(Photo: Trystan L. Bass)

You don’t have to be a millionaire to
serve your holiday meal on crystal and silver. Just hit the thrift stores asap
before you need to carve that turkey or pour cocktails. Or call friends or Freecycle.
Plenty of lightly used fine china is out there just waiting to be invited to a
festive occasion.

Don’t worry about mismatched dishes — there are a few ways
around the issue to make it all look pretty. First, aim for plain, solid colors
when possible. White plates go with everything, no matter the style. Clear
glass and shiny silver are lovely and sparkle when they’re cleaned up.

Then decorate to tie the look together. Use lots of greenery
around the table. Dim the overhead bulbs and light candles, which is always
flattering. Pass the wine and toast a celebration that looks beautiful, didn’t
cost a lot, and reuses goods instead of creating waste.

Free stuff

People are always clearing out their closets on Freecycle and
other reuse groups. Someone received two identical silver trays as a wedding
gift and was too late to return one. Or empty-nesters realize they don’t need
place settings for 20 people anymore.

Find
a reuse group in your neighborhood, and see what people are giving away. Look
in the “free” listings under the “for sale” category of Craigslist. Not only might you find
servingware, you could find extra tables and chairs.

And after the holidays, if you receive an extra turkey
platter as an unwanted gift, pass it along on Freecycle to someone who can use
it.

Borrowed stuff

If extended family and friends are already coming over for
the big meal, ask them to bring another set of dishes, some silverware, extra
glassware, or a few spare bowls or platters. They’re not cooking, so they
aren’t using these things. It’s a no-brainer!

New to town or looking for something your family doesn’t
have? Try NeighBorrow, an new online
match-making service that connects people in a community to lend things to each
other. If you need a punch bowl in Quincy,
Illinois, you’re in luck.

(Photo: Trystan L. Bass)

Second-hand stuff

Thrift stores across the U.S. are brimming with gently used housewares
at incredibly low prices. At Goodwill,
Salvation Army, and similar charity
shops, you will find perfectly good wine glasses for maybe 50 cents each and dinner
plates for around a dollar.

It’s hard to find sturdy paper and plastic stuff that costs so little (or looks so good!), and when you buy the real deal
second-hand, you’re not adding to landfill trash or excess
manufacturing waste.

In just the quickest search, you’ll usually find stacks of
silver (and faux silver) trays big enough for the largest turkey or ham. If you
need a cake plate or pie server, huge bowls to serve salad, petite dishes for
sides, just pick through the shelves.

Don’t forget about the linens. Thrift stores are often chock
full of tablecloths and napkins, even complete matched sets. From cutesy
holiday themes to designer labels like Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, great table linens are
ripe for the picking. Just give ‘em a wash and press, and you can set the
table (or multiple tables) for far less than what new cloths would cost.

Shopping at charity stores is affordable for you, it helps people in your community, and you’re keeping usable goods in circulation. Plus, if you decide after the holidays that you don’t need those extra wine glasses in your kitchen, you can donate them back to the charity. You’ll get a little tax break, and the charity can resell the goods again. Win-win!

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(Photo: Getty Images)

Nope. Peanuts are
technically legumes,
which makes them much more closely related to lentils, peas, and beans than to hazelnuts, and other true nuts.

The reason peanuts suffer from an identity crisis
is because they are used in the same ways nuts are in our diets even though
they are not nuts in the pure botanical sense. They also have characterisitics of both legumes and nuts. 

What’s the difference
between the two groups? Legumes have edible seeds enclosed in (and often attached
to) a pod that splits along both sides. Picture a pea pod.

Nuts,
on the other hand, are essentially the seed and fruit together. Nuts usually
only have one seed (on rare occassions two) and don’t open on their own.

Peanuts are legumes because they have a pod and are grown underground instead of on bushes and trees (as nuts are), according to a spokesperson from The Peanut Institute. 

In fact, you may
be surprised to learn that many
of the foods we consider nuts aren’t technically nuts. Brazil nuts and pine nuts
are considered seeds. Almonds are the
seeds of drupes (fleshy fruits with a hard pit that encloses the seed). Pistachios,
cashews, and coconuts
are also not true nuts.

For everyday use
it’s probably easiest to just go with the broad culinary definition of a nut (a large
seed that comes from a shell) and leave it that!

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is often referred to as a huge floating island of trash in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Scientists don’t know exactly how big it is, although many estimate that it’s the size of the state of Texas or even twice that.

But for all the talk about the enormity of this floating trash island and its detrimental affect on marine life, it’s not easy to visualize. You can’t see the mounds of plastic debris with the naked eye or satellite photos because most of the plastic has broken down into tiny pieces that lie beneath the ocean’s surface. 

