Adventures in Eco-Living

County Fairs: A Slice of American Pie

This past week we have had the pleasure of attending one of our favorite summer events: the Allegan County Fair. Fair days...wandering the maze of tents and trailers, the greasy aroma of sizzling fair food tempting us off in untold directions...getting lost in the hum-drum of happy fair-going families... strolling aimlessly through bustling 4-H animal barns, a quaint Historical Village, and endless odd and unusual spectacles that especially please our 1-year old son (who loves to feed the goats, but is still too young for the camel rides).

County Fairs have deep small town roots and are truly an American icon....catch one this summer if you still can!

 

All in all, a day filled with rainbows!

Natural, Organic Halloween Candy

Could it be that Halloween is lurking just around the corner? Yikes!

That means it is time to bust out the Halloween candy. As it turns out, we've been on the search for the ideal Halloween candy since last October. We had a number of criteria to fill:

• We wanted a candy that was as organic and natural as possible, and preferably even containing some healthy ingredients, as opposed to just sugary stuff.
• We wanted a candy that tasted delicious and would satisfy kids of all ages.
• We needed a candy that was securely, individually wrapped, so that it could be handed out at Halloween time without concerned parents having to question its safety.
• We wanted a candy that was affordable and would appeal to budget-conscious families.
• We preferred a candy that would be safe for children with allergies (nuts, soy, gluten, etc.)

After all our searching, we are sticking with the same candy we sold last year- YummyEarth Organic Lollipops.

Why?

We found some wonderful candies and chocolates, but none seemed to measure up to all of the criteria above.

We love Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates, especially their Very Scary Skulls, but at $1.50 each, handing out candy can quickly add up if you live in a busy trick-or-treating area. If they can fit into your budget, we strongly recommend them!

We also love the deep, rich taste of Equal Exchange Organic & Fair Trade Dark Chocolate Minis. You can buy a 12 oz. bag for $20.00- again, quite a bit more than many families are able to budget.

Organic Milk Chocolate Bug Bites are tasty and fun. A box of 64 mini-bars (for a total of about a pound and a half of chocolate) costs $32.00, so you're paying about 50 cents per bar- not too bad.

Glee All-Natural Chicle Gum is also a big hit, and it comes in cute little individually-sealed boxes with 4 pieces of gum per box. With 21 individual packs for $6.25, you're paying about $.30 per box for a cool gum that was chewed by the ancient Maya Indians!

But at around 10 cents per lollipop, we found YummyEarth Lollipops to be the best buy for parents who have to hand out lots of candy. They come in fun flavors like Blood Orange Cocktail, Chili Mango Mambo, and Tooberry Blueberry. And they are packed with real fruit goodness! Check out the ingredients: 

Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Tapioca Syrup and/or Organic Rice Syrup, Non-GMO Citric Acid (from beet sugar – not corn), Natural Flavors, Organic Black Carrots, Organic Blackcurrant, Organic Apple

On top of those awesome ingredients, we can't forget to mention all of the things that are NOT in these candies, which is great for kids with allergies or sensitivities:

Certified Organic              Gluten-free
100% Natural Colors          Wheat-free
No Chemical Dyes             Casein-free
100% Natural Flavors         Dairy-free
100% Vegan                   Nut-free
GMO-free                     Soy-free
Allergen-free                  Egg-free

Finally, don't forget to join the Fair Trade Reverse Trick-or-Treat Program, which aims to help youth reverse the Halloween tradition to hand adults a sample of vegan-friendly, Fair Trade dark chocolate. Order your free kit by Oct. 13, 2009, which includes 25 Fair Trade chocolates with info cards, and is sponsored by Global Exchange's Fair Trade Cocoa Campaign. Cool!

https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/703/t/9669/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=5154

Support "Know Your Milk Action Day" to Get rBGH Milk Out of Schools

We have previously posted about the dangers of rBGH in our milk supply (which has been lurking now for a decade and a half, mostly unknown to the general public). Public food safety groups are stepping up their campaigns to keep rBGH out of our kids' milk now with an upcoming "Know Your Milk Action Day", sponsored by the Food and Water Watch.

On Wednesday, March 11, thousands  of people will be calling their Congressmen, urging them to take action on keeping school milk rBGH-free. Please consider hosting a call-in party... all it takes is a few minutes of your time!

Click HERE to learn how you can sign up to receive an action packet, giving you all the information you need to get together with friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors and make a difference. My packet is on its way- can't wait to see what's inside!

Click HERE to visit the Food and Water Watch website to keep up-to-date on food safety news, including the latest on the peanut recall.

Why Shopping at Thrift Stores is Green

I've been meaning to write a post about why shopping at thrift stores is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint. So many people want to live a greener lifestyle, but don't want to spend money on the often more-expensive, new, eco-friendly options. But the truth is there is a very affordable way to shop green, that even supports the good work of many non-profits. Read on....

See, I've been shopping at thrift stores for quite some time now, since high school, in fact (approaching two decades ago...). At that time, I was on a limited budget, and my friends and I were also looking for funky (or so we thought) retro-styled clothing that was a little different than the 90s clothing so popular in the regular stores.

In college the thrift store became a mainstay in my life, because I was really on a budget, and I was undergoing this hippie-style revolution that entailed countless hours of sifting through other people's old throw-aways to find that unique shirt, that perfect skirt. It was perfectly acceptable, because many of my friends were on very tight budgets and did the same.

