Paperless Guestbooks

June 15, 2009 by ftsword37  
Filed under Green Living

If recycled or handmade recycled paper isn’t your thing, there are many more options. Did you know paper can be made out of many materials without harming one single tree? Before the nineteenth century, many types of plants and fibers other than trees were used to make paper. When industrial wood pulping technology was developed, forest resources were taken advantage of in the United States and the lumber business grew quickly. Today the lush forests are long gone, and even though many trees are planted specifically for the paper industry, they cannot grow fast enough to meet demand.

Loss of trees is not the paper industry’s only ecological problem. While the impact on the world’s forests is undeniable, the industry consumes vast amounts of energy and water to convert trees into paper. In addition, many chemicals that are used in the process end up in our air, water, and soil in large amounts, causing serious pollution.

Tree-free paper is one eco-friendly alternative. The fibers from most plants can be made into quality paper products. Rapidly renewable resources such as flax and hemp can create quality paper. Experts believe the most effective and environmentally friendly resources for tree-free paper can come from otherwise discarded agricultural waste. Stalks and husks left after harvesting a main crop are perfect; corn, barley, oats, wheat, rice, rye, coffee bean skins, sugar cane husks, and even tobacco fiber can be made into paper. This method makes use of existing waste and turns it into something beneficial while saving natural virgin resources such as hardwood trees.

Some of the most popular alternative materials being used for paper- making today include the following:
?Bamboo is being used for everything from flooring to clothing and even paper. Bamboo paper and rice paper have been made on a small scale in Asia for centuries.
?Bagasse is the husk and pulp that remains after extracting juice from sugar cane; it can be processed into paper.
?Waste bark from banana trees can be made into paper. Banana leaf paper is known as abaca.
?Coconut husks can be processed into thick, textured paper.
?Corn plant stalks, known as corn stover, can be made into excellent paper pulp comparable to North American hardwood pulp.
?Cotton paper can be made from old cotton rags and other recycled cotton material, cotton processing waste, or even fresh organic cot?ton fibers.
?Paper can be made from bacteria- and odor-free elephant dung.
?Hemp paper is a superior quality product. It is said that Thomas Jef
ferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper.
?Jute can be made into high-quality specialty paper.
?Kenaf is a hibiscus from Africa that has been used to make paper.
?Mango paper is made from the mango leaf and paper mulberry.
?Straw fibers are very similar to wood and make great paper. At one time, the United States produced straw paper, but the industry no longer exists.
?The petals and leaves from the tamarind tree can be made into paper.

Hemp is considered to be the best alternative to regular wood pulp paper. It is said that the world’s first paper was made from hemp.Hemp paper is stronger than wood-based paper and will last centuries longer than regular paper. It does not crack, yellow, or deteriorate. Hemp paper does not require any bleaching and can be grown and processed with very little chemical use.

Tree-free paper is not entirely a mainstream product yet, so it may be hard to come by at your local office supply store or printer. However, as with everything else, demand pushes supply up. As more people start asking for tree-free paper, mainstream stores will start supplying it to the general public. Until then, you can search in your local health food and natural supply specialty stores and online.

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Unique Wedding Locations

June 14, 2009 by ftsword37  
Filed under Green Living

Nothing says green like an outdoor wedding in the middle of nature’s glory. Beautiful flowers, sunny skies, big trees full of green leaves, a lake with a waterfall in the background, how enchanting! You have so many choices parks, botanical and organic gardens, nature preserves, and other welcoming sites. .Just make sure to choose an area that won’t be harmed by humans tromping and stomping all over the place. A pristine wilderness will be damaged by a wedding party trampling through the area, whereas a park, nature preserve, or garden is made for both natural preservation and human enjoyment.

Some other interesting outdoor options include:
?A clearing in the woods by your house, along a local trail, or in a park
?A beach
?The desert
?An orange grove
?A rooftop garden
?An outdoor ice skating rink in the middle of winter
?A pumpkin patch

However, any of these outdoor locations may pose their own challenges. Weather unpredictability being the biggest issue, you’ll want to find a location that has options if the weather is bad a pavilion, a large building, or a location where a large event tent can be set up to shelter everyone in case of rain.

Another big problem in the great outdoors can be pests, specifically mosquitoes.

Organic Orchards and Farms
Orchards and farms often have rustic charm combined with natural beauty. Maybe they have a big barn you could rent for your reception after having your ceremony in a grove of apple trees. An orchard wedding in the autumn would be perfect. Your guests could enjoy hayrides while sipping fresh apple cider after a ceremony surrounded by trees filled with ripe apples ready to be picked. The fall colors swirl in the breeze, offering a fantastic backdrop. Centerpieces could be baskets filled with apples and pears, favors could be jars of apple butter and organic jams and jellies made at the very location you are having your special event.

Organic Vineyards
Vineyards are becoming very popular places to hold wedding ceremonies and receptions. The natural beauty and gorgeous scenery combined with rustic elegance and charm make them a perfect choice. Add to that the love of fine wine and you’ve got the perfect location. Check out vineyard websites or visit a winery in person and you will be awestruck by their picturesque quality. They offer romance and elegance amid the beautiful and bountiful settings of nature. While any vineyard can be a good eco-choice, an organic vineyard is the greenest choice because they grow their grapes without the use of harmful pesticides. You should investigate growing practices before booking though you might be so amazed by the beauty of the location that it may not matter if they grow organically. If the vineyard is local, it has the benefit of allowing you to cut back on the amount of manufactured goods, paper products, and other waste. Non organic vineyards are still greener than many other reception areas, and they provide you with a beautiful and natural setting.

Article provided by Green Wedding Ideas
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