Basil Brook Organic Farm is located in East Amwell, New Jersey. We grow organic wildcrafted figs, pears, apples, blackberries, herbs, flowers and veggies for our health food store Basil Bandwagon Natural Market in Flemington, NJ. Please visit basilbandwagon.com for more information.
Catering
                                                                

                       "             

Gibby (our goat) aka Gibson

Putting Solar Savings into Numbers

Sometimes it's tough to realize how much of an impact a few people can make. Here is a quick look at how much we could save as a country, if a small percentage decided to go solar.

Home Improvement Returns: Solar Power Savings

Kitchens, Bathrooms, Closets, yards, none of them have the benefits that solar power can provide. Check out this article detailing how solar power makes the best home renovation.

Save Money: Make $62,000 with Solar Power

In today's world, saving money is paramount, however it's tough to know where to start. Learn how solar power can save and earn you money, all while reducing your carbon footprint.

Guide To Understanding Solar Rebates

The Upfront costs of solar are quite high, however with federal and state incentives, the cost can be greatly reduced. Incentives come in many forms, this guide helps to clarify each one.

Solar as a Home Improvement

Learn how much you can save on energy costs by installing a solar panel system on your home. Click through to our Solar Energy Savings page to find out how much you can save.

Solar Energy Savings

Learn how much you can save on energy costs by installing a solar panel system on your home. Click through to our Solar Energy Savings page to find out how much you can save.

Solar Power Cost

Need to know what to expect when it comes to the cost of a solar power installation? Check out our Solar Power Cost page for more information.

California Solar Power Rebates

Want to know more information about solar energy rebates specific for California? You can find out more regarding your state rebates here.

Jigar Shah to present at NESEA Annual Meeting - Sept 12
Come one, come all to hear Jigar Shah - founder of SunEdison, North America's largest solar energy services provider, discuss, "Saving the Planet through Job and Wealth Creation." Don't miss this great event in Penacook (Concord), NH, 6:30-8:30 PM. More>

Posted by Jo Lee

Dear Alice,

DEADLINE EXTENDED

We need your help to reach our NEW $100,000 goal to defeat Big Oil and protect our planet.

Donate by midnight tonight for one last chance to have your gift doubled.

Last night Gene called to let me know that LCV's matching gift campaign raised an impressive $72,998, exceeding the $50,000 goal!

This is heartening news. But after seeing how Big Oil has been working overtime to fight clean energy and target the few key Senators still on the fence, I am worried our efforts aren’t enough.

In order to make sure LCV has the resources to win our fight to pass global warming legislation, their generous matching gift donor has offered to expand his match to $100,000 by midnight tonight. 

This offer couldn't come at a more critical moment.

Will you help us? Make your gift today to help LCV continue their campaign and have your gift matched by midnight tonight.

We only have a few days to make this happen.

The full Senate will begin debating this bill just days from now. And if this bill is at all weakened, we lose our best shot at comprehensive legislation to curb global warming pollution, create millions of clean energy jobs, reduce energy costs, and enhance U.S. energy independence.

Alice, you and I know that our country -- and our planet -- can't wait another year to start building a new energy economy.

Donate by midnight tonight and have your gift matched dollar for dollar in these final critical hours.

With your support LCV will be able to continue getting their message through to key Senators by continuing to run their grassroots campaign with targeted ads, phone calls and letters, and meeting with Senators on the Hill up until the last moment. 

So many people never thought we'd make it this far, but if we can count on your support now, I have no doubt that we can do this. Click here by midnight tonight and double our power to fight Big Oil. 

Thank you so much for all you do.

Sincerely,

Robert Redford

Dear Supporter,

It was recently announced that the national unemployment rate is at 9.7%, meaning almost five million Americans are looking for work. Can part of the solution lay in green jobs? Read our featured petition below. But first, an update:

With your support, we reached the 12,000 signature goal on our petition to save critical habitat for the Florida panther--and it couldn't have come at better time. In the news recently, a deer hunter sitting in a tree in Georgia shot and killed a panther. The big cat had wandered hundreds of miles north from Florida simply because he had no home to call his own. We thank you for working to ensure that this endangered species is given a home to thrive.

Don't let your support end there--help bring about real change today. Take action below!

Sincerely,

Support Clean Energy and Climate

The House of Representatives recently passed clean energy legislation, policies that could mean millions of new American jobs as well as greater energy independence. It's up to the Senate to act on this historic bill and we need your help to remind our leaders to do the right thing.

Encourage your Senators to support this crucial legislation.

Sign Our Letter

Protect Mexico's Jaguar Habitat

The rapid destruction of the rainforest is threatening the survival of jaguars in Mexico.

Learn More

End Cruel Bear Hunts

Urge Prime Minister Putin to ban the practice of den-hunting in Russia.

Act Now

Stop Alaska's Aerial Wolf Hunting

Help end this program that has claimed the lives of 250 wolves this year alone.

Support The Cause

Do More: Save Jaguar Habitat

Donate to help create a "buffer zone" in southern Mexico that will help protect this endangered species.

