It can replace a lot.

"'Garden of Eden', 2007 by Wollle shows eight pedestals, each of which is covered with an airtight Plexiglas box. Via the internet, the latest air pollution levels in the capitals of the G8-countries are obtained. The system reproduces these levels artificially inside these boxes, each of which contains a lettuce that serves an indicator of the quality of the air inside the capsules."

This is superb. As usual, well-researched, well-written, and honest. Absolutely brimming with perfect ideas about how to get food back on track in every way in this country — commercially, politically, and socially. If even a quarter of this stuff happens I would be ecstatic. The ideas in the last section about the president creating a farm section of the White House lawn and the chef posting organic recipes on the White House website are killer. God I love Michael Pollan. Obama claims to have read this. Let's hope it happens.

Is this it? "Until now, solar power has been a daytime-only energy source, because storing extra solar energy for later use is prohibitively expensive and grossly inefficient. Daniel G. Nocera, the Henry Dreyfus Professor of Energy at MIT, has developed a simple method to split water molecules and produce oxygen gas, a discovery that paves the way for large-scale use of solar power." "The new catalyst works at room temperature, in neutral pH water, and it's easy to set up."

On shortsighted advertising schemes and the power an arbitrary number assigned to products could have on the decisions of consumers.

Green, simple healthcare. "Our packaging is made from 100% recycled materials and it is compostable, which means one day, it will probably become a part of a large tree. Maybe you can cut down that tree and make it into a speedboat."

The nooks and crannies of megacity Tokyo are filled with "flowerpot gardens." “'To be closer to nature – because otherwise you won’t get any,' says Mizuho, a resident of Asakusa."

The coop local organic grocer right down the street from our apartment in Honolulu. Beautiful.

"...although it generates no more or less carbon than magazine publishing, web publishing takes no carbon out of the atmosphere. So by this analysis dead-tree magazines have a smaller net carbon footprint than web media."

An international body that promotes responsible forestry and printing practices. I've started noticing their seal around. It's good to know this is going strong.

Profile of the Burt's Bees company and their success.

Use a pulsating orb to "make electricity [usage] visible" and get people thinking about their energy use. Good idea!

"Tools, Models and Ideas for Building a Bright Green Future." Fantastic companion website to the book.

Andrew Bird rules. "...he'll fuel his tour bus with vegetable oil-derived biodiesel, make all shows 'carbon neutral' with help from Native Energy, hawk eco-friendly merch, and even fill the green room with, well, green goods thanks to Stonyfield Farm."