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Win a Pair of Tickets to the Yoga Reaches Out YOGATHON!
by jaimee.rondeau, April 23, 2012 | Permalink
At Whole Foods Market we abide by seven Core Values:
- Selling the highest quality natural and organic products available
- Satisfying and delighting our customers
- Supporting team member happiness and excellence
- Creating wealth through profits & growth
- Caring about our communities & our environment
- Creating ongoing win-win partnerships with our suppliers
- Promoting the health of our stakeholders through healthy eating education
One of the most amazing ways we actualize these Core Values is with our Community Giving programs, and we are thrilled that Yoga Reaches Out is one of our most recent recipients. If you don’t yet know about this locally founded nonprofit, please visit their website – you’ll truly be
moved by the work they do to better the lives of children in our community and worldwide.
On Sunday, 5/6/12 Yoga Reaches Out is putting on their second annual YOGATHON at Gillette Stadium Field House in Foxboro, MA, an event Whole Foods Market Wayland is very happy to be supporting! Proceeds raised will go directly to Children’s Hospital Boston and Africa Yoga Project.
Whole Foods Market Wayland would like to give our local community the opportunity to attend this event and is giving away a pair of tickets to to one lucky winner! All you have to do is (1) post a picture of something that INSPIRES YOU TO DO GOOD on our Facebook page (write: I’m inspired to good when I see this….”) and (2) post a comment on this blog about your favorite thing about Whole Foods Market in Wayland! One lucky winner will be selected on Friday, April 27th and will receive two spaces to attend the Yogathon.
Yoga Reaches Out YOGATHON Features:
Baron Baptiste (International Teacher and Best-Selling Author)
New England Presenters Include:
Special Acro Yoga circle led by Bonnie Argo & Brian Lam
MC Rebecca Pacheco of OmGal.com
Musical Guests: Irene Soléa, The Grass Gypsys & DJ Jordan Lashley
Categories: Uncategorized
Yoga Reaches Out is Selected for Whole Foods Market’s 5% Day!
by jaimee.rondeau, March 1, 2012 | Permalink
With Sarah Gardner, YRO Founder
Whole Foods Market in Wayland is hosting a 5% Community Giving Day for Yoga Reaches Out on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012. Customers who shop at the store, located at 317 Boston Post Road, will contribute to the total donation dollars going directly to the organization. Yoga Reaches Out is a local non-profit created to bring the yoga community together to raise funds for children’s charities. It was founded by personal trainer and yogi Sarah Gardner of Wayland, Massachusetts.
Whole Foods Market is dedicated to supporting their community and environment. Their giving program funds organizations that address community issues such as hunger, poverty, organic and sustainable agriculture, animal welfare issues, environmental concerns and health and human services, among others. 5% Community Giving Days are one way that Whole Foods Market is able to provide financial support to such organizations. Four times during the year, Whole Foods Market donates 5% of one day’s net store sales to a selected non-profit.
Whole Foods Market Wayland is also sponsoring the 2012 Yoga Reaches Out Yogathon on May 6th, 2012 at the Gillette Stadium Field House featuring international teacher and Best-Selling author Baron Baptiste and benefitting Children’s Hospital Boston and Africa Yoga Project. The day will include numerous New England yoga teachers, national and local musicians, celebrity speakers, a marketplace and more. Please consider registering for this event at www.yogareachesout.org.
For more details follow Whole Foods Market Wayland on Twitter @WFMWayland and find them on Facebook!
WHEN:
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
8:00am – 9:00pm
Categories: Uncategorized
December in Wayland
by jaimee.rondeau, November 28, 2011 | Permalink
Thinking about December leaves me with mixed feelings. The mark of another year passed, the anticipation of what is yet to come. One of the things I promised myself last December was that instead of looking too far ahead or too deeply into the past, I would work harder to appreciate exactly where I 
am now. And where I am is right here, at Whole Foods Market in Wayland – and I couldn’t be more excited about what we’ve got in store this month!