Then I moved to Japan, the consumer capital of the world, where everyone buys everything new. They wouldn't even take dogs that were "used"- animal shelters were non-existent (I discovered this when I took in a stray puppy, and no one would adopt her). We searched far and wide and finally found an upscale second-hand shop that catered to foreigners, where you could buy a very gently (or not-at-all) used shirt for $20. I definitely was not getting my thrift store fix there....

And then something interesting happened. After three years, I came back from Japan, and most of my friends had good-paying jobs and blossoming careers that "required" clothing to boot. I watched in amazement as one of my friends, who used to shop at thrift stores, spent $175 on a pair of jeans. It was suddenly "uncool" to shop at thrift stores. Why buy other people's junk when we could now afford to buy new?

The thing is, now that I am in the business of eco-friendly, people often ask me what is the most green option to buy. And you know what? Just about any item that was meant to last that you can buy, no matter how green or organic or natural, is not as green as buying from the local thrift store. Using new materials to produce products that are already in existence is wasteful, unless of course the already-existing product is toxic or harmful to the environment in some daily way.

Remember the mantra "Reduce, reuse, recycle"? The first more important thing we can do is reduce the number of resources and the amount of energy needed to support our lifestyles. In other words, cut down on the "stuff" that we really don't need. The next step, reuse, means that we should reuse something already in existence instead of buying something new whenever possible. The thrift store is the perfect manifestation of that mantra!

Let's take a coffee maker, for example. After scouring local thrift stores, I found a small Krups cappuccino maker, barely used, with instruction manual, for $5. I am always very picky about buying used items. If there are any signs of mold, deterioration, or lack of cleaning or proper maintenance, I pass. If an item looks like it was used extensively, I usually pass. Any foul odors, pass. Any missing parts or pieces, pass. Basically, anything that couldn't pass for a new item to the unknowing, and I look for something else.

I indeed thought a got a great deal, but that's not the only reason I shop at thrift stores. See, if I had gone to my local Macy's or Meijer's and spent $50 a new machine, I would not only have wasted more money, but also the materials, the (most likely) Chinese under-age factory labor, the energy required to manufacture it, and the energy used up in shipping it overseas (it's REALLY hard to find any electronics/appliances not manufactured overseas these days). Since there aren't any real "green" options for a cappucino maker, there wasn't any point, in my opinion, to buy new. Had I been looking for a new fridge, on the other hand, I would probably search for an Energy Star new appliance because the new ones are so much more energy efficient.

It's like this: the most eco-friendly water bottle you could possibly use is a re-used glass bottle or jar. The most eco-friendly clothing you can wear is actually re-used, purchased-at-the-thrift-store items or hand-me-downs (even new organic items use up resources and energy to produce). The most eco-friendly dishes? You guessed it- a set from the local second-hand shop or your grandma's old set (which, if your grandma is anything like my grandma, is most likely in perfect condition).

The problem is that many people have associated shopping at thrift stores with being cheap and as "dirty". There are many, many people that have to shop at thrift stores, because they can't afford new items, so perhaps some people see not going to thrift stores as some sort of "accomplishment". And as for being dirty, well, sure, there are some stained and old items that I would not even consider touching. But for the most part, there are lots of items that simply sat in someone' closet, never to be seen again for years. Many items still even have tags on them. All it takes is a good washing or sanitizing, and you're ready to go. And don't forget, new items in the store are often covered in various chemicals that were either part of the manufacturing process, or were sprayed on to protect the product from bugs and mildew during shipping. Not exactly "clean", if you ask me.

What have I purchased at the local thrift store in the last few months? Here's are just a few of my latest finds:

Krups Cappuccino Maker, like-new, $5
Panasonic Bread Machine, older model but like-new condition, $10 (which we use every day now)
Sunbeam Warm Steam Humidifier/Vaporizer, like-new condition, $5
Patagonia organic cotton long-sleeved men's shirt, like-new, $3.99
Hand-crocheted nativity scene, $1
Christmas decorations, various, $0.25-$5
Gap Wool Sweater, like-new, $3.99
Land's End men's wool sweater, like-new, $3.99
20-piece set of Gibson dishes with snowflake pattern, $6

And an added bonus.... many thrift stores, like The Salvation Army's, are run by non-profit organizations helping those in need. By shopping at their second-hand shops, you are helping to support the good work that they do!

So these days, when going green is becoming wildly popular, let's not forget the humble thrift store. It's the best way you can recycle and reuse, and show your commitment to using fewer resources and reducing your carbon footprint while saving money!

Here's to the Crazy Ones

I came across this bit of inspiration today:

Here’s to the Crazy Ones

Here's to the crazy ones.
The misfits.
The rebels.
The trouble-makers.
The round heads in the square holes .
The ones who see things differently.

They're not fond of rules,
and they have no respect for the status-quo.
You can quote them,
disagree with them, glorify,
or vilify them.

But the only thing you can't do
is ignore them.

Because they change things.

They push the human race forward.

And while some may see them as the crazy ones,
we see genius.

Because the people who are crazy enough
to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.

We've got a history-making election coming up, are in the midst of economic turmoil, have realized that oil will one day run out, are on the brink of a green energy revolution, and are starting to dream, en masse, of a better, more-fulfilling life for EVERYONE on this planet...

Here's to getting a little crazy today!

PS- It turns out this quote was a promo piece done by Apple Computers. Kinda ruins it a little bit- huge corporation using this inspiration and motivational quote to make billions. But it's a cool quote, nonetheless!

