by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

The forces of Yin and Yang must work together as complementary opposites to bring balance. Work and surrender, Effort and Ease, Dark and Light, it’s all there in the cycle of nature and it’s all there in the monthly, daily and hourly cycles of our lives. I bring my attention to this every day in yoga practice, yet, in the face of the many personal and worldly responsibilities, I often miss the lighter side of living. I forget to celebrate. And I’m talking more than metaphor. I mean getting down to it – Eat, Drink and Be Merry.

So, I’m going to give it a try over the next week and I’m happy to have found something to help me along – something I can sip, savor and enjoy without giving up my “be the change” philosophy. It’s local and it’s red, a wine straight from Old North State Winery in Mount Airy, NC.

I had been enjoying a CA organic wine, Our Daily Red, which I found at Whole Foods Market. Nice stuff. But since moving to Carrboro, I’ve been evolving into a loyal local lunatic and decided I wanted to drink local, too. My co-op introduced me to many NC wines, but I crave red wine on the dryer side, something that has been hard to find in the land of scuppernogs. Until now. Somehow, someway, a winery in Mount Airy, NC manages to produce a dry, full-bodied red in Restless Soul. The creepy-fun, creative label pulled me in, the taste and texture has kept me buying.

So, if you live in or near NC, check it out to soothe your, you know, “restless soul”…everyone else, check for local wines in your area – you may find a favorite.

And, oh yeah, Cheers!

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

There’s nothing like good beer on a hot summer’s day, or oatmeal Porter on a cold winter’s Day…and the weather has been so crazy lately, you can probably take your pick, even in December. But can I drink my beer and go green, too? You bet your beer mug!

At least 4 Brewers have jumped on the eco-smart bandwagon, making good beer even better and cutting costs in the process. The way of brewing, just like any business, uses a lot of energy and creates a lot of waste. And, just like any business, there are many ways to use less energy and create a lot less waste.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company uses hydrogen fuel cells and newly installed solar panels for energy production. This means that their alternative system will provide 75 % of the heat and electricity used daily in the brewing process.

New Belgium Brewing Company is known for its environmentally advanced operations. The plant already captures methane gas released while treating wastewater and uses it to produce 10% of the power they need, saving $18,000 in energy costs. They buy wind power for the rest of their needs and run their local delivery trucks on biodiesel fuel. New construction in an upcoming expansion will include a variety of eco-conscious techniques. Recycled steel components and recycled concrete will be used, natural lighting will be built into the building and the heating and cooling system employs an alternative to the use of Freon.

Great Lakes Brewing Company is after zero waste. They share used grains with a baker and local farmer, runs a community “Fatty Wagon” shuttle bus on leftover veggie oil from pubs. In Winter, they shut down refrigeration, open the doors to the cooler and let mother nature do her work.

The Japanese Brewers, Sapporo Breweries, in response to customer health concerns and increasing eco-awareness, are encouraging their barley growers to reduce the use of chemicals and carbon emissions.

Unlike most soft-drinks, which are extravagantly bad for your body in every way and bad for the planet, good beer – in moderation – has health benefits (fermentation!) and serves a social niche – one that is centered around long rambling conversations and good cheer. Share that cheer with your Mother – Earth, that is – by drinking green. Ask your local stores to bring in your favorites.

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

I can go back to being thrilled about compostable trash bags! I don’t know how I missed this news, but BioBag USA makes biodegradable and compostable bags from certified NON-GMO corn. Certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute, they are shelf-stable, have no additional chemicals, yet will break down in a controlled composting environment in 10 – 45 days.

As the nation’s best selling brand, they were chosen for this San Francisco initiative:

The city of San Francisco selected BioBag to promote their residential food waste collection program. The city is sending 100,000 rolls of BioBags to residents within the county to help educate consumers on the importance of diverting food and other biodegradable waste from entering landfills. San Francisco residents can now purchase additional supplies at over 100 outlets in the bay area.

San Francisco on the leading edge again! Anyone getting any ideas? I’m going to send this to my local leaders tomorrow – what a great way to participate in Step It Up call to action, happening all over the country tomorrow. Go here to find an event near you.

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

As a parent, you’re worried about the unsustainable future your kids are bound to inherit, yet you also want them to have the “right stuff”. And sometimes, those that have the most invested in the future (parents) have the most trouble adopting a lifestyle that will protect it. We’ve all become overly influenced by media and cultural norms which can keep you from making rational, logical and yes, the healthiest decisions for your children. It applies to choosing clothing, toys, vehicles, food, activities, school supplies…and then there’s that whole diaper dilemma. Add to the mix, a typical youth enamored with what he sees on television and competes with in school and it may be tempting for Mom and Dad to throw in the green towel.

