The Vermont Green Home & Living Show coming this weekend (Feb 17th-19th at the CV Expo in Essex) is one of my favorite places to check out the latest technologies and innovations in northern Vermont. The traditional log home and timber frame builders will be there there as usual.  Hopefully I will see another photographer Rick Libbey, aka “The Mooseman” who has an amazing collection of photography, inclduing moose (of course), wild bear and loons to name a few, all found in their native habitat.

Last year we enjoyed some local businesses including yours truly, the EHS Environmental Club, Sales Rep Jim Johnson with a Toyota Prius, Bob Clark and the crew from Efficiency Vermont and Ken Torino, the Pocket Socket inventor.

As always, the value in attending always surpasses my expectations because the ideas we get from each other outweigh whatever goods or services we sell.  A new friend, local engineer Ken Torino exhibited at the show and had one of the most exciting inventions I have seen in a long time, known as the Pocket Socket. The Pocket Socket is an ergonomic hand-held charger. You’ve got to see this. I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more of it in the future!

Video: solargroupies, youtube

Again, see you at the Vermont Green Home and Living Show Feb 17th-19th at the CV Expo in Essex!

Image: NRC.gov

Did you know there was a nuclear war on Mars? Did you know that climate change was a hoax? Did you know that the ice sheets are growing? How do we know something is true or not true and what is the source for myths? People in our society don’t seem to ask questions about sources when talking about facts and plenty of people play it loose with reality and report fishy stories because they don’t follow up. Cliff Clavin doesn’t need sources but is he all that different from us when we don’t ask for sources for information?

Science research is easy to source since papers are published and peer reviewed. Following the source back to peer-reviewed papers and data verifies that the source is credible. This entertaining and interesting short video shows how the media doesn’t do its job in following up on the information trail and sources they are reporting on. Great science peer reviewed journals include Nature, Science, Scientific American and New Scientist.

How to Stop the Common Cold

I have only had one head cold in the past 3 years! It used to be that I would get two or three head-clogging, sneezing, aching colds each year. It would usually start in my sinuses, feeling like steel wool prickling and aching, making itchy watery eyes, then creating a sore throat, sometimes leading to bronchitis and always leading to a week long, head-achy stuffed up, puffy ordeal of malaise. But I kicked the common cold for good! How did I do it?

My grandmother used to say “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And she was right. My experience has always been that once I would get a cold, there was no magic drug to make it disappear anytime soon. So I started researching and trying different things and I came up with an easy formula to prevent the common cold. No kidding, no exaggeration, no BS. Here is how to prevent a common cold.

1. Keep your hands away from your eyes and nose. The common cold virus enters through your eyes or nose. Keep the microscopic virus away from those entry points and it can’t get in to do you harm. Remember, viruses are on every surface you touch, and can even be airborne.

2. Stay away from sick people. A coughing or sneezing person can produce a mist of droplets containing millions of airborne viruses that can travel more than ten feet in the air, until they hit you!

3. Practice good nutrition and stay hydrated. Your body depends on good fuel to keep it’s natural defenses working properly. Also, vitamins like zinc have been shown to improve your immunity. I also take a daily whole food  vitamin and vitamin D3. If  I have a stressful experience or begin to feel run down, or a steel wool-in-my-nose feeling coming on I take a product called Airborne. It is full of vitamins and minerals that seem to get the upper hand on the virus or boost your immune system and stop that cold in it’s tracks. Alcohol, tobacco and other recreational substances may compromise the immune system and make you more susceptible.

4. Keep stress low and practice stress releases. Exercising four or five days a week has been shown to keep your defenses up and keep germs at bay. I try to get outside every day- rain or shine, breathe deeply, and hit the dreaded treadmill on days that I cannot run, bike or hike.

That’s it, preventing the common cold is that simple.  Have you found that these four steps work? Let me know what works for you.

Interested in other wellness tips? Check out our Wellness blog category and don’t forget to buy our products!

Spectacular Views of Vermont

Crystal ice on trees this morning in Starksboro, Vermont in 5 degree temperatures.

As solstice approaches we realize that we are well aware that we are in a zone of darker, shorter days and longer, colder nights for the next few months. For many elders, talk of moving to the sun belt or at least towards lower latitudes becomes common. If nothing else it is comforting to conjure up fantasies and images of of places where the sun shines more than it is cloudy, where you don’t need a jacket to go outside now, and you don’t need to turn the lights on after four pm. But the real Vermonters, including my parents, who descended from generations of hearty Vermonters before them, stayed put. One of the things they realized was that Vermont IS a community that still has a working political system, has a healthy economy despite periodic fluctuations, and has natural beauty that is unheard of in most places. Above all else, the natural beauty is reason enough for me to second-guess ever leaving this place. Enjoy the Vermont pictures in our gallery. If you are interested in purchasing any photos you see, please send us an email. Prices are based on standard sizes in our Vermont Pictures Photography and Vermont scenery note cards.

