When it comes to fashion and giving back to the environment, how do you know for sure that you are purchasing eco-friendly and sustainable products? If you ask me, it’s confusing to choose, let alone find, credible organic claims made by designers and brands. I love that there’s a label launching next year that the average consumer like myself will be able to easily recognize and trust: L.E.A.F. (Labeling Ecologically Approved Fabrics™).

WellWire sat down to chat with L.E.A.F. founder and executive director, Elinor Averyt and here’s what she had to say:

WellWire: Hello, Elinor! Thank you so much for giving us your time to do this interview. Can you tell us, in sum, what L.E.A.F. is all about?

Elinor: The overall purpose of L.E.A.F. is to provide the first comprehensive and unifying eco-labeling program for clothing sold in the United States.

WW: Tell us more about yourself, Elinor. Have you always been involved with the apparel industry? What is it about your own personality that you think inspired you to pursue this advocacy?

Elinor: Thank you for being interested. I started this project out of frustration with working on larger scaled societal issues at various non-profits in my 20’s and not seeing any definitive outcomes or results from pouring myself into these larger scaled problems.

I decided to take a step back and ask two questions: 1) What are the issues/problems keeping us stuck or sending us in negative directions as a society, and 2) What are catalysts we could put into place to help get some of these larger issues moving in new directions in a concrete, finite amount of time? Two issues that came to the forefront as continuing problems are both, 1) the lack of pervasive industry-wide accountability for depleting resources and pollution at a faster rate than the earth and its inhabitants can handle, and 2) the lack of pervasive consumer accountability for continuing this cycle by demanding low cost products (which are almost impossible to produce in environmentally and socially sensitive ways) and purchasing from companies creating problems in society.

The concept of eco-labels began to fascinate me as a potential, helpful solution to both of these problems to provide both marketplace inspiration to a given industry to clean up its ways, as well as to assist consumers with having an easier method to find and support the companies producing products in a more environmentally and socially sensitive manner.

That particular thought process is what basically landed me working on this project in the apparel industry.

WW: We understand that L.E.A.F. had just undergone its public review process. How can you describe the reception of the apparel industry and the general public to L.E.A.F.’s ideas? What was their primary concern, and how did L.E.A.F. respond to it?

Elinor: The public review was a success with over 150 participants. The premise of L.E.A.F. was generally received exceptionally well by the general public, and received with anticipated skepticism from industry stakeholders. You can see range of responses to the public review on our site, and you can access all comments and L.E.A.F. responses at the bottom of the home page.

WW: What makes this certification different from the already existing ecological programs in the US apparel industry?

Elinor: Thanks for asking for clarification on this issue. L.E.A.F. is actually not an official ‘certification’ program. Instead, L.E.A.F. is an umbrella eco-labeling program that, once launched, will communicate to the US consumers where a product has reached certain environmental and social achievements and certifications. This will occur by L.E.A.F. vetting which certifications have been reached within a product’s journey through its life cycle process.

Currently, there are certification programs that also have a consumer facing eco-label at the end of their certification process. However, due to the complexities of the apparel supply chain, it is difficult for any one standard or certification to cover a full range of inputs, processes and social issues addressed by the apparel industry’s complex and expansive life cycle.

Therefore,  L.E.A.F. aspires to end eco-labeling confusion in this industry by providing one unifying and comprehensive label to the US consumer that is inclusive of the valid certification programs that exist for this industry and that communicates the overriding certification history of any given product.

WW: L.E.A.F.’s label involves compliance with fair labor, organic/sustainable fibers and environmental manufacturing. In your opinion, what is the biggest issue in America today out of these three, if it’s possible to choose just one, of course.

Elinor: Although these are three major issues facing this industry, there are actually many diverse issues and impacts associated with this industry’s practices that extend beyond these ones.

These particular issues were chosen to launch the program as they have the most comprehensive certification programs in place to date (although Transfair USA will soon be launching its Fair Trade initiative for clothing sold in the United States).

It is difficult to make such a determination as each environmental and social issue associated with this industry’s life cycle, as each issue and its impacts are very complex, and each issue also seems to have equally important impacts to address and improve upon.

WW: What’s new with L.E.A.F. these days? How has it developed since the review process and what is your team currently up to?

Elinor: After the public review process, L.E.A.F. explored the potentials of new ownership taking control of the project, but was not successful in finding the right parent organization to take control of this situation. L.E.A.F. is now back full swing as its own, freestanding, small-scaled, non-profit organization that plans to grow in an organic manner. We are currently taking a three-pronged effort to get this program off the ground and launched to the marketplace. Our goal is that you will see L.E.A.F. labels in stores Spring 2011!

WW: Since L.E.A.F.’s efforts are still in the works and hasn’t been introduced in the marketplace yet, what can you recommend to our WellWire readers when it comes to making sure that they purchase products that fulfill L.E.A.F.’s ecological and social categories? What are the most common signs to look out for (i.e., similar to FDA-approved labels)?

Elinor: Well, right now, this is still a tricky task. The only certifications that back the organic claims made by designers and brands are the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), and the Organic Exchange OE100 and Blended standards. If you see either of these certifications on a garment, you can trust the organic claim is valid. Currently, there are no consumer facing labels created by certification programs that communicate to consumers concerning social categories associated with this industry (i.e., fair trade and fair labor practices). I believe, however, Transfair USA will be launching their Fair Trade Certified™ program this fall 2010.

