Tag Archives: environmentally aware

January 23, 2013 · 10:11 am

Save the Bees!

Image  To follow up on yesterdays post, here is a petition you can sign to help stop the use of the pesticide that is killing bees.  Credo Action is hosting the petition.  Here is an except from their article with the petition:

A blockbuster study released this week by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), has for the first time labeled the pesticide clothianidin as an “unacceptable” danger to bees.1

Scientists have long thought that clothianidin is at least partially to blame for the alarming rate that bees have been dying off in the U.S. – nearly 30% of our bee population, per year, has been lost to so-called colony collapse since 2006.2

But the EPA has repeatedly ignored scientists’ warnings and Americans’ urgings to ban its use, citing lack of evidence.

Now, the EFSA study could be a major breakthrough to convince the EPA to take emergency action, and suspend the use of clothianidin to stop the precipitous decline in global honeybee populations.

Tell the EPA: Immediately suspend the pesticide that’s killing bees!

Please take a moment to sign this petition!  Link is HERE

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August 24, 2011 · 7:16 pm

Interview with Nell Newman of Newman Organics in Eucalyptus Magazine

Nell Newman of Newman Organics

Google News is one of the ways that I search for the latest organic products information.  Today I found a press release about this terrific interview.  Here is the first paragraph and a link to the original article.  The Newman products and their company philosophy have such a benefit to all of us.  So glad she’s on this path!

Nell Newman, founder of Newman’s Own Organics, grew up tomboy-style in the Connecticut woods, fishing and hiking and exploring the natural world. Soon after graduating from college, where she earned a degree in human ecology, she worked to re-establish the bald eagle in Central California. Now in her late 40s, Newman is an avid Santa Cruz surfer and angler who occasionally reels in her own salmon for dinner. As photogenic as her famous parents, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, and as business-savvy as most Harvard MBAs, Nell Newman has been a major force in the organic food business. She welcomed us into her Aptos office to talk about her career.

Click HERE to read the full interview.

Hope you enjoy it!

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June 23, 2010 · 10:42 am

Hands Across the Sand

No to DrillingStand and be counted as opposed to offshore drilling and in support of clean energy.

This Saturday, June 26, 2010 there will be lines of protest drawn in the sand on beaches and all across america. It’s a quiet, respectful way to show your feelings. Check it out at this website http://www.handsacrossthesand.com/.

In the Myrtle Beach, Grand Strand area, we have six (6) different beaches where you can go to participate.  Arrive around 11:00 am and join hands with your neighbors at Noon for 15 minutes.

Not near a beach, no problem.  There are Solidarity events for you.

You can also send a letter to President Obama and your House Representative.

Bless you, and thanks for your consideration of this event.

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May 11, 2010 · 10:28 am

Organic Milk: A Pint of the Right Stuff

Cows in organic field

Happy Organic Dairy Cows

This morning I read a terrific article in “The Independent” of UK.  It covers the pros and cons of switching to organic milk.  It’s such a terrific article, let me share some quotes.

If just 5 per cent of us switched to buying organic milk, says Humble, it would turn 52,000 acres – an area the size of Greater Birmingham – into organic land. For an extra pound a week we would get healthier milk, happier cows, more wildlife and a prettier countryside. Not a bad deal.

That translates into about an extra $2 per week for 5% of the UKs population to protect 52,000 acres of countryside for chemical pollution.  Just think what that could mean in the US!  It sends shivers up my spine to imagine it.  We vote with our dollars every day.  If we buy it, they will produce it.  Our family recently switched to organic milk and it tastes better!

Buying organic milk, says Kate Humble, is one of the easiest and cheapest ways of supporting farming with nature. “You will know it comes from well-managed farms, and you are doing something actively to protect and conserve the British countryside – and what an effortless way to do it.”

While this article was written in the UK, all of the principles are just as valid here in the US.  It’s a simple thing to do.  Just switch to buying organic products as much as you can and you will be changing the toxic load on our environment and ourselves.  Please think about it.  And comments are welcome.

Here’s a link to the full article:  http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/organic-milk-pint-of-the-right-stuff-1970459.html.

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March 23, 2010 · 3:06 pm

Pesticides to Blame for Bee Colony Collapse Disorder

Colony collapse disorder: Scientists blame pesticides for honeybee decline

New research finds systemic pesticides in 60 percent of tested honeybees and their hives in U.S., Canada

 By Leah Zerbe

(This story is reposted by permission of Rodale.com, where it orginally appeared.)

