Publications by EResent articles by the "E" from The Free Libraryhttp://www.thefreelibrary.comen-usFarlex, Inc.Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:25:55 GMT360Free Online Libraryhttp://www.thefreelibrary.comhttp://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/static/TFLbyFarlex.gif17565Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Mother's milk & train talk.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mother's+milk+%26+train+talk.-a0212105840
Dear EarthTalk: What are the pros and cons of feeding babies formula versus breast milk? And if I purchase formula, should I spend the extra money on the organic variety?

--Suzy W., via e-mail

It is universally acknowledged in the medical community that breast milk is the ideal food for babies, though formula can get the job done, too. Human milk naturally contains the...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 For your little bear.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/For+your+little+bear.-a0212105839
Busy Bear Cubs ($6.95) is a perfect stocking-stuffer of a board book by John Schindel, one in the Busy Book series from Tricycle Press. See all different bears and their family members, beautifully photographed by Lisa and Mike Husar romping (and chomping and hiding and riding ...) in their natural environs. Other ridiculously cute titles in the series include Busy Bunnies, Busy...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Ocean's eight.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ocean's+eight.-a0212105838
In the latest installment of the Earth Heroes series, Champions of the Ocean (Dawn Publications, $11.95), author Fran Hodgkins introduces young-adult readers to eight scientists of the sea. These compelling profiles include William Beebe, the first "celebrity naturalist" and deep-sea diver; the famed inventor of SCUBA, Jacques Cousteau; and Tierney Thys, a present-day explorer whose...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Ed says.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ed+says.-a0212105837
There are countless books to guide you through greening your home, clothes, food, baby nursery and beauty products. The difference with Ed Begley, Jr.'s latest, Ed Begley, Jr.'s Guide to Sustainable Living: Learning to Conserve Resources and Manage an Eco-Conscious Life (Clarkson Potter, $22.50), is that the actor has actually done all the things he's advising readers to do, from living...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Eco-radical recollections.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Eco-radical+recollections.-a0212105836
Mike Roselle is considered a respected elder of the environmental movement by some, an environmental terrorist by others. In his new memoir Tree Spiker: From Earth First! to Lowbagging: My Struggles in Radical Environmental Action (St. Martin's Press, $24.99), written with Josh Mahan, Roselle recounts his raucous journey as a "nonviolent extremist," along which he founded Earth...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Inspire glove envy.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Inspire+glove+envy.-a0212105835
The company Drop makes some of the most serious snowboarding gloves around, not only for durability and warmth, but also for fiat-out style. Their newest line, Verde ($55), takes the gloves into sustainable style territory, with chrome-free leathers, recycled Thinsulate insulation and reclaimed outer fabrics. Some of the gloves feature the burly, furry, forest creature Bigfoot developed...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Dancing, evolved.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Dancing%2c+evolved.-a0212105834


Do your holiday plans (or perhaps your daughter's or niece's) involve leotards, tights and tutus? The Brooklyn, New York-based Cynthia King Dance Studio has just released their latest cruelty-free vegan ballet slippers. The slippers ($24.95, kid to adult sizes) are made from soft canvas uppers and synthetic soles by a local New York shoemaker, and were E-tested by a...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Get carded.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Get+carded.-a0212105833
"E-cards," however environmentally responsible, lack a certain personal touch. Cards from greenshanti let you flaunt your green commitment without sacrificing style. The cards ($7.95/each) are handmade in India from 100% recycled, wood-free paper, with holiday images--a tree, a bell--on the front accented with beading, coconut shells and woven cane sticks. When you factor in the...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 The gift of grog.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+gift+of+grog.-a0212105832
What better to bring to a holiday party than a bottle of organic vino? The first organic and biodynamic winery in the U.S., Frey Vineyards is a third-generation, family owned business in Mendocino County, California. They employ biodynamic viticulture, a method of organic grape-growing that regards the vineyard as one unified, interrelated organism. And there are no added sulfites...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Winter whites.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Winter+whites.-a0212105831If the season's first snowfall could be interpreted in fabric, the fashion design team Zsega did so with its "Coat Ginger" ($825). This cream-colored wool coat--form-fitting, yet with billowing details such as an oversized ruffled hood, attached scarf and pleated sleeves--took first prize in the 2009 Fur Free Fashion contest sponsored by Born Free USA and E Magazine. It's so lovely one may be...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Christmas classics.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Christmas+classics.-a0212105830


