Tread Earth Lightly

WE ARE MOVING!!

Hi All,

Just wanted to inform you that this blog is moving, and we want you to come with us!

It will have all of the same great info, past and present, plus lots more. We are currently moving all of the posts over (due to html issues we can not directly import it, so we have to do each one by hand. I know it sucks!!) So please bare with us as we move along. The reason being money. We need to cut back costs, so this is how we are doing it. By slowly combining Tread Earth Lightly.com and its Blog into one.

Coming up are some awesome product reviews and a book review that I still have to get too. Put it this way it's been overdue for this book. Also, we are changing in more ways than one. The Tread Earth Lightly Blog will now be Tread Earth Lightly.com, once we finish the move. Finally, we are combining the blog and website completely, however our store will be no more. Instead, we are looking to expand this blog, by adding Authors and Guest Bloggers. If you would like to right for us please contact us directly via email (this will change too, but don't worry we will give notice). For more info and to submit work, sites, etc. for consideration in writing for us Email us here:

info@treadearthlightly.com 

We hope to see you at the new and improved Tread Earth Lightly.

Thank you and Namaste,

Megan and Brian Gray

How Do You Like Your Coffee?

EVOLVE East Coast Yoga Festival-We are so going!!

Review of 'Eye of the Whale' by Douglas Carlton Abrams

"National bestseller Doug Abrams delivers a captivating ecological thriller about a marine biologist whose fate is altered after the unexpected appearance of a humpback whale sends her on a race to discover the meaning of its mysterious song and its implications for human survival."

-Douglas Carlton Abrams.com

Eye of the Whale, the new novel by Douglas Abrams, is a thriller that tugs at your heart strings. It puts tears in your eyes and whale songs in your head. Set in our current time of ecological turmoil you not only feel for these beautiful creatures, but learn more about the whales connection to us and our world.

Throughout the book I was on edge wondering what would happen with the intertwining fates of scientist Elizabeth McKay and her whales. A highlight of Elizabeth's journey being her navigation through her near death situation and her strained circumstances with her professor. With her journey we see a glimpse into what our future might hold, and what consequences our actions on the planet and it's inhabitants might be.

Though Eye of the Whale is a fact-based novel it is not a textbook. Abrams writes with just enough detail and fact so as to say you learned something. Along with a suspenseful plot that keeps the pages turning. 

Eye of the Whale is a thriller written with a heart and an education and is a wonderful read that you won't be able to put down.

Happy Fourth of July

My little colonial. This could not be more fitting for today. This was taken when we were in Williamsburg, VA a few months ago.

 

A flag photo I took the other day walking around Ocean Grove, NJ.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

Starting the Garden

 

Though, a little late, we are finally getting the garden started. It's been raining, for what seems like years here, so I didn't mind being out in the blazing sun the past couple of days. I loosened up the soil by hand, no rototiller here, which was tiring, but what a great workout. Next, we need to put up a fence to keep the millions of Peter Rabbits out, and try to figure out how we are going to keep the family of groundhogs away from our radishes. Our seeds have already started to sprout, hopefully most will grow. I will be posting throughout the season on our garden venture and all of it's bounties (fingers crossed).

             

To get more info and to purchase tickets click photo above.

When it comes to discussing Yoga with others it can sometimes be a heated, difficult conversation. For most, Yoga is an exercise. A series of movements that help to tone the body and relax the mind, which is 100% true. However, it's not just that; it's a practice. A mental, physical, emotional, and for many, a spiritual practice. And when I say spiritual I do not mean religious or Hindu. Though, Yoga is rooted in Hinduism, it can be adapted to any religious/spiritual practice.

No, Yoga is more than touching toes and saying "OM." Yet, this post is not about what Yoga is, or is not, it's about what your Yoga is. What your "practice" is. Something you do almost everyday, or on a pretty steady basis. Something that you go deeply into and give your all. It can be anything, from sports to art.

What is it that you practice? 

Think hard about this one because you may have more than one, and they may not always be the best for you. For instance, you could practice art, which can be a very spiritual and self reflective process, just like Yoga. Or you could put lots of energy into partying. Always thinking about what bar to go to, or how wasted you got last weekend. For some this is just a phase, but for others it becomes an addictive practice.

