This is how we didgeridoo it!

Started this project over the summer..... I had attended a class at New Morning called "The Healing Power of the Didgeridoo". Indeed I find the sound of the ancient instrument stimulating and hypnotic. I've always wanted to learn to play it, and when my cousin got one I was green ;) with envy, but could not part with the few hundred dollars it would cost to get my own. What if I could not learn how to play it?! I thought maybe taking the short class would help me make up my mind over whether I should part with the cash and get myself one. Instead, the guy who lead the class offered advice on ways to make your own, cheap! A great solution for those who want to try it out but are not too musically inclined/talented. Not that it takes any hand coordination to play it, you just blow in it! But getting the right vibration with your lips and learning the "circular breathing" method that allows you to play continuously takes practice like anything else.
I started by using my charms and good looks (and if all else fails, the poor desperate airhead act) to acquire a cardboard fabric tube from Joanne Fabrics. Turns out they don't always part with them because they often reuse them, but they were willing to give me 2 (in case I screwed up the first one, i figured). Cost: $0

I took a little hack saw (?) and cut off the crumply end :P

Next I bought a bottle of spray paint... black. Which I figured would help prime and protect the tube from damage, moisture and such. Cost: about $5

Set up a spot outside with some plastic and sprayed away, couple coats including a spray down the hole.

Then, I let it sit in my room for 4 months. :-/  But THEN I went to New Morning again and got some bee's wax to make a mouth piece. It was a bit tricky; you have to take what you eyeball as a good size chunk and submerge it in a pan of hot water, but not too hot or it will melt it entirely and make a mess out of your pan! I tried to "set it and forget it" and walked away, came back and it was ruined, had to cut off another chunk and start over and I was scraping beeswax off my pan and utensils for a week :P  You have to put it on low, be patient, stand there and keep checking it. When it is just soft enough to mold you just make a ring shape about the same size as your tube diameter and mold it on. Cost (including my screw up): $10.

At that point you can try playing it and get someone who has a good ear to tune it for you. You tune it by adjusting the length; hack saw time again! I don't  have a good ear and Cory doesn't like to do anything he's not sure about so I just picked a length and cut it and felt it sounded perfect and was a good length for my body as well. Then is the fun part, painting it!  Wasn't able to get any shots of me doing this, I was finished with it pretty quick, here is the final result.

So there it is, total cost, about $15! Can I play it? NO! But I am working on it. I found didgeridoo lesson podcasts on iTunes, free! All you fellow aboriginal wanna-be's, you have no excuse now, just didgeridoo it!

Merry Consumermas!!

After last Christmas I had vowed to make the next one a little more earth friendly.... well, it's a work in progress :)
I am proud to say I've largely avoided big corporate chains stores and supported local businesses (except for a desk chair I bought my dad at BJ's), I've done a tiny bit of internet shopping (refirbed ipod shuffle for Zoie, something for Cory- I can't say because he'll read this :P) and otherwise made my family a lot of home made gifts.... with love <3  There was pajama pants, fudge, my famous raw chocolate, my famous beef jerky, home made soaps, fleece socks, etc. My sewing skills still need some improvement, thats why I say "work in progress"; while i wanted to make hand made gifts instead of buying I didn't want to give my loved ones pieces of crap for Christmas. So for instance, the really cool up-cycled material handbag I was going to make my mom.... it turned into a car starter for her new vehicle. I'll keep working on that, maybe for her birthday :)
I even spent 4+ hours sewing "Santa Sacks" which I wrapped everyone's gifts in this year in lew of wrapping paper. I saved a TON of wrapping paper- between what I have to wrap for other family members I don't exchange with at my home and the few gifts labeled "From Santa" I used less than one roll of paper, maybe half. It's not so much the money i'm worried about, wrapping paper is fairly cheep, it's just all the garbage I wanted to avoid this year. It was a lot of work but the actual wrapping was a cinch; just throw the gift in stick a tag on and tie in a bow! And it will be that easy next year, as I can just keep reusing them!

I also cut down on toys and gifts with excess packaging this year; buying local helps eliminate a lot of packaging, it's mostly the big toy companies that sell to retail chains that tend to over package. What packaging comes with gifts from other family members, don't forget much of that is recyclable if you separate it! So all in all I feel pretty good this Christmas; my kids are going to have possibly the best year ever, I got a lot of practice sewing and other practical skills I can use (for instance, a friend wants me to teach a soap making class as part of sustainability courses she offers, that's cash money for momma!), I supported local businesses and I was kinder on the environment. With a little skill and a little smarts, you too can avoid "The Shopocalypse"!! Rev Billy, love this guy!  Have a great Christmas everyone!

