Building Ordinary Headquarters

Visit our newest lenses and tell the lensmasters how you like them! 

Rain Gardens - A Beautiful Way To Improve Water Quality

Did you know that 85% of pollutants in our lakes and streams is the result of stormwater runoff? Did you know that every parking lot and road that is built only increases the pollution? Did you know that these pollutants affect wildlife habitats as...

Earthship Homes

Earthship Biotecture homes, floor plans and construction, solar energy, green energy, thermal dynamics, food production, housing, recycled materials. Including pictures, videos, books, news, info and much more. Earthship (n.) 1. passive solar home m...

Renewable Energy Now

It always struck me throughout this whole campaign season that with all the emphasis on not being dependent on foreign oil... Why not get away from being dependent on oil, PERIOD! Take a look at the image above. Lots of options: Solar Wind GeoThe...

Green Office Chairs

Is your desk chair good for your back? Is it recyclable at the end of it's life? Is it made from Recycled components? Anyone spending day in, day out sat at a desk or workstation knows the importance of something good to sit on. For years I've sat on...

Earthbag Homes

Earthbag buildings are environmentally friendly, eco-conscious, energy efficient buildings that are built out of bags of earth, stacked in certain patterns and on a solid foundation. Because of their design they easily make good use of passive solar...

Yurt Homes

A Yurt is a portable structure much like those used by nomadic tribes in Mongolia over 2000 years ago. The domed, tent-like structure sits on top of a portable wooden frame to create an efficient shelter that is environmentally friendly. Despite the...

Randy Pausch

It is highly likely that Dr. Randy Pausch lasting legacy may not come for his work in Computer Science, his field of expertise. His lasting legacy is likely to come from a lecture that has become know as "The Last Lecture" teaching people about "Real...

Earth Oven or Cob Oven

What is an earth oven and why on earth would anyone want one.  An Earth Oven or Cob Oven is a fairly primitive cooking device.  It is a wood fired oven made from a mixture of mud or clay, sand and straw, which is what "cob" is.&nb...

Our Nesting Blackbirds

I love blackbirds and a few weeks ago was priviledged to have a blackbird build a nest on our patio in the trellis of a raised bed! She and her mate have subseqently raised a brood of four baby blackbird chicks from the clutch of eggs. I try to have...

Building sustainable communities 

Crystal Waters Permaculture Village

Welcome to Crystal Waters Permaculture Village. Located an hour and a half north of Brisbane, Australia, Crystal Waters is a fun place to live where everyone, from kids to grannies and grandpas, pitch in and get their hands dirty. A diverse community...

Building Ordinary--Sustainable Community

  They're known as eco-villages, cohousing or intentional communities. This lens explores several of them and answers these questions:        What is cohousing?        What do we mean by sust...

Welcome to Earthaven Ecovillage

Earthaven is an aspiring ecovillage in a mountain forest setting near Asheville, North Carolina. We are dedicated to caring for people and the Earth by learning, living and demonstrating a holistic, sustainable culture. Earthaven EcoVillage Image: Ke...

Building sustainable homes and structures 

Yurt Homes

A Yurt is a portable structure much like those used by nomadic tribes in Mongolia over 2000 years ago. The domed, tent-like structure sits on top of a portable wooden frame to create an efficient shelter that is environmentally friendly. Despite the...

Earth Oven or Cob Oven

What is an earth oven and why on earth would anyone want one.  An Earth Oven or Cob Oven is a fairly primitive cooking device.  It is a wood fired oven made from a mixture of mud or clay, sand and straw, which is what "cob" is.&nb...

Earthbag Homes

Earthbag buildings are environmentally friendly, eco-conscious, energy efficient buildings that are built out of bags of earth, stacked in certain patterns and on a solid foundation. Because of their design they easily make good use of passive solar...

Earthship Homes

Earthship Biotecture homes, floor plans and construction, solar energy, green energy, thermal dynamics, food production, housing, recycled materials. Including pictures, videos, books, news, info and much more. Earthship (n.) 1. passive solar home m...

