tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53024807844889070862024-03-13T14:52:43.746-07:00better livingIt's simple. I have realized that I'm not living as well as I could be. I'm not telling anybody else what they should do, but keeping a journal for myself of the changes I make to my life in an attempt to live up to my standards of what a good global citizen is. I think the more input, support, and insight I get, the more successful I will be. What I have realized is that, for me, living better means living a greener, simpler, more frugal life - they all go hand in hand.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-14178609800528549322008-09-22T21:44:00.001-07:002008-09-22T22:00:22.747-07:00FLOWI saw an excellent documentary yesterday, titled "<a href="http://www.flowthefilm.com/">FLOW</a>" (FLOW stands for "For Love Of Water). I thought to myself, man, I must be getting old if I'm voluntarily going to watch a whole movie just about water. But I'm really glad I did!<br /><br />It was a compelling look at water systems around the world, and a call for action. I thought I would walk away feeling badly for all the people who live in third world countries without access to safe, clean drinking water. And I did. But I also received the rude awakening that our own water systems here in the US are not as safe or as clean (or as stable) as we'd maybe like to believe they are. As if to underscore this point, the AP ran <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/09/22/rocket.fuel.epa.ap/index.html">this article</a> today about rocket fuel in public water supplies.<br /><br />The threat that is posed to people around the world if we don't reign in the power of some of the large global corporations is made clear. Coca Cola's actions in Plachimada, India is <a href="http://greensimplefrugal.blogspot.com/2008/06/coca-cola-tsk-tsk.html">an issue that I've addressed previously</a>. What I didn't know is that the Nestle Corporation has threatened and abused local water supplies right here in the United States (namely Michigan).<br /><br />This is a wonderful film that I would encourage everybody to see if they have the chance. As alarming as the world water situation is, I didn't leave feeling despair. I left feeling that we haven't yet passed the point of no return. There is still time for us to fix what we've broken - and doing that will require, to paraphrase one of the interviewees from the film, for all of us to decide what we value, and to begin acting accordingly.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-40811907147080298052008-09-10T00:01:00.000-07:002008-09-10T00:01:02.125-07:00ReminderPosts are due today for the second APLS blog carnival on the topic of affluence! Make your submissions to aplscarnival [at] gmail [dot] com.<br /><br />The response last time was amazing; I can't wait to see what everybody comes up with this month!<br /><br />Also, don't forget to check out <a href="http://theaplsblog.blogspot.com/">the APLS blog</a> to see if a regional group has formed for your area yet - it's a great way to connect with other APLS living near you. If a group hasn't formed, you can always start one! Just send us a note and we'd be happy to get you started.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-50612163650755985182008-09-09T12:02:00.000-07:002008-09-09T12:12:43.939-07:00give me a break...I'm not one who normally watches a lot of television, especially during the day. Every now and then, though, a good dose of Judge Judy can restore for us the illusion that we are far more normal than the rest of the population. So yesterday, I caved.<br /><br />What horrified me most was not the woman who was fighting with her deceased fiance's mother over the property purchased with the income from his drug dealing business prior to his death, but an advertisement I saw during a commercial break.<br /><br />The ad featured a bunch of kids playing in a park, with two moms standing by a picnic table. One of them starts pouring cups of some sort of red juice drink from a gallon jug. The other mom questions why she doesn't seem to care what she lets her kids consume, including high fructose corn syrup.<br /><br />The mom pouring the crap responds by indicating that corn syrup is all natural, (made from corn!), comparable in calories to sugar, and fine in moderation. The other mom stutters and looks stupid before finally saying, "hey, that's a great blouse you're wearing."<br /><br />I hate to break it to all of us, but this is America, and moderation is not something we're particularly good at.<br /><br />Apparently the fact that a food is comparable to sugar is the new standard. The fact that it is devoid of other nutritional value is not relevant.<br /><br />What bothers me about this commercial is that there are people out there who will see it and use it as an excuse to continue making poor dietary choices for themselves and their children. I guess that's kind of the point, though.<br /><br />Did anyone else catch this commercial?Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-83970009265786290192008-09-06T12:02:00.000-07:002008-09-06T12:25:54.913-07:00we should be scaredI've been thinking a lot these days about the connection between our ability to gather together to build community and our ability to create a better world. There is absolutely a link between our ability to freely exercise our rights as guaranteed under the constitution (freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly) and our ability to make a lasting change in the way we protect (or refuse to protect) our planet.<br /><br />I'm beginning to doubt whether substantive changes will ever take place after some of the news out of Minnesota this week. We keep hearing about the gradual erosion of our civil liberties, but most people don't actually seem all that concerned. Why?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allison-kilkenny/amy-goodman-arrested-at-r_b_123051.html">A journalist named Amy Goodman was arrested with two of the producers of her news show while they were recording protest events at the RNC, despite wearing their press identification and verbally identifying themselves as press.</a> Do your own homework, but if you think this is wrong, consider contacting the District Attorney or other public officials and demand that they drop the charges against these journalists.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/31/raids/index.html">There were many other abuses of power and authority in St. Paul last week - this is an excellent editorial that looks at some of the arrests and the reasons behind them.</a><br /><br />I'm disgusted and appalled. I don't even have the stomach to write more.