December 31, 2008 6:26 am
It’s hard to believe that last New Year’s Eve I was sleeping in a quinzee. There was snow last year at this time.
Despite the temptation to fret about climate change, as I reflect on the past year, I am pleased at the steps I have taken to live an even more ecologically sustainable life. I’m really delighted that I’m not the only individual making small but powerful lifestyle changes. Yes, one person can make a difference. Yes we can live more eco-friendly lives.
Even if gasoline prices plummet to the 29-cents of my college days, I know I’ll drive fewer miles than I did even a year ago. Many of us have modified our driving habits. Individually and collectively we are helping preserve the planet – and sending a message.
Here are a few more lifestyle tips that don’t require major inconvenience for the payoff of a lighter carbon footprint. (more…)
December 24, 2008 6:42 am
English is a confusing language, so I’m not surprised that what I think are keywords are misunderstood by Google and other search engines. But every once in a while I get lucky.
Whatbird.com is an interactive bird identification site. What makes it really user-friendly is the amazing amount of detail organized in a user-friendly way. I spent hours listening to comparison recordings of thrushes, which are more often heard than seen, comparing photos and illustrations for visual identification, and checking out regional behavior differences in this easy-to-read display of scientific data. (more…)
December 22, 2008 7:13 pm
I just posted a comment on Tim DeChristopher’s account (entitled “Why I Disrupted a Fraudlent Action) of his extraordinary, inspiring and courageous behavior.
Democracy is stll alive and well.
Bless you, Tim.
9:15 am
I started this blog bemoaning the 40-mph winds that will keep me off the trails. Wind is dangerous. I’m a regular DEMOCRACY NOW listener, so my time has been very well spent this morning listening to Amy Goodman’s interview with Tim DeChristopher.
While I was shoveling snow on Friday, this college student was bidding on Utah oil and gas drilling leases – outbidding the would-be polluters on 22,500 acres of our national parks. He can’t pay for this land. He just understood enough about the process to keep the lands from being considered for auction until after President Obama’s inauguration. GO, TIM, GO!
This is the kind of citizen action that keeps democracy alive.
Tim is 27-years-old. He’s not playing computer games or at the mall or mindlessly idling his SUV. Maybe he was home-schooled or raised eating locally-grown food. Tim can think, put pieces of a puzzle together and most importantly, take effective action.
I’m concerned that President Obama doesn’t fully grasp the issue of sustainable technology and the importance of sustainable food production. My hero Michael Pollan’s reaction to Obama’s choice of Tom Vilsack as our next agriculture secretary is the source of this concern. My fellow CSA gardeners agree with Pollan.
But if there’s one young activist ready, willing and able to take effective action, there are certain to be others.
December 18, 2008 6:50 pm
COMA member George Johanson makes gifts of black walnuts all year long. He’s really perfected the art of “walnut diplomacy.”
I spent most of this day cracking black walnuts and thinking about the people I love who will receive black walnut gifts.
I still support Kiva and American Forests. This year I’m adding the Goshen Animal Shelter and Project Schoolhouse to my list. Project Schoolhouse ensures books do not end up in our land-fill. If the books are no longer fit to read, they can be turned into useful recyclable items, like insulation or garden compost.
I have always hated shopping. Years ago I lived with a shopaholic roommate, who delighted in keeping an eye out for clothing that would keep me from being a true fashion victim. Those days are long gone, but the fashion police haven’t caught up with me yet.
Holiday shopping is my idea of a nightmare. And that was before it became a life-threatening endeavor.
As everyone I know feels the economic pinch, I can see no reason to support corporate chemical contraptions and concoctions. With the limited dollars I have, I’d rather support the individuals and organizations who try to make the world a better place. After all, isn’t that what gift-giving is really about?
December 14, 2008 8:25 am
Most people make New Years resolutions. I decided to make an Election Day resolution to cope with stressful change by finding the opportunity buried in the crisis. I’ll know I’ve arrived when I remain calm inside and outside, in all situations.
Mastery of any skill requires practice. I’ve been getting a lot of practice. The good news is that mid-shriek, I remember my goal. The bad news, is that I have a long way to go to reach my peaceful “No Drama Obama” goal. (more…)
December 11, 2008 8:47 am
Most frozen vegetables need to be blanched or parboiled, before you freeze them.
I couldn’t resist trying an experiment with the kale, which continues to grow long after the first frost. I tore it into bite-sized pieces and froze it uncooked – no parboiling or blanching.
Weeks later, the relentless rain, turned freezing rain, makes being outdoors really unpleasant. I have lots of time to catch up on indoor projects. The raw kale I froze several weeks ago steamed up beautifully.
With the threat of a nor’easter looming in the next 24 hours, there’s no better comfort food than the veggies I helped to nurture, harvest and preserve. It’s like a taste of spring or summer in the dead of winter. (more…)
December 1, 2008 6:55 am
I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I never learned canning or how to bake yeast breads. My farmer parents knew how to do both.
I’ve just inherited a canning pot and jars from my garden mentor, Sister Carole. I accepted them on the condition that I get at least one canning lesson next season.
While canning is not a difficult process, mistakes have serious consequences. I had planned to look for an idiot-proof pressure canner before embarking on this project. But I’m not going to turn down the opportunity to learn canning basics.
Paula, a fellow mycologist and COMA member, has a gift for baking. Her recipe for wine-cap mushroom muffins, includes yeast. My greatest yeast bread successes were during the short life of my bread machine. I haven’t met my pastry chef mentor yet.
Success in any new endeavor is the result of repeated attempts. Failure is really just a way of gaining experience. (more…)