Inspiration



I'd like to use this post to share some of the ideas and pictures from my recent permaculture course. I hope they will inspire you to learn more and practice some of the principles in your own yard or community. 

 UNCOMMON GROUND

Uncommon Ground is located in Rogers Park. This restaurant is SO cool. They have their own farmer! He takes care of the rooftop gardens, parking lot beds, rooftop beehives and excess veggie oil which is given away for biofuel. The restaurant makes it a point to use mostly locally sourced food and utilizes what they grow on their property as well.

WATERS SCHOOL

One of the places we visited as well was Waters School on the Northside. One amazing parent has transformed a broken-down, worn-out school yard into a beautiful area where both school children and members of the neighbohood work together and build community.



This is part of the school's side of the garden. Classes tend this side during the school year, while community members with plots on the community garden side agree to take care of them over the summer. 



 The beds below follow a sort of "keyhole" bed design allowing for greater edge and winding pathways.

THE NOWICKI'S

Our final destination was to Ron and Vicki Nowicki's house in Downer's Grove. They built their house in the seventies, with the intention of living as sustainably as possible, being sure to include passive solar design and growing as much food as possible on their own property-which meant, God forbid...no lawn!!! I have to say that their property is more beautiful than any meticulously maintained suburban lawn I have ever seen. 

They have a wood burning stove which is what provides for most of their heating needs and are proud to have yearly energy bills which are less than some of us pay in one month. The neatest thing about their home, though, is that you would never know you were living mostly "off the grid." Their home is comfortable and modern, with conveniences we expect in most of our own houses. This special couple definitely has some secrets to share with the rest of us looking to tread a little more lightly these days. Thank you, Ron and Vicki!



Vicki uses a special umbrella to protect and create a beneficial microclimate for new plants.



Herbs, vegetables, native prairie plants and fruit trees all work together to create beneficial relationships for wildlife, the plants and the people who use them.

Part of permaculture is creating relationships that create balance. Whether it be with plants, animals or human relationships, the goal is to have all the separate pieces support each other repeatedly and in multiple ways, providing failsafe systems.



Perma-what?

Many of you know I took an eight day workshop on “Permaculture” recently. I travelled to Stelle, IL and was immersed in it from 8:30am until 9:30pm each day. Lots of people have asked me what permaculture actually is and I've been trying to come up with a simple, short explanation. However, because permaculture is a blend of lots of different principles, I'm having a difficult time. Luckily, though, a friend and fellow student has posted an excellent definition on her blog and I'd like to share it with you so you get a better understanding of what I actually did for those eight days.

On her blog, http://www.adventurefarm.blogspot.com/, Deanna Lawlor writes this:

'“Permaculture” was coined by two Australians, Bill Mollison and one of his students, David Holmgren. Originally, the word was a contraction of “permanent agriculture” however, as the permaculture practice evolved so did the meaning of the word, which is now mostly understood to mean “permanent culture.”'


'Most of us practice parts of permaculture already...with the choices we make in our daily lives. For instance, if you are composting, growing some of your own food, buying food at the farmer's market, supporting local businesses, walking or biking to work, or foraging for food; you are involved in a piece of permaculture. When you consciously start to pull these pieces together and design your life around the principles of permaculture, you are practicing it.'

I would add that any efforts to reduce your dependence upon finite resources, volunteering or sharing with others and working on building community in your area are also parts of the permaculture model. Permaculture is about caring for earth, caring for people and sharing surplus with everyone. The part which intrigues me the most is the fact that we can take the principles anywhere on the planet and help communities overcome poverty and despair, simply by teaching them some basic proven methods of growing food and obtaining water. It is pretty amazing to see whole villages in third world countries go from barren deserts to lush, green food forests.
Deanna and I are teaming up and will be holding workshops in the Chicago and St. Louis areas starting in January 2011. I know I can count on friends and family to be my “guinea pigs” and let us know how the workshops are going!

My Yard:

The boys have been busy helping me “permaculturize” (my own term!!) our back yard since I returned from the course. We've hauled leaves from neighbors lawns, dumped woodchips from the tree trimming company doing work down the street and collected animal feces from a teacher friend of mine with a zoo in her classroom. All this organic matter is being piled up on an old cement slab in my back yard which used to be the floor of a shed. After piling up a few feet of organic matter and giving it time to decompose, I should have soil healthy enough to plant in. I am also building a raised bed next to it for a couple of fruit trees and other beneficial plants and shrubs.



The beginning of the raised bed



It looks like an overwhelming mountain of my neighbors' yard waste, but all that organic matter will be healthy soil eventually!

We “inherited” Lucy, our new lop-eared bunny from a neighbor. She's sweet and adorable and produces EXCELLENT fertilizer for my compost pile! I got the rabbit hutch used on craigslist. You just pull out the bottom drawer where all the feces drops and pour it onto the pile. I made sure to place her hotel—I mean hutch on the south side of the house where it will get lots of sun. There is also a microclimate, or pocket of warm air in that area most of the time.

Lucy's luxurious home

LUCY

We started “vermi-composting” when I returned from the course. We had always done regular composting in the backyard, but now we have added red wiggler worms to a plastic bin full of air holes with newspaper and kitchen scraps to get richer compost in the spring. (Hopefully) I am still trying to get the correct amount of water, newspaper and organic scraps balanced and I think I might need some more worms. Anyone got some laying around they'd like to share?

Meet our fifty new family members

Some of my other ideas are to dig a small pond in the backyard to attract more beneficial wildlife and prevent water run-off. I'm also going to get another 55 gallon rainbarrel to harvest more water. In my future dreams, I'd love to have a graywater system from the kitchen, washing machine and bathtub. I've also tried very hard to talk the boys into a compost toilet.....but that is going to take some convincing!

