Sunday, May 31, 2009

The site for all you green restauranteurs!


Sorry for not having any posts the past couple of days. We were enjoying some of life's unexpected turns.

We get alot of questions on how restaurants can be more green. The best place we have found for information all in one place is the Green Restaurant Association. The Green Restaurant Association℠ (GRA), a national non-profit organization, provides services in research, consulting, education, marketing and community organizing. The GRA utilizes a collaborative strategy that involves restaurants, manufacturers, vendors, grassroots organizations, government, media, and restaurant customers. The GRA's model provides a convenient way for all sectors of the restaurant industry, which represents 10% of the U.S. economy, to become more environmentally sustainable.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Turning Your Urine Into Drinking Water. Is This Really Sustainable??



Last night after putting up the organic tequila post. We began throwing out some farfetched ideas on types of drinks. Some how or another we ended up discussing the scene from the movie Waterworld. You know the one where Kevin Costner filters his own pee into potable drinking water. Well that got our minds racing to see if its possible. Check out the image above. It shows that it is possible and it shows we arent the only sickos out there. It turns out that NASA has spent decades perfecting a system to transform urine into water that can be used in space for drinking, food preparation and washing. They say the water from the system will be cleaner than U.S. tap water. The H2O shown in the pictures was developed for poor areas and third world countries where safe drinking water is hard to come by. If anyone has one, the Revolution Greens team is up for a taste test. Maybe.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Tequila Time!!! Its Organic!



Uh-Oh !! Here it comes a better way to party. The Revolution Greens crew is ready to have a night filled of tomfoolery and we found our spirit. The drink of the night will be 4 Copas Organic Tequila. It is difficult to believe how good a tequila can taste until you try it. It took the 4 Copas team 7 years to develop its prized Anejo Tequila. It is deemed the king of tequilas because of it's age and authenticity. 4 Copas uses only organic nutrition on its certified organic plants and no chemicals in the process of making its tequila. Bring it on 4 Copas! Check their site for more information below....
http://www.4copas.com/

Monday, May 25, 2009

Organic, All Natural, Free Range, Certified Humane: What's the Difference?

One of the most frequently asked questions we get here at Revolution Greens is, "What is the difference between organic, all natural, certified humane and free range?" It is a great question. We know it can be tough leaving a grocery store these days. Especially after spending some more of your hard earned money on items that say "organic" and "all natural". We want to share some tips with you so you can leave feeling great about your purchases and know the difference between what your buying. Instead of typing out a long and detailed post, filled with words we all might have to look up we found this short video below. It explains the differences perfectly and even taught us one very cool trick in spotting organic produce. Happy Memorial Day to all the Revolutionaries out there!

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Another Reason to Stop Buying Bottled Water:



The Revolution Greens team are strong advocates of eliminating the need to purchase plastic bottled water. We also want to make sure the water we are consuming is safe, fresh and the best tasting drinking water we can find. A Revolutionary out there feels the same way and sent us the email below on PHSI Pure Water Technology. We checked it out and talked to some people about it and decided to share it with you.

"My future mother in law is in charge of the Green program @ The Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach. The Raleigh Hotel uses this H2O cooler/filtration system that is on the website below! She also owns the H2O cooler at home. Pure Water Tech uses a 4 stage reverse osmosis system that cleans our tap water so well! They use an activated H2O oxygenation injection system to purify the H2O to the highest percentage that is available to consumers! They use a Bio-protection system that goes beyond simply going GREEN! Please inform your Revolution Greens readers about this H2O cooler/filtration system! It completely eliminates having to recycle bottles! I personally have tried the H2O from a home cooler system & you can really taste the difference! The closest H2O comparison sold on the market to this product is SmartWater! I would love your opinion on this website!"

www.purewatertech.com
Cheers!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Vertical Farms: Wave of the Future?



