Favorite Gifts

Let me take a moment to share with you some of my favorite organic or eco-friendly gifts I received this season. I'll start from the back of the photo and work to the left.

Even Santa knows you can never go wrong with chocolate and I must have been especially good this year to find this chocolate bar in my stocking. Since 1993, Endangered Species Chocolate has been committed to creating premium, all-natural, ethically traded, naturally shade grown chocolate products. All beans used in its products are purchased from family-owned properties where the income benefits the community. If that's not enough of a commitment, 10% of their net profits are donated to fund species and habitat conservation efforts.

Next, Açaí Damage-Minimizing foaming cleanser promises to help clear my skin of impurities and protect it against the visible effects of skin damage. Kiehl's products are Certified Organic, as well as, Paraben & Sulfate Free. After a week of below freezing temps, I can't wait to nourish my thirsty skin. Thanks Mom :).

Who knew in the blazing heat of summer, my girlfriend was working on her Christmas gifts. Seems like an unfair advantage...until that is you are the recipient of homemade Pepper Jelly straight from Foretich Organics. Sorry, for now, it's private stock only. Rest assured though when the garden's big enough for sales, you'll be the first to know.

Forged out of recycled metal in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you don't realize you need a Wick Dipper Stick until you've burned your finger or wasted yet another candle b/c the wax dried over the bent wick. This just might be one of those gifts I will quickly realize I can't live without.

Clean eating on the go: Oskri Organic Coconut bars are like eating dessert any time of the day. The ingredients are clean and simple providing you with energy without the yucky ingredients or the lull after a typical sugar high. Your challenge will be choosing with one to try first.

All I need now is a destination. My EO travel kit will keep me airline compliant, smelling good, and looking good. Regardless of where my travels take me, I'll be using my EO Products with a clear conscious.

Under all these gifts you'll notice, in my opinion, the most environmentally friendly wrapping paper you'll ever purchase. Why? Because you can guarantee without a doubt, this paper has a 100% chance of being re-used!!! My Mom and John buy sheets of dollar bills from The US Mint and use them for wrapping paper. Yes, you pay a bit more for it but it's fun and completely re-useable. Everyone offers to recycle this paper!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Recycling Gift Wrap

Recycle the following with chip board (light cardboard-cereal/cracker boxes:
Hemp and raffia tie
Craft bags
Wrapping paper, gift bags/tags & cards without wax, shiny, metallic, or glossy coatings
Butcher paper
Newsprint art paper and newspapers
Shoe boxes and Shirt boxes

Shipping boxes are recycled with coregated cardboard

Can be recycled with plastic bags:
Soft plastic wrapping. Like all those tiny bags that cords and toys come in. At the recycling center, I was told any plastic wrapping that DOES NOT crinkle loudly or stiffly. Good rule of thumb.

Here's one you may not know could be recycled with aluminum drinking cans:
Aluminum foil and aluminum foil pie shell tins!

This should help keep the holiday mess a little more on the GREEN side-have fun!

Fox 5 Road Warrior

Fox 5's Stacey Elgin, The Road Warrior, was at Bread Beckers in Woodstock yesterday. She asked The Everyday Organic how changing to whole grains has made a difference. Check out the video!
click on the segment with the photo of slices of bread-4 segments total at Bread Beckers

Chocolate PB Cups

This recipe debunks the myth that vegans don’t eat dessert. Believe me; you don’t have to be a vegan to smile while eating these absolutely indulgent treats. Bye Bye Resse’s Peanut Butter cups and Bye Bye Girl Scout Cookies! This mix of my favorite combination is both delicious and clean.

Makes 24

4Tb Earth Balance Buttery Sticks
½ C Peanut Butter (all natural, organic if possible)
¾ C Whole Wheat flour (fresh ground whole wheat if possible)
2 Tb Evaporated Cane Juice (Savannah Gold Crystals)
2/3 C grain-sweetened, nondairy chocolate or carob chips
2 Tb Almond Milk (unsweetened). You can use soy or rice milk also
¼ C Peanuts (all natural, no preservatives)

Line 2 mini muffin tins (24 total) with paper liners (preferably bleach free liners) & set aside.

