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All About Food: Going ‘green’ from the inside out

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The greening of America is a daunting task but that old motto, “Think globally, act locally” is a good place to start. Sparking your eco-imagination is Pam Sterling, owner of Laguna Green EcoSmart Kitchen and Bath Gallery. This former corporate businesswoman had an eco-awakening two and a half years ago.

“I became aware that we are intimately connected to everything around us. When I began to understand how we actually create the energy that surrounds us, I began to change many things in my life including my relationship to the environment.”

She had always been a designer by avocation but her work was not informed by eco-principles. But after her epiphany, she decided to combine her passion for design with a focus on sustainability as well as style. This led her to a new career.

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Returning home to California after 18 years in Boston, she eventually left her successful corporate career behind and conceived the idea of Laguna Green.

To start out, she shared the space with Laguna Bamboo and then, in October became sole proprietor.

She did some remodeling and soon opened the only exclusively green kitchen and bath showroom in Orange County.

“I think all of us want to create a healthier environment for ourselves, our families and the generations to come, but many of us are not sure what options are available to us. I love helping people understand what the possibilities are in eco-smart and people-friendly products, practices and design.”

Pam has developed a rating system to identify the “greenness” of a product as well as what factors go into manufacturing it. It is called LEAF and is a registered trademark.

“Every product we carry must meet at least one of the LEAF criteria,” she said.

L stands for locally made (within 500 miles of Laguna Beach).

E is for energy and water conservation. Is it Energy Star and WaterSense rated? (U.S. government backed programs).

A is for air quality. Is the product formaldehyde free and/or does it have low or no Volatile Organic Compounds?

F is for formulation. Does the product contain at least 50% recycled materials or is it reclaimed or made from rapidly renewable or carefully managed resources?

She says, “I want people to see how gorgeous green can be.”

We can absolutely vouch for that, after a tour of Pam’s showroom on Coast Highway. We were truly amazed by the stunning beauty of her products.

Behind a kitchen counter, a gorgeous wall in vibrant shades of green and brown turned out to be glass tiles made from recycled beer bottles.

A beautiful, clear acrylic room divider made from 50% recycled material was inlaid with stalks of wheat. A dramatic countertop is made of a material called Icestone, which is 75% recycled concrete mixed with colorful recycled glass.

Another great looking tile is called Vetrazzo, a concrete and glass product that uses 85% recycled glass to create brilliantly colored mosaic-like patterns. They also have Mythic brand paint, which is non-toxic and has no VOCs or carcinogens.

She demonstrated an eco-sensor culinary faucet by Brizo-Pascal, using the technology you’ve encountered in public restrooms, as well as a good deal more.

It has a sensor that will turn the water on and off when you put your hands under it but it also has a continuous touch mode so it will stay on if you so desire.

It can also be tapped on and off utilizing the electric charge from your body. Besides saving water, think of the advantages when you are preparing raw chicken or holding a baby in your arms.

Bamboo is an eco-smart material as it is rapidly renewable and extremely versatile as well as being very attractive.

Strip bamboo has four different grains “” edge, end, knuckle or flat. Strand bamboo is made from stripping down the bamboo and re-forming it. Natural bamboo is light colored and when it is steamed is a pale walnut color.

It can be used for flooring, cabinets, countertops and chopping boards. It also happens to be waterproof. The flooring is finished with natural cold pressed vegetable oil and never needs refinishing.

Natural limestone is the basis for eco-stucco. After it’s quarried, it lies in a field for two years.

It can then be applied to walls in layers.

What is particularly fascinating about this material is that as it cures, it pulls harmful carbon dioxide out of the air with which it reacts chemically to re-create limestone.

After six to eight weeks the last layer can be tinted and burnished for texture. This burnishing creates a subtle pattern and the effect is quite lovely.

The other interesting feature about this material is that it is so acidic, mold and mildew cannot grow on it and insects will be repelled.

Pam also feels strongly about decorating our interior environment “by greening up our insides.” She and Celeste Williams, a certified raw culinary arts chef, will be teaching a series of six classes from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, beginning this week, on the philosophy and preparation of raw food, featuring a weekly theme: appetizers, entrées, soups, desserts, smoothies and “spectacular sprouts.”

Raw ice cream, raw pasta and Thai coconut soup are just a few dishes to whet your palate. You will make and sample at least four recipes each class and go home with additional recipes.

Classes cost $40 until one week before the class, $45 after that, and $210 will get you all six if prepaid as a package.

If you are thinking about remodeling your kitchen or bathroom any time soon or just for the sheer aesthetic pleasure of viewing these spectacular products, stop in and chat with the enthusiastic Pam, who is delighted to teach and inform the public about her passions for “interior” and exterior design.

The showroom is at 1025 S. Coast Hwy. She also makes this space available for community activities and can be reached at (949) 340-7727 or info@laguna-green.com. The store’s website is www.laguna-green.com.


ELLE HARROW AND TERRY MARKOWITZ owned A La Carte for 20 years. They can be reached for comments or questions at themarkos755@yahoo.com

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