Looking for a unique holiday for your family?  Want to teach your kids about our amazing natural world and environmental responsibility first-hand?  Do you like hiking, biking, and lobsters?  Look no further than beautiful Maine.

A recent list published by National Geographic Traveler featured Maine as one of the “places doing well” for its authenticity and stewardship.  That’s especially true, noted the report, the further north you go.  One such destination is Mount Desert Island, home to Bar Harbor and the 46,000 acres of Acadia National Park.

Rainer Jenss, former publisher of National Geographic Kids, just lived a life-long dream to take a year off and travel the world with his wife, Carol, and sons, Tyler, 11, and Stefan, 8.  After the first two months and 20 states, he published his U.S. Top Ten List.  The choice for the family’s “Favorite National Park” was Acadia. …read more of Acadia National Park in Maine here

Rosh Hashanah, or, the Jewish New Year, is somber unlike January 1st.  We take inventory, a lot of reflection and repentance until the 7th day of Sukkoth or Hoshaana Rabbah. Cl …read more of Making Jewish Holidays Greener here

I love to shop and have been known to troll the grocery store for hours, reading labels and comparing prices. Now that I am eating organically my shopping trips have taken on a new challenge. How can I feed my household healthy foods without going to the poorhouse?

Despite recent news stories claiming that organic fruits and veggies are no better for you than conventional, it is still important to me to buy the healthiest foods possible. While organic produce may not contain more vitamins or nutrients than their conventionally-grown counterparts, what matters is what you aren’t getting, namely a mouthful of pesticides and chemicals along with your salad.

By definition, organic fruits and veggies are grown and produced without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Organic meats and dairy come from animals that are not administered antibiotics or growth hormones of any kind.

The biggest complaint most people have about buying organic is the price. Organic certification is expensive for farms, and that cost is passed along to the consumer. There are, however, ways to reduce your grocery bill while eating healthfully. …read more of Buy Organic for Less here

I crave an old-fashioned Fourth of July.

A pancake breakfast sponsored by the Rotary. A parade with lots of flags. A concert on the Village Green.  Fireworks on a waterfront.

And that’s exactly what I am going to get because I’m going to spend this Fourth of July in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Chris Fogg, Executive Director of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, says, “We have a very traditional celebration that hits everything Maine is known for.” That means, of course, that there will be lots of blueberries and lobster. …read more of A Red, White, and Blue Holiday in Maine Goes Green here

Not to be a party pooper, but I’ve never been a big fan of the Fourth of July.  It’s not that I don’t enjoy a day off of work and the time with friends and family.

It’s the sound of war that surrounds the city and the haze of smoke that lingers for a few days after. It’s as far from a celebration of our country as can be. Most typical celebrations involve loads of paper plates, Styrofoam cups, lots of meat, processed foods, and chemical spewing fireworks.

This year, do it differently and show your friends and family how to have a fun Fourth, without the trash and smoke.

1. Buy local, buy organic, buy veggies.  Greening up your Fourth feast is easy. Farmers’ markets are teeming with a huge variety of produce right now—take advantage. …read more of Three Ways to Have a Sustainable Holiday here