Here's a bumper bed for your special family member that you can feel good about, ecologically-speaking. Covered in organic cotton twill, free from pesticides and chemical fertilizers, it's filled with a comfy, cozy stuffing and is made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, which diverts more than 25 tons of plastic bottles from landfills every year. The bed features a center, removable pillow that can also be used separately inside crates or the car. It's a great option for allergic, sensitive, or orthopedic pets. Made in the U.S.A., machine washable. A portion of sale proceeds are donated. Sizes S - XL; $76.95 - $178.95.Posts with tag organic
Pampered Pooch Bumper Bed
Here's a bumper bed for your special family member that you can feel good about, ecologically-speaking. Covered in organic cotton twill, free from pesticides and chemical fertilizers, it's filled with a comfy, cozy stuffing and is made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, which diverts more than 25 tons of plastic bottles from landfills every year. The bed features a center, removable pillow that can also be used separately inside crates or the car. It's a great option for allergic, sensitive, or orthopedic pets. Made in the U.S.A., machine washable. A portion of sale proceeds are donated. Sizes S - XL; $76.95 - $178.95.Ceago Opulent Vintner's Collection
Using the best of old and new world winemaking techniques, Jim Fetzer introduces award-winning, Biodynamic growing practices that go beyond organic standards. The Opulent Vintner's Collection contains a 2002 Ceago Camp Masut Cabernet Sauvignon, a 2006 Ceago Del Lago Chardonnay and Ceago Vinegarden's estate-grown, cold-pressed, certified organic and Biodynamic olive oil. To complement the wine, included are 10 pieces of fresh, seasonal fruit, 4 oz. each of roasted and salted organic cashews, almonds and pistachios, and 4 oz. of organic chocolate caramel pecan clusters.This collection is Biodynamic certified by The Demeter Association: no pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers; organic methods with astronomy; humane animal practices; and ecosystem protection.
A nice Father's Day idea for the gourmet, eco-concerned dad. $174.95
Green Wine Awards
For grape growers, vino viticulturists, syrah sippers and green gods and goddesses, the day has come when wineries both domestic and foreign can compete for glory to bring us, the consumer, the best eco-friendly wines available. The Green Wine Competition has chosen its champions from over 271 entries originating in six states and eleven foreign countries within four categories: Class I - certified biodynamically grown; Class II - organic; Class III - transitional & third party certified; Class IV - natural (international imports only). With 153 award-winning bottles, broken up into gold, silver and bronze medals, and a shopping list to make your next selection of wine easier, the search for a fantastic bottle of green wine is bound to be simpler. (And in case you are wondering who took home the most medals, Bonterra Vineyards blew the competition away).LOFT Organic Liqueurs
Liqueurs from LOFT Liqueurs appear to have it going on from all angles: they come in decadent and unique flavors (i.e. Lavender, Lemongrass, and Spicy Ginger), they're handcrafted in small batches, and they're the first liqueurs in the country to be 100% certified organic.Just two years ago LOFT Liqueurs was started by two women, Lisa Averbuch and Sabrina Moreno-Dolan, and was originally born through Lisa's experimentation with a random limoncello recipe. Besides the 3 standard flavors LOFT is looking to expand, starting with seasonal flavors like Tangerine and Blueberry. Look for LOFT Liqueurs in restaurants in California and you can buy them online here for $29.99/bottle.
Via Mighty Foods
Smooth Your Skin With Luxe Essentials
These products are a triple play -- almost 100% organic, luxurious, and free of animal testing/ingredients tested on animals. Using the tagline "Beautify Not Toxify," Luxe Essentials is a simple line with just three categories: body butter ($10 - $30), bath salts ($37), and bath and body oils ($20). Oh wait, two gift baskets are offered -- lavender and lemongrass ($55). I love lavender, just in case you're thinking of sending me one of these. Hey, I'm just saying, if you need an idea. Anyway ...Luxe Essentials' founder, Nydia Norville, is based in NYC. Read more about her and the line on her MySpace page or her blog, which has some beauty tips to try at home.
Bonuses: The main site accepts PayPal and is affiliated with the Indie Collective.
Priti, New York's Organic Spa
First it was organic food. Then, last year, we saw a flood of organic liquors and wines hit the market. Could this be the year of the organic spa? The Today Show profiles Priti the only all-organic spa in New York City, What does organic mean when it comes to spa treatments? For one thing. many of the ingredients in nail polish are fairly toxic. The polishes and polish removers at Priti are free from dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde. Their teas, creams, scrubs, essential oils and even their cleaning products are all organic. Even their website is hosted by a green web hosting company that plants a tree for every person who joins. Priti offers a variety of services including the Priti relaxing manicure or pedicure which starts with a bath of fresh flowers and organic lavender oil followed by a scrub with lavender chamomile foot polish, a massage using a lavender chamomile organic cream and finally a polish. The manicure is $40 and the pedicure is $50. A spa day package including an hour-long massage, facial, manicure and pedicure is $300.
Usiku Organic Bath & Body Collection
We're not there yet but the holidays are just around the corner, and along with them all the stress of thinking up gift ideas for everybody and finding time to shop. Some bath and body products probably belong on your shopping list regardless, whether as a gift for someone or just a way to help yourself relax amidst the annual holiday stresses, and I'm thinking the Usiku Organic Bath Collection sounds particularly good since they work for men or women and I love all things organic (not to mention the fragrance description sounds heavenly).
The collection from Jo Wood includes body soap, body lotion, body oil, and bath oil, and prices range from $24-$125 each.
