Sunday, June 27, 2010

You Are What You Eat

How many times have you heard this phrase? You can look at it in a negative or a positive light, which will you choose? I'm sure we all want to eat organic, but it can sometimes prove quite expensive. Here's a few quick tips I found on how to eat organic on a budget!

1) Eat more of every fruit and vegetable, including cauliflower stalks and greens, potato skins, and citrus zest. It’s good quality food, don’t waste it!

2) Grow your own fruit and vegetables, even if it’s just herbs in a window box or a pot of juicy tomatoes.

3) Buy cheaper cuts of organic meat, like stew beef, and get creative in the kitchen. Also, consider eating a little less meat by making dishes with other high-protein ingredients like lentils and beans.

4) Shop at Farmers Markets. Ask about seconds -- perfectly tasty but misshapen produce that you may be able to buy at a discount. Ask about discounts for buying in bulk. Ask how you can buy their produce when the market is closed. You're helping your community and yourself!

5) Buy In Bulk. Whether you're shopping at a natural foods store, supermarket or co-op, buying in bulk is a great way to stretch your food dollar. For beans, grains, lentils and nuts, head straight for the bulk containers. Just make sure you have a cool, dry place in your kitchen to store your dry goods for a few months. You can save on storage space by splitting your stash with a friend.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Guru Upcycled Silk Dresses are in next week!




Need something to wear this summer! Try a recycled silk dress from Guru. Made from recycled Sari's in India. Beautiful print fabrics, gorgeous summer styles. Eco Friendly Silk! All at great prices from 30-50 dollars.

In store and online at Salts Clothing in Sooke, BC at 2052 Otter Point Road early next week!

Its Time for Sanuk Yoga Mat Flip Flops again!



I love Sanuk, they make some of the most comfortable laid back shoes on the planet and many of their styles are good for the planet too. This summer I am wearing their Yoga Mat Flip Flops again. Thick and cushy, strong and sturdy plus they look good. For a bit of a lift check out the Pay Raise Sanuk sandal with a slight heal.

Sanuk also makes anti-shoes. There version of the flip flop made into a Eco Friendly shoe. They feel as comfortable as flip flops but have the look of a shoe. My fav is the Tweedy. Check out all the Sanuk Men's and Women's Flip Flop styles in the Salts Clothing online store.

See you on the beach!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

How can you help with the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico?

So. I am pretty sad and outraged about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. I was pondering today if there is anything I personally could do to help the clean up. Yes yes, I know its BP's responsibility to clean up but the faster if gets done and the more help there is the less the damage that will be done.

So there is a few things that you can do.

1. You can head on down and volunteer your time with one of the great organizations that are recruiting help right now (see list at the bottom of this post for more details).

2. Donate some Dough to the effort. This can be as simple as a text away.

The National Wildlife Federation is looking for volunteers and support to help spot distressed or oiled wildlife, and to assist in the cleanup and restoration efforts along the coast of Louisiana. You can text the word "NWF" to 20222. That'll donate $10 to the National Wildlife Federation through your phone bill.

United Way has launched the Gulf Recovery Fund, which is providing emergency assistance and long term recovery support for the communities devastated by this oil spill. Those who need help or want to volunteer to help can dial 2-1-1. You can donate to this fund by calling 1-866-5826, or text the word "United" to 50555 to donate $10 from your mobile phone.

The Nature Conservancy has committed to the long-term restoration work needed in the Gulf and states along its coast, and has launched their Fund for Gulf Coast Restoration to support this effort. The Fund was set up to aid in re-establishing critical habitats such as marshes, seagrass beds, oyster reefs, and coastal wetlands. You can text the word "coast" to 50555. That'll donate $10 through your mobile phone.

3. Ponder Off Shore Drilling's future in our oceans and get involved in the conversation. Check out The DogWood Initiative in BC.

4. Invest in Green Energy and use Green Energy as much as possible in your daily life. Check out this youtube video and link...and consider if you can cut down on your own oil use.



Here is a list of organizations looking for volunteers to help with the oil spill clean up.

