Green and Free

New Blog address!

2010-07-08T21:13:00.001-04:00

Green and Free has switched over to the Wordpress platform and it's been great! Check it out at: www.greenandfreeblog.com

2012 FTW

2010-01-04T23:05:00.001-05:00

(via)

Acorn & Chestnut

2009-12-19T15:06:00.005-05:00

Few people affect me more than the likes of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and John Muir. Of these three I've been reading excerpts from Meditations of Henry David Thoreau: A Light in the Woods and I am constantly surprised at how relevant their words are to now. So much that it only furthers my belief that everything is connected, no matter who you are or what you believe.

On that note I bring to you Acorn & Chestnut by Thoreau, a meditation that especially stood out to me:

I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest. What force has multitude? They only can force me to become like themselves. I do not hear of men being forced to live this way or that by masses of men. What sort of life were that to live? When I meet a government which says to me, "Your money or your life," why should I be in haste to give it my money? It may be in a great strait, and not know what to do: I cannot help that. It must help itself; do as I do. It is not worth the while to snivel about it. I am not responsible for the successful working of the machinery of society. I am not the son of the engineer. I perceive that, when an acorn and a chestnut fall side by side, the one does not remain inert to make way for the other, but both obey their own laws, and spring and grow and flourish as best they can, till one, perchance, overshadows and destroys the other. If a plant cannot live according to it's nature, it dies; and so a man.

-Vanessa

No Impact Challenge

2009-12-02T21:11:00.003-05:00

Credit: D'Arcy Norman under the Creative Commons License

How does it seem that a year can go by in the blink of an eye; as just one tiny suspension of time? It really puts into perspective just how tiny we are in this universe, and yet our impact is huge. I recently watched No Impact Man, a story about Colin Beavan and his family's journey through a year of living with as little carbon footprint as possible. I was moved by his endeavor and the very real conflicts that arose throughout the year. Colin sought to cut down his family's impact through various means like making walking and cycling their only mode of transportation, vermicomposting, shopping at farmer's markets and even cutting the electricity. Sound unimaginable? Beavan and his wife were criticized numerously by many, including environmentalists because of their 'extremism.' Many thought that going no impact was unfeasible and just something else for stressed out American's to add to their plates. But what Beavan was looking for was could he go no impact but still be happy? What he found was that even living minimally, he and his family were happy and healthy.

With the rapidly approaching new year it got me thinking about my impact and my hopes and dreams for 2010 (call it a New Year's resolution if you will). If I could go full 'no impact' I would but alas my lifestyle is too non-permanent to make it so. But I would like to devote next year to lessening my impact on this lovely planet, as close to no impact as possible. In fact, many people have already started their lessening with experiments such as No Impact Week hosted by Huffingtonpost.com. Playing largely off of Colin Beavan's story, Huffpost set out to help guide people through trying a no impact lifestyle. Though I do wish it were more open to those who can't make drastic changes like switching to non-carbon producing transportation, nevertheless, it is still a good insight into what 'no impact' is all about. It's not about buying the things we think make us happy or that we assume we need but about simplifying our lives and making the most important aspects of our lives -- family and friends -- a priority. And at the same time we're treating the planet with respect. Think of it as a golden rule between us and Mother Nature.

As a matter of fact the average American throws out about 4lbs of trash on a daily basis. We're the highest trash makers in the world. And half the crap isn't recycled, adding to the tons and tons of trash in our landfills. Everything we do today will affect tomorrow, be it good or bad. This is a reminder we should carry with us on a daily basis. The good thing is that 4,000 people have participated in No Impact Week and who knows how many more were already doing it. The smallest change can and will make a big difference.

With the holidays upon us we should also remember to keep our Christmas impact to a minimum, even if it means no gift giving. I know, it sounds terrible right? But is that truly what makes Christmas so joyous? The presents? Maybe it's the food and the time spent with family. At least that's what Beavan believes. He recently wrote an article on just that, a low impact Christmas, for Yes! magazine. Imagine the stress and money that would be saved by adopting this type of mentality. It shouldn't be so out of the ordinary to give gifts whenever we feel like it.

The decision to go "no impact" is life changing. One that many people are not willing to make, but sometimes doing is believing. And you never know; one spark could cause a domino effect of change. The question is: Are you willing to try it?

Just something to think about.

(update: I just found http://noimpactproject.org/ started by Colin Beavan. Check it out!)

Namaste
-Vanessa

Starfish and Sea monsters

2009-11-28T22:17:00.000-05:00

I would embed the video if I could but the user disabled the code for this video. Nevertheless, here is the link to a BBC time-lapse video of some fantastic sea creatures and how they do things down under.

Check it out!

Atelic

2009-11-25T10:12:00.000-05:00

Check out the skill in this video Derek found.We collectively agreed that the people who created this are geniuses...

Atelic from duckeyejey on Vimeo.

I wasn't sure what Atelic meant until I googled it. It's basically a word that describes an action or event as being incomplete. Makes sense, no?

Teachin' for the Teach-in

2009-11-24T16:55:00.004-05:00

I recently visited Gateway High School in Kissimmee, FL for a teach-in. It was a district-wide day for professionals and hobbyists to come in and teach the students about their art. I was invited by Derek's mom (who is a teacher at Gateway) to cover photography and blogging, two things they had somewhat covered in class. From the first invitation the opportunity sounded fun. But after a few days of thinking about it and reminiscing of past nerve-wracking school presentations I started to regret accepting. Suddenly the image of me sweating and trembling, tripping over my words or blanking out completely made me feel as if I were about to get on stage for a tap dancing performance. The accelerated heart beat, the shortness of breath, the butterflies in my stomach. Bad feelings. Of course none of my past experiences speaking in public were ever that bad. My 'memory' just serves as a way to justify those unsure feelings (a horrible habit of mine).

Anyway, weeks passed and the date crept closer. I almost told Derek's mom I couldn't accept but Derek wouldn't let me give in. He said I would be fine and I made him pinky swear that fact. And so the day arrived. Dawn appeared; we woke up earlier than usual, and disgruntled we drove to the school. On a side note, you should know that I have the biggest fear of my dreaded "shaky voice" when I'm speaking. Ever since 7th grade when this kid asked the teacher if I was about to cry while I was giving my book report. Traumatic I tell you. And much to my dismay I heard the shakiness begin as I introduced myself to the class. Darn it! I wondered why I couldn't seem cool and collected like Derek. I felt unprepared and uncollected because of my nerves. But after a few minutes of talking to the kids, (and finding the comfort of computer desks proximity) I felt much more at ease and the shakiness soon disappeared (at least I think). And though I still felt nervous every time a new class came in, I was less stressed about it. In all honesty the students were really fun to talk to. It felt good to hear such positive reactions to my photos and Derek's videos and stories. In hindsight all of the stress I gave myself seemed unwarranted. Derek was right. What did I have to lose?

Nothing. If anything I gained a lot from it. And for that experience I have Beth (Derek's mom) to thank for thinking of me to come in. As well as Derek for not letting me chicken out. Derek and I took it upon ourselves to inspire the students to think for themselves and work for something they'd love to do forever. I never expected to be inspired in return. But that's what happened. I've got a new zest for my hobby-to-professional endeavors that has me thinking of all sorts of neat ideas that I can work on.

So thank you to Beth, and the three New Media classes we spoke to as well as the thoroughly outgoing IB class. I had a lot of fun.

Peace & Love

-Vanessa

Face off with a leopard seal: an amazing National Geographic video

2009-11-24T01:15:00.001-05:00

I found this video on YouTube as I was searching for moving photography videos. What I found was perfect. Check out the incredible situation this National Geographic photographer experiences when he comes face to face with a huge leopard seal.

Aren't those images amazing?? I can only imagine how moving an experience like this would be. Hell, it would be amazing just to visit Antarctica! For real.

