The Wright Earth

Wild about Salmon and Beet Recipe by Roger!

2009-08-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

"With fresh ingredients you can never mess up in the kitchen. Staples should always (and only) include FRESH foods, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and fire. You can't go wrong with that!" - Roger Wright

Here is a step by step guide to making a delicious, nutritious, and healthy primal dinner!

What you need:

* Extra Virgin Olive Oil

* Kosher or Sea Salt

* 2 Large Beets

* Lemon for juice

* Cilantro

* Parsley

* 8 ounces of Salmon (per person), Skin Remains On Until Fish is 80% cooked, then removed and discarded.

* Cast Iron Skillet

What The World Eats

2009-08-20T05:44:00.000-07:00

Taken from the book, Hungry Planet - What The World Eats, by Faith D'Aluisio, Time Magazine compiled a two part magazine spread featuring the weekly groceries of families around the world. While some families are clearly eating healthier than others, you can see how American toxic products, such as coca-cola and processed foods have infiltrated global households. Minus those products, you can see how communities around the world eat a diet based largely around plants and animal proteins. This blog originated after posting a picture on facebook, of our refrigerator filled with our weekly grocery shopping. The picture received numerous mixed comments from shocked to supportive.

When you go into the supermarket, if you shop around the edges you are generally safe, says Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food, among other bestsellers. When you enter any supermarket, you are generally confronted by the produce section; the back wall is for fish, poultry, and meat; and the far wall contains egg and dairy products. The middle isles are scientific modifications of corn, wheat, and soy. If you can go beyond that and get your products from a farm, grass fed beef and the like, you can avoid the "agriculture-industrial complex." It is better for the health of the Earth, the health of local communities, and the health of YOUR OWN BODIES.

I take this opportunity to challenge you to avoid processed foods for ONE week. Go primal as Mark Sisson challenges people in his book, as well as on his blog, Mark's Daily Apple. Comment, leave a note letting us know how it worked for you. Take the challenge, lets us know, what WAS in your weekly grocery shopping to how you changed. Take a before and after shot, post it. I CHALLENGE YOU!

Follow Up

2009-07-16T16:47:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to create a short follow up post on some of the

previously discussed

topics, so here it goes!!

--------------------------

Original Post 4/20/09: Door To Door Organics (Dot Com)!

We love being part of the Manhattan Beach Co-op. The fruits and vegetables are mostly produced locally and delivered fresh once a week. You can be part of the co-op or have your produce delivered right to your door! Save on gas by having your veggies shipped directly to you! As always, for

more informations, chat me up!

Original Post 4/21/09: GDiapers!

I have been using GDiapers for the last year on both of my boys. Yakov wears them at night and Ethan wears them 24/7. I love them. I rec

ommend them. I think they are cute, functional, healthy, and they make my babies happy. I nave have trouble with diaper rashes, I feel good about saving the planet, and I really feel there is no excuse NOT to use them at this point!!! Either way, I have tons of valuable coupons for ANYONE would may like, including this fantasti

c one which will save you tons of money starting up, originally priced at $70.00 it drops to $40.00 for 6 pairs of Everyday G's! Tell Them Julie Sent You With This Code: g559Wright, good though July 31st!!

Original Post 6/2/09: Eco-Sunscreen / Body Care:

I am using and Loving California Baby Products!

Original Post 6/23/09: Organic, Ethically Treated Meat:

Already picked up and ate our Mitzvah Meat Lamb, LOVED it. It was the BEST lamb I have ever eaten in my life; Roger agreed! We have a subscription to

Kosher Conscience and expect pick up to be sometime next week. This is the only type or meat I

will eat, in or out of my home. So

rry, but I will be going vegetarian unless it is at least organic!

Original Post 6/24/09: Open Microphone!

Looking for more questions, comments, concerns to address! Feel free to shoot some over my way!! Thanks to C.A. for that great question! Curious minds want to know, have you changed your water bottle ways for tap!? Fill us in!! ***Check for the update at t

he original blog!!

Original Post 6/26/09:
Soft Star Shoes!
Yakov has a pair of Soft Star Shoes and
loves them! I am now about to purchase a vegan pair for Ethan
instead of other more popular brands made in China. Roger and I are even considering "splurging" on some of the cute
moccasins for the Fall! I highly recommend them for your kid
s!!! Affordab
le and very well crafted. It is also great to know their leathers are formaldehyde free!

Original Post 7/2/09: Z i g o Bike Rider!
I got my bike about 2 weeks ago and love it! I get looks everywhere I go! It takes a little bit of "adjusting" to get used to the feel of the bike, but it is really awesome. My boys, ages 3 and 12 months, love to ride in it. They talk to each other, usually it is a one sided conversation I must admit, but it promotes bonding between my two boys. Everyone asks me about it where ever I go and when asked about the price I just tell them it beats the price of a second car, no gas cost, no insurance, and tune ups are virtually free! Ask me for a discount code!!!

Build a Terrarium!

2009-07-16T04:26:00.001-07:00

Build a Terrarium

Think having a garden requires heavy investment?

The Bite:

Here's a laissez-faire approach: Make a terrarium. Moisture-lovin' plants thrive in these mini-ecosystems with minimal to no regular watering. Building one is a great activity for kids - and artist Kat Geigershowed us how to make one with stuff you already have, so it's not taxing on your wallet either.

The Benefits:

Getting macro fun with micro resources. Terrariums take care of themselves by auto-recycling water, which evaporates from the plants and soil, condenses on the container, and drips back down.
Teaching a supply-side lesson. Terrariums are a fun, easy way for kids to learn how plants work - and after the initial setup, they can just sit back and observe.
No pricey outlays. Any old jar with a lid will work, plus a few bucks' worth of garden supplies.

Wanna Try:

Garden Pet
1 hour

What You Need:

Clean, dry Mason jar (or similar) with lid
1-2 cups pea-size pebbles (for 1 qt. jar)
1-2 cups garden-grade charcoal
2-3 cups potting soil
Chopstick
Terrarium plant (such as tiny toad or pennywort)
Moss to cover
Spray bottle

Directions:

Add pebbles to jar until they're about a 1/2-inch deep for drainage.
Add a 1/2-inch layer of garden-grade charcoal on top of the pebbles. This will keep mildew and mold from growing.
Then add high-quality potting soil to top of charcoal layer, approximately 3/4-inch deep.
Using the chopstick, dig a small hole in the soil. Add the plant, then cover the roots with soil and pat down.
Ease moss into jar so that it surrounds your plant, and use the chopstick to push the moss into the soil.
Use the spray bottle to heavily mist the plant and moss, twist on the lid, and you're done.

Best BIKE Invention YET!

2009-07-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

*** UPDATE: Interested in a Zigo of your own? Enjoy 10% off with this code, good though July!! ZIGOJ4 ***

I am so so so very excited to be posting today! It is quite infrequent that one can find JUST what they were IMAGINING in one's mind sitting right there in a store, but it happened to me today!

As most of you may know, Roger and I love biking, actually... Yakov, Roger, and I all love biking!

Problem #1: What do you do when you're living in the City with two kids and hubby is not up for an adventure? Leave one kid behind?! It pains me to think about all the learning and exposure that child would miss!

Poor Solution #1: Back Seat Bike Trailers? Not so practical in the City I say. The fast cars, buses, the traffic, no one notices it all the way back there (even with those flags)!

