TryPeas

The safety and preservation of our planet has become a growing concern for people all around the world. Try Peas is a blog dedicated to providing news, views, and information on ways that we can help try to save the environment. We appreciate hearing from you, so feel free to join the conversation!

Karen has been a travel enthusiast since she was a young child. It has always been a dream of hers to see as much of the world as possible. Last year, while she was sailing transatlantic on the Queen Mary 2, a gentleman expressed an interest in publishing a detailed journal she’d kept of her 7 week European vacation. This inspired her to start an Ezine of her own, and combine her passion for traveling with her passion for saving the planet. She hopes you enjoy reading about her experiences around the world as much as she enjoys writing about them.

Marla is an an avid reader and self-described news junkie. She has both Bachelors and Masters degrees in English and has always had a passion for writing. She has never hesitated to express her opinion about anything. Marla attributes her interest in environmental issues to her Breast Cancer diagnosis 17 years ago. She makes it a point to keep an eye on current news and events that impact our environment and global health.

Andrea has a passion for product specification in the construction, renovation and development of commercial and residential real estate projects. Over the last several years, she has become fascinated with how the construction industry and other businesses related to it are developing and utilizing more eco-friendly, renewable, and sustainable products. This is happening in many other industries as well. In this column, she invites you to share in her discoveries as she explores the “greening” of business. Andrea Goldman holds a bachelors degree in Sociology from SUNY at Albany and a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University Law School.

Dec

Villa Under the Tuscan Sun

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By Karen R.

Tuscany is renowned throughout the world for its art, history, beautiful landscapes and more importantly, its villas. I spent five incredible nights at IL Borghino, a villa with magnificent views: by day the rolling hills of Pieve Santo Stefano; by night the beautiful walled city of Lucca.

Villa IL Borghino consists of four separate houses, meticulously restored with energy efficiency and a concern for the environment in mind. Buildings are constructed of natural materials using wood, marble and terra cotta. They are painted with lime. For heating there is a fireplace in each house. The Villa uses gas “GPL” instead of petrol.

There is a shared living area and kitchen in every house in addition to a larger common space in the main house with kitchen, recreation room, sauna and gym. The heated outdoor swimming pool does not use chlorine, opting for the more natural saltwater, like seawater. Drinking water comes directly from a spring. The toilets operate on two level capacities to save water, and the majority of lighting is with energy savings in mind. I noticed all of the house cleaning products and personal cleansing soaps and shampoos were all natural, locally produced with a fresh fragrance.

The surrounding agricultural area (Podere Tomasino) produces about 140 ql of “Controlled Designation of Origin”(DOC) wine (one red; two whites) from organic vineyards and 20ql of “Lucca Protected Designation of Origin” (DOP) olive oil from organic olive groves. The garden is irrigated with rain water from an artificial lake connected to the garden. When there isn’t enough water, depurated drain water is used. Natural fertilizer is produced from organic waste and flying insects are trapped with wine and sugar.

Adding to the beauty of it all is the owner, Emilia Da Prato and her family. They live on the premises, and are around if you need them for anything, anytime. (Of course, if you want your privacy, you will not see them!) I cannot say enough wonderful things about this family. They are warm, friendly, helpful, and kind, and I thank them for many cherished memories of my stay at their home.

To see more photos please visit

http://www.flickr.com/photos/planetsixtysix/