Author: Jennifer Lance

When sent a box of Skinny Water, I became suspicious of this product’s marketing because use the word “skinny” in its title. Of course, drinking a flavored water will not make you thin, but I also don’t think the company is trying to make this claim; however, flavors have names like “crave control” and “shape”, and they include health fad foods like goji berries. Skinny Water comes in six flavors:

• Skinny Water Raspberry Pomegranate
• Skinny Water Peach Mango Mandarin
• Skinny Water Goji Fruit Punch
• Skinny Water Passionfruit Lemonade
• Skinny Water Acai Grape Blueberry
• Skinny Water Orange Cranberry Tangerine

My concern with Skinny Water is its use of the artificial sweetener Splenda (sucralose). The safety of this artificial sweetener has come into question. Women to Women explains:

The FDA has no definition for “natural,” so please bear with us for a biochemistry moment:
On the other side of the argument are responsible experts who say that Splenda is unsafe — the latest in a succession of artificial sweeteners that claim at first to be healthy, only later to be proven to be full of side effects. These authorities say that Splenda has more in common with DDT than with food….

Splenda is the trade name for sucralose, a synthetic compound stumbled upon in 1976 by scientists in Britain seeking a new pesticide formulation. It is true that the Splenda molecule is comprised of sucrose (sugar) — except that three of the hydroxyl groups in the molecule have been replaced by three chlorine atoms.

I found nothing wrong with the flavor of Skinny Water, but I don’t think that people trying to lose weight need to sacrifice their health by using artificial sweeteners. Natural sweeteners may be used in moderation with a healthy, whole foods diet and exercise as part of any sensible weight loss plan. Besides, artificial sweeteners are turning up in our waterways and drinking water causing much concern for our health and the environment.

Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative.

Large “organic” dairies have come under criticism by consumers for inhumane treatment of livestock. Green Living Ideas reports on the practices used by Horizon Organic:

It is the Idaho dairy farm where the image is most depressing and
contradicts the Horizon label that promises cows “make milk the natural
way, with access to plenty of fresh air, clean water and exercise.” OCA
describes one Horizon corporate farm:

At a Horizon dairy farm in central Idaho, the cows don’t
look that happy. Four thousand cows live in a stark landscape of
sagebrush fields, long silver barns and open-air sheds. Jammed in
crowded pens atop the hardpan of the Idaho desert, the cows are fed a
diet of alfalfa, hay, grains and soy, all certified organic. Only
occasionally do they eat fresh grass.

The USDA has responded by tightening organic standards, well sort of. Treehugger reports:

New USDA Organic Regulations

The new rules go into effect in June of this year. They state that at least 30 percent of food cows’ ingest must come from grazing. If the dairy farm is located in a mild climate like California, cows will be expected to graze even more than the 120 days mandated as a minimum by law. Organic beef standards will also be tightened. Organic cattle, goats, buffalo, and sheep must be able to graze as well. Although in the last four months of life, certain diet regulations can be eliminated.

Personally, I don’t feel these standards go far enough. 30% does not ensure the animals do not spend the majority of their time in feedlot situations.

We occasionally drink Honest Tea because it is readily available in gas stations and health food stores alike. Recently, my daughter read an interesting statistic inside her Honest Tea lid:

Last year, Honest Tea sold 7,998,654 bottles of tea. This the same amount of Coke sold in 9 minutes.

She was blown away by this statistic, and it really shows how even a quasi-mainstream product like Honest Tea nowhere comes close to a giant like Coca-Cola. Of course, Honest Tea was only launched in 1998, and it somewhat ironic they would include such a quote when in 2008, “The Coca-Cola Company purchased 40 percent of Honest Tea“. Hmm, maybe that’s why we are seeing it convenience stores now.

I live off-the-grid. A couple years ago, we purchased a Sony LCD television, and we were shocked to see the amount of power this TV actually used. It wasn’t a huge set, but it did pull a lot of juice out of our batteries. When we had the opportunity to try a LED TV, we wanted to see if it actually did use less power.

