Check the Code to Ensure That You Are Getting Organic Produce

I only learned this recently. Look at the stickers stuck on the produce.

9-If the PLU code has 5 digits beginning with a 9, then it is organic.

8-Genetically-engineered produce has 5 digits beginning with an 8. This is the only genetic engineering label in the US.

3 & 4-Conventially grown produce will only have a 4-digit PLU code.

Go here for a complete list of PLU codes.

I noticed my very first genetically-engineered produce today while I was shopping at Dominick's. They had grapes with a PLU code beginning with an 8.

Also, watch out for unlabeled produce. I predominantly shop at Whole Foods for my organic produce, and I have noticed that there will be conventional produce mixed in with a batch that is labeled organic on the sign posted above. Or there will not be a sticker on the produce at all. I want organic, so I am not going to buy otherwise. Paying attention to the PLU codes on the stickers is the best way to ensure you are getting what you paid for.

It's Not Always Easy Being Green-Part III

Made an unexpected shopping trip to the Clybourn Corridor.  There are a lot of home stores, so I figured I could look for an organic shower curtain.  First I went to Z Galleria.  They have interesting stuff but nothing organic.  Then I tried Crate & Barrel, and they have the same stuff in every store, so they do have organic towels and bath mats, and some bamboo accessories, but no organic shower curtains.  My last stop before going home was the Pottery Barn.  At first, all I found was organic towels and bath mats, but after asking a sales associate for assistance, I found that not only do they have 100% organic cotton shower curtains, but organic bedding as well, and in the fall they are expanding their organic offerings and are even going to have organic furniture. No surprise that Pottery Barn is taking the initiative to stock more organic goods because their headquarters are in San Francisco.  I still want to find a 100% organic cotton comforter, but that is for another day.     

It's Not Always Easy Being Green-Part II

I went to Green Mango Goods on Thursday afternoon to try and find a 100% organic cotton shower curtain.  They are located at the Andersonville Galleria on Clark St.  While I was disappointed that Green Mango Goods turned out to be a stall in a bazaar type mall with a select few items, and there were no shower curtains to be found, I did find a lot of eco-friendly shops all in one place, however small they may be.  Though I did not find a shower curtain, I did get a cute pair of black pants made out of bamboo from a store called Earthgirls Eco Boutique.  

I went to Target today, and though I still did not find an organic cotton shower curtain, I did buy a 100% organic cotton sheet set and some organic food items.  They actually have a decent selection in store, but an even better selection of organic items on-line.  I only have one shop left to try for my shower curtain-A Cooler Planet, but I cannot go until Tuesday because they are closed for the July 4th holiday.            

It's Not Always Easy Being Green

For instance, I have been searching high and low for a 100% organic shower curtain.  I had no idea it was going to prove to be so difficult to find one.  This past Saturday, I went to Evanston and went to two different "green" stores.  The first one, Ethical Planet, is an all vegan general store, but it is small and does not carry things like sheets, towels, clothes or shower curtains. The second store, Healthy Green Goods, had one type of shower curtain.  It was 100% organic cotton, but it was not my style at all.  I even tried Cost Plus World Market as well.  They had 100% cotton shower curtains, but they were not organic.  

The reason I want an organic cotton shower curtain is because cotton is the most pesticide-intensive crop grown on the planet. Check out the Organic Consumers Association for more troublesome facts about cotton, a fabric that people assume is "natural."  However, cotton shower curtains are better than vinyl shower curtains-the cheap, plastic-feeling shower curtains you can get for a few dollars from just about any store.  Check out the toxicity of vinyl here.  

Yesterday, I was downtown and decided that I would try and find a 100% organic cotton shower curtain again.  I tried Bed Bath & Beyond, Linens and Things and Crate & Barrel.  The first two stores were extremely disappointing.  Crate & Barrel did have a lot of organic towels and bath mats, they also had a lot of bamboo products.  They had 100% cotton shower curtains, but they were not organic.   

So I am going to try Target on Friday.  They have a lot of organic bath products on-line, so I am hoping to find an organic shower curtain in the store.  If I can't find one at Target, there is one more store I can try called A Cooler Planet.  I would much rather patronize a local store and save a ton of carbon emissions then buy an organic shower curtain on-line and have it shipped across the country or even the world.  I feel like that really defeats the purpose of being green. I am not just doing it for myself but for the planet as well.                          

Tips When Shopping for Food

Shop the perimeter of the supermarket and ignore the middle.

Go directly to the sections devoted to organic produce and natural products.

Buy organic foods.  However, if that is not possible or affordable, you can cut your exposure to pesticides by 90% by buying the following foods organic only :

• Apples
  
• Bell Peppers
  
• Celery
  
• Cherries
  
• Grapes
  
• Nectarines
  
• Peaches
  
• Pears
  
• Potatoes
  
• Red Raspberries
  
• Spinach
  
• Strawberries
  

Buy organic versions of the foods you eat the most.

Shop at natural food stores such as Whole Foods or Wild Oats.

Buy locally produced foods and fresh local produce in season, whether they are organic or not.

You Are What You Eat

This is as true today as it has always been.  But today we have so many options now that it seems overwhelming at times to pick the right foods for your body.  So it makes sense that the more natural your food is, the better it will be for you-but also the planet as well.  

We should all be concerned about where our food is coming from-we should be more aware of the process from planting to picking, from birth to slaughter and even in the handling and transportation. There was the spinach scare of 2006.  The on-going recalls of products coming in from China-but most especially the contaminated seafood.  Then there was the meat plant that got shut down in California for torturing its animals.  Now there is the tomato and now bagged lettuce recalls going on right now.  It is enough to make you want to stop eating. However, all you have to do is know how your food was treated before you bought it.  Greater care=greater nutrition.    

