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	<title>Blue Planet Green Living &#187; Agriculture</title>
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	<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com</link>
	<description>Blue Planet Green Living - Earth Wise. Money Smart.</description>
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		<title>Sustainable Fabrics: Eco-Friendly Clothing</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/11/05/sustainable-fabrics-eco-friendly-clothing/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/11/05/sustainable-fabrics-eco-friendly-clothing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2011 03:53:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Clothing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eco-Friendly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fashion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eco-friendly clothing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hemp Fabric]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[organic cotton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organic fabrics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Silk]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=16477</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you're interested in finding ways to reduce your carbon footprint with small, daily changes to your lifestyle, there are a lot of options to cut waste and reduce pollution on a personal level.  You can recycle, use green cleaning solvents, switch to organic foods, and make many of your own products at home in bulk (5-gallon buckets of homemade laundry detergent, for example) in order to cut back on disposable packaging waste.

But did you know that you can also support sustainable farming by purchasing clothing made from eco-friendly fabrics? Not only are there a wide variety of clothing options out there (with even some big-name designers jumping on the bandwagon), but there are also plenty of reasons to make the change....]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/11/05/sustainable-fabrics-eco-friendly-clothing/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Composting by Chris McLaughlin</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/07/22/the-complete-idiot%e2%80%99s-guide-to-composting-by-chris-mclaughlin/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/07/22/the-complete-idiot%e2%80%99s-guide-to-composting-by-chris-mclaughlin/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 23 Jul 2011 00:12:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Miriam Kashia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Books & Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Composting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DIY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Green Living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[composting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Landfill Avoidance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recycling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Complete Idiot's Guide to Composting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vermiculture]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=15940</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Maybe you’re already a gardener, ready to plant some vegetables to reduce your grocery bill and gain some peace of mind about what additives you will not be putting into your family’s bodies. Or, maybe you secretly yearn for a yard filled with colorful flower blossoms from early spring until late fall.

If you see yourself in either of these scenarios, then The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Composting: Turn your organic waste material into black gold, is for you. No, this isn’t a book about planting a garden. It’s about how to nourish the soil you will use to grow amazing veggies and posies. And, I have to say, it's even fun to read....]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/07/22/the-complete-idiot%e2%80%99s-guide-to-composting-by-chris-mclaughlin/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Days June 18 and 26</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/06/14/practical-farmers-of-iowa-field-days-june-18-and-26/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/06/14/practical-farmers-of-iowa-field-days-june-18-and-26/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:59:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julia Wasson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2011]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Farms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iowa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anderson Farms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Building a Vegetable Farm]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Field Days]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Improving a Perennial Pasture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nathan Anderson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Practical Farmers of Iowa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prairie Sky Farm]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sara Hanson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wesley]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=15662</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Whether you're a farmer or a wannabe, the Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Days may be of interest to you. Two upcoming events, June 18 and June 26, are geared for farmers (and farmers at heart) who strive for sustainability along with production.
June 18: Improving a Perennial Pasture

What does it take to establish and care for a pasture with perennial plants? One that is good for grazing a growing herd of cattle? Come find out from farmer Nathan Anderson of Cherokee. Together with his dad, Randy Anderson, and his fiancée, Sarah Joachim, Anderson participates in a Practical Farmers of Iowa project to monitor "ecological productivity and financial indicators" related to improving pastures and grazing systems....]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/06/14/practical-farmers-of-iowa-field-days-june-18-and-26/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>The Heifers Are Strolling in Brattleboro, Vermont</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/06/03/the-heifers-are-strolling/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/06/03/the-heifers-are-strolling/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jun 2011 23:25:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brigette Fanning</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2011]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Event Venues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Micro-lending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vermont]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brattleboro]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family-friendly events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Micro Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strolling of the Heifers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=15595</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Spain has the running of the bulls. Brattleboro, Vermont has Strolling of the Heifers.

