Organic Cakes

Most weddings I have ever been to have a cake. It's sort of the frosting on the wedding if you can handle that pun. For just one item, it tends to take up quite a bit of the wedding budget. So why not make it sustainable and organic? Your tummy and your planet will thank you.

Organic cake bakers are few and far between, but I bet you can find someone in your local area who can make your cake organic. I had the pleasure of interviewing a local organic baker for my Gorgeous and Green blog. Her name is Edith Meyer and I would like to share their story here to give you an idea of what it might mean to be an organic baker:

1. Why did you start your business and how did you decide to get involved in making organic/sustainable cakes?

One of my best friends who knew I liked to bake asked me to make her wedding cake. And it turned out to be a five-tiered, hand-painted, fondant-covered, crazy-elaborate undertaking. But I LOVED it. And it turns out that most wedding cakes actually aren't good - all the focus is on the design.

So I started the business to provide great-tasting cakes and desserts for weddings. An organic focus is honestly just a part of my lifestyle, which happens to translate very organically (pardon the pun) into the best-tasting products. You want your guests to enjoy every aspect of the wedding, and the dessert should be a part of that!

2. How would you define sustainable living?

In the most simple of terms, we need to be conscious of the impact that we have on the world around us, and take steps in as many areas of our lives as we can to reduce our negative impact.

3. What do you think is the biggest barrier in getting couples to choose a green/sustainable wedding?

Hm. My first instinct is to say cost, but I don't think that is really it. People see weddings as the one day when it IS about them, and when they CAN splurge, so they often don't want to make compromises like wearing a recycled dress or having a few less pieces of beautiful paper in the invitations. And I can understand that. (Although I think hemp silk dresses like those at conscious clothing should change EVERYONE'S mind!! )

Maybe choose SOME sustainable elements, like centerpieces, flowers, favors, and feel really good about those choices. Lack of education is a barrier - people are still learning what "green" really means with respect to weddings. And there are some murky areas, like carbon offsets for your traveling guests. I don't think I'd recommend them until there is more transparency about where the money goes. Luckily, as the green movement gathers steam there is a cache in identifying with it, and couples who live sustainably clearly want that reflected in their weddings. So I think the barriers are getting smaller.

There is NO barrier when it comes to edibles, I think (lucky for me!). Organic just tastes better, period. So spending a little more on food and dessert that tastes AMAZING is worth it to most people - they want to honor the guests who have come to honor the two of THEM, and serving a great meal is the best way to do that. I honestly cannot tell you the number of clients who have been to a number of cake tastings, and after one bite they're sold. It is THAT different.

4. How is your business green/sustinable?

What do you wish you could do or >have to make it more green or better for people and the planet? Since day one, all of our cakes' ingredients are organic, and we source locally whenever possible. We work with local farmers to source everything from eggs and butter to berries and vegetables. Even our chocolates and coffee beans are organic and fair-trade. My office is completely solar-powered; we recycle and compost everything we can - I even have a recycled-bottle cover for my iPhone (thank you, Agent 18! ).

My transportation is NOT hybrid, because a) it's older and paid for and I don't want to scrap it until it's necessary, and b) because the battery issues with hybrids still aren't ideal, I think. So I guess I wish I could have a teleportation device to just magically appear at far-away venues, cakes in hand. :)

5. What is the most un-green or unsustainable wedding practice that you can think of or have seen in your experience?

As cool as they are, I think destination weddings to remote islands are pretty consumptive. Luckily they're also usually pretty small, so let's hope that helps offset the impact.

6. Let's pretend for a moment that you could create one green invention in your life (that worked) what would it be?

Hm - what a difficult, broad question. Tiny, incredibly efficient, non-polluting, affordable power sources for everyone? Tricky! In the meantime, we can all just manage ourselves as thoughtfully as possible.

Thanks Edith for your answers and artistic talent!

