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

]]> http://www.brettrelander.com/2010/08/exclusive-golf-course-goes-organic/feed/ 2 http://www.brettrelander.com/2010/07/89-sqft-house-freedom/ http://www.brettrelander.com/2010/07/89-sqft-house-freedom/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:37:05 +0000 Brett Relander http://www.brettrelander.com/?p=218

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

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 their reasons for making the positive changes – money, publicity, common sense, or a sense of environmental responsibility – we thank them for their efforts.

Work in Progress (to name a few):

• Increasing solar panel efficiency
• Increasing fuel economy
• Development of commercial green building techniques and materials
• Development of viable mass market green housing options (I’m working on it)
• Sharing of earth friendly ways to replace harmful and expensive household cleaners

Challenges:

Our challenges persist as many fail to recognize the opportunity at hand and prefer to turn a blind eye to the unnecessary waste, lack of responsibility, overuse of natural resources, and continued destruction of what inevitably sustains all of our lives.  These challenges come in many forms, old and new, and continue to attack the principles, values, efforts, and hopes of the few.  At times we are even undermined by those who say they aim to support you.  We’ve learned that an earth friendly pessimist can do more harm than good, there’s no room for negative mindsets, and there’s power in #’s.  Our environmental challenges won’t go away any time soon as their numbers are many, but that’s ok -it is them that provides the fuel for our passion.

Hope:

On this Earth Day I for one am filled with hope.  More and more people, companies, and even countries are seeing the benefits of an earth friendly lifestyle.  Not only are they reducing health risks to their family and saving money, but also discovering how simple lifestyle adjustments can make a tremendous impact on their environment.  But even more than all the sustainability initiatives, green building programs, and emission reductions, I’m most hopeful because of one thing – our kids.  My 5 year old son brought up climate change in the car this morning.  Man was I proud.  He hasn’t even started kindergarten yet and he already knows about organic gardening, recycling, saving energy, composting, etc…  You never really know if those conversations will stick, but it seems they are.  It is certainly the kids – from kindergarten to college- that are going to be tomorrow’s innovators, business owners and Earth Agents.

© Earth Agents:

I wanted to give a quick “shout out” to all your Earth Agents out there that are going above and beyond the call of duty to educate others, expand environmental stewardship, live & work sustainably, and make a positive impact on the earth and your community.  Here are a few who have stood out to me over the last year.

Trey Neville – Worth Helping

Finally, I ask for your help in opening peoples eyes and letting them see the natural beauty all around them.  Help them feel connected to you and make sense of everyday actions – continue to awaken, motivate, and inspire them to accomplish extraordinary things.

• 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, California, Wants to be #1 Bike-Friendly City in U.S. (Video) http://bit.ly/9Bmgzd #
• Customizable Recycled Notebooks from Scout Books http://bit.ly/9DECE5 #
• Cash-Strapped UCs Paid $2 Million for Brand Name Bottled Water http://bit.ly/d9RhVY #
• UPenn Tops EPA’s Ranking of College Green Power Purchasers http://bit.ly/cNtOPG #
• If I See Another Full Page Pella Window Ad I Am Gonna Scream http://bit.ly/dyHCw3 #
• Going Bee-less – Trials of Self-Pollinating Almond Trees Begin in California http://bit.ly/cP5PmW #
• Why Solar is a Life Saver in Developing Countries (Video) http://bit.ly/c93u6H #
• Senate Climate Bill Will Price Carbon But No Cap-and-Trade, Has ‘Huge Assistance’ for Coal Industry: John Kerry (Video) http://bit.ly/dhyW43 #
• Twittering Adds How Much to Your Carbon Footprint? http://bit.ly/a8lXXJ #
• 200,000 Tons of CO2 Emissions Avoided Each Day Volcano Grounds Flights http://bit.ly/aMTaYk #
• England’s Top Ethical Designers Refashion Winning Think Act Vote T-Shirt (Photos) http://bit.ly/cF8eth #
• Twentieth Century Fox Adding 158 KW Solar Array http://bit.ly/djdyAX #
• 10 Underestimated Spring Fruits and Vegetables to Sink Your Teeth in Now http://bit.ly/bBewxW #
• What is the Matrix? Four Appliances In One. http://bit.ly/aJYCJG #
• Corporations, Power Players Should Be Allies as Earth Day Turns 40 (Dave Davis Interview) http://bit.ly/cTdbhX #
• Time To Consider Ocean Transport Again? http://bit.ly/d2ndgz #
• Finisterre Outdoor Clothing Goes Wild for Wool And Wax http://bit.ly/bgW6Ce #
• Green Tackle Lands Products and Tips for Eco Anglers http://bit.ly/cK4Ckd #
• Ask Pablo: What Impact Will The Volcano In Iceland Have On Climate Change? http://bit.ly/9U9Hxr #
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Shortages in the UK Are Over-Stated But Travel Woes Are Not http://bit.ly/cNZQUg #
• How Nature’s Deep Sea ‘Antenna’ Puzzled the World http://bit.ly/briaNV #
• Did Hurricane Katrina Cause a Dolphin Baby Boom? http://bit.ly/bD9RsB #
• Ross Kemp: Reluctant eco-warrior http://bit.ly/clQWvJ #

• 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 Isn’t Only Skin Deep With Fruit and Flower Power http://bit.ly/9IueGd #

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 city hall tried to stealthily redesign a portion of the promenade a couple of years ago, it had to backtrack in the face of public opposition. Now, the city has decided to give it another try. But this time, it is making an effort to involve the people of the city in the… Read the full story on TreeHugger

Source: TreeHugger

• 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 #
• Catch Rare and Awesome “Oceans” Views to Save Coral Reefs http://bit.ly/9ca5tn #
• Grounded Under the Volcanic Ash: Eyewitness Report of the Chaos in Europe http://bit.ly/bolGlG #

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

• 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, Natural Gas Could be as Bad as Oil & Coal http://bit.ly/918UOF #
• Today on Planet 100: Fortune Green Predictions (Video) http://bit.ly/cNBpLY #
• The Chevy Volt Will Get 50 MPG When the Battery is Drained, According to GM http://bit.ly/dqy2wq #
• Harnessing Light and Water for World Water Day (Video) http://bit.ly/9jmo4P #
• The Week in Pictures: Sea Shepherd Success, Climategate Closed, Milan Furniture Fair 2010, and More (Slideshow) http://bit.ly/ax5KGm #
• Weekday Vegetarian: A Nutrition Packed Warm Wheatberry Salad http://bit.ly/df9vOr #
• Help Support Children’s Eco-Projects for Earth Day http://bit.ly/bxbM81 #
• Judge Puts Brakes on Hydroelectric Dam Project in Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest http://bit.ly/d5N2TG #
• Lush Wrapping is Reusable, Japanese-Style http://bit.ly/cugE2j #
• Sabien in bullish mood as demand for energy efficiency soars http://bit.ly/dnXchW #
• Get Ready for the Jamie Oliver Revolution? http://bit.ly/8XxGVv #

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 way of carrying things. Lush started by using vintage scarves, transforming 45,000 of them into a beautiful new usage, as wrapping. … Read the full story on TreeHugger

Source: TreeHugger