Looking west from Charlotte Beach on Lake Champlain

Hills and meadows with Mount Mansfield in the background

Southwest view from Mount Philo in Charlotte, Vermont

Vermont fall foliage in Williston, Vermont

Photo By Glenn Fay, Jr.

Sunday I was on the Church Street Marketplace in Burlington, Vermont, enjoying a leisurely afternoon, picking up some new winter clothes and getting a bite to eat. After checking out Frog Hollow‘s local photography and picking up a bow tie at Macy’s I cruised towards Eddie Bauer, right past him. I wouldn’t have noticed him except the street was empty and he was alone in the middle of the plaza. He was sitting in a wheel chair, holding a cardboard sign that read, “Anything Helps Thank You God Bless”. I noticed he looked cold and was missing a leg as he looked straight ahead down the street from his wheel chair.  I said hi and he nodded, but made no direct appeal to me as some street people do.

After walking by  something in his eyes made me stop, turn and go back and touch base with him. I rarely give panhandlers money, not that you see many in Burlington like you do in other places. I pulled out a buck and handed it to him. “Thank you very much,” he said to me. “what’s your name,” I asked. “Steve.” “And where do you live, Steve?” “On the street, anywhere I can, it was College Street last night.” I paused. This guy was the real deal. I had to know more about how he ended up like this. “And what did you do before you lived on the street?” I asked. “I was a sheetrocker for Chuck – Chuck’s Drywall. I got diabetes, lost my leg, and couldn’t work.” I nodded in understanding.

But it was so foreign to me. I have a friend who lost his leg to diabetes – an athlete, hard working guy so I could see how that could happen. Apparently this guy Steve, who doesn’t look any older than me had had a series of devastating experiences and voila, here he is living on the street, day to day. There is probably more to Steve’s story. Hopefully he is supported by the network of caring social workers in Burlington, Medicare or Medicaid, COTS , Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf and others who are there to help keep people like Steve from slipping through the cracks. But he didn’t leave me convinced that he was taking advantage of those kinds of services.

At that moment I heard human voices, in unison, chanting slogans and a narrative, coming up Church Street. It was Burlington’s Occupy Vermont protesters, an eclectic band of folks, marching up the street, carrying signs, inviting others to join them, speaking out about the disparity in wealth and corruption in America. How ironic. The Occupy protests on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont have something in common with a common man, Steve. Steve could be a poster boy for Occupy. Hopefully his thanksgiving holiday will include a warm place with a dinner among friends.

I don’t believe it is Steve’s choice to live as he does. I think his lifestyle is beyond his locus of control at this point. Steve illustrates for me why we need to pay attention to others less fortunate than ourselves. As we approach the holiday season I hope we keep in mind that there has never been a time in US history when the gap between rich and poor has been so great. How can you help? Talk to the person you walk past on the street. Ask them if they are getting support from public services. If it moves you and you can spare a dollar, give some money to someone less fortunate than you. His or her gratitude will be well worth our investment in their peace of mind and future. Anything helps thank you.

Photo: Glenn Fay, Jr.

It’s always important to pay attention to what we put inside our bodies, but in winter the impact of food on how we feel – both physically and internally – is particularly powerful.

During the darker half of the year, reduced sunlight means many people suffer from reduced levels of serotonin. This can lead to depression, weakened immune system, disturbed sleeping patterns, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, increased stress levels and cravings for carbohydrates and sweet foods.

Of course not everyone suffers from full-blown Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), but many people do experience some of these symptoms to at least some degree.

The good news? Whether it’s a minor case of winter blues, or full on SAD, what you eat can have a massive impact on how you feel.

Boost your serotonin

Since serotonin deficiency is where the problem begins, it makes sense to boost your levels back up. You can do this by choosing foods high in tryptophan, a type of amino acid from which serotonin is made. Tryptophan-rich foods include nuts, avocados, bananas, milk, eggs, fish and white meats such as turkey and chicken. (Of course if you go for free range, organic, ethically sourced options, you’ll get the added feel-good boost of looking after the environment as well.)

