Meet local farmers and artisan producers, learn why the best food is local food, shop the indoor farmers’ market, attend panel discussions and workshops designed to support the growth of local food production, processing and distribution. Do all of this and even more at the Family Farmed Expo in Chicago November 21-23, 2008 (more…)

To save on disposable cardboard cup sleeves, the new fad now is to invest in a cute, stylish reusable sleeve. A few months ago, I saw patterns and instructions for one of these on Cut out and Keep. I thought, “Oh, how cute,” and bookmarked it. I still haven’t made one, even though I have just the right fabric.

Lucky for me, I discovered I can buy one online for a reasonable price. And there are all kinds of them available: knitted, embroidered, quilted, fabric, etc…. (more…)

The Illinois Renewable Energy Association (IREA) presents 7th Annual Illinois Renewable Energy and Sustainable Lifestyle Fair on August 9th and 10th, 2008. IREA supports sustainable energy development in Illinois and provides hands-on opportunities for the Illinois public to learn about the benefits, potentials, and uses of renewable energy and energy efficiency for our homes and businesses.

The Fair will feature over 100 booths and exhibits, 60 workshops, food, entertainment, children’s activities and tours. (more…)

Healthy-Family is celebrating our very first birthday this month. On July 1, 2007 we went on line with our first post, Attention and Behavior Problems can be Alleviated with Good Food and Supplements. Since that time we have provided over 135 posts from six different authors about varying topics such as eco living, parenting, health and nutrition, crafts, technology, education, and allergies. Over 118,000 folks have viewed our site and we have been privileged to have nearly 30 individuals subscribe to us as well.

As recently as January we launched our allergy specific forum, which now has 22 members and includes many free recipes within its pages. We hope to expand both the website and the forum in our second year and have plans for many more articles in the future. (more…)

Chicago, IL (May 2008) - Green Festival, the nation’s largest green living event, will make its second trip to America’s heartland when it visits Chicago May 17 and 18, at the city’s historic Navy Pier. (more…)

I remember hearing with shock that as a kid, my mom had to wrap her sandwiches in, get this — waxed paper! Not only did they not have Ziplocks, they didn’t even have Baggies!

In my search for a better solution to plastic I ran across a really cool craft idea that solves the problem of wasting money on bags that you only use once and helps out the environment too. (more…)

Check out this alternative to corn-produced ethanol. It is not as widely publicized in the news, but may be a more economical and productive way to reduce energy costs in the future!

Founded by MIT chemist Isaac Berzin in 2001, GreenFuel Technologies of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has developed a process that:

“uses a portfolio of technologies to profitably recycle CO₂ from smokestack, fermentation, and geothermal gases via naturally occurring species of algae.”

(more…)

The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago announced a first-of-its-kind exhibit - Smart Home: Green + Wired - to showcase the latest trends in “green” living. The exhibit, sponsored by ComEd, will be a functioning, three-story modular and sustainable “green” home in its own backyard to showcase the ways, big and small, that people can make eco-friendly living a part of their lives - and to highlight unique home technologies for the 21st century. A 2,500 square-foot modular house on MSI’s campus will be open to the public for guided tours from May 8, 2008, to Jan. 4, 2009. (more…)

If you have issues with sensitive skin, and especially if you have recently been diagnosed with allergies or intolerances, you may want to take a long look at your soaps, deodorants, perfumes, and cosmetics bag and perhaps do a little purging this weekend. Many favorite name brand cosmetics and personal products are full of common allergens and known cancer causing toxins. After having had a few strange reactions after using popular drugstore brands over the years I finally switched to high end cosmetics only to find that even those irritated my skin. I soon became an occasional makeup wearer, but now there are better options available for women with sensitive skin and known allergies. Not only will your complexion improve, and your confidence, but you may actually feel healthier too. (more…)

If you are worried about the over-use of chemicals in your home then you should check out Green Home Experts, located at 823 S. Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park, Illinois. Owned by Maria Onesto Moran, this store is part of a new breed of hardware stores. They offer building supplies and home products that are environmentally friendly. So the next time you decide to do a little remodeling or home improvement check out some of their eco-friendly flooring, paints, insulation, water fixtures, counter tops, cabinets, mattresses, and more. Those that are just looking for small ticket items will happily find fluorescent light bulbs, non-toxic cleaning products, organic fabrics, and eco-friendly garden supplies. Open Tuesday through Sunday, Green Home Experts offer consultation services for architects, designers, decorators and contractors. Just contact the store for more details. (more…)