Blogging As Energy Efficient Education

In the old days of teaching, a teacher gave an assignment, the student did it, brought it back and turned it in (no posting on line) and the teacher read it, graded it and gave it back. The End. The focus was on the teacher - what the teacher wanted, what the teacher thought important - and in the end the only person besides the student who read it was the teacher. Grade given. Education bestowed. Is this an energy efficient way to do education? I posit that if a student is going to go to all the trouble to do the work, shouldn't more benefit? Shouldn't there be a ripple effect? Shouldn't we make use of each individual's energy in more efficient and far reaching ways? The new code in education has arrived.

I am loving the freedoms and openness that the Internet and online learning has brought to education. This blog is a case in point. Students decided what they wanted to blog about given that they were taking a course on Ecological Citizenship. They engaged in deciding the statement they wanted to put on the blog site; they set up the schedule and outlined for themselves what they wanted the blog to consist of. Me, the teacher, had only to invite the learning, allow it to be a major part of the course this semester, and participate with the students in exploring the topics they agreed to examine and experiment with in their lives. I got to join them in the exploration. I was mindful that if I witnessed that they weren't putting the effort into their work, it was my job to remind them and find out what the barriers were to doing more engaged learning. In the process hopefully coming up with new strategies to help.

In this way education becomes a very transparent process. Not only am I, the teacher, allowing a different kind of learning to emerge, I am also learning myself. I was excited week after week by the quality of the blog stories that outlined the experiments with their lifestyle changes. I posted mine which paled in comparison. And the public got to witness them as well - as they were posted to facebook and list serve groups. So different than one teacher reading a student's work and one teacher determining whether this student was showing growth and learning. Energy wasted. In this process on the other hand, many got educated as well the professor and the students amongst themselves. They were teachers to each other. I don't know about you, but this sounds alot more fun and certainly more educational.

At every level of education, we need to make our learning real and relevant to making our world a better place to live for all. Blogging is such a great educational opportunity. And in keeping with our Ecological Citizenship course, I believe it was quite energy efficient. YES!

Ch-Ch-Changes

I believe that many people would make the kinds of changes reflected in this blog, if these changes were perceived to be easier.  Truthfully, the changes are difficult to make on the surface because of competing priorities, like family, school, work, and the demands of maintaining all of the things we have - and we have many things.  While these changes require the commitment of time and effort upfront, they become manageable habits, which pay off in the long run.

Even with commitment to change, the people in one’s inner circle, especially in one’s household, can significantly influence the success of such endeavors.  I am fortunate, because my wife Joselle is in full support of my efforts to consume less, buy local, eliminate potentially harmful chemicals from our home, and lessen the overall impact of our lives on the planet.  Therefore, my blog entries inevitably include the perspective of we rather than the perspective of only me.

Bulk Shopping

Bulk shopping was the first change made in our home.  I selected this as a priority because I subscribe to the notion I learned from Bea Johnson of the Zero Waste Home that controlling what you bring into your home is the best way to reduce the waste you produce.  In other words, packaging equals waste.  No packaging results in a significant reduction in waste.  I discovered a wonderful bulk market, which served not only to reduce the amount of waste we produce but also became a resource for me.  The market provided a nice door prize for the neighborhood Earth Day Event that I organized, and my contact person at the market is becoming a wonderful new friend.  You never know what unexpected side benefits new choices will produce.

Organic cotton sacks for packaging flour, sugar, nuts, etc. in bulk store

As it turns out, bulk shopping was harder than my wife and I expected.  After a long, hard day of school and work, Joselle did not always feel like making an extra stop on the way home, and certain items were simply more affordable elsewhere.  So, while we made a bold declaration to shop exclusively at the bulk store, this has not always worked out for us.  However, we are shopping regularly at the bulk store, and we certainly produce far less than a bag of waste each week for two adults, one large dog, and one cat.  Further, we have been consuming the canned and packaged items in our pantry without replacing them.  We are creating room for our new system, which will include using organic cotton sacks for bulk shopping and glass jars for storage.  Our pantry makeover is not complete, but it is well on its way!

Glass jars, which come in a variety of sizes, for storing items in pantry

Farmer’s Market

Next I decided to focus on buying local, so we visited our farmers market.  We have been able to find great sources for local eggs, bread, honey, and soap, as well as some local produce like sweet potatoes and apples.  However, we have not always been successful at finding organic products, which are important to us.  Sometimes small farmers do not go through the rather expensive and time consuming certification process, which is fine with us.  We are willing to trust the word of the farmer about how food is grown on his/her farm.  The challenge for us has been the abundance of produce importers at the local market, who did not grow the food.  I am not comfortable in their ability to vouch for its quality, and I am concerned importers might tell me what I want to hear rather than the truth.  The result is that we purchase less produce at the farmers market than we otherwise might if we had better access to the growers.  We continue to subscribe to a local home delivery service for about half of our organic produce, and purchase the rest between the farmers market, bulk store, and regular grocery.

