 Image: Mary's Mixers We're big fans of Margaritas including Strawberry Margaritas. We're pretty particular about the mixes we use as they need to be natural and of course taste fresh. We advise you check out Portland, Oregon-based Mary's Mixers and their Margarita Recipe as their mixers are all-natural and organic and use sustainable packaging, Ingredients include Water, Agave Syrup, Seedless Strawberry Purée, Strawberry Juice Concentrate, Lime Juice Concentrate, Sugar, and Tangerine Juice Concentrate. Enjoy!
 Image: Dirt Kitchen Snacks Air Dried Carrot Crisps with Smoky Barbeque Seasoning is now part of the Dirt Kitchen Snacks' portfolio at www.dirtkitchensnacks.com.
“Dirt Kitchen Snacks believes the best things in life come from the dirt. Our mission is to make real, recognizable veggies into irresistibly delicious snacks, to help people get more veggies into their lives,” said Katrina Borisjuk, head of marketing for Dirt Kitchen Snacks. The new product contains 35 calories per serving, and like all Dirt Kitchen Snacks varieties, the new product is vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free. They contain no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or added sugar. Enjoy!  Image Credit Spero Foods Do you love cream cheese but want a delicious plant-based option? Spero Foods, the makers of plant-based dairy and meat alternatives, announced today that they have won the prestigious Expo East 2022 NEXTY Award for Best New Dairy or Meat Alternative. This award is a testament to the quality of Spero's products and their commitment to bringing healthier, more sustainable options to consumers.
The NEXTY Awards are presented by the largest natural products expo in the United States and spotlight the best of the natural products industry. More than 500 products were nominated during the first round of NEXTY's judging, and Spero was named a finalist in the first round, along with two other brands. During the final round, Spero Smoked 'Salmon' Sunflower Cream Cheese was selected as the Winner for The Best Meat or Dairy Alternative. The judges chose Spero because of the brand's commitment to delicious, sustainable, and healthy food products. NEXTY's judges said, “This is pretty unbelievable. This tastes like real ‘salmon’ cream cheese.” They were floored, and continued to elaborate, “It’s so good, and it’s neither salmon nor dairy.” They added, “[Spero is] using sunflower seeds in this particular product, which is very notable because a lot of these products we are seeing use almonds [or cashews], which is a good alternative as well, but we see that sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds use less water for production. So there are a lot of layers of sustainability with it in there." Spero's Smoked ‘Salmon’ Sunflower Cream Cheese is a plant-based cream cheese that captures the flavor and texture of smoked salmon. The cream cheese is light and creamy, with notes of dairy and a rich, delicious, and delightful flavor profile. It is perfect for spreading on bagels or crackers or for use in recipes that call for smoked salmon. Spero Smoked ‘Salmon’ Sunflower Cream Cheese uses no dairy, soy, nuts, gluten, grains, additives, “bad” oils, or starches. The brand selected sunflower seeds because of their minimal land and water use and near negligible CO2 and CH4 (methane) emissions. Spero uses cutting-edge patented technology focused on low-cost, sustainable, and scalable ingredients such as sunflower and pumpkin seeds—which require much less water than almonds. Spero's products are also nutritious, featuring unmatched bold tastes and creamy textures without using any dairy, soy, canola, nut ingredients, or additives and are allergy-friendly. “At Spero, we believe healthy food is a human right. We believe sustainable food is a planet right,” said Phaedra Randolph, Founder and CEO of Spero. “When I thought about creating food to help solve our imminent global climate crisis, I knew that the ingredients we chose would be imperative. We had to pick something sustainable and healthy, something grounded in science.” For more information or to find out where to purchase Spero products, visit sperofoods.co  Credit: Disruption Books Hi Gratitude Gourmet Fans! Check out this new Book:The Green Amendment by Maya Van Rossum (featuring a foreword by Mark Ruffalo). With record droughts affecting the American West, many cities have resorted to paying residents to replace their lawns with drought-resistant plants. But are we ready to cut the grass out of our lives entirely? Veteran environmentalist, author of The Green Amendment, and leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network Maya van Rossum explains:
“Manicured lawnscapes are a serious source of environmental harm. They are a major contributor to water pollution, drought conditions, flooding conditions and flood damages for downstream neighbors. Maintaining lawns is also a source of air pollution, noise pollution and a loss of critical habitat for species of all kinds. People need to reconsider their definition of what is ‘yard beautiful’ – changing it from mowed lawns to native landscapes." Maya has outlined key points on the evils of lawns:
 Image: The Experiment Check out this new book renowned nutritionist and gut health expert DR. MEGAN ROSSI who's on a mission to help everyone eat more vegetables without having to radically shift their diets (including giving up meat!). Her new book, HOW TO EAT MORE PLANTS: Transform Your Health with 30 Plant-Based Foods Per Week (and Why It's Easier Than You Think!) introduces a new school of thought on how we approach our relationship to food: Don't diet, diversify!
