Tag Archives: organic

Lesbian farmers are taking over the country, if you believe Rush Limbaugh

by MargretO76 Posted on August 24, 2016

Queer Eye For The Farm Guy

Lesbian farmers are taking over the country, if you believe Rush Limbaugh

By on Aug 24, 2016Share

Fast-forward with me to the year 2024. Food is plentiful and no one goes hungry — but our society has gone horribly, terribly wrong.

After eight years under Obama and eight more under Clinton, there are hardly any straight white male farmers left. They’ve all moved on to other professions — Birkenstock cobbling, softball coaching, drilling those dimples in golf balls. These are the industries pre-ordained by our lesbian agricultural overlords.

First, they came for farming. Fishing? The lesbians took that, too. Men got to keep hunting, but they’re forced to plant a row of organic kale every time they kill an animal.

Welcome to Rush Limbaugh’s lesbian farmer fever dream.

The frothy-mouthed radio personality painted a similarly dystopian picture on his show last week. Limbaugh’s theory that the Obama administration is giving money to lesbians to become farmers and take over rural America is just the deranged result of his brain processing last week’s Iowa LGBT Rural Summit. In his own words:

So here comes the Obama Regime with a bunch of federal money and they’re waving it around, and all you gotta do to get it is be a lesbian and want to be a farmer and they’ll set you up. I’m like you; I never before in my life knew that lesbians wanted to be farmers.

Of course, this is ridiculous. Plenty of LGBTQ people already live and work in rural America — almost 10 percent of all same-sex couples in the country, according to the Williams Institute.

But since rural America is not known for having the clearest idea of queer lifestyles — as demonstrated by Limbaugh’s ramblings — a reasonable person would conclude that the purpose of the conference is simply for LGBTQ farmers to have a forum in which to offer support for each other.

Reason? Not a strong suit for Limbaugh.

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Lesbian farmers are taking over the country, if you believe Rush Limbaugh

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Why some enviros are cheering the death of a solar project

by ErnestMabe Posted on August 24, 2016

#notallsolarprojects

Why some enviros are cheering the death of a solar project

By on Aug 24, 2016Share

California’s San Bernardino County narrowly rejected a controversial solar panel project over concerns that it would threaten groundwater and wildlife in the region.

Soda Mountain Solar was slated to be built just a half-mile from the Mojave National Preserve. The 3-2 vote against certifying the project is a big win for environmentalists who claimed constructing the facility would use up tons of water — a precious resource in drought-stricken California — without any benefit to locals.

The Soda Mountain installation was initially proposed by Bechtel — a contractor probably best know for Iraq war profiteering — and later sold to Regenerate, when it gained support from the Bureau of Land Management. It was touted as a promising part of Obama’s Climate Action Plan’s goal of producing 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy on public lands by 2020.

But local residents and chambers of commerce, leading environmental scientists, conservationists, and even National Park Service officials opposed the project, as it would endanger Mojave’s bighorn sheep and desert tortoises without lowering electricity prices for locals, who already get about 30 percent of their power from wind and solar. Regenerate wasn’t even able to find a potential public utility to purchase the 287 megawatts of renewable energy it would have produced.

It’s important to move forward on renewable energy projects — and the vast Mojave, with its constant sunshine, might seem like the best place to fast-track solar power. But when those projects threaten a way of life for local residents and unique wildlife, the cost is too steep.

Election Guide ★ 2016Making America Green AgainOur experts weigh in on the real issues at stake in this electionGet Grist in your inbox

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Why some enviros are cheering the death of a solar project

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Climate activists arrested while protesting offshore drilling

by RonaldCatchpole Posted on August 24, 2016

Climate activists arrested while protesting offshore drilling

By on Aug 24, 2016Share

Four activists were arrested Tuesday in Louisiana for refusing to leave the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management office, the agency responsible for selling offshore drilling rights.

The activists were part of a group petitioning to end all new drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, including the auction of 23.5 million acres in federal waters off the coast of Texas scheduled this week in the New Orleans Superdome. For the first time, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will close the auction to to the public and stream it live online to prevent disruption from protestors.

