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You are enjoying mildly interesting conversation at a social gathering and someone throws out the term cacao.

“Hold that thought,” You say, “Did somebody say CACAO?!”

Theobroma cacao! This is the Greek name for the plant where chocolate comes from and translates Food of the Gods. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, chocolate is more ubiquitous than ever!

In fact, we can say that chocolate can be purchased in practically any grocery store, gift shop, and even online. This divine and delicious pleasure is everywhere! Yet this cash crop grows in some of the most underdeveloped areas of the world, namely in West Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

The incredible cocoa or cacao plant is cauliferous, meaning it has two main harvest seasons, and requires human labor all steps of the process, from collecting the pods by hand using machetes, to scooping out the seeds or mucilage, to begin fermentation, to laying out the seeds to dry in order to transform into beans. Later they are hauled off to market. Cocoa farming requires a ton of work and it is the livelihood of approximately 4.5 million families around the world today.

Now let us add some sweet thoughts to the mix before you are about to reach for that rich chocolate bar or box full of variety confections. As consumers, we have the power to make the difference in the lives of millions in the cocoa farming industry, and this does not even include the rest of the supply chain, our planet, and the health we want for our bodies. Doing GOOD can mean buying Organic and Fair Trade Chocolate. Yes, I said it— Eating chocolate means doing GOOD! Here is why:

Top 10 reasons why to buy Organic and Fair Trade Chocolate:

1. You will be supporting a sustainable environment.

2. You will be protecting wildlife, migratory birds, and the midge fly—the only insect that can pollinate the cacao plant.

3. You will be ensuring that cacao farmers are getting paid a fair wage.

4. You will be protecting people from human trafficking, slavery, and child labor.

5. You will be supporting farming communities and co-ops in developing countries.

6. You will be giving back to Earth by not harming it with pesticides, herbicides, and GMO’s.

7. You will help sustain a healthy and transparent supply chain.

8. You will taste the difference, and the terrior better—the geological environment that effects flavor, including the soil and climate wherein the plant grows.

9. You will impress your Sweetie.

10. You will feel GOOD about yourself and your body will thank you for not consuming GMO products. 

WOW! That is a whole lot of reasons why to buy Organic and Fair Trade Chocolate. Did I just mention a WHOLE LOT?!  It takes one simple choice to do a LOT of GOOD for the Earth, humanity, your loved one, and your own body.

How can I be sure that the chocolate I am purchasing is certified FairTrade and Organic? Look for labels that say they are certified Fairtrade Certified™ by Fairtrade International (FLO) and certified Organic (e.g. USDA organic, EU organic, JAS-Japenese Agricultural Standard). Additionally, try to find chocolate makers that are Rainforest Certified. Migratory birds flock in tropical rainforest which shade the cocoa trees and preservation of these Rainforests means preservation of the cocoa production and the habitats where these plants thrive best.

Next time you hear the word cacao, you will be well equipped with knowledge on all things chocolate! Spread the LOVE and DO GOOD by sharing the knowledge and joining in the Global effort to change the world one choice at a time by buying Organic and Fair Trade chocolate. If you find that your taste buds are liberally tantalized by now, look no further—GoodieDo fully supports Pana Chocolate! 

Raw Organic Chocolate Indulgence 3 pack

This absolutely delightful Organic Raw Chocolate is handmade in Melbourne, Australia. All main ingredients are Fair Trade! Go ahead and take a bite of that delicious chocolate, Guilt-Free!

Mar Paden- Mar authored this blog. Mar is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Art and has recently joined the GoodieDo team as a social media intern. Look out for more posts by Mar!

This blog post is about GOOD people doing GOOD things

SHOP for GOOD

Australia

Hong Kong

Citations:

http://www.goodiedo.com/goodiedo-hong-kong-default/shop-by-category/fairtrade-gift-hampers

http://www.fairtrade.net/faqs.html

http://www.agroforestry.net/scps/Cacao_specialty_crop.pdf

http://www.fta.org.au/news/860

http://www.globalexchange.org/fairtrade/campaigns/cocoa

http://www.cocoafarming.org.uk/cocoa_farming_bw_v8_uk.pdf

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Ah, Valentine's Day. You say all you want is love, but your actions say spend spend spend!

