The Organic Company

MOVING to IOWA!

2011-07-21T20:59:00.000-07:00

We moved back to Fairfield, IA and are running our retail store, Natural Selections that we started in 1995! It is a wonderful small town community and we can walk to work!

Eating Healthy can be Easy

2011-05-28T18:57:00.000-07:00

My daughter Lily and my son Chef Skylar show off how they like to make smoothies! And everyone enjoys them!

Today I received an email from a family member who is concerned as their family is suffering from serious health problems. They wanted to know of any good books that had advice on eating. There are so many now but honestly I think the easiest and most entertaining way to take in information is videos/movies. So I recommend watching these interesting movies. Here is a link to a list of them.

Top Food Movies

You don't have to buy these movies - most are available from Netflix. They are all fascinating, but my favorites were:

Food Matters

Food Inc.

Vegan Gal

Or if you watch more TV than movies, check out Dr. Oz's show. He does a lot of features on eating a varied and healthy diet.

Eating healthy doesn't have to be intimidating. It should be fun, interesting, and exciting! Whether you are trying to cut back on meat consumption, or become completely vegetarian or vegan, there are plenty of healthy foods you will like. There are so many specialized products out there now, for people who are diabetic, sensitive to gluten, or dairy. In our family, no one seems to be sensitive, but I know that nationwide all of these are common issue. Now at regular grocery stores like Safeway, Walmart, and Target you can find lots of items labeled for your convenience. They are making it easier with storewide labeling systems, rather than relying on the items packaging. I think this is more common and will continue. Most grocery stores are expanding that aspect, along with their organic program. I think it is also important to look online for the products and then ask you grocer to carry them. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, so to speak.

But with any sensitivity, the important thing to remember is that you are not only trying to SUBTRACT those things from your diet, but you need to ADD healthy, vitamin rich fresh, raw foods to your diet, in order to have the necessary enzymes for your body to be healthy. Juicing is great for this- any fruit or vegetable will work if you have a good juicer. I recommend Champion.

If you are a salad lover (and I am) then it is easy to make that for some of your meals. Some of my salads recently...

My husband likes salads too; here is one he made with vegetarian chicken substitute on top...

I think the easiest thing a person can do to change their diet to include more fresh things is to make a smoothie every day for breakfast, and maybe for a snack as well. There are TONS of recipes out there, but really you don't need them. I buy bananas, strawberries and any other fruit and if I can't use them fast enough, I freeze them. I keep frozen blueberries in my freezer all the time, and when I make smoothies I never use recipes. I just put in a couple of bananas, some liquid (can be juice or a milk substitute) and whatever other fruit I feel like. Sometimes I add some yogurt. Sometimes I add some ice cubes if I am not using any frozen fruit and I want a cold smoothie. And that is it. You have an instant nutritious meal or snack.

Lily and Sky with strawberry - banana smoothies...

I have been doing this for years for my kids and they love it. It is so simple that they can pick out the ingredients and it always tastes good. Just throw some fruits in there and blend! If it isn't sweet enough for you, simply add a squirt of RAW honey or maple syrup or agave, or a couple of dates, or some apple juice. Here are a few of our favorites:

Banana, Blueberry, Almond (or Soy) Milk

Banana, Strawberry, Almond (or Soy) Milk

Banana, Strawberry, Blueberry, Almond (or Soy) Milk

Banana, Dates, Almond (or Soy) Milk

In terms of all the vast array of almond milk out there, my husband (who used to be a huge milk drinker until he watched vegan gal) feels that UNSWEETENED RICE DREAM makes the closest milk substitute for cereal, etc, (as it is thinner and not sweet). Yet for drinking alone, or with cookies, etc, he likes the VANILLA ALMOND SILK (very thick and sweet). All of these are now available at every major grocery store as well as Walmart and Target.

If you have a really good blender, you can throw in a handful of raw (not roasted and salted!) walnuts or almonds and you will never notice a difference but you will get the health benefits. I had been reading so many articles and blogs about "green smoothies" and I finally got brave enough to try it, and the kids liked it! This basically means you are making a regular smoothie, but you throw in some RAW spinach or RAW Kale, or parsley or other greens. It really sounds disgusting, but I swear it works!

My family (with all 4 kids) was at Sam's Club recently and the Vitamix company was their doing a demo with their amazing blenders. I have owned a Vitamix (which is essentially a super powerful blender that can blend almost anything into a liquid - and can grind flour) for 10 years, but as we walked by and they handed all of us samples of "ice cream" they had made in the vitamix in a few seconds, I was shocked. It was a deep purple color and truly delicious! I asked what was in it and was very surprised to hear: "frozen bananas, spinach, kale, blueberries, strawberries..." but I went home and tried it and now I make it all the time without any recipes - it is always an experiment.

Even baby Sofia loves it!

Once in a while I have to add some raw honey or some dates because it isn't quite sweet enough, but this process has changed my idea of what healthy eating is. Keeping frozen bananas in the freezer is essential - I peel them and wrap them in plastic, then freeze them - as this is the easiest way and they never turn brown.

Healthy food is colorful. If you are eating mostly white foods (white bread, processed potato products, white pasta, white sugar, you likely at risk for diabetes or cancer at some point. I always start by telling my children to eat as many colors as possible!

I am someone who always thought I ate healthy (and I did- in terms of comparison to the average person). But when my husband and I watched the documentary Food Matters,
it really amazed me to hear that the human body needs to have at the very least 51% raw food in order to create health in the body. It said that if you eat even 51 % COOKED (not raw) food, then your body treats the cooked food like a toxin and begins sending out white blood cells, which runs down your body. However, if you eat at least 51% RAW food, the body starts healing itself. I immediately tried to implement this in our family, and fortunately with the smoothies it is possible.

