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TABLE OF CONTENTS 5CELEBRITIES DOING GOOD

7BEAUTY: SHEA BUTTER

8TREETINI

HOME & GARDEN: WEEKEND 10MAKEOVER

13NASA’S BIG ‘LAUNCH’

BEAUTY&FASHION: GREEN 17BEAUTY PRODUCTS

TEA BAGGING IN AMERICA WITH JW 19HARGRAVE

23TRAVEL: 10 VACATION SPOTS

30DO IT: PICNIC IN THE PARK

32ALTRNATIVE TRANSPORTATION

Letter from the Editor

The Organic Villager staff is excited to

present our premier issue—the Summer Preview Issue. We want to give our

readers a taste of the Organic Villager lifestyle, before

serving up our full-size issue on June 1st.

The creation of the magazine has been an incredible experience.

We are thrilled to have writers from around the globe,

sharing their knowledge and

perspectives on our great planet.

We look forward to bringing you more

great articles in June.

Until then, visit us at www.organicvillager.com

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Shakira steps out at

the Hard Rock Cafe in Washington, D.C. In an effort to promote

her charity, Pies Descalzos Foundation

Debra Messing lends a hand at the Black

Beauty Hair Salon in Harare, Zimbabwe,

which trains stylists as peer educators to

teach clients about HIV prevention and use of

the female condom

Cynthia Nixon joins

WE tv's WE Volunteer event,

"Pledge 24 in 2010" in New York City's

Times Square

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BY LATA VIJAYA RAGHAVAN If you are like me, you may have spent the better part of winter frantically looking for a moisturizer which not only has good cosmetic value but is also good for the health of your skin.

Look no further than pure, Shea Butter.

Vitamin A is present in Shea Butter and takes care of all types of skin afflictions like, sunburns, insect bites, allergies, frost bites, and general wounds. You can also count on it to keep

your skin well hydrated. And by staying moisturized, Shea Butter sets a perfect stage to delay formation of wrinkles and premature aging. Another heartening fact: Shea Butter is naturally obtained from the seeds of Shea tree and is therefore, 100% organic and safe to use, without any side effects.

SHEA BUTTER LOTION THAT WE LOVE

Our Beauty Editors love Burt’s Bees Shea Butter Hand Repair Crème

with Cocoa Butter and Sesame Oil.

Want To Try Some For Yourself?

5 Lucky Readers Will Receive A Lotion Mini!

Email: win@ovillager.com

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CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WEEKEND WITH

THE TREETINI

The Morgans Hotel Group recently partnered with VeeV Acai Spirits’ to create the ‘Treetini’ to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. VeeV, the World’s First Acai Spirit, also happens to be the only certified carbon-neutral spirit on the market. You can find the cocktail at eight of their properties across the U.S., including those in L.A., South Beach, New York and San Francisco.

The ‘Treetini’ was created in collaboration with Live It Green, and pledges to plant 1 tree for every 1 cocktail purchased in the month of April. The hotel group hopes to reach a goal of 1,000 trees planted. For more information about the Treetini Program, visit www.treetini.com.

Celebrate Earth Day with Organic Villager’s take on the ‘Treetini’.

2 oz. VeeV Acai Spirit

.75 oz agave nectar

4 lime wedges

3 mint leaves

3 sweet basil leaves

Club soda

Tear and crush mint and basil leaves to release oils and drop into shaker. Shake all ingredients well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Top with soda, stir, and garnish as desired.

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Easy Changes You Can Make In A Weekend

……………………………… It’s one of the easiest changes you can make—and most likely, you’ve already made it happen: Switching to CFLs (compact fluorescent

lamp/lighting). Check online for hard to find sizes, like those for a chandelier or nightlight. Because these energy efficient bulbs contain mercury, it’s important that you have a plan for disposal. Some regions offer disposal centers (visit earth911.com for a directory of locations) and few retailers, such as IKEA, host CFL collections. If there is not a collection location in your area, simply bag the light bulb and dispose with your garbage.

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…………………… Give your house a breath of fresh air by adding an air filtration device to your living area. Most moderately priced air purifiers can process up to 500 square feet, while removing up to 99.97% of particles down to .1 micron in size.

Running your air conditioner non-stop? Try installing a ceiling fan. The circulation can make you feel up to 8 degrees cooler, while reducing you’re electric bill by an estimated 40%.

