Photography By David B. Moore

EARTH-FRIENDLY TABLE
Natural Territory in Scottsdale can help you set an inviting international table fit for the holidays or any time of year. Included among eco-conscious products, according to store owner Santosh Rao: The 72-inch red-hued runner from India is made of sustainable cane grass and block-printed with old Indian motifs in natural and vegetable dyes. From the Philippines, the place mat is hand-woven of renewable romblon plant leaves. The glassware, dishes and votive holder are of recycled glass, made in the U.S.







AFTER GLOW
Need a gift for an environmentally conscious friend? Have your own burning desire to help the planet? Dirt Candles, available in several scents and without, could fit the bill. “They are fully biodegradable; their wax is made with organic soy cultivated in the U.S.; they are soot-free; and their packaging is made of recycled material,” says Brenda Lillis of Twig & Twill, a Scottsdale eco-friendly boutique. Why the name Dirt? Dirt is where nature begins and ends, says the product manufacturer.







FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The Green Movement has had a noticeable effect on the literary marketplace. More books of an eco-friendly nature are being published, and interest in them among readers of all ages is high, say those in the know.

Books with earth-friendly themes are expected to sell well for the holidays and into the future, notes Vickie Roe, an employee at an Arizona Barnes & Noble bookstore. “Once Al Gore’s book, An Inconvenient Truth, came out, the rest of the market for environmental subjects grew.”

Gore’s book and the Green Movement in general have had an effect on libraries, according to Joanne Hamilton-Selway, senior library coordinator for the Scottsdale Public Library System. About a year ago, the library created a new green collection for adults and youngsters. “They started checking them out, and we started buying more and more books.”
 
Among popular titles suitable for teens and adults this year are:
- Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life by Sophie Uliam (HarperCollins)
- Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style by Christie Matheson (Sourcebooks Inc.)
- Greening Your Home: Sustainable Options for Every System in Your House by Clayton Bennett (McGraw-Hill)
- The Sustainable Home: The Essential Guide to Eco Building, Renovation and Decoration by Cathy Strongman (Merrell)
For youngsters of varying ages:
- How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Planet: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming by Lynne Cherry and Gary Braasch (Dawn Publications)
- Kids Care: Seventy-Five Ways to Make a Difference for Animals, People & the Environment by Rebecca Olien and Michael P. Kline (Williamson Books)