January 18, 2010

Sturdy Organic Canvas Tote by Dandelion

You can never have too many canvas bags when you are a parent. From shopping to simply carrying snacks and water bottles, a sturdy bag is key! The Dandelion Organic Canvas Tote is a great bag with many pockets.

Dandelion Organic Tote Bags are designed for eco-conscious Moms on-the-go. Developed with a Diaper Bag in mind, the totes have all the conveniences Mom needs including multiple pockets and pouches. Made with durable 100% Organic Cotton Canvas and feature Organic Cotton Rope shoulder straps. Environmental message printed with eco-friendly low-impact dyes. Outside features large pocket with snaps, 1 large open pocket and 2 elastic pouches.

Of course, you don't have to use it just for diapers. I think this will make a great bag for this busy teacher to carry things back and forth to school.

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.

January 15, 2010

New Variety of Apple: Piñata Heirloom Available in 2010

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Our grocery stores are filled with the same generic varieties of fruits and vegetables, when countless heirloom varieties are coveted by home gardeners. Not all agricultural producers are stuck in the same variety rut. Stemilt Growers is introducing a new variety of apple: Piñata.

• The PIÑATA!® apple originated in the 1970's after researchers in Dresden- Pillnitz, Germany crossed the Golden Delicious, Cox's Orange Pippin and the Duchess of Oldenburg varieties. The apple was released commercially throughout Europe in 1986.
• In 2004, Stemilt Growers--a leading tree fruit company based in Wenatchee, Washington--trademarked the name Piñata. Stemilt holds the exclusive rights to grow and market this variety in the United States.
• Under its former names (Pinova and Sonata), Piñata was deemed "Apple of the Year" in Germany in 2001. In 2004, Stemilt renamed the variety Piñata, in order to tie-in the apple's given names with its exciting attributes.
• Piñata apples are stripy red over an orange background. A blend of high sugar and high acid levels give Piñata a special flavor. Crisp and juicy, Piñata has a classic apple flavor with a unique tropical twist.

The Piñata reminds me of a Pink Lady, one of my favorite varieties of apples, and my children really loved them. They are tangy and sweet, they are quite beautiful in appearance. They are available under the Artisan Organics label.

Personally, I am annoyed that heirloom varieties would carry a registered trademark. These varieties belong to the people of the world, not agricultural companies. It shouldn't need legal protection or have exclusive rights.

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.

January 14, 2010

Newsflash: Mega Stores are Bad for America...Just Ask Our Pets

It's no surprise that mega stores, such as Wal-Mart, are bad for America. From the environment to shutting out small local stores, mega stores are to blame for many of our woes. These mega stores have a monopoly on our economy and safety is often compromised. In order to offer endless rows of cheap products, quality standards are abandoned. Consider the recent recall of pet food, that caused many people to lose their loved pets. Truthout reports:

First, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it suspected that some toxin had been mixed into the wheat gluten that was used to thicken the canned meats. Second, an independent lab reported that it had found rat poison in the recalled cans. Third, Menu Foods pointed a finger at a shipment of wheat gluten that had been purchased from a supplier in China. Although rat poison was later replaced as the main culprit by a chemical named melamine, the story line had now taken shape: cheap and adulterated Chinese products were poisoning Americans, their children, and their pets.

The problem goes beyond pet food...all those cheap products need to come from somewhere, and profit is the of the up most importance:

Some Chinese toothpaste makers had used diethylene glycol, a component of brake fluid and antifreeze, as a sweetener. Some Chinese toy makers had coated their products with lead-based paints. Some Chinese farmers had fed unapproved drugs to catfish that were bound for U.S. dinner plates. Some Chinese slaughterhouses had mixed "oversulfated chondroitin sulfate" into the pig intestines that were used as the raw material for the blood thinner heparin.

Without Chinese manufacturing, our mega stores would fold.

January 13, 2010

Zero Calorie, Natural Stevia in the Raw Cup for Cup Replaces Sugar in Recipes

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I first heard about stevia from my secretary about ten years ago. At that time, it was available as a liquid extract, and I couldn't figure out how to use it in recipes. I'm not a huge fan of zero calorie sweeteners, and stevia has not been without controversy; however, Stevia Extract In the Raw may change my mind. You can use it cup for cup as you would sugar in any recipe.

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is an herb in the compositae family that grows as a small shrub in parts of Paraguay and Brazil. The glycosides in its leaves make it incredibly sweet, a property that is unique among the nearly 300 species of stevia plants. Stevia has been used to sweeten beverages and medicines for over 400 years. A scientist named Antonio Bertoni first recorded its use by native tribes in 1887...

Unlike some of our competitors, Stevia Extract In The Raw does not use additional sweeteners such as erythritol (Truvia™) and isomaltulose and erythritol (PureVia™) to mask the natural sweetness of Reb-A Stevia Extract. The high purity level of our product eliminates any of the licorice-like aftertaste associated with less pure Stevia products currently in the market.

I am not sure how processed this stevia is compared to raw sugar, but it is much lighter in weight and the kids love it!

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.

