Change The World Wednesday

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW). If you are new to our challenges, please click HERE for more information.

Last week, our friend the Wayland Cook, suggested that we cook over a wood fire. Since it's cold in many parts of the world right now, we expanded the challenge to include energy-efficient, indoor cooking. As always, the Honor Society stepped up and embraced this challenge ... and, as always, they are impressive with their creative tips and ideas for cooking efficiently, no matter which method is chosen. Here they are:

Kelly uses a crockpot for energy efficient cooking and she shared a great tip ... rather than use electric appliances (mixers, bread machines, etc.) try doing things by hand. For example, she suggests mashing potatoes using a hand masher instead of a mixer and kneading bread instead of using a bread machine. Kelly also plans to try out a solar cooker this summer. Hope you'll come back and tell us how it works, Kelly!

EcoGrrl used her microwave to efficiently whip up her morning oatmeal. She also reminds us to buy food in bulk and bring our own containers to the store. Mmm ... that homemade jam which she swirled through her oatmeal sounded delicious! By the way ... HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY, ECOGRRL! Here's wishing you happiness always!

Cinella accepted the challenge and, in this POST, lists a bunch of ways to cook efficiently ... indoors or out. She lives in Texas and they've been experiencing some nice weather so she's hoping to do some cooking outdoors. She also uses the crockpot weekly and buys local, organic foods. Yay! For those of you who are interested in page ranks (and improving them), you'll be excited to know that Cinella linked up the Honor Society and the #CTWW Gang in her post. Thanks so much, Cinella!

UPDATE - If you like giveaways (especially "green" giveaways), you can get extra entries into Cinella's Giveaway Event by participating in this week's challenge. WhooHoo!
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.
Thanks, Cinella!

Eco Yogini is new to our challenges. She's here, via EcoGrrl's blog, all the way from Halifax. Welcome EY! She says that it's cold in Canada so she won't be cooking outside ... but she does have a slow cooker (wonder what yummy dishes she came up with?). Thanks for joining us, EY ... and if you try out that solar oven, let us know how it works for you!

Our Village is a Little Different found us through the Wednesday Blog Hop (you'll find a link in my side bar). She says that they are buried under snow ... so no outdoor cooking. And a recent post on her blogs says that more snow is on the way! Nice to "see" you and we hope you'll drop by again!

Marcy, one of our favorite chefs, wrote this POST and included quite a few tips on how to cook efficiently. Here's a hint on one of them ... fast food. It's not what you think but ... you'll have to read the post to find out about this tip. Thanks, Marcy!

Amy (aka the Wayland Cook), who suggested this challenge, has had snow and cold temperatures lately so, they moved their efficient cooking from the wood fire outside to a wood fire inside. You'll be amazed at how she and her husband modified their wood stove to become an efficient cooking stove. In this POST, she includes pictures and information. Wow ... Impressive!

Our friend, Argentum Vulgaris, has been missing in action due to computer problems. He's back with us and has written this POST. In it, he talks about various cooking fuels available in Brazil and shares his choice ... here's a hint: he spends approximately $16 (R$28) every 5 months on cooking fuel. Can you guess what he uses? AV also shares an update on his Papaya trees in that post ... including pictures. Thanks, AV ... nice to have you back!

Kelly is another new follower from the Wednesday Blog Hop. She brings up a good point ... using a slow cooker (crockpot) is not only energy efficient, it's time efficient as well. Thanks for joining in the fun, Kelly ... hope to see you again!

TLN stopped in. She is still working on the laundry challenge, trying to find a detergent that works and is Eco-friendly. She promises to keep us informed as she experiments. Thanks, TLN ... and here's wishing you relief from the hot temperatures you're experiencing in Sydney!

Carli joined us. She's a new follower from the Wednesday Blog Hop. Carli has a great blog and lately she's been discussing balance and having time for everything she wants/needs to do in life. It's an interesting discussion with some creative solutions. Thanks for coming by, Carli ... hope to see you again!

