One Green Generation

It’s time! It has been exactly one year since we officially launched The Growing Challenge. And now it’s time to add some spice. So this year, we’re adding a twist for a new advanced level that goes something like this: Grow a new crop from seed this year, nurture it organically, and then successfully harvest enough seeds to grow next year.

This may sound difficult for some of you, and that’s ok. We’re all in it together. But really, this can be very simple if you want it to be (or not, if you want to challenge yourself with more difficult seeds to save!).

The only thing is, you really do need to plan ahead and do a little research. That’s why we’re starting the challenge now! So I’ll provide some information here, but I recommend also picking up a GREAT seed saving book. It’s one of my favorite gardening books, period. Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners. You can find it at your local bookstore, library, gardening supply store, or at Seed Savers Exchange (which is a great place to find seed, too).

Here’s Some Enticement…

Why Grow Your Own Food?

1. Growing your own food tastes better and is more nutritious.

2. Gardening is a good workout and improves mental health.

3. By being outdoors among the elements, you can learn about local wildlife, appreciate small beauty, and become one with the seasons.

4. Growing at home reduces your carbon footprint and energy usage. By gardening organically, you eliminate the petroleum products used in farming equipment, fertilizers, pesticides, food packaging, storage, and transportation.

5. You can have fresh, local, organic produce all year long by planting a four-season garden – long past the day your local markets and farms close for the winter.

Why Grow Food From Seed?

1. To save money. It costs just a couple of dollars per packet for many seeds. When you plant starts from a nursery, you pay a lot more per plant. (Hint: if you don’t want a whole pack of seeds, share seeds with other gardeners to save even more money.)

2. For greater variety. The varieties of seeds available are nearly endless - the different flavors, colors, and growth paterns of tomatoes alone is astonishing.

3. To support sustainable farmers who bring you the seeds. You have the option of buying open pollinated, organic, biodynamic, sustainably grown seeds - supporting the environment and farmers alike.

4. To further reduce your carbon footprint. A small seed packet sent in the mail takes much less energy than a much heavier seedling (and its soil) that has most likely been transported long distances from its original home.

5. To become more self-reliant and adaptable to economic changes and energy supply issues.

Why Save Your Own Seed?

1. To save more money. You can grow crops for years without spending a cent on seeds!

2. For fun. There is certainly pleasure in nurturing a plant from seed, learning how it propagates, and actually harvesting the seeds. It’s quite empowering, actually!

3. To preserve biodiversity. By saving heirloom seeds that have been passed on through generations, you can help preserve important crop diversity.

4. To create new varieties with particularly desirable qualities. You can create crops uniquely adapted to your backyard microclimate. Also, you can select seed from the plants with better flavor, greater frost hardiness, earliest blooms, prettiest color, and more.

5. When you are entirely the master of your seed, you know where it has been, from what plant it originated, what has been sprayed on it, what soil it grew in, and important details about how it will grow in your garden.

The Rules Are Simple

1. Plant at least one new crop from seed, grow it organically, and save the seed to plant next year.

2. Check in here when I post Seed To Seed or Growing Challenge posts (more or less once/week). Or if you have your own blog*, you can write about your gardening there instead – or in addition. The point of #2 is to learn from one another, inspire one another, and build our growing community. So please share questions, thoughts, and discoveries as they come up.

3. Sign up in the comments below!

*Please note that you do not need your own blog to join! But do let us know you’re participating by making a comment below, and be sure to check in here (Rule #2)!

Doodad

Here is a doodad you can use to help spread the word and to remind yourself of the challenge. Post it on your blog, place it in your sidebar, and/or print it out and tape it to your refrigerator!

To add a button to your blog, right-click on the image and save it to your desktop. Then upload it to your blog as you would any other image, with a link to:

http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/?p=703

Oh, and once you’ve uploaded the image, check to make sure the link works and the image loads correctly. Feel free to email me if you have any problems and I’ll see if I can help.

So Please Join Us!

In the comments, include your name, blog if you have one, where you’re gardening, and what zone you’re in (you can find it here). Let’s have some fun!!

Tags: From Seed To Seed, Gardening, Locavore, Self-Reliance, Sustainable Living

This was too sweet not to share.  Matt found this on Slog.  According to National Geographic, each elephant in Germany will have a treat of 5 recycled Christmas trees to munch on – apparently it helps with their digestion!

Photo courtesy of National Geographic

The Sustainability of Peace

I’m not sure if I feel it more than most people, or if I just choose to expose myself to it more, but my heart has been heavy with images of war over the last few weeks. War in the Palestinian territories, war in many parts of Africa, war in Iraq and Afghanistan. I feel helpless and hopeless as I see children and innocent people whose lives and beings are destroyed over struggles of power and greed and historical mistakes. Part of my hope for humanity dies with each person whose life ends needlessly.