Upgrade to a water saving shower head. Our favorite is the Waterpik EcoFlow Eco Rain . This luxurious shower head creates 50% more spray, while saving half a gallon of water per minute.

A clean way to utilize grey water: The Toilet Top Sink

This toilet topper replaces your current lid and installs without any special tools. The clean water that normally fills your tank is diverted into the sink, which drains the used

(grey) water for use in the toilet. This model by Gaiam can be purchased from Amazon.com for around $100.

Every ‘green’ garden deserves a compost bin. You can purchase a premade storage device

or make your own (visit ovillager.com for instructions). Fill your compost bin with fruit and vegetable scraps, lawn clippings, paper, and other non-animal/man made waste. The resulting compost can be used to fertilize flower beds and vegetable gardens. Give your plants and yard (as well as your wallet) an extra boost by installing a rain barrel. For less than $100, you can pick up an easy-to-install rain barrel at most big box stores.

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BY REBECCA GIBSON Something is brewing at NASA. Meet the LAUNCH program. It’s a NASA initiative targeting drinking water sustainability and water-related environmental factors that has employed 10 innovative science projects to make drastic changes. Change they can do, as historically NASA scientific funding for space study has had countless benefits for earth, health and the environment. Christened LAUNCH:water to reflect the disruptive nature of its environmental ideas and studies, this hopeful initiative aims to create environmental change on a global scale. The 10 science teams involved in this project are at the forefront of their fields, and hold ambitious dreams for the future of earth’s water supply. They are all NASA quality and have an eye for important environmental issues, and now with NASA’s

LAUNCH program backing them they have the change to make real change. Dr. Marc van Lersel from the University of Georgia wrote a paper describing ideas for affordable water-saving irrigation systems for agricultural applications. Did you know that 70% of

the globe’s freshwater is used by irrigation activities? Inaccurate water measuring technologies and expensive computers mean an incalculable loss of water across the globe. With his affordable new technology plants would be efficiently watered using only about 5-20% of the

water previously used for the same tasks. He hopes to reduce water wastage and runoff and so conserve one of Earth’s most

valuable possessions. Dr. Susan Addy and Dr. Ashok Gadgil wrote

about electrochemical

developments that reduce the amount of

arsenic in drinking water. Arsenic is both a natural element of water and an industrial byproduct that runs off into drinking water reservoirs. If ingested, over time it can become carcinogenic or result in debilitating skin diseases. Cleaning of drinking water is very important and equally difficult, but with a small electrical charge Doctors Addy and Gadgil can charge and

Dana holds her daughter Judna in her arms on the shore of LaGonave, an island without clean drinking water. More than 60,000 Haitians have moved here since the quake. charity: water plans to provide safe water with funds raised by UNSHAKEN. 100% of donations directly fund water projects. Photo: Esther Havens

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two steel plates collect all the arsenic in the form of rust in the space of an hour. If NASA funds them this process could be advanced to take less than ten minutes. Doctors Alexandre Bayen and Andrew Tinka have an idea for a new floating sensor network that can monitor the globe’s supply of water and compile data over time more effectively than today’s technologies. This has immeasurably important uses in managing freshwater supplies in third world countries and organizing smart emergency responses in the case of natural disasters. Today’s technologies are simply not sufficient for this task, but Bayen and Tinka’s invention is poised, as LAUNCH:water hopes, to create drastic benefits for the globe and especially the third world. Dr. Julien Harou’s Hydroplatform idea is an open-source software available to all water management researchers who have previously designed independent programs to facilitate studies. The benefits of this free technology available electronically is that all the globe’s researchers will be using the same platform and so can interact and exchange data over the internet, breeding a massive free collaboration of environmental science and study. This massive open source platform contains programs for multiple systems including water supply, hydrology and ecology, and human-benefiting economic, social and political data. The mass of data accumulated across the globe with this project will surely propel

environmental water science a hundred years into the future. Dr. Stephen Kennedy’s Vertical Crop

hydroponic system is an agricultural aid that uses 1/20th of the land and water required for traditional farming. This machine could provide more food for a bursting-at-the-seams global population and greatly benefit impoverished areas with little or no arable soil or fresh water. If it sounds like something out of a science-fiction book,