I’m full of holiday cheer thinking about the sampling we’ll be offering each week to our customers. Each Thursday we’ve got a theme – buying local for the holidays, Hanukkah menu tastings, winter holiday menu tastings, and my favorite: the Fuji apple sampling event. I love it so much because for every pound of organic Fuji apples we sell a donation will go to the No Kid Hungry Campaign(TM). Through the No Kid Hungry Campaign, Share Our Strength funds the most effective local anti-hunger groups throughout the state of Massachusetts. Your purchase of these apples will help their efforts to support groups like East Boston YMCA, Project Bread, and Cooking Matters ™ (an organization close to my heart, see here).
And speaking of Project Bread, we’ll be collecting donations for this awesome organization at our registers – so you’ve got a chance to donate each time you shop! We’re also selling Project Bread holiday cards in our Whole Body department and the designs this year are gorgeous.
While you shop on December 3rd, be sure to have your kids stop over at our demo area where Beehive ART will be on hand hosting a free kids craft activity and our Demo Specialist, Chuck, will be serving up some healthy (and tasty!) snacks.
UPCOMING FREE LECTURES:
- December 7th 6PM – “Boosting Your Immunity During the Winter Months” with Kathryn Loomis, licensed acupuncturist and owner of Loomis Acupuncture
- December 10th 1PM – “Healthy Holidays” with Bonnie Morrissey, founder Bonnie’s Boot Camp
As always, be sure to check out our events calendar here for details on everything we’ve got in store and follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@WFMWayland) to stay up-to-date with all our sales, offers, and giveaways!
Have a healthy and peaceful season.
Warmly,
Jaimee
Categories: Uncategorized
A Witch, A Ghost, an Ear of Corn – A $50 Gift Card Awaits You!
by jaimee.rondeau, October 7, 2011 | Permalink
Boo!
I love October. Not only is it Whole Trade Month, but we’ve got Oktoberfest, Yom Kippur, National Food Day (we’ll be collecting donated goods for the Parmenter Food Pantry), Halloween, Diwali, and a long weekend for you folks not lucky enough to work in retail (interested?).
At Whole Foods Market, we believe we have a responsibility toward all entities involved in our business: our customers, shareholders, Team Members, suppliers, the environment and, not least of all, our community. To us, community transcends the boundaries of our cities to the places from which we source our products, many of which are in developing countries.
As a result, we have created the Whole Trade Guarantee, an extension of our values that lets you rest assured that you are buying the best for you, for your community, and your world. Whole Trade Guarantee products must:
- Meet our high Quality Standards
- Provide more money to producers
- Ensure better wages and working conditions for workers
- Utilize sound environmental practices
This month you also have the chance to learn more about our Health Starts Here ™ program. We believe that food in its purest
state — unadulterated by artificial additives, sweeteners, colorings, and preservatives — is the best tasting and most nutritious food available. No matter what type of diet you follow — including those with dairy, meat or seafood — our Healthy Eating specialist can give you suggestions on how to reconfigure your plate so the majority of each meal is created from an abundance of raw and cooked vegetables, fruits, legumes and beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Sample some of our offerings on October 13th from 4:30 to 5:30 or check out some recipes here.
Another wicked fun part of October is Oktoberfest, and although we don’t have beer we do have great food to go with it! From Bratwurst to Weisswurst, Knackwurst to Wieners, the Original Brat Hans is a line of truly authentic German sausages. Created by lifetime sausage maker—butcher Hans from Germany—they are made in small batches to assure the highest quality and consistency. You can top your sausage with German mustard, sauerkraut and other classic accompaniments and you’ll be all set. Or you can expand your horizons by serving up any of these German- and sauerkraut-inspired recipes and ideas. Not sure you’ll like this style of food? Join us on October 20th from 4:30-5:30 for storewide Oktoberfest sampling.
And that brings us to the big one. HALLOWEEN. Kids can come decorate their own pumpkin at our craft table on October 22 from 11-1 and enjoy some warm cookies and apple cider. On October 27th we’re having spooky storewide samples from 4:30-5:30, and on October 29th we encourage you to come to the store IN COSTUME for your chance to win a $50 Whole Foods Market gift card! You’ll also be able to help us judge the winner of our Team Member pumpkin carving contest!
