organic Archives - Try Handmade

A Moveable Feast

July 7, 2021 by Rebecca Hadfield

“Summer Picnic” fine art print by Photo Atelier.

It never fails – as soon as we hit the open highway, I’m hungry. It could have something (or everything) to do with the countless convenience stores, drive-ins, and diners at every exit; not to mention the billboards that line the roadside, enticing people to take the next exit for a meal or a quick snack. These little fast-food diversions don’t come without a cost, however. They are both expensive AND usually rather environmentally un-friendly. A little pre-planning is all that it takes to stay green and healthy away from home.

Bulk up! – stop at your favourite bulk foods store for dried fruits, nuts, and organic snacks, and then repackage them at home in reusable containers and bags, like the lined ones pictured above, by Bells and Unicorns. (Tip: set out several bowls of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, candy and pretzels and let everyone create their own trail mix. Colour-code or label bags for easy identification on the road.)

It’s a wrap! – we are all sandwich artists at heart. Wraps, sandwiches, and subs can be made at home for a fraction of what you’ll pay on the road. Get creative with fillings and condiments, and be sure to pack high-moisture ingredients (like cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce) in separate containers to keep them from sogging up your bread. When choosing reusable sandwich bags, be sure to pick ones that are generously sized, like these (above) by http://www.etsy.com/shop/bellsandunicorns, to allow for healthy, hearty breads and fillings.

Keep your cool! – perishables, drinks, and fruit can be kept fresh in a cooler even on the hottest of days. Make your own ice packs by freezing recyclable tetra-packs of juice or by filling zipper-bags with crushed ice, which you can refill with fresh ice at stops along the way. And don’t let me catch you buying bottled water! Steel bottles, like the ones above by Pretty n Preppy, can be refilled over and over and keep your water fresh and cool. Eco-savvy coffee drinkers never leave home without their trusty travel mugs. Not only do they cut down on litter, they’ll usually save you a few cents per refill, too. Caffeine-heads and fabric-holics alike will love these colourful travel mugs (above), also by Pretty n Preppy.

…and if you do have to stop for snacks, instead of loading up on sketchy pre-wrapped sandwiches, chips and candy at the gas station, seek out roadside fruit/vegetable stands, local grocery stores, bakeries, and farmer’s markets (if you are lucky to be traveling on market days). Some of the best meals I have had on the road have consisted of fresh-off-the-vine fruit, local artisan cheeses, and freshly baked breads purchased right from the people who picked/made them. Be prepared by making sure you have cutlery included with your picnic essentials*. The handy Urban Picnic Roll-up, pictured above, by Nstar Studio includes two three-piece utensil sets & two napkins. The utensils are made from durable, sustainable bamboo and can be simply hand washed and air dried after use.

Lastly, take the time to stop and enjoy your meals and snacks. Pre-plan your stops or keep an eye out for picnic spots and parks along the way. Not only is it a chance to stretch your legs and let the kids run off some energy, it’s often the little stops along the way that make for the best memories. Pack an oversized vintage quilt for the whole family, or give everyone their own place to cop a squat. These organic travel blankets by Crzy Bag Lady can function as mini-picnic pads, change mats, stroller blankets and sleep-mats. Compact in size, but super-comfy, they’re ideal travel companions for the green family-on-the-go.

*Packable picnic essentials: blanket and/or tablecloth, reusable plates/bowls/cups, reusable cutlery, salt & pepper, bottle opener, can opener, cloth napkins, sharp knife, cutting board, bags for collecting garbage/recyclables (when containers are not available on-site), small container of dish-soap for clean-ups.

I would love to hear about your summer road trip adventures. Comment below and share your stories and advice!

On Goat Milk and Making Cheese

June 29, 2021 by Diana Prichard

Months ago, near the end of a particularly long afternoon in the book store with my two daughters, I ran across a shiny, green, soft-backed book that would steal my heart forever. Or at least for a few months. Carleen Madigan’s The Backyard Homestead has informative, diagram-enhanced chapters on everything from raising chickens to brewing your own beer. Tucked within are two chapters I am particularly fond of; milking your dairy goat and making cheese.

Living with life-long cow’s milk allergies has spurred an insatiable fascination with real, raw goat’s milk and all of it’s products in me. Having recently spent more days than not in Chicago, the very epicentre of blankets and blankets of billowy cheesy goodness, cheese is one of those products that is of considerable interest at current.

Unfortunately, I haven’t the time for a goat right now and in Michigan (along with the better part of the United States) it is illegal to purchase raw milk.

Luckily, all is not lost. What we can purchase legally are goat shares. In Michigan, and in states who uphold similar statutes against the purchase of raw milk, it is legal for people to drink raw milk from animals they personally own. Goat shares – the purchase of a portion of a dairy animal to become a co-owner of that animal, a shareholder – allow families like ours, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to obtain the raw milk they want, to legally acquire it.

And for those in states where even shares aren’t available, either legally or because of logistics, family owned and operated goat dairies offer handmade cheeses to fulfill every craving, even if not made raw. Pure Luck Goat Dairy in Texas is one such farm, and their cheeses are available for purchase online.

Sold on the idea? To get started finding the laws that apply to the purchase and consumption of raw milk in your area, check out RealMilk.com. Or google goat shares + your state abbreviation to skip straight to shopping for a source of raw milk near you. (Even in states where raw milk purchase is legal, goat shares are often available for those not wanting or needing their own dairy herd.) And if you have the time for a goat and cheese making or just want to covet them the way I do, find an independent book store near you to buy your own copy of The Backyard Homestead.

