Earth, Wind & Power Blogazine

Organic Eats Across the USA

More often than not, summer road trips lead to hidden treasure - hole-in-the-wall finds that we stumble upon and immediately fall in love with. As July and August stretch out in front of you, consider hitting the open road and discovering your own new favorite spots, or check out some of these fun, organic dining finds that have us licking our lips:

Mighty-O Donut  - This delectable bakery in Seattle, Wash. serves up a dizzying array of donuts daily, using certified organic ingredients in small batches. Pick your poison (Cuckoo for Coconut, perhaps, or Cocoloco?) from behind the glass case.

Tara's Organic Ice Cream - With locations sprinkled throughout California, Tara's offers a pallate of pleasure no matter your taste. From flavors like Black Sesame to plain, old Pecan, the list is long and the end treat is always delicious!

Orlando Brewery - These "Fresh from Florida" craft beers are the best in the south and free tours of the brewery are offered Monday through Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Check out the taproom and sip on a sample of organic Red Ale or Blackwater Porter. 

Candle Cafe - This organic and vegan cafe fittingly calls the Big Apple home and focuses on delivering farm-to-table dining with a menu featuring specials like the Paradise Casserole and Minty Melon Cooler smoothie. Homecooked goodness with local appeal - and all available in the middle of NYC!

Keep Your Garden Green Even While Away

While you're enjoying that well deserved summer vacation, don't forget your garden will be home working hard - and hopefully offer up a bouty of fresh veggies upon your return! Here are some simple tips to keep your garden going strong while you're on the go this summer season.

A Good Soak – Give flower and vegetable gardens a good final soak before flying the coop. This is especially important if rainfall has been inadequate, or sparse precipitation is predicted. The good news is that further watering may not be a worry no matter what the weather. Established annuals can last for ten days without supplemental water. Most perennials can weather two weeks of dry conditions. Trees and shrubs won't feel the pinch for about a month. Lawns are the camels of the garden. A healthy lawn can go six weeks without extra water.  

Don't Feed and Leave – Don't fertilize plants before leaving. Slower growth is what you want while you are away.

Protect Containers – Container plants need water more often than border plants. If you ask a friend for a watering favor, group containers in a protected area with indirect sun, but access to rainfall.  This makes it easier to water and harder to miss a pot.  This lessens stress on plants and your watering chum.

Harvest Produce – Harvest produce before you leave. If you can't take it with you, or just have too much, donate to a food pantry or share with friends or family. If you'll be gone for more than two weeks, ask a friend to harvest produce. If you stop harvesting vegetables some stop producing.

Apply a Pre-emergent Garden Weed Preventer – Most people associate pre-emergent garden weed preventers with early spring, but mid-summer is another smart time to apply it. A second application atop mulch or soil stops weed seeds from sprouting while you're away and well into the fall. Remember that mulch and and a garden weed preventer prevent new weeds from happening, they don't kill the existing ones!

Source: www.preen.com

Scary Food Facts and Tricks to Stay Healthy

Could the food in your fridge be the stuff of nightmares? If you’re not paying close attention to the products you buy—and consume—there’s a chance that you’re overlooking the ugly truth when it comes to your grocery store haul.

While spinach, egg and peanut butter contaminations have all made the headlines recently, there’s plenty more scary stuff that doesn’t make the network news cut. Take, for instance, insect parts and toxic chemicals, which is actually allowed in some foods—um, yuck.

To ensure that your next trip to the market is as green, clean and safe as possible, ShopSmart shares the following tips:

Bugs in your food – It’s simply not possible to grow, harvest, and process food without a few tiny creepy-crawlies hitchhiking along, so the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets tolerance levels for what are termed "naturally occurring defects." For example a 24-ounce container of cornmeal can have up to 13 insects, 745 insect fragments, and 27 rodent hairs.

If you discover unwanted visitors in a newly purchased product, return it to the store or the manufacturer for a refund. If you're not sure whether a food is infested, freeze it for four days or heat it in the oven at 140-degree for an hour to kill insects and eggs.

Consuming clones - The FDA does not require labeling on most products that contain genetically engineered plant material or on meat and milk from cloned animals. Genetically modified versions of corn, soybeans, canola, and cotton are widely sold in the U.S.

If you'd prefer to avoid milk and meat from cloned cows and genetically modified plant ingredients, buy organic. Unfortunately, there's no way to avoid consuming some genetically modified ingredients

Carnivore chicken - Livestock feed can include things like cow meat and bones, which might be fed to chickens, pigs, and even farmed fish. And cows might be fed processed feathers and waste from the floors of chicken coops. 

