they're young, they're urban, and they're farmers

Too busy to tend to veggies in your backyard garden? Young Urban Farmers is your answer to fresh eggplant from your own backyard, according to an article in Toronto Life's DIY Gourmet section.

Three recent Queen's business grads started the company, recognizing the need for a service that could give busy urbanites produce from their own backyards. For $155, YUF plants a vegetable garden (beans, cabbage, pumpkins, tomatoes, even strawberries), then builds a shelter to keep out raccoons. For $495, they’ll weed, water and harvest the bounty.

A smart idea, with the explosion of the local food movement, not to mention the various urban agriculture initiatives popping up in cities across North America, such as these outlaw chickens.

P.S. Live in Toronto and looking for work? YUF is hiring young farmers to help out. Send your resume and a short paragraph about your favourite food to jobs@youngurbanfarmers.com

no, not a pink slip

We're talking downsizing of the dwelling kind. Whether for economic or situational reasons, moving to a smaller space will almost always mean a smaller environmental footprint. Not to mention less cleaning, less rent/mortgage, cheaper utilities, and less stuff to keep track of, store, clean and insure.

Though having a large home is still a bizarre ego thing for many, the rest of us ask, do we really need all this space? Do we really want to buy things just to fill it? How much time could we save on cleaning if we had less to clean?

Less responsibility, less work, more money and more flexibility? Together, we're talking less stress! Space restrictions offer opportunities to be creative, and hey, if there's no room for guests that might be okay with you too.

If you're thinking of downsizing, or thinking you might think about it, here are some good resources to get you going:

1) Trading Down in Home Size from About.com

2) Time to Downsize that Home from Practical Eco

3) Top 10 Tips for Downsizing from Style at Home

4) Downsizing Your Home from My Green Home Project

congrats...and a new contest

Congratulations to K. Trapp of Milwaukee, WI, winner of a copy of Sleeping Naked is Green. Enjoy!

Summer is here and to celebrate, we're giving away eco-friendly oat protein sunscreen from Kiss My Face. To enter, just post your tip below for keeping summer green.

Maybe you've switched to a natural charcoal for your BBQ, or pack a stylish bamboo towel for the beach. We'll draw one tip at random and award the prize at noon EST on August 31st, 2009.