I'm hoping you will consider covering the new book in early to mid-August to coincide with the book launch. I can send you an advance review copy of the book (pdf or hard copy) and offer almost any combination of the following for use in coverage: Dr. Megan says that the secret to a healthy gut (and a healthier body and mind) is all in the microbes: the trillions of microorganisms that live in our digestive tract. These microbes thrive on fiber, and as many different types as they can get. This is the core reasoning behind making plants the center of our diets, and it is crucial to our well-being and longevity. In addition to the science behind the approach, the book also includes a 28-day plan and 80+ plant-based recipes. The book and Dr. Megan's approach have already captured ringing endorsements from luminaries in the health and wellness fields: "How to Eat More Plants by Dr. Megan Rossi packs a whole lot of reliable and sound nutrition advice into one handy guide. Rossi explains why we should be eating more plants and how we can effortlessly get the job done. She also makes the case for diversifying our diets and - my favorite part - shows you how to add healthy foods to your diet instead of eliminating or restricting less healthy ones. The plan is smart, science-based, realistic, and totally manageable. This book is great for plant-lovers, plant-phobes...and everyone in between." -— Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, health and wellness expert for Today and #1 New York Times bestselling author "Get your taste buds ready! Dr. Megan Rossi shares a simple, delicious plan to help you and your gut thrive through abundance, not restriction. A must-have guide to plant-based eating." — Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, New York Times bestselling author of Fiber Fueled  Image: EVXO Cosmetics We always prefer to purchase cruelty-free make-up brands, and check out EVXO Cosmetics, a female-owned, LA-based makeup and body line with vegan, organic gluten-free products. EVXO’s clean beauty mission is to create vegan, organic and better for you makeup with sustainable ingredients and packaging with skincare benefits you can bring to life your personal beauty. Animal rights and advocacy are just as important to the brand and ensure all EVXO’s products are cruelty-free.
EVXO’s collection of affordable clean cosmetics features mascara, foundation, lip stick, bath and body, and more. All products are available online at evxocosmetics.com. We tried the Strength n Length Mineral Mascara, Vegan Cheek Palette and Swipe Right Lip and Cheek Tint and they all work great for going out and/or being on a work call :)  Image: Ron Barceló Ron Barceló is pleased to announce the launch of their newest rum, Barceló Organic. Barceló Organic is distilled from the fresh juice of organic sugar cane and aged in new American oak barrels. Whether served straight over ice or mixed in a refreshing cocktail such as a Barceló Organic Highball (see recipe below), the amber-colored, 80-proof Barceló Organic possesses a rich taste and a long, smooth finish.
INGREDIENTS Barceló Organic Rum - 1½ oz Orange juice - 1/4 oz Lime juice - 1/4 oz A dash of Angostura® bitters (optional) Ginger beer - 3 oz PREPARATION Build Barceló Organic, orange juice, lime juice and Angostura® bitters in a highball glass with ice. Add ginger beer and gently stir. Garnish with a slice of lime or orange and fresh lavender. Enjoy!!  Image: Forest Earth Day.Org EARTHDAY.ORG has released a slate of educational and entertaining quizzes to be incorporated into classroom, at-home, or community learning. As an overall extension of the Earth Day 2022 theme, Invest In Our Planet, quiz topics include: sustainability terms, clean energy, sustainable fashion, regenerative agriculture, upcycled foods, environmental literacy, plastic pollution, biodiversity, and more.
