My Favorite Non-Milk Alternative

As hard as I try to hate meat, I just can't. All my tree hugging seems like it should translate into vegetarianism or veganism, but I simply can't take the steps necessary. I don't eat a lot of meat anyway, and it's convenient not to have to watch myself when I go over friends houses or to restaurants. I believe that the problem with meat is not on the principle of eating it, but in the cruel way industrially farmed animals are treated (but this is a discussion for another time).

Cutting to the chase.

While I believe in the concept, because I can't force the anti-meat and anti-dairy life completely upon myself, I try to make small choices that encourage me towards a healthier and more eco-friendly diet and lifestyle. (For the record, this means choosing to eat fewer animal products, whether that means directly [meat] or indirectly [milk, eggs, cheese].) I have never liked cow milk, so a few months ago I decided that that was one of the things I'd eradicate completely from my shopping list, both for flavor reasons and in the interest of boycotting cow cruelty in my own small way.

Ever since then, I've tried a few varieties of non-cow milk, including soy, rice and almond. Even hemp (BLECH), as I've mentioned. But almond is - by FAR - my favorite.



Almond Breeze, a brand put forward by Blue Diamond Growers, is the only almond milk I know of. It's also delicious. And - wait for it - half the calories of milk. The original version is only 60 calories per serving. It also comes in Vanilla and Chocolate. Unfortunately, it tends to be a bit more expensive than soy milk (which you can actually find for rather cheap, depending upon where you go), usually around $5, so I buy only every so often.

EDIT: I have since discovered you can buy this brand at BJs for $3 a half gallon. Now that's what I'm talking about!

For once, a non-Whole Foods spiritual awakening!

Now, I must give a shout-out to a recently discovered green jewel of a store in Flushing, Queens. I just got back from Israel and moved into my apartment with little to no food. For about a day I fretted and ate cereal. Then I realized I needed to venture out into the world and buy groceries. (If I had had my way, I'd starve for a few days until I could go into a Whole Foods in Manhattan.) But I'd been hearing about the Queens Health Emporium for months and had meant to go there all last semester of college, and I figured hey, perfect timing! Let me tell you, it was a religious experience.

http://www.queenshealthemporium.com/retailer/store_templates/shell_id_1.asp?storeID=3A20595CF4BE438B8B88046DC554AF46



From this moment onward, I am calling this store my convenient Whole Foods of Queens. It has been open since 1984 and though obviously not as spacious or atmospheric as a Whole Foods, the QHE has a gigantic variety of organic, all-natural foods including vegetarian and vegan alternatives to things like meat and dairy. They are a bit more expensive than a conventional grocery store, as you can expect more earth-friendly products to be; however, you can find some good deals. I got two large bags of organic Gala apples and Valencia oranges for less than $3 each.

The rows are a little bit squished though, I will admit, because though the store is a decent size, it holds a lot. There is even a natural skincare section in there, and a whole counter of natural cosmetics. The first floor has produce, chocolate and energy bars, skincare and cosmetics, cereal, pasta, dairy, frozen food, etc. It also has an alcove where you can bag your own granola (there are tons of varieties and I must say, my Wild Blueberry with Flax is delicious), lentils, beans and nuts. The second floor has cookbooks and healthier versions of typical snacks like popcorn, chips, crackers and cookies. And not all of it is stuff you haven't seen before - QHE just picks healthy foods and stocks them. You will see Luna Bars, pita chips, Pirate's Booty, and TLC crackers. But you'll also see a whole array of crazy things like organically harvested honey, peanut butter, cereal and pasta sauce, as well as all kinds of milk, including cow, goat, soy, rice, and even HEMP (but don't try it - I have and it's gross).

I swear, I almost hyperventilated at the variety. Also, the staff behind the counter is very nice and helpful and had no problem packing my $130 worth of groceries into two large reusable bags and a backpack.

