St. Patrick's Day All Natural Braised Corned Beef Dinner

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

No Leftovers! This Corned Beef Dinner

Was All Gone When Dinner Was Over

St. Patrick's Day may bring out the green beer in some places, but for my family I'll be cooking up a traditional Irish corned beef brisket, complete with the boiled vegetables. I have to admit that it has been years since I have made this. I'm excited to have it again, and equally pleased that my daughter and her college roommate will be home for Spring break to enjoy it with us.


I had to do quite a bit of digging to find the recipe I last used for this meal. It was buried in a book I haven't used for quite some time. I'm glad I had an excuse to dust it off; it looks like there are some other goodies in there I should try again. Meanwhile, break out your slow cooker or Crock Pot. This is definitely the easiest way to make it.


Ingredients:

• 3 to 3 1/2 lb. All Natural Corned Beef Brisket, trimmed
• 1 and 1/2 cups filtered water
• 2 cloves Organic Garlic, minced
• 2 Organic Bay Leaves
• 1 medium head, Organic Cabbage, cut in wedges
• 2 large Organic Potatoes, cut in lengths
• 4 medium Organic Carrots, cut in half lengthwise
• 1 medium Organic Yellow Onion, cut in wedges

Instructions:

1. Wash brisket and place on the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Place bay leaves and garlic on top of meat.
3. Layer potatoes over the meat first; then add carrots and onions in that order.
4. I like to add the cabbage about 2 hours before mealtime to keep it a bit crisper, but you can put it in now if you like it well-cooked.
5. Pour water over ingredients slowly.
6. Cook on high for 3-4 hours and then turn to low for the remainder--totalling 8-12 hours. If you have less time, cook it on high for 8 hours. That's what I did and it was very tender and delicious.

I cannot give credit for this recipe to anyone, as it is a combination of 3 different versions, using crock pot cooker timing. I guess that makes it mine. Watch out Martha!

On Monday, March 16, I'll be experimenting with another combo recipe for Irish Apple Cake. This cake is my own version of one of many Irish apple cake recipes. It comes heavy on apples and light on flour, and soooo good. Come join me for this traditional recipe and raise your green beer in a toast to...Good Luck!

Tips from Living Like Ed

© photo copyright Toni Boyko

Carrie and Tanner Play Tug

with a Recycled Tug Toy

Recently I posted Keeping Up With the Begleys--A Book Review, after reading the actor/activist's book. In today's post, I'm sharing a few of his easiest to implement tips for saving money and resources:

• It turns out that, when loading your dishwasher, hand-rinsing them uses more water than running the dishwasher's rinse cycle. That was a surprise to me, but good to know.
• Every year our curbside recycling programs change. This year, mine added some new items that can be included for recycling. Be sure to keep up to date on what you can place in your bin for recycling.
• Make use of Terracyle and Freecycle to find new homes for items that cannot be recycled in your curbside program.
• Buy as many products as available in glass, particularly larger volume items like juice and milk, when available. Glass is one of the easiest materials to recycle, therefore a better choice.
• Choosing plastics can make a difference. Number 3 and Number 5 plastics are the least environmentally friendly, and therefore the least desirable. When possible, choose products that are packaged in other recyclable materials.
• High quality paper, such as printer paper, can be made into recycled printer paper, when recycled with the right facility.
• Don't place dirty paper in recycling bins.
• Although magazines can be recycled, it is better to donate them, after you've read them. Consider hospitals, retirement homes, any place with a greater need for reading material.
• Leftover paint can be donated for use in a paint exchange program. Imagine giving up your 1/2 can of yellow paint in exchange for 1/2 can of pink for that bathroom you've been wanting to repaint. Cool idea, huh?
• When recycling electronics like computers, be careful to use reputable facilities that will destroy any contents that might provide information for identity theft. Even though you may think you have deleted all the contents of your hard drive, much of that information can still be harvested by a knowledgeable hacker.
• Creatively reusing old items is the best plan of all. Recently, with an idea from a friend, I made some old clothing in doggie tug toys. I was so pleased to have a new use for stained and torn clothing, and so were my dogs. Check out this idea at Recycled Doggie Tug Toys, my post on how to quickly and easily make your own.
• Choosing products with less packaging means less to recycle and send to the landfill later.

Next week I'll return to offer a few additional tips, this time on the topic of reducing your exposure to toxins. Some call this your toxic load. Sounds scary, but it's easy to make a difference. Join me next Thursday.

