Change The World Wednesday - No Circling

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

Last week we took action to help bees. Art Ist and I have recently become the proud owners of land ... over two acres of beautiful, Blue Ridge Mountain property (more on that in the future). So this week, we planted wild flowers and researched native fruit trees. I have already put "dibs" on a perfect site for a vegetable garden. We also cleaned up a recovered bee house ... one of the treasures left behind by the previous owners. Our property includes a pond and two mountain streams, but just to be sure that the bees have a comfortable place to drink, we added a bird bath ... might as well help out all our flying friends. In the back areas, we found logs which, judging by their condition, have been laying there for many years. Since bees love using old wood for nests, we'll leave the logs undisturbed. It was fun to view our actions, this week, in terms of protecting bees. Hopefully, this summer, we'll have many pollinators taking up residence.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

Alicia stopped by and left a comment regarding our Kidney Health challenge. She said, "This is an easy challenge for us since we started pretty much eating Vegan about two years ago now. It really is so easy to find better ways of getting protein other than eating meat and cheese! Your body will definitely thank you!" For this week's challenge she shared this: "Great post! We already have eliminated toxins from our home and always have a veggie and herb garden. We have a small pile of old tree limbs and grass clippings we keep on a small area of our property. We don't have a water source for the bees but I am looking into finding something that we can use year round for them. Our neighbor around the road has quite a few bees which I think is awesome."

Deborah accepted the bee challenge and shared this, "I have been concerned and baffled by the disappearance of bee hives so I am delighted that you are calling attention to this issue. I look forward to researching this problem, learning more about the causes and ways to help save the bees as part of this week's CTWW Challenge."

Remember our challenge to go vegan for a day? Well, Argentum Vulgaris (a "true blue" carnivore) gave us little hope that he'd meet the task. And no, he didn't go vegan for a day ... he took it on for TWO DAYS! WhooHoo! Not only that, he found (and shared) a recipe for making vegan cheese. Wowee! He made quite a few environmental changes last week, including trying a new air freshener. Read Change the World Wednesday – 23rd Apr to find out about his improvements and how he helps bees. Totally awesome, AV!

Melanie dropped by. Here are her comments: "We are lucky to have a home nearby that keeps bees. We plant lots of veggies, plus have native plants in our yard, and have areas where bees can make nests. Additionally, we do not use pesticides anywhere in our garden, lawn or home. I'm pleased to see an increase of bees in our area in the last few years. I think I will have my husband help make a bee house soon. since he works with locally sourced, untreated, naturally aged wood in his wand and crochet hook making, we have all the supplies on hand!" Nice, Melanie ... I hope you'll share pictures of the new bee houses!

Lois wrote Change the World Wednesday; Bees. Towards the end of the post (which contains a lot of great information), she talks about companies who disregard the plight of bees in favor of their own profits. She also offers a possible way in which we can turn that around.

EcoGrrl joined us this week. Here are her thoughts on bees: "Great challenge this month! It's pouring down rain this week but I can address most of these as having been done already this spring:
* Plant at least one native, flowering plant in your yard - here in Portland I ransacked the annual Native Plant Sale in February where I planted ferns, wild ginger, and salmonberry (the latter which should blossom).
* Plant a vegetable garden - already done in March/April, with tomato starts in progress for planting next month :)
* Let pests live (natural pest controllers, like Lady Bugs, need them for food) - I would have to disagree with this as a generalization. Ladybugs aren't in great enough quantity (even if I buy them by the bag) to eat all the aphids, so I use neem oil to take out the aphids organically that love to eat my roses :)
* Keep your lawn and garden pesticide-free - always :)
* Eliminate chemicals in your home - always :)
* Provide a year-round, clean source of water for bees (rainwater collection, a small garden water feature, bird bath, etc.) - I'm not too worried about this with the Oregon rain :)
* Leave some dead trees or plants in your yard ... bees will nest in them. Or, place a bee house in your garden. - I actually put dead matter in my compost bin, as rats are attracted to piles as well here in the city. Fortunately, the bumblebees have a nest somewhere near our garage as they always like to rumble out in the summer when I'm go in :)
* Buy organic food - always!
* Take up beekeeping - not in the plans for us but support local beekeepers who sell via http://www.beelocal.com/about/ "

Alaiyo left a comment via Triberr: "Bees are so important, and we depend on them. Thanks for writing about these necessary insects."

CelloMom joined us this week. She shared this, " Important challenge with many side benefits! What's good for the bees is also good for us: for instance, I am personally not RoundUp Ready - are you? Keeping pesticides out of our lives is the smart thing to do. A lot of my neighbours are putting out bamboo cuttings in their yard spring cleaning. If I collect some, cut it to length, and tie the lengths in a bundle, that's a 15-minute bee house. Maybe those gigantic bumble bees will like that better than burrowing into my car port. Hmmm.... "

This edition of Sunflowers & Edibles gave CTWW a nice mention. Be sure to scroll down the paper because there are a couple of other bee-related posts mentioned including one entitled "What If The Bees Stop Buzzing By June". Good stuff!

