an apple a day and then some

when has mother nature ever steered you wrong? seriously, she has given us everything that we need to live, to love and to grow. the sun to brighten the world, to help things grow, to provide us with warmth and light. the plants for nourishment, shelter, health and enjoyment. she is always giving us exactly what we need and never skips a beat.

so, how is it that people don't realize that she has provided us with renewable sources of food for centuries and these sources are perfect, whole and tasty? for us vegetarians, fruit, vegetables, greens, nuts and seeds have been a huge part of our diet, but there is a whole other level to this whole being veg thing. over 7 years ago i started checking out raw foods, foods in their purest, uncooked form. it was overwhelming, the recipes were lists and lists of foods that were not always available and don't even mention how time consuming it all was. dehydrating, soaking, mixing, blending, etc. i did love it though and came to a lifestyle that worked for ME. well, now there is more to life than just me, there are two little girls that count on me to feed them the tastiest, most healthiest food, on a daily basis. ahhhhhh, no time for the time consuming. i kept dappling in raw foods over the years and my love of raw has come and gone like the seasons of new england, but i have always been stuck on the idea of green smoothies and eating your greens.

seven years later and here i am, rethinking all of my choices in between. i have always been veg, but not always raw or vegan, nor have my little mamas. those green smoothies, or salad smoothies as one of the girls calls them, have always been high on my list and nagging me to head back to what mother nature put out there for us. it is a bit trickier with little people, they are still growing, still developing, still maturing, me, i am hopefully done with most of that. i am maintaining and repairing at this point in the game. after doing some homework, pulling together my own knowledge of raw foods and varieties of the lifestyle, i came across some amazing resources to aid my journey back to basics.

as i mentioned, raising raw kiddos is a bit more involved, but that shouldn't stop anyone from embarking on the road to raw with your family. check out these links for some great views on raw kids and what their needs are. it may be shocking on so many levels, but it is good to hear it all from someone who is doing it and doing it well.

The Raw Food Family*Ka and Katie Sundance and their beautiful kids

The Raw Mom Blog: a source of wisdom from moms to moms

Shazzie: a beautiful raw mother, her knowledge and wonderful details of raising a raw kid

there are more resources out there, but these hit home with my instincts and concerns.

so, what do we eat? we eat a variety of foods, not all raw and we are transitioning. the girls have always been raised vegetarian and will take some time until the acquire tastes for some things that i may find absolutely divine. creativity is the key when it comes to foods that they may not always want, but is the best for them. i cannot say enough about GREENS! we all need more of them and kids do like them if you make them sweeter and blended. green smoothies are absolutely grand when made well and in our house they are affectionately called 'kermit the frog smoothies', and they do indeed make you jump higher than usual. when we add some strawberries, then we sip on 'miss piggy smoothies'. it is all in the eye of the beholder and in this case they are 4 years old and 20 months and they do indeed slurp this stuff down. besides green smoothies, we do fruit smoothies with added goodies like hemp sides, flax seed oil or udo's oil, bee pollen, and whatever else will up the nutrition and still appeal to the munchkins. we eat a ton of fruit in it's whole state. bananas, apples, pears, avocados, mangos, strawberries, blueberries, melons, you name it, they will eat it and eat a ton of eat some days. a whole pineapple and a quart of strawberries may never see the end of the day in this house. veggies are a bit trickier. they do adore cucumber, tomatoes, carrots, and maybe a few others on occasion, but they aren't huge fans of a large array of veg. it will come with due time, but until then, juicing veggies or throwing them in with smoothies will do. as for the cooked foods that they like, brown rice, tofu, tempeh, cooked grains, hummus, and beans top the list. we have just introduced eggs for the first time and both girls have had a hard time adjusting to the taste, so i need to keep on trying and coming up with new ways to make them.

well, now you can see why it is 'an apple a day and some more'. there is so much out there to eat, to enjoy, to make you feel good, but don't get wrapped up in the all or nothing game of it. find what works best for you and your little ones. if it means eating a salad every night for dinner, then great, right on for taking that step. maybe that is the beginning for your or maybe that is just what you want at the moment, but whatever raw foods you start with, enjoy and know that it is helping you and it is a gift from the mother herself.

there is a reason why animals eat their foods raw. hmmmmm! never thought of that did ya? sure, they don't have stoves, but that's not the point. the strongest animals on earth eat green plant life and fruit and never chop it up, dehydrate it, cook it, stew it, bake it or add sugar to it. take a hint from the mother and go ahead and graze, you'll like it if you try it.

ps (need some recipes and details on eating greens? check out 'green for life' for insight and inspiration.)

it's like riding a bike

phew. time really flies by when you are hibernating. winter is over, spring has sprung and we are out and about as usual, but feeling a bit more alive these days. just because it has been a bit gray, does not mean that the fam has been too inactive. i figured today would be a good day to start anew and get the fam connected and updated. you know, when spring comes, we get up and start all over again, just like riding a bike.

we have been on the move and getting ready for another beautiful growing season. you know, growing kiddos, growing veggies, growing our own abundance of love and life, and sharing it all. the kiddos are really growing beautifully. they flourish even in the darkest days of winter, just add some sunlight and fresh air and viola, they are livelier than ever. we are embarking on new adventures daily and finding that sticking with our intuition will not let us down. our choice to unschool has become a reality with our weekly trips to 'a nest in nature' at harmony woods farm. this has been the best thing for us as a family over the long winter days. it is a regrowth for us and a welcomed addition to our family choices. the girls are just lov aing it and they simply adore the most beautiful woman that hosts it, as do i. we are excited about keepin' the little phytokiddos in our arms and home to learn what is around them. isn't that we do anyway?

since we have headed down that path, IT all seems to follow. IT, can be whatever you like. whatever makes us happy and healthy and yes, it does come when you head in the right direction. things come to us for a purpose and when you are comfortable in your new role, IT is all good. we are so happy that we have what we have and not unhappy about what we don't have. there is so much to come and i am so happy to share it here. keep checkin' in for some great adventures, recipes, inspiration and light.

the simple life ain't so simple

time flies when you are busy tending to two little ones, tending to a home, staying warm and wishing for warmer days. there is much more going on in our lives than i lend myself to see on a daily basis. i often wonder where my days have gone or why it always seems like i have something to do. then i remember a comment from a older fellow simple lifer, "simple livin' ain't so simple. it takes more work to live without than it does to have what others have."

that's it! why didn't i think of this sooner! she was so right on. i might mention that when i met this woman she was cooking tofu in her sweet little 1960's camper. our kind of lady if i must say so. we chatted about LIVING and what we don't aspire to have, the things that we do have that make our lives so unique, the importance of food and a vegetarian diet, feeding our children well and doing what you love to help enrich others lives. after all of that, that one comment imbedded in mind like a audio stamp. now i know where all of my time goes.

we work much like others do, but in addition to being occupied outside of our home, much of our hOMework is spent making sure that we have a clean, happy and healthy home along with healthy food for our fam. as the mama of the house i make sure that i keep up with all of the usual stuff, laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc because i am home all day with the little people. if you haven't picked up on this one yet, i'll let ya in on a little fam secret...food is super important to us. so, i do spend a lot of my free time whipping up goodies for the crew. keeping our food close to home serves many purposes. it allows us to eat well, keep our food bills down and enjoy foods that are made with love and good intentions. making things in batches allows us to store some our favs so we can enjoy them daily.

here is what we make on a daily, weekly and monthly basis

*granola (about one batch a week feeds three of us. it is quick and easy and we eat it for more

than breakfast.)