you’re not the only one! But hopes to make effective LAUNCH:water

changes that will benefit the globe for the rest of history. What a memorable change it will be! Dr. Mark Sobsey has engineered a very low cost bacterial water test for the third world. Nearly 1.5 million children under the age of five die every year because of contaminated water. The third world simply cannot afford first-world water management practices. The process involves filling a plastic bag with water and testing agent and leaving the bag on a shelf overnight. The resulting measurements, from three different products that either indicate contamination level by cloudiness, color, or gel precipitate in the water correspond with WHO guidelines for determining clean drinking water. Dr. Ron Garan has developed a program to roll the Kyoto Protocol carbon credit into providing clean water, energy and sanitation for the third world which

“Nearly 1.5 million children under the

age of five die every year because of contaminated

water.”

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currently sees no profit for the $12 billion credit market. His project build solar power cells, provides high efficiency stoves and ultraviolet water purification systems. A simple redirection of the carbon credit by educated volunteers towards carbon-saving applications in the third world could certainly bring health and productivity to many impoverished cities in the globe. Dr. Mark Tonkin has engineered another clever irrigation system, this one a sub-surface machine that utilizes unreachable ground water. Directing irrigation efforts underground provides surrounding life with 70% more drinking water. This is especially useful for land that previously could not be cultivated as it was. Deserts could become green with an invisible high-tech supply of diffused water. He hopes NASA funding will propel his technology forward.

Dr. Shahram Javey started a company making water conservation technology for America that uses green energy and detects money-wasting leaks in their pipes. It is a simple computer that is attached to existing pipes and reports data via satellite. He hopes to market this feature to the new green conscious residents of America.

Dr. April Rinne pioneered Watercredit, an organization that helps the water-poor third world access microfinance opportunities for water and sanitation purposes. These options provide small loans to facilitate development of lasting clean systems for water and sanitation. Providing clean water and sanitation to the globe could, according to the UN Human Development Report, increase the globe’s productivity by $38 billion. Visit www.launch.org to follow this NASA project.

Franco carries water from an unprotected spring to his home in Corporant Village, Haiti, which has grown by at least 1,000 people since the earthquake. An estimated 20 children die here each year from waterborne diseases. Photo: Esther Havens

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There is a plane that departs Will Rogers International Airport at least once a year. Workingmen have spent hours loading it down and securing its contents. There is nothing special about this particular flight that, in a matter of hours will touch down on the west coast, be stripped and dispersed to trucks for delivery. All the same it finds me waiting, longing, counting the days away from the moment when I, in a rushed state of naivety, phoned my parents long distance and placed an order for a drop ship of provisions. It is the Leningrad relief effort of the 21st century; a package weighing in at ten to twelve pounds, chalked full of syrups and mixes, of chocolates and coffee beans, pictures and memorabilia; needed elements of a life away from the giving tree. It arrives in the nick-of-time to stave off the threat of having to venture to the conglomerate corner store for the less than most desirable rations, because the bulk of the shipment is the most important; the canister on the counter has been dry for weeks; tea; loose-leaf, fresh; pounds of it in various flavors and mixtures. TEA.

Cultures through the ages have relied on tea for social gatherings, its texture & taste and its healing properties.

There are images imbedded in the psyche of legendary American heroes of the colony, Paul Revere and George Washington, riding bareback stallions through the countryside, drinking tea and warning farmers of invading hordes of the liquid hating British. But, this is propaganda invented to single out the North American continent as the sole defenders of those wishing for the freedom to choose what’s in their cup. It is now known that the United Kingdom, as well as others throughout the world are great lovers and enthusiasts of tea.

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Recently, it has even been suggested that it was other countries that brought tea to the New World and not the other way around. But put simply, tea is universal.