Ten years ago, Strolling of the Heifers got its start in order to educate the public, especially schoolchildren, about sustainable local agriculture. It began with 10,000 attendees, the weekend long event now attracts more than 50,000 visitors from across the country.

Orly Munzing, Executive Director, says, “The goal is to connect people to the food they eat,” and to benefit local farmers. 
Free Events 

June 3–5, attendees can enjoy all events for free, including the featured Heifers parade, a green living expo with bands and food, a bicycle tour of local farms, and more.  There’s even a sandwich competition in which the winner will be flown to Australia for the international competition....]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/06/03/the-heifers-are-strolling/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>Notes from India: We Are Poisoning Our Planet</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/02/27/notes-from-india-we-are-poisoning-our-planet/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/02/27/notes-from-india-we-are-poisoning-our-planet/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Feb 2011 02:26:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ecology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[India]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Notes from India]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pollution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chemical Poison]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cotton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Endosulfan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pesticide]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tea]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=15273</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[How does one think or write about pollution of water and soil (not dirt, as this website makes an effort to point out) without spreading guilt in the heart of people who take their humanity seriously? It’s not easy, though you will notice I have tried. There isn’t a new fact that I bring to you — but just the fact that we have so much inertia of inaction and perhaps more so in thinking.

All of us use the three-pronged plug for electrical appliances. The third, thicker pin is for the earth. So with any amount of electricity we consume, the earth has to be a party to it. This is fine, scientifically, but it reflects our attitude towards the earth, which we symbolically call “Mother Earth” in most societies. What if, someday, our mother stops taking all the third-pin electricity?

Just now this is a hypothesis of nonsense. But a very similar thing has happened. In many instances, the earth has stopped cleansing itself. If the earth had legs, she would have run away from us by now....]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2011/02/27/notes-from-india-we-are-poisoning-our-planet/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
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		<title>Try This Delicious Anti-Aging Tea from Supple Skin</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/10/13/supple-skin/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/10/13/supple-skin/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Oct 2010 01:43:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julia Wasson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food & Drink]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[organic products]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supple Skin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Tea Spot]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=14800</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For most of the past decade, I've been a coffee lover. As a former road warrior, I frequented a lot of city coffee shops and drank my share of airport coffee. But I've found something new to quench my thirst and soothe my spirit: La La's Tea from Supple Skin. It's filled with "Anti-Aging Antioxidants" that are not only healthy, but also delicious. Fancy that: a beverage that tastes good and does good for your body at the same time....]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/10/13/supple-skin/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Super Natural Home by Beth Greer</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/08/12/super-natural-home-by-beth-greer/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/08/12/super-natural-home-by-beth-greer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:58:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julia Wasson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chemicals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eco-Friendly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Green Living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beth Greer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[book review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Super Natural Home]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=14481</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every once in a while, I'll read a book so filled with helpful information that I want to remember every single thing it says. Super Natural Home by Beth Greer is that kind of book.

From the introduction, where I learned that the author had been healed of a 5 cm benign tumor in her chest by changing her diet, to the fact-filled chapters jam-packed with tips and suggestions, to the list of resources in the back, this is a book that gives value on every single page....]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/08/12/super-natural-home-by-beth-greer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Practical Farmers of Iowa Offers Free Field Days</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/05/24/practical-farmers-of-iowa-offers-free-field-days/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/05/24/practical-farmers-of-iowa-offers-free-field-days/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 May 2010 02:43:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julia Wasson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2010]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iowa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cover Crop Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Energy Efficient Walk-In Coolers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Field Days]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFI Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Practical Farmers of Iowa]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=13453</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Despite its name, Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) isn't just for farmers. And it isn't even just for Iowans. In fact, anyone can attend the free field days presented by PFI on members' farms; they're a welcoming and diverse group. Of course, as you might expect, most PFI members are farmers, so field-day events are targeted largely to their needs.

According to the organization, "PFI’s programming stresses farmer-to-farmer networking through research and demonstration, field days, conferences, and more." But non-farmers might be surprised at how relevant some of the topics are to anyone who has a yard or a plot of land. Here are a few of the 30 topics scheduled throughout the summer and fall of this year.