Occupy Your Information- Nullify Your Ignorance

I'm proud to say that instead of watching from the sidelines, assuming, speculating, praising and/or criticizing like some out of shape TV sports fanatic, I got my ass down to Occupy Wall Street yesterday and threw myself into the game. Myself and four other inquisitive and unafraid souls, all very unfamiliar with the city and not knowing anyone who was already there or could get us there, found our way down to Zuccotti park on Saturday to see, hear, feel, smell (yes, smell, since there was much postulation about the protesters being a bunch of "dirty hippies") and formulate our own sense of what is going on there.

My honest report? This movement is not dead, not failed, and is not going anywhere. While there is much criticism that they are "disorganized" I found that they are just organized enough. There is nobody claiming to have all the answers, no one making their voice heard over anyone else. There is a central theme to the movement (corporate and big bank control over the government is ruining the economy and taking away our choice, liberties and ability to sustain ourselves individually and as a whole) and many sub-themes within. People who are passionate about a specific sub-theme will organize a group to march down there and speak to the occupiers. For instance, yesterday there was a demonstration about food sovereignty; government subsidies that sustain corporate control over a food supply that is increasingly processed, unhealthy and unsustainable and lack of development of alternatives that could provide health food for everyone. The sub-movements are organized enough to educate the crowds, and the movement as a whole is organized enough to have their own newspaper and rally people to march together throughout the city.

It was not easy for us suburban folk to navigate the NYC subway system, but we made it there. We made a b-line for Zuccotti park because we had big box of cookies and supplies (gloves, hand warmers, hats) we brought. The police wouldn't allow us to bring in our cookies because they were "on trays"...? We found a guy who helped us smuggle them in and started chatting with him and his friends- who were all extremely thankful and welcomed us with hugs and kisses!

His name was David he said he'd been there for 2 weeks and was there when they raided the camp, he was one of those who linked arms when they tried to dismantle the "Peoples Kitchen", and got arrested. He said when he was finally released after 2 days of jail and court etc, there were a group of supporters waiting outside the courtroom with food, clean clothing and most of all hugs and sincere thanks for all those being released. This organized group call themselves "Jail Support".  This was consistent with the spirit we found there; everyone supporting one another and the cause, people donating what they can and helping out however they can. I never got the sense I was in any kind of danger. I want to make clear this was not just a party, free-love, concert type of atmosphere (although there were a couple circles that seemed that way, not the majority) it was not like "The Vibes" or something. Yes there were some drum circles and people playing guitar, singing, etc but for the most part it was a place of exchanging ideas and imagining a better future for everyone. I knew I would make a sign when I got there and at the exact time I was ready to do that the idea came to me. I didn't want to make a protest sign per-se, I wanted to say something positive and goal oriented.

I had thought of John Lennon's song "Imagine" earlier that morning on our way there- that was my message; as we are spreading awareness of the existent problems, lets also start to imagine what the future can be, lets visualize it and it will slowly take shape. This obviously resonated with the people there as I was stopped several times and asked to be photographed, here is a nice one someone posted to their flicker page:

 We spent most of our time in Zuccotti park talking with people and listening to the demonstrations. People are handing out flyers with information, there are small circles of conversation going on everywhere- not arguing but real dialogue for the purpose of understanding. There were many spectators walking by taking pictures and talking with the demonstrators from outside the barricades to the park, not usually arguing but more-so curious about the protesters message.

Then a march began, we joined in to march down to the Meryl Lynch bull and back. It was exhilarating! Many more people than were originally in the park joined in. There were retired couples, teachers, professionals, students, parents and kids- all kinds of people. The crowd thanked the police who were extremely present but not obstructive on this day. A police officer even complimented me on my sign!

