Therapeutic gardening has become a method of recovery, both physical and mental, for Alzheimer’s patients, the physically handicapped, injured or ill patients, and troubled or abused children. According to the Methodist Respite Care Center in Williamsburg, VA, “All [of their therapeutic] projects use gardening and horticultural activities to improve physical health, mental health, expand recreational options and generally improve one’s health and well-being.” This method of therapy is reported to reduce stress, stimulate the senses, and creates bonds with nature and other people.

Brightly colored annuals, such as marigolds, impatiens and cosmos, are a few flowers of choice in therapeutic gardening to provide a sensory experience for patients. Vegetable and herb gardens are also planted and tended to add taste and scent to the experience.

Participants have the pleasure of tasting the “fruits of their labor,” plucked straight off the vine, or can take home fresh, fragrant herbs to cook with.

All in all, this new form of therapy provides a cost-effective, relaxing, and sociable way to improve health for many people, while providing volunteer positions for gardening enthusiasts who desire to give back to their communities.

Article by Emily Wallace for DivineCaroline. First published March 2010.

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• Living a Sensual Life Through Farming
• The Taste of Summer: Tips for Growing Delicious Tomatoes
• Blades of Glory: Tips for Growing a Lusher Lawn

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On a recent holiday weekend flight between two West Coast cities, I thought about the thoughtful and harmful things my travel companion and I had done in regards to the environment the day we traveled. We’d recycled, turned down our thermostats, and taken public transportation to San Francisco International Airport (whose low-flow toilets and green rental car program get industry kudos). But we also threw out Styrofoam cups, idled on a runway while our plane wasted fuel, and were picked up in an SUV. Could we have been more conscientious about the effect our travel choices have on the planet?

It’s no surprise that flights were the most negatively impactful part of our trip. Fortunately, research into more efficient engines and alternative fuels has been promising in the past few years, and travelers now face more options when it comes to choosing airlines with sustainable business practices. Although major policy and research decisions on air travel efficiency are out of the hands of most consumers, we can positively impact where the industry is headed through our choice of carriers.

Green Good Deeds: Choosing Airlines Beyond Fares

A few airlines have demonstrated leadership and commitment to eco-friendlier travel through their use of alternative fuels over long distance flights and willingness to work with one another. Some have also made a splash with their research and use of sustainable biofuels-fuels made from biological material high in sugar and oil-that are different from the fossil fuels currently being tapped out. The Central American airline NatureAir, the first certified carbon-neutral airline, runs its ground vans with biofuel created from cooking oil to protect forests in Southern Costa Rica where it operates.

Although foreign airlines have received the most media attention for green good deeds (for example, British Airways’ sustainable biofuel research partnership with engine maker Rolls Royce and Emirates Airline’s longest green flight between San Francisco and Dubai), several domestic carriers deserve a nod for their environmental efforts.

Southwest Airlines

After working to save $42 million in fuel in 2008 by extending each flight by one to three minutes (slowing down improves engine efficiency and ultimately saves fuel, just like it does for drivers), Southwest’s cross-departmental green team pushed for more environmental and profit-friendly innovation by introducing employee ride-share programs on the ground and adding winglets to the end of plane wings to save nearly 30 million gallons of jet fuel annually. As part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Blue Skyways Collaborative, the airline also works to voluntarily reduce its emissions and share technological expertise with other service companies.

Virgin America

The new kid on the block has the youngest fleet among major U.S. airlines, making it an estimated 30 percent more carbon- and fuel-efficient than other carriers. In the style of other Virgin Group companies (including Virgin Atlantic, whose London to Amsterdam flight powered by a biofuel combination of babassu and coconut oil gained public attention last year), a portion of the domestic airline’s profits go into renewable fuel research. Virgin America also uses single-engine taxiing and cruise speed regulation on every flight to reduce climate change impact.