Clare accepted the challenge and offered this, "So glad you're highlighting the plight of bees! Almost everything in my garden is native / indigenous, I grow veggies, I use only neem as a pesticide and use almost no chemicals indoors. I do have some dead banana trees (not a tree strictly speaking but anyway).
I have definitely noticed an increase in the number of bees in my garden since I moved in here. What I'm not doing is buying organic food all the time as it's available only in very limited quantities where I live, but of course my own home-growns are organic. I'm not planning on keeping bees, but I do buy from local beekeepers. As always, your blog makes me try ever harder, so my new task will be to provide rainwater for bees (I collect it anyway).
I've got a couple of articles on bees: Why Bees Are So Important To You - http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/why-bees-are-important and also Disappearing Bees - Solutions - http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/disappearing-bees-solutions. Thanks for another great challenge!"

Katie wrote How I Save the Bees [#CTWW] where she offers some great ideas for protecting bees. I especially like the "bucket a day" idea! Under "Native, Flowering Plants", she asks a question about how to determine whether or not a plant is hybrid. Does anyone have an answer for her?

The Shopping Charity mentioned CTWW and included a link to one of your posts. Was it yours?

Finally, I'd like to point you to a fascinating article entitled Buzzing for Solutions: 13 Organizations and Initiatives Helping to Save Bees.

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation and shared the following:

From @GiveTreeGifts
- I'm happy to report that the only thing on your list I'm not already practicing is beekeeping :)
- Insecticide free plants hit nursery shelves to protect bees ow.ly/w4Hn5
- How to protect bees in my yard and garden ow.ly/w4Hr4
- Save the bees: 'Raging Granny' urges Grand Rapids to ban pesticide ow.ly/w4Hx5
- Why bees need our help and we need the help of bees ow.ly/w4HBR
- 11 plants to make your garden bee-friendly ow.ly/w4Io3
- Nationwide gardening challenge to plant bee-friendly flowers ow.ly/w4IsM
- Bee-friendly garden can help struggling species ow.ly/w4Ijg

From @green_vibes
- Our food depends on bees! Sign this petition on the @greenpeaceusa Facebook page! http://t.co/lLQaTAk7NU

From @ByLittleNea
- Growing a lot of my own food during the summer. I need bees for that.

From @VioletsBuds
- I think our yard needs a bee house. Oh @GipsonWands , I have a project for you!

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@a_kiasi	@allnaturalkatie	@aussiemoose
@barbhoyer	@barrydarrdixon	@biggreenpen
@bylittlenea	@cleannergyphoto	@collegegogreen
@counselorholley	@debsmikdav1	@dehelen
@eco_novice	@ecoexpert1	@ecothrifty
@erbaviva	@factorydpromos	@familybetty
@frederickbrooke	@freshcleanersaz	@geekgirlusa
@givetreegifts	@green_vibes	@groovygreenlivi
@guayaba	@herbgir1972	@hismerecry
@jamiastarheart	@johannamhaack	@kaitlingarder
@kanelstrand	@kaskadia	@kiser_krafts
@krmbalclothing	@laalicia	@lady_bren
@ladyjcmuses	@madeinusablog	@magnushrm
@marikokoloco	@marjoriemcatee	@mdg276
@michaelinla3	@mitlamoda	@momfindsout
@mommiesnetwork	@nolafusion	@ourboudoir
@pamela_o_plays	@pberk	@pepesplants
@proamusa	@rckweddings	@realityarts
@renatogianuca	@rulesofgreen	@sbs_brands
@sensuouspromos	@sfcouncil	@shannongrissom
@soulfullab	@sowandso	@spafloating
@superbsolutions	@susanheaney	@tammycurry
@thesoftlanding	@theworld4realz	@treesgroup
@twicecreations	@veggiebeet	@violetsbuds
@whopaysthepiper	@witteeme	@zenfarmz

My Final Thoughts:

While visiting a park in North Carolina, I noticed that the care-takers had a hummingbird feeder hanging outside of their trailer. As I got closer, I saw that, on the next tree, there was a wasp trap. Evidently the wasps didn't understand that a hummingbird feeder was only for the cute, little birds. So, the care-takers took action to keep them away from the feeder. The wasp trap was full of dead wasps and bees. I felt so sad. Society tends to protect cute and pretty creatures. The less-than-sweet critters, or those that can bite or sting, are typically considered pests ... and there are all kinds of products on the market designed to kill them. It's time that we stop seeing bees and other pollinators as pests and, rather than destroy them, offer them protection. It's not about the inconvenient buzzing around a picnic table or even a sting when we get too close to a hive ... it's about our food supply and life on earth.

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

"Circling" wastes a lot of gas

Have you ever found yourself circling the parking lot, looking for the closest parking space?

Unfortunately, that practice wastes a lot of fuel.

Here's your challenge ...

This week, park in the first available parking space and then walk the rest of the way. The goal is to use very little fuel once we enter the parking area. It's a small thing with a big impact. And ... it's great exercise!

OR ...

If you don't drive, or want more of a challenge, please focus on other ways to reduce petroleum use. Here are some suggestions:

• Buy local products (they don't travel as far to get to your market).
• Go "Scent Free" or use essential oils (95% of the chemicals in most perfumes and scents are derived from petrochemicals).
• STOP using plastic bags!
• Air dry your clothing (saves energy which means reduced oil consumption).
• Choose natural, Eco-friendly cosmetics (most lipstick and glosses are made with petroleum products).
• Switch to soy-based printing inks (most inks on the shelf contain petroleum products).
• Say "NO" to nylon and polyester (both petroleum based).
• Avoid aspirin which contains ... yep ... petroleum.
• Avoid hair color and opt for a natural dye like henna ... or just go natural!
• Grow and/or buy organic foods (fertilisers and pesticides contain petroleum).

