Plastic bottle or stainless steel? This NY Times Op piece by Daniel Goleman and Gregory Norris sums it up. How Green Is My Bottle?

To summarize, if you think you will buy more than 50 plastic water bottles in your lifetime, then stainless steel is a better environmental choice.

If you only plan on buying one, then plastic has less of an impact on the planet.

Read the story...

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...419bottle.html

Eco Design + Living is an online resource for living sustainably on the Emerald Coast and beyond. For more information e-mail chandra@cfhdesignstudio.com

...it doesn't get much better than this.


The photo doesn't do this breakfast of eggs benedict justice. Before my significant other could take the first bite, I quickly whisked it away for a photo shoot.






Eco Design + Living is an online resource for living sustainably on the Emerald Coast and beyond. For more information e-mail chandra@cfhdesignstudio.com

Occasionally, we're given the opportunity to make a difference in our community. This week we were handed a chance to give back to our community when my friend Kathy Barrs from the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Panama City Beach asked us if we would produce a public service announcement for Earth Day on April 11th. We jumped at the chance to support such a wonderful cause! Here's the spot which will be running on WMBB and Knology. Please come by on the 11th to check it out if you are in town. Did I mention there would be free hotdogs???

Please visit Diva Productions - Cinematography & Photography: Earth Day - April 11, 2009 to check out the spot and to get more information

see attachment for my recent article published in thicket magazine for their Beach Guide, plus a great article, "go west," written by Ann Williams, focusing on the areas in South Walton, west of Grayton, such as Redfish Village and some of the surrounding businesses. You can subscribe to thicket at www.thicketmag.com.

Thicket is based in Alabama, but has many readers who are very familiar with our area in South Walton.

(My articles are posted below.)

Top 10 At the Beach

by Murray Balkcom


In our special little beach area of Florida’s Emerald Coast, there are no big-box stores, dance clubs, and chain restaurants. Some people want that from their beach vacation, and tend to stay in the bigger towns of Destin and Panama City Beach. But for folks wanting something different, then south Walton County is the place for you. We ’re for the visitor who‘s never heard of Sally’s in Blue Mountain Be ach and has no clue that Sally’s has the absolute-best fried chicken they will ever eat, but after a tip from an insider like me, you’ll go home with that little gem tucked away for future vacations.


My list of 10 hidden gems follows (in no particular order), and I highly recommend all of the places on this list, along with encouragement to find...

Everyone check out this new website Fleming's has put up. It is a virtual voyage into wine making regions in California and explores the new "Fleming's 100" This tour is hosted by Fleming's own Marian Jansen op de Haar.

http://www.vinevoyage.com/