​Do you start your day with a hot cup of Java? I know- I love my cup of fresh brewed coffee, first thing in the morning. Though that seems like an absolute no-brainer to choose coffee based on its aroma and taste, it is important to look a bit deeper into how coffee beans are grown, harvested, processed, and brought to you in that familiar looking brown coffee beans, which you can then brew to make your morning cuppa! Once you are equipped with proper information then you can make the right choice that is not only good for you as an individual but also that is good for our planet. Read on…

Coffee is a beverage that is brewed from the beans of certain flowering plants. The coffee fruit contains the seeds, which are separated to make a stable raw product. This raw product is unroasted green coffee.

​But when we think of commercial coffee farms, then we need to consider how the green beans are separated from the fruit (called coffee cherries). There are various kinds of processing that need to be conducted to finally obtain the green coffee beans which are then be roasted to give us aromatic coffee.

Roasting coffee transforms the chemical and physical properties of green coffee beans into roasted coffee products. Roasting coffee produces the distinctive flavor by changing the taste of the beans. Unroasted beans have similar, if not greater, levels of acid, protein, sugars and caffeine to those that are roasted. However, they lack the flavor of roasted coffee beans because of the Maillard reaction and other chemical reactions that take place during roasting.

Coffee roasting includes several chemical transformations that contribute to the flavor, aroma, and body of the finished cup. Many of these reactions are sensitive to variations in temperature and length of exposure to heat. So, a small change in roasting technique can have a profound impact on profile.

Many conventionally grown coffee contain health-harming contaminants like Ochratoxin A, Acrylamide, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Yeast, and Pesticides. They can cause fatigue, brain fog, and other symptoms such as weakness and fatigue. Long-term health effects include cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Because of this, it is crucial to select high-quality coffee beans.

Organic coffee has the greatest appeal because it is grown and harvested naturally without any chemical additives or intervention. There are no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides used in the agricultural process. If fertilizer is needed to help the coffee plants grow, then farmers use natural alternatives like compost and coffee pulp.

In addition, most organic coffee is grown the natural way – within the shade of lush forests (coffee plants love to grow in shade), providing a home for wild plants and animals, sustaining soil fertility, and keeping unique regional ecosystems alive.

Because of this Organic Coffee is not only healthier but is also a sustainable and green alternative. And to top this, most organic coffee cultivators are also Fair Trade partners- so you can be sure that your coffee beans are not sourced with blood, but that the workers have been paid fair wages and they have been provided humane work conditions.

Understanding the lifecycle that a coffee-cherry goes through to become the flavorful coffee bean that you can grind and brew a steaming cup, will help you to make wise choices for your morning beverage!

​Categories: 
Green Living   ,   Healthy Eating  and    Life Management

Keywords and Tags:
#greenliving #fairtradefoods #organicliving #wholisticliving #saveourplanet #sustainableliving #organiccoffee #fairtradecoffee  #earthfriendlyliving #SustainableLifestyle  #LiveConsciously

We are constantly bombarded with news about environmental issues, such as global warming and the humongous cost of our increasing carbon footprint! To ensure that we leave a habitable earth for future generations, it is important that we lead a sustainable lifestyle. 
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As there is growing awareness of the environmental impact of our daily actions, it is high time we seriously start working on reducing our carbon footprint. 

Reducing car trips and using public transportation whenever possible, is a good way to get started on this path. Walk (or bike) rather than drive to run errands is a great way to include some exercise along with reducing carbon consumption. Though walking/cycling is not always possible, particularly in tough weather conditions or in remote areas, where homes, stores and offices are located at long distances from each other.

In such instances, you can easily club various errands together to reduce the overall number of trips you need to make. This will not only reduce your carbon consumption but also save you time. Getting organized and systematically addressing chores like ‘running errands’ will improve your overall efficiency. As you start getting structured to lead a greener life, you will bring these new, improved habits to other areas of your life.
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Always remember that the best and surest way to reduce your carbon footprint is to make small changes at a time. This way, you will allow yourself some time to assimilate the new environmentally conscious way of life. Over time, a green way of living will become the ‘new normal’.

