Influencing School-Age Kids to Live Greener

Moms Can Set the Example

for Living Greener

There are many ways to influence your children, or a group of children with whom you work, to live greener in their daily lives. Like many adults, children are creatures of habit. For example, if you establish a routine of turning off the water while teeth are being brushed, and you brush yours along with your child, this habit will eventually take root. At the risk of being cliche, practice makes perfect.


Choosing stories and videos which exemplify a green lifestyle are good examples for your children, and good starting points for discussion over dinner. Open ended questions are usually best to get a discussion started; something like:

• "What did you learn from the way Johnny handled his job of taking out the trash?"
• "Did he put miss any recyclable items, when sorting?"
• "Did you enjoy watching the family take care of their garden, and see their vegetables grow?"
• "Would you like to grow vegetables in our back yard?"
• "Did you get any ideas from this movie/book on things we could do to help the Earth stay greener?"
• "What are we doing in our home that you would like to change?"
  

When school reports are assigned with the topic being the child's choice, try influencing that choice by making a list and talking about the pros and cons of each choice. I'd probably use about 4 ideas, with 3 of them being topics I know my child won't pick, and the fourth being a living green topic that may have some appeal to him or her. You know your child best, and can use this to your advantage in planning this to assure that your child picks the green topic.

Now that your child has a green topic to write about, you can give helpful ideas on how to research the topic that don't all include the Internet. Perhaps an outing or two to recycling facilities, farmers' markets, nature preserves, river clean up projects, or the like, would be more fun, and especially more eye-opening than a sore backside at the computer desk.

Studying food ingredients for no-nos like preservatives and food colorings can be a wonderful less for children. A visit to the local healthy food market will allow your child to see labels that have ingredients he can read and understand. Counter this with a visit to a traditional supermarket, where your child will quickly discover many ingredients that he cannot read and doesn't know how to identify. Write some of these long names down.

Your next outing could be a visit to the library, which will allow him to look up their true identity. I have a copy of an old food ingredients reference, which describes the mega-long names on all those food labels. Trust me, it will be very educational for your child to read for himself just what is in those big, long names. This will be the best lesson of all.

All that said, the bottom line is that the best way to teach your child anything is by example. You may not see the results this week, this month or even this year; but I promise you you will eventually see your lessons played out in the kids' actions later. That, my friend, is your legacy.

Spring Yard Clean Up is the Time to Create Your Yard Waste Compost Pile

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Can You See My Yard Waste Pile?

Last weekend I started in with a little bit of Spring clean up. A little weeding here, some mulching there and a bit of trimming. I ended up with a wheelbarrow full of weeds and bush trimmings. This was the perfect time to start my yard waste compost pile.



A while back I set it up, in anticipation of this day. I guess it doesn't take much to get me excited. Oh well. I needed a somewhat secluded site so that it wouldn't be visible from the street, or to any of my neighbors. A quick walk around my yard and I found the perfect place, between some large bushes and a tropical palm, that is quite overflowing. Located between a couple of trees, it is in partial shade, also. All of this provides great camouflage. Although the palm will need a bit of trimming, it is still large enough to keep my science project tucked away from view fairly well. Check out the photo above. What do you think?



My test came when my husband helped me dump the wheelbarrow over the top of the garden fencing I erected to contain the pile. I figured if he saw it and didn't complain, I was good to go. He's fussy about how things look outside. Sure enough, he didn't say a word. I guess that was my approval.


Since all of the material that went into the bottom of the pile is green, live weeds and bush trimmings, I knew I needed to add some brown, to give it balance. We had 7 nights of freezing temperatures this Winter (that's almost unheard of in Central Florida), so I knew I could easily find some dead potted plants on my porch and in my potted garden in the back. I was right. I located a half dozen crispy, dried out and dead potted plants. As I pulled the dead plants from their pots, I shook off some of the soil so as not to put too much weight into the compost pile. Then I dumped the remainder right into the pile, on top of the green matter, which hopefully will provide a balance. Needed moisture will come naturally with rain, so my new pile is off and running.


Lazy, as always, I did not stir the contents, but then I'm in no hurry. I suppose my wish list should have a pitchfork on it, just for this purpose, but I have to ask myself, "Would I use it?"


My biggest reason for composting is still that I don't want to use any more environmentally-UNfriendly plastic bags to send stuff to yard waste heaven or the landfill. And even if I used trash containers that would be left behind, there is still that concern that my yard waste will not be composted, but simply rot in a pit and never be used to add nutrients and moisture-holding capability to our sandy soil, here if Florida. That makes it a double waste in my analysis.



Besides that, I really can't get behind paying for all the gas and the trucks to haul off our yard waste, when we can simply turn it into compost in our back yards. I totally understand that we do need some help with tree limbs, fallen trees, and other such larger objects that cannot easily be placed into a compost pile. But, think about it; we could save a lot on trucks and gas if they only picked up the stuff that can't be composted in our yards. I wish someone would get that message across to the budget bureaucrats, who have been busy trying to figure out what costs we can cut. Do we really need this service?



Okay. I understand that some types of housing may not have an appropriate place for composting. But it seems to me that a simple, attractive, non-biodegradable, solid fence would aesthetically contain a compost pile just about anywhere. I'm talking about a plastic 3 ft. X 3 ft. contraption. Who can't find a spot like this on the side or back of their house. My first two compost bins are behind bushes--perfect.


One of my favorite sites for information on Earth friendly practices is Planet Natural. This site is a wealth of information on organic lawn care, composting, natural pest control, natural cleaning products and even natural pet care. If you'd like to read the article on Composting Yard Waste, just click this link. Their detail in this article is way over my labor time or willingness, but here I'll share a few tips:

• If you have a wood chipper or shredder, you can put sticks and such through it before placing them in your pile.
• Avoid waste from highly resinous trimmings, such as juniper, pine, spruce and arborvitae.
• Don't include waste that has been treated with weed killers.
• If you aren't planning to compost any kitchen wastes, you can still add occasional coffee grounds, when the pile becomes too dry.
• Add a little water occasionally to keep it slightly moist.
• If you'd like to have compost in a couple of months, I highly suggest you read the article at the link above. They can tell you all the ins and outs to make it happen quickly.
  

Tomorrow I'll be back with a few tips on influencing your school age children to live greener. Woofing Wednesday's post will provide a new way to recycle unusable clothing for your dog. Did that peak your interest? No, we won't be remaking our old sweaters into ones for Fido. I hope you'll stop in to see what I'm up to.

What Can I Put in My Compost?

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Coffee Gounds are Good for Compost

or Just as a Soil Additive

Before the holidays, I wrote about composting quite a bit, as I was just beginning to start composting. So, for reference, here are the links on my initial phase:

Composting: What is It and Why Do It?

Selecting a Spot and Setting Up a Compost Pile

Kitchen Compost Storage

Healthy Choices for Your Compost Pile

More Composting Options and Information

What Do I do With Large Quantities of Material to Compost?

My Composting Pet Peeve

Recycling Your Holiday Cards and Packaging

I was forewarned that my first batch of compost would be the slowest, due mostly to lack of skill on my part. I also quickly figured out that I am a lazy composter, so I added on several months to the estimate I was given as to when I would actually have compost ready. After all, it wasn't as much about the compost for me, as it was about not sending stuff to the landfill or through my garbage disposal to the water treatment facility.

Now, my first compost pile is beginning to show signs of near readiness, despite its lack of the recommended attention. It is rather fun to see the transformation from garbage and paper to what looks more like rich soil. This stuff will help my plants retain moisture, absorb nutrients and flourish.

Best of all, I have been sending very little to the landfill since I began composting, along with my stepped-up recycling efforts. It's actually exciting to take out my trash on pickup day. I look down the street and see so many cans, bags and boxes overflowing with household discards. My little one-half bag looks almost, well, like we don't throw much away. That is becoming more true every day. I'm doing more recycling, reusing, remaking, donating and composting--all of which give new life to most of what we formerly would have discarded. It feels good. I may even tackle Ebay at some point. Any tips?

Back to the subject at hand. I've been hearing a few more questions lately about what can actually go into a compost bin or pile. So, here goes. Hopefully, this will be a fairly comprehensive list, but please feel free to use the COMMENT link below the post, if you have questions. I'd love to hear from you.

