Footwear

Running, jogging or taking a leisurely stroll are popular methods of increasing your daily exercise. The market is full of environmentally friendly footwear that allows you to accomplish your fitness goals. From recycled rubber outsoles to packing products in unbleached recycled cardboard boxes, an increasing number of shoe companies have stopped using chemicals and materials harmful to the environment, such as polyvinyl chloride (better known as PVC). To get an idea of the possibilities, check out the entire line of Brooks’ Trail footwear collection or their Green Silence racing flat (shown above) – comprised of 75% recycled materials.

Socks

You can’t enjoy a good workout without protecting your feet from sweat and friction. A good pair of socks doesn’t have to contain bleached, synthetic fibers. Choose socks from companies, like Teko, which provide high quality through renewable resources, such as wool, organic cotton, and fibers made from corn. Teko uses “premium merino wool” sourced from farms in Argentina and recycled tekoPOLY to create socks with a luxury fit and insulation. Shown is the tekoPOLY Light Mini Crew for women.

Clothing

During exercise, you may cover your limbs and warm your body with a range of eco friendly clothing choices – fashioned out of renewable, organic, and recycled materials. Companies, such as Patagonia and Gaiam are known for pushing the envelope of sustainability with cotton, hemp, bamboo and soy fibers that make an earth conscious workout program easier to achieve. In addition to Birkenstocks Unisex Eco-Friendly Socks (combination of EcoSpun and cotton) to eye-catching swimwear, the Cannondale bike jersey shown is comprised of high-quality fibers comprised of recycled soda bottles.

Exercise Mats

To accommodate your Pilates and yoga sessions, an exercise mat protects your body during a workout. You can protect the environment by selecting products that forego the use of toxic chemicals and damaging manufacturing processes. For example, the Natural Fitness Powerhouse eco friendly workout mat provides cushioning for floor exercises by using an environmentally friendly foam material sans toxic phthalates or PVC. As part of the Zero Impact Program, trees are planted every time one of the mats is sold. Other companies offering eco-friendly exercise mats include GreenYoga, Gaiam and BareFootYoga.

Exercise Equipment

From using eco-friendly paints to coat machinery and working with sustainable materials, incorporate earth-conscious exercise equipment into your get-fit routines. Interesting selections include the WaterRower – a wooden rowing machine that uses water to create resistance during workouts. The fine hardwoods used in the construction of the machine come from sources of replenishable ash, cherrywood, and Black American walnut sources. The WaterRower uses no electricity, as it gains power from your effort.

Products with Natural Age Defying Ingredients

In an effort to preserve your beauty and do so without adding harsh chemicals, fillers, parabens, and artificial fragrances – Sophyto Organics offers a skin care regimen packed with complex vitamins, minerals and natural plant components. From dual action exfoliation to bioactive toners, Sophyto Organics blends understated packaging with lively pops of color. A sample of products include:

* Purify & Energise Super Bioactive: Providing a pH adjusting solution, tap into the power of healthy plant nutrients that work to cleanse and rejuvenate complexions in dire need of restoration. Use Purify & Energise Super Bioactive to treat inflamed or sensitive skin – perfect for chemotherapy patients and users who have recently undergone skin treatments, such as microdermabrasion. Infusing the skin with organic bioactive phyto-nutrients, such as B2, B6, B12, C and E, 99% of this product contains organically produced natural ingredients.

* Mega Omegas Day Face Moisturiser: The non-oily formula of the Mega Omegas Day Face Moisturiser especially assists in uplifting mature or very dry skin. Sophyto Organics suggests using the moisturizer as a “hydrating primer” before applying your liquid or mineral cosmetics. Offering a healthy burst of polyunsaturated fatty Acids (PUFAs): omega-3, omega-6, omega-9, linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), the product works to enhance elasticity and the overall look of your skin. Other ingredients include organic aloe vera, jojoba oil, and shea butter.

* Marine Peptide Brightening Treatment: Offering a blend of organic ingredients, such as aloe vera leaf juice and Japanese micro-algae, the Marine Peptide Brightening Treatment adds a healthy glow to your complexion – prefect for repairing damaged skin due to excessive sun exposure. The treatment aims to draw out impurities, reduce pore size, and improve elasticity. You walk away with clean, clear skin that continues to combat the effects of environmental and other pollutants.