Willow Tree Toys has a line of fair trade Waldorf Dolls ($28-$75) made by a women's cooperative in Bangladesh that are charming in their simplicity. They range from baby dolls, perfect for infants and toddlers, to the more grown-up "Anna" doll. Anna comes with a T-shirt, jacket, shorts, skirt and leg warmers for mix-and-match outfits. Designed for boys and girls, the dolls...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Woof worthy: the best eco-friendly dog and cat toys.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Woof+worthy%3a+the+best+eco-friendly+dog+and+cat+toys.-a0212105829Dogs and cats in caring homes seem to live enviable lives. But research from the Environmental Working Group has found that our pets are polluted with even higher levels of the same chemicals found in people, such as plasticizers and fire retardants, which have been linked to serious health effects. And some of these hazardous chemicals come from chew toys. The Consumer Product Safety...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 The new eco-apres ski hospitality starts greening up its act.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+new+eco-apres+ski+hospitality+starts+greening+up+its+act.-a0212105828Ski travel, by nature, is a few shades less than green. By the time most powderhounds hit the slopes this winter, chances are they'll have flown to their mountain of choice, checked into a high-footprint hotel and ascended to the peak in a diesel-powered lift.

]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Saving on solar: the latest solar financing options.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Saving+on+solar%3a+the+latest+solar+financing+options.-a0212105827Want to go solar but scared of the up-front equipment and installation costs? It's hard for typical homeowners to justify paying upwards of $20,000 to get up and running with rooftop solar panels. But going green when it comes to power consumption doesn't have to be out of reach, thanks to new forms of financing.

]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Window shopping: the latest in energy-efficient windows.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Window+shopping%3a+the+latest+in+energy-efficient+windows.-a0212105826It's a perfect time to shop for windows, since the new federal stimulus bill includes $1,500 in tax credits for homeowners who install them--provided they're energy efficient. The National Fenestration Rating Council is a good first stop, since o it rates windows on factors like air leakage and offers a U-factor measurement of how well the window guards against heat loss. There are a couple...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Security blanket.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Security+blanket.-a0212105825SECURITY BLANKET: If your hot water tank is an older model with an insulation level below R-24, it's a good idea to swaddle that energy sucker. (If you don't know the R-value but the tank's warm to the touch, it needs a blankie.) Adding insulation can reduce heat loss by 25%-45%, lowering water-heating costs by 4%-9%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. For a fiberglass-free option,...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Back saver.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Back+saver.-a0212105824BACK SAVER: Winter presents a dilemma for the eco-conscious: Do we hire someone to plow our driveway, cringe as we fire up the snow blower or get out the shovel and hope our back doesn't hate us for it later? Now there's an easier, emission-free option called the Sno Wovel ($120). A shovel blade mounted on what looks like an oversized bicycle wheel, it's received invention awards from Popular...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Let it shine.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Let+it+shine.-a0212105823LET IT SHINE: LED (light-emitting diode) holiday lights outshine traditional incandescent strands in energy efficiency, safety and durability. They cost more but aren't wildly expensive, rang ing from $16-$26 for a 25-foot strand. According to a Consumer Reports study, the LED versions typically use 1-3 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy, compared with 12-105 kWh for the incandescents, saving $1...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 A pumpkin in the oven: organic chefs share their favorite fresh pumpkin recipes.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+pumpkin+in+the+oven%3a+organic+chefs+share+their+favorite+fresh...-a0212105822The poor pumpkin has long been gutted, carved and relegated to the front steps. When it appears in recipes, it's nearly always in packaged form. Before reaching for the can, consider these fresh ideas for putting an autumn staple on your holiday table.

