EcoDater Blog

How to Recognize Good Green Dating Sites

May 11, 2010

I've noticed a whole bunch of new green dating sites populating the internet recently, all trying to capitalize on the green / eco-friendly movement. Many of these sites are essentially generic templates that just have a redesigned facade slapped on the front, while the membership database is shared with hundreds of other template sites and their members.

As an eco-friendly person interested in online dating, it's hard to know which sites are genuine and which are just trying to rope you in for a subscription fee. Luckily there are a few tell-tale signs that let you know what you're dealing with.

Does the site have a blog?
This is probably the best way to tell how genuine a site is. Blogs take time and need to be written by somebody on a regular basis, and need to be on a subject matter of interest to the site's audience. This isn't to say that a site without a blog is definitely bogus, but a site with a blog is almost always definitely genuine.

Are the members obviously green or eco-friendly?
As I mentoned, many sites share member databases with hundreds of other dating sites that all use the same template but cater to vastly different interests and demographics. A true green dating site will have members that all share something in common - a connection to living an eco-friendly / green lifestyle.

Is the site updated regularly with new features?
Many dating sites are packaged generic sites from a third-party that don't have any kind of customization other than graphics and are never updated with new features. There are all kinds of exciting new social networking features coming out all the time, and a genuine dating site will take advantage of these developments to update the site on a regular basis.

Is there any kind of personal message from the founder or operator?
If the dating site offers a personal message from the people behind the site to the members, you know you have a genuine site on your hands. It takes a lot of work to run a dating site and the people behind the site need to have a passion for what they are doing - often this comes out in fostering a direct connection with the members.

Does the site respect your email inbox privacy?
Crappy green dating sites constantly flood your inbox with junk - mostly fake alerts for people interested in you, reminders to log on and send a message, messages to upgrade or buy some or other feature, and so on. Good quality dating sites only send you a message when it is important and relevant.

What does your gut tell you?
Spend a few minutes clicking on various links and pages on a site and pretty soon you will have a gut feeling about how authentic or genuine a site is. On a good site, very quickly you will feel welcomed and excited to be a part of that site's community.

1000 Gardens Project

Dec 23, 2009

This is a guest post by Aubree Taylor, EcoDater member and community gardener. Aubree is very passionate about cultivating gardens in our communities and this post is about her project, the 1000 Gardens Project. Click here to view Aubree's EcoDater profile, and click here to visit her project's website.

1000 Gardens Project – Keeping it Local

Buying local and living lightly on our Mother Earth has always been important to me. For a long time I have felt deeply inspired to give back to my community and have been searching for a way to do this. In the Fall of 2008 I co-founded a grassroots movement in the Ozarks. The 1000 Gardens Project was born as a way to educate the community I live in on the need for food security, the relocalization of our economy and the importance of a sustainable lifestyle for future generations. The 1000 Gardens Project is helping to establish school & community gardens and to improve the school lunch program by introducing farm fresh products into cafeterias.

Sustainability is the most pressing issue of our times. Where does a person even begin? The revolution has to begin within. We must make the necessary changes in our lives before we can even begin to engage in making our communities a better place to live. You can start exploring options in your own life immediately by questioning where your food comes from.

Did you know that the average plate of food in the U.S. travels 1,300 miles before it even reaches your plate? Unless you are growing your own food, buying straight from your local farmer or farmers market, where you have direct contact with the grower, you have no way to know how your food has been treated. The fruits and vegetables you buy at the grocery store may be irradiated, full of pesticides and genetically modified. We have become a society of convenience at the expense of our own health. Our communities suffer from the lack of food security, which is the availability of food and access to that source. We can rebuild our economies and communities by supporting our Local food sources.

Here are a few great reasons to keep it Local!

Super Fresh taste: Most farmers’ market produce has been picked less than 24 hours of purchase.

Healthy & Nutritious: When you buy locally and straight from the farmer’s you can inquire as to whether they engage in organic methods of growing or it they use pesticides, hormones or antibiotics.

Variety: Local growers offer a selection of produce that you will not find in grocery stores. Expand your horizons by trying different Heirloom fruits & veggies and learning to shop seasonally.

Environmentally friendly: When you purchase locally it saves an average of 1,300 miles of travel time and petroleum, which in turn cuts back on pollution.

Support Local Family Farms: Help strengthen the local economy by keeping your dollar close to home.

Food Security: By decided to purchase locally you will know where you food is coming from and who grew it. If for any reason our global supply lines are shut down your community will have access to food that is grown locally.

Building Community: Purchasing food locally provides communities with a chance to build stronger relationships.

Get involved in your community by starting your own 1000 Gardens Project. You can call it whatever you want!

Here are a few tips from the Farm to School Program to get you going.

1. Research: Read the publication Going Local to acquaint yourself with model farm to school programs from across the country. As Farm to School programs come in many shapes and sizes, it's important to begin to identify what you want and what would work best in your school. Visit http://www.farmtoschool.org/ to learn if there is a program in your area.

2. Organize: Coordinate a group of cross-sector stakeholders in the community for a meeting to discuss farm to school (food service directors, parents, teachers, farmers, students, school administration, local nonprofits, etc.) Inspire potential supporters with an activity such as a farm tour or a farm-fresh taste test.

3. Assets: Facilitate conversations with various stakeholders to determine the feasibility of the program in your area—discuss where to buy local foods, assets how to serve them at school, identify staff or volunteers to support the program, and determine what the budget for your program can be.

4. Plan: Create a short description of your ideal program and then list specific first steps. Tip: start with easy wins! Try to limit this to five steps to help you organize and communicate your goals to others.

5. Start: Take small steps such as working with one or two whole products that are easy to process and popular among kids. Local apples, oranges, or strawberries are a good choice when they are in season.

What are you waiting for? Plant the seeds of farm to school & start your own 1000 Gardens Project today.

Please visit our new website: http://wellfedneighbor.ning.com

Whole Travel for your Eco Travel Plans

Dec 03, 2009

Single eco-travelers, here's a new resource for you online to research and book your next green, eco-friendly or sustainable adventure. The eco end of the travel market has been ignored by aggregators and portals who favor across-the-board approaches to booking. But now there's Whole Travel, a new and very easy to use site specifically for green travel.

Whole Travel says they have the most complete collection of green hotels and resorts around the world and you can make your bookings right from the site. You usually get the best prices rather than going to the hotel itself.

The homepage has a text entry box labeled "What's your travel inspiration?" We entered "tropical beach" and got results from India, Sri Lanka, Samoa and Costa Rica (along with a lot more), each recognized for their own style of eco-friendly travel.

You can refine your search by hotel or resort amenities, activities and terrain. There are user reviews (not really popular just yet) and a blog too. The site is still in beta but has a lot of really useful options and definitely worth checking out for your next eco travel adventure.

Are Cooked Foods Bad For You

Nov 12, 2009

This is an article I recently found (http://www.innvista.com/health/nutrition/amino/pdamage.htm) saying that heating any food causes it to lose its nutritional value, and in many cases adds dangerous carcinogens that are harmful to your health.

I'd be very interested in hearing from Raw Food eaters about their experiences and any studies they might be familiar with regarding the issues raised in the article.

Protein Damage Through Heating

Protein structure is altered during heating; and, since most people do not eat their meat or eggs raw, this is a major factor to consider. Evidence is mounting indicating that heated animal protein may be a significant factor in coronary thrombosis since it reportedly causes a shortening of both the blood clotting time and the platelet clumping time. The amino acids in eggs are coagulated by heat and thereby lost to the body. Eggs also contain sulphur, which puts a heavy strain on the liver and kidneys.

During moderate heating of proteins, some of the cross-linkages that connect the peptide chains are split, making digestion easier. However, excessive heating results in linkages that are resistant to digestive enzymes. One resistant linkage, known as the Maillard or the browning reaction, is formed between lysine and carbohydrates. This occurs when an item has been held at a high heat for a long period of time. Commercial breakfast cereals fall in this category, and, not only are the proteins affected, but other nutrients are as well, necessitating additions falling under the label of "Enriched."

When barbecuing, burning fat drips onto an open flame producing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's), which are dangerous carcinogens. They are also produced when foods are browned or fried. There are more than twenty known, with the two most notable being benzopyrene and quinoline compounds. They are also found in the waxy coating used on fruits and vegetable. The canning of high protein foods cause some formation, as does the fermentation and pickling of foods. Cooked meats do not pose the only threat; even browned or burnt crusts contain a variety of carcinogenic substances. People consume many grams of overcooked food each day. By comparison, these same dangerous materials is only ½ gram, which is equal to someone smoking two packages of cigarettes per day.

Several carcinogens are produced. Carcinogens are mutagens, that is, substances that change the genetic code of cells. When meats are barbecued, broiled, char-broiled, smoked, fried, or even cooked above a temperature of 212F, the production of these carcinogens explode. In fact, many of the chemicals used to produce cancer in lab animals have been isolated from cooked proteins.

During barbecuing, for example, the fat from the meat drips onto the charcoal producing benzopyrene which then filters back up into the meat. A one-pound, well done, charcoal -broiled steak contains 4-5 micrograms of benzopyrene, an amount equal to what a person would get from smoking 600 cigarettes, stated Dave Townsend, an industry researcher who testified before a Minnesota tobacco trial.

Smoked meats also produce this carcinogenic agent. In Iceland, the numbers of patients with stomach and intestinal cancers is greater than anywhere else in the world. Their disease is attributed to the large consumption of smoked fish. The soot from smoking and roasting foodstuffs (meats, fish, coffee, etc.); charcoal broiling of meats and fish, and hard liquor aged in charred wood caskets are just some of the established carcinogens.

Another carcinogen is a family called HAA's (heterocyclic aromatic amines). Researchers have discovered at least seventeen different kinds resulting from the cooking of muscle meats. Little or no HAA's are found in the cooking of such other protein foods as milk, eggs, tofu, etc. Research has also been done on the various kinds of cooking. Those wishing more information on these related studies, in English or in Spanish, can contact the National Cancer Institute at 1-800-422-6237. Remember, the higher the fat content of the food and the greater the temperature reached in cooking, the more carcinogens are produced.

When foods are fried and have turned brown, they have been burned. The nutrients in the browned material have been destroyed. Proteins turn into carcinogenic acrolein; starches and sugars are caramelized through molecular destruction; fats and oils turn to smoke by destruction of fatty acids and glycerol. The rule of thumb is the higher the fat content of the food and the greater the temperature reached in cooking, the more carcinogens are produced.

365 Ways To Go Green

Nov 04, 2009

This is guest post by Mike Lieberman about his project, 365 Ways to Go Green. Please visit Mike's site and support his efforts! You can also check out Mike's EcoDater profile here.

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I started the 365 Ways To Go Green because I found myself talking a lot about what's best for the environment and how there are simple things that people can do to make a difference.

That's what I was doing, I was talking. I believe that, "actions speak louder than words." So I decided to stop the yapping and start showing people that making eco-conscious decisions are simple. Besides showing how simple they were, I wanted to put the actions into perspective. With each act, I post a short blurb on the environmental impact of the act.

That’s how I came up with the idea of this site I created. I issued a challenge to myself to perform one simple green act a day for a year and document it all to hold myself accountable.

I began this project in September 2009 and it's still in the beginning stages. What I've realized so far is that many of the "acts" are pretty simple. They can easily be incorporated into people's everyday lives without changing their daily routines - such as borrowing books from the library or buying foods from bulk bins and bringing your own packaging.

Something such as "dumpster diving" was done more to show the amount of food that is wasted and explain the effects of it. My goal is to come up with a solution to the problem. I have plans to follow up on this issue of food waste.

I've already achieved my goal in the early stages by influencing close to me such as my nephew or friends to be more aware of their decisions. That's what's most fulfilling to me.

Mike Lieberman resides in New York City and provides simple solutions for living in a complex world. Besides his own blogs, he contributes to others across the web. You can find all of his work at CanarsieBK.com and follow him on Twitter @CanarsieBK

New Eco Friendly Pizza Box

Oct 19, 2009

This is what happens when smart people get good ideas about everyday things - here is a newly designed green pizza box by ECO Inc. that uses 100% recycled materials and has some awesome practical features.

The Green Box looks like any other ordinary pizza box except when you look closely. The top is removable and can be separated into 4 cardboard plates for a slice of pizza, and the bottom converts into a storage container that can actually fit into your fridge. The entire box can be folded and placed in a recycle bin without the awkward stuffing and finagling that goes with traditional pizza boxes.

Use it for your next green date!

A Letter to the EcoDater Community

Oct 09, 2009

October 1st, 2009

Hello EcoDaters,

I hope I'm catching you at a good time. There's a few things I want to share with you that are best received in a good state of mind.

EcoDater is about 6 months old now and is rapidly approaching 1,000 members. I personally review and approve every new profile, weeding out the crap and ensuring that our community is populated with good, earnest and genuine people.

