Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Seeds Magazine: Sustainable, Environmentally Efficient Discourse Source
Seeds Magazine: Sustainable, Environmentally Efficient Discourse Source
Seeds Magazine: Sustainable, Environmentally Efficient Discourse Source
Critical Mass:
A Trendy Revolution
San Diego activists whiz through heavy
traffic to reclaim the streets for bicyclists.
May 2009
Beauty
40
Local
10
Local: The New Organic
12
STORY BY:
Nicole Gagne
Crafts
16
Planting Memories
19
STORY BY:
27
Ashly McGlone
San Diego activists whiz through
heavy traffic to reclaim the
streets for bicyclists.
STORY BY:
Amy Berkhoudt
Home
31
Living Every Day
Sustainably
Sports
Shopping
42
Green for less Green
1 2
Managing Editor Head Editor Arts Director
3
Ads Manager
4 5
Circulation Manager
1. Emily Atkins is a senior at Point Loma 2. After nearly a decade of magazine reporting, Ashly has won numerous ac-
Nazarene University. She believes that colades from the Society of Professional Journalists including Journalist of the
the conservation of finite resources will Year three years in a row for her in-depth reporting on teachers in Iraq, the
always be an important global topic. drug cartel deep in the jungles of Central America and her investigative piece
After graduation, Emily looks forward to into the illegal bidding for President Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat. As
working in the green industry in hopes of editor-in-chief of Seeds Magazine, Ashly enjoys delving into stories of national
making sustainable living a viable option and international importance, while also conveying their local application for
for everyone. “green” living.
Santa Monica
75% The percentage of
cocoa in a bar of
chocolate that provides high
amounts of antioxidants. For
The city with the largest farmer’s market on the
west coast. Check out the delicious recipes found
in The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook.
1817
The year Baron Von Drais invented
the Draisienne, a predecessor to the
modern bicycle.
Minthe
(volatile organic comound) free,
making them a smart choice for the
environment.
The name of the nymph who was
turned into mint, according to
Greek mythology.
A Tomato’s Journey
1
Consider the tomato, rich in vitamin A and C and miner-
als calcium and potassium, a household friend that usu-
ally endures a long journey from farms in Mexico in or-
der to get on to the lunch plate. They have been an import
from the 1880s but received high demand as Sinaloa, a
produce brand, grew in the 1920s, according to Deborah
Brandt in Women, Work and Globalization on the Tomato
Trail.
2
In their green house, tomatoes are usually sprayed with a
variety of agrochemicals: pesticides, herbicides and fun-
gicides. These keep the tomatoes growing faster, stronger,
more uniform, and in greater quantities. Not to mention,
blemish-free.
4
The best tomatoes are then chosen to be packed, stick-
ered, and boxed (the rejects go to local farms or are used
as animal feed) and then are carried north and sealed,
stacked, wrapped, and moved to the packing plant.
Mexico ships 700 thousand tons of tomatoes annually to
the United States and Canada, according to Linda Tons of
The Toronto Star newspaper.
5
From a few days to a week, the tomatoes are kept until e
en
they are ripe enough to export, sometimes being sprayed hyl
et
with ethylene to speed up the ripening process. This gas is
dangerous for humans to inhale.
6 The tomatoes are then packed onto trucks for their two-day
journey north, to a supermarket near you. Sound appetiz-
ing? Locally grown food skips the chemicals allowing the
tomato to maintain its natural nutrients all the while sup-
porting local farmers.
Sustainable
Green
travel ripens in
Travellers are ditching the glitz and glam in favor of the sustainable and
eco-friendly. Hostels are responding with innovative ways to go-green.
U
pon entering the hostel, a
dirty-blonde dread-locked,
waif of a girl, donning tat-
tered blue-jeans two sizes too
big, and a wife beater tank-top
greets you.
After receiving and swip-
ing your key card, the door opens and you hear the
sounds of Portuguese, Hindi, Dutch, Italian and
English voices blending together to fill the dining
area. It is an international affair.
The barn-red exterior of the building, coupled
with an unsuspecting residential location, conceals
the hostel’s identity from the street.
