Tribe Hummus from Natural Ingredients

April 22nd, 2012 Posted in food | 1 Comment » Make sure you like EcoJoes on Facebook to stay updated on green ways to save money and help the environment. Just click the "like" button below. Muchas gracias!


A few weeks back, I popped open the ol’ mailbox and found two coupons for Tribe Hummus. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. “Hey”, I resolutely thought to myself, “I’ma try this”.

If you’re asking what hummus is, it’s basically mashed-up chickpeas with some oil and spices. It’s a really tasty dip hailing all the way from the Middle East. In fact, the world’s largest hummus was made in the Middle East, check it out:

Tribe Hummus proudly boasts READ MORE »

Looking for an Organic Vegan Kosher Lactose-Free Gluten Free All Natural Soy Creamer?

February 11th, 2012 Posted in food, organic, vegan | 1 Comment » Make sure you like EcoJoes on Facebook to stay updated on green ways to save money and help the environment. Just click the "like" button below. Muchas gracias!


Lawda mercy, that title is a mouthful. And that’s just what SoyGo‘s soy creamer gives you; a mouthful o’ creamy goodness for your coffee or tea.

I was fortunate enough to have the chance to try some of these puppies recently. They come in little travel packets. Chiggity-check out this picture from Nashveggie to see how they look:

The first thing that struck me, with the force of lil’ Eli‘s offensive line, was that having individual-sized foil packets of coffee creamer doesn’t seem real eco-friendly. I used 1-2 packets for a cup o’ coffee, so there went two foil packets.

As far as the taste of this, it’s the best soy creamer I’ve tried so far. It dissolved pretty well into the coffee, and although there was a slight hint o’ soy taste, it was great.

After almost finishing a terrific mug of café with SoyGo in it, I ran into some sludge at the bottom. Apparently this happens to a lot of soy creamers. So watch out on those last few gulps.

They really seemed to work hard to make this creamer using all-natural, vegan products. If you’re vegan, or have celiac disease, then this is the creamer for you. It would be better if it didn’t come in the small foil packets, though.

Compostable Coffee Cups from Repurpose

January 22nd, 2012 Posted in food, inventions, paper | 1 Comment » Make sure you like EcoJoes on Facebook to stay updated on green ways to save money and help the environment. Just click the "like" button below. Muchas gracias!


Here at EcoJoes, we’ve looked at styrofoam and paper disposable cups, and came to the not-so-stunning conclusion that it’s best to use reusable cups. Not only are reusable cups good for the environment, they can save you money at coffee shops! Hot diggity.

But for most people, every once in a while they forget their reusable mug, so they buy coffee in a disposable cup. Hopefully, it’s a compostable, paper, insulated cup from Repurpose.

I got to test out one of these bad boys today, and it worked great. The paper wall is sort of puffy, so it stays insulated without needing extra layers of paper or a paper sleeve, meaning it uses less paper than most other disposable cups. How about that.

I’ve had about 3 cups o’ coffee today in my cup, and it did great keeping the coffee warm (at least 15 minutes staying the perfect temperature). The cup’s still holding together fine, too. Your hands won’t get burnt either, even if the drink is piping hot.

The neatest part to me is that Repurpose claims these cups (and the lids) are compostable within 90 days. That doesn’t mean I can watch it compost in my home composter, though.

As the Repurpose Compostables C.M.O. points out,

Our cups compost in an industrial composter, not your home composter. So you won’t be able to watch them compost at home. The product needs the heat and humidity that only an industrial composter provides and then it turns on the break down like switch and it takes 45-90 days to finally compost. They are ASTM 6400 and BPI certified to do so.

Researchers are still working on viable home composting possibilities for single use products. The problem is that in order to withstand the heat and moisture of your cup of coffee, the cup has to have an integrity that makes the home composter not an option if that makes sense. If it composted at home in any conditions it wouldn’t be a very sturdy product.

Raleigh’s 2011 Henside the Beltline Tour D’Coop

May 20th, 2011 Posted in animals, event, food | No Comments » Make sure you like EcoJoes on Facebook to stay updated on green ways to save money and help the environment. Just click the "like" button below. Muchas gracias!


Do you live near Raleigh?

Did you know that a bunch o’ people raise chickens in their backyards inside the beltline?

Do you wish there was a tour of all these backyard coops coming soon?

If so, then you, my friend, have got your wish, for the 2011 Raleigh Henside the Beltline Tour d’Coop is this Saturday from 10AM to 4PM!

I’ve been fortunate enough to go on the 2008 tour and the 2010 tour, and I can assure you you’ll see some jawsome backyards, houses, chicken coops, gardens, and chickens.

You’ll laugh at the antics of the hens, marvel at elaborate hen houses, and maybe even get to hold a chicken. Plus there are tons of helpful people around to answer your insightful chicken questions.

How Can I Go?

Bring a non-perishable food item or a wad of cash money to one of these convenient locations (money & food goes to Urban Ministries):

To find out more, mosey on over to the official website, right about here.

Free Starbucks Coffee on Earth Day April 22

April 10th, 2011 Posted in food, free, holidays | No Comments » Make sure you like EcoJoes on Facebook to stay updated on green ways to save money and help the environment. Just click the "like" button below. Muchas gracias!


Starbucks coffee has a reputation for being expensive as heck, but this Earth Day (April 22) you can get some FREE Starbucks coffee (or free tea, if that’s your style)! Hot diggity dang!!

All you have to do for this delicioso free beverage is bring in a reusable mug and use that, instead of a disposable cup. Check out the rotch side of this page for more details.

Not only do you get you some free coffee or tea, but you’re reusing a mug instead of wastefully using yet another disposable cup. Feel free to use the free coffee to proudly toast Mother Earth AKA Gaia.

All Natural Free Herbal Tea

April 6th, 2011 Posted in food, free | No Comments » Make sure you like EcoJoes on Facebook to stay updated on green ways to save money and help the environment. Just click the "like" button below. Muchas gracias!


Jamun Tea is giving away a free sample of their all-natural herbal tea. To give their tea a shot, click RIGHT HERE and they’ll send you some.

All natural + free = the essence of EcoJoes.

Will it work? Heck, I don’t know, but I’m eagerly awaiting my free sample of tea as I type this.

Organic Spices from Teeny Tiny Spice Company

March 15th, 2011 Posted in food, green business, organic | 1 Comment » Make sure you like EcoJoes on Facebook to stay updated on green ways to save money and help the environment. Just click the "like" button below. Muchas gracias!


Almost everybody uses spices in their foods. Salt, pepper, maybe even cinnamon, for the adventurous. Even those people in Dune used spice. But what if you want some freshly ground, organic spice that’s unusual, like the elusive Persian Adwiya?

Then Teeny Tiny Spice Co. (of Vermont) has got you covered. They’re a small, family-run business that grinds their organic spices when you order them, so they arrive fresh and strong like bear. They sent me a package of their finest spices last weekend:

Not only do they offer their organic spices, but they also sent some cool recipes for said spices. READ MORE »