My three favorite purchases so far:
1) Dorset Cereals Super Cranberry, Cherry and Almond ($4 or so for a box)
This cereal is truly orgasmic. It's called a muesli, which means a mixture of grains, fruits, nuts and seeds altogether. In addition to dried cranberries, cherries and almonds, it has raisins and sunflower seeds. Trust me, it tastes like health, and health tastes gooooooood (it even makes high fiber taste good!). It is simply a flavor explosion in the mouth - the textured mixture of dry, crunchy and sweet really works - and I highly recommend a large bowl with some vanilla soymilk.



2) I.M. Healthy Original Creamy SoyNut Butter ($5 or so for a jar)
Though its packaging isn't all that elaborate (hellooo primary colors), this is a great peanut butter alternative. I actually love peanut butter but I realize it's not doing me any favors, especially conventional brands. SoyNut butter is unmistakably not peanut butter-y in taste, and yet there's something very charming and delicious about it. Definitely worth a shot!



3) Galaxy Nutritional Foods Rice Shreds Cheddar Cheese ($3.19 for a bag)
I bought the cheddar, though I couldn't find a picture of it (the one below is mozzarella). This non-dairy, vegan cheese made out of rice is certainly different. It's a lot lighter and crumblier than milk versions, while still tasting very good. I added it to some brown rice tonight to make it cheesy, and loved it. Recommended for lactose intolerant people, vegans and those wishing to have a lighter eco-footprint.



The store is popular among Queens residents - I was there close to closing time (8pm) and it was still buzzing. For the interested, Queens Health Emporium is located at 15901 Horace Harding Expressway, Flushing, NY 11365.

A bit of reuse genius!

Everyone's heard that old adage about reduce, reuse, recycle. I happened upon a website that gives new meaning to the notion of reuse! The site is called "Reknit," and is run by Haik Avanian. Avanian's mother, apparently an avid knitter, will accept 30 orders per month to repurpose peoples' old sweaters into a new garment! Examples of new clothing items the orderer can receive include socks, gloves, scarves and hats. You do have to pay $30, but the website's gallery shows pictures of after-products and they are certainly well-made. I think it's a really cute idea. Now you can even sign up to "be a mom" and knit for the site.

If you're interested, check it out: http://www.rekn.it/

HOW IT WORKS (according to the site):


1.) you send an old sweater to my mom
2.) she unravels & reknits it into something new.
3.) a brand new, hand-made, one of a kind item is sent back to you.

Here's an example from January:

A hopeful introduction into home gardening...

Unfortunately for me, I know very little about gardening. But: I am determined to learn, and plan to plant my own extensive, brightly colored garden when I own a home a few light years from now. I've learned and preached so much about organic and locally-grown foods and have begun to buy them for my own eating pleasures, but this coming year I want to kick it up a notch.



This is a Windowsill Strawberry Garden from Clean Air Gardening (cleanairgardening.com). The website says: "Each kit includes a 13" galvanized windowsill tray, seed packets, potting soil and growing instructions. Just water the seedlings and leave them with plenty of indirect sunshine." Seems easy enough! I've also seen windowsill tomato gardens, along with strawberry, very commonly sold. Both on this website and in pharmacies like CVS the kits sell for about $10.

Just think about how amazing it would be that with so little effort, you could grow your own strawberries and tomatoes right on your windowsill, fresh and in abundance. Windowsill gardening is a one-time investment, too, and the fruits, veggies and herbs will just keep on coming. This is a vision I have for my own future, growing all the produce I love to eat right in my own home. That way you save money and have the advantage of knowing exactly where your food came from, and have a freshness guarantee!

And the notion of efficient gardening has been in the news lately.
Check out these roof gardens, or "green roofs":




EVEN MICHELLE OBAMA IS DOING IT! Go White House organic gardening!


I've been doing a lot of research on organic gardening (thanks, Planet Green!) and have a few resources you can use should you also have the itch like me:

1) 66 Things You Can Can Grow At Home: In Containers, Without a Garden
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/sixtysixthings-growhome-containers-withoutgarden.html
Did you know you can grow a whole variety of things right in your own home, including fruits like apples, cherries, bananas and even pineapple!; veggies like squash, carrots, cucumbers and a variety of leafy greens; herbs like paaaarsely, saaaaage, rosemaaaary and thyyyyyyme (shoutout to Simon & Garfunks there); and other healthy stuff like aloe vera and herbal tea? If you don't believe me, just click the link.