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-38015275073335703342008-09-05T00:01:00.000-07:002008-09-05T00:01:00.803-07:00AffluenceAPLS stands for “Affluent People Living Sustainably.” The part of this acronym that consistently makes people cringe and consider opting out is the “A” for Affluent. Some may confess that they haven’t reached a totally sustainable lifestyle yet, and are still working towards it (which is true for almost all of us, by the way!) but nearly everyone protests at the use of the word affluent. “I’m not affluent” is very often the immediate reaction. <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/affluent">Dictionary.com</a> gives the following definition of the word: “having an abundance of wealth, property, or other material goods; prosperous; rich.” Within the context of one’s town, state, or even country, many of us could rightly claim that, relatively speaking, we are not affluent. As APLS, however, we recognize that a global perspective is crucial to healing the problems faced by our world today, like climate change. Taken from a global perspective then, there are very few people living in the industrialized world who are not affluent. Assume for a moment that you make $6 an hour. This is certainly not enough money to be considered affluent by US standards. But when looked at from the global point of view, that income still would place you in the top 12.88% of the world’s wealthiest people. Check out the <a href="http://www.globalrichlist.com/">globalrichlist</a> and play around with the numbers. It’s scary and interesting at the same time. Let’s skip past the “wealth and property” section of the definition of affluence for a moment, and focus on the other aspects, which include having an abundance of other material goods. Most of us in this country, regardless of how small our incomes, have enough money to own more than one pair of pants, and more than one shirt. If we were honest about it, most of us probably own more shirts than we can readily list. We therefore have an abundance of clothing. Most of us also own many other material goods. For example, I don’t eat my dinner on the floor, because I have a table to sit at, and chairs to sit in. I eat baked items when I want to because I have an oven to cook my food in. I am entertained at the push of a button because I have a television. None of these items are markers of affluence in North American society, where I live, but they certainly would be in many parts of the world. Any travel to parts of the globe that are still industrializing quickly reveals that there are many, many, many, people today living without a change of clothes, even while the ones they are wearing are dirty and torn. Countless people live in shacks and huts that are too small to contain a kitchen table or chairs. Even if they somehow made space for an oven, electricity is not reliable and fuel is too expensive to run such luxury appliances. Even as communities, we are wealthy. We have no shortage of hospitals, schools, roads, police, fire departments, safe drinking water, and on and on. It seems hard, then, when we really consider our fortune compared to the rest of the world, to claim we are not affluent. Even those of us who are voluntarily leading simpler lives are still affluent in the global context. Yet there does seem to be some resistance still to this word. Is it a collective guilt? Does the idea of our being affluent somehow run counter to the ideals we thought we adhered to and lived by? Are we worried that assuming this label puts us in the company of people like Imelda Marcos and Kenneth Lay? If that’s the concern, it seems a bit unfounded. We don’t live in a black and white world. There are a million shades of color. Just because we aren’t Bill Gates doesn’t mean we aren’t wealthy. If we have a change of clothes, or a car, television, refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, dvd player, or computer, we are affluent compared to most of the world. To deny that in some ways takes away from the experience of the person who truly does live in poverty. Living on very little money in an industrialized country is not really comparable to being poor in Sub-Saharan Africa, or southeast Asia, or many other places around the world. As APLS, what we must come to terms with is not whether or not we are affluent, but how to deal with our affluence. And that is the power of this community. With affluence comes choice – the choice to live sustainably or not. Looked at another way, if you are choosing to live sustainably, you are privileged in a way that many in the world are not. We are the privileged few in this world who can afford to live unsustainably. Yet we are choosing not to. Rather than deny our privilege, we must accept the responsibility to live our lives in the most sustainable manner possible, and to encourage others to do so as well, in whatever way is comfortable for each of us. What most of us are finding is that we are even more affluent than we thought after making the choice to live as sustainably as we can. Because the realization that we all keep coming to is that more money doesn't make us feel any wealthier, for the most part. A more sustainable lifestyle, however, frees us from the burdens of material things and allows us to spend more time having experiences and being with people rather taking care of things and acquiring new things. More sustainable means more living - and that makes us feel privileged beyond belief.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-5881955801649740842008-08-24T00:02:00.000-07:002008-08-24T00:05:19.138-07:00sometimes...sometimes it's our time to talk. and sometimes it's our time to listen. right now, I feel like it's my time to listen.<br /><br />so no, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. but I'm listening, with not too much to say right now.<br /><br />enjoy it while it lasts.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-76118672860035629012008-08-15T00:01:00.000-07:002008-08-18T12:53:33.519-07:00The First APLS Blog CarnivalThe big day is finally here - our first ever <a href="http://theaplsblog.blogspot.com/">APLS blog carnival</a>! I am thrilled to have the honor of hosting, and equally pleased with the absolutely amazing response we've received to the first topic - <strong><em>What does living sustainably mean to you?</em></strong><br /><strong><em></em></strong><br />The answers were surprisingly more varied than I might have expected - I encourage you to take the time to look at each and every post if time allows.<br /><br />The highlights, in no particular order:<br /><br /><a href="http://lifeinwebster.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-very-first-blog-carnival.html">Lori at Life in Webster Groves</a> starts us at the beginning, walking us through the various definitions of the word "sustainable" and and explaining, quite eloquently, how those of us who self-describe as APLS meet the criteria for each of those subtly varying definitions.<br /><br /><a href="http://greenresolutions.blogspot.com/2008/08/what-does-living-sustainably-mean-to.html">Green Resolutions</a> uses the analogy of parenting to illustrate the point that the question of what constitutes sustainable living is one that has to be answered by each family based on their unique situation.<br /><br /><a href="http://farmersdaughterct.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/a-lesson-in-sustainability/#comment-788">Farmer's Daughter</a> approaches the question from a teacher's point of view and looks at personal sustainability through the textbook Four Basic Principles of Ecosystem Sustainability to share what sustainability means for her.