I’ve noticed an abundance of reusable shopping bags being offered everywhere I go lately. The Massachusetts General Hospital Blood Donor Center handed over an attractive tote after I handed over a pint, the Craft Brewer’s Convention passed out their conference goodies in sturdy beige bags, and every grocery store I visit has cheap bags offered right at the register. Hooray! Perhaps the tide is finally turning.

I’ve found a whole new batch of cute totes and reusable bags that can be used to haul groceries, books, laundry, gifts, lunches and any other smallish-items you might be inclined to carry around. And remember, the easier you make it on yourself to incorporate reusable bags into your life, the easier it will be to make meaningful changes to your actions. So keep grocery bags in your car – you don’t need them in the kitchen! Carry small totes in your purse or bag, and buy the cheap ones when you leave home without your favorites. Remember, you can always give away bags you buy but don’t necessarily love.

If you’re one of those special people who likes to gift their friends with beer, or if you include six-packs as part of your picnic supplies, you might like these Bottle Bags from Reisenthel. These sturdy canvas bags fit up to 9 bottles, and are designed so the bottles don’t tip over or bang against wach other while being carried. These Fair Trade/Fair Labor bags are affordable and can be purchased at Reusable Bags for between $13.50 and $15.00 a piece.

When it comes to Reisenthel products, I also really like the Market Basket. Designed to resemble a basic grocery store basket, these aluminum-frame baskets are designed to carry up to 55 pounds of goods. I have seen people using these baskets at my local farmer’s market, and love the fact that they are structured and supportive enough to carry everything from containers of liquids to bunches of flowers or plants. The colorful patterns help too! You can find these baskets for about $35 on the Reusable Bag site.

Lunch bags don’t need to boring – at least that’s what I discovered when I stumbled on the Built NY website. Crafted from Neoprene (the material used to make most wetsuits), Gourmet Getaway Lunch Totes are insulated lunch bags that will keep your food and drinks cold for about 4 hours after being packed. The bags all have zip closures (so nothing gets in or out!), and are machine washable. Built NY sells the bags in a range of colors and patterns for between $22.00 and $25.00 on their website.

If you’re looking to do away with those plastic sandwich bags in your life,? you might like these funny ReUsies Snack Bags. Developed by a group of moms in Seattle, ReUsies are meant to replace plastic sandwich and snack bags. Both the small snack bags and the larger sandwich bags come in a range of kid-friendly and just plain patterns and colors. These bags are made from 100% cotton, and lined with PVC-free nylon. You can machine wash all ReUsies products, and feel good that by using these bags you’re keeping plastic from ever entering your landfill. The bags are a deal too, especially when compared to conventional plastic baggies that carry so many lunches to offices and schools everyday.

Remember, if you make the process of changing your eco-habits fun and enjoyable, you’ll be more likely to stick to the plan. Carry bags that suit your personal style. Buy enough bags to stash at home, in the car, at the gym, in your office – wherever you think you might need them! I buy groceries while working sometimes, so I try and keep at least 2 bags in my desk drawer there. Reusable bags don’t have to be a burden – with the right colors, the perfect patterns, and a collection of bags suited to your needs, you’ll always be both stylish and eco-chic!

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We’ve entered that special time of the year when the smell of lilacs fills the air, when trees and bushes explode in pink, yellow and white blossoms, and when gardens need your love and attention after another long winter. For those of us who love gardening, now is the time that we pull out our wheelbarrows and rakes, map out where we want to plant new flowers, and get our hands dirty working in beds.

In caring for our gardens however, it’s important to consider how your actions are impacting the environment. While it seems contradictory that your gardening activities could have a negative impact on the earth (you are gardening after all), you might be surprised to find out how many seemingly innocent products and practices are actually eco-adverse.

By incorporating a few “green” practices into your gardening habits, you can create a more healthy outdoor ecosystem and have a truly “green” garden this season. And while you may have to compromise a little bit (after all, it’s hard to have perfect green grass if you don’t use chemicals on your lawn), but at the end of the summer you’ll feel better about your yard and have reduced your negative enviromental impact on your own land.