Inside, local and international visitors gather to
share a meal, but not just any meal. On the menu:
a vegetarian lasagna, salad and berry-cobbler, all
made with locally grown produce and grain pro-
vided by Ocean Beach People’s Cooperative. Indie
tunes reverberate off the walls of the patio as local
artist Stasia Conger sings and strums ‘Hostels are increasing in ripen in the green market, hostels have
the acoustic guitar while a band mate become an essential part of the process
plays the bongos. Visitors discuss the revenue and popularity for travelers worldwide.
food and memorable cultural experi- Travelers are no longer purely think-
ences.
as the tourism industry ing about staying in the biggest and the
“The word red-neck is so silly sound- crashes.’ best while increasing consumption. For
ing. Reddd-necckk,” the British woman Jared McCannell, Hostelling International some, the best now entails being a con-
says, enunciating the vowels. volunteer and activities coordinator scientious consumer by staying in eco-
Giggling ensues from the Brit, as friendly hostels.
well as the French woman and the Italian With locally-grown food, low-flow
woman with whom she is conversing. shower heads and energy efficient light
“How do you say that in French?” the bulbs, Hostelling International’s [HI]
Italian woman asks. Point Loma Hostel exemplifies this shift
“I guess it would be ‘cou rouge,’” says in priorities.
the French woman. Jared McCannell, HI-San Diego’s vol-
“Well that’s not as funny as red-neck,” unteer and activities coordinator, defines
the British woman snickers. a hostel as “budget accommodations for
In addition to enjoying music and con- sustainable tourism.” That’s the buzz-
versations, overnight visitors to the hostel word nowadays, he said. “Hostels are in-
rest easy knowing their carbon footprint creasing in revenue and popularity as the
has been reduced on this vacation. tourism industry crashes.”
As sustainable travel continues to HI enjoyed more than 40 percent an-
S
tuffed in a bag between my desk
and bookcase, I keep my collection
of pack-rat souvenirs from travels
abroad: stamps, receipts, theater tickets, etc.
Instead of letting my travel treasures rot in
a bag, or (gulp) throwing them away, I used
them to help recycle a peanut butter jar into
a personalized planter.
To transform an ordinary peanut butter
jar into a planter, first find paper scraps from
your trips abroad, (plane tickets, theater
tickets, receipts with interesting graphics,
etc.). Not as much of a pack rat as I am, or
haven’t traveled anywhere yet? Don’t worry,
many materials will work as planter decor;
try old family photos, old birthday cards or
comic strips.
For this craft, you will also need a 15oz
plastic or glass peanut butter jar washed
thoroughly, with outside label removed;
a tall, thin soda can, like those used for
Rockstar energy drinks (the can I used was a
10.5 fl oz. Hansen sparkling water); masking
tape or painter’s tape, scissors, and a plant
or herb.
Set can, scissors and herb aside for now.
Fit travel pieces into peanut butter jar, push-
ing them tight against plastic (or glass) fac-
ing outward, so they’re visible through the
jar. Arrange pieces into a collage. Many will
Planting
stay in place without tape, but occasionally
use tape to secure smaller pieces. Do not
tape pieces directly to the jar; you shouldn’t
be able to see the tape when looking at the
memories
outside of the jar.
After you’ve finished decorating your jar,
set it aside and use scissors to cut the top off
of soda can. Be careful! Aluminum can be
sharp. Cut the soda can down so that it fits
1
1) Decorating inside
of jar with receipts,
tickets and stamps
from travels
4
2) Use tape to se-
cure collage, but do
not tape directly to
jar
3) Cut top off the
soda can
4) Plant mint in the
soda can
5) Slip the soda can
into decorated jar.
Right: Completed
planter personalized
2
with remnants from
travels.
5
inside decorated peanut butter jar. Note: when
watering, be sure to water directly into the soda
can and not into the jar, so that your paper col-
lage does not get wet.
If you’ve done all your collage-ing and
cutting, but can’t decide which herb to plant, I
3
suggest you try mint. According to Gardening-
Guides.com, all varieties of mint are fragrant
and work well as potted indoor plants. Two
common varieties of mint, peppermint and pen-
nyroyal, have medicinal properties. Peppermint
is thought to have a soothing effect on nerves,
and when added to a hot cup of tea, can clear
sinus congestion. Pennyroyal, a non-edible va-
riety of mint, can be rubbed on skin as a natural
bug repellent (GardenGuides.com suggests you
test on small area of skin first to make sure you
are not allergic).