2) Your Complete Guide to Summer Vegetable Gardening
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/your-complete-guide-to-summer-vegetable-gardening.html

3) Top 35 Ways to Succeed at Organic Gardening
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/ways-succeed-organic-gardening.html
Includes tips about watering, pest control, lawncare, weeds and composting.

The most amazing thing since sliced bread!

There's a new trash can cruising the streets of Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and good old Philly, and it's mean, green, and solar-powered...



It's called the BigBelly Solar Trash Can, and I'm simply amazed at the concept. The trash can is effective in big cities because it automatically compacts what’s inside to save space and limit the number of times it needs to be emptied. It is able to reduce the size of the trash inside by 80 percent, and when the trash is compacted, each can is capable of holding 150 gallons of waste. Not only that, but it's solar-powered and sends a text message to city hall when it’s full and ready for collection. This means fewer scheduled collection times, which reduces fuel use and air pollution from garbage trucks.

In August of last year, Philadelphia replaced 700 downtown trash cans with 500 BigBelly cans and 210 companion recycling units (attachments that allow for the collection of recyclables like paper and plastic bottles). With the new system, weekly collection trips have dropped from 17 to five, translating into a savings of 70 percent – or $13 million over the next 10 years.

How does the BigBelly do it, ask you? Well, the power to compress waste comes from a 12-volt battery that is charged daily using a solar panel. The cans contain wireless devices that allow them to communicate with waste collectors.

Multi-faceted, effective, efficient...what's not to love? Already college campuses like Arizona State University and Georgetown University use the BigBelly...I'm thinking a major overhaul of Queens College in the future!

Source:
http://earth911.com/news/2010/05/25/solar-powered-trash-cans-save-cities-millions/

BP's newest attempt at capping the oil leak

Here's a great article about BP's newest strategy, which included cutting a ruptured pipe from the Blowout Preventer and subsequently placing a "Lower Marine Riser Package" (LMRP) cap on top of the site of the spill in order to 1) contain the leak and 2) capture some of the oil and gas by allowing them to flow up through a pipe attached to the cap, finding their way to a ship above.

Article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10233891.stm

"In the first phase of the latest effort to contain the spill, robots cut a leaking pipe.

BP then used giant shears manipulated by undersea robots to snip off the end of the pipe, after a diamond-edged saw failed to do the job.

A funnel-like cap has been placed on top, which if successful, would improve oil recovery and BP would hope to collect the oil on a surface ship above the well.

The US Coast Guard said the placement of the cap was a positive development, but that it would be 'some time before we can confirm that this method will work and to what extent it will mitigate the release of oil into the environment.'"



The process of cutting the damaged pipe:



and it being removed...



and oil being siphoned from the leak site.



The "LMRP" is said to be a temporary solution, the results of which should be known later today. BP has said it does not expect to be able to fully halt the oil flow until August, when two relief wells will be completed.

5th Climate Action Report Now Available

Felt an obligation to share, though it's obviously super-long.

Fifth Climate Action Report to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change:
http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/rpts/car5/index.htm

Serious BPA Scare!

A recent study done by the Environmental Working Group exposes the prevalence of industrial chemical and hormone disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA) in shockingly low serving sizes of common foods packaged in aluminum cans.

Find the study here:
http://www.ewg.org/reports/bisphenola

Mostly you hear about BPA found in plastic, and mostly plastic resin #7. #7 is the "other" category of plastic, and BPA is added to food packaging products such as reusable water bottles (including baby bottles - but the mommies of the world are taking action and will no longer tolerate this) to make the plastic more shatter-proof and durable. And that would be all fine and dandy if the plastic didn't leach the hormone disruptor, thereby making it easy for us to ingest it.

A number of laboratory studies have linked BPA to male reproductive problems, birth defects, low birth weights, cancer, early puberty and other health problems in rats, triggering some states and cities to take legislative action.