I’m not a cultured man, myself. One might go as far as to say that I am uncultured; a young man, out on the world without a culture, or traditions and certainly without anything to pass along. Our grandfathers believed they would live forever; our fathers realized that they wouldn’t; and their sons have hoped not to. It’s the swan song of a generation. I don’t care about social gatherings. I’m not inviting troglodytes over for tea and crumpets; that’s what whisky is for. I’m indifferent to the so-called healing properties; everything in excess is bad. The diets that are all this or all that are a crock. But there is something soothing about tea. It is the perfect aphrodisiac to an evening spent alone, in corners, typing out dribble that the masses will never read and holding in contempt the

crumbling etiquette of society. One might look upon areas where tea parties still hold an inkling of “old world” conservative flavor, to be outdated and placeless, an elitist gathering of upper-class socialites discussing the fates of the peasants; sacrificing compassion for stocks and bonds. And while it seems a dying act of sentiment, it’s also a testament to stature, grace and modesty. Tea is like that. Modest and simple in structure. Bold and robust in taste and stature. In America, tea is known to everyone in all corners, classes and social statuses in different forms and grades. I grew up a Midwesterner on iced tea, brewed in batches, with little or no attention paid to the process, the leaves or the end product. While houses on the hill towered over our suburban city, and the well-to-do children inside sat at long mahogany tables drinking fresh whole milk from chalices, we found ourselves cross-legged in front of the television with highball’s full of iced tea. As if lemonade had gone out of style and we were being groomed to move straight onto Mint Juleps as soon as we were of drinking age, we downed glass after glass never thinking twice of asking for anything else. Besides it was only flavored water (loosely flavored, store bought, bagged and boxed God knows when). But it’s the sort of thing that stays with a person year after year and in which habits are passed along and mannerisms rubbed off. Tea is not obtrusive. It doesn’t scream at a person and demand attention. Furthermore, it’s in groups,

by yourself, with a date; it’s a party; it’s hot, it’s cold, it’s with milk, it’s spiked (the Long Island Iced Tea is devoid of real tea). I’m told that the healing properties of tea are far reaching. Aside from being chalked full of antioxidants, the brewing process allows for a unique aspect that no other drink in the world is

accustomed to. Because of the temperatures at

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A Tea for Every Mood

Tea as an Aphrodisiac The Egyptians, Chinese and Hindu

have all used licorice as an aphrodisiac. Brew up a cup of licorice tea to steam things up

between you and your sweetie.

Tea for Relieving Anxiety Kava tea is made from the roots of

this Western Pacific plant (think Hawaii, Fiji, and Polynesia). The tea provides a calming, sedative effect, without disrupting mental clarity.

Tea for Healthy Glow

Oolong tea is popular in Asian restaurants and comes in many

varieties. Similar to wine, Oolong blends are classified by their aroma and after taste. In addition to jump starting your metabolism, Oolong

has many skin clearing and immunity

which tea is boiled, the leaves and water are expelled of any and all bacteria. It’s important to note that different teas are a composition of different leaves, grown in separate regions, under different conditions and often for different purposes and results. Like all things, one must consider the affects that anything a person consumes might have on their lifestyle and well-being. Numerous studies have found tea to have positive effects on certain types of cancer as well as lowering the risk of strokes and helping prevent diabetes in some cases. Teas are known to boost mental alertness, lower the chances of cognitive impairment, increase metabolic rate and decrease stress. But at the same time tea leaves also contain large amounts of caffeine which is addictive and oxalates which can produce kidney stones. What we take away from the knowledge we acquire should be to strive to acquire more. The world is full of things good and evil; things taken out of context or without a mindful eye of warning.

Is tea delicious? Of course. Is it good for you? Yes. Should you drink it every

day? Not a terrible idea. Is it worth drowning yourself in? Only if

you’re planning a creative suicide. One word of support is not the end all, it is only the beginning and it should be our responsibility to maintain a constant stream of information, taking into account as much circumstances and perception as possible. Like the Earth, our bodies are here to be used, but maybe not to the point of destruction. I wouldn’t dare tell anyone what they should and shouldn’t drink, or what is the best or worst thing for

a person to put into their bodies. I don’t pretend to

know what others like, but I encourage thought

and expansion of a person’s comfort zone. Try tea in all

its glory, for better or worse remembering that there is always

more to try and to learn. I like Earl Grey with a little milk.

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23 ECO DESTINATIONSTOP 10

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#1 Star Island, Bahamas

Star Island is situated near the island of Eleuthera. This one of a kind property is the first carbon neutral and sustainable exotic island resort. The island, known as S.T.A.R (Sustainable Terrain and Resources), boasts an exquisite boutique hotel,

featuring seaside bungalows and villas.

#2 Sundance Resort

Located in Sundance, Utah, this full-service resort is nestled on 6,000 acres of raw wilderness. Unique to this resort is their

Recycled Glassworks program, which hosts Artists in Residents who recycle glass to be transformed into decorative art and housewares.

