Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Learning Bucaneers
I just read this book review about James Marcus Bach, a self educated guy who used to excel while working for Apple. He describes himself an a great unschooler: one who is concerned about learning, succeeding on ones own merits, working his butt off for something he is passionate about and actually caring about his work. Can't wait to read the whole book!
Monday, January 5, 2009
The Better World Handbook
Another one my new reads from the Green Festival in DC in November is The Better World Handbook. My favorite paragraph is all about how the world is and how we mistakenly think it is. It really resonated with me so I wanted to share it with you ...
Our culture teaches us that we are each autonomous individuals who are only responsible for our own well-being. We end up believing that we are independent creatures who should make our own way in life without depending on others. In reality, we all rely on each other for our daily existence. We eat food that grows in soil nurtured by microscopic organisms. We drink water that has vaporized from the oceans. we breathe oxygen respired by the trees and wear clothing made by people across the planet whom we will never meet. We rely on our friends and family for support and create a sense of belonging and meaning within our communities. Our personal well-being is inextricably linked to the well-being of our families, our friends, our communities, and our planet. And the well-being of others, in turn, is shaped by our own well-being.
That's all I wanted to share with you now. Enjoy the rest of your day!
Our culture teaches us that we are each autonomous individuals who are only responsible for our own well-being. We end up believing that we are independent creatures who should make our own way in life without depending on others. In reality, we all rely on each other for our daily existence. We eat food that grows in soil nurtured by microscopic organisms. We drink water that has vaporized from the oceans. we breathe oxygen respired by the trees and wear clothing made by people across the planet whom we will never meet. We rely on our friends and family for support and create a sense of belonging and meaning within our communities. Our personal well-being is inextricably linked to the well-being of our families, our friends, our communities, and our planet. And the well-being of others, in turn, is shaped by our own well-being.
That's all I wanted to share with you now. Enjoy the rest of your day!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Big Green Purse - Chapter 6 (food) and Chapter 7 (cleaning)
Well, if you have read any of my blog, you will know that I am a big local, organic food person. I already eat way less meat than I used to and I am working on finding local, humanely farmed meat for my heavy meat eaters. We eat only sustainable seafood even when we are at a restaurant. Chapter 6 did not really have anything new to me. I did like the "organic purchase priorities" on page 168. I use my own cloth bags for shopping (all shopping) and I even have mesh produce bags for those strange occasional when I purchase produce at a grocery store. If I forget my cloth bags, I just carry whatever I bought (I usually have Son and Daughter with me - that makes 6 armloads!).
Chapter 7 is about cleaning stuff. I adore the book Clean and Green by Annie Bond. I refer to it regularly when we have something out of the ordinary to clean up. I keep the following cleansers in the house: vinegar, baking soda, borax, washing soda, lavender essential oil, and tea tree essential oil. I do use some commercial cleansers too. The company Ecover provides my concentrated laundry liquid, detergent for the automatic dishwasher, dishwashing soap, toilet bowl cleaner, and a soft scrub cleanser. I have a carpet cleaner, but use it pretty much all the time with plain warm water. Occasionally we have cat urine to clean up and I do use an enzyme to deal with that.
What about cleaning tools? We have a squeegee for cleaning mirrors, windows, and the shower walls. We have a large array of cloths for cleaning including those designated for greasy or otherwise dirty jobs. We have a dust mop for the wood and cork floors which has a removable and washable head. Our string mop head can be thrown in the washing machine as well.
We have a sepetic system and don't put anything down the toilet but the usual and small amounts of TP (recycled of course - Seventh Generation). When it needs help though, we have an array of plungers, plumbers snakes, and baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water to help keep it clean.
The only thing I can think of do to improve my green cleaning is to get a smaller house (more on that later)!
Chapter 7 is about cleaning stuff. I adore the book Clean and Green by Annie Bond. I refer to it regularly when we have something out of the ordinary to clean up. I keep the following cleansers in the house: vinegar, baking soda, borax, washing soda, lavender essential oil, and tea tree essential oil. I do use some commercial cleansers too. The company Ecover provides my concentrated laundry liquid, detergent for the automatic dishwasher, dishwashing soap, toilet bowl cleaner, and a soft scrub cleanser. I have a carpet cleaner, but use it pretty much all the time with plain warm water. Occasionally we have cat urine to clean up and I do use an enzyme to deal with that.
What about cleaning tools? We have a squeegee for cleaning mirrors, windows, and the shower walls. We have a large array of cloths for cleaning including those designated for greasy or otherwise dirty jobs. We have a dust mop for the wood and cork floors which has a removable and washable head. Our string mop head can be thrown in the washing machine as well.