Joan Enjoys Oliver and Her Organic Orchids

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Joan and Oliver Admire her Organic Orchids

My mother has been adding coffee grounds and eggshells to her orchids, and this gorgeous bunch of blooms is obviously crying out, "We don't need chemical fertilizers." Oliver seems to enjoy them also, and loves spending time with my mom. She is becoming quite the dog person, since she adopted Jacque. He's inside taking a nap. Oliver wore him out wrestling in a game i call the Tumbleweed, because that is what they look like--a little ball rolling about in the wind. The two playful boys sure do enjoy each other's company. Oliver loves visiting mom when I am working in her area for the day.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Sleep Tight Jacque

For tips on growing your own organic orchids, inside and out, check out these sites:

• Go Organic Gardening
• Lone Star Orchids
• Orchid Blog

Happy gardening. Isn't Spring wonderful?!

Before I sign off, I'd like to mention that today's post at my All Things Dog Blog is about bringing peace between your dog and cat. If you've got both living in your house, I hope you'll stop in for a tip or two.

Save Money with These Organic Coupons

Saving Money with My Organic Coupons

I went on the hunt for organic coupons again, this time looking for new sources to change up the assortment. I used a different set of parameters in my searches and different search engines and found quite different sites popping up. I hope you'll find some treasures in here. What I do for you guys!!! Just kidding, of course. I love it. Have a fun shopping spree. Don't forget your reusable shopping bags.

Yahoo Glue

Earth's Best Baby Food

Chuck's Natural Food Marketplace

Mom's Organic Market

Deals for Families

Eating Well

Organic Valley Coop

Mambo Sprouts

Love to Know Organic

Sustain Lane Greensaver

Focus Organic

Grocery Coupon Guide

I'd love to hear some feedback on this batch of coupons. Although I watch my analytics program and can see that coupon posts are always very popular, I would love to hear from you personally about your thoughts on this month's edition. Click that COMMENT link just below and tell me what you think. Thanks!

Lighting a Fire Under My Compost

When I initially started my first compost pile, I vowed not to turn into a composting maniac. I may have gone a bit too far with the vow. Other than filling the pile, I have completely ignored the poor thing. Despite that, when I peek in it seems that Mother Nature is doing her thing. I could give it a little help and have some nice, rich organic compost in time for a Spring green-up treatment for my potted plants. The one thing I have done to assure organic compost is to only put in organic food scraps. So whenever I finally get some real compost, it is going to be super duper healthy stuff. Hmmm.....maybe I could sell bags of it!


So, how can I tell that Mother Nature is working? The appearance is becoming more like a textured soil-like material, and it smells fresh and earthy. I guess it's about time I paid some attention, so here is my plan:

• Buy a small pitchfork and begin turning the pile a few times a week. I could say I was going to turn it daily, but I don't honestly believe that will happen. At heart, I am still the lazy composter.
• Turning the compost will allow me to asses its moisture and temperature. Warm, moist compost will decompose faster. If needed I can add a bit of water to assist Mother Nature.
• The pile is ideally located where it receives several hours of morning sun, so the temperature should generally be good in that location during the summer. The concern I have is that we have had a particularly cold Winter this year, so that may have slowed things down a bit. One night we had an unheard of 23 degrees, which hovered for 5-6 hours. My compost was probably frozen that night, so doubtful if it has reached an optimum temperature since then.
• One other thing I could test for, after a good stirring, is the Ph. Or is it pH? Yeah, I think it is pH. Anyway, I have some of the pH testing papers, so that could be an interesting science experiment. I'll look up the pH goal for compost piles and we'll see where mine stands.
• After assessing the condition of my compost, I may decide to purchase a package of stimulator for it. Supposedly, this is all natural stuff that aids Mother Nature by luring in the microorganisms that do its work. There may be some natural enzymes in there too; I'll have to look into that. There are all kinds of these products on the Internet, so I'll be calling my composting mentor, Vicki at Jolly Green Planet, for some advice.
  

Meanwhile, I'm going to check out the compost activator products available at Planet Natural and the ones shown below. Has anyone out there got a favorite? I'd love to hear from you.

All Natural Chorizo and Potatoes: A Man's Meal

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

All Natural Chorizo and Potatoes

Why is it that men are so attached to meat and potatoes? I haven't answered that question, but this recipe will most certainly satisfy the men in your family. It is actually a modified creation of a meal my son, Brent, experienced while interning in London last summer. Thanks Eugene!
The rich, garlic flavor, tangy onions and spicy Chorizo combine with the potatoes and seasonings for a very flavorful, and budget-cutting dinner.

