eco film: no impact man

I have heard only positive things about the documentary No Impact Man, so when I noticed it was playing on HBO a few weeks ago I instinctively hit record, and the other night I finally sat down to watch it.  To say I am inspired is probably an understatement.


For those of you who haven’t seen it, the documentary begins with an adorable family of 3 – consisting of the No Impact Man himself, Colin Beaven; his witty and sarcastic wife Michelle, and their little button child Isabella – deciding that for 1 year they would eliminate their carbon footprint, which is no easy task for Manhattan-ites.  Some changes are drastic, some are doable, some are psycho, but everything is admirable.  They travel only by foot or bike (he even winds up constructing a bike “SUV”), shop only at the farmer’s market in Union Square, forego electricity for 6 months, garden, refrain from buying anything new, do their laundry in a bath tub, and so on and so forth.  These changes taught Colin and his wife how to connect closer to the community, to the earth, and to each other.


Although I could never go without toilet paper (which they did, believe it or not) and quit cold turkey on dining out (which they also did, believe it or not), I am psyched to bring some of Colin’s no impact methods into my own life.  For whoever actually reads this blog and whoever is actually interested, below are some ideas on how I (and maybe even you!...?) am going to try to soften my environmental impact in the coming months and years (key word: try).  I feel compelled to make some positive changes along with the changing of the seasons – a little hippie-ish of me, I know, but I like the connection, so stop judging:


-compost (eventually)!

-start a garden, even if its just herbs (although I have a tendency to kill plants, but I have faith that I can change… I hope)

-shop at farmer’s markets for local produce, dairy, flower, the works

-make foods that are usually store-bought such as hummus, veggie burgers, juice, bread, salsa, baked goods (cookies!), and cereal (granola!)

-make skin care or cleaning products that are normally store-bought such as lotion, face wash, and tile/floor cleaners (Gorgeously Green has a TON of recipes for all of these items; check out the website for more info: www.gorgeouslygreen.com)

-use only reusable shopping/produce bags, water bottles, coffee cups, napkins

-shop out of the bulk bins at the market (I went to the market the other day and all I saw was plastic.  Plastic EVERYWHERE.)

-walk/ride a bike/use public transportation wherever and whenever possible

-consume less.  Period.


So… here I go… at least I’m going to try.

Check out the No Impact websites for info on how to get involved in Colin's earth-friendly projects, eco tips, stories, etc.

http://www.noimpactdoc.com/index_m.php


http://noimpactproject.org/


Happy Harvest!

eco radio: an organic conversation

Many of you may be able to relate to my experiences as a child sitting in the back seat of my parents car, drowning out the monotonous tones of the horrendously boring talk radio.  I suppose I have officially reached adulthood, because I have recently found myself actually enjoying it.  Well, at least one show… 

Green 960 AM dedicates Saturday mornings, appropriately dubbed The Green Morning, to all things green, eco, organic, sustainable - you get the picture.  The fabulous show I discovered while perusing podcasts on iTunes is called An Organic Conversation – here’s a description taken from their website: 

“The radio show features entrepreneurs, visionaries, and leaders in the organic food and holistic health movement who share their insights and stories, giving valuable information about key topics such as increasing the quality of school lunches for kids, buying local and seasonal produce, food justice, progressive approaches to global climate change, solutions for food waste, and fostering eco-literacy amongst the general public."

To give you an idea of some of the topics covered on An Organic Conversation, the past couple of podcasts have focused on peaches, chocolate, solar energy, slow food, gluten free food, a local organic garden working with high schools in the bay area, and eco travel.  I’ve added multiple new websites to my bookmarks menu after every show I’ve listened to, as there is always something fascinating to learn (in other words, I geek out bigtime).  The hosts Helge Hellberg and Mark Mulcahy are professionals in the organic food industry and present their material in a manner that is educational and entertaining.  Helga has a very soothing radio voice and a pleasant German accent; Mark has a hearty Santa Claus laugh; both are all around interesting and positive people who adore everything and anything organic.