We have a sepetic system and don't put anything down the toilet but the usual and small amounts of TP (recycled of course - Seventh Generation). When it needs help though, we have an array of plungers, plumbers snakes, and baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water to help keep it clean.
The only thing I can think of do to improve my green cleaning is to get a smaller house (more on that later)!
Big Green Purse - Chapter 5
Chapter 5 of the Big Green Purse is all about coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolate. I did not find much I could improve on here. We don't drink coffee, but I already purchase fair trade, shade grown, organic coffee (Cafe Altura) to offer guests. When we make coffee, we use unbleached coffee filters with our little 4 cup coffee pot and have a large french press pot. All our tea is currently from Celestial Seasonings. I purchase fair trade hot cocoa mix from Equal Exchange. As for chocolate, we love Endangered Species bars (ethically traded, shade grown, and sometimes organic) and the organic Earth Balls put out by Sunspire.
So what can I do better?
I use a fair amount of green decaf tea to make kombucha and herbal teas. I can make sure to purchase fair trade tea as loose tea leaves. Also, on Page 138, the author mentions that you easily decaffeinate your own loose tea leaves - so I will try that (pour boiling water over loose leaves, let steep for 30 sec, pour water off, pour more boiling water on leaves and brew). I think that I will also experiment more with growing herbs that can be made into tea (like peppermint).
Today I got a container of Dagoba cocoa to try (fair trade, shade grown, organic). I'd love to have more local stores which sell fair trade, shade grown, organic chocolate yummies for the kids to enjoy. Which companies should I start writing to... :)
So what can I do better?
I use a fair amount of green decaf tea to make kombucha and herbal teas. I can make sure to purchase fair trade tea as loose tea leaves. Also, on Page 138, the author mentions that you easily decaffeinate your own loose tea leaves - so I will try that (pour boiling water over loose leaves, let steep for 30 sec, pour water off, pour more boiling water on leaves and brew). I think that I will also experiment more with growing herbs that can be made into tea (like peppermint).
Today I got a container of Dagoba cocoa to try (fair trade, shade grown, organic). I'd love to have more local stores which sell fair trade, shade grown, organic chocolate yummies for the kids to enjoy. Which companies should I start writing to... :)
Friday, November 21, 2008
Big Green Purse - Chapter 4 (Cars)
Chapter 4 of Big Green Purse is about vehicles. Cars more specifically since we live in the US. So in April we bought a Toyota Prius. We replaced a 1995 Nissan Maxima which we purchased used from friends when we returned to the DC area in 1999. We also have our 2002 Volkswagon Jetta wagon. We would actually like to have 1.5 cars but there is no Zipcar service here in Southern Maryland. Whoever is expecting to drive farther on a given day takes the Prius. Usually I drive the Jetta which works out because the mess kids make is less of a worry and the Jetta is a manual transmission. I enjoy driving my stick shift cars. The Prius makes me feel like I am ll.iving my principles but it's automatic transmission makes it less fun for me to drive. We have these cars but choose to drive them as little as possible. There are lots of reasons why, but I'd rather describe how.
During late spring, summer, and early fall, we spend a lot of time riding our bikes places. We live about 5 miles from town with services. For us, that means post office, library, thrift store, park, bakery, and occasional forays to Target and Safeway (for bananas and avocados). We have a trailer bike so our 5 year old can pedal and be attached to an adult's bike for safety. Our 10 year old has been riding (guided) on the road on his own bike for 2 years. We started out slow and easy with sunday morning road rides with long time cyclist Dad and worked up to daytime ride with less experienced Mom.
Right now, we are pretty dependent on our car to get us places because of the cold weather. We are just not equipped to bundle everyone up for a bike ride in 30 degree F weather.
In every season, we combine errands so that we really don't go out for less than 2 things in a given direction. We go to Waldorf once a week and LaPlata several times. When it stays light out late enough, we can ride to & from scout meetings even! We make lists so we don't forget something that can not wait another week if we forget about it. We determine a path for the errands to minimize backtracking and total driving distance. We are very conscious to minimize our car use.
We also have car-free days every week. These lovely days have no big interruptions so we can in principle get things done that require more time. The day just flows along without external pressure. I like them. Those are my baking days usually. I can bake bread, cookies, soups, and other yummies because I have more time at home.
I picked up a cute little book at the DC Green Festival entitled Cutting Your Car Use. I am searching for ways to do just that. We have already done so much that we are down to carpooling for hubby (he's been trying to arrange that) and moving. Both are appealing right now, but I don't have much control over either option. I am still working on the whole less car driving thing. Maybe I'll have inspiration in my dreams tonight. Good night!