Making Peace - Choosing harmony 

WAYS WE ARE MAKING PEACE IN OUR LIVES

One World For Peace Survey Projects

Can War Really Be The Answer For One World For Peace? From The Desk of Cris Delgado Sedona, AZ 2008 Dear International Community of Internet Friends, When I awake each morning I hold a very strong urge in my heart to bringing about one world for p...

Intelligence for Your Life

When I heard that John Tesh's Intelligence for Your Life was coming out in book form, I had to get a copy of the book. I listen to his radio show on Intelligence for Your Life almost daily, quote things that I hear to my college students and share th...

How to Grow Up Big and Strong for Small Towns and Organizations

I loved Robert Fulghum’s book, All I really need to know, I learned in Kindergarten.  It's a great reminder of the common playground rules that make life easier.  I’ve been working with organizations, towns and sm...

Inspirational Messages

Life is a wonderful gift but it is also challenging and sometimes heart-wrenching. We can all use a little motivation and inspiration from time to time to help us navigate the small and large hurdles we encounter on our journey. Discover here a colle...

Ten minute meditation

When you can't drop everything and take a walk in the woods, try the ten minute meditation for instant relief. You can do it anywhere. Use it when tensions rise in a meeting. It will calm you and help you focus on the task at hand. Take ten after wor...

Pursuit Of Happiness

The pursuit of happiness is one of the basic elements of human existence. We want to be happy. So why are so many people unhappy then? Most likely people are not happy because they are missing one of the six keys to happiness.

Protecting our children 

at home and around the world

Knit One Save One

Save the Children is asking knitters and crocheters to knit or crochet one baby cap by December 31, 2008 and then to write a personal note to the President-elect asking him to lead the way to save millions of babies globally. Knit One Save One is a...

Amy Jaffe Barzach

Amy Jaffe Barzach is the founder of Boundless Playgrounds, an organization created to develop barrier-free, developmentally advantageous playgrounds. After the death of her son Jonathan from a rare condition, Amy found a way to cope with the grief o...

Nurturing and restoring the Earth 

Ways we are giving back

The Buffalo Commons

In the late 1980's two eastern geographers from Rutgers University named Frank and Deborah Popper had an idea. They had been examining population patterns in the Great Plains for years and had noticed some disturbing trends. The population of the rur...

Plan B 3.0: What's it all about?

That's what it's all about. Saving our planet and ourselves. Here's what author Lester Brown says about why he wrote the book. Plan A, business-as-usual, has the world on an environmental path that is leading toward economic decline and eventual colla...

Tallgrass Prairie Restoration

Elsewhere the sky is the roof of the world; but here the earth was the floor of the sky. ~Willa Cather~ One of the most diverse ecosystems in North America, the tallgrass prairie is also one of its most endangered. Less than 1% of the original extent...

Rain Gardens - A Beautiful Way To Improve Water Quality

Did you know that 85% of pollutants in our lakes and streams is the result of stormwater runoff? Did you know that every parking lot and road that is built only increases the pollution? Did you know that these pollutants affect wildlife habitats as...

Gardening organic and gardening with native plants 

Ways we give as much--or more--than we take

Natural Garden Tips and Tricks

Do you get spring fever as soon as the seed catalogs arrive in early January? I do. Gardening is a very therapeutic and relaxing hobby. What a great feeling when you are connected to the earth. It is so calming to watch all the beautiful plants emerg...

The Organic Garden

Ever since I was a little girl I can remember being in my mom's garden helping her with the garden. It was lots of work, but I enjoyed it so much! To be able to plant a little seed and watch it grow into a full sized plant was so much fun! Then to be...

Grasscycling--Easy way to a healthier, greener lawn

How much time do you spend each week cutting your grass, stopping every few turns to remove the grass catcher, shake the clippings into a garbage sack, and reattach the bag? You can save as much as one-third of your total mowing time by removing that...

Renewable energy resources 

Shrinking our carbon footprint one lens, one action at a time

Wind Turbines

Information on Wind Turbines and other alternative energy sources.  Build your own Wind Turbine and save money on your energy bills. Wind has been the world's fastest growing renewable energy source for the last seven years, and this trend is exp...