Natural, Organic, and Healthy Halloween Candy

It's coming... that intoxicating favorite holiday of children (of all ages!) across the country, the perfect excuse to dress up in spooky, outlandish costumes and consume unheard of amounts of candy. What more could a kid want?

As a health-conscious parent (or treat-giver), you just might be looking for something a little bit more natural than your typical Halloween candy. Well, do we have some great suggestions for you! All of these treats are natural, some are organic, and they are all free of artificial colors and sweeteners, making them a healthier choice for candy this year!

Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops
Oh, gosh, these are just heavenly! Really, truly, the best-tasting lollipops we've ever tasted! And get this- they are made with real fruit juices and fruit colors, have no artificial-anything, and come in ghoulishly good flavors like Blood Orange Cocktail, Ginger Zest, and Chili Mango Mambo. And for the Halloween flood of trick-or-treaters, YummyEarth lollies come in bulk 1-pound bags. The perfect choice for a healthy Halloween!

Glee All-Natural Chicle Gum Variety Pack
Made from the sap of the Sapodilla tree in Mexico and Guatemala, this all-natural gum contains no artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives, and helps preserve the rain forests by supporting local villagers who harvest the chicle from already-standing forests. This handy variety pack contains 21 individual packs, each with 4 pieces of gum- perfect for handing out to all the little monsters and goblins that come your way!

Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit
Don't just buy some Halloween candy, make it yourself! This cool kit lets you actually make your own chewing gum from a chicle (Sapodilla tree sap) gum base. How cool is that? We thought it would be a great activity for either an at-home or at-school Halloween party. Especially since it teaches kids about raw material sourcing and ethical trade practices while letting them connect to another part of our globe. A fun AND educational activity! Also check out the Make Your Own Chocolate Kit and the Make Your Own Gummies Kit.

Crank Flashlight- No Batteries Needed!
And lastly, we thought this flashlight was a great idea for extra-safe trick-or-treating. Make your own power by winding the crank for about a minute or two, and then enjoy an hour and a half of light- without having to worry about dead batteries. And kids- even big ones like my husband- will enjoy winding the crank to create light!

Need some more Halloween treat ideas? CLICK HERE to check out more Healthy Halloween Treats.

Choosing a Safe Water Bottle

With all the news lately about BPA contamination in plastics, it's no wonder that consumers are wondering what a safe choice might be for their families. Here is a brief summary of what we at The Greater Green recommend, based on the latest research and findings:

The best choice right now would be a glass water bottle. Consider reusing a glass juice jar that you purchased (filled with juice) and then ran through the dishwasher to sterilize it. There are absolutely no contamination concerns with glass, and it is easy to clean. Additionally, glass can hold just about any type of liquid. The one catch, of course, is that glass is breakable. A clever idea: wrap your glass jar in a hand towel before putting in your backpack or duffel bag, and then you can also use the hand towel throughout the day in restrooms,etc.

If glass will not work for you, your best bet is appearing to be stainless steel water bottles with no liner (liners can themselves cause problems), like the ones available at The Greater Green, 20 oz Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Carabiner, that is the perfect size for that on-the-go lifestyle. It fits in most cup holders in cars, attaches to a belt loop or backpack, and is perfect for hiking, biking, or even just running errands. Stainless is extremely crack- and break-resistant, and does not stain easily. Additionally, at less than ten dollars, these bottles are an affordable choice, especially when you consider that if well-taken care of, these bottles will certainly last for years For optimum performance, we recommend you only use your bottle for water (which will help keep it cleaner, too), though you can safely fill it with other cool liquids as well. Manufacturers do NOT recommend putting hot liquids into these bottles (use an insulated thermos for that).

The next best option for a safe water bottle would be aluminum bottles like SIGG, with an epoxy-resin liner. Though SIGG insists that their liner is totally safe, they will not reveal their patented liner. And because of all of the problems that have arisen lately due to lack of full disclosure with other products, we have opted to no longer carry SIGG this year. Also, the SIGG bottles were nearly twice as expensive as the stainless steel ones we now carry.

 Our third choice for safe water bottles is the PLA Corn Resin Bottle. Now, this bottle serves a slightly different purpose, because it comes with a charcoal filter that makes the PLA bottle reusable for about 3 months, at which point it is compostable (though only in a commercial compost). We like the filter, because it means you can fill up with tap water wherever you are. Though PLA is not the perfect plastic, it is a good first step in creating sustainable plastics that are not so detrimental to the environment. We have discussed PLA at length in previous posts. Clicke HERE to read all about it.

Near the bottom of our list are the polycarbonate bottles. Because of contamination concerns with Bisphenol-A, we do not recommend these bottles. Please keep in mind that many baby bottles are also affected by the BPA concerns, so please look for BPA-free bottles, like those made by Born Free.

And, of course, the very last resort would be regular disposable plastic bottled water. First of all, this bottled water is often just plain old tap water anyway. And we now know that only a small fraction of plastic bottles actually enter the recycling stream, so we have a major problem with plastics that will potentially last for millions of year.  Read all about it in The Problem with Plastics.

Lifting the Ban on Chinese Poultry? Yuck!

Would you believe there is a possibility that the ban on Chinese poultry imports could be lifted? This, as we hear about the more than 50,000 sick Chinese infants from contaminated baby formula. It's time start seriously re-considering how much of our food is processed overseas, in plants that are turning up with gross violations of safety standards.