What you can do
Vote with your dollar: Support organic agriculture that keeps harmful chemicals out of the environment—and our bodies (and the bees’).

 
Agricultural chemicals are wiping out bees that  pollinate our crops and flowers.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Bee fan or not, we all rely on the insects to pollinate the fruit, nut, and vegetable crops we enjoy every day. But in the last few years, the populations of our pollinators, particularly honeybees, have been plummeting. Dubbed colony collapse disorder, the cause of the devastation isn’t known. There are many theories, from mites and viruses to cellphone towers. One potential cause—pesticides—gained more credibility this week with the release of a new study by Pennsylvania State University. Researchers found “unprecedented levels” of pesticides in honeybees and hives in the United States.

THE DETAILS: Scientists tested wax, trapped pollen, and honeybee specimens for chemical pesticides and chemicals originating from those pesticides. Investigating pesticide residue in samples taken from beekeepers from 23 states and one Canadian province during the 2007 to 2008 growing season, researchers found 121 different pesticides and metabolites in the 887 wax, pollen, bee, and hive samples. Nearly 60 percent of the 259 wax and 350 pollen samples contained at least one systemic pesticide—a type of poison that doesn’t remain on the surface of plants, but is taken up inside the plant, too, where honeybees go to feed.
For complete article click HERE.

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February 18, 2010 · 12:38 pm

Mercury in Canned Tuna

In my update from Natural Food Merchandiser today, they highlighted their article titled “Canned tuna exceeds EPA’s safety levels for mercury.”  The information in the articles comes from testing done by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2006.  Nevertheless, it is interesting.  Read the full article at this LINK.  Here is an excerpt: 

More than half of canned tuna samples from three national brands exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s safety level for human consumption, according to a new study published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Only 5 percent of the tuna studied contained more mercury than what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers safe.

A few things I noticed when I looked into the source a little further…

  1. The EPA guidelines for safe levels of mercury in human food is much lower than the levels set by the FDA.  Who to believe?
  2. While they note that one brand is worse than the other two, they don’t reveal the brand names.  Bummer!
  3. They noticed difference in mercury levels in different “types” of tuna.  Seems that “chunk light” was slightly less contaminated than “solid white” or “chunk white.”  Strange.

The conclusions drawn in the article and the study are that there is a need for a long-term monitoring program to ensure the safety of the tuna we consume.  I certainly agree with that!!  So what’s a body to do?

Of course, the answer to that depends on your situation and intention.  For children and pregnant women, the risks appear to be more dramatic.  It might be advisable to avoid tuna altogether.  Other adults might want to use it in moderation.  But there is an option for purchasing much safer tuna, but of course the cost is three to five times more than mainstream brands.  If you are like me, you will want to pay the extra price to be mercury free.

American Tuna LogoThe best mercury-free tuna I have found so far is American Tuna, a group of six fishing families in San Diego, California.  The 6 oz. cans run about $5 on their website market.  I would expect similar prices at the Whole Foods Market locations and other retailers on their list. 

Best regards to all of you.  Be safe, be healthy. [tweetmeme source=gsorganics only_single=false]

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January 26, 2010 · 3:08 pm

Five Percent Discount at Organic Bouquet

Organic Bouquet is my favorite place to get organc flowers, chocolates, and gift baskets.  Today I discovered that they offer a 5% discount through this link.  Enjoy!


Wow 5% Exclusive Coupon for Organic Bouquet

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January 20, 2010 · 1:15 pm

Organic Charity Flower Bouquets

Over 45 Charity Bouquets at Organic Bouquet!

Get beautiful organic flower bouquets and also support a charity of your choice.  This is the mission statement from Organic Bouquet:

Flowers for Good™

Our Flowers for Good™ program was established to help our non-profit partners continue to make positive changes in the work they do. Choose from any one of our charitable bouquets and 5% of your purchase will go toward making the world a better place.

Here are two of my favorite examples:

Organic Bouquet for The Nature Conservancy

White and Pink Lillies

The Nature Conservancy Lilies + Vase.

