Tour d’Organics rides into Portland
    Tour d’Organics brings its all-natural bike ride to Portland Sept. 6. A series of bicycle tours that feature local, organic farms, the Tour d’Organics integrates into one event the benefits of exercise with a healthy diet based on organic foods straight from the farm. Everything along the three routes will be a reflection of the strong environmental commitment from ride sponsor Organic Athlete including composting food waste and compostable plates and utensils at the post-ride meal.

    If you want a ride you can truly feel good about, find out more about the Portland Tour d’Organics at www.organicathlete.org

It takes Sole to decrease landfill
   Brooks Shoes has recently introduced BioMoGo, the world’s first biodegradable midsole. Conventional Ethylene Vinyl Acetate midsoles can last up to 1,000 years in an enclosed landfill, but according to extensive tests, BioMoGo will biodegrade 50 times faster saving nearly 30 million pounds of landfill waste over a 20-year period.

    Although the rest of the shoe (it can be found in the Trance 8 model) is made of conventional materials and with this slight adjustment to a waste management predicament, it may appear as though Brooks is jumping on the Green Power Train.

    To lessen doubts and inspire progress, the Bothell-based athletic shoe company decided to “treat its new midsole discovery as an ‘open source’ innovation.” Here’s a thumbs up to Brooks and a nod to a step in the right direction.

    For more information visit www.brooksrunning.com/greenroom

Seattle Farmers Markets celebrate berry days
    For these and more listings, log onto www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org

    June 29: Berry Sampling, West Seattle Farmers Market, 11a.m.  – noon. Taste and learn about different varieties of local berries.

    July 9: Stone Fruit Sampling, Columbia City Farmers Market. Sample and learn about some of the many varieties of fruits in season.

    July 12: “Berry Spectacular and 15th Anniversary, “University District Farmers Market, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Local berry sampling, recipes, NW berry shortcake, cooking demo and more.

    July 13: Stone Fruit Sampling, Broadway Sunday Farmers Market. Taste and learn about different varieties of local berries.

    July 24: Berry Sampling, Lake City Farmers Market, 3:30 p.m. Taste and learn about different berries grown in our region.

    For farmers markets in Washington: http://www.wafarmersmarkets.com/; in Oregon: www.oregonfarmersmarkets.org/ and http://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/

All natural bug repellant
    The first two active ingredients are soybean oil and coconut oil which gives an indication of the all-natural ingredients in this new insect spray repellent from BienElla, LLC based in Shoreline, Wash.

    Started by Lynnel Jones, a mom whose son had multiple skin conditions and sensitivities, Jones began an exhaustive search of skin products to help her son, none of which helped. Her quest to find alternative solutions led her to realize she needed to keep things simple and began using all natural ingredients in developing a whole line of skin products.

    The Bug Repellant, which sells for $14.50 per two-ounce bottle, is just in time for the summer. It’s safe for use on children and even dogs.

    By the way, the remaining ingredients are Neem Oil, Rosemary, Peppermint, Lemon Tea Tree, Geranium, Eucalyptus, Lavendar, Catnip, Citronella, Lemongrass, Tea Tree and Cedarwood Essential Oils. Available at Ballard Organics in Seattle or online at www.bienella.com.

Carter Motors Goes Carbon Neutral
    Carter Subaru in Shoreline, Wash. is planting a forest, one test drive at a time. Carter has planted over 5,000 trees in the Cascade Mountains since beginning its Carbon Neutral program earlier this year.

    For each car test-driven at Carter Subaru, one tree will be planted in the Mountains to Sound Greenway. For each car purchased, three additional trees will be planted.

    The idea, according to Carter, is simple: the planted trees will live their lives locally in the Greenway and will actively be absorbing tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Over the trees’ lives (average 70 years), four trees will adsorb one year of carbon emissions of a car getting 21 miles a gallon that is driven 12,000 miles.

    Over 15 species of trees will be used and plantings will occur in the fall in such sites as Sammamish State Park, Snoqualmie Point Park, Issaquah Creek, Meadowbrook and Tollgate Farms and on old logging roads near Snoqualmie Pass.

    For more, www.cartersubaru.com

Healthy activity equals healthy economy
   It turns out that hiking is not only good for your health, it’s good for the economy as well. According to a report released by the Washington Trails Association (WTA), non-motorized outdoor recreation (hiking, climbing, biking, camping, fishing, etc.) contributes $11.7 billion annually to Washington state’s economy.

   “Active outdoor recreation is not only fun, it is essential for a healthy Washington state economy and for our local communities,” says WTA communications director Lauren Braden. Outdoor recreation accounts for 3.5 percent of the gross state product, contributing more to the state than the aerospace and computer manufacturing industries combined. For more, go to www.wta.org