November 2005 | Green Lines
EM’s look at local economies and sustainable biz
This Month: Café Flora’s new cookbook, greener tea, Wabi/Sabi recycled stone counters, finding your bio-car
By Heather Nordell
After five years in the making, Madison Valley’s vegetarian restaurant Caf é Flora (www.cafeflora.com) launched its new cookbook Oct. 3. Chef Catherine Geier pulled together more than 250 recipes of the restaurant’s most popular dishes. Book editor Carol Brown, recruited 60 experienced home-cooks (50 percent from out of state) as testers to scrutinize all recipes to ensure directions were clear and recipes worked in different geographic areas. The book honors Café Flora’s former co-owner, manager and social activist Scott Glascock, who passed away earlier this year. Fourteen years ago, David Foecke, Gracie Close and Glascock established Café Flora as a vehicle for social change. Foecke says, “Food impacts our ecology. But, Scott believed people would be more likely to consider modifying their food choices if they could experience the joy of the passionate cuisines from numerous cultures on the planet—many of which use little meat.” The cookbook is available online at www.cafeflora.com., at the restaurant and select bookstores.
Choice Organic Teas/Granum, Inc. (www.choiceorganicteas.com) is nominated for the Co-op America’s People’s Choice Award for the Green Business of the Year. Over 70 companies have been nominated. The Choice Organic Teas brand was founded in 1989 with commitment to sustainability. Today, the company uses renewable energy and works closely with international tea growers to support organic and Fair Trade farming methods. The award winner will be announced in November at Green Festival in San Francisco. For more information visit www.coopamerica.org.
Tiger Mountain Innovations (www.tmi-online.com) announces a second-generation product line to be released by the end of 2005. Since 2003, the company has produced Squak Mountain Stone countertops made from recycled paper and cement. The composite creates a natural stone look and feel. The new Wabi/Sabi line will include sinks, vanity sets and garden pots. “The Japanese word ‘wabi’ means beauty through imperfections, and ‘sabi’ means beauty through age,” says Ameé Quiriconi. Former engineer and green building consultant, Quiriconi founded the company after attending Antioch University Seattle’s management program. She wanted to create a product for the building industry that was sustainable by using local waste materials and that would be readily available in any geographic region. Squak Mountain Stone products are available through Environmental Home Center (www.environmentalhomecenter.com).
The Green Car Company (www.greencarco.com) reports an increased demand for diesel vehicles that can run on cleaner biodiesel. No surprise with today’s gasoline prices. Biodiesel’s popularity spiked as the Iraqi War started and continues as gas prices ascend, post Katrina. Founded a year ago by Susan Fahnestock, the company “seeks to educate people” about transportation choices. “For example, [we identify] which cars help reduce their impact on global warming, and we help customers find the right vehicle that suits their particular needs,” says Fahnestock. The Kirkland-based company provides consulting, car finding services, sales, education and mechanical services. Green Car also sells electric bikes, Smart cars and neighborhood electric vehicles. They will also install auxiliary tanks to any diesel vehicle, allowing them to run on food waste oils.
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