 

National Wildlife Federation Daisies

Gerber Daisies

National Wildlife Federation Daisies 

 

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November 14, 2009 · 10:00 am

Top 10 Green and Eco-Friendly Toy Manufacturers

Here is a list of the top ten Green and Eco-Friendly Toy Manufacturers:

PlanToys–PlanToys are wonderful wooden toys that have very high play value. All PlanToys are made with clean, natural rubberwood from rubber trees which no longer produce latex. PlanToys does not use dyes containing lead or any other heavy metals. They use non-toxic water-based dyes on their toys and soy and water-based inks on their printed materials. They use solar energy and low emission biofuels to power the machinery that kiln-dries the wood and the finished toys. Find Plan Toys at Amazon.com

Haba–Haba Toys are made primarily of indigenous maple, beech wood and water-based paints. Fabric, felt, leather, cardboard and glass add dimension and variety to the Haba line. Their manufacturer process includes thermal energy and using wood scraps instead of coal for heating. Awarded national and international prizes for their top-quality, child-oriented design, Haba’s inventive playthings are a perfect match for inquisitive minds. Read more about Haba’s Green Philosophy. Find Haba Toys at Amazon.com

Habe–Habe is also known for their wooden toys made with natural materials. They have just launched the world’s first collection of bamboo toys. It took Habe years to develop this line of toys because bamboo, a giant natural grass that grows as tall as a tree, is its sensitivity to sawing, cutting, filing, dyeing, temperature and bending. Once cut, bamboo grows back completely in a mere three years. Bamboo also combines lightness with stability and is flexible but very strong. The bamboo grain has a wonderful tactile feel and is enhanced with a bright water-based paint.

Wonderworld–Uses rubber-wood that is made of replenishable source from plantation and widely accepted throughout the world as the environmental-friendly material. They also use non-toxic water based paints as well as biodegradable fabrics. Find Wonderworld Toys at Amazon.com

Sprig Toys– has an exciting line of battery-free, eco-friendly, paint-free, kid-powered toys. They have expanded their line to include even more imaginative toys. Find Sprig Toys at Amazon.com

miYim–makes a wonderful collection of plush toys using organic cotton. Find miYim Toys at Amazon.com

imagiPlay–Their toys are made of natural materials such as wood from Rubber Tree and Bamboo. Some of their toys utilize MDF, compressed sawdust. They are utilizing the byproducts of another industry. The MDF they use is formaldehyde free and tested for child safety. Every step of their toy production from seed to shelf is carefully thought out to minimize impact on the earth. They select factories that are close to our raw materials to avoid this needless expenditure of gas, oil and greenhouse gases. Read more about imagiPlay’s Green Philosophy. Find ImagiPlay Toys at Amazon.com

Thames & Kosmos–provide hands-on science kits with serious foundations in real science. Their mission is Key to connect science education with relevant issues, including an alternative Energy & Environmental Science line. These include updated versions of Fuel Cell and Power House kits, along with entirely new Hydropower and Global Warming kits. Their commitment to environmental issues extends beyond the kits themselves, as they donate one percent of sales of their Wind Power and Hydropower kits to environmentally focused non-profits. Find Thames & Kosmos Toys at Amazon.com

Orange Blue Games—a Blue Orange Games are made of wood, in order to provide quality and durability, warmth and appeal. Blue Orange uses natural playing materials. Pine, Birch, Beech are among the trees planted by Blue Orange Games for renewal of the environment. Blue Orange plants two trees for every tree used to create Blue Orange games. Find Orange Blue Games at Amazon.com

Green Toys–Got Milk! Well, Green Toys does. They make all of their toys from recycled milk containers. The same ones you and I drink our milk out of. When we throw our container away in the recycling bin, it gets sorted out and sent to Green Toys. Next, the milk containers are reprocessed into super clean fresh plastic. The material is called high-density polyethylene (or HDPE). This material is considered one of the safest, cleanest plastics around. They make a variety of cooking sets, trucks, and sand toys. Find Green Toys at Amazon.com

Mara Kaplan is an expert in play and inclusive toys. You can find many more toy recommendations at her blog: letkidsplay.blogspot.com. Learn more about Mara’s work to increase the number of accessible playspaces at www.letkidsplay.com and www.accessibleplayground.net

Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com

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November 13, 2009 · 11:12 am

Organic Bouquet for Thanksgiving

25% Off Site Wide Sale from Organic Bouquet (sale items, gift cards & gift club excluded) Ends 11/20

We are always on the lookout for good vendors of organic products.  Organic Bouquet is one of the best.  They’ve been around for a long time.  They reliably market truly organic products.  And I have used them and love their products. 

Festive Thanksgiving Gourmet Gift Baskets, Wreaths

Organic Bouquet carries much more than just flowers.  Check them out now while they have this terrific sale going.  But hurry; it will be over next Friday! 

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