I think if I ever encountered a leopard seal in the wild I would be much more terrified and hesitant than this guy. Just saying. Overall: amazing video. *dreamsofbeinganationalgeographicphotographer*

North Carolina Camping

2009-11-09T23:29:00.006-05:00

Derek, Jeff and I (along with Remy and Kirra) just got back from an almost week in North Carolina where we did some mingling with old friends for Halloween and camping. We decided to camp out in various NC state parks before heading back to Florida. Let me just say that if camping was a full time job I'd be on that SO fast. This was my first camping trip and I can't ever imagine getting sick of such wonder and beauty. No matter how many deer I see (especially where I live) I'm always in awe at seeing such raw wildness wherever we go. The weather was a much desired break from the Florida heat. Temperatures lingered in the 50's and 60's and at night dropped to the 30's and 40's. Needless to say I woke up more than once during the night in an attempt to burrow more into my sleeping bag or convince Remy that he should curl up with me. After each day we learned more and more about what we need to do to keep warm/comfortable for future hikes. And with aspirations to hike the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail we need all the experience we can get…

Our first night was spent at Eno River State Park after a mad dash to pick up Remy and Kirra from boarding. A few complications caused us to get a late start but after things went wrong some other things went right and we took a moonlit (with the occasional aid of a flashlight) 1 mile hike to our site. We were the only ones in the park that night which felt awesome with a side of uncertainty (and maybe some creepiness?). I fell asleep early on while the guys attempted to start a fire. We left relatively fast the next morning after some tasty soup because Jeff still had goop (liquid latex) in his hair from Halloween and he required the aid of a barber. After another late start we headed west toward Stone Mountain State Park (STSP). We then detoured to another park, Pilot Mountain State Park (PMSP) when it became apparent that we weren't going to make it before the gates closed. At this point I learned the difference between I-40 and I-40 BUS. To say the least we ended up driving a lot more than was needed much to my frustration. Fortunately though most parks allow you to self-register (for that I love them all the more) so it was alright when we showed up 10 minutes before the gates were set to close. We stayed at a campground at PMSP and there was only room for 1 tent so that night we all squeezed in together, Remy and Kirra included. It wasn't so bad…until Kirra decided a morning run was in order the next day. She darted out of the tent as I was getting out with Remy and took off without even a backwards glance. Earlier Derek had found Remy's backpack some feet away from our site. Something small (with 5 fingers I'm sure) ripped a tiny hole in the side which was just big enough to eat the remainder of Remy’s food. This was my WTF moment. So we spent a stressful morning searching for Kirra and after three hours she returned limping and panting. Thus our Pilot Mountain experience came to an end.

After Kirra returned we finally made it to SMSP, surrounded by miles and miles of…no cell phone signal. This did not bode well for Derek (he had some work to take care of) but fortunately their picnic area had cell signal. Yay!

After restroom breaks, phone calls, and essential backpack organizing we set out on our trek. I’d been studying the map of our supposed campsite on the drive to Pilot Mountain and I’d noticed all of the hikes in SMSP were either considered “moderate” or “strenuous” in difficulty. Fortunately for us the trail to our campsite was in fact labeled “strenuous”. And yes, strenuous applied to that trail if only for all of the tiring...up...hill...climbing. Even Remy seemed to be straining. My pack felt as if the straps were indefinitely engraving themselves into my shoulders as well. Gah. Here too we were the only ones camping. It felt strangely liberating, having such an expanse of nature to ourselves. We hiked maybe 1.5 to 2 miles to our isolated little site and raced the setting sun to set up the tents. That night we enjoyed some tasty buffalo burgers and baked beans and fell asleep to the rushing sounds of the neighboring creek. The next morning we did a little exploring and got a little lost on the road back to civilization.

An here our journey came to a sad end. It was time to return to Orlando, bah. SMSP was by far my favorite park and I wish we’d had more time to explore the area and see Stone Mountain up close. Actually, I wish we’d had more time to explore every place we’d visited. Nevertheless, we had an amazing time and I can’t wait to go back…maybe…forever?

Until we meet again North Carolina <3

Hope carries around the world

2009-10-22T17:38:00.004-04:00

Photo from Flickr user Ashting

This Saturday is the International Day of Climate Action and 350.org is hoping to make a statement about their cause. 350.org is a movement started in large part by writer Bill McKibben and aims to bring CO2 output levels down to 350ppm (parts per million), which is considered by some scientists to be the safest level for long-term human survival. Check out their mission in video form:

There's a whole bunch of cool stuff surrounding this event worldwide. It's inspiring to see so many countries preparing to take part that I can't help but feel affected by it. The joining of people for a common goal is always uplifting, especially when their aim is carried out through positivity and hope. You can check out some of the things that'll be taking place this Saturday around the world here. And if you're interested in finding some events near you check out 350.o rg.

Another awesome site to check out is Hopenhagen.org. This movement, like 350.org, is aiming to affect the outcome of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December by bringing people together to demand positive change. Let them know what gives you hope.

Nature's beauty gives me hope.

Namaste,
Vanessa

Make it yours

2009-10-17T00:55:00.000-04:00

So yesterday was Blog Action day...and I didn't write anything. An interesting feeling over took me as I sat trying to think about what I should say. But nothing was coming to me and that made me feel uncomfortable. Then the realization hit that I dislike the terms global warming and climate change. I think they make people who don't care about the planet care even less. And most of the people who are listening already care.

Here's my view: I should respect my body and the planet that provides me with the means to maintain that healthy body.Along with respect comes compassion. You don't need to hear numbers of greenhouse gas emissions or the like if we were all truly compassionate towards everyone and everything.

Nothing makes more sense to me than compassion:
sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.

So why am I writing this? Well, after thinking about it I've come to realize that it makes me pretty sad to think we have to be convinced that it's a good idea to respect the planet. That the inclination to trample all over nature is so common that you're considered a 'tree-hugger' (which always seems offensive) if you think otherwise. I hate the focus on climate change because I think it's so much more than that. Every person should have healthy water to drink and clean air to breath. They should also have healthy nutritious food and a place to live. If we had these things would healthcare be in the situation it is now? If companies who polluted out the ying-yang cared about the people directly and indirectly affected by them would things be different? I think so. And I believe it really comes down to each us of embracing a little compassion for all the lovely beings of our world.

So for my belated Blog Action Day post I ask that each of us try to practice showing more compassion and respect for the old and new, the rich and poor, and the trees and bees.

With love and peace,
Vanessa

Uncategorized thoughts

2009-10-13T17:19:00.002-04:00

I don't post here as often as I should. Or maybe as often as I think I should. I sometimes feel that maybe no one is listening to what I have to say. Other times I feel that I have so much I want to say that it all gets so jumbled in my brain that I can't coherently transfer those ideas and beliefs into words.

My problem is motivation. My bigger problem is not knowing what motivates me. I have constant channels of inspiration through sites I love to visit (Superforest.org or Mr. Mraz's blog), the music I listen to, and the movies and documentaries I watch. But rarely does that inspiration manifest into anything bigger than my own thoughts. Sometimes I think that's enough. Other times I realize that it isn't enough and I have a duty as a human being to spread truth and knowledge to anybody who will listen.

Derek and I just watched Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story. It was a moving and enlightening film that pushed my "This is BS! Where do we start? What can we do?" button. We then talked about the period of time in which that feeling usually lasts...about 1-2 weeks for someone not fully dedicated to the cause. We may think and feel the same way but our actions slowly revert to not reflect our ideals because we don't have those constant reminders. Of course this isn't the case for everyone but it's not uncommon.

For me that loss of dedication happens on a regular basis. I need constant reminders for why I'm doing what I'm doing. Be it writing, photography, supporting a cause or achieving any life goal. It could be that I haven't fully embraced 'me' and I'm constantly wasting time trying to figure out who I should be. But that is of my own doing. For me yoga has become an integral part in teaching me about myself. Now if the world could offer me enough time to figure out myself and put a pause on bills and other societal requirements I'd be ever so grateful.

But you know what? Sometimes I feel that all of this craziness in my head is my inner naturalist wanting to escape. To get away from the things we've made up as a society to keep us civilized. I just want to run to the mountains with as many loved ones willing to come and make a life for ourselves with nature as the ruler of all things. Oh, what dreams may come...

Though I may not be constantly posting it's safe to say that I'm usually sitting in front of this screen throughout my days. So if any of you have something interesting, moving, or offensive to say...let me know. I'll be here.

-Nessa

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. -John Muir

Blog Action Day

2009-10-09T19:15:00.003-04:00

On October 15th, 2009 I'm taking part in Blog Action Day. This event was started a couple of years ago and is now being powered by the awesome social action site Change.org. It is aimed at making one issue stand out for a day by having bloggers focus on that one issue in their writing. The hope is that if we take out one day to focus on a cause that is important to us and the world we can start conversations that will then lead to action. This years focus is Climate Change, a threat to humans and the environment alike. This is great timing because big things are happening in December when leaders across the world will congregate in Copenhagen, Denmark for international climate negotiations.