Your peanut butter planter is not only a
way to add a fragrant herb to your home, but a
unique display case for the keepsakes you’ve
collected from around the world, and a creative
way to recycle. Enjoy! s
National
• Energy Independence
and Security Act (2007) • Oceans Act (2000)
ed
ed ass
ass P Establishes U.S. Commission on
Ocean Policy who was tasked with
• HR 1337 America’s
Energy Security Trust
Fund Act (2009)
ing
nd
Pe
This bill would impose a
per-unit tax on the carbon
dioxide content of fossil fuels
beginning at a rate of $15 per
metric ton of CO2 and increas-
ing by 10 percent each year,
also accounting for inflation.
The tax would be assessed on
the CO2 content of these fuels
when they enter the economy:
at oil refineries, coal process-
ing plants and points of import.
Source: The Online Office of
Congressman John B. Larson
• AB 32 Global
Warming Solutions
Act (2006)
• AB 1358
Non-Recyclable Food
Packaging Ban
(Proposed 2009-2010)
ing
d
• AB 3056 Bottle Pen Bans the use of non-recyclable
plastic food packaging. Typical
polystyrene food packaging is not
Bill (2006) recyclable and is one of the largest
components of marine debris pol-
Provides increased incentives for lution.
s
cycling and use container types with
Local National
• California Green Corps
(est. March 2009) • Renewable Energy
Projects
Using $10 million from the stimu- The $789 billion stimulus package pro-
lus and another $10 million from vides increased funding, extended tax
public-private partnerships, the corps incentives and grants to encourage re-
establishes a work training program newable energy projects, energy savings
for high-risk youth between the ages and green jobs. More than $54 billion
of 16 and 24 for jobs in the emerg- is going toward investment renewable
ing green economy. Source: Office of technology, public transportation and
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger developing an energy-efficient electric-
ity grid. Also included is $500 million
for green job training Source: House of
Representatives, Committee on Appro-
priations
News
Department of Energy
“The $789 billion $74.701 billion
stimulus package
provides increased
funding, extended
tax incentives and
grants to encourage
renewable energy
projects, energy sav-
ings and green jobs.” Energy efficiency and renewable Fossil energy
energy (building energy codes) research and
development
Uranium plan decommissioning
Electricity delivery and energy Innovative
reliability (new electricity grid) Technology Loan
Guarantee Program
Non-defense environmental
cleanup
* Not including tax cuts and tax incentives. For more information on the $20 billion in green tax incentives for purchases like solar panels, hybrid electric cars
and even mass transit tickets, please visit our blog at seedsmagazine.blogspot.com.
J
on and Susan Rodriguez were not happy with
their continuously climbing utility bills. Trying
to raise three kids in a 3,000 square foot house
in an energy-challenged southern California was be-
coming impossible.
Instead of accepting their energy plight, Jon and
Susan turned to a solution that is quickly becoming
a trend among homeowners throughout the country:
Friends of the environment:
solar panels.
The Rodriguez family.
“The panels were the best investment we’ve ever
made,” said Jon. “The rebates reduced the cost of
solar panels to something affordable. Our energy bill
last year was only $60.”
Alternative energy sources are just a few of the green
T
gent and labor is cheap. These com-
he surfboard: a shapely piece is extremely toxic, even in short-term panies continue to use TDI to make
of foam, fiberglass and resin exposures. their boards, as well as toxic resins.
that allows mere men to ride The EPA website writes, “Acute “We have a social responsibility;
the ocean. There’s a certain purity exposure to high levels of Toluene Di we don’t poison workers in the US,
to surfing that comes from stepping Isocyanate in humans, via inhalation, so we shouldn’t poison Mexicans,”
into a liquid world and harnessing a results in severe irritation of the skin said McMahon.
natural power. Surfers are known for and eyes and affects the respiratory, In 2007, Chuck Menzel, a surfer
being in tune with the environment gastrointestinal, and central nervous and shaper from Ventura, approached
and having earth-friendly lifestyles. system. Chronic inhalation expo- McMahon with an idea for blanks
Ironically, a surfboard is full of sure…has resulted in significant de- made from agriculturally based poly-
toxic chemicals that cause cancer, re- creases in lung function in workers, ols. Menzel had come up with a recipe
spiratory failure and are very harmful an asthma-like reaction characterized for blanks that were 50 percent plant-
to the environment. by wheezing, dyspnea and bronchial based and was looking for a partner.