And of course, to stay on top of all the amazing things happening at Whole Foods Market Wayland, be sure to check out our Community Calendar!
See you in the aisles!
-Jaimee
Categories: Uncategorized
Local Corn, Tomatoes & One Delicious Dish
by jaimee.rondeau, July 16, 2011 | Permalink
Quick Summer Time Meals Don’t Have to be Stressful!
Last night I decided to take as much advantage of the sunshine as possible – I look my daughter to the beach, did yoga on the dock and relaxed in a hammock by the lake. I was thoroughly content…and then it was time for dinner. Now, I love food and I have done a good share of professional cooking but I sometimes still have trouble coming up with quick, nutritious vegetarian dinners for my family. I like to keep it fresh, you know – change it up. I vowed to never be one of those “Monday is pasta night, Tuesday is pizza night” type of home cooks (although I can now understand and appreciate that almost flawless menu organization).
After taking inventory of what I had on hand (corn from Davidian Brothers Farm, vine tomatoes from Backyard Farms, fresh herbs from the garden, 365 Everday Value feta cheese, and a can of 365 Chickpeas), I decided to make a simple grilled salad. And you know, it really was quick and easy, and all three of us (my four year old included) loved it!
Here is basically what I did:
Preheated the grill to about medium – don’t let it get too hot…
Chopped the fresh herbs I had on hand, which happened to be parsley, sage, and thyme (so close to that Simon and Garfunkel song I always liked…) I hummed a bit in my head at this point, but that is totally optional. These I added to softened butter with a pinch of sea salt and some fresh black pepper.
Took 8 ears of corn and peeled the husks back to remove the strings inside and smeared the corn with herbed butter
before pulling the husks back up and throwing them on the pre-heated grill. Closed the grill lid for about 4 minutes, then opened it to turn the corn over and left it open. Turned the heat down to medium low.
While the corn continued to cook, I roughly chopped up those beautiful tomatoes and cubed the feta cheese (about 1/2 the container). Then I opened the can of chickpeas to drain and rinse. After you do all this, the corn is probably going to be done.
Wait until the corn is coolish and then use a sharp knife to remove the kernels. Add those to your tomato/feta/chickpea mixture and put the whole thing on a bed of arugula. If you have cucumbers, throw those in there. If you have red onion, slice some up and throw ’em in the mix. Keep it simple and use nature’s bounty and you’ll have a perfect summer meal everytime.
Tips and Suggestions
- Have your kids peel back the corn husks and remove the strings (we do this outside b/c it can get messy!)
- Use the same knife and cutting board to chop everything, it’s less dishes to wash in the end
- Have your kids mix the herbs into the butter
- Keep the “stalk” of the corn attached – you can use it as a handle later when you are cutting ther kernels off
- Eat outside!
List of Ingredients (more or less, to taste)
- 1 box pre-washed arugula – I like the Olivia’s Organics
- 1 can 365 Everyday Value Chickpeas
- 1 container 365 Everyday Value feta cheese
- 1 stick of butter
- 8 ears of corn (get local, if possible)
- 10 fresh tomatoes (also local, if possible)
- Fresh herbs, really whatever you’d like, about a bunch of each (less if they are pungent varieties like rosemary)
- Sea salt
- Ground black pepper
Categories: Uncategorized
Party All Summer Long
by jaimee.rondeau, April 26, 2011 | Permalink
All of us at Whole Foods Market in Wayland are proud to be part of this awesome community. May is a rockin’ month for us! Not only are we participating in Radio 92.9’s annual EarthFest Bash on the 21st, we’ve got a full in-store events calendar as well!
We continue to be leaders in the industry by truly caring about our community and environment. Last week 
we launched our new tiered Eco-Scale rating system for household cleaners to help our shoppers make smarter, greener choices for their homes and the planet. We’ve got a Green Cleaning weekend planned on April 30th – May 1st to answer all your questions.
The first part of May is all about Mom. Mother’s Day is May 8th and we’re kicking it off with an amazing 25% Off Make-Up Sale in Whole Body on the 5th where you can enjoy a free make-up consultation, learn tips and techniques, relax with a Zen Shiatsu chair massage and speak to a licensed aesthetician.
