Every year is a new year but this new year is a really new year.  There is a major shift going on and if you are reading this then I know you can feel it.  Part of the shift thats happening has to do with our food.  Our birth right should be to have access to clean water and pure organic food.  Unfortunately, not everyone agrees.  But stressing about it is bad for our mood so lets not, lets just do something about it and make sure that we are in a position to weather any storm.

The best source of protection that we can arm ourselves with that no one can ever take away is knowledge.  We have a ton of books to get your mind right.  Since the GMO issue is so major right now, it seems like the perfect time to learn how to plant an edible garden if you aren’t already doing so.  If gardening isn’t something you are familiar with, no worries, we have books to help guide you.

Let’s make an agreement that we will have no excuses this year while on pace to achieve our goals okay?  With that out of the way, even if you have a small space to garden you can still get it done.  In Garden Anywhere you can learn how to garden in the smallest areas, even a window seal.

“Garden Anywhere outlines everything an aspiring gardener needs to know to sow a bounteous, thriving garden. Alys Fowler, trained at the New York Botanical Garden, guides readers through the process from the ground up—from planning the garden to composting, pruning, harvesting, and propagating. Stylish photos illustrate the how-tos while Alys shares tips on creating gorgeous container gardens, herb gardens, kitchen gardens and more, without spending a fortune.”

Now that we have fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs growing, what do we do with them?  We have lots of choices of cookbooks to help you make amazing food from gluten free to vegan, desserts, or RAW food.

“RAW offers ultimate pure flavor, thousands of textures, and beautiful effects on body, mind, soul and the environment! This isn’t 100 variations of salad, but an ultra-gourmet cuisine, which fuses ancient culinary techniques with a modern and practical lifestyle.”

Enhance the beauty of your food by serving it in beautiful eco-friendly kitchen ware.  This beautiful Bambu Coiled Salad Bowl is begging to cuddle with your leaves.

What we put IN our bodies is just as important as what we put ON our bodies.  Use care when choosing your body care products.

Consider a new deodorant that is gentler on the body such as Terressentials Super Protection Deodorant.

Or Dr. Bronner’s Organic Lavender Hand Sanitizer.  Better to use this then to be in line for the flu shot.

Since some say we are nearing our last days, we better have a calendar to keep track of time but not just any calendar but a really cool one.  This one keeps track of the moon phases which is excellent for knowing so that we can use the power of the moon to manifest our deepest desires.

Regardless of what “they” say about this year, do all that you can to make it the best year ever starting with today!  Happy New Year!

The holidays are here and the recent events such as our blackout and the Occupy movement brought some good points to light.  For one, we should always be prepared in case something unexpected happens.  If we prepare for it now then we will be in a position to say, “I expected this and I am prepared.”  Plus we should support our local economy and entrepreneurs by shopping local.  We like that  Shopping local is great, but combining that with shopping eco and smart is even better!

Come visit us and pick up some great gifts for your loved ones.  Shopping with us not only is treating your loved ones to gifts but also treating Mother Nature to one, too.

Personally, when the blackout happened, I was using my cell phone wisely because it was my only connection to the outside world.  Even if I had left the house that day with my charger, I still would of been using my battery life wisely because there was no where to charge it!  Bummer.  That can be avoided next time.

Goal Zero has lots of solar powered products so that we never have to be caught off guard.

We carry products to keep your cell phone, batteries, and laptops charged and we even have a hand crank flashlight.  All these products are good, too, if you have a loved one that loves to camp or spend lots of time in nature but still likes to be connected.

These small items are excellent stocking stuffers.  This Solar flashlight takes eco-friendly LED technology and makes it reliable as your adventures require. The flashlight/floodlight combo can be powered by its built-in solar panel, ac/dc input, or a hand crank. As versatile as you, the Solar Crank Flashlight by Goal Zero has a comfortable grip handle and a hands free hook.

The Guide 10 Plus USB Power Pack With 4 2000 mAh AA Batteries is an ultra lightweight USB solar charging system that fits in your pocket. Use as a single unit power pack to power your device or as a power source to recharge the batteries for use in any AA or AAA battery powered device.

