Tag Archives: it’s not easy being green

More Joy of Less along with Mother Nature Network

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I skipped blogging about last month’s Joy of Less topic: cutting down on energy use. We’re in a position right now that it’s really, really tough to make changes in the appliances we plug in and the hours the heater runs. Later -perhaps much later – I’ll be able to walk to work again, and we’ll use the car less. That will be a good start in lowering our energy use and in turn our carbon footprint.

This month, Mother Nature Network’s Joy of Less project features a topic close to my heart: growing your own groceries. MNN’s goal includes “plan and grow a garden that can replace part of your food bill and give you a healthier diet.”

We noticed recently that we rarely have empty jars any more in the O.K. Chorale kitchen. We usually keep one to collect the grease from bacon or ground beef or other meats that leave a little fat behind. Last weekend, Chuck noticed we were completely out of jars for that purpose. I found something for him, but that’s not the real story.

The story is one more sign that we’re buying less as we make our own. Pickles, tomato sauces, salsa, jams, applesauce – these are all things I make and can myself. We no longer need to buy the commercial versions, and therefore we no longer have commercial jars left over. Take that one more step and realize that if we’re not buying those products, our grocery list is shorter and therefore we’re spending less. In all honesty, I don’t think we’re spending less as much as we’re buying other things, like better cuts of meat and more seafood. In the end, we are using the garden to adjust our bill and edge our diets to a healthier level.

MNN calls it a “DIY Food Revolution.” This movement label reminds me of the burst of Recession Gardens several years back. Friends, I was gardening before it was trendy. My family has enjoyed DIY tomatoes on our BLTs and salads for years and years. I fit the statistical profile rather well. The typical American gardener is female (54%), age 45 or older (68%), and college educated (79%).

Many of this month’s feature stories are aimed at beginning gardeners. I read them anyway because there’s always something new to learn. Their indoor herb garden is similar to mine. The feature on body mechanics and gardening for fitness reminds me to take care – I’m still slowly recovering from last fall’s stroke-like experience. I can build strength gradually and get my seedlings in the ground little by little, too.

Growing your own groceries – I’ve started planning and planting (indoors) already. I still browse idea – filled articles that address small-space gardening, organic gardening for kids, and easy vegetables for various zones.

All this makes me crave spring. Despite the low temperatures during this spring break, I do see the backyard snow melting. It’ll be the OkayByMe Swamp for a little while, and then I’ll be out doing what I do to grow our own groceries.

This is not a sponsored post in any way. I enjoy Mother Nature Network and subscribe to their newsletters. There’s always something fascinating on the site.

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Storing the canning supplies

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Oh, I was so proud last June. I organized the cupboards, cleared a space, and the storage for my home-canned goods looked great. Here’s an encore post showing the stock and the storage. 

There must be a better way.

This is the “before” picture. I’ve increased my repertoire of canned foods every year, and with that increase in recipes came an increased yield. Then comes the question: where do I keep all these provisions? And after we finish each jar of pickles or jam or applesauce, where will I keep the reusable jars? Above you see the dilemma in June: a partial shelf of pickles and jams and applesauce and rhubarb waiting for their day on the table, surrounded by empty canning jars and freezer containers.

Something here must go.

Step 1: I cleaned out half the books at the top.

Step 2: I gathered boxes for a thrift store donation (shelves out of sight on the left).

Step 3: I relocated the crockpot and reorganized the jars by size.

Step 4: Move in!!

Ah. That’s better.

Readers, this is the “after” shot – the “after” shot for June. After I’ve canned my way through June and July and even part of August, this cupboard will look very different. I’ll be sure to show you then. Remind me. Really.

Okay, readers. I now have at least double that amount of empty jars, and I never did show you August, did I? Expect a sequel as I work on decluttering – as much decluttering as my still-weak left side will allow. 

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Minimalizing – me?

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Groundhog’s Day? No one in Wisconsin believes this garbage. If the rodent sees its shadow today, it just means that the clear skies and bitter cold temperatures scared the critter more than its shadow did. Six more weeks of winter are a minimum around here. Meanwhile, I’ll hang out indoors and plant tomato seeds in pots and hope the power stays on in the house so they won’t die. It’s all part of channeling my inner Earth Mother.

My inner Earth Mother enjoys reading Mother Nature Network. I subscribe to their news updates and more. This caught my eye, of course. “Join us for a year-long celebration of The Joy of Less!” It’s a month by month guide to making lifestyle changes with the goal of living more simply. I looked it over and thought, “Oh, my. I don’t know if I can handle this.”

