The Green Bride Guide: Reading Room

We Have Moved!

2009-02-23T17:35:00.003-05:00

Dear friends,

I am delighted to announce that the Reading Room blog has moved to our new green wedding site.

The books are now available in our searchable eco-friendly products directory.

You can find green wedding articles, listen to my Green Wedding Interview on Sierra Club Radio, and find clips from tv interviews on our new Green Wedding News and Events page.

See what else we are up to by visiting the green bride guide homepage.

I hope you enjoy the new site!!

All the best,

Kate

Farms Are For Lovers

2008-11-02T15:47:00.000-05:00

Here is a new article by the same woman who wrote How Green Was My Wedding. My husband and I held part of our wedding on a farm and it was wonderful - I am not sure that is the message here but Mia does a good job of documenting this new trend.

Ecological - Make Your Day Big Time Green

2008-10-27T22:32:00.000-04:00

Kathryn Bechen mentioned The Green Bride Guide in her recent article in San Diego Style Weddings. This article also features the green wedding planning company Plan It Green and Wherever Shuttle - two great resources for couples in the San Diego area! Click here to read the article.

Clay Art for All Seasons: A Guide to Soft Clay Art

2008-10-16T23:17:00.001-04:00

I recently came across a woman who makes the most amazing clay art flowers in Hawaii - DK Designs. While searching for other clay artists making eternal wedding bouquets I found Yukiko Miyai, who runs the Deco Clay Art Academy. Here work is outstanding and I think speaks for itself - so here are a few images form her website:

Her book has received rave reviews - check it out!

Eco-Chick

2008-10-13T18:14:00.000-04:00

Starre Vartan is speaking in Hartford on Thursday at an event hosted by CT Green Scene. Starre is the author of the new book The Eco Chick Guide to Life: How to Be Fabulously Green and runs the website Eco-Chick.com.

In reviewing her book for Amazon, Meghan Meyers of Portovert - the leading green wedding magazine- wrote:

"This is, hands-down, the best green living guide I've read to-date. It is well-organized and approachable and filled with practical information for everyday living. You'll find budget-friendly tips to fix your home and easy-to-digest explanations of today's hot topics (i.e hybrid vs. PZEV vs. electric vehicles vs. fuel cells). I LOVE THIS BOOK. This is the first and last book you'll need to help you understand the eco issues facing us today."

Sounds great!

October Contest!

2008-10-12T21:28:00.001-04:00

For the first time ever, The Green Bride Guide Online is offering monthly contests!

Only a few people have entered our October contest so far - so the chance to win is high!! The contest is for 80% off a CameraRenter package - worth almost $400.

Here is a short video about Camera Renter, a company that offers a great alternative to disposable cameras:

Even if you don't win, you can get a Free Archive CD by entering the code: 0.00_81thegreenbrideguide on the camera renter site.

Shopping for the Guilt-Free Diamond

2008-10-09T16:34:00.000-04:00

Claire Frost and Jose Negroni brought this article about ethically-sourced diamonds to my attention. To read the article click here. To buy loose Canadian diamonds and to view other eco-friendly engagement ring options click here.

Earth Vows

2008-09-26T14:37:00.000-04:00

The San Diego Local News recently ran a story by Pat Sherman featuring The Green Bride Guide and Pamela Noxon - who will host the first Green Bridal Show in San Diego on March 8, 2009. To see the text of the article click here.

Flowers for the Table

2008-09-13T13:10:00.000-04:00

I rarely rave about flower books but I am so impressed with this one I felt compelled to include it in the reading room. If you are thinking of doing your own flowers or are looking for seasonal inspiration pick up a copy of Flowers for the Table: Arrangements and Bouquets for All Seasons.

Ariella Chezar is a master arranger, and incorporats fruit, vines and many unexpected items into her magnificent floral arrangements. If you want sustainable wedding flowers with an organic feel this is the book for you.

Here are a few pictures courtesy of Amazon:

To buy her book click the link below:

Hello Cupcake

2008-08-20T00:28:00.000-04:00

My brother called me today raving about a new booked called "Hello Cupcake." It offers clever, fun and EASY cupcake designs - perfect for any DIY wedding. No special tools required. As one reviewer wrote, "Wow, wow, and WOW! This veritable encyclopedia of "mini-cake" decorating is so fun and easy that there is absolutely no excuse for anyone to lament "they can't". With the use of food items found anywhere, you will be making the cutest, and most impressive cupcake creations you can possibly think of, and Karen and Alan will make you legendary to boot! "

I downloaded these adorable and illustrative images from Amazon.

If you are interested in reading more about why cupcakes are green click here.

How to Be a Budget Organic

2008-08-19T18:44:00.000-04:00

My mother - an avid reader of Prevention Magazine - sent me this article today on how to make thrifty organic food choices. It is a quick informative read on how to prioritize on a tight budget. Click here to read the article online.

NEW UK Green Wedding Book

2008-07-26T18:14:00.001-04:00

I just got wind of a new green wedding book coming out in August in the UK - How To Get Married In Green. For those of you reading this on the other side of the puddle - hopefully Suzan will have lots of local tips to share!

Interested in Biodiesel?

2008-07-26T14:05:00.000-04:00

Here is a new book about how biodiesel can help us fight global warming.

From thir website:

"Let's set things straight!

