Exclusive Golf Course Goes Organic

by Brett Relander on August 17, 2010

Natural vegetation thrives between the fairways at the Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown, Mass.

EDGARTOWN, Mass. — Standing alongside the 13th green at the Vineyard Golf Club on Martha’s Vineyard, Jeff Carlson spotted a small broadleaf weed between his feet. As the superintendent charged with maintaining the club grounds, he instinctively bent to pluck it, then stopped.

“We have a weed here or there,” he said unapologetically.

It was the rarest acknowledgment in American golf course landscaping — the Vineyard Golf Club is not meant to be as unnaturally perfect as many of the country’s best-known courses. read more….

source: The New York Times

by:BILL PENNINGTON

What say you?

Brett Relander

{ 2 comments }

89 sqft house = freedom

by Brett Relander on July 19, 2010

I just watched this video about Jay Shafer and his Tumbleweed Tiny House company and wanted to share it with you.  I first noticed this company a few years ago and thought it was interesting but didn’t know if it was realistic for most people.  After taking another look and considering the pros & cons it’s becoming more and more appealing.  Imaging having no mortgage payment and utility costs of $100 per year.  Yes, $100 per year.  It would certainly take some getting used to but the new found freedom would be liberating.  Not to mention the fact that it would give us all a chance to get reaquainted with nature and a reason for the kids to spend less time in front of the tv or video games and start getting some exercise.  A great way to save for retirement and dream vacations as well.

Click here to view the tiny house video.

Another great resource is Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods – Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.

Let me know what you think.  Thanks.

Brett Relander

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Dear Earth,

April 22, 2010

Since it is your day I wanted to write and let you know the things we’re working on for you, the challenges we’re facing, and what we hope to accomplish in the next year. Strides are certainly being made in the areas of technology as innovative people and companies seem to be everywhere.  Regardless of [...]

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Your Sustainability Digest for 2010-04-19

April 19, 2010

For Sale: Naming Rights to Newly Discovered Species http://bit.ly/aRIcXO # University of Kentucky Building to Save 42% in Energy http://bit.ly/dnnfsH # Global Warming, Melting Ice Caps Could Help Trigger More Volcanic Eruptions http://bit.ly/bD4044 # Mongolia Needs Better Grazing Management To Cope With Future Dzud http://bit.ly/bWfJnY # Agriculture is the New Golf? http://bit.ly/92b0ao # Long Beach, [...]

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Your Sustainability Digest for 2010-04-18

April 19, 2010

Video: In President Obama’s Earth Day Message, A Call For Local Action http://bit.ly/b9VjrV # Tel Aviv Invites Public to Help Redesign Boardwalk http://bit.ly/dDaGkH # World’s First “Carbon Negative” Car Concept at Expo 2010 in Shanghai http://bit.ly/aXCggC # BP Defends Oil Sands Project in Canada http://bit.ly/bBFqts # Bright Ideas in Earthquake-Safe, Ecofriendly Building http://bit.ly/9cgAGK # Beauty [...]

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Tel Aviv Invites Public to Help Redesign Boardwalk

April 18, 2010

A man examines plans for the boardwalk’s renovation last week at a public hearing in Tel Aviv. (photo by the author) If there is anything approaching a holy place in this devoutly secular city, it’s the beach. People here are serious beach-goers, and fanatically protective of their city’s 14km coastline. So much so that when [...]

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Your Sustainability Digest for 2010-04-17

April 17, 2010

Organic Milk Production Trickles, Not Pours http://bit.ly/a24O49 # Protesting Orangutans Invade Nestle Shareholders’ Meeting http://bit.ly/9uEnSX # Amazon Deforestation Down 51 Percent From This Time Last Year: So, What’s Working? http://bit.ly/c3epuZ # Seeds of Hope in Afghanistan: 25,000-Specimen Herbarium Restored at Kabul University http://bit.ly/9wExM7 # Major Jewelery Retailer Pledges to Protect Alaska’s Bristol Bay http://bit.ly/d0oAFT # [...]

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Building a Smart Energy Grid

April 17, 2010

Image credit: Good A smarter energy grid would save consumers money and help the environment as well. Counting the benefits of making better use of our limited resources seems unnecessary—until you actually look at the numbers…. Read the full story on TreeHugger Source: TreeHugger Brett Relander

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Your Sustainability Digest for 2010-04-16

April 16, 2010

Book Review: Canadian Solar Home Design Manual http://bit.ly/d3bWqG # Building a Smart Energy Grid http://bit.ly/9TExum # Beer Rescue Puts Landfill Employees in Hot Water http://bit.ly/9Y8nWl # US Air Force Wants to Ground Huge Oregon Wind Power Project http://bit.ly/9x8Fbt # Yves Behar’s Fuseproject Creates Crystal Chandeliers With Just One Crystal http://bit.ly/bMHB7u # Because of Methane Leaks, [...]

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Lush Wrapping is Reusable, Japanese-Style

April 16, 2010

In Japan it is called furoshiki and they have been doing it for centuries. At Lush they call it knot-wrap and it has been a huge hit in the last few months since they introduced it. Instead of using wrapping paper, they have been packaging purchases in colourful fabric squares. It’s a convenient and environmental [...]

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