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February 8, 2010
 Freaky Plush Toys Based on Endangered Species
 Aurora has created a line of plush toys called Yoo Hoo & Friends. Each character is based upon an endangered species, and a virtual world accompanies the toys at yoohoofriends.com. From lemurs to capuchin monkeys, each toy can be squeezed to make a noise and have certain characteristics online, like being "creative & smart".
Personally, I find these toys a bit freaky. Their color schemes are bizarre, and the sounds are not genuine to the animals they represent. I am not sure what the educational benefit is as far teaching children about endangered species, and these toys are made of synthetic materials. Unlike Aurora's Natural plush toys made from soy and kapok that more accurately resemble animals, I feel the Yoo Hoo line is all about marketing and trying to tap into the Webkinz frenzy.
Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative. Read More in: Kids | Product review
February 5, 2010
Organic Gourmet Flavored Tortillas Made in LA by Tumaro's
Tortillas are completely versatile wraps, and now they are coming in more flavors than just wheat and white. Tomaro's makes gourmet organic flavored tortillas that are great in any recipe. Varieties we tried include:
Herman Jacobs originally retired in 1981 after selling two successful family businesses, Hain Pure Food Co. and Hollywood Foods. In 1994, Herman and his son Brian bought a tiny Mexican frozen entrée company named Tumaro's in Santa Monica, California. Together, they reformulated the product line to be healthier, tinkering with the tortillas they used in the process.
Soon after, they concentrated all their efforts solely on tortillas, infusing them with natural flavors and whole grains. They created the supermarket industry's first flavored tortillas and to this day, remain the largest seller of flavored tortillas on the market. In addition to adding flavors, they also set out to make them the healthiest too.
These are good tortillas, and we enjoyed them with our burritos. I like how the company discloses the percentage of organic ingredients in each product, instead of just saying "organic".
Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative.
Read More in: Food | Product review
February 4, 2010
Vertical Farming Sustainably Optimizes Growing Space
We have a problem: the world's population is growing rapidly putting pressure on agriculture to feed all those people. One solution is vertical farming, which has just won the endorsement of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Valcent, developers of Verticrop, explains the benefits of vertical farming:
Vertical growing is a new idea currently emerging in the sustainability discourse which offers great promise for increasing urban production. Vertical growing systems have been proposed as possible solutions for increasing urban food supplies while decreasing the ecological impact of farming. The primary advantage of vertical growing is the high density production it allows using a much reduced physical footprint and fewer resources relative to conventional agriculture. Vertical growing, hydroponics and greenhouse production have now been combined into an integrated commercial production system, a system that has major potential for the realization of environmentally sustainable urban food and fuel production.
Treehugger further addresses some of the criticisms of vertical farming:
Of course criticisms of vertical and urban farming still shave some merit--namely that urban real estate is generally expensive, and best used for high-density residential and commercial use, with the surrounding farmland being used to feed the city. But such criticisms ignore the fact that formerly industrial sites in cities like Detroit are now lying derelict and are being eyed-up by potential urban farming operations.
I don't see that vertical farming has to be limited to urban locations, as it could also be used by farmers in order to maximize their crop land for food products that require more space.
Read More in: Food | environment
February 3, 2010
Organic Meat Soups by Pacific Natural Foods
Of course it is better to make soups from scratch, but the next best thing when you need a quick meal is canned organic soup. Pacific Natural Foods has just improved the flavors of its Hearty Artisan Soups that contain "organic meat protein". As a vegetarian, I could not taste these soups, but I did find an omnivore to try them out. He said they were good with some "doctoring" of Bragg Liquid Aminos and nutritional yeast. The five improved flavors are:
- Pacific Natural Foods Organic Savory White Bean With Smoked Bacon Soup
- Pacific Natural Foods Organic Spicy Chicken Fajita Soup
- Pacific Natural Foods Organic Savory Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
- Pacific Natural Foods Organic Chicken & Penne Pasta Soup
- Pacific Natural Foods Organic Split Pea with Bacon & Swiss Cheese Soup
Besides being committed to organic foods, Pacific Natural Foods is a top donor to the Oregon Food Bank. The company believes, "No one should go hungry."
Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative.
Read More in: Food | Product review
February 2, 2010
Apple iPad: How Green is It?
We are big Mac fans here at Blogpire, and much of the environmental blog world has been a buzz asking the important question: How green is the new Apple iPad?
iPad embodies Apple's continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:
Arsenic-free display glass
BFR-free
Mercury-free LCD display
PVC-free
Recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure
Shea Gunther at Mother Nature Network explains:
Apple has taken some lumps in the past, particularly from groups like Greenpeace, for using toxic substances like mercury and arsenic in their products. With e-waste being as big a problem as it is considering the huge number of products Apple and other tech companies produce every year, the decision to stop using these poisonous chemicals is a big one. The iPad (and nearly ever other electronic device) have a LONG way to go before they can truly be called green, but they're getting greener and greener every go around.
earth2tech gave the new iPad a grade of B, and during the iPad's announcement, Steve Jobs was sure to tout it's green features. According to Infoworld:
Another green bragging point: Apple claims that the device's specially designed lithium-polymer battery, combined with the energy efficiency of the iPad's A4 processor, means the system can run for 10 hours straight.
The iPad's form factor also contributes to its green credentials. It weighs a mere 1.5 pounds and is half an inch thick. Compare that to the bulkier devices it rivals -- say, a netbook -- and you can see the iPad contains fewer materials. Moreover, unlike a netbook, a keyboard isn't a necessity for the iPad, which means you won't have to invest in yet another hunk of plastic, metal, or the like. (That's not to say the iPad doesn't support a keyboard.) Being the first to own the latest technology is definitely not green living, but at least consumers are faced more environmentally friendly options when making new purchases.
Read More in: Recycling | technology
February 1, 2010
Really Natural January 2010 Monthly Round Up
Baby
Beauty
Blogpire News
Business
Electric Cars
Fashion
Food
Green Homes
Health
Kids
Monthly Round-Up
Product review
Really Natural Books
Solar
Travel
environment
technology
transportation
Read More in: Monthly Round-Up
January 29, 2010
Really Natural Cookbooks: Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar
Mmmm, I love cookies! Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar: 100 Dairy-Free Recipes for Everyone's Favorite Treats is a handy book filled with great recipes for vegetarians and omnivores alike! From Tahini Lime Cookies to Whole Wheat Fig Bars, you can't go wrong with these delicious recipes. Great images of the finished products make you drool and motivate you to get into the kitchen and start baking.
Caramel Pecan Bars
For the crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
A big punch of salt
3/4 cup nonhydrogenated margarine, slightly softened
For the pecan topping:
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup nondairy milk
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
2/3 cup brown rice syrup
2 tablespoons melted nonhydrogenated margarine
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, making sure the foil completely covers the sides of the pan, with about 2 inches folded outside over the edges. Spray the bottom and sides of the pan generously with nonstick cooking spray.
Prepare the crust:
1. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Use a pastry cutter or two knives held together to cut in the margarine until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Pour crumbs into the prepared baking pan and press down evenly and very firmly, making sure to press the mixture all the way to the edges of the pan. Bake the crust for 8 to 10 minutes until firm and very lightly browned. Remove the pan from the oven and set it aside.
Prepare the topping:
1. In a large bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and nondairy milk until foamy. Stir in the the dark brown sugar, brown rice syrup, melted margarine, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Fold in the pecans and pour the mixture onto the crust, using a spatula to spread the topping evenly.
2. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 28 to 30 minutes, or until the filling is rapidly bubbling. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes, then move to the refrigerator to finish cooling and setting. Chill for at least 2 hours or, even better, overnight.
3. To slice completely cooled bars, grab ahold of the foil and carefully lift the whole thing out of the pan and onto a heavy cutting board. Peel away the foil and cut bars with a heavy, sharp knife.
