“You could consider me the goddess of organic wine because of my longevity,” says a tres enthusiastic Veronique Raskin of The Organic Wine Company in San Rafael, Calif. “I’ve been at it for 30 years so I should know a couple of things.”

The French native and head cheerleader for the benefits of organic helped uncork the notion of drinking naturally-farmed grape back in 1979. That’s when she brought the first shipment to the U.S. from her family’s 200 year-old vineyard, Bousquette, located in the Languedoc region which borders Provence in the south and produces one-third of France’s grapes.

“Back in the 60s, people with small family properties handed down from generation to generation took notice of the damage done by pesticides and herbicides and began looking for alternatives. We decided non-organic had no future and conventional wine was damaging to the earth, the people working the earth, and down the stream to the public.”

Much has changed since those days in 1979 when she shopped her Chateau Bousquette to wine merchants in the Bay Area, singing the praises of its purity.

“I remember I took a bottle into a store called Mr. Liquor. I was this idealistic 30-year-old, and so excited to share the only wine I could drink without getting a headache,” she recalls. “The owner looked at me and said, ‘Lady, my customers don’t give a s…t what is in their wine!’ I stood there gasping and didn’t have a comeback. I was so stunned someone would say even if wine contains poison, people don’t care.”

Now that people do care, Veronique Makes it her mission to get the public to seek out wines that are Certified Organic, which guarantees the producer is following strict organic regulations for farming without synthetic chemicals.

She warns us to steer clear of empty references: sustainable practices, ecological development, long term planning and reasonable farming. These are frequently dictated by the greenwashing of the business to keep up with marketing trends.

This wine expert also says the sulfites in wine issue can be extremely confusing and blown out of proportion in a way that can cause public hysteria.

“Sulfites are naturally occurring in wine as result of fermentation, so it’s about adding a minimal amount to supplement what is there already,” she says, sighing about this overheated topic.

“A small part of the population, mostly asthmatics, are allergic to sulfites and should be warned with labels,” she explains. “But the majority of unpleasant complications are not due to sulfites but the other chemicals added. People should be concerned about pesticides that kill us and cause diseases. Focusing on sulfites is just a distraction.”

Apres the fine education comes the fine selection. I’m toasting this part because the woman knows from organic reds.

She has been carefully selecting labels for the past 20 years, importing and selling only those wines certified in their country of origin. In terms of the vintage, Veronique finds this mostly applies to rare wines that are generally out of our reach, unless you’re a collector with big bucks and a cellar.

“There it can make the difference between a simply good wine and a fabulous one,” she says. “This is very much the case in the Bordeaux region where the weather can radically alter the growing conditions from one year to the next.”

In guiding the rest of us (those without big bucks or a cellar), Veronique has created a virtual organic wine 101 course at her website – with information based on the great depth of knowledge gained over the years.

Her mission is to foster a community that sees the importance of drinking and enjoying organic. “We’re not just merchants, but passionate, idealistic people who happen to be running a business,” she says.

I asked her to get down to business and give us the dirt on the best organic reds for sharing with friends over dinner or giving as gifts.

The list comes with these savvy tips:

1. Let the bottle breathe. “It’s like stretching your body when you are in tight clothing.”

2. Drink red wine with food. It’s how Europeans do it, and for good reason. The more you taste the food, the more you taste the wine, and they enhance each other. “Wine is nourishment to me. I drink two glasses every day,” she says. “My family drinks with lunch but I don’t because I’m now part American.”

3. Share red wine with friends. “It is meant to help us relax and partake of each other’s company, to open up the heart and enjoy sharing. That’s why the typical visual of wine is around the table with friends. Jesus did that with his disciples all of the time. Wine comes from the depth of the earth and grapes are the quintessential symbol of transformation.”

Veronique Raskin

Here is the goddess’s guide to delicious and affordable organic red wines, some of which can be purchased through her site.

Languedoc Region

Chateau Bousquette, Prestige $27

Chateau Bousquette, $18

Chateau Veronique, $15

Mas de Janiny Cabernet, $30

Mas de Janiny Syrah, $20

La Marouette Cabernet, $13.99

Rhone Region

Domaine des Cedres, $15

Cotes du Ventoux, $10.99

Burgundy Region

Bourgogne Pinot Noir, $24

Spain

Navarrsotillo Rioja Tinto “Noemus”, $15

California

Sky Saddle Sangiovese, $24

Le Vin Winery Hillside Estate Organic Vineyards 2002 Merlot, $28

I grew up thinking it was completely normal to slather my skin with products featuring a complex, unpronounceable list of ingredients. Most of us probably never even thought twice about it.

But awareness is rising and many of us just aren’t tolerating toxins anymore. Smart entrepreneurs are stepping up to fulfill the growing need for skincare made of completely natural (and often edible) ingredients. If you like to feed your skin only the finest, add Naya Organics to the menu.

