MYRA GOODMAN is the author of "The Earthbound Farm Organic Cookbook: Food to Live By" and the co-founder of Earthbound Farm. Started over 22 years ago, Earthbound now farms more than 30,000 acres and offers more than 100 products. To learn more about organic living and Earthbound Farm, please visit www.earthboundfarm.com.

• Organic farming uses environmentally friendly methods to grow healthy produce without the use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides, or preservatives.
• Organic foods are regulated by the government. USDA certification has been available since October 2002.
• "All natural" is not organic—read the labels and look for the official label!
• The official organic label guarantees that what you are buying was not only grown organically, but also will not contain any artificial ingredients, like trans-fats, artificial colors, artificial flavors or chemical preservatives.
• Organic dairy comes from animals that have been raised on 100% organic feed (or grazed on organic pastures) and never given any antibiotics or growth hormones.
• Organic chickens are fed all organic feed, never given antibiotics and are allowed access to the outdoors which are good reasons to buy organic eggs.
• Fish are not yet regulated as "organic"
• Produce items that consistently test the highest for pesticide residue by the USDA and FDA are: peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach and lettuce.
• Produce items that test lowest for pesticide residue are onions and avocados

• To avoid pesticides and other chemicals
• To avoid antibiotics, grown hormones and transfats
• For better nutrition and the health of their family
• To support the environment!

• Pumpkin Pecan Muffins
• Flank steak with Lemon Shallot Marinade
• Kathy's Rosemary-roasted Chicken
• Roasted Root Vegetable Medley
• Earthbound Farm's Famous Maple Almond Granola

These delicious organic recipes can be found on the RECIPE page of our site!

www.earthboundfarm.com

Amazon.com

KATIE BROWN is a Home Style Expert and the Host of Katie Brown's Workshop on public television, now in its second season. Katie brings a fresh and imaginative approach to the home arts for a new generation of homemakers. For more information, visit www.katiebrownworkshop.com.




Eat Closer to the Farm!
The average American foodstuff travels an estimated 1,500 miles before being consumed. Buy locally to reduce the nation's dependence on fossil fuels. REDUCE the amount the food has to travel by eating from your garden and buying from local farmers. The best part is it has less pesticides and it's better for your health!

Biodegradable Peat Pots

• You can now purchase peat pots that are made of biodegradable material that will do away with the need for a plastic pot when you purchase the plant.
• Tear off the bottom of the biodegradable cup, and you can then plant the cup and all!

Plant Your Own Herb Garden

1. Staple gardening mesh on the inside of your planter.
2. Spray with adhesive spray and attach sphagnum moss.
3. Wrap mesh around planter over sphagnum moss.
4. Staple mesh to bottom of planter.
5. Cover with green moss. Attach with greening pins.

Companion Planting

• Plant certain flowers and herbs with other plants, trees, and shrubs - it makes them so happy together! These "companions" help keep pests away or help promote growth in one or both of the plants.

Seedlings, early planting tips

• For seeds that are expected to sprout in 2 weeks, plant seeds 2 weeks prior to the last frost date - check your local weather station for more info!

Heirlooms

• What makes them heirlooms? When agriculture became big business, many farmers stopped growing particular varieties of fruits and vegetables that, while they tasted wonderful, didn't hold up for shipping and mass production. But, seeds of these "old" favorites were kept, and passed down year to year - which are why we call them "heirlooms"!
• Why it matters: You may find some heirloom varieties have greater flavor than their more-familiar counterparts, and the heirloom boom has brought more choices. Be on the lookout for heirloom potatoes, apples, lettuces, and carrots in the near future!

Coffee Boost

• Scatter some coffee grounds around your plants to give them a nitrogen boost.
• Save your old coffee grounds, or even try your local coffee shop (even Starbucks!). They might be willing to give you their old grounds- it never hurts to ask!

Mulch

• Mulches made of REUSED materials like wood chips and leaves suppress weeds, conserve soil moisture and modify soil temperatures.
• Mulches can reduce maintenance as well as provide a feature of your landscape. Mulch also protects ground from erosion.
• On top of it all, mulch provides a good environment for organisms that are necessary for healthy soil.

Re-use Those Old Newspapers!

• Put down old newspaper to kill weeds, or cover with straw/dirt to plant on top and reduce those pesky weeds from popping up!
• The best part is: it decomposes itself!