I was at the grocery store the other day and picked up a bag of frozen, wild-caught Alaskan salmon. I turned it over and it said "Product of China". How (and why) is Alaskan salmon a product of China??? I am starting to feel very uncomfortable with Chinese food imports. And besides, we are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of building local food systems for the health of our communities, our planet, and our bodies. And China is definitely not local....

The past year or two has shown us that Chinese safety standards are NOT up to par with our own. Additionally, we are seeing way too many jobs being lost to overseas factories because of cheaper labor. If we are going to protect our economy and ensure jobs for our workers, we do not need to be increasing the list of food imports coming in from China. Food is something that we definitely can, and should be, growing and processing locally.

 
U.S. inspectors have previously discovered filthy and unsanitary conditions at Chinese poultry processing plants (among other facilities there, apparently), and there have been ongoing problems with Chinese food safety standards and the entire inspection system. With the dangers of chicken and salmonella, not to mention chicken and avian flu, we do not need to be considering importing chicken from China.

Of course this has become an issue thanks to large corporations, like Tyson and Cargill, that are currently pressuring Congress to lift the ban, because they are building poultry factories in China and want to be able to sell that chicken to US consumers. But enough is enough....

Please visit the Food & Water Watch's petition page to sign this very important petition, urging Congress NOT to lift the ban on poultry imports!

Click HERE to learn even more about this issue from the Food & Water Watch Blog.

"Everything's Cool": The Global Warming Debate in a Time of Disinformation

Last night I attended one of a series of documentary viewings on our nation's "Addiction to Oil", where we watched and discussed the documentary, "Everything's Cool".

We have finally reached a day and age in which most of our citizens believe that global warming is a real threat to our planet (recent polls suggest as many as 85% of Americans). But it has taken years and years to convince the general public of the dangers of imminent climate change, and it is NOT because the science was faulty, or the research inconclusive. Rather, the global warming debate was a direct result of intentional attempts by Big Oil and the energy industry to position global warming as theory rather than fact. 

How do you convince a country that the conclusions of eminent scientists are somehow mistaken? Some of the under-handed tactics which the energy industry employed included paying "pseudo-scientists" (scientists that are being paid by powerful interest groups rather than through impartial funding) to argue against the science of global warming (which, by the way, has been proven by hundreds of world-renowned scientists); creating new conservative think tanks and organizations whose sole purpose is to argue against global warming; and altering (and even suppressing) official climate reports to make them sound less definitive. The idea was that if the general public believed there was actual debate as to the veracity of the global warming issue, then they wouldn't take it seriously.... until now.

The Documentary "Everything's Cool" does a fabulous job of explaining the history of the global warming debate, following a number of important journalists, scientists, and environmentalists from 2003-2007, including Bill McKibben, Ross Gelbspan, Dr. Heidi Cullen, Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, and Rick Piltz.

From the "Everything's Cool" website: "EVERYTHING'S COOL is a film about America finally "getting" global warming in the wake of the most dangerous chasm ever to emerge between scientific understanding and political action. While industry funded nay-sayers sing what just might be their swan song of pseudo-scientific deception, a group of global warming messengers are on a high stakes quest to find the iconic image, the magic language, the points of leverage that will finally create the political will to move the United States from its reliance on fossil fuels to the new clean energy economy - AND FAST."

This was a powerful and inspirational film (though to be honest, it's also a little depressing, too, to learn about the subversive forces at work against the movement and how powerful they have been).  It was also humorous and entertaining, which is nice to see in a documentary. Definitely a must-see!

Urging Global Warming Debate Questions

We only have 50 or so days now until the election.... in past years, out of thousands of questions that were asked by media and debate moderators, only a small handful had anything to do with global warming and the current energy crisis. And this year, with one of the candidates publicly proclaiming that "I’m not an Al Gore, doom-and-gloom environmentalist blaming the changes in our climate on human activity," it is more important than ever to bring the topic to the forefront of discussion!

Environmental Defense Fund is sponsoring a petition that is urging debate moderators to ask about clean energy and global warming. This is our chance to let them know that we want tough environmental questions, and we want the moderators to push for specific, jargon-free answers that clearly outline candidate's plans to tackle both the current energy crisis and global warming. Click HERE to sign the petition.

Like others I've talked to, I often get angry when I hear people denying global warming, which does not help my argument in any way.

I often hear the argument that somehow this fight against global warming infringes on personal freedoms. As if continuing to live with callous disregard for our planet and the other people (because, really, this all comes back to the politics of selfishness) is somehow one's personal right.

When I advocate for environmental issues, protecting our planet and our eco-systems, and social justice for all peoples the world over, I am not just doing so for me. I am doing it because I believe there is a universal truth, and it involves caring for each other, caring for our planet, and living a respectful life with honesty, integrity, and morality. All major religions challenge us to live such a life. When I hear the politics of Big Oil, Big Spending, and corporate globalization, it is usually a politics of greed, material wealth, and personal gain. When I hear nay-sayers ask why they should believe in global warming, what I really hear is, "What's in it for me?"

I've been told that assuming others are acting selfishly is a self-righteous and selfish thing to do in and of itself.... and I don't mean to point a finger. I am simply asking us all to challenge ourselves to live a life that is not about "me", not about "us" and "them", but rather about "We"- what we can do together, what we can do to help each other, and what we can do to make our planet not just a healthy and safe place for some, but for all.