In 2005, Gordon Clark, the ty- constriction.” “Chuck called up one day and said,
coon of the surfboard foam industry, When making surfboard blanks, ‘I’ve been working on this project, do
shocked the surfing world when he which are the foam core of a surf- you want to look at it?’ When he came
closed his business. board, workers mix the chemicals and down with the soy polyols and stuff, it
“For owning and operating Clark hand-pour them into molds. was a no-brainer not to continue down
Foam, I may be looking at very large “TDI absorbs through your skin,” that road,” said McMahon.
fines, civil lawsuits and even time in said Ned McMahon, co-founder of HomeBlown US began offering
prison,” wrote Clark in a fax to his HomeBlown US, a blank manufactur- blanks made with MDI, as well as
distributors. “The main concern of the ing company in San Diego. “Protec- Biofoam blanks made with Menzel’s
state and the county government is a tion doesn’t do anything.” recipe. The technology is constantly
toxic chemical we used called Tolu- In Clark’s fax, he wrote that three evolving to meet the performance
ene Di Isocyanate, commonly called ex-employees were on full Workman’s standards of boards made with TDI.
TDI.” Compensation for life. Maria Teresa A good surfboard is strong, with-
The Environmental Protection Barriga, the widow of ex-employee out being heavy, and has good flex,
Agency lists TDI as a carcinogen that Martin Barriga, was also suing Clark but maintains the ability to snap back.
Sports
Surfboards are forever evolving as
shapers look for different combina-
tions that will make the perfect board.
Surfers are characteristically picky
not only about how their boards per-
form, but also how they look.
The blanks McMahon is pour-
ing are actually stronger than boards
made with the classic chemical cock-
tails. The cell structure of the foam is
finer and more uniform, resulting in
a stronger, smoother blank with su-
perior hardness. The boards are also
offering more flex, allowing surfers
a greater sense of the wave through
their boards.
McMahon has also been experi-
menting with natural cloths, such as
hemp and silk, to replace the unsus-
tainable fiberglass cloths tradition-
ally used in surfboards. Turns out the
alternative cloths are stronger than
fiberglass. Also, boards made with
plant-based materials take longer to
discolor under the stress of UV rays.
“It’s always been my opinion that
you can’t do green things for green’s
sake; it has to match performance,” blanks are being stacked next to wind- Above: A local surfer shreds on his Bio-
said McMahon. mill blades, which will be used to gen- foam board.
Unfortunately, McMahon’s boards erate energy. McMahon is also work-
Below: Foam blanks wait their turn to be
are not pure white like the classic ing on spy plane, or drone, models for shaped and glassed.
blanks. Also, colored resins don’t the Department of Defense.
work well with the soy-based blanks; “I just sent in the prototype yester-
the colors tend to crystallize, turning day,” he said. “When a drone falls out
the boards brownish red. The use of of the sky, people have to go collect
alternative cloths has also presented it, but some of the pieces always get
an aesthetic challenge. left behind. Now, those pieces won’t
This has been a surprising obsta- degrade the environment.”
cle for the marketing of HomeBlown The project McMahon is most ex-
boards. cited about is building low-income
“There’s always the fine balance housing using his foam composites
between what you want to do and for walls. He said the houses would be
what you can do commercially,” said extremely durable and inexpensive.
McMahon. “The ship of surfing is a “There’s a need for low cost hous-
slow ship to turn.” ing all over the world,” said McMa-
In 2008, McMahon moved out hon. “Security is a big issue, and these
from under Menzel’s Biofoam prod- houses can be built really strongly.”
uct to continue developing surfboards McMahon believes that it takes
that were completely environmen- little steps to accomplish an overall
tally friendly. In his pursuit of better change. Perseverance is another ne-
foam, McMahon realized he could cessity for McMahon, as he is look-
influence more than just the surfing ing to impact more than the surfing
industry. industry.