Oil seems to touch so many areas of our life. Are you ready to reduce your consumption? I know that you are!

Until next time ...

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

Sneak Peek: Do you love natural, Eco-friendly body care products? Join me next week and you might win some.

Vegan Recipe - Minestrone Soup

I love Minestrone Soup ... it's warm and comforting on a cool evening and reminds me of my Italian Grandmother, who usually had a pot on the stove when we arrived for a visit.

Unfortunately, most recipes for this rustic dish include ingredients like Pancetta, chicken broth, and Parmesan ... items which don't fit into a vegan lifestyle.

I recently tried a vegetarian version at a restaurant. Sadly, it was very bland. So I turned to the Internet for inspiration. I found recipes but, again, they lacked flavor.

So, I headed into the kitchen and, thinking about the bold flavors in my Grandmother's soup, I started creating. The result is an easy-to-make, hearty soup with a lot of flavor. I hope you and your family enjoy it.

Vegan Minestrone Soup

Ingredients

1. 1 Can tomatoes with juice (if there isn't much juice, add some water)
2. 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3. 1/2 teaspoon oregano
4. 1/8 teaspoon ginger
5. 3 cloves garlic, minced
6. 1/2 onion (small), diced
7. 1/2 teaspoon Amino liquids
8. 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
9. 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
10. 1 Tablespoon parsley
11. 1 bay leaf
12. 1 pinch hot pepper flakes (or to your taste)
13. Splash of vegan Worcestershire sauce
14. Splash of liquid smoke
15. 1 pinch of saffron (opt)
16. Salt & Pepper to taste
17. 1-1/3 Cup mixed vegetables (fresh, frozen, any variety)
18. 1 Cup kidney beans (cooked)
19. 2 Cups potato, diced
20. 2 Cups broccoli
21. Water

Instructions

• Combine the first 16 ingredients in a sturdy soup pot. Bring to a gentle boil and cook for 20 minutes.
• Add in the vegetables, beans, potatoes, broccoli and enough water to cover the vegetables (add more if you like your soup brothy). Bring to a gentle boil and cook for another 15 minutes or until potatoes and vegetables are tender (or cooked to your preference).
• Adjust seasoning.
• Serve with a loaf of rustic bread.

Notes

• This recipe is very versatile. We like a blend of Italian vegetables but any combination of vegetables will work.
• For a twist, try other varieties of beans (chickpeas are wonderful in this soup).
• If you like pasta in your Minestrone, add it in during the last 7-10 minutes of cooking. Be sure to adjust the salt accordingly.
• Lentils are a lovely addition to this dish ... try adding 1/4 - 1/2 cup at the beginning of cooking.
• Rice can be added to the soup. Add it towards the end, allowing enough time for it to cook according to the package instructions.
• While Spanish Saffron is lovely, one can use the less expensive varieties found on the grocery store shelf.

If you have a vegan recipe which you'd like to share, please contact me HERE. And for all the recipes we've shared so far, be sure to visit our recipe page using the tabs at the top of this blog ... or by clicking HERE.

This post is shared at Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural Party Hop, Anything Goes and Healthy Vegan Friday

Guest Post - The Latest Energy Saving Devices That Save You Money

Saving money is something that everyone enjoys doing, yet many people are unaware what they can do to keep energy costs low. In most cases, the only method used to save money

on energy is to keep the heat low in the winter, the air conditioner high in the summer and reduced water consumption as much as possible. However, there are several devices that can reduce energy costs without making friends and family uncomfortable in the home. Some of the devices have been available for some time, but new advances have made them more affordable and efficient, while others are recent developments in energy conservation.

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats are not new devices, but new technology has made them more reliable and affordable for the average homeowner. Many of them adjust automatically based on lifestyles and schedules of those who live in the home using high-tech sensors, algorithms and cloud computing options. Smart thermostats can remember schedules and integrate weather forecasts, allowing the homeowner to control the device using a computer or mobile device from any location. Smart thermostats can reduce the average energy bill by 30 percent, and costs start at around $250.

Energy Efficient Appliances

There are many new-age appliances that provide significant energy savings, but also offer additional technologies that can improve life. There are now refrigerators that can keep track of grocery lists and log food

eaten as well as washing machines that fit more clothes, allowing for fewer laundry loads. However, even appliances that are not visible can provide energy savings. Gas hot water systems, such as the Bosch Highflow system not only reduces energy costs, but also helps the environment by heating water as it is needed, and only heating the amount necessary for the task at hand.

Home Automation

Although it is commonly known that switching to LED lighting can reduce energy costs, consumers are now finding that automation services are another way to be sure energy costs remain low. In fact, using home automation services to control lights can not only save on energy, but can also provide added security, as vacationing homeowners can set lights to turn on and go off using the automation to make it appear someone is at home, deterring burglars. The systems can be accessed using tablets, laptops or smartphones, and many are available through home security companies and other vendors. There are those who believe that as energy companies begin adding smart meter services, they, too, will begin offering home automation services to homeowners. The systems can also control faucets and other water outlets, allowing the homeowner to turn off sprinklers during sudden rainstorms or stop faucets that were accidentally left on.