Garlic Breath!

• Garlic has a natural sulfur which repels insects.
• Planting garlic, or spraying garlic to keep insects away is not something new, farmers and master gardeners have been doing it for many generations.

Compost, compost, compost!

• Compost is the single most important supplement you can give to your garden soil.
• Composting is an environmentally friendly way to get rid of your kitchen and garden scraps.
• REDUCE the amount of food you throw in the garbage - compost it instead!
• Tiny organisms in the compost convert these scraps into the same natural fertilizer that's on forest floors!
• If you start composting in the spring, you can have useable compost in only THREE months!
• It's free, easy to make, and reduces landfill waste!

Tips and Resources from Wednesday's Show

JASON CAMERON is the host of Desperate Landscapes and Man Caves on the DIY Network, as well as a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor, Finish Carpenter, Personal Trainer, Writer, Actor, TV Personality, Fitness Model and a national spokesman for Men's Fitness Magazine.




Brand: Ecotimber www.ecotimber.com

Healthy Home Benefit: This brand uses low voc adhesive and is coming out with the only formaldehyde free bamboo. Underlayment has no detectable formaldehyde emissions.

Consumer Tip: Always check with the manufacturer whether the glues they use comply with Europe E1 standard, which limits formaldehyde to 0.1 ppm.

Eco-friendly: Flooring is made of rapidly renewable bamboo. Underlayment is made of 80% post-industrial recycled content. Bamboo flooring uses Moso Bamboo which is not the bamboo favored by the endangered panda (whew!).

Cost: Materials from $3.50-6.00 Sq Ft; not including installation. The better bamboo is closer to $5.00-$6.00. Better bamboo uses mature bamboo (yields a harder floor), E1 glues, & modern fabrication equipment.

Why Bother? Bamboo is a super sustainable grass that, unlike trees, grows back after being cut. Some species sprout nearly 3 feet a day and are fully matured in 6-10 years. All of this makes bamboo rapidly renewable. On the other hand, wood takes decades of years to grow and/or comes from regions with highly questionable forests practices.



Brand: EarthWeave www.earthweave.com

Healthy Home Benefit: A natural wool carpet uses no dyes, nothing synthetic, period. No off-gassing of any kind. Underlayment is naturally pigmented and mechanically needled (not glued).

Consumer tip: look for all natural wool carpet with natural jute backing and natural latex core and avoid synthetic dyes. Avoid the wool facing but synthetic back and core options as these two sections produce the most off-gassing.

Eco-friendly: Natural carpet is made of renewable fibers.

Price: Materials from $4.29-$5.99 Sq Ft (not including installation)

Why bother? Synthetic carpets are made with non-renewable petroleum by-products such as nylon, polypropylene, polyester, or acrylic and have approx 120-130 chemicals. These chemical not only give 'new carpet smell' but can also cause headaches, skin irritations, fatigue, eye, nose, and throat irritations. Some adhesives and sealants are known or suspected carcinogens. Also, Padding is generally made of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), which is widely believed to have a negative impact on the natural environment and human health.



Brand: Natural Cork www.naturalcork.com

Healthy Home Benefit: Suberin, a natural fatty acid inherent in the cork provides water resistance, has antimicrobial properties, deters pests, is fire retardant, and will not mold or rot. All without synthetic additives! Glueless installation method means no glues therefore no off-gassing and chemicals to work with. Consumer

Consumer Tip: Avoid formaldehyde binders, PVC laminates, and cork blended with synthetic rubber. Opt for low-VOC acrylic finish or beeswax-based finish.

Eco-friendly: Cork is the bark of the cork oak tree that primarily grows in Portugal. The tree is not cut down; rather the bark is peeled off from the tree every decade, which can actively produce bark for 100's of years. The process dates back 3000 years and is very green, the slabs of bark are simply cleaned & boiled. In the cork production industry there is virtually no material waste. The first cuts are used to make wine cork stoppers; the remaining scraps are collected and used for floor and wall covering. Therefore, cork flooring is both easy on natural resources and is a post industrial recycled product from the wine stopper industry.

Price: Materials from $5.49-$8.00 Sq Ft ((not including installation)

Why Bother? A naturally sourced and renewable resource. P.S. Cork is soft underfoot, and an excellent thermal and acoustic insulator. Also, a good DIY product.



