Mother's Day is May 10th, are you prepared? As always, we promote giving the gift of a donation or experience instead of giving stuff.

Why not give mom a sea turtle nest sponsorship ($45) from the Sea Turtle Restoration Project? She'll get a certificate, a photo of the nest, and one year subscription to the project.

Kiva is a non-profit that gives micro loans (as low as $25) to the developing world to move lives out of poverty. Pick a project and donate in you mother's name--she'll get updates and can re-gift the loan when it is paid back by the original entrepreneur. More...

I’ll be honest with you. There are days I wish I’d never given in to going beyond being a green wannabe. I mean, as a wannabe, I always had my good intentions and list of excuses at the ready. But once I committed to making my confessions public, I sort of became responsible for doing more than just wanting to do my part for the planet, and actually being held accountable for it

As I reflect on the past year and look toward the new one, I’m happy to share that despite some of my misgivings I am a “greener” person since starting to write this column. Some of the ways I’ve changed have become so much a part of my new “normal” that I had to really think about what we do now that’s different.

Here are a few of the changes I hope add up to make a difference. More...

This week, dear readers, I had the opportunity to journey to Scotland and spend a few days there.  I know that British cuisine is not exactly world-renowned for its succor, but that reputation is a bit ill deserved.  While traveling through Glasgow for a few days, I was able to not only dine quite well, but also to have one of the best meals of my life.

Though I may not be local, I can still eat locally.  While wandering down a lane with my friend Cassandra and my dear illustrator Mr. Groenink, we chanced upon a rather promising menu posted in the window.  Not only did the restaurant serve local food that was sustainably grown, they listed the actual farms certain ingredients were procured from.  Add to that the little business card quoting Virginia Woolf – “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well,” and we were decidedly intrigued enough to step inside. More...

The non-profit organization Trillium Artisans has long been a favorite of EcoMetro Portland. Members must use a minimum of 50% recycled materials in their gifts and wares. The flower represents the three principles of people, planet and profit that guide this group in creating business opportunities for low-income artists. Group members are coached in small business counseling and gain access to credit card processing and other benefits that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive. Applicants must be below the median income in Portland ($33,950 for a house of four, $27,150 for two and $23,750 for one). This week we'll take a look at some of our favorite picks from the online shop. Artists interested in forming a similar group in your area can contact Trillium via their site for more information. More...

Sitting in the Urban Grind Coffeehouse in Portland, OR, talking about natural building with Lydia Doleman, owner of the Portland-based natural building company Flyer Hammer Productions, I could feel my jealousy of her job coalescing. I had just completed her class An Introduction to Carpentry for Women, and was ready to trade in my computer – my current primary tool – for a table saw. Inspired and empowered by the possibilities that my new skill presented, I was compelled to find out what it’s like to be a woman in a (stereo)typically male profession and to understand the spin that natural building puts on the construction trade.

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This morning the League of American Bicyclists awarded EcoMetro city Portland with platinum level recognition as a Bicycle Friendly Community, rising from the previous gold level status. The only other city in the US with platinum level recognition is Davis, California. San Francisco is Gold, and Oakland and Berkeley are not ranked. Read on for our local biking resources and events. More...

Previously, I wrote an article about making one's own baby food without the waste and expense of buying those little plastic tubs (or even the jars). I have decided to make it one step easier for you: here are some recipes!

For apples, firmer pears, prunes, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, green beans, greens (kale, collard greens, spinach, etc.), peas, potatoes, rhubarb, squash (summer or winter), or yams/sweet potatoes, remove any peels, cores, and/or tough stems. Wash the item thoroughly. Chop it into small pieces (one-inch cubes should work). Add the item and enough water to the pan/microwaveable dish so that it will not entirely boil away (a few tablespoons should do). On the stove, bring everything to a boil, and cook until tender. Keep a lid on the pan to minimize nutient loss. In the microwave (which saves power), cover the dish and microwave for several minutes. Once the food is very soft for a young baby, or tender-crisp for an older one, remove it from heat and allow to cool slightly. More...

If you can’t install a renewable energy system yourself, you can purchase renewable energy certificates from companies such as 3 Phases, which will send you information quantifying your impact and a sticker reading “Powered by Renewable Energy” to encourage others. Your contribution will be used to purchase wind, solar, or other renewable energy to reduce future emissions. More...

Your airline miles may be your largest climate impact, so until biofuel-powered planes take flight, offset your miles at carboncounter.org. More...