Melt 4Tb buttery stick in small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the peanut butter, whole wheat flour, and evaporated cane juice. Mix well. Remove from heat. Divide evenly among each muffin cup.

Use a double boiler or put a bowl over a sauce pan holding gently boiling water. Turn the heat down. Put the chocolate chips and milk in the bowl over the gentle heat. Stir until melted and smooth. Turn off the heat. Spoon over each of the peanut butter cups. Dividing evenly.

Top each with a few peanuts. Put in the refrigerator and let set for at least 2hrs before serving. Store in a covered dish. These keep in the refrigerator and freeze well so perfect for pre-party planning.
© The Everyday Organic

Mexican Wedding Cookies

These melt in your mouth delights have been re-vamped with whole wheat and by using non-dairy butter are also vegan.

Makes 3 1/2 dozen

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes per batch

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks, softened

2 1/2 C Evaporated Cane Juice (powdered)
( to powder evaporated cane juice, pulse it in food processor 30seconds or until finer granules)

2 tsp Vanilla Extract (pure Vanilla)

1/2 tsp fresh ground ginger

1/8 tsp salt (fine sea salt)

2 C Whole Wheat Pastry Flour

2 C finely chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat buttery sticks and evaporated cane juice in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add 1/2 cup of the sugar, vanilla, nutmeg and salt; beat until well blended. Stir in flour and pecans.

2. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.

3. Bake 12 minutes. Remove from baking sheets. Immediately roll hot cookies in remaining 2C sugar. Place sugared cookies on wire racks to cool. When cool, roll again in sugar.

© The Everyday Organic

Natural Shaving Cream-is it worth it?

Still using that inexpensive foamy stuff in the can? It's hard to break away from that rich thick foam, I know. However, in an effort to avoid sodium lauryl sulfate, fragrance, and contents I can't pronounce I did have to search for an alternative.

Burt's Bees Natural Skin Care for Men Shave Cream. 100% natural with no parabens, phthalates, or sodium lauryl sulfate. Easily purchased wherever the Burt's Bees line is sold, however, will it be worth $7 a tube? Yes, I realize that's $6 more than the can but let's at least give it a try.

This is marketed as a men's product but do remember I tried it on my legs.

Does it foam? No, but it is thick and creamy
Can you access it with one hand? No and though we aren't purchasing it for packaging, if it's frustrating to use, it won't help you feel good about spending $7.
Good Shave? Yes, legs were silky smooth
Sting after? Same as any other shave. Not bad but my legs wanted moisturizing.
Efficiency? Washes off easy so if you leave the water running while you're shaving, don't lather up your whole leg at once b/c some of it will wash off before you get to it. Then you just have to reapply.

You can't get around the fact that it's 100% natural and paraben, phthalate, and sodium lauryl sulfate free but in all honesty it doesn't stand alone as a product worth $7. It still leaves you wanting an alternative.

My solution? A bar of unscented vegetable glycerin soap. That's what I use on my face and body and now for shaving as well. It doesn't lather up like a shaving cream so I'm a little more careful with the razor but for less than $2 a bar, you can't beat it. Though I use 365 brand sold in the whole body section at Whole Foods, vegetable glycerin soaps can be purchased at most health or natural food stores. Be sure to check ingredients for any unwelcome "extras". You're looking for a bar made with vegetable glycerin and water.

Hand Cream that WORKS

From Eucerin to L'Occitane, to pure shea butter, to olive oil I have tried them all in search of something to soothe my dry hands and keep them smooth. In an effort to avoid parabens and other chemicals, my choices have gotten slimmer and quite a bit more expensive.

