Fair Trade is Sweet

I can't believe I've been doing this for three and a half months and I've yet to mention chocolate! This probably should have been a valentine's day topic but it's never too late to talk sweets. Chocolate is one of the biggest things that should be bought fair trade. Its conventional counterpart is known for slavery, child labor, chemicals and unsustainable forest care. There are plenty of other options out there so you don't have to give it up! Whole foods has "M & Ms" that are not only made with fair trade chocolate, but also natural dye coloring. Newman's Own has "Reeses" and "Peppermint Patties". There's many a chocolate bar out there with dozens of different flavor accents to choose from. Endangered Species is my favorite. It's the most economical that I can find and some of the profits go to the rain forests. You get to support two causes with one purchases. Larabars are also good because they have a candy bar like texture.

Happy Eating!

Here's a candy site to peruse: http://sweetearthchocolates.com/

Digging my grass, which is unfortunately greener on my side

Last week was so gorgeous out that I decided to plant my garden. It took a lot of hard work, blisters and sunburns to get it done, but I'm so anticipating the end result ( I hope there is one!). I have the utmost respect for farmers. This was just a 10 ft X 10 ft corner of my yard. Those farmers have one heck of a job. It made me realize how important it really is for those who farm to get fair wages. I couldn't imagine doing that one day of digging, day in and day out for 15 hours, everyday, and for nothing, or hardly anything at all. Hopefully by contributing to my own food supply and freeing up some good organic food for others, I can help sustain myself and my community.
For Easter my brother and I bought two baby hens and a duckling from Soulard market. They are absolutely adorable! They are to stay inside for six weeks and then we will build a little coupe for them outside. We are feeding them non-GMO corn and organic soybeans. It's amazing how much of a different perspective we have on food now. It was already a sustainable one, but now that we've been taking care of little Thelma, Louise and Hubert, we realize that if they were treated unfairly how horrible that would be. Even for the meat eaters, it's important to know that the animal was given the best life possible before it met it's doom :(

Keep on Keepin' On!

After MONTHS of looking for fair trade running shoes I finally found a company! Brooks Shoes! Here is the pair I'm ordering. Hopefully they fit!

http://www.brooksrunning.com/product/1200641B/123212

Also, here's a guide to help you find products that are "Sweat-free"

http://www.greenamericatoday.org/programs/sweatshops/sweatfreeproducts.cfm