On Being Meaningful

June 13, 2021 by Diana Prichard

I read something recently at zenhabits that has stuck with me. I’m more than a bit ashamed to admit, lately, much of my online reading has come to an abrupt halt. I suppose this is why coming across a gem like this — so simple and yet so true — meant all the more to me. It was discovered in one of those rare moments where I was just being with me; myself. It was written, not about food, but about wanting very little in life. Yet it applies so beautifully to the journey we often travel in finding artisan food that I had to share.

Don’t be meaninglessly minimalist. Be purposeful and deliberate in your quest…

In the weeks leading up to The New Year holiday I thought extensively about where I wanted to go with this column; what I wanted to accomplish in 2010. All I was able to come up with was to ‘Have Direction’, but struggled as to what that really meant. I knew that in 2009, in its very infancy, I had felt pulled this way and that; I had wondered if anything good was actually being done with the words I was writing here. I struggled in December to know how to fix that until I was confronted with the direction of meaning.

In seeking an artisan or handmade existence, especially in the food industry, being meaningful is a complex and oft times misdirected effort in an of itself. There are so many camps of foodies out there. Local, organic, artisan, simple, slow, complex and fanciful — knowing which is right, which is meaningful for your individual situation is never clear cut or easy.

In 2010 I hope not just to ‘have direction’ but to be meaningful and to promote the importance of meaningful decisions in the food industry. That means uniting for the cause. Whether local or organic, simple or complex it means understanding and accepting that meaningful food choices come in many colors; under many schools of thought.

Here’s to meaningful food in the New Year — for one, for all!

Happy Hour

June 12, 2021 by Rebecca Hadfield

Since its inception in the 1940s, the use of synthetic pesticides in farming has increased by over 50-fold. While they were developed to eliminate “harmful” threats to crops, they are now raising a number of environmental concerns; from reduced biodiversity to severe toxicity in humans and wildlife. According to “Sustaining the Earth”, more than 95% of herbicides and pesticides reach a destination other than their intended target. The balance is carried through wind and groundwater, leading to air/water pollution and soil contamination. Increased incidents of cancer, diabetes, miscarriage, and death from severe poisoning is being blamed on pesticide exposure.

I don’t know about you, but after all of that bad news, I could use a drink! Thank goodness that there are now spirits that allow us to still have our vices, but with a twist of virtue. Concerns about pesticide-use have led to an increased interest in the organic food movement and, as awareness grows, so do the number of products that contain organically-grown ingredients. A relative newcomer to the market, TRU has been handcrafting organic vodka and gin since 2008 and are touting themselves as the World’s first sustainable line of spirits. TRU’s line of quality vodkas (straight and flavored) and gin are made in California with pesticide-free, locally-sourced, 100% organic ingredients. That means no synthetic pesticides, fertilizers or GMOs. In fact, according to the company, each bottle of TRU keeps 23 square feet of good old American farmland chemical-free.

So, we know what’s not in them, but what is? For the straight vodka, the ingredient list is just about as minimalist as you can get – nothing but organic wheat and vapor-distilled water. Genuine, fresh lemon and vanilla are added to the flavoured vodkas, and the TRU2 gin contains 14 botanical aromatics, such as juniper berries, lavender and chamomile. Yum!

The taste of TRU vodka is described as clean and pure; words that can also describe their overall philosophy when it comes to eco-awareness and sustainability. All products are packaged in sleek, lightweight bottles and shipped in recyclable, dual-use packaging (shipping cartons become store-displayers). Everything is either recycled, recyclable or biodegradable – even the corks and labels. It’s also worth mentioning that for every bottle that they sell, TRU plants a tree in the Central American rainforest. As I write this, over 60,000 trees have been planted and local farmers have been given training and support. I think that is definitely something to raise a glass to. Cheers!

Why not channel your inner Betty Draper and whip up one of these for your fella:

Classic Martini
2 ½ oz TRU2 Gin
½ dry vermouth
1 green olive or twist of lemon peel
– Add gin and vermouth to a cocktail shaker full of ice. Stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with an olive or lemon twist.

Or, try this one from the TRU website:

Honey Drop
3 oz TRU Straight Vodka
Squeeze of fresh grapefruit
Organic honey
– Shake vodka and grapefruit with ice, strain into martini glass, and garnish with swirl of honey.

Manny Beads

June 11, 2021 by Erika Jurney

Manny Beads: I’m Manny and I live in beautiful Vermont where the colors of Summer in bloom, and Fall happening inspire me. Some years ago I found myself really wanting to breath some fresh air into my creative lungs. I learned how to knit, took some pottery courses and dove into making jewelry. I had been creating jewelry for myself and others for many years, drawn to the challenge of making a reality what my imagination cooks up.

I have a passion for unrefined stones and other elements that inspire me to create jewelry that is designed with an organic feeling to it: a bit unrefined, beautifully irregular and suggestive of the spiritual. Some of the elements I am most drawn to are organic and unrefined stones, ancient pieces, vintage buttons, Tibetan mala beads, and ethnic additions. I prefer to use creative elements that are not too many steps removed from the earth…imperfectly perfect. The stones and beads are often hand-cut and unrefined, left to speak for themselves, reminding us that they are of the Earth.