Get juicing

Pomegranate juice has been shown to balance out glucose levels, which helps to avoid energy and mood slumps. It’s also full of antioxidants, which combat harmful free radicals – the chemicals that cause aging, illness and reduced mental functioning. Cranberry juice, orange juice, purple grape juice and blueberry juice are similarly packed with rejuvenating antioxidants. (Fruit juices also tend to be high in sugars though, so just a small glass is enough.) For extra freshness, flavour and feel-good factor, invest in a juicer and give yourself the added kick of making your own.

Slow burners are best

Simple carbohydrates like white bread and white rice make blood sugar and insulin levels shoot up – giving you a quick boost but then dropping you back down in the dumps. Instead, go for carbs with a low glycemic index, which release glucose into the bloodstream slowly. Low GI options include breakfast cereals based on oats, barley and bran (such as porridge, All-bran and natural muesli), wholegrain bread and brown rice. Legumes are also great for slow energy release, as are (yep, you guessed it) most fruits and vegetables.

The usual (fishy) suspects

Again, no surprises here – oily fish is another of those foods that seems to come up in almost every article or study published about nutrition. The key in this case is that it contains lots of Vitamin D. Some studies suggest that SAD symptoms may be partly caused by reduced levels of this antioxidant, which we get naturally from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Oily fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel can help to top up Vitamin D levels. Other sources include eggs, fortified breakfast cereals and pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

Feed your inner Popeye (but not just with spinach)

If you’re feeling low on energy, it may be that you need more iron in your diet. Iron deficiency has been linked to fatigue and low mood. Good sources include beans, nuts, dried fruit and most leafy green vegetables. Among these is spinach, the properties of which were notoriously grossly over-egged when a German scientist accidentally multiplied his findings tenfold in his 1870 study of iron content. Though not quite the almighty superfood Popeye would have us believe, spinach does have a high iron content, but also contains (like tea and coffee) a substance that makes it more difficult to absorb iron. That’s not to say you should avoid spinach – it’s still very good for you – but also include green veg like brocolli, curly cale, watercress and peas.

Get the most out of your sleep

Finally, to stay healthy and happy we need proper sleep. Reduced serotonin levels lead to disruptions in the production of melatonin, the chemical that tells the body to switch off and rest. Again, stocking up on tryptophan-rich foods helps. To maximise their effectiveness, eat a carbohydrate-based meal before bed, as this facilitates the absorption of tryptophan. Calcium and magnesium have also been shown to promote good rest, and deficiency in both or either is a common cause of restlessness and nighttime awakening. Good sources of magnesium include grains, nuts, seeds and spinach. Everyone knows calcium is found in milk, but it’s actually best absorbed from foods that are also high in Vitamin D, such as tofu and green veg.

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Izzy Woods is a fun-loving freelance writer and poet. When she’s not in a hammock in the garden or lounging on some sectional sofas, she writes for a variety of travel blogs and children’s nutrition journals.

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Be sure to check out our healthy food recipes and our green gift ideas!

Vermont Foliage Photography

Old Stage Road in Westford, Vermont

Sugar Maple Reflecting Orange

One of the joys of living in Vermont is the incredible light show that happens for a couple of months every fall. This year has been as bright as any as I remember. In fact, I was so excited about the leaves I decided to take some photos from my car on the way to work, while the car was moving! This is not recommended for everybody! I admit, it is a bit impressionistic, definitely need to work with the aperture setting a bit.

My Foliage Commute

Here is a Vermont foliage photography video that will show you what I mean. If you decide to show up to check it out in person, there are still bright leaves in central Vermont at lower elevations and in the southern part of the state and there will be good color for a few more weeks. Catch you on the trail!

Untitled from Solargroupies on Vimeo.

Interested in buying Vermont photography pictures or note cards? Check out our Vermont photography store.

Recently in my desire to educate myself about what makes great photography I found a slide show that reveals what many consider to be five of the very best photographers of the 20th Century, including Eugene Atget, Man Ray, Alfred Stieglitz, Walker Evans and Cindy Sherman. Their work used varied styles and genres. This slide show is a brief and informative description with exapmples of their best photographs. Enjoy!

If you would like to see some great Vermont photography, visit our Vermont pictures in our gift ideas pages.

Apocalyptic Weather: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!

Unless you have been avoiding the news and life in general, the epic weather conditions are starting to get noticed. The record floods, heat, snows, tornadoes, fires, and more importantly, their after-effects are waking up even die-hard climate change deniers.  Although extreme weather and unpredictable systemic impacts have been predicted by NASA and NOAA climate models, the mainstream media is actually paying attention and getting nervous. Not only is extreme weather dangerous, unpredictable and enough to spoil your party, destroy your home and way of life, it is conceivable that it will change our lives sooner rather than later.

