Roasted - this is a term you can safely ignore. ALL coffee is roasted what differs is the amount of roasting time and the level of heat used to roast. Roasting, unless a company is boasting that they use some sort of renewable energy to roast with, is not a sustainable coffee term.

Natural - means nothing. All coffee is natural – well, until coffee companies mess with it, but the actual term natural does not mean you’re getting better, greener coffee. It’s a marketing term plain and simple.

Fair Trade – You should look for this term if you want brew that’s putting more cash in the pockets of the coffee maker – basically it’s coffee sold sans a trader. NOTE: it is very important to recognize the distinction between “Fair Trade” and an organizational term such as TransFair USA. The difference here is that “Fair Trade” does not guarantee fair wages for coffee harvesters while “TransFair USA” does. If you want ethical coffee, look for an organizational term that does mean fair wages and working conditions for workers.

Also important to note is that Fair Trade does not mean greener coffee. Sustainable and Fair Trade do connect on some levels but Fair Trade alone does not mean that a coffee is without pesticides.

Organic - Organic coffee that’s been certified by the USDA or the OCIA is green coffee in that it’s been grown and produced without the addition of pesticides or herbicides.

Sustainable – I consider this an iffy term as a stand alone. There is no official “Sustainable” label. However, if a company says they’re making sustainable coffee it usually (if they’re being honest) means they use green and ethical practices such as organic growing, Fair Trade, using renewable energy, reducing fuel consumption, using recyclable pacakging, and so fourth. The issue is that sustainable is very broad and since it’s not regulated you should check into the company background.

Rainforest Alliance – this label or certification, sometimes seen as shade-grown or bird safe is certified by the, yup you guessed it, the Rainforest Alliance. This organization works with farmers and other businesses throughout the world to ensure that their goods and services are environmentally and socially friendly. I’m personally not a fan of third-party certification because their criteria is usually too easily adapted to meet regional-specific needs which makes it fuzzy. However, the Rainforest Alliance is a trustworthy source in my opinion because they offer a lot of transparent info at their site so this is a good eco label to look for.

Besides considering all of the above, you should also consider packaging (is it recyclable, printed with soy inks, etc.). Normally I’d also say go local to keep your carbon footprint down, but as of right now, unless you grow coffee at home, local means Hawaii only. The rest of the coffee in the world comes from out of the states. Which sadly means I really need some coffee carbon credits to offset my addiction.

Later we’ll see some good organic coffee choices for the holiday – ooooo, and maybe some treats to go with said coffee!

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Grab Some Green Holiday Coffee

First things first:

First grab a big box and have it at the ready Christmas morning. You can toss wrap into the box as you open gifts – it’s also smart to have two smaller boxes for filler items like shredded paper or packing popcorn and another for reusable gift tags and bows.If you’re prepared it makes it easier to recycle as you go.

How to recycle your wrap:

• Sort and save – sort out usable pieces that can be used to wrap presents again. Save usable bows and ribbon as well.
• Protect your gear – the crumpled texture of gift wrap makes it perfect for protecting glass and other fragile items. Take small pieces, wad them up lightly and use them to protect your holiday ornaments and dishes as you pack them up for the season.
• Get crafty - save smaller pieces for next year’s holiday art projects. Kids can make cards with them. You can make gift tags and more.
• Maintain – use that crumpled paper to stuff into soft hats, shoes and bags. It’ll help them to retain their shape.
• Make bows – this craft project calls for used magazines, but you could use recycled wrap too.
• Mat – mat your kid’s art project or holiday photos with leftover wrap.
• Give it to the dolls – gift wrap makes perfect dollhouse decor. Need a dollhouse? Make your own.

BONUS FUN O’ THE DAY: This link has absolutely nothing to do with wrap, but it’s freaking hilarious so if you’re recycling wrap you deserve a treat. Go see peeping Tom cleaners (in case you haven’t yet).

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Recycling your holiday wrap

While the bike accessories and necklace contained the most lead, the CHE also found levels of lead in violation of the new federal law in a Dora the Explorer game set, two children’s shoes, a child’s poncho, and a child’s belt.

Obviously there hasn’t been enough of a crackdown on some major toy companies.

The California Attorney General has notified the retailers and the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of the lead-tainted products but even so, Michael Green, Executive Director of CEH, notes, “When parents shop for toys this year, they need to know that there are still some lead problems on store shelves.”

A full report of the results from all the CEH tests and more testing by other groups will be published by Healthy Toys on December 2. Of course if you don’t want to wait, you can still shop smartly for safer toys. Read the following for tips…

• Find toxic free toys for the holidays
• Shopping for safe toys made easy
• Less expensive green toys

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Lead found in common holiday toys

THE PARTY GOODS:

I hope I don’t have to say this, but make sure to use real dishes; like some cute little glass plates and real cloth napkins, not paper goods. There are also plenty of serving options available that will make your party an eco-friendly one. Above are some super cool, very green choices for displaying and serving your goodies.