Sam, another new follower, stopped in this week. After reviewing our list of challenges, she is happy to report that she has, and continues, to accomplish many of them. WhooHoo! If you are in college, have a child in college, know of anyone in college or simply want good advice for living, check out Sam's blog. A recent article discussed making one's own lunch and the benefits of doing so. Thanks, Sam!

Thepearlworld joined us all the way from Finland. So nice to "see" you. She writes a blog called Our Fancy Things. In it she says, "I decided to start a new blog. This one will be open for everybody. It's our new life. New chance. It's not about living like it was the last day, it's more about living like every day was the first one." What a fabulous sentiment! (One note ... I was unable to leave comments on this blog so, if the author is reading this, there might be something wrong with the comments setting of your blog.)

Rewinn's energy-efficient method of choice is the crockpot. In this POST, he shares his recipe for Bone Soup. I found Rewinn's thoughts on waste very interesting ... it has to do with respect. Check it out! Thanks, Rewinn!

Mrs. Green took the challenge and wrote a wonderful article (read it HERE). In it she offers many energy saving cooking techniques, including how to save 20% on your energy bill while using an electric stove/oven. It's reaffirms that small actions make a big difference. Thanks, Mrs. Green!

In this POST, Kris talks about getting a toaster oven as an energy-efficient option to using the oven. Let us know, Kris, if you get one and how you like it!

In addition to bloggers, we had a bunch of twitter members talking about our challenge using the hashtag #CTWW:

@waylandcook
@cjrthemommyblog
@givetreegifts
@bblonskidesigns
@mysticle
@noteasy2begreen
@sugadug
@littlegreenblog

These are great folks to follow so, if you're on twitter, be sure to stop by and check them out!

Great job everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it.

Let's talk about a new challenge. This one comes from our friend Kris. She says, "Most household cleaners contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment. An alternative would be to make your own. Usually this can be done for less than it costs to buy a household cleaner and it's more environmentally friendly (win-win if you ask me!). Or, if you choose not to make your own, change to a household cleaner that is "green". example: use vinegar instead of jet-dry (and similar products)."

We've done a similar challenge, early on, but it's worth trying again ... perhaps with a slight twist. Here you go:

This week, if you've never tried Eco-friendly cleansers (either commercial or handmade), please try one out.

Or ...

If you've used commercial Eco-friendly cleansers but have never made your own, try making one (a simple cleanser can be made with equal parts vinegar and baking soda, with a few drops of essential oil added in to make it smell nice ... it's perfect for cleaning bathrooms and kitchens). We'd also like to know which commercial brands you use and your analysis of them.

Or ...

If you always use homemade cleansers, please share your recipe with us. We'd also like to know what you've tried, what works and what doesn't.

So what do you think ... are you up for this challenge? I know that you are!!

Thanks, Everyone!

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Finding Tongues in Trees: Poetry as the Voice of Nature

Those of you who have followed Reduce Footprints for some time might remember Elizabeth Barrette who was a regular participant in the Change The World Wednesday challenges. We haven't seen Elizabeth in awhile because she's been busy writing. She's recently published two wonderful books: From Nature's Patient Hands: A Collection of Poetry and Prismatica: Science Fiction Poetry Spanning the Spectrum. I have had the pleasure of reading both books and I can tell you that they are beautiful. Elizabeth has the ability to paint pictures with her words. She has graciously agreed to talk to us today about our connection to nature and how she chooses to share nature's voice.


Finding Tongues in Trees:
Poetry as the Voice of Nature


And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.
-- William Shakespeare, As You Like It, 1599


Whenever I go outside, the world speaks to me. Its voice is there in the rattle of wind through autumn cornfields, in the crackle of flames crawling over logs, in the bright trill of birdsong. Nostalgia is the lazy drone of a cicada on a summer afternoon; humor is the gurgling chuckle of a stream. Patience is the sound of silence: Be still. Wait. There is more to come.