<br /><br /><a href="http://greenbeandreams.blogspot.com/2008/08/rugged-environmentalist.html">Green Bean</a> very convincingly argues that a sustainable lifestyle is not the same thing as a self-sufficient lifestyle, but rather that the sustainable lifestyle actually leads to an embracing of other members of our community and building of relationships.<br /><br /><a href="http://ecoburban.blogspot.com/2008/08/sustainability-in-disposable-world.html">Eco Burban Mom</a> explores how living in our disposable world actually keeps us busier than a more sustainable lifestyle, and opts to trade more stuff for more time.<br /><br /><a href="http://surelyyounest.blogspot.com/2008/08/what-does-living-sustainably-mean-to.html">Surely You Nest</a> gives us permission to embrace (or at least periodically snuggle with) our inner junk food lover - and tells us why it's not necessarily incompatible with living sustainably - I for one appreciate that!<br /><br /><a href="http://arduousblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/what-does-it-mean-to-live-sustainably.html">Arduous</a> explores balance and compromise in relation to sustainability, and acknowledges the importance of recognizing what works for you and your lifestyle, so that the changes you make can be long-lasting.<br /><br /><a href="http://burbanmom.blogspot.com/2008/08/im-with-it-are-you-with-it.html">Going Green</a> offers pictures (and oh what pictures they are!) to answer the question - along with the now expected healthy dose of levity and humor, of course.<br /><br /><a href="http://simple-green-organic-happy.blogspot.com/2008/08/sustainability-and-secret-of-nimh.html">Simple-green-organic-happy</a> answers the question in a delightful manner, couching her answer in the context of a wonderful children's novel, <em>Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH</em> - I've ordered a copy to re-read already!<br /><br /><a href="http://chezartz.com/?p=338#comment-780">Chez Artz</a> reminds us that sustainability is a continuum and that walking down the road gradually is okay.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/2008/08/suddenly-sustainable.html">Fake Plastic Fish</a> avoids almost all mention of plastic (or fish, for that matter) and discusses the importance of awareness while attempting to live more sustainably.<br /><br /><a href="http://civiclessons.blogspot.com/2008/08/road-to-sustainability.html">Civic Lessons</a> discusses her history as a small "e" environmentalist, her desire to be a big "E" environmentalist, and the joys of being called a dirty hippy.<br /><br /><a href="http://mindfulmomma.typepad.com/mindful_momma/2008/08/living-sustainably-by-staying-put.html">Mindful Momma</a> explains that trying to keep up with the Joneses isn't always such a bad thing - especially if the Joneses are living more sustainable lives.<br /><br /><a href="http://going-green-mama.blogspot.com/2008/08/sustainability-in-era-of-stuff.html">Going Green Mama</a> explains how sometimes sustainability can be forced by circumstances beyond our control, but no matter the route, a sustainable lifestyle is often a much happier lifestyle.<br /><br /><a href="http://beancounter.blogsome.com/2008/08/11/what-does-sustainable-mean-to-me/">One Size Fits All</a> discusses the concept of "enough" and how a true understanding of what this means can help lead to a more sustainable lifestyle.<br /><br /><a href="http://simple-green-frugal.blogspot.com/2008/08/living-sustainability.html">Heather at Simple Green Frugal</a> discusses the importance of recognizing your place in the grand scheme of things, the fact that living more sustainably is a process, not just a decision, and acknowledges that the "why" of living sustainably may be different for each of us.<br /><br /><a href="http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/?p=245">Melinda at Elements in Time</a> challenges us to prove that we can change our unsustainable behaviors without being faced with a major disaster or crises, and to look at sustainability in all aspects of life, such as body, food, and products.<br /><br /><a href="http://thepurloinedletter.blogspot.com/2008/08/trying.html">The Purloined Letter</a> probes the link between justice and sustainability and provides an excellent analysis of Richard Heinberg's axioms on sustainability.<br /><br /><a href="http://greenfluencer.com/2008/08/04/sustainable-living/">Greenfluencer</a> makes an analogy between sustainability and dieting, and encourages us to consider whether our newly adopted behaviors can be continued indefinitely, and to make sure we ease into things at a pace that's right for us.<br /><br /><a href="http://greeensheeep.blogspot.com/2008/08/sustainable-living.html">Greeen Sheeep</a> illustrates how sometimes, when everything gives, we can be unexpectedly blessed with a more sustainable lifestyle.<br /><br /><a href="http://organicmania.com/2008/08/11/from-vision-to-reality-family-fights-over-global-warming/">Lynn at Organic Mania</a> is striving to live more sustainably, even if her son does think she's a meanie, and even if it means a little more planning and organization.<br /><br /><a href="http://nekoswan.wordpress.com/2008/08/11/practice/#comment-7924">What's Your Name, Mommy?</a> reminds us that living sustainably is a practice, not a competition - and if it stresses us out, it's not sustainable.<br /><br /><a href="http://innermonologueofamadwoman.blogspot.com/2008/08/on-living-sustainably.html">Inner Monologue of a Madwoman</a> explores sustainable living against the backdrop of Christianity and finds that the two are very compatible.<br /><br /><a href="http://crstn85.blogspot.com/2008/08/living-sustainably.html">Crstn85</a> has been watching the Olympics and thinking about sustainability on a global scale.<br /><br /><a href="http://organicneedle.com/blog/2008/07/31/sustainability-an-essay-by-organic-needle/">Organic Needle</a> offers a beautiful look at the ways in which sustainability has led to a happier life for her and her family - a life that is rich with both connections and experiences.<br /><br /><a href="http://simpleincomplex.blogspot.com/2008/08/apls-carnival_11.html">Simple Living in a Complex Society</a> examines how small steps compound each other and can have larger impacts than we might have expected - but we must decide to take the small steps.<br /><br /><a href="http://tolivelocal.blogspot.com/2008/08/follow-leafy-green-road.html">Bobbi at To Live Local</a> walks us through the major phases of her life to share how she's arrived at her current state of synthesis between her economic, political, and social values.<br /><br /><a href="http://happilyhome.blogspot.com/2008/08/living-sustainably-prodigal-returns.html">Home Is...</a> shares how her path to a more sustainable lifestyle began when she realized that she was a part of the problem, not the solution - and then began working to change that.<br /><br /><a href="http://greencouple.com/2008/08/11/think-global-live-local/">Will at Green Couple</a> explores the differences between local and global sustainability, and looks at how a focus on money can lead us down that path via the king of the 3Rs, Reduce.<br /><br /><a href="http://greenarizona.blogspot.com/2008/08/apls-blog-carnival.html">Green Arizona</a> looks at sustainability through the lens of health concerns, and reminds us that education is the key.