July 10-Weed "Appreciation - Grinnell

July 17-Scheduling Crops for Storage - Minburn ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/05/24/practical-farmers-of-iowa-offers-free-field-days/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/05/11/seeds-of-sustainability/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/05/11/seeds-of-sustainability/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 May 2010 20:48:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2010]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Certification]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ecology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ecosystem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iowa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Permaculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Permaculture Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Backyard Abundance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Create Abundant Landscapes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dave Jacke]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iowa City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[permaculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Permaculture Design Certificate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seeds of Sustainability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Willowwind School]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=13245</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Economics. Environment. Equity. Though the word “sustainability” means various things to different people, it can be pared down to just these three words. True sustainability must take into account all three concepts. The reason most of humanity does not understand this is because we cannot grasp how all three can work at the same time.

Humanity is good at the economic portion. Capitalism focuses on economics and often neglects environmental and social issues; in many cases, economic success comes at the expense of the environment and social equity. Even capitalism does not always work: When our banks fail and need federal bailouts, we end up in a recession. Our economy is based upon the consumption of dwindling and non-renewed natural resources — how long can this last? ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Fauna Extreme Tees &#8211; for Inspiration and Style</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/04/30/fauna-extreme/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/04/30/fauna-extreme/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:24:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julia Wasson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Clothing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organic Fabric]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bamboo Cloth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eco-Friendly Fashion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fauna Extreme]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tees]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=13158</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ If you've worn bamboo fabric, you know that it is incredibly soft and comfy. The tees from Fauna Extreme are no exception. I was in love with the organic fabric the minute I touched it. Unfortunately, my medium height and not-quite-as-svelte-as-I-wish-I-were frame didn't do much for the long, slender shape of the tee. Broyles had warned me that the tees run small, and she was right.

So I asked my friend, Jenny Schilling, to try it on. The shirt fit her perfectly, though a bit on the longish side. Jenny, too, was thrilled by the fabric, as you'll see in her comments below. The light pink tee I received as a complimentary review product — and passed on to Jenny — is a bit on the pale side for Jenny's light complexion, so the color isn't quite what she would have picked. But the Fauna Extreme website shows several rich color choices, too. (I'll be sure she sees them!)

The story of Fauna Extreme starts with a mom and a marathon. Ecopreneur Sarah Broyles decided to run her first marathon after having baby #1. "One morning, while she was out pounding the pavement, she daydreamed about shirts emblazoned with fast animals like the cheetah and pronghorn," she writes on the Fauna Extreme website. So, she worked with an artist, who created several beautiful and powerful animal images for a series of tees.

She also did her homework. Broyles, who started out her college career as a wildlife biology major — but graduated with a degree in English — was determined to find the most sustainable fabric, dyes, and inks she possibly could. What she ended up with was 70% bamboo, 20% organically grown cotton, and 10% spandex. The reasons for her choices are many, as she explains on her blog post, "How to Be Eco Fashionista." ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>9 Months – 11 Buckets of Dirt</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/04/26/9-months-11-buckets-of-dirt/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/04/26/9-months-11-buckets-of-dirt/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:19:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julia Wasson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Composting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DIY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Green Living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iowa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organic Food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[compost]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Do It Yourself]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[organic gardening]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=13120</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are many things in life that require patience: the growth of an embryo into a full-term baby, the long slog through a school year, the development of seedlings into luscious tomatoes ... and the turning of garbage into rich, healthy soil.

In July of 2009, Joe built a compost bin in our backyard. It was a relatively simple structure that cost less than $100 (it could have been nearly free, if I hadn't Freecycled the "extra" cinder blocks we thought we wouldn't need again). We started dumping our food and garden waste — along with contributions from close neighbors — and didn't give it too much thought.

When the pile grew to the top of the bin, we kept throwing in food. Mysteriously, all summer and into the fall, the pile never grew higher than the lid. We never stopped adding food and leaves and such — even paper towels and toilet paper rolls. We were careful, though, not to add newsprint or any paper with ink on it. Ours is an organic garden.