We also started putting salads on our kids plates (next to the entree I had made) and just telling them that they had to eat that too, in addition to the vegetables that were already there. I think they grumbled the first day, but now they are used to it. But... I found that what worked even better was putting little bowls with raw veggies like baby carrots, snap peas in the pods, cucumber slices, radish slices, red pepper slices, or avocado slices on the table before I served everyone was the easiest way (besides the smoothies) to get everyone to eat more raw.

When you are hungry you grab what is in front of you, and surprisingly my family wasn't even asking for salad dressing or dip to use! They were just crunching away on naturally delicious veggies! You honestly cannot taste the true flavor when they are dipped in onion and garlic laden dressings anyway (so most kids don't even know that peppers are sweet until they try them!)

If you keep in mind eating in color it can be fun to try so many new things.... you may have thought you knew what they tasted like, but trying them without dressing is a new experience! And every new experience can lead to more good things!

Skylar and Alexis eating carrots from our garden!

Awesome lunch Brian made today!

2011-05-19T20:52:00.000-07:00

I came home at lunch to find Caprese! Layers of fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil leaves atop french bread, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and dusted with salt and pepper. My favorite ever! In this case, my husband Brian had taken it a step further and actually made several different versions on this plate with a few varying ingredients - like different types of vinegar. So creative and fun! I Love Him!

Wake up and smell the Organic Coffee!

2011-04-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I don't really drink coffee, but I do put it on my face!

This morning we had a customer request the Coffee Bean Eye Cream that we sell.
She said her bottle lasted her a year - at only $18.95 that is a great deal! The anti-inflammatory, caffeine rich green tea and coffee de-puffs and reduces swelling while increasing circulation to alleviate and brighten dark circles. The all natural 100% pure ingredients are concentrated with potent anti-aging vitamins, antioxidants, and nourishing rosehip oil.
With these Ingredients, how could it NOT smell delicious?
Organic Green Tea1, Organic Calendula Hydrosol1, Organic Rosehip Oil1, Organic Green Coffee2 Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Vitamin C (ascorbyl palmitate), Extracts of Coffee Cherry, Organic Rosemary3, Organic Oregano3, Organic Thyme3, Organic Grapefruit Seed3 and Organic Goldenseal4, Organic Vanilla Absolute3, Candelilla Wax

1 Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth Certified Organic
2 Certified Organic by Hawaii Organic Farmers Association
3 Certified Organic by QAI
4 Certified Organic by Maryland Department of Agriculture

If you want to know what others thought: ** Results of an independent clinical 4 week study

• GOOD BYE TO PUFFY EYES!
- 83% saw immediate reduction of puffiness
- 97% saw reduction of puffiness with continued use

• SAY NO TO DARK CIRCLES!
-73% saw an immediate reduction of dark circles
-87% saw reduction of dark circles with continued use

• SAY YES TO MORE HEALTHY, BEAUTIFUL, YOUTHFUL LOOKING EYES!
-87% say they look more 'awake, rested and refreshed'
-80% say that it instantly helped reduce the look of lines and wrinkles around the eye area
-97% say skin around their eyes softer and smoother
-93% say it reduced the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with continued use
-100% say it improved skin hydration and moisturization
-93% say it improved skin firmness/elasticity
-93% say that the eye cream absorbs well

She also told us that she loved the way it smells so much, that she was hoping we have a body cream for her.... and we have some very delicious ones....

Cocoa Kona Coffee Body Cream $14.95

Answering Your Questions.... Is Spandex OK to Use in Green Products?

2011-03-07T13:13:00.001-08:00

We LOVE helping people and we receive a lot of questions on Organic products and Organic Living. Here is one answered recently by my husband and business partner, Brian.

Question:

Since you have experience with organic material, do you have any comments on spandex being that it is a synthetic right?
How safe is spandex in regards to the “organic green era”? I was just wondering about your thoughts on this as I try to live a more “green lifestyle".
Thanks very much for your time and all of your information.
I look forward to future business with your company.
Thanks again
C

The Organic Company's Answer:
Hello,

My wife is more the fabric expert, but I can tell you the gist of it. If you would like it further explained I can ask her to add to it.

There are companies out there, not many (most have gone out of business), but a couple who make underwear garments with no spandex or Lycra and we have tested and even sold a few brands in the past. While yes, it is best to have no synthetics in a garment, unfortunately it comes down to the public and what they prefer and are actually willing to pay money for. It comes down to more form, function, and design, than materials, and most people are willing to give up that 5 or so percent of synthetic that will make the garment more appealing visually and sometimes more comfy as well.

The garments we once sold that had no synthetics were returned more than half the time or if tried on in our store never bought to begin with. (For some reason most of these companies products looked like something only our grandparents would consider wearing.) After wearing certain clothes for 20 plus years that fit a certain way and hold to your body a certain way it's very hard for people to transition to clothing that is usually frumpier and that you would never want to actually be seen in.

Our best selling boxer shorts, mens briefs, tees and lounge pants are able to be 100% organic cotton because these items are supposed to have a looser fit and are cut and designed to still look nice. But when people try on a pair of socks that are 99.9% organic cotton and they keep falling down all the time they won't be happy.

