We have {two} Green Lullaby Multiboxes to give away!

Green Lullaby Multi-Boxes are made entirely of non-toxic, corrugated cardboard and they are darling! Although designed for kids, the box-seat can carry as much as 50kg. Multi-box can be used to teach your child about shapes, numbers and letters. It is completely recyclable, made mostly of recycled material and protected by a green and non-toxic fire retardant.

We are offering two lucky winners the chance to win a Multi-Box set.

How to participate:

1. Leave a comment below with an example of something you do everyday that is eco-friendly!

2. Then, Like us on Facebook

(RT on Twitter for an extra chance!)

We will select at random next Wednesday!

Happy Labor Day Weekend and Good luck!

Guest post by Dr. James Hoffman, an Oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Florida. Dr.Hoffman trained at Memorial Sloan-Kettering:

As a medical hematologist-oncologist, and a father of 3 young children, I have a lot of concerns about substances we are all exposed to in our diet and environment. The last several decades have seen unparalleled advances made in medicine, agriculture and convenience. There has been an associated explosion in the number of chemicals and other toxic elements we are all exposed to on a regular basis- ranging from pesticides and food dyes in our food, to phalates and parabens in cosmetics and soaps, to mercury in our fish, to lead in childrens’ toys etc. Now we are confronted with unknown risks- are cell phones bad for you? BPA from plastic bottles, oxybenzone in sunscreen etc. The use of these substances has raced far ahead of the testing that would be necessary to prove safety. The regulatory bodies encharged with public safety do not have the resources to keep up. There are many substances known to cause cancer- like tobacco smoke, benzene, asbestos- and many more that are strongly suspected to be human carcinogens (included many still liberally used in products/foods as above), and others which are at least carcinogenic in animal models.

The question becomes- as a father, and as a doctor who takes care of cancer patients- how do we protect ourselves to the extent possible, without living in a bubble? Throughout my fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering and my current practice at Cleveland Clinic in Florida, one of the most common lines of questioning I receive from patients and their families is- “How can we protect ourselves?” Remember, no company has any compulsion to push for safety over profits. The tobacco companies for years put out misinformation about the harms related to cigarette use (even advertising in major medical journals, with pictures of doctors smoking in their white jackets), and companies now are not keen to pull food off the shelves and reproduce them without food dyes- or pull baby shampoo and change the ingredients to remove some of the more concerning chemicals. The responsibility falls on us- the consumers.

I believe that people will look back on this era with incredulity about what we allowed ourselves to be exposed to, much the same we find it hard to believe people allowed smoking on airplanes or in movie theaters.

What is the solution? Without having the foresight to know precisely what the most dangerous exposures are, we have to be prudent. I myself use natural soaps and shampoos, especially for the kids. We avoid sunscreen with oxybenzone, try to eat organic- especially for those fruits and vegetables known to be high in pesticides etc. To this end, I think Abe’s Market is a wonderful resource, and allows us access to progressive and unique companies and products. I look forward to site’s continued growth, and plan to be a regular shopper.

Bestseller Slow Death by Rubber Duck reveals how the living of daily life creates a toxic soup inside each of us. In it, Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, two of Canada’s leading environmental activists, spend time ingesting and inhaling a host of substances that surround us all every day, all of which are suspected of being toxic and posing long-term health risks to humans. By revealing the pollution load in their bodies before and after the experiment they tell the inside story of seven common substances. Check out the short video describing their experiment:

It’s a thought-provoking read that kept me engaged throughout a recent international flight. We are fortunate to have co-author Bruce Lourie write a guest blog post for Abe’s Market. Thank you, Bruce.

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The first reaction people have when they hear about Slow Death by Rubber Duck is: “oh man, you’re not going to tell me more horror stories about what I can’t do or eat, do you expect me to live in a plastic bubble?” First, if anything the bubble should be glass, not plastic. But seriously, Slow Death is a book about hope; a guide for living in a modern world. Sure, each chapter describes some of the scary things in everyday life, how they get into our bodies and what they might do to us, but throughout the book there are simple things that you can start doing right away to reduce the toxic load in your body.

