The Organic Times Blog

Photo by Eric Audige-Soutter

The Best Green And Eco Hostels Around The World

Hostels have always been a great way for young travelers to see the world on a budget. If you’re looking for the best way to travel inexpensively and find the best summer travel deals, then staying in a dormitory-style hostel is definitely it. However, just because you’re saving a few extra dollars doesn’t mean that you can’t be environmentally friendly at the same time, as green and eco-friendly hostels are becoming more and more common.

These green and eco hostels are very popular with young travelers, many of whom have grown up with environmental concerns looming over them. Below, you’ll find ten of the best green and eco hostels from around the world:

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It's finally warming up in Madison, WI!  Our kids used to love the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison.  As our oldest started getting "too cool" for the zoo however we decided to help keep things interesting by making some photo scavenger hunts.  One of our family's favorite things to do outside is going on scavenger hunts. These hunts take on many forms: Geo-Caching, Orienteering courses, Treasure Maps, Follow the Clues, and Photo Hunts.  This Spring we will be posting photo scavenger hunts for various cities, and parks that we have visited.  We hope you will get outside with the people you love, enjoy nature, and test your observation skills while looking for these places or objects.

Once you've found all the places, or objects from the Photo Hunt # 1 card - leave us a comment & tell us about it. Then check out Vilas Photo Hunt # 2, Vilas Photo Hunt # 3, & Vilas Photo Hunt # 4!  If you notice that any of the pictured object are no longer there, please let us know.  We're not living in Madison anymore so it's hard to keep track of what's current!   Every comment will be automatically entered into a drawing for gift cards to Silent Springs.  This drawing will take place on Aug. 31st, 2013.

This photo hunt can be printed, or taken with you on a mobile device. Have fun, & Happy Spring!

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In today’s global climate (and with the looming threat of climate change hanging over our heads!) it is vitally important that we take a step back and think about where our planet, and humanity, will be in the next twenty, fifty, one hundred years…what kind of world do we want to leave for our children, so that they may enjoy the same natural resources and relative comfort that we have grown up with? Our natural environment is shrinking and our greenhouse emissions are not – and this could spell disaster if we do not take action now. On a grand scale, the problem of climate change and environmental destruction can seem overwhelming – how can one person hope to make a difference when the world is so large, and individually, we are so small? At United Planet, we prefer to live by the powerful words of Ryunosuke Satoro: “ Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”  Imagine the global change we could generate if every single person in the United States took action right now – that’s over 300 million people!

Of course, this is a lofty goal to pursue. However, only by taking action ourselves can we hope to inspire others to do the same. So what exactly can you do?

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Why Be Conventional? Organic alternatives to our make-up

Throughout history the pursuit of beauty has lead us down a dangerous path. From the use of malachite (a green iron ore) in eyeshadow by the ancient Egyptians, the white lead face powders of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to the reported use of rat poison in depilatory creams the early twentieth. Fast-forward to today and we are still taking our lives in our hands. Lead in lipstick and mercury in mascara, the ever-growing list of toxic and potentially harmful ingredients in beauty products is not only worrying, but also truly astounding.

A multi-billion dollar industry, we are spending more on cosmetics and beauty products than ever before. A cruel twist in the bid to look good, it is these products that contain the ingredients that could have potentially damaging long-term health effects. In our campaign for beauty we are slathering creams, applying balms, smearing portions and lotions and re-applying same-said balms; unwittingly ingesting or absorbing toxic ingredient upon toxic ingredient.

Take lead in lipstick for instance. According to FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) research in 2009, the lead content in the average lipstick is around 1.11 ppm (parts per million). If the average woman uses two lipsticks a year for sixty years then the total amount of lead that she is subject to over her lifetime is fairly low. Multiply that comparatively minimal lead absorption with the chemical content of the other beauty products she uses, such as mascara, body lotion and shampoo and the figures begin to stack up.

With this in mind the thought to dump the toxic ingredients and 'green up' your make-up bag is ever more appealing. But do natural and organic products really stand up against conventional drugstore brands?

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Fitness plans for 2013? Eat for exercise!

Springtime resolutions often include goals to increase physical activity by adding exercise programs into the weekly routine.  With increased exercise, your body will need the right foods to provide energy for activity AND for recovery!

A well-balanced diet provides the 6 essential nutrients required for your body to function efficiently.  Essential nutrients are those that must be supplied by the diet because they cannot be produced by the body.  Carbohydrates, fats and proteins are essential nutrients that provide energy.  Water, vitamins and minerals are essential catalysts for chemical reactions that affect every system in the body.  Eating nutrient rich carbohydrates, fats and proteins will improve your energy level, decrease soreness and promote muscle recovery.

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Looking for a tasty alternative for peanut butter? Whether you've got peanut allergies in the family, or simply want a nice change from the norm, almond butter is a great place to start!

I love that it contains no added preservatives and I can control how much oil and salt goes into it. There's no real "recipe" really - just put your almonds in the food processor and process away...so easy!

But, what really makes homemade almond butter stand out is a few extra steps to make it just a little bit special.

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Photo by Tim Simpson

Some time back in the nineties folks around the Everglades began to notice an unusual addition their otherwise tame alligator infested swamp.  A very large python population had somehow managed to become well established in the park (likely the result of a few bored pet python owners).  Today, New York Magazine reported that 28-year-old fashion designer, Camille Zarsky is contracting with Florida hunters to solve their invasive species problem by turning them into upscale handbags.

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What is Grass-Cycling and Why Should You Care?

Grass-cycling is actually pretty easy to do and it will help you have a healthier lawn than all the chemicals and fancy machines and gadgets you probably have accumulated in your garage. There are additional benefits to be appreciated when you commit yourself to grass-cycling. Philip Brown, lover of green, healthy lawns has shared his knowledge on Grass-Cycling below. Check out his tips then add your suggestions & ideas in the comment section.

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Photo by Jason Bache

Selecting a Sustainable University:  Guide to Green Colleges:

As social institutions go, universities are extremely conservative organizations.  The almost absurd adherence to long held traditions (including our ridiculous robes) makes change and innovation surprisingly difficult.  Despite their reluctance, universities across the nation are starting to wake up to the reality that as places of higher education, we have a solemn responsibility to forward sustainability in a wide range of contexts.  As a professor of sustainability and proponent of institutional sustainability on college campuses, I spend a remarkable amount of time imagining what a sustainable university should look like.  For those of you looking for a college, or for those of you helping another to make such an important decision, I'd like to share a few tidbits I've learned along the way.

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Whether you've got dairy allergies to worry about or you're just interested in venturing out and trying alternatives to cow's milk, almond milk is one of the tastiest non-dairy milks you can try. And making it at home is one of the simplest and easiest projects you'll take on in the kitchen!

Why homemade?

As with anything, homemade means you know exactly what's going into it, and more importantly, what's staying out. Almond milk, and many other dairy and alternative dairy products, usually contain an ingredient called carrageenan - a known carcinogen. And if that wasn't enough, there's also the other preservatives which are meant to keep the milk from separating, and give it that "milky" texture.

Making your own almond milk ensures there are no unhealthy ingredients and no preservatives. Of course, that means shelf life is reduced, but since we're making small batches, that shouldn't be a problem.

Another benefit of making your almond milk at home? You can flavor it anyway you want, with ingredients you know and trust!  Here's what you'll need to your very own batch of almond milk right at home:

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