The same can be said for the mens boxer briefs and most of the womens underwear that are supposed to stay put or cling to the persons body a certain way. If it helps to hold the garment in place and doesn't bunch up it's going to be more appealing to the mass public. Ultimately it's left up to the public and what they're willing to sacrifice. A little bit of synthetic is still more appealing and healthier than a non-organic garment that has pesticides, bleach, flame retardants, formaldehyde, and other finishing agents.

A lot of people care more about the fact that the organic cotton is used to make the fabric softer, has a much more positive effect on the earth and the workers on the farms and knowing that we only sell Fair Trade goods with no child labor.

The truth is every little bit helps. I know Sam's Club sells some socks that have only 8% organic cotton and at first thought it's like what's the point? The amount of chemicals in the sock won't be that much less, they are of course not Fair Trade at the price points they have, they may be a bit softer, but what is 8% really going to do? Well when you consider the magnitude of that 8% times every Sam's Club in America and how many they actually sell a day they are doing more for the earth in a month than we could hope to do by selling what we do in a year. It's still helping the earth and soil to some extent and the farmers, but has little effect on the final consumer. But ultimately it's up to the demands and wants of the consumers.

Unfortunately there is no government subsidizing of organic cotton or other fibers to keep the costs down and make the price of always buying organic feasible for most people. Organic cotton costs a lot more to grow and produce and the clothing actually has way less mark up to make a profit on, so the cost, especially if made using fair trade labor, is going to be higher. As long as garments are being made with organic cotton it's a benefit to everyone and the environment...whether it be 8% or 100%.

We feel the more organic the better of course and all of items we sell that are not blends with bamboo or hemp and excluding socks has at least 90% organic cotton. If a company makes products selling only 100% organic cotton and nobody want the product because it's not comfortable or looks too frumpy then they won't last long and in the end nobody benefits. Sometimes a person finally decides to buy their first organic piece of clothing and it just so happens to be a company like this and after trying it for the first time say they couldn't stand it or didn't like it and go around saying they don't like organic cotton and may choose to never buy it again.

We feel that 10 companies selling 95% organic cotton clothing and actually succeeding is better for everyone than 1 company selling 100% organic and failing. Hope that helps.

Brian

Brian and Lonica Eisenbraun, owners
The Organic Company / Natural Selections / Organic Selections www.TheOrganicCompany.com

My favorite of all! Our Organic Cotton Bikini with Lace! (Available in colors!), click for info

Sleeping on Organic Cotton Towels

2011-02-10T16:12:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of my son asleep with our organic cotton towels... one summer he came in from swimming in the kiddie pool in the yard, and he couldn't even make it upstairs to his room, he just crashed right on top of the clean laundry!

Our favorites are the super thick, (seriously- the bath sheet size is actually heavy like a blanket!) incredibly luxurious 900 gsm 100% Organic Cotton towels!

Answering Your Questions.... Is Bleach Used to Make Organic Cotton White?

2011-01-05T13:10:00.000-08:00

We LOVE helping people and we receive a lot of questions on Organic products and Organic Living. Here is one answered recently by my husband and business partner, Brian.
Question:

Hello,

Can you tell me if this supplier specifies whether bleach is used and if dyes, is it low impact dyes to make the colors other than natural? Also, is the spandex blended throughout the shorts or is it just at the top elastic band? Thanks in advance for all your help!

The Organic Company's Answer:

Hi,

No organic manufacturer we sell uses bleach. Whites are usually obtained using Peroxide and bgreen only uses low impact dyes for all their colors. The 5-8% spandex in the boy shorts is actually a blend for this style so they fit more snugly.

Thanks Again,

Brian

Chemicals in Victoria's Secret Bras!

2010-12-27T13:09:00.000-08:00

Today we had customers complaining of the welts and rashes caused by their bras purchased from Victoria's Secret. They alerted us to this story by ABC NEWS... see link below.

These ladies then chose Organic Cotton Bras to be comfortable and beautiful without harmful chemicals! You can see many of them as well as organic cotton panties, makeup and bodycare on our website The Organic Company

For the full article, see this link:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6225503&page=1

Last Fall Days

2010-11-29T19:08:00.000-08:00

The last Fall days are here and we have been spending lots of time outside walking in the woods and playing at the park. This is a picture of my daughter, and her golden hair! (Being 10 years old, she is FINALLY interested in taking care of her hair! I think it is because I bought her a very nice Widu Wooden Hair Brush. So for now she has stopped asking me to get her hair cut very short!)

For all of us, it is time to prepare our bodies for Winter! The dry, cold Winter air can wreak havoc on your hair, leaving you with little option but to cut it shorter.... before you do that, try pure organic hair care that nourishes. Here are some of my favorite organic hair treats....

I got Inspired by strawberry bubble bath...

2010-09-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

It must me a spillover from summer swimming, but suddenly my children want to take baths ALL the time, instead of the usual showers. Lately I have been really into the Yummy Ice Cream Strawberry Bubble Bath. Every time I give my babies a bath in it, I feel like we are in the middle of that beautiful part of summer that you want to go on forever! The best part is that it smells heavenly (not fakey like other brands) - and it smells this way because it has REAL ORGANIC STRAWBERRY EXTRACT! It is totally safe since it has no synthetic chemicals or harsh detergents so it is actually soothing to my children's skin. It is really gentle but yet is still actually makes bubbles! (Which is more than I can say for some other brands I have had.)

The girls and I have REALLY been wanting to eat the bubble bath, but instead got inspired to make a delicious dessert!

Yellow Cake with Fresh Strawberries and Bananas & Whipped Cream!

What is "ALL COTTON"?

2010-07-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here is an email I received recently...