This is why L.E.A.F. aspires to launch as soon as possible, so that our program may hopefully serve in this capacity!

Karla Mercado lives in New Mexico and is the author of Balancing Tenderfoot. She is passionate about human medicine, nutrition, and writing.

Photo by peet-astn.

Vegetables aren’t usually the most expensive ingredient on your shopping list. Still, there are ways to save money and make the most of your nutritious choices:

1. Buy seasonal produce when possible.
2. Buy heavy nutritious vegetables.
3. If it’s edible, eat it!
4. Don’t peel vegetables.

Buy in season

Most fruits and vegetables are a lot cheaper when they’re in season and obviously, shipping in produce  is not ecologically or economically good practice. Stick to seasonal produce when possible! Support your local farmers markets, which are usually cheaper and always seasonal. Wherever I am in the world, I always look up the local markets before I go shopping. I have come across some of the most amazing places that shame the inflated prices and often irradiated produce of the big stores. It is also great fun to wander around with a coffee and make a nice morning of it.

Waste not want not

Vegetables are one of the worst areas for waste in a kitchen. By the time that you have peeled, trimmed and prepared most vegetables, there is nothing left! After a good wash, there isn’t much that can’t be eaten, and often you’ll get more nutrition.

• Carrots: for example, up to 15% of the nutrients is in the skin. So don’t peel them, simply wash, slice and cook.
• Cauliflower: is another wasteful vegetable. More often than not the green leaves growing around the head equal the actual cauliflower. Keep these dense green leaves and slice and use as you would cabbage.
• Broccoli: don’t trim the stem off! Leave it on when steaming it’s full of nutrients.
• Beets: Use the beet leaves, they are very similar to red chard. Use in the same way as spinach leaves.
• Cabbage: Don’t be tempted to throw away the outer leaves on cabbage, dark green savoy leaves are excellent sliced into a rich Tuscan bean soup or hearty winter casserole. The dark green leaves are also a lot more nutritional.

Part of the points achieved in chefs’ exams comes from how little waste you have left at the end of a cooking session. Unfortunately, that training usually goes out of the window in a commercial kitchen where mountains of waste are generated. When I first started out as a chef in Europe, we had ‘pig bins’ which we would put all the food waste in which would be collected and used by the local pig farm as cheap nutritious feed. For his trouble the chef would get a couple of beers from the farmer. This sensible economic practice was recently outlawed and now all this ‘waste’ goes out with the garbage. Even a modest sized restaurant will produce dozens of tons of ‘garbage’ a year, that could be put to good use. It’s a crying shame.

Tasty to the root

One of the simplest ways to make your money go further is to think of food in terms of weight. The more you get for your dollar, the further your money goes. This is especially true of root vegetables. Dense, heavy, cheap and packed with nutrients, root vegetables are amazingly healthful and wholesome. They also have a reputation for being bland and boring–not so!

One of my favorite ways of using root vegetables is to roast or grill them. Use carrots, parsnip, sweet potato. Toss in olive oil, season well, scatter on an oven tray with thyme rosemary and whole garlic cloves. Roast in a moderate oven until golden and soft. (You will have to do the carrot separately as it takes a lot longer). Mix this with roasted zucchini and peppers. Serve on a big platter drizzled with balsamic syrup and parmesan shavings. A meal in its own! Seriously I have had many customers come into the restaurant just for a large plate of oven roast vegetables. Some other ideas:

• Carrots: Ideal for soups, sauces and casseroles, or grated into salads.
• Rutabaga (Swede): Use to bulk out casseroles or stews, like grating into Shepherds Pie. Can be mixed with carrots, butter and a little nutmeg, and pureed as a side dish (kids find this very acceptable!)
• Parsnips: Excellent for soups (try a lightly curried parsnip soup, delicious!). Roasted along with potatoes for roast dinner, or pureed like mash to go with lamb, a perfect match.
• Sweet Potato: Brilliant for soups, puddings, roasting grilling and baking. The sweet potato doesn’t need much to make it appealing.
• Beets: Quite possibly the healthiest vegetable on the planet. Wrap in foil and bake until soft and sweet. Boil and slice into salads. Thinly slice on a mandolin and fry for rainbow ‘chips’ along with sweet potato and parsnips.
• Celeriac: Combine with potatoes for celeriac mash or puree and serve with roast beef. It is also excellent grated in a remoulade, or mixing in with coleslaw.

Magnus Mumby is a British chef with a mission: enable diners to easily and inexpensively create healthy and delicious dishes. He was awarded the Top Ten New Chefs of the Year award by Esquire magazine, among numerous other accolades. To find out more and try his wholesome recipes, visit his site HealthyNutritiousRecipes.com.

A beautiful dome by Tend Living.

Meet my friend Britton Neubacher, founder of green-chic company Tend Living. Brit creates sustainable living sculptures that make you think twice about gardening, like the one above. What started as a small San Diego project has now transformed home and work spaces all over Southern California to reflect the native landscape in completely unique and beautiful ways. Read on!

Chrissy Dionese: I love the name! How did you come up with it?

