The debate is old: whether or not humans are evolutionary omnivores or herbivores. Those in favor of meat consumption point to our incisors as evidence we are meant to be omnivores. Those who think we are naturally vegetarians consider our long winding intestines as evidence we are not designed to eat meat; however, some doctors believe we should not be carnivores at all. According to Kathy Freston writing for the Huffington Post:
The point is this: Thousands of years ago when we were hunter-gatherers, we may have needed a bit of meat in our diets in times of scarcity, but we don't need it now. Says Dr. William C. Roberts, editor of the American Journal of Cardiology, "Although we think we are, and we act as if we are, human beings are not natural carnivores. When we kill animals to eat them, they end up killing us, because their flesh, which contains cholesterol and saturated fat, was never intended for human beings, who are natural herbivores."
Sure, most of us are "behavioral omnivores"--that is, we eat meat, so that defines us as omnivorous. But our evolution and physiology are herbivorous, and ample science proves that when we choose to eat meat, that causes problems, from decreased energy and a need for more sleep up to increased risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Replace Plastic Dry Cleaning Bags with a Reusable Canvas Garment Bag
If you dry clean your clothes, and almost every wardrobe has a few items that require special care, then you have experienced the waste of plastic that occurs at the dry cleaners. Sure, you go to a "green" dry cleaner, but what about the rows and rows of clothes bagged in plastic? Natural News explains:
Are these plastic bags really necessary and at what point do people decide that sheer convenience is not worth the environmental impact? Many have begun to carry cloth bags with them when they go grocery shopping, but not enough people have looked to their dry cleaner. Not only are those giant strips of plastic a suffocation risk for children and animals, but most people only use their bags to take the clothes home and then toss them out.
One drycleaner estimated that his one dry cleaning store used between 50,000 to 100,000 plastic bags a year. This concerned business owner decided to make a difference. One Earth Day he passed out cloth garment bags to his customers free of charge. Not only would he get free advertising when customers carried the bag, but he was doing something good for the environment. About 300 million pounds of dry cleaning bags are thrown out annually. To his amazement 60% of his customers have been returning with their bags.
If your drycleaner is not offering you reusable garment bags, you can buy your own. It's important to not buy one made of vinyl (some vinyls contain lead); a canvas garment bag offers a more natural alternative. At about $10.00, switching from disposable plastic bags to a reusable garment bag for your dry cleaning needs is affordable.
Green Perfume and Organic Aromatherapy for Men and Women by Nantucket Natural Oils
Natural oils can do wonders for the body and soul, unlike perfumes that contain alcohol and come with a heavy price tag. Nantucket Natural Oils custom creates many products from after shave balm to shampoos that will delight your senses.
Nantucket Natural Oils, The Fragrance Bar, was established in 1983 when John Harding discovered he has the one-in-a-million olfactory equivalent of perfect pitch. He's been sniffing his way to sweet success in the perfume industry ever since. Frustrated by the high alcohol content and short shelf life of most designer scents, the effusive Harding set out to create his own fragrance formula.
We recently tried out a few affordable Nantucket Natural Oils products:
Chill Out Sport Rub:
Cool and refreshing, this rub has anti-inflammatory properties to work deeply and relax over-used muscles while increasing blood flow and boosting energy. Contains menthol, camphor, rosemary oil, eucalyptus oil, sage oil and fir needle. Spots only, do not apply to full body. Nantucket Natural Oil's fine natural-perfumed massage products, appropriate for professional practitioners and personal use, are specially formulated to relieve muscle soreness and tension, while nourishing and softening the skin with vitamins and botanicals.
70% Certified Organic Ingredients. One of the only Organic Massage Lotions on the market, this luxurious lotion provides optimal manipulation of skin and muscles with a smooth glide and lasting workability to both the spa professional and at home user. It is light and silky, yet penetrates slowly to allow for a long lasting,pampering massage experience. Ultra rich emollients - sunflower seed oil and shea butter, plus nourishing Certified Organic aloe, calendula, comfrey and anti-oxidants white tea and vitamin E, replenish and soften skin while protecting it from free radical damage. Unscented, this lotion can easily be customized with a few drops of any Nantucket Natural Oil of your choice for aromatherapeutic benefits.
The One is a warm, oriental floral with modern sensuality. Created for the ultimate diva, The One is at once tempting, modern and glamorous, embracing a touch of classicism.
The top notes radiate a vibrant luminosity, with a sun-touched citrus blend of bergamot and mandarin. Warm fruity notes of luscious lychee and succulent peach add to the delight.
The passionate heart evokes an exploding femininity, with an opulent floral soul comprised of madonna lily, muguet and jasmine, creating a distinct, audacious signature.