I have spent my life learning to listen to nature. I know the sound of toads calling for their mates, of coyotes singing to mark their territory. I know how the alarm-call of birds when a predator moves by differs from the calls they make when I go to refill the bird feeders. The sounds tell me what's going on around me, in what they say and do not say.

Beneath the sounds there lies a deeper voice. This planet is alive and alert, although it does not think the same way we do. In a sense, humans are the part of the Earth that thinks consciously, that reasons, that plans ahead. Yet the living planet has a mind of its own, and it speaks; and because we belong to it, we can hear it, if we learn to listen. The messages are there for anyone who attends to the tongues of trees, the brook-written books, and the slow sermons of stone.

These are the voices in my nature poetry. I give you the sounds of the wilderness, the same way I describe the sights and the smells and the other details, to anchor you in a particular place. I give you the clues to reveal what happens, so that you can put it together just as you would if you stood in the place I described. The joy of language is there -- simile and metaphor, rhythm and rhyme -- drawn out of the human brain's gift for linguistics. The last voice lies between the lines, rarely overt, the deep meaning of what nature really is and why it's important. Because of that, it is flexible; it can shift to say something new to each reader, just as each hiker in a forest may discover something different. My nature poems are not just about nature but of nature. Within them lie the patterns that science and life have made over millennia.

I write these poems to put the voices into language, to give words to the wordless world. I create them because I am a part of the Earth that can speak with lips and write with fingers. I send them out into the world to show people the beauty, fragility, power, and wonder of the world around us. It is my talent, my profession, and my vocation.

As a scholar, I deal in facts. As an activist, I deal in issues. As a poet, I deal in feelings. And I can attest that feelings move people far more than facts or issues. Many more people make their decisions based on emotions than on logic. So if you want to convince them of something, you need to make them feel it, not just think it. If you want them to save something, make them love it, not just value it.

Poetry is the language of the heart. It fills us with words that soar and fly like dragonflies above a pond in spring. It spins emotions like spider silk, sticky and shimmering. Even after a poem has been read and put away, something of it slumbers within the reader, snug as a bear in its winter cave.

Every poem I write is a message of hope, of possibility, of potential. Even the dark ones are warnings of disasters that we could avoid if we choose with care. I take what the world shows me and I frame it in a way that others can easily enjoy. I send out poems like pollen on the wind, or coconuts on the ocean waves. Some of them will always find fertile ground and sprout. And the ideas that grow from them, however diverse because of the minds that bear them, will always be rooted in nature.


Elizabeth Barrette lives in Illinois. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Rhetoric and works as a writer and editor. For more information, including how to purchase Elizabeth's books, please visit PenUltimate Productions.

Change The World Wednesday

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW), our effort to improve the world, one Eco-Challenge at a time. If you are new to this blog, please click HERE for more info.

Last week we did laundry ... Eco-friendly laundry. We tried using cold water, Eco-friendly laundry soaps and vinegar in the rinse cycle instead of fabric softener sheets in the dryer. In our house, cold water is the "norm" and we also use vinegar in the rinse cycle which not only softens cloths but reduces static cling. My biggest challenge is the soap ... I haven't found Eco-friendly soaps to be efficient in getting our clothes truly clean. So that's an area that needs improving. In addition to the challenge suggestions, we do a few other things to make laundry efficient: we only do full loads, we use hydrogen peroxide to whiten those whites, and we don't allow the dryer to cool down between loads. Let's see what the Honor Society had to say about this challenge:

EcoGrrl always uses cold water for her laundry and shares that most detergents are now formulated for cold water washing (she uses BioKleen). She never uses dryer sheets ... in fact, she doesn't always use a dryer, opting instead for a clothes line in the yard. Great job, EcoGrrl!

Mrs. Green wrote this POST about what does and doesn't work for her. Cold water washing doesn't get her clothes clean, but earth-friendly soap (Ecover) does. She also posted a recipe for a laundry soap called "Gloop" which she plans to try. Please come back and let us know how it worked out, Mrs. Green.