The activists delivered a petition with  184,000 signatures, according to the Associated Press, and demanded to meet with President Obama, who was in Baton Rouge touring damage from the worst disaster in the U.S. since Hurricane Sandy.

“In the midst of a climate-fueled disaster, which will most gravely impact those already marginalized in our society, moving forward with this auction is a terrible idea,” wrote the activist group Bold Louisiana in a statement. “Selling fossil fuels at the New Orleans Superdome — the site of one of the most visible and tragic instances of climate injustice in recent memory — is nothing short of insulting.”

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Climate activists arrested while protesting offshore drilling

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What to Expect When You’re Expecting – Heidi Murkoff

by Myrna Posted on August 23, 2016

READ GREEN WITH E-BOOKS

What to Expect When You’re Expecting

Heidi Murkoff

Genre: Health & Fitness

Price: $9.99

Publish Date: May 31, 2016

Publisher: Workman Publishing Company

Seller: Workman Publishing Co., Inc.


A completely revised and updated edition of America’s pregnancy bible, the longest-running New York Times bestseller ever. With 18.5 million copies in print, What to Expect When You’re Expecting is read by 93% of women who read a pregnancy book and was named one of the “Most Influential Books of the Last 25 Years” by USA Today. This cover-to-cover (including the cover!) new edition is filled with must-have information, advice, insight, and tips for a new generation of moms and dads. With What to Expect ’s trademark warmth, empathy, and humor, it answers every conceivable question expecting parents could have, including dozens of new ones based on the ever-changing pregnancy and birthing practices and choices they face. Advice for dads is fully integrated throughout the book. All medical coverage is completely updated, including the latest on prenatal screening and the safety of medications during pregnancy, as well as a brand-new section on postpartum birth control. Current lifestyle trends are incorporated, too: juice bars, raw diets, e-cigarettes, push presents, baby bump posting, the lowdown on omega-3 fatty acids, grass-fed and organic, health food fads, and GMOs. Plus expanded coverage of IVF pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, breastfeeding while pregnant, water and home births, and cesarean trends (including VBACs and “gentle cesareans”).  

This article – 

What to Expect When You’re Expecting – Heidi Murkoff

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How Honeybees Buzz Out Pests

by AngieKerns Posted on August 17, 2016

Research has discovered that honeybees can reduce the activity of plant-eating caterpillars, even though honeybees dont harm them in any way. This is another great reason to promote bees and other pollinators in our farms and gardens. Not only do you get the pollination benefits, you may also be able to reduce insecticide use.

How Do Bees Protect Against Pests?

A University of Wurzburg study set up two tents that contained bell pepper and soy bean plants. One tent included a bee hive and the other tent was closed to bees.

They introduced beet armyworms into both tents. Armyworms eat much more than beet greens and are a serious pest of many vegetable and flower crops.

Honeybees themselves are not predatory and dont harm insects like armyworms. But parasitic wasps will prey on the caterpillars by either eating them or laying eggs in their body. The eggs will later hatch and the wasp larvae will eat the caterpillar from the inside out.

As young caterpillars, armyworms are voracious leaf eaters. Although, when a wasp flies over, their natural response is to stop moving and eating. They sometimes even drop off the plant for extra safety.

The study found that the armyworms in the tent with bees circulating amongst the flowers ate about two-thirds less leaves than those in the bee-free tent.

Researchers concluded that the beating of a bees wings most likely mimics the sound of a predatory wasp. This is probably what makes the caterpillars stop eating in order to avoid a perceived predator.

What This Could Mean for Reducing Pesticide Use

The United States applied 857 million pounds of pesticides in the year 2007, with 80 percent being used by the agriculture industry. Unfortunately, more recent statistics are not available, but its likely that current pesticide usage would be similar.

Out of that total, almost 100 million pounds were insecticides. Many insecticides can have far-reaching effects on human health and the health of ecosystems.

For instance, organophosphates are a type of insecticide that damages the nervous system of both mammals and insects. They have also been used as a nerve gas during wars, a practice which has been banned by the Geneva Convention due to their high toxicity.

