Composting 101: Part V

Composting Your Doggie's "Doodie" and Other Solutions

In recent posts, I have mentioned that meat, fat and dog and cat droppings are not compostable. There are options to sending this stuff to the dump, though. The most green solution is the Doggie Dooley, is an in-ground dog poop (I suppose cat poop, as well) digester, which dispenses the digested material into the ground in liquid form when it is totally transformed. The Dooley is buried, so that only the lid is visible, and this is flush with the ground and has a built-in foot pedal for opening, so you don't have to handle the door. I found it available in a wide variety of places on the internet, including the larger pet supply stores and the organic gardening sites I have shared recently. There are other brands, as well, starting around $30 and going up depending on size, material and other options.

The downside to the Dooley could be the cost and availability of the enzymes and the maintenance required, which may differ among various brands and models. Enzymes and water must be added periodically to all that I found, so I suggest you check out the specifics on the model you choose.

If burying the droppings in your yard isn't to your liking, there are two other good solutions, that I have found. First of all, if cost isn't a factor, you can hire a pet poop picker-upper, by various names in each area. I found more than one company serving Central Florida, and charging rates in the range of $12-15 per visit. I suppose you would have a choice of how often you are visited, based on the number and size of your dog(s). My one suggestion, if you decide to explore this option, is to find out where the poop goes. If you're trying to avoid sending it to the dump, it would be good to know that's not where they take it.

While biodegradable poop bags have been around for a while, a better solution is on the horizon. This latest solution is Flushpuppies. Flushpuppies are a new dog poop disposal bag which dissolve upon contact with water, an are completely flushable. The company's founders, two graduate students from University of Florida, discovered this material being used for a medical application, which works wonders for dog poop as well. They contend that since our city sewer systems are set up to handle carnivorous and omnivorous digested material (i.e. poop) that flushing our pet's poop in the flushpuppy bags allows us to pick it up without touching it, and the bag dissolves when it hits the water in the toilet.

I'll be testing this new product out as soon as I am able to find them. The company is brand new, and product availability is slim, so far. Keep your eyes out, though. If you have any input, I'll be ready to hear your product review.

If you'd like to be sure to catch all the posts in this series on Composting, the schedule is noted below. Of course, you can always click on the composting label in the right sidebar. Remember, too, that you can subscribe by e-mail or RSS at the top right of the blog, and the headlines will come right to your mail box. Just click to open and read. This is the easiest method. First class delivery of your Organic Journey Online articles; no stamp required. Thanks for your support.

One final note: COMMENTS, please! Click the purple COMMENT link following the post and leave me your questions or ideas. If you are already a composter, I would love to hear from you. What can you teach me?

Composting 101: Part I -- Composting: What Is It and Why Do It?
Composting 101: Part II-- Selecting a Spot & Setting Up a Compost Pile
Composting 101: Part III-- Healthy Choices for Your Compost Pile
Composting 101: Part IV--More Composting Options and Information
Composting 101: Part V-- Monday, October 13, Composting Doggie Duty and Other Solutions

Composting 101: Part IV:

More Composting Options and Information

You may be wondering why I have not included phone books. They're newsprint, just like the newspaper. Yes, they are compostable, but I have a better idea, inspired by one of Jolly Green Planet's suggestions. I'll save this for another Thursday Green Tip Toe. Check back, and meanwhile, save those old phone books, catalogs and newspapers.

So here we go...the blind leading the blind. I am really hoping some of you will comment and give us some more tips. So, for now, all I can tell you from experience is the stuff that deals with setting up and starting a compost pile. My first pile is only about 4-5 weeks old and hasn't yet turned into compost.

Sure, you can buy compost bins and tumblers all over the internet, if you're willing to spend $50-$400. The one pictured above, The NatureMill, is available through Jolly Green Planet, and produces compost in about 2 weeks--amazing! There's a wide range of sizes and types available, with an equally wide range of prices. If you don't have a yard (apartment, condo, etc.), you'll have to decide between a compost bin or a worm bin for inside. I was surprised to learn that they make models for inside your home. They look rather like a trash compactor, and can be placed in a closet, laundry room or garage. According to Vicki and Jolly Green Planet, some truly green homes, have them installed under the cabinets in their kitchens. After all, why tote the garbage outside, when the job can be done in the house, and still smell like a rainforest. For complete information and a thorough explanation of all the things you can do to speed up your production of compost, you can visit either of these sites. They will go into things like nitrogen to carbon ratios and optimum moisture and oxygen--all that stuff that I'm too lazy to worry about might be a barrel of monkeys for you. Clearly, focusing on all the details will speed up the time it takes to actually have compost that you can use to fertilize your plants and yard.

How to Compost

Planet Natural

Planet Natural Composting yard Waste

If you'd like to be sure to catch all the posts in this series on Composting, the schedule is noted below. Of course, you can always click on the composting label in the right sidebar. Remember, too, that you can subscribe by e-mail or RSS at the top right of the blog, and the headlines will come right to your mail box. Just click to open and read. This is the easiest method. First class delivery of your Organic Journey Online articles; no stamp required. Thanks for your support.

One final note: COMMENTS, please! Click the purple COMMENT link following the post and leave me your questions or ideas. If you are already a composter, I would love to hear from you. I have a lot to learn. What can you teach me?

Composting 101: Part I-- Composting: What Is It and Why Do It?
Composting 101: Part II--Selecting a Spot & Setting Up a Compost Pile
Composting 101: Part III--Monday, October 6 Healthy Choices for Your Compost Pile
Composting 101: Part V-- Monday, October 13 Composting Doggie Duty and Other Solutions

Mulching Tips to Prevent Weed Breakthroughs

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

I've been in the process of re-mulching my yard recently. It wasn't really that bad--just needed a touch up along the edges of the beds--but armed with new information from Jolly Green Planet, I am more motivated. I learned the coolest tip ever for staving off weeds. My organic lawn care mentor, Vicki, made this suggestion and I quickly found it works great.

When replanting or re-mulching an area, layer thick sections of newspaper, catalogs, magazines and 1/4-1/2 inch sections of phone book (torn off, of course) snugly around the base of all plants. Covering all soil areas, this paper layer will block out light, thereby reducing weeds considerably. Because all these layers are made of paper, they will collect and hold water, serving as additional mulch to keep your plants and trees hydrated during dry times. Mulch heavily over the layers of paper and sprinkle generously with water to secure the position of all the paper and mulch. It will absorb considerable water, keeping it in place, and providing much needed water to the plants beneath. The insulation for the plant's roots will also be helpful during Winter freezes, as well, or so I've read. Winter freezes happen about every 3 years here in central Florida. No white Christmas's for us!