We’ve also partnered with the local Bee Hive Art studio and will be hosting a Mother’s Day Kids activity on Saturday the 7th so be sure to stop by to make a homemade present. Shopping will be easy that weekend because it’s also when we’re celebrating Bun-anza. You heard me right – a celebration of our new bakery buns. Join us at 3:00 for our region-wide “breaking of the bread” and stick around to grab an early dinner off the grill. It’s just another way we continue to satisfy and delight our customers here at Whole Foods Market!
During Mid-May we’re celebrating with a week-long focus on our local producers and the continuation of our
Strawberry Jamboree in produce, where you can taste the peak of the season. We are always committed to selling the highest quality natural and organic products available and May marks the start of the most delicious and diverse growing season. And because May is also about Women’s Health, we’re hosting a talk from Rachel Volk, a local holistic health coach, on the link between stress and sugar cravings – join us and pre-register for a lunch prepared by our resident Healthy Eating Specialist. We believe in promoting the health of our stakeholders through healthy eating education and this is a great time to learn about the benefits of a nutrient-dense diet.
Another one of Whole Foods Market’s Core Values is creating an on-going win-win partnership with our vendors. We’re so excited that 16 of these vendors will be joining us for Earth Fest in Boston on the 21st! You’ll be able to preview and sample their great products during our outdoor Earth Fest Block Party here on May 14th – it’s going to be a great day to bring your family out – Earth Fest samples, grilling, and kids activities are just a few of the things we’ve got planned.
And this all leads us to our biggest event of the year – Earth Fest with Radio 92.9, a super fun day featuring live bands, cooking demonstrations, vendor samples and more! I’ll be at the Local and Green Mission tent so be sure to stop by and help us paint our community mural and learn about our commitment to support the environment and our valued local producers.
We’re here to help you ring in the summer months, too – we’ve got everything you need to gear up for Memorial Day! Our 365 Everyday value products combined with our super Madness sales make parties possible all summer long! The Whole Deal has over $45 in coupons, budget meals for 4, and how to BBQ without breaking the bank.
Whole Foods Market in Wayland is your community hot-spot this summer for activities and summer savings. Check out our store calendar for a complete event schedule. We hope to see you all month long!
Categories: Uncategorized
Monday with Whole Body: United by Blue
by jaimee.rondeau, March 7, 2011 | Permalink
The third edition of ‘Monday with Whole Body’ brings us guest blogger, Brian Linton, President and Chief Trash Collector of United by Blue. We love his story and think you will, too!
Why I started United By Blue: Organic Apparel Saving the Oceans
My name is Brian Linton. I am the founder and Chief Trash Collector at United By Blue (UBB). UBB is a Philadelphia-based brand of ocean-friendly apparel. For every 1 product we sell, we remove 1 pound of trash from our world’s oceans and waterways through company-organized cleanups.
Removing 1 pound of trash for every 1 product sold is no easy feat…it requires event planning, volunteer recruitment and logistics that normal companies never have to face. Since launching the brand in April
2010, we have hosted 25 cleanups across 10 states and removed 12,000 pounds of trash. This year, we will host over 50 cleanups and remove 100,000 pounds of trash from beaches and waterways across the world.
Many people look at the above-mentioned work and ask me “why did you start United By Blue…why not just sell organic apparel and stop at that?”
The answer to this question is long, and could easily be covered over multiple blog posts…but I’ll stick to the basics here.
It all began 4 years ago when I founded a jewelry company called Sand Shack, which is the parent to UBB. In starting and growing Sand Shack I learned a tremendous amount about business. I learned how to sell, how to manage, how to do product development, and just about any other thing small businesses do.
Ever since the first year of operating Sand Shack I knew I wanted to help our world’s oceans, so I did the thing I saw countless other companies do: donate a percentage of proceeds to conservation efforts outside the company. But in June of 2009 I realized that I wasn’t satisfied with this model. I wasn’t satisfied with where Sand Shack was and what it was accomplishing.