1. Yard debris: weeds, dead plants, grass clippings, mulch, small twigs, leaves, etc. The keys here are small and not diseased. Don't put in large branches or diseased plant material.
2. Junk mail and other paper items, such as the following:
3. Magazines, with their covers removed (covers often have a shiny varnish on them that will not decompose well or be healthy for your plants)
4. Junk mail that doesn't include excessively shiny/varnished/heavier paper. Do not include envelopes with celophane windows.
5. Used printer paper, letters to be discarded, etc. will compost very well. To speed up the process, you might want to put it all through a shredder.
6. Newspaper biodegrades quickly. Of course, it is also recyclable in most municiple recycling programs.
7. Boxes made of paste board (cereal, etc.), corrugated cardboard (I recommend cutting or tearing it into smaller pieces), or heavy paper similar to poster board. The smaller the pieces, the faster the compost.
8. Paper bags of any kind, unless heavily varnished.
9. Paper Towel and Toilet Paper Tubes
10. Dryer Lint
11. Rags or discarded clothing made of natural fibers: cotton, wool, silk, hemp (remove buttons, zippers, etc.)
12. Foods, cooked, raw, or spoiled: All foods except meat, meat fats and dairy products (yogurt, cream cheese, cheese, etc.) can go into compost.
13. Miscellaneous household discards: tissues, cutips, cotton balls, paper towels, straw wrappers, note paper, used wrapping paper (not heavily varnished), receipts, paper tags from purchases, greeting cards, envelopes without celophane windows, untreated wooden skewers, wooden toothpicks, used napkins--okay, you get the idea. Just be mindful of what is on these items: i.e. cotton balls with nail polish remover, for instance, would not qualify. Neither would paper towels used with chemical cleaners.
14. Coffee grounds are wonderful for assisting with the nitrogen balance in compost. You can pick up free bags of grounds at Starbucks. I have found that they also balance the aroma, when the pile takes on a certain scent.
15. Egg Shells are also said to be good for your compost.
    

Now, for just a word or two on the balance of all this stuff. My composting mentor at Jolly Green Planet tells me that compost should always smell like a rain forest. If not, the cure is generally to add more brown material.


When adding materials, generally, alternate layers of brown and green materials. That brings me to the concept of brown and green. Apparently, dead stuff is considered brown and live or moist stuff is considered green. So, discarded foods and weeds or fresh grass clippings are all green materials. Paper, cloth and dead plant materials are all brown.


You may be asking what's next. That depends on how quickly you want compost. If you're in a hurry, then a routine of stirring the composting materials is said to be the most important thing you can do to speed up the process. I would add to that one tip. When your bin or pile is relatively full of fairly new materials that are not yet composted, stop adding and create a new pile. Allow pile number one to do its thing, with or without your assistance. By not continuing to add to it, you will allow the microorganisms to catch up on working their way through its contents more quickly, and get you to your goal faster.


Monday I'll be back to touch on composting your yard wastes, without food. This is another art, which I am just venturing into. It doesn't appear to be nearly as intimidating, so join me if you can. We'll get our yards into shape for Spring, and create a place to compost the debris, OR you could buy a compost bin. That would be nice tidy way to handle this matter.

If you're considering that possibility, I've selected a variety of ways you could do it, from "do it yourself" to automatic. Isn't shopping online great? It is so easy to compare. Have fun!

Building a Support System for Your Green Lifestyle

A Green Lifestyle:

If You Build It, They Will Come

Making the choice to live greener is more than taking your reusable bags to the grocery store and changing your light bulbs out to CFLs. That's a good start, but it won't bring you and us the results we need to clean up the Earth. I can't write the whole book today, but I can give you a few more tips on how to move forward with your efforts.


Most importantly, building a lifestyle of living more green will set the stage for new habits and simpler living. You have to start small and gradually add new habits, in order to reap the benefits and see success along the way. I've seen a few people jump in too quickly, making major lifestyle changes that suddenly they found they could not handle. Take it slowly and build gradually. As with any change (diet, stopping smoking, etc.) it always pays off to take baby steps toward your big goal. Here's some suggestions for getting the ball rolling:

• Realize that anything your children are involved in, you will be involved in. Choose wisely.


• When offering possible activities to your children, include those that build on good Eco habits, like Girl Scouts, for example.


• Encourage your children's efforts in any area that will save the Earth. Their successes will build their confidence and therefore, their interest in similar activities.


• Engage your kids in Spring cleaning with you, assigning each tasks that are age appropriate. An older child can locate recycling facilities by using Freecycle, Craig's List, Terracycle and Earth911; while a younger child can sort items: clothing, toys, electronics, etc. Each can contribute in their own way.


• Plan vacations and outings around an Earth Friendly theme, involving children in the research, planning and decision making.


• Label containers for broken or spent items that must be taken to recycling facilities, and use these as sorting locations throughout the year. Items like fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, electronics, small appliances, unusable paint, dangerous chemicals, expired medications (out of children's reach) all can be recycled and should not be disposed of in landfills.


• Have a Spring cleaning day in each child's room. Afterwards, hold a brainstorming session on new ways each discarded item might be used. How much landfill space did you save?


• Encourage science projects that involve Earth science. So much about caring for the Earth can be learned by testing of various components of our planet. Things like water, air, soil and produce can all be tested for toxins and other environmental hazards. How did they get there?

How did the toxins get into the vegetables? There's a subject for another post. I'll be back with that later.

Dog Day Afternoon Nap

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

You Know it's Cold When Xena Naps on My Bed

These days Xena takes most of her naps in her open crate. She likes it there. It's quiet, cozy, away from the noise of the household, and private. Mostly, though, I think it's also easy-access. At 12, you would think her joints might be getting a bit testy and she'd avoid jumping up, but nothing has changed. She is still quite playful and agile. She has always preferred sleeping on the groung level to my bed, except when it is cold. Then all bets are off. Here I caught her in a rare nap on a chilly day. We're getting more of them this Winter than usual. Global warming? I don't see it here...not this Winter.

My new Adopt a Dog Park campaign is moving along...well,...slow. I could really use some of you to join and perhaps add your dog photos or get a discussion started. Hey, at least I'm trying to do something socially responsible.

My second step was to set up a website in addition to the above discussion forum and photo sharing setup. My website allows you to contact me and actually adopt a dog park. Check it out at Adopt a Dog Park Website. You can write to me at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com if you're interested in helping to clean up your own dog park. Do it for your dog.

If you would like to submit your dog park photos to me, I will put them on Woofing Wednesday and/or on my new blog, the All Things Dog Blog. You can submit your dog park photos, with dog's name and park name and city/State to me at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. Thanks, and I'll look forward to hearing from you and your furry best friend.

Setting the Example for Younger Children to Live Healthier

Parents Set the Example

for Daily Exercise Right from the Start

P Teaching kids to live green really starts at the very beginning. Mind you, I'm no perfect example. I've learned along the way, but made many mistakes. So don't berate yourself for not being completely Eco-friendly. Just take each day as it comes, and make the most of each one. Despite all the seemingly rampant waste that occurred in my home during the early years of our family, I have one child who is currently an environmental science major at a very reputable university, and is spending the semester working on a sustainable farm. I share that example to help you realize that no matter how many mistakes you make, there is still hope.

If you have young, impressionable children, you have the easiest job ahead of you. Learning by example is something parents do naturally, if they only think about how their children see their actions. Without actually telling your child to save water, for instance, you can show him how to brush his teeth with the water OFF. Walking to nearby errands and composting your kitchen wastes to reduce landfill stress will also set the example. Include your child in these activities, giving him the "fun" jobs. These are just a few of the many things you can do that will go a long way to creating children who will lead us out of this crisis of natural resources.

Sometimes I wish I could go back and redo parts of my child-rearing years. Since that's not possible, I've vowed to focus on trying to make up for my former sins, and doing what I can to contribute to progress. My message to my grown kids and to all of you is:

• Start your own children off right with organic foods and plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Assure that your infants only come in contact with organic skin care products, clothing, sheets and toys--the ones that they handle and put in their mouths. These first years are so important to their bodies' and brains' development. At this most important stage of their development, there is nothing more effective that you can do to preserve their future health from the many toxins in our world.
• In all that you do, be mindful of what your children see in your actions. Set the example for what you want them to do or be.

Looking for organic baby products? Check out Amazon's selection by using the search below. I hope to see you Thursday when I'll be sharing some tips on building a support system for helping your kids to live greener. Join me then.