In America, we use gasoline in our cars primarily, but diesel engines drive all of our service vehicles from school buses to garbage trucks, construction equipment, marine, planes, trains and hundreds of thousands of semi's shipping food and goods each day. Thats alot of pertroleum, and alot of pollution!
Biodiesel is petroleum FREE, and will double the life of an engine and reduce carbon emmissions by 78%!

And biodiesel can be produced in abundance, close to home, without harming our food crops or precious rainforest!"

You can download this book as an MP3 too - which has even less impact on the environment. Click the image below to learn more.

Green Business Reads

2008-07-19T13:50:00.000-04:00

Yesterday a reader suggested that I include a couple of good green business book suggestions. One book that has gotten a lot of attention is Green to Gold.

Dan Esty (one of the co-authors) is the only faculty member at Yale who is a joint professor with the Forestry School and Yale Law School. He is the Director of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy as well as the Yale World Fellows Program.

"Every business, big or small, in manufacturing or services, faces environmental risks and opportunities. Esty and Winston show how companies have benefited from taking these challenges as strategic opportunities, but they also detail why corporate environmental initiatives often fall flat. There are important lessons to be learned from both the successes and the failures."-Bertrand Collomb, Chairman, Lafarge (Bertrand Collomb )

The other book that was recommended to me is Green Business: A Five-part Model for Creating an Environmentally Responsible Company.

As one reviewer wrote:

This is a large-format, coffee-table book that makes a colorful and enjoyable introduction to the basic elements of enhancing sustainability for any type of business. It is written at a more basic level and is successful in giving a broad overview of the range of typical sustainbility practices:
+ Greening your mission
+ Greening your employees
+ Greening your operations
+ Greening your facilities/sites
+ Greening your products/service

It's a Nice Day for a Green Wedding

2008-07-17T20:37:00.000-04:00

The Advocate, one of my favorite CT papers, ran an article today about green weddings that mentions The Green Bride Guide. It has lots of great ideas - especially for NY and CT brides. Click here to read it.

Natural Cleaning

2008-07-11T09:20:00.000-04:00

Having just added a number of non-toxic cleaning supplies to the look book, I thought it would be helpful to add a book on natural cleaning. In addition to the "over-the-counter" or pre-made cleaning supplies I highlight in the look book you can also make a number of effective natural home cleaners using everyday items (like vinegar). A great book on this topic is Nontoxic, Natural & Earthwise. For a more modern take try Green Up Your Cleanup.

While I am promoting cleaning books, I have to add my fathers personal bible. While it is not a specifically non-toxic book, it has effective cleaning solutions for almost every common problem. Based on this book, my father has developed a reputation among friends and family members as "the stain master." Now his secrets are revealed.

Volunteer Vacations

2008-06-27T13:44:00.000-04:00

Although not for everyone, more and more couples are taking volunteer honeymoons. Even if you are not interested in going on a volunteer trip for your wedding, you might be interested in taking a volunteer vacation at some point in the next few years. If so - I recommend checking out some of the amazing opportunities recommended in "Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures That Will Benefit You and Others."

That Buzz in Your Ear May Be Green Noise - New York Times

2008-06-25T18:59:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Gail wrote in asking me about how to ensure you find eco-friendly products. Today I read an article from last week's New York Times describing the feeling of "burnout" people seeking environmentally friendly choices sometimes feel.

Click here to read "That Buzz in Your Ear May Be Green Noise"

This article offers some good resources to help you prioritize. I also recommend the book Hey Mr. Green - which tackles many of little questions about which choices are best for daily living.

Love, Honor, Leave No Carbon Footprint

2008-06-24T17:12:00.000-04:00

Today's New York Times had a nice article on green honeymoons today. Click here to check it out.

Green Gardening

2008-06-24T12:12:00.000-04:00

Summer is here and gardens in CT are in full bloom. If you find yourself struggling with bugs and weeds every summer - before you reach for the usual arsenal of chemicals consider some of the many highly effective organic and natural alternatives. For a good primer on the how to of organic gardening try Burpee : The Complete Vegetable & Herb Gardener : A Guide to Growing Your Garden Organically. For a more sophisticated guide to insect and disease control check out The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control: A Complete Problem-Solving Guide to Keeping Your Garden and Yard Healthy Without Chemicals.

To find organic seeds and saplings click here.

Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style

2008-06-20T07:20:00.000-04:00

Christie Matheson, the author of Green Chic, is a veteran writer. Her work has appeared in Body & Soul, Glamour, Shape, Boston, San Francisco, Yoga Journal, and The Boston Globe Magazine. She is also the author of four books (listed below) and an accomplished photographer.

in Green Chic, Christie offers fun practical tips for living a greener life. As the author of Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash, Elizabeth Royte, wrote: "Matheson slyly steers us toward consumer goods and services that minimize our earth-stomping human footprint. She's brave enough to say 'buy less of everything,' and even the politically fraught 'buy nothing.' Matheson's genius is to make this seem not only doable, but fun."

This is a great book to buy for yourself or as a gift for a friend.

Check out Christie's other books:

The Busy Brides Essential Wedding Checklists

2008-06-20T07:15:00.000-04:00

Worried you will forget something? Why reinvent the wheel?

"The Busy Bride's Essential Wedding Checklists vastly outdoes its competition with attention to detail, complete question lists, more realistic suggestions and presenting topics to the bride in the order in which she will need them."