A month ago while in the store, it was suggested I try MyChelle Dermaceuticals Hand Cream. "You will love it" I was told. At $14 for a 2.3 oz tube I doubted it and thought, "no thanks" but did help myself to a nice sample while I was there. It felt like silk. The next week, I tried it again. Hmmmm...my hands were still soft the next morning...again. When it happened the first time I thought it was a fluke. This really could be it.

Third time's a charm. Yes, I brought a tube home and I do love it. Because it actually works, I don't use it as often and don't need as much when I do. It stays in my glove box in the car so it's even ready to tackle my daughter's dry hands on the way to school. Today my sister tried it and said "it really does feel like silk".

Mild and pleasant fragrance that won't interfere with your perfume or essential oils. Most importantly it, and all MyChelle products, are phthalate, paraben, fragrance, and artifical color FREE.

The Pumpkin Renew Cream was such a treat for my face and neck. They sell the cutest sample sizes for less than $5.
NOVEMBER COUPON CODE: FALL15 for 15% off all online purchases through November.

Yummy Yummy Sweet Potatoes

My sister ran down Martha Stewart's Yummy Yummy Yam recipe and I scribbled it on the back of a piece of paper. Headed to the in-laws for Thanksgiving and was assigned salad and sweet potatoes. I always get off so easy :).

Made some alterations to Martha's recipe and the result turned out just like the recipe title says.

1/2 C Earth Balance (natural oil spread)*
2 Tb Almond milk *
2 eggs
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 C Evaporated Cane Juice
8 sweet potatoes *
2C marshmallows (all natural)

* denotes alterations (also omitted walnuts and apricots)

Bring a large stock pot of water to a boil. While waiting for the boil, wash and peel sweet potatoes. Chop them in equal sized chunks about 1 inch in size. When water boils, add potatoes and boil until very fork tender and falling apart (~15 min). Melt Earth Balance, let cool and whisk in almond milk. Preheat oven to 350˚.

Drain potatoes when they're done and put back in the pot or another bowl to beat with mixer. Beat til smooth (a few chunks are fine and add texture to final dish so don't look for perfection here). Add melted butter and milk mixture, 2 slightly beaten eggs, salt, cinnamon, vanilla, and evaporated cane juice. Mix til blended.

Put in a 9x13 baking dish. If you are serving this later, stop here. Cover dish and refrigerate until 30 minutes before serving. That's what I did. I took it to my mother-in-law's like this and baked it there.

When ready to bake, top with mini marshmallows (do not add ahead of time b/c they will get soggy). Bake ~20 minutes at 350˚ or until hot and marshmallows are golden brown.

Watch them disappear. Which is why I have no photo to show you. Loved this version b/c not too sweet, all natural and almost vegan. Just substitute 2TB olive oil for the eggs and you're there.

Oh Baby!

Shak-Shuka is a European website that has great gift options for babies, children, and mothers. This website has a huge selection of organic and recycled products including: organic cotton clothing, recycled plastic bowls, bamboo utensils, and BPA,PVC, Phthalates, Lead and Nitrosamine-free baby bottles. This website's goal is to ensure that the safest place for a baby is always its mother's arms.
(pictures courtesy of http://www.shak-shuka.com/Bumble-Bubble-Dress.html and http://www.shak-shuka.com/decor/)

Living Cards

Ok, I know; the second stationery post in less than two weeks. This may sound bad, but this is pretty cool, guys. Do you remember the living wall post? Well PostCarden is a company that produces living cards! Now is it just me, or is that super cool?! Especially with the holidays coming up, who wouldn't want to receive a cute mini garden?
(pictures courtesy of http://www.postcarden.com/)

Pigs in The Blanket

Our daughter's favorite party food is Pigs in the Blanket. Easy, right? Not if your using biscuits you pop out of the can. Those typically have Red #40 in them. Seriously? You make white biscuits with red food coloring. How gross does it get.

Thanks to Immaculate Baking Co. my daughter is denied no more! They make Crescent Rolls with unbleached wheat flour and NO hydrogenated oil or artificial coloring. Hallelujah!