An unexpected hint of plum glows as the base finally blooms with the luscious allure of precious vetyver, accentuated with the lasting warmth of vanilla and sweetened ambery-musk tones.
The Chill Out Sport Rub was just what I needed after a hard day of physical labor building a rock wall. It was a relaxing blessing! My Spa Shop is a great place to shop for Nantucket Natural Oils!
Natural Food Friday: Organic Baked Apple Snacks by Yogachips
Sweet organic fuji apples are used to make Yogachips. These baked snacks are full of crunchy apple flavor. They are made in a two part process where first the apples are baked and then popped. Yogachips are certified USDA Organic and Ecocert.
Ecocert is an international third party certifying body that verifies organic claims and grants organic certifications on behalf of the USDA.
Yogachips uses Ecocert certification because the apples it uses are grown in China. This certainly adds to the carbon footprint of this product if it is consumed in the US.
In the course of producing a wonderful apple chip, we also look for ways to ensure we benefit our suppliers and the environment. Our Fuji apples come from China's northern Shanxi Province and grow on the southern slopes of a mountain range facing the Yellow River. As terroir makes a good wine, so are the natural factors at our orchards critical to nature providing a sweet, juicy apple. Grown at 2,300ft, our USDA (NOP - National Organic Program) certified orchards are cool enough to deter most pests, allowing apples to grow and ripen robustly from the first April blossom through till October harvest.
Yogachips are also Kosher, gluten-free, Halal, and certified vegan. My children love them and can easily eat a couple servings in one sitting.
From rugs to dinnerware, it seems that almost anything can be made from bamboo. A Chinese company is making bamboo computer keyboards! According to Sustainablog:
Jiangqiao, which began manufacturing the green keyboards last October, has already received orders for 40,000 finished units, and is China's sole producer of bamboo keyboards. The company says the product is as strong as its plastic equivalent...Jiangqiao faced the same difficulties typical for adapting bamboo for industrial use, including keeping the bamboo keyboard frame from cracking, preventing the bamboo bottom plate from distorting and firmly fashioning the buttons with the main board.
On one of my many posts about how much I hate plastic because of its negative effects on our environment and health, a commenter pointed out that I was typing on a plastic keyboard. Thanks to the Chinese, I now have a greener option; however, there is no reason to replace my perfectly good keyboard with a new one. That would not follow the adage "reduce, reuse, recycle."
We've been fortunate enough to review beautiful natural fiber clothing by Hessnatur before, now we have discovered their organic baby apparel line! Super sweet, soft, and adorable, Hessnatur's organic baby line means everyone in the family can dress in eco-fashion. Hessnatur is always fair trade, organic, and sustainable, which is exactly what baby deserves against their fresh, delicate skin.
What our clothes are made of and with
Pure, natural
fibers- organic whenever possible. Made from renewable resources:
Vegetable (cotton, linen, hemp, ramie); Animal (wool, specialty wools
such as angora, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, yak; silk).
No PVC or Teflon, anywhere.
Natural materials for buttons, like ivory nut, wood, horn, or mother-of-pearl
Trims and linings are made from natural fibers, usually 100% organic cotton or 100% natural silk
Any
metals used for zippers, buckles and buttons are nickel- and
chrome-free. Other materials are only used for these accessories in
the rare cases when natural materials or metals are not functional
enough.
Our only exceptions: we sometimes use up to 8%
of elastane/spandex for the stretch in some lingerie and socks. All the
spandex we use is covered in cotton so no synthetic touches your skin.
What our clothes aren't made of or with
Synthetic fibers: made from chemical substances derived from petroleum, like nylon, polyester or acrylic
Regenerated
fibers: chemically treated and re-processed fibers made from natural
materials that cannot be used for textiles in their original form, like
viscose, modal and acetate. Their manufacturing causes significant
water and power usage.
Azo dyes which can give off dangerous, carcinogenic and mutagenic amines
Dyes and dye procedures that include toxic heavy metals, which are known carcinogens
Optical brighteners, which are probable allergens
Chemical finishes, such as moth-proofing, anti-microbial, easy-care, wrinkle-free finishes, made with synthetic resins
Chlorine bleach, which harms the environment
Hessnatur also offers maternity clothes from moms to be! I wish I would have had these organic maternity clothes during my pregnancies! Unborn babies deserve the best against mommy's skin too!
Summer vacation is often a time for travel; however, the economic recession has caused many families to look for cheaper alternatives to Disneyland and urban locations. The solution, which is lighter on the wallet and better for the environment, is camping. CNN explains:
With the economy in a slump, camping seems to be grabbing a new foothold in the travel industry. Once considered by many to be an activity for nerdy families, nature geeks and Boy Scouts, sleeping outside in a tent has become chic -- likely because it is so much cheaper than paying for a hotel room.