The Audubon Society
, which is affiliated with the Louisiana Coastal Initiative, is making its Center for Birds of Prey in Florida available for bird cleansing and rehabilitation and is seeking volunteers. Elsewhere, Audubon said it was gearing up to mobilize volunteers and provide assistance as the oil reaches land in Louisiana and elsewhere. Find a local office

The Deep Water Horizon response team is looking for help in identifying shoreline and animals affected. Oiled wildlife should not be captured but instead reported at 1-866-557-1401. To report areas with oil ashore or to leave contact information to volunteer in the affected areas, call 1-866-448-5816.

These local organizations also are gathering volunteers' information as they prepare for the environmental damage this oil can cause:

The Alabama Coastal Foundation is collecting contact information from volunteers for cleanup efforts along the Alabama coast should the oil spill reach the state's shores. Call 251-990-6002

The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program is looking for volunteers to help reduce the potential impact of the oil spill in Mobile Bay. Call 251-431-6409.

The Mobile Baykeeper is asking for contact details of volunteers is collecting contact information for volunteers to respond anywhere along the Gulf Coast, if needed. Call 251-433-4229.

Save Our Seabirds is a Florida bird rescue group that is looking for support as its response team prepares to help oiled wildlife. Call 941-388-3010.

In addition to the wildlife specific organizations, others are also looking to assist with the effects of the oil spill.

The Greater New Orleans Foundation, which serves the 13 parishes that comprise New Orleans, has opened the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund, which will offer emergency grants to nonprofit organizations helping the victims of the oil spill, and address the long-term economic, environmental, and cultural effects of the disaster.

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana's mission is to help restore and protect a sustainable coastal Louisiana. They are accepting volunteers and support to assist with spill recovery efforts.

The Gulf Coast states likely to be affected have also set up sites where information about volunteering can be found: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

The Gulf Coast Fund has created special emergency grants in response to the oil disaster. The organization is distributing these grants to registered non-profit groups engaged in community-lead responses to this crisis. Call 212-812-4361.

Save Our Gulf is a campaign by the Waterkeeper Alliance to support and coordinate efforts to protect the Gulf Coast. Their fund supports Waterkeepers from Texas to Florida who are working to hold back this oil spill from their waterways and communities.


The First Response Team of America
is working with the National Guard in Southern Louisiana to build dams to hold back the oil from the fragile coastal habitats.

Thanks for taking the time to think about how to help the Gulf.

Salts.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Eco Friendly Gift Ideas For Fathers Day!



It can be difficult to decide upon a gift for such a loved figure in your life. Here's a few ideas that we came up with. We hope that you can find one you like. Maybe they will inspire other ideas?

1) Plant a Tree: Flatter your Father by planting a tree in his honor. It's an ongoing, symbolic gift which is also a present to our environment!

2) Picnic: Surprise your Father by preparing a basket filled with his favorite goodies and snacks, pick a location, turn your cellphone off, and share an afternoon together.

3) Bamboo T-Shirt or Hemp T-shirt: The weather is warming up, and a cool bamboo shirt is a perfect fix. Or grab a thick rugged hemp shirt. Hemp is one of the strongest fibers in the world. Salts offers a variety of sizes, colors, and styles.

4) Gardening Chores: Does your Father like gardening? Why not help him out with his chores in the garden? It's a nice place to enjoy each others company, and your helping him and the environment out!

5) Grab some Sanuks for Papa: The comfortable anti shoe. Half shoe half flip flop all style.

Shop Online for Fathers Day Gifts.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Make Your Own Natural Juice Popsicles! Healthy Organic Treats.

This is so easy and simply delicious!
Orange Cream Sickles:
-1 cup orange juice
-1/2 cup apple juice
-1 tsp. honey
-1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
-2 tbls. dry milk
-2 ice cubes
Blend - Drink or freeze into popsicles. Yum!

Yoga Pose of the Week! Yoga for Stress Relief!

Extended Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana):

1. Come onto all fours. See that your shoulders are above your wrists and your hips are above your knees. Walk your hands forward a few inches and curl your toes under.

2. As you exhale, move your buttocks halfway back toward your heels. Keep your arms active; don't let your elbows touch the ground.

3. Drop your forehead to the floor or to a blanket and let your neck relax. Keep a slight curve in your lower back. To feel a nice long stretch in your spine, press the hands down and stretch through the arms while pulling your hips back toward your heels.

4. Breathe into your back, feeling the spine lengthen in both directions. Hold for 30 seconds to a minute, then release your buttocks down onto your heels.

5. Feel great!