So if you have a blog and you're interested in taking part head on over to their website to register. And don't forget to spread the word...

-Nessa

A day of Peace

2009-09-24T20:32:00.001-04:00

Darn it! I just found out about the International Day of Peace (which was September 21st btw). This day/movement deserves a lot of love and attention. Check out the video Jeremy Gilley (the founder) discusses the creation of this day and what it means for the world if we accept it globally.

Go on, take a look. It's more than worth it.

Freeboarders rule!

2009-09-24T17:47:00.001-04:00

Found this video via Superforest. Check these guys out!

Are we The Age of Stupid?

2009-09-16T02:36:00.001-04:00

Today I received a welcomed reminder from Moveon.org about The Age of Stupid, a movie about what the planet may look like a few years down the road if we continue to ignore climate change. I had watched the trailer a few months back but completely forgot about it until today. This coming Monday The Age of Stupid will be having it's global premiere and Orlando is lucky enough to be hosting a few screenings itself.

The Age of Stupid USA Trailer from Age of Stupid on Vimeo.

I can't say I really like their trailer but the reviews have been positive thus far and the subject matter is something I'm very much interested in. The movie also seems to be more of a movement than just a film as they have partnered with groups like Moveon.org and Greenpeace for the global premiere. I also like what they've done with their sister site www.notstupid.org which is sort of a companion to the movie and offers ways to get involved with the cause.

For more info on nearby screenings visit http://www.ageofstupid.net/usa

We are all one

2009-09-03T00:33:00.001-04:00

Here's a beautiful video that shows our oneness with the earth

Finding comfort in yoga

2009-08-31T00:13:00.003-04:00

I just stumbled across an interesting article on Gaiam's website about an autistic boy and his new love for yoga. Andrew Benisek, a nine-year old boy diagnosed with pervasive developmental delay found some old yoga tapes that belonged to his mother and was instantly hooked.

Stories like this always remind me that we're still searching for, not a cure per se, but something to help those diagnosed within the autism spectrum. I'd say we lucked out with my brother. Sure, he has his speech problems and sometimes has trouble interacting in social situations but he's very intelligent and capable even with his disorder. I don't know what it's like to have a "normal" brother but I wouldn't trade James in for anyone else. I would like to help him though. He understands that his speech isn't where it should be and I can see that it frustrates him. For that reason I'm always wondering what I can do for him but I always come up empty.

Boy is he in for a surprise when I spring yoga on him! I would have never thought to introduce him to the practice but it makes total sense. He's always all over the place (of course he's a 13 year old boy) but I think he can learn a lot about himself through yoga. The article also mentions that yoga practice may help with focusing and concentration (both of which my brothers needs). Along with the soothing voices, sounds and breathing techniques (and the cool sounding 'warrior pose') I think he may like it. I guess we'll find out once the school week is over...

For more on the article check it out at Gaiam....here

Until we meet again =)

Namaste.

-nessa

Can't we all just get along?

2009-08-20T11:26:00.008-04:00

There is so much health-care hullabaloo (I like that word) going on right now that I think my head may explode. I'm pro health-care reform 100%. On one hand I don't have health insurance and I wish I could go to the Dr without paying an arm and a leg but on the other hand I believe more in natural medicine than anything else. I have a distrust of prescription drugs since they rarely do anything but mask the problem. Nevertheless, I don't expect everyone to feel the way I do about natural medicine so I fully support cheap insurance run by the *gasp* government. Yes, the government is not my favorite institution but I find it doubtful that it will make us a *gasp again* SOCIALIST COUNTRY. I don't understand every one's horrific fear of socialism. As if capitalism is the best form of government out there. Please.

I was reading an article, Guns That Talk (which I highly recommend) from the Huffington Post that made some great points. Many health-care reform crazies have been having conniptions about their gun rights being taken away (who the hell is even talking about that?) and how in order to be patriotic one must bring a gun to the protest! Yes, and sing the national anthem with banners of Obama looking like the Joker or Hitler. Pick one. The writer points out that if this were during the Bush years and people were bringing guns to a Bush speech...dear lord imagine the repercussions. For just wearing an anti-Bush shirts people were escorted off the premises Interesting. Robert Koehler, the writer, points out:

That was then: "Free speech zones" were the norm; protesters were routinely whisked out of sight at every Bush appearance, even though, you know, we have a First Amendment and all.

This is now: A dozen guys with guns gathered outside a convention center in Phoenix on Monday as President Obama spoke. At least two of them had assault rifles slung over their shoulders. "Phoenix police said the men carrying guns at Monday's event did not need permits, as the state of Arizona has an 'open carry' law," the U.K. Telegraph reported. "No crimes were committed, and no one was arrested."

What is the mentality of these people? I cannot believe that they actually feel so threatened by health-care reform that they think a revolution is in order. I am ecstatic about their protesting name though: Tea-baggers. Priceless.

But for Obama being such a Nazi socialist he is being awfully nice to all the people who are attempting to defy him. Does that seem like Hitler behavior to anyone? These gun toter's say they're merely practicing their 2nd Amendment rights. But what does it mean when you bring a gun to a protest? What will these people need protection from? Themselves? Especially the guy who held a sign with a Thomas Jefferson quote about watering the tree of liberty with the blood of tyrants...Yes, nothing aggressive about that.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm completely for protesting passionately for what you believe in. But to rage and blither absolute nonsense while toting a gun, well, that just seems like a disaster waiting to happen. If these people maybe had better information and better sources (ahem: Fox News, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh...is that enough?) then maybe I'd be more inclined to listen to them. But I don't believe in aggression or guns for that matter. At least until I'm being threatened with the same. That's not the case here though. All we're asking for is help. For the people who can't afford insurance or who have been turned away by money-hungry insurance companies. Studies show that in 2007 nearly 46 million Americans were uninsured. Between 2008 and 2010 nearly 7 million more people will also lose their coverage. I can only assume that these town hall protesters just don't care about those figures or anyone but themselves for that matter. I guess they're okay with the thousands that die yearly because they can't afford medical care. You betcha!

So where does all this craziness stem from? I read another fascinating article from the Huff Post, this time from Johann Hari, who makes some excellent points. She covers basically all of the right-wing lunacy dating back to the Bush years. Lunacy based on, no not facts, but well...lunacy. Here's an excerpt:

You have to admire the audacity of the right. Here's what's actually happening. The US is the only major industrialized country that does not provide regular healthcare to all its citizens. Instead, they are required to provide for themselves -- and just under 50 million people can't afford the insurance. As a result, 18,000 US citizens die every year needlessly, because they can't access the care they require. That's equivalent to six 9/11s, every year, year on year. Yet the Republicans have accused the Democrats who are trying to stop all this death by extending healthcare of being "killers" -- and they have successfully managed to put them on the defensive.
The Republicans want to defend the existing system, not least because they are given massive sums of money by the private medical firms who benefit from the deadly status quo. But they can't do so honestly: some 70 percent of Americans say it is "immoral" to retain a medical system that doesn't cover all citizens. So they have to invent lies to make any life-saving extension of healthcare sound depraved.
These claims have become so detached from reality that they often seem like black comedy. The right-wing magazine US Investors' Daily claimed that if Steven Hawking had been British, he would have been allowed to die at birth by its "socialist" healthcare system. Hawking responded with a polite cough that he is British, and "I wouldn't be here without the NHS." Frank Laffer, the right-wing economist lauded by David Cameron, claimed on CNN that it would be a disaster if the government got its hands on Medicare, the program providing healthcare for the elderly, paid for entirely by... the government.
This tendency to simply deny inconvenient facts and invent a fantasy-world isn't new; it's only becoming more heightened. It ran through the Bush years like a dash of bourbon in water. When it became clear Saddam Hussein had no Weapons of Mass Destruction, the US right simply claimed they had been shipped to Syria. When the scientific evidence for man-made global warming became unanswerable, they claimed, as one Republican congressman put it, that it was "the greatest hoax in human history", and all the world's climatologists were "liars". The American media then presents itself as an umpire between "the rival sides", as if they both had evidence behind them.

She believes most of the right-wing crazyness stems from religion which seems agreeable on my part but we'll leave that for another post. Until then I will continue to watch the madness and hope that change will prevail.