*veggie burgers (one batch a month, about 40 patties, keeps us going. top off salads, make

sandwiches or just dip them in veganaise and we are good to go.)

*yogurt (a batch every two weeks. we find that small amounts of this suites us well.)

*bread (every other day the peanut and i make up a loaf. keeping it whole grain and easy has

allowed us to totally get away from buying bread)

check out 'healthy bread in 5 minutes a day'

well, that sums up our food stash that we make on a bigger scale, but on top of that, we make sure that we home cook our meals daily, make enough soup to last a few days, cook up beans and freeze them for a myraid of meals and use what we have in house before we go out and buy more stuff. keeping a well stocked pantry and plenty of fresh and frozen fruit and veggies allows us to do 2 major grocery runs a month with some restocking in between for fresh fruit and veg. this in turn keeps us from buying too much and wasting.

in addition to food, there is so much more to this 'simple' life of ours...washing those cloth diapers, gardening in the summer, playing on the beach (this one is a biggie), spending as much time as we can as a family and living. we all find our groove and once you are really IN it, it is like a ride that you have been on a thousand times. eventually you come to expect the twists and turns, the bumps and smooth stretches, and hopefully it all ends well. nature lives with a rythmn and so can we. what may seem like work at first is actually a gift. once you learn to work with good intention what was once a chore becomes a good habit and it keeps on growing from there. so, really embrace what it means to tend to your home, feed your family and live without, because it isn't a fault, but rather a strength. i really feel blessed to have the ability to simplify. in times like these we are able to still live well and keep on keepin' on thanks to knowing how to go without.

"poverty is the gift of purification" -the XIVth dalai lama

baby talk

we come upon this earth with nothing but the body that has been granted to us, then we hopefully spend the next 80 or so years in this body. can one imagine what effect we have upon this earth in that time? the results are staggering for the average american. we are consumers, users, throw AWAYers and then we leave. we leave this earth with all of the 'things' that we thought we needed in our lifetime. i don't mean to be so pesimistic about our impact, but it is the honest truth.

as a mother of two i have come to realize that the first few years of our journey here are spent using vast amounts of resources. a child's impact on the environment is boggling. not that they choose to do so, but their caretakers are the ones to blame. as parents it is our responsiblity to keep our baby's consumerism to a minimum. unfortunately the market gears every effort towards the mommy's need to buy buy buy and have the latest and greatest. they want us to believe that our children are better off with their product, or our lives will be so
much easier with their product, or that you just simply need it.

what does a baby need? well, they obviously need us as parents to provide. to provide love, food and shelter. that really isn't much to ask for. then why do we buy some many things? families fill their homes with bouncers, cribs, a changing table, loads of clothing, paper diapers, toys toys and more toys, car seats and more. something are obviously needed, but the majority is just stuff. if i had to compile a list of what i really use on a day to day basis as a mother, this is what i'd say is absolutely necessary:

• diapers (cloth preferred), wipes (reusable fleece) and covers


• a sling or pack carrier for baby (keeps my hands free and baby safe and warm)


• food (breast for baby and solids for big sister)
  
• a few blankets (for warmth, protection, a place to play)


• clothing (for all obvious reasons, but the reality is that they don't need a million outifts)


• a stroller or wagon (gets us out and about on foot and is great exercise for mama and papa)

well, that's about it. it isn't much, but i would say that it covers the necessities. to start with, we have used the same diapers for baby one as we have for baby two. a $400 investment covered us for about 2 years with baby one and now baby two is using the same setup. any parent will tell you that the cost of diapers is excessive. however, tell these same parents that you use cloth diapers and they we go on and on about the mess, the bother and the clean-up, all of which isn't true. once you go with cloth, the routine is easy, clean and cheap. plus, healthy for your baby's bum and for the environment. we even use reusable fleece wipes with homemade wipe solution. check out vermont diaper company for the lowdown on cloth diapering. just remember, a newborn blows through about 10-12 diapers a day for the first few months. add that one up!

next on the list is a sling. we have three different carriers for the kids and can even use one of them with our 2 1/2 year old. these are great for keeping hands free, keeping kiddos up on your level, and keeping them safe and content. we use our ergo baby carrier the most and i'd say that it is the most versitile and durable. they're a great company out of hawaii and they're perspective on baby wearing is just up our ally. anytime we run into other folks using it, they feel the same way we do about the ergo. it goes without saying that once a parent finds something that works, they are always willing to share the love with others. it is a definite must have for families who enjoy being on the go with kiddos!

some things go without saying, but i have to mention food. yes, we do feed our little monsters. one gets the boob and the other eats pretty much what we eat. no microwaved meals, no prepackaged entrees, rarely anything out of a box and just good ole fashioned food. i truely feel bad for kids who chow down on nothing but processed food. i know that we are a rarity and i do understand that some families don't have the time or means to provide what we feel is good food. however, i don't hesitate to share my ideals with anyone who asks about our diets. food is a huge part of our lives and i am proud of the fact that we do what we do. one other thing that i should mention is our habit of eating meals together. as a kid my mom had dinner on the table at 5:30 and was dead set against eating anywhere, but the kitchen table. i thank her for that and i hope that we can say the same thing when our peanuts are old enough to understand the importance of food and family.

keeping our children safe, well feed, clean and warm are just a few of things that are expected of us as parents. clothing is an enormous financial and environmental burden when it comes to kids. in the first year of life, a child's growth is tremendous and along with that comes everchanging wardrobes. from then on, it is a constant cycle of buy more clothes, pack them away and then so on and so forth. one must wonder, how much clothing does my child need? not much! we love getting bags of hand-me-downs from the neighbor and handing down our stuff to my sister and then back again. why not? have you ever seen an infant wear out a pair of pajamas? never! so, if you keep clothing in good shape, stain free when possible and share with others, it can be a constant flow of 'new' clothes. we also hit up our local salvation army on half price family day and frequent the local consignment shops. it doesn't mean that your kiddos have to be wearing duds from the 80's and be out of style. it just means that you are merely reusing what someone else has already worn. not a big deal and your little ones can still be in style. plus, you don't feel bad if your peanuts totally trash an outfit that only cost a buck!

i cannot think of a better way to get fresh air and excerise than walking with my little ones. from the time my oldest was a few weeks old, i had her out in the fresh air every decent day that i could. it was good for both of us. i'd bundle her up in our favorite patagonia baby bunting, pack her in the sling and a stroller when she was a bit bigger, and off we'd go. we took her everywhere, the beach, hiking, festivals, around town, and anywhere that we could. now, she is in a jog stroller and the youngest one is in the ergo baby carrier. we feel limitless and they feel less confined when we 'travel' outdoors. our recent addition of a wagon is great for shorter walks and when we need to bring some goodies along. you know, stuffed animals, beach toys, a dish for the neighborhood potluck and even a friend. there is no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a designer stroller, but do get a feel for what you need and then try a few out. our local consignment shop always has strollers for sale and they would suffice for almost any family. i can honestly say that our jog stroller has been everywhere with us, from florida to maine and it is still holding up.

the key to reusing kids' gear and clothing is care. if you take care of what you have, it will take care of you. appreciate your goods and you will reap more from them. when you realize how much 'stuff' your little people use, then you may realize the importance of reusing, recycling and consciously raising them can have on your surroundings. here are a few facts about what our kids do to our mother earth:

in 1988, nearly $300 million dollars were spent annually just to discard disposable diapers, whereas cotton diapers are reused 50 to 200 times before being turned into rags.

no one knows how long it takes for a disposable diaper to decompose, but it is estimated to be about 250-500 years, long after your children, grandchildren and great, great, great grandchildren will be gone.

