Reflect. Re-Evaluate. Reconsider.

            

            After spending this lovely Sunday with my family outdoors, in the woods, making a bonfire and drinking snow-melt tea I find myself in a reflective state (although when am I not?!).  Reflecting on how this lust for sustainable living has become quite suddenly tangible. How did the couple who used to drive to Ikea on a Sunday afternoon for something to do develop into the two that chopped wood, made a bonfire, boiled down snow for tea and sipped on it for hours all so the Mr. could bury a metal file in the coals to achieve the appropriate heat & consistency so he could then turn it into a camping knife?! I even write that in disbelief. Not only did it get me thinking about the development of our lives but also about the well renown 3 R’s we all grew up learning about. Listen as they so naturally roll off your tongue: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

            So, the majority of us recycle, right? It would feel weird if we didn’t. It has become such a part of our lives that we would feel guilty throwing a plastic bottle into the garbage. And we are all familiar with the feeling that comes from throwing a recyclable item in the garbage and then digging through the mess once we realize the atrocious move that was mistakenly made. Recycling makes each of us feel good; like we’re doing our part; like we’re saving the world. And it’s true, it most certainly helps (although there is some question about how loyal recycling companies are). BUT, what about those other two R’s? How did R number three jump to the front of the line making one and two nearly obsolete?

            If you ask me, Recycling belongs third. We should only be in the place to recycle after we have tried to Reduce and Reuse. Reducing the quantity and quality of what comes into the house is the first move. Do we need that extra item in the house just because it comes in a pretty bottle, or because we’re feeling extra bloated, wrinkly, or the house is in disarray that day? Think of how many things you’ve purchased and hardly use? Just stuff, clutter, money spent, and dust collected. One way to reduce is to repurpose things (ie. Vinegar is an excellent cleaner, coconut oil for sunscreen, oatmeal as an anti-itch remedy, etc.) Once you start thinking this way it’s amazing how many things double up.

            Once things do come into the house, we need to shift our thinking once again. When we’re done with an item how could we reuse it? Today I made a necklace and earring combo for one of the neighbour’s kids from a combination of old necklaces that still had great beads. It’s always fun to make some money on your (or your kids) nice but unworn clothes (& toys) by selling them at consignment stores or donating to someone who may need them.  Old files can apparently turn to camping knifes, old furniture can look brand new with the proper care/funky adjustments and old toys (from way back when you were little) are the ones my kid loves the most!

            Recycling is the safest R of them all. It involves little change; just adding a little blue bin to our household and adjusting to garbage separation. Media, industry, markets and consumerism don’t want us to think of the first two. If we all started reducing and reusing, ‘their’ pocketbooks would become much lighter. When you have kids, it is so easy to consume ( look at parent & tot trade shows) because just like every other important moment of our lives ‘they’ have turned it into a market industry. 

            Similarly to recycling becoming habit, we can Re-evaluate (the prerequisite R if you will) our lives and work the other R's in until they too, become the norm....Well, I'm off to sew my old teddy's armpit up as he's the new fav around here!

Let’s support each other in this by sharing links, ideas and encouragement:

Consignment Stores I shop at/give to:

Once Upon a Child: http://www.onceuponachild.com/

Zoe’s Attic (thrift): https://www.facebook.com/zoesattic

ReFind: http://refindclothing.blogspot.ca/

Mom & Me: http://oldsab.towntracer.com/mini_me_consigment_store_olds_ab

Reduce:

Simple Life Celebrations: https://www.facebook.com/simplelifecelebrations

Buy some chickens! They help with composting and deliver an abundance of eggs!

Reuse:

1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/creative-reuse-project-wants-your-ideas.html

Upcycling Ideas: http://toponlineengineeringdegree.com/?page_id=116

                                http://www.dwell.com/articles/Danny-Seos-Upcycling.html

Pinterest: pinterest.com- great ideas on here!

Not Fancy, Just Healthy.

            I'm astonished by how many people have commented on what I feed our baby lately. Hmm….breast milk and real food, ya know, the kind that you and I eat? (Well, as real as we try to eat anyway… a topic for another day). I’d like to preamble, by announcing that I make zero attempts in coming across snobby or that I have the only way to do things but merely to provide an alternative should it be of interest. I honestly thought that most mamas were aware of the simple solutions to baby food- but the recently provided puzzled looks and inquiry that presents itself when I whip an avocado out of my purse tells me differently.

            Raw fruit is a given; bananas, avocado, oranges, and so on. Not hard to prepare, carry or serve those (avocado even has it's own built in dish!).Veggies however, may seem a little more daunting and for meat lovers, even more so. I do see how it seems easiest to grab a jar of beef and peas (or whatever) in the grocery store. Dump it, heat it and spoon it in. An alternative approach is that your baby can eat what you eat. When you’re preparing your meal, just make a  little extra or a variation of what your eating. As example, tonight we had huevos rancheros wraps (gotta eat all these eggs somehow!)  and baby had tomato, a hard boiled egg and cooked spinach. It wasn’t any harder to add her meal to my cooking than it would have been to heat something in the microwave. All the same ingredients, same knives that cut, same pots on the stove. For lunch we both had toast, mango and cottage cheese and for breakfast a banana and puffed wheat. Puffed wheat, by the way, is my (and baby’s!) new found favorite- there are zero additives as opposed to other cereals.

