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I’ve taken a hiatus from blogging, as life got crazy for a bit, but I am back with some useful tips on eating organic on a budget that I have been trying lately. Let me know if you have toyed with any of these, and if so, what works best for you.
- Buy in bulk- grains, beans, grits, nuts, dried fruit, etc. Read more tips re buying bulk here.
- Avoid pre-cut/pre-packaged foods. Total rip off.
- Find an organic brand you like and go to their Web site for coupons. For instance: http://www.organicvalley.coop/coupons/.
- At the farmer’s market, ask the farmers if you can buy the “seconds” for a discount — usually they have stashed some bruised/scuffed/less attractive goods in their trucks or behind the table … but you know the old adage — don’t judge a book by its cover! Poor bruised fruit is just as amazingly delicious and nutritious, and it shouldn’t have to rot when a charmed soul like you is willing to buy it if it might help you scrimp some coins.
- Shop with a list – no impulse buying!!
- Shop on a full stomach – or at least when you’re not ravenous. This really works.
- Choose brands above and below your eye level. SNEAKY aisle stockers.
- Be vigilant your check-out gal or guy doesn’t ring you up erroneously. Seriously, hate to be that guy, but it’s worth it in these dire times.
- COOK – geez it seems as much as I know this to be true, sometimes the ease of buying lunch (and the Java Green Sesame Soy Salad) wins me over. But honestly, it’s worth the time at night or in the morning to prepare lunch. At the very least, bring snacks and fruit that you can have throughout the day, so if you do need to buy lunch, you don’t need something huge.
Yes, you read right: New clothes. (Good clothes.) Free of charge. No shoplifting or stealing involved.
To achieve, gather some clotheshorse friends and have a clothing swap! This past weekend, a girlfriend of mine hosted a clothing swap at her home, and it was such a blast. Fifteen or so of us convened on Friday evening, each bearing a bag or two full of clothes we no longer wanted, for wine, potluck food and swapping. We all left happy with new goodies.
We chose to go one by one, each person displaying what they brought — some from the depths of the closet — which I thought was a good way to do it. Interested takers got to call and “grab” (in a girly, nonviolent way) what struck them and try stuff on. If a piece didn’t work, it was up for grabs again.
Allison "sells" us on a black sweater. Daniela models her new hat.
I suppose you could also use a less civil method, whereby swappers rummage through laid-out clothes, but I thought our way was very nice, and fun. Inevitably, there were some rather humorous pieces (Sarah’s aunt’s designer 80s dress comes to mind), some duds, and some pieces that just didn’t fit anyone. Those that no one claimed went straight to donation.
I could venture to guess that some of you are envisioning holey, tattered, stained clothes, but it was nothing of the sort! In fact, some of the clothes were very nice, new and by top-name designers — their owners just didn’t want them anymore! I made out with 3 awesome dresses (!), a new tank, a work-type shirt from J.Crew, some other blouses, a headband, and a necklace. Among the pieces other swappers left with: A never-worn winter coat, shoes, exercise clothes, purses, jeans and suits.
Personally, I am not sketched out a bit by used clothes, but I know some of you may be. To those of you … you really shouldn’t be! There’s nothing a good wash won’t take care of. Plus, the fact that they’re your friends’ clothes (or even friends of friends’) should make it easier to accept. It’s a genius concept.
Check out http://www.liveearth.org/pepsi/index.php and click on the light green guy (second from the right) to get a free one year subscription to Plenty magazine. Plenty is an environmental lifestyle publication based in NYC. Enjoy!
After polishing off the huge cookie I got for free from Java Green as part of my membership to Live Green, a new membership organization providing support to green businesses, I find myself thinking how far our city has come in the three years I’ve lived here.
Whereas in ‘05, examples of “green” D.C. commerce were few and far between, now the “scene” seems almost widespread. Whereas green living used to be exorbitant and elitist, it is, more than ever, accessible and – dare I say – mainstream. Whereas many may have once scoffed at the idea of a green economy, businesses – acknowledging that we are consumers – are feeding the demand with a steady supply of green goods. Small, simple opportunities to “green” our lives and choices abound.
Live Green, launched on June 18 at Local 16, aims to make eco-friendly living in D.C. more affordable, accessible, and easy. For a $13 annual membership, members get discounts at participating businesses, called “Live Green spots.” These include: Organic food, eco-friendly cleaning supplies, green health and wellness products and services and renewable energy. You’ll also get an informative newsletter keeping you up-to-date on green D.C. happenings/news.
Among the participating businesses: Java Green, Derma Hair Care (which, by the way, just introduced a full moon facial, which is … yes … exactly what it sounds like!!!!), Pangea, ZipCar, City Living Source, MOM’s and more!
A very special and amazing green business that is dear to my heart, Flow Yoga Center (also voted Best Yoga Studio by City Paper), is a Live Green spot … members can take any class for $5 and get 7% of a class pass! Watch this video (from NBC 4!) to learn more about how Flow is green. You may also spot someone you know practicing yoga — or saying something silly on the news 
While I certainly frequent green businesses and prefer to put my money toward green products and services, I’m curious to know people’s views on “consuming green” — are green businesses and products just feeding our addiction to stuff and to buying? Or is consumption inevitable and at the core of our being?
Namaste!
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