Eco-Friendly Highlights

Sophyto Organics stands by a commitment “to sustain and improve the health of our body and planet.” All products contain an average of 95% organically produced agricultural ingredients. Thanks to certified suppliers, the company uses raw materials that support fair trade practices with local farmers and businesses in Bulgaria, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Nepal, Italy, India, Somalia, and South Africa. From start to finish, the production of Sophyto Organics aids in developing ecologically responsible production, processing, and distribution.

Sophyto Organics also embraces green business practices in their production facilities – centering on ecologically sound waste management, organic manufacturing, sustainable development, conservation, protection of natural resources, biodegradability, and recycling waste. Animal lovers can also wear Sophyto Organics with confidence since the cruelty-free skin care does not use animals in the testing of their products.

Image Credits: Sophyto Organics

First thing Friday morning, many people will be getting up and getting ready to find those great holiday deals. If you’re one of those people who would rather shop at home than risk getting an elbow in the eye or a kick in the shin – don’t worry.

There are plenty of great deals to be found online as well. Below are some of the best Black Friday eco-friendly deals around the web.

Envy – Get 30% off all Envy clothing until November 30th with coupon code GRECHBF. If you know someone who loves fashion and is environmentally conscious, this is a great place to shop. You can get beautiful gifts like the Covet Mini Stripe Henley pictured above.

Gaiam – For Black Friday, Gaiam is offering 20% off select items with coupone code AFBFGIFT. With great fair trade and organic gifts, this is a great shop to check for everyone on your list. Just a few of their great sale items include yoga supplies, towels, gym bags and body purifying items.

Shades of Violet - What an incredible shop to find beautiful greeting cards, and this Black Friday, you can get 20% off by using coupon code blackfriday. Pick up your holiday cards here and save!

Nimli – This is an incredible eco-clothing shop offering 25% off with the coupon code BLACKFRIDAY09. This is the perfect place to find fashionable clothing that is organic and fair trade.

You can get deals on great items for the kids, babies, men and women on your list. One of the great things you can get is this Ella Vickers Green Grocery tote (right)!

By checking out these great deals and discounts, you can do some great holiday shopping and save money – not to mention investing in companies that care for the environment!

The first ‘eco-super hero’, a friendly visitor from outer space, has come to warn humans of the impeding doom we have created through our lack of environmental concern in the new sci-fi thriller, “Pollen and the Ring of Harmony” by Francis T. Perry Williams.

In 2007 she published a book called Eco-Chic Weddings, advising couples about how they could create the weddings of their dreams without sacrificing their principles. The book was such a success that she followed the project up with an Eco-Chic Wedding blog, where readers can stay up to date on the latest trends in weddings and Anderson’s recent projects.

Fans of Eco-Chic Weddings who like to bring the same sustainable style sense to their daily lives may be excited to learn that a new book, Eco-Chic Homes, will be hitting the shelves this spring. Here, readers will find a wide variety of high-style projects for reducing, reusing, and recycling in every area of the home. Can’t wait to get your hands on this book? Apparently the accompanying blog will be featuring related home projects and updates in the meantime.

1) Multi-color Leaf Creations

If you live anywhere near trees as they are losing their leaves, you are probably overwhelmed at this time by the magnitude of leaves accumulating in the street, on the sidewalk, and in yards everywhere. While you might not be thinking of these leaves as anything special, take a second to really observe. Their colors, from deep red to pale green and everywhere in between, are really beautiful. For your kids or for the child inside, consider celebrating the colors of the leaves by making a piece of art. While a leaf crown, wreath, or bouquet may only last a few days, the joy it will bring is definitely worth it. First, pick leaves towards the top of the piles, meaning they are fresher and are less likely to have been stepped on or gotten dirty. Rinse and dry the leaves gently, then go for it! Try sewing or tying the leaves together with thread at their stalks. The results will be stunning.

2) Autumn is for Vegetables

After having binged on the extra candy and while still picking up the spider webs, streamers, and ghoulish decorations that made our houses so scarily festive just a week ago, we all know that Halloween has come and gone. While the pumpkin, a Halloween decorative classic, is clearly in season, there are many other autumnal vegetables can really be special this time of year. Jerusalem artichokes, glorious varieties of mushrooms, red cabbage, cauliflower, and members of the kale family are particularly delicious right now. Check out your local farmer’s market or websites such as the World Community Cookbooks, which has a comprehensive “simply in season” section including recipes of the week.

3) Fall is for Fruit

November is also a great time to enjoy certain fruits. Beautifully fresh pomegranates, apples, and figs have begun making their appearances, and though they are available all year round, autumn is also the best season for grapes. Whether as a snack or incorporated into a recipe, these fruits are a delicious way to enjoy the end of fall.