And we have some great people here! I've been in touch with many of you, and you guys have really impressed me with your ambition, intelligence and willingness to help. I thought it was a good time now to tell you more about me and the EcoDater story. I've been asking all of you to share of yourselves, so I thought it was a good call for to me to follow my own intentions.

My name is Ryel. I created and run EcoDater. I live in Denver where I'm happily married with a 15 month old daughter and boy/girl twins on the way, due in about a month. So things are going to get pretty crazy here, but my wife assures me that I can still get my EcoDater fix in every day.

I've taken a pretty meandering journey to where I am now. I was born in London, grew up in Switzerland and New York, went to boarding school in England, college in Connecticut (major in Econ), did a gig in finance in the city, got my pilot's license and then spent 3 months flying around the entire country, just me and my dog,

That really opened my eyes.... I spent the next decade or so working as a ski instructor, taxi driver, author (check out my book "The Ultralight Backpacker"), grad student, EMT volunteer, DJ, music producer... and traveled a ton. I spent 6 months in Central Asia, Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet and India studying Buddhism, definitely the highlight of my itinerant years.

In 2003, I moved to San Francisco pursue a dream of DJing and being a part of a creative collective. I was introduced to Burning Man at around the same time... BM has been and continues to be one of the most important recurring experiences of my entire life. Anyone who's been knows what I'm talking about. And if you haven't been, the very fact that you're an EcoDater is pretty good indicator that it will totally and irrevocably change your life.

I met my wife in SF and together with a couple other friends we started the Pink Mammoth creative arts collective, in many ways inspire by the Burning Man philosophy. You can check out their homepage here (www.pinkmamoth.org). Pink Mammoth's mission was and is to provide a vehicle for artists to express themselves with community support, and informed by a belief that if we help each other reach our dreams, we take steps towards our own.

My wife and I moved to Denver to take the energy level down a notch and start a family. We have a beautiful little daughter named Aliya and then the twins about to join the party. Anyway, I did a stint in business school here and worked for a real estate developer for about a year before I realized it was a total sham... I was living someone else's life. I quit, nested up at home for awhile, and then things started guiding me toward what is now EcoDater.

The huge sense of fulfillment I got and the incredible community of people that formed around Pink Mammoth was the soil in which the EcoDater seed was sown. I wanted to take the same ethos of community and apply it to the digital realm where it could be accessed by like-minded like-souled people from all around the world.

I met my wife and best friends through community and that's what I hope EcoDater can be for our members. It's just me behind the wheel here, and some awesome super talented programmers over in India, and I want you guys to be a part of everything that goes on here too. Many of the new features you've seen incorporated into the site were first suggested by you. I personally respond to every email I get and do my very best to accommodate everyone and resolve any issues that come up.

Soon after we launched, someone pointed out that the plastic bottle that the guy in the image on homepage was holding was not environmentally correct. Damn good point! So I had my guys in India photoshop in a reusable bottle. A small but direct way that I listen and respond.

I want EcoDater to be your site too, one of your many homes online. I want to keep honing the EcoDater experience more and more so that we can all connect with each other better, find our soul mates, our new friends, our extended community of eco-living eco-loving people everywhere.

At some point after the kids are settled down a bit, I'm planning on flying to all the major eco cities and hosting all local EcoDaters at a communal gathering somewhere, my treat. I'm here to stay, EcoDater is here to stay, and will only grow and get better and better over time. You guys are the innovators, the pioneers here, and I really appreciate every one of you and your involvement in this very special place, EcoDater.

Thanks for listening to me. I'm pretty active on Facebook if anyone wants to find me there. I'm at facebook.com/ryelk. I look forward to further communication, cooperation, community and excitement! Please be kind to our Mother Earth and don't forget to breathe...

Much love and respect,
Ryel Kestano
EcoDater Founder

Rural Kansas Town Goes Eco Friendly

Sep 23, 2009

Try to think of the most unlikely place in the US where an entire town becomes completely green and sustainable. Somewhere rural, somewhere populated with conservative, Republican-voting oil or farm people. Maybe somewhere in the middle of Kansas?

Well, welcome to Greensburg, population 1,574 and perhaps THE greenest community in the country. After a tornado wiped out almost the entire town in May of 2007 (see destruction above), city leaders worked with state and national representatives to rebuild the town in a sustainable fashion. A nonprofit organization was formed and the city council passed an ordinance that all new structures would have to meet stringent LEED certification standards.

Greensburg is an example of what even the most unlikely of communities can achieve when committed to sustainable practices and future-oriented action. Read the full article here.

Using Feng Shui to Create Sustainable Love

Sep 21, 2009

This is a guest post by Katy Allgeyer, Feng Shui master and blogger over at the Feng Shui by Fish Girl blog (http://fengshuibyfishgirl.com). Katy's bio is below the post.

The placement of furniture and arranging space is important to good feng shui. Creating a balanced, beautiful space for love to flourish is key. Here are some ideas you can put into practice immediately to strengthen an existing love relationship (or attract the opportunity to meet a new love if you are available and open to one).

- Have two matching bedside tables and matching lamps. Having two of a kind symbolizes equality and a balanced love relationship. If one table and accessories is dominant over the other, that represents similar disharmony in the relationship.
- Place your bed in the Command Position with a solid wall behind you, with a clear view to the entry door to the bedroom. (Avoid bed on same wall as door.)
- Remove clutter and electronics from your love shack.
- Have some artwork that connotes love and couple-dom where you can see it from the bed.
- Bring in passionate colors: pink, peaches, reds in accents and accessories.

Once you’ve gotten your interior space prepared for love, why not prepare some outdoor activities that will strengthen your bond with your partner? Enjoying our natural environment puts us more in touch with our emotional connection to the planet and every being on it. Sharing these activities stimulates love for your partner:

- Walking in a forest of trees grounds you to earth and reinforces connectedness.
- Skinny-dipping under a full moon builds trust and a shared sense of daring.
- Paddling a double kayak or canoe in silence creates memories that last.
- Hiking a steep trail together to share a sense of accomplishment.

Shared experience as well as shared space creates the bonds of intimacy that sustain a relationship and help it grow.

Katy Allgeyer (a.k.a. Fishgirl) has twenty+ years of Feng Shui expertise, which she blends with her highly developed intuitive ability, metaphysical shamanic healing methods, and formal art and design training that make her uniquely qualified to help people realign their environment to support their full potential. Visit her blog: http://fengshuibyfishgirl.com

The Nutritional Research of Dr Weston Price

Sep 17, 2009

It's astounding that more people, green singles especially, haven't heard of Dr Weston Price or his incredibly important research. Dr Price was originally a dentist who began seeing severe tooth decay among children in the 1920s when processed sugars were being consumed in record amounts.

He then launched a decade-long research phase in which he traveled all over the world studying indigenous tribes, from the Eskimos of Canada to the island tribes of the South Pacific, studying the role that traditional diets played in protecting them against diseases and physical malformations so commonly seen in the developed world.

His research demonstrated that an adherence to a traditional diet, with a heavy reliance on animal meat and fat, fermented foods and raw fruits and vegetables, united all these various tribes in a picture of health and vitality. He created programs to assimilate this knowledge into the Western diet, but his research was never given enough attention to really matter, despite its huge importance and relevance.

Please take a moment and read this paper by nutritionist Stephen Byrnes, which discusses Dr Price's research and findings. It should have a big impact on how you view your diet, and hopefully will spur you to change.

Green Dating Ideas for Spiritual Singles

Sep 14, 2009

We have many spiritual singles here on EcoDater and wanted to post an article just for you. More and more, we are realizing that spirituality and religion do not go hand in hand, and that it is possible to live a spiritual life without any kind of religious involvement. Spirituality is available to anyone, has no limits or boundaries, and can be experienced at any moment, in any space.

Spirituality is a personal path, one that can take many years and many experiences to discover, and can be further enhanced when shared with someone special. Try these spiritual date ideas and let us know what works for you.
Nature Walks

For many spiritual singles, the best place to reconnect with a spiritual path is in the deep folds of unadulterated nature, as it has existed for millions of years. There is something timeless about wandering through a mountainous forest or along a secluded beach, where the only sounds are from natural elements. For those of us who live in the urban environment, it can take awhile to find pure nature, but the trip provides you and your date a great opportunity to get to know each other better.
Dancing

Letting the ego release through dance can be an incredibly spiritual experience. So much of music is created to move people, both physically and spiritually, and it takes so many forms that anyone can find the music that moves him or her. It could be in an underground electronic dance club, or at an outdoor concert, or a folk music festival in town, or even just listening to someone playing guitar. Let music be your spiritual guide!
Spiritual Food

A meal made with love and intention can lead to a spiritual experience, as the food nourishes your body and soul. Imagine a sunset picnic with organic wine, home-made cheeses and breads, some fresh garden vegetables and fruits, and being completely immersed in the moment with your date - the synergy between the elements of this moment are sure to let your soul fly free.
Meditation

Sometimes, the most effective communication between two people are when no words are exchanged. If you feel comfortable with each other, try meditating together side by side and enjoy the silent energy of each other. If you feel especially comfortable, meditate toward each other, and exchange energy on a level much deeper than one found in a vocal conversation.
Drugs

While we are not here to pass judgment on drug use, there is no questioning that certain drugs taken by certain people at certain times can lead to some of the most intense spiritual experiences available to us. When everything is just right, responsible drug use can bring two people so close together that they can feel as one, their egos and body boundaries evaporated in the spiritual intensity of the moment.
Gatherings

When people of open and like mind come together to celebrate something, the energy from that gathering is enough to bring a spiritual experience much closer to each participant's grasp. Take your date to a Zen retreat or a music festival or an annual gathering like Burning Man or Symbiosis and let the aspect of community allow the two of you to bond on a spiritual level.

5 Favorite Eco Friendly Gadgets for Green Singles

Sep 01, 2009

For the more technologically minded of our green singles, this post is a list of our favorite eco friendly gadgets that are both functional and help promote eco-consciousness.
Garmin ecoRoute

Mating the technological advancement of GPS with the importance of fuel efficiency, this awesome little program sits on top of Garmin's existing GPS software to provide users with an option of finding the most fuel efficient route to the destination. The software analyzes road data including acceleration speeds to compute a route that will use the least gas possible.

The software also computes actual mileage and other relevant data in the Mileage Report, which the user can view after the trip is complete.
Morphy Richards Ecolectric Toaster

Toasters have pretty much stayed the same for generations, yet are ubiquitous enough that even a small advancement in efficiency can produce a large effect. The Ecolectric Toaster features a lid that closes over a the openings so that the heat generated by the toaster can't escape and is instead applied to the toast. This device uses 35 percent less energy than conventional toasters and also features a motorized bread carriage.
Merkury DIY Eco Speakers

Made with 70 percent recycled materials, these cardboard speakers allow you to construct your own speakers that can be used with virtually any kind of music source, including an iPod. The speakers are very easy to construct and come packaged with crayons to give voice to the inner speaker designer that's always been struggling to be heard. A very unique and very green gift.
Bedol Water Clock

This ingenious device relies on water with a splash of lemon juice for its power supply - that's it, no chargers, batteries, chemicals or anything else. One mix can last up to eight weeks before a resupply is needed. It comes in a variety of colors and is perfect for the bedside or home office.
Samsung Corn Phone

This new phone from industry leader Samsung is made of 80 percent recyclable materials including corn-based bioplastics. The package is printed with soy-based ink and doesn't include a paper manual, revealing Samsung's dedication to making this an authentic green product. It still includes all the features of a modern phone, including a full keyboard.

Technorati Registration - Ignore

Aug 28, 2009

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5 Great Entree Recipes for Vegetarian Dates

Aug 17, 2009

We continue our recipe series for vegetarian singles with 5 delicious and relatively easy vegetarian entree recipes for your next vegetarian date.
Vegetable Shepherd's Pie
(allrecipes.com) This is a dish that you can prepare using any fresh or frozen vegetables you happen to have on hand. Our favorite veggies for this take on shepherd's pie include peppers, peas, corn, sweet potatoes and cauliflower.

INGREDIENTS

8 large potatoes, peeled and quartered
2 carrots, sliced
1 (16 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
6 tablespoons milk
1 onion, chopped
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 (19 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon paprika

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Cook potatoes, covered, in a small amount of boiling water until tender. Drain and mash. While potatoes are cooking, steam or boil carrots and mixed vegetables until near tender. Drain and set aside.

In a small saucepan, cook garlic powder, basil and parsley in butter or margarine for about 20 seconds (or microwave for 10 seconds). Stir into mashed potatoes along with salt and pepper. Gradually beat in enough milk to make potatoes light and fluffy, add a little more milk if necessary. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, cook onion in oil until tender but not brown. Stir in kidney beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, soy sauce, sugar and vegetable/carrot mixture. Heat through until bubbly.