Disclosure: I was sent a free sample of this product to review. No
prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or
negative.
Read More in: Food | Really Natural Books
January 28, 2010
Eating Chocolate Proven to Reduce Stress Hormones
Science has proven what I have known all along: eating chocolate reduces stress! The "chocolate cure" has been clinically studied. Published in the Journal of Proteome Research, Medical News reports:
It found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in the bodies of people feeling highly stressed...
Sunil Kochhar and colleagues note growing scientific evidence that antioxidants and other beneficial substances in dark chocolate may reduce risk factors for heart disease and other physical conditions. Studies also suggest that chocolate may ease emotional stress.
In my experience, a glass of red wine coupled with chocolate works best :) Of course, organic chocolate yields premier results.
Read More in: Food | Health
January 27, 2010
Natural Yoga Mat Made from Jute and Rubber
Recently, I found myself in need of a yoga mat in order to take an unplanned class hours from my home. At a local health food store, I purchased the Gaiam Eco Conscious Jute Yoga Mat (Natural). This mat is costs about $37.00, and it smells wonderful fresh out of the packaging. I have an aversion to smell of new yoga mats, even ones that are PVC-free, but this yoga mat had the sweet smell of jute. The jute mixed with rubber also gives the mat a different texture that I preferred to traditional yoga mats the first time I tried it.
An eco-friendly alternative for your yoga practice, this mat from Gaiam is made of 100% jute, an earthy, natural and biodegradable fiber. The mat is constructed by meshing jute fibers with patented PER plastic, a phthalate-free plastic that is safer for the environment, as well as for the workers who manufacture it. Soft and lightweight, the Gaiam Jute Mat features a grippy, non-skid rubber bottom, ideal for all types of flooring. The mat is durable enough for machine-washing but will have a longer life span if hand washed.
My trust in Gaiam has faltered given the BPA scandal in their aluminum water bottles, but I do really like this yoga mat. It has replaced my regular mat in my daily practice.
Read More in: Health | Product review
January 26, 2010
2000-2009 Warmest Decade Since Records Began in 1880
Technically, there is still one more year to complete in this decade; however, it is already the warmest decade since 1880, when "reliable modern" records began. Live Science reports:
According to NASA's Earth Observatory, 2008 was the coolest year of the decade, and 2009 saw a return to near-record global temperatures (despite that frigid December, which was unseasonably cool for much of North America, Europe, and Asia).
2009 was only a fraction of a degree cooler than 2005, which is the warmest year on record. James Hansen warns the current El Niño cycle causing big storms in the western US could create unusually high temperatures this summer, like it did in 1998.
Read More in: environment
January 25, 2010
Natural Home Cleaning: Bissell Little Green
I have an older car and live in the mountains, so the carpet inside takes quite a beating. I have tried carpet shampooers at car washes, but the smell of the cleaning products gags me, and it is inconvenient. When I saw the Bissell 1400-7 Little Green Multi-Purpose Compact Earth-Friendly Deep Cleaner, I wanted to try it.
What makes the Little Green environmentally-friendly? When I first saw it advertised as such, I suspected greenwashing. According to the manufacturer:
- A compact, multipurpose cleaner that has been redesigned with a 95 percent reduction in PVC.
- Manufactured with tanks made of polypropylene, a material that is more recycling-friendly.
- The brush block is made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic and the solution tank also contains parts made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic.
- All Styrofoam has been eliminated from the Little Green's packaging, and the carton and inner packaging are made from a minimum of 75 percent recycled corrugated materials.
- The Little Green uses earth-friendly liquid cleaning formulas that do not contain any heavy metals, optical brighteners, phosphates, or dyes.
The Little Green does not heat the water, but you add hot water to its tank, which actually makes the unit more versatile for cold water applications. It worked very well at cleaning out my car upholstery, and even though it is not recommended by the manufacturer, I will use more natural clean products in the Little Green. Is it greenwashing? Probably not, and I am glad I purchased this product. I only wish the cleaner it came with was truly natural.
