Conscious Living TV Goes Rooftop for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Uncommon Ground's Certified Organic Garden (the first in the U.S.)!

It was a gorgeous day when we shot our latest episode from the rooftop of the Uncommon Ground restaurant in Edgewater! We came to Uncommon Ground this past weekend, along with other members of the press (and Mayor Daley!), to cover the ribbon cutting ceremony of the nation’s first certified organic rooftop garden at Uncommon Ground.

Upon our arrival at Uncommon Ground restaurant (1401 W. Devon Ave), we climbed up the stairs to the roof, which houses a multitude of luscious, green plants that allow the restaurant to grow its own organic vegetables. Besides being gorgeous and green, the rooftop offers a beautiful view of the local Edgewater community and Loyola University.

Before the ceremony began, Bianca interviewed Uncommon Ground owners Mike and Helen Cameron. To catch this interview, look out for our upcoming episode on Conscious Living TV!

After our interview with Mike and Helen, Mayor Daley arrived! Chicago’s Commissioner on the Environment, Suzanne Malec-McKenna was also among the guests at the ceremony. After a brief period of schmoozing, the ceremony began. Natalie Pfister, Uncommon Ground’s Farm Director, was the first to speak. Natalie discussed the advantages of urban agriculture in making food more accessible, claiming, “There is nothing more local than climbing your own stairs and harvesting tomatoes.” Tomatoes, we soon found out, are the main crops grown in the garden along with other vegetables such as peas and squash.

The next to speak was Alderman Patrick O’Connor, who admitted that a feat such as the organic rooftop garden has been discussed as more of a novelty than a way of the future. For O’Connor, urban organic gardens represent a return to the basics, allowing us to grow, pick, and eat vegetables in a short time. O’Connor also praised Mayor Daley for his well-known efforts toward sustaining and beautifying the environment. “Not only have we beautified the city,” O’Connor said, “but we have also taken a little of the economy and are growing on our own.”

After O’Connor’s introduction, Mayor Daley spoke about his long-held belief that “nature can coexist in urban communities.” With the organic rooftop garden at Uncommon Ground as a precedent, Daley cited the plethora of flat roofs in Chicago as an “opportunity to bring nature back into our city.” By growing our own produce organically, we can cut down the costs of shipping as well as reduce pollution and congestion throughout the city. Daley sees Uncommon Ground as the future of restaurants in Chicago.

Next, Uncommon Ground owner Helen Cameron recalled a rush of excitement when she first climbed on the roof and told her partner and husband Michael, “We can grow food up here!” From that moment, Helen and Michael knew that they would build a farm on their roof. Before they could create the garden, the Camerons had to reinforce the building’s foundation with a lot more cement and traded wood beams for steel in order to support the weight of the farm. Helen cited an overall theme of “support on many levels” as tantamount to their success. In addition to the support of Mayor Daley, Helen thanked the city of Chicago and the surrounding Edgewater community for their help and support. She recalled how many of the restaurant’s neighbors devoted much time and work to installing the garden.

For Helen, the memories of helping with her family vegetable garden as a child served as an inspiration for her to become a chef and restaurant owner and gave her the knowledge of how to operate a garden. With this knowledge in place, Helen dedicated space to as much organic food as possible for both use in the restaurant and as an educational platform for urban agriculture. Once the farm was installed, she found out about becoming certified organic. As a result of her eventual success in becoming certified, Uncommon Ground now offers the community a number of green jobs, including those held by Farm Director Natalie Pfister and her seven interns.

After Helen spoke, we heard from Steven Walker, the Certification and Compliance Manager of the Midwest Organic Services Association (MOSA), who reviewed Uncommon Ground’s application for organic certification. Walker emphasized the many standards that must be upheld in order for a farm to be organic. With the national organic program still being relatively new, Walker also stated that “regulatory boundaries continue to be defined.” Walker said, “The organic community has roots in thinking outside of the box, innovation and creativity.” Eco-preneurs like the Camerons are using just this kind of innovative thinking and hard work to help people understand the importance of eating organically grown, locally produced food.

Walker then spoke about the numerous advantages of organic food production in building safe and healthy communities. Organic food production transcends the “physical, mental, and emotional health” benefits of those who consume it. More than one billion pounds of pesticides are released in the United States each year due to non-organic practices, and conventionally produced agriculture is more likely to contain pesticide residues than organically produced food. With this in mind, Walker believes that Uncommon Ground is succeeding in its original promise and said he is proud to certify it organic!