Research has also shown that wide-spread use of the insecticides called neonicotinoids has contributed to collapsing bee populations globally.

Its clear we need to find better ways to control pests, particularly on agricultural crops. Promoting pollinating insects could be the perfect way to reduce insecticide use and costs, while also helping boost global bee populations.

How Can You Help Promote Pollinators?

You may already be using various methods to support pollinators in your yard. This will benefit your own garden as well as any surrounding farms. These are some of the key ways to help pollinators.

Plant wild spaces. Pollination isnt all about honeybees. Thousands of other species of insects and animals also help plants spread pollen, such as butterflies, bats, moths, flies and even some mammals. All these creatures need wild spaces to live in.

Any garden beds will help boost your local populations of beneficial insects and other pollinators. If you have enough space, you can designate a completely wild area where humans arent allowed.

Grow organically. Insecticides and other pesticides harm more than just the pests youre targeting. They can contaminate ground water, the food supply and the air. Its important to find non-toxic ways to control unwanted visitors in your yard.

Provide food and water. Most pollinating insects eat pollen, so including a wide variety of flowering plants is ideal. Herbs like oregano, thyme and lavender are always insect magnets. Many native plants like blanket flower, Echinacea and bee balm are also favorites. And dont rule out flowering shrubs, vines and trees like wild roses, honeysuckle or linden trees.

Pollinators also need a source of water. A sunken dish in the ground filled with water and pebbles for landing sites will do the job. Bird baths, ponds and larger water features are also great.

Almond orchard with imported bee hives

How Can This Be Applied to Agriculture?

Agricultural operations can incorporate similar strategies as your backyard on a much larger scale.

An excellent example is in the almond orchards in California. Currently, theres a situation where the local honeybee populations arent large enough to pollinate the hundreds of thousands of acres of commercial almond trees.

Every February when the almonds bloom, more than one million beehives need to be shipped into the orchards to help with pollination. Thats more than half of all honeybees farmed in the United States, and theyre trucked in from all corners of the country.

The Journal of Applied Ecology published a study pointing out that it may not be sustainable to rely solely on one species (honeybees) for pollination of almonds. Researchers found that orchards surrounded by areas of semi-natural vegetation were visited by more wild bee species and other pollinating insects. In addition, greater numbers of wild pollinators visited when organic agricultural practices were used.

Also, fruit set increased as the percentage of natural habitat surrounding the orchards increased.

If almond orchards incorporated larger wild spaces to promote pollinators and moved to more organic cultivation practices, it would help solve their shortage of bees as well potentially reducing damage due to leaf-eating pests.

Related
11 Foods We Would Lose Without Pollinators
Want to Pollinators to Visit Your Yard? Heres How to Attract Them
Sunflowers: Delicious in More Ways Than One

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Excerpt from – 

How Honeybees Buzz Out Pests

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How to Prep Your Dog for Camping

by Mellisa28Y Posted on August 11, 2016

Is it a good idea to take your dog camping?

On the plus side, when you take your dog along on a camping trip, you don’t have to board her in a kennel or leave her alone with just an occasional dog sitter dropping by. She may really enjoy the outdoors, so the trip could be a lot of fun for her. And dogs are pretty good for security, so especially if you’re going by yourself, a dog could make it a lot safer for you.

On the other hand, not all kinds of camping trips are good for dogs. If you’re planning on backpacking over very steep terrain that might involve some technical rock climbing, leave your dog home. The same goes for camping in harsh cold conditions where you might be able to dress for the weather, but your dog can’t. Winter camping in snow and maybe ice might sound like fun to you, but your dog probably won’t love it.

If your trip does seem like it’s safe for your pet, here are several other issues to take into consideration:

Rabies

Make sure your dog’s rabies shots are up to date. You could encounter rabid foxes, raccoons, squirrelsor other animals.

Ticks and Heartworm

Many dogs have gotten Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick. If your dog is likely to be crashing around through woods, chances are she’ll encounter these nasty insects. Lyme disease can be as debilitating for dogs as it is for people, so please make sure that your pet’s flea and tick treatments are up-to-date. Comb outyour dog’s fur regularlywith a flea comb while on your trip. Make sure your dog’s heartworm treatments are also up to date.

