2/1/13

During the winter months, millions of gorgeous monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles to the forests of Mexico to retreat from freezing temperatures and conserve energy for their trip back north in the spring. Recently, the forests the butterflies depend on have been clear-cut, leaving less space for them to thrive. The nonprofit Forests for Monarchs is trying to change that -- it has replanted more than 5 million trees since 2010. You can help by planting 50 trees (for $25.00) or 100 trees (for $50.00) by visiting forestsformonarchs.org.

1/31/13

The World Wildlife Fund estimates more than 32 million acres of natural forest are cut down every year, with most of it going to unsustainable and illegal logging practices. One way you can help is by buying wood products (furniture, paper and packaged goods) that come from responsibly harvested resources. The Forest Stewardship Council has made it easy to find these goods -- just look for its "FSC" mark on wood products, which indicates it's from responsibly managed forests.

1/30/13

Cooking with cast iron is an excellent choice because it is incredibly durable, naturally nonstick and free of any questionable chemicals, like PTFE and PFOA, found in many nonstick pans today. If you're in the market for a cast iron skillet, however, avoid the temptation to buy a pre-seasoned one. Pre-seasoned means the pan has been sprayed with a layer of fat at the factory. Since the source of the fat is not required to be on the label, the pans can cause reactions to those with certain allergies. Instead, look for raw iron pans and season them yourself using your own oils.