Britton Neubacher: I was looking for a word that would suggest action as well as a descriptor for the larger goal: taking care of our planet. I wanted to highlight the fact that I work with sustainable practices that support life and one that sees plant tending as a lifestyle. People seem to like that part so it has become my DBA. More of the same good action!

CD: Tell me how the company got started, it was something of an art experiment wasn’t it?

BN: Tend began as a contribution to a sustainable design show at Design Within Reach in San Diego. My friend *forced* me into it and I was horrified, not able to see myself as an artist. I’m over that insecurity now though! The last thing Tend should be about is ego, so I try to leave self-consciousness out of the equation.

CD: Has sustainable living always been your way of life? How did your background in social justice influence your current inspiration?

BN: I think it has. I joined Greenpeace when I was eight and devoted my young life to environmental and animal activism, later, youth and women’s movements. My adult background is in crisis work with severely high-risk youth and community organizing around feminism and art activism. I have a graduate degree in women’s studies, which amazingly I was able to use for several years in the way of a career before I burned out.

CD: Why did you leave that industry?

BN: I’m really sensitive and didn’t practice enough self-care so I eventually had to accept that I was not a “lifer” in the helping industry. I think I made a little difference, at least I hope I did, but I feel so much more nourished and centered once I went with a more simple approach: to tend to the planet one plant friend at a time. It’s such a beautiful thing to assist a living being that naturally wants to thrive. People are too complicated and self-sabotaging for me! Also, I think plants bring people together in an unspoken language we all instinctively understand, so I actually feel more connected to people than ever now.

Britton Neubacher (on left).

CD: Some of us are new to interiorscaping, can you tell us a little about this type of design?

BN: Interiorscaping is the radical notion that people belong with plants. Really, it is just a fancy word for interior design through green and greenery. Placing plants in your living and work spaces provides aesthetic benefits and can combat rampant off-gassing known as “sick building syndrome.” It can even increase productivity. No environment is complete until it is supplied with life. Well-chosen and strategically-placed plants literally transform a space, and your life!

CD: How do you teach your clients and the community about the concepts of permaculture?

BN: I often plant on a graded arrangement (even in my orbs) so that the more water-loving plants will benefit from run-off of those needing less hydration. Terrariums are an excellent, semi self-sustaining eco-system in that the water requirements are greatly reduced and carbon dioxide usage is optimized. My goal is to make tending easy and fun so low-maintenance plants and plantings feed two birds with one hand, as they say. High-style permaculture with edibles may be the nest frontier for me!

CD: With all the water Southern California uses to keep green lawns alive, how will Tend’s creations influence a shift toward cultivating natural landscaping involving native plants that conserve water?

BN: I’m hoping my work will help shift people’s perspectives to see drought-tolerant plants as more interesting than they may have realized. It’s all about providing a format for the already-amazing-but-commonly-over-looked. I try to approach any landscaping that I do as a larger version of my miniature creations, so hopefully people will also see exciting landscaping opportunities from my mini plant worlds.

CD: Brit, you’re becoming popularly known with your eco-friendly wedding creations. Do you see sustainable “green” floristry lasting beyond a trend?

BN: It may be wishful thinking, but I really do. I’d like to believe a trend that has global meaning behind it is less likely to become a passing fad. Shift the individual perspective and the collective consciousness follows, right? I guess that’s what we would call evolution. Green weddings are necessary for our human evolution! Ooooh, I need to market that declaration!

CD: What can we expect from here? Any fun summer projects on the horizon?

BN: Only to expect the unexpected! I hope to always bring a freshness to green living (truly, the gardening puns are endless). I do have a very special on-line store planned for Summer and some thrilling collaborative projects in the works, including the release of “Golly Pods,” a living sculpture line with Jason Lane of Bells & Whistles. Stay tuned!

CD: What advice can you give to folks interested in learning how they can become more connected with the natural landscape in their locale?

BN: Get outside, shut up and be still! Seriously, just getting out of our heads is the first step, nature does the rest. Pay attention to how plants affect you and allow them to share their magic with you. Enjoy the discovery and the inherent connection as you wish each other well. Then tend to it.

Visit Tend’s blog and Facebook to see how Brit is changing the planet, “one plant friend at a time.”

Christine M. Dionese L.Ac. specializes in integrative medicine, medical journalism and is the VP of marketing at WellWire LLC. Visit her wellness and lifestyle blog, Reaching Beyond Now.

Photo by Dr. Orna Izakson.

Back in the late ’90s and early aughts, a small but information-dense ’zine circulated in the Eugene, Oregon area called “Weed Lover.” The premise was that weeds offend gardeners by growing where they’re not wanted, but that they nevertheless offer great value by way of food, medicine and pulling nutrients up from the subsoil to feed neighboring plants. They also may be physically useful: one gardener tied her tomatoes to their cages using bindweed.

One of the very best things about using weeds for medicine is that you rarely have to entertain the usual worries about overharvesting. It’s an interesting exercise for an ethical wildcrafter to try: Find a field full of an unkillable weed and keep picking it for a while after you feel like you’ve done too much. (Don’t worry, you can always find an herbalist who can use some, or mulch your garden with the extra.)