Water

Take an unbreakable water bowl for your dog and give her water regularly so she won’t be tempted to drink standing water. When you calculate how much water you’ll need overall for your trip, include what your dog will need and remember, the hotter it is outside, the more H2O you’ll both need. When you filter water for yourself, filter some for your dog, too.

Food and Treats

You might be able to eat reconstituted, freeze-dried food, but not your dog. Your dog needs to stick to her regular diet, so pack inthe same amount of food she’d consume at home. Don’t be tempted to give your dog a piece of a s’more; a chocolate marshmallow sandwich is guaranteed to make your dog sick. If you cook meat or fish over a campfire, your dog could probably eat some morsels, as long as there are no fine fish bones. But otherwise, be good to your dog and feed her regular dog food. Keep treats handy in your pocket or in a reusable bag so you can reward your dog when she comes when she is called or obeys other commands.

Microchip

If your dog isn’t already microchipped, consider getting a chip implanted under her skin. Dogs can get lost in the wilderness just like people can; the microchip contains your contact information, which a veterinarian or animal control agency can use to contact you when they find your pooch.

Collar and Leash

Make sure your dog’s collar is secure and the tags with contact info and the dates of the last rabies vaccination are attached. Always have a leash with you in the event you need to restrain your dog.

Raincoat or Vest

Pack lightweight protection against rain or snow to keep your dog warm and as dry as possible if the weather turns foul.

Pador mat

If possible, have your pet sleep inside your tent with you. Bring a mat or pad for the dog to lie on, especially if the ground is cold.

Spade

Your dog will pee along the trail, and that’s fine. When she poops, if it is unrealistic for you to pick up the poop in a plastic bag and dispose of it at a later point, dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and bury it. The same goes for your feces. Here’s exactly what you should do.

Related:

What Camping Gear Can You Buy Used, and What Needs to be New?
10 Tips to Keep You Safe from Bears When You Go Camping this Summer

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

See the article here: 

How to Prep Your Dog for Camping

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How Oyster Farming is Cleaning Our Water

by pauletteguajardo Posted on August 10, 2016

American palates are becoming more and more refined these days, with trends like pescetarianism and the farm-to-table movement increasing the demand for locally raised fish and shellfish. Overfishing remains a huge problem and so do contaminated waterwaysbut there may be a simple, natural solution on the horizon: oysters.

Increased Demand for Local Shellfish

Oyster farming on the East Coast has doubled in the past six years, according to NPR, and its no mystery why. Americans who can afford to do so are becoming increasingly interested in where their food comes from. They want local, sustainable, organic, antibiotic-free food and this desire has made a big mark in both foodie culture and agriculture.

“As much food as possibly can go on my plate at the least amount of money I can spend used to be the way things were,” says Jimmy Parks, a chef and owner of the Butcher Station in Winchester, Virginia. “Now people are getting away from that, and they’re gravitating toward … cleaner sources.”

For some species, like salmon and tuna, this trend may be alarming. Fish farms are notoriously dirty and bad for the planet, with antibiotics, unnatural fish feed, overpopulation and huge amounts of waste putting a strain on oceanic and river ecosystems.

Oysters, however, are a different story.

Oysters as Natural Water Filters

For one thing, oyster farming has an extremely low carbon footprint. According to the environmental news blog Grist, oysters are one of the cleanest animal protein sources you can eat in terms of carbon emissions.

Additionally, oysters act as natural water purifiers. According to The Nature Conservancy, roughly 40 percent of U.S. waterways are currently considered too polluted for swimming or fishing. Oysters can help change that. Grist reports that a mature oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water every day. That means that just one acre of populated oyster territory can filter 140 million gallons of water per day.

The mighty bivalves are ocean filters, Grist reports. Oysters soak up nitrogen through their flesh, turning the nutrient into a benign gas. They absorb nitrogen into their shells, too, and can store it there for decades, or even centuries, long after the little creature inside its shell is dead. At their most plentiful, the Chesapeakes oysters were capable of filtering all 18 trillion tons of bay water in about a week, rendering it nearly crystal clear.

