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Loading...Make It A Green Valentine’s Day
- Judi Gerber
- February 13, 2012
- 11:05 am
- 24 comments
As I wrote about last week, you can give gardening love for Valentine’s Day and literally have a green day. But, if gardening or gardens are not your thing, there are other ways to ensure that your day of love is as green as possible.
A good place to start is with the meal. If home cooking isn’t your thing, then have dinner at a Certified Green Restaurant in your city. You can search the Green Restaurant Association (GRA) for one near you. The GRA certifies restaurants as “green” based on a number of categories and using category specific criteria.
Sustainable food is one of the GRA certification standards. Other categories include water efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, energy, disposables, and sustainable furnishings and materials.
In order to be green certified, an establishment must meet minimum standards/points in each of these categories, accumulate a total of 100 points, have a full-scale recycling program, and be free of polystyrene foam (aka Styrofoam). Points are awarded for each category and it lists a restaurant’s ranking for these criteria. As GRA says on it’s web site, when ordering seafood and meat, ask if it’s sustainable, hormone-free, naturally raised, etc. They also suggest carrying pocket-size guides to sustainable seafood, like the ones from Blue Ocean Institute to help you make smart seafood choices at the fish counter, or your local sushi restaurant.
If you have searched the site and still can’t find a Green Certified Restaurant in your area, you can also check Local Harvest to at least find a restaurant that serves locally grown and/or organic cuisine for your holiday celebrations.
If you are opting for a home cooked meal, or, even if you are eating at a GRA certified restaurant, you might want to consider the wine that accompanies your meal. There are an increasing number of good organic and biodynamic wine choices.
What makes a wine organic? Basically, 100 percent organically certified wine is a wine made completely from organically grown grapes and without any added sulfites. Some growers are even going beyond organic growing biodynamically. Biodynamic growers also strive to be self-sustaining while working closely with the natural ecosystem.
Many biodynamic wines are grown in accordance with the Biodynamic certification agency the Demeter Association whose standards are stricter than organic standards and emphasize farm animals, soil, and compost preparations that enhance plant growth and fertility. Find organic and biodynamic wineries by checking out Fork and Bottle’s comprehensive list.
Aside from a romantic meal together, perhaps the most popular gift on Valentine’s Day is a bouquet of roses. There are more and more places to find locally grown, organic, earth-friendly flowers including Organic Bouquet or check for other organic flower growers by visiting Local Harvest.
Read more: Conscious Consumer, Eco-friendly tips, Environment, Food, Green, Holidays, Lawns & Gardens, Nature, Valentine's Day, biodynamic wine, Certified Green Resaurant, Organic Flowers, organic wine
Judi Gerber
Judi Gerber is a University of California Master Gardener with a certificate in Horticultural Therapy. She writes about sustainable farming, local foods, and organic gardening for multiple magazines. Her book Farming in Torrance and the South Bay was released in September 2008.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
people are talking
thanks for the tips
thanks.
thanks
I love kitties so much.
Thank you
24 comments
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Jaja...
Thanks
I bought my beloved sacks of corn for a family in Somalia.
i made my guy a homemade meal for valentine's day this year.
A beautiful blue sky day here in Nova Scotia (at least for part of the day).
I am just about surrounded by small vineyards here in this small section of the Annapolis Valley, most of which have won awards.
Overall, the Annapolis Valley is the breadbasket of Nova Scotia - and my meals today have mainly come from local farmers and the local Farmer's Markets. The meals were all home-cooked, well presented and tasty.
Does that qualify as green?
Interesting article, thanks for sharing!
The sun is shining here in the Pacific North West. I have spent most of the day digging in llama manure into my garden. Happy Valentine's Day!!!!
Thank you.
THANKS!
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