Alaska Airlines

This airline makes corporate gifts to the Nature Conservancy and started a Green Miles nonprofit program so that customers could support the organization’s efforts to conserve the Pacific Northwest by donating miles they’ve earned. Onboard, Alaska recycles in-flight magazines printed with soy-based inks as well as bottles of the socially conscious Jones Soda that the airline serves instead of major cola products.

American Airlines

In April, responsible travel news provider TerraCurve reported that American Airlines is flying the first of the nearly eighty more efficient Boeing 737-800 planes it will be adding over the next two years. Each new plane will burn about 28 percent less fuel per mile than current planes.

American Airlines also was the first major airline to join the EPA’s Climate Leaders program, of which Virgin America is the only other participating airline and Boeing is the only aerospace member. Companies in the industry-government partnership commit to reduce their environmental impact by completing inventories of their greenhouse gas emissions and by setting reduction goals. All members agree to report their progress to the EPA annually. American has committed to a 30 percent reduction in its greenhouse gas-intensity ratio by 2025.

Virgin’s greenhouse gas reduction goals are still said to be being developed, and the airline is the first to commit to report its emissions to the nonprofit Climate Registry.

These days, we don’t have to dive into aviation industry communications to make savvy travel choices; more lifestyle news outlets have begun covering the topic due to increased consumer interest in eco and cost-saving coverage. Several airlines have also started making their environmental statements and assessments easily available online with American Airlines, Southwest, and JetBlue leading the charge.

Article by Emily Goligoski for DivineCaroline. First published April 2009.

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• What Makes a House Eco-Friendly?
• Twelve Myths About Electric Vehicles
• Don’t Box Me In: How to Reduce Packaging Waste

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The post Fly the Green Skies: 4 Eco-Friendly Airlines appeared first on EcoSalon.

Standing in the produce section, you hold up two seemingly identical peaches. One has an organic label, and one was grown at a farm only ten miles away. Which piece of fruit is better- for you and for the environment?

Modern conscientious eaters have a lengthy list of “food rules” to which they’re expected to adhere. No commercial meat. No fast food. No unsustainably farmed fish, nothing grown more than one hundred miles away, and nothing grown with chemicals. In a perfect world, we’d all tend our own organic produce and slaughter our own humanely raised meat, but in the real world, we have to make choices, and especially when it comes to produce, the choice sometimes comes down to buying local products or buying organic ones. Is one really better than the other? Given the choice, which should we purchase?

Fresh from the Farm

When you buy food from farms within your community, you’re supporting local businesses. But you’re not just supporting the farms themselves; you’re also supporting the local workers who do the planting and harvesting; the companies that provide equipment, seeds, and service; and the local markets that sell them. Small farms are more integrated into and invested in their communities than factory operations are, and patronizing them spreads the wealth around.

Another big benefit to buying local is that it forces you to think in terms of growing seasons. Yes, that means you won’t get tomatoes during the winter, but eating seasonally is a good way to stay in tune with the natural rhythms of nature and become familiar with your region’s agriculture.

Buying locally also eliminates the need for farmers to pay to transport their products over long distances. According to the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, the average carrot travels 1,838 miles from farm to table, so local food both saves fuel and eliminates the need for expensive packagers and distributors who add to the final cost. Those savings for the farmer can translate into a substantial savings for the customer, too: according to the University of Michigan Center for Sustainable Systems, about 23 percent of the total fossil fuels used in food production are devoted to processing and packaging. When you buy local products, especially at a farmers’ market, the farmer is able to keep eighty to ninety cents of each dollar you spend- far higher than what he or she would earn for the same product bought in a supermarket hundreds of miles away

But the best part of local food is that it’s fresher. Factory farm – even organic ones-pick their produce before it’s ripe and then allow it to ripen on the way to market. An organic apple from the grocery store was likely picked about a week ago, as opposed to a local apple, which could have been picked as recently as this morning.