1. Reclaimed and recycled goblets from The Green Glass Company – TONS of colors and designs.
2. Drink Charms
3. Bird cheese markers
4. Slate Cheese Board Set
5. Root of the Earth Platter

THE PARTY:

Your cheese need to be taken out of the fridge early enough to get them to room temp, but you don’t want them out so long that they’ll start to breed icky stuff. After reaching room temp, none of your party food should sit out for more than two hours. If it’s a creamier cheese you can place it on a bowl of ice. You can arrange them anyway you choose, but mark them.

Most wine should be opened an hour ahead of time (for breathing) except white wine which should be chilled and only taken out right before the party.

Officially, you should pour small amounts of wine into each guest’s glass and provide non-transparent cups for pouring the wine back into or spitting if you’re going the hard core route. Glasses should also be rinsed between wines. I’m not a wine tasting expert by any means, and in the last post we established that I’m not a cheese fan so if you need more advice, better, expert advice, check out the following guides…

• Wine tasting tips
• Tasting your cheese

EXTRA TIPS:

• Wine and Cheese Pairing Guide
• Suggested Cheese & Wine Menus
• In case you have one or two people who don’t drink I’d have something non-alcoholic and fizzy on hand like Teazers.

Post from: Blisstree

Thrown an Eco Wine & Cheese Party

THE CHEESE:

Cheese that’s organic is a must. Dairy products contain large amounts of growth hormones. Also, organic versions of dairy are more beneficial for your health. If you can’t find enough eco-friendly organic cheeses, you should look for cheese made on a smaller local farm in tiny batches. Artisan (handcrafted) cheeses made right on the farm are made with minimally processed milk which means your cheese will contain beneficial bacteria.IF you can’t find local cheese that’s suitable try an artsy online cheese shop like Cheesemonger or SwissLand Cheese or an organic specialty shop like igourmet.

Choose 5-6 cheeses. You don’t want to overwhelm people. I hear from one of my cheese loving pal that you should choose different textures; such as soft and hard PLUS make sure that your choices come from different milk – i.e. goat, cow, sheep. Egad. If you need help choosing read a much more enthusiastic cheese guide.

THE WINE:

Wine is so much easier for me to discuss than cheese. I don’t hate, or even dislike wine, in fact I like it once in a while and luckily it’s easy to find eco-friendly wine. Of course you want to make sure your wine comes from a sustainable vineyard. Look for biodynamic and/or organic wines. See more info about organic wine.

Your wine and cheese party should be intimate, because it’s not the sort of party you invite a million people to, so you shouldn’t need scads of wine. If you have about 10 people aim for 4-5 wines of varying colors and flavors and about two bottles of each. Double it for a party of 20.

OTHER MUNCHIES:

You should gather some of the following munch-worthy choices – Organic grapes, olive bread, organic artsy whole grain crackers, fresh French bread, toasted hazelnuts, sliced oranges and pears, dried cherries, fresh figs, organic walnuts, Italian prosciutto di Parma, fancy olives, or another treat. You don’t need tons of extras though. It’s not a dinner party. No matter what you serve look for organic and minimal packaging.

Stay tuned, in the next post we’ll wrap this up with some eco-friendly serving options and extra tips for those who may need more planning help.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Eco Wine & Cheese Party

Skin Deep – allows you to find out what’s really in those beauty and body care products you use daily. I use this website all the time. It’s one of my top three picks. This site makes it easy to compare products and find the safest beauty and body care goodies for men, women, and children. See a much longer review of Skin Deep.

Environmental Working Group (EWG) – this site is NOT government funded which is a good start since they aim to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment. Rather than being commanded to say things are safe by any one larger organization, the EWG is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization bringing you news and real facts on all sorts of eco and health issues. Their method, “Our team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers and computer programmers pores over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and our own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions. Our research brings to light unsettling facts that you have a right to know.” If there’s news about green you need to know, and you can’t find at EWG, I’d be shocked. Very comprehensive site.

Healthy Stuff – The U.S. government doesn’t require full testing of chemicals before they are added to most consumer products. Products containing harmful chemicals are rarely in any way restricted, even if new evidence becomes available saying that a chemical may be harmful. Too much red tape and dollars flying around the government. With this in mind, you need to be able to trust someone who will give you the 411 on products containing these chemicals. This is where Healthy Stuff comes in. At this site you’ll find info on the worst of the worst chemicals, healthy toy options, recalls, lead safety news and so much more. A total must if you have kids, but even if you don’t well worth the visit.

Earth 911 – In a world that doesn’t educate well about recycling, Earth 911 fills in the gaps. We don’t get enough community information about recycling or reuse on a state to state basis, however, Earth 911 makes it easy to find recycling centers near you, tools that make it easier to recycle, and easy to browse categories for all recyclables and hazardous waste. Articles are always in-depth, but easy on the eyes, and their writers know their stuff.

