Get Your Own...Garden, That Is!

Here's to hoping that all of you are enjoying a bit of success in your clean eating endeavors! With that in mind, and inspired by Spring, I would like to announce that I am plunging into the green world of gardening this year. (Oh dear.)

Think about this: at least 50% of our daily diet should be clean, fresh fruits and veggies...HAHAHA. Oh sorry. I was just assuming that was a joke, considering how many of us barely see a carrot in a week's time. Not only are we depriving ourselves of natural goodness when we don't eat these fresh foods, but we are also setting ourselves up for future problems, such as cancer. (Yikes!) It is so important to have plenty of tastey fruits and leafy greens- that makes gardening in your own space a grand idea!

There are several ways to go about it, and I will mention a few to get your wheels turning. The most common, and usually first thought of, is to simply till up a section of dirt somewhere on your property. (Typically the neighbors prefer you to use your own dirt, and not theirs.) Usually, unless you have more room than most, a good place to do this is in your back yard. You can choose between small, or not as small, and if you want it raised, or ground level. If you want to keep it more simple for your first go-around, you can simply choose one or two seeds to sprout, and then keep them in a couple of pots. You can also do this with a few herbs, and then you have them at your fingertips, fresh for cooking! I have a friend who keeps certain herbs in tiny pots around her house all year long. She then utilizes them in her cooking, and they serve to freshen up the house on a dull day!

If you live in an apartment community, be sure to check the common ground/gardening area. Usually, you can plot out a spot for yourself during growing season. Or, you can simply grow in pots and boxes right on your balcony!

A huge bonus to growing your own produce is the peace of mind in knowing where everything comes from. It negates the need for over-use of pesticides and fertilizers, as these are not necessary (in ridiculous amounts) to grow at home. Another perk to your personal garden is that you can give away fresh, home-grown gifts, and encourage others to embark in a little sustainable living. As I recall, last year, this whole city was consumed with Zucchinis. Talk about massive re-gifting...

One last thought regarding having zucchinis...or anything else you prefer to grow...right at your fingertips is this: it provides a little more room in your budget. Growing and maintaining your own produce is healthy AND economical. Now how about them apples?

Sites I liked: http://www.eartheasy.com/
               http://lighterfootstep.com/

DIET is NOT the magic word...

For those of you who are striving to get ahead, stay away from diet beverages. The aspartame that is included to keep the calories/sugar to a minimum is horrible for your body. Just as a fun fact to know, when aspartame's temperature is raised to an average of 80 degrees F, it turns to complete, straight poison.

On a personal note, I have noticed that, if I choose a diet soda once or twice, my body will suddenly begin to crave it. I know it's the aspartame that I am teaching my body to crave, and that is horrible. So, no more! Hope this was informative for you! 

Chocolate. It's a love/hate relationship.

Well, we are officially in our first week of the Clean Eating Challenge...oy vei. If you're like me, you have this vice that MOCKS YOU from the kitchen...or from wherever you secretly stash some...yes, we all know, because we all do it! 

My particular hardship is chocolate. Ever since I had a baby, I have this wicked craving that shows up whenever it wants, and I eat way more of it than I ever used to. So, in the effort to eat a little cleaner, I am attempting to rid myself of this FOUL substance. (Except it's WONDERFUL!) Alright, let's get down to the nitty gritty here...

We are two days in, and I have been doing fairly well. I have substituted coffee during the day with herbal tea- although, I am still having some coffee in the morning, and then maybe some decaf at night. I am a big believer of having SOME of what you love, because it creates balance. Speaking of balance, I will be honest here and say that I have still been consuming too much sugar- in the form of these ridiculously good chocolate chip cookies that a friend of ours made. We are officially on a mini-vacation for the next 24 hours, and so I have been faced with WAY TOO MUCH junk food. In the effort to be real here, I will say that, although I have been much more aware of what I'm eating, and how much, I can tell you that it is far from perfect. I would say that if we are going to call this a challenge, it is in fact a progressive one. 

I am implementing more fresh fruits and veggies into our meals, and after having an afternoon full of herbal tea rather than coffee, I felt amazing. It's incredible what happens when you're hydrated! In an attempt to still have a bit of chocolate, but give myself a way around the sugar, white, processed flour, etc, we brought nonfat chocolate milk. That is yummy, filling, and, in controlled amounts, not bad at all. 

