seeds

sustainable, environmentally efficient, discourse source

responses to those buzzing words

Critical Mass:
A Trendy Revolution
San Diego activists whiz through heavy
traffic to reclaim the streets for bicyclists.

Green Legislation Briefing

How green is Obama’s stimulus package?

Local: The New Organic

Ditching the buzzword “organic” and
shopping with a worldview.

Green to the Core

How one man is looking to change
the surfing industry and the world.

May 2009
 Beauty

40
Local

10
Local: The New Organic

Ditching the buzzword “organic”

and finding a way to shop with a
worldview.
STORY BY:
Amy Berkhoudt

Editor’s Spotlight: Origins

May’sThis month’s spotlight is on
an environmentally conscious prod-
uct line which includes bath, body,
and beauty products for men and
women of all ages.

12
STORY BY:
Nicole Gagne

Crafts

16
Planting Memories

How to recycle a peanut butter jar

into a planter, personalized with
memories from your travels.
STORY and photos BY:
Travel Lisa Reynolds
Sustainable Travel Ripens
in Green Market
Hostels respond to the growing
demand of travelers looking to
go-green.
STORY and photos BY:
Ashly McGlone

4 | May 2009 seeds

News Cover and story photos by
Green Legislation Briefing Ryan Fernandez

How green is Obama’s stimulus

package? We take a look at some
of the bills, passed and pending, Cover Story
helping make “green living” easier.
Critical Mass: A Trendy Revolution

19
STORY BY:

27
Ashly McGlone
San Diego activists whiz through
heavy traffic to reclaim the
streets for bicyclists.
STORY BY:
Amy Berkhoudt

Home

31
Living Every Day
Sustainably

Home improvements that

benefit homeowners and the
environment.
story and PHOTOS BY:
Emily Atkins

Sports

37 Green to the Core

How one man is looking to
change the surfing industry
and the world.
story and PHOTOS BY:
Emily Atkins

seeds May 2009 | 5

 46
Food
In Season, In Style

A look at fruits and vegeta-

bles that are in season, and
some healthy and delicious
ways to prepare them.
STORY BY:
Nicole Gagne

Shopping

42
Green for less Green

A personal quest for affordable,

sustainable business suits at thrift
stores.
PHOTOS AND STORY BY:
Lisa Reynolds

6 | May 2009 seeds

 Dear Reader,
Green living is riding a new wave of popularity in our culture. You see signs of it everywhere from grocery stores
to bank papers and even your tax refund. In a way, Seeds Magazine is a response to that rising trend, but what we
set out to do, be, and accomplish extends far beyond the goals of a passing trend. We are Seeds, your sustainable and
environmentally efficient discourse source. Seeds Magazine exists to disburse easy and useful tips for authentic green
living, while also providing a venue for meaningful discourse. From growing your own veggies to reducing your energy
bill, we set out to provide a model of sustainable living in contrast to today’s consumerist-focused society. The “green”
industry is rapidly growing and changing, offering a consistent stream of new content and new knowledge. Knowledge
is power, as we well know, and “green” power reaches far beyond self-interest into the realm of communal interest. In
other words, Seeds Magazine looks to plant seeds of essential knowledge into the hearts and minds of its readers with
the hope of extending the “green” wave beyond the shores of today and into our choices of tomorrow. Are you along for
the ride?s
Sincerely, Ashly McGlone
Editor-in-Chief
Seeds Magazine

seeds May 2009 | 7

 meet the staff

1 2
Managing Editor Head Editor Arts Director
3

Ads Manager
4 5

Circulation Manager

1. Emily Atkins is a senior at Point Loma
Nazarene University. She believes that
the conservation of finite resources will
always be an important global topic.
After graduation, Emily looks forward to
working in the green industry in hopes of
making sustainable living a viable option
for everyone.
2. After nearly a decade of magazine reporting, Ashly has won numerous ac-
colades from the Society of Professional Journalists including Journalist of the
Year three years in a row for her in-depth reporting on teachers in Iraq, the
drug cartel deep in the jungles of Central America and her investigative piece
into the illegal bidding for President Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat. As
editor-in-chief of Seeds Magazine, Ashly enjoys delving into stories of national
and international importance, while also conveying their local application for
“green” living.

4. Nicole Gagne is a San Diego lo- 5. As a double major in Litera-

3. Amy Berkhoudt prides herself in being
a Renaissance woman. An avid crocheter,
flannel-sewer, rasp-voice singer, straw-
berry picker, art maker, dew drop drinker,
loose tooth puller, and Hawaiian wave
surfer, Amy does not sleep. But when she
does get a chance to close her eyes, Amy’s
dreams are where the wild things are. Her
life is merely lived in between dreams.
She simply waits to sleep forever.
8 | May 2009
cal who loves the culture and the
climate, and there’s nowhere else
in the world she would rather
be. She is a Senior at Point Loma
Nazarene University, majoring in
Journalism with a concentration
in Creative Writing. Aside from
writing, she also enjoys reading,
drawing, photography, collecting
music, and being in the moment.
She hopes to some day be the
senior editor and owner of her
own local arts and entertainment
magazine. Nicole also hopes to
travel when she graduates.
ture and Creative Writing, Lisa is,
appropriately, a lover of books.
She is the type of person who will
buy a book because it’s pretty. For
example, she has on her bookshelf
The Decline and Fall of the Roman
Empire vol. 3 merely for the sake
of its plum-colored cover. Lisa’s
weakness is purple books, especial-
ly purple books for 25 cents and
less. Because of her love of books
(purple in particular), Lisa’s favor-
ite places are used book stores,
book fairs, and garage sales with
book bins.
seeds
 In The Know

Santa Monica
75% The percentage of
cocoa in a bar of
chocolate that provides high
amounts of antioxidants. For
The city with the largest farmer’s market on the
west coast. Check out the delicious recipes found
in The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook.

even braver tongues, try the

bitter taste of 85% and 99%
chocolate.

1817
The year Baron Von Drais invented
the Draisienne, a predecessor to the
modern bicycle.

65 The number of colors

available in The Freshaire Choice
paint line. These paints are VOC

Minthe
(volatile organic comound) free,
making them a smart choice for the
environment.
The name of the nymph who was
turned into mint, according to
Greek mythology.

seeds May 2009 | 9

 Local:Organic
The New
B uzzwords like “organic”
and “go green” can be
deconstructed through
a global lens when people ask why
they should care about how their
food made its way to their fork. The
“organic” craze seems to be more of
a marketing scheme than an actual
nutritional investment. Because
produce is usually shipped from for-
eign markets, the likelihood of vine-
ripened nutrition is slim.
“They say ‘local’ is the new ‘organ-
ic’,” said Ellee Igoe from San Diego’s
International Rescue Committee. Local
fruits and vegetables have more nutri-
ents because they vine-ripened rather
than picked when green, she said.
The word ‘organic’ has recently
been slapped over an increasingly large
amount of groceries and food market-
ing campaigns. But even organic foods
are part of the global free trade market,
where farmers are only paid 19 cents
for every dollar spent on their produce;
the other 81 cents goes into marketing
and processing. Even seemingly “go
green” foods labels such as Odwalla
and Boca Burgers are owned by billion
dollar corporations Coca-cola and the
cigarette company Phillip Morris, re-
spectively.
New studies from a US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
report shows our current population
is simultaneously the most malnour-
story and illustrations by Amy Berkhoudt
10 | May 2009
ished and the most obese in history.
One in three Caucasian children, and
one half of children of color, born in
2000 will develop diabetes in their life-
time.
However, there are possible solu-
tions to these problems. Students that
qualify for any financial aid, including
Federal Work Study, also qualify for
food stamps. The government gives
about $150 worth of food stamps per
student a month. Igoe stated she is
looking into creating a farmers market
that accepts food stamps. This should
encourage students to buy healthier
foods. No more Top Ramen.
Though San Diego county is
ranked second highest in the na-
tion for the amount of farmland
it has, 68 percent of the land is
used for nurseries and flower
crops.
“This really pissed me
off… palm trees don’t
even give shade,” said
Igoe. She promoted
the Ocean Beach
farmer’s market,
held every Wednes-
day from 4 p.m. until
dark, saying the quality
of food is better and the
community can build
better relationships
with local farmers. s
seeds
 Local