What I love most about this show is that instead of seeming brainwash-y, it introduces eco-friendly, ethical companies and encourages sustainable practices in a way that is inviting, relatable, and exciting.  Not to mention they strongly support local businesses.  It’s a combination of helping the earth and helping each other, which in turn nourishes your body and mind, which eventually leads to achieving a healthy mind, body, and planet.  Well, at least that's my equation and overall outlook on the matter.  Here I go geeking out again...

Check out the podcast for An Organic Conversation (or listen to Green 960 at 10 AM PST on Saturdays), and learn more on their website - their blog includes recipes, stories, insights, and other fun facts:

www.anorganicconversation.com

 

b(earth) babies

A friend of mine recently launched this fantastic new line of baby clothes called b(earth) based out of Seattle, Washington. Not only are the designs ridiculously cute, b(earth) uses organic materials and water based inks; they also work with local designers and printing shops. Read more in the “About Us” section on their website; the “Why b(earth)?” section explains the significance of the materials they use. No secrets here, just honest to goodness eco baby clothes. 

Founder Luke Wilson explains, “We are really proud of our ‘Re-b(earth) Project,’ where we’ve partnered with WestSide Baby in Seattle on a program where our customers can donate their gently used and outgrown b(earth) garments to needy children at WestSide Baby, in exchange for a coupon to use on our site. We really want to give back to the community in whatever way we can.” 

 

But wait, there’s more! Recycled materials and soy-based inks are used for their packaging, business cards, and nifty little pins whenever possible. They also collaborate with Dharma Merchant Services, where 10% of profits are donated to a non-profit of b(earth)’s choice. Sounds like a pretty ecologically responsible brand to me. 

To those of you with children, those of you searching for baby gifts, or those of you who will be having children in the future, do yourselves a favor and support b(earth). It’s not every day you find a conscious company with adorable designs (I love them all, but I think my favorite is “Give a Hoot” pictured below.  Does not come with baby.). 

You can friend them on Facebook to get updates on new styles, trade shows, and more:

http://www.facebook.com/bearthclothing 

Props to Luke Wilson and friends for founding this wonderful brand! Check out their website for more information and images of their sweet summer collection. 

http://www.bearthclothing.com/

eco beekman boys

I have a new favorite TV show: The Fabulous Beekman Boys on Planet Green TV.  Not only are these guys a hoot to watch (chasing goats, getting to know Polka Spot the llama, a general Martha Stewart-esque aura about them), they lead a pretty fascinating life. (I reference Martha because Brent was the former VP for Healthy Living at Martha Stewart Omnimedia.  No big deal.)

Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, partners for over 10 years, one day decided to purchase the 200+ year old Beekman estate in upstate New York, meaning trading in their Manhattan city life for rural farm life (although Josh still travels back and forth between his job in the city and the farm; he is also a New York Times bestselling author.  Again: no big deal.).  This transition is visibly rough (learning to garden, shovel manure, herd goats, and raising your own pigs which will eventually be slaughtered is no picnic), but the boys’ alluring personalities along with the beautiful Beekman scenery makes for a pretty fabulous show. 

One of the things I admire most about both the show and the actual situation of the Beekman boys is their overall spunk and strife toward an eco-friendlier life.  As they state ever so eloquently on the Beekman 1802 website, “we can all better learn how to live naturally, seasonally, and stylishly from one another.”  Brent and Josh, with the help of a few local artisans and farmers, are raising their own livestock, making their own cheese, growing their own produce, and making products such as goat milk soaps, skin care, stationery, and linens – their products can be purchased online. 

The Beekman 1802 website also has witty blog posts written by the stars of the show, including recipes and silly farm stories.  It’s fun (and educational) to both read about and watch how Brent and Josh try to eco-fy their lives at the Beekman; I suggest you take a look for yourselves.  You can also watch this show On Demand (which has proven to be a wonderful indoor summer activity for me).

http://www.beekman1802.com/

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/the-fabulous-beekman-boys/the-fabulous-beekman-boys.html

eco foodie (wannabe)

 

I am obsessed with food; anyone close to me will concur. I could squeal with joy when biting into a ripe peach or avocado, I do a happy dance when eating fresh hummus and pita, and I frequently geek out while watching the Food Network (and recently the new Cooking Channel) or reading health and food magazines/books (currently Omnivore’s Dlimma by Michael Pollan, which is uh-mazing). Poke fun at me all you want, I just LOVE the feeling of stuffing my face with healthy, delicious grub. I love reading about it, talking about it, and especially eating it. I love learning more about food and sharing my knowledge with others, as well as trading recipes or meal ideas. 