An unexpected benefit of the farmers market is that I have developed a relationship with Simon, the man who makes the goats milk soap, which is my favorite find thus far.  Simon donated door prizes for my Earth Day project, which helped raise awareness among my neighbors about great local products available through the farmers market.  Additionally, Joselle and I have begun giving the soap as gifts to friends and family.  In fact, we are beginning to get requests for more.

Homemade Ice Cream

Since I am not much of a consumer, my focus remained on food, which is something everyone must acquire.    My food vice is ice cream, and I was not successful in finding a local ice creamery.  I do not plan to give up ice cream anytime soon, so I decided to make my own.  I chose to make ice cream by hand rather than using a machine to decrease my consumption (it’s hard work), save electricity, and perhaps even burn a few calories in the process.

Since my initial ice cream experiment, we have not made any more ice cream.  (I am on a diet, which has resulted in limited ice cream consumption.)  My wife did buy ice cream from the grocery for dessert when her brother was in town.  I did not object.  I anticipate that we will make our own ice cream by hand for special occasions, because this allows us more control over what is in our food, discourages over-consumption, and is fun.  We will continue to by-pass ice cream in the store during our regular shopping excursions...most of the time!

Household Cleaners

Turning my attention to reducing the use of chemicals in our home, I decided to address the chemicals we use in the cleaning process.  As it turns out, we do not regularly use many chemicals, even the “environmentally-friendly” ones we own.  Upon closer examination of the ingredient lists (as well as the realization that not all ingredients are disclosed), I echo my classmate Liz's resolution to replace my cleaners with “homemade, food-grade solutions” whenever possible.  We are going to try soapnuts instead of laundry detergent, and we continue to use the room spray that I made, which smells great and has lasted quite a while.  However, our greatest impact might be on others.  We recently hired a housekeeper at Joselle’s insistence.  (I have mixed feelings about it.)  During the past several weeks, Kathy has become so accustomed to our way of cleaning that she told us she is going to recommend it to all of her clients!

Toiletries

My next area of focus was something even closer to me - my own skin.  Completing a very thorough assessment of my carefully selected hygiene products, I was surprised by all that I do not know about what I am applying to and absorbing through my skin.  Though I already make some of my own toiletries, my intention was to replace a few others with new homemade concoctions.  I found a few recipes and purchased the ingredients, then life got in the way.  As a result, I have not yet tried my new recipes.  The one I am most excited about is a recipe for hair spray, because I am most concerned about breathing the particulates that fill my bathroom when I use hairspray.  The recipe I will try is below:

1 lemon

2 cups water

1 oz. rubbing alcohol

Basically, you boil and strain lemon wedges, cool, add rubbing alcohol, and spritz.  Below is a video demonstration:

If this one does not work, I have seen another recipe for sugar water, which is reported to work well.  I will follow up on the blog with my results.

Lawn Maintenance

Lastly, I felt it was important for me to find a non-toxic way of treating weeds in my yard.  We intend to plant a garden next year, and I want to keep the soil as pure as possible.  My treatment of weeds with white vinegar has been labor and time intensive, but well worth the work in my opinion.  However, I am discouraged by the pervasive use of chemicals I witnessed on a windy day adjacent to my yard.  The way I treat my yard will not change, but my plans for a garden might change unless I feel confident that my immediate neighbors are not contaminating my yard with toxins.

Final Thoughts

This project has been satisfying in many ways.  Since we are acculturated to believe that we need goods sold in stores, resisting the homogenization of American life is quite freeing.  Further, I feel like an advocate for my own health and well-being every time I refuse chemically laden products.  I also love supporting local businesses, because I am investing in the local economy and in the dreams of small business people.  Finally, finding ways to tread more lightly upon the Earth is always important to me.

Like many others, I have consciously been working to live in a more sustainable way for years.  However, I have come to realize that sustainable living is not a destination, to which we will ever fully arrive.  Everything we do has an impact, and there will always be opportunities to improve.  The truth is that the more we improve, the harder it is to identify new opportunities.  One of the greatest impacts we might have is to share with each other.  KP’s use of the Diva Cup prompted many others to give it a try, as did my coffee and honey facial scrub.  Liz’s mantra about “homemade, food-grade solutions” resonated with me and many others, and one of Kris’s entries even got comments from a woman who found our blog accidentally.  My wife and I have decided we must try Karyn’s homemade veggie burger recipe, Coleen’s preferred kitty litter (Cedarific), Nancy’s shower curtain alternative, and Melissa’s shampoo recipe.  Through the blog, our personal changes have rippled outward and created effects bigger than any of us would have individually.  Alone these steps will not solve global warming, but they will create awareness and build community necessary for addressing larger environmental challenges.

