Jeff will be calling in tonight on the Green Divas Radio Hour to update us on his travels, talk about his book and of course talk with us about how cheap being green is.

Tune in and turn on a friend!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
7 – 8pm EST
HomeGrownRadioNJ.org

This is one of GD Jen’s ideas in action . . . while we love the new gadgets and getting new clothes, we don’t talk enough about buying less NEW stuff and sharing what is already produced. 

So often, when I clean out my closet, I find clothes that have barely or never (sadly) been worn. Consigning is great, but I’ve found it to be a lot of work for very small return. I usually donate my clothes and feel good about it. However, BigWardrobe.com is one of the new online clothing swaps that is making it easier to trade and share or cash in on unwanted clothes and other items that are worth swapping.

This is such a Green Diva thing . . . We’re thrilled to be talking to the co-founder of BigWardrobe.com, Jamie Hutchinson, who will be calling in from the UK tonight.

Don’t miss tonight’s show and learn more about sustainable fashion frugality!

Tune in and turn on a friend!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
7 – 8pm EST
HomeGrownRadioNJ.org

I have always loved the idea of having solar panels smiling up at the sun while absorbing its awesome power to help generate at least some of the electricity in my home. I’ve definitely become addicted to electricity and while it has the capacity to save lives and give immeasurable comfort and ease, it (or the excessive use of it) is one of the primary reasons we are experiencing such environmental trauma.

I don’t think like an engineer – AT ALL – and need books like The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Solar Power for Your Home. Every time we’ve considered how we would incorporate solar energy into our home energy system, we get bogged down with what is or isn’t available for Federal and State incentives, rebates, grants, loans, exemptions, etc. Wayne gets the whole kilowatt thing and how it all operates (he’s an electrical engineer!), so I don’t even bother my pretty little head about the functionality of it all. phew.

In my attempt to do a tiny bit of research for this interview, I was glad to see there does seem to be a number of programs available from the Feds and various states, including my own New Jersey, which has had some significant incentives in the past. Here’s some reasonably updated, comprehensive and consolidated information I found on current Federal and State incentives for solar home and renewable energy for home and business.

We’ll be interviewing David Hughes, one of the author’s of the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Solar Power for Your Home tonight – if you have thought about it, want to consider it, are confused about any aspect of it, don’t miss the show tonight!

David Hughes is the president of the Affordable Solar Group and has a degree in renewable energy. He is also a certified energy auditor and has been in the energy biz for 20 years. According to his bio, he started Affordable Solar Group in the back of an Airstream trailer – now it is one of the fastest growing companies in New Mexico. (remind me to ask him about the Airstream thing)

You can send us any questions in advance via info@thegreendivas.comor IM us during the show (and for those who are friends on FaceBook, you can get in touch during the show that way).

Tune in and turn on a friend!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
7 – 8pm EST
HomeGrownRadioNJ.org

Michael Fallquist, Founder and CEO of Viridian will be on the Green Divas tonight to give us all the details. So, if you have questions (like we do), email us before the show, IM us during the show or send us a message through Facebook or Twitter.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!!!

We’ll be having the crew from the now annual Medicine Wheel community garden celebration at Lusscroft Farm in-studio to tell us about the fun events coming up this weekend. The event runs on Saturday, May 22 and Sunday May 23 and has an long list of fun things going on: plant sale, photo and art exhibit, music, food, dancing, drumming, and of course the Medicine Wheel concert.

On Friday, May 21, 30 5th and 6th grade students from the nearby Ridge and Valley charter school will be participating in the creation of the new “Sister Moon Garden” in conjunction with students from the Montclair State NJ School of Conservation at Stokes.

Tune in tonight to learn more!

Thursday, May 20, 2010
7 – 8pm EST
HomeGrownRadioNJ.org

I’ve dreamed about renovating a house like this . . . using sustainable, recycled, non-toxic materials and practices. Of course, it should be in the Hamptons and it should’ve been a fairly cool house to start with . . .

Robin Wilson, a nationally recognized eco-friendly and healthy home interior designer, has recently finished a book that beautifully illustrates her work on Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s home, which needed a total renovation after a serious bout of black mold.

I am a personal fan of Mr. Kennedy and the work he has done on behalf of the environment and can’t wait to hear from Robin all about working with him and his family on this project. The book is called Kennedy Green House and is due out any minute.

Robin Wilson will be calling into the show tonight, so don’t miss this interview! Please contact us with any questions about green design and renovation – info@thegreendivas.com or IM us during the show!

Thursday, May 13, 2010
7 – 8pm EST
HomeGrownRadioNJ.org

Image Thanks to My Fine Feathered Friend, Leslie Binch: Head Hen

I have chicken envy. A young couple that we know moved to the ‘country’, which is to say they abandoned suburbia for a cute cottage in the middle of a couple of fields in Western New Jersey. Anything ‘outdoors’ is alien to the young man, and his sweet wife has gently introduced him to the joy of camping and fishing — he went not so gently into that peaceful night, but he survived.

Getting into the spirit of this new rural lifestyle, he met several people through his local, retail business who had chickens and various livestock for sale. His wife had been a little down, so he decided it would be entertaining to bring home a chicken as a gift. So, with little preparation, he got an adult chicken and had it put in a large cardboard box (he wasn’t going to touch it or anything) and brought it home to his unsuspecting wife. Here’s the hilarious video of Cindy Meets the first Chicken.

Of course since then, they’ve both become chicken experts and have built a substantial chicken house and yard and have a few new feathered friends to add to their growing family, which by the way also now includes their adorable 4-month old son.