We looked at toxic chemicals in everyday life using a household as a simple organizing principle. What are the toxic exposures we face in our kitchen, our bedroom, our living room, our bathroom, our garden? Here are five living spaces and in each we can begin with a basic step to start reducing the toxic products in our homes and the toxic residues that build up in our bodies.

I spend alot of time in the kitchen because I love to cook. And I love to cook because I love to eat. So looking at cooking and eating is important for all of us. Eating, after all, is one of the most obvious and most direct pathways for these unwanted chemicals to poison us.

Step 1.  Reducing mercury.  Mercury is a potent neurotoxin, meaning it attacks our brain cells. Tiny amounts can harm developing brains so young children should limit tuna intake to no more than one tuna sandwich per week (not albacore, it has higher levels). If you are pregnant you should avoid tuna altogether. Eating fish is important and healthy, but avoid the large predator fish such as tuna, shark, marlin and tilefish.

Step 2. While we are still in the kitchen, let’s look at one of the easiest and most effective ways for getting rid of the nasty hormone disrupting chemical Bisphenol A (BPA). Who hasn’t heated up leftovers in plastic container in the microwave? Not many of us.  Or what about warming a plastic baby bottle of formula in the microwave? Many microwaveable containers and plastic baby bottles are made of BPA plastic. While researching the book we spent two days eating and drinking out of heated containers and saw our BPA levels shoot up 7.5 times! If this happened in a 6’6” adult over two days, imagine an infant receiving the vast majority of his or her nutrition this way. BPA mimics the hormone estrogen and is linked to breast and prostate cancer. So stop microwaving food in plastic.

Step 3. The bathroom is probably the worst room in the house, and I’m not talking bathtub rings and mould in the shower.  Personal care products are miniature chemistry sets. Turn over your shampoo bottle or deodorant and try to read the microscopic print and you’ll find all kinds of chemicals that you really don’t want to be slathering on your body. There are two that we write about in the book that are particularly troubling, triclosan and phthalates. Triclosan is an anti-bacterial agent and a registered pesticide. “Pesticide in my toothpaste you say!  Surely that is not a good idea?” No, as most people realize rather intuitively, having a pesticide in your toothpaste, soap or deodorant is a really dumb idea. So read the ingredients and avoid all anti-bacterial products that contain triclosan. Another simple bathroom trick is to take the bold step of not smelling like a rainforest or strawberry patch. Phthalates (referred to in ingredient lists as Parfum or fragrance) are potent hormone disrupting chemicals linked to male genital malformations and breast and prostate cancer. So buy unscented or fragrance free personal care products and dare to smell bland!

Step 4. We spend a huge amount of time in our homes and offices, far more time than we spend outdoors. Most people are not aware that the air quality indoors is far poorer than even in our smoggy cities. This is because virtually all modern household items are manufactured with glues, coatings, sprays, fabrics and other synthetic materials that “off-gas” polluting our living space. Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs) are among the nastier coatings used throughout our homes. Stain repellent coatings and non-stick pans are common PFC sources. This is another hormone disrupting chemical linked to various cancers (liver, pancreatic, thyroid), birth defects and childhood obesity. So get rid of the non-stick pans and ask for furniture that is NOT sprayed with a stain proof coating.

Step 5. Gardens, especially the big ones that our produce, meat and dairy come from, have evolved into sophisticated operations with literally billions of pounds of chemical inputs. If you want to keep yourself and your family safer, eat organic food.  The evidence is very strong that pesticides cause cancer. Organic food is better for you and tastes better too. And of course if you can find a local organic market, all the better.

Natural shampoo is a hot topic. Whats in it, does it work, who makes it. We have seen a stir in the media that may be prompting it, men and woman alike are looking for a shampoo they can feel good about using.

This authors of www.nomoredirtylooks.com posted a terrific primer on what to look for in shampoo including this excerpt:

“Natural: Your shampoo may not foam like a conventional product because it contains a higher percentage of natural materials, but your hair will still be just as clean, with added natural benefits.”

We look forward to hearing your feedback on what you are looking for in an organic shampoo, in the meantime check out some of the options on Abe’s for kids, adults and manly man in your life.

Fox Business was kind of enough to invite me into their studio last Thursday to talk about Abe’s Market.
Here is the link and a copy is below.