Made for the 21st Century (the age of online planning)everything you need to do and more in one little book.

Name Change Kit

2008-06-18T22:32:00.000-04:00

Many people (men and women) today change their names when they get married. Whether one or both of you is making a change, you will quickly discover it is a royal "pain in the patoot," as my mother would say. It can also be time consuming and costly. Newlyweds run into the most trouble when they try to use an old passport and a new name on their honeymoon - but there are many documents that need updating (like your social security card) that can easily slip your mind or fall off the bottom of your to do list.

When I got married I decided, for a number of reasons that I will not go into here, to take my husband's last name but to retain my maiden name, Harrison, for work. When six months had passed and I had made very little headway, I ordered The Ultimate Name Change Kit and was very pleased with the package. It is green because it saves you hours of thinking and internet surfing, is available as a PDF download and is tailored to your state. In addition to providing all the forms you need it also gives you a complete check list of all of the people and places you will need to contact about the switch as well as a step by step guide with very helpful tips (like make 10 copies of your marriage license right off the bat).

You can click on the image above to order your kit today.

Green Investing

2008-06-18T11:40:00.000-04:00

We can all see which way the winds of the economy are blowing and the time to invest in renewable energy has arrived. If you want a basic primer on investment tools and green options I recommend Socially Responsible Investing, by Ami Domini. If you are more interested in green stocks - try Green Investing.

Anti-Bride Guides

2008-06-18T10:31:00.000-04:00

One reader who bought the Offbeat Bride recommends another "alternative wedding" book - the Anti-Bride Guide:

"Into a sea of pearl white and pale blue comes the hot pink and orange Anti-Bride Guide. The perfect book for anyone alienated by the high-brow wedding industry, this practical guide fills a huge gap in the wedding planner market. A riot to read and filled with sassy illustrations, each chapter offers up fabulous advice and unusual ideas for those brides looking for more than the standard fare. Hundreds of fantastic tips give great insider advice on how to deal with any and all wedding eventualities (lipstick stain on dress, caterer from hell, wedding day breakout). A handy planner and resource guide keeps the bride on track, and tabbed chapters have pockets for stuffing brochures and clippings. For the bride who wants her wedding her way, this is the ultimate guide. " - Amazon

Now the Anti-Bride Guide has additional books to cover every aspect of the big day.

50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth

2008-06-16T21:01:00.000-04:00

This is a new twist on an old favorite. This time...

"The authors have teamed up with 50 of America's top environmental groups, including The Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Wildlife Federation, and Rainforest Action Network. Each group has chosen one issue and provided a simple, step-by-step program that will empower you and your family to become citizen activists in the fight to save the Earth.

It's easy to get started. Just pick one!
Fight global warming "one city at a time" with the Sierra Club's Cool Cities Campaign
Roll up your sleeves and save an endangered species with the Wilderness Society
Protect coral reefs and create a marine reserve with Seacology
Get your congregation excited about protecting God's creations with Interfaith Power and Light
Invite songbirds into your neighborhood with the National Audubon Society"

This book is a great one to have around the house or to give to a niece, nephew or child.

How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman

2008-06-16T20:55:00.000-04:00

Mark Bittman writes "The Minimalist" column for The New York Times. My father swears by his recipes -which are reliably easy and delicious. If you plan to cook for your wedding or just want easy recipes to give your caterer consider picking these up.

To Buy or Not to Buy Organic by Cindy Burke

2008-06-16T20:51:00.001-04:00

This book as gotten excellent reviews. It was written by journalist and former chef Cindy Burke. She distills some of the politics of the organic food movement and reviews key terms like organic, local, sustainable and grass-fed. She also tells you what to buy and what not to buy. Good for those of us who like answers.

Red Sky at Morning by Gus Speth

2008-06-16T20:42:00.001-04:00

This book, written by the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies' dean Gus Speath is a roadmap for global action on climate change. As one Amazon review wrote:

"This book deserves ten stars. It is more important than the sacrosanct Silent Spring. It is impossible to overstate this book's importance."

Raising Baby Green by Alan Greene

2008-06-16T20:37:00.000-04:00

I have bought this book for several friends - it is easy to read and has lots of practical advice for expecting and seasoned mothers alike. If you or the person you are thinking of buying this book for are also interested in making your own baby food - I recommend the The Petit Appetit Cookbook by Lisa Barnes.

The Creative Jewish Wedding Book: A Hands-On Guide to New & Old Traditions, Ceremonies & Celebrations

2008-06-14T21:43:00.000-04:00

I used this book for my wedding and thought it was very helpful - particularly in thinking about the ceremony. It has lots of how to projects and creative ideas that would work well for Jewish and non-Jewish weddings alike.

It offers(quoted form Amazon):
- Insights and reflections from a broad range of couples who have created their own distinctive weddings
- Practical hands-on techniques and ideas for creating many of the ritual objects connected to a Jewish wedding from designing your own ketubah, to making paper for invitations, to fashioning the chuppah
- How to express your spiritual life and values through your ceremony
- An up-to-date guide to wedding resources in the Jewish world

Cell Phone Recycling

2008-06-10T20:16:00.000-04:00

Do you plan to get a new iPhone? Or have an old phone you just don't need? You can look up cell phone recycling centers in your area by clicking here.