Ingredients:

• 1 package of All-Natural Chorizo (I found it at Whole Foods Market)
• 4-6 medium Organic Potatoes
• 1 1/2-2 medium Organic Yellow Onions
• 2 Tablespoons Organic Garlic Infused Oil (see my instructions below for preparing this yourself)
• 2 Tablespoons Minced Organic Garlic
• 1-1 1/2 Teaspoons Sea Salt
• 1/2 - 3/4 Teaspoon Organic Black Pepper

Instructions:

1. To create your own garlic infused oil, start by mincing at least a couple of heads of garlic and place them in a small glass container. Pour enough Organic Olive Oil over the minced garlic to cover it completely. Cover tightly and refrigerate to marinate the oil. I use this for so many recipes, that I keep the container filled at all times.
2. Slice each Chorizo sausage longways and then slice into 1/4 inch pieces.
3. Chop onion.
4. At this point, place the oil and garlic in a large sauce pan and turn on medium heat.
5. Peel and cut potatoes into small bites.
6. Place remaining ingredients in the pan. Season and stir. Do not cover.
7. After about 10 minutes, stir and turn the mixture.
8. Check again every 5-10 minutes until potatoes are tender and have become crispy brown on the edges.
9. Serves 5-7

This dinner is packed with flavor, so pair it with a green or fruit salad to balance the flavors. Enjoy!

Monday I will be passing along some tips on speeding up your compost pile. Mine is crawling along like a turtle, so I finally decided to take some action--minimal, but nevertheless, action.

A Greener Shade of Dry Cleaning

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

A Greener Cleaner

This was an experiment made in heaven. Let me explain. When we moved from Charlotte, NC back to Central Florida, my challenge was to find a dry cleaner that suited (no pun intended) my husband. That's not always an easy thing to do. To be honest, it is almost always very difficult. He's fussy. Not just fussy; he's downright adamant that his dry cleaning must be perfect.



So you can imagine how many dry cleaners we went through before I found one he liked. Maybe you can't, but I'll give you a hint; it was more than 20. We've stuck with the winner for quite a few years now, and when my itch to find a greener cleaner came scratching, I knew I was in for a big challenge. I honestly did not expect to be changing cleaners. But here we go.



After doing the required research I learned that there is apparently no such thing as ORGANIC dry cleaning, and that such a thing would actually be an oxy-moron. The silicone dry cleaning solution used in the GreenEarth Cleaning products, which are used by Martinizing Dry Cleaning Stores, are described as chemically inert, because they do not interact with the clothing. The reports indicate that their dry cleaning products leave no residues and are therefore, more gentle to clothing and buttons or other trims.



According to their documentation, about 85 percent of dry cleaners use perchloroethylene (or perc, for short), which is classified by the EPA as a Toxic Air Contaminant and a probable human carcinogen (cancer causing chemical). No surprise if you've ever take a whiff inside a bag of fresh dry cleaning. Perc can seriously contaminate soil and groundwater, as well as cause irritation to eyes, nose and throat, along with headaches, dizziness and fatigue.



Green Earth's silicone cleaner, a liquefied sand, is so safe that it is not regulated by the EPA. When it is released into the environment, it degrades into its three original components: sand, water and carbon dioxide.

There are 2 other recognized green dry cleaning methods--wet cleaning (another oxy-moron: "wet dry cleaning") and CO2, a liquid carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, CO2 machines are extremely expensive, making them unaffordable for the average family owned dry cleaner. Wet cleaning methods require extra labor that also is costly, leaving these two methods to represent less than one third of all dry cleaning.

In addition to checking out the chemical side of things, I wanted a dry cleaner who would recycle or reuse their hangers. After all, I had been collecting them since I pledged to go the green route--about 8 months or so. Do the math. Five shirts a week and a few jackets and suits each month need to go to the cleaners. I suppose that's about 25-30 hangers a month. It was quite a load to drop off, and they were happy to get them.




I arrived armed with a huge load of hangers and a bag of clothes to be cleaned. Angela cheerfully put my information in the computer (that was a surprise) and told me I would be emailed when my cleaning was ready. Cool! No more trips to the cleaners for naught.


