Want to do something different, unusual, fun, healthy and will help the area be green? This weekend, Saturday, October 24 thru Sunday, October 25, 2009 there is a great event going on at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. It is the Fairchild’s Edible Garden Festival and Scarecrow Contest. You can always call for directions or more details on what they have to offer. There are going to be contests, food, lectures, cooking demonstrations, plant vendors and demonstrations on how to create a fruit and vegetable garden in your own home garden or as a container garden. Wouldn’t we all love to have fresh fruit and vegetables on our plates knowing they are free from chemicals? They do taste so much better and healthier for us too.

Bee Heaven Farm & Redland Organics will also be there with their first batch of certified organic heirloom tomato & veggie starts, plus some farmer’s market style items with the first of the local harvests - all certified organic as well.

So bring the kids, grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles, friends and neighbors. Maybe this would be the time to start a neighborhood garden. All the information needed at your fingertips and what a fun way to show our children a better way to eat and be healthy.

Related Reading:

Welcome to greenerMiami’s Product Testing Lab, aka: ProdLab. This is the first of many reviews to come of green products. We test it, and then tell it like it is! 

A friend of mine referred me to MixMyGranola, a locally based online custom granola company. They sent me a gift certificate so that I could try out the entire process myself. 

There are several steps to creating your own mix. In ours that we dubbed “Midnight Anchor”, we included organic granola, dried raspberries, dried bing cherries, goji berries, pistachios, organic pepitas, amaranth seeds, and choco espresso beans. It was delish!

The granola comes in a 16 oz tube, which holds a lot of granola. Of course, the amount of granola inside depends on how many ingredients you add. Ours was almost filled to the top. It would have cost about $15 for the granola and about $5 for the shipping. 

The Good

• Custom, custom, custom. There’s always something in pre-made granola that you just don’t like. Maybe you hate banana chips or maybe the raisins. Here, you add only what you want. Plus, they have some very random ingredients (hemp seeds anyone?) that you can try that you just might fall in love with. 
• It was super fresh tasting. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. And I thought I would like it. 
• You could shake it up in the tube, transport it easily on a road trip, and my hand even fit inside to fish out my favorite ingredients. (I apparently have small hands.)
• Adding the ingredients is a fun process, especially if you are making it with someone else. Click on “more info” on any item and you can see the nutritional info for that particular ingredient.
• They say the tube is made from 95% recycled materials and can be recycled by removing the top and bottom of the tube. 
• The name: You get to name your mix, as I did “Midnight Anchor”, and it arrives with the name of your mix on the nutritional label. Nice personal touch. 

The Not So Good

• The Price. It’s a little expensive for me, but I’m cheap. However, you do get major deals with MixMyGranola when you buy in bulk. Buy 4 of the same mix, get the 5th free. Plus, shipping is always $4.99…no matter how many you order. That makes a difference. 
• I was hoping that the fact that the granola arrives in a tube that looks like a shipping tube, that there would be no additional packaging. After discussing this with the owners, it’s just not safe to ship the food in that manner. They place the tube in a cardboard box that fits perfectly, so no additional protection is needed. 
• I’d like to see a little more information about the packaging on the site, as well as specific instructions on how to recycle it and where. 

The Verdict

• You can’t deny that this is a quality product. It was delicious. 
• If you are a granola lover, find your favorite mix and buy these babies in bulk! 
• I would also recommend this as a gift for someone that you want to send an original and personal item. 
• Light green: This product  is “green” because many of the ingredients offered are organic. 

Have you tried MixMyGranola? Tell us your experience in the comments section below!

Want greenerMiami.com to review your product in our ProdLab? Contact us!

Related Reading:

GARDENING
Organic Container Gardening- $59
For gardeners with limited space, grow herbs and vegetables in containers! Learn how to mix proper soil medium, use organic fertilizers, selecting plants and proper container size, and basic plant care. 
461999 01/26 – 02/02 S 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Building 300

Butterfly Gardening with Natives and Non Natives- $45
Want to attract butterflies and birds to your yard? Need some tips on design?  An experienced landscape designer will help you choose plants that will bring more life, beauty, and balance to your yard.  Second class takes place at instructor’s beautiful butterfly Garden in Coral Gables. 
462003 02/09 – 02/16 S 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Building 300

