greenlagirl's blog

Cheap, green, and easy ways to spend less on the holidays -- without feeling deprived

2009-11-23T23:23:40-06:00

Pretty much everyone bemoans how consumerism's killed Christmas and other winter holidays -- and how much they want no part of that crappy-plastic-gizmo-giving, money-wasting dealio. Yet cheapo useless gifts seem to fly off the shelves every year. What gives?

Lately, I'm wondering if this buying-stuff-we-say-we-don't-want deal's like an attention bombardment issue. Yes, we all fret over the blog posts and articles about buying less and enjoying more this season -- but then we're bombarded with ten times as many TV commercials, print ads, and of course, endless blog gift guides (I write some of these on occasion too) about all the stuff we should buy -- RIGHT NOW, because they're on sale for the holidays!

Which makes me think maybe we also need to be bombarded with more frequent, more fun, more inspiring anti-consumerist messages -- except that sounds negative, so perhaps we should call them pro-crap-free-holiday messages. Thus -- To prevent yourself from overspending on useless holiday stuff, here are some cheap, green, and easy ways to inspire yourself to buy less without feeling deprived.

>> Celebrate Buy Nothing Day on Nov. 27. What most people know as Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year -- culturejammers know as Buy Nothing Day, a day to enjoy the free things in life. Started by Adbusters, Buy Nothing Day's an annual celebration of checking out of the consumer culture treadmill -- if only for a day. Celebrants around the world are planning everything from credit card cut-ups to Whirl-Marts -- filling up shopping carts at Wal-Mart but not actually buying anything -- to zombie walks -- walking zombie style, "marveling at the blank, comatose expressions on shoppers' faces." Find an event near you -- or just celebrate it singularly, with your unique, totally-free day.

>> Ask What Would Jesus Buy? Get ready for “The Shopocalypse” by watching What Would Jesus Buy? — a funny anti-consumerist film produced by Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) that’s follows hilarious comic-activist-agitator Rev. Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping. And in the spirit of no spending, if you have a Netflix membership, the movie is now free to view instantly online! Will you be $aved? Or will you fall into the fires of eternal debt?

>> Watch The Story of Stuff. Don't have a Netflix account? Then watch this free 20-minute online video narrated by Annie Leonard to "look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns." Did you know product makers actually figure out how quickly they can make a gadget break without making you too upset about buying a new one? Watch, and you'll think twice before getting suckered into buying yet another useless kitchen gadget or getting another unnecessary tech upgrade.

>> Dive into Tinsel. More of a book person? Then get absorbed in Hank Stuever's Tinsel:A Search for America's Christmas Present, which takes a close look at the holiday happenings at Frisco, Texas, to illustrated "the demented poignancy of our Christmas complex," according a Salon review by Laura Miller.

I haven't yet read Tinsel myself yet, but I'm convinced to do so after reading Laura's review. Lest you think the book's simply a diatribe against the Christmas industrial complex, rest assured that Hank also sympathetically profiles some overzealous Christmas celebrants -- and enjoys the mall himself! From the review:

Where misanthropes see only a palace of conspicuous and wasteful consumption, Stuever also recognizes that the mall is a place where people gather and wander, sometimes without buying anything. They are "falling in love, or kissing a child ... In this carbed-out consumerismo are places and moments of true bonding, places to be seen and to see others, to simply exist."

Just remember to seek out such heartwarming experiences at the shopping center without maxing out your credit card. Buy Nothing Day's Whirl-Marts and Zombie Walks do happen at malls and big box stores!

Bloggers around the world are planning their Buy Nothing Day celebrations:

>> Melanie Rimmer at Bean Sprouts may turn into a zombie on Friday: "Wandering through a shopping mall dressed up as a zombie sounds way more fun to me than rushing through a shopping mall trying to find the perfect pair of bootcut low-rise stonewashed jeans in my size before the shops shut."

>> Eco Women: Protectors of the Planet! urges: "This Friday stay home, go to the library, a movie, have coffee with an old friend, or deck your halls — but DO NOT SHOP!"

>> Amy at Peachy Green's in: "Come on, you can do it. I’m going to do it. I don’t care how good the sales are at my favorite stores. Do I really need what they are selling? Really?"

Top photo by joanieofarc; images via Adbusters and wwjbmovie.com
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel plans to buy nothing this Friday without turning into a zombie. She also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Make your town's Thanksgiving celebrations eco-ethical

2009-11-22T02:53:42-06:00

Think local. That's what you often hear when you try to adopt a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. And it's true. Shop at your farmer's market, support local farming, buy from your neighborhood artisans, and you will help take a step toward changing the business-as-usual, made-as-cheaply-as-possible, un-eco and inhumane aspects of capitalist-lifestyle-as-is today.

But making a lifestyle change isn't all that easy -- especially on the quick.

So -- My suggestion's this. Many Bloghers, I know, are bloggers. That means that if I, one blogger in L.A., can put together a guide to an L.A.-focused, eco-socio-ethical guide to Thanksgiving, many other bloggers can do the same in their communities.

Thus -- Here's my guide to a Good and Green Thanksgiving in Los Angeles:

>> Drop your pants. That is, if those pants will fit men. The 2nd annual Thanksgiving Mens Pants Drive is collecting men’s pants to distribute on Thanksgiving Day at the Santa Monica Civic Center. About 3800 pants are needed -- so drop off your donations by Wednesday before Thanksgiving at the Civic Center. Call 310.394.3153 for more details.

>> Get to a TweetsGiving. Raise money for a solar-energy-powered school in Tanzania while meeting dogooders in your town. Events are happening all over the world, so find one near you -- or start your own! I plan to go to the TweetsGiving LA event happening on Tuesday -- and hope to see some Bloghers there.

>> Give organic. The LA Regional Foodbank and local Whole Foods stores have teamed up for a fresh produce drive. If you're not a fan of those canned food drives -- because you're not a fan of unfresh, non-organic food in BPA-tainted containers -- then here's your chance to put your money behind what you preach. Just stop by a local Whole Foods this month and buy a voucher to donate fresh produce.