We tested out a VIZIO TruLED. According to the manufacturer:

VIZIO’s Eco HD models exceed the current Energy Star guidelines by 56% below Energy Star 3.0, which saves you money on your utility bills while limiting the impact on our planet.

In addition to the fact that LED HDTVs are more efficient than standard LCDs, the display’s LED backlights do not utilize mercury, an environmentally harmful substance used in other backlights.

Some reviewers on Amazon have complained about the sound on the Vizio, and straight out of the box, I couldn’t agree more. There was a strange sort of buzz and the volume needed to be cranked up for watching. The Vizio came set to “flat” in the audio settings. Switching this to “rock” fixed the problem.
 
Even thought this TV is larger than our TV, we noticed it uses less power. Obviously, that’s a good thing for all consumers, not just those making their own power like we are. In fact, earlier this year California looked at regulating energy consumption of TVs.  LED TVs appear to be the solution, but I am not sure it warrants buying a new TV.  All of the energy and resources used in manufacturing a new set may not be offset by the energy savings.

Published in the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, the first study of its kind “to include the impact of desertification” on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has found that “38% of the land surface of the world” is in danger of desertification. EurekaAlert! explains:

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a scientific methodology that objectively analyses the environmental impacts of an activity or process, taking in the full cycle, from extraction of raw materials right through to management of the waste generated at the end of this material’s useful life…

By simultaneously using the LCA and a Geographic Information System (GIS), the researchers have shown that eight of these 15 areas can be classified as at risk of desertification, representing 38% of the land surface of the world.

The eight natural areas at risk are coastal areas, the Prairies, the Mediterranean region, the savannah, the temperate Steppes, the temperate deserts, tropical and subtropical Steppes, and the tropical and subtropical deserts.

“The greatest risk of desertification (7.6 out of 10 on a scale produced using various desertification indicators) is in the subtropical desert regions – North Africa, the countries of the Middle East, Australia, South West China and the western edge of South America”, the scientist explains.

Researchers hope the new information will make it possible to accurately evaluate “particular” human activities impact on desertification in different regions.

Nature’s Path already makes many gluten-free, organic cereals, and now they have added to the bunch with the Crunchy Sunrise flavors of maple and vanilla.
Crunchy Maple Sunrise:

Made with love and …
INGREDIENTS: Organic whole grain corn meal, organic evaporated cane juice, organic brown rice flour, organic yellow corn flour, organic inulin, organic quinoa puffs, organic maple syrup, organic flax seeds, natural maple flavor, organic buckwheat flour, organic quinoa, sea salt, organic amaranth, organic molasses, tocopherols (natural vitamin E). Produced in a facility that uses peanuts, tree nuts and soy.

Crunchy Vanilla Sunrise:

Made with love and …
INGREDIENTS: Organic whole grain corn meal, organic evaporated cane juice, organic brown rice flour, organic yellow corn flour, organic inulin, organic quinoa puffs, organic flax seeds, natural vanilla flavor, organic buckwheat flour, organic quinoa, sea salt, organic amaranth, organic molasses, tocopherols (natural vitamin E). Produced in a facility that uses peanuts, tree nuts and soy.

Of course, you don’t have to be one of the two million people in the US that suffer from Celiac Disease to enjoy these healthy cereals. There is no sacrifice of flavor in making these cereals gluten-free.

Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative.

The city of Houston, Texas is partnering with Nissan and Reliant Energy to promote “the development of an electric-vehicle charging network and policies to support widespread adoptions of electric cars”. The Nissan LEAF, an all electric, zero-emissions car, is supposed to be introduced this year, and the car manufacturer is partnering with cities and electric companies to be sure the infrastructure is in place for EVs. Green Car Congress reports:

As part of the agreement, Nissan and the City of Houston, along with Reliant Energy, will develop plans to promote a charging infrastructure for electric cars that encourages home and workplace charging, as well as a public-charging infrastructure. The partners will work to coordinate the establishment of policies and help streamline charging infrastructure deployment. Nissan also has agreed to make available a supply of electric vehicles to the City of Houston and in and around the metropolitan area…

Reliant Energy is working to make the broad adoption of electric vehicles simple by developing an ecosystem of charging infrastructure and services that makes fueling electric vehicles more convenient and affordable than the gasoline alternative.

