The Many Lives of Trees

If you're lucky enough to live on property with trees but unlucky enough to have had one of them die, don't consider its death the end.

TreeHugger provides some suggestions for what to do with a dead tree. I particularly like the idea for turning the tree into a place for bees. Mason bees would probably really love it.

The suggestion about making the tree into a bee habitat brings up another important point about dead trees: They actually play a big role in ecosystems, attracting many species with food and shelter. Woodpeckers have lots of fun with them.

In terms of what trees do for an ecosystem, their life has the potential to extend well beyond their time for living. If you happen to end up with a dead tree on your hands or already have one, consider some of the ways you might give it an afterlife.

The Green Guide

National Geographic has put out a wonderful resource that helps people make their daily lives more environmentally friendly.

The Green Guide organizes tips and information by the types of things we frequently do. For instance, perhaps you would like to reduce the carbon footprint of or the number of chemicals in your food. The Green Guide has a whole section on food. It also has a home-and-garden section, which contains subsections for each room in your house. This type of systematic order is what the dreams of a person with an obsessive-compulsive personality are made of. It also makes things a little easier for everybody else.

In addition, the Green Guide has information about buying and recycling products, travel, transportation, energy efficiency, and a number of other green topics.

Check out the Green Guide by clicking here.

Rachel McAdams Thinks Green is Sexy

People who know me have received this information before, but I decided to post it here as well.

Actress Rachel McAdams (from The Notebook, Wedding Crashers, State of Play, and The Time Traveler's Wife) has teamed up with two of her friends to develop a Web site called Green is Sexy. Rather than asking for your money or political action, this site focuses on providing tips for making your daily lives more environmentally friendly. For instance, want to make your hot water heater more efficient? Try out an insulation blanket.

The site is essentially a blog, consisting of daily posts on various green tips, so check in when you can to find out what's new. Additionally, you can search for topics that have already been covered if you are looking for something in particular. You might not find all of the tips useful, but the site has some good information. Perhaps it can answer some of your questions or give you some ideas for being more efficient or having less of a negative impact on the planet.

Visit Green is Sexy by clicking here.