March 2015 - Our Daily Green

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Essential oils guide (infographic)



Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Save on a pre-owned iPhone 6 at Gazelle

In 2009, Our Daily Green first wrote about a great electronics recycling opportunity through this little company known as Gazelle. We were impressed by their green-minded consumer-friendly solution to constantly upgraded electronics.  Since then, the small start up company has become a nationally known brand and continues to offer consumers a way to recycle, and therefore reduce their electronics. Our Daily Green is affiliated with Gazelle and they have a special offer for us to share with our readers.  


Get $20 off a Certified pre-owned iPhone 6 at Gazelle!Still waiting to get your hands on the iPhone 6? Gazelle, the nation's leading consumer electronics reCommerce site, is giving you the opportunity to purchase this device and save $20. Simply visit Gazelle's Certified pre-owned iPhone 6 selection, choose your model and enter code
IPHONE6 
at checkout. This device described as bigger and better than previous Apple iPhones is Gazelle Certified by going through a rigorous 30-point inspection and comes with no strings attached or contract. Plus, buying through Gazelle is risk-free to you with 30 days to return. This special offer is only available for a limited time so hurry and get $20 off a Certified pre-owned iPhone 6.

**FTC Disclosure Statement: This post contains affiliate links which means that I may receive a commission if you click a link and make a purchase. Offer Terms and Conditions: Single use per customer. Applicable only on Certified pre-owned iPhone 6. Ends 3/31/2015.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Bulgur with peas and mint

This fresh-flavored side dish beautifully complements simple pan-seared lamb chops

Ingredients:


Whole Foods Recipe1 cup uncooked bulgur wheat
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
2 cups lightly packed mint leaves (from about 1 bunch), chopped
1 cup lightly packed parsley leaves, chopped
1 cup fresh or frozen and thawed peas
Zest of one lemon
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Method:


In a large bowl, combine bulgur and water, cover and set aside until water is absorbed, about 30 minutes. Add garlic, parsley, peas, zest, juice, oil and salt and toss until combined. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Nutritional Info:
Per Serving:210 calories (40 from fat), 4.5g total fat, 0.5g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol,370mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (12g dietary fiber, 2g sugar), 8g protein

Additional links:




  • Sunday, March 22, 2015

    Solar-powered LED luminaires

    Philips ramping up its portfolio of solar lighting solutions with the launch of Philips LifeLight, a new new zero-energy, solar-powered LED lighting range designed for homes in off-grid rural and semi-urban communities.

    About

    Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), the global leader in lighting and patron sponsor of the International Year of Light¹, is ramping up its portfolio of solar lighting solutions with the launch of Philips LifeLight, a new new zero-energy, solar-powered LED lighting range designed for homes in off-grid rural and semi-urban communities.

    In Kenya every week 75,000 people, mostly women and children, get sick or even die as a direct result of inhaling smoke from kerosene lamps, wood fires and candles. It does not have to be this way. Philips LifeLight is a new range of 100% energy-efficient solar-powered LED lighting that makes ordinary activities, such as studying or working in the evening, safer and more practical.

    “Today an estimated 560 million Africans live without electricity,’’ said Mary Kuria, General Manager, Philips Lighting East Africa. “For these people nighttime means either darkness or the flickering light of a candle or kerosene lamp. However the disadvantages of kerosene lanterns are many, including safety, health risks and high costs (around $50 per year). And the light output of these lanterns is so low as to make visibility for practical activities almost impossible. Using the energy of the sun to power lighting solutions can make a true difference to people’s lives.”

    Launched in Kenya in November last year during a dedicated roadshow “Maisha ni Mwelekeo”, Philips LifeLight range will be rolled out in other African markets during 2015.

    “Solar LED lighting is a strategic imperative for Philips, especially this year which has been proclaimed the International Year of Light by UNESCO,” says Harry Verhaar, Head of Government and Public Affairs at Philips Lighting. “Today 1.3 billion people worldwide do not have access to electricity and thus light when the sun goes down, yet the technology exists to support them. We are working with governments and stakeholders across Africa, Asia and Latin America to develop solutions with the goal to end light poverty by 2030. LED technology could also help these communities to leapfrog to connected solutions in the future.”

    Philips LifeLight Home is a solar-powered LED lighting system comprising two elegant pendant luminaires and a USB port for phone charging that is connected to a solar panel. The luminaires provide safer, healthier, brighter and 10 times longer lasting light (up to 40 hours) than kerosene lamps and candles. The range includes two additional models, Philips LifeLight and Philips LifeLight Plus solar-powered lanterns. All three new products were developed by the Nairobi based Philips Africa Innovation Hub, which is a center for developing innovations ‘in Africa-for Africa’ in the areas of healthcare, lighting and healthy living. Philips’ Solar Lighting Business is also launching and installing thousands of solar LED lighting systems for both homes and streets in off-grid communities across the world.

