Homegrown Organic Eggs
For those of us who live an organic lifestyle (or try really hard to), it’s knowing where our food comes from that matters to us most. What confirmed my conversion was learning my son’s developmental delays were due to a dysfunctional digestive system and vitamin deficiency. Since his system can’t efficiently remove toxins, I have to minimize his exposure. My sister’s organic choices are based on healthy eating and being environmentally conscious. Both of us have chicken coops in the backyard because homegrown organic eggs are an important way we can contribute to our family’s health and be environmentally “green”.
Many supermarkets today do a terrific job carrying organic products, but that still requires us to trust a label. The term “certified organic” can be really confusing because of differing state regulations and industries. Raising your own backyard hens in a chicken-tractor has some distinct advantages over the carton of organic eggs purchased in a store. It can be achieved in even very small backyards. Here are some of the advantages:
1) No egg is more rewarding than eating the one you just collected that morning from your own chickens.
2) You know exactly what you are eating because you feed the chickens – grass, scraps, organic feed, soy-free feed, etc… Grass-fed or pastured chickens have the highest levels of Omega 3, beta carotene, and vitamin E in their eggs compared to store bought.
3) Unless you buy local organic eggs, there is the carbon footprint from shipping and transportation (may even be out-of-state).
4) If you have children, chickens are perfect way to communicate the values of responsibility and informed food choices. Kids these days are disconnected to the origins of food. Many have never seen a live farm animal, much less tended one.
5) Proper use of a chicken-tractor fertilizes the yard with no use of chemicals. It’s green living.
6) Chickens are fun and beautiful animals. They can provide hours of entertainment (running, pecking, exploring) and many become beloved household pets.
7) Home raised chickens are happy chickens. They don’t live in tiny cages or have their beaks cut off. They aren’t stuffed with medication or forced to molt. They can live a carefree lifestyle envious of anyone.
8) Chicken owners are like a special community. You’ll connect with people who have a fascinating view on life, just like you.
Even with these terrific reasons for raising backyard chickens, many still hesitate. There are the questions of time, money, convenience, city regulations, and all that chicken poop. For you doubters, here are some answers:
1) Tending chickens, like any other pet, does take time. Some make it an extensive hobby but it doesn’t have to be. A lot of it depends on how the tending is arranged. Getting the right coop makes a huge difference. Make sure the family is on board in their participation, and get connected with other chicken owners. There is a vast online community happy to help. Owning chickens 20 years ago and owning them now are worlds apart (kind of like raising kids).
2) Chickens are a long-term investment and require upfront capital to get started, but keep in mind the returns are more than saving a few bucks at the grocery store (reference the list above). A hen can lay eggs for many years. A good coop can also last many years. In any case, certified organic eggs are the most expensive eggs to purchase so breaking even in the long run is not impossible.
3) Modern society is all about convenience. We want it all with little effort on our part. Well chicken coop manufacturers have caught on and the options appear endless (like that helps). I recommend a chicken-tractor for backyard poultry owners because of its size and benefits. These can be tricky to build so getting a reliable, prefab one will save a lot of heartache. Believe me, there is a whole science to building a quality coop. Prices can range from a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand. You get what you pay for. Here are some quick shopping tips for making a selection:
- Make sure the coop is durable against weather and predators. In suburban areas dogs are the biggest problem. Many coops come with a sunroom or run which are good for chickens but can be an area of weakness for predators if not built well.
- Use accessories like nipple waterers and feeders with a storage bin. This keeps you from having to feed the chickens twice a day (unless you want to).
- The coop should have nests and a way to collect the eggs externally. You don’t want to climb into a coop and search for eggs. The coop also needs a roost to so the hens can sleep comfortably.
- A chicken-tractor coop helps keep chicken poop under control. Regular coops require the poop to be removed (that’s a thankless job). A mobile coop moved every day or so spreads the manure as fertilizer. The coop should still be periodically cleaned (sprayed down) a couple times a year. Access doors make this easier. Read here for a comparison between a traditional coop and a mobile coop.
- If looks are important, there are many cute coops on the market. Just don’t fall victim to only aesthetic charm. Function will matter more to you than form in terms of convenience.
4) Most cities have a regulation regarding poultry or livestock in your backyard. Many cities allow for chickens in small numbers and without roosters. If you aren’t sure and don’t want to risk a fine, check it out in advance. If they aren’t legal you can bet there are citizens already petitioning for a change. Help them out. Chickens are becoming very urban.
Besides eating healthy, backyard chickens are a great family project or personal hobby. If you have computer savvy kids, get them to research chicken breeds, coops, and social networks for support. Set aside a family day to build or assemble the coop. Pick chicken names. Argue over who gets to collect the fresh eggs. Wow friends and extended family with a tasty, fortifying quiche (spinach from the garden, right?).