<br /><br /><a href="http://ibdylansmom.blogspot.com/2008/08/i-want-to-be-pirate.html">IB Mommy</a> wants to be a sustainable pirate (and yes, there is such a thing, as she shows us!)<br /><br /><a href="http://vwxynot.blogspot.com/2008/08/first-apls-carnival-post.html">VWXYNot</a> outlines some of the changes she's made on her path to sustainability - and turns out to be a much darker shade of green than she gives herself credit for, in this APLS opinion!<br /><br /><a href="http://greeneonion.blogspot.com/2008/08/living-sustainably.html">Greene Onion</a> also shares some baby steps being taken towards sustainability, recognizing that gradual change is most likely to be lasting change.<br /><br /><a href="http://ecoinhabitant.blogspot.com/2008/08/what-living-sustainably-means-to-me.html">Ecoinhabitant</a> looks at sustainability in the context of our alignment with nature.<br /><br /><a href="http://bestwellnessconsultant.com/2008/08/11/living-sustainably-apls-karen-hanrahan-best-of-mother-earth.aspx">Mother Earth</a> shares with us some of the ways she is working to achieve sustainability in both her personal as well as her professional life, and reminds us of the importance of maintaining flexibility in how we define things.<br /><br />and, last but not least, <a href="http://kneedlyknots.blogspot.com/2008/08/what-does-sustainability-mean-to-me.html">Kneedly Knots</a> reminds us of the importance of a balance of giving and receiving, and ethics in our quest for sustainability.<br /><br />That wraps up this month's APLS blog carnival - don't forget to check out the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29206770445">Facebook Group</a>, and of course the <a href="http://theaplsblog.blogspot.com/">APLS blog page</a> to catch up on all sorts of other exciting activities going on! If you haven't been added to the Bushel Basket yet, please leave a comment letting us know that you'd like to be included, and we'll toss you in!<br /><br />THANK YOU to each and every contributor who took the time to write such thoughtful posts - you've helped to make this first APLS blog carnival an overwhelming success!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-80635297219724210892008-08-08T22:22:00.000-07:002008-08-13T21:12:29.280-07:00CONGRATULATIONS!My little brother and his wonderful fiance will be married tomorrow! I couldn't be happier!<br /><br />I'm not eloquent when it comes to serious life events, but congratulations to both of you, and welcome to the family to my new sister in law. Love you guys!<br /><br />I'll be back for real, very soon!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-51739875660947802012008-08-05T00:01:00.000-07:002008-08-05T00:01:01.898-07:00come visit me over at the Blogging Bookworm!My review of Jonathan Raban's "Bad Land" is over at <a href="http://beabookworm.blogspot.com/">the Blogging Bookworm</a> today. This book was a surprise green read for me, by which I mean that I didn't know it was about green issues until after I started reading it. I won't say much else about it here, because that would sort of defeat the purpose of posting it over there, wouldn't it?<br /><br />Stop by and check it out - and if you're not a regular visitor over there, do browse through some of the fabulous past reviews and find some inspiration for your next green book! A lot of very bright, well spoken people have reviewed an incredible variety of books (even some for kids)!<br /><br />Thanks again to the wonderful women who keep <a href="http://beabookworm.blogspot.com/">the Blogging Bookworm</a> alive: <a href="http://chocolate-crayon-family.blogspot.com/">Chocolate Crayons</a>, <a href="http://goingcrunchy.blogspot.com/">Going Crunchy</a>, <a href="http://greenbeandreams.blogspot.com/">Green Bean</a>, and <a href="http://kaleforsale.blogspot.com/">kale for sale</a>.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-84413163007785125622008-07-31T22:07:00.000-07:002008-07-31T22:33:28.687-07:00Digging through the trashI was out exploring with my Dad today, and he took me to one of his favorite spots: an old trash dump! He's quite the treasure hunter!<br /><br />It was amazing looking at what had been chucked. We weren't sure about the exact age of the site, but we're guessing it was not used after the 1950s, and we really have no idea when it started being used.<br /><br />The most common items there were bottles, in every shape, size, and color. There were also a lot of pieces of broken dishes, a lot of shoe parts, many rusting out metal pots, buckets, cans, and even an old Model T Ford chassis, with the license plate still attached. Things were still recognizable, but were definitely well on their way to decay and decomposition. Nothing was bagged up. I guess garbage bags weren't invented back then.<br /><br />I was thinking about all the plastic in our lives, and what one of our trash dumps might look like in a hundred years. I fear that it won't be evident whether our trash was left a year earlier or a century earlier. I worry that nothing in our landfills will be slowly returning back into the earth, but will be sitting there perfectly preserved as if in an Egyptian tomb.<br /><br />It reminded me all over again just why it's so important to be cognizant of what materials the products I buy are made from. Sure it's great if I can recycle a plastic milk bottle when I'm done with it, but if a glass version is available, wouldn't I rather have that? Serving utensils in my kitchen will eventually break. When this happens, don't I want to worry about how to dispose of a piece of wood rather than plastic, even if that plastic has another use before it's finally thrown away? I know I'm not the first one to think about this issue, but sometimes we need our own experiences to make things hit home for us. Looking at a pile of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">somebody's</span> relatively sustainable garbage made me realize that although I've cut my trash output drastically, what trash I do create isn't going anywhere anytime soon. That's not the kind of legacy I'm hoping to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">leave</span>.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-35375889605049942962008-07-30T00:31:00.001-07:002008-07-30T00:38:31.472-07:00um, seriously?OK, I was flying today, and I never leave an airport without being irritated about something.<br /><br />You know that rule they have at the airport now about no liquids over 3 ounces can be carried past the security checkpoint? Things like plastic water bottles are strictly verboten past the metal detectors these days. Well, if you've been in airport recently, you've observed the tossing of countless contraband bottles. Straight into the TRASH CAN.<br /><br />Can somebody get the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">TSA</span> a couple recycling bins? Please? I mean, they have these giant garbage bins there anyway for people to toss the bottles into. Couldn't they make it a recycling bin as easily as a trash bin?<br /><br />Or is recycling some kind of a security threat now too?Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-43974385944682125892008-07-29T00:54:00.000-07:002008-07-29T01:04:09.473-07:00Trim your waste (and your waist)I'm off today for a whirlwind tour - I have three weddings to attend in the next three weeks, for two great friends as well as my brother. It should be a lot of fun with a lot of opportunities to catch up with friends and family I haven't seen in a long time. I hope to be able to post over the next three weeks, but at best, it will be sporadic.<br /><br />In the meantime, I'll leave you with a quick tip. When eating in restuarants lately with the picky eater, we've noticed that we often don't need to both order our own entree. We'll start with an appetizer to share, then move on to one entree, and then if we're still hungry, we'll order something else. Sure, it takes a bit longer, but the point of going out to a restuarant with somebody else is often to spend quality time anyway, right?<br /><br />This method reduces our waste and saves us money, in addition to giving us a little extra time to linger and chat - I can't complain about any of that.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-21307683800628970192008-07-28T00:37:00.001-07:002008-07-28T01:11:58.847-07:00Can't get enough APLS?If, like me, you've been loving all the activity of the APLS lately, you're going to love this! For those of you who are just arriving to the party, APLS stands for Affluent People Living Sustainably. There's been lots of good bloggy discussions on the subject, and we've even got a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29206770445">facebook group</a> going with lots of great conversation and interactions. But the fun doesn't stop there!<br /><br /><a href="http://greenbeandreams.blogspot.com/">Green Bean</a>, <a href="http://arduousblog.blogspot.com/">Arduous</a>, and I have teamed up to create the <a href="http://theaplsblog.blogspot.com/">APLS Blog</a> - a home base of sorts for a monthly blog carnival on issues surrounding being an affluent person and living sustainably (and if you're cringing at the use of the word affluent, or thinking it doesn't apply to you, I <em>really</em> encourage you to check out the <a href="http://www.globalrichlist.com/">global rich list</a>, as well as some of the assorted blog <a href="http://greenbeandreams.blogspot.com/2008/07/bushel-basket.html">discussions</a> or the facebook group).<br /><br />This blog is designed for anybody who is trying to live more sustainably. If you're trying, you qualify! You don't have to own a composting toilet, or power your home with solar panels to be an APLS (although if you do, that's awesome too!). You don't even have to have a green blog - or any blog at all. We want anyone and everyone who is interested to come and join us.<br /><br />I'll be hosting the first carnival on August 15th, and am really excited to see what you all come up with. As we've all been learning, APLS are better together, and this is just one more way for us to share our knowledge, our questions, our inspirations, our concerns, and our hopes.<br /><br />We also are hoping to eventually use this blog to organize some regionally based community building opportunities. There's been a lot of interest expressed in this area, and we think it's pretty exciting too - if you'd like to be involved in getting APLS organized in your area, send us an email. We'll definitely need your participation to make this work!<br /><br />Hope to see you at the <a href="http://theaplsblog.blogspot.com/">APLS blog</a>!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-86542899358000562132008-07-24T13:40:00.000-07:002008-07-24T14:13:36.096-07:00pat yourself on the back dayVarious bloggers, myself included, have recognized our green "failures" from time to time - we forget to bring our reusable bags into the store, we make an unplanned stop for coffee with friends and don't have our reusable mugs along, or we indulge in a can of soda even though we've sworn it off. Acknowledging these little lapses is an important thing to do so that we can move forward past them. We recognize that overall, our efforts and successes are more important than our slip-ups in the end, and we move on.<br /><br />Today, though, I'm declaring an official "pat yourself on the back day" - a day to acknowledge one thing that you're proud of yourself for doing this week, or month, and to give yourself credit for it. As important as it is to acknowledge the little mistakes we make, I think it's equally crucial to reflect on the things we're doing right.<br /><br />My pat on the back is for something pretty simple really. My book club meets at the biggest Whole Foods I've ever been in. They have two cafe / bistro areas in there. The first serves ice cream, pastries, coffee and such, and the second serves sandwiches, fries, wine, and more entree like items. I've figured that if I enter the building at the end near the ice cream, I can enjoy one scoop by the time I get to the bistro at the other end where we meet, just in time to enjoy a glass of wine over our book discussion. <a href="http://simple-green-frugal.blogspot.com/2008/07/no-graze-days-of-summer-mindless-eating.html">Mindful eating</a>? Not really. <a href="http://chilechews.blogspot.com/2008/07/discretionary-eating.html">Discretionary eating</a>? Absolutely. But I really love their cardamom ice cream, and I haven't found anywhere else to get it, so I'm probably going to continue this little habit.<br /><br />On the other hand, I remembered to bring along the (washed) disposable plastic cup they'd served it in last time, and when I ordered, I handed it back to the girl, who looked shocked for a second, then thanked me for bringing it, and filled it up for me.<br /><br />It's a little thing, but I was very proud of myself, for some reason, of having remembered to bring that little cup along.<br /><br />So let's hear from you - what's one thing you'd like to pat yourself on the back for? It can be a little thing or a big thing, but leave a comment and tell us what it is, and give yourself some credit!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-51410409109281083852008-07-22T17:30:00.000-07:002008-07-22T22:44:16.309-07:00well that was easy!I've given up microwave popcorn. Since I'm the one who does the shopping in this house, we've both given up microwave popcorn. It hasn't been a very popular decision around here, and it means I've spent more time than I'd like shaking a heavy pot with oil and popcorn seeds over a hot burner.<br /><br />So today, I tried a little experiment. I reused a small brown paper bag (we get lots of these in our CSA share holding tomatoes, squash, and such) and placed about a quarter cup of plain old yellow popcorn kernels into it, and folded the top shut. I read online that one staple would be ok in the microwave, which I believe, since my tea bags have small staples that don't do any damage, but we actually have a cool staple-less stapler that I used just to be on the safe side.<br /><br />I put it in for a little over 2 minutes, and voila! freshly popped popcorn, ready to be seasoned however I wish.<br /><br />It's definitely a good way to save some money, and it absolutely cuts down on waste. Plus I've heard some concerns lately about commercially produced microwave popcorn, and this way I can be sure there are no nasty chemicals in there.<br /><br />I'm glad I figured this out...it's way too hot to be shaking that pot over a hot stove today!