Can farming serve as therapy for those afflicted with cognitive disabilities? The answer’s not as far out there as you might think. In fact, it’s just an hour from the bustling streets of Philadelphia on the serene farmland of Chester County’s Camphill Village Kimberton Hills. The planned community is home to over 100 individuals, 40
MoreWith prices for commodities like butter, sugar and flour steadily rising, a picture-perfect castle of wedding cake can carry a steep price tag, especially when made with organic and local ingredients. If you still lust for a traditional tower, look to a local bakery with lots of experience working with organic flour and sugar, like
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Lights, camera, “I do.” According to greenerphotography.org, over 16.5 billion pictures were printed in the U.S. in 2008. That accounts for photography’s largest ecological footprint ever, even when you consider the prevalence of digital photography. Local professionals can reduce their impact by offering online booking and look books, recycling electronic waste and printing on recycled
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They say practice makes perfect, so a quick run-through of the show before the big day is a must. Make sure everyone knows their lines and places, but don’t spend a fortune on a restaurant dinner. Instead, ask a friend with a sweet place to host your rehearsal dinner as their wedding gift, and ask
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Sending unique, functional and eco-friendly invitations can be surprisingly simple. Look for recycled, handmade or plant-based paper and vegetable- or soy-based ink. Postcards or single sheet (folded and sent) invitations are easy ways to eliminate envelope waste.
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For a self-described “ecology geek” like Mike Weilbacher, the chance to direct the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education—Northwest Philly’s 340-acre green treasure—is a dream realized. Formerly executive director of Lower Merion Conservancy and, for the last year, Abington’s Briar Bush Nature Center, the Long Island native is one month into his new post, and busy
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Anna Bario and Page Neal are in the business of turning sparkly daydreams into reality, with lessened impact on people and planet. From their Bario-Neal studio/shop in Queen Village, they handcraft fine jewelry from conflict-free gems and reclaimed precious metals, both from their own designs and custom orders.
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With so much excellent grub being produced all around our city, building your wedding menu with seasonal foods has never been easier—or more delicious. Jennifer McCafferty holds sustainability as the core value of JPM Catering, based out of a Manayunk kitchen and serving the city and Main Line.
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When choosing a wedding venue, consider parks, private gardens, local farms and even friends’ backyards before looking to conventional hotels and ballrooms. Facility rental fees paid to nonprofit organizations can benefit historical or environmental preservation and programming. For a winter wedding, investigate outdoor spaces with indoor counterparts, or seek out venues with environmental building credentials.
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Can one imagine an economy in which labor hires capital? Where workers have a legal right to the profits and legal responsibility for the liabilities because they are the owners, where workers jointly manage the firm and themselves in a democratic fashion?
—William Greider, national correspondent for The Nation, in his introduction to The Real World
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