Deborah Tull balances education with hands-on activity in her workshops, insisting that "You can only develop your learning through experience, rather than being book-bound." Learning to conserve water, build and maintain healthy soil, and naturally deter pests will only serve you well with practice, so absorb what you can...then go play in the dirt!

Organic gardeners work in harmony with the natural environment, and have a responsibility to create and maintain healthy soil--replenishing what is lacking and nourishing it with organic matter. Organic gardening is a not a new practice, it is a paradigm shift that will change your approach to the environment.

The iconic Westin Bonaventure in Downtown Los Angeles has made changes to make it a healthier home away from home for its guests.

The laundry room is an easy place to start greening your home, as it has only three major components: appliances, products, and clothing. Yet this small room greatly impacts the water consumption and energy use of your home.

With four hundred and fifty million oil filters manufactured and sold in the United States, 2 million gallons of waste oil contaminate California landfills alone. Much of this waste oil comes from persons who haven't properly disposed of their oil filters.

Insulation can be expensive. Thousands of dollars expensive.So how can you insulate your home and still have enough for the groceries? There are many small fixes that can be made at a fraction of the price of professional installation. Then of course, you can always do it yourself...

If you want an energy-efficient replacement for an old tank water heater or if you have limited space for a tank heater, like in a cabin or condo, then going tankless can be a great option. Tankless, or on demand water heaters operate on a simple principle: Heat water instantly and only when you need it. It's a great tool for conserving energy in your home.

Bacteria ridden residue on paws from the outdoors or litter boxes, toxins in pet creams, and bloodthirsty critters nestled in fur can harm humans just as easily as pets. Rethinking food, waste, grooming, vaccines/protection are four major points to consider when maintaining the health of the entire family.

You may start with small changes around your home; however, once the last energy saving bulb is screwed in, the air filter installed, and the VOC-free paint has dried, where does your green journey take you? We hope that your passion for a healthy lifestyle extends beyond your doorstep, to your communities. If you want to see a significant change in the environment, become a green volunteer.

What few may realize is that not all organic, green compounds growing in our homes are good for us. In fact, some are not only extremely toxic, but also very difficult to detect. Mold is one of the most common household "intruders", haunting almost every home from modern and air-tight, to dungy and drafty. And because mold grows at room temperature, the house is the perfect environment for mold to thrive in, growing on everything from tile, grout, wood, paint, plaster to fabric.