            It may become tricky when you’re out because as I’ve found people (restaurants and friends) don’t always serve baby friendly food. Ordering for the baby in a restaurant has become my last resort as I like to avoid paying $2.00 for them to boil and egg or toast one slice of bread. Making your own portable baby food is as simple as pie. As you're cooking supper, just boil some of your kid’s favourite veggies (carrots, beets, spinach, beans, broccoli, etc). When you’re ready (it can wait until the cutie is in bed) drain the veggies and toss them in the food processor. The adult sized food processors are the best; I wouldn't want to do up a bunch of stuff in the tiny Baby Bullet although I’ve never tried it so I’d be open to reviews. If it needs extra liquid, I'm a big fan of using the water you boiled the veggies in to retain the nutrients. Once the veg. is ground to the desired texture pour the veggies into ice cube trays and set to freeze for 12 hours. After frozen, place the cubes into a freezer safe storage container and mark with the date. These delicious little portable cubes are good in the freezer for 8 weeks!  Take a second to think about it; doesn’t 8 weeks in the freezer seem like a more realistic shelf life for a fruit or vegetable than the 1-2 year expiration date on the baby food jar? (And I don’t even want to think about the meat).

 

            Although our family is not huge on meat, when we do eat it, we just chop up bite sized bits and put it on the high chair tray for the baby. Depending on their age, babies can have lamb, turkey, chicken (6-7m), pork, veal, beef, liver, salmon & other fish, bison (7-9 m), tofu, seafood, cold cuts, canned fish (12m +). If you’re cooking meat for your family, perhaps set aside an unseasoned cooked piece that you can keep in the fridge for your child for the next couple of days. For example, we had pulled lamb in the slow cooker the other day but before coating it in delicious sauces we saved some in a container in the fridge so it was good to add to the baby's meal or toss it in the diaper bag to go!

            There are a lot of recipes out there, and a lot of baby food cook books. These will be useful to some, but if you’re like me they are used for the once-in-a-while-feelin’-creative times. Baby food doesn’t have to be fancy, just healthy. Enjoy!  

Clucking Our Way to Sustainable Living

I think one part of this whole trying to live sustainably thing is jumping at opportunities as they arise. I've found it’s important to take it slow and remain mindful of each area of living. The slow pace helps us achieve and maintain the best results. Waiting (not too long of course) and remaining aware of new opportunities is a great way to turn our lifestyle into a more sustainable one.

A coworker of ours is moving closer to the city for work and had to give up her animals, to her dismay (she had more animals than Ol’ MacDonald!). “Getting rid of 20 hens you say? Sure we’ll take ‘em!” We had a few weeks before the girls were coming to nest with us, so we had time to talk and think about the best set up. Firstly, we talked to our next door neighbours. Living in intentional community is a big part of our lives, and has been for quite some time. Plus, what on earth would we do with 20 eggs/ day? They were in! This was beneficial on many levels- the sharing of eggs, of chores, of cost and not to mention of excitement!  After discussing whose backyard shed would be transformed (ours!) my husband and the father of the two little girls next door got to work. The final result- a chicken condo- one you would find on the penthouse level of a city high-rise. One with modern flair, wooden furniture and doweled roosts (no joke). Needless to say, they got to laying right after they arrived.

The sustainability tied up in this endeavor has been quite encouraging, as there were elements that I hadn’t even thought of.  We’ve been sharing eggs with neighbours free of charge. We’ve been able to compost for the first time since we moved to this bear-aware country side (not only do those girls love their scraps but this cuts down on the cost of grain). I’ve read that if their egg shells are ground small enough than this is great for their calcium intake (to form the shells) and we no longer need to buy ground oyster shell (talk about the circle of life!).  We’re already talking with the next door folk about what else we could share (garden, fruit trees, alpacas?!). It’s amazing!

It’s also been surprising how easy it is to care for these ladies, and how non-farmer you have to be. When we lived in Vancouver, city dwellers petitioned and were awarded the permission to keep a few layers in their backyard. It may not be conducive to apartment living, but don’t let that stop you! It is not out of the realm of possibility to share 5 hens in your friends’ or neighbour’s backyard. Look into your municipal bylaws, and honestly even if they don’t allow you, what’s the worst that can happen?!

My mother is probably shaking her head right now at how ‘full-circle’ this has become, but Mom you were right. You were sustainable before it was even on others’ radars – thank you & keep it up (you have a backyard in the city don’t you?!).

My husband and I have been singing the first part of this song for the last couple of days as the baby dances and wows at the chickens in her backyard…Enjoy!   

Awakening the Dreamer

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world when He could do something about it....but I'm afraid he might ask me the same question" - Anonymous

So, at the last minute I heard about this symposium called Awakening the Dreamer. And since they were so very baby friendly, the two of us (attached at the breast) decided to go. There were things I had already read about, and there were many things I had already seen. Some may think that if you’ve already been exposed to topics and have the drive to do the research yourself then a symposium on these topics (environmental sustainability, spiritual fulfillment and social justice) would be a waste of time. For me, however Awakening the Dreamer had me tap into something more profound. It brought to my consciousness what exactly I’ve been dreaming about.

In an exercise, the facilitator had asked us to lower our eyes and imagine what the sustainable world would look like….mine was abundant with voluptuous forests and vibrant greens; filled with sand, sun, rock and endless clear, fresh ocean where I could both swim and drink. Then the facilitator quietly advised us to notice the details of this place and what had disappeared from the ‘old world’ or the world as we know it today. Without skipping a beat my soul whispered to my brain “Concern. There is no more concern.”