What? Daisy, the composter mom, one of the greenest in the neighborhood, saying no to a minimalist theory? Folks, I’m not sure I can live up to the tenth month in the program: Technology Free month. And what about Month Nine – the future of work? The illustration is a computer keyboard.

But then there are the months that tempt me, those ideas with which I’m already on track like Growing Groceries (Month Four) and Cooking: The Basics (Month Two ). The whole year starts with a month devoted to de-cluttering, and my home could use a month (and more) of that.

The last time I signed up for a green living program, it was sponsored by our district’s wellness coordinator. The whole thing was a great disappointment. It was designed for beginners, those who don’t even use both sides of the paper or bring their own shopping bags.  I found keeping the records tedious and I made no changes in habits at all. If anything, I was way ahead of the program.

But Mother Nature Network offers a challenge. I might not be able to handle Tech Free Month, but I can make other positive changes. I’ll share those changes with all of you, readers. I know you’ll keep me honest.

This is not, repeat NOT, a sponsored post. I do enjoy MNN, and this link was not solicited in any way. I don’t see it as a contest with winners and losers, either. Living more simply can only be positive.

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That’s my wrapping story, and I’m sticking to it.

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Several years ago I vowed to stop buying wrapping paper. I didn’t say I’d never use it or reuse it, just that I wouldn’t buy any more.

  • Very little wrapping paper is recyclable.
  • Commercial gift wrap can’t burn in a fireplace, either; it releases too many chemicals.
  • Most wrapping paper will wrap one gift and then end up in the garbage.
  • Gift wrap costs add up. The shiny patterned paper is expensive.

Amigo doesn’t like the philosophy. In fact, he’ll only help me wrap if we’re using real gift wrap. I compromised by using gift wrap I’d rescued from the wastebasket when the school PTA cleaned their closet. We wrapped with rescued and reused papers, and the gifts look great.

He doesn’t object to my green version of gift tags. Every year we take stock of the previous year’s holiday cards, cut them apart creatively, and with the help of a little ribbon and a hole punch, turn those cards into unique and lovely gift tags that cost nothing but a little time. We’ve done this since before he was born; maybe that’s why it feels natural to him.

We’re a little behind on the wrapping process this year. My limited mobility meant less shopping in town and more shopping online, and then facing the challenge of gathering all the trimmings and trappings in one place without overdoing the stairs. Luckily, Mother Nature provided me with a blizzard that cancelled school and gave me some quality time with Amigo to attack the wrapping task.

Thanks to my spreadsheet gift record and my online shopping prowess, the majority of the shopping is done. We need a few little things, and I might enlist Amigo in a short shopping trip Saturday to finish up. It’ll be a surgical strike, with a list we’ve made and checked twice, and we’ll come home and finish wrapping.

Maybe I can sneak some of my eco-friendly and frugal methods past my wrapping assistant that time. Or maybe not; after all, he reads my blog.

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Small Business Saturday

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Small Business Saturday is a day intended to relieve the pressure and the mobs and the sheer craziness of Black Friday. Taking my own path as usual, La Petite and I decided to visit a few small shops yesterday, Friday.

Shop Number One: a few blocks from my workplace, a shop with an eclectic mix of vintage and upcycled items for the home. We picked up some cute frames and wine cork boards in a variety of sizes. Better yet, I got some great ideas to substitute for wrapping paper.

I gave up using commercial wrapping paper a few years ago, and I’ve stuck to that vow. I’ve used a few scraps of leftover paper, finagled a few bits of tissue into service as packing and wrapping, and salvaged all kind of larger scraps for reuse. A more accurate motto might be No New Wrapping Paper. More later on the trimmings and trappings – now back to regularly scheduled program, Small Business Saturday.

Downtown Appleburg had some goings on to draw customers downtown. Shops planned cookies and beverages. Some had prize drawings. Many participated in the window dressing contest. Participants had creative displays that showed their wares and celebrated the season. I’d offer you pics, readers, but my little camera doesn’t do the displays justice. Imagine bright red ballet shoes hanging alongside a tutu made of tulle, with silver bells and more, all in the front window of a dance apparel shop, and you’ll get the idea.

We finished up the morning at two vintage and crafty shops directly across from each other. I treated myself to a cool vintage hat, one that goes well with both of my winter and middle-weather jackets and works with my hearing aids, too. So many hats make them squeak and squeal; this was a deal for that point alone!

With a final stop at Walgreen’s for hearing aid batteries, we were done. Fun times, money spent at small local businesses, and found some unique gifts. For the real Small Business Saturday, I’m thinking of visiting thrift stores.