I wanted to accomplish something more. Not only did I want to build a stronger brand, I wanted to build something that I could be proud of, that I could look at and know that it was not only making money but doing GOOD.
Countless hours of brainstorming by myself and with those closest around me led me to the conclusion that the way to accomplish the most good was to do something so ridiculously concrete that the good would be unavoidable.
Looking at the countless problems our oceans face, ocean pollution was something that I knew my customers, employees, and myself could easily wrap our heads around. It is a concrete, visible problem. It was also something that truly saddens me to see, and something I am excited to dedicate my energies to cleaning up.
Therefore, United By Blue was created on the premise that every single business transaction should accomplish something good for our environment. By associating the removal of 1 pound of trash from oceans and waterways for every 1 product sold we set the bar high. Cleaning up 1 pound of trash for every 1 product sold is no small feat, and in fact, it is a daunting and difficult mission. And obviously, for the business to be truly sustainable, removing that pound of trash cannot cost more than the profit earned on the sale of a product.
In the end, I love what I do. And I hope our business model not only allows us to do the most environmental good possible, but inspire others to do the same.
You can find UBB Sustainable Seafood T-shirts here at Whole Foods Market in Wayland. We also will haooliy place special orders for other UBB products you’re interested in purchasing.
Categories: Uncategorized
A Hand Up to the Very Poor
by jaimee.rondeau, February 22, 2011 | Permalink
I cried when I found out I was really going. A month away from my husband and four year old daughter? A month out of work? The reality hit hard, but the tears were made of both shock and joy. I had been selected for a 4-week trip to Guatemala with the Whole Planet Foundation, a microcredit nonprofit founded by Whole Foods Market. As a volunteer I would have the unique opportunity of being immersed in one of several indigenous communities situated around the base of Lake Atitlan, an awe-inspiring spectacle of sheer beauty surrounded by volcanoes (don’t take my word for it – google it!).
Volunteers work alongside Global Vision International staff, supporting the leaders of the local communities to develop educational and community programs. The programs work with children who otherwise would not have the opportunity for any formal education, as well as the local families to improve their own standard of living via micro-financing and small scale construction initiatives.
Team Member Volunteers also get to learn about microcredit from Whole Planet Foundation partner Banrural Grameen Guatemala. To date, Whole Planet Foundation microfinance partners worldwide are lending to more than 100,000 microcredit clients in 29 countries, benefiting over half a million people.
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Please read more about Whole Planet Foundation here.
On February 23 – March 31 we will be promoting our Prosperity Campaign for the Whole Planet Foundation, raising funds and awareness for this incredible organization.
I hope you join us to learn about the people you’ll be reaching with your donation, as well as for the awesome in-store activities we’ve got planned!
Here is a sample of what we’re doing:
- Wednesday 2/23 – Whole Planet Foundation Kick-Off!
- Thursday 2/24 – Storewide Demos and Samples Featuring Whole Planet Recipes!
- Saturday 2/26 – $1 Book Sale, all money collected goes directly to Whole Planet
- We’ll Be Joined by current and past Supplier Alliance Vendors, including CasCal and New Chapter
- Ongoing Slideshow and Discussion about WPF Volunteer Program
- Whole Trade Flower Arranging Demonstration and Raffle
- $2 Donation Back to Nature ‘Love Crunch Granola Parfait’s
- Saturday 3/12 – Hot Tea and Bake Sale, all money collected goes directly to Whole Planet
- Saturday 3/26 – Outdoor Giving Grill!
- Enter to Win Gift Basket full of Products from the WPF Supplier Alliance
I hope to see you in the store and at our events; I’m a passionate supporter of Whole Planet Foundation and truly believe that a Hand Up is worth so much more than a Hand Out. Give the opportunity to someone to lift themselves out of poverty.
With Warmest Regards,
Jaimee Rondeau, Whole Foods Market Wayland
First 20 commenters will receive a FREE BOX of Natures Path LOVE CRUNCH GRANOLA
When was the last time your breakfast helped change the world?
