Monday, January 19, 2009

A Good Deed is Worth Noting

My husband told me an amazing story the other day, a story that is worth telling again. For those of you who have been feeling down lately, uncertain about what the future brings, and discontent with the human race in general, this may change your feelings.

A week ago my husband was standing in line with a colleague at a coffee shop one afternoon. The gentleman in front of him turned around and asked my husband if he was planning on paying for his coffee with cash or was he going to charge it. An odd question, in the least, but my husband being the thinker that he is inquired about why the man wanted to know my husband's paying habits. The man responded, "Well, I need 4 bucks to pay the toll to cross the bridge and I only have $2. I was hoping that I could buy your coffee in exchange for $2 cash, so I don't have to drive across town to the bank to get more money."

My husband responded that indeed, he had planned on paying for his coffee with his credit card. I'm sure the other man thought that the exchange was over, but instead, my husband pulled out of his wallet his only money, which incidentally, happened to be $2, and gave it to the man. "Here, you can have it," my husband said as he handed the man the money. The man thanked him and said he would buy my husband a coffee, but my husband refused. He said to the man, "Just take it, I want you to have it." And that was it. Without any expectation for anything more, my husband just forked over 2 bucks. It's not like that is a lot of money, but it was the gesture he made to the other man that really moved me...that the other man was saved from having to drive across town to his bank, that my husband perhaps had lightened another person's load for just an instant, and that my husband did it selflessly.

When he told me the story I teared up at the simplicity and beauty that kindness bestows upon the giver and taker, and that in the wake of all the negative things we hear about on a daily basis, there was this one little ray of light. And I know it was, because my husband remarked about how all the people around him suddenly had smiles on their faces.

But wait, the story gets better! After purchasing his coffee, my husband and his colleague sat down to chat. They had not been sitting for very long when the gentleman approached them and handed my husband a card. "What's this?" my husband asked.

"It's a little thank you....a $10 gift card for the next time you get coffee," the man responded.

"You really didn't have to do this, but I appreciate it," my husband remarked.

"I know, but you didn't have to give me the $2, either. Thanks." And then the man was gone. Now it was my husband's turn to grin from ear to ear for his faith in humanity had been restored...even for just another day, a moment, an instant. Selflessness at its best.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Supporting Local Businesses

I recently read SN&R's article, Hard Times, from their Thursday, January 8th printing. Reading it was depressing and anxiety-provoking as it detailed that the worst may be yet to come. Truly, that is something we all probably know in our hearts...that unemployment, crime, homelessness, drug use, foreclosures....all the ugly parts of communities and cities will get worse before they get better.

With all this negativity in the forefront, what's a small business owner to do? Support and promote local, of course! Here in Sacramento, there are some great folks making it a better place to live--people who are creative, innovative, and have a vision for a different kind of small urban city--one that is hip and culturally distinctive, appeals to a wide variety of people, and is forward thinking. I'm talking about the businesses owners and organizations that see a brighter future for Sacramento, and these are the folks I would like to recognize.

Following are some of my favorite businesses in Sacramento, because they truly are the change agents we need to become a destination on the map, and for us all to survive in these turbulent times. Whatever your favorite businesses are, support them....they need you to keep their doors open, and we collectively need them to ensure the bright future we're all fighting for. (For those of you who read this from cities far from Sacramento, the message is the same to you....spend your money in your locale. Invest your time and efforts in the programs, businesses, and organizations that make your city special and are important in keeping the spirit of your city alive.)

Midtowngrid.com - Not only a great website to find fun things to do in Sacramento, but Midtowngrid has so much more to offer....from their blog, newsletter and maps, to their mixers and sponsored events, this company is a wonderful "central hub" for business, community, and culture.

State of the Earth - Do you have a pest company spray your yard each month? Well, you can stop that nonsense and try State of the Earth! They offer programs that nurture the entire soil-plant ecosystem in your yard instead of annihilate it, which is what most of us have been doing to our yards with the pesticides and herbicides we use to "control" the organisms we see as pesky and troublesome. (Ever heard of Monsanto? If you use Roundup in your yard, you've heard of them. They are, in just a few words, trying to take over the world of agribusiness. Their tale is a chilly one....more on them later.)

