Remodeling Workshop #1

We've got a series of remodeling workshops for you this season to help you re-do and make new with whatever shade of green you fancy.

And since our theme this month is Saving Money, Saving Energy, Saving Resources, there are ways a-plenty to use recycled, sustainable materials as you remodel your home like recycled glass countertops, eco-tops surfaces, and recycled glass pavers and tiles, just to name a few. (Our on-staff Green Building Professional knows of many more to tell you about.)

So, we hope you'll join us for one or all of these events, the first of which is this Thursday evening.

Remodeling Workshop #1: KITCHENS AND BATHS

Thursday, November 13th

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

@ All Shades of Green

**Call to find out more and reserve your spot today! (323) 665 - 7454. $30.00 for one or $75.00 for the series.**

**Participants receive a 5% discount on anything in the store and 10% off workshop-related products**

In the meantime, test your green kitchen chops with this Sierra Club quiz.

Buying Local for the Holidays

We've gotten pretty well-versed in buying local, seasonal food. And in Los Angeles, we're lucky to have fabulous farmer's markets with delicious produce all year round.  Food grown nearby is more nutritious and fresher and saves big on fossil fuels compared to trucking it 1,500 miles from farm to family room. (Find your nearest Farmer's Market here.)

But what about other stuff, especially as we begin the hunt for holiday gifts?

By buying stuff for you and yours from an independent, local business, you support the economy of your very own community.  

According to Green Christmas, you also get to encourage what makes your neighborhood unique, get better, more personal service, promote competition and diversity, and make a huge economic impact in your own town (whereas if you buy from a big box store that money goes, well, somewhere else.)  

And on top of that, you get to cut down on environmental damage by getting more stuff that's locally made as well as locally sold.  Where else could you find incredible local, handcrafted soap covered in felted wool made by an employee at our local Trader Joe's?

We hope you'll stop in to see us and the other local, independent retailers, bookstores, service providers, and art galleries in Silver Lake and beyond as you plan your holiday purchases this year.  

(Here's a SL directory of local businesses and service providers; and here's a national one from the Organic Consumers Association.

After all, you can save gas and soak up the enviable fall weather by walking or biking to boot.

Saving Electricity: The Gadget Hall of Fame

We want to share with you some of our bestsellers for saving power in your home or apartment.

We've told you before about the Smart Power Strip.  It's so smart that it powers off what you've got plugged in when you're not using it. Pretty smart and pretty energy savvy.  And no clicking required.

We've also told you about the Kill-A-Watt.  You plug it into any appliance you've got and it automatically tells you how many kilowatt hours it's burning every minute, hour, or week.  Then, you make your decisions about which devices are sucking up too much juice to justify having them, and those that are worth their weight in gold for their efficiency.

Now, we'd like to remind you again of LEDs.  One LED can last 60,000 hours making it the most efficient over the long haul when compared to the 1500 after which a conventional lightbulb fizzles out.  Add to that how they don't have any mercury, can last for years, and can save you 80% on your lighting bill and the argument is pretty well-powered.  While they cost a pretty penny up front, you actually save money over the long haul.

We're happy to give you all the info you need as you make choices that will save power and save money at the same time.  Just give us a ring-- (323) 665 - 7454 or visit us online.

Election Sale Extended!

Our "in with the new" election sale has been extended to this Sunday, November 16th.

Come on in for a 30% discount on all kinds of good, green stuff to pamper you and to give as gifts for the upcoming holiday season.  See you soon!

Saving Energy Product of the Month: Solio Classic

What could be more efficient than harnessing the sun's energy to charge up the gadgets we depend on every day?

The Solio Classic universal charger fans out to soak up the sun for all kinds of handheld electronic gadgets--cell phone, MP3 player, digital camera, you name it.  Plus, it cuts waste by cutting out all those separate chargers for separate gizmos.  This charges them all--in one place.

For every hour you charge the Solio Classic in the sun, it'll give you 20 minutes of talking time or 50 minutes of listening time.  So, if you can pop it in daylight for a longer period, you'll be charged and ready to go for longer.  Plus, it holds its charge and can be uses in the wall as well if you just have to stay indoors one day.

Find out more of the details and watch a how-to video here.

And, come into the store to get yours--it's not like we're lacking for sunshine, even in November, even in February around here.

Introduction to Organic Gardening Workshop

This Saturday, our staff sustainability coach who has served as the organic gardener and cook at the Zen Monastery Peace Center is teaching a workshop for all of us who want to learn how to grow our own food.

Rising food prices and tough economic times are just two more reasons to start tending your own veggies.  Add to that keeping diverse seed varieties around, nourishing the soil, the joy of digging in the dirt (which studies show increases happiness and improves immunity), and enjoying delicious, organic produce and the benefits certainly abound.

The workshop will cover how to:

*double-dig

*create nutrient-rich soil

*build beautiful vegetable beds

*save water and energy

*utilize companion planting and crop rotation

*control pests

*compost

Introduction to Organic Gardening

Saturday, November 8

9:00 a.m. to noon

@ a private residence in Eagle Rock

**This extensive workshop is $35.00. Call to find out more and reserve your spot today! 

(323) 665 - 7454. **

Save Energy, Save Money, Save Resources Month

For November, we're turning our attention to 

saving energy, saving money, and saving resources.

You'll find products and workshops in line with this month's theme here and at ASOG in the days to come.

Election Sale!

Happy Election Day!!

In honor of IN WITH THE NEW, 

we've got a table, racks, and jewelry cases full of sale merchandise to make room for new and lovely sustainable products.  