Gulnihal Ozbay, an oyster researcher at the University of Delaware, told NPR that oysters not meant for consumption could be added to polluted waterways to help purify them, hopefully making them more appropriate for swimming, drinkingand fishing down the road.

Rebuilding Ecosystems and Economies

Finally, oysters stand to improve the health of some very important ecosystems: those of local waterways and our own human economies.

“The coolest thing is within our cages we see these little shrimp-like creatures that actually eat the pseudofeces of the oysters, Tim Devine, a Maryland-based oyster farmer, tellsNPR. And then things like seahorses and crabs and other things eat those little guys, and then the food chain has begun.”

This helps create a reef-like ecosystem within the waterway, bolstering aquatic populations and filtering water to boot.

From a human population perspective, these mighty little mollusks also play a strong role in maintaining balanced local economies. For years, Chesapeake Bay fisherman survived on proceeds from oyster hunting and sales. When oyster populations collapsed due to overfishing, many oystermen considered making career changes.

I tell you, there was nothing left, fisherman Johnny Shockley told Grist. We knew every spot there was in this river that was a good oyster bottom, and they were all gone.”

Maryland only legalized aquaculture (oyster and clam farming) as recently as 2009. Since then, the economy around oysters and other shellfish has begun to recover, to the relief of many local fisherman and their families.

Oysters are small creatures, but they sure can make a big impact, and its tiny steps that could add up to big changes for our oceans and waterways.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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How Oyster Farming is Cleaning Our Water

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Eco-Aware Kitchen Cabinet Replacement or Renewal

by fji5enf2 Posted on July 26, 2016

You work hard at keeping your kitchen greenbuying healthful, sustainable food and drink to nourish your family and friends. Good for you! Now heres another area where you can make a positive difference to our planet. Make sure that your kitchen cabinets, as well as their contents, are eco-friendly, locally produced whenever feasible and constructed from sustainably produced or harvested substances. Whether you are planning to install new kitchen cabinets or upgrade your existing ones pick and choose from these 7 tips to minimize your impact on the health of Mother Earth.

  1. Reuse. Reusing what you already have is one of the basic principles of anenvironmentally mindfullifestyle. Repair damaged kitchen cabinets if possible, to extend their usefulness and postpone the need to purchase new material. Often cabinets which are somewhat the worse for wear can be renewed by changing the hardware or stripping their finish and redoing with water-based stain or paint.
  2. Reduce. If your present cabinet doors are a little (or a lot) battered, you might need to take more serious steps to make your kitchen functional once again. You can make choices that will reduce the amount of new materials youll need, though. Consider simply refacing the cabinet surfaces or replacing just the doors themselves, while preserving the boxes.
  3. Recycle. Recycling venerable old wood (salvaged from barns or fences that have been torn down or fallen on their own) is not only praiseworthy, it will also give your kitchen a very appealingly weathered rustic look. Do be sure to ask permission before bringing home wood from a demo site or a pile of discarded pallets; it may not be free for the taking. And check whether wood you plan to reclaim issafe free of mold, rot, or insect infestation, to name just a few examples.
  4. Replace responsibly. If none of the previous suggestions works for your situation, you might decide that your cabinets life is done and it is time to look for an appropriate replacement at last. Should you decide toinstall new kitchen cabinets, select natural materials, preferably ones that have not been transported long distances to where you live. Durable, beautiful wood, such as oak, cherry, or mahogany is a good choice; look for Forest Stewardship Council certification that it was sustainably sourced. A new hybrid wood, lyptus, is fast growing and can be harvested without damaging the surrounding environment.
  5. Research other materials for their green potential. Bamboo has become a popular, less expensive, alternative to wood; however, recently questions have started to be raised about its sustainability. In addition, bamboo planks may contain a formaldehyde-based adhesive. A promising new source for cabinet construction is actually farm waste. A process has been developed to transform the debris which is left over from harvesting sorghum, sunflowers, or wheat into attractive fine-grained boards.
  6. Recycle once again. Dont just discard your old kitchen cabinets after they are removed. You may be able to donate them to your local branch ofHabitat for Humanityor at least drop them off at the salvage center.
  7. Remember the details.Opt for environmentally sound materials to craft the interiors of your kitchen cabinets, as well as their faces. Avoid using any toxic adhesives or finishes that will off-gasVOCs (volatile organic compounds)into the air of your home.