I used the 365 brand chicken hotdogs-nitrate free of course and for the adults with finer pallets, Bilinski's All Natural Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage. Seven ingredients and that's all: Skinless Chicken, Chardonnay, dried apples, sea salt, black pepper, and dried onions. It's a kids party so have your wine in your chicken... And I guess technically these aren't pigs in a blanket, they're chicks in a blanket...somethin' doesn't seem right about that though.

Instructions from here:
Unfold the biscuit
Wrap the sausage in the biscuit (blanket)starting at the wider end of biscuit
The tip of biscuit should wrap around last
Put on baking sheet
Bake 10-12 min. at 350. Then watch them disappear

Pretty Paper

Nothing compares to finding a beautiful letter (and especially an invitation) in your mailbox. The now old-fashioned gesture is so sweet and sentimental. Urbanic Paper Boutique lets you enjoy and indulge in the beautiful simplicity of well crafted and eco-friendly stationery. The boutique is located in Venice, California and carries a gorgeous array of cards, invitations, and journals made with sustainable materials like soy-based inks and 'tree-free' paper. The store always has something interesting going on and is definitely worth a visit.
(picture courtesy of Urbanicdesigns.com)

Eco Friendly Products

Replacing some kitchen items so I head to Home Goods. What's this? A can opener made of 70% plant material and 30% traditional plastic. Cool! Lifetime Brands, Inc calls this Nexplast. Same cost as the other can openers with a lifetime warranty. I notice it says "hand wash only". Could be why I go through these things so often; I put them in the dishwasher... Note to self: "not very green if you have to replace an item that should last a lifetime b/c you don't take care of it properly". How does it perform? I bring it home and it works just as well as any other hand can opener.

2.24.11
4 months later we had to say good-bye to Mr. Can Opener. Sorry, not a very green product if I'm out buying a new one in 4 months. Lessen learned; sometimes things are better made the first time around.

Dr. Hauschka Sample

Let's face it, once you find a skin care line that works for you, you don't want to have to search again. Well, recently I discovered my long time favorite company has stopped production. Back to the drawing board.

In my search, I discovered, Dr. Hauschka. If you're familiar with this line, you know it ain't cheap. Before I committed, I wanted to be sure I knew it worked for me and just what to buy. The Dr. Hauschka Daily Face Care Kit is a great way to sample this high quality skin care line before choosing which products to buy.You can purchase it online or like I did at Whole Foods for the same price.

Save 50% on Organic Food

How would you like to save 50% on herbs and spices, baking mixes (including gluten free mixes), essential oils, natural body care, supplements and more?

A co-op is an easy way to combine your buying power and save money. Frontier, a leading supplier of organic herbs and spices, offers co-op opportunities for groups of 5 or more. The benefit is you get to purchase products at wholesale prices vs. retail. Trust me, I've checked out the website prices and the co-op catalog prices. You're looking to save 50%. Name brands include Simply Organic, Aura Cacia, and Frontier.

On top of that, when your combined order totals $250, you get free shipping. A one time refundable group fee of $10 is needed at sign up but refunded with your co-op's first order. All you need is someone to head it up for organizational purposes and four other interested people (must be different addresses).

If you're lucky enough to live in the metro-Atlanta area, I have that part covered for you. One of my readers has offered to start a co-op here (East Cobb/ Roswell area). Now all we need are 3 more people. If you're interested, email me and I'll put you in touch with her.

For a glimpse at the prices offered, check out the co-op catalog. Table of contents on pgs 12-13. Also viewable in excel spreadsheet.

Thank you St. Ann's

For all those wonderful moms I met at St. Ann's Church last week, THANK YOU! The Mother's Guild seems to have so much fun. Your hospitality was welcoming and your positive feedback has inspired me to find more organic news to keep us going. A special "thank you" to Lisa for inviting me.


Send your questions anytime and for those of you who wanted the muffin recipe, here you go!

The Dirty Dozen

According to The Environmental Working Group, these are the fruits and vegetables known to retain the highest levels of pesticides and should be eaten organically grown. They are listed in no particular order.