4) A Party this Season

What could be more fun then an autumnal celebration? Whether it is celebrating a birthday, a relationship milestone, or just because, having a party in fall is a great way to pay homage to this wonderful season. For decorating, there are many gorgeous flowers that are most abundant at this time of year, such as dahlias, hydrangeas, and chrysanthemums. Even the fruits or vegetables mentioned previously could be worked into a beautiful decorative piece.

5) Seasonal Ice Cream

While the weather might be turning colder, that doesn’t mean that ice cream is off the menu as flavors such as pumpkin spice, apple cider, and ginger fig start popping up at homemade ice cream shops everywhere. Even the flavors with less of a natural approach, such as candy corn and salted caramel can still be a special seasonal treat. Additionally, most of the more adventurous ice cream shops are locally owned and operated, ensuring that your scoop wasn’t shipped all the way across the country. A quick online search of “ice cream shops” and your location will likely yield a multitude of options. When I searched for “ice cream shops Pittsburgh” I came across a very helpful site that listed and gave background on many of the local ice cream options.

6) Take a Picture

November is a great time to take out the camera, as the colors and the clarity that comes with the cold make for ideal conditions. Taking walks with your camera before it is too cold will yield an opportunity for some strikingly beautiful nature photographs. One idea is to find a tree that still has some leaves, preferably one near your home or that you would pass by frequently. Once you have a tree in mind, pick an angle that you find particularly beautiful. Then, take a picture everyday from the same angle to watch the development and change taking place with this tree. Once all the leaves have dropped, there likely will not be not too much change in the winter months. Once spring returns, however, you can pick up this project and document the re-growth. If art is really a part of your life, you could even choose your favorite fall shots and use them as inspiration to paint during the dead of winter when this wonderful transitional period is over.

So, great joy can be found in even the simplest elements of nature and I hope that these tips can help you enjoy what’s left of fall.

Image Credits: Wikimedia, Mother Earth News, Healthy Eating Made Easy, Wedding Flowers Guide, Diana’s Desserts, IFOH Designs

Back in the ’60s and ’70s, when vegetarianism was first catching on in the United States, the term was used more loosely than it is today. Any modern vegetarian, used to being offered fish or chicken by well-meaning hosts, will tell you that this word usage just isn’t practical.

Today, vegetarians generally agree that they won’t eat any food with a face. Still, with more and more households interested in the vegetarian movement but not willing to forgo meat entirely, there’s a growing need for something new. Thus, flexitarianism.

Flexitarian is a loosely defined term, by its nature. In general, flexitarians eat some animal proteins, perhaps just fish and poultry. Most also limit consumption, for example by preparing small portions, focusing on vegetable-based meals at home, or limiting meats to one or two days per week (or less). While not strictly flexitarian, this concept can also be applied to mixed-diet households, where preparing completely separate menus for different people can be a real challenge.

Luckily, this is a common enough situation these days that there are lots of great resources for flexitarians. Almost Meatless is an intriguing new cookbook of vegetable-based meals incorporating a small amount of meat. The Flexitarian Diet includes lots of useful health and menu information (as well as plenty of simple and tasty recipes) for people making this transition. Many Moosewood cookbooks, including Moosewood Restaurant New Classics, even feature a section on seafood in addition to lots of vegetarian favorites.

Since going vegetarian can reduce the average American diet’s carbon footprint by half or more, this is a new trend that we can all benefit from, regardless of eating style.

The Co-op

While there are many cooperative grocery stores in San Francisco and all over the country, Rainbow has a long and distinguished history. Since 1975, Rainbow has been offering high quality and ecological products at affordable prices. They have also taken their position as one of the oldest and biggest health-food stores in the area seriously by offering a great deal of benefits and power to their members. Like most cooperative grocery stores, the operators are also the owners. Unlike some co-ops, however, full members of Rainbow are paid workers. While many hours of volunteer services are a necessary part of becoming a member, it is a serious job for those workers who in turn have an important role to play as part of the governing Rainbow body. An example of ideals established by the co-op members is their core mission statement. which includes livable wages and health insurance for workers, supporting fair labor, selling goods that are local, organic, or both, encouraging environmentally-friendly transportation, recycling and composting where possible, and creating an accepting, enriching, and diverse environment for both workers and customers.

