It’s a southern thing but there’s nothing like sweet tea on a hot summer day. Reminds me of sitting on the front porch on the rocking chairs watching the sun go down. How exciting to find that Liptons have made USDA Certified Organic tea an affordable option. Here’s my sweet tea recipe. Let the sun gently warm your tea if you can wait patiently, but if you are like me, must have tea now… then I suggest the coffeemaker as your next best bet.
4-5 Liptons Organic Black leaf tea
1 cup of Sugar in the Raw Natural Sugar
a pitcher
Last November the New Oxford American Dictionary declared the 2007 Word of the Year to be locavore. Wikipedia defines locavore as “someone who eats food grown or produced locally or within a certain radius such as 50, 100, or 150 miles.” Coined by Jessica Prentice from the San Francisco Bay Area in 2005, according to Wikipedia, the word reflects the fact that buying locally grown produce has grown in popularity. According to the USDA, farmers markets increased across the country from 1994 to 2006.
What is the importance of buying locally grown produce? As an article in the September edition of Country Living magazine puts it, “Knowing where your food comes from is a trend worth following.”
Eating locally helps the environment. Decreasing the distance food travels releases less carbon emissions, and small farms often plant diverse crops which reduce soil degradation. It takes 20 to 1,000 years for a centimeter of top soil to form. In the U.S. we have lost a third of cropland topsoil in the 200 plus years since our country’s founding.
Eating locally also helps out farms. Over 90¢ of every dollar you spend at a farmers market goes directly to the farmer who produced the food. When you buy produce at a grocery store, vegetables farmers get only 21¢ of your dollar.
Slow Food U.S.A. is a non-profit education organization that advocates eating locally produced food. The Slow Food International Manifesto declares, “Let us rediscover the flavors and savors of regional cooking and banish the degrading effects of Fast Food.” Read the rest of this entry »
Couple years back, before I became serious about the Environment; I tried Tom’s of Maine. I remember distinctly not liking the taste and so I continue to use my perennial favorite, Aqua Fresh despite being made by a company that was not cruelty free or green. Fast forward couple years later to now; I am definitely MORE interested in the environment and even write about it. I thought I would give Tom’s of Maine Natural Toothpaste another go. I am trying everyday, to make less impact on the Environment. And I wanted to support companies that do not do animal testing. Surprisingly, I REALLY REALLY dig the taste. It has finally replaced our beloved Aqua Fresh. We tried Mint (my favorite) and Orange Mango (EC’s Favorite) It looks like Tom’s of Maine Natural Toothpaste is staying.
Other reasons why you might love Tom’s
- (According to their website) Natural ingredients are the effective building blocks of Tom’s of Maine products, and are guided by our Stewardship Model throughout the process of ingredient sourcing and formula creation. Their beliefs guide them in every decision we make. (Great philosophy and one I go by also)
- Cruelty Free meaning not tested on Animals
- One of the more trusted brands for Natural Hygiene care line. Also offers lines for deodorant, mouthwash, and soap.
- Comes in many different flavors so you are not stuck with just mint! Check out their Oral Care Flavor Guide Read the rest of this entry »
From the makers of Yes Carrots comes the first USDA certified Organic lip balm to hit your local drug stores. According to the Press Release by Lippe Taylor, the representatives for Yes to Carrots:
Yes to Carrots is proud to announce launch of C me Smile Lip Butter. This balm joins an already stellar collection of efficacious face, body, and hair care. Like all Say Yes to Carrots products, the new Lip Butter contains extracts from certified Organic fruits and vegetables. Free of Parabens, petroleum & phthalates.
C Me Smile Lip Butter comes in Five flavors
- Berry (smells like skittles, yum)
- Carrot (very mild and soothing)
- Citrus (Reminds me of Starburst)
- Melon (my favorite)
- Mint (like Mint tea) Read the rest of this entry »
Green Girls