Zero Foot Printing Starts Here

Did you know that by replacing 100% of your utility grid electricity with solar you can eliminate approximately one-third of your environmental impact? Solar electric technology is becoming more appealing to those who are concerned with decreasing an...

Renewable Energy Now

It always struck me throughout this whole campaign season that with all the emphasis on not being dependent on foreign oil... Why not get away from being dependent on oil, PERIOD! Take a look at the image above. Lots of options: Solar Wind GeoThe...

Making sustainable choices 

Greening our lifestyle one day at a time

How to Offset Your Carbon Footprint...Locally!!

You are just one person...you aren't rich...don't run a global corporation...don't command an army of millions...and frankly can't even control your desire to finish off that bag of Lay's potato chips!!!  So how do you create change in...

Micro-Green - Small Steps to a Greener Existence

It happens too often. We read an ad or see an uplifting documentary about conservation, saving the environment, ecological responsibility, going green, and say "Hey! I can do all that stuff!" And that's great and encouraging but, like a good golf swi...

My Quest For A Greener Life

The first thing I'd like to make clear is that I'm not, by any means, a poster child for the eco-movement. I love to travel but I don't like airplanes and I've had a couple of really, really disasterous train trips so travel by car is my first choic...

Earth Hour 2008 - Earth Day

On March 29, 2008 at 8:00 pm millions of people, businesses and governments around the world switched off the lights for one hour during Earth Hour. Did you join them and turn off the lights? Earth Hour 2008 was a global event created to symbolize...

Making sustainable choices 

Ways we clean green--and safely

Natural WAHM

Many people today are choosing to live a more natural or green lifestyle to ensure that their impact on the environment is as minimal as possible. WAHM is the abbreviation for Work at Home Mom, these Moms choose to work at home so they can spend more...

Are Traditional Household Cleaners Making You Sick?

"If your Home or Office is typical, it already has dozens of Cleaning and Personal Care Products that contain Harmful Chemicals. These Chemicals have the potential to Greatly Harm or even Kill your Children, your Pets and You, should they accide...

Eating heathy, well and green 

Ways we eat more green than lettuce

Rescue chickens free as a bird

The humble egg, a staple in many of our diets, but how did it get to your table?...free range,battery farmed,barn raised...? In what conditions do the chickens live who produce our eggs? Why should we care ? This page is about the sensible and consid...

Healthy College Food

Ok, so you got the acceptance letter, you called your new roommate and now what? It's time to look into the food situation. Sure your parents paid for the room and board. That means that you won't starve but do you really want to eat that junk? Eati...

Protecting and making space for the wildlife with whom we share the planet 

We need them more than we know

Hummingbird

This lens was born out of a desire to bring together some nice pictures and information about one of my all time favorite birds, the tiny but mighty Hummingbird. You'll find some important info here about the world's smallest bird, the Bee Hummingbir...

Mouse Deer of Malaysia and Borneo

I wanted to write about this fascinating creature, the Mouse Deer, for a long time now. It is an animal barely larger than a rabbit, and it looks so funny with its large ears, pointed nose, mustache and slender long legs, supporting a rather chubby b...

Our Nesting Blackbirds

I love blackbirds and a few weeks ago was priviledged to have a blackbird build a nest on our patio in the trellis of a raised bed! She and her mate have subseqently raised a brood of four baby blackbird chicks from the clutch of eggs. I try to have...

Monarch Butterfly

Among all butterflies, orange ones fascinate me the most. Ever since I was a small child, I loved spending time in the meadows during summer, which were richly covered in wild flowers, and attracted various butterflies! Today, as a grown-up, this fas...

Snow Leopard

The life span of a Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) is normally 15-18 years, but in captivity they may become up to 20 years old. The body weight of a fully grown Snow Leopard is approximately 75 lbs. Find out more about these majestic animals, of which on...

Ways to reduce, recycle, reuse 

Richland Recycling Center | Recycle Washington | Tri City Wa Waste Management | Paper Aluminum Computer and Plastic Recycling

Recycling, brought to you by real estate agents, Joe and Colleen Lane of The Lane Real Estate Team. Recycled issues and recycle news, and ways you can contribute positively to the environment in Richland Washington specifically, and a lens on recycli...