This single rain barrel fills up in a couple of minutes during a good rain storm. If my village would let me, I'd get a 500 gallon one.

For more information about permaculture visit:

http://www.midwestpermaculture.com/
http://www.permacultureproject.com/



How Do You Make a Tissue Dance?

Put a little "boogie" in it. Hah!!!!!!!!

I only bring up this topic because I have had more boogers in the past week than in the past ten years. I'm not sure if my nose is supposed to produce this many boogers, because now that I've had the deviated septum fixed it is normal, or if the excess crusties are a side effect of the surgery and will eventually go away. I can tell you though, that there were some pretty amazing ones right after the procedure. Who knew snot could be so interesting?

The coolest thing about my nose now is that I can actually breathe through it! I used to get up four to five times a night. For so many years I just believed I had a bladder problem. Ever since the surgery I am sleeping eight to ten hours straight without ever waking up. It turns out I didn't really have to pee,  I just couldn't breathe.

Another benefit I've noticed is that I no longer feel like I'm going to pass out during the pranayama breathing in yoga. You are supposed to breathe rhythmically through one nostril at a time, exhaling in a forceful pattern. Unfortunately, by the third round I was usuallly gasping for air through my mouth and eliciting stern gazes from the instructor. I can now proudly say I am an expert at pranayama. :)

I'm still waiting for the surge of energy I was hoping I would experience now that I'm getting so much oxygen to my brain. Even though I'm not feeling the need to run any long distance marathons, and I couldn't tell you what happens when I workout, (cause it's been awhile) I do feel more of a sense of alertness when I'm out on my walks. Maybe I'm just enjoying the fall weather and happy to be able to smell the pumpkin bread cooling on the stove.

Welcome Back........

Don't ask me why I'm welcoming you back when I've the one who's been gone. I just can't get the "Welcome Back Kotter" theme song out of my head.

I'm having major writer's block.

What a bounty!



Belive it or not, I canned these veggies! I heard a woman on NPR explaining how to make "Tomolives" with green cherry tomatoes and decided to give it a try. http://www.mrswheelbarrowskitchen.com/ They smelled amazing. The recipe suggests using other veggies like jalapeno peppers so I pickled two jars of those.  N loves jalapeno pickles, so hopefully these will live up to his expectations. Don't be surprised if you receive one of these jars as a holiday gift in December!



Because of the threat of frost tonight, I pulled out all my plants and here's what I found.



 Above are my herbs: sweet basil, rosemary and lavender. I'm going to bring them in the house over the winter to try to keep them alive. First, I have to figure out if I want to "clean" them to get rid of pests, or just replant them altogether.






Please, please, please ripen.........

The pumpkin is from our garden. It's tiny but cute. Of course, the bigger one grew through to the neighbor's side of the fence and I don't have the heart to ask if we can keep it!!  The butternut squash is from my across the street neighbor who has the greenest thumb on the block.



Stay tuned...

Hey everybody. Sorry I've been slacking off on the entries. Had nose surgery and am only just feeling normal again. Can't wait to share about the kayaking trip I took with Kim. We are definitely outdoorswomen ready to take on anything after that experience! Check back soon for the latest news.........

USEFUL INFORMATION

Hi Everyone! I had my first meeting of the "Thoughtful Suburbanites" at my local library. It was a group I formed through yahoo's http://www.meetup.com/  It was nice to meet people with similar interests and values and I'm really looking forward to learning from other members. I'm including below a list of resources I made available to the members of the group, but I thought readers of my blog might also find it useful. The last table includes local thrift shops, so if you don't live in the suburbs of Chicago, you can ignore that! Otherwise, I hope you find some useful information on this list. If you have any other websites you think should be added, leave it in the comment section. Thanks!
GREEN RESOURCE LIST


WEBSITES FOR KIDS AND FAMILY

http://www.adventureecology.com/ An interactive game for kids

http://www.planetfriendly.com/ Certifies earth friendly products

http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/ Ideas for everyone

http://www.nrdc.org/ Natural Resources Defense Council-'Kids Make Waves” How kids can help

Www.noimpactproject.org/experiment Family project-how much smaller can you make your carbon footprint?

http://www.fooditude.tv/ Greenfood website for “tweens”

Www.nwf.org/wildlifewatch National Wildlife Federation-kids can log their wildlife sightings to help scientists

http://www.softclothing.net/ “Green” clothes for kids with sensitivity issues

http://www.climatecycle.org/ Fundraise to get solar panels installed in our children's schools

http://www.safekids.com/ Get a free basic internet filter to help you keep your kids safe online

http://www.k9webprotection.com/ See above

http://www.frugalfun.com/ Lots of great cheap and green ideas

http://www.frugalvillage.com/ More ideas for you and your family

THRIFTY WEBSITES

http://www.lastfm.com/ Free streaming music-you choose what you want to hear

http://www.pandora.com/ Free streaming music-you hear music similar to your favorites

http://www.swap.com/ Excellent website where you can trade books, music and games. They are working on expanding to other items as well

http://www.freecycle.org/ Join the one in your city and let others turn your junk into their treasure

http://www.wisebread.com/ An excellent website with hundreds of ideas on green and frugal living

http://www.gamestop.com/ Go to your local shop to buy/trade video games and game systems

http://www.cash4books.net/ Get paid for books

http://www.frugalfun.com/ Lots of cheap, green ideas for you and your family

http://www.frugalvillage.com/ More ideas for you and your family

http://www.npr.org/ Donate your old car and help support public radio


SUSTAINABLE FOOD WEBSITES

http://www.localharvest.org/ Find farmer's markets in your areas, also “pick your own” farms

http://www.landconnection.org/ Learn how to support local farmers

http://www.mrswheelbarrow.blogspot.com/ Learn to can and preserve produce-excellent recipes!