Look for beef or chicken certified organic by the USDA. Claims of "no additives," "no antibiotics," "no hormones," and "no steroids" are less reliable since they can't be verified.

Labels lie - Some labels can outsmart even careful shoppers. "Natural" products might contain high-fructose corn syrup; a food "made with" an ingredient often includes just a smidgen; and a "whole-grain" cereal could lack substantial fiber.

If you want the whole story, you still have to flip to the back label and scan the nutrition facts. Check not just the calories but also serving sizes. And scan the percent of daily values.

Fresh meat - Many supermarkets sell ground beef and steaks packaged with gas that keeps them looking fresh and red for a month or more, even if the meat has spoiled. In that process, used in factory-wrapped (or case-ready) meat, most of the oxygen in the package is replaced with other gases, including tiny amounts of carbon monoxide that react with pigment and keep the meat red.

Ask whether your grocer sells meat packed with carbon monoxide. For fruits, buy locally or at least what's in season. (Frozen fruits and veggies are a good option any time of year because they're usually flash frozen immediately after harvest.)

SOURCE ShopSmart Magazine

Getting Your Daily Dose of Fruits & Veggies

What's on your plate for dinner? If it's not half-full of fruits and veggies, you're not following the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) newest dietary recommendations, which suggest devoting at least 50 percent of every meal - or your daily food intake - to nature's produce. 

"This science-based government recommendation to make half your plate fruits and vegetables is a significant and positive step in the battle to fight obesity and related health issues in America. [It's] a simple, memorable way to show Americans the proportion of fruits and vegetables they should be eating at every meal occasion," says Dr. Elizabeth Pivonka, president and CEO of Produce for Better Health Foundation.

How can you add fruits and veggies in ways that won't make you feel 100 percent vegetarian (if you aren't already, that is):

 Source: Fruits & Veggies - More Matters

• Start your morning with a glass of 100 percent fruit juice
• Stock up on frozen and canned fruits and vegetables for those times when fresh varieties aren't handy
• Mix dried plums, mango and banana chips with almonds for a healthy mid-day snack
• Keep pre-cut veggies at eye-level in your refrigerator for grab-and-go snacking
• Pack celery sticks topped with peanut butter for a healthy, but filling, lunch time treat 

How to Make Your Greens Even Healthier

It’s picnic season! When you’re packing up your bounty of healthy (and hopefully organic!) fruits and veggies for an afternoon snack or side dish, you’ll want to abide by these simple rules to avoid prevent eating contaminated food. It’s hard to believe, but Federal health officials estimate that nearly 48 million people are sickened by harmful germs each year!

Health eating starts at the supermarket. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends picking produce that isn’t bruised or damaged—and making sure that any pre-cut items (like lettuce or apple slices) are either refrigerated or on ice.

When you get home and into your own kitchen, take extra precautions by following the below rules.

• Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water before and after touching produce
• Cut away damaged or bruised areas before preparing or eating
• Gently rub produce while holding under running water (there’s no need to use soap or a produce wash)
• Wash produce before you peel it, so dirt and bacteria aren’t transferred from the knife onto the fruit or vegetable
• Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers
• Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce bacteria that may be present
• Throw away the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage

Once you’ve sliced and diced, you’re all set to prepare your food. Stumped on healthy ideas? Scour your favorite cookbook for all-natural options or visit sites like the Food Network’s Healthy Eating recipe section or the Eating Well website.

(Source: FDA) Also, visit Earth Tones on Road & Travel Magazine.

Farm-to-Table Getaways in Colorado

Locally-driven lifestyles are sweeping the nation and today, people want to know where their food comes from and that it’s sustainable. This summer, why not delve into fresh agricultural offerings with an experiential vacation? Across Colorado, travelers to get their hands dirty and enjoy the fruits of their labor on farm and ranch stays. Travelers can take part in organic cooking and butchery classes; cultivate crops; herd cattle or bison; and actually take part in the development of a farm or ranch.

The authentic experiences not only open the eyes of the everyday urban warrior, but fill the stomach! What better way to escape?

Fresh and Wyld Farmhouse (Paonia, Colo.)
Known for its commitment to locally- grown food, Fresh and Wyld maintains its own veggie gardens, chickens, goats, berry patch and heirloom apple trees to feed its guests. The Inn serves communal-style home-cooked meals and also offers organic cooking classes, butchery classes, farm school classes and heritage farm art workshops.

