Have an eco-friendly and organic Passover

Passover is the time to get the family together and celebrate Jewish traditions.  Why not make it a new tradition to do it in an eco-friendy style?

The quick and easy list for an eco-Passover

1. Matzo is a must.  Why not try some organic matzo?
2. Sip on some organic and kosher wine.
3. Green your seder with organic horseradish, organic parsley, homemade charoset, and a free-range (organic) egg.
4. Take some extra time to incorporate organic and local ingredients into the menu.
5. Use reusable plates and cups if you can; but if you can't, use something biodegradable!
6. Ask your guests to carpool or use human-powered transportation.
7. Use soy candles for longer lasting and cleaner burning candles.
8. Looking for a new special Passover outfit?  Look into eco-friendly and organic clothing.

The Matzo

Whether you spell it matzah, matzoh, matza, matzo, matsah, or matze, there are a few options for organic spelt and organic whole-wheat matzah.

• Handmade Shmurah Matzah made with 100% certified organic spelt from Matzahonline.com: You can get boxes of this matzah (six matzos per box) shipped to your door for $30.50 per box.
• Haddar 18-Minute Organic Spelt Matzah and Matzah Meal from KCKosherCoop.com: If you're interested in ordering in bulk (or splitting the order with someone), you can order organic spelt matzah and matzah meal from Haddar for $171.60 per case of 24 boxes.
• Chicago's Original Organic Matzah: If you're in Chicago (or lucky enough to find this matzah in your local store), grab it. It's made in the U.S.. and it's certified organic and free of any GMOs.
• Organic Spelt Matzah from Chabad of greater Dayton: If you're in Dayton, Ohio (or near there), you can pick up packs of organic spelt matzah for $24.50 for a pack of six matzos.

And if you're going all out, wrap your organic matzah in an organic cotton napkin when you hide the afikomen.

The Wine

Just because it's Passover, it doesn't mean you have to drink Manishevitz.  There aren't a ton of organic Kosher wines but there are a few.  You just have to know where to look.

Yarden Chardonnay Odem Organic

Odem Vineyard in the northern Golan in Israel has been farmed organically since 1998.

This chardonnay is fermented in French oak barrels and aged sur lies for seven months.  It has a potpourri of aromas and flavors -- blossoms, citrus, pear, and tropical fruit, together with vanilla, wood and mineral notes.  It is best paired with intensively flavored fish and poultry dishes. In general, cheese and butter sauces will complement this wine well.

You can buy it online at Kosherwine.com for $16.99 a bottle. (Not Mevushal)

Four Gates Winery

Four Gates, located in the Santa Cruz Mountins in California, produces organic and Kosher chardonnay, merlot, pinot noir, and cabernet franc.  The grapes are certified organic by the CCOF and the vines are not irrigated. 

Wines range from $24 to $34 per bottle and can be ordered from Four Gates. (Not Mevushal)

Baron Herzog Wine Cellars

Ranging from cabernet sauvignon to brut champagne, Herzog Wine Cellars produces Kosher and Mevushal wines.  While not certified organic, many of the wines use grapes that have been sustainably grown. 

Wines range from $8 to $38 per bottle and can be ordered directly from Herzog's wine shop.

The Seder Plate

Horseradish for Maror

If you're looking for a prepared horseradish that's also organic, check out Silver Spring Organic Prepared Horseradish.  It's certified organic by Oregon Tilth and it's kosher. Of course, you could always make your own.

Parsley for Karpas

Check your local grocery store's organic section for organic parsley to put on your seder plate.

Charoset

Use your favorite charoset recipe, just make it with organic ingredients!  Think organic walnuts, organic apples, organic wine, and organic spices.  What could be better?

Eggs for Baytzah

Ideally, your hard-boiled egg would be both organic AND local.  Check at your local grocery store, but keep in mind two brands of organic, free-range eggs are Organic Valley eggs and Sparboe Farms eggs.

The Meal

There are all sorts of great Kosher recipes for Passover.  From matzo ball soup to brisket to gefilte fish, there are lots of ways to green your Passover menu.  But the best rule of thumb is simply to get as many organic and local ingredients as possible, regardless of where you get your recipes.

Beyond that, if you're looking to lower your impact, try serving a vegetarian meal (vegetarian matzo ball soup, sweet potato kugel, rice pilaf, stuffed zucchini or eggplant, even fruit compote for dessert)

Check out these sources for vegetarian Passover recipes:

• VegSource
• VegCooking
• VegParadise
• The Vegetarian Resource Group
• Recipe Zaar

The Service

If you can, try to use reusable cups, wine glasses, plates, and silverware. This way, you'll have the least amount of disposable waste -- and of course, make sure you put your dishes in the dish washer!  It's far more water efficient than washing by hand.

If you are looking to pick up something new for the occasion, check out eco-friendly tableware like glassware made from recycled glass or plates made from bamboo.

If you do go with something disposable, look into biodegradable and compostable plates, cups, and utensils.  For something a little less formal, check out the offerings from WorldCentric or the compostable cups from Greenware. For something with some eco-chic to it, check out VerTerra's plates, bowls, and platters made from nothing but fallen leaves and water.

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