Living the Dream

When I was younger, nothing held back my imagination or my spirit as I thought of what I wanted my life to be like as an adult.  My thoughts were full of faith and resolve.  These dreams and ambitions never encompassed what you might think - like going to a certain college or having the perfect new home with the picket fence and the hired help mowing the lawn.  No, I dreamed of unconventional things.  I thought about living a life of faith; not being tied down by the pressures of materialism and success as our culture defines it, but believing for more.  I thought about making an impact on the world.  I wanted to be willing to give up everything and follow God.  Not necessarily by moving to some third world country, but by living the way it seemed Jesus had.  I was inspired as I read and saw what Jesus really seemed to be about, rather than what my impression was from church growing up.  I wanted to be like him.
but somehow in the years since getting married, getting pregnant and having Elena, the pressures of conventional America set in.  I found myself thinking that if we were really on the right track, we would have the little SUV and the house that we had remodeled with the perfect nursery.  I would have a degree in teaching or something and be taking a break to have 3 babies in secession.  This is what I felt America expected of me and there was a certain part of me that bought in to the lie that if I were really successful, this is what I would be doing and be about. Though I must say, some of these thoughts were my pregnancy talking, there was another problem for me: I hadn't seen anyone living the way that I wanted to, especially no one with a family.  Just before we moved here I started to get glimpses of a couple of families living in a way that I could admire: giving their lives away instead of living for themselves.  Then when we moved, I was blown away - I think I found a church full of them.  Though i don't know many people here incredibly well yet, I can tell you that the people we're staying with have almost single-handedly started to restore my faith in that old dream from years ago. and the dream is this:

I want to be defined by love.  I want to live a life that is about being generous, hospitable, open, simple.  A life marked by giving rather than taking, by believing instead of just being, and changing and learning instead of staying the same. Living in a way that people know they can come to me if they need something, and I'll be there.  I want to learn how to have grace with people - grace in a way that brings people a casserole when a family member is sick. grace in a way that thinks of other people first. I want to live like i can change things in myself and in the world, like who I am matters more than what I do for a living. I want to focus my goals on these things, rather than attaining material possessions and a certain social status, giving in in my spirit to the pressures I perceive as coming from other people.  It might sound crazy, but I really began to wonder if it was possible to live this way.  It seems very few people do. I felt like most people I saw were fairly caught up with material possessions, acquiring more time and money to do and have as they desired, as though all their life that's all they ever wanted: to live "comfortably".

but, these people I'm talking about - the ones we've been staying with - they are giving their lives away. they are sick and they don't really let on. their kids talk to them often and openly. they opened their house to us, let us stay here for almost a month and made us feel completely at home. they share meals with us, ask us what we think about things and haven't once asked us what degrees we have or how many kids we're going to have or when we're going to buy a house. they are constantly giving. they make us popcorn and rent us movies. we didn't even know them when we moved in. they have been through and are going through so much, but you would never know it. nothing seems to bother them as they are so easy going and gracious. they give all the time and they seem happy doing it. they care about their community. they make me think. it gives me hope that I'm not just being idealistic. living the way i dreamed is possible.

Beginning Again

it's a pretty crazy thing we're doing - we moved here without brian having a job and without a place to live - just a place to stay and a friendly face to pick elena and i up from the airport. so, in the midst of this craziness, fortunately we have still been able to enjoy the beauty that encompasses this city. i can't stop talking about the weather. it's so amazing to experience a true fall: complete with the changing colors of the leaves, sweater-worthy temperatures and soup and hot tea in the afternoon. in california we would still be wearing our shorts and tank tops and praying for cooler weather that would arrive mid-november. i am so thankful to not be in that state and also for all of the small joys we have experienced since we arrived here. i am so excited about church. i haven't felt excited about church in a long time. it is so refreshing. i feel like this place fits me or i fit it, whatever. we are staying in a house around the corner from beautiful whatcom lake and whatcom falls. we took elena there and she quacked at the ducks. ducks are her favorite. "duck" is her official first word. coffee tastes wonderful every place i have ordered it. mmm... what could be better? elena is right at the age where she is taking everything in. i can almost see the wheels turning in her little mind. she has started pointing. it's so cute. all the parks here are clean and in beautiful areas. we took her to fairhaven park and she got on her first park swing. she is doing and seeing so many things she can hardly sleep. literally. oh and have i mentioned the focus on sustainability here? amazing. go to a restaraunt downtown and they are liable to offer something local, vegetarian, free-range, organic blah blah blah... it's so GREAT! i actually ordered breakfast last weekend that was vegan!!! this is so shocking to me as there is nothing like this where i come from. every store abounds with signs speaking of local, natural type things. i can't get enough. we went to the farmer's market today - more local organic goodness all around. YES! (and the garbage cans in this town are smaller than the recycling bins!) So, while i am absolutely loving this time we've had - i can't wait until we are planted here. beginning again by uprooting ourselves is going to be good for us. i know it. but, it's going to be hard. i miss friends... i will always miss them, even after we meet people here. no one can take the place of certain people in my life. that is surely the hardest thing about moving. still, i am glad for a new beginning. i am happy to know that i will be raising my daughter in a culture like this, a community like this, a church like this. so, while people think we are crazy, i know, we are also making something happen that we otherwise would have regretted later in life. we are beginning again, taking a risk and daring to believe that life can be different. and it is good, i think.