Small Changes

It is not just big appliances that provide energy savings, as there are many little devices that can provide reduced energy costs. Consumer electronics can add almost $200 a year to energy costs simply by powering up and down each day, so adding a “smart” adapter

that provides just the power that the device needs to operate can help reduce the costs involved. Some companies call them a “digital handshake” between the power supply and the device, so that once the power necessary has been supplied, it shuts off. Mobile phones and tablets need constant charging, and this can lead to additional energy costs as people tend to leave them plugged in for longer than necessary. Consider a solar charger for the device that harnesses energy from the sun. Solar chargers also allow users to charge devices when there is no electrical power available, like on camping trips or while traveling.

Although some of the latest energy saving devices can be initially expensive, the money saved with reduced energy often allows homeowners to recoup their investment fairly quickly. In addition, there are many small, inexpensive things that can be added to a home or office that can reduce energy usage even slightly, which over time adds up to significant savings.

This post is shared at Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural Party Hop and Anything Goes

Why are whole foods healthy?

This month's survey asked "How do you maintain health?"

Here are the results:

Other:

• yoga
• Eat lots of fermented foods.

The #1 Answer

The body can distinguish between
whole foods and supplements

Eating a variety of whole foods was the number one answer.

We all know that whole foods are better for us, but have you ever wondered why? After all, processed foods are often "fortified" and supplements can fill in the gaps. So what's the deal with whole foods?

Read on ...

• Phytochemicals ("Phyto" refers to the Greek word for plant) can only be found in whole plant foods. There are over 25,000 phytonutrients found in plants and they help protect us from cancer, reduce inflammation, encourage eye health, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, etc.


• Whole foods are complex and contain a multitude of balanced nutrients which cannot be emulated by a supplement. In short, they contain everything we need, in the right proportions. Supplements, on the other hand, contain isolated nutrients. That means that rather than get the right amount, we could, potentially, overdose on a single nutrient, causing health problems. It should also be noted that supplements, considered medicinal products, come with "side effect" warnings ... whole foods don't.


• Fiber, essential for GI (Gastrointestinal) health, helps fight heart disease and diabetes, controls blood sugar, and helps us maintain a healthy weight. When a food is processed, the fiber is usually removed. Whole foods, as opposed to supplements, contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. They also slow down the digestion process allowing better absorption of nutrients.


• Whole foods contain no added fat, sugar, or sodium.


• Fortified foods artificially add nutrition into the product (often with synthetic vitamins). Studies have shown than even after the "enhancement", the food still doesn't equal the nutrition of a whole food.

A "whole" is better than a "piece"

Consider this ... a fragment of a bottle might be desirable in it's own right, but it will never be able to compete with the functionality of a bottle.

In the same way, processed foods and supplements can never live up to the nutritional benefits of Whole Foods.


How do you incorporate whole foods into your meal plan?


Sneak Peek: Have you checked out the latest energy-saving devices recently? Tomorrow we'll take a look at a few of them.

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Bees

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

Last week we protected our kidneys, and the health of the planet, by going vegan for a day. I'm a full-time vegan and have shared many delicious recipes on Reduce Footprints (you'll find them all HERE). A plant-based diet is (in my opinion) satisfying, and I enjoy knowing that I'm doing something good for my body. I also enjoy knowing that my food choices reduce the stress on the earth (raising meat, or any animal-products, takes a lot of natural resources). Better health and kind to the planet ... sounds like a WIN-WIN to me!

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

In support of our air pollution challenge, Katie wrote Why We Don't Take the Bus [#CTWW]. The post reminds me that we are all affected by negative connotations and the often unfair views of society.

Deborah wrote Change the World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Air Pollution - 9 Green & Easy Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality. She offers some great tips like one about wallpaper glue and another about carpets. For this week's challenge she shares this, "This week's #CTWW Challenge really resonates with me because several friends and family members have had from kidney disease. As I watched loved ones suffer through months and sometimes years of this deadly disease--enduring dialysis treatments; waiting for compatible donors for organ transplants; suffering from painful and debilitating symptoms.This really made me think what we can do to keep our kidneys healthy naturally; how we can try to prevent the onset of kidney disorders? This blog post explores some natural ways to keep our kidneys healthy. Concerned about Kidneys? Natural Ways to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy "

In Change the World Wednesday, My Most Serious Health Issue Lois reveals that she has one kidney which doesn't work. Diet has played an important role in keeping her healthy. But here's the amazing thing ... her doctors knew that a plant-based diet would help but never gave her that information. Their reasons might shock you!

Argentum Vularis admits "The only malady that I can attribute to animal products is gout (high uric acid because the kidneys can’t process it all), in my case not serious, manifesting slightly at times and going again." Was this reason enough for him to turn to a plant-based diet? Find out in Change the World Wednesday – 16th Apr ... and be sure to read through the comments for more great info.

Cody accepted the challenge and offers a lot of information in Change the World Wednesday - Eat Better for Health & Earth. She also talked about something she'll do this week to eliminate meat for a day! Can you guess what it is?

I found a CTWW article in this edition of Shopping Charity. Was it yours? This Edition gives CTWW a nice mention!