Then the big day came. With my laundry quickly retrieved, I scanned it skeptically, knowing I would find something my husband wouldn't like. But I didn't. The ironing job was as perfect as can be. No broken buttons or missed stains. Before I could awaken from this dream, I grabbed the laundry and scurried out saying, "I'll be back next week. Thanks again."




Tomorrow's Food Friday post is a recipe for All Natural Chorizo and potatoes. This recipe is a man's meal, for sure. Come and enjoy a hearty meal that is also a money-saver.

Recycled Doggie Tug Toys

© photo copyright Toni Boyko

Tanner and I Play Tug with a Recycled Tug Toy

Thanks to Carmen and Buddy Lee for this great idea. I hate throwing things away now. I'm getting so anal about my trash volume that I look really hard for ways to reuse things. I donate our unused clothing when it is in good enough shape to be used by someone else. But what about torn or stained clothing?


That's where Carmen's idea comes in. One night at agility class she was using a particularly cute tug toy with her little Corgi mix, Buddy Lee. When I inquired about it, she shared her secret. The tug toy was actually remade from a pajama top that was no longer being used.


With a little instruction, I went home to give this idea a try. It turned out to be so easy, that I just have to share it with you. Carmen's concept is simple. Use the strongest part of the clothing as a handle. Necklines with collars and waistbands are good.

Lay the item out flat on a table and cut two slits up the length of the item, creating 3 sections. Braid the 3 sections tightly and when you near the last 8 inches or so, tie the 2 longest pieces around the third and knot it tightly.


Trim off all the ends to create even lengths. Viola'! Your pup now has a new toy--free!

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Assorted Recycled Doggie Tug Toys Made by Me

A few additional tips to make your experience less of an experiment than mine was:

• For ease of braiding, hook the "handle" over a chair knob, as shown above, or a door handle.
• I found that rolling the cut edges of the strips into the center of each strip make for a neater looking finished product.
• Neatly trim out buttons, brads, zippers, and labels, along with any other metal or plastic items attached to the clothing.
• Double knot the bottom for extra tough tuggers, like my Golden Retriever, Tanner.
• Since all clothing has front and back sections, I cut double strips, so I actually start out with 6 strips, and combine them in twos.
• For short sleeved shirts, simply invert the sleeve into the strips. You'll hardly know they're there.
• Long sleeves make great strips of their own, leaving the shirt body to be a third strip. I found it wasn't a problem to have different thicknesses in the sections.
• Denim is good and strong for extra large dogs.
• Cotton knit polos have a little more give for the mouths of medium sized dogs.
• Thinner fabrics make smaller braids for small dogs to get a good grip.
  

I hope you enjoy making some tug toys for your furry friends. I'd love to hear from you if you have any other great ideas for making recycled dog toys. Happy tugging!

Today at my All Things Dog Blog I am presenting some help on making mealtime a bit more mannerly for your pack. Even if you only have one dog, feeding time can be a bit of an excited time. Tanner, Oliver and Xena are there giving a rare peek into chow time at our house. Stop and see how easy it can be to bring a calm dinner to the....ummm......floor.

Tomorrow's post here at Organic Journey Online will be about greener dry cleaning. I hope you will come and share in my pleasure of finding a less-toxic dry cleaner, and also a place to reuse or recycle all those dry cleaning hangers I have collected.

Pesticide's Destructive Path

Once again I am on a rampage against pesticides. My son, Brent, is working on a sustainable farm in Costa Rica for the semester. There he met another student, Lauren, who recently helped to film a documentary, with a $10,000 Projects for Peace grant, to help expose the plight of the banana workers in Nicaragua. The story is all at once appalling, enlightening, absorbing, saddening and left me feeling helpless, yet more inspired than ever to avoid pesticides.

I met with the organic pest control representative today and signed up. More on that later. Check out this 2-part documentary video. Grab a box of tissues first. Comments?





Thanks to Lauren for bringing this to my attention through Brent. I am very proud of you Lauren!

Hold Fast Your Dreams

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! Thank You for

Sharing Your Speech in My Book

A few years ago I published a collection of commencement addresses, given by well-known Americans, HOLD FAST YOUR DREAMS. From time to time, I reread some of their advice. Often this trip down memory lane brings me to consider the enjoyment I experienced in working on this compilation of wonderful speeches. Today’s review of the book found me looking for comments and wisdom that might address my current passion, that of living more green and eating healthier.

While most of what I found can only be loosely linked to my new passion, I found much good advice on tackling my new endeavor. I hope you will patronize me while I offer a few examples of the wisdom I found in these words.

