The prolific author of bestsellers like The Green Mile and the forthcoming Lisey’s Story is not alone. A report released in January by Anheuser-Busch reveals that beer accounts for 53% of all alcoholic beverage sales, and consumers in California, Texas, Florida, New York and Illinois lead the pub-prone pack.

Anthropologists tell us that beer has been a staple for more than 10,000 years, ever since man discovered the ability to ferment grain. In ancient times, Egyptians brewed it from barley, Babylonians used wheat and the Incas fermented corn.

Today, organic consumers are enjoying a back-to-basics renaissance in the beer industry. Visit your local natural and organic food store, and you’ll find an increasing number of organic beer selections. The Organic Trade Association notes that organic beer sales in North America have experienced major growth: from $9 million in 2003 to $19 million in 2005.

Add Earth-Friendly Yoga Props to Your Practice

Yoga products made with the Earth in mind just make sense, so our expanded Enviro-Fit Series includes a number of tools that are kind to the Earth and support a more holistic yoga experience. Our Thai Meditation Platform is made by local artisans from plants grown without pesticides; our Enviro-Fit yoga gear is made from alternative materials like cork, jute and phthalate-free PER; and all of our yoga apparel is made from organic cotton.

Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill/Topolobampo And Jerry Traunfeld of The Herbfarm

This year I attended Monterey Bay Aquarium's Cooking For Solutions 2006 event. Located on California's central coastline, Monterey Bay is a mecca for organic and sustainable foods. What sets this event apart is its celebration of food and wine produced in ways that preserve the health of the soil, water and ocean life. With star studded chefs in attendance from honored chef Rick Bayless, to John Ash, Robert Clark, Jesse Ziff Cool, Benito Molina, Nancy Oaks and Jerry Traunfeld amongst others, this event is a must attend for any organic foodie.

By Laura Klein

Americans enjoyed 50 billion servings of tea last year, which translates to 2.25 billion gallons, according to the Tea Association of the United States. Tea has become a multibillion-dollar industry, with sales growing by approximately 12% a year. Sales are expected to reach $10 billion by 2010 -- a huge increase from last year’s $6.1 billion.

The World Tea Expo, an industry trade show held in March, drew a record crowd of 4,122 tea companies and retailers from dozens of countries, reflecting the “exponential growth the industry is experiencing,” according to George Jage, the Expo’s founder and president. Consumers now recognize tea’s health benefits (see our recent story, Organic Tea: A Brewer’s Paradise), and connoisseurs savor the wide variety of teas now available.

So, what’s happening in the burgeoning tea trade? Here’s a crash course in tea trends for readers who enjoy the finest offerings in organic living.

The Organic Bedroom

This spring go beyond organic food. Freshen up the bedroom with organic cotton sheets from Gaiam. To learn more about creating a complete organic bedroom read 10 Steps to an Organic Bedroom.