Of course, there are products at the home supply stores that are designed to reduce weeds. Two problems: Most are made of synthetic materials which could leach unhealthy residues into the soil, and they are expensive, particularly when compared to my suggestion above--newspaper. And of course this is not to mention the trouble it is to lay out and trim the stuff to fit over all your plants. Layering sections of newspaper, etc. is much easier. I guess that means that this budget-oriented tip is also a time saver. I'll be taking the dogs for a walk after I finish mulching this Pine tree. What will you do with the extra time?

Throw Up Your Paws and Cheer for No More Tear Duct Stains

Happy Woofing Wednesday!

Oliver, the Papillon, is here today to bring you news of our recent research results on doggie tear stains. If you own a toy-sized dog, you may have, like us, battled this problem. Small dogs, with even smaller tear ducts, often have tears frequently throughout the day. These tears tend to stain the fur under the eyes of white or light colored dogs. When we first got Oliver, he had this problem on his snout, where he is white. We heard from another small dog owner that she cured her dog of this problem by switching to organic food.



Up until hearing this, we had been using a product called Angel Eyes, which helped some, but didn't completely take care of the problem. On top of that, Angel Eyes is rather expensive, so I was glad to be able to give it up. Oliver's tear stains cleared up within just a few weeks of starting organic food. What's more, we've heard that other dogs have had the same results.



So, this makes me wonder; what is in conventional dog food that causes tear stains? I had previously been told that tear stains were caused by a bacteria in the tear ducts. If that is true, then it follows that the bacteria must come from the dog food. Does anyone out there know more about this? If you do, clue us in. I'd like to know more. Meanwhile, we're staying on the organic food to prevent the tear stains and limit toxins in little Oliver.


As promised, every Woofing Wednesday post includes another website for you to check out. This week's website is Eat.Drink.Better. Great name, huh?


One last thing. If you're in the mood for a Fall pound cake, my recipe for organic pound cake can be found at Blake Bakes . The recipe makes 2 large loaves, or 4 mini ones--great gifts for the upcoming season. Hope you enjoy it.

Reflections and Reminiscences

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

I suppose the theme of this post is that tired old standard: Don't forget to stop and smell the roses. My dogs often help me with this, and my short tale for today is a tip on remembering to enjoy the little things in life.

It's funny how the smallest, most imperceptibly, unimportant occurrence can trigger something in my brain that takes me back to a long ago memory. These odd little surprises seem to happen almost daily, when I suddenly find myself back in third grade, remembering a teacher's comment or the chide of a classmate. Most times I am able to connect an emotion that triggered the time travel in my head to whatever I am experiencing in the present. Although Tuesday's tips are usually relative to food, I couldn't leave this topic unwritten, so you'll have to forgive me while I take this opportunity to reflect, reminisce or, well, just think freely as my fingers fly over the keyboard. It's good therapy.


Today Oliver, my Papillon puppy, did a shoulder stand while outside in the grass, just after I praised him for taking care of business. Suddenly I was back in about 1996 when Xena, our first dog, began to do this same acrobatic move. I remember asking vets, trainers and friends what this silly maneuver meant in dog communication, learning nothing from anyone. Finally, I purchased a book called How to Speak Dog, which had just been published and was being advertised. Sure enough, the answer was buried within. A doggie shoulder stand, according to this author, means something akin to "I'm enjoying what just happened" or "I'm happy about what's going on". Bottom line, it is a communication of pleasure and happiness. This immediately made sense, since I was aware that Xena often displayed her shoulder stand when given affection, a treat or praise. So, now I wonder, why doesn't Tanner employ this cute move, if only to get the affection or treat that his playmates earn for it? Is he too tall and awkward to perform this pose? Perhaps this is it. He is still built like a lanky teenager who hasn't yet filled out--tall and thin. Highly active, he runs 2 miles and swims every day of the year, along with Agility (obstacle courses) classes and dog park visits. All this makes me exhausted, and yet seems to leave him wanting more. The picture of Tanner above is a typical one for him...goofy and playful. Back to my question, though. Is Tanner happy? I guess the answer is in his tail. It is constantly wagging happily, so I'll accept this as his doggie smile and move on. How is your doggie shoulder stand today?

Composting 101: Part III

What Goes Into My Compost Pile?







© photo copyright Carrie Boyko




Thanks to Starbucks



First, you'll need a couple of days' worth of food waste--leftovers, spoiled food, vegetable ends, peels (even banana peels!), coffee grounds, teabags, crusts of bread. The only thing you shouldn't include is meat and fats. These will hamper the composting process, so send them to the dump. All this stuff is called green matter.

All paper that doesn't have a heavy coating on it, like a magazine cover does, can also be included. This just about covers all the paper you discard: tissues, toilet paper tubes and paper towel tubes, receipts (with no account numbers on them), newspaper, magazines (with the covers torn off), catalogs, junk mail (no plastic windowed envelopes), used napkins and paper towels, lint from your dryer, all cardboard and paperboard from product packaging and boxes, and the list goes on. This is called brown matter, as is the next category.


Yard trimmings, grass clippings, pine needles, pine cones, leaves, sticks, etc. from your yard. This is also brown matter.


You can get creative with your composting also, as long as you stay away from non-biodegradable stuff and synthetics. For instance, my bunny's litter is made of pine shavings, and his diet is totally vegetarian, so his bedding, including his droppings is totally compostable. No more bags of bunny litter at the street. Yeah! (Sorry, clay cat litter and its contents are not compostable).

Rags, old cotton, wool or hemp clothing that isn't suitable for donation, dead flowers from the florist, untreated wood scraps, discarded cotton rope and string, greeting cards and gift wrap (unless heavily coated with "varnish"), and dead or dried plants or flowers.
If you layer the above ingredients (green and brown matter) into your pile in fairly equal quantities, you should be relatively close to balanced to start. I have found that I almost always have more brown matter than green, so I save up the newspaper, boxes, and catalogs. I have another great use for these, which I'll share in an upcoming post.


I'll wrap this up with one final tip that I've learned in my mere 5 weeks of back yard composting. Until the biological breakdown process really gets cooking in your new pile, you'll need to keep adding more brown matter. But there is another ingredient, which is actually green matter, that will impact your compost pile's "scent" immediately upon impact--coffee grounds--lots of them. Don't drink coffee? No problem. Stop by your local Starbucks, where you will find a large potted plant container with a garden sign saying "Grounds for Your Garden". They're free! Kudos to Starbucks for finding a way to reuse the thousands of pounds of grounds they produce each day. I pick up a bag (about 10 pounds) each time they are available. Surprisingly, I am beat to the punch quite often, so I am apparently not the only suburbanite who likes the grounds for my garden or compost. Check it out and grab an iced vanilla latte for me while you're in the store. Happy gardening.