disposable diapers are the third largest single consumer item in landfills, and represent about 4% of solid waste. In a house with a child in diapers, disposables make up 50% of household waste.

the manufacture and use of disposable diapers amounts to 2.3 times more water wasted than cloth.

over 300 pounds of wood, 50 pounds of petroleum feedstocks and 20 pounds of chlorine are used to produce disposable diapers for one baby EACH YEAR.

it is estimated that each baby will need about 6,000 diapers during the first two years of life.

these facts don't even take into consideration everything that a child consumes in the first few years, but it gives you a good idea of what their potty habits do to our land

so, that's that! just remember that every little bit counts. if you practice healthy and constructive habits in your home, then hopefully your peanuts will grow up and do the same. it is contagious! your job as a parent goes far deeper than providing food, love and shelter. it makes an impression that is so deep, that future generations deal with the choices you have made. if you want your great great grandchildren to live amoung your rubbish, then go ahead and keep on consuming without consciousness. if you want them to live in paradise, then start now and do the right thing.

not your average american idol

ICON

function: a noun
etymology: latin, from greek eikon, from eikenai to resemble

definition: an object of uncritical devotion: an idol

let me paint you a picture, a very vivid and wrinkly one at that. imagine a woman in her mid 70's, with eyes so blue that she makes the sky blush, with a smile as wide as the sea that she calls home, with dedication so deep you can see it pulsating from her every cell and a naked, wrinkled body that she is not remotely modest about hiding. well there, pretty nuts, huh? i kind of thought so too, until i read on.

i picked up the latest issue of 'Surfer's Journal' and thumbed through the countless pages of crystal blue waters strewn with young tan bodies gliding across foreign waves and there she was: a naked wrinkled woman that made be shiver and giggle like a child. what is she doing in here? and of course, curiosity sets in and one must dive right into the article. Carol Schuldt is her name and she calls San Francisco her home. she is 75 years old and i must say, she is kick ass. her zest for life, her minimalist mindset and the fact that she bodysurfs almost everyday in the 50 degree waters of northern california naked or minimally clad is enough said.

you can take a peek at the 'queen of ocean beach' in an excerpt in 'Surfer's Journal'

not your average icon by no means, but what does it take to be of that standing these days? money, money and more money? perhaps. fame and fortune? most likely. your face on the cover of 'People' magazine a few times a year? yup! but why? what is it that these folks have or do that makes them so important? not a darn thing, but luck. what do people like Carol Schuldt, Gypsy Boots and others have? they have heart and soul, love, passion, compassion, dedication to the pure and minimal recognition. that is what makes a true icon.

i would rather have my child look up to a 75 year old naked bohemian woman than brittney spears. why not? Carol leads her life with a heart of gold and a peaceful mind. i can dig that. why not look up to a woman that sleeps in her kitchen, rarely buys anything new and rides her rusty old bike for miles to bask in the cold waters of the pacific for wave after wave with no gear, but the body that god gave her? hell with money, that woman found 'IT' and i admire her for sharing the light with all that cross paths with her. she shares her home and her heart with others and looks for nothing in return.

so, next time you think about an icon or an idol, think a bit deeper. i had a boss that used to always say, 'do the right thing', and with that said, does your idol follow in those foot steps? the 'right thing' is so simple that most folk step right over it along with the debris and complexity that is strewn across our paths. slow down, look in front of you and you'll see that 'IT' is all right there. just ask Carol!

dedicated to bob pollard. an icon of his short time on this earth with a spirit larger than life. may he always be remembered by all that he touched. we miss you bob.

what's without is within

huh, you may say. what on earth do you mean. oh, i am trying to say that what you use on your body ultimately ends up in your body. oh! and, better to be without than with all the junk. there you go. so, what are you slathering, lathering and scrubbing yourself with these days?

those isles and isles of fruity, smelly and oh so alluring body care items can really suck you in. go into your local drug store and just step back. is it really necessary to have big of a selection. i guess so, other wise it wouldn't be there or would it? all considering who owns all of these brands, i would assume that that is reason enough for the mass marketing of these items. you can't live without them!

sure you can! break away and get real. that stuff is laden with some seriously scary ingredients. you really don't need 35 ingredients in your shampoo. why does it need to be bright green and smell like guava pineapple on a summer morning. what they hell does that have to do with shiny, clean hair. NADA. so, i say dis the chemicals and go for the real deal.

i can go into detail about parabens, artificial color, fragrance, etc., but i really believe that there is enough info out there on that junk and why bore you with it. what i will bore you with is how to get back to your roots, how to be clean, smell clean and look good without the 'stuff' that eventually leaches into your body and ultimately makes you toxic, not to mention supports some really unethical companies.

first things first, i must mention deodorant and antiperspirant before all else. it is one of the most toxic things that people choose to smear onto their skin. the later is even more toxic, especially for us lady folk. think about it...you are smearing aluminum, a heavy metal, under your arms on skin that is generally shaved. maybe most women don't realize that their breasts are super close to their armpits. linking this together yet? so, where does all of that aluminum go? into your breasts...oh, breast cancer. now you see what i am getting at. creepy stuff! no thanks. by the way, we are supposed to sweat. it is natural. the smelly end of it can be controlled without the conventional goods. check out lafe's natural and organic deodorant selection. complete with mineral salts, natural oils (including hemp) and plant extracts, available in spray and roll on. good stuff! plus, there is a man behind this company. a person with compassion and ethics. can't say that about most things.

next up is soap. in the keepin' it simple mode of things, we still use and probably will always use dr. bronner's magic soaps. their rep says it all and the fact that they have been whipping up this stuff for 60 years is a good sign. plus, they are fair trade and a super hip family run company. who needs body wash to match your shampoo, and your body spray and your lotion. soon you start smelling like a walking perfume bottle. i wonder if people can actually smell themselves or did they burn their noses out? anyway, just a thought. what does matter is that you are clean when you get out of the shower. dr. bronner's castile soaps are the bomb. they have been rockin' the scene way longer than any of that other junk and they have managed to do so without adding the junk. plus, dr. bronner's magic all-one soaps double as a bunch of stuff...you can brush your teeth with it, wash your dishes and clean the toilet. damn that stuff is tricky!

i am assuming that most of us have hair, but not all, so if you do, shampoo and conditioner is probably another item in the bathroom lineup. once again, i could ramble off all of the junk in this stuff, but why bother. i'll get right down to it. look for plant extracts, natural oils and plant based surfactants. it isn't necessary to 'attempt' to smell like what some chemist thinks that a spring dew smells like. all you ultimately need is a healthy scalp and shiny and clean hair. the rest will follow. natural products naturally smell good. like coconuts, and flowers and the dew on a orange blossom. no really, they do. so, check out john masters organics for a huge selection of salon quality hair care products. they have it all and yes, they know what they are doing with it. he even owns and operates a 'clean air salon' in nyc. i dig his shampoo, detangler, sea mist and the dry hair defrizzer (a great herbal oil for keeping sun and salt laden hair happy). for those of you who want to opt for the less salon type products, i'd suggest aubrey organics. they have kept it real for over 40 years, before going green was in, and they have something for everyone. once again, two companies with faces, oddly enough male faces, behind some awesome goods.