I have to break here, from my imaginings, to reflect on what ‘concern’ encompasses. Concern for what’s in our food and on our food. Concern for where our food comes from. Concern for the ingredients in products (ie. cocamidoprophyl betaine- randomly selected from a bottle) that are far out of knowledgeable reach not to mention unpronounceable. Concern for the water I drink, wash my dishes & veggies in, and bathe my child in. Concern for the air we breathe. Concern for all these causing disease.  And if I wasn’t too afraid to find out more, the list wouldn’t end here.

How freeing it would be, I thought with my eyes closed lightly, if concern for survival vanished.  We were then asked to imagine sitting in a grassy meadow with the children of the future. Those children were asking us what it used to be like in the ‘old world’ and what we did (as a family) to fix it. As a list of ‘things I had done’ flooded through my mind, I grabbed my pencil and notepad that had weaved its way into a pile of toys.

1.Give up the comforts I grew up knowing as comforts and conveniences (the numerous unsustainable ones).

2.       Move to a rural setting.

3.       Live off the land, grow own food, live simply. Live by example.

4.       Meet with and live in community.

5.       Teach others about a new way of life in some capacity.

Revisiting the list later on in the symposium I realized that although I would like to do much (much!) more, I have already subconsciously begun living this list. Start small and grow, in all things.

I was encouraged by the like-minded folk and by the vastness of the global sustainability movement. When our world seems so discouraging don’t forget that the time has come when people are making a move. Also, be aware and proud of the mountains humankind have climbed, the boulders we’ve pushed out of our way, and the walls we have executed. As Desmond Tutu reminds us we, the people, have already executed such things as segregation, apartheid, and Nazism so we can move our world in a more natural, healthy, peaceful and satisfying direction. I encourage you to go to one of these symposiums or sit on a sustainability committee, join an organization or start talking about it with friends. The time is coming where these communities will join hands and become a massive population of change. The change we need to see and be.

Join and do these things even with baby. If the baby isn’t welcome, they're probably not working towards their goal in the right way. As a bonus your baby may even be used as tangible motivation for others. A motivation, that is, to improve things for future generations and to stop doing things only to satisfy the individual in the immediate.  

Check out more short videos posted on Sustainable Mama’s Facebook Page!

From D-day to V-day

We had the day off this February 14^th. But as days off go around here I had a morning meeting and we both scheduled 90 minute appointments at the dentist. As I was getting ready to head out the door, the dentist phoned to cancel (yeehaw!). I had a great meeting, came home, played a bit and had some lunch while the hubbie took a nap. In the afternoon we decided to go exploring. We returned some recycling, did some banking (ok so errand-exploring), decided to do some thrift store shopping and ended our trip with taking a scenic drive (how old are we again?!).  We ended up going to a place called Water Valley, where you feel like you just drove into the wild west  but in a very real, non-Disney way. We attempted to eat in this hip 4 corner town but not one (of the two) restaurants were open to minors. Not even a 10 month old minor. Chuckling along, we decided not to back track but rather make super at home. Arriving, after a peaceful day to a clean house, all was well and I had a scrumptious seed planted in my mind that would grow gracefully into our romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. This seed was planted right beside another: We will enjoy this as the wee one sleeps. Ya, right. I began cooking while hubby was looking after and feeding the babe. Not before a project popped up though. He and babe decided they would screw in the child proof door locks on the cabinets under the sink.  I continued around them. Phone rings. Skype rings. Phone rings again.  Door locks got installed and super-dad created a carrot-banana mash (who knew? She gobbled it right up!). Sticking to my perfect plan, as the red peppers roasted and garlic bread toasted I would whisk the wee one off for a night cap (aka breast milk in this house). As she drifted off with visions of sugar plums I would serve and we would sit down to relax. Uh huh. More like I tried to nurse her for twenty minutes and she was wide awake laughing, playing with my hair, my earrings, the buttons on my sweater and being very cute. So out we came for a little play in the exersaucer. As I tried to adjust my annoyance, it only escalated when I pulled the trays out of the oven to see parts of the peppers burnt and the garlic bread turned to croutons. As he saw my frustration, my husband came to my rescue. Immediately popping bread in the toaster and smothering the toast in garlic infused butter (not without popping the breaker a couple of times) we were both up in arms. As we reached across the counter, arms intersecting, a sense of calm woke me from my frustrated state. All we needed was one another, not the perfect dinner. We’re happy, we’re healthy, and we’d spent the day together as a family. Ideas need not come to fruition by the way I planned them but can be just as beautiful in taking their own shape.  And as my husband reminded me, the baby is a product of our love so it’s just as important that she’s there … I hope you all had a lovely V-day with your families whatever it looked like & no matter how hectic it may have been.

Wine, Candlelit Dinner & Exersaucer

Wino Art::Cork Board

Moving from a hip urban twenty-something to a country mama almost-thirty, I have found a FUNdamental practice in having a tasty nightly reward. Chocolate for some, ice cream for others, but this mama likes a nice glass of Merlot after a long days work. While babe rests her head (or fights her sleep), after the house is clean and laundry is in, I twist the cork (with a sore forearm from lifting a 23 pounder throughout the day) to withdrawl a pleasant adult-like aroma. As the burgundy liquid swishes into the glass of choice for the evening it whispers “good job mama” to my delight.