Read More in: Green Homes | Product review
January 22, 2010
New Natural Hair Care from Aveda Light Elements: Texturizing Creme and Shaping Wax
 I am a huge fan of Aveda's Light Elements line. It is perfect for any hair type! Aveda has just introduced two new products to this popular line:
Light Elements Texturizing Creme:
Weightless texture with light hold for all hair types.
- Amur corktree and barley blend adds moisture to hair.
- Organic beeswax and pullulan help provide light, flexible all-day hold.
- Plant emulsifiers from jojoba and soy give the product a soft and creamy texture.
- A blend of gamma oryzanol (from rice bran) and Sasa veitchii (bamboo) helps protect hair from UV damage.
- Spicy-citrus aroma features certified organic mandarin, ginger and Australian sandalwood.
Light Elements Shaping Wax:
Weightless texture with firm, pliable hold for all hair types.
- Organic beeswax and jojoba wax help provide unique pliability
- Pine rosinate and pullulan help give all-day strong hold
- Plant emulsifiers from coconut, jojoba and soy give the product a creamy texture
- A blend of gamma oryzanol (from rice bran) and Sasa veitchii (bamboo) helps protect hair from UV damage
- Spicy-citrus aroma features certified organic mandarin, ginger and Australian sandalwood.
I absolutely love both of these products. The scents are wonderful, and they really improve the coarse texture of my hair and give it manageability. Aveda is committed to the environment, and these products are manufactured in the USA. Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No
prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or
negative.
Read More in: Beauty | Product review
January 21, 2010
Self-Sufficient, 3-Wheeled Futuristic Concept Electric Car Inspired by Air and Water
If you are going to design an eco-friendly car for the future, what better place to find inspiration than nature itself! The AERO is a three-wheeled electric vehicle modeled after air and water. Ecofriend explains the AERO's unique features:
The lightweight vehicle can reach high speed consuming a small amount of energy, which too is generated by the vehicle itself...
The self-sufficient vehicle can be recharged by three different systems. A wind power system harvests wind energy and uses it to recharge the onboard battery pack. Two solar panels located between the front wheels absorb daylight to power the batteries. When the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing, the vehicle can be recharged by plugging it into any source of 120V.
Imagine a self-sufficient car!
Read More in: Electric Cars | technology
January 20, 2010
Anti-Allergen, Organic Cotton Eco-Friendly Bedding by Allergy Luxe
We spend a lot of time resting in our beds, so it only makes sense that we choose bedding products that are eco-friendly and better for our health. Exclusively made for Bed Bath & Beyond, Allergy Luxe Organic Pillowcases not only give you pesticide-free peace of mind, they also protect you from allergens like dust mites and pet dander.
This luxurious sheet set is made from certified pure organic cotton and promotes an eco-friendly lifestyle. The soft sheets are free of harmful chemicals and organic dyes, and has an anti-allergen barrier weave that protects the sheets against dust mite dander, pollen, pet dander and other allergens. 100% organic cotton with a 300 thread count.
This bedding is very soft, and at least part of the packaging is made from burlap rather than entirely plastic.
Disclosure: I was sent a free sample of this product to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative.
Read More in: Green Homes | Product review
January 19, 2010
Arizona to Close Most State Parks
First California proposed closing state parks due to budge cuts, now Arizona has actually done it. 21 out of 30 Arizona state parks will be closed as a result of a unanimous vote by the Arizona State Parks Board. The Los Angeles Times reports:
Wrestling with a multibillion-dollar budget deficit, Arizona decided Friday to close nearly all of its state parks, including the famed Tombstone Courthouse and Yuma Territorial Prison.
The State Parks Board unanimously voted to close 13 parks by June 3. Eight others had already been closed, and the decision would leave nine open -- but only if the board can raise $3 million this year.
The action represents the largest closure of state parks in the nation, although several other states are considering similar moves.
What happens to closed state parks? Are you people no longer able to visit them or are they simply not staffed? Are trails closed?
Read More in: environment
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