I’ve tried this exactly twice. The first time was picking blooming yarrow on a friend’s land in the Columbia Gorge. The second was picking St. John’s Wort on a land trust in eastern Washington. In that case, the plant wasn’t even native, but rather a European invasive. It technically wasn’t even overharvesting, but arguably just a feeble attempt at restoration.

Weeds are survivors in the game of evolution for many reasons. Here let’s consider a few that help humans be survivors, too.

Dandelion (Taraxicum officinale):

I love to please the neighbors in early spring by “cleaning up” my front yard dandelions — then steaming lightly and adding a squeeze of lemon and maybe some local feta. Dandelion greens have long been a dietary staple for good reason. Aside from being prolific, one cooked cup offers a third of the daily value (the new RDA) of vitamin C and a whopping seven times the daily value of vitamin K. It also provides 144 percent of your daily vitamin A needs, 10 percent of your daily calcium, 12 percent of your manganese and 10 percent of your iron.

Dandelion leaves are used medicinally in tea, vinegar or tincture as a bitter, taken before meals to improve digestion, and as a simple diuretic to reduce excess water in the system. The root is used in similar fashion as a bitter and also to nourish and optimize function of the liver, the body’s most important detoxification organ.

Chickweed (Stellaria media) and cleavers (Galium aparine):

Among the first garden plants to really take off as the days begin lengthening, I use these for internal herbal spring cleaning. Both are mild herbs supporting the lymphatic system — the back channel of circulation and also where much of the immune system resides. A daily tea of the above-ground parts in season will help improve circulatory sluggishness after the relatively sedentary winter season. Preserve these in vinegar, brandy or vodka to have on hand the rest of the year.

Plantain (Plantago spp.):

Absolutely ubiquitous in most of North America and Europe, it’s easy to overlook the power of plantain until they day you need it and it’s not around. That happened to me in the remote town of McCarthy, Alaska, when I needed an astringent to reduce swelling and suck out infection in a friend’s foot.

Plantain is a wonderful simple astringent, which, as herbalist Howie Brounstein explains, “dry, draw and shrink swollen tissues.” (Blackberry fighters take note: blackberry root is a great simple astringent, too.) It also has constituents that help disinfect wounds. Muddle the fresh plantain leaf as you would mint for a mojito. either with a mortar and pestle or chewed a bit, and apply directly to the site. You can add to hot water for a soak or wash, or take internally for  mouth sores or persistent diarrhea — after checking with a doctor to figure out the cause!

Common mallow (Malva neglecta):

Photo by Dr. Orna Izakson.

Sometimes, however, one needs the opposite of an astringent. And that’s where mallow shines. The weedy relative of both marshmallow and hollyhocks, mallow root’s soothing and cooling demulcent properties are useful both topically and internally. Think of mallow externally for dry, itchy skin or to help a sun or other burn. Internally, mallow can help cool burning stomachs and acid reflux, protect and heal ulcers, moisten lung tissues and ease constipation.

To use mallow as a demulcent, make a cold infusion by adding cold water to some root in a cup or jar and letting it sit until the water starts to get slimy. That slime is the medicine you’re looking for.

A note of caution for weed gardeners: If you tend to encourage the growth of plants you love, you might want to think twice when it comes to the weeds. There’s little reason to fear you’ll eradicate your dandelions, but coddling them will just make it harder to achieve other garden intentions.

A version of this story appeared in In Good Tilth.

Dr. Orna Izakson, ND, RH (AHG) is a naturopathic physician, herbalist, gardener and writer. She specializes in respiratory issues, mood and women's health at Celilo Natural Health Center in Portland, Oregon.

Photo by Peter.

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day here in North America. The observance, introduced by US senator Gaylord Nelson, Harvard student Denis Hayes and well-known eco-activist Paul Erlich originated in the early 1970s during what the senator described as a crisis and call to global environmental awareness. Today, nearly 175 countries from all around the world celebrate this holiday by showing appreciation for environmental conscientiousness.

In light of the recent controversy surrounding the overstatement of global warming and discord among politicians I asked around, is Earth Day important? I spoke to students at US college campuses, parents of young children, a few of my patients and professional colleagues and here’s what thoughtful folks had to say:

Janesh, Los Angeles, CA, mother of two: The fact that we have more people than natural resources covering the globe has really pushed environmental consciousness into the mainstream. It’s no longer hippies and rich yuppies shopping at the farmer’s markets. I think earth day is important because it highlights the message that grassroots efforts really can make a big a ripple that flows far. If it weren’t for earth day my kids might not be eating the organic veggies and meat that are now abundantly available city-wide. 

Jamal C., Philadelphia, PA artist and student of urban development: Having lived in Philly my entire life we’re just now witnessing a major shift in community awareness. They’re still trying to figure out how to recycle in some parts, but without earth day our garbages and dumps would still be overflowing. It’s just too easy to recycle and reuse. Services should be available to every single person in America. 

Sintal G., Palm Beach, FL, father of three, astrophysicist: I’m a bit skeptical about earth day although at the end of the day it delivers an amazing message we’ve been building as a national community since the 1970’s. When organic food and healthy eating loses its somewhat elitist undertones and is readily available to all levels of society that will be the true celebration of earth day.