Gloria Steinem, the ultimate, influential feminist, suggested that “whatever you want to do, just do it. Do not worry about making a fool of yourself.” I contemplated this and decided that I did just do it, and I most certainly am making a fool of myself—sometimes--or at least, according to my kids.

Carl Sagan’s advice was similar, in that he insisted that “the urgency you feel to make change is just the extent that change will be made. Do not sit this one out. Do not play it safe”. I am sure that, as one of the word’s most well-known Astronomers, he took his own advice.

After reminding her audience that there are no free lunches, Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, advised them to “Listen for the sound of the genuine within [themselves].” How poignant is that?!

Cartoonist, Cathy Guisewite, had several thoughts which particularly struck home with me. Let’s see what you think:

· “Give up the quest for perfection and just shoot for 5 good minutes in a row.”

· “If you want something to change, do something different.”

· “Allow yourself to regraduate every 4 years”, in other words, reevaluate and remake your life to suit the changes that need to be made.

You will probably not be surprised to hear that Ralph Nader’s suggestions involved a term he coined as citizen work, which is essentially social action and volunteering. I felt proud to have joined the Care2 network, and to have started a campaign for dog owners to Adopt a Dog Park.

Grammy award winning musician, Billy Joel, ended his remarks by profoundly stating, “Welcome to the fire. Now it’s your turn to hold the hose.”

Finally, I will leave you with the entire speech given by one of the most famous children’s authors of all time, Dr. Seuss:

My Uncle Terwilliger on the Art of Eating Popovers

My uncle ordered popovers
From the restaurant’s bill of fare,
And, when they were served,
he regarded them with a penetrating stare…
Then he spoke great Words of Widsom
As he sat there on that chair:
“To eat these things,” said myuncle,
“You must exercise great care.
You may swallow down what’s solid…
BUT…you must spit out the air!”

AND…as you partake of the world’s bill of fare,
that’s darned good advice to follow.
Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.
And be careful what you swallow.

Final notes: Ironically, today is Dr. Seuss's birthday. How fitting it is that I chose his speech to highlight. I hope you enjoyed it, and it makes you think a bit. By the way, HOLD FAST YOUR DREAMS was nominated for the American Library Association's Best Book for Young Adults award.

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

Tomorrow is a very special post here at Organic Journey Online. Please join me for a video presentation on the devastating effects of a banned pesticide on banana workers in Nicaragua. I am airing this documentary to spread awareness. Grab your tissues and stop in.

Making Organic Baby Food: It's Child's Play

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Juicing Fruits for Baby Food is Quick and Easy

Saves Money, too!

I was appalled, recently, when I happened to notice the price of a jar of organic baby food. It's highway robbery what some of the companies are charging for a few tablespoons of applesauce or green beans.

Right then and there I made a note (in my little green notebook!) to prepare a post on making baby food at home with your organic foods. After all, if you are already cooking organic green beans or applesauce or chicken, why not save a little aside and prepare some baby food for tomorrow's dinner or the freezer.

Do you have a blender, food processor or juicer? That's all it takes. Any of the 3 will do the trick. Here are the steps I have followed in the past. Go for it:

Meats and Vegetables:

• Cook the meats and vegetables well, with plenty of liquids to keep them moist.
• Place individually in a blender or food processor, while still somewhat warm, and blend thoroughly till consistency is even.
• For the easiest way to freeze serving-sized amounts for babies, I used ice cube trays. When frozen, pop the chunks out and store in containers that are labeled (green beans, chicken, etc.) You can thaw and feed the amount you need easily this way.

Fruits:

• When juicing fruits for baby food, I advise not using the juicing strainer, but using the solid piece instead, thereby maintaining all the juice in the fruit blend.
• Peel fruit and remove seeds.
• Juice the ripest of your fruit options. Bananas, apples, plums and pears are the most common, and all quite easy to do.
• To assure easy digestion, transfer the resulting fruit mixture into a casserole dish to cook in the microwave.
• The length of time will depend on how much you're cooking, so judge accordingly. Cook on High for most fruits. Check every minute for texture and tenderness.
• When done, follow the same procedure outlined above with the ice cube trays.

If you cook a little of your leftovers every week or two, you'll have all you need for the baby, and no extra expense. Watch out , Gerber!

If the applesauce smells so good, you want some for yourself, check out my recipe for Homemade Organic Apple Sauce.

