Know of an interesting product?

I'm always looking for new and interesting eco-friendly and sustainable products to review and am always interested in suggestions. There is one caveat however: I have to try the product myself! Many thanks to those of you out there who have offered to supply a review of your product for me to publish but that's not how this blog works. I try it and then I let you know what I think.  

Dish washing liquid - Seventh Generation

So I'm continuing on the cleaning theme. I do a lot of cooking which of course leads to a lot of cleaning up. Obviously a good dish washing liquid is always going to be at the top of my lists of wants! At present I am testing Seventh Generation - I'm very excited and already love the scent! 

Putting it to the test: 

Soaking for about 20 minutes:

Exciting box of goodies!

Who doesn't like nice surprises? Well, here is mine - a yummy box of goodness from Stewart & Jasper Orchards.  

Look all the wonderful things inside: 

I've already tried the butter toffee almonds and the dark chocolate almonds and they are both great! The dried nectarines are next : )  What will I make with the almond flour? I'm anticipating a fun and tasty weekend!

Look tempting, doesn't it? Stewart and Jasper Orchards have company stores in Newsom, Modesto and Patterson, CA. I found my box of goodies at their Monterey Cannery Row location. Friendly and helpful staff - check it out!  

Doing Laundry - Nature's Power

Sounds pretty boring, right? Well, I am excited because I'm testing a new laundry detergent today - Nature's Power. According to the label it is made with plant-derived soaps and contains no phosphates, chlorine bleach or optical brighteners or dyes. It has a lavender and eucalyptus scent and I am a big fan of lavender. Stay tuned - I'll be reporting back soon!

Hot, hot, hot!

Wonderful and unusual ice cream at Mission Hill Creamery!

I am a major fan of ice cream but I admit to being picky as to the brands I'll eat - only the best will do! I may have found the best of the best in Mission Hill Creamery, Santa Cruz. Made using fresh, local, organic ingredients the different flavors just can't be beat. During a recent visit we oohed and aahed over the Chai, Local Strawberry and Fresh Banana. More unusual but just as good was the Candy Cap Mushroom ice cream. Picked locally (of course!) the mushroom contributed a distinctive maple syrup flavor to the ice cream. Yum!

I'll be a regular visitor at Mission Hill Creamery this summer. See you there!

Terra D' Oliva - Simply delicious olive oils and vinegars.

We were in Glendale not long ago where we came across Terra D' Oliva, a fusion olive oil and vinegar bar. The place is full of delicious artisan olive oils, balsamic vinegars and vinegars and, best of all, customers are invited to taste any of the products they are curious about. 

Vladimir, the friendly owner of Terra D' Oliva is there to guide you through the tasting process as well as tell you about where the different oils and vinegars originate and how they are made. A complete and interesting experience!

We left with bottles of smoked hickory extra virgin olive oil and Lambrusco wine vinegar. The former turned out to be amazingly good an baked salmon, the latter fantastic in a spinach salad. 

Hurry over to Terra D' Oliva to find your favorite oils and vinegars!

Blair Estate Wines

During a recent visit to Carmel-by-the Sea we stopped by the Blair Estate tasting room where we had the good fortune of meeting Jeffrey Blair, winemaker/owner. He told us about the history of the Blair Delphina's Vineyard (the family has been farming in Monterey County for five generations) and how they grow the wine there.


Jeffrey is quite the storyteller and very knowledgeable about wine which added an extra dimension to the tasting!


Two of my absolute favorites were the 2014 Blair Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir and the 2012 Blair Estate Pinot Noir. The Rosé is the first ever produced by Blair Estate and successfully so in my opinion. Dry and refreshing it is bound to become a favorite on warm summer evenings.


The award-winning 2012 Blair Estate Pinot Noir has a rich taste of berries and spice and, I suspect, would go very well with stuffed portabella mushrooms.


If you go to Carmel-by-the-Sea, be sure to visit the Blair Estate tasting room. If you are lucky, Jeffrey himself will be there pouring the wine.  

If you want to learn more about sustainable and eco-friendly living, check out www.greenisthenewgold.net 

Wylde Welles Soapworks - Great things in little packages

Do you need a vegetable-based soap that moisturizes, smells wonderful and is great for sensitive skin? Look no further, we have a  recommendation for you: the soaps from Wylde Welles Soapworks. Diane's soaps are made in small batches, using natural ingredients. We tried the Green Tea soap and loved everything about it: the scent, the luxurious lather and the nourishing effects on winter dry skin. 

You can find Wylde Welles Soaps at the Monterey Farmers Market, Tuesdays 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm on Alvarado Street between Del Monte Avenue and Pearl Street. 

Do you want to learn more about eco-friendly travel? Check out the Travel Bum's recommendations: http://www.travelbumdiaries.blogspot.com/

Café Mam

This month we are starting a new feature on our website: Eco-Friendly News and Reviews.  Stop by often to read the latest about interesting events and products!

We recently attended the 36^th Eco-Farm Conference in Asilomar, CA a fun and informative event. Among all the nice exhibitors we came across Café Mam. Trying their Mochó Blend was a revelation: a rich, full-bodied coffee that’s now a staple at the breakfast table.

Not only is the coffee delicious but the company is organic, fair trade certified™, and sustainable. Learn more about this socially responsible business and their great products at www.cafemam.com

If you want to recommend a product for review or suggest an exciting event for our readers to attend, contact us at hc@greenisthenewgold.net