If you'd like to be sure to catch all the posts in this series on Composting, the schedule is noted below. Of course, you can always search by clicking on the composting label in the right sidebar. Remember, too, that you can subscribe by e-mail or RSS at the top right of the blog, and the headlines will come right to your mail box. Just click to open and read. This is the easiest method. First class delivery of your Organic Journey Online articles; no stamp required. Thanks for your support.

One final note: COMMENTS, please! Click the purple COMMENT link following the post and leave me your questions or ideas. If you are already a composter, I would love to hear from you. I have a lot to learn and your experience will be invaluable to me and everyone who reads what I write about this project. Please COMMENT!

Composting 101: Part I--Friday, September 26 Composting: What Is It and Why Do It?
Composting 101: Part II--Friday, October 3 Selecting a Spot & Setting Up a Compost Pile
Composting 101: Part III--Monday, October 6 Healthy Choices for Your Compost Pile
Composting 101: Part IV--Friday, October 10 More Composting Options and Information
Composting 101: Part V-- Monday, October 13 Composting Doggie Duty and Other Solutions

Composting 101: Part II

Selecting and Setting Up a Location for a Compost Pile

Before we discuss what you put into your compost pile, you should take a walk around your yard and pick a spot. You'll want an area that is under some cover, if possible--eaves, overhang, a lean-to shed, heavy trees, etc. If you have neighbors who might object to the appearance, pick a spot that is hidden by bushes, fencing or a garden shed. As long as the ground doesn't have anything on top of it other than natural brown matter (dirt, leaves, dead grass, pine needles and such), this is the spot.

Measure the diameter of your spot so you can pick up some inexpensive yard fencing to shore up the composting materials. You can start with a small area. perhaps 2' x 4', and when this pile is full to the top of the fencing, build another elsewhere and start it. There are many types of garden fencing available, so pick something that suits your ground and weather. Here in Florida, a wooden fence would rot, so for this pile, I chose a green wire fencing that is hardly noticeable and pushes into the ground easily. On my other pile, I purchased a roll of green contractors fencing (they usually use orange, but I wasn't going for the standout look of bright orange) which attaches to plastic posts that have steel pegs on the bottom. I had seen many of these being used to fence in Agility courses for dogs, and was familiar with their ease of opening and closing. This has turned out to be nice. I can walk right into my pile and dump my daily contents in whatever area appears to need an addition the most. A "gate" is not necessary, though, as you will be able to bend over your low fence and dump your additions in easily. Whatever works best for you is fine. I would merely suggest you not choose a biodegradable material such as wood.

As for the need for 2 compost piles, this is strictly up to you. If you're like me and want to have compost to use for fertilizing your houseplants, etc. at some point in the future, you'll need to be able to access the compost in the pile. If you keep adding food, etc. to the top, the compost will be buried underneath, so a second pile will prevent this from happening. Get one pile started and then move on to the second one, allowing the first pile to do its thing. Be patient. It appears that the time it takes to get compost depends largely on the balance of all the chemistries, something which I'm too lazy to monitor. I'll just wait till its ready.

One final note. You'll need to cover your compost pile with a large piece of heavy gauge plastic, to keep it from absorbing too much rain that blows into your secluded bin area. Heavy wind, gutter run over and sprinklers can all do their part to drench even the most secluded spot, so cover your pile well, but don't worry if water seeps in. Some water is needed, although ground water is sufficient, generally.

If you're starting this with a bit of a skeptical edge, and want to do it on a budget, you'll find these minimal supplies above to cost under $15, and cheaper options are available (i.e. posts and wire fencing like that used for a rabbit hutch would probably cost less. I didn't buy plastic sheeting; I had some contractor-grade trash bags, which are very heavy plastic. I used 2-3 of those on each of the piles and they seem to be working fine.

My biggest concern was the wildlife in our area. We have had numerous trash can raids, so I felt that a closed bin might be in my future. A month into this, I'm not seeing any evidence of disturbance. The fencing I used, pictured above, isn't that secure, so I tucked the plastic contractors' bags into the bottom and hoped for the best. So far, so good. It's location, as you can see, is behind bushes and pool equipment, the latter of which might make just enough noise to keep critters at bay. We'll see.

If you'd like to be sure to catch all the posts in this series on Composting, the schedule is noted below. Remember, too, that you can subscribe by e-mail or RSS at the top right of the blog, and the headlines will come right to your e-mail. Just click to open and read. This is the easiest method. First class delivery of your Organic Journey Online articles; no stamp required.

Composting Posts Schedule:

Friday, 10/3--Selecting a Spot & Setting Up a Compost Pile (Part II)
Monday, 10/6--Healthy Choices for Your Compost Pile (Part III)

Friday, 10/10--More Composting Options and Information (Part IV)
Monday, 10/13--Composting Doggie Duty and Other Solutions (Part V)

Thursday, 10/16--Kitchen Compost Storage, Saving Paper Towels and More Green Tip Toes

Friday, 10/17--What Do I Do With Large Quantities of Material to Compost?

One final note: Comments, please! Click the purple COMMENT link following the post and leave me your questions or ideas. If you are already a composter, I would love to hear from you. I have a lot to learn.

If you need a snack after all this compost stuff, stop by Blake Bakes for an organic pound cake recipe. Enjoy!

When Green is Unsafe...

It is sad, really. Two green lifestyle icons--the train and text messaging--have come together to create disaster. Last Friday a Metrolink train engineer in Los Angeles was exchanging text messages with young rail buffs, according to the Associated Press news agency, when it ran a red light, striking an oncoming freight train and derailed. The crash killed 25 people and injured 130 more.

As I have watched this story unfold, along with the investigation into its cause, I recalled that California has passed laws against use of cell phones by drivers, clearly a good use of our legal system. So, how is it that one person using a cell phone in an individual vehicle is illegal, yet the driver of a passenger train, who potentially could kill hundreds, is permitted to use one? I suppose this, too, shall come out in the continuing investigation, although the reports I have seen have yet to mention this. And I could be wrong in my memory of California being one of the states who has banished cell usage in cars.

An article in the Orlando Sentinel on Friday, September 19 shed light on a whole other area of this story that brings more clarity. It seems that there is a whole cult-like group of train fans who have clubs, web sites, magazines, follow railroad frequencies on scanners, hold train-watching picnics and organize group trips via train. Some even memorize train schedules, wear train-related clothing and have videotaped trains in motion. Nothing wrong with this, really. But apparently, these groups have taken their enthusiasm to new heights, text messaging with the engineers, when he should be focusing on his job. Now train buffs are worried that their own right to use phones while on the trains, may be taken away. Yet it is their irresponsible actions which could bring this about.

I am aware that many people use commuter trains in metropolitan areas as a means to get back and forth to work. They often use this time to catch up on reading or phone calls. I can understand how losing this privilege could be a hit for them.

My green tip toe for today: Don't take your privileges for granted. Think about everything you do and how it could adversely affect others around you. When we look at the world from others' vantage points, we often see a different picture. Be safe and be grateful. It's good karma.

