By Carole Gorney The Lehigh Valley is a veritable treasure trove of architectural styles from early German-Moravian through more than 300 years of evolution to one of today’s most modern “green” buildings. The early Moravians who settled in the areas near the Lehigh and Delaware rivers in the early 1700s used logs to construct their first buildings, as exemplified by the t... »
By Sara Hodon Folks looking for health-conscious fare will find no shortage of options throughout the Lehigh Valley. The region boasts an impressive mix of vegetarian cafés, organic and natural food markets, and even a vegan bakery whose client roster includes several A-list celebrities. According to Greg Bowman, communications manager at The Rodale Institute in Kutztown, ... »
By Rick Koze Preserving The Picturesque Today’s homebuyers are a knowledgeable group who come to their builders with a specific list of wants and needs. One desire that is growing quickly in popularity is the building of “green,” or environmentally-friendly homes. While some may have considered “going green” a fad, this movement has become a priority for homebuyers, especi... »
By Maureen Sangiorgio How today’s “green” vehicles are helping to clean up the environment. When I was growing up in the 70s, I was deeply moved by the TV commercial featuring the American Indian Iron Eyes Cody shedding a tear over pollution. The voiceover proclaimed, “People start pollution; people can stop it.” I have been an amateur tree-hugging enviro... »
By Nancy Moffett Did you know the air inside the average American home can be two to five times more polluted than outside air? That only 30 percent of the 17,000 petrochemicals available for home use have been tested for environmental and human safety? And, according to the EPA, the antibacterial soaps and cleaners so popular today may contain 275 active ingredients that ... »
By Susan Weaver There’s no better place to welcome spring than the seat of a bicycle. If you agree and you’re keen for new places to pedal, this roundup of Valley bike trails is for you. To add to my personal favorites, I talked with folks at area bike stores–Bikeline in Allentown and the new Cycle Fitters in Forks Township. So here’s a range of trails where you can ... »
By Mary Beth Schwartz Today’s kitchen gardens combine food preparation areas with the elements of structured design Having been through the snowstorms of 2010, our minds turn to thoughts of spring. Nothing says spring more than gardening. This year, more and more Lehigh Valley gardeners will decide to plant their own kitchen gardens—to save money, eat healthier vegetables,... »
By Melanie Gold When I was a girl growing up in Northampton County, farms were all around me. Some of my fondest memories are of pulling back husks on the season’s first sweet corn, tagging along with my grandfather to the dairy to buy raw milk in glass bottles, and my brother and I riding our bikes to the local butcher. He sold local meats, knew us by name, and gave us a ... »
By Faith Brenneisen As inches-upon-inches of snow have piled-up on us this winter, it’s exciting to begin planning for warm spring days and outdoor activities. With nearly 40 parks covering more than 1,600 acres. 34 ball fields, over 50 game courts; five outdoor pools, and two spray parks, Allentown is known as the City in a Park, and is the place to be in the upcoming mon... »
By Sara Vigneri Teaching ‘green living’ in schools involves more than plopping a few recycling bins in classrooms. Global climate change, industrial agriculture, depletion of the earth’s natural resources—today’s schoolchildren will end up bearing the brunt of our current lifestyle in the U.S. Teaching children about sustainable living is vital for their future, and school... »
