Twitter-Little tidbits of peace not distraction

My husband signed me up for Twitter last week. "You're going to love it!" he tells me. "It's the wave of the future, you can share so much information." Of course, what I heard is,"here's another distraction you have to learn." But after perusing the Twitter site and looking for things to follow, I had to say that he's right. I have found great organic recipes, lots of information on sales, detailed legislation information on the future of organics...and I'm just getting started!

So we're in. We're signed up and are now twittering. Please follow us, tweet back and tell your friends! But let's make a pact to do it responsibly. Don't do it while you are having a great conversation with your friend, in line at the grocery store, or at dinner with your family. (I know most of you wouldn't considering doing such a thing, but it is fun addicting stuff we must stay aware!) Take, for example, a prime example of a twitter annoyance: Out to diner with my husband last night, he glances at his phone and starts scrolling. I ask, "you have to work tonight?" He answers, "No, so and so just broke his collar bone and is out the rest of the season!"

We have to evolve rules for twittering just like we have with cell phones: keep them on silent not just in the theater, but also when in public or when with other people. These technologies can bring great things into our lives, but we have to keep things in perspective. But you're already reading a blog dedicated to organic, sustainable living. You know what I mean. So enough said: Let's tweet peacefully!!

The Dirty Dozen-What to buy organic

I get the same question all of the time: "Do I need to buy all organic food? It is so expensive!" My answer is always yes and no. Of course not all of us can afford to go 100% organic every time we shop. But we can do our best to focus on eliminating the most contaminated. The trick is to make the best decisions possible.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), we consumers can reduce our pesticide exposure by 80% simply by avoiding the fruits and vegetables most contaminated by pesticides. The research is sobering. If you eat your USDA-recommended 5 daily servings of fruits and veggies from the 15 most contaminated fruits and vegetables, you could be consuming an average of 10 different pesticides -- a day! However if you eat the 15 least contaminated conventionally grown produce, you ingest less than 2 pesticides daily.

So, my answer would be that you should always buy organic:

Apples
Cherries
Grapes
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Raspberries
Strawberries
Bell Peppers
Celery
Potatoes
Spinach

If you need to economize, these are the least contaminated conventionally grown:

Onion
Avocado
Sweet Corn
Pineapple
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas
Kiwi
Cabbage
Eggplant
Papaya
Watermelon
Broccoli

Don't forget your Simple Peace bags!

Organic gardening in your own backyard!

I have been trying for the last few years, unsuccessfully, to grow vegetables in my back yard. Nothing would grow. I tried blueberries, tomatoes, and zucchini; the things that take over gardens in other parts of the country. My mother kept telling me that she had more zucchini than she knew how to handle, she couldn’t even give it away anymore. She had resorted to making weird recipes with zucchini (faux chocolate cake). What was I doing wrong? Was it the fact that my yard is surrounded and I can literally reach out and touch my neighbors? Not enough sun? Not enough water?

Finally I got online trying to find out what the problem was. After an exhaustive search I was convinced that my soil was contaminated. I found out from a friend that was trying the same experiment in her back yard that you could have your soil tested at Wallace Laboratory. The test didn’t come back as bad as I thought. The result was not contaminated, just nutrient lacking sandy soil. What can you grow in the sand? Palm trees? In order for anything to grow in this soil I would have to heavily amend the soil. Meaning every month, add, turn and transform the soil into something else.

I wanted a garden in my back yard. It is important for me to show my kids that you don’t have to buy everything from the grocery store or the farmers market. I want them to watch a seed sprout and grow. But amending the soil every few weeks seemed like a big chore. The gentleman at Wallace Lab recommended growing in pots, containers, or raised beds. That way you control what you put in the container from the beginning.

My winter garden is planted with broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, chard, lettuces, and radishes. My four-year-old daughter planted most of it. My thirteen-year-old son was upset that he was at baseball practice and he missed the planting. He is now in charge of watering. Every night I ask, “Who wants to take out the compost,” and I get a symphony of “I do, I do.” I think it is going to work this time.

Resources:

Soil testing: Wallace Laboratory, www.bettersoils.com

Raised beds: www.organicgardening.about.com
www.nextag.com/raised-garden-beds/products

Happy Customers

I just received an email from some happy customers. Kim Miller of Corona del Mar, California gave Suburban Shopping Systems to her family members for Christmas and they were a big hit. I of course think the shopping systems are great because I use it and know the benefits but it is nice to hear that others are having the same experience. Thank you for the positive feedback and the great picture!

Simple Peace wins Best Green Product Award 2008

Happy New Year!and a big thank you to everyone that made 2008 a success. Simple Peace had a great holiday season and is looking forward to a bright 2009. I have so much to be thankful for after making it through the first year. The opportunities of working and learning from some wonderful people made all of the hard work worth it. I worked my tail off, my husband and kids are proud of me and Simple Peace won "Best Green Product" Award in 2008. Better Shelter a local Newport Beach Green Building company established the "Green Awards" to recognize companies that are making a difference. That is exactly the mission of Simple Peace, make a clean, simple, green product and make a difference. May you all have a wonderful 2009. Peace be with you.

Cleaning: Body and Home

Over the last month I have made two new discoveries. One is a fabulous new company, Modern Mermaids that makes all natural cleaning products. They have a hand sanitizer that is all natural ingredients with a great minty clean smell. And the concentrated all purpose cleaner, I wouldn't have believed it unless I saw the mold disappear in front of my eyes. The second is Pangea Organics. Pangea has been around for awhile and I have purchased the product on and off but now I am sold. The story behind the company is amazing and the products are high quality. All of Pangeas ingredients are organic and fair trade. They work with Women for Women International helping women help themselves by growing a variety of herbs and ingredients. And if that is not good enough then all of their packaging is recycled,compostable, and full of seeds. You will either plant basil or spruce trees after soaking your soap box. Amazing.
www.modernmermaids.com
www.pangeaorganics.com

Opportunity Green Sustainable Business Conference

I spent the day yesterday at the Opportunity Green Sustainable Business Conference at UCLA. It was a collection of movers and shakers in the Green Business world. I was inspired professionally by many entrepreneurs that are making the world a better place with innovative environmentally friendly products. But the lifechanging inspiration came from Documentary Photographer Colin Finlay. I arrived late, I quickly found a seat. When I looked up and saw what was on the huge screen in front of me I was moved to tears. Colin Finlay spoke quietly of "Cause and Effect." Our everyday actions have an effect on the environment and the inhabitants of our earth each and every day. The images of starving children in Sudan and starving Polar Bears in the Arctic, amputees from land mines, poisoned families in West Virginia were not what I was expecting at the Green business conference but it has inspired to work harder and do more, to spread the word. I felt guilty of my life and the opportunities I have. For the organic food that I have an abundance of. I now feel that I urgently need to get involved. I want to write my officials, sponsor a fund raising event, help in any way I can. Lets make a positive effect. Please join me in spreading the word. Buy Finlay's books, show your friends, write your government officials, do whatever you can.

http://www.amazon.com/Darfur-Twenty-Years-Genocide-Sudan/dp/1576873854/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226286962&sr=1-3