Until next time.

-Vanessa

Every experiment, by multitudes or by individuals, that has a sensual and selfish aim, will fail. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Crude

2009-08-13T14:47:00.001-04:00

From Eco-chick:

Crude is the story of a community of 30,000 tribal members in the Amazonian jungle of Ecuador who hold a corporation to bear for its crimes against their land, their livelihood, and most importantly, their lives. The film follows the intricacies of what has been called the “Amazon Chernobyl.”

The indigenous population claims that Chevron, the parent company to the former Texaco, spent thirty years contaminating the air, land, and water of an area the size of Rhode Island which is now called the “death zone.” Cancer, leukemia, and birth defects are among some of the effects of Big Oil. The film was shot and edited over a period of three years, with Berlinger and the crew sacrificing their own safety by facing both environmental (toxic fumes, disease, searing equatorial heat) and man-made dangers (shooting near the Colombian border where drug runners and FARC rebels are very active) to capture a story they felt must be shared with the rest of the world.

Berlinger’s cinematic sensibility paints a picture that captures the lush vitality of the Amazon, the horrendous atrocities endured by the tribespeople, and the complicated path that social justice must traverse, all the while avoiding cliche and stereotypes. Amazon Watch and the Rainforest Foundation have both been instrumental in bringing the Ecuadorian devastation to the public eye.

Trudie Styler, Sting’s wife, and noted activist, appears in the film to lend celebrity to the cause. Repeatedly referring to the Amazon as “the lungs of the earth,” Styler and others point to the far more serious nature of the toxicity than mere dollars can assuage. If Ecuador is in trouble, we are ALL in trouble. If tribe members cannot fish or swim, that affects us directly. Transnationals can no longer act in a vacuum of backyard antics.

Vanity Fair featured an article in the 2007 Green Issue on the case in Ecuador, and attorney Pablo Fajardo, who passionately represents the plaintiffs. In one scene in the film, Fajardo notes that he is not intimidated by the high powered legal team because he has truth on his side, which makes his work that much easier. He doesn’t have to work diligently to create lies about what is happening.

Without sensationalizing the health effects of the toxic sludge left in the Ecuadorian jungle, Berlinger simply allows the water to tell the tale. The water, the rivers, the streams, and pools appear fresh from a distance as children play, women wash, and people drink. Once approached, the rainbow sheen of petrol catches the light and the scent of gasoline sends heads reeling. The ground is soft sludge as the pollutants work their way through the soil and into the Earth. One of the Texaco/Chevron representatives claims: “this is not contamination, this is industrial exploitation that your government permitted.” Amazing. This film must be seen.

In order for this film to have a chance of being seen by the rest of the country, it must nearly sell-out in NY, LA and SF, so tell your friends, blog about it, spread the word…go see this film. Because the film doesn’t have huge marketing dollars, it’s up to people like you and me to spread the word online.

Here are some important screening dates: for locations click here
-NYC: September 9-22
-L.A.: September 18-24
-S.F.: September 25-October 1
-D.C.: October 23-29

Day 6: Red Rock Crossing

2009-08-08T20:23:00.009-04:00

(Late, I know...)

Today was absolutely amazing. We visited Red Rock State Park and hiked up an amazing trail to Cathedral Rock. The terrain was mainly rocky and we had to cross Oak Creek to continue on. The hike was a whopping 1.5 miles round trip.

But it felt like 3. At least.

We weaved back and forth on the open path, surrounded by all sorts of local vegetation and funny looking lizards. We also encountered some mountain bikers who made my jaw drop. I couldn't even imagine trying this trail myself with a bike of all things. Once we got closer to the peak we had to climb up slabs of jutting red rock. At some points I even had to go on all fours to make it up. We brought 6 liters of water for the 5 of us and once we got close to the peak we started running out, effectively cutting our trip short (the Arizona sun is HOT). Even without making it to the very top the view from where we were was nothing short of breathtaking. We felt like we were on top of the world and it felt exhilarating to make it as far as we did.

Taking a dip in the creek afterwards was the perfect remedy for a much overheated Derek and I (he even got to fly off of a rope swing...lucky). I was too afraid of hurting myself further so I passed on the rope.

After lunch we dragged ourselves to do some shopping in the local village where Derek got me a wooden, locally made flute. The saleswomen was pretty convincing once she whipped out her own flute and played us a few tunes. I was sold after that. I find the sound of the flutes so mesmerizing and relaxing (I’d wanted once since I’d seen a man playing one whilst sitting on a rock wall at the Grand Canyon).

On our way back to the house we stopped at the popular Chapel of the Holy Cross which was inspired by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright more than fifty years ago. The chapel was built into the red rocks of Sedona and apparently took 18 months to construct. It was definitely a sight to see. After doing some research I found out that Arizonans chose the cathedral as one of Arizona’s 7 wonders. For good reason too. The inside was pretty majestic as well with tall ceilings and two long windows spanned from floor to roof. I wish I had snapped a photo of the front but I felt so exhausted from our hike and my head was pounding to the point that I could barely enjoy it.

We took our leave after a few minutes of oh's and ah's and headed home for a much needed recharge.

Want advice for relaxation and recharge? Hot tubs!! Especially in Arizona, at night, with no roof above your head. The stars are incredible.

Love

Vanessa

Day 5: Jerome, Tuzigoot, & Dead Horse Ranch

2009-07-27T03:16:00.008-04:00

Today I would consider a lazy day. We left the house around 11am and headed to the city of Jerome, which is considered a ghost town. The city reminded Derek of the Florida Keys just with more elevation. Most of our time was spent going in and out of the local shops and having some lunch at a local eatery called the Iron Flat Café. Gatlin and Derek had a ginger and carrot soup (sounded and tasted interesting.) Then a lovely downpour started, sort of dampening our day. Almost every single shop was either an art gallery or gifts that were made by local artists. We found a lot of amazing art work. There was a very artsy/hippy feel to the place, loved that. They seemed to have a sort of an aversion to children. Each shop had some kind of smart-ass sign or poster in the front that would say something to the line of “All young children must be supervised by an adult, if not we will kidnap them and force them to work in our coal mine for the remaining years of their lives.” Not even a joke. About 90 percent of that is a direct quote. Vanessa found it amusing. The area seemed very pet-friendly.

Afterward, we went to visit some more Indian ruins named Tuzigoot (which was also part of the tribe, Sinagua, which also built Montezuma’s Castle…one of the ruins we saw on our first day.) It’s kind of funny that we have no idea why this tribe of Native Americans just up and left, it was somewhere around the 1420’s, seems pretty obvious the white man scared them off. There is just so much that we don’t know about the people who lived on this land way before we ever did. The ingenuity of these people is inspiring. Not only did they make amazing things we probably couldn’t do without machines but they used herbal remedies for everything. From candy to curing cancer, these Indians had a remedy from a naturally –growing-abundant plant. It really makes you stop and kind of question everything you thought you knew; something that we would have to get approved by our health insurance and then order through some far off pharmaceutical company they had just growing in their backyard. Gatlin was pretty enthralled by the medicinal value of the native plants and we stood their studying the names and uses of the plants for a while, at one point I think he actually embodied one of his World of Warcraft characters and started grinding some Sage into a potpourri. Actually it looked really fun.

The best part of this visit was that it was ruined by flying ants. Yep, you got that right. We couldn’t go to the top of the building because there was a sign that said “Closed Due to flying ants.” I don’t know about you but that is pretty hilarious. I don’t know what I should have expected if I went past the sign. Flying ant attack? Either way I didn’t take the risk. Those winged little insects are intimidating. Don’t let their size fool you.
Lunch was made at Dead Horse Ranch, a small park with some surrounding lagoons and a river that was not much to look at. We took a river hike and searched for the river for about 20 minutes and came up empty. We then realized that the river had dried up big time and was now un-swimmable and right under our feet. But there were lots of snails everywhere. Cute little squirmy things. I'm afraid we stepped on a lot of them and didn't even realize it =/

Big bummer about no swimming ops though.

That night we hoped to go back to Bell Rock which we had hiked to the night before but we got back too late. Double bummer. The highlight of this day was definitely seeing all of the amazing artwork from the locals in Jerome.

Good stuff.

Peace.

