Zinsser Bull’s Eye Shellac
This wood finish is composed of a natural resin secreted by the tiny lac insect. After laying its eggs on certain trees in India and Thailand, and ingesting the sap of those trees, the lac secretes the digested tree sap to cover it's swarm of eggs. Upon contact with air, the secretion forms into a hard shell, thus the name. It's literally the shell of the lac insect. After the young insects are born, the remaining shell is harvested to make shellac. It is soaked in water and dried in the sun. It is then dissolved into ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and methyl isobutyl ketone. Once it is applied and the volatile solvents evaporate, what is left is the natural shell, just as it is produced by the insect. Shellac gives a natural protective coating to wood, can block odors (can be used to seal formaldehyde odors from particleboard), and can be tinted. Shellac is UV resistant and will not yellow or darken with age. Dry shellac is so safe, it is certified by the Food and Drug Administration as a protective glaze for candy and pharmaceuticals. Read their detailed brochure "The Story of Shellac" which details the history and manufacturing process. NOTE: While dry shellac is completely natural and nontoxic when dry, in the can it has toxic solvents. Be sure to apply in a well-ventilated area and take appropriate precautions.
Yellow Branch Cheese
Farmstead cheeses made from an original recipe. “The distinctive flavor of the hand-crafted cheese results from the high quality of the milk and the variety of grasses and herbs growing in the pastures…The dairy is pasture-based and managed using sustainable practices. Our pasture and hay fields are managed organically. We strive to provide our cows with a stress free environment. Growth hormones are not used and antibiotics are used therapeutically and as a last option… The only ingredients in the cheese are whole unpasteurized milk, microbial rennet, culture and Celtic Sea Salt.”
WaterCrockShop.com
“The Water Crock Superstore” sells ceramic water crocks in many styes, plus accessories. “All of our crocks are lead-free.”
Viva Terra
Stylish, eco-friendly goods for every room in your home, plus food, garden, baby, and jewelry too.hoppi ”All VivaTerra products reflect a commitment to:
- ECOLOGY AND ELEGANCE: The finest goods that uniquely fuse exceptional quality and design with eco sensitivities
- ORGANIC, SUSTAINABLE SOURCES: The purest ingredients and sustainable resources possible – selected to be the best available.
- EARTH AND PEOPLE FRIENDLY: Partners and suppliers who share our values and work to make a positive difference in the world.
- HANDCRAFTED BY ARTISANS: Distinctive goods of uncommon value, handcrafted by passionate designers and artisans
- CELEBRATE LIFE: Celebrate life and human spirit by honoring traditions from cultures around the world.”
Vital Choice Seafood
Sustainabily-harvested wild salmon and other wild fish from the pristine waters of Alaska–free of antibiotics, pesticides, synthetic coloring agents, growth hormones and GMOs. Sold flash frozen, smoked, made into sausage and burgers, and in cans and pouches…and Alaskan salmon caviar. Also sugar-free organic blueberries, strawberries and red raspberries, organic herbs and spices, organic cooking oils, and more good organic foods.
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Listen to my interview with Randy Hartnell, President of Vital Choice Wild Seafood & Organics |
Visions Recycling
Low odor, low VOC, remanufactured latex paint coatings made from post-consumer and secondary waste products collected from trusted sources. "Secondary paint includes mis-tints and overstocked supply from factory and store level distributors. Sorted paint is strained and re-blended with virgin materials and additives creating low-cost, post-consumer paint goods that are highly viscous and adherent. All VRI latex paint exceed state and federal specifications and can be rolled on, brushed or sprayed as primer, rough coat or finish surface coatings." Nice earthy colors. Will custom tint, minimum 200 gallons. Will ship to homeowners anywhere in the United State. LEED points approved.
Vermont Natural Coatings
This is currently the wood finish I use. High performance water-based wood finishes made using whey, a by-product of local cheese making. Whey “has a high BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) that can increase the burden on waste treatment facilities and can pollute rivers, lakes, and even the ocean…By reformulating whey into a durable, natural wood finish, a potential waste product is taken out of the waste stream and put to a useful purpose.” The VOC level is about 180g/L (grams per liter), which is lower than California’s 250g/L–the toughest indoor air quality standard in the United States. I smelled a sample and it is remarkably low in odor (though it does still contain small amount of toxic chemicals, according to their MSDS). Once cured, it is very “food-safe”, not toxic if child or pet chews on it. Cans are made with post consumer materials which can be recycled when discarded.
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Listen to my interview with Vermont Natural Coatings Founder and President Andrew Meyer./a> |
Veggie Cage
This enterprising seller of tomato cage supports has compiled a list of links to sites that carry a total of over 4000 heirloom tomato seed varieties! And of course, all these sites sell other heirloom seeds as well…
U.S. Wellness Meats
Grass-fed beef (steaks, ground, roasts, brisket, ribs jerky, franks, sausage, bacon, and pemmican), free-range chicken and turkey, natural certified humane pork, grass-fed lamb, gourmet rabbit, and more.
Upton Tea Imports
Over 300 varieties of loose organic and natural teas of all types, plus all the accoutrements and lots of information about tea. My friend Cathy told me about this site after I commented on the deliciousness of her iced tea. She made it with tea from this site that has bits of real fruit in it, not just fruit flavoring.