Green Lawn Care: A Tale of Two Families

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A FACTSHEET FROM

SAFER PEST CONTROL PROJECT

February------------------------------------

The Green Family looks through gardening catalogs to get ideas for their year. They order wildflower seeds to border their lawn, to make it a more manageable size.

The Brown Family looks through gardening catalogs to get ideas for their yard. They order vegetable seeds so their kids can grow a garden.

March----------------------------------------

The Green Family spreads corn gluten meal to prevent weeds from sprouting in the lawn.

The Browns apply a pre-emergent herbicide. They keep their children off the lawn for 24 hours as specified by the product label.

April------------------------------------------

The Green Family sharpens their lawn mower's blades.

The Brown Family's lawn has a few weeds and the lawn looks good.

May-------------------------------------------

The Green Family's children pull dandelions that survived from last year, every day for a week.

June------------------------------------------

The Greens spread an organic fertilizer on the grass. The organic matter holds the nutrients in spite of several rains, and releases them slowly throughout the season.

The Browns apply a synthetic fertilizer to the grass. The synthetic fertilizer delivers an immediate greenup of the lawn, but the unused nutrients end up in the groundwater, contributing to a decrease in water quality.

July------------------------------------------

The Greens' lawn looks good for the party they have on the 4th of July.

The Browns apply an herbicide to kill weeds. The spray drifts on their children's vegetable garden and accidentally kills all the plants. Additionally, the kids have to stay off the lawn for 24 hours, so they celebrate the 4th of July at someone else's house. While they are out, a neighbor's child chases her dog across their yard, barefooted, thus exposing them both to unnecessary pesticide exposure.

August---------------------------------------

The Greens water the lawn once a week. The lawn is greener than many of their neighbors who are watering daily. With deep roots in the healthy soil, the grass is not stressed very easily.

The Brown Family's children water the lawn every day for the whole month, but nothing seems to help their lawn in the heat. The daily watering also encourages white grubs (a pest that destroys grass roots).

September-----------------------------------

The Greens spread grass seed suitable for their somewhat shady lawn and add compost to help their grass out-compete weeds for the next season.

The Browns apply a synthetic fertilizer and accidentally burn the grass because the dosage was too high. They also spray an insecticide to kill the white grubs. The children can't play on the lawn for 24 hours, according to the insecticide label.

RESULT-------------------------------------

The Greens have a healthy lawn, and a lawn that will have fewer weeds next year. Their grass is also more resistant to disease and insect problems. Their children can safely play on it all summer.

The Browns have a green lawn, but it needs constant watering and fertilization. The need for weed control will be just as great next year. The Browns have unknowingly contributed to water contamination and have exposed their children to hazardous herbicides and insecticides.

------------------------------------------------

A TALE OF TWO FAMILIES: THE SEQUEL

February-------------------------------------

The Green Family's lawn was a lot of work last year, so they decide to hire a lawn care provider who offers an organic program, free of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

The Brown Family receives a call from a conventional lawn care service. Since they maintained their own lawn last year, and it was a lot of work, they decide to hire the conventional service, who will treat their yard with herbicides, insecticides, and synthetic fertilizers.

April-----------------------------------------

The Green Family's organic lawn care service applies a compost, corn gluten, and organic fertilizer. The organic matter holds the nutrients in spite of several rains, and releases them slowly throughout the season.

The Brown's conventional lawn care service applies a synthetic fertilizer and a pre-emergent herbicide. Much of the nutrients are washed off in the next rain and end up in the groundwater. The children are not allowed to play on the lawn until the grass dries, according to company literature.

June-----------------------------------------

The Green Family hand picks a few weeds.

The Brown Family's conventional lawn care service applies a synthetic fertilizer and an herbicide. After playing on the lawn, one of the Brown children complains of dizziness and feeling sick to her stomach. These symptoms could be a result of the pesticide application.

July-------------------------------------------

The Green's organic lawn care service applies an organic fertilizer.

The Brown's conventional lawn care service applies a synthetic fertilizer. The excess of nitrogen from the fertilizer application has encouraged aphids, so the company applies an insecticide as well as another dose of herbicide. The children are not allowed to play on the lawn until the grass dries.

August--------------------------------------

The Green's organic lawn care service scouts for white grubs, but the Greens have only a few per square foot--not enough to damage their healthy lawn. As a precaution against possible problems, the service applies Milky Spore, a naturally occurring bacteria which will inoculate the lawn against grubs over the course of a few applications.

The Brown's conventional lawn care service applies a fertilizer and an insecticide to control white grubs. The children are not allowed to play on the lawn until the grass dries.

September------------------------------------

The Green family's organic lawn care service spreads grass seed suitable for the Greens' somewhat shady lawn and adds compost to help their grass out-compete weeds for the next season.

The Brown's conventional lawn care service applies a synthetic fertilizer and an herbicide. The children are not allowed to play on the lawn until the grass dries.

October--------------------------------------

The Green's organic lawn care service applied another round of organic fertilizer.

The Brown's conventional law care service applies fertilizer.

RESULT------------------------------------

The Green Family has a healthy lawn, and it will have fewer weeds next year. Their grass is also more resistant to disease and insect problems. The children can safely play on it all summer. The Greens paid $250 for the season.

The Browns have a green lawn, but it is reliant on fertilizer and is easily damaged by insects and drought. The need for weed control will be just as great next year. The Browns paid $300 for the season.

------------------------------------------------
Source: A Tale of Two Families and the graphic above are provided to Organic Journey Online courtesy of the Safer Pest Control Project, dedicated to reducing the health risks and environmental impacts of pesticides and promoting safer alternatives. For more information, they can be reached at:

Safer Pest Control Project

25 E. Washington Suite 1515

Chicago, IL 60602

(312) 641-5575

(312) 641-5454

http://www.spcpweb.org/

For information on organic lawn care in Central Florida contact my provider at Jolly Green Planet.

Speaking of local companies, if you're a Central Florida resident, you might enjoy checking out a great blog which reviews local companies, products and services, Central Florida Green Guide.

I have just signed on as a regular contributor for CFGG, and my first post, Hoover's Essential Health Market--a Hidden Gem, appeared Friday, February 13. There is quite a variety of reviews on this site, so stop in and check it out sometime. You'll be glad you did.

Plastic Recycling Efforts Continue

Graphics credits: Take Back the Filter

According to Take Back the Filter, an announcement was made November 8, 2008 that "Brita and Preserve have teamed up to create a take-back recycling program for Brita pitcher filter cartridges!"


You can read the entire press release and get more information at the link above. Apparently, "participating" Whole Foods Markets are the drop off point for used filters. At this time, only pitcher filters can be recycled, not the faucet attachment type. Contact a Whole Foods store near you to see if they are participating in the program to recycle #5 plastics.


According to the website, "the filter material will be regenerated or converted to energy." An educational website, there is an Anatomy of a Filter Cartridge included, along with news, producer responsibility in this program, an opportunity to donate, and much more. Finally, a daily tally of the cartridges received from each state is included in the right sidebar, a motivating feature. I was disappointed to see the low number for Florida, but plan to do my part to increase that number. I hope you'll join me.

*********************************

On another note, I should not forget to remind you that tomorrow is Valentine's Day. If you are, like me, in a rush to bake something cute, yet simple, for your sweetie, check out my Valentine Cupcakes post and How to Make Recycled Valentines from whatever you have around your house. A homemade Valentine card is sure to drive Cupid's arrow home. Have a great weekend!

If you are interested in local (Central Florida) health food stores, I have a guest post on the Central Florida Green Guide today, Hoovers Essential Health Market--a Hidden Gem. This is one of my local organic markets; one that I frequent. If you live in the Altamonte Springs area, it's definitely worth a visit.

And the latest news, just in: Organic Journey Online was named to the Top 100 Organic Living Blogs, by a research project published by Radiography Schools.org. My blog actually was ranked number 15. It is good news to know that radiology students are also studying natural health avenues. I am pleased to be honored.

Are Seniors Going Green?

Let me begin by admitting that I didn't expect to find much green action in the senior citizen sector. I felt it was definitely an area I should investigate, but was surprised when I learned just how many seniors are truly concerned about the future of our Earth.






Perhaps it's their grandchildrens' world that they are worried about, or maybe they, in some small way, feel somewhat responsible for the current state of our environment. In fact, it is the Baby Boomers who are more responsible for our sad state of affairs, than their parents.






