The Green Living section on the Gaiam Community website. This is an online community for those who value the environment and would like to discuss environmental sustainability issues. http://life.gaiam.com Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:40:13 -0800 en-us http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Is-Your-Furniture-Hazardous-to-Your-Health-4-Lessons-to-Learn-About-Formaldehyde.html Formaldehyde, a chemical commonly found in furniture and cabinets, can contaminate your home and harm your health. These four lessons will teach you how to eliminate your exposure to formaldehyde -- creating a safer, healthier home for you and your family.]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:16:00 -0800 http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Is-Your-Furniture-Hazardous-to-Your-Health-4-Lessons-to-Learn-About-Formaldehyde.html http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/3-Ways-to-Give-Twice-Creative-Ideas-for-Gifts-That-Give-Back.html Happiness doesn't come in a box ... yet nothing beats the feeling of giving an exquisite gift. Behold, 10 double-happiness gifts that also give a world of compassion. Get ideas and our top picks for gifts that support vital causes, fair wages and inventive recycling or repurposing of discarded materials.]]> Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/3-Ways-to-Give-Twice-Creative-Ideas-for-Gifts-That-Give-Back.html http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/6-Ways-to-Green-Your-Thanksgiving-Dinner.html You don't have to go cold tofurkey to green your Thanksgiving meal. Try these six ways keep Thanksgiving traditions while putting eco-friendly twists on your feast, starting with slashing the carbon footprint of your turkey dinner with all the fixin's.]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/6-Ways-to-Green-Your-Thanksgiving-Dinner.html http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Affordable-Green-Ways-to-Tackle-6-Home-Decorating-Challenges.html "Keep it simple -- and sustainable -- by making easy, affordable changes to create a beautiful space right where you are," writes Jeanne Storck. From eco-organizing to VOC-free paint, sustainable lighting, container gardens and more, find out six simple and affordable ways to transform your home into a greener and more stylish living space.]]> Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:49:28 -0800 http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Affordable-Green-Ways-to-Tackle-6-Home-Decorating-Challenges.html http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Dreaming-Green-8-Ways-to-Create-Your-EcoHome.html Want to make your home more stylish AND healthier for your family and the environment? Lisa Sharkey and Paul Gleicher transformed their Manhattan brownstone into an eco-smart, eco-fabulous home. Read about eight green ways they improved their home -- plus get ideas for how to make your own home more eco-friendly.]]> Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:12:12 -0800 http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Dreaming-Green-8-Ways-to-Create-Your-EcoHome.html http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Gaiam-Gift-Guide-for-Everyone-on-Your-List.html Whether you're shopping for the yogi, fitness buff, eco-fashionista, green queen, worldly giver, gadget guy, day spa diva or eco-decorating enthusiast, our holiday gift guide is your one-stop page for 75 gifts hand-picked for eight colorful personalities on your list.]]> Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Gaiam-Gift-Guide-for-Everyone-on-Your-List.html http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Fall-on-the-Farm-Agritourism-Offers-Plenty-to-Savor.html It's that time of year again for picking out pumpkins and sipping on hot apple cider. And what better place to do it than at a small farm? Agritourism not only makes for fun fall travel -- it's also a great way to help preserve the rural areas and support local farmers. Wendy Worrall Redal gives you a taste of what it's like visiting the local farms in Wisconsin. Plus, she recommends four other great farms to check out this fall.]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:33:33 -0700 http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Fall-on-the-Farm-Agritourism-Offers-Plenty-to-Savor.html http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Good-for-Stopping-Germs-Bad-for-the-Planet.html Is being sanitary at odds with being eco in your house? Should you use hand towels or paper towels? Hand sanitizer, or soap? Disinfectant spray, or UV wand? Shopping cart handle cover, or antibacterial wipes? Common ways to kill germs can be hard on the environment -- and detrimental to your health. Here's how to weigh your options and stay healthy while helping the planet, too.]]> Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Good-for-Stopping-Germs-Bad-for-the-Planet.html http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Guide-to-Buying-Eco-Friendly-Furniture.html Want to buy eco-friendly furniture but have no idea where to start? Here's what you need to know about greening your home furnishings -- insight on organic fabrics and fills, certified ecologically harvested wood, bamboo, nontoxic materials and finishes, and options like fair trade, local, artisan-crafted or reclaimed finds.]]> Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Guide-to-Buying-Eco-Friendly-Furniture.html http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/What-Caused-the-Disappearing-Honey-Bees.html Thousands of commercial beekeepers found that their honey bees were disappearing — and many were found dead in or around their hives. But why have organic beekeepers not experienced this problem? Were pesticides the cause of the trauma to these bee colonies? Could greener beekeeping practices have prevented it? Find out more in this Q&A from EarthTalk.]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:07:45 -0700 http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/What-Caused-the-Disappearing-Honey-Bees.html