What do you say to someone who doesn't believe in global warming?
I personally know and am related to a number of people who do not "believe" that global warming is real. To them I say this:

If you believe that, despite YEARS of research done by world-renowned scientists, we are not heading toward a global warming crisis, and wonder why should we make all these changes for something that doesn't exist, then please consider this: if I am wrong and you are right, then we have made a number of changes that are beneficial to both people and the planet, created healthier environments for our families, cleaner air to breathe, built local food systems that give people greater access to healthy locally-grown food, lessened dependence on foreign oil, created millions of new jobs in the booming alternative energies field, encouraged people to live healthier lives full of bicycle rides and long walks and exercise, and developed new technologies that help us live with a smaller carbon footprint. These changes have both PERSONAL and GLOBAL benefits.

If I am right, however, and you are wrong, and we continue to do nothing about global warming, we will find ourselves in the midst of a worldwide crisis. Sea levels will rise, destroying entire coastal communities. Entire species will go instinct, as delicate eco-systems will be destroyed by the changing climate, pollution levels will reach all-time highs (have you seen how people in many pollution-laden developing countries have to wear masks as they go about their daily business?), and numerous other very serious, negative consequences will ensue. So I ask you this- why not go the route that only has POSITIVE outcomes, even in the unlikely event that it turns out to be a false alarm? See, it doesn't matter if we are right or wrong about global warming- everything that environmental advocates are urging us to do is good for our health, our happiness, and our planet. It's a win-win situation!

For an excellent overview of the science behind global warming, click HERE.

For a thorough look into the history of global warming denial, click HERE.

And lastly, No Impact Man says it way better than I do: he gives a great list of all the wonderful things that would happen if we treated global warming as a crisis, but it turned out it wouldn't- a must read! Click HERE to read his post.

The Truth About rBGH: One More in the Millions Against Monsanto Campaign

I was recently invited to lead a class at a local church as part of a series of workshops on consumerism. I chose to discuss some of the issues surrounding the health and safety of our food, how agriculture affects our environment, and, in particular, the effects of rBGH use in dairy cows. I realized this is an issue I just HAD to blog about! There is so much to this discussion, but here's the gist of it:

BGH, or Bovine Growth Hormone, is a naturally-occurring hormone in female cows, responsible for the production of milk. In the 1930s, it was discovered that injecting cows with additional BGH would stimulate prolonged milk production, resulting in a 10-15% overall increase. At that time, BGH was extracted from bovine cadavers, and was thus a natural hormone.

About 15 years ago or so, Monsanto started creating an artificial BGH, using genetically engineered e. coli. The result was recombinant BGH, or rBGH, with the "r" indicated that this is NOT a naturally-occurring hormone, but rather a genetically engineered one.

In 1994, this rBGH was marketed to dairy farmers as the "ultimate" answer to maximizing profit. It was welomed with open arms, and was administered to millions of cows. In fact, it still is. Despite inadequate testing for human safety, despite causing medical problems in cows administered rBGH, and despite the fact that we are, and have been for quite some time, in a state of over-production of milk that is driving the price down for dairy farmers (and therefore do not need to be artificially stimulating more production). So how on earth did rBGH become so widespread?

The most testing that was done for human safety involved 90 days of exposure to lab rats! And it was with this testing in hand that the FDA signed approval for rBGH without a second thought (this is a testament to how powerful Monsanto is). rBGH is banned in most other industrial countries, including the European Union, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Japan, with harm to animal welfare being cited as the main cause (rBGH causes increased incidence of mastitis, lameness, and other painful health problems). Huh??? Are we the only ones who care so little about the health and well-being of the animals we mass breed for food production? Additionally, though rBGH itself has not been definitively linked to health problems in humans, cows given this artificial hormone have increased levels of Insulin Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), which HAS been preliminarily linked to cancer in humans.

Additionally, we are just starting to understand that rBGH, because it is not exactly the same as BGH, with a one amino acid chain difference, can cause immune hypersensitivity in some people, resulting in severe auto-immune, or allergic, responses. In fact, this issue is being researched as a possible outcome of eating ANY genetically-modified foods: because they are not exactly identical to natural forms, sometimes our bodies don't recognize them, and treat these molecules as "foreign invaders", creating an allergic response. We are seeing a huge increase in allergies in children, and this is one possibility that we need to look at more closely...

But the issue with rBGH goes even deeper. When some small, independent dairies started promoting their milk as "rBGH-free", Monsanto actually backed some of its dairy customers in a lawsuit, stated that "hormone-free" was mislabeling. And they won!! And so we now find that some milk and cheese, in certain states, has to add a disclaimer that "no significant difference has been found between milk made from cows given rBGH and those not given rBGH"- and as a result, many dairies choose not to add the label at all. Huh???? Monsanto somehow won the right to keep us from knowing that cows were raised naturally, organically, because that was "mislableing"???

I start to get infuriated at the whole situation, and then I remember who we are talking about. Monsanto. Global terrorist. Their list of laurels includes Agent Orange (and by the way, Monsanto NEVER paid out one penny to vets who sued them for permanent damage, deformities in their children, cancer, and the like), Round-Up, a majority of all genetically-engineered plant patents, NutraSweet, and rBGH. Their website claims they "help farmers grow yield sustainably so they can be successful, produce healthier foods, better animal feeds and more fiber, while also reducing agriculture's impact on our environment." And they use the words "growing yield sustainably" as their motto. What a bunch of &*%@!