Change your Mowing Habits

For a nation trying to reduce its dependence on foreign oil and petroleum, Americans use an awful lot of it when mowing their lawns. There’s no need to power mowers with petrol however, and one way to reduce your footprint is to go petroleum-free when it comes to your lawn. If you have a small patch of grass, consider investing in a push-mower. Clean Air Gardening offers several types that range in price from $109 for a Scotts Classic Reel Push Mower to $1300 for a?Putting Green Reel Mower that provides that manicured and finished look found on golf course.

If you have a larger yard, try buying an electric lawn mower instead of one that runs on gas. Electric mowers still require the use of electricity and power cords, however, they only consume about $5 in electricity annually. Additionally, electric mowers are quiet and don’t contribute to the buzz-saw sound of gas mowers that’s often prevalent on warm weekend afternoons. Sears has electric mowers that range from $160 for the Black and Decker 18 inch Electric Mower, to $239 for the Craftsman 19 inch Premium Electric Mower.

Mulch, than Mulch Some More!

Mulch is a great water saver in the garden as it prevents water from evaporating, keeps your plants’ roots cool, and holds water for longer, therefore requiring that your water your plants less often. Mulch also gives your beds a well-kept and finished look, and improve your soil by adding organic matter to your mix. Learn more about the benefits of mulching by visiting The National Resources Conservation Service.

Buy Heirloom Plants and Seeds

Not all seeds are created equal – especially when some of those seeds have been genetically modified in a lab! When planting a garden, consider only using heirloom seeds and plants – those that were introduced before 1951, when plant breeders introduced hybrid plants developed from inbred lines. Heirlooms are old, open-pollinated plants, and have not been altered by science.

Many people also feel that heirloom fruits and vegetables taste better and are easier to grow than fruit and vegetables from hybrid plants. Regardless, when you grow heirlooms you are growing the same plants that your grandparents grew, and contributing to an environment filled with naturally-propagated plants instead of those created in a lab.

Go Organic!

When growing vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, shrubs and trees, there is no need to add chemical fertilizers, fungicides and pesticides. You can still produce a bumper crop of tomatoes or prize-winning flowers without dumping chemicals into the ground. Check out these tips for organic pest control from Organic Garden Pests, or Extremely Green’s Organic Pest Control Guide. Remember too, whatever you dump on your herbs, fruits and vegetables will eventually make its way back to you – so think twice before pouring Miracle Gro or other chemical foods and fertilizers all over your gardens.

I hope these simple tips will help point you in the right direction this spring. There are tons of other green gardening tips out there that I can’t address in one post – keep tuned though and I will try to bring you more tips for the garden as we get deeper and deeper into this beautiful non-winter weather. Happy Gardening!

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• Some Useful Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips

For years now I have struggled to find shampoos and conditioners that work for my ultra-sensitive hair and skin, but also leave my hair soft and shiny. When I was a teenager I realized that my scalp wasn’t able to handle my applying the same shampoos and conditioners for extended periods of time – if I did, I always ended up with weird red bumps and and itchy scalp – no fun! Because of this condition (which I never bothered to really research), I started using organic and all natural hair care products in college and have never looked back.

Over the years the selection of organic shampoos and conditioners has grown significantly – which is great since after using all of the shampoo from a bottle, I HAVE to switch brands! I can remember when there were only 3 or 4 options on the market, and I would rotate between them, hoping that my scalp wouldn’t break out while doing so.

With so many new choices cropping up all the time, I thought I would point out a few of my favorite brands and help others of you who are looking for organic hair care products that are affordable, don’t contain petrochemicals and toxic fragrances, and aren’t tested on animals.

My favorite brand currently has to be Alba Botanicals. Made with papaya, jojoba, sunflower seed, macadamia and kukui nut oils, the Alba Hair Care line leaves your hair silky smooth and also smelling like a tropical rain forest. I especially like the Mango Moisturizing Hair Wash and Conditioner (both of which are infused with vitamin-rich pineapple and papaya extracts), and love the way my hair feels when it’s clean and dry. Alba Botanicals is one of the primary product lines of Avalon Natural Products – a company with a long-standing commitment to creating environmentally sustainable products.