But it’s not enough to feel sorrow, pain, empathy, is it? Can’t we do more? Some of us call our representatives, become a part of civil protests, and take other political actions. I have done these things. But I think there is more to it. There is a root cause. We are not at peace in our hearts, in our homes, in our beings. Power and greed take over our lifestyles, rather than loving what we have and working together to nurture happiness and sustainability.

So let’s change this culture that creates war. {…READ ON HERE!}

Tags: Community-building, Green Reading, Sustainable Living

Since I learned about aluminum in normal antiperspirant about 19 years ago, I have been searching for the best non-toxic deodorant. For whatever reason, most “natural” deodorants don’t work for me - they don’t deodorize my underarms (how unladylike!).  

But several years ago I found Alvera Aloe & Almond Deodorant.  It works and smells beautifully.  It’s not tested on animals and it has ingredients I can pronounce.  The problem:  not very many stores carry it.  So over the years I’ve gone from natural store to natural store looking for it, I’ve stocked up from time to time, I’ve had stores order it, and I’ve ordered it online, but all that is time consuming, frustrating, and resource-depleting.  I did this for years!

That is, until the week Matt went to the hospital when I brought him a bag from home that included a brush, shaving supplies, and… yep - our only stick of deodorant.  So, after stepping out of a nice clean shower at home, I desperately searched for an alternative.  I reasoned to myself that if baking soda works on my hair, why not try it on my underarms?  Afterall, it’s an ingredient in many deodorants….

So I used it like baby powder, just a splash.  And it was the best deodorant I’ve ever used.  No kidding.

The following day, I didn’t need to re-apply.  Amazing!!

But then… on day 3, I realized my left underarm was itching a bit.  So I did some online research, and found that straight baking soda might be too strong. Apparently, you need just a tiny bit.  In my various hours of research, I came upon a solution:  mixing baking soda with cornstarch.  The cornstarch actually works as a light antiperspirant, and the baking soda deodorizes.

I’ve been using it for two weeks now, and I love it.  Absolutely love it.

Instructions.

1. In a reusable and resealable container, mix 1 part baking soda with 6 parts cornstarch.  
   
2. Close the container and shake vigorously for about a minute, to thoroughly mix the two powders.  
   
3. Then dab a small amount to the skin of your armpits with a soft cotton cloth, cotton ball, or cosmetic applicator.  Apply as if you were lightly applying baby powder or cosmetic powder.
   

Notes:

• The application should last at least a day - for me it lasts at least 2 days!  
  
• This method hasn’t left any stains or residues on my white or black clothing.  It seems to do better than normal deodorant in that regard! (Still, of course use caution with expensive and/or hard-to-clean items, as you would with any deodorant.)
  
• A nice way to store your deodorant powder is in an antique cosmetic jar (above), which you can pick up at a garage sale or thrift store.

More Information

1. Aluminum is a neurotoxin, and is found in most antiperspirants.  It has been linked to Alzheimer’s Disease, respiratory illnesses, reduced renal function, and DNA damage. Find out more here, here and here.  You should be able to find aluminum-free baking soda (aka sodium bicarbonate) in your local health food store. Note at 7pm:  After receiving a few notes from readers, I’ve done some extensive research, and found that aluminum is used to make baking powder, but not baking soda. … So it looks like any old baking soda will do!
2. The parabens in many antiperspirants may be linked to breast cancer, and there are possible complications associated with SLS in deodorants.
3. Curious how conventional antiperspirants work?  Find out here.
4. If you decide that straight baking soda isn’t right for you, you might try “The Rock” or use one of the recipes here or here for homemade deodorant.

Tags: Buy Sustainably, Frugal Living, I'm Green Inside, Redefining Normal

Making butter is… like moving a hot knife through butter:  simple, smooth, and very, very easy.  If you haven’t done this yet, go out today and buy a pint of heavy cream, and then spend 10 minutes to make your own butter.  It’s incredibly simple to do, and it tastes wonderful!

Continue Reading »

Tags: Locavore, Recipes

Tags: Grandfather, Self-Reliance, Sustainable Living

How Far Matt & I Have Traveled In Just One Year…

A year ago Matt and I were living in Geyserville, California, a town of 1,600. We had only recently brought Raisin into our home. A year ago I wasn’t sure what my next life step would be, and Matt wasn’t either. We were headed in a very different direction, one that was more isolated. One that involved personal survival, a sort of self-sufficiency in solitude.

Between then and now, I’m not sure it was one thing that made us change our minds and to go in a new direction. Certainly almost losing Raisin (and our own futures) to the pesticides were a big issue. Plus a growing understanding that community is important, that we cannot survive and thrive without a community. And the feeling that actually, Matt and I weren’t finished searching for our own places in society yet.

I was also thinking about my grandfather’s mortality – about how much we hadn’t talked about yet, how much I still wanted to learn from him. And we were redefining sustainability in our minds: was it really sustainable to live in a small town – where we didn’t feel like we belonged to the community despite our efforts, where we drove far to work, and where my life as an artist and activist was unclear?