Local food, however, is not necessarily sustainable, humanely raised, or environmentally friendly food. Many small farmers still use pesticides or fertilizers, which account for a substantial part of the fossil fuel use in farming. According to the University of Michigan, approximately 40 percent of the fossil fuels used in agriculture are spent on manufacturing chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Ingesting these chemicals has its own health risks, as well as environmental consequences.

In Search of the Big O

When you buy any food labeled “USDA Organic,” you know exactly what you’re getting. Farms with this certification undergo stringent testing to ensure that no chemicals come in contact with the produce. Organic meat cannot receive the organic certification unless it’s antibiotic- and hormone-free. Not only do the farms themselves have to maintain these high standards, but so do any packagers or shippers that handle the products on their way to market. Organic farming in this country has increased significantly in the past decade, but it still represents only a small percentage of food sales.

We sometimes think of organic farms as being small, family-owned operations, but nowadays, many large-scale organic-farming operations ship to supermarkets all over the country, such as Whole Foods. Buying organic produce – wherever it comes from- ensures the survival of these food distribution networks and makes it easier to increase production and bring more organic food to more people. Another benefit of supporting large-scale organic farming is that it increases the acreage of farmland that remains pesticide- and fertilizer-free, which is great for the environment.

The organic produce found in most supermarkets travels from farms all over the country. The good news is that this enables people everywhere to have access to organic food, but the bad news is that it uses fossil fuels the same way conventional produce does: organic produce from factory farms still undergoes packing and shipping, and it’s still transported hundreds or thousands of miles, ripening during the journey. Organic fruit picked in Florida and shipped to Ohio doesn’t do much for local food systems or suppliers, either.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to buy local food or organic food should be made based on your own priorities and needs, and on what’s available in your area. If your greatest concern is avoiding pesticides, buy organic. If you’re just trying to eat seasonally and reduce your carbon footprint, local food may be the way to go. If you live in California, you have a wealth of options for both local and organic food, but Hawaii has to import 90 percent of its food, so choices may be slim.

Seek out farmers’ markets, where you can interact with the farmers themselves and ask questions about how they grew their plants or raised their animals. Shopping at farmers’ markets – whether the food is organic and local, or just local – is the best way to get acquainted with where and how your food was grown. Even if you do your shopping at Safeway or Publix, when customers start asking questions, the company will start providing answers.

Whether you buy your produce local, organic, or both, the important thing is getting off the system of factory farming. Both choices are important in discouraging harmful agricultural practices and encouraging the production of the kind of food that keeps us – and our world – healthy.

Article by Allison Ford for DivineCaroline. First published May 2010.

Related DivineCaroline posts:

• Don’t Let Good Produce Go Bad
• Herbal Essence: Should You Buy Fresh or Dried Herbs?
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Dr. Northrop believes that menstruation is a time for women to let go of all of their emotional junk for the month. It is a clearing out time, and a time for letting go. Dr. Northrop also believes that peri-menopause is also a time for women to complete many of our lifelong issues – that it is a time to really listen to our bodies and ourselves.

The problem is that most of us don’t really listen to our bodies. We don’t allow a time for physically turning in during menstruation. We often do not slow down – and take the time to listen to what our bodies are telling us. And some of us chemically alter our bodies through birth control pills – so we don’t even get the opportunity to tune into the wisdom of our bodies-because we alter the cycles. Often there is no menstruation for women on the pill. Menstruation is seen as something to avoid instead of nature’s way of letting us take stock of where we are, and then letting go.

For those of us struggling with infertility – menstruation can also be a reminder of failure. A sign of loss, instead of a chance to begin again with something fresh. We begin to view our menstruation as something awful and full of pain.

I have begun to tune into my body in a new way. So much of how we manage the cycles of our bodies is how we frame things in our minds. So, instead of thinking about menstruation as an inconvenience or a marker of some kind of failure – try thinking of that time of the month as a meditation of the mind and body. A spring cleaning that our bodies gift us with to renew our spirits and start fresh. Perhaps if we made time to rest during our menstruation and to take long walks instead of powering through our menstruation and ignoring it – we would gain great wisdom from our bodies.