I am also partial to Avalon Organics hair care products, which happen to also be a part of the Avalon Natural Products product line. Oddly, I had no idea that the shampoos were made by the same company until I started researching the brands just now. I’ve been using Avalon Organics for a few years now, and have tried their Lavender Nourishing, Lemon Clarifying, Rosemary Volumizing and Peppermint Revitalizing products – and I love them all. The Peppermint shampoo and conditioner are especially pungent and help wake me up when I step into the shower still half in dreamland.

If you’re looking for a great company that makes eco-sensitive products for your hair (and skin), Avalon Natural Products might be the company you’ve been waiting to find. Not only are their products affordable (about $8 per bottle for both shampoo and conditioner), but they also have a commitment to the environment which they take the time to spell out on their corporate website. The company is reducing their carbon footprint at every level of their business, and is also dedicated to investing in their local community.

Another love of mine are the shampoos and conditioners made by the good people at Burt’s Bees. While I have been a fan of Burt’s Bees skincare products (specifically their Coconut Foot Cream, Beeswax Moisturizing Day Cream and Radiance Eye Cream) for years, I only recently discovered their shampoos and conditioners. I must admit that I’m partial to the Color Keeper Green Tea & Fennel Seed Shampoo and Conditioner – the products have an aroma that arouses nostalgic feelings in me, and I always smile when I smell it on my hair! The company also carries several other shampoos and conditioners with flavors such as Grapefruit & Sugar beet, and Raspberry & Brazil Nut. Almost good enough to eat!

I am relatively certain that Burt’s Bees does a lot of good work when it comes to the environment, but was unable to confirm so when researching this post. For whatever reason the website would not allow me to access the company’s “About Us” page or their Media/News pages…

Other brands you might consider checking out include: Nature’s Gate, Kiss My Face, Jason Natural Products, Aveda, Lush, and The Body Shop. I’ve used shampoo and conditioner from each company – except for Lush – and highly recommend them all. Lush is next on my list, so stayed tuned for an update about the handmade organic skin and hair care products from them. Here’s to the never-ending search for the perfect eco-friendly hair care products!

Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of research on organic farming, organic businesses, and what it means to call something “Organic.” There are all kinds of products and businesses popping up these days that are labeled ‘Green,’ ‘All Natural,’ ‘Organic,’ and ‘Eco-Friendly,’ but what exactly do those labels mean? How do you know that the food you’re eating, the clothes you’re wearing or the beer you’re enjoying are as devoid of chemicals and pesticides as they claim…

Defining Organic

First of all, it’s important to understand how the US government, specifically the USDA, define something as “Organic.” With so much emphasis on organic food these days, it’s logical to think that this information would be readily accessible when visiting the USDA website, and well-organized once found. Sadly, this is not the case.

Located deep within the USDA, the National Organic Program (NOP) (a program under the umbrella of the Agricultural Marketing Service agency) is listed as a program (not an agency or an office) that:

…develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products.

Unfortunately for consumers, the NOP site isn’t really designed to answer basic questions about organic products. The site does include a Reading Room with fact sheets that outline the history of the National Organic Standards Board and labeling requirements for organic products, but overall doesn’t really present broad-base consumer information about organic goods.

Within the Reading Room I did find one helpful document – the Organic Labeling and Marketing Information fact sheet. Using this fact sheet, I was able to put find official definitions for 3 types of organic standards:

“100% Organic” – Products labeled as 100 percent organic must contain (excluding water and salt) only organically produced ingredients and processing aids.

“Organic” – Products labeled organic must consist of at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt).

“Made with Organic Ingredients” – Processed products that contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients can use the phrase made with organic ingredients and list up to three of the organic ingredients or food groups on the principal display panel.

While doing this research however, I kept thinking about the fact that the label on my Honest Tea bottle says “USDA Organic,” not 100% Organic. This led me to wonder, does a label that says “USDA Organic” mean that the product it’s certifying is 100% Organic? And if so, why doesn’t it say so on the label?

After digging a little deeper on the NOP site, I found a Labeling Preamble document – the regulatory text defining USDA Organic Labeling – and this informative fact: “…the labeling requirements for “100 percent organic” products are the same as requirements for 95 percent organic products.” Ah ha – mystery solved!