Is this a day of love or mindless consumerism?

Feel good about where your money goes this Valentine's Day by heading over to these ten restaurants in and around Seattle that sweeten and spice their menus with local, organic, and sustainable goodness.

FareStart: What does an inspiring story taste like? Find out by taking your date to FareStart, a restaurant and job placement program for homeless and disadvantaged people in Seattle. This place doesn’t just make delicious food; it creates beautiful opportunities for people in need of a second chance. To date, FareStart has helped almost 6,000 men and women reclaim their lives as well as provided over five million meals to the homeless. Taste the love in every bite and be part of the magic this Valentine’s Day.

Cupcake Royale- This cupcake's more than just a pretty face! Each scrumptious confection-including vegan chocolate and this month’s Strawberry Champagne-is lovingly made with fresh local ingredients like FAIR TRADE favorite Theo Chocolate and dairy sourced from Washington farms. Cupcake Royale treats its fellow citizens like royalty, donating 20,000 cupcakes each year to support local fundraisers. So buy a dozen for all YOUR special someones and know you've got your hands on a good thing; even the iconic pink box is compostable!

Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream-Here at Molly Moon's, they take their commitment to ridiculously high quality ice cream as seriously as they do the ingredients they use to make it. What does that mean? Well, it means each spoonful of salted caramel you feed your valentine is full of fair trade, local goodness. For the cherry on top? Molly loves her community. Not only do they donate ice cream to local fundraisers, this year the company invited Girl Scouters across Washington to the stores to sell cookies for Molly Moon’s beloved Thin Mint ice cream. Okay, where's my spoonful? 

 Poppy-Though it has been named one of Seattle's hottest new restaurants, the buzz hasn't gone  to this hip flower's head, who is still as down to earth as the herb garden in the backyard. Treat  yourself and your sweetie to Poppy's signature "thali" tasting experience of the Pacific  Northwest this Valentine’s Day!

 

Trellis at The Heathman Hotel-Featuring a "farm to table" inspired menu, this casually elegant restaurant nestled in beautiful Kirkland prides itself on using only local, humanely raised products in the dishes they whip up. An organic, eco-friendly treasure that's sure to delight!

Golden Beetle- There are no beetles, golden or otherwise, on this menu. What you can expect, though, is tantalizing items that are all 100% organic, certified by Tilth Organic. 

 Portage Bay-To quote their philosophy, "eat like you give a damn!" Show your loved ones  how much you give a damn by taking them to a place that treats the earth everyday as its own special valentine. This love is reflected in the fresh, sumptuous dishes they serve, like oatmeal cobbler French toast. Now that's breakfast worth getting out of bed for!

Hot Cakes-Who's ready for a boozy milkshake with a side of hot gooey molten lava cake? Step into sin this Valentine's Day, but do so knowing that this temptress has a caring side…maybe not for your hips, but for supporting hardworking farmers and sustainable agriculture.  Now back to that milkshake...

Agua Verde-Fresh, organic, and NATURAL Mexican food with a romantic view of Lake Union. 'Nuff said!

Local 360-Have you ever wanted to give Washington one great big hug? That's just what Local 360 does every day in their quest to create incredible dishes using ingredients within 360 miles of Seattle. Stop by this Valentine’s Day and get in on the group hug!

Make it to the end of the article? Well, then you get dessert! And by dessert, I mean a BONUS get-out-of-jail-free Valentine’s Day alternative:

PCC-So you said you were going to cook dinner, but treated yourself to the spa/round of golf/lazer tag instead? Worry not, you can still show your valentine how much you care with the help of PCC, a natural market filled with carefully chosen products and prepared dishes that are local, organic, and sustainable. Feel the zen!

Check out these establishments this V- Day and let the world be your valentine!