Problem #2: Even with one child, what are your options past the one and a half year mark? I loved the IBert seat, had a great time with it. The child is right up close with you on the handle bars, you're able to see them, they see you, steering is a piece of cake! Only problem with that is if your child is tall, or past 2 years old, their legs hit the handlebars and they can not ride safely.

Poor Solution #2: Back seat riders? I am so not thrilled with this, and neither is consumer reports. The seat in the back affects riding stability, if the child suddenly shifts their weight you can tip over, it is not easy to get the child in or out, and I just was not comfortable with this solution. Consumer reports talks again about the rear trailer, but they did not know about this latest bike, our SOLUTION!!!!

Enter the Zigo!!! So today in my desperation to be a green living, biking-for-transportation family, I settled on what I thought was the only option for us, the backseat bike carrier for Roger's bike, while I maintained the iBert for the baby. Again, this meant we BOTH had to ride bikes to take the kids out and only Roger could take Yakov and I was stuck with Ethan. To switch would be too timely, so that was what we settled on.

I step into Roy's bike shop ready to buy when my eye pop at the greatest invention in biking history! a FRONT trailer, a bike with 3 wheels for added stability, the option to change the bike into a 2 wheeler without the trailer attachment, and the options to turn the trailer into a regular stroller as well as a jogging stroller! My mouth dropped. It looks sleek. Designed so well! So functional! And YESSSS It holds TWO children!!! You can even get attachments for a regular bike if you wanted to use the trailer as a rear option-- don't forget your back flag! But YESSSSS YOU CAN! It has a rain cover too!

Just wait, guess who will be sporting one of these sooner than you think? Come and check mine out for yourself! Give it a test ride! Lets bike! RIDE ON!!!!!!

Soft Star Shoes!

2009-06-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

I am just loving these shoes! Check out Soft Star Shoes for amazing barefoot walking shoes for babies through adulthood. I bought a pair for Yakov and I, and Roger is considering splurging for himself as well! Chose from custom colors, cut outs, designs, and styles. The shoes are priced reasonably and hand made in the USA! Buy them, thank me later!

Just for background info, as to why shoes are important:

Caring for a child's feet will benefit their health, mobility and well-being throughout their entire lives. According to the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists,

the 26 bones in our feet are not fully hardened until age 18. In fact, children's feet are composed of relatively soft and flexible cartilage which gradually converts to bone with age. While children's feet are developing, the soft cartilage centers are fusing together. As such, the foot is at risk from injury and deformity due to ill-fitting footwear. Any postural foot abnormality can have an effect further up the body, permanently altering posture and walking style.

Open Blog Night, Day, Whenever! -First Up, Tap Water!

2009-06-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

I am developing an open forum. Ask me your hardest, most pressing questions and I will blog about it!

I was asked by a concerned Mom about fluoride in tap water. She has been giving her daughter, who is about 15 months old, bottled water only. She wanted to know what I thought about this topic. Below is my reply:

Hi "Mama C!" My biggest problem with what you are doing is the fact that all your water is coming from plastic bottles that are laced with BPA. Plastic bottles have been shown to "leach" toxic chemicals into water, juice, or baby formula that is stored in them, particularly after long periods of time or at higher temperatures. Bottled water is not dated, so you do not know if the bottle you are buy has been sitting in that plastic bottle for a year, or a month, or a day. FDA has stated that bottled water has, "an infinite shelf life." In addition it is highly unregulated, so if there ever was a problem it could be hushed much easier than the DEP water could. Remember the rocket fuel discovery? The fact that it was DISCOVERED is scary, but assuring that our water supply is monitored every minute of every day. You do not need to buy bottled water for health reasons in New York City, since the water meets all federal and State health-based drinking water standards. Also, bottled water costs up to 1,000 times more per year than the City’s drinking water and you are adding tons of waste with each of those bottles!

In addition bottled water contains:

Antimony– Bottled water contains higher levels of antimony, a trace element with similar characteristics and toxicity to lead, the longer it is stored in plastic bottles. (1)
Bisphenol A (BPA)– Found in plastic bottles and metal can liners, where it can leach into foods and beverages, bisphenol A is supposedly safe but some say it mimics naturally occurring estrogen and animal studies indicate that BPA may cause infertility, cancers, and hyperactivity. (2)
Other Endocrine Disruptors– Chemicals that mimic estrogen and other hormones, altering the body's hormone signals, metabolism, and reproductive health.

More recently, it was found that some companies' bottled water isn't "spring" water at all, but tap water that has been sterilized again with chlorine and more, then purified for taste. Despite clever marketing, this is little better than glorified tap water.

Healthy Water Sources

The water resource situation is hardly an easy one to resolve, but there are a few sources of water that may be better than others:

Filtered water– Charcoal or reverse osmosis filters provide readily available, reliable sources of clean water. Check to ensure that your filter actually removes what you want it to: many of the most popular brand-name filters take out only the most pungent chemicals, leaving the rest of the harmful (but tasteless) tap water additives in your drinking water. It's worth investing in a whole-house filter or, at the least, a kitchen filter for drinking water and a shower filter for the water you bathe in.
Well water– One of the safest and purest sources of clean water, as long as the well is checked regularly for contaminants like bacteria, metals, and pesticides. Unfortunately not available in most cities.
Distilled water– Distilled water is evaporated and then condensed, leaving nothing there except pure water. There is some concern about the way distilled water interacts energetically with the body. It also, unfortunately, carries absolutely no minerals.
Bottled Water in Glass– One of the safer options is spring water that has been bottled in glass. But glass bottles are expensive and difficult to find – especially in large quantities.

You can also do the following to remove chlorine in a very easy manner:

• Fill a pitcher and let it stand in the refrigerator overnight. (This is the best way.)

• Fill a glass or jar with water and let it stand in sunlight for 30 minutes.

• Pour water from one container to another about 10 times.

• Heat the water to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Once you remove the chlorine, be sure to refrigerate the water to limit bacterial regrowth.

Despite the importance of a clean water source, a large-scale solution to the water dilemma isn't yet available that combines mass availability, cost effectiveness, and practicality. So, I know your original question was about fluoride, to address that directly, my recommendation is this: limit fluoride in all other sources and do not worry about the drinking water. Use Tom's children's toothpaste, fluorine free. In addition, it is in limited amounts in the water, In accordance with Article 141.08 of the New York City Health Code, DEP's water has a KNOWN concentration of approximately 1.0 part per million (ppm) fluoride. Not as much as you might have thought.

If you are still unhappy, see: http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryhowtoguide/a/removefluoride.htm

Wild about Salmon!

2009-06-24T08:01:00.000-07:00

http://www.wildforsalmon.com/aboutscokeye.html

Wild versus Farmed? What's the difference?

We do know that fish is important for our health. However, this is a complex issue. Logically we'd think farm-raised would be better for our environment and better for us. (by the way, "ocean-raised" fish is the same as "farm-raised" just a new marketing name. Farm-raised fish are fish in pens in the ocean and when this got a bad wrap they changed the name, that's all!) But we have learned that farm raised means that the fish don't get lots of swimming room, are prone to disease (and therefore fed antibiotics) and can get out and infect the fish in the wild. They are also high in mercury.

"Where does this come from?" is the most important question you can ask yourself about anything you are consuming.