Hi Lonica!

I bought a couple of inexpensive t-shirts that say they are 100% cotton. But it feels stretchy, which makes me think there is something else in there.

Can 100% cotton be stretchy??????

Well, this is a GOOD question- technically there can be ANY synthetic in a garment- up to about 12% or so before they have to disclose it. I know this because one of our manufacturers / suppliers handed me a sample of a beautifully soft fleece, and the label said 100% organic cotton. I said "Wow, how did you get such a great fabric without synthetics- I heard it wasn't possible!"

To which he replied, "well there is of course SOME synthetic - you can't make this fabric without it- so it has about 4.5 percent lycra/spandex."

I handed it back to him and I said, "well I will not buy it until it is labeled accurately. My customers expect complete honesty in labeling."
So he labeled it correctly, and we have sold it for a few years, really well.

The same rule applies for socks- it only has to be part cotton to be called "all cotton" - and can still have a large percentage of synthetic. Sad, isn't it?

At least I am sure what we are getting from our manufacturers! Of course you need a tiny bit of stretchy fibers to get the sock to stay on your foot - to be a sock! 100% cotton is NOT stretchy. In our experience the amount of stretchy fibers needed is usually between 1% - 15% at the most. We invite you to check out our wonderful socks...

http://www.theorganiccompany.com/store/c/34-Socks.aspx

MSG in Morningstar Farms Vegetarian Chik Patties, Sausage Patties, etc...

2010-05-03T21:08:00.001-07:00

This posting deserves a yucky face...

My 10 year old daughter recently had severe migraines. MSG can cause migraines, among other bad things.

The following ingredients ALWAYS contain MSG:
Hydrolyzed protein,
Sodium caseinate
Yeast extract, Maltodextrin
Autolyzed yeast
Textured protein
Calcium caseinate
Yeast food
Hydrolyzed oat flour
Spice Extractives

These two OFTEN contain MSG:
Natural flavorings
Food seasonings

If MSG is contained in an ingredient that is listed on a food label, it doesn't have to be labeled by itself.

My daughter is vegetarian like me and she likes eating products like Chik Patties and Sausage Patties from Morningstar Farms. I contacted Morningstar Farms to ask about MSG in their products... such as the Chik Patties and Sausage Patties... here is their response. Notice how they say "small amounts". That is interesting because you always need only a small amount of MSG, a sprinkle, and that is still enough to be unhealthy. My 10 year old daughter recently suffered a horrible migraine, and there is some evidence that linked it to MSG.
If you want to avoid MSG in processed soy products, buy Lightlife products.

Morningstar Farms® Consumer Affairs 020901656A ...
From: "kellogg@casupport.com" ... Add to Contacts To: lonicaeisenbraun@yahoo.com

KELLOGG'S

Hello Lonica,

Thank-you for contacting us concerning the monosodium glutamate (MSG) used in some of our products. Our nutritionists and food scientists work very hard to develop products that are acceptable for our consumers. Small amounts of MSG are used in the product to achieve the desired taste and texture. We would never use an ingredient that is unsafe for our consumers. The Food and Drug Administration, the National Academy of Science, and the American Medical Association all have affirmed the safety of MSG. Even so we understand there is a limited population who have shown a sensitivity to it. Glutamate occurs naturally in protein-containing foods such as cheese, milk, mushrooms, meat, fish, and many vegetables. Glutamate is also produced by the human body and is vital for metabolism and brain function. We are sorry to learn that this ingredient has caused concern for you. We will share your comments with our food development teams. We do have many other products that do not contain MSG that you might enjoy. Thanks, again, for your inquiry. We hope you will find this information helpful.

Best of health,
Mark A. Suriano Consumer Specialist Consumer Affairs

TLXMAS01/cl 020901656A

Breast is Best: Study: Lack of breastfeeding costs lives, billions of dollars

2010-04-06T20:30:00.000-07:00

This is me nursing my third baby, Alexis Arianna Ceylon Eisenbraun. She is turning 2 this week! (But I have 8 month old baby Sofia as my avid nurser now... )

It is good to see that women who breastfeed their babies are truly doing the best possible thing for them. Breastfeeding exclusively for the first 6 months in not "crazy" or "weird". It is sane, smart, and healthy.

For many women, it is exactly as the article says...

"...if a new mom is struggling with breastfeeding, she may end up in a situation where "grandmother suggests to stop the silliness and give formula instead."

Fortunately, I had a great mom for a role model! I encourage everyone to read this article in CNN HEALTH...

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/04/05/breastfeeding.costs/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Target pays $600,000 fine for LEAD in toys

2009-10-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

Everyone should see this... and really is $600,000 enough? How many children will continue to play with the dangerous toxic toys because their parents never saw the recall? Probably most of them. Here is the link to the full article...

TARGET has LEAD Toys

Or if you just want to see the toys:

PICTURES

Next time, we should all buy natural toys made from non-toxic materials and non toxic paint.

www.theorganiccompany.com

Patented Organic Scrubs Save Lives!

2009-10-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

In the town where we live, the healthcare industry is huge. There are more people working in the healthcare field than any other. But just as people go to hospitals to heal one thing, they are catching another. Hospital Aquired Infections (HAI) are on the rise, and 276 people die EVERY DAY from them.

What if we could reduce the risk of this by a simple, inexpensive, eco-friendly thing? What if it was as easy as getting dressed in the morning?

This is now possible. Scrubs made from Organic Bamboo are naturally anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, hypoallergenic and thermodynamic.