From where I live it was a 30 minute car ride to the train station and then an hour trip on Metro North followed by a 10 minute subway ride. I HATE the cold but dressed appropriately and felt comfortable. Only problem was finding a bathroom but certainly not any worse than going to the Vibes or the New Haven St Paddy's Parade. Total cost per person (including food but not donations) about $30. I highly suggest all you sideline commentators take a day trip and see for yourself, you won't regret it :)

Miss Z

People Over Profits in 2012

This is an official blog entry for the YourLocalSecurity.com Blogging Scholarship. If selected, I'll receive $1000 towards my college expenses in 2012. This scholarship is sponsored by YourLocalSecurity.com

The most important issue in the 2012 Presidential Election will without a doubt be fixing the economy. The way I see it, the only way to achieve this will be by stopping, and reversing, economic and industrial globalization. The free flow of information and ideas, that the creation of the internet has afforded us, is to be preserved. But the overuse of technology to replace working people, and the transferring of jobs and commodities across borders and oversees, especially those essential to our daily lives, simply has got to stop. The driving force behind economic globalization is greed; cut costs, at any human and environmental cost, in order to maximize profits. A system driven by a negative force such as greed will never yield positive fruit. We will not fix the country's, or the world's, problems until we decide collectively to reverse this negative system. Addressing this issue will simultaneously address 3 issues at once; economy, energy and the environment. .

The concept is very simple; if I want to earn my living manufacturing plastic children's toys, I will do it right here in my own home state, committing to handle any waste and pollution created locally, this way I will be aware and accountable for the environmental implications of manufacturing products of this type. I should be willing to give up my land, sacrificing it's potential use for living, green space or farming, if I believe in the value of my product. See, local economies have tighter feedback systems, so when problems arise affecting the lives of the people and their environments in this system, they are acknowledged and addressed quicker. Not only will environmental issues be less likely to get swept under the rug, but also localized economies use less energy to function. For instance, I live in Connecticut, we can grow many varieties of apples here, but if I want a pineapple I will have to import it and since this is more energy consumptive I should pay a significantly higher cost per pound than my local apples. This should encourage people to eat primarily locally grown food and buy locally made products. Consuming what is available locally means less fossil fuels used in transport, resulting in decreased dependence on foreign oil, and consequently producing less pollution in the form of greenhouse gasses.  Additionally, if I need someone to handle customer service for my business, I will hire someone locally who has customer service experience rather than someone 4000 miles away just because they require less pay. Hiring local help will create jobs for the people who consume local goods, and fair wages will be paid because when you have a consistent face to face relationship with the people you employ and do business with, you feel more accountable to them. We need to foster in a new era in which supporting and having healthy relationships with the people in your community (and respecting the human rights of all people across the globe) is more important than getting rich, owning unlimited cheap plastic toys, or eating pineapples every day. People over products.

It's true that on this localized system, we would have limited access to many of the goods we have become accustomed to, but in all reality, we need to accept that in the last 30 years we have been living a lifestyle entirely ignorant of the confines of our planet and thus rapidly depleting our resources. Unless we plan on finding a second planet to live on, we are going to have to accept that we need to scale back our expectations. We in the industrialized world have been sold the idea that material possessions equate to happiness, and so we spend and spend, never truly happier and all the more in debt.  The people reaping the most benefit from the current system are the few at the top of the major banks and corporations. They've convinced us we need the most trivial products, the vast majority of which are made overseas at a lower cost to them and consequently not providing jobs for the people they aim to sell the products to. We buy, we go into debt, and the corporations and banks get rich.

These banks and corporations are consumed by greed and will not volunteer to take reformative actions. It is the government's responsibility to enforce laws that protect and benefit it's people but to be honest at this point in time I don't think even the worlds governments are any match against the muscle of the major global corporations. I personally am not holding my breath waiting and hoping on the outcome of the next election. It is likely that only widespread, grassroots effort will bring about a positive future. People need to come out of their houses, get out of their cars, step away from their televisions, get together and talk to each other. We have many differences but most of us share a common goal; a peaceful existence for future generations on this planet. If we can focus on that goal, suspend our judgements against each other and adopt a more realistic perspective on what is achievable for our species on this planet, we can open up our collective creative potential to achieve it. It's time for communities to unite and generate the tides of change.

Vegan Lasagna that your KIDS WILL EAT!

Another concoction that again was gone before I could take a picture. From now on when i'm concocting something i'm just going to take a picture as soon as it's done, and before it's eaten!

So here's the key to this lasagna: replacing the ricotta cheese with food processed tofu and white beans with roasted garlic and plenty of sea salt to help mask the non-cheese flavor (also some herbs: thyme, rosemary, sage). Also used some sweet and flavorful kid-friendly veggies like squash and carrots.  I used a package of tofu (standard size they sell), half a can of white beans and a few cloves of garlic roasted, the sea salt and herbs. Process that up and par-boil the noodles and your ready to go.

