Sure there are ways to delay our impact, (cloth diapers, reusable bottles, and second hand clothing), but unless everything we use or own is biodegradable then it WILL end up in our dumps, sewers, or polluted air. No matter what we do, we will leave the earth a bigger mess than when we entered it.

If we all don’t care, who will? Sometimes I feel the only way to feign interest in the environment is through guilt. There is no instant satisfaction when you recycle, or cut your shower short. So how do you feel when you know you are making a difference? Personally, I don’t feel much of anything. On the other hand, when I am being wasteful I feel guilty. Oddly, I’m grateful for this guilt, because it makes me feel like a human with a conscious.

How does one go from feeling guilty to becoming interested and involved? Usually going on a hike, going sailing, or surfing does the trick for me, but being in a city has its disadvantages sometimes. So without any verbal attacks or endless lectures, I was wondering if anyone had any tips on converting guilt into actually feeling good.

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We’re all pretty proud and confident that Portland is one of the most sustainable places in the United States. However a recent article in the Los Angeles Times proves that LA is making efforts to be green too.

Los Angeles already reuses or recycles 65% of their waste, but their Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has announced that they are striving for a goal of zero waste.

The city has developed a program called RecycleBank, which promotes citizens to recycle more beer bottles, newspapers, and other recyclables. The program gives points to residents who recycle, and they can make up to $400 dollars per blue bin per year. Pretty cool way to get some money back into the bank.

RecycleBank is earning the city money too. Rather than spending $30 to dispose of items, they are earning $25 revenue by recycling it. Los Angeles has found a way to both aid the earth and economy.

E-waste represents 2% of America’s trash in landfills, but it equals 70% of overall toxic waste.

Around 80 % of the e-waste in the U.S. is exported to Asia.

Fewer than 20% of cell phones are recycled each year, but if we recycled just a million cell phones, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking 1,368 cars off the road for a year

It’s energy efficient to rebuild old computers, but only about 2% of PCs ever find their way to a second user.

E-waste, also known as electronic waste, is electronic equipment that isn’t properly recycled. This is an ignored problem that is only going to get worse as time goes on and technology improves. Do your part by researching what goes into making your products, and finding a place that recycles them near you.

hear’s a neat video that sums it all up in under two minutes.

Born and raised in Ventura, CA, I’ve grown up on the beach. I love the salty air, hot sun, and even the sand that ends up in your sheets no matter how many times you’ve brushed off or showered. My hometown would have very little to offer if we didn’t have our beaches. That is why the Surfrider Foundation is important to me.

Surfrider is committed to protecting our beaches. Founded in 1984 in Malibu,CA this organization’s main areas of work are clean water, healthy beaches, beach access and special places.

“The Surfrider Foundation supports coastal research and science-based management of coastal resources to promote sustainable, long term planning and preservation of beach environments including public access to them. “(Surfrider.org)

This organization offers ways to donate, volunteer, and educate. To find your local chapter, or at least check out some cool surfing pictures go to Surfrider.org.

Patagonia’s website sates that “..25% of all toxic pesticides used in agriculture was(and is) horrific, and that evidence of damage to the health of field workers is strong, though difficult to prove.” In 1994, Patagonia made the decision to transform all of their cotton products to be made from only 100% organic cotton. They succeeded in this mission and every cotton garment since 1996 has been 100% organic cotton.

Patagonia is continuing to research more sustainable fabrics. They are using more hemp along with recycled polyester. The thing that o find the most interesting is that some of their best-selling products are made from plastic soda bottles! Yes it’s true, one of their suppliers found a way to recycle that plastic and turn it into polyester to make fleece.

Along with a lifetime guarantee on clothing, Patagonia continues to make the best products with the best of intentions. Patagonia is a true example of sustainable living. To read more about Patagonia’s history, shop for yourself, or learn about their current clothing-recycling program, check out www.Patagonia.com.

Welcome to the 21st century and then think again. Finally, sustainability and art intertwine. This new era of environmental thinking has influenced artists to be more creative and think outside the box.  From everything we have heard about corn fields and farmers, fields seem pretty straight forward and traditional. These art pieces make statements. By using something as simple as grass in an unusual way influences people to think in a more  sustainable mindset.

Perhaps it’s a new medium or a new conservation strategy, but “selective grass growing” has become popular. In this art form only specific sections of lawn are watered or a variety of different grasses are used display various shades of green. Beautiful designs and images can be created like the picture shown below.

Innovative architects are also starting to incorporate this mindset into their buildings. We’ve all seen vine-covered buildings, and as beautiful as they are, i think vertical lawns seem more impressive.

Perhaps the future won’t be all machines and robots, maybe it will all be made of grass?

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check out this website for more crazy grass pictures : http://weburbanist.com/2007/11/05/painting-the-town-green-7-examples-of-bizarre-and-amazing-plant-grass-and-moss-art/