http://www.locavores.com/ Discover why eating locally is so important

http://www.chicagohomecomposting.org%20learn/ Learn to compost no matter what type of home you inhabit *Local

Www.p2pays.org/compost/  More excellent info on composting
GLOBALLY CONSCIOUS WEBSITES

http://www.causesforchange.org/ Help third world countries become more independent

http://www.shareyoursoles.org/ Donate shoes to those in need

http://www.toms.com/ Buy one pair of shoes and this company will donate a pair to a child living in poverty

http://www.workingbikes.org/ Donate your old bike and this organization will fix it and send to a person living in poverty in a third world country

http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/ This non-profit company sells “fair trade” crafts from artisans around the world.

http://www.worldofgood.com/ An ebay company which also sells fair trade items

http://www.etsy.com/ Buy handmade items from people in our area


AVOIDING TOXINS

http://www.safecosmetics.org/ Find out what toxins are in your cosmetics

http://www.ewg.org/ Environmental Working Group-what is in your shampoo, sunscreen, soap? Which are the safest products to use?

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ Another website to help you make healthy choices for your family

http://www.thegreenguide.com/ A good website to help locate green products for your home

http://www.greenguard.org/ Learn about air quality


GOING GREEN

http://www.earth911.org/ Find out how to live more sustainably-LOTS of ideas

http://www.treehugger.com/ Another excellent general resource

http://www.grist.org/ Online “magazine” about everything sustainable

http://www.consciouslivingtv.com/ Lots of short video clips to help you green your lifestyle

http://www.epa.gov/ Environmental Protection Association-governmental resource

http://www.thedailygreen.com/ More green articles

http://www.350.org/ Excellent website where you can get directly involved by signing petitions and organizing events in your area

http://www.yesmagazine.org/ Another excellent magazine with superb articles about Americans who are making a difference

http://www.mindfulmetropolis.com/ A Chicago based magazine which details the city and suburbs' efforts in the sustainable movement

http://www.swancc.org/ Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County-INVALUABLE resource if you live in the NW suburbs of Chicago.

TRANSPORTATION

http://www.chicagocriticalmass.org/ Plan to ride your bike to make a statement

http://www.activetrans.org/ Advocates for “carless” transportation

http://www.metra.org/ Rail transportation

#!&@!%!

I think I'm a decent mom. I make sure the boys brush their teeth at least once a day, provide four food groups at every meal, force them to shower when their stink permeates the entire house. Yet, our "swear jar" is ready to bust.

No, I do not have a "potty mouth" around my children. I have been known to drop a few choice phrases among good friends, but I'm not even close to being called "vulgar."

"Bah!!! Mom. You owe me fifty cents!" That's the fine for bad language in our household. The money is dropped into a transparent plastic jar and isn't emptied until it is full.
"I don't owe YOU, I owe the JAR. And that money's for the whole family, smartypants.When it's full, we all get to decide what to do with it." If it were fifty cents per child per offense, I'd be living in a cardboard box.

You see, I think I might have Turret's Syndrome. Except only when I'm asleep.

I have been awoken many times by the pounding on my bedroom door and pleading by my children, "Mom, stop swearing!! MOM! Please! You said the "f" word like ten times!!!" Last night, I felt someone's hand clamp over my mouth and then, "Shut up!!! Mom, you HAVE to stop!!!!!"

Nobody ever believes me. At least not until they sleep with me. I've always been one to slumber soundly and peacefully. But my dreams tend to be realistic, vivid and often times violent. I remember my dreams easily, even from when I was a child. I'm still shaken by the one I had when I was three or four where my parents and I were kidnapped by indigenous natives in the rainforest and locked in a suspended bamboo cage from the treetops. I awoke the next morning lying in the fetal position against my parent's bedroom door.

I am often fighting for my life or the safety of others when dreaming. I have snatched my son from a raging flood and fled from a 747 as it crash landed on the phone booth I had been previously been calling home. My crazy aunt has driven us off a bridge and my own father sent the car into a large body of rapidly moving water. Somehow, I always manage to unbuckle the car seats or shout life-saving directions and I emerge the hero. Unfortunately, I tend to vocalize while I'm dreaming and my "dreaming" personality tends to be more like Tony Soprano than I care to admit.

For example, I dash into a public restroom only to find no doors on the stalls, toilet paper rolls bare, and toilets FULL. When I finally discover a decent one, people become the problem. They might cut in line or take my last tissue, take out their digital camera or sit down for a rest! "You mother*******!! Give me my god**** tissue you a**hole!"

In last night's fiasco, all the guests at my son's birthday party kept eating their pizza in my pool. I repeatedly ask them nicely to get out and eat in the kitchen, but now my new pool is covered with a greasy, orange sheen and filled with gooey, yellow globs.  "Get out you a**holes!! You're all a**holes! " (According to T., who audibly "witnessed" the entire scene.)

When I ask one of boys what I said, their eyes get wide and they grin embarrassingly, "Mom, I could get in a lot of trouble for saying that." Sometimes I'm yelling so loudly I actually wake myself up. Sure, I feel bad, but what can I do? It's not like I have any control over it. That's what I keep telling the kids. How can it count if I don't know I'm saying it? Which is why our swear jar isn't a fair representation of the cursing in our house.

I've thought of duct taping my mouth shut when I sleep. My white-noise maker is turned up almost all the way so the kids won't hear me. I should be in one of those "sleep studies." Maybe some scientist can figure out why I do this.Could it be the snacks I eat before bed?

 While I brainstorm ways to get my mouth out of the gutter, the kids are counting the cash in the jar.  Let's just say we are halfway to Disneyland.                           