Brand: Paperstone www.paperstoneproducts.com

Healthy Home Benefit: Formaldehyde Free and water based resins. Safe non-toxic cleaner made of 100% natural ingredients

Eco-friendly: This brand uses 100% post consumer waste paper.

Price: Materials from $45 sq ft (does not include template through installation)

Why bother? Marble and granite have a large environmental footprint because they are mined (think dynamite), use a kerosene/water mixture (to cut slabs out of the earth), shipping (most come from India and China). Engineered stone is made primarily with quartz which is extracted from open pit mines.



Brand: Oceanside www.glasstile.com

Healthy Home Benefit: No off gassing. Customer tip: Choose green grout sealers and thin set.

Eco-friendly: The recycled content of Oceanside ranges from 20%-84% recycled glass from both post consumer and post industrial sources.

Price: Materials from $30 Sq Ft (not including installation)

Why Bother? Manufacturing virgin ceramic tile is a very energy intensive process. Raw materials have to be mined from the earth's crust (never a particular green process) and it can take as many as 500 pounds of raw materials to create 100 sq ft of tile. (Oceanside uses more than 2 million pounds of recycled glass per year)



Brand: Yolo Colorhouse www.yolocolorhouse.com

Healthy Home Benefit: Very low odor during application; no odor once cured. No off-gassing. Painted areas can be occupied sooner.

Eco-friendly: Green Seal is an independent non-profit organization that certifies products which reduce toxic pollution & waste, conserve resources & habitats, and minimize global warming & ozone depletion. Cleanup and disposal greatly simplified

Price: $36-$40 Gallon

Why Bother? With similar or better performance, increasing availability and comparable pricing eco paint is the easiest product to select when going green. Conventional paints and finishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application.


Watch Jason on his new show Desperate Landscape
Premiering Thursday, April 5 at 10pm ET, Desperate Landscape follows Jason Cameron and his team of experts to homes nominated by their very own neighbors for having the worst front yards on the block! A little peer pressure goes a long way when you've got a dull and Desperate Landscape! Jason shows viewers what it takes to dramatically change a yard...in just one day! From new planting beds, to fresh paint, to fencing and big new trees, the neighbors can't believe the transformations! Series will air regularly on Thursday nights at 10 pm ET and weekends at noon ET on the DIY Network.

About DIY Network
From the makers of HGTV and Food Network, DIY Network is the television source for the best know-how and how-to when it comes to any type of do-it-yourself project and is one of the fastest growing digital networks. Check out www.DIYnetwork.com for step-by-step instructions for everything from home improvement to crafts and hobbies.

Thanks to www.ecohomeimprovement.com, www.flor.com, www.akeena.net and www.takagi.com for providing many of the products on today's show.

Tips and Resources from Tuesday's Show

CHASSIE POST is a contributing style editor at domino magazine. She began her career as an art gallerist, having founded and operated the Chassie Post Galleries in New York and Atlanta. She then joined the magazine industry as an editor and stylist working for fashion and home magazines. As domino's contributing style editor, she shares many great ways to create an environmentally-friendly home and life. For more Green ideas visit www.dominomag.com

Why Clean Green?

• GREEN cleaning means cleaning without using toxic chemicals
• Toxic chemicals found in some typical cleaning products can be corrosive, irritating and flammable
• They also contribute to poor indoor air quality and can harm the environment after they are thrown away
• Home-made and eco-friendly cleaners are safer for you, your kids, your pets and the environment
• Plus, they can save you lots of money!

5 Things You Need to Clean Green

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Club Soda
• Borax is a natural mineral you can find at the grocery store (Be sure to keep out of reach of children & pets)

CLEANING COUNTERTOPS

• Baking Soda & water make a great all-purpose cleaner
• Put 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart hot water in a spray bottle
• Baking soda acts as a mild abrasive & deodorizer
• This will leave your countertops sparkling clean and is safe for your home!