Wool Remains Cool

2008-06-10T16:04:00.000-04:00

Click here to read the article about why wool and silk products are sustainable choices.

Kosher Cooking

2008-06-10T15:48:00.000-04:00

If you want to have a kosher wedding reception and you are thinking about cooking some of the food yourself, or just want ideas to give your caterer, consider picking up one of the following contemporary kosher cookbooks.

1. Kosher By Design Entertains: Fabulous Recipes For Parties And Every Day
"Building on her popular Kosher by Design, Fishbein leads readers through an array of extremely doable kosher options, covering finger foods to main dishes to desserts, while giving suggestions for organizing a menu, decorating a table and serving foods. International offerings like Pesce Arrabbiatta, Moroccan Short Ribs, and Caribbean Jerk Chicken appear alongside variations on familiar classics, such as Mexican Gefilte Fish, Strawberry Apple Kugel, and Mexican Brisket. The author is hip to trendy food items such as edamame, olive tapenade, fennel and porcini mushrooms, reinforcing this cookbook's value: yes, every dish is kosher, but far from old-fashioned. "

2. Quick & Kosher - Recipes From The Bride Who Knew Nothing
"This is the hilarious story of Jamie Geller, a spunky young TV exec who came into marriage and kosher cooking without knowing a spatula from a saucepan. Determined to master cooking, yet pressed for time, she was dismayed to find that most cookbooks consider an hour of preparation time quick, and presumed more culinary skill than many of us have. So Jamie set out to compile her own special collection of quick and easy recipes and Quick & Kosher is the result of her quest. This one-of-a-kind cookbook contains more than 160 recipes requiring no more than 15 minutes to prepare, 120 full-color photos, clear step-by-step instructions, reliable prep and cooking times, tips and techniques, and advice on pairing wines with various dishes. Recipes range from traditional to exotic, and are well indexed and cross-referenced."

3. Hip Kosher: 175 Easy-to-Prepare Recipes for Today's Kosher Cooks
"This book is a great find - from fun recipes filled with loads of learning made easy. I look forward to flipping through the pages and finding a new recipe to try - they've all been hits with our friends so far. Easy to follow - definitely well tested - and they all paste the taste test of top notch food! Thank you, Ms. Ronnie Fein, for bringing this book to us!" - AS.R. Crow

Lisa Rainwater and Andy Mele

2008-06-01T23:01:00.001-04:00

Look -another green wedding in the Times! Click here to read the article about how these two environmental activists fell in love.

Lisa Rainwater is the policy director for Riverkeeper and Andy Mele was the executive director of Clearwater. He also wrote a book about the impact of boating on water quality:

Click here to read more about their wedding.

A Greener Apple

2008-05-27T21:02:00.000-04:00

Okay - so electronics probably aren't the first thing you think of when you think "green," but that does not stop us from buying them. Therefore, I thought you might be interested to know about some of the things one of the greener electronic companies are doing. Click here to read about how Apple is leading the way.

If you are looking for a new phone, Blackberry or iPod, consider getting an all-in-one iPhone and reduce the number of devices you need...

Or be even greener and buy refurbished (aka recycled) products...

Remember, when your old electronics break don't throw them away! Google your state's name and the words "e-waste recycling" or "cell phone recycling" etc. to find local drop off points for everything form microwaves to old televisions.

Arnold Grummer's Complete Guide to Paper Casting

2008-05-22T19:47:00.000-04:00

Interested in making your own table decor or favor? Consider paper casting.

"This new book offers readers clear, step-by-step instructions, tips, and techniques for the craft of paper casting. Covers the basics of casting, drying, tinting, and surface finishing, as well as project ideas for making paper casts with readily available molds and rubber stamps. Readers will also learn how to make their own molds with everyday objects, such as brass plates, bowls, shells, leaves, and paw prints. Paper-casted bowls, plaques, and other items can be decorated and embellished to suit any home décor." - Amazon

Arnold Grummer's Complete Guide to Easy Papermaking

2008-05-22T19:18:00.000-04:00

Interested in making your own invitations or save-the-dates? Check out this book from the definitive expert!

"Master papermaker Grummer (Tin Can Papermaking) presents a detailed and well-illustrated guide to recycling all sorts of wastepaper into one-of-a-kind handmade paper. Home papermaking can be done with easily obtained equipment such as a blender. The techniques are all well laid out with good illustrations and explanations of the properties of paper. Practice projects are included. This complete guide is highly recommended for crafts collections." - Amazon

Arnold Grummer also offers a complete line of paper making supplies - see the DIY page for two of their most popular kits.

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

2008-05-09T23:23:00.000-04:00

I loved this book. Well researched and compellingly written, Schlosser does a very good job of explaining why our food system is the way it is - and why Americans are so overweight as a result. I would not say it is a beach read, but it is probably as close as a non-fiction book about food can get and still be powerful.

A few quick reviews:

Atlanta Journal Constitution
"'Fast Food Nation' should be another wake-up call, a super-size serving of common sense...."

The New York Times
"...Schlosser is a serious and diligent reporter..." "[Fast Food Nation] is a fine piece of muckraking, alarming without beling alarmist." - Rob Walker, NYTBR 1/21/01

Publishers Weekly, Starred
"Schlosser establishes a seminal argument for the true wrongs at the core of modern America."

