On a recent visit to Brady’s Meat & Deli, (located in Waterloo, Ontario), I came across some organic milk products from Harmony Organic. I was instantly drawn to the old-fashioned glass bottles and intrigued enough to buy a few bottles and give it a try. I commonly purchase my milk in the plastic milk bags (which can be rinsed and recycled when empty).
Harmony Organic bottles their milk and each retailer charges a deposit for the bottle to encourage customers to return the bottles for a refund. What a novel idea!!!! No plastic packaging, it brings back a bit of nostalgia for baby boomers, better for the environment and in my opinion it simply tastes better!
On my first visit I purchased 2 bottle of 1 % and 2 bottles of chocolate milk. I was very pleased with both purchases and I found that each product tasted great. I will mention that buying harmony organic is more expensive than buying regularly produced milk. It is approximately double what you would normally pay. The question you need to ask yourself is, “Is it worth it?”. My answer is a resounding yes. The milk is produced organically and locally, it tastes better and simply looks cool!
A few weeks ago I went to buy some of the milk and I couldn’t even get one bottle. The staff at Brady’s mentioned to me that they keep selling out of their Harmony products. The milk is flying off the cooler shelves. Not to be disappointed,
I have set-up a standing order at Brady’s and I replenish my order every Friday.
Harmony Organic - At a Glance
According to the website, “The milk comes to you from cows treated with love and respect”. The goal for the dairy is to minimize stress and maximize comfort in anything they do. Harmony cows are treated as members of the family.
Facts:
* Farm is free of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals (at least 3 years)
* To discourage throw away mentality, use glass bottles for their products
* Products: Full line of fluid milk products, 10% cream and 35% whipping cream
Harmony Organic is located in Bornholm, Ontario, about 57 kms away from my house. Bornholm is Northwest from Waterloo.
Where Can You Buy Harmony Organic Milk?
I buy my milk at Brady’s in Waterloo, at Phillip and Albert street. This is a great store and I highly recommend that you pay them a visit (I will be writing about Brady’s in the next few days).
Other places:
Eating Well Organically - 104 King Street South - Waterloo - (519) 883-0734
Fieldgate Organics - Weber Street Waterloo Farmers Market - Waterloo -
Full Circle - 3 Charles Street West - Kitchener - (519) 744-5331
Natural Food Market - 75 Bridgeport Road East - Waterloo - (519) 884-1811
Olde Kitchen Cupboard - 710 Belmont Avenue - Kitchener - (519) 745-7765
Pfenning\’s Organics - 1760 Erb Road West - St. Agatha - (519) 725-4282
Pfenning\’s Organics and More - Home Delivery - 1760 Erb Road West - St. Agatha - 519-725-4282
* Cattle are fed organic feed (at least 12 months)
Technorati Tags: local produce, Harmony Organic Milk, buying local, Brady’s Meats & Deli, organic milk, green business
Written by steve on May 29th, 2007 with 2 comments.
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I am on a quest to change my food buying habits and switch to locally grown goods as much as possible. I have been on this gradual quest for the last few years but have decided recently to kick my efforts up a few notches. A big part of my initiative will be to increase awareness about all of the great locally-owned businesses that are available in the Waterloo Region. I hope that I will be able to motivate many of our readers to change their buying habits and support local businesses. If you know of any local businesses that should appear on our website, send me an email and I will do my best to review and write about them
In the past few weeks I have been touring our region and visiting a few local grocery/specialty food stores. A few of the stores that I visit regularly are:
* Brady’s Meat & Deli
* City Cafe Bakery
* St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market
* Hilltop Acres Poultry (St. Jacob’s Market)
Over the next few days I will write about each business and provide a brief summary about what they do, what their know for and how you can find them.
I hope that my posts on buying local will motivate you to start buying local!
Technorati Tags: local produce, buying local, farmer’s markets, organic produce, artisan food, St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market
Written by steve on May 29th, 2007 with no comments.
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Buying local is a topic that I have wanted to write about for so many months and is something that I am extremely passionate about. For the last 3 years I have adopted a regular routine of waking up early on a Saturday morning to visit the St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market (about 10 minutes from my house). The Farmer’s Market is a wonderful place to get the best seasonal produce, locals meats, baked good and other artisan goodies (jams, breads, olive oils, etc).
My routine usually starts with me waking up at 6:30 am, grabbing a coffee on route to the market and by the time I arrive my coffee has been consumed and my hands are free to start loading fresh veggies and fruits. During the winter months it can be difficult to find fresh, local produce, other than root vegetables. Many of the outside vendors hibernate for the winter and reappear once spring arrives. Regardless of the season, you will find me at the market.