Apparently, the logo (above) can be used on goods that meet both “100% Organic,” and “Organic” certifications – and does not necessarily indicate that the product within is made from fully organic ingredients.? So what’s a consumer to do when they want the assurance that the goods they’re buying are all organic – and not just 95% organic? The difference may seem small, but to some of us, it still matters!

Stay tuned for more on this subject as I explore the meaning of Organic Goods in future posts.

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Earlier in the winter I posted an article about organic beers called Where to Find Great Organic Brews. Being that my parents are involved in the brewing industry, they were both excited that I’d written about organic beer and passed the link along to some of their friends and acquaintances who brew beer for a living.

One of the brewers my dad chatted with about my organic beer blog post was Hugh Sisson, Founder and General Partner of Baltimore’s Clipper City Brewing Company. Clipper City brews Oxford Organic Ales, and currently offers 2 award-winning organic brews – Oxford Class Organic Amber Ale and Oxford Organic Raspberry Wheat Beer.

After my parents returned home from a trip to Maryland, my dad mentioned that I’d overlooked Clipper City in my organic beer post, then pulled out three of their Raspberry Wheat Beer (I think the other three were absorbed by my dad as a “transportation tax”) – specially sent for my enjoyment by Hugh Sisson. I was dumbfounded – until that moment, no one had ever sent me anything (other than mail and comments, which I love) as a result of my blogging!

The beers, by the way, were delicious. The Raspberry Wheat Beer is light and fruity, with the berry taste lingering a moment after you swallow the brew. And while I savored the brews in the dead of New Hampshire’s winter, I tasted a hint of sunshine and endless summer days until I reached the bottom of the bottles. Clearly, receiving free bear hasn’t biased me at all!

All kidding aside though, Clipper City makes eco-friendly beers that taste great and are certified organic by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. In addition to brewing organic beers, the brewery is committed to being a part of their local community, and has a stated mission of “bringing back the local brewery.” Stop by Clipper City if you’re in the Baltimore area, and be sure you treat yourself to one of the Oxford Organic Ales. If you can’t make it to the brewery, Clipper City Beers are sold all over the east coast, and as far west as Illinois. Sadly however, they’re not available in New Hampshire or Vermont…

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In my never-ending quest for the perfect t-shirt (one that’s funny, funky, perfectly political and sustainably manufactured), I’ve compiled yet another post full of shirts that I would love to own! My first t-shirt post, Expressing Your Inner Green, was a huge hit (and fun to write), so I thought it might be fun to find even more eco-friendly t-shirt sites and present people with some fun ideas for updating their wardrobe with the coolest tees around.

Based in Minneapolis, MN, Northern Sun is a 30-year old company that embraces environmental principles and passes their believes on in the form of organic t-shirts decorated with eco-slogans. In looking over their shirts, I found so many that I personally liked that I couldn’t choose just one to post here, so I’ve selected a few of my favorites to pass along.

This “Make Art Not War” design is by Shepard Fairey (the artist who created the ever-present iconic Obama image), and I actually first came across this image on the streets of Cambridge, MA. Fairey’s street art really spoke to me when I saw it, and I took several photographs that I eagerly passed along to friends and family. I really appreciate Fairey’s message of political dissent, and like the fact that his art is so accessible.

Northern Sun also makes this “Tree Hugging Dirt Worshiper” shirt, the bike-friendly Recycle Organic shirt (the bicycle design above), and a funky “Support Local” design that would look great on my favorite plant lover. Northern Sun organic t-shirts range in price from about $20-$30, can be purchased in wholesale batches, and are available in a range of colors and sizes.

The Naked Hippie is another eco-committed company, and uses recycled packaging, paper, receipts and frame board in the distribution of their organic t-shirts. The company only works with organically-certified vendors, and only uses materials and methods in the production of their products. And unlike any other store I’ve ever visited or found online, The Naked Hippie actively encourages its users to “Shop Naked!”

If you want a shirt that makes a statement about the need for a new energy policy in the US, you might? like The Naked Hippie’s “Go With the Wind” design. On sale and available via the company’s website? for $30, this t-shirt is made from 100% organic cotton and gets its message across rather effectively. I also really like the cow on the front of this “Hormone Free” tee,? and think it adds a bit of humor to the serious issue of Bovine Growth Hormones in our dairy products.