So, while I don’t have any chickens yet and am reasonably certain my neighbor would have a stroke if I did, I’m convinced that someday soon, I’ll manage to do the backyard chicken thing.

I was thrilled to receive the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Raising Chickens to start my education. I’ve been corresponding with the author, JD Belanger and he has agreed to come on the radio show tonight and talk about the expanding backyard chicken craze and the basics of what we need to know to get started and have a fun and healthy experience with our chickens.

Like Jen and I JD is a publisher, having started Countryside magazine in 1969. He also founded sheep! magazine, Dairy Goat Guide, and Backyard Poultry — which is now the leading hobby poultry journal.

]]> http://thegreendivas.com/2010/05/06/sustainable-food-running-around-your-back-yard/feed/ 0 http://thegreendivas.com/2010/04/15/goin-green-with-the-greenzys/ http://thegreendivas.com/2010/04/15/goin-green-with-the-greenzys/#comments Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:16:28 +0000 Green Diva Jen http://thegreendivas.com/?p=974

Benjamin with Peat the Penguin

Meet a new green toy and book brand called the GREENZYS that’s arriving just in time for the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day – which is Thursday, April 22, 2010. The creation of New Jersey (Mahwah) homemaker and mother of two, Lisa Keyser, the GREENZYS are an eco-friendly, literary-based brand of high quality books and toys geared towards preschool aged children

The Green Divas will be interviewing Ms. Keyser on their annual Earth Day radio show on April 15th from 7-8 PM EDT at HomegrownRadioNJ.org

The plush toys promote green living and teach eco-friendly practices to youngsters through heartwarming stories and endearing plush toys that are both environmentally safe and fun.  They are made in socially responsible factories from soy fibers and non-toxic dyes with packaging made from recycled paperboard.

“The Greenzys” book is a heartwarming tale that teaches the concept of environmental conservation, or “green” living.  Characters include Peat the Penguin, an ardent supporter of recycling, reusing and reducing and Willow the Elephant who collects rainwater for her plants and uses her trunk as a water hose.  The book and toys debuted in FAO Schwartz and on FAO.com April 5.

Another environmental bonus and in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, for every GREENZYS purchase made between April 5 and December 31, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant one tree in our nation’s forests.

For more information about the book, go to thegreenzys.com

Frank Mentesana, Facilitator of EcoSPACES

Imagine a school that has a 4500 sq. ft. rooftop garden where kids not only learn about growing food sustainably, but grow food that is used in their lunches - all while making the connection between farming, food and healthy nutrition . . .

With the help of faculty like, Frank Mentesana, St. Philip’s Academy in Newark, New Jersey has created such a program and they call it EcoSPACES (Eco-St. Philip’s Academy Cultivating Environmental Sustainability).

Frank is a former food stylist and co-founder of Manhattan restaurant, Once Upon a Tart. As a father, he got involved in his son’s school by helping them create a garden and when he heard that St. Philip’s Academy was developing a program to help teach better nutrition and farming to the kids, he jumped at the opportunity to get involved.

Since getting involved in 2008, he has turned the once-ornamental rooftop garden into one that produces food and has helped teachers develop plots relevant to their curriculums. For example, as third graders learned about Native American history, they planted a “Three Sisters” garden of corn, beans and squash and used their harvest to create traditional meals.

Tonight the Green Divas will be talking with Frank Menesana about what’s going on at St. Philip’s Academy and what’s next on the menu . . . Don’t miss tonight’s show!

Thursday, March 11, 2010
7 – 8pm EST
HomeGrownRadioNJ.org

We first met Peter and Lisa about a year ago just after they shared their family’s energy consumption through the Internet for a week (I think it was a week). They live with their kids (and their Jack Russell Terrier) in Maine, and run a wonderfully informative website – EnergyCircle.com – and business that offers detailed, EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND advice on creating home energy efficiency. They also provide the tools to do the job from the products to great vidoes on installation and energy efficiency how-to’s.

Green Dude Scott and of course, GD (silent) Jessie will be in the house and as always we’ll have some fun music so tune in and turn on a friend!

Thursday, January 28, 2010
7 – 8pm EST
HomeGrownRadioNJ.org

Ode magazine founders, Jurriann Kamp and his wife Helene De Puy are still busy changing the world one creative edition at a time.

The Green Divas will be talking to Jurriaan tonight, so make sure to tune in!

We’ll be talking about the special edition Ode magazine that is designed to share some of the inspired solutions for climate change with everyone in Copenhagen (and anyone who cares via FREE digital mag too) this week. 75,000 of The solutions we need now: How the renewable energy economy will halt global warming, clean up the planet, create millions of jobs and make us all healthier, issue will be distributed in Copenhagen and it is also available free online – SolutionsWeNeedNow.org.

Some of the most inspiring and influential minds offer  insights and solutions to the climate crisis (and some of the other challenges clobbering us as well) – Paul Hawken, Bill McKibben, Lester Brown, Al Gore, and others.

This issue offers information on a breakthrough project to use man-made vortices (not sure exactly what this is, but we’ll ask Jurriaan tonight!), up to six miles high, to circulate heat in the upper atmosphere and thus cool the planet. The issue also contains stories on: Dutch scientists who have developed technology to generate renewable electricity wherever saltwater and fresh water meet; ‘carbon farming’ as an innovative and simple form of CO2 sequestration; houses that generate more power than they consume; and new biofuels that don’t interfere with food production.

Please email any questions in advance to: info@thegreendivas.com or IM us during the show.

Tune in and turn on a friend!

Thursday, December 10, 2009
7 – 8pm EST
HomeGrownRadioNJ.org