Lisa stopped by and shared this, "The picture of the muscular man holding vegetables is great! My husband runs about 6 miles a day and weight trains two days a week and hasn't had any drop off since we have switched to an almost vegetarian diet. (I exercise daily, too, just not as intensely as he does.) It's a shame that athletes believe they can't exist without meat protein."

Our Twitter friend, @VioletsBuds, joined the conversation and shared the following:

- I missed posting for last week's #CTWW air pollution challenge! We do our part here by gardening, having indoor plants and..
- Did you do the #vegan challenge from #CTWW? I had 4 vegan breakfast, 3 lunch, and 2 dinners, not bad!

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@a_kiasi	@adriennewarren5	@allnaturalkatie
@altfashionweek	@barrydarrdixon	@bicyclehsv
@bike2power	@bkind3	@bstoneblog
@bylittlenea	@caitlyndawney	@cmg_bedding
@collegegogreen	@counselorholley	@crazykids6
@debsmikdav1	@dehelen	@drifterjournals
@ecoexpert1	@ecothrifty	@factorydpromos
@familybetty	@freshcleanersaz	@ginavalley
@givetreegifts	@green_vibes	@greenageworld
@groovygreenlivi	@guayaba	@healthyvoyager
@herbgir1972	@hismerecry	@johncbader
@kaitlingarder	@kayelleallen	@kiser_krafts
@krmbalclothing	@laalicia	@lady_bren
@ladyjcmuses	@leeindustries	@leslieveg
@lorcadamon	@lu_and_ed	@magnushrm
@marikokoloco	@marjoriemcatee	@mendy7
@michaelinla3	@mimibarbour	@mitlamoda
@momfindsout	@momgamerwriter	@mommiesnetwork
@mzazeela	@newworldfilmsco	@orendamagazine
@pamela_o_plays	@pberk	@pedalgadgets
@pinecone_grove	@rckweddings	@realityarts
@reciperadar	@rulesofgreen	@sbs_brands
@sensuouspromos	@sfcouncil	@shannongrissom
@soulfullab	@spafloating	@superbsolutions
@susanheaney	@tammycurry	@theurbannatura1
@theworld4realz	@trashn2tees	@treesgroup
@variationsbaker	@violetsbuds	@vivegan41
@wencdj	@whopaysthepiper	@witteeme
@zenfarmz

My Final Thoughts:

When I was asked to try a vegan diet, my immediate response was "NO". I loved meat! Yes, doctors suggested that eating less of it would benefit my health since my family had a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol ... but I LIKED meat. I even ignored the fact that after eating, my whole body seemed to "flush" ... I turned red and got hot, and joked that my body was working overtime to process the meal. I didn't know how truthful that statement was. After watching a particularly telling program, I decided to try a plant-based diet for a month. I had every intention of going back to my meat-eating ways but decided that, for 30 days, I would embrace a vegan diet ... to give it a serious try. I never went back to eating meat. Sometimes, the true beauty of our challenges is simply trying something new. Do I expect that everyone will turn vegan? Not at all. But hopefully everyone learned that a plant-based meal, now and again, is quite doable ... even enjoyable. Every little effort matters ... for our health and for the planet.

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

Intensive agriculture and the use of pesticides/herbicides
contribute to a loss of habitat and food for bees

We've all heard that Bee populations are declining. Since bees pollinate the majority of our food crops, worldwide, their decline is a cause for great concern. Why are they in trouble? Research points to GMO agriculture and the use of pesticides. It's time to take action! Here's your challenge ...

This week, take action to protect honey bees. Please choose at least one action from the following list:

• Plant at least one native, flowering plant in your yard. Avoid hybrid plants ... they don't produce enough nectar or pollen and are useless to bees and other pollinators.
• Plant a vegetable garden.
• Let pests live (natural pest controllers, like Lady Bugs, need them for food).
• Keep your lawn and garden pesticide-free.
• Eliminate chemicals in your home.
• Provide a year-round, clean source of water for bees (rainwater collection, a small garden water feature, bird bath, etc.).
• Leave some dead trees or plants in your yard ... bees will nest in them. Or, place a bee house in your garden.
• Buy organic food.
• Take up beekeeping.

Let's help these hard workers! Are you with me? I know that you are!

Sneak Peek: We asked how you maintain your health. Tomorrow we'll reveal the answers.

Until then ...

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

Guest Post - The People's Movement

Grace Wedge Abierto

Can a stylish, casual shoe line change the world? Mark Wystrach is committed to making just that happen.

This former Hollywood soap opera hunk (NBC-TV’s “Passions”) and current model/ actor co-founded The People’s Movement, a line of hip, casual shoes made with natural materials (including natural dyes, organic cottons and chemical free elements) and even upcycled plastic bags from beaches in Bali and California as part of their packaging and shoe elements.

But what makes this shoe different from any other shoe on the market is that the product & packaging is tied to the fight against single use plastics, and passionately encouraging its customers to commit to a greener, more aware lifestyle.

Mark knows firsthand the destruction these plastics can have on ecosystems and ocean areas of the world. It was a visit to one such polluted world beach that led to a pivotal moment in Mark’s life. While surfing in the waters of Southern California in his 20s, this strapping healthy ex-college football player suffered a heart attack, directly tied to boarding in polluted waters.