Composting - $29
Turn your food scraps into “black gold” for the garden. Learn the easy essentials of composting, and explore different indoor/outdoor options including worm bins, home-made systems, and aesthetically pleasing ceramic containers.
462006 02/02 S 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Building 300

HEALTHY COOKING
Healthy Vegetarian Cooking- $45
Spice up your vegetarian cuisine with coconut curried tofu, seasoned kale, and brown basmati rice. Chef Henry will teach you how to make a mouthwatering meal packed with nutrition.
462939 01/22 Tuesday  6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Building 300

Raw Food Preparation - $45
Learn to make herb and nut pate, kale salad, and fruit pie using fresh raw ingredients. Discover how easy, delicious and nutritious raw food cuisine is!
462938 01/29 Tuesday  6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Building 300

Aphrodisiac Delights- $45
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, learn to make a vegetarian main dish and dessert full of aphrodisiac power.
462010 02/05 Tuesday 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Building 300

HEALTH/FITNESS
Mid-day Meditation - $65
Once a week treat yourself to a relaxing half hour of meditation. Allow work and school related stress to melt away, and increase your energy, focus, and clarity.
462014 01/16 – 02/27 W 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. Building 300

African Dance - $79
Get an excellent work out while learning traditional West African Dance. This class is fun, energizing, and inspiring!
462016 01/25 – 03/07 Friday  7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Rm 3125, Building 3

Natural Self-Care
Healing with Medicinal Herbs - $50
Learn about the most popular and readily available medicinal plants to support your overall health, as well as ones that help with relaxation, focus, energy, common ailments, and more!
462250 02/01  F 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Building 300

Aromatherapy: Make your own body products - $35
Using great smelling essential oils and other natural products, learn to create your own body oils, lotions, body scrubs and cleansers. Students will make some products in class, as well as learn recipes to use at home.
462017 02/12  Tuesday  6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Building 300

Backyard Medicine Cabinet - $50
Learn about some of the most useful medicinal plants, and how to grow and care for them in your yard.
462124 02/19 Tuesday 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Building 300

KIDS’ CLASSES
Nature Club for Kids - $ 66 (Ages 6-11)
Awaken the scientist, artist, and explorer in your child with Nature Club for Kids. Activities will include organic gardening, crafts, and Native American Traditions.
461994  01/26 – 03/08 Saturday  11:30 – 1:00 p.m. Building 300

Delicious treats with fruits and vegetables - $30
Your child will learn how to prepare simple, delicious snacks that are high in nutrition and low in sugars and fats.
461997 03/01 Saturday  11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Building 300

GREEN LIFESTYLE
Designing Photovoltaic (Solar Panel) Systems - $100
This course introduces the process of PV system selection, PV system site selection, types of PV systems, PV system electrical design considerations, PV system structural design considerations and PV system permitting and paperwork.
463228 01/19 S 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Rm 9105 Building 9

Installing Photovoltaic (Solar Panel) Systems - $100
This course introduces the process of PV system installation and focuses, in minute detail, on how to install a PV system that someone else has designed.
463229 01/26 S 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Rm 9105 Building 9

BioFuel Certification - $149
The demand for BioFuel Certified individuals is growing globally. The most current research indicates that biomass is the best option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the next decade and one of the most cost-effective.
464424 02/09 - 0216 S 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Building  300

Related Reading:

During Serve to Preserve: A Summit on Global Climate Change on Friday, one of the leaders of Publix was part of a leadership roundtable. He told us that in addition to researching solar energy, Publix is "looking at alternative [methods] of refrigeration and air conditioning." He also stated that Publix is"recognizing that it’s good for business and it’s also good for the environment," which was really one of the general themes of the conference overall. He continued, "Something else that’s been a real benefit since we’ve gotten into this is: we employ about 140,000 people in five states in the Southeast and what we’re learning is that young people that we appeal to for employment, what we find is that they expect business to do a good job…"

And so it goes that Publix continues its foray into specialty stores. In September, the first Publix Greenwise Market will open in September in Palm Beach Gardens. They are attempting LEED certification on the building, organic certification for prepared foods, and more. Miami’s not next on the list for a Greenwise Market, however: Boca Raton, Tampa & Vero Beach stores are planned to open after the Palm Beach Gardens branch.