Think about it. Our current senior citizens grew up during the Great Depression, a time when unemployment was higher than our current record highs, and food rationing was considered the norm. These elders grew up learning how to use things up, and then reuse them again in some new way. Without knowing it, they passed along some of their know-how to our parents. Victory gardens were often grown organically with composted kitchen waste as fertilizer, and pesticides were not yet widely available for garden use. Natural pest control methods were more often used, such as soapy water sprays, hand picking insects and vegetable oil sprays.


Enough about what was; this post is about what is now, and now there is definitely a different group of seniors out there. The image I had of most seniors enjoying their afternoons in a rocker on the porch is very inaccurate. Many of today's seniors appear to be taking the bull by the horns, using their retirement years to make a difference.


Most notable is the Green Seniors site, founded by Joyce Emery and Keith Farnish, two like-minded seniors who wanted to make a difference. Each, in their own way, and on two different continents, had contributed considerably to the Eco-knowledge of their countries, and have continued to do more in their individual and mutual retirements, if you can call what they do retirement.


Of particular interest to me, each of them write for multiple blogs, and each have their own, as well. Emery's blog, Green Granny, focuses on encouraging seniors to make a contribution, thereby giving their grandchildren a better future. The Earth Blog, Farnish's creation, inspires people to take an interest in human rights and the global environment by offering many solutions to choose from.

Farnish's blog is philosophical and often scientific. Its appeal is to the more techhy sorts who like to look at human suffering issues with a microscope. Don't get me wrong, I think its a great blog for his target readership; I just found it hard to get my hugs there. Green Granny, on the other hand is more like a letter from the ultimate grandmother, filled with updates on her lifestyle and focused on trying to set a good example. I saw a bit of my own future in her blog, so naturally I would find it to be a better fit for my own personal reading.

Green Seniors' site offers green groups, how to articles, networking and campaigning, with a ton of information for interested groups to act on. It is truly a fabulous resource.

Gray is Green is the website of the National Senior Conservation Corps, founded by Robert Lane, a professor emeritus at Yale University. In a recent interview, Lane poignantly stated that "We are trying every way we know how to teach people who will be dead in a few years about environmental stewardship--so they can teach their grandchildren." This nonprofit has worked with seniors to boost recycling in senior-living communities, and shares tips on green living with them through many media.

The president and founder of Gerontological Services, Inc., a market reserach firm in California, Maria Dwight, says that ecological awareness is evident in retirement centers that she visits. Her presentations on such topics, which began in 2000 with 16 attendees, numbered about 400 in 2008. I was most impressed with the retirement village, La Costa Glenn, which cut copies of printed menus from 600 to 65, simply by posting menus online. Brilliant!

AARP reported on Australia's Grey Power Community, a sub-division of Greenpeace Australia, that is learning and sharing their knowledge with their senior residents.

These are just a few of the many examples of retired people getting involved in leaving behind a better world. So, how can we get our grandparents involved in living more green? That's another post for another day. Your comments are welcome below at the purple COMMENT link.

Sources:

• Typepad Featured Blogs
• Signs on San Diego
• AARP

Late Breaking News:

Organic Journey Online's Woofing Wednesday will soon be moving to its very own blog, the All Things Dog Blog. I would like to know how you all feel about the pup photos moving there also. Please answer the single question poll in the sidebar. Thanks for your input.

Green Solar Energy Provides a Warm Bath on a Cool Day AND Organic Journey Online Founds Adopt a Dog Park

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Solar Energy for a Warm Bath

Brrr! It's a chilly day and I need to bathe the dogs. Tanner just finished his turn and was kind enough to pose, all wet, for you. Fortunately here in Florida, chilly isn't as bad as it would be in, say, Chicago. I can still do it outside, and have warm water to do it. How? I use the greenest water heater available: solar power. It's easy. I take a kiddie bathtub outside in the morning and place it in the sun, in a location that is suitable for bath time. I fill it half full of water. By 2-3 p.m. the water has warmed to a toasty temperature, and bath time can be a pleasant experience for my pups.

Solar energy can work its magic, even in cooler weather. As long as the sun is out, the water will warm up. Your dog may not enjoy an outdoor bath if you live in Chicago, but warm water could be useful for other jobs, like washing a car or scrubbing the outdoor furniture. Who am I kidding? You northerners probably don't do that sort of thing in February, huh? Oh well. I'll stick to the South where I belong. Feel free to tease me in a COMMENT if you like. I deserve it.

Today's website offering is a surprise of sorts. I've been thinking about getting some kind of grass roots thing going to help keep our dog parks clean. With shrinking government budgets, money won't exactly be flowing to park care now, will it? So, I went to Care 2, a green and social action network, and set up an Eco-social action group called Adopt a Dog Park.

If you are a dog lover who enjoys visiting the dog park, you can visit my site, and even join if you like. There you will find photos of my dogs at the bottom in the Shares section, a few words about adopting your own local dog park, and a place to offer your comments, thoughts and ideas. You can even post your own dog park photos. Joining is free, and my only goal here is to encourage others to help take care of our dog parks. How you do that is up to you. I suppose that's what the discussion forums are for--exchanging ideas and such.

Next, I got really gutsy and looked up all the National Awareness "days," "weeks," and "months." I discovered that there aren't any special awareness dates for keeping dog parks clean, so I created one. A bit crazy, I know, but I was in the mood to make a difference and feeling a bit like Rambo. So here it is: National Clean Dog Park Awareness Week is the first full week of Spring, March 22-28.

I'm not done yet. On a roll, I decided I needed to have my own website, one where I could list dog parks that have been adopted and provide ideas on getting an adoption started in your area. Maybe this wasn't necessary, but it was part of my vision, so off I went to Google sites to set it up. I had no clue what I was doing, but, considering that, it didn't turn out too bad. I hope you'll visit this site at Adopt a Dog Park to see my simple creation and envision your own dog park listed at the left just underneath my listing, with your dog's photo shared on the page. I would love for yours to be the next dog park on my list. As you'll learn at the bottom of the webpage, Adopt a Dog Park has its own e-mail: LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you with ideas, questions, or perhaps some technical assistance. I'm SO out of my league!

Spread the word. Someday this will be big. I can see Clifford the big red dog making appearances at dog parks all over the country and big celebrations occurring at every dog park. Photos, costumes, doggie treats, bobbing for dog bones, and free samples of all the best organic dog foods will all be available. Can you see it? If you're with me on this goal, make a poster and put it up at your dog park in March. Tell your dog park friends. Let visitors know about our new holiday. Xena, Tanner and Oliver will be at the Doctor's Dog Park on March 22 to kick it off. I hope to hear from some of you that have adopted a park near your home--a place your dog can call his own.

I have a pillow on my bed that says: "The dog and his housekeeping staff sleep here". Sounds rather like a dog owner who cleans up after his dog, and I suppose that's what I'm proposing here. See you at the park!

Inspiration for Free, Recycled Valentine Cards

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Carrie's Hand Made Recycled Valentines

What do you need to buy to help your child make valentine cards? Nothing. Example: I made the above valentines with discarded items from around my home. All I needed was glue, scissors and a marker. I started with a photo of a kitten and scanned it. I copied it onto the back of a bright pink flyer from my junk mail--4 small scans onto one sheet.

Next I set a goal of finding a shoe box full of pink, red, white and purple items that could be used to create something 3-dimensional to complement the pink kittens. First, I dug through my personal collection of odd items I save for crafting and there I found buttons, ribbons, bows, felt scraps and some small pink and white shells from a broken wind-chime.

Then I searched my daughter's closet for leftover craft stuff. I knew I was more likely to find goodies in a girl's room. Jackpot! I found some scraps of pink construction paper which I used as the pink heart behind the kitten photo. I kept looking and found a white net bag which was tied shut with satin ribbons. It had once contained a cosmetics gift.

In my office I had recently cleaned out my files for the new year, and discarded a tattered red file folder. It had some writing on it, but I still used it for the backing of my valentines, covering the writing with the various hearts, shells, buttons and bows I had collected. I wrote on a few felt hearts and glued them to the front of each valentine.