Mrs. Green also did an update on our challenge about eating local. You can read it HERE. She touches on something which many of us face ... when the choice is between our dietary ethics (or our health) and the earth, which do we choose. It's an interesting, eye-opening discussion.

Hand Crafter, who found us through the Wednesday Blog Hop, stopped in. Nice to see you HC ... hope you'll join us for more challenges.

Our friend, Jennifer, uses soap nuts (normal wash), Seventh Generation Laundry detergent (for getting tougher stains out), Castille Soap and Oxybleach (for pre-soaking) ... all Eco-friendly options. And she also line drys ... her clothes come off the line smelling like sunshine. Fabulous!

Kelly, another new follower, does her laundry in an unusual way (well ... unusual in the modern world) ... she washes her clothes in a tub of cold water, using a plunger to agitate the load. Then she uses a wringer, which is from the 1800s, to squeeze out the water and then hangs everything on a line to dry. Wow!! I think Kelly wins the prize for the most Eco-friendly laundry method today! If you'd like to read about it and see pictures of her wringer, click HERE. She also shares that they have simply stopped buying anything which comes in plastic. Great job, Kelly!

Frugal Invitation stopped in. She is the hostess of the Welcome Wednesday Blog Hop which you'll find in my side bar. Nice to see you FI!

TLN never uses a dryer and plans to try out Eco-detergents. Let us know what you learn, TLN!

MindfulMixture has been wanting to write about alternatives to chemical-laden laundry products ... she has chemical sensitivities. I hope you write the post, MM ... I'm sure that you'll find a thoughtful and kind way to approach the subject. When you do, let us know ... we'd love to read it! By the way, MM tried out this month's vegan recipe and posted the results, along with her own enhancements, HERE. Her post made me hungry! Thanks, MM!

Our friend, Ann, stopped by. She left a comment about another kind of detergent ... dish detergent. She mixes a small amount of detergent with vinegar and baking soda ... this makes the detergent last longer and gets her dishes squeaky clean. Thanks for the tip, Ann!

Mysticle joined us. She uses Eco-friendly laundry and dish detergents ... and never uses dryer sheets. She plans to investigate the "vinegar in the rinse cycle" trick. Thanks for joining in, Mysticle ... let us know what you think of the vinegar idea.

Our challenge was once again featured in the Shopping Charity Daily. Be sure to browse around this interesting publication ... lots of great topics are included each day. Thanks, so much, to @shoppingcharity for including us!

Sometimes, what we discover while attempting a challenge is as important as the challenge itself. That's the case, this week, for our friend REWinn. He wrote this POST about all the things he learned while trying to find "washing soda", one of the ingredients in several homemade laundry soap recipes. It's an excellent piece! Thanks, REWinn!

Our #CTWW Gang talked about our challenge on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're on twitter, these are great folks to follow:

@cjrthemommyblog
@littlegreenblog
@noteasy2begreen
@mysticle
@earthsafefinish
@shoppingcharity
@bblonskidesigns
@rewinn

Thanks to everyone who participated this week. If you wrote an article, I've Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it.

Let's talk about a new challenge. Our friend Amy (aka @Waylandcook) sent in an interesting idea. Her husband has been cooking outside over a few pieces of wood (read all about it in a December Post by Amy). So she suggests that it might be a good challenge for us. My first concern was whether or not burning wood is environmentally sound. I went to Wikipedia and found this ARTICLE on the subject. The references for that piece included the EPA, Science Direct ... among others. And the consensus seems to be that IF the wood is obtained in an Eco-friendly way and IF one sets a "clean" fire, the smoke produced by the wood is no different than the emissions released from naturally decaying wood in the forest. So, it is considered carbon-neutral.