More and more people are moving to downtown/urban centers. It is expected that in the next 40 years 80% of the population will live in an urban area. When the Revolution Greens team found this startling stat we began to wonder about the future of food. Would it be possible for these new city dwellers to get locally grown, organic and sustainable food? Where would it come from? What land would be used? Well it looks like the answer could be Vertical Farming. A quick definition: Vertical farming is a proposal to conduct large scale agriculture in urban high rises or "farmscrapers". Using recycled resources and greenhouse methods such as hydroponics, these buildings would produce fruit, vegetables, edible mushrooms and algae year-round. Vertical Farming has started successfully on a very small scale in some cities with the advent of green roofs. The question now is, Will we make take the leap and make this dream a reality?

For more information check out... The Dragonfly Vertical Farm

Friday, May 22, 2009

The Debate for Organic Food: Bourdain vs Waters vs Goldman

The Revolution Greens team is always up for a healthy debate on the organic foods. In the video below Anthony Bourdain (best known for his book Kitchen Confidential), Duff Goldman(the newest Food Network celebrity chef and big supporter of orgnics), and Alice Waters(one of the first proponents of organic foods in the 1970's) discuss and argue why organic, locally grown and healthier foods should be or should not be consumed. Yes, it is a bit on the comical side and has a couple curse words thrown in, but it is good to see how different culinarians feel about the organic food movement. Check it out and enjoy!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Any Type of Water, Any Time



We are trying to get our hands on one of these for the Revolution Greens Headquarters. The Natura Water Filtration System looks great, is energy efficient and keeps plastic bottles out of our city dumps. It is also the only water filtration system sponsored by the Green Restaurant Association. Nautra Water now gives homes, offices, restaurants, hotels, etc, the system to fill a one liter bottle of chilled flat or sparkling water in seconds, it also eliminates the need for water storage both in a store room or in the refrigerator. Check out their website below...

http://naturawater.com/

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The 33 Healthiest Foods on Earth



Many of us, at some point during the day, find ourselves wondering "Is this piece of food I'm about to stick in my mouth any good for me and if it is what does it do for my body?" Well have no fear Revolution Greens is here! (Cue the superhero music) With the help of Mr. David Murdoch we have been given the list of the 33 healthiest foods on the planet and what they do for our body. Read the article below, eat the food and your well on your way to reaching your 100th birthday . Cheers!

Click here.. http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Red Truck Organic Wine



Is there any better way to wind down after a hectic day than with a nice glass of wine? Yeah with an organic wine. While we were out doing some product research today we stumbled upon a a funky looking bottle of organic wine. You know that the Revolution Greens team is never one to shy away from trying something new so we picked up a couple of bottles of Red Truck Organic Zinfandel. We are actually drinking some of it right now and we all agree we are pleasantly surprised by this inexpensive Mendocino County wine. The grapes used to make the wine are certified by the California Certified Organic Farmers. Which simply means that the dependence on chemical fertilizers, toxic fungicides and insecticides were replaced in favor of natural practices. The winemaker Charlie Tsegeletos said "This terrific, food-friendly wine exhibits wild berry aromas and follows through with similar brambly berry and cracked pepper flavors. It’s a well-balanced wine with just the right acidity.” We only have on thing to say to Mr. Tsegeletos and that is "Thank you sir, may we have another!" Live it up a little, enjoy what's left of the day and pick up a bottle of organic wine. Check out their website below.

www.redtruckwine.com

Monday, May 18, 2009

Organic Milk Health Benefits



A couple of days ago we shared with you one of the new cereals we were eating at the Revolution Greens Headquarters. We were than subsequently inundated with emails asking us questions about organic milk and its health benefits. Here is what we found for you. Organic milk has all the nutritional goodness of non-organic milk but, due to the cows’ more natural diet, it also has some additional potential health benefits. Here they are listed in no particular order:

-Research has shown that organic milk has higher levels of vitamin E, vitamin A and antioxidants
-The incidence of the skin condition eczema in young children was reduced by 36% where the children consumed organic dairy products.
-Organic milk is naturally higher in Omega 3, an essential fatty acid, than non-organic milk.
-Organic dairy farms do not use artificial pesticides (insecticides, fungicides or herbicides) on pastures where cows graze.
-Organic cows are only given antibiotics when they are ill and not as a preventative measure as in non-organic cows.

