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Submitted by lnauheimer on Wed, 03/04/2009 - 16:00.

We’ll focus on Connecticut residents who are working to improve our environment and reduce their carbon footprint. From the eco-friendly bag ladies that make handbags out of old billboard advertisements, to the localvore chef that teaches us how to cook with ingredients found nearby, this segment promises to be fun and sustainable.

Green Demolitions
This company was one of the first of its kind in the country...they take in gutted kitchens, office furniture, cabinetry and other things for charitable contributions...and sell it in warehouses at an enormous discount. And now they are partnering with high-end kitchen design companies with the concept of a "kitchen trade-in". People donate their used kitchens, get a tax write-off, and have their... read more
 
Mountain Lions in our Midst
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has been denying they exist in Connecticut, but this past summer a rogue mountain lion was spotted in Greenwich. A few days later, it was killed on the Merrit Parkway in Milford. A group called Cougars of the Valley is dedicated to proving there's a mountain lion population in the state. We follow the path of this doomed cougar...and trek thr... read more
 
Mother to Nature
Susan Dwyer retired from a career in computers to become "mother" to hundreds of baby squirrels, skunks, raccoons, and bunnies. She is a wildlife rehabilitator who specializes in "babies." Last year she nursed 626 of them - her job is to become their mother until they are strong enough to be released back into the wild. We visit the nursery where she feeds her furry infants.... read more
 
Dr. Seaweed
Dr. Charlie Yarish, UConn professor and renowned seaweed expert, is conducting breakthrough experiments with growing seaweed in aquaculture farms on the Sound and near the East River. The seaweed eats nitrogens (human/animal waste) and will ultimately help "clean" the water. We talk to the EPA about the national implications of his research and to a representative from Save the Sound about how t... read more
 
Jay Whelan
Christina DeFranco meets Jay Whelan who shows her how working up a sweat on a spin bike can be converted into green energy. ... read more
 
Wind Turbine
Christina DeFranco visits a residential wind turbine that produces environmentally friendly solar wind energy. ... read more
 
Chef Michel Nischan
Christina DeFranco meets Westport chef Michel Nischan who has a passion for organic food and making it available to everyone.... read more
 
Bob Rice
 Christina DeFranco interviews Connecticut resident Bob Rice, who has an obsession with “all things” electric. He’s worked on finding ways to convert cars from gas guzzlers to clean, electric machines.... read more
 
Horseshoe Crabs
This week Christina DeFranco reveals the important and surprising role that horseshoe crabs play in the pharmaceutical industry.        ... read more
 
Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Treatments
Did you know that Connecticut was one of the first states in the nation to license Naturopathy - the alternative medicine that stresses the body's ability to heal itself?  One form of Naturopathy that's gaining popularity is an Indian approach to medicine that dates back thousands of years.  There are only a dozen centers in the country that practice this ancient and non-traditional approach to me... read more
 
Ethel Walker School
 The Ethel Walker School is a girls’ school in Simsbury, known for its equestrian tradition.  Now the school is enhancing its reputation with its commitment to the environment…. Christina DeFranco has more in our Treading Lightly report. ... read more
 
Turning Algae into Energy
Oil supplies may eventually run out…but algae keeps on growing and growing. Scientists at the University of New Haven are working on turning it into fuel.  Treading Lightly reporter Christina DeFranco, heads out onto Long Island Sound to learn more.  ... read more
 
Beaver Brook Farm
Beaver Brook Farm in Lyme, CT is an all-natural farm that’s been in the Sankow family for 175 years.  It started as a dairy farm, but is now the state’s largest sheep farm.  The Sankow’s produce wool, meat, award winning cheeses, yogurt, ice cream, and milk.  They recently added chickens and are starting to produce poultry.  They don’t use any pesticides or fertilizers to produce their products.  ... read more
 
Clean food
Avon resident Terry Walters started giving tours at health food stores and teaching cooking classes in her home.  She’s written and self-published a cookbook that features recipes that are nourishing and seasonal – with an emphasis on eating local.  Her book will be re-published this fall by a major publisher who will take “Clean Food” internationally.... read more
 
Seaside Naturals
Seaside Naturals is a small company with a strong ethic of Corporate Social Responsibility. Located in North Branford, they started out making medical kits for kids after the founder's child had a bad reaction to an over the counter medication.  Since then, the company has grown rapidly.  Now they’re creating pet care products, cleaning solutions, and more.  Customers describe cleaning with their... read more
 
Eco-Weddings
Environmentally-conscious brides now have the option to plan a  "green" wedding; where every choice from caterer to florist to sound system takes into account the impact on the environment.  Christina DeFranco meets up with a caterer who sources most of her food from local growers, a jeweler who works with conflict-free gems and recyclable materials and a company that's sounds systems are powered... read more
 
The Bag Ladies
Two Connecticut women are creating trendy bags out of used billboards. To date, they’ve kept 7000 pounds of vinyl out of area landfills. They’re products are sold in boutiques all across the country and in Puerto Rico.... read more