Some may think that this isn’t a kosher practice, especially when breastfeeding. According to the Quebec government (leave it to the French!) it takes 3 hours for the alcohol levels of one glass of wine, one beer or one highball (not one of each!!) to leave your blood stream completely. According to your baby’s schedule this may affect when you are able to have a drink, but not if you can enjoy one. I understand that some may prefer not to partake at all- and that’s ok! But now ya know this mamas choice.

Others may wonder how I’ve turned this practice sustainable. With ease mamas, with ease. Most, even rural, liquor stores have a selection of local wines. In Canada, most come from the Okanogan Valley (you may find some from Ontario, and other provinces but there is more selection and pleasure for your taste buds if you look at B.C. wines).  And if beer is your thing, I’d opt for Quebec, Nova Scotia or B.C. brews. Since the majority of Canadians live so close to the border, U.S. wines may very well be ‘local’ for you too. Beware however, I’ve noticed some of the wine products that appear to be local are a mix of local and imported wines….which is better than nothing, but if you’re gonna make the effort why not go all the way?? Plus, mixed wines generate a feeling of cheapness married to mass manufacturing... but that is just a best guess. You may even have the possibility of buying wine from a local vineyard or wine farmer at a nearby farmer’s market (a little more pricey but totally worth it!)

Oh and there is more friends….check out these nifty chalk boards I made for our family, and another as a neighborly gift (don’t be judgin’- it took a long while to save all these up!) If you’re interested in cork-art you could ask friends and family to save their corks for faster collection and maintenance of a wide variety.  The options are unlimited in reusing your corks….a knife holder, decorative frames, baseboards, pin-holders, floor-savers (on bottom of furniture legs), cork-bead curtain, place card holder, garden mulch, Christmas wreath/ornaments, potholder/hot pads, and the list goes on…. And as an added bonus for my fellow list makers- chalk board paint!!

Breastfeeding and Wine Drinking (p.295): http://www.inspq.qc.ca/tinytot/sections/TT2011_Feeding.pdf#page=21

Pour a Glass and Relax (for your sanity!):

www.huffingtonpost.com/debra-ollivier/moms-should-drink-wine_b_1107938.html

In the Habit of Homeschooling

As an incessant talker inside the walls of our home (as my quiet, trying-to-read husband would vouch), I’ve been thinking of how this will affect our wee one. Because I talk to her. I talk to her all day long, almost non-stop. I tell her where we’re about to go, what we’re about to do, I read her things I’m reading, we talk to the dog, we talk about the trees and the weather on our walks, we sing non-stop, and on and on it goes….  As I get sideways glances from time to time while we’re out, I second guess my talking to the baby in adult talk. Should I revert to goo-goos and gaa-gaas? Should I constantly be talking in a four-octave-higher-sing-songy voice? Or maybe the baby doesn’t even care/take any of it in. Perhaps I should defer until she’s able to respond and tell me how she’s feeling ("Not now Mama, enough!").

From time to time, I’ve been thinking of the affects this may have on her. Will we end up with a child who thinks that rambling on and on is how life is? Will I regret my approach when I can’t grasp thirty seconds of mama time from my to-be toddler? As we were baking Super Bowl Cook-Me-Nots yesterday afternoon, this thought came streaming in once again. She sat in her high chair beside the counter chewing on a spatula and I read her the recipes, talked about the ingredients, told her the measurements, stopped to show her the mixing process. We counted how many blobs we placed on the baking sheet as I let her fingers touch the texture of the gooey mess. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks- she’s learning! This incessant talking, this constant ramble, this mama’s voice that she hears all day is one that is teaching.  Babies are like sponges from the age of six months (if not earlier!) and that (the sponge stage) is when we start teaching them our cultural norms. I urge you to challenge that culture and start teaching as early as possible! Now that I’m looking at it in this light, our wee one is constantly learning through this adult talk (how to make a fire in our wood stove with Daddy, how the wind goes like waves through the trees, why we hang dry our diaper covers to not let the elastics dry out….). It is important to marry the talk with the time to learn with them. Don’t let our societal norms get in the way by telling you it’s someone else’s job. Rather have fun with your wee one, no matter the age difference between you, and get in the habit of homeschooling!

View some interesting links and an article on the Education Page.

Homemade Artisan Pizza

After a big day of blood tests, errands, a good walk, and skating on our pond I figured we needed a good hearty meal. It was too warm for soup (global warming is making itself very present in Alberta this winter), too complicated to make something complicated and the fridge was too bare to enjoy much fresh healthiness. In a pinch, I decided to make my default- Artisan Bread. Where households have been known to grab a box of KD, Sidekicks, PB&J or hot dogs as their 'fast-go-to-cure' a few years ago my friend Lydia and I (shout out fire sister) etched a master recipe in our minds that changed our lives forever.

