News Flash

Becca and I have been off the grid for the last few months. Becca has been busy with Hunting Camp. I was, until my husband carted me half way across the state to pastures new.

But here are some things that have discovered/done.

Safeway now has a new organics line of products, which means that I can buy as much organic produce in my local town which has one little Safeway as its only grocery store, in the heart of cowboy country. I know. Astounding.

Target now sells a range of organic cotton products such as sheets (which I bought today), towels and baby clothes. I LOVE it.

I bought a deer and elk tag, which has Jeremiah beaming from ear to ear. I told him not to get mad if I cry after I shoot an elk. He asked why I only eat wild game if I dont want to hunt. I said that I will hunt because I believe in hunting. I wanted to hunt, but it doesnt make it any less sad. I am trying to live according to what I believe. He looked confused.

Anybody else discovered any natural/organic and affordable things?

1001 Little Ways to Save Our Planet

Oh my goodness.

If you buy just one book this year, let it be 1001 Little Ways to Save Our Planet. It is such a good beginners resource for everything environmentally responsible.

Here is what it says on the back

"With ideas for recycling, conservation and energy efficiency, 1001 Little Ways to Save Our Planet offers quick, simple ways to reduce your impact on the environment and start living in harmony with the planet. Green-living tips include how to limit the damage done by global warming, pollution and toxins, as well as decrease reliance on fossil fuels and make eco-friendly choices such as buying from sustainable sources. Even if your an energy-guzzling, 4x4-driving, plane-loving consumer, you'll be amazed at how just a few small changes in your work and home life can reap big benefits for the global community."

Hurry. Go. Buy it. Or borrow it.

Here are some of my favorite tips:

298: Remembering to turn off the tap (faucet) while you're brush your teeth, applying make-up or cleanser, or shaving helps save an incredible amount of water. Turning off the tap (faucet) while brushing your teeth can save 7 litres (2 Gal) of water. Try to get into the habit of turning the tap (faucet) off whenever the water is nt actually needed.

217: Instead of buying fabric softners which can leave chemical residues on clothes and pollute the environment in their manufacturing process, try adding 60 mls (1/4 cup) white vinegar to the rinse water.

729: Ten tread mills in the average gym use the same amount of electricity in a day that it would take to run your hairdryer non-stop for an entire year. Stick to weights and non-electric machines like spinning bikes.

That Time Again

Everyone here is itchy. Not from powder, or from poison oak.

Hunting Season is about to start.

And the mules are moving.

Here are us girls, packing up our girls, to head into camp.











I love it so much, my heart aches.

Is Bleach Really so Squeaky Clean?

After a little research, one thing is very clear: People are passionate about bleach. Whether they hate it or they love it, the feelings are strong.

I have come to a couple of conclusions.

1. Bleach can cause huge amounts of damage to the environment.
2. That does not necessarily mean that it will.

Confusing isn't it? Well, it seems that when bleach is used for industrial purposes - such as making plastics and paper - it wreaks environmental havoc of gastronomical proportions. However, when bleach is used in household cleaning according to instructions, the damage is negligable.

The answer? Buy unbleached paper and follow instructions on your clorox bottle.

If you still wish to buy chloring-free and environmentally friendly cleaning products, go to the American Environmental Health Foundation. They have some stuff there. Also visit your nearest Natural Health Foods store or Co-op. They are some of my favorite shops in the world.

The Environmental News Network

I wanted to point you to a fantastic news service:

The ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS NETWORK.

It covers Animals and Ecosystems, Energy and Natural Resources, Global Warming and Climate Change, Green Building and Sustainable Development, Health and Lifestyle, Investing and Corporate Social Responsibility, and Science and Technology.

It is a wealth of information that you should check out. I will be linking to it regularly from now on.

Simple Habits that Help the Environment - Part Three

USE RECYCLED TOILET PAPER

Oh no! I'm talking about toilet paper again. I'm fixated. Don't judge me. But there is just so much TP consumed each year that it is hard not to be. Think about how many trees that is.



So, why not use recycled TP. Think about how many trees it would save. At the moment, Jeremiah and I are fortunate to be in close proximity to Trader Joes and we buy their 100% recylced toilet paper.

It isn't difficult. Make it a habit.

The Gift of a Good Back Rub - Very Basic Techniques

One of the things I like most in the world is a back rub. It is one of the best presents you can give me.

Because I enjoy them so much I know what feels good, so I also give a good back rub. Something that Jeremiah has capitalized on.

I am not a trained massage therapist, but I don't need to be for Jeremiah to enjoy my touch. I know that improper massaging techniques can do more harm than good, so I do only as much as I know, and most of that is just rubbing in the right places. Here are a few rules I stick by. Please remember that I am not a trained therapist so anything I say here is purely opinion and should not be taken as fact.

