Over the years people have asked me what the ‘best’ type of water bottle to use and my answer has always been – glass. I would suggest that people go out and get a glass bottle what previously had a beverage in it and reuse that bottle. I quite often would suggest that they go and purchase a Grolsch Beer from the liquor store. It had a ceramic top and a flip lid – this style is not available any longer. This is the type of bottle I used for my son Timothy when he was small.

This afternoon the staff person at the front counter was confronted by an angry fellow who threw one of our Idling ticket onto the counter and exclaimed that she “should tell her boss never to put this on my vehicle again.”

Unfortunately I came out of my office just a short moment after he was in the store – but I was just in time to see him driving away in his new silver Hummer. The staff person was quite shaken up because of the force of his remarks.

About an hour and a half before this happened I was cycling along Whyte Avenue and I passed an idling silver Hummer (I have seen this same vehicle idling there several times over the course of a couple weeks) and I rode on past it. I did not put a ticket on his vehicle today - though I did think of it. (I can’t recall whether I put one on his vehicle in the past). Perhaps he has been idling the whole time since I passed him and someone else put a ticket on him today. I think an hour and a half is a long time to be idling and if I saw this I would certainly have put one on his vehicle.

We received our first order of Breadland Bakery into the store earlier today. Breadland is now on our shelves along side breads, cookies, and such from Prairie Mill Bread Company and Buns & Roses. This makes it the third bakery that we represent on the south central area of Edmonton.

Only one more organic bakery to have on our shelves – Tree Stone Bakery (probably in the new year). We also carry the organic pita bread from The Happy Camel.

Bon appetite!

- Posted on December 3rd, 2010

Whew! Quite a few new items in the store this past week:

• Cocoa Camino snack chocolate bars (Fair Trade Certified and Organic)
  • Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Bar
  • Almond Butter Dark Chocolate Bar
  • Almond & Raisins Dark Chocolate Bar
• I don’t eat Dark Chocolate but i am told by the staff that these are really quite delicious and at 42 gm and $1.49 they are just the right size and price for a snack. I also like that Cocoa Camino has this line of their chocolate bars made in Peru. This puts more money into the local community down there instead of shipping the raw products to Switzerland to be made into bars.

  

Over the years several people have asked me if we could get these items into our store and every time I would order them my supplier would say – they are coming. I actually grew tired of ordering them and they didn’t come so I stopped ordering them.

Now they have them in stock and now WE HAVE THEM IN STOCK! (just checked stock and we only have one popsicle mold – kind of deflates my big announcement)… WE HAD THEM IN STOCK!

I know it is not the best time to be introducing these kinds of products into our store but we take what we can get when we can get them – just in time for the first onslaught of winter tomorrow.

I figured people would like to know how much they cost and when I went to check it turns out that all but one popsicle mold is sold out. We will be getting more in as soon as I place an order with my supplier in Ontario. So back in stock right here in Edmonton at Earth’s General Store!

The other day there was an article in the Edmonton Journal “Shop Local First aims to keep retail dollars at home” and I read some of the reviews and thought I should add my comments. I wrote to the author, Bill Mah, and he suggested that it be forwarded to the Letters Editor for consideration. I was hesitant at first since I had not written it for ‘publication’ and not everything was well expressed but I said fine since I was stressed with my work load.

The other day someone came into the store and said how much they enjoyed my letter to the Edmonton Journal.

Earth’s General Store is becoming part of the fabric of the neighbourhoods of Ritchie and Mill Creek. People are using the store as their community convenience store where they purchase healthy bread, milk, eggs, fresh vegetables, pick up a community league newsletter, and many other daily products (all organic of course).

This feels good.

But people come from further afield because they value what we do. We are a neighbourhood community store but we also belong to a larger community – the environmental community, the peace and social justice community, the greener parenting community, the food security community, the bicycle commuting community, the smart growth community, the vegan/vegetarian community, the permaculture/organic gardening/pesticide reduction community, the gay/lesbian/LBGT community, and many other dimensions. We do this because this is who we are.

We are a neighbourhood community store PLUS! A local independent community focused store that offers the household basics and so much more.

- Posted November 5th, 2010

This afternoon a woman from Fort McMurray was in to pick up 2 five pound bags of Daiya Cheese to take back to Fort McMurray because her son who was recently diagnosed with a milk allergy (causing him to have constipation). He has been asking for grilled cheese sandwiches and pizza but when she gave him soy they found he developed a rash. Now with the Daiya cheese she will be able to give him Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Mac and Cheese, and cheese pizza. Nice!

Daiya Cheese is a great product for vegans but it is a necessary product for people with milk or lactose intolerance/allergies.

Thank you people at Daiya Foods for creating this wonderful product for these people.

-Posted November 5th, 2010

The Island Peace Committee on Prince Edward Island has launched a White Peace Poppy campaign similar to the campaign we did several years ago. That is until the Royal Canadian Legion threatened to take us to court for trademark infringement.

I know that it was a tough time here at the store with all the horrible things people wrote and said about us. I am sure they could use your support. Their website is down http://www.peipc.com/ and I suspect so many people jammed it that it overloaded (or maybe some other reason). If you would like to wade in on the issue several newspapers, websites, TV stations have comment sections and it would be good to let them hear from the moderates and the people that want peace without killing for it.

Also CBC has a poll (as I am sure with several other sites) “Do you believe white poppies are disrespectful to war veterans?” Please let them hear from you.

Last month was Vegetarian Month and this month it is Vegan Month. I believe the purpose of this month is to encourage people to try to reduce their meat consumption.

Veganism is a diet choice that can really reduce a persons environmental impact as sighted here PLUS eliminate the killing of many animals.

To celebrate Vegan Month and to encourage more people to try vegan food Earth’s General Store is having a Vegan Cookbook Sale. Save 15% off any Vegan cookbook (this includes vegan books that you special order as well). Learn how to make healthy and tasty food without animal ingredients.

If you wish to support vegan education and events in the Edmonton area consider becoming a member of Vegans and Vegetarians of Alberta (you can do this at the store or come to the next potluck on November 14th – see website for details) or attend Padmanadi’s Restaurant 8th Anniversary buffet on November 9th, 2010.

Earth’s General Store has the largest selection of Vegan books in Canada – many that are for Raw and Gluten-Free Diets as well.

Earth’s General Store – your Vegetarian and Vegan Grocery Store!