by Park Howell

Dane Platt and William Carey discuss their unique golf ball recycling program while offering you a FREE sleeve of Earth Golf Balls for a test drive. See below.

When I think of an “Eco-friendly” golf ball, I can’t help but picture those exploding joke golf balls made of chalk that you tee up for your unsuspecting buddy.

Then I met Dane Platt and William Carey of Dixon Golf.

And they introduced me to the Earth Golf Ball, the world’s first high-performance 100% eco-friendly golf ball.

These guys didn’t just stop at making a really green golf ball (more about the ball in a second), but they activated a recycling program that gets golfers involved beyond just playing a round.

“Golf, in its essence, should the greenest of all sports.  And yet our industry is still 10 years behind the times,” said William Carey.

Platt and Carey said that they want to incentivize golfers to recycle the standard golf balls that are made with heavy metals and do nothing for the environment. When you turn in any golf ball at a pro shop or store that carries the Earth golf ball, you receive a 50 cent discount on a new Earth ball. You get a $1 discount when you recycle a Dixon Earth ball. The program recycled more than 38,000 golf balls on Earth Day alone.

The Earth golf ball is organic to the core, and has replaced the heavy metals, like lead, tungsten and titanium, with a proprietary organic compound that is essentially like salt.

But is salt like chalk?

“The problem with completely biodegrable golf balls is that they do explode on the tee,” Dane pointed out. “So that doesn’t work so well for performance. What we have created is a high-performance ball that can be ground up and reused in all sorts of other new products, while we’re taking the heavy metals out of the environment.”

PGA Tour Partners sent a dozen balls to 125 golfers to test against the likes of Titleist, Nike and Callaway high-performance balls.  The Earth golf ball received a 92 percent approval rating. When asked what the Earth ball is like compared to the competition, Dane said the quality is between a Titleist Pro V1 and the NXT Tour. The company even has a long drive champ in it’s corner, with Sean “The Beast” Fister using their Eco-Distance ball in competition.

“You can’t make a crappy ball, call it eco-friendly and expect anyone to buy it if it’s not going to help their game,” William said.

Do You Want To Take A FREE Test Drive?

I asked these green golf innovators if they wanted to put their Earth golf ball to another test: Having you, my readers, test drive and comment on their ball? They have so much confidence in the performance of their new green ball, that they were generous enough to give me four dozen to try. If you would like a FREE sleeve of Earth golf balls, please send me your name and address through my contact form, and I’ll send you a sleeve (while supplies last).  All I ask in return is that you give your honest review of the ball in the comment section on this post. And please play the ball and review it within one week of getting the FREE sleeve. I’ll be taking the new Earth ball for a spin this weekend.

A tip of the golf cap to Dane and William for not just making an eco-friendly golf ball, but for taking their drive farther by activating a terrific golf ball recycling program.

. . .

Park Howell’s ad agency, Park & Co. focuses on people, products, companies and services that make the world around us better. On his blog, ParkHowell.com, he shares ways to help businesses insure their green marketing and messaging is more sustainable, more responsible, more memorable, more believable, and more doable.

With many cities, states and organizations advocating for sustainable forms of living, there has been a substantial amount of attention being devoted to green building. Environmental efficiency is on the rise due to the progression of green building methods. Not only will these methods produce a healthier lifestyle, it will help you reduce your carbon footprint and save on energy costs.

Asbestos

Many older homes built prior to 1980 may still harvest obsolete and corrosive building materials which can create health concerns. Asbestos is the name given for a group of fibrous minerals that were mined for their qualities as fire resistant, insulation and high durability. Homes that are newly purchased may require additional remodeling or repairs. This can pose several risks to homeowners because asbestos fibers can be ingested during the renovation process. However, it should be known that by leaving asbestos undisturbed, you can avoid exposure to asbestos.

Often appearing in roof shingles, popcorn ceilings, piping and insulation, asbestos became one of the most popular building applications of the 20th century. Asbestos made its name because of its resistance to fire and heat properties. Improper insulation was used in millions of homes and while it is safe when enclosed or in good condition, deteriorated asbestos can cause a slew of health problems, such as an aggressive form of asbestos lung cancer known as malignant mesothelioma.  Due to the fact many mesothelioma symptoms are similar to less serious ailments, mesothelioma diagnosis is one of the more difficult tasks physicians encounter.

GO GREEN

A catalyst for homes, industries, schools, universities and business, the incredible diversity of enterprises is driven by a common bound to move to a green lifestyle. Green building is the consequence of a design that will increase energy efficiency, water and have a direct impact on your health and the environment. Green construction will bring together many techniques which aim to reduce or eliminate the impacts in which physical structures have on the environment.