So the whole rBGH issue, with the recent public outcry, has resulted in Monsanto selling off rBGH, announced a few weeks ago. Go figure. Too much trouble to keep hiding the truth from the public. Why Eli Lilly has paid $300 million for the rights to the rBGH label "Posilac", I'll never know. It's amazing how much money there is to be made by damaging the planet, its animals, and its people.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Want to know more about Monsanto's crimes against the planet and help stop their gloabl terrorism, as it has frequently been called? Check out the Millions Against Monsanto Campaign for every dirty little thing you wanted to know, and an important petition that you should sign.

Check out the Food and Water Watch's article "rBGH: Anything but Green".

BTW, there are a number of major chains that have, under public pressure, recently refused to sell rBGH milk, including Walmart, Costco, Kroger, and Chipotle, to name a few. If you shop/dine at those stores, be sure to tell the store manager how happy you are that they are supplying rBGH-free milk! And be sure to sign this petition, thanking ALL of the declared rBGH-free stores across the nation.

Turning the White House Lawn into a Garden: An Inspiring Video on YouTube

I've just watched a very cute and inspiring video from Kitchen Gardeners International, called "This Lawn is Your Lawn".  Roger Doiron, the founder of KGI, has started a campaign to convert part of the White House lawn into a garden. Sound crazy? It's actually been done before, when First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt grew her Victory Garden in the 1940s. She inspired thousands of Americans to do the same, until nearly 40 percent of the nation's fruits and vegetables were being grown in these Victory Gardens at a time when food and other resources were scarce.

Today about 1/3 of all greenhouse gas emissions comes from the production and transportation of agriculture. Kitchen Gardeners International is asking that the next President lead by example, turning a good portion of the White House grounds into edible landscaping to feed his own family and local food pantries and shelters. What an example that would set! As the price of oil skyrockets, thus resulting in higher food costs, it is making more and more sense to eat locally-grown (if not home-grown) food.

The video is only about 5 minutes long. Click HERE to watch it. You can also just go straight to the petition at EatTheView.org.

Enjoy!!

Maggie's Soap Nuts Now Comes in a Liquid: The Ultimate in Green Cleaning Just Got Easier

If you haven't heard of soap nuts yet, then you have got to check them out here. I'm not going to expound upon their virtues too much here, of which there are many, since many readers will be well aware of these natural wonders. But in short, Soap Nuts are actually the berries of the Chinese Soapbery Tree, which has been growing and been used in parts of Asia for thousands of years. Historical sources have been found that date the earliest use of soap nuts, as we now call them, back to at least the time of the Buddha....

What makes soap nuts so useful is their naturally-occurring saponins, the chemical compound that gives soap its cleaning power. Saponins cause dirt to be released from fabric and dissolve into the water. (And by the way, naturally-occurring saponins are the residue that must be washed off of rice before cooking, as well, or you can end up with a slightly bitter- soapy- taste.) Saponins do not create many suds (great for HE washers!), so soap nuts aren't at all sudsy (suds are a modern chemical marvel), but they sure are good at cleaning! Saponins are also found in yucca, and have anti-microbial properties and so are great for septic systems. Soap nuts are totally natural, totally gentle, biodegradable, compostable, sustainable, and are even a natural remedy for lice on the scalp! Did I mention that soap nuts grow on trees? We're talking centuries-old trees that have been clear-cut in the last few decades, but are now being preserved thanks to their new monetary value. The world is going gaga over soap nuts.

 Anyhoo.... soap nuts are fabulous, but they are a little awkward for some people. As my friend Kim says, it's just too hard to get used to the idea of throwing a couple of berries in a wash sack, and then into your laundry. So Maggie's has come up with a solution that should please Kim and all who think similarly: Liquid Soap Nuts! Still as wonderfully natural, the liquid version is simply a concentrated solution achieved by soaking the soap nuts and adding a few organic essential oils as preservatives. We think this product will change the laundry landscape forever. Truly, purely, and uniquely natural- soap nuts are the only laundry product to accurately make this claim.

Click HERE to learn more about Maggie's Liquid Soap Nuts. they are so very brand new that Maggie's does not even have them up on their website yet, so we are thrilled to be carrying them!

(And don't worry, if you are still a little wary of these unusual cleaning berries, you can try a sample first!)

Rising Gas Prices: The Downsides and Upsides of Rethinking Our Oil Dependency

There's no doubt we are all trying to deal with rising gas prices in various ways. I woke up this morning and read a series of opinion pieces in the New York Times dealing with the consequences of the rising prices, and it got me thinking, because there are indeed a lot of outcomes, many of them different for different people. So I thought what I'd do is start a list of the effects I can think of (starting with ones that affect me as an individual), and would love it if anyone who stops by would add something to the list, especially some way that you have been personally affected. I also thought it would be interesting to do a downside/upside commentary, as well, to start thinking about what good could possibly come of it all....

DOWNSIDE: Obviously, rising gas prices means that we are cutting back on travel. Living out in the country, I have to travel 12 miles to get to any decent sized store (and unfortunately, my choices then are Walmart and Menard's). If I want something fancier, like say, a Borders or a Bed, Bath, & Beyond, we'd be looking at 40 miles each way. And if I want to visit family (living in Chicago), we're talking 140 miles each way. So obviously, we don't make any of those trips as much as we used to.

