After a brief hiccup last week (call it the Senior Editor in vacation mode!), we're pleased to get back to our content swap with Naturalpath, the green health community. This week, we're featuring an article on a concept that's rapidly growing around the world: eco communities. What are they? According to the article,

Eco villages seek to unite two emerging truths: human life thrives best in small, supportive, healthy communities, and that the only sutainable path for humanity to adapt and reinvent concepts from traditional community life to our modern economic and social realities.

As usual, the writers at NP have collected a wealth of resources for your enlightenment. If the idea of shifting gears, and moving into a community with a lighter environmental impact appeals to you, take a look at the full article.

Max admitted to a perpetual state of confusion yesterday, but when it comes to making the right choices for greening our lives, many of us feel the same way. We're surrounded by choices, particularly in how we spend our money, and more and more products and services are touting their environmental benefits. So, which is it: hybrid or high-mileage conventional vehicles? Biodegradeable disposeable products, or recycled ones? Paper or plastic?

Of course, we try to answer many of those questions here at GO (paper or plastic? Neither!). But, you may still be faced with decisions that put you in a quandary: you can see environmental benefits in both options, but aren't sure which choice is best. So, we've created a discussion forum for those green quandaries.

Throw your confusion out to the GO community: more than likely there's are members here who can help you make the best choice. Even if you get a discussion going, and there's no clear winner, you know more than you did when you started.

Thanks to GO member serenity_ii for the suggestion — it's a good one!

Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life: New Society Publishers, 2004Editor's note: Welcome to the Weekend Review, another addition to our weekend lineup. Each week, one of our writers will review a book, film, event, multimedia product, etc., that will relate to your quest to green the good life.

Ever dreamed about quitting the nine-to-five routine, getting out of the city or suburbs, and moving to a little farm in the country to raise organic vegetables and chickens? Of course you have: most of us trying to live more sustainable lives while maintaining an otherwise conventional existence likely share some version of that dream. John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist's Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life gives a reader a first-hand account of their efforts to live that dream, and shares the knowledge and wisdom they've gained while building both a business and a family in central Wisconsin.

I expected a "how to" book when I first started reading. What I found, to my surprise and delight, was much more eclectic and fascinating. There's a wealth of practical information on renewable energy systems, strawbale building, food preservation and water conservation, but all of that is wrapped in the compelling story of how this couple transitioned from full-fledged yuppiehood to country living with a light footprint.

While not a traditional, straightforward narrative, all of the "how to" sections of the book connect with John and Lisa's personal journey and transformation. A reader will not only learn about different kinds of solar and wind power systems that can be integrated into a rural homestead (or other residences), but also how the couple went about choosing the equipment they now use, how they financed it, and even how new friends such as "Super" Bob, and Phil and Judy, played integral roles in helping these homesteading newbies make the right choices and install their systems. In the spirit of these helpful neighbors and friends, John and Lisa share ample lists of organizations, web sites and books that can help others wanting to build a more sustainable lifestyle. In many cases, there are personal connections here, too: the couple has worked with many of the non-profits and government agencies, met and spent time with authors, and used this information in their own effort.

The book's title might lead a reader to believe that Rural Renaissance concerns the "rebirth" of rural communities that have fallen into economic and cultural decline in recent decades. That's certainly a part of the book, but the renaissance described in its pages is much more varied, nuanced and complex. John and Lisa themselves are "reborn" as they transform the farm into Inn Serendipity, their home and "funky" bed and breakfast. They experience the birth of their child Liam, and the forging new friendships with rural neighbors from a variety of backgrounds. The share fellowship and community with other rural residents, b&b guests, and fellow devotees of "right livelihood." And they discover a way of life that's bursting with connection: to the land and environment, to the people around them, and to each other.

I got a chance to meet and chat with John and Lisa before we opened for business on the first day of the Chicago GreenFest. After reading their book, I hope our paths cross again. They're created a lifestyle that's both enviable and inspiring — I hope they'll continue to share their stories with those of us still dreaming…

For more information on John and Lisa's activities, visit the Rural Renaissance website.

After overcoming a few technical challenges, we're very pleased to announce the launch of 30 Days to a Greener You, Green Options' e-course on greening the good life.

From the beginning, we've wanted Green Options to serve as a hub for "green newbies" — those people who are excited about the potential to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, but who also aren't completely sure where to start. There's a lot of information out there, and trying to filter through it all can be daunting.

30 Days to a Greener You helps you do just that by presenting daily lessons and actions you can take that will help you lighten your environmental impact while still living a comfortable lifestyle. We start with the "low-hanging fruit" of easily-implemented changes, and progress to bigger decisions for you to consider. Throughout, we point you to authoritative information, and guide you through the process of integrating it into your life. By the end, you should not only feel better about your relationship with the natural environment, but also understand practices you can implement that should save you money in the long term.

We're pretty excited about 30 Days — we hope you are, too, and that you share it with family and friends looking for ways to "green the good life."

You can subscribe to the course in the box on top of the right sidebar on this page. Please send any questions or concerns to 30days@greenoptions.com.