Getting Along

Recent events in my life have caused me to think about friendship, peacemaking, pride, forgiveness and the relationship between them all. I want to be a peace-maker, a friend, one who loves, lets things slide and isn't so caught up in pride (or self-consciousness - which is really the same thing) as to not be outgoing. i don't ever want to say to myself - i could never be friends with him/her and act like people aren't good enough for me. i've never been perfect at this and let's face it - some people will be near and dear to your heart and some will stay more distant. but, i don't want to find myself screening people out of my life or crossing them off my list or making people feel awkward (i.e. we can't invite lauren because she doesn't like so-and-so). i want to love, to use my language and my mind in a way that makes people feel secure, not insecure. this is not my greatest strength, but rather a hope. i think the holy spirit will get me there in time. i know that God desires for me to love the way he does and is more than happy to oblige. that's what i want most out of life - to learn to love. to be thoughtful, patient, fogiving, humble. a laundry list of things i am not, but want to be. And maybe if some of us really learned to love - especially when difficult - it would cause restitution rather than division on a larger scale. And we could all have a chance at getting along. peace.

Veg

A few months ago, when i was really beginning to do research on more things i could do to lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle, i kept stumbling upon eating less meat and/or going vegetarian/vegan as one of the top ways you could lessen your impact on the environment. I found this really intriguing. I really didn't understand what the connection was. so, i began doing what all curious people do - i google searched. then, i checked this book out from the library: Diet for a New America by John Robbins. i haven't eaten meat or drank milk in about 3 months. all this research has completely revolutionized the way that i think about food, health and consumerism. so, i just couldn't help but share some of this little journey with you. Colin over at No Impact Man (one of my most favorite blogs) just wrote about the connection between eating less meat and helping the environment. Here are some of the facts he cited from a recent report from the UN :
- 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock (more than from transportation).
- 70 percent of previously forested land in the Amazon was cleared to pasture cattle.
- Two-thirds (64 percent) of anthropogenic ammonia emissions, which contribute significantly to acid rain and acidification of ecosystems, come from cattle.
- The livestock sector accounts for over 8 percent of global human water use, while 64 percent of the world’s population will live in water-stressed areas by 2025.
- The world’s largest source of water pollution is believed to be the livestock sector.
- In the United States, livestock are responsible for a third of the loads of nitrogen and phosphorus into freshwater resources.
- Livestock account for about 20 percent of the total terrestrial animal biomass, and the 30 percent of the earth’s land surface that they now pre-empt was once habitat for wildlife, in an era of unprecedented threats to biodiversity.
- These problems will only get worse as meat production is expected to double by 2050.
So, i always thought that vegetarianism and veganism was for animal rights activists, which i could respect but not totally relate to. (i have never been a huge fan of the animal kingdom, though i am more so now) i had no idea of said implications of the average meat-rich american diet on the environment, nor health for that matter. eating a vegetarian (or even better - vegan) diet greatly lessens your risk of cancer, heart disease, obesity and virtually ever other disease you can think of (especially if you are making sure you get all the nutrients you need :) it's incredible. since eliminating meat and greatly reducing dairy in my diet, i feel so much better. people keep asking me what i've been doing to lose weight and i have to tell them that it was on accident!
even if you're not up for eliminating meat from your diet altogether, just skipping red meat once a week would save the 840 gallons of fresh water it takes to produce a single serving. and don't worry about missing out on things like protein and iron. there are many plant foods that have a much higher content per calorie - like lentils, tofu and spinach. If you do choose to eat meat (and dairy) go for the local, grass-fed free-range organic types. (better yet - find a farm in your area where you know what the animals are fed how they are treated, whether or not they are given a steady diet of antibiotics and hormones, etc.)
So, to top it all off - even though i was never bothered much (not enough to change) by the thought of whatever happens to farm animals, once i did some research (and read Diet for a New America) the thought of how the animals in factory farms and slaughter houses are treated made me ill - and unable to eat meat. i don't think these conditions are what God had in mind when he made us stewards of His beautiful creation. i won't go into detail here, as i do not wish to make anyone ill, but i would encourage anyone reading this to do a little research of your own and consider altering your dietary and grocery shopping habits. After all,vegetarian is the new Prius.

Resources:
Diet for a New America
Eat to Live
www.goveg.com
The Post Punk Kitchen - Vegan Cooking

aaaaaahh!

ok, so i never get stressed and i'm stressed. so many things to sort through and pack and the house is a MESS! i want to get rid of things/give them away, but it's harder than i thought. i find myself rationalizing. on top of that, everything is up in the air and probably will be for months. now that this house is a mess and the boxes are piling up, i am really feeling it. it's CRAZY! we have a lot of things we need to leave behind and i'm not so sure we'll be able to find people that will want to buy/take them as we have less than 2 weeks to have everything packed up and in storage. anyone want anything?! help! as previiously mentioned, we have:
a refridgerator (in great working condition, but definitely not brand new - we haven't had any problems with it)
a burgundy leather recliner (it's been loved, but it's not ancient or falling apart - very comfy)
love seat with pull-out bed
king size mattress (old)
2 twin box springs
children's dresser (needs painting)
clothes clothes clothes!
2 t.v.s
t.v. cart
VCR

move

If you haven't heard already, we're moving!!! it's the opposite of staying, being or feeling stuck, complacent or sedentary. it means change - BIG change. we're excited and a little nervous. we feel that God is calling us to move on, to believe He will take care of us in the midst of this crazy-ness and to dare to dream that life could be different. We're moving to Bellingham, Washington. Ever since we visited the first time - almost three years ago - we've talked and dreamt of living there. from everything we know, we're really excited to become a part of a church plant there called Mosaic (not the same as the one in so cal though). we're really excited to join them and what they're about. check them out here.
other things i love and look forward to:

• the weather - it doesn't get any better than cloudy and rainy for me - doesn't depress me at all. it makes me happy!
• it's absolutely gorgeous, right on the water, green with clear skies (as far as smog goes)
• better air quality (i like this advantage for elena too)
• beautiful downtown and old-town areas. fun for walking.
• lakes in town as well as being on the bay.
• close to seattle and vancouver, b.c.
• safer. i like the idea of taking elena to parks that i know are clean and being able to let her ride her bike in the neighborhood, etc.
• bellingham has ordinances about chain stores and corporations. they have maintained more small shops and locally owned businesses - yay!
• BEAUTIFUL parks
• change - i LOVE change, even though it's hard sometimes
• new surroundings and inputs into our lives.
• walkability - they have some great trails and there are so many gorgeous places there that it just makes me want to be outside!!
• affordability - it has all these benefits and rent is cheaper than modesto!!
• farmer's market - they have a big one
• added bonus: my sister lives there!
• more liberal as a culture - i like that. i like that they are mindful of buying locally and recycling, etc.

i think it will be good for us, for our little family and for our marriage as we journey through this together. we look forward to staying with different people as we are in limbo and brian is looking for a job. although this will be challenging i'm sure, i look forward to the sense of community. i look forward to how it will change me. going through external change tends to foster internal change, ya know? although this has been something we have joked about and dreamt about, we had almost dropped it when we both felt like the lord was bringing it back up - like it was time. i know that might sound weird, but it's true - i really felt like i had let it go when all of the sudden it just seemed right. i think that is God, but i know that "God speaking" means different things to different people. anyway, both brian and i have always felt like we didn't want to stay in modesto forever or raise our family here necessarily, so if we are going to go (which we are!) it'll be good to go while elena is little and not in school or anything yet. so, anyway - let us know if you want any of our stuff (well, maybe not anything) but we are trying to sell a couch, a recliner, a tv cart, a refridgerator and possibly a king-size bed. wish us well! brian leaves on Sept. 19th with the u-haul and elena and i fly out on the 20th. oh and that amazing picture at the top is from last year's trip there. we took it while sitting at the park on the 4th of July, waiting for the fireworks to start.

Simple

Simplicity - It often denotes beauty, purity or clarity. Simple things are usually easier to explain and understand than complicated ones. Simplicity can mean freedom from hardship, effort or confusion. It's something i've been thinking about. it makes me think of contentedness, joy, holiness. it makes me think of great figures in history - gandhi, mother theresa, jesus. it makes me think of people who are/were mocked or misunderstood and labeled as hippies and radicals. and it makes me think of those who consume less and give more, who reject the myth of the american dream that says if you get more, you'll be happy and successful and accepted. but, isn't it better to give than to receive? i don't think most people actually believe that. it's just something they tell their kids when they don't get what they want. but, there's profound truth in that old adage that should shape out lives. it IS better to give than to receive. that's why those who chase after what they may receive (material possessions), die still pursuing more and are never satisfied. in the end, isn't it "the simple things" in life that last and satisfy? For me it's reading, praying, making my daughter laugh, having a cup of coffee on a saturday morning with my husband, a cloudy day or a conversation with my sister. our culture tells us to go in debt in order to have a nice car, a nice house and a nice family with nice things and to spend the rest of our lives in pursuit of more, but i want to live simply.
Simple living (or voluntary simplicity) is defined as a lifestyle in which individuals consciously choose to minimize the pursuit of wealth and consumption. some consider this (or environmentalism for that matter) to be a religion unto itself. therefore, people who already follow a religion (namely christianity) tend to shy away from it. to me this seems sad. if you read through the gospels, doesn't it seem like Jesus was completely counter-culture? he was the one who told us to follow him and take nothing with us, that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom. i think the kingdom of God is the ultimate in simple living. that doesn't make it easy. it's difficult to reconcile His words with my reality. i feel the urge to "have nice things" (like that tv we got a few months ago that i think we are now kind of regretting) in order to prove something, even if it's just to myself. i feel like having nice things proves that we're capable adults or something, which is rediculous. as i look around our house and think about packing it up in the next month, i realize that we have extra. maybe not a lot of extra compared to some people, but extra nonetheless and i want to get rid of it, give it away, live with less, take only my slice of the pie. live simply.