Which green sites do you like the most?

Also see the best green Twitter folks to follow.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Bookmark Worthy Green Websites

Some options…

1. 100% USDA Certified Organic Maple Candy – in fact this candy ONLY contains organic maple syrup.
2. Natural Popcorn Balls – contains just popcorn, salt, sunflower oil, sugar, vinegar, and lecithin (soy).
3. Lavender Caramel – great for an adult stocking made with organic chocolate lavender infused caramels with Fleur du Sel salt.
4. Organic Chocolate Santas
5. Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops
6. Organic Hard Candy Holiday Mix – a mix of Pure Fun organic hard candy with 1/8 pound each of Peppermint Swirls, Spearmint Swirls, Root Beer Float, Spicy Cinnamon, Raspberry Chocolate Filled, Lemon Slices, Lime Slices and Orange Slices Organic Candy.
7. Organic Candy Canes – vegan, minty, organic, and kosher!
8. Love the Planet Cookies – super adorable and great for younger tots who can’t have candy. You can wrap these individually for stockings. Includes 24 biscuit-crisp USDA Organic sugar cookies cut in symbol and animal shapes with sweet frosting.
9. Sjaak’s Organic Chocolate – 14 organic flavors to choose from.

Post from: Blisstree

Eco-friendly Christmas Stocking Treats

The study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, is interesting since up until now, all reproductive / BPA studies have been conducted with mice or rats. This new research actually involved human males. BPA is a toxic issue and one that’s hard to beat. It’s found commonly in thousands of consumer products from dishes to baby bottles to canned foods to plastic water bottles and the Post relates that BPA has been, “Detected in the urine of 93 percent of the U.S. population.” Furthermore, it could be easier then you think to build up BPA in your body. As Treehugger reported “Drinking from a polycarbonate bottle for just one week can increase the amount of BPA in your body by nearly 70 percent.”

Researchers studied 634 male workers at four factories in China who were exposed to elevated levels of BPA. Over the five year study, men handling BPA were four times as likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction and seven times as likely to have difficulty with ejaculation.

BPA has always been controversial with some, like SIGG claiming it’s not that big a deal and others working to ban BPA altogether. However, the main problem is that long-term studies on humans haven’t been conducted so if it’s bad or not, we can’t be sure. As this new study points out, things aren’t looking up (literally) for men who ingest too much BPA.

If you’re a guy and you like your bedroom time, I’d highly suggest finding a safer water bottle, one made of stainless steel and banning BPA laden plastics from your kitchen.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

BPA Linked to Male Sexual Dysfunction

Parker and Stone recently built an environmentally friendly mansion in western Colorado (Steamboat Springs). The $5 million home has eco-friendly features such as ceilings made of Douglas fir timbers salvaged from a rail trestle that once spanned Great Salt Lake, recycled carpet, in-floor radiant heating, and of course nature.

This pricey vacation getaway is going to be featured in an upcoming edition of Architectural Digest. The only issue I have is that a home valued at $5 million has to be bigger than the average home, which by the way is not eco-friendly, BUT, if you’re going to go bling, at least it’s nice when you do use reclaimed supplies and energy efficient features like the South Park fellas.

Image via: Jennifer Chait – picture drawn by her eight-year-old son Cedar during his “I’m obsessed with South Park stage” (AND before you all slam me, no I don’t let him watch the very inappropriate episodes; thanks.)

Post from: Blisstree

South Park Tree Huggers – Who Knew!?

Peggy over at Tree Hugging Family has some good green stocking stuffer up, but for more ideas…

1. Finger Puppets (Organic Cotton): $15.00 – but if split up between three kids a great deal.
2. Felt Ornaments: $6.99
3. Sustainable Jotters in all sorts of designs – $8.00
4. North Star Toys – Magic Wand: $7.90
5. Educo Little Auto Green: $5.95

1. Plan Toys – Mushroom Kaleidoscope: $ 4.90
2. Maple Landmark – Spinning Top just $ 1.20 a pop!
3. Under the Nile Organic Carrot or Under the Nile Organic Eggplant – for baby! $6.95
4. Automoblox Mini C9-P Sportscar – Pink: $9.95
5. Green Apple Natural Loofah Body Scrubber from Loofah Art: $4.99 (read my Loofah Art Review)
6. Crayon rocks: $4.75 (for eight) or $6.95 (for 16)
7. Snowman Game Ornament by Haba: $7.99

BONUS IDEA: Digital Dollhouse: $4.95

Oh, and by the way, if you still need an eco-friendly stocking to stuff, check out five green Christmas stockings plus some DIY ideas. Later on we’ll look at some eco-friendly candy minded stocking stuffers.

Post from: Blisstree

Stuff an Eco-Friendly Christmas Stocking