One of the noblest animal charities on the planet is the venerated NOWZAD, which saves innocent animals in war torn areas like Ukraine and Afghanistan. Started by British Royal Marine Commando Pen Farthing, one of the most altruistic and kind people on earth and one of my all time heroes. Nowzad was the name of the town in Afghanistan, where Pen and his fellow soldiers found themselves in 2007 surrounded by stray, starving animals with no one to help them. NOWZAD is an inc

Animals in Asia need our help. Dogs and cats are used for meat without any humane slaughter laws to protect them from excessive pain and suffering. One of the best charities working to help is Animals Asia. Arm yourself with knowledge and please read more about the Dog and Cat meat industry here This is from the Animals Asia website and is used here via the Fair Use Doctrine for Educational Purposes. Animals Asia does a WHOLE LOT more also: training people to provide veter

Monarch butterflies are one of the most gorgeous insects on our planet. They are endangered of doing extinct, but you can do your part in helping save them with a microgarden of any size. Monarchs cannot survive without Milkweed. Last year I planted 2 Swamp Milkweed plants. Don't be deterred by the name "Swamp" -- these are beautiful plants with gorgeous pink flowers. This fall I had 12 baby Monarch caterpillars eating the leaves! Very exciting and fulfilling! This photo

I inherited a love of lighting from my Dad. We were both obsessed with light fixtures. My all-time favorite lamps are the "light...

One of the most delightful pleasures of life is watching nature and the wildlife in your garden. But with habitat destruction all over...

Dimensional tile has a 3D depth and shape, like a "bas relief". That means it is especially beautiful in showing light and shadow, which...

Bee pollination is essential to our survival on this planet. Please support the Bee Conservancy. It's amazing to think that the human race and entire ecosystems depend on this little creature for survival, but it's true. We need the bees. The Bee Conservancy is working to fight ignorance on this issue and help promote saving the bees and other vital pollinators. The World Wildlife Fund says that about 90% of wild plants and 75% of crops depend on pollinators to fruit or pro

Why do we spotlight charities for animals? As 8 plus billion humans and counting wreak destruction and wage war all over the planet, the innocent and voiceless flora and fauna that share the earth with us are suffering immeasurably. Most charities are for people, but animals and nature are in crisis and need our help also. I support the International Fund for Animal Welfare and hope you will consider it also. Here is there current needs info directly from their website: Ukr

1. Birds eat bugs: so please don't spray insecticides. 2. Hummingbirds need plant nectar, so please don't spray. (insecticide is absorbed into the plants and is often present in pollen and nectar.) 3. A healthy garden has biodiversity including insects. So please don't spray. 4. Do you like coffee? Do you like corn on the cob? Then, please thank a pollinator. And please don't spray. 5. Create a healthier garden by encouraging pollinators to visit your garden: You

Habitat loss and the overuse of pesticides and poisons around the world has caused insect populations to plummet. Some people don't...

Innovative Animal Welfare Advocacy Duo Duo Project was started by one of my heroines, Andrea Gung. She has single handedly started changing minds and hearts in China by collaborating with activists, veterinarians, entrepreneurs, and government officials to improve the welfare of dogs and cats throughout China. This is from their website: "When trucks full of dogs and cats bound for the slaughterhouse are intercepted, Duo Duo Project helps activists set up triage and provid

Late fall, about this time every year, the leaves have mostly fallen except for one rare native tree. Its leaves are bright red and...

I have visited the Galapagos Islands, which are the most pristine in the world. The animals are so protected there, that they have grown up with no fear of humans. You can walk past a nesting bird with her chick and she will show no fear. Anyplace else in the world, animals are rightfully terrified of humans. These islands show up what the world should be like. In contrast to the Galapagos archipelago is another group of islands constructed soley by human wastefulness. Th

If you are like me, you agree that the VERY least we owe the forced subjects of animal research is the right of a chance for freedom and happiness once they are done being researched upon. This is the very essence of the Beagle Freedom Project. The Beagle Freedom Project works to find homes for retired animal research subjects, better legislation for research animals, and educating kids about kindness to animals. Since 2010 they have rescued and rehoused thousands of resea

The Soi Dog Foundation is one of Asia's most effective charities. Working where there are almost no resources for animals, they fight animal cruelty, sickness, overpopulation and work to educate people that animals suffer as much as humans do. This photograph from SOI Dog Foundation website is used via the Fair Use Doctrine for Educational Purposes only. We are so used to rescue groups and humane societies in the US, that we may not realize that Asia has almost NONE! The S

​The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is one of Africa's oldest and most revered wildlife charities. They are legendary for caring for and rehabiliting wildlife babies whose mothers have been murdered by poaching or hunting. The SWT has now been in operation for 47 years. Every year they expand their incredible services for injured and beleaguered wildlife: 7 mobile veterinary clinics, an innovative Sky Vet program able to fly in to an animal crisis, over 30 anti-poaching t

We believe in very comfortable furniture. -- And by the way, it is a MYTH that modern furniture is not comfortable! -- You just have to...

Charley Harper was a mid century nature artist with a most distinctive abstract style. Yet no matter how abstract his depictions of...

Droughts are increasing. Period. All over the world. More and more we need to consider capturing rainwater to use not only in our...

Light is the most important thing on our planet. Without light we wouldn't have life. Most animals crave light and seek it out. In our...