that leaves us with lotions and oils and anything else that you may slather on your body's largest organ, your skin. yes, your skin is a pretty complex organ that absorbs and releases the good and the bad. so, you better think about what you are coating yourself with on a daily basis. when treated right, your skin will balance itself out and take care of business. yes, it needs our help to maintain, but that's because we are the ones that take advantage of it. we tend to get too much sun at times, go swimming, play on the beach and unfortunately smear junk on it that isn't what it needs. time to give it what it needs. OIL! yes, good healthy natural oil. be it coconut, jojoba, hemp, calendula, etc., as long as it comes from a plant and is maintained in a pure form, it will make your skin vibrate with happiness. one of my favorites is based on the edgar cayce's studies, heritage brand aura glow. i love the feel and smell of it and it truly makes you feel good. plus, it is great for preggy bellies. regardless of what i enjoy, you will find a ton of products out there in oil form that will make you feel like you are glowing. keep it simple though.

well, there you have it. the basics. it is simple and basic if you let it roll that way. your whole family can use these products if you so choose. we do use pretty much the same brands on the peanut, with the addition of some weleda baby products. it is so vital to treat that baby skin like you do the baby within. nurture and nourish, not add fragrance and chemicals just because you want that new clean baby smell. really folks, babes don't naturally smell like that 'stuff'. they need pure and simple things that don't get their beginning in a laboratory owned by some huge chem company.

the same goes for what you use for yourself. treat yourself well and yourself will treat you well. remember within and without. love that body, it is merely a rental.

what's growing on?

phew, it's been awhile. i feel like we have been mia for months. lots going on and with those longer days and warm spells, we've been recharging our batteries and on the move. so, where have we been? outside of course. every spare minute...mowing grass, playing, keeping the plants happy, growing a baby and filling up our yard with tons of organic goodies.

we got our organic blueberry bushes from backyard berry plants, thanks to keith uridel and his fam, and mrs. chanticleer and ms. aurora, as we so affectionately call our early variety and late variety high bush plants, are abiding in our front yard as we speak. the early variety, chanticleer, already has some berries on there and we can't wait to do some taste testing. kudos to backyard berry plants and keith. he is a great guy to deal with, super helpful, honest and packs up some great organic berry plants along with brambles. and they just had a mention in mother earth news this issue. not bad for a family farm in indiana. we need more of these guys.

the new fruit trees are in the ground and doing alright. we lost one of the apricots, but i can honestly say that i think that it was shipped out in that condition. it looks sad and will luckily be replaced in the fall with another. other than that, the new plum whip and the other apricot whip are doing fine. good news on the ole mrs. rosa front. our older, only about 4 years old, santa rosa plum tree set a great amount of fruit this year. we are happy to say that it looks like we'll be getting more than one plum this year.

as far as the rest of the yard goes, we have tons of greens growing on (mizuna, spinach, collards, kale, chard and mesclun), the tomato plants are in and looking good, the snap peas grew a foot since last week and we are already munching on some young ones, and we have green, well purple, green beans growing all over the place along with some kentucky wonders just poking their heads out. oh, almost forgot the cucs...thanks to a friend we have some lemon cucs and we couldn't resist the pickling cucs that we grew last year, so they will be taking up residence next to our outdoor shower this year. they loved it! those were the best cucs that we have ever had and thanks to our bathing habits, they were as happy as could be climbing up the side of our shower while getting a good daily drink. we are also trying to do some trellising cucs in hanging baskets. worth a try and nothing to lose. we have some great sunny spots that could be utilized and so we shall give it a shot. off the ground, means less fungus and plenty of sun, so why not? it's all about trying to find that balance and it could be found anywhere, even in our backyard.

hard to believe that it is june already, and it feels so good to be barefoot, dirty and weeding and planting already. there will be more to plant, more to eat and more to do as the next few weeks roll on, but for now we are loving this time of awakening. there have been challenges and on the other hand, there have been gains, so it is ALL GOOD. we are battling the neighborhood cats and their choice of our gardens as their toilets, but we can fix it with a few more wire fences, and we also have a 3 foot tall garden monkey, aka our daughter, who loves to remove soil from the gardens at all costs, water everything in site and give the plant hugs, but thanks to some one and a half foot tall picket fences, from the local hardware store, we have successfully kept the little monkey out of the gardens for over a week. gotta love her affection for our food though. she thinks that all plants are babies and that they need hugs and water to grow. i think that she is on to something.

well, that's where the fam is for now. in the yard with grass stained toes, dirt under the nails, naked at times (the garden monkey, not us) and roaming around in the ole camper when the waves are calling or the sun is shining.

get out and roam! and don't forget to grow and glow.

in with 'manpower' ed mower, out with the gas guzzler

flowers are bloomin', longer days, greens are a sproutin' and the grass is growin'. now, i know that this may sound crazy, but i love mowing grass. it is meditative, physical and just plain fulfilling. it is like clean laundry or clean floors throughout the house. it makes you feel good and it looks pretty. yup, i'm nuts, just ask my husband.

so, when i declared my hatred for our damned lawn mower for the thousandth time, my husband couldn't say no to me wanting a new mower. our old one was self propelled, which means that it is heavy, cumbersome and huge. our yard is tiny, not square and has nooks and crannies that you have to get into. big mower means pain in my butt and a lot of frustration. plus, i had to find the gas can, get it started, and risk waking the little one while trying to do all of the above. no fun. not to mention that it is hard to store, takes gas, oh, did i mention that it takes gas and yes, it takes gas.

you ask, 'what are your other options?', if you don't want a gas guzzler. well, simple, inexpensive and i think lots of fun...old school reel mowers. yes, there are electric mowers, but once again i'd have to maneuver it, store it and still deal with a bigger piece of 'equipment'. plus, most options have to be maintained: filters, oil, tuneups, etc.. not the reel mower, it is pretty low key. lube up the blades to prevent rust and lube up the wheels and blade spindle. so, the reel mowers pack a punch in a small but green package, light, a good workout, enviro friendly, do a great job and they are tiny compared to their motorized counterparts. so, i must gloat, I WON! i got to pick out a new mower with the agreement that i'll do the mowing without complaining. duh, a no brainer all considering my love of lawn maintenance.

off we headed to home depot in hopes of finding the model that i came up with. i did the research, looked at the reviews, priced them out and the model that won was....scotts elite push reel mower at the depot. 16" blade cutting area, probably around 30ish pounds, under $100 and i think that it is cute. i couldn't wait to try it out.

today it put that bad boy together, in under 10 minutes, mowed the grass with ease and was ecstatic with the results. the lawn looked great! just as good as when we did it with the ole guy. well, the old mower will be sad to know that last season was it's last with us, but we'll be passing that one on to a new home. just put a sign on it at the edge of the driveway and hope for a new home for ole gasey.

there you have it; old school reel mower bumps out new school gas mower. a happy ending for all, well maybe not the old mower, but someone else may have patience for that thing. not me, too conflicting with my ways, but boy do i have a new found love for something so old that it is new, the reel mower.

the fam's urban farm...beach style

here we are again, it is finally getting warmer and we are feeling like there is a light at the end of this long winter tunnel. though we go through it ever year, for a lifetime, it still feels like forever. yes, winter is out and spring and summer are in. this means time to plant indoors and outdoors, tunnels over the beds, some new fruit trees and blueberry bushes on the way.

the fam is ramping up for a good summer bounty. we had a great crop last year that even carried us into this january with kale and collards, but we are making some permanent additions this season. now more than ever the importance of sustainability is knocking on the door, especially self sustainability. we are looking a ways to be less in line with the consumer flow and more in line with the mother flow. why not? it is the safest, most economical and most enlightening way to feed your fam. our food supply isn't what you would call safe nor honest nowadays. so, do your own thing and get out there and claim a plot either on site or off site. by this i mean in your yard, at a friends house or even in a community garden site. there is always a way...so my father says!