If you’re looking for the perfect way to express your political views, this Peace Dove T-Shirt from Shirt Magic of Lewiston, California may be just what you need. Available in 100% organic cotton or in a 55% hemp/45% cotton blend, this $15.00 t-shirt is printed with non-toxic inks and manufactured in sweatshop-free facilities. I especially appreciate Shirt Magic’s stance against using Plastisol Inks in their products, and like their overall eco-attitude toward manufacturing organic hemp and cotton products. In addition to t-shirts, Shirt Magic also sells hemp clothing (hoodies, socks, underwear, etc), and will screen print your designs on their cotton or hemp t-shirts.

If you have an interest in actually designing, and possibly talking about eco-friendly t-shirts, than definitely check out the Artevist website. According to the company’s “About Us” page, Artevist is ” for people who love T-shirts: wearing them, designing them, and talking about them.” The site has all kind of online community elements available to users too, and encourages people to get involved in the conversation and participate in making eco-statements with wearable art.

Community members are able to vote for user-submitted t-shirt designs, and winning designs are turned into the shirts sold on the site. I like this “Breathe” shirt by artist Luke Ramsey. Made from 100% organic cotton and printed using non-toxic inks, this shirt can be purchased for $30 and is a constant reminder to slow down, let go and remember to breathe.

Wearing eco-tees is a great way to make a statement about the importance of living sustainably and with eco-principles. Every time you buy organic you support companies that share your philosophies, and every dollar you spend on organic goods is a step toward a more sustainable future. Eco-tees take this message a step further, as you’re able to share your beliefs (and sometimes a laugh) with the people you encounter every day.

My friends Julie, Jamie, and Aidan live in suburban Maryland and recently built their own backyard compost bin. In an effort to get the word out about how easy and practical it is to build this kind of sustainable product, Julie wrote up her experiences and I have posted her story below…

My husband and I are jealous of our California friends who enjoy the luxury of community sanctioned green waste composting. However, our municipality does not offer curbside green waste collection. Years ago, we constructed a chicken wire composter in a corner of our yard, and though it gave great compost, the open nature of the bin attracted all sorts of shady characters, including a gigantic groundhog who took a single bite of every tomato I grew! The chicken wire box made it quite difficult to remove compost from it, and it was hard to properly turn the compost without straining my back. Finally, when the chicken wire began to rust, I removed this bin, and as I researched a more user-friendly compost receptacle, we sadly did not compost for a few years.

This year, we decided to find a solution that would allow us to compost with minimal effort, and without attracting any hungry critters. There are a number of commercially available composting systems, including rolling bins, continuous loading systems with multiple bins, and electronic gadgets specifically designed for composting. However, most of these systems are inordinately expensive and are of questionable and variable quality, reliability, and efficiency. This document outlines a Do It Yourself (DIY) compost bin which can be built in one day. Total cost for all the materials required for our DIY bin was less than $60.00. Since this bin is constructed from a simple garbage can with a lid, the size and cost of any similar system depends only on the size of the garbage can one chooses.

Some advantages of this bin over a simple chicken-wire box are:

1. Since a garbage can does not look out of place behind the house, we can easily avoid detection by our Homeowner’s Association during their annual spring inspection (since composting is technically not allowed in our neighborhood).

2. The garbage-can bin is fully portable, allowing for flexibility in its placement, and making it simpler to spread the compost throughout the garden!

It will take a few months before we can truly say how efficient this design is, but we are optimistic that the simple design and mixing/aerating strategy should allow for good composting. We’ll be sure to update this entry as the season moves forward and our compost matures in this DIY bin.

Materials

1. One plastic garbage can with a tightly fitting lid.

• A 30-gallon garbage can is sufficient for a small household.
• We purchased a decent model for about $25 at Home Depot.

2. About 2-square feet of fiberglass screen (more or less depending on the size of your bin).

• One roll of plastic screen (enough to replace a window screen) is plenty.
• One 8×3 roll of fiberglass screen cost us $4 at Home Depot.

3. Gorilla Glue or any other clue capable of attaching plastic to plastic.

• We found a 10 ounce container of glue for $5.

