some relief and alleviate your symptoms.

Know your triggers

Are you allergic to pollen? Or maybe dust mites are your archenemy. Knowing what’s triggering your allergies is key in treating them. You can get allergy testing done that will let you know exactly what you’re allergic to and the severity of the allergy. But if you start sneezing and rubbing at your eyes whenever you’re around your best friend’s cat then you don’t need allergic tests to tell you that you’re allergic to cats. And there’s no rule that says you can only be allergic to one thing: you may have a host of allergies that are causing you trouble.

Clean more

During allergy season make sure that you are keeping your home’s surfaces super clean and vacuum, sweep and dust more often. This will help keep the dust mites to a minimum. And even if you’re allergic to pollen, cleaning the house more frequently in the spring and summer will help with any pollen that may have been tracked inside.

Over the counter help

A daily allergy medication can help reduce your symptoms drastically. You may have to try a few different ones before you find the right pill for your allergies. And make sure to read the labels carefully. Not all allergy medications are non-drowsy. In fact, some of them can knock you out for a few hours.

Nasal rinse

A salt water nasal rinse in the morning and at night before you go to bed can help to clear out your sinuses and make breathing a lot easier. There are kits that you can buy at your pharmacy that make it easy to do. It might feel a bit weird at first, but it’s a great non-drug way to get some relief.

Keep pollen out of the house

When you return home from work or running errands, remove your shoes at the door and take off your clothing as soon as you come in. Pollen can gather and collect on clothes and if you come into your house, sit on the couch, etc, then you’ll be spreading pollen around your home.

Open\close windows accordingly

If you suffer from a pollen allergy, your best bet is to keep your windows closed and install an air conditioning unit to keep cool during pollen season. But if you suffer primarily from indoor allergies like dust and mold, throwing open your windows and letting in some fresh air is the way to go.

Keep your stress in check

Increased stress levels can actually make allergies worse. Poor eating habits, not enough sleep and high tension levels can all make allergies worse. So take time each day for some “me time” and make sure that you are staying as calm and relaxed as possible.

Eat some local honey

If you suffer from pollen allergies, eating some local honey can help alleviate your symptoms by allowing your body to build up a bit of immunity to it. But it has to be a local honey: check out your local farmers’ market or organic store.

Allergies are never a fun thing to have to deal with. For some people spring doesn’t just bring warmer weather and longer days: it brings sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes and congestion. But by paying attention to your triggers and using some of the above tips you can alleviate your allergies and make spring a much happier time.

Vern Marker is a freelance writer for a family doctor.  When he is not writing or blogging, he loves to travel the world.  Follow his adventures on Twitter @VernMarker.

We’ve already covered what going local really means, but buying local is consistently a hot topic.  Check out this infographic that explains buying local, graphically speaking.

(Click to enlarge)

Source: eLocal.com

What do you think? Have these facts affected your food purchasing plans?