What do all these words mean to us? It means we all stay healthier. It means ALL of us stay healthier: the doctors, nurses, massage therapists, and the patients.

Using a sustainable, renewable material to produce a biodegradable product that performs better than the current, earth damaging scrubs is genius! These are not just words. We will be showing the only scrubs that are made from an FDA approved and patented bamboo fabric! Watch for more on this exciting development!

Patented Organic Bamboo Scrubs to Save Lives

2009-10-01T04:56:00.000-07:00

Organic Rainbow Salad

2009-09-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

My 6 year old son Skylar wanted to make a salad himself, and it ended up being so colorful that he named it "Rainbow Salad". He put in red tomatoes, orange carrots, and yellow tomatoes, green basil and purple beets (most of which was from the garden)! He wished there could be something blue to put in it, but I explained that there are really very few blue foods.

He kept saying he wanted to share it with Erich and Lana (Brian's parents who live next door). It was so yummy it didn't last that long! Maybe next time...

We all can think like this - make a rainbow with our meals - colorful, healthy, fresh food. It will be delicious!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

2009-09-23T20:43:00.001-07:00

I found my 17 month old daughter Alexis in her crib recently after waking up from her nap, and she was reading (my favorite magazine) Fast Company. I had a stack next to the crib (yes, that is odd) and she had pulled several issues in, and was carefully leafing through one in particular. She was actually reading about an entrepreneural green company... who knows what SHE will do someday...

Interview with Loni

2009-09-18T12:44:00.001-07:00

I was interviewed by high school student Tara Nelson, for a project she was doing on being "green".

What is your name?
Lonica Eisenbraun

Where do you live?
Rapid City, South Dakota (right near the beautiful black hills - about 20 min from Mt Rushmore!)

Why have you gotten involved in your business?
In early 1995 I was helped organize a fashion show fundraiser for a non-profit college environmental club. When I heard about Organic Cotton Clothing I knew it was an exciting new thing, and wanted to learn more. Discovering how destructive the process of growing conventional cotton* was convinced me that someone had to offer organic clothing for everyone. So after much research, I decided to open a store, Natural Selections, in my hometown of Fairfield, Iowa on the town square in November of 1995.

(*It requires about 1/3 of a pound of pesticides to grow the amount of cotton used in one t-shirt. And did you know that 25% percent of the worlds insecticide use is just for cotton? Yet cotton takes up only 2% of the worlds agricultural land. These chemicals are cancer-causing and should be eliminated, as every year people are poisoned and die from exposure to them.)

How long has your business been running?
since 1995 --- When I started you could find organic clothing in only one or two places in the entire USA!

Do you partake in being a green outside of work?
Absolutely! It is ingrained into me! Plus it feels great!

If so, how do you partake in being a green outside of work? Well I believe the most important thing I do is buy organic food and clothing as much as possible. Since we spend 1/3 of our life in bed, I sleep on soft organic cotton sheets and use natural rubber latex pillows and mattresses. And since our skin is our largest organ, I also use organic personal care products and makeup.

But of course I also recycle, conserve resources by growing a small organic garden, and use natural household cleaning products (this is SO important- especially considering I have 4 children!) I try to educate my children also, for example, my nine year old daughter is interested in makeup and so the lip glosses I buy her are all natural, organic ones that actually are good for her, instead of chemicals.

With one of the green resources you use in your house how does it save you money/save the environment?
Organic products are higher quality. In the case of textiles, they are softer, and don't put harmful chemicals into your skin, plus they often last longer than conventional textiles. In the case of food, they taste better, have more nutrition, and I find can literally keep you healthier! (We all want to avoid getting sick!)

What do you typically sell the most in your business?
Mens and Womens underwear! Shouldn't underwear be soft and pure, since it is next to your skin? And our organic cotton underwear is actually made in the United States, where the workers are paid a true living wage, (not made in a sweatshop overseas.)

What advice do you have for aspiring greens?
The very best thing you can do to change the world is to change yourself, change something in your life. So, voting with your dollars makes a lot of sense. When you buy an organic product, you are casting a vote, showing companies what YOU want, what YOU think is important. You are making an improvement in our world. Plus, with organic products, (whether it is the cereal you had for breakfast or the sheets you sleep on at night, if you choose organic, you are getting the best quality.) Look for green products that are actually made in the USA. If you have to buy an item made overseas, look on the tags to see if it was made with fair-trade practices, or fair-wage labor, or sweatshop free. If you think green is expensive, start with one thing. One pair of underwear. Or one organic lipstick. Or one organic chocolate bar. In my experience, once you have tried it, you will love it and see the difference.

There is so much information available online - so many cool resources, groups, etc. I wish those resources were available when I was younger - I think there are so many amazing things you can do now! For starters, check out http://www.greenamericatoday.org/ to find local links to green products and services in your area. If you can, go to one of the Greenfests http://www.greenfestivals.org/ they have in major cities, like Denver and Chicago, as they are SO much fun and you can try lots of organic products and meet interesting people too! And don't forget my website: http://www.theorganiccompany.com/

Is there anything else you would like to add or is there anyone else that you suggest I contact for another interview?
What specifically is your interest? There are LOTS of people I could suggest in different green businesses!

Thank You very much for taking time for this interview.
Sure. Good Luck!

The High Cost of Cheap Food

2009-08-25T11:41:00.001-07:00

The Organic Company supports organic agriculture because it is healthier for all of us, and it it the ONLY sustainable way to keep producing food. And none of us wants to run out of food.

WELL, you may know that I have spent pretty much my entire life in IOWA. This is a current article from TIME magazine which I have excerpted here.

Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food

By Bryan Walsh Friday, Aug. 21, 2009

Somewhere in Iowa, a pig is being raised in a confined pen, packed in so tightly with other swine that their curly tails have been chopped off so they won't bite one another. To prevent him from getting sick in such close quarters, he is dosed with antibiotics. The waste produced by the pig and his thousands of pen mates on the factory farm where they live goes into manure lagoons that blanket neighboring communities with air pollution and a stomach-churning stench. He's fed on American corn that was grown with the help of government subsidies and millions of tons of chemical fertilizer. When the pig is slaughtered, at about 5 months of age, he'll become sausage or bacon that will sell cheap, feeding an American addiction to meat that has contributed to an obesity epidemic currently afflicting more than two-thirds of the population. And when the rains come, the excess fertilizer that coaxed so much corn from the ground will be washed into the Mississippi River and down into the Gulf of Mexico, where it will help kill fish for miles and miles around. That's the state of your bacon — circa 2009.

The U.S. agricultural industry can now produce unlimited quantities of meat and grains at remarkably cheap prices. But it does so at a high cost to the environment, animals and humans. Those hidden prices are the creeping erosion of our fertile farmland, cages for egg-laying chickens so packed that the birds can't even raise their wings and the scary rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria among farm animals. Add to the price tag the acceleration of global warming — our energy-intensive food system uses 19% of U.S. fossil fuels, more than any other sector of the economy.

And perhaps worst of all, our food is increasingly bad for us, even dangerous. A series of recalls involving contaminated foods this year — including an outbreak of salmonella from tainted peanuts that killed at least eight people and sickened 600 — has consumers rightly worried about the safety of their meals. A food system — from seed to 7 Eleven — that generates cheap, filling food at the literal expense of healthier produce is also a principal cause of America's obesity epidemic. At a time when the nation is close to a civil war over health-care reform, obesity adds $147 billion a year to our doctor bills. "The way we farm now is destructive of the soil, the environment and us," says Doug Gurian-Sherman, a senior scientist with the food and environment program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

But we don't have the luxury of philosophizing about food. With the exhaustion of the soil, the impact of global warming and the inevitably rising price of oil — which will affect everything from fertilizer to supermarket electricity bills — our industrial style of food production will end sooner or later. As the developing world grows richer, hundreds of millions of people will want to shift to the same calorie-heavy, protein-rich diet that has made Americans so unhealthy — demand for meat and poultry worldwide is set to rise 25% by 2015 — but the earth can no longer deliver. Unless Americans radically rethink the way they grow and consume food, they face a future of eroded farmland, hollowed-out countryside, scarier germs, higher health costs — and bland taste. Sustainable food has an élitist reputation, but each of us depends on the soil, animals and plants — and as every farmer knows, if you don't take care of your land, it can't take care of you.

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The Downside of Cheap

But cheap food is not free food, and corn comes with hidden costs. The crop is heavily fertilized — both with chemicals like nitrogen and with subsidies from Washington. Over the past decade, the Federal Government has poured more than $50 billion into the corn industry, keeping prices for the crop — at least until corn ethanol skewed the market — artificially low. That's why McDonald's can sell you a Big Mac, fries and a Coke for around $5 — a bargain, given that the meal contains nearly 1,200 calories, more than half the daily recommended requirement for adults. "Taxpayer subsidies basically underwrite cheap grain, and that's what the factory-farming system for meat is entirely dependent on," says Gurian-Sherman.

So what's wrong with cheap food and cheap meat — especially in a world in which more than 1 billion people go hungry? A lot. For one thing, not all food is equally inexpensive; fruits and vegetables don't receive the same price supports as grains. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a dollar could buy 1,200 calories of potato chips or 875 calories of soda but just 250 calories of vegetables or 170 calories of fresh fruit. With the backing of the government, farmers are producing more calories — some 500 more per person per day since the 1970s — but too many are unhealthy calories. Given that, it's no surprise we're so fat; it simply costs too much to be thin.

But the quantity of that fertilizer is flat-out scary: more than 10 million tons for corn alone — and nearly 23 million for all crops. When runoff from the fields of the Midwest reaches the Gulf of Mexico, it contributes to what's known as a dead zone, a seasonal, approximately 6,000-sq.-mi. area that has almost no oxygen and therefore almost no sea life. Because of the dead zone, the $2.8 billion Gulf of Mexico fishing industry loses 212,000 metric tons of seafood a year, and around the world, there are nearly 400 similar dead zones. Even as we produce more high-fat, high-calorie foods, we destroy one of our leanest and healthiest sources of protein.

Concentrated-animal feeding operations (CAFOs), are every bit as industrial as they sound. In CAFOs, large numbers of animals — 1,000 or more in the case of cattle and tens of thousands for chicken and pigs — are kept in close, concentrated conditions.

To stay alive and grow in such conditions, farm animals need pharmaceutical help, which can have further damaging consequences for humans. Overuse of antibiotics on farm animals leads, inevitably, to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the same bugs that infect animals can infect us too. The UCS estimates that about 70% of antimicrobial drugs used in America are given not to people but to animals, which means we're breeding more of those deadly organisms every day. The Institute of Medicine estimated in 1998 that antibiotic resistance cost the public-health system $4 billion to $5 billion a year — a figure that's almost certainly higher now.

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But with wonder drugs losing their effectiveness, it makes sense to preserve them for as long as we can, and that means limiting them to human use as much as possible. "These antibiotics are not given to sick animals," says Representative Louise Slaughter, who is sponsoring a bill to limit antibiotic use on farms. "It's a preventive measure because they are kept in pretty unspeakable conditions."