Bring it to a pot luck, holiday dinners or make it for your family at home (a perfect marriage with a cream of veggie soup!). You’ll wow everyone. I’ve turned this recipe into baguettes, pizza, buns & loaves. Its versatility is so that you can make it with just about any flour; come to think of it I haven’t found a type of flour that hasn't worked. (Gluten free friends- I’m sure it would work with your flour too!) Over the last year I’ve lived in two small rural towns in different parts of this vast country and have been able to buy local flour. It is surprisingly accessible to support your farmers, all you gotta do is look at the location labelled on the bag and make the right choice. I digress. For this particular pizza I mixed Kamut, Barley, Unbleached and Rye flours to finish off some bags and it turned out great! Mamas, the hardest part about this recipe is a) planning ahead (2 hours for it to rise) and b) not telling everyone how simple it is when they’re amazed!

Artisan Bread

3 cups of luke warm water

1.5 Tbsp Yeast

1.5 Tbsp Sea Salt 

(I only use 1 Tbsp, as I find the extra too salty)

6.5 cups of flour

Preparation

Pour water in a large mixing bowl. Add yeast and salt. Mix well. Add the flour. Stir with a wooden spoon or bread hook on your mixer. Do not knead! Cover bowl with a towel and let it rise for two hours.

Baking

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (ovens may vary). Grease a baking sheet. Cut your ball of dough into 4 rounds approximately the size of grapefruits. Each ball is one loaf. Mould the doughy loaf to the desired shape, handling as little as possible. If you are making the artisan loaf or baguette use a serrated knife to make a few quarter inch slits along the top of the loaf. Sprinkle the top of the loaf with flour. Place in the oven on the top shelf, and place a pan of water (1cup) directly underneath on the bottom shelf. The water is imperative as it will help it crust. Bake for 30 minutes.

Storage

This bread dough stores extremely well in the fridge for up to two weeks and it’s been said that the closer you use it to the end of the two weeks the better it tastes. Wrap the dough loosely in plastic wrap or an alternative(cheesecloth, reusable bowl covers, snug but not tight biodegradable wax paper, etc.) and place it in the fridge.

Top it off with some whoopie pies from your local bakery and you’re laughing (not to mention, pleasantly full). 

Simple. Healthy. Sustainable. Yummy. 

The Episencial Experience

Having a sick kid is never fun for anyone involved. Especially when it’s your own kid. We recently lived this first hand when found ourselves driving our wee one to the hospital. Turned out it was nothing but a deep chest cold, but they did keep the babe in for observation. During this time names of major infectious diseases and bacterial infections were tossed around the room. Then there was talk of transferring her to a larger hospital. All of it was scary. It was scary and we were responsible.  I was aware of this responsibility before but man; oh man did it ever ring true that day. Having a lethargic infant who can’t communicate how they’re feeling or what they want is not only heartbreaking but stressful. I want to take time out here, as I did in the hospital that day, to think and pray for all the families who feel this strain day in and day out.  

We decided as a family (with the doctor) that we felt confident enough to take our wee one home and observe her from there, agreeing to drive to the next town if we saw her condition worsening. For all those who have experienced a similar situation (every parent!) you know the ‘am I making the right decision?!’ broken record well. I’m sure as our wee one grows from babe to toddler and from tween to teenager we will be singing right along as though we wrote the album ourselves. We couldn’t have been happier with our doctor, and now feel a little more secure in our decision making as parents (although I’m not sure we’ll ever be 100% fortified!).

While we were in the hospital I noticed that the tiny, dry, benign bumps that had been on our baby’s arms, legs and forehead for the last couple of months (ones the Dr. was never concerned about) seemed irritated. Although I brought this to the medical teams’ attention, they felt the spots were unrelated. Over the course of the next few days they exploded, expanded and looked pretty gnarly to be frank. I started researching the possibilities of what this could be in part ready to hop back in the car in a b-line for emergency (you can safely assume I was just a tad nerved up after sleepless nights and stressful days). With a big sigh of relief, the closest thing I could find in a few books was what sounded like a case of the rare breed of eczema called Nummular Eczema (tip of the day: did you know that there are 7 different types with varying symptoms?). These coin shaped lesions mainly on the limbs of the body can worsen by temperature changes, environmental irritants and stress (namely emotional). Knowing more now, I am amazed at how these tiny bumps became completely inflamed and spread during our stay at the hospital- a time where our wee one was in very obvious emotional distress. Although our baby could not speak, the reaction (as well as the wails) was indicative.

In our follow-up appointment I had brought along an organic, ‘free-from-the bad-stuff moisturizer’ that we have rarely used to ask if it would be alright to use on this condition. I think it’s a good rule of thumb to always start off with a natural product in a medical setting. The worse they’ll tell you is that they recommend something else. To my surprise the medical doctor looked at the ingredients and agreed on the moisturizer. In fact, he suggested we lather those spots with it. Why am I telling you this? Because it works like a charm! In three days of using this lotion 2-3 times/day the Nummular Eczema has improved a ton! Episencial Better Body Butter ($11 USD) is free from additives, parabens, hormones, preservatives, nut oils, gluten, SLS, Fragrances & petroleum (and more), and is made with a whole bunch of organic plant derived oils (so many!). This line was developed for babies and kids by Kim Walls, a mother and environmental activist. I have recently checked them out, and their website goes above and beyond my expectations. It provides tons of resources from baby skin care to breastfeeding to birthing choices to homeschooling, cloth diapering, & mother’s sanity only to name a few! When I first bought it I was just looking for a safe baby lotion…who knew that months later it would be shooing Nummular Eczema from my baby’s skin!

http://episencial.com/

Other Natural Tips to Treat Nummular Eczema

-Keep the air moist, as well as the skin (cool-mist humidifier and healthy moisturizer)

-Reduce baths to 2-3 times/week. Use only warm water, no soap or shampoo until it clears.