Mesa Winds Farm (Hotchkiss, Colo.)
A 36-acre farm, Mesa Winds produces USDA Certified Organic peaches, apples, grapes, raspberries, asparagus, vegetables and honey. Visitors sleep in rehabbed "picker cabins" and are welcomed to lend a hand with the farm work and dine on organic food fresh from the farm. Orchard camping opportunities are also available.

Smith Fork Ranch (North Fork Valley, Colo.)
A private luxury ranch Smith Fork Ranch offers fly fishing, horseback riding, hiking and a unique farm-to-table experience. The ranch has a garden farmstead that provides the majority of the vegetables and herbs for the ranch meals; they also raise free-range chickens that provide farm fresh eggs. The ranch also offers guided and unguided local farm and winery tours. 

Zapata Ranch (Sun Luis Valley, Colo.)
A 103,000-acre authentic working cattle and bison guest ranch, Zapata borders the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Owned by the Nature Preserve, vacations at the Zapata Ranch revolve around learning through experience, about real ranch life and the great outdoors. Zapata prepares meals with their grass-fed bison and beef and locally grown produce.     

(Source: Colorado Tourism Office)

Top Vegetarian Restaurants in the U.S.

 No longer do vegetarians have to resort to nibbling pasta when hitting up the best restaurant in town. Today, seasonal, organic ingredients are plentiful are menus across the nation - and we've compiled a list of some of the best dining hot spots to score a delectable, planet-friendly meal, as recommended by AAA travel inspectors.

3 Sisters Cafe
Indianapoils, Ind. 
Locals and tourists alike flock to this slightly worn but charming Victorian-style restaruant. Vegetarian and vegan options abound and an awesome all-day breakfast menu continuously tempts. Their homemade black bean burger always garners a thumbs-up.

Claire's Corner Copia
New Haven, Conn. 
Distinctive koscher, Italian and Mexican dishes feature organic ingredients at this college hang-out, where Yale students have been coming for more than 30 years. Checkered tile floors and original artwork for sale on the walls only add to it's charm.

Dragonfly Neo-V Cuisine
Columbus, Ohio
A well-established vegan mecca owned by Chef Magdiale Wolmark features a menu made of plant-based foods - from soup to dessert. Specialties like mock duck and orzo "mac and cheese" are all-time favorites.

French Meadow Bakery and Cafe
Minneapolis, Minn. 
The smell of baked goods wafting lures in passers by to this farm-to-table restaurant, where brown rice bread is a claim to fame. 

Green Vegetarian Cusine and Coffee
San Antonio, Texas
A century-old brick building with a front yard herb garden and patio dining is enough to soothe anyone. Add a vegetarian-ham Reuben, enchiladas, stroganoff and wraps to the mix and things get a little more exciting.

Horizons Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pa. 
The seasonal menu at this restaurant earns smiles from vegetarians and carnivores alike, and includes specialty cocktails and savory delights like Jamaican BBQ seitan and Cuban paella. The perfect date spot.

Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant
Boulder, Colo.
Artistic food presentation and elegant decor make dining here a special experience. Complex flavor and visual appeal make the sweet onion tart a much-loved sweet, but the most memorable menu item is a ginger lemon shurb - a zesty fruit beverage dating back to colonial times.

Lovin' Spoonfuls
Tuscon, Ariz.
Locally-owned and operated, this all-vegan restaurant sets the bar when it comes to eco eating. Mouthwatering appetizers include cashew mushroom pate, hummus dip and marinated grapevine leaves stuffed with seasoned rice.

McFoster's Natural Kind Cafe
Omaha, Neb.
A quaint, worn-in restaurant surrounded by gardens, this destination offers up delectable and nutritious dishes alike. Popular items include the huge salads, soups, and entrees like eggplant parmesan.

Sage's Cafe
Salt Lake City, Utah
Featuring international, organic vegetarian cuisine and locally grown foods, this cafe is known for it's carrot butte pate, raw pad Thai salad, vegan Philly "cheese steak," French toast dipped in tofu batter and house-made root beer.

Tille Gort's
Pacific Grove, Calif. 
A small restaurant with a big menu, Tillie's serves breakfast, lunch and dinner meals that span the cultural gamut - from Italian, Mexican and Indian to American. Their "No Meat Loaf" is a favorite among customers.

For more Earth-friendly articles, visit Earth Tones.

Hungry yet? Check out AAA's travel blog - AAATravelViews.com - for more dish on veggie-loving restaurants nationwide. 

