On the Production of Organic
No, I’m not repeating myself . . . entirely. In an earlier post, I shared a video On The Importance of Organic. Today via Twitter, our friends @MediaHolistics sent us a link to a video by Sustain Ontario on organic farming in Ontario.
It explains how organic food is grown, produced, and sold around the province, and how organic agriculture ties in with sustainable, environmentally friendly agriculture. Watch for the team from Mapleton’s, where we get our exceptional ice cream, among other things. There’s also some really cute footage of baby chicks . . .
Organic Council of Ontario – Organic Food Production in Ontario from Sustain Ontario on Vimeo.
It’s about working with the land, instead of against it, to provide our province with the healthiest, safest, most environmentally friendly food possible.
Apples and Carrots and Pears, Oh MY!
While I could easily write an entire blog about The Wizard of Oz, today’s post is not about that (I know, I’m as heartbroken as you). It is, however, about one of my other favorite things, PRODUCE!!!
If you’ve ventured into the store lately . . . or follow us on Twitter . . . or “Like” us on Facebook (hint, hint) . . . you’ll notice that our all-organic produce section is expanding. Our sweet potatoes keep selling out in their first 24 hours (and rest assured: they’re constantly “on order”). We also currently have in stock: cabbage, garlic, ginger, butternut squash, acorn squash, white potatoes, carrots, onions, avocados, gala apples, and our newest acquisition, BOSC PEARS!
from http://www.foodsubs.com/Pears.html
We already talked in a previous post about The Importance Of Organic, so I thought I’d talk a little today about why our new organic pears are fantastic. Pears are loaded with fibre, which makes for a healthy digestive tract – something we all can appreciate. They’re also full of vitamin C, K, and copper. They’re a great immune boost this time of year, and they’ll help keep your heart in great shape . . . just in time for Valentine’s Day (womp womp . . . )
As with avocados and bananas, you can speed up the ripening process by putting them in a paper bag. And, something I just learned today, pears are considered hypoallergenic! Who knew?
Bosc pears in particular are great for cooking. Since I KNOW all of you will be rushing in to pick up your pears, I’ve linked some recipes and information from our favorite nutritionists below. As always, we keep our produce prices competitive. Come on in and check it out!
All About Pears from Margaux J. Rathbun
Butternut Squash Pear Soup from Joy McCarthy
And new to our nutritionist lineup, Toronto-based holistic nutritionist Elaine Brisebois of ilikerealfood.com She shares a Green Smoothie Recipe which can be made mango-, apple-, banana-, or PEAR-style. Check her out!
Secret Contest!
We’re running a contest right now for our online friends only. If you come into the store and quote the phrase “Eric Smells”, we’ll give you $6 off the price of a box of Emergen-C. 
Everybody needs a little vitamin support this time of year, in spite of the unseasonably warm weather (not that we’re complaining)! Let us know how you heard about our promotion when you come in (Blog, Facebook, or Twitter). Happy contesting . . . but only until Sunday, so hurry in!
Better Bulk Recipes: Vegetarian Split Pea Soup
Confession time: I LOVE SOUP! It’s the perfect thing on a cold day . . . not that we’ve had many of those in Toronto this year. Split Pea Soup has always been one of my favorites but, as a vegetarian, it’s really hard to find a good one that doesn’t have lard as a primary ingredient.
Enter Amy’s Organic Soups from Amy’s Kitchen, Inc. We stock several varieties in store, my favorite of which is Split Pea. I’ve gone through about a tin a week for the past couple of months. It’s pretty fantastic. But I work in a bulk store. We have pretty much every ingredient listed on the can somewhere in the store. So I set off to make my own.
Using this recipe from 101 Cookbooks and the side of the Amy’s can as my base, I came up with my own vegetarian split pea soup recipe using (almost) exclusively Better Bulk products. The one product I used that wasn’t Better Bulk based was mostly an attempt to use up everything in my fridge. I use kale leaves a lot, but seldom have use for the kale stems, which are full of fibre and all the goodness you find in the leafy part. I added them to the soup (in place of the celery that Amy’s uses) and it was lovely.
BETTER BULK
RECIPES:
VEGETARIAN SPLIT PEA SOUP
1 tbsp Omega Nutrition Organic Coconut Oil (I used this brand because it has a neutral flavor – wasn’t sure I wanted coconut flavored soup)
2 large organic onions, finely chopped
1 organic carrot, finely chopped
1 cup chopped organic kale stems
½ tsp Atlantic Fine Sea Salt
2 cups organic green or yellow split peas (yellow are milder flavored, green are sweeter)
6 cups water
½ GoBio Organic Low Sodium Vegetable Bouillon Cube
Juice of ½ organic lemon
Pinch of Spanish Smoked Paprika
Melt coconut oil in a large pot. Add onion and salt until onions soften. Stir in carrot and kale stems. Add water, bouillon, and split peas. When it begins to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 mins-half an hour (until the peas soften to your liking. Ladle about a third of the soup into a bowl and set it aside. Puree the remaining soup in a blender. Mix the reserved chunky soup back in. You may need to thin out the soup with some more water. Add lemon juice and any additional sea salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls. Garnish with paprika and serve!