Green Cleaning for Your Silver, Gold, Brass, Copper and Other Metals

© copyright Carrie Boyko

Can You Tell Which Item Has Not

Been Polished Yet?

I've been watching some of my finer metals get tarnished lately, and being lazy about getting them polished. Today my goal was to look up some of the ways to remove tarnish and grime from my once-shiny metal items, and share them with you. First, I'll dispell the photo frustration. The candle snuffer in the front does not catch the light in the photo. It is the one that has not yet been polished. The others turned out well...better than I expected, without chemicals. Here's what I learned:


Silver Cleaners

• Use toothpaste instead of toxic silver cleaner to clean and brighten even your best silver. Use an old soft bristled toothbrush and warm water.
• Rub with a paste of baking soda and water
• To magnetize tarnish away, soak silver in salted water in an aluminum container; then wipe clean
• Soak in boiling water, baking soda, salt, and a piece of aluminum foil
• When a quick dip for silverware is needed, prepare a solution of baking soda in tepid-cool water (l level teaspoon to a quart) andbrush with a soft toothbrush.

Brass

• Mix baking soda and white vinegar together to create a paste. Then, rub the paste into the copper or brass object that you wish to clean. Rinse, and buff with a dry cloth .
• Mix equal parts salt and flour with a little vinegar, then rub.
  

Gold

• In a small, glass jar, mix an all natural, vegetable based soap like Dr. Bronner's in equal parts with water. Soak gold jewelry when it looses it shine, and gently brush away the loosened dirt and oils with an old toothbrush.

Chrome

• Rub with undiluted vinegar

Copper

• Rub with lemon juice and salt, or hot vinegar and salt. Mix baking soda and white vinegar together to create a paste. Then, rub the paste into the copper or brass object that you wish to clean. Rinse, and buff with a dry cloth.
  

Stainless Steel

• Rub with a paste of baking soda and water
• Heated vinegar helps remove hard water stains from stainless steel items such as dog bowls.

Before I sign off on this brief post, I'd like to point out something scary. I looked up the active ingredient in a bottle of commercially-available silver cleaner. The name was long and most of us would not be able to pronounce it. That was a hint. I quickly learned it has been found to cause cancer. Think about that. After you clean your silver with that stuff, what do you do with it? Dump it down the sink, right? Where does it go? Traces of it end up in our groundwater and in our soil. Either way, we're screwing up the Earth by using chemicals. Virtualy everything ends up back in the ground or in our water supply somehow. Is that what you want for your grandkids?

Okay, so that was a bit preachy. I could delete it and tell you to have a nice day. But I can't. My job here is to educate myself and you about the dangers of toxins. Soak it up. See you tomorrow.
_______________________________________________________________
Sources:

Clean and Green (great site with lots of natural cleaning ideas)

Busy Mom's Tips

About Housekeeping

Please join me Tuesday, March 3 for a very special event here at Organic Journey Online. I will be posting a 2-part video series on the plight of the banana workers in Nicaragua. This is the story of a banned U.S. pesticide which was sold and shipped to Nicaragua, where it is now maying thousands sick. If this doesn't make you want to give up pesticides, nothing will.

If, for no other reason, than to protect yourself, please stop in next Tuesday and view this documentary. Bring tissues.

Woofing Wednesday Tip of the Day: Get out and Volunteer, America

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Tanner Likes Tiffany's Lap

Toni was home for a brief visit recently and that can mean only one thing--Tiffany was here too. Tanner loves Tiffany and he enjoyed taking a nap on her lap.



Today I am offering a Woofing Wednesday Tip, inspired by Tiffany. She has spent years volunteering for a local dog rescue organization. Her longevity there just about outpaces the owner! All kidding aside, Tiffany is to be congratulated for her dedication to helping homeless pets find families. She is a good example for her friends and others in the community who see her working tirelessly every weekend at the rescue's homebase inside Petsmart.

So, you guessed it. My tip of the week is to find a way to contribute. It doesn't have to have anything to do with dogs. Think of something you are passionate about and find a way to contribute. Our country needs more volunteers stepping up to fill the void. These are tough times and people like Tiffany are leading the way. So can you.


If you are a dog lover and enjoy the fresh air and free spirited play of dogs, consider Adopting a Dog Park, as a way to contribute some time to a worthy cause. Click the link to join my group, and you can talk with other volunteers who are working to help keep their own dog parks clean and healthy for everyone. Get some discussions going and we can all learn from one another. Sounds like a song, huh? Maybe we should write one....next week.

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.