Bottom layer: whole wheat lasagna noodles, layer of tofu white bean "cheeze" layer of roasted sliced butternut squash (I roasted the squash and garlic at the same time, easy, but if your clueless on how to roast check this out: "CHOW" on youtube, great cooking instruction video's!) and then a little sprinkle of Daiya Vegan Cheese.

Middle layer: noodles, "cheeze" shredded zucchini (or frozen, drained spinach would also work well) and the vegan shredded cheese.

Top layer: noodles, "cheeze" shredded carrots and the vegan cheese

Top-est layer: noodles and the vegan shredded cheese mixed with panko bread crumbs and a little olive oil.

Everyone ate this up! Even my boyfriends brother who is generally a picky eater. Having to get really creative to maintain the "Meatless Mon, Wed, Fri" plan without constant complaints from the kiddo's. So far so good! I'm a bit proud of myself :-)

Diet Modifications Update

In addition to the changes I realized I needed to make, as described in my post a couple weeks ago, I recently decided to cut down my meat consumption even more (previous to this I consumed meat only at dinner time pretty much every day except Monday- "Meatless Monday"). And I've also decided to include all animal products in my definition of "meat"; so that includes eggs and dairy. It have heard from several sources that animal protein is really not ideal for humans and has been linked with cancer and heart disease- regardless of cholesterol content; the form of protein itself promotes these diseases in humans! Here is a really short citation of studies related to animal protien consumption and disease. And, Here is the website of Dr. Fuhrman, who I saw on PBS after I watched a documentary citing the works of 2 other doctors who found the same evidence. Look at his food pyramid!
I had, in my own diet, cut out all dairy except the occasional sprinkle of cheese or ice cream treat. I had given my girls coconut or almond milk before when we were out of cow's milk and they were not opposed to it, so I decided NOT to buy a half gallon organic cows milk this week and instead an extra container of almond milk. They are fine with it! I also announced we were going on a "Meatless Monday, Wednesday, Friday" diet. This has been a little trickier. They did not care for my TVP "meetloaf".... if at first you don't succeed, try try again! And I will keep trying and experimenting with new recipes until I find several that will keep my kids happy those 3 nights per week. I also declared they can only have school lunch 2 times per week (the school lunches are utterly deplorable!) so I printed out the calendar and let them choose their 2 days at the beginning of the week.  They are getting sick of tuna fish, are not allowed to bring PB&J to school because of children with peanut allergies and rejected my substitute of "Sunbutter" (sunflower seed butter). Thinking of finding a good tofu salad recipe; they love tofu. I tried to explain the changes to my eldest and encouraged her to research for herself, she refuses, she's just pissed at me and cited these dietary changes as the reason she's dorming at WCSU next year.... so be it. She literally said to me, "I'm too old to make these kind of changes now, it's too late".... LOL.
So, beyond that, how did I incorporate more ginger, turmeric, garlic, green tea, etc into my diet? Well to start with I made a potent ginger tea using grated ginger (then some sliced because grating ginger gets really tiring!) and lemons- simmer together for about 10 minutes then let cool and poured into ice cube trays. I brewed a concentrated green tea, then diluted it into a pitcher of filtered water, put that in the fridge. So a couple times/day I'll have iced green tea using a couple of my ginger tea ice cubes. Has green tea replaced my morning coffee? Not yet.... that's a hard one I love my morning coffee, but it has replaced coffee on the couple evenings per week that I work till 9:30. And over all I feel much better and have more energy so don't feel like I need the coffee on those nights so much anymore. I incorporated turmeric, ginger and garlic in a couple soups I made; sautee assorted veggies (including thin sliced ginger and garlic) in coconut oil then add (vegetarian) chicken broth, sea salt, some lentils and a crap load of turmeric, curry powder and a little cayenne pepper and simmer for about 45minutes... yum!! If you like Indian food you gotta try that, hits the spot, and clears your sinuses too!
I'm really excited about going back to school in 6 weeks; I've been reading about Health Coaching and thinking about the possibilities. I would love to work under a ND, helping clients make these types of lifestyle changes. I think it takes more than handing someone a diet plan; people need one on one assistance in the grocery store and at home if they have been used to living a typical American lifestyle this stuff will seem very foreign to them. Will be sharing some of the stuff I'm learning right here, stay tuned :)
Miss Z

My little girls on their wheels

Cute picture of Jada riding her bike. Cory is really into this photo effects application, made this look like an old photo from the 60's.

And here's my Zoie, just learned to ride on 2 wheels in May and I think she'll need a new bike by next summer!