It’s exciting to see a town like Houston with roots in the oil industry to be embracing EVs!

Temporary tattoos on kids’ skin, Sharpie markers, tar, sap, band-aid residue, etc….these are all stubborn substances that typically have to just wear off your skin unless you use harsh chemical agents. Removeez has the natural solution to “Get Stuff Off Your Skin“.

Numerous hospital visits with our young son, and the skin-tearing sticky bandages that come with… Daily trips to our tar-ridden beach, and the impossible-to-remove-goop that come with it… A daughter who loves to play with Sharpies, and the permanent skin art that comes with it…

We found we needed something like REMOVEEZ daily. We had no desire to go into the shed for toxic mineral spirits and we were done with the “just rip off the band-aid” moments. We didn’t want to stop our kids from being kids — wearing temporary tattoos or playing with face paint; we just needed something to clean them up so they could look nice for the grandparents.

As California beach parents, we went looking for something natural, with additional homeopathic elements, because after all we were going to put it on our kids’ skin. When we didn’t find it, we invented it.

Using homeopathic extracts of aloe, bee pollen calendula, Hawaiian white ginger, and red clover blossome, Removeez comes in four scents:

1. Removeez – Lavender/orange
2. Removeez – Eucalyptus/orange
3. Removeez – Clove/orange
4. Removeez – Coconut/orange

Removeez is an “alternative to rubbing alcohol, baby oil, turpentine, mineral spirits, acetone, and industrial products not meant to clean the skin.”

Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No
prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or
negative.

There is a park in our county seat that is full of heirloom fruit trees. This fruit most often falls to the ground and is consumed by the deer, and I have often wondered about the legality of families collecting this harvest in times of need. A new iPhone app helps solve the problem of wasted food on public lands.

Neighborhood Fruit began as a website to help neighbors share the fruit in their yards. Green Living Ideas explains:

Neighborhood Fruit is a new website that aims to connect neighbors and their fruit trees to share in the abundance…

In a time when many people don’t know their neighbors living next door, sharing fruit can be a challenge, but it can also be an icebreaker. Imagine a harvest block party in the fall which would truly be a locavore potluck! Neighborhood Fruit can help you connect with your local community, as well as give you access to delicious, local, homegrown food.

Neighborhood Fruit has released an iPhone app that shares information on free fruit on public lands. Mother Nature Network describes the app:

Right now, there’s a pear tree on 17th Street in Philadelphia that I could grab a pear or two from if I wanted. At least, according to a new iPhone app Neighborhood Fruit’s Find Fruit there is.

This 99 cent app has mapped out fruit trees on urban public lands and locates them for you according to what is in season at the moment. It also allows you to see what’s available during all seasons.

This app also works on the Apple iPod touch too!

Aurora has created a line of plush toys called Yoo Hoo & Friends. Each character is based upon an endangered species, and a virtual world accompanies the toys at yoohoofriends.com. From lemurs to capuchin monkeys, each toy can be squeezed to make a noise and have certain characteristics online, like being “creative & smart”.

Personally, I find these toys a bit freaky. Their color schemes are bizarre, and the sounds are not genuine to the animals they represent. I am not sure what the educational benefit is as far teaching children about endangered species, and these toys are made of synthetic materials. Unlike Aurora’s Natural plush toys made from soy and kapok that more accurately resemble animals, I feel the Yoo Hoo line is all about marketing and trying to tap into the Webkinz frenzy.

Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative.