Some Statistics to inspire simple living:

• Half the world — nearly three billion people — live on less than two dollars a day.
• The wealthiest nation on Earth has the widest gap between rich and poor of any industrialized nation.
• 20% of the population in the developed nations, consume 86% of the world’s goods.
  Approximately 790 million people in the developing world are still chronically undernourished.
• According to UNICEF, 30,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they “die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death.” That is about 210,000 children each week, or just under 11 million children under five years of age, each year.
• Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.
• Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water survive on less than $2 a day, with one in three living on less than $1 a day.
• Millions of women spending several hours a day just collecting water.
  About 0.13% of the world’s population controlled 25% of the world’s assets in 2004.
  
  photo courtesy of blogrodent on flickr

Generica

Generica - that's what my friend matt sai once called corporate america. it's true. sometimes when i visit a new city, i feel like i might as well have stayed at home. i feel hard pressed to find stores i haven't seen before or don't have in my own town. last weekend, we were in southern california for my cousin's wedding. brian and i asked my mom and grandpa (who both live there) if there were any restaurants in town that we don't have here in modesto that they would recommend. they started listing off restaurants - every single one of them a chain, every single one a place we have here at home. sad. I feel like this just reinforces what i already knew. i need to be more conscious of the companies i buy from - what they stand for, how they treat their workers, if they're taking over the free world, etc. Sometimes my attitude has been something like - well, what am i supposed to do? yeah, all corporations are evil entities, but how can i avoid them? - but i think that's just a lie that keeps me from having to pay attention and make sacrifices. anyway, in the vein of this thinking, brian saw this disturbing article on msn yesterday. i think i've been to wal-mart once in the last three years, as i don't like it and already knew they were evil, but anyway, i thought people should see this article. 51 percent of the world’s 100 hundred wealthiest bodies are corporations. if the western world can't afford to shop at places that don't exploit people, who can?


photo courtesy of justinyc on flickr

Progress

So, I've been reflecting on what exactly I have been doing well and what i haven't in my efforts to reduce my ecological footprint. when we got our electric bill this month, it had gone down $15!! and that's in spite of the fact that we started cloth diapering and are dealing with the summer heat now. Anyway, here's what i've changed:

Energy

• turn off lights when i leave the room and re-think turning them on in the first place. (like during the day or if i'm just passing through a room. i thought i was doing this before, but i don't think i was really putting much effort forth.)
• when i do use the dryer, i always clean out the lint trap.only run full loads of laundry (it uses the same amount of energy to run a full load as it does to run a small load)
• unplugged small appliances in the kitchen when not in use (coffee maker, toaster oven, food processor)
• turn off power strips for entertainment center and computer desk when not in use.
• unplug phone chargers. apparently these are big energy suckers.
• use the dryer less (sometimes i need it to shrink my stretched out clothes, but other than that i don't use it. it makes me feel old fashioned)
• turn stove/oven off before food is completely cooked (food will continue to cook for a few minutes with the heat that's already in there, and i figure it won't make the house as hot.)
• don't preheat, i never cook anything that actually needs preheating (i'm not much of a baker, i would weigh 300 lbs.)
• always put a lid on what i'm cooking on the stove. things cook much faster. the watched pot actually does boil!
• stopped watching TV during the day. (it's so nice to be free of the commercials dancing in my head.)
• use the toaster oven rather than the big one for cooking small batches of things.
• eating more raw food, buying less processed food.

Garbage

• recycling (compostables go in the green bin, recyclables in the blue bags, etc.)
• cloth diapering! i actually really like it!
• broke the paper towel habit (i no longer grab them for toast or fruit or use them for cleaning or killing bugs :)
• trying to buy things with less packaging/in bulk, but i'll be working on this more
• using my reusable shopping bags (and getting my 5 cent discount, haha)
• making some baby food myself (i need to do more of this too, now that i'm more comfortable with it)
• cloth baby wipes - i cut up an old pair of flannel pajama pants = free!
• trying to reduce disposables - especially at restaurants and such.

Emissions

• i've been walking a lot! it's been so wonderful! i walk to the carrot to pick up our CSA box, i walk to save mart, to go get coffee, to the farmers market and to the library. fun fun, but only before noon.
• i've reduced my trips to target, which is across town. i think i only went once this month, which is good for me. i'm addicted to that place.
• i often don't even take the car anywhere during the day. if i get out for a walk in the morning, it keeps me from feeling house-bound and like i need to go somewhere.
• combining trips
• buying local produce

Water

• i have successfully weaned myself from my addiction to long showers and hot baths. it's nice to have that time for other things now.
• turn off the water when i brush my teeth
• turn off the water in between dishes when rinsing.
• i'm experimenting with watering the lawn less/using dirty water on the lawn, but so far it's turning pretty brown. i need to give it some more love (and dirty water).
• stopped eating meat. i never intended to stop entirely, but it just kind of happened after reading up on it. (read Diet for a New America if you're interested) side note: i feel better since i'm eating more veggies and fresh foods and it's cheaper i think. plus, you reduce your pesticide intake and it's all around better for you, but you're free to disagree with me.

Other

• started with the all natural cleaning products - works a lot better than i thought! works great, actually
• started an experiment with washing my hair with baking soda and rinsing with apple cider vinegar. i've read that you have to do it for 2 wks before deciding to stick with it or not, so we'll see! (so far it's interesting, i'm not sure how i feel)

all in all, since it's only been a couple of months since i started paying attention, i'm pretty proud of myself. i was afraid of embarassment in a few cases, but i got over that real quick and people don't look at me as funny as i thought they would when i hand them my reusable bags. i feel like i still have a long way to go, but it's actually been quite pleasant to make these changes (as you may be able to tell from all of my comments in parentheses) which was kind of unexpected. so, i'm looking forward to hopefully having some more progress in the future. i'm excited! especially as we begin packing for the big upcoming move, i hope to downsize in some ways to make things easier. yay! for those of you who actually read this, feel free to send me more suggestions.

