You may remember my earlier post about the movie King Corn, where I told you guys you should go see it. Well, I got my little hands on an advance copy (I know! I'm awesome), and I loved it. The movie was predictably about corn, but actually it was the two guys in the film, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, that made the film so watchable. I kind of wish we could all hang out and drink some beers. Here's an interview they did with Xeni Jardin on BoingBoing TV, wherein they address corn, corn, more corn, and zombies. What? WAS this a movie about zombies? That's something you'll have to decide for yourself. If the movie ...continue reading
29 Oct | 2007
Take The Sustainable Scoop Online Store Quiz!
posted by 4 Comments
You might have heard that I've been hard at work getting The Sustainable Scoop Online Store ready to open for business. All of the products the store will carry are things I would (and do) use myself. I've written about most of the products here on The Scoop, and there are a few new products that I think are really exciting. Before I open the store, I'd really like to hear what kinds of products you'd be interested in browsing through. Below is a list of some of the kinds of goods the store will carry. Take the poll: What would you like to see offered? NOTE: You can choose more than one answer. If ...continue reading
26 Oct | 2007
GUEST REVIEW: Ecover Dishwasher Tablets (A Citrus Mystery)
by Jenni Simmons
posted by 5 Comments
Here on The Scoop, we've already established that: I love Ecover. When it comes to household chores, my motto is, "The easier, the better." In other words, I'm lazy. It should come as no surprise to anyone that when I spied Ecover Dishwasher Tablets, I snatched them in a heartbeat. What could be easier than opening a 100%-recyclable wrapper, placing one tablet into the open cup dispenser in my dishwasher, then turning the knob to "normal wash"? Not much. For the best results I also use Ecover Rinse Aid, but that is extremely easy, too. The dishwasher tablets clean my dishes beautifully, but I wanted to ...continue reading
25 Oct | 2007
REVIEW: Source Toothbrushes
posted by Leave a Comment
Last year at ExpoWest I saw some cool toothbrushes. They have handles that are made from recycled (or renewable) materials blended with plastics that are made either from corn or from post-consumer polypropylene. Also, the brush heads are replaceable. I requested samples of these toothbrushes, and about a week after I got home from the show they showed up on my doorstep. These toothbrushes are called the Source Toothbrush from a company called Radius. They make several other products including dental floss and toothbrush carrying cases, as well as all-plastic toothbrushes, though I've never tried any of these out for ...continue reading
24 Oct | 2007
Conventional Confession #10: Tecnu
posted by 3 Comments
Yesterday afternoon I went for a hike with my dog. Sadie had been giving me Sad Eyes all day while I worked, so in addition to my normal dog walking duties I decided to take her, the only one of our dogs who actually enjoys the outdoors, for a swim. (I've tried taking the other two dogs to the river, and they both look at me like, Are you kidding? Take me back home and feed me on my nice, soft bed.) There's a trail near our house that's easier than I'd like, but I like to go there with Sadie because the trail sidles up to the river in several places. Sadie lives to swim, and I felt like enjoying some fresh forest air, ...continue reading
23 Oct | 2007
Tuesday’s Tip: Stock Up On Pesto
posted by 1 Comment
Keep fresh pesto in your refrigerator, and you'll cover many bases at once. These handy sauces can be used as pasta sauces, make-shift dips, and yummy sandwich spreads. You can always make your own pesto, which is easy if you have a food processor. I find that when I get busy, it's easier to buy good organic fresh pesto. I buy both the classic basil variety and a sun-dried tomato version, and I'm constantly using them for one thing or another. Try it, I'm sure you'll come up with tons of other uses for pesto. ...continue reading
22 Oct | 2007
Juniper Ridge, My Wild-Crafting Heroes
posted by 1 Comment
Juniper Ridge is a company that I've taken quite a liking to, if by "liking" you mean "total obsession." The company was founded by Hall Newbegin, who desired products that smelled like the Western regions he loved. I know these scents well; when I drive to the coast, I can clearly smell the bay laurels and coastal chaparral that I love so much. I first became interested in Juniper Ridge for this reason, and my initial interest led me to discover just how great this company truly is. Newbegin's soaps and other goods smell like the real thing because, well, they ARE the real thing. Juniper Ridge's team of ...continue reading
19 Oct | 2007
GUEST REVIEW: Traditional Medicinals Ginger Tea (Don’t Puke, Drink Ginger Tea)
by Jenni Simmons
posted by 1 Comment
When I feel sick, a natural cure works best for my body in most cases. Several years ago I discovered Traditional Medicinals tea, and they've been a staple in my pantry ever since. In particular, Organic Ginger tea is my remedy of choice for an upset stomach. Whether it be indigestion, motion sickness, nausea, or worse, you name it, ginger tea heals. I brew it at home and bring tea bags & a travel mug along on road trips. A bumpy, winding road or a questionable dish might require digestive aid! Traditional Medicinals uses the highest quality ginger in their tea: it's organic as well as a ...continue reading
18 Oct | 2007
Will Catalog Choice Work Better Than An Old-Fashioned Phone Call?
posted by 7 Comments
Today I was reading the NY Times Fashion and Style page and came across an article about a new website called Catalog Choice. The site was started with the intention of allowing users to say which catalogs they don't want to receive any longer, and the site would do the rest by notifying the retailers that sent the catalogs of your request. Catalog Choice also provides several statistics about why reducing the number of catalogs you receive is a good thing. This idea is popular, with over 20,000 people signing up since the site debuted last week, according to the article. This is probably because there are so many ...continue reading
17 Oct | 2007
REVIEW: Into the Wild, the Movie
posted by 2 Comments
If you're like me, you read Jon Krakauer's book Into the Wild and loved it, feeling the wanderlust and thirst for adventure that were so precious to Christopher McCandless, aka Alexander Supertramp. Though the backlash after McCandless' death in 1992 was harsh at best, Krakauer set about to describe the tramp's journey in its entirety at a time when McCandless was known as that dumb kid that died in Alaska. It's clear in the book that Krakauer identified with McCandless in many ways, and as a result the traveler's story became more complex, magical and human at the same time. When I heard that Sean Penn was ...continue reading
16 Oct | 2007
Tuesday’s Tip: Keep Your Pantry Stocked
posted by 2 Comments
Shopping for groceries is one of my least favorite chores. Yes, I consider buying groceries to be a chore. First there's the issue of finding parking, then there's the series of polite "excuse me"s as I maneuver the cart around the store, and finally there's the bumping of backsides as the person at the register behind me and I unload our respective carts. Who enjoys that? Yet there's nothing worse than opening the refrigerator or pantry and seeing... nothing. Sure, you've got two kinds of Dijon mustard and a can of tomatoes, but what's for dinner? To avoid this problem, I try and do my grocery shopping (or ...continue reading
15 Oct | 2007
REVIEW: Lehman’s
posted by 2 Comments
This morning I received an email from Jody Morris, a helpful reader in Virginia. She mentioned the Lehman's Non-Electric Catalog to me, which I'd never heard of before. Apparently the company started as a supplier to the Amish community, and today they carry a wide range of products that (mostly) don't use electricity, as well as many other home items. Lehman's has a whole section for Eco-Friendly Goods, where you can find several handy home goods. However, the company's roots are apparent throughout the catalog, which boasts such items as home butchering supplies and oil lamps. Still, Lehman's is a place where you ...continue reading
12 Oct | 2007
365, Value Brand of Champions
posted by 6 Comments
The achingly overplayed joke about how Whole Foods should be called "Whole Paycheck" may have lost its humor, but has it ceased to be truthful? It's my opinion that the price of good organic foods and other products should reflect the quality of their ingredients, so I'm not sure it matters. This isn't to say that I'll just shell out the dough for whatever catches my fancy, however. I've got a budget just like everyone else, and because Ted and I are both self-employed, that budget fluctuates monthly. Sometimes I can feel good about throwing down some cash for pricier products I've had my eye on, and other times I've ...continue reading
11 Oct | 2007
GUEST REVIEW: Bon Ami Polishing Cleaner (This Little Chick is My Friend)
by Jenni Simmons
posted by 7 Comments
I enjoy being a wife, but I don't always enjoy cleaning house. My theory is: the easier and more non-toxic, the better. For example, I love a clean sink, but I don't want to scrub all that hard or whiff vile fumes. So it's a good thing I discovered Bon Ami Polishing Cleanser on a Whole Foods shelf. I splash my sinks with water, sprinkle Bon Ami, and gently scrub the surface with a wet sponge or cloth. It is that simple to make my sinks look clean as a whistle. But wait, Bon Ami can make more than a kitchen sink sparkle - just look at this long list! Even my husband can use Bon Ami on our outdoor grill-- ...continue reading
10 Oct | 2007
REVIEW: KingCorn.net
posted by 5 Comments
I just got a press release in my inbox about a film called "King Corn", which deals with the production of corn in Iowa and its greater impact on the American diet. If you've read Omnivore's Dilemma, you'll definitely want to watch it, since Michael Pollan was an advisor to the filmmakers and his voice can be heard throughout the movie. I haven't seen it yet, but it opens in both San Francisco and Berkely on November 2, so I'll make sure I catch it in one of those cities once it's playing. If you've already seen it, drop me a line and let me know what you thought. To find a city near you where "King Corn" is ...continue reading