Aimed to inform, inspire, and motivate, EARTHDAY.ORG’s quizzes are the perfect entry-point to greater environmental education and climate action. “Our series of quizzes breaks down and provides introductory knowledge on an array of environmental topics critical to the climate crisis. From environmental novices to climate experts, this slate of tools can be used by anyone to educate themselves and get more involved in climate action,” said Tom Cosgrove, Chief Creative and Content Officer, EARTHDAY.ORG. To view all of EARTHDAY.ORG’s quizzes, please visit: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-quizzes/ For more environmental education resources such as lesson plans, toolkits, and advocacy packets, please visit: https://www.earthday.org/education-resource-library/  Image: Patagonia Outdoor clothing company Patagonia is about to publish their first children's picture book on May 24th, a bilingual story about ocean pollution and recycling. Uniquely presented in English and Spanish, Better than New: A Recycle Tale / Mejor que Nuevo: Un Cuenta de Reciclaje, written by Vermont-based children's author Robert Broder with illustrations by Lake Buckley, follows two Chilean kids who encounter a sea lion tangled in an abandoned fishing net. Together they free their ocean friend and consider what to do with the net. With the help of a bird, they recycle it into something useful again, something better than new. The book opens kids' eyes to the issue of plastic pollution in the ocean and challenges them to help the planet by making good choices and taking action.
Abandoned fishing nets (aka "ghost nets'') are considered one the world’s most harmful forms of ocean pollution. The story in Better Than New was inspired by a real-life solution created by California-based company Bureo, who has established an infrastructure for collecting and recycling discarded nets and provides Patagonia with recycled materials for use in various products including Patagonia Baggies.  Image: Jill, Katie and Julia Cambria Estate Winery We are really excited to tell you about Cambria Estate Winery, the Santa Maria Valley winery founded in 1986 and known for its single vineyard Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays! They have announced a partnership with Women’s Earth Alliance (WEA). Each year, Cambria partners with an organization that works to create a more sustainable world and provide opportunities for women. A champion for women’s empowerment and sustainability efforts in the wine industry, Cambria launches this partnership during Women’s History Month to drive visibility and philanthropic support for the grassroots climate solutions led by WEA Leaders around the world, and pledges to match up to $25,000 in donations.  Image: Cambria Estate Winery Since its inception, Cambria has maintained a proud legacy of strong female leadership with owner and winery co-founder, Barbara Banke, and her daughters Katie (Katherine) and Julia Jackson, who now serve as co-proprietors. In the wine cellar, Cambria’s female leadership spans more than 25 years and includes General Manager Denise Shurtleff, who previously spent two decades as Cambria’s winemaker, and continues with the current winemaker, Jill Russell, who joined the winery in 2017, alongside a team largely consisting of women.