with that said, who said that you can't make a teeny tiny yard produce veggies and fruit for your family? just because space is tight, doesn't mean that you are limited. and, if space is abundant for you, awesome, roll with it and go wild. consider it the price of therapy included in your mortgage. a garden no matter how big or small is a wonderful way to chill out, grow goodies and make your yard look like the garden of eden.

and...the garden of eden isn't complete without fruit. yes, that sweet and juicy oh so yummy stuff that is usually super pricey and not to mention sprayed beyond belief with the stuff that monsanto peddles to every conventional farm in america. yes, i am talking about pesticides and junk. no good! so, grow your own. we planted a santa rosa plum 2 1/2 years ago and it has proven to be a beautiful tree, but it is getting lonely in the fruit yard. well, last week amidst the rain and yucky weather arrived 3 new dwarf trees to keep ole rosa company. we decided to go with all dwarf varieties for obvious reasons (they only grow to about 8 feet tall) and the shiro plum is a companion to rosa for cross pollination and the 2 apricots moorpark and chinese are companions. today with shovel in hand, we planted all three, staked them, mulched them and gave them a new home at the beach. now, we just have to what a few years, but it is all worth it. those 4 trees will be plenty for the fam.

that isn't all that is going on around here. we have some organic blueberry bushes coming from indiana that will take residence in the front yard. too exciting, i know, but we couldn't resist the thought of blueberries on hand in july and august. thanks to a friend of mine, who was kind enough to give those ole rose bushes a new home, we are getting some raspberry canes in exchange. gotta love it. you never know what you'll be able to swap. speaking of swapping, take a look for local plant exchanges or even plant sales in your area. we have one here every year and the prices are wonderful, the selection is outstanding and your know that it came from close to home.

on the veggie front we have a bunch of stuff under plastic at the moment. we are still getting super chilly nights with windy and somewhat warmer days. so, everything is under hoops or in raised boxes under cover. we have spinach, mustard greens, peas, dinosaur kale, vates collards and golden and silverado chard outside all doing well. this week is time for the beets, some more greens and a few more inside things like parsley and basil to get started. it all feels so good. so liberating and so fresh.

now, it is your turn. get out there. get creative. get on motherearthnews.com and do some exploring on varieties to plant, when and where, ways to extend your season and more. it is inspirational to see what you can do with a little bit of research, some time and some ingenuity. oh, speaking of that, we are looking at our options for a passive solar greenhouse to be built this fall to keep the fam feed all winter. yup, no more fall and winter breaks. the possibilty of fresh greens and cool weather crops all winter long sounds too good to be true, but it is totally possible and totally inexpensive for the do it yourselfer. we've done the reasearch and now we are sorting through our options, but keep an eye out for a late summer post on our newest project.

happy planting, much love and luck to your sprouts and seedlings and happy gardening. enjoy, embrace and most importantly indulge. treat your yard to something special this season. maybe your yard needs a little lovin' and a blueberry bush or a fruit tree or 2 may make it happy.

the home pantry: not a thing of the past

it seems as though more and more folk are catching on to the idea of stocking up on basics, buying in bulk and keeping a well managed pantry, the core of a healthy eating fam. i am not talking about going to the large warehouse markets and buying 20 rolls of tp, but rather food. you know, the essentials to living. things like rice, beans, grains, etc. some folks may find this hard to believe, but some of us live off of stuff like that. yup, we actually soak our beans and cook them. believe me, it isn't rocket science.

anyway, back to the topic at hand, the home pantry. back in the day it was loaded with canned fruit and veggies from the home garden, flours, sugars, grains, seasonings and probably some funky rendered animal product (maybe lard?). regardless of what folks stashed in their pantry, it was simple and basic and people were most likely never heard saying the oh so popular americana phrase, "there is nothing to eat in this house!" i know, i know, but there really isn't anything to eat. like most people are actually going to starve. most likely not!

if people were prepared, ate simple homemade meals and actually put a teeny bit of effort into making meals, they would realize that you can find the majority of what you need in a revamped pantry. what's hiding in there now? maybe some stale crackers, cans of tuna from 2 years ago, cereal that never seems to expire, soda, boxes of betty's brownie mix and probably five boxes of noodles. no wonder they have nothing to 'eat'. you can't make a decent meal out of that stuff. but, try stocking up on these basics and you'll have endless meals on hand:

dried beans: soak overnight or for 8 hours and cook in soups or plain to be eaten as burritos, with rice and dressed up with seasonings. we dig pinto, navy, black and garbanzo (think of homemade hummus).

rice: with so many types from basmati to wild rice, you can't resist the variety of flavors that go with almost any meal. "but it takes so long to cook", you say? well, all you have to do is get it started and walk away for 20-50 minutes. really, no real labor in that. plus, when combined with your cooked beans, you have a perfecto meal. did i mention that it was also super cheap?

grains: just like the multitude of rices, there are so many yummy grains that even the non-crunchiest of folks would dig. try cooking up some quinoa, millet or even the ole standby, oatmeal. yup, it doesn't have to be so bland. oatmeal is a wonderful meal anytime of the day when topped with nuts, fruit and a drizzle of maple syrup. get creative.

seeds: i am mentioning seeds as a pantry item, but if you don't use them quick enough, try stashing them in the freezer to keep them fresh. we go through a bit of pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds on a weekly basis, so you can always find a few jars of them in there.

sprouting supplies: by far the most bang for the buck in the pantry if you ask me. sprouting seeds, jars, etc. will give you endless additions to your meals for so little money. right now we have some russian sprout mix, spicy and french. check out my old post on sprouting for details.

nut butters and peanut butter: this is an essential item for our family. keep in mind, we are talking about natural nut butters, sunflower butter and peanut butter. when used in moderation, it adds that little dense protein kick to any slice of toast or bowl of oatmeal. plus, always a good one to grab for a road trip to catch some surf.

seasonings: once you learn to prepare things from scratch, adding the right touches can make the simplest thing into the most taste bud pleasing meal. you can buy herbs in bulk and pour them into tiny glass jars for storage. plus, don't be afraid to dry some of that extra basil in your garden to add to your stash. yes, you can make you own dried herbs with little effort. so, we generally have a number of essentials in the spice department: coriander, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, fennel, basil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, sea salt, and pepper. i am sure that i am missing some, but you'll figure out what fits in your cooking groove.

teas: tea can be enjoyed anytime of the day and is always a nice reward on a chilly winter day or a hot summer afternoon. we keep a basket loaded with our favorites. from licorice mint to green tea with kombucha we love to keep a variety on hand. plus, just think of all the money you'll save by not cruising through the drive-through at your local coffee spot. add that one up? not pretty is it? you can always keep a travel mug on hand and enjoy your hot stuff on the go for a major fraction of the cost. for you coffee drinkers, it is all the same. make your own. think of all the waste that you are saving.

sweeteners: for some this may be a two product deal (corn syrup and white sugar), but if you are willing to get off of the white refined stuff, there are so many options out there that taste wonderful and aren't so bad for you. we keep a supply of stevia (we prefer liquid), maple syrup, molasses, agave and turbinado for occasional use.

the miscellaneous, but essential: this is a pretty broad category. plus, it varies by family, but this is what else we keep on hand. things like rice milk (stores for long periods, lactose free, and you can avoid having to head to the store for an emergency milk run), sea veggies (kombu, dulse, nori sheets and more. we add these gifts from the sea to our beans before cooking, make homemade nori rolls aka sushi, and to season meals), noodles (our favs are eden's kamut spirals among a few others), cans of tomato paste and diced tomatoes (add to soups, beans and make sauce), homemade jellies that we whipped up with summer's bounty of blueberries, flour (making that homemade bread) and obviously other baking essentials. so, i am sure that you'll have your own miscellaneous section.

this all may sound daunting, but it really isn't. with a bit of guidance and some sense of adventure, you can make it happen. for some tidbits and great articles on food prep check out eden foods' FOOD ARTICLES. this will set you in the right direction.

well, what do you think? cleaning out that pantry may be on your to do list if you are thinking of changing up your eating habits or saving some money on grocery bills. eating well isn't all about keeping your physical self in check, but it is also about making less of an impact, being frugal (aka saving money!!!) and enjoying a homemade meal with your family and friends. think about what food means to you. is it something that you stuff in your mouth on the run or is it a moment when you feel so blessed to be able to enjoy a wholesome meal with your family without putting mother E at stake? yeh, that pantry is a bigger deal than you think.

here are some other tidbits while we are on a roll:

• consider storing everything in glass jars. mason jars are super cheap and can store in the pantry or in the freezer and fridge. plus, you can sprout in them.


