Art | Resources
Better Shoes Foundation
This site is a list of “sustainable” and “vegan” shoe brands. “we thought it would be appropriate to reference the new wave of brands that seem to have built sustainable practices from the ground up.” The list is quite long (and I assume is updated) so I thought I would put this list here while I go through it and look for the brands that are nontoxic. If you explore this list and find any shoes you think are toxic free, please tell me which they are in the comments. A world map shows the scattered show production locations.
Fit Organic
A whole range of cleaning products made from USDA certified organic ingredients. Everything from laundry detergent and stain removers to produce wash, dishwasher gel, and pet stain/odor remover. And USDA certified organic mosquito repellant.
South Street Linen
Simple, colorful, creative clothing for women, designed by three women friends (all artists) who are committed to the re-emerging textile community in Maine. “We design clothes and objects we would like for ourselves and have discovered a whole world of women that love them the way we do.” Be sure to read this page about linen and watch “this beautiful video” to learn about the steps required to turn flax into linen. All linen. All season. All made in Maine.
Heart Grown Wild
Natural, organic, handcrafted, plant-based skin and hair care products. “Our products are created with a strong foundation, knowledge and connection with the plants. It is our intention to bring that connection to the outside world into your daily self-care routines. This connection is important now more than ever in the world we live in.”
Apothecary 90291
Effective chemical-free skin care made from 100% certified organic ingredients.” A set of oils, balms, and masks designed by a woman born and raised in Romania, the daughter of a biochemist mother and a musician father. So she was surrounded by some of the most beautiful women in Europe. Her organic products reflect her European background and the way things are done there, rather than what we expect in the US. Ingredients are chosen to cleanse and nourish. Oh, and by the way, 90291 is the zip code for Venice, California, where the temperature is ten degrees cooler. Ingredients.
Uprising Seeds
Vegetables, herb, flower, and grain seeds. I was really inspired by this website, starting with the name. “All our seeds are open-pollinated, certified organic by the USDA, and grown by small family farmers in the Pacific Northwest.And the list their growers Uprising Seeds is a small family run organic seed farm and the culmination of years of fresh market farming, variety trialing, seed production and breeding work, and most importantly, a decades-long love affair with food and its power to bring people together. Our ideal vision of seed sustainability involves farmers and gardeners as the stewards of the varieties that they depend on. We are therefore committed to strengthening the public commons of seed genetics by working to preserve and improve open-pollinated varieties keeping biodiversity strong through adaptability and resilience.” Flip through their beautiful catalog.
FruitBox
Third generation organic farmers offer their farm-to-door mixed fresh fruit boxes for immediate delivery and by monthly subscription. You box comes with 5-7 pounds of assorted citrus fruits and avocados.
Big Tree Organic Farms
California-grown organic almonds sold whole (raw and roasted, and blanched), sliced, diced, ground into flour, meal, and butter. Also flavored with chocolate or lemon salt. Certified organic by CCOF and certified kosher. Their whole natural almonds are processed in an “almonds only” facility.
Inzana Ranch and Produce
Raw organic unpasteurized almonds (shelled and in shell), organic walnuts, organic natural-color pistachios, sold separately or mixed with organic dried fruits. Dried fruits include organic cherries, kiwi, 24 varieties of figs, and even a sun-dried organic apricots without sufur that is orange, chewy, and sweet. All fruits and nuts grown on their CCOF certified organic ranch.
Xtrema vs Visions Cookware
Question from Sue
Hi Debra,
I have very recently discovered the grim reality of stainless steel.
I have been doing a lot of reading and shopping. not sure how i found you but i am grateful!
I noticed that you recommend and use both visions and xtrema. the price difference is definitely a consideration for me.
I have found some used visions sets and single pieces on ebay . i have also seen the xtrema website and they have some nice sets which are on sale right now for mother’s day.
Ok here are my questions:
- are the xtrema/vision ware items very fragile?
- do you recommend one vs. the other? or are both good?
- does the vision ware age well? ie do scratches effect the food?
I am leaning toward the xtrema but i am totally open to the vision ware.
It is funny how learning about one thing changes everything! the whole thing started when i “saw” my super cheap, “stainless steel” tea kettle. it totally freaked me out!! haha! i am so ready to get rid of all the stainless steel in the house but first i must replace it.
Thank you so much for doing what you do. i am super excited to learn more from you.
Debra’s Answer
I use both Xtrema and Visions.
Xtrema is made of very fine ceramic.
Visions is made of glass. Visions is no longer being manufactured, but many pieces are available used at flea markets and online. Visions online.
I have 3 Visions pots that I’ve been using for 30+ years. I have about half a dozen pieces of Xtrema that I’ve been using since they’ve been available, I think about 10 years. I’ve never broken either of them.
I have a lot of glassware and pottery. These are not fragile in the sense of a fragile glass that would break if you tipped it over. They are both very “heavy duty”. That said, I once chipped my large X pot while washing it. I have a ceramic floor and I would imaging both might break if I dropped them on the floor, but that has never happened.
Both Xtrema and Visions are very good, each in their own way.
My Visions pots have aged very well. They are glass through and through so no problem with scratches.