What are your up's and down's? What have you substituted in? I would love to hear what your vice has been/still is and how you're attempting to tackle it! It's feedback time!

I like to eat [eat, eat] apples and bananas!

Now that you have that song sufficiently stuck in your head, I will explain the cause behind it. Yesterday, it was suggested to me by a friend of mine [Tayla] that I should begin a quest for cleaner eating via blog. She mentioned that she is preparing to take her family on a 30-day eat-at-home journey, and I think this is a fabulous idea. Not only is cooking at home better for the budget, but it's better for the...er...behind as well. I liked this idea enough to let all of you in on it. But! (Dun dun dunnn)...we're taking it one step further.

Swearing off fast food is a genius decision, however, you can still be poisoning your body daily by the foods that many of us devour at home- without thinking twice. So, I am officially challenging all of us (myself included!) to take the next 30 days to eat cleaner! (I just know that all of you jumped for joy in front of your computer screens...) As I sit here writing this, I am mentally taking inventory of all of the healthy food that I do NOT have in the fridge/pantry...great.

To make this more fun, I will be adding a poll that all of you can participate in. Those that wish to join in this challenge: answer the poll, and then leave comments daily, or every couple of days to let us know how you're doing. Write on the Facebook page, and leave them on the daily blogs. I will post daily as well, to let you know how it's going with me...and to keep me honest!

I will also post healthy alternatives and meal options to help us decide what to eat- a sort of, "Eat this, not that", if you will. The biggest thing is this: everyone who participates will want to talk-or gripe- about it, so comments are a must! I want to hear from you!

We shall make the official start date tomorrow, March 24th, 2010. Use today to prepare yourselves, your families, and your kitchen's food stock! (I am reminded that I have about 4 cucumbers in my fridge that need to be chopped up!) I am excited to hear how much better we will all feel, the different items that each of you will be substituting in/out of your diets, and even your complaints! BRING ON CLEANER EATING!

Here is a website that I like: http://cleaneatingclub.com/

True Blue...or Green

Here we are, at the bright and shiny beginning of a whole new week. (I know, I can FEEL your excitement.) I was thinking a bit about this blog over the weekend, and what it really means to 'be green'. Not to just buy green, but really take inventory of your lifestyle and how you steward the blessings in your life...and what I do with mine. (It just occurred to me how this subject may make Monday Haters even more grouchy. Oh well. Read on!)

I was in church with my family yesterday, and singing along to a particularly good worship song about how Good God is. I am definitely no super Chrisitian, and although I was completely involved in the worship, my mind wandered, just a bit. (*GASP*) I was having a friendly thought about how incredible it is to live in the part of the country that we do, what with all of the beautiful mountains, recreational activities, etc. I remembered a particular moment when I was young, and my family and I were on a hike. I remember wandering off just a little from the rest, and stopping to gaze at all the beauty around me. For some reason, I thought of that yesterday, during all the music, and the people gathered in community Worship, and the thought hit me: THAT'S what it really means to go green.

To be completely overtaken by gratitude for all that the Lord has given us, and to live accordingly. That may mean slightly different things to different people. But just as a relationship with God is personal, so are the decisions we make to live in good stewardship. Everything that God asks of us is to come out of a heart that is right before Him, and I don't think one can be 'green' without first acknowledging a point behind it. Yes, it is wonderful to simply want to take care of what we live out of, but for most, that isn't motivation enough. Then there's the 'fad' to consider. I would venture a guess that the majority of people who consider themselves to be 'environmentally concious' do so simply because they're told it's a good thing to do. I would challenge the common way of thinking by simply asking, 'but why?'

I didn't want to start a blog, etc, just to do something. When I dipped my toe into the waters of cleaner living, it was out of curiousity. What I have found is much deeper. To truly live in thankfulness and appreciation for everything that we've been given, we must recognize the character flaws within ourselves- the impulse to want everything right now, and convenient to our busy lives, without regard to stewardship and character - and strive to change, from the inside out.

All that to say, I am slowly attempting to change my little family's lifestyle for the better. Cleaner eating, and cleaner living- Green, if you will. But not because it's a fad. And certainly not because someone told me that I should. Simply because I am discovering daily how rewarding it can be to respond in thankfulness and good stewardship to the One who loves us so much, that He gave us Everything.