So what does food have to do with being eco-friendly? Much of what goes into healthy eating involves organic, fresh, and local foods, meaning no pesticides, fresh ingredients/no preservatives, and a smaller carbon footprint from not sending produce across the ocean or the air. The best advice I’ve acquired in terms of being an eco-friendlier eater and shopper is to shop local (the iPhone app, Farmer’s Market Finder, helps you find farmer’s markets in your area!), shop seasonal, and shop organic as much as possible. This doesn’t mean just shopping at Whole Foods, there are a whole lot of other health food stores and farmer’s markets out there (Real Foods and Rainbow Grocery are my favorite markets in San Francisco, and the Ferry Building hosts a fantastic farmer's market).  Or get really adventurous and plant your own garden (I have yet to tackle this task, but I anxiously await the day when I decide to take the plunge)!

This also means refraining from eating so much meat (sorry carnivores), as livestock is a large emitter of the very non eco-friendly CO2 (as well as methane and nitrous oxide), not to mention the amount of fossil fuel that is burned to feed, slaughter, and transport it – I am by no means an expert on this subject, but if anyone is interested in learning about this I definitely recommend Omnivore’s Dilemma (shout out to those who recommended that book to me!).  In other words: everything in moderation (although chocolate is a personal exception to this rule).

Also remember to take your reusable shopping bags with you! 

Here’s a few of my fave magazines and websites with lots of healthy recipes and information (thank you Ashley for letting me mooch off your magazines): 

Self – www.self.com 

Women’s Health – www.womenshealthmag.com 

Health – http://www.health.com/ 

Shape – www.shape.com 

Cooking Light - http://www.cookinglight.com/ 

Rachel Ray (feel free to laugh at me for this one) – www.rachaelraymag.com 

Food Network – www.foodnetwork.com 

The Cooking Channel - http://blog.cookingchanneltv.com/ 

Happy Little Vegans – http://happylittlevegans.com/wordpress/

Epicurious – http://www.epicurious.com/ 

Whole Living - http://www.wholeliving.com/

Josh Podoll: eco fashion done right

 

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting the designers of the fabulous organic apparel brand, Josh Podoll, during their trunk show at Eco Citizen.  They are not only a gorgeous couple, but are also extremely friendly and remarkably talented.  Their garments, all made from 100% organic fabrics, are manufactured right here in San Francisco; everything is “grown and sewn” in the US.  Sounds too good to be true, right?  Well, it’s no lie, and they’ve worked hard for it too.  Lauren explained to me that they are constantly striving to find new ways to incorporate sustainability into their business, which is something I admire and hope to strive for in my own economic ventures, whatever they may be.  But enough about me… 

My favorite print is the Ikat, and I am a huge fan of their witty T-shirts paired with whimsical graphics –all designed by Josh himself.  Check out their website and their products at Eco Citizen on Vallejo and Polk in Russian Hill.  You won’t be disappointed.

http://www.joshpodoll.com/jp/Welcome.html

eco traveler

As I have been fortunate enough to have just taken a fabulous vaca to Cabo San Lucas and will shortly be venturing to Catalina Island, I thought about the ways in which I could travel that are as eco-friendly as possible (despite the “you’re crazy” looks I get from everyone).  Especially if you aren’t sure if the place you’re staying is green (which you can always research beforehand), it can make even the smallest difference to be conscious of your travel habits.  Here are some ideas I have from my own experiences; if you feel so inclined, try them out yourself this summer (and share your ideas, too!).