The wake-up call incident stayed with him, & after a trip to Bali where he saw first hand how "western" habits of convenience were destroying the oceans globally, he decided to do something. A few years later when the opportunity came to form The People's Movement (MOVMT) with co-founder Kevin Flanagan, Mark jumped at the chance.

Marcos Hi

The vision and mission was simple. First and foremost, Mark and Kevin were committed to designing a line of shoes that were comfortable and stylish on their own, made with top of the line materials. “Our shoes are shoes first, “ Mark explains. He and Kevin then created a lifestyle component, asking their customers to transform themselves from shoe buyers to committed citizens. “We didn’t just want someone wearing our shoes, we wanted them to wear a Movement towards a cleaner planet!” The upcycled trash bags are incorporated into design detail in some models and in the bags that the shoes come in. And just like the Tom’s Shoes business model, there is a giveback component: a portion of all purchases triggers a donation to 5 Gyres, a non-profit that enables systematic reduction of plastics through oceanic research, collaboration and action.

The new spring line has just been released, and from ballet-style flats to hightop boots to leather shoes to simple casual shoes (in men and women’s styles) The People’s Movement is definitely creating a national conversation through fashion.

All shoes and accessories are available at www.thepeoplesmovement.com

This post is shared at Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural Party Hop and Anything Goes

Holistic Wellness - Dealing With Stress Naturally

Stress can cause headaches,
fatigue, and anxiety

Stress is a normal part of life! It is our physical and emotional response to pressure. Most of us can handle some stress and, in fact, would probably be bored with life if we didn't experience any. It also helps us stay safe, giving us the ability to take action if we need to. The trouble comes when we have to deal with too much.

Stress helped early humans
react quickly when danger looked
them in the eye

When we are under pressure, the body releases neurochemicals and hormones which prepare us to take action (the fight or flight response). That was perfect in cave-man days when a person's safety was in constant jeopardy. To survive, early humans had to recognize danger and be able to fight it off or flee. But in today's world, we aren't fighting off dinosaurs or running for our lives. We are typically dealing with stressful situations while doing such things as sitting at a desk or driving. So, the chemicals released in our body simply stay there. And that causes us harm.

What causes stress

There are some situations which are expected stressors, like the loss of a loved one, trouble at work, divorce, or financial problems. Other situations might include bad service in a restaurant or heavy traffic when you're in a hurry.

Happy occasions, like a wedding,
can cause stress

Stress is not, however, just about the "bad" stuff that happens. The birth of a baby, a marriage, a new home, or even the holidays can cause stress. It's all about how we deal with situations.

How to recognize stress

Since we each respond to situations differently, how does one know if they are experiencing stress? Here are some common symptoms:

• Trouble sleeping
• Loss of enthusiasm or energy
• Muscle tension and/or muscle aches
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Nervousness
• Stomach problems
• Changes in eating habits (over- or under- eating)
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Mood changes (irritability, depression, sadness, etc.)
• Trouble remembering or concentrating
• Feeling hopeless and/or helpless

The important thing to remember is that we all react to pressure differently. The above list is not, by any means, definitive. It is up to each of us to evaluate our response to determine if we are reacting normally or in an unusual manner.

Strategies to naturally deal with stress

Leave
If at all possible, leave stressful situations. For example, walk away from an argument or take a break from a particularly uncomfortable business meeting. If traffic is heavy, take an alternate route or visit a park until traffic clears.

Exercise
Remember the "fight or flight" response and the build up of chemicals in our bodies? Exercise helps remove them and, in fact, helps slow their production. It also is an antidepressant, combats anxiety, and helps us sleep. If you can't manage daily exercise, try for 30 minutes a day, 3-5 times a week.

Diet
Eat foods high in B Vitamins like nuts, potatoes, bananas, lentils, chili peppers, beans, molasses, and whole grains. Reduce alcohol, caffeine, sugar and junk food. Drink a lot of water to stay hydrated.

Breathe
Have you ever noticed that when you're stressed you breathe quickly and shallowly? Quick, shallow breaths deplete the brain of oxygen. Take five deep breaths to bring your body back to normal. Deep breathing will also improve your mood.

Get Busy
Sometimes we can divert our minds by simply doing something ordinary, like cleaning house, reading, gardening, or cooking. Even watching TV can stop worrisome thoughts.

Talk
Talking to a close friend or a trusted family member may help relieve our anxiety. Simply airing the problems we face can minimize their impact on our lives.

Relax
Relax both the body and the mind. Try guided meditation or yoga. Take a scented bath. Focus on the positive in your life and list the things you are grateful for. Take a nap. Listen to soothing music or take a walk in nature.

Laughter is the
best medicine

Laugh
Laughter tends to relax your whole body. It also increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies. And, remember those stress chemicals and hormones? Laughter decreases them while, at the same time, causes the release of endorphins into our system (they are the body’s natural feel-good chemicals). So, watch a comedy, call your funniest friend, or read a funny book. Or simply start laughing ... before you know it, you'll be doubling over with a good belly laugh.

Stress is inevitable. Managing it properly can be the difference between using it as a motivating, learning tool or letting it cause illness.

William James, an American philosopher and psychologist, said this of stress: "The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another."

How do you manage stress in your life?

Sneak Peek: Have you heard of The People's Movement? Join us next week for an introduction!


The information presented in our holistic living series is not, and should not be used as, a substitute for medical advice.