Cloth vs ... not cloth

In recent years, cloth diapering has made a comeback. Alongside it, nursing instead of feeding from a bottle, cloth wipes, and real fruits and veggies instead of baby food in a jar are making their appearance...again. Like in any other debate, people have chosen sides, and, in doing so, have created a bit of tension in between the two groups: Natural and...um...not as natural? Having been blessed with a little one recently, I have heard my share of Do's and Don'ts. Humorously enough, the differing opinions have come from within my family. (Which is always more fun, wouldn't you agree?) So, without further ado, here are the most commonly-discussed pro's and con's surrounding, specifically, cloth diapering...

"It's way to much extra work!" Usually, that is most people's first reaction. We live in a society of convenience, and, be that as it may, we expect everything, right down to 'what has to be done', to be made as easy for us as possible. I would argue that maybe a little work won't hurt us, and might actually be good for our world view...and our character. (But that's another blog.) Logically, with a baby under a year old,  you will change between 4-6 diapers a day. This of course excludes the extra-fun blowouts, or extenuating circumstances. Whether cloth or disposable, you go through the same routine of pulling off the old, cleaning off the bum, and puting on the new. The difference here would be between throwing the dirty diaper in the trash, or in the laundry. "But you will do so much extra laundry!" The average household on a regular laundry schedule will run one to two loads every other day. This will not change if you add a few diapers into the mix.

Save your mula. Diapers have got to be the most frequently-purchased, RIP OFF item(s) in the world. I would pull out my soapbox here, but we haven't the time. A plus to cloth diapering is that you always have them in the house, and you don't have to run out at the last minute (usually after ten at night) to buy some. The downside to this is that you have to have the extra money up front in order to purchase enough of them. If you plan ahead, this is a huge money-saver in the long run!

Save thy planet. My sister-in-law, the queen of research, and of cloth diapering, recently shared with me some research that shows that the average disposable diaper takes about 500 years to decompose. WHAT?! Let's go back to how many diapers we are changing in a day, and multiply that by the millions of us who are throwing them into the trash. Yikes. Some would argue that the water use to do an extra load of laundry uses too much energy, but the 'other side' would say that it actually takes more water to manufacter disposable diapers than it does to wash the cloth ones. Just something to think about.

Love their bum. Cloth diapers are well made, and the breathable fabric is so much better for Baby's bottom. Little to no rashes are a perk, and blowouts don't happen! HELLO. Eventually, it will be time to potty train, and I have heard over and over again that the little ones potty train quicker because they don't like wet pants any more than the rest of us. Imagine that.

POOP. It happens. Quite frequently if you're a baby. Dealing with the poopier moments in life is something that we moms (and dads!) must do no matter what. Learning to deal with the ACTUAL poopy moments can be a bit of a pain, but once you get the hang of it, you  just get 'er done. Give yourself an extra five minutes to rinse the stinky down the drain, and then toss that sucker into the laundry basket. (The diaper, not the other thing.) There are actual devices that you can have installed on your toilet- they sort of resemble a detachable shower head. Which, by the way, those work too.

All in all, I am a bit biased, but only AFTER we did the disposable thing for a while. I have personally discovered that it is way more fun to use quality, and sometimes homemade cloth items- they are cuter! There are a couple of links that I would like to share with you, courtesy of my sister-in-law...who, coincidentally, is cloth-diapering TWINS. Now you really have no excuses.

http://www.earthascope.com/whats-20-billion-strong-and-smells-like-crap/

(http://www.pampers.com/en_US/proddetail/baby-products/new-baby-diapers-swaddlers/id/900801

*Look at Waste Removal*

Do diapers biodegrade and decompose? Plastic-free Diapers compost and decompose Fast

Earthascope

www.earthascope.com

 

Get Ready...

In just a couple of days, I'll be posting a blog all about the adventure of cloth diapering! Do your research and get ready for the discussion! I'm excited because I will be covering both sides of the topic, and because hey! It's completely relevant to my life, as I'm sure it is to many of yours! If you rolled your eyes when you started reading this, I want to hear your comments as well! Dun dun dunnnn...

Groceries! Most of you probably view this as just another to-do that gets checked off the proverbial list once, or twice, a week. If you're like me, you're a nerd of some kind, and actually enjoy perusing the aisles, gathering your edible merchandise and checking off your list...okay, let's be honest. I don't use a list.

