The Dirt on Green Archives

EcoChat Covers Organics on March 8th - Join the Discussion!

Five leaders in American agriculture, including Jim Slama from FamilyFarmed.org will be joining the Chicago-based webshow EcoChat Monday March 8th for a discussion about sustainable food systems and the future of American agriculture.

FamilyFarmed EXPO Is Coming to Chicago!

Calling all foodies, environmentalists and people curious about sustainable living! The FamilyFarmed EXPO is coming to Chicago March 11-13th, 2010 at the UIC Forum at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Join the International Women's Day Celebration March 8th at Allyu Spa

This year, Chicago will be celebrating International Women's Day with their own unique celebration organized by Allyu Spa and Everyday Medicine Woman. Join them for free samples of delicious local food from Karyn's Raw Cafe, making a peace banner and more!

A Chicago Aquaponics Update

Earlier this winter I wrote a story for the Chicago magazine Mindful Metropolis about...

Chicago's Appetite for Aquaponics

Could organic aquaponics be coming to Chicago? Several interested parties say yes.

Help Green Grocer Celebrate Their 2 Year Anniversary This Sunday!

This Sunday, Green Grocer Chicago is marking their two year anniversary with an all-day long...

One Year Later: President Obama's Food Policy

Photo credit: Official White House Flickr photostreamThis article first appeared on OrganicNation.tv.Today marks the one-year...

Chicago Discount Day at Ferry Acupuncture

In order to make acupuncture affordable and accessible to the Chicago community, Ferry Acupuncture (1630 W. Division St.) is offering 1-hour treatments at a discount (only $50!) on Saturday, February 6, 2010.

Orange You Glad It's Not Tropicana?

Nothing says "all-natural" like the orange with the striped straw stabbed into it that serves as Tropicana's logo. The cartons tell us that the orange stuff inside is "100% pure & natural orange juice," but as several industry experts have noted in the past year, so-called "natural" not-from-concentrate orange juice is anything but.

VIDEO: Is Big Organic the Enemy?

An interview with Ken Cook, the co-founder of the Environmental Working Group, about some of the challenges faced by the organic food industry.

Chicago: Vote for Your Favorite Seed

This month, NeighborSpace is calling all Chicago gardeners to vote for their favorite prairie seed...

Windy City (and IL) to Get More Wind Energy

Illinois is currently ranked 12th in the country for wind energy production, according to the American Wind Energy Association, but the Land of Lincoln could soon climb in the rankings.

Top 10 Ways to Decrease Your Carbon Foodprint

Here's a new year's diet that will improve the health of the planet.

Latest Green Trend: Living Jewelry

Ever wish you could take the garden with you? Well, now it's possible to take your eco-fashion obsession to the next level by sporting living plants on your fingers.

What's in Store for 2010? More Local Food

As we look forward to the tweens, one trend that will likely carry over from the '90s and the aughts is the increase in the buying and selling of local food.

What's So Terrible About Asian Carp?

It's pretty clear why Missouri residents were less than thrilled at the prospect of Chicagoans flushing our sewage downstream a century ago, but what's so terrible about Asian carp?

A Green Cheat Sheet for Holiday Shoppers

Curious about the carbon footprint of your holiday gifts? Take a look at the Climate Counts Company Scorecard to see what big companies are doing to green their operations.

Top 10 Greenwashing Campaigns of 2009 (PHOTOS)

According to TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, only about 2 percent of products that are labeled "eco-friendly" are entirely truthful. The other 98 percent are guilty of greenwashing to some degree. Let's take a look at some of the worst cases of greenwashing in 2009.

Worst Environmental Offenses of the Holidays (PHOTOS)

The least environmentally-friendly holiday traditions

Why to Buy an Organic Christmas Tree

People give plenty of thought to how their food is grown and where it comes from, but what about Christmas trees?

Which is Greener? Real vs. Fake Christmas Trees

My advice? Get a real Christmas tree, but keep the roots intact, and re-plant the tree after Christmas is over.

Humanure: Chicago's Fecal Fad

Dry composting toilets are all the rage these days, and Chicago is no exception. In fact, a group of West Side poop savers are at the forefront of the humanure movement.

Dill Pickle Food Co-op Opens in Logan Square

A new cooperative grocery store opened yesterday in Logan Square

Our Favorite Green Gifts

We scoured all the best green gift guides out there and put together a slideshow of our ten favorite picks for the 2009 holiday season, including a few DIY options and local deals. Enjoy!

Chicago's Best New Organic Restaurants of 2009

The top new organic eateries to open in Chicago in 2009

Illinois Carbon Emissions in Global Perspective

Did you know? The carbon emissions of Illinois and Indiana combined are equal to the total emissions of Italy!

Is It Time to <i>STOP</i> Going Green?

No, this doesn't have anything to do with Sarah Palin's call for President Obama to...

What's the Point of Organic Alcohol?

One of the of the newest trends in green living is the concept of organic or eco-friendly liquor. What's the point of buying organic alcohol? We found some answers to commonly asked questions.

Climate Projections: Chicago Feels Like Texas

While world leaders convene in Copenhagen to try to craft a strategy to deal with...

Best Winter Farmers Markets in Chicago

Green City Market - The mother of farmers markets in Chicago now stays open year-round....

Are Chicago Public School Lunches Safe?

How safe is the meat served at Chicago Public Schools? According to a recent report, the government has provided the nation's schools with millions of pounds of beef and chicken that wouldn't meet the quality or safety standards. of many fast-food restaurants.