Finally, I cut the net bag open along its seams, removing the bow and cutting it into pieces. Sectioning off the net into 4 pieces, each easily gathered into a bow made from the ribbon taken from its closure. As you can see below, I glued each of these onto the back of the valentines, giving the look of a flowing veil.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Back View of Valentines

While these valentines would not make it past Martha Stewart, your child's grandmother, teacher and friends (well, at least the girls) will be delighted. Perhaps a different style would better suit your boy, but you get the idea.

You and your child can enjoy a Saturday afternoon of crafting together, after cleaning out your own closets and collecting odd items that can be used. With a little creativity, you can make something unique and therefore, special. Remember, it's the thought and the effort that counts. It's also nice that you didn't buy lots of impersonal, paper valentines that were made at a factory and shipped hundreds, if not thousands of miles to your store. Sorry Hallmark.

Keeping Up With the Begleys: A Book Review

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

My Copy of Begley's Book

A Well-Used Resource

In my 2/2/09 post, Should We Stop Keeping Up with the Joneses? I admitted that I, too, am striving to follow a peer group. They're green and Eco-conscious, worry about things like toxins and eat really well. No, they aren't green Martians; they are the Begleys--Ed and Rachelle. Although I align myself with Ed's ideologies, I am nowhere near the green living expert that he is. I suppose I appear to have a bit more of Rachelle's attitude, in that I want to live life as green as possible, yet with a conscience and some style.


Ed Begley, Jr.'s book, Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life, is an interesting combination of a guy driven to live totally green with an aesthetics-conscious wife holding his foot on the brake. Their back and forth viewpoints on each topic are an excellent example of how many couples trying to live the Eco life can coexist and compromise to make every issue work better.

From common sense confirmation of tips you may have heard to pouring thousands of dollars into a fully-solar home, Ed reviews every angle of living green to share with you what works and what does not. He is clear, also, on what may work, but at a price that may not be worth the payoff. Most importantly and timely, Begley's book indicates clearly how much money you can save, or expect to spend, on each option he discusses.


© copyright Carrie Boyko

Begley, a well-known Hollywood actor, has been living a totally green lifestyle since about 1970, long before it was considered popular. His dedication to research and testing of new technologies and willingness to make make tough decisions to pursue his dedication to a healthier Earth have made him one of the most committed environmentalists of our time.

With all the book options out there for an Eco-conscious reader to choose from, this one could easily have slipped into the "Dummies" series, as Begley smoothly explains each concept and guides you to a simple decision. An easy read, it clearly helps you to move in the right direction--keeping it green. It's a bargain in paperback at under $15.00 (at Amazon) retail.

I'll return sometime in March with some tips from Begley's book on Thursday's Green Tip Toe: Your Organic Journey Online guide to 10-minute green living changes to make in your life. Join me tomorrow for some valentine card ideas made out of recycled materials. Ed will be proud of us!

Valentine Cupcakes Make for a Sweet Tradition

• 
  
  
  
  Today we're baking easy, easy, easy. I'm talking cake mix, frosting and some cute toppings. Easy to make these babies really appealing. Save time, money and don't forget to pull some coupons from my last coupon post. Here's your shopping list:
  
  
  
  
  
  

Valentine Cupcakes

• Organic Cake Mix, white
• Organic Frosting Mix, white
• Organic eggs
• Organic canola oil
• Organic butter
• Organic cooking spray or paper baking cups
• All natural toppings
  

All natural topping ideas: sliced strawberries (they're in season in Florida!), raspberries, pomegranates, dried cranberries, cherries or raspberries, or canned whole cherries. Perhaps you can think of some others and share them with us at the comment link below. I also found a couple of kinds of colored sprinkles that are made with natural colorings. Thank goodness for our small organic market.

Bake the cupcakes per the directions on the box. I tried some of the all-natural red coloring, but found, after 3 tries, that it turns gray. :( If any of you have found a really good natural red coloring, I'd love to hear about it. Meanwhile, I'll have to experiment with berry juices.

Whether they're for your own party or one for the kids, these cupcakes are sure to be a hit, but not too bad on the wallet.

If you're really looking for something low-fat, I've got your number. My favorite icing is a homemade one that takes only a few minutes and is fabulous. The recipe credit goes to the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book from 1976 (I'm really aging myself here, huh?!). Anyway, here goes:

Fluffy White Frosting

• 1 Cup Organic sugar
• 1/3 Cup Filtered Water
• 1/4 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar
• Dash of Sea Salt
• 2 unbeaten Organic Egg Whites
• 1 Teaspoon Organic Vanilla

Instructions:

1. Combine sugar, water, cream of tartar and salt in a saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.
3. Very slowly add sugar syrup to 2 unbeaten egg whites in a mixing bowl, beating consistently with electric mixer till stiff peaks form--about 7 minutes.
4. Beat in vanilla.
5. My note: This frosting stores best in container that is cracked open slightly.
   

Monday I'll be sharing some thoughts about my latest read: Living Like Ed, by actor/activist Ed Begley, Jr. Join me for the 411 on his book and a few of his most interesting tips.

Organic Valley Farms Needs Your Help to Stop Genetically Engineered Corn

Please feel free to pass this along to everyone who might be interested in sending the USDA a message on this matter:

---Original Message---

From: Organic Valley

To: mardi@comantenna.com

Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 12:24 PM

Subject: Action Alert: Tell USDA NO on New Genetically Engineered Corn

February 3, 2009

Tell USDA "NO" on new untested genetically engineered corn

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has given preliminary approval to Event 98140 corn, the first of a new generation of pesticide-promoting, genetically engineered (GE) crops designed to survive spraying with multiple herbicides. This latest petition to deregulate a new, untested, and complex GE crop poses food safety, environmental, and agronomic concerns that were not adequately evaluated by the previous Administration's USDA. APHIS has failed to adequately address a range of health and environmental risks in its draft environmental assessment (EA), including novel food safety concerns, increased pesticide use and increased prevalence of herbicide-resistant weeds.

To make matters worse, the USDA has limited the opportunity for public input, by only accepting comments until this Friday, February 6th!

Speak out now! Tell USDA to put the brakes on this approval, and prepare and publish a thorough Environmental Impact Statement before making a decision. Visit the Center for Food Safety's True Food Network at http://ga3.org/campaign/PioneerCorn TODAY to learn more and take action.

Thanks for all your support for family farmers and a sustainable future for all!

Sincerely,

The Farmers and Staff of Organic Valley Family of Farms

This Farm Friends bulletin is a publication of: Organic Valley Family of Farms, One Organic Way, La Farge, WI http://www.organicvalley.coop/farm-friends/

Stop Those Phone Books

Free to Taker:

Extra Phone Books Delivered to My House this Year


How many of us actually use the phone book nowadays? Really! With cell phones being the norm, we make at least half our calls while we are out. That means the phone book is at home. Fortunately, cell phones hold lots of our frequently-called numbers. Isn't that great?!!

Now you can stop the Yellow Pages from being delivered. If everyone who doesn't want another phone book would do this, we would save millions of trees each year. I did it. It took less than 1 minute to sign up. No lengthy process. It's quick and painless.



Go to Yellow Pages Goes Green and do it--right now while you're thinking about it. It will make you feel good to save some trees.

Finding Pet Adoption Resources

© copyright Carrie Boyko

Joan Adopted a Papillon

from a Local Pet Rescue Agency

I suppose it was inevitable. My mother fell in love with little Oliver, my Papillon. Nearly a year after we adopted Oliver, she decided it was her turn. I searched the online rescue agencies and found this little fella. He is now named Jacque. Hard to believe he is recycled--such a cute little thing. His original owner fell ill shortly after getting him, and my mom was lucky enough to adopt him.

In most metropolitan areas, stores such as PetSmart and Petco offer pet adoption services for a minimal cost. But these aren't your only options. Online searches for pets will net you many possibilities, including small, local rescue agencies and individuals, owners looking to give up a pet they can no longer keep, and even pets who have been left behind when their owner passed away.

Many breeds have their own adoption groups, so if you're in the market for a particular breed, do a search for rescue groups for that breed first. This may be a quick ticket to your new companion. At Google, you can try various wording to get different results. For instance, if you are looking for a Cocker Spaniel, try:

• Cocker Spaniel Rescue (always add your area for best results, such as "central Florida")
• Pet rescue
• Spaniel rescue
• Medium breed rescue
• Dog rescue
• Pet adoptions
• Dog adoptions
• Cocker Spaniel adoptions
• Free pets
• Free dogs
• Free dog adoptions
• Free pet adoptions

Okay, you get the idea. Each re-wording of the search will bring different results to the top of the list. I found many rescue agencies that offered pictures and a history--very helpful.