It doesn’t have to be that way. The truth is, green-minded parents never had it so good. Resources supporting sustainable child-raising are plentiful. Start by reassessing your child’s needs and desires from the start. Trust your instincts, not advertisers or neighbors. Think back to basics and you can’t go wrong. After all we’ve learned about the dioxins and pvcs in plastics, finding alternatives in toys and bottles is a good start. Check local sources first, then shop online for organic and fairly made baby supplies. Hemp is the rage in anti-bacterial reusable diapers – check them out and learn more at a family-owned and operated business like Better For Babies.

It gets harder as the babies become “I want it now” youngsters, but hold your ground – they will thank you for it later. Keeping your kids out of harms way does not just mean on the playground or in the parking lot. Protect their short and long-term health from pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, chemicals, fast food, and refined sugar/salt. If it sounds like a big job, it is – but only until you get re-acquainted with the wonderful world of organic, whole foods (and other Wise Traditions) and natural materials. Then, it’s a no-brainer that will nourish both the planet and the health of your family for years to come.

If you’ve primed your green kid in the early years, they will approach adolescence and young adulthood with a growing sense of importance and understanding, yet nonchalance, in their [sustainable] choices. Keep the lines of communication open – it’s not a done deal yet. With your support and encouragement, conservation of resources will be a comfortable habit, forming many decisions throughout their lives. There are many resources available to help you teach your kids about environmental stewardship. And hopefully, by this time, those choices and commitments will not be seen as “alternative” but as the new/old cultural norm that fosters a sense of responsibility towards people, animals and the planet.

Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?

By Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

Here at our co-housing community, we’ve got people who willingly share their knowledge and skills, whether it is growing vegetables, managing outdoor compost piles, hosting honey bee colonies, tending butterflies or watching over chickens. So I wasn’t surprised when I was invited to attend a day of worm wrangling – learning how to house and feed your very own composting “wigglers”. All I needed was a tub with a lid and some compost scraps – redworms and snacks provided – gummy worms, of course. Here’s Susan rounding up a few.

Vermicomposting (using worms to decompose food waste offers many advantages – it turns kitchen waste into nutritious soil for plants, decreases waste collection. It’s surprising low maintenance and produces less odor than traditional composting. Each person produceds approximately 2 – 3 pounds of food scraps per week. One pound of worms will eat about 4 pounds of scraps per week. A 2 x 3-foot box is suitable for 4 – 6 people and they will live happily contained in any convenient space in your home, basement or garage.

Large scale worm farms, currently at work in Hong Kong, are part of a initiative to deal with the growing amount of waste and the equally growing shortage of landfill space in many areas throughout the world. You can watch the worms at work and hear from a worm “farmer” here. Or, find your way into the world of worm wrangling here.

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

We have a way to go before plastic and styrofoam, paper tableware and “to go” containers become a thing of the past, but better late than never, I suppose. The “inconvenient truth” is that, as we learned in high school economics, the push has to come from consumers.

Make restaurants in your community aware that you would like to see a switch to compostables and/or incentives for customers to bring their own containers. Don’t patronize restaurants that use styrofoam or other toxic materials to package food. Ask them about recycling. The same can apply to parties and potluck meals – offer to bring your own eat ware so they don’t have to buy (and discard) the plastic stuff.

Now you can have your tableware and bring it with you, too. I do this with some used camping supplies I found, but was recently wowed by Orikaso’s picnic/potluck/to go-friendly plates, bowls and cups that FOLD FLAT – perfect to keep in your backpack, handbag or briefcase. I know what you are thinking, but this stuff, made from a “magic polymer”, gets stronger the more you fold it. Affordable and forever useful (and convenient!) at $15/set.

Where did I see this? In a publication called, Good, “for people who give a damn – an entertaining magazine about things that matter.” Now in their second year of publication, it covers a wide range of topics on politics, business, health, tchnology, science, art and design, media, environment and living. Good read about good stuff. Check it out at GoodMagazine.com.

I was happy and relieved when I learned that fat is food, too. I began enjoying many versions of it back then – in the form of flax oil, coconut oil, avocados and nuts. What I learned more recently is that we can enhance the nutritional value of good fats by eating them raw, too, including those in dairy products and even meat. I was an easy convert as long as I could get these foods from a local and organic farmer.

My friend and Nutrition Specialist, Greg, has been coaching me along the way and I’ve never felt better. This is an article he has written on the subject – enjoy. Tao

The Healing Properties of Raw Fat by Greg Gillette

There are many studies and controversies over fat. How much do we need? What are the best sources? Is saturated fat healthy? What about animal fats?
My intention is to shed some light in the fat direction based on my research from various studies and other practitioners and based on working with myself and with clients.