>> Opt for a fair trade and local Thanksgiving centerpiece. Pretty up your dinner table with an arrangement from flourLA, a local company that'll make you a floral Thanksgiving centerpiece using fair trade flowers. Mention green LA girl for 25% off of any arrangement plus free delivery.

What are the four eco-ethical choices people can make this Thanksgiving in your neighborhood? I hope you'll write a post about it -- Then share your tips in the comments.

>> Lindsay William-Ross at LAist writes that the LA Regional Foodbank + Whole Foods organic food drive is "the perfect thing for Thanksgiving."

>> Planning on a meat-free Thanksgiving? Lou Bendrick's put together "A tasting of four meatless “turkeys” for the holiday table" at Grist.

>> Beth Kanter, fellow Blogher contributing editor, shares "10 Tips for Connecting Offline and Online Action for Your Do Good Project." Her list includes Tweetsgiving!

>> Green up your Thanksgiving by saying "No to Fake Plastic Wishbones & Other Thanksgiving Waste," as fellow Blogher contributing editor Beth Terry recommends.
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Cheap, green, and easy: Watch funny eco-documentaries online -- free!

2009-11-17T00:07:55-06:00

So you didn't see that well-reviewed green film in the theaters because you didn't want to fork over $12 for a ticket -- and didn't rent it either because you decided to spend the $4 on snacks and watch TV instead. Well, thanks to Hulu still being free and Netflix's "Play on computer" options, you can watch the great green documentaries you missed RIGHT NOW -- without spending a cent (assuming you're a Netflix member)!

I know, I know -- A lot of eco-docus can be depressing. That's why I've picked out the 3 funniest, most entertaining ones for you! These are films that'll make you laugh while learning -- and maybe even get you motivated to take some eco-action after watching the movie too. So block out an evening this week for a funny green triple-header:

The Yes Men on Hulu. Watch the original film by The Yes Men, socially-progressive pranksters that impersonate high level business executives and government officials -- and usually get away with it! -- to make serious yet hilarious points. Click through for everything from business suits with inflatable phalluses to a scheme for feeding poop to the hungry!

No, this isn't the Yes Men film you've been hearing a lot about lately. That's The Yes Men Fix the World and is still in theaters -- which means you can't see it free on Hulu yet. But watching this free original will make you want to save your money to see this new film, which Emily Gertz reviews glowingly on Change.org:

At a "Catastrophic Loss" conference, the pair introduce the SurvivaBall, "an advanced new technology will keep corporate managers safe even when climate change makes life as we know it impossible." It's an orb-shaped inflatable suit that will allow those who can afford it it to survive the severe floods, searing heat, water shortages and other nuisances climate change is likely to cause.

Far from finding the idea outrageous, conventioneers eagerly hand over their business cards and chat about the SurvivaBall's profit-making potential.

King Corn on Netflix. This boys-meet-corn documentary begins cornily -- when two best friends "decide to move to Iowa to grow an acre of corn – after finding out (through laboratory hair analysis) that their bodies were made primarily out of….corn," as Sustainable Table describes it. From that funny beginning, King Corn goes on to show just how much corn Americans are eating -- and how that corniness is affecting our agriculture, our tax dollars, our health, and our environment.

The two friends perform a lot of funny antics -- including making and tasting their own corn syrup! Writes Kelli Best-Oliver in her review of King Corn at Green Options: "I was entertained and informed, and not just because I’m a born-and-raised Iowa Girl. The vast majority of Americans have no idea how their food is produced, and King Corn gives a general glimpse into what Old MacDonald’s farm has become."

Super Size Me on Hulu. An oldie but a goodie, Super Size Me follows Morgan Spurlock on his self-enforced McDonald's-food-only diet -- a diet that makes him pack on the pounds, develop a sugar addiction of sorts, and get pretty depressed to boot.

The film ties in nicely with King Corn -- which shows exactly why super sized fast food meals are so cheap and ubiquitous! Writes Marcy Dermansky in her review of the film at About.com:

"Super Size Me" is a terrific film that takes the seemingly not-so-sexy subjects of health, nutrition, and corporate greed and turns them into informative entertainment. Crisply edited, Spurlock's steady stream of meals at McDonalds are cut with interviews with his vegan chef girlfriend, his concerned nutritionists and doctors, fast food consumers, and corporate lobbyists.

Already watched all 3 films? Hulu and Netflix do have a few other free films you can watch instantly, but I must warn you that they're not going to be as funny. Still, all are informative!

The Future of Food is "an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade." On Hulu.

A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash examines "the world's dependency on oil and the impending chaos that's sure to follow when the resource is dry." On Netflix.

Blue Gold "posits that we're moving closer to a world in which water -- a seemingly plentiful natural resource -- could actually incite war." On Netflix.
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

A Green Christmas that saves you green too

2009-11-15T01:55:50-06:00

If you want a less stressful, less expensive, less wasteful holiday celebration -- without acting like an eco-grinch -- take a look at the new holiday book of the season: I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Gifts, Decorations and Recipes That Use Less and Mean More by Anna Getty.

Yes, Anna's part of that rich oil family -- but her book's really about celebrating green on the cheap, mostly by buying less and using what you've got, with a little DIY flair thrown in. Writes Carrie McBride of Re-Nest in her review of Green Christmas:

Getty's book is filled with over sixty thoughtful decorating and craft projects (most incorporating elements from nature or repurposing things you already own), seasonal recipes and ideas for gifts to make and eco-friendly ways to wrap and present them. Peppered throughout are tips and reminders for making decisions that will have the least impact on the earth - using cloth napkins and tablecloths, your greenest shipping options, alternatives to plastic bottles and more.