Cambria also fosters sustainability initiatives that extend beyond their vineyards and acclaimed wines. The winery holds certifications from both California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) and Sustainability in Practice (SIP). These certifications are holistic in nature and ensure that the winery meets agricultural, ecological, and community requirements, which include reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, utilizing renewable energy, and cultivating an equitable environment for employees. In partnership with WEA, this donation will support efforts to provide leadership, strategy, and technical training for Indigenous women leaders in the United States to scale their climate and environmental initiatives. WEA’s model identifies grassroots women leaders working on the frontlines to reverse climate change and protect their communities' natural resources, livelihoods, and health. By investing in long-term leadership through training, funding, and networks of support, WEA supports women leaders to scale the reach, impact, and longevity of their solutions beyond initial project investments - creating a ripple effect that benefits women’s communities, regions, our Earth, and future generations. “We are proud to partner with Women’s Earth Alliance and support their work to create a more sustainable world and provide opportunities for women,” says Katie Jackson, co-proprietor of Cambria Estate Winery. "Their mission closely aligns with key tenets that Cambria holds, and we encourage others to join us in celebrating Women's History Month and consider supporting organizations like Women’s Earth Alliance who are actively providing the means to create a better world and a platform for women to succeed.” To learn more about Cambria Estate Winery and how you can support the Women’s Earth Alliance visit cambriawines.com/womens-day.  Image: New World Library We would like to recommend a NEW Book for our Readers:
Let It Shine: The 6,000-Year Story of Solar Energy by John Perlin paperback edition features a new preface by the author and a foreword by Stanford Professor Mark Z. Jacobson, PhD. The Book:
“The definitive history of solar power.” — The Financial Times “John Perlin is the historian of solar energy. — Daniel Yergin, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Prize and The Quest More about the book: Even as concern over climate change and dropping prices fuel a massive boom in solar technology, many still think of solar as a twentieth-century wonder. Few realize that the first photovoltaic array appeared on a New York City rooftop in 1884, or that brilliant engineers in France were using solar power in the 1860s to run steam engines, or that in 1901 an ostrich farmer in Southern California used a single solar engine to irrigate three hundred acres of citrus trees. Fewer still know that Leonardo da Vinci planned to make his fortune by building half-mile-long mirrors to heat water, or that the Bronze Age Chinese used hand-size solar- concentrating mirrors to light fires the way we use matches and lighters today. Let It Shine is a fully revised and expanded edition of A Golden Thread, John Perlin’s classic history of solar technology, detailing the past forty-plus years of technological developments driving today’s solar renaissance. This unique and compelling compendium of humankind’s solar ideas tells the fascinating story of how our predecessors throughout time, again and again, have applied the sun to better their lives — and how we can too. You can buy it at your local bookstore and here is one store from San Francisco. Enjoy!!  Image: Sprout World The company that launched the world’s first plantable pencil is now aiming to make people as beautiful as the earth with the world’s first plantable makeup liner! With over 35 million plantable pencils sold to over 80 countries that grow into herbs, vegetables or flowers, Now, the company has created The Sprout Liner--an eye or brow liner that grows into wildflowers after its too small to use. The goal is to inspire more sustainable actions in our everyday lives!  Image: Sprout World “As a company, Sprout World is made up of 80% female employees. It was during a creative workshop that the idea of a plantable makeup pencil arose, with the majority saying that they used makeup pencils daily, eyeliner being the most popular,” said Michael Stausholm, Founder and CEO of Sprout. “It created an instant buzz of excitement and it was this tangible ‘buzz’ that led to the conclusion that the only appropriate plant the new makeup pencil could sprout into were wildflowers that were good for bees.”
Why the Sprout eye-and browliners are special * Made from certified wood * Patented worldwide – the only plantable makeup pencils in the world * Soluble cellulose cap that dissolves in soil * Bee-friendly wildflower seeds * Recyclable sugar cane cap * High-quality makeup * Waterproof * Eyeliners in black and brown, browliner in brown Kind to you and the planet * Made from only natural ingredients * Developed without microplastics * AllergyCertified * Minimum waste and sustainable packaging * Materials from ethical sources How to plant the Sprout Liners 1. Use the eye-or browliner until it becomes short to use 2. Plant it in a pot with the capsule lightly covered with soil 3. Add water and sunlight After 7-12 days, the eyeliner germinates and turns into beautiful wildflowers Available at Sprout World and Amazon, this innovative new concept in makeup will help push the cosmetics industry in a greener direction.  Image Credit: Barefoot Books and White Feather Foundation Inspire and educate the next generation of Planet Protectors, while contributing to an important cause!
Barefoot Books is an award-winning independent children’s book publisher with a mission to instill in young readers three of their dearest values: Conservation, Community and Connectedness. With the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow and climate change continuing to make international headlines, the future of our planet is on kids' and adults' minds. Kids have the passion to help protect our planet, so what can we do to empower them to take action? Barefoot Books has partnered with The White Feather Foundation, founded by Julian Lennon, to curate a collection of products and resources to educate kids about the environment, and give them real ways they can make a positive impact in their communities right now. This Planet Protector Pack includes:
Buy the Planet Protector Pack Here as its a great gift for the Holidays, Birthdays, Families and for Teachers!  Image: Farver Farms We LOVE Lentils because they have great plant-based Protein, however, we don't cook them as much as we'd like. Here's a great solution - you've got to try Farver Farms' Lentil Crunchers Sweet Hickory Flavor Snacks.