UPSIDE: Neighbors have started calling when they are going to the grocery store or into town, asking if either a) we need anything, or b) we'd like to come along to save on gas. We are becoming a very fuel-efficient little community! People everywhere are increasing their use of public transportation systems, bikes, scooters, and their legs (walking!)- all much greener options. The popularity of gas-efficient models (which have been available for awhile, but not necessary until now) is rising. Our 2003 Matrix gets 37 mph on the highway- that means that 5 years ago, there were cars that had excellent gas mileage, but they just weren't super popular.  As we demand higher fuel efficiency, the auto industry will be forced to make more and more of their vehicles meet these higher standards (which, of course, they are fully capable of doing, but are under major pressure from the oil industry NOT to do).

DOWNSIDE: It seems like everything is connected to the price of oil. Food is getting more expensive, because the costs associated with raising it and transporting it are very oil-dependent. Energy costs are rising in general (propane just went up almost 80 cents a gallon from this time last year- and we use about 500 gallons per year).

UPSIDE: We are all searching for cheaper, more sustainable options. Shopping at farmer's markets eliminates the middle men, making fresh, wholesome veggies more affordable. People are thinking things like, "Why not buy surplus veggies now while they are fresh and cheap and in season, freeze them, and then eat them in winter so I don't have to pay to have my food shipped halfway around the world?" We are seriously considering each purchase we make. Items that are cheaper and not long-lasting. That means we buy less "junk" and more high-quality, sustainable items. Instead of a couple of cheaply made shirts, I might buy one durable hemp shirt that will have a longer life.

DOWNSIDE: Businesses are having to cut back on "extraneous" expenditures, like marketing, decorating, security systems, etc.  That means that other businesses in those industries are suffering, because their services are being cut from budgets.

UPSIDE: Not sure here... is there one?

DOWNSIDE: The cost of fertilizer for farmers is rising, making it even more difficult for them to survive.

UPSIDE: Farmers are starting to consider organic fertilizers, like those made from fish and kelp, that are not so dependent on the price of oil. It no longer makes sense to use soil-depleting chemicals when healthy and effective alternatives are finally cheaper.

DOWNSIDE: Large farms use gas and diesel to power their heavy machinery, which they simply cannot operate without. This is a huge burden for farmers, and is slowly resulting in rising food prices all around. And not just produce. Meat and dairy, as well, are becoming more expensive to produce.

UPSIDE: Smaller, organic farms tend to be less oil-dependent. The price of organic meat, dairy, and produce use to be much higher than conventional, but the price gap is disappearing. This means that more people are starting to consider buying organic and local.

DOWNSIDE: Many conventional household products include synthetic ingredients that are derived from petroleum. This means that items like cleaners, plastics, synthetic fabrics, and other common items are becoming more expensive.

UPSIDE: Natural, sustainable, and organic cleaners, clothing, upholstery and household items are no longer appearing as expensive, and many people are considering these options.

I'm going to stop my list here, but I imagine that you might be able to add some ideas to my list. Please do!! And if possible, keep it positive by providing an alternative that can help us beat these rising costs of living. Let's help each other out!

Cartoon courtesy of Harry Campbell, New York Times

The Latest on Tomatoes Being Recalled

If you missed our first post about the tomato recall, you might want to check it out before reading this. We are adding some more of the factual information about the recall, for those wanting to know more specifics, since a bit more has come to light. (And, by the way, the best way to avoid this recall is to visit your local farmer's market and buy your tomatoes from there! If you live in the north, like we do, they will still be greenhouse tomatoes, but as long as they are grown by a local farmer, you should be safe. Check out LocalHarvest.org to find a farmer's market near you- they should be in full swing by now!)

(The following information is being summarized from an Associated Press article dated June 10, 2008.)

It seems that the source of the salmonella outbreak has yet to be identified. the latest report I've heard is that 167 people have  contracted the unusual strain of salmonella known as "Salmonella Saintpaul", with at least 23 of them being hospitalized. One man with the bacterial infection has died, but the official cause is being labeled as cancer, with salmonella infection as a contributing factor.

The recall is for the following types of tomatoes: red plum, red Roma or round red tomatoes, unless they were grown in certain states and countries. Tomatoes from the following states and countries are NOT being affected by the recall: Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands and Puerto Rico.

Federal officials believe that cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached and homegrown tomatoes are likely not the source of the outbreak. If you know someone that grows their own tomatoes, great! Eat those! If you can find a local farmer at a farmer's market, there you go! it seems that since the tomatoes in question have been affecting major supermarket and restaurant chains, they are coming from a large, commercial agribusiness-type farm. That's of course my own speculation, but it seems such widespread contamination would not occur unless it were the case.

But, yes, the truth is that as of today, no one seems to know for sure where the outbreak is coming from. Think organic, people! I'm willing to bet that it's most definitely not from an organic farm.

And, while I've got you here reading, I'm going to throw something at you that we organic farmers (and, frankly, every person I know) are very concerned about. It seems pesticide giant Monsanto is trying to pull a fast one again. "Bowing to pressure from Monsanto and the agro-toxics industry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced May 21 that it plans to eliminate pesticide reporting at the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)", which would mean that we, the public, would no longer have a right to know how many or what kinds of chemicals are being sprayed on our foods and land. CLICK HERE to take action through the Organic Consumers Association against this dangerous move!