Tortillas are completely versatile wraps, and now they are coming in more flavors than just wheat and white. Tomaro’s makes gourmet organic flavored tortillas that are great in any recipe. Varieties we tried include:

• Tumaro’s 8-Inch Tortillas, Premium White
• Tumaro’s 8-Inch Tortillas, Honey Wheat
• Tumaro’s 10-Inch Wraps, Chipotle Chili & Peppers
• Tumaro’s 10-Inch Wraps, Garden Spinach & Vegetables
• Tumaro’s 10-Inch Wraps, Sundried Tomato & Basil
• Tumaro’s 10-Inch Wraps, Honey Wheat

Herman Jacobs originally retired in 1981 after selling two successful family businesses, Hain Pure Food Co. and Hollywood Foods. In 1994, Herman and his son Brian bought a tiny Mexican frozen entrée company named Tumaro’s in Santa Monica, California. Together, they reformulated the product line to be healthier, tinkering with the tortillas they used in the process.

Soon after, they concentrated all their efforts solely on tortillas, infusing them with natural flavors and whole grains. They created the supermarket industry’s first flavored tortillas and to this day, remain the largest seller of flavored tortillas on the market. In addition to adding flavors, they also set out to make them the healthiest too.

These are good tortillas, and we enjoyed them with our burritos. I like how the company discloses the percentage of organic ingredients in each product, instead of just saying “organic”. 

Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative.

We have a problem: the world’s population is growing rapidly putting pressure on agriculture to feed all those people. One solution is vertical farming, which has just won the endorsement of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Valcent, developers of Verticrop, explains the benefits of vertical farming:

Vertical growing is a new idea currently emerging in the sustainability discourse which offers great promise for increasing urban production. Vertical growing systems have been proposed as possible solutions for increasing urban food supplies while decreasing the ecological impact of farming. The primary advantage of vertical growing is the high density production it allows using a much reduced physical footprint and fewer resources relative to conventional agriculture. Vertical growing, hydroponics and greenhouse production have now been combined into an integrated commercial production system, a system that has major potential for the realization of environmentally sustainable urban food and fuel production.

Treehugger further addresses some of the criticisms of vertical farming:

Of course criticisms of vertical and urban farming still shave some merit–namely that urban real estate is generally expensive, and best used for high-density residential and commercial use, with the surrounding farmland being used to feed the city. But such criticisms ignore the fact that formerly industrial sites in cities like Detroit are now lying derelict and are being eyed-up by potential urban farming operations.

I don’t see that vertical farming has to be limited to urban locations, as it could also be used by farmers in order to maximize their crop land for food products that require more space.

Of course it is better to make soups from scratch, but the next best thing when you need a quick meal is canned organic soup. Pacific Natural Foods has just improved the flavors of its Hearty Artisan Soups that contain “organic meat protein”. As a vegetarian, I could not taste these soups, but I did find an omnivore to try them out. He said they were good with some “doctoring” of Bragg Liquid Aminos and nutritional yeast. The five improved flavors are:

1. Pacific Natural Foods Organic Savory White Bean With Smoked Bacon Soup
2. Pacific Natural Foods Organic Spicy Chicken Fajita Soup
3. Pacific Natural Foods Organic Savory Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
4. Pacific Natural Foods Organic Chicken & Penne Pasta Soup
5. Pacific Natural Foods Organic Split Pea with Bacon & Swiss Cheese Soup

Besides being committed to organic foods, Pacific Natural Foods is a top donor to the Oregon Food Bank. The company believes, “No one should go hungry.”

Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative.