Article by Pamela Madsen for DivineCaroline. First published January 2010.

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They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what about apple cider vinegar (ACV)? It seems like every time I turn around, I’m reading something new about its miraculous healing benefits, and grocery stores now stock it in both the condiment and the vitamin aisles. Is ACV a modern-day snake oil, or is there something to all the hype?

A Long History of Healing

Though ACV has become big news only recently, its healing properties are nothing novel. In Apple Cider Vinegar: History and Folklore, Victoria Rose writes that people all over the world have used the liquid to treat various ailments for at least ten thousand years. The Babylonians used it as a condiment and a preservative. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, and his fellow Greeks and Romans relied on its healing properties. ACV has also been found in Egyptian urns dating back to 3,000 BC.

More recently, medieval Parisians used ACV as a deodorant and healing tonic, believing it capable of preserving youth. Japanese samurai also drank it for vitality. Christopher Columbus carried the liquid in barrels aboard his ships because it helped to prevent scurvy-though vitamin C wasn’t actually discovered until much later, in 1933-and American Civil War doctors used it to clean wounds and sterilize instruments.

Americans started using ACV in the 1950s, after author D.C. Jarvis promoted it in his best-selling book, Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor’s Guide to Good Health, as a kitchen remedy for head lice and poor digestion, among other afflictions. Then its popularity took off as part of the alternative-medicine movement of recent years.

The ABCs of ACV

ACV is the product of a fermentation process in which bacteria and yeast break down the sugars in pulverized apples and turn them into alcohol, which then becomes acetic acid, or vinegar (from the French for “sour wine”). During fermentation, a thick layer-called the “mother of vinegar-“forms on the bottom of the liquid. Proponents of ACV consider this “mother,” which they say contains living enzymes and beneficial bacteria, especially valuable and opt for raw and unpasteurized (rather than distilled) vinegar to cultivate it.

Vinegar’s main property is its acidity, but different vinegars have other acids, vitamins, mineral salts, and amino acids. According to several natural-health sources, ACV contains vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, beta-carotene, bioflavonoids, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, enzymes, amino acids, potash, and apple pectin. It also contains the minerals and trace elements potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium, copper, and iron.

Good for You Inside …

Nowadays, ACV is most popular as a purported weight-loss aid. A tablespoon a day taken before meals, some claim, will help to curb appetite and increase metabolism. According to Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky, RD, LD, there’s no evidence to support such beliefs, but a 2005 study found that consuming small amounts of vinegar with meals helped people increase feelings of satiety. It doesn’t have to be ACV, though; plain old white vinegar will do.

Researchers have also tested claims about ACV’s benefits for diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, heart health, and cancer. A 2007 study published in Diabetes Care showed that eleven people taking two tablespoons of ACV before bed lowered their morning glucose levels by 4 to 6 percent. Two laboratory studies of rats in 2006 suggested that ACV may also lower cholesterol and blood pressure. And research at the University of Texas indicates that all vinegar may be able to kill or inhibit the growth of cancer cells, especially esophageal cancer.

Less researched is the alkaline-acid theory. Some in the alternative-health sphere believe that most ailments-especially inflammatory diseases like diabetes, arthritis, and allergies-are caused by bodily pH levels that are too low. The way to correct that imbalance, according to the theory, is to replace grains, meat, and dairy products (all acidic foods) with a plant-based diet and to consume ACV daily. It seems counterintuitive-combat acidity with an acid? But believers in the alkaline-acid theory argue that ACV, alone among the vinegars, has an alkalizing effect on the body, making it an effective cure for everything from the common cold to clinical depression.

.. and Out

You don’t have to drink ACV to reap its benefits. It’s also a natural moisturizer and toner with many uses for face, hair, and body.