    ¹ UNESCO-led initiative to declare 2015 the International Year of Light and Light Technologies, rallying together a consortium of 100 partners from 85 countries. Philips is one of five patron sponsors.

    Sunday, March 8, 2015

    Old McPontiff had a farm (reprint from Otherwords.org)

    Francis is living up to his growing reputation as the "People's Pope."


    Jim Hightower
    Old songs occasionally need to be refreshed with updated verses.
    Here’s one: “Old McPope, he had a farm /E-I-E-I-O/ and on that farm he had a cow…a donkey… chickens…ostriches…and rabbits…/E-I-E-I-O!”
    Who knew that the Pope had a farm?
    Well, he does. Fifteen miles outside of Rome, Castel Gandolfo is a 135-acre plot of Paradise on Earth. It features Roman ruins, breathtaking views of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and (of course) a castle.
    Papal Farm at Castel Gandolfo
    Papal Farm at Castel Gandolfo/Catholic News Service
    Since the 1500s, this place has been a summer vacation home for popes. In the 1930s, the Vatican added some bucolic functionality by planting crops and bringing in some farm animals.
    And now, Pope Francis, who chose the patron saint of animals as his papal name, has opened the farm to the masses, welcoming us to witness the productive bounty and beauty of nature.
    This is no hobby farm, but a sustainable enterprise that delivers a cornucopia of milk, yogurt, veggies, meat, cheese, honey, olive oil, and more to the Vatican every day.
    For this pope, however, Castel Gandolfo is also a living metaphor. It personalizes his message that we humans are “stewards, not masters” of nature, and that “access to food is a basic human right that shouldn't be subject to market speculation.”
    He’s been putting the power of his popeship behind religious and governmental policies that promote food justice, provide proper stewardship of natural resources, and combat the causes of climate change — all a part of his overarching call for a moral ethos that rejects“the pride of dominating, possessing, manipulating, exploiting.”
    By opening the papal farm to the public, Francis is not only providing a living model of a sustainable food system. He’s also extending his pastoral ideals of humility and openness.
    This guy is living up to his growing reputation as the “People’s Pope.”
    OtherWords columnist Jim Hightower is a radio commentator, writer, and public speaker. He’s also editor of the populist newsletter, The Hightower LowdownOtherWords.org

    Creative CommonsExcept where otherwise noted, content from OtherWords.org is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative 3.0 License.




    Health screenings on the go

    Keeping up with your health is crucial at any age, but even more important at certain milestones. At 40, both men and women find it necessary to focus on certain health markers and ensure that they are at their peak. A health checklist will help you compare your health to standards for both men and women at 40.

    Women


    Pap Smears and pelvic exams screen for cervical cancer and other reproductive disorders. It is important to have an annual exam with your doctor to ensure that there are no cancerous cells present in the body.

    Starting at age 50, women are advised to undergo a colonoscopy in order to rule out colorectal cancer. This outpatient procedure is performed in-office and women are advised to undergo a colonoscopy every ten years.

    At age 40, women are encouraged to have regular breast exams and mammograms. These exams check for the presence of cancerous breast tumors. Medical professionals have made attempts to make this screening more convenient by providing mobile mammography that brings the exam to you.

    Blood cholesterol testing is recommended for everyone over age 20, but is especially critical for women over 40. This test will measure the levels of good (HDL) and bad (LDL)in the bloodstream and is critical in preventing heart disease.

    Health Screenings for Men Over 40


    Colon cancer screening is recommended for men over 50, but men with a family history are advised to get checked starting at age 40.

    Doctors advise men to get prostate cancer screening starting at age 50, but African American men and men with a family history are advised to get screened as early as 45.

    Men that have smoked 30 packs of cigarettes or more in one year are advised to get tested for lung cancer. Doctors recommend getting tested even if you have quit smoking within the last 15 years.

    All men over the age of 34 should get regular cholesterol screenings to ensure heart health. Men who have been diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or kidney problems are advised that they should be tested at least once per year.

    When it comes to keeping up with your health, there are many tests that doctors will perform to ensure that your body is at its peak. From mammograms to prostate screenings, it is vital to get the right tests to ensure that you will remain healthy throughout life.

    Thank you to today's sponsor for reminding us that a key to a healthy life is early discovery of any potential problems.