For some, switching to a vegetarian diet is the best way they know how to help protect the environment and all who inhabit it. According to the UN’s Report on Livestock’s Long Shadow - Environmental Issues and Options report the livestock section (cows, chicken, pigs) are one of the of the top contributors to our most serious environmental problems - responsible for 18% of the world’s green house gas emissions. (as measured in CO2 equivalents).

With all the buzz words going around it’s hard to stay informed about what options you have as a consumer to help protect the environment. Not all of us are vegetarians or vegans — so what can you do? We’re here to help!

Whats the difference between Organic, Local, and Vegetarian/Vegan Cuisine?

Organic Food is a legally regulated means of producing food that doesn’t use convential pesticides, fertilizers, sewage sluge or growth hormones. Organic Foods can be found at your local farmer’s market and grocery store.

Local Food is the purchasing of products from local companies or farms even drinking your local tap water. Local food can typically be found at your neighborhood farmer’s market, community supported agriculture, food cooperatives or can be created by you! By shopping locally you can prevent a quarter pound of CO2 emissions.

Free-Range: For those of you who eat meat, buy “free-range” animals are a good way to go. Free range is a method of farming where animals are allowed to roam freely instead of being contained in any manner. Farmers practice free range to achieve free-range or humane certification, to reduce feed costs, to produce a higher-quality product, as a method of raising multiple crops on the same land, or for other reasons. Free-Range is more costly, however.

Vegetarian/Vegan: If you don’t want to eat meat, there are more options for you. Vegetarians come in all shapes and sizes, some don’t eat meat but some eggs/dairy products or don’t eat meat but eat fish it all depends on personal comfort and taste. A Vegan lifestyle is stricter - preferring no animal products of any kind.

If you’d like more information about organic, local and vegan options don’t hesitate to check out these sites:

• Livestock’s Long Shadow–Environmental Issues and Options,
• Why Vegan
• 101 Reasons I’m a Vegetarian
• Eating Green Calculator
• Global Stewards Eco-Food Options
• 100 Mile Diet

Thanks for reading & Good Luck!

Tiffany & Amalia

Heard all the buzz about organic foods and beverages and don’t know what it all means? Well. the next time you put on your party shoes and need to head out to the liquor store for a house warming gift — why not give the gift of organic?

What is Organic?

Organic Farming is a more natural way of farming that eliminates the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulations and additives. Instead of these foreign substances and chemicals being added to your food, farmers let nature run its course and produce food naturally.  Also, they have to take everything they know about crop rotation, and residues to mechanical cultivation to really invest it into their farms to make sure they they get the best crops possible. Organic wines are no different, like other organic products they have been produced from organically grown grapes, and may not necessarily be sulfite -free but they have no added sulfites.

How do I know what I’m looking at?

When you walk into a store, shopping organic might not be the easiest thing in the world. It might take a little research before you know what you’re buying. The Wines of Canada is a site to start out with. On their site they offer a list of Canadian organic wines as well the differences between one organic wine to the other.

For Example, According to the Wines of Canada site:

“100% Organic” means that the wines are produced with grapes that are certified 100 per cent organically grown and do not have any sulfur dioxide added.

“Organic” means that the wines are produced with a minimum of 95 per cent organic ingredients. These wines may have a very low level of sulfur dioxide added to them.

“Made with Organic grapes” refers to wines that have a minimum of 70 per cent organic grapes. These wines may have sulfur dioxide added.

They also add a bit about Biodynamic farming which is a number of techniques used to organic farmers to utilize the vineyard’s natural resources in order to cultivate the highest-quality grapes possible without the use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, or growth stimulants. A vineyard that is certified biodynamic meets and typically exceeds the standards and regulations for organic certified farming.

For more information about Organic Wines don’t hesitate to check out the following links:

Wines of Canada: Organic Wines in Canada
The Dirt on Organic Wines
Style at Home: Top Organic Wines

Enjoy your night out and BYOB, it can be a great conversation starter

Amalia & Tiffany