Going to Farmer's Markets is the best way to get to know your food. You can actually talk to the people who own and work the farms to find out what practices they use to grow and cultivate your food. There are a few websites to check out to find one near you.  

• http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets
  
• http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets
  
• http://farmersmarket.com

If there is not a Farmer's Market near you, then check out the Local Harvest website.  You can have food delivered right to your door, or you can find a grocery store in your area that sells locally farmed products.  The Land Connection can connect you with local food as well.  

Buy organic.  If the product is organic, then you know it is better for you.  Studies are being done to bear this out.  Organic foods are free of the harmful chemicals, but they are loaded with more of the nutrients than their non-organic counterparts.  Organic foods just taste better too.  If you are unable to find organic, look for all-natural, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, cage-free. When shopping for seafood, look for sustainably harvested.  Check out Seafood Watch for more information. 

Remember, you are what you eat.  The better your food is treated, the better it is for you and for the planet.  And companies that treat their food well will be proud to tell you about it-in person, on their packaging, on their website, etc.  Get to know your food.     

What Does Natural Mean When It Comes to Personal Care Products?

There are currently no governmental regulations defining natural. This means that some products you thought were "natural" may actually be filled with oil-based, synthetic ingredients. The Natural Products Association is working on a Natural Standard and Seal so that consumers can know what "natural" really is and how to identify the truly natural products.  Look for the Seal to begin appearing on products later in 2008.  

• One natural ingredient does not mean a product is all-natural.  Scrutinize personal care labels the same way you do your food labels, and pay close attention to ingredient order. The ingredients are listed from most concentrated to least.  
• Ingredients with long or scientific names are not always chemicals.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires manufacturers to use Latin and scientific names for ingredients.  Make it easier on yourself and learn what is safe by checking out the Cosmetic Database.
• Watch out for phrases such as "nature-inspired," "made with natural ingredients," and "natural origin."  This kind of language allows manufacturers to position their products as natural even though they may few natural ingredients.
• Even products with the USDA seal for Organic means that 97% of the ingredients used are certifiably Organic.  The other 3% could be synthetic and potentially harmful.
• Watch out for trademarked names using "natural" and "organic."  There are no laws on what a product can be called, only on how the product is used.
• There are certain ingredients that you should steer clear of and should never be used in something that is "natural."-

Parabens are synthetic preservatives and may be potential endocrine disruptors. 

Sulfates such as Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate are synthetic cleansing agents.  They potentially remove natural oils from the lipid layer of the skin.

Phthalates are fixatives of some synthetic fragrances that are potential toxins.

Petrochemicals, including petrolatum, mineral oil, and paraffin, are non-renewable by-products of crude oil with potential impurities.  

Fragrance is a term that any manufacturer can put on their label and the FDA does not require them to list the ingredients in it.

You have to be careful when you shop for personal care products. Look carefully at the ingredient list.  If you are unsure, be sure to look up the product and even the company that manufacturers the product.  Also, be mindful to buy products that are in environmentally friendly packaging-recyclable, biodegradable, and even compostable. If the packaging is just going to rot in the landfill, then it is not really a good product.  

  

12 Simple and Easy Eco Tips

1) Buy local and organic.  If your organic kiwi comes from Chile, then you are not a conscious consumer.  Though there are studies showing that organic foods retain more of their nutritional value than their non-organic counterparts, if you cannot get it local, find something else to buy.  

2) Look for concentrated products because they use less packaging. But also look for all-natural products in recyclable and/or biodegradable packaging.  If it is all-natural or organic, but does not come in environmentally sound packaging, move on to another product that does.

3) Switch your incandescent bulbs for CFL's (compact fluorescent light bulbs).  CFL's use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.  You will save an average of $30 per bulb.

4) Turn off the lights when you leave a room.  Also, turn off and/or unplug appliances that are not in use.  

5) Use reusable shopping bags whenever you go ANYWHERE. Grocery store, mall, wherever. The oil it takes to produce 14 plastic bags will power a car for a mile.  Plus, reusable bags are more study and comfortable.

6) Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth.  You will save on average of 25 gallons of water a month.  

7) Reduce the amount of time in the shower, and never turn the shower on and just let it run. Turn the water on only after you are in the shower.  

8) Use all-natural, earth-friendly cleaning products.  Better yet, use products that can serve many purposes in the home: 

• Baking soda-You can use it as a deodorizer, to clean abrasive surfaces, to bake, and even to get rid of heartburn. 
  
• Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps (liquid)-You can use it as a cleanser in the shower, or you can mix a little with some vinegar and water and clean your house with it. *This is real soap. Check out their website.  Dr. Bronner's rocks!
  
• White Vinegar-You can use it to clean, to cook, and to make vinaigrettes.   

9) Turn your thermostat down in the Winter and up in the Summer. Turn it off when you are not home.

10) Calculate your carbon footprint.

11) Walk or ride a bike to work and to run errands, or use public transport if it is available.  If you have to drive, make sure you run your errands all at once and in an order that makes sense-for example, drive to the farthest place and work your way back home. Better yet, carpool with co-workers, friends and neighbors.  

12) Give away used clothes and any other unwanted and unused items around the house.  Or barter.  Or sell.  Try Goodwill, Freecycle, Craigslist, and Ebay.  Even your local church will likely accept used clothing.