It wasn't until winter set in solidly that we had to add more cinder blocks. That's when the mass froze, and the pile stopped sinking down. (Thank you, Freecycle, for providing more blocks for the extra height.)

Spring finally rolled around, and, as our thoughts turned to gardening, Joe decided to dig out the pile.

Wow! ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/04/26/9-months-11-buckets-of-dirt/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
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		<title>Wembe Soaps &#8211; The &#8220;Wild Spirit of the Rainforest&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/04/20/wembe-soaps/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/04/20/wembe-soaps/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:56:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brigette Fanning</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Body and Bath]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Household Goods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paraguay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rainforest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blue Green River Soap]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organic and Natural Soaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paraguay Handcrafts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wembe Soaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[White Rose Soap]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yerba Mate Soap]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=13016</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Get "the wild spirit of the rainforest," says Wembé about their handmade soaps. Each soap is crafted using plants native to Paraguay. The company sells 15 varieties of the Wembé soaps, ranging in price from $7.00 for the Coconut Exfoliating Blend to $10.85 for the Black Clay Exfoliating Blend.

I tested the Yerba Mate exfoliating blend, Green Blue River exfoliating blend, and White Rose cleansing blend. They all smelled beautiful and instantly softened my hands. Plus, they’re natural and made from organic ingredients. None of the soaps contain silicone, petroleum products, parabens, sulfates, or synthetic fragrances and dyes.

The soaps’ outer packagings were so pretty, I didn’t want to open them at first. When I did, I found one of the most unique products I’ve ever seen. The interesting swirls of color make the soaps look like they came directly from the rainforest. Since they’re natural and handmade, they all vary in shape and size, though the standard weight is 3.75 ounces.

The Yerba Mate soap is vegan and rich in antioxidants. It contains essential oils, exotic weeds, and crushed yerba mate leaves. Plus, its ability to exfoliate the leftover winter dryness from my hands will make it an Iowa essential for the upcoming December and January months. The cost of the Yerba Mate bar is $9.45 for 3.75 ounces....]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/04/20/wembe-soaps/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<title>Dirt! The Movie &#8211; The Soil Under Your Feet Is Alive!</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/04/05/dirt-the-movie-the-soil-under-your-feet-is-alive/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/04/05/dirt-the-movie-the-soil-under-your-feet-is-alive/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:49:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julia Wasson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2010]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Composting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Desertification]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Drought]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DVDs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Movie Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Soil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bill Benenson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dirt! The Movie]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Erosion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gene Rosow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vandana Shiva]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wangari Maathai]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=12790</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Since the beginning of time, of all the planets in all the galaxies in the known universe, only one has a living, breathing skin called dirt. — Dirt! The Movie

We wash it off our hands, our clothes, our cars, our bodies. We walk on it, drive on it, dig in it, build on it. We bury our loved ones in it. And in it we grow the plants that feed us. But how much do we really know about the dirt beneath our feet? ...

Recently, I received an advance copy of Dirt! The Movie, a documentary that opened my mind to the wonders of soil. I’ve watched a lot of great videos in the past year: Food Inc., A River of Waste, Blue Gold, and more....

But Dirt!, directed and produced by Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow, stands out for me, probably because the content was so surprising and enlightening. Let’s face it, few of us talk very deeply about dirt in our daily conversations. We may complain about the health of the local rivers and waterways. We may talk about the horrible chemicals added to processed foods, the pesticides and herbicides that coat our foods. But it’s not often that we discuss worms and microbes and the exchange of nutrients in the soil. (Well, maybe you do.)]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>The Aquaponics Guidebook (an e-Book)</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/01/13/the-aquaponics-guidebook-an-e-book/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/01/13/the-aquaponics-guidebook-an-e-book/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:56:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julia Wasson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aquaponics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[e-Books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bevan Suits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ecosystem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nitrogen Cycle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Aquaponics Guide]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=11319</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Aquaponics Guidebook by Bevan Suits is a solid, informational e-book with practical suggestions for starting your own small- or large-scale aquaponics operation. By the time you finish this book, you’ll have all the knowledge you need to get started creating your own aquaponics farm....