A Tomato’s Journey
1
Consider the tomato, rich in vitamin A and C and miner-
als calcium and potassium, a household friend that usu-
ally endures a long journey from farms in Mexico in or-
der to get on to the lunch plate. They have been an import
from the 1880s but received high demand as Sinaloa, a
produce brand, grew in the 1920s, according to Deborah
Brandt in Women, Work and Globalization on the Tomato
Trail.

2
In their green house, tomatoes are usually sprayed with a
variety of agrochemicals: pesticides, herbicides and fun-
gicides. These keep the tomatoes growing faster, stronger,
more uniform, and in greater quantities. Not to mention,
blemish-free.

3 Then the young tomato plants are watched, pruned, and

tied to sticks by Sinaloa workers who are usually young
campesino women. Tomato picking requires tedious
work and is known to be one of the most labor-intensive
crops.

4
The best tomatoes are then chosen to be packed, stick-
ered, and boxed (the rejects go to local farms or are used
as animal feed) and then are carried north and sealed,
stacked, wrapped, and moved to the packing plant.
Mexico ships 700 thousand tons of tomatoes annually to
the United States and Canada, according to Linda Tons of
The Toronto Star newspaper.

5
From a few days to a week, the tomatoes are kept until e
en
they are ripe enough to export, sometimes being sprayed hyl
et
with ethylene to speed up the ripening process. This gas is
dangerous for humans to inhale.

6 The tomatoes are then packed onto trucks for their two-day
journey north, to a supermarket near you. Sound appetiz-
ing? Locally grown food skips the chemicals allowing the
tomato to maintain its natural nutrients all the while sup-
porting local farmers.

seeds May 2009 | 11

 Travel

Sustainable

Green
travel ripens in

market Story and photos by ashly mcglone

Travellers are ditching the glitz and glam in favor of the sustainable and
eco-friendly. Hostels are responding with innovative ways to go-green.

U
pon entering the hostel, a
dirty-blonde dread-locked,
waif of a girl, donning tat-
tered blue-jeans two sizes too
big, and a wife beater tank-top
greets you.
After receiving and swip-
ing your key card, the door opens and you hear the
sounds of Portuguese, Hindi, Dutch, Italian and
English voices blending together to fill the dining
area. It is an international affair.
The barn-red exterior of the building, coupled
with an unsuspecting residential location, conceals
the hostel’s identity from the street.
Inside, local and international visitors gather to
share a meal, but not just any meal. On the menu:
a vegetarian lasagna, salad and berry-cobbler, all
made with locally grown produce and grain pro-
vided by Ocean Beach People’s Cooperative. Indie
tunes reverberate off the walls of the patio as local

12 | May 2009 seeds

seeds May 2009 | 13

artist Stasia Conger sings and strums
the acoustic guitar while a band mate
plays the bongos. Visitors discuss the
food and memorable cultural experi-
ences.
“The word red-neck is so silly sound-
ing. Reddd-necckk,” the British woman
says, enunciating the vowels.
Giggling ensues from the Brit, as
well as the French woman and the Italian
woman with whom she is conversing.
“How do you say that in French?” the
Italian woman asks.
“I guess it would be ‘cou rouge,’” says
the French woman.
“Well that’s not as funny as red-neck,”
the British woman snickers.
In addition to enjoying music and con-
versations, overnight visitors to the hostel
rest easy knowing their carbon footprint
has been reduced on this vacation.
As sustainable travel continues to
14 | May 2009
The newly remodeled lounge at the HI- Point Loma hostel hosts political movie nights,
followed by poker, every Friday, as just one of many activities offered to its guests.
‘Hostels are increasing in
revenue and popularity
as the tourism industry
crashes.’
Jared McCannell, Hostelling International
volunteer and activities coordinator
ripen in the green market, hostels have
become an essential part of the process
for travelers worldwide.
Travelers are no longer purely think-
ing about staying in the biggest and the
best while increasing consumption. For
some, the best now entails being a con-
scientious consumer by staying in eco-
friendly hostels.
With locally-grown food, low-flow
shower heads and energy efficient light
bulbs, Hostelling International’s [HI]
Point Loma Hostel exemplifies this shift
in priorities.
Jared McCannell, HI-San Diego’s vol-
unteer and activities coordinator, defines
a hostel as “budget accommodations for
sustainable tourism.” That’s the buzz-
word nowadays, he said. “Hostels are in-
creasing in revenue and popularity as the
tourism industry crashes.”
HI enjoyed more than 40 percent an-
seeds
nual revenue increases in both 2007
and 2008, while San Diego tourism as a
whole suffered a drop of 4.7 percent from
2007 to 2008, according to the California
Travel and Tourism Commission. Hotel
occupancy in the United States fell just
below 4 percent in 2008, while California
tourism decreased 4.5 percent.
Billed on their Web site as a “quiet,
relaxing, laid back hostel in a big city,”
and “only minutes away from the beach,”
HI’s Point Loma Hostel is currently
ranked second among HI’s 4,000 hostels
located in more than 75 countries. In 2007
the hostel also earned the title of “friendli-
est HI hostel in the world,” according to
a poll by the International Youth Hostel
Federation Boasting 16,000 overnight
stays per year and a capacity of 53 people
that rarely dips below 75 percent full, the
Point Loma hostel has come a long way
since the property was purchased in 1979.
The building has even earlier roots dating
to the late 1930s as a bicycle club.
Recent renovations of the kitchen and
TV room have only added to the hostel’s
appeal, as well as a mattress donation
from Tempur-Pedic for every bed at the
HI Point Loma and downtown San Di-
ego locations. They are the only hostels
in the world to have them according to
Jenny Wise, HI- Point Loma’s general
manager.
Other amenities include a free all-you-
can-eat pancake breakfast, no curfew, and
weekly events like Fridays’ political mov-
ie night and Saturday evening s’mores.
Free walking tours of Balboa Park and
Tijuana, Mexico are also big hits among
travelers, Wise said.
Annual events are also held to cele-
brate the holidays and to promote causes.
The second annual HI-USA Peace Build-
ing Conference was held in April 2009
with young leaders focusing on the ex-
pansion of peace building efforts on local
and global levels.
Global organizations and hostels alike
are finding ways to set standards in sus-
tainable tourism. The Global Partner-
ship for Sustainable Tourism Criteria,
launched in October 2008, is a coalition
of 32 organizations including the United
Nation World Tourism Organization, who
have created a model for what it means to
be “sustainable.”
There are four key points listed in the
criteria: Demonstrate effective sustain-
seeds
The HI-Point Loma Hostel offers both com-
munal rooms with bunk beds and private
rooms like the ones pictured above.
able management; maximize social and
economic benefits to the local community
and minimize negative impacts; maxi-
mize benefits to cultural heritage and
minimize negative impacts; and finally,
to maximize benefits to the environment
and minimize negative impacts.
Symbols unique to specific countries
have also been adopted as a means of
identifying green hostels. For Europe it is
the EU Eco-Flower label and for Austra-
lia it is the Eco Certification Program la-
bel. In the United States, hostellers should
look for the Sustainable Travel Interna-
tional 5-step certification ranging from
a one-star self-assessment to a five-star
professionally audited certification.
From non-toxic cleaning products and
compost, to tree house hostels in the Phil-
ippines, the options are endless for the
green hosteller. The crowd who shares
the “green” spirit is growing and you
don’t have to break the bank to share in
the spirit either.
At the HI Point Loma Hostel, com-
fortable prices range from $17 to $28 per
night for communal rooms and $42 to $69
for private rooms. More than 50 percent
of the hostel consists of private rooms.
Room offerings, optional communal
dinners and locale lend itself to being a
“very family-friendly hostel,” and “is
more of a hybrid of a hostel and a bed and
breakfast. I think it has that higher stan-
dard,” said Wise.
She added that their “mission is to
help all, especially the young, gain a spe-
cial understanding of the world, learning
about each other and becoming comfort-
able with other people.”
With sustainability at the forefront of
people’s minds, volunteers with HI are
advocating the construction of a new
400-bed “purpose built hostel,” down-
town near San Diego Bay. Purpose built
hostels are a rarity, as most hostels take up
business in former hotels or homes.
The new hostel would provide a “mod-
el for sustainability” from the start, ac-
cording to McCannell, with solar panels
and other eco-conscious features which
he believes will be a sure-fire hit among
travelers young and old.
This year commemorates the 50-year
anniversary of HI San Diego, the 75-year
anniversary of HI-USA and the 100-year
anniversary of Hostelling International
[HI]. s
May 2009 | 15
 From Used
Peanut Butter Jar
to Personalized Planter