-An oatmeal bath can soothe the itch. Place 1c. of oatmeal in a cotton bag or nylon stocking, hang under faucet and rub on affected area.

-Mangoes, apricots, carrots, yams, spinach and blueberries are good sources of beta-carotenes, which are essential for healthy skin.

-There are many other nutritional, herbal, homeopathic and other natural therapies available. Each mama needs to research and decide which is best for their baby chicks. 

Diapering Bums & Slaying Dragons

What mama wouldn’t slay a dragon to protect their wee ones? The owners of AppleCheeks cloth diapering didn't bat an eye when they were confronted! These two vivacious Montreal mamas took to the streets of Toronto not taking no for an answer. Aired on CBC January 18^th, 2012 Amy Appleton Venu and Ilana Grostern didn’t have much convincing to do on the Dragon’s Den….nor should they.  “A cloth diapering system for modern moms” sold it. The girls had the grumpy ol’ Kevin O’Leary wowed, if only for a minute. They didn’t even have to show how happy all our kids are in them and likewise for the mamas using them (although two of their darlings did make a cameo)!

My first introduction to cloth diapers in this decade (far removed from those with the large pads & safety pins I grew up seeing) was by AppleCheeks Two- Size Washable Diapering System at Maman, Bebe et Café and well before I had a child of my own. I've tried a few brands of cloth diapers on my daughter and other babies, and I have not found any cloth diaper (or disposable for that matter) that compares. This is a envelope diaper cover, made from 'breathable, waterproof polyurethane laminated polyester (PUL), sewn to a butter soft microfleece inner layer'. They come in amazingly cute, bright colors with snaps. The snaps have been the biggest seller for me. I would never try a Velcro cloth diaper again, as they stick to things in the wash (yes even if I closed them in on themselves) collect fuzzies and hair, and wear way too fast to maintain the level of sustainability and quality I’d like to receive for the price. Plus they make them more pleasantly adjustable. AppleCheeks diapers are used with super soft bamboo inserts that clean like a charm. (And for convenient purposes- they also sell a variety of other inserts). The elastics should be good for the diapers to go through 3 kids and if not they are very easily replaceable (tutorials come with the diapers and are online). AppleCheeks also have many accessories to support the cloth diapering mama- including great reusable bamboo breast pads which are a personal favorite. They're made in Montreal, affordable to boot and if you happen to live in the Haut St- Laurent area there is $100 refund with proof of your cloth diaper receipt (check @ the CLSC).

Aside from the cuteness of the product the best thing about these AppleCheeks diapers are the faces behind the name. The support and confidence Ilana and Amy have given me in parenting and in cloth diapering is indispensable- and I have no doubt in my mind that they would do the same for you! 

applecheeks.com

H2Oil

Living in a peak oil culture some our generation is beginning to think of solutions. Without seeming too paranoid, I’ll suggest that as we look towards resolution and alternative renewable resources for the future we shouldn’t set aside and forget the precautions we need to take in the present day situation. In a recent move to Alberta, we have become more aware of the reality of the tar sands. As most of us nestle down in the southern-most parts of Canada, it is easy to forget about the far (and not even that far) north. Because we don’t see the physical reality of what is happening to what was the boreal forests, it is easy for our eyes to glaze over and our ears to not fully understand when we hear the news reports. I urge you to awaken to what is actually happening just hours north of our southern-Canadian nests. Tar sands sites are planting themselves beside the Athabasca River in Alberta. The pollution levels that go into the water and the surrounding land are astounding. A case study of the Aboriginal people of Fort Chipewyan (downstream from Fort McMurray), says it all. Rare forms of cancer; types that are only found in every 100, 000 people have been found in more multiple residents of this small town. Families have been plagued by various types of cancers and brain tumors. The images of the distorted, discolored, tumor-riddled fish from Lake Athabasca are a good testimony to something not being right. Of course the Canadian government attests to properly monitoring the pollution, and vows that the Athabasca River (and lake) remains unpolluted and safe. Private researchers have found otherwise. If you're still not convinced, it seems all too fishy (pun-intended) that the Alberta government laid charges and persistently threatened Dr. O’Conner’s practice in Fort Chipewyan on excuse of “raising un-due alarm” to the cancer rates.  Really?! Studies haven’t gone much past this town, but I’m sure the effects of the tar sands have. 

In this day we’ve gotta protect our own, mama hens. Because I live just hours away from this town and river (although thankfully upstream) our family has invested in our own water filtration system. The pollutants are seeping from the tar sands toxic pools into the earth. Our water at home comes from a well, and you guessed it, from the very same earth the tar sands are on. My very sweet and caring husband bought me the lovely gift of a Santevia water filtration system for Christmas (yes, ladies it appears the day of diamonds and jewels are over… I was so happy to open this. It was better than any blood diamond traveled here from Africa!). Although it did travel from Germany, the Santevia system not only filters out the bad (bacteria, parasites, germs, chlorine, herbicides, pesticides, pesticides metals, chemicals, detergents, lead, mercury etc.) but adds good (natural silica, higher oxygenation and added alkaline, infrared, ionized minerals (proper levels of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, sodium, potassium and zinc) etc).