The Department of Energy concluded that cooling and heating counts for up to 50-70 percent of all energy used in the average home in the U.S. In today’s state, this philosophy can also save natural resources.
Implementing green methods of building can have positive environmental, health and economic benefits. These include: 1) Conservation of natural resources, 2) enhance air quality and protect ecosystems, 3) energy sustainability, 4) increase property value, 5) improve quality of life, 6) improvement of pulmonary and cardiac health and 7) Reduction of waste.

There are many eco-friendly materials that replace the need for asbestos and can reduce energy costs annually. Rather than expensive and mal-treated wood, interior walls can be made from steel and concrete, avoiding many of the problems associated with asbestos and other insulation methods.

Green alternatives to asbestos include the use of cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose. Cotton fiber is quickly becoming a favorite for home builders and renovators. Made from recycled batted material, it is also treated to be fireproof. These green options have the same beneficial qualities as asbestos, minus the health deteriorating and toxic components.

Recently, congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Included in this act were extensions to the tax incentives placed for energy efficiency in 2005, as well as new credits for homeowners who remodel or build using eco-sustainable methods. Some of the measures that are eligible for tax credits include added insulation to walls, ceilings, or other part of the building envelope that meets the 2009 IECC specifications, sealing cracks in the building shell and ducts to reduce heat loss. Storm doors paired with U-factored rated wood doors are also eligible.

. . .

This article is published courtesy of the Mesothelioma Center. Their website, Asbestos.com, is committed to providing the latest, up-to-date information in hopes of spreading awareness about the dangers of asbestos cancer. Their website offers a one-stop resource on all asbestos issues ranging from occupational exposure to mesothelioma treatment options.

by Dottie Simmons

I find myself a rather lazy cook. I want to have my herbs and spices pre-blended so I don’t have to formulate them for every meal. Over time I have learned of or invented herb and spice blends for everything from steak to tofu, Mexican to Chinese. For us the process begins in the garden. Here are three blends of herbs we grow, dry and combine to brighten our meals:

MEAT TREAT:

1. Rosemary – An easy to grow perennial in the ground or a pot. It is impervious to bugs or deer.
2. Sweet Basil – A hot weather annual that is easy to grow. Pick repeatedly to keep from flowering and it will grow back.
3. Thyme – The regular sort, variegated or plain, perennial with tiny leaves. Harvest before it flowers.
4. Bay Leaves – Mediterranean Bay (the kind you get in stores) is milder. If you use the west coast native Bay Laurel, use it sparingly. We have a Mediterranean Bay tree in a large pot!
5. Garlic – We buy garlic granules by the pound. It is slightly coarser than garlic powder, and is definitely NOT garlic salt. I store it in a glass jar with an airtight lid.

FISH FEST:

1. Lemon Thyme – A wonderfully fragrant perennial, easy to grow and harvest as for Thyme (above).
2. Lemon Basil – Another wonderful basil, it loves hot weather and is an annual that you can harvest repeatedly. Just remember to cut it above two new leaf shoots.
3. I have never found Lemon Basil or Lemon Thyme in a store, so plan ahead and grow your own if you want to try this blend.
4. Dillweed – Use the feathery leaves, not the seeds. Plant this annual once and it will re-seed and grow forever.
5. Oregano – A hardy perennial. Greek is milder, Mexican stronger, use accordingly. We prefer Greek.
6. Sweet Marjoram – A very fragrant annual that is a relative to Oregano.  Use with eggs, veggies and meats.
7. Celery leaves – I actually grow a specific type of celery that mainly produces leaves. When I have tried to grow nice stalks of celery I always got wimpy stems with lots of leaves anyway – it just does not like our climate. I also save the leaves from celery (organic) I buy at the market and dry them in a colander after trimming them from the stalk.
8. Garlic – (See above)
9. Onion Powder – This we buy as well.

ITALIAN SEASONING:

1. Oregano, Sweet Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, Garlic… See above for all of these.
2. Fennel Seed – We buy this, toast it lightly in a small, heavy cast iron pan and then crush it slightly with a mortar and pestle.

PREPARING THE HERBS:

All the herbs listed here are harvested early in the morning after the dew has dried off of them, and hung in bunches by their stems in a well ventilated place out of direct sunlight. I like to use a rubber band to hold the bunch together, and a twisty-tie or string tied on to hang them. The rubber band conveniently stays tight as the herbs dry and the soft stems of basil and others shrink in diameter. Woody stemmed plants such as rosemary and thyme have no problem. As to the bay, I just prune off a very small branch full of leaves and dry it and that lasts us a year or two!

