The High Line, located on the lower west side of New York in the Meatpacking district, is the latest way Manhattan shows itself to be an innovative player on the green scene. The park is created from ‘found’ material—abandoned elevated train tracks.

The original Art Deco structure was built in the 1930s as a way for dangerous freight trains to circumnavigate the metropolis. Green aspects of the High Line include a focus on the planting of native species of grasses, trees, shrubs and perennials. Inspired by the self-seeded landscape that grew on the out-of-use elevated rail tracks during the 25 years after the trains stopped running, many of the species that originally were on the High Line’s rail bed are incorporated into the park landscape. At night, the park’s pathways are illuminated by energy-efficient LED lights.

The greenway currently runs through Chelsea but is expected to travel into Hell’s Kitchen when complete. Check out my video of the High Line and see for yourself.—Michelle Zaffino

p.s. No more peepshows in the park. We hear that guests at the Standard, that hotel with impossibly large windows located atop the High Line, now have to sign waivers at check-in that they’ll close the room blinds and promise to keep their exhibitionist tendencies in check.

Watch the documentary No Impact Man for this and other acts of eco bravery. Urban couple Colin Beavan and Michelle Conlin conduct a yearlong lifestyle experiment to unplug from the grid, produce no waste and have, um, no impact on the environment. Based on Beavan’s book of the same name, it’s truly inspiring. The movie premiered at Sundance and is currently playing at select art house theaters nationwide.—Michelle Zaffino

The goal of the initiative is to inspire high school and college students to green their living spaces, lifestyles and school supplies. (For more on green school supplies, check out Heather’s post).

Lifestyle is the key word here. These lifestyle choices reflect an eco mindset, and prove that you can make a difference with the power of your pocketbook—a very Eco to the People sentiment, if we do say so ourselves.

The Teens Turning Green Project Green Dorm Toolkit is a checklist of green versions of essential items for students. Pre-assembled Project Green Dorm care packages are also available. Additionally, Teens Turning Green is hosting back to school events across the country. Go to the Teens Turning Green website for more information, and while you’re there check out their lookbook.—Michelle Zaffino

Sustainable Beauty

A favorite eco-beauty oasis in the middle of the San Francisco Bay Area—where Eco to the People is located—is La Belle Day Spa. It’s the mission of founder Bella Schneider to operate sustainably—and conservation of the earth is key. Bella says, “Natural is healing, and eco just feels good, for a real sense of well-being.”

La Belle’s eco-friendly design uses techniques for energy conservation, has recycled glass countertops and rubber and cork floors in a completely non-toxic environment. The treatments themselves are created naturally and full of delicious anti-aging antioxidants. You can take the eco-feeling home with you with La Belle NatureOrganics, a completely plant-based organic skin and body care line.

Best of all is that green spas are sprouting up all over the country. Look to the SpaFinder website to find an eco spa near you.—Michelle Zaffino

As you’ll see from this list of definitions, organic wineries are a whole new world, and a wine by any other name just isn’t the same. Organically-grown wines are better for both the planet and the wine drinker. For more information on eco vin and to purchase, check out the Organic Wine Company. Cheers!—Michelle

Biodynamic-Certified — These wineries use lunar cycle farming and other homeopathic techniques in the growing process.

Environmental Responsibility — Awareness of  perennial issues such as soil depletion and erosion, water pollution, ecological impact and other environmental concerns.

Organic — Like other types of farming, these wineries don’t use pesticides or chemical fertilizers when growing the grapes. Some wineries also shun sulfite additives.

Sustainable — Wineries use solar-power and other techniques to minimize energy use.

Winemaking — The less stress the grapes endure during production the better. No additional flavors are added and wild yeast is used in fermentation.

(Source: Organic Wine Journal)

This week, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors approved Mayor Gavin Newsom’s radical proposal to make it against the law not to compost.  The legislation, which will begin being enforced next summer, calls for every residence and business in the city to have three separate color-coded bins for waste: blue for recycling, green for compost and black for trash. A failure to properly sort your refuse could result in a fine of up to $500 (after several warnings).

This is the most comprehensive mandatory composting and recycling law in the country, and is part of San Francisco’s effort to cut the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. Newson has pledged that by 2020 the city will be sending nothing to landfills or incinerators. Nothing. Imagine that.

For more on the new composting law, read the story that appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle , or commentary on the topic from the New York Times’ Green Inc. blog.

