I think I have found the best grass seed as I have the perfect lush green eco friendly lawn, well at least in my mind I do. And perhaps thanks to Eco-Lawn from Wildflower Farms that lush green grass I envision will become a reality. Oh, did I forget to mention my perfect eco lawn needs no watering, fertilizer, bug killer and only needs mowing once a month at most?

Is Eco-Lawn Really the Best Grass Seed Ever?

A lush Eco-Lawn, alas not mine

As hard as it is to believe that is what Eco-Lawn™ grass seed claims - eco-lawn grass seed produces an extremely drought tolerant, low maintenance lawn. Since the roots of this fine fescue grass blend grow 9-14 inches deep it crowds out any weeds (it is also allelopathic which means the grass exudes a natural herbicide to prevent weeds), and grows deep enough that harmful chemical fertilizers are not needed, plus an Eco-Lawn is naturally resistant to bugs, grubs and insects! If that doesn't sound like the best grass seed ever I don't know what is.

Actually I had heard similar good things about Zoysia grass seed, but after looking into it further I found out that Zoysia grass doesn't grow well in cooler climates. Eco-Lawn™ is produced in Canada so as you can imagine if it grows that far north it will thrive in cooler climates. As far as growing in hot climates like Arizona - Wildflower Farms says it grows great, but you'll need to water it maybe once a week - much less than traditional grass seed.

Reading all the claims and testimonials got me quite excited to try this low maintenance eco-friendly grass seed for myself to find out of it really is the best grass seed for my lawn and thanks to the fine folks at Wildflower Farm I get the chance....

My Eco Lawn Grass Seed Experiment, and the Best Grass Seed Is...?

Before Eco-Lawn Seeding - What a Mess!

Since the front portion of our lawn was looking pretty burnt out I figured that would be a good place to start. The best time to plant grass seed is in the fall (for Northern climates), the second best time to plant grass seed is in the spring and like any kid with a new toy I couldn't wait to start so the spring it is.

The Wildflower Farms website has lots of information about the best times to plant grass seed, the best grass seed for overseeding and installation tips for planting Eco-Lawn™ grass seed in particular. If you over seed a lawn like I was planning it can take a few years to get a completely established eco lawn, but since the lawn was pretty burnt out already we'll see how it goes.

One tip for overseeding that I wish I had done was to de-thatch the lawn with a metal rake, but since it was spring they suggested not to do so because it stirs up the weed seeds. I found the weeds were plenty ready to pop up anyway so de-thatching the lawn seems like it would have helped the grass seed get established better as the areas where the thatch had been removed with a loose raking are coming up better. I may have to try another section of the lawn in the fall as a comparison.

Best grass seed for cooler climates: updates and overseeding tips

It has been a few weeks and some areas are coming up better than others, but so far things are looking good. I can tell though that with the overseeding method it will take lots of time and patience.

Stay tuned for my progress, I'll let you know how things go... and someday perhaps the eco-friendly lush green lawn I envision will be the one I see out the window.

Update: Fall 2010
It is now fall and time for seeding number two. I can tell already the over-seeding method is going to take plenty of patience. There was an area of the lawn that I had to re-bury the sprinkler system (long story - don't ask) and in that area I had covered it with compost. Over the summer the eco-lawn grass seed was coming up nice and thick in that area... problem was so was a mighty interesting collection of weeds. So here are a few observations and tips I would suggest.

Eco-Lawn Over Seeding Tips:
1. If you plan to over-seed make sure you have plenty of patience - it will take awhile.
2. For best results lay down a layer of compost and mix the seed into that - I strongly suggest you somehow pre-treat the compost for weeds. If anyone knows of a way to prevent weed growth in composted soil please comment below - we'd all like to know!
3. Even though Wildflower Farms recommends you do not de-thatch the lawn with a metal rake for spring seeding I think I would have had better results if I had. The main reason they do not recommend it is because it stirs up the weed seeds, but I found both the compost covered area and the non-composted area were full of weeds anyway. Based on the areas of eco-lawn seed that were growing the best it was in areas that had looser soil.