We Are Outward Bound (Whether they like it or not)

"Go outside and play," I tell the boys when their eyes have become bloodshot and bulging after an obscene amount of time in front of the latest war video game. They moan and groan and promise to evacuate the house after they kill one more Nazi Zombie. "Nope, NOW." I demand. "Save it and get out of my house. I don't wanna see your stinkin' faces for at least three hours! Now get!" I snatch controllers and kick swiftly at little behinds all the while pushing them out the back door.

"But mahhhhhhhmmmm....., it's boring outside," B moans, " There's nothing to doooooooo....."
"Yeahhhhhh....," chimes in T., "Nothin'...."
"Okay then," I say, "Anyone who stays in the house has to clean the cat litter box." The backs of three heads vanish immediately and the screen door slams.

Nothing to do????? Nothing to do outside??????? Remember when we used to leave the house in the morning and not return until dinnertime? And coming home at dinnertime was a disappointment!! We hopped on our bikes and rode to the park or playground, maybe the empty lot at the end of the cul-de-sac. There were trees to be climbed and forts to be built, streams to be explored and stones to be skipped. The princess needed to be rescued and horse races to be won. Even when it rained, puddles became moats and mud turned into canons. Remember that?

It frightens me to find my children outside so little. When they are outside they are either being shuffled to a sport or a lesson and the sport is the only other time they are out for an extended period of time. They beg to be driven to school when in reality it is a leisurely walk from our home. "Can you drive me to Alex's?" is a common question overheard on the weekend.

What happened? Is it that we parents are too afraid to let our kids roam the neighborhood the way we used to? Is it really more unsafe now than when we were young? Or is it that there isn't really any place for them to go and play freely as we did. You can't climb that tree or build that fort if it's on someone else's property....wayyyyyy too much of a liability. Oh, and don't climb up that slide little boy, you could get hurt. No walking across the top of the monkey bars--God forbid! What if you fall!! Skateboarding? Bike riding? Not near the library or the village hall, or for that matter on the street....the village ordinance says you can't. Have we taken away all their opportunities for fun? Oh no, Suzie can't walk home from school by herself, you never know what could happen between here and school!!! Have we taken away opportunities to build their independence?

I love being outside. Always have. It worries me that my own kids will grow up without an appreciation for wilderness and mother nature. They might never know the soul restoring power that can be found in nature. I'm trying hard to involve them more in my favorite activities, but boy, I gotta tell you, it is NOT easy to introduce kids to things they already believe are "boring." That adjective is the kiss of death.

Luckily, T. is only nine years old. He is still young enough, I believe, to be influenced in a positive way toward the natural world and all things "outdoorsy." Out of the three boys, he has always been the most active one and it is only recently that he has emulated his older brothers' bad non-stop gaming habits. Knowing this, I decided to try an experiment with him first. I didn't tell him where we were going or what we were doing, but only conceded that he would need to wear flip flops and sunscreen and bring a water bottle. When we pulled up to the boathouse at our local forest preserve, his face brightened. We paid twelve dollars to rent a canoe for an hour. (I wasn't about to do the whole day--what if he hated it?) The lifejackets fit snugly and our launch was smooth. We were off to a fantastic start. It was a Sunday morning and there had been lots of cars in the parking lot, but the lake was calm and peaceful with hardly any other canoes on it. I was the "rudder" and steered us in the correct direction, while I let T. just get used to using the paddle and learning the technique. He quickly learned how to switch from the right side to the left side, splashing just enough water backwards to make me yelp. You can imagine my relief when he began to point out the different birds and asked what they were called. Mostly though, we were just quiet. Listening for unfamiliar sounds and sights, enjoying the slow lifting and lowering of the water surrounding us. The wind began to pick up and we had to struggle to get back to the boathouse within our time limit. At one point it took both of us paddling like crazy on the right side simply to keep ourselves from becoming a pinwheel in the middle of Busse Lake!  Back in the car on the way home, T grinned and said, "Mom, next time can we bring B. and N.?" I told him if he went home and made a REALLY big deal about it and let his brothers know how much fun he'd had, then maybe they could be persuaded to come along.

Since then, I have planned a half-day kayaking trip with my sister in southern Wisconsin and am looking forward to bringing the boys to Starved Rock for a day or two. T. helped me set up our new tent so I could waterproof it. He also helped me take it down two hours later when it began to RAIN. (Waterproofing doesn't work when it's wet!!!) Needless to say, the second time I tried, I was on my own. Of course, after it was all staked into the ground, the boys brought their novels, their homework, the cat and their aunt's dog into the tent with them and "camped out" in our backyard. This was merely practice, they assured me. Unfortunately, the next day was one of fifty-mile per hour winds and the tent was levitated and catipulted over our clothesline. Figures. (Obviously, no one was in it!!)

Even though I'd love for my kids to be more adventurous outdoors and more active in our neighborhood, I have to admit that I am one of those parents who worry about what can happen between home and the friend's house. While I'm encouraging them to ride their bikes more and walk to Gramma's when they need to visit her, I'm still guilty of the occasional drive to school. What can I say?  Times have changed.

If you'd like to find a place near you to canoe or kayak, visit:

• http://www.waterplayusa.com/

99 Shopping Days Till Christmas

Believe it or not, I'm already thinking about the holidays. I'm not usually one to plan this far ahead....far from it. I happen to wait until the week before Christmas or even the week AFTER Christmas to do my shopping for extended family members. (Okay, my secret is out. Sorry Mom, Dad and K., K., and C. I wait until everything is discounted before I buy your presents. But you always knew I was cheap. Why do you think I like to come visit after Christmas Day?)


