By Robin Sowton

Perhaps you've just started composting. You're dumping leaves and grass clippings into a corner of the yard regularly, but you just haven't got into recycling the kitchen scraps. After all it can be annoying to have banana peels, coffee grains or vegetable trimmings sitting out until it is convenient to take them outside.

Judy Schaffer, Principal at JSO Commercial Interiors, signed up at GSDFW and was selected from all those registered to win an iPad2.  She is a licensed interior designer with extensive training in Feng Shui design,  Judy  stresses environmentally friendly products in her practice.  Eighty percent of the furnishings and accessories in her home are either from renewable resources or are repurposed .  She is a member of the Green Weavers Meetup. Congratulations, Judy.

Research to focus on well water near rural drilling sites.  

A University of Texas at Arlington chemistry professor will assist in a new study to examine rural well water from areas near natural gas drilling sites to provide clear, accurate information about the potential impact of chemicals used to extract gas from rock formations.

Harvey Lacey has a plan. Inspired by a workshop given by Kenyan architect Ronald Omyonga on holistic housing, Lacey has developed a machine for creating plastic blocks out of plastic bags, styrofoam, bottles, and whatever plastic trash people are trying to throw away. These plastic blocks can then be use to build houses.

A 1700-mile Keystone XLpipeline is due here in Texas in 2012.