If You Care . . .
That sounds like a mildly manipulative post title, but fear not! “If You Care” is a new line of environmentally friendly kitchen and household products that we’re stocking amid the bulk.
If You Care is committed to protecting the environment by producing high-quality alternatives to conventional kitchen and household products. The materials we use are specially chosen to reduce their impact on our environment. We use unbleached paper, recycled materials and wood and paper coming from sustainably managed forests. We replace petroleum based ingredients with natural and renewable resources. We use paper from pulp and paper mills practicing the highest levels of clean water management. Every care is taken to ensure that each step– from factory to store shelf – conforms to strict standards for the conservation and protection of our greatest asset – the environment.
Even the packaging is recyclable, uses non-toxic glue, and is printed with vegetable-based inks. It is also specially designed to be as minimally wasteful as possible. All of the If You Care products that we currently stock are gluten and allergen free, and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Many are kosher, as well. 
The beauty of these products is, by being environmentally friendly, they’re also a lot more human-friendly than their conventional counterparts. Natural fibres and bleach-free materials mean that these products are a lot safer and healthier for the whole family. Here’s an overview of our new inventory of products:
100% Recycled Aluminum Foil - can be recycled over and over, and protects food from light, oxygen, humidity and bacteria
Parchment Baking Paper - FSC Certified unbleached paper, totally chlorine-free, excellent for baking and cooking
Coffee Filters (Basket and Cone, 3 Sizes) - unbleached paper, totally chlorine-free
Cheesecloth - unbleached cotton, no added chlorine, no toxins, all-natural, no artificial fibers, reusable, and naturally biodegradable
Twine - unbleached cotton, no added chlorine, no toxins, all-natural, no artificial fibres
Paper Snack and Sandwich Bags - unbleached, greaseproof paper, totally chlorine-free, not chemically treated, 100% renewable resources, no petroleum products.
Come be among the first to test out this fantastic new (to us) line of products and let us know how they work for you, if you care . . .
Which Soap Works For You?
One of our most popular products here at Better Bulk is neither bulk nor a food. It is, however, natural, and it smells FANTASTIC! If you’ve never checked it out, follow your nose to our selection of Soap Works soaps!
Each Soap Works bar is made with natural ingredients, many of which are all-vegetable, and each has different benefits associated with it. None of the soaps or ingredients are tested on animals.
Those of you familiar with our soap stock will notice a new member in our lineup, the lovely blue Pumice Soap. It comes with the highest recommendation by our friend Jack, a contractor from Jack of All Trades.
Pumice Soap is good for deep cleaning. It is recommended for gardeners, mechanics, smokers, and of course, contractors.
Hemp Oil Soap is anti-aging, and a source of Omega 3, 6, and Gamma-linolenic fatty acids
Tea Tree Oil Soap is a mild astringent. It is non-irritating, antiseptic, and anti-fungal.
Carbolic Soap is anti-bacterial and antiseptic. It can be used to fight acne, as a deodorant, and repels mosquitos.
Olive Oil Soap is ideal for face, body, and shaving.
Oatmeal Soap is a gentle exfoliator for a good complexion.
The Shampoo & Conditioner bar uses no detergents, and aloe vera as conditioner.
Sea Kelp Soap uses North Atlantic Sea Kelp, which is a great source of vitamins, organic minerals, and amino acids.
Liquid Glycerine Soap is perfect for those with allergies or sensitive skin.
Goat Milk Soap is good for those with eczema, psoriasis, or dry and sensitive skin.
Camomile Soap is an herbal treatment for normal to oily skin.
Cucumber & Calendula Soap is a cleanser, toner, and anti-inflammatory.
Bee Pollen Soap is made from pure bee pollen, a natural source of vitamins, minerals, protein, amino acids, hormones, and enzymes.
And last, but certainly not least, Aloe Vera With Vitamin E Soap. This is a very healing and soothing soap.
So come in and try one or all of Soap Works’ fantastic soaps! They’re free from the harmful chemicals you find in so many products these days (no sodium laurel, lauryl, laureth sulphate, or phosphates). Your skin is your largest organ, so take care of it as you would any of your others.
http://puresoapworks.com/
A Question of Oils
Lately in the store, I (the only girl behind the counter) have noticed some confusion over what type of oils to use, and the health benefits of said oils. A lot of people assume that you can use every type of oil in all situations – not so. In fact, some of the healthiest oils have their health benefits destroyed, and can even become rancid when used at high temperatures.