Do your body good and pick up some organic milk on your next visit to the supermarket.

Here is some more information on organic milk. The Organic Milk Cooperative

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Bike Your City and Discover It All Over Again



Today was a beautiful Sunday for the Revolution Greens team. We spent a big part of the day biking around sexy downtown Miami and the surrounding beaches for the city's Bike Miami Event. This event was created by City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz to promote community, livable streets and bicycling (click here for more info). Hopping on a bike is truly a great way to get to know a city while getting your body some exercise. It is amazing how many things you discover when your not racing down the street at 40 mph in your car. Today we all witnessed some terrific views of the water, but noticed something troubling. We saw that large portions of the Miami River and Biscayne Bay had garbage floating on the surface. The majority of it was plastic containers that once held food products and to tell you the truth it got us fired up knowing animals would end up eating it.

This evening Revolution Greens learned that the City of Miami, led by Mayor Manny Diaz, is making a big push to be one of the greenest cities in the country and is actively cleaning up its water ways. However, we are calling on all of you Revolutionaries to make sure you do your part in keeping your community clean. Below we posted a PSA that first aired on Earth Day 1971. It is titled “People Start Pollution, People Can Stop It". Check it out! Thanks again Miami for hosting us on such a beautiful day!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

In Defense of Food

Here is some humor for you on this beautiful Saturday. Michael Pollan the author of In Defense of Food and the Omnivore's Dilemma heads to the Colbert Report to to share some nuggets of knowledge on what we should be eating. There are some good laughs and verbal jabbing in this short video. Enjoy and have a great day. We also added the link to buy his book below. Cheers!
The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Michael Pollan
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical HumorGay Marriage

IN DEFENSE OF FOOD by Michael Pollan

Friday, May 15, 2009

Food Inc: Hits theaters June 12th

We cant wait to see this movie. One of our Revolutionaries sent us this email giving us a heads up. "FYI June 12th there's a new documentary that is coming out in theaters called "Food Inc." it's explains the FDA regulations on distributing food to the public! Also it tells you where the food we eat comes from everyday! Kinda scared me healthy! I saw previews of it! It let's you know what the government isn't telling you about the food we eat! Also explains organic foods! I hope you see it & see food in a different light! I'm now strictly vegetarian & I try to eat organic as much as financially possible! ;0). Namaste'!" Thanks for the email and the info. Check out the preview and website below.


http://www.foodincmovie.com/

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Check Out a Farmer's Market



We have received a bunch of questions about where people can go to find locally grown food. Here is your answer. We use this web site www.localharvest.org to find markets and farms where ever we are. Just type in your zip code and it will show you all the local markets in your area. Eating local and seasonal food supports your local farmers and the production of crops that are meant to be grown in your community. Purchasing locally grown food also helps cut back on all the pollution put out into the air from shipping out of season produce from around the world to our local supermarkets. To tell you the truth, it can be fun heading out to your local farmer's market and discovering fruits, vegetables and other products you hadn't experienced before. Get adventurous and try something new. See you out there!

http://www.localharvest.org/

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

A Great Way to Start the Day



There is something great about having an amazing bowl of cereal in the morning. Maybe it's because its so easy to put together or maybe it reminds us of the days when we were eating it and watching our favorite cartoons on Saturday morning. Either way the team at Revolution Greens is always looking for a good bowl of cereal. We found our newest addition to the pantry on our last visit to Whole Foods. Back to Nature cereal is what we are all eating right now. Back to Nature cereal has no artificial flavors, preservatives or colors. It's all natural baby! Take a peak at the ingredients and it's all stuff you have heard of before. There isnt a single chemical named in there. The box it comes in is pretty sweet too. It's just begging to get recycled! We are pretty pumped about starting our day with a bowl of this in the morning.

