LYRA MAG.

#GIVINGTUESDAY gifts ... to feel good about this holiday season. Buy from a wide range of goods -and price points from companies that are biz members of 1% For The Planet (earmark 1% of gross sales to non-profits). Two companies we love- Patagonia and it sub snack brand Patagonia Provisions, and stunning housewares and portable bottles designed by SOMA  are both members...and offer up loads of items to please anyone on your list. Tasty treats made by non-profit fav Greyston  Bakeries-that trains/employs really anyone with the desire to learn-no barriers to work... (OpenHiring®-with the winning motto EAT BROWNIES TO CHANGE LIVES )... For coffee lovers-"Fuel Your Day With Purpose" CHAPIN COFFEE 's Organic Fair Trade 100% Arabica coffee- (Signature Gift Set) is packaged in a beautiful reusable hand woven sack -donates  school meals to children living in rural Guatemala via a partnership with NGO Pueblo A Pueblo

P art ONE In the wine industry (food-too), producers haven't been waiting around for any New Deal...responding to customer demands for 'cleaner' grape cultivation methods ( native yeasts, spontaneous fermentations-respect for the land and environment-including weed control + plant protection)  and sustainable-recyclable packaging (think screw tops, renewable cork growth)... for years, delivering the wines to a well informed clientele. Highlights From Recent Wine Tastings: Slow Wine is a moniker-describing many of the delicious Italian wines available-made by vintners using old school hand-labored methods-vs chemical sludge. Includes fertilizers too. No GMO worries here, Recently-a few USA vintners-from California and Oregon, and Slovenia have 'joined' the Slow Wine fold. A Euro Embrace. Delightful discovery- SMALL VINES ' growers Kathryn and Paul Sloan-embrace France's winery practices-of ...exactly small wines (low yield high density plan...