Let's look at Farmed Salmon. Since Farmed Salmon are fed pellets instead of what they eat in the wild, three elements are affected:
1. First, the food that they normally eat in the wild converts into powerful omega 3s for us; the farm raised salmon doesn't have as high nutritional value.
2. Second, the food they eat naturally helps them turn that beautiful pink color to which we are accustomed; the farm raised are therefore fed colorings to make them more palatable to our eye.
3. Finally, the food they eat affects how they taste and there is truly no comparison in flavor or texture.

When choosing to eat fish, we must consider:
1. The importance of fish to our health with valuable Omega-3s, protein, low fat.
2. The sustainability of the fish, that it is not overfished and that it is safe for our environment.
3. The health of the fish and the life of the fish (what it eats, how it lives).
4. Cost. We really can't afford to eat farmed salmon.
5. Taste.

Fish, particularly cold water oily fish, have valuable Omega 3s. We are just now exploring all the benefits of these EFAs and are finding that they are invaluable to good health. They help reduce risks of heart disease, cancer, age-related blindness and eye problems, arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases as well as keep a healthy circulatory system. We should strive for two to three servings (total of 6 - 12 ounces per week as one serving is considered 3 but can be as much as 6 ounces) per week of a fish high in Omega 3s.

We know that wild Salmon has great benefits; however, most grocery stores and restauants that offer "salmon" are offering a genetically engineered (farmed) salmon that is taking over the environment. Or, we find out, that because of the way the fish is caught, it's habitats are being damaged and it's becoming endangered. We have to carefully look at where the fish is caught and whether or not the fishery is sustainable. It is important that we make sure our fish is Sustainable and safe for the environment.

It is also important that we make sure THE FISH is healthy and therefore truly healthful. Farm-raised fish are raised in small pens in the ocean secured by nets or in ponds, depending upon the fish species. As with most industries, maximizing revenues is key so they will stock a pond with as many fish as they can leaving very little room for the fish to move about freely and they are fed pellets of food instead of their natural food (sounds like the chicken and cattle scenarios all over again). This, in turn, doesn't allow them to use their muscles naturally nor convert their natural food into powerful Omega 3s for us. Therefore, farm-raised fish doesn't have the health benefits of Wild fish. Therefore, farm-raised salmon doesn't have the color of natural salmon and they are fed colorings to help make the salmon palatable for our plates.

"Wild salmon become pink by eating sea creatures like krill, which contain a carotenoid called astaxanthin. Farmed salmon are naturally grayish but turn pink when they are fed various sources of astaxanthin, including one that is chemically synthesized and others that originate from yeast or microalgae." NY Times, Marian Burros

And since they are crammed in next to one another, disease can spread quickly so they are fed antibiotics. And they are infested with sea lice, 30,000 times more than normal! Then they get out of their pens and wreak havoc on our delicate ecosystem. These farmed fish consume more of our natural resources and infest other salmon with sea lice and other diseases.

We've heard this story all too often. Farm-Raised fish is bad for our planet, our bodies and our future. Make a powerful statement and refuse to eat or purchase farm-raised fish.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org), over 68% of all seafood consumed in the United States is imported, and most of it is industrially produced. Many of these commodities are farm-raised and often involve little oversight regarding antibiotic drug use. While the U.S. government has standards that should ban imports with high levels of antibiotics in seafood, there is essentially no enforcement. Farmed salmon have more antibiotics administered by weight than any other form of livestock. Farmed salmon have significantly higher levels of PCBs, dioxin, and other cancer causing agents over wild salmon.

We eat fish for the omega 3s and to lower your risk of a heart attack. Farm-raised salmon is high in mercury. Mercury can actually increase our risk of heart attack. Our waters, and therefore our fish, have become contaminated with mercury because of all the industrial pollution. When it enters the water, it is converted into toxic methylmercury and it is consumed by the smaller fish and then the smaller fish are consumed by the larger fish. Larger predatory fish are higher in mercury than smaller fish because it accumulates in their bodies over time. The older and larger the fish, the higher it's levels of mercury. Mercury is of particular concern to growing children and babies in utero. Therefore, women hoping to one day become pregnant (mercury stores in your fat, remember), nursing and pregnant moms, as well as growing children need to be even more cautious. It's important that we choose wild fish that is lowest in levels of mercury. As a guideline, adults should not exceed 0.5ppm of mercury and the women/nursing/pregnant /children group should not exceed 0.2ppm per week.
Many fish, including farmed salmon, are also contaminated with PCBs. Farmed salmon has far higher (7 times!) levels of PCBs in their system than wild salmon.

Unlike farmed salmon, wild Alaskan salmon species grow free of antibiotics, pesticides, synthetic coloring agents, growth hormones and GMOs, and Wild Alaskan Salmon has the least amount of mercury of almost any fish.

Cost...Can We Afford It?
It may seem that farmed salmon are cheaper than the real thing. The price per pound may indeed be less. However, we can't really afford farmed salmon. There is actually a Net Loss with Farmed salmon. How so? Salmon is carnivorous and need to eat fish. The fish farms instead feed them pellets of fish meal and fish oil (and added coloring agents to give their flesh that orange glow that we are accustomed to seeing on salmon) and this fish meal food is made up of, you guessed it, wild fish. Instead of making the fish venture off to find their food naturally, we are giving them free processed man-made fish meal. It takes about 8 tons of wild fish to make up only 1 ton of fish oil for their feed. That 8 tons of wild fish would have fed a lot many more fish in it's natural state. Therefore it takes almost 3 tons of fish to make 1 ton of farmed salmon. This is diminishing our resources of wild fish. There is a real problem that there may not be enough fish to create the fish meal. They are now looking into alternative sources of protein and colorings to make them seem "real" to the consumers. Plans are in the works to force this carnivorous fish into becoming vegetarian. Of course, there are no studies on the effects this will have on the fish or on the value of the fish as food for us.

Plus the fish aren't eating their natural food. They are being "forced" to eat ground up fish that are highly contaminated. Farmed salmon also has "significantly hither concentrations of PCBs, Dioxin, and other cancer-causing contaminants that salmon caught in the wild" according to a new study.

We also know that farmed fish don't have the same valuable omega 3 as wild salmon. How much more do we need to consume (and purchase) in order to get those Essential Fatty Acids? That alone should cause us to pause over the cost. At the very basics, we eat for nutrition. That is being washed down. Farmed fish are not nearly as healthful for us.

At present, farmed salmon presents a tremendous stress on our delicate aquatic ecosystem. This means less fish for us as consumers and less fish for our oceans, which in turn affects other fish as well as plant, algae, and other living creatures of the ocean. How much more will we spend to try and correct this problem in tax dollars and consumer dollars? It's more expensive to harvest farmed salmon.

Furthermore, farmed fish are in overcrowded pens in the ocean who live in feces infested waters. They are ridden with sea lice. This spoils the surrounding marine life and fish migrating (like wild salmon) past the pen. Since they live in such close proximity, farmed fish are fed antibiotics to ward off infection which could wipe out the entire lot. They are given other drugs also. This takes a toll on the surrounding aquatic life as well as on us consumers. Farmed salmon have more antibiotics administered by weight than any other form of livestock.

Atlantic salmon is being farmed in the Pacific. Atlantic salmon is actually not a natural species of salmon to the Pacific Ocean. They are escaping from their nets (or being let free, especially when there is a sickness in the pen so that the "fishermen" can avoid a fine and avoid a costly clean up - they are fined if they let them free officially but they are not if they "escape" and that way any additional costs to clear up a disease are also eliminated) and are wreaking havoc on the delicate ecosystem. They can spread disease. Many are genetically modified to grow quickly so they eat more. The farmed salmon that escape are causing the demise of the Wild Pacific Salmon. Millions "escape" every year.

