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 Family should have something for everyone in the family, from baby and college students, all the way to the family pets.

For those of you who don’t remember me from writing here in 2007-2008, I don’t want to be a complete stranger, so here goes. I live with my husband Michael, cat Choco and betta fish I never really named. Having grown up out in the country or “out in the sticks” as some of my friends said, I have a deep love of nature and animals and fresh veggies like real homegrown tomatoes.

While I don’t have kids myself, I do have nephews. And I’m always checking out new books, toys, recipes and food for kids. You’ll likely see a few guest posts from green parents too.

In November, we’ll focus on green Thanksgiving choices, including food, yum. I look forward to getting to know everyone better as we enter the crazy holiday season when it’s usually a bit of a challenge to stay totally green. Please leave a comment to say hello.

(Image via stock.xchng)

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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 year, or just head over to the official Earth Hour website to sign up. Earth Hour is happening tomorrow, Saturday March 28th at 8:30 – 9:30 pm.

Green contests!!

Speaking of Peggy, Light Green Stairs is having a contest with green goodies. Sinupret for Kids Giveaway Package – Sinupret is a cool natural plant-based allergy remedy for the littles. If you’ve got kids and pollen, head over to the contest to score some free Sinupret. THEN stick around and check out this too fun for words video (not green – still wicked fun).

Don’t have kids or pollen? Well, hopefully you have feet! Click here to learn about how you can win some cool new Keds Green Labels. Neat-o.

Green news you need to know…

‘First Locavore’ Michele Obama to Oprah: Veggie Garden Coming to White House Lawn. Ah raise your hand if you remember the video about this very topic I posted here! I DO.

LunchBots: A Non Toxic, Healthier Alternative – no they aren’t little robots that pack the lunches for you, but they’re about that slick.

Learn all about the first and only USDA organic certified bar in the world. Very cool for thirsty folks.

Do you have any cool green news to share this week?

[image via stock.xchng]

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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

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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 October 2008

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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 all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in August 2008

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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 she liked this Fair Trade organic coffee.

Travel to Italy with no carbon emissions. Take a look at Cyndi’s Italian vacation photos at Layers Upon Layers.

And just for fun — enter to Win a MatchMaster Interactive Soccer Game from The David Beckham Academy at PlayLibrary.

Image via flickr.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

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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.

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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 materials to transform a plain white sphere to create awareness and provoke discussion about a potential solution to global warming. Each globe is five feet in diameter, seven-and-one-half feet tall and weighs 2,300 pounds.”

The globe to the left below is called Green Travel, and it promotes ecotourism. To the right, Listen to Our Children features artwork from children around the world. See more globes at the gallery.

If you’ve seen this exhibit, please tell us which globe you liked best.

Images via Cool Globes.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

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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 (Ritual parking & 1224 Denise) via flickr / parkingday.org.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in May 2008

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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 Hugging Family in May 2008

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