Our time in Geyserville gave us the mental space to think about where we had gone, and where we were going. It was essential to our well-being. But it wasn’t the final stop we’d originally thought it would become.

From there, we gave ourselves the freedom to move to a sustainable city, surrounded by family and people who care about the issues we hold dear. Matt decided to go to school (he starts at the University of Washington in the fall). I started a new business with 7 other people who really, truly care about changing the world.

My world has grown, my thoughts have grown, my writing has grown, and my audience has grown! My heart feels fuller as I head in the right direction. I am proud of what I’ve accomplished this year. I have reduced my carbon output to just 10% of the average American. I have figured out the next steps in my life.

And, very importantly, I have (hopefully) inspired a few of you to make changes in your lives, to inspire others and make your communities stronger. My changes catalyze your changes, and your changes catalyze others around you, and this, my friends, is HOW WE CHANGE THE WORLD!

So let’s keep doing that, shall we?

Where One Green Generation Has Traveled In One Year…

The Challenges

• We hosted The Growing Challenge. 184 participants from many countries around the world. It started exactly a year ago - can you believe it? Because it was so successful at “planting seeds”, I am going to continue it this year. I haven’t decided if it will remain exactly as it is, so please give me any input you can offer as to changes, thoughts, ideas, suggestions… I’m all ears!




• We hosted The Green Your Insides Challenge. I believe there are a lot more participants than the web page suggests, as I’ve seen this little icon in many places around the blogosphere, and I know a lot of you non-bloggers are following along, taking steps to change your indoor health. I’m not sure how long I’ll continue this challenge, but it will continue for a while longer yet. I have a long list of posts that are ready to be written, so I’m not done!




• We hosted The Buy Sustainably Challenge. Again, I’ve seen this little icon in many places around the blogosphere, so I’m not sure how many people are participating. That said, I was surprised that more people didn’t join. Several readers are already well on this path, so maybe that’s why? I would love to know your thoughts about this. Please share!!

Our Conversations

• We wrote quite a bit about Community Building / Living Locally and Growing Our Own Food. These are some of my favorite topics, so expect them to continue into the new year.




• We Redefined Normal - that was a feat! Shall we redefine some other things? I think it’s time! I welcome your suggestions.




• We discussed the state of the Economy and how we can live more Simply and Frugally. We also discussed the state of our Energy supply and our changing Climate. Since these are pressing issues, I will explore them more deeply this year.




• I’ve written several Recipes, made with Local, Seasonal Food – I will add to these and build a Recipe page so they can more easily be accessed.




• We also tackled many everyday issues of life and learning, of world changing ideas and life’s little intricacies. These are the essays, the inspirational thoughts, the ideas that spring into my brain. I love writing these, and they are popular here, so I will continue to do so when the inspiration strikes.

Changes… What You Will No Longer See Here

• Videos. I had high aspirations for videos, but alas - they are a lot of work, and though some of you loved them dearly, they weren’t highly watched. So while they may pop up occasionally, I won’t promise new videos.
  




• Challenges that last one or two months. Sustainability is a lifestyle. I am challenging myself to change parts of my life and lifestyle for good, because our planet needs and deserves that, and so do I. So the challenges I post here will focus on lasting change. They won’t make you instantly change your way of life, but they will make you constantly work toward it. Let’s focus on sustainable changes, shall we? I’m open to new ideas here!

Where Would You Like To Go Now?

I like the direction we’re headed with this website. But more importantly, do you? You are why I write, so please - what would you like to see, read, and think about? Anything you’d like to see more or less? What’s missing? What sustainable changes would you like to be challenged with?

Seriously, anything is fair game here - please, please, please let me know your thoughts!!

A Lasting Thought For you…

We Join Together From Many Borders and Continents

Here’s one last bit of information I wanted to share…. The issues that we discuss here at One Generation clearly know no borders - these are the countries and territories that you’ve all come from in December alone!

Algeria Argentina Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Bermuda Bosnia-Herzegovina Brazil Bulgaria Cambodia Canada Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt Estonia European Union Finland France Germany Great Britain Greece Greenland Guam Guatemala Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Iran Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lebanon Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Malaysia Malta Mexico Moldova Monaco Morocco Mozambique Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Norway Oman Pakistan Panama Peru Philippines Poland Polynesia (French) Portugal Puerto Rico Romania Russian Federation Saudi Arabia Singapore Slovak Republic Slovenia South Africa South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Thailand Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States Uruguay Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Yugoslavia

I am so inspired by our diversity. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for visiting and bringing your thoughts, your expertise, and your questions; and for spreading the word and inspiring change in others. We are all in this world together, and the world is stronger when we come together. Thank you, and I look forward to our new year together!

I can’t wait to hear what thoughts you have for the coming year at One Green Generation…

Tags: About Us