SIGG had a controversy in 2008-9 in which they revealed that their older aluminum reusable water bottles contained the chemical BPA, and the public, who trusted the company, was outraged:
http://earth911.com/news/2009/08/28/sigg-announces-its-older-bottles-contain-bpa/

This just reminds us of our consumer responsibility to educate ourselves and keep afoot of what companies think they can get away with...we should not tolerate their absolute disregard of human health in favor of profit.

Good thing the FDA is reconsidering the problem...
http://www.plasticsnews.com/headlines2.html?id=16480

In this situation, I go with the "Safety Belt Supposition": better to be safe than sorry.

A word about your power as a mindful consumer...

If you haven't already caught on, this is a concept I'll reference a lot, and something in which I'm a strong believer.

As a consumer, you vote. Every day. Constantly. All the time. What do I mean by that? When you decide to buy something - ANYTHING - when you put your hard-earned GREEN towards paying for it, that sends a message. For one thing, it sends a message to the store at which you're shopping to keep the item you're buying in stock, because people will buy it. Another thing, it sends a message to the company that manufactures that product to keep manufacturing it, because people are buying it...

This is also why boycotts work. When you don't put money towards a product of which you disapprove, the company gets less money as a result, and if the movement is strong enough, will stop selling the product.

For example. I am not a vegetarian or a vegan (this is an intense concept about which I'll write at a later date) but I'm taking steps towards eating as greenly as possible. For me, this includes not drinking cow milk anymore. I've never liked the taste, and now that I pay for my own food, I buy almond or soy milk. Effectively, I am boycotting cow milk. I buy milk about once every week and a half. It costs anywhere from $1.50-5 every time I buy milk (almond milk can be damn expensive and yet delicious), and that adds up. Subsequently, cow milk gets that much less money from me, a consumer that rejects that product. This is also why vegetarianism/veganism works, because those people are effectively boycotting meat/all animal products, and those industries get that much less money from them. Doesn't stop them, obviously, but it makes a difference.

WE tell companies what WE want.

As a consumer, you vote on what you want to see in the stores. All stores. Supermarkets, drugstores, clothing/shoe stores, jewelry stores, toy stores, must I go on forever? You think you can buy it, and you sure as hell can vote on it. Therefore you (at least, I believe) have an obligation to be skeptical, to be informed, to be scrutinizing, and above all, to be MINDFUL. You'll spend a lot of money in your lifetime. Make sure that money is funding environmentally and socially conscious things - if that's what you care about, which I believe you should, and which I hope you do if you're reading this blog.

That's right. Wield your power like a sword and shield. Or a pen, which is more powerful than either.

Tom Sawyer, Tom Hanks, Peeping Tom...

That Cruise guy? Not cool enough to make it into the title...

There are two new Toms that you should add to your memory bank.

The first is Tom's of Maine, a natural personal product company that I absolutely ADORE. Tom's
1) does not utilize animal testing.
2) uses no artificial colors, flavors, fragrance or preservatives in its products.
3) uses recycled content in its packaging, and aims to allow for recycling of its used products.
4) requires its employees to devote 5% (12 days) of their time to volunteering.
5) donates 10% of its profits to "human and environmental goodness."
6) uses sustainable practices and discloses every ingredient, purpose and source willingly on both the Tom's website and product packaging. Do they have to? Under current laws, not at all.



In fact, last night at Wal-mart (yeah, not mah fave place but it's cheap) I bought Tom's Natural Aluminum-free Apricot deodorant ($4.24) and Antiplaque/Tartar Control Plus Whitening Peppermint toothpaste ($4.18). Those are the Wal-mart prices though, and they're about two dollars more expensive each elsewhere - though, in my opinion, worth it. With what I've learned, I'm willing to pay the money. Tom's doesn't use any of the same gunky chemicals as conventional personal care products. (To learn more about this, I suggest you visit the Skin Deep website, which will teach you all about the scary realities of our totally outdated cosmetic and skincare chemical-testing system in America [the Toxic Substances Control Act]...aka it hasn't been amended since 1979, and doesn't require companies to test their own products for safety nor does it regulate the health claims on the packaging. But I'm rambling.)

Buy Tom's of Maine: http://www.tomsofmaine.com/home


The second is [just] TOMS, an online shoe store with a radically new philosophy: ONE FOR ONE. What does that mean?