The tips in the book really are easy to incorporate, says Jennifer of Growing a Green Family in her review. According to Jennifer, Anna's eco-ideas are practical and down to earth:

Most of all I liked Getty’s style. Lately, it seems I’ve read a rush of eco-friendly books that are seemingly trying to be hipper than hip, which works for some people but just comes off as a little pompous to me. Getty’s style is so chill, NOT holier than thou, and really seems genuine. I felt it was a very family friendly style that focused on celebrating with people not things in mind.

Consuming less is not only good for your wallet and the planet -- but can also have the great side effect of making motherhood easier too, according to Anna Getty. In an interview with EcoStiletto's Rachel Sarnoff, Anna shares some eco-parenting tips:

Keeping things simple is very helpful in motherhood. For example, having less stuff is a great way to be green. Only purchase things that you need rather than the wants. The wants will go on forever and at a certain point you’ll look around and there will be so much stuff. Ask yourself what your values are and live accordingly. Slow down and take your time, reconnect with nature, your friends, your family. It’s not necessarily about connecting to the current trend of “green” but in reconnecting to things that have meaning to you.

I went to the launch party of Green Christmas put together by Ecostiletto at Environment Furniture in Los Angeles earlier this week, where Anna signed books -- printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, of course -- and urged everyone to waste less and enjoy more this holiday season.

Everyone from eco-celebs like Amy Smart (with Anna, left) to would-be greener moms came by to try their hand at some of the crafts in the book, enjoy organic cocktails (yes, Green Christmas has a recipe for a pomegranate antioxidant cocktail made with Veev), and get pampered at Aveda beauty stations.

While the family-with-kids-oriented emphasis of the book isn't really for me, BlogHers with kids will likely find I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas's $24.95 price tag will pay for itself in savings during the season. Not sure about spending money on a book when the goal's to buy less? Then check out the few free sample recipes -- mini apple strudels with brown sugar whipped cream, anyone? -- and eco-DIY tips for making your own herb wreath or green gift wrap on the book's website to get an idea of the green savings the green book will bring.

Book cover via Chronicle Books; photo of Anna Getty and Amy Smart by Sarah Strack Photography / Ecostiletto; bottom photo by Siel
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Cheap, easy and green: Win free food, shoes and shopping sprees

2009-11-09T15:51:52-06:00

Get green goods you need without spending a dime by taking advantage of an eco-contest -- or 3! Spend less money and stay green by getting creative:

1. Create a fair trade recipe and win a fair trade gift basket from Alter Eco, an eco-ethical company that makes everything from fair trade olive oil from Palestine to red quinoa from Bolivia. Simply share your best recipe using fair trade ingredients on the Alter Eco's fair trade recipe contest page by Nov. 14 for everyone to try out and rate until the winners are chosen Nov. 20.

The prizes: The top 10 rated recipes will win their creators yummy Alter Eco gift baskets. From those 10, Chef Sita will select the 5 best recipes -- and each of those will have 10 tree planted on their behalf in the Peruvian Amazon, at the Alter Eco cacao co-op Acopagro.

2. Sign up for eco-fashion news and win a pair of eco shoes. Ecostiletto, a sustainable fashion and lifestyle site created by Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, always has a shoe contest going! All you have to do is fill out an entry form -- which'll also subscribe you to Ecostiletto's weekly newsletter of fashionable green tips.

The prize: Right now, you can enter to win a pair of $199 Melissa Plastic Dreams shoes -- co-designed by Vivienne Westwood -- in red, black or gold.

3. Spiff up old furniture and win a $1000 eBay shopping spree. Ebay's teamed up with Zem Joaquin of ecofabulous for a new creative reuse contest. The rules: Find pre-loved furniture, then make it new again using whatever DIY skills you've got. Send in photos or a video of the new-again piece to eBay by Nov. 19 for your chance to win. For inspiration, watch how Zem converts old furniture into something new and fabulous:

Eco Fabulous, DIY Telephone Bench Rehab! from Michael Horn on Vimeo.

The prize: A $1,000 shopping spree on eBay and a personal consultation with Zem. Remember to shop for pre-loved goods to keep your spree green --

Related links:

>> Zem Joaquin at ecofabulous shares step by step, photo-illustrated instructions for turning an old cabinet into a new-looking glossy one.

>> Rachel Sarnoff of Ecostiletto shares a recipe for a DIY eco face scrub at her personal blog, MommyGreenest

>> Don't have a fair trade recipe to share but still want deals on fair trade goodies? The Global Exchange blog shares how you can get 10% off your eco-ethical purchases.
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Images via Alter Eco and Ecostiletto

Cheap, easy and green: Keep your electronics efficient

2009-11-07T21:43:36-06:00

When shopping for electronics, we tend to be swayed by the the initial sticker price without looking at long-term costs -- both for our wallets and for the planet. Try these tips to save your hard-earned money while feeling good about reducing your carbon footprint too:

1. Think long-term energy savings. Shopping for a new TV? That energy-sucking plasma TV on sale may save you some cash today -- but will cost you a bundle later via your electric bill. In fact, some TVs are so energy-inefficient that California's looking to ban them! After all, greener TVs are already on the market -- and the California Energy Commission says simply getting people to opt for those "could have an estimated net benefit to the state of $8.1 billion," according to the L.A. Times.

2. Slay vampire power. Another problem with plasma TVs: They suck up a helluva lot of energy even when they're not being used. Check out this handy illustration from GOOD to see just how much! Avoid paying for the unnecessary energy-suck by using a power strip to cut the power your TV -- and other electronics -- when they're not in use or charging up.

3. Make the batteries last. An easy tip's simply to follow tip #2, since avoiding overcharging will help make your batteries last longer. But Salon.com's Farhad Manjoo's put together more detailed "four essential tips for extending the battery life of your computer, cell phone, and every other gadget." If your laptop battery tends to die before you're ready to replace the laptop, read the well-researched tips to figure out how you can save yourself some money -- and reduce e-waste -- by making the most of the battery you've got.