They are made with Lentils on their Fifth Generation Montana Family Farm and they are sweet and smoky with just a little kick! These Lentil snacks are loaded with protein and fiber, and are a great vegan and gluten free snack! The other flavor we like is Dill Pickle. Enjoy! :)  Fabrizia Limoncello We recently enjoyed a lovely variety of Fabrizia Lemon Baking Company goods paired with their Limoncello and we think about every item every day as every baked good was delightful with just the perfect amount of Limoncello! The Cookies, Whoopie Pies, Blondies, Lemon Cake and Biscotti are all our favorites as it was hard to pick one (and we're pretty picky in a good way ) :) Fabrizia Lemon Baking Company is a family owned business which incorporates award-winning Fabrizia Limoncello into each and every one of its baked goods. After launching Fabrizia Spirits (the leading producer of Limoncello in America) in 2008, brothers Phil and Nick Mastroianni longed to share another cultural aspect of their upbringing.... food especially after visiting their family's historical homeland, Italy.  Fabrizia Lemon Baking Company "Growing up in an Italian household, food was always a big part of our lives and we wanted to share that in a unique way...with a special Limoncello twist", said Phil Mastroianni Co-owner and Co-founder of Fabrizia. "What separates us from everyone else are the ingredients that we choose to use for our Limoncello and baked goods. We import all of our lemons directly from Sicily and they are the ONLY thing that provides our Limoncello with its flavor and color. That Limoncello is then used as the foundation to our cookies, biscotti, lemon loaves, blondies, cake jars and whoopie pies!". Less than a year after its launch, Food & Beverage magazine called Fabrizia's Limoncello cookie 'The world's most perfect cookie...irresistible!" All of Fabrizia Lemon Baking Company's products are perfect holiday and hostess/host gifts and can be found at https://www.fabrizialemonbakingcompany.com  Credit: Nature's Path Our families don't add sugar to anything; Even our plant-based milks are unsweetened to avoid added sugars. If you like Granola and don't like the added sugar, here's some great news for you!
Nature's Path has added two new No Added Sugar Granolas to their portfolio: Mixed Berry Granola and Almond Butter Vanilla Granola! No Added Sugar granola is 100% certified organic ingredients and is now available at major retailers nationwide including Kroger, Target and Amazon. Enjoy! We are :)  Image: STASH. Double Spice Chai and Orange Mocktail Are you looking to 'spice up' your Summer Tea Times? Stash Tea has brewed up an assortment of tea-infused non-alcoholic and alcoholic chilled libations sure to help you cool down on hot summer nights and steamy summer days. Take a moment and chillax on the chaise with one of these Stash Tea tea-infused summer quencher recipes:
Mango Passionfruit Hard Seltzer Chai and Orange Mocktail was created for Stash Tea by Veronica Hendrix. Veronica is a Los Angeles-based journalist, cooking coach, recipe developer, Food Network finalist, and podcaster. Regent Punch Pom Raspberry Iced Tea Cocktail Shaken Mango Passionfruit Tea Soda Enjoy!  Image: Taub Family Selections Are you looking for a new refreshing Brut Rosé? Valdo Floral Spumante Brut Rosé is a blend of Nerello Mascalese (75%), a notorious Sicilian native grape (the vineyards are located approximately 1,000 feet above the sea level on the lower slopes of the Etna volcano in Sicily), and Glera (25%), from Veneto, mainly known as the “Prosecco Grape”.