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Kidney Health

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• This Week's Challenge

Last week we tackled air pollution. I organized my errands such that I could get everything done in one day. For the rest of the time, the car remained parked. There are no commercial air fresheners in my living space, I don't use power tools, and I don't smoke. We have indoor plants and use only natural cleaning supplies (vinegar and baking soda). So my home is good to go! Once we leave our house, though, things go down hill fast. Our community is kept pristine by a landscape company. They use many gas powered tools. I walked into a store and immediately got a headache from (I'm guessing) the toxic cleaning solutions used the night before. Traffic, on the roads around our apartment, is heavy and it always seems to me that people are in a hurry and driving erratically. Not far from here, two smoke stacks pump pollutants into the air, 24/7. This challenge opened my eyes and showed me that we have a ways to go to clean up the air quality in our world.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

Lady JC stopped by and left this comment regarding our "Protect The Ocean" challenge: "This is such a great list. I'll be coming back to check it very often. At our house we've been systematically trying to lower or eliminate our plastic usage for years now, both for environmental and heath reasons. It's a challenge, especially when it comes to packaged goods, but we're getting there. Every once in a while we do bring in a few plastic bags home. We recycle any and all plastic that comes in. Drinking water and food is only kept in glass containers. As for substances that go down the drain, using personal care products and cleaners that are completely biodegradable is a process that took a while and lots of research but now my main cleaners are baking soda, citrus peels, white vinegar and lemon juice. I'll be sure to check out any new recipes anyone has to share! :) "

Ann also left a comment on the ocean challenge: "My favourite topic teaching my kids is Rubbish. Simply adore it getting the kids to think outside the box."

In Change the World Wednesday, It Smells Cleaner, Lois offers some great recipes for air freshener. She also talks about the best way to "dispose" of old paint ... her solution might surprise you!

Did you know that Argentum Vulgaris is an artist? Or that he grows hairy potatoes? How do those things tie into our challenge? Find out in Change the World Wednesday – 9th Apr. That post also includes a picture of the newest member of his family.

This edition of the Shopping Charity includes some of your CTWW articles. Hop over to find out if yours was one of them!

Alicia shares her "ah ha" moment with us: "When we lived in California I had a rude awaking about air pollution! I made a comment one day about how pretty the sky looked that it was an unusual color of orange and pink. My husband and son both said at the same time that is was air pollution that made it that color!! It bothered me so much to think that we were having to breathe that awful pollution! I remember thinking at the time that there was nothing really that could be done about it. That was such wrong thinking. It would be amazing the difference that could be made by doing this very challenge. Look how much less pollution there would be if everyone would just not drive st least one day out of the week. Unless we are delivering to our dealers we don't have to drive a whole lot of miles. We ship our products out all over the U.S. so we do drive into the post office at least three to four times a week. I make sure that I do my shopping during those trips. We are changing over to a new system where we can have our postal carrier pick up our packages. So that is going to help eliminate a lot of our in town trips which is not only helping the environment but going to save a lot of money since we live out in the country and it is several miles into town. We always try to buy local whenever we can. I know that it is so important to have your food source come from no more than a 100 mile or so radius.This is a good challenge to make us more aware of the awful pollutants that are in the air that we breathe."

In addition to turning off the heat for a week, Cody planted a tree and prepared her garden beds for planting veggies. All in support of clean air. But that's not all ... her husband participated, as well, by working from home for a day. How great is that!! Cody offers a bunch of tips for keeping our air clean in Change the World Wednesday - Clean Air for All!

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation and shared the following:

From @GiveTreeGifts
- Four places to cut your carbon | Reduce your carbon footprint | What you can do | David Suzuki Foundation ow.ly/vBlYf #CTWW
- Ways to Reduce Air Pollution | Plain English Guide to The Clean Air Act | US EPA ow.ly/vBmfv #CTWW
- 5 Easy Steps to Reduce Air Pollution ow.ly/vBmr1 #CTWW
- Top 10 ways to reduce air pollution ow.ly/vBmvr #CTWW
- 4 Ways to Take Action to Reduce Air Pollution ow.ly/vBmA0 #CTWW
- How can I help reduce air pollution? ow.ly/vBmE8 #CTWW
- What Can I Do to Help Reduce Air Pollution? ow.ly/vBmJI #CTWW
- 50 Tips To Prevent Air Pollution ow.ly/vBmOM #CTWW

From @KrmbalClothing
- We bought this last year instead of using the landlord's gas mower - makes mowing SO much better pic.twitter.com/aik1rfGF6z #CTWW
- plus, it makes it feel more like I'm just taking a walk up and down my yard ;)