On a lighter note, if you're up for a rich, classic dessert, my latest post at Blake Bakes is up today: Tom's Organic Pound Cake. The recipe makes 2 loaves that are rich and flavorful, freeze well, and are low-calorie. Yeah, right!

Help! Put Your Thinking Caps On...

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Thanks for taking 30 seconds of your time to answer some questions about your reasons for eating organic. The questions are in the right sidebar just under the yellow Eat Well Guide widget.

This week's Woofing Wednesday website is Green Living Online. If you have time, take a tour of their offerings. They have several blogs with tighter themes on living green, and a multitude of postings on all things green. Enjoy.

My next organic baking delight airs on Blake Bakes tomorrow. This time I've prepared a recipe for organic pound cake, which makes a double batch. This is a rich, moist pound cake with an especially tasty top crust that really makes it. Special occasion coming up? Try it.

Tomorrow's Green Tip Toe is about what happens when green is not safe. No solution is perfect, and this article discusses the pros and cons of an apparently green technology. Any thoughts? Start a dialogue. Let's hear your opinions.

Specialized Food Movements Growing

As little as 10 years ago, I could not have told you what some of the now popular dietary specialties are, much less have explained why someone would choose to eat that way. I really have a lot to learn about the many, many ways a person can choose to eat healthy. I am amazed to learn just how many specialized diets there are, and particularly how big a following they each have. Doing a bit of research, I got thousands of hits for each of the specialized ways of eating listed below. We each have different needs and priorities, thus making this list quite lengthy. Check it out and see if I have included your particular menu choices. Admittedly, I have left out most of the commercialized diets, designed to make money for someone.

1. Alkaline diet


2. caffeine free


3. dairy free


4. diet related to religious beliefs


5. Eat for my blood type


6. fat free


7. Feingold diet


8. gluten free


9. high calorie


10. high protein


11. iodine free


12. juice diets for detoxing


13. kosher


14. low calcium


15. low calorie


16. low salt


17. low protein


18. Okinawa Diet


19. Mediterranean Diet


20. Multiple Sclerosis Diet


21. nitrate free


22. no bread or pasta


23. no eggs


24. no food additives


25. no high fructose corn syrup


26. no nuts


27. no pork


28. no salt


29. no shellfish


30. no synthetic sweeteners


31. only sea salt


32. only organic foods


33. preservative free


34. pro-biotic


35. raw foods


36. sugar free


37. vegan


38. vegetarian


39. whole foods

Many of you probably attempt to incorporate several of these dietary restrictions in your own regimen. If I have missed anything, please drop me a COMMENT below. Fill me in on what and why you eat the way you do. This will help me to keep you all in mind.

My Tuesday food tip is to get to know your own eating habits better. Stop by the bookstore or library and pick up a book that reflects your goals in eating. Some of you may even find the series of books on eating for your blood type quite interesting. I certainly did, along with a couple of others, pictured above. When you have finished reading your book, most certainly you will have learned something more about doing it better. Thanks for reading Organic Journey Online and for following along with me on this learning expedition. I'll look forward to hearing your thoughts and what you would like to learn more about.

Composting 101: Part II will be coming your way on Friday, when I'll be explaining site selection and setup of a backyard compost pile. If you missed the first edition, scroll up to my September 26 post: Composting 101: Part I of V.

Tough Times Call for Tougher Resolutions

It's hard to turn on the TV or read the paper now without realizing that everyone is on edge over the economy. Proposed tax bills have been sent out, back to school supplies have stressed our budgets, layoffs and business closings have us worried, the holidays are coming, gas prices are up markedly, and that's just to name a few of the many things on our minds. Psychologists tell us that when we are worried about potential problems, our best course of action is to take ownership and DO SOMETHING--anything--that will positively impact the situation.

I see the worried look on my husband's face every night as he is dealing with the economic pressures at work, and then he has to come home and hear about how the pressures are affecting us personally, so he is getting a doubly-whammy. I'm sure this same story plays out in many homes, where one or both working members of the household have responsibility for the financial health of their businesses, along with the pressures of personal finances. College tuitions all over the country are rising dramatically, and we have 2 kids in college, with the likelihood of 6 more years of college costs to bear.

What can I do to ease the pressure? As usual, I can brainstorm and make a list. I'm a list maker. Lists always get me motivated; it's something about seeing it on paper that makes me realize I need to act now to complete all those tasks. I guess you could say I'm making my New Year's resolutions early. So, here's my resolutions for reducing our expenses at home:

1. As often as possible, use the car that gets the best gas mileage, for my errands and such. Our energy efficient Honda Civic gets 36 mpg--pretty good by most standards, but no Prius.

2. Use my coupon posts to the maximum possible, saving big bucks at the grocery store with their discounts.

3. Use a list when I go to the grocery store, to avoid too many excess purchases which don't get eaten.

4. Watch the sales in the Food section of the paper and clip coupons. Roxanne--You're my hero. I hear you are great at this.

5. Eat more simply 2-3 nights a week: sandwiches and fruit, salads, meatless meals like pasta with marinara (recipe in the post at this link), etc.

6. Turn lights off everywhere, except the room I'm in.

7. Revisit my saving water post, and add a few mental notes to that. Checking my water bills since that post, I've saved $10 already, just by watching things like leaving the tap running and washing clothes when I have a full load. This saves electricity too.

8. Speaking of electricity, I've started unplugging small appliances, phone chargers and such, shaving a few more dollars off of the electric bill. Considering that last month was our hottest in Florida, when our air conditioners work the hardest, that's an accomplishment.

While reading Living Like Ed, by Ed Begley, Jr., I learned that about 35% of my power bill can be contributed to our air conditioning use. I did the math and decided to experiment by dropping the A/C one degree and using the ceiling fan in the room I'm in. We'll see what the net effect is on the next bill.

9. Plan my errands for several days, grouping them into trips that involve visits to the same area, saving gas and time.

10. Switching to organic lawn care this month has already saved me about $40, and I know my dogs appreciated not having to stay inside all day while the old chemical treatments dried on the lawn.

11. This year I hope to do as much as possible with making holiday gifts, a practice I employed as a newleywed, when money was tighter. This should save money and make for more personal gifts. I'm planning to bake lots of goodies like the ones I've posted on Blake Bakes, where I write about organic baking. Interested? Visit my posts on organic oatmeal raisin cookies and organic cinnamon raisin bread for ideas. Oh, and watch for rich organic pound cake, coming on October 2 to Blake Bakes.

12. Saving money on weekend activities is a no-brainer. While I live in the theme park capital of the world, I rarely visit them, opting for activities which save money while preserving my health. With 3 dogs, I have definitely earned the frequent dog walker award in my neighborhood, where I often bike with them, walk with them, play obstacle games with them outdoors, and Tanner's favorite, swim. I can't even say that word without him running to the back door and beginning to yodel with excitement. There is nothing like a good fetch game in the pool to wear him out.