Stemming from a literal interpretation of the “less is more“ philosophy, Naya’s scrubs and body oils literally contain only the simplest, most natural of ingredients. There’s nothing that was created in a lab.

I’ve been trying quite a few of the products. I recommend you use the coarse salt scrubs to exfoliate your skin and the lightly scented oils to protect and replenish. I wouldn’t be surprised if you have a hard time deciding – go for the sample pack with a little bit of everything. And be thankful that you don’t have to “treat” your skin to strange, complicated chemicals anymore.

Looking for an interesting, educational, fun and non-battery operated toy for your children? Look no further than OWIKit’s 6 in 1 Educational Solar Building Kit. It’s the latest in a line of solar toys for kids that OWIKit has been manufacturing for a few years now.

The 6 in 1 Educational Solar Building Kit, due for release next month, is designed to teach children (and adults, too) how to use solar power to drive a small motor. Consisting of 21 snap-together parts, the kit allows you to build six different working models – an airboat, a car, a windmill, a puppy, and two different planes.

Priced at about $13.95 each, these kits are bound to be a hit with both kids and parents alike. And parents in particular will love the fact that no batteries are required.

I have two thumbs and neither one is green, in any way, shape or form. Nature and plush, pretty gardens fill me with joy, but don’t let me anywhere near a shovel or pruning shears – tragic mishaps are likely to occur.

I’ve been responsible for many a premature death due to my apparent lack of “intuition” when it comes to growing green things. But even I could probably take on a Grow Me a Tree and nurture it through adolescence and into adulthood.

The Silver Birch seeds arrive “grow ready” in a compostable brown sack filled with soil. Rip off the top of the sack and care for the seeds (i.e. water, assure proper sunlight exposure, etc.) until the tree is mature enough to plant outside. Seems easy enough. But please note that the Silver Birch can grow as tall as 30 feet high. Plant carefully.

Despite my trepidation, I ordered one for myself and plan to focus as if the future of the planet depends on it. If others followed suit, and each grew a tree, what a wonderful world it might turn out to be.

Find the Grow Me a Tree at snowhome for approximately $8.50 (plus $15 shipping from the U.K. to the U.S.).

- via Nigel’s Eco Store

Not everyone has the space or budget for a large thermal wine cooler in their pad. Here’s a practical way to chill that organic vino and rescue the dying cork stopper industry at the same time.

The Cork Bark Wine Chiller from Bitters Co. is from and features unglazed terracotta wrapped with an outer layer of natural cork bark ($46). It cools your bottle by insulating it with these layers and lends some earthy style at the same time.

The way of life for Mediterranean cork harvesters has become threatened by the replacement of hand-harvested cork with cheaper, synthetic twist-off caps. So farmers in Portugal are brainstorming alternative uses for their product – like this wine cooler, as a way of salvaging cork production, which is organically farmed.

Wondering what to get your little Susie Homemaker for her birthday? How bout an eco-friendly appliance, like the Wonderworld Washing Machine Play Set or Kitchen Sink, $90 at Toys R Us?

Just think of the hours of fun loading the machine on a cold cycle with green detergent or scrubbing those vegan casserole pans by hand! “No dessert, Miss Susie, until that pile of organic cotton napkins is folded and put away!” Speaking as the mother of two chronically messy daughters (why hang up that dress when you can toss it into the hamper?), you can never begin the training too early. Otherwise, your darling little ones will grow into the kind of disorderly dorm mates wise co-eds try to avoid. One more incentive: They look absolutely adorable in the playroom.

Wonderworld describes itself as “a strong advocate of protecting the environment” and uses friendly rubberwood and only non-toxic color and laquer finishes for all of its products. “This not only contributes to the safety proposition for children but also demonstrates our determined commitment to mother earth,” says the toy company.

I love my friends and family, but I don’t like giving them gifts. Wait, that didn’t come out right. What I mean is that I don’t like feeling obligated to give them something simply because it’s their birthday or a holiday. It puts me in a stressful situation, wondering what I can possibly give them that they’ll truly like and that fits my budget. Besides, we all have too much “stuff.”

Here’s a better idea: give the gift of time. Everybody needs extra help cleaning out their garage. And work is best done in the presence of loved ones. So rather than shop “˜til your credit limit pops, make a beautiful card pledging a few hours of your dedicated time. Help, smiles and conversation – it’s a gift that everyone will appreciate.

Here are a few ideas of things you can give to each other:

Childcare

Cleaning

Gardening or yardwork

Pet care

Running errands

Letter writing

Hanging art or decorating

Cooking a meal

Organizing a closet

Helping plan a travel itinerary

Computer or web help

Household repairs

Unfinished DIY projects

This list could go on forever. Perhaps you’re an ace at polishing resumes – why not offer it to your friend who is looking for a new job? Maybe you’re a natural when it comes to packing for a trip – your disorganized gal pal might love some help. Swap your skills and give the gift of time. Everyone will come out feeling as if they’ve received the best gift. What are things you could give?