The activity also strikes a new chord with Americans who want to get back to basics after an era of excess and overspending.
I still revere my early camping experiences as my fondest childhood memories. These trips into the woods helped build my appreciation for the environment and understand the need for conservation. I can't wait to take my kids camping this summer!
It's exciting to see more and more alternatives to disposable plates and cutlery appear on the market. Bamboo Studio has introduced a line of biodegradeable dinnerware:
Bamboo Studio is a revolutionary all-occasion dinnerware that is both disposable and reusable. Handcrafted from the sheath of the emerging bamboo plant, these dynamic new serving pieces are elegant, strong, and environmentally friendly.
Strong and leak resistant
Handcrafted from Bamboo sheath
No harsh chemicals or bleaches are used
Requires little energy to make and Bamboo is 100% biodegradable
Bamboo Studio's organic certification is pending. What makes these bamboo plates unique is that they are made from the sheath of the plant, so the living bamboo is not harmed. The sheath also has a beautiful texture. This dinnerware is longer lasting and sturdier than typical paper plates, besides it is far more aesthetically pleasing.
Greensender creates custom SIGG bottles by using a precision laser engraving process. Your design is created by etching away the top layer of color which exposes the vibrant metallic bottle underneath. The result is an exquisite and extremely durable mark that will make your SIGG bottle a prized possession, the envy of all your friends and an arrow in the quiver of environmental justice!
We all know the importance of using reusable water bottles over plastic ones, but it can be difficult to tell your reusable bottle apart from your friends' bottles. Sure, Klean Kanteens and Siggs come in different colors or designs, but even so, this does not make each one unique. For example at my daughter's school, several kids and teachers have the same Klean Kanteen. We have tried to distinguish our bottles with stickers, but they always wash off. Dents in the bottle become the identifying mark, but Greensender's bottle shop offers a better solution.
A customized Sigg water bottle makes a wonderful gift (maybe it can be a late Father's Day present?). It is also a great idea for camp or back to school, as your child's water bottle will be truly unique. My daugther LOVES her customized bottle from Greensender. They do an excellent job with the engraving, and the Sigg bottle is very durable. Sigg bottles are made in Switzerland, not China, which is another bonus for consumers.
Beautyberry is as Effective as DEET in Repelling Mosquitoes
Beautyberry is a favorite amongst gardeners for its fuchsia fruit, but this native plant to the Southeast US is also a powerful insect repellent. According to Mother Earth News:
In 2006, researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Products Utilization Research Unit in Oxford, Miss., found that extracts from beautyberry leaves could match DEET for repelling mosquitoes. The next year, experiments showed that the active ingredients from the leaves (callicarpenal and intermedeol) provided 100-percent repellency of black-legged ticks for three hours. In 2008, the four-person research team, headed by chemist Charles Cantrell in Mississippi and entomologist Jerome Klun in Maryland, published research that added fire ants to the list of pests repelled by essential oil distilled from beautyberry leaves.
I have not been able to find any beautyberry insect repellent, so instead I will have to find a plant for my garden.
Green Children's Literature: The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales
Children deserve to be read to and sharing literature is a great way to learn appreciation for our Earth. The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales (One World, One Planet) is a collection of stories and activities to inspire your family to become a "thoughtful caretaker of our planet":
In this beautiful anthology of folktales, young readers learn how different cultures around the world live in harmony with the rhythms and patterns of nature. Discover how to tread lightly on our precious Earth by following the easy eco-tips and trying out some of the fun and creative activities that accompany each story. The perfect gift for any eco-conscious child!
I love the story from Kazakhstan called "The Magic Garden". When finding a magic pot of gold buried in the land, two friend decide to buy seeds with the money and plant a garden after consulting a wise man and his students. Instead, when he reaches the market to buy the seeds, he uses the gold to pay for the release of caged birds meant for the Khan. Upset that there will be no garden and feeling like a fool, Arman notices the birds are planting a magic garden because he saved their lives. "Such is the story of the magic garden, which grew from the generosity of two old friends and the dream of a young boy."
When reading Earth Tales families explore Australia, Nigeria, USA, Bali, Kazakhstan, India, and Wales. Before each story, a little background on the part of that part of the world is given. Each story's moral teaches children to respect the Earth and the cultures of the world.
Solar and Hand Cranked Radio Perfect for Camping and Emergencies
This little alternative energy radio is only about 3 x 2.2 x 3.2 inches! Powered by either a solar panel or hand cranking a dynamo, you don't have to go without tunes when the power goes out or you are off in the woods camping with the Kikkerland Dynamo Solar and Crank Emergency Radio. When cranking the dynamo when solar energy is not available, this radio is quite efficient with one minute of human power producing half an hour of tunes. Also, it also won't break the bank at a price of about $30.
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