Eating · Eco-Chick

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Hail to the Co-Op

Living in Vermont during my formative years provided me with a true education in what it means to be “green.” I had my first experience with a grease car, had my first friends who were eating almost entirely from their garden, and had my first exposure to the term co-op. The mecca for this sustainable lifestyle in Southern Vermont is the Brattleboro Food Co-op. Founded in 1975, the co-op, which was once a small buying club, is now a massive store of 16,000 square feet. Visiting the co-op is an opportunity to stock up on necessities and enjoy socializing with like-minded folk.

Being a member of a co-op means taking a direct part in where your food comes from, which in this day and age is vital to many. These democratic organizations are non-profits owned and operated by the members. Co-ops are popular because individuals actually participate in all levels of the process, from ordering produce to running the cash register. This democritization of food-buying leaves people with a strong sense of community and a powerful support for sustainable businesses. Plus, these community hubs usually provide a much more enjoyable shopping experience, with plants everywhere, painted murals on the walls, and often have a kid’s section, as well as yummy deli service.

The Brattleboro Co-op, in particular, has the best deli I have ever frequented. When you first walk into the store, you hit the deli section which is chock full of delicious homemade salads, soups and whole food dishes. Next is the fresh flowers and ready-made teas and coffees, where they have some of the best chai around. The produce section is phenomenal with an array of exotic and domestic organic fruits, an ecclectic selection of fresh locally harvested greens and all the roots and veggies one could imagine.

The commitment to whole foods has made the Brattleboro Co-op a favorite and is highly recommended for anyone travelling through Vermont (there is also the Hunger Mountain Co-op in Montpelier, which is terrific). The food is always vibrant and fresh, and the staff, being members, are always helpful and fun to talk to. My new favorite is the Berkshire Co-op. For more info on co-ops in your area check out the directory. This eco-business list is also useful.

business, car, coffee, community, eating, Eco-Chick, Food, fruit, garden, Home, homemade, local, Organic, Plants, produce, Shopping, soup, style, sustainable, Tea, travel

Non-Plastic "Tupperware" — It Actually Exists

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by Ann Benoit · 04/07/06

Like many people, the idea of non-plastic “Tupperware” was until recently— an urban legend to me (much like inexpensive, attractive and comfy shoes). I’d heard of people who owned the fabled goods, but had never actually seen it myself or knew where to buy it.

On a mission to find out, I discovered that although not as ubiquitous as Tupperware, non-plastic food containers do exist! These products will long outlast their plastic counterparts and won’t warp, stain or absorb odors the way conventional plastic containers do. Plus the concerns many people have with plastic leaching into food isn’t an issue.

My favorite glass container set is Pyrex’s “10 Piece Storage Set with Lids”— the lids are really durable (think: no leaking of soup into your work bag) and since they’re Pyrex, they can go in the oven/microwave for reheating (although I’d remove the lids). Plus the set is pretty reasonably priced ($20 for 5 containers w/lids).

My other new non-plastic favorite for transporting leftovers/lunch is ReusableBags.com’s “Stainless Steel Vacuum Food Jars/Containers” which hold almost 2 cups liquid/food. They’re the perfect size to fit in a bag (less bulky than the glass ones) and keep the contents hot/cold for long periods of time. Plus they’re made of low nickel content stainless steel, which is safe for liquid/food exposure.

Amazon, bags, eating, Eco-Chick, Food, garden, Home, lunch, plastic, shoes, soup, sport, treehugger, urban

"Fairplay" in the Sack

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by Summer Rayne Oakes · 03/15/06

(.)(.) Must be 18 years or older (or the equivalent to AA’s Dov Charney) to read this blog entry.

(Caption: Meet Dov)

According to the Kinsey Institute’s FAQ, 54% of men think about sex every day or several times a day, whereas only 20% of us women, on the other hand, daydream of sex more than once a day (Doskoch, 1995). Hmmm, I guess I’m one of those over-sexed outliers or perhaps that is what really good sex and a long distance relationship does to you: makes you think about it like a man…a very, very dirty man….But I must digress to get to my point.

FOREPLAY. Rule #1: Don’t leave the bed without it. Rule #2: It’s okay to be dirty as long as the items are “clean” – and girls, we got some great clean, green, and fair trade products waiting for you compliments of UK boudoir sex shop COCO DE MER (named after the pine nut that looks like a female’s bottom). For the 75% of us that delight in sexual fantasies as a pleasurable and exciting escape, these products were meant for us.

Funny that I came across this shop, started by daugher Sam of Anita Roddick (of the acclaimed Body Shop) while on a plane to the UK to shoot for a fair trade fashion label as I was reading the straight-laced Financial Times… (Ahhh, Don’t you love when business, fashion, foreplay, and fair trade get in bed together). What a coincidence!

So what type of items do we have in store? My favs include the vintage lace veil; the fair trade spanking paddle; and the fair trade made-in-Brazil cuffs. (I won’t tell you which one is my fav), but you can bet your panties it’s not the veil (way too passive for me).

- As an aside, I HAD to put this in the “EATING OUT” section. I couldn’t resist. Double entendres are truly the spice of life!

Brazil, business, cape, eating, Eco-Chick, Fair Trade, Fashion, resources, spa, vintage, women

Organic in BCN

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by Jennifer Cross · 01/28/06

Spain is the world’s #2 tourist destination following France. In 2003, 51.8 million vacationers descended upon Sunny Spain to bask in the Mediterranean rays and bathe their brains in the best sangria the world has to offer. Not to mention the food — Paella, Jamon Iberico (Iberian Ham), tantalizing tapas, and more olives than you can shake a branch at.

That is all fine and good for carnivorous vacationers eager to slap some fresh salami on their pan (bread) and call it a day. What’s left for those who elect a more organic existence and opt out when it comes to flesh eating carne time? A week-long sustenance on wine from a box and some nuts? Perhaps a few years ago, but even in a slow-to-change country that clings dearly to its three hour lunch break — things are changing.

Spaniards are slowly becoming more open to wholesome living as evidenced by vegetarian alternatives popping up on even the most traditional menus, organic storefronts squeezing their way between carnicerias, and strictly vegetarian restaurants cropping up.

Over the next few postings we will take a look at eco-friendly stores and restaurants in Barcelona. We will focus specifically on Barcelona because it is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in Spain, (those who hail from Madrid will beg to differ), and it is where your faithful correspondent currently resides.

bath, car, eating, Eco-Chick, Food, lunch, Organic, restaurant, spa, vegetarian, Wine

Farmed and Dangerous

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by Starre Vartan · 11/21/05

So we all know that eating fish is a good way to get Omega 3′s, but because we’re all so hungry for the slippery suckers, wild-caught fish is expensive. But hell, we can farm corn and wheat, why not farm fish? Problem solved. Turns out that farming fish causes as many problems, if not more, than catching them from the ocean.

According to luluzine: Vol 2.6:

“The high PCB content these fish contain, not to mention their ubiquitous sea
lice problem, flow over into wild salmon runs and are responsible for 90-97%
of the collapse of these runs, according to marine researcher Alexandra
Morton. Add to that the fact that these fish find all kinds of escape
routes, (there are over a million reported to have gone missing last year,
and it’s suspected that number is actually much higher), and you’ve got
runaway Atlantic salmon breeding in open water, competing with indigenous
fish and consequentially spreading disease.”
According to a 2004 study called, “A Global Assessment of Organic
Contaminants in Farmed vs. Wild Salmon: Geographical Differences and Health
Risks,” (reported to be the most thorough study on the subject done to
date), consuming farmed salmon more than once a month could increase your
risk of getting cancer by, “an unacceptable amount.”