December 23rd, 2009 by Val
The holidays are here – tis the season to be jolly. Entertaining is at its peak during the holiday season. And garbage-creation is also at its peak: between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, Americans produce 25% more trash – about 5 million extra tons – than at any other time of the year.
This year, consider hosting a zero-waste holiday party in celebration of the season. You’ll find you not only conserve resources; you’ll save some green as well. How? It’s easy: just check out our list of simple, sustainable party tips and tactics designed to ensure a memorable gathering. From invitations to decorations, party favors to clean-up, we’ve got plenty of holiday party strategies to help you put a little more green into this greenest of seasons.
Invitations
- For party invitations, consider using a free online service such as www.evite.com. With its free electronic invitation service you’ll save time and postage – and the cost of paper invites, too.
- If you still want to send out paper invitations, choose those made from recycled or tree-free paper (such as hemp or rag). Better yet, recycle last year’s greeting cards and use the fronts as postcards for your holiday get-together. Not only will you end up with fun, unique invitations — you’ll save on postage, too! Didn’t save last year’s cards? Begin with this year’s and you’ll start a fun and planet-friendly tradition.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Eco friendly Christmas Party, Green Party, Holiday Party Tips
Posted in Green Living | 1 Comment »
November 22nd, 2009 by Val
To roll out Greenfeet’s 2009 Gift Guide, I decided to start with a few personal picks. These are items I’ll be giving this year. Shhh…don’t tell my family and friends! Stay tuned for more gift giving ideas over the next several weeks!
Smooshed Ice Cream Set
Our Smooshed Ice Cream Set ($18.95) is an official hit with young and old alike. This makes a fun family gift or for the enthusiastic chef(s) in the house. Easy to use, our kit allows you to create gourmet desserts on a budget and with personal tastes in mind. For an extra personal touch, include your favorite ice cream treat recipe tucked inside the box. The kit contains a marble slab and two anti-freeze stainless steel ice cream spades. |
|
 |
Organic Cotton Pixie Doll
Ok, so now you’re going to see my girlie side. Our Organic Cotton Pixie doll ($24.95). Maia, as she is called, made all of us girls in the office squeal when she arrived (yeah, the guys just rolled their eyes). Hey, guys have matchbox – we have dolls. What makes Maia a fave of mine? She’s an adorable, quality cloth doll made from organically grown cotton at an affordable price Her facial features are stitched – not painted so they won’t rub off after a lot of lovin’. Designed for kids 3 and up, Maia also comes with information about her homeland, the Amazon Rainforest. It details the forest, the dangers she faces and what the child can do to help. It’s a very positive message. Oh, and she has a sister too! |
 |
Recycled Circuit Board 4″ x 6″ Photo Frame
Our Recycled Circuit Board Photo Frame ($18.95) is perfect for the eco-geek or recycling enthusiast on your list. This unusual photo frame is made from a reclaimed circuit board and holds a 4” x 6” photo. It has a metal pin as a stand and is made right here in the USA. This is the kind of gift just about everybody can use – especially if you’ve already filled it with a photo of you and the recipient. Available in blue or green. |
 |
Waffle Weave Cotton Towel
I LOVE THESE TOWELS! Yes, yes I do. Our Waffle Weave Bath Towels ($22.95) have become synonymous with an European hotel experience. These super absorbent cotton bath towels feel invigorating to the skin, are extremely durable and are available in a variety of colors. You can’t go wrong giving a set of these towels as a gift any time of year. If you have a traveler in your family, consider giving a few of the waffle weave hand towels. They are generously sized and are popular with the backpacker or traveler who packs lightly as they handle an all over drying after a shower or dip in the creek and dry quickly. I like them as I have to watch moisture in my bathroom to keep mold at bay. These cotton towels look great, perform beyond expectations and the manufacturer supports family farms and provides education to the villagers where the cotton is grown. They feel good in so many ways. We also offer a new version of the waffle weave – these are called Modern Waffle Weave. Colors are brighter, weave is a bit looser (geez- sounds like me) and they are a bit softer in texture. |