4. Fight planned obsolescence. Resist the continuous call to upgrade from the companies selling you electronics! If your cell phone's working perfectly well, why get a new one just because your annual contract's up? I get my cell service through CREDO, which gave me the option to save $10 a month on my phone bill for 6 months simply for renewing my contract without getting an unnecessary new phone. Don't be a sucker to advertisers and marketers, and love your gadgets for as long as they last.

5. Get money for old gadgets. Even if you use gadgets until they die, you might still be able to make money selling it to a refurbisher -- or at least save money on a new gadget by taking advantage of rebate recycling programs at the company or retailer you bought the old gadget. PC Mag's Electronics Recycling Superguide should help you figure out how to make the most of your old eletcronics. These programs also make sure your no-longer-functioning gadget will be disposed of properly, so you'll be doing good for the planet while being kind to your wallet.

Got more money-saving gadget-friendly tips? Share them in the comments --

Related links:

>> Sierra Club's The Green Life blog advises: "The greenest choice is to stick with that old black box until its end, but when it's time to switch, opt for Energy Star-labeled TVs."

>> Jaymi Heimbuch at Treehugger gives us yet another reason to hold on to the working gadgets we alredy have: The Digital TV Switch Causes 70% Rise in e-Waste.

>> Jenn at Tiny Choices shares cheap eco-DIY home improvement tips she's tried herself -- including getting a new-to-her TV stand through Craigslist. She even resold her old TV stand for the same price she originally bought it -- also on Craigslist.

Photo by David J
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Cheap, easy, and green: Get on a bicycle

2009-11-02T13:14:04-06:00

Cycling has well-known health, social, and environmental benefits too, but the transportation mode's money-saving qualities may trump them all in this economy! If you're tired of paying at the pump, get a bike for nearby errands and pay quite a bit less -- or maybe even get rid of a second car or go car-free altogether for maximum savings! Some ways to get started, eco-nomically:

1. Get a cheap bike. Not willing to make a huge upfront investment? Check Craigslist or sales at neighborhood bike shops to get a great deal on a used bike. You can even join Freecycle and try to get a free bike -- I have a friend who put in a "wanted" request and got replies from generous neighbors willing to part with their unused two-wheelers!

2. Don't get your bike stolen. Nothing will drive up the cost of bike ownership as having to replace bikes due to theft. Luckily, if you already got your bike pre-loved, you likely already have an advantage since shiny new expensive bikes are what most bike thieves are really after. But if you live in a theft-prone area, consider ugging up your bike for maximum safety!

Don't know how best to lock up your bike? Streetsblog's put together a video featuring Bicycle Habitat mechanic Hal Ruzal-- who grades bike lock-up jobs. Watch it to learn both how to lock up your bike properly -- and how to half-ass it and attract thieves.

3. Stay safe. Try to avoid costly bike-wrecks or health care fees by doing your part to stay safe on the road. I've written before about bicycle safety for those who feel squeamish about sharing the road with cars, but I also highly recommend a bicycle safety class, where you'll learn not only how to bike better but also make some fellow two-wheeling friends in your neighborhood. There's more safety in numbers! The League of American Cyclists keeps a calendar of upcoming bike safety classes around the U.S.

4. Fix it yourself. Bike maintenance is helluva lot cheaper than car maintenance even if you outsource the work. But finding a bike co-op near you, or taking a bike fix-it class, can give you more cycling independence while also saving you a little cash. I picked up a few tips at my local bike co-op, Bikerowave, though I have yet to learn out how to fix a flat...

5. Get cicle chic gear on the cheap. I'll be honest and say that I've yet to buy any fashion item specifically to wear while bicycling (my helmet doesn't count, as it's not fashionable). But April Streeter at Treehugger's looked into cyclist-friendly accoutrements -- like shiny scarves that'll keep you stylish and safe and DIY seat covers that'll give your tush more cush.

Got more cycling on the cheap tips? Share them in the comments!

Also on Blogher:
>> 9 Steps for bicycle happiness
>> Electric bicycles: Greener transport for hot environmentalists
>> Bike to Work Day: Many Advantages to Climbing in the Saddle
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel rides a pink Townie around town. She also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

3 triple-certified coffees with an extra fun cause

2009-10-31T23:11:12-05:00

Today marks not only Halloween, but also the last day of the Eat Local Challenge -- and the last day of Fair Trade Month too. So I thought it'd be the perfect day to highlight some of the most eco-ethical coffees out there to go with your local, organic meals or fair trade chocolate desserts. Here are 3 tasty coffees that are not only all triple certified -- but have an additional little story to make you feel good about what you're drinking while jolting you awake too.

Arbor Day Specialty Coffee. Here's a coffee literal treehuggers will adore. Yes, it's organic certified, fair trade certified, and Smithsonian Bird-Friendly certified -- but the eco-goodness doesn't stop there. The proceeds from this coffee go directly to the Arbor Day Foundation's Rain Forest Rescue Program to preserve rain forests.

In fact, according to the foundation, a single cup of this coffee will preserve more than two square feet of rain forest! The coffee's crown by the ISMAM Co-op in Tapachula, Chiapas in Mexico. Take the online tour to see how the coffee gets from the sustainable forest to your cup.

Eco-altruism tastes good too. Coffee Review gave the Arbor Day Blend a 92 rating -- and having tried the yummy coffee myself, I'm seriously considering buying a membership to Coffee Club. That would get me a 10-ounce bag plus an Arbor Day mug for $6.95 -- with two more bags sent every four weeks at $8.95 per bag. You can also just buy a single 10-ounce bag for $8.95 if you want to try out the coffee for yourself -- or commit to the 5-pound bulk bag if you'd like to reduce packaging and shipping costs.

Little Feet Coffee. Athletes and sports fans -- This coffee's for you. If you've got fond memories of playing in Little League or other kid sports teams, here's your chance to give a little kid with fewer privileges a taste of the fun opportunities you got. Buy your morning brew from Little Feet Coffee Company, and you'll be helping to deliver soccer balls to underprivileged kids around the world.

