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.