kalman's blog

Sunscreen and Mosquito Season Finally Arrives in Edmonton

Whew! The mosquitoes are vicious this season. So many people have come into and phoned the store looking for safer products for themselves and their children. We have sold out once already this season but have restocked several lines though we haven’t received our Druide restocking order yet. We offer “In the Bush” from Butterfly Weed and Summer Survivor XS with Catnip Oil.

I have also ordered in some repellent patches.

Earth’s General Store has a good offering of sun care products – Badger, Green Beaver, Alba, Nature’s Gate and Matter/Butterfly Weed.

More and New Field Roast Products Have arrived at Earth's General Store

We continue to expand our offering of unique vegan/vegetarian products. This week we added another product of Field Roast items – Coconut Breaded Cutlets. We also restocked the Celebration Roasts (Half Loaf), Meat Loafs, Apple Sage Sausages, Italian Sausages, and the very popular Wild Rice Cranberry Fig Roast en Croute (pastry wrap).

So if you are looking for a excellent product for a special meal check out these product offerings.

- Posted May 13th, 2011

Another Local Supplier of Fresh Organic Eggs now offered at Earth's General Store

Since we opened we carried local certified organic eggs supplied by Sunshine Organics Farm and our customers have been quite pleased with the quality and price point. Sunshine Organics is a small family operation whose objective is to supply fresh organic eggs to their customers at the farmer’s market and therefore don’t have an ever increasing supply of eggs.

Well the summer markets are going to be up and running soon and therefore they are going to cut back a little on the eggs they can supply us since they need to supply their own direct customers at the downtown farmer’s market (102nd Avenue and 104th Street).

Last year when we were short we brought in certified organic eggs from BC – Rabbit River Farms. These were more expensive and definitely not local.

Earth's General Store's Green Reward Results for April 2011 - Small Actions Make a Big Difference!

Results of April 2011 Green Acts Reward programme:

Canadian Biotechnology Action Network - www.cban.ca:

  • Yellow Tokens (for reusing bags) @ 2 cents each –394 tokens
  • Red Tokens (for refilling containers) @ 5 cents each –170 tokens
  • Green Tokens (for green commuting to or from the store) @ 10 cents each – 129 tokens

Canadian Department of Peace Initiative - www.departmentofpeace.ca:

  • Yellow Tokens (for reusing bags) @ 2 cents each – 344 tokens
  • Red Tokens (for refilling containers) @ 5 cents each – 123 tokens
  • Green Tokens (for green commuting to or from the store) @ 10 cents each – 88 tokens

Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers - www.emcn.ab.ca:

Save Gas, Save Money and Transport a Little Lighter on the Environment

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Are Gasoline Prices Too High?

Yes… and no. Our world is used to low oil prices and our economies and lifestyles are based on these low prices. Oil is a non-renewable resource – a finite and ever depleting commodity and as such should be valued. People would probably feel much better about high prices if the petroleum corporation weren’t making such obscene profits.

Are there options?

Fair Trade Earth Day - May 8th, 2011

Edmonton missed having an Earth Day event this year so Earth's General Store is hosting a gathering of eco groups on Sunday, May 8th, 2011. This date also coincides with Fair Trade Fortnight (and Mother Day) and since Earth's General Store has been promoting Fair Trade for almost 20 years we will be incorporate this into the day’s celebration – Fair Trade Earth Day!

  • What: Fair Trade Earth Day
  • When: 12:00pm (noon) to 4:00pm, Sunday, May 8th, 2011
  • Where: 9605 – 82nd Avenue
  • Who: Earth's General Store, Vegans and Vegetarians of Alberta, Edmonton Bicycle Commuters’ Society, Sierra Club of Canada – Prairie Chapter, Greenpeace, Department of Peace and many more
  • Why: Celebrate our common home and show respect to the planet. When we treat the planet and each other fair and justly we will achieve balance.

There will be booths staffed by local enviro and peace groups, barbequed food by Vegans and Vegetarians of Alberta, music, Fair Trade samples and coffee, and free bicycle tune-ups by Edmonton Bicycle Commuters’ Society.

Background:

Rain Barrel Fundraiser/Sale a Success

Today we hosted our first Rain Barrel Sale and it went quite well. We donated $1,000 to the Greater Edmonton Alliance so I think they were quite happy with the work their volunteers did to help make this a success.

We sold about 130 barrels today and we have more to sell – unfortunately they will not be for the truck load sale price. The regular price is $80.

On May 8th we are hosting a Fair Trade Earth Day and I have invited Greater Edmonton Alliance to host a table. I have not decided yet but we will likely have a bit of a sale on some rain barrels (though not to the extent that we offered today).

- Posted April 30th, 2011

Tisha Kalmanovitch NDP Candidate in Kelowna-Lake Country for 2011 Federal Elections - Please Support Her

So my sister, Tisha Kalmanovitch, is running for the NDPs in this election and I would ask that if any of you have any connection to people that are voting in the Kelowna-Lake Country riding. I support alternatives and she is a good person and will do a good job of working for the people of this riding and Canada.

Encourage your friends to vote and I strongly encourage you to vote in this election wherever you are and whoever you decide to support.

Change is good.

Thank you, Michael Kalmanovitch

- Posted April 30th, 2011

Rain Barrel Sale and Fundraiser TOMORROW at Earth's General Store

The truck load of rain barrels will be arriving tomorrow morning in front of the store. If you are interested in saving money, contributing to a great local non-profit organisation, and saving rain water for growing fresh produce then come and get one – we have lots available – ONE DAY ONLY!

See http://egs.ca/node/287 for more information

- Posted Friday, April 29th, 2011

The Field Roasts and Daiya in Blocks are Coming Again!

Our supplier is able to send us some more field roast products (as well as some Daiya Mozzarella in solid 5 pound blocks) and I expect that they will arrive sometime mid to late this week.

We will be getting Celebration Roast Half Loaves (these are the 1 pound loaves not the usual 2 pound ones), Wild Rice Cranberry Fig Roast en Croute (these are the ones we had in twice before with the pastry wrapping and are 2 pounds in weight – Timothy and I are having one of these for supper this evening), Apple Sage Grain Meat Sausages, and the Classic Meatloaf.

If you would be interested in having any of these items put on hold for you please give us a ring at 780-439-8725 and we can reserve them for you.

- Posted April 24th, 2011