News from EcoPlum - "Green Gift Guide" Edition

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December 2010 Newsletter

Greetings!

Happy December! Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season! Yes, the days are short and the shadows are long, but what a great time to think of others and show your appreciation through gift giving and charity. Unfortunately, there is a lot of waste associated with the holidays, so we've put together a list of 10 Great Green Gift Ideas to help you make more environmentally responsible choices. Can't find what you are looking for in our EcoShop? Remember we will donate 50% of our proceeds to environmental charities if you shop through our Retail Partners - no matter what you buy - so you can give back to Mother Earth with every purchase!

Speaking of waste, a subject that is very near and dear to my heart, Emily has a wonderful article about waste at school with some great suggestions on how to reduce it in her Greening Our Schools column. Anne has a unique and beautiful gift suggestion in the Accidental Locavore, and Chryso is taking a break from personal care items in Chryso's Beauty Buys to review eco-friendly fashion in her holiday gift guide (which is good, unless you were planning on giving someone toothpaste for Christmas). Looking for a good book to give? Dede has a review of Jon Stewart's hilarious new book "Earth." And if you plan to cook up a storm, Robin has some great reviews of energy efficient ranges and ovens in Designing Green with Robin Baron this month.

We are in the midst of so many exciting things here at EcoPlum, not sure if you caught our big news late last month: we have partnered with 1800Recycling.com to bring you a directory of where you can recycle almost anything in your neighborhood. Did you know that you can bring your old electronics to almost any Best Buy for responsible recycling? That might come in handy if you plan to buy some new electronics this season and get rid of old ones. We are just thrilled to be partnering with such an incredible company.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, peaceful and fulfilling holiday season. Here's to an amazing 2011!

Best regards,

Gia Machlin

President and CEO

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends and family!

In this issue

Featured EcoInfo

Greening Our Schools

Designing Green with Robin Baron

Chryso's Beauty Buys

Dede's Green Scene

Accidental Locavore

Upcoming Events

Featured EcoInfo:

Featured EcoLiving Ideas:

Hybrid Cars: Not as Green as You Think?

Hybrid cars are considered an environmentally-safe alternative to traditional motor vehicles. This is attributed to hybrids having two power sources to tap from, essentially cutting the need to consume gasoline. While the earth certainly needs a vacation from gas-guzzlers, hybrids come with environmental problems of their own.

In 2006, the film An Inconvenient Truth brought global warming to the public's attention. In particular, it highlighted the need to reduce CO2 emissions. Most hybrid vehicles in operation utilize a rechargeable battery - currently, most hybrids use a nickel-metal hydride battery - which reduces the amount of CO2 in the environment by decreasing the consumption of gasoline. Read More!

Featured EcoTipz:

Green Tips for your Holiday Kitchen

Are you looking for ways to make your holidays a little greener this year? Then check out Jane's Holiday Kitchen tips from Environmental Working Group!

Everyone knows that the holidays usually include presents, loved ones and lots of food! Jane Houlihan (the Senior Vice President for Research at EWG) has some easy, simple tips for your kitchen this food-consuming season. Try and buy organic, especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables since they contain less pesticides. Cook with fresh foods that don't contain any packaging and try and use recipes that don't call for canned foods. Also, using non-stick cookware increases the chances of releasing toxic fumes. Opt for iron, stainless steel and oven-safe cookware.

Have a happy holiday and an eco-friendly one! Read More!

Greening Our Schools: Reducing Waste at Schools

Most of us have heard the phrase, "you are what you eat." But the anthropology of garbage has also shown us that "we are what we throw away," and the pictures aren't pretty.

The EPA estimates that in 2008, Americans generated 250 million tons (or 500 billion pounds) of trash, almost 30 percent of the world's global total.

The often uncomfortable topic of garbage has permeated our collective consciousness. The opening sequence of the 1973 cult movie Soylent Green showcases disturbing images of rapid industrialization, pollution and waste. Fast-forward to the post-apocalyptic visions of movies like Children of Men (2006) (based on PD James' 1992 novel), and "Wall-E" (2008), set against a backdrop of environmental devastation caused by unsustainable consumption, and you'd think humans were preparing for a cultural shift. Read More!

Designing Green with Robin Baron: Cooking up a Storm!

It's our kitchens' busiest time of the year...the holidays! It's the season of cookies, turkey, and all of your family's holiday favorites. Amongst the chaos of entertaining, your energy usage racks up faster than your gift list! People always ask me whether gas or electric is better for cooking or baking and what is more energy efficient. Truth is, there are pros and cons to both and great energy efficient options for whatever your preference may be.

Gas vs Electric

Many cooks prefer gas ranges for their ease while cooking because it allows them instant and full control of heat. For greener cooking, the key with gas stoves is models with an electric ignition, rather than a stove that burns continuously through a pilot light. This alone will save 30 percent more energy. Read More!

Chryso's Beauty Buys: Gift Guides to Eco-Friendly Fashion

It's easy to get lost in the gift-giving craze of the holiday season. We all want those special people in our lives to smile from ear-to-ear when they unwrap our amazing gift. Sometimes, we can forget that we've been buying eco-friendly items all year long for good reason. Don't let sustainability get tossed by the wayside, like crinkled up holiday wrapping. There are nice clothing options that will make your loved one say, "Wow" while you get to keep kosher with your conscience.

If you've never shopped for organic, vegan, or eco-friendly clothing before, there are many reasons to give it a try. According to Earth Pledge, approximately 8,000 chemicals are used to turn raw materials into fashionable clothing. Cotton is the most pesticide-dependent crop in the world. Petroleum is present in polyester. And Chlorine bleach is widely used in clothing dyes.

If those facts don't make you want to sustainably shop till you drop, maybe the notion that these trendy-and earth-friendly-finds will ring your loved one's bell this holiday season will do it. These items are tops on our list! Read More!

Dede's Green Scene: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents: Earth

Do you remember burying a time capsule when you were younger - either with your school, or your childhood friends? Or maybe you watched the Bayside gang bury one on an episode of Saved by the Bell? People would bury things from the present in order for those of the future to dig them up and understand the past. Well, this is the premise of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents: Earth, except it's not for humans of Earth, but for aliens. This book is a guide for those who find themselves on Earth...once the human race is gone.

This is the second book from Jon Stewart (named the most influential person of 2010) and the gang at the Daily Show. They wrote a book called America (The Book), a few years ago. The satirical look of Earth is extremely funny; I would expect nothing less from the writers of The Daily Show. It has wonderful comedic gems, such as, "Saturn: God liked this planet so much he put a ring on it." Yet, there is really some truth underneath the comedy. It suggests that one of the reasons the human race is no longer on planet Earth is by our own hand, "Yes in the end we were unable to rein in our worst impulses." They also speculate that one of the theories may also be a robot rebellion a la Terminator. Read More!

The Accidental Locavore: Green Giving? Here's an Easy Holiday Gift Idea Using Recycled Bottles: Tarragon Vinegar.

Making tarragon vinegar is really easy and makes a great looking gift.

What you'll need:

As many bottles as you have gift recipients for. The year we did it, my husband had been drinking Lorina French Lemonade wine in lovely glass bottles, so we developed quite a collection. It's also a great excuse to drink a lot of wine.·
A bunch of tarragon. I've still got it growing (and running amuck) in my garden. Otherwise get a bunch or two from your local greenmarket or grocery. You'll need one good sprig per bottle, washed.
Cider vinegar - we bought a few gallons.
A funnel or large pitcher to pour the heated vinegar.
Corks or other closures for your bottles.

To begin, make sure the bottles are thoroughly clean. The best way is to run them through a dishwasher on high heat. Otherwise, wash them and put them in a big pot of simmering water for 15 minutes to sterilize them. Heat the cider vinegar in a large pot to a simmer. While the vinegar is heating, put a sprig of tarragon in each bottle. When the vinegar is heated, fill the bottles to the top. Cork, or close the bottles, and let cool. Wrap it beautifully and enjoy. Read More!