Kayakas!

The pics we can peruse of The Boulders Resort would suggest at least some environmental sensitivity, given that it blends in rather well with the surrounding Sonoran Desert of Arizona. It looks as if they want to do more than that though. Becoming “100 percent organic” no less. The new general manager, Michael Hoffmann, suggests that already, “The fish are line-caught, the veal is corn- or grass-fed, the vegetables are organically or naturally grown, with no chemicals used in production.” (Well, in one of the restaurants anyhow). Plus they carry a goodly supply of organic wine. But now, as well getting food from local organic farmers, the resort is setting up its own garden and anticipates harvesting fruit, vegetables and herbs come autumn 2006. Organic soap, candles and even linens are also on the plan, right down to the mini-bar goodies and the choccies on the pillow. Wonder if we can convince them to apply the same principles to their golf course — after all, the Kabi Organic Golf Course did! ::The Boulders Resort, via The East Valley Tribune.

The ribbon was cut on the World”s largest continguous solar plant on 27th April 2006 in Germany. Click here to advertise on thousands of blogs including mine

Wired answers three frequent questions about how to “become more green”: 1) Should I ditch my old car for a newer hybrid? 2) How much of the USA”s energy comes from “alternative” source? 3) Is eating organic food good for the environment, or just hype? We”ll quote the answer to question #1 because it was asked in the comments of a recent post, but to read the rest you”ll have to go to ::Wired - How can I be more green? or buy the magazine.

We have talked about the 100 Mile Diet many times, and it seems to be catching on. Canada”s National Post put four of its most dedicated foodies to work to create dinner parties strictly according to the 100 mile rule. “To their cries of “Can”t we do this in summer” we said “Hell no, That would be too easy” . Read about the dinners in ::Vancouver, ::Calgary, ::Toronto and ::St. John”s, Newfoundland

Read Mike”s posts on the 100 Mile Diet part 1 and part 2

TreeHugger thinks it’s time to re-invent the Victory Garden. Click here to advertise on thousands of blogs including mine

We are beginning to get a picture of what our world will look like in a few years- In America, amber waves of corn from sea to shining sea; in Brazil, sugar cane; in Indonesia. palm plantations. We read in the New York Times that China has just placed a rush order for a billion dollars worth of Merbau for the 2008 so-called Green Olympics, and to replant for palm oil, as part of a larger deal that will essentially level the remaining forest. “For China, the deal is a double bounty: the wood from the forest will provide flooring and furniture for its ever-expanding middle class, and in its place will grow vast plantations for palm oil, an increasingly popular ingredient in detergents, soaps and lipstick…. Merbau wood, mostly prevalent in Papua”s virgin forests, has been illegally logged and shipped to China since the late 1990″s, stripping large swathes of forest in the Indonesian province on the western side of the island of New Guinea. The decision to award a $1 billion concession to China will “increase the deforestation of Papua,” a place of extraordinary biodiversity, said Elfian Effendy, executive director of Greenomics, an Indonesian environmental watchdog. “It”s not sustainable.”

Perhaps its time to not only refuse to purchase floors made from unsustainable materials, but to refuse to walk on them. ::New York Times and be sure to watch the video.

Reputedly famous for its creamy cheeses, Serpa is described in a travel guide as “a sleepy agricultural hilltop town of white houses”. Quite soon this ancient walled town, founded in 400 BC, will be catapulted into the future. It’s about to get an 11-megawatt solar power plant, comprising 52,000 photovoltaic modules, in what is being dubbed the “world’s largest solar photovoltaic power project.” Click here to advertise on thousands of blogs including mine

Surely this is the coolest alternative to walking since… well, since bicycles. Click here to advertise on thousands of blogs including mine

You may not have the $2K to bid on a paddling adventure with Christie Brinkley, but who could resist the temptation to go for a rare Caddyshack tee shirt autographed by both Bill Murray and Chevy Chase? (it could be yours for $150.00). Click here to advertise on thousands of blogs including mine

Sometimes you can be pleasantly surprised in what you find at traditionally un-green places. Click here to advertise on thousands of blogs including mine