4. Duct Tape – you’ll need about an 1/8 of a roll.

5. Compost Stirring Tool

• We purchased a Compost Turner specifically designed for this from Gaiam for about $20.
• A Garden Cultivation Tool would work just as well; I found one at Home Depot for $13.99.

6. “Brown Materials” to balance the green materials from the kitchen.

• We use leaves raked from the garden and last year’s dried botanical waste.
• You can also use saw dust from your wood shop if you have one.

Methods:

1. Purchase a garbage can with a tight lid.

2. Use a razor knife to carefully cut several holes in the sides and bottom of the trash can to allow air flow and drainage. (We cut diamond shaped holes, but the shape is not really important)

3. Cut squares of the screen to cover each hole in the trash can.

4. Moisten the edges of each hole and apply a thin layer of gorilla glue. Allow the glue to cure for 5 minutes.

5. Press the screen to cover each hole, making sure that the screen attaches securely. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly.

6. Reinforce the edges of each hole with duct tape.

7. If you choose, you can place rocks or pebbles on the bottom of the bin to help with proper drainage, though it is not entirely necessary.

8. Elevate your new compost bin outside by placing it on top of some bricks, rocks, or wooden pallets, which will help with airflow and drainage.

9. Add a stirring implement such as the one above, or use a cultivation tool which will help you stir your compost from the bottom. Alternatively, you can roll your bin on the ground to stir the contents.

10. Add your green kitchen waste to the can with equal parts brown material (such as dry leaves).

11. Always secure the top of the bin securely to prevent critters from raiding your bin.

12. Each time you add additional green material, add equal parts brown material.

13. Stir your compost thoroughly each time you add more material. The key is to keep the compost aerated and “fluffy;” if it becomes too densely packed, the aerobic bacteria you rely on for degradation will suffocate.? If this happened, anaerobic organisms (like fungus) will take over, resulting in moldy mush that is not conducive to composting.

14. Check your compost frequently to assure that it is getting enough fresh air.? It should not seem wet or slimy;? if it starts to smell moldy or look slimy, you are either not adding enough brown material, or the compost is not getting enough oxygen.? Adding more dry leaves or sawdust, and/or more efficiently mixing and fluffing the contents should fix the problem.

15. EMPTY egg shells are an excellent addition to your compost.

16. NEVER add meat or dairy material to your compost, and definitely don’t add pet waste, or you will breed maggots, and your compost will be ruined.

17. NEVER add grass clippings to your compost, or you will grow grass wherever you use your compost!

18. You can adjust the pH of your compost by adding bloodmeal or baking soda. There is a wealth of references on the web which can help you attain a proper pH in your compost, as well as outlining the proper ratios of green to brown.

19. There are also some compost additives that claim to aid in faster composting by supplying enzymes and/or beneficial bacteria. This author has not evaluated their effectiveness, though in theory they should work.

20. Worms can be beneficial to your compost-if you like you can leave the bottom drainage holes open to allow worms to come into your compost. There are commercially available vermiculture kits, but this author is not sure if this DIY composter would be compatible with vermiculture systems.

21. In about 2-3 months, you should have good compost!

When you make purchases, are you careful to buy goods that are ethically sourced, Fair Trade, certified organic or made in the USA? Are you conscious of the path your dollars take once you’ve handed them over to a sales clerk or entered your credit card number in an online site? Do you care about where all of the materials used to manufacture the things you buy come from? If you answered yes to these questions, than you’re already on the road to becoming an ethical consumer, and following the principles of ethical consumerism when spending your hard earned money.

According to Knowmore.org (a site dedicated to raising awareness of corporate abuses and directing grassroots action against unsustainable corporate practices), Ethical Consumerism is “…a movement toward corporate reform, through which individuals recognize their own role in systems of oppression, and take personal steps toward resistance and positive change.” Ethical Consumerism encourages people to recognize the significance of collectively organized individual actions, and use that power to alter the landscape of traditional economic systems.

