That is, the blog green LA girl is no longer going to be updated. The woman you might refer to as green LA girl — that would be me, Siel — will continue on living.
You’ve probably noticed that since about the middle of last year, the pace and energy of green LA girl has slowed quite a bit. During that time I switched careers from freelance writing to teaching, moved back to Santa Monica, and focused more on my creative writing — the stuff I neglected after getting my PhD in 2008 (and a bit before that too).
I’ve really enjoyed blogging here the last 6+ years, but my interests are — drifting. And to pursue those new interests, I have to let go of old ones.
Thanks to Nisha, April, and Sarah, who’ve helped keep this blog afloat the last few months. Thanks to everyone who came to the Blogger Beach Cleanup, green beauty party, and other green LA girl events. And thanks to all of you readers for your engagement and encouragement over the years.
For the time being, green LA girl will stay online. I may still occasionally update this blog with personal updates, but more likely, I’ll develop my new personal website that focuses more on my new interests. That site’s still very bare bones, but you can find it at sielju.com.
I met Heidi after the Grammy Greening Summit, where she excitedly talked to me about her new food company, Luko Foods, which she founded 9 months ago with best friend Nikki. Yes, a new food baby has been brought into the world and it’s delicious! :) Heidi’s contribution to Luko Foods is her fresh salsas, the thought of which leave my mouth watering at the thought of how fresh they are (made with ingredients from local farms, so the ingredients are extra fresh!).
Nikki’s contribution is a line of jams, including Orange Ginger Marmalade, Fig Balsamic (which is being served on the menu of Malibu Golf Club restaurant Malibu and Vines), Blueberry Lemon Lavender, and Strawberry heat (a spicy strawberry jam!). (more…)
I have become very involved in food issues, having realized that food production, vending, consumption, and other food related issues including waste and human health are fundamentally related to environmental health.
If you want an organic meat burger — and you want it fast — stop by O! Burger in West Hollywood.
Yes, there are other options for eco-friendlier burgers in Los Angeles. Want a sumptuous, gourmet organic burger with a price tag to match? I recommend BLD. Willing to settle for “natural” instead of organic? Try Fresh East. Vegan? Head over to The Veggie Grill. Cool with carcinogens as long as they’re veg? Boca Burgers are cheap. Don’t give a shit about yourself or the planet? McDonald’s still has many locations all over SoCal.
But if you want a fast food burger made organic, O! Burger is the place. Really in a hurry? Order it online and pick it up.
Though the grass fed organic beef burger’s its raison d’etre, O! Burger has organic turkey burgers too and does offer a veggie burger — though I have to say the house veg burger isn’t the tastiest veg burger I’ve come across. The deal is healthy though, with a medley of spinach, corn, carrots, and peas — all under crisp cucumber slices.
But really, this place is great for your occasional meaty indulgence. Get your burger the way you want it — all organic sans hormones or antibiotics — salad style on greens or on a yummy bun — always in recyclable, compostable or biodegradable packaging.
Instead of the usual high fructose corn syrup sweetened coke, you can get natural sodas or kombucha. Don’t miss the chocolate chip peanut butter cookies!
O! Burger. 8593 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. 310.854.034. 10:30 am – 9:30 pm daily.
This is for the traveler (occasional or frequent) trying to do at least the smallest amount of something to minimize impact on the environment. Yes, flying is a HUGE contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, but for many Angelenos with family, friends, work relations (not to mention travel fever) all over the country/world, flying is sometimes unavoidable…
1. Refuse to eat airplane food. Firstly, it’s usually beyond overly-processed slop, with likely little to no nutritional value (if you even get a meal). Secondly, it comes wrapped in at least one if not multiple layers of plastic, which all get thrown away. When meal service comes by, just say no thank you.
Alternative: Pack your own meal ahead of time. If you are traveling domestically in the United States, you can pack fresh fruit for yourself, and any cooked/prepared foods (sandwiches, soup, etc.) This also saves you money on expensive food at the airport. Make sure to pack enough food to last you until you arrive at your destination (unless you have time to eat a sit down meal at the airport, to avoid to-go packaging waste). If traveling internationally, do not take any fresh produce. However, you can pack cooked foods. If it’s not too much to worry about, pack reusable cutlery.
2. Pack your own bottle, cup, and/or coffee mug for airline staff to pour drinks in. There is no need for a new plastic cup every time beverage service passes you by. You will get through airline security without a problem is there is NO LIQUID in your bottle. Once you are on the flight, ask the airline staff to pour your beverage into your cup. I have done this several times, without a problem. Be sure to carry your reusable cup around in your new destination to avoid getting drinks in single use containers.
3. Tired of exploding products in your suitcase? Do you buy new products once you reach your destination? Try this instead: squeeze all the air out of plastic bottles, and close the cap. Put all your bottles into one plastic bag. Squeeze the air out, and tie the bag closed. Put this bag into another bag with the ties facing the bottom of the second bag. Squeeze out the air and re-tie it. You should have no leaks with this method, though you are well protected if you do. Keep these bags with you throughout your whole trip, and maybe even set them aside when you return for future use.
4. If you are going across the state, or maybe just 1 city over, seriously consider taking a bus or a train round-trip. In LA, Metrolink is a GREAT way to connect to the whole Southern California region; you can put your bike on it for free, its cheaper than gas, and get you to the places you want to go as quickly as driving. Amtrak is more pricey and slower than driving, but if you are going far and have several days of travel time, it is definitely worth it.
5. If you have to drive long distance, try to not rev the engine too hard (burns more gas), but gently push and release the accelerator. Try to maintain a single speed, to be easy on your engine. Again, pack enough food and drink for yourself to not have to get takeout with one use containers, or stop at sit down dine-in places.
6. If you have to drive, make an announcement on Facebook to see if anyone wants to make a trip with you (aka carpool), or check and post on Craigslist’s rideshare page to see if anyone is offering or needs a ride to your destination.
7. At hotels – try to run shower and sink water on the lowest setting possible. Make sure to see if they have a green cleaning option available (so your sheets/towels are not changed everyday). Pack your own soaps and products, so that you don’t have to open and waste the little plastic bottle convenience packs they give you. Make sure you always turn off the lights/heater/cooler when you are not in the room.
8. Do your research ahead of time – where are the local, sustainable restaurants located? Local bakeries?
9. Again, do your research ahead of time – how can you transport yourself without having to rent a car or take taxis everywhere? How can you get to your destination without a car? How can you get around the city without a car? Can you rent a bicycle for a few days?
10. Again, do your research ahead of time – what fruits and vegetables are in season in the place you are visiting? Try and order those things when you eat out.
11. For the last time, do your research ahead of time – what awesome environmental orgs are in the place you are visiting? Are there any community land trusts? Eco-villages? Bicycle coalitions? Urban gardens? Seed-saving organizations? If you are active on an issue in LA, can you link with an org doing similar work in a new place? Contact them ahead of time, if possible, to see if they are willing to meet with you or give you a tour of their facility. Coalition building is key in the environmental movement, and it’s always good to get new ideas from stuff going on in new places. :)
Photo via 
