The author was born in Colorado and spent much of her early life traveling around the Southwest with her father, Luverne Cartier, an engineer and builder who advocated the use of sustainable design before it was popular.

She has lived in a variety of places, including California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Chicago, and in a variety of homes, from adobe to earth-sheltered.

In 1982, her home in Minnesota won certification from the National Wildlife Federation as a National Wildlife Sanctuary. She has published in Face to Face Magazine, The Mother Earth News, and the East West Journal, and currently writes for The Panelist, OpEd News, and various other sites. A book, scheduled for publication this summer (Greening Your Home) deals with residential environmental initiatives.

Formerly a reporter for a California newspaper, she has also worked for a Chamber of Commerce, as the CFO for a utility district, and in the Corporate Communications Department of Xcel Energy. She currently lives in Minnesota and devotes all her time to freelance writing, with a focus on environmental, consumer and political issues that impact the average American.

Email: lavendula13@gmail.com