This year is different, though, because I found my new favorite place to shop. It's called Gifts from Around the World and it's a Non-Profit organization in Schaumburg on Roselle Road. It sells handmade crafts from poor countries and all of the proceeds from the sale of the items go directly to the artisans. You've probably heard about goods being sold this way. The politically correct term is “Fair Trade.” If you shop at Whole Foods or Trader Joes you have most likely purchased some fair trade chocolate or coffee. It can mean that the goods were made by people who were paid a living wage, worked in safe conditions with reasonable hours and other fair practices.

I feel much better knowing that with my purchase, I am supporting someone who might otherwise be living in extreme poverty. I choose to do that instead of funding some huge conglomerate which deals with unregulated, sketchy overseas companies. Supporting child and slave-labor is not my intention when I buy my sister's housewarming gift. So, Mom and Dad, sisters and brother—expect some unique, beautifully handcrafted presents this year under the tree. Gorgeous silk scarves from India, handwoven bamboo serving trays from Vietnam, intricately carved wooden serving bowls from Malaysia, sterling silver earrings from Guatemala and singing bowls from Tibet are only some of the items available at my new favorite shop.



Earrings from Nepal
Ten Thousand Villages



Salad Bowl from Bangladesh
 Ten Thousand Villages


If you would like to join me for a “Fair Trade Party” in the beginning of November, let me know! I am hosting one at the “Gifts from Around the World” shop. We will sip fair trade wine and nibble on organic appetizers while we peruse the stunning handmade crafts available and put a large dent in our holiday shopping lists. Think “Tupperware” or “Tastefully Simple” parties with a twist. Unlike the aforementioned parties, none of the proceeds go to the host of the party or the store itself. Both the store clerk and the hostess are volunteers. You don't “have” to buy something so your friend who is holding the party gets a twenty-percent discount or special “hostess” gifts. There is absolutely no pressure. If you find something you like, rest assured that you are giving someone a chance to improve their life and provide for their family.

Kashmiri Wool Scarf
India

If you cannot make the party, but are still interested in supporting this type of cause, check out the websites below:

• http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/
• http://www.worldofgood.com/
• http://www.twohandsworldshop.com/
• http://www.palestinefairtrade.org/

Official Store - TOMS Shoes - One for One - A Pair of New Shoes is Given to a Child in Need With Every Pair Purchased | TOMS.com

Official Store - TOMS Shoes - One for One - A Pair of New Shoes is Given to a Child in Need With Every Pair Purchased TOMS.com

Explain this...

I am utterly perplexed and curious about those random gym shoes that I spy every now and then on the side of the road. Haven't you ever noticed that before? You're driving home from wherever and there, on the side of the road...or right smack in the middle of it, is a lone sneaker. This wouldn't bother me so much if it didn't happen so often. In my 39 years, I'm sure I have seen at least a couple dozen single shoes, lying helplessly in the street.

It causes me to wonder, How in the hell did it get there? There are quite a few scenarios which I can imagine that could end with a shoe being discarded or dropped on the road, but none of them seem very feasible.

The first is a group of teenagers playing “Keep Away” with someone's stinky sneaker. I see small limbs reaching desperately to grab the shoe as it sails from the front to the third row seat of the driver's daddy's gas guzzling Denali. “Gimme it........!” he whines pawing the air helplessly as it flies straight out the window. “Ooops. Sorry,” giggle the older and much “cooler” kids.


Scenario number two: While traveling to the local “Goodwill” drop-off location, with garbage bags filled to the limit containing outgrown clothing and barely used footwear in the bed of your pickup truck, you hit the mother of all potholes, sending one precariously balanced Nike bouncing over the passenger side edge and onto the gravel-laden road. (quite a bit less likely than the first scene.)

If I am truthful, though, scenario number three describes what I feel when I see a lone gym shoe stranded on the side of the street--a deep unsettled sense of foreboding. My gut whispers to me that something is not right while horror film theme music plays in the back of my mind. In this third story line, I imagine a dead body rolled up in plaid flannel sheets and plastic tarp being dragged across a dark road, two large feet protruding from the end of the roll. A sneaker is unintentionally dislodged as the body is pulled into and out of that huge pothole and left untied and muddy, footless and unmatched. It lies fixed and lifeless, the only clue to the latest in a series of unsolved mysteries in our suburbs..... (I have to stop! I'm scaring myself)

Probably the most disturbing part of all this missing footwear is the fact that the majority of the ones I have seen are adult-sized! I find it much easier to believe that kids could lose a shoe on the side of the road. That's what children do, they misplace things. Maybe a young tike was being dragged across the street by an elder brother and happened to accidently “run” out of her untied Skecher. With that in mind, finding a tiny pink patent-leather “mary jane” is not as hard to wrap my brain around as is a brown leather, size eleven men's loafer.

What I would give to trace the history of that lone shoe! To follow it backwards from the yellow median line to the sweaty, athlete footed appendage which once called it home. To solve the mystery and know the trials and tribulations it has endured to find itself in a predicament such as this one.

But alas, that is not possible. I must be content with my own version of the events and allow my imagination to determine the reasons behind this perplexing puzzle.

NOTE TO READERS: If you are lucky enough to be privy to the real story behind one of these shoe mysteries, please please please share it with me in the comment section below! I'm not sure how long I can go on without knowing a legitimate answer. I will be forced to imagine ever-worsening scenarios until I do!

Check out the following links to donate shoes to needy children around the world:

• http://www.toms.com/
• http://www.shareyoursoles.org/
• http://www.soles4souls.com/

Bear With Me!

Having extra time on my hands because I am recently unemployed has been both a blessing and a curse. Blessing:  I have the time to finally carry out principles  that are important to me.
Curse: I also have the time to TELL everyone about the ideals that are important to me. (My poor friends and family!)