Initially, we tried State of the Earth because I was concerned about the health of my then small child, who had reached the age where yard exploration was a daily part of his learning. He was virtually sitting in the sand, digging in the dirt, and pulling off leaves and fruit from all the plants in our yard. After a bit o research, I was horrified to find out what is in all the chemicals we used on our lawns and around the yard to "control" pests and weeds...neurotoxins, carcinogens...the list goes on and on. Around that time I happened to be shopping at my favorite building supply store, Green Sacramento, purchasing paint, I believe, when I came across a flyer about them and snatched it up.

And the rest is history, as they say. We have been using them for about 2.5 years now. Do we still have "pests" in our yard? Well, yes, but I have come to learn that some of the pests are actually very important to the health of my yard, such as ants and spiders. We don't get ants in the house...they enjoy marching along in their little lines in both my back and front yards, helping to breakdown the organic matter from our trees and shrubs. And the spiders? Well, we just scoop up the ordinary house spiders we find and put them back outside. They have done a nice job of creating a protective "shield" (aka spider webs) around our house and gobbling up the real pesky insects in our yard. We even allowed a black widow to keep her corner home in our front yard as long as she followed house rules...no venturing more than 2 inches beyond her little webbed-cave...no exceptions! Every now and then I give the spiders a few hours’ warning before I blast the most visible webs away from our doorways with water, but the rest get to stay.

Brown Bag Botanicals - This woman-owned business is a God send to many a new mother (or any woman for that matter!) who is battling, or launching a preventative battle, against dry skin, stretch marks, and general skin issues. The owner, Christine Trice, is a super mom and super business woman...nurturing, hip, and forward thinking, she's a dynamo and a great asset to our Sacramento business community. I love all her products, but her new Whip Body Scrub is the most fabulous sugar scrub you'll ever use...I swear by it!


GreenBuilt - They are exactly what their name says...a green builder. President Scott Blunk is an amazing individual with an extremely diverse background and a lot to offer Sacramento. It's no wonder that his company continues to grow and thrive even in this less than stellar economy. His vision, knowledge, and "earth-friendliness" top any builder I've ever known, and plus, his team are honest folks. (I know, one does not often associate "builder" with "honesty," but in the case of GreenBuilt, it's true!) We are working with them on building a studio in our backyard, and I have found Randy Rosalex to be innovative and budget conscious.

Green Sacramento - If you shop exclusively at those large "home improvement" stores you're really missing out on a Sacramento gem. Green Sacramento, owned by Josh Daniels, offers green products for residential and commercial decorating, renovating, and building. They have earth- friendly options for any project big or small. We have bought quite a bit of paint from them, as well as wood stains and waxes, and perused samples for bigger projects, like countertops, flooring, and cabinetry. Yes, green products are a bit more expensive in the short run, but I'd like to think that I'm saving lots of money on doctor bills and improving the overall health of our home, because our home is free from chemicals and toxins that could make us really sick. (You know how you get a headache when painting with traditional interior paint...that's because you are breathing in nasty chemicals! Case in point....the "career" painter who painted the interior of my parent's home a few years ago, died in his early 50s from....you guessed it, brain cancer! I'm no expert of course, but you can see where I'm going with this story.)

Sacramento Co-Op -This grocery store is where we do 90% of our shopping in the fall and winter months, and about 50% in spring and summer. (The remainder at local farmers' markets, of course!) They have the largest selection of organic foods, health care products, and general home goods that meet my seal of approval. Plus, I like the idea of buying fruits and veggies from local farms. In the winter months when all they can get are bananas from Mexico, we just go without. And this brings me to another reason why I like the Co-Op...they try to offer foods that are seasonally appropriate, meaning that they are the fruits and veggies that are harvested during a particular time of year. That means we are supporting local farmers and our own economy, and that is a good thing!