Peaches
Apples
Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Kale
Lettuce
Grapes (imported)
Carrots
Pears

Conversely they also have a list, The Clean 15, which includes those fruits and vegetables with the lowest pesticide residue:
Onions
Avocado
Sweet Corn
Pineapple
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas
Kiwi
Cabbage
eggplant
Papaya
Watermelon
Broccoli
Tomato
Sweet Potato

So if you have to pick and choose which fruits and veggies to buy organically, make sure you buy those on the dirty dozen list organically grown.

Organic Food Coupons

Coupons for Organic Food:



Mambo Sprouts
Arrowhead Mills
Coleman Natural
Stonyfield
Organic Valley
Horizon
Seventh Generation
Cascadian Farms
Kashi

Where to Shop and Weekly Specials:
Trader Joe's
Whole Foods
Natural Foods Market

CONTACT

EMAIL: Jennifer@TheEverydayOrganic.com

Follow The Everyday Organic on Twitter! Tweet Tweet...

updated 10.2.10

Egg Recall

The Food and Drug Administration officials have found positive samples of salmonella linked to 2 Iowa farms resulting in a massive egg recall.

Salmonella was found in chicken feed used at Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms. More than 550 million eggs in several states have been recalled. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that there could be as many as 1,470 illnesses linked to this outbreak, that's more than previously suspected.

The eggs effected were sold under the brands: Albertson, Boomsma's, Dutch Farms, Farm Fresh, Hillandale, Kemps, Lucerne, Lund, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Shoreland, Sunshine and Trafficanda.

According to USA Today, the eggs are in cartons from plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946, with dates ranging from 136 to 225. Dates and codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton. The plant number begins with P, then the plant number and then the date. For example: P-1946 223 means the eggs were from plant #1946 date code 223.

If your still not sure if yours are included, take them back to the store of purchase. It would be better to air on the side of caution here. Full story.

Looking for a safe egg? Organic Valley has posted a statement that their eggs are not included in this recall and are safe for consumption.

Rain Water Collection

Concerned about droughts in the U.S.? The entire continent of Australia has been dealing with severe drought for over 10 years. Yikes. There are companies out there with solutions for our water shortage. Even if at this point you never worry that clean water will stop flowing from your tap, there are answers for saving money and just being flat out responsible for such a precious resource. Rain Catchers are what they are and they will help you do just that!

Metanoya Cafe

Those of you on the North side of Atlanta remember Metanoya Cafe in the Plum Tree Village in Roswell. Small but quaint, eclectic and filled with great food. It was a sad day when they closed...or so I thought they closed. Yesterday we were in Marietta and guess what we found! The new location for Metanoya Cafe! They've been on Sandy Plains Road in Marietta for 9 weeks and it's actually their 2nd location since leaving the Roswell area. Same eclectic feel, same great food and at lunch time it was buzzin'. Pistachio muffins, paninis, and their specialty salads were all in high demand. Congratulations Chuck and Janet on your continued success.
2595 Sandy Plains Drd. NE
Suite 101
Marietta, GA
770-977-2020

Body Fat Percentage

Those that know me, know I don't count calories or fat grams but rather focus on the quality of the food we eat. However, today I did get a # that caught my attention. My body fat percentage. WHAT? It didn't help that Jennifer Lopez with her 40 somethin' post baby self was hip hoppin' it in a video right in front of me. I was so stunned I didn't even ask the trainer what it was supposed to be. Came home, found this site and realized I got work to do and it's called exercise.