• buy in bulk if you can. if you have space to do so, buy things that you use the most of in larger quantities. most natural food stores will definitely order bags of rice, oatmeal, etc by special request.


• don't buy more than you know you'll use or need. there are things that are essential, but you may not need 5 pounds of it. if you know that you'll use up that rice milk that you got on sale, then buy a bunch, but keep an eye on that expiration date.


• don't be afraid to share. if you see something that you use, but know that you can't use that much, ask a friend to split it with you.


• keep your supplies in check. when you run out of something, jot it down on your shopping list so you don't forget. this goes along with the keeping what you need in there theory. we know what we go through weekly, so we only keep a buffer in there for some things.


• can your own garden goodies. we made bread and butter pickles, dill pickles, relish and jam from our summer bounty. way better than that store bought stuff.


• when you are ready to clean out your pantry, keep your local food bank in mind. as long as it hasn't expired, you know that someone else will benefit from your generosity.
  
  

alright, have fun revamping your pantry, or create one for yourself. we just turned an old storage space into a great pantry. get creative!

the amazon meets new england: biochar

what in the world am i talking about? well, it is a gardening technique that is at least 3,000 years old. it's so old that it's new. new to us, but a common practice to the ancient amazonian tribes who grew corn, cassava and various tree fruits in superior soil that they enriched with compost, mulch and the newly termed 'biochar'. still lost?

well, let's break it down:

bio- (bī′ō, -ə): life, of living things, biological

char (c̸här): to reduce to charcoal by burning, to burn slightly; scorch

so, with that said, biochar is basically organic matter that is burned slowly, with restricted oxygen flow, and then the fire is halted when the plant matter reaches the charcoal stage. yup, it is charcoal. naturally made from organic matter in the area around your garden. it is dried weeds, woody brush, and limbs that when turned to charcoal and incorporated into your growing space, can help hold plant nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorous, calcium and magnesium. not to mention the presence of beneficial fungi and bacteria that thrive in high carbon soil. now, you get it? it isn't rocket science, even though scientists around the world are intrigued, but it is a simple and enviro option to improve soil, decrease waste and reduce the loss of nutrients. now, you do need to start with good soil in order for this concept to work. it isn't the answer to poor soil, but it is one way to help your soil retain what it has. so, hopefully you've been working on adding in the good stuff. if not, it isn't too late to start and biochar can help.

if you are nervous about the idea of starting fires in your garden, don't be. we aren't talking bonfire size, but rather small trenches with controlled burning. not a biggie. heck, we live in a small beach town and i was bubbling with excitement at the idea of making biochar when i first read about it. oh, you bet i was out there the first nice day foraging all of our dried up yard waste and wood scraps. it was wonderful! in no time at all i had a beautiful collection of biochar of my own.

so, put aside your smokey the bear 'don't start forest fires' mentality and go for it. oh, you don't quite have all of the details? this is what 'mother earth news' had to say about getting down to business:

"to make biochar right in your garden, start by digging a trench in a bed. then pile brush into the trench and light it. you want to have a fire that starts out hot, but is quickly slowed down by reducing the oxygen supply. the best way to tell what's going on in a biochar fire is to watch the smoke. the white smoke, produced early on, is mostly water vapor. as the smoke turns yellow, resins and sugars in the material are being burned. when the smoke thins and turns grayish blue, dampen down the fire by covering it with about an inch of soil to reduce the air supply, and leave it to smolder. then, after the organic matter has smoldered into charcoal chunks, use water to put out the fire."

there you have it. you aren't just limited to making biochar in your garden, but you can also collect charcoals from your fire place and camp fires.

i bet that you'll never look at charcoals, i mean 'biochar' the same. you'll be eyeing up those poor forgotten coals at the bottom of your fireplace and wondering, "where could i use them?" yup, you'll be hooked. all while adopting a practice that is over 3,000 years old, reducing loss of carbon into the atmosphere and improving your growing space. not bad!

have fun with it, research it for yourself and most importantly, BE SAFE!

cleaning house and mind

as you may have guessed after our last post, we have begun our purging of 'stuff' in the house. after hanging out in a 60 square foot camper for a month, we realized even more what we really do not want nor need in our lives. makes us wonder what we have been holding on to.

think about it...someone drops by and leaves some 'goodies' for you (add one more thing to your mix), then your birthday rolls around and people give you gifts, some needed and some not so needed (add 5 things to your mix), then comes the holidays, which we really don't want anything, but family insists and you end up with more stuff (add 10 things to your mix), and then you buy that 'thing' that you thought you needed (add on one more thing) and now here we are. it is january and you theoretically have 17 more things than you had in september. where do you put it? do you add it on top of all of your other stuff that you so call enjoy or do you stash it to only find it a year later? ahhhhh, too much to think about!


EXACTLY, it weighs down your consciousness and before you know it all of this 'stuff' has you so pinned down that you are 'trapped' by your junk. yup, that is how most people cruise along these days. thinking about all of their stuff. worrying about losing some of it, paying for it, not wanting it to get broken, needing a bigger house to fit it all in, needing more so you can keep up with betty jones down the street and before you know it, you are putting more energy and thought into your 'stuff' than you do into your own health, family and well being.


not us. get rid of it. if you don't need it, use it, want it or care about it, pass it on. we dug through our dressers, the closet, the crawl space, the pantry and more and man did we come up with some 'stuff'. mostly things that we never really wanted but took anyway, stashed it for a bit and now it is being purged from our lives and minds forever. you have options when purging. don't think that it is all one big trip to the thrift shop. a vintage guitar, surfboard, antique vase and some bike parts are going on ebay and will hopefully earn us a little chunk of change to pay for some home improvements that we are working on (yup, another one of our purging side effects). clothing is going to the local church donation bin and the rest of it to salvation army. if you have something that you may still have an attachment to, but you don't need it, share it with a friend. regift it? why not? not all gifts need to be new. well, maybe for betty jones, but not for the conscious purging soul who is regaining their independence from their stuff. have fun with getting rid of the junk and don't regret it. regret is only you still be tied down by the 'stuff'.


well, now don't you feel better. i know that your mind is going now. the ole hamster wheel is turning and you are thinking about what you can sell, share or simply give 'away'. yup, that old purse that you really haven't used since last winter (there are purse swaps online), those shoes that you bought for a wedding and you only wore them once because they killed your feet, that ugly sweater you aunt lily bought you and those skis that you bought 5 years ago and haven't used in 4 1/2 years. the possibilities are endless and like most people, you probably have more 'stuff' than you'll ever need.