McMahon also founded Malama “At some point, we have to edu-
Composites last year, a company that cate people to make them realize what
specializes in replacing bad foam with the situation is,” he said. “The only
foam developed from renewable hy- thing that makes sense is to do some-
drocarbon sources. Now, surfboard thing.” s
seeds May 2009 | 39
Beauty
Editor’s Spotlight
personal beauty and skin
care, the natural way
Written by Nicole Gagné
W
hether you’re a woman is: do the products work? which can last between three and
looking for a line of I won’t pretend to have tried five months, since you only need a
beauty products using every one of their products, but as a pea-sized drop at a time.
naturally derived ingredients and no consumer I can admit to being a sat- And if you want further values
animal testing, or a man search- isfied customer for more than four and savings, you can always sign up
ing for a shaving gel straight from years. I have used several of their to be a registered Origins customer.
nature, chances are Origins has face washes, shower gels, lotions, By giving them some simple contact
something for you. That’s why the and cosmetics, and have not been information, you’ll receive spe-
product line is my pick for our May disappointed in any of them. cial offers online and in the mail.
spotlight. My personal favorite is their Personally, I always enjoy getting a
Founded in 1990, the company “Make A Difference” hand lotion, $10 off coupon every year for my
now has over 500 locations in retail which was the only successful birthday!
and department stores, across the product I could find for revers- Overall, Origins is a friendly, hip,
Uunited States and in 26 other ing the results of sadly mistreated
countries. The health and beauty and cracked hands. Other great
line has a fairly broad variety of products include “Skin Diver,” their
products, including cosmetics, bath pore-cleansing charcoal body wash;
and body products, skin care prod- “Clear Improvement” charcoal mask
ucts, and aroma therapy candles. for men and women; “Stay Tuned”
Need confirmation that Origins balancing makeup… the list goes on
is certifiably nature-friendly? Here’s and on!
some good news for concerned con- In fact, I’ve recommended their
sumers: the company uses animal- lotions to friends and family mem-
free ingredients (except cruelty-free bers, who have all had similarly
products like beeswax and honey), pleasant things to say about the
no dyes or synthetic fragrances, and success of Origins’ products. You
no harsh chemicals. In addition, don’t need a feminine side to ap-
all of their printed materials are preciate their product line either—
produced using soy-based inks and Origins has just as many skin and
recycled paper products. Origins grooming products for men as they
is so committed to conserving our do for women.
resources that they even have wind That being said, the next ques-
and solar powered plants that pro- tion in your mind: pricing. Most of
duce these printed products! their lotions range from between
Origins’ mission statement sums 20 and 50 dollars, depending on the
up their purpose nicely: “to pro- size and type. All I can say is that
mote beauty and wellness through you are paying for quality, which
good-for-you products and feel- means a slightly higher price than
good experiences. We do this by something you might buy at your
celebrating the connection between local drugstores. However, most of
Mother Nature and Human Nature.” their products tend to come in fairly
Of course, there are other impor- generous quantities, so you aren’t
tant issues to consider than just the having to stock up once a month.
fact that the company is environ- The smallest container of hand
mentally involved. A major question lotion comes in 2.5 fluid ounces,
Favorites 1
1 “Skin Diver”
Charcoal Body
Wash
2 “Make A
Difference”
Rejuvinating Hand 2
Cream
3 “Clear
Improve-
ment” Active
Charcoal Mask
4
and environmentally conscious
“Stay Tuned”
place to shop. By dishing out a
Balancing Face
few extra bucks, you’re getting
Makeup;
products you can count on and the
assurance that no animals have
been harmed in either production
or testing. I recommend checking
it out today! You can shop online
and find out more about Origins at 3
www.Origins.com. s
Green
for less
Green
The search for affordable, sustain-
able business suits
I
was desperate for a matching business suit. The night before my
formal presentation in my business course, I tried on the “business
suit” I was planning to wear—black jeans and a black suit jacket
with a fake pink rose pinned to it. Looking at myself in the mirror, I
realized I needed something that looked more professional.
