Organic Subscribe
A selection of initiatives, blogs, resources and communities on Jewcology which focus on organic.
Blogs
Make Your Thanksgiving Celebration Eco-Friendly
- October 29, 2014
Thanksgiving, while an ecumenical holiday, is a great time to consider the Jewish principle of baal tashchit (do not waste). There are many things you can do to make your celebration of this holiday more earth friendly. Reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible: Try to buy only as much food as you need and look for food that either has no container or that has a container that can be recycled. Plan to compost any non-meat food items that can't be eaten (such as carrot peel) or that have to be thrown out after the meal. Also plan to use reusable cloth napkins ...
Tips for an Eco-Friendly Simcha
- October 1, 2014
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Planning a simcha, such as a wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, or bris, offers many opportunities to make an environmental impact. Every choice you make in planning your event can be a chance to make a statement about the importance of respecting and preserving God's creation, the Earth. Here are some ideas of ways to reduce waste as you prepared for the big day. Reduce paper use: Consider using the Internet for all or some of your announcements about your event. Invitations can be sent electronically. RSVPs also can be sent to a specially designated email address ...
Greening Your High Holidays
- September 2, 2014
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Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are right around the corner. There are a number of things you can do as a way to resolve to be more environmentally aware this new year. Use local and organic ingredients in your meals: The healthiest foods for the holiday are foods that are grown locally without any pesticides. Food purchased from local farmers or that you grow yourself will be fresher and have a higher nutritional content than food flown in from hundreds of miles or more away. If you are planning to serve the traditional snack of apples and honey, consider that ...
The Urban Adamah Fellowship Now Accepting 2014 Applications
- October 17, 2013
Connect to Something Bigger: Earth, Community, Social Justice, Jewish Spirituality The Urban Adamah Fellowship, based in Berkeley, CA, is a three-month residential training program for young adults (ages 21–31) that combines urban organic farming, social justice training and progressive Jewish learning and living within the setting of an intentional community. Through the operation of Urban Adamah’s one-acre organic farm and internships with social justice organizations, fellows gain significant skills, training and experience in all aspects of ...
Earth Etude for 3 Elul – Paying Attention to Roots
- August 7, 2013
by Maxine Lyons Being a passionate gardener, I have been tending several gardens in my yard as well as many flower pots on our large deck so my hands are in dirt quite often these days. I have been transplanting yellow primroses, succulents, day lilies and sunflowers, focusing on the integrity of the roots, noticing how each root system is different. For example, some plants require a full root for transplanting while others need a partial root to survive. Succulents do not need roots at all; pieces can be immersed in dirt and re-establish their roots in ...
Earth Etude for Elul 2 – Elul Writing Project
- August 6, 2013
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by Molly Bajgot We’re nearing a time when the Earth will not provide as bountifully as it has in the past. In exchange for a loss of resources, I believe the Earth is pleading for us humans to return to ourselves, our deep souls, so we recognize a bounty that lives within us. Could this lead to the feeling of fertility in the human spirit, we may extend the times of plenty. Answering this call is not easy. We cannot stop deadlines so we may each have the time return to ourselves as a form of resiliency. It’s a necessary evil to take this time. We may ...
Tu Bishvat: Seasonal Fruit and the New Year for Trees
- January 10, 2013
The month of Sh’vat (January 11-February 10, 2013) includes the holiday of Tu Bishvat (January 25-26, 2013), which is a particularly significant day for contemporary Jews who are passionate about nature, ecology and farming. Today, this relatively minor holiday has become a key celebration of our sacred connection with fruit trees, food and the natural world. However, amidst our delight in this bounty, we would do well to reflect critically on what fruits we enjoy, when we consume them and where they come from. Tu Bishvat is not a biblical holiday. In Mishnah ...
Canvassing for the Farm
- January 8, 2013
As a part of Earth’s Promise work to establish an Urban Farm supported by Local Sustainable Economy, employees and volunteers took to the streets to interview local businesses. All of the businesses that we interviewed are located in neighborhood “Gimel” in Beer Sheva. Many of the businesses have been operating in the neighborhood for a many years. It is important when starting a Local Sustainable Economy to understand the needs of the local businesses. Earth’s Promise did a survey to learn about how an Urban Farm providing local organic produce could help them. ...
Urban Agriculture and Bringing Food Closer to Home
- December 11, 2012
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A trip to the supermarket or shuk is usually started by a stroll down the fruit and vegetable aisles. These are also the most impressive rows studded with colors and smells, a myriad of sensations for the senses to experience. While many people seem to be experts in how to pick the most quality produce on the shelf by checking texture, smell, and even knocking on some fruits to listen to the hollow sound, very few could tell you where this food comes from. If we did a survey to find out, many people would guess from somewhere in the country. The question is: does it matter ...
Israel Environment Tour
- October 24, 2012
Baruch Sienna, a Jewish environmental educator, will be leading an amazing nature/environmental tour to Israel this Feb. 26-Mar. 7, 2013. We will be hiking, birdwatching, and visiting (and eating at) organic farms, learning from environmental organizations about water pollution/restoration, waste/recycling, and alternative energy initiatives in Israel. The places we are visiting are awesome. For a full itinerary, visit www.arzaworld.com, or call toll free: 1-888-811-2812 to register or for more information. Email: ...