When dry, strip the leaves from the stems and store as whole leaves in airtight containers (we use glass jars) in a cool, dark cupboard. When you make a blend or use the herbs directly in cooking, that is the time to crush or chop them. Once broken, they will lose their aromatic and flavor qualities faster.
By the way, you can save the stems and bundle them, tie with cotton or jute string, and throw on hot coals when grilling for herbed smoked meats.

ASSEMBLING THE BLENDS:

This is the inventive part. I never measure anything unless I have to, and cannot begin to give you exact measurements for any of these, but I do have some “rules of thumb.” In all of the blends, you use equal amounts of the large leafy herbs (basil, oregano, dill, celery).

Grind these coarsely with an herb grinder (there are many styles, I like the Mouli Parsmint best) or chop with a knife. Thyme and rosemary should be around 2/3 the amount of one of the others after grinding. You can run the rosemary through the grinder as well.

To 1/2 cup blended herbs add 1 large bay leaf, ground, and/OR 1 Tablespoon garlic granules OR 1 Tablespoon onion powder, or 2 teaspoons fennel seed, as called for. If you use bay laurel, use less.
Mix all ingredients in a bowl, then store in an airtight container until used.

USING THEM:

Sprinkle Meat Treat over chicken, turkey, etc. before cooking. Add 1 or 2 teaspoons to oil and vinegar with 1/2 teaspoon salt for a nice herb vinaigrette.

Sprinkle Fish Fest over any kind of seafood before cooking. Also sprinkle with a bit of lemon pepper or a squirt of lemon juice.

Italian seasoning can be added to tomato sauce for pasta, lasagna or any tomato dish.

YUM! I’m hungry just thinking about it all. Now off to transplant my basil plants (sweet, lemon, purple (for salad dressing), mammoth (mild – good in salads), and Thai). I think ahead, as I work in the garden, to the harvest and culinary delights ahead.

. . .

About the author: Dottie Simmons is a natural soap maker in the mountains of Northern California where her family is dedicated to learning to live with minimal impact on the land. From her blog you can read musings on living a healthy, sustainable and off-grid life, and from her family’s self-sufficient homestead, come the natural and nontoxic soaps and body care products that are Simmons Natural Bodycare.

by Beth Doane

Since organic apparel and food products are still new to so many consumers, I wanted to spell out some easy answers as to why it’s practical, ethical and increasingly easier to consume organic products.

According to the Organic Trade Association, “Organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. It includes a system of production, processing, distribution and sales that assures consumers that the products maintain the organic integrity that begins on the farm.”

I always recommend buying certified organic since it more safely ensures that a strict code of standards and guidelines have been followed. For example, when we purchase the cotton for Rain Tees from our Peruvian organic cotton farmers, the rolls of cotton come with specific paperwork that certifies it was grown and harvested organically. Before the tees can enter the U.S.A. and be declared organic this paperwork must also be presented to U.S. customs.

Here is a short list on why buying organic is the way to go.

No Crazy Chemicals

Organic farms don’t use chemicals, artificial fertilizers or harsh pesticides, so they are filled with only the crops themselves and natural wildlife! This also ensures that those nasty chemicals don’t make contact with your skin if the crops are woven into clothing, as millions are every day. Growing crops in a natural environment also keeps the land healthy and sustainable and ensures naturally fertile soil and waterways that stay free from pollution.

No Evil Pesticides

The conventional textile industry is sadly one of the most polluting industries in the world, which is why more and more consumers and apparel producers are demanding organic fabrics. More than a quarter of the world’s insecticides are used for growing conventional cotton. These insecticides kill countless animals, plants and insects, and pollute our soil and waters. Pesticides also contain known carcinogens (agents that have been proven to cause cancer), which is bad news for farmers and the rest of us.

Not only are pesticides toxic, they are also pricey to use. Furthermore, money from our taxes pays to remove these harmful chemicals from our water supplies so that they don’t leak as much into our drinking water. The EPA has had to step in on more than one occasion where pesticide run-off has killed hundreds of thousands of fish in our waterways. If pesticides are killing our fish, why are we ok with them being all over our foods and cotton crops?

No GMOs

A GMO (genetically modified organism) is a man-made organism created in a laboratory. Think “frog genes inserted into seeds that will grow corn.” Literally. Organic farming does not allow genetically modified crops because they create absolute environmental havoc. And no one really knows the long term affects of GMOs.

You’re Supporting Ethical Farming

Organic farmers are following their morals and ethics and not necessarily their pocketbooks. It takes a lot of time and money to be organic and most farmers can’t afford the expense, which makes organic farming less common. Organic farms are inspected by international bodies and have to follow extremely strict guidelines. Organic crops may also yield smaller harvests because, without pesticides, sometimes the crops are consumed by wildlife. So, the right thing is not always the easiest, but as more farmers grow organic and more consumers buy organic, it will be so much easier to find organic products at lower cost.