P.S. Will you be my valentine?

 

Justine Bronfin- Justine authored this blog. Justine just graduated from the University of Washington Bothell and has recently joined the GoodieDo team as a social media intern. Look out for more posts by Justine!

This blog post is about GOOD people doing GOOD things

SHOP for GOOD

Australia

Hong Kong

Photos reprinted from Portage Bay

Dessert Thali by Jackie Donnely; reprinted from Poppy Seattle

 

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Do you have a fuzzy mind or lack of focus?

Do you want to reconnect with your love for yourself and your life?

Do you need to feel that everything will be ok and have more compassion for yourself and where you are right now?

Are you lacking the courage to take that giant leap to bring yourself closer to your fullest potential?

Are you unable to tap into your intuition and the knowledge in uncertain times?

I find myself answering, "Yes!" to just about all of these questions. Right now my family and I are going through a huge transition in our lives, as we are in the process of moving from our long-time home (of over 9 years) in Hong Kong to finding a new city to call home in the United States and we are constantly having to address feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, fear, lack of clarity and the inability to appreciate and love the present moment.

Perhaps because of this, I am super excited to announce the launch of AWARE888 scarves on GoodieDo!  These scarves are not only simple, yet beautifully refined accessories, they are tools for healing as well.  How can a scarf heal??...I think I heard you say?  Here's how:  

Each scarf is designed to promote one of five specific feelings of well being to address the lack of various fulfillment in our lives, using four complimentary techniques:

1. Mantras - each design has a simple mantra embroidered on it including Clarity, Amor (Love), Vita (Life), Grace, and Courage. The power of carrying a positive message with you throughout the day can replace the negative thoughts and emotions and invite positive change into your life.

2. Color Therapy - each design has a carefully chosen color to reflect the positive emotions associated with its mantra. For instance the green color of the Grace scarf encourages healing and compassion from the natural world and the Pink Passion color of the Amor scarf is said to create a positive shift in your heart center.

3. Healing Power of Crystals -  each design also has a small crystal sewn into the mantra embroidery. The crystal has also been chosen for its transformative powers associated with the corresponding mantra. For example the Silver Vita scarf is embellished with a Hematite crystal, which is known for its powers of transformation and is a symbol of life energy.

4. Reiki - each scarf has been blessed by a Reiki Master with positive healing energy. Reiki is a spiritual practice in which practitioners channel energy in the universe to others to help in self-healing and regaining equilibrium.

Chose one of the five different Aware888 scarf designs that speaks to you most...

White Clarity for clarity and balance (Hong Kong shop | Australia shop)

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When you get out of bed and choose your outfit for the day. What is is saying about you? How do you feel? Are you co-ordinated, comfortable, proud to be wearing something which tells the world a little about you or does it give you a great feeling knowing that you stand for something? Is it creating a sustainable environment, a cleaner environment, a fairer work place, peace, education, a wage for a working mother to feed her children?

OR is it contributing to global pollution, disempowering poorly paid workers and compromising your  health and well-being?

Being a part of GoodieDo I have the good fortune of sourcing gorgeous clothing items which are benefical to others and to the earth. And in this great job perk, I get to try all of the empowering products before offering them to our fundraisers.  

For example I throw on a funky pair of tropical stripe organic, fairtrade, Pant to Poverty knickers, then an Omni Peace t-shirt , I dangle a Dialog handbag over my arm, and my outfit is almost complete minus the pants. I have constantly been on the lookout for a pair of pants or skirt/dress to complete my empowered outfit and finally I have found them.

I have recently been in contact with the yoga clothing company wear.it. Their approach to creating beautiful, fashionable clothing which is so comfortable it can be worn out or can be worn to practice yoga in is based on yogic principles of respecting communities and nature. Many of we'ars pieces are made from organic cotton or bamboo, and some of their dyes are plant based 'so when you have worn your t-shirt to shreds, you can throw it on the compost heap and let it feed back into the earth'. 