Uncommon Ground owner Michael Cameron spoke shortly before Mayor Daley took questions from attendees. Mayor Daley said that Chicago is in the process of building a solar field on the South Side. He also emphasized that more help from the federal government and the Department of Energy will be necessary to furthering the city's green initiatives.

At this point, Mayor Daley cut the apple green ribbon and the ceremony was complete!

At the conclusion of the ribbon cutting ceremony, Bianca got an exclusive interview with Mayor Daley! To catch this interview, check out the home page of Conscious Living TV.

Afterwards, guests were invited to move downstairs to the restaurant to mingle with the Camerons while eating a delicious organic champagne brunch, including a menu of organic bellinis, fresh baked melt-in-your mouth banana bread, fresh seasonable seedling farms raspberries, blueberries and cherries, and a summer egg scramble of organic rooftop peas, summer squash, market onions, tomatoes, capriole goat cheese and fresh basil. We were so excited to have been present at this huge moment for Uncommon Ground and for organic urban farming, and we can’t wait to see how other Chicago businesses follow suit. To dine at Uncommon Ground, go to 1401 W. Devon Ave (just off the Loyola stop on the Red Line), or to visit their Farmer’s Market, visit the restaurant on Fridays from 4pm-8pm until October 30.

Special thanks to our crew for doing a bang-up job at the event, including Shu Ling Yong and Karl Geweniger, and Morgan Greenwald for reporting and live tweeting @Conscious TV.

For more tips on organic cuisine and healthy living, watch Conscious Living TV.

Give Yourself a Green Spring Makeover

by Bianca Alexander

Ready to update your look? The new season is a perfect time to clean out your medicine cabinet and swap out that old, chemical-laden make-up bag for some of the hottest natural cosmetics on the market. Making the switch may require some effort (after all, it may be hard giving up formaldehyde in your nail polish) but it will keep your skin, hair, nails and the planet looking and feeling great! Here are a few tips to get started:

Healthy Hair How-Tos. There’s nothing like an updated color and style to make you feel brand new, but chemical processing and heat can wreak havoc on your hair and body. Take better care of your hair by booking an appointment with a professional coiffeur like Johnathan Gale at the John Frieda salon in L.A., who uses organic hair color and conditioning treatments on his celebrity clientele. Or, care for your hair at home with Dr. Hauschka’s organic and biodynamic shampoos and conditioners. Their world-famous Neem Hail Oil is perfect for protecting, conditioning and actually strengthening hair before and after coloring or relaxing. And to keep your color from fading between visits, avoid shampoos with hair stripping chemicals like sodium lauryl sulphate. Pureology and Lanza are SLS-free and have botanicals that help color last up to 107% longer. Worried about thinning hair? Chemicals in shampoos can worsen the condition, so try Your Crown and Glory For Thinning Hair shampoo and conditioner, which is SLS and paraben-free.

Sustainable Skin. Any make-up artist will tell you that flawless skin is the first step to creating beautiful make-up, so take care of the skin you’re in by eliminating toxic chemicals from your daily regimen. For all skin types, try Jurlique, whose biodynamically grown herb-based cleansers and tonics work with your body’s natural rhythms to heal and balance the skin. Bonus: All of their products come in eco-friendly packaging. For a more gentle alternative to damaging acid peels and dermabrasion, try Sophyto’s new line of organic skin treatments made with powerful deep-exfoliating fruit enzymes. And to clean up both your body and the planet, try Save Your Body’s new line of organic yerba maté and aloe vera infused bath and body products. Each tropical-smelling shower gel, shampoo and lotion sold saves one acre of rainforest for an entire year!

Natural Nails. Allow your nails to emerge from a blistery winter with Sparitual’s sophisticated line of vegan, eco-friendly nail polishes. Unlike most nail polishes, which contain formaldehyde, toluene and DBP (a.k.a. dibutyl phthalate, a plasticizing agent and reproductive toxin linked to birth defects that’s currently banned from cosmetics in Europe), Sparitual’s polishes and chakra-specific spa treatments are made from wildcrafted and organic plant essences, and free of toxins and synthetic dyes. And even though their products are so darn conscious, there’s no need to sacrifice color: with hundreds of perfect shades for every color palette, you’ll still be able to stop traffic this spring with your favorite flirty shade of red, apricot or pink. Bonus: Sales of their new spring color, Aware (a vibrant coral), will benefit the Go Green Initiative, an environmental stewardship program for schools. Other lines to try: OPI, whose nail lacquers are all formaldehyde, DBP, and toluene free.