Farmed fishing is not sustainable fishing. Farmed fishing is damaging to our environment and our future.

And who do we trust to get wild salmon? To add another layer to our frustration, now we must know our source is reputable.

According to recent testing done for the New York Times in March 2005, most supermarkets that offer "wild" salmon are really selling farmed salmon with a heftier price tag! (Farmed goes for $5 - $12/lb while Wild can go for $29/lb.) The NY Times tested for artificial color in the salmon! And it's not necessarily the fault of the store, people have seen truckloads of fish get remarked as wild and sent out across the stores. Information gathered from www.deliciousorganics.com

Don't Think Kosher Meat Is Any More Ethical

2009-06-23T13:43:00.001-07:00

It is true. Kosher slaughtering at these large food processing plants are unethical and do not follow the spirit of Jewish law at all. Cattle are lead one behind the other, are allowed to see other cows being cut, blood is all over the floor, and by no means is it painless or instant. Now I know my audience and many of you probably think that I am just too out there and thus you may feel able to negate what I have to say. Don't be foolish. Have you ever asked yourself, "where does my meat come from?" It is not from that beautiful little farm pictured so idyllically on your package. To keep your attention I will just let you know there are alternatives to hormone laden, antibiotic ridden, cruel kosher meat. See these sites, sign up, and VOTE with your money. The more money that goes to farmers to grass feed, and take time to raise animals, the less money will go to the others. We can change things.

KOL Foods and KOL Foods West: Putting kosher and ethical back on the same plate by making grass-fed, organic-raised and local meat available to kosher (and non-kosher) consumers.

Providing: Lamb and Beef
KOL Foods is available in:
Washington, DC
Philadelphia, PA
Baltimore, MD
South Orange, NJ
White Plains, NY
Forest Hills, NY
Durham, NC
Manhattan, NY
Cherry Hill, NJ
Providence, RI
Coming soon – Northern VA, Chicago, Minneapolis and other Midwest cities – see the Kol Foods website for additional updates.
Contact: Devora Kimelman-Block 917-864-7965
Hekhsher: Star-K Hashgacha or Vaa’d Harabanim of Greater Washington (glatt kosher)
KOL Foods West is available in:
California and Western States
Contact: Roger Studley 510-604-2607

Mitzvah Meat/Mindful Meat: Providing grass-fed and finished, naturally-raised, humanely-slaughtered meat to kosher (and halal/unkosher) consumers from local Hudson Valley farmers.

Provides: Beef, lamb, chicken, eggs, cheese (seasonal), honey (seasonal)
Available in:

New York
New Jersey
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Vermont
New Hampshire
Contact: Dr. Maya Shetreat-Klein
Hekhsher: Rabbi Boruch Lesches (Lubavitch) (glatt kosher)

Kosher Conscience: The founding philosophy of Kosher Conscience is the humane treatment of the animal at every stage of life (free- or pasture-raised and grass fed; safely transported; slaughtered humanely and painlessly) and providing Kosher, ethical meat.

Providing: Beef and Poultry
Available in:
New York Metropolitan area
Contact: Simon Feil
Hekhsher: private Hashkacha from the shochet

Eco-Kids and Shampoo

2009-06-11T06:50:00.000-07:00

Are the ingredients in your kids' lather-uppers fooling you?

The Bite:

If you think you need the synthetic stuff in conventional 'poos to get soft, shiny hair? Skip the charade, and Choose Organic Plant Based Shampoos for your squirt. They work just as well, minus the sulfites and artificial fragrances that mess with our health and waterways.

The Benefits:

Faking out nasty chems. Conventional kids' shampoos often contain cancer-linked petrochems and the toxic foaming agents such as SLES or SLS. Our picks use essential oils and herbal extracts to gently clean hair.
No clean-water fraud. Synthetic chems in regular shampoos, such as parabens and phthalates, can get through water purification filters and into drinking water.

Wanna Try:

Jurlique Baby's Gentle Shampoo & Body Wash - hypoallergenic, lightweight multipurpose cleanser scented with biodynamically grown lavender ($21/6.7 ounces).
Erbaviva Baby Shampoo - ultramild with olive oil and wheat protein to cleanse; lightly scented with lavender and chamomile ($17/6 ounces).
Sparklehearts Shine Shampoo - organic ingredients; rosemary extract brings hair shine and body; pansy flower extract protects locks from sun damage ($13/10 ounces).
Erbaorganics Baby Shampoo - made with 77% certified-organic ingredients; oats and olive oil clean hair, and lavender, chamomile, and mandarin leaves soothe scalp ($12/6 ounces).
California Baby Shampoo (I use this one!) -
- Contains organic and sustainably grown ingredients
- No fragrance, scent masking agents, clear formula chemicals, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, or DEA
- Safe and gentle, no tears; no numbing agents.
- Non-irritating and non-chemical formula
- For people with allergies and those who cannot tolerate fragrance
- May be used by those following a homeopathic regimen
- Two products in one; use head-to-toe
- Great for babies, kids or adults with super sensitive skin
- Non-stripping of natural oils

Julie's Rant

2009-06-04T18:02:00.001-07:00

This last week I was alarmed by the number of forwards sent by frantic individuals trying to "get the word out" about how bad certain everyday household items actually are for you. I was alarmed because it was my belief that everyone already KNEW that if a product contained ingredients that you were unable to pronounce without being a chemist, most likely the item contains carcinogens, or at the very least, is non beneficial to one's health. So, if this is news to you, now you know.

Among the e mails I received, one was from an alarmed mother who had been using Johnson and Johnson's baby shampoo and body wash, most likely since the birth of her daughter. I too used this company until my husband questioned why I was purchasing it. Horrified I replied, "but this is a BABY product, a REPUTABLE company, surely they were not among the EVIL corporations who KNOW that they are using harmful chemicals... I mean it says you can use it on a NEWBORN!?" I was scoffed at, and I decided that after I finished my last bottle of Johnson's I would no longer use it. EXHIBIT A: http://www.healthy-communications.com/7cancercausingbathchemicalsbcfund.htm I now use California Baby and am LOOOOVING it. The smell is just amazing too.

Another e mail was concerning how fruits and vegetables are processed. What coats non-organic fruits and vegetables is a toxic waxy coating. Insect repellents, do you really want to eat that? Hormones in meat and in dairy product? If you can avoid it, wouldn't you? Buying organic is not only good for the planet, it keeps you healthier, happier, and safer from illnesses later in life. The human body is quite resilient, it proves that over and over again, however, do we really need to test our limits?

Think, Love, Eat, Pray -- Green.

Eco-Sunscreen

2009-06-02T05:03:00.002-07:00

Beach Week - Eco-Sunscreen

Want the right stuff to ward off summer sunburns?

The Bite:

Skip the reunion tour with conventional lotions and slather eco-sunscreens on your kiddos. With mineral-based blocks, you'll protect them from harmful UV rays (but alas, not boy bands) and hang tough against cruddy chems.

The Benefits:

Taking a safe step (by step). Conventional UV blocker chemoxybenzone allows other toxins found in standard 'screens to seep into your bloodstream through your skin. These picks block rays using nontoxic minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
No false(tto) fragrances. Conventional sunscreens often contain perfumes, a source of VOCs and hormone-disrupting phthalates. Eco-'screens use essential oils for scent.
Oh, oh, ohhhh so much better for marine life. Common chems in regular sunscreens wash off swimmers and destroy our coral reefs. These steer clear of the stuff.