During late spring, summer, and early fall, we spend a lot of time riding our bikes places. We live about 5 miles from town with services. For us, that means post office, library, thrift store, park, bakery, and occasional forays to Target and Safeway (for bananas and avocados). We have a trailer bike so our 5 year old can pedal and be attached to an adult's bike for safety. Our 10 year old has been riding (guided) on the road on his own bike for 2 years. We started out slow and easy with sunday morning road rides with long time cyclist Dad and worked up to daytime ride with less experienced Mom.
Right now, we are pretty dependent on our car to get us places because of the cold weather. We are just not equipped to bundle everyone up for a bike ride in 30 degree F weather.
In every season, we combine errands so that we really don't go out for less than 2 things in a given direction. We go to Waldorf once a week and LaPlata several times. When it stays light out late enough, we can ride to & from scout meetings even! We make lists so we don't forget something that can not wait another week if we forget about it. We determine a path for the errands to minimize backtracking and total driving distance. We are very conscious to minimize our car use.
We also have car-free days every week. These lovely days have no big interruptions so we can in principle get things done that require more time. The day just flows along without external pressure. I like them. Those are my baking days usually. I can bake bread, cookies, soups, and other yummies because I have more time at home.
I picked up a cute little book at the DC Green Festival entitled Cutting Your Car Use. I am searching for ways to do just that. We have already done so much that we are down to carpooling for hubby (he's been trying to arrange that) and moving. Both are appealing right now, but I don't have much control over either option. I am still working on the whole less car driving thing. Maybe I'll have inspiration in my dreams tonight. Good night!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Personal Care Products
So I am reading The Big Green Purse by Diane MacEachern and decided to blog about each chapter and share my local, good to the earth resources with you. Chapter 3 is about beauty and personal care products. So what do I use you ask? Here's my list:
hair -- I mostly wash with water and occasional baking soda (instead of shampoo) and organic apple cider vinegar (as scalp conditioner).
face -- I mostly wash with water, weekly gently scrub with my bath scrubbie, daily use of moisturizer. Currently my moisturizer is Avalon Organics Vitamin C Oil-free Moisturizer. When I run out, I will be replacing with a facial moisturizer from Terressentials - a great little local company located in Frederick, MD.
lips -- I apply Burt's Bees lip balm several times a day. I have a Terressentials lip balm to try when I run out so I can support a local small business while caring for my dry winter lips.
hands -- At the DC Green Festival I bought the Terressentials fragrance free moisturizer cream for daily use after dish washing. It is yummy. Our bathrooms and kitchen are stocked with Dr. Bronner's liquid soap.
body -- Over the last year, I stopped using soap or other harsh chemicals on my skin and it is much healthier than it was during the rest of my years. I exfoliate with my bath scrubbie and that is all. The human body naturally cleans itself. Of course, dirt and other things that did not start on my skin are washed off with Dr. Bronner's liquid soap.
feet -- My feet get really dry. Son and Daughter tell me to take better care of them. I am now reminded to encourage the dry skin off using a foot care emery board and to moisturize after showers with Burt's Bees coconut foot cream.
makeup -- I don't use much. I have some Burt's Bees tinted beeswax lip balm that I use as lipstick maybe once or twice a month. I use Ecco Bella's mascara (I wear contacts) every day basically. That's it. Beauty is on the inside and in the eye of the beholder. My dear Son tells me every day that I am beautiful while he hugs me. What more could I need?
nail polish -- Occasionally, I just want to be more colorful. My nails get a dash of color (peel off or water-based polish) from Honeybee Gardens in the fantastic color of Shiny Penny. Oh, and it is a Pennsylvania company so it is pretty local too. I should try their mascara next time too.
teeth - I normally go with Preserve toothbrushes because they are made from recycled Stonyfield Farm yogurt containers and the toothbrushes are fully recyclable as well. Toothpaste I use a Tom's of Maine variety but am trying other brands as well when I have access to purchase them.
sunscreen -- We use our roof as sunscreen during the hours of strongest sun (i.e. we stay indoors). During morning and later afternoon/evening hours we go without sunscreen typically because we are busy making vitamin D with the sun on our skin. When we cannot avoid the strong sun or will be out for an extended time period, we have a supply of Nature's Gate sunscreen. Maybe by next summer, I will have come up with even better, local options for this too. Got an idea? Tell me!
menstrual products -- I almost forgot this one! I use The Keeper. I create no trash which is a good thing. At the end of my cycle, I sometimes use a panty liner made by Natracare.