We are big Mac fans here at Blogpire, and much of the environmental blog world has been a buzz asking the important question: How green is the new Apple iPad?

iPad embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:
Arsenic-free display glass
BFR-free
Mercury-free LCD display
PVC-free
Recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure

Shea Gunther at Mother Nature Network explains:

Apple has taken some lumps in the past, particularly from groups like Greenpeace, for using toxic substances like mercury and arsenic in their products. With e-waste being as big a problem as it is considering the huge number of products Apple and other tech companies produce every year, the decision to stop using these poisonous chemicals is a big one. The iPad (and nearly ever other electronic device) have a LONG way to go before they can truly be called green, but they’re getting greener and greener every go around.

earth2tech gave the new iPad a grade of B, and during the iPad’s announcement, Steve Jobs was sure to tout it’s green features. According to Infoworld:

Another green bragging point: Apple claims that the device’s specially designed lithium-polymer battery, combined with the energy efficiency of the iPad’s A4 processor, means the system can run for 10 hours straight.

The iPad’s form factor also contributes to its green credentials. It weighs a mere 1.5 pounds and is half an inch thick. Compare that to the bulkier devices it rivals — say, a netbook — and you can see the iPad contains fewer materials. Moreover, unlike a netbook, a keyboard isn’t a necessity for the iPad, which means you won’t have to invest in yet another hunk of plastic, metal, or the like. (That’s not to say the iPad doesn’t support a keyboard.)

Being the first to own the latest technology is definitely not green living, but at least consumers are faced more environmentally friendly options when making new purchases. 

Mmmm, I love cookies! Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar: 100 Dairy-Free Recipes for Everyone’s Favorite Treats is a handy book filled with great recipes for vegetarians and omnivores alike! From Tahini Lime Cookies to Whole Wheat Fig Bars, you can’t go wrong with these delicious recipes. Great images of the finished products make you drool and motivate you to get into the kitchen and start baking.

Caramel Pecan Bars

For the crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
A big punch of salt
3/4 cup nonhydrogenated margarine, slightly softened

For the pecan topping:
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup nondairy milk
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
2/3 cup brown rice syrup
2 tablespoons melted nonhydrogenated margarine
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, making sure the foil completely covers the sides of the pan, with about 2 inches folded outside over the edges. Spray the bottom and sides of the pan generously with nonstick cooking spray.

Prepare the crust:
1. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Use a pastry cutter or two knives held together to cut in the margarine until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Pour crumbs into the prepared baking pan and press down evenly and very firmly, making sure to press the mixture all the way to the edges of the pan. Bake the crust for 8 to 10 minutes until firm and very lightly browned. Remove the pan from the oven and set it aside.

Prepare the topping:
1. In a large bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and nondairy milk until foamy. Stir in the the dark brown sugar, brown rice syrup, melted margarine, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Fold in the pecans and pour the mixture onto the crust, using a spatula to spread the topping evenly.

2. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 28 to 30 minutes, or until the filling is rapidly bubbling. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes, then move to the refrigerator to finish cooling and setting. Chill for at least 2 hours or, even better, overnight.

3. To slice completely cooled bars, grab ahold of the foil and carefully lift the whole thing out of the pan and onto a heavy cutting board. Peel away the foil and cut bars with a heavy, sharp knife.

Disclosure:  I was sent a free sample of this product to review. No
prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or
negative.

Science has proven what I have known all along: eating chocolate reduces stress! The “chocolate cure” has been clinically studied. Published in the Journal of Proteome Research, Medical News reports:

It found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in the bodies of people feeling highly stressed…

Sunil Kochhar and colleagues note growing scientific evidence that antioxidants and other beneficial substances in dark chocolate may reduce risk factors for heart disease and other physical conditions. Studies also suggest that chocolate may ease emotional stress.

In my experience, a glass of red wine coupled with chocolate works best 🙂 Of course, organic chocolate yields premier results.

Recently, I found myself in need of a yoga mat in order to take an unplanned class hours from my home. At a local health food store, I purchased the Gaiam Eco Conscious Jute Yoga Mat (Natural). This mat is costs about $37.00, and it smells wonderful fresh out of the packaging. I have an aversion to smell of new yoga mats, even ones that are PVC-free, but this yoga mat had the sweet smell of jute. The jute mixed with rubber also gives the mat a different texture that I preferred to traditional yoga mats the first time I tried it.