Since I've been dedicating so much of my time to living more sustainably, I thought I might share some of the ways I have been able to do this. My hope is that I don't sound "preachy." I am really hoping to be a resource for those of you who would also like to join the "crusade." Almost all of the ideas came from my sixth grade class last year. Those eleven and twelve year-olds were just as concerned about our planet as I was and they were determined to make a difference in their households. I am still amazed at all of the options they brainstormed to lighten a family's carbon footprint. Take a look at the list below and choose a couple of simple ones to try with your family. Let me know what works for you or share some ideas of your own!

Here's the Room 208 list of 
"TopTwenty-Five Things You Can Do to Green Your Lifestyle:"

1. Change your incandescent lightbulbs to CFL's (compact flourescent) You will save lots of money and energy. Make sure you dispose of them properly, they cannot be thrown in the regular garbage.Go to http://www.energystar.gov/ to get directions for disposal.
2. Recycle everything you can!! This seems like a no-brainer for people who live near me because our waste management company takes plastic, paper, glass and aluminum and we don't even have to sort it. We are lucky. To find a recycling center near you and read guidelines about what can be recycled go to http://www.earth911.com/
3. Reuse as much as possible. Use a real lunch box and tupperware containers to pack your lunch. Avoid paper plates. Consider whether you REALLY need that new ___________ (whatever it is!) Can you reuse the one you already have? Go to http://www.wastefreelunches.org/ to find out more information.
4. Donate, don't throw away! Our landfills are quickly overflowing. If you can't reuse it, maybe someone else can. Donate old clothes, household items and sporting equipment to local charities. Nowadays you can find large metal containers strategically placed in parking lots of grocery stores and churches specifically for this purpose. You can also call The Salvation Army and Purple Heart. Go to http://www.charityguide.org/ to find local donation sites.
5. Buy USED! Many people already do this when they move into a house or buy a used car. It's okay to do the same with clothes, shoes and other items. Just check to be sure they are clean and functional and be grateful for the bargain you are receiving. Go to http://www.thethriftshopper.com/ to find local second-hand shops near you. For more specifice purchases, try "Craigslist." I have had lots of luck with it. We have purchased a bike, a breadmaker and plants through http://www.craigslist.com/. Just make sure you meet at a public place and don't give out any personal information.
6. Grow something. Whether you start a garden, some patio sized tomato plants or a grow herbs on your kitchen windowsill; knowing that your food is fresh and free of pesticides and other toxic chemicals is the best feeling in the world.

7. Go on a family "Staycation" Think of how much fuel and money you will save if you drive to the water park in the next state, or camp in the national park. For that matter, you could camp in your own backyard! For more ideas visit http://www.familyeducation.com/ and type "staycation ideas" into the search box.
8. Consolidate your errands Make a list of all the places you need to go over the next few days. Now, try to go to as many of them as you can in one trip, choosing the places which are closest together first. You will save time and gasoline.
9. Carpool Is there somebody in your neighborhood who works near you and can split the driving each week? Maybe you and another mom can switch off carpooling to dance classes and little league. Moms have been doing this way before it was "green."
10. Use Public Transportation I live near Chicago and I love going into the city but the hassle of traffic and nonexistent parking spots puts a damper on my excursions. Lucky for me there are two train routes that will drop me off right in the middle of the city. My kids would much rather take the train anyway, they think it's a lot "cooler" than driving.  For Illinois, go to http://www.metrarail.com/ To find more information about the types of public transport available near you, try http://www.publictransportation.org/
11. Bike/Walk/Skate This idea was by far the sixth-graders most popular. They were eager to bike and walk to school or a friend's house or football practice. This was one they felt they could do without needing parents to help out. There is a website called http://www.mapmyride.com/ It will take your starting and final destinations and map out the safest route for you via bicycle. Very cool!

12. Insulate your house Believe it or not, this really does make a huge difference. Even if you can't afford to have more insulation put in your attic or walls, at least caulk your windows and doors. Use those little dorky snake-like stuffed animal things to block cold air from leaking in under your outer doors and put plastic sealer over your windows on the inside. Go to http://www.makeyourhomeenergyefficient.com/
13. Close the blinds Okay....during the summer when the sun shines in and sets your front room ablaze, shut the curtains! This is fairly common sense and it really does help keep the room cooler. You will save on cooling costs.
14. Open the blinds Obviously, you should OPEN the curtains in the winter, when it is cold so you can ALLOW the sun to heat up the room. You will save on heating costs.
15. Use Fans Don't need to say much here. You can set the A/C temp. higher and use fans to help save money.
16. Bundle Up! Duh. Lower your thermostat in the winter and wear layers. At night, lower it even more and invest in some good quality comforters and wool socks!!
17. Eat Less Meat It takes lots of energy and land to raise livestock and you don't even want to know what they add to your meat. Try to cut back to eating meat only a few nights per week and you'll save on groceries while helping the environment. Check out http://www.foodincmovie.com/
18. Buy Local  Did you know that most of our food has traveled at least 1200 miles before it gets to our plates? Take advantage of Farmer's Markets in the summer. Go to "U-Pick" farms and pick your own fruits and vegetables. Again, it's about knowing where your food comes from. It's also about supporting your local communities. http://www.pickyourown.org/ and http://www.localharvest.org/

19. Take Shorter Showers My students had fun setting a timer and trying to beat their fastest showering time each morning. We talked a lot about where their water comes from and how many people in poor countries must walk for hours to get water, let alone clean water. This was surprising for them. To find out more about how you can help provide water to third world countries see http://www.waterforpeople.org/
20. Use a Compost Bin One of my students' fathers came in and demonstrated how to start a worm compost bin. (vermicomposting) Most of the class wanted to try this at home. If you aren't into worms, you can still make a compost bin or pile in your backyard using landscaping waste and kitchen scraps. Find out how at http://www.howtocompost.org/
21. Hang up your Clothes to Dry Obviously this saves the energy your dryer would normally be using. You have to use a bit of trial and error, however. Certain things get "crusty" when hung up to line dry outside. However, I have found that throwing those items in the dryer for just five minutes and then hanging them out solves that problem. By the way, you can still do this in the winter....just use drying racks!

