Eco-licious Gift Wrap

By Lydia Krupinski

We’ve all been there…the clock strikes the eleventh hour and you’re running late to the next birthday, house-warming, holiday party. You’ve found the perfect gift, but you just realized that you’ve run out of wrapping materials…what do you do?

First, find some paper grocery bags, or newspaper, and use it to wrap the item. I tend to keep recycled tissue paper at hand, which works well too.

Next, cut a cute tag out of any leftover paper and give it a quick doodle. It’s always fun to have some kind of imagery on the tag to make it more personal. On mine I stamped some clouds and the words “To” and “From.”

Then, grab some raffia, and if you have none on hand you can use twine or yarn. Raffia is great because it’s biodegradable, so I highly encourage people to keep some stashed in a cupboard.

And if you happen to have a spare ten minutes, this handy dandy tutorial below will show you how to make a stylish eco-friendly bow in a snap. It’s what I am offering this upcoming holiday season for Pierogi Picnic orders. Follow the instructions and you’ll be well armed for the gift giving season!

1)Begin by cutting book or ‘zine pages into  1 1/2 ” strips.

2) Fold one strip of paper in half and staple the two sides into a single bow. I recommend using a staple-less stapler.  I bought the one above at            Ruby’s Roundup in Wicker Park.

3) Using a needle and thread, attach three of the bows together and top them off with a fun big button.

4) Now just string some raffia around the gift and pull one end through the bow.

If you’re looking for more ideas on eco-friendly packaging, take a peek at this fun list from Gaiam Life. Or check out Green Heart for sustainable tissues, paper, and more!

Boost Your Immune System

The flu is, was, and will forever stalk us through the changing seasons. Lisa Guy writes about the benefits of eating vitamin rich foods for protecting children while they’re at school and beyond.

But why just worry about the kids?! Protect yourself by stocking up on these top five  immunity boosting nutrients! Thanks to Lisa for this partial list. Read her full article here.

• Vitamin C: fruit such as citrus (oranges, guava) and coloured berries (strawberries, blueberries and boysenberries) are excellent sources of vitamin C. Vegetables such as red capsicums, parsley, broccoli and cabbage are also rich sources of Vitamin C.
• Zinc: zinc is found in a wide variety of foods. The best sources of zinc include cheese, brewers yeast, egg yolks, legumes (soy beans, lima beans, lentils, peas), wholegrains (bread), sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and pecans. A moderate amount of zinc is found in vegetables.
• Vitamin A and beta-carotene: milk and egg yolk contain vitamin A while beta-carotene is found in high levels in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables such as carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin, butternut squash, apricots, mangoes and green leafy vegetables.
• Vitamin E: foods rich in vitamin E include wheatgerm, whole oats, cold pressed olive oil, fruits, dark green leafy vegetables, avocado, eggs and raw nuts and seeds.
• Omega-3 FAs: Omega-3 FAs are found in flaxseed oil, canola, soy, and walnut oils, dark green vegetables, parsley, seaweeds, nuts, seeds (pumpkin and sesame seeds, tahini), legumes (hummus), and wholegrain cereals.

A Time To Celebrate

by Lydia Krupinski

The holiday season is creeping up on us.  Once the thrill and chill of Halloween is over, the marketing departments of all things retail begin their assault. Sprout Chicago wants to help you get through the holiday madness by keeping the season in perspective.

So we are adding a seasonal section to the blog called “Celebrate.” We’ll be bringing you articles on green gift-giving, eco-friendly wrapping, veg head recipes, and how to keep yourself safe from consumerist madness.

Think of it as our little  gift to you!

Way to Go Andersonville!

Street side recycling…a staple across both coasts that has somehow managed to allude Chicago, the purportedly “greenest” city in the Midwest.  But slacking city  trends aren’t stopping individual communities from taking action.

On November 1st, 2009, Andersonville is literally rolling out a new program that will install recycling bins on its busiest street corners. This hustling and bustling neighborhood is already home to some of the most successful and diverse local businesses in Chicago. With Green Sky,  The Galleria, Green Genes, and more, Andersonville is giving the city’s greening efforts a run for their money.

Sprout Chicago would like to proudly salute the Andersonville Development Corporation and the neighborhood’s residents for taking up their own action!

To learn more about this endeavor take a peek at Edgewater’s Community Buzz Blog and the Eco-Andersonville website.

The World Needs to Know – 350

Tomorrow, October 24th, is International Day for  Climate Action. A day for world leaders,  activists, and citizens to come together and demonstrate the need for change NOW! There are events being held all around the world!

For a list of Chicago area events, click on this link. David and I will be heading up to the Carbon Green Festival in Rogers Park to show our support  of this incredible international  movement.

To learn more about 350 visit  the site here.