January 12, 2010

Fish Roe is the Best Source of Omega-3

A new study has found that the best source of Omega-3s comes from roe. Medical News Today reports:

Until now there had been no precise understanding of the nutritional potential of the roe of marine animals, but a team of researchers from the UAL has now shown that this is one of the best natural sources of Omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential for ensuring the correct development of a wide variety of metabolic functions in the human body...

The conclusions of the study also show that minimal consumption of lumpsucker, hake or salmon roe satisfies the human body's Omega 3 essential fatty acid requirements, because of its levels of EPA y DHA. A lack of these compounds is associated with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, depression, diabetes, poor development of the nervous and reproductive systems, and inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn's disease.

I've recently begun supplementing my vegetarian diet with fish oils by Nordic Naturals. I know this seems odd to take a supplement and not just start eat fish, and it was a hard decision, as I want to remain a vegetarian. I have been suffering from an arthritic hip, and my doctor recommended fish oils. I decided I would rather take the supplements than suffer from pain or rely on over-the-counter medications that are not natural.

January 11, 2010

150 Great Ideas to Get Kids Outside and Into Nature

Get Out!: 150 Easy Ways for Kids & Grown-Ups to Get Into Nature and Build a Greener Future is a budget-friendly, easy to pick up book about ways to engage your child in nature and combat Nature Deficit Disorder.

Today's children spend an average of 6.5 hours per say staring at computer and TV screens, and very little time out-of-doors. This book aims to change that with 150 ideas for enjoying nature and being eco-friendly. Ranging from window gardens to birdhouses, from family bike rides to hikes, these suggestions are sure to spark the interest of all! For kids, families, schoolgroups.

One of my favorite ideas is to have a daily "green hour", no matter the weather.

As e.e. Cummings wrote, the world is "mud-luscious" and "puddle-wonderful".

Other ideas go beyond the outdoors to how your family can become green consumers and get involved.

Disclosure: I was sent a sample of this product to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative.

Read More in: Kids | Really Natural Books

Jennifer Lance Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This |

January 8, 2010

BPA Free Baby: Plastic Bottles and Pacifiers by BornFree

BornFree was one of the first companies to offer BPA-free baby products when news broke about this hazardous chemical. Not only are their products free from BPA, they are also free from PVC and phthalates. Two of our favorite BPA-free BornFree products are:

BornFree 9-Ounce Wide Neck BornFree Bottles

Born Free Pacifier

Babies need to be protected from chemicals; we all do:

Exposure to Bisphenol A is Widespread

Bisphenol A is most commonly used to make clear polycarbonate plastic for consumer products, such as baby bottles. Through use, this plastic breaks down and leaches bisphenol A into liquids and food to which it comes into contact.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found bisphenol A in the urine of over 95% of people they tested.

Alarmingly, the median level of bi-sphenol A in humans is higher than the level that causes adverse effects in animal studies.

With my first child, I never used a pacifier and only used a bottle to try to feed her water when she was older. My son had health problems that required a bottle and pacifier while he was in the hospital recovering from open heart surgery, and unfortunately the hospital did not have BPA-free bottles or pacifiers. After his release, he was back to the breast only for his nourishment and comfort.

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: Baby | Health | Product review

Jennifer Lance Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This |

January 7, 2010

Burlington, Vermont Airpot Gets Solar and Wind Power

The airline industry is often targeted for its excessive greenhouse gas emissions, Vermont is trying to make one of its airports more eco-friendly. Heritage Aviation at Burlington International has installed its first wind turbine and 120 solar panels. UPI reports:

"We're proud to be on the leading edge of energy efficiency, corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship, in our region and in the aviation industry," said Christopher Hill, president of Heritage Aviation.

Heritage Aviation is the sole fixed base operator at Burlington International Airport. Hangars and other facilities at the airport include rainwater collection systems and one of the largest so-called green roofs in New England.

Read More in: Solar | Travel | transportation

Jennifer Lance Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This |

January 6, 2010

Instant Coffee made with Organic Gendarma Still Tastes Like Instant Coffee

I am a coffee addict, snob, connoisseur, etc., so when I was approached to try "organic" instant coffee by OrGano Gold, I agreed with some trepidation. I was recently offered coffee at a friend's house and was served a cup of instant. I did not want to offend, so I grimaced and drank the "coffee".

OrGano Gold comes in several flavors, such as Black Gold, Mocha, and Latte, none of which resemble their true namesakes. Sure, they are a little better than Nescafe, but it is still instant coffee, and it is not even organic.

NOTE: Organo Gold coffee is not organic at this time, we are planning on introducing an organic version in the near future. All Organo Gold product contain 100% pure organic ganoderma.
The only coffee made with 100% certified ganoderma lucidum. Organo Gold Contains the most pure Certified Organic Ganoderma: A Red Mushroom that dates back over 4,000 years. Ancient generations prized this mushroom for its medicinal properties, promoting health and well-being.

Even when backpacking or traveling, I can't drink instant coffee. I carry a Mini Espresso Maker. I really can't sacrifice a good cup of joe for convenience sake.

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.