by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

I admit it, I love to lounge on big, soft furniture - nights in front of a wood stove (ok, it’s fake wood, powered by gas, but you get the picture) with snoozing, furry pets just isn’t the same without it. However, having big soft furniture of any kind usually involves lots of toxic stuff in addition to a few felled trees. We recently moved into a small home in a co-housing community. Our current couch would simply not fit into our space, but the thought of buying anything new gave us eco-shivers (think new car smell) so we decided to go without. We placed our favorite thrift store chairs in front of the stove and settled in. But one year later, I was still dreaming of the big soft.

Our answer arrived one day when we found a sinking, but not-too-tattered little couch next to a dumpster. I excitedly called an artist-upholsterer friend, Michael May, and we brought it to his shop. He assessed the status of my find while I wondered and worried about how to make my salvaged treasure eco-friendly. Eventually, I found a provider of organic upholstery fabric http://www.greensage.com/fabrics.htm. I chose the organic hemp in my favorite colors - chocolate brown and olive green. Keeping in line with the reuse theme, Michael refilled the cushions with old yoga mats that were headed to the landfill. I love my new/old couch, but if you don’t have my good dumpster luck, check out the one of the increasing number of eco-friendly furniture companies online.

Currently, it is often much more difficult to determine the toxicity of a home furnishing than it is to determine if its made sustainably, but one helpful resource is the GreenGuard Environmental Institute. GreenGuard administers a certification program for low chemical emissions products, including furniture.

More Resources from GreenGuard:

• The Green Guide’s Green “Starter” Furniture Finds
• Treehugger’s How to Green Your Furniture
• Grist.org’s Greening the Cube

by Tao Oliveto

The environmental question lurking behind that time of the month. Throw away or wash/reuse? Traditional tampons and pads are made with bleach and other toxic chemicals. Friendlier feminine products are now available and although better for your health, they don’t solve the problem of using resources and creating waste.

All of you green goddesses will be thrilled to hear there is another option, good for both you and the planet. The Diva Cup http://and The Keeper http:// are reusable menstrual cups made from silicone or latex rubber, respectively. They are convenient to use,waste-free and super-economical since they will last up to 10 years. I love my Keeper! In fact, these woman-friendly products are so freeing and comfy, that I really hope the word gets out in a big way, so pass it on!

While we’re at it, why don’t we embrace whole experience with awe instead of dread? As it turns out, in pagan times, when nature was revered and honored, the menstrual cycle was celebrated and acknowledged as a woman’s link to the cycles of the earth and the planets. Wow. It turns out that not only can I use this altered state to contact my inner goddess, but I can now buy and waste less in the process!

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

I know now that there is a god-dess and she hoops! Hooping is showing up all over, but here in my small town, it became more than just free fun when a benefit-event raised money for good and brought out the hip-swivel in all of us. Julia Hartsell, our local hooping queen and expert created Hoops for Haiti, an effort joined with Family Health Ministries to bring both medical care and a smile to children living in hardship.

Last night’s event proved that you can give anyone of any age a hoop and some music and the rest just happens. A beginning, but greatly inspired hooper myself, I couldn’t put the thing down. Anyone can master the basics of hooping easily, but be ready to be amazed at what’s possible (or seemingly impossible) to do with a hoop. A grand finale after sunset included fire-hoop-dancing, something you have to see to believe and will never forget.