Gluten Free Specialty - My son calls this his "candy store," and others with gluten sensitivities will agree. For folks with gluten, wheat, and even casein sensitivities or intolerances, this is the place to shop! Owner Melanie Weir is fast on her feet to order products you are seeking, but have not been able to find, and she does an amazing job of providing a variety of goods from chewing gum and gummy bears, to pasta and baking mixes. One of my recent favorites is the portabella mushroom ravioli...delish!

The Green Boheme - They create raw vegan delights that even the most skeptical eater will love. Chef Brooke offers classes, talks, and demonstrations to share her love of organic, local foods with folks interested in raw vegan gourmet goodness and improving overall health. Currently, they are looking for a larger space to serve their patrons, so we're all waiting will bells on for them to re-open!

There are other businesses, to be sure, but these are the ones of which I think the most highly. And to find them, just go on to Midtowngrid.com ... most of them are there!

To your health and wellness...

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Monday, January 5, 2009

Are We Being Taken Over by Plastic???

A friend recently asked me about the plastics in her home. She was worried that some of the products her family has been using may have some nasty things in them. Her concern is merited, given recent news about what lurks within our plastic products. I give her many kudos for assessing her family's plastic use carefully, and making mindful decisions about what to toss and what to keep, what is safe to buy, and what to avoid like the plague. I was in a similar place a year or so ago, but I did not handle the situation as calmly!

I had read enough research, articles, and tree-hugger websites to confirm my suspicions about the issues surrounding plastics. However, my reaction was well, not exactly as calm, cool, and collected as my dear friend. While she asked intelligent questions about her children's plastic toys and inspected the symbols on the bottoms of containers they use for food and drink, I had a more impulsive reaction...I grabbed every plastic particle in my home (you read that correctly...I did mean to say PARTICLE), threw it in a giant plastic bag, and stuffed it in the garage. Surprisingly, it all fit into one large garbage bag because I had been mindful to some degree about the plastic in my world, but still, plastics seemed to find a way into our home. And there were some plastics I couldn't get rid of, like my laptop, printer, and the coating on my mp3 player headphones. Sigh....the situation seemed helpless!

I know you're wondering what I did with all those plastic particles, becuase (shh) that's the part nobody wants to talk about....what to do with them. Do you throw them in the trash? Give them to a charity (like the meek and suffering need plastics more than I do!), or send them back to the manufacturer (I actually checked on several of my child's toys to see if I could do that...no good). No, it is not an easy answer, just like the entire issue surrounding plastics.

So, while I could go on for days and days about how plastic is taking over the world, (you did hear about that floating island of plastic in the ocean, didn't you?), instead, I'm going to focus on what YOU CAN DO to greatly reduce your plastic use (as much as humanly possible!), which may, as many environmentalists and scientists say, reduce the amount of exposure you and your family have to carcinogens, neurotoxins, and other not-so-lovely toxins. And that's a good, green thing!


Things You Already Know
  • Nix the Plastic Grocery Bags: Are you still getting plastic bags from your grocery store? Don't....just put a bunch of brown bags into your trunk (or on the seat of your car if you're absent-minded like me) to reuse when you shop. If you really want to be green, use canvas totes, old beach bags, or whatever bag suits you! Hey, you could even bring your roller-suitcase to the grocery store, but aside from the strange looks you would get, lifting it up and out of your grocery cart might really do a number on your back. I actually have brought in baskets when I was just buying fruits and veggies. I looked a bit like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, but who cares....I'd like to think I saved a sea turtle from a certain death by plastic.

Things You May Know

  • Nix the Plastic Fruit/Veggie Bags: I know, you're wondering what the heck should you use to hold all those mushrooms, or the dripping-wet lettuce. Don't fret...you have options! Bring small lunch-size brown bags that are left over from lunches or just taking up space in your cupboard for your dry foods like potatoes, onions, apples, and avocados. Alternatively, you can purchase small canvas bags (or make some out of old fabric if you're feeling domestic) that are machine-washable. The work fine with the damp and drippy fruits and veggies, too. Isn't that cool?