If you prefer movies, or just want to add some visuals to the mix and have not seen Supersize Me - it is must see TV.

Paper Flower Books

2008-05-09T23:03:00.000-04:00

After seeing the entry on How to Make Flowers with Dennison Crepe Paper, one reader suggested a few other paper flower books which I am happy to share:

Fanciful Paper Flowers: Creative Techniques for Crafting an Enchanted Garden

From amazon:
Eleven different paper flower-making techniques, three projects for each, all developed by a proven author with an enchanting, whimsical, flea-market-meets-fantasy sensibility: that’s what makes this volume so irresistible. Sandra Evertson follows up her Fanciful Paper Projects with a fabulously feminine collection of paper flower jewelry, garlands, barrettes, hatpins, ornaments, and decorative objects ... Each chapter features a page from her very own sketchbook, plus she’s provided several pages of vintage ephemera, templates, and her original papers for readers to copy and use... this collection truly offers a garden of artistic possibilities!

Paper Bouquet: Using Paper Punches to Create Beautiful Flowers

From Amazon:
Cherry blossoms, forsythia, marigolds, and petunias: Who would have imagined you could recreate such gorgeous blooms with just paper and craft punches? ... Using her own original, unique techniques, Susan Tierney Cockburn offers 40 beloved flowers to make for decorating gifts and home décor. She teaches the simple basics, including paper manipulation, gluing, and coloring, and presents her flowers as colorfully as they’re found in nature. From A (Amaryllis) to Z (Zinnia), there’s a bountiful bouquet of blooms to choose from! Photographs document every step, and a visual template of the punches accompanies each flower. A dozen sample projects range from picture frames to wreaths.

I also recently came across Origami Flowers: Popular Blossoms and Creative Bouquets which looks fantastic!

You can do these projects with leftover and recycled paper from your house or use colorful origami paper made from rice (link available on the DIY page of the look book).

Happy crafting!

How to Have a Freegan Wedding - Meghan Meyers

2008-05-08T12:38:00.000-04:00

One of the things I talk about in my book is the myth that green weddings cost more than conventional weddings - they can actually cost less. In fact - according to Meghan Meyers, of Portovert, you can now have a wedding that costs almost nothing. She just posted two articles on how to have a freegan wedding (without going into the dumpster per se). Check them out!

How to Have a Freegan Wedding - at Portovert.
How to Have a Freegan Wedding - at Wikihow.

Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry by Stacy Malkan

2008-05-08T10:57:00.000-04:00

Stacy Malkan is speaking at Yale tonight to read from her new book "Not Just a Pretty Face." It looks like an informative and timely read:

From Amazon:
Product Description
Lead in lipstick? 1,4 dioxane in baby soap? Coal tar in shampoo? How is this possible? Simple. The $35 billion cosmetics industry is so powerful they’ve kept themselves unregulated for decades. Not Just a Pretty Face chronicles the quest that led a group of health and environmental activists to the world’s largest cosmetics companies to ask some tough questions:

Why do companies market themselves as pink ribbon leaders in the fight against breast cancer, yet use hormone-disrupting and carcinogenic chemicals that may contribute to that very disease?
Why do products used by men and women of childbearing age contain chemicals linked to birth defects and infertility?
As doors slammed in their faces and the beauty myth peeled away, the industry’s toxic secrets began to emerge. This scathing investigation peels away less-than-lovely layers to expose an industry in dire need of an extreme makeover. The good news is that while the major multinational companies fight for their right to use hazardous chemicals, entrepreneurs are developing safer non-toxic technologies and building businesses on the values of health, justice and personal empowerment.

About the Author
Stacy Malkan is Communications Director of Health Care Without Harm and media strategist for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition working to eliminate hazardous chemicals from personal care products. Stacy is a former journalist and newspaper publisher who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Making a Vow to Wed "Green"

2008-05-06T20:58:00.000-04:00

(Click Here to link to the page above)

Joshua Houdek and Kristi Papenfus, who were featured in the New York Time's article How Green Was My Wedding with us, just sent me a link to a news segment about green weddings they were in on Kare 11. They were recently in a piece on MSNBC as well.

They have done an amazing job getting the word out about how easy it is to be green!

Kristi + Joshua - you guys rock! Thank you for sharing.

P.s. Did I mention that Joshua works for the Sierra Club?...

(do it for Joshua)

The Tofu Tollbooth - by Elizabeth Zipern + Dar Williams

2008-05-04T13:08:00.000-04:00

The Tofu Tollbooth is considered a bible for vegetarian and vegan travel. It lists restaurants, health food stores and other naturally inclined venues by state:

"The guide contains more than 1,000 health-food options, and for each site, the concise write-ups contain address and phone number, directions from the highways (a wonderful addition), hours of operation, and the parade of cute icons that let you know what to expect to find there (once you memorize that the face with beret stands for café, the carrot in a glass denotes juice bar, and the hot pepper means an especially hot tip)." - Amazon.com

This book is not only good for road trips - it can also help you find sources of natural food for your wedding!

If you like folk music and do not own any of Dar Williams albums I also highly recommend checking out some of her CDs:

You can also download her music directly from iTunes

How to Make Flowers with Dennison Crepe Paper - Manufacturing Dennison Manufacturing Co.