In partnership with the Whole Planet Foundation, Natures Path is raising funds to provide microcredit loans (small loans of $200 or less requiring no collateral or contract) to give women the chance to create or expand home-based businesses, and improve the lives of themselves and their families. Click here to read the story behind Love Crunch.
Categories: Uncategorized
Monday with Whole Body: Emily’s Skin Soothers
by jaimee.rondeau, February 21, 2011 | Permalink
Diaper Rash—The 5 Most Important Do’s and Don’ts
Diaper rash is an incredibly common and troublesome condition. Most babies suffer from it at one time or another. There are many possible causes. We asked Mike Arsenault, licensed Acupuncturist and founder of Emily’s Skin Soothers to give us some tips about diaper rash. Emily’s Diaper Skin Soother Plus can be found in our Kids Section. Ask a Whole Body Team Member to show you this great new product!!
5 Important Do’s
- Gently wash the area with warm water with each diaper change.
It is important to clean the area, but realize that skin sensitivities may be a factor. Try to avoid wipes or soaps that are perfumed or full of chemicals as these might further irritate. If you suspect your baby has sensitive skin you might be better off with a simple cotton cloth or tissues or cotton balls. If you must use soap, use something gentle and simple like our unscented bar soap or Liquid Soap Soother. - Consider the type and fit of the diapers.
The type of diaper can be a strong factor. If the diaper does not fit well it can cause rubbing and chafing and make the skin reactive. In some cases the materials of the diaper can cause an allergic contact dermatitis. The diapers can also create a hot damp area that makes the baby prone to skin reactivity. You can try a different brand or maybe switch to cloth. - Investigate food sensitivities as a possible cause.
If you see a red ring right around the babies anus and their bowels are off too you might suspect a reaction to a new food. If the baby is still breast feeding it might even be from something you ate. See if you can correlate the symptoms to when you or the baby have eaten particular foods and then avoid them. - Take a nice little soak.
Who doesn’t like a little bath? Let baby sit in warm water for 10-15 minutes. Play a few games. Splash about. It can be fun and also moderate the discomfort. Use only the gentlest soaps like our Liquid Soap Soother and bar soap as stronger soaps might also irritate or sting the skin affected by the rash. - Let baby go bare-ass naked often!!
Air out your baby’s butt. Put down a sheet and let the baby really ‘hang out’. Give the skin a chance to get some air and get out of those hot, damp diapers. The crib with a waterproof sheet is a good option, or put down a towel to avoid accidents. Take pictures and threaten to share them with future boyfriends/girlfriends when your child is a teenager.
5 Important Don’ts
- Don’t give yourself a hard time.
Almost all children experience diaper rash at one time or another. Diaper rash is rarely cause by neglect or inattentive parents. Of course, you should change the diapers as soon as possible once soiled, but you already know and do that and still there is a rash. Using this article, be a detective and try to figure out the real cause. - Do not rub the area.
The friction can further irritate and make the already sensitive skin more vulnerable and reactive. After washing with just warm water, gentle pat dry the area with a soft tissue or cloth. - Don’t use overly complex or goopy or perfumed products.
One possible cause of diaper rash is allergic reactions. The more ingredients in a product the more possibility of a reaction or sensitivity. Better to use something simple and effective. Our Diaper Skin Soother Plus has just 6 simple ingredients: beeswax, olive oil, and 4 herbs. Nothing else. You can’t get much simpler than that.
Another possible cause of diaper rash is chafing. Thick, goopy products may cause more rubbing and make it harder for the skin to breath. That is why we make simple balms that gently coat the skin without being sticky.
If you are using cloth diapers you might also suspect your detergent or fabric softeners. They may be too harsh, even if they claim to be “for babies”. You might try another brand.
- Don’t forget to check the products you use on the Cosmetic Safety Database.
You can check the safety of the skincare products you use on Skin Deep the site from the Cosmetic Safety Database that rates products on a scale of 0-10 for risk according to the safety of their ingredients. A zero indicates little or no risk while a 10 means they suspect the product to be harmful and dangerous. It is a great resource to check all of your skin care products. You can find it at: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
Thus far, all of the Emily Skin Soother products have been rated a zero by the Cosmetic Safety Database.