Liz B., London, UK, professor of agricultural studies: Being a mother of two little kids in an overcrowded city I try to celebrate earth day everyday with my boys. Joy is only three, but already knows what items go in the blue recycling box! I think getting your kids involved and exposed to all aspects of the community in which you live will help them understand the global message of protecting the planet as they grow. We’re celebrating this year by planting a new tree!

Kim P., San Francisco, expecting mother UCLA school of medicine: Is Earth Day important? Of course it is! Are people actually responding that it’s not? As population density keeps increasing, this observance is more important than ever. For a society that claims to have some of the best health care on the planet it’s ironic that we still have so many sick people here. The Earth Day message is one that makes us stop if only for a moment to remind us that health care is earth care!

Looking for a fun way to celebrate earth day?

• Plant a tree or garden with your kids.
• Replace your current cleaning products with eco-friendly choices
• Get friends together for a city-wide recycling clean up. Talk to people on the streets about what you’re up to
• Start taking shorter showers
• Participate in a learning activity about the environment at a local university or library
• Skip the plastic at the grocery store
• Ride your bike

Christine M. Dionese L.Ac. specializes in integrative medicine, medical journalism and is the VP of marketing at WellWire LLC. Visit her wellness and lifestyle blog, Reaching Beyond Now.

Photo by turtlemom4bacon.

Last month while visiting Rochester I popped into the local market my parents have shopped at my entire life. Only having purchased 3 items, but realizing I’d forgotten my re-usable shopping bag, I opted to go bag-less. Before I could get the words, “no bag thank you,” out of my mouth, the young man behind the counter had begun dropping my stuff in a plastic bag. I quickly said, “oh no thanks, only 3 things, no need for a bag, save it for the next person.” To my astonishment he pulled my items out, handed them over like a robot, and threw the un-used bag into his garbage!

Can’t wait until the chap behind the counter cheerfully asks, “hey, how are ya?” instead of, “paper or plastic?” When I first moved to California almost a decade ago I was amazed at how much organic produce was readily available. I was continually baffled at the plastic mess it was packaged in though!

I’ve heard a lot of folks remark, “oh, it’s paper it’ll degrade” or “what’s a little piece of plastic actually gonna do if it just stays in a dump?” I regularly pipe up with answers to those ludicrous questions.

Reaching Beyond Paper or Plastic

While reading an issue of Dwell I lit up when I saw an article titled The Future of Groceries. It reviewed three brilliantly simple ways to enhance our entire method of procuring and storing the foods we love. Summing it up, creative concept idea machine, Marti Guixe says, “food design, if properly done, should eliminate superfluous packaging.” Complimenting this sentiment is Food Probe’s Home Farming Unit, a biosphere containing live seafood with the ability to grow vegetables. Imagine how wonderful it will be to maintain just what you need, excess free!

Shopping Conscientiously

Until these farming units hit our homes, consider every action you put forward with what I call whole conscious thinking:

• Buying organic? Great job! Now consider, am I purchasing my food from a sustainable source? Go online or ask neighbors where the local farmer’s markets are located. Many farms now offer a twice monthly service farmer’s box chock full of the season’s best.
• The next time you’re shopping compliment your grocer on what you see them doing best. Politely suggest they offer re-usable shopping supplies or they leave produce un-wrapped free of plastic packaging.
• Don’t forget to get an update from your waste management company of the items you may recycle each week with your other trash. At the end of the week our recycling bins are absolutely over-flowing. Almost all materials you consider garbage can and should be recycled. If your company doesn’t take certain items, find an alternative resource for your garbage. We save any plastic bags that might come into the house via guests to be later taken down the street, where our local market will recycle them for the public.

Reusable Shopping Totes

Just about every grocer now offers (at a small cost) reusable totes for your continued convenience. If you’re like me, you’ll want to support organizations that give back to the environment by donating proceeds. Try a couple of my sturdy faves:

• Envirosax. Can fit the equivalent of 3 full plastic bags or about 2 full paper sacks.
• ACME bags. Reusable Bag Company designed their own line of re- and up-cycled shopping totes and ACME bags are great for bicycle baskets!
• Etsy often features bags made by independent designers in their own homes, many of whom donate a certain amount of profits to various charities.

Remember to wash that re-usable shopper every couple of times you bring it home. Un-washed, bacteria has a chance to thrive in your tote. Kind of defeats the purpose if your shopper turns into a bacterial breeding ground. Give your totes a pre-shop spruce by spraying a few shots of Clean Well’s thyme and citrus oil sanitizer and shake to dry!

Christine M. Dionese L.Ac. specializes in integrative medicine, medical journalism and is the VP of marketing at WellWire LLC. Visit her wellness and lifestyle blog, Reaching Beyond Now.

Photo by MissFikrah.

Follow the rose petal road for an eco-friendly DIY romantic getaway in your own house that starts om the dining room and ends in the bedroom.

First off, cook your sweetie a delicious Vegetable Puttanesca, fast enough to whip up in under an hour. There’s nothing more romantic than a hearty, gluten, egg, soy, and cow dairy free pasta dish that’s packed with nutrients and flavor. Decorate your dinner table with Sweet Basil Soy Candles by BsaB Candles for the appetizing scents of basil, tarragon, vetiver and cypress.

By Sweet n Sara.