* Combine one-half tablespoon of ACV with one cup of cold water for a natural dandruff remedy that will also add body and shine to your hair, as long as you don’t mind the smell. (It will fade “¦ eventually.)
* If you’re prone to acne or age spots, use some ACV on your face as a nightly toner. It will clear up the oil and work as a natural antibacterial, as well as lighten discoloration.
* Whiten teeth on the cheap by brushing them with ACV. The acid will help break up stains. But don’t do this too often, or you’ll wear away the tooth enamel (and the stains will get worse).

Claims that ACV also cures lice and warts are untrue, but it does do plenty. You can come up with a longer list if you think creatively.

Beware of Snake Oil Salesmen

As with all supplements, you should ask your doctor before beginning to take ACV. It’s not for everyone. Pure vinegar is very acidic and can damage tooth enamel and the tissues in your mouth and esophagus if it’s not diluted. It can even cause contact burns on the skin. Long-term use of ACV can lower potassium levels, contributing to osteoporosis, and may interact with certain medications. ACV contains chromium, too, which affects insulin levels, so people with diabetes need to be especially careful when taking it.

Despite its acidity, opt for (diluted) liquid vinegar. You can purchase ACV tablets, but since the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t regulate supplements, there’s no way to know for sure what you’re getting. A 2005 study of eight different brands revealed wide discrepancies among their ingredients, and some didn’t contain any ACV at all.

No Miracle Cure

Though sorting through conflicting information about ACV can be confusing, adding a tablespoon or two to your salad dressing will probably do you more good than harm. Only now are researchers starting to confirm the liquid’s age-old reputation as a restorer and maintainer of health, but while we should all retain some degree of skepticism about its supposed cure-all properties, centuries of history assure us that ACV is no fad.

Article by Molly Mann for DivineCaroline. First published February 2010.

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I may not have been an early bird since birth, but after years of training myself to jump-start my day, my body naturally wants to get a move on as soon as it’s light outside. In fact, I’m now almost incapable of sleeping past 8 a.m.

Some people may consider that a tragic flaw, but I enjoy getting up early. I like not being rushed as I prepare for work, and I enjoy the morning hour when I’m alone in the office. For some people, waking up early isn’t the easiest lifestyle to sustain, but for those who can stick it out, it offers a bevy of benefits.

More “Me” Time

While my fiancé is hitting the snooze button repeatedly, I’m taking a leisurely shower, tidying up around the house, and catching up on last night’s Daily Show. When you wake up early, without phone calls, emails, or pestering family members, the time is yours to spend as you please, whether you meditate, exercise, read, or simply watch that television show your spouse hates. Many parents of young children find that the early-morning hours provide their only chance to enjoy a cup of coffee or relax alone before the day begins.

Regular Workouts

People’s motivation to exercise is high first thing in the morning. Many report that they are more likely to stick to a morning workout routine than to an afternoon or evening one, since distractions have a way of derailing later plans to get to the gym. Also, although it hasn’t been proven, some exercise physiologists believe that exercising in the morning on an empty stomach forces the body to burn stored fat, instead of other calories.

A study published in the November 2006 issue of the journal SLEEP found that exercising in the morning led to better sleep at night. The researchers theorized that the morning activity helped to properly align the body’s circadian rhythms. Test subjects who postponed exercise until the evening actually had a more difficult time falling asleep.

An Easier Commute

In some cities, the difference between a breezy, quick commute and total gridlock can be as little as fifteen minutes. Getting up early to beat traffic makes commuting not only more relaxing and peaceful, but also safer. Stressed driving, either because of traffic conditions or because the driver is running late, can lead to aggressive behavior, speeding, and poor decision making, increasing the chance of accidents. For those who rely on public transportation to get to work, getting up early can mean the difference between grabbing a seat on a nearly empty train or bus and cramming in next to strangers, holding on to the strap for dear life.