Transfer vegetable mixture to a 8x8x2 inch baking dish. Drop mashed potatoes in mounds over the top. Sprinkle with cheese and paprika. Bake, uncovered at 375 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes.
Spicy Sun Dried Tomato and Artichoke Pasta
(vegweb.com) This yummy pasta dish uses a lighter but very flavorful sauce to coat the pasta, using two highly underused ingredients in vegetarian dishes - sun-dried tomato and artichoke.

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2-3 shallots or 1 small onion, sliced
10-15 button mushrooms, thickly sliced
14 oz can marinated artichoke hearts
1/4 cup artichoke heart marinade
1/2 cup sundried tomatos drained of oil
1/4-1/2 cup soy milk
1/4-1/2 cup pasta water
1 tbsp chili oil, (as little or as much as you like)
Green Onions
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 lb. pasta, bowties work perfectly but use whatever you like

DIRECTIONS
The sauce for this is not thick, but it's really flavorfull and will coat the pasta nicely. It is a little oily due to the sun dried tomatoes and chili oil. I like it oily, but if you don't just add sun dried tomato's that are not soaked in oil.

First bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to pasta directions (usually takes 10-15 min) While pasta is boiling prepare the sauce.

Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Add garlic and shallots and saute for a minute. Add mushrooms and saute for 3 minutes. Then add artichokes and sundried tomato's and saute for about 3 minutes. Next, add soy milk, artichoke marinade, chili oil, salt and pepper. Once the pasta is done, scoop out as much pasta water as you need for your sauce (the starchy water will help your sauce thicken up) Drain pasta and add to the sun dried tomato and artichoke mix. Stir well over med. heat until sauce has thickened a little and coats the pasta everywhere. Adjust the seasoning to your taste with salt pepper and chili oil. Sprinkle with chopped green onions and enjoy!
Zucchini Tomato Gratin
(vegetariantimes.com) The perfect dish for a summer evening with friends, this entree is light on the stomach but packs some great flavors that are enhanced as the dish cooks in the oven.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 lb. tomatoes, cut into
1/4-inch-thick slices
2 medium zucchini (1 lb.), cut into
1/8-inch-thick diagonal slices
1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. olive oil, divided
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 Tbs. roughly chopped kalamata olives
1/4 cup thinly sliced basil leaves
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (1 1/2 oz.), divided

DIRECTIONS
Drape tomato slices over colander, sprinkle with salt, and let drain 45 minutes. Spread zucchini on baking sheet, and sprinkle with salt. Let stand 30 minutes to sweat out excess moisture. Rinse well, and pat dry.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat 1 tsp. oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté zucchini 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden. Transfer to plate. Do this in 2 batches if necessary, adding more oil between batches.

Layer half of zucchini slices in 8-inch-square baking pan. Top with half of tomatoes. Sprinkle with half of garlic, 1 Tbs. olives, half of basil, and i/4 cup Parmesan cheese; season with freshly ground black pepper. Repeat with remaining zucchini, tomatoes, garlic, olives, and basil. Drizzle top with 1 Tbs. oil, and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Cover with foil, and bake 10 minutes. Remove foil, and bake 20 minutes more, or until cheese is melted and gratin is bubbling. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
African Vegetable Stew
(vegcooking.com) This fantastic stew combines a variety of surprising ingredients that are staples in parts of Africa.

INGREDIENTS

1 large white onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 bunch spinach, chopped
2 yams, peeled and sliced
17.5-oz. can garbanzo beans
1/2 cup raisins
28-oz. can Mexican-style chopped tomatoes
Salt and pepper, to taste
Cayenne pepper, to taste
1/2 cup uncooked rice
Tabasco sauce, to taste

DIRECTIONS
In a sauté pan over medium heat, fry the onion and garlic in the oil until the onion begins to brown. Add the spinach, cooking for a couple of minutes. Add the yams, beans, raisins, tomatoes, salt, and peppers and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Make a well in the center of the mixture for the rice. Add the rice and pat down until wet. Cover and cook for 25 minutes, until the rice is done. Season with the Tabasco sauce.
Butternut Squash Pizza with Rosemary
(allrecipes.com) This veggie take on a pizza combines the rich flavor of butternut squash with the traditional zest of fresh rosemary.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup thinly sliced onion
1/2 butternut squash - peeled, seeded, and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
salt and black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 (16 ounce) package refrigerated pizza crust dough
1 tablespoon cornmeal
2 tablespoons grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Place sliced onion and squash in a roasting pan. Sprinkle with rosemary, salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil; toss to coat. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until onions are lightly browned and squash is tender; set aside.
Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). On a floured surface, roll each ball of dough into an 8 inch round. Place the rounds on a baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal (you may need 2 baking sheets depending on their size). Distribute squash mixture over the two rounds and continue baking for 10 minutes, checking occasionally, or until the crust is firm. Sprinkle with cheese and remaining tablespoon olive oil. Cut into quarters, and serve.

Green Speed Dating Introduces Eco Conscious Dating

Aug 04, 2009

The following guest post was provided by Dating Online, a website offering exclusive reviews of today’s popular dating websites. Dating Online also operates the dating blog: Dating Zen.

Most of us who think green hope to find a mate who is just as passionate about sustainability and protecting the environment as we are, but it can be tough. How do you go about finding others who are just as dedicated to ecologically responsible living? It’s not like we all wear name tags! (Although the occasional tee-shirt slogan may give us a hint).

The newest entry to the eco dating scene is Green Speed Dating, the perfect way to meet several eco-conscious members of the opposite sex in one fun-filled evening. Sponsored by eco-friendly groups, Green Speed Dating features registration fees that go toward worthy causes such as solar powered schools in third world countries. There’s no way you can begrudge a bit of a profit for that!

Your fee covers your registration, free snacks (typically including a selection of vegetarian friendly side items) and the opportunity to meet a nice group of people in your age group and general geographic area who also happen to recycle, reuse and walk the walk on environmental issues. Just like many typical speed dating events, you meet each match for three minutes; just enough time to get a good idea of whether the potential spark is there. At the end of the night, decide which people you met were intriguing enough for you to meet again and turn in your tallies to the event leaders. From there, they will see if the people you chose were also interested in you. If so, you’ll both get contact information the next day.

The entire event is fun, relaxed and entertaining enough to make night fly by. There’s usually lots of laughter as people quickly shift from table to table, so be prepared with a few interesting questions to prevent a lull in the conversation. Three minutes goes by in the blink of an eye if you’re talking; it drags if both of you are at a loss for words.

If you arrive a bit early you can get a quick idea of how eco-minded some of the participants are. Some devoted green speed dating attendees will walk, roll up on a bicycle, or carpool with friends in their Hybrid. To others, green may mean they recycle bottles and cans so they feel less guilty about driving that Hummer you see pulling into the parking lot. Many also consider the green lifestyle to include healthy eating habits such as the vegan or organic diet. So don’t be afraid to ask a question or two about what they’ve done for the environment lately or what kind of foods they like. Green speed dating gets you one step closer to finding your perfect eco-mate, but only if you use your minutes wisely!

Green Single Dog Owners

Jul 28, 2009

For our green single dog owners, we're pleased to feature a guest post by Carrie Boyko of Organic Journey Online. More about Carrie at the end of the post.

Hello dog lovers, and welcome to the post that is just for you. If you enjoy spending time with your dogs, you may not want to leave them for an entire afternoon and evening, when you take off for a special, all-day date. Yet, there are plenty of things you can do to include your pups in the fun, and still get some couple’s time in too. No need to sacrifice the romance. This scenario is just one of many possibilities. Think creatively about your own area as you read this narrative and then…go have some fun with the dogs.

Visiting an off leash dog park is a delightful way to break the ice, while bonding with your date and your dog. Some Frisbee or tennis ball fetching can include all 3 of you, while accomplishing the important task of tiring Fido out, to assure your quality time later. Don’t forget to enjoy the scenery and the variety of breeds that come to visit the park while you are there. Each time the gate opens another unique visitor adds to the fun.

If possible, pick a dog park near a waterfront where you can take a leisurely, romantic walk afterwards. Or perhaps a sunset dinner would suit your fancy. If Fido is willing, you can do both. After a long walk, a nice cool drink is in order. Choose a restaurant with outdoor, waterfront seating, where pups are welcome to sit under their owners’ tables. Place the dogs in a “down” position under the table with a bowl of water, and soon they will be snoozing, dreaming of their fun afternoon in the park. Now, it’s your turn to enjoy some quiet conversation to kick off a romantic dinner, priming the evening to follow. Dinner at sunset can do wonders to improve the mood.

Whenever I dine out with the dogs, I always bring along some rawhide strips to keep the dogs busy and satisfied while we enjoy dinner. The plan works perfectly for us, and dinner generally proves to be peaceful, allowing indulgence in enjoyable conversation and good food.

After a day of outdoor fun and a charming dinner, it’s time for dog chow and a bit of alone time. Once the dogs are snuggled into their crates for bedtime, it’s perfect timing for that first kiss.

Carrie Boyko has enjoyed many a “green dog date”, as part of her lifestyle of writing about dogs, green living, and eating healthier at her blogs, Organic Journey Online and All Things Dog Blog. She has been happily married for 31 years and has 3 grown children and 3 active dogs.

Green Pet Names for your Eco Partner

Jul 22, 2009

No committed relationship is complete without a pet name for your green partner. Whether it's the common "Babe" or "Sweetie Pie," or a bit more creative like "Ducky Bojangles" or "Smooshy Lickens," a pet name for your partner signifies a level of intimacy beyond that which you may share with others.

This a funny post from Planet Green that talks about how to fashion an eco-pet name for your green partner, thereby symbolizing what's most important to both of you.

Some suggestions:

Snuggle Furnace
Greenie Beanie
Bicycle Babe
Mr. Earthitti
Captain Planet
eco-Tarzan
eco-Jane
Sir Save-a-lot
Lady Green-is-here
Hybrid Hug Bug
Organic Sweet Pea
Green Musketeer
eco-Sweet Cheeks
Earth Mama
Smoochie-tree

Come to think of it, these are perfect profile names for your profile on green dating sites! So come up with your profile name first while you're still single, and then you can convert all that effort into a perfect pet name once you're in a relationship. Talk about resource conservation!

5 Great Appetizer Recipes for Vegetarian Dates

Jul 13, 2009

We're collecting our favorite recipes for home-cooked vegetarian dates and kicking things off with 5 great appetizer recipes. We'll post other favorite courses soon. If you have a favorite recipe from your vegetarian dating experience, add it to the comments section or email us for later inclusion.

Double Tomato Bruschetta (Allrecipes.com)
"A delicious and easy appetizer. The balsamic vinegar gives it a little bite. Dried basil can be substituted but it is best with fresh."

Ingredients:

6 roma (plum) tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil
3 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup fresh basil, stems removed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 French baguette
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions
Preheat the oven on broiler setting. In a large bowl, combine the roma tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, basil, salt, and pepper. Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes. Cut the baguette into 3/4-inch slices. On a baking sheet, arrange the baguette slices in a single layer. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes, until slightly brown. Divide the tomato mixture evenly over the baguette slices. Top the slices with mozzarella cheese. Broil for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

Avocado-Olive Dip (whatscookingamerica.net)
"This is absolutely wonderful! Your guests will go wild over it."

Ingredients

3 avocados, peeled, seeded, and mashed
1 can black olives, drained and sliced
1 (4-oz.) can chile or jalapeno peppers (medium to hot)
7 to 8 small green onions, chopped
3 large tomatoes (or 5 small), chopped
3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
5 to 6 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped

Directions
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Refrigerate at least 2 hours for flavors to blend. Excellent served with corn chips.

Asparagus Salsa (tasteofhome.com)
"Jalapeno pepper and cilantro spice up this refreshing salsa that's made with tomatoes, onion and fresh asparagus. Served chilled with tortilla chips, this chunky sauce won't last long."

Ingredients

1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup chopped seeded tomatoes
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Tortilla chips

Directions
Place asparagus in a large saucepan; add 1/2 in. of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water.
In a large bowl, combine the asparagus, tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, garlic, vinegar and salt. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, stirring several times. Serve with tortilla chips. Yield: 3 cups.

Grilled Portabella Mushrooms (epicurean.com)
"They taste just like steak!!"

Ingredients

4 Portabella Caps
2T olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1T fresh oregano, minced
1t salt
1/4t pepper
lemon wedges

Directions
Prepare hot fire in a grill or preheat broiler. Clean mushroom with a damp towel, removing stems. In a small bowl, combine oil, garlic and oregano. Brush caps with oil mixture, season with salt and pepper. Place stem side down on grill or broiler rack 4-6 inches from heat. Grill 3-5 minutes until well marked from grill. Turn and cook 3 minutes longer, or until tender but still hold their shape. Serve with lemon wedges. Serves four.

