Follow us on:

From the category archives:

Organic

Three Ways to Eat Organic on a Budget

by Katie Nielsen on July 28, 2010 in Organic

For many people trying to life a healthier, greener lifestyle (including myself), one of the biggest problems with eating organically is the cost. Unless you live in a moderate climate such as California where fresh, local product is readily available, the cost of organic food is likely higher than its conventional counterparts. But eating organically and living on a budget don’t have to be at odds; here are three unique yet cost-effective ways to get organic food without breaking the bank.

Organic produce can be costly through conventional retailers.

Organic produce can be costly through conventional retailers.

Join a CSA Program – In a community-sponsored agriculture program, members purchase shares, which pay a portion of a local farm’s operating expenses. In return, the members receive fresh produce weekly from the seasonal harvest. A CSA share typically costs between $300 and $400 and most programs accept weekly or monthly payments from members. To cut costs even further, try splitting a share with a friend or relative or some programs even offer half shares for purchase. To learn more about CSA programs in your community, visit Local Harvest or Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, where you can search for CSA programs using your zip code.

Join a Co-op – A food cooperative is a member-owned business (usually like a grocery or food store) that offers products to its members at discounted rates. Much of the food sold through a co-op is organic and from local farms. Joining a co-op is often as easy as finding one in your area, signing up and paying some dues. Once a member, you’ll have access to cheaper organic food products and some even allow members to volunteer to get even cheaper pricing. Check out Cooperative Grocer to find a co-op near you or learn how to start your own.

Join a Buying Club – Buying clubs (like the organic buying club of South Florida) are a relatively new concept in the U.S. and are an informal yet resourceful way to get organic food products up to forty percent off retail prices. In a buying club, members purchase products in bulk and then split the stash. Some co-ops will allow buying clubs to order bulk items directly through their store or many distributors of organic products will deliver to you directly if you meet their minimum order number. The best way to get involved with a buying club is to join or start one with friends, relatives, and neighbors you already know.Or “google” your area along with buying club (e.g. “New York City buying club”) – you may be surprised to find a handful of clubs in your location.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • RSS
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • email
  • Fleck
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit

{ 5 comments }

Eco-Friendly Alcohol: What’s Not to Love?

by Katie Nielsen on February 24, 2010 in Organic

It seems anything designated organic these days is all the rage so it’s no wonder that the booze industry is following suit. Though organic spirits have been on the rise the past few years, these new, eco-friendly innovations are propelled by rapidly growing consumer desire to drink while simultaneously being socially responsible. Here’s a small glimpse of how one of America’s favorite pastimes is going green(er).

Organic alcohol is nothing new but some of the world’s most recognizable brands are becoming greener. Anheuser-Busch, the largest brewing company in the U.S., just unveiled its own organic beer label using organic hops and Foster’s Beer (Australia’s equivalent) has done the same. Whole Foods also carries Green Path wines, making eco-friendly liquor even more accessible to the masses. And for just $12 a bottle, you can feel good, not guilty, sipping a glass – or four.

If you happen to be new to the whole green movement (welcome!), when beer, wine, or another type of liquor is labeled organic, it means the spirit is made with ingredients grown on certified organic farms and processed in a certified organic distillery. That means no pesticides, no fertilizers, and no other harmful chemical used in the farming and distilling process. What green-minded social drinker doesn’t like the sound of that?

Take a shot, plant a tree!

Take a shot, plant a tree!

If you’re looking for an even greener spirit, look no further than TRU Organic, a cutting-edge company that makes spirits using “only the best certified organic ingredients” (their words, not mine). In addition, all their product packaging is eco-friendly, too. But what’s even cooler about this company is for every bottle of their TRU Organic Vodka they produce, they plant one tree in the rainforests. As of September 2009, they’ve planted an astounding 60,168 trees throughout Central America. So if you’re going to down a few shots of vodka, why not help plant a tree while you’re at it?

There’s also a great cocktail mixer on the market that’s made with 100% organic fruit juice. Unlike most mixers, Modmix is neither too artificial, nor too sweet — they taste surprisingly like fresh juice. Modmix comes in six flavors: citrus margarita, French martini, lavender lemon drop, mojito, pomegranate cosmopolitan, and wasabi bloody Mary.

If you happen to live in New York City, you dwell alongside the first of what’s bound to become a booming industry. GustOrganics is home to the first USDA certified organic bar on the planet. It’s quite the claim to fame and with a menu that looks as delicious as it is good for the Earth, it’s no surprise the restaurant has garnered multiple accolades from green enthusiasts and foodies alike.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • RSS
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • email
  • Fleck
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit

{ 0 comments }

I was in the store yesterday picking up some of my favorite organic foods and found myself in an interesting environmental and organic dilemma.