My next concern, being that it's cold outside, is that ... well ... it's cold outside. For some of us, it would mean going to a park or campsite where outdoor fires are permitted. In freezing temperatures, I would be reluctant to head out for a winter picnic. So, I've added to Amy's challenge to, hopefully, give us all an opportunity to expand our "green" minds. Here it is:

This week, if possible, try cooking a meal outside over a clean, Eco-friendly fire.

Or ..

If you are unable to cook outside, or if it's just too cold, please cook at least one day's meals using energy-efficient methods (table top appliances such as crock-pots, electric skillets, etc.). Do not use the stove or oven.

Or ...

If you are already cooking meals in an energy-efficient way, please share information and suggestions on how we all can do better.

I'd like to thank Amy for this idea ... I think it's going to be an interesting week!

Okay ... ready for our mantra? Here it is:

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Vegan Recipe - Corn and Quinoa Chowder

Every month, usually on the first Friday of the month, we post a vegan recipe. Why? Because a plant-based diet is good for the earth. If you'd like to read more about that, check out THIS POST.

One of my favorite sites is The Picky Eater. The author, Anjali, posts fabulous recipes such as Channa Masala, Vegetable Paella and Ricotta & Spinach Ravioli. She also writes informative articles on interesting topics such as why we should eat slowly and items to stock in a healthy pantry. You'll find reviews of restaurants in San Francisco, Portland and Brazil. Basically, her blog is a gold mine of health and food related information ... and with so many people vowing to get healthy this year, it's a must-read!

Anjali has graciously given me permission to share this recipe with you. She found it at Vegetarian Times and has included her healthy changes. It is warm and comforting ... and perfect on cold winter days. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Corn and Quinoa Chowder

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

3/4 cup red or white quinoa, rinsed and drained (Anjali used white and says it makes the soup look more creamy)

1 tsp. cumin seeds

1-1/2 Tbs. olive oil (Anjali used about 3/4 of a Tbsp)

2-1/2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels

1 large red potato, diced (about 1 cup)

4 small shallots, chopped (about 1/4 cup)

4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

2 cups plain soymilk (Anjali used low fat soymilk)

1 large red bell pepper, diced

3 Tbs. chopped cilantro, plus a few sprigs for garnish

Lime wedges, optional (Anjali recommends using the Lime because it adds a wonderful flavor to the soup!)

Salt & Pepper to taste – this is a MUST!

Directions:

1. Toast quinoa and cumin seeds in pot over medium-high heat, 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden and fragrant, stirring constantly. Transfer to bowl.

2. Heat oil in pot; add corn, potato and shallots. Sauté 5 minutes, or until shallots are translucent. Add broth and soymilk, and bring to a boil.

3. Stir in quinoa mixture. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer 10 minutes.

4. Stir in bell pepper, cover and simmer 5 minutes, or until quinoa and vegetables are tender.

5. Remove from heat; stir in chopped cilantro. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

6. Ladle into soup bowls, and garnish with cilantro sprigs and lime wedges.


Anjali served the soup with toasted pita wedges and said they were fun to use as little dippers in the soup!

The original recipe, including more pictures and the nutritional information, can be found HERE.

I'd like to thank Anjali for sharing this wonderful recipe with us. If you have a favorite vegan recipe which you'd like to share, please send it to me HERE. And, for the complete list of recipes we've posted, please click HERE.

As always, I would love to hear from you!

Change The World Wednesday

Welcome back to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) ... and Happy New Year! If you are new to CTWW, please click HERE for more information and a list of previous challenges.

Before we get into "challenge business", I have news ... big news! Our very own Cinella, a regular CTWW participant, has shared that she's getting married this summer. Congratulations to her and her fiance'. And ... she plans on having a green wedding. To read all about her wedding preparations including how she'll keep it green, read her new blog Gaining AND Losing.

