Cotton-pickin' cool clothes
Chances are you’re wearing cotton right now. But, despite its light and natural, most cotton is grown with the use of chemicals and pesticides. Organic cotton is picked from fields that don’t use these products, which make them better for the environment. Also, the natural feel of the fabric can feel softer against your skin and washes as easily as regular cotton.
Blush Boutique in Madison, a clothing shop that sells iT! Jeans, has expanded its collection of denim to include the line’s new product, “Pure” jeans. They come in two cuts, for curvy and thin women.
“The organic cotton makes the summer-weight jeans breathable, and the spandex allows for comfort in movement,” said owner Stephanie Crowley.
For tops made from organic cotton, try Blu-Violet in Chester. Owner Carolyn Tepper recently increased her clothing collection to include even more organic options. Live the Life you Love, an eco-friendly brand, is a featured line at Tepper’s shop.
“Buying organic promotes a fundamental change in the way we treat the environment around us, not just for the next crop but to the future of our children’s planet,” Tepper said.
Blush Boutique, 12 Waverly Place, Madison, (973) 593-0300
Blu-Violet, 24 Main St., Chester, (908) 879-0046, bluviolet.com
-- Kelly Lackner
What's greener than a garden? A green garden
A common landscaping misconception is that all designs and plants and good for the environment. But improper lawn care can actually do more damage to the planet. Tina Yotka, owner of the Randolph-based Demeter Designs LLC, can help create and keep a garden that’s beautiful and as green as it’s meant to be.
Yotka, an avid gardener, studied landscape and design at County College of Morris and is certified by Rutgers University to design, install and maintain rain gardens.
So what exactly makes a garden green? For starters, water conservation and sustainable design. Xeriscaping design is a technique that utilizes drought-tolerant plants to conserve water.
“They’re not like something you’d see in the desert,” Yotka said. “They are still going to be colorful and beautiful.”
Rain gardens act as filters by collecting rain water that is filtered and reused on plants. These drip-irrigation systems can eliminate the use of sprinkler systems. Yotka uses organic pesticides, organic composts and other natural products.
“My designs are in harmony with nature,” Yotka said. “Since New Jersey is finally catching up with green ideas, I wanted to find a way to implement them. Being green isn’t just recycling anymore.”
Demeter Designs LLC, (973) 981-8449, gardengoddes62@hotmail.com
-- Kelly Lackner
One-stop shops for healthy living
Going green isn’t just a trend at The Health Shoppes in Morristown, Parsippany and Chester. In fact, Brant Shapiro’s family-owned business has been providing customers with a better quality of product for more than 40 years.
“There’s a direct link between what’s on your plate and where it comes from,” Shapiro said. “We offer organic and local food.”
Although prices at this organic market are higher than you’d expect pay at a chain grocery store, Shapiro believes the high prices are an investment in personal health and quality of life.
“You pay more, but you’re getting the real product rather than a replica,” said Shapiro, who works with local farmers to provide the produce. All of the products are free of synthetic flavors, processed sugars, preservatives and hormones.
The stores also carry vitamins, cosmetics and other organic products. There are vegan, vegetarian and glutton-free products. The on-site bakery and salad bar make this shop ideal for weekend grocery shopping and weekday lunch breaks.
The Health Shoppes, 66 Morris St, Morristown, (973) 538-9131; 1123 Route 46, Parsippany, (973) 263-8348; 207 Route 206, Chester, (908) 879-7555; thehealthshoppes.com
-- Kelly Lackner