Derek & Vanessa

The Grand Canyon: Day 4

2009-07-25T01:30:00.014-04:00

After falling asleep at the ripe time of 9:00pm the night before, we awoke to our second day at the Grand Canyon. Gatlin, Jared and Maria took a helicopter tour over the canyons in the morning but we stayed behind because we didn’t feel like spending $300 dollars for the flight, but more importantly because we wanted to sleep in. They loved it. We would have preferred the Jeep tour down into the canyon but the price for one person was an outrageous $265.

Today we visited a few historic buildings that played the usual role of Historical-Recreation/Anecdotal Museum/Gift Shop/Air-Conditioning Relaxation/Tourist trap. And I loved every minute of it. Every store had something a little different that I wanted to absorb. If I could have I would have bought every book in their book store sections. (Notice the tiny entrance to one of the buildings on the left)

A little knowledge gained from one of these expensive, yet irresistible books was the history behind the canyon’s discovery and expeditions…which is fascinating. I found out that sometime in the 1500’s the Spanish discovered the area but found it worthless, probably because they didn’t see any signs of jewels or gold or fountain of youth or opportunities of religious persecution. So it wasn’t until about three centuries later that Americans started exploring the canyons namely, John Wesley Powell in 1869 (a very inspiring individual I might add.) He decided to take, what was then the first independent exploration in the history of the US, a scientific voyage into the canyons to study its geology and geography. He discovered uncharted areas and was also the first to start studying Native Americans, whom had lived on the canyons for hundreds of years. And he did it all with one arm. Now that is skill.

After the gift shop we started a 15 mile hike but because of a little sciatica and the flustered faces of returning hikers, we set an alarm on Derek’s Iphone for 30 minutes and then headed back up. We shared the trail with some mules that left stinky evidence of their existence on the trail. We talked to a few people that went all the way to the bottom (which ends at the Colorado River). One guy said it took him about 4 hours to get there but that getting to jump into the river at the end was totally worth the hike. The trek back up was pretty rough, as most inclined trails are. You start to realize how out of shape you really are. It was exhausting but I can’t wait to come back one day and make it all the way to the river. I’m sure it’ll be worth it.

We bought a couple of books at the stores and Gatlin got a hat that he fell in love with. It’s amazing how, no matter how many times you look out at the massive Grand Canyon, it always takes your breath away. Something so grand (pun intended) and natural just can’t be expressed in words or even photos. Even though it seems obvious, I loved how much the park was into natural preservation and earth friendliness. I sort of felt at home here. It’s something I miss in Orlando.

Yesterday was pretty much packed every hour, it felt like as soon as we finished one thing we started the next. We visited a lot of scenic areas and went to a place called Watchtower. There was an opening in the protective fencing where you were allowed (or at least we assumed) to walk out over a strip of rocks to a point much lower than the tower. I had some serious trepidation about going down to this area because: 1. tailbone pain and 2. fear of dying. But I did it anyway, Derek reminded me “you only live once,” a fellow traveler also reminded me that “you only die once” as well. That was pretty hilarious.

That night we ate at a place brilliantly named We Cook Pizza and Pasta. I’d say it was a little overrated and a lot expensive. After eating, last minute, we decided to pack back up and head out to see the sunset over the Grand Canyon. (I had changed into my pajamas already, and decided “ehhh” it’s just a sunset, should be fast.)

What a mistake.

It was friggin freezing on the cliff. I could stand it for about a minute. I had to run back to the van in fear for my life. The uncontrollable shaking didn’t help the tailbone pain either. I learned my lesson.

Overall though, our stay at the Grand Canyon was pretty epic and I can’t wait to go back.

Love and Peace

Derek & Vanessa

Day 2 in Sedona, Arizona

2009-07-23T02:21:00.001-04:00

For the past two days I've been enjoying the sights of Sedona, Arizona. I absolutely am in love with this place. The mountains and canyons in this area are some of the most amazing things I've ever seen in my life. We arrived yesterday at 8:30am after leaving Orlando at 7:30am. The 3 hour time difference takes some getting used to but it's kind of a blessing at the same time. I woke up much earlier than usual and felt great. We landed in Phoenix and drove a couple of hours to our first stop: Montezuma Castle

This is an old area where natives used to dwell. They'd use ladders to get up to their homes carved into the mountain side. After this we headed to our rental home which is stunning....

Today we visited Slide Rock Park,my favorite place so far. Everyone was jumping off cliffs into the river and sliding down the naturally carved shoot. I jumped once and paid the price of irritating the stupid sciatica that is ruining my life at the moment. But I digress. It was an amazing place to be, with wild blackberries growing in the area. They were SO delicious. I had stained fingers by the end of our visit =P

We headed to another swimming area after Slide Rock but we were rained out pretty quickly. We also attempted to catch the sunset at the Airport Mesa which is famous for their awesome view but the clouds put a damper on things. Instead we climbed up a small mountain to an amazing view of the city and surrounding red rocks. Unfortunately for me it was too dark to really capture anything on camera. Tomorrow we head to The Grand Canyon for two days with a quick stop to catch the sunrise at the cliff we visited tonight. Until tomorrow =D

It's HOT in Florida

2009-07-06T18:42:00.007-04:00

The Florida heat seems to be taking it's toll on our garden. And at the most inopportune time. For the past 3-4 months I've been dealing with tailbone/lower back pain and it really has pissed me off. I could go on and cry about my situation but I don't care to do that at the moment. Nevertheless I do feel sad that I've neglected the garden because of my situation.

Last week I did something to re aggravate my injury and now life sucks. I didn't realize how good I had it until this pain reared it's ugly head. So now I'm basically an invalid. And the garden is dying. I am sad.

Oh, and I almost forgot about the deer rampage. Notice the missing leaves:

On the upside: I've crafted a laptop...lap stand for myself since dorsal recumbency is the most comfortable position for me. I found some ideas online and used whatever I could find at home to make my nifty little stand.

Not the prettiest thing in the world but it does the job!=)

Go green by going...blue.

2009-06-26T16:03:00.005-04:00

Speaking of canvas bags, check out Blue Avocado. Started by a small group of moms who wanted to do their part in greening the world, Blue Avocado makes reusing bags easy and cute. I found them through Superforest (because they are awesome) and at first I wasn't impressed but after browsing through their site, I was sold. They offer a lot of great info like tips on remembering your bags. What I like most about their totes is how easy they fold and stuff into something tiny (for easy carrying around). Their commitment to sustainability is also a plus. Watch this video about their Billion bag pledge aimed at reducing the use of plastic bags:

BTW if you've never gone to Superforest.org, pleeease do so now. Really. Go. They are the shiz.

Of inner thoughts and feelings. How cute.

2009-06-26T15:52:00.003-04:00

I'll admit it, I've given into buying canvas bags for grocery shopping. I've even walked in, realized I forgot to bring my own bags and purchase more. Then I feel better about myself and I expect everyone to do what I do/did when they forget their bags. Man, how self righteous am I?

I've always gotten on others for not doing things my way. I've come to realize that it's not fair to act like that towards them or even myself for that matter. There's a difference between not caring and forgetting. There's also a difference between caring and taking on too much. Maybe not for everyone but for many I'm sure. I think I've got the "take too much on" syndrome (among other things). It's basically an unwavering need to satiate my craving for knowledge and experience. I usually end up overwhelming myself with everything I want to learn/read/do/watch/listen to. I have a serious lack of patience and organizational skills. And I feel like a failure when I'm not a pro at something. ( I don't mean to bore you with my self deprecation but the best way to deal with a problem is to recognize it and then work on fixing it...or so I'm told)

I do things and have beliefs that not everyone agrees with. When I'm criticized about those things I get pretty frosty towards that person. I hold a lot of grudges. Not good, I know. But I'll keep on doing what I believe in no matter what people say about it. I'm well aware that my tastes and beliefs may change with time. And I know the same thing is going to happen to other people. So everyone needs to get off of their high horses and chill out. Myself included.

Humans are fallible, we all know this. We make mistakes, we forget things, we get lazy. We're just not perfect. It's ok to change our minds, to take things back if we didn't mean it.
It's not cool to act like you're better than someone else because they didn't choose your path. The best way to make things happen in this world is by being open minded and...caring *cue the cheesy music*. I definitely don't mean to preach, just thinking out loud. Sometimes I think I care too much and I wish people could change their views so we could finally have some peace in this world. Who knows, maybe we'll find it someday or maybe we're just part of a constant cycle. Part of a group of people who care about themselves, the environment, humankind but...never get anywhere.