Both grapes are harvested during September, and the blend results in a sophisticated quality wine that presents a typical fruity bouquet with hints of raspberry and red fruits. The fine perlage is obtained by a selection of natural yeasts that grant a pleasant round finish. Enjoy!  Image: Stone Soup Leadership Institute “Stone Soup for a Sustainable World: Life-Changing Stories of Young Heroes” features the stories of 100 young climate change trailblazers, environmental justice changemakers, educator champions, sustainable business leaders, intergenerational legacy figures, green inventors and entrepreneurs, and emerging island leaders from 38 countries worldwide and 32 U.S. cities.
These brave young people have innovative solutions to the most challenging issues of our times and they are shining the light and inviting us to join them - before it's too late. WHY THESE STORIES ARE SO IMPORTANT: “Stone Soup for a Sustainable World'' invites readers to take concrete actions to support these young heroes and their organizations, and to help them maximize their impact in building a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. A six-year-old girl in the Netherlands, appalled at what she learns about plastic pollution in the oceans, begins a determined campaign to fight it. By the time she is 8, she has started a Facebook page, and by the time she is 12 she and her followers have picked up 200,000 pieces of plastic. A young entrepreneur in Barcelona has a successful business making fashionable eyewear out of plastic waste retrieved from the ocean. A young woman in Mumbai begins by turning a scrapyard in her neighborhood into an urban garden, and goes on to become a researcher/educator about the importance of protecting native plants. Two sisters in London, ages 8 and 10, learn about the devastating effect deforestation is having on orangutans. They confront Kellogg’s on their palm oil suppliers, and succeed in getting them to support more sustainable practices. A young woman in Uganda goes from standing alone outside her parliament, holding up signs about the urgency of climate action, and is now an internationally known spokeswoman for the movement. When a young American realizes the connection between social justice issues and the climate crisis, he creates The Climate Reporter, an online publication that features the work of young climate activists worldwide. Now, as the youngest member of the White House's Environmental Justice Advisory Council, he is helping to plan a strategy for combating the global climate crisis. These are just a few of the encouraging, inspiring, and ultimately very hopeful stories in these pages. In addition to the stories of today’s younger generation taking on the challenges of climate change, there are stories of those in previous generations who have through the years fought for and kept the dream of social justice alive, from heroes like Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Cesar Chavez to the youth today who take courage and inspiration from their examples, and are carrying out those dreams. There are also stories about ordinary people as well as Hollywood stars (Laura Dern, Ed Begley Jr.) who have supported successful businesses that use sustainable practices. And there are intergenerational family stories too: the grandchildren of Peter Yarrow, Mahatma Gandhi, and Cesar Chavez, and the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy tell not only how their families inspired them, but what they are doing today to carry out the dream of a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. This book needs to be on your bookshelf regardless of your age, your ethnicity, or your interest in environmental activism. Not only does it give hope and encouragement that positive change IS possible, but it also provides an action plan for how to get involved and do it. Need more inspiration and encouragement? 100% of the proceeds from this book are donated to the Stone Soup Leadership Institute's global initiatives. (Over the last 20 years, this non-profit organization has invested in training young people from around the world to become leaders in their communities and the world!) “We need to help our children understand and contribute to the world they are living in. The stories in this book of courageous youth leaders around the world are a great educational tool. They challenge us all to do whatever we can to build a more sustainable world for all children.” —Matt Damon, Actor, Co-Founder Water.org "These dedicated young people are a shining example of how we can imagine a more sustainable world. I encourage you to read the inspiring stories in this book. Listen to these young people. Learn from them. Join with them. Support them. Let's get to work! It's going to take all of us working together. The planet is counting on us, and so are our children.” —Ted Danson, Actor, Co-Founder Oceana  Image: Barebell Are you looking for a new and delicious plant-based protein bar? Barebells Functional Foods™ was launched in Sweden in 2016 to offer products high-in-protein plant-based bars that are 100% vegan and dairy-free, with 15 grams of protein, no added sugar, and no palm oil.
One of our favorite bars is Hazelnut & Nougat which blends a delicious combination of creamy nougat and crispy chocolate-covered hazelnuts. Each bar has 15g of plant-based protein derived from soy, peas, and rice. Enjoy! |
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