Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Awareness Month
I have a friend who just was told he has a form of diabetes. He is over the age of 65 and is about 70 lbs overweight. He is a dear friend and I am angry about it because maybe it didn’t have to happen if he had exercised…or maybe if he didn’t eat two desserts and drink a few cocktails at dinner. A few years ago, I wanted to give him a blood pressure machine as a gift and my friends told me that I was acting too much like the Larry David character in Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Some people can do all the right things and still are ****ed by the flying finger of fate. But in life, you play the odds. According to Stand Up to Cancer, one out of two men and one out of every three women will get some form of cancer in their lifetime. Be proactive, play the odds and do the best you can to avoid getting cancer. Don’t smoke and stay away from toxic chemicals that the EPA labels as known, likely, or probable human carcinogens. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. There are many great organizations such as Stand Up To Cancer, who work tirelessly to find a cure to many forms of cancer.
According to the Organic Exchange, if everyone in the world switched from conventional cotton to organic cotton, we would stop 456 million pounds of toxic pesticides from being poured into the environment every year. Seven of the ten pesticides used most often on cotton farms are considered to be “possible,” “likely,” “probable,” or “known” human carcinogens, according to the EPA.
Please visit the Stand Up 2 Cancer website at http://www.su2c.org to read about the ten things that you can do to reduce your risk of getting cancer. And please visit http://www.shoporganicallygrown.com to purchase our Pink Leaf hat, with 20% of the proceeds this October going to support brest cancer research and awareness.
By Bob Stein, co-founder of Organically Grown
I am happy to announce that our gift set collection for baby has arrived and features “Paws the Panda” who will be frolicking in some of our gift sets. Paws is soft and cuddly made from 100% organic cotton and soy fiber filling. What I am most proud of is that every one of our gift sets is packaged in a reusable keepsake sachet. There is nothing to throw away, except the recyclable shipping box…no cellophane, peanuts, straw. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, even our shampoo and lotion just come in recyclable containers. There is no excess packaging. If you want the fancy shmancy packaging…go to a fancy department store because they believe it adds perceived value to the product. After you think it’s pretty, immediately go to the garbage and throw it out. I think our customers are smarter than that.
By Bob Stein, co-founder of Organically Grown
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Daryl Hannah, Environment, Green, Keystone XL, Obama, Oil, Oil Pipeline, President Obama
Actress Daryl Hannah and over 500 others were arrested at a sit-in outside the White House to voice their opposition to the planned construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline would run from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Hannah is bringing attention to what could otherwise be a quiet deal between Obama and the oil industry. Earlier this month, an editorial in The New York Times opposed the pipeline, reading, “We have two main concerns: the risk of oil spills along the pipeline, which would traverse highly sensitive terrain, and the fact that the extraction of petroleum from the tar sands creates far more greenhouse emissions than conventional production does.”Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Cruelty Free, New York Times, organic, Organic Body Wash, Organic Lotion, Organic Shampoo, organically grown, QAI, Sulfate Free Shampoo, USDA, USDA Certified Organic
Two years ago, Organically Grown embarked on a mission to develop the perfect line of organic bath and body products for baby. Our products had to be not only “natural,” but certified USDA Organic, and manufactured in a QAI facility. It seemed simple enough, but what a journey it has been! It took months of research and countless formulations to produce a premium organic product with the finest selection of ingredients that include shea butter, beeswax, aloe vera, green tea extract, cocoa butter, pomegranate extract and coconut oil, blending the calming scent of lavender and the sweetness of almond for the perfect subtle fragrance.
Our lotion had to be thick, yet easy to apply, without being clumpy or oily. I am happy to report that our lotion is luxurious and soothing, and dries quickly with no sticky residue. It will leave baby’s skin (and yours!) feeling smooth, soft, and silky. In the Organically Grown office, we are all wearing the lotion and recommend it to everyone!