So in turning this around to be much lighter and bubbly, I recommend to thee, Jason Mraz. He's the most uplifting mofo I know of. I love his music, his lyrics, and his blog (http://freshnessfactorfivethousand.blogspot.com/). He keeps things real, even if things are ugly.

With that, I am finished.

Namaste.
Peace.
Adios.

The end.

Check out this crazy stop-motion video

2009-06-20T23:31:00.000-04:00

Protesting across the globe for Iran

2009-06-17T16:10:00.006-04:00

Over the past few days I've been keeping up with the protesting in Iran. The most amazing thing I've seen is the will of the Mousavi supporters. I've also seen how important Twitter's role has been in relaying information out of Iran for the world to see. Many passionate Americans have also taken in upon themselves to help the protesters in any way they can. This moment shows how far we've come technologically speaking. It can't be denied that we've reached a new age where we don't have to rely on mainstream media to know what's going on across the world. All over the country people are showing their support by doing something as simple as changing their avatars to green and spreading information to setting up proxies so those from Iran can still access Twitter and other social networks. The seriousness of the situation is sometimes hard to grasp. Many Twitter users ask that their names remain anonymous due to fear of government retaliation. It's speculated that hundreds have been arrested, from protesters to journalists but it's hard to get a count on how many deaths there have been. We've seen photos of computers destroyed and dorm rooms ransacked by Iran's hired militia, of men bloodied and bruised. Their militia seem like nothing more than bullies who only know how to resort to violence. Death threats seem to be the mantra of the Iranian government at this time.

And yet Twitter has proven to be a powerful tool. The US State Dept must think so too since they asked Twitter to delay their usual update time on Monday so Iranians could continue communicating. Iran has blocked most forms of communication in an effort to stifle the movement and exposure to the violence they're putting their people through. They've blocked things like Gmail, Yahoo Messenger, SMS, cellphones, and ISP's. They're also not allowing journalists to report on the riots. So the Iranian people have taken to using Twitter and Youtube to show the world what is going on.

At first I wasn't sure where I stood on the issue. I had no idea what the candidates stood for in the presidential race but at this point, after seeing the violence committed against peaceful protesters and the complete disregard for those voices I now stand with them. I don't agree with any type of suppression against people who only want their voices heard. I've found out more about what's going on in Iran through Twitter than any other media source and I think that really says something.

It's hard to watch the videos and images of people being shot and beat and not get angry. I can't imagine how hard it must be for some of these people to not fight back. There must come a point where enough is enough, where rage takes over. I feel at a loss as to what I can do to help but I'll continue what I have been doing and hope that justice prevails.

5th day of protesting:

California:

Toronto:

Germany:

Driving the Greasecar

2009-06-11T19:13:00.000-04:00

After months of dreaming and searching, we finally got a greasecar (it runs on vegetable oil). It's quite exciting if I do say so myself. My boyfriend, Derek, found some listings on Greasecar.com. We found one we really liked and headed to N.C. for it. Derek, myself, and our roommate Jeff took the leap together. A lot of people thought it was funny that it took 3 people to get a car. But why not make it a vacation when you can? So we hopped on a train from Kissimmee, FL. The whole ride took about 13 hours and was surprisingly awesome other than the persistent dripping of water on me when I was trying to sleep. We arrived in Durham, NC and tried to rent a car which failed. Memorial Day weekend. Oops. 170.00 dollars later we arrived at our destination by cab and got our car, a 1982 Mercedes-Benz 300SD. Love it.

Now we just have to figure out where to get our fuel from...

After getting the car we evaded the cops for a few days since we didn't think ahead about getting tags. Double oops. But we decided to head to Helen, GA anyway. After a really grumpy drive we arrived around 1am to the little German town. The three of us spent a day at Unicoi State Park the next day. Jeff made us some delicious breakfast and Derek fell in the river as he was trying to save a little boys baseball from an untimely death. A success overall I'd say...except for Derek. Sorry babe.

Pictures coming soon!!

Peace.

Food safety falls on consumers

2009-05-20T19:08:00.004-04:00

The deciding factor on whether the food we purchase is safe falls on us. Wait, wtf? Yes, apparently it's true. An article was recently published in the NY Times on ConAgra Foods, a company known for their frozen food dishes that has placed the safety factor of their products on the consumer. They just can't guarantee that the food they make will be safe for consumption. Well, that's just great.We get to use the "kill step" which involves heating the meal to a certain temperature. Everyone get their food thermometers out!

It also doesn't bode well for them that they couldn't pinpoint the ingredient that sickened 15,000 people in 2007 from salmonella poisoning. And they're not the only ones who can't guarantee safety. Many are guilty: Nestlé, General Mills, and the Blackstone Group (Swanson and Hungry-Man.)

To find out more read the NY Times article. I would ultimately advise anyone to stay away from these foods. To quote Dr. Brule (Tim and Eric hehe), "for your health!" =P

Stay safe

Fierce Light

2009-05-18T23:18:00.001-04:00

This is the trailer to a new movie called Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action. I like the look of it so far.

Don't eat advertised food

2009-05-15T11:21:00.002-04:00

Michael Pollan, writer of The Omnivore's Dilemma was recently interviewed by Democracy Now! and discusses his take on the food industry.

Here are both videos:

Tomorrow Never Knows

2009-05-15T09:33:00.002-04:00

Great, greeeaaat song. I luvs. Thanks to SuperForest, especially Superforester Carla for showing me this song.

=)

Peace.

Random quote of the day

2009-05-13T18:30:00.001-04:00

"As long as we are consumed with our everyday problems—distress about the present, regrets about the past, or constant worries about the future—we cannot be free people; we are not able to live in the here and now."

From The Seven Miracles of Mindfulness

Follow your heart

2009-05-06T10:48:00.007-04:00

This video comes with a good message. (Via offgrid's blog, @offgrid is his twitter name)

This video is a part of a the Globaloneness project and is only one of many vids listed on their site. Their message is moving and powerful. Their aim is to show the world that we are all connected; we are one. And together we can bring peace and end suffering. From their site:

We hope that by showing the diverse ways oneness is expressed—in the fields of sustainability, conflict resolution, spirituality, art, economics, indigenous culture, and social justice—others will be inspired to create solutions to personal and community challenges from their own lived understanding of oneness.

I'm absolutely in love with their message. I've felt for a long time that we're all connected, in everything, in every way. No matter what we look like or speak there is something that brings us all together. So, what would that look like?

Gardening rambling

2009-05-05T20:48:00.000-04:00

Well, we've laid out an area that is about 12x15 feet for our garden. We've had tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce, potato, and jalapeno's growing for a while (with some casualties) but we decided a bigger area was needed. So we have our new area with some new tomatoes and eggplant as well as some potato, carrots, onion, cantaloupe and cilantro seeds. Eek. Sometimes it feels crappy being so new to this because I can't troubleshoot very quickly or easily($) so I'm left to my books and online resources which is probably cheaper than buying book after book. I mean,I feel like I need 20 different books/people to say the same thing before I try it. I guess I'm going to have to let that go. This is a learning experience for me but sometimes I find that I'm way too impatient to figure out what works and what doesn't.

So I guess honing my gardening skills would teach me some life lessons as well. That's cool.

Poo bricks

2009-05-04T12:14:00.006-04:00

Is it May already?! Why yes, it is. It's also #ecomonday on Twitter so I bring you this lovely and slightly crappy story(pun intended).

From Inhabitat.com comes a story about a group of students from Indonesia that created bricks from cow poop. Yep, you read right. They won the grand prize from the Global Social Venture Competition for creating building bricks, "EcoFaeBrick", from cow poop. The brick is 20% lighter than traditional clay bricks but is 20% stronger and safer for the environment!

I love what they're doing. Using a very plentiful source to provide lots of people with a cheaper option that doesn't destroy the environment. Yea, sounds good to me.

Update: No smell guys, no smell =)

Suprises never cease to exist

2009-04-23T21:10:00.003-04:00

I found these two videos the other day and they really made me giggle. The first one is a small Colbert clip regarding Texas secession and the Mid America CropLife Association's urge for pesticide use in the White House garden:

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Tip/Wag - Texas Secession & MACA

colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Gay Marriage Commercial

And our next video shows House Minority Leader John Boehner giving some unclear answers on the Republican stance on combating climate change. Enjoy.