In manufacturing clothing it is often difficult for small companies to have strict production requirements which are beneficial to the environment and the workers and be competitively priced at the same time. Here is another example of an inspirational company basing their whole ethos on making the world a better place. Well done wear.it!

We are looking forward to offering some of we'ars  clothing pieces to GoodieDo fundraisers in near future. Stay tuned for notification of this exciting addition.

If you could make the world a healthier place and feel amazing in the fibers you wear knowing that your action as a consumer is changing the world for the better would you?

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The Nakate Project still needs a further $216 donated in the next 20hours to meet their goal of $2000. You know the old adage you can feed a man a fish for a day or, teach him to fish and he will live for a lifetime. This is just what Shanely Knox and Antonio Esteban at the Nakate Project are doing for women in Uganda, who otherwise are forced between choosing to earn 25cents for manual back breaking work or prostitution to care for their families. Risking their health and their lives through diseases such as AIDS.
 This video out lines why we need to take action against poverty.

The Nakate Project will work with select local Ugandan women who meet three criteria:
1. She is strong enough to start her own business without the Nakate project
2. She has limited work options; prostitution or manual back breaking labor.
3. She is willing to take the business training provided and save the money earned and invest in her own business such as a vegetable stand, or shoe business, or any other.

This Amazing Project focuses on 3 concepts: Sustainability - of locals to continue with their own businesses without help, Localization=  Success in existing communities with locally owned businesses and Empowerment - pride, independence and value of work. 

The Nakate Project will initially employ women to use their skills in making high end fashion jewelry designed by Antonio Esteban
The women will be taught skills in capitol, business training and how to handle money. They will be paid a comparable wage that they would be paid through a successful business in their own village. They will then be encouraged to begin their own local business with the skills they have learnt with support and monitoring of if the women are ready to be entirely supported by their income in that business.
Empowering women to live successfully in their own area, growing local economies and creating sustainable businesses is the only way to truly alleviate poverty for future generations.
Children model their parents for their first seven years of life, lets help to make a more promising future for at least some Ugandan children. The Nakate Project is a brilliant initiative which is providing alternatives for Ugandan Women. 
 Please support through donation or through buying Nakate Project jewelry hand made by Ugandan women to help bring about permanent change.
 Read more great articles about the Nakate Project here.

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The American Women's Association of Hong Kong is one of the largest women's run volunteer and charity organizations in Hong Kong. Every year they organize a fabulous bazaar during the holiday season full of fantastic Hong Kong shops and vendors selling everything from chocolate to baby toys to jewelry and sleepwear.  I have been going to the bazaar for a number of years and love spending a few hours browsing and sampling.  There is a fantastic bake sale with stacks of treats donated by members and its fun to indulge!  I always manage to come home with some great buys for myself and some very unique gifts that are always loved by the recipients.  All proceeds from the bazaar are donated to local Hong Kong charities.  Last year the AWA donated a total of HK$1.3 million to various charities and organizations in the city!  

We are thrilled to announce that GoodieDo will be participating in this year's bazaar in partnership with our lovely organic baby clothes partner, Organic Family.  We'll be selling a great range of our most popular gifts including hand loomed scarves, baby toys, handmade jewelry and funky t-shirts.  Its going to be a great day out, so don't miss your chance to shop for great gifts that give in more ways than one!

Details are as follows:

DATE: 8th of November

TIME: 10am - 6pm

PLACE: Hong Kong Jockey Club, Happy Valley Race Course

We'll see you there!

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Put some bounce into your club fundraising with these Jinta sport balls, new to GoodieDo.  Made to match quality. These balls Do Good for the environment- being PVC free!
Do good for communities- being hand stitched by well paid adult cooperatives in Pakistan.
Do Good for Giving- with a percentage of wholesale sales being given to aboriginal communities in Northern Australia toward sporting programs and of course Goodiedo's commission to your elected fundraiser.
 They will also Do Good for your conscience and ultimately your game. Shoot many goals for years to come with your purchase of one of these great quality balls.

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