Wanna Try:

Vivesana Solar to Polar Baby SPF 42 - lightweight block that spreads easily without whitish residue; botanical oils and extracts protect skin from dryness ($32/2.25 ounces.)
Soléo Organics All Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 - 'screen with grape-seed oil base; no additives means that it separates, so mix it in your palm a bit before applying ($27/2.6 ounces).
California Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 - creamy lotion that rubs in well; with antioxidant green tea and lemongrass scent ($18/2.9 ounces).
Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen Baby SPF 30 - developed to weather Aussie sun (but made in the United States); cap changes color in UV light ($9/3 ounces).
Avalon Organics Baby Natural Mineral Sunscreen SPF 18 - sweet-smelling, inexpensive option made with chamomile, great for sensitive skin; leaves a bit of a white sheen ($6/3.5 ounces).

Cash Saver:

Enter code Idealbite&vive25 at checkout when you buy Vivesana sunscreen and receive 25% off through Jun. 30.

2009-06-02T05:03:00.001-07:00

Beach Week

2009-06-02T04:39:00.001-07:00

Beach Week - Eco-Sandals

Head in the Sand-als - Beach Week

The Bite:

Face it - your kid's feet grow faster than the tides change. This summer, choose beachy green flip-flops for kids. Our picks are comfy and fun, plus by using recycled and sustainable materials, they don't ignore the planet.

The Benefits:

Burying less in landfills. Americans generate almost 300 million scrap tires a year, but recycle fewer than 7%. Some of these sandals divert a few from the dump.
Not hiding behind synthetics. Many conventional flip-flops are made with petroleum-based synthetic rubber. Sustainable finds often use natural rubber (yup, from a tree), hemp, and organic cotton.
Acknowledging good business. These shoes are walking the talk, since the companies that make them sponsor beach cleanup projects and take back old pairs to recycle 'em.

Wanna Try:

Patagonia Kids' Cygnet - recycled rubber outsole, inner, and midsole and eco-tanned (according to ISO 14001 standards) suede upper; in green, pink, and blue; sizes toddler 10-3 and kid 4-6 ($35).
Planet Flops - made with sustainably tapped natural rubber from a managed Brazilian rain forest; in five colors; send old Planet Flops back for recycling and receive a 10% discount on the next pair; sizes toddler 10-13 and kid 1-4 ($24).
Bakura Hemp Sandals - uppers and footbed made from 100% organic hemp canvas; sole made from a 100% recycled bicycle tires; in five colors; sizes toddler 6-10 ($23).
Ocean Minded - fun striped and solid flip-flops made from recycled plastic bottles and car tires for boys and girls; OM organizes beach cleanups all over the world; sizes kid 4-13, junior 1-5 ($22).

Forget The Dog!!

2009-05-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

Forget Fido, Lets Get Some Ladies Up In The Hen-ouse!

The Bite:

Out the door they go: raise egg-laying chickens in your own backyard. Yep, right outside your urban or suburban home (check with your town ordinances), you can teach kids to care for a small flock, plus you'll have fresh organic eggs every morning.

The Benefits:

Liberating hens. Each hen needs only 3-4 square feet of outdoor living space - doable even for city peeps - and that's still bigger than the battery cages forced on factory hens.
Shutting out chems. Organic seeds, corn, grains, and fresh greens - the stuff you'll feed your hens - are free of antibiotics, so the eggs will be free from 'em too.
Locking in (really) local food. Gathering eggs in a bucket from your yard, instead of picking up store-bought eggs, saves loads of CO2 emissions and packing materials.
Opening up good taste. Kiddos'll see that eggs don't actually come from cartons at the grocery store. Plus, fresh eggs? Delish.

Wanna Try:

Chicken Keeping - website primer on raising backyard hens; includes resources for buying chicks or hens, plus how-tos on housing, care, feeding, and dealing with predators.
The Chicken Shack - basic henhouse with waterproof roof to keep your egg layers safe from predators (raccoons or the neighborhood cat), plus provide shelter; also matching play yard so they can roam a bit ($165-$199).
Chicken Coops: 45 Building Plans for Housing Your Flock - a guide to DIY chicken coops of all sizes ($14).
All Purpose Organic Chicken Soap - vegetable-based liquid soap lightly scented with green-apple-skin oil to clean and sanitize your chickens, and their eating and living areas ($12/2 pounds).
DIY Bite: Line an old Easter egg or fruit basket with a dish towel to gather eggs.

Wall Street Journal - The Fine Print in Food

2009-05-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

The Fine Print: What's Really in a Lot of 'Healthy' Foods

By MELINDA BECK

A lot of Americans think they're eating a healthy diet these days. But it's easy to be fooled by our assumptions and the ways that food manufacturers play on them.

Take chicken. The average American eats about 90 pounds of it a year, more than twice as much as in the 1970s, part of the switch to lower-fat, lower-cholesterol meat proteins. But roughly one-third of the fresh chicken sold in the U.S. is "plumped" with water, salt and sometimes a seaweed extract called carrageenan that helps it retain the added water. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says chicken processed this way can still be labeled "all natural" or "100% natural" because those are all natural ingredients, even though they aren't naturally found in chicken.

Producers must mention the added ingredients on the package -- but the lettering can be small: just one-third the size of the largest letter in the product's name. If you're trying to watch your sodium to cut your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, it pays to check the Nutrition Facts label. Untreated chicken has about 45 to 60 mgs of sodium per four-ounce serving. So-called enhanced or "plumped" chicken has between 200 and 400 mgs of sodium per serving, almost as much as a serving of fast-food french fries.

Adding salt water became widespread when big discount stores began selling groceries and wanted to sell chicken at uniform weights and prices. Plumping packaged chicken helps even out the weight. But that means consumers are paying for added salt water at chicken prices -- an estimated $2 billion worth every year, according to the Truthful Labeling Coalition, a group of chicken producers that don't enhance their products.

Makers of enhanced chicken, including some of the biggest U.S. producers, say many consumers prefer it in blind taste tests and that it stays moister. Ray Atkinson, a spokesman for Pilgrim's Pride, says the company sells both enhanced and unenhanced chicken because consumers ask for it. He also notes that even at 330 mg of sodium, the enhanced chicken qualifies for the American Heart Association's mark of approval.

A survey released this week from Foster Farms, a member of the Truthful Labeling Coalition, found that 63% of consumers are unaware of the practice, and 82% believe that salt-water-injected chicken shouldn't carry the all-natural label. The telephone survey polled 1,000 consumers on the West Coast.

Here are some other foods that may not be as healthy as they appear.

Salt substitutes. If you're trying to cut down on salt, check with your doctor before you start using a salt substitute. Most contain potassium chloride, which can exacerbate kidney problems and interact badly with some heart and liver medications.

Artificial Sweeteners. Sugar-free gum, mint and candy have fewer calories and are better for your teeth. But they frequently contain sorbitol, a plant extract that isn't completely absorbed by the body and works as a natural laxative. Consuming a single pack of gum or mints can cause bloating, flatulence, stomach pains and diarrhea in people who are sensitive to it. Some diabetics find that such sugar alcohols, which are sweet but have few calories, can raise their blood sugar. Others include maltitol and xylitol.