2008-05-03T22:40:00.000-04:00

This is the book the remarkable artist Jude Miller (see image on right) claims to have taught herself with. As far as I am concerned there is no higher recommendation for aspiring paper flower artists. You can use recycled paper to create beautiful designs you and your guests will enjoy long after your wedding! (For another example of Jude's work and other faux flower embellishments see the Accessories page of the Interactive Look Book)

An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming - Al Gore

2008-05-03T21:09:00.000-04:00

If you have not read this book or seen the movie yet it is really worth taking a look. The statistics are so compelling and Al Gore does a greta job of explaining the science and projected consequences of global warming.

I also recommend Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth website which offers useful information about global waring and climate change along with a carbon calculator to help you assess the impact of your daily life on the planet.

Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides - Ariel Meadow Stallings

2008-05-03T20:42:00.000-04:00

Ariel's book is somewhat of a rant but a good read for anyone feeling like an odd ball in the wedding world seeking validation that they are not alone. She does a good job of explaining the process of being strangely drawn to and repulsed by convention at the same time and leads the reader down the path of her experience in finding a wedding that worked for her. Here is Amazon.com's take:

"Unenthused by a white wedding gown and bored by the hoopla of the Hollywood-style reception, Ariel Meadow Stallings found herself absolutely exhausted with the nuances of traditional nuptials. So, she chose to take a walk off the beaten aisle and embrace the non-traditional bride within. Through trial and error, Ariel and her fiancée managed to crank out a budget wedding with all-night dancing, guests toasting champagne in mismatched mugs, gorgeous gardens, no monogrammed napkins, no garter, no bridesmaids, and lots of lesbians...Offbeat Bride serves as an inspiration for those who are interested in a vegan buffet, avoiding bouquet tossing, doing away with the elitist guest list and being a control freak without becoming a Bridezilla. Filled with sidebars, tips, tricks and planner encouragement (all taffeta-free) to help you figure out your special day, this book sees couples through the wedding process from ideas on how to announce their engagement to answering the question, “So, how’s married life?” and everything in between."

Forcing, Etc.: The Indoor Gardener's Guide to Bringing Bulbs, Branches & Houseplants into Bloom - Katherine Whiteside

2008-05-03T20:31:00.000-04:00

If you are planning a late fall or winter wedding forcing is a clever way to create colorful blooms with minimal environmental impact.

"It's not difficult, but it does take some planning and foresight. If you want to force bulbs to flower in February, for instance, you have to order them in late summer so that you can pot them up in the fall. Twigs, on the other hand, are much easier to force: just cut them after six weeks of cold weather, put them in some water, and watch the virtual spring of your warm rooms transform them into leggy, flowering spirea, corylopsis, forsythia, or catkins, for instance. Author Katherine Whiteside explores associated topics such as choosing the best container and presentation within the home, as well as topics only an expert could love ("the narcissus question")." - Amazon.com

Forcing, Etc.: The Indoor Gardener's Guide to Bringing Bulbs, Branches & Houseplants into Bloom is a good book for anyone interested in giving forcing a go.

Simply Green - Danny Seo

2008-04-30T00:41:00.000-04:00

Danny Seo (picture above taken from his blog Daily Danny), has often been compared to Martha Stewart. He is a clever, creative and stylish and takes DIY to the next level. He has been featured on CBS News and was named as one of the top five eco-celebs on Tree Hugger. Wherever green is becoming vogue Danny is probably afoot. Now he has two "Simply Green" books available - each with wonderful pictures and ideas that could enhance any wedding. Definitely worth picking up if you like the Anthropologie woodsy-chic look.

He also has a number of inspirational green living books:

And finally - for those who like to have a thing to do a day in calender form:

Gorgeously Green

2008-04-30T00:33:00.000-04:00

This book is a good read for brides as they prep for the big day. It offers advice on how to green your beauty regime, adopt of home fitness routine and prepare eco-tasty treats. Plus - the title is pretty fabulous.

Have a green wedding - The Global Warming Survival Guide - TIME

2008-04-24T02:13:00.000-04:00

This article came out a few months ago but I think it is quite monumental and deserves a space in the reading room. TIME Magazine listed "Have a Green Wedding" as number 28 in the article "51 Things We Can Do to Save the Environment." Making this list shows that green weddings are truly in vogue and also acknowledges what a significant difference having an eco-conscious can make. Plus - that cake is so cute!

iGo Green Tip of The Day

2008-04-22T15:44:00.000-04:00

iVillage now offers the iGo Green Tip of The Day. I like the idea of the Tip of The Day because sometimes it is easy to get overwhelmed and it gives you something to focus on. Click Here to see today's tip.

Organic Foods: Top 10 Reasons to Go Organic

2008-04-16T12:51:00.000-04:00

This is a quick top 10 reasons list put out by Prevention magazine. A fast answer to the big question of "why organic?" Click here to read the article.

If you are interested in learning more about our food system I recommend Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals.

Here are some raves about the book:
The New York Times Book Review
Thoughtful, engrossing . . . You’re not likely to get a better explanation of exactly where your food comes from.

Los Angeles Times
Michael Pollan has perfected a tone—one of gleeful irony and barely suppressed outrage—and a way of inserting himself into a narrative so that a subject comes alive through what he’s feeling and thinking. He is a master at drawing back to reveal the greater issues.

