In Portland, Oregon, locals are taking it upon themselves to steal parking lots in order to plant trees.

Okay, it’s not stealing. It’s “de-paving.”

For years we’ve been paving paradise to put up parking lots, but according to these local tree-huggers, oversized driveways and abandoned parking lots need to kick rocks.

Depave, a non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon is committed to promoting the removal of unnecessary paved areas to create more green spaces. Since 2007, the Depave crew and volunteer army have reverted more than 94,000 square feet of paved parking back to tree-filled parks, public green spaces, urban gardens, playgrounds and more.

See the problem is pavement. Paved surfaces keep the rain from the soil, diverting it to other waterways, picking up and carrying pollutants from antifreeze to pesticides along the way. Think about all the junk you see on streets and in parking lots – yeah now think about drinking it.

In addition to poisoning our water supply, in the summertime, paved urban areas are at least ten degrees hotter than their rural neighbors. Not only does this contribute to excessive use of electricity to power fans and A/C units, but it also promotes the formation of ground-level ozone (the main culprit of smog). Who knew parking lots were such troublemakers?

As if toxic water, sweltering summers and suffocating smog aren’t enough, here are some more reasons to steal parking lots and plant trees.

• More trees mean more shade for natural cooling
• Trees also protect structures by blocking harsh winds
• More oxygen is produced while less pollution is created
• Vegetation can be aesthetically pleasing and provide privacy
• More nature means more land for habitat restoration and wildlife
• More urban farming provides food for local residents and supports sustainability

If you’re in the Portland area you can check out Depave’s upcoming projects to get involved. If you’re not, they have an entire page online dedicated to teaching people how to depave  in their own communities.

At the end of the day, there really isn’t a good reason NOT to Depave paradise. Heck even if you just want to get out some aggression, taking a sledgehammer to an unsuspecting parking lot could almost be therapeutic.

We make our mark without leaving one.  The company has strict processes, but at the end of the day we feel good about our company and what it stands for.  We are a random band of family and friends that are passionate about the environment. Our company is a great pathway for us to get our message out and help others with the same mission.  That about sums it up.

INDIE PEACE is 100% organic cotton, which means that the cotton does not go through chemical processing as 100% cotton does. This allows the threads to remain intact for two times as many washes as regular cotton. This means that INDIE’s clothing offers quality, allowing the consumer’s clothing to not have as much give and stretching due to wear and washes. INDIE PEACE only uses water based prints, which allows for INDIE’s clothing to not have pasty printing that can peel off from old age or too many washes. INDIE PEACE offers style and variety for the consumer with various designs to choose from. INDIE is exclusively USA made and 100% designed by our founder Lawton Ursrey.

The 2012 collection is available now.

Tree Sound Studio is Atlanta’s greenest recording studio built to date. The studio has seen a vast variety of artists walk through the environmentally friendly doors from Akon to The Backstreet Boys to the off-kilter Beastie Boys.

The facility itself is home to a carbon neutral facility offset by renewable wind, solar and biomass resources. A 2700-Watt Solar PV Array on the roof of the studio provides the majority of the renewable resources needed to power the facility. LED and fluorescent lights line the interior of the studio, eliminating wasteful energy and bulb products.

On the exterior of the studio, a garden grows no GMO produce, eaten and enjoyed by the staff members. In keeping with water conversation, a water catchment system allows for rainwater to flow from the gutters to a barrel. Eventually, the rainwater is recycled back to its home turf: the garden. No harm, no foul for Tree Sound Studios!

Recently, the studio went full-out green during their live events. Tree Power & Sound, the latest addition to the Tree Studio family, provides off-grid energy to run live events. A small trailer comes equip with solar panels to provide artists with a green show. The outlets alongside the trailer help preserve unused energy.

Tree Sound’s commitment to remain environmentally friendly extends the need for others to join the movement towards greener lifestyles.

Tree Leaf Music’s mission is to educate the world on the importance of sustainable living and the impact of conscious consumerism through the power of music.

Throughout the course of this year, various cultural and social movements have become increasingly influential in the fashion industry, causing major shifts in the field toward awareness, diversity and sustainability. In fact, one of the most prominent inspirational factors for many avant-garde luxury designers today is the practice of environmental and social responsibility.

Although environmentally-friendly fashion is a relatively new branch of the industry, some of the most knowledgeable fashion gurus are quickly adopting the fundamentals of sustainability and applying them to their creations. The Fashion Institute of Technology’s professor–and Resident Director of the overseas program in Florence–Sass Brown, is releasing her new book, Eco Fashion, in September. Brown specializes in ethical design practices in the fashion industry and has worked with women’s cooperatives, such as COOPA-ROCA in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She has a strong background in apparel design and has created several collections for manufacturers, including her own signature collection of women’s designer sportswear.

Eco Fashion will feature various eco-conscious designers and their products, demonstrating that sustainable fashion can indeed excell in high luxury markets. The book not only exhibits the diversity in products of this relatively new genre, but also contains information on the story behind each one of these labels and their impact on the community.

Though the book hits shelves in September, you can already pre-order your copy on Amazon. INDIE PEACE is really looking forward to reading this!

Forget what you’ve heard about organic cotton being flimsy. The idea that harsh pesticides are necessary to protect cotton crops against damage-causing bugs is simply not true. In fact, insecticides weaken plants and welcome even more cotton-nibbling creatures. How? When farmers use abrasive substances to shield crops, they kill all bugs, good and bad. What’s more, stronger cotton-eating bugs flourish and there are no predatory insects, birds and spiders to stop them in their tracks. Unfortunately, farmers have to hose down their crops with even more cancer-causing chemicals to kill the stronger bugs. And ultimately, repeated exposure from rough pesticides and tougher insects makes for a much weaker cotton crop.

But the destruction doesn’t stop there.  Once the cotton crop is picked, factories must scour and bleach the plant to rid it of pesticides. However, instead of freeing the cotton of disease-causing chemicals, other compounds, such as formaldehyde, are added in to preserve the “quality” of the fabric.  The chemicals do little to protect the garment and instead leak dangerous substances in the fabric. More shockingly, in an average shirt produced with non-organic cotton, only 72% of the actual garment is cotton.  The rest of the shirt is a combination pesticide residue, layers of silicone and other toxic fillers!

To you, the consumer, purchasing non-organic clothing means sacrificing quality and exposing yourself to potential health problems. Opt for organic options instead. Organic cotton is stronger and more durable than the regular variety because it goes through less processing and has been spared harsh chemicals and pesticide resistant bugs.

On an average, shirts made with organic cotton start to lose their elasticity at 100 washes, compared to those made of regular cotton which start to lose theirs at just 25. On top of that, organic cotton is softer and has a more luxurious feel. It’s hard to believe that such a delicate fabric can be so sturdy, but the secret lies in what it’s made of – 100% certified organic cotton and NO PESTICIDES.

Consumers with allergies and sensitive skin will also find that organic cotton is a better option. Without the use the pesticides, organic cotton is safer, softer and overall superior.

So, before you fork up the dough for another shirt, ask yourself if you are willing to spend your hard-earned dollars on second-rate garments. Instead, try investing in an100% organic option. Your money will be well spent on a lush, environmentally friendly, non-toxic and highly long-lasting piece of clothing. The obvious winner in this battle is organic cotton- it packs the punch against regular cotton.

Pssstttt…. who said organic options had to be pricey? Go to indiepeace.myshopify.com and browse affordable and stylish 100% certified organic options now!

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