I needed some eggs and always buy organic. It’s what I feel is best for the environment and for me. So there I was looking at what was available and I found myself with two options: organic eggs that were in Styrofoam packaging, or vegetarian eggs that were not organic but were in a recyclable, biodegradable box but didn’t seem to be pesticide free.

Styrofoam is made from petroleum based chemicals and additives which are not biodegradable. Styrofoam therefore, exists in the environment for hundreds and thousands of years, causing further pollution and toxicity by leeching chemicals into the environment.
Choosing to support farms that take care of the environment and the animals they raise in an ethical manner is a very positive way to spend your food dollar. Animal agriculture produces huge amounts of air and water pollution, and causes 80% of the world’s annual deforestation. It also requires large amounts of water, and livestock worldwide consume half the world’s total grain harvest.

So what to do? Buy the organic with the Styrofoam that will exist on this planet for thousands of years; or go for the veggie eggs that possibly contribute to unethical treatment of chickens as well as increase air and water pollution?

I know for some this may be the last thing you think about when shopping, buying organic, and living green, Over time it’s the little things we do or don’t do that add up to bigger things. This was a dilemma and I had to make a choice.

I chose the veggie eggs with the bio container, although I struggled with this decision mostly because I was thinking about the treatment of those chickens. Ultimately I felt it was a better choice than the Styrofoam.

I want to know what you think, what you would have done, if you would have contemplated it at all. I am genuinely curious. Let me know in our comment section.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • RSS
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • email
  • Fleck
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit

{ 30 comments }

What’s Your Organic Wine Personality?

by Kristen Banker on March 18, 2009 in Organic

Do you most closely echo a no-nonsense Sauvignon Blanc, a seductive Pinot Noir , a glowing and light Rose, a Mr. or Ms. Merlot or a cool Cab? It’s up to you to identify your mate. Here are some suggested varieties for you to choose from.

Keen and Competitive:

Are you competative and play to win? Are you driven, hardworking and self-assured? Do you treat life as a competition and generally come out on top? Do you appreciate things of value that can stand the test of time? If so, Cabernet Sauvignons from Cali can deliver the quality you require. Try the Frey Biodynamic Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s super, super, and yummy.

Developed and Candid:

Are you reliable, but not really into change? Do you prefer taking the sure road? Do you always follow recipes to the T? Are you warm, loving and contemplative? If so, you’ll love a rich, fruity Merlot from Cali. The organic Luna Merlot from Cali is delicious!

Grateful and Effervescent:

Are you the happy-go-lucky, fun loving, uncomplicated goody-goody? What you see is what you get type? Do you have somewhat high standards but don’t drain the enjoyment out of life? You see everyday as a gift and a reason to celebrate? Then an Organic Rose is something you would find comfort in. The Tablas Creek Rose is just that wine.

High-Spirited and Enthusiastic:

Are you well liked, have an openness and vivacity for life? Do you live in the moment and play well with others? Are you active, athletic and out going; the ultimate team player? Then a Pinot Grigio would be a good bet for you. The Luna Pinot Grigio is one of my favorites, (especially because of the price tag).

Venturesome and Attentive:

Are you extroverted, stand out in a crowd and meet challenging situations head on? Do you love adventure and adapt to new environments and new situations in life with your inner core intact? For you, life is good and you know it will stay that way. If this is you, then a Sauvignon Blanc will meet you head on. The Red Truck Sauvignon Blanc is another favorite of mine and one that has a real place in my heart.

I hope you enjoyed finding you organic wine mate. By no means do I consider myself a wine sommelier or connoisseur. I just enjoy good wine, (organic is a plus), and find that as dogs sometime resemble their owners, wines can do the same for their drinkers.

Let me know how you enjoyed meeting your mate in our comment section!

Share and Enjoy:
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • RSS
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • email
  • Fleck
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit

{ 0 comments }

Organic Wine Pick for the Weekend

by Kristen Banker on January 16, 2009 in Organic, Wine

Today’s wine lover knows that a good wine may take an assortment of forms. You can get a relatively high-quality wine in a box, twist-off cap or the traditional corked bottle. Wines that don’t have to age for more than a year are perfectly fine in a box or screw top.

Drink it now or let it age? In most cases, there’s no need to wait to open up that bottle! Only a few varieties of wine, (vintage Champagne, premium Cabernet Sauvignon and a number of European reds), truly benefit from a few years in the bottle. They become smoother and more complex over time.