I was able to mention a few of our seller partners and wish I could have squeezed more in, hopefully next time.

In today’s digital age of emails, conference calls and Skype having true “face time” with our sellers makes me real excited!  This week the Abe’s Market clan got to meet a few face-to-face with a few new sellers and it was a blast!

Jon and Richard (Abe’s Market founders) spent the first half of the week in NYC and had a chance to meet up with the ladies from The Well Dressed Nut (pictured above), Sarah from Rescue Chocolate and Elizabeth from Purely Elizabeth.

Kelsey (Abe’s Market intern) and I got to spend the afternoon with Zak from Little Duck Organics.

Such fun!

“live what you love, love what you do”

Hi! I’m Jenna Short and I am the founder of ShortbreadNYC. I am excited to share my photo tips with the Abe’s Market Community because I know that my sales have drastically increased once I put time and effort into my photography skills.

I originally started off as a graphic designer (I still am) with a minor in photography, so naturally aesthetics are something that is extremely important to me. Something I learned early on is that people eat with their eyes, then with their nose… and of course, their mouths.

When I was younger everyone always taught me to not judge a book by its cover. Well, in the digital age, we can’t afford to buy into that one bit. That’s ALL we do!

Having a brand and a visual voice is one of the most important things you can do for your company. Even if that means just having a logo, website and some stickers; that alone can create a seamless visual for your clientele. Think about one of the most successful brands out there: Apple Computers. They don’t skimp on anything as far as design and that is HUGE part of why they are so successful. Every aspect of marketing from the ads, colors and people working for you play a huge roll in the overall service you provide.

With that being said, you don’t need formal training to do any of this. There are so many great online “do it yourself” reasources from a quick fix, to a complete overhaul. If you do however seek some professional assitance with your brand, logo or website, our comapny can create that for you as well!

For photography, all you need is a good eye and attention to detail. For example; if you have a food blog and like to take photos but can’t afford the fancy equipment or SLR camera, all you have to do is be mindful of lighting.

DIY Photo backdrop:

• Supplies: Run to your local drug store and pick up a few tabletop prop mirrors,  some colored paper and black, white and gray cardboard from your local art supply store.
• Camera ISO Range: Turn off your flash and use your camera’s built in ISO. ISO range is available on all digital cameras and it goes overlooked for causal users. So what is ISO? Basically, ISO is the camera’s sensitivity to light. The higher the ISO number the more light sensitive the camera is being. In natural lighting (near a well-lit windo) place your camera’s ISO on the hightest number which will let you shoot with faster shutter speeds giving you less chance of movement blur.

• Backdrop: Use the colored paper as your back drops. You can tape them to a wall or create your own photo box like the image above. Be sure to take pictures by the window with all the natural sunlight you can get and use the card board and mirrors to reflect the light and get the contrast you want.
• Compose your shot: It’s easy to feel intimated by the composition (styling) of the shot but don’t be. Try different angles, close-ups and details. Think creatively and add details like raw ingredients, utensils or actions (cutting, sewing, etc) into your shots. Try everything and see what feels right for your brand.

Looking back if I could change anything up until now I probably wouldn’t. I think that every event in my life has lead me to the place that I am at right now! Every person I have met and place I have lived has made an incredible contribution to the success of Jshortdesigns & Shortbread NYC. (even though i think deep down my mom still wishes I was a dentist

Chivalry is not dead. We had a hunch and it is proving to be true, folks who come to shop on Abe’s like to share their finds with friends.

Let me rewind the clock two months. We were receiving feedback along the lines of “My sister told me about you and now I see why she is a such a big fan.”

We realized that by not providing a way to easily share products within the site we were pushing visitors off Abe’s. We did the research and found that other sites promote sharing by:

1. Asking a visitor to share based on the hope that their friend buys.
2. Friend may buy – who knows when…
3. Once the friend buys then the only next time the shopper comes back will they be entitled to a discount.

That delayed gratification did not work for us. We wanted to provide an easy and instant way to reward those who share.

Our thinking is:

1. Shoppers are happier if they share – makes your find more enjoyable
2. The recipients always find it fun to see what their friends like
3. The sellers (real people who make the product) benefit from the word of mouth
4. We (not to be selfish here) at Abe’s love it because sharing spreads our passion for remarkable natural products.