Take a moment now and think about your everyday practices, your life patterns. Maybe even write them down and see which ones you would be better off without. And find ones that you need to do more. Just by doing this process of finding these patterns is part of Yoga, so now you can add Yoga to your list.

Click on images for photographer info.

Noel Fedosh, a friend of mine, is an architect and furniture designer who specializes in green design. I recently got back in touch with him and found out about his sustainable designs; of course I had to feature him here and spread the word.

Noel attended the BArch program at Cornell University and currently works for Reed Architectural Group in Los Angeles, CA. He has also designed sets and other interior settings. Below is a little more, from his website, about his "green" designs:

 

"In January 2008, Noel Fedosh became a certified LEED AP (http://www.usgbc.org/), taking his collegiate focus on sustainable design practices to an applicable level. Upon completing his studies for the certification, Noel felt the desire to take the principles behind LEED and apply them to the scale of furniture design. The hope is to integrate "green" design principles throughout all aspects of a person's life, without having to fully commit to a LEED rated, sustainable house. Noel sees this as living a hybrid lifestyle; being able to vary ones level of desired sustainable consciousness through the customization of individual "parts". As the home is typically seen as a collective whole, the easiest means for customization and integration lie within the design of furniture. Hence came the philosophy behind the custom-designed eco-furniture offered through N:Wood Design."

Please visit his site to view more of his work and to contact him about designing something for your home.

N: Wood Design

Music & Yoga, Together

To get more info and to purchase tickets click photo above.

How to Reuse Everyday Items w/ the Environmental Ninja

What is your Practice?

When it comes to discussing Yoga with others it can sometimes be a heated, difficult conversation. For most, Yoga is an exercise. A series of movements that help to tone the body and relax the mind, which is 100% true. However, it's not just that; it's a practice. A mental, physical, emotional, and for many, a spiritual practice. And when I say spiritual I do not mean religious or Hindu. Though, Yoga is rooted in Hinduism, it can be adapted to any religious/spiritual practice.

No, Yoga is more than touching toes and saying "OM." Yet, this post is not about what Yoga is, or is not, it's about what your Yoga is. What your "practice" is. Something you do almost everyday, or on a pretty steady basis. Something that you go deeply into and give your all. It can be anything, from sports to art.

What is it that you practice? 

Think hard about this one because you may have more than one, and they may not always be the best for you. For instance, you could practice art, which can be a very spiritual and self reflective process, just like Yoga. Or you could put lots of energy into partying. Always thinking about what bar to go to, or how wasted you got last weekend. For some this is just a phase, but for others it becomes an addictive practice.

Take a moment now and think about your everyday practices, your life patterns. Maybe even write them down and see which ones you would be better off without. And find ones that you need to do more. Just by doing this process of finding these patterns is part of Yoga, so now you can add Yoga to your list.

Click on images for photographer info.

N: Wood Design

Noel Fedosh, a friend of mine, is an architect and furniture designer who specializes in green design. I recently got back in touch with him and found out about his sustainable designs; of course I had to feature him here and spread the word.

Noel attended the BArch program at Cornell University and currently works for Reed Architectural Group in Los Angeles, CA. He has also designed sets and other interior settings. Below is a little more, from his website, about his "green" designs:

 

"In January 2008, Noel Fedosh became a certified LEED AP (http://www.usgbc.org/), taking his collegiate focus on sustainable design practices to an applicable level. Upon completing his studies for the certification, Noel felt the desire to take the principles behind LEED and apply them to the scale of furniture design. The hope is to integrate "green" design principles throughout all aspects of a person's life, without having to fully commit to a LEED rated, sustainable house. Noel sees this as living a hybrid lifestyle; being able to vary ones level of desired sustainable consciousness through the customization of individual "parts". As the home is typically seen as a collective whole, the easiest means for customization and integration lie within the design of furniture. Hence came the philosophy behind the custom-designed eco-furniture offered through N:Wood Design."

Please visit his site to view more of his work and to contact him about designing something for your home.

N: Wood Design