The tasty coffee -- which Coffee Review rated an 88 -- is also impeccably eco-ethical, since it's shade-grown by the Las Capucas Cooperative in Honduras and organic, fair trade, and Rainforest Alliance-certified. But it's the soccer story that's really heartwarming. Yes, there is a girls' team!

I discovered Little Feed Coffee at Whole Foods, where a 12-ounce bag (also available online) costs $12. Right now, you can also get a bag of coffee with a soccer ball for $30. A monthly subscription program's also available, though it doesn't really save you money (12 ounces of coffee for $13.95 every month including shipping).

Caffe Ibis' Cafe Femenino. Feminists who want to help underprivileged women succeed economically should brew this coffee as their morning pick me up. The Cafe Femenino Coffee Project's "a social program for women coffee producers in rural communities around the world," giving women economic power in what tends to be a male-dominated profession in male-centric places.

Cafe Femenino coffee's actually roasted and sold by a number of eco-ethical companies -- but Caffe Ibis adds a triple-certified element to the mix. As you can tell by the name of the company, Caffee Ibis is all about birds -- and offers a whole list of triple certified coffees -- organic, fair trade, and Smithsonian Bird Friendly certified -- to prove its feather-friendly commitment. Caffe Ibis' Cafe Femenino coffee's grown by woman-owned and operated farms in Peru. Get it online at $9.99 for a 12-ounce bag.

Confused as to what all these certifications mean? Here's a quick guide:

>> Organic certification, whose guidelines in the U.S. are set by the USDA, basically ensures that dangerous pesticides weren't used in growing the coffee. Yes, there are many legitimate controversies about whether or not these standards are tough enough.

>> Fair Trade certification for coffee, provided in the U.S. by nonprofit TransFair USA, ensures that the coffee's grown by cooperative farms that receive a more economically sustainable price for their coffee and a social premium to invest in farmers' communities. Again, yes, there are many legitimate controversies about whether or not these standards are high enough. Some activists are pushing for higher minimum fair trade coffee prices, others for more co-op centric standards (tea producers, for ex, don't have to be organized into co-ops).

>> Smithsonian Bird Friendly certification ensures that the coffee's not only organic but also shade-grown -- with the money from certification fees going towards funding bird research. Word on the street is that this is one of the most expensive certification seals to get -- though also one of the most rewarding for bird and rain forest lovers.

>> Rainforest Alliance Certification provides some environmental guarantees -- but tends to be controversial as it makes vague economic and environmental promises without actually guaranteeing price premiums for farmers. While Rainforest Alliance certification helps some companies make greener steps, the certification program is often criticized for helping greenwash some of the biggest, most abusive corporations (Chiquita, Dole, Kraft) that refuse to commit to more stringent standards demanded by other certifications.

Related links:

>> EcoSaon's got a list of 18 favorite triple-certified coffees.

>> Sally Kneidel at Wellsphere's Green Living Community has a list of bird-friendly chocolate and coffee.

>> Gina Telaroli at Take Part put together a shortlist of restaurants and retailers carrying fair trade products.
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Images via Arbor Day Foundation, Little Feet, and Caffe Ibis

Chill out with a cool green drink -- that has an eco-ethical mission too!

2009-10-26T23:27:32-05:00

I hear it's gotten cold in some parts of the country, but we had a perfect summer day in Los Angeles today. So for those who live in similar weather -- or who just love chilled drinks whatever the temperature is outside, here are my top 3 recommended eco-ethical drinks to quench your thirst while supporting a good cause:

Adina Holistics. This organic, fair trade drink company has a Google-esque mission: "Drink no evil." And Adina's latest concoctions are about embracing organic yumminess with a dose of Ayurvedic health!

Each certified organic Adina Holistics drink's infused with herbs -- which Adina claims are "adaptogenic ingredients that put the body back into balance." How much you believe that claim will depend on how much faith you put in Ayurveda. But undoubtedly, Adina includes some ingredients like green tea and açaí that are known to have healthful effects -- and excludes weird synthetics, high fructose corn syrup or other excessive sweeteners.

A bottle has 90 calories -- and all seven flavors are concocted from real organic ingredients. My favorites are the Peach Amalaki and Mango Orange Chamomile -- mainly because peach and mango are some of my favorite fruits!

And kind of like Snapple, the bottom of the lids have "herbalisms for life" imprinted on them, like "If at first you do succeed, try to hide your astonishment." That one made me smile --

Guayaki Lemon Elation. I first got to drink these at the Blogger Beach Cleanup volunteer event I organized for the International Day of Climate Action on Friday! Guayaki -- an organic, fair trade company -- kindly donated the drinks for our volunteers who gulped them down. The yerba mate goodness fueled them to pick up almost 40 lbs of trash in just 20 minutes!

Guayaki's a company with a mission to save the rain forests -- so much so that the Lemon Elation drinks have the number 350 -- which stands for 350 parts per million, the upper limit for carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere that many scientists say is necessary to achieve ASAP to avoid runaway climate change -- incorporated onto their can design.

But Guayaki's efforts don't just stop with the design. The company gets its fair trade organic yerba mate from sustainably tended rainforests -- made possible because Guayaki pays for environmental conservation and restoration through its products. Farmers get a monetary incentive to conserve the rainforest that’s there and to restore what’s been lost.

Steaz Teaz. Don't want sweeteners in your refreshing tea, even if it's organic? For eco-ethical chilled unsweetened teas, Steaz is one of the first go-to companies. Steaz now also has an Organic Iced Teaz line, available both in one-serving cans and bigger bottles -- and the Green Tea with Lemon flavor's completely unsweetened. That means 0 calories!

Other 8-oz cans contain just 40 calories each, so even the slightly sweetened flavors are not going to as sickly-sweet as your average iced tea drink or soda pop. Steaz is perhaps best known for making the first organic, fair trade energy drinks. But the eco-ethical community's expanded its organic and fair trade certified product line to include these "teaz" -- also available in sparkling form.