Written by:
Marguerite Inscoe
Homemaker, part-time employee of Egganic Industries and my dad, the inventor of the Henspa and many other backyard chicken coops.
Organic living is not just about consumption choices, it’s about quality of life. With homegrown organic eggs there is never a dull moment. You can learn more about chicken coops and care at www.tufclimatecoop.com. Also find your closest source of organic chicken feed at www.organicfeeds.biz.
Natura World Ultimate Latex Pillow Giveaway – CLOSED
Natura World is offering my readers the opportunity to win one of their Ultimate latex pillows valued at over $100! Check out my recent post that goes into detail about Natura and a review of the Ultimate Pillow.
Natura is a growing natural sleep product manufacturer that makes pillows, mattresses, toppers and more. All of their products are made with the environment in mind. They use natural ingredients like latex, organic cottons and wool. They also follow green business practices to lower their environmental impact and make their products healthy for consumers.
How to Win
There are many opportunities to win this contest. You must leave a separate comment for each entry. Here’s all the ways to increase your chances to win:
- Comment ( 1 entry ): Visit NaturaWorld.com and tell us which of their products you like the most (even if it isn’t the ultimate pillow).
- Subscribe to my email subscription ( up to 2 entries ): Follow my daily articles by simply subscribing to to my email subscription service and/or RSS feed. This will give you a great chance to win and give you all the latest updates to my blog. A win-win situation. You get 1 entry for each subscription.
- Spread the Word ( 2 entries ): You can get a better advantage by publicizing this giveaway on your blog. All you have to do is give a brief description of this contest and a link to it. Be sure to include a link to the post in a comment.
- Twitter ( 1 entry ): Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this contest including a brief description of this contest and a link to it. Include a link to your Twitter account in the comment.
- StumbleUpon ( 1 entry ): Stumble this contest or one of my popular tools and leave a review.
When is it over?
This giveaway will end November 11th, 2009 at 11:59pm. I will randomly select an winner from the list of all entries and announce the winner the following day. This contest is only to U.S. residents 18 years or older.
Good luck to everybody!
Energy Star Program Not So Reliable?
A originally reported by the New York Times, an internal audit conducted by the Department of Energy has determined that is is not properly tracking all appliances possessing the Energy Star label. This means that all of those Energy Star appliances so many have bought on the premise that they are energy efficient, may be using more energy and costing you more than you expected.
Just as recent as last month, the Department of Energy and the EPA implemented a memorandum that would allow them to jointly set the standards for the Energy Star program. The only problem with this is that Congress passed legislation earlier this summer that delegated the task specifically to the DOE. The major problem with this issue stated by Senator Bingaman:
There are questions about stakeholder involvement in this process and effects on DOE and EPA staffing and budget.
I have heard complaints about the program in the past, but I never realized how bad. This problem may seem insignificant, but it truly needs to be fixed if consumers are able to trust the energy star label. The government is allowing manufacturers to knowingly lie about their products and use the government’s name in the process.
Hopefully this problem can be fixed before more and more people get burned by this deceiving label.
Natura World All Natural Latex Pillow Review
Finding the perfect pillow and one that lasts a long time can be an extremely difficult task. I know because I have been in search for a pillow that will hold up for more than a few months yet provide my head support during the night. Latex pillows provide just that support and last for many years. I was fortunate enough to try out two pillows from a leading latex bedding manufacturer, Natura World.
Natura World
Natura World was founded by father Harry Rossdeutscher and son Ralph who wanted to improve people’s lifestyles by providing quality bedding products. After the duo came to the conclusion that most mattresses available only contribute to a poor nights sleep, they decided to research products that were more natural and that provided a great night’s sleep. That’s why they started using all natural latex, 100% organic fabrics and soy based foams. From the words of CEO Ralph Rossdeutscher:
Healthy sleep is vital to a healhty life, and we believe using natural materials is the best solution for ourselves and our planet. By using sustainable, earth-friendly manufacturing practices and materials, Natura is truly where nature meets nurture. It’s not a trend – it’s a way of life.
Green Operations
Beyond using all natural ingredients, the company does so many things to ensure it’s operations leave as little of an impact as possible. Some of the major initiatives Natura does include: reducing their energy use by using energy efficient lighting, reducing the amount of time lights are one, unlike many businesses and using recycled office products. They also have many green certifications including the GreenGuard and the Rainforest Alliance and donate a portion of their profits to local charities.
Environmentally Friendly Products
All of their products are made from the environmentally friendly products as I mentioned, but that’s where they stop. They use water-based glues that are safe for the environment, vegetables based dyes, recycled paper and cardboard and reuse any extra latex.