THE MORE YOU HAVE, THE MORE YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT!

on the road again...

our nomadic senses kicked in with the recent arrival of snow and ice in new england. so, we did what any conscious fam would do, we bought a 1962 camper, put some sweat equity into it, and dragged the little thing down to florida for a few weeks. ah, sun, surf and coconuts...what else do you need? oh, honeybell tangelos. we ate tons of these in season balls of sweet citrusy goodness.

we left chilly new england with a few surfboards, clothing and food and headed south. we stocked our new 'home' with the basics and off we went. what a great feeling to let go for awhile. we're not sure if many folks could do it. sure, they can plant their butts in a hotel room, eat out every meal and fall in many a tourist trap. or, you could eat in (yes, we took a blender for smoothies), hang out at state parks and local beaches and roam around some bird sanctuaries for entertainment. you probably guessed, we opted for the second one.

we found that we had everything that we needed. we never longed for anything left behind at home, well except for the cat, and we found ourselves cleansed of material baggage. makes one wonder what we really even need at home. we're sure that this will lead to some purging of goods at home. once you go without, you feel overwhelmed with what you have. not that we have much, but we know what is necessary and what is overkill.

so, what do you need? a place sleep (the camper), food (bought at local natural food stores, a roadside stand, and foraged), warmth (the sun and a tiny propane heater), water (the ocean and purified water in refillable bottles) and happiness (the fam, the beach, walks, full moons, eating coconuts by the fire, digging gigantic holes in the sand, watching dolphins from the campsite, waking up to a happy baby, suntans and so much more). you get it by now...NOT MUCH! heck, we didn't even buy firewood, we scavenged for it on a rustic road called 'the jungle trail'.

this trip was about family, the now and experiences. we met some sweet folk, started some friendships with people twice our ages and realized that we don't need to wait to 'roam' until after retirement. why plan for 30 years down the road, do 'IT' now. if you go with less, you have less to lose. 'IT' can be anything you'd like, but why wait. learn to go without the new duds, a designer purse, eating out every week and hitting the mall weekly and you'll realize what you can really have...freedom.

LESSON LEARNED: LESS IS MORE

"On the road again. Just can't wait to get on the road again. The life I love is makin' music with my friends. And I can't wait to get on the road again. On the road again. Goin' places that I've never been. Seein' things that I may never see again,And I can't wait to get on the road again.
On the road again. Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway. We're the best of friends. Insisting that the world be turnin' our way. And our way Is on the road again. Just can't wait to get on the road again. The life I love is makin' music with my friends. And I can't wait to get on the road again." thanks willie

feel free to hum along!

beware of the avocado monster

sounds scary, doesn't it? you may picture a big green hairy creature with guacamole dripping from its month and massive paws covered in green goo....or you could picture a 20 month old covered in avocado pudding and smiling ear to ear. yup, the second image is right on.

we cannot resist avocados in our household. we chow down on that creamy green fruit daily and have found ways to make it sweet, savory, spicy and even in our smoothies. it is all good in our book. as for our munchkin, she devours an avocado almost daily. since before she was a year old she noshed on that irresistible green goodness and we must gloat that she would beg for an avocado before touching what most toddlers consume daily.

today's avocado consumption began with one our favorite concoctions that we call 'pudding'. our raw banacado pudding is way better than any dairy based pudding out there. i'd say that it reigns in the pudding hall of fame. ahhh, it is so scrumptdiliumptious. you want the recipe? ok, just be careful, it may be habit forming and healthy. so, here goes....

2 nice and ripe avocados
1/2 banana
2 tbsp. agave or raw honey
2 tbsp. carob powder

blend all ingredients in food processor until super smooth, like pudding. serve with a myriad of toppings...chia seeds, ground flax seeds, coconut flakes, banana slices, blueberries, strawberries, wheat germ and on and on. this also makes a great 'pie' filling.

well folks, there you have it. don't say that we didn't warn you. just let us say that the picture is only a warning of may happen when this is consumed. smiles, messy lunchtime chaos and happy raw kids are just a few of the side effects of chowing down on bowls of this stuff. oh, make sure that you get some to. enjoy!

hey sprout, what do ya say?

oh yes, the dreaded sprout. that fuzzy, squiggly thing that people pile on their burgers, sandwiches and salads. i cannot tell you how many people have a sproutaphobia. how can you be afraid of such a cute little thing? i know, i know, they come by the thousands and they are green. so what, they are amazing little buggers.

i remember eating sprouts as a little one. back in the day my mom would pile them on salads and us kids would devour them. i know that i was a strange kid, but who could resist the appeal of a sprout or few? all considering that the 'all you can eat' salad bar was my fav spot to chow down at the age of eight, you were looking at a sprout junkie back then.

twenty some years later and i am still digging those great green goodies. why not? they are super nutritious, super cheap to grow and i can eat fresh goods all winter long right out of the kitchen. plus, you aren't limited to alfalfa sprouts any longer. there are a myriad of sprouting seeds out there. onion, garlic, fenugreek, lentils, radish, broccoli...and on and on. the flavor is out of this world and they add zing to any dish.

how do you do it, you ask? well, there are folks out there like The Sprout People out of San Francisco that do an amazing job of supplying sprout addicts with seeds and sprouting supplies. they have everything you need to get the job done. if you are just starting out, they have a kit for $55 that includes a seed sampler and sprouting containers. if you think about it, that's the cost of about fourteen store bought sprouts, which have been sitting on the shelf for weeks, come from who knows where and have been handled over and over again. yuck! these folks have a ton of info, FAQs and resources on their site...don't fear, The Sprout People are here. if you grow your own, it takes a little lovin' from you and about 6 days to get a fresh batch of sprouts fresh from your kitchen. yup, no transporting those little guys and no waiting for days on a shelf in the produce section for you to buy them. can't get any closer to home than that. new meaning to 'local'.

as winter creeps in on us, think of how nice it would be to have fresh green goodness grown by you. cold days and nights doesn't mean going without fresh local goodies, it means that you need to take two minutes every day to rinse your sprouts and no effort munching on them with every meal. embrace the power of the sprout and go for it...check out The Sprout People to get started.

oh, as for sprout therapy, maybe you should bring

it up to your therapist. it isn't HEALTHY to have

a fear of sprouts.

battle of the household cleaning products

upon looking under the sink today, i realized what it takes to keep a home clean, healthy and smelling good. not too much! i must say that i cannot imagine what other people use in their homes and how much of it they use.

on a daily basis, we use minimal cleaning products. a spray to clean up after a messy little one, something for those finger prints left behind on virtually everything in the kitchen and the weekly cleaners for the bathroom, etc.

so, what is under your sink and what does it do for you? besides being tested on animals and laden with chemicals, does the effects on your family and the environment outweigh the shiny, perfumed facade in your home? hum, a tricky one.

this is what we have used for years. tried and proven. they all smell great, are non-toxic, safe around the little one and don't impact our eco-home.

earth friendly products: parsley plus (this all surface cleaner smells absolutely wonderful and is perfect for tabletops, counter tops and cleaning up the fridge)
earth friendly products

citra-solve (this concentrated cleaner can be used almost anywhere. we use it on the stove, to remove anything sticky or greasy, the floors, and to clean up in the bathroom. concentrated formula allows you to dilute it in a spray bottle with water or use it full strength on those tough jobs. a little bit goes a long way)
citra-solve

dr. bronner's: sal suds (one of the oldest formulas that i can think of and another wonderful addition to your cleaning repetriore. great smelling pine formula is concentrated and can be used in almost any outlet of a home. great for washing floors, cleaning toilets, laundry and many more. a bottle can last a long long time. plus, this product has some good folk behind it. people with good vibes, good agendas and a really great line of products. we also use the liquid castile soaps for bathing. nothing like a blast of peppermint soap to wake you up in the morning. they even sell the stuff by the gallon. yup, they are the real deal. you gotta dig a company that has been rockin' that vibe for 60 years.)
dr. bronner's

so, three basic things to keep a clean home. add in some natural detergents for clothes and dishes and you are set. it isn't rocket science and not to mention, it isn't expensive. clean with less and live with more.