References

MKxBeauty. (2010, February 21). How to: Homemade hair spray [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgdqgKYxpFs

[Untitled image of eco-bag].  Retrieved from http://www.ecobags.com/Organic-Cloth-Sack-large?sc=29&category=6434

[Untitled image of glass jar].  Retrieved from http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Le-Parfait-2-liter-Glass-Canning-Jars-Pack-of-6/4154997/product.html

Dog Food

OK, back to my two dogs. I guess since my children are older and I cannot control what they say or do I have to try and control what I can, and that is with what my dogs eat, the shampoo that is used on them and the medications used on them.

I have used many dog foods over the years, often going with one for a while and then changing my mind. I used to use Science Diet but felt that left their stool to lose. Then Eucanuba was tried, but the price seemed high and they did not care for it.

I recently tried the Rachel Ray Naturals dog food that donates profits to humane societies. They seemed to like this but I think it has some fillers or something I don't understand in the ingredients.

My husband picked up the last bag of dog food, knowing what I was trying to do, no filler and natural ingredients that is not outrageously priced. He brought home a brand I don't think I would have chose, called "Lassie Naturals" which has lamb and beef main ingredients and seems to have other good ingredients and no filler. However, he paid almost twice what some of the other foods cost and the dogs are not very excited with it.

Since we have had this brand about a week, I will wait a little longer before I make any other decisions about it, my initial feeling is the search goes on for a good dog food with natural ingredients and no fillers that does not cost a lot. I did recently read about about a different brand on line, but have not checked to see if our pet food store carries it. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know!

New Mop

I found a new mop with a refillable container that I can fill myself with what cleaning solution I want. Additionally, the cloth micro fibers on the mop can be washed and used over and over again. I have used this once on my kitchen floor and was very happy with the mop and my cleaning solution (hot water, vinegar and lemon and a touch of dish soap). Our bedrooms have wood floors and I am still searching for what I want to use to clean them (someday I hope to have the entire house have bamboo or wood floors only).

Not only did the mop do a good job on the floors, with the container for cleaning solution attached I find it much easier to spot clean or quickly spruce up my floor, without having to get a bucket and all the stuff I used to need to clean the floor.

I only wish I had found this sooner since all winter I complained about people tracking in snow and mud. If I had this back then, I just would have had to spray a little and mop it up and done! Or teach my son and his friends who track the snow in to do it!

Poisons and Parabens

So I finally got around to planting my community garden plot. I still have some starter plants inside, but I planted some carrots, lettuce, and chives from seed to get things going.

First there was some prep work to do. I needed to remove the remaining leaves and rake the bed. Even though I did this with gloves on, I still managed to get poison ivy/oak/sumac. I am not sure which. Which I realized when I got to work and was about to embark upon a long test-run for the Ted Talks that Brown was filming.

The Dr. in my life suggested I take Benadryl right away, since I am the sensitive type and the rash was likely to spread (which it did). I went to CVS and procured the sleeping pills. If I can only drink half of a beer before I am tipsy, you can only imagine what Benadryl does to me :)

Normally I might try oatmeal, but there was no time, so I searched for Calamine lotion. When I located the lotion, I discovered that it contained two kinds of parabens among the ingredients and decided to stay away. I had heard that vinegar might do the trick, so I decided to risk the smell and go for that option. It worked for my sunburns this summer, so why not?

I found that within a day my rashes had shrunk. Excellent! I will soon be ready to go back into the garden and chance another exposure. I feel better about that now, knowing I have a remedy at the ready on my desk at work.

If it happens again I will try to tough it out without the Benadryl. I can't imagine a pill that pink is very healthy for me, but who knows? Only the active ingredient is listed on the bottle. Other home remedies for poison ivy include baking soda, banana peel and aloe vera gel. For more info go here.

In other news, I'm on the hunt for a new futon mattress. Mattresses often contain petroleum-based synthetics and fire retardants (which also often contain parabens) that emit toxic chemicals. I usually use a firm futon mattress. I figure I will go with organic cotton rather than a cotton foam mix in order to prevent the petroleum factor. This sounds great, right? It is easy enough to find a futon cover that doesn't have flame-retardants. The great thing is I can find an organic cotton flame-retardant free mattress in Rhode Island. But how do I know that the cotton inside my mattress is fair-trade? How many futon stores advertise whether or not their cotton is fair trade? Perhaps in Portlandia?

Springtime Lawncare

Spring has sprung, and I have been working in the yard to prepare our garden and yard for summer. Many of our current landscaping practices embrace our chemical and resource reduction philosophy. Our rain barrel collects stormwater from half of our roof, and we use the water to sustain all our plantings throughout the summer.

