Trash to Treasure: Effortless Electronics Recycling

Please welcome fellow green blogger, Beth Buczynski, a freelance writer in Colorado. Her very useful post follows:

Do you have hazardous e-waste in the form of phones, televisions, VCRs, or computer monitors cluttering up your spare room or garage?

Cast off for their newer, faster replacements, you know these gadgets should be recycled, or donated, but there never seems to be a good time to sit down and find a place that will accept them ('cause you sure can't put them at the curb with your bottles and cans). And then there's the worry that the electronics "recycler" might just ship them overseas where they'll be picked over and incinerated.

Would getting paid to recycle your e-waste help motivate you to make it happen?
Well here are several online companies willing to do just that. All you have to do is search for your device, agree to sell it back at the offered price, ship it in and wait for your check!

Gazelle provides a practical, responsible, rewarding way for consumers to get value for used electronics. So, instead of the under-whelming experience of leaving your old phones, faxes and video games to an unknown fate at a semi-annual recycling event, you can be handsomely rewarded for disposing of your e-waste responsibly and rest easy knowing a reputable organization will be putting your things to good re-use. Even if Gazelle can't make you an offer for your Zac Morris phone, they'll still let you send it in for recycling at no charge.

YouRenew is another company dedicated to taking the hassle out of selling or recycling your old devices: you don’t need to make an account, use your credit card, or pay for shipping. Also for each item you recycle with YouRenew, they'll give you the choice to make a positive impact on the environment. They’ve partnered with Carbonfund.org and Americanforests.org to allow users to donate the price of their electronics towards domestic renewable energy or reforestation efforts, respectively. YouRenew.com also offsets all of its carbon emissions through CO2stats.com.

But what if it still works?
If you’ve recently upgraded a phone, television or other popular electronic appliance, but the old version still works, it might seem like a waste just to ship it off to a recycler, even if there are few bucks in it for you. If no one in your immediate circle of friends can find a use for the item, consider putting it up for grabs on the Freecycle Network, a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who give (& get) stuff for free in their own towns. More trust worthy and locally focused than Craig’s List, each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up, and start keeping these items out of the landfills and putting them in the hands of people who need them, find your community group at http://www.freecycle.org/.

Beth Buczynski is a freelance copywriter and environmental blogger living in Colorado. Until she can realize her dream of living off the grid, she's content to inspire others to live and laugh more sustainably at the EcoSpheric Blog and several other environmental websites. Connect with Beth on Twitter: @ecosphericblog.

Take the Green Living Quiz

This quiz a little bit tempermental. If it's hiding, just click in the blank space above and it will appear--like magic!

I found this green quiz at Green Earth Traveler. I love these things; especially short ones like this that teach you something. This will take you all of a minute and a half. It's just so cool to see how you stack up to the TEST! Did you submit a question? I'd love to hear from you if you did. Let me know what your question was. Hit the comment link under the post and toss me a bone to gnaw on. Thanks!

Baby Tanner is Here to Welcome You to Woofing Wednesday AND Our New Look

© photo copyright Brent Boyko 2006

Tanner's Ready to Explore

After His First Bath

You asked for it; you got it. A lighter blog background is here. I'm still tweaking some of the features, but for the most part what you see is what you get.

If you go back into the archives looking for something, you may find difficulty reading photo captions, as colors were chosen based on the black background. All I can say is good luck with that. I won't be going back to change every photo caption color. Talk about labor intensive--ouch!

Let me know what you think. As always, your opinion matters. If it didn't, you'd still be looking at the black background. So, welcome aboard my new Organic Journey Online. Now....Sit. Stay. Read! And don't miss the fun video at the end of this post. I dug this up (pun intended) just for you. Enjoy, and we'll get back to green and organic tomorrow. Sometimes its fun just to take time to enjoy the pups...or is that the roses? Ahh! I'm allergic to roses, so I enjoy the pups. Hope you do too.

Let me know your thoughts. Each post has a comment link under it, just beside the white envelope icon. Click this to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.

I made mention at All Things Dog Blog that I wished I had digital photos of Tanner from his first days with us. My son surprised me by locating these on his camera and sending them. Wasn't Tanner adorable?!