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-44867218516998291762008-07-21T23:35:00.000-07:002008-07-22T00:00:43.725-07:00any volunteers?The 30-Day No Trash Challenge is looking for its next challengee. It's a pretty cool way to examine your habits, especially if you're just getting into raising your awareness about your impact on the environment.<br /><br />They say it better than I could, so from their website:<br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Various authors embark on a 30-day challenge to be trash-free and blog about it along the way. You can be next!</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">In the end, it's not just about a 30-day challenge. That's just the beginning. It's about learning how to be mindful of the waste you create on a day to day basis and using the 30 days to pick up new habits, incorporating those changes into your daily life & hopefully making an impact in the long run. How It Started: One day, on a whim, Miss Dayva decided it would be interesting to challenge herself to go sans trash for a month. And so her quest to be trash-free began. Anything that cannot be composted, recycled or reused in a meaningful way, is considered trash that would end up in a landfill and that's what she wanted to avoid. She has since completed her challenge and has now passed the buck. Ashley is the latest 30-day No Trash Challenge participant but we hope there will be more to come.</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">So if you think you're up for it, check out <a href="http://notrashchallenge.blogspot.com/">the blog</a>, drop Ashley a note and give it a try!</span>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-34106505595777807732008-07-21T10:41:00.000-07:002008-07-21T11:08:06.244-07:00don't hate me because I'm basil-fulI've fallen in love, all over again. Basil is my new passion.<br /><br />It started off innocently enough, with <a href="http://greensimplefrugal.blogspot.com/2008/06/on-menu.html">a simple pasta dish featuring goat cheese, grape tomatoes, zuchinni, and basil</a>. Things started to heat up when I whipped up this lovely <a href="http://greensimplefrugal.blogspot.com/2008/07/please-try-not-to-lick-plate.html">salad starring nectarines and basil</a>.<br /><br />This week, with the delivery of my CSA box, the fates seemed to be begging us not to let our love die, when I received another enormous bunch of the sweet smelling stuff. Tomato sandwiches, featuring just-picked tomatoes, local sourdough, a drizzle of olive oil, thick slices of mozzarella, and of course, basil, have been the featured item on the lunch menu for the past several days. The logical progression of our relationship led to some delectable bruschetta, featuring the same ingredients as the sandwiches, minus the mozarella, with a healthy dollop of garlic in its place.<br /><br />I was on a roll at this point, and found so many recipes online for pesto that I couldn't help whipping up a batch to throw in the freezer.<br /><br />I had some slightly sour blackberries from last week's farmer's market sitting in the fridge, and decided to introduce them to my new love...and with <a href="http://jennconspiracy.blogspot.com/2008/07/more-sorbet.html">a little inspiration</a>, was soon enjoying a delicious <a href="http://www.herbcompanion.com/cooking/The-Flavor-of-Flowers.aspx?page=3">blackberry basil sorbet</a>.<br /><br />It's been a whirlwind few days, and I've enjoyed every moment that I've been blessed to spend with my basil. There's still a healthy sized bunch sitting in a vase of water, making my kitchen smell heavenly. Like all good food things, however, I know the season of the basil won't last forever. But until the season is officially passed, I plan to enjoy every minute we have together. And when we must say goodbye, I'll probably shed a tear or two, but I know that fate wants us to be together, and I am sure our paths will cross again around this time next year.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-63097565096119685192008-07-20T15:41:00.000-07:002008-07-20T15:45:21.086-07:00the (almost) zero waste watermelonWatermelon is in season here, and it's one of my favorites. Next time you enjoy one, though, don't throw the rind away...use it to make preserves! They're delicious (probably because of all the sugar), it's one more way to cut down on food waste, and it wasn't too much work at all.<br /><br />The recipe is <a href="http://plantanswers.tamu.edu/recipes/watermelon.html">here</a> - the only advice I would give is that although the finished product is quite soft, the rinds were still rather crispy for me until I let it cool and sit for a while. Then, however, they were wonderful and delicious. And now the first batch is gone. Guess I'll just have to eat more watermelon.<br /><br />Enjoy!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-86843659986364732582008-07-18T17:28:00.001-07:002008-07-18T18:01:21.538-07:00today was a good dayDo you ever have one of those days where everything just kind of works out really nicely? I know we've all had the other kind, where nothing works out, but I think it's important to stop and appreciate the days we do have where everything just flows.<br /><br />I had some errands to run this morning, one of which included mailing a rather bulky, though not heavy box. I had some other errands to run afterwords that made walking out of the question, and I was a little nervous to try to balance this box and ride the bike, but I figured I'd give it a shot. So I did, and was so glad I didn't break down and drive, because it turns out I was able to finish all my errands in the strip mall where the post office is. So I decided to take advantage of the sudden free time and the fact that I was already out with the bike and go exploring.<br /><br />There's a very cute neighborhood about 3.5 miles away from us with an adorable Main Street feel to it, and I've been meaning to go spend some time down there for about a year now. So I hopped on the bike and started pedaling. I didn't get lost, and I managed to avoid the expressway (a scary mistake I'd made once before!). I arrived at my destination a little sweaty but otherwise doing fine.<br /><br />I immediately found an adorable little thrift store I'd never seen before. I popped in to see if ther was anything I needed. I found two wonderful books. The first, published in 1974, is titled "English Crewell Designs". I didn't really even know exactly what crewell was (it's a type of embroidery) until I opened the book, but I'd picked it up because the picture on the cover was so cool looking. I'm going to use this book for inspiration and guidance when I start designing my own patterns for hooked rugs. The other book I got is called "Homemade Bread" and is even older than the first, having been published in 1967 - but still in great condition. I was thinking I should buy it when I read on the inside flap "For everyone who is tired of 'instant living'", but I was convinced when I flipped open to a random page and found myself looking at a picture of the same Easter Egg Bread my mom used to make when I was little! There are a ton of other recipes in here, and I'm psyched that the book was written before bread machines were even invented! In total, I spent $1.62 on these two books!