By Laura Firszt, Networx.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Originally posted here: 

Eco-Aware Kitchen Cabinet Replacement or Renewal

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What Green Makeup Means To Me

by SeleneEsparza Posted on July 20, 2016

Obsession, infatuation, preoccupation — call it what you will; I feel very passionately about makeup. Makeup is one of my favorite art forms. It varies by age, culture, and personal taste. It can be bold and bright or mysterious and demure. It can set your mood, tell a story, or transform you into someone else entirely. It has a power like nothing else.

Makeup is my favorite hobby. Though I’ve been experimenting with it for nearly 20 years, I only recently decided to go cruelty free. I got to the point where I simply couldn’t stomach the idea of an animal being harmed to make my newest tube of mascara. So, I committed to buying products from companies that don’t engage in any animal testing.

As I arduously worked to replace every non-cruelty free product I owned, I started to think about makeup on a deeper level. What if I could do more than just go cruelty free? What if I could take my makeup game up to eleven?

What if I went green?

What Is Green Makeup?

What does green makeup mean to you? Image Credit: Prochkailo / Shutterstock

Apparently, everyone and their dog has a different opinion of what makes makeup “green”.  Shades of sustainability? Absolutely!

Some consider the ingredients to be the defining line. Jessa Blades, a professional green makeup artist from New York spells out her idea of green as: “Cosmetics that don’t have any chemical emulsifiers, binders, synthetics, fillers, or paraben preservatives and that use botanicals and minerals”

For Kayla Fioravanti, an organic formulator and founder of von Natur and Essential Wholesale Labs, even that’s not enough. To be green, makeup must be organic — and even mineral makeup isn’t safe. “No one can guarantee that minerals haven’t been exposed to chemicals while they’ve been in the earth for thousands of years.”

Wait…what?

The “C” Word

Makeup comes in all forms and colors. Image Credit: originalpunkt / Shuttertock

This is the point where I have to admit my bias. You see, I’m a hardcore science junkie, and when I see people throw the word chemical around as if it’s the ultimate evil, I tend to get a little….grumpy.

You see, all matter in the universe is made of chemicals. Some are simple, others are complex. Some are organic, and still others synthetic. From the air we breath, to the water we drink, to our bodies themselves — all matter is made of chemicals. To write something off because it contains chemicals is utter nonsense.

Then there’s the natural versus synthetic debate wherein things that occur in nature are painted as better than those that are man-made. There are many naturally occurring chemicals that are deadly to humans — and many synthetic ones that have helped us to live longer, healthier lives. However, each chemical, natural or synthetic, must be observed on a case-by-case basis before one can label it harmful or safe.

Whether chemicals are in food, medicine, or cosmetics, sweeping generalizations do absolutely no good whatsoever.

Green to me

Since I can’t reconcile my idea of green with those who focus on “natural, chemical free” ingredients, I’d prefer to focus on the environmental impact. For me, the definition of green makeup is simply goods that come from companies who take an eco-focused approach to both their products and manufacturing.

Trusted brands

There are a number of brands out there that match this philosophy, but I’m going to highlight a few of my favorites.

Aveda

“We believe there is no responsible alternative to doing business other than through the pursuit of environmental sustainability and this belief guides every decision we make. We find inspiration for doing so in nature and believe that nature is not merely something to be cherished and protected, but also should be emulated as a model of sustainability.”

Aveda uses 100% post consumer recycled packaging as well as packaging derived from plants. They also manufacture products using wind power. Learn more about Aveda here.

Burt’s Bees

“Our ingredients—right down to the packaging—are simple, natural, and responsible. We practice what we preach—and we hope to set the example for others to follow. It’s called The Greater Good. And it’s how we’re going to help change the world.”