Farmer's Market Vegetarian Quesadillas (allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped zucchini
1/2 cup chopped yellow squash
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
1 tablespoon olive oil
cooking spray
6 (9 inch) whole wheat tortillas
1 1/4 cups shredded reduced-fat sharp Cheddar cheese

Directions
In a large nonstick pan, cook red pepper, zucchini, yellow squash, onion, and mushrooms in olive oil over medium to medium-high heat for about 7 minutes, or until just tender. Remove vegetables from pan.
Coat the same pan with cooking spray, and place one tortilla in pan. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of cheese evenly over tortilla, and layer 3/4 cup of the vegetable mixture over the cheese. Sprinkle another 1/8 cup of cheese on the vegetables, and top with a second tortilla. Cook until golden on both sides, for approximately 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove quesadilla from pan, and repeat with remaining ingredients. Cut each quesadilla into 8 triangles with a pizza cutter. Serve hot.

Hope you've enjoyed these delicious appetizer recipes for your vegetarian dates... let us know how they turned out!

Green Dating Dos and Donts

Jul 09, 2009

Green singles, this is a re-post of an excellent article by the good people over Discovery Health Online that lists some dating dos and donts. Many of these tips are intuitive and should hopefully come as second nature to most people, but it's still very worthwhile to be reminded of them, especially if you haven't been in the dating scene for awhile.

Feel free to add your dating dos and donts to the comments section.

Dating Dos

Be attentive to your date. When faced with the dilemma of whether to bare all or listen attentively, many singles prefer to listen. Lori is a 22-year-old college student who feels she's nailed the role of "listener". "If you listen to your date, they think you're interesting even though you haven't actually said anything. Just keep asking questions and they'll think you're brilliant and fascinating."
Maintain eye contact. Just make sure it's not too intense. Remember, you aren't a hawk eyeing it's prey.
Plan your date out ahead of time. Avoid falling into the vicious cycle of saying, "I don't know, what do you want to do?" Decide on something and do it. Be open to other suggestions if your plans don't work out.
Meet in a public place on your first date. Not only is this a safe idea, it also allows for distractions should conversation lag. Rick, 24, agrees: "Leave the one-on romantic dates for when you really feel you are into a person."
Offer to split the bill. The issue of "who pays" is probably one of the largest sources of confusion for singles. Most people today feel that the bill is the responsibility of the party that asked for the date. That said, it is courteous to offer to "go Dutch" and you should always be prepared to split the costs. If your date does pick up the tab, offer to pay the next time.
Act chivalrous. Men, the women's liberation movement may have provided women with the means to financial independence and positions of power, but this does not mean that she no longer appreciates those little things that make you a gentlemen. Open doors for your date, pull out her chair for her, make sure she gets home safely. These are the things that make a good impression. Sarah, 31, believes: "If used correctly, chivalry is the charm of all charms; if overused, it seems like machismo."
Follow up with your date. Call or email your date to let them know you had a good time. This doesn't have to be a plea to see them again right away. It's simply a courtesy. If your date had an enjoyable time too, this will be icing on the cake!
Crack jokes. Not only will this put your date at ease, it will show them you have a sense of humor.
Discuss heavier topics. Let's face it, some people SHOULD stick to small talk, but if you're informed on a topic, go ahead and discuss it. If you find some topics appropriate and your date finds them taboo, it may be better to realize this early on.

Dating Don'ts

Don't act distracted during a date. Turn off your cell phone and keep your eyes from wandering. Nothing will show a greater lack of interest on your part than fielding phone calls and checking out the waitstaff.
Don't turn your date into a therapy session. Avoid subjects like your ex, your bad relationship with your mother or your growing sense of insecurity over the strange growth you've discovered on your back.
Don't be pretentious. Nobody is perfect and nothing is more annoying than someone who acts like they are.
Don't agree for the sake of agreeing. It's important to stand your ground and let your date know where you stand on certain topics. The point is getting to know one another. Most people enjoy intellectual argument, as long as you avoid insulting your date's intelligence.
Don't try to make any uninvited physical advances. There are so many different opinions on what is acceptable, physically, on a date. Cara, 29, holds the opinion that if there is chemistry, the physical aspects of a relationship will fall into place. "If things feel right, then hold hands, kiss, whatever feels right. Nothing is worse, though, than a first date who is way too into PDA (public displays of affection). It's sort of like they are staking their claim, which is a major turn-off."
Women, don't be afraid to ask a man for a date. In fact, many men find a woman who will make the first move attractive and confident. Kate, 30, agrees: "A woman asking a man for a date doesn't have to be a pathetic plea to listen to Seal over a candlelit dinner. You can invite the guy to something you are going to anyway, like a concert, so it's like you are asking them to come along."
Don't consume large amounts of alcohol. In one of his early movies, Arnold Schwarzenegger told his drunken wife: "You should not drink and bake." Well, the same holds true for dating: You should not drink and date. Athough the reasons for this are pretty obvious, it's a trap many people fall into and it has ruined many a person's chances for a second date. If you must drink, stick with one beer or glass of wine.
Don't be afraid to end the date early. If things aren't working out or you are uncomfortable, feel free to end the date at any time.

Green Dating Ideas for Nature Lovers

Jul 07, 2009

We continue our EcoDater Green Dating series for all our eco friendly singles with a list of dating ideas for nature lovers. These ideas inspire you and your date to get outside and connect with your natural surroundings. We spend so much of our days immune to the beauty and harmony of nature's gentle flow, and a romantic date is a great way to stop and appreciate our natural environment.

A Walk in the Woods
A stroll along a riverbank or a hike through a mountain valley offers green daters an opportunity to slow down and live a bit closer to nature's tempo. On the eco-friendly scale, the best nature walks are those that can be readily accessed within the community itself. Denver has its Cherry Creek walk, Portland has Waterfront Park, San Francisco offers the beautiful Golden Gate Park, Seattle green daters can check out nearby Bainbridge Island, and most other major settlements also offer some wonderful nature walks either inside or very close to city boundaries.

Outdoor Picnic
Stock up on some organic goodies, pack up some reusable plates and utensils, pick up your date and find a nice grassy spot in the trees for a relaxing time away from the day's schedule. Even if all you can find is a bench near a few trees, it's amazing how recharging a meal al fresco can be, with the sky as your roof. Don't forget a bottle of organic wine!

Stargazing at Night
Nature lovers don't only come out in the daytime... the night sky is nature at its most mysterious and wondrous, beyond our touch and vision but somehow still of the same substance as the nature we see and hear every day. Even the most basic astronomy is fascinating, and a great way to spend an evening date, perhaps after a delicious organic homecooked meal.

Tend to a Garden
Gardens are where nature and people meet, where a gentle hand can harness the great gifts of the earth right into our satisfied bellies. It's hard to imagine a better green date than picking some ripe fruit and vegetables from a well-loved garden and preparing a wonderfully fresh meal from those ingredients. If you don't have your own garden, visit a community garden or farmer's market.

Hot Springs
Admittedly, hot springs are a treat for people in only a select lucky few places on earth but are such a great way to love nature that they had to be on this list. Jacuzzis are a poor substitute for the healing waters and soul-massaging warmth of geologic hot springs. The vast majority of US hot springs are west of the Rockies, but there are some great hot springs in Geogia, Arkansas, Virginia, Maryland and New York as well.

On the Water
There is something deeply grounding about being on the gentle rocking rhythm of the open water. Whether it's a sailboat off the coast or a rowboat in a park lake or even a public ferry, bringing your date out onto the water is a great way to bring the nature lover out of anyone. Combine a picnic with a boat trip to a fun destination for the ultimate green date.

Bike Riding
For the more adventurous singles, take your date on a bike tour of some nearby natural scenery. A lot of places are reachable with a bike that might be too far on foot, and you get a workout at the same time. Many green cities have an excellent network of urban trails that get riders off the busy streets and into their natural surroundings.

Rock Climbing
You might be surprised to know that there is a climbing wall somewhere within a day trip away from wherever you are right now. Rock climbing is a great date idea because it requires close teamwork between two people, and climbing areas are often located in the most beautiful local natural scenery. All you need is a harness, shoes, a rope and a belay device for most areas, but make sure you get some instruction before heading out.

Take a Class
Even if your date is a total disaster, at least you can learn something! There are some great classes offered by local colleges or other continuing educational institutions for nature lovers: Learn all about your local flora and fauna, or local geology, and many classes will take you out into the field to study wildlife or vegetation, providing the perfect chance to be outside, pick up some new knowledge, AND have a great date!

10 Green Travel Tips for Eco Singles

Jul 03, 2009

Happy July to all green dating singles! Here is an excellent list of 10 great ways to reduce your impact on the environment while you travel, put together by the fine folks over at GeckoGo, one of the best travel sites out there. These are tips that you can apply to just about any trip, from a weekend visit to Aunt Mamie upstate to a 6-month backpacking odyssey through South America.

Check out the original post here.

Use lighter modes of transportation
Can you walk? Take the bus? Ride a bike? Use public transportation or rent hybrid vehicles wherever possible. Cool thing is – you actually see more of a place when you travel this way. Plus walking helps you avoid putting on the dreaded travel-15.

Buy local
Exotic food is cool, but it’s got to get to where you are. Likewise, be sure that local people benefit from your trip by keeping your money within the community. For instance, eat at a local ma-and-pa diner or explore the region with a local tour operator. Feel more connected to the place you’re visiting by interacting with those REALLY in the know. You might get some cool insight.

Support environmental conservation
Choose the destinations and attractions you visit based on how tourism is handled there. Pick places that place a priority on local conservation. Find out what companies capitalize on tourism to strengthen their conservation efforts. This is especially important for protected areas and wildlife habitats. You’ll feel a lot better about your visit, knowing that you helped preserve these incredible places simply by visiting

Respect local cultures
Make your stay as low impact as possible for the people living there – accept the differences of other cultures and immerse yourself in them. Learn the local customs and social norms before you visit, and even try to speak as much of their language as possible. Plus, this is just part of what make traveling so much fun in the first place!

Minimize your use of natural resources
Consider the efficient use of water, energy and fuel as well as the method of waste disposal you use while abroad – use reusable water bottles wherever possible – remember the basic R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle!

Eat locally grown, sustainably harvested food
What kind of foods are you eating? Are they locally produced? Organically grown? Surprise – locally available food that is sustainably harvested tastes better too! (And for goodness sake, don’t pay anyone serving endangered species!!!)

Offset your carbon footprint
Flying is great except it wreaks havoc on the environment. Offset the damage done to the environment by buying carbon credits that go towards funding high quality projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere. It’s relatively inexpensive and the projects themselves are pretty interesting. (Find out more about carbon offset programs)

Volunteer abroad
Voluntourism Rocks! From our super-scientific study, volunteering internationally is way more fun, far more social, and definitely more rewarding. Plus - you get to interact with locals in ways you just can’t otherwise.

Choose responsible travel suppliers
Lots of cool travel companies out there go out of their way to make their work as beneficial as possible to the natural world, to the local economies they are involved in, and the people and cultures they interact with. Let’s send a message by supporting them! (Things to keep in mind when looking for responsible travel suppliers)

Give back to the communities you've visited
There are a number of ways in which you can give back to the local communities that have accepted you.

Be sure to check out Sustainable Travel International - they are THE not-for-profit organization that's doing everything they can right now to promote sustainable tourism around the world - let them know just how much we appreciate their work.

Hot Stone Massage for Green Singles

Jun 30, 2009

Today we feature a guest blog post from our friend David Hail at Hot Date Ideas. David is the owner of Hot Date Ideas, a site that provides in-depth dating ideas and tips for singles, couples, and married people.

Hot Stone Massage
Hot stone massage therapy dates back thousands of years to a time when Indian Yogis used the practice to balance the body’s energy. Whether or not you believe in the power of hot stones to heal the body and balance energy, warm stones definitely help push relaxation deeper into the muscles and feel great.

You'll need:

Around 20 basalt stones or river rocks
Massage oil
Turkey roaster or crockpot
Thermometer
A few light towels or pillowcases

Finding the Stones
The nice thing about this date idea is that it’s basically free. Sure, you’ll see ads for basalt massage stone kits online for $50+, but all they’re really selling is the same stones you can find at your local beach, lake, or riverbed.

Professional therapists use sets of 50 stones, but that really just adds more complexity than the normal person needs. A set of 15-20 stones will be plenty. Choose:

8 flat stones for the back (about the size of your palm).
1 large flat stone for the sacrum (a little larger than your hand).
2 round stones for the hands (a little smaller than a tennis ball).
2 flat stones for the feet (size of your palm).
4 oval stones to massage.
Optional stones for the heart, stomach, etc.