Ok, that is it. If I didn't list it - I don't use it. What do you use?
hair -- I mostly wash with water and occasional baking soda (instead of shampoo) and organic apple cider vinegar (as scalp conditioner).
face -- I mostly wash with water, weekly gently scrub with my bath scrubbie, daily use of moisturizer. Currently my moisturizer is Avalon Organics Vitamin C Oil-free Moisturizer. When I run out, I will be replacing with a facial moisturizer from Terressentials - a great little local company located in Frederick, MD.
lips -- I apply Burt's Bees lip balm several times a day. I have a Terressentials lip balm to try when I run out so I can support a local small business while caring for my dry winter lips.
hands -- At the DC Green Festival I bought the Terressentials fragrance free moisturizer cream for daily use after dish washing. It is yummy. Our bathrooms and kitchen are stocked with Dr. Bronner's liquid soap.
body -- Over the last year, I stopped using soap or other harsh chemicals on my skin and it is much healthier than it was during the rest of my years. I exfoliate with my bath scrubbie and that is all. The human body naturally cleans itself. Of course, dirt and other things that did not start on my skin are washed off with Dr. Bronner's liquid soap.
feet -- My feet get really dry. Son and Daughter tell me to take better care of them. I am now reminded to encourage the dry skin off using a foot care emery board and to moisturize after showers with Burt's Bees coconut foot cream.
makeup -- I don't use much. I have some Burt's Bees tinted beeswax lip balm that I use as lipstick maybe once or twice a month. I use Ecco Bella's mascara (I wear contacts) every day basically. That's it. Beauty is on the inside and in the eye of the beholder. My dear Son tells me every day that I am beautiful while he hugs me. What more could I need?
nail polish -- Occasionally, I just want to be more colorful. My nails get a dash of color (peel off or water-based polish) from Honeybee Gardens in the fantastic color of Shiny Penny. Oh, and it is a Pennsylvania company so it is pretty local too. I should try their mascara next time too.
teeth - I normally go with Preserve toothbrushes because they are made from recycled Stonyfield Farm yogurt containers and the toothbrushes are fully recyclable as well. Toothpaste I use a Tom's of Maine variety but am trying other brands as well when I have access to purchase them.
sunscreen -- We use our roof as sunscreen during the hours of strongest sun (i.e. we stay indoors). During morning and later afternoon/evening hours we go without sunscreen typically because we are busy making vitamin D with the sun on our skin. When we cannot avoid the strong sun or will be out for an extended time period, we have a supply of Nature's Gate sunscreen. Maybe by next summer, I will have come up with even better, local options for this too. Got an idea? Tell me!
menstrual products -- I almost forgot this one! I use The Keeper. I create no trash which is a good thing. At the end of my cycle, I sometimes use a panty liner made by Natracare.
Ok, that is it. If I didn't list it - I don't use it. What do you use?
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Yeah a Local Meal again
I have not been able to make a mostly local meal for a while. Not sure why. Tonight we had an oven-roasted local chicken (a heafty 8.6 pounder), roasted local organic potatoes, a salad made from local organic kale. The salad included a homemade dressing (olive oil and umeboshi plum vinegar with some dill), my very last fresh local organic red pepper, organic pumpkin seeds (maybe I'll try and save a bunch of seeds next year), and organic dried cranberries. Yummy and lots of left overs. Tonight the large crockpot is brewing some chicken stock which I store in my freezer for future uses.
I am finding a lot of inspiration from my newest read: Omnivore's Dilemma. I made it through the corn/conventional agribusiness section and am into the second section. Now I really have to think about anything purchased from the Safeway. I mean I really don't buy all that much, but I still have to think about better options. For example today I went to the store and purchased bread (yes I make tons of bread but my spouse wants soft bread for sandwiches at work), hot dog buns, multigrain organic cereal, organic avacado (request from daughter), organic bananas (I know they come from Costa Rica, but we really love them), lunchmeat for those sandwiches, and organic cheese for the same. I am ok with the avacados and bananas right now because we are not able to get much in the way of local fruit being winter and all and the limits placed by the Feingold diet. The sandwich stuff - well dear spouse really wants meat in his lunch and this satisfies him., Its not about me. But the hot dog buns bug me. There must be a yummy alternative out there somewhere.
I am finding a lot of inspiration from my newest read: Omnivore's Dilemma. I made it through the corn/conventional agribusiness section and am into the second section. Now I really have to think about anything purchased from the Safeway. I mean I really don't buy all that much, but I still have to think about better options. For example today I went to the store and purchased bread (yes I make tons of bread but my spouse wants soft bread for sandwiches at work), hot dog buns, multigrain organic cereal, organic avacado (request from daughter), organic bananas (I know they come from Costa Rica, but we really love them), lunchmeat for those sandwiches, and organic cheese for the same. I am ok with the avacados and bananas right now because we are not able to get much in the way of local fruit being winter and all and the limits placed by the Feingold diet. The sandwich stuff - well dear spouse really wants meat in his lunch and this satisfies him., Its not about me. But the hot dog buns bug me. There must be a yummy alternative out there somewhere.
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