I used to assume that cotton was as natural as could be. It comes from a plant—what could be more natural? As it happens, however, very little is pure or natural about the conventional cotton sold by mainstream retailers.

Conventional Cotton uses approximately 25% of the world’s insecticides and more than 10% of the world’s pesticides, making it the second most pesticide-laden crop after coffee. (source: Allen Woodburn Associates Ltd./Managing Resources Ltd., “Cotton: The Crop and its Agrochemicals Market,” 1995.) From a humanitarian perspective, there are several reasons one should avoid purchasing conventional cotton. To start, cotton is a water-thirsty crop. It also tends to grow in third world countries where labor and human rights are often overlooked for the bottom line. Many third world countries don’t even have enough water for their citizens. When cotton-growing retailers usurp vital water supplies, water becomes an influential political tool.

For these reasons, Patagonia converted its entire sportswear line to 100% organically grown cotton. Popular items include the company’s line of Lightweight Everyday Socks — and the Men’s Lightweight Stand up Shorts.

Lightweight Everyday Socks

Patagonia Men’s Lightweight Stand Up Shorts

Most gardens need more water than is provided through normal rainfall. Usually we must turn on an outside faucet and hook up the hose to provide our array of plants with the water they need. Rather than run up your water bill and draw from your community water supplies—often exhausted over dry spring and summer months—why not recycle?

Recycling water sounds strange, but it actually makes sense. Consider all the rainwater that runs off your roof and straight into the gutter. Collect this water instead in a large barrel and then use it to water the plants.

A barrel like the one from Green and More is ideal for the average home. It holds 60 gallons and comes with an overflow fitting, drain plug, screw on cover, and threaded spigot. Available in a variety of colors, these barrels are especially great because they’re repurposed. Originally used to import olives from Spain, Green and More barrels gain new life by becoming rain barrels.

Watering lawns accounts for an incredible 40 to 60 percent of residential water consumption during the summer months, making lawn maintenance not only a chore but also a drain on the pocketbook and water supply.

The addition of patios, decks, or flower beds also serve to diminish water use by replacing thirsty lawn that needs watering. Or don’t even have a lawn . . . according to Gardeners magazine, trees and shrubs grow better when the soil over their roots is covered with a mulch or ground cover rather than grass. Manicured grass competes for nutrients and water, and passing lawn mowers can injure stems and trunks.

For two New Years resolutions in one, pledge to save energy. You’ll save money too! It’s simple. Just replace standard appliances with Energy Star products.

Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy that highlights appliances that save 10-15% more energy than standard models with a blue star label (see left).

As the equation goes, less energy equals both lower utility bills and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the governmental organization, a home fully equipped with Energy Star products will operate on an estimated 30% less energy than a house equipped with standard products, saving $600 a year.

In 2008, choosing the most energy efficient product couldn’t be easier with Energy Star’s little blue label. With 18,000 plus products in 35 different categories (from washing machine to printers, refrigerators to desk lamps) you won’t have to worry about finding an appliance that meets your standards and style. You’ll just have to worry about how you’re going to spend the money you’ve saved.

P.S. don’t forget to do those simple things like turning off your lights and unplugging your cell phone charger when you’re not charging your phone. Though little, these tiny changes add up to make a difference–saving energy and saving you money.

This New Year, pledge to change your light bulbs. It’s really a no-brainer. Just swap your standard, but extremely outdated, incandescent bulbs for the latest and greatest bulbs on the market: compact fluorescents (CFLs).

Yes, that’s all you have to do. By exchanging your regular lightbulbs for those funny-looking swirly bulbs you’ll save energy and money.

Here come the stats . . . according to Energy Star, CFLs consume up to 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs. CFLs also last up to 10 times longer. Those numbers add up for the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if just one million households replaced four traditional light bulbs with four CFL light bulbs, Americans would eliminate 900,000 tons of greenhouse gases. And get this . . . if every American household changed just one light bulb to a CFL we’d would save enough power to light more than 2.5 million homes. That’s doing far more than taking 3.5 million cars off the road . . . permanently.

Enough with the stats. Point is, there’s no good reason not to switch to CFLs. And several years ago it was difficult to even find a CFL. Today, you can find them everywhere. So take advantage in 2008 and change your lightbulbs.

It is important to note that CFLs contain an insignificant amount of mercury. If a bulb breaks, however, you want to clean it as specified by the Environmental Protection Agency. For more information on CFLs and tips to clean up a broken CFL bulb, without dispersing the mercury, click here.

With New Years just around the corner, it’s time to clean our slates and rewrite our resolutions:

• Spend more time with family.
• Quit that terrible habit.
• Go to the gym.

But with a planet in peril, let’s not forget to make a few pledges to the earth. As we embrace the New Year and vow to change our ways, why not cut down on energy use and water wastage while we’re at it? There are plenty of green New Years resolutions to be made. Finding it overwhelming? Not sure where to start? Over the next seven days I’ll give you seven simple suggestions for green-focused New Years resolutions. Today, lets begin with the simplest resolution of all . . .