-use natural travel-sized toiletries, for example Burt’s Bees, Aveda, Aveeno, ecotools, Korres, and Tom’s toothpaste.  You can go on Sephora.com and click on “Natural & Organic” to find out which products have mini versions.  ecotools also have great cosmetic brush sets and travel cases – you can find their products at Target, Walgreens, or online at Amazon.com and Drugstore.com.  Instead of purchasing these, you could also put your products in little reusable containers (just make sure to recycle them at the end of their life, if possible). 

http://www.parispresents.com/EcoTools_s/36.htm

-go shopping in your closet (or your friend’s, or your parent’s…).  This will help you avoid spending lots o’ ca$h on new summer outfits that you probably already have/don’t need (as well as help kick our bad habits of over consuming, of which I am definitely a victim of).  You might discover things you forgot about that you can upcycle into new pieces.  Invite some friends over, make some cocktails (or have some beers - your call), and put together some new outfits.  You know you like this idea.  If you simply must shop, branch out and visit some thrift or vintage stores. 

-research restaurants at your final destination that serve local, organic ingredients.  By eating at these places you can help support the community of wherever you’re visiting.  Yelp is one of my favorite sites for this, but Google is my go-to search engine for everything and anything.  One of my most frequent sayings is, in fact, “Google it.”

-pack healthy snacks!  My fave snacks to bring are organic dry roasted almonds, Cliff bars (especially the organic kid Z bars – obviously not just for kids), Larabar (gluten free, delicious), plantain chips, organic Trader Joe’s olive oil popcorn, dried fruits, trail mix (try making your own!), and apples.

http://www.larabar.com/

http://www.clifbar.com/

-pack a reusable water bottle (mine is a pretty Gaiam one) so you can fill it up at the drinking fountain AFTER security in the airport.  Call me cheap, but this is my trick to avoid paying $4 for water.

http://www.gaiam.com/

-if you are a tea drinker, pack a few tea bags.  This way you can ask coffee shops for hot water instead of paying $2+ for a cup of tea either at the airport or your final destination. My favorite teas, which are full of antioxidants, are green and black tea (also a great coffee alternative for your caffeine fix in the morning).  It’s also smart to bring powders like Emergen-C to fight off getting sick (and to flavor your water). 

http://www.emergenc.com/

-if you take sugar with your coffee/tea, take a few Stevia packets with you - I buy mine at Trader Joe’s).  This is a healthy, natural alternative to sugar, and it’s SUPER sweet, so you only need to add like half a packet to a drink.  Maybe even think about packing a reusable coffee/tea mug.  To learn more about this nifty little sweetener, check out the website below.

http://www.stevia.com/

-pack natural sunscreen and bug spray to avoid all the narsty chemicals that find their way into these products.  I found Alba aloe vanilla SPF 30 mineral sunscreen (smells like cookies) and Jason “Quit Bugging Me” natural insect repellent spray (smells not so good, but get over it) at San Francisco’s Rainbow Grocery.  Some of these companies also have great lotions, after sun lotions, hair products, deodorants, etc.  Other natural products are Aubrey Organics, Nature’s Gate, and Kiss My Face (try wandering the aisles of Whole Foods or your local natural foods store to get ideas of some other natural products out there).  Also don’t forget 100% aloe vera gel – I pile it on after I get burnt and it usually helps reverse my mistake relatively quickly.  Or just be smart and don’t get sunburnt.

http://www.albabotanica.com/

http://www.jason-natural.com/home.php

http://www.aubrey-organics.com/

http://www.natures-gate.com/

http://www.kissmyface.com/

 

-pack a reusable bag or two for all of your shopping needs.  No more paper or plastic waste.  Enough said.

-if you are really gung-ho about recycling (like myself), and if you’re not sure if the place you’re going to recycles, think about packing a little bag to shove all of your recyclables in.  This way you can make sure they all get into the blue bin when you come back home.  Don’t be afraid to ask the airline, train, or boat if they recycle; if they don’t, they may be more apt to make changes if you pester them (nicely) about it.  And always remember to recycle wherever you go, the US isn’t the only place with overflowing landfills.

Bonn(eco) Voyage!