If possible, pick gray stones (black when wet) because they retain heat better than others, and choose ones that are very smooth; porous rocks may be too rough and uncomfortable against the skin. Along with heat, the pressure feels good so make sure to select ones with a little weight and flat enough on one side to stay in place. Make sure to rinse and scrub the selected stones with soapy water after returning home.

Warming the Rocks
A large crock pot or turkey roaster is ideal for warming the stones because they will maintain a constant temperature throughout the massage. If this is not an option, try a large pot with a heating plate or just a large covered pot. Place your stones in the pot, keeping the rocks you will use first (back, sacrum) on top. Fill with water until the stones are covered and adjust the heat to between 120-150 degrees. Maintain the temperature for 20 minutes to fully warm the rocks. Lay out a towel or cloth to dry the stones after you pull them out of the water, and a bowl of cold water in case the stones are too hot.

The Massage
The key to a good hot stone massage is to keep the stones warm and use long, smooth strokes. Visit Hot Date Ideas for hot stone massage videos that will give you a good idea about the size of the stones and proper massage techniques.

To meet your hot stone massage green date, visit EcoDater and create your free profile today!

Green Dating Series for Organic Food Lovers

Jun 26, 2009

We're launching a new series of blog posts to help our green singles plan an ideal green date. We're starting off with some date ideas for our organic food lovers that helps you celebrate the scrumptious beauty of natural, homegrown and home-loved foods.

Stroll through an outdoor farmer's market
Farmer's markets are a goldmine for organic food lovers. Not only do you have access to the juiciest, freshest and tastiest organic foods available anywhere, but you're directly supporting local businesses and reducing transportation resources to get the food to table.

Farmer's markets already exist in almost all eco-friendly cities and regions, so unless you're an EcoDater in rural Texas, you should have access to a farmer's market nearby. Local Harvest is a fantastic resource to help you find your nearby farmer's markets. Just take a look at the map on the homepage - infested with farmer's market locations all over the US.

Outdoor picnics
Once you've picked out your produce from the farmer's market or nearby organic food store, it's time to pack it up and find a scenic spot to enjoy consuming it. Outdoor picnics are great for eco friendly singles because they're free and don't depend on the resources expended at a restaurant, and immerse you in a beautiful natural environment that just seems to make food taste better.

Don't forget to bring a blanket, containers to ward off insects, and reusable plates, utensils and cups (not glass though). When you're finished, recycle all your waste - many parks have recycle containers available for just this purpose. Our favorite organic picnic foods include baguette and brie, mozarella and tomato, sliced peaches and nectarines, and a nice organic wine to wash it all down with.

Dinner at an organic restaurant
Organic dining has definitely attained gourmet status in some of the finest restaurants in the country. With top chefs turning their skills and attention to organic food preparation, many organic meals at good restaurants can go against (and often beat) traditionally prepared meals in similar non-organic restaurants.

These days, you can find a decent organic or vegetarian eatery in just about any major population center in the developed world. We recently posted a list of some of the best organic and vegetarian restaurants in the US, so if you happen to live in one of the cities listed, you'll do well to check out one of the eateries mentioned.

Start or tend to an organic garden
Certainly this is a long-term endeavor, but tending to an organic garden at any stage is a great way to connect both with your green date as well as with the earth itself. There are also many community organic gardens that accept volunteers to help with planting, watering, fertilizing and other necessary garden chores.

Starting your own organic garden can be as simple and easy or complex and intensive as you want to make it. In the context of a green date, start with simply buying some tomato seeds (an easy plant to get going), and together you can get the pots ready, mix in some soil and fertilizer, plant the seeds and water. Make the plants symbolic of your budding green relationship and watch them both grow naturally and organically.

Organic coffee break
If you're pressed for time or don't want to commit to a full-scale outing, an organic coffee break could be your answer. You can prepare a thermos of organic coffee at home in the morning, agree to meet your green organic date at a convenient time and then pop out of the office or step away from your errands to meet up and enjoy a nice cup of organic coffee together.

Sustainable and organic coffee is an excellent way to express your eco friendly side - buying coffee from sustainable, eco friendly operations is also not buying coffee from all the other players who care only about the bottom line. Coffee beans are harvested and processed in some of the poorest and most depressed parts of the world, so buying organic, sustainable coffee really helps the people who need it the most.

Candlelit organic home-cooked meal
Find an organic recipe online and pick up the needed ingredients from your local farmer's market or organic food store. Salads are a great way to start off a meal using fresh organic ingredients. We love homemade pizzas mostly because of the huge variety of ingredients you can use - you can even make each side with different ingredients for you and your green date.

Meal preparation is as much an opportunity to connect with your date as eating it afterwards is, so consider inviting your date over before you start preparing the meal. Recognizing the effort that goes into a delicious meal always makes it taste a bit better, and who knows, you might find out that your date is a talented organic chef!

The EcoMix Collection of EcoDater Music

Jun 11, 2009

We'd like to offer all our green singles a handpicked selection of eco-minded music mixes to keep you company as you make the world a little greener in your own special way. Please enjoy with our compliments!

EcoMix 2007
EcoMix 2008
EcoMix 2009

If you'd like to know more about the music featured on these mixes, please send us an email.

**Internet Explorer users - Right-click and select "Save Target As..." to download the mixes.**

Top 7 US Restaurants for Vegetarian Dates

Jun 09, 2009

Vegetarian singles are thankfully becoming spoiled for options when it comes to dining in most major American cities. Top chefs around the country have made vegetarian dining a gourmet affair, going far beyond the basic ingredients like tofu and salad greens that have long been associated with vegetarianism.

Here is a list of EcoDater's favorite vegetarian restaurants around the country. Take your green date to one and prepare to have your taste buds enlightened.

Greens Restaurant, San Francisco
Chef Annie Somerville
The aptly named Greens could well be regarded as the flagship vegetarian restaurant of the entire nation. Opened in 1979 as an affiliate of the San Francisco Zen Center, Greens fulfilled several important missions: to elevate vegetarian cuisine to fine dining standards, and to provide an outlet for Zen students to engage in Buddhist practice in the workplace. On both counts, it has succeeded enormously.

Favorite Dishes for Veggie Daters
Much of the the restaurant's fresh produce comes from its sister facility, the Green Gulch Farm, so you can be assured of high quality ingredients. Try the Mesquite Grilled Brochettes, skewers of mushrooms, peppers, garnet yams, fennel, potatoes, cherry tomatoes and marinated tofu with charmoula and served on cherry-pistachio couscous. The Mung Dal Fritters are also mouth-watering.

Pure Food and Wine, New York
Chef Scott Winegard
This raw food eatery is showing New Yorkers with their typically high standards that even when foods are presented in their most natural state, they can still be delicious - in fact, even more so! You won't find anything refined or cooked anywhere in this restaurant. Nothing ever reaches a temperature higher than 118 degrees, which preserves the natural enzymes in the food that helps with digestion.

Favorite Dishes for Veggie Daters
Soups don't get much better than the Rosemary Infused Butternut Squash Soup with spiced pecans, medjoul dates and miso coulis. And for dessert, the coffee sake almond Tiramisu has been making waves in the hugely competitive pastry sector of the New York restaurant industry.

Watercourse Foods, Denver
Chef Daniel Landes
At the top of Denver's vegetarian dining pyramid is the perennial local's favorite Watercourse Foods. Not only does Watercourse serve delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes but the restaurant's owners take operations to the next level by recycling absolutely everything that can be recycled, including the fryer oil that is converted into bio-diesel, offering water only when asked and using biodegradable containers for to-go orders.

Favorite Dishes for Veggie Daters
Try the Tempeh Scallopini, with marinated tempeh dredged and fried in its own mushroom gravy and served with mashed potatoes and steamed chard. The Morelo Salad is outstanding, with green leaf lettuce mixed with black beans, tempeh chorizo, pico de gallo, avocado, crisp corn strips, jack/cheddar blend, and chipotle ranch.

Chaco Canyon Cafe, Seattle
Chef Lois Maykut
Offering both raw and vegan food as well as organic smoothies, fair trade coffee and tea, Chaco Canyon Cafe is where Seattle vegetarian singles go to meet and get to know each other. Located in the hip University District, the restaurant has a variety of yummy sandwiches that can be taken on the go.

Favorite Dishes for Veggie Daters
The Cilantro Pesto Pizza is a house favorite and is made with a dehydrated crust of sprouted buckwheat, sunflower seeds & flax, topped with classic oregano sun-dried tomato pizza sauce, housemade cilantro-walnut pesto, marinated red onions and herbed macadamia cheese. The Green Goddess smoothie with cucumber, celery, kale, fennel, and ginger tastes amazing and recharges your body for a walk around the very walkable neighborhood.

The Farm Cafe, Portland
With reviews as strong as "the epitome of an affordable romantic dining experience" and "as fresh as fresh gets," the Farm Cafe has built a loyal following and a sterling reputation as Portland's top vegetarian restuarant. Almost all ingredients come from the state of Oregon, right down to the New Deal Portland 88 Vodka.

Favorite Dishes for Veggie Daters
Locals rave about the Farmhouse Cheese Ball, a blend of 3 cheeses, chive, parsley, horseradish and spices, rolled in toasted hazelnuts and served with bread. The Farmhouse Veggie Burger is about the best in the business: a burger-style sandwich made with eggplant, bread crumbs, cheese and spices, served with caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, Dijon mustard and lettuce on a rustic bun with a mixed green salad.

Green Zebra, Chicago
Chef Shawn McClain
Green Zebra is an excellent example of the culinary heights that vegetarian dishes can reach. Dining at the restaurant is a self-described sensuous experience, with plenty of time between dishes to get to know your green date before the next exquisite creation comes out from the kitchen. The menu is constantly evolving as the seasons change and different ingredients become available in the local area.

Favorite Dishes for Veggie Daters
All the dishes at Green Zebra are small so the idea is to order a variety of styles to get the full experience. We love the Foraged Mushroom Dumplings, served with tofu, Thai basil, baby bok choy, and star anise broth, as well as the Olive Oil Confit Fingerlings with dijon mustard, parmesan, and truffle. For dessert, it's hard to beat the Vegan Chocolate Cake with crispy peanut butter, banana sorbet, and salted caramel.

Cru, Los Angeles
Chef Rachel Carr
With influences including Italian, Japanese, Tunisian, Thai and Indian, Cru has earned a reputation as one of the most authentic vegan and vegetarian restaurant in Los Angeles. The restaurant, located in the hip and eco-friendly Silver Lake neighborhood, also offers classes including the very popular "Raw Around the World" class.

Favorite Dishes for Veggie Daters
The sushi-inspired Dream Roll is excellent, made with kim chee, spicy Portobello mushrooms, avocado, jicama rice and wakame seaweed wrapped in collard leaf. And the raw Pesto Wrap is our favorite entree, made with cashew cheese, pesto, cabbage, field greens, sweet onions, cucumber, caesar dressing and sprouts in a collard leaf.

9 Favorite Activities for Outdoor Singles

Jun 04, 2009

With temps warming up and summer almost here, outdoor singles are going through their garages and attics and pulling out their favorite summer activity gear. Whether it's raging down Class V rapids, carving down a perfect groomer, biking from inn to inn or hiking up a mountain, outdoor singles are happiest when they are outside doing what they love... and what better time to make a connection? So grab a paddle, ski or bike and get outside!

Here's a list of 9 favorite activities for outdoor singles and where to find the best of each activity.

Hiking, Camping and Backpacking
There's probably no easier way to experience the wilderness areas of the world than simply walking right into them and setting up a tent somewhere. Most countries have an established network of hiking trails and backcountry camping sites, which makes access and navigation easier, as well as setting up some opportunities for mingling with other outdoor singles.

The techniques for safe and responsible hiking and camping are simple for anyone to grasp - don't start fires except wherever they are specifically allowed, don't camp in high exposed mountainous terrain, don't use water sources as your personal kitchen or laundry room, minimize your impact on the land and respect nature. There are numerous books on the subject, like this one on ultralight backpacking.

Where to Find Hiking, Camping and Backpacking Singles
Any eco-friendly city worth its salt will be an easy drive from scenic hiking and camping, so stick to these areas for the best chances of meeting like-minded outdoor singles. The Sierras are the backyard playground for all the California coastal cities - Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks and Lake Tahoe are the big attractions, but don't forget the beautiful California coast itself with many hiking trails.

Closer to the cities, their Mount Tamalpais near San Francisco and Malibu Creek near Los Angeles. Vancouver's North Shore Mountains provide the backdrop for Canada's most eco-friendly city and offer a nearby network of great trails and campsites. Try camping along Howe Sound for unbeatable scenery.

