By Dena Fritz

I don’t know if you are like me, every once in a while, I enjoy a cold glass of beer. It is a pet peeve of mine that the cans and bottles are disposable and not refundable. I seem to remember when I was a kid, you could turn your soda and beer bottles in for real money. Society was green before they were thinking about saving the earth. I know there are some states that you can get cash for your recyclable cans and bottles, I saw a few coin operated machines in Massachusetts. If you do not live in a state that gives you money for your returnables, at least there are alternatives to all the waste.

Drinking draught beer is far better for the environment than drinking bottled or canned beer. When you buy beer by the keg or order it at the bar, you save the environment significantly; no cardboard cases, no bottles, packaging, labels, no caps, no cans and no recycling processes.

A beer maker called New Belgium Brewing is taking the green initiative several steps further. New Belgium is an employee owned company that is using alternative fuels to power their beer making process. By minimizing their impact on the earth they are a socially responsible contributor to their community. Utilizing methane from a waste water treatment process, they fuel a co-gen (combined heat and power engine), creating on-site electricity and heat for brewing. They are also the largest private consumer of wind-power electricity and the first wind-powered brewery. This is not all they do to reduce their carbon footprint and they have a plan to do more. So the next time you are ready to drink a tall cold one, remember the environment and do your little part!

Wine into Water

 CellarThief offers a unique proposition. For every bottle of wine sold, a 100 days of water is furnished to those who need it. Unclean drinking water leads to disease, bacteria and even death. Ninety percent are children 5 years and younger. CellarThief is trying to make a difference to overcome this situation, and it is working. So far, 579,900 days of clean water has been donated by CellarThief.

One in eight people struggle without enough water to keep themselves healthy. As Cellarthief sells more, they donate more, if they run out of a particular wine, they donate even more! Follow them on FaceBook at CellarThief and on Twitter @CellarThief where they tweet their special deals. CellarThief is making a difference with their efforts and you can do your part by ordering their wine. Save money by buying more, mix-and-match 3 bottles and shipping on entire order is only $5.  So, please tell your friends about CellarThief so they can keep offering great wines at great prices and make an impact in the process.   

If you haven’t started, it’s about thyme.

Herb gardening is a nice way to bring your summer garden indoors for the winter and is a healthful delicious way to enhance your cooking. It is easy and inexpensive. You can grow so many different herbs inside; all you need is some plastic containers, fertile soil, seed packs and a window that preferably faces south. You only need to water them once every 16 days. Overwatering is the most common mistake when herb gardening doesn’t work out. Fertilize your plants with organic fertilizer, nothing with chemicals; remember you are ingesting these plants. Basil – Oregano – Parsley – Chives – Rosemary –Thyme – Sage – Spearmint – Peppermint – Savory – Curry – Cilantro – Sweet Marjoram – Mustard – Dill – Coriander, these are just a few herbs that you can plant and grow indoors. This is a nice hobby and something that can keep you busy over the upcoming long winter months.

Made from 100% natural products, Celestial Seasonings Green Tea is made of all that is good. Great flavor for good health, this Green Tea is smooth and satisfying. No strings, tags or staples, Celestial Seasonings’ unique pillow-style tea bag is made for the environmentally conscious and is not packaged in individual wrappers saving over 3.5 million pounds of waste from entering our landfills every year.

Serving over 1.6 billion cups of tea every year, Celestial Seasonings has been harvesting all-natural herbal teas since 1969.  All ingredients are grown around the world utilizing the philosophy of ethical trade practice, assuring fair market prices which spur local businesses, creating more jobs, empowering farmers and their communities.

Steeped in hot water (not boiling), you will experience the mild, delicately balanced taste and the healthy goodness that Celestial Seasonings aspires to create. For a special cold treat, try the iced tea recipe on the inside flap of the box, it is delicious.

• Water Efficiency
• Waste Reduction and Recycling
• Sustainable Furnishings and Building Materials
• Sustainable Food
• Energy
• Disposables
• Chemical and Pollution Reduction

The GRA also rates on new builds and renovation projects and events with required minimum points to earn a certificate. The GRA website gives you several ways that you, as a consumer, can green your dining experience. You can also sign up for their newsletter to get updated information on all Green Restaurant Association news.