I urge you to find out more about your water source and not necessarily trust the government officials who jot down in their reports that the quality seems just fine to them. It may be just fine, but wouldn’t it be great to know for sure? Our local community Public Health Centre tests residents’ water once a year free of charge and more frequently for $35 but it is up to the resident to take the initiative.

Filtration is not an overall solution but a healthy choice and protective choice for our family. I can’t believe we live in a world where I’m beginning to think I need to protect my drinking water…

To learn more:

Tipping Point: the age of the oil sands: 

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/natureofthings/video.html?ID=1769597772

H2Oil: http://h2oildoc.com/home/

When the Water Changed: How one family doctor is speaking out about the  tar sands industry: http://canadians.org/publications/CP/2011/summer/tar-sands.pdf

Santevia: http://www.santevia.com/

Sick baby. Sick daddy. Busy mommy.

Although I have felt quite rigid around putting much of anything pharmaceutical into mine and my husband's mouths over the last 5-10 years seeing our dear wee one with a mucousy, awful sounding cough today had me reconsider. For all you mamas out there, I'm sure you can relate. An immediate 'Give me anything to help this child out!' type reaction had me running to our vitamin shelf in the linen closet. I had a few homeopathic remedies for babies and for adults but few things to remedy her symptoms. Hmmm...it's a Sunday afternoon and I live in a rural town....I felt my options were limited. After putting her down for a nap and leaving my hubby in front of the tube I was pleasantly pleased to see that our local pharmacy was very well stalked with natural remedies, and uber surprised to find a pharmacist agreeing that homeopathic remedies are best for babies (with cold) under 1 year. As I've been told by a family friend who has practiced homeopathy for years, the homeopathic remedies in the pharmacy aren't nearly as good as they would be from a homeopathic doctor. It's true, the remedies at your local pharmacy do have many remedies mixed into each vile to cover a wide range of symptoms (fever, dry cough, mucous, pain, congestion). A private doctor would conversely study your child's case and nip the specific symptoms they are experiencing in the bud (clear mucous? kali bicromicum. Mastitis? Pulsatilla. Or something of that sort).  However, when your in the state of mind that you'll do anything to help your kid and their ailment on a Sunday afternoon in the country these general homeopathic remedies will do more than suffice. In fact they've been working really well. I bought Coryzalia Cold (no alcohol, sugar, coloring or preservatives) from Boiron and Cough and Cold Night-time formula (no side effects, dye-free and sugar-free) by Homeocan. Both are Canadian companies. I have yet to report on the latter (let me know if you're interested) but the former is a winner in a pinch! Wish us well!

Oh and if you're wondering how this mama has escaped this nasty cold the answer is all wrapped up in Elderberry drops from SURO (also Canadian)....amazing, natural and helps you fight a cold like NO other! And slippers...can't forget the slippers. Looking for a good pair? www.padraigcottage.com

Bio Vert

All mamas and friends of mamas need a good- no, great- stain remover. Ya ya, Tide to Go was all the rage when it first came out and it does work. But there is more plastic on the tube than the actual Tide product inside. In thinking along the same (streaky baby food) lines, fast-forward to a way more sustainable product. Bio-vert laundry detergent is THE absolute best thing I’ve tried. Although I had used it pre-baby every now and then, it was recommended to me when I bought our cloth diapers (residue-free, scent-free, softener-free, glycerin-free detergent). It is the best product I have tried out of a number of green, phosphate-free, biodegradable products. After months of using it, it is my very own mama who pointed out that it is also an excellent stain remover. Just dab the spot(s) with detergent prior to loading your washer with all other clothes. Rub it in and let it sit while you load the clothes. I find this long enough, although longer wouldn’t hurt (but who has that kind of time?!). Throw the spotted item(s) in with the rest of the wash and it comes off like magic! You can purchase this at most Health Food Stores, refill your bottle at some, and even some branches of Pharmaprix/Shoppers Drugmart are carrying it. For those who do like scent, Biovert also make a Morning Dew version. Little effort, big results, healthy for us, healthy for our planet- gotta love it. 

Ask Ask Ask....

So as I was watching T.V. the other night with the hubby we happened upon the Sundance Channel that is being previewed for the month of January. Not only do they air some good thought-provoking shows and movies but things make it on that typically wouldn't be on mainstream tele (which is mostly so repulsive these days that I barely watch anything any more). This channel even plays short films during the commercial break and this particular night they were airing the Green Porno series. Firstly, hilarious. Secondly,informative. Thirdly, these shorts triggered something within  that was bubbling up inside me in the last weeks anyway: if you're curious ask. Don't just wonder or take someone else's word for it. Don't become glazed over at the splendors of live (talking to myself here as much as any reader). If someone tells you something, ask more about it. Ask about food- where does it come from, how did it get to your house and on your plate? Ask about products- don't believe what the celebrity says about the soap s/he's advertising, they didn't make it, what do those ingredients actually do. Does the biodegradable diaper bio-degrade? Ask ask ask. There are endless things you could ask. It has become so overwhelming that people(myself included of course) have decided to stop asking, and some have even forgotten how. So please mamas, ask. Oh, and check out the Green Porno by Isabella Rossellini while your at it!

P.S. As I seek and ask I will post findings that work well for our family in the appropriate pages listed across the top of blog. Please share what you find too. Sharing is caring!