Editor’s note: Special thanks to LA for the great idea.

Image: Michel Filion

Who am I to argue with the Madison Avenue suits who coined the phrase “diamonds are a girl’s best friend”?

If only diamonds were all we believe them to be. The violence resulting from the diamond mining and trading industry is, in a word, tragic. And, as it turns out, diamonds aren’t even as valuable as we’ve been told.

First, a little primer:

The U.S. happens to be the largest consumer of conflict diamonds, purchasing over $33.7 billion dollars’ worth of the rocks in 2005. Wondering what conflict diamonds are? I’m no fawning fan of DiCaprio, but the film “Blood Diamond” is nowhere near as fictional as we’d like it to be. Conflict diamonds involve abuse, corruption and death. There goes that gorgeous, shimmery, sparkling stone set in platinum I’ve been dreaming about.

Here are several important reasons you should never, ever buy (or accept) a diamond:

We’ve been conditioned to want a diamond. Pavlov much? Who isn’t tired of the advertising and marketing ploys used to brainwash us into believing our value as women rests on the size of our…gem? (Toss that in with measurements and marital status and we’ve got an endless supply of not-good-enough.) Marketers have thrown us a giant, glittering bone, and watched the profits pile up as we’ve chased, fetched and rolled over in order to conform to what we’ve been conditioned to believe is the only acceptable standard.

Diamond prices have been artificially inflated by the diamond cartel. The average diamond sold in the U.S. has been over-graded in quality by 2 grades, and the average U.S. couple pays twice what they should for an engagement ring. Do you really want to enter into a lifelong commitment with a man who’s willing to waste his hard-earned cash on a diamond, especially when said diamond is ridiculously overpriced? Okay, well, me too. Forget number 2 and let’s move on to the third reason to avoid diamonds.

Diamonds are anything but an “investment”. A 1-carat diamond will set him back about $5,000, which amounts to $710,000 per ounce. Worse even than a car once it’s driven off the sales lot, a diamond will never be worth what you’ve paid for it. Try to trade it or sell it or pawn it and you’ll be sorely disappointed. Do you know why? Because their “worth” has been artificially inflated! Diamonds aren’t scarce or rare.

Just don’t tell him this until after it’s on your finger. (Kidding!)

Conflict diamonds. Any lover shallow enough to buy you a diamond to “make up” for misbehavin’ ways is indeed dumb enough to think that the name “conflict diamonds” refers to relationship issues. Ditch that man and his diamonds…fast. Blood diamonds have resulted in over 4 million deaths in Angola, Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Ivory Coast. One shiny rock, 4 million lives.

Diamonds with strings attached. Did you know that only 11% of U.S. jewelry stores practice a conflict diamonds policy and 67% won’t even discuss the topic when asked if they have one? Just because he bought you dinner, I mean a diamond, doesn’t mean you have to marry him. Presents aren’t promises, and kisses aren’t for keeps.

Diamond mines damage the environment. This is important, even though it’s true of all types of mining, not just diamond mining. Mines are dangerous for workers (including children) and threaten our planet, too. I wish there were a way to dig that deep without so much damage.

And last but definitely not least…

A diamond is not forever. Nothing is forever, my friends. Engagements, marriages, jobs, you name it. If they happen to last a long time, then you are indeed a very lucky person. Why do we kid ourselves into believing that a sparkling rock, delivered to us on the backs of the abused, purchased for more than it’s worth, marketed for more than it means and obtained at the expense of our own dear planet will keep love alive?

And please tell me why I still melt, just a little, at the sight of a beautiful, shimmering diamond ring perched on a shelf in a store window.

(Lastly, did you know? There are some great alternatives: you can buy vintage diamonds – at a fraction of the cost! – and retailers like Brilliant Earth and Green Karat are eco-friendly and cruelty-free, too.)

Images: fashionjewelry, stephend9, ruby-jade-sapphire-pearl, smh, nyinquirer, starryskies, hairdecor, hourglass diamond

I just love when I’m checking out the ingredients of a skincare product and find that it’s practically edible. Yum, I think. It means my skin is gonna eat this stuff up!

Enter Pangea Organics, a line of utterly luscious bodycare products that will make your skin rejoice. Check out Egyptian Geranium with Adzuki Bean and Cranberry Scrub (3.8 oz for $33) or Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai and Goji Berry Mask (2 oz for $40). Like I said, oh yum!

Pangea has gift sets for convenient holiday shopping and, for the distinct pleasure of that beloved treehugger in your life, the gift boxes have spruce seeds embedded in the fibers. I hope this starts a new trend: plant yourself a Christmas tree instead of cutting one down.

And feed your skin the finest!