Guests:

Eureka Recycling is a nonprofit organization that specializes in recycling and waste reduction.  CEO Susan Hubbard talks with us about the great green initiative Eureka Recycling has started.  They have worked with 5 restaurants in the Twin Cities to help compost over 90% of their waste!  Did you know that you can recycle at least 50% of what you are currently throwing away?  Composting is one piece of solving this puzzle.  You can compost napkins, paper plates, food and more.   Don't bury or burn your waste - Make Dirt Not Waste!!!  Your garden and the earth will thank you for it.

The goal of GenGreen is to be the most comprehensive and diverse resource available for people looking to live a locally-focused, environmentally conscious lifestyle. This is accomplished through their network GenGreenLife.com where they have over 35,000 listings to help you live your green life.

GenGreen is a multi-faceted platform for communication, education and connection; from green news headlines, job listings, and events, to tips helping you live a sustainable life. Want to find a recycling center near you? Where are your local farmers' markets? Looking for an alternative means to get to and from work each day? You can find the answers to these questions, and much more, at GenGreenLife.com.

As a user, the GenGreen Network is a platform to share ideas, educate one another and get more involved in sustainable practices. Profiles, blogs, and personal event calendars are just a few of the resources that registered users can use when accessing the Network.  Visit www.gengreenlife.com to learn more.

Tips, News and Links:

Dark Green Tip #692

Make Your Money Count - Invest with socially responsible institutions.  Regardless of the amount of money you have, your money is being used in some fashion to support businesses that are either eco-aware or not. The simplest way to make a difference is to do business with a bank or credit union that does good things.  These days, ATMs and direct deposit have made it easier to have a choice.

You can research eco-friendly banks on sites such as coopamerica.org.  You can also use your shareholder power to influence corporate policy, even if you only own one share of stock.  Be active in annual meetings, ask questions, give opinions and vote on policy issues.

It's cold season. Wash your hands, get plenty of sleep and reduce your stress levels.  But you should also consider eating some of the foods listed below to arm your body with the defenses it needs BEFORE you get sick:

Vitamin A Rich Foods
Vitamin A rich foods are an excellent source of beta carotene, an antioxidant that helps boost the immune systems production of infection fighting cells.

Eat: carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes/yams, mangoes, cantaloupe, spinach

Vitamin C Rich Foods
While vitamin C won't ward off the common cold or flu, it has been shown to help reduce the time and severity of symptoms. You can credit this to vitamin C's ability to support healthy cell production and promote healing at the site of inflammation.

Eat: oranges, pineapple, strawberries, berries, kiwi, bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes

Vitamin E Rich Foods
Vitamin E helps promote healthy inflammation response and plays a role in building and maintaining healthy cells.

Eat: leafy greens, whole grains, vegetable oil, nuts,


B-Vitamins
B vitamins perform a variety or immune supporting functions from production of antibodies, promoting normal antibody response and reducing T-cell activity. In general whole grains, fruits and vegetables provide a variety of B vitamins.

Eat: whole wheat bread, fortified cereals, beans, Romaine lettuce, red bell peppers, turnip greens, raw crimini mushrooms, shellfish

Zinc
Adequate zinc is important for reducing your susceptibility to infections. It is an important immune system stimulant.

Eat: Swiss chard, collard greens, summer squash, winter squash, oysters, nuts, seeds, beans, lean meats