Most of the organized pet rescue agencies require an application prior to a visit to see the pet. This is strictly to protect the foster parent from too many visits from people who aren't seriously interested.

Your local ASPCA or Humane Society can often help you with local agencies and keep an eye out for pets coming in that meet your criteria. Also, check the American Kennel Club to locate agencies that specialize in rescuing the breed or breeds you have in mind.

Canine Companions and other assistance dogs, guide dogs, etc. have training groups throughout the country. A few quick searches will help you locate one near you that can tell you how you may be able to adopt a pup who didn't quite make the cut. These dogs come highly trained and about as well behaved as you can imagine. I have two friends with former Canine Companions as pets, and they are great dogs. One of Tanner's favorite dog park buddies, Mahon, is a former Canine Companion turned family pet.

If you aren't sure what type of dog you want, take some time to read up on breed characteristics, energy levels, breed talents and instincts, etc. You'll want to find a dog that is a good match for your household and its other members. Of particular importance is matching your energy level to that of the dog. You need to be sure you can keep up with his need for walks, runs, fetch sessions and such. And don't forget to find time for obedience classes. Fido will need to be well behaved to remain in your good graces. Do your homework to assure the best possible results.

Tomorrow I'll be telling you how to stop some of those pesky, unwanted phone books from showing up at your door. Stop in for a very quick tip that is really easy to implement. I guarantee it will be worth your time. Friday I'll have all-natural Valentine cupcakes. Yummy!

Let's Get Cooking: Organic Recipe Sites Galore

© photo credit Eden Organic Foods Site

Sure, you can use most of your traditional recipes to make organic dishes simply by substituting organic ingredients. The trick is often in choosing the appropriate organic substitution. Sometimes it is simply a brand that mimics the flavor you like, or occasionally a change in ingredients will give you the texture or flavor you're looking for. That's when you want to look up a recipe on an organic site.

Cookbooks are great. I love the feel of a book and its portability. But they are expensive, and I'm all about saving money right now. I'm sure many of you are too. So, I've done some poking around out there and made a list of a bunch of sites. I'd love to hear back from some of you on your favorite recipes. I'll keep you posted on some of mine, as well. Valentines' Day is coming up and I'll be cooking up a few goodies for your sweetheart. Meanwhile, you can pick out some things to try in the following:

Organic Authority:

Cooking Tips ( 14 Articles )
Stocks and Miscellaneous ( 8 Articles )
Spirits and Drinks ( 2 Articles )
Sauces, Condiments, Dressings ( 7 Articles )
Desserts ( 16 Articles )
Breakfast ( 1 Article )
Vegetables, Side Dishes ( 17 Articles )
Main Courses ( 13 Articles )
Salads ( 10 Articles )
Soups ( 5 Articles )
Appetizers ( 14 Articles )

Organic Kitchen

This site has thousands of recipes at dozens of sites, each classified onto one page for easy reference. There is a large selection of ethnic foods here--amazing!

Eden Organic Foods

The strength of this site is it browsing function. Pick a course, a type of cuisine, a special diet, or even certain ingredients that you would like to search for, and their site will take you to recipes that meet your criteria. A very useful tool, indeed.

Whole Foods Market

I hope this store appreciates how much free advertising I give them. Their recipe section is also extensive, and the good news is you won't have to chase all over town to find the ingredients. Obviously, they include ingredients sold in their stores. This could be a real time saver.

These few links could probably keep you cooking for months. I have to point out though, that two days ago I posted some videos of organic cooking that are wonderful. Scroll down to Better Living with Laura Klein and enjoy her wonderful first recipe (2 videos) of Roasted Organic Chicken and Potatoes.

My Woofing Wednesday post will provide a little insight on adopting a new member of your family, by recycling. Of course, pet adoption is much like recycling. One family gives up the pet and another takes it over. That's recycling in my book. Thursday I've got a great new way to stop all those unnecessary phone books that keep showing up at your door. I could fill 2 bookshelves with all the phone books that have come to my home in just the past few years. What a waste of paper and trees. See you then.

Should We Stop Keeping Up With the Joneses?

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Toni and Oliver have Something to Say

It's funny how, as a Nation, we are so competitive. Teenagers have to wear their Hollister labels on the outside of their shirts, ladies handbags boast their designer's unique look or logo, automobiles taut our financial--or apparent--financial success, and even senior citizens get caught up in the game with their country club memberships, botox and fancy manicures. Once something becomes " in" Vogue, everyone seems to follow. We're a Nation of followers.


Sometimes this following is what gets us into financial trouble, though, like our current credit crisis. Most of the credit card balances people carry are substantially due to purchases that were all about choice, and nothing to do with necessity. Even keeping our kids in dance class can sometimes end up being a cost which doesn't fit into our budget. If not, there is always the park. Some playground equipment and a kickball game every afternoon will help to keep your child in shape and his or her energy drained so they can focus on homework.



Those of you who know me personally are probably saying, "Yeah. We know Carrie had her kids at the park every afternoon, right. "WRONG! I'll admit my kids had more than their share of organized sports activities, for which we paid dearly. But it didn't go on a credit card, thank goodness.


I'm not judging, mind you; as I've just admitted, my kids got their typical afternoon activities in classic suburban style, with plenty of expensive travel teams, uniforms and yes, even private lessons now and then. Back then, it was all about the kids' future and helping them to find their talents and future paths. I guess that's how I justified it. Don't get me wrong. If I had to go back, I'd probably play it similarly to how I did then. I still believe that kids need help finding their strengths and gaining confidence through their activities. But that's another subject altogether. I'll get back on track.


Now, I'm finding that my own keeping up with the Joneses is taking on a different angle. Yes, I am a follower too. But with my Target handbag and my Walmart denim jacket that I love, I am not so much a fashion and affluence follower as I am a green living follower. Who am I following? I guess I would put Ed Begley Jr. in that position, since he's the only one I can place a semi-recognizable name on. He's the star of the Living with Ed TV show, and the author of Living Like Ed, both focusing on how to live a more Earth-friendly lifestyle. Begley is an actor, whom I have been aware of since his role in the original movie, The In-Laws, from 1979. Since about 1970, Ed has been living a totally green life, with nearly a zero carbon footprint. He's a person I am willing learn from, which I suppose is akin to following. If you'd like to learn more about Living Like Ed, join me on Monday, February 9 for a review of his book. Meanwhile, tomorrow I'll be passing along a few sites to help with your organic cooking efforts.

Speaking of organic cooking; On a whim, I posted some organic cooking videos this past weekend, along with my own Superbowl Chili. The videos start with a delicious looking chicken recipe that I plan to try soon. I'd love to hear your comments.


One last note. On Wednesday, January 28, I posted some green social networks and promised to join one. I have now completed my profile, calculated my carbon footprint, and viewed some of the groups who are working in various ways to lower their own carbon footprints. You can join as an individual, a group, or a company, and watch your actions reduce your carbon footprint. It's a pretty cool concept. I'm thinking about forming a group, with the theme of cleaning up and maintaining clean dog parks. That sounds like me, right?


I'm not totally sure what the effect of doggie poo is on the environment. Would this group be more of a social-action group, than a sustainable Earth group? Hmmm? I do know that runoff from these doggie leftovers after a rain carries the remnants of their food's pesticides, herbicides, food colorings and preservatives into the ground and our water table. These unattended piles often get stepped in, as well, and then taken home with either the dog or the human carrying remnants on their feet or shoes. That is definitely a bad thing for us and our Earth. So, that's what I'm trying to avoid, or at least minimize. For purposes of this goal, I'm qualifying it as a sustainable Earth project, even though it would qualify as a social action group, as well. That's good, right?


My thought is that I would pledge to walk my local dog park each week, picking up piles that others have missed, including trash, and encourage others to join my online group at Make Me Sustainable, to do the same with their own local dog parks. If you'd like to be a part of this, I'd love to hear your comments. Or, just join me at Make Me Sustainable. I haven't formed the group yet, as I'd like to percolate this action plan and come up with an appropriate name. Any ideas?

Better Living with Laura Klein: Organic Cooking Videos

You've got to try this chicken in the first 2 videos:



Let me know know what you think about these videos. Would you like to see more from time to time? I'd like to hear from you. Click that COMMENT link just beneath this line and give me some feedback.