22. Get a Rain Barrel I love my rain barrel. It was extremely easy to hook up and simple to use. I always have enough water for my garden and don't have to lug the hose around from the front of the house. Saving money on my water bill was a good incentive also. Many communities offer special prices on rain barrels. Check with your local public works department. Some examples: http://www.simplyrainbarrels.com/

23. Visit Nature Stressed? Worried about work or your kids? Take some time to just sit quietly in a natural setting. Go to a Forest Preserve or Nature Sanctuary. Watch the birds and listen to the crickets. Feel your heart rate slow down and your outlook change. Don't let yourself forget WHY we are making all of these sustainable changes in our lives. http://www.stateparks.com/                                     
24. Unplug!!!! Many people don't realize that even when that TV or that Laptop is turned off, it is still draining electricity from the outlet. Unplug what you don't use often (toaster, coffeemaker) and use a power strip for electronics frequently utilized. When you are done with the computer, just turn the power off on the power strip and don't worry about unplugging anything. It WILL save you money. http://www.nrdc.org/
25. Spread the Word Let others know what you are doing to live more gently on this earth. Have your kids talk about it at school, show your neighbors how to hook up their rain barrel, forward this blog on to your friends. Be vocal. If you really want things to change, write to the people in charge: the mayor, the governor, your representatives, senators, even Obama. Make your voice be heard. www.usa.gov/contact

It's pretty amazing to see what twenty-seven sixth graders can do with their passion and voices.

REUSE!!!

I am a thrift-shopaholic.  Over the past few years, (first for economic reasons and secondly for environmental ones) I have become addicted to various thrift stores in the northwest suburbs. Many people; when they think this type of shopping immediately get the "heebie jeebies" and their skin begins to crawl. The thought of wearing clothing or shoes that another person's flesh has touched is enough to make their gag reflex kick in. I, however, do not have that problem. I am perfectly content to take delight in another person's castoffs, as long as they are clean and functional.

My desire for inexpensive, brand name children's clothes is what got me started. I began with places like "Once Upon a Child" and "Play it Again Sports."  At some point I realized that prices were better at locally run thrift shops, especially those dedicated to a charity or cause. I have about four places which I frequent around twice per month. Each store is my favorite for its own reason. While "Marklund Resale" is large and chock-ful of surprising treasures, it can be overwhelming because you have to dig through all kinds of crap to get to those gems. "Wings Resale" has high-end clothing and shoes, although it is lacking in the children's clothing area. My favorite place is a huge one called "Village." It has locations throughout the U.S.  At about the size of your local grocery store, it sells everything from Ralph Lauren Suede Jackets to G.E. Breadmakers. Occasionally, this place holds a fifty percent off sale. On those particular days, you are risking your life if you arrive within the first three hours of the store opening.

We are going camping the end of September and while I own a tent, it seems that most of our other equipment has disappeared. I knew I could probably find some of what we needed used instead of new. I chose today, Labor Day, to begin my search. I started at "Village" and was thrilled when I saw the sign stating that everything was fifty percent off Today only!!!! My excitement quickly abated when I walked in the store and was met with a wall of people.

I need to say few words about the people who shop at these types of stores and the type of person you need to be to deal with all those others. First of all, most of the patrons of these places are not there to "shrink" their carbon footprint. The idea of going "green" hasn't even crossed their minds. What is on their minds, however, is how to make the ten dollar bill in their pocket stretch as far as possible while allowing them to look like a "typical" high-end label adorned American. Many of them have very little to spend on themselves after they have sent much of their income to family in a third world country far from here. Others are here to clothe their extra-large, strictly religious families. I can tell because those are the ones whose female members only buy long skirts and button-up blouses. I try hard not to judge, but inside, I pity those girls. You will also run into teenagers hoping to find garments which allow them their own unique "rebellious" style. Every now and then, especially around Halloween and Christmas time, "regular" people scour the racks looking for pieces of a halloween costume, or a holiday sweater to wear to the "Butt-Ugly Christmas Sweater" party in their neighborhood.

Needless to say, if one is going to embark upon a quest for treasure in any of these stores, one must posess a certain amount of patience and tolerance. It will take you a long time to find that designer jacket you've been searching for and even longer to find a "like new" pair of flats in your size. And, on those fifty percent off days, expect the aisles to be crowded and messy and the people mostly rude. Many of them will not speak your language and will block the aisle with crying children and half-deaf mother-laws. People will try to sneak in front of you in line if you aren't vigilant, after all, they don't want to wait the thirty-five minutes you just did to check out. Despite all of this though, there is something about discovering the perfect pair of shorts for my son for one dollar, or an almost brand new sleeping bag for four bucks that keeps me coming back for more. (This is precisely what I DID find today after making it past the blockade of customers and into the "bedding" section of "Village" Score!!!!)

I have forced myself to follow certain rules, though. I do NOT buy anything I don't absolutely need because money is tight right now and the whole point of doing this is to be frugal. Also, I only buy something if it is good quality, clean and not in need of repair and I ALWAYS wash everything that can be washed before wearing. By following those guidelines, I have been pleasantly surprised over and over again when I consistently uncover bargain after bargain. In addition, I feel great about not bringing more STUFF into my house that I don't need. Also, reusing somebody else's "unwanteds" means those things will not end up in a landfill or an incinerator!