S
tuffed in a bag between my desk
and bookcase, I keep my collection
of pack-rat souvenirs from travels
abroad: stamps, receipts, theater tickets, etc.
Instead of letting my travel treasures rot in
a bag, or (gulp) throwing them away, I used
them to help recycle a peanut butter jar into
a personalized planter.
To transform an ordinary peanut butter
jar into a planter, first find paper scraps from
your trips abroad, (plane tickets, theater
tickets, receipts with interesting graphics,
etc.). Not as much of a pack rat as I am, or
haven’t traveled anywhere yet? Don’t worry,
many materials will work as planter decor;
try old family photos, old birthday cards or
comic strips.
For this craft, you will also need a 15oz
plastic or glass peanut butter jar washed
thoroughly, with outside label removed;
a tall, thin soda can, like those used for
Rockstar energy drinks (the can I used was a
10.5 fl oz. Hansen sparkling water); masking
tape or painter’s tape, scissors, and a plant
or herb.
Set can, scissors and herb aside for now.
Fit travel pieces into peanut butter jar, push-
ing them tight against plastic (or glass) fac-
ing outward, so they’re visible through the
jar. Arrange pieces into a collage. Many will

Planting
stay in place without tape, but occasionally
use tape to secure smaller pieces. Do not
tape pieces directly to the jar; you shouldn’t
be able to see the tape when looking at the

memories
outside of the jar.
After you’ve finished decorating your jar,
set it aside and use scissors to cut the top off
of soda can. Be careful! Aluminum can be
sharp. Cut the soda can down so that it fits

story and photos by lisa Reynolds

16 | May 2009 seeds

 Crafts

1
1) Decorating inside
of jar with receipts,
tickets and stamps
from travels

4
2) Use tape to se-
cure collage, but do
not tape directly to
jar
3) Cut top off the
soda can
4) Plant mint in the
soda can
5) Slip the soda can
into decorated jar.
Right: Completed
planter personalized

2
with remnants from
travels.

into the peanut butter jar without exceeding the

height of the rim. Once you’ve cut it to the cor-
rect height, fold masking tape or painter’s tape
over cut edges to protect your fingers. Then
plant your herb in the soda can. Begin by put-
ting a handful of dirt (dirt from your back yard
will do) in the bottom of the can, then pack
your herb into the can. Set soda can with herb

5
inside decorated peanut butter jar. Note: when
watering, be sure to water directly into the soda
can and not into the jar, so that your paper col-
lage does not get wet.
If you’ve done all your collage-ing and
cutting, but can’t decide which herb to plant, I

3
suggest you try mint. According to Gardening-
Guides.com, all varieties of mint are fragrant
and work well as potted indoor plants. Two
common varieties of mint, peppermint and pen-
nyroyal, have medicinal properties. Peppermint
is thought to have a soothing effect on nerves,
and when added to a hot cup of tea, can clear
sinus congestion. Pennyroyal, a non-edible va-
riety of mint, can be rubbed on skin as a natural
bug repellent (GardenGuides.com suggests you
test on small area of skin first to make sure you
are not allergic).
Your peanut butter planter is not only a
way to add a fragrant herb to your home, but a
unique display case for the keepsakes you’ve
collected from around the world, and a creative
way to recycle. Enjoy! s

seeds May 2009 | 17

18 | May 2009 seeds
 BRIEFING
Green legislation:
Passed and Pending
story by ashly mcglone, illustrations by amy berkhoudt

At a time when money is tight and the country is

thick in a recession, thinning our consumption
and waste is crucial for the masses. Government
officials have not only taken notice of the green
movement, but have helped spearhead projects
and legislation that will make “going green”
easier and cheaper for years to come. Though not
comprehensive, here are some recent highlights of
the green legislative battle, both nationally and on
the state-level.

seeds May 2009 | 19

20 | May 2009 seeds
 News

National
• Energy Independence
and Security Act (2007) • Oceans Act (2000)

ed
ed ass
ass P Establishes U.S. Commission on
Ocean Policy who was tasked with

P The law sets a target of 35

miles per gallon for cars
manufactured by model year
2020. Higher renewable fuel
standards and appliance and
lighting efficiency standards
were also included.
Source: Congressional Re-
search Service
creating reccommendations for
a “more comprehensive national
ocean policy.” The commission was
disbanded as scheduled in 2004 after
making 212 reccommendations.
Included were suggestions to partner
with developing countries, sharing
technology and expertise to achieve
sustainable ocean management.
Source US Commission on
Ocean Policy.