Ways to Recycle Campaign Signs

Now that the election is over and the campaigning is done, what can you do with all of those old campaign signs? Find ways to recycle, reuse or re-purpose those old used campaign signs. How you choose to reuse the sign may depend on who you supported...

Sustainable, fun, eco-friendly shopping 

Ways we vote with our dollars

Green Office Chairs

Is your desk chair good for your back? Is it recyclable at the end of it's life? Is it made from Recycled components? Anyone spending day in, day out sat at a desk or workstation knows the importance of something good to sit on. For years I've sat on...

That's Bamboo? Wow!

Bamboo is the eco-wonder of the world. It pumps oxygen into the air faster than trees, feeds the hungry, clothes the body, soothes the ear, carries water, digs potatoes, shelters the homeless as well as the privileged, and in case all that is not eno...

Eco-trendy Shopaholic

Kiki Blitz scouts the coolest eco-products, fashion, and design, from the millions of products found on GoCarbonFree's shopping portal. A professional shopaholic and planet lover, she is helping her readers become greener consumers, one purchase at a...

Why buy organic cotton

The scent of it, fresh from the dryer, the rich plush of thick Turkish towels in the bath. And who doesn't feel comforted the moment they crawl between freshly laundered cotton sheets? So what's all the buzz about organic cotton, and why should you c...

Hemp Clothing and Fashion

There are many reasons to choose Hemp as a fabric for your clothing. Though assuming you're here, you likely know many of them, below you may find a few more. What you will find here is some fantastic Hemp Fashion, whether you are looking for Hemps Sh...

Eco-Gadgets 

Having our toys and greening too

The Greenest Mp3 Player In The World: The Wind Up Media Player

The revolutionary new Wind Up Media/MP3 Player - it does everything an ipod does and more! Though the most important feature is it's wind up, so no more chucking away batteries or sad faces when you can't get a charger plugged in. Other features are...

Clockwork and Wind-Up Gadgets

The range of modern clockwork and wind up gadgets is expanding to include MP3 players, Bike Lights, LED Torches and Cell Phone chargers. These are now being made by a number of companies globally to cope with the rapidly increasing demand.  Clock...

Me and my Solio: My Solar Powered Charger

Do you have a Solio charger yet?   If not, you're behind the times!  We're ALL charging our phones and BlackBerries and iPods using the sun now :-) Here is my Solio story...

Green Computing - Cutting Your PC's Carbon Footprint

The standard 200W PC running for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks in a year, will use 400 kwh. Maybe not much considering the total energy usage of your household or business, but it's a great place to start cutting your carbon emissions and sa...

People whose work contributes to the vision 

When you need inspiration

Lester R. Brown

From tomato farmer to "one of the world's most influential thinkers" (Washington Post) and "the guru of the environmental movement," (The Telegraph of Calcutta), Lester R. Brown's roots are deep, his vision wide-spreading. Learn m...

Amy Jaffe Barzach

Amy Jaffe Barzach is the founder of Boundless Playgrounds, an organization created to develop barrier-free, developmentally advantageous playgrounds. After the death of her son Jonathan from a rare condition, Amy found a way to cope with the grief o...

Randy Pausch

It is highly likely that Dr. Randy Pausch lasting legacy may not come for his work in Computer Science, his field of expertise. His lasting legacy is likely to come from a lecture that has become know as "The Last Lecture" teaching people about "Real...

What is the Village of Ordinary 

Village of Ordinary

What if ... every child grew up feeling wanted, loved and completely supported by family and community? What if ... we could all do work that gave us joy? What if ... we were so full of love ourselves that we viewed all other beings with compass...

All Graceonline 

Graceonline--lenses for a peaceful, sustainable planet

Hi, I'm graceonline, and my passion, my mission is to make sure my grand babies, and theirs, get to run wild in fields of tall grass, lie down and make snow angels under a crisp blue sky, and stand in awe at the wide, wide ocean stretching far and ta...

Grameen Foundation 

One very good thing

Grameen Foundation

We're a nonprofit organization that uses microfinance and innovative technology to fight global poverty and bring opportunities to the world's poorest people. With tiny loans (around US$100), financial services and technology, we help the poor, mostl...