Months earlier I had taken from my mother’s closet a pinstripe suit
from her early-work days. The suit’s skirt was two sizes smaller than I
was, but I took the suit anyway thinking I might eventually shrink into
it. I now grabbed that pinstripe, hoping I had shrunk or it had magi-
cally grown in the few months since I’d moved it from Mom’s closet to
mine at school. Alas, neither had happened. The skirt was still too tiny.
But I had to have a suit for my business presentation, so I sucked in my
stomach and I forced the zipper up, imagining I had a vague idea how
it must feel to wear a corset.
The next day, I wore my mother’s too-small pinstripe skirt to
give my presentation; I had to make a conscious effort to take smaller
breathes so I wouldn’t be in danger of popping the zipper. I decided for
my next business presentation, I needed a suit that fit. So that weekend
I went looking for green, affordable business wear. A dressing room at Salvation Army consisted of a pair of large mauve
Shopping green doesn’t necessarily mean shopping for clothes curtains that Velcro-ed shut. The communal mirror was just a step out-
made out of potato skins and corn husks; think of it as shopping for side my curtain room. Stepping from behind my curtain to the mirror,
clothes that support a sustainable lifestyle. According to Sustain- then back behind my curtain became a kind of fluid movement: step
ablemeasures.com, sustainability is a community effort that addresses forward, front to mirror, side to mirror, spin around, then back. Front,
issues relating to the environment, economy and society. One of the side, spin—just like a Dosey-Doe.
practices sustainable communities work together to check is over- It took some spinning, but I was able to find a pair of black trousers,
consumption. How can shopping help the community check over- a black jacket and a blue striped blouse for a grand total of $ 31.00.
consumption? Answer: thrift stores. Instead of using up resources to Compare that price to the $ 79.00 I would have paid if I had bought a
produce new consumer goods, thrift stores allow the community to two piece suit from JC Penny’s online. I saved money shopping green
recycle their goods and participate in their local economy as buyers at The Salvation Army (and learned a new dressing-room dance move).
and suppliers. I spent even less money on a suit shopping at Goodwill on Rosen-
My search for a suit began at The Salvation Army on Sports Arena crans, a few blocks away from The Salvation Army. As opposed to The
Boulevard in Point Loma. Clothing at The Salvation Army I went to Salvation Army, Goodwill had clothing organized by type and color.
was organized by type—blouses, pants, etc. I didn’t find a full suit As soon as I noticed those neat clusters of color, I thought of my OCD
together, so I matched separate suit pieces. I stuck with black because, roommate who color-codes her closet—Goodwill would be Heaven to
it’s easier to match a solid than a pattern, and because the location I her. And as far as shopping green for less, Goodwill seemed heavenly
was at had a lot of black suit-wear to choose from. I soon discovered to me too.
sizes on labels don’t necessarily correspond to the garment’s actual Goodwill had a separate rack for suit sets. I found two pants suits
size. that seemed particularly promising, one grey and one brown with a
I took my finds three at a time (the posted limit) to a dressing room. belted waist. I took my finds to the dressing room, which, sadly I
Shopping
Left to Right: Black suit jacket from Salvation Army, grey suit
jacket from Goodwill. Not pictured: Black pants from Salvation
Army, $12.00; brown shell from Goodwill, $3.99.
could not Dosey-Doe in and out of since they were of a more tra- on my suit search, but next time I’ll be sure to check clothing labels,
ditional design with partitions and in-room mirrors. The grey I liked looking for clothing that is not only sustainable when purchased from a
better than the brown, but did find a brown shell to go with my grey thrift store, but manufactured under a sustainable labor conditions.
suit in, yes, the brown shell-and-shirt section. The grey pants suit and I started with a too-tight pinstripe and ended up with two affordable,
brown shell together cost me $23.99, $7 and one cent less than the suit I sustainable pants-suits. Though certainly raiding my mother’s closet
bought at The Salvation Army, and $55 and one cent less than a similar is also a cheap, green way to find clothing, when all I can find is a
suit at JC Penny’s online. suit-skirt two sizes too small, then it’s time for me to raid the collective
T
closet of the community. Though large merchants, The Salvation Army
o implement more sustainable practices in my thrifty shopping and Goodwill stores I went to had their own personal style, the first
experience, I could have also looked for apparel from Fair La- with its mauve dressing room curtains, and the second with its aisles
bor Association (FLA) affiliates. Companies that participate in arranged by color, like a new box of crayons. Choosing thrift stores
FLA agree to follow the FLA Workplace Code of Conduct, according over department stores, besides being green, also saved me money
to fairlabor.org. The Code of Conduct prohibits forced labor and child on my purchases; the money I spent total on my two suits—six suit
labor at manufacturing locations around the world, and includes guide- pieces in all—is still less then the cost of the average two piece
lines relating to fair wages, work hours and plant safety conditions. suit on JC Penny’s website. For a college student,.that makes a big
Participating companies include Liz Claiborne, Inc., Hanesbrands, difference. I am now prepared so that the next time time I need to
Nordstrom, Inc and H&M. I didn’t know about the FLA when I went wear a business suit I can breathe easy—literally. s
I
t’s the end of the work day, and aside from heating up
soup, your meal agenda is somewhat blasé. Let’s face it.
By the end of the day, the last thing you want to do is plan
a nutritiously balanced meal when there’s so little variety to
choose from, right?But you’re wrong there. It may require
stepping out of your comfort zone a bit, but there’s plenty of
fruits and vegetables that are just waiting to be added to your
recipe book.
So get ready to impress your friends and family with your culi-
nary know-how! Here’s the skinny on some flavorful fruits and
veggies, and ideas on how to prepare them. Who knows? You
might just find a new favorite.
Pomegranate Beets
Pomegranates are typically available in North America from Oc- Beets are more than just your Grandma’s side dish of choice. Al-
tober through the winter season. According to the California Pome- though the youngest beet season is from June to October, beets are
granate Council, the fruit is only picked when ripe. So if you see them available throughout the year, which makes them readily available.
in your grocery store, they’re ready to eat! Note: The heavier the Because both the greens and the root part of the plant are edible,
fruit is, the more juice there is inside. they can be prepared in a variety of ways.
Why They’re Good For You Why They’re Good For You
Pomegranates contain unusually high amounts of beneficial anti- According to whfoods.org, beets have many nutritional benefits:
oxidants, and “are credited with helping in the prevention of cancer “These colorful root vegetables contain powerful nutrient com-
and heart disease,” according to the California Pomegranate Coun- pounds that help protect against heart disease, birth defects and
cil. They are also an excellent source of fiber, are high in Vitamin C, certain cancers, especially colon cancer.” They are also high in car-
and low on calories. bohydrates and incredibly low on calories.
Ingredients
Pomegranate Vinaigrette:
•1/4 cup pomegranate molasses
•2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
•1 heaping tablespoon Dijon mustard
•1 tablespoon honey, or more to taste
•Salt
•Freshly ground black pepper
•3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salad:
•6 apples (Granny Smith, Gala, Fuji) any or a combination of all, skin left on, core removed and cut into 1/2-inch dice
•2 cups baby spinach
•2 heads endive, thinly sliced
•1 cup toasted coarsely chopped walnuts
•3/4 pound blue cheese, crumbled (recommended: Maytag, Danish, Cabrales)
•Salt
•Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
For the vinaigrette:
Whisk together the pomegranate molasses, vinegar, mustard, honey and salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk in the
olive oil until emulsified.
For the salad:
Combine the apples, spinach, endive, walnuts and blue cheese in a large bowl. Add the vinaigrette and toss to coat, season with
salt and pepper, to taste.
Ingredients
•1 bunch beets with greens
•1/4 cup olive oil, divided
•2 cloves garlic, minced
•2 tablespoons chopped onion (optional)
•salt and pepper to taste
•1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (optional
Directions
1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C). Wash the beets thoroughly, leaving the skins on, and remove the greens. Rinse
greens, removing any large stems, and set aside. Place the beets in a small baking dish or roasting pan, and toss with 2 tablespoons
of olive oil. If you wish to peel the beets, it is easier to do so once they have been roasted.
2.Cover, and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a knife can slide easily through the largest beet.
3.When the roasted beets are almost done, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the
garlic and onion, and cook for a minute. Tear the beet greens into 2 to 3 inch pieces, and add them to the skillet. Cook and stir until
greens are wilted and tender. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the greens as is, and the roasted beets sliced with either red-wine
vinegar, or butter and salt and pepper.