1. Home & Garden

Green Shopping and Buying Green

Green shopping is good for you and for the planet. Learn about greenwashing, clock.gifts, labels and certifications, organic and natural products, green retailers, precycling, packaging and reviews of green products.

Your Green Shopping Mall

If you're trying to shop green during the holiday season, or any season, here's a handy list of green shopping sites. This list of green stores will make your shopping easier and more eco-friendly. Go green and shop green today!

All About Organic Food and Natural Foods

The quest for organic food and natural foods has revolutionized the way people shop, eat and live. But what is organic food, and what's the difference between regular food and organic vegetables, organic fruit, organic wine, organic coffee and other food items? And are there real benefits to organic food and natural foods? Discover the world of...

Best Buys in Organic Food

Organic food can be a little more costly, but organic fruits and vegetables are better for you and the environment. Which produce is the best to buy organic, and which can be safely and inexpensively bought non-organic?

Is Fair Trade a Fair Deal?

As the market for sustainable, fair trade and organic gifts and products grows, more shops are carrying certified fair trade coffee, tea, chocolate, cotton clothing, fruits and other items. Learn about fair trade, organic and other certified sustainable goods.

Organic Flowers: A Real Bed of Roses

Organic flowers are a great alternative to regular flowers, but are regular flowers really unsafe? What makes organic flowers and organic roses a better gift?

A Guide to Your Local Farmer’s Market

Looking for tips on conquering your local farmers market? Find a local farmers market, and get some advice from veteran shoppers on making farmers markets and green markets your favorite place to shop for organic produce, artisanal foods and more.

10 Ways to Tell You've Been Greenwashed

Greenwashing -- the practice of making products seem more environmentally friendly than they really are -- takes place everywhere from the boardrooms of British Petroleum to your local grocer.

The Buzz on Organic Coffee and Fair Trade Coffee

Organic coffee and fair trade coffee - what's the difference? Learn about organic coffee, fair trade coffee, shade-grown coffee and bird-friendly coffee, so you can relax and enjoy your next cup o' joe.

Should I Boycott BP?

Should I boycott BP? Millions of consumers are considering a boycott of the troubled oil and gas company, formerly known as British Petroleum. But what, if anything, will a boycott of BP accomplish?

Green Gifts for Kids - Green Gifts for Children - Gifts for Kids

Give kids a green, sustainable holiday gift that keeps giving year-round. They're also great for birthdays and other events. Eco-friendly gift ideas promote sustainable design and green living while teaching children that you care about them as well as the Earth. Best of all, they're priced under $50, so you can save some green, too.

6 Tips for Green and Cheap School Supplies

Shopping for eco-friendly, cheap school supplies doesn't require a Ph.D. -- or a lot of money. Here's a cheap school supplies list that includes green school supplies to make an eco-friendly back-to-school easier and less expensive -- for students as well as their parents.

10 Baby Steps to a Healthy Green Baby

Looking for ways to have a happy, healthy, green baby? These 10 simple green baby tips make it easier for parents to bring a healthy baby into a green, more sustainable home. From your green baby shower to eco diapers and green baby clothing, make your child and your home healthy, safe and green.

Whole Green Catalog: 1,000 Best Things for You and the Earth

The Whole Green Catalog presents thousands of products and tips for green living and sustainable shopping. Read this review and find out why, despite many good features, the Whole Green Catalog falls short of its promise.

A Guide to Organic Wine and Natural Wine

Organic wine, natural wine, biodynamic wine, even vegan wine -- it's enough to make you dizzy before you've even taken a sip. Get the facts on these excellent, high-quality wines that are grown sustainably.

Review: ChicoBag Messenger Bag

ChicoBag is a manufacturer of reusable bags, including their new messenger bag, made of 80 percent recycled content. How did the bag hold up under use? Read this review and find out.

Free-Range Eggs: What the Cluck?

What is free-range chicken and freerange eggs, and are they better, safer or more nutritious than regular eggs? Words like organic, free-range and cage-free have different meanings when applied to eggs and chickens.

Organic Wines

Organic wine, like organic food, must meet certain USDA criteria before it gets to wear the coveted "USDA Organic" label. What makes organic wine and natural wine different? Is there any such thing as healthy wine? And is organic wine, or wine made from organic grapes, as good as fine vintage wine?

What Is Biodynamic Wine?

Biodynamic wine is different from organic wine, natural wine, sustainable wine and other specialty types of wine. Find out which biodynamic farming techniques are used to make a biodynamic wine that meets the biodynamic standards of the Demeter Association.

What Is Vegan Wine?

What is vegan wine and vegetarian wine? You could be forgiven for thinking all wines are free of animal products, but that's actually not the case. Vegan wine and vegetarians wine differ in their use of finings, products used to make the wine clear. Find out more about how to be vegan with this info on vegetarian wines and vegan wines.

Women vs. Men: The Green Battle of the Sexes

It was only a matter of time before the battle of the sexes entered the realm of sustainability. Who's greener, men or women? The differences between men are women are apparent, but is one sex more sustainable than another?

Why Are Sulfites in Wine?

Sulfites are found in most wines, though some wine makers put additional sulfites in their wines. Why are sulfites in wine, are they safe, and how can you find sulfite-free wine? Here's the low-down on wine sulphites.

Natural Wine and Sustainable Wine: Uncorking the Mystery

What is natural wine and sustainable wine, and how does it differ from organic wine or other wines? And are either of these healthy wine? There's no simple answer, so people looking for natural wine should learn what these wine terms mean -- and what they don't mean.

What Is Grass-Fed Beef?

Grass-fed beef, as the name implies, comes from cows that have been raised in grass pastures instead of raised on grain. Fans of grass-fed beef claim it's a leaner, healthier and tastier meat, and has many environmental advantages as well. Discover what makes grass-fed meat different from organic meat.

Antibiotic Resistance and Your Dinner

Health experts are alarmed at our reckless use of antibiotics, and fear their overuse is creating a vast army of "superbug" bacteria with antibiotic resistance. Perhaps the biggest villains in the overuse of antibiotics are factory farms that raise millions of cattle, pigs, chicken and other livestock. Find out what's in your beef, pork and...

What's the Dish on Overfishing and Mercury in Fish?

Choosing healthy seafood can be daunting, with concerns about overfishing, hatchery practices, mercury in fish and other health and environmental issues. Does tuna have more mercury than halibut? Is any seafood safe for pregnant women? Is over fishing a problem for salmon? Here are easy ways to make smart choices about healthy, nutritious...

What Are Free-Range Eggs?

What eggs-actly are free-range eggs, and are they healthier or more nutritious than regular eggs? Unlike organic eggs, the term "free-range eggs," like "cage-free eggs," isn't recognized by the USDA, so anyone can call their products free-range eggs without third-party verification.

Green Gift Ideas Under $50

This Christmas, give green gifts to the men and women on your gift list. These eco-friendly gifts are also great for birthdays, weddings and other events. Eco-friendly gift ideas promote sustainable design and green living while showing the receiver that you care about them as well as the Earth. Best of all, they're priced under $50, so you can...

LED Christmas Lights - A Bright Idea

LED Christmas lights are not only safer than older incandescent lights, but these indoor and outdoor Christmas lights use a lot less energy. Decorate your home this holiday with LED lights on your Christmas tree, holiday wreaths and other seasonal decorations for big energy savings this season.

Let's Talk About Natural Beauty Products

Natural beauty products and organic cosmetics are becoming more popular as consumers look for safe, all-natural skincare lotions, shampoo, perfume and other beauty products. Some have few if any synthetic ingredients, and a few are certified organic products.

What Is Organic Milk?

Organic milk has many advantages over regular milk, but price isn't one of them. Is organic milk worth the extra cost? What are the benefits of organic milk, and why is it so expensive? Discover what makes organic milk different from regular milk, and what its health and environmental benefits are.

Organic Fruit and Organic Vegetables:

Organic fruit and organic vegetables are grown under the watchful eye of the USDA organic program. But what makes organic fruit different, and are organic vegetables safer or healthier to eat?

Organic Food: Worth the Cost?

What is organic food, and is it worth paying more for USDA-certified organic produce and organic meat? There are many benefits to sustainable farms, but organic food isn't always health food. Find out why organic junk food is still junk food.

Let's Chat About the Factory Farm

The environmental impact of a factory farm and big agribusiness cannot be denied. Though there are some advantages to factory farms, concentrated animal feed lots, or CAFOs, have horrific environmental impacts, from climate change and water pollution to the overuse of pesticides and antibiotics. Learn about factory farming and the alternatives...

Natural Beer and Organic Beer:

Natural beer and organic beer were once niche products, but sales of natural beer and organic beer have skyrocketed in recent years. What makes a beer organic, and is organic beer the same as natural beer?

Should You Buy an Air Purifier or Air Filter?

If you're looking for an air purifier or air filter to clean impurities like smoke, pollen, dust, mold and pet dander from the air in your home, what should you look for? Indoor air quality is too important to leave to an appliance that doesn't work well. Here's some advice for clearing up the air you breathe with an air purifier or air filter.

5 Tips for Green Design on a Budget

Green design has a reputation for being expensive. But designer Cindy Ojczyk, LEED AP, has a few suggestions on how to create a great green interior design on a budget.

Why Is Triclosan in Antibacterial Soaps?

Triclosan is found in antibacterial soaps and hundreds of other household products, including clothing, furniture, toys and furniture. Experts agree that using so-called "antibacterial soaps" with triclosan does nothing more than ordinary soap, except that its overuse can lead to the growth of antibiotic-resistant "superbug" bacteria like MRSA.

What's the Dirt on Green Dry Cleaning and Perchloroethylene?

Green dry cleaning without the chemical perchloroethylene, or perc, can still get your clothes clean and fresh. Can dry cleaning with perchloroethylene really contribute to cancer, and what are the natural or green dry-cleaning alternatives?

What Is Organic Chocolate and Fair Trade Chocolate?

Organic chocolate and fair-trade chocolate are fast-growing segments of the candy market. But what makes organic chocolate different, and how fair is fair trade chocolate?

Hot Drinks: Natural Tea and Organic Tea

The market for natural tea and organic tea is growing as fast as the demand for other organic foods. But what exactly makes tea natural, organic or fair trade?

A Brief Chat About Local Foods

If you're looking for ways to eat green, try local foods. Locavores who choose locally grown foods whenever possible find a number of advantages to eating local foods. And there are many sources of local foods all around the country.

A Brief Chat About Exotic Pets

The international trade in exotic pets and exotic animals is a multi-billion dollar industry that's threatening to wipe out populations of endangered species worldwide. Why do people want exotic pet animals, and what happens to exotic animals when they're imported into a foreign country? Take a look at the environmental, political and health...

Factory Food, and How to Avoid It

Factory food is killing us - and the planet. While processed foods and other unhealthy food-like concoctions ravage our health, the production of factory food is destroying the planet. Find easy ways to avoid the whole industrial food process.

What Makes a Green Product Package?

What makes a green product package? There's a lot of evidence that consumers are thinking about green packaging material, including product packaging made from mycelium, when they make purchasing decisions. Get the facts on green packing here.

Discuss in my forum

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.