Our backyard compost bin is also starting to bustle after being frozen all winter. Not only does the compost enrich the soil in our vegetable and flowers beds, but we also use a compost “tea” for fertilizing potted plants. Instead of applying plant food, we use rinse water “tea” from our under-the-sink kitchen composter (we simply swish water from the rain barrel in the compost container and pour the mixture around potted plants). The “tea” is rich in coffee grounds, so the mixture also releases a pleasing aroma!

The father of a friend of mine is a chemist working for Terracycle, a company that was founded 10 years ago by a Princeton freshman who started making organic fertilizer out of worm castings (poop) and packaging it in used soda bottles. My friend kindly supplied me with an array of Terracycle products, and I love them! While Terracycle manufactures all kinds of products and packaging (lunch bags, backpacks, accessories) out of traditionally non-recyclable materials, like juice boxes and potato chip bags, I use the worm casting plant food. I don’t use the product often, mostly when planting perennial bulbs in the fall, but this product does wonders for new or struggling plantings.

The only thing still in need of attention in our yard is grubs. I hate them! I’m not someone who needs a weed free lawn, but I also don’t want to see my small yard destroyed by these pests. In the past, we’ve used a pretty nasty chemical to treat a few intense grub infestation, but I was not about to do that again! After doing a just a bit of research, I found an organic product, Monterey’s All Natural Turf Grub Control, which can be applied as a preventative treatment and/or mitigation measure for grubs. The active ingredients include clove oil, peppermint oil, garlic oil, and malic acid. The other ingredients are various clays and acids, all of which register as low threats on the Skin Deep website. I will consider using this product at the first sign of grubs later in the summer and early fall.

In the meantime, I have already implemented some simple, safe preventative measures for grubs as suggested on the organiclawncare101 website. The website suggests letting the lawn dry between watering, because grubs love moisture. I already don’t water the lawn, and in the past few years at least, we’ve received ample rainfall. As a result, our soil is usually very moist. Because grubs winter in the deep soil and surface to eat grass roots in the spring before burrowing back down to a depth of 6-8 inches, I decided to do what I could to keep the top few inches of soil dry. First, I raked up all the thatch (dead grass) from the lawn. Thatch not only holds moisture but it acts as a barrier between birds and grubs. Sadly, I don’t have chickens, so I added a bird feeder to the tree close to where grubs have been a problem in the past. My hope is that dry surface soil and an abundance of birds will keep grubs at bay. In the event that grubs do appear, I vow to not use nasty chemical treatments but will consider using the organic product.

Spring is one of my favorite seasons, and I feel good about keeping my yard beautiful AND safe.

A Little Sun and Skincare Exposure

Spring has finally settled  here in Boston.  The sun is shining, warmth has replaced frigidity, and I found a winning concoction of baking soda, chamomile and apple cider vinegar for my hair. Totally winning all over the place.  Summer is just around the corner, and before I step out into the hot sun, humid weather and beaches, I want to make sure my skin is adequately protected by a sunscreen that is safe for me and the environment. 

Rays from the sun are becoming increasingly harmful to our skin from the depletion of the ozone layer.    According to the EPA: "Reductions in stratospheric ozone levels will lead to higher levels of UVB reaching the Earth's surface. The sun's output of UVB does not change; rather, less ozone means less protection, and hence more UVB reaches the Earth. Studies have shown that in the Antarctic, the amount of UVB measured at the surface can double during the annual ozone hole. Another study confirmed the relationship between reduced ozone and increased UVB levels in Canada during the past several years."

I'm well aware the sun can have damaging effects on my skin, but I have been a little bit naive as to how much it can effect my health. I always surmised that since I don't burn too much, I am at a low risk for skin cancers.  However, the American Academy of Dermatology pushes sunscreen on everybody – no matter your skin type since any sunburn increases your risk of melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer.  Year around everyone should use broad spectrum, water proof sunscreen even on days that are cloudy.  Broad spectrum means that it covers both harmful UVA and UVB rays.  In short the UVA rays cause you to age, can penetrate glass and suppress your immune system, making it harder for you to prevent the development of cancer.  UVB rays are the burning rays (B is for burning, A is for aging), and cause sunburn.  Both UV types can cause cancer with excessive exposure. 
Ok now that the cancer talk is over, let’s take a look at some of the ingredients the Academy of Dermatology says for you to look out for when choosing a brand that has broad spectrum coverage.  I cross referenced their list against the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database and found some scary ingredients. 

Octyl methoxycinnamate – or octinoxate rates level 6 out of 10 for toxicity.  It is the most widely used ingredient for UV absorption and filter.  It has been known as an endocrine disrupter, targeting the thyroid, and estrogenic effects are noted in lab animals.