Of course, if you don't have a dog, that doesn't preclude you from biking or walking, but it always helps to have a partner for motivation. With a dog along, they never want to go back home. Friends and family can keep each other motivated to keep going as well. Even a baby in a stroller loves the movement that a walk provides, and often, it is the quietest time a new mom gets during the day, with the exception of nap time.

Did I mention parks? Remember the city and county parks; we all have them. Even if you're not up to the swings or the slide, many parks have nature walks with fitness courses along the way, making for a nice change of routine in your usual neighborhood walk.

One creative solution to weather issues is growing in popularity. Some of our malls are now co-sponsoring walking hours, along with area hospitals. If you arrive early, you'll often find many people enjoying a vigorous walk around the inside of the mall, allowing them to walk rain or shine, snow or intense heat. Although this is particularly popular with senior citizens, I have seen a whole range of ages enjoying the climate-controlled paradise of mall walking.

Lots of parks have nature walks, springs or rivers to swim in and streams that can be floated down in a lazy tube ride. This is a relaxing way to spend a hot afternoon, one which my family has enjoyed many a summer day, and costs only a few dollars. Don't forget to bring a picnic lunch. Visit my posts on lunch box ideas at:

• Green Up Your Back to School Lunches with Creative Choices
  
• Homemade Organic Apple Juice and Apple Sauce
  
• Another Peanut Butter Creation for the Lunch Box
  
• Organic Lunches on the Go

This whole park theme I have going here would not be complete without mention of the dog parks, which are also becoming more common across the country. My dog behavior guru, Cesar Milan, aka the Dog Whisperer, has done at least a couple of shows on his National Geographic Channel program, designed to help your dog get the most out of a visit to the dog park. My 3 dogs love the feel of wide open spaces and running off leash, not to mention the socializing with other dogs. It is cute to see them greet other dogs in their uniquely doggie fashion. Cesar would call this proper dog etiquette, even though most of us find it distasteful; it is their way of getting acquainted. If you have not yet tried a dog park, and your dog is friendly with other dogs, I advise you give him and yourself a chance to try it. You'll meet lots of friendly dog lovers to talk with, while your furry best friend will enjoy a good run, followed by a long nap when you arrive home. Think what you can do with that time, while the dogs nap. You could clean out closets and sell some old stuff on EBay; there's a money-making idea. Let me know how it goes for you. COMMENT below at the purple link. I'd love to hear YOUR money saving ideas for tough times, and your questions about dog parks. Lots of people ask me about my dog park visits, and are surprised to learn that so many dogs can enjoy playtime, just like kids. Also just like kids, though, they do require supervision in case they disagree over anything, like who owns a stick or who is the most dominant. Keep a close eye on your "kids" at the park, particularly on their first few visits. This should always be a pleasant experience for both of you.

Don't forget to stop in at Blake Bakes for my organic pound cake recipe on Thursday, October 2. The recipe makes 2 loaves and they are deliciously rich. Don't miss it.

Composting 101: Part I of V

For today's Food Friday post I am beginning a series on composting, which is all about what we do with our leftover or spoiled food. We all know that organic foods are a bit more expensive than their conventional counterparts, so waste is a bigger crime when committed with organics. The extra cost alone probably prohibits us from allowing as much waste, but we still have some. In supporting a sustainable Earth, composting is our best choice for discarding these leftovers.

Composting: What is It and Why Do It?

According to HowtoCompost.org, "composting is the transformation of organic material (plant matter) through decomposition into a soil-like material...Insects, earthworms, and microorganisms help in transforming the material into compost. Composting is a natural form of recycling, which continually occurs in nature."

Why would anyone want to collect their kitchen garbage, discarded paper products and yard trash into one big smelly pile? That was my first question. Vicki, my composting mentor at Jolly Green Planet , corrected my misconception that the pile would be smelly. "Actually", she said, "It will smell like a rain forest when you balance the contents."

"Rain forest?", I asked, with a skeptical tone.

"Yes!", she replied, most confidently. Vicki went on to explain that the microorganisms that turn the garbage into compost, do a very fresh-smelling job of it, if given the right balance of "food". You can probably guess that my next question was how to balance their food supply. I'm not exactly up on the food pyramid of an earthworm. When Vicki started talking about nitrogen-carbon ratios she lost me, having never taken a chemistry course in my life. I was surprised and pleased to learn, though, that it is relatively simple, as long as I'm not in a hurry to get compost. If I want compost fast, I can buy all the gadgets to measure soil moisture, temperature, etc. I can stir the contents with a pitch fork daily, and even check the pH. OR I can go all out, buying an indoor composter which has all the bells and whistles; it does everything for you, except empty the compost when done.

Wow! So much information. My first and foremost reason for wanting to compost is to contribute less to the landfill. I know that we have a shortage of landfill sites, and trouble locating new ones is always in the news. I'm in no hurry. I'll wait for the compost to do its thing on its own time. So I asked Vicki for the lazy composter's version of the instructions, and she cheerfully replied that this is the method her associate, Becca, also employs. Now I feel less intimidated--more motivated. I have an ally.

Of course, the other reason for wanting to compost your wastes is to use the compost for fertilizer. It is the most natural and healthy fertilizer available, and totally free. From what I've learned from reading and asking questions, there are surprisingly large numbers of families who compost their household stuff and fertilize their yards and family gardens with it, but apparently they don't live in my neighborhood. My suburban neighborhood yards do not have sufficient space for a sunny garden, and most families seem so absorbed in soccer mom syndrome, that they would likely not have time. I honestly don't know how I would have done it when my kids were all home and I was carpooling from 2-7 daily. Most of us in suburbia pay someone to fertilize our yards, and those who don't use whatever is available at Home Depot or Lowe's. That's life in the suburbs. Maybe I was destined to be a country girl in my retirement, making compost and walking the spreader around the yard each time I get a fresh batch. This could be the beginning of a whole new lifestyle. We'll see.

It truly does make me feel good to see what small amount of garbage goes to the curb on trash day now. A year ago I had, on average, 2 full recycle bins each week. My trash contribution was about the equivalent of 10 kitchen-sized garbage bags a week. I shudder to think of that now. Oh, and I shouldn't forget that my yard garbage pickup, once each week, averaged one can full of trimming, weeds and dead plants. Now? Yesterday's trash contribution was 1/2 can of recycles and 1/2 of a kitchen-sized garbage bag. I'm pleased to say I found BioBags, pictured above, which are 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable, quickly biodegrading when exposed to nature's elements and microorganisms, leaving no residues behind. Even the package is made of natural fibers and recycled materials, and is 100% biodegradable and compostable. Finally, it is printed with soy ink, a much greener addition to your compost pile. Cool, huh?!