The Benefit of Breakfast

When you sleep in and hurry out the door, breakfast is often one of the first parts of the morning routine to go, and many people who sleep in very late end up skipping breakfast altogether and waiting until lunchtime to eat. Yet countless studies have demonstrated the positive effects of eating a healthy breakfast: people who do so tend to feel fuller, make better food choices throughout the day, and be a healthier weight than non-breakfast eaters. Waking up early gives us the benefit of time and energy to put together a healthy breakfast, instead of grabbing fast food or forgoing the meal entirely.

Family Matters

When you have time in the morning to tidy up the house, start prepping for dinner, or do errands, you can use the extra evening hours to relax and have fun with your partner, your kids, or your friends. Most people would probably rather spend their evenings enjoying a movie or eating a leisurely family dinner than doing housework. Getting your chores done at the beginning of the day makes those activities more possible.

High Productivity

In 2007, Yahoo! Finance surveyed twenty CEOs and high-powered executives at companies like Pepsi, Motorola, Avaya, and Xerox. One thing that all of them had in common was that they were all awake before 6 a.m. They used that time to get ahead on email, exercise, read the paper, or take care of family chores. All of the survey respondents said that getting up early was absolutely essential to their productivity.

A Brainpower Boost

There’s also some evidence that our brains are at their peak performance in the morning hours. In a study conducted at the University of North Texas, college students who reported getting up early had higher GPAs than students who slept in regularly.

Less Stress

When you get up early, you set a relaxed and comfortable pace for the whole day. Between getting yourself ready for work, getting your kids ready for school, commuting to work, and doing all the other things that have to happen before 9 a.m., things can get pretty stressful. Reducing stress has a big effect on health, since stress can result in headaches, stomachaches, hair loss, high blood pressure, and anxiety and can exacerbate other chronic ailments. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that stress-related conditions cost American businesses about $300 million every year. When you build extra time into your morning routine, you don’t feel like you’re rushing everywhere.

The biggest benefit of being a morning person is that the world operates on your schedule. Night owls may love sleeping till noon, but it’s a fact that most of life happens during the daytime, and if you’re not awake and ready, opportunity can pass you by. Waking up early isn’t the easiest thing to do, and even those of us who enjoy being early birds occasionally have days when we’re tempted to hit the snooze button (again). But it’s nice to know that once we’re out of bed, the world is ours for a few brief, shining moments “¦ at least, until everyone else wakes up.

Article by Allison Ford for DivineCaroline. First published March 2010.

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• Nine Ways to Wake Up Earlier
• The Truth Behind Night Owls and Morning People
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The post Morning Magic: 8 Reasons Why the Early Bird Gets the Worm appeared first on EcoSalon.

I’ll get right to the point: I spent eight bucks on butter.

With all the news stories about the rising cost of food, I thought I’d check my most recent grocery receipt and see how I fared. My eye went straight to a $7.99 charge. For Horizon Organic Unsalted Butter. Butter! Four sticks! This is insane! It had to be a mistake.

I told my mom about it and she was appropriately aghast. She called me on her cell phone later that day. She was standing in the dairy aisle at Publix. It’s true. $7.99 for butter. If I had chosen a different organic brand, I could have gotten four sticks for $5.49. And, of course, I could have saved more money by buying non-organic or the store brand. It’s only butter. These days I hardly ever use it. I enjoy a grilled cheese every once in a while, and while I’m at it I usually cook one up for my daughter as well. But I’m not baking Toll House cookies or whipping up recipes from the Barefoot Contessa. Not that I don’t worship the Contessa now and forever, but I’m looking ahead to summer and the reality that I will be donning a bathing suit.

So shame on me for not being a more careful consumer and checking the price before I tossed the butter in the cart – I take responsibility for my foolish actions.

But, still, something’s seriously whack here.

The rest of my receipt is full of charges that don’t seem as outrageous, but that are higher than I’ve ever paid before. A box of Life cereal is almost five bucks. A small bag of dog food is $11. I remember when the same size bag was $8.50.