Superbowl Chili: Super Easy in the Crock Pot

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Joan's Chili just starting in the Crock Pot

EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA!

It never fails. I've forgotten a holiday. Not being a big football fan, I completely overlooked Superbowl Sunday. So what can I cook up in a hurry for an easy dinner on game day? Chili is great on a cold day, and surprisingly it is cold here for Central Florida--65 degrees for a high on Superbowl Sunday is chili for us. Sorry, you northerners. Anyway, here's the way I make organic chili--a slightly modified version of my mom's traditional chili with a little twist.

Joan's Crock Pot Chili

• 1 1/2 pounds Organic Ground Chuck, browned and drained
• 3 28-ounce cans Organic Chopped or Crushed Tomatoes with liquid
• 2 15-ounce cans Organic Kidney Beans, Red Beans, Chili Beans or combination, drained
• 1 large Organic Yellow Onion, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons Organic Chili Powder
• 2 Teaspoons Sea Salt
• 2 Cups cooked Organic Elbow Macaroni, to be added at the end

Toppings:

• Minced Organic Red Onions
• Grated Organic Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• Organic Sour Cream
• Organic Hot Sauce(s)
• Organic Corn Chips

Instructions:

1. Mix the ground chuck, tomatoes, onions, seasonings, and beans together in the crock pot early in the morning.
2. Turn it on high, so your chili is sure to be ready when the party starts to crank in late afternoon.
3. By 2:00-3:00, you may want to adjust your seasonings to taste and turn the crock pot down to low heat.
4. Shortly before your guests arrive, prepare the elbow macaroni.
5. Stir into the chili, and you're done.
   

NOTE: Chili makes for a delicious chip and dip appetizer, as well as a main course. The wonderful thing is you don't have to fuss. The crock pot does all the work and you can watch the game--or just catch up with friends, if you're like me. Who's playing this year?

If you're feeling particularly ambitious, you might make some corn bread or corn muffins. This will be a big hit with the chili and is always a crowd pleaser.

Finally, if you're looking for a great organic beer, look no further. My guys have approved and love Caledonian Promise, which I find at our local Whole Foods Market. Send your guys out for ice and the brew while you're "slaving" over the toppings. This will give you a few minutes of peace and quiet to read, relax or perhaps check out my Sunday posting. I've put up some terrific organic cooking videos. The first recipe is a chicken dish that I'm planning to try next week. Check it out--looks great!

Organic Journey Online Gets Press in Oklahoma Newspaper

(Courtesy of the Examiner-Enterprise online newspaper, this article appeared yesterday. It is reprinted here for the readers of Organic Journey Online to enjoy)

Examiner-Enterprise.com


January 30, 2009

Education


While “Our Class Is Going Green,” a book written and illustrated by kindergarten students from Oak Park Elementary School, has made its way across the country via national book fairs, its message of environmental responsibility is being conveyed worldwide through the Internet as well.

Last month, Carrie J. Boyko featured the book in her popular blog, “Organic Journey Online.”

In her environmentally-focused blog — as part of an entry dated Dec. 16, 2008 — Boyko wrote of the book, “The effort and attitudes of these young kids plays out in the pages, adorably illustrated using things from their recycling bins. This book is a charming introduction to living green, suitable for even the youngest children.”

“Our Class Is Going Green” is a product of Joyce Nickels’ 2007-08 kindergarten class from Oak Park.

The book was entered into last year’s Scholastic Book Fairs’ Kids Are Authors program and eventually won the grand prize in the “Going Green” category.

Written by the 19 students from Nickels’ class with assistance from the instructor as well as Oak Park art teacher Erinn Rakes, the book was featured at Scholastic Book Fairs at more than 100,000 schools across the country last fall. The book — which was created with recycled products — had no trouble catching the eye of Boyko, who is the wife of Scholastic Book Fairs president Alan Boyko.

“If you have a young child on your gift list, I hope you will consider this fun and educational book,” said Boyko in her blog entry. “It is a wonderful thing to support the work of such conscientious youngsters. Thanks much to the children and staff at Oak Park Elementary School for their efforts.”

The young authors, who are now in Debra Wailes’ first-grade class at Oak Park, were invited by Boyko to respond to her blog entry and eagerly did.

The 27 comments on the blog were the most ever received by Boyko. In their comments, the students offered helpful hints to protect the environment and save energy and posed some questions for Boyko as well.

Young author Reed Adams commented, “If you keep things clean, it will help take care of the earth. Never keep your room messy. It will remind you to keep things clean.”

Trey Glover offered some words of wisdom as well.“Instead of throwing things away, use them,” he said in his comment to the blog. “We had some old used wood and then we used it to make a dog house!”

Those interested in reading Boyko’s full blog post (dated Dec. 16, 2008) focused on “Our Class Is Going Green,” as well as the comments from the young authors, can view it at the following link: http://www.organicjourneyonline.blogspot.com/.

From the main page, scroll down toward the bottom of the page and click on the link entitled “Older Posts.” Then, scroll down to the blog entry from Dec. 16, 2008.

“We were most excited to see that other people outside of the school were picking up on this book and being so interested in it,” said Dr. Bobbi Sexson, the Oak Park principal. “It was a great surprise to see it posted on a person’s blog like that, especially one that promotes sound environmental living.

“When people see that children have written a book like this — about taking care of the environment — maybe it will help them think about the things that they can do to help the planet.”

* Article credit to Examiner-Enterprise.

Why Organics are so Popular in Baby Products

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

My TreeHugger Mascot

More than a few people have asked me about the disproportionate amount of organic and all-natural products that that are seeing for infants: clothing, lotions, shampoos, baby oil, organic cloth or chlorine-free diapers, toys, organic sheets, etc.




Not surprisingly, I'm also seeing this transition in the classy pet boutiques. You know the ones. They're small, located in upper class areas where Yorkies and the like would not be caught dead outside without their cute little frilly outfits. I'm not making fun, mind you. I love it. It's just that my little dog is a BOY, so he's not into that frilly stuff. He does have a dapper little jacket--actually 2--and, dare I say it, one organic Tshirt. He's modeling it above. Yep! It's made out of organic cotton and has a tree appliqued on the back with the word TreeHugger on it. Awwww! I couldn't resist. I figured he'd be my mascot for the blog.


All joking aside, there is good reason to consider organics and all-natural products to be even more important for small children and small dogs. The answer is simple. Their bodies are smaller, therefore the buildup of toxins in their livers can occur much more quickly, when exposed to all those nasty additives like dyes in their sheets, towels and Tshirts, food coloring in their food, preservatives in their treats, and pesticides lacing all of it, lurking unseen. Because the toxic load buildup occurs faster, the smaller the body, our babies and small pups are more at risk.


Do my dogs eat organic food? You bet they do. I got the 411 from my vet on how to be sure it was balanced. There are some high-priced, boutique foods out there that don't meet the canine balancing criteria set by the AAFCO, so I did my homework. What's the AAFCO? The Association of American Feed Control Officials study animal nutritional needs and recommend the levels for healthy dog maintenance.


Enough about dogs. I've talked to lots of moms who apparently are on the same track with their infants. They are feeding their babies organic baby food, even though they don't eat totally organic themselves. At least it's a good start. As the kids grow, perhaps the diet of the whole family will move more in that direction. It's tough; I know there will be a lot of kids at school with fruit roll ups in their lunch boxes. But we have many new options available to us, and the organic industry is growing to meet the need. Despite the downturn in the economy, I still find my local Whole Foods Market to be quite busy.


Need help keeping up your standards? Check out my coupon post for dozens and dozens of coupons. You can save a lot of money with just a few minutes of printing on your computer. I'll be back sometime in February with some tips on making homemade organic baby food the easy way. If you don't want to miss it, be sure to subscribe in the box above. You'll get the title to each day's post in your e-mail. It's as simple as that.

The Last of the Green Ideas from "Kids Going Green"

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Recycled Holiday Cards Make Great Gift Tags

I enter today's post with a bit of sadness. I have truly enjoyed answering the comments and questions of the youngsters who have written to me about their book, Our Class is Going Green. Today is the final installment of my answers to them, although I do hope to hear from them again.

Brody reminded us to turn off things when we're not using them, to save electricity and batteries. Dominic is on the same track. His comment about not leaving the refrigerator open reminded me of ME talking to my own children.