"With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need."

What a beautiful concept.



Why shoes? (just a few reasons taken from the website)
"Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:
- A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.
- Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.
- Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential."

Now admittedly, I have not bought from them yet. Why? Because I'm in college...and if I want something, I pay for it myself. Alas, TOMS shoes usually fall within the $50-80 range. But they are super cute and the next time I have some extra cash for a socially conscious shoe, you can bet where my money is going. (Note: "Environment" here is all-encompassing...it's not just trees. It's the air you breathe, the food you eat, the environment in which you live; an endless series of factors that contributes to one's living conditions, and social consciousness is included. We are the Earth's community, you see.) There is a lot of variety in shoe, style, pattern, color, etc. They just added women's wedges to their repertoire. Sometimes they contract artists to design shoes; they have vegan shoes as well. You can also get an e-newsletter to keep you updated.

The pair I want?

Tyler Ramsey Hand Painted, $68

Other faves are Maklai Women's Vegan Classics ($54) and Earle Organic Cotton Women's Vegan (also $54).

Remember, human kindness is eco-friendly!

Buy TOMS: http://www.toms.com/

Green Suggestion Número Dos: GREEN CHOCOLATE!

Alright. Now that's one thing I can't live without. I'm a chocolate fiend...and my roommates know I always have a stash in my drawer...especially since I fell in love with Whole Foods.

I'll provide some suggestions and my own personal reviews (in order of my preference) for your eating pleasure...

1) Endangered Species
Approximate Price: $2.79 all-natural; $3.99 organic (online)
Why It's Awesome: Both all-natural and Organic chocolate available. All bars are Fair Trade certified, shade-grown and single-origin milk. 10% of net profits donated to help support species, habitat and humanity. (Uh, can you say what's not to love?)
Review: By far the best chocolate I've tried. Any and every flavor (of which there are many exotic ones) are rich and delicious. I bought some when there was a 3 for $6 deal at Whole Foods. Each bar features a different endangered species (predictable!), but the pictures are beautiful, awe-inspiring, and adorable! On the inside of each wrapper there is a blurb about the featured endangered animal and what you can do to help. I feel like I'm giving to a good cause I can trust. My favorite is the Organic Dark Chocolate with Goldenberry and Lucuma (it has a picture of a toucan!).
Website: http://www.chocolatebar.com/ (original, teehee)



2) Divine
Approximate Price: $3.59 (online)
Why It's Awesome: It's all Fair Trade certified.
Review: There isn't as much variety, about 8 color-coded flavors altogether (embellishments on dark, milk and white) but the packaging is b-e-a-utiful and the chocolate is quite seriously divine. No lies or tall tales here, no sir. It's sweet and rich and makes the tummy happy.
Website: http://www.divinechocolate.com/siteselect.aspx



3) Green & Black's Organic
Approximate Price: $3.49 at CVS - you could probably find it cheaper elsewhere.
Why It's Awesome: It's all Organic (it's in the name!). And it's about to become Fair Trade certified!
Review: The chocolate is very rich, but this is a plus. They ain't the (self-claimed) world leader in organic chocolate for nothing. And for dark chocolate lovers, they have 70% and 85%. One downfall is that Cadbury recently bought the company, meaning that the money you use to buy the chocolate goes to an already established and not-so-ecofriendly chocolate giant.
Website: http://www.greenandblacks.com/



4) Theo
Approximate Price: $3.99 (online)
Why It's Awesome: It's all Organic and Fair Trade certified.
Review: All of this chocolate is really. freaking. pretty. The logo, written in fancy and colorful script, draws your aesthetic eye in for the kill. They also have a large online gift store with elaborate chocolate collaborations.
Website: http://www.theochocolate.com/



5) Dagoba
Approximate Price: $3.45 (online)
Why It's Awesome: It's all Organic.
Review: The chocolate is very interesting-looking and aesthetically pleasing, in long connected strips like Kit-Kat bars. They have a laaaaaarge array of interesting flavor combinations. I've had the Lavender Blueberry 59% Cacao bar (granted, I should try more) and it seemed to be trying a bit too hard; the flavors sort of clashed. It was still pretty good, though. Don't take my word for gospel though, there are a ton of different bars and the brand tends to be pretty popular. One downfall is that Hershey recently bought the company, meaning - again - that the money you use to buy the chocolate goes to an already established and not-so-ecofriendly chocolate giant.
Website: http://www.dagobachocolate.com/