• HR 1337 America’s
Energy Security Trust
Fund Act (2009)

ing
nd
Pe
This bill would impose a
per-unit tax on the carbon
dioxide content of fossil fuels
beginning at a rate of $15 per
metric ton of CO2 and increas-
ing by 10 percent each year,
also accounting for inflation.
The tax would be assessed on
the CO2 content of these fuels
when they enter the economy:
at oil refineries, coal process-
ing plants and points of import.
Source: The Online Office of
Congressman John B. Larson

seeds May 2009 | 21

 Local
• Green Building
Initiative and Action
Plan (2004)

sed The plan aims to reduce energy use in

state-owned buildings by 20 percent by

Pas 2015. This order affects schools who

now must obtain a minimum silver
rating on the Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design scale provided
by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Source: California Energy Commission

• AB 32 Global
Warming Solutions
Act (2006)

Requires California to reduce its

sed greenhouse gas emissions to 1990

Pas levels by 2020. In 1990 California’s

emissions totaled 426 million metric
tons of CO2 based on 2004 data,
that’s a reduction of 25% or 11 tons
per person.
Source: California Air Resources
Board

22 | May 2009 seeds

 Local
News

• AB 1358
Non-Recyclable Food
Packaging Ban
(Proposed 2009-2010)

• AB 3056 Bottle
Bill (2006)
Provides increased incentives for
ing
d
Pen Bans the use of non-recyclable
plastic food packaging. Typical
polystyrene food packaging is not
recyclable and is one of the largest
components of marine debris pol-
lution.

sed beverage producers to promote re- Source: Californians Against Waste

s
cycling and use container types with

Pa high recycling rates. In 2007 the

amended bill increased the refund
value of bottles from 4 to 5 cents.
Beverage container recycling in
2007 reached a recent high of 71%,
diverting one million tons of litter
from disposal.
Source: California Department of
Conservation

seeds May 2009 | 23

 Legislation Spotlight
sed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Pas aka. Obama’s Stimulus Package (2009)
Local
• California Green Corps
(est. March 2009)
Using $10 million from the stimu-
lus and another $10 million from
public-private partnerships, the corps
establishes a work training program
for high-risk youth between the ages
of 16 and 24 for jobs in the emerg-
ing green economy. Source: Office of
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
National
• Renewable Energy
Projects
The $789 billion stimulus package pro-
vides increased funding, extended tax
incentives and grants to encourage re-
newable energy projects, energy savings
and green jobs. More than $54 billion
is going toward investment renewable
technology, public transportation and
developing an energy-efficient electric-
ity grid. Also included is $500 million
for green job training Source: House of
Representatives, Committee on Appro-
priations
 News

Obama’s Stimulus Package Breakdown

Spending by Sector Energy and Environment
$317.2 billion Total* Total: $98.234 billion (31% of spending)

Department of the Interior Other Agencies

Transportation, housing and
urban development
Federal and state government
Commerce, justice and science
Defense and security
Agriculture and
rural development Atomic energy defense activities
Energy and Corps of Engineers Department of Energy
environment
Bureau of Reclamation
Labor, health and
education

Department of Energy
“The $789 billion $74.701 billion

stimulus package
provides increased
funding, extended
tax incentives and
grants to encourage
renewable energy
projects, energy sav-
ings and green jobs.” Energy efficiency and renewable Fossil energy
energy (building energy codes) research and
development
Uranium plan decommissioning
Electricity delivery and energy Innovative
reliability (new electricity grid) Technology Loan
Guarantee Program
Non-defense environmental
cleanup

* Not including tax cuts and tax incentives. For more information on the $20 billion in green tax incentives for purchases like solar panels, hybrid electric cars
and even mass transit tickets, please visit our blog at seedsmagazine.blogspot.com.

seeds May 2009 | 25

26 | May 2009 seeds
CRITICAL MASS
A Trendy Revolution
“When you are on the road
with hundreds of cyclists,
you feel connected. Everyone
has a face. You can converse
with people and really feel
like you are doing something
together. It’s an empowering
feeling.”
Greg Weise,
Critical Mass Participant
T
he essence of “Critical
Mass” is put in motion the
last Friday of every month
as hundreds of thousands of bike
riders nationwide join forces—
about 1000 strong in each city—to
take the scenic route through busy
streets, all in the name of energy
conservation and cyclist’s rights.
“What makes it really exciting
is that there’s so many different
kinds of people all together and
you talk to random people and be-
come friends throughout the night.
I’ve only been twice but I saw
people from the last time I went,”
said Ashley Johnston, Point Loma
story by amy berkhoudt
Nazarene University [PLNU] stu-
dent and San Diego Critical Mass
participant. “It’s great because we
all come together for a night.”
In San Diego, the cyclists con-
gregate at Balboa Park’s fountain
at 7 p.m. to begin their uncharted
journey. The route changes every
week and the night’s plot is just as
unpredictable. Riding through traf-
fic with such strength in numbers,
cars (usually) halt as cyclist whiz
through red lights. A few riders
act as traffic control, planting their
bike in front of the cars—whether
the motorists have the right of way
or not—as Critical Mass creates
Cover Story
a 15-minute-to-one-hour pause
in traffic flow. Frustration, impa-
tience, and awe are displayed on
the faces of motorists as this mod-
ern-day revolt causes both drivers
and cyclist to consider the effects
of routine driving.
Originally, Critical Mass started
in 1992 in San Francisco to “cel-
ebrate cycling and to assert cyclists’
right to the road,” according to
critical-mass.info. The event was
referred to as “Commute Clot” at
the time. Today, magazines have
described Critical Mass as “monthly
political-protest rides,” accord-
ing to The New Yorker, and in the
United Kingdom e-zine Urban75 it is
described as “the monthly protest
by cyclists reclaiming the streets of
London.” Either way, a mass this
size is considered “potentially op-
pressive” and illegal in most cities.
On the biker’s end, Critical Mass
becomes more than “granola”
activism as it builds community
among the cyclists.
“When you are on a freeway
with hundreds of cars, you don’t
feel anything, except maybe frus-
tration,” said Greg Wiese, PLNU
student and avid cyclist. “When
you are on the road with hundreds
of cyclists, you feel connected.
Everyone has a face. You can con-
verse with people and really feel
28 | May 2009
like you are doing something to-
gether. It’s an empowering feeling.”
Cyclists of various ages attend
the event and they are usually
informed by word-of-mouth. There
have recently been Facebook
groups and MySpace bulletins that
spread the word as well.
The Critical Mass bike rides run
from 30 to 50 miles. Cyclists make
sure to select a course through the
city’s busiest streets. The Septem-
ber 2008 Critical Mass in San Diego
lasted from 7 p.m. to midnight as
cyclists followed-the-leader from
Balboa Park through North Park,
Hillcrest, University Heights, Nor-
mal Heights, and then down to San
Diego State University. From there,
the mass backtracked to Balboa
Park, but did not finish there. For
the next two hours, Critical Mass
made its way downtown and even-
tually to Ocean Beach. For partici-
pants, there is no guarantee that
you will end where you started.
“Critical Mass is also an oppor-
tunity to take action for something
I believe in, albeit, a chaotic, often
misdirected action,” said Weise.
Most of the time, the motor-
ists do not feel the harmony and
community the cyclist experience.
Interactions can become hostile.
“I saw a girl get run over,” said
Brittney Thompson, PLNU senior
A diagram of bicyclist turn signals illustrate road safety. However,
Critical Mass riders rarely use these signals with their power in
numbers.
who attended Critical Mass Sept.
26. “Her bike flew up in the air…
[Then a few hours] later this guy
got out of his car and mauled a cy-
clist. He wasn’t a teenage hipster or
anything; he was an ordinary man.”
Brawls between motorists and
cyclists are not surprising during
the rides. Some busy motorists
find their fists and their cars can
be used as a weapon. Others shout
profanities or honk uncontrollably.
Joey Bess, a student at PLNU,
was stopped by Critical Mass on his
way home from a Padres game. “…I
[saw] a bunch of “trendy hipsters”
on their oh-so-cool “fixies”. [A driv-
ing route that] would normally take
less than 10 minutes … took me
more like an hour. I was cursing up
a storm (in my head).”
Critical Mass dominated the
street with its strength in numbers.
“I got super sketched out when
we lost the group,” said Johnston.
During the ride, Johnston and
a group of 10 cyclists strayed from
the mass in street-grid of down-
town San Diego. Weakened in
numbers, Johnston realized how
defenseless she was in the midst of
the heavy traffic flow. The confi-
dence she and her friends started
the night with quickly diminished
as Johnston saw the danger of her
situation.
They recovered, though, and
found the mass again.
“It’s just too fun to get scared,”
seeds