ShaiRon is more focused on saving water. She says "You should never let it run." Desaray helps wash the dishes because it goes quicker and they use less water.


Ethan says we should remember to recycle, and ask for help if we need it. He makes a good point. Some things that can be recycled, can't go in our recycling bins. We can go to Earth 911 or Freecycle to find out where to recycle other things in our area.


Trey G. was the enterprising youngster who shared with us that his family used some leftover wood to build their dog a house. He also asked what I do to reuse and recycle my stuff. Wow; that is a question that would take pages to answer. I'll just give you one example that you might like to try yourself. I like to recycle my holiday packaging and cards. I make my Holiday cards into gift tags for next year's gifts. Here's a link to the post where I explain how to do this: Recycle Your Holiday Packaging and Cards. You could do this easily, at home or in art class. The picture at the top of this post is a few of this year's new tags. I like the birdhouse the best. What about you?

Speaking of recycling, I'm in the process of cleaning out my garage. I have all kinds of broken DVD Players and other electronics that I know cannot be just thrown into the garbage. They contain stuff that is bad for the Earth and need to be disposed of properly. Some parts of them can be reused, so it is best to take them to a recycler that specializes in these items. That is a post for another day. Here's the commercial:

Electronics Recycling 411

All new at Organic Journey Online

Coming soon to this channel

Thanks again to all the authors of Our Class is Going Green, and to their teachers who I know as Heather, Mrs. Wailes and Mrs. Nickels. Pardon me if I've missed any names, but please know that I appreciate ALL of you for making this a fun series for me. My readers learned a lot and were pleased to see children engaged in such meaningful activities. Keep up the good work, ladies! We need more teachers like you.

Social Networking Goes Green

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Xena and Tanner Network on the Raft

Over the holidays I took the plunge. No, I don't mean into that pool, although I did that too. Did you see last week's Woofing Wednesday photo? Anyway, I finally joined a social network. As a blogger, I know that networking is critical to my success, but honestly, it is my shortcoming. Or was. I can now say that I'm enjoying the new social butterfly that is emerging from my cocoon. I'm finding cousins, coworkers, old friends and new friends from my past that I thought I would never talk to again. We're catching up on the years and finding common ground.

Now that I'm engaged in this new activity, I'm seeing how the social networking atmosphere can help me spread the word about living more green and eating organic. If I can save just one person from the pain of cancer, it will be worth it. Not to mention that I'm having a blast making all these connections. The world gets a little smaller each time I sign on.

So, what's my next step? Green social networking. Want to join me? A bit of research and here's a few green social networks you can choose from. I think I'll start with Make Me Sustainable. I hope you'll join me. Inspiration breeds action. Thanks to Take Part, a social action network, for much of this info. Here they are, with a few words about their main focus:

1. 2People focuses on climate policy.
2. Be Green Now is all about minimizing carbon emissions. They have a carbon calculator on their site.
3. Big Carrot gives prizes for community projects that are suggested, solved and followed through on by groups.
4. Carbon Rally has team competitions to reduce carbon emissions.
5. Care 2 make a difference is a "do-good" type site, with a large variety of areas to choose from and focus on.
6. Celsias is a network of climate fighting advocates who participate in projects.
7. Change has a variety of philanthropies, several of which are green.
8. Do The Right Thing includes user-created corporate performance ratings and encourages corporations to communicate with consumers.
9. Gaia is environmentally and spiritually conscious.
10. Greenwala tauts itself as The green social network. See what you think.
11. Gusse is all about urban sustainability.
12. Make Me Sustainable has carbon footprint tracking for members that continues as they make lifestyle changes, allowing members to monitor their improvement.
13. World Coolers provides global warming alerts.
14. Zero Footprint creates branded carbon calculators and community sites for cities and large organizations. They are non-profit.
    

I'm sure there are more, but this is certainly enough to get you started. If you're in, just pick one. I plan to take the time to develop one fairly well before I get myself in over my head. Wish me luck, and I hope to see you there.

Quick Organic Pancakes are Great for Mornings on the Run

I'm so excited to share this with you--especially you moms who would like to make pancakes on school mornings, but can't seem to make the time for all that measuring, mixing and batter messes. Your answer is here.

I found this gem at my local supermarket, Publix, of all places. It was in the cooler with the dairy products and just jumped right off the shelf at me. I guess I'm beginning to really scan for the key word: ORGANIC. It is small, but it is there: Organic Batter Blaster Orginal Pancake & Waffle Batter, USDA ORGANIC.

My first concern was its packaging. It comes in a can, like whipped cream, which I soon found out contains no CFCs that can deplete the ozone layer. So it passed the first test. These types of cans are recyclable in my area, so that's test number 2.

What I like about this was the idea that the batter is ready and there's no pouring it onto the pan and dribbling all over the counter. You know the way it goes. Not to mention the time it takes to make the batter. On school mornings, it just doesn't happen. There's always some little crisis (remember those meltdowns over clothing choices and lost homework papers?) that makes it impossible to find time for a hot batch of pancakes.

So, I tried it. The can makes 9 servings of 4 pancakes each. It contains 0.5 grams of fat per serving and only 7 grams of sugar--better than your average breakfast cereal. Breakfast was done in a jiffy with no messes. Simply a pan and a spatula. With the plate and utensils rinsed and in the dishwasher, I was done and working within minutes. This was definitely a do-able process for a work or school morning breakfast.

Watch for it in your dairy cooler, or visit their site for a store locater. Just type in your zip code and they'll tell you which stores carry it within a 5 mile radius of you. Enjoy!

Live More Simply or Simply Living: Either Way You Save

Use the library for books, magazines and newspapers Drop the bottled water habit to save big bucks

More Fun than the Gym!

We're all feeling the pinch right now. Everything seems to cost more and who isn't worried about losing their job? Cheer up. I'm here to boost your spirits with an inspirational idea: Live more simply. How, you ask? Here are a few examples to get you started:

• Drop your gym membership and walk your dog, take a hike in the park or ride your bike on your errands.
• Skip pizza delivery and make your own. It's a fun family activity that everyone can get behind. Assign prep kitchen tasks according to age and when the pizza is ready, everyone feels like he or she had a hand in making it. It will taste that much better.
• Save $10 a person on movie tickets and rent one for $5 or less. Invite your friends and spring for the popcorn and organic lemonade. You've invested less than the price of one ticket and you've got yourself a party.
• Need some help with "living in the now"? Visit the dog park and watch the dogs play. So what if Fifi bumps into Hulk. Neither care. Dogs let that sort of thing go. They don't hold grudges. So you left them home last night while you went to a free concert in the park. No big deal. Fido is still happy to have you home and will greet you with plenty of affection. We can learn a lot from our furry friends about our attitudes toward life.
• The cost of a land-line phone is no longer necessary, unless you need a fax machine. Add a line to your family plan for $10 (at many wireless carriers) and drop your land line. You've just saved $40 a month.
• Try some budget-cutting measures in the kitchen that will have the same effect on your waistline. Split one grilled chicken breast onto two large dinner salads.
• Go meatless with homemade pasta sauce or grilled pepper jack cheese on rye bread. Make your own bread in a bread maker. The sauce recipe at this link is inexpensive, easy and fabulous.
• Make your juices skinnier by adding about 1/3 water. This tip will lower the calories, cost, and hardly be noticed.
• Eat more raw foods to save time in the kitchen, as well as power.
• Check out the coupons on my Coupons, Coupons, Coupons post from last week. There are tons of savings there.
• Drop the bottled water habit to save your health and lots of dough. Pick up a BPA-free reusable water bottle and a Brita water filtering pitcher. You're in business and will save lots of money.
• Remember old fashioned Oatmeal? It will save you a bundle over cold cereal and is much more nutritious. Think it takes too long to make in the morning? Check the label: One bowl is 3-5 minutes in the microwave. Or just boil up a pot full and you'll have leftovers to reheat tomorrow or the next day. Another option is to make the oatmeal while you're cooking dinner. Microwave each bowl in the morning for about 2 minutes.

By now your own ideas are probably kicking in. Have a brain-storming session with the family tonight and make sure that a youngster is taking notes. It will make him or her feel important, and so will being part of the decisions that are being made. The kids will be much more likely to pitch in and do their part when they get to be a part of the planning process. Good luck, and I hope to see you back here soon for more help with your green and organic lifestyle makeover.