TARNISHED SILVER & SILVERWARE

• Use regular white toothpaste & a cloth
• Rub paste into the silver and wipe your silver
• Rinse with water or damp sponge

ELIMINATE REFRIGERATOR ODORS

• Baking soda in the fridge always works to absorb odors, but here are a few other cool ideas to try:
• #1 Put a few pieces of white bread on a plate in the back of the refrigerator & leave for a few days - the bread will absorb the odors and you can toss the bread afterwards
• #2 Soak a cotton ball with vanilla extract & place the cotton balls on a plate in the fridge
• #3 Put some coffee grounds in a small bowl in the fridge

CLEAN STAINLESS STEEL

• White vinegar and a sponge is a great way to clean any stainless steel appliances or kitchen accessory
• Vinegar kills 99% of all bacteria and makes a great all-purpose cleaner when diluted with water
• Great for cleaning grease and grime and makes your stainless steel shine
• Vinegar smell evaporates quickly

CLEAN TOILET BOWL

• Before you go to bed, pour about a cup of Borax in the toilet bowl & leave overnight
• In the morning give it a quick brush and flush
• Make sure children and pets do not have access to the bathroom!

TOILET CLOGS

• While it's not very glamorous, your first defense against a clog should be a good old fashioned plunger, as some over-the-counter drain openers can be highly toxic
• If a plunger doesn't solve your problem, consider trying a small plumbing snake (or augur), professional plumbers use bigger motorized versions of these snakes which travel down pipes and help to break up clogs
• Or try ready-made eco-friendly enzyme-based drain-opener, like this one from a company called Earth. $7.99 available at www.drugstore.com or www.wholefoods.com
• Works overnight breaking down organic matter & doesn't use caustic chemicals

CLEAN & DISINFECT TILE, FLOOR, SHOWER, ETC.

• Mix two tablespoons Borax, a little lemon juice & hot water and pour into a spray bottle
• Borax disinfects as well as fighting mold & mildew
• Citrus, like lemon is a natural acidic cleanser and is great for mineral build-up
• This mixture is even powerful enough to clean paint off of floors!
• And if you're not into "doing-it-yourself" try an eco-friendly option like Seventh Generation Bathroom Cleaner, $4.99 available at www.seventhgeneration.com

CLEAN WINDOWS

• Crumple a sheet of newspaper and wipe your windows clean
• This not only polishes, but leaves a film that resists future dirt

CLEAN WALLPAPER SMUDGES

• Rub white chalk onto smudges, dirts, etc. on wallpaper
• Chalk is also a natural mineral and will absorb the dirt
• Simply brush off chalk residue with cloth - the smudge will come off with it!

WOOD FURNITURE POLISH

• Put a little olive oil on a cloth and rub onto wood furniture
• This will make the wood shine
• You won't need too much - a little goes a long way
• Or try a store-bought eco-cleaner - Method's Wood for Good Furniture Polish ($5 at www.methodhome.com)

CARPET DEODORIZER

• Sprinkle baking soda onto carpet & let it sit
• Baking soda will absorb odors
• Vacuum

TO WHITEN LAUNDRY

• Borax is a natural mineral & you can find it at the grocery store
• Add ¼ cup to washing machine during the wash cycle
• Or try ready-made eco-friendly non-chlorine bleaches, this one is from a company named Ecover and it's about $4 at www.ecover.com/us or Whole Foods

TO SOFTEN FABRICS

• Add 1 to 2 cups white vinegar to washing machine during rinse cycle

TO STARCH SHIRTS WHILE IRONING

• Instead of store bought cans of spray starch, save $$ & make the real thing!
• Just add 1 tablespoon corn starch to warm water & pour in spray bottle

TO CLEAN STAINS

• For a wine stain, try club soda & salt
• Always try to treat stains immediately
• Place cloth under stain
• Pour club soda on stain (be careful, warm club soda explodes)
• Add salt & let sit -- salt will lift stain
• Brush off salt and launder

Tips and Resources From Monday's Show

DANNY SEO, host of the DVD "Simple Steps to a Greener Home" and author of the Simply Green book series, shares his simple and easy tips on going green at home. For more information about Danny, visit his website at www.dannyseo.com.

1. RECYCLE YOUR OLD RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES & CELL PHONES:
   Rechargeable batteries are good for the environment since you can charge them over and over again. You'll find them in things like cordless power drills, cell phones and cordless phones. But over time, the batteries lose their charge and need to be replaced. When you do replace them, don't throw them away in the trash; recycle them! A great non-profit program called Call2Recycle from the non-profit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation has these collection boxes in stores like Lowe's, Target, and Radio Shack where you simply drop them in the box. They get recycled into new metal products... and they also take old cell phones, too! It's free, too! www.call2recycle.org.
   