As weather becomes more unpredictable,  and extremes happen more often, we will all be looking for ways to survive and thrive in spite of it. This will test the abilities of our elected leaders and it will test our character as a society. US military leaders have been engaged in strategic planning for for some time and it is important that ordinary people plan for the impact of climate change as well. Our governments cannot protect us from Mother Nature! What are some of the impacts and what should we be doing to be safe and live well?

Unpredictable Weather will result in:

Flooding. Large quantities of moisture rising off warmer than usual oceans are creating bigger, wetter weather systems resulting in flash floods, enormous snow packs and floods several feet above flood stages in some places. If we have a wet summer in the Champlain Valley of Vermont, for example, many homes and camps and parks now under water will stay uninhabitable, possibly for some time. Aside from the social consequences and health issues of thousands of septic systems overflowing into the lake, which supplies the water to hundreds of thousands of people in the valley, the monetary damages are already exponential.

Tornadoes. We are seeing tornadoes in places that have never experienced them before like Vermont and Massachusetts. The high school where I work with 1400 students and a couple of hundred adults has an underground fallout shelter with a capacity of 100. Severe weather bulletins happen at a moments notice. Building shelters in public buildings for tornado events will be very costly.

Crops. This spring many farm fields were washed out repeatedly, after spreading fertilizer, after seeding, and after growing had begun. Climate models show that the wheat belt will migrate into Canada as the climate warms. What does this mean for a state and a nation that is used to being a bread basket and agriculturally-based? Food producers will become wealthy and poorer countries without basic commodities will become hungry.

Melting ice packs. Melting polar and continental ice is draining freshwater supplies in places where there are large populations. Californians and Arizonans to mention two states, know this already. In countries with billions of thirsty people, with little or no water, or with water being owned by private companies or used for industry, it is logical that we will see social unrest and political instability. This will become expensive.

I am not predicting an apocalypse but it is possible that there will be some panic, some finger-pointing and some disruptions unlike anything we have ever seen. It is possible we will see the federal government having to prioritize what it can afford to support in the FEMA budget as disasters become even more commonplace. It is possible that food and energy will become much more expensive and continue to erode your standard of living. Although this is not a popular view, the lions share of energy use and carbon pollution comes from business and industry. Scientists say the climate models show that the difference between doing nothing about carbon emissions and curtailing them will result in avoiding cataclysmic climate impacts during the next 20-40 years. So what can you do so you will be prepared for these possibilities or worse, if it happens?

For Your Health and Survival

1. Be prepared for disastrous weather that is sure to come. This means find a place to live far above your local flood plain. Make sure you have an emergency shelter.

2. Learn to grow your own food, preferably without fertilizers and pesticides which may become expensive, as they are made from crude oil.

3. Get a good water filter or a still. You need clean water every day.

Lifestyle Changes That Will Minimize Climate Change Impacts

1. Carpool whenever you can. It will save money and improve your social life!

2. Become politically active and lobby your congressional reps and senators to curtail carbon emissions immediately. Since business and industry contribute the most to climate change, even widespread personal activism will not equal the efforts of modest commercial changes.

3. Support local farmers and community sustainable agriculture. Food that is grown locally and without carbon-based chemicals lowers our carbon footprint.

4. Use energy wisely. Energy costs are predicted to skyrocket in the coming years. Most of our energy comes from coal and other fossil fuels that put a lot of carbon into the air. Unplug.

5. Recycle, reuse, repurpose. When we reuse and recycle our stuff, whether it is cars, clothing, or toys, it costs less energy and less money.

6. Minimize your lifestyle.

7. Actively work towards solutions. One highly regarded organization that is approaching climate change and other significant problems is Solutions. Solutions is a nonprofit print and online publication devoted to showcasing bold and innovative ideas for solving the world’s integrated ecological, social, and economic problems.  Chek them out and join the team!

In your own home, you can save money and energy, up to thousands a year. Get our ebook here: How to Save Thousands of Dollars on Energy in Your Home.

The economy is bad, let’s face it. Hopefully, no matter how difficult these economic times are, we can find a way to laugh at our own predicament, and there might even be some kernels of truth in some of this environmental humor. How bad is it?

Things are so bad:

Congress had to lay off their illegal alien employees.

I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

The PGA Tour is now miniature golf.

Exxon-Mobil laid off 50 Congressmen.

McDonald’s biggest seller is the veggie burger.

Hundreds of Americans were caught sneaking across the border into Mexico .

A picture is now only worth 100 words.

The New York Stock exchange had to hire unemployed cops to be stock brokers.

Organized crime bosses are driving Priuses.

If you like environmental humor check out our environmental humor eco humor category and our blog and buy our cool products.