Farmers' Co-Op

I finally joined a local Farmer's Co-Op. I've been wanting to join for over a year, but didn't pull the trigger. I got an email last week offering $5 off the annual membership fee...it seemed like a sign. I'm really excited about it for several reasons.

1. The Goods

• Locally grown organic produce
• Eggs from happy chickens (until I get my own!)
• Honey, jams and more
• Locally raised, grass-fed meat
• Artisan breads and cheeses

2. All of the above delivered to a central location for pick up

3. "The Farmers' Pick"

• This is a pre-selected assortment of produce, based on current crops. It costs less than picking and choosing your own produce, but perhaps my favorite thing about it is that I don't pick. I'm excited about the prospect of a box of mystery fruits and veggies. I can't wait to see what I get and plan recipes accordingly. I think it will make all of us more adventurous in our eating. We've paid for the whole box, so I'll find ways to serve every healthy morsel!

The Farmers' Pick this week includes Lettuces, Florida Citrus, Swiss Chard, Sweet Potatoes, Snap Peas, Avocados, and Popcorn! I have three days to plan my menu before I pick up my box of goodies on Tuesday...Fun!

Happy New Year!

How are you resolving to be more "green?" Let's inspire each other!

The New Year 50 and Resolution

I got this great idea from my friend over at Valley Girl Has Baby, Goes Crunchy. The idea? Get rid of 50 things from your home between now and January first. Of course, try to keep them out of the landfill at the same time. Upcycle, recycle, donate. You'll start the year off right!


Who's with me?

I'm resolving to write one blog post a week. I really do miss the blog. Maybe I need to give it a new look to give me some motivation. What do you think?

A Vent

On Sunday, our air conditioning went out. It was horrible. It's just far too hot and humid right now to be without it. By the time it was fixed yesterday, it was nearly 90 degrees in our house. But that's not my vent. My complaint is with a/c repair dude.

Dude comes over, checks out the unit, and tells me the problem is that some sort of critter chewed the wires. He the proceeds to lecture me as I hold my near-two year old on one hip, carefully avoiding my enormous belly. The dog runs circles around us. Dude says,

"You know, you really need to have poison around the perimeter of your yard and in problem areas. In this case, it would have saved you $400."

Seriously, dude? We LIVE here. This is our YARD. Where our dog and kids will play. $400 saved at what cost?

I say, "I was just thinking I'd find something to encase and protect the wires. I'd rather not use poison."

Dude replies, "I guess that would work. But poison is very effective."

I couldn't believe it. Does he go from house to house with this recommendation? Do people listen? I plan to call the company today, now that I've cooled off, both physically and emotionally. Sure, I'm a bit crunchy, and I don't do poison. But this was an asinine suggestion to make to ANYONE, no?

Just Four Wheels in Our Driveway

I have to catch up on some of the changes we've made in the last few months, and this is a big one...we are officially a one-car household! One of our cars needed some repairs and, in the meantime, was just sitting in our driveway. We quickly realized that we could live with out it...we only needed one car. But which to sell? We had the fuel efficient small wagon (which i LOVED) and a bus of an SUV. Seems like an easy choice, but it wasn't. My husband is very tall, and we are about to have two in car seats. The wagon was too small. We put the seats in the SUV and found that it actually didn't have room for Daddy when the seat was behind him either. I'll never understand how auto makers can build cars that are so friggin' huge and have no room. I'm sorry we ever got that SUV.

The solution? Trade them both in for something that meets our every (almost) need. We now own a Ford Freestyle (now the Taurus X) crossover. Part wagon, part SUV, it's just the right size for us. Lots of room up front, and two captains chairs in the middle that slide forward and back. We love the console in between for separating squabbling siblings and corralling their stuff. The third row is pretty much full-size (so much better than the old SUV), and not only folds flat to disappear, but it also folds backwards, for things like tailgating and parade watching out the back! The third row also has LATCH for carseats, should we be so lucky to add to our family.

The downside? Not so fuel efficient. But now that we do more carpooling and bike riding, we feel we help that a bit. Maybe someday there will be an even better option for us.

A Surprise Use for Vinegar

By now we all know that vinegar is great for a plethora of things. I discovered a new use this weekend, and it surprised me a bit.

I have to start by sharing a funny story. The holiday weekend started with a birthday party for friends' little girl. Her dad loves to tease me about my green ways. He was talking about some of the work he'd done in his yard, including pest control, and said "Don't worry, Renee. It's all made of vinegar." :) I'm sure I talk about vinegar the way the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding talks about windex. It really is an amazing thing. So tease all you want, it's funny because it's true!

Anyhoo, today's use for vinegar? Taking the sting out of sunburn. Of course, you're better off not getting the burn in the first place, but if it happens, some vinegar in a spray bottle soothes!

Better Than Jell-O

Marlee is currently sick with croup, and doesn't seem to want to eat anything that's not cold and smooth. Jell-O seems like an obvious choice in times like these, but I was a bit put off by the ingredients list:

INGREDIENTS:
Sugar, gelatin, adipic acid (for tartness), contains less than 2% of natural and artificial flavor, disodium phosphate and sodium citrate (control acidity), fumaric acid (for tartness), yellow 6, red 40, BHA (preservative).


I decided to attempt my own version. Here is my ingredients list:

1 package kosher/vegan gelatin
3 cups Vruit brand juice
[Apple Juice, Orange Juice, Peach Juice, Carrot Juice, Cucumber Juice, Celery Juice, and Spinach Juice (Water, Juice Concentrates); Natural Flavors, Vitamin C, Beta Caroten]
1 cup water
frozen (or fresh) organic blueberries

Mix juice and water (I only did this to cut sugar content). Pour one cup juice in a large bowl and sprinkle gelatin on top. Let sit while you bring remaining juice to a boil. Pour the hot juice over the cold juice and gelatin and stir, about 3 minutes. Pour into a 13x9 pan and add blueberries. Chill until set, about 3 hours. Cut into squares or with cookie cutters.

Want a comparison?

Jell-O /My Version

Sugar 19g /12g
Protein 0 /1g
Potassium 0 /175mg
Vitamin A 0 /100%
Vitamin C 0 /100%
Iron 0 /2%
Calcium 0 /2%

Delicious!

(I'll post pictures tonight!)