Yellow & Blue 2008 Torrontes

Wine made from organically grown grapes are a growing trend. It makes us thrilled to know that even the drinks we imbibe are becoming greener, and it makes us want to open a bottle and enjoy a glass of great wine. Yellow & Blue is a great wine maker that has mastered the fruit of the vine.

Their 2008 Torrontes is an incredible white wine, that compliments cheese, smoked meats, and seafood. It has a medium body, and has a fresh flavor. One of the neatest things about this wine is the packaging. Yellow & Blue uses tetra pak containers, which means it contains more in each bottle. It also means that it makes less of an impact when shipping, and is recyclable as well. Don’t worry about it not fitting in your wine rach, as it easily slides in just like a regular bottle. So twist off the top, and enjoy a glass with your best girls or honey!

Check out Yellow & Blue.

Tao of Tea 100% Organic Rooibos Tea

Tea often serves as a comforting part of the day, and there are many types to enjoy. A comforting option that we’ve come across is the 100% Organic Rooibos African Red Tea from Tao of Tea. This sweet, fruity loose tea has an earthy flavored undertone, and serves as a satisfying treat. Rooibos grows in the Cedarburg Mountain region of South Africa, which lacks nutrients, has acidic soil, and hot weather.

This delicious tea is caffeine free, and contains a solid amount of antioxidants. The best way to serve is one teaspoon per 8 ounces of water, and steep for about 5 to 10 minutes. The smooth, fulfilling taste will be the perfect antidote to the chilly fall air. If you prefer sweet tea, we suggest you put a drop of organic honey into your mug.

Enjoy now at Tao of Tea

Frey Organic Cabernet Sauvignon

There’s nothing quite like opening a bottle of wine after a long week, pouring yourself a glass, and sipping away. Now there’s an even more enjoyable reason to stock your wine rack, Frey Organic Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, Frey Vineyards- Mendocino County makes only organic wine.

Aside from the lovely taste, the best selling point is that their wine does not have added sulfites. Sulfites can actually cause headaches or allergies, and are often the reason for that lothargic feeling the day after having wine. This heavy, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon has a dark purple color, fruity undertones, and is the perfect complement to a bowl of fresh organic berries.

So pop open a bottle, pour yourself a glass, and enjoy responsibly!

Klean Kanteen

It’s extremely important for all of us to stay hydrated, and there’s no better hydration than good old water. Many of us grab a plastic water bottle on the go, because they are convenient to take with you wherever you are. The problem with this is that we waste tons of plastic. We also risk having adverse health problems from the chemicals projected into water from the plastic.

Instead of purchasing plastic water bottles, invest in a reusable bottle that is made of aluminum or food grade stainless steel. One that stood out to us is the Klean Kanteen. These BPA free, stainless steel, reusable water bottles come in a variety of sizes and colors to match your personality. We recommend the 27 oz. size, so you can throw it in your purse, or clip it to your hiking gear on the trail.

By purchasing a reusable water bottle you will also save a ton of money over the long haul. Think about it…the average water bottle costs $1.50. The Klean Kanteen 27 oz. bottle costs $19.95. That means that for the cost of about 13 bottles of water you will never have to buy another plastic water bottle again. So buy one and drink up!

Buy now at www.kleankanteen.com.

Brita Ultramax

Many of us don’t drink our water straight from the tap, but instead buy bottled water for our home drinking. Although the plastic bottles that we buy are recyclable, they aren’t as “green” as one would imagine.

A more efficient way to drink water is to invest in a water filtration system such as Brita. They carry a wide array of options for you, including filtration systems that clamp on to your faucet for direct use from your tap. The one that we found to be the most useful was the Brita Ultramax Dispenser. It has a tap, so all you do is fill it up and pop it in the fridge. Whenever you want water you have a cold, fresh source available to you and your family. The tap makes it easy to fill a glass, reusable water bottle or a pitcher.

The cost and maintenance aren’t bad either…The cost is about $40, and it includes an electronic filter change indicator. Whether you are a single gal, or a married mom of four, this is a green and economical way to get hydrated!