 |
Hand Cranked Generator “Dynamo Torch” Green Science Kit
Personally, I love giving gifts to kids both fun and educational. Our line of green science kits include the Dynamo Torch ($9.95) which I plan on giving to my son and nephew. This cool green science kit uses hand motion to create electric power. What a fun way to make a kid feel as powerful as a super-hero! It has a metal coil that rotates between the poles of an electromagnet. This rotation causes a current to flow, creating electricity. This concept is known as electromagnetism. They’ll turn a toy motor into a generator that converts hand motion into enough electricity to power a light bulb. As a bonus, this kit includes instructions on how to make a neat emergency torch out of a recycled soda bottle. This is clean renewable energy at its best – no pollution, no batteries just good old fashioned people-power. A nice lesson in alternative energy resources and mechanics for your favorite mad-scientist. |
 |
Hand Painted Portuguese Olive Dish
Our hand-painted Portuguese Olive Dish is a gem in my opinion. The photo doesn’t describe how pretty it is. It’s creative design allows for olives on one side and the pits on another. Set in the center of a dinner table or scatter throughout the room for a cocktail party. Double duty this little beauty for dipping sauces, or place appetizers on one side and the toothpicks on the other. It’s made under Fair Trade conditions and is a wonderful gift for the entertainer, olive lover, or as a hostess gift coupled with a jar of gourmet olives. |
 |
Eco-Cup Reusable Coffee Cup
I love reusable coffee cups. Our Eco-Cup Reusable Coffee Cup ($9.95) and silicone lid is a fun alternative to disposable coffee cups. It includes a silicone cup cozy to protect your hands from a hot beverage. The whole thing looks exactly like a disposable coffee cup but instead its made from heat absorbing ceramic (helps keep the beverage warm) and the lid is great for people or students who can’t have cups on their desks without a lid. We also offer the Chico Cozy – a handmade cup sleeve with insulation properties designed to protect your hands from heat. It works on this cup as well as other to-go cups. I recommend keeping one stashed in the glove compartment for unexpected stops at the coffee house and for when you have forgotten your reusable mug. It’s ok, I do it too on occasion. Both of these make great gifts for co-workers, students, professionals and even the mom-on-the-go. |
 |
ChicoBag Messenger Bag
My friends over at ChicoBag have done it again! The new ChicoBag Messenger Bag ($17.95) is one of the most innovative designs in compact reusable bags I’ve seen. So, let’s say you’re strolling down the street of a quaint town while on vacation. You wander into a shop and low and behold there is the exact doo-dad you’ve been looking for! Being the prepared eco-warrior, you whip out of your purse, pocket or backpack, the ChicoBag messenger bag. It’s snug in its own little bag until in one fell swoop, voila! It’s a full size messenger bag that holds about 40lbs. Its classic messenger bag design allows you to wear it across your shoulder minimizing stress on your back and shoulders. Available in several colors, I think this is one slick must-have for anyone on the move. |
 |
| Be sure to subscribe to the blog so you’ll get the latest additions to this years Green Gift Guide. We’ve still got new product coming in and I’ll be sure to highlight them here! |
Tags: ChicoBag, Cotton Towel, Gift Guide 2009, Green Gift Guide, Green Living Products, Green Olive, Green Products, Green Toys, Holiday Gift Guide, Olive Dish, Sustainable Gift Guide
Posted in Green Gift Guide | 1 Comment »
November 9th, 2009 by Val
I love cranberries yet I (and most Americans) only seem to eat them during the holiday season. Why is that? Perhaps it’s that the cranberry is undervalued in terms of its versatility. Perhaps it’s that most folks have only had it in the jellied form – or as a juice. We were having a discussion of cranberries over coffee one morning here at Greenfeet HQ and decided the lowly cranberry needed to improve its street cred.
We know our friends are up for a good challenge so we called out on Greenfeet’s Facebook fan page and through Twitter for your best cranberry recipes – the winner to receive a prize package from Greenfeet. You didn’t disappoint. We had some great recipes and ideas coming at us from all angles. The winning recipe is posted below.
I have an amazing recipe for cranberries and orange I’ll post a bit later in the holiday season. It’s worth looking out for. But, in the meantime, I’d really encourage you to consider all the different ways you can utilize this seasonal fruit. Consider cranberry upside down cake, cranberry-tini’s, cranberry chicken salad (YUM!), cranberry quick bread, oh shall I continue? Ok- Throw some dried cranberries in your spinach salad, or add a few to your cookies. Integrating these little beauties into your diet is easier than you think. Speaking of beauties, cranberries are the divas of the berry world.
I mean did you know the cranberry is one of only three berries native to North America that are grown commercially? Yep. And they’re a festidious little berry. They only grow in certain conditions according to the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association. Optimum conditions include acid peat soil, plenty of fresh water, sand and a growing season stretching from April to November, including a dormancy period in the winter months providing an extended chilling period, necessary to mature fruiting buds. Hmmm, I could use a ‘chilling’ period for a few months a year myself. I think crannies know what they’re doing.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: cranberries, cranberry pork roast, cranberry recipe, health benefits, healthy diet, lower cholesterol
Posted in Recipes | No Comments »
September 20th, 2009 by Val
This recipe is courtesy of Greenfeet Marketing Assistant Tia Newby. Now, this apparently comes from her sister but either way, they are easy to make and tasty. If you have any additions or a recipe of your own to share, please add them in the comment section.
Handmade flour tortillas
3 cups flour (we recommend Organic. Bob’s Red Mill is a great brand)
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
6 tablespoons of vegetable shortening (yes you can use lard but veggie shortening is healthier!)
1 1/4 cups warm water
Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
Add 6 Tablespoons of vegetable shortening to the dry ingredients. Use a fork to mix together (or, you can dig in and use your hands like Grandma!)
Mix in the warm water. You can use the fork, but we find it’s best to use your flour dusted hands. Knead the dough for a couple of minutes then separate the dough into about 12 small balls.
Set aside for about 10 minutes.
Heat your griddle with a spray of cooking oil.
Either use a rolling pin to roll out tortillas on a floured surface or break out your easy to use tortilla press from Greenfeet and knock ‘em out lickety split!
Place your homemade flour tortillas on the grill for just a bit (usually less than a minute) on each side and fill with your favorite recipes! Enjoy!
Tags: flour tortilla recipe, homemade tortilla, organic flour tortillas
Posted in Recipes | 4 Comments »
September 20th, 2009 by Val
I love tortillas. They’re a staple in my family’s pantry because they’re inexpensive, portable and a great way to use up leftovers. I mean have you ever had a warm tortilla filled with leftover heated mashed potatoes, sautéed mushrooms and a sprinkling of blue cheese? Its heaven deliciously wrapped up. A few months back I was reading an article on making your own tortillas. It intrigued me. I also discovered that tortillas are healthier than I thought. Here are some interesting statistics from the Tortilla Industry Association: Flour Tortillas:
- Are a low-fat food.
- Contain iron & other B vitamins.
- A flour tortilla averages 115 calories and 2-3 grams of fat per serving.
Corn Tortillas:
- Are a low-fat, low-sodium food.
- Contain calcium, potassium and fiber. I recommend organic corn masa whenever possible.
- A corn tortilla averages 60 calories with 1 gram of fat per serving.
- Corn is gluten-free. This makes for a great alternative to bread for those with gluten allergies.
After seeing how easy they are to make and that they wouldn’t kill my daily calorie count I figured I needed to own one. I waved my magical purchasing wand and Wa-lah! We are now carrying a quality tortilla press at Greenfeet.com.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: corn tortilla, flour tortilla, homemade mexican tortillas, tortilla, tortilla press
Posted in Green Living | 3 Comments »