Usually when I arrive at 7 am, there are only a handful of people to contend with and I have ample room to wander around and do my shopping for the week. If you arrive too late (10 am or later) in the summer, it is like playing the video game Frogger, dodging strollers, dogs and hundreds of people. The earlier you can arrive the better!
When I am at the market I selectively target the vendors to shop from. For the market rookies it could take a few visits to find the best vendors (hint - look for the line-ups). Increasingly, less and less farmers are actually coming to the farmer’s markets across Ontario and many market operators are forced to allow wholesalers or third-party retailers to open up stands. The St. Jacobs Farmer’s Markets has a combination of both farmers and retailers.
My preference is to support the local farmer! I want to buy from the person who grew the product not from the guy who bought if off the back of a transport truck. The next time you are visiting a farmer’s market, have a look around and see if you can identify the true growers/farmers. I have about 4 or 5 vendors that I buy my vegetables and fruits from and about 5 vendors that I buy my meat and breads from. The vendors I go to put out consistently great products and are small independent farmers/butchers with locations around my community.
Being that I once thought about being a professional chef, I have a great appreciation for quality ingredients and with careful searching, a local farmer’s market can be a great source of wonderful local treasures.
What’s in Season Now?
When I was at the market last week I noticed Asparagus and Rhubarb were making their debut appearances. I couldn’t resist buying a few bunches of Ontario asparagus. There is nothing like field fresh asparagus grilled on the BBQ with a little extra virgin olive oil and salt and pepper. I will be buying more this saturday….I can’t get enough!
In another month or so, fresh Ontario strawberries will be available and I can hardly wait. You can’t even compare a farm fresh berry to an imported one that has traveled thousands of miles and ripened on the truck. I have a few berry plants that I started last year, but they will only produce enough for a snack. There will be many trips to the market, that is for sure!
If you are ever in the Waterloo Region, be sure to schedule a trip to the St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market, you will be glad you did.
This post has encouraged me to start writing about the other local shops that I visit. Be sure to check back for my upcoming “Eating Local” posts.
I believe the key to change is awareness! The next time you are at the grocery store, read the display signs to see where your food is coming from. If you have the choice to buy local, you should make the switch! Buy quality, reduce your footprint and support your community!
Technorati Tags: local produce, buying local, farmer’s markets, organic produce, artisan food, St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market
Written by steve on May 18th, 2007 with 1 comment.
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One of the great articles that I found in the ENVIRONEWS newsletter from the Region of Waterloo is, “Beyond the Blue Box”. With spring’s arrival many of us are anxious to do some spring cleaning and purge our homes of unwanted items. Before you run out and buy a ton of garbage bags, do a quick scan of what you want to get rid of and separate your unwanted stuff into two different piles, “usable” and “trash”. Once you have isolated your piles, you have a few decisions to make on what to do with your reusable items:
• Host a yard sale?
• Give your unwanted stuff to a friend or family member
• Donate to a local charity
Your reusable items should not be going into the landfill. “One person’s junk is another person’s treasure”.
For those items that are not re-usable, you should recycle whatever possible and only throw out the non-recyclables. I am sure you will be amazed at how small your garbage pile becomes. A great website for determining what you can recycle is Blueboxmore.ca. I recommend that all of our Ontario readers head over to the website. If you live in the Waterloo Region, the Waste Management division offers re-use or recycling programs for:
• Bicycles
• Paint
• Building materials
• Propane tanks
• Cell phones
• Rechargeable batteries
• Clothing
• Tires
• Computers
• Toilets
• Electronic Equipment
The list is quite extensive the programs available to us should prevent any of the above items from entering our landfills. We should all think before we toss out anything. For more information on the Region of Waterloo’s waste management programs, visit their website or call them at 519-883-5100.
To read the full article, download the newsletter here.
Written by steve on April 3rd, 2007 with no comments.
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Bentley, do you want to become a compost ambassador? I just came across an article over at News Wales, and Pembrokeshire is looking for enthusiastic residents to become Master Composters. The Master Composters would encourage their local communities to participate in home composting. I wonder if the Waterloo Region has a similar program. I would nominate Bentley in a second.
