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It sure doesn’t seem like jobs are booming and plentiful right now – many companies are downsizing, people are losing jobs and the economy is in rough shape. But surprisingly, the demand for “green jobs” – jobs that focus on positively impacting the environment – is growing. In many cases, green jobs are based on older, traditionally blue-collar jobs “in familiar fields like manufacturing, construction and maintenance and repair,” according to Ada McMahon for Yahoo! Hot Jobs (1).

Why the demand for green jobs? People are more mindful of the planet. They’re looking to conserve energy and waste in the workplace, plus searching for better building and manufacturing materials. In addition, with new government mandates on energy usage and pollution, the federal government is offering economic incentives to develop new green jobs. (continue reading…)

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In May 2009, Consumer Reports did a report on the best grocery stores by asking consumers to rate service, perishables, price, and cleanliness of 59 stores. Consumer Reports said that service was a combination of checkout speed and how helpful the staff was, and Perishables rates the quality of produce and meat. A score of 100 meant that all consumers were completely satisfied, 80 meant very satisfied, and 60 pretty satisfied.

The final scoring in Consumer Reports Magazine was rated on a scale of Better to Worse. The stores that won over the consumers in order from one to ten were: Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, Publix, Raley’s, Harris Teeter, Fareway, Costco, Whole Foods Market, Market Basket, and WinCo Foods. Wegmans, a chain located in the Northeast, got an overall score of 87, a perfect score in Service, Perishables, and Cleanliness, but an average score in price.

Below is a closer look at a few of these grocery stores listed in the Consumer Reports survey of 59 stores such as Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, Meijer, Giant Eagle and Aldi. (continue reading…)

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Any bride-to-be knows that a wedding is all about the tiniest details, from food to flowers and accessories. Many details are involved in wedding-planning: it’s one of the most important days of your life! But, amidst the big decisions, there are little ways you can help make your wedding more eco-friendly, cutting down on wasted energy, resources and costs.

Here are some tips to be mindful of the environment while still creating the wedding of your dreams. (continue reading…)

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When taking children camping, a little planning goes a long way.  Last Friday, we looked at how to plan and what to pack for day hikes to get you and your kids back into nature. Now, we look at the essential equipment for the overnight campsite, including the most vital piece: the campsite. Take the time to learn the area and locate campgrounds or sites ahead of time and pack the gear needed to make your trip comfortable.

Your camping experience can be as comfortable as you make it. Campgrounds range from very primitive, dig-your-own-latrine to full-hookup sites providing recreational vehicles with all the wanted amenities.  Knowing what gear you need ahead of time for the camping experience you want prevents miserable memories. (continue reading…)

In this video, the operator of a year-round Farmer’s Market in Canada offers tips and advice for farmer’s markets.

After the video: Green Diva Mom’s five tips for shopping at your local Farmer’s Market

(continue reading…)

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Do you ever wish you had a greener alternative to wasteful pads and tampons? According to some estimates, a year’s worth of pads and tampons averages $96 and generates 80 pounds of garbage. Over the course of 35 to 40 years of menstruation, a woman will use the equivalent of one dump truck full of feminine hygiene products. The National Women’s Health Network reports that twelve billion pads and 7 million tampons end up in U.S. landfills every year.

Tampons carry health risks as well: the bleaching process can create trace amounts of carcinogenic dioxins, and tampons can leave behind dangerous fibers when removed. Even organic tampons are associated with Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), can cause vaginal dryness, and still contribute to landfills. (continue reading…)

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Sleep hygiene is all about creating the perfect sleep environment. Much in the way you’d put candles on the table and romantic songs on the sound system for an intimate dinner, you also need to set the mood for sleeping. Sleeping well at night is very important for physical and mental health. If you cannot sleep well, you remain dull, feel low, depressed, irritated and may have difficulty concentrating.

Let us discuss the perfect environment for sleep:

A cool, dark room

Altering the temperature and the light in the room signals your pineal gland and helps kick up the melatonin production and knock you down. Lowering temperature and bringing darkness in the room will help stimulate sleep. (continue reading…)