Mineral-Based Make-Up. Let your natural beauty shine this season with Rituals new line of make-up made with pure silk leaves and precious stones that have absorbed the earth's energy over millions of years. Their products include eye shadows, lipsticks and foundations made from gemstones like amethyst, and are free of animal testing and added fragrances with little to no preservatives. My favorite: Their Super Shine Lip Gloss enriched with sparkling ruby, which provides will-power and stimulates blood circulation for a healthy glow and a perfect pout.

And with Dr. Hauschka, there’s no need to sacrifice healthy skin to look your best. They offer a complete line of all-natural cosmetics made from pure mineral pigments and nurturing botanicals that actually improve the quality of your skin. My favorite: The Mascara Intermezzo made with soothing Neem leaf extract, which conditions the lashes so they grow longer and stronger.

De-Tox for Beauty Inside and Out. Over time, your body stores environmental toxins that prevent it from functioning properly, which can lead to low energy, headaches, mental fogginess and disease. According to traditional medicine practices, proper diet alone is not enough to eliminate these stored toxins which accumulate in our digestive systems. Spring is a perfect time to give your inner body a boost with a whole-body cleanse, which will clean, nourish and support your digestive system for good health. Try Symmetry’s BotanaCleansePlus, a two-week cleansing system that detoxifies your entire body. When taken properly, it can even help your lose weight or clear up problem skin! Tip: Consult your naturopathic doctor before beginning any cleansing regimen, and don’t forget to drink plenty of water to aid the detoxing process.

And if you’re looking to detox your mind this season, try Emmet Fox’s 7-Day Mental Diet. Even one day on this positive thinking regime could do wonders for your outlook on life.

For more tips on eco-friendly living, watch www.ConsciousLivingTV.com.

B's Cool List: A Sexy and Sustainable Valentine's Day

by Bianca Alexander

Valentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity to show love for your honey—and the planet. Here are 10 eco-friendly gift ideas, as well as fun ways to make this Valentine’s Day both sexy and sustainable.

1) Order organic flowers. Flowers are a great way to show your loved one you care, but unfortunately, the cut flower industry is notorious for polluting the planet with harmful pesticides. This year, instead of buying just any old roses, order pesticide-free organic flowers online from www.OrganicStyle.com. They are more beautiful and smell better than traditional cut flowers, and are delivered in an eco-friendly package made from recycled materials. And to celebrate Black History Month, you can even order the Rosa Parks Freedom Rose bouquet, where 10% of the proceeds of your purchase will be donated to The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development.

2) Surprise your sweetie with eco-friendly lingerie. Every woman loves lingerie, but textiles like traditional cotton that are used to make most clothing damage our bodies and the planet. Instead, surprise your sweetie with soft and sexy lingerie made from sustainable materials like soy, bamboo, silk and organic cotton from www.EcoBoudoir.com and www.AmericanApparel.com.

3) Give sweet scents in recycled bottles. With Bond No. 9’s artisanal perfume, you can indulge your sweetie with irresistible scents and still reduce, reuse and recycle. Exchange any old perfume bottle for recycling at any Bond No. 9 or Saks Fifth Avenue store, and get a refillable pocket spray free with any purchase as a thank you.

4) Say “I Love You” with sustainable jewelry. Diamonds are a girl's best friend, but only if they're mined responsibly. Purchase conflict-free diamonds from companies like www.BrilliantEarth.com, or the “Green Bracelet” from Russell & Kimora Lee Simmons new jewelry line, Simmons Jewelry, and you’ll be able to give back to African communities afflicted by the diamond trade. If gold’s your thing, go to www.greenkarat.com to express your originality by creating a custom design made from recycled gold (you can even contribute your own unused gold jewelry). And if your sweetheart is more of an earthy type, help her stay natural with ethnic jewelry from www.Verlu.com, which produces fashion-forward necklaces, cuffs and earrings made from sustainably harvested wood.

5) Enjoy organic champagne and chocolates. Organic bon-bons are better for the planet, and will also be better for your loved one's health. Toast the day with biodynamic USDA certified wine and chocolates which are pesticide, antibiotic, and hormone free from www.OrganicStyle.com.