The Products

Rainbow Grocery offers a comprehensive collection of food and living items. Many of their products are offered in bulk and Rainbow customers are encouraged, by small discounts, to bring their own reusable containers. These practices are extremely helpful in reducing the amount of plastic and excess packaging that has become a part of the everyday grocery experience. An honor system is in place as customers individually record the product’s item number, which corresponds to the price. While offering a wide selection cheese and other dairy products, one of the unique points of Rainbow Grocery is the fact that they do not sell meat. While limited in that respect, in most other ways Rainbow has more choices than you could imagine. From the multiplicity of seaweed and mushroom offerings to over 30 different types of flour include many completely unknown to me, Rainbow definitely has a lot to offer. They even have pink salt as mentioned in our October 20th blog, as well as red, black, and white quinoa! Beyond food, Rainbow offers a luxurious selection of natural bath and beauty products, beer and wine, vitamins, clothing, housewares, and even books. For more on Rainbow Grocery, check out their website. This site offers details on upcoming special, sales, and many other resources. Information about a co-op near you could be found here, with links to several cooperative databases. There is certainly a pot of gold to be found under this rainbow.

Image Credit: Rainbow Cooperative Grocery

1) Completely natural product. Despite millions of wild hemp plants currently calling the United States their home, marijuana laws prevent farmers from making a living off of the same plant – even though the low THC content isn’t enough to classify it as an illegal drug.

2) Pesticide and herbicide-free. When compared to cotton, no need to worry about harmful pesticides and herbicides tainting the healthiness of your hemp products. 50% of the herbicides and pesticides used in the world are connected to cotton production. Each year, just 1 acre of hemp will generate as much fiber as 2 to 3 acres of cotton. Interestingly, hemp fibers are stronger and softer than cotton. They last twice as long and do not mildew.

3) Body care. From lip balm to healing salve, the lack of chemicals used during growth and production if hemp certainly comes in handy when making body care products. Many of the products contain hemp seed oil, which offers a high amount of essential fatty acids (EFA) and delivers a healthy dose of nutrients to your skin and hair. For example, use hemp seed oil salve to treat rashes, poison ivy and oak, wounds, burns, and dry skin.

4) Save a tree. No offense to trees, but the quality of hemp paper surpasses tree-based paper. It will last hundreds of years without degrading and continues a recyclable life far longer than tree-based paper. During the manufacturing process, less toxic chemicals are used. Hemp also produces stronger and lighter fiberboard. Replace our current fiberboard with a hemp alternative and we can save our forests.

5) Nutritious foods. Soybean protein is good, but the more nutritious and economical hemp seeds contain a protein that easily transforms into veggie burgers, cheese, pasta, butter, salad dressings, ice cream, and even milk. Ground the hemp seed (which does not produce intoxicating effects) to create baked goods, including cookies, breads, and other products like Hempzels Hemp Sourdough Pretzels – a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch hard variety consisting of shelled hemp seed and unbleached winter wheat flour.

6) Clean-burning fuel. Following in the footsteps of corn, hemp easily converts into clean-burning ethanol fuel and has the potential to become a major player in the world of transportation. With the ability to grow in an extensive number of locations and climates, hemp plants could become the future of ethanol fuel.

7) You trust your Presidents, right? Praise for the hemp plant came from none other than our earliest presidents, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, who grew and used hemp products. Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper and Benjamin Franklin owned a mill that produced hemp paper.

Hemp housing. Mix the THC-free woody inner core of the Cannabis plant and you have an eco-friendly material for housing construction. The plant absorbs silica from surrounding soil and when combined with unslaked lime – a chemical bond takes place. The result is comparable to cement that is not only waterproof, but also resistant to fire.

9) Worldwide connections. In the past, the Soviet Union held the honors of largest hemp producer between the 1950s and 1980s. Other significant hemp producing countries include China, Hungary, the former Yugoslavia, Romania, Poland, France, and Italy. During the 1990s, Canada, United Kingdom, and Germany advanced their commercial production interests. In Britain, hemp serves as bedding for horses. Germany transforms the fiber into composite automotive panels. Food products, cosmetics, and textile grade fibers top the list for the most popular uses for hemp fibers.

10) Versatility. The number of products associated with the hemp plant is more than 25,000… and counting. Just some of the selections that take advantage of the wide-ranging properties of hemp, include:

• Hemp dog collars and leashes
• Hemp chew toys for pets
• Hemp rope for jewelry making
• Hemp guitar straps
• Hemp wallets

Sources: Hemp Basics; North American Industrial Hemp Council
Image Credits: The Body Shop