An eco-friendly alternative for your yoga practice, this mat from Gaiam is made of 100% jute, an earthy, natural and biodegradable fiber. The mat is constructed by meshing jute fibers with patented PER plastic, a phthalate-free plastic that is safer for the environment, as well as for the workers who manufacture it. Soft and lightweight, the Gaiam Jute Mat features a grippy, non-skid rubber bottom, ideal for all types of flooring. The mat is durable enough for machine-washing but will have a longer life span if hand washed.

My trust in Gaiam has faltered given the BPA scandal in their aluminum water bottles, but I do really like this yoga mat. It has replaced my regular mat in my daily practice.

Technically, there is still one more year to complete in this decade; however, it is already the warmest decade since 1880, when “reliable modern” records began. Live Science reports:

According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, 2008 was the coolest year of the decade, and 2009 saw a return to near-record global temperatures (despite that frigid December, which was unseasonably cool for much of North America, Europe, and Asia).

2009 was only a fraction of a degree cooler than 2005, which is the warmest year on record.

James Hansen warns the current El Niño cycle causing big storms in the western US could create unusually high temperatures this summer, like it did in 1998.

I have an older car and live in the mountains, so the carpet inside takes quite a beating. I have tried carpet shampooers at car washes, but the smell of the cleaning products gags me, and it is inconvenient. When I saw the Bissell 1400-7 Little Green Multi-Purpose Compact Earth-Friendly Deep Cleaner, I wanted to try it.

What makes the Little Green environmentally-friendly? When I first saw it advertised as such, I suspected greenwashing. According to the manufacturer:

• A compact, multipurpose cleaner that has been redesigned with a 95 percent reduction in PVC.
• Manufactured with tanks made of polypropylene, a material that is more recycling-friendly.
• The brush block is made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic and the solution tank also contains parts made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic.
• All Styrofoam has been eliminated from the Little Green’s packaging, and the carton and inner packaging are made from a minimum of 75 percent recycled corrugated materials.
• The Little Green uses earth-friendly liquid cleaning formulas that do not contain any heavy metals, optical brighteners, phosphates, or dyes.

The Little Green does not heat the water, but you add hot water to its tank, which actually makes the unit more versatile for cold water applications. It worked very well at cleaning out my car upholstery, and even though it is not recommended by the manufacturer, I will use more natural clean products in the Little Green. 

Is it greenwashing? Probably not, and I am glad I purchased this product.  I only wish the cleaner it came with was truly natural.  

I am a huge fan of Aveda’s Light Elements line. It is perfect for any hair type! Aveda has just introduced two new products to this popular line:
Light Elements Texturizing Creme:

Weightless texture with light hold for all hair types.

• Amur corktree and barley blend adds moisture to hair.
• Organic beeswax and pullulan help provide light, flexible all-day hold.
• Plant emulsifiers from jojoba and soy give the product a soft and creamy texture.
• A blend of gamma oryzanol (from rice bran) and Sasa veitchii (bamboo) helps protect hair from UV damage.
• Spicy-citrus aroma features certified organic mandarin, ginger and Australian sandalwood.

Light Elements Shaping Wax:

Weightless texture with firm, pliable hold for all hair types.

• Organic beeswax and jojoba wax help provide unique pliability
• Pine rosinate and pullulan help give all-day strong hold
• Plant emulsifiers from coconut, jojoba and soy give the product a creamy texture
• A blend of gamma oryzanol (from rice bran) and Sasa veitchii (bamboo) helps protect hair from UV damage
• Spicy-citrus aroma features certified organic mandarin, ginger and Australian sandalwood.

I absolutely love both of these products.  The scents are wonderful, and they really improve the coarse texture of my hair and give it manageability. Aveda is committed to the environment, and these products are manufactured in the USA.

Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No
prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or
negative.