Reusable Bags News

I’d like to welcome Kimberly Thomson and the team from The Ultimate Diet to our Eco Friendly Community.  If you don’t give a lot of thought to the food you’re feeding your pet, you may change your mind after seeing this video as seen on Pet Network TV’s, Pet Central, about the benefits of natural and organic raw pet food.  I’ll let Kimberly take it from here:

You and your pet are going to love our food. The Ultimate Diet is the most life-enhancing food available. It is also the best eaten. We developed these diets because most pet foods are of sub-standard ingredients, and are cooked at high temperatures—limiting or eliminating their nutritional benefits. We, instead, do it better. We’ve chosen ingredients of the highest nutritional value for a pet, and left them in their raw state to maximize their absorption. Why raw? Because our pets need live foods that truly nourish them. Only raw foods provide this. Cooking destroys nutrients—including enzymes, vitamins and minerals. We use only hormone and antibiotic-free meats, plus organic ingredients—which provide denser nutrient levels than factory farmed ingredients. Your pets will love our formulas, and you will see observable signs of their improved health within the first month of use. This is our dedication, and our promise. Sincerely,

I just visited www.Grist.Org for the first time, I love their site and their description “A Beacon in the Smog”.  Jennifer Prediger educated me on the 18 year old Environmental Film Festival in Washington, DC.  Click here to read her article and watch the previews for 3 of the 155 films being held over 12 days (ends Sunday) all around the capital city.  These previews alone are inspiring, and even better, they appear to be independent films.  These will be good ones to seek out and see in the coming weeks and months if you’re like me and can’t make it to DC by Sunday.  Lucky for you if you’re in the area.  Here’s the official DC Environmental Film Festival site.

Solarwyse Ltd. is a Canadian Company started in 2005, based in the colder climates of Northern Alberta. There was a distinct need to prove that alternative power solutions were not only viable in cooler climates, but also a more economical solution. The biggest argument that we hear against solar energy is that you have to give up so many modern conveniences.

Solarwyse has gained the experience on how to maintain a fully modern energy independent rural home, living totally off grid. Buying a solar power system from Solarwyse comes with more than just the components, we are here to supply the knowledge and education to assist you in selecting the right choices from appliance selection, to heating options. We firmly believe that an educated consumer is our most valuable asset.

What do you need to give up? Nothing but the monthly payment to your local utility company. Until your willing to spend less than $1000 a year for heat, water and electricity, then Solarwyse does not have a solution for you. If your interested give us a call, better yet ask for a tour of our off grid home, see for yourself firsthand.

Over the last few years there has been an increasing awareness of where our food comes from. There are now many more organic food suppliers and a lot of people buy food which is locally produced. If you are planning to maintain such a lifestyle whilst on holiday, Organic Places to Stay offers you all the information you need. The website is a directory of places around the world which offer produce which is certified according to local organic food standards. Most of the listed holiday locations are small and family run businesses which care about farming in tune with nature and biodiversity. The money spent in these places will stay in the local communities. Around two thirds of the places listed offer meals, usually breakfast, but lunches and evening meals are often available as well. Many of these places have their own small restaurant, a few of which are certified organic, and others may have a certified organic kitchen garden, orchard or vineyard. Meals are prepared using local organic produce whenever possible. On average this will be at least 50% organic, but many of the places offer a much higher percentage, up to 100% organic. Quite a few of them grow their own produce, some use wild or natural foods, and most will aim to use fresh local produce rather than imported food. The rest of the places are self-catering on organic farms or smallholdings. At these places you will find information about the availability of organic food - for example whether you can buy the farm’s own organic produce, have an organic vegetable box delivered, or find organic produce in the local area. Fresh produce, local specialities, slow food, home baking, homemade products such as jam, juice, ice cream, yogurt, cheese, pasta, pasta sauce, olive oil, wine - you will find all of these and more. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/

I’d like to welcome Mark Wallace and the team at nosymbolrequired.co.uk.  nosymbolrequired describes itself as the organic clothing company for wakeboarders, skateboarders, surfers and snowboarders.  This is a great site to find an affordable and comfortable shirt with an original design, quote, saying or even just a picture, drawing or sketch of something funny and often very clever.  If you’re looking to stock up on cool organic t-shirts and clothing for the upcoming spring and summer seasons, look no further than nosymbolrequired.

I am excited to welcome Dr Barbara Olioso and Forest Secrets Skin Care to our Eco Friendly Community.  Dr Olioso is the founder of Forest Secrets Skincare, a professional chemist, and she has worked only with natural and organic cosmetics since 1999.