I decided it was time to create (with the help of some of my favorite nutrition blogs) a guide to the best of the Better Bulk oils. So here goes!
COCONUT OIL
Coconut oil has a bad rap, because of its saturated fat content. In actuality, coconut oil has been proven to RAISE good cholesterol levels without raising bad cholesterol levels. It also speeds up your metabolism and is anti-viral, which can only mean good things for your immune system.
Coconut oil is safe for cooking at ANY temperature, and can be used in baking, stir frying, and just about anywhere else you use oil. It’s not the best for cold things, as it solidifies at room temperature, but if you mix melted coconut oil with cocoa powder, you can make an awesome chocolate ice cream shell. As a result, it should be stored at room temperature, not refrigerated.
We stock two varieties of coconut oil: Maison Orphee, which tastes like coconut, and Omega Nutrition, which has a neutral flavor. I use both, myself, depending on what I’m cooking/baking.
GRAPESEED OIL
FLAXSEED AND HEMP SEED OILS
Flax and Hemp oils are similarly popular due to their high concentration of good Omega-3-6-9 essential fatty acids. Flax oil has also been known to help balance hormones.
These oils CANNOT be used in cooking, as they are destroyed by heat. They are sensitive to light, as well, which is why you will (hopefully) see them packaged in opaque containers. They should be kept refrigerated to make sure they maintain all their good properties. They are ideal for salad dressings, etc.
OLIVE OIL
Olive oil helps to balance fatty acids in the body, and is proven to lower cholesterol levels. It also can lower blood sugar levels and blood pressure. It may also help reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Olive oil is a popular oil in many cultures, and is used in many forms of cooking. You have to be careful, though, which variety of olive oil you use in what type of cooking. Most forms of olive oil are safe at any temperature, but extra virgin olive oil is destroyed at higher temperatures, and should only be used in, you guessed it, salad dressings and the like.
We have a variety of olive oils at Better Bulk, but all of them are EVOO, so while they are the healthiest version of olive oil, I’ll likely steer you towards grapeseed or coconut oil if you’re using them for cooking.
For more information on oils, their health benefits, and even some recipes, check out these links:
Joy McCarthy of joyoushealth.ca on Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
*UPDATE* Also watch Joy on The Morning Show talking about oils
Margaux J. Rathbun of authenticselfwellness.com talks All About Oil
On The Importance of Organic
We have a lot of products in our store: some organic, some not. For some, (myself included), cost often determines which one we buy. After all, we’ve lived with non-organic food for years . . . how much of a difference is there really?
The other day, I came across a video that explains the difference so simply that even a child could understand. In fact, the video was created by a child explaining her science project on the importance of organic. You can watch the video here
Basically, Elise set out to sprout some vines on a sweet potato. The potato she picked up at her local grocer didn’t sprout after a month in water. She asked at the produce department if they knew why. It turns out that many of our vegetables are sprayed with a chemical called “Bud Nip” or “chlorpropham”. (The list also includes lima beans, blueberries, carrots, cranberries, garlic, onions, spinach, soybeans and tomatoes). Bud Nip has been linked to tumor growth in animals, and cannot be washed off . . . it seeps through the entire vegetable.
Since watching this (adorable) video, I’ve been switching to organic as often as possible (without breaking the bank). Unfortunately, it’s not easy to find an organic sweet potato in the neighborhood, so I’ve asked the guys to look into adding them to our produce repertoire.
Come in and check out what produce we have in stock. All of our fresh fruits and vegetables are organic and, whenever possible, grown close to home.
As always, thanks for dropping by! ~K
IT’S A BOY!!!!
Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
A big congratulations to Bryan (one of the owners) and Julie on the birth of their son, Keele Vrba last Monday. We are happy to report that Keele outweighed Jay-Z and Beyonce’s baby by 2 lbs. Big sister Mila is thrilled, and is very helpful with her new brother. Welcome to the Better Bulk family, Keele!
Old News, But Still Good News
Every year, Now Magazine has a “Best of Toronto” contest. Torontonians vote on their favourite bars, restaurants, and yes, even bulk stores in their neighbourhood, and city-wide.
This year, we at Better Bulk were honoured to win “Best Bulk Food on the Danforth”
From nowtoronto.com
We would like to thank our very loyal clientele for their support, because YOU are what makes this store great. We have the best customers in the city, and we know it. So, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! We’ll do our best to stay worthy of our title all year round.