© photo copyright Brent Boyko 2006

Tanner's Second Day

Finally, this video is amazing. I received it a long, long time ago in one of those emails, and I just found it. You know the ones. Everyone passes them around because the contents are so cute that they want to share. This Doberman is having the best time playing on a pool slide. Tanner would love to join him now!

Can we add one of these slides to my wish list? Or maybe we'll start a wish list for Tanner. Yes, that works!

Hazardous Waste Hoedown!

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2009

E-Scrap Goes to the

Hazardous Waste Drop

Excuse me while I kick myself. I took this long-planned trip to the dump and forgot my camera. I wanted to display the layout for you. It's not at all scary and strangely quiet, for such a huge, well-organized area. I suppose that could be because we went on July 3rd--sort of a holiday.

I've been collecting this electronic stuff in a corner of my garage for months. Late last Summer we got nailed by one of Florida's trademark electrical storms and blew out nearly everything in the house that was not on a surge protector. Fortunately, that meant we saved all the TVs, major appliances and computers.

That's not to say I didn't have a lot of E-scrap. Check out that picture above and then imagine what is underneath the stuff you can see. Here is my inventory:

• 4 DVD players


• 1 boom box


• 4 wireless home phones (land lines)


• 1 old fashioned caller id unit


• 1 digital answering machine


• 1 desktop computer (not from this storm)


• 2 CRT's (not from this storm)


• 1 microwave oven


• 3 computer keyboards (again, not from this storm)


• 5 CFL light bulbs


• 1 scanner


• 1/2 gallon waxed paper milk container of used batteries collected from all the junk in this haul) Did you know there are batteries inside computers?


• 6 remote controls


• 1 cell phone ( not from the storm)


• 3 computer mice (mouses?)

The inside of the Hazardous Waste Disposal area was amazingly organized. They had giant shipping cartons, with huge labels, for most items like cell phones, batteries, light bulbs, and all sorts of automobile discards like oil, oil containers, etc. When I saw a special box for empty oil containers, I looked around to see if they had a container for chlorine buckets, but didn't see one for those. Despite the fact that they are made of recyclable plastic, the recycling facilities near us won't take them. With all the swimming pools in Florida, that's a surprise, not to mention a real shame.

The E-scrap area for larger items was a series of pallets that people were piling their electronics on. They were all neatly stacked by shape and size, almost as if Suzy Homemaker had done it herself. I didn't expect such organization.

Back against the wall, massive containers that could not be reached, were labeled with the likes of "CRT's, Laptops, Desktop Computers, Keyboards," etc. There was a special tractor with an arm that would load the items into the appropriate container. That would have been fun! A real life, giant Tonka toy to drive.

As we drove away I felt good to know we had cleared all that stuff out, yet there was still a sinking feeling in my stomach about where it has to go. Once they remove the hazardous components from the insides, I don't know if anything else can be recycled or if they just go to Electronic Heaven. That's pretty lame, I know. At least I didn't just toss them in my garbage. That was the main point. I made a check mark on my mental To Do list: E-scrap disposed of properly. Felt good.

You're probably wondering if I've replaced all that stuff. Who could afford to? We axed the landlines and save $40 a month with a cell line added to our family plan--kept the same number too. Most of the rest of the list we were able to do without, but 2 of the DVD players were replaced. They're actually quite a bit cheaper now. That's the only good news.

Most importantly, we added a bunch of these:


Need to read up? This looks to be the most thorough manual I found:

Carbon Footprint=Eco Footprint?

I think it's 6 of one and a half dozen of another. They're basically the same. Every footprint calculator I find, including Evaluating Your Eco Foot Print, has a similar take on the measurement. I would recommend that if you are looking to continuously improve your footprint, you use the same measurement device each time you reevaluate. This will assure that you are comparing apples to apples.

This site's take on things is unique in that they offer the opportunity to measure your personal footprint, a business or municipality's footprint, etc. These variations could be useful in your work considerations. I hope you'll let me know, if you found this helpful or insightful in some way.

I like to offer these opportunities occasionally, as we all come to that point in our lives at different times, when we are ready to know how we impact the Earth. The way their site states it is "How much land area does it take to support your lifestyle? Take this quiz to find out your Ecological Footprint, discover your biggest areas of resource consumption, and learn what you can do to tread more lightly on the earth."

