Hooooooray! It’s Friday! It’s time to let loose! In a green state of mind? We hope so. Here are a few tips to making your weekend best friends with the environment.
Last week, we tackled the idea of green cocktails. This week, with the help of planet green.com, we’re going to tackle a similar subject. Green beer!
“Beer isn't just the poster beverage for college parties, your after-work wind down, or lazy Sunday afternoons—no, beer is also a key player in a multi-billion dollar industry that reaches into the far corners of the world. Everyone loves beer—even environmentalists—and that might be why there's been a recent boom in green, organic spirits, sustainable and renewable energy powered breweries, and environmentally conscious, discerning drinkers. That's why it's as pertinent time as ever to think about what we all can do to green our beer drinking—and there's more to do than you might think. From supporting sustainable, even solar powered breweries, to drinking organic, pesticide-free beers, to steering clear of excessive packaging in cans and bottles”, there is much you can do to make your next drink one for the environment.
Here are a few steps you can take towards a greener beer. And don’t worry, they’re on the house.
*Drink organic brews
“Organic beer is a growing force in the industry, with dozens of brands and even more brews to choose from. If a beer carries an organic label, that means it's been certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as adhering to strict, legally binding farming regulations. It means you can expect the barley and hops to be organically grown: no toxic pesticides, no artificial fertilizers, no chemical preservatives; just fresh, non-toxic ingredients. Drinking organic (and buying organic) is also a good way to support more sustainable agriculture, and even to combat global warming.”
*Support green beer companies
“Keep an eye out for beer companies that are going the extra mile to achieve environmental responsibility—some companies are truly making a noble effort towards sustainability.”
*Drink beer from draught instead of from bottles
“The keg-inclined out there among us have reason to celebrate, greenly-drinking the draught is greener than downing the bottles. It only takes some simple visualization to understand why this is so: the kegs you'd buy for your college parties, and those that sit 'neath the counter at your favorite bar—how many beers does each hold? Depending on the size, it could be hundreds. That's hundreds of saved cans or bottles, provided you're reusing your cup.”
*Recycle your bottles, cans, and other packaging
“If you've just finished off a 12 pack of Silver Bullets, make sure to get those cans into the recycling bin—an aluminum can will likely be recycled and back on the shelves within 60 days . Aluminum is a sustainable metal and can be recycled ad infinitum (well, almost). If it's bottles you've got, make sure those get recycled too—most curbside programs will take both. And don't forget that cardboard box casing—unless it's drenched in beer and ruined, that's some perfectly good fodder for the paper section of your recycling bin.”
Here’s to your green weekend!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
TGIF! Think Green, It’s Friday!
Ok, so here we are again. It’s Friday! It’s the end of the week and it’s party time. Hopefully, after last week’s blog, thinking green won’t take a back seat to all the fun things that go on this weekend. Here at The Did You Know? Store, we’re hoping that thinking green on Friday (and on every day) is going to stick.
To keep going with our new TGIF tradition, we’re going to tackle the another fun weekend activity. Cocktail Party anyone?
Thanks to PlanetGreen.com, we have a few tips to share with you on how to make your next Cocktail Party the greenest party in town.
“There is something about sipping on a cocktail surrounded by friends that makes a party feel special. It doesn't matter what the time of year, whether you are getting into the holiday spirit, or sitting on a dock by a lake. Serving a cocktail takes some thought and imagination. Choosing the perfect cocktail to serve is a great way to set the mood of the party. It also takes a bit of ingenuity and legwork to make those cocktails green. There are a growing number of distilleries making organic spirits around the world, but crafting organic vodka, gin, whiskey and such is still the exception, and not the norm. They are often made in small batches and many are imported, both of which can make for an elevated price that not everyone can afford. Still, if you can find organic alcohol in your local liquor store, that's great, and you’re well on your way to a greener cocktail. But the alcohol base isn't the only thing about cocktails that can be green. There are many ways to green your drinks, from booze to shaker and everything in between.”
Top Green Cocktails Tips:
*Use organic liquors when you can
“More and more organic spirits are coming on the market, but actually finding them in your local store is not always easy. Vodka seems to be the most commonly available of spirits, which is great for you because so many terrific cocktails have a vodka base. Producers of organic spirits often make smaller batches and some retailers are reluctant to carry a product that they cannot guarantee will always be in stock. Ask your local purveyor or spirits about stocking organic products. They won't know you want it if you don't tell them.”