Oxybenzone:  This one is frightening, and is registered as 8 out of 10 for toxicity.  I’m pulling this info from Skin Deep, “Oxybenzone is a sunscreen ingredient associated with photoallergic reactions. This chemical absorbs through the skin in significant amounts. It contaminates the bodies of 97% of Americans according to Centers for Disease Control research.”    Even the CDC doesn’t like it. Reading through the horror of this accumulative ingredient, Skin Deep references many studies, but one in particular stood out.  One 2007 study showed where biomonitoring indicated 96% of 6 to 8 year old girls had detectable amounts of oxybenzone in their urine!  This ingredient is  restricted in Japan, but it gets the greenlight here. 

So effectively, by using many of the leading brands of broad spectrum, water proof sunscreens, I'm trading one environmental hazard for the other.  Either I get skin cancer from the sun, or I risk bioaccumulation and a compromised thyroid from suggested sunscreen brands recommended by the Academy of Dermatology.  Tough choice right?  Imagine how many people lather their babies with these harmful chemicals?  I encourage you to look at the studies on many of the chemicals listed on Skin Deep. 

I started to research the best sunscreen, and am delighted to report on Kabana Skin Care.  This is like the Dr. Bronners soap line without the Godliness. Aside from getting Skin Deeps seal of approval, glowing testimonials, this skincare line is 100% all natural, organic, with a deep commitment to fair trade and sustainable resource extraction for all their products. 

They also have a section on their website devoted to helping consumers pick safer sunscreens by exposing many of the origins in leading brands of sunscreens.  I thought I would expand more on what I found in Skin Deep here, as it is important for people to know what their skin, the largest organ on the human body is absorbing!

Taken from their sunscreen safety page:

"The FDA approved petrochemical sunscreens are the following: Avobenzone, also known as Parsol 1789, Octylmethoxycinnamate, oxybenzone, p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), Cinoxate, Dioxybenzone, Ensulizole, Homosalate, Menthyl anthranilate, Octocrylene, Octyl dimethyl PABA, Octyl salicylate, Sulisobenzone, trolamine salicylate and recently approved terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid, which is also known as Mexoryl SX and marketed exclusively by L’Oreal under the Anthelios brand. L’Oreal owns the patent on Mexoryl.

Consumers should know that all of the petrochemical sunscreens can be absorbed through your skin and into your blood in quantities higher than any other petrochemical contaminant found in our environment, air or food. Petrochemical sunscreens have significant side effects as many mimic estrogen’s effects in our bodies. They often don’t biodegrade, accumulate in the watershed and can damage coral reef ecosystems. All are toxic, and by using these petrochemicals UV damage is traded for a measure of chemical damage instead.

Parents need to know the NONE of the petrochemical sunscreen active ingredients listed above are FDA approved for use on children and babies. In fact, none of these compounds are tested for SPF on children’s skin, so products that use these ingredients and are marketed as ‘baby’ formulas are misleading you."


I personally have no interest in slathering up to a summer of petrochemicals, and am disgusted that many dermatologists approve of their patients putting this on their skin.  Shouldn't they know how these chemicals are absorbed into peoples skin, and what they do?  Petrochemicals come from petroleum, which comes from OIL!  Who wants to put the same chemical compound on their skin as the stuff they put in their car?  This is insanity.

I haven't been able to try any of their stuff out just yet, but am definitely going to do so as their product line is incredibly inexpensive.  You can buy online, or at a few retail markets.  I will most certainly report back to this blog to my findings on this one. I highly encourage people to research what goes into their skincare.  Hope I didn't scare everyone from the sun, and Happy Summer!

The Green, Green Grass of Home

We live in the suburbs, and, though I have dreams of a little urban homestead, our yard is currently used for flower beds, an herb garden, exercising our beastly puppy, and dinners on the patio.  Due to concerns for our health, the health of our highly sensitive pup, and my future plans to grow food and keep chickens and bees in our yard, it is important to me to eliminate chemicals.

Longing to Play Outside

To kill fire ants, we flood them with boiling water.  To remove poison ivy, we pull it by hand.  Fortunately, there is not much of either.  We also compost food scraps to nourish our lawn and house plants, as well as to reduce our contribution to either methane gas in the landfill or nitrogen bursts in the sewage system.

Happy Orchid

We currently maintain hot batch compost in the backyard and a worm bin in our house.

Hot Batch Compost Using Straw Instead of Leaves

Worm Bin

Last year we experienced a pretty significant drought, during which it seemed we lost much of our grass.  We do not water our lawn, but instead rely on rain for that.  We do have one large rain barrel, which in combination with a soaker hose does a nice job on the herb garden and flower beds.  However, without a pump, there is not sufficient pressure to actually water the lawn.  (We do have plans to add a pump and a few more rain barrels when we put in a large garden.)

