Do you remember the article on my bug fetish, “What’s Bugging Summer Rayne,” I wrote years ago for SASS Magazine, as per Sean’s request?

Well, I just got a whole new troupe of arthropods in today, which is cause for great excitement. My friend, Jake and I were preparing the terrariums all weekend. There were a few mishaps along the way. Jake fell off the ladder while hanging up some plants and put a foot straight through one of the glass cases. He cut himself up pretty badly and we had to go get peroxide and bandages because he was a bleeder. Right after that, we had to go back to the pet store to get another terrarium.

Then this morning, UPS never delivered the blasted insect package because the plane had been delayed. Finally, UPS came back, but only on a whim because the shipper misspelled my street name. Thank goodness they found me–otherwise I would have had a box of fried cockroaches!

Right now I have two terrariums: Forest terrain and desert terrain–to accommodate the different habitat preferences of the species. I’m in agreement with Jake: The desert terrain is pretty damn sweet. I have a number of succulents and a coconut hut, the latter which has been the hotbed of insect activity. I think the Madagascar hissing cockroach (who is more suitable in the forest terrain, but had to separate him from the female roaches for obvious reasons) is shacking up right now with a desert millipede in the hut. That inspires me to actually create a new terrarium with little coconut huts with signs like, “The Roach Motel,” “The Bug Bar,” “Centipede Shoe Shine”….you know, the usual hang-out joints for beasts like these.

I have a lot of new insects that I haven’t raised before, like the red-backed darkling beetles and common darkling beetles. I was actually surprised that they do headstands as a defensive mechanism, which is pretty cool. They’re related to the blue death-feigning beetles, (which I have raised before), and who actually roll over and play dead. Well, at least I know they are pretty agile–maybe I should start a coconut hut-gymnasium.

Another newcomer is the absolutely stunning show-stopper of a bug: A female Hercules beetle. She has not removed herself from the organic banana and kiwi slices, but graciously shares them with the Black African millipedes (my favorite) and the red-backed darklings. This will provide endless hours of enjoyment for me…Just wait until I start walking them in Bryant Park… ;o)

A female blue death-feigning beetle on a succulent

Check out more from eco model Summer Rayne on her blog.

FashionEthic is a new online ecofashion boutique and they’re having a summer sale at 20%-70% off with some consciously curated cuteness. They’re adding some great lines in the near future so be sure to check back for their fall collections.

The Lizzie Parker Trenchy Coat overcame me with it’s bamboo/organic cotton lovliness- I’ll admit I bought one for myself: Who can resist those huge, white buttons? I know it’s going to be damn comfy too.

Kaight, my fave local (NYC) ecofashion resource is offering 50% off their summer stuff- and keep in mind that we have at least two months of summer left (at least here in the Northeast, you southerners have even more). My absolute fave summer 2008 trend? The shorts romper! So easy to wear, so comfy, so kid-on-a-bike free feeling! I got the organic cotton Rogan one from the Barney’s sale I blogged about here. Kaight has a few different rompers, as well as cute dresses, tanks and more.

Eairth Ifugau Romper in organic cotton; on the site the shop’s owner, Kate, says she’s been wearing this one herself- a serious endorsement.

Beklina’s also having a 20-50% off summer sale, and every single piece in the online store is perfectly precious (in a totally modern and fabulous way, not an “aren’t-you-precious?”-cheek-pinching sort of way, promise).

This sailor-inspired skirt (nautical is hot for Autumn this year!) by Del Forte will definitely work now with a (blue and white nautical?) tank and later with a striped long-sleeve and tights.

Get ready chickies! My book, based on this very blog, will be available in just a few short weeks!!

The Eco Chick Guide to Life: How to Be Fabulously Green contains all new content that you won’t find here on the blog, and (hint, hint) makes a great present for yourself or for those stylish slackers in your life who are clueless about their planetary impact. Show them how to care (nicely, of course!) and get them this book!

With chapters on ecofashion (shocking, I know!), natural beauty, how to green your home from bedroom to kitchen to bathroom, ecotravel (on a budget), and how to detox your workplace, this little book will fill you (or that eco-bum in your life) in. Fun and entertaining, it will fit in your bag for all those times you’re stuck waiting on line and need something to read. I wrote it so you can flip to almost any page and dive in; no bookmarks necessary.