1. Always have a yummy-smelling, home-made candle burning.

2. Use lots of oil, with delicious fragrances. My favorite is Aura Cacia Aromatherapy Body Oil, which is part of my winter time skin care routine.

The edible oils sink in to your skin much better than mineral oils.

TIP On the morning of my wedding, I received a massage. The therapist told me to never buy lotions that contained mineral oil or alcohol, since the alcohol dries the skin, and the mineral oil isn't absorbed but gives a temporary impression of moisturization.

Having said that can give a good back rub through clothes.

3. Never-ever rub the backbone.

4. Always stick to muscle, not bone.

5. Never apply so much pressure that it hurts.

There are some great online resources for massaging techniques. I love the video jug instructional videos. There, you can learn very basic massage techniques.

To me, massage is one of the most natural ways of communicating love, relaxation and healing. For Jeremiah and I it is one of the better ways to maintain our emotional bonds. Also, since Jeremiah has trouble getting to sleep at night, a massage is an immense help to him. Often, after just fifteen minutes, I find that I have massaged him to sleep.

Giving a good massage is a great gift to anybody - your friend, sister, father, uncle, and mother. But especially your spouse.

Simple Habits that Help the Environment - Part Two

TURN THE SHOWER DOWN

Still in the bathroom, but not quite as personal a subject. Turn the shower down. Unless you have the absolute worst shower in the world, and I know you don't because I know where it is, you can turn the water controls towards off quite a significant way before you notice any significant pressure change from the shower head. But less water will be flowing and that is what is important.

Fresh water is the worlds most precious resource, and we are running out fast. It takes two seconds to turn your shower down. Make it a habit.

Simple Habits that Help the Environment - Part One

USE LESS TOILET PAPER

OK, I know this is a bit of a disgusting one to start off with, but it is so simple.

Be honest, when you pull the paper off the roll, how much of that do you really need? You are probably pulling close to an arm's length right? That's about six sheets. Per wipe. It's not necessary, I promise. You can use at least half that and still keep your hands clean.

So every time you pull the paper off the wall, put half of it back.

You can also save even more per wipe, by folding the paper over after each wipe and wiping again. In theory, you should use a quarter of the toilet paper that you were previously using. Think of the trees you save.

Credit goes to my husband, Jeremiah, for commenting on the amount of toilet paper I was using and forcing me to rethink my bathroom habits. It doesn't take much effort to use less toilet paper. Make it a habit.

Shedding Light on Soy

When I returned from Christmas in England, the lodge was full of mason jars. They were everywhere, on every surface, and throughout the kitchen. They smelled phenomenal. It was Becca's new project - soy wax candles.

Using soy for candles instead of wax has several benefits for your home (less soot than parafin wax), your bank balance (longer burn time so buy candles less often), the environment (the wax is biodegradeable, and soy is a renewable resource), the economy (supports soybean-growing American farmers, and your health (non toxic and little or no carcinogens produced). Plus they smell strong.



Becca bought her soywax from Mill Creek Soy Wax Candle Supply who have a great step by step instructional page on how to make the candles. She bought the essential oils fromScentable.com.

Becca bought a ton of different fragrances. Although Lavender is one of my most favorite scents in the world, the candle didn't seem to do it for me. Jeremiah and I both agreed that the Nag Champa was our favorite. So Becca made us an extra one to pack in our suitcase and bring with us to California. It is burning right now as I write this and is the same mason jar in the first picture on this post. We have been in California for two months now and I have burned it every night for at least a couple of hours. It has been one of the longest burning candles I have ever had the pleasure to relight.

Pound Dogs - Why adopting is the right thing to do.

In a coffee shop in Galt last night, I overheard (as I'm sure the whole place did) a man talking very proudly about the dog he was going to get. From his dialogue I established discovered that he didn't yet know the name of the breed, he hadn't ever owned a dog, he didn't know how much it cost, he didn't know the breed's temperament, he didn't know how much grooming the dog required or whether it needed long walks. He knew he wanted a puppy. And it had to be a lassie dog.

He wants something that will make him look cool. It is a shame that there is no Irresponsible Dog Owner of the Year award. He'd be a finalist.


Meet Chocolat and Simon. Two of the most grateful and loving dogs you'll ever meet. Both mutts. Both intelligent. Both loyal. Both adopted.
Because they have been rescued, they are not one of the 7 million adoptable dogs and cats that are killed each year due to overpopulation. Simon came directly from the pound. Chocy was a stray.