Peace through communication

2009-04-23T13:44:00.003-04:00

I wrote something a couple of months ago about a group called the Save-A-Seed-Coalition. I absolutely love what they're doing. Saving seeds for the future is one of the simplest things we can do to protect our planet. If you want to see what they're all about or even become a superforester head over to their page. I basically visit their "mother" site Superforest on a daily basis and their posts always put a smile on my face. The site's Humanifesto is particularly one of my favorite things. I want to hug everyone who came up with the ideas, words, thoughts, everything that was put into writing that. Great job guys. Check out the Humanifesto!

Superforest is all around a great website/community. They keeps things happy and humorous which is the best way to be in my opinion. So what exactly is Superforest? This comes from their site and basically sums it up rather well.

SuperForest is a system for creating and sharing Happiness.

It is a three part system:
1. Read our Humanifesto. (go! now!)
2. Make things.
3. Start a blog.

We believe that sharing ideas and inspiring one another is the most sustainable achievement of all.

We aim to help our fellow humans see the abundance all around them.

I think they're a big inspiration to a lot of people who want to have a positive impact on this world. So go check em out! I promise you won't regret it.

Your very own garden oasis

2009-04-23T12:55:00.005-04:00

Check out this very sweet garden oasis that a husband and wife gardening team put together. I think it's both simple and fabulous looking. Head over to their blog to find out more...

Happy belated Earth Day

2009-04-23T12:39:00.003-04:00

Like the title says, happy belated Earth day! Yesterday was a great day for me. I was busy the entire day. As my Earth day celebration I finally put out some seedlings in our newly dug garden. I wish I had some pictures to post but my camera isn't cooperating. I spent nearly the whole day outside with the lovely Florida sun. It was great =D Remember though, everyday, is earth day. Do your part.

On a separate note, I've made a twitter account, nessahernandez, if anyone is interested in following =)

Peace.

Spiders are your friends...sometimes

2009-04-13T18:58:00.005-04:00

This is probably not-so-new information for seasoned gardeners but I just got my first experience with a helpful little spider. A few days ago I went to check on my black bean plants and found the leaves mauled. I thought maybe our cats had started chewing on the leaves but the evidence didn't look like something they could manage. So I figured it was some type of insect but which? I'd never seen any caterpillars in our yard...which definitely doesn't mean they're not there but I hadn't seen any on those leaves or any others leaves for that matter.

So today I was turning the compost and decided to take a look at the plants and alas there he was, a little spider on my half-devoured plant. I almost flicked him off thinking he was the culprit...what kind of spider eats leaves?! But as I looked closer I saw he was eating something else. A tiny caterpillar! That's when I noticed a bunch of them under the folded leaves. Evil little things. So now our little spider, who Derek named Spike, is now our little hero. Click on the picture for a better view.

Here he's eating one under the fold. There's another caterpillar to the right of him with a black head. Maybe they're exacting revenge on me since my cat Orie has been killing butterfly after butterfly in our yard. Hopefully Spike can take them all :)

Until next time. Peace.

New experiences

2009-04-08T20:36:00.003-04:00

I've started writing for Examiner.com, a place to go to find out about all the things your city has to offer you. I write about green living in Orlando. Some of the things you find here might be on my examiner page but I'll have a lot of different things up as well. Find it here

Earth Hour

2009-03-25T12:53:00.003-04:00

On March 28th from 8:30-9:30 I'm taking part in Earth Hour, a global movement in which we turn off our lights for an hour. This is a collective effort to show the world that we care about our planet and want to see some action to help save it. The WWF is urging the world to take part in this campaign as a way to vote Earth in order to combat global warming. WWF's goal is to reach 1 billion votes which will then be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. That meeting will set the government policies for our environment. All you have to do is turn off your lights. Be part of the movement. Vote Earth.

the return

2009-03-22T23:49:00.001-04:00

I know, I've been gone for a while. And I have so much to talk about. I had a whole blog written out already as well but it got erased and killed my motivation for a while. But enough about that...this is what I've been doing:

First off, I've been visiting the local farmer's market in Downtown Kissimmee. I've bought lettuce, tomatoes, tangelos, and some other vegetables for a really great price. I almost forgot my favorite buy: bread! One of the vendors sells freshly baked bread and it is de-lic-ious. The market is held every Thursday at Toho Square between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. I recommend getting their early or most of the really good produce will be gone.

I've also been getting most of my other cooking needs from Whole Foods. They're basically a supermarket for natural and organic groceries. I've got to say it's not the most inexpensive place but they have a large variety of healthy food. I'm often turned off by places like this. I don't like the assumption that you have to to be rich in order to eat healthy. Nevertheless, they come in handy for the items you can't get at a farmer's market. They sell meat free of antibiotics as well as bread, eggs, cheese, milk, butter, yogurt and even beer...all organic.

As you walk throughout the store you will find little tags that let you know that some products were produced locally. This is awesome for a number of reasons. First, you're supporting local growers and producers. Second, the food you purchase will be fresher. Most of the food we purchase today come from all over the country. In order to keep those items fresh, preservatives are added to prolong shelf life. Local food is usually free of preservatives and other additives that suppress a great, fresh taste. And thirdly, you're helping reduce carbon emissions from the thousands of trucks that haul food across the country every day.

Another pro for Whole Foods is that their website offers a recipe section with a lot of great dishes you can easily make at home. We'll be attempting to make soups and stews to further help save money and eat healthier. Our first try consisted of veggie chili. It wasn't great but it wasn't bad either. Edible it was but a little practice is probably necessary. It's also hard to find the time to plan any type of cooking since we're constantly away from home. Kind of a bummer but it's an obstacle we need to overcome.

We'll also be visiting some other farmer's markets in the area. Keep you posted.

Peace.

Make a Wordle!

2009-02-11T18:47:00.002-05:00

This is fun. Make your own wordle. You can customize it and post in on your blog.



Head over to http://www.wordle.net/

Live Simple

2009-02-10T17:10:00.011-05:00

The above photo was taken in Cades Cove, Tennessee a couple of years ago. The cabin was hand built and is almost a century old. The occupants of this house most definitely lived a simple life. And the residents of the Florida based Econ Farm are doing just that. Their farm is located near UCF, off the Econolockhatchee River, hence the name. The farm was started in 2002 by a group of like-minded people who sought to live more natural and self-sufficient. Their farm doesn't have the usual cows and sheep or even a barn. They've got gardens. Here's an excerpt from their site:

"We have constructed two large garden beds on the high and dry area near the road, where we grow a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Plantings include papayas, pineapples, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, sugar snap peas, turnips, basil, and peppermint, to name just a few. Due to the hot climate, the major planting season for traditional food crops in Florida is fall instead of spring. Each year we have two planting cycles, one spring planting for summer fruits and flowers, and one fall planting for vegetables and herbs. This also allows for two harvest celebrations!"

The Simple Living Institute is their non-profit organization which was recently discussed in Oprah's "O" Magazine(I very much recommend reading that article). They've put together workshops that include tips on gardening, composting, and more. Their next one will be on February 21st from 1pm to 3pm. They'll be showing how to use rain catching barrels for use at home. The Institute aims "to provide cooperative education empowering individuals and organizations to be responsible stewards of their well-being and the environment." Sounds good to me.

Their message is clear and, well, simple. They strive to teach others to live with the things you need not the things you necessarily think you need. It has been proven time and time again that possessions and monetary gain do not equal happiness. Sure, you may feel elated when you rip open that paycheck, but what after? Sure, you can buy plenty of shoes, jackets, and accessories with that money. Then what? Do those things really make us feel happy? Fulfilled? We can consume and consume but sometimes we still feel empty. A study was just released about how experiences actually make us happier than possessions. That article can be found here. Here's an excerpt:

"[...]the initial joy of acquiring a new object, such as a new car, fades over time as people become accustomed to seeing it every day. Experiences, on the other hand, continue to provide happiness through memories long after the event occurred."

The researchers found that those participants who wrote about their experiences had a higher satisfaction rating than those who wrote about their recent purchases.

Living simply can also be fulfilling. Especially with our economy, consuming and spending less not only wastes less but costs less. Why not spend some of that paycheck money on making a small garden in your backyard or porch? You can grow your own vegetables and herbs. Not only will you be eating healthier but you'll be saving money. Wanda Urbanska, who has a PBS show on simple living, says that societal thinking is now leaning towards the simple life,

"People are starting to feel there is so much more to life. Everything you bring into your house becomes a responsibility. You have to care for it, clean it, and ultimately, dispose of it. I don't want to say it's empty to shop, but to me, a great conversation is worth way more than anything I could pull off a shelf."

