P’Lovers Environmental Store – Reaching and Preaching to the “Non-choir”

With four locations across Canada and now one in San Antonio, Texas, P’lovers Environmental Store is truly a haven for advocates of sustainable living. With the variety found in this one-stop-shop for all things eco-friendly, it’s easy to see why P’lovers is best described as the “environmental department store.”

Founders Liz Crocker and Ann Caverzan both have decades’ worth involvement with business and interest in environmental concerns and their relationship to commercial production. The two first met in 1991, and discussed the concept of a store specializing in environmentally friendly products at a time when such things were fairly unheard of. A year later they opened a shop by the name of P’lovers, which is an abbreviation for both “planet lovers” and “piping plover” (an endangered species of bird indigenous to Nova Scotia). Like the world around them, they still knew little of ecologically conscious wares. They have learned an immeasurable amount since and continue to do so still.

The breadth and quality of offered products is constantly being improved as more variety and a higher calibre goods become available in tandem with the ever increasing prevalence of environmental awareness. At the same time, if a product becomes overly mainstream or out of date, Liz and Ann search out goods that fall closer in line with the most current sustainable standards.

Of course, such a search can be tough, as increased interest in green goods come at a cost. Popularity entices, and many manufacturers appropriate the term “green” as a marketing tool and exploit ecologically-minded sentiments by offering products that are not truly or fully environmentally friendly. Not only do these not meet P’lovers standards, but they can also provoke a certain cynicism of the market in the consumer who is clued in enough to realise what is going on.

P’lovers have a mandate to practice what they preach, and all aspects of their business in green. This includes the very architecture and décor of their stores. Cork and bamboo flooring, recycled paint, compact fluorescent and LED lights, and antique furniture are all mainstays in each location. Yet despite demand for quality and adherence to strict criteria, the company is committed providing products that are not exuberantly priced. Two of their five locations are in Nova Scotia, which is economically modest. In the 90s when the business first started, there was a lot of sickening pollution in the air carried by wind from Ontario to the Maritimes which created a demand for goods free of such chemicals. Sensitive to that, the company has strived to maintain an affordable range.

One of the most unique aspects of P’lovers, I noticed, was the care taken to avoid any snobbery or judgemental attitudes in the sale of their wares. “We’re not just preaching to the choir, but we want to be appealing to the “non-choir” too.” says Liz. The business attempts to educate its potential customer base without pushing products and attitudes upon them. They avoid marketing items that primarily appeal as novelty gifts, instead opting for a department store model where goods are not only desirable but useful and practical and can also make great gifts. It is clear that P’lovers has accomplished its goal in providing a wide range of alternative products to the general public and not just to special interest groups www.plovers.net

Keeping a Cool Baby When the Heat is On!

It’s hard to resist buying those cute sunglasses or tiny bathing suits for your little ones during the summer. And we all know proper sunscreen and hydration are key, but how can bamboo contribute to keeping cool during those hot summer months?

The harmful effects of sun exposure are becoming more and more evident to the point where we simply cannot avoid taking precautions. Luckily, bamboo clothing is naturally already infused with UV protection. Studies have shown that bamboo can block up to 98 per cent of harmful UV radiation. UV radiation can be very damaging to anyone, and damage done at a young age can even cause problems that won’t appear until later on in life.

Bamboo clothing is naturally hypoallergenic, which means you can expect fewer allergic reactions, which, with all the active pollen and cut grass in the air, is definitely a blessing! Infants are very sensitive and susceptible to allergies, and you undoubtedly want what’s best for your new child. Bamboo fibre is very smooth and it sits perfectly next to the skin. This helps your baby rest more comfortably and avoid problems with itching.

And last, but certainly not least, bamboo plants that the fibres are made from are naturally anti-bacterial, and your infant’s bamboo clothing will be as well. Bamboo prevents the development of almost all bacteria – a handy weapon when dealing with sticky ice cream hands and outdoor picnics. It’s a force to be reckoned with. As a result, bamboo clothing stays fresher. It stays odour-free for a longer period of time. And in addition to smelling better, the anti-bacterial force of bamboo also results in your baby having better hygiene—and we all know that’s an uphill battle!

Chicken Thai Green Curry featuring Bamboo Shoots

This is one of my favourite dishes that feature bamboo shoots (and probably one of my favourite dishes in general!). The original recipe comes from www.templeofthai.com, a great source for Thai recipes. On that site, it is made with eggplants, beef and authentic Thai ingredients that might be a little hard to find. My version however calls for chicken, carrots, bean sprouts and a few other alterations. I urge you to turn this recipe into your own original green curry dish. Soon you’ll be able to call it your own secret recipe that friends will be dying to figure out!

You’ll Need:
• 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts
• 3 tbsp green curry paste (make sure you choose the right degree of spiciness)
• 2 1/2 cups coconut milk (I prefer using 1 cup of light coconut milk and 1.5 cups of regular)
• 3/4 cup of carrots, julienned
• 3/4 cup of bean sprouts
• 3/4 cup of canned bamboo shoots
• 2-3 fresh red chilies, sliced diagonally
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1/4 cup basil leaves
• 1 1/2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp palm sugar
• 1 tbsp cooking oil (not olive oil, but corn, safflower or peanut oil)

Preparation:
1. Slice the chicken into cubes, about an inch and a half across
2. Sauté the green curry paste in oil over medium heat until fragrant, reduce the heat, gradually add 1 1/2 cups of the coconut milk a little at a time, stir until a film of green oil surfaces.
3. In another pan, sauté the chicken and limejuice until the chicken is half way cooked through.
4. Transfer to a pot, place over medium heat and cook until boiling. Add the remaining coconut milk, season with palm sugar and fish sauce. When the mixture returns to the boil add the bamboo shoots, bean sprouts and julienned carrots. Cook until the vegetables are done, sprinkle basil leaves and red chillies over, then turn off the heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Arrange on a serving dish accompanied with jasmine rice and garnish with sweet basil leaves and red chillies before serving.

Green Glamour photo Gallery

Here are photos of our fun Green Glamour event!  Here’s what one participant said about it!

“This event was a fantastic success!  Everyone was great who was there, both people helping to host and guests attending.  I loved the location, and the variety from the tables that were shown to the food and desserts provided.  I would love to help out with this event again.”

-Danai Wood, Arbonne Consultant

Click on “view with PicLens” to view as a slideshow!

Bamboo: my Soup, my Bowl, my Table, my Chair

When you’re not cooking with bamboo consider cooking in it or with it.

Many Asian cultures for example, use the empty hollow in the stalks of more sizable bamboo to cook food in. Soups can be boiled in the stalk and rice can be cooked within the hollow body. When cooking, the stalk is held directly over a flame. Tea is also sometimes brewed in stalks. Cooking in bamboo stalks gives the food a distinctive added taste—one that you might find yourself loving.

But bamboo practicality does not stop there. It’s is often used to make cooking utensils. You can cook and eat using bamboo tools. Also, bamboo leaves are often used as wrappers for steamed dumplings.

The sleek, modern and yet organic look of dark stalks of bamboo have made it a hot commodity for dining wear like napkin rings, serving platters and candle holders. And, of course, as with all things made of bamboo, these tools are an eco-friendly alternative to other manufactured cooking tools.

Bamboo Grub around the World

We need only take a peek into cuisines across the globe to see that bamboo’s already made its versatile statement loud and clear. Indeed, the more we delve into other cultures and histories, we see that compared to some countries, it is North America that lags behind in the bamboo trend.

In Indonesia, bamboo stems are thinly sliced before being boiled with thick coconut milk, along with spices, to produce a dish known as gulai rebung. Pickled bamboo, a very different bamboo food product, is a condiment made from the soft pith (centre) of young shoots.

In India, bamboo stems are also used for cooking. The shoots are grated into juliennes and fermented. They become kardi, which is used in various foods, like a vegetable soup known as “amil.” It is also used for pancakes when mixed with rice flour.

In the Himalayas, the bamboo shoot, when it is in its fermented state, is used as an ingredient in a vast array of cuisines. For example, one delicacy has the fermented bamboo shoots cooked in a stew with potatoes. It’s quite a delight.

In addition, bamboo stalks can be used to make beverages. During the rainy season, the sap taken from young stalks can be fermented in order to make ulanzi, which is a sweet wine. They can also be made into soft drinks – a sweet treat for hot days and certainly a departure from East Asia’s familiar hot and sour soup!