Over at the Dancing Rabbit eco-village, the Milkweed Mercantile is showing how to turn a healthy profit without taking liberties with your environmental principles (as we recently reported). We’ve been lucky enough to chat to founder Alline Anderson – and here’s what she had to say about her business model, her seasonal routines and the concepts of “ecoluxe” and sustainability.

Ecosalon: What do you think are the dangers for anyone setting up an eco-friendly business using the traditional

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"Write about night lights", a reader requested – and instantly I remembered being transfixed by the circling goo in lava-lamps. Nowadays my preferences are less gooey and more eco-friendly (that goo? Globules of mineral oil and, um, paraffin).
A successful night light is all about subtlety and artful unobtrusiveness. A light useful and clear, yet gentle enough to be stopped by your eyelids. Moonlight springs to mind, so applause to these guys for patenting the name – and then cheers, for creating such an energy efficient light (run it all year for less …

What does a 21st century home look like? We recently gave a rundown of some of the features we can expect in the next wave of amazing, green houses (in 21 Ways To Build A 21st Century Home). But since we’re already in the 21st Century, you’d expect to see some of these innovations put into practice already. And you’d be right. Here are 15 amazing futuristic innovations that you can see at work right now:

Modular …

There are two things I’ve got against displays of cut flowers.
First, I’m a guy: we’re not big on the flowers thing. We tend to associate flowers with grovelling apologies, or enforced gardening. It’s a matter of perspective. (But I’ll agree, a well-done display of flowers can lift even the lowest mood and brighten the most drab room.)
But there’s my second point: why not keep them growing? Have I mentioned my basil plant? I call him Basil. I’ve carefully tended Basil from a limp, shop-bought state into a riot of greenery spilling over …

Unfortunately China’s tainted milk scare isn’t stopping with just the tainted milk: some Chinese-made milk chocolate products are sitting on international shelves, and they may be tainted, too.
The milk in question has been laced with melamine, an industrial chemical unlawfully mixed with the milk to “boost” protein levels. Melamine is actually quite toxic and has caused kidney stones in children.
There have been recalls both for many varieties of Cadbury’s chocolates and all White Rabbit chocolates. White Rabbit is a popular brand in China but is imported …

Sometimes, eco-friendliness is all about scale.
A hot 2008 trend in modernistic decor is the ethanol fireplace. Most models – such as this Planika model, pictured – look simply stunning: two glass plates sandwiching a fireplace with no burnt remains to rake or sweep up, and no flue, because the flame burns cleanly. You don’t need ventilation or smoke extraction. This fireplace can go anywhere.
A fire that emits nothing but small quantities of water and CO2 is surely as green as can be. And it’s using ethanol, a wholly renewable fuel. …

I spotted them on the shelves last year and they’re out again in full bloom this season. The itty-bitty one-piece romper, a throwback to the 70s, is everywhere. My eye goes straight for it each and every time I’m shopping. I pick it up off the rack, stare at it longingly, try to work up the gusto to bring it to the dressing room, and inevitably place it back on the rack after losing courage.
I love the romper look, but I just can’t bring myself to wear something so…catty in public. I almost …

Check out the gems our favorite green artisans at EcoEtsy have to offer this week:
Why should your bulletin board only serve a functional purpose? If plain cork looks out of place in your trendy office, then display your daily reminders in ultimate style with the Green Tea Happy pin board ($32).
Looking to satisfy your retro craze? Available in various shades of wood and vinyl, the sleek and sustainable Mid Century Leentu lounge chair revives the funky fads of eras passed ($459).
Accentuate your kitchen’s …