Just last month, Publix received the Sustainable Large Business Best Practice Award from the Council for Sustainable Florida. Specific programs that Publix submitted with their application for the award include:

Get into a Green Routine, a Publix program launched in 2002 to educate associates on energy conservation. Since launching, the company has succeeded in reducing electricity usage by an average of 7 percent overall and approximately 23 percent in new stores.

Publix reduce-and-reuse before recycling program, where plastic is re-used for the shipping of product. Recycling efforts in 2006, lead Publix to recycle more than 209,000 tons of cardboard and 7,600 tons of plastic.

Okay Publix, we’re listening. Now let’s see how you can really affect change and get your customers to bring their own bags. How about charging for bags like IKEA does? Or putting out more "loose" fruits & veggies, instead of packaging them in Styrofoam & plastic wrap? Or labeling foods so that we can tell which ones (if any) are local?

Related Reading:

I wrote a book review for on Groovy Green this week. Please check it out! (The book and the review.)

If you are interested in going all or partially organic for your pregnancy (and I’m not just talking food, sister), this book is for you.

Go read my review. The book is currently on order at the library.

Related Reading:

I’m posting this very late, but MDC Kendall Campus is starting it’s Organic Gardening class this weekend. I imagine you can register online now and just show up on Sunday, or just show up on Sunday if you can’t get a hold of anyone.

Here are the details:

Organic Gardening with Andres Mejides - $65

This course covers all facets of organic gardening: composting, starting seeds, setting up a raised bed, fertilizing, pests and diseases and more. The instructor is the zone 10 grower/researcher for Rodale’s Organic Gardening Magazine.

Sundays 10/29 - 12/10, 10 am - 12 pm. Room 5102 of the Kendall Campus.

Here is the instructor’s website: Organic Gardening Magazine, Florida

Related Reading:

This weekend after I had dinner in South Miami, we passed by Soli Organic Ice Cream. I remembered reading about these guys in the Herald, and we decided to check it out. I met one of the owners, Jorge, and he walked us through the options. All of their products are organic and sugar free. Instead, they are sweetened with agave nectar. Soli has lots of cool flavors like Dulce de Leche, Espresso, Lemon Basil (wow), and one we tried Raspberry Pomegranate Acai. Out of this world!

Plus, this is where it gets pretty interesting…the bowl they serve you in and the spoon you eat from are compostable and made of things like sugar cane fiber and corn & potato starch. (They get them from a company called World Centric. What I forgot to ask is if the products actually get composted…we tossed ours in the trash on the way out. Does it get separated from there?

In the end, Soli has a delicious product, and it seems to me that they are trying to do something good for this world. I recommend that next time you are walking around South Miami, you save room for dessert. Map to Soli.

Related Reading:

This post is part of a special blogging day in Miami. As part of Miami Cross-Blogination, DayngrGirl of Dayngrous Discourse wrote a post for greenerMIAMI. And, in an odd draw of the names, we will be blogging over at Dayngrous Discourse today. It’s a fun day in the Miami blogosphere! Visit the following link for a full list of today’s Cross-Blogination participants.

No, I’m not talking about the latest headline on one of those tabloids. I’m talking about getting your baby or baby-to-be on the greenScene here at greenerMiami. Babies may be small but they are big consumers so why not try going green or eco-friendly for the environment and for your baby. Here are some tips to get you on your way to having and keeping your beautiful bundle of joy green.

Nursery

Let’s start with the nursery. The most important aspect of green design for a newborn’s environment is to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals as much you possibly can. A non-toxic nursery is especially important because newborns spend most of their life in the nursery about 16 to 17 hours a day.

Painting should be done at least a month before the baby is due, and it can be cured by using a room space heater. If you are pregnant, don’t paint the room yourself. Have someone else do it like your husband, family, friend, or hired hand and be sure to paint with one of the new water-based low-volatile organic compound paints.

Your baby will spend many hours sleeping, and at times will need the room to be dark and peaceful during the day. Consider wooden shutters (with a non-toxic paint or finish) or aluminum mini-blinds that will allow you to adjust the light as needed. Steer clear of PVC blinds and be sure to provide good ventilation and fresh air.

Keep your baby’s crib as pure as possible in every way. Choose real wood, natural finishes, and untreated pure cotton and wool, preferably organically grown.

Most toys sold in major toy stores are made from plastics and or PVC. Plastic is a major contributor to indoor air pollution and PVC products may contain phthalates, lead and cadmium. There are many natural cloth and wood toys available on the internet.

