TOOLS FOR GREEN LIVING.

Resources for eco-awareness and action

NATURAL SOLE

It's summertime, and your favorite pair of leather sandals are falling apart at the rawhide. Now is your opportunity to invest in some ecofriendly footwear. EcoDragon offers a wide range of sandal styles, including the new Hempadrille ($29), which is made from organic hemp and natural rubber. The sandals are sewn by hand, made with low-impact, fiberreactive dyes and no fixative chemicals. Because they are composed of vegetable fibers, EcoDragon's sandals can be composted once they're worn out. Or try Splaff Flopps ($20 to $22), durable sandals made from recycled tires, bicycle inner tubes and other waste-free materials. CONTACT: EcoDragon, (888)884HEMP, www.ecodragon.com; Splaff, [phone], www.splaff.com. --Katherine Kerlin

BLUER BILGEWATER

Many Americans will spend part of their summer cruising our beautiful waterways. But boat engines, prohibited altogether on some hypersensitive lakes, can release potentially toxic amounts of fuel and oil into the environment. Centek Industries now offers a range of filtration and spill-absorption products made by Mycelx Technologies that will help boaters clean up their vehicles and avoid costly federal pollution fines. The patented molecular technology instantly captures and removes hydrocarbons like oil and gas from water. The problem-specific packages, like the Boater Emergency Spill Kit ($68) and the Bilgekleen Filtration System ($197-$386, depending on size), are compact and user-friendly. CONTACT: Centek Industries, [phone], www. mycelx.com. --Brian Howard

WAX ON

The tub of citronella on your patio table might keep the bugs away, but do you want to be sharing those chemicals with the moths and mosquitoes? Way Out Wax (WOW) has combined pure vegetable wax with citronella (an essential oil) and hemp seed oil to create a toxic-free summer evening. WOW's cotton wicks contain no metal, so they burn cleaner with no harmful residues. The vegetable wax is biodegradable, and no synthetic fragrances are added to the essential oils. The citronella candles are available in tins (4 oz., 12 oz.; $3.15, $6.49) and galvanized tubs (2 lb., 8 lb.; $9.95, $14.95). CONTACT: Way Out Wax, [phone], www.wayout wax.com. --K.K.

BEFUDDLING BAMBI 

Deer may be a joy to watch, but they can become a nuisance in areas where they are especially abundant or overly bold. Deer-Off Repellent, from Deer-Off, can keep a menagerie of browsing animals, including deer, squirrels, rabbits and moles, away from your home or garden. One water-resistant application can give you up to three months of pest protection. The product, available in spray or concentrate form ($20 or $28), is completely biodegradable, nontoxic and all natural. Active ingredients include eggs, garlic and cayenne pepper extract. It is EPA-approved for use on food crops. CONTACT: Deer-Off, (800)DEER-OFF, www.deer-off.com. --B.H.

MUSIC PRESERVATION

Gardens of Eden ($15.98), a new CD from Putumayo World Music, compiles selections from such artists as Shweta Jhaveri of India, Ana Rita Simonka of Brazil, Yungchen Lhamo of Tibet and others. The artists, who are from some of the world's most beautiful and most environmentally threatened places, interweave the acoustic sounds of their culture into songs of life and love. The message they create is one of cultural and environmental preservation. The CD's liner notes describe the environmental and historical background of the featured artists' countries and also include a list of international organizations working to protect the environment. CONTACT: Putumayo World Music, [phone], www.putumayo.com. --K.K.

MAPPING THE WILD

Delving into the unknown is part of the adventure of visiting national parks. But most of us don't want to get completely lost. Maptech's National Park Digital Guide is the next best thing to having a personal park ranger. This software provides the latest official park maps, U.S. Geological Survey topographic views and information about camping, accessibility, park history, trails, wildlife and more. You can even customize your own map to take on your hike. The guides ($29.50 each) are available for all 54 national parks. You can also get regional park sets ($69.50), such as those for parks in Alaska or the Southwest. CONTACT: Maptech, [phone], www.maptech.com. --K.K.

GREENER THUMBS

Millions of gardens across America will provide opportunities for fresh food, fragrant flowers and joyous relaxation this summer. The employee-owned, Vermont-based Gardener's Supply Company publishes an excellent, full-color catalogue and website packed with hundreds of useful, ecologically friendly garden products. Since 1983, the company has designed dozens of innovative, exclusive gardening products, including flower supports, composters, grow lights, greenhouse supplies, growing mediums and organic fertilizers. The company has also worked to sustainably revitalize natural areas around its corporate headquarters. CONTACT: Gardener's Supply Company, [phone], www.gardeners.com. --B.H.