6) 365 Everyday Value (Whole Foods Brand)
Approximate Price: $2
Why It's Awesome: It's all Organic and Fair Trade certified.
Review: There is a good variety of flavors. And they are good for a super-small chocolate budget. All the bars are made in Switzerland, however, which is slightly contradictory because of the energy it takes to ship them to the U.S. (They outright advertise the Swiss origin.) I've tried the Dark Chocolate with Coconut Flakes and Dark Chocolate with Almonds. The coconut one was better. Neither tickled my fancy too much. Overall, they were aiight.
Website: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/365-everyday-value.php?CID=&P=10

Wanna Win a Trip for Two to Austin, Texas?

I thought so!

Whole Foods (aka the best store ever) is giving away 30 free 2-people trips to its birth-town (Austin) in honor of its 30th anniversary of beautiful, enviro-friendly existence! If you love Whole Foods as much as I do, I'd suggest entering.

Info here:
http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2010/06/share-the-love-to-win-a-trip/?utm_source=Responsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=06_02_10_Specials



"Our 30th birthday is coming up and we’re giving away 30 trips-for-two to help us celebrate in our birthplace: Austin, Texas! To thank you for your long-term support and tremendous loyalty, we are inviting our shoppers to enter our “A Heart as Big as Texas” contest.

Thirty winners will receive trips for two in September to our world headquarters in Austin. The winners will be treated to a VIP culinary weekend event provided by Whole Foods Market and our anniversary partners, Texas Tourism, JetBlue Airways and the Radisson Austin. To enter, visit our 30th Birthday contest page and share your special stories, inspirations and memories on why you love Whole Foods Market. Submissions must be received by June 30. Entries will be judged on their originality, creativity and passion for Whole Foods Market."





MMM...

Earth-related Yoga Poses!

My best friend Steph and I love yoga. Yoga is amazing for stress relief and relaxation, and what better way to lead the path to peace on Earth than through yoga?! We need peace and open hearts within ourselves first.

Steph and I are determined to eventually do yoga in a number of places:
1) beach (CHECK!)
2) mountain (not nearly as easy to achieve, but what gives off a better sense of serenity and tranquility?)
3) Esther's house in Holland. (Esther Ekhart is our favorite online yoga instructor. You can check out her amazing videos on Youtube! Find her at http://www.youtube.com/user/yogatic?blend=1&ob=4. The channel name is Yogatic.)
4) Still pending...

In any case. Here are a number of nature-inspired poses you can do, if you so choose.

1) MOUNTAIN POSE/TADASANA
focus: strong, calm, rooted mind and body



(that girl looks oh so enthusiastic...)

PICTURE: http://www.ehealthyland.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/mountain-pose1.jpg
In-depth explanation here: http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/492

2) TREE POSE/VRKSASANA (2 variations)
focus: balance





***OH MY GOD THAT'S ESTHER! WE LOVE YOU ESTHER!***

VARIATION 1 PICTURE: http://www.chopra.com/files/images/tree_pose_XSmall.jpg
VARIATION 2 PICTURE: http://www.yogatic.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/tree-pose.jpg

In-depth explanation here: http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/496
plus, a word of advice: Never, evereverever place the bottom of your foot on your knee in this pose...putting pressure on the knee can injure it and that would be contradictory to the purpose of yoga!

3) SWAYING PALM TREE POSE/TRIYAKA TADASANA
focus: flexible spine



PICTURE: http://www.freetolove.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/swaying-palm-pose.jpg
In-depth explanation here: http://www.divinewellness.com/Video/164/triyaka-tadasana-%28swaying-palm-tree-pose%29.htm

4) SKY TO EARTH POSE
focus: flexibility, balance



PICTURE: http://www.freetolove.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/sky-to-earth-pose.jpg
In-depth explanation here (as well as a few others): http://www.freetolove.com/blog/?p=321

5) CORPSE POSE/SAVASANA
focus: calm mind, ultimate relaxation
A reminder that we shall all return to the Earth someday! Not to end with a Debbie Downer, of course, but this pose is an essential to end all yoga practice. I tend to fall asleep I'm so relaxed, but technically that's opposite the point...


