by Rachael Sage

Green practices along the coast are as ubiquitous as Priuses crawling through the Montara fog. The residents of — and visitors to — our vaporous enclaves are socially aware individuals who expect more from the businesses they patronize than the status quo. The businesses that cater to this expectation are prepared for a future in which companies will increasingly be judged by their environmental impact.

After a recent trip to Indiana, I was reminded how special it is that many of the businesses I regularly frequent are so conscientious. We are spoiled with organic and locally grown produce, native plant nurseries that remind us that planting invasive species in our gardens is not ecologically sound, and electronics retailers that encourage us to recycle our old items instead of pitching them into landfills. As a tribute to local businesses with practices I admire, I am going to feature some of the ways our coastal companies are contributing to the green movement.

The bring-your-own-bag Envirotoken center at New Leaf Community Market is the first indicator that this store is looking out for the environment and for us. A sign advertises that over $119,000 has been donated to non-profit companies of our choice, and over 2,800 trees have been saved — that’s about seven football fields worth of trees! The bulk aisle is another spot where sustainability meets affordability. Not only can we save money by shopping there, but we   can save on packaging as well. Pick up some reusable cotton bulk-and-produce bags, or reuse a plastic bag, and reduce packaging waste. Recycling is better than throwing away, but reusing wins hands down. Bring in your own containers, fill them up,  and they can go straight from the shopping bag to the cupboard. And don’t forget the organic and locally grown produce. Tomatoes taste like tomatoes, and apples are crispy and crunchy and not covered in wax.

Right next door at Strawflower Electronics, customers are encouraged to bring old laptops, cell phones, computer monitors and batteries in for recycling. Many of these products are made from heavily toxic materials that poison our landfills, our drinking water and our oceans. Strawflower even runs community drop-off days, during which they set up in a central location and accept electronics for recycling. It can’t get more convenient than that.

Then there’s Blue Sky Farms and the Cypress Flower Farm. Both encourage the planting of native flowers and plants in our gardens. Growing native plants is an environmentally friendly way to garden; native plants have natural drought and pest resistance, and using them avoids introducing invasive species into our environment. Leading by example, Blue Sky Farms is also pioneering water conservation efforts. Water-permeable concrete was installed so an underground cistern can catch and reuse the water from the plants. Blue Sky Farms also makes a mean soy latte!

As for restaurants, you can’t beat Cafe Gibraltar for providing organic, free-range, Zagat-recommended food to its customers. Although the Zagat rating has nothing to do with Cafe Gibraltar’s green business practices, it is becoming more important for restaurants to offer both delicious and healthy foods to their customers. In Indiana where “Ma’s Meat Mess” of eggs, bacon, sausage, ham and cheese — smothered in gravy — still highlights restaurant menus, organic and healthful eating hasn’t really taken off. But here on the coast, Cafe Gibraltar is proving that restaurants can have a positive impact on the environment and on our waistlines.

These aren’t the only examples of ways the coast is embracing the green revolution. Many other businesses are doing their part to help the environment, but it’s important for us to do  our part, too. We can make the strongest impact with our voices and our wallets. I’ll be supporting those businesses that are trying to make a   difference. I hope you will, also.