Colorado's Rocky Mountains are a haven for outdoor singles of every stripe, and you'll be sure to find many of them plying the trails along the Front Range near Denver. Check out the trails in the hills above Boulder, home to one of the greenest and most attractive outdoor single communities anywhere. In the Northeast, the Adirondacks and Catskills of New York as well as the Green and White Mountains of New England are spectactular in the Fall, and are within a couple of hours' driving of all the major northeastern cities.

Britain's network of trails - or Ways, as they're locally called - is among the most established of any country. Many of them have historical significance and are very popular in the summer. The Pennine Way is an excellent place to start and chock full of hiking singles from Britain's major cities. The French Alps draw a huge array of people from all over the world, and the high mountain inns and lodges are perfect for meeting other hiking, camping and backpacking singles in the area.

Kayaking and Rafting
While this is one outdoor pastime that lets you sit down for the most part, it's anything but tame. Raging rapids all over the world draw kayaking and rafting singles to their waters. Luckily, there is a good range of options for all level of expertise, which is ideal for those hardcore kayaking singles whose perfect partner is equally advanced.

Open water or sea kayaking is another way to experience outdoor beauty, and takes the adrenaline factor down a couple notches. You can join up with a friend or date in a two-person kayak and leisurely paddle along your favorite coastal waters.

Where to Find Kayaking and Rafting Singles
Most coastal or mountainous cities populated with environmentally conscious citizens offer fantastic sea or river kayaking and rafting. The Pacific Northwest is a perfect example. Seattle, Portland, Bend and Eugene - all home to huge population of green and outdoor singles - are all a daytrip away from some of the best open water and river kayaking and rafting anywhere in the world. Try the Central Hood Canal for sea kayaking or the Class III Klickitat or Tieton Rivers for relatively mellow white water rafting. For experts, the Wind River is where it's at.

The Kootenay and Fraser Rivers in British Columbia attract thousands of outdoor singles from Vancouver and other BC cities every year. For the more adventurous singles out there, the 10 day Tatshenshini River trip to Alaska cannot be beat. The Sierras draw California green singles to the Merced, American and Stanislaus Rivers among many others that trickle down from the high Sierra peaks.

The coasts of Maine and Novia Scotia are popular with open water kayaking singles in the Northeast, while the wide rivers, huge lakes, fjords and lochs of Europe give outdoor singles there an incredible array of options.

OARS has some trips just for rafting and kayaking singles all over the western US.

Road and Mountain Biking
Whether it's touring through French wine country or barreling down a Rocky Mountain single-track trail, biking is a hugely popular activity the world over, and vivacious outdoor biking singles are in no short supply. There's something in the biking world for everyone, so like-minded biking singles are sure to meet each other based on their interests.

Bike tours are a great way to meet other biking singles. Over the course of several days, you get to know your fellow bikers intimately while biking through beautiful and often deeply cultural parts of the world. For any eco-travel destination, there are numerous operators offering a variety of tours.

Where to Find Biking Singles
For mountain bikers, there is always a selection of trails near major eco-friendly cities. Colorado's Front Range has some great trails with phenomenal views toward the Plains. Los Angeles' San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains serves SoCal biking singles with trails that gets you high above the notorious city smog. BCers have the North Shore Mountains and New Englanders have a huge range of biking opportunities - check out this site to get started.

For bike tour enthusiasts, the options are staggering. Ireland, France, Italy and Spain are popular European destinations, and each offer tours just for biking singles. For a more urban experience, New York has some city tours also just for road biking singles. This site is a good place to start for the best bike tours in the US.

Rock Climbing Singles
Rock climbing is a favorite pastime among outdoor singles with good reason - the pace is leisurely, the setting is almost always beautiful and deep in nature, and you have to climb with a partner. And wherever there are cliffs or exposed rocks, there is probably some climbing to be had. Climbing singles also have an advantage over other sports in that the equipment you need to get started is minimal - just shoes, a harness and a chalk bag.

Rock climbing comes in a few different flavors. Sport climbers clip into bolts drilled into the rock while trad climbers plug their own gear in as they ascend. Boulderers climb boulder, ice climbers climb ice, and aid climbers climb crazy things like El Capitan in Yosemite and Trango Towers in Pakistan. Beginners will probably start on sport climbs since these are usually regarded as the safest form of climbing.

Where to Find Rock Climbing Singles
Climbers are a tight bunch and it's very easy to meet other climbing singles at the base of a cliff or in a boulder field. The most popular climbing spots in the US include Yosemite and Joshua Tree National Parks in California, the numerous canyons around Boulder, Colorado, Cascadian crags of the Pacific Northwest, the Gunks of New York and the Southeast's Red River Gorge. These are all heavily populated with climbing singles out to get their groove on.

Europeans have Britain's Peak District, the French and Swiss Alps, coastal Spain and the Fontainebleau boulders near Paris to meet tons of European climbing singles. These areas tend to draw people from all over the world so it's also a good place to meet singles from other places as well.

Skiing
The only winter outdoor pastime on this list, skiing nonetheless attracts more outdoor singles than perhaps any of the other activities. Maybe it's the long chair rides or the thriving apres-ski scene, but skiing singles love the ski town vibe and can be found in droves.

Could also be the mystique of not knowing what that cutish-looking person really looks like behind the hat and goggles, or the effects of rarified mountain air on alcohol consumption. Whatever the reason, winter is no time to hole up at home!

Where to Find Skiing Singles
Some ski mountains are definitely known as singles hotspots. Killington in Vermont is a very notable example, if you like your parties wild and snow icy. Whistler in BC is Killington's equal nightlife-wise but with better snow and a much bigger ski area. In between, Aspen is the spot for well-heeled skiing singles while Vail does the job for the younger, less-well-off singles crowd. Jackson Hole has a booming nightlife component as well, and tends to draw hardcore experts to its steep and rocky slopes.

European skiing singles gather in Chamonix and Val d'Isere in France, Verbier in Switzerland, and Sauze D'Oulx in Italy. Each ski area is associated a classic Alp mountain village with a modern nightlife flair, and all are chock full of skiing singles.

15 Travel Tips for Green Singles

Jun 01, 2009

Green singles, don't leave home without reading through this excellent list of 15 tips for safe and responsible world travel, especially to less developed parts of the world. This list is written by Nicholas Kristof, whose full post you can read in the New York Times.

1. Carry a “decoy wallet,” so that if you are robbed by bandits with large guns, you have something to hand over. I keep $40 in my decoy wallet, along with an old library card and frequent-flier card. (But don’t begrudge the wallet: when my travel buddy was pickpocketed in Peru, we tried to jump the pickpocket, who turned out to be backed by an entire gang ... )

2. Carry cash and your passport where no robber will find it. Assuming that few bandits read this column, I’ll disclose that I carry mine in a pouch that loops onto my belt and tucks under my trousers.

3. Carry a tiny ski lock with a six-foot retractable wire. Use it to lock your backpack to a hotel bed when you’re out, or to the rack of a train car.

4. At night, set a chair against your hotel door so that it will tip over and crash if someone slips in at 4 a.m. And lift the sheet to look for bloodstains on the mattress — meaning bed bugs.

5. When it gets dark, always carry a headlamp in your pocket. I learned that from a friend whose hotel in Damascus lost power. He lacked a light but was able to feel his way up the stairs in the dark, find his room and walk in. A couple of final gropes, and he discovered it wasn’t his room after all. Unfortunately, it was occupied.

6. If you’re a woman held up in an isolated area, stick out your stomach, pat it and signal that you’re pregnant. You might also invest in a cheap wedding band, for imaginary husbands deflect unwanted suitors.

7. Be wary of accepting drinks from anyone. Robbers sometimes use a date rape drug to knock out their victims — in bars, in trains, in homes. If presented with pre-poured drinks, switch them with your host, cheerfully explaining: “This is an American good luck ritual!”

8. Buy a secondhand local cell phone for $20, outfit it with a local SIM card and keep it in your pocket.

9. When you arrive in a new city, don’t take an airport taxi unless you know it is safe. If you do take a cab, choose a scrawny driver and lock ALL the doors — thieves may pull open the doors at a red light and run off with a bag.

10. Don’t wear a nice watch, for that suggests a fat wallet and also makes a target. I learned that lesson on my first trip to the Philippines: a robber with a machete had just encountered a Japanese businessman with a Rolex — who now, alas, has only one hand.

11. Look out for fake cops or crooked ones. If a policeman tries to arrest you, demand to see some ID and use your cell phone to contact a friend.

12. If you are held up by bandits with large guns, shake hands respectfully with each of your persecutors. It’s very important to be polite to people who might kill you. Surprisingly often, child soldiers and other bandits will reciprocate your fake friendliness and settle for some cash rather than everything you possess. I’ve even had thugs warmly exchange addresses with me, after robbing me.

13. Remember that the scariest people aren’t warlords, but drivers. In buses I sometimes use my pack as an airbag; after one crash I was the only passenger not hospitalized.

14. If terrorists finger you, break out singing “O Canada”!

15. Finally, don’t be so cautious that you miss the magic of escaping your comfort zone and mingling with local people and staying in their homes. The risks are minimal compared with the wonders of spending time in a small village. So take a gap year, or volunteer in a village or a slum. And even if everything goes wrong and you are robbed and catch malaria, shrug it off — those are precisely the kinds of authentic interactions with local cultures that, in retrospect, enrich a journey and life itself.

Best Eco Travel Destinations for Green Singles

May 28, 2009

Summer is nearly here and thousands of green singles are taking to the air and road, seeking out the world's best eco travel destinations. From the jungles of Costa Rica to the ancient ruins of Cambodia, eco-travel opens up a mind-blowing world of culture and natural beauty to green singles looking for adventure.

Here are our favorite eco-travel destinations for eco-friendly singles, with a fair balance of budgets. Let us know if you've traveled to any of these places in the comments section, or where you plan to go this summer.

Costa Rica
Costa Rica has benefited from a strict conservation policy that has preserved huge swaths of pristine jungle, filled with amazingly diverse wildlife and awesome natural sights. Ecotourism was born in Costa Rica with its two coasts, a rugged interior mountain range, and thriving ecological systems in between.

Costa Rica Eco-Activities for Green Singles
Visit the Monteverde cloud forest, one of Costa Rica's world-class gems. Walk along suspension bridges high in the forest canopy and absorb the incredible energy of nature all around. Take a boat trip along the canals of Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast, Monteverde's swampy equivalent in terms of biodiversity. Stay in one of the eco-lodges along the Sarapiqui River and see what true natural conservation can achieve.

New Zealand
Long associated with eco adventure, New Zealand has thoroughly developed its ecotourism industry and now offers arriving green singles with a huge array of activities. The benefit of traveling to New Zealand is that it also offers a vibrant urban option for singles who want to take in some nightlife along with trekking and beachcombing. Wellington on the North Island and Christchurch on the South Island are both hopping with bars, restaurants and clubs.

New Zealand Eco-Activities for Green Singles
No eco-trip to New Zealand is complete without a visit to Queenstown, a world capital for outdoor adventure. Go rafting down the Shotover River, or cruise along Milford Sound and watch for dolphins, seals and penguins. Spend a week or a month working at one of many of the country's organic farms and mingle with green singles from all over the world. Strap on a backpack and go hostelling around the country, walking along a network of beautiful nature trails.

Alaska
It's too bad that most Americans will never see this phenomenally beautiful state… but maybe the latter couldn't happen without the former. From the pearl-string Aleutian Islands to the endless Bush that dominates most of the state, it's easy to get lost in Alaska's rugged wilderness. Ecotourism development has opened up a wide range of eco-travel activities to almost anyone with a reasonable physical fitness level.

Alaska Eco-Activities for Green Singles
Hike along one of the state's majestic glaciers and feel time stand still. Venture into Denali National Park, the eponymous home of the continent's highest peak. Explore the famous Inside Passage by canoe or cruise ship, and keep an eye out for grizzly bears and whales. Take a kayak out on Kachemak Bay, with one of the richest marine ecosystems in North America.

Ecuador
With magnificent Incan ruins, untouched jungle preserves, fascinating local culture and the world-famous Galapagos Islands, Ecuador is a popular eco-travel destination. More adventurous green singles are attracted to Ecuador eco-travel since its tourism infrastructure is not as developed as say, Costa Rica's. Ecuador's three main regions - La Costa, La Sierra, and La Amazonia - each offer a unique palette of eco-travel options and each demonstrate the natural beauty of this ancient land.

Ecuador Eco-Activities for Green Singles
The Galapagos Islands are where Darwin sprang his theory of evolution and is home to one of the most diverse ecological systems on earth – well worth a visit. On land, visit Yasuni National Park and its huge range of floral species and stay with the Huaorani, the warm indigenous people of this region. Visit a local shaman and partake in a healing session, the practice of which has been going on for centuries.