One interesting thing I learned in my recent research is that food that goes to the dump, doesn't biodegrade into healthy compost the way a compost pile does. Why? Apparently, it has something to do with the balance of junk in the dump. All the plastics, metals, meats, fats, artificial stuff like Rayon, etc. aren't natural and impede the process, just like disposable diapers taking a hundred years to biodegrade in the dump. The plastic exterior on the diapers slows down the process because it does not biodegrade. I suppose if I were an earthworm, I would seek out more food and less plastic for dinner.

If you'd like to be sure to catch all the posts in this series on Composting, the schedule is noted below. Of course, you can always find them by date, if you happen to miss reading one on the day it is published, or you can click on the composting label in the right sidebar. Remember, too, that you can subscribe by e-mail or RSS at the top right of the blog, and the headlines will come right to your e-mail. Just click to open and read. This is the easiest method. First class delivery of your Organic Journey Online articles; no stamp required. Thanks for your support.

One final note: COMMENTS, please! Click the purple COMMENT link following the post and leave me your questions or ideas. If you are already a composter, I would love to hear from you. I have a lot to learn.

Composting 101: Part II--Friday, October 3 Selecting a Spot & Setting Up a Compost Pile

Composting 101: Part III--Monday, October 6 Healthy Choices for Your Compost Pile

Composting 101: Part IV--Friday, October 10 More Composting Options and Information

Composting 101: Part V-- Monday, October 13 Composting Doggie Duty and Other Solutions

Let's Plant Trees: Thursday's Green Tip Toe

I wish there was a way to keep track of all the new trees being planted, versus the ones being cut down in the rain forests. It is heartening to hear about the new codes which require a certain number of trees per acre on new construction.

Recently I renovated an old apartment building and we added 5 new trees to the front yard. I can hardly wait to see them start to fill out. About 6 years ago, when we added on to our home, we put in a couple of beautiful, small elm trees. They have spread out to have a nice canopy and bring welcome shade to the side of our home, reducing our air conditioning requirements. It is surprising how quickly they grow. One day you plant them and comment on how cute they are, and the next day you're trimming large branches away from the house. Where did the time go?!

This Thursday's Green Tip Toe is don't put it off. Those trees you're planning to plant SOMEDAY, won't be providing shade SOMEDAY, unless you plant them NOW.

Okay, this Green Tip Toe might take more than 10 minutes. Let's tally this: 30 minutes to get back and forth to your local garden center + 20 minutes to select a tree for the spot you have in mind. Get the kids to dig the hole while you're gone, and add 10 more minutes to put it in the ground. You're done in 1 hour. Can you afford 1 hour to beautify your yard, raise your property value, attract butterflies and birds, and provide oxygen to the planet? Of course you can!

Count yourself among the ranks of the treehuggers, and while you're at it visit Treehugger.com

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Lend Me Your Ears: Woofing Wednesday

This Woofing Wednesday is more like a nose wiggle, and is dedicated to Robby, our rabbit, who will be moving "home" in a couple of weeks to live with his original owner, my son. I have to say that he is the "greenest pet" I have ever owned, as even his litter (made of pine shavings) and his droppings (totally vegetarian) are compostible, and have been added to my ongoing compost pile. I'll be telling you more about that in a later post.

Robby and his canine companions are just one of the reasons we converted to organic lawn care. The other, of course, is that organic products don't contaminate the ground and ground water with toxins.

You've all seen them, those signs the lawn care companies are required to leave in your yard after they treat your grass with chemicals. As I've mentioned in recent days, I just hired an organic lawn care company to care for our yard. I was surprised to learn that they, too, are required to leave a sign that says they have treated your yard, even though their organic ingredients are not required to be rated, analyzed, etc. by the government. Interesting and confusing. They put stuff like fish emulsion and corn gluten meal on my lawn and have to post a sign saying it is safe to play there--immediately upon application. Sometimes the things our government does in the name of safety don't make any sense, but at least it is clear that my yard isn't contaminated with chemicals. I also liked that the technician put the sign in the garden where you can see our gas-saving Honda Civic. That baby gets 36 mph on the highway.

This week, rather than giving you a link to follow, I'm bringing you some interesting facts to ponder about pets and pesticides, provided by Jolly Green Planet:

• According to the National Cancer Institute, dogs with common cancer (canine malignant lymphoma or CML) were 30% more likely to have lived in a home where the owners had employed a commercial lawn company to treat their yard.
• Dogs exposed to the weed killer 2,4-D die of cancer at twice the normal rates.

There is a healthy alternative to synthetic lawn chemicals. Find out what is available in your area by doing a Google search on organic lawn care. Your happy, green dogs will be healthier.

Tomorrow join me for some tree planting fun. I felt the need to replenish the oxygen at one of our investment properties, so they got 5 new trees...babies, but they'll grow. Food Friday is coming up, and I'll have a surprise topic for you. Come see what I've got in store.

Thank You for 1000 Visits!

At nearly 70 posts, I have finally reached the 1000 visitors' mark, thanks to all of you. I am truly enjoying being back in the saddle (writing) and find this role to fit my lifestyle beautifully. However, my goal is to inspire YOU to work more toward eating organic and living green. If there is anything you are interested in that I can research and report back on, please COMMENT below. Also, your COMMENTS about my content or any questions would be welcome.


For today's Tuesday's Tips I am bringing you a blast from the past, or more simply stated, a few of my favorite tips:

• Let's Read Food Labels
  
• Save Money with "Diluted" Organics
  
• Save Money with Over-ripe Organic Fruit
  
• Let's Save on Organics at the Warehouse Clubs

Tomorrow I'll show you what a truly safe lawn care treatment sign should say and share a few more safe dog tips. Finally, I will share a farewell photo of Robby the rabbit, who will be moving to Virginia in a couple of weeks to reunite with his true owner, my son. Thursday I'll talk about planting trees and show you a few I've added to our property....small, but with potential. There are even bargains in trees. See you then.

Green and Organic Coupons for Everything You Can Think Of

You name it; it's here. If you're looking for food coupons, also visit my most recent post from last week at the link. Today's listing has some food, but is primarily household and personal items.