Yes, of course it’s printed on recycled paper. Geez I feel bad enough about printing it on paper at all, but the hope is that its positive impact will far outstrip its resource use. Fingers crossed!

You can pre-order now on Amazon (and read the very lovely review from Publisher’s Weekly there too), so you’ll get one of the first of the presses!

Love, and Happy Readings,
Starre

The folks over at Zaproot continually impress me with their weekly show. This round is one of the best ever, showcasing a devious greenwashing plan in Texas and how you can buy an iPhone (guilty!) and recycle it too.

Futurenatural’s Emma Pezzack

Though it may feel like makeup is a necessity when you wake up exhausted, hung over or both, in reality our little pots and tubes of color are extravagances. And like four-dollar coffees, frosted-to-death cupcakes and doggie sweaters, these little indulgences are what makes life fun.

But at what cost do our good times come, to both our health and that of the planet (which is really one and the same)? I’m not the only one who thinks that life’s little luxuries should come with zero impact; if it’s not necessary, then the first rule should be “do no harm.”

Good thing the beauty industry is catching on. Following in the wake of sustainable fashion, less-toxic makeup is now available everywhere from the drugstore (Physician’s Formula’s new Organic Wear line to makeup megastore Sephora.) But for a serious selection of the most toxin-free cosmetics, check out online retailers Kaia House, Futurenatural and Beautorium.

We know that consumer pressure can encourage companies to consider the impact of their products, but the makeup industry also works with professional makeup artists (pro-MUAs) who can have influence on both the companies’ products they use and the clients they work with. GreenMUA has a great listing of companies, articles and links for pro makeup artists who are interested in making their industry more sustainable.

I spoke with the Australia-bred Emma Pezzack, the owner and founder of Futurenatural, about Earth-friendly makeup for regular women and the new move by makeup artists to bring these products into the pro makeup arena.

Starre Vartan: What put you on the path toward sustainable cosmetics?

Emma Pezzack: In a nutshell I grew up organic (my family lived on a farm) and my parents were very self-sufficient and all about being seriously resourceful. We had cows, goats, chickens, fruit trees and a massive veggie garden. My mum used to round us up on Saturday mornings and we’d have to pick caterpillars and slugs from the veggies since we never used any pesticides. That was just how we lived and it really stayed with me. After working in beauty (as a makeup artist and on the business side) since I was 15, one day I had an epiphany that I wanted to create something that resonates with what I’ve done and what I want to do that will have influence in the beauty community. I really want to impact the world in a positive way.

SV: How do you decide what products to offer at Futurenatural?

EP: Right now we have 25 lines altogether, with more to come. Our vetting process is stringent. It’s not enough to be a brand with organic and natural ingredients. We also look at the social impacts and other environmental impacts like packaging. It must be well-designed and cannot contain any highly suspect ingredients. No parabens, petrochemicals or propelyne glycol allowed!

SV: Can makeup used on models and movie stars really be environmentally friendly and still work well?

EP: The days of organic and natural makeup being hippy-dippy are long past. That said, there were a lot of dodgy makeups that didn’t perform in the past. But as a makeup artist I can say there are now plenty of products that are as amazing as conventional stuff. I want to make that known and increase awareness. I’ve been talking with Sarah Brown at Vogue, as well as editors at Body and Soul and Lucky, and they are all interested and excited about what we’re doing.

Scores of designers are interested in sustainable fashion and we have a great opportunity to follow through with natural makeup and hair. I want to connect with industry as a whole. I’d love to work with someone like Stella McCartney and supply her with a team of makeup artists who have a suite of brands in their kits that she can then use in her shows.

I am always on the lookout for good environmentally conscious children’s books. Telling the story of Knut the world’s famous baby polar bear, in their book by the same name (Scholastic 2007), Craig Hatkoff and his two daughters Isabella and Juliana paint the picture of one precious little creature who needed human help to survive.

The Hatkoff family have written five children’s books together, including “Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship,” a true story about an orphaned baby hippo adopted by a giant tortoise in Kenya. The Hatkoffs have written together since Julia had her tonsils out and they penned the NY Times bestseller “Good-bye Tonsils.”

Knut, the polar bear, was rejected by his mother at birth, so one of the zookeepers, Thomas Dorflein (of the Berlin Zoo) took it upon himself to nurse the tiny bear into big bear-hood. Only able to eat four tablespoons of milk at a time, Dorflein had to be up with the cub every two hours to make sure Knut’s tummy was full.

As Knut grew and became a great attraction at the Berlin Zoo, people fell in love with the bear and he inspired many to think about habitat preservation and slowing global warming. Knut became such a celebrity that he has been featured on the cover of Vanity Fair and People magazine.

The Hatikoffs encourage personal action in their book to help “keep polar bears safe.” With a message of respect for our fellow creatures and personal action to help slow the global warming process, Knut is a heartfelt story that teaches kids to honor nature.

Many people think that when you live in the suburbs you are only surrounded by tiny plots of land with mowed lawns and white picket fences. That’s not the case for me. I am very fortunate to live within a half mile of a forest reserve of more than 2,000 acres of undeveloped land. Twice a week my friend and I take an 1-1.5 hour hike — no matter the weather, no matter the season, we take her dog and hike.

So I was really excited when I was offered the opportunity to test out a new brand of high-performance eco-friendly trail shoes. Now I’ve seen eco-friendly clothing and everyday footwear. Never before have I seen green footwear for athletic and fitness needs — think Nau for the outdoor fitness enthusiast.

Launching August 1st, ENDoutdoor (END) is a new sustainability company that is focused on designing outdoor gear that performs well without all the “bells and whistles”- no pumps or air cushions that don’t really do anything. By keeping it simple, END reduces components, material and manufacturing waste. END’s stated goal is to reduce waste up to 59% in the first season compared to the top rate trail running shoes.

Their trail shoes are made from renewable, sustainable or recycled (RSR) materials wherever possible. The company’s goal is to reach 100% use of RSR in the next 3-5 yrs. END shoes are being manufactured in China. China, I know what you are thinking! However, the company made a conscious decision by going to China. They believe that China is the best choice because they want to be part of the solution by working closely with manufacturers to make the processes as eco-friendly as possible. END is teaching Chinese manufacturers how to produce environmentally, not just low-cost. The company hopes this focus spreads beyond just the producing of END’s shoes.

One of the most interesting features of END’ manufacturing process is that all materials used to make the shoes are sourced within 1 hour of the production factory, cutting down on transportation pollution. Additionally, all wastes are recycled back into the shoes, and the shoes are shipped in lightweight containers, cutting down on use of fuel for shipping. Importantly, END shoeboxes are made of recycled and recyclable material.

So how do they actually perform in the field? I love them. I have been hiking in the END Stumptown 12 oz running shoes (pictured above) that use 35-59% less material; rubber, foam, resins and glues (compared to the top five trail shoes by Outside Magazine in 2007).

From the feel, they sure seem like it. They are comfortable, light and stable. No fancy colors or logos. I even went hiking the other day with my husband and we took a new route. We had to cross a river that we both fell in. My END sneaks dried out in the the sun in about an hour and my husband’s Adidas Sambas (not the best hiking shoes) were still wet that night!

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PMS sucks – there’s no way around it. I’d like to be one of those nature chicks who gush about their sacred moon and honoring the body’s cycle and appreciating every aspect of it and all that stuff. But, it’s hard to be so optimistic when you’re cranky, tired, crampy and bloating up like a balloon. For those days when even your fat pants don’t fit, there are a few herbal allies that will quickly become your best friends. Beat PMS bloating with these natural remedies.

Dandelion – That’s right, the weed that grows in your yard. We’ve been brought up to think of this plant as a nuisance, but it’s actually got some wonderful medicinal and nutritional properties. It’s high in iron and many vitamins, and acts as a strong diuretic. For that reason, it’s often used to cleanse the liver and kidneys. You can get the dried leaves in capsule form or as a tincture at the health food store, or make a tonic yourself with a handful of freshly picked leaves steeped in a pint of hot water for 20 minutes. Drink a cup twice daily. The yellow flowers and leaves are both edible, but be sure to only pick the tender young leaves before the flowers appear, or they’ll be tough and bitter. The root is also edible, and is often used as treatment for digestive disorders.

Fennel seed – The stalks of this licorice-flavored plant are often used in cooking, but the seeds are what pack the PMS-fighting punch. It, too, has diuretic properties that will help relieve the dreaded bloating. It also has properties that ease bloating caused by gas. A great way to use fennel is to take it as tea – it tastes great, and it will soon help you to start feeling more like yourself again.

Peppermint – This delicious herb has so many uses, from relieving headaches to soothing the gastrointestinal tract. It relaxes smooth muscle and eases inflammation, can help stabilize mood swings and eliminates gas, which can contribute to bloating. Like fennel seed, the best way to use peppermint to relieve bloating is to drink it as tea. Peppermint tea is commonly found in most grocery stores.

You can purchase all three of these herbs in various forms online from Mountain Rose Herbs. Hampstead also has a delicious organic fair trade peppermint tea!

Starre with mango on my face (and in yummy chunks in the bowl)!

The big cosmetics companies have been slapping the “AHA” label on skin cleansers, creams and masks for a few years now, but translate that sciencey-sounding name (AHA stands for alpha-hydroxy acids) and you get simple fruit acids, which you can find in high concentrations in the skin and meat of a variety of fruits, and without the preservatives beauty products usually use.

At the recommendation of a natural facialist, I’ve been giving myself my own AHA facials with mangoes, a much-beloved fruit around my house. And I can report much smoother, softer skin after I do my routine (detailed below). Also, you get to eat the mango and it smells delicious on your skin! (Unlike my other fave all-natural beauty routine- my avocado hair mask- but hey, it works great…)

How To Make Your Own AHA Mango Facemask:

1. Start with an organic, fair-trade mango and rinse it well under the tap (you can use a teensy bit of all-natural soap if it’s sticky from other-mango juice).

2. Holding the mango lengthwise, cut the skin (but not deep into the mango) in four or five long cuts, from the top where the mango would have attached to its tree to the bottom.

3. Gently peel the skin away from the mango fruit (kinda like peeling an orange except the skin is thinner so you have to be more gentle).

4. Do what you will with the mango body- I usually just eat the whole thing from off the pit in a frenzy of mango-love but some more civilized people will cut them into chunks to eat in a fruit salad or use them in a smoothie.

5. Turn the skin inside-out so the soft yellow inside of the mango faces out, and rub all over your face (bonus! you can nibble on it as you spread it around; goofy but fun and the very definition of natural luxury- haven’t you always wanted to eat a yummy-smelling facemask?).

6. Let dry for 15 minutes or so, then rinse off using a mild facial cleanser. Moisturize as usual. Make sure to use sunscreen as the natural fruit acids leave your skin more prone to sun damage.

7. Touch super-soft skin and rejoice!

How It Works: AHA’s (fruit acids, found in high levels on the inside of mango skins and other fruits) break down the bonds between dead skin cells, so they get washed away more easily when you rinse the mask off. See Care2 for more info and ideas/recipes.

My family and I are strong believers in eating locally and organically. In the late fall, winter and early spring, we get food deliveries from a services called Door-to-Door Organics and in the late spring, summer and fall we are members of a local CSA called Asbury Village Farm.

However, the most local you can get is to grow in your own yard. One of the things my husband and I were excited about when we moved to the suburbs 5 years ago was to have our own vegetable garden. However, as it happened, the house we bought has a backyard that is totally wooded — almost 85% shade. Not very promising for tomatos and other veggies that need full sun. We could grow them in our front yard but these fruits and vegetables would be great eats for the plentiful deer, rabbits and groundhogs that inhabit our neighborhood (makes two liberals want to go out and get a gun!)

So after living in our town for about a year, we were going to the local playground with our son. We parked right in front of a community garden. The gate was opened and we walked in to see approximately 70 or so — 10 feet x 15 foot plots– filled with gorgeous vegetables, berries and flowers. Wow, so cool — we had find out how we could get a plot of our own. A small sign at the gate gave the address of the garden club that ran this community garden. My husband wrote a letter telling our story and requesting a plot to tend. While we waited to hear back we talked to everyone and anyone to find out who we could call to speed and influence the decision making process. I tracked down the woman who ran the club and we called her. We were told that there was a long waitlist for the garden and that someone had to give up their plot to for us to get one — but once you get one you can keep it for life! So, disappointed, we waited.

Then one spring the phone call came. There was a plot opening up and it was ours if we wanted it. The garden organizer warned us that it was next to a tree and was shaded, but the last person who tended it had pretty good success growing tomatoes and other veggies. We jumped at the chance to grow our own food. That was three years ago and this summer we were given a second plot, this one in full sun.

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