Green Your High Holidays
- September 12, 2012
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Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are right around the corner. There are a number of things you can do as a way to resolve to be more environmentally aware this new year. Use local and organic ingredients in your meals: The healthiest foods for the holiday are foods that are grown locally without any pesticides. Food purchased from local farmers or that you grow yourself will be fresher and have a higher nutritional content than food flown in from hundreds of miles or more away. If you are planning to serve the traditional snack of apples and honey, consider that ...
A Very Green Rosh Hashanah
- September 7, 2012
On Rosh Hashanah, we celebrate the New Year and give thanks for the creation of our world. We dedicate time to family and friends and we reflect on our past year and celebrate the start of the new year. It's the perfect time to make new goals for the year ahead and try to do better for yourself, your family, and our world. Shopping for the holidays Be eco-"logical" about planning your family gatherings right from the get-go. Shopping locally for an organic Rosh Hashanah meal, apples and honey will not only help support your neighbours and ...
Immediate Action Required! Call your Senator for a Just Farm Bill!
- June 17, 2012
As we speak, the Senate is debating the contents of the Farm Bill, which will substantially affect the next five years of US food policy. It is upon us to call our Senators and let them know that as Jews, we and our organizations support Farm Bill legislation that: reduces hunger and improves nutrition in the United States. promotes conservation and proper stewardship of the land. enables farmers in both the United States and the developing world to earn sustainable livelihoods. Every call makes a tremendous difference! The ...
Soul Journeys Through Living Soil – at JMC Brooklyn
- May 1, 2012
Hi folks - I hope you'll check out this unique event happening in downtown Brooklyn. Click here for full event info. Join the Jewish Meditation Center of Brooklyn and Adamah for a teaching by Sarah Chandler (followed by our weekly sitting meditation at 8pm!) Soul Journeys Through Living Soil As we move through spring time and notice the trees bloom with flowers and green, we may miss out on the life force of activity within the soil below us. The interconnectedness of organisms, ions, roots, water and air ...
Support Sustainability and Community in Chicago
- April 28, 2012
Support Sustainability and Community: Purchase Your Organic and Heirloom Plant Starts at The Gan Project’s 2nd Annual Spring Plant Sale CHICAGO, Ill. -- Looking for locally grown, organic, heirloom plant starts for your garden or patio planter? The Gan Project will be having their 2nd Annual Spring Plant Sale with proceeds going to support the creation of a local, just, and sustainable food system in the Chicagoland region. Many varieties of vegetables and herbs will be available for purchase. The Gan Project grows ...
Peter Yarrow (from Peter, Paul & Mary) invites you to his NYC home for an Eden Village fundraiser!
- April 22, 2012
Dear Friends, I'm very pleased to invite you to my home in Manhattan for a benefit supporting the extraordinary work of Eden Village Camp, the innovative Jewish farm-to-table & arts camp an hour north of NYC. Monday, April 30th 6:00 - 8:00pm Near Columbus Circle in Manhattan, NYC Local organic Kosher hors d'oeuvres & wine served Click here to buy your ticket: http://peteryarrowedenvillage.eventbrite.com/ The happiness, excitement and heartfelt way in which the Eden Village campers and staff interact is moving and beautiful. ...
Earth Day Mitzvah Mania Cultivates Community in Chicago: This Earth Day, Slow Down and Dig In
- April 4, 2012
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CHICAGO, IL -- The Gan Project, a Jewish social and environmental justice organization, is pleased to announce their first annual Earth Day Mitzvah Mania. The Gan Project grows organic, heirloom produce on its quarter acre Homestead located in West Rogers Park, Chicago. Of that produce, half is gleaned by the community, in accordance with the ancient agricultural practices outlined in the Torah, and half is donated to the ARK food pantry. “We see the roots of Judaism grounded in the agricultural practices of our ancestors and believe that engaging in contemporary ...
Two Day Organic Lollipop Sale for Purim!
- February 22, 2012
Purim is right around the corner... Will yours be sustainable? Purim falls this year on Thursday, March 8. Share your environmental commitment with your community by ordering Kosher Organic Lollipops for Purim! Now for two days only (February 23 and February 24), get up to 25% off our usual low prices, in our pre-Purim sale! (Just $6.00 for 30 lollipops, $9.00 for 50 lollipops or $15.00 for 100 lollipops. Only while supplies last! Order today.) ...
Eco-Friendly Personal Care
- January 10, 2012
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Judaism teaches us to be sensitive as to how we treat the Earth and all of Earth’s creatures. When choosing personal care items, keeping this principle in mind can truly make a difference. It also can benefit your health to use natural rather than chemical ingredients whose long-term effects may not be known . Below are some tips for eco-friendly ideas for the purchase and use of personal care items. Many thanks to Jewish Environmental Initiative (JEI) Teen Group member Dena Selig for her contributions to this blog. 1. Make your own beauty ...