Check them out here.... http://www.backtonaturefoods.com/

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Organic Wine Tasting



What a great day to be part of the Revolutions Greens crew. Our new friend John Ireland of Ireland Wine and Spirits brought over some organic wines for a tasting today. One of them really stood out not just because of its great taste, but all the eco-friendly initiatives implemented at the vineyard. The wine was a 2006 Pinot Noir from Inman Family. Kathleen Inman who manages the viticultrual practices at the Inman Family's Olivet Grange Vineyard truly cares for the environment. Instead of using synthetic pesticides and fertilizer she has committed to maintaining and enriching the soil through the use of composts, worm casting and other natural materials. What's even cooler is that the compost used on the vineyard land is from table scraps discarded by high-end San Francisco restaurants and hotels. Great taste and eco-friendly this is the kind of wine we love drinking. Cheers!!

Check out the Inman Family site here for their products and other great practices .... http://www.inmanfamilywines.com

Monday, May 11, 2009

What Fast Food Should Be

This is what the Revolution Greens crew would love to see spread across the country! Organic burgers, sides and shakes served in a green and eco-friendly environment. This would be the perfect replacement to all the current american fast food restaurants, that are filling their loyal clientele with artificial preservatives and mystery fillers. This is a fast food joint you can feel good about eating at. Check out the video below

http://www.oburger.net/

Organic Nation Trailer

Organic Nation Trailer from OrganicNation on Vimeo.


The questions asked in this trailer are some of the reasons Revolution Greens was founded. We have lost our connection with where our food comes from. Next time you have a chance take a peak in your fridge and check out where all your food is from. There is a good chance your eating oranges from California, bananas from Ecuador and perhaps a cantaloupe from Mexico. Very little of our food is locally grown and if it is it might not be organic. This movie could be very interesting.

Check out their site www.organicnation.tv

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Last Minute Mothers Day Idea:Herb Garden


Last second Mothers Day ideas usually include going to our closest pharmacy. Then picking up some cheap flowers, that have been shipped hundreds of miles around the planet, only to have your mom toss them in the garbage once they have died three days later. Dont add to the local land fill. Why dont you show momma you love her by getting her something that will last, is locally grown and organic. An indoor herb garden!. If your mom does cook she can use fresh ingredients and if she doesnt cook she can always lie to all her friends and say she does. Time is ticking head to your local Home Depot, Lowes, or Whole Foods to pick some up. Happy Mothers Day.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Numi Organic Tea



We just got a box of Numi Organic Tea. We all concur that this stuff is great! It gives you energy, helps you focus and keeps you healthy. They have a great selection of all organic tea and also have some pretty great gifts for the tea lovers out there. Check out their website below for all the health benefits and products. Cheers!

Numi Organic Tea

Friday, May 8, 2009

The Story of Stuff


One of our Revolutionaries found this incredible movie and site. The movie packs so much amazing information into 20 minutes. This is truly why we should all try and make a change in our everyday lives. Check out this short movie it could potentially change the way you look at your life!

Check it our here..... The Story of Stuff

The 12 most pesticide filled foods


Its to expensive! I'll just wash them really well. Its all a big scam, they are exactly the same. These are some of the statements we receive over at Revolution Greens about why people don't buy organic produce. Well we found the list of the 12 most pesticide tainted foods, found by researchers at Harvard University. Yeah, it scared us too. Next time your in the store join us and pick up some fruits and veggies that were farmed organic and avoiding polluting your bodacious body.

The following 12 produce items have the highest pesticide residue.

1.Strawberries
2.Bell peppers (green and red)
3.Spinach (tied with number 2)
4.Cherries (grown in the United States)
5.Peaches (grown in Chile)
6.Cantaloupe (grown in Mexico)
7.Celery
8.Apples
9.Apricots
10.Green beans
11.Grapes
12.Cucumbers

Thursday, May 7, 2009

The Organic Wine Company


We found a company that only sells organic, biodynamic and vegan wines. They have an international selection of wines from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, California, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile. They even have a guarantee "We invite you to try any of our wines and see for yourself how they taste and how they feel to your body. If you have anything negative to report, WE'LL REFUND YOU, period!" Cant argue with that!

www.theorganicwinecompany.com

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Filtered water on the go


We just got out new favorite water bottle here at the Revolution Greens Headquarters. Its the Clear2GO bottle by Clear2O. Here is a quick run down of the stats.