Want to try Steaz for yourself? Here's a free coupon (PDF) to get you turned on to eco-ethical chilled teas.
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When I first started blogging, drinks that were both organic and fair trade were pretty much limited to plain coffee -- bought whole bean and brewed yourself. Now, you've got lots of options. And while I honestly have been getting more queasy about the carbon footprint of transporting these heavy drinks in one-use (albeit recyclable) bottles, I'm very glad that these three companies are making eco-ethical drinks available to the average consumer.

Got your own organic, fair trade chilled drink to recommend? Let us know what's quenching your thirst in the comments!
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Too green a thumb? Put your excess backyard bounty to good use!

2009-10-19T23:50:42-05:00

Got an overabundant backyard garden or fruit tree? Don't let the extra food go to waste! In addition to sharing the bounty with your neighbors -- or getting really serious about canning and jamming -- here's how you can put your produce to good use:

1. Make money off your homegrown produce. Veggie Trader lets you buy or sell your backyard produce -- or even trade what you've got for what you want! Turn lemons into limes by signing up and finding fruity neighbors near you."Imagine posting your wish list for eggplants, paid off in broccoli, without exchanging one cent," writes Kim O'Donnel in A Mighty Appetite about Veggie Trader. "Let the produce bazaar begin!"

Don't have a garden? You can still be a Veggie Trader, as Dawn at The Daily Table points out:

Since I have no garden, I can log on to Veggie Trader (it’s free to register), and type in what I am looking for – tomatoes – and my zip code, the distance I’m willing to go to get those tomatoes, and my search will bring up people in my area with extras and what they want in trade.

Homegrown has a great interview with Veggie Trader's co-founder Rob Anderson, who says while Southern California has the most trading activity, "But we’ve also seen a lot of activity in states as diverse as Texas, Washington, and Indiana. The site has been popular in our hometown of Portland too!"

2. Join a neighborhood produce exchange. Neighborhood Fruit lets you find neighbors with too much fruit near you -- or public trees with fruit free for the taking! The site will soon start charging a membership fee, so join while it's in beta to get in on the free deals.

More local initiatives like the Portland Fruit Tree Project has fruit harvesting parties, where neighbors pick and take home the bounty from overabundant local fruit trees -- and donate the rest to local food pantries.

For those seeking fruit instead of getting rid of excess stuff, L.A.'s Fallen Fruit also maintains maps on where to find fruit trees near you -- since all fruit overhanging public property's free for your taking!

In northeast L.A., we have the Hillside Produce Coop, self-described as "a free neighborhood monthly exchange of all the FRUITS, VEGETABLES, HERBS and FLOWERS we grow in our yards" (via LAT). Participants join an email list that lets them know when and where to drop off the excess produce -- then get a mixed bag of neighborhood-grown produce delivered later that day! The service is free, since people volunteer to bag and deliver the goods in exchange for a share of the bounty -- something you can opt to do, if you don't have extra garden produce to share.

3. Donate your food to those in need. Ample Harvest lets you quickly search by zipcode to find a food pantry near you eager to take extra produce off your hands. The goal's to reduce food waste while also reducing hunger in America -- all through backyard produce!

I also recommend searching for more local produce-to-food-bank programs near you. Oregon Food Bank, for example, encourages people to plant an extra row of produce for the hungry and donate the harvest to local hunger relief agencies.

Don't even have time to harvest your excess fruit? In the L.A. -area, we have Food Forward, a volunteer group that goes to properties they've been invited to, to pick excess fruit and giving the bounty to SOVA Community Food and Resource Program and MEND (via LAT). Just let the group know you'd like them to come by your fruity property to arrange a picking. You can volunteer to be a picker too!

The easiest -- and perhaps most fun -- way to get rid of your produce may be to simply throw a themed party. There's a guy in Mar Vista with avocado trees who throws a backyard avocado-guacamole party every year, with guests invited to bring over chips! Know of other ways of putting your excess harvest to good use? Let us know about the resources you use in the comments.

Photo by Gabriela Camerotti
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel grows chard on her balcony garden and eats it all herself. She also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

How to kill a turkey, forage for fresh clams, and get organic local lunches in schools

2009-10-17T19:44:16-05:00

If you've watched Food, Inc., you likely have a pretty good, overall sense of what's wrong with our food system today -- which helps put all the continued news reports of foodborne illnesses and obesity problems in context. Of course, all that continued bad news still gets depressing even if you know what's creating the problems. So with this post, I'm focusing on what good foodie things are happening in the world today -- and the films and books that'll get you excited about these happy developments!

1. Urban homesteading. The current queen of this eco-trend's Novella Carpenter, author of Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer, a book about her experience growing her own food and raising everything from chickens to pigs at her home in Oakland, Calif.

I've yet to pick up the book -- but Chow's put together a quick video about Novella's urban homesteading ways that could sort of serve as a preview for Farm City. Perhaps the 12-minute video could inspire you too to fish out fish guts from the dumpsters to feed your homegrown pigs!

Novella also blogs at Ghost Town Farm -- and her latest post reveals she's going to be teaching a class on how to raise -- and kill! -- a turkey! If you're a would-be homesteader in Austin, Texas, just $30 gets you into The Complete Turkey class.

2. Foraging. Why pay for high-priced sustainable seafood at Whole Foods when you can go clam digging? Jenni P. at Ethicurean did just that -- with the help of Langdon Cook, author of Fat of the Land: Adventures of a 21st Century Forager. Writes Jenni about the excursion:

As we enjoyed our clams with a cold beer, the tide rolled in under a warm sun and we watched an osprey carry food to its young. I felt blessed to live among such beauty and bounty.

Jenni's post's both about her own experience with foraging -- and a review of Cook's book. Click over to read about this "testament to the power of food to root a person in the context of family, friends, season, and region" -- and to get a tasty recipe for Steamed Clams with Sausage, Tomato & Garlic.