Available in several different designs, the one that initially caught my eye is the rosette bag (pictured above). Made of a durable nylon fabric called parachute silk, the lightweight bag carries a load up to 30 pounds. The rosette bags have contrast stitching and a flower decorating it that gives them a little something extra.

The second thing I noticed about Ecosilk bags is the ironic design. The basic carryall (below) is created to be an exact copy of the traditional plastic bag design you love to hate. It feels great carrying something so familiar but in a new and improved, reusable way. Just think all of the plastic bag waste you’ll be eliminating in the lifetime of an Ecosilk bag (they last a minimum of five years).

Socially conscious to the core, the founder ensures that the factory which manufacturers the bags treats their workers fairly and ethically. Larger size bags are available, as are genius little drawstring bags to carry all your Ecosilk bags. Ecosilk bags are also washable.

Ecosilk bags will break you out of your shopping bag rut—paper or plastic. I felt so proud the first time I used my Ecosilk bag! The bags can be folded into a compact little bundle that’s easily stowable in your purse. Whether you use them for toting produce or library books, these eco-friendly carryalls have fashion in the bag. Created and designed in Australia, the bags are sold stateside from the Bag Ladies of Seattle.—Michelle Zaffino

Who knew that leading a clean green lifestyle could be a competitive sport? I sure didn’t.

When I decided to live a greener lifestyle several years ago I had the right attitude: I was proud of small changes and that pride propelled me to want to do even more. I was no saint, and by no means did I expect a medal for purchasing reusable shopping bags or growing organic veggies. It just felt good to do my part, even in a small way.

So what burst my pink bubble of green living? It is something that I like to call one-upmanship.

So what exactly is a one-upper? He or she is a person who can’t help but be competitive about every healthy change you make. You mention that you juice; they tell you that you should be drinking green smoothies. You tell them about an amazing walk and the one-upper boasts about their righteous run. If you are running, they have switched to Bikram yoga because it is so much better for the soul.  

Sigh.

You know the type because we all have one in our lives. The one-upper doesn’t so much say that your efforts are wrong as much as point out that the way they are doing things is more right.

My first eco-friendly project was to switch out my conventional cleaning supplies for all natural products. I had written a magazine article on the subject and was appalled that I had unknowingly been storing a cache of toxic chemicals under my kitchen sink for my entire adult life. I lugged an entire line of green cleaning products home from the market and went to town on my apartment. I must admit I was pretty darn pleased with myself.

But when I mentioned my project to a friend, she shook her head. “No, no, no. To really be eco-friendly you have to make your own cleansers. Like I do.” She patted my hand and launched into cleanser recipes I should concoct.

Sadly, I couldn’t hear her advice over the steam coming out of my ears. I was furious. I had spent time doing research on products, spoken to experts on the subject and spent money buying better, safer cleaning supplies. I had even gone out of my way to safely dispose of my toxic products, thankyouverymuch. Why was I getting a dismissive pat on the hand when I felt that I deserved a pat on the back?

Since I surround myself with like-minded people who are all working towards similar clean goals, I think the Pollyanna in me expected gentleness, an all-for-one-and-one-for-all kind of sisterhood where accomplishments are uniformly acknowledged and back patting is a way of life.

But then I realized something: an eco-friendly life is still life. And, like all other communities, this community – do gooders, though we are – is not exempt from ego, from judgment or from one-upmanship.

Just like those guys I see in the weight room at the gym, trying to out lift and out squat each other, competition is a part of life. And, in and of itself, competition isn’t a bad thing; in fact, it is often what propels us forward and makes us challenge what we have long assumed to be our limits.

The problem is that – in making lifestyle changes, just like in lifting weights – if you try to do more than you can handle all at once, you’ll burn out (and maybe even hurt yourself.) Slow but steady wins the race. There is a reason these adages exist.

What I have come to learn is that there will always be someone who is willing to point out that he is guzzling three gallons of green juice to my 8-measly-ounces, and another who will critique my composting methods, despite the colony of worms I have living on my back deck. Another thing I have come to learn? I can’t listen to any of them. I am trying to make changes that feel authentic and important to me. And my guess is, since you are on this website in the first place, so are you.

But what to do about those pesty people who make us feel bad when we are trying to do good? I have simply vowed to press the mute button on the naysayers, whether they are real people who are trying to tear down my efforts, or the voice I hear is my own inner critic whispering that I am a failure for not leading a 100 percent eco-friendly, vegan lifestyle, as of, like, yesterday.

Everything in life is a process and this process of change and growth and exploration is one that I fully intend to enjoy, one-uppers, naysayers and inner critics be damned.