Seven Great Reasons to Adopt
1. You save lives.
When you adopt a dog or cat, you save not just one life, but possibly the life of the animal that will fill its space in the adoption cycle.
2. You know what you are getting
What you see is what you get. Unlike puppies and kittens that develop habits and personality traits, an adopted cat or dog can fit straight in to your family.
3. Instant Friends
The bond between a rescued dog and it's owner is just as strong as in those situations where a dog was raised from puppyhood. And you have the added advantage of a grateful dog. Go adopt a dog and then tell me dogs can't be grateful.
4. No inhumane puppy mills or backyard breeders involved.
The above are so irresponsible and disgusting, that is all I will say about them. Sure you can buy from a reputable breeder, but why? There are plenty of purebred dogs waiting to be adopted (for a lot less money).
5. Adoption Counseling
This is something you don't get from a breeder. If you haven't ever owned a dog, or even if you have, adoption counselling is the way to go.
6. Training and Socialisation
A lot of rescue organisations do some training and socialising of dogs, in order to make them more adoptable. Another thing you don't have to do.
7. No Vet Visits
When you get a dog from a pound or rescue organization, the dog will have had all its shots already, so you don't need to spend additional money on them. Also, a lot of rescue organizations will spay or neuter an animal before putting them up for adoption. Another additional expense you don't have to worry about.


Jeremiah and I got Atticus through Dogsonly.org who were advertising him for Saving Pyrenees in Need (SPIN). Atticus was dumped in a "high kill" pound (given two days) and SPIN saved him.

Atticus, Chocy and Simon are just some examples of how wonderful rescue dogs can be, and why adopting is the right thing to do. If you have your heart set on a particular breed, find that breeds rescue organisation. There is bound to be one. See below for some links to good adoption sites.




petfinder.com

Pets 911

1-800-saveapet

Rocet Dog Rescue

Just type "dog adoption" or "cat adoption" or "[insert breed] adoption" into your search engine and you will find hundreds of links.

Vegetarian Cooking

I have discovered, in my newfound status as a cook, that being somewhat vegetarian (i.e. not having access to wild game), makes for an enjoyable cooking experience.

This revelation occured with the help of what has to be The Best-Ever Vegetarian Cookbook . Funny. That's also it's title.

This book is full of fun recipes that create delicious meals. Jeremiah and I have enjoyed them so much (except for the evening when I set off the fire alarm). I think that night, we just ended up eating cereal. But that's OK. It's the effort that counts.

Jeremiah (a sworn red meat-eater) has thoroughly enjoyed the fruits of this book. His favorite? Baked Leeks with Cheese and Yoghurt.

The Love behind My Cooking

- AN INTRODUCTION

Now that Jeremiah and I are down in California, we have no full-time chef to prepare our meals. This led us to the inevitable conclusion that I would have to cook.

Despite the possible poisonings coursing through both our imaginations (nothing like a positive attitude), I chose to meet the new challenge with love, rather than anxiety. As a result, our stomachs are full with the yummy goodness of a homecooked meal.

So far, although I don't particularly enjoy cooking it has been a rewarding experience for both of us. It is somewhat of an artistic outlet for me. It keeps me busy. I am learning and every day is different. Jeremiah comes home from a hard day of work to an apartment full of delicious smells, and gets to eat a hot, tasty meal - cooked by the woman he loves, for the man she loves.

So, the most gratifying thing about cooking for Jeremiah is that it has brought the two of us closer together.

THE ALCOHOLISM AND ADDICTION CURE - A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO TOTAL RECOVERY by Chris Prentiss

During the past few weeks I read a book that was given to me. The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure - A Holistic Approach to Total Recovery by Chris Prentiss is one of the most enlightening books that I have ever read. Not because of his views of alcohol and drug dependency and their causes, but because the book informed me that these views are relatively new to the world of addiction therapy.

Chris believes that drug and alcohol dependent people don't have an incurable disease. Dependency is 100% curable. Alcoholics and drug addicts are simply trying to cope with the world in which they live. Their coping mechanisms just happen to be alcohol and drugs. And alcohol and drugs work very well. Regardless of whether or not they will eventually kill you. I always thought it was obvious. Apparently not. So I will help Chris spread the word, and promote his book as well.

The book itself is great. It is easy to read and full of warmth, very chatty. It is a wealth of information both for dependent people and for their therapists. This book makes a great reference source. The third chapter is written by Chris's son, Pax. Pax was addicted to heroine, cocaine and alcohol for ten years. Chris got him clean forty times. This chapter is Pax's story and it is as heartening and illuminating as it is appalling.

Once Pax discovered the reason for his dependency and he and Chris were able to cure it, they opened a rehabilitation centre for dependency treatment in Malibu called Passages. It has the highest success rate of any dependency treatment center in the world.

GLOBAL WARMING

It is probably one of the last things that people don't believe in, if they have looked at the facts. So I’ll assume that you do believe. Unfortunately, most of us don’t really know how to help. But I am sure that I don’t want to visit my family in Europe, once they have been plunged into another ice age.

