Co-op America is a membership-based, nonprofit organization whose mission is to further a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. It offers educational programs, a national green pages of compatible business listings, a quarterly journal, and more.

Earth Day Network is an alliance of 5,000 groups in 184 countries working to promote a healthy environment and a peaceful, just, sustainable world. It organizes and coordinates an international Earth Day event in April of each year. It also sponsors related campaigns and educational programs throughout the year.

Earthsave, founded by John Robbins, author of Diet for a New America and The Food Revolution, promotes a shift to a healthy, plant-based diet. It offers educational materials and support through membership in local chapters.

Household Ecoteam Program is offered by The Empowerment Institute (formally Global Action Plan), whose mission is to empower the human dimension of community and environmental change. The Household Ecoteam Program provides materials and support for small groups of neighbors to work together to reduce their environmental impact in the areas of garbage, water, electricity, transportation, and consumption.

The Institute for Deep Ecology promotes ecological values and actions by providing opportunities for inquiry and practice through workshops, publications, and support networks.

The Institute for Earth Education is a network and resource organization for environmental educators.

Northwest Earth Institute is a Portland-based organization that offers courses on voluntary simplicity, deep ecology, and sustainable living. The courses consist of weekly discussion groups based on readings from a course book that includes a diverse collection of essays, articles, and book excerpts.

Resurgence publishes articles on environmental and social issues ­ ecology, human scale education, sacred art, voluntary simplicity, sustainability and holistic philosophy. The magazine is infused with spirituality and creativity and advocates living lightly on the earth.

Rethinking the American Dream is an excellent video on sustainability and quality of life issues. It was produced by Oregon State University Extension.

Rocky Mountain Institute is a research and consulting nonprofit organization that works with businesses, governments, communities, and individuals to advance resource efficiency market-based solutions. The book, Natural Capitalism, was authored by its founders, Amory Lovins, and L. Hunter Lovins, and Paul Hawken.

Worldwatch Institute, founded by Lester Brown in 1974, is a leader in interdisciplinary research with a global focus in the areas of environmental sustainability and social justice. It publishes the well-known annual State of the World reports, Vital Signs, and the Worldwatch Paper series.

E the Environmental Magazine is a magazine that educates, inspires and empowers Americans to make a difference for the environment.

EcoIQ Magazine is an online quarterly journal dedicated to building sustainable communities. Its focus is on decisions that are both economically and ecologically intelligent. The site is comprehensive, offering current news briefs, feature articles, and resources.

Beyond the Limits: Confronting Global Collapse, Envisioning A Sustainable Future by Donella H. Meadows, Dennis L. Meadows, and Jøgern Randers (Post Mills, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing, Reprint 1993). Scholarly sequel to the international bestseller, Limits to Growth, published in 1972. Uses a systems analysis approach to review sustainability issues of population and capital growth, planetary sources for materials and energy, and the planet's ability to recycle or absorb the pollutants we create.

Confronting Consumption by Thomas Princen, Michael Maniates, and Ken Conca (eds.) (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2002). Scholars from the University of Michigan, Allegheny College, and University of Maryland recommend confronting consumption as a driving focus of the environmental movement, with a strong voluntary simplicity component.

EarthScore: Your Personal Environmental Audit & Guide by Donald W. Lotter (Lafayette, Ca: Morning Sun Press, 1993). Detailed workbook that helps you measure your lifestyle practices in the areas of household energy, water, transportation, consumerism, toxins, wastes, recycling and related topics. Recommendations and resources are included.

Eco-Economy: Building an Economy for the Earth by Lester R. Brown (New York: W.W. Norton, 2001). Founding Director of the Earth Policy Institute explores how our current economic model negatively impacts natural resources. Provides comprehensive solutions towards an eco-economy, such as tax shifts to encourage sustainable business practices.

How Much is Enough?: The Consumer Society and the Future of the Earth by Alan Durning (New York: W.W. Norton, 1992). Provides a comprehensive overview of the consumer society-how we got to where we are, the damage done to the earth by the consumer class, and the striking lack of fulfillment resulting from the consumer way of life.

Living More with Less by Doris Janzen Longacre (Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1980). Discusses the finite nature of the earth's resources and the need for the haves of this world to reduce their consumption of resources so that the have-nots have a shot at obtaining basic necessities of life.

Micro Eco-Farming by Barbara Berst Adams (Auburn, CA: New World Publishing, 2004). Explores the world of "microfarms," farming on small acreages, anything from a backyard to five acres, as a way of life and as a viable business. Includes many real-life examples, creative ideas and useful resources.

Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, and L. Hunter Lovins (New York: Back Bay Books, 2000). Presents a vision for the next industrial revolution that can enhance productivity and efficiency, create new jobs, and preserve the earth's resources. The term natural capitalism is based on the principle that business can be good for the environment.

Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on the Earth by Mathis Wackernagel and William E. Rees (Gabriola Island, B.C.: New Society Publishers, 1995). Presents concept of ecological footprint-the amount of productive land area (based on resource consumption and waste assimilation requirements) needed to sustain the lifestyle of an individual or a defined population-as a tool for measuring humanity's impact on the earth. Suggests alternative ways of living to reduce footprint.

Promise Ahead: A Vision of Hope and Action for Humanity's Future by Duane Elgin (New York: Quill, 2001). Evolutionary activist examines adversity trends (such as population growth and depletion of natural resources) and opportunity trends (such as simple living and use of the Internet as a tool for social change) facing the global world today. Discusses the power and significance of the evolutionary turning point at which we find ourselves.

Radical Simplicity: Small Footprints on a Finite Earth by Jim Merkel (Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers, 2003). The author explores in a non-judgmental way how we can reduce our ecological footprint without sacrificing a high-quality life. Philosophical reflections and personal anecdotes contribute to the engaging nature of this book.

Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered: 25 Years Later...With Commentaries by E.F. Schumacher (Point Roberts, WA: Hartley & Marks, 2nd edition, 1999, first published in 1973). Classic text written by a visionary British economist. The author exposes the damaging and short-sighted aspects of Western economies, specifically the desire for ever increasing growth without concern for non-renewable sources of energy. Includes commentary and practical suggestions for solving world-wide problems of inequality of wealth and poverty in developing countries.

Stepping Lightly by Mark A. Burch (Gabriola Island, B.C.: New Society Publishers, 2000). Goes beyond the benefits of voluntary simplicity for individuals to reveal how its practice can serve as a thoughtful approach to solving modern social and environmental problems.

The Unsettling of America: Culture & Agriculture by Wendell Berry (San Francisco: Sierra Club, 3rd edition, 1996). Poet/farmer writes eloquently about consequences of being divorced from the land. Explores damaging impact of modern American agriculture on our culture, health, economy, relationships, and spiritual lives.

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