Burt’s Bees is a zero waste company — they don’t send a single piece of trash to landfills. Each month, their employees volunteer to comb through over 200 recycling, composting, and waste to energy bins, ensuring everything is sorted properly. Furthermore, they’ve worked hard to make their facilities as energy efficient as possible. They use post consumer recycled packaging and source responsibly. Learn more about Burt’s Bees here.

Korres

“One of our core principles– still the same as in the early pharmacy days – was to develop products that are friendly to the skin but also to the environment. Today this core principle translates into an ongoing multi-faceted effort to protect the environment and support the community; we strive to do the right thing, and this is what leads every decision we make.”

Korres avoids the use of non-biodegradable ingredients and uses natural instead of chemical solvents in their manufacturing plants. They oversee a no waste operation and run entirely on hydroelectric power. Learn more about Korres here.

LUSH

“We believe in protecting people, animals and the planet! It’s a company-wide commitment that flows through our products from our hands to yours. We take this commitment to environmental stewardship seriously, and we’re conscious of how our products and business practices interact with the environment.”

LUSH likes to sell their products without packaging — or naked. They also use post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials that are 100% recyclable, compostable and biodegradable whenever possible. They source responsibly, conserve water, and use local products in order to avoid air shipping. Learn more about LUSH here.

Origins

Origins recycles cosmetic packaging from any brand — in fact, they started the beauty industry’s’ first recycling program in 2009. Their packaging is made from post-consumer recycled materials produced by renewable energy sources. Learn more about Origins here.

As my love affair with green makeup grows, so to does my commitment to both animals and the environment. Combining these passions isn’t always easy — it takes a lot of diligence and research — but at the end of the day, I feel better about the products I see sitting on my vanity.

To learn more about the topics I discussed in this article, see the following resources:

List of Official Cruelty Free Brands
Manmade or Natural, Tasty or Toxic, They’re All Chemicals
Get the Facts on Sustainable Packaging
Recycle Your Personal Care and Beauty Products
About
Latest Posts

Liz Greene

Liz Greene is an animal loving, history studying, pop culture geek from the beautiful City of Trees, Boise, Idaho. You can catch her latest misadventures on her blog,

Instant Lo

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Latest posts by Liz Greene (see all)

What Green Makeup Means To Me – July 20, 2016
Create A Truly Sustainable Business With These 5 Tips – July 7, 2016
Why I Chose Container Gardening (As Should You) – June 16, 2016

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What Green Makeup Means To Me

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Clinton might pick whatshisname — that ag guy — for Veep

by AnhH65113876 Posted on July 19, 2016

Clinton might pick whatshisname — that ag guy — for Veep

By on Jul 19, 2016Share

Rumor has it that Hillary Clinton may pick Tom Vilsack, President Obama’s Secretary of Agriculture, as her veep. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and other names come up more frequently, but Vilsack has a good shot according to Politico reporters Gabriel Debenetti and Helena Bottemiller Evich.

What to say about Vilsack? As Vanity Fair put it: “Vilsack is boring, as even his staunchest defenders will admit.”

Vilsack spins his dullness as a virtue. “I’m a workhorse, not a show horse,” he told Politico.

The former governor of Iowa is the longest serving member of Obama’s cabinet. People seem to like him on both sides of the aisle. His record is squeaky clean, except for one real scandal. In 2010, he fired a USDA employee and all around admirable person, Shirley Sherrod, after Breitbart News made allegations about her that turned out to be false. He apologized a couple of days later and said he’d made a mistake.

Vilsack has pushed programs to fight poverty and worked closely with Michelle Obama on school lunch standards. He’s also overseen a big increase in funding for local and organic farm programs — too much according to some row-crop farmers, and not enough according to some activists. He’s a reformer, working within the system rather than tearing it down, much like a certain presidential candidate.

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Clinton might pick whatshisname — that ag guy — for Veep

Posted in alo, Anchor, FF, G & F, GE, LG, ONA, organic, Safer, solar, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Clinton might pick whatshisname — that ag guy — for Veep