The three middle school boys laugh as they slip and slide, their waders filling with water from Bear Trap Creek. They measure the width of the stream before each, in turn, drops a tennis ball into the water at different points downstream, while an adult times how long it takes each ball to travel 10 feet.

As soon as you spot the mannequin dressed as a mermaid in EcoChic Consignment Boutique’s window display, you know the store will be full of surprises. Once you step through both doors, you aren’t disappointed. The top of every wall is decorated with a full outfit displayed on a hanger.

Green is the new black. Recycling bins, compostable product packaging and wind/solar energy are just a few of the new and hottest trends. But hidden within many American cities is a larger-than-you-think population of people who dub themselves urban homesteaders; they aren’t just going green, they’ve been green. Now others seem to be catching on.

But what Kermit doesn’t know about is the Blue Rain ECOfest, a three-day event designed by the folks at Jazz Central to bring attainable sustainability to Central New York. “The Blue Rain ECOfest is a familyoriented sustainability fest, the first one for Central New York,” says Martin Walls, communications director of Jazz Central.

A locally sourced food waste composting facility cost-effectively optimizes recycling and reuse opportunities in Onondaga County.

In the carpe-diem world of retailing, add to the list of items worth questioning those wearing a “green” label, and we don’t mean the color. Marketers have coopted the environmental sensibilities that are all the rage these days and in doing so, are preying on the good intentions of consumers willing to do their part to save the planet.

First you should understand the difference between “being green” and “being sustainable.” The former often has little to do with the latter. Being green is an advertiser’s dream and a way to make money off the latest craze.

Andrew Picco formed the SUN Group in October 2009 to educate its members on the benefits of being sustainable, such as saving energy, protecting the environment, reducing landfill waste, improving indoor air quality, while ultimately saving money.