How funny I’m writing here again exactly one year after I left before, and on the very date that we turn back the clocks!

Jennifer has done a really great job with this blog from the very beginning, and I’m sad to see her go, but will still be reading her green writing online.
You’ll see a few things change (like the blog look, again), but some things will stay the same too. I’ll feature truly green products, not greenwash. And tell you my honest opinion in product reviews.
I’ll try to tackle the hardest green issues in our lives. Tree Hugging …read more

Earth Hour again….
So, last year we posted about Earth Hour here at Tree Hugging Family. Of course that’s when Peggy, who was, I believe, pro-Earth Hour was still blogging here. Now it’s just me – and I don’t participate. I’m not an Earth Hour fan.

However, instead of posting my issues with EH here, I’ve got a post all about it over at Blisstree Green Living. You can check it out – Are You On Board With Earth Hour?
IF you happen to be an Earth Hour fan, I’d read Peggy’s post from last year her also on board post this …read more

Because we don’t know everything, you might want to also read the informative (and some wacky) stories below.
Grist on Meat Wagon: House of fools
Eat Local Challenge on eating local throughout the US
Inhabitat on the potential of chicken doo for energy in the Netherlands
Bail Out Main Street! on Green Jobs Now
Environmental graffiti on Man-Powered Ferris Wheel. Yeah, you’ll want to watch that video:

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes and everything else going on at Tree Hugging Family in October 2008

SustainLane’s latest rankings are in!
Read the full list of 2008 US City Sustainability Rankings.
The Sustainability Rankings are clickable, so you’ll be able to see what each city is doing to be green. For instance, Oakland, CA joined forces with the University of California Berkeley to source 30% of their food locally.
Who’s Number One?
It’s probably no big surprise that Portland, OR earned this title once again. So, don’t forget your coffee cup when you visit!
Image via flickr.
Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes and everything else going on at Tree Hugging Family in …read more

It seems the Olympics have won themselves a Gold.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded LEED Gold certification to the Beijing Olympic Village under the pilot LEED for Neighborhood Development certification program.
It’s the first Olympic Village to receive LEED certification. During the games, the Olympic Village houses around 17,000 athletes from around the world.
USGBC has also been supporting the formation of a new China Green Building Council and hopes to work with the China GBC as it promotes healthy building practices. This is especially important as China builds nearly half the world’s new buildings every year.
Click here to learn about …read more

Make your own July 4th party dips. Tracey at Foodie Obsessed throws out three recipes. Plus, Linette at She Knows Parties gives you some July 4th dessert ideas.
Please drive safely during your upcoming road trips. Hilary at eco friendly driver discusses Dangerous Hypermiling Techniques.
Become Bee Aware During National Pollinator Week. So, maybe it ended yesterday, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still become bee aware! Let Linette at Mother Earth’s Garden fill you in.
I know how you love reviews, so check out Green Mountain Coffee: Single Origin Sumatra at Kettle & Cup. Marye will fill you in on how …read more

We Can Solve It is asking for your creative suggestions.
Can you think of a couple of famous people who disagree on almost everything? Would you like to see them in an ad together for climate change? Then, make the suggestion!
Here’s an example of an Unlikely Alliance ad from We Can Solve It.

What’s more beautiful than the planet Earth? Admit it. It’s soothing to look at images of our planet. We live on a perfect globe.
To see 40 different, informative and captivating interpretations of our planet, don’t miss “One Planet — Ours!” on exhibit May 24 through October 13 at the United States Botanic Garden in DC. You can also catch this Cool Globes exhibit in San Francisco August 5 through October 13.
From Cool Globes, here’s a more info on who makes these globes and why:
“Local, national and international artists, as well as school children designed the globes using a variety of …read more

What are those people doing? Why, celebrating national PARK(ing) Day 2007. National PARK(ing) Day — a global effort to temporarily transform parking spots into PARK(ing) spaces — is coming up again in September 2008. The event is centered in San Francisco, and included more than 200 parks in around 50 cities worldwide last year.

Why create temporary public parks? To challenge people to rethink the way city space is used and to reinforce the need for urban open space.
Watch this video from the Sundance Channel to learn more, and then tell us what you think of this event.

Images …read more

What’s new? What’s green? What am I reading? I thought you’d never ask – here’s what’s good to read this week.
DISCOUNT ALERT: If you need a new reusable, eco-friendly bag click here first, because you could score a discount code – I actually used one when I bought my bags last week (yeah, that post is coming) and I snagged a free bag!

Organizing and “Green Guilt”
Netflix for the Eco-Conscious
Students Plant Trees To Offset Emissions From School Bus
Alaska hunters fret about polar bear ruling
Soap nuts!

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree …read more