Give Today

Do More: Send A Green E-Card

Every e-card opened helps build wheelchairs using recycled bike parts for the developing world.

Send An E-Card

Do More: Protect American Wolves

Fund critical efforts to save the lives of wild wolves across the U.S.

Donate Now

Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two U.S. reporters being held in North Korea since March 17th, were finally released this week thanks to diplomatic efforts by former President Bill Clinton. The two women were arrested for entering the country illegally while reporting on human trafficking and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor. Says Ms. Ling: "The past 140 days have been the most difficult and heart-wrenching times of our lives." Thank you for adding your name to our petition and helping to bring home these brave and resilient women!

Dear Alice,
 

This summer, you helped make history when the House of Representatives passed comprehensive legislation to rein in global warming pollution and create a cleaner approach to our nation's energy system. Although the bill was not perfect, it is a critical first step in our efforts to curb climate change and build a clean energy economy. With the bill now moving to the Senate, we’ll be looking for your help to pressure legislators to strengthen and pass critical, science-based climate legislation this year.

Your hard work was behind another historic victory this summer when the White House announced new global warming emissions regulations for cars and trucks, coupled with fuel economy rules, all while upholding states’ rights to develop and implement their own state-based emissions reduction standards for future vehicles.

In addition, you’ve worked to stop funding for unproven missile defense programs and helped ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture continues to collect critical data on pesticide use.

Despite this major progress, our opposition is resorting to deceptive tactics to delay the urgent action we need for our future. Just last month, a lobbying firm representing the coal industry forged several letters, claiming to be from local minority and senior citizen groups, urging at least three members of Congress to oppose climate and energy legislation they were about to vote on.

Achieving the sweeping changes we need and countering the dirty tactics of our opposition remains a challenge, but with the help of dedicated supporters like you, we will continue to work for a healthy environment and a safer world. Thank you for your support.

---

Global Warming
As climate legislation now moves to the senate, and with opposition ramping up like never before, our activists will play a critical role this fall in ensuring that their senators defend, strengthen, and pass science-based climate legislation this year. We’re also working to ensure that climate legislation addresses the issue of tropical deforestation, which accounts for nearly 20 percent of the world’s heat-trapping emissions. In California, legislators moved one step closer to closing a loophole in the state’s ambitious plans to cut global warming pollution. More...

Clean Energy
This summer, thanks to pressure from UCS supporters like you, committees in both the House and Senate passed national renewable electricity standards (RES) requiring utilities to generate an increasing amount of energy from clean, renewable sources such as the sun and wind. In addition, the full House passed an RES for the second year in a row, this time as part of a comprehensive climate and energy bill. Because the RES bills were not as strong as UCS would have liked, UCS remains dedicated to working this fall with activists and ally organizations to pass a stronger RES. More...

Clean Vehicles
After our major victories this summer, UCS and our supporters will continue to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and implement strong, scientifically-sound fuel economy standards for cars and trucks. We also continue to push for a Renewable Fuel Standard that accounts for global warming pollution from the entire lifecycle of biofuels—from seed to tank. But opposition is pushing back hard, so we will need to continue pressuring the EPA to uphold the science behind global warming emissions from fuel production. More...

Nuclear Weapons & Global Security
As the Obama administration conducts a critical nuclear posture review this fall, which will help shape U.S. policy for the next 5 to 10 years, UCS and thousands of activists are pushing to make sure the review embraces a new, pragmatic approach that will make the United States and the world more secure. UCS along with activists, scientists, and allies continues to work to stop congressional efforts to fund unproven, costly missile defense programs that even the Pentagon wants to cancel and to highlight the technical limitations of a proposed anti-missile system in Eastern Europe. More...

Scientific Integrity
This summer the EPA announced improvements to the way it uses science to assess toxic chemicals and determine air quality standards. UCS supporters chose a winner in Science Idol: the Scientific Integrity Editorial Cartoon Contest. And as the Obama administration puts the final touches on its plan to restore scientific integrity to federal policy making, we’re getting ready to ensure that they put their words into action. More...

Food & Agriculture
UCS gained new allies this summer in our fight to keep antibiotics working for disease treatment when a top Food and Drug Administration official announced the agency’s first-ever support of restrictions on the use of these drugs in the feed and water of livestock and poultry that are not sick. UCS also claimed victory when the U.S. Department of Agriculture reversed a decision to end the collection of pesticide use data. At the same time, UCS continues to counter claims by Monsanto and other biotechnology corporations that genetically engineered crops increase crop yields. More...

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Tell your friends about this message and the Union of Concerned Scientists.
 
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Dear Alice Diane,

Hunger Action Month is already going strong—and we’re hoping you’ve got a minute to join the action!

Our goal is to create a groundswell of public support for Child Nutrition Reauthorization by inspiring the public to advocate during Hunger Action Month.  There are many easy ways to get involved.