But just what is aquaponics? Here's how Suits explains it:

Aquaponics is growing fish and plants in one system, with fish waste feeding the plants. It works in many variations of scale and form, though the basic concept does not change: Fish, bacteria and plants working together in a recirculating, soil-less system. It resembles a living organism, with a heart (the pump) and lungs (aeration). The bacteria remove waste like the kidneys and the liver. It will teach you a lot about food and this ecosystem we call home.

Perhaps, like me, you have walked past ponds and swamps without considering the symbiotic relationship between the plants and the fish living together in the same ecosystem. I've heard of growing tomatoes and other plants without soil, but I never gave a thought to growing vegetables together with tilapia, bass, or koi. Yet it makes sense. It happens in nature all the time....]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Backyard Abundance &#8211; Reconnecting People to Nature</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/01/13/backyard-abundance-reconnecting-people-to-nature/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/01/13/backyard-abundance-reconnecting-people-to-nature/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:42:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julia Wasson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2010]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ecosystem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Green Living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iowa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Permaculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainable Living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Backyard Abundance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fred Meyer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=11277</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Fred Meyer isn’t a man who lets a problem stop him — not even when the problem covers the entire planet.

“Most everyone feels a desire to improve the health of our environment, but when faced with our monumental environmental problems, the task seems too large — understanding how to proceed can feel overwhelming,” Meyer writes at BackyardAbundance.org.

Because Meyer understood that feeling of powerlessness and frustration, he wanted to do something about it — not only for himself, but to help others as well.

MEYER: I started Backyard Abundance because I saw a need in our community for a holistic view of how we could improve the health of our environment. I have always been a big tree hugger. I had been hugging the trees, picking up roadways, planting plants, and doing all that for years — even in high school.

After a while, I had to take a step back and see if what I was doing was actually making a difference. When I did, I saw that the environment was continuing to crumble all around me....]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/01/13/backyard-abundance-reconnecting-people-to-nature/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<title>Plains Justice &#8211; CAFOs and Threats to Human Health</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/01/06/plains-justice-cafos-and-threats-to-human-health/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/01/06/plains-justice-cafos-and-threats-to-human-health/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:01:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julia Wasson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Antibiotics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CAFOs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arsenic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Confined Animal Feeding Operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Donna Wong-Gibbons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nontherapeutic Antibiotics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Plains Justice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=11137</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today, Plains Justice, an environmental law center working on behalf of the public, released “Public Health and Livestock Confinements: Identifying Threats to Human Health.” Donna Wong-Gibbons, Ph.D., author of the report, calls it “a science-based review of some of the available research and literature on livestock confinements, specifically on the possible public health risks associated with those.”

Blue Planet Green Living (BPGL) spoke with Wong-Gibbons by phone today. 

BPGL: What can readers expect to find in the Plains Justice report?

WONG-GIBBONS: The report focuses partially on Iowa, although similar problems exist in other states where there are livestock confinements. It’s designed to be a plain-language document, so that the public, regulators, and legislators can all read it. It’s intended to help educate people about some of the potential public health problems with CAFOs.

Yet, it’s also designed to help educate people about some of the ways that those problems can be addressed. It’s important, when you’re talking about public health, to identify the problem, then to also look at solutions. So that’s what the report is trying to do....]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/01/06/plains-justice-cafos-and-threats-to-human-health/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>How to Master Organic Gardening (An eBook)</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2009/12/30/how-to-master-organic-gardening-an-ebook/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2009/12/30/how-to-master-organic-gardening-an-ebook/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:58:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julia Wasson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[e-Books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organic Food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Slideshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Molnar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[e-Book]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Go Organic Gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How to Master Organic Gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Katie Elzer-Peters]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=10994</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We’re not quite to New Year’s Eve, and already I’m dreaming of my summer garden. If you, too, are digging your fingers into virtual soil and planting a garden in your head, then you might want to read How to Master Organic Gardening, an e-book by Katie Elzer-Peters and Chris Molnar.