Kenya
While Africa offers some of the pristine and timeless ecological environments anywhere in the world, access to most of them remain very undeveloped and are the domain of only experienced eco-adventurers. Kenya has come the furthest in establishing a proper eco-friendly system for accessing its awesome natural highlights. A number of ecotourism organizations operating in Kenya succeed by enlisting the involvement of the indigenous population to provide access and improvements for visitors.

Kenya Eco-Activities for Green Singles
Go on safari with an eco-friendly tour operator who will ensure that you experience the animals on their terms. Stay in a Masai village and experience tribal culture the way it's been for many hundreds of years. Join the flocks of birdwatchers who come here for the largest variety of bird life anywhere on earth. Work with a conservation organization in the seaside city of Diani to preserve Kenya's Colobus monkey population.

Maui
Arguably the most eco-friendly island of the Hawaiian chain, Maui has a thriving eco-tourism industry that attracts green singles in droves. Whether hiking high mountainous terrain or reef diving off the coast, eco-travelers to Maui enjoy a full complement of eco-travel activities with a number of responsible eco-tour operators.

Maui Eco-Activities for Green Singles
Visit Haleakala National Park and hike up to the desolate summit crater with its incomparable views, or descend toward the ocean and find a tropical waterfall or two. Visit the "forbidden" Kahakuloa Valley and check out the ancient village and spectacular scenery that surrounds it. Dive off the coast and look for Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, abundant in these Maui waters.

Cambodia
While still emerging as a top eco-travel destination, Cambodia is rapidly getting attention for its spectacular ruins, diverse wildlife and beautiful natural scenery. Travel and accommodation remains very cheap in Cambodia, making it ideal for green singles on a budget. It is also near many other exciting destinations in Southeast Asia, making it easy to spend a long time in this part of the world.

Cambodia Eco-Activities for Green Singles
Birdwatching is huge is Cambodia, and whether or not you're a birdwatcher yourself, there is a lot of volunteer preservation effort going on that could use your involvement. Visit Angkor Wat of course, but stay with a local family in a traditional wooden house and come to appreciate the pace of Cambodian rural life. Stay with a community development program along the Mekong and get a chance to see local wildlife up close, like the rare Irawaddy River Dolphin.

Best Large Cities for Green Singles

May 25, 2009

There are certain cities of the world that stand out as particularly attractive for green singles. Effective cities are already great at bringing people together, so those that embody a green soul are even more conducive to finding that special green someone.

Some cities are blessed with leaders who actually pay attention to what's needed and implement ways to make their cities greener. Others are more grassroots, depending on a local force of aware citizens who take matters into their own hands. In either case, eco-minded people gather and connect… then go out on dates, fall in love, move in together, get married, make babies and live happily ever after!

If you don't already live in one of these cities, go and visit. You'll be amazed how quickly you can make friends and meet other eco-friendly singles.

San Francisco
Hippies, hipsters and some of the most open-minded people in the world call this wacky place home. With perfect hiking weather year round, extensive parks and coastlines, a young and ambitious social makeup and a year-round party atmosphere, San Francisco is a green single's dream city.

Green initiatives and practices are everywhere in SF. Hybrid taxis ply the streets, plastic grocery bags are banned and solar panels are visible everywhere. In 2008, the Board of Supervisors passed a 10-year solar rebate program that is the first of its kind in the country. Styrofoam containers in restaurants were banned the year before. With this kind of top-down commitment to making the city an eco-friendly landmark, it's no wonder that there are so many green singles here.

San Francisco Green Date Ideas
Take a hike up Mount Tamalpais in Marin County for the best view of the city, or walk along historic Stinson Beach just below. Eat at any of the countless organic restaurants dotted around San Francisco, like the legendary Chez Panisse, the city's top eatery year after year. Take a bike ride along the Embarcadero or through the Marina, or head north along the coast for some spectacular scenery.

Seattle
Seattle has long been identified with the green movement, even more so due to its lush verdant environs. The Pacific Northwest is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, offering up some of the best camping, fishing, biking and rafting anywhere. While San Francisco's green singles are more urbanized, Seattle's singles like to get dirty.

The biking commuter is a common sight in Seattle thanks to the numerous bike lanes, while the city's green leaders have brought more energy-efficient LEED-certified buildings than anywhere else in the US.

Seattle Green Date Ideas
Take a leisurely walk around Green Lake in north Seattle, a virtual breeding ground for new green couples. Visit Pike Place market for mouth-watering organic fruits and vegetables as well as the freshest fish anywhere in the city. Snoqualmie Falls is an easy drive out of the city and a great representation of Pacific Northwest natural beauty.

Portland
At the top spot on the Sustain Lane 2008 US City Rankings of the greenest cities in the country, Portland is synonymous with eco-friendliness. Anyone who has ever visited Portland knows that its downtown is extremely walkable and that its neighborhoods are charming and unique. This didn't happen by accident - city planners started incorporating a green plan for development and urban function more than 30 years ago, and the result is an extremely efficient infrastructure and urban layout.

Portland's green vision also includes creative initiatives to encourage people to incorporate a green lifestyle in every way, like the "20 Minute City" program, which will make it possible for all citizens to spend less than 20 minutes traveling from home to their destination.

Portland Green Date Ideas
Beside the numerous outdoor and nature activities like any of the Mount Hood trails or walks along the Columbia River, Portland offers a thriving cultural scene for green singles. In addition to annual open-air festivals like the 11-day-long Rose Festival and the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, regular events like the Portland Saturday Market (open from March to December) and the Pearl District's First Thursday art event are also a great way to meet other green singles.

Austin
An oasis in the surrounding Texas landscape of non-greenery, Austin sheds local stereotypes to lead the country in solar power production and other eco-friendly practices. The city is working to harness 20 percent of its power from renewable resources by 2020 as well as placing strict caps on emissions for local industries.

Austin is home to green companies like Whole Foods Market and caters to a very eco-conscious population, thanks to numerous credits and incentives to live greener lifestyles.

Austin Green Date Ideas
Austin is appropriately one of the greenest parts of the state, and offers a variety of outdoor recreation options like a hike in Zilker Nature Preserve or a picnic in Waterloo Park. Vegetarian and organic restaurants are everwhere, like local favorites Koriente and Casa De Luz.

Vancouver
Named as the world's most livable city by Economist magazine, Canada's green jewel is a model for sustainable urban living. Fully 90 percent of Vancouver's electricity comes from hydroelectric energy, a result of one of the most visionary city plans ever implemented. The city government invests heavily in tapping local renewable resources, including tide, solar, wave and wind power.

The city is drop-dead beautiful. With some of the world's best skiing hiding just behind the mountain façade to the north and a spectacular chain of islands known for good reason as the Sunshine Coast, Vancouver is swaddled in natural beauty in every direction.

Vancouver Green Date Ideas
Take a walk through the lush Stanley Park. With 10 percent more space than New York's Central Park, this sprawling greenery oxygenates Vancouver's downtown area. Take a small water taxi over to Granville Island and check out the quaint art galleries and shops, or walk along the waterfront. Head up north to Squamish, or take a ferry over to Vancouver Island – incredible natural scenery greets you either way.

Copenhagen
Probably best known for its essential public transportation system and millions of bicycles, Copenhagen is a city designed for mingling and making new friends. The city's citizens are among the most progressive and open-minded in Europe and do everything they can to support the numerous green initiatives. The city recently won the European Environmental Award for leadership in green planning, due in no small part to the pristine cleanliness of its ubiquitous waterways.

The Copenhagen area is also home to massive off-shore wind turbine farms – the city gets 10 percent of its energy needs from wind alone. The city's leaders continue to transform the urban landscape from one populated with emission-producing autos to the densest concentration of bike riders anywhere. Roads continue to be closed to make it easier for bikes to navigate the city streets.

Copenhagen Green Date Ideas
Copenhagen is home to some beautiful parks and gardens, not the least of which is the world famous Tivoli Gardens, near the city's center. At night, the park taps into some of those wind turbines to turn on thousands of lights scattered throughout the trees and structures. Visit one of the great organic produce shops – Copenhagen's citizens eat more organic food than anywhere else in the world.

Reykjavik
Iceland's premier city might seem like a cold, isolated place to people who haven't visited, but Reykjavik is actually one of the most progressive and green-oriented cities in the world. The city gets almost its entire supply of electricity from hydroelectric and geothermal sources, and aims to become the first city in the world to become completely fossil-fuel free by 2050.

The city actively tries to get its citizens to walk more by providing an extensive network of paths and dotting them with benches and drinking fountains. By adding half a million trees as part of this initiative, Reykjavik has become one of Europe's most walkable cities.

Reykjavik Green Date Ideas
Anyone will tell you that no trip to Iceland is complete without visiting the famous Blue Lagoon and its amazing thermal waters. Whale watching is also high on the list, as well as taking a hike on one of Videy Island's numerous trails and enjoying some amazing wildlife. The waterfront is always a popular spot with great views of the ocean and Mt Esja.

Eco Friendly Celebrities

May 23, 2009

Being rich and famous doesn't mean you can stop caring about your impact on the planet. In fact, many celebrities have a great opportunity to serve as role models for their fans and anyone else whose practices they might influence.

Rather than squandering their successes by buying yachts and overly massive homes, these celebrities demonstrate that eco-living is a necessary way of life and not a marketing ploy to generate attention. They remind us that it's up to each and every one of us to make a difference.

Leonardo DiCaprio

With throngs of gushing young women hanging on every word and wave, Leonardo could start a devil-worshipping cult in a second. But instead, he's taken the high road and is one of the most active eco-friendly Hollywood around.

Leo's new home at Riverhouse in New York is a paragon of eco-friendly living. With solar panels, low VOC paint and an in-house water treatment facility, Riverhouse sets a great example for responsible urban living.

Unlike most mega-titans of Leo's stature, he flies on commercial jets like the rest of us shlubs instead of high-tailing it on a private jet. He made the Oscar ceremonies go green and has worked with Al Gore, John Kerry and Barack Obama on green initiatives.

Yao Ming

When he's not crushing baskets for the Houston Rockets, Chinese-born basketball superstar Yao Ming is a passionate animal-rights advocate. His home country has one of the worst records on protecting endangered species, with some statistics saying that nearly 40 percent of all Chinese mammal species are endangered due to a variety of unsustainable practices. So it's all the more powerful for one of China's most revered athletic exports to speak up for what's right.

In ads like this one for ACAP Worldwide, Yao Ming has made it an off-court practice to represent China's rapidly declining and incredibly unique animal population.

Cate Blanchett

The beautiful and hugely successful Australian actress has used her fame to promote climate change awareness, particularly in her home country. Along with the Australian government, Blanchett launched the Who On Earth Cares initiative to create a virtual community of people working to reduce emissions and other climate-deteriorating practices.

Australia is particularly susceptible to drought, with many vital lakes drying up due to increasing temperatures. Blanchett has enlisted the help of many other well-known Australians to get the word out about climate change, and visits Australia's most affected regions to bring awareness to the situation.

Cameron Diaz

Diaz has emerged as one of the leading voices in the environmentally sustainable movement. Zipping around in her Prius, Diaz exemplifies the eco-friendly life in every aspect. Soon after Al Gore made his documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," Diaz joined forces with him to create and promote Save Our Selves - A Campaign for a Climate in Crisis, starting with a bang in the form of the Live Earth concert series.

Diaz also hosted the MTV documentary Trippin', which followed celebrities around the world as they visited ecological hotspots and brought awareness to their fragile state.

Chris Martin

The lead singer of Coldplay is part of one of the most successful music acts ever. With 50 million albums sold so far and no signs of slowing down, Martin and his bandmates reach people of every age and background around the world. It's heartening to see him use such massive influence to alert people to the unsustainable and extremely damaging impacts of unfair world trade.

Signing on as a spokesperson for Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign, Martin has traveled to some of the most impoverished parts of the world to bring awareness to the plight of their inhabitants as victims of unfair trade. He invariably incorporates the initiatives message into his performances, sometimes by emblazoning MTF on his piano.

Willie Nelson

One of the great musical icons of American culture, Willie Nelson is a legend in his own time. He's also been an advocate for environmental awareness for decades, and his work in this regard is as important a contribution to his legacy as is his music.

Beginning with the Farm Aid concerts back in the mid 1980s, Nelson has remained involved in promoting environmental awareness by helping to establish a nationwide network of biodiesel fuel stations through his company, BioWillie. He's also worked with the Animal Welfare Institute to curtail animal abuses, particularly among horses.

Natalie Portman

The young Harvard graduate has already made a big impact on environmental awareness, especially through her work in promoting microfinance initiatives in undeveloped countries. Working with FINCA International, Portman has visited countries like Ecuador and Uganda and has spoken at universities throughout the country to teach students of the benefits of microfinance.

Portman also just launched her own vegan shoe line and recently completed filming a documentary about Rwanda's endangered mountain gorillas.