We had been using a company called NaturaLawn of America, which claims to be The Leader in Organic-Based Lawn Care.  They did a great job with weed control in our yard.  However, we became skeptical about what ingredients were actually being used and what “organic-based” really meant.  Further, we were looking for an opportunity to cut expenses, so we cancelled that service.  I decided to battle the weeds myself instead.  How hard could it be, right?

The growing season in Charlotte began long ago.  The weather has been moderate since February, so vegetation has been in full swing here for a while.  Enter the Henbit!  I am told that bees love the stuff.  However, it is so prolific that, if I allowed it to, it would take over the yard.  My strategy was white vinegar and a pump sprayer typically used for weed control with toxic substances.

Weapons of Choice

I selected a patch clearly moving toward our yard from the neighbors' as a test area.  This patch was in the direct sun, and I sprayed liberally.  I soon realized that I would need lots and lots of vinegar!  Within one day, the weeds began to yellow.  Within one week, they appeared mostly dead.  Then a rain came and to my surprise the weeds began to rally.  That was not a part of the plan.  So I decided to pull the weeds in the test area, which easily loosened their grip on the soil.

February 6

February 8

February 20 (Notice Henbit with Purple Blossoms Flourishing in Background)

I became concerned that the quantity of vinegar would also prevent grass from growing in the test area, so I selected a second test area near the driveway for my new and improved method.  This time I would pull the weed and spray the remaining root or hole in the ground directly to insure a targeted kill.  I have used this method in several areas, and it appears to have worked well so far.  As always the weeds are much easier to pull after a heavy rain, but this method is still labor intensive.  For treating broad leafed weeds with large tap roots, of which we have relatively few, spraying copious amounts of vinegar directly on the weed has been extremely effective.  In these instances, no pulling is required.  The battle of the weeds is far from over, but I am holding my own.  I find that devoting time daily is the best way to keep the upper hand.  So much for a miracle cure...

Lastly, I must report on a disheartening development.  As I was writing this entry, I went outside to survey the treated areas.  A man, likely a relative of our neighbors, was spraying some toxic Round-Up style chemical attached to their garden hose broadly across their lawn adjacent to ours.  Our backyard is fenced, but there was a strong breeze.  Since he was spraying near our fence, which is several feet from my compost pile, and all along the property line, I was quite concerned.  The wind does not respect property boundaries.  I engaged him in conversation, and requested that he keep the spray far away from our yard.  However, he was not a native English speaker, and I am not certain he fully understood my request.  I could smell the chemicals strongly even as I walked away from the area, and I felt them in my throat and tasted them in my mouth.

If I had not gone outside when I did, I might never have realized these chemicals were being used next door.  This experience reminded me about the interconnectedness we have with our communities.  When we plant our garden next year, we could easily be eating our neighbors herbicides and pesticides if some education does not occur.  Fortunately, our neighbors are extremely nice and cooperative, so I hope that we can work together to insure a healthier environment for all - most especially their young children who play in the area now covered in spray.

Easter Egg Dyeing!

As devout Christians, Easter is the biggest holiday of the year for my extended family. Given the significance of the event, there is quite the extensive feast to accompany the celebration. My mother and her three sisters pull out all of the stops in true traditional Ukrainian style. They bring homemade bread, cheeses, and sausages (yes, homemade), ground beets and horseradish (which serves as a condiment for EVERYTHING), a wide variety of fruits, and a ridiculous number of egg dishes. Now, as an adult in the family, I am expected to participate in the preparation of the meal, and I do so quite willingly. This year, I was asked to bring homemade biscotti and raspberry pie…and to hard boil and dye three dozen Easter eggs.

OK, so aside from the animal welfare concerns I have regarding increased egg production this time of year (something I was thinking about as I read that Americans purchase nearly 1 billion eggs in the week before Easter), I had major qualms about using our family’s traditional egg dyeing methods in light of this course. I grew up using Paas and/or food coloring to dye our eggs, but I have ABSOLUTELY no idea what is in those dyes – even after some research! The dye ingredients are not listed anywhere, and if you Google “egg dye ingredients” or “egg dye safety,” there is not really a reputable source…and most websites say something along the lines of, “Oh, they’re non-toxic. Don’t worry about it!” My thoughts:

• Why are these chemicals mysterious? Why can’t I find out exactly what’s in the dyes? If they’re like food coloring (which I’m told they are), then it’s propylparaben and some kind of glycol and…mystery ingredients “approved by the FDA.” But none of that sounds like stuff I want to eat.
• Why have I never been concerned with the mysterious chemicals I’m rubbing on the outside of my food before?

I have yet to find a really good answer regarding any potential hazards for Easter egg dye, but I elected to adopt the precautionary principle and use this as an opportunity to experiment with natural egg dyes – and what fun! My roommate and I used eight different types of “dye.” Four just required us to soak the eggs in the dye overnight with a little bit of vinegar. The other four required us to boil the eggs in the dye for about 20 minutes (also with a bit of vinegar). We used this website for guidance.