Perhaps you’re an experienced gardener who is just now getting into organic methods. You’ll learn a lot from this book. Or maybe you’re a total beginner, essentially clueless about the meaning of such terms as compost, soil compaction, and brown rot. This book is also for you. If you’re already an expert organic gardener, you don’t need this book. But think about the people you know who could use a primer; this book is for them....]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2009/12/30/how-to-master-organic-gardening-an-ebook/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
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		<title>Francis Thicke on Farming Alternatives, CAFOs, and the Future of Farming</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2009/12/23/francis-thicke-on-farming-alternatives-cafos-and-the-future-of-farming/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2009/12/23/francis-thicke-on-farming-alternatives-cafos-and-the-future-of-farming/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:23:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joe Hennager</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiversity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CAFOs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Factory Farming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iowa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture 2010]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Francis Thicke]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainable agriculture]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=10633</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In this, the fourth post in a continuing discussion with Thicke, he talks about changing the minds of Big Ag with sustainable models, the rules regarding concentrated feeding operations (CAFOs), and his vision for the future of farming in Iowa. We believe Thicke’s views about agriculture are applicable not only to Iowa, but also to the nation....

BPGL: How can anyone convince Big Ag to change?

THICKE: I think the way to do it is to find alternative models that are successful, that are ecologically sound, profitable, and socially responsible. And then try to expand adoption of those successful models, rather than try to fight what we’re not necessarily in favor of....
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Francis Thicke on Small Farms and Local Foods</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2009/12/14/francis-thicke-on-small-farms-and-local-foods/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2009/12/14/francis-thicke-on-small-farms-and-local-foods/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:49:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joe Hennager</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Farmers' Market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Farms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Illinois]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iowa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture 2010]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Farm Bill]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Francis Thicke]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Radiance Dairy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=10461</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Francis Thicke and his wife, Susan, are organic dairy farmers who recently received the 2009 Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture. Francis is also a scientist and a highly respected thought leader on agricultural policy. In this, the third post in a four-part discussion with Thicke, he discusses ways to encourage the growth of small farms and local food production....

BPGL: How can we increase biodiversity in agriculture?

THICKE: On the federal level, we have the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), which is being implemented now. The CSP, which was authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill, provides farmers with incentives to adopt resource-conserving crop rotations. Those incentives will help farmers go beyond growing just corn and soybeans. The incentive payments will help defray the cost of adding perennial and cover crops to crop rotations....]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Francis Thicke on Renewable Energy Resources</title>
		<link>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2009/11/30/francis-thicke-on-renewable-energy-resources/</link>
		<comments>http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2009/11/30/francis-thicke-on-renewable-energy-resources/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:03:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joe Hennager</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iowa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Renewable Energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax Credits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wind]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[feed-in tariff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Francis Thicke]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iowa Secretary of Agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar power]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wind Power]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/?p=9976</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the first part of our conversation with Francis Thicke, Ph.D., candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in the 2010 election, we discussed the use of perennial crops as biofuels, using a process called pyrolysis. In this part of our discussion, Thicke talks about increasing biodiversity and farm-based power generation.

Thicke and his wife are organic dairy farmers who live near Fairfield, Iowa. Thicke is a respected agricultural scientist, who has testified twice before the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee in Washington, D.C....
THICKE: I would like to see wind energy development become more targeted toward systems that profit farmers, landowners, and rural communities. Currently, we have quite a few large wind farms in Iowa. One study shows we now have the capacity to produce about 15% of our electrical energy needs with wind in Iowa. It is very good that we have developed so much wind power capacity, but we should look at how ownership of wind energy production is structured, and who profits from it....
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
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