Knowmore.org encourages this kind of thinking by offering an online space for like-minded individuals to exchange ideas and find resources focused on combating corporate abuses. One useful tool on the organization’s site is called “Behind the Logos.” Knowmore.org assigns an “ethical rating” to global corporations like Volkswagen, American Express and De Beers that’s meant to help people understand where the products they purchase are sourced and manufactured, and whether the companies making those products are doing so according to ethical principles. With one quick click, you can find out that AT&T received positive ratings for Worker’s Rights, Human Rights and Environmental Issues, but has areas of concern around their Political Influence and Business Ethics.

Another resource for those interested in Ethical Consumerism is the Responsible Purchasing Network (RPN), an international network of buyers dedicated to socially responsible and environmentally sustainable purchasing. The RPN is a member-based organization that provides consulting services and resources for paid members, but also publishes helpful guides for the everyday consumer. You can download Responsible Purchasing Guides that provide information about purchasing sustainable products, finding environmentally-conscious vendors, and working with governments to introduce eco-friendly goods into your state’s procurement policies.

If you’re interested in learning about European businesses, UK-based Ethical Consumer is an organization that researches the social and environmental records of companies, publishes free buyers guides, and scores companies based on how well they’ve incorporated ethics into their business models. You can become a member of Ethical Consumer to gain full access to their resources and services, otherwise you might have to pay a fee to access some of the research and information that’s on the organization’s website.

By educating yourself about the consumer choices you encounter on a daily basis, you take control over how you use your spending power to transform business practices and the greater economy. Once enough people realize that they can impact the process by only giving their money to ethical businesses, than real change can take place. If people continue letting big companies off the hook, and spend money with those businesses who practice socially irresponsible manufacturing, who invest their money (which is really your money) in corrupt organizations and governments, and who ignore the working conditions of their laborers, than those companies will keep on acting unethically.

Spend your money wisely and make sure you educate yourself before you open your wallet!

Work can be a tough place to stay warm – thermostats are often off limits, windows and doors can be drafty, and temperature zones don’t always make sense to the people actually working within them. So while my office is always toasty, my co-workers next door are always cold, regardless how high we set the thermometer.

Since most people aren’t able to control the temperature of their work environments, I’ve put together a list of clothes and cold-weather goods that you can use to keep toasty while dreaming of sandy beaches and flip flops as you work.

Keep Warm at Work With…

Hot Drinks for Cold Days – What better way to warm up your day than with a hot cup of coffee, tea or cocoa – especially Fair Trade, Organic, or locally produced brands. Make an effort this year to stick to your eco-habits at home and at work by keeping environmentally friendly drinks in your desk to warm you up on those chilly winter afternoons. Personally, I like the Organic and Fair Trade teas from Portsmouth-based White Heron Tea. White Heron Tea offers 16 kinds of tea that meet both Organic and Fair Trade Certified standards. In addition to their Fair Trade tea selection, White Heron Tea sells a variety of Organic teas that include Chai, Jasmine, Pu-erh, and White Teas (among others). You can purchase White Heron Tea in shops around Portsmouth, NH, or via the company’s website.

Cool Mugs for Hot Drinks – Once you’ve procured your Organically-grown, Fair Trade brews, you’ll need a mug to match. These $20 travel mugs from I’m Organic are made from corn and oatmeal (not plastic), and printed with vegetable-based inks. The mugs are 100% biodegradable, and will actually break down in 2 months if tossed into a functional compost pile. I’m Organic sells mugs with 3 different pictures on front, including one that says, Kiss Me – I’m Organic. If you’re looking for a more traditional vessel from which to drink your tea, you might like this Eco Tea Mug (shown at left) from Art of Tea. Made from 100% renewable corn plastic, this stylish mug is microwave-safe, manufactured in the US, and can be purchased for the bargain price of $4.95.

Warm Your Space with Portable Heaters – If hot drinks don’t keep you toasty enough over the course of your workday, you might consider bringing in a portable space heater to achieve a comfortable temperature while on the job. If you don’t need to heat a large space, the Honeywell QuickHeat Low Profile Convection Heater (HZ-617) may be an ideal heater for you. This $90 convection heater comes with an adjustable thermostat so you can maintain a consistent temperature. The HZ-617 has 2 heating options from which to choose – turn on the Quick Heat source for a blast of hot air, or use the natural convection heater to maintain a consistent temperature over time.