The Master Composter programme has been developed by Garden Organic (www.gardenorganic.org.uk), one of the UK’s oldest standing environmental charities. Previously known as HDRA (Henry Doubleday Research Association), Garden Organic is involved in scientific research and development work, the provision of advice and information and the promotion of organic food, farming and gardening. All Master Composters will become members of Garden Organic, which has Prince Charles as its patron and more than 32,000 members.
I hope Pembrokeshire has great success with the program. I wonder if our community has a similar program. Perhaps I will do a bit of research this morning and see what I can find out about similar programs around Ontario.
To read the full article, visit the News Wales website.
Technorati Tags: composting, master composter, gardening, community composting
Written by steve on April 3rd, 2007 with 3 comments.
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I couldn’t resist writing about the article I found this morning, “Green sex the latest in saving the planet”, found over at the Winnipeg Free Press website. It turns out Greenpeace and TreeHugger have released guides for those of us who would like to bring some green into our sex lives. According to the article, everything from bamboo bed sheets to organic lubricant and “eco-undies” are available. I decided that I needed to head over to the Greenpeace website and check out their list to see how I could green my bedroom.
According to the “Greenpeace Guide to Environmentally-Friendly Sex”, the following practices will help you enjoy saving the planet (These are a few tips that I selected. To read the entire list, please visit Greenpeace.org)
• Turn off the lights
• If fruit puts you in the mood, make sure it is GE-free
• Avoid aphrodisiacs like oysters and other shellfish (substitute with more sustainable items)
I also visited TreeHugger to check out their guide, “How to Green Your Sex Life”. Some of the tips they mention, include (for a full list, please visit the TreeHugger website).
• Dinner by candlelight
• Bamboo bed sheets
• Take a shower together
• Drink organic wine and champagne
The next time you are in the mood for romance, remember that you can bring green into the bedroom. I hope enjoy reading TreeHugger’s guide. On a cold winter day, it definitely helped to make my morning a little warmer.
Technorati Tags: green sex, eco-friendly guide to sex, TreeHugger, Greenpeace, sustainable living
Written by steve on March 6th, 2007 with no comments.
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When you think of the term Guerilla Gardening what comes to mind? When I first heard of the term I started to think of people dressed in dark clothing going out at night and secretly planting seeds. It reminded me of my childhood days where I would take sunflower seeds and plant them in my grandmother’s flower beds without her knowing. Year after year she continued to wonder how the sunflowers came to be in her front yard. I never had the heart to tell her that I was the culprit.
During my search for Guerilla Gardening websites, I came across a Toronto website, Publicspace.ca. According to their website, they define the term Guerilla Gardening as, “Without permit or license, we plant seeds and seedlings in all those neglected corners of public space. Join us as we vandalise the city with nature!”. I am intrigued by the concept of eco-vigillanties, armed with seeds and trowels, heading out on their covert operations bringing back life and beauty to abandoned wastelands. Sign me up! I am ready to go on an eco-mission!
Some of the more popular targets are:
* Vacant lots
* Property lines under utility right of ways
* Edges of alleys and walks next to buildings where the owners don’t grow plants or weed
* Edges of parking lots and homeowner parking pads that are neglected.
I did a search on google for “guerilla gardening” and came across 1.3 million results for the term. One of the top sites I cames across is Guerilla Gardening.org. They have a great website that is filled with stories and images from various global Guerilla Gardening organizations (New York, Toronto, Zurrich and other cities). The website also list 11 Steps you should think about when Guerilla Gardening. I will just list a few for our readers. For the full detailed list, please visit their website.
Step 1: Spot some local orphaned land
Step 2: Plan a mission
Step 3: Find a local supply of plants
Step 4: Choose plants for front line battle
…
Step 7: Regular Watering
Step 10: Spread the Word
For those of you looking to plant in areas with limited to no access, there is a great solution, “Seed Grenades”. The recipe found on the website lists two carrier options, an old glass christmas ornament and a water balloon. A seed grenade is a great tool for those legally inaccessable areas. Off the top of my head I can think of a dozen areas where I could lauch a few grenades. Perhaps when spring arrives, Bentley and I will test out our throwing arms and bring some beauty back to Waterloo and Elmira.
I hope this post will help spread the word to our rearders and will encourage many of you to look in your own neighbourhoods for potential targets. Grab some seeds, a trowel and a few friends and help revitalize your community. If you are looking for links to guerilla gardening organizations in your country and city, have a look at the links section on Guerilla Gardening.org’s website or a google search. If one does not exist for your community, start your own!
Technorati Tags: urban gardening, guerilla gardening, green gardening, eco gardening, urban agriculture, sustainable living
Written by steve on January 17th, 2007 with 1 comment.