You will not get fat from eating the right types of fat! I say this because so many people still believe that fat makes them fat. Some people think that all fat is bad and others think only saturated fat is bad. Many practitioners and dieticians still call saturated fat, the bad fat. This is simply not true. Granted, there are bad fats, including some saturated fats, and you are probably aware of them: hydrogenated fats, pasteurized and homogenized dairy products, fried foods, refined vegetable oils, good oils heated too high, etc.

Do you truly know what good fat does for our bodies? Some of the benefits that fats provide include: provides warmth, enhances circulation, strengthens and nourishes all the glands and organs, including the heart and the brain; aids in the digestion of proteins and carbohydrates; used in the production of many hormones, including the sex hormones, cell membranes, and tissue production. Fat is a great source of stored energy. It enhances fluid metabolism and it regulates the passage of nutrients in and out of cells.

What about saturated fat? The good saturated fats strengthen our immune system and are needed for the proper functioning of the heart, lungs, and the brain. In addition, these fats boost metabolism and aid with weight loss.

A few other benefits that fats provide are their ability to lubricate the body, the organs and the skin, decrease dryness in the body and increase moisture, decrease feelings of tiredness and sluggishness and increase feelings of vitality and energy, and finally, their ability to keep us hydrated.

The following fats are of the utmost importance, starting with the least healing to the most healing.
1) Cold pressed oils (olive, sesame, flax, cod liver, coconut)
2) Raw coconuts and coconut cream
3) Raw avocados
4) Raw eggs
5) Raw unsalted butter

I recommend that all these fats be organic and the butter from cows that are grass fed.
Raw fat is the most valuable and utilized nutrient in our toxic modern world. It has the awesome ability to aid in the production of white blood cells, relax and comfort the body, protect the organs, glands, and cells and provide the most efficient, strongest, and most powerful energy for the body. Ultimately, raw fats dissolve and remove all sorts of toxins and toxic substances from the body; and we all have plenty of toxins from living in this world.

Raw eggs are one of the best compact and nutritious foods available. On the cellular level, they aid in regeneration and maintenance. In addition, they are a great source of protein and fat and healthy cholesterol. Raw cholesterol is totally different than cooked cholesterol. I have been consuming raw eggs for several years, with nothing but great health results. Please refer to the Great Egg Panic by Emily Green, LA Times, January 4, 2000, to get a better understanding of the propaganda behind the salmonella-poisoning scare due to raw eggs.

Raw unsalted butter is a tremendous healing food for our modern times. It soothes and lubricates nerves, muscles, and mucous membranes, cleanses and strengthens all the organs and glands, heals intestinal lesions, dissolves hardened plaque from eating bad fats, binds with and helps remove toxins and waste products from the body, lubricates bones and joints, cleanses, fuels, lubricates, protects, and rejuvenates cells and aids in new cellular growth.

I hope I got you thinking in a new light about raw fat and how important it is to consume.

Greg Gillette, Nutrition Specialist, offers individual nutrition consultations and comprehensive metabolic testing to get to the real causes behind your health challenges. Greg can be reached at 828-252-9874 or gillettenutrition@yahoo.com

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

I’ve given away my weakness for Winter holidays, but when it comes to birthdays, I can be a real Scrooge. If anyone should get special treatment on my birthday, it’s my mom – she did all the work. Well, o.k., my twin sister deserves a shout out. But beyond that, birthday presents and celebrations are for kids and family and even then, I’m hoping we can learn to tone it down a bit and not let the buy-stuff-virus take over.

I think we can all admit that mainstream toys are greatly overrated and kids have far too many of them. But, when you can’t resist, toys for little ones are finding a good for the world niche – supporting Fair Trade practices and made from sustainable or recycled materials which are non-toxic for earth and tots. It’s all out there. Check out your local stores first and then try Ecomall.com or Surprise.com to scan a huge selection from all over the globe.

As for the grown-ups, I have to tell my friends that I probably won’t remember their birthdays, the good news being that I don’t expect them to acknowledge or remember mine. I even try to keep the date secret so all pressure is off. Even cards and flowers are old news. I enjoy celebrating and spreading good cheer as much as anyone – I’d just like to see it done with a creative force rather than a consumer one.

There are many worthy gift-giving occasions, so go for edibles or consumables like chocolate, soap, candles or some homemade pickles. Shop at your farmer’s markets or co-op and you’ll find tasty treats (in minimal or zero packaging) that may otherwise not make it to your friend’s table. Whatever it is, make it Local/Fair Trade and/or Organic and you’ve given an even bigger gift that creates awareness and reaches far and wide. Check out our friends at Trade As One for unique, handcrafted Fair Trade gifts.