The Seattle Times
If you ever thought ‘what’s for dinner’ was a simple question, you’ll change your mind after reading Pollan’s searing indictment of today’s food industry—and his glimpse of some inspiring alternatives. . . . I just loved this book so much I didn’t want it to end.

Michael Pollan also wrote The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World, and most recently In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto.

The Everything Wedding Vows Book: Anything and Everything You Could Possibly Say at the Altar - And Then Some

2008-04-12T23:44:00.000-04:00

This book has some great templates and ideas. I agreed with this review from a reader at Amazon:

If you are writing your own vows, or trying to come up with a toast, or need a reading for the ceremony...or just feel like telling your significant other how much you love him/her, this book is for you: tons and tons of sample vows, everything from poetry excerpts to "cookie cutter" vows where all you have to do is fill in the blank with the right name. It has vows for every occasion, quotes and sayings about love and marriage, and a whole lot more. This book is a great buy and should be passed on to friends!

The Knot Guide to Wedding Vows and Traditions: Readings, Rituals, Music, Dances, and Toasts

2008-04-12T23:40:00.000-04:00

My husband and I used this book to help us think about what we did and did not want to do for our ceremony. I found it a down-to-earth and helpful resource.

From Publishers Weekly:
Without letting a lot of fluff get in the way of the facts, wedding expert Carley Roney makes available "readings, rituals, music, dances, speeches and toasts" in The Knot Guide to Wedding Vows and Traditions. Third in her wedding guide series, and culled from her online experience as founder of theknot.com, this guide is a resource for classy concepts ranging from the conventional to the hip, and drawing on a broad array of cultural traditions.

Blood Diamonds

2008-04-11T22:09:00.000-04:00

Although the movie Blood Diamondreceived more attention, the book "Blood Diamonds" is written by a journalist and offers a detailed portrait of the the price of diamonds. Not for the light hearted (or light stomached) reader.

"Freelance journalist Campbell here writes about the cost of diamonds not in dollars to the consumer but in blood, torture, and death for the unfortunate residents of contested mining areas in Sierra Leone. He explains that "conflict diamonds," or "blood diamonds," which account for only three to four percent of all diamonds sold, are mined in war zones, smuggled out of the country, and sold to legitimate companies, financing ruinous civil wars and the plots of international terrorists, including the al Qaeda network. The gems' value and portability have made controlling the diamond mines important to guerrilla fighters, who maim and kill innocent villagers to secure their territory. Campbell has spoken with individuals all along the pipeline, from miners to soldiers to smugglers, and the grim portrait he paints will make many people think twice about buying another diamond. While Matthew Hart's Diamond: A Journey to the Heart of an Obsession covered the international diamond trade more widely, this focused study of the catastrophic effect of blood diamonds on Sierra Leone belongs in all libraries."

Deirdre Bray Root, Middletown P.L., OH
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

The DIY Bride

2008-04-05T23:26:00.000-04:00

If you are crafty or are looking to save money, taking on projects for your wedding is a great way to create green elements for your wedding. While not a green book per se, the DIY encourages recycling and reducing monetary waste. Most of the project ideas can also be adapted to fit your needs:

Khris Cochran’s The DIY Bride: 40 Fun Projects for Your Ultimate One-of-a-Kind Wedding provides inspiration and projects for save-the-date cards, invitations, jewelry and accessories, ceremony decorations, programs, favors and more. Cochran, who founded the website DIYBride.com, also provides a cost comparison to show how much a similar item would cost if purchased in a store, allowing busy couples to decide whether it would be better to buy or make certain projects. A hair ornament for a flower girl, for example, costs about $5 to make but would cost about $40 to buy. The DIY Bride provides clear instructions and suggests whether a project could be completed by the couple themselves, with the help of the wedding party or with members of the family, offering clever ideas and the potential for fun invitation-building parties with friends. --Bookpage

Hey Mr. Green: Sierra Magazine's Answer Guy Tackles Your Toughest Green Living Questions

2008-04-03T19:18:00.000-04:00

When is the right time to replace an old refrigerator? Is it more environmentally correct to buy your beer in bottles or cans? Is there any oil company that's really "greener" than the others? And how much paper do you actually need to recycle in order to save a whole tree?

For several years, Bob Schildgen (aka "Mr. Green") has been answering real-world questions like these in his Sierra magazine column.

Now the Sierra Club has distilled the best of "Mr. Green" into an enormously useful and entertaining book, Hey Mr. Green: Sierra Magazine's Answer Guy Tackles Your Toughest Green Living Questions. The book is organized in helpful sections- At Home offers tips on staying cool, cleaning up, and other domestic details; Food for Thought focuses on how to eat and drink better while spending less; Out and About covers getting around, fueling up, and enjoying the great outdoors; The Three Rs shows you how (and why) to reduce, reuse, and recycle almost everything; and The Big Picture considers how the environment, politics, religion, and other issues intersect--often at the dinner table.

Green Travel: The World's Best Eco-Lodges & Earth-Friendly Hotels

2008-04-03T15:30:00.001-04:00

This book is not out yet, but I have heard great things about it. Here is the product description from Amazon:

Green Travel is the must-have guide to eco-lodges & green hotels around the world. Featuring 100 clean, green accommodations that are not only environmentally friendly, but work to support local communities as well, Choosing Eco-Travel celebrates the growing availability of green travel experiences. It also tackles some the more difficult issues that ethical travelers’ face--- questions about poverty, the politics of boycotting certain destinations, and the environmental impact of travel.

