Mayim Bialik, Eco-celeb and Dozens of Eco-repreneurs Ring In Boston’s Down 2 Earth

From April 10-12, the third annual Down 2 Earth Sustainable Living Expo (d2e) took over the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, filling it with an indoor garden, solar panels, organic fashion, gourmet coffee and chocolate as well as much more for the eco-novice to the eco-expert.

Unfortunately Jute and Jackfruit was not able to attend this year, but one of our writers for Green Cotton, Erin Dale, attended and did a full review of the festivals and I (Shana Yansen) also attended briefly on Saturday with my husband and some friends. We had a great time browsing around and talking to the folks at Equal Exchange, Eco-Modern Design, the Diaper Lab (in Somerville, MA), and Ideologie among others and so wanted to share our thoughts on the event.

Photosource top: Mayim Bialik by Denise Herrick Borchert

On the eco-fashion scene, there were fewer eco-fashion exhibitors this year than last and no fashion show unfortunately.  Mostly T-Shirt companies and some baby wear companies, but at least there were a few representatives from the industry. Both Ideologie and We Add Up were selling and talking about innovative organic cotton tees with a message. We Add Up has been around for a while (also members of Green America), donating their proceeds to various environmental causes, many of which are mentioned in one way or another on their shirts. They’ve now sold in the tens of thousands sold of their shirts (each one is numbered), so hats off to We Add Up! You really are adding up.

Photosource: ED ZILBERMAN, Boston Globe

As we do not carry men’s organic or eco-friendly fashion, at Jute and Jackfruit, I was excited to discover Ideologie. My husband and I had been looking for some cool organic cotton Men’s Tees for quite some time, especially ones made by Massachusetts-based companies. So were very happy to find Ideologie at the show. A very young company, Ideologie is launching their second collection as we speak, in a very competitive space, but we liked what they are doing nonetheless. Their designs have depth behind them – from the Bhuddist mantras and mosaics– each with intricate meanings, to their final touches such as the coconut buttons sewn into the bottom edge of each shirt. The tags are impressive also – multi-layered made from Bamboo Pulp and part of which can be planted.

For those just getting into the idea of green living, the event seemed to show how easy it can be to make small changes like a rain barrel or moving to organic fair trade coffee for your daily grind to  bigger changes as well – such as a doing an energy audit on your home, installing solar panels, and doing a green remodel inside and/or outside your home.  Serving as both an educational forum for sustainability and a green goods marketplace, this year’s eco-minded exhibitors included everyone on the food and beverage industry from Boston Organics, Stoneyfield Farm and Paino Organics, Larabar, Clif Bar, to Cascadian Farm, Taza Chocolate, and Glee Gum. All offered samples and coupons for their newest products — including Stoneyfields Oikos blueberry yogurt (amazing!! Better than ice cream). Each company offered information & education on why they are organic and sustainable, too.  Stoneyfield as we know is one of the pioneers in organic farming overall, and especially with respect to yogurt. When they started selling organic yogurt most people didnt know what that was, and they didnt care either because they wanted to make the best product possible. Without Stoneyfield, the organic yogurt industry I believe would not be as vast and diverse today if it were not for them.

Photosource: Erin Dale

For a caffeine fix, great companies such as  Equal Exchange, Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee, Mocha Joes and Honest Tea all had their latest roasts and drinks. Equal Exchange which happens to be based in MA is another favorite company of mine, especially for coffee and chocolate. Their Love Buzz roast is one of the best and most unique roasts I’ve tasted. All are organic and fair trade and if you are so inclined you can make an apt to get a tour of their roasting facility in MA and even do a coffee tasting afterward.

The Holistic Moms Network, along with kid’s fashion by JOJO, chic totes from Go GaGa Bags, silk baby slings by Sakura Blook, cleanup by Bum Boosa Bamboo Baby Products, and reusable (and insanely cute) snack bags from snackTAXI and ReSnackIt, all helped make life a little easier for the earth-conscious mom on the go. I tried out the Go GaGa bag and it is indeed incredible– you can carry 30 or more pounds without feeling it in your back due to the innovative shoulder strap– great for new or experienced Moms. The Go GaGa bags can be found at the Diaper Lab in Somerville, MA (or online), and make terrific diaper bags, laptop bags and carry-on bags.

D2E also featured eco-demonstrations, cooking demos, videos and notable guest speakers. Keynote speakers included Dr. James Hansen of Columbia University, a climate scientist who advised Al Gore on An Inconvenient Truth, and actress Mayim Bialik, celebrity spokesperson for the Holistic Moms Network. Erin attended on Sunday and was present for Bialik’s speech. Bialik shared a touching and relatable insight into her Hollywood eco-lifestyle, describing how she was a “weird” kid who liked to recycle, went vegetarian as a teenager, and now raises her children vegan (without any paper towels!), and even makes her own household cleaners and shampoo. One topic of particular interest was the “greening” of Hollywood.

Photosource: Blacktating

Bialik (pictured top and also above) is one celebrity who has been “eco” for the long haul, and recalled going to events with Ed Begley Jr., who drove (and probably still drives) a vegetable oil-powered car. Bialik may have labeled her early interest in the environment as “weird,” but of Begley’s innovative, if slightly eccentric, lifestyle, she quipped, “Who’s laughing now?” Of green living, Bialik reminded the crowd, “This is not a lifestyle for rich people; this is not an elitist thing…not because it’s hip and trendy… We congregate around celebrity, [but] it is important to realize that there are those of us who are green like you.”

I personally love this photo of her too at a farmer’s market. As a soon-to-be mom myself, hooray for nursing and in public! We need more women like Bialik out there – and as role models.

And if anyone entered the convention center feeling not quite green enough, we are sure the many vendors and presentations like Bialik’s helped them learn an eco trick or two. We had a good time exploring the booths and chatting with each vendor (and meeting Bialik, who, as it turns out, is a Jute & Jackfruit fan– thank you, Mayim!). While there was not a fashion runway show this year, we hope that eco-fashion designers and companies continue to showcase their fashion-forward, organic, sustainable, and ethical wares throughout MA and New England. D2E is one of the largest environmental conventions/festivals for consumers in the Boston area and probably the whole region. While it is no Green Festivals yet, there is certainly a strong eco-minded community here in MA, and we hope that it continues to grow– whether it be at events like this one, the Green Mixer, or other such meet-ups.

By Shana Yansen and Erin Dale