However, the majority of wines available today are ready to open and enjoy just as soon as they’re put on the shelf. This is especially true of many whites as well as big, fruity reds such as Merlot, red Zinfandel, and Shiraz from the New World. Many of these wines actually start deteriorating within a few years of release. So if you’ve been hoarding any, it’s time to pull those corks!


icon
iconMy organic wine pick for the weekend is this delicious 2004 Château Maris Old Vine Grenache. It’s a full-bodied wine with scents of cherry and flavors of chocolate and fresh blueberries. It’s the perfect bottle for opening right away.

wine.com

Share and Enjoy:
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • RSS
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • email
  • Fleck
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit

{ 0 comments }

Organic Wine Pick For The Weekend

by Kristen Banker on December 26, 2008 in Organic


icon
icon
Holiday time. That means parties, good company, good food, and of course, good wine. What better way to celebrate the holidays than with a bottle of one of the magnificent wines available today. Enjoy the distinctive tastes of merlot and cabernet. Sip the cold and flavorful white wines, like Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, and for dessert, try a nice sweet wine served ice cold.icon

For this weekend’s organic wine pick, I’ve selected this delicious Luna 2007 Pinot Grigio. The flavors of grapefruit and orange are so yummy. If you’re sharing it with friends, you’ll need a few bottles. This wine will be at its peak from now through the end of 2009, so it’s a great bottle to share with loved ones during this holiday time.

The oh-so-amazing Pace Webb has suggested we pair her tantalizingly tasty Autumn Vegetable Terrine with the Luna Pinot Grigio. This duo will certainly have your friends and family hoping to get an invite to next years holiday celebrations. Enjoy, and let us know what you think in our comment section.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • RSS
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • email
  • Fleck
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit

{ 1 comment }

Just In time For The Holidays – Green Hangover Remedies

by Kristen Banker on December 22, 2008 in Organic

If you’re anything like me, spending time with family and friends for the holidays usually means there will be copious amounts of alcohol going around, namely wine. Treehugger has complied six green hangover remedies for us, just in time for the days that follow. Head on over here to make sure you have what’s needed for those moments of post holiday hangovers.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • RSS
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • email
  • Fleck
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit

{ 0 comments }

Lunch Break Eco Links Of The Week

by Kristen Banker on December 19, 2008 in Organic

It’s another interesting week in green news. Enjoy our round up of lunch break eco links of the week.

  • New York State has a new law signed by Governor David Patterson that will require retailers in the Empire State to collect and recycle plastic bags starting January 1, 2009. Read the full story at Treehugger.
  • Environmentalism is quite common in northern California, so it’s natural that h2hotel would be designed to include a plentiful array of green amenities. To read about this awesome new hotel, head over to JetsonGreen here.
  • Generating clean energy has just gotten easier with Self-Energy Generating Glasses, or simply SIG glasses. You have to check these out. Head on over to Ecofriend.
  • Stay healthy by staying clear of the worst chemicals that may already be in your home. Though many are carcinogenic and can pose serious health risks, which ones are the worst? Which ones do you really have to watch out for? Planet Green gives us the full scoop.
  • We all know that if we have to print something, we should reduce the font size, but what if you want to save some ink too? Netherlands-based SPRANQ has come up with an ink-saving font aptly named Ecofont. Our friends over at Ecogeek have the full scoop on Ecofont for us.
Share and Enjoy:
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • RSS
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • email
  • Fleck
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit

De Martino Organic-Wine Pick For The Weekend

by Kristen Banker on December 5, 2008 in Organic, Wine


icon
iconLiving a full, healthy life is the sum of many parts. For many people, one element of that equation is drinking a glass, (or two,) of wine each day.More than 400 studies over the past 70 years have analyzed the health benefits of drinking wine. Moderate drinking of red wine helps prevent heart disease, cancer, and many other conditions.

Wine is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages on the planet. Its history spans thousands of years. I happen to enjoy wine especially with friends and family. And when it comes to food pairing, there’s no comparison to how enjoyable an experience it can be.

De Martino Organic Caberneticon grapes are from the Maipo Valley and blended with distinctive grapes, (Malbec and Carmenere), to produce a deep red wine with the aroma of blackberries and cherries.

It is the perfect combination for Pace Webb’s savory Fingerling Potato and Leek Soufflé. What a great winter dinner treat. Enjoy the combo!

Share and Enjoy:
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • RSS
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • email
  • Fleck
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit

{ 0 comments }

Benjamin Moore has just launched their Natura paint line, which is the most eco-friendly paint to date.

Natura premium interior paint is a zero VOC, virtually odorless formula that doesn’t compromise appearance. Natura provides a durable finish with an unlimited color selection. The paint contains a proprietary 100% acrylic resin that, according to the company, will meet the Master Painter Institute’s Green Performance standard as well as Green Seal’s 2009 GS-11 standard covering chemical content and paint performance—though Benjamin Moore has decided to seek its own independent testing and will not be applying for MPI or GS-11 certification.

Natura

Natura

Now we can breathe easy knowing that one of the most reliable paint companies is offering the very best for our environmentally sensitive projects.

At the moment the paints are only available in States WA., OR., CA and Texas, but will be available nationwide Spring 2009.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • RSS
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • email
  • Fleck
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit

{ 6 comments }