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I attended a dinner/event hosted by FoodBuzz.com. They describe themselves as - "We aggregate, organize and curate more than 1 Million blog posts from 10,000 food blogs worldwide". 220+ bloggers attended the event and I met and chatted with about 10 bloggers (I was invited because EO donated products, not because of this blog - maybe next year). Since then, I read their blogs and I'm glad that I did because I found them to be very interesting, funny, engaging (an hour flew by before I knew it) and most importantly real - blogs are a refreshing alternative to main stream media. If you haven't already, see what blogs are available out in cyberspace by passionate people who are interested like minded things that you are. You will be pleasantly surprised.

The photos are of the winding dinner table through the Green Leaf warehouse in SF. The last photo shows 7 cameras taking pictures of a plate of risotto that was recently placed on the table.

   

Clouds

I'm a traveling sales guy. I schlep my goods around the globe hoping to make a difference and a buck. I've spent many a day/night/morning wading through security to catch my fancy bus in the sky. I've made the most out of traveling by arriving to the airport early to reduce the stress of waiting, joined the airline's clubs to lounge and catch up on emails, and I try to stay at nice hotels with 300+ thread count sheets - these simple things ensure me peace of mind and hopefully a good night's rest. One of the things that I look forward to when I'm flying through the sky are the clouds. I find them fascinating and beautiful. Here are a few that I hope you enjoy. 

    

Rogue River

I tubed 42 miles down the Rogue River in southwestern Oregon. It took 5 days and I joined 20 others - most of the 20 have done this consecutively over 10 years, some almost 30!!! You know that it has to be an amazing experience to do it that many times - in a row. Saw a bear, rattle snake, eagles, otters, osprey, and floated no faster than the river would take me. Very relaxing, grounding and rejuvenating. Cheers to all.

        

Movies

I don't see many movies, although I love popcorn. So, when I'm craving popcorn and I'm able to sit in a theatre for a couple hours, I'm there. As a result of my pickiness, I enjoy most of the movies that I see. This week I saw an amazing TWO movies - Food Inc. and Unmistaken Child. I recommend both and I'm sure shortly they will be available on DVD, so please see them. Food Inc. is about the need to clean up our food supplies - yuck, no more GMOs, mega food companies and cruelty to animals - go local and/or organic. Unmistaken Child is about the journey to find the reincarnation of Lama Konchog, a renowned Tibetan master - I believe in reincarnation and karma, so what other reasons do I need to be conscious, present and responsible. 

 

China bag ban saves 40 billion bags

China's ban on thin, single-use plastic bags meant that 40 billion fewer bags were distributed in the country June of 2008, when the ban was implemented. The numbers came from a recently-released survey by the China Chain Store and Franchise Association, which said the reduction of plastic bags distributed amounted to a 66-percent reduction of the number of sacks.

China prohibits the production and distribution of bags under 0.025 millimeters thick and mandates charging for other thicker or reusable types of bags.

According to Friends of Nature, a non-governmental Chinese environmental organization, daily bag use in China has dropped from one billion to between 200 and 300 million.

From: Plastics Recycling Update

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are wonderful ingredients and not just for eating. We’ve included them in our lotions, creams and hair repair. I visited our certified organic mushroom supplier and saw how they grow many of their varieties. They have over 30 years experience growing such mushrooms as Alba and Brown Clamshells, Trumpet Royale and Velvet Pioppini. They start with making their own media ingredients, the stuff that the mushrooms grow on, fill it into a bottle and sterilize the whole thing. Each bottle is then inoculated with the mushroom spore and sent off to its own room where the environment is controlled very carefully optimizing it's growth. Then, after several days the magic starts to happen. After my tour and chat, they gave me a box for dinner that night - yummy.

Esalen

Beautiful Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA (http://www.esalen.org/) is worth a visit from anywhere in the world. I spent a week there taking a Tibetan Buddhist Meditation workshop with Daniel P. Brown. Dan is an amazing teacher and if you desire to really learn how to meditate, he's your man - tender, direct, knowledgeable, confident, experienced, passionate; WOW!

Over the past 10+ years I've struggled with how to integrate being a buddhist into my daily life. As a bonus, he helped clarify this for me. I'm not on the path anymore to be a buddhist, but Buddha like. It's a fine difference however meaningful and clear for me. Thanks Dan. 

       

Jojoba Oil

Our organic jojoba oil is a fabulous vegetable oil - it's light, absorbent and feels great on the skin. I visited our supplier and saw their fields and manufacturing facility. The jojoba shrub grows well in the dessert where the seeds will dry on the plant, then fall to the ground and get gathered up. They will then get cleaned, crushed and filtered into an clear and odorless oil. We use this oil in our body oil, lotions and creams.

 

Austin City Limits

Rock & Recycle
“While at the Festival, do your part to help recycle and help us reduce what ends up as landfill. Throw your recyclables and trash in the right containers. Throughout the park you'll find recycling containers and we have a team of volunteers devoted to the cause.”

http://www.aclfestival.com/greening.aspx


   

Hinoki Essential Oil

Here are some photos from my trip to our Hinoki essential oil supplier in Japan. It's a wonderful, family run operation very passionate in what they do. You may be familiar with Hinoki from Japanese soaking tubs - which are made with Hinoki wood. Hinoki is known for its relaxing and respiratory properties, is a species of white cedar and has a clean, light woody and, . . . , relaxing smell. Great for the bath.