After dinner, you continue to follow the rose petal road until you reach the Living Room Detour. Dessert time! Indulge in some Vegan Marshmallows by Sweet & Sara, 100% gelatin free, 100% vegan! Enjoy them with a cup of hot chocolate made with almond nut milk. Organic Jar shows how to make a quick and easy nut milk recipe on this webisode: How to Make a Nut Milk.

Set up a basket of organic bubble bath items (choose among three all-natural, eco-friendly bath treats care of green shopping site, Pristine Planet!). Will you choose an All Natural Chocolate Truffle Bath that is certified organic and biodegradable? Or maybe a Stress Relief Bath Tea that is organic and handmade? Perhaps you need something like Aching Body Bath Brews infused with peppermint, tangerine, rose geranium, eucalyptus, and other relaxing blends that will soothe your tired, aching body. Take your pick, and save the rest for another day!

By dMap.

After a luxurious, organic bath, you’re ready to go to bed. As you follow the remaining rose petals that lead to the final destination, you find that your little sleeping nook was transformed into a private spa! Natural Bamboo Candles by BsaB Candles surround your bed, and Essential Oils aromatherapy (also by BsaB Candles) fill the air. And the best part about your final destination? Massage therapy! You can find massage therapists that specialize in home visits, so set your private couples massage appointments now!

I hope you enjoyed WellWire’s Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt! Use these ideas to make V-Day eco-friendly and romantic for your partner, or just yourself. Much love to everyone!

Karla Mercado lives in New Mexico and is the author of Balancing Tenderfoot. She is passionate about human medicine, nutrition, and writing.

Photo by Hamed Saber.

This time of year it seems like there’s a family feast, office party or cocktail party almost every evening. I think it’s nice to take a small gift. Here are my top five choices for personal, eco-friendly gifts that won’t break the bank.

• Toys. Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow will find it hard to resist such cute, environment-friendly toy critters, like the ones from Dandelion, creator of earth-friendly toys. Last year, I couldn’t help taking advantage of their Imagine A Better World collection, which was based on John Lennon’s old sketches for his son, Sean. This year, try out their Believe Plush Collection, which was created to “inspire families to think about their impact on the planet.” Their toys are made with organic terrycloth and stuffed with natural corn fiber.

• 

  By GiFrancis.

  Tea lovers gift bag. Gather up aromatic, tasty tea leaves and add a personal touch to your gift bag by making inspirational cloth tea bags. They are so easy to make, and your tea drinking friend need not worry about wasting any more filter paper. Check out my article, The Perpetual Tea Bag, to learn how to make this fun, environment-friendly kitchen must-have. Add a little inspiration by attaching a little note or quote at the end of the tea string.

• Green journal. Surprise a writer pal with a beautiful, eco-friendly journal made with recycled paper and natural materials. My favorite find is the Blue Batik Writing Journal by the Village Artisan. It is handmade from 100% recycled cotton, and its writing papers are inlaid with aster petals.

• 

  Via Apartment Therapy.

  Beeswax lined cloth. This is a great alternative to wasteful plastic wrap. Abeego came up with a unique line of reusable food wraps and covers made with hemp and infused with a combination of beeswax and plant extracts. It works just as well as regular plastic wrap (maybe even better) and even smells good! Most importantly, it’s reusable and easily hand washable.

• Used books. Books may sound like an overused gift idea, but a lot of book lovers, including myself, love receiving used books more than brand new ones. The mysterious history of the previous owner makes these kinds of books exciting to receive. But the best part about buying used books is that you prevent these perfectly good copies from being thrown into the dumpster.

Happy (green) holidays!

Karla Mercado lives in New Mexico and is the author of Balancing Tenderfoot. She is passionate about human medicine, nutrition, and writing.

Photo by Xray Delta 1.

I make my own cleaning products here in sunny San Diego. Why? I live just a few blocks from the ocean and I often see my die-hard surfer friends in the water, rain or shine. After each rainfall they tend to get sick because everything we put down our drains really does end up downstream.

The next time you’re about to pour, flush, or dump anything down the drain, consider this: 260 contaminants have been found in US drinking water, with less than half of these adhering to any safety standards. Ken Cook at the Environmental Working Group notes that 41 of these contaminants come from the chemical laden products we use in our homes! Organizations like Ken’s and The Surfrider Foundation offer the most current research on protecting our water supplies.

It’s easier than you may think to keep our water clean though! One of the best eco-friendly impacts you can make is deciding what you choose to put down your drain. Treating your water right at home equals improved water quality down at the ocean.

Keep these simple rules in mind when making your eco-friendly cleaning supply purchases:

• Go for plant based compounds that are dye and parfum free
• Look for a neutral ph
• Choose products that are labeled “readily biodegradable” and have been packaged in recyclable materials
• Visit Debra’s List where she rates all natural cleaning supplies based on ingredients as well as getting the job done!

Make your own and get your mad eco-scientist on!

Remember that vinegar and baking soda volcano you made explode in the 5th grade? For less than twenty bucks, you can purchase all the goodies required to blend up your own personal batches of eco-friendly cleaning supplies!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 bag of lemons
• 1 large box of baking soda
• 1 large bottle of white vinegar
• Distilled H20
• Dry salt
• Dr. Bronner’s castille soap
• Old toothbrushes and small soft scrub brushes

The Formulas: Grab Your Apron

• For kitchen bathroom and tile floors: Add 1/2 cup of baking soda and the juice of 2 lemons to 1 quart of boiling water.
• For grout: Same as tile floor recipe plus 1/2 cup of salt
• For glass: Combine the juice of 2 lemons with 1 pint of white vinegar
• For drains: Pour 1 cup of baking soda into the drain immediately followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Allow to fizz then add another 1/ cup of vinegar. Finish with 2 quarts of hot water.
• For clothing stains: Put 1 cup of room temperature distilled water in a dish and put 1/4 cup of baking soda in a different dish. Scrub the two into the stain, gently, with a brush. Rinse off with warm distilled water.
• For wooden furniture: Mix 2 Tablespoons of Dr. B’s soap with 4 cups of warm distilled water.

Happy cleaning!

Christine M. Dionese L.Ac. specializes in integrative medicine, medical journalism and is the VP of marketing at WellWire LLC. Visit her wellness and lifestyle blog, Reaching Beyond Now.

Photo by Famona Forcella.

As a kid, I loved waking up to watch Saturday morning cartoons. Between segments the local energy company ran this animated ad featuring a winged light bulb that flew around the television screen singing, “who needs that night light, there’s no reason to be scared of the dark kids. Close your eyes, sleep tight, you’ll wake up to see the sunlight!” My parents weren’t sure why I believed an imaginary light bulb over their reassuring words, but it worked! Lights off!

Luckily, the message stuck. I would have prepared a song today, but my singing voice isn’t that great, so here are a few simple steps to share with your family to begin cutting your carbon footprint. Start at home and soon you’ll experience an extension of your good habits at work and school too! 

The road to weight loss

Living by the beach means I have the luxury of riding my bicycle just about everywhere. You can imagine how surprised I am when I actually do pay at the pump! Have you ever considered that we’re actually paying for your gas by the pound? Driving around with a full trunk, an unused roof rack, or on wheels that are 3 times larger than necessary for your vehicle, determines both the frequency and amount of fuel your vehicle needs to carry all that extra weight. Shed the extra pounds now and you’ll save at the pump. What you leave behind at home can increase fuel efficiency by 10%!

Unplug after use

Did you know you’re paying money for your appliances even when they’re not in use? If you’re leaving them plugged into an electrical outlet be assured, the meter is running! Mobile phone chargers and unused power strips are two of the most common culprits left plugged into outlets. Over time they’re slowly sucking valuable energy and money out of your home and pocket book. If you really want to know what you could be saving invite your local energy company to drop by for an audit to learn where you could be saving more and using less. The average home will save $10-20 a month by simply unplugging unused appliances.

Break the habit

Done brewing the am coffee, simply unplug the maker. Hair blown dry?  Unplug and put away the dryer.

How to conserve in the bathroom

We all enjoy a hot shower for sure, yet studies show that the hotter the shower, the longer you stay, draining more water and energy than necessary. Energy efficient experts suggest setting your hot water heater between 120-130 degrees to get this balance. Keeping your water heater between these temps ensures your dishwasher won’t be over-consuming as well.

Conserving in the kitchen

Save a little heat when using your stovetop or oven. Use the smallest cookware for the job. No sense in heating up a 3 quart pan for only 1 cup of rice. Take advantage of your convection setting as well. Convection cooking not only speeds up the process, using less heat, it ensures as well that food is evenly and properly cooked throughout.

Drink more water and keep it from going down the drain!

• Brushing your teeth? Turn the water off or use about 4 ounces of pre-drawn water to complete the job.
• Shaving in the shower? Get a little wet and then turn off the faucet while shaving and lathering up.
• Have a garbage disposal? Try composting. Garbage disposals use copious amounts of energy and water to grind up waste into tiny particles. Composting requires less energy and allows your food scraps to be used as re-purposed materials.
• Leaky faucet or shower? Maybe you can’t get it fixed today. Until you do, place a bucket beneath the leak and use the excess water to feed the house plants and garden.
• Landscaping. Plant foliage indigenous to your locale so that excess sprinkling and watering can be avoided. Consider plants that will lend shade in the warmer summer months to reduce water use.
• Washing dishes. Stop running that water unless you’ve got something directly under it! You can accomplish the job without blasting the stream as well.  Experts say an energy efficient dishwasher saves you water and money in the long run.
• Clothes washing. Wear it once, twice, three times before washing. If you can’t afford it now, consider saving for a front loading washer and dryer. Even if it’s not hot outside, a swift breeze allows for most articles of clothing to dry on a line.

Christine M. Dionese L.Ac. specializes in integrative medicine, medical journalism and is the VP of marketing at WellWire LLC. Visit her wellness and lifestyle blog, Reaching Beyond Now.

Photo by webwebwork.

While taking the first day tour of my new office 2 years ago, I immediately noticed the space was sans recycling bin. Hang with me for a day and you’ll notice I recycle everything I can, even the toilet paper rolls. I’ve been known to walk out of my hotel room carrying the recyclables if they don’t offer a separate bin in my room! So, you can probably guess what I did on day 2 at the new office. Here’s a guide to starting a recycling program at your own office or practice:

1. Nominate yourself head of the recycling crew and put a smile on your face. Ignore any eye-rolling as you may encounter “resisters.” Don’t worry, they’ll catch on. Helping is a contagious act and helping behavior to benefit the group will increase your sense of belonging and accomplishment.

2. Give everyone an opportunity to recycle. Obtain and strategically place boxes or bins in several locations so that each person in the office has the opportunity to recycle. Key locations are the copy and fax area along with the kitchen and break rooms. Tip: Show fellow employees the personal smaller box you keep below your desk to be taken to the larger bins at the end of the day or week.

3. Label each bin by placing signs for all to see. How you decide to disperse the bins will help you decide what goes where. Some cities require recycling separation. This would require you to make a separate bin for paper, cans and bottles, plastic, and cardboard paper. Remember, recycling is supposed to be easy, so help everyone out by making labels to ensure the correct items correspond to the bins. Tip: You can quickly go online to see what your city or waste management department requires by visiting your local chamber of commerce.

4. Reuse bin. Want to be a shining example of how your company can start saving on the supply end? Place two bins in the copy and fax area. One labeled “double sided paper only” and the other labeled “one sided paper only.” At the end of the week, grab two co-workers excited about recycling and make recycled note-pads. All you’ll need is 15 minutes and the office paper cutter. Cut the remaining one-sided sheets into 4 or 6 squares and voila, note-pads to replace sticky notes. To encourage their use the first week, kindly hand out to other employees and leave a small box with extras located in the copy and fax area.

More tips:

Have a friendly chat with the maintenance or house-keeping crew. Ask them not to empty your garbage unless there is food or it’s full to the top. You can also arrange a simple system similar to the “bra on the hotel room door trick.” If it’s ready to be taken away then tie the bag closed before leaving the office. If it still has room, simply leave it un-tied.

After you’ve put it all in place, I’ll let you borrow my soapbox so you can let everyone know what’s up with recycling in the office! Keep it simple and cheerful, show everyone how easy it is, let them know you’ve labeled everything, and then welcome any questions.

To increase the effectiveness of your plan, encourage fellow employees to only place food and perishable items in the receptacles located within the dining and kitchen areas. It’s okay to eat at your desk still, just walk it over to the other room once finished.

At the end of the first week, take a look in your regular garbage can. If it’s only half full you’re doing a great job! Just to double check, look into your garbage and fish out any plastic or other potentially recyclable items!

Most cities allow and encourage you to recycle the following:

• newspapers
• printed papers
• sticky note paper
• labels
• plastic bottles and containers (see which numbers your city accepts)
• plastic lids from coffee cups
• cardboard coffee cups
• cardboard insulator surrounding coffee cups
• coffee tray/holders
• plastic utensils
• toilet and paper towel rolls
• pizza boxes
• paper bags
• glass bottles and broken glass
• aluminum cans

Feeling crafty?

Recycle your old mailing boxes into next year’s office planner!

Does your company recycle their ink cartridges, computers, and cellular phones?

Most major manufacturers offer complimentary recycling packages that arrive with your new cartridges and mobile phones.  Just fill up the recycling bag with your old cartridges and mail the package on them! Staples offers a cool program called Staples Soul to recycle your technological relics.

When we associate positive future value with our actions, you can see how the possibilities become limitless! So make your best effort and see how the effects will be successfully contagious!

Christine M. Dionese L.Ac. specializes in integrative medicine, medical journalism and is the VP of marketing at WellWire LLC. Visit her wellness and lifestyle blog, Reaching Beyond Now.

Photo by Bah Humbug.

I had an English neighbor who wagged his finger disapprovingly when they first came out with 1 gz cellphones, circa 1997. “Cancer,” he spat. Even cordless phones with a high enough frequency were off limits. What’s the new iPhone, 3 gz?

I was watching the news last night, a mainstream channel I can’t remember which, and they had a piece on the dangers on cellphones. Cellphones are so ubiquitous that to even think they cause harm is perhaps blasphemous. But what if? There is no denying the radiation bulls-eyed almost directly to your brain is there.

My argument to the grim critics of the information age has always been that this type of radiation is homogenous on this planet. TV, radio, microwaves etc., they’re all over the place. Whether or not you use cell phones we are bathing in enormous amount of this type of radiation. Clearly people that live under power lines have an increased risk of cancer, so who’s to say the accumulation of cellphone radiation at such close proximity is benign. Perhaps its time to rethink this a little.

I don’t want to go through all the scientific literature and studies because there is so much claiming doom and so much claiming ponies and rainbows. Common sense would say cellphones are potentially a compact DNA mutating weapon. But are we just so far in denial because of the incredible convenience of cellphones?

I”m not about to give up mine, lets be honest. But here’s a list of the 20 highest radiation cellphones, and one of the lowest. Start with this, then patiently await lunar colonization and a utopic radiation free world.

Regardless of which phone you choose, don’t use your cellphone and drive at the same time unless you have a headset. (Bluetooth headsets mean more radio waves). Oh, and don’t use your cell while pumping gas (you increase your risk of blowing up).

Photo by hamed parham.

Here’s your safest alternative: an iCarrierPigeon

Photo by So P.

Or the more compact iCarrierPigeon mini (now shoots video)

Dr. Nishant Rao is a co-founder of WellWire.com. He is a well-traveled naturopathic doctor and new father, practicing an integrative approach to create wellness in and around Los Angeles. Become a patient or discover his practice.