It is amazing what we put into our bodies, and no I am not just referring to the mega-super-jumbo-burger. The seemingly good things we eat aren’t always what they seem either. I know most of us think we’re doing what is best by having lots of fruits and veggies but if they are laden with the toxic chemicals found in pesticides then we may as well be eating fast food after all.

Buying organic produce can be tough on the wallet, so the Environmental Working Group was nice enough to break down what they have researched to be “The Dirty Dozen.” These are twelve items which you should spring for the next time you’re in the super market and choose organic instead (these have the highest levels of potentially dangerous pesticides when processed traditionally) –

• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Pears
• Grapes (imported)
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes

Additionally, here are twelve fruits/vegetables which usually don’t have as many pesticides found on them when processed traditionally, so you’re a little safer when not buying them organic –

• Onions
• Avocado
• Sweet Corn (frozen)
• Pineapples
• Mango
• Asparagus
• Sweet Peas (frozen)
• Kiwi
• Bananas
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Papaya

Unfortunately, washing produce doesn’t really do the trick of getting rid of the pesticides either. The EWG found that people can reduce their risk of exposure to pesticides up to 90% by eliminating the “Dirty Dozen” (better yet purchasing their organically grown alternatives), and consuming the safer twelve instead.

This summer - go one step beyond organic and check out a u-pick farm… nothing quite beats eating fresh berries and other delicious produce that you picked yourself!

In today’s world our time is more precious than ever and one thing most of us have done is farm out traditional “home” chores that would otherwise take forever. One such chore is the mind-numbing task of cleaning our clothes; isn’t it so much quicker to just drop them off at the dry cleaners and have someone else do all of the work?

We may want to think twice about our dry cleaning though. Have you ever noticed that clothes which are repeatedly dry cleaned have a dingy film to them, lose their color, or smell kind of weird? This is because the chemicals used in the dry cleaning process are extremely harmful, not only to your clothing but to you. The main toxic substance is called perchloroethylene (perc for short) and is not only a nervous system depressant but has also shown to damage the liver and the kidneys. Who needs that on their clothes! (not to mention on their skin when they wear the clothes!) And of the 35,000 dry cleaners in the United States only 15% of them use alternatives to perc?

There are alternatives, however, so don’t think you have to go back to washing with rocks in a stream anytime soon. One alternative is called GreenEarth, while this was once touted as the saving grace of the dry cleaning industry as greener standards emerged it is now under fire for causing cancer in animal tests and harming the liver (the main ingredient is a silicone-based solvent). 

The other alternatives are liquid carbon dioxide, which has shown the most promise through comparative testing with other methods, and wet cleaning. Wet cleaning basically uses biodegradable/nontoxic formulas and water pressure to get clothes clean. We like these last two methods… not only because they are gentle on the earth and us but also because they work!

Even better… try to wear clothes several more times before you clean them. Many things like wool, heavy cottons, and even some synthetics can hold up well with multiple wears without loosing their spiff or taking on unpleasant smells. For suits, sweaters, and heavy pants you can also try some squirts of water and essential oil (we recommend lavender) from a spray bottle - this keeps them smelling good!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

May 7, 2007 

The Green Robin Launches New E-Commerce Web Site Featuring Healthy Organic Home Products 

Asheville, North Carolina-In the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA) 2006 Manufacturer Survey the OTA reported that consumer sales of non-food organic products increased by 32.5% in 2005 to reach a total of $744 million.  Approximately 38% of these non-food sales ($282 million) were organic personal care products.  Organic household products and cleaners generated $19 million, a growth of 29%.  Organic fiber for linens and clothing totaled $160 million for growth of 44%.  The OTA predicts this trend will continue well into the future and as part of this trend The Green Robin, an Asheville based online retailer of organic household products, has launched a new e-commerce web site: http://www.TheGreenRobin.com.  The new web site features luxury organic products for bed, bath, body, baby and home.            

Owned by Robin Payne, www.TheGreenRobin.com specializes in helping consumers who want alternatives to traditional home, personal care and child care products.  Payne’s focus on providing access to organic, fair trade distributors of these products is both personal and professional. “I decided to build TheGreenRobin.com site to offer individuals and families healthy alternatives to everyday products so they can create greener homes and living spaces,” states Payne. “As a mother, I believe we should use quality organic products whenever possible not only for the health of our families but of the environment. The things we surround ourselves with should be created with the most minimal impact on the planet as well as on those who produce them for us,” Payne continues.            

TheGreenRobin.com online store provides web site customers with a state of the art product search and a shopping bag feature to make purchases simple and easy. Repeat visitors can set up a password protected account to make check out even faster and gift certificates can be bought and emailed from the web site. The user-friendly design allows consumers to browse through various options for luxury cotton bedding, including organic cotton towels, sheets and pillows.  Nontoxic skin care, natural hair care and organic baby care products are also available.  Web site visitors will find well-known, organic, bed, bath and body brand names such as Coyuchi, John Masters Organics and High Desert Naturals.            

Customers interested in receiving more information about organic home and personal care products, fair trade or sweat shop free shopping are encouraged to sign up for the Green Robin newsletter online or visit The Robin’s Nest blog for organic news and green living tips.  For more information on healthy home products or natural baby products visit http://www.TheGreenRobin.com or contact owner Robin Payne at info@TheGreenRobin.com. 

Fair trade, sustainable, organic – these terms can often be confusing. Here’s a quick review and why The Green Robin believes in these principles so strongly.

Fair Trade is a system of exchange that honors producers, communities, consumers and the environment. It is a model for the global economy rooted in people-to-people connections, justice and sustainability.

Sustainability is an attempt to provide the best outcomes for the human and natural environments both now and into the indefinite future. Sustainability relates to the continuity of economic, social, institutional and environmental aspects of human society, as well as the non-human environment. 

Organic is a form of agriculture which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The role of organic agriculture is to sustain and enhance the health of ecosystems and organisms from the smallest in the soil to human beings. 

The Green Robin values these principles and carefully selects goods produced by companies who uphold them. These companies realize the importance of paying a fair wage to workers and a fair price for goods. These companies work with farmer-owned cooperatives which empower individuals in the global economy and create a sustainable future for everyone. These companies also understand that when production has a minimal impact on the environment, everyone wins.