Review
I was fortunate enough to receive two of Natura World’s most popular latex pillows. Both are wonderful pillows that are leaps and bounds better than any of the pillows I have owned in the past.
Ultimate Pillow
The Ultimate Pillow is made from a 100% natural latex core, meaning a single piece of latex. This is my personal favorite pillow out of the two as it provides wonderful support for my neck and is extremely resilient. It’s also antimicrobial, hypoallergenic and it says cool throughout the night. It’s has a cotton cover and lined with their Natural Wool. This pillow is much softer than most memory foams that I have encountered and does heat up like they often do.
Dream Mate Pillow
Just like the Ultimate pillow, the Dream Mate is also made from latex. The biggest difference is that this pillow contains granulated latex. Basically it’s ends cut off from their other latex products and used for this pillow. This gives a different feeling from the Ultimate pillow, but not a bad one at all. The latex inside tends to move around and has a similar feel to a feather pillow, but provides much more support than a feather pillow ever would. I really like this pillow, but just have a personal preference for the Ultimate pillow. My wife uses this pillow and loves it. Every since she has been using it, she has slept much better.
If you are in need of a new pillow, in search of a latex pillow or mattress , definitely check out Natura. I highly recommend either of these pillows as they provide excellent support and are made with quality products. Be sure to check out their site to see their great selection of pillows, mattresses, toppers and bedding.
5 Ways to Make This Halloween a More Green One
Being green this Halloween doesn’t have to be difficult and can save you a little money along the way.
1. Make Your Own Halloween Costumes
Who said that you have to buy a Halloween costumes that are usually made from polyester or plastics. On top of that, they often look cheap, can be extremely expensive and are not creative at all. Why not try to reuse materials around your home to make a custom Halloween costume. I always enjoy seeing the kids who wear a simple ghost costume made from a cloth with the eyes cut out. This same concept can apply to a candy sack.
2. Give Out Organic/Natural Candies
Instead of giving out the candies filled with hydrogenated oils and corn syrups, try giving out more natural candies. I just mentioned the other day about Yummy Earth Lollipops that still contain sugar, but has more natural ingredients. Just check out your local natural food store for more candies to give out. Another option could be to give out bite-sized chocolates, which I always enjoyed getting more than hard candies when I was a child.
3. Skip Driving
Instead of driving around town to find a spot for you kids to get candy, try choosing your own neighborhood or a location within walking distance. I have also seen on many occasions where parents will follow their kids around in cars while they are trick-or-treating. When did we become so lazy that we can’t walk around with our kids on Halloween? Get out of those cars and enjoy this holiday with your kids.
4. Party More Green
As with any party, try to make as many things possible a little more green. Use items made from recycled materials and try to serve as much local/organic food as possible. Aslo encourage your guest to wear homemade costumes.
5. Community Effort
It’s great to make sure you do all these things on your own, but inform you community of these great ideas and others. It may be too late for this year, but let everybody know at your community meetings. You can also try to organize a recycling event where everybody recycles things they normally would have thrown out.
Please share any steps that you are taking to make this upcoming Halloween a much more green one.
Cooler Planet’s Solar Energy Inquiry Map
I wrote an article previously about Cooler Planet, a site providing an array of resources to help with purchasing solar energy. They recently announced their new solar energy inquiry map to outline over 30,000 solar energy inquiries across the country.
This map shows a heat map of concentrations of areas throughout the nation that are inquirying about solar energy. My favorite features about this mapping tool is that it provides a time-lapse function that gives a good idea of areas who’s solar energy is growing.
All of the data provided for this map will be live, so the more inquiries made, the more data will show up on the map. Cooler Planet is also allowing websites to embed this map for free. Go to the link above and copy the code they provided to get this map for you site. Also be sure to check out the great set of solar energy resources they offer.
Carbon 14 $50,000 Environment Award
Carbon 14, a watch compnay passionate about improving our environment, is giving away $50,000 to help further along an environment cause or program. Projects ranging from small-time homes and/or community environment projects all the way up to large environmental program are welcome. That’s what I really like about this contest. No matter how you are helping the environment, Carbon 14 wants everybody to participate in this contest.
The final winner of this contest will be announced on Earth Day next year, April 22nd, 2010. The final winner of this contest will be chosen by us. The top 20 finalist will be chose by an initial round of voting. Those 20 will be narrowed down to the top 5 finalist. A final set of voting will then take place by voters to decide which project/cause wins the $50,000.
So how exactly does one enter?
Submit a logo/picture of yourself or your company along with a mission statement. Also, either a short 1 minute video or essay further detailing your cause can be included.
Not too bad for a $50,000 prize. Good luck to anybody who enters and hopefully this contest will help more and more people become aware of environmental causes.
