Are you ready for more sun and more fun in the great outdoors? So are we. To launch into summer, we're sending our June newsletter soon with free printable coupons for outdoor recreation and reminders of all the great deals in our book.

If you aren't signed up yet, enter your email in the box at upper right. We only send newsletters monthly.

Here's a sampling to get you interested. This Tizzi bathing suit by Kelly B is 65% bamboo and 25% organic cotton (with 8% spandex), and USA made. Order online ($130) from Nimli.

Image via Nimli. More...

Becki Walker writes about food and crafts recipes. In this Fridays series, she examines the culture of farmers markets. Here she explains Certified Naturally Grown, an alternative to USDA Organic, and shopping on a budget using the food chain model and pesticide guides.

Over the course of the next few articles, I’ll be examining the farmers market.  I’ll cover how to get to know your farmer, shop on a budget, and experiment with more “unique” fruits and vegetables. Before heading to the market, though, it’s important to know some of the terminology you’re likely to find there.  Just what does organic certification mean?  Are there alternatives?  Which foods are most important to buy organically?

To be organically certified, a farm must be inspected by an agency approved by the US Department of Agriculture.  Products that are 95 – 100% organic can display the organic seal on them.  Products with at least 70% ingredients may state that they are “made with organic ingredients.”  However, anything less than 70% organic cannot include the seal on its label. More...

• All Aboard the Bike Bus! How to Get Kids to School with Safety in Numbers.
• Spring Home Remodeling: Plan Now for a Cheaper Winter Bill
• Green Question? How Can I Tell What Fish is the Best Choice?
• Free Online Coupons to Cover Your Basics at RedPlum, Smart Source, and RetailMeNot
• The World's Greenest Paper? Not When Made From Conventional Cotton.

Image: Flickr/CreativeCommons

From our Twitter:

• Fun party idea! A Zipcar powered birthday scavenger hunt with Mini Coopers. http://budurl.com/ybkl
• Now following @TownshendsTea, the local tea and mate shop
• Remember, if you review Community Cycling Center, you can win their 20% off coupon http://budurl.com/4wbu Right now, no competition!  More...

Even if you used all your coupons from our book, we know you still need to buy things that we don't cover. Use these three sites to continue saving money while you shop for necessities.

RedPlum.com We found Tylenol, V8 Juice, and Renu contact solution coupons to download and print. Enter your zip code to begin searching.

Smart Source Both printable coupons and online coupons are available here. Right now they have a coupon for $2 off Seventh Generation baby wipes. Mac users will need Safari.

RetailMeNot.com Search here for discount codes from online stores including clothing companies, Walgreens, and Amazon. You can almost always find a free shipping code--search by store. More...

Happy weekend, EcoMetropolitans!

This week on the site:

• March free online coupons are up!
• Hunting for Rare Bike Racks in 'Wild Creatures of North America'
• Sarah Gilbert on Hacking Life With Kids, But Without a Car
• Exchange Business Cards Without Using Paper Using Contxts

From our Twitter

• Who we're following: @indiewinefest, coming in May, celebrating Oregon indie wines. Tweeting about wine? We love it!
• Twollars for charity? RT @CascadiaCommons How many of you know about Twollars? Check it out because I would like some. http://twollars.com
• Who we're following: @eatsustainable, home of The Sustainable Table and The Meatrix. Good daily tips for eating better with less impact.
• The Wheel American Family posts includes how to request a bike rack from the city for your neighborhood or business. http://budurl.com/u3f6
• Yummy Chipotle Hummus from one of our favorite cooking blogs (mostly vegan, and they do beer reviews), Hot Knives http://budurl.com/c759

Image: Flickr/Powerhouse Museum Collection More...

SpielWerk Toys Online Coupon (free!)
Good through January 15th, save $10 off $50 or $15 off $100 or more at SpielWerk Toys (7956 SE 13th Ave). Click here to download the PDF.

My Dad Recycles More Than Your Dad T-Shirt ($24)
Printed on organic cotton with water based inks, Little Green Stars clothes are sweet and sassy. Our favorites are the "My Dad Recycles More than Your Dad" t-shirt and "My Other Ride is a Hybrid" onesie with a stroller image. Available online. More...

This holiday season give the gift of Chinook Book – a one-of-a-kind resource and coupon book, offering more than 300 valuable coupons for all aspects of life. Help your friends and family explore Portland with the guide for shopping and saving locally.

Check off the names from your shopping list and make the most of our December Holiday Special! Save $5 on each copy of Chinook Book (regularly $20) at select retailers listed below or receive free shipping at our online store ($5 value).

While getting copies for friends and family, remember to grab an extra for yourself! Chinook Book offers great gift ideas and the opportunity to stretch your dollar.

Click on the store names below for locations and hours: More...

The holidays can be a tricky time to please everyone gathered at your table. Tofurky, started in 1995 in Hood River by the Turtle Island Foods Company, came into existence to meet the need for holiday foods for vegan and vegetarian guests. Check out this history of Tofurky, Where's the Beef?, in Good Magazine online. Tofurky is made with organic, non-GMO soy beans and is available at most of our grocery merchants with coupons.

Turtle Island and the Humane Society run a program called Tofurky Tuesday to encourage American families to eat less meat starting one day a week. Meat production has a significant environmental impact. According to the Tofurky site, "If you reduce your meat consumption by only 20% (only 6 meatless days a month!) the energy saved will be equivalent to that saved when you switch from driving a sedan car to a hybrid vehicle." The Tofurky Tuesday package includes vegetarian magazines and coupons for meatless products. Sign up here. More...