Trendy

I heard someone say recently that caring about social justice issues is trendy. Someone else said recently that people talk about "being green" just to be cool. I had two reactions to said statements:

1. WHAT?! how can caring about people be trendy? hollister is trendy. skinny pants are trendy. urban outfitters is trendy. or maybe i don't know what's trendy, but i can tell you one thing: caring about the world and the people in it is not allowed to be labeled as trendy. What is wrong with the world? does that mean mother theresa was just ahead of the times, trying to be cool?

2. i guess that's true, to an extent. lots of us want to care about these issues because it seems good or feels good, but we just end up talking about it, wearing our ONE bracelets or something and buying a bunch of environmentally friendly products we never use and we never go out of our way to make actual sacrifices to support what we claim to believe.

So, I guess it's just like anything else - there are people who will just talk about things and never do anything and in so doing, leave a funky taste in people's mouths when it comes to environmentalists or activists or whatever it is that we claim to be but aren't. i'm working on making sure i don't live like that.

images courtesy of joshuawallis, apologists, on flickr and the blood:water mission website

HOMELESS

Homeless. Resource-less, food-less, family-less. I can't imagine what it would be like. my family has had issues over the years - times when one of my parents didn't know if or how the bills would get paid - but i know nothing of what it would be like to truly be homeless. nowhere to go. unimaginable.
i've been reading this book called the irresistible revolution by shane claiborne and thinking about homelessness (it's an absolutely incredible, life-altering book that addresses a lot more issues than just homelessness). i agree with him that our tithe belongs to the poor, that we are detached as a culture and as a church from the poor and that we ignore the endless passages in the bible that insist that following Jesus entails caring for and living among the poor. we are desensitized as a culture. i have found that it has been ingrained into me to look at the homeless population as dangerous, irresponsible alcoholics who cannot be trusted with charity. that's tragic. while i certainly cannot claim that no one is homeless due to their own irresponsibility, there is a part of me that keeps asking, "who cares?" since when is charity and grace and love dependent upon worthiness? I need to let he who is without sin cast the first stone, not me.
last night brian and i rented the the pursuit of happyness. you know, that movie with will smith and his son that chronicles the true story of the struggles of a single dad. i watched it and bawled right in the middle of it (and i really don't usually cry at movies) watching that movie was the last straw in realizing how ugly my attitude and lack of action has been.
i don't want to just sit in my comfortable house with my comfortable family, watching Extreme Makeover:Home Edition, tearing up and feeling good that someone else is taking care of the struggling and homeless while i do nothing. Jesus is changing my heart and now the way i live my life is certainly in need of reform.
any ideas as to what a broke, 23 year old stay at home mom can do to give her time and love away to the homeless and underprivileged while taking care of an eight month old?

photo courtesy of steven mcdonald on flickr

Fair Trade

What is this fair trade business about, you ask?

Well, it's Trade that is fair. Decent wages. Safe working conditions. A global marketplace that works for all. Natural resources that will be around for our children’s children. Helping everyone—even people we may never meet. Fair trade is a commitment to social justice in which employees and farmers are treated and paid fairly, sustainable environmental practices are followed and long-term trade relationships are fostered.

(From the TransFair USA website)...
Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
Fair Trade is much more than a fair price! Fair Trade principles include:
Fair price: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic products. Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.
Fair labor conditions: Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.
Direct trade: With Fair Trade, importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
Community development: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.
Environmental sustainability: Harmful agrochemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.

Products widely available Fair Trade Certified:
Coffee - liguid planet is my favorite so far, available at our local Save Mart grocery
Tea - i'm not a big tea drinker, i tend to buy whatever looks good at Trader Joe's
Chocolate - I love love love Endangered Species chocolate (available at Target) it's a little expensive, so i try to just buy less, so that i can still support the company.

Things that i have yet to buy fair trade, but seem to be available in some places:
Bananas
Crafts and Jewelry

Chashews, Olive Oil

Sugar

Rice

Vanilla

Beauty Products (Shea Butter, Coconut Oil)

Beer & Wine
Mangoes

flowers

For more information on fair trade, check out these organizations:

Fair Trade Federation

Fair Trade Certified

Fair Trade Foundation

New American Dream (my favorite)

image courtesy of New American Dream

No Impact Man and Inspiration

I found the blog of this guy who calls himself "No Impact Man". I had to go back to the beginning of his blog to understand what he and his family are doing - and let me tell ya, it's amazing. He and his wife and 2 year old daughter live in an apartment in New York city. "No Impact Man" is a project for them which began last November. They are going in stages, dealing with different aspects of their life, trying to live for a year with as little ecological impact as possible (hence the name "No Impact"). I got hooked on reading about their journey. They only eat food that comes 250 miles or less, they don't use anything disposable, they ride their bikes/scooters everywhere and they even turned off their electricity (they use a little solar panel for a few things). He talks about their journey and how much they've learned and the fact that they are enjoying this process (for the most part), rather than feeling deprived like you might expect. Anyway, if you are in the mood for some reading and inspiration, check him out!

And you know, it's funny how a couple of months ago, people like this seemed crazy radical to me and now it's just exciting to read about what they're doing. It makes me happy. It makes me want to continue learning how to live small and simply... Brian even told me this week that he hopes someday we won't really need our car anymore - wouldn't that be amazing?! Living simpler and smaller just seems right. I can't believe I wasn't even thinking about this stuff just a few months ago. Jesus is definitely changing me, thank God!