3. Local school lunches. A title like Food Beware doesn't exactly promise a happy story, but this French film's apparently an uplifting one, since it shows the yummy things that happen when a French town called Barjac decides to go organic. According to NPR's review, the kids in the town get the first benefits of this decision, because the mayor and city council decide to make school lunches both local and organic. (via re-nest)

The film's apparently full of heartwarming scenes, like "a clamoring crowd of second- and third-graders growing their own produce in the school's gardens, digging into Cobb salads with enthusiasm, and talking about drinking-water purity at the foot of an ancient Roman aqueduct." That said, the film isn't just cuteness and fun -- Cynthia Fuchs at PopMatters writes that the film often overlays scary stats on top of cute images of kids:

As children playing hopscotch are observed from a scary overhead camera, titles note the damage done: “In Europe, 70% of cancers are linked to the environment,” and again, “In Europe, every year 100,000 children die of diseases caused by the environment.”

Still, the film sounds pretty inspiring -- and I hope to catch it when it plays in my area. Right now, Food Beware's only playing New York City -- but will be available on DVD next month.

Now that I've added 2 more books and a film to my fall reading and film list, I'll close by noting that Slow Food USA's continuing to work on revamping school lunches in America. Congress is expected to focus on school lunch in early 2010, so sign up for Slow Food USA's Time For Lunch campaign to stay in the know.
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Yard sharing: Find a space for your own edible garden

2009-10-12T16:36:59-05:00

Still don't grow any of your own food? Even if you don't have a front yard, backyard, or balcony to call your own -- and even if the waiting list for a plot in your city's community garden's a mile long -- you can still grown your own food, thanks to the generosity of your neighbors.

Yard-sharing's a new big trend in locavoring -- and a bunch of webby resources are popping up to help you get started -- which is a good thing, except at this point there are so many websites eager to connect gardeners that it's tough to know which are worth joining. Here's what I would do to wade through the garden web:

1. Ask your landlord for gardening permission. That's how Jenn and Nat got permission to turn the front yard of the Santa Monica apartment complex they live in into an edible garden! Assuming you get along with your landlord, there's nothing to lose in asking nicely.

2. See if a city community garden plot's available near you. Sure, many of these plots have years-long waiting lists -- but you could get lucky!

3. Look into local garden-sharing sites, since these are often the easiest ways to meet neighbors passionate about the same thing you are. Live in Santa Monica? Check out the Santa Monica Garden Sharing Registry run by the city. The Seattle area? Visit Urban Garden Share, started by some friends over a glass of bourbon. Portland? Try Portland Yard Sharing, and get the web administrator to correct the typo in "'what' is yars sharing" while you're at it.

Can't find a city-specific garden sharing site by googling? Try visiting Sharing Backyards, which features a handy Google map mashup so you can easily see if any open plots are near you before signing up. That said, you'll need to sign up not through Sharing Backyards itself, but with one of its locally-oriented community partners. Just scan the list on the right side of the Sharing Backyards page to see if a partner exists in your city.

4. Try a nationwide garden-sharing network. You'll probably want to poke around a bit to find out which network's got the most people signed up in your 'hood before committing:

>> GrowFriend. Sign up on this free site -- a free public service of Windowbox.com -- to start finding a could-be-garden near you -- or to rent out your front yard to a would-be-gardener. GrowFriend has a lot of helpful resources for those with questions about garden sharing, ranging from a downloadable garden sharing agreement a list of topics to discuss before starting the eco-neighborly venture.

>> Hyperlocavore. Join this free Ning group to find your next garden plot -- or an entire community garden! Started by Liz McLellan, the goal of Hyperlocavore's to "help you get in touch with like minded people who are hoping to set up a yard sharing arrangement, a group garden or a urban CSA of linked yards." Sign up and you may find not just a plot -- but an entire network of neighborhood gardeners to help you on your gardening way.

Related links:

>> Hyperlocavore founder Liz McLellan also keeps a blog, also called Hyperlocavore.

>> At Take Part, Tami O'Neill writes about how "Urban gardens are sprouting worldwide, creating affordable options and stronger communities wherever they’re found."

>> Shannon at Richmond Food Collective recommends Sharing Backyards: "For inspiration check out the Map for Vancouver BC! you can hardly see past the mass of spots identifying land givers with potential gardeners!"
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel grows chard on her balcony. She also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Sustainable eats and photo-activism: Andrea Bakacs' eco-inspirational food pics

2009-10-06T02:19:55-05:00

Can good photography change the way we eat? That's the idea behind photo activist Andrea Bakacs' work -- and it's gently shifting the way I think about food.

A pretty photo of freshly-laid eggs makes me hungry for a farmers' market omelet -- while a too-plasticky photo of a grocery store aisle makes me want to grow all my own lettuce. Andrea, one of six Earthkeepers heroes selected by Timberland, took both those pictures -- and both tell pretty complex stories about today's environmental movement!

The eggs photo is one Andrea took at a sustainable Welsh farm with sheep that do the mowing, a compost pile that provides natural fertilizer, and a wind turbine that produces 80% of the energy the farm needs! Writes Andrea about this green energy source:

Currently, the family sells the energy back to the grid, as Britain has just again increased its buying rate. This means not only is the meter not adding any electrical costs, even though it’s not quite making 100% of what its electrical needs, but it’s actually spinning backwards! A few more yeas of this and the turbine will have not only paid itself back, but also provided a safe haven should uncertain times in the future require immediate access to alternative energy.

The windmill tells the story not just of the farm's eco-efforts, but about Britain's energy policies and how they can affect people's eco-choices and efforts.

The plasticky grocery aisle, too, tells a bigger story -- because that aisle's actually from an eco-friendly supermarket called Waitrose that's known for its commitment to local produce! Unfortunately, would be local-foodies had to take the plastic packaging with the yummy eats:

Every head of lettuce, vine of tomatoes, sprig of thyme, bunch of grapes, or anything else along these lines was packaged in none other than—you guessed it-- plastic.... It felt strange, knowing I was doing a good thing supporting not only the local economy and limiting my miles to table distance and therefore reducing the overall carbon footprint of my dinner, but also supporting the increased consumption of needless amounts of plastic, Satan’s resin if you will.