​Categories: 
Green Living   

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#greenliving #CarbonFootPrint #wholisticliving #wholisticlifestyle #saveourplanet #sustainableliving #recycle #reduce #reuse #earthfriendlyliving #SustainableLifestyle  #LiveConsciously

Here are five reasons to decorate your home and workspace with natural handmade artifacts-

1. Handmade products are sustainable and eco-friendly. They are often made from materials that are natural and local.
2. Handmade products have a more rustic and unique appeal. No two handmade products will ever be the same.
3. Local artisans and small communities usually benefit from handcrafted products. Studies show that independent local businesses, many of which sell handcrafted wares, return more to their communities than mass-product manufacturers.
4. Handmade products offer a richer and more fulfilling experience. Supporting local artisans with their eco-conscious business practices gives us the joy of knowing that our choices and actions, are earth-friendly and sustainable. This makes it a more memorable experience.
5. It is good for our health to have natural handmade products in our immediate vicinity. Natural handmade products provide an easy, effective way to feel refreshed and relaxed by introducing natural, earthy elements to our home through furniture and décor.

Decorating with natural, handmade products is a great way to support the dying artisan community, keep alive artistic works from various cultural heritages and at the same time create a living space décor that has a true positive touch of nature, artistic energy and genuine authenticity.

It is simply a way of life that means we make conscious decisions based on the role we have on this planet and how to appreciate and nurture it. While it may seem like it is a new ideal to become a “green” member of society, it is simply that more people are becoming aware that there is currently only one place, this Earth, that is suitable for us to live and it is important that we take care of it. 

The reason it is so important to practice green living is because we all require the same fundamentals in order to survive: clean water, air, food and environment. Understanding green living means being aware of our resources (whether they are renewable or non-renewable), sustainability, recycling, food varieties and usable energy. In order to have resources we have to be able to conserve them, such as water, land and forests, as well as oil and natural gas. ​

Categories: 
Green Living    

Keywords and Tags:
#greenliving #CleanFoods #CarbonFootPrint #organicfoods #organicliving #wholisticliving #wholisticlifestyle #saveourplanet #sustainableliving #recycle #reduce #reuse #earthfriendlyliving #SustainableLifestyle  #LiveConsciously

Real life example: Though I wish I had a green thumb; I am by no means a gardener. This is my humble attempt to grow microgreens on the kitchen  side-rack and needless to say, I have a great harvest! Do give growing microgreens a try… you will find them a great addition to many food preparations and as mentioned above, they are packed with nutrients.

Categories: 
Green Living     and     Healthy Eating

Keywords and Tags:
#microgreens #eatingsmart #eatinghealthy #healthandwellness #healthfood    #nutritiousfood  #greenliving #organicfoods #organicliving #wholisticlifestyle #sustainableliving  #LiveConsciously

Many a times, the various fruits and vegetables that are grown in community gardens are used by the members and any produce which is in excess, is then provided free of cost or at reduced cost to non-gardening neighboring members who have financial challenges. In this manner, community gardening not only helps in creating a green sustainable community space, but also helps to build a robust neighborhood with internal support mechanisms!

At times, the community members will create preserves from their harvested produce such as jams and pickles. In other instances the members may choose to make sauces and dips that can then be enjoyed by the entire group or be made available to the members at low cost. This further enhances community bonding by mutual sharing of various traditional recipes between their many members.

In addition, community gardening also helps people in areas that usually do not have easy access to fresh or organic produce.

It is a very known fact that gardening helps to bust stress and give a motivational feeling of 'accomplishment'. It is very satisfying to see your efforts take fruit (literally!) and grow in front of your eyes. Because of this community gardening not only provides this stress emolliating experience, but also provides added benefits from feeling a sense of comradeship and support from being part of a greater group. These gardens also offer a place to unwind and get rid of stress. It is a community effort that is open to all ages and people, it helps to bring the community closer.

Sometimes, it does happen where certain members of a community garden do have their own private gardening plots and/or are accomplished produce-growers. Such members bring in valuable gardening and produce-growing knowledge and experience that they can utilize to help lead the community gardening efforts. They can teach the other members, the various methods and techniques involved in sowing, maintaining and harvesting the various fruits and vegetables.

Community gardening can help people to learn various sustainable gardening ideas and lifestyle alternatives. At the same time, it also helps to preserve nature and beautifies our neighborhood. In addition, because organic food can be quite costly, community gardening helps its members to have access to high quality food, which positively impacts their health and wellbeing, at minimal cost. Children that grow up playing at and learning about community gardening are more aware of nutritious foods as well as healthy, sustainable eating and can take their knowledge of sustainable living with them for life.