Oh and something else that's been inspiring me lately is Another World is Possible. These people are wonderful, they are where I stole the label "becoming an ordinary radical", but more on that later.

picture courtesy of the No Impact Man blog, it is him and his family

Fake Plastic Trees

Starting this post got that radiohead song stuck in my head. I don't know how much the song has to do with what I'm about to say. Nevertheless, I read this really disturbing article the other day, that made me want to never purchase another piece of plastic anything - ever. Not that I really think that's even possible, but seriously - the article speaks for itself. I wonder if it's what drove this "Eviro-Woman" (that's what she calls herself) to swear off plastic for 2007. I don't know that I could ever go that far, but I'm certainly cutting back as much as possible. For that matter, I'm still trying to get in the habit of keeping my reusable shopping bags on hand and now also trying to get that song out of my head.

photo courtesy of hangdog on flickr

Water

Water. It symbolizes a lot of things - life, redemption, renewal, recreation... It is the substance of our bodies, our earth, our food; it's everywhere. It is essential for every living thing. Yet, how often do we think about how we treat water or what happens to what we put down our drains and in our sewers? Most of us probably don't think about it at all. We just hope that a waste water treatment plant does a good job of cleaning up after us and we go on about buying our bottled "mountain spring" water and put whatever we like, or more likely don't like, down our drains. In America, and perhaps the rest of the western world, we take for granted all of the clean water that we have right at our fingertips and doing so is harmful. 1.4 million die each year from lack of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. A mere 12 percent of the world’s population uses 85 percent of its water, and these 12 percent do not live in the Third World. so, i've been thinking about this whole process and reading up on what i can do to be more responsible in my handling of this essential substance.
Some facts about water and water pollution:

• Water from rain, storm drains, and ditches flows directly to streams and bays with little or no treatment. Storm drains and ditches are DIFFERENT than sewers. They are NOT CONNECTED to a treatment plant.
• We all live in a watershed. What you do personally does affect streams, even if you don’t live on a stream. A watershed is an area of land which drains to the lowest point, usually a stream or bay.
• Small amounts of contaminants from all over the land add up to cause pollution in our water. Yes, even the little things matter. You will make a difference, no matter how small, if you change the way you do some things.

Here are some tips:

• Use less fertilizer. Instead, mulch grass clippings to enrich your lawn and create a compost pile that will provide natural nutrients for your gardens.


• Keep harmful runoff and litter out of storm drains.


• Plant trees. Trees contribute to clean water; they are the oceans' best filters.
• Don't use the toilet as a trashcan or garbage disposal. Doing so contributes to overload sewer and septic systems, which release their effluent into local waterways and the ocean.
  
• Sweep walks and driveways rather than hosing them down. Water picks up chemicals and transports them to the nearest storm drain, creek, or waterway. Often, these hard surfaces contain oil, antifreeze, lawn chemicals, and other substances.


• Empty your swimming pool or hot tub on the grass, not into the street. Chlorinated water is harmful to aquatic life. By emptying it into a wooded or grassy area, you are making use of nature's natural filtering action.


• On trips to the beach, carry out whatever you carry in. Wildlife can ingest, or become entangled in, trash left behind.


• If you decrease your water use at home, you'll decrease the amount of water that must be treated with chemicals before entering rivers, streams, and the oceans:


• Fix leaky faucets and plumbing joints. Saves 20 gallons per day for every leak stopped.


• Don't run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end. Saves 150 gallons each time.


• Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors. Saves 500 to 800 gallons per month.


• Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. Saves 300 to 800 gallons per month.


• Shorten your showers. Even a one or two minute reduction can save up to 700 gallons per month.


• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks. Saves 150 gallons or more each time. At once a week, that's more than 600 gallons a month.


• Capture tap water. While you wait for hot water to come down the pipes, catch the flow in a watering can to use later on house plants or your garden. Saves 200 to 300 gallons per month.


• Don't water the sidewalks, driveway or gutter. Adjust your sprinklers so that water lands on your lawn or garden where it belongs--and only there. Saves 500 gallons per month.


• If you're taking a shower, don't waste cold water while waiting for hot water to reach the shower head. Catch that water in a container to use on your outside plants or to flush your toilet. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.


• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Saves three gallons each day.


• Turn off the water while shaving. Fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of water to rinse your razor. Saves three gallons each day.


• If you wash dishes by hand--don't leave the water running for rinsing. If you have two sinks, fill one with rinse water. If you only have one sink, use a spray device or short blasts instead of letting the water run. Saves 200 to 500 gallons a month.


• When washing dishes by hand, use the least amount of detergent possible. This minimizes rinse water needed. Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.


• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. This beats the wasteful habit of running tap water to cool it for drinking. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.


• Don't defrost frozen foods with running water. Either plan ahead by placing frozen items in the refrigerator overnight or defrost them in the microwave. Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.


• Use the garbage disposal less and the garbage more (even better--compost!). Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.


• Water during the cool parts of the day. Early morning is better than dusk since it helps prevent the growth of fungus. Saves 300 gallons.


• Don't water the lawn on windy days. There's too much evaporation. Can waste up to 300 gallons in one watering. Cut down watering on cool and overcast days and don't water in the rain. Can save up to 300 gallons each time.