Soaking dyes:

• Red Zinger tea – lavender
• Red wine – purple
• Coffee – brown
• Beet juice – pink

Boiling dyes:

• Red cabbage – blue (soaked overnight)
• Spinach – grey/green (soaked overnight)
• Green tea – golden
• Onion skins – marbled orange/brown

While chopping up and cooking the ingredients required the better part of an evening, and while a LOT of ingredients were used for relatively little yield (although who KNOWS what volume of “stuff” is used in the making of concentrated dyes…), I was very pleased with the results.

My favorites were the green tea, red cabbage, and onion skins – I will DEFINITELY do those again next year.

While I enjoyed learning about these dyeing methods, that was not really the crux of my learning experience with this particular activity. That credit must be given to the EXTENSIVE dialogue I had with my family on the subject, who were surprisingly OPPOSED to my use of the natural egg dyes. The most common conversation I had in the past week was:

“Ew! You’re soaking our eggs in coffee and red wine and tea? Aren’t the eggs going to be gross? I mean, what if the egg tastes like coffee?!”

To which I responded with (at first) dumbfounded silence, then:

“OK. So let me get this straight. You would rather that I soak your eggs in a mystery chemical we can’t identify than coffee. You acknowledge that eggshells are porous and that dye can leach through, and you would RATHER eat mystery chemical than chance a hint of a coffee flavor on your eggs?”

To which EVERYONE responded:

“Yes! They test those dyes. They’re fine.”

I don’t mean to sound like a crazy conspiracy theorist, but TALK ABOUT BLIND FAITH IN THE ESTABLISHMENT! Wow. Who’s “they”? (I know it's the FDA, but do they know that?) And what do they “test” the dyes for? (And do the results come back as 100% conclusive, or is there some doubt?) And why should we trust them? (Have "they" never messed up before?)

This experience has forced me to recognize (again) the uphill battle we face. People don’t necessarily WANT to think outside of the box, or to doubt the system, or to change the way they do things. Honestly, if it weren’t for the fact that these eggs were “homework,” I’m not sure my family would’ve LET me do this – and they’re generally very supportive. Sigh.

Luckily, the eggs turned out beautifully, and with no discernible flavor additions. People were impressed. This counted as a win. But, I wonder how my aunts will respond when they all get flaxseed hair gel for Christmas…

I Get High With A Little Help From My Friends

The medication we take exits our body at some point, gets processed by our waste treatment facilities and then ends up in our reservoirs or other parts of the ecosystem. Since I learned of this phenomenon I have tried to keep as medication-free as possible or find herbal alternatives which tend to be kinder.
Having been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis has posed a new challenge for me in that regard.
The treatment for my diagnosis of relapse-remitting MS involves different factors depending on my situation. If I have an acute relapse where I have trouble walking or swallowing or with some other more essential function, most neurologists recommend either IV steroids or steroid pills. For the rest of the time, people diagnosed with MS are usually prescribed a drug that is taken regularly in order to stave off and reduce relapses. These drugs are often very effective and would seem to be no naturopathic medicine that can achieve the same solution.
In the hospital, I was given IV steroids as I was having trouble walking. The effects were interesting to say the least. My mind was racing for days. I was rather eager to eat at 3AM and I became tired crossing my apartment.
Since stress can be a factor in onset and presentation of symptoms ( as my wobbly leg discovered while working sound for an event starring Charlie Rose and James Franco :), I think I will try and remain as stress-free as possible rather than endure more steroids than absolutely necessary.
So, the question becomes what kind of therapies work in favor of low stress? Well, sunlight is one. In fact, the vitamin D obtained from sunlight is recommended for MS patients. As it turns out, the closer one gets to the equator, the fewer MS cases one finds.
Meditation works and is recommended by Neurologists. Since I usually chant twice a day, that is a no-brainer.
Acupuncture and massage therapy have been known to work for stress reduction and help with physical symptoms as well. On Monday I will have an appointment with Dr. Jiao, a well-known and very successful acupuncturist and herbal medicine expert.
Swimming has also been known to lower stress and is a good exercise for MS patients because we can often do it whether or not we are having symptoms and also because it keeps the body temperature from getting too hot. A high body temperature tends to have a negative effect on MS patients (I’m not sure I am ready to pass up a hot tub yet, but I will try to wrap my brain around that one).
In Rhode Island, MS patients are usually entitled to a medical marajuana card if a doctor is in favor of such, more so for pain and muscle relaxation than for stress as I understand it. There is no doubt that marajuana can be very calming. Unfortunately, because of the possibility of MS effecting cognitive function, I think I will stay away from the good stuff unless pain becomes more of a factor. I have heard that getting and maintaining a medical marajuana card in Rhode Island involves more of a hassle than obtaining the drug illegally. Since I don’t know anyone with a medical marajuana card personally, I will have to ask the MS Neurologist whom I have an appointment with on Wednesday. Another option for more natural stress relief is Kava Kava. My friend Heidi dropped off a bottle of Kava Kava concoction a couple months ago. Unfortunately, Kava Kava must travel from the western pacific to get to me, whereas marajuana is a slightly more local solution. Hmmmmmmmmm.
Another strategy besides stress relief for MS patients is to keep one’s mind active. Since cognitive function can be affected, a regular dose of crossword puzzles, sudoku, or any other type of strategy game or mind game is recommended. My favorite game is called, “Spot It”, obtained at a game store in P-Town. It consists of a bunch of discs with pictures on them. Each disc has one image on it that matches one image on all of the other discs. All players are dealt a stack of discs and one disc is placed in the center. The first player to find the matched image on her disk and say the name of the image out loud, places her/his disc on top of the other disc in the center and the game continues. The first player to get rid of all of her/his discs wins.
What a long strange trip it shall be. Of course, it has been that already, hasn't it?