Read more articles on Gardening and Green Living Tips and Uncategorized.
I recently came across an interesting PDF file online called “100 Ways You Can Improve The Environment“.
I’m sure many of the suggestions will seem like common sense or are tips you see all the time (ie. ’switch to CFL bulbs’ etc etc), but I know for me personally it’s nice to have a nice neat list to refer to from time to time. I find there is a big difference between thinking/writing/talking about doing something and actually doing it. I typically need quite a few reminders, so having this list handy will certainly help!
Technorati Tags: environment, global warming, eco tips, green living, greenhouse gas emissions, energy saving
Written by Bentley on January 8th, 2007 with 2 comments.
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I was surfing around this morning and came across this article on energy saving. These tips are a helpful reminder of some of the ways we can reduce our energy bills, save money and most importantly help reduce our impact on the environment. The article, from the “thisismoney.co.uk”,
lists five steps to save energy. “Saving the planet does not have to cost the earth. You can cut the energy you use, help the planet and save money with out five-step guide.”
Step #1 - Change your energy-wasting ways
- Turn TV’s, videos and DVD players off, rather than leaving them on standby
- At night, pull your curtains closed at dusk - will help to reduce heat loss
- Turn thermostat down by one degree can reduce your energy use by 6%
Step #2 - Walk the walk
- Walk or take public transport instead of the car
- If you need to take your car, see if you can carpool rather than driving alone
- If you drive, keep the right pressure in tires, remove unneeded trunk items, and never leave your car idling for more than 30 seconds.
Step #3 - Switch to Energy Efficient Appliances
- Household appliances have come a long way and many energy-saving versions can be purchased
- Washing Machines, Fridges, dishwashers, can be switched to save you money
- Energy saving light bulbs are one of the quickest routes to effective energy saving
Step #4 - Insulating and Heating Your Home
- Insulating your attic will pay for itself in the first year of installation
- Change your furnace/boiler from oil heating to natural gas
- Insulating your water tank can help reduce fuel bills
Step #5 - Rebates and Grants
- Depending on where you live in the world, many governments and organizations are willing to give grants and rebates to people who are willing to make the switch to energy efficiency.
- Appliances, heating, light bulbs, renewable energy sources and hybrid cars available for rebates and grants (depending on where you live)
To read more about the Five Step Guide to Energy Saving!, click here.
I think the key to getting people to switch to green living is making them aware of what options are available to them. By switching to energy efficient methods of living, we can save money, reduce energy consumption and reduce our impact on the earth. Remember, switching to green living can be a gradual change. Start by changing one thing in your home or lifestyle and work from there. If you are dependent on a car on a weekly basis for employment, start a car pool at work. Switch your light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs. When it comes time to replace an appliance select on that has a high-energy efficiency rating.
Each step you take, towards a greener living, will help save you money and the planet!
Technorati Tags: energy saving, green living, energy efficiency, green living tips
Written by steve on October 24th, 2006 with no comments.
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I experienced a little bit o’ serendipity this morning. For whatever reason I was idly staring at my plugged-in coffee maker (yes, my life is THAT exciting!), when it occurred to me that it should be unplugged since I was finished using it.
In and of itself this was a cool little bit of progress for yours truly, since awareness of wastefulness is always an important first step. Interestingly enough, this morning’s Ideal Bite newsletter discusses “phantom loads” (energy lost when appliances and electronics are turned off but still plugged in).
I just KNEW I had to write a sherpa tip on the subject today (aside from that, its been awhile since we brought you new tips)!
This idea of phantom load is something I’ve heard of before, but like most people I’m sure I’ve honestly never really given it much thought.
Two statements in the Ideal Bite newsletter certainly made me sit up and take notice however.
- In the average home, 40% of all electricity is used to power home appliances while they’re turned off.
- If all phantom loads in US homes were stopped, we could shut down 17 power plants.
WOW! I had no idea it was such a significant energy drain. Needless to say I’ll be making much more of an effort to unplug things when not in use - I’m sure it will drive my wife bonkers, but alas that is sometimes the price one has to pay when trying to be eco-responsible!
A great idea recommened by Ideal Bite is using power bars - this way you can essentially unplug/plug-in a bunch of things all at once, thus saving some of the hassles involved.
Technorati Tags: saving energy, power saving, energy saving tips, phantom load, power bars, Ideal Bite
Written by Bentley on October 11th, 2006 with no comments.
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