Update: Spring 2011
A new season of Eco-lawn overseeding begins! Well, I've had a bit of a set back... we had some not so pleasant visitors over the winter - Moles! or voles or shrews or whatever those tunnel digging pests are that invaded my fall seeding. So my struggling patch looked like an ant farm if it was laid out over the lawn - lots of tracks and tunnels.

I laid down another run of eco-lawn grass seed so we'll see how this next phase of the overseeding goes. I still hold firm on my advice to just bite the bullet and till your lawn before planting your eco-lawn grass seed - overseeding isn't for the impatient.

More updates coming this fall... stay tuned.

If you've tried converting your lawn to an eco lawn please comment below, I'd love to hear about your progress. And what is your opinion - is Eco-Lawn the best grass seed ever?

Low Maintenance Eco-Lawn – Best Grass Seed Ever? is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

After all the excitement of gift opening is done what do we do with all that used wrapping paper? Well in the spirit of eco-friendliness and originality I have come up with a few fun ideas for re-using wrapping paper - even better than composting the biodegradable wrapping paper - trust me...

1. Make a huge wrapping paper pile and have everyone jump in it while singing Silent Night, at which point the crotchety neighbor next door calls the police to have you arrested. Good family fun - everyone gets matching black fingerprint fingers.

2. Shred it all up punch holes in your walls and stuff it full - the added insulation will make your home more energy efficient. Plus the process of punching holes in the walls makes for a lively stress reliever perfect for family get togethers.

3. Make three ten foot balls of used wrapping paper and roll it around your back yard until you set the world record for largest snow man. Use the temporary fame and status to educate the world on the merits of reusing gift wrap.

4. Gather all your neighbors and have everyone spread their shiny reflective foil wrapping paper out across all the streets and roof tops - then connect them to The Grid where it will provide enough energy to power everyone's christmas lights for 3 years - not to mention allow Santa to fly his new eco-friendly XL3000 Turbo Electric Sleigh back to the North Pole.

5. Ball up each piece of wrapping paper and have a family gift wrap fight. It doesn't serve an eco-friendly purpose but it sure is fun to pepper uncle Dave with his own gift wrap - a little pay back for giving you socks for Christmas... again.

6. Incinerate it making sure to collect the toxic fumes and ash in large insulated balloons that will float up into the atmosphere where the heat and pressure will cause an unexpected chemical reaction which releases oxygen and absorbs enough of the carbon emissions in the world to end global warming. (Hey it's my blog I can make stuff up if I want)

6 1/2. Sort all the paper into piles - Re-use, Recycle and Compost. Yes it is boring and that's what everyone else tells you to do but at least you aren't getting arrested, punching holes in your walls, getting frostbite while setting a world record, illegally paving city streets, getting an eye poked out with flying gift wrap, or playing with toxic fumes and ash.

If you have more fun ideas for what to do with your used wrapping paper leave a comment below. Have fun this holiday season and have a blast with your gift wrap!

6 1/2 Things to Do With Used Wrapping Paper is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

It's always fun finding new photos for Earth Friendly Photo Friday especially when you find a new artist when you aren't even looking. This gem of an artist was a delightful surprise while I was looking for featured photos for yesterday's post on ending rural hunger.

This month's photo comes all the way from the Northern Utrecht region of the Netherlands. The Dutch, world famous for their tulips and windmills have been utilizing wind energy way before alternative energy was the craze it is today. This beautiful misty morning photo is stunningly vivid as is all of Jeroen van Daal's work. If you love Dutch windmill photos or fantastic landscape photography in general swing by his site and immerse yourself in some very earth friendly photos.

If you'd like to share a windmill picture or other earth friendly photo leave a comment below, till next time have a fairly fun earth friendly photo friday.

Earth Friendly Photo Friday: Morning Mill in Oud Zuilen is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

I've been reading about the thinksport bottles made by thinkbaby and they sound like a much better product. First off they are double walled and vacuum sealed stainless steel - that means they won't burn the heck out of your hands like a Sigg does if you put a hot drink in them. Even better they have a mesh screen so if you want to put ice in your water you won't chip a tooth from ice crashing into your teeth and for all the tea lovers out there this is a brilliant way to add tea leaves to some hot water and enjoy your favorite tea on the go.

