A Simple Plot

well, that was quite a break from blogging, and if you think I was just goofing off let me tell you I really truly wasn’t. Things got in the way, mostly work, and though I was tempted many times to talk about things that might be of interest these thoughts never made it to the virtual paper. Procrastination I guess, combined with a need to just step back for a while.

But first I have to tell you that I am thrilled/amazed/blown away by the fact that some of you actually missed my posts! If that is not encouragement I don’t know what is So my sencere thanks to you for giving me that extra push that I apparently needed.

Many things have happened, and focussing on the positive, one of the first things that comes to mind is the Clean Energy bill that passed the House of Representatives just a few days ago, sadly with not as much support as one could wish for and not nearly enough for what we would need, but maybe we have to count our blessings that it even made it this far. The combination of industry and money is such a powerful force that what happens to the environment seems inconsequential. And we must not forget the coal plants that are still spewing dirt and poisons into the air. There is still a lot to be corrected.

On the other hand people are getting together to take up the slack where governments fail.  Ocean Grove is a small and fabulously pictureque town on the New Jersey shore, just south of Asbury Park (yep, that is the place where Bruce Springstein with the E Street Band played at the Stone Pony  - I had to throw that in just because ;)  where cars used to be banned on Sundays. Ocean Grove bills itself as ‘God’s square mile at the Jersey shore’ and the no-car rule was until a few years ago enforced for purely religious reasons. Now there are towns springing up, I read about one of them recently in Germany, where people ban motorized vehicles from the streets. You want to live there you better know you have to park on the outskirts.  Isn’t that a great idea though, cleaner air, no traffic noise, a safe place for kids to play, it is something one could get used to.

JG supplied the picture of one of the yellow daisies that will take over the world if I don’t get out there soon

April 22nd has always been  a special occasion in our family, a celebration way before we even knew there was an  ‘Earth Day’. You see, April 22nd is also my brother’s birthday - so bear with me when I shout - HAVE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY, and many more, brother dear! He is still my baby brother and I love him dearly, even though his beard these days is more white than brown, and his hair, well, as they say, god gives and god taketh away

Which brings me to this day when we supposedly stop to think about our earth and how we take care of it.  Maybe therein lies the problem - one day out of the year? If we want to see any measure of progress we have to be aware not once a year but every single day in how we live our lives, in the actions we take as individuals and as a group.

A year ago things looked quite dire and the temptation to give in to desperation was huge. Now? I have a strong feeling that things are beginning to head in a very different direction. The new administration is moving right along proposing changes that are good for the environment and even attempting to undo what the previous administration so casually and callously implemented.

And still - if I only look at the reports within the past month or so - scary stuff.

;( Promises by the biotechnology industry that its genetically engineered crops will produce higher yields turns out to be not quite factual. The increase in yield is negligible, the use of pesticide and fertilizer however quite large.

;( Reports claiming that U.S. manufacturers, including major drug companies, have released at least 271 million pounds (!) of pharmaceuticals into waterways that provide drinking water. Quite legally it seems.

;( A story about legal issues related to the pesticide ICON manufactored by  Bayer CropScience. It appears that when rice farmers used ICON to control rice weevils the pesticide also sterilized crawfish which were raised in the same fields as the rice. Splitting hairs whether this unfortunate event is caused by negligence or callousness, the end result is still the spoiling of the environment, countless people losing their livelihood, and it will take years and years to eliminate the results of these poisons.

Scary, isn’t it! The motive? None other than greed.

But, there is also positive news.

-) ‘The US government is to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, having decided that it and five other greenhouse gases may endanger human health and well-being.’ This is quite a switch from the Bush administration which ruled that California for instance could not set targets for vehicle efficiency.

-) The administration has a ‘Vision of High-Speed Rail in America‘ that would link communities across the U.S.

-) Under pressure from shareholders McDonald’s will opt for less pesticides in potatoes used in their kitchens.

-) Good news also on my side of the ocean - Germany barred genetically modified corn even though it is allowed (encouraged?) by the European Union, and of course by the chemical companies that manufacture it.

So on this Earth Day of 2009 I hope that we all come to realize that if we do not take responsibility for our actions in our daily lives, put pressure on our government, on various companies that put profit over environment, on anyone who can make a difference, we may not have much to pass on to our children and their children. As I look out my window the sun is shining, the apple trees are in full bloom, birds are singing, what a treasure we have. Let us treat our earth with the care it deserves, and give the generations that follow a chance to enjoy a healthy environment where the water runs clear and the air smells of flowers.