1. Say No To Plastic Bags
Each year, Americans throw away enough plastic bags to wrap the planet 4,000 times. Considering it takes an average of 500 years for a plastic bag to decompose, we’re literally covering our planet with islands of plastic bags. This year, take the pledge. Carry a tote to the store or keep a reserve of already used plastic bags in your car, purse, briefcase or pocket. This way you’ll always have them on hand so you won’t forget them when you need them most . . .

Stay tuned for resolutions two through seven.

Call them nerdy, geeky, even dweeby, but they’re the savviest people we know. Rather than waste precious natural resources on the latest energy sucking technology, get your gadget guru something green this year. There are plenty of options to choose from.

Juice Bag
Get ‘em mobile solar. Yes, believe it or not, your giftee will be able to charge all of his or many gadgets through this super hip solar panel bag. Not only does it look cool, but it will also easily charge cell phones, iPods, GPS or anything with a 12 volt unit. Solar energy is a great alternative to regular electricity. In one day, the sun provides more energy than our population could use in 27 years. Make the switch to sunlight — it doesn’t pollute and it’s free.

To boot, Juice Bags fabric is made from recycled 2-liter soda bottles. Each bag keeps up to 8 soda bottles out of the landfill!

Apple 17″ MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo Notebook
Since 2001, all Apple computers and displays have earned the original (2000) ENERGY STAR® rating. Now Apple is taking it to another level of energy efficiency and recently created the Apple Mac and the Apple MacBook Pro either in a 15.4 inch screen or 17 inch screen, all of which have received the impressive Energy Star 4.0 certification.

The 15.4 inch MacBook Pro, is “especially green” because, it’s the only model that uses LED backlighting in order to eliminate the use of mercury and extend battery charge.

Apple iMac 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 20″
If your giftee is a lover of desktops or you simply don’t want to fork over the money for a laptop, give the energy efficient and energy star certified (but only 2.0) Apple iMac 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 20″ desktop processor.

Casio PAG50T-7V Solar Triple Sensor Men’s Titanium Watch
Give a timepiece that combines style, function and eco-chic. Featuring a barometer, altimeter and thermometer the harnesses the power of the sun (or any light source, even artificial) so your giftee will never have to change the battery–ever.

Ahhh yes, the wine. The second most important ingredient for any Thanksgiving meal. There are many options to choose from. Of course all are organic to ensure that your Thanksgiving dinner is quintessentially green. Here are my suggestions:

 1. Syrah Syrah . . . whatever will be will be . . .
Frey Organic Vinters offers a tasty organic and rich Syrah. “An opulent nose, fragrant with spice and toasty oak.” In wine talk that means it tastes good. Pair with dark meat from your organic turkey.

 2. Syrah Again
Landmark Vinyards, a winery known for it’s excellent wines and even better environmental practices, also makes a Syrah. There’s is made from grapes sourced entirely from the El Farolito Vineyard on the northeast side of Sonoma Mountain, California. In such a cool climate, the grapes can develop a dark, yet elegant, fruit character, clearly present in the wine.

3. Cabernet
Frey also offers a popular, yet inexpensive Cabernet. According to its description it offers a, “black cherry aromas and plum fruit with a hint of mint on the finish.” Hmmm, hint of mint. That sounds exciting. Especially good if you are serving a meat other than turkey at your Thanksgiving. Mint always does well with lamb.

 4. Cabernet Sauvingnon . . . from Napa
Long Meadow Ranch is an integrated organic farming operation - and purveyor of fine food - located high above the Napa Valley on the picturesque slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains. There award-winning viners produce red wine, extra virgin olive oil, grass-fed beef, eggs, and heirloom fruits and vegetables for Napa Valleys finest restaurants.  If you live in the Napa area be sure to look them up.

5. For Dessert Opt for the Pinot Noir
Frey Organic makes a light and delicate, Pinot Noir. Said to harmonize for a “symphony of strawberries, mint and pomegranate,” this wine is best paired with a simple fruit salad or rich dessert.

76. Switch to low-wattage or compact fluorescent light bulbs. They last 10 times longer and use only one-fourth of the energy compared to incandescent light bulbs.

77. Eat vegetarian foods as much as possible. Meat makes less efficient use of land, soil, water, and energy - and cows emit/flattulate 300 liters of methane per day.
78. Dry clothes and linens on a clothesline rather than in the dryer. If you have to use a dryer, use an energy star one and clean the lint screen before use.

79. When running your tap to wash dishes, use cold water instead of hot. You’ll save a lot of energy.
80. Run energy efficient dishwashers only when full.
81. Take quick showers instead of baths.
82. Compost kitchen and garden waste, or give it to a friend who can.
83. If your lazy, don’t like to iron, or an environmentalist you can always hang your clothes in the bathroom while showering. They’ll be wrinkle free in 5 minutes of steam.
84. Install low flow showerheads and sink-faucet aerators. Low-flow showerheads can reduce the water flow up to 50 percent.
85. Collect rainwater and gray water for gardening use.
86. Start a garden; plant a garden instead of a lawn. Lawns use a huge amount of water.
87. Use natural fiber clothing, bedding and towels.

