Baby Wants and Kneads
After a long day of burping and feeding, they need some R&R. No, we’re not talking about new moms; we’re talking about newborns. They may not spend their days doing housework and meeting impossible deadlines, but infants need some chill time, too. And what better way to bring peace and harmony to your baby’s body and soul than with a tender, loving massage. Of course, you don’t want to cause any friction-related rashes in the process. Might we suggest trying Ancient Touch for Modern Moms, a line of all-natural massage oils made by Mashala Baby Organics. Prepared by a mother of three living in Mission, these products are fortified with soothing herbs including Tulsi (Holy Basil). Just put a little dab on the hands before rubbing gently and your bundle of joy will be drooling like a …well, like a baby. For more info: mashalababyorganics.com or call 1-800-981-4MBO.

Curry in a Hurry
Do you ever find yourself ordering greasy pizza when you get home from work simply because you’re too tired to prepare an organic dinner from scratch? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. A recent poll revealed that three out of four SharedVISION writers are guilty of occasionally eating crap on the weekdays. That’s why, when we heard about Sensational Suppers, we knew we had to spread the word. Inspired by American models, this Vancouver-based company is a healthy meal preparation service. Simply book an appointment for a two-hour session at the SS facility (440 W. 2nd Ave.), pick at least six recipes (most have an organic option), and then proceed to the corresponding workstations, where you assemble your chosen entrees (approximately one month’s worth) into individual frozen containers. Then just freeze, heat, and eat. For more info: sensationalsuppers.com or call 604-632-3100.

Nanna’s Got a Brand New Bag
Everyone from rap queen Missy Elliot to tween sensation Hilary Duff to sitcom rerun Joey Lawrence has been seen sporting a Nanna purse. We won’t even hazard a guess as to what triggers a celebrity trend—nor do we care. But what we do care about is a locally based company that doesn’t use sweatshops, uses recycled materials, and keeps its prices reasonably low to make shopping with a social conscience doable for everyday women (products range from $15-$110). Although Nanna has an impressive fall line of dresses, pants, and tunics, the East Van clothier specializes in purses, cloth wallets, and diaper bags. Carried at more than a dozen stores in the Lower Mainland, these beautiful designs are worth checking out. For more info, visit nanna.ca or call 604-987-6103.

Slick Sliding Sustainably
Whether you’re a hardcore snowboarder who lives to shred down double-black diamond runs or a retired baby boomer who enjoys cross-country skiing through the outback, the hills are no place for environmental pollutants. Ski wax is no exception: the stuff rubs off your gear onto the snow, eventually reaching our water supply. The ski and snowboarding industry haven’t been quick to address the issue. That’s why the wacky waxorcists at Hillbilly Wax-Works took matters into their own hands. The B.C.-based company has created the first non-toxic, biodegradable formula made from renewable materials. Currently, they offer five different polishes, each one custom-made for specific types of powder. So, depending on which local peak is your favourite, Hillbilly guarantees a smooth ride. Available at Mountain Equipment Co-op stores, mec.ca

Hairdos and Don’ts
At first, we couldn’t understand why the good folks at Curelle kept making such a big deal about how they don’t use grapefruit in any of their all-natural hair products. After all, the big, juicy, seeded delight seems like an innocent enough additive for shampoo and conditioner, right? Wrong. It turns out our beloved citrus fruit is often paired with active chemicals such as ammonium chloride and diphenol hydroxybenzene—something most hair products that boast grapefruit seed extract as a main ingre­dient fail to mention on the label. Suddenly, the thought of lathering our luscious locks in grapefruit seed wasn’t so appealing. Don’t get us wrong, we still love the tarty-tasting fruit. We just don’t like mixing our carcin­ogens with our citric acids. E-mail info@curelle.com.

E-Waste Not, Want Not
The term “techno trash” may sound like an ear-shatteringly bad genre of music. But it’s actually referring to the electronic junk that’s piling up in our landfills. In fact, e-waste is one of the fastest growing environmental problems in the world. It’s estimated that Canadians alone generated 67,000 tonnes worth of computer refuse last year.
That’s a lot of crashed hard drives—not to mention plastic, glass, metal, lead, and mercury. So, if you’re one of the many who found a better, faster IT accessory waiting for you under the Christmas tree, whatever you do, don’t throw your obsolete beast of a PC in the garbage. Bring it to Techno Trash Recycling, where a zero-waste “de-manufacturing” system ensures that every square inch of your system (including that mammoth monitor you’ve grown to hate) is sorted and re-used. Visit technotrashrecycling.com or call 604-942-7415 for a drop-off location near you.

Lucky Fungus
With the Chinese Year of the Pig upon us, it’s time to welcome it in accordingly, with luck—and all things red. According to tradition, the rosy colour drives away bad luck, so paint your door in scarlet tones and eat Red Reishi mushrooms. Embedded in Asian culture for centuries, the Reishi is exalted as a symbol of divinity, longevity, and good fortune. The feisty fungus is highly valued for its numerous health benefits, including increased energy and focus, reduced stress, and improved sleep. Scientists in the west have proven these magic mushrooms from Japan are powerful antioxidants that enhance the immune system and protect against heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Primarily sold in concentrated-essence capsules or tablets (prices range from $65 to $188 for a two-month supply), Japanese Red Reishi products are available at your local health food store. For more infor­mation: call 1-866-573-4744 or reishi.com.

Better Bottom Line
It’s no big secret that Vancouver is starting to get a rep in the fashion industry as a city that supports its socially sustainable clothing designers. So the last thing Lower Mainland fashionistas want to do is cinch in their fair-trade dresses with belts made in an Indonesian sweatshop. Now, they don’t have to. Hotbox Accessories (2560 Main St.) is a specialty boutique that carries everything from purses and jewelry to this season’s must-have: tweed caps. Shopping bags are made from biodegradable materials and approximately 75 per cent of Hotbox’s merchandise is locally produced; the remaining 25 per cent is guaranteed to have been manufactured in accordance with fair-labour practices. So, for example, you can pick up some organic cotton novelty ginch with the words “eat organic” on the front without worrying about the envir­onmental or social cost. For more info, call 604-871-0095.