This reclaimed water tower from a Chicago neighborhood is a part of the interior of Chicago's new Whole Foods grocery store. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune)
Thursday, May 21, 2009 -- 8:25 a.m.
I just discovered this site via The New York Times: GoodGuide.com. It's awesome. If you're looking for information on everyday products--specifically the possible social, health and environmental effects they may have--this is the site for you.
The Times did a great Q&A with the founder, who started looking up information on products when he realized he didn't know what was in the stuff he was using on his young daughter. The site is still in beta mode, but it already has some great info on a scale that's easy to understand and use.
Here, for example, is the site's rating for Arm & Hammer carpet deodorizer--it gets a very low rating based on several factors.
Check it out and see how your favorite products rate.
Friday, May 8, 2009 -- 3:05 p.m.
I'm back! I have plenty to write about my trip out to Oregon--but you'll have to wait a few days for that. In the meantime, check out this post from Mark Bittman at The New York Times. There are links to a map showing the concentrations of farms in the U.S., as well as a site that shows and talks about where your food is coming from.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 -- 4:19 p.m.
>> If you haven't visited the Smart Home at the Museum of Science and Industry yet, here's the perfect chance to go: From May 1-19, Com Ed is offering all ComEd customers buy one, get one free tickets.
>> Urban gardening and composting: Jennifer from Harvest Moon Farms hosts this event at the Lincoln Park REI on May 14 at 7 p.m. She'll also talk about her farm's CSA program, which will include REI as a pickup spot. Claire at churwit@rei.com with your name to reserve a spot.
>> Climate Cycle: The non-profit dedicated to installing solar energy systems in Chicago area schools hosts this inaugural benefit bike ride Saturday, May 9 at Grant Park.
Monday, April 20, 2009 -- 10:24 a.m.
Check out this AWESOME project: Earth Mosaic. On Earth Day (Wednesday), they're asking people to send them one pic they've taken that day, which they'll turn into a mosaic of the Earth. I think this is very cool, and I can't wait to see the finished product. All photos must be taken on April 22, and have to be uploaded to the site by April 30.
Happy photo-ing!
Thursday, April 9, 2009 -- 7:09 p.m.
If you're spring cleaning this weekend and decide to clear out some of your old crap, don't throw it out--give it away. Chicagoan Keri Gast and her husband started Web site PixieList, where people can get rid of things they no longer want--and others can find things they need.
Think of it as the "free stuff" section of Craigslist--but with the added bonus of possibly helping charities. PixieList allows charities (as well as regular ol' people) to create wish lists for items they may need.
The site is just starting out, but your junk could soon be another person's treasure--or vice versa. And if you're looking for a "Grease 2" DVD or Rollerblades, look no further!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 -- 6:42 p.m.
After reading "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle," I went in a similar, yet very different direction: "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto." Yes, again with the food stuff.
Here's an except from the New York Times' review:
Pollan wrote "Defense" partially in response to his previous book, "The
Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals," which focuses
more on where our food comes from. He follows food we eat from the
source to its meal to describe our relationship with the food we eat.
In "Defense," Pollan talks about what we should be eating. His belief: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Don't worry, I'm not giving it all away. He is--in the first paragraph of the book.
I consider myself fairly well-informed when it comes to food and nutrition. So I was really happy to find a completely different perspective in Pollan's book from any I had really encountered before. I don't agree with all of it, but the fresh way in which he presents information offers a different view of the Western diet and how we got where we are today.
What I find most fascinating is the look at Americans' focus on specific nutrients--the components of the food we eat. Not only does looking at food as fat, calories, carbohydrates, vitamins, fiber, etc., help give us an excuse to eat whatever we please, it also gives the food industry a way to get you to buy their products.
How? That sugary cereal apparently has whole grains, and you know whole grains are good for you. Therefore, it's good for you. Huh? Yeah, that's how we now think. And we've all been guilty of it. So instead of eating actual whole grains, or whatever the nutrient might be, we find things we like that happen to tout something we're looking for.
I assure you, Pollan explains "nutritionism" better than I do. So much so that I highly recommend you read it.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 -- 10:38 p.m.
We live next to a giant body of fresh water, so sometimes it's easy to forget that not everybody has clean and accessible water. UNICEF's Tap Project works to bring awareness, as well as water, to children around the world.
World Water Week is March 22-28, and you can help support the cause by stopping in at participating restaurants and paying $1 for tap water you usually get for free. Each dollar raised will provide a child with clean drinking water for 40 days, according to UNICEF. Pretty amazing how far a dollar can go. Find a list of participating restaurants here.
Plus, if you want to do a little more, Chicago will host a Tap Water Walk on March 22 where walkers will carry up to a gallon of water a mile in a "gesture of solidarity for children worldwide who suffer from a lack of readily available clean water." Sign up or support someone who's already walking here.
Monday, March 9, 2009 -- 8:57 p.m.
Get your chocolate and wine fix March 19 at the Greenheart Shop at 746 N. LaSalle. Divine Chocolates and Stellar Organic wines--both fair trade--will be available for tasting. Mmm. Good all around. The Greenheart Shop, which opened under parent organization Center for Cultural Interchange is a fair trade non-profit store that has tons of cool, eco-friendly products too. I particularly love this fish mug!
Check out all their other events here--especially Living La Vida Verde, a huge Earth Month celebration.
Monday, March 2, 2009 -- 10:40 p.m.
Much like the environment-related articles I often see, there also are lots of products, movies, shows, events, etc, that I think you guys would be interested in. So, for lack of a better name--for now--Green Picks will showcase various things that I like or that would be of interest.
And if you have anything you'd like me to mention, pass it on to sdoshi@tribune.com.
For today:
Earths-journey.com, which offers eco-friendly art, jewelry and paper, among other things, uses recycled and environmentally friendly materials. Plus, 10 percent of profit from all purchases is donated to charity. It's definitely a good place for unique gifts--or something fun for yourself.
