Junk to Funk
… bringing trashion edutainment to the masses.
November 14th will mark the fourth annual Junk to Funk Recycled Fashion Show Contest. Junk to Funk aims to educate about waste-reduction and recycling issues, and to inspire creative re-use. Up to 40 pieces of wearable art and couture fashion are showcased based on the creative use [...]

climate crisis, climate change

Scientists say that 350 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference takes place in Copenhagen this December. The agreement they craft may or may not have a significant impact on saving our planet.  350.org is a grassroots movement via the Internet [...]

19th century mechanical man in today’s news
Boilerplate is a robot. Two Portland, Oregonians, illustrator/author Paul Guinan and author Anina Bennett, have created the Boilerplate Web site, which has become an “Internet phenomenon” that is a lot of fun. Their new book will be available in bookstores on October 1, 2009.
“Now, the adventures of Boilerplate have [...]

… there is so much knowledge in every community. Fortunately many cities arrange gardening workshops.
Eugene, Oregon, had a fun offering in Skinner City Garden this August: Saving Seed, presented by our favorite Seed Ambassadors. The event was free to the public and hosted by City of Eugene Parks and Open Space Division.
The shade at the [...]

Hopefully you’ve been lucky enough to eat fresh from your backyard veggie patch all summer. But if you’re still on the fence, so to speak, about starting your very own garden adventure, you might enjoy reading about a Minnesota urbanite’s first stab at it.
The New York Times has a blog by Michael Tortorello, “The Starter [...]

Blueberries, cherries, whatever is ready in your part of the country, now is a lovely time to get into the fields and pick your own fruit.
Blueberries and strawberries are especially fun for kids, as the bushes are low and the berries easy to pick. If your afternoons are hot, mornings are better.
Some U-Pick or Pick-Your-Own [...]

I thought you all might want to check this out! A clothing designer from New York and she’s selling last year’s line for crazy low prices. Check it out!

Over-Winter Crops for the Great Refrigerator of the Pacific Northwest*

Now is the time to plant for winter eating. Check out the Seed Ambassadors’ Over-Wintering Varieties chart for great descriptions of useful plant varieties and techniques to help your plants grow “through winter in the great refrigerator of the Pacific Northwest” (*thank you Sarah Kleeger [...]