Before she moved to the Valley, there was one afternoon when my ex-roommate happened to be in the kitchen as I moved my groceries from my reusable bags to the fridge. “Wow, you’re so responsible, taking your own bags,” she said.
Was that a hint of enviro-interest coming from my Republican roommate?
Ok ok — I know that environmental awareness is not necessarily a partisan issue. But this girl — totally sweet and kind otherwise — was staunchly opposed to recycling. Too much of a bother, she said, about simply throwing the recyclable stuff into a separate container…
Still, we got along, and her lil comment stuck with me. I remembered it when I discovered some of her old law school books, which I put into a reusable canvas bag that’ll sorta be like my moving-to-the-valley gift for her.
This cool bag I got from Co-op America, by simply joining its Adopt-A-Supermarket campaign online. All you have to do is sign up, making a commitment to make regular visits to your supermarket of choice for a year, and to request more fair trade products via comment cards or by speaking to the manager. My adoptee is the Culver City Trader Joe’s where I’ve already been asking for fair trade chocolate.
In exchange, Co-op America’ll send you a reusable grocery bag. And this bag’s not just any bag — It’s a certified organic cotton bag, made in India following fair wage/ fair labor standards.
Shop fair trade, and spread the word :)
Oh now SEE — Pasadena Trader Joe’s have Organic, Fair Trade chocolate bars already. Are you looking in the right place?!? My favorite is the really YUMMY super dark, but there are two or three flavors of TJ house brand. . . .
Comment by Roger, Gone Green — January 12, 2006 @ 3:09 am
Siel,
How cool is that bag! It sports the logos of BOTH of the organizations I used to work for. It brings back fond memories. FYI, I have just taken a new position with a group in D.C. called the Center for a New American Dream. I am the Director of their Responsible Purchasing Network. I you ever feel like it, have a visit to our website. My program, which will soon be moving to http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org, is currently on the organization’s main site, housed in this section: http://www.newdream.org/procure.
Cheers,
Chris
P.S. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it before, but just thought I’d let you know that I really enjoy reading your blog. Actually, it’s the only one I read. Hope you keep it up.
Comment by Chris O'Brien — January 12, 2006 @ 2:48 pm
Roger — You sure ’bout that? Cuz I got really excited when you said TJ’s had triple certified coffee, to learn later that the shade grown part was not actually certified… I ask cuz I specifically asked the helpful TJ people if they had fair trade chocolate, and even wrote a letter to headquarters — TJ’s wrote back saying that they’re thinking about it.
Meaning: if Pasadena has it, I’m v. jealous, and wanna know what color the wrapper is so I can spot it more easily. Better yet, post a pic of it. Seeing is believing, yes? Call me Thomas. Or Thomette.
Chris, Thanks :) It’s wonderful to hear kind words from my heroes. A toast to you –
Comment by Siel — January 12, 2006 @ 7:51 pm
The Culver City Trader Joe’s, which is also my local store, happens to be the only TJ’s I know of that puts you in a $25 weekly drawing if you bring your own bags. Sure is a good incentive for me. I try to remember to bring in my cloth bags at Ralphs too, but this makes it easier.
Comment by Lisa — January 13, 2006 @ 1:06 am
Dude — I’ve been trying to win that lottery for YEARS! Have you won it?
Comment by Siel — January 13, 2006 @ 1:26 pm
No, not yet, but I keep tryin
Comment by Lisa — January 13, 2006 @ 4:57 pm