National Geographic put out a new magazine to take advantage of the recent green buzz called The Green Guide. I heard about the magazine awhile ago but completely missed my opportunity to get the initial installment. However, for the second issue, I happened to be in the right place at the right time and quickly snapped it out to check it out.
I actually think this idea was a good one for National Geographic, they already have a name for nature and taking care of the Earth already, and despite the fact that being green is all the craze right now, there isn’t a reliable paper source out there to date for it. I mean there are a ton of websites out there that help you figure out what to do, what to buy, and how to do it, but none nearly as reliable as National Geographic. And you know, like has been noted many times, many people just like the feel of holding onto something when reading, me included.
The magazine itself has its ups and downs. Overall, I like it and have learned quite a bit of things that I can do to live better. I think it has a nice mix of useful things to do, that I think are actually reasonable to do. You aren’t just giving up modern living, you are learning to accentuate what you do to be better for everyone. There are tips for little things you can do, as well as various products that you can buy that are better for the environment.
The one complaint I really have about the Green Guide, is that while there are many products that it points to, it doesn’t really give me a good review of how good these products are, and how they compare to common household products on effectiveness. For instance, it runs through what to look for with Green Shampoos and then lists some possibilities such as Burt’s Bees Shampoo. While it tells me why I should want to use these types of products, it doesn’t really tell me how well it actually works compared to say Suave Shampoo (though in this particular instance I would guess that the comparison is rather favorable to Burt’s Bees).
I would like to see real reviews on products in future magazine. I don’t mind that they list possibilities to point you in the right direction, and then leave it at that. But I would like one or two real honest to god reviews in there as well.
My second real complaint about the magazine is that there isn’t really any news or noteworthy information. The magazine is chockful of tips and recommendations, but it offers nothing on the latest in green living. You mean to tell me there isn’t a hot new product coming out soon that could greatly help? There is no horrid disaster that some corp done? What about some hard hitting piece on how Exxon treats wildlife? These are things we could find in an average National Geographic, but not in this magazine and I really am sad by that. I think this sort of information could really make the guide much more in depth than what it currently is.
Still, I think the periodical is a worthy beginning to what is a needed source of info for a new way of living. I have read nearly 90% of the magazine (skipping the air conditioning unit recommendations as I have no plans on buying a new window-unit AC any day soon) and am strongly considering subscribing to it. I also am actually looking at some of these products that they suggest (the laundry detergent and shampoos in particular) and may order some soon and give those a shot. I also have greatly appreciated the piece on trying to buy green on a dime as it offers nice advice.
I think for anyone who is wanting to learn more about living green, this magazine is a great option. Sure, much of this stuff you can find easily online for free, but this is much better organized and you don’t have to wade through the deluge of crap to get the gem at the end. This offers a nice way to start off a good way to live.