Trans fat. There's been a remarkable reduction in these artery-cloggers in processed foods recently. But manufacturers are allowed to round down: Products labeled zero grams of trans fat can have up to 0.49 gram of fat per serving. You could still be consuming significant amounts of trans fat, "especially when the serving size is unrealistic," says Bonnie Taub-Dix, a nutritionist and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, a nonprofit professional organization. If the ingredients include partially hydrogenated oil, hydrogenated oil or shortening, a product isn't completely trans-fat free. And it may have considerable saturated fat as well.

The same rounding principle applies to zero calories, fat and carbohydrates. Walden Farms, which advertises a line of dips, spreads and dressings as "Fat Free, Sugar Free and Calorie Free," says its products do have trace calories and up to 0.49 gram of fat and carbohydrates per serving.

"Wheat bread." This is a meaningless term, since almost all bread is made with wheat. Some manufacturers add to the illusion by using a brown wrapper or darkening bread with brown sugar or molasses. The more healthful stuff is whole wheat, which includes the outer bran and the wheat germ inside, good sources of nutrients and fiber. Check the ingredients. If the first one listed is "enriched wheat flour," you aren't getting much whole grain.

A few bread makers are still displaying the USDA's old Food Pyramid on their packages -- the one that recommended six to 11 servings of bread or pasta a day. That's been replaced by a more individualized pyramid that recommends only six carbohydrate servings, three of which should be whole grains.

Fiber. Companies are adding fiber to all kinds of products -- including yogurt, ice cream and beverages. In many cases, the added fiber comes from purified powders, not the kind of fiber found in whole grains, beans, vegetables and fruits. The latter have been shown to lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease and may cut the risk of colon cancer. But there isn't much evidence that "isolated" fibers like inulin, maltodextrin, oat fiber and polydextrose have the same effect, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit consumer-advocacy group. The Nutrition Facts label doesn't differentiate between the kind of fiber counted, so check the ingredients.

"The added fiber is probably better than nothing, but it's not as good as fiber from natural sources like fruits, vegetables and whole grains," says CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson.

Yogurt. The yogurt aisle is dizzy these days with products that promise to reduce your cholesterol, control your blood pressure, protect your digestive health or boost your immune system. In many cases, it's a single ingredient that provides the benefit, and you can find much more of it in other sources. For example, Promise activ SuperShots say they "Help Control Blood Pressure" thanks to 350 mgs of potassium. There's much more potassium in a banana, a cup of spinach or a baked potato. DanActive probiotic dairy drink's immunity-boosting claims stem from its L. casei Immunitas active culture. There's lots of research interest in such probiotics, but for now, the marketing is ahead of the science. The friendly bacteria in DanActive has mainly been shown to fight diarrhea in people taking antibiotics.

Super water. The Center for Science in the Public Interest sued Coca-Cola Co. earlier this year over claims on its VitaminWater beverages. The center argued that the drinks -- with names like "defense," "rescue," "energy" and "endurance" -- are mainly sugar water with 125 calories per bottle. Coke called the lawsuit "frivolous" and said its VitaminWater brands are properly labeled. "Consumers today are savvy, they are educated and they are looking for more from their beverages than simply hydration," said Coke spokesman Scott Williamson.

Government surveys show that most Americans aren't deficient in many of the vitamins supplied in these drinks. If you consume more than you need, the excess gets excreted.

Omega 3. Many foods are adding these essential fatty acids, said to cut the risk of heart disease, cancer and arthritis and help promote brain health. But you can get a lot more from natural foods. You'd need to drink 45 eight-ounce glasses of milk that is fortified with 32 mgs of omega 3 to get as much of these fatty acids as you get in a three-ounce serving of salmon.

Will any of the products mentioned here hurt you? No, but they may not help you as much as manufacturers would like you to think. "Try to buy foods as close to their natural state as possible," says Ms. Taub-Dix.

EAT THIS!

2009-05-11T16:56:00.000-07:00

WATCH THIS

Recycled Shoe Flower Pot

2009-05-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

How Cute?

Instead of throwing away the shoes you’ve outgrown, use them as pots for plants. It's a great gift to give to an eco-conscious mom on Mother's Day.

YOU WILL NEED

Seedlings (if you’re working with kid-sized shoes, choose a plant that is no larger than four to six inches [10 to 15 centimeters])
Old shoes (sneakers or closed-toed shoes work best)
Potting soil
Drill

HERE'S HOW

With the help of an adult, drill two small holes into the soles of the old shoes for draining. Fill up shoe with potting soil. Place seedlings into soil. Top off shoe with more soil. Water your plant.

NOTE: Make sure you consider light conditions when selecting plants.

Mama's Day!

2009-05-06T08:39:00.001-07:00

Another Bite!

Aiming for a favorable result this show-Mom-the-love day? It'll go well if you hand over a bunch of roseshandmade by the teens from the Lower East Side Girls Club. Sure, these crafty recycled-newspaper roses might not smell as good, but hey, unlike conventional buds, they're "grown" locally (sans pesticides, natch), and they'll last a really, really long time. And as luck would have it, all proceeds support the LESGC

Why Care?

Real, conventionally grown flowers use 1.2 billion pounds of polluting pesticides each year just in the United States - fakes reduce the need for more of 'em.

Wana Try?

Recycled Newspaper Roses available at La Tiendita,Essex Street Market, Booth 13, 120 Essex St. (212-982-1633). Recycled Newspaper Roses, $3 each.

Tip From Roger

2009-05-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

Beef Jerky

While Yakov and I had a fun filled day together, Roger made his own beef jerky! Here are the steps!

-Purchase organic, grass fed brisket.

-Slice it into a quarter inch thick strips.

-Marinate in soy sauce, red wine, and maple syrup for 24 hours.

-Lay strips on oven rack.

-Set oven to 150' and leave open while cooking, for about 4-6 hours, until fully dehydrated.

Enjoy your meaty snack!!!

Swine Flu

2009-05-01T12:34:00.001-07:00

Reposted from: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

Swine flu. Even the hype surrounding it is pandemic. It’s made headlines in every major newspaper and magazine. The CDC has a new press release every half hour. TV talking heads and radio pundits furrow their brows and express extreme consternation as they tell us to start “bracing for the worst.” President Obama has asked for another billion-and–a-half dollars (that we don’t have) to fend off this impending menace. Frightened school boards are halting classes everywhere until they are given a better action plan. Cruises are cancelled, trips are postponed, pigs are slaughtered, nations are blamed. It’s crazy.

I’m sorry. At this point, I’m not buying it. I am not convinced that Swine flu H1N1 is any different from just about every other strain of flu we experience every year. Hong Kong flu, every Asian variety of the past two decades, duck flu, other bird flu, you name it. We know the CDC trades in hyperbole, but, hey, “we’re from the government and we’re here to help you.” On the other hand, in the past few hours there seems to be some consensus from clear-thinkers emerging that this swine flu might not be so fatal as strains that caused some prior pandemics. Too little too late?