24-oz. capacity
Filters 100 gallons
Reduces chlorine taste & odor
Removes 99.9% of microbial cysts (cryptosporidium and giardia)
Easy to squeeze for fast flow
(no sipping required)
NanoCeram® NASA-derived technology
BPA free

Take it anywhere - office, home, car or gym and help keep up to 757 bottles out of our landfills*
Get one at www.clear2o.com

Cheers!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Obama administration pledges $50M for Organics



Farmers will have three weeks to apply for $50 million in land stewardship funding to help pay the cost of converting to organic production, said the U.S. Agriculture Department on Tuesday.

USDA said the special sign-up would run May 11-29 under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. It will be open to growers switching to organic production or expanding their organic operations and certified organic farmers who want to expand stewardship work.

Six practices will be eligible for support -- conservation crop rotation, cover crops, integrated pest management, nutrient management, rotational grazing and forage harvest management.

A small-farm and an organic-farm group said the sign-up showed USDA was making a good-faith effort to help organic agriculture. Farmers can receive a maximum of $20,000 a year per farm in organic transition funding and up to $80,000 per farm in six years.

"The EQIP transition contracts are geared for small- and medium-scale family farms and ranches and will speed the move toward more organic acreage," said Mark Lipson of the Organic Farming Research Foundation.

Monday, May 4, 2009

The Evolution of Vodka


The Revolution Greens team enjoys having a good time and it looks like we found our new drink of choice Vodka 360! Here are the stats- The labels and the tag hanging from the neck on Vodka 360 bottles are made with 100% post-consumer waste paper, processed chlorine free. The glass bottle is made with 85% recycled glass, 70% of that being post-consumer. The tag that hangs from the neck of the bottle is actually a pre-paid envelope. You can use it to remove the swingtop from the bottle and mail it back to 360 Vodka. For every top returned, they donate $1.00 to environmental causes. The vodka is quadruple distilled through a process that the company says "reduces the use of fossil fuel energy by 21%," and is five times filtered. Check it out at VODKA 360

Meals in the Fields


Forget trying to get a reservation at Joel Robuchon or The French Laundry. This summer's coveted tables are out in farm fields, literally. A raft of new businesses started by restauranteurs and food enthusiasts are offering outdoor culinary experiences everywhere from the Napa Valley to Spain's Basque country. The idea is to supply diners with great food and ambience and to reconnect them to the land where the food is grown while supporting local farms and artisans.

Continue reading... www.time.com

Sunday, May 3, 2009

New York Times writes about the Food Revolution



As tens of thousands of people recently strolled among booths of the nation’s largest organic and natural foods show here, munching on fair-trade chocolate and sipping organic wine, a few dozen pioneers of the industry sneaked off to an out-of-the-way conference room.

Although unit sales of organic food have leveled off and even declined lately, versus a year earlier, the mood among those crowded into the conference room was upbeat as they awaited a private screening of a documentary called “Food Inc.” — a withering critique of agribusiness and industrially produced food.

They also gathered to relish their changing political fortunes, courtesy of the Obama administration.
continue reading... www.newyorktimes.com

Friday, May 1, 2009

The Organic Athlete Headquarters



OrganicAthlete is a community of athletes and fitness enthusiasts who believe that a better world starts with healthy people. Since health is fueled by what we eat, They teach how to thrive on a whole food, vegan diet. The organization helps people start or connect with local communities of supportive, like-minded athletes. Most importantly, they are about inspiration. From weekend warriors to Olympic hopefuls, OrganicAthlete is a team that shows anyone can exercise their power to change the world. This is a very informative site. Check it out... http://www.organicathlete.org/