Several hours of discussion and Zaydie’s Granola led to our Share It program which works like this:

1. Every product has a Share It price that is cheaper than the regular price
2. In your shopping cart you are asked if you want to share by entering three email address
3. When you share you receive an instant discount and your friends enjoy the same discount (you are a hero among your peers).

We are seeing half of the folks who buy on Abe’s decide to share with friends, a promising start.

Please send share your thoughts on Share It:)

Erin Krug, Krug's Eco-Logic

Today’s guest blogger is Erin Krug of Krug’s Eco-Logic, which makes and sells soaps, body lotions, facial liquor (yes, facial liquor), and more. Erin is a science teacher-turned stay-at-home mother of two young children with ultra-sensitive skin. As a science teacher and natural product maker, Erin is particularly equipped to teach us how to care for and store our natural products. She shares some tips here. Thanks, Erin!

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So you’ve recently ordered some natural skin care products – maybe it’s not Eco-Logic … that’s ok, I won’t hold it against you It is said that the very best products to put on your skin should contain ingredients you could possible put in your mouth (I’m not at all advocating you eat ANY natural skin care products). This means, ingredients such as olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oils are fabulous ingredients to cook with, AND to put on your skin.

BUT … you do have to store your products carefully just as you would your oils from the store – particularly during the hot summer months, or if you live in a consistently hot climate. REAL natural products (not the ones labeled as such with mostly synthetic ingredients) need to be treated as you might treat your groceries. When you go to the grocery store and purchase a large order during the summer – most likely, you’ll want to run home quickly and put them in the refrigerator or in your cooler home. Think about the olive oil you purchase in the baking isle at the store – it needs to be kept (ideally) in a dark, cool cabinet.

If your skin care products are genuinely natural, most likely they will contain oils you can find on your grocer’s shelves – olive, grape seed, safflower, soybean coconut, etc. This means in order to keep them from becoming rancid (spoiling – otherwise known as the oxidation and degradation of vitamins within the oils) they need to be kept in a cool, and relatively dark environment. Most natural formulators will include oils containing loads of antioxidants such as natural Vitamin E, or Rosemary Oil Extract to help protect the natural oils from early oxidation. However, this is not a ‘fool-proof’ system. The user has to also take special care to ensure the quality and life span of their natural products.

There are some other tips and pointers on extending the life of your natural products. Eco-Logic sends a “Natural Product Care & Instruction” sheet along with each order to ensure each customer will receive full use of their product.

Thanks for reading!

Guest blogger Tonya is back to share her thoughts on the powers of shea butter…..

Perfect Organics Unscented Shea Butter

When a friend recommended I try shea butter as a natural moisturizer,
I hoped it would work well, but I didn’t think it would be
multi-functional.  Each time I discovered another way to use shea
butter, not only was I happy and surprised, but it saved me money (on
synthetic products I no longer need).  The first one I tried was 100%
Shea Butter, unscented, from Perfect Organics.

Since I switched from synthetic body and facial washes to natural
soap, my skin is no longer dry.  As a result, I don’t require daily
moisturizing.  Instead, I use shea butter as a moisturizer only where
I need it.  Over time, I have discovered many other uses for this
versatile little product.

• Eczema treatment – My daughter’s eczema decreased a lot when we
  switched to natural soaps, and shea butter clears up the little
  dryness that remains.
• Diaper cream – If corn starch doesn’t clear up all the redness, a
  little shea butter does the trick.
• Hair balm – I rub a small amount into my hair to moisturize it and
  add shine.  With this trick, I no longer use any synthetic hair care
  products.
• Allergy related itch relief – When indoor or outdoor allergies flair
  up, the delicate skin below my eyes becomes very itchy.  I can stop
  this itch with a coating of shea butter under my eyes.  It works, but
  I don’t know how!
• Nail shine – Instead of buffing my nails, I can give them a great
  shine by rubbing shea butter into them.  I actually haven’t broken a nail since I started doing this, and they are long, strong & beautiful.

Blends for Life Organics Ony Shea

Although my daughter prefers unscented, I would like to try any of the
great scents also available. But I may have to wait a while, because a
little shea butter goes a long way!