Community Supported Agriculture

Community Supported Agriculture is a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm so the farmland becomes the community's farm. Growers and consumers provide mutual support and share both the risks and benefits of food production.

With CSA, a farmer offers a certain number of shares to the public. Usually a share consists of a box of vegetables, but other products from the farm may be included. Interested consumers purchase shares, in advance, to cover the anticipated farming costs. Shares are also called memberships or subscriptions. In return these shareholders receive a box of seasonal produce each week of the farming season, but they also share the risks of farming, including poor harvests from things such as bad weather and pests.

CSA has become popular over the last 20 years. It is a great way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from the farmers, according to the Local Harvest Web site.
Here are some advantages of a CSA, straight from Local Harvest:

Advantages for farmers:

-Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin

-Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm's cash flow

-Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow

Advantages for consumers:

-Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits

-Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking

-Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season

-Find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm – even veggies they've never been known to eat

-Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown

You can search for the closest CSA on the Local Harvest Web site, click here. There are six in the Pullman/Moscow area. For example, the Washington State University Organic Farm's CSA has 105 shares. The CSA averages 24 weeks starting mid-May and running through the end of October. A share costs $525 a season, but a half share is available for $325.

Eco-Grooming Products

As I was reading through The Daily Evergreen I came across an advertisement for Red Devil Grooming. It is an online retailer for affordable, organic personal care products. With a tag line "So Natural. It's a Sin." I knew I had to check it out.

There are only 11 products on the Web site, but they are extremely affordable in comparison to similar items. The products, which are aimed towards men, include shampoo, hair gel and body wash. Most of these items cost $8.95, with the most expensive item being a 3-pack of personal care items for $24.95.

The site is very well organized and links to a blog about men's grooming, a Twitter account and a place to sign up for the newsletter.

Red Devil Grooming's mission is to provide products to people that are good for the environment and the people who use them.

In 2009, the company was created in order to "...take the challenge of trying to save the world." The company sought to curb some environmental issues like eliminating the harsh chemicals used in grooming products and shipping products in eco-friendly packaging.

The planet is my friend because...

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Thrift Store Review: Goodwill

Overall Score: 4

Location: 4

Organization: 4

Selection: 4

Cleanliness:4

Price: varies

The Goodwill in Moscow, Idaho is similar to the Goodwill in Vancouver, Wash. and I'd wager that more than 2,300 Goodwill stores across the country are similar as well. Regardless, there are many consistencies that are beneficial to second hand shopping.

Located right off the Moscow-Pullman highway, Goodwill is easy to access and offers plenty of parking. The building is large and shoppers have plenty of space to peruse the well organized store. Only one area lacks organization: the knick-knack, dishes and kitchen shelves are not shopper-friendly.

Perhaps a mark of corporate standards, the Goodwill in Moscow is kept clean - it barely has that second hand smell! It has a public bathroom, a convenience not found in all retail stores.

The selection is substantial. Seasonal items such as snow shovels and coats are highlighted in the front area.There is a variety of never been used merchandise woven into the selection including socks and random items. This particular store boasts a fine array of 80's night apparel. A quality that is perfect for it's location between two colleges.

Price presents a key downfall for the store. The prices vary from less than $2 for a fancy blouse to more than $10 for good condition jeans. Coats and jackets throw the range even higher. Some are reasonably priced, others around $25 and others even higher. The expensive items seem better fitted for a consignment shop.

Altogether, it's a good place to go for thrift store shopping. As an added benefit, 84 percent of profits help fund Goodwill programs.

Make the Light Switch

If every household replaced three 60-watt incandescent bulbs with energy efficient bulbs, the pollution saving would be like taking 3.5 million cars off the road.

According to Energy Star, Americans saved $1.5 billion in 2007 by switching to Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). The energy saved could light all of the homes in a city the size of Washington D.C. for over 30 years.

Energy-saving CFLs use one-quarter of the energy to produce the same amount of light. This means lower electricity bills and millions of tons less global warming pollution. In the summer they will even lower cooling bills because they do not burn as hot as incandescent bulbs, in fact, they product 75 percent less heat.

In addition to being more energy efficient, Energy Star bulbs last 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs.

In order to make the switch, the Environmental Defense Fund recommends:

1. Start with one bulb in one room to be sure that it gives the kind of light you want.
   
2. Know your wattage. Look for a CF bulb with one-quarter the wattage of the incandescent bulb you are replacing (i.e. CF 15-watt bulb replaces an incandescent 60-watt bulb).
   
3. Check the shape and size to make sure that a CF bulb will fit in your lamp or light fixture.
   
4. In order for a CF bulb to work with a dimmer, it needs to be designed for it, so read the package.
   
5. Look for the Energy Star label, these bulbs are the most energy efficient.
   
6. Dispose of old light bulbs properly. All fluorescent lights contain traces of mercury so they need to be recycled when they burn out. To find a location to recycle your old bulbs click here.
   
7. Check to see if your utility company offers rebates for using energy-efficient bulbs.

Food for Thought: The Meatrix

If you eat meat and/or live in America, you must watch The Meatrix. A parody of the Matrix movies, The Meatrix I, II and II&1/2 shed light on factory farming, the dairy industry and processing factories. The videos are only a few minutes long, can entertain all ages and have a heavy dose of facts.

Is your meat real or are you living in the Meatrix?

Thrift Store Review: Closet Transfer

Overall Rating: 4
Location: 4
Organization: 4
Selection: 4
Cleanliness: 5
Price: 3

Closet Transfer is a trendy consignment store and a great addition to a college town like Pullman.

Although the selection only includes men's and women's clothing and accessories, they have a great collection that includes brand names like Seven for All Mankind, Coach, Banana Republic and Fossil. With brand names like this, the store is sure to become a popular destination for 20-something college students.

Closet Transfer is conveniently located at 242 E. Main St. in Pullman, which is the perfect location for getting a lot of foot traffic. The store is spacious, clean and neatly organized by clothing type and color.

But of course with bigger names, there are bigger prices. Items are priced at about one-third of their estimated original price. This means that most items in the store range from $10 to $30.

People are encouraged to bring in their gently-used items for consignment. The clothing needs to be clean, pressed and on hangers. Items need to either be currently in style or vintage. For jewelry, earrings need to be on a card to help keep them in pairs. The store is seasonal so it will only be accepting winter clothing through February.

Consignors receive 50 percent of the sale price of each item sold. Items are consigned for 60 days, at which time the consignor has the option to pick up any unsold items as well as a check for the items sold, otherwise unsold items will become property of Closet Transfer and a check for items sold will be mailed.

Listed below are the store hours:

Monday- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

-Reviewed by Holly Luka and Erica VanNatta