Organic necessities

Lobby day this year with the natural products industry was a great delight. The event took place on the same weekend Maria Shriver had intended on planting her garden with the help of Alice Waters. This apparently was planned before President Obama was in office, and the first lady had planned their garden. Go California!

I am delighted to be part of the democratic process that keeps our industry intact and represented. Every year industry leaders meet to go over critical topics. This year we met with legislators about two bills specifically. One about helping transitional farmers become organic, and another keeping pesticides out of meat.

I realize my natural inclination to tell stories derived from the bits of information I accumulate while reading, or researching. Although I give myself a bit of a hard time not being able to remember where I heard it, and as a writer this proves to be difficult because I don't want to source anything unoriginal or omit to give credit where it is due. I left a good impression on my group with my natural story telling ability and to be quite honest, oral tradition has left a big impression on me over the years and I keep it alive how I can.

Why are organics important? The process is more ecologically sensitive, caring for the entire system, instead of just production. The process leaves no residues creating more efficient use of water and soil. Additionally, instead of leaving the soil devoid of nutrients, what happens is quite the opposite. Growing organically is mutually beneficial. Often the soil is left better than in the beginning. Also, the flavor of food grown organically doesn't compare. I had a chance to dabble a bit in my biodynamic plot last summer for the first time. Nothing tastes better than homegrown produce. My carrots were so sweet, and greens juicy. (If you've ever tasted greens to be chock full of flavor and nutrients, you know what i'm talking about.)

My story about organics involved monkeys and bananas. A group of monkeys were fed bananas. The organic bananas were eaten whole. When the monkeys came to the conventional banana, they actually peeled the banana! Now you may know that bananas grade low on pesticide residual scale so this is fascinating. Imagine, monkeys even having a preference! We might be smarter than monkeys, but making decisions about what products we use and consume isn't always so easy.

Since anything you put on your body winds up in your body, it's no wonder why women would choose skin care that is organic! My favorite organic products are those that include ingredients that I can eat. Since there aren't a lot of regulatory agencies figuring out what can be in products and what shouldn't many beautiful companies like Organic Apoteke take the initiative to provide food grade ingredients that are scientifically proven and tested. With European standards and after 10 years of clinical research, we have exceptional products on the market that work. http://organicapoteke.com/ And just like organic fruits and vegetables, organic cosmetics are good for body and mind!

Beyond the Garden Gate

Ross Garden Tour
Saturday, May 9 9:00a to 5:00p
at Marin Art & Garden Center, Ross, CA

The Ross School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) announces the 13th Annual Garden Tour. Lunch, shop the market place, and visit five rarely seen private home gardens open for one-day fundraising event during Mother’s Day week

Tour tickets are $35 and Gourmet Lunch tickets are $15. Tickets available at www. read more
Price: Tickets $35; Gourmet Lunch $15
Phone: (415) 482-7983 ext. 401
Age Suitability: All Ages
Tags: lunch, marketplace, garden tour

The Ross School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) announces the 13th Annual Garden Tour. Lunch, shop the market place, and visit five rarely seen private home gardens open for one-day fundraising event during Mother’s Day week

Tour tickets are $35 and Gourmet Lunch tickets are $15. Tickets available at www.rossgardentour.org, David M. Brian, Sunnyside Nursery, West End Nursery, The Ross Grocery or by phone at (415)482-7983 x 401


MarketPlace

Be sure to stop by the MarketPlace before or after your Garden Tour. Just in time for Mother’s Day, select local artists, vendors and educators have come together to create a delightful outdoor retail destination. This year’s MarketPlace is open from 9am to 5pm and features our “Eco Insititute” where you can learn about eco-savvy gardening, shop for botanical teas, and even sample edible landscaping. Vendors at the MarketPlace give generously to the Ross School PTA to be a part of The Ross Garden Tour. Please help us thank them with your patronage.

This year’s vendors include:
AusPens, Eco-friendly Whiteboard Markers and Teens Turning Green
Nectar Essences, Organic Botanical Sprays
Longevité Tea, Fine Organic Teas
Pat Koenigsberg, Fine Art Photography Prints
Maison des Belles Choses, Classic Children’s Clothing
Kimberly Rider Interiors and Atmosphera Home, Eco-Friendly Books and Furnishings
SF Bag Lady, Handbags
Pamela McGivern Jewelry
Gardens & Gables, Dave Phelps, Landscape Architect
Roxi Anne Pollack, Vintage Jewelry
Marin Art and Garden Center, native wildflowers and baskets

splurge

Some of my favorite splurges often find me. I'm caught in a vulnerable place of not being able to take the article off. This, is usually an indicator, that 1. I need it and 2. I cannot live without it. In addition to the test of if it fits, these are my questions I ask before spending.

take a look at these beautiful offerings. They are having a trunk show soon..Please join Eco-Citizen & ecofabulous' Zem Joaquin in welcoming designers and organic pioneers, Stewart+Brown for an eco-chic trunk show.
Featuring Spring/Summer sustainable styles, including a sneak-peak of the Fall '09 collection which will be available for pre-order with a 10% discount.

The design duo will be chatting about their creative process and all things green. In addition, Karen Stewart will have her beautifully crafted sketchbooks on hand.
10% of the days sales will benefit local non-profit Teens Turning Green.
Cocktails provided by Blue Angel Vodka and wine by Organic Vintners.

We hope you can join us for this monumental event!
rsvp: joslin@ecocitizenonline.com

Parking Info: Public transit and green cabs are encouraged (www.sfgreencab.com) and parking is available at:

Royal Parking Garage
1776 Sacramento St.@ Polk
San Francisco, CA. 94109
415.567.4707

http://www.ecocitizenonline.com/