Andrea's photography's not just about food-- She tackles many environmental issues with the hope they'll "inspire and empower other urbanites towards building a sustainable future for their communities." If great visuals are what'll inspire your eco-activism, follow Andrea's work by reading her Earthkeepers-related photo-activist blog at Changents, her blog about the intersection of photography and environmentalism at Photography for a Greener Planet, or her fine arts website, andreabakacs.com.

Related links:
>> EarthPromise writes about Andrea's work: "Bakacs’ photos will not only captivate you with awe and (possibly) disgust, but with enough sensibility to be effective to spread awareness."

>> Blogher contributing editor Beth Terry photo-documents her plastic trash every week at Fake Plastic Fish, as a way to track her own eco-progress as well as to inspire others.

>> Erica Velasco of Vision Photographs offers Tips for Greener Photography at Professional Photographer.
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel's glad her local co-op's not as plasticky as Waitrose. She also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

thredUp: E-swap for adventurous eco-fashionistas who love surprises

2009-09-28T17:42:07-05:00

Sure, you could take painstaking pictures of your pre-loved fashion duds and auction them off on e-Bay -- or get a few dollars by taking the pieces to Crossroads. But if you want fashion swapping to be almost as easy as Netflixing a DVD, here's the latest idea green fashion mavens have dreamed up: thredUP.

Don't wear most of your closet -- but don't want to spend money on a new closet? Think of thredUP as a Netflix-like fashion service, except instead of a library of DVDs, we have a fashion library created by thredUP members -- which adds in an element of eco-fashionable surprise.

How does it work? You list on the thredUP library the fashions you no longer want -- and mail them to eco-fashionistas who need those pieces. In exchange you get back new-to-you pieces from eco-fashionistas who wear your same size and share your sense of style.

No, you don't have to painstakingly take photos of every item you want to trade; you simply name some basic wants, and expect to get something within that category. That's where the element of surprise comes in!

What does the service cost? Basically, you get 3 fashion exchanges for $25. Pay that fee, and you'll get 3 envelopes -- and addresses of the like-minded fashionistas to whom you should mail your pre-loved clothes. Mail those off and wait for 3 new-to-you pieces to arrive.

Says James Reinhart, Chief Knitwit at thredUP: "Depending on the items you have, turnaround times can be less than a week to longer for more obscure things.... You only exchange items within the same tier (based on retail prices; so no Ann Taylor for Old Navy)."

Of course, you should only thredUP clothes in good shape. The Golden thredUP Rule, according to the website, this this: "Send only what you'd be willing to receive." If other fashionistas break this rule and leave you victim, never fear. "Every item is review by the member who receives it," says James, "so if you get an item that doesn't meet our strict quality standards, we basically remove the bad apple who sent that from the system and we credit you for another swap."

Ready to thredUP? You can first calculate how much your closet's worth via a 60-second calculator on thredUP's site. Then sign up! The site's currently in Beta -- but the first 50 BlogHers can sign up now by using the code "ecoBlogHer" minus the quotes -- that code will also give you your first 3 exchanges for $12.50, half price. I've just signed up -- and I'm waiting for more people to sign up so I can start swapping!

Related links:

>> Tracey Lomrantz at Slaves to Fashion: Would You Trade Clothes With A Complete Stranger?

>> Kristin Underwood at Treehugger: thredUP: Like Netflix, But With Clothes

>> gplata at Handbago: Handbago Wants You to ThredUP!
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Eco-fashion in transition: The pre-organic, transitional cotton trend

2009-09-26T08:06:06-05:00

Can buying conventional cotton support an eco-cause? Yes, according to new Los Angeles-based fashion brand 9Planet Universe, which debuted its "pre-organic" cotton pieces earlier this month at a swank, star-studded launch party and fundraiser Zune LA.

What's "pre-organic" cotton, exactly? If you've heard of transitional cotton, pre-organic's just the same thing with a different name: cotton grown at farms that are transitioning from conventional to organic farming methods. The conversion process usually takes 3 years -- during which farmers have to deal with dramatically lowered harvests yet can't get the price premium that certified organic cotton fetches.

The financial crunch posed by those transitional years keeps many farmers from making the switch to organic -- which is where 9Planet Universe steps in. The new fashion brand buys the cotton at a premium rate from farmers making the switch at Raj Eco Farms in India -- helping to make up for the smaller harvests during the 3-year transition.

To help popularize both the brand and draw attention to pre-organic cotton, 9Planet Universe combined art, fashion, and celeb-appeal for its launch party dubbed Event999 (held on Sept. 9, 2009). Fashionistas -- including Jewel, Stephanie Pratt (The Hills), and Jessica Stroup (90210) -- milled about nibbling one of 9 appetizers, sipping from a selection of 9 drinks, and bidding on the 9 items in the silent charity auction, which included clothes and art printed on pre-organic cotton, photo portraits of celebs wearing 9Planet Universe T-shirts printed recycled billboards, organic perfumes, and jewelry -- with all proceeds going toward building a medical center in the farmers' community.

Want a 9Planet Universe pre-organic cotton of your own? The limited edition T-shirt will go on sale in the next week or two at 9planetuniverse.com.

9Planet Universe isn't the only fashion brand using transitional cotton -- though it's perhaps the hippest one so far. Eco-fashion company Anvil Knitwear, for example, makes T-shirts with a mix of recycled bottles and transitional cotton -- but doesn't promise to pay a premium for the cotton. H&M too pledges its support for transitional cotton -- also without any commitment to premium prices.

Walmart says it pays organic cotton prices for the transitional cotton it uses to make its Faded Glory brand T-shirts, as Allison Mooney at PSFK points out. Leah Ingram at Suddenly Frugal says these $6 shirts are "wicked cute"; the Boho Mama raves about how affordable these T-shirts are.

Of course, those prices make me curious about the labor practices that went into making those cheap Ts -- a question to be asked of any company you plan to buy your organic or transitional organic shirts from.
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.