In fact, there are viruses (and bacteria and fungi and parasites and…) around us all the time. So why don’t we all get sick all the time? Why do so many people get sick and die during epidemics? Every year in the US there are 50,000,000 cases of flu (all types) and 36,000 deaths. If everyone is exposed at some level (and I guarantee you, everyone is exposed) then why doesn’t everyone get sick? And if 50,000,000 get the flu, why don’t 50,000,000 die? It all comes down to the health of your immune system and the strength of yourorgan reserve. Of course, the Primal lifestyle guarantees both. In the vast majority of cases, people that die of the flu have extremely weakened immune systems and/or experience organ failure indirectly related to the flu (kidneys fail, heart fails, liver fails, etc). But what does that mean for you and me? If you have a healthy immune system and are otherwise in good shape, there’s a strong likelihood that routine exposure to swine (or any) flu will be handled by your immune system without you even noticing. Or maybe you’ll feel weird for a day or two and then you’ll shake it. And even if you should get sick, in 99.99% of cases you have nothing to fear from any form of flu except maybe the loss of a few days pay and a few days of feeling crappy. But only if your immune system is in good order.

So what can you do to bolster your immune system and make sure you fend off any attack - swine-related or otherwise?

1. Avoid Sugar

Sugar is a powerful immune suppressor. One dose of a big dessert or a bag of gumdrops scarfed at a movie can be enough to temporarily weaken the immune system and open the door to infection. That’s especially true if you’ve been eating Primally and clean for a while. Unfortunately, most Americans are susceptible because a lifestyle of sugar intake can result in perpetual immune suppression, the effects of which not only make them sitting ducks for the flu, but can also exacerbate heart disease and cancer.

2. Avoid Stress

Chronic cortisol (the major stress hormone) release is another powerful immune suppressor. As tough as times are, it behooves you to get a handle on stress and do whatever you can to mitigate it, whether it’s throughmeditation, yoga, prayer, biofeedback or just taking a few minutes each day to chill. People get sick when they are stressed out not from the stress itself, but from the fact that exposure to any virus or bacteria overwhelms their frail immune system.

3. Avoid Overly Stressful Workouts

Again, few things can suppress the immune system as quickly as chronic cardio or a single excessive weekend warrior workout (usually anything under 45 minutes is fine). I can pinpoint from my marathon days those exact individual workouts in which I knew immediately that I had gone too far or dug too deep. Invariably I came down with some URTI within a few days – not because I was newly exposed, but because I was vulnerable to anything and everything that was always floating in the air, on a doorknob or in a handshake.

4. Cut the Grains

This would normally be part of the first item “avoid sugar”, since grains tend to be converted to glucose pretty rapidly. But beyond their glucose load, grains (especially whole grains) and their glutens, lectins and phytates may have a collective immune altering or immune-suppressing effect in some (and I suspect most) people.

5. Avoid Stupid Exposure Mistakes

In many cases a mild exposure, like being in the same room with a flu “victim”, is enough to stimulate a healthy immune system to react in a way that further reduces the likelihood you’ll come down with your own case. On the other hand, shaking the hand of someone with the flu who just coughed or sneezed into it might put you over the edge if you then wipe you nose or rub your eyes (eyes are a very vulnerable entry point). I’m not the biggest fan of hand cleaners, but if you think you just got slimed, wash with Purell or a decent hand soap just to be sure. No need to go OCD in this regard. I would never wear a mask on a plane, for instance, but I’m not telling you not to if you sit next to a cougher/sneezer.

6. Do Get Some Sunshine

The immune system requires vitamin D to function optimally and sunlight is the best way to ensure you get enough D (a vitamin D supplement won’t hurt either). Winter is cold and flu season not just because we are inside sharing our sputum, but because we spend less time getting sunshine and vitamin D.

7. Exercise Appropriately

If you follow the PB, you’ll know that getting a fair amount of low-level aerobic activity and a few focused strength sessions each week will have an immune-boosting effect.

8. Eat Good Fats and Avoid Bad Fats

Omega 3s, mono-unsaturates and even most saturated fats will support healthy immune systems. On the other hand, any intake of trans and hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated fats will compromise immunity, as will excessive intake of the Omega 6 fats found in many vegetable oils.

The swine flu is nothing new. Whether you get sick or not is entirely up to you. To paraphase George W. Bush “Flu me once, shame on — shame on you. Flu me — you can’t get flued again” Take responsibility for your own health and, fer cryin’ out loud, don’t be flued by the hype.

Smart Strip!

2009-04-26T16:33:00.000-07:00

The Smart Strip Surge Protector is designed for use with computer systems, entertainment systems, and workshops. It saves up to 73% on the energy used by your household electronics and pays for itself in two months. The average computer system uses 260 watts per hour just sitting idle, while a computer with a Smart Strip in the sleep mode uses less than 25 watts. The Smart Strip prevents your peripherals from drawing an idle current when not in use; it uses zero watts when off and 1 watt when fully energized. Just plug your computer or TV into the blue CONTROL outlet. Plug your fax, cable box, or satellite receiver into the red CONSTANT HOT outlets. And plug everything else you want to save energy into the white SWITCHED outlets. An Energy Star study determined that if every home office replaced just their computer equipment with Energy Star labeled equipment, it would save 219 billion pounds of greenhouse gases. This Smart Strip has patented circuitry that monitors the current flow through through the specifically color-coded outlets and determines if a particular device is on, off, or in sleep mode. The Smart Strip will then automatically switch off everything in the white "Automatically Switched" outlets while leaving everything in the red "Constant Hot" outlets alone. Comes with a 6' heavy-duty power cord. The 7 Outlet Smart Surge Protector with energy-saving electronics measures 14" in length x 2" wide and features: 1 control outlet, 2 constant hot outlets, 1 switched transformer, and 4 total switched outlets. The 10 Outlet Smart Surge Protector with energy-saving electronics measures 14" in length x 4" wide (pictured here) and features: 1 control outlet - always hot, 3 total constant hot (1 transformer constant hot), 6 total switched outlets (3 switched transformer outlets). Choose either the 7 Outlet or 10 Outlet Smart Power Strip.

Eco Emergency Gear!

2009-04-26T07:44:00.000-07:00

The Bite (reprint):

Eco Emergency Gear:

Are you ready 24/7 for a 911?

Here's the 411 on emergency planning for your family: Outfit your home with battery-free eco safety gear and chill a little knowing you're prepped. 10-4?

The Benefits:

Eighty-sixing batteries. Noxious metals in tossed batteries (only a fraction get recycled) can leach through landfill liners into groundwater - these gadgets don't need batteries.
Counting on renewable energy. Hand-cranked flashlights, radios, and water filters are your best bet in an emergency. Some run on solar power too for extended use.
Figuring in kids. These tools are lightweight, uncomplicated, and easily operated by smaller hands.

Wanna Try:

EyeMax LED Radio - solar- and hand-crank-powered AM/FM radio; 1 minute of cranking = 60 minutes radio time; plus built-in LED flashlight; runs for 25 hours fully charged ($54).
Berkey Water Bottle - BPA-free water bottle with built-in filter gets rid of sediment, chems, and dangerous bacteria from available water sources ($28).
Dynamo Illuminator Flashlight - windup flashlight with three LED bulbs; 1 minute of cranking = 60 minutes of bright light ($13).
American Red Cross Safety Tube - small, simple emergency kit to stash anywhere (car, bag, etc.); contains dust mask, light stick, pealess whistle (no little ball inside), and water packet ($5).
Ready Kids - Homeland Security Department's emergency readiness site for kids, includes work sheets for gathering emergency supplies and developing an emergency plan.

Green Lovin' Toddlers

2009-04-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

Kids love to be involved in all things BIG, so why not recruit them to help the planet!? Start young and you can help to create an human being that will make environmentally correct decisions as second nature-- or hopefully first nature!