So come in from now through this Sunday, November 8th and get 30% off loads of stuff, 

some of it from last season, some of it timeless:

*Camper shoes

*Simple shoes

*Ecolution men's dress shoes

*California Baby natural body care products

*100% Pure natural body care products

*Jewelry galore

*Bathrobes

*Clothing

Vote!

We hope you're visiting your local polling station Tuesday, November 4th.

If you're looking for resources on voting for environmental issues and candidates, look no further than the League of Conservation Voters. Here, you can view its environmental scorecard of how candidates have voted on eco-issues and track specific ones you care about.

Or Patagonia's Vote the Environment.  

There, you can hear personal stories of why and how other folks are voting.

And for all things Los Angeles, visit LAVote to find out where to go Tuesday and get the scoop on the ever-important propositions  and measures that affect our state and cities.

Last Sustainable Kitchen Product of the Month

If you're ridding your kitchen of plastic, your next question may be: "Okay, so now what do I put my leftovers, cut-up carrots and extra tomato sauce in?"

The answer: glass or stainless steel containers.

And we've got a new stainless steel option at ASOG.  Tramontina's handy stainless steel, enamel-coated containers stack together and are loads lighter than glass.

They're food safe and people safe and their only plastic part is the lid (kind of unavoidable).

Say goodbye to petroleum products and hello to an organized, snazzy, sustainable kitchen.

Naturepops!

Trick or treat!

Just in time for your Green Halloween, we've got a sweet option for you to pass out to kids in costume on your porch or at your festival this Friday: Naturepops!

We've got big bags of individually-wrapped lollipops--a safety must-have for Halloween--and they're certified organic.  With only 30 calories per pop and a punch of flavor, they're a great alternative to regular fare.

Plus, they've got NO artificial ingredients (scroll down the page) or synthetic dyes.

That's giving em something good to eat for sure. (Yes, they still have sugar--evaporated cane sugar--but it is a holiday.)

One more thing: if you're concerned about the wrapping, it's made from totally compostable corn starch to boot. Pretty tricky.

Love Food, Hate Waste

In these economic times, everybody's looking to save some green.  And since it's still Sustainable Kitchen month at All Shades, we want to share with you a website that will help you save some dough by making your food last longer.

At UK website Love Food, Hate Waste, you can find all sorts of tips to make your produce, bread and everything else stay fresh.

Some of its daily tips:

*freeze fresh peppers for later use.

*add a sad-looking banana to a curry.

*soak grains before cooking them and save gas while you cook by reducing simmer time.

*line your fridge's crisper with paper to absorb moisture.

You can do your own perusing to find out how to make bread and cakes, dairy and eggs, fruit, veggies, and more all go the extra mile.

And check out other ways to save like making a list and making the most of leftovers.

Radical Recycling and Composting Workshop on Tuesday

For a little pre-Halloween digging in the dirt , 

we hope you'll join us for our next weeknight workshop:

Radical Recycling and Composting

Tuesday, October 28th

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 

@ All Shades of Green

It promises to be a zero-waste experience.

Those new to composting can learn the ropes and old-timers can expand their composting education--everyone's welcome.  Our staff Sustainability Coach, Deborah, is a composting whiz---for one, she was once the organic gardener at a monastery.

**All workshops are $25.00 at pre-registration or $30.00 at the door.
Call to reserve your spot today! (323) 665 - 7454. **

**Participants receive a 5% discount on anything in the store and 10% off workshop-related products--WORM BINS included!**

Everything Bambu for Your Kitchen

Bamboo is a fast-growing and, thus, sustainable and natural plant material that can be made into all sorts of things from softer than soft towels to accoutrements for your kitchen.

And bambu is one of the premiere makers of bamboo kitchen essentials.

As holidays approach and things in your kitchen heat up, you may be looking for new versions of old things to accommodate your guests in a non-disposable, reusable sort of way.  

So consider modern, multi-colored bambu bowls to serve in and eat from--they're hand-shaped and finished with a waterproof, food-safe lacquer.

Indeed, bamboo is also used for cutting boards that are made from organically-grown bamboo.  Bamboo cutting boards have several advantages, among them that beyond being sustainable they are super hard, super durable, look beautiful, and are not very porous--keeping water and bacteria out.

For taking care of your new bamboo, we've got bambu's bamboo goo--a veritable spa treatment to keep your bamboo bowls, spoons, serving sporks, and cutting boards in ship shape.

Eco|Consulting LA

We're privileged to tell you about the LEED Consultants at Eco|Consulting LA who are helping to make this fair city a sustainable one as well.

Anna Rosemann started Eco|Consulting LA two years ago as the perfect product of her business and real estate know-how and her passion for shifting that world to green.  

Now, she can consult with you to help you on your path to sustainable living and then pair you up with a member of her team of specialists who will help you pave the way.

So, if it's a lifestyle change big or small you're looking to make, a knowledgeable lifestyle coach or interior designer on staff will help you incorporate that change--be it green cleaning, amped-up recycling, or healthy, sustainable interiors that double as sleek, lovely, livable accoutrements.

If you're ready to green your structure's efficiency you can have a solar specialist or home energy performance expert give you everything you need to create that vision.

And if you're doing renovations or new construction, Eco|Consulting LA can send you an LEED certified or Green Point Rated professional to bring environmental principles into your design and construction from start to finish.

In a nutshell, Rosemann and her team offer:

Residential 

consulting for lifestyle changes big or small. 

Commercial

consulting to green your business from its very framework to its daily flow.

LEED and Green Point Rated

consulting to bring environmental principles to the design, construction and renovation of buildings.

Sometimes when you want to go to the next level of green, calling the eco-experts is the best first step.

Contact Eco|Consulting LA at (310) 684-3106 or Info@EcoConsultingLA.com.