6) Take a romantic green getaway. Fossil fuels emitted from air and car travel are the largest contributors to global warming, so traveling green will help you romance your sweetheart without hurting the planet. How about a green ski or snowboarding getaway to Northstar-at-Tahoe (www.northstarattahoe.com), or a biodynamic romp through wine country with a stay at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn’s Four Star green hotel and spa (www.Fairmont.com). And wherever you go, don’t forget to minimize your eco-footprint by offsetting the carbon emitted from the plane, train, or automobile that got you there at www.Carbonfund.org.

7) Send a card that keeps on giving. Do your part to save trees by sending an e-card, or buying a card made from recycled paper at www.GreenFieldPaper.com. And if saving trees isn’t enough, each card comes embedded with an added bonus: wildflower seeds, which will produce beautiful flowers if you water and plant the card.

8) Stay at home between the sheets. Treat your body and the planet by staying at home and cuddling up with your loved one under colorful, sustainable organic cotton sheets from www.GreenNest.com

9) Give safe sex a whole new meaning. Toxic chemicals can pollute our rivers and streams, not to mention take the fun out of getting intimate, so romance your loved one safely with an all-natural, water-based personal lubricant like Yes Lubricant (www.yesyesyes.org). It’s free of parabens and skin-irritating petrochemicals, and is certified organic.

10) Wine and dine at a local, vegetarian Restaurant. Instead of going out for salmon, veal or filet mignon this Valentine’s Day, pass on meat and save the earth’s precious land and natural resources that are unnecessarily wasted in the animal farming industry. Not sure where to start? You can find a local, delicious vegetarian restaurant in over 7,000 locations around the globe at www.HappyCow.com.


To check out our Sexy and Sustainable Valentine’s Day episode, or for more tips on living sustainably year round, watch www.ConsciousLivingTV.com.

B's Cool List: It's Easy Being Green When You Travel

by Bianca Alexander

Did you know that CO2 emission from travel is one of the largest contributors to global warming? Before you hit the road or jump on a plane, train or automobile, think about being more conscious of minimizing--or at least offsetting--your environmental footprint on the planet. From the latest in green transportation to and from the airport, eco-friendly water bottles, and even luxury green hotels, this week's Cool List will help you travel green all year long.

1. Go Green to the Airport
Why take a gas-guzzling taxi or limo to the airport or train station when you can reserve door to door service in one of Planet Tran's eco-friendly Priuses? And for those of you that like to stay connected wherever you go, each of their cars is booted up with wireless internet so you can check your e-mails from the road.

2. Green Accommodations

Who says traveling green means you have to give up the luxury you've grown accustomed to? Instead of staying at the W on your next vacation, try booking a four-star suite at a local green B&B or at a green hotel chain, like The Fairmont or Kimpton Hotels. With recycling in each hotel room, energy and water efficient appliances, and a commitment to serving local and organic produce, these hotels are setting the bar high for hotels worldwide.

3. Eco-Friendly Water Bottles

Staying hydrated is great for your health, especially when you travel. Unfortunately, plastic water bottles leach nasty chemicals into your drinking water, your body, and the planet. And have you heard about the mass of discarded plastic bottles and waste twice the size of Texas that's floating in the Pacific? LINK). Since most plastic water bottles wind up in landfills, try Klean Kanteen's stainless steel, non-leaching water bottles. They're also recyclable, and the water just tastes better. Or, try our new favorite, Wellness Water H2.O's individual water bottles that come with built-in filters that clean up water from any tap while you're on the road. Their state-of-the-art filtration technology produces nourishing, "enhanced" water that hydrates and heals your body better than bottled water without the extra cost or landfill waste.


4. Green Grooming on the Road

No need to skimp on healthy skin care when you're on the go.
Dr. Hauschka Daily Face Care Travel Kit includes the basics for pampering your skin the holistic way while you travel (for as long as two weeks!) All of their personal care products are made from bio dynamic ingredients, which are better for your body and will keep your skin looking and feeling great. So go ahead and toss those drugstore trial size cosmetics. Besides, who needs all of the toxic chemicals?

5. And when all else fails--offset your CO2 emissions

Consume consciously when you travel by choosing to reduce your personal carbon dioxide pollution through the purchase of carbon offset credits. You can calculate your pollution and purchase offset credits online with Carbon Fund, a non-profit organization that lets you choose from renewal energy, reforestation or energy efficiency to offset your carbon footprint created from your personal travel and day to day energy use. Each credit you purchase is used to fund clean energy projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For more tips on eco-friendly living, watch www.ConsciousLivingTV.com.