#3 Gaia Napa Valley and Spa Hotel

This eco-hotel is set on four acres near Napa, CA. The hotel is fully sustainable and offers safe, toxin-free accommodations. Tours of the nearby wine country are offered by the hotel, as well as packages for their earth friendly spa.

Photo: Starislandbahamas.com

Photo: gaianapavalleyhotel.com

Photo: Sundanceresort.com

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#4 The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa

Opened in 1892, this downtown Denver hotel has a rich history, as well as a bright and green future. The Brown Palace’s restaurant(s) only serves 100% sustainable seafood, collect water from an artesian well located beneath the facility, and recycles all cooking oil into bio diesel fuel.

#5 Kw'o:kw'e:hala Eco Retreat

Located on the Coquihalla River in British Columbia, the Kw’o:ke’e:hala Eco Retreat a relaxing and beautiful stay, with slow cooked organic food. Packages include use of an authentic Finnish spa, guided yoga and Pilates along the beach, and the luxury of late check-out. This destination also offers pet-friendly packages, for pooches that need pampering.

Photo: brownpalace.com

Photo: eco-retreat.com

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#6 The Ambrose

Located in Santa Monica, CA, this certified green hotel treats guests to Italian bed linens, organic bath linens and Aveda products. A complimentary organic breakfast awaits guests each morning, as does the lush landscaping and koi pond on the grounds.

#7 Habitat Suites

The gardens at this Austin, TX hotel, which include everything from herbs to pine trees, are well worth the stay. What makes this hotel green? It generates electricity

and hot water through roof top solar panels, making for quite the unique destination.

#8 Saybrook Point Inn and Spa

A picturesque waterfront inn, the Saybrook overlooks the Long Island Sound. The luxurious spa runs a sustainable operation and provides organic treatments with natural beauty products.

Photo: ambrosehotel.com

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#9 Amelia Island Plantation

A 1,350 acre resort, it is drenched in natural Southern beauty—Spanish moss draped through the trees, 3 miles of quiet beach, and a staff that makes protecting the barrier island ecosystem a priority.

#10 Berkshires Shirakaba

A Japanese Guesthouse, this Massachusetts inn is a one-of-a-kind. The inn is set on 21 private acres. A cliff top gazebo allows guests to gaze over the grandeur of the Berkshires. Guests can dine on traditional Japanese cuisine.

Photo: aipfl.com

Photo: berkshires-shirakaba.com

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DO IT: PICNIC

Throw together an elegant salad, a few fresh sides, and a blanket—it’s time for

a Picnic in the Park.

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We paired fresh, organic greens with organic Italian prosciutto, rye croutons, sundried tomatoes and freshly grated parmesan. An easy side: Kalamata olive loaf from Whole Foods and a slice of imported. Wash it down with Fetzer’s earth friendly white zinfandel. And for dessert: Organic dark chocolate covered almonds and a seductive blood orange.

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YOUR GUIDE TO

ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION BIKE. BUS. BOARD. SKATE. SCOOT. TRAIN. WALK.

Giving up the convenience (or possible inconvenience) of a car is a bit scary for most Americans. We’re taught to yearn for the independence and comfortable sanctuary that only a car can provide. It’s like an island on wheels—amongst a clogged and polluted sea of identical islands, all floating down the same stream, to the same destination. Are you ready to break free from the car habit? We’ve compiled a short list of resources that will get you on your way.

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Transalt.org

Transalt.org provides a lot of great information on alternative transportation, with an emphasis on cycling. They provide links to cycling maps, laws, and advocacy sites. If you’re in the NYC area, you can also check out their events page for upcoming workshops and rides.

Google Maps

Whether you’re planning on walking, cycling, or taking mass transit, Google maps can show you the fastest and shortest routes. Visit maps.google.com, enter your address and destination, and then select your mode of transportation.

Publictransportation.org

A very to-the-point website with national mass transportation information, including nationwide maps organized by county and city. This is an excellent resource for those visiting other towns.

Streetsblog.org

This is a daily blog and online community focusing on the ‘Livable Streets Movement’. The site boasts an amazing selection of news and resources for anyone researching the car free movement. There are also local blogs for NYC, LA, San Francisco and D.C.

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