This November, California voters approved a ballot proposition that guarantees farm animals enough space to lie down, stand up and turn around.

Work in a CAFO is monotonous and soul-killing, while too many ordinary farmers struggle to make ends meet even as the rest of us pay less for food. Farmers aren't the enemy — and they deserve real help. We've transformed the essential human profession — growing food — into an industry like any other. "We're hurting for job creation, and industrial food has pushed people off the farm," says Hahn Niman. "We need to make farming real employment, because if you do it right, it's enjoyable work."

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"Ultimately it's going to be consumer demand that will cause change, not Washington," says Fedele Bauccio, Bon Appétit's co-founder.

How willing are consumers to rethink the way they shop for — and eat — food? For most people, price will remain the biggest obstacle. Organic food continues to cost on average several times more than its conventional counterparts, and no one goes to farmers' markets for bargains. But not all costs can be measured by a price tag. Once you factor in crop subsidies, ecological damage and what we pay in health-care bills after our fatty, sugary diet makes us sick, conventionally produced food looks a lot pricier.

What we really need to do is something Americans have never done well, and that's to quit thinking big. We already eat four times as much meat and dairy as the rest of the world, and there's not a nutritionist on the planet who would argue that 24 oz. steaks and mounds of buttery mashed potatoes are what any person needs to stay alive. "The idea is that healthy and good-tasting food should be available to everyone," says Hahn Niman. "The food system should be geared toward that."

Whether that happens will ultimately come down to all of us, since we have the chance to choose better food three times a day (or more often, if we're particularly hungry). It's true that most of us would prefer not to think too much about where our food comes from or what it's doing to the planet — after all, as Chipotle's Ells points out, eating is not exactly a "heady intellectual event." But if there's one difference between industrial agriculture and the emerging alternative, it's that very thing: consciousness. Niman takes care with each of his cattle, just as an organic farmer takes care of his produce and smart shoppers take care with what they put in their shopping cart and on the family dinner table. The industrial food system fills us up but leaves us empty — it's based on selective forgetting. But what we eat — how it's raised and how it gets to us — has consequences that can't be ignored any longer.

— With reporting by Rebecca Kaplan / New York

from
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1917458,00.html

Grape Juice!

2009-07-18T16:26:00.000-07:00

We used our Vitamix (an amazing super powerful blender) to make fresh grape juice!!!

Pesticides - not in my yard!

2009-06-15T21:18:00.001-07:00

I live about 15 minutes outside of Rapid City, SD. The children and I came home at 8:30 PM tonight and there was a Pest Control truck in the neighbors driveway, which we share with them.

I was told I shouldn't worry because even though it said pest control on his truck the stuff he was spraying was "all natural, non toxic." I saw clouds of white about 3-4 feet over the lawn. So I went inside and googled it. Meanwhile my husband asked them about it and they said they were told "it begins with a P and it is made from a flower."

Well googling stuff is quite simple these days and of course- it is just as bad as everything else... Pyrethroids are carcinogen, toxic to central nervous system, etc, and there was even this official info (from the Pesticide Action Network, which maintains a database of thousands of chemicals normally used) that I copied below.

"Pyrethroids are a widely used class of pesticides applied in agricultural settings, homes, and for the control of some parasites. Pyrethroids work by paralyzing the nervous systems of insects. Predator insects that keep problem pests in check are often more sensitive to these insecticides than the pests themselves. Because pyrethroids are structurally similar to pyrethrins which are extracted from chrysanthemums, manufactures often mislead consumers to believe that pyrethroids are as safe as chrysanthemums. In fact, they are the second most common class of pesticides that result in poisoning, including negative effects on the central nervous system (e.g., loss of consciousness and/or seizures). Pyrethroids are also a skin irritant, and exposure can result in abnormal skin sensations including itching, tingling, stinging, burning and numbness."

It just makes me so angry that chemical companies lie so much, and people believe them. We have to learn that we cannot trust chemical companies. We have to be smart and check out what they say. If a product is DESIGNED TO KILL ANYTHING, it is not a "non-toxic, safe" product.

I am just glad that I am near the end of the pregnancy where the baby is already formed, pretty much just getting chubbier. I guess the lungs are still forming though. I will hope they are perfect.

Be well,

Loni

Ancient Asian Tradition makes you sleep better

2009-01-29T21:57:00.000-08:00

This is our ever-popular Organic Buckwheat Hull Pillow with Lavender and Organic Cotton that we have been making for 14 years. Okay, so that isn't ancient, but it is an Asian tradition dating back more than 500 years.
As for how it FEELS, well to the hand it feels like a beanbag full of lightweight crunchy things. We sold them for over 6 months and they sold WELL before I got the courage to try it at home. The first couple of nights it was odd. It noticed the texture and a little sound when I rolled over to change position. But after a couple of nights I started thinking it was wonderful. I used it for a couple of years and then when the shredded latex pillows became available, I fell in love with them instead. The buckwheat pillow is from an ancient Asian tradition and it is still recommended by chiropractors everywhere today, because it gives ideal support to the head and neck and spine. I have found only a few customers who decided that it wasn't their style to sleep on it every night - and those people say that they use it occasionally when neck pain is flaring up, and it helps. They continue to be super popular!