Trusting the words of Thoreau

Sometimes when we make decisions, we get more than we think we bargained for. Supporting local farmers-you betcha. Buying healthy food- been doin' it for years. Cutting out random stuff I shouldn't be eating any way and just eat when I'm anxious about something- uh sure; it's gross in looks, habit and how good can it be if it's been travelling half way around the world to get here? Saving energy- feels great. Researching and finding new household products- fun! (It was super awesome grocery shopping yesterday by the way- plus I spent about half as much by loading up on healthy/organic/local products. Did you read that properly: almost half as much just by shopping consciously and creatively!)

It's the talking and teaching other people about sustainable living that seems a little less than comfortable. I do much better leading by example than I do getting up and preaching people into a revolutionary state.

A couple of months ago I had become interested in Milk Paint. Everything about it seemed right. No VOC's, great bright colours, easy to work with, environmentally friendly, has a great history and you can even by it from a Canadian manufacturer/retailers (see Household). I redid our wee one's dresser in Sea Foam Green and was very impressed by the application and country/shabby chic look. I then started talking about it....and couldn't stop. At home, on the phone, at work. Yes, at work. We're currently doing a series of weekend retreat workshops at work and I (in all of my excitement about Milk Paint) suggested a weekend retreat in learning to work with it. Once I realized what I had done I called high and low (or from Edmonton to Toronto) attempting to hire an instructor to run the 'Working with Milk Paint' weekend. I had such positive responses- but not in the way I was hoping to. "No, I don't know anyone to do it but that's awesome why don't you run it?!" "No sorry we don't teach that but if you ever decide to run it please call us back- we'd be very interested in hosting it here too!" Even the guy from Toronto called back leaving a message so long that the machine cut him off "I'm always excited to talk to people who are interested in using Milk Paint- call me back and we'll chat some more."  Really?

Sometimes we can't avoid things that make us uncomfortable but I still tried. I found someone (two people actually) who would work with latex and other poisonous materials, that achieve beautiful results. I reserved them and got excited about learning their techniques. I printed labels and covered the Milk Paint Weekend promotional material. In the midst of this excitement though something didn't sit right and the saying "you can put lipstick on a pig..." kept running through my head (but not in it's assumed meaning). It is now just a couple of days before the workshop and people are just not interested in my label-covered advertisement. At the 11th hour, in my devotion to making sustainable choices (at the expense of both my comfort and embarrassment) I have decided to run the "Working with Milk Paint Workshop" myself with 5-6 participants.

"We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal and then leap in the dark to our success." -Henry Thoreau

sus·tain·able

1: capable of being sustained      

2 a : of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the        resource is not depleted or permanently damaged <sustainable techniques> <sustainable agriculture>

b : of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods <sustainable society

What is it exactly that I'm attempting to do? To make sustainable choices in all we do as a family. Decision by decision, purchase by purchase, moment by moment, day by day. It is a bit daunting to think about changing our ways or our lives in one day (like a diet or an exercise regime), which is why I will take this challenge on decision by decision. Always asking myself what is the sustainable option?  in what we do, buy and how we act. The biggest thing to wrap my mind around on Day 3 is the task of remaining mindful when it comes time to make a decision. Some things have become such habit and aren't things I even think about doing. At the same time, I think it is important not be too hard on myself. When we're too hard on ourselves, we end up aborting the idea (again diet, exercise regime!). I'll approach this authentically and honestly. We're headed to the grocery store today. Here we go...

First things first...

Welcome! As I embark on the adventure of becoming a more sustainable person (and some of my friends & family are probably thinking more sustainable, seriously?) I'm having trouble sorting out how to make the transition. You see for the last 10 years or so I have gradually become more aware (and still am) of green options, ethical options, sustainable options, responsible options...  I have made good choices but not always at the expense of my convenience. Yes, it's true. Even though I talk a good talk and walk it a good portion of the time, I would not hesitate to grab a Tim Horton's Breakfast Sandwich (Tim Matin) or even McDonalds when on a road trip (even if it was just a day trip into the city...). So bearing this attitude in mind (I'm healthy and ethical when it's convenient, at my finger tips or on a weekly stop at the local farmer's market) I have a household that is pretty mumble jumbled. My 'green' glass cleaner (which is not very green if you read the ingredients) is in the same cloth basket as Dr. Bronner's peppermint, a vinegar mixture in a BPA biodegradable bottle and Lysol toilet cleaner that I randomly bought totally out of character at Walmart (on sale!). I cloth diaper most of the time, except at night and on long trips. I started off using only reusable breast pads and wipes but have gradually adapted to full time disposables (which sit next to the stagnant reusables on the change table shelf). I think this change was mostly because the bathroom in our new house is way further (down the hall!) from the change table than it was in our last home. Anything that goes down the drain in this house (with the exception of the aforementioned toilet cleaner!) is biodegradable. We're pretty good on food but if I need an ingredient and our local store doesn't have it in organic or from a local farmer I'll for sure buy it from Mexico, Brazil, China, the Congo....where ever. As long as it works. I have taken to leaving out ingredients or replacing them with others in the last few years which works very well, but every now and then I default to my "grab it and run" mind-set. Catch my drift?
I'm not sure weather to discard the unsustainable items I have, give them to the neighbour (which is encouraging poor practices) or use them and just buy new ingredients/products once they're threw. I'm thinking I'll go for the later....either way they'll be disposed of. Thoughts?