ps (that kooky scientist above is none other than ole dr. bronner himself. we are up to support any dude that chills like that)

the quest for a great veggie burger

it is safe to say that most people have at least tasted a veggie burger, if not consumed them weekly for the past few years, like some of us. i remember chowing down on them in college, when they were chunky, laden with peas and carrots and tasted like mush. then we moved on the better finds like the sunshine burger and okara burgers in my later veggies years. when you think about it, you find them everywhere now and the options are endless.

our only gripe is that most of them are just too much. too much? too much junk. not enough real food, too much salt and actually taste a lot like meat, which kind of defeats the purpose of our diet at times.

every company had great beginnings. a quest to create something new, something that fits a lifestyle and something that will ultimately appeal to the masses. well, we are working on manufacturing a new line of veggie burgers. yes, from our itsy bitsy home by the sea we are grinding, mixing and baking up some serious batches of veggie burgers. and yes, we have left out the junk.

before we tell you what we are using, we'd like to know what people like and dislike in veggie burgers. i must say that our daughter, non veg heads and veg heads alike have given us rave reviews, but we'd like to know more. we'll give you a hint at the goods...seed and grain based, vegan, no legumes and packed with fresh herbs and greens. sound good?

please take a moment to answer a few questions and maybe, just maybe we'll invite you to a tasting in the near future.

1. what flavors do you enjoy in a veggie burger?
2. what is your favorite veggie burger (brand and flavor)?
3. is cost an issue? if so, what is a reasonable cost per burger? ($1.00, $1.25, $1.50)
4. organic or not organic? which would you prefer?
5. what do you like about most veggie burgers? what don't you like?

please cut and paste these into an email and email us at phytomama@gmail.com

thanks foodies!

my toothbrush is 8 years old, how about yours?

by now it is obvious that we attempt to waste nothing and reuse everything. one may ask themselves why on earth would we use the same toothbrush for 8 years, easy...we have the best toothbrushes on earth. 8 years ago we bought his and hers matching, blue and pink, Fuchs Ekotec toothbrushes. not only are the super enviro, with their replaceable heads, it is fun to tell people about your old toothbrush.

we joke around about where our toothbrushes have been...up and down the east coast, out west, and tons of camping and surf trips. bet you can't say that about yours!

Fuchs Ekotec toothbrushes are an eco option to replacing the whole shebang every few months. all we do is pop out the replaceable head and pop in a new one. the only thing that we are tossing AWAY is the worn out head.

we figure at this point, we have saved about 24 toothbrushes each if we followed the ole replace your toothbrush every 3 months suggestion. imagine what that is over a lifetime, well as long as you have teeth. the statistics say that americans toss 50 million pounds of toothbrushes in landfill every year.

being hygienic and enviro doesn't come with a high price tag from Fuchs. both toothbrush and replacement heads run about $5.00. we bought ours at our local health food store and you can find them from a slew of mainstream online sources.

start a trend, save a toothbrush and form a relationship with a new one. why not celebrate your toothbrush's birthday, it is saving space in our landfills.

water folk and the enviroment

when you care about where things come from and where they are going, it isn't always easy to find what you are looking for. from food to clothing to a surfboard bag, there IS someone out there doing the right thing.

one of our favorite companies is Patagonia. everything about them tells you how much they care. we have been involved with these guys for many years. from having buddies in the company, to wearing their gear, to chowing down on some organic grub in the private cafe in Ventura, Ca, we absolutely love these guys. if you aren't familiar with the company, take a peek at:

http://patagonia.com/

everything that they make has a purpose, a history, and a future. things are meant to last, they strive for organic, fair trade and for function. it isn't about fashion seasons or to keep up with others, it is for making tracks and for saving what we have.

we recently read Yvon Chouinard's, the founder and creator of Patagonia, book, 'Let My People Go Surfing.' if you want to see how people should live, play and work, this is a good read. he isn't your normal business man. in fact, he is a huMAN with a business. this book only makes you admire what Patagonia stands for even more than the products alone. it is a tale of his journeys from a young man climbing, starting a business, watching his prints and caring for the folks who have helped him build an amazing conscious company. their misson statement:

"Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis."

we were on the hunt for new surfboard bags and have been disappointed with what we were finding out there. alas, we remembered that Patagonia introduced board bags. not only do we know that we are supporting a good company, we also know that they support 1% for the planet, meaning that Patagonia gives 1% of it's sales to worldwide environmental efforts.

so, two big ole 10 footer board bags arrived the other day and we couldn't have been more excited. just in time for a roadie to Rhode Island and Maryland, these bags come with an ironclad guarantee, another one of Patagonia's efforts to stand behind their products. we shall put them to the test and see if they are just as wonderful as everything else that we have bought from them.

so, make what you buy worth it. put some thought into your money and don't buy disposable garbage. use what you got until it falls about beyond belief and when you are ready for something new, DO THE RIGHT THING. as waterfolk, we know that what you what you dispose of ultimately ends up in the wrong place. nothing ever goes AWAY.

homebirths and 'the business of being born'

when you begin to live a simpler life, there seems to be a trend toward home-everything. homemade. homeschool. homegrown. homebirth. it isn't a coincidence, it is the greater force of growing from within, from our homes and from our souls.

when we found out that we were going to have a baby, we immediately looked at our homebirthing options. it all seemed so new to us, but what wouldn't, it was our first baby. if we were mainstream, we would've scheduled an appointment with our doctor before even conceiving for a pre-pregnancy interview, then we would have gotten the go ahead from the doc and then we would've tried to get pregnant. once most couples think that they are pregnant, they need a doctor to tell them for sure. huh??????? women are losing what we have been gifted with and that is intuition. pregnancy and birth have become so mechanical that most people have no intuition when it comes to one of the most beautiful and natural acts that a woman's body is equipped to deal with.

our decision to have a homebirth was an easy one. i was a low risk pregnancy and the thought of bringing life into this world in a hospital was out of the question. we chose to birth in our own home. when the day came, we were already where we needed to be and we waited for the midwives to come to us. what a wonderful way to introduce our baby into the world.

she was born within 4 hours and all went well. there was nobody there to whisk her away before we got to hold her in our arms. it was all so blessed and so slow that it felt like a lifetime. we shared hours together, alone with our new life, quiet and peaceful. she was surrounded by love and bliss. no monitors, no needles, no bright lights and no noise, just love.

this is so not true for the majority of children born into this country. the experiences are generally not happy nor blissful and it shows in the children. how we are conceived and how we are born set the stage for how we are. we truly believe that conscious conception and homebirths make loving and more centered children.

we aren't alone in our beliefs though we are a minority in the states. we recently came across a documentary, "the business of being born". it is a wonderful story of many homebirths and many conventional hospital births. they speak to midwives, doctors, health professionals, educators and families on their views of birth. it is beautiful, it is saddening and it is showing how the medical community is failing to support women in birth. take a peek and share this with others.

the business of being born trailer

for anyone who is pregnant or thinking of childbearing, remember, pregnancy and birth are not medical conditions, they are a gift, one of the most beautiful acts that a woman's body can perform.