88. Insulate your water heater. Turn it down to 121°F.
89. Turn off all lights that don’t need to be on.
90. Try to be a localvore. Locally produced foods are better for the environment because they do not need to be trucked in from great distances.
91. Buy in bulk. Buy products with less packaging or buy in bulk.
92. Explore getting a solar water heater for your home.
93. Urge your local officials to start a convenient and even lucrative curbside recyclables pickup program.
94. Remove unnecessary stuff from your car. Each 100 lbs. of weight decreases fuel efficiency by 1%.
95. Use recycled products, especially paper.
96. Invest your money in environmentally and socially conscious businesses.
97. Bring your own canvas bags to the grocery store.
98. Limit your energy star air conditioner use.
99. Encourage your local auto centers to install CFC recycling equipment for auto air conditioners. Freon is released during servicing to become both a greenhouse gas and an ozone layer destroyer.
100. If you have to use fertilizer use an organic one. Home gardeners use up to 10 times more toxic chemicals per acre than farmers because home gardeners over use chemical fertilizers.
101. Spread the word.

Good luck and Godspeed.

61. Recycle your power tool and cell phone rechargeable batteries.
62. Donate your old computer.
Giving away your old computer can do a lot of good, too. Not only does it keep potentially hazardous materials out of landfills, it also puts a computer in the hands of someone who needs it.
63. Use a Mug.
If you’re like the average American office worker, you go through around 500 disposable cups every year. Keep a mug at your desk and use it.
64. Drink Organic.
65. Buzz Fair Trade Organic.
66. Soothe Organic.
67. Reuse your plastic bags or bring a tote to the grocery store.
It can take up to 1,000 years for plastic bags to degrade, depending on sunlight and air exposure.
68. Insulate your house by caulking and weather-striping doors and windows.
69. Close off unused areas in your home from heat and air conditioning.
70. When it gets really cold, put on a sweater before cranking up the heat.

71. Run energy star washing machines, but don’t overload them.
72. Use moderate amounts of biodegradable detergent.
73. Air-dry your laundry when possible.
74. Set energy star refrigerators to 38°F, freezers to 5°F, no colder.
75. Take the roof rack or case off your car when it’s not being used. It decreases the aeordynamics meaning you’ll use more fuel. Also empty the boot/trunk to make it lighter.

42. Switch to Solar Energy.
In one day, the sun provides more energy than our population could use in 27 years. Make the switch to sunlight — it doesn’t pollute and it’s free.
43. Turn your thermostat up by three degrees in the summer. You can prevent the emission of nearly 1100 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
44. Use a notebook computer.
Notebook computers are 90 percent more energy-efficient than desktop computers. They run on rechargeable batteries, and have energy-saving features like low-energy display screens and automatic sleep modes.
45. If you’re really hardcore use an Energy Star certified notebook computer. Since 2001, all Apple computers and displays have earned the original (2000) ENERGY STAR® rating.
46. If you’re really really hardcore use an Energy Star 4.0 certified notebook computer. Apple Mac and the Apple MacBook Pro either in a 15.4 inch screen or 17 inch screen have already received the impressive Energy Star 4.0 certification.
47. Use rechargeable batteries.
We buy 5 billion batteries every year. Trouble is, they’re not biodegradable and they’re full of toxic heavy metals that could leak into landfills. Rechargeable batteries, can replace between 50 and 300 throwaway batteries.
48. Recycle your cans.
Every month, we throw away enough aluminum to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet. Recycled, that aluminum would be worth $600 million by year’s end.
49. Swaddle babies in organic cotton only.
It’s not only softer and toxin free—vital to a newborn’s extremely sensitive skin but also better for the environment.
50. Look inside the triangle .
Plastic can only be recycled a limited number of times. Plastics labeled with #1 or #2 are most easily recycled, so look for a number inside the triangle on the bottom of most plastic containers.
51. Buy a mulching lawnmower.
Take care of your yard without bagging or burning leaves and lawn clippings, get a mulching lawnmower that spreads the grass clippings back on the lawn, where they decompose and feed the soil.
52. Compost your raked leaves.
If you or your kids are raking them you might as well compost them and use the mulch for free lawn feed.
53. Recycle the news. Americans throw away 44 million newspapers every day. That’s 500,000 trees a week, which is a good reason to recycle your paper or read it online.
54. Buy organic food. Organic foods are grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers — a healthier option not only for you, but also the planet.
55. work and files to save paper.
56. Offset
Air travel is incredibly environmentally taxing. Offset your flying with a small donation to a company that invests in projects to reduce carbon dioxide. .
57. Donate your car to charity Your car doesn’t even have to be running and part of the proceeds will benefit the cause of your choice.
58. Invest in green companies.
These investments perform as well, if not better than alternative investment options.
59. Eat fish carefully.
Excellent choices: mahi mahi, Pacific cod
60. Donate old paint cans.
Most paints contain metals that are hazardous to the environment when thrown away. Donate your leftover paint to your local theater company instead. Your neighborhood recycling center can also suggest drop-off points.