This is bad for everyone, because everyone eats. Some city-dwellers don’t own cars and don’t have to faint at the gas pump like I do, but the cost of food impacts everyone. What about families who are already on the verge of losing their homes due to the mortgage meltdown? What about single mothers living paycheck to paycheck? What about families where the breadwinner – there’s an apt term – has been laid off?

Yes, there are a million tricks to saving money on groceries. Clip coupons. Work the sales. Buy in bulk. Convince yourself store brands are just as good. Discover Aldi, if you’re lucky enough to have one in your neighborhood. Play the Grocery Game. Comb through vintage cookbooks looking for casserole and other budget-friendly recipes. I could go on, but I don’t need to because we all know what’s out there. And for those who don’t, there’s always Google. There are ways to trim that receipt.

But here’s the bigger issue: the cost of food is going up for a reason. Many reasons, I believe. And it’s more important to address the reasons behind the cost of rising food, such as edible resources being directed toward alternative fuels, skyrocketing oil prices, and trade problems, than to enlighten consumers with another recipe for homemade pizza dough. I don’t want to see another news segment on a chipper Texas mom who makes her own detergent. Not that I don’t admire her ingenuity. I do.

Many of us can adapt to these higher prices, but I don’t want to accept them. I want food prices to come back down to Earth. It’s a political issue that belongs right up there with healthcare, energy, and the environment, because it’s all connected.

My mom and husband said I should return the butter, but I’m not going to. I’m going to freeze it, so at least it doesn’t go bad on me. And when berries are in season here in Georgia, I’m going to make a delicious crumble worthy of the caviar of butters. And next time I need butter I’m going to look into buying locally from an organic beef farm. Yes, I live the life of ridiculous privilege that spawned the hilarious Web site, Stuff White People Like.

I didn’t notice rising food prices until I took a hard look at my receipt, but those days are over. Not only will I check the price before tossing anything into my cart, but I’m going to put an end to food waste that goes on in our home. No more letting peppers rot in the fridge because I’m not in the mood for them. Our new creed: we paid for it, we’re eating it.

But I’m more interested in the big picture. What’s the next price gouge in store for us in this economy that’s not really a recession because we haven’t seen two consecutive quarters of negative growth? Higher energy costs to heat and cool our homes, check. Higher gas costs at the pump, check. I’m guessing the next thing I’ll be hearing about is the soaring price of toilet paper. No need to ponder why, because here are some fantastic ideas for making your own…

Article by Patti Ghezzi for DivineCaroline. First published April 2008.

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• Five Unconventional Ways to Save Money on Food
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The post Did I Just Spend $8 on Butter? appeared first on EcoSalon.

We’ve all heard it: making coffee at home saves money. The problem is, home coffee can be so boring. It lacks the excitement of savoring that perfectly brewed, flavored, measured, dripped, and decorated cup of joe served in a cute little to-go cup that’s the standard at our beloved coffee shops. In an attempt to wrangle a little more control over my budget without ruining my morning ritual, I sought out some basic, inexpensive ways to make my home-brewed coffee taste just as delicious-and look just as pretty-as coffee-shop java.

Study the Nearest Barista

As I sat, savoring my cup of Peet’s coffee (all in the name of research, of course), I felt almost hypnotized by the ease with which my barista flowed back and forth between measuring, pouring, stirring, foaming, and serving up cups with a smile.

“After you get the techniques down, it’s easy to make a great coffee,” says Melissa Lobos, a San Francisco Bay Area barista. “Practice is key.” This means that if I want my skills to be on par with a barista’s, I’ve got to practice until I get them right, and then practice some more.

Rule One: Look for Quality Beans

Did I mention that I spent a whole day on a recent Hawaiian vacation driving around the island to various coffee plantations? Other than realizing that the beach is more relaxing than getting lost and laughed at by locals, I learned something: quality beans are absolutely nothing like the preground, plastic-jugged stuff at the store. While regularly downing $20-a-pound Kona blends isn’t exactly sustainable, the experience left me spending a little more time in the coffee aisle. Lobos advises skipping generic brands altogether and looking for 100 percent Arabica beans, which require more careful growing and picking-meaning (you guessed it) better quality.