<br /><br />I puttered around a while longer, popping into an independently owned bookstore that I try to support, having a snack at a small, locally owned deli, and finally hopping back on the bike and heading back home. When I was just over a mile from home, I noticed a sign I hadn't seen before, reading "India Mart" and I decided to investigate. Apparently they've just opened within the past month, and the woman working there was super nice! She was obviously very proud of her shop and took me on a tour of the small aisles, explaining all the items they planned on stocking in the future. They had a good assortment of all the basics needed for Indian cooking. She told me she wanted this to be a community shop and to please ask her if there were things we wanted her to stock that we didn't see and she'd order them for us. I bought a few things that I didn't necessarily need but knew we'd use eventually and went on my way, feeling like I'd made a new friend. I'll definitely be shopping there again!<br /><br />Just when I thought it couldn't get any better today, I arrived home, and in my mailbox was sitting the copy of "New Recipes from Moosewood Restaurant" that I'd been waiting for several months to pop up on <a href="http://www.paperbackswap.com/">paperback swap</a> (if you haven't checked it out yet, I can't recommend it highly enough!).<br /><br />Now I'm off to make some sorbet and continue enjoying this wonderful day. By the way, don't forget to check out the APLS group on facebook if you haven't yet. There are some really wonderfully interesting discussions happening there, and we'd love to have you chime in!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-19720413155965261042008-07-17T00:55:00.000-07:002008-07-17T01:19:29.356-07:00a blanket, some music, a bottle of wine......and you've got yourself a great evening in the park! Where I live, there are TONS of free events in the summer time. Jazz on the Plazz, Concerts in the Park, Music in the Park, it's hard to keep them all straight! If I wanted to, I could attend at least two nights of free music every week (and yes, a lot of the parks around here let you bring wine, as long as you're responsible, whatever that means)!<br /><br />I've always enjoyed these events, and have been attending them since we moved here over a year ago. It's a great way to spend time with friends without spending money, and also to get outdoors and enjoy the summer. I love sneaking peeks at what's inside other people's picnic baskets, and chatting with friends, running into people we weren't expecting to see, meeting new friends, watching kids running around and playing. Oh yeah, and listening to the music, too. Sure beats sitting home watching TV! (Besides, we have one of those recorder things, so when the concerts happen to fall on the same night as "So You Think You Can Dance" I'm not forced to make those hard choices. Now you know my guilty TV love).<br /><br />This year, I've noticed a much, much larger crowd at these events each week than ever before. So many people that blankets literally overlap each other, leaving no space for people to pass in between. Is it the economy? Are people trying to find cheap entertainment? Or have the masses started realizing that the best things in life really are free?<br /><br />What's great is that it's totally not focused on spending money. Sure, people bring food and drinks that they've bought, but we were all going to eat dinner anyway. A lot of people bring food that was obviously cooked at home, and even among those eating take-out, there's not a lot of chain restaurant food to be found in the areas around the parks. Where the jazz concert is, they don't even allow vendors into the park.<br /><br />And I even get a chance to do my small bit of leading by example too. I make sure to bring my cloth napkins and my sigg, as well as non-disposable cups, silverware, etc. And this is California, after all, so of course they have giant recycling bins to collect the wine bottles and keep them out of the landfill.<br /><br />Sure, I could meet my friends for a movie, and we could spend $50 in the process, but in the end, we wouldn't have actually spent much time together. And when I look back a year, or two, or ten from now, I know the concerts in the park will be much more memorable.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-91333082328141562672008-07-15T22:59:00.000-07:002008-07-15T22:59:01.004-07:00the silence is deafeningJust an update on <a href="http://greensimplefrugal.blogspot.com/2008/06/coca-cola-tsk-tsk.html">the situation with Coca Cola in India</a> - after receiving a <a href="http://greensimplefrugal.blogspot.com/2008/07/and-answer-is.html">form letter response</a> to my letter to them, <a href="http://greensimplefrugal.blogspot.com/2008/07/heres-what-i-think-about-that.html">I wrote back</a>, as I didn't find their answers satisfactorily addressed my concerns.<br /><br />It's been almost two weeks now, and they haven't responded. Either a real person is taking the time to write an actual well thought out response and actually address the issue, or they're ignoring me.<br /><br />I have a guess which it is, but I certainly will be sure to post about it if I do receive a response.<br /><br />The good news is, I think I'm over my love affair with Diet Coke once and for all as a result of this!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-5935613406676553422008-07-15T13:55:00.000-07:002008-07-15T20:31:15.423-07:00Come hang out with the APLSCarrying on with the theme that building communities of all sorts is an important part of living a more sustainable lifestyle, Green Bean today introduced <a href="http://greenbeandreams.blogspot.com/2008/07/bushel-basket.html">the apple bushel</a>. APLS was an acronym created a few months ago over on <a href="http://arduousblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/arduous-zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.html">Arduous' blog</a> to describe those of us who live an (at least relatively) affluent lifestyle and strive for sustainability (APLS = Affluent People Living Sustainably). Hence, the apple bushel is a place for us to introduce ourselves and to meet some new APLS.<br /><br />As a continuation of the community building efforts, we've created an APLS group on facebook. It's an open group, so anybody can join. Come check it out! (And if you're not on facebook yet, it's probably time you got an account!)<br /><br />EDIT to apologize for messing up green bean's name...it's not the apple bushel, it's the bushel basket. I knew it sounded wrong as I was writing it and now that I've had a nap, my head is much clearer. Sorry bout that!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-70156885396470342782008-07-14T09:54:00.000-07:002008-07-14T11:11:28.496-07:00rock the voteI've been fairly busy lately, in part because I've been participating in a few events for the Obama campaign (despite the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/11/obama.netroots/index.html">controversy of the recent vote on FISA</a>). I'm not trying to sway anybody to vote one way or the other, but rather to explain how being involved in a campaign has been a very positive experience for me.<br /><br />Most of what I've been doing thus far has been registering voters. This isn't strictly campaigning, because we register anybody during these events, regardless of what their political leanings are. We usually have a little table of some sort set up, with the voter registration cards, and some buttons and bumper stickers for sale. This is done at places like free outdoor concerts in the park and at the farmers market. People stop by and chat while they browse and fill out voter registration cards. I've spoken to people of all different ages, and races, political afiliations, and nationalities.<br /><br />Perhaps one of my favorite conversations I've had while registering voters was with a five year old girl. She seemed pretty bright, and asked me about what I was doing. I explained the presidency and elections to her as best I could, and told her the names of the two candidates. I showed her a picture of Obama and had to apologize to her when she asked me to show her a picture of McCain. I could tell she was still confused about something though, and, making a sweeping gesture that encompassed the whole table I was sitting at, she asked, "But why are you doing all of this?"<br /><br />What a fair question, I thought. I explained that we really liked one person more than the other to be our next president, and that we just wanted to tell other people that and answer any questions they might have. But that's not really a reason, I thought. Why was I doing all of this?<br /><br />What inspires me to be involved now, at this moment, is that for the first time, I feel like I really care about an election in a positive way. In the past, I've only really wanted certain individuals to not be elected (and yes, I am referring most specifically to Bush here, especially since I'm too young to have done any presidential voting before him), and have never felt passionately that I cared whether any particular person take office. This time, it's different. I really want this man to be my next president.<br /><br />I'm sick of not caring, and sick of expecting the worst from our "leaders". I'm sick of being cynical and waiting for the other shoe to drop. I'm sick of the apathy, and of expecting to be disappointed. I'm sick of the intolerance, and the institutional condoning of intolerance. This is not what I expect from my political system or from my country. It's not what I was taught to expect growing up. I realize that utopia is not just over the horizon waiting for us to elect the right leader, but I also realize that as a nation, we have a lot more potential than an outsider might think to look at us right now.<br /><br />All this thinking about why I care now about the presidential elections in a way I never had before reminded me of a post by arduous, in which she stated "<a href="http://arduousblog.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html">We can't resign ourselves to doom AND also believe in a brighter tomorrow</a>" - I guess I'm not ready to resign myself to doom. Sure, this country is a big old mess in a lot of ways. I'm not so naive to believe that it's even just one big old mess. We've got lots of messes (Iraq, social security, health care, and of course, the environment, for starters). I don't feel a sense of doom about any of these things. I realized that what I've always felt in the past was a sense of fatigue with the status quo.<br /><br />I don't believe in magic "president fairies" that wave a wand and make everything alright. I actually am one of those cynical people who believe that a person's electability as president automatically makes him or her a less than ideal person for the job. I also, however, recognize the reality of the world in which I live, and realize that the system we have in place now is what we have to work with. I do believe also that change is possible. I know it's what I want, and I know it's what a lot of other Americans want too. Whatever candidate you support, and in whatever election, be it local, state, or federal, I believe that we need to start becoming more involved in our political processes. By doing so, we are actively helping to shape our future rather than passively waiting for it to happen to us.<br /><br />That, my little friend from the park, is why I am doing all of this.<br /><br />(And no more politics for a while, I promise!)Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-43875882452544031202008-07-13T19:39:00.000-07:002008-07-13T19:53:32.638-07:00please try not to lick the plateI was at a local farmer's market today to do some voter registration, and couldn't help picking up a few items. I had this thing about basil paired with either nectarines or blackberries stuck in my head. So I picked up a big bunch of fresh, local, organic basil and brought it home.<br /><br />I wish I could take credit for the rest of the inspiration, but I must give <a href="http://albioncooks.blogspot.com/2006/07/nectarine-and-basil-salad-with-goat.html">credit where it is due</a>. The name alone was enough for me to fall in love: nectarine and basil salad with goat cheese. I was lucky to have a goat cheese on hand already (although not the specific one mentioned in the original post, but it was local), and I didn't even know what <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosecco">Prosecco</a> was, so I asked my friend <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosecco">wikipedia</a> and decided I could make do with about a quarter teaspoon of white balsamic vinegar, which I did have on hand. The total prep time was under five minutes, and the only non-local ingredient was the balsamic vinegar.<br /><br />This isn't one of those salads that you eat when you're really hungry. It's one of those salads that you make because you want to enjoy the flavors of the season. It's also one of those salads you can make if your spouse's boss is coming for dinner and you want to serve something local, yet pretty and fancy and impressive.<br /><br />I'm not sure I've ever felt so happy eating local before. It was heavenly.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-32321683393928020072008-07-12T22:47:00.001-07:002008-07-12T22:55:10.277-07:00check it out...There's a cool site for all of you who enjoy reading the green sites...it's <a href="http://green.alltop.com/">Alltop</a> - it's like one big giant aggregator of a whole bunch of different green sites (and actually, they have lots of other topics too!).<br /><br />You'll probably see some of your old favorites there, and you may even stumble upon a new gem or two.<br /><br />Another great website to check out is <a href="http://www.walkscore.com/">WalkScore</a> - it'll give you a score on how "walkable" your current or potential neighborhood is - just enter the address and it'll give you a map with results of all the different things that are within walking distance. It's a great tool to scope out a new neighborhood if you're considering a move in the near future, and it's also a neat way to find some hidden gems if, like me, you're still relatively new to the area you live in. One more way to help reduce car use and energy consumption!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.com4