My GREEN Life & Real Estate

Even though it's almost the end of February, I find I'm still planning my year...still setting goals and directions for 2011...very much like the way I'm making Spring marketing plans for my real estate listings.  With most of the year laid out before me I find myself wondering not only how I can make my life GREENER but also what will the GREEN trends be this year?  Seems like there is plenty of momentum and interest, but where is that going to lead? I took a look at an article on www.proudgreenhome.com  about top trends for GREEN building in 2011 hoping for some ideas & inspirations.  By the way, I think it's a pretty interesting website and worth a look if you have time.  A few things stood out to me as I read the article  and one of those was that the " GREENING " of existing buildings is a growing trend.  THAT is something I can really get behind.  I love it.  Also that GREEN LEED certified schools accounted for 40% of LEED projects in the US in

Hello February!   This is the view into my garden as of this morning...buried somewhere under those 3+ feet of snow...trees covered in a beautiful icy glaze.  It's lovely and cold, but it makes me want to get started on my garden planning! I've been gardening this plot since 1999 and over the years I've tried so many experiments with plants that I should be the star of "Gardeners Gone Wild" if there were such a show.  This year I'm looking at my garden plans with the question, "What were the top favorites from past gardens?" It's more of a sensible-what-will-my-children-enjoy-the-most approach.  That and 3 of my favorites: shallots & garlic & arugula. With that in mind we're looking at: 2 varieties of peas, carrots, French haricots-verts and purple beans, cukes, grape tomatoes, blue & red potatoes, zucchini, spinach, and various herbs and possibly pumpkins for later.  Last year I had radish & turnip share a row, which was