The Hill-Side, a Brooklyn and Connecticut-made accessories line, features some really dashing spring ties made from selvedge fabric. Typically, fabric near the selvage is unused and discarded, but lines like Hill-Side not only make a handsome accessory, but they divert waste from hitting a land-fill. Visit their website for store locations.
Moby’s new book ‘Gristle: From Factory Farms to Food Safety (Thinking Twice About the Meat We Eat)’ is already making waves. From TheNewPress.com:
“Multi-platinum musician Moby and leading food policy activist and expert Miyun Park have brought together fifteen of the country’s leading voices on this issue–an eclectic group from such diverse backgrounds as farming, workers’ rights activism, professional athletics, science, environmental sustainability, food business, and animal welfare advocacy–who together eloquently lay out how and why 
industrial animal agriculture unnecessarily harms workers, communities, the environment, our health, our wallets, and animals.”
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Could it get more suggestive? AussieBum offers up mens undies made from..ahem..bananas. Well, to be precise, they’re made from the weave of fiber extracted from the banana plant and mixed with soft organic cotton. These undies are comfy, stylish and made with a conscious effort towards ensuring minimal environmental impact.
Tom’s has some new vegan spring styles. I really like the ‘Black Tangier’.
(Part II: #6-#10)
By contributor Nik Tyler
Continuing on my epic quest to discover new (to me) products that I think you’ll dig as well; enjoy #6-10 vegan products to try in 2010!! (see 1 -5 HERE)
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6. AMY’S
I think Amy’s Natural & Organic meals are groovy!! Everything they produce is vegetarian, and many are vegan. They’re all organic, easy to heat and serve, and darn tasty to boot! Amy’s vast array of vegan options range from breakfast steel-cut oats to tofu scramble to Asian noodle stir-fry to vegetable enchiladas to veggie burgers, pizza, chili, baked ziti and even chocolate cake (and that’s just to name a few)!! My personal fave is Amy’s vegan “Family Marinara” Sauce – which is a fantastic addition to noodles, quinoa, beans, sauteed veggies and just about anything else you can think of!
You can find Amy’s products at Whole Foods and several other health food stores. For more info, check out their website: http://amys.com/
7. MAUK FAMILY FARMS
I’ve been a fan of Mauk Family Farms products for a while now. This company makes some really delectable Flax Seed crackers (my favorite flavor is “Garlic Onion”) as well as two other great products called “Wheat Free Crusts” (brown and golden flax seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, celery seed, garlic, onion, red bell pepper, parsley, sea salt & water) & “Breakfast Crusts” (pumpkin seeds, black/white sesame seed,golden flax seed, garlic, onion, dulse flakes & sea salt). They have no grain or gluten and are rich in Copper, Magnesium & essential fatty acids. These crusts are totally addictive and perfect on their own… or try one of my favorite combo’s and spread on some creamy coconut oil and you’ll be in total ecstasy!!
You can buy Mauk Family Farms products at Whole Foods, perhaps your local Co Op or in their online store: https://maukfamilyfarms.com/mm5/merchant.mvc
8. ENJOY LIFE FOODS
Searching for a food company that makes delicious snacks and is “sensitive” to the issue of food allergies? Enjoy Life Foods is that company; their mission is to create and sell cookies, trail mix, snack bars & baking products that are uber tasty, as well as free and clear of gluten, dairy, egg, casein, peanuts, tree-nuts, and soy… And that’s exactly what they’ve done! My favorite products that they make are the “Happy Apple” & “No-Oats “Oatmeal”" cookies; They’re moist, chewy, not-too-sweet, and just undeniably delicious!
So now you know a company that makes treats that can be enjoyed by literally everyone, even those who need to be extra cautious due to food allergies. Be sure and check out their full product list and learn more about this cool company: http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/
9. 2 MOMS IN THE RAW
Founded by Shari, a very cool, health-conscious mom of three, 2 Moms In The Raw is a fantastic company that produces a yummy array of organic, raw Granola (“Blueberry”, “Cranberry”, “Gojiberry” & “Raisin”) and Sea Crackers (“Garden Herb”, “Pesto” & “Tomato Basil”).
The “Garden Herb” Sea Crackers are definitely my favorite; consisting of Flaxseed, Kombu (Sea Vegetable), Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Sea Salt and Spices - they’re light, crunchy, crisp and they taste like a fresh herb garden compressed into chip form! The “Tomato Basil” Sea Crackers are rad as well, made up of Flaxseeds, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Garlic, Kombu, Herbs & Sea Salt – they have a wonderful garlicky, sun-dried tomato bite! Both of these crackers are the perfect light-bite for kids and adults; enjoy them on their own or dip it!
In addition to their delicious crackers, 2 Moms also sell raw Granola which rocks! Not your typical granola, a little more chunky, you can break it into little pieces and eat it like a breakfast bar. The two flavors I’ve tried, Blueberry & (Gluten-free) Gojiberry are free of refined sugars (substitute Agave) and instead are jam-packed with a ton of healthy ingredients (buckwheat, coconut, a plethora of seeds/nuts and more!!), all of which have been soaked & sprouted to perfection; chewy, crunchy, semi-sweet and utterly delicious, countless textures and flavors awaken your taste-buds and take em’ on one helluva’ wild joy-ride!
You can purchase 2 Moms In The Raw products at Shari’s wonderful site: http://2momsintheraw.com/ or look for them at your local health food store.
9. SUNPOWER NATURAL
In addition to a full-blown gourmet vegan menu at their restaurant (located in Studio City, CA), Sun Power Natural has an awesome product line of raw cookies that I recently discovered at my local co op. The two flavors I’ve tried are “Cinnamon” (coconut, raisins, cinnamon & agave) & “Fruit Burst” (oranges, coconut, raisins, agave). These cookies are “chewy, gooey & delicious” and I definitely think Sun Power Natural has got it going on! In addition to tasting like heaven, these organic treats are raw, gluten-free & low glycemic.
Look for SunPower food at your local co op and Whole Foods, or just click on this link (http://www.sunpowernatural.com/) and get some raw decadence in your life stat!
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I hope you enjoyed my 10 vegan product picks! In addition to these yummy snacks, try and balance your diet and combat any acidic/sugar intake by consuming tons of alkalizing greens and lots of pH balanced water. Here’s to your health!
• My new spring shoes are these killer, plaid, vegan oxfords from John Fluevog! How cool are these? They’re perfect with khaki shorts, jeans, or black trousers. From a punk rock club to wall street, you can mismatch them with other patters, or let these kicks stand alone as the centerpiece of your outfit. The best thing of all is that help you tread more light since they’re free of leather, one of the nastiest sources of pollution and global warming. $179
• I was recently interviewed on the podcast “Our Hen House, Episode 9” where I discussed The Cave Man Diet, Mainstream Manliness, and other interesting tidbits with fabulous hosts and activists Jasmin and Mariann. If you aren’t subscribed to this podcast that discusses all kinds of ideas on how individuals can make change for animals, you should SUBCRIBE.
• According to VegetarianStar.com, Biggest Loser host and trainer, Bob Harper is almost 100% vegan, and has challenged his twitter followers to go vegan, too!
When his cholesterol dropped 100 points after going veg, he couldn’t help but send out tweets like this: “Your Challenge today is to go the next 24 hours, starting now eliminating ALL animal products. Good for your heart AND the environment!!”
“I’m a HUGE fan of Gardein!!”
“I love this day..getting together with a couple of close friends and I’m preparing a VEGAN FEAST..hope they like it!!”
• CONVERT is a new concept shop in Berkley, CA featuring sustainable designers. It’s the only store in Berkeley’s Fourth Street shopping district to carry men’s apparel. It also offers a selection of women’s clothing, stylish accessories and Bay Area-based labels.
1809B Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710 • (510) 649-9759
Open: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• It’s rad that another NBA star has gone vegan (for at least 4 days) but I can’t help being ever-so-slightly insulted that Phoenix Suns player Amar’e Stoudemire considers this vegan diet a “fast”. Call me crazy, but isn’t a fast when you eat nothing at all? Clearly he hasn’t had my Pistacio Crusted Seitan, or he’d be talking about his vegan feast. Full story at Ecorazzi.
• Just Offal. Did your food have a face…that you ate right off the skull? If the idea of eating face, entrails, scrotum, testicles, brain, snout, feet, heart, organs, blood pudding, heads, and tripe (rectum) makes you feel awful, it’s no coincidence that offal sounds as bad as it’s name. However, there is a huge and dedicated following of offal foodies, and I can only wonder if these p
eople want something all-their-own just to give them cool points, street cred, or something of shock value? Or are they just more honest about what they’re eating; the parts that everyone else throws away because they’re “gross”. A lot of people require the ambiguity of meat to enjoy it, but offal is difficult to hide whose body it came from, especially if you’re eating a face or a brain.
I was especially disturbed by Pajata, a traditional dish from Rome. According to wiki, it refers to the intestines of an “un-weaned” calf, i.e., only fed on its mother’s milk. The calf is killed soon after nursing. The intestines are cleaned, but the milk is left inside (how do you both clean the intestines, yet leave the contents in place?). When cooked, the combination of heat and the enzyme rennet in the intestines coagulates the milk and creates a sort of thick, creamy, cheese-like sauce. Blach! I thought veal was already sick, but this? Cooking the mothers milk inside her baby? Twisted. I’ll stick to my walnut-mushroom pate and cashew cheese, thank you very much.