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

I went to a workshop on toxins Tuesday afternoon as part of Lesley University’s Eco-Week activities. The presentation was done as part of the Boston Self Help Center. I learned how toxins found in everyday products can lead to MCS or Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. This was an eye-opening presentation. I thought I knew a little about people’s chemical sensitivities, but I now realize just how naïve I was on the subject and how so many more people are probably affected by it than I was even remotely aware of.

The number of chemicals that people have been exposed to in the name of making our lives “better” is staggering. There have been over 85,000 different types of chemicals in use today and only 3,000 have been tested for their relative safety for eye and skin irritations. The situation is becoming increasingly apparent to some people, but considering the fact that Rachel Carson alerted us to the dangers of chemicals in the early 60’s, progress toward improvements have come at a snail’s pace. The fact is that there has been an increase in the amount of chemicals used in the name of making our lives easier with: a widespread use pesticides and fertilizers, brighter and more wrinkle-free clothing, and shinier, more manageable hair to name just a few.

People can be affected from either high level exposures such as drastic doses all at once from an explosion of toxins from a furnace or the World Trade Center, or it can come from low level exposures such as a constant use of toxic weed-killing chemicals on the outside of buildings or within older buildings from asbestos. The affects can be very gradual and put down to asthma or the flu. Symptoms can be nausea, extreme fatigue, rashes, mood swings, problems with concentration and short term memory, as well as seizures.

One theory about what happens in chemical sensitivity is that it happens as a result of the chemicals going in through the sinus cavity into the brain and breaking down the natural protective barriers on the way. Without the natural barriers, subsequent exposures of toxic fumes will have more immediate negative effects on certain parts of the brain.

Once someone has MCS or extreme sensitivity, even the smallest exposures can set off reactions. Margaret Ricciardelli, who gave the talk, told us how she has become a virtual recluse. She meets her friends outside and walks first when they take a walk. The smell of someone’s scented shampoo if she walks behind them can make her nauseous and dizzy, and the last time she walked into a store she nearly passed out. She has no short-term memory anymore and has to take regular medications to keep from breaking out in rashes and having half of her body go numb from something as simple as open windows.

One of the issues is the fact that many people do not like to admit the fact that they have a problem and to have people treat them as if they are handicapped. The fact is that MCS is a type of handicap. According to their website, the Chemical Sensitivity Foundation states:

Federal laws–specifically the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act–prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. HUD considers multiple chemical sensitivity to be a disability under these laws. Despite this coverage, the Department continues to receive many telephone calls and correspondences from people with multiple chemical sensitivity who report that their landlords refuse to reasonably accommodate their disability. If you, or anyone you know, believes that they have suffered housing discrimination because of their disability, please contact the HUD office nearest you. Fair Housing is not an option. It’s the law.

There is quite a bit of information on MCS available on the internet. I have just touched the surface of this growing problem. Below are just a few of the sites you can check out for further information. The first website includes a good introductory video on MCS.

http://www.chemicalsensitivityfoundation.org/

http://sites.google.com/site/bostonselfhelpcenter/news/secondhandscentaccommodatingpeoplewithmcs
http://www.lectlaw.com/filesh/csl01.htm
http://www.multiplechemicalsensitivity.org
http://www.chemicalsensitivityfoundation.org/bennie_howard-multiple-chemical-sensitivity.htm

As with most things there are two sides to every story. The following website disputes the validity of MCS and seems to suggest that is more of a psychosomatic illness without genuine validity. I cannot help but wonder if this reasoning is somehow backed by one of the chemical companies, or even by someone who uses some of the questionable ingredients to make products that seem to make money for some at the expense of others. Either way I am glad that I am becoming more aware of this problem that seems to effect many more people than I was formally aware of.

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/mcs.html