Rule Two: Grind Right

Never, ever, ever buy preground beans. Here’s why: once coffee is roasted, it starts deteriorating quickly, and when the beans are exposed to the air, flavor and aroma start going downhill fast. Ground beans break down much more quickly because they’re so much smaller, so grind only what you need before you use it. Not too keen on grinding every morning? I’ve begun grinding up a small amount every three or four days, keeping it in a plastic storage container, and scooping from that each morning.

Rule Three: Store in a Dark, Well-Sealed Place

What about the whole beans we aren’t ready to grind and consume? “Don’t store them in the freezer!” says Lobos. “This zaps the moisture and lowers quality.” She suggests storing beans in a dark, cool place inside an airtight container. This will keep them relatively fresh, flavorful, and ready to enjoy for about three weeks.

Drip Coffee: It’s All in the Measurement

You’ve pondered the mile-long coffee aisle at the store, compared prices, found the beans on sale, smelled them, examined the packaging, and finally brought them home. After grinding them, should we just toss some into the maker haphazardly, splash in some water, and hope for the best? That’s certainly not how a barista would do it. Once we have the water and beans, we need the right ratio between the two. Start by tossing in two tablespoons per six ounces of water, then adjust the amount of grounds the next few times, depending on the strength you like.

After Pushing “On”

Trash those grounds as soon as your coffee is done dripping into the jug. After brewing finishes, the grounds start to dissolve, dripping bitter juice into the pot. Tossing the grounds immediately will keep coffee tasting fresher while it’s sitting there.

Metal jugs are better at keeping coffee warm, even when the machine is off. This means it’ll stay warm without burning, which is what often happens when coffee machines are left on.

Into fancy flavors? Sprinkle in some spices along with the grounds, like vanilla powder, cinnamon, cocoa powder, or nutmeg. Voilà! Gourmet coffee.

Lattes, Mochas, and More

Just because you’re looking for a little more than a basic cup of java doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a lifetime of $4 fixes.

Milk-Foaming Tools:

“Perfectly steamed milk will be creamy and silky, with a thick layer of foam on top,” says Lobos. Milk foamers come atop many espresso machines or can otherwise be purchased separately. (The cheapest I found was on Amazon.com for fifteen bucks.) When steaming, begin by placing the head of the steamer on the surface of the milk, lowering it slowly as you go. Keep the wand whirling below the surface until it reaches the temperature you’re looking for.

How Hot?

The coffee we get at coffee shops is typically 150-160 degrees. Thermometers can help gauge this at home, or you can monitor with your hand on the side of the container. (Carefully!)

Pouring Tricks:

Not only do baristas pour the perfect foam, but they make it pretty before handing it across the counter. Is this out of the question for at-home foamers? “Absolutely not,” says Lobos, who says the key is pouring super slowly and steadily. Try making a heart: “Move the jug side to side on one side of the cup until you have a circle of cream, then move it slightly forward a bit, continuing to pour until you have another circle (the top of the heart). Then move it quickly straight down the middle of your heart to form the tip.”

Flavor Additions:

Besides flavored syrups, other ways to add flavor include sprinkling in some cinnamon or cocoa powder, stirring in hot-chocolate mix, or pouring in a little white chocolate.

One way to make fancy coffee at home is to shell out a small fortune for a fancy machine. But since, for most of us, the whole point of brewing at home is to save money, a few technique tweaks and reasonable purchases can leave us equally satiated-and with some cool party tricks under our belts the next time friends stop by.

Article by Allie Firestone for DivineCaroline. First published February 2010.

Related DivineCaroline posts:

• Not Just a Morning Fix: How Caffeine Keeps Us Healthy
• Too Beautiful to Drink: Coffee Art
• The Secret to Great Iced Coffee Without Great Expense

Image by: Wonderlane

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