Safe Disposal of Unused Medications

We've all seen this typical disposal method--the flush method. But according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, this is an absolute No-No. It makes sense, of course. Water in the sewer systems may dissolve medications, but the chemistry remains. Since medications cannot be removed from gray water through the cleansing process, it is shed into waterways, irrigation systems and other places where humans and animals can come into contact with it. Herein lies the danger.



The recommendations of the Florida DEP are as follows:

• Leave medications in original containers, with medicine names exposed in case they are accidentally ingested.


• For your privacy, mark out your name and other identifying information about you.


• To reduce misuse of medications, add a small amount of water or soda to pills, which will begin to dissolve them. Liquid medications can be rendered unusable by adding a small amount of inedible product such as cat litter or soil.


• Secure bottle caps with duct tape.


• Small medicine bottles can be placed inside a liquid detergent container, which is made of hard plastic and is not visible inside. Likewise, duct tape this container shut, as well.


• Discard the above materials in a closed garbage bag, not in a recycle bin.

Keep in mind that the key here is to disguise and disable the medications from use by scavengers who might take these medicines and become ill from them.

These guidelines are suggested by the Florida DEP not only for human safety, but also for that of our aquatic environment, where treated waste water often ends up. This is a reminder that even treated water cannot remove medication. Please! Do your part to protect our water quality.

Staying in Shape with the Pups: Teamwork

Most days at my house start with a brisk walk or bike ride around our neighborhood--about 2 miles. If I bike the dogs separately, it's 4 miles for me. This wears the boys out and I'm energized for some writing time while they nap. Besides that, this exercise is good for helping me stay healthy and relatively in shape. I say that loosely, of course.






If you're interested in trying biking with your dog, I've just done a post on this topic at my All Things Dog Blog. Check it out at All Things Dog Blog: Biking with Your Dog.





Recently, while working on my blogs, I came across an adorable website, just perfect for you dog lovers. This Yorkie will perform most dog commands. Just type your command in the box and he'll do it. Take a few minutes to play with this at I Do Dog Tricks. You'll be glad you did. A good laugh is great for the soul.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Oliver and Tanner Enjoy their Pool Time

After a good nap, the pups enjoy some pool time and a fetch game for Tanner. Oliver would probably call this something more like "Chase Tanner Around the Pool" time. Either way, they enjoy themselves and get another workout that's cooler.

I wish you all the happiness that owning 3 dogs has brought to me. Despite the effort involved, they're always worth it, and they do help me keep active. Happy tails!

Alkaline vs. Acid: Your Diet Choices and their Reasons

© copyright 2009 Carrie Boyko

My Favorie Alkaline Fruits and Veggies

You may have read in my profile in the sidebar that I am a cancer survivor. It wasn't just a tumor; it had spread to my lymph nodes and there was concern of further spreading. That experience taught me a lot that I never would have expected. I tried things that I always believed were voodoo and here I am writing about organic foods and the like. If you had told me 2 years ago that this would be in my future, I'd have laughed in your face. The point is, we don't know what we don't know. That lesson is embedded further in my brain each day.









Early after my diagnosis, I received a book from a friend, explaining the benefits of acid vs. alkaline foods in cancer. I began to research this premise, learning that cancer cells grow much more rapidly in an acid environment. Evaluating my diet, I soon learned that I had created the perfect place for cancer to grow. Boy, howdy, did I make some changes.









That's not to say that I didn't have my doubts. I did. I talked to many alternative medicine specialists and they referred me to cancer survivors who never took any traditional treatments, yet cured their cancers. One in particular, stands out in my memory. He spent nearly an hour on the phone with me, sharing the names of various alternative clinicians in our area who had helped him.









After learning he had terminal, inoperable cancer from the doctors at the largest hospital in our area, he had turned to alternative medicine for other solutions. Five years later he is walking proof that these measures worked. His MRI scans continue to show no signs of tumors, where there were previously multiple tumors in numerous organs. Clearly, to him, this is a miracle. His life goes on. What's not to believe about that?