Best Bikes Around

We're all obviously in favor of alternative transportation. Bikes are usually the best option for short distances, as they tone your legs and create absolutely no harmful gases, while simultaneously getting you to your destination. I went looking for the hottest classic and custom bikes around. And these are my top picks;

Republic Dutch bikes:
( picture courtesy Republicbike.com)

Chubby's Cruisers:
( picture courtesy Chubbyscruisers.com)

Velorbis bikes:
( picture courtesy Velorbis.com)

Union County Farmers Market

The Union County Farmers Market has a new home at 148 Old Smokey Rd. in Blairsville, GA. Don't worry about the blazing summer sun or the occasional downpour, this farmers market is covered. So every Wednesday and Saturday July through October 16 they'll be there, rain or shine.
Just head North on Weaver Road off 515 (next to Home Depot). The first right off Weaver is Old Smokey. They say you can't miss it! I was in the back seat but Dad found it just fine.Local honey, pickled veggies, all natural soaps made of shea butter or goat's milk, hand woven baskets, door mats made out of recycled horse shoes, and even raw cow's milk for your pets.

My personal favorite-Logan Turnpike Mill has a stand with yummy dill roll and Ezekiel bread samples. For all you other wheat grinders out there, it's nice to have a short cut every once in awhile. Logan Turnpike offers fresh ground 3 grain pancake mix. It's a hot seller so get there early. You can also find their products at Sunrise Grocery, directly at the the mill or online.

And here's something I've never seen before, not in Buckhead, Atlanta; NYC or even Paris-Living Wreaths. Carrie Hefferen owns From Seed, Inc. and creates wreaths from seeds. These living wreaths hang on the outside of your door soaking up all that sunshine. For watering, just lay them flat, water and hang back up. With a living wreath, you always have fresh herbs at your doorstep.

What to do with all that basil? Make pesto of course!

For more information on the farmers market, visit the Union County Farmer's Market online and be sure to click the link at the top of the green bar for some delightful mountain music to put you right in the mood.....for gardening.

Basil Pesto

2 cups firmly packed fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup walnuts or pine nuts
3 Tbsp grated Parmesan
2 small cloves garlic
1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

In food processor, combine all ingredients except the oil, pulse until a thick paste forms. With processor on, add oil in a slow stream until mixture is well combined. Makes about 1 cup

Transfer to an airtight container. Here, some may suggest pressing plastic wrap directly onto the pesto to keep the basil from browning. I'm going to encourage you Everyday Organics to add a squeeze of lemon juice to this recipe and skip the plastic wrap. The lemon juice will keep the basil green.

Refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 months. You can also divide your pesto into ice cube trays. Once frozen, transfer them to a glass jar with a good seal. Defrost a cube or two as needed and enjoy.

-Toss it in minestrone soup
-Add to marinara sauce
-Coat fish fillets with pesto, then sprinkle with crumbs and bake or broil
-Brush onto chicken breasts before roasting
-Mix with boiled new potatoes, steamed greens or sautéed zucchini

Recipe compliments of Mary Shannon, who's always cookin' up somethin' good in those North Gerogia mountains.

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Living Walls

If you're like me, you've found a fascination with the whimsical idea of 'living walls'. If you're unfamiliar with the term, feel no shame. This simply describes a wall covered in living plants, otherwise known as a vertical garden. These indoor or outdoor accessories are not just pretty. Living plant walls filter out many contaminants, help control humidity and temperature and most importantly, oxygenate the air we breathe.

Though these walls are gorgeous, the prospect of creating one yourself can be a slightly daunting task, if not seemingly impossible. There is a solution! Woolly Pockets is a brand that creates breathable plant pockets made from 100% recycled materials. You can have a single one on a table or create a plant mural by tacking them along a wall. This way, a living wall is not only possible, but also very easy.

(pictures courtesy Woollypockets.com)

Step by Step

If you're an eco-hipster, you have no doubt discovered the international phenomenon that is Etsy.com. A website so jam-packed with hand-made gorgeous goods, it's known as the artistic equivalent to Ebay. Anyway, while perusing through all the green products, I came across two lines of 100% vegan shoes called HydraHeart and The Generation. These slip on flats are super cute and come in an array of colors and styles, including bridal. Though these two brands can have similar shoes, HydraHeart is more quirky, while The Generation boasts a more chic aesthetic. And at such reasonable prices, your tiny carbon-footprint can now be beautifully clad.