*Think Local
“If you are lucky enough to have distillers in your state or even region, it may make more sense to buy their products. Some producers may not be "organic," per se, but some distillers are making ecologically sound efforts in their business practices. Even if your local distiller doesn't actively engage in green practices, having it shipped across a state or two sure beats the entire country and whole globe, for that matter.”
*Think Seasonal
“Try to choose cocktails to fit in with your locale, and local, seasonal offerings. Take advantage of local fresh fruit juices and herbs in your summer drinks. Rather than make a traditional Screwdriver with orange juice, try a recipe that highlights a fruit that grows in your area such as grape or raspberry. In the winter time use fresh cranberries or mull some apple cider. If you are making a coffee-based drink, use organic dairy products and Fair Trade, organic coffee for those warming treats.”
*Make Your Own Cocktail Mixes
“If you see a margarita mix in your grocery store, resist. Making your own cocktails from scratch ensures that you know that the freshest, healthiest ingredients have gone into them, without preservatives or chemicals. Using fresh juice leaves you with pulp and skin to compost. Using mixes leaves you with unnecessary packaging to dispose of. Not only that, if you are using organic alcohol, you have a premium product”, and who doesn’t like sipping on those?
Now go have a green party!
To keep going with our new TGIF tradition, we’re going to tackle the another fun weekend activity. Cocktail Party anyone?
Thanks to PlanetGreen.com, we have a few tips to share with you on how to make your next Cocktail Party the greenest party in town.
“There is something about sipping on a cocktail surrounded by friends that makes a party feel special. It doesn't matter what the time of year, whether you are getting into the holiday spirit, or sitting on a dock by a lake. Serving a cocktail takes some thought and imagination. Choosing the perfect cocktail to serve is a great way to set the mood of the party. It also takes a bit of ingenuity and legwork to make those cocktails green. There are a growing number of distilleries making organic spirits around the world, but crafting organic vodka, gin, whiskey and such is still the exception, and not the norm. They are often made in small batches and many are imported, both of which can make for an elevated price that not everyone can afford. Still, if you can find organic alcohol in your local liquor store, that's great, and you’re well on your way to a greener cocktail. But the alcohol base isn't the only thing about cocktails that can be green. There are many ways to green your drinks, from booze to shaker and everything in between.”
Top Green Cocktails Tips:
*Use organic liquors when you can
“More and more organic spirits are coming on the market, but actually finding them in your local store is not always easy. Vodka seems to be the most commonly available of spirits, which is great for you because so many terrific cocktails have a vodka base. Producers of organic spirits often make smaller batches and some retailers are reluctant to carry a product that they cannot guarantee will always be in stock. Ask your local purveyor or spirits about stocking organic products. They won't know you want it if you don't tell them.”
*Think Local
“If you are lucky enough to have distillers in your state or even region, it may make more sense to buy their products. Some producers may not be "organic," per se, but some distillers are making ecologically sound efforts in their business practices. Even if your local distiller doesn't actively engage in green practices, having it shipped across a state or two sure beats the entire country and whole globe, for that matter.”
*Think Seasonal
“Try to choose cocktails to fit in with your locale, and local, seasonal offerings. Take advantage of local fresh fruit juices and herbs in your summer drinks. Rather than make a traditional Screwdriver with orange juice, try a recipe that highlights a fruit that grows in your area such as grape or raspberry. In the winter time use fresh cranberries or mull some apple cider. If you are making a coffee-based drink, use organic dairy products and Fair Trade, organic coffee for those warming treats.”
*Make Your Own Cocktail Mixes
“If you see a margarita mix in your grocery store, resist. Making your own cocktails from scratch ensures that you know that the freshest, healthiest ingredients have gone into them, without preservatives or chemicals. Using fresh juice leaves you with pulp and skin to compost. Using mixes leaves you with unnecessary packaging to dispose of. Not only that, if you are using organic alcohol, you have a premium product”, and who doesn’t like sipping on those?
Now go have a green party!
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