On the phone and on the webcam

2008-08-14T15:37:00.000-07:00

So, here's a photo of me trying to work, balancing the phone on one side, Alexis on the other, and watching over the laptop while Skylar manufactures pajamas for himself out of several plastic shopping bags and duct tape. Despite the fact that our family wears only organic cotton and bamboo pajamas when we sleep, Skylar announced that he intends to make some plastic wear for the rest of us as well...

Inside my kitchen window

2008-08-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

Simple, yet simply lovely, isn't it? Organic orange slices and lemon basil gently flavor purified water for a light, refreshing summer drink. The peel and white pith of the orange add nutrients that aren't available in squeezed orange juice. Be sure to buy organic oranges (or lemons!) whenever you're going to use the peels and pith so you'll avoid chemical residue used in commercial citrus production.

Preserving summer greens

2008-08-08T20:00:00.000-07:00

Pick your own fresh greens, this is kale, or pick up some at a local farmer's market. Wash greens thoroughly because most are grown in sandy soil which clings to leaves.

Cook on medium heat with just the water left on the greens from washing. Don't add any extra water, there will be plenty on the leaves themselves.

Greens will cook down to 1/2 - 1/4 the original amount in the pot.

Divide cooked greens into rigid freezer containers, not baggies.

Now, here's the secret to fresh-tasting frozen greens - fill the containers to 1/2 inch from the top with water. That's right! Greens will freeze into solid cubes and thaw nicely when you pop them out to cook one day next winter. Air space in freezer containers is what causes frozen food to deteriorate, to get frosty and taste old. Freezing in water solves that problem, but be sure you leave enough space at the top because water expands when it freezes.

Here are your greens, ready to fill your freezer and then your Crock-Pot or casserole as part of your favorite recipes. This freeze-it-in-water method works with fresh herbs, too. Use ice cube trays to make little fresh herb cubes for future use.

Pajama pancakes

2008-08-07T08:02:00.000-07:00

Pancakes are a family favorite at our house, especially in our pajamas. In the summer, pajamas might just be an organic cotton T-shirt and undies. But pancakes are always pancakes! Here's a great recipe if you like to load up your pancakes with a lot of protein:

Protein Pancakes

Place in blender and blend one minute: 1 cup cottage cheese, 6 eggs, 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 tsp sale, 1/4 cup oil, 1/4 cup mile, 1/2 tsp vanilla and 2 TBS whey protein powder. You can leave out the protein powder if there's none on hand, but that's what gives these pancakes protein power. Bake on griddle with butter, oil or cooking spray. Top with lots and lots of fresh fruit, yogurt or just honey and butter. Yum and fun for everyone!

Lily's Eggless Oatmeal Pancakes

Lily and I wrote out this recipe together because she LOVES to make these pancakes herself. You'll definitely need to double this because it doesn't make very much. It's not as dense as a bowl of oatmeal, but does have a hint of oatmeal flavor:

Use 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour , 2/3 cup quick cooking oats, 2 T sugar, 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, egg replacer for one egg, 1 1/3 cups soymilk, 3 T melted vegan butter substitute. You'll need extra oil,or vegan butter substitute for frying, of course.

In a LARGE BOWL, stir together the flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a MEDIUM BOWL, mix up the egg substitute, then beat in the milk and margarine. Add the medium bowl mix to the large bowl, stir until just combined, let stand 5 min while you heat up a skillet until a drop of water dances across the surface before evaporating (I love that part and the kids like to watch it).

Brush the surface lightly with oil. For each pancake, drop 3 T batter onto the skillet. Cook until one or two bubbles start to burst on the top (my kids love to watch for this), turn pancake and cook until golden brown on the bottom.

I like to add vanilla extract or almond extract or cinnamon or apples or bananas or any combination of those. You may need to add more soymilk as sometimes the batter is too thick and the pancakes don't cook completely - of course this can mean heat was too high or that you are using a retarded heavy iron skillet?

I don't know, I am still debating about using cast iron or not. I almost break my wrist trying to wash it. I know you are not supposed to wash cast iron in water, but the idea of rancid oil going into my food seems to negate the possible iron benefits...

Tell us what you think about cast iron and about pancakes. Leave us a comment!

Note: Just got an email with this bright idea - why not have the kids make butter when you're making pancakes? Here are the simple instructions I received: Just put the cream in a quart jar, tighten the lid, and shake, shake, shake. It's not a big deal. If you don't want to shake that long, play some music, watch TV, read a book, take turns with the other family members. Part way through it looks like whipped cream, but that just means you aren't finished, unless of course you decide to put whipped cream on your pancakes instead of butter! I have read some folks add glass marbles to agitate or act as a paddle in the churning, but I never did and the results were fine.

2008-05-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

13 years later, you know what our BEST-SELLING ITEM is?

Our intimate wear collection for men is all about comfort and fit. As you can see, our boxer brief demonstrates that completely.

Constructed with our signature soft elastic waistband and without a fly, the boxer brief is made with an incredibly soft, supportive 92/8 organic cotton/spandex blend.

They conform to the body beautifully and are perfect for an active lifestyle!

As with everything from b·green, there are no hanging labels—this garment has a heat-set care label. (Men love how the "tag" is screen printed on; so, there is no itchy feeling or tag to cut out!)

Please note that the fly does not open, in order to give excellent support and a smooth look.

Colors: Natural, Black & White

Sizes:
S (approx. 28-30)
M (approx. 30-32)
L (approx. 34-36)
XL (approx. 38-40)

In the beginning....

2008-05-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

There was a 21 year old young woman who was determined to open her own business. With only 1 year of college behind her, and already disillusioned with the working world, she wanted to make a difference. And so, in the spring of 1995, Natural Selections was born.

check it out: