Nourish the Thought

Green Luxury!

Have you heard about the latest in the hotel world?  Green just got greener and real just got realer (is that a word).

The Cacao Pearl is the world's first non-profit and luxury eco-resort community to commit 100% of operating profits to environmental protection and social improvements.  The resort is built on a 124 acre private island in the Calamianes archiplego (Philipines).  The Cacao Pearl has all the finest 5 star amenities you could desire, plus the allure of being situated within a lush tropical rainforest.  Oh...and did I mention the beaches and dive sites.

This resort is no token green gesture - it is the real deal and authentic to the core.  Ownership in one of the residences provides a guilt free eco-friendly conscience.  You can actually feel good about this investment on multiple levels.

Our Five Cents - Greenwashing

There is no greenwashing when you can eat your potatoes with potatoes.  Many environmentally conscious lodging establishments are switching over to compostable utensils and service products.

Say goodbye to plastic cutlery and hello to SpudWare—cutlery made from 80% potato starch and 20% soy oil that’s just as heat resistant and every bit as strong as plastic cutlery. The kicker? It biodegrades in just 180 days! SpudWare can even be washed and reused, so you can eat your potatoes with potatoes for months to come.

Someone was awake at the wheel and respecting mother earth the day this idea came to life.

Thank you!

Your Five Senses - No Greenwashing!

Calling all "greenwashing" poser hotels across the country - you better "Green-Up," because iStayGreen.org is the new environmental/consumer voice watchdog in town.

It can be difficult for consumers to truly know if a hotel is really eco-friendly or just greenwashing with slick PR.  Frustrating and confusing in the least.  This is where Richard Varner, founder of iStayGreen.org, steps in and gives the travel consumer a soapbox for their heartfelt voice.

It's all about accountability.  This accountability will come via a strong iStayGreen social network.  This network will give consumers a powerful grassroots tool to make a difference.  This voice should only grow, as Americans interest and concern for the environment grows.

Richard Varner states, "Our members separate fact from hype. We've created a social network structure, much like Facebook, where our members can rally together to support the cause of environmental sustainability. Our users provide in-depth hotel reviews, but unlike TripAdvisor and other similar review sites, our members review and rate the property's eco-friendliness. Our membership will create tremendous social pressure, forcing hoteliers to be transparent and environmentally responsible."

It is interesting to see the impact of social networking and how people from around the globe will gravitate together for a worthy belief.  As a fellow road warrior, I will now take a closer look at the places I choose to call home while on the road.  I was getting inundated by the concept of green and how do I best participate - but now have found a better clarity of purpose.

Please share your travel stories and your environmental discoveries of properties that are making the effort to do better.

Your Five Senses - How does your garden grow?

Oh the memories of helping my parents in the garden. In our household, it was just part of the spring/summer routine. Every year we had a garden full of potatoes, corn, beans, lettuce, carrots and more. As a young child, I particularly liked watching the watermelon and pumpkins grow. I can also remember helping mom can tomato juice and make jams from the fruit off of our own trees. Yes, fond memories indeed, but is anyone of Gen X or Gen Y even considering growing gardens these days? Are people of any generation?  My parents still have a small garden, but I have not carried on the tradition.

With the cost of groceries and gas, not to mention the growing obesity problem and concern about our environment, I have to wonder if we all shouldn't consider getting back into gardening.

For me personally, the top excuses for not putting in a garden are: No room in my backyard, No time to take care of it and maybe at the very top - I am not exactly sure how to go about it. Common excuses among consumers today I am guessing. And yet, I can't help but start to think that getting back to some basics in life - like gardening-may be just what society needs.

Below is look at how some people are overcoming obstacles to be sure they can see "how their gardens grow".

Around New York are urban gardening centers where people can rent a space to grow their greenery, and they've been booming with business. At Drew Gardens in the Bronx, for example, membership doubled from last year and W. Atlee Burpee & Co., the American largest seed company has sold twice the seeds of last year.

Another niche market enjoying terrace farming are those of different ethnic backgrounds as it allow them to grow the foods they might not otherwise find in stores.

Your GREEN Meter

I was on the road and stopped into a Publix (on the east coast).  This aisle dedicated to natural and organic caught my eye and was well displayed.  Had a wide array of products.

I am curious as to what natural & organic products you purchase for yourself and/or your family and what typically resonates with you on the "Green meter?"  Will rising grocery prices make it hard to buy these type of products or will your dedicated lifestyle/values win out?

Our Five Cents - Recycling. The Votes Are In

For those that voted, the results show that the office environment is where most of the recycling is taking place.  I am going to guess, that just like me, many people support recycling when it is made easy for them. Meaning there are clearly marked bins for paper, cans and bottles and easy enough to dump your stuff in appropriately.  At home is another story. For me, I have the best intentions at home, but not the best set up and therefore I don't recycle.  Poor excuse I know.

On another note, I became more aware of the commitment of recycling within our organization this past week. An associate came to me expressing her passion and commitment to recycling and asked very politely if I too would support the cause by not printing so much. If you recall in my initial post, I admitted I do tend to print a lot. 

I can't promise I will change overnight, but I will admit that I am more conscious of my printing and it's effects and plan to do as much as I can to change/decrease my habit.

Your Five Senses - Recycling

Today I am feeling socially conscious.  Yes, I am the person in the office that prints off more documents than I probably should, but I prefer to read and markup documents with a pen.  Just my style.  I am, however, aware of the impact of all my printing, so I do my best to recycle paper at the office.

At home is another story.  My husband and I do not recycle, but the more I read and research the topic of sustainability, corporate social responsibility and plain old recycling, the more I think I need to get with the program.

Being socially conscious is all the buzz and I know of food companies that are committed to environment practices and I know of people that are loyal to recycling, but I also wonder how many people talk the game, but don't walk the game.

So let me know how you are supporting the environmental cause.

To complete this whole thought, I wanted to include this image and short descriptor as an example of social consiousness and perhaps as inspiration.

Feed up with the vast amount of food people waste, Vogels created SPROUT, a small-scale restaurant concept that recycles absolutely everything not consumed.  In his attempt to create a zero-waste establishment, the Dutch design student went as far as using coffee grinds and herbs to create plates and bowls.  This fully compostable collection has since been dubbed Wasteware.

Our Five Cents - Green Restaurants

In my recent post I showcased a great environmentally friendly pizza parlor called "Pizza Fusion".  This high end gourmet pizza with a conscious could serve as a role model for the food and beverage industry.  From the exposure of t.v. and print ads, the industry has an incredible opportunity to impact the way we as a culture treat our earth.

Taking the cue from "Pizza Fusion", here are some ideas of how restaurants from all segments and channels could help.

• Selling used vegetable and frying oils to bio-diesel production.
• Establishing viable recycling programs of their own.
• Purchase eco-friendly cleaning products.
• When building or remodeling source constructions products made from recycled materials.
• Become visible in the community by sponsoring recycling drives.

These are small steps, but can be effective.  We live on one earth, and that is all we will ever have. 

Your Five Senses - Pizza Goes Green

"Saving The Earth One Pizza At A Time"

This is the tag line for a relatively new pizza company called Pizza Fusion.  Micheal Gordon and Vaughan Lazar started this upscale gourmet pizza parlor in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida a few years ago with the mantra of serving pizza in it's purest form.  This company is completely dedicated to as they call it "sustainable business". 

Pizza Fusion was built literally from the ground up on the idea of being environmentally conscious.  The concrete is composed of 30 % recaptured industrial concrete, drywall is made from 95% post-consumer content, ceiling panels are 74% recycled aluminum cans and 24% post industrial metals.  They are offsetting 100% of their energy usage with the purchase of renewable wind energy certificates, and what I think is the coolest way they are "green" is their delivery vehicles are hybrids.

Now let's get to the pizza; Pizza Fusion presents a 75% organic menu, featuring an eclectic offering of gourmet pizzas, sandwiches, salads, desserts and organic beers and beverages. With 20 organic and 14 natural topping options running from arugula, sun dried tomatoes to wild caught Key West shrimp.  The beverage selection is comprised of Boylans natural sodas, Naked Juices and Butte Creek Brewing's organic brews among others.  Pizza Fusion has something for everyone who is earth friendly.

So, in honor of Earth Day (April 22) please send any natural or organic businesses in your area, and we would be happy to showcase those on this blog.