Daryl Hannah

Daryl Hannah of Splash fame has emerged as one of the most passionate and vocal environmental activists in the notoriously fickle celebrity world. With an entertaining and popular blog called DH Love Life, Hannah has made a name for herself by getting down and dirty in promoting environmental awareness. In 2006, she chained herself to a tree at Los Angeles' South Central Farm for three weeks to prevent bulldozers from destroying the farm and spent time in jail as a result.

Hannah is currently traveling to undeveloped parts of the world to film a documentary on the sex slavery trade.

Ed Norton

One of the finest actors of his generation, Ed Norton has used his fame to make affordable and environmentally-sustainable housing his signature cause. As a board member of the Enterprise Community Partners, an affordable housing developer, Norton makes sure that low-income families have access to quality housing that also employ all the benefits of green technology.

Norton also lends his face, name and voice to complementary initiatives like BP's Solar Neighbors program, which installs solar panels on homes in affordable housing programs.

The Green RV

May 21, 2009

Traveling around the country in an RV is a great way to live a simple, natural life, except for two niggly little words: gas guzzler. The engines required to move these beasts around are beefy, and beefy engines need a lot of juice. Even relatively small Class-C RVs get only 8 to 10 miles per gallon.

Until now. RVs that run on biodiesel are becoming more and more popular, and the word is getting out that making the switch to biodiesel isn't all that complicated. Many regular diesel engines can run on B20 biodiesel (20% biodiesel) without any modifications at all. You can make biodiesel at home with one of the many kits on the market, and biodiesel stations are popping up around the country.

The bioTrekker is one notable example of a biodiesel-fueled RV. The bioTrekker is a large Class-A RV that tours the country with its owners promoting the benefits of biodiesel and demonstrating that a green-RV lifestyle is possible.

Meanwhile, a Montana couple ride around in a green RV that goes beyond just the engine. Bamboo floors and non-toxic paints are used inside, and a small wind turbine and solar panels power the electrics.

The benefit of green RVing is most obvious in allowing RVers to stay off the grid for longer. Harnessing natural sources of energy and using that energy in efficient ways opens up a world of new opportunities.

New Server Switch

May 19, 2009

BlogCatalog

Hey EcoDaters, sorry for the absence of really anything in the last couple of weeks... we were in the process of switching over to a new, faster server to make sure we have enough juice to keep the wheels greased.

We're all done now so expect some new posts, EcoPolls, links and more in the coming days and weeks. Thanks for your patience and happy ecodating!

Innovative Eco Friendly Solar Panels

Mar 26, 2009

A very cool new solar product might be hitting the market later this year, along with a variety of other innovative new eco-friendly products. Veranda Solar, a company based in Oakland, CA, will be releasing an inexpensive panel aimed at the consumer market for about $600 per panel, much more affordable than spending tens of thousands for roof-mounted solar panels.

The panels can connect to each other to make a larger and more powerful array. You can set these up just about anywhere that receives sunlight, and the solar inverter (which converts solar DC power to electric-grid AC power) plugs directly into your home's wall socket. Developed by two graduates of Stanford's Product Design Program, the concept started as a master's program project but turned into something with a lot of promise very quickly.

Capra J'neva and Emilie Fetscher, Veranda Solar founders, now need to raise enough money to produce the panels. They recently won a green technology competition and were awarded $124,000 but are looking to secure big-bucks venture capital financing to move forward.

With the economy crumbling all over the place, new and innovative ideas like this one are going to start taking hold and sprouting up from the ashes. There's going to be all sorts of programs to encourage new thinkers and entrepreneurs to come to market with their ideas - in some ways, the economic collapse is one of the best things that's happened in the world of idea-making.

Cooperation and Competition

Mar 26, 2009

There's both. It seems like our lives are defined in a way by the balance between these two forces. On one side, we need to cooperate with the people around us to preserve a sense of law and order. But on the other, we compete with each other all the time - on the soccer field, in the office, in the sandbox as infants... even in the uterus, little spermies are fighting with each other to be the last one standing.

It's in our instincts to compete with each other, to claim a portion of some limited resource. We need to compete to get the right home, to go to the right college, to get a good job, even to get the last ripe banana from the local grocery store's produce section.

So in an eco-friendly world, how do we balance the two?

Alan Watts, one of the great thinkers of our time, offered a story once about bees and flowers. The bees are biologically speaking a separate and unique species unto themselves - they can fly anywhere they damn well please without caring what anyone else says.

Flowers are also a totally separate species - they just come out of the ground and look pretty and do their thing. But when a bee leaves the hive and settles on a flower and gets drunk on nectar, it's not like going down to the corner pub for a good time; the bee's entire livelihood depends on it. The bee can't exist without the flower, and the flower, which depends on something with wings to spread its seed, can't exist without the bee.

So in essence, the bee and the flower are one single organism, separate physically but one hundred percent co-dependent biologically.

Isn't it the same way with people? Don't we depend on things all around us for our survival and well-being? Is there really anything on earth that can survive completely independently?

We might as well say that the entire world is one single organism, which in fact is the Gaia Hypothesis. Even though competition takes place on a micro level, the role competition plays is to make cooperation easier by filtering out the blockages. There is competition in our own bodies, as some cells die, bacteria fight for a foothold, the body ready to reject anything it doesn't recognize. But as a whole, everything cooperates in such a way that we go on living and breathing.

We only need to look at the fact that human civilization has not already destroyed itself in a torrent of bombastic flag-waving and weapons-of-mass-destructioning. Seems like people were a lot more barbaric back in the days of spiked maces and clubbing (not the disco kind, the head-shattering kind), and a lot more civil now.

So no matter how much it may seem like the apocalypse is upon us, maybe we as EcoDaters can derive a little hope from the knowledge that cooperation is nature's way, and that all the petty conflict in the world is nature's mechanism to ensure maximum cooperation.

Eco Friendly Saint Patricks Day

Mar 17, 2009

Happy Saint Patty's day to you! While most people associate Saint Patrick's Day with drinking green beer and hazily glorifying the drunken vigor of college, the day is actually supposed to honor Saint Patrick's missionary success in Ireland in converting people to Christianity.

There's also something about driving snakes out of the country, but snakes hadn't been found in Ireland since the last glacial period so that part of the story can be credited to the infamous Dublin gossip hounds of the 17th Century, when celebrating Saint Patrick's Day first became popular.

As many people know, Saint Patrick was not Irish but Welsh, and was actually first brought to Ireland as a slave late in the 4th Century after having been captured by Irish raiders at the age of 16. After coming home to his family a few years later, he returned to Ireland under the auspices of the Roman Catholic church, and did his thing as the voice of the Pope.

How does Saint Patrick's Day relate to eco-living? GREEN! There's more green in the world on Saint Patrick's Day than on any other day - I just looked out my window here in a Denver suburb and saw a woman clad head to toe in green walking her dog. Everyone thinks, feels, wears and drinks green today. Another woman wearing a green sweater just walked by pushing a stroller.

But along with other highly commercialized holidays in America, there is a whole lot of green plastic and paper crap sold on Saint Patrick's Day, which is not green at all. While it's great to see people wearing and thinking green, pumping tons of cheap green products into the environment is a bummer, so please, if you're celebrating today, just dig out an old green shirt and call it good - say NO to holiday commercialization!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day from EcoDater - be safe and go green.

Simple Easy Ways to be Eco Friendly Right Now

Mar 11, 2009

This is the ecodater blog's first post and we thought we'd start with something simple, easy and eco-friendly, little ways you can be eco-friendly right away, with minimal effort. the great thing about this approach is that the rule of "strength in numbers" is in full effect here.

Think about it - if even two people each do something little today, then the effort of one lone person has doubled, just by one other lone person making an effort too. with ten people doing it, the effort has been multiplied ten times! Now extrapolate to a hundred people, a hundred thousand, and it starts to add up pretty quickly.

1. Turn lights off when you leave a room - This is about as simple as it gets, requiring nothing more than awareness and small arms movements. Look around when you drive through a neighborhood at dark. how many lights are on in people's homes? Are they all having an art opening or did they just leave unnecessary lights on?

2. Lower the temperature on your fridge - Go to your fridge right now and no matter what the setting is, turn it warmer one degree. You'll probably never even notice but the planet will if even only a few thousand people did this.

3. Lower your thermostat - Same thing applies to your thermostat; whatever it's currently set to, turn it down one degree. If you get cold, wear warmer clothes, use an extra blanket, or share body heat with the people around you.

4. Unplug unused appliances - That random stereo component on the shelf that never gets used is still sucking juice even if it's turned off. Check your house and unplug any electric appliances that you don't use on a regular basis. Better yet, sell them on ebay and share the love.

5. Buy an organic fruit or vegetable - Next time you're at the store and organic produce is available, pick up an organic apple or banana. The extra cost goes to supporting these vital industries and ensuring their continued viability. And the stuff just tastes better.

6. Spend less time in the shower - Try to feel guilty every minute you spend in the shower. Think about the water going down the drain as flooding a room full of kittens. This should help you get out of the shower a minute or two sooner than usual.

7. Use reusable bags for shopping - Don't ever use another plastic or paper bag again. Spend the 99 cents to buy a reusable bag (or keep the paper/plastic bags from your next shop) and use them over and over. They never break and announce to the world that you're not an irresponsible plastic-bag-toting horrible monster.

8. Eat more greens - Meat uses many times more natural resources to produce than vegetables. Cows eat 14 times more grain than they produce as meat (another reason for grass-fed beef). Having one more vegetarian meal a week won't freak anybody out and it's a lot healthier too.

9. Swap one incandescent bulb for a CFL bulb - Compact fluorescent light bulbs use about a quarter of the power that a traditional bulb uses, and give off a similar light. This is something you don't even have to do every day - just do it once and you're done for months.

10. Buy local - Check the labels next time you're at the store. If you have an option, buy the producer closest to you. Every time you step into any kind of purchasing situation, just keep repeating "local local local" in your head.

11. Learn to share - This is a lot easier than you think it is, and can be applied to circumstances sprinkled liberally throughout your day. Sharing is one of the best ways to help the planet, and it also feels pretty good.

Plan a meal with friends and share food, drink and good times.
Share a ride to the store or work and have someone to talk to, instead of being stuck in your head.
If you hear a good tip or bit of wisdom, share it next time you have a conversation with someone.
Share the things you don't need or use anymore and accept the same sharing from others (the "free stuff" section on craigslist is a goldmine).

So there you go, a handful of simple, easy ways to get your eco-friendly groove on. If you have any simple, easy eco-friendly tips, please leave them in the comments section.

EcoDater Mission

Mar 05, 2009

EcoDater is about creating connections between people. We think people want to naturally find each other and share their interests and passions. We see it all the time – at music festivals, in churches and temples, in nightclubs, campsites, classrooms and in each other's homes, people are seeking out and participating in their own communities all the time.

We believe that connection is the natural force of our world. From the neural networks in our brains to the bits and bytes that whiz around the digital network, connectivity is everywhere. Natural examples abound - the network of roots under a tree, the network of rivers and streams that trickle down to the oceans, the network of peaks and valleys of our planet's mountain ranges. The founding principles of EcoDater are to honor the natural beauty of networks and to use them in bringing people together.

EcoDater is primarily a dating site and a for-profit enterprise. But we believe that the only responsible way to make money in this world is to do it for the betterment of the community in which we all live and function. And dating is one of the wonderful ways in which we connect and find each other. The people we meet during our dating days are some of the best teachers we'll ever have, and one of them will be our partner for life.

We're a place for friends too. After all, meeting someone new is an opportunity to meet a new friend, no matter what form that friendship takes. And what makes EcoDater special is that we already all have something in common – a love of the natural life, the eco-friendly life. EcoDaters care deeply about nature, and they find strength, solace and companionship in others who do too.

The EcoDater.com website is our home online. The internet is one of humankind's greatest gifts to itself and EcoDater is one of many examples of how it can be harnessed in a positive way. We're starting off modestly, but we will stay involved every small step of the way, every day working to make the site serve its members better. We will listen to you, the members of our community, and give you a voice in making EcoDater work better for you.

We have a lot of great ideas and plans for the future, and we'll open them up for discussion on the EcoDater blog. If there's anything you want to know beyond that, we invite you to ask us anytime via email or by posting a blog comment.

With participation comes responsibility, and we are always working to ensure the safety of our members. EcoDater is not a community for everyone - some people may stand back and just observe, and some may even try to find ways to undermine the principles of our community. But through your active participation and our constant vigilance we can maintain and enrich the EcoDater community as it matures. If you ever see anything on the site or in interacting with other members that just doesn't feel right, please let us know right away.

We created EcoDater because it represents the best of what we see and experience in this world – community, connectivity, friendship, and a respect for the natural life. It's our modest but noble effort to make a positive impact on people's lives, and to leave this world a little bit better than how we found it.

Welcome to the EcoDater community... you're among friends.

The EcoDater Team