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Finalizing and winterizing the garden

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Now that the plants are gone and the tomato supports are stashed for the winter, now that the leftover and used-but-usable potting soil has been added to the garden, now there are only a few tasks to get the yard truly ready for that first (gasp) snow.

  • Raking leaves
  • Draining and turning over rain barrels
  • Storing screen tops and stretchy cords
  • and more…

I mentioned the potting soil. I’d like to stir it, turn it into the soil and let it hibernate with the rest.

That shouldn’t take long. I can turn the soil while the rain barrels are draining. Then – I like to pick up the boards I call stepping stones. They’ll lean against the garage in a pile waiting for next year.

And finally, the leaves now covering the grass will end up piled in the garden plots to decompose and keep the moisture in the ground while the topsoil sleeps.

When winter passes and spring arrives, I’ll come out to play in the dirt again.

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Farmers’ Market Quiz time!

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Here it is, readers. Look at the photo below, and leave your guesses in the comments. Which foods are from the market, and which are from my backyard jungle, er, garden?

                                                Market Feast!

Oh, by the way, these didn’t fit in the first photo, so they get their own.

                                            Tomato! Tomahto!

Well, readers? Take a guess and leave a comment.

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Fortunately – Unfortunately

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We’re home! We’re back in our routines, including meeting with friends and going to the farm markets. Fortunately, there is a mid-week market in the grocery store parking lot on Wednesdays.

I’m not growing zucchini this year. Can you tell?

Unfortunately, Chuck thought I went overboard.

Fortunately, I have good recipes for zucchini bread and zucchini cookies.

I met a friend for coffee. Unfortunately, I ran late. Fortunately, I found a great parking place and we had delicious coffee as we worked.

                                                            Lovely, tasty beverage!

Fortunately, I donated zucchini bread when I did a little volunteer work for the Obama campaign.

Unfortunately, I didn’t plug the meter with enough change.

                                                A $5 Ticket!$@#^!

I dropped off the Obama postcards at the post office and then went to City Hall to pay my dues. It’s a small price to pay to help re-elect the president. Fortunately, I had change for the meter that time. Unfortunately, I left the change in my pocket. Fortunately, the meter readers were still canvassing the blocks by the political offices. So… I made another investment in downtown and brought home smoothies for me and Amigo.

Oh, what a day. I think I’ll go hide in the tomato jungle. At least I don’t have to pay for parking there.

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Hotels are getting greener.

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We spent last week traveling, enjoying hotel beds, hotel breakfasts, and a variety of other meals cooked by someone else. We traveled by plane, train  (light rail & Amtrak), buses, taxis, and hotel shuttles. We snacked on airplane peanuts and hotel lobby fresh fruit.

Hotel chains have their own mottoes and personalities. And (you probably guessed this was coming) some are more eco-conscious than others. A great example from the Daisy perspective is the ubiquitous hotel disposable coffee cup.

Super 8: yes, the Super 8 has a recycled and biodegradable coffee cup.

Holiday Inn Express was disappointing. They still use foam. So on we go —

waxy cup (biodegradable) and cardboard sleeve

The Hampton made me happier. Wax type cup, cardboard sleeve (recyclable). They made sure we knew they were approaching environmental friendliness by announcing it on the cups, too.

I haven’t looked into the website. Have you?

Anyway, I had the robust coffee from the hotel lobby instead of making it myself. I still appreciate the quest for quality and eco-sensitive choices. Next time I travel, I’ll keep this  information in mind.

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Saving the trees – not such a green movement

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I mentioned the City Council meeting two weeks ago, but I didn’t share the results yet. The Council voted in favor of the perceived majority, the emotional and noisy latecomers to the issues. In the elevator after the meeting, a neighbor turned to Chuck and asked his advice on what to do with the signs they’d made.

Good man that he is, he suggested compost.

“I speak for the trees!” Maybe.

Readers, they meant well. They made these lovely protest signs and attached them to a small branch, er, stick.

A sample of the aforementioned trees in action.

So what’s the problem, Daisy? Recycle the paper top, and compost the stick, right? Almost. I insist, though; I must have my moment. I have to get persnickety.

Not biodegradable. Nope.

The sticks were stuck to the treetops with two industrial strength staples from a staple gun. After seeing the neighbors and their recruits waving the signs around, I know they made dozens. Will they really take the time to pull out and recycle the staples? Doubtful.

Masking tape would have been the biodegradable, environmental choice. Of course they didn’t ask me. Snicker. I’m only Daisy, the composter mom. What do I know? And the neighbors are too busy to read my blog.

They don’t know what they’re missing. Really.

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