Below is a list of all the things I have purchased from second-hand shops, along with approximate prices.

• brand new sideboard/cabinet $35
• 2 barely used Woolrich sleeping bags $4 each
• purses-brand name, Kenneth Cole, Calvin Klein, New York and Co., Ralph Lauren (none more than $3
• Almost new shoes (I only buy ones that look new and are brand names I know like Born, Thom McAn, Nine West, Earth Spririt) never paid more than $4
• Clothing made by Anne Taylor, Gap, Banana Republic, J Jill, Caslon, The Limited, J.Crew, Abercrombie and Fitch, Aeropostale, Tony Hawk, Zoo York, Billabong, etc.. Never paid more than $7 per item. Many of my boys' clothes are purchased second hand.
• Jewelry - most of what I've bought is costume jewelry, things you would find at The Limited or New York and Co.
• Scarves (silk) - brands like Liz Claiborne, Kenneth Cole Banana Republic
• Bedding - Brand new comforter from Liz Claiborne,  full size goose feather down comforter
• Home Decor - pots for plants, seeds, flowers baskets, dishes
• Books - many hardcover bestsellers for 50 cents, but I try to go to the library for these
• Sporting equipment -  safety knee pads and elbow pads, badminton net, baseball gloves, basketballs, footballs, soccer balls ( no more than $2. )
• Suitcase - nice overnight case (counts as carryon!) made by Louis Vuitton $5
• Brand new greeting cards - 10 cents each

I know there is much more I could add, this is only the beginning. But you get the idea. If you are willing to take the time and effort to hunt for your treasures, this could become your new favorite hobby!

Happy Hunting!! Go to http://www.thethriftshopper.com/ to find stores near you!

Beanbag game and other finds

New Game Cabinet $35

Recent treasures...

More gems!

How Hard Can it Be?

I'm going to apologize ahead of time for the tone of this entry. I might come off sounding a bit preachy and judgemental. But there is something that has been bothering me for quite a long time and I need to purge it from my brain.

Ready? Here it is......None of our parks in the park district have any recycling receptacles. There are garbage bins galore at every baseball, football, in-line hockey and soccer field. Your kid won't eat the crust from the PB&J you packed in the cooler? No problem, toss it in the garbage can. Did the collapsable camping chair you were lounging in collapse before you removed yourself? Got it covered! There's a garbage can for that, too. Used ice packs, holey, dirty socks, broken shoelaces: all have an appropriate receptacle at our parks. And thank goodness for that! Imagine how disgusting our athletic fields would be without them.

Nevertheless, I am continually disappointed each time I attend a youth sporting event and have to observe the trash bins overflowing with plastic water bottles, sports drink bottles and juice bags. By the end of the game, each garbage can is brimming with non-biodegradeable plastic and foil.  All of those items can be recycled! It takes an unknown number of years for those items to disintegrate in a landfill.

According to http://www.earth911.com/:

• Americans buy an estimated 29.8 billion plastic water bottles every year.
• Nearly eight out of every 10 bottles will end up in a landfill.
• It is estimated that the production of plastics accounts for 4 percent of the energy consumption in the U.S.
• Less than 1 percent of all plastics is recycled. Therefore, almost all plastics are incinerated or end up in a landfill.
• Recycling a single plastic bottle can conserve enough energy to light a 60-watt light bulb for up to six hours.
• Recycled plastic bottles can be made into products such as clothing, carpeting, detergent bottles and lumber for outdoor decking.
• Producing new plastic products from recycled materials uses two-thirds less energy than required to make products from raw (virgin) materials. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

One percent of our plastice water bottles are recycled. ONE percent. The other ninety-nine percent end up in landfills, incinerated (that's burned, people...releasing toxins into the air in the process) or washing onto coastlines of major oceans and lakes.

 Even if that part doesn't bother you, consider that it takes petroleum to make those plastic water bottles and petroleum is.........OIL. It's important for us to try to reduce our dependency on oil. We're addicted to it, remember? (George W. Bush said it!) The more dependent our country is on oil, the more dependent we are upon other countries. So put that in your pipe and smoke it!

I know that the majority of us in the suburbs would recycle if we could. All of my neighbors have recycling bins and faithfully place them by the curb every Thursday morning. My kids recycle in school and even our village has receptacles conveniently placed. People will do the right thing if it is easy. If the recycling bins were available at our parks, I know that people would utilize them.

Since I couldn't continue lugging all the bottles home myself to be thrown in my own bin, I happily contacted our park district. After speaking with the parks administrator, I began to see where the problem lies. According to him, they have considered providing recycling bins in the past. However, the word from some other districts already providing them, is that people are careless and don't distinguish between garbage and recyclables. In other words, residents throw their leftoever PB&J's into the recycling bin instead of the trash can. This "contaminates" (his word) the entire batch of recyclables and it must all be thrown out. The other problem is the time and expense it takes to sort through it.

Well. I can understand that. I can also understand that it takes a lazy, apathetic, inconsiderate human being to throw garbage in a clearly marked bright blue recycling container instead of the garbage can. Let's just say that it would be quite difficult to confuse the two.

Hmmmmm.....is THIS where my old banana peel goes??

I doubted that all park districts refused to provide recycling containers, so I did some research of my own. Guess what? The Chicago Park District has them, so does Woodridge Park District and even the Seattle Parks and Recreation uses them at select parks.
Needless to say, this "mission" of mine is not over...far from it. I am determined to get our park district to give us a chance. People are not always as indifferent and lax as you might think. With a little education and clear directions, maybe we can prove the park district wrong.

Maybe here? Oh no, I'm so confused!!