Once you have a non-toxic nursery, keep it safe by using only natural and non-toxic cleaning products like Seventh Generation, grapefruit seed extract and essential oils which are readily available on the internet or products like Method available at Target and Office Depot.

Baby Food

It doesn’t get any more organic than breastfeeding. The AAP recommends that babies should be fed just breast milk for the first six months of life and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months. So if you can, breastfeed your baby. Even the smallest amount is good for your baby. La Leche League has wonderful resources and information as do most hospitals.

Once your baby is ready to move on to foods you can try organic cereals like Earth’s Best or organic baby food and juices. Gerber has a nice line and these are available at stores like Publix and Winn Dixie.

Of course, you can always make your baby’s food yourself using organically grown fruits and veggies bought locally and there are some great resources out there for recipes.

Baby Booty

Who can resist all the great goodies out there for baby (and mama too)? You know you are going to buy tons of stuff so be sure to go green for baby’s announcements, clothes, diapers, accessories, toys, furniture and everything else you can think of. Here are a few good places to start locally:

Arlington

Baby Drawers

Dilly Doo

Friendly Cottons

Kids Bean

Spunky Sprout

Totally Organic

Then check out some I found online:

3rLiving

All Things Green

Ducduc

Earth Mama, Angel Baby

Lilipad Studio

Little Merry Fellow

Sage Baby

TaraLuna

Terressentials

Even if you can’t go green for everything, try swapping out some typical buys for greener more environmentally friendly ones. Even a few small changes can make a difference. Remember, every little bit counts.

Resources: Green Home Guide, Healthy Building, Great Green Baby

Related Reading:

Update: The piece just aired. The transcript is online.

Readers, it seems that yours truly will be on WSVN (FOX) Channel 7 News tonight on the 5:30pm edition (More Bang For Your Buck segment). We’ll try to get the video up here as soon as possible.

If you are a first time visitor to the site, welcome! GreenerMIAMI is a local environmental blog; we try to be a central resource for environmental information in Miami. Please take a look around and feel free to write comments or contact us directly. Please feel free to subscribe to receive daily updates via email when there is new content on the site.

I’d like to provide some references and further details on some of the topics that were (potentially) discussed in this segment:

Eco-clothing

Cotton is the most insecticide intensive crop in the US. One third of a pound of chemicals is used to grow enough cotton to make one T-shirt. This is why alternative products are so necessary. Organic cotton is one good option.

Another great choice for clothing is hemp, which is not legal to grow in the US at this point (currently under review in California). Help is durable, fast growing, drought resistant, and doesn’t require lots of chemicals to grow.

There are many options in the realm of eco-clothing. A local company even makes T-shirts out of recycled plastic bottles! Don’t forget - thrift store shopping is also great for the environment…reuse!

Cleaning Green

Typical cleaning products are potentially toxic to both humans and the environment. They flush down the drain into our rivers and oceans.

For the most simple ‘green’ cleaning products…make them in your own home! Mix equal parts of vinegar & water in a spray bottle and Voila! You have an all-purpose cleanser. Sprinkle baking soda directly on surfaces to use as an abrasive cleanser.

There are some non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products that you can buy, such as Seventh Generation and Method (both available at Target and other stores).

Change Your Bulbs!

Switch to Compact Fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

Change Your Showerhead!

Get a free low-flow showerhead from Miami-Dade County.

BYOB

In this case, the last "B" stands for two things: Bag and Bottle. By bringing your own, you can start to make a dent in the huge consumption of plastic in the US.

The USA uses 100 billion plastic shopping bags a year, along with 4 billion pounds of plastic bottles. These plastics do not biodegrade. They photodegrade - basically, they break down into smaller and smaller toxic pieces. Plus, it takes a ton of energy just to create and transport these items.

So, Bring Your Own Bag and Bottle. We recommend checking out all of the cool products on ReusableBags.com, if you feel the urge to shop!

For more greening tips, visit greenerMIAMI’s QuickTips.

Related Reading:

All Purpose Dark tells us that Miami Architects go GREEN.

UF Announces Organic Farming Major.

Ozone on the mend? (Tip from Gus)

PS: greenerMIAMI might be on WSVN (Fox) Channel 7 News at 5:30 tonight. Check it out!

Related Reading: