All Shades of Green

How Do I Recycle That? (Athletic Shoes)

2009-07-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

Sunnier days mean more time spent outdoors. If your hiking, biking, walking, and general outdoorsyness kicks into gear in the summer, you may be thinking about replacing your athletic shoes.

Before you toss the old ones in the trash, consider recycling them instead! (You can always donate an old pair, but let's face it: if you don't no longer want them, it's a good bet no one else will either.)

Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe Program lets you drop old sneaks of any brand at certain Nike stores (here in L.A., the Niketown on Wilshire is a drop off location) and they'll grind em up and make something new out of them. It's a closed loop system where you use your shoes for playing and then send them on to be recreated into a playing surface like a playground or basketball court for kids. Pretty cool right?

You can get a group together and organize a shoe recycling drive.

Or send in your sole pair on your own.

Yard Sale Treasure Map

2009-07-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

Since it's summertime, that means yard sales. Not only can you save money, meet your neighbors, and hunt for hidden treasures at garage and yard sales, you get to be green to boot. By buying used furniture and household items (or other funky vintage finds), you're reusing and recycling. Besides, it's always new to you!

We really like this cool new web tool to find yard sales near you:

The Yard Sale Treasure Map [via Renest] culls Craigslit and newspaper listings to create a complete show of all the sales in your area (no more following from sign to sign). Plus, it'll even figure out an efficient itinerary of all your stops.

Happy hunting!

Weed-Free Garden Watering Blanket

2009-06-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

With the new water ordinance in place in Los Angeles, we're all getting seriously creative about saving H2O around our homes. (Check out our previous post on what and what not to do with water as of June 09.)

One tool to help you water wisely in your garden? The Weed-Free Garden Watering Blanket. It's a tricky tool that can save you 75% of your current water use while letting you water, weed, and feed your green all at the same time.

In a nutshell, it's a blanket that comes with built-in drip irrigation. The blanket's special weave blocks weeds from growing and the watering system is super efficient. Plus, the kit comes with organic fertilizer so your plants will not only be less weedy and water-needy, but healthier and more bountiful as well. (Full instructions come with the product.)

You can get on in our store or at All Shades of Green online.

See the Weed Free Garden Blanket for yourself here (now on sale!).

All Shades Recommends: Food Inc.

2009-06-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

We want to recommend the eco-food doc. playing now: Food Inc.

It's a behind the scenes look at the true face of our food system in which a handful of players control a whole lot of products and our people, animals, and planet are not put first.

But don't worry: there are solutions to be had from folks like Michael Pollan, Eric Schlosser (of Fast Food Nation), and small family farmer, Joel Salatin, as well as from other farmers and a woman turned food advocate whose son died from eating an Ecoli-laden hamburger.

It's an important movie for eaters everywhere and it inspired both applause from me when I saw it and further steps when I left the theater to eat whole, sustainable, healthy, humane food.

Find tickets here.

And if you eat meat and dairy, check out the Eat Wild directory where you can locate local, sustainably-raised animal products raised on pasture in your neck of the woods.

In L.A., we've got Lindner Bison and Kendor Farm's free-range chicken and eggs right at the Hollywood Farmers' Market.

It's Safe Eco-Spa Night Thursday!

2009-06-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

How Safe Are Your Cosmetics?

with Randi Ragan, owner of GreenBliss Ecospa

Thursday, June 25th

6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

20.00 admission

@ All Shades of Green

Pamper yourself while learning

about which cosmetics to use and which to avoid.

Admission includes:

*Randi Ragan, owner of GreenBliss Ecospa unlocks the mystery behind product labels and ingredients, shares the secret scandals of the "beauty" industry, and teaches participants how to make over your beauty drawer and medicine cabinet.
*Complimentary samples of All Shades' new cosmetic lines.
*Free mini-treatment! Choose from a mini-facial, mini-massage, or mini-makeover!
*15% Discount on any Ecospa Services.
*$100 Gift certificate toward an EcoSpa Party.
*Wine, juice, and snacks.
*Raffle prizes!

RSVP on our facebook page or

give us a ring/e-mail: (323) 665 -7454/info@allshadesofgreen.net.

Tell Us What You Think!

2009-06-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

We want to hear from you about specific eco-friendly living brands or products you'd like to see carried at our store in Silver Lake or online.

Let us know in the comments below or on the All Shades of Green facebook page and let your voice be heard!

Kids Gardening Tools for Recession Gardens

2009-06-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

More and more Americans are growing what are being dubbed "recession gardens." But regardless of economic times, we think it makes good sense to grow your own. It'll save a bundle, it's as local as you can get, and you get to learn about your patch of earth while enjoying its fruits. Plus, if we're talking about mental health, learning new skills is good for keeping your brain spry and it's been shown that coming into contact with dirt actually makes you happier!

(And since it is a recession, we could all use some cheering up.)

We're encouraging you to get your kids in on the gardening action at our Organic Gardening Workshop for Kids and Parents this weekend, so we thought we'd mention Green Toys' great Indoor Gardening Kit that we have for just that.

Made from recycled plastic, it comes with a planting tray, three pots, a trowel, soil, planting instructions, and three packs of seeds--sunflowers, zinnia, and basil.

Green Toys is a great, green California company that makes its wares from recycled milk jugs right here in CA. So, their toy-making process is local and energy-saving, and the products themselves are tested for safety and wrapped in recycled packaging. You can read more about the backstory of Green Toys here.

By growing your own fruits, veggies, and flowers, you can experience a season of plenty in your home, no matter the financial forecast.

Organic Gardening Summer/Father's Day Weekend

2009-06-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the double whammy weekend of Father's Day and the Summer Solstice, we've got a workshop for you to play in the dirt with your kids. Help us help you make growing your own a family affair.

Organic Gardening for Kids and Parents
Learn how to plant an earth-friendly garden with friends and family.

Saturday, June 20th

4:00 p.m.

At a Private Residence on the Eastside

Taught by Sustainability Coach, Deborah Tull

Adults: 20.00

Kids: 10.00

Additional kids: 5.00

*For more information and to reserve a place call 323-665-7454 or

email creativegreen@hotmail.com.

"Those are the tomatoes I watered" and "I grew that squash" are only two of the many cool things you can brag about as you enjoy the fruits of your family's labor around the dinner table. And for inspiration, we want to share with you some photos of All Shades owner, Liza, and the beginnings of an organic garden at her daughter, Hannah's school in Israel.

Once again, she shows us how it's done as Deborah will show us in person on Saturday.

Hope to see you there!

Seedlings Family Eco-Daycare

2009-06-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

If you're a working eco-parent with a toddler, have we got a recommendation for you.

As a new mom, Jennifer Holden Wilbur went in search of a daycare that was in line with her principles and practices for her own little one like choosing nutritious, organic food and avoiding toxics and plastics, for instance. When she couldn't find one even among the most highly recommended facilities, she toyed with creating her own. And she did.

With a professional background in psychology and years of teaching nutrition to school-aged kiddos (not to mention a good decade of babysitting experience), Jennifer decided to give it a go. And she did it right, going back and getting early childhood education to add to her qualifications. In 2008 after some home remodeling and baby-proofing, the encouragement of her grandmother-in-law, a former daycare operator, and the day to day help of her own mom, a retired nurse, Seedlings Family Daycare in the foothills of Glendale was in business.

We love that it wasn't any one fact, figure, speech, or sermon that led Jennifer to develop a special, green-minded place for tots, but that she followed her intuition and her heart that what she felt was best for her son might be good for other kids too.

So what does it mean that Seedlings is green?

*Healthy, fresh, organic food emphasizing whole grains and vegetables with some hormone-free, free-range poultry. Yes, these kids get to enjoy kale or spinach infused pancakes. And they do--with relish!

*A visually soothing atmosphere with plenty of natural decor (think pictures of nature and neutral tones).

*Carefully researched and selected toys made from safe materials like wood or secondhand plastic so that no new plastic is purchased (she really likes Plan Toys and Melissa and Doug playthings). For the outdoor playset, Jennifer couldn't find anything wood so opted for a safe plastic that can be recycled at the end of its use.

*Outdoor activities in a secure, natural backyard complete with playground certified wood chips and dirt. Seedlings are apt to play games inspecting local wildlife (aka ladybugs and earthworms) and are even getting in on the gardening action--watering and then enjoying strawberries and sweet peas from Jennifer's potted garden.

*Attention to details like the use of natural, cotton-filled mats instead of chemical-smelling foam ones and wooden lunch tables made from sustainable, formaldehyde-free wood.

From talking with Jennifer, I know that if I were a toddler or a toddler's parents, her daycare would be at the top of my list. She's created a place for kids that's conscientious, clean, calming, and filled with eco-fun. It's got everything kids need: healthy food, safe, educational toys, caring adults, and access to plenty of time spent in the great outdoors (but just their size).

See the Seedlings typical day and sample activities here.

Or contact Jennifer directly to set up an in-person peek.

Green 'n' Easy Living Feature on LA Talk Radio

2009-06-08T09:43:00.001-07:00

Our store owner, Liza, and manager, Natalie, stopped by LA Talk Radio on Saturday to talk to Rhonda DeFelice on her show, "Green 'n' Easy Living."

They talked about the start of the store, Liza's environmental studies program in Israel, Natalie's green design experience and soon to have LEED certification, along with all other things All Shades of Green.

Listen to the whole interview here.

You can listen to Rhonda every Saturday morning here. And check out her book of the same name as her show, Green 'n' Easy Living, which you can download here.

Nonprofit Spotlight: Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition

2009-06-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

We're turning our attention to eco-friendly travel this month at All Shades. And what's a more environmentally savvy way to travel around town than on a bike? It takes a little more effort, but the payoff is huge. By opting for two versus four wheels, you opt for health, activity, and being able to look around and interact with your neighborhood.

As for facts and figures, here's what you opt out of by cycling according to

California Bike Commute:

*12 bikes can fit in one vehicle parking space.
*More than half of Americans live only five miles from their place of work [even though it doesn't seem like it].
*100 bikes can be produced using the energy to make just 1 car.
*Driving consumes 43% of the barrels of oil Americans use every day [that's a little under half of 17 million].

And, from the EPA:

*U.S. transportation in 2006 accounted for 29% of its total greenhouse gas emissions. Cycling produces zero pollution!

And according to GOOD, it only takes 16 burgers (we're hoping tempeh burgers) to fuel you to go 350 miles on a bike while a sedan takes 13 gallons of black gold. Now that's fuel efficiency.

All that to say, if you're convinced and are looking for a bike resource in L.A. County, enter the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. It's a nonprofit driven by membership that works to make L.A. more bike-friendly for everybody.

And it's got a lot of ways for you to hop on and get involved.

Here are two:

The 9th Annual Los Angeles River Ride

This weekend, Sunday June 7th

@ The Autry Center in Griffith Park

There will be six rides to choose from 10 miles to 100

(and one for tykes on bikes, too!)

Music, Rest Stops, and Eco-Fun

Car Free Fridays

Bike commutes the last Friday of every month

Plus, the LACB site has links to all kinds of great resources (tips, safety information, bike shops and more) like this Bicycling Street Smarts Guide.

Find out about membership and check out the calendar.

And most importantly, don't forget your bike.

How Do I Recycle That? (Old Towels)

2009-06-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

If you're in the market for new bath towels, forgoing your worn out conventional cotton for environmentally-friendly organic cotton (read how organic cotton is different) or fast-growing bamboo, you may be wondering what to do with those old ones so they don't go in the trash and on to the landfill.

First, you can REUSE them around your home:

*Cut them up for use as hand towels, dishtowels, or rags (fewer paper towels used for cleaning jobs means fewer trees felled).

*Tipnut even has a pattern to make them into a spa-inspired head wrap or make your very own swiffer duster from the scraps.

Or, you can RECYCLE them this way:

Donate your discarded bath towels to a pet shelter in your area. That way, shelters don't have to buy new and the dogs will be cozy and probably won't care about old stains too much.

Find an animal shelter near you.

Energy Saving Superstars

2009-05-28T11:47:00.000-07:00

As we close energy month here is a selection of energy saving or monitoring superstars from our store.

With a power strip, you can stop energy vampires (those appliances that drain electricity even when turned off) in their tracks. Switch off the power strip and the energy stops flowing to whatever is plugged into it. With a smart power strip, you don't even have to flip a switch. It simply senses which devices are not being used all on its own (that's why it's smart!) and cuts off their power automatically, no clicking off on your part required. It's perfect for an office or home entertainment system set up.

The Kill-A-Watt is more of an electricity tracker. You attach it to any appliance and it tells you how many killowatts are being burned every minute, hour, or month of its operation. It's an amazing tool for compiling your own home efficiency data and for finding out what it's important to unplug or even replace with an Energy Star version.

If you can't yet afford solar panels or live in an apartment (though government rebates on solar are glowing these days!), you can start small. Like with this hybrid solar gadget charger from Solio. It'll charge ipods, cell phones, cameras, any handheld digital device. It's especially handy if you've got access to a bright window or the outdoors most of the day--then you may never have to plug in again--just talk on your phone, hang up, and charge up. Then repeat.

A solar flashlight could be a perfect Father's Day gift or accoutrement for a summer camping trip. The coolest part? The solar charge holds for three years! So even if you store in a closet for a few months, you can still switch it on whenever you need it in a jiff.

Finally, these are not as much gadgets as old-fashioned contraptions of the simplest kind. We carry a retractable clothesline and wooden clothespins for all your clothes drying needs. By skipping the dryer in favor of the power of our planet's sun, you save major energy and get the benefit of sun-fresh, still toasty-warm laundry. I hang almost all of my laundry--even towels and sheets--out to dry.

See them all at our new online store!

And find out more of the nitty gritty on Saving Electricity.

Skin Care Series: Mambino Organics

2009-05-25T10:39:00.000-07:00

This All Shades blogger has two pals who are expecting little ones this summer. For both of them, I got a natural rubber pacifier from Natursutter and the much-heralded oh baby! belly butter that we carry from Mambino Organics.

I hear from my pregnant friends that this stuff is amazing. Not only does it have all the best ingredients for soothing and restoring elasticity to stretched, dry bellies (shea, mango, and cocoa butter to name a few), it smells delectable from its citrus infusions of sweet orange and mandarin. It'll help soften and prevent stretch marks and help a belly rebound after giving birth.

And like all Mambino's skin care offerings, it's culled from the power of nature. Created by an admired aesthetician here in L.A. who was looking for safe, natural skin care products that work wonders, Mambino Organics carries ecological alternatives to synthetics, stuff you can rub on your skin and feel good about. And while they're specifically safe for women who are expecting, they're nourishing and skin-supporting for anyone (my husband uses a tiny belly butter sample as lip balm).

See the line-up of plant, fruit, and herbal ingredients that grace Mambino's bottles and jars.

And consider toting something luscious from Mambino for a mama or bambino to a baby shower near you this summer.

Body Care Series: Simply Organic Beauty

2009-05-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

From skin care to hair care, we'd like to introduce Simply Organic that carries natural, plant-based treats for your tresses.

It's pretty simple: S.O. makes a product with which you can WASH, RINSE and RETREAT.

The first part of that process won "Best Shampoo" in the 2008 Natural Solutions beauty with a conscience contest.

And it gets a stamp of approval from our store manager, Natalie, as well who has thick hair, hair that's simply loving Simply Organic.

These products are meant to be safe for both user and a stylist who uses them day in and day out on clients. Read the founder's journey to developing safer salon products here.

Skin Care Series: Herban Body Care

2009-05-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

Crafted right her in Southern California by a woman following in her grandmother's footsteps, Dana Sue's company, Herban is one answer to an urban green liver's body pampering routine. Herban's bath and body products promise to please the senses and nourish the skin with aromatherapeutic herbs and bio-plant components.

In the store, for BODY, we're carrying luscious soy bath milks (ylang ylang and spearmint/rosemary), salted butter scrub (ylang ylang) with sea salt and shea buter, and all over moisturizer for hands, elbows, feet, knees, or even the ends of your hair!

For FACE, we've got organic brown sugar and coconut butter sugar mud exfoliant. And for men, a unique treat, a daily clay bar cleanser set (pictured) complete with porcelain tray and shaving brush to be used as part of a gentleman's gentle shaving routine (and perhaps a fitting Father's Day gift).

Here's to buttering up your body with natural pampering products any eco-urbanite will appreciate.

Skin Care Series

2009-05-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

With spring in full swing and summer right around the corner, we want to share with you over the next week or two some of the fabulous (and totally natural) skin care lines we're now carrying. That way you'll be glowing in sunny weather.

We've already told you about Benedetta's bottles of better skin care, full of organic, biodynamic, sustainable ingredients that store manager Natalie can't get enough of.

But since there are more eco-friendly skin offerings on our shelves, we're going to tell you about them, too!

Shade of Green: Eco-Minded Dining Out

2009-05-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

One way to show your green stripes is, when you do go out to eat, to support local restaurants who are going green. That could mean that it's vegan or vegetarian (learn more about the environmental effects of livestock farming, like that reducing meat consumption is like driving your car 8,000 fewer miles every year). It could also mean that a restaurant conserves water inside and out or that it serves local, organic ingredients (yum!).

Here are some eco-minded restaurants in Silver Lake, our neck of Los Angeles:

*Local. This relatively new restaurant near the Silversun intersection serves only fresh, local ingredients in its updated diner fare--think BBQ pork and eggs, grilled cheese on brioche, and tofu egg salad sandwiches. And when taking food to go, it offers only recycled or biodegradable packaging. It has the locals talking.

*Gingergrass. So nice to have a go-to Vietnamese place that has the environment on its menu along with staples like lemongrass chicken and carmelized shrimp. A certified green eatery, Gingergrass composts food waste and is "determined to be... as environmentally-friendly as possible." It's on the SL Chamber's Green Committee to boot.

*Flore. This is a totally vegan, totally delicious cafe right at Sunset Junction. I recommend The Wrap and the Cantaloupe Blueberry Gazpacho. Delish. I hear good things about the desserts as well.

*Elf. This elfin dinner place is tucked away in Echo Park on Sunset, so unassuming you could miss it. But if you happen to find it (map here), you'll be glad you did. The atmosphere is charming and the mediterranean-inspired vegetarian food is carefully crafted from beautiful, fresh, local, organic ingredients.

That's just a taste of green dining in our neighborhood. Be sure to ask your server next time you're out what kind of eco-efforts are on the menu.

And share in the comments any shade of green dining dive we missed here!

See Greenopia's listings for all the green restaurants in Los Angeles (four leaves is the best!)or your eco-dining pleasure. Or see the handful of L.A. eateries that are on the road to becoming members of the Green Restaurant Association--including the Alcove in Los Feliz!).

We'll raise a glass to that!

How Do I Recycle That? (Cosmetics Containers)

2009-05-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

In our quest to tell you about all the miscellany that CAN be recycled in Los Angeles and elsewhere, we came across Origins new cosmetic container recycling program.

Simply bring in old makeup and cosmetic bottles and jars of any brand to any Origins store for collection. From there, the company will see that they're recycled or their energy recovered and put to good use.

Little steps like this add up seeing as 1/3 of all household waste is typically the stuff our stuff is wrapped in (aka packaging) and women usually have around 12 cosmetics-type items between their medicine chests and dressers (via Origins FAQs). With all the women in the country, that's a lot of little tubes, bottles and jars going to the landfill.

Get the details on this new recycling program here.

And find a store near you to drop your now and future containers.

Revving up Energy-Saving in May

2009-05-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

We'll be focusing on ENERGY, efficient energy that is, at All Shades all month. And specifically, at our energy workshop with Sustainability Coach, Deborah, who knows a thing or two about changing lightbulbs and a whole lot more about energizing your efforts to save and harness light and heat and cold in your home.

You're invited to:

Energy Efficiency: It's Easier Than You Think

Wednesday, May 27th

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

@ All Shades of Green in Silver Lake

30.00

Come and learn ways to save the planet and save money!

For more information or to register for this workshop, please email creativegreen@hotmail.com or call (323) 665-7454.

The Scoop on Sustainability Coaching

2009-05-07T12:17:00.000-07:00

Since we have a Sustainability Coach on staff at All Shades, but since, sometimes, people don't know exactly what that means, I talked with our SC, Deborah, to clear up any confusion. Here's what she shared so you can have the scoop on her services and find out what an incredible resource she is to our store.

What Deborah offers:

*Home consultations

*Business consultations

*Backyard consultations for organic gardening and permaculture.

What a Sustainability Coach does:

She helps navigate all the information out there so you don't have to, and helps assess your lifestyle in terms of how friendly it is to you and the environment. Then she helps you on the journey to get where you want to go in terms of going green.

Deborah looks at a home or space as a whole system and helps that system work better, more efficiently, and more sustainably, all according to your income level and what you feel comfortable tackling.

What kinds of questions frame the process of one of her eco-consultations:

How do you feel in this space?

How do you want to feel in this space?

How do you want this space to work?

What environmental steps do you want to take?

How can we make nature work for us in this space?

Topics covered in a typical home consult:

For example, she might look at energy efficiency, air quality and non-toxic alternatives, water conservation and water issues, sustainable kitchen practices, kids' health and environment, passive solar and air flow, making nature work for the home, replacing inefficient/toxic products, and composting.

What you walk away with:

A full report on her findings.

A follow-up phone conversation to make sure no questions are left unanswered.

Research and recommendations custom-tailored for you.

For more information on having a sustainability consultation, visit Deborah's website at www.creativegreen.net or to set up a consult, email her directly at creativegreen@hotmail.com.

Special Events for Moms in May

2009-05-04T11:43:00.001-07:00

We've got a couple of special events in honor of Moms this month. We hope you and your mom (or aunt or pal) can join us. Here they are:

Cosmetics = Synthetics? with Randi Ragan, owner of GreenBliss Ecospa

Friday, May 8th

6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

30.00 admission

(sign up with your mom, daughter, sister, or best friend and get 8.00 off)

@ All Shades of Green

Pamper yourself while learning

about which cosmetics to use and which to avoid.

Admission includes:

*Randi Ragan, owner of GreenBliss Ecospa unlocks the mystery behind product labels and ingredients, shares the secret scandals of the "beauty" industry, and teaches participants how to make over your beauty drawer and medicine cabinet.

*Complimentary samples of All Shades' new cosmetic lines.
*Free mini-treatment! Choose from a mini-facial, mini-massage, or mini-makeover!
*15% Discount on any Ecospa Services.
*$100 Gift certificate toward an EcoSpa Party.
*Wine, juice, and snacks.
*Raffle prizes!

Organic Gardening Workshop With Mom

Saturday, May 9th

10a.m.- 2 p.m.

30.00

@ a private residence in Los Feliz

Topics will include:
Soil Health
Raised Bed Gardening
Crop Rotation/companion planting
Integrated Pest Management
Composting
and More!

For more information or to RSVP for either event, , please email info@allshadesofgreen or call 323-665-7454.

photo credit: health spa guru

Eco-Jewelry from Liza Shtromberg

2009-05-04T11:35:00.001-07:00

The owner of All Shades of Green is also a jewelry designer and owner of Liza Shtromberg Jewelry in Los Feliz on Hillhurst. She's proud to announce her jewelry eco-happenings, including fine, recycled metals, a brand new recycled ecoresin line, and the opportunity for the public to recycle their old precious metals to receive store credit! Visit the store to see more.

Water Devices April Roundup to Have You Saving H2O All Year

2009-05-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

As our water focus in April comes to a close, we want to leave you with a few of our favorite water products you can find in the store or, with some, for purchase at our new website.

SAVE IT:

Shower buckets can be used to collect water while you're waiting for the stream to get hot enough--instead of going down the drain, it can be used to water the plants!

We've told you before about the ingenious Hughie sink, a similar concept but this one's for your sink (or tub). It captures the water you use to wash dishes or hands or to rinse veggies and then allows you to you simply pick it up and use that same perfectly good water to soak your plants. Genius, right? We think so.

Faucet aerators can reduce your water use by up to a gallon per minute (280 gallons per month)! And they're easy to install and super inexpensive to boot. Perfect for kitchen and bathroom sinks.

Showerhead shut off valves are simple and super-savers. Just flip the switch while you're lathering up or shaving instead of having to mess with the bath fixtures. Flip again when you need water again--a navy shower made easy.

Smart faucets operate similarly. When you're not pushing the convenient lever, the water flow stops at the sink to give you time to lather your hands with soap. When you're ready to rinse, you simply lean on that lever again. I cannot wait to get my hands under one of these to start saving up to 5,000 gallons a year.

Shower timers will keep you on track for your desired water-conserving shower.

Eartheasy has 25 ways to help you save 10 gallons of water a day in your home.

And while you're at it, you can PURIFY IT, too:

For bathtime, we've got a shower filter that fits with low-flow devices and takes out 90% of that pesky chemical, chlorine, that dries out your hair and skin and maybe worse. There's a filter ball for baby's baths, too.

With the Aquasana filter, you get fresh, pure water free of chlorine, lead, pharmaceuticals and microbes, while still getting natural minerals. Each filter lasts for six months or 500 gallons and I can speak from experience that this water tastes delicious, leaving me feeling healthier.

Then, fill up your safe, snazzy on the go water bottle to save money and keep plastic out of your body and landfills.

We hope you'll consider whether one of these tools might be right for you to save water every day of the year.

Free Spa Night--Tonight!

2009-04-30T10:26:00.001-07:00

If you're looking for rejuvenation this evening, we invite you to

an evening of pampering and relaxation at our first-ever Spa Night!

It's all-natural, of course.

*Come and meet the women behind two of our most popular pampering products:

Nettie Scrub and Wellness Bags

*Enjoy complimentary a chair massage and hand treatment, as well as juice, wine, and snacks.

*Plus, catch our three-day Earth Day Reminder Sale on day one and score your favorite products at a discount before they're sold out!

Here's the skinny on spa night:

Thursday, April 30th

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

@ All Shades of Green in Silver Lake

Silver Lake's Earth Ball Pics

2009-04-23T09:24:00.000-07:00

Some 2,000 or more bags were collected for Silver Lake's Earth Ball event yesterday.

Here's the event captured on film if you weren't there to see it for yourself.

The bags:

The ball in progress:

The Guide Girls:

The infamous "bag monster" costume, here modeled by the lovely Elizabeth:

Read more about Silver Lake's plastic bag project.

And plastic bag facts here.

We hope you each had a meaningful Earth Day yesterday.

Happy Earth Day: New Way to Get Earth-Happy Products

2009-04-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

We wish you Happy Earth Day today!

And since we're in the business of Earth Day everyday, we also want to announce our online store is up and running on our brand new in honor of Earth Day website.

It's a one stop web shop for tools and resources to help you live lightly, sustainably, beautifully on your patch of earth.

Check out the new All Shades of Green online store here.

From composters to fair trade coffee, you'll find it all there.

As for what's going on in the store. We've got our water-wise workshop this evening and as a post-Earth Day effort, a storewide 10% off sale on April 30th, May 1st and May 2nd. (Some items will be up to 40%, too.)

Earth Day L.A.: Living Water-Wise in L.A. Workshop

2009-04-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Are you trying to decide what to do on Earth Day that will be meaningful, connect you to your community and help you on the green path beyond this one day of the year?

If so, our sustainability coach Deborah's Earth Day workshop may be up your alley. After all, we're currently in a drought and most of the earth along with most of our own bodies consist of water.

How to Live Water-Wise in Los Angeles

Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

@ All Shades of Green in Silver Lake

Topics this workshop will include:

*History and background of water use in Los Angeles.
*Deeper awareness of the element of WATER, our most precious resource.
*How it moves and flows.
*How to conserve it, re-use it, purify it, and store it.
*How to design a landscape and garden for water conservation.
*Creative ways to implement water-wise changes in your life.

*Participants will also receive a discount on water-wise products.*

To reserve your space, email creativegreen@hotmail.com or

call us at the store 323-665 - 7454.

Earth Day Ball in Silver Lake

2009-04-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday, Earth Day 2009: Silver Lake Hosts a Ball (of a different sort).

The Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce has been collecting plastic bags this winter/spring and will be tying them together to form a giant plastic ball in Triangle Square (site of the Saturday farmers' market) on Earth Day. It's a tribute to the kids' book the United Nations Environmental Programme put out, Theo and the Giant Plastic Ball (download the free PDF of the book here) and an effort to increase awareness of the problems with plastic.

Our community is estimated to dole out 6,000 plastic bags a month--part of the million bags a minute consumed worldwide. From now on though, a number of local businesses are just saying no.

You can support Silver Lake's journey to becoming a "Bring Your Own Bag Neighborhood" by coming along and joining. Details here.

And read up on plastic bag facts from Californians Against Waste.

We hope you have a ball celebrating the earth this week.

EcoHomeResource.com's Article Featuring ASOG's Sustainability Coach

2009-04-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

We're delighted to share with you an article from EcoHomeResource.com

featuring our Sustainability Coach Deborah,

her latest non-toxic home workshop, and the wisdom therein.

Here's an excerpt:

"Creating a healthy home atmosphere means more than using appealing colors, creative lighting and comfortable furniture. These do impact the perceived atmosphere, but what about the actual atmosphere? 'Atmosphaera' is Latin, created from the Greek words athos (vapor) and sphaera (sphere). It literally means the air around you. Indoor air pollutant concentrations can be 15 to 50 times higher than outside. All the color and creative lighting in the world won't create a truly healthy atmosphere if the air around you is toxic..."

Read the rest of the article, "Improving the Air in Your Home," at EcoHomeResource.com.

Doesn't that make you want to check out a workshop? We hope to see you at one soon.

You can always check out what Deborah's up to at Creative Green too.

Where to Find Us for Earth Month

2009-04-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

We'll be getting out a little more this month

in honor of celebrating the planet and inspiring action to save it.

So hope to catch you at the following events and if you're there, please stop by and say hello!

South LA Earthfest 2009

Saturday, April 18th

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza

3650 W. Martin Luther King Blvd.

Find out more: http://southlaearthfest.org/

Los Angeles Children’s Earth Day

Sunday, April 26, 2009

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Star ECO Station

10101 W. Jefferson Blvd.

Culver City, CA 90232

Find out more: www.ecostation.org

World Fest

Saturday, May 19th

10:30 a.m.- 7:30 p.m.

6350 Woodley Ave., Encino CA 91406

Find out more: www.worldfestevents.com

Water-Wise Living in L.A. Month: Water Calculations

2009-04-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

We've heard about our carbon footprint, but part of the footprint we leave on the earth is how much water we consume. And it's pretty staggering how much we depend on water for the most basic daily activities.

We love this water graphic from GOOD that demonstrates just how much H2O goes into our daily shower, daily beverages, and daily bread.:

And it's not just the water we can see we're using--washing our hands, watering our plants. There's a whole hidden world of water behind the things we use; in other words, the water used to make the things we use.

For example (still according to GOOD here):

*Every flush of the loo takes six gallons of water (or 1.3 for a low flow/dual flush), which makes sense.

*But that slice of bread that doesn't conjure any water associations actually took 11 gallons per slice in the making. Wild, right?

*Here's the biggie, and just another environmental reason to limit red meat intake (as livestock production also contributes more to global warming than transportation):

*A hamburger? 634 gallons of water!

*A steak? 1,500!!

See the whole water from morning til night graph.

And, calculate your own daily water use/water footprint at H2O Conserve. It is amazing to see the questions asked, from laundry to gasoline to recycling and the way the gallons really add up!

Hughie Sink--Order Now!

2009-04-09T18:22:00.001-07:00

We're planning on putting in an order for Hughie Sinks by this Sunday, April 12th, but we need your help to get them in the store. We need ten orders to be placed by Sunday or we won't get any at all.

So, if you're interested, please give us a call at the store (323) 665 - 7454 or shoot an email to info@allshadesofgreen.net.

(They run for about 40.00 to 45.00).

Why would you want one? The Hughie is this amazing water-saving/reusing product that fits like a glove in your kitchen sink. It captures the water you use to wash dishes or hands or to rinse veggies and then allows you to you simply pick it up and use that same perfectly good water to soak your plants. Genius, right? We think so.

See it in action here.

So if you're interested in having one of your own to save water and save money and be a creative re-user of this precious resource, give us a buzz.

And thanks!

Eco-Friendly Easter Baskets

2009-04-08T13:30:00.001-07:00

That's right, we've got Easter baskets in the store!

Choose from what we've put together, or create your own.

For kids:

Or for grownups:

TAP Project

2009-04-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

As we're focusing on WATER this month of celebrating and preserving the earth,

here's another water movement:

UNICEF'S Tap Project.

What is it?

Well, you may have seen the billboards around town asking you to text to support the cause (and you can still do that--details about TAP texting here), so here's the full scoop. During World Water Week (March 21-28), you could go to a restaurant and pay $1 for the tap water you'd normally enjoy for free. That buck would go to helping the world water crisis.

According to TAP,
*"Every day, 4,200 children die of water-related diseases.
*Nearly 900 million people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water."

Even though that water-focused week is over, you can still learn more from UNICEF's water and sanitation page and support the work it does:

"$10 can provide 400 children with enough clean drinking water for one day.

$61 can provide a small scale water filter intended to provide safe drinking water to small groups or families.

$150 provides 2,500 packets of Oral Rehydration Salts to help save the lives of children suffering from diarrheal dehydration due to drinking contaminated water."

It doesn't take too much to make a huge difference.

IndieBound: Shop Local, Shop Indie

2009-04-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

We want to tell you about Indiebound, a site that supports local, independent businesses (like us!). While the site is tailored to books--you can look up a book at shops near you and see indie top seller lists--it's also geared toward all things indie.

Here's what it says about why to shop locally, at independent purveyors:

"The Economy

Spend $100 at a local and $68 of that stays in your community. Spend the same $100 at a national chain, and your community only sees $43.
Local businesses create higher-paying jobs for our neighbors.
More of your taxes are reinvested in your community--where they belong.

The Environment
Buying local means less packaging, less transportation, and a smaller carbon footprint.
Shopping in a local business district means less infrastructure, less maintenance, and more money to beautify your community.

The Community
Local retailers are your friends and neighbors—support them and they’ll support you.
Local businesses donate to charities at more than twice the rate of national chains.
More independents means more choice, more diversity, and a truly unique community."

Here's the All Shades listing at Indiebound.

And you can find other independent stores just footsteps from you.

How Do I Recycle That? (Batteries)

2009-04-04T10:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, you've made the switch or are making the switch to rechargeable batteries (the only way to go). But wherever you are that process, you still may have to dispose of the old-fashioned kind, and even rechargeables will eventually fade.

So, what to do with your old single-use batteries?

Well, what not do is to throw them in the trash. Batteries contain heavy metals and other toxic substances (nickel, mercury, lead) which can contaminate our land and water sources if left to sit in a landfill. And since three billion dry cell batteries are purchased in the U.S. every year, recycling is super important.

Recycle them instead!

I was recently pleased to see a battery collection bin at the Los Feliz Library. You can also drop yours at a household hazardous waste collection around town (see a list of collection events sponsored by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County here).

Or, consider using Battery Solutions for your home or business. There, you can purchase an iRecycle kit where you and your friends'/family's/co-workers' batteries (and even mobile phones) can go in, be mailed off, and Battery Solutions will do the work of sorting, shipping, and recycling from there.

Here's a list of places to drop off your batteries for recycling in L.A. (courtesy of Earth 911).

FLOW the Film

2009-04-03T09:06:00.000-07:00

Since we're talking about water this month, we just have to recommend a documentary:

FLOW.

It's a film about water that everyone should see. We're made of water, the earth is made of water, and water matters.

The first bit is about what we've done to our water reserves through polluting it with chemicals and pesticides and even rocket fuel and the problems that causes, for us and for our aquatic friends. (There's a great bit on the water bottle industry, too.)

But the bulk of the film takes on the question: Just who owns water?

And unfortunately, since water is a 400 billion industry (just behind oil and electricity), the answer is often wealthy countries and corporations, leaving many of the world's poor to go without or to have to pay for something they can't afford.

The film's website will help you take water action with orgs like charity: water and other water-worthy groups before or after you rent/buy it.

And you can see the FLOW trailer here. And if you see the film, tell us what you think.

Los Angeles: Conserve!

2009-04-01T11:38:00.000-07:00

According to the Environmental News Service (and we can all attest to this by living here), California is in its third year of drought. In fact, reservoir levels are at their lowest since 1978, only a third full. In Los Angeles, we may even be facing a downright water shortage of 12% this summer.

The LADWP is telling us to conserve 24/7 and Mayor Villaraigosa has a twenty year plan to get us back on track, the first phase of which is in place now. Not complying with the new ordinance will even cost you--for every drip over a 15% reduction in your water use, you'll pay a premium rate for from the LADWP.

Here's what we all need to know about from Water Conservation Ordinance:

We CANNOT:

*Use water to wash any hard surfaces such as sidewalks, walkways, driveways
or parking areas, unless flushing is needed to protect health and safety;
*Use water to clean, fill or maintain decorative fountains unless the water is
part of a recirculating system;
*Serve water to customers in eating establishments unless requested;
*Permit leaks from any pipe or fixture to go unrepaired;
*Allow for the washing of a vehicle without using a hose with a self-closing,
shut-off device;
*Permit watering during periods of rain;
*Irrigate landscaping between the hours of
9 a.m. and 4 p.m.;
*Water outdoors for more than 15 minutes per watering station, 10 minutes for
other irrigation systems;
*Allow runoff onto streets and gutters from excessive watering...

To take a proactive approach, here are a few ideas for

what we CAN do to conserve this precious resource:

*Fix leaky faucets.

*Use a broom or rake instead of a hose to clean off driveways.

*Take your car to a car wash that assures you it's recycling and treating its water (more on truly CLEAN car washes here).

*Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators (we've got you covered).

*Run only full loads of laundry (cooler water will save energy too, as will sun-drying).

*Turn the faucet off when you brush your teeth. You'll save up to five gallons of water per day, depending on your brushing habits.
*Reduce your shower time--even cutting back one minute will save five to seven gallons of water every time! (We've got the 4-Minute Shower Timer in the store to help you keep your commitment.)
*Most of our water use is outside, so plant drought-tolerant and native plants in your garden that don't need a lot of water to flourish.
*If you have a lawn you can't part with or are growing edible goodies, make sure to water in the early morning or evening before any moisture is lost to evaporation.

Let us know in the comments if you've got any more water-saving wisdom to share!

April Showers (and Earth Month!)

2009-04-01T11:24:00.001-07:00

Happy Earth Month!

This April at All Shades we're focusing on WATER, cleaning it, conserving it, and using it wisely.

Stay tuned for watery tips and products all month.

We'll also let you know the Earth Month events we'll be visiting around Los Angeles in April

and where we can catch up with you outside the store.

No More Chlorine: RainShow'r Dechlorinator

2009-03-26T11:25:00.000-07:00

This ASOG blogger feels better knowing that her shower water is filtered with one of the Rainshow'r Dechlorinators we carry. In fact, it gets rid of 90% of the chlorine pouring through a showerhead.

What's the fuss about chlorine? Most municipal water, including ours, has chlorine to act as a disinfectant, something that's ruled out a lot of disease over the years. However, the by-products of chlorine could have some health risks, including cancer, as well. And since many of us are filtering it from our tap water, absorbing it through our skin and inhaling it into our lungs in a warm shower isn't too enticing either.

According to Rainshow'r, "chlorine... attacks your hair, skin, and lungs... and can leave your hair dry and brittle and make your skin flaky and itchy. It can also trigger negative reactions in children, the elderly, and people with chlorine-sensitivity."

I know from my time spent in chlorine-heavy pools that this particular disinfectant is not for me. And I can attest that now my hair and skin are softer and less dried out with my filter.

Come check out the Rainshow'r dechlorinator specially chosen by our in house sustainability coach for your safety (and your future softer, silkier hair).

Plus, you can easily use it with a low-flow showerhead to save water while you suds up in your efforts to reduce your use and green even your shower time.

Healthy Child Healthy World

2009-03-24T10:26:00.000-07:00

Our nonprofit of the month, Healthy Child Healthy World is all about creating healthy spaces for children to grow. The health of our children depends on the health of our world, and vice versa.

According to the HCHW website, this generation of children "face[s] an historically unprecedented rise in chronic disease and illness such as cancer, autism, asthma, birth defects, ADD / ADHD, and learning and developmental disabilities." And if the cause could be environmental contaminants and the some 80,000 chemicals we're exposed to in our lives now, they're working to eradicate toxins and create natural, green spaces to thrive in instead.

We especially like the Healthy Child Healthy World pocket guides.

There's one for a bunch of huge issues: plastic, toys, school lunches, formula and sunscreen to start. Download them and read them, print a copy to bring with you when you're shopping and to share with your friends.

If you feel daunted by the whole subject, check out their 5 Healthy Steps as a starting point (each contains more than one thing to do, but they're great general categories to focus on):

*manage pests safely

*use non-toxic products

*clean up indoor air

*eat more organic and healthy foods

*be wise with plastics

Here's to a healthy world and healthy kids inside it.

Growing Fresh Air in the Real World

2009-03-20T15:04:00.001-07:00

In honor of our upcoming non-toxic home workshops at All Shades, check out this TED video with Kamal Meattle who transformed a building in New Dehli into a safe place to work and breathe using three common household plants. It helped everything from respiratory function to headaches to energy needs.

Benedetta: Better Skin Care

2009-03-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

We're all more and more concerned about what we're putting on our skin with news of parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, and other problems with conventional products.

With that in mind, we're happy to be carrying a new skin care line, Benedetta.

Benedetta (blessed in Italian) carries truly fresh skin products, made in fresh, small batches with organic, biodynamic, sustainable ingredients.

Take it from Natalie, All Shades store manager and green building professional, who loves the rosemary and geranium cleanser for its wonderful smell and facial-like experience. She literally looks forward to her nightly cleansing routine now.

She can also vouch for the palmerosa and neroli oils. A little oil goes a long way toward making her skin feel super hydrated.

Tracey gives them a two thumbs up, too!

You can read up on Benedetta's facial care offerings here.

And not only are Benedetta's beauty care elixirs sources from nature, but it's mindful of the earth in its practices, not just what goes into its products.

Learn more about the toxic troubles of personal care products from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

How To Grow Fresh Air

2009-03-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to carry this fabulous book about how to purify your home or office. That's right, indoor air is often worse than outdoor air (the term Sick Building Syndrome corroborates). And given that on many days most of our time is spent inside, there's definitely cause to clean it up.

One way to do it? Plants! That's right, by bringing plants inside, we can improve our air quality significantly. If you don't believe us, take it from NASA. Scientists there found that certain plants not only breathe out oxygen, but they also breathe in chemicals that are found in common items from carpets and sofas to kitchen cabinets and computer printers.

(Plants also make us feel better according to Green Plants for Green Buildings!)

This book, How To Grow Fresh Air, is written by one of those NASA scientists and contains 50 plants that will help you breathe easier indoors. And we've got this valuable resource on our shelves.

For more expansive information on this topic, please come to one of our March workshops:

Breathe Easy: Creating a Non-Toxic Home Inside and Out

with sustainability coach Deborah Tull

Wednesday, March 21st and Saturday, March 25th

Photo courtesy of Treehugger.

Green Space Revitalization Workshop, Wednesday March 18th

2009-03-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

We're so pleased to have Kim Colwell of the Shambhalla Institute for an evening during which she'll illuminate how to create a balanced, energized, GREEN place to live.

Green Space Revitalization with Kim Colwell
Wednesday, March 18th

7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

$25.00

@ All Shades of Green
3038 Rowena Avenue
Los Angeles, 90039

RSVP to kim@shambhallainstitute.com, (323) 309 - 2945 or (323) 665 - 7454.

About Kim:

She has a BFA from NYU, is a second generation feng shui master, sustainable interior designer and partner at the Shambhalla Institute.

Kim's work has been featured in JCK Luxury, Rapaport Diamond Report, Women's Wear Daily, California Apparel News, National Jeweler and Ideal Bites with interviews in C magazine, Fox and Wellness TV.

About the workshop:

*Sustainable design tips to re-purpose your existing items.
*Layout suggestions to create a warm, inviting envronment.
*Eco-friendly remodel strategies.
*Psychological tips to create a space that empowers and inspires.
*Design tips to stylize your home.
*How to enhance the energetic feel of your space.
*How to balance your environment with elements of nature to nurture a sense of well-being.

About space revitalization:

An approach to design that refreshes, reorganizes, and reinvents your space with practical and economic design solutions using what you already have.

How Do I Recycle That? (Jewelry)

2009-03-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

Jewelry. We reduce, reuse, recycle Angelenos normally give it to goodwill so at least someone else may enjoy what once hung around our necks or wrists or from our ears.

Now, we can recycle it instead.

Liza Shtromberg, the owner of All Shades of Green, is proud to introduce the new recycling program at her jewelry store on Hillhurst in Los Feliz, Liza Shtromberg Studio.

LS Jewelry will accept any unplated platinum, 10K 14K 18K 22K gold, and sterling silver for recycling at a local plant (where it's melted down so it can be made into some entirely new bling).

There is currently enough mined precious metal in circulation

to last for decades.

If we all made a concerted effort to recycle old jewelry, we can avoid draining more of the planet's natural resources.

With the new program you can both give get: The store is offering 100% of the recycling proceeds as a store credit for you. They will absorb the 10% fee charged by the recycling company to give you more rewards for helping do our part to reduce unnecessary strain on Mother Earth.

To get started, simply head into the design studio with the jewelry you no longer wear. They will test the purity of the metal, send the pieces to the recycling plant, and then issue you a store credit upon settlement, (which typically takes about two weeks).

Visit Liza Shtromberg Studio to start recycling your precious metals:

2120 Hillhurst Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90026

(323) 913-1444

Open 10a.m. -6p.m. Mon- Sat

Sun: 11a.m.-5p.m

Want to dig deeper as to why less mining for gold and silver is a good idea? Read more on the quandaries of quarries here.

Non-Toxic Baby

2009-03-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

We know that one of the motivating factors for going green is to protect a baby or little one from harmful chemical exposure early in life, when they're most vulnerable.

We've got you covered as you strive for non-toxic products for your lads and lasses.

Here are a handful:

Green to Grow baby bottles are both BPA (Bisphenol-A) and phthalate (plasticizer) free--better for the world and for baby. (Learn all about plastic in containers from The Green Guide.)

Natursutter natural pacifiers are environmentally-friendly versions of the old standards. Each one is PVC, chemical, and phthalate free, making it something you won't mind having in your newborn's mouth.

A good read for a parent interested in having an eco-baby is Organic Baby by mother and interior designer, Kimberly Rider. She tells you what to consider, from cribs to bath bubbles to broccoli, and why it matters.

And finally, here are some ASOG-approved tips for creating a non-toxic safe haven for your little ones from a workshop Deborah and Shelley of Green to Grow hosted last May in honor of Eco-Moms and Mother's Day.

SALE Items

2009-03-05T10:32:00.000-08:00

We've got a brimming sale table in the middle of our store.

So, if you've been saving your pennies for candles, personal care and kitchen products, clothing,

or other green goodies, you're in luck.

Come in and see what we've marked down 20%!

Starter Kit for Change Bags

2009-03-04T09:03:00.000-08:00

We've got some beautiful tote bags in the store from Starter Kit for Change.

They're handmade from recycled materials and fabric remnants and remind us as we rustle through one at the farmers' market or a retail store that, as Gandhi famously said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

One small action, like bringing your own bag or buying recycled or supporting green businesses can truly spark change.

March: The Non-Toxic Home

2009-03-03T14:43:00.000-08:00

This month at All Shades we're focusing on helping you create a non-toxic home, one where you and your loved ones can breathe easy by inhaling clean indoor air and using products that are safe for people and the planet.

We hope to see you in the store to find out more.

And, we've got two workshops planned on the subject that are sure to illuminate.

Here's the scoop:

Breathe Easy: Creating a Non-Toxic Home Inside and Out

Saturday, March 21st

10:00 a.m. to noon

Wednesday, March 25th

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

@ All Shades of Green in Silver Lake

Taught by Deborah of Creative Green

Please call (323) 665 - 7454 or email to register or for more information.

Quick Gardening Tip from our Weekend Workshop

2009-03-03T13:55:00.001-08:00

Last weekend, Deborah led another organic gardening workshop at a private residence.

Here's one word of wisdom she has for those of you beginning to care for a garden:

Gardening is as much about observation as it is about doing. Every day, take time to observe what is happening with your plants, how they are growing and what's going on with the soil. Are there aphids? Is the soil dry? What are the leaves doing? It is only through observation that we begin to build a relationship and can intuit what the soil and the plants need.

Happy Spring Digging!

How Do I Recycle That? (Televisions)

2009-03-02T09:18:00.000-08:00

We're starting a new series on the ASOG blog--

"How Do I Recycle That?"

Every couple of weeks, we'll look at a household item that can be recycled, and give you tips on how and where to do it. Here's to the third R!

The deadline for the national switch to digital TV may have been pushed back to June 12th, but that doesn't mean there isn't still confusion about it. In fact, last summer, half of American households had no idea when the switch was coming.

Here's the skinny so you're in the know:

By June, you can either get a digital converter box for your analog television (the government will give you a coupon to help!!) or get a new, digital TV. Otherwise, your screen will look like a snowstorm all summer and beyond.

The environmentally conscious thing to do is probably to use the box, but if you're like me and your TV is so old the box didn't work with it or you're really in need of a set on which you can see what's taking place in your favorite films, you may be in the market for a new one.

So if you are opting for a new set, make sure to recycle your old one or we could end up with a whole lot of televisions in the landfill. (And you can consult this article on choosing a new one that's most energy-efficient.)

TVs are one kind of e-waste (electronic waste). And e-waste is the fastest growing component of our U.S. wastestream--in fact it beats the rest by far, growing three times as much as anything else (Earth 911). The bad news with e-waste's burgeoning is that it contains toxic stuff like heavy metals. In the case of TVs, they've got batteries, electronic circuit boards, and cathode ray tubes, all of which house hazardous materials.

It has been that electronics were shipped off to another country where unprotected children and their elders sifted through for the valuable parts (if you haven't seen it, Manufactured Landscapes is an excellent documentary about the excellent photographer, Edward Burtynsky, that deals with the subject). And here's a National Geographic article on that practice as well.

But now there are more and more options for genuine recycling of e-waste.

Here is a list of retailers and companies who are part of the EPA's plug into ecycling program.

And here's Earth 911's database of TV recyclers around Los Angeles.

And at My Green Electronics you can similarly search for places to turn your electronics to have them recycled.

Let us know if we've missed any TV recycling opportunities!

And may you make it to the digital transition ready to plug in and switch on with a green conscience.

Global Green's Pre-Oscar Party

2009-02-26T09:22:00.000-08:00

Our very own green fashionista, Tracey, who selects all the sustainable clothing you'll find on the All Shades racks, attended Global Green's Pre-Oscar Party last week.

What is Global Green?

It's Southern California's very own environmental non-profit that works on a global scale, creating sustainable cities and other climate change-curbing efforts. For example, it's working on rebuilding a greener New Orleans and has a whole resource center for green building in Santa Monica.

But back to the party.

(That's Tracey on the left.)

Tracey reports that a large portion of Hollywood turned out in support of the Global Green Pre-Oscars event. And a lot of other Angelenos showed up, too--the eager line wound around the block in organized chaos.

Celebrity supporters including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sheryl Crow, Gavin Rossdale, Kate Bosworth, Rosario Dawson and Neil Patrick Harris who all joined Global Green to celebrate and support Green Schools--G.G.'s new effort to lighten schools' footprints and create healthy classrooms for the kids inside them.

Tracey's report:

"I missed the first part of the show but arrived in time to see Gavin Rossdale perform acoustic guitar. It was a rare treat to walk into the event and be greeted by the music of the former lead singer/guitarist of Bush.

Sheryl Crow followed performing songs the crowd all seemed to know.

All in all the evening was a teeming with people all friendly and happy to be out in their glad rags in support of a really great cause."

For those of us who missed the big bash, at least we can still get involved at the Global Green website. Then we'll get the news about party time next year...

Emile Henry Ceramic Ovenware

2009-02-24T09:15:00.000-08:00

Announcing our Product of the Month:

Emile Henry ceramic cookware from Burgundy, France.

These baking dishes are not just another pretty bowl for your table (though they are that). Each dish is made from Burgundy clay by what was and is still a family business.

These products are:

*excellent for heat distribution and retention.

*extremely durable.

*easy to clean.

*totally food safe.

Not only that, but on green subjects other than cooking itself, this cookware definitely cuts the mustard. All the packaging is recycled and recylcable and the clay (and non-clay) ingredients are both natural and biodegradable. No lead and no cadmium will be found in the glazes as they adhere to strict CA Prop 65 standards. Even the gases emitted from Henry's kilns are filtered before being released into the atmosphere.

Read it from the source here.

We highly recommend being part of the Emile Henry tradition of good quality, safe and healthy ovenware that pays homage to the earth as well.

For the Love of Healthy, Sustainable, Home-Cooked Food

2009-02-21T15:17:00.000-08:00

All Shades of Green Owner, Liza, shows us how it's done again (you can see her planting project here); this time, in honor of our month's theme, cooking at home with her family.

In her sustainable kitchen, Liza, her husband, Akira, and her daughter, Hannah, cook at home and get the good times rolling, mixing, and baking together. And beyond shared family time, by cooking and eating in they're getting better quality, healthier food and indulging in some creativity while they're at it. Being in a routine of cooking at home, they continuously add new dishes to their repertoire, looking online for recipes and then making them their own.

As for sustainability, by cooking their own food most days, Liza and her family are reducing trash when they can skip the packaging and buy whole foods or in bulk. And since they compost, most of what they don't eat goes straight back to the soil.

Not only is Hannah's mood improved when she's asked if she wants to share in baking a cake, she's learning skills and enjoying whole foods at the same time.

See some home-cooking in action:

And check out healthy, organic recipes for your own sustainable kitchen at Delicious Living.

Nonprofit of the Month: Tierra Miguel CSA

2009-02-19T10:16:00.000-08:00

CSA is becoming a better known acronym. And that's a good thing!

What is a CSA? It stands for Community Supported Agriculture and is a partnership between the growers and eaters of food where we, the eaters, get to support a local farm, the growers, who are doing right by the earth and our table.

At the Tierra Miguel Foundation, a CSA in San Diego County, that means supporting a farm that is using truly sustainable farming practices--organic and biodynamic. The way they grow vegetables restores the soil and produces a bounty that is both beautiful and nutrient-rich. Pesticide-free, water conservation, compost as fertilizer, and crop rotation--all these are part of the package.

And Tierra Miguel is actually more than a farm, it's a nonprofit and a demonstration farm too, with a mission of educating Southern California (from school-aged kids to seasoned chefs) about sustainable farming techniques.

How does it work? You simply make a pledge to support Tierra Miguel through the growing season and it delivers fresh, organic produce to a location near you in return. You pick it up and are ready to get cooking and sharing. (Deliveries are made within about a 100 mile radius, one-tenth of the average distance food travels to get the grocery store.)

(Its winter produce will make your mouth water!)

Or find out more from the source at www.tierramiguelfarm.org.

For more ideas about eating sustainably and with your good health in mind, sign up for our upcoming Sustainable Kitchen workshops! Or come in the store for all the sustainable, healthy cookware, books, and utensils you'll need for your evolving sustainable kitchen.

Naturewell

2009-02-18T09:18:00.000-08:00

Coinciding with our promotion of loving food and enjoying sustainable eats this month, we're happy to have noticed that Naturewell has opened its doors (and this blogger has been in once so far). Now Silver Lake has its very own bulk bin!

So after your farmers' market produce shopping on Saturday, you can head over to Naturewell for bulk items like grains and beans--that means healthy brown rice, quinoa, black beans, and whole wheat flour sans packaging.

A third of household waste is from, not stuff, but the packaging our stuff is wrapped in. By buying in bulk, you eliminate all that plastic and paper going to the waste stream. That is, if you bring your own sacks or jars to collect your goodies in. (We've got the perfect bags for just such a purpose in the store.)

By BYOB-ing from farmers's stalls to Naturewell's bins, you can create a truly zero waste food shopping experience you can feel good about. And let's not forget how much better food tastes when it's mindfully gotten and prepared.

Here's to good food, without the fancy plastic dressing!

Naturewell

3824 West Sunset in Sunset Junction

(323) 638 - 5894

I can't forget to mention that Naturewell's also got organic juice combinations to keep you healthy and keep you coming back for more. We'll be seeing you there, bulking up all the way.

(Photo courtesy of laist)

The Sustainable Kitchen: Cooking for Personal and Planetary Well-Being on Saturday and Wednesday!

2009-02-16T15:16:00.001-08:00

Our sustainability coach, Deborah, has cooked up two servings of one of her most popular workshops for you (just pick the one that fits your menu this week...):

The Sustainable Kitchen: Cooking for Personal and Planetary Well-Being

Saturday, February 21st

10: 00 a.m. to noon

and

Wednesday, February 25th

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

@ All Shades of Green in Silver Lake

(more details on our calendar)

It's good for you, it's good for the planet. Deborah's even talked to Evan Kleiman at KCRW's Good Food about some of her eco-minded eating ideas. Listen to that podcast here.

More For Your Green Valentine

2009-02-11T10:52:00.000-08:00

Looking for more treats for your Valentine?

Consider handmade, natural soaps from Valley of the Roses. No synthetic scents, dyes or preservatives to be found there. See some of the offerings we've got in our store (they almost look good enough to eat!).

We've also got an assortment of goods from good clean love, the natural love doctor that makes organic lubricants and love oils free of any harmful chemicals, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, and parabens. It will feel good to have clean products for your intimate Valentine's Day activities. Find out more from the source here.

And finally, what lovefest is complete without a sweet. We have Farmer's Daughter Valentine chocolates for your tasting pleasure. They're organic, of course!

Felt Fuzzies for Valentine's Day

2009-02-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

We're so pleased to carry the felt creations of Tender Loving Work here at All Shades.

The mastermind behind these lovelies uses animal fiber of all kinds--sheeps, goats, you name it--to create natural felt that is both super soft and sturdy at the same time.

See how she does it here.

We think you'll especially love her local lavender-filled sachets for on bedside tables and atop pillows and inside bedroom drawers for Valentine's Day. They're wool or alpaca and hand-dyed and contain the perfect balance of calming lavender and love for your sweetheart.

She also has natural felt-wrapped soaps and exquisite scarves. You can even get one that secretly says "I Love U" if you hurry. See more of her collection here.

Home Performance Open House (It's Free!)

2009-02-06T10:51:00.000-08:00

We're pleased to host an evening with home energy and performance experts at

All Shades of Green on Monday, February 9th.

You will get your questions answered by:

-A Home Performance Tester
-Contractors specializing in Insulation and Windows
-Specialists in Heating and AirConditioning
-A neighbor whose home has been tested and remediated- hear what's changed!

Did you know that most houses in Southern California are under-insulated, if at all?
Do your heating/air conditioning ducts leak? Most do!
Did you know that the DWP and other local utilities have received permission to increase their prices starting this year?
Are you thinking about going solar? If so, increasing your home's energy performance means decreasing the number of panels you'll need to buy.
Are you uncomfortable (too hot, too cold) in any part of your home?
Do you think your gas and power bills are too high?

If you answered "yes" to any one of those questions, this event is perfect for you.

Home Performance Open House

Free!

Monday, February 9th

7:00 p.m.

3038 Rowena Avenue

Los Angeles, (Silver Lake) 90039

(323) 665 - 7454

Please RSVP to info@allshadesofgreen.net--our limit is 30 people, so act now!

February At ASOG

2009-02-05T10:41:00.000-08:00

Our theme this month:

For The Love of Food.

And, wouldn't you know it, we've got a couple of workshops on that very topic.

We hope you'll enjoy February in all its lovey, heart-healthy, delectability.

And here to help are two sustainable kitchen workshops:

The Sustainable Kitchen: Cooking for Personal and Planetary Well-being

Saturday, February 21st from 10:00 a.m. to noon

and

Wednesday, February 25th, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

*Please call (323) 665- 7454 or email creativegreen@hotmail.com for more information or to register.*

Green Resolutions for Today, This Week, and This Month

2009-02-04T09:39:00.000-08:00

We just love this tool from National Geographic's Green Guide to help you make this year one of going green in terms of food, energy and everyday purchases.

It will surely spawn ideas for you to green your life, one step at a time:

today,

this week

and this month.

We wish you good luck on the journey!

Green Resolution: Growing Things

2009-02-02T09:43:00.000-08:00

January may be over, but green resolutions never go out of style.

Here's another one: organic gardening.

By planting something, almost anything, we get the pleasure of connecting to nature, to its cycles, and in the case of planting edibles, we get to connect more fully to our own food. Plus, the fruits of your own labor, fresh from the garden, always taste better than that which has traveled 1,500 miles to get to our fork.

So even if you don't have the gusto be an all-out organic farmer, you can continue to support them by buying from a farmers' market or CSA (which typically travel under 200 miles to get to cooks and eaters) while supplementing your produce with what you grow yourself as organic farmer in training. No land to speak of? Try containers for everything from rosemary to blueberries(!!) to squash.

All Shades owner, Liza, is growing some of her own food organically in Israel. Check out her soy milk carton containers for seeds that she's planted (with the help of her own home-brewed nutrient-rich compost). When they've grown into seedlings, they'll be headed for the soil.

The containers:

Planting seeds in soil/compost mix:

Water for the thirsty:

And wouldn't you know it, we've got a workshop that can help you on your path to a green thumb. Once a month, sustainability coach Deborah will hold a weekend workshop in a local backyard for all gardeners in training to dig, plant, and talk shop about how to grow an organic garden. And Deborah should know, she's been doing this for over a decade and is certified in permaculture design, bio-intensive organic gardening and compost education.

Organic Gardening Workshop

Saturday, January 31st

1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Los Feliz

*Please call (323) 665- 7454 or email creativegreen@hotmail.com for more information or to register.*

More Inspiration for Ditching the Car One Day a Week

2009-01-30T10:30:00.000-08:00

Here's a reflection from the Introduction to Sustainable Living Workshop last Saturday with sustainability coach (among other things!), Deborah.

In line with our earlier resolution to cut back on the car and the L.A. bike resources we listed, here's an inspiring snippet from what happened last weekend:

"At last Saturday's workshop, we had a great discussion about all the ways that sustainable living feeds our personal well-being. We also talked about looking for ways to support our green efforts by "letting go" of more, rather than trying to "do" more. For example, what if you simply let go of your reliance on your car one day per week? Despite the voices in your head that say "I could never do that!" "That's impossible"... I promise, it will actually enrich your life.

Make a commitment in 2009 to lessen your carbon imprint and simplify your life by letting go of driving at least one day per week. Walk, bike, carpool and use public transportation whenever possible. I promise that you will find that this enhances your experience of the city, lessens your stress level, and improves your physical well-being."

Check out Metro schedules at 800-266-6883 or www.CommuteSmart.info.

For bike routes, visit: www.bikemetro.com.

If you are driving but want to carpool more days a week, catch a ride at ZIMRIDE or GoLoco!

We'll see you on the streets...

Pasadena Neighborhood Green Fair Saturday

2009-01-26T14:40:00.000-08:00

We wanted to let you know of a green event this weekend:

Pasadena is having a Neighborhood Green Fair

at the Unitarian Universalist church on Orange Grove there.

Saturday, January 31st from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

It's FREE!

The goal? To help visitors know what they can do to help the environment. We like the sound of that. Plus, there'll be lectures, films, green products and services, and plenty of activities for the youngins.

Get the whole scoop here. And we'll see you there.

(If you go, consider contributing ten succulent clippings to the cause.)

Green Resolution: Green Cleaning

2009-01-26T14:13:00.000-08:00

Air fresheners, conventional cleaning products: many of them contain harsh chemicals that have been linked to both short and long-term health effects for their users and anyone who gets a whiff of them. Most of us have firsthand experience with being overpowered by a cleaner's scent (just walking through a cleaning aisle usually makes me feel dizzy). Plus, when they're washed down the drain, they can cause upset to aquatic ecosystems and their inhabitants.

Unfortunately, over the last few decades, we've been exposed to many of those chemicals right in our own homes when we're "cleaning" them.

Here's the bright side: there are alternatives! Nature is a powerful force for mean, green cleaning.

We carry an array of natural cleaning products for you clothes, your countertops, your cups, and pretty much anything else. From Begley's Best to Dr. Bronner's Magic Castille Soap to Maggie's Soap Nuts, there are wonderful ways to clean sans chemicals.

We hope you will make the switch (if you haven't already) to cleaning alternatives that are from nature for nature and for our own health. And if you do, you can join Women's Voices for the Earth as they try to scrub out unhealthy cleaners everywhere.

For more information on creating a truly clean, non-toxic home, join us at one of our Introduction to Sustainable Living Workshops over the next week. See you there!

Rebates, Credits, and Incentives for a Greener 2009

2009-01-23T09:07:00.000-08:00

There are a number of programs in place to encourage Californians to go green in 09.

For one, there's Congress's economic bailout plan that extends a number of federal credits for Americans who want to make green home efforts and improvements. See them all here.

For Californians, DSIRE lists incentives and rebates for residents of different cities and counties in terms of making efficient and renewable choices as they build and remodel sustainably. Check out the huge list of possibilities here.

The LADWP will give you cash incentives for making strides with efficient appliances, heating and cooling, insulation, and refrigerators.

And if you're a Southern California Edison customer, there are loads of ways to get paid back for your efforts there as well.

If not one of those two, check with your utility company to get plugged into its unique deals.

Finally, Find Solar can point you in the direction of a solar provider and also has this solar calculator that tells you how much your system might cost, minus any applicable rebates.

Before you take the plunge of purchasing or remodeling, you may be ready for a visit from a home performance tester who can tell you where you're losing energy and how to capture it, along with improving your air quality. Find out more about that here or give us a buzz at the store for help with that as it's a service we now provide!

Our sustainability coach can also walk you through your home and report back on what you can do to cut costs and go green this year.

We wish you all kinds of payback in all kinds of forms for the green efforts you make in your home this year. Good luck and let us know how we can help!

Introduction To Sustainable Living in L.A. Workshop Saturday and Wednesday

2009-01-22T11:06:00.000-08:00

Yes, our Sustainability From the Inside Out Series is kicking off this Saturday, January 24th. And, in light of economic tough times, we're offering the first workshop, Introduction to Sustainable Living in L.A., for half price (20.00) on Saturday and Wednesday.

Find out more on our google calendar here or click the photo for easy detail reading.

Green Resolution: Composting (with inspiration from Liza)

2009-01-20T11:00:00.000-08:00

Composting is no longer just for farmers!!

We all have food scraps, no matter how much we lick the platter clean--banana peels, carrot tops, apple cores, egg shells, and the like. Just think, 30% of our U.S. wastestream is made up of food we throw out. Then, there's the other waste we can compost like leaves and paper that normally go in the green or blue bin on pick up days.

By composting you have the opportunity to:

*Free up ever decreasing landfill space.

*Recycle!

*Participate in the process of nature breaking down materials for reuse.

*Get a nutrient-rich salve for your soil.

That's the beauty of composting--it's good for the planet, good for the soil, and good for you.

There are a couple of routes you can go. You can get a worm bin and have worms do the work of decomposing waste for you--that's called vermicomposting. Then, there's a traditional compost heap/bin in the backyard. There are also more and more opportunities to compost indoors. The Happy Farmer compost bin is small enough to fit under your kitchen sink, doesn't have odors, and delivers compost (with the help of bokashi) in just a couple of weeks.

Liza, All Shades of Green's owner, is composting in her own backyard in Israel. Check out how she's reduced her waste stream by 50% with a worm bin and a compost pile, in addition to recycling glass, plastic, aluminum, and paper.

Liza's food collection in her sink and kitchen bucket:

Her worm bin:

Her backyard compost pile:

Thanks to Liza for showing us how it's done!

And please join us on Wednesday, February 4th, for a composting workshop

with compost connoisseur, Deborah,

part of the ASOG Sustainability From the Inside Out

winter/spring 2009 series:

Composting 101: Carrot Tops, Castings, and Creative REuse

Wednesday, February 4th

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

@ All Shades of Green

Deborah's also leading a series of organic gardening workshops in Eagle Rock that are sure to dig into composting as well.

Please call (323) 665- 7454 or email creativegreen@hotmail.com for more information or to register.

Green Resolution: Cutting Back on the Car

2009-01-19T10:29:00.000-08:00

One simple resolution that will cut back on gas and money spent while possibly bringing more health and well-being? Ditching the car one day a week.

According to Car Free Days, every mile driven releases a pound of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. So by taking just one day away from the steering wheel, you can make a big difference. And, of course, the difference would be mighty if we all did this.

(Here are some suggestions for what to do when not driving.)

Plus, by using a human-powered mode of transportation if you need to get somewhere, you'll go beyond combatting climate change to investing in your own physical and financial health as well. I can attest to feeling healthier, happier and more connected to my community when I walk or bike around Silver Lake on errands and outings.

We'll also give you a little discount when you dismount from a bike or stroll, carless, into All Shades of Green.

For more information on all things biking in L.A., check out these orgs who can help empower your pedaling:

*C.I.C.L.E.

*Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition

*Bicycle Fixation

And finally, find out some gems you can walk to in your neighborhood that you may have missed at walkscore.

We're Here to Help!

2009-01-15T09:47:00.000-08:00

As we share green resolutions with you this month we want to remind you that we're here to help you on your path to whatever shade of green you're reaching for this year!

IN AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO GO GREEN,

WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER OUR COMMUNITY:

*a green living retail store that offers a selection of practical and artistic products to support you in living a sustainable lifestyle.
*a green building/design center that offers everything from sustainable remodeling materials to dual flush toilets.
*an educational center that offers exciting workshops and events every month in addition to
consulting services to help you green your home, business, and lifestyle.
*a greening/educational program for SCHOOLS.
*a fabulous team of dedicated and passionate staff members with many years of collective experience in this field.

Please give us a call or come visit for some camaraderie on your green path.

All Shades of Green

3038 Rowena Avenue

Los Angeles (Silver Lake) 90039

(323) 665- 7454

www.allshadesofgreen.net

NonProfit of the Month: Living Compassion

2009-01-14T10:03:00.000-08:00

We choose a nonprofit every month to tell you about as a worthy place to know of or support. They're usually in Los Angeles, but this month we've chosen Living Compassion in Murphys, California.

A Buddhist Peace and Sustainablility Center, Living Compassion is sponsoring a special social project called The One Thing Revolution, which fits perfectly with our January focus on Green Resolutions.

All it's asking is that you commit to one small thing. It asks:

"What if you could do one thing that would

change your attitude
change your day
change your life
change the world—
Would you do it?
Are you wondering what that one thing might be?
The answer is amazingly simple.
That Onething is whatever you want it to be."

Just one thing can make a difference and if you dream one up, you can add it to the many onethings springing up on Living Compassion's site.

Green Resolution: Laundering and Dry Cleaning

2009-01-12T09:33:00.000-08:00

One area to focus on as you continue to evolve and resolve in 2009 is on your closet and how you get the clothes in there get clean.

Laundry may seem simple, but there are layers of eco-choices to consider as you go about the business of cleaning your wardrobe.

First, for regular washing, you can choose biodegradable, eco-friendly laundry soap. (We especially like natural, sustainable and unique Maggie's Soap Nuts.) You can then choose to wash in cool water to save energy. For drying, opting for line drying outside saves major energy by skipping the machine dryer and has the added benefit of leaving you fresh, sunny clothes, towels and sheets. If you only have indoor space for a drying rack, leaving clothes inside to dry will help add some moisture to your indoor air. (And for what you do machine-dry, definitely skip dryer sheets which are full of not-so-fresh chemicals.)

(As an aside, if you go to laundromat like I do, you can can still use natural soap, do some wash by hand and dry much of it in the sun when you get home.)

Next there's dry cleaning. Traditional dry cleaning is notorious for using the chemical perchloroethylene (perc for short) that is a neurotoxin and carcinogen that pollutes air, earth and water. So cutting back on dry cleaning or only buying garments that can be hand or machine-washed is a great way to go. If you want to know how to hand wash silk and wool (both lovely, natural fabrics) without shrinking or damaging it, here's a great article on the subject--I wash both with Dr. Bronner's with no trouble (and no cost).

But don't worry--not all dry cleaners are equal and not all cleaners use perc.

You can find an environmentally friendly cleaner that uses wet cleaning or pressurizd or liquid CO2. Just make sure to ask or use Low Impact Living's handy search tool to find one near you.

Then comes the plastic problem. Often even eco-cleaners use those plastic-covered wire hangers--a disposable mess that may stick around in landfills for hundreds of years.

So, for the final phase of laundry resolution comes The Clothesnik. Made for clothes hounds who still are passionate about reuse, this reusable cotton bag lets you take your clothes to the cleaners and pick them up in a reusable, functional, no plastic allowed bag. We've got some hanging on our racks for you to check out so you can never go back to plastic at the cleaners again.

Here's to a year of greener laundry!

And let us know in the comments if you have any tips to add or laundry-related resolutions of your own.

Green Resolution: No Waste Lunching

2009-01-08T09:39:00.000-08:00

One way to lighten your footprint this year is to embark on the challenge of packing and eating no-waste lunches (there are ways to do this if you're someone who enjoys eating and carrying out as well).

All you need is your own, unique lunch kit with all your personal, no waste, eco-eating essentials.

*Reusable water bottle (think SIGG designs of all kinds) filled with tap water (option: filtered tap water). Check. (And read more about the benefits of water on the go that foregoes plastic here.)

*Reusable hot drink thermos filled with your favorite fair trade coffee or organic tea (SIGG's got these, too, and they're sleek). Check.

*Reusable napkin made of fabric (hemp's our favorite). Check.

*Eco-friendly, reusable--there's that word again--food container(s). Here, the options really are endless. For sandwich lovers, the Wrap N Mat. For those carrying out their favorite food on the go, there's To Go Ware's stainless steel carrier. For little fingers whose little mouths need a snack, there's the Boon Snack Ball. And SIGG carries a number of aluminum boxes for different sized and shaped meals. Check.

*Reusable utensils like those from To Go Ware made of bamboo and housed in their own fold-up pouch for extra convenience. Check.

There's no denying that it takes some extra effort to plan ahead and gather your reusables before you leave for work or school or a day out and about; however, the effects are worth the efforts. You get to have an elegant picnic, slow down to prepare and enjoy your food, and know that you're preventing all kinds of disposable waste from clogging our landfills for hundreds of years to come. Plus, they'll be no more buying little plastic baggies!

The no waste lunch--just one more creative way to go green.

Come see us for parts to operate your unique lunch kit.

Sustainability From the Inside Out 2009 Workshop Series

2009-01-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

We're proud to announce that our sustainability coach, Deborah of Creative Green, has cooked up a plan to breath new life into sustainable living this winter and spring.

ASOG is proud to present:

Sustainability From the Inside Out Workshop Series

January 24-May 23, 2009

Topics covered will include:

*An Introduction to Sustainable Living in LA
*The Sustainable Kitchen: Cooking for Personal and Planetary Health
*Breathe Easy: Creating a Non-Toxic Home Inside and Out
*How to Live Water-Wise in LA
*Energy Efficiency: It's Easier Than You Think
*Composting 101: Carrot Tops, Castings, and Creative Re-Use
*Organic Backyard Gardening

The plan: to give you a complete education about urban sustainability along with
tools and skills you need to go green (or go greener!) regardless of your income or how
busy you are, helping to transform your life from the inside out.

Whether you are a beginner or old-timer to the process of “going green,” this workshop series promises to deepen your environmental awareness while helping cultivate more peace,
well-being and balance in your own life.

The bonus to being part of the series: In addition to monthly workshops, e-mail and in-person support and exercises will be available to you as well as a discount on All Shades of Green products throughout the series. Can't attend? Just like school, there will be make-up sessions.

For more information or to sign up, please call 323-665-7454 or email creativegreen@hotmail.com

A Greener 2009

2009-01-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

It can be a truly meaningful experience to reflect on what we'd like to do differently in the coming year, write it down and take it out in 12 months to see how our intentions were met or transformed.

As I look over last year, this ASOG blogger is proud and excited that I was able to get a bike and ride it to meetings and errands, walk to the Silver Lake farmer's market most Saturdays, purchase organic cotton bedding, get a kitchen and shower water filter, install faucet aerators, purchase a couple of sustainably-made clothing items, discover some favorite green books and documentaries, and use only green, non-toxic cleaning supplies. But there's always room to grow!

Low Impact Living has some great ideas for green resolves for 2009 you can read here.

And here is LIL's contest from last year of readers' resolutions full of more real person inspiration from using rags instead of paper towels, opening a green store, starting an office or school recycling program to biking to work two days a week, building a greenhouse, buying only local produce, using only natural beauty products and bringing meals to go in reusable containers--there is a torrent of good, green intentions to browse.

Feel free to share yours with us here or come into the store to get face to face inspiration and validation for your sustainable commitments from us!

Winterizing Your Home

2009-01-02T09:52:00.000-08:00

Milk Your Money has some solid ways to prepare your house for cooler weather and save money while you're at it.

Here are some of the ideas:

*Put up heavy, insulated drapes or window coverings.

*Set your thermostat to 68 degrees, or even lower if you can handle it. Certainly wear a cozy sweater in the house (I'm usually found in a knit cap and wrist warmers in my apartment.)

*Keep the shades open to let the sun shine in.

*If you can, insulate your windows or get new ones that trap heat. (Storm windows can reduce warm air leaking out by 50%.

*Perform a home energy audit with professionals who can use a blower door and infrared lights to see where air is going and give you a report with recommendations for tightening things up--talk to Natalie in our store for more info on that!

*Clean your dryer vent and vacuum the back of your refrigerator coils to help both run more efficiently.

For more, we've got The Home Energy Diet on our store shelves to help you tighten your energy belt even more.

Happiest Holidays!

2008-12-24T08:47:00.000-08:00

We wish you all the happiest holidays this season

and an absolutely good, green new year!

Check with us in 2009 for more sustainable living

tips, products, and in-store workshops!

from All Shades of Green in Silver Lake

3400 Phinney Chocolates

2008-12-22T08:41:00.000-08:00

With all this genuine wintry weather, indoor gatherings, and merrying, it gets an Angeleno in the mood for rich, sweet treats. Plus, there are always stockings to stuff with something other than just, well, stuff.

Edible and delectable and made from Fair Trade, organic chocolate, Theo's line of 3400 Phinney chocolates come in all sorts of exotic, surprising flavors that are sure to satisfy any seasonal craving.

Vanilla? Hazelnut? Coconut Curry? Fig, Fennel, Almond?

Come on in to see what you and yours might have a hankering for.

Shains: for Kids, Teens, Big Kids, and Everyone in Between

2008-12-19T08:25:00.000-08:00

We've got shains (state how action is a necessary solution)

in the store and they're always a big hit.

Even better they're made of completely recycled and recyclable materials, were born right here in Los Angeles and are ever-evolving. With the letter and icon add-ons, you can spell out any message you want, whenever you want. So, if you've got a message, an action, a solution to share--you can let it be known with what you wear.

Happy Farmer Composter!

2008-12-18T09:09:00.000-08:00

Food waste often doubles around the holidays. Doubles! (And the average American gains one pound from what does make it to mouths as well.)

One way to tackle the mounds of food when leftovers and giving it to friends and neighbors won't cut it is composting it.

The Happy Farmer Composter makes it pretty simple.

Made from 70% recycled plastic and suitable for indoor/under the kitchen sink use, it utilizes bokashi, a combination of bran and sawdust and microorganisms, to ferment and break down your food scraps in only about ten to fourteen days. After a couple of weeks, you've got nutrient-rich liquid plant food for your garden or growing veggies. Meat and dairy are even acceptable with this kind of system (perfect for sour cream and turkey!).

Our savvy staff can fill you in on all the details in the store so you can become a happy farmer or make someone else one this holiday.

Photo courtesy of kaboodle.

Buddha Nose

2008-12-17T09:02:00.000-08:00

Those of us who have sampled our new aromatic balms from Buddha Nose can attest to their decadent, exuberant scents and effects.

The booster salve does just what it says--boosts your immunity and your spirits. My post-booster salve bike ride was exuberant indeed.

And the bodhi balm is a surefire way to destress and peace out, way out.

Made with healing in mind from organic essential oils, Buddha Nose products are zen or zippy, depending on your mood. We've got them in the store for 20.00.

Chelsea Green Guides

2008-12-16T11:57:00.000-08:00

Yes, we've got em. Perfect for stuffing the stockings and stocking the stuffings of folks who are any shade of green, the set of six Chelsea Green Guides includes the A to Z of basic sustainable living: biking to work, greening your office, water, composting, recycling and energy.

GOOD December

2008-12-12T08:42:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite local magazines is GOOD. No really, GOOD.

And GOOD's office on Melrose has turned into a community meeting place all month for GOOD December.

There are plenty of events still to come, and plenty of green ones, too like this weekend's TreePeople fieldtrip and Sowing the Seeds with Silver Lake Farms Monday the 15th.

Check out the calendar here.

And see how things have been going so far here.

Decorating and Wrapping Creatively and Consciously

2008-12-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

We've got some tools at ASOG to help you

make your parcels and parties pretty while treading lightly:

*Fair Trade, recycled ornaments from the Spiral Foundation.

*Incense of frankincense and myrrh for a merry, holiday fragrance.

*Bambu ornaments.

*Ecotwist ribbon--biodegradable, colored with natural veggie dyes paper ribbons that create leaf-shapes when its end is unfurled.

*Fishlips recycled wrapping paper made from 100% recycled paper and soy inks right here in the U.S.

Happy merrymaking!

FREE How to Have a Green Holiday Workshop this Sunday!

2008-12-10T11:21:00.000-08:00

How to Have a Green Holiday!

Sunday, December 14th

10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

@ All Shades of Green

FREE!

Come hear how our Sustainability Coach, Deborah, has been mixing things up to be festive, creative, and green during holidays past and how you can, too.

Water Conservation Ordinance

2008-12-09T13:33:00.000-08:00

The LADWP is getting serious about saving water these days. If you didn't already know, we want to share with you that there is a new conservation ordinance in effect.

It's great to know about because, well, it helps save our city's precious resource. It's also good to know about because fines are in effect for certain water no-no's.

Here's a rundown of the H2O DON'TS:

*Don't use water to wash down hard surfaces like driveways. (Brooms will do the job and provide a workout at the same time.)

*Don't serve water to restaurant customers unless they ask for it.

*Don't water your yard during the rain.

And DO's:

*Fix leaky faucets to save 20 gallons of water drip, drip, dripping down your drain.

*Adjust your sprinklers (if you have them) so there's no water wasted on the pavement--that'll save 500 gallons a month and prevent runoff.

*Run only full loads of laundry.

You can read the whole list here.

And if you own your own washing machine, you can get a $250 LADWP rebate for a new, high-efficiency model that can save 50% of the water you use in a year on the most water-heavy task inside the house. Find out how.

Nonprofit of the Month: Baby2Baby

2008-12-08T13:21:00.000-08:00

We like to feature at least one not for profit every month from our Los Angeles area community.

This month, Baby2Baby has our attention.

With shelters in more need than ever this year, Baby2Baby gets clothes and other kids' gear to those who need it most. Started by three friends, this little organization makes it easy to do good in our own backyards.

Here's how it works: every month, 12 local organizations put in their donation requests for baby and kid stuff of all kinds. And you can help pass it along!

There are opportunities to donate gently used items for ages one to four (here are the drop-off spots), organize a baby shower to collect gifts or put on a toy/clothes drive.

You can also volunteer yourself or your youngins to help package everything up.

Or you can donate to the cause (a great way to participate in the season of giving as a group).

It feels good to give to a good cause.

Green Must-Haves/Dos for the Holidays

2008-12-05T08:43:00.000-08:00

We at All Shades want to wish you the happiest of holiday seasons in 08!

Nobody wants to take the fun out of the holidays, including us. There are loads of ways to load up on holiday fun and meaning while being conscious of our impact on the environment at the same time.

Here are a few to consider:

By switching to LED-powered holiday lights you'll save up to 80% of the electricity conventional incandescent string lights eat up. They'll even last you 20 years!

For no-waste gifts, choose those with less packaging (we've all spent mornings trying to cut plastic and undo twist-ties) and wrap your gifts in found objects around the house like reused packing paper, old stationary you don't plan on using, newspapers, or beautiful bits of fabric you may have lying around.

Speaking of gifts, make sure to get ones that will be good for the world and good for the getter. 90% of everything manufactured ends up in a landfill within a year in the U.S. Pretty shocking. So make sure to be mindful of the kinds of things you're getting your loved ones so that they'll stay on or in their drawers, kitchen, walls, desks, and closets for years and years to come.

Consider getting a rosemary bush or indoor plant for your Christmas tree. If you want a big one, go for the real deal as the artificial ones are plastic-heavy and can't be mulched in January. Find out more about recycling your live holiday tree from the L.A. Bureau of Sanitation.

We'll be sharing many more less-impact holiday ideas at our FREE workshop, How to Have a Green Holiday on Sunday, December 14th at 10:00 a.m.! Hope to see you there.

Clean Your Space/Trash Free Street Clean-Up

2008-12-04T09:37:00.000-08:00

This Saturday you can help the Surfrider Foundation clean up Silver Lake along Sunset Boulevard as part of its "Clean Your Space" campaign.

The importance of cleaning up the streets (and parking spaces and driveways and rain gutters) is this: everything on the street gets washed into the catch basins and into the L.A. River and out to sea when it rains. So, all the stuff like candy wrappers, cigarette butts, car oil, and contaminants like pesticides and chemical cleaners catch a wave out to the Pacific.

And those contaminants contained in storm water or runoff aren't good for marine animals, the aquatic habitat, or humans who like swimming either. Never fear though--we can all pitch in to help!

If you're a Silver Laker or other Angeleno who wants to clean up the beach in your own backyard, join Surfrider at:

Clean Your Space

Saturday, December 6th

9:30 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m.

On Sunset between Matlman and Manzanita

Check-in at Sunset Junction

Find out more about the event here.

And read our earlier post on urban storm water runoff in Los Angeles here.

Eco-Home Tour

2008-12-02T09:04:00.000-08:00

We're proud to be part of an:

Exclusive Green Home Tour

of an AlterEco home from Planet Green this Thursday evening.

This beautiful Spanish-style home by Byrd Eco Luxury Homes will be open by special invitation to showcase green building materials and ideas, and you're invited!

In addition to the tour, you can expect to enjoy:

reusable bags with green gifts provided by US, All Shades of Green

and

tips on going green from the consultants at Eco|Consulting LA

Come for the tour, come for the drinks, and come to meet the AlterEco hosts!

Tickets are $45 (all proceeds will go to charity)

Thursday, December 4th

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

in Los Feliz

(address provided with ticket purchase)

To purchase tickets, use the code GREENHIVE at Hiving.net