  • Don't Purchase Foods in Plastic: This means you might actually have to, gasp, cook! You may have read about bisphenol-A (aka BPA) and phthalates, and discovered their ugly truth...from hormone-disruption to the altering of DNA, we aren't quite sure what the long-term effects will be on our children, and even us. As I sit here and eat Enjoy Life's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips right out of the yes, plastic bag, I can say this - start with reducing the kinds of foods you buy in plastic, and you'll see that it's not hard to adjust a little bit each week. Some things, like my beloved chocolate chips, are impossible to buy in alternative packaging, or completely unrealistic to make at home, but there are simpler modifications you can make. Here are some ideas that are easy and will save you a bundle of money in the long run:
  1. Send a thermos or stainless steel water bottle to school with your child. Your child doesn't really need juice to get through the day...this may save you on dental bills as well! Reusable lunch boxes or bags are great, too. My son has a Muppets(tm) lunch box that I purchased a few years ago from Lunchboxes.com. It definitely protects his food from getting smooshed in his backpack, but it is a bit bulky. Still, we love it!

  2. Wrap sandwiches in wax paper sandwich bags that you can reuse until they fall apart (really, I do this!). Or better yet, put them in a stainless steel sandwich box.

  3. Reuse small food-grade containers for chips, crackers, or any other snack-type food. I reuse my son's raisin boxes and put cranberries or home-made trail mix in them. The other day, I took a tin that previously held some holiday fudge , washed it out and sent it to school with some tortilla chips inside. My son LOVES the tin and enjoys finding the treasure inside at lunch time.

  4. If you must buy pre-packaged foods (what, you don't have time to make home-made pasta?) buy foods in boxes that can be recycled or reused.

  5. Buy a bread-maker, or go in on one with a few friends or family members. You can also make biscuits, and turn dough for pizzas in a bread maker. Store your home-made bread in a bread box.

  6. Store left-overs in glass containers. You can buy them at Crate and Barrel for a very reasonable price.

  7. Remove the plastic dishes you serve your child's food on and replace with ceramic or food-grade wood dishes. We started introducing ceramic plates and bowls to our son at a very young age, (with adult supervision of course!), so that by the time he was 4 years old, he could make his own snacks using the dessert-size plates we put on a shelf he could reach. (You still have to be careful...ceramic can shatter, too.) Also, I was lucky enough to be given 6 wooden monkey pod bowls from my mother-in-law, who was cleaning out her circa 1970s kitchen gadgets she no longer uses. They are the best bowls ever! We use them for salads, cereal, appetizers when guests are over...you name it! You can buy similar wood bowls online, but they are somewhat hard to find.

  8. Switch your baby bottles and sippies to safer plastics that are free of BPA and phthalates, or buy glass bottles and stainless steel sippies. We offer some great options in our Green Things Boutique online. Check them out for yourselves...

Okay, so there are a billion more things you can do to get plastic out of your life, but start small, or you will feel overwhelmed and struggle with making the change in your life and that of your family's. Plus, throwing your family into the proverbial fire as you try to "greenify" their lives will not go over well. Believe me...going cold turkey doesn't work for most people and I can speak from experience!


So, now you're completely overwhelmed and ready to crawl into a hole. When you feel like coming outside again, drop me a note and let me know what else is on your mind these days. There are so many more timely eco-topics to address....what shall we chat about next? Composting? Buying organic clothing? Pesticide-free gardens (yes, spiders and ants are our friends!)? Or how about educating today's youth? Well, when you figure it out, let me know and we'll have another virtual coffee talk. And always, you're welcome to email me with your thoughts and ideas about all things green and all things child...my two favorite things!
And if you don't get around to asking me that burning question you have about what shampoos are safe to use, or how to get your child interested in reading independently before she can actually "read," don't worry...I'll be here...pondering the world...usually in the middle of the night.

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Saturday, January 3, 2009

Welcome to our new blog!

Thank you for visiting our new WRC Blog!