Smart Shopping Tips for a Greener Lifestyle

When it comes to green lifestyles, it’s true that the little efforts add up. While buying an electric car or carbon offsets for your vacation are admirable actions, there are also a million, tinier tasks you can easily add to your existing schedule – and budget – that will make a difference. Below, we’ve provided a checklist for you to serve as a remind during your next shopping trip!

• Buy Fresh, Organic and Close to Home: Not only are fresh fruits and vegetables better for you, you eliminate the manufacturing, packaging and shipping, all of which strains the environment.  By seeking out fresh, organic, local produce you are doing both your body and local economy a favor.
• Shop in Season:  If you are choosing an exotic fruit or vegetable in the dead of winter you know it comes at a high cost.  Think about the environmental price tag to fly that food to your doorstep and choose fruits and vegetables in season instead.
• Eliminate Bottled Water:  According to the New York Times, Americans consume 30 billion single-serving containers of bottled water each year – plastic containers that will never biodegrade.
• Shop Online – Instead of expending fuel and energy driving all around town take advantage of online sites that allow you to make multiple purchases and combine shipping costs.
• Buy in Bulk:  Buying in bulk is smart on multiple levels.  You save money, time, energy and packaging. What could be smarter than that?
• Go Vintage:  Rather than rushing out and buying the latest fads consider going vintage. Vintage boutiques are springing up all across the country. Not only can you be fashionable but environmentally conscious as well.
• Ditch those Plastic Bags:  Opt for recyclable shopping bags whenever possible. Many stores now offer special discounts when you use recyclable bags for your purchases. According to recent estimates, 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used each year. Again, plastic will never biodegrade.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:  This mantra should be ingrained in every consumer's head.  If every American would recycle just one out of every ten #2 plastic bottles we could keep 200 million pounds of plastic out of our nation's landfills each year.

Source: MXEnergy. For more green shopping tips, visit Earth Tones.

Creative, Green Gifts for Mother's Day

This Mother's Day, why not treat mom to something special - and green? We've compiled some of our favorite ideas for the lady on your list, all of which give just as much back to her as Mother Nature. Customize one of the below gifts or create your own concept and leave us a comment divulging your creativity...

For the Gardening Mother
- In a terra-cotta planter, arrange a slew of gardening essentials to kick off planting season. Organic seeds, durable gloves made with natural fabrics, and homemade plant markers crafted from shaved sticks.
- Plan a day trip for you and mom to the local farmer's market (find one near you, here). In additon to quality time spent together, treat her to a few of her favorite, organic starter plants to really get this year's garden growing.

For the Spa-Goer Mom
- Pamper mom from head to toe with a gift certificate to one of these luxuriously sustainable spas. Rated Top 10 Green Spas and Resorts by Organic Spa Magazine, they're sure to provide pure indulgence for an hour - or a weekend.
-  Make it a DIY day when you whip up one or more of these sweet-smelling homemade body scrubs at home. Pair your pedicure-worthy treat with a set of eco-friendly nail polishes.

For the Hostess Mama
 - Brighten her eyes with beautiful dining accessories for outdoor, springtime dinners. These bamboo platters are sure to delight, as will these recycled glass goblets.
- Guests will oooh and ahhh over natural decor like this french herb wreath when it's hung on the front door. Surprise mom with something unexpected, but traditionally lovely. 

The New American Healthy Grocery List

A recent poll revealed that despite the sugary cereal-laden aisles of grocery stores nationwide, most Americans are health-conscious. And as we age, our tendency to purchase healthier food options increases; in fact, adults over 66 years old are the most likely of all generations to pay attention to nutrition labels. 

So, what food factors topped the list of importance when strolling the store?
- Fresh (89%)
- Fiber (81%)
- Whole grains (81%)
- Fat content (80%)
- Portion size (79%)
- Calories (77%)
- Saturated fat (76%) 

The report, by Harris Interactive, also delivered another interesting fact, that 71 percent of U.S. adults are seeking out locally-sourced produce, an environmentally friendly act that supports local farmers, promotes regionalism and uses less energy for transportation. 

If you're one of the folks with a focus on local foods, often dubbed "locavores," why not skip the chain grocery store all together and head out to the farmer's market? If you're unsure whether your community hosts a market, you can easily look up participating locations using the USDA Farmers Market Search. 

On the opposite side of the eco coin, a mere 42 percent of poll participants rated organic certification important to their grocery list. Many more natural health characteristics were pointed out as being important to the majority of consumers, however, including eco-friendly packaging, animal meat selections raised without antibiotics, and wild-caught seafoods rather than those that are farm-raised - and often fattier fish options. For more information on green topics, visit RTM Earth Tones.