Some truly innovative ideas are born out of necessity, in this case however they come from a contest for green ideas. First prize went to the Kyoto Box, a solar cooker made from two cardboard boxes lined with reflective foil and black paint that can reach temperature of at least 80°C.

Not only is this solar cooker easily made, it eliminates the need for cutting and gathering wood in many places on earth where trees are a rarity. Take the time to read the article. It is fascinating.

Spring is just around the corner, or so they want us to believe because you sure could fool me if I look at the rain and listen to the wind howling; but as the weather turns warmer comes the desire to let in lots of fresh air, and to get rid of the accumulation of wintry grime around the house. It is the time when we want to have clean windows so we can admire the flowers or look at the birds, give the bathroom a good scrubbing, clean the kitchen cabinets, the oven - you get the idea, right?  Except the work itself is drudgery, it is not something I look forward to and in the past I was forever looking for new products to try. However …

now is a time to think green once more. We are careful how we shop, what we eat, doesn’t it make sense to also keep to the same standards when cleaning? And just in time I discovered this article that not only ensures that no poisons get introduced into the home, but shows how we can actually make cleaning products quite easily and a lot cheaper. The ingredients are easily available, you probably don’t even have to run to the store for many of the recipes. Great stuff, try it out!

With the days getting a little bit warmer and fewer reminders of winter out there, my mind has been going round and round about what to plant this spring in my vegetable garden. Apparently this condition is not unique to me. It seems also the case in Washington. I just found out that the First Lady, Michelle Obama, is also planning a vegetable garden on the south lawn of the White House where she intends to grow healthy, organically grown foods. Sure sounds to me like the petitions many of us signed had an effect.

as I opened the window this morning it was evident that spring is not far in coming. There is a sweetness in the air, the birds have dug out their songbook with chipper tunes, and when I go outside spring flowers have pushed up through the earth seemingly overnight.

A lovely time of year, this early ‘not quite there yet’ time between winter and true spring where anything is still possible; there might be snow tomorrow, but today, ah today, the first bee is busy flying from one crocus to the next, the sun is warm on my face, and my legs carry me to the still dormant vegetable garden. My blood starts to hum - soon, soon . . .

Do you know the story of the newly married wife who goes to buy a leg of lamb? “And cut off the shank end of it please” she asks the butcher. He does what she wants done and the wife proceeds to make a delicious roast. When her mother sees that the roast is in two pieces in the roasting pan she asks her daughter why. “Because you always did it this way” the daughter replied. The mother burst out laughing, sputtering “only because my pan was too short”.

A cute story which does raise one point though: how often do we do things without ever questioning the ‘why’ of it? JG pointed me to a story that deals with exactly that issue and how best to cook pasta. This method needs a little bit more attention while things are cooking but it does save energy. Well worth a read, and something I will definitely try next time it’s spaghetti day at our house.

If you happen to live in Sarasota, Atlanta, Nashville, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix or Dallas - or any place in between, you might want to keep your eyes open for a blue Mercedes station wagon with plenty of advertisement stickers on it. And if you see it - give a big wave and a holler!

The driver will be Colin Coon, 18 years old, who had the guts, the know-how and organizational skills to convert a diesel engine to run on used oil which will be donated by various restaurants along the way. Colin  plans to be on the road Feb. 28 through April 18. Why does Colin do it? To show the power of alternative energy. Now tell me that young people have nothing but parties on their mind!

After years of mothers telling their kids to eat their veggies there are finally studies that back us up. Hallelujah I say!

Scientists at UC Santa Barbara laboratories have discovered that vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are influential in healing at a cellular level and are especially good for women as they might actually prevent certain kinds of cancer.

If you live in a part of the world that struggles through winter this time of year as I do, and if you want to eat what is grown in your area, cabbage type vegetables and potatoes are pretty much at the top of the list. And now we find out what mothers seem to have know all along, that these vegetables are especially beneficial. A very good reason to eat local.

I have never quite figured out why cabbage type veggies elicit such a high yuck factor with quite a number of people. They are tasty and do not smell up the kitchen unless you overcook them until they lose their texture. Steamed or stir fried broccoli or cabbage, cooked only long enough until they turn a bright green, taste excellent. Guess what’s for dinner ?

Just as I was getting ready to give up hope that anything positive would ever again come out of the news reports, along comes a story that goes a long way in restoring my faith in humanity. Lately it seem the news is mostly depressing. If it isn’t about factories that must close their doors, or people getting laid off, or the high rate of foreclosures, it is about crooks that line their pockets with money that is not their own. So it is truly uplifting to see that there are some good people out there who do care for others. Here is an amazing story that might just give us hope again.