Divided into six chapters (North America & the Caribbean, Central & South America, Europe, Africa & the Middle East, Asia and Australasia), the book includes:
·100 independent reviews of green accommodations that have a minimum impact on the environment and benefit the local community in measurable ways.
·A full description of the green credentials of each hotel and lodge
·A range of choices from around the world: budget beds to luxury accommodations, solar-powered yurt camps to eco-chic city hotels.
·First-hand accounts of green travel experiences on each continent — from bear-watching in Alaska to wine and cheese trails in Britain
·Ethical travel dilemmas that tap into the key issues facing the responsible traveler
·Practical information about the greenest ways to get to your destination, social and environmental ratings for each listing, the best time to visit, and room rates.
·Clear locator maps and full-color images throughout

Lonely Planet Code Green: Experiences of a Lifetime

2008-04-03T15:22:00.000-04:00

I was going to write my own review - but I think Wanderlust on Amazon summed it up well:

"This book is fantastic. If you love to travel but worry about the impact on the environment, culture, and economics of where you are visiting, or if you are looking for unique vacation ideas that are completely off any tourist track, this is the guide for you. It gives practical ideas and recommendations on a host of travel experiences from rebuilding temples in Mongolia and Nepal to observing lemurs for the National Parks in Madagascar. These aren't just ethereal ideas either-- the author gives you the web site for each project, the best times to go, how to get there, the costs, etc. And not all are about "volunteering"; there are suggestions for isolated islands in Micronesia (where all the money you spend goes directly to the locals who live there), hiking wildflower fields in Switzerland, and other more "luxury" vacation plans. Plus, there are explorations of some of the questions we all face when traveling: Should I give to beggars? Are indigenous tours and sites exploitative or appreciated? I recommend this book to anyone who wants to tread lightly, immerse themselves in culture, and make a positive economical impact while on vacation."

Living Green - Hartford Currant

2008-03-31T09:59:00.000-04:00

When Barry and Kate Harrison Muchnick, students at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, married last year, they held the wedding in the Hudson River Valley, between the two families, to minimize carbon emissions. (MARK MIRKO / March 14, 2008)

By STEVE GRANT ■ Courant Staff Writer
March 30, 2008
Living Green

Steve grant was kind enough to include us in an article about green living at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. My husband Barry's biodiesel truck also made it into the picture. :)

To see another picture of that handsome dog click here.

Going Green on Your Wedding Day - MSNBC Video

2008-03-10T20:28:00.000-04:00

See MSNBC's coverage of green weddings "Going Green on Your Wedding Day"-featuring Joshua Houdek and Kristi Papenfuss!

With This Offset, I Thee Wed - Waste News

2008-03-07T21:49:00.000-05:00

With This Offset, I Thee Wed is an article by Joe Truinl that ran in Waste News and featured Joshua Houdek and Kristi Papenfuss. One way to be green on your big day is to minimize your impact on climate change by reducing and offsetting the carbon emissions of your event.

Green Weddings and a Funeral - Five

2008-03-07T16:15:00.000-05:00

In Issue Fifteen of Five Magazine (the one with Pearl Jam on the cover pictured above), Debbie Mack featured our wedding in an article called Green Weddings and a Funeral. While this article also has a few inaccuracies (I wore a refashioned dress made of regular silk and donated it Brides Against Breast Cancer after the wedding), it has a rather - well - unique perspective on the issue.

How Green Was My Wedding - NY Times

2008-03-07T12:55:00.000-05:00

CLICK HERE

Organic wedding bells will ring out in a scenic trail area for Kate Harrison and Barry Muchnick.
Photo credit: C. M. Glover for The New York Time

Last year my husband and I were featured in the New York Times article How Green Was My Wedding. This was one of the first large articles on green weddings and made quite a splash. With the exception of a few minor inaccuracies (e.g. we were married at Catrock - not Castle Rock) Mia Navarro did a very good job of covering the why and how of green weddings. It was great to be able to contribute to her piece.

Green Weddings That Don't Cost the Earth

2008-03-04T23:22:00.000-05:00

Green Weddings That Don’t Cost the Earth By Carol Reed-Jones (1996) is a small volume printed on rough recycled paper with soy-based ink. This book was one of the first of its kind and is very DIY die-hard - sporting tips on where to get pens for handwriting invitations and good recipes for baking your own vegan wedding cake. Certainly not for everyone, but a great read for "the barefoot hippy nut berries," as my mother would say.

Eco-Chic

2008-03-04T23:15:00.000-05:00

Eco-Chic by Emily Elizabeth Anderson (2007) is the most current book on the market and offers number of options that were not available just a few years ago, like bamboo fiber clothing. It is organized by the "Three R" categories: reduce, reuse and recycle and offers many good green wedding planning ideas and resources.

Organic Weddings

2008-03-04T22:19:00.000-05:00

As the title implies, Organic Weddings: Balancing Ecology, Style, and Tradition focuses on the atmosphere of a green wedding. It has a lot of good information, but is most interesting because it offers a multitude of expect interviews, couples’ stories, and issue sidebars.