• Set lawn mower blades one notch higher. Longer grass means less evaporation. Saves 500 to 1,500 gallons each month.


• Have an evaporative air conditioner? Direct the water drain line to a flower bed, tree base, or lawn.


• Drive your car onto a lawn to wash it. Rinse water can help water the grass.


• Dispose of hazardous materials properly! One quart of oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water, effectively eliminating that much water from our water supply. Contact your city or county for proper waste disposal options. And don't flush prescription medications!
• Use natural soaps and cleansers in your home.

sources:

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ta_choiceshttp://www.monolake.org/socalwater/wctips.htm

image courtesy of randy shelton on flickr

CSA Love

Ok, so the picture isn't ours, but recently, Brian and I did join a CSA(Community Supported Agriculture) program. So far, after a month, we love it. I can't imagine going back to not having it! Basically what the CSA entails is that we pay ahead (for us this is monthly, but you can also pay by the quarter) and for $60 a month, we get fresh organic vegetables (and a little fruit) that is grown locally at Silveira Farm in Merced. A box of fresh organic goodness is delivered to The Carrot Healthfood store downtown every Thursday, which is awfully convenient since Brian works about 2 seconds from that store and I can walk there from home. I get excited every week about what treasures our box will hold. We get enough for two people of whatever is in season. Right now that means a lot of zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, green beans, sweet corn and lots of things i had never heard of before (like peruvian purple potatoes). There is nothing like getting fresh, organic, local produce practically delivered to your door. If you live in Modesto, make the little journey over to the Carrot, pick up a brochure and check it out. You won't be sorry, I promise!

Don't live in Modesto? Try looking here for a CSA program in your area.

picture courtesy of mikaela on flickr

Individual Action

So, i feel that there's this tension in life. it's between what you believe and how you live. some of us, or maybe most, believe that the world should be different or that we should be different from the world at least and yet our lives are quite similar to the status quo. it's because of this other tension: Does my life and my little individual actions make a difference? i don't see anyone around me (or maybe hardly anyone) living out what i believe. ---
but i've been thinking about this lately and what i hope is that as we change our individual actions (be it whatever it is that you would like to see happening in the world around you) others will see your life and maybe the reasons you live the way you do and become inspired. even if that didn't happen (which i think it would) i still think that individual actions make a difference. your life is not so small that it doesn't affect anyone or anything around you. that's why we ought to listen to the words...

"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise, but as wise making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." -Ephesians 5:16-17

photo courtesy of Adamk0310 on flickr

Becoming Who I Am

I had an epiphany recently. You see, oftentimes i've thought things such as:
"I admire when people are [into that or like that], but i'm just not that way."
"I wish i had the courage/energy[insert virtue here]to do that."
"If only i had the time for that"
"i would like to do [this or that] someday."
and i've realized that i don't want to live that way anymore. I want to be who I am without hesitation. I want to be someone who cares about things, who loves people and who takes their life and uses it to change the world (as much as is possible). i don't want to get stuck thinging that it's not possible or probable or just "not me". what an ugly phrase "that's just who i am" or "that's just the way i am, sorry". i want to be who i am in the good sense. i want to be who i've longed to be. I want to be like jesus. i don't want to ignore that homeless person in the park, forget about people suffering overseas in third-world countries or pretend my life and my actions don't affect the world. if that makes me a vegetarian, tree-hugging, activist-hippie extremist, then so be it. oh well. i'm freeing myself up to become who i am.

Adventures in Reusing

Recently, I have become obsessed with trying to research and think up items that i can reuse and how i could do it. Once you start thinking of one item in your life to replace with something reusable (like maybe shopping bags) you start to realize just how many things in our culture are disposable. So, for me, finding ways to reuse and recycle has become important for several reasons. Often, it can be a huge money saver. who really wants to spend money on something they're only going to use once? nobody, right? but we do it all the time. It's also, quite obviously, better for the environment and allows me to feel good about the fact that my everyday actions are more purposeful. often the reusable replacements are much more attractive. real plates are much better looking than paper, for instance. so, here are some things to consider when it comes to reusing instead of disposing:

Clothing

For all you crafty ladies out there, how about refashioning items of clothing:
Little Brown Dress Recycling Project
Wardrobe Refashion:Flickr
Wardrobe Refashion '07
or taking unwanted items to the consignment store ($$$) or donating.

Bags!

My favorite so far is the one i just bought at Trader Joe's - $1.99 (it's cute, not plain canvas and no hawaiian flowers)
or make a reusable bag out of disposable ones http://modcottage.com/?p=109 (this one seems like it could be fun, even if you're not really the crafty type - no sewing involved)
i've also had my eye on these babies - so compact, sturdy and perfect, but i don't have the cash.
oh and i just discovered today that save mart deducts 5 cents for every reusable bag you use. not a huge cash savings, but still!

Hankerchiefs/Cloth Napkins

i think hankerchiefs are lovely. i have one that belonged to my grandmother and i love it. though i don't have any allergies and very rarely have cause to blow my nose, i have started carrying a little napkin/hankerchief for drying my hands in a public restroom, using in place of paper napkins, or any other little instances you would normally grab something disposable for - and i love it! quite convenient and much more attractive and elegant than kleenex and scratchy paper napkins.