One thing that I have vowed to do, at least two or three different times, was to purchase and actually USE cloth grocery bags for my store ventures. I own several of them, and love to use them for everything...everything, that is, EXCEPT groceries! It would seem that they somehow escape my grocery store routine every time, and it has grown rather irritating. I have finally decided to keep at least one with me at all times, in case I make an 'emergency store run', or purchase something else on a whim. Then I have my handy cloth bag already with me, and I can save an eighth of a tree, or something like that.

This past week, I made another wonderful trip to my local grocer, and low and behold, I forgot all my bags again, save the one that I now keep on my person. I used it, thank-you-very-much, and was proud...except for the fact that the rest of my groceries went into annoying, flimsy, plastic bags...

I will conquer this yet! Stay tuned for an overly-brilliant solution to remembering your cloth grocery bags. In the meantime, try using them around your house, instead of plastic or paper. They are quite handy.

It's A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood...

Gone are the days where everyone knew all of their neighbors, cycled or walked to every location, and sat down every evening to family dinners. There are many that are striving to get back to these wonderful life values, and a great way to bring things back home is to begin purchasing locally-grown or made items.

Farmers Markets are on the rise in popularity, and they are a great way to get to know your community and all that it has to offer. By purchasing from local farmers and merchants, you are single-handedly supporting your own local economy, and you know exactly how your food and products are produced and grown. This adds a healthy element to your lifestyle, and decreases worry regarding what you are feeding your family, as the local farmer selling you those tastey cucumbers may also be the neighbor down the street.

Though you may not be a fan of bedazzled clothing and lots of jewelery, there are many more items that are being locally made. Coffee sleeves are a fast-growing, much needed item as of late, and by having one or two of them with you for your daily latte fix, you prevent more waste from ending up in a landfill. Not only are you making wise environmental choices, but these fun accessories are hip and stylish! Check out DotandLineShop.com to order a few for yourself today! They are very reasonable for your pocketbook, and locally made. Way to go! 

Something that I have done recently is to take a look at the products that I use every day, and take inventory on what I can make in my own home to prevent accessive waste. I have an adorable five-month-old son, and something that created a bit of savings for us was for me to begin using cloth wipes. We no longer have to worry about purchasing the kind in a grocery store, I don't ever have to worry about running out (as long as I remember to keep up on the laundry!), and my son's little bottom is happier for them. Plus, it is a lot of fun to have lots of different choices in patterns, fabrics, ect. Bring a little hip to your diaper moments and try making one today!

All in all, it is important that we first look to support those around us in our own communities before following the masses into coorporate-owned madness. Create a little bit of community in your area, and look for ways to support your neighbors and to encourage that they do the same!

Back To Basics

Hello Friends! I have created this blog to be a common denominator between earth friendly products and habits, and creativity. Going Green has become a fad as of late, as well as a new face for the same old marketing. For a long time, I simply refused to look at any of the green promotions, products, etc, because my first assumption was that it was all a marketing ploy, driven by the almighty dollar, and those behind it didn't really care about taking care of anything other than their next paycheck.

When the state of the economy hit our monthly budget, I started to look into homemade products as a creative means to save money. Not only did I find ways to save our bank account, but through the process, I also discovered that "going green" is a blast! It is so much more fun to have clever, handmade articles for everyday use, than to utilize stale, plastic, or disposable items that contain no spunk or personal touch.

Taking one step farther, I began to take inventory of our home, and our product use (boy that sounds stuffy!), and I found that little changes here and there can make a big impact on our 'environmental footprint'. Even more importantly, it makes a big difference in our personal character, and the ways in which we view life.

As our pastor recently said, " We live in a microwave society- we want everything fast and we want it now!" I couldn't phrase it any better. It is true. We have grown to expect that living 'in demand' is not only okay, but it is expected. We want convenience over quality, especially when quality costs 'too much money'. We seek the easy way of doing everything, at the expense of our health, our financial state, and even, our planet. Quick and easy is quickly taking us nowhere good, and we need to get back to the basics.

On that note, I would propose this: that we take a step back from our assumptions, just long enough to look at how our decisions about the products we use affect the world around us. That we become more determined to create in our own lives a sense of pride in what we can achieve through our personal decisions and creativity. That we would pledge to live better, cleaner, and more creatively- from the inside out.