Photographer Chris Jordan, who has captured the essence of American mass consumption and tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina on film, has found a way to document the impact of the vast amounts of discarded plastic on marine life.

In the fall of 2009, Jordan visited the Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean and photographed the astounding evidence of human garbage found inside the bellies of albatross chicks. The baby birds are fed plastic debris by their parents who mistake it for food. As a result, hundreds of thousands of albatross babies are poisoned, choked, or suffer from deadly blockages every year. 

Jordan says in his blog that his photographs portray the actual stomach contents of the baby birds and that the plastic was not “moved, placed, manipulated, arranged, or altered in any way.”  

You can see more of these photos, as well as larger versions, in Jordan’s “Midway: Message from the Gyre” gallery on his website. All photos used here with permission.

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Taking the bus can be a cheaper commute than driving a car. No fluctuating gas prices or expensive
vehicle maintenance to deal with. Leave the driving to someone else, and you
can read a book, talk on the phone, or listen to your iPod for a more relaxing
route to work or school.

But waiting for the bus can be a chore … unless you get to
hang out in one of these unusual bus stops around the world. Some communities
celebrate their heritage, others places make use of creative materials, and a few towns let
artists express themselves with a bus stop as the canvas.

Maybe if more transit systems had attractive bus stops like
these, more people would enjoy a car-free commute!

(Photo courtesy of Groundwork Sheffield.)

For a truly green commute, how about starting at a bus stop
with a living roof? Groundwork Sheffield teamed up with the South Yorkshire Passenger
Transport Executive and the Sheffield City Council to crown this U.K. stop with
a leafy top. The plants will help filter pollution generated by nearby traffic.

(Photo courtesy of Martin
Croonenbroeck.)

Like a fairy tale cottage, this Estonian bus shelter is an
utterly charming place to wait.

(Photo courtesy of metal-dog.)

Curitiba,
Brazil, goes
high-tech with tubular glass-and-steel bus stops. The style is evocative of
subway systems.

(Photos courtesy of Christopher Fennell.)

A recycled school bus drives home the point that public
transportation is a great alternative. Sculptor Christopher Fennell used parts
of three old buses, plus the seat of a decommissioned city bus, to give
citizens of Athens, Georgia, a unique place to catch a
ride.

(Photo courtesy of Paul & Kelly.)

Talk about a relaxed commute — this isolated bus stop on Shetland Island
in Scotland
features a couch and television! Does that mean there’s a long wait between
buses?

(Photo courtesy of Felicitas Meissner.)

With thick walls and deep shutters, this round bus stop is
ideally suited to its chilly location on the Baltic Sea island of Rügen in Germany.

(Photo courtesy of Arturo de Albornoz.)

This Mexican bus stop really scores with a shelter made from
a soccer net.

 

 

 

(Photo courtesy of Bruno
Taylor.)

A few London
commuters got to swing away their time waiting for the next bus, thanks to
artist Bruno Taylor.

(Photo courtesy of Greg Balzer.)

If you have to wait for public transit, you can’t beat the view in Yosemite Valley.
This bus stop is surrounded by gorgeous vistas, and it’s made from natural
materials that reflect the setting.

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Not only can a walk in the park be relaxing, looking at greenery can actually improve your relationships and make you more generous.
That’s what a University
of Rochester
research team discovered in a series of studies published on
October 1, 2009.

Nearly 400 people looked at photos of either
natural environments or man-made landscapes. Then these participants answered
questions about the importance of personal relationships, community, wealth,
and fame. In some of the studies, people were also given $5 to keep or pass
along to another participant.

People who looked at pictures of
nature in the study placed a high value on being connected to other people in their lives and
community. These same people were more likely to share their money with others.
The people who only looked at urban cityscapes didn’t rate relationships or
generosity as very important. They placed more emphasis on wealth and fame.

Study coauthor and professor of psychology, psychiatry, and
education Richard Ryan said this shows how “stopping to experience our natural
surroundings can have social as well as personal benefits.”

Lead author Netta Weinstein agrees: “We are influenced
by our environment in ways that we are not aware of.” She suggests that this
information points to the need for more green spaces in cities.

Professor Ryan discusses the study’s findings in this
video:

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(Photo: Geanixx / Wikimedia)

The thought of seeing a shark or a python in the wild is enough to send chills up most people’s spines. But some of the animals we’re most afraid of are actually good for us.

Some help control insect populations naturally and reduce the need for toxic chemicals. Others are being studied by medical researchers and may be valuable in treating human disease.