]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Be well: staying healthy during the holidays.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Be+well%3a+staying+healthy+during+the+holidays.-a0212105821The holidays are a prime time for colds, thanks to a combination of high stress levels and the decreased physical activity of winter months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that U.S. children lose more than 22 million school days to the common cold; the average adult contracts two to three colds per year. Because these colds are viral, not bacterial, doctor visits and...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Countdown to Copenhagen: the world faces an urgent climate crisis. Is the international community up to the task?http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Countdown+to+Copenhagen%3a+the+world+faces+an+urgent+climate+crisis.+Is...-a0212105820"Please don't be stupid." The speaker was Mohamed Nasheed, the president of the Maldives. He was addressing the world via video, announcing the intention of his tiny Pacific island nation (just 115 square miles, twice the size of Washington, D.C.) to go carbon neutral. Putting a British plan into action, the Maldives will switch to renewable energy by installing 155 wind turbines, acres of...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 When blue meets green: how the labor and environmental movements are making peace.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/When+blue+meets+green%3a+how+the+labor+and+environmental+movements+are...-a0212105819Perhaps it began in Seattle in 1999, with the epic "Teamsters and Turtles" alliance to protest a meeting of the World Trade Organization. Unions and environmentalists, at the time seen as an unlikely pairing, united against a version of globalization that, they argued, spurs a "race to the bottom" encouraging corporations to undercut both worker rights and environmental standards. The Seattle...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 The solar industry shakeout: for solar companies that survive, there's a lot of promise ahead.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+solar+industry+shakeout%3a+for+solar+companies+that+survive%2c...-a0212105818Solar's troubles started in the fourth quarter of last year. Congress had dithered over the question of extending subsidies, and governments in Spain, Japan and elsewhere pulled back on their incentive programs. Those policy decisions plus the housing market bust took a toll on demand.

]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Generation solar: third-generation solar cells will work better, cost less.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Generation+solar%3a+third-generation+solar+cells+will+work+better%2c+cost...-a0212105817Turning sunlight into electricity is big business, with the market for photovoltaic technologies expected to grow a whopping 39.9% over the next five years, according to Georgina Benedetti, an energy analyst for Frost & Sullivan.

"Solar is predictable," says Robert Wendt, a chief technology officer for solar company XsunX. "It's adaptable. It's compatible with other renewable sources...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Not your grandma's compost: in-vessel composting offers great green promise.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Not+your+grandma's+compost%3a+in-vessel+composting+offers+great+green...-a0212105816Nicholas J. Smith-Sebasto loves showing off his "silky, gorgeous compost." Only, Smith-Sebasto isn't your typical gardener with a bin full of old leaves and watermelon rinds. From 2007 to 2009, the environmental science professor operated one of the country's few university-based, aerobic, in-vessel composting systems. Since starting a new job as executive director of the School of Environ-,...]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Here come the green lobbyists: renewable energy lobbyists get busy on Capitol Hill.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Here+come+the+green+lobbyists%3a+renewable+energy+lobbyists+get+busy+on...-a0212105815
The nation's capital is now clogged with enough climate-change lobbyists to dole out four apiece to each member of Congress. That's a 300% jump since 2003. At least 770 companies and interest groups have hired an estimated 2,340 lobbyists to influence federal policy on global warming, according to early 2009 research by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity (CPI)....]]>Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 Strange sanctuary: old factories offer new hope for wildlife.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Strange+sanctuary%3a+old+factories+offer+new+hope+for+wildlife.-a0212105814In Detroit, a wildlife refuge is growing beneath a pair of towering red-and-white candy-striped smokestacks. If you could stand astride them, giant-like, you'd behold a landscape of organic greens and blues mixed with the brown-gray stains of industry. To the north, the Rouge River joins the Detroit River, and together they flow into Lake Erie, passing marshes, forest, savanna and the city of...]]>