Dr Olioso recently wrote an article about natural and organic skin care, and what you really need to know before you buy.  Forest Secrets Skin Care also has a great blog about green skin care news and eco friendly people and organizations that is worth checking out, Click here

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I’d like to welcome Eric and the team from Eco Friendly Tourist.  ecofriendlytourist.com describes itself as ‘the user friendly guide to green holidays’ and provides details of green vacations in the UK – where to go, how to get there and things to do while you’re away. Set up in 2006 its content is based on journalistic research. It doesn’t nag and or preach: the aim is inspire visitors to the site and help them plan and enjoy guilt free vacations.

The website features an independent guide to eco-friendly places to stay in the UK, featuring hotels, hostels, guest houses, self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation – plus some other unusual places – throughout the country and across all price ranges.

Each comprehensive listing is divided into two parts with details of its eco-friendly credentials plus a descriptive overview of what the place is really like. It is easy to use and every listing is no more than two clicks away from the Home page.

The guide also includes a guide to hotel chains and what they are doing to go green, a camping and caravanning guide, and the lowdown on eco friendly short breaks in the UK, from cheap short breaks to luxury short breaks, romantic breaks to family breaks, activity breaks to spa breaks, outdoor breaks to heritage breaks. There is information about public transport across the UK, by road, sea and rail, but not by air.

The site is packed with jargon free information about green holidays: how to choose  where to stay, carbon offsetting, the pitfalls of “greenwashing”, and more. Plus there’s a 10 step guide on how to be an eco friendly tourist. The Travel Essentials section has information and links to help you plan a stress-free holiday - passports and visas, safety, travel insurance, travel money and holiday weather.

For further information visit www.ecofriendlytourist.com or contact webmaster@ecofriendlytourist.com

I’m pleased to welcome the Zoe Onlus Association to our Eco Friendly Community.  I am inspired after learning more about what this non-profit organization is doing to help the people of southern Tunisia, especially those living at the margins.  I’ll let the association’s President, Paolo Buccieri, take it from here:

The United Nations Organization defines desertification as one of
most alarming processes of environmental degradation.
In arid areas of northern Africa, the poorest part of the population,
living on subsistence farming, is paying the higher price .

Zoe non-profit organization, through the Solar Water Project, wants
help to improve the living conditions of families in southern Tunisia through the installation of pumps powered by solar panels.  The immersion solar pumps are produced in Italy and already tested in several countries in the world with excellent results. The most powerful model Tetraflux, is a submersible pump DC stainless steel, low power and high efficiency.

The pumps restore the function of abandoned water wells because of high costs of extraction previously practiced with diesel engines.

The intervention helps to improve the socio-economic conditions of marginal populations, introducing the use and know-how of renewable energy systems, and allows the families of rural villages to irrigate fields
at no cost, limiting the damage of desertification process in the area.

http://www.zoeonlus.it/acqua_solare_m.htm (only in italian but you can pick up pictures and videos)

You can also find some info on our Bio-Design activities at: http://www.zoeonlus.it/INGLESE/EN_biodesign.htm
(this page is in english)

Paolo Buccieri
President of Zoe Onlus Association

I’d like to welcome Kristen and Keep it Organic to our Eco Friendly Community.  Keep it Organic is helping to ensure the organic foods we consume stay organic all the way up to the point we consume them.  I’ll let them speak for themselves:

KeepItOrganic.org is a resource for people interested in organic foods and beverages. Our primary focus is on selection of the right packaging materials for organic products. Packaging can influence the foods and beverages it contains as well as the environment.

Keep It Organic is dedicated to providing the organic shopper with information about the right packaging choices for keeping your organic foods, organic. Many packaging choices may contain synthetic chemicals that migrate into foods and beverages, thus altering the natural organic integrity of your foods. In contrast, glass containers have been in use for 200 generations and are composed of naturally occurring substances and do not contain synthetic chemicals.

Happy St Patrick’s Day everyone! Being an Irish-American myself, St Patrick’s Day really evokes a lot of pride in my Irish heritage and thoughts of my ancestors who paved the way for so much of what I enjoy about this world today.  Thinking of them, I realize that Green is truly more than just a color that represents St Patrick’s Day and I am inspired to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  Hope the Green Beer Tastes Great!  Check out what a few others are saying this St Patty’s Day:

• I like what The Go Green Blog and has to say about 5 Tips to Really Green Your St Patrick’s Day
• Read about the Green Landmarks across the world to help remind all of us to Go Green on St Patty’s Day
• Check out Green LA Girl’s 11 green ways to celebrate St Patrick’s Day