This Week’s Hunger Challenge:

Take at least one action to fight hunger in September!  One of the best ways to take action is to help spread the Feeding America message about child hunger in America.  How can you get the word out?

Help us protect America's
pristine public lands!



Double the impact of your gift today!

Dear Alice Diane,

If you saw the recent PBS series about America's national parks, you know that the protection of our country's special places was never predestined ... it was always hard-fought and won through the persistent determination of ordinary people.

We are facing just such a fight today in Colorado, where oil and gas development is threatening the majestic, pristine Roan Plateau.

Please help us protect this unspoiled landscape with a special gift today.

Rising high above the Colorado River Valley, the Roan Plateau is a rippling landscape of canyons, streams, and waterfalls, blanketed with forests and plants ... but a reckless government plan to lease off the land to oil and gas developers means that this isolated jewel of Colorado's undeveloped landscape could soon be under siege by the drilling of thousands of gas wells, construction and expansion of hundreds of miles of roads, and the installation of waste pits and industrial equipment.

Earthjustice attorneys are using the rule of law to challenge this and other shortsighted plans to despoil America's natural heritage, but they cannot succeed without your support.

Fortunately, this immense challenge comes at a time of special opportunity.

Two generous donors have offered $1,000,000 in support of our work, if we can raise $1,000,000 to match their gift by the end of the year.

Help us meet this challenge -- and see the value of your gift doubled.

Others have already jumped at the chance to help us meet this challenge. But we still need to raise $100,000 by the end of the year to cross the finish line and secure the challenge grant.

This opportunity couldn't have come at a more critical time.

The BLM itself concluded that a large swath of the Roan Plateau -- nearly 20,000 acres -- would qualify for wilderness designation ... a category reserved for America's most pristine natural lands. Yet the BLM's flawed management plan could turn this scenic landscape into a fragmented industrial zone.

Please help us meet the challenge -- and double your impact -- with an urgent gift today.

Your support will help our attorneys continue their fight to prevent reckless and illegal BLM plans from spoiling this and other places of spectacular beauty, including ...

The Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument: Standing along Lewis and Clark's pathway near the headwaters of the Missouri River in central Montana, this pristine, naturally diverse area could soon be overrun with six new airplane landing strips and new roads.

The Arizona Strip: Bordering the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, this area contains national monuments whose multicolored, gravity-defying sandstone structures are reminiscent of Zion National Park. Yet this unspoiled landscape -- home to desert bighorn sheep, pronghorns, and California Condors -- faces the threat of exploitation and illegal development.

Please help us save America's natural heritage -- and double the value of your gift.

Our efforts have succeeded protecting key portions of America's natural heritage, like Otero Mesa -- one of the last undisturbed areas of Chihuahuan desert, the nation's most imperiled ecosystem type, and serves as a refuge for a host of rare species.

On behalf of everyone at Earthjustice, please accept my sincere thanks for all that you do.

Sincerely,

Trip Van Noppen
President, Earthjustice

Spread the word-every action you take will earn minutes in the Food Bank Competition!

Food Bank Competition Standings:

Small

1. Food Bank of South Jersey

Medium

1. United Food Bank

Large

1. Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

Check out the Food Bank Competition!

Keep your eyes on the Hunger Action Month Advocacy Headquarters to see how your food bank is doing in the Food Bank Competition.  And while you’re there, take the Hunger Challenge!  You can earn minutes for every action you take to fight hunger, and your accumulated minutes will be added to your food bank’s total minute tally.

As your minutes add up, you could help win a donation for your food bank:  Through the generosity of Kraft Foods, the food banks with the most accumulated minutes at the end of September will receive a truckload of food!

As you initiate your actions, please be respectful of other advocates and your elected officials, and help us maintain the integrity of the competition.  While we want to generate a lot of communications, remember that genuine, individual actions will have a much greater impact…and that’s really the point.  To that end, we ask that you register at the Hunger Action Month Advocacy Headquarters only once per individual, and that you make each action a real one—we will be tracking for anomalies and duplicate memberships.

What’s going on at your local food bank?

Be sure to attend the Hunger Action Month events at your food bank—and when you do, come back to the Hunger Action Month Advocacy Headquarters to share your story and earn your minutes!  Just check the Feeding America page of local events to find out what’s going on in your community—or contact your local food bank to find out how you can best support their local advocacy efforts.

Get involved—start spreading the word by visiting the Hunger Action Month Advocacy Headquarters today!

Dear Alice Diane,

Hunger Action Month is already going strong—and we’re hoping you’ve got a minute to join the action!

Our goal is to create a groundswell of public support for Child Nutrition Reauthorization by inspiring the public to advocate during Hunger Action Month.  There are many easy ways to get involved.

This Week’s Hunger Challenge:

Take at least one action to fight hunger in September!  One of the best ways to take action is to help spread the Feeding America message about child hunger in

Using solar power to heat your water is one of the most practical and cost effective ways to harness energy from the sun. Solar thermal systems absorb the sun's heat and use it to heat your residence's own hot water needs. In general, the solar thermal syst