Critical Mass riders congregate under the 5 Freeway to discuss the group’s next destination.
Balboa Park, home of the San Diego Zoo
and once home to the 1915 World Fair, Crit-
ical Mass riders have called it home every
3rd Friday of the month at 7 p.m.
seeds
said Thompson, a friend accompa-
nying Johnston.
The hipster scene is becom-
ing more than a trend, according
to Douglas Haddow in his article
“Hipster: The Dead End of Western
Civilization,” in Adbusters Maga-
zine.
“[C]ounterculture has mutated
into a self-obsessed aesthetic
vacuum,” said Haddow, “[I]t’s been
stripped of its subversion and
originality… This obsession with
“street-cred” reaches its apex of
absurdity as hipsters have recently
and wholeheartedly adopted the
fixed-gear bike as the only accept-
able form of transportation.”
Slick road bikes are seen
careening through town more
frequently as the “Go Green” trend
continues to grow in popular-
ity among delayed adolescents,
the “18-to-34-year-olds called
hipsters,” according to Christian
Lorentzen’s article “Why the Hip-
ster Must Die” in Time Out New
York. Not everyone is a fan of what
Critical Mass represents.
“[Critical Mass] is a fake state-
ment,” said Joseph Volk, senior Lit-
erature and Philosophy major, “It’s
an image fest… It’s this total sense
of rich white kids expressing their
individualism. A community can
never be a community of individu-
als. They are the ultimate consum-
ers, consuming all these different
cultures and saying, ‘I’m just doing
my thing… if you’re not a beautiful
snowflake, get out of here.’”
Kaley Hearnsberger, a student
at PLNU, recently purchased a
sparkly, light blue Regal road bike.
“It’s a 10-speed. I searched on
Craigslist for over a month and
finally found it for $75,” said Hearn-
sberger. “Now realizing it’s becom-
ing a trend to have a road bike, I
feel like a poser riding it around…
but I get over it seeing how much I
save on gas.”
Hearnsberger fills her gas tank
once a month on average. Besides
riding her bike, Hearnsberger only
shops at thrift stores and makes
money recycling her clothes at
secondhand stores. She plans on
attending the next Critical Mass.
Wiese has been participating in
Critical Mass since the beginning of
this year. The event serves as an op-
portunity to live out his philosophy
of everyday eco-awareness.
“I don’t like driving a car…It’s
just no fun, it costs a good chunk
of money, and it’s a bad for the
environment,” said Wiese. “I ride
my bike most places nearby, and
take public transit for places farther
away. Doing this, I can go for about
a week without using my car.”
Whether for energy conserva-
tion, cyclist’s rights, or hipster
image, Critical Mass has continued
to grow in number since first hit-
ting the scene in 1992. What once
started as a group of 45 riders in
San Francisco, has now grown up to
3,000 participants per city, accord-
ing to the ncbikeclub.org. As the
mass grows so does the length of
jammed traffic; eventually someone
will win the battle of the streets.
The next Critical Mass will land
on March 27. s
May 2009 | 29
30 | May 2009 seeds
Living Every Day Sustainably
story and photos by Emily atkins

J
on and Susan Rodriguez were not happy with
their continuously climbing utility bills. Trying
to raise three kids in a 3,000 square foot house
in an energy-challenged southern California was be-
coming impossible.
Instead of accepting their energy plight, Jon and
Susan turned to a solution that is quickly becoming
a trend among homeowners throughout the country:
Friends of the environment:
solar panels.
The Rodriguez family.
“The panels were the best investment we’ve ever
made,” said Jon. “The rebates reduced the cost of
solar panels to something affordable. Our energy bill
last year was only $60.”
Alternative energy sources are just a few of the green

seeds May 2009 | 31

Home
technologies now being used in a residential setting.
People searching for ways to save money are looking
no further than their dishwashers, the insulation in
their attics or the windows in their homes.
Retrofitting a home requires money, but the benefits
soon outweigh initial costs, especially in the case of utili-
ties.
“It’s a standard misconception that going green is too
expensive,” said David LeCours, the Marketing Commit-
tee Chair for the San Diego chapter of the United States
Green Building Council (USGBC). “It doesn’t have to be
expensive, especially if you plan well and take on small
projects that will have the most impact.”
Jon Rodriguez started small with his home by install-
ing two solar panels over his garage. The panels heat the
water for the entire house, saving the Rodriguez family
about $800 a year in propane costs. Jon also invested in a
low-flow washing machine, dishwasher and toilets.
With the rapid growth of the green technology sector,
knowing where to start can be difficult for many hom-
eowners. The best approach is to start small by replac-
ing inefficient appliances. Energy Star appliances use up
Above: The solar panel system in the Rodri-
guez’ backyard.
Below: Jon checking the energy output for the
day on the control panel. The control panel also
monitors the amount of CO2 saved using solar
energy.
32 | May 2009
‘The panels were the best
investment we ever made.’
Jon Rodriguez, Homeowner
to 50 percent less energy and water than the average
dishwashers, refrigerators and air conditioners. Tankless
water heaters, also called point-of-use water heaters,
heat only the water being used immediately, rather than
consistently warming 30 to 40 gallons of water.
Insulation can also cut energy costs by better regu-
lating temperatures within the home. The Department
of Energy recommends using insulation with a grade of
R-38 to R-49. Windows are a form of insulation, and play
a large role in regulating temperature. There are two
main values, the U-factor and the Solar Heat Gain Coef-
ficient (SHGC), for window grades. The U-Factor mea-
sures the amount of heat that moves through a window,
while the SHGC describes the amount of sun energy that
penetrates a window. For both grades, lower numbers
are best.
Bigger steps, such as alternative energy solutions,
also have huge potential for saving money. Solar pan-
els are especially beneficial for California homeowners,
both because of consistent sunny weather and govern-
ment tax incentives.
“Our panel system would have cost about $42,000
to put in without rebates,” said Susan Rodriguez. “The
government gave us about $16,000, and we have pro-
duced extra energy that we sell back to the energy com-
panies.”
Jon and Susan installed their solar panels in their
backyard. They financed the project through a credit
line; the monthly payments they make for their panels
are cheaper than what they used to send to SDG&E.
seeds
 Above: The Rodriguez
home.
In 2007, the average utility bill in San Diego was about
$85 per month. Using the solar calculator on findsolar.
Left: The Rodriguez’ front
com, a panel system that offset 50 percent of the energy
door, which was made of
used would cost just over $10,000. The average monthly
reclaimed pine by a local
savings would be just under $50, with a 25-year-savings
artisan.
of over $21,000.
In addition to saving money, green improvements
increase the value of a home, making the initial cost of
retrofitting even more beneficial. Also, as Jon and Susan
see it, green technologies will soon be the standard for
more reasons than financial potential.
“It’s becoming a values thing, where if you’re not
aware of your impact, you’re being wasteful,” said Jon.
“And more than that, we all need to realize we can take
control of big things like energy use by creating a market
for these alternatives.”s
seeds May 2009 | 33
34 | May 2009 seeds
seeds May 2009 | 35
36 | May 2009 seeds
 green
to the
Core How one surfer is shaping
the industry and the world