International CSAs

Locate an International CSA:

AUSTRALIA:
Near River Produce
Andrew and Therese Hearne
1466 Pappinbarra Road
Hollisdale NSW Australia 2446
Phone: 02-6587-6004
Email: andrew@nearriverproduce.com
Coverage Areas: Sydney north and east suburbs, Hastings Valley.
Comments: Produce is chemical-free

Pick your Own


JAPAN:
Teikei Organics

CANADA:
Cooper's Goat & Veggy Farm
Lisa or Steve Coooper
266 Ashworth Rd.
Zephyr, ON LOE 1 TO
Phone: 905-830-4521 (farm)
Phone2: 905-960-3962 (cell)
Coverage Areas: Aurora, Newmarket, Uxbridge, Mt. Albert, Queensville, Keswick, GTA, Markham, and growing
Certified Organic: No
Comments: Growing since 1981, farm ownership since 1993. 50 acres of fruits and vegetables, using sustainable farming practices. They use an Integrated Pest Management program to reduce pesticides on many crops, however, many are chemical free.


New Terra Farm
Scott Kellend
13510 County Rd. 15
Merrickville, ON KOG1NO
Phone: 613-269-3884
Coverage Areas: Eastern Ontario, Leeds Grenville
Certified Organic: No
Comments: Small, family owned enterprise located neat Merrickville, Ontario. They raise a variety of meats and vegetables following natural, sustainable agricultural practices.


Ontario CSA Directory

FRANCE:
Les Olivades
Daniel Olivades
257 Chemin de la Petite Garenne
Ollioules, France 83 190
Phone: 04-94-30-03-13
Email: vuillon@olivades.com

OTHER COUNTRIES:

Green People

How to find a CSA

Produce from my in-laws garden in College Park, GA






Tens of thousands of families have joined CSAs. The idea of community supported agriculture is becoming more and more popular as the demand for organic produce rises along with the price of food in general. Not all CSA farmers grow produce organically but they are up front in regards to that. All you have to do is ask and they expect it. No, the FDA does not monitor them. In fact, the government does not track CSAs at all. That may be a selling point in itself. At any rate, there are databases of information out there so you can find a farm near you.

The concept works like this. You pay the farmer up front for a portion of the harvest. The farmer uses the money collected up front to cover their costs and obviously including a profit. This also allows the farmer the opportunity to have time to market the produce before that time is demanded on the farm during growing season. As you can imagine, money up front helps with budgeting and cash flow.
In turn, you, the consumer get the very freshest of food- a box of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season. Not only that, you get to know the men, women, and families growing your food, you support small farmers, local businesses and the little “guy” in general.












Any risk involved? Sure, a small one. If the harvest is small due to uncontrollable variables, your harvest is small. Don’t let that stop you. You’re guaranteed not to lose anywhere near what you lost in the stock market these past several years. And I bet you’ll invest there again. Start small, start simple, but start. See below to find a CSA near you.

Find a CSA near you:
Local Harvest
Eat Well Guide - search by your zip code for farmers markets, community gardens, and co-ops. You'll also find restaurants and bed & breakfasts featuring local products.
Farm Locator-to find farmers who sell directly to the public

Vintage Hawaiian Shirts go Bikini

Etown Studios is home to designers putting old Hawaiian shirts to good use. 1979 makes beautiful bikinis, dresses, and blouses using pieces of vintage Hawaiian clothing. Pieces may be purchased exclusively at Mu'umu'u Heaven. 1979 will even make you a bikini from your very own vintage shirt on the house. So yes, you can have Grandpa's Hawaiian shirt made into a bikini...but that would be kinda weird. Find one from your husband's closet and see what they can do. Aloha.

Jay Shafer's Tumbleweed Houses

It used to be bigger was better. Now Hummers are bummers and McMansions are so yesterday. Smart cars reveal your eco-IQ and living with less is more.

"Less" is certainly relative. Meet a man who not only lives in a smaller house, some would say it resembles their kids' tree house. He's lived there for 10 years, seems happy, and has made a living designing small houses. He's not the only one who thinks less is more.