Here are some examples of villains that are actually heroes:

Bats have a reputation for being dirty disease carriers (although in China they’re a symbol of happiness and good luck). In reality bats do a lot more good than harm. The flying mammals feast on moths, beetles, gnats, crickets, and more so they keep insect populations under control. Some species pollinate flowers and scatter the seeds of plants. Their guano is used as a rich natural fertilizer, a welcome alternative to synthetic versions.

Spiders may be creepy, but most of them are harmless to humans. Tarantulas and other large hairy spiders are particularly scary, but their bite is usually less harmful than a bee sting (unless a person is severely allergic). Spiders reduce the number of mosquitoes and other disease carrying insects. Spider venom and silk may have numerous medical benefits in the future. Scientists are studying how it can help treat arthritis, neurological disease, impotence, and more.

Ball pythons, or any pythons for that matter, are not poisonous. Instead they kill by constricting their prey, typically small rodents such as mice and rats. They prevent overpopulation of rodents and its harmful affects on the environment.

Sharks do kill a few people each year, but unprovoked attacks are rare. At the top of the ocean food chain, sharks play a valuable role in maintaining the ocean’s ecosystem. As the number of sharks decrease, the number of small fish we don’t like to eat grows. Medical researchers are studying sharks’ amazing immune systems and hope to shed light on curing human disease.

Vultures eat animal carcasses. Believe it or not this is a huge public service. By removing dead animals that can harbor bacteria and disease, the scavenger birds keep the environment clean and prevent disease from spreading.

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(Photo: Quan-Tuan Luong /
terragalleria.com / PBS)

The early United States borrowed concepts of democracy from
ancient Greece and mixed that with Enlightenment ideals from French
philosophers to create a new country in the 18th century. But we did have one pretty
original idea that’s been copied the world over: the national park. Not before
the founding of Yellowstone National Park had a government preserved virgin
land for the use of the all the people, in perpetuity.

Emmy-award winning director Ken Burns chronicles this once-radical notion in a six-part miniseries titled “National Parks: America’s Best Idea” for PBS. Through this amazing documentary, we can not only learn the history of our parks but see, in glorious footage, all 53 parks across the
country in all seasons. The series premieres on TV on September 27, plus
it’s available on DVD and Blu-Ray on October 6.

While millions of people visit Yellowstone every year, not
everyone may know about the struggle to keep commercial interests from
plastering patent-medicine ads around Old Faithful. The Sixth U.S. Calvary was
stationed in the park for 30 years to protect the geysers and prevent animal poaching.

This documentary isn’t just a travelogue or dry history. Through quotes and retellings by famous actors like Tom Hanks, the film reveals a deep spiritual element to many
of the early proponents of natural preservation. Inspired by the 19th century philosophers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, many felt that one became
closer to God when in the wilderness.

First among these was the naturalist John Muir. His writings
reflect a strong Christian background and a belief that the natural world is
full of beauty and wonder created by a higher power. Muir passionately felt
that people must take care of what God had given them, and his extensive
travels (often by foot) through the South, California, and Alaska strengthened
these attitudes.

“A man who neither believed in God nor glaciers must be
very bad, indeed the worst of all unbelievers,” said Muir while in Alaska.
He published many works about Yosemite and the Northwest and was influential in
getting Yosemite declared America’s second national park.

This series will follow the history and development of America’s
park system from the initial two, Yellowstone and Yosemite, up to the present. You’ll see more about
familiar heroes like President Theodore Roosevelt and unknowns who made a
lasting contribution, like photographer George Masa, a Japanese immigrant whose
photos of the Smoky Mountains were influential in getting the land set aside.

Tune in, and you’ll want to make plans for your next
vacation. After all, these are your parks too.

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The majority of our planet (about 70%) is ocean. Yet scientists still have a lot to learn about what lies beneath the ocean’s surface. What we have discovered so far is fascinating.

How much do you know about the mysteries of the ocean?

Below are some fun facts to get you started. And please share additional factoids in the comments below.

• We’ve only explored less than 5 percent of the ocean. In fact, we have better maps of Mars and the moon than we do of the ocean floor. The first “Census of Marine Life” will be completed in 2010. It will feature a comprehensive list of all the life forms in the ocean.
• About 94 percent of life on earth is aquatic, according to Graham Hawkes, a world-renowned engineer and inventor.
• Mountains, valleys, volcanoes, canyons, lakes, waterfalls, and more can be found in the ocean. The longest mountain range in the world is found under water. The mid-ocean ridge spans 40,389 miles and is formed by the movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates. The first divers explored the mid-ocean ride in 1973, four years after Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon.
• The Great Barrier Reef is large enough to be visible from space. In fact, it’s the largest living structure on earth. Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and are sometimes referred to as “the rainforests of the sea.”
• There are more artifacts and historical remnants in the oceans than in all the planet’s museums combined.
• Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the sea. They can grow to up to 50 feet and weigh in at a ton.
• Many of the foods we eat contain ingredients from the ocean. Peanut butter, for example, is easier to spread because it contains carrageenan (compounds extracted from red algae).

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Yellowstone (Photo: National Park Service)

The spotlight is now turned on our national parks thanks to a new documentary by Ken Burns. The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, a six-episode PBS series, will premier on Sunday, September 27. And it’s available on DVD and Blu-Ray on October 6.

Our national parks have been around for more than a century, but there is still much to learn. Below are just a few surprising facts about some of the most spectacular spots in the U.S.

• Delaware is the only state without a national park, monument, or historic site. California, on the other hand, is home to the most national parks within the contiguous U.S. 
• Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. It was created 7,700 years ago when the 12,000-foot high Mount Mazama collapsed after a huge eruption.
• Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America.
• Everglades National Park is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles live side-by-side. In fact, it was the first national park that was preserved because of its diverse wildlife. 
• Great Smoky Mountains was the most visited national park in 2008, with more than 9 million visitors. It’s not surprising when you take into account that 50% of the U.S. population lives within a days’ driving distance of the park. Grand Canyon was number two (4.4 million visitors), and Yosemite was the third (3.4 million visitors) most visited national park.
• Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest known cave system. More than 367 miles have been explored.
• Yellowstone is the world’s first and nation’s oldest national park.
• Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest park in the United States. Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial is the smallest.
• Gerald Ford worked as a seasonal park ranger at Yellowstone in the summer of 1936. He is the only U.S. president who ever served as a park ranger.

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Down-to-earth meals are OK, but special occasions call for
unique locations. Like … dining up a tree. Restaurateurs around the world are
taking their cuisine into the branches and leaves for an al fresco experience
that can’t be beat. Some of these tree house restaurants are exclusive affairs,
while others are open to large groups year-round. Perhaps you can add one of
these to your travels for a nature-loving dinner.

Yellow Treehouse
Restaurant, New Zealand

(Photo: Lucy Gauntlett)

In secluded woodland outside this country’s biggest
city of Auckland hangs a birdhouse-like venue designed by Peter Eising of Pacific Environments Architects.
The Yellow Treehouse is situated over 32 feet up in a tree on private land. It
seats 18 diners and can be rented for private events and parties — imagine a
wedding reception up in a tree!

(Photo: Lucy Gauntlett)

(Photo: Lucy Gauntlett)

(Photo: Lucy Gauntlett)

Tree House Restaurant,
Bar, and Café, Costa Rica

(Photo: Polo Alberto)

Nestled high in the cloud forest of Monteverde, this large
restaurant offers fine dining, live music, gourmet coffee, and even free wi-fi
to customers. All within the tangled branches of a giant Higuerón tree. Take a
look at the live webcam to see
what the weather’s like today.

(Photo: Polo Alberto)

Alnwick Garden
Treehouse Restaurant, United Kingdom

(Photo: Patrick Fulton)

This historical Newcastle
garden features a rambling
wooden structure with a “tree house” restaurant known for fine local and
organic food. While it’s not that high up in the air, the setting features a
roaring fire screened with fallen branches, and tables are lit by candles. The
restaurant and bar are filled with handcrafted furniture. Altogether, it’s a
delightful environment.

Bushbuck
Ridge Treehouse Restaurant, South Africa

(Photo: Bushbuck Ridge Game Farm)

Take a walk on the wild side with safari-style meals at this
tree house in Port Elizabeth.
Built around two giant yellowwood trees, the restaurant has spectacular views
of the Colleen Glen valley, and it seats 90 guests for private dining,
weddings, and special Sunday luncheons. Specialties of the house include
venison and Kudu, an African antelope.

Tree House Italian
Grill, United States

(Photo: Tree House Italian Grill)

For over 700 years, a gracious live oak has stood in what is
now Austin, Texas. Since the 1950s, a restaurant has been
built around the tree, and in 1998, the current old-world patio style
restaurant was created to honor the huge tree. It’s not technically a
restaurant in a tree, but the tree is certainly an important part of the
restaurant.

Tree House
Tea, China

(Photo: People’s Daily Online)

Newspapers report that Mengyin
County in east China’s mountainous Shandong Province
are trying to attract visitors by opening tree house restaurants. Perched in a
small tree, this 2006 prototype is big enough for just a few people to enjoy
tea and snacks. Hard to tell if the idea caught on…

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