seeds story and photos by emily atkins

May 2009 | 37

T
he surfboard: a shapely piece
of foam, fiberglass and resin
that allows mere men to ride
the ocean. There’s a certain purity
to surfing that comes from stepping
into a liquid world and harnessing a
natural power. Surfers are known for
being in tune with the environment
and having earth-friendly lifestyles.
Ironically, a surfboard is full of
toxic chemicals that cause cancer, re-
spiratory failure and are very harmful
to the environment.
In 2005, Gordon Clark, the ty-
coon of the surfboard foam industry,
shocked the surfing world when he
closed his business.
“For owning and operating Clark
Foam, I may be looking at very large
fines, civil lawsuits and even time in
prison,” wrote Clark in a fax to his
distributors. “The main concern of the
state and the county government is a
toxic chemical we used called Tolu-
ene Di Isocyanate, commonly called
TDI.”
The Environmental Protection
Agency lists TDI as a carcinogen that
Wes shapes the
rails of a short
board.
is extremely toxic, even in short-term
exposures.
The EPA website writes, “Acute
exposure to high levels of Toluene Di
Isocyanate in humans, via inhalation,
results in severe irritation of the skin
and eyes and affects the respiratory,
gastrointestinal, and central nervous
system. Chronic inhalation expo-
sure…has resulted in significant de-
creases in lung function in workers,
an asthma-like reaction characterized
by wheezing, dyspnea and bronchial
constriction.”
When making surfboard blanks,
which are the foam core of a surf-
board, workers mix the chemicals and
hand-pour them into molds.
“TDI absorbs through your skin,”
said Ned McMahon, co-founder of
HomeBlown US, a blank manufactur-
ing company in San Diego. “Protec-
tion doesn’t do anything.”
In Clark’s fax, he wrote that three
ex-employees were on full Workman’s
Compensation for life. Maria Teresa
Barriga, the widow of ex-employee
Martin Barriga, was also suing Clark
at the time of his closing; Mr. Barriga
had died of cardiac arrest and respira-
tory failure caused by the chemicals
used to make blanks.
Ned McMahon thinks it’s time the
surfing world lived up to its environ-
mental reputation. Clark’s closing
gave the surfing industry a chance to
market new and safer technologies
for making blanks. McMahon, a
surfer and shaper for over 30 years,
has taken major steps toward an
ecologically aware surfing industry.
“So, Clark closed in 2005 and
through my travel and expertise, I
knew about HomeBlown UK. They
were using MDI, which was the first
step to doing things cleaner,” said Mc-
Mahon.
MDI, or methylene diphenyl dii-
socyanate, doesn’t emit harmful vola-
tile compounds and results in stronger
blanks with more flex, which is a plus
in the surf industry. McMahon’s use
of MDI instead of TDI is also the main
reason he is allowed to operate in the
United States, as MDI does not emit
harmful compounds.
Most blank companies have moved
their factories to Mexico, where envi-
ronmental restrictions are less strin-
gent and labor is cheap. These com-
panies continue to use TDI to make
their boards, as well as toxic resins.
“We have a social responsibility;
we don’t poison workers in the US,
so we shouldn’t poison Mexicans,”
said McMahon.
In 2007, Chuck Menzel, a surfer
and shaper from Ventura, approached
McMahon with an idea for blanks
made from agriculturally based poly-
ols. Menzel had come up with a recipe
for blanks that were 50 percent plant-
based and was looking for a partner.
“Chuck called up one day and said,
‘I’ve been working on this project, do
you want to look at it?’ When he came
down with the soy polyols and stuff, it
was a no-brainer not to continue down
that road,” said McMahon.
HomeBlown US began offering
blanks made with MDI, as well as
Biofoam blanks made with Menzel’s
recipe. The technology is constantly
evolving to meet the performance
standards of boards made with TDI.
A good surfboard is strong, with-
out being heavy, and has good flex,
but maintains the ability to snap back.
Sports
Surfboards are forever evolving as
shapers look for different combina-
tions that will make the perfect board.
Surfers are characteristically picky
not only about how their boards per-
form, but also how they look.
The blanks McMahon is pour-
ing are actually stronger than boards
made with the classic chemical cock-
tails. The cell structure of the foam is
finer and more uniform, resulting in
a stronger, smoother blank with su-
perior hardness. The boards are also
offering more flex, allowing surfers
a greater sense of the wave through
their boards.
McMahon has also been experi-
menting with natural cloths, such as
hemp and silk, to replace the unsus-
tainable fiberglass cloths tradition-
ally used in surfboards. Turns out the
alternative cloths are stronger than
fiberglass. Also, boards made with
plant-based materials take longer to
discolor under the stress of UV rays.
“It’s always been my opinion that
you can’t do green things for green’s
sake; it has to match performance,” blanks are being stacked next to wind- Above: A local surfer shreds on his Bio-
said McMahon. mill blades, which will be used to gen- foam board.
Unfortunately, McMahon’s boards erate energy. McMahon is also work-
Below: Foam blanks wait their turn to be
are not pure white like the classic ing on spy plane, or drone, models for shaped and glassed.
blanks. Also, colored resins don’t the Department of Defense.
work well with the soy-based blanks; “I just sent in the prototype yester-
the colors tend to crystallize, turning day,” he said. “When a drone falls out
the boards brownish red. The use of of the sky, people have to go collect
alternative cloths has also presented it, but some of the pieces always get
an aesthetic challenge. left behind. Now, those pieces won’t
This has been a surprising obsta- degrade the environment.”
cle for the marketing of HomeBlown The project McMahon is most ex-
boards. cited about is building low-income
“There’s always the fine balance housing using his foam composites
between what you want to do and for walls. He said the houses would be
what you can do commercially,” said extremely durable and inexpensive.
McMahon. “The ship of surfing is a “There’s a need for low cost hous-
slow ship to turn.” ing all over the world,” said McMa-
In 2008, McMahon moved out hon. “Security is a big issue, and these
from under Menzel’s Biofoam prod- houses can be built really strongly.”
uct to continue developing surfboards McMahon believes that it takes
that were completely environmen- little steps to accomplish an overall
tally friendly. In his pursuit of better change. Perseverance is another ne-
foam, McMahon realized he could cessity for McMahon, as he is look-
influence more than just the surfing ing to impact more than the surfing
industry. industry.
McMahon also founded Malama “At some point, we have to edu-
Composites last year, a company that cate people to make them realize what
specializes in replacing bad foam with the situation is,” he said. “The only
foam developed from renewable hy- thing that makes sense is to do some-
drocarbon sources. Now, surfboard thing.” s
seeds May 2009 | 39
Beauty
Editor’s Spotlight
W
hether you’re a woman
looking for a line of
beauty products using
naturally derived ingredients and no
animal testing, or a man search-
ing for a shaving gel straight from
nature, chances are Origins has
something for you. That’s why the
product line is my pick for our May
spotlight.
Founded in 1990, the company
now has over 500 locations in retail
and department stores, across the
Uunited States and in 26 other
countries. The health and beauty
line has a fairly broad variety of
products, including cosmetics, bath
and body products, skin care prod-
ucts, and aroma therapy candles.
Need confirmation that Origins
is certifiably nature-friendly? Here’s
some good news for concerned con-
sumers: the company uses animal-
free ingredients (except cruelty-free
products like beeswax and honey),
no dyes or synthetic fragrances, and
no harsh chemicals. In addition,
all of their printed materials are
produced using soy-based inks and
recycled paper products. Origins
is so committed to conserving our
resources that they even have wind
and solar powered plants that pro-
duce these printed products!
Origins’ mission statement sums
up their purpose nicely: “to pro-
mote beauty and wellness through
good-for-you products and feel-
good experiences. We do this by
celebrating the connection between
Mother Nature and Human Nature.”
Of course, there are other impor-
tant issues to consider than just the
fact that the company is environ-
mentally involved. A major question
personal beauty and skin
care, the natural way
Written by Nicole Gagné
is: do the products work? which can last between three and
I won’t pretend to have tried five months, since you only need a
every one of their products, but as a pea-sized drop at a time.
consumer I can admit to being a sat- And if you want further values
isfied customer for more than four and savings, you can always sign up
years. I have used several of their to be a registered Origins customer.
face washes, shower gels, lotions, By giving them some simple contact
and cosmetics, and have not been information, you’ll receive spe-
disappointed in any of them. cial offers online and in the mail.
My personal favorite is their Personally, I always enjoy getting a
“Make A Difference” hand lotion, $10 off coupon every year for my
which was the only successful birthday!
product I could find for revers- Overall, Origins is a friendly, hip,
ing the results of sadly mistreated
and cracked hands. Other great
products include “Skin Diver,” their
pore-cleansing charcoal body wash;
“Clear Improvement” charcoal mask
for men and women; “Stay Tuned”
balancing makeup… the list goes on
and on!
In fact, I’ve recommended their
lotions to friends and family mem-
bers, who have all had similarly
pleasant things to say about the
success of Origins’ products. You
don’t need a feminine side to ap-
preciate their product line either—
Origins has just as many skin and
grooming products for men as they
do for women.
That being said, the next ques-
tion in your mind: pricing. Most of
their lotions range from between
20 and 50 dollars, depending on the
size and type. All I can say is that
you are paying for quality, which
means a slightly higher price than
something you might buy at your
local drugstores. However, most of
their products tend to come in fairly
generous quantities, so you aren’t
having to stock up once a month.
The smallest container of hand
lotion comes in 2.5 fluid ounces,
 Favorites 1