When All Else Fails Put on a Sweater – If you’ve tried hot drinks and space heaters to stay warm at work, but you’re still chilly, you can always layer up and apply Jimmy Carter’s words of wisdom by putting on a sweater. Made from 100% certified organic hemp, the Rainbow Hooded Sweater (shown at right) from Rawganique retails for $78-$84 and designed to suite both men and women. If you don’t have the cash for a new sweater, you can always just wear the ones you already own – regardless of how the fabrics they’re made of were sourced. You don’t always need to buy new eco-friendly items if you already own perfectly good products. Buying used sweaters is another affordable way to reduce the demand for new products and reuse those that already exist.

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I went looking for organic beer a few days ago and realized that my grocery store only carries 2 varieties (Peak Organic and Wolaver’s). Because of this, I thought I might provide a public service by doing a round up of some great organic beers available in the US. I’ve tracked down a few of my favorites as well as a few brews I’ve not yet had the good fortune to sample. Hope this helps next time you’re looking for the perfect organic brew and not sure which to buy!

The idea to write this post actually originated with a 6-pack of Peak Pale Ale I picked up at the grocery store last week. Brewed in Portland, Maine by Peak Organic Brewing Company, I can conclusively state that Peak Pale Ale is tasty, full-flavored and a pleasure to drink. The Peak Organic Brewing Company was launched in 1998 with a mission to “make the world’s most delicious beers, and to make them in a way that we can feel good about.” Today, the company uses locally-sourced ingredients in the production of their beers, and maintains a business philosophy that includes sustainable and environmental principles in the brewing of their beers.

Wolaver’s has been making certified organic ales since 1997, and is committed to “making the best beers in the most ecologically sound way.” Located in MIddlebury, Vermont, Wolaver’s brews 7 different organic beers including their seasonal Will Stevens Pumpkin Ale, and 10th Anniversary Farmhouse Ale. I’ve had the pleasure of sampling Wolaver’s, and I can definitely say that these guys make good beer! In addition to using the freshest, most natural ingredients available, Wolaver’s also donates a percentage of their profits to the Organic Farming Research Foundation, and is a long-time supporter of sustainable brewing.

The Eel River Brewing Company is a craft brewery located in Fortuna, California, and holds the distinction of crafting the first ever certified organic beer, and of being the first certified organic brewery in the country. And while I can’t exactly recall ever having consumed Eel River beer (hey, it’s hard to keep track), the fact that they’ve won tons of awards for their products is indicative of the quality and taste of their beers. The company makes 7 USDA Certified Organic brews, and ships them all over the country. If you want to try some on your own, make sure you check their map to see if you can buy Eel River beers in your state!

Green Lakes Organic Ale is brewed by the Bend, Oregon brewers at Deschutes Brewery, and made using Salmon-Safe certified organic hops in an Oregon Tilth certified 50-barrel brew house. The brewery was certified organic after brewing 20,000 batches of beer, and now meets the National Organic Program standards. By using Salmon-Safe certified Sterling hops, Deschutes Brewery is helping create a safer future for the wildlife living downstream these sustainably hops fields, and bringing us an eco-friendly brew in the process.

Elliott Bay Brewing in Seattle, Washington uses 100% organic barley to brew their signature craft beers. With a 7 barrel (or 200 gallon) capacity, Elliott Bay Brewing makes a fresh batch of organic beer weekly and serves it in their Brewery/Pub in West Seattle and in their Brewpub in Burien. You can find a list of their year-round and seasonal beers here, or stop by for a fresh one if you’re in the neighborhood!

Located in Olympia, Washington, Fish Brewing Company is a locally-owned craft brewery that produces authentic British-style organic ales and German style lagers for beer lovers. When visiting the brewery you have your choice of three organic ales – Organic Amber Ale, Organic India Pale Ale, and Wild Salmon Organic Pale Ale. Each beer is certified organic by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, the USDA, and the National Organic Program. Finding bottled Fish Tale beers might be difficult outside of Washington State, but as winners of multiple NABA awards, you’re probably wise to snap up any bottles you find on your liquor store shelves!

To learn more about organic beer and breweries, check out Roger Protz’s The Organic Beer Guide from the Carlton Publishing Group.

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