The shuk floor on a regular Friday in early August (photo: Daniella Cheslow) One of the best things about most major Israeli cities is the shuk, the giant outdoor food market where bright vegetables sit in precarious piles and entire alleyways are devoted to freshly butchered meat and refrigerated cases full of fish, sometimes even […]
Within the realm of cosmetics, Ahava certainly holds a certain respect. Founded in 1988, the Israeli company exports its skin-enriching products, infused with minerals from the Dead Sea, to over 30 countries around the world. On its website under the Environmental Responsibility tab, Ahava writes that “the Company’s activities are undertaken with a view towards preserving the […]
If you’re going to shell out the extra shekels for organic food, you’re want to be confident that you’re getting the real deal. Personally, I think the price of organic food is worth paying, whether you’re buying it for selfish reasons (taste, avoiding nasty chemicals and GMOs) or altruistic ones (treading lightly our small country) […]
Microwave ovens are an important cooking and food heating tool in many modern homes, especially here in Israel. Many people may not be aware, however, just how dangerous these gadgets are to human health. Recently, much attention has been given to microwaves, or “micro-gals” (as they are called by Israelis) in that they produce similar […]
For most people, fair trade means making sure South American and African farmers get paid a reasonable wage to grow coffee and chocolate. But in Israel, fair trade is much more local. Two companies have emerged in the last few years to provide a living wage for farmers in the region. The first, SAHA, is […]
Zucchini flowers, or squash blossoms (for culinary purposes these are interchangeable), are one of those off-the-supermarket-beaten-path ingredients you tend to find only at farmers’ markets or fancy restaurants. (Or Italy, though that doesn’t really help most of us all that much.) This elusiveness means that if you do come into a supply – either because […]
I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but I didn’t know that cigarette butts were an environmental issue. I’m also not a smoker, so I never gave it much thought. But Hanan Shteingart – co-founder of “Eretz Lelo Bdalim” (Country Without Cigarette Butts) and anti-cigarette butt activist extraordinaire – recently brought our attention to this […]
The recent attention given by the news media and this blog concerning our water problems in general, and to the depleting the Kinneret in particular, reminds me of a poster I saw once in a surfing products shop that read: “The Next War in the Middle East Will be Over Water.” Although the poster really […]
Ful medames; ta’miyya; bissara — fava beans have given rise to iconic dishes across the Middle East. Egyptian cuisine is unimaginable without them. They’ve been a staple in the region for about eight thousand years, and were one of the first plants cultivated for food. Most often, they are used in their dried form: rehydrated […]
Shelled those garden peas? Now you have a soup you can make from the unused pea pods.
As a thirsty greenie living in Israel, I try to avoid buying bottled water, and instead have recently purchased a very cool stainless steel water bottle – made in the US by Klean Kanteen. But sometimes it’s difficult to avoid buying some water in plastic bottles – although after reading this story, I will think […]
Tel Aviv, for those who haven’t had the pleasure of visiting the city, is a city of coffee drinkers and cafes. (Some would say bums and people who don’t work in the middle of the day… but we say coffee drinkers and cafes.) It is not unusual to step out in the middle of a […]
I was so anxious on Monday as I awaited word of delivery of my very first Israeli community supported agriculture (CSA) delivery to its drop spot in Tel Aviv. I was nervous, not because I thought the vegetables wouldn’t be good or because I was unsure if I was getting a good deal (the veggies […]
(image credit: giggul371) Shavuot is best known as the holiday which commemorates the bestowal of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. It is also the celebration of the harvest of the Bikkurim, the first fruits of the year. Pomegranates and figs may come most easily to mind, but wheat is another of the Shiv’at Haminim, […]
Writer and part-time pig farmer, Jeff Yoskowitz, was at the recent Shavuot Slow Food market in Tel Aviv – and had mixed feelings about the artisan cheeses, meats and organic veggies on offer. The Carmel Market shuk in Tel Aviv that so many travelers love — the idyllic market which people see as representative of the […]
“Social Change is another form of fermentation. Ideas ferment, as they spread and mutate and inspire movements for change,” Sandor Katz. I sat down to read Sandor Katz’s “Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods” to help me along with my recreational pickling and fermenting skills. I was hoping to learn a bit […]
Green Prophet’s Karin recently made us aware of a carbon offsetting scheme here in the Middle East, named Libra/Sekem, which converts cash paid for carbon offsets into compost. The project based in the Sharkia region of Egypt, turns coffee grinds, raw food scraps and more (read one of our super-enriched Green Prophet posts on composting […]
Parabens, a preservative used in cosmetics such as shampoos, deodorants, toothpastes and creams, are nasty things. They’re bad for our health, bad for the environment, and bad for all the creatures that we share this planet with. Parabens have been proven to be linked to cancer, and a study in the UK has showed extremely […]
(Israeli winemaker Golan Flam inspects his wine) This is a guest post by Israeli wine expert Richard Sheffer from Israel Wine Direct. Last week he talked about the connection between wine, man and the land. This week he talks a little more about the history of wine: In spite of what some Californians believe, wine […]
Nachalat Binyamin Street in Tel Aviv is famous for its weekly market of local, handmade arts and crafts – a market that is very environmentally friendly. But it is also home to some of Tel Aviv’s hippest bars and restaurants. For the sixth time, these restaurants and bars are getting together for the annual Nachalat […]
Chemical burdens in our homes is an issue coming more and more to the forefront of news every day, yet more information comes to light about the threats posed by so many chemicals in our everyday products, from baby bottles to nursery furniture. A while back I wrote about Nursery Madness and the huge amounts […]
Israel is celebrating 60 years of independence this week, and we’ve come a long way, baby. Long enough to have organic falafel on Tel Aviv’s Ibn Gvirol Street next to the City Hall. Introducing Hippo, the hip falafel joint that ensures that every bite you take out of the national snack is pesticide free and […]
Well the season has started, Independence Day is next week and already litter is blowing around our parks and beaches, are we really that careless! So how to go green with our picnics and all enjoy a day out with the whole family. There are few simple ideas to follow, Happy Holidays to all.
We are delighted to be able to share this enlightening article on greening sex and sexuality, courtesy of our friends over at the Dinah Project. The Dinah Project is a wonderful endeavor in promoting healthy sexuality from a woman’s perspective (but not exclusively), through education, open communication, and recommendation based on experience as educators and […]
The organic trend has definitely hit Tel Aviv, and in all of the expected ways. With small organic markets, imported organic wines, organic goat cheeses, and organic gourmet foods. But organic foods usually appeal to a certain type of food shopper, and not always the kind who sits down on a busy street to eat […]