Green and Organic Coupons at this site include:

• baby and kids
  
• beauty
  
• books and magazines
  
• cars
  
• flowers and gifts
  
• food
  
• more green and organic products
  
• health related products
  
• clothing by Organic Style
  
• eco-friendly gifts for all occasions: birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, new babies & more

Alex's Coupons includes the following:

• alternative energy
  
• books and software
  
• clothing
  
• eco travel
  
• food
  
• gifts
  
• green office supplies
  
• health and beauty
  
• home and garden
  
• magazines
  
• maternity and baby
  
• pet care
  
• services
  
• transportation
  
• wine
  
• yoga

Companies represented in the above offers include:

• Greenfeet
  
• Arbico Organics


• Aubrey Organics
  
• BTC Elements
  
• Better World Club
  
• Earth Mama Angel Baby - All Natural Pregnancy Product
  
• Ecoist
  
• Gardens Alive
  
• Global Exchange Online Store
  
• Green and More


• Greenloop
  
• Hemp Sisters
  
• Hemp.com Store
  
• Ideal Bite
  
• Jones Soda (organic)
  
• Kate's Caring Gifts
  
• Lamas Beauty
  
• Little Earth
  
• Mother Nature
  
• Natural Family Botanicals
  
• Nature Hills Nursery
  
• Organic Bouquet
  
• Organic Wine Company
  
• Solio
  
• Stonyfield Farm


• Vegan Essentials

Some of the above coupons require a code to get the discount, which will be provided when you click the link, along with a list of options. I hope you enjoy these shopping mall from home imitations I've been creating for you. I try to include variety and good value. Keep me posted at the COMMENT link below if there is something you are looking for that you haven't yet found. I'll be on the lookout for you. You're welcome.

Organic Lunches on the Go

Back to school is old news now, as the kids here have been in school a month already. It's time to think about changing up the lunch ideas so your kids don't get bored. I'd get bored with eating the same stuff every week also. Here are three new ideas to add to the ones I brought you a while back.

Organic Lunch Parfaits

Organic yogurt

Organic fruit

Organic granola (granola cereal works great too)

Using a wide-mouthed or sectioned container or thermos (chill it first for best results) layer yogurt and small fruit pieces. To prevent browning, stir in any fruit that tends to darken. Provide the granola in a small container to add at lunch time, so it doesn't get soggy. This is like dessert, but with a great protein and vitamin punch. Kids love it.

Parfaits make great breakfasts and desserts also, especially if you're putting on the dog for company. Go ahead and layer all 3 ingredients into parfait glasses just before you serve, topping with one slice of fruit as a garnish. Enjoy!

Organic Raisin Bread and Creme Cheese Sandwiches

Not much of a recipe needed here, huh? Spread two raisin bread slices with organic creme cheese to make a sandwich, and wrap securely to keep moist. You can buy organic raisin bread or make it in your bread maker. If you're energetic, I have a wonderful homemade organic raisin bread recipe at Blake Bakes, where I provide organic recipes. Try it sometime and surprise your family with a warm and delicious smelling treat. It's great for breakfast, snacks, lunches and dessert--truly a multi-purpose, healthy bread.

Organic Gelatin and Fruit Salad

• One package non-flavored gelatin
• Fruit pieces, your choice
• Organic apple juice (try other flavors too)

Following the recipe in the non-flavored gelatin package, using juice. Chill until thickened. Stir in fruit pieces and spoon into lunch-sized containers or chilled, wide-mouthed thermoses. This also makes a beautiful, special-occasion dessert, when placed in a clear, parfait glass or other tall, glass serving-sized dish.

If you're interested in back-tracking to my earlier lunch ideas you can check out the following links to my lunch posts:

• Another Peanut Butter Creation for the Lunch Box
• More on Juicing--Organic Apple Juice and Apple Sauce
• Green Up Your Back to School Lunches with Creative Choices
• Bento Boxes Meet Target

Gas Prices Got Ya Down?

Thursday's Green

Tip Toe

Photo copied from The Club Registry, no source sited

Does This Sign Keep Your Children and Pets Safe?

Absolutely Not!

When the pesticide or other chemical application dries, is it gone? Of course not. You know that, but signs like these try to lead us to believe that once the pesticide dries it is no longer harmul.

Think about what goes on in your grass. My kids rolled around in the grass while wrestling, playing tag, kickball, and the list goes on. The same with my dogs. They love to roll in the grass when they go outside to play.

Here's a somber, yet important consideration. A friend of mine had a beautiful black Labrador retriever. She was still young and vigorous, and a constant companion to my friend. One day she had a seizure and died from complications that followed. The veterinarian was unable to determine definite cause of death. However, when my friend told her about the lawn care applications done the day before, the vet suggested that Molly may have had a severe reaction to the chemicals.

I can cite personal migraine headache examples triggered by oil based paint, carpet replacements, even cleaning products. I know not everyone is as sensitive to chemicals as I am, and that is good news. What worries me is how other people's bodies cope with the presence of the chemicals in the long term. Certainly the news media has been all over the many causes of cancer and Alzheimer's for several years, often blaming the chemical cocktails in our foods and environment.

Now that I am composting our household and yard wastes and eating mostly organic foods, I have a more optimistic attitude toward the future. Also important is our transition to organic yard care. I'll be sharing with you more information on composting and organic lawn care coming up in future posts, so keep reading. I know more of us need to get on this ride. Jump aboard and subscribe to my blog at the top right. Than check out some ways to get started with organic lawn care at your house:

Planet Natural
Safer Pest Control Project
Extremely Green

Here's a pictures of my 2 year old furry fella, Tanner, giving you an example of his jumping expertise. I'm glad he can get out and play in a safe, chemical-free yard.

Check out next week's Woofing Wednesday post for the sign that really does keep your kids and pets safe in the yard--from my organic lawn care company, Jolly Green Planet.

Organic Coupons: Tuesday's Tip is All About Saving Money

Coupons! This is the best coupon cache I have found yet. I found so many coupons this time that I will list here only food coupons, so have a blast and save some cash. I'll do another post on the "green coupons", so watch for it. Have fun:

Organic Valley Dairy Products

Organic Food Coupons from Blurtit

www.healthy-holistic-living.com/organic-food-co...

Flat Earth Get a free bag of Flat Earth Chips

Annie's Homegrown Coupons - Sign up for Annie's e-newsletter to receive coupons for their most popular products

Mambo Sprouts - Click, print and save on your favorite organic and natural products. Mambo Sprouts running a contest and they are looking for creative and original recipes! You could win a years supply of your favorite product as well as other great prizes! Mambolicious Recipe Cook Off

Vegan Coupons - A variety of coupons or vegan and vegetarian food, juicers and eco health and beauty.

Nature Made Vitamins Coupons - Become a member and get $5 in printable coupons

Organic Valley Coupons - Sign up for Organic Valley's Farm Friends and get a free kit with coupons for their most popular products.

Seventh Generation Coupons - Sign up for $10 worth of Seventh Generation coupons.

Knudsen Juices - Save $1 off any Recharge, $.75 off juice

Santa Cruz Organic Juice - Save $.75 off any product

Coleman Natural Beef - Save $5 off any hot dog, bacon or ham product

Earth's Best Baby Food - Coupons for Earth's Best Organic Baby Food

Feline Pine Cat Litter Coupon - Get your first bag of cat litter for free

Stonyfield Farm Coupons - Save on your favorite Stonyfield Farms yogurts, smoothies and products

Natures One Baby Formula - Rebate on Nature's One Baby Formula

AllOrganicLinks.com: This website has thousands of links to organic companies. Once you find a company you are interested in visit their website to request coupons.