(a cartoon image so as not to deeply frighten anyone...)

PICTURE: http://www.yoga-made-ez.com/corpse-pose.jpg
In-depth explanation here: http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/482


Have fun, and be safe!

Green Suggestion Número Uno: BADGER BALM!

A shout-out to my favorite green body care company. You can find it at WHOLE FOODS and other assorted health stores, as well as order it online.

BADGER BALM!

http://www.badgerbalm.com/default.aspx



Most of their products are both organic and fair trade (thus, why I love them). The prices are slightly more than you're used to paying but nowhere near ridiculous. In fact, I feel better having dished up a little extra cash. They smell great, and feel and work amazing. Plus, they are supahh-cute.

I can personally attest to:

AND



And here's their safety ranking on Skin Deep:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/company/W.S._Badger_Company/

The BP oil spill

This has been ALL over the news lately, and it's super-easy to get confused with the daily-changing circumstances. Here I'll post some basic knowledge about what happened to jump-start your ability to follow it in the news:

WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, HOW MUCH:
- On April 20th, 2010 the Deepwater Horizon (offshore oil drilling platform) exploded off the Gulf of Mexico coastline, killing 11 workers
- As of right now, no one knows why the rig exploded (how's that for responsibility?)
- Deepwater Horizon was leased by oil giant BP (British-owned "British Petroleum") for offshore drilling purposes, but it is actually owned by Transocean Ltd. (a large Swiss offshore-drilling contractor)
- The gusher originates from a Deepwater oil well 5,000 feet (1,500 m) below the ocean surface
- Current estimates of the amount of oil being discharged daily range from 12,000–19,000 barrels (500,000–800,000 US gallons)
- The exact spill flow rate is uncertain, in part because BP has refused to allow independent scientists to perform accurate measurements
- The resulting oil slick covers a surface area of at least 2,500 square miles
- Scientists have also discovered immense underwater plumes of oil not visible from the surface
- THE DEEPWATER HORIZON SPILL HAS SURPASSED IN VOLUME THE 1989 EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL AS THE LARGEST EVER IN U.S. TERRITORIAL WATERS (remember all those pictures you've seen of oil-coated birds and the subsequent rescue missions?)
- However, it is still outranked in the greater Gulf of Mexico by the 1979 IXTOC I oil spill

CONSEQUENCES:
- Experts fear that due to factors such as petroleum toxicity and oxygen depletion, the spill will result in an environmental disaster, damaging the Gulf of Mexico fishing industry, the Gulf coast tourism industry, and the habitat of hundreds of bird species
- The oil spill endangers fragile coastal wetlands that are the habitats for many birds and marine creatures, not to mention the marine creatures themselves! Not only can fish and smaller creatures ingest or inhale oil and die, they may become coated in it and therefore contaminate larger organisms, birds like pelicans and herons

CLEANUP EFFORT:
- The rig's blowout preventer, a fail-safe device fitted at source of the well, did not automatically cut off the oil flow as intended when the explosion occurred
- Crews are working to block off bays and estuaries, using anchored barriers, floating containment booms, and sand-filled barricades along shorelines (sort of kind of successful)
- Controlled burnings to harden/solidify oil and make it easier to collect
- Dispersants to break up oil and allow it to absorb more easily (contributed to below-surface oil plumes and may have made the situation worse)
- Container dome (failed)
- "Top Hat" (failed)
- Insertion tube to collect oil (moderately successful)
- "Top Kill," the process of shooting heavy drilling mud into the blowout preventer to staunch the flow of oil, then to be covered with cement (failed)
- "Lower Marine Riser Package" (LMRP) Cap Containment System **CURRENT TACTIC**
- Two relief wells **LONG-TERM, SHOULD BE FINISHED BY AUGUST** -->the only guarantee to stop the flow of oil