1 “Skin Diver”
Charcoal Body
Wash

2 “Make A
Difference”
Rejuvinating Hand 2
Cream

3 “Clear
Improve-
ment” Active
Charcoal Mask

4
and environmentally conscious
“Stay Tuned”
place to shop. By dishing out a
Balancing Face
few extra bucks, you’re getting
Makeup;
products you can count on and the
assurance that no animals have
been harmed in either production
or testing. I recommend checking
it out today! You can shop online
and find out more about Origins at 3
www.Origins.com. s

seeds May 2009 | 41

Shopping

Green
for less
Green
The search for affordable, sustain-
able business suits

I
was desperate for a matching business suit. The night before my
formal presentation in my business course, I tried on the “business
suit” I was planning to wear—black jeans and a black suit jacket
with a fake pink rose pinned to it. Looking at myself in the mirror, I
realized I needed something that looked more professional.
Months earlier I had taken from my mother’s closet a pinstripe suit
from her early-work days. The suit’s skirt was two sizes smaller than I
was, but I took the suit anyway thinking I might eventually shrink into
it. I now grabbed that pinstripe, hoping I had shrunk or it had magi-
cally grown in the few months since I’d moved it from Mom’s closet to
mine at school. Alas, neither had happened. The skirt was still too tiny.
But I had to have a suit for my business presentation, so I sucked in my
stomach and I forced the zipper up, imagining I had a vague idea how
it must feel to wear a corset.
The next day, I wore my mother’s too-small pinstripe skirt to
give my presentation; I had to make a conscious effort to take smaller
breathes so I wouldn’t be in danger of popping the zipper. I decided for
my next business presentation, I needed a suit that fit. So that weekend

Story and photos by lisa reynolds

 “Goodwill had
clothing
organized by
type and color...I
thought of my
OCD roommate
who color-codes
her closet—Good-
will would be
Heaven
to her. And
as far as
shopping green
for less, Goodwill
seemed heavenly
to me too.”
I went looking for green, affordable business wear.
Shopping green doesn’t necessarily mean shopping for clothes
made out of potato skins and corn husks; think of it as shopping for
clothes that support a sustainable lifestyle. According to Sustain-
ablemeasures.com, sustainability is a community effort that addresses
issues relating to the environment, economy and society. One of the
practices sustainable communities work together to check is over-
consumption. How can shopping help the community check over-
consumption? Answer: thrift stores. Instead of using up resources to
produce new consumer goods, thrift stores allow the community to
recycle their goods and participate in their local economy as buyers
and suppliers.
My search for a suit began at The Salvation Army on Sports Arena
Boulevard in Point Loma. Clothing at The Salvation Army I went to
was organized by type—blouses, pants, etc. I didn’t find a full suit
together, so I matched separate suit pieces. I stuck with black because,
it’s easier to match a solid than a pattern, and because the location I
was at had a lot of black suit-wear to choose from. I soon discovered
sizes on labels don’t necessarily correspond to the garment’s actual
size.
I took my finds three at a time (the posted limit) to a dressing room.
Opposite: Pants suit from Goodwill,
$20.00; dress shirt from Salvation
Army, $11.50. Above: Suit jacket
from Salvation Army, $ 7.50.
A dressing room at Salvation Army consisted of a pair of large mauve
curtains that Velcro-ed shut. The communal mirror was just a step out-
side my curtain room. Stepping from behind my curtain to the mirror,
then back behind my curtain became a kind of fluid movement: step
forward, front to mirror, side to mirror, spin around, then back. Front,
side, spin—just like a Dosey-Doe.
It took some spinning, but I was able to find a pair of black trousers,
a black jacket and a blue striped blouse for a grand total of $ 31.00.
Compare that price to the $ 79.00 I would have paid if I had bought a
two piece suit from JC Penny’s online. I saved money shopping green
at The Salvation Army (and learned a new dressing-room dance move).
I spent even less money on a suit shopping at Goodwill on Rosen-
crans, a few blocks away from The Salvation Army. As opposed to The
Salvation Army, Goodwill had clothing organized by type and color.
As soon as I noticed those neat clusters of color, I thought of my OCD
roommate who color-codes her closet—Goodwill would be Heaven to
her. And as far as shopping green for less, Goodwill seemed heavenly
to me too.
Goodwill had a separate rack for suit sets. I found two pants suits
that seemed particularly promising, one grey and one brown with a
belted waist. I took my finds to the dressing room, which, sadly I
Shopping
Left to Right: Black suit jacket from Salvation Army, grey suit
jacket from Goodwill. Not pictured: Black pants from Salvation
Army, $12.00; brown shell from Goodwill, $3.99.
could not Dosey-Doe in and out of since they were of a more tra-
ditional design with partitions and in-room mirrors. The grey I liked
better than the brown, but did find a brown shell to go with my grey
suit in, yes, the brown shell-and-shirt section. The grey pants suit and
brown shell together cost me $23.99, $7 and one cent less than the suit I
bought at The Salvation Army, and $55 and one cent less than a similar
suit at JC Penny’s online.
T
o implement more sustainable practices in my thrifty shopping
experience, I could have also looked for apparel from Fair La-
bor Association (FLA) affiliates. Companies that participate in
FLA agree to follow the FLA Workplace Code of Conduct, according
to fairlabor.org. The Code of Conduct prohibits forced labor and child
labor at manufacturing locations around the world, and includes guide-
lines relating to fair wages, work hours and plant safety conditions.
Participating companies include Liz Claiborne, Inc., Hanesbrands,
Nordstrom, Inc and H&M. I didn’t know about the FLA when I went
44 | May 2009
on my suit search, but next time I’ll be sure to check clothing labels,
looking for clothing that is not only sustainable when purchased from a
thrift store, but manufactured under a sustainable labor conditions.
I started with a too-tight pinstripe and ended up with two affordable,
sustainable pants-suits. Though certainly raiding my mother’s closet
is also a cheap, green way to find clothing, when all I can find is a
suit-skirt two sizes too small, then it’s time for me to raid the collective
closet of the community. Though large merchants, The Salvation Army
and Goodwill stores I went to had their own personal style, the first
with its mauve dressing room curtains, and the second with its aisles
arranged by color, like a new box of crayons. Choosing thrift stores
over department stores, besides being green, also saved me money
on my purchases; the money I spent total on my two suits—six suit
pieces in all—is still less then the cost of the average two piece
suit on JC Penny’s website. For a college student,.that makes a big
difference. I am now prepared so that the next time time I need to
wear a business suit I can breathe easy—literally. s
seeds
seeds May 2009 | 45
 Everyday Exotic

