Hi all,

I cannot begin to tell you how many calls and emails I receive and people approaching me at lectures wondering why we sell some products from China. AND I have to tell you that I hear you. It is frustrating for me to that I don’t have a better selection of U.S. made products to choose from. Out team is constantly looking, but to no avail. In this week’s article, I dive head first into exploring the issues that surround purchasing from China.

For those of you that are keenly interested in US-Made products, try these 3 fantastic products from our site.

Our Simple Elegance glass straw series is sure to impress your guests and is green with bling, too!

A corn-based biodegradable water bottle with carbon filter offers you filtered water on the go from any tap water source. Reuse up to 90 times! Finally, I’m pleased to tell you about our up and coming book series from Urban Farm Press.

Finally, our new 28-page mini books are a quick read and we have a great series to introduce to you! Order our My Ordinary Extraordinary Yard / Fowl Play COMBO for only $10, including shipping. Watch for subscription info. to this incredible series coming soon!

Have a great green day!

Greg

Technorati Tags: China, manufacturing, products, tansportation

Hi all,

Energy efficiency is one of the biggest items on our green agenda that impacts both the environment and our budget. The good news is that there are piles of rebates and tax credits available for everything from new windows to appliances and renewable energy. When I installed my Photovoltaic Solar system here at The Urban Farm there were federal and state tax credits and a power company rebate in place that brought the price of the system down from $15,000 to a mere $4,500.

In this week’s article, Dan Harding explores how to find the many rebates and incentives that are in place on both a local and national level. Every state and utility has their own to help you reduce the cost of your energy efficiency improvements. You might be surprised to learn that you can receive a credit or rebate for ceiling fans or purchasing a new dryer. So for every purchase you make for a new energy efficiency device make sure you check with your local utility and the federal and state government to see if you are entitled to receive a rebate.

Now onto one of my favorite energy saving gadgets called the Smart Power Strip. More than just your average power bar, the Smart Power Strip eliminates the energy draw typical of today’s appliances and devices even when they’re in the “off” position. Stop paying for electricity you’re not using with our best-selling energy saver.

You may also find out how much electricity your appliances and devices actually use. Plug the Kill A Watt EZ into your outlet and it will show you the energy draw of any appliance or device connected to it. The large LCD display shows consumption by the kilowatt-hour, same as your local utility measures, and the monthly operation cost. Perhaps it’s time to replace that basement freezer…

Technorati Tags: appliances, devices, efficiency, energy, power, rebates

The main reason the Urban Farm came into existence was to grow food. Before long I found that I was growing way more food than I was consuming and I began sharing it with neighbors and restaurants. I set up a trade agreement with one local eatery and for many years provided her with a bounty and got my ‘free lunch’ in return.

I learned the beauty of the garden is plenty and that the steps to taking my leftover groceries to market was really quite easy. In this week’s article, I outline a plan for you to get your produce from seed to the local market. It is easy and quite fulfilling. There is nothing better for me than to plant, nurture, harvest and ultimately share with the community all that my garden grows.

Of course, getting to market and setting up in the wee small hours can make for a long day. Fortunately, we have a few “survival items” for you. Our Espresso Travel Tumbler can be filled with your beverage of choice and has great looks, too. Should you get hungry later, or just need to bring home a fresh-baked goodie from the market, just bring along our Stainless Steel Lunch Bundle.

Have a great green day!

Technorati Tags: food, garden, gardening, market, Urban Farming