G&G

Interview with a Green Jeweler

I recently happened upon a jewelry artist who handcrafts her pieces using recycled materials, may of which would be perfect for wedding bands or gifts! Her name is Kristin Coffin and you can find her jewelry here. I asked her to share some words about the importance of acting green and seeking sustainable methods in our daily lives as well as in our jewelry shopping. Take a look at some of her great designs and what she had to say:


WHY SUSTAINABLE/ECO-FRIENDLY JEWELRY?

Jewelry is rich with history and tradition, but the current politics behind what we seek are reeking havoc on our earth and its inhabitants. Although most silver on the market is already recycled, gold mining stills plays an enormous role in environmental and social degradation worldwide. We think instantly of cars and factories as huge polluters, but often don't realize the terrible effects of gold mining. Landscapes are ruined, ocean habitats are destroyed, toxic levels of cyanide are leached into groundwater, and villages are torn apart because of it.

Personal adornment is definitely here to stay, but we have to act responsibly, the same way we've all started to think about hybrid cars and recycling.


HOW IS IT SUSTAINABLE?

All gold and silver used in my jewelry is recycled. I purchase the gold for my designs from vendors that only sell gold that was recycled from the Earth’s existing metal supply (they do not buy from mining companies). I also collect all my metal dust, scraps, and shavings, and have it refined so that it can be made and resold into sustainable new product.


HOW ELSE IN YOUR LIFE DO YOU ACT SUSTAINABLY?

Too many ways to count! I see sustainability not just as promoting a greener earth, but also as contributing to your local community's economy. I don't own a car (bus and subway only!). I shop local whenever possible, trying to avoid large corporations in favor of small independent businesses. I frequent the local farmer's market. I use Seventh Generation products at home and in the studio, and only cloth towels--no paper towels. Oh yeah, and I'm vegetarian.


WHAT ONE THING WOULD YOU CHANGE FOR A GREENER WORLD?

A think a good, and extremely doable first step would be to add just a little vegetarian into everyone's diets. Cattle farming emits more harmful greenhouse gasses than cars and other modes of transportation (2006 report from the United Nations). A new study shows that livestock’s contribution to greenhouse emissions actually accounts for 51% of the total worldwide. Eek! If everyone ate vegetarian just ONE day per week, we could cut emissions by 18% or more! Come on, it's just one day without a burger...and veggie burgers are so good!

Thanks Kristin for your inspiration and beauty. I know I have been working on eating a more vegetarian diet for very similar reasons!

G&G

Green and Beauty Products

No doubt, on your wedding day and beyond you will be using soap, hopefully some deodorant, maybe some fragrance, a little lip balm or gloss, maybe some powder, mascara, nail polish... etc. Most of us use body and face care products and a fair amount of us use makeup.

All of these items can be green and good for us, or not so green and possibly even bad for us, depending on what's in them and how they're made. More and more consumers are getting smart about the products their buying and slathering on their skin, but there's more to it than you might think. I myself got a little tutoring session from the Organic Consumers Association and Skin Deep, the Environmental Working Group's cosmetic database.


Whether you're looking for some new organic products to try out or want to know more about what's in the stuff you are already using, these two websites might have some good information for you. Take a look at Skin Deep's Cosmetic Database to find out what level of hazard they've deemed that lipstick or mouthwash. Or, take a look at the list of Body Care Companies that have one or more products meeting USDA organic standards. (or look for the USDA organic seal, which means more than just seeing organic in the name or ingredients list)

I found some USDA organic products that I was already familiar with, and some new ones too. Take a look at a few picks I found for face, body and hair:

Miessence Concealers and Powders shown above

Miessence Mascara

Organoderm Moisturizer

Organoderm Facial Cleanser

Simply Organic Volume Spray

Simply Organic Hair Shine

Whatever you choose to rub or spray on your body, choose wisely. Pay attention to the ingredients list and ask questions. Some say up to 60% of what you put on your skin goes into your bloodstream. That's more than enough reason for me to do more investigating and make some changes.

G&G