Incorporating the Year’s Best Into Your

Everyday (Healthy) Cooking

I
t’s the end of the work day, and aside from heating up
soup, your meal agenda is somewhat blasé. Let’s face it.
By the end of the day, the last thing you want to do is plan
a nutritiously balanced meal when there’s so little variety to
choose from, right?But you’re wrong there. It may require
stepping out of your comfort zone a bit, but there’s plenty of
fruits and vegetables that are just waiting to be added to your
recipe book.
So get ready to impress your friends and family with your culi-
nary know-how! Here’s the skinny on some flavorful fruits and
veggies, and ideas on how to prepare them. Who knows? You
might just find a new favorite.

Written by Nicole Gagné

46 | May 2009 seeds

 Food

Fab Fruit Valued Veggie

Pomegranate Beets

Pomegranates are typically available in North America from Oc-
tober through the winter season. According to the California Pome-
granate Council, the fruit is only picked when ripe. So if you see them
in your grocery store, they’re ready to eat! Note: The heavier the
fruit is, the more juice there is inside.
Beets are more than just your Grandma’s side dish of choice. Al-
though the youngest beet season is from June to October, beets are
available throughout the year, which makes them readily available.
Because both the greens and the root part of the plant are edible,
they can be prepared in a variety of ways.

Why They’re Good For You
Pomegranates contain unusually high amounts of beneficial anti-
oxidants, and “are credited with helping in the prevention of cancer
and heart disease,” according to the California Pomegranate Coun-
cil. They are also an excellent source of fiber, are high in Vitamin C,
and low on calories.
Why They’re Good For You
According to whfoods.org, beets have many nutritional benefits:
“These colorful root vegetables contain powerful nutrient com-
pounds that help protect against heart disease, birth defects and
certain cancers, especially colon cancer.” They are also high in car-
bohydrates and incredibly low on calories.

Typical Preparation Methods Typical Preparation Methods

• Simmer • Roast
• Bake • Simmer
• Blend/Puree • Blend/Puree
• Grill • Bake
• Roast • Sauté

seeds May 2009 | 47

Food
Other Fruits and Veggies to Consider:
Bitter Melon
Despite its name, the Bitter Melon is actually a member of the
squash family. It closely resembles a cucumber with bumpy skin, and
is yellowish-green when picked. “Bitter melon is commonly stuffed,
curried or pickled. It can also be used in stir-fry’s and soups and
may be steamed. Garlic or chili peppers are often added to recipes
with bitter melon to offset the bitter taste.” (fruitsandveggiesmat-
ter.gov)
Tangerine
Tangerines are a rich source of Vitamins A and C, and can also
help in the prevention of cancer. They are also an excellent source of
beta-carotene. Tangerines are a cross between a mandarin orange
and a bitter orange, and can help prevent the occurrence of kidney
ulcers, according to MotherNature.com. Although they are avail-
able throughout the world, a large portion of tangerines are grown
in the United States. They are available in the winter season.
Pictured above: Tangerine; trufffle and tangerine rind; vanilla stalk
Cauliflower
The Cauliflower is at its best between December and March, and
can be easily found at all grocery stores. It is an excellent source of
Vitamin C and other antioxidants, and contains moderate amounts
of carbohydrates. Whfoods.org lists cauliflower as a proven source
in helping to prevent colon cancer, along with other cruciferous veg-
etables such as cabbage, broccoli and kale. It can be enjoyed raw or
cooked.
Kiwano Melon
The Kiwano Melon is a winter fruit that has recently begun to
be grown in California. It has a orange and yellow skin with distinc-
tive “horns” on the peel, and a yellowish-green pulp in
the center. As there is no way to peel the skin, the pulp
must be scooped out. According to fruitsandveggies-
matter.gov, “The pulp may be eaten by itself, used as
a topping for a sweet dessert or added to a fruit or green
salad.”
 Food

Chopped Apple Salad with Toasted Walnuts,

Blue Cheese and Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Recipe courtesy Bobby Flay, 2007.
Source: FoodNetwork.com

Ingredients
Pomegranate Vinaigrette:
•1/4 cup pomegranate molasses
•2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
•1 heaping tablespoon Dijon mustard
•1 tablespoon honey, or more to taste
•Salt
•Freshly ground black pepper
•3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Salad:
•6 apples (Granny Smith, Gala, Fuji) any or a combination of all, skin left on, core removed and cut into 1/2-inch dice
•2 cups baby spinach
•2 heads endive, thinly sliced
•1 cup toasted coarsely chopped walnuts
•3/4 pound blue cheese, crumbled (recommended: Maytag, Danish, Cabrales)
•Salt
•Freshly ground black pepper

Directions
For the vinaigrette:
Whisk together the pomegranate molasses, vinegar, mustard, honey and salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk in the
olive oil until emulsified.
For the salad:
Combine the apples, spinach, endive, walnuts and blue cheese in a large bowl. Add the vinaigrette and toss to coat, season with
salt and pepper, to taste.

Roasted Beets and Sauteed Beet Greens

Source: Allrecipes.com

Ingredients
•1 bunch beets with greens
•1/4 cup olive oil, divided
•2 cloves garlic, minced
•2 tablespoons chopped onion (optional)
•salt and pepper to taste
•1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (optional

Directions
1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C). Wash the beets thoroughly, leaving the skins on, and remove the greens. Rinse
greens, removing any large stems, and set aside. Place the beets in a small baking dish or roasting pan, and toss with 2 tablespoons
of olive oil. If you wish to peel the beets, it is easier to do so once they have been roasted.
2.Cover, and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a knife can slide easily through the largest beet.
3.When the roasted beets are almost done, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the
garlic and onion, and cook for a minute. Tear the beet greens into 2 to 3 inch pieces, and add them to the skillet. Cook and stir until
greens are wilted and tender. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the greens as is, and the roasted beets sliced with either red-wine
vinegar, or butter and salt and pepper.

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