   
2. CHANGE A LIGHTBULB:
   We've all seen these funny-looking compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). They're good for the environment since they last up to 5 times longer and use a 1/10th of the energy of a traditional incandescent lightbulbs. But many people complain the light is too bright when turned on. The eco-style solution is to swap out the lampshade, too. Look for black lampshades; it'll help diffuse the bright white so you can reap the economic benefits of using CFLs. A wide selection of CFL bulbs can be found at Lowe's stores nationwide; www.lowes.com.
   
   
3. HAUNTED HOUSE?
   Did you know when you leave the power adapters for your Blackberry, IPOD and cell phone in the wall, it's still charging up even if nothing is attached to it? It's called a phantom load; it's still using electricity even when it isn't charging up something. One solution is to unplug everything when you're not using them. To make it easier, plug all your adapters into one surge protector, which can turn everything off with the flip of one switch. You can also plug major electronics like your TV, VCR, DVD player and stereo into a surge protector. The protector will help protect your electronics and you can turn everything off with just a flip of a switch. Over time, you'll save lots of money on your electric bill.
   
   
4. NO MORE SKIPPING AROUND:
   Nothing is more annoying than a CD or DVD that skips a beat when you are trying to listen or watch it. No need to toss it away and buy a replacement one. Instead, hit your medicine cabinet for toothpaste and an old toothbrush. Cover the whole scratched side with creamy toothpaste (gel toothpastes won't work) and buff away the scratches with a toothbrush. Brush from the center out with an old toothbrush. Wash thoroughly with soapy water and gently towel dry. Repeat until the skips are gone.
   
   
5. NO MORE BOTTLED WATER!
   Bottled water is bad for the environment since all of those plastic bottles are made from petroleum, are hard to recycle, and had to be shipped from all over the world (using more fuel) to get to your store's shelf. And often it's nothing more than purified tap water to begin with! First, if you must buy bottled water, get them in bulk size bottles, which cuts down on waste and can fit in your refrigerator. Second, consider getting a water filtration system for your sink to have clean-tasting water right from home. Invest in stainless steel water bottles that can not only be used over and over again. Because it's steel, they can also be sanitized in the dishwasher, too. Tip! Add a sliver of cucumber to the bottle for instant spa water. SIGG water bottles; http://www.sigg.ch/.
   
   
6. PAPER OR PLASTIC? NEITHER!
   Sure, we all know bringing your own grocery bags to the store cuts down on waste, but it's also a more convenient way to lug groceries from the store to your house. Bulky items like soda bottles can be loaded up in one reusable bag and hauled to and from the car without fear of ripping open! Some stores will even give you a discount for bringing your own bags, too. On today's show: LL Bean's Boat and Tote bag in Camouflage. www.llbean.com
   
   
7. IT PAYS TO BE LAZY:
   On laundry day, it pays to let dirty clothes pile up. When drying clothes, drying clothes one batch after another saves energy because the second batch will use up the residual heat from the first batch to dry quicker. Tip: Pull out heavy items---jeans, towels-- halfway through drying to speed up drying time. Hang these items on a clothesline or on a banister on your staircase to air dry. Another tip: Empty your lint trap and place the soft mass outside where birds are likely to pick it up. Birds will use it to feather their nests!
   
   
8. CHARCOAL REUSE:
   Do those artificially scented, tree-shaped air fresheners hanging in your car give you a headache? Those fragrances are called Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, which are chemical compounds permeating the air around you. You should go natural and your backyard grill can help. Grab a tea strainer ball from the pantry and fill it with charcoal. Hang the ball from your rear view mirror and let the natural deodorizing properties of charcoal do their job. Odors and stale air in the car will be no more since charcoal will absorb them all, naturally.
   
   
9. DAMPEN THE DAMPER:
   Now that the winter season is over, make sure the damper on your fireplace is closed. An open damper is like having a small window open all year round; it can increase your utility bill by 10%. To make sure your damper is closed, place a thin plastic bag inside and look to see if it's fluttering around. If it is, then the damper is probably open; just pull the lever closed.
   
   
10. FOAM COVERS:
    Electrical boxes behind wall sockets penetrate into the wall cavity, which make them potential sources of air leakage. Polyethelyne foam gaskets install behind electric outlet plate covers to reduce drafts. Just unscrew the outlet cover, install the foam cover and reinstall the outlet cover back on top.

DANNY SEO: WWW.DANNYSEO.COM
BLOG: WWW.DANNYSEO.TYPEPAD.COM