(BTW, if you're wondering why Monsanto would want to do that, here's a hint: Monsanto owns Round-up, and the patents for their new geneticallly-engineered breed of "Round-up Ready" (resistant to Round-up) corn, which means that farmers can now spray one of the most toxic chemicals that is still legal all over their fields, in quantities never imagined possible. Think cancer, PCB poisoning, respiratory illness, skin diseases, breastmilk contamination, and more. Want to know more? Check out our post "The World According to Monsanto".

Toy Safety Recalls Have Parents Worried: Safe and Eco-friendly Toys and Games Seem to be the Answer

The shock waves from all the recent toy recalls are just astounding. Parents these days find themselves questioning nearly every toy they purchase, wondering if there is a potential hazard, like lead paint, lurking  within, and how these toys were even allowed to get to market in the first place.

It seems that the most common factor in the recent toy recalls is that they were manufactured in China. According to Consumer Product Safety Commission spokesman Scott Wolfson, 60% of all recalls (not just toys) are for products made in China. As for toys, it's even clearer: of the 24 CPSC recalls in 2007, all of them were for products made in China. But that number doesn’t even come close to the number of voluntary recalls issued by companies themselves, hundreds of them in 2007 alone. It’s no wonder: according to the Toy Industry Association, approximately 80% of all toys in the US are manufactured in China. Yikes!!

And another troubling factor: even some of our most popular toy brands, brands that I grew up with as a kid, are issuing recalls: Fisher Price, Mattel, Thomas the Train. It seems to be getting difficult to know who and what we can trust to be safe for our children.

To see a complete list of CPSC recalls since 1975, click here. It is a very eye-opening experience to see how many products make it to market, only to be recalled shortly thereafter. Whatever happened to thorough safety testing before a product hits the shelves?? Apparently, the CPSC does not have the authority to test the safety of products before they become available to the public- they leave that up to the manufacturer! Well, it appears that Congress is finally seeing something wrong with that, and tougher Safety Bills are now on the table for lawmakers to vote on. You can send your Congressman an urgent message of support for tougher safety regulations by clicking here. The link will take you t o a Care2 petition urging stronger consumer product legislation.

Amidst all this recall turmoil, there is a bit of sunshine. Wonderful new, green products are sprouting up all around us, including in the toy department. It's making more and more sense to turn to eco-friendly, green companies, because they usually have much higher safety and health standards than conventional companies do. Green businesses seek to source locally whenever possible, and when not, try to source from Fair Trade Certified and inspected sources; they use recycled materials, eco-friendly dyes and paints (read: NO lead), and natural materials; and they have founded their businesses around a commitment to our health and safety.

One such company that makes safe and eco-friendly games for kids (and, actually, adults, too!) is BioViva, distributed by KVale Games. We are thrilled here at The Greater Green to be carrying one of their exceptionally adorable games for youngsters aged 3 and up called My First 3 Nature Games. Made of recycled and safe materials, and manufactured in Canada (NOT China), this game is also extremely educational in nature, teaching kids early concepts about the eco-systems that surround them. We hope that this new game provides comfort for parents out there who have been shaken by all of these recalls!  

The Best Way to Help Burmese Cyclone Survivors

I don't normally just cut and paste info into my blog, but I felt like this was very important and was best kept in its original form. The following is from an email that MoveOn.org has been sending out to its members, providing valuable guidance on the most effective way to help aid reach devastated Burmese citizens right now. If you have a moment, please read through it, and if you are fortunate enough to be able to spare a few dollars, please consider making a small donation.

From MoveOn.org:
"Dear friends,

Burma has been devastated by a cyclone—and by the military junta's failure to help its people cope. Help raise relief funds for distribution by Burma's monks: CLICK TO DONATE!

In the wake of a massive cyclone, tens of thousands of Burmese are dead. More than 40,000 are missing. A million are homeless.

But what's happening in Burma is not just a natural disaster—it's also a catastrophe of bad leadership.

Burma's brutal and corrupt military junta failed to warn the people, failed to evacuate any areas, and suppressed freedom of communication so that Burmese people didn't know the storm was coming when the rest of the world did. Now the government is failing to respond to the disaster and obstructing international aid organizations.

Humanitarian relief is urgently needed, but Burma's government could easily delay, divert or misuse any aid. Today the International Burmese Monks Organization, including many leaders of the democracy protests last fall, launched a new effort to provide relief through Burma's powerful grass roots network of monasteries—the most trusted institutions in the country and currently the only source of housing and support in many devastated communities. Click below to help the Burmese people with a donation and see a video appeal to Avaaz from a leader of the monks:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/burma_cyclone/77.php

Giving to the monks is a smart, fast way to get aid directly to Burma's people. Governments and international aid organizations are important, but face challenges—they may not be allowed into Burma, or they may be forced to provide aid according to the junta's rules. And most will have to spend large amounts of money just setting up operations in the country. The monks are already on the front lines of the aid effort—housing, feeding, and supporting the victims of the cyclone since the day it struck.The International Burmese Monks Organization will send money directly to each monastery through their own networks, bypassing regime controls.

Last year, more than 800,000 of us around the world stood with the Burmese people as they rose up against the military dictatorship. The government lost no time then in dispatching its armies to ruthlessly crush the nonviolent democracy movement—but now, as tens of thousands die, the junta's response is slow and threatens to divert precious aid into the corrupt regime's pockets.

The monks are unlikely to receive aid from governments or large humanitarian organizations, but they have a stronger presence and trust among the Burmese people than both. If we all chip in a little bit, we can help them to make a big difference."

By the way, the photo was courtesy of the New York Times.