Green Mapping

Do you know about Green Mapping?

Green maps are maps that provide locations of restaurants and businesses that address local and environmental issues. The maps offers sites on community's natural, cultural and sustainable resources such as recycling centers, heritage sites, community gardens, toxic waste sites and socially conscious businesses and restaurants.

The goal of green mapping is to encourage individuals to use sustainable living solutions and creating sustainable communities around the world. This is a great tool for current residents or visiting tourist. I personally like the restaurant tool. I think food is a great way to get learn about a city or community, and when it addresses efforts to be sustainable the result is even better.

Green Map's tagline is “Think Global, Map Local!”
Anyone can get involved in the organization and efforts. Green maps are being created around the world.
Visit the website for more ideas and maps in your community at www.greenmap.org

I've created a green map location in college for a class on Food Management Theory. The restaurant is called Nanoosh. You can find a multitude of places to visit in your area if you follow the map.
Some of my favorites in New York City are:

Birdbath Bakery 223 1 Ave, which is designed with all renewable, recycled and biodegradable products (example, the walls are made of wheat and the cups from corn). Their pastries and foods are made from locally grown ingredients and tastes delicious.

http://16handles.com/ is a one of the many popular frozen yoghurt place in NYC. The different with 16 Handles is that they use biodegradable packaging and spoons made from cornstarch. They are also addressing efforts to use locally grown, natural ingredients to make their yoghurt.

Pure Food and Wine is a raw vegan food restaurant in Gramercy, around the corner from my old apartment. If raw scares you, then rest assured that the food is incredible down to the organic wine. The restaurant uses all locally grown, unprocessed, organic raw food. You will leave the table feeling full and healthy.

One Lucky Duck is a store/ cafe affiliated with Pure Food and Wine. They are also vegan and raw. I recommend the guacamole with rosemary chips. Guacamole is my favorite food and this is the best guacamole I've ever tasted. Their many pure juices are also delicious. One Lucky Duck also sells books on raw living, organic body products and some grocery items like their brand of granola, buckwheat and almonds.
As a note I am not a raw foodist, these two restaurants just happen to be in my neighborhood and I found them delicious.

Josie’s East is one of four restaurants (Josie’s West, Josephina and Citrus) that serves New American Cuisine that used organic, free range and food and meat and eco-friendly seafood.