Powerfully compact!  When space is tight and every ounce counts, the Nomad 27M packs the perfect power source. Using 27-watts of highly efficient mono-crystalline solar technology, its eight small panels provide plenty of power and conveniently fold into a small, lightweight portable case.

This panel is powerful enough to be the one BIG gift you may buy for someone.

More than likely the person you’re buying a gift for has it on their resolution list to EAT BETTER.  Encourage their healthy desires and get them a gift they can use to bring their yummy leftovers in.

Stainless, stylish & stackable! This 2-Tier Stainless Steel Tiffin Set (a nifty lunch box system that hails from India) is reusable, lightweight, and has a lid that doubles as a plate. It’s easy to carry and clean, but hard to live without. Great for both cold or hot food, and the planet, too.

The more we reuse the less waste and use we impact on the earth.  And plus, how cool is the person that travels around with their own utensils?!

We’ve got our travel mugs and our reusable shopping bags. How about a RePEat Bamboo Utensil Set  to round out the perfect toolkit for life on the go? A handy carabiner on the back lets you clip and carry a fork, knife, spoon and chopsticks wherever they may roam. Perfect for a busy lifestyle and our precious planet.

And since we are talking reusable, how about a Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottle?  No more plastic bottles filling up our landfills, just add your favorite beverage into your own Kanteen and feel good about what you are drinking.

We have all sorts of accessory parts so you can customize your bottle to your liking, plus we even have a sippy cup for a baby.  What a gift to give someone stainless steel rather than plastic.

Instead of wrapping paper you could put all these gifts inside of a beautiful hemp backpack, stuffed full with the best gifts ever!

This is a Sativa Bag, but we have lots to choose from.

And please, please, PLEASE don’t forget the gift of chocolate.

With farmer’s markets, cross-country road trips, and summer in full swing, Nomads Hemp Wear has the hottest organic gear to attire the hippest eco-fashionista.  There must be something in the air up in beautiful British Columbia, because these designs are fresh!  From breezy, soft dresses to the most comfortable hemp pants you will live in, these vibrant Canadian designers have struck gold with their brightest collection yet.

With humble beginnings in an old VW van, Nomads has grown into an international brand pioneering sustainable and ethical fashion.  Let’s talk first about their fabrics.  There has to be something said about the quality and feel of natural fibers that trump the increasingly ubiquitous synthetics of today’s clothing market.  At our store, it’s not unusual to hear a new Nomads convert rave about how they love their organic threads and how they no longer wish to wear anything else.  They frequently come back to expand their natural and sustainable wardrobe selection.  How many times have you arrived home, exhausted after a long day, quick to change into something “more comfortable?”  It’s not in your head – synthetic fibers do not let the largest organ of your body, the skin, breathe.  But when you wear organic and natural fibers, you just feel good!  Naturally.

Fashion is about expressing yourself.  Why not proclaim to the world that you are not only hip, but are a savvy and socially-conscious consumer?  When I receive a compliment on my awesome Grab Pants, that’s an opportunity to educate someone new on the merits of hemp!  We change our world for the better when we spread knowledge.  Thankfully, inspired designers like Nomads have made green fashion more accessible and desirable.  Sustainable fashion no longer means shapeless, crunchy, or dull.  Have you joined the “Organic Revolution,” yet?

Here are some outfits we’ve been rocking at Ecotopiia:

Reef Tank and Grab Pants

I love pairing this super soft soy top with these uber yummy hemp pants!  While individually stylish pieces, both feature rivet and seam details that are very complimentary to the other.  The Reef Tank boasts sexy halter lines, yet remains playful and flirty.  Nomad’s ever popular Grab Pants are constructed of an inviting hemp and organic cotton spandex jersey that keeps you cool when temperatures rise and insulates during chill evenings.  These pants are a sure hit – snag them while they’re still here, as this is the last season Nomads will be making their hemp pants!

Orchid Dress

I can’t decide if it’s the three-tier ruffles or the amazing, incredibly smooth feel of this soy/organic cotton jersey that puts a bounce in my step.  In Raspberry Pink, Nomad’s Orchid Dress is vivacious and darling – perfect for summertime frolicking.  In Black, the Orchid is your ideal LBD and definitely turns up the sass.  When you need more coverage, pair it with fellow Canadian designers Maha Devi’s hooded Isis Wrap Shrug.