And so help I must. Here is what I found out. An Inconvenient Truth is an excellent source of facts concerning climate change. Watch the movie. Read the website.

The US Environmental Protectin Agency also has a climate change website, full of useful information.

Stopglobalwarming.org has useful tips on how to calculate your energy efficiency and such.

If you don’t have time to navigate the web pages, I have cut and pasted the “take action” tips from the An Inconvenient Truth website.

TAKE ACTION
In the home

Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. If every family in the U.S. made the switch, we’d reduce carbon dioxide by more than 90 billion pounds! You can purchase CFLs online from the Energy Federation.

Move your thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer
Almost half of the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and cooling. You could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy has more tips for saving energy on heating and cooling.

Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner
Cleaning a dirty air filter can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

Install a programmable thermostat
Programmable thermostats will automatically lower the heat or air conditioning at night and raise them again in the morning. They can save you $100 a year on your energy bill.

Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases
Look for the Energy Star label on new appliances to choose the most efficient models. If each household in the U.S. replaced its existing appliances with the most efficient models available, we’d eliminate 175 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year!

Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket
You’ll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple action. You can save another 550 pounds per year by setting the thermostat no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Use less hot water
It takes a lot of energy to heat water. You can use less hot water by installing a low flow showerhead (350 pounds of carbon dioxide saved per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per year) instead of hot.

Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible
You can save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide when you air dry your clothes for 6 months out of the year.

Turn off electronic devices you’re not using
Simply turning off your television, DVD player, stereo, and computer when you’re not using them will save you thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

Unplug electronics from the wall when you’re not using them
Even when turned off, things like hairdryers, cell phone chargers and televisions use energy. In fact, the energy used to keep display clocks lit and memory chips working accounts for 5 percent of total domestic energy consumption and spews 18 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere every year!

Only run your dishwasher when there’s a full load and use the energy-saving setting
You can save 100 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

Insulate and weatherize your home
Properly insulating your walls and ceilings can save 25% of your home heating bill and 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Caulking and weather-stripping can save another 1,700 pounds per year. The Consumer Federation of America has more information on how to better insulate your home.

Be sure you’re recycling at home
You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of the waste your household generates. Earth 911 can help you find recycling resources in your area.

Buy recycled paper products
It takes less 70 to 90% less energy to make recycled paper and it prevents the loss of forests worldwide.

Plant a tree
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by 10 to 15%. The Arbor Day Foundation has information on planting and provides trees you can plant with membership.

Get a home energy audit
Many utilities offer free home energy audits to find where your home is poorly insulated or energy inefficient. You can save up to 30% off your energy bill and 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Energy Star can help you find an energy specialist.


Switch to green power
In many areas, you can switch to energy generated by clean, renewable sources such as wind and solar. Ecotricity
is a good place to start to figure out what’s available in your area.

Buy locally grown and produced foods
The average meal in the United States travels 1,200 miles from the farm to your plate. Buying locally will save fuel and keep money in your community.

Buy fresh foods instead of frozen
Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce.

Seek out and support local farmers markets
They reduce the amount of energy required to grow and transport the food to you by one fifth. You can find a farmer’s market in your area at the USDA website.

Buy organic foods as much as possible
Organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels than soils from conventional farms. If we grew all of our corn and soybeans organically, we’d remove 580 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere!

Avoid heavily packaged products
You can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you cut down your garbage by 10%.

Eat less meat
Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with every breath. (Hah!! Eat wild game.)


On the Move

Reduce the number of miles you drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever possible
Avoiding just 10 miles of driving every week would eliminate about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year! Click here to find transit options in your area.

Start a carpool with your coworkers or classmates
Sharing a ride with someone just 2 days a week will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 1,590 pounds a year. eRideShare.com runs a free national service connecting commuters and travelers.

Keep your car tuned up
Regular maintenance helps improve fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. When just 1% of car owners properly maintain their cars, nearly a billion pounds of carbon dioxide are kept out of the atmosphere.

Check your tires weekly to make sure they’re properly inflated
Proper inflation can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Since every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, every increase in fuel efficiency makes a difference!

When it is time for a new car, choose a more fuel efficient vehicle
You can save 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year if your new car gets only 3 miles per gallon more than your current one. You can get up to 60 miles per gallon with a hybrid! You can find information on fuel efficiency here and here.

Try car sharing
Need a car but don’t want to buy one? Community car sharing organizations provide access to a car and your membership fee covers gas, maintenance and insurance. Many companies – such as Flexcar -- offer low emission or hybrid cars too!

Try telecommuting from home
Telecommuting can help you drastically reduce the number of miles you drive every week. For more information, check out the Telework Coalition.

Fly less
Air travel produces large amounts of emissions so reducing how much you fly by even one or two trips a year can reduce your emissions significantly. You can also offset your air travel by investing in renewable energy projects.