It's mid summer in the deep South and the AC is running non-stop to keep the house at a modest 78. The thought of a $8/month electric bill is a fantasy for sure. However for Jay Shafer of Tumbleweed, it's reality. Take the home tour.

Sailor Man Green Smoothie

Even if Spinach doesn’t have all the Iron Popeye thought it did, it’s still good for you. Filled with Vitamin A, C, Potassium and Fiber this vegetable will help keep you strong to the finish.


1C ice cubes
1 slice honeydew melon (can add seeds but no rind)
½ C cubed watermelon
2C organic raw spinach (baby or regular)
½ banana
1 TB Agave nectar (raw)

Put in blender in order listed.

If using a Blendtec, use the Whole Juice cycle.
If using a Vitamix Blender, blend for 1-2 minutes on high.

Enjoy!

Coconut Iced Tea

Bring 4C filtered water to boil
Turn off heat
Add 8TB LefteasWhite Coconut Creme tea leaves
Cover and steep 10 minutes
Strain tea leaves out as you pour tea into an 8C pitcher
Add 3Tb (or 6 squirts) raw Agave nectar (more or less to taste) to hot tea, stir
Let cool some (to keep extreme temperature changes from cracking your container)
Add ice cubes to top of pitcher or 4C cold water
Pour over ice and rock away the summer heat.

Biogas Project in Ukraine

For those of you who think all this alternative energy talk is a bunch of…poop, listen to what’s being done with all that poop. It’s being turned into energy. That’s right. GE has launched another, as in it’s already being done elsewhere, biogas project in the Ukraine.

The Ukranian Milk Company Ltd. has been putting the dung of their 4,000 cows to good use. The first biogas cogeneration plant (where electric power and thermal energy are produced simultaneously) in their country has been in successful operation for nine months now.

This provides an alternative disposal option for the milk company and alternative energy for the country; reducing CO2 emissions by an estimated 18,000 metric tons annually according to GE.

Read pg 7 of this article and you’ll find that’s equivalent to taking 17,000 cars off the road. That figure is based on each car being driven 10,000 miles a year. I’m a mom in suburban Atlanta so let’s up that figure to at least 20,000 miles/ year. So it would be more like the equivalent of taking 8,500 cars off the road. Granted, those cars are actually still on the road but it does illustrate the “power” of each decision. Not to mention, what else would they do with all that poop?

Other GE biogas projects are in:
China
Pakistan
Wisconsin, U.S.A

For the load on how all this works, visit GE.

Hyrdoelectricity in Turkey

The United States isn’t the only nation with controversy over what’s best for the environment. Hydroelectric power from the Tigris River in Turkey; sounds harmless enough. But is it?

The Hürriyet Daily News reported this week that only 1 of the 34 completed cases brought to court were not ruled against. Most projects were canceled all together. Why? Environmental concerns. In the past, construction of these power plants has left the land and the fishing industry damaged. The only firm ruled in favor of was one which promises to up its environmental standards. photo by AA


Though 31 more cases are still in progress, Andritz Hydro, and Austria-based firm says all requirements for their contract have been met. Despite some typical and confusing back and forth sited in the article on Hydroworld.com, it seems as if the project may continue with Andritz adding: "Together with ... the hydropower plant, modern waste water treatment plants will be built for three cities, the drinking water supply will be enhanced, and bridges and roads will be built."

It will take seven years to complete the project. The goal: another step in helping Turkey generate 30% of it electricity from renewable energy by 2023.

Sprout Watches

It’s no wonder watchmakers are finally catching up with the times. Sprout, an eco-friendly collection of timepieces, offers cute, affordable, and green watches. The case and buckle of these pieces are made of a corn resin that is 99% biodegradable in a year. The straps are made of 100% organic cotton. Even the packaging is made from at least 80% post consumer fibers. Now you can arrive punctually and save the planet all at the same ‘time’.