These gardens also help families to cut back on their food costs by obtaining Green, healthy, organic foods at minimal cost.  Because there is less need for grocery shopping (depending on the size of the garden and how much produce can be distributed) this also helps the environment by cutting back on packaging and transportation. These gardens also provide an area to compost, which helps reduce rubbish and improves overall soil quality.

It is said that a community garden has up to five times increased productivity per acre than commercial farming. Given the many benefits of community gardening, it is something that each one of us should definitely look to be part of in some manner. Community gardening is an easy way for each one of us to partake and contribute towards a Green earth!

​Categories: 
Green Living     and     Life Management

Keywords and Tags:
#communitygardening #communityfarming #communitygarden #greenliving #organicfoods #organicliving #wholisticliving #wholisticlifestyle #saveourplanet #sustainableliving #earthfriendlyfarming #sustainablefarming #LiveConsciously

Fair trade foods define foods sourced by a business that encourages environmentally aware and sustainable working conditions for the farm laborers and others involved in the production and distribution of those foods. This includes giving appropriate wages to workers, supporting labor rights, and providing better working conditions.

Fair trade usually involves direct trade with the food-producers. This gets rid of the need for middlemen, who typically create unsafe working conditions for the producers along with adding unnecessary cost to the overall food supply chain.

The final purpose of Fair Trade is to ensure that food is grown and sourced in such a way that it is not only friendly to the environment and is done in a sustainable manner, but also rewards those growing our food with proper wages and healthy work conditions. Fair Trade practices respect the identity of a culture and promote development within that community.

​The basic idea of fair trade is to give laborers the pay they deserve, instead of minimal rates which they often get when dealing with the middlemen. Many foods we consume come from poorer countries and those laborers are often paid minimal to no wages... which happens in the case of forced or bonded labor. Fair trade practices aim to promote businesses that deal with the laborers directly and ensure that laborers are given their proper due. It also ensures that inhuman practices are not used like child labor or forced/bonded labor.

Organizations that work with fair trade also try to teach necessary skills and lessons about sustainable living and environment friendly farming practices. Fair trade aims to keep the environment protected by encouraging natural production methods that are not harmful to the people and animals. At the same time, fair trade aspires to preserve (if not enhance) soil and water quality. For this reason, producers involved with fair trade groups are often educated on sustainable farming principles and preservations of forests and other large vegetation growth areas.

Fair trade organizations work with the community to ensure group-development and wellbeing. The focus is not merely on corporate profits, but the goal is to work in a synchronous and sustainable manner that is profitable for all concerned parties and promotes good environmental practices.

You can tell if a product or business is 'fair trade' by its certification. Third party organizations certify foods, beverages and items that are fair trade. These organizations include Institute of Marketecology (IMO) and Fair-Trade USA. For items that are not food or drinks, it is likely that the certification will be from a Fair Trade Federation.

Fair trade is becoming more popular as consumers are becoming aware of the impact they have on the world. Every day we send a message into the greater world by who and what we support... by the choices we make... the businesses we support, the products we buy and the leaders we choose...

When we choose a fair trade product, particularly those that are otherwise often farmed in extremely bad work conditions like coffee and cocoa, the message we are giving to the world at large is that, we are against child and bonded labor. When we purchase fair trade foods, we are not only supporting those businesses that are currently involved in these practices but we are also encouraging others to consider this humanitarian approach that is also an economically and environmentally-friendly business route.

Fair trade business practices not only help the laborer, but it also helps the entire regional community. In addition, it gives the end-consumer the comfort and satisfaction of the knowledge that those who produced their food have been properly compensated and that humane labor principles have been upheld!

​Categories: 
Green Living     and    Life Management

Keywords and Tags:
#greenliving #fairtradefoods #organicliving #wholisticliving #saveourplanet #sustainableliving #fairtradecoffee #fairtradecocoa #earthfriendlyliving #SustainableLifestyle  #LiveConsciously

Categories: 
Green Living     and  Life Management

Keywords and Tags:
#greenliving #organicfoods #organicliving #wholisticliving #wholisticlifestyle #saveourplanet #sustainableliving #recycle #reduce #reuse #earthfriendlyliving #SustainableLifestyle  #LiveConsciously