- Don’t ignore severe or long lasting rashes.
If the symptoms are severe and last for more than 72 hours or if the baby is dehydrated, has open blisters or sores, or ongoing diarrhea check with your pediatrician. These things may be the signs of a more serious condition or a more persistent rash caused by a yeast infection.
Categories: Uncategorized
Monday With Whole Body
by jaimee.rondeau, February 14, 2011 | Permalink
Our Whole Body Team Leader, Lindsay, is really excited about one of our new books – The Joy of Green Cleaning by Leslie Riechert. She spoke to the author and asked this question…
What is the big deal about greening your cleaning?
Here is what she had to say:
Did you know that on a typical cleaning day the levels of chemicals in your home can be hundreds and maybe even thousands of times higher that the most polluted air in a large city? The air quality in your home could be bad enough to warrant an inspection by the health authorities if you were a commercial location!
Many scientists seem to think that prolonged exposure to even small amounts of chemicals can be just as bad as a short, high dose. This would mean that the chemicals we use to clean can do damage to our heath. Combine this with the fact that our homes are so energy efficient- these chemicals can stay in the air for weeks. One chemist also points out that we never consider that these chemicals are combining with others that are “off gases” in our homes. We are creating what some call a chemical cocktail. Most scientists test the effects of one single chemical, but they are now realizing they have no idea of the potential harm a combination of these chemicals and gases can have.
The reality is that most of our regular cleaning can be done with out any toxic chemicals. Simple things that we find in our pantry can do a great job. Ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar, salt, lemon juice, and hydrogen peroxide can be used in place of the traditional cleaners. Or, if you don’t want to mix up your own recipe, there are green companies creating cleaning products that are made with simple, non-toxic ingredients. [like we sell at Whole Foods Market!]
One of the biggest questions I receive every day is “how do I disinfect my home?” It is actually doubtful whether we even need to disinfect at all. Recently, what we have done is attempt to kill all the bacteria in our homes. What we don’t realize is that there are good bacteria as well as bad and the antibacterial products we use always leave some of bad bacteria behind. These surviving bacteria create stronger forms of bacteria that become resistant to the antibacterial agents you using to try to kill them. Besides, you may be doing more damage to your body by using the anti-bacterial chemicals than the “bad” bacteria could have done to you.
Instead, I’m going to give you three recipes from my book: The Joy of Green Cleaning that you can mix up and try in your own home. All
the ingredients are available at your local Whole Foods Market. If you’d like a “green cleaning” shopping list that you can use at Whole Foods, just email me at cleaningcoach@yahoo.com and put Whole Foods Shopping List in the subject line. I’m always trying to make cleaning fun, fast, green and totally clean! So make sure to follow me at www.facebook.com/lesliereichert or on twitter at www.twitter.com/greenyourclean
Recipes
Multipurpose Cleaner
1 tsp borax
½ tsp. baking soda
2 tbsp vinegar
½ tsp. liquid castile soap
2 c. very hot water
Non-toxic alternative- Mrs. Meyers all-purpose cleaner in different scents, Caldrea all-purpose cleaner, or micro-fiber cloths that are new technology that clean dirt, grease and dust without any chemicals.
Green Cleaning Scrub
1 cup borax
2 cups salt (sea salt for a more aggressive cleaner)
2 cups baking soda
8 drops essential oil for fragrance
Mix the ingredients thoroughly. After they are completely mixed together, add the essential oil for fragrance. Keep this mixture in a shaker container with a lid. Use if for cleaning your sinks and even your toilet bowl!
Fabric Softener Alternative
(test your dryer filter for invisible buildup by running it under water. If it holds water, place it in the dishwasher to remove build up and cut down on fabric softeners.)
Add ½ c. of white vinegar, baking soda or borax to the rinse cycle to soften water and reduce static cling.
What awesome advice! This book is for sale right now at Whole Foods Market Wayland in our Whole Body department.
Got feedback? We’d love to hear it! We’ll pick one lucky commenter to win a free copy of “The Joy of Green Cleaning”
Categories: Uncategorized