GOOD NEWS:
- BP's reputation and market valuation have seriously plummeted since the spill (good!)
- BP has accepted responsibility for the oil spill and the cleanup costs, but indicated they were not at fault because the platform was run by Transocean personnel

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) technically has the power to take away BP's ability to license any more drilling projects (to encourage them to do so, sign this petition: http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/epa_bp/?rc=fb_share1)
- Due to current federal law, there is a $75 million cap on how much an oil company must pay in the event of a disaster (shouldn't they have to pay the full cost if it's their oversight? Make sure BP takes responsibility for their mistakes and sign one or both of these petitions: http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3920 OR https://online.nwf.org/site/Advocacy?&cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1255&autologin=true&s_src=socialmedia)
- If your family has planned a trip to New Orleans/the Louisiana coast, GO! There are beaches that remain uncontaminated, and the people need your patronage now more than ever!

Resources for all shades of green!

Wanna give a shout-out to my FAVORITE green resources online. Not only are their sites huge and full of amazing info, they send out e-newsletters with the latest. Check 'em out!

http://www.earth911.com ("Your one-stop shop for all you need to know about reducing your impact, reusing what you’ve got and recycling your trash")

http://www.planetgreen.discovery.com (Both a television network and an online site)

http://www.thedailygreen.com ("The Consumer's Guide to the Green Revolution")

http://www.treehugger.com (The sister site of Planet Green, an environmental blog)

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php (SKIN DEEP, a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products brought to you by researchers at the ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP. They give you the option, upon visiting the site, to donate a small amount of moola to help keep the research up-to-date.)

New Leaf!

So I have a ton of green aspirations and frustrations and I realized, finally, that I need an outlet to share all these thoughts! Anyone that knows me, knows that I am a green FAH-REAK. People that know me may or may not be annoyed by this. Nevertheless, it's who I am, and I am constantly on a quest to know more about Mother Nature and apply that to my daily life!

I think it's sososo important to have an appreciation for Mother Nature. Yes yes, you've heard it before, we only get one earth. But it's true. Not everyone's born with the appreciation, and I can admit that it was gradual even for me...

I was born (huzzah!) and named Chloe' (meaning: blooming/blossoming) Skye --> spent a lot of my childhood outdoors, or vacationing in Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts and Canada --> felt a spiritual connection with the Earth --> integrated recycling into my life --> became a recycling nut --> won the Environmental Science award in high school for taking peoples' plastic bottles out of the garbage and bringing them to the recycling bin (they were at the top, okay?!) (simultaneously the proudest and most embarrassing moment of my life) --> came to college and became an English major --> realized there was a lot to be done on campus --> realized what good is there preaching about the environment if my major has nothing to do with it? --> became an Enviro Studies double major.

So that was my descent into tree-hugging, hippie freakishness. Feel free to share your own stories!

Let's end with a bang.

TOP 5 EASIEST WAYS TO LOVE MOTHER NATURE
1) Take a walk! You're lucky. You were born with legs. Use them. Not only is this a great way to take in the sights around you (and look, there is even an aesthetic to the "everyday"), but it's one of the easiest ways of getting exercise. Uh-duh.
2) Take a bike ride! You must have one buried somewhere in the garage. Bike to work, bike to school, save gas and energy, get a killer bod.
3) Take nature photographs! Don't tell me that in the 21st century you don't have a camera (well, i don't, but i'm saving up for a new one...). Beauty is EVERYWHERE if you just look for it! Capture it, venerate it, gush over it.
4) Keep a garden, or just eat close to the Earth! Gardening, something I'm currently working on, gives you intrinsic, esoteric knowledge of the Earth you would never have otherwise. Plus, keep green and healthy by promoting the least resource-intensive, energy-efficient foods: FRUITS AND VEGGIES!
5) Hug a tree! Yeah yeah, that's right. Some people will be embarrassed, but it can actually be quite the experience. Trees are the ideal huggers: stable, solid, strong. Plus, they smell nice. Climbing the tree is optional. (EDIT: according to Luis Vega, it's not.)