I am proud to say that with our 2 in 1 Conditioning Shampoo and Body Wash, we have developed a groundbreaking shampoo that not only cleans baby’s hair, but conditions it as well…all that, in addition to being a body wash! We decided to take a leap of faith and produce a sulfate-free, no lather shampoo. We understood the risk we were taking because of the false perception that foaming equals cleaning. According to an article in the New York Times, chemical sulfates are “cheap lathering detergents long used in many shampoos (and household cleaners)” that can dry out hair and skin.
Our mission at Organically Grown is to provide you with superb quality products at a great value. Both our Baby Lotion and 2 in 1 Conditioning Shampoo and Body Wash come in a simple recyclable 8 oz bottle, free of wasteful packaging, at the unbeatable price of $14.95 each. Not only are our products made in the USA, they are also cruelty-free and not tested on animals (Except of course for our dog Carl, who got a bath in the shampoo!).
Organic is what’s best for baby, what’s best for you, and what’s best for the earth. I hope you love the latest additions to the Organically Grown family of products as much as I do.
By Bob Stein, co-founder of Organically Grown
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Connecticut River, Entergy, Fish, Green, Nuclear energy, Scientifc American, Vermont, Vermont Yankee
I agree with the President and the Republicans. I think nuclear energy is great. The fish in Vermont glow in the dark now, so you can see them…Think of it, you don’t even need a rod, just scoop them up with a net.
No pun intended, I am just shedding light on the situation in Vermont: According to an article in Scientific American, scientists have recently found a fish containing a radioactive material that is known to cause bone cancer and leukemia, in the Connecticut River near Entergy’s Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant.
According to the article, “Strontium-90 and other human made radioactive materials come from the fairly constant release of very low quantities from medical and industrial users of radioactive materials, and from infrequent releases such as above-ground nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s, and the nuclear reactor accidents at Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011.”
It is tragic that a beautiful place like Vermont has to be tainted with the pollution stemming from poor policy decisions in Washington.
But at least now, when you go to your favorite sushi restaurant, think of the savings in energy…Who needs lights when you can see your dinner in the dark?
By Bob Stein, co-founder of Organically Grown
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Beach, Bob, Captain America, Crazy Stupid Love, Gridlock, Julia, Sophia, Summer, The Smurfs
We had a stressful situation this past weekend in the Stein household. We had planned to go to the beach, but when we woke up on Sunday morning, it was raining in Los Angeles. We went into rainy day movie mode: Julia wanted to see Crazy Stupid Love, I wanted to see Captain America, and our houseguest Sophia wanted to see The Smurfs. Could we somehow make a compromise? Captain America for me, sushi for Julia, and Toys R Us for Sophia? Would they agree or hold to their principles? Or would we end up in three different theaters? Oh yeah…Did I mention that Sophia is only seven years old? So we couldn’t just risk dumping her at The Smurfs without legal repercussions. We were at an impasse when, all of a sudden, the sun shined through and we unanimously agreed to go to the beach…And this is where I suspect Congress is off to now as well!
Enjoy the beach, a lake, or a beautiful hike. It costs less than the admission to a movie. Have a great summer and stay tuned.
By Bob Stein, co-founder of Organically Grown
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Alexander McQueen, Billings, Casey Anthony, Catherine Middleton, Derek Jeter, Environment, EPA, Exxon Mobil, Montana, Oil, Oil Disaster, Oil Pipeline, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Yellowstone River
As most of us obsess over the Casey Anthony verdict, the Jaycee Dugard interview, New York Yankee Derek Jeter’s 30,00th hit, the Royal visit to southern California and who can forget the 17lb. newborn? Let’s remember that the people and wildlife of Montana are dealing with a major oil disaster . According to Exxon Mobil, a ruptured Exxon-Mobil oil line dumped approximately 42,000 gallons of crude oil into Montana’s Yellowstone River.
According to the Washington Post, “EPA officials said they and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel conducted an aerial assessment of the Yellowstone from Laurel to 30 miles downstream of Billings, finding oil deposits along the river banks, in slow water and in small pools in backwaters at intermittent points. The U.S. Department of Transportation, which oversees pipelines, notified Exxon Mobil in July 2010 of seven potential safety violations and other problems along the pipeline. Two of the warnings faulted the company for its emergency response and pipeline corrosion training”
But don’t worry about Montana, let’s worry about the real issues…like which of Catherine’s dresses were your favorite? Personally, my favorite was the Alexander McQueen. As for the newborn, my vote is with his father, I’d prefer to see him in the NBA. Stay tuned!