My first approach was to begin the switch to more alkaline foods, reducing my sugar and other high acid and acid-creating foods. Litmus test paper is available at Whole Foods Market and this proclaimed the proof that my changes were working, as my PH worked its way slowly higher.









My other major home treatment was to swallow Garlic tablets with Wheat Grass Juice added to numerous daily glasses of carrot and apple juice. This I squeezed fresh from organic carrots and apples. It may sound awful, but surprise! I actually found the flavor to be enjoyable. I still drink the wheat grass juice as a preventative, added to organic apple juice. My results? Two years and no signs of cancer.









The following link, Acid and Alkaline Foods, will allow you to educate yourself on foods that are alkaline vs. foods that are acid. There are tons of other places you can find these lists also, not the least of which is the Internet. My advice? Don't kill yourself trying to completely eliminate acid foods. Being a purist will only cause you to crave those foods that are at the top of your favorites list. You've got to indulge a little to feel fulfilled, even in your diet.



















Chef Elaina Love, a raw foods proponent, explains the effects of acid vs. alkaline foods in our systems in this short video. I know it's not exactly mainstream. This whole post may throw some of you off. It's something I've been meaning to share; take it or leave it.







I've been researching alkaline water machines for some time. Most are counter top models that hook up to your faucet. They're quite pricey and not terribly attractive. Not to mention that they take up a lot of space.









Currently I have a Brita water filtering pitcher on my kitchen counter, as well as one in the refrigerator. We dropped the bottled water habit a while back when I learned about the many chemicals emitted from plastic. Now we use BPA free bottles and filtered water. We reserve bottled water for those times when we won't be able to take them home to wash and reuse.











There's another surprise, too. I just found a similar pitcher that creates alkaline filtered water in a pitcher much like my Brita. Granted it is a fair amount more expensive than a Brita pitcher, but certainly not like the other models I had found. This is a real possibility. Another item for my wish list. Is my family reading this? Hope so. My holiday gift list is getting longer!

Happy Independence Day!

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Independence Day

Calls for Pool Time!

It's almost the Fourth of July. A day when families gather to celebrate our independence. We eat, we drink, we enjoy the sun and the water. Here at Organic Journey Online, we just want to remind you to celebrate safely. Designate a DD if you'll be enjoying Caledonian Promise Organic Beer. Wear your PABA-free, paraben-free sunscreen, and reapply regularly throughout the day. And don't forget the hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes and delicate facial skin.

Keep a close eye on swimmers, especially the youngsters. Even my pups are required to swim with supervision. Tanner knows he's supposed to wait permission to go in the pool. Silly boy, he will sit at the edge, with his paws dangling in, watching me inside, until I give him the signal.

If you're looking for recipes for a cookout with friends, check out:

• Hankering for a Healthy Hamburger
• Real Southern Sweet Tea and an Arnold Palmer: Great cookout beverages
• Lazy Cook's Holiday Organic Cookout
• Organic London Broil and Twice Baked Potatoes
  
  

Stay cool and enjoy your family's day together. See you next week.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Toni and Xena Enjoy

a Dip in the Pool

Don't forget the sunscreen, if you're like Toni. She burns easily.

Want to Get Greener? Save Money with Tax Credits

Tax credits for homeowners are looking pretty good for 2009 and 2010. For instance, you can take a 30 percent tax credit, up to $1,500, when you install energy efficient home equipment such as windows, doors, solar, roofs, air conditioners, and other items. For details, visit Energy Star Tax Credits.

Solar energy systems installed in Florida can qualify for up to $20,000 in rebates, depending on the wattage. You have until June 30, 2010 to make these installations, but don't put it off. If you're interested in taking advantage of this, understand that last minute shoppers will find providers busier and prices likely will be higher as the deadline grows nearer. Rebates are also available for pool and water heaters. More information can be found at Florida Climate. To locate this the easy way, type in "solar energy incentives" in the search box.

Florida also has federal funding for weatherization, which is available to low income families for repairs, air conditioners, insulation and water heaters. Contact your county office for details on requirements, which may vary by county. I'd like to hear any success stories. You can email me at CarrieLeaJohnson@gmail.com

Source: Sun Sentinel.com

Cuddly Puppies are Good Therapy

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2009

Tanner Enjoys Snuggling with Tiffany

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2009

Sometimes Tanner Gets a Bit too Comfortable!