But what we really want to know is where did they hide the BPA? Well good to know is that the thinksport bottles are completely free of Bisphenol-A (BPA), Lead, Cadmium, PVC and Phthalates. (most of there products are made for babies so they take great care to make them VERY safe)

Thinksport bottles come in 12oz (350ml) and 25oz (750ml) sizes and some classy natural silver, matte black, metallic purple and metallic blue colors. On sale at Amazon for $16.95.

If you want a chance to win a free 750ml Silver thinksport bottle head over to Focus Organic's thinksport giveaway.

Bye Bye Siggy BPA Free ThinkSport Bottle Giveaway is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Welcome to another edition of Earth Friendly Photo Friday, and what better way to celebrate Friday the 13th than with a spooky iridescent photo. I love the lighting in this photo and the spooky vibrant green. It is certainly reminiscent of any number of those classic horror films like Friday the 13th. (Hello, Anybody there...) You'll have to give some great feedback to Sylvain and check out his other earth friendly Flickr pics.

Until next month, have a very lucky Friday the 13th! and remember if you would be interested in contributing to Earth Friendly Photo Friday (with the potential of contributing to a Mr. Linky style photo share) please leave a comment below.

Earth Friendly Photo Friday – Spooky Style is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Did you know In 2008, the combined fuel efficiency for passenger cars and light trucks in the US was approximately 24 MPG, while it is already 44 MPG in Europe and 47 in Japan, almost double that of the US! (Source: pewclimate.org)

When I read that statistic I almost dropped my shorts and did a hula dance out of frustration, I and my neighbors are glad I did not. It boggles the mind that we in the US can be so far behind EVERYONE in the rest of the world in fuel efficiency.

Granted the awareness in the US for clean energy and fuel efficient vehicles is growing, but we have a long way to go.

One company looking to help spread some eco-cool cheer is MPG Stickers, a company that makes the same style white oval badges you may have seen sporting the "GB" moniker, but with fuel economy numbers that represent a car’s fuel efficiency. So if you drive a vehicle that gets better than 30 MPG show off your eco-friendly pride buy slapping one of these fine stickers on your ride. Only $3.99 plus shipping and handling.

MPG Stickers is a non-profit grassroots campaign which aims to accelerate the adoption of fuel efficient vehicles in the U.S. in order to limit the emissions of harmful greenhouse gases in the U.S. and the world. We aim to do it one sticker at a time!

My Fuel Efficiency is Better Than Yours is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Green beer step aside here comes Green Root Beer!

Now I know you've heard of green beer, even those without a lick of Irish blood may enjoy a pint or two on St. Patrick's day, but yesterday we had the joyous surprise of finding green root beer.  Not in the literal sense but just another fine example of green business practices in small town America.

We had plans to enjoy a nice sunny day of hiking in Taylor's Falls, MN but before tackling the rocks and crags we decided to charge up on some grub... to our delight we spotted a little old fashioned root beer drive-in. And to top it off what do we see but a bright colorful sign advertising the fact that "the Drive In has gone green."

On top of that they are giving back to the community through local food shelves and mission trips - Now that is my definition of Earth Friendly business - plus darn good eco-friendly old fashioned frosty mug root beer!

Frosty Green Root Beer Anyone? is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Hello internet land, it is a glorious sunny Sunday with birds signing and the smell of Spring tickling my nose hairs. Um, what, too much information you say? And too spunky for this early on a Sunday morning too? Well, maybe I shouldn't have had that St. John's Wort brownie before breakfast.

Regardless of the your level of morning spunkitude it is a fine day to celebrate my nieces 1st birthday, and what better way then telling you about a new eco-friendly store I found last week. Twin Cities Green, was recently voted Best Baby Goods Store in the Twin Cities by City Pages magazine (that's in uptown Minneapolis, MN).

I wasn't familiar with them either so I decided to peek at their 'ol web site. Well here's the low down. They not only have baby goods but:

furniture, gifts, home decor, items for the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, dining room, garden, personal accessories, toys, games, baby gear, bedding, green lifestyle enhancements, gadgets, pet supplies and more!

Yowza! So if you dig living green take a look at Twin Cities Green, they research all their products to make sure they are, well green. Enough said.

Have a mighty fine funky fresh Sunday, from EFG.

Best Green Babies in Town is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies