As I was looking for the most recent organic news, I came across this website.  I had bookmarked it for further research, but now I had some time to really read through the site.  The Organic Consumer’s Association has started a campaign called “Breaking the Chains”  (BTC). Basically, the BTC campaign sums up the reasons to support local, organic, and Fair trade products and businesses. 

For a long time now agribusiness, chain stores, and sweatshops have been ruining our economy and our health. But what do you do if you aren’t familiar with local resources?  Try searching through Local Harvest , a site designed to help you find your local suppliers. Surprisingly enough, when I looked at my area I found at least a dozen places I didn’t know about.  I will be making some visits in the next few weeks to check out these resources.

Take some time to look at BTC’s explanations and resources and let me know what you think. 

no, I have not completely lost my mind. and no, as much as I adore corn based plastics, that is not what this post is about.

I am talking about a wondrous little piece of plastic that gives all of us unfettered, completely gratis access to movies, music and literature. your friend and mine- the library card.

while I had been indulging my artistic cravings through second hand websites and indy bookstores, I was also recently reminded about the beauty of the library. I have certainly taken it for granted and I am so glad to have found my way back. while I was there today, I borrowed An Inconvenient Truth- in honor of World Environment Day. I also picked up Organic, Inc. and Super Foods for Babies and Children. since the library branch is literally 2 blocks away from my apartment, it couldn’t get anymore convenient. I can also check out up to 100 items at a time! now that’s service!
I am sure that all of my finds will provide some wonderful topics here on the organiblog, so I will post bits of interest very soon. if anyone else out there is reading Organics, Inc.- please let me know. I would love to hear your thoughts!

happy reading!

Last week I made soap.  Usually I make soap with lard, but it has always bothered me to use animal fat, so I decided to make soap with olive oil (Castile soap).  The soap turned out rather nice and is still curing.

Castile soap is made with olive oil, lye, and water.  I didn’t add any other chemical to it but it can’t be considered organic.  I wondered then if I could find organic olive oil and when I went looking I got quite an education.  It seems that there are two different standards for grading olive oils.  Europe has one standard and the U.S. has another, more relaxed standard.  In fact, there are definite problems with U.S. grading standards.

In the end, commercially produced olive oil soap can be made from olive oil that has been made using a chemical solvent.  But, because there are no consistent labeling regulations in the U.S., I can’t be totally sure my olive oil soap doesn’t contain these same chemicals.  At least my soap doesn’t contain triclosan, a pesticide found in antibacterial soaps.  I think I can live with that for now. 

I have to admit that I have a certain love-hate relationship with new york. there are some days that it exhausts me just to maneuver through the masses, each hurrying about on their own path, with barely enough time for eye contact- let alone a full minute of rest.

one of the things that I love most about living in the city is the subway. I truly do adore it and all of its steel symphonies. yes, even the screeching metal on metal sound when it comes to a complete stop. the heavy sigh it gives as it starts back on its course, the muffled indeterminable jibberish the conductors bark into the loudspeakers about service changes that never seem to make any sense. the clap of the doors shutting. the bing bong bell sound that alerts you the doors are- in fact- shutting on you.
I love the musicians that travel through the cars and entertain on the platforms. accordians, guitars, full string sections, sitars, harps, mandolins, it is as diverse as the people who travel the trains everyday. the music blaring from the ubiquitous white headphones of the guy sitting across from you. the subtle background bits of conversations mingled together randomly. the blasts from passing trains. the drums made of buckets. the hum. the buzz. the rumbling. the bass from the horns. it is green, it is organic, it is zen.

close your eyes and see for yourself.

namaste.

Christal’s post about bike riding in New York City and some comments by Jill made me think more about the topic of “who we are” in terms of our makeup as an organic community.  At one time we might’ve all fit a stereotype, but no longer.

I would love to ride a bike to town.  But, hauling groceries for a family of 5 in a bike although possible, probably wouldn’t be very practical in Western PA weather (although I might be in very good shape if I did that).  Equally impractical might be the idea of Christal digging up 50 square feet of pavement to grow her years’ supply of vegetables.

With the diversity of our lives, we all have to make the choices that fit our life circumstances and our surroundings.  We are all organic in our own unique way.  Now I’m curious, how are you organic?  What are your circumstances?  What is your organic identity?

The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine.

~John Howard

Hello organifriends!! In my quest for green evolution- I decided to purchase a bike. I went to recycle a bicycle in DUMBO (brooklyn) & Manhattan and they were completely sold out. It would be at least 6 weeks before I would have the opportunity to get my hands on a bike!! I was a little saddened by this, then I realized what a great statement that was in and of itself. Not only has the spring weather nudged all the new yorkers out onto bikes, but they have chosen to support a great non-profit by purchasing used, reconditioned bikes from inner city kids learning a useful skill set. everybody wins!

Being a little impatient, and not wanting to waste the better part of our glorious (is 45 degree May weather glorious? hello, climate change much?) spring & summer weather here– I opted for the next best route. I went to Frank’s Bike Shop in the LES and got a bike that I put on layaway over a year ago (they held it? what?) Since the bike was almost a year old when I put the deposit down, it is now a little under 2 years old and a little worn, but a beauty just the same. See the photo above.

My goals for this little lovely are::

*Ride to work AT LEAST 3 days a week

*Get a basket/carrier so that I may visit the farmer’s markets for my local, organic cravings

*Ride everywhere else that does not require moving of huge bulky items (which, in essence– is basically everywhere!)

In new york, riding a bike can be a bit treacherous with the countless swarms of taxis and crazed drivers- wish me luck!!

It used to be that you could spot an organic consumer a mile away.  She might have long hair pulled to one side in a ponytail, a long peasant skirt, an embroidered cotton blouse, sandals, and the distinct but light scent of patchoulli as she passed by.  Or at least that is the stereotype that comes to mind for many people.

Today though that stereotype doesn’t apply.  According to some recent reports, Asian and Hispanic Americans are more likely to buy organic than the caucasian population.  African Americans are 24% more likely to be organic consumers than the rest of buyers.  This trend in buying organic is not limited to the US, other countries are seeing increases in spending on organic products.

For producers and marketers this should be a wake-up call.  Organic buyers are not limited to just one group or income level.  For those of us who want organic products to be mainstream, this is good news because producers respond to demand.  Higher demand means more availablity of organic products, wider selections, and lower prices.

This organic consumer knows exactly what she will look like when she goes shopping.

we arrived back in nyc a little wiser from the journey, and better prepared for the next. I was going to spend this time rehashing all the green points of my road trip, and then I realized what a green city I am thriving  in right now!

yes, the big green city….. new yorkers on average produce only one third of the national accumulation of 24.5 metric tons of greenhouse gas per person. at a mere 7.1 metric tons per person, we are definitely in the race for one of the greenest cities. how do we do it? this small excerpt from a recent NRDC article may give you just a little insight.  

The primary reason is New York’s population density — the highest in the nation by far — which helps in three ways. First, it makes a truly comprehensive public transit system possible. Second, it makes walking and biking — both emissions-free modes of transportation — viable. And third, it keeps home energy use down (because New Yorkers live in smaller-than-average dwellings).

and that’s just the beginning…..

Other features that make New York one of the country’s more sustainable spots include its pure, unfiltered water supply, extensive curbside recycling program (and now public recycling bins, as well); commitment to green building; and greenmarket program, which makes local foods available in neighborhoods across the city.

it’s just like ol blue eyes sang- IF WE CAN GREEN IT THERE, WE CAN GREEN IT ANYWHERE! NEW YORK! or at least it went something like that, I think…..

for the whole article click here.

Well, it’s another banner day here in Western PA and I am itching to get outside to begin my annual dig.  Every year we plant a garden, something I’ve done since I was 10.  There is a certain satifaction to turning the soil and planting tiny seeds that grow into something beautiful and delicious.

Organic gardening is nothing new.  Most gardens of old were organic, it is just in the recent history of man that we’ve decided that we have to add chemicals to our gardens to make them better.  The truth is, if you are a small garderner, you can easily manage your garden without using pesticides or chemical fertilizers.  Your garden can be small, large, or in containers.

If you love organic vegetables, don’t be shy.  Try growing some of your own this year.  Do it for yourself and the planet. 

I’ll keep you up to date on our progress.  Now it’s time to grab my fork and head outside.

I just wanted to take a moment to honor every mother today, including all of mine. my mom, my granny & the mother to us all- mother earth. I also can’t forget the moms in house here at I’m organic. I hope each and everyone of you have a day filled with gratitude and grace.

namaste.