General

=How Green can you go?= This article appeared at treehugger.com Anyone got wedding plans?

Once upon a time I put together a guide on [|how to green your wedding], and I even blogged about my own [|DIY-flavored eco-wedding]. But my darling wife and I have been upstaged by Julia Davis and Andy McLeod of Maine. Not content with buying local food, the couple have decided to grow their own produce for the wedding feast. And I don't just mean a few lettuce and tomatoes. Julia and Andy are growing everything!  According to the Portland Press Herald, the couple—who [|started their wedding garden]with the help of friends on some loaned land—aren't even limiting themselves to vegetables. The couple plans to take delivery of a flock of chickens that will eventually end their lives as part of the celebrations: "Some observers will invariably think they are crazy -- does a bride really need any more stress as her wedding day approaches? Others will admire the guts it takes to throw planting and weeding and watching the weather into the long mix of chores that have to be done before one of the most important days of your life." It's pretty impressive stuff. But as a person currently struggling with a veggie garden designed to feed myself and my wife, I can't say I envy them.

www.treehugger.com = = =Books= There are many fabulous books out there which address different environmental issues. Some favourites are 'The Lorax' by Dr Seuss. He looks at what can happen when we waste the Truffula tree. Very amusing with a scary hidden message. There is a 1970s animation of the Lorax so if anyone knows where we can find one of these, that would be great. Also they are in the process of making a 3D movie of this. It isn't being released until March 2012 but that might interest the kids. The trailer will be out soon!

A text for older children (3-6) is the Iron Woman by Ted Hughes. This follows on from the Iron Man and is similar except she is a woman made from the environment. It has some underlying messages which can be related back to saving the environment.

media type="custom" key="6507803" = = = = =The Lorax= I have downloaded The Lorax movie. The quality is not the best and it is in three parts but it is old! I tried to buy a copy but I can't find it anywhere! Look for them on the Teacher drive - not sure where yet! May need to create a file. I will let you know when I do. You can view it using Quicktime or similar application. = = = = = = =Twitter=

Are you on Twitter? If so there are some great environmental and recycling groups you can follow.

I like Love Food Hate Waste. They have some great ideas for reducing the amount of food we waste. Also the Eden Project for Schools have some great little facts which they update followers regularly.

Please let us know if you have any others you can add!

Planning
Here is a copy of Mel and Sam's Unit planning for waste. Feel free to have a look and you might be able to use or alter something in it. Please be aware this is still a working document.