Alexescoupons.com this is a great web site that lists a nice variety of organic food stores as well as personal care stores that all have coupons

You may want to check out the Organicconsumers.org web site they are selling coupon books that focus on fair trade products, organic products and environmentally responsible corporations in North America.

Grocery Coupon Guide - this is a fantastic web site! They have a fairly comprehensive list of organic food companies and products. Below I have listed the page links individually so you don't miss anything!
Grocerycouponguide.com 1
Grocerycouponguide.com 2
Grocerycouponguide.com 3
Grocerycouponguide.com 4

Organic Food Discount
http://www.blurtit.com/redir_new.php?ruid=1079481969 Find Organic Food Discount and Compare prices at Smarter.com.

Organic Food Coupons

Coupons.Pronto.com Find Organic Food Coupons Products Shop, Compare and Save at Pronto.

Organic Food Coupons - up to 75% Less

http://www.best-price.com/ Incredible prices. Find organic food coupons & save up to 75%.

Food & Grocery Delivery

http://www.aulsuperstore.com/ Shop for food & groceries from home. Organic food to 48 US states.

This ought to net you a ton of savings. No complaining about organic food prices now, huh?!! I hope this makes your shopping a bit less stressful for the next couple of weeks or so. Oh, and don't forget to pick up the ingredients for your organic baking. Need recipes? I am the organic baker for another blog called Blake Bakes. So far, I have two recipes posted there: organic oatmeal raisin cookies (they're to die for!) and organic cinnamon raisin bread. Coming up next will be rich organic pound cake on October 2. Click the links to get the recipe ingredients and you could be eating these yummies too.

Look for green coupons here on Monday, September 22, and check out all the discounts you can get for choosing more sustainable options when you shop for household or personal items. Also coming up will be a couple of new additions to your lunch box ideas. The kids in my area have been back in school about a month now, just long enough to start tiring of the same old stuff. If you missed my back to school lunch posts earlier, you can still check them out at Another Peanut Butter Creation for the Lunch Box, More on Juicing--Organic Apple Juice and Apple Sauce, and Green Up Your Back to School Lunches with Creative Choices.

Moo! Which Organic Milk Tastes Best?

Milk. It is easily the first organic that most families change over to, and for good reason. If you ask why, the answer is in the news. Most of us have now heard that milk cows are fed growth hormones, which accumulate in our bodies, encouraging earlier sexual maturity. Organic milk is produced without growth hormones, along with a host of other nasty stuff like pesticide treatment on the pastures that the cows graze on. I don't want that in MY milk.

But the real question I hear from people who aren't yet drinking organic milk is, "How is the taste?"
I interviewed a friend who is a big milk lover. Here is his input:



NOTE: CB=Carrie Boyko, ML=Milk Lover
Note to Organic Valley Farms: Please Pardon the exclusion of your photo here. I hate to admit it but my dog ate the carton just before the photo was taken. I guess he likes your milk. We do too!

Milk Lover's Interview:

CB: So, you tried the 3 national brands of milk I asked you to taste test for me, right?
ML: Yes. I also tried the store brands from Publix and Whole Foods Market. Thanks for the coupons, by the way.
CB: Great. Tell me what, if anything, you found different in the various brands.
ML: Hmmm. I was happy to find out that all the milk brands I tried tasted pretty much the same.
CB: You mean they all tasted the same?
ML: Yeah, pretty much.
CB: When you buy milk for yourself, do you purchase whole milk, 2%, 1% or skim?
ML: Well, lately I’ve been noticing a little pudge around my middle so I’ve starting drinking skim. I used to just buy whatever, probably mostly whole. I’m getting older now and I haven’t been working out as much, so it’s starting to show.
CB: So, you were able to just switch to skim milk without gradually getting used to the taste of less fat, by trying 2% and working your way down?
ML: Yeah. No problem there. My sister is a big organics buff. She got me to try the Horizon Skim Milk at her house, and when I did I was shocked at how creamy it tasted.
CB: My husband said something similar about the organic skim milk tasting better than non-organic skim milk. Any idea why?
ML: Nope.
CB: I’d like to think it has something to do with the missing “ingredients”. You know, the ones that aren’t on the label: pesticides, hormones, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers. It seems to me that if a product is not laced with these, it is bound to taste somewhat different--better.
ML: Must be. I’m hooked on that Horizon Skim Milk now. I buy a half gallon on the way to work every day and its gone before lunch.
CB: You have a very physical job, being a contractor. Don’t you drink sports drinks and water?
ML: Yes, I do, but more in the afternoon. In the morning, I drink milk to give me a protein boost for the day. The protein helps keep me sharp all day.
CB: I’ve heard that is how people with blood sugar problems like diabetes and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) help to control their blood sugar and energy. What else do you drink for energy?
ML: I’m not into caffeine, if that’s what you mean. I prefer protein drinks, like I often get a protein smoothie in the morning for breakfast—the giant sized one. If I do meet one of the guys at Starbucks, I always get decaf, usually a Frappuccino. It’s more like a dessert. Ha ha!
CB: Good for you! I’m a Starbucks junkie, myself. I do like that I can get my vanilla latte with organic milk. I even did a post on my Starbucks vanilla latte. I guess it is my vice; you know, everyone has to have a vice. Funny, but I’ve known you for about 15, 16 years, and I don’t know of a vice you have.
ML: Don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. Not much of a sweets lover. I don’t know, maybe you’re right. I’ll think on that.
CB: Okay, well thank you for talking to me about the milk comparisons. My readers will enjoy hearing that organic milk, even skim, can be better tasting than non-organic.
ML: Yeah. I was surprised. Good luck with the blog. I’ll check it out.

******End of Interview******

The three national brands of milk taste-tested were Horizon, Organic Valley Farms, and Stonyfield Farms. For coupons (many are as much as $1.00 off) you can visit their websites or my latest coupon collection at Organic Coupons, Coupons and Coupons.

Don't forget to save a glass of that milk to enjoy with your favorite cookies or raisin bread. I have wonderful organic recipes for Organic Cinnamon Raisin Bread and Organic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies posted at Blake Bakes, where I occasionally post organic recipes. Next up? Organic Pound Cake is coming on October 2, and this would be awesome with a cold glass of organic milk.

On another note, one of my latest organic experiments has been starting a compost pile, which I mentioned in my Wednesday post, Excited About Organic Lawn Care on Woofing Wednesday. Join me Thursday for some tips on starting your own compost pile. It's easy and your landfill will love you for it. See you then.