Without taking care of the environment, how will money help us? Money can't replace air, water, and earth. It's up to us to start preserving the things we actually need to survive.

The changes you make at first don't have to be drastic. Start with small things. Start recycling if you don't do so already. Cancel the cable. I know, some can't imagine life without a television but believe me, you will survive. Without the distraction of a t.v. you can spend more time on the things that matter. Spend more time with family, kids, friends. Tend to your garden. Take a walk around the neighborhood. Plan a trip to a local park or nature trail. Take some time to appreciate the world around you. These things are priceless.

Tia and Terry Meer, the founders of the Econ Farm, decided to build their own log cabin next to a river and survive on the food they grow, and the fish they catch from that river. They don't own a television. And their electric bill is 35 bucks. In the "O" magazine, Tia explains,

"I want to live in a way that preserves the Earth for future generations. I feel very good being able to go out into my garden and pick dinner or catch a fish. I don't have to spend money or time driving to a grocery store. Once you simplify and localize, you save so much. And in these troubled times, people see the logic of that approach."

Her husband explains his view on the simple life,

"I've never liked money. I'm happier when I'm not spending it. I've never been motivated to make it. That's why we built our house ourselves. No mortgage. Our retirement is what we are doing: the location, the cabin, the fruit trees. They'll grow as we grow."

So my advice is to take it one day at a time. Pick a day to take a walk around a park or your neighborhood. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. On your day off don't go shopping unless it's absolutely necessary. Start thinking about yourself and what you can do to make a change for the better. Even if it's planting one seed in your backyard. Even the smallest step can lead you on the path to a simpler, happier life.

How the city hurts your brain

2009-02-10T16:38:00.007-05:00

Here's an interesting article I found on Current. com. Definitely worth a read. Link-> How the city hurts your brain

Just Cool

2009-02-09T23:04:00.002-05:00

Very cool video I found through a fellow blogger, Maaja

Sweet.

I want to add another one as well. This was directed by Laura Hanna. She is good.

Saving the Earth, one seed at a time

2009-02-06T12:00:00.007-05:00

I was recently reading through one of my favorite artists blogs, Jason Mraz. He led me to a wonderful site and conservation project: The Millennium Seed Bank Project. Their goal is to collect as many seeds as possible in an effort to save them from extinction. This preservation project is very likely one of the largest conservation projects around. So far the bank has been able to collect
23,000 plant species and most of the native plants where the MSD resides, the U.K. They are a non-profit organization that relies on people like you and me to donate so they can keep doing there thing. Here's an awesome video from their website that explains what they're doing and how important it is:

Now, more than ever, is the time in which we should look to projects like this for guidance and inspiration to lend a hand in saving our planet. Now is the time when we can unite and bring awareness to everyone. The only way we can make a positive change is to work together no matter what our skin color, accent, or religion may be. Another project called Save-A-Seed Coalition is hoping to do just that. They want to get the word out about the MSD to help promote and fund the project and hopefully move more people to understand that they can make a difference. Join the revolution!

Don't forget about your pets

2009-01-14T15:22:00.016-05:00

One of my first steps...changing the kitty litter. Most popular retail cat litters are made out of clay, specifically sodium bentonite clay. This clay is what absorbs so well in cat litters and are non-biodegradable and usually produces a lot of dust. This dust consists of tiny particles of silica which can be harmful if inhaled too often. Silica is a mineral very commonly found in sand and different types of rocks. When those rocks are ground or broken apart in any way, silica particles are released in the form of dust. Constant inhalation of this dust can lead to Silicosis, a lung disease caused by silica exposure. The symptoms are comparable to pneumonia and other respiratory diseases and usually become detectable after 10 years of the first exposure. On more rare occasions the inhalation of silica can result in cancer. The reason silica is so dangerous is because it does not dissolve and we, as well as animals, do not have the ablity to cough up the dust from our lungs. Over time, if one is continuously exposed to silica, it will continue to accumulate until breathing becomes difficult. This could be especially dangerous to ashtmatics and elderly or immuno-suppresed people. Imagine how this could be affecting our pets as well. One study has been done on the possible effects of inhaling this dust in felines. (http://www.securepet.biz/wordpress/2008/07/study-on-silica-dust-in-cats/ ) The results mainly show that cats already suffering from respiratory problems can worsen after inhaling litter dust.

So let's take a look at the alternatives. I chose to try out Feline Pine which basically consists of condensed pine pellets which means barely any tracking. The litter is fragrance and dust free and is very absorbent. It doesn't clump but absorbs and breaks apart like sawdust. Of course it is also biodegradable and 100% natural. It's also relatively inexpensive. A 20lb bag runs about $11 dollars. They also have a version that clumps which is a little pricier. Since this litter comes in pellets, the makers recommend to add a small amount to your regular litter to transition your pet easily. I was a little nervous at first because one of my cats is incredibly picky and she'll let you know if she doesn't like something...either on the bed, the bathroom mat, or the couch. And of course I didn't realize at first that they recommend mixing both litters. But amazingly enough my cats have taken to it pretty well and it seems to be taking care of the odor wonderfully. For more: http://www.naturesearth.com/

Swheat Scoop

Some other litters that I've found out about are Swheat Scoop which is an all wheat litter that is just as natural as Feline Pine. This is only sold as a clumping litter and some reviewers have said the clumping is lacking to their standards. Some pluses for Swheat Scoop are that it is 100% safe to flush down the toilet (even with a septic tank) and can be added to compost piles(not for vegetable gardens!). The makers also promise less dust than clay litters. Though I haven't tried this litter, the website claims that it looks and feels like conventional litter so pets are more easily accustomed to it. The price range is relatively the same as Feline Pine. For more: http://swheatscoop.com/

World's Best Cat Litter

World's Best Cat Litter is another all natural litter made from whole-kernel corn. This litter clumps as well and like the rest is 100% natural and biodegradable. Also, like Swheat Scoop, WBCL can be flushed down the toilet. The makers promise almost no tracking and superior odor control. This litter seems to be very comparable to Swheat Scoop. The price range for this litter is a little on the higher side. A 17lb bag at Petsmart runs about $19-20 bucks. For more: http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/

Yesterday's News

Purina makes a litter called Yesterday's News which is made out of recycled newspapers. This litter comes in pellets like Feline Pine and absorbs pretty much the same. We actually use this litter at my job because it's ideal for post-surgical pets since it doesn't stick to incision sites like powder or clay litters. This one is like the rest, flushable, biodegradable, super-absorbent, and odor-busting. Some cats may be sensitive to the pine smell of Feline Pine so this may be a better alternative if you want a pellet-like litter. The makers offer two kinds, one being 'softer' than the other. Both are priced at $17 dollars for either a 27lb or 30lb bag. For more: http://www.yesterdaysnews.com/

So far these are all of the natural cat litters that I've found and they're all silica free. These are great options if you want to green up your cats litter box. There is another option though that may be the most natural of all and is virtually free to try! Toilet train your cat! This may seem laughable and all together impossible but it has been done. Here's a link if you're interested =) http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/toilet-trained-cats.html?campaign=daylife-article

The overused phrase "Going Green"

2009-01-09T17:32:00.005-05:00

We've all heard the phrase many times. Businesses have jumped on the bandwagon in hopes of pulling in a profit. Thousands of products are now considered 'eco-friendly' and there's been an explosion in organic foods and the like. But have you really thought about what all of that means? 'Going green' involves a complete life change. It's not just recycling or doing one thing here or there. Of course that is a great start but in order to really make a positive difference on this Earth we have to drop all of our preconceived notions about the way we consume, drive, and live. All of us working together will bring about the positive change we seek. It will be challenging, yes. That fact in itself shouldn't scare us away from attempting to make our lives eco-friendly. Not only does becoming greener help us stay healthy but by becoming energy efficient and even energy independent you can save the earth and your wallet.

But the main point of this blog is to chronicle me, my boyfriend, and my roommates journey to a greener and hopefully self-sufficient way of life. I'll be documenting as much of that experience as I can on here and I'll be adding tips and advice along the way as well. Watch for us.