New York (Manhattan) County Blog

In recent days there has been trouble stirring for my anti fracking friends. The moratorium on banning hydraulic fracturing, or fracking is about to expire raising concern for residents and advocates fighting to keep New York’s water safe. These groups are stepping up their campaign to receiv...

My new fascination with the New York City Fair Trade Coalition has led me to a fabulous website called D.I.G.S. (Also known as Duchamp’s Irreverent Guiding Spirit, Inc.). Founded in 1991 in New York City’s Soho super artsy neighborhood by green designer Rhea Alexander, D.I.G.S. Collections ...

During this past weekend of sunshine and the sweet smell of spring, the New Museum hosted the Festival of Ideas for The New City, celebrating innovation in the arts and community development, with the main mission of working together to generate positive change in New York and across the co...

New ideas are changing how we live and define ourselves. The Do It Yourself generation is catching on and young designs are creating cleaner and green products. Great design can not only inspire but also reinvent and improve our health and well being. The Belgrave Trust’s Product Design Con...

In celebration of Earth Day and the Easter holiday, I stumbled upon a fantastic company specializing in something most people can’t live without...chocolate! Celebrating every day as Earth Day, Gnosis Chocolate is truly some of the best chocolate I have ever tasted and it is made right here in Ne...

A passionate artist named Marna Chester has opened my eyes to tackling health issues in urban communities. Many neighborhoods in New York City are food deserts (Not to be confused with desserts), with little access to nutritional, healthy food let alone organic options. Food deserts in low-income...

Most of the mail everyone gets is unnecessary. Useless piles of paper filled with new credit cards applications, bills, and memberships to organizations you have never heard of, and magazines from odd companies with products that you would never buy, for yourself or anyone else. Amongst the...

Have you ever wondered about all those food carts in the boroughs and the people that run them? Or where they come from and the families they support? On a pleasant day in March, I had the opportunity to learn all about it through a story and a camera. The Museum of the City of New York is ...

What are your plans for this Saturday night? A romantic dinner by candlelight perhaps or a night dancing in NYC? Either one would be wonderful but keep in mind that a global event will be going down this Saturday night. This Saturday, March 26th is the annual global celebration of Earth Hou...

Last Wednesday, I took a tour of the United Nations in New York City. I think this is one of those cultural destinations that New Yorkers always brush off because it’s so darn close, like Ellis Island or the Statue of Liberty. The tour group I was with was all international, except for me...

With the new interest to urban farming growing in our fair city, there is a brand new one ‘cropping up’ on the southern tip of Manhattan. A simple and easy way to get involved and it could take your lunch break. Urban Farming at The Battery Initiative is calling out to volunteers during the week ...

Did you know that the average New Yorker tosses 46 pounds of clothing and textiles in the trash each year? If you count up every New Yorker that’s a total of 6% of our entire residential waste stream, nearly 386 million pounds! That’s 193,000 tons of textiles every single year, costing the taxpay...

In April of 2008, Britta Riley, a young eco-thinking woman read an article by Michael Pollan in NY Magazine. He points out that growing some of your own food is the best thing you can do for the environment. Like many New Yorkers, Britta lived in a small 5th floor walk up apartment wit...

In August of 2010, New York City passed impressive recycling legislation that focuses on including new programs available to the public called PlaNYC. This is the first major move to improving recycling in New York City since 1989! This new law will expand plastic recycling to include a...

Just a stone's throw from Wall Street, Governor’s Island sits in the shadows of one of the largest cities in the world and has been called “The Sixth Borough.” Quiet and calm, this lonely island sits guarding the Hudson River in a world to itself. Since its inception to become a park ...

Green Spaces is a self-proclaimed, “Platform for Social Change.” This New York and Denver, Colorado based company is a communal work place that helps fuel small business to succeed. The workspace itself houses a conference room, Wi-Fi connection, mailboxes, free coffee, and a stylish lounge. Eac...

Gift giving season can be a major trap for over-packaged compulsive buys like that adorable singing Santa, made in a non-fair trade factory in China or Taiwan. However, there is no better time of year to flex your powerful, conscious- consumer muscles than during the holidays. Luckily in New York...

Autumn is a great time to visit New York City. The weather is tolerable, there are many activities to choose from, the summer crowds are gone, and the holiday crowds haven’t arrived, yet…
A lot of things happened already this season. Trees and flowers were planted and distributed. Leaves changed...

On Sunday, October 24, I had the pleasure of serving as a volunteer bulb brigadier, helping New Yorkers For Parks (NY4P) distribute thousands of free daffodil bulbs from the Manhattan Union Square site to individuals and various commun...

I recently learned about Mayor Bloomberg’s painting actions of one millionth square foot of a rooftop to promote

Do you like to volunteer and perhaps get your hands dirty? Do you want to make New York City greener? Well here’s your chance!
This fall marks the 3rd year of the MillionTreesNYC initiative, one of the 127 PlaNYC initiatives and a partnership between the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and ...

Hi. My name is Kaity and I’m so glad to be a part of The Awarenest team. As the ambassador for I LOVE NY’s Green Heart NY [I LOVE NY Green Heart NY.] program, I’m thrilled to share some ideas on Fall activities in New York State. Th...

In addition to composting, which saves an amazing amount of ultimately reusable trash from entering a landfill, there are a number of simple ways to cut down on waste in the kitchen. You’d be amazed at how quickly disposable paper and plastic items and product packaging really piles. Thankfully...

I recently called to make an appointment for my annual check up with my long time dentist, but when I posed the question are you eco-friendly, they replied "no". I then knew my only choice was to gather information and possibly find another dentist. I did so, and for that I am informed and have...

Happy to announce our good Mayor, Mike Bloomberg has submitted a plan to green New York's buildings. There are thousands of buildings in our city that can be upgraded to save money and save energy, which can create green jobs. I would like to commend the Mayor for introducing the plan. Literal...

TEST BLOG contacted about a week ago but know one got back to me, glad you made the connection we should do that one. I do not remember the details.

Thanks for changing the blog if you want here is a cool photo (attached) that goes with your theme, your decision to use or not. You can just go ...