The Future of Food and The Food Revolution

Last week we were lucky enough to attend a screening of the wonderful documentary film 'The Future of Food', which looks into Genetic Modification in food. It was a fascinating peep into the world of food, politics, health and environmental sustainability. I remember reading 'The Food Revolution' by John Robbins in early 2003 and being horrified by the devestation that the changes in farming practices have produced both on health (individual and collective) and our environment.

Today more than ever before we have the oppourtunity to vote with our purchasing dollars, and while taking the time to learn about and choose organic, non-genetically modified food may sometimes seem an arduous task, i believe, it is essential for our future health, our farmers job security and our environment.

Organic food can never be genetically modified, so if you buy organic you are assured that your food is GM free.

We are currently compiling a GM food article for the CleanLife site and a list of useful DVDs and books, so if you have any good ideas on either subhect, please BLOG us.

Signing off

Conscientious Consumer Cacho

How to BLOG

Thanks to all those 'Cleanies' who have called in to tell us about all the changes they have made.

We have had a large number of enquiries from people wanting to BLOG, but not knowing how. In response we have created our simple guide to blogging on the CleanLife site.

A BLOG is basically an online Diary that allows people to share opinions and ideas. In an area such as Organics, eco-issues and chemical free living this is essential, as we can all learn from the experiences of others, so please BLOG on.

HOW TO BLOG
1) Go to the bottom of the Diary or BLOG entry that you would like to comment on.
2) Click 'comments'
3) Type in your comments (long or short it doesn't matter!)
4) If you don't have a blogger account click 'Other' to enter your name so it appears on the BLOG or 'anonymous' if you don't want your name to appear.
(Obviously if your BLOG is anonymous, you can not win the 'best blog' prize).

If you still can't work it out, don't worry, email us at info@cleanlife.com.au and we will post your BLOG onto the site for you.

Warmest Regards

Gina

Eco-Wrapping, the only way to do it!

My family is known to be incredibly slack when it comes to wrapping presents. Birthday morning is usually a succession of people greeting you with their hands behind the back, as if they are human wrapping! In some ways I guess they are Lazy Environmentalists! Unfortunately I was no exception to this family trend. That is, until I discovered my own 'personal style' (if you can call it that) with used and recycled wrapping and ribbons.

One of my best friends, Amy, was known in high school to say 'When I get married I want all my presents wrapped in newspaper.' Of course by the time she got married, everyone had forgotten, except one special friend (not me!). We actually wrapped the lovely couples present in the pages of an old travel magazine instead. It looked rather good, so I don't feel so bad that it wasn't newspaper!


Here are my top tips for totally sexy eco-inspired wrapping;

1) Unwrap your presents slowly, that way you savour the delight and you will be able to salvage the paper!

2) If the card has a cool cover, once it has sat on the mantel for a while cut the front off and re-use it as a 'front card'. Do this by sticking it onto the new present and writing your message on the front of the card. (Only do this with cards that don't have writing on the inside cover - that could look bad). Of course you may like to keep cards for sentimental reasons. In this case some recycled card, with a photo you have taken slapped on the front, always looks good (Well actually that depends who is in the photo!).

3) Pages of old magazines make fantastic wrapping and you can selectively choose which pages get prime position. If your friend is a surfer, find an old surfing mag or for kids, pages of an old colouring book, that they can colour in, works well.

4) Spunky ribbon can be used again and again. If it's looking a bit crinkly give it a quick once over with the iron. No one will ever know! (Unless they gave it to you last year!)

5) If you don't have any old wrapping paper, 100% recycled paper with string instead of ribbon, looks great. Pop a fresh flower from the garden in the string and bingo!

The best thing about eco-gifts and eco-wrapping is that people almost expect it to be a little rustic and even messy. It leaves room for your individual 'style'.

Finally, be prepared to defend and promote your new art! If someone comments that you are making a financial saving on the wrapping, remind them that less money spent on wrapping allows more money to be spent on their present!

I'll photograph my next wrapping creation (aka disaster) and place it on the blog for all to see.

Until next time.....

Gina

Tell us about the 'Clean' Changes you have made and win!

We'd love to hear about the changes you have made since reading the Come Clean Tips or by using the CleanLife directory. Tell us what you have changed. What you have changed to and how you have enjoyed (or not) the experience.

The best two 'Clean Change' blogs between now and the 31st August 2006 will win a 'Easy Living Green' super trolley bag!

Enjoy

Gina

The Goodies from Organic Expo 2006

We have recently returned from the Organic Expo in Sydney. It was a weekend of the best in food, drink, skincare, gardening and cleaning products that Australia has to offer. There was also fashion and makeup and some wonderful demonstrations by Organic Celebrities.

If you needed convincing that Green is the New Black, the Swanky cocktail party for the Organic Industry put that to rest with a diverse crowd ranging from the young and hip to the more mature and knowledgeable enjoying a night of organic food and drinks on Darling Harbour. There was a buzz of excitement and I realised that people who eat Organic really do seem to have more energy than the average punter.

Here is just a few of products we found at the Organic Expo. We'll be telling you more about them in our weekly email tips.

Organic Baby clothes
Organic clothes for adults
Bags made from old billboard posters
Shoes made from old tyres
A torch that you can charge with muscle power
Organic fast food
Natural vegetable wax candles (no more nasty petroleum bi-products)
Incredible Organic teas and coffee
Organic coffee substitutes
Organic ready to go Pizza bases
Organic high end fashion
Organic gardening products
Bamboo plates, cultery and garden pots (that biodegrade when you plant them!!)
A great range of natural and organic skincare and cleaning products
Some very groovy reusable baby nappies
Organic baby food
Organic pet food

and the list goes on...........

Additionally we were able to see Kylie Kwong in the flesh and also were lucky enough to dine at her restaurant, BILLY KWONG which features only Organic and Biodynamic food with a focus on fair trade! She is all about MAD (make a difference) and now more than ever before the simple things we do can make a difference. So even if you only sacrifice this year is changing to an Organic shampoo and an Organic Fair Trade chocolate, you will be making a difference.

We are already looking forward to next years Expo in Melbourne and can see Australia bounding ahead in an industry that is, put simply ALL GOOD.

If you have heard of any new Organic or eco-friendly products we would love to know about them, so please email or BLOG us soon.

Until next time


Gina