Eco-chickagoan Event!

Chickagoan - the go to website for all things healthy, wealthy, and wise for the ChicKago woman - is hosting the "Eco-Chickagoan: Incredibly Healthy Organically Fabulous" event on Tuesday, November 16th, at Bull and Bear, downtown Chicago.

This first annual event connects Chickagoan women with green living vendors for some organic drinks, eco networking, and green education!

Part of the Chickagoan mission is to encourage the women of Chicago by connecting and sharing with other Chicago women. And here is your opportunity - at the FREE event where you will find other Chickagoans who are interested in healthy, spiritual, active lives in the City.

There will be raffles and prizes as well as eco goody bags for the first 25 guests. Bring a friend, bring a colleague, and join your peers at Bull and Bear on 431 N. Wells from 6pm - 9pm. Check out the local green scene and find out what's going on!

Uncommon Ground Farmer's Markets

The Uncommon Ground Friday Farmer's Market is back! Every Friday from 4pm - 8pm you can check out local food, local beverages, local music and entertainment and local goods at this unique Farmer's Market in Edgewater (Chicago).

You can also meet Farmer Dave, the local farmer who takes care of the organic roof top garden, and get a tour to see what's growing and what will soon be cookin in the kitchen.

It's a great spot to unwind and begin the weekend. Hope to see you there!

Earth Day Sales and Promotions from Green Businesses!

Here is a list of ongoing promotions for the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day from Green Businesses approved by Green America:




Green Goddess Earth Day promotion for Face Care Sampler Kits - Code: ED2010
www.gardenofeve.com

Organic Grace has several items for the home on sale this month. For a full listing see:
www.organicgrace.com

Eco Options Ltd. is have a 15% off sale all month. For more information on their products see:
http://www.greeniscool.biz

For 15% off organic skin care options, April 19 - 21st please visit:
http://www.auroranova.com

For a great sale on healthy cleaning products visit Liz Amason's website

For the BEST price ever on wood drying racks, APRIL 17TH ONLY visit Real Green Goods at
www.realgreengoods.com

For organic and eco friendly baked goods visit: Trulywize.com

Please join in the April Auction for Charity with the EcoEtsy Team

Nurture Your Body for 22% off all week long with Patty and Rich at Nurture My Body

And Lovely Bums is have some lovely promotions on their website.

And remember your friends at Recycle Me, with free shipping and 10% off all items!

Alison Manes and Melissa Morgan are the founders of Go Green Sustainable Industries, LLC, where they create products and run their business with respect for their families, communities, and the environment. Their most popular brand is the LolliDoo(tm) cloth diaper line. If you know anyone with an infant or expecting, you should share this information. The LolliDoo(tm) diaper is amazing! I recently talked with Alison about their company and great cloth diaper line.

RM: Alison, please tell us about your most popular brand, the LolliDoo Diaper line.

AM: LolliDoo Diapers are recycled-recyclable-reusable one size and certified organic cloth diapers that can be used over and over again, even as your baby grows. They are machine washable and wash beautifully in cold water. We also manufacture and make all the components in the USA.

RM: How did Go Green Sustainable Industries (GGSI) come up with this idea?

AM: I cloth diapered my children. My family owned a women’s gym for a few years and I brought my babies to work with me. The women were fascinated with the modern cloth diaper and I was asked at least a few times a day where they could buy them. My only answer at the time was to Google them. That planted the seed in my head to mainstream cloth diapers.

RM: So Alison, what are some of your goals with this great brand?

AM: We want to increase the use of cloth diapers and other reusable products, keeping toxic disposable items out of landfills and off our bodies.

Manufacturing products in the USA supports our local economy by providing jobs, which support families and generates domestic spending. Buying domestic also reduces the environmental impact by eliminating energy to ship goods internationally.

RM: Where can people buy LolliDoo Diapers?

AM: http://lollidoo.com/findRetailers.html

RM: Tell us what your working on now, because I know you are full of great, green ideas!

AM: We have several projects in the works including LolliDoo Duds, organic and recycled children’s apparel, and LadyDoo Rags, which include women’s personal care items.

Thanks Alison! I’m sorry I missed LolliDoo Diapers with my kids, but I’m sure we will be trying your other products soon.

Alison met Melissa in 2004 in an online attachment parenting community where they shared a desire for healthy homes and lifestyles, choosing products and practices for their families with regard to the impact on the environment. LolliDoo won the Parent Tested Parent Approved GREEN Seal of Approval award and the EMC Eco-Baby Seal of Approval. To learn more please visit them online.

Holiday Green Guide: Interviews with Green Business Owners

Interview with Andrew Baker

Andrew Baker is the Owner of Drew's Eatery, located in the North Central neighborhood of Chicago, at 2207 W. Montrose, where you can find yummy, healthy and satisfying treats any time of year.

RM: When did you open Drew's Eatery?

AB: March 14th, 2009.

RM: How would you describe your Eatery? What makes Drew's Drew's?

AB: It's an eatery with an emphasis on Organic, Local, and Natural foods. What makes it Drew's is that we offer a healthier choice for life's simple pleasures, using eco friendly packaging and to go supplies. Our menus are printed on brown paper bags and we take time to find environmentally responsible alternatives for our everyday supplies.

RM: What inspired you to start this yummy Eatery?

AB: When I lived in San Francisco for a couple of years I learned a lot about local and organic foods and just became more ecologically aware. That's just how I think about things now.

RM: How have things changed, if at all, since you opened last Spring?

AB: More and more customers who come in are educated and aware of their environmental impacts. We have a lot of families who are regulars here because it is important to them to raise their children in a healthy, more environmentally aware manner.

RM: What are your goals through your business?

AB: To make a difference while making a profit.

RM: What's next? Long term I would love to expand, but today it is day by day, building our business and getting the word out about Drew's.

Drew's Eatery serves items such as vegan and all natural beef hot dogs, vegetarian and meat chili, so it's a place where families and friends with different dietary palates can all be happy together. They also serve seasonal treats like pumpkin ice cream and a pumpkin non-dairy cream. And did I mention their food is delicious?

You can visit Drew's Eatery Tuesday through Sunday at 2207 W. Montrose Ave. You can also become a fan of Drew's on Facebook. You'll get updates on different seasonal treats, FB promotions, and invitations to some wonderful local artisan openings hosted by Andrew.

Mr. Baker grew up in Palm Springs, CA. He currently resides in Logan Square with his partner David Vail of Hazel Inc. (just East on Montrose) of 17 years, who share their pad with dogs Rocky and George.

Organic T-shirt Project for Law School

Recycle Me has designed an organic cotton alumni shirt for Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark college.

The project came about because NWSL was writing an article on me, Alix Gnoske '99, as an alumni and green business owner. I was very excited about this project because attending NWSL was one of the best experiences of my life.

I went to NWSL to study Environmental Law. I choose NWSL because they were (are) the #1 environmental law school in the country, and it's situated in a beautiful corner of the Pacific Northwest. The law school sits next to Tryon State Park, and this wonderful sign post, that is always pictured in the school catalog, just spoke to me as an environmentalist and outdoor enthusiast. It made me feel that this was the right place to be. I later learned that it spoke to a lot of people who attended the law school. So with that in mind, I designed this t-shirt for the law school alumni weekend 2009.

Although I no longer live in Oregon, I frequently and fondly remember Tryon State Park and all the time I spent there, taking breaks, hiking, or just lying on a moss covered log listening to the forest and it's inhabitants.

And like our brand name clothing, this t-shirt is 100% organic cotton, with water based dyes and inks, made in the USA. An environmentally responsible shirt for an environmentally inspired law school.

What is Healthy?

For years I've been interested in living a healthier lifestyle. And while I don't eat fast food, that hardly makes me healthy. But it does make a difference. But I came to some interesting realizations when researching the clothing industry for my green business, RECYCLE ME.

I thought, if you have to make choices, you should be informed. So think about this in your quest for a healthier lifestyle for you and your family.

Cotton, corn, and soybeans are the most heavily sprayed crops in the world. That effects you directly and indirectly in so many ways. From the air pollution, water table, and soil that is soaked up by your food to the actual direct consumption of these products.

You may not realize it, but you probably eat cotton by-products frequenlty, in the form of cotton seed oil in your processed foods from crakers to tortillas to cookies. And in your dairy and beef products through the cow's diet which can consist of cotton seed.

Now I'm not saying cotton, soy, and corn are bad for you in and of themselves, but when you douse them with pesticides and fill them with synthetic fertilizers, you may as well put bug spray on your table as a condiment.

But don't think that you are doing all you can for your health if your food isn't organic. Those chemicals add up in your diet and in your body. And although there has been press that organic food isn't any healthier for you, as in the vitamins and fiber, it is healthier for you in that it isn't covered with chemicals.

And when you buy and eat organic you will also be happy to know that the people who worked on sowing and reaping your food don't have to face cancer and future birth defects of their children because they farmed for a living. It's about health all the way around. It always is.

And if you can't eat everything organic, try to avoid the biggest offenders. The Environmental Working Group lists the most important produce to eat organic.

To you, your health, and the health of those around you!

Organic Cotton Production is Growing!

The world is growing more organic cotton. That's great news and that is one of our most important goals at RECYCLE ME: to increase the production of organic cotton through consumer purchasing power.

The most current statistics show that for 2007-2008 organic cotton growth increased 152 percent. And while this number may reflect better reporting, there can be no doubt it's increasing.

Organic Cotton is grown in 22 countries, including India, Turkey, Syria, China, Tanzania, and the United States. The U.S. produced approximately 2.1 percent of Organic Cotton (OC) grown in 2007. And the U.S. projects a 29 percent increase for the following year. India now produces the most OC, increasing it's production by 292 percent.

Organic cotton uses half the amount of water as conventional cotton, and is grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world and uses 25% of the worlds insecticides. This intensive chemical use is not only terrible for the environment but for all the workers involved in production. The World Health Organization estimates that over 20,000 cotton workers die annualy from exposure.

It is important to support your Organic Cotton farmer's, their workers, your environment, and yourself. Look for and ask for Organic Cotton products wherever you shop.