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@89linz	@a_kiasi	@aussierichluck
@barrydarrdixon	@biculturalmama	@biggreenpen
@book_oftheday	@bstoneblog	@collegegogreen
@conservationm	@counselorholley	@debsmikdav1
@dehelen	@dominiquegoh	@ecoexpert1
@ecothrifty	@etsyrecyclersgt	@factorydpromos
@fallenfeathers1	@familybetty	@fineswap
@frederickbrooke	@freshcleanersaz	@ginavalley
@givetreegifts	@green_vibes	@greenageworld
@groovygreenlivi	@guayaba	@herbgir1972
@hismerecry	@jaydauthor	@justanotherhat
@kanelstrand	@kayelleallen	@kiser_krafts
@krmbalclothing	@laalicia	@ladyladuke
@leadsafeamerica	@leslieveg	@lu_and_ed
@magnushrm	@marikokoloco	@marjoriemcatee
@michaelinla3	@mimibarbour	@momfindsout
@mzazeela	@najaficosmetics	@nerddreamer
@newworldfilmsco	@pamela_o_plays	@perithelabel
@pinecone_grove	@rayforchion	@rckweddings
@realityarts	@rtmiii1958	@rulesofgreen
@sensuouspromos	@shadowdogdesign	@shannongrissom
@shoppingcharity	@soulfullab	@spafloating
@superbsolutions	@susanheaney	@theworld4realz
@trashn2tees	@treesgroup	@vanbordelon
@violetsbuds	@voiceboksmedia	@wencdj
@whopaysthepiper	@wsdreams	@zenfarmz
@ziadsourany

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

Meatless meals are good for health!

Did you know that 1 in 3 Americans are at risk for developing kidney disease? Here's another interesting fact: our kidneys work 2-3 times harder when processing animal proteins.

The consumption of animal products is also directly related to the environment because it takes more natural resources to produce them.

Sounds like a challenge to me.

Here you go ...

This week, for at least one full day, go vegan. That means no animal products ... no beef, chicken, pork, or fish ... not even milk, cheese, eggs, or honey.

OR ...

If you are vegan or find this challenge too easy, please share a recipe with your readers and encourage them to try meatless meals ... for their health and for the planet.

Are you ready to enjoy some fabulous, healthy food? I know that you are!

Sneak Peek: How do you deal with stress?

Until then ...

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

Image courtesy of BrianHolm / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Vegan Recipe - Pizza

Please welcome Deborah, head "chef" at Urban Naturale. Deborah has a goal ... to live healthy, green and natural ... by design! "Urban Naturale" encompasses all aspects of that goal and offers readers a ton of great information. I was particularly interested in a section entitled "Nourish" where I found yummy recipes like one for black bean soup and another for oven baked kale chips. That section, however, isn't just about recipes. Readers will learn about nutrition, too. Curious about plant-based calcium sources? How about the healing powers of moringa? Deborah shares that information and more.

While browsing through "Urban Naturale", I came upon a Pizza recipe which made my mouth water! Deborah graciously gave me permission to share it with you. I hope that you'll give it a try!

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

Ingredients

1 teaspoon Raw Sugar
1 1/4 ounce-package Active Dry Yeast
1 cup lukewarm Water
3 cups Whole Wheat Flour (or substitute with a Gluten-free Flour)
1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
Additional flour for dusting

Directions

• In a bowl, combine water, sugar, and active dry yeast and let it sit for at least 5 minutes.
• In a mixer with a dough hook attachment, combine dry ingredients for dough and mix lightly.
• Add yeast mixture and olive oil and mix until well-combined.
• Transfer into a bowl and cover with cloth.
• Let stand for about 1/2 hour or until the dough doubles in size.
• After the dough rises, release any excess gas by thumping it down on the counter.
• Sprinkle the counter with flour and put the dough on it.
• Press the dough and roll it using a rolling pin.
• Lightly grease a 9-inch spring-form pan and place the dough into it.
• Make sure that the sides of the pan are also covered with dough, since we are making deep-dish vegan pizza.
• Preheat oven to 450 F.

Note: If you do not want a deep-dish pizza, you can divide the dough into two and roll them out thinly for a crispy, thin-crust vegan pizza.

Tomato Based Pizza Sauce

Ingredients

Olive oil, as needed
2 Onions, chopped
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1 (8 ounce) can organic tomato sauce or fresh organic tomatoes
1 tablespoon dried Oregano
1 tablespoon dried Basil
Sea salt & Pepper, to taste

Directions

• To prepare the sauce, sauté garlic and onion, add the rest of the sauce ingredients and let simmer until reduced into a thick sauce.
• Brush the crust with olive oil.
• Spread sauce on the crust.
• When ready, layer toppings on the sauce.

Pizza Toppings

Ingredients

Olive Oil, as needed
Vegan Mozzarella Chesse
Sauteed Broccoli
Shitake Mushrooms – sauteed
Maitake Mushroom – sauteed
Caramelized Onions
Roasted Garlic
Sliced Tomatoes
Vegan Feta Cheese

Directions

• Brush the crust with olive oil.
• Spread tomato sauce on the crust.
• Layer sauteed sauteed broccoli, caramelized onions, roasted garlic and vegan feta cheese on the dough.
• Top with mozzarella cheese and repeat the process until all the ingredients are used.
• Top with tomato slices.
• Sprinkle with herbs.
• Bake until edges are crispy and toppings are set, about 10-15 minutes.
• Slice and serve while hot.
• Sprinkle your slice with red pepper, garlic powder or oregano, as desired.

The original recipe, along with alternate topping ideas and more mouth-watering photos, can be found HERE.

If you have a vegan recipe which you'd like to share, please contact me HERE. And for all the recipes we've shared so far, be sure to visit our recipe page using the tabs at the top of this blog ... or by clicking HERE.


Sneak Peek: Want to make a positive impact on the earth? Join us tomorrow for Change The World Wednesday, your chance to make a difference!