It Feels So Good!

The number one thing we hear about our organic collections is “It feels so good!”  Organic cotton can actually feel softer than regular cotton products and, after all of the careful steps and diligence it takes to produce organic cotton, it just feels better in our hearts too, I think.

. . .

About the author: Beth Doane is a fashion designer and consultant focusing on eco-conscious product development and marketing. She founded and designed the internationally acclaimed Rain Tee collection and Andira International.

When you select a real estate agent, what qualities do you usually look for? Certainly most people look for experience, market knowledge and a high level of service to the client. Most people expect their agent to help them through their purchase or sale with knowledge and expertise regardless of the twists and turns that may happen.

So then, if you are concerned about the environment and care about how the home you live in impacts the environment, why wouldn’t you look for a sustainability-minded real estate agent who brings a higher than average level of eco-sensibility and eco-expertise? If you haven’t met one yet, these agent are out there. And they can help you make a better decision on your next home purchase, or assist with selling in a way that highlights any sustainable improvements you may have made.

My company, the Green Team Real Estate (www.GreenTeamRE.com), is passionate about sustainability. Our agents have undergone a training and certification program to earn the EcoBroker® designation. EcoBrokers® receive training in energy and water conservation and green building technologies and materials, as well as environmental issues that can effect health and home comfort. And we’ve taken additional coursework in green building, action-oriented sustainable living and conservation strategies, including becoming educated and certified as Home Eco-Consultants, through an organization called Green Irene®.

We obviously aren’t the authorities in the nitty gritty of complicated technologies like solar photovoltaic or wouldn’t suggest we have the expertise to recommend the best type and level of insulation for a home someone was planning to buy. However, we have the tools to find answers and the relationships to recommend specialists.

We like to say we work with “all shades of green”, from those folks who are just becoming aware of how their housing choices can affect our environment, to those deep green people, who want the most resource efficient home possible, even if it means a total retrofit or finding a local green builder to create it. We feel that regardless of where a buyer or seller is on the green spectrum, we can help make a difference by providing education and resources to make better choices.

No matter what real estate market you live in, you can access our articles, case studies and videos. Just visit www.Blog.GreenTeamRE.com or www.greenteamre.com/pages/why-green/green-home-tips.php

By: Lara Williams
The Green Team Real Estate

Summer has arrived and it is time to get outside and play.

There are many great activities available to us in Fort Collins, but today let’s focus on biking. If you are new to the area, or just looking to find more ways to expand your biking experience, I want to share with you some unique ways we help cater to our biking community here.

An outstanding operation in town is the Fort Collins Bike Co-Op, 222 LaPorte Ave. Our bike co-op is a fantastic way during these tough times to help others while helping yourself at the same time. The way it works is this, no bikes or parts are sold through the co-op. Instead, people can earn bikes through volunteerism and donations.

The shop is an open facility where members can share the tools and even be taught ways to repair their bikes. If a bike can’t be repaired, the co-op will disassemble them and keep the parts for re-use and recycling. This program has been able to keep not only keep old bikes out of landfills but has given people who need bikes the ability to earn one by working for it. Go to www.FCBikeCoop.org for more info.

One of the recipients of some recycled bike parts from the co-op is the Fort Collins Bike Library, which can be found in Old Town Square. In April of 2008, the library opened to raving reviews. The bike library is a free service for residents, students and visitors to Fort Collins. Library members can borrow a bike for as short as one hour to as long as five days.

They have a variety of styles and sizes, and even tag-a-longs for children in tow. The bike library also offers a variety of self-guided tours ranging from brewery tours and historic tours to an environmental learning tour along the scenic Cache La Poudre River Bike Trail. Tour brochures are available at the checkout location.

The library also depends on volunteers to keep it running and is always looking for people wanting to help. Since its opening last spring, this hard-working group of people has handed out 1,843 free bike rides. Go to www.FCBikeLibrary.org to register and for more information.

Both of these organizations wouldn’t be possible without the support of Bike Fort Collins, our local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making Fort Collins a better place to ride a bicycle. They help run and promote events and races, are advocates for bike safety and help support and start programs like these to make the biking experience in Fort Collins a great one. Visit www.BikeFortCollins.org.

At the Bike Fort Collins Web site, you will be able to learn about all kinds of fun events that are planned this summer that focus on biking. My personal favorite is the New Belgium Bike-in-Cinema, which starts Aug. 13 and will run for six weeks at sundown at New Belgium Brewing Co., 500 Linden St.

Check www.newbelgium.com/bike-cinema for this summer’s lineup.

These are a few of the great things going on in Fort Collins cycling.  Do you have a story or some events to share happening in your area?  Please email us at content@gengreenlife.com to share your events and stories.