Green Mountain Distillers Announce Maple Syrup Liqueur
Green Mountain Distillers, a Vermont company founded by a pair of micro-brewers with more than twenty years experience has announced their first flavor in a line of organic liqueurs. The first flavor will be Vermont organic maple syrup liqueur. The liqueur is a combination of organic maple syrup and an in-house organic sprit. Green Mountain Distillers already sells Sunshine Vodka, a spirit made from 100% certified organic grain and pure Vermont spring water. The liqueur will be available at Vermont liquor outlets and each decanter is hand-filled, signed and numbered by the distillers. The next flavor planned is Honey and Spice for the winter months.
Grgich Hills Launches BioDynamic Wine
Grgich Hill Estates celebrated their 30th anniversary on July 4 with a unique production, their first biodynamically produced wine, a limited-production 2006 Sauvignon Blanc called Essence. An article in Wines and Vines reports that Grgich Hills owns 366 acres, which are all certified organic and farmed biodynamically. The Grgich Hills website has a great slideshow and FAQ on biodynamics. The process, which was derived from lectures by Rudolf Steiner is more than just going organic,although both practices use compost. Biodynamics treats the soils with a variety of preparations to bring microbial life and nutrients to the soil. The preparations seem a bit wacky at first and include cow manure packed in a cow how, a stag's bladder stuffed with yarrow flowers and stinging nettle tea. The planting, harvesting and other tasks are timed in harmony with the earth's natural cycles. How biodynamics works is a bit of a mystery but more and more wineries in the U.S. and in Europe are finding that it makes for better wines.
The grapes for the Essence wine were hand-harvested at night Sept. 13-22 so they arrived at the winery cool and intact and were aged for seven months in large oak casks. The wine has notes of citrus and kiwi with the classic Sauvignon Blanc minerality. It sells for around $40 and 374 cases were produced.
Zola, Eco-Friendly Furniture
Can your couch go green? The owners of Zola Furnishings, a company in Oregon say so. They make furniture from materials that are organic, sustainable or recycled. The frames are made from kiln-dried hardwood, harvested from sustainably managed forests and use non-toxic. water-based glue. The seat cushions are made of natural latex wrapped in organic wool and cotton/hemp cloth. The stains use earth-based pigments and the fabrics used are sustainably and organically produced. The Isabella loveseat shown here sells for $3695.
[via Oregon Live]
Parducci Winery Goes Carbon Neutral
Parducci winery, part of the Mendocino Wine Company has announced that they are the first U.S. winery to achieve "carbon neutral status." Wine Business News reports that the winery partnered with the California Climate Action Registry to determine their carbon emissions and then took measures to both lessen and offset them. Mendocino Wine Company has had "mitigation" practices such as solar installation, switching to biodiesel in company vehicles and farm equipment, converting from incandescent to fluorescent lighting, and a local tree-planting program. The winery has also purchased carbon credits, supporting projects that focus on methane and biogas capture, wind power and forest projects within its own bioregion. Mendocino Wine Company's vineyards are also certified Biodynamic, Organic, or Fish Friendly Farming and the company's packaging uses tree-free and recycled papers printed with soy-based inks. The winery also participates in reduce-reuse programs including on-site vineyard composting, water conservation and water recycling projects. Want to celebrate Parducci's carbon neutral status, I recommend the 2004 True Grit, a fiesty Petite Sirah-based summer red that goes great with grilled foods. It sells for $24.99.True Earth Organic Wine
Just in time for Earth Day, the wine brand The Three Thieves have launched a new organic brand called True Earth. The wine is made from organic grapes. There are two True Earth wines, a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petite Sirah, and a varietal Chardonnay. Both are made from California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) vineyards in Mendocino County, using no pesticides, herbicides, or conventional synthetic fertilizers. The wines contain minimal amounts of sulfites which are used in the winemaking process to preserve freshness. The first release is 5,000 cases of each type and the wines sell for $12.99.Port Wine Goes Green
The field of organic wines and spirits is getting larger and larger. Rum,vodka and gin all have organic options and the field of organic wine continues to grow at an impressive rate, providing excellent wines that are also green. Now Dr. Vino brings good news for Port lovers, the Fladgate Partnership has announced they will be making an organic Port. The vineyard used had been farmed organically since 1992 but since Port is made also adding brandy the quest was on to find an organic distilled spirit. The Port cannot be labeled as organic in the U.S. because it contains naturally occurring sulfites and instead will be labeled as being "made with organically grown grapes." Dr. Vino reports that the ruby Port has aromas of dark cherries and blackberries and that the process of organic viticulture is much healthier for vineyard workers. The port will be sold in the U.S. starting in June for around $22 per bottle. It looks like it is already available in England.Multilevel Side Table
This little table is not a very expensive piece, but its unusual design would make a big statement in any room that it was put in. The Multilevel Side Table has wood shelves arranged around a brushed metal pole. Each of the shelves has a unique and organic shape, which gives the piece a very natural look, vaguely like smoothed stones that might sit alongside a creek. Each shelf can be used for storage and the table might also make an interesting display for photographs. Price: $100.
[via cribcandy]
The World's First Organic Cream Liqueur
We've seen plenty of organic wine, vodka and whisky, now the first organic Irish Cream liqueur, Bloom Mountain is available from Brogans Irish Cream. The cream, sugar, alcohol and flavorings are organically produced. The production processes have been approved by The Organic Trust and carries their seal of approval. The cream used is 100% organic Irish cream. The liqueur was awarded a Silver Medal in The International Wine & Spirit Competition this year and sells for around $15 per bottle.[via The Moodie Report]
