03/25/12

Shopping at stores like Costco can save you about 20 percent on your organic purchases, but shop wisely: Throwing away uneaten perishables is like throwing money in the trash. Try stocking up on long-lasting organics like Costco's Kirkland organic olive oil, which is $14 for 51 ounces. Other warehouse club staples at bargain basement prices: whole organic chicken ($2.29 a pound); five pounds of organic mixed veggies ($5.59); and 10 pounds of whole organic carrots ($6.49). Compare that to supermarket prices: organic chicken is $3.99 a pound; it's $14 for five pounds of organic mixed veggies; and 10 pounds of organic carrots cost $10.

03/24/12

If you're in the market for a leaf blower to do some cleanup around the yard, consider a battery-powered blower instead of a gas-guzzling one. New lithium ion battery-powered lawn and garden products are hitting the market in home stores this spring. The rechargeable batteries are being used in products like leaf blowers, lawn mowers and hedge trimmers. So instead of emitting smelly fumes from gas-powered tools, you can clean and be green at the same time.

03/23/12

An unusually warm winter has led to a huge bumper crop of strawberries from Florida. This is the time to stock up on organic berries -- a must-buy item since strawberries are very porous and absorb anything sprayed on them -- at a fraction of the normal price. Place washed and de-stemmed strawberries on parchment paper-lined cookie sheets in the freezer. When frozen solid, place them in airtight containers or freezer bags, and you'll have frozen berries ready to go all season long.