By Bob Stein, co-founder of Organically Grown
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Green City Fair, La Costa Resort, Michele Clark, organically grown, Sunset Sessions, treepeople
It’s been an amazing past few days. The fun started this past Thursday at the La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California with Michele Clark’s Sunset Sessions. Sunset Sessions brings amazing recording artists together with radio program directors, record companies, and music supervisors. This was the first Sunset Sessions where the music genre was alternative rock, and the performances included Redlight King, Dead Sara, and Drive A, among many others. Thank you Michele for including Organically Grown as a sponsor of your amazing event. You are fearless.
On Saturday, we participated in the TreePeople‘s first annual Green City Fair at their headquarters in Coldwater Canyon. The Organically Grown booth was outside, positioned across from a spectacular stream above the 216,000 gallon cistern. It was a family reunion, where I got to see so many friends that we have planted and cared for trees with. Carl and Hero, the official Organically Grown mascots, were on hand for the festivities. We happily donated 50% of our day’s proceeds to the TreePeople.
We look forward to working with both of these great organizations in the future. What makes them great are the people behind them.
By Bob Stein, co-founder of Organically Grown
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Celebrating Mother's Day, Florence Stein, Mom, Mother's Day, Mothers
For the past seventeen years, I gave my mom a framed piece of art from the TreePeople made from recycled wood to commemorate Mother’s Day, stating that trees were planted in her honor. The first time she received this gift, she called me to say, “What am I dead?” She was referring to a Jewish tradition of planting trees in Israel to honor someone who had died. I said to my mom, “What was I going to get you? Another pocketbook or scarf?” In reality, she did get it. All of the Mother’s Day framed art was proudly hung in my parent’s kitchen. When her friends would see the art, she would say both proudly and apologetically, “This is from my son…you know, the one from California,” implying the one who came from another planet.
This will be the first Mother’s Day without my mom. She passed away last June. I would like to tell you a little about her. My mom loved me very much, but she wasn’t the kind of mom that would tell you bedtime stories or give you hugs and kisses. My dad was the hugger and kisser. My mom was a teacher and had a master’s degree in education. Every day, she made sure I did my homework before I could play baseball. My mom would say, “Let me look in you eyes” and she always knew if I was telling the truth. My mom was brilliant. She was a lifetime gold bridge master. My mom was a socialite, who loved meeting new people. She loved listening to their stories and telling hers, like sneaking into Broadway shows as a girl. Her mind was like a steel trap, never forgetting a single thing.
Nobody ever pulled the wool over my mother’s eyes. She was a strange blend of warmth, congeniality and toughness. My mom and I, as well as my dad and, I had a way of communicating telepathically. Maybe that is part of the special bond that some children are fortunate enough to have with their parents. Needless to say, I miss her and my dad terribly.
My mom grew up after the Depression and knew the value of a buck. My first baseball glove and Boy Scout tent was purchased by saving her S&H Green Stamps. My mom was tough, teaching me how to negotiate the prices at the bazaars. My mom had books of coupons and triple coupons…don’t ask.
In honor of my mom and for indulging me and reading this blog, please enter this one week only coupon for 20% and say that Florence sent you. Please use code FLORENCE at checkout on http://www.shoporganicallygrown.com
By Bob Stein, co-founder of Organically Grown
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Earth Day, Earth Month, Happy Earth Day, Hiking, organically grown, Santa Monica Mountains, Southern California
I thought that the best way to honor Earth Day was not to talk the talk, but rather to walk the walk….or, to put it another way, take a hike. The following photos are a compilation of the various weekend hikes Julia and I have taken with friends over the past two months in our Southern California playground of the Santa Monica Mountains. These photos remind us why we love our planet. Happy Earth Day!
By Bob Stein, co-founder of Organically Grown