Be A Model:

Being green takes effort. For already overwhelmed parents the extra work might not be welcomed, but you are setting the example! Without your example your children might not understand what a gift our planet is to us. Even worse, you are not ensuring your grandchildren and great grandchildren, and great- great- great relatives a healthy planet of their own to live in.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle As A RULE:

Recycle

Sorting is a big milestone in children's development. A great way to help encourage categorizing and sorting: plastic... paper... metal... trash! Get bins and let your toddler slam dunk those water bottles, newspapers, milk cartons, glass jars, and more!

Reuse:

Turn that old toilet paper roll into a rainstick!

Make paper hats from newspapers!

Check out this cool toy made from a tissue box!

Reduce

Self explanatory, teach your toddlers not to be wasteful. The less we take from the environment, the more it will HAVE to give BACK. Use reusable water bottles and lunch bags, ditch ziplocks and get containers for trips! Use reusable bags when you go shopping or take old bags with you to the grocery store! With a little planning you can really make a difference!

Cooking Tips From Roger!

2009-04-22T17:10:00.000-07:00

1. Adding red wine to organic ground beef makes delicious burgers!

2. For the ultimate salsa: first roast tomatoes, garlic, and peppers in the broiler. Then puree with cilantro, salt, and olive oil.

3. Raw sweet potatoes, when sliced matchstick thin, can provide a colorful and crunchy addition to your salads!

4. For an alternative leafy salad green: de-spine any chard, chop, and serve!

5. Cumin, paprika, and turmeric is a basic curry mixture. For gram marsala just add cinnamon. These combos are good for about anything!

6. Beet and Sweet Potato Recipe:

-Steam beets and sweet potatoes

-Cut into cubes

-Add red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and olive oil

-Add parsley or pineapple as alternatives!

GDiapers

2009-04-21T16:05:00.000-07:00

What made me switch from disposables? Not only are GDiapers totally adorable and super easy to use, the environmental and health benefits are legion! The final factor that made me kick the habit? This,

"In boys, the scrotal sac is marvelously designed to maintain the testicles within a narrow temperature range. When an undescended testicle is left untreated (especially beyond a year), its higher temperature causes an increasing risk down the road of infertility and testicular cancer. HERE IS THE NEWS: disposable, plastic-lined diapers keep testicles hotter than core body temperature (as much as 1.8 degrees F' higher than testicles in cloth diapers!! The October 2000 issue of Archives or Disease in Childhood speculates that perhaps the significant rise in male infertility over the last 25 years, is due to the widespread use of diapers than keep kids too warm!"

-Alan Greene MD

According to the Journal of Pediatrics, 54% of one-month old babies using disposable diapers had rashes, 16% having severe rashes. A study done by a disposable diaper company (a BIG one) shows that the incidence of diaper rash increased form 7.1% to 61% with the increased use of throwaway disposable diapers!!!

Some additional concerns about disposable diapers have been about dyes, sodium polyacrylate (the super absorbent gel), and dioxin, which is a by-product of bleaching paper. Sodium polyacrylate has been linked in the past to toxic shock syndrome, allergic reactions and is very harmful and potentially lethal to pets. Some dyes and dioxin according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is known to cause damage to the central nervous system, kidneys, and liver. The (FDA) Food & Drug Administration has received reports that fragrances in disposables caused headaches, dizziness and rashes. Problems reported to the Consumer Protection Agency regarding disposables include, chemical burns, noxious chemical and insecticide odors, babies pulling disposables apart and putting pieces of plastic into their noses and mouth, choking on tab papers and linings, plastic melting onto the skin, and ink staining the skin. Plastic tabs can also tear skin if the diaper is not properly put on the baby.

Are they harder to use?

What is the cost?

Gdiapers take about a week to get used to if you ever used regular diapers before. I started using them as soon as my second son was born. I had a starter kit just waiting for him to be born! At first I used the gdiapers only during the day because I was so used to the disposables I was able to use them with my eyes closed.... I soon switched over to full time use when my guilt started up, "take one more second and you will help the planet!" I can now do a gdiaper change with one hand, eyes closed, and a toddler screaming in my ear!!

The cost is similar to the good disposable diapers and if you are interested CONTACT ME for some MONEY SAVING COUPONS!!! If you hurry, you can purchase gdiapers inserts at amazon.com and save 25% as long as you visit before the end of the month, choose subscribe and save to get 15% off (you can cancel this at anytime with a click of your mouse in "my account" tab) and then use code: GRNBB4O9 to save an extra 10%

Still not convinced?

Eighty percent of the diaperings in this nation are done with disposables. That comes to 18 BILLION diapers a year. Each one has an outer layer of waterproof polypropylene and an inner layer of fluff made from wood pulp plus super-slurper sodium polyacrylate that can hold a hundred times its weight in water.

Those 18 billion diapers add up to 82,000 tons of plastic a year and 1.3 million tons of wood pulp -- 250,000 trees. After a few hours of active service these materials are trucked away, primarily to landfills, where they sit, neatly wrapped packages of excrement, entombed undegraded for several hundred years.

Organics Delivery Co-op

2009-04-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

I have publicized my love for Door To Door Organics countless times. We have been using them for all our produce and coffee beans for the last two years. Several months ago we began a co-op: When 4 or more people have their boxes delivered to one address, everyone saves money! Even if you are not part of the coop, I HIGHLY recommend their service!

If you want to be part of the co-op and enjoy the discount, you just have to put my address for the

shipping address. You can choose from many different sized boxes as well as how frequently you would like to order. In addition if you are having trouble with

the pick up, as long as you are local, we are willing to help by delivering it to your home.

New Prices:

Bitty- 23.00
Small / Fruit or Veggie- 33.00
Medium- 39.00
Large- 53.00
Original Prices:

Bitty Box - $39.00
Small Fruit or Veggie Box - $39.00 Medium Box - $46.00
Large Box - $61.00

I will let you know when your delivery arrives (each Tuesday) by phone.

Your Name Here

268 Amherst Street

2nd Side Door

Brooklyn, NY 11235

If I have yet to convince you,

please read the TOP TEN REASONS to go Organic!

Welcome

2009-04-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

"Kiruv, or Jewish outreach, means 'to bring close.' There are many ways of bringing Jews closer to their heritage, and many organizations dedicated to this ideal. Some focus on seminars that awaken the intellect. Some focus on individual mitzvos like Shabbos observance. Some apply their energies to enrolling children in yeshivos. Oorah’s place in the kiruv world is unique, for it encompasses the entire spectrum of Jewish living." -Oorah's Web Site

The Wright Earth's "Kiruv" is not about religion, but about having a HEALTHY mind, body, soul, and planet. Use this blog as a guide and check for daily tips on how you can bring a little Greenery into your life too!

The Wright Earth

Wild about Salmon and Beet Recipe by Roger!

What The World Eats

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Want the right stuff to ward off summer sunburns?

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Wall Street Journal - The Fine Print in Food

The Fine Print: What's Really in a Lot of 'Healthy' Foods

By MELINDA BECK

EAT THIS!

Recycled Shoe Flower Pot

Mama's Day!

Tip From Roger

Swine Flu

1. Avoid Sugar

2. Avoid Stress

3. Avoid Overly Stressful Workouts

4. Cut the Grains

5. Avoid Stupid Exposure Mistakes

6. Do Get Some Sunshine

7. Exercise Appropriately

8. Eat Good Fats and Avoid Bad Fats

Smart Strip!

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Are you ready 24/7 for a 911?

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GDiapers

Organics Delivery Co-op

Welcome