Our last challenge asked us to search out local foods and incorporate them into our meals. For part of the month, I was in Washington state. For Christmas, we enjoyed a wonderful vegan holiday loaf which was made by a Seattle company, Field Roast. From my parent's vegetable garden, we ate beets and sweet little carrots along with fresh spring onions and garlic. Once back in North Carolina, we enjoyed tiny little cherry tomatoes which came up in my lettuce bin and refused to give up ... what a treat they were as the snow fell. Our area also has greens, romaine lettuce and various root vegetables available at this time of year. So, eating local is quite doable. Let's see how our Honor Society did:

For EcoGrrl, eating local is a way of life. She even uses local ingredients in her Truffle business. She reminds us that tropical fruits, like bananas, are not local and come with a huge environmental cost. By the way, EcoGrrl has started a weekly post about ... well ... Eco stuff. Her first two posts are excellent ... I learned a lot (read them HERE and HERE). Thanks, EcoGrrl!

Marcy took the challenge and wrote about all the foods she can find locally in Montana and about something which Boseman elementary schools are doing to promote "made-in-Montana foods" (you can read it HERE). She also looked through her pantry and found purple barley which is on the local list. What does one do with purple barley? Marcy shares this recipe on her site: Purple Barley Pilaf. Thanks, Marcy!

Our friend, Kris, wrote a wonderful POST about a local store/cafe she found in St. Louis. The store states that at least 50% of their products are locally produced. Kris kept looking around throughout the month and updated that post with more "finds", including a link which we can all use to find local foods in our areas. And ... in a related POST, she talks about giving up the grocery store for a year. Think you could do it? Thanks, Kris!

Argentum Vulgaris, in this POST, gives us an update on local foods in Brazil. While the country may not be "into" local, organic foods, AV sure is. Check out the pictures of what he grows over concrete. And great news ... reusable bags are showing up in his area. Thanks, AV!

One of our twitter friends, @OnFire4Handmade, gave our challenge a write-up in her paper The On Fire For Handmade Daily. Thanks so much!

T.Rusk4u took the challenge. She made an interesting comment ... she and her husband try to buy everything local, not just food. Great point ... we'd walk a little gentler on the earth if we purchased all things local ... furniture, clothes, jewelry, etc. Teresa knows all about local creations ... she's a fabulous jewelry designer. Check out her local creations HERE. Hey, Teresa, how did your vegetarian Christmas dinner turn out?

Rewinn says that eating local in Seattle is easy. With Washington State's diverse climate, a variety of products are available. Rewinn enjoys a beverage which was produced in a neighbors home. Can you guess what it is? Oh ... you know the rules ... I can't tell. But you can find out HERE. Thanks, Rewinn!

In this POST, Mrs. Green talks about food security, food miles and the environmental footprint of her meals. Any guesses on how many miles one day's food traveled? Here's a hint: her food traveled the equivalent of over four (4) round trips from New York to London. That's a real eye-opener! Thanks, Mrs. Green!

Our Friend, Ann, came by ... and, as always, she promotes our challenges by including a link in one of her posts. In THIS POST she talks about spreading ashes in waterways ... something which I've never thought about. Thanks, Ann!

Brooklyn is new to our challenges. She write a wonderful BLOG about healthy living. Thanks for joining us, Brooklyn!

Laura, from Green in Real Life, is also new to our challenges. She found us through the Green Follow Friday link-up, which you'll find in my side-bar. Nice to "see" you Laura!

On Twitter, the #CTWW Gang talked about our challenge using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're on twitter, these are great folks to follow:

@cjrthemommyblog
@mysticle
@whopaysthepiper
@rewinn
@myzerowaste
@noteasy2begreen

If you wrote an article for this challenge, I've Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it.

Ready for something new? We're headed to the laundry room this week:

This week accomplish one or all of the following Eco-friendly laundry practices:

• Wash in cold water only
• Use "Green" laundry soap (consider making your own)
• Use vinegar in the rinse rather than using dryer sheets

Or ...

If you already do all of these things, all of the time, please write about it and share any other tips you may have.

What do you think? Doable? Remember, if you have any ideas for challenges, please send them to me HERE.

Thanks, everyone!

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!