Towels

I have gone off of paper towels completely and it's been so great! cloth kitchen towels and rags are actually much easier to use. they never fall apart on me and they are much more aesthetically pleasing (ok, maybe the rags aren't always) but i love using them. washing them is no big deal, it's not like they take up a lot of space in your laundry basket or washing machine. and if you use natural cleaners, you don't have to worry about throwing them in with the rest of the laundry. plus, if they are 100% cotton, you can always compost them if you've cleaned up something unmentionally disgusting. so, this one is easy, not to mention CHEAPER!

Water Bottles

Bottled water isn't necessarily cleaner or better for you. i just purchased a water filter pitcher (though maybe i faucet mounted filter would have been a better choice) but still, i really like not spending money on water all the time, not filling up our kitchen with empty bottles, and never feeling like we're "out of water"

Swiffer

I've never been a huge fan of the swiffer, though i do own one. i would just like to point out that there are wonderful alternatives that aren't so expensive and wasteful. microfiber dusting mops work just the same, or you can go old school and just use a broom and dust pan or you can find a microfiber cover to convert your swiffer here.

Also...

i've started using glass containers for storing food (plastics can leach chemicals) and gotten rid of the disposable type plastic containers ( i.e. ziploc, gladware)

i've never purchased a toilet brush with a disposable head or other bathroom scrubbers and now i realize how silly and expensive that would be!

things like aluminum foil and ziploc bags can be washed and reused.
even water can be reused. try collecting the water in the shower while it warms up and using it for something else, like watering the plants, soaking some dishes or mopping the floor.

items i have yet to change:

coffee filters - perhaps i should use the metal one that came with the coffee maker, i've been told that your coffee will actually taste better anyway.
razors- i have one where i can replace just the head, but how about this one that's made with recycled plastic and can be recycled?
my toothbrush - you can actually get one with a replaceable head, or at least this one that can be mailed back and recycled
toilet paper - this one seems rather radical and interesting, i suppose it would save some cash.

photo courtesy of verdammelt on flickr

Recycling

YEAH - RECYCLING!! i know that there are plenty of you out there who don't really know how the program works here in modesto. a few people have asked me recently. so, i'd like to tell you about that and then talk about some more creative ways to recycle more than just your bottles and cans in another post. But first...
Recycling in Modesto is EASY!
Here in Modesto, there is a blue bag program. What this means is that all of your recyclables can be put into the blue colored plastic shopping bags that you receive from local super markets (save mart, o'brien's, richland) tied closed and thrown in your black can with your household garbage.


What Goes in the Blue Bag for Recycling, You Ask?

Tin, Steel & Aluminum Cans:
Labels are okay. Crushing cans saves space
Aluminum cans, aluminum foil trays and pie plates, foil products Empty and lightly rinse
Plastic Bottles & Jars:
Soda, water, milk jugs, soda bottles, and plastic bottles with a "neck"
Plastics numbered 1 through 7
Remove any bottle caps which are not recyclable
Labels are okay
Crush or flatten to save space
Empty and lightly rinse
Glass Bottles & Jars:
Leave the lid off and put it into the blue bag
Empty and lightly rinse
Do not break the bottles and jars
Newspapers, Brown Bags, Cardboard & Other Clean Paper:
Newspapers, brown paper bags, telephone books, magazines, mixed paper, junk mail, computer paper, and cardboard
Remove cardboard box liners
Flatten cardboard boxes

Also, I think a lot of people don't know this, but food waste can be put in your green bin with your yard waste and will be composted by the city.
In The Green Cans
Place all grass, plant clippings, and leaves in the can and
Brush, tree limbs less than 4' long and 6" in diameter as well as,
Acceptable food waste items:
Table Scraps
Vegetable and Fruit Peelings
Meat, Bones, and Fish
Egg Shells
Solid Dairy Products
Coffee Grounds
Breads and Toast
Paper Waste (Napkins, towels, plates, coffee filters, tea bags, etc.)
(no Recyclables,no Kitty Litter,no Plastics,no Food Containers or Packaging,no Liquids)

for more tips on recycling, visit Alina over at Confessions of a Closet Environmentalist

so, get up and pay your kitchen garbage can a little visit and see what treasures you can find to recycle. or, if that's too gross, just start paying attention to what you throw away from now on. you'll be amazed at what a difference it makes. we used to have to take the garbage out several times a week. now, since we've been separating out our recyclables and our compostable waste (as well as cloth diapering and trying to purchase products with less packaging) we only take out one rather small bag per week! this makes brian happy as he is the one who makes the brave journey to the garbage can in the alley. so, GO FORTH AND RECYCLE, IT'S EASY!

P.S. if you are a cheap skate you can also take your various drink containers to drop off locations (sometimes i go to the one on oakdale by raley's and wamu) to get your CRV refund ($$)

photo from .Delight on flickr

Intro...

OK, So as many of you know from my recent posts on myspace - i've been attempting to reduce my ecological footprint or impact or however you want to say it. so, that's definitely part of what i intend to write about here. i'll let you all know what changes i'm making, what works and what doesn't. some things may seem small, but my hope is that it will all add up to big change and that maybe along the way i can help inspire you to try a thing or two along with me. I also hope to chronicle some other changes that i'm hoping to make in my life. i would like to be more educated and involved in social justice and political issues and perhaps pass on some knowledge in those areas. i'm also beginning to attempt to simplify my life and give more away, but more on that later. So, i hope that you'll join with me on this journey and let me know what you think.