Becoming Your StellarSelf

A Mighty Wind

Yesterday afternoon, we received a call from a meteorologist friend who lives in Memphis. He warned us that a ferocious storm was heading toward our area at a rate of 60 mph and that we might want to take shelter. When he called, the sky had just turned a dark gray, but there was no sign of any immediate danger. However, he seemed very concerned, so we heeded his warning and drove to the nearest sheltered garage. We sat in the cement bunker riding out the storm for about 20 minutes then headed back home. On the radio, we heard that a tornado had touched down just a few roads away from our house.

Upon our return, we found tons of debris on hour street, in our yard, and on our roof. We also noticed that the power was off in all the houses on our side of the street. Our neighbor told us we should take a look down the street where we would see the cause of the power outage. We headed down the block and over one road to find that a huge tree had fallen across the street, and had taken with it about 5 different power lines/cables. Somebody's huge garbage pail had escaped, and sat alone in the stream across the street.

On the next block, we came across a house with a tree that had fallen right into it -- the tree was embedded in the roof. I noticed that there was a TV on in the room where the tree had crashed down through the roof, and through the ceiling of that room. I was worried that there may have been people in that room. There were two cars in the driveway, whose license plates indicated that the residents were likely older folks.

We stopped the car and got out. Just then, another passerby stopped his car. Together, we knocked on the door to see if the occupants were okay. An elderly couple came to the door and said they had been watching the Weather Channel in a room on the other side of the house when it happened. They were fine and were taking it quite well. "We're lucky, and we're well-insured," they smiled.

We ran into them at a restaurant later that evening, and they told us that they were staying in a nearby motel. Because of the intensity of the impact, the fire department was worried the house could collapse, and told them they had to evacuate. The couple told us all of this with out any indication of panic, sadness, or anger. They were just happy that they were okay.

Garden Visitor

Yesterday, I discovered an unexpected turtle visitor in our garden. It was fun to observe his movements -- he'd sit very still for long periods of time, then scoot very quickly for a few inches, then sit motionless again. When I got too close, he would pull back into his shell and keep an eye on me. He eventually made his way to the safety of the ivy and shrubs.

I was curious as to the symbolism of the turtle, so I did a little Google search. I found a site offering totem descriptions, which said, "If a Turtle totem shows up in your life, slow down the pace of your life. Bigger, stronger, faster are not always the best ways to reach your goals." And similarly, this site says, "[The turtle] teaches to go with the flow and be happy with the pace that your life is taking. Do not try to push it faster than is natural or you may reach your destination too early and feel you missed something along the way."

I try to live my life in balance, and to enjoy the process of what I do, but I can find myself becoming goal-oriented. I am thankful that this turtle stopped by to remind me to enjoy the journey.

7 Green Things Anyone Can Do

I have tried to be "green" all of my adult life -- driving fuel-efficient cars, taking public transportation when I could, recycling, minimizing my use of household chemicals, eating organic or pesticide-free foods. But, at times in the past, I slacked off in certain areas because it took too much time, space and effort. For example, my town didn't used to have recycling collection, so I would have to store newspapers, cans and bottles until I had enough to justify the trek to the collection center. I used to belong to food co-ops, which required monthly time and energy commitments, in order to get decent prices on organic foods. And there was a time when I had to mail-order compact flourescent bulbs and recycled paper products, as they weren't available locally.

However, over the years, as green products and services have become more common, I have found that being green becomes easier and easier. Here are 7 easy green practices, which I have found take very little extra effort:

1) Replace your regular light bulbs with compact flourescents (available in Home Depot and many other easily-accessible stores). While it is important to not throw away your used flourescents (they contain mercury, so can't just be thrown out), I have never had to throw one out (and some of mine are over 10 years old!).

2) Buy 100% recycled toilet paper, paper napkins and paper towels (it is better to use cloth, but if that doesn't work for you, 100% recycled is best). Marcal is a common brand that is made from 100% recycled, 60% post-consumer paper. It is easily found in grocery stores, as well as Staples.

3) Keep a supply of reusable bags in your car. Most grocery stores carry them for $1 or less, and will give you a 5 or 10 cent credit each time you use one. Target also carries reusable bags. Use your bags in any situation where a store might give you plastic.

4) Donate your old books and clothes to Goodwill or some other charitable collection center. Why add them to landfills when they could be used by someone else?

5) Replace your dishwashing and laundry detergents with biodegradable, earth-friendly brands. Most grocery stores now carry green products by brands like Seventh Generation.

6) Use waxed paper bags for sandwiches rather than plastic.

7) Purchase organic and locally-produced foods. Many stores now have store-brand organics, which do not cost more than name-brand non-organic products. And seasonal, locally-grown produce is abundant and well-priced.

I Love My Farmers Market

I was so happy. Yesterday was the first day of the full farmers market in my town. While the organizers had kept it open all winter, the first Saturday in May marked the re-opening of the full-size market featuring twice the number of vendors.

While I have to admit that my local farmers market isn't nearly as photogenic as the one in Downtown Portland, I still have a special fondness. As regularly as we can, my husband and I make it our Saturday morning ritual to head over to the farmers market to buy pesticide-free produce, freshly baked bread, free range meats, and hormone-free dairy products. It's always fun to see the vast array of