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Falling Asleep in this Position Seems Impossible

Tanner Clearly Trusts Tiffany!

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Oliver Likes to Cuddle

Just Like a Kitten

Pets are not just enjoyable companions. Scientific evidence has shown many health benefits of contact with pets. Here's just a few of the many resources you might be interested in:

• Pet Therapy at Holistic Online
• The Delta Society: Human-Animal Health Connection
• Love on a Leash
• Happy Tails Pets

For more information on dogs and all things about them, I invite you to visit my All Things Dog Blog, where I talk dogs 24/7. Every post is plastered with photos to enrich the topic of the day. Search your question or area of interest at the top, or drop me an email and perhaps I can help: LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com . Hope to hear from you!

Thursday's Green Tip of the Day Preview

Tomorrow I'll be talking tax credits, every body's topic of interest. If you have appliances to replace or improvements to make in your home, there are probably tax credits to help you reduce the cost. That's what this post is about. Check in tomorrow for details and learn what you can do to save money, while improving the value of your home.

Hankering for a Healthier Hamburger

Before my son left for his dream internship in New Zealand, we had the pleasure of a week's visit from he and his girlfriend. My biggest challenge in having him home is always feeding him. With an unending appetite, my 6' 3" tall environmental scientist can eat like nobody's business.

Well, you know what they say, "Necessity is the mother of invention." Brent has been learning to cook, and is looking forward to living in an apartment during his last year of college, so that he can cook his own food--finally. No more cafeteria food.

The following recipe is one I snagged, while watching him prepare hamburgers, that turned out to be mouthwateringly delicious. I have to admit, though, that whenever I make soups, stews, or ground beef recipes, I always add in some unseen ingredients that supplement the nutritional value of the meal. Hamburgers are no different than meatloaf or chicken soup. The result is a much more healthy hamburger, making it a bit more pleasing to those of us who avoid too much beef in our diets.

A Healthier Hamburger

• 1 lb. Organic Ground Chuck, lowest fat content available
• 6 large cloves of Organic Garlic, minced or crushed
• 3 Tablespoons of Fiber powder (such as Benefiber)
• 1 Tablespoon Organic Barbeque Sauce
• 1 Organic Egg
• 1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon Organic Ground Pepper
• Sliced Organic Provolone Cheese (much better than American!)
• Hamburger buns, Organic if available (we like Kaisers)
• Organic toppings and condiments as desired: ketchup, mustard, mayo, pickles, onions, tomatoes and lettuce

Mix all ingredients together thoroughly and create 4-5 patties. Cover and refrigerate for several hours to allow the flavors to blend. Grill as usual, adding cheese at the end. Serve on toasted buns.

Like them? Serve these babies on July 4th and you'll be everyone's favorite cookout host. Don't forget to make time for yourself to enjoy your guests. Ask everyone to bring a side dish and you'll be set. Just add beverages and lots of ice.

Need some drink recipes? I recently posted Southern Sweet Tea and Organic Lemonade. These are the perfect accompaniments to Organic Caledonian Golden Promise Beer. Remember...You gotta keep the guys happy too. Enjoy!

If you're looking for some more creative cookout specialties, check this out:

Woofing Wednesday's Preview

While tomorrow's post is hardly green or organic, it certainly does address the health benefits of owning a pet. In full illustration, I'll show and tell you some of the reasons that pets can enrich your life and enhance your health. I hope you'll join me for "Cuddly Puppies" tomorrow.

I'm Celebrating National Iced Tea Month in June

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2009

Southern Sweet Tea in the Making

Having lived 11 years in Charlotte, North Carolina, I became a fan of Southern sweet iced tea. There's just no going back to instant tea after you've enjoyed the real thing. Fortunately, I got a native friend from the "old South" to teach me the tricks to getting that deep South flavor in your sweet tea.


If you're not a sweet tea drinker, I totally understand and you can move along. This post is devoted to the art of making Southern sweet tea the way folks in the Carolinas enjoy it--fresh brewed, bold tasting and sweetened at just the right time in the steeping process. Oh, and don't forget to add the lemon. Sounds nit picky, but the lemon is like icing on the cake. Here goes:


Mom's Sweet Tea (that's what my kids call it when they come home to visit)

(makes 1 pitcher=1/2 gallon=2 quarts)

Ingredients:

• 1 quart filtered water, boiling
  
• 2 family sized Luzianne Iced Tea bags
  
• 2/3 Cup Organic Sugar
  
• 1 quart filtered water, room temperature
  
• Organic Lemon slices or wedges
  
• Ice cubes, made with filtered water
  

Instructions:

1. Pour 1 quart boiling water over 2 tea bags in a heat-resistant glass container. Time out here for a quality control tip: (A) I know this is an organic blog, but most of the organic teas I have tried just did not make the quintessential Southern Sweet Tea. The closest I have found was an English Breakfast blend, so try that if you're a purist. (B) No plastic containers--heating plastic releases toxins into your tea. Bad!
2. Allow tea to steep about 10-15 minutes. A couple of minutes after adding the water to the tea bags, add sugar and stir carefully, so as not to bust the tea bags. Adding the sugar while the water is still hot immeasurably changes the flavor. This is the KEY to the special taste of Southern Sweet tea.
3. When fully steeped, remove 1 tea bag, squeeze its liquid back into the container, and pour tea into your pitcher (1/2 gallon size).
4. Place the remaining tea bag in the pitcher until it is cool; then remove it and go to step 5.
5. Tip: Don't forget that those tea bags can go into your compost.
6. Add 1 full quart of room temperature filtered water to the steeped tea and stir to mix.
7. Quality control tip: Don't skimp with tap water and don't use chilled water. Trust me; it will taste different.
8. More quality control tips: (A) When serving tea that is still warm, use an overfilled glass of ice, as much of it will melt when you pour the tea over it. (B) Make the tea just a bit stronger to compensate for the melted ice, which will water your tea down a bit. Do this by steeping an extra 5 minutes.
9. Add your lemon to the top of the ice before you fill the glass. Serve with a smile--your Southern hospitality has arrived.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2009

Southern Sweet Tea--Perfect!

Ahh! There's nothing better on a hot Summer day. Even so, you can try my husband's second favorite drink, made with the tea recipe above. An Arnold Palmer is Orlando's specialty. It seems that they serve it nearly everywhere around this area--especially the golf course restaurants. I wonder why?

An Arnold Palmer is 1/2 Iced Tea and 1/2 Lemonade. Here's how I make my homemade organic lemonade. If you stop by most any day, I'll have a pitcher in the fridge. It's a staple at our house.

Arnold Palmer

Ingredients:

• 1/3 Cup Organic Lemon Juice (fresh squeezed does taste better, but bottled organic lemon juice works too; just don't resort to reconstituted--yuck!)
  
• 2/3 Cup Organic Sugar
  
• 2 Quarts Filtered Water
  

Mix ingredients together until well mixed and serve over ice. Add a lemon slice for a little extra ambiance, when serving guests. Enjoy!

One additional note: If you're looking for good sweet tea in Florida, good luck. There are few places to find Southern sweet tea that tastes like the Carolinas. Your best bet is Sonny's Real Pit Barbeque. Be sure to tell them I sent you.

Tuesday's Commercial Preview

With Independence Day just around the corner, cookouts and cold beverages are on every cook's mind. Today's post was a start. I hope you'll take time to visit on Tuesday when I share a recipe for a wonderful organic hamburger that will melt in your mouth with magnificent flavor. You simply cannot miss this one: "Hankering for a Healthy Hamburger."

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: One Family's Year of Eating Locally Produced Food

For me, the enjoyment of this delightful narrative, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, about a family who commits to eating only locally produced foods, was in the details. While I have written two other reviews of the book for other blogs, the review you will find here is another animal entirely—no pun intended.

I loved reading the turkey sex stories (seriously!) and learning about how agribusiness has taken over the seed industry and the problems they have caused. I enjoyed learning more about CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations, where animals are raised without grazing or seeing sunlight), and their appalling use of antibiotics to kill the inherent bacteria created within these facilities.

Through Kingsolver’s story of zealous zucchini and not enough fruit, I came to appreciate why food costs so much at market. Learning that there is a label for my abstinence from high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) was absolutely exciting. I can now proudly say I am fructose celibate. Sounds kinky, huh?!! Kingsolver’s writing style enthralled me. And listening to her read her own book on CD made it even better. Her voice brought a calm, soft-spoken strength to the issues; she reminded me of a female Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer. I really think these two should meet. Despite their entirely different fields, they both endeavor to bring a difficult message to the masses—one that involves a belief system.




While I have long known that small farmers struggle, Kingsolver’s stories drove this reality home, with her descriptions of poultry harvesting day and mountains of zucchini to find a home for. The challenges vary with each day and each task, and these farmers clearly do not do it for the money.

In as much as I write about the dangers of pesticide use, I had never thought about the collateral animal death from agricultural pesticides. Birds, rodents and rabbits are all at risk in farming areas, with pesticides in the air, land, water, and on the plants and vegetables that they often steal in the night. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle added a whole new level to my commitment to organic foods.

A wonderfully inspiring book, Kingsolver and her family craft an educational, yet charming snapshot of their year as a Virginia farm family. While she professes not to be a purist, she eloquently presents a viable lifestyle for those who might wish to take a crack at producing and/or living off their locally available foods. A must-read for anyone interested in food production, health or limiting their oil usage, her charming family narrative will open your mind to the possibility of not living a life dependent on processed foods from the global marketplace.


Web Resources at the Animal, Vegetable, Miracle website

Can't wait to read it? You can order from my site. In just a couple of minutes it will be on its way to you. Go ahead. You'll love it!

Woofing Wednesday Has Gone to the Dogs!

Nah! The dogs are just stepping aside for a minute while I wish my husband of 31 years a Happy Anniversary. At a recent teen event, we took a turn in the photo booth, just like the rest of the teen couples, and these two pix caught my eye. What a hoot to be young again for just a few seconds!

Caught in a kiss

Young Love is Still Here

And We Can Still Laugh at Ourselves!

Two years after we began our organic journey, he hasn't tossed me out yet. My cancer rechecks continue to be positive, and my attitude and energy level are good. No wonder; I have a terrific husband.

The dogs are glad we've gone green, too. Here they are, all dressed in their green bandanas, wishing all of you a continued green life. You can read more about their greener life at All Things Dog Blog. Our goal may not be to live off the grid, but we are succeeding in living a lighter shade of green. It's a start.

Xena, Tanner and Oliver

Enjoying their Organic Journey

Speaking of going to the dogs, I have to share Xena's good news too. More than a year ago she had a diagnosis of liver cancer, and was given a couple of months to live. Without giving up hope, I put her on organic dog food and treats and have been feeding her organic carrots for snacks. According to my reading, carrots have a cleansing effect on the liver, which seemed to me to be a positive thing. She's still as energetic and playful as ever, more than a year after her bad news. No symptoms or problems. I'm simply enjoying her happy days.

So, when Real Age, a website that evaluates your body's actual age in terms of wear and tear, started their Dog Age evaluation...well, I just had to put Xena's stats in and see how she turned up. She is 12-1/2 years old, which puts her at nearly 90 in human years. Her Dog Age score? 48.1! No wonder she still enjoys her wrestling matches with Tanner.

I encourage you to check out Real Age for yourself, and try the Dog Age test for your Fido or Fifi. It's great input, as they give you an analysis that explains what factors go into your positive and negative scoring areas. It's quite useful information, and well worth the time. Try it. Just click the links and you'll be on your way.

Can You Spare Two Minutes to Help Save the Polar Bears?

Can you imagine a world without Polar Bears? They would disappear not only from the wild, but also from toy stores, storybooks, Sea World gift shops, zoos, and much more, while causing disruption to the Arctic food chain, among other disasters. Their majestic beauty would sorely be missed.

Biogems and the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) are trying to make a difference. Global warming is shrinking our polar ice cap, limiting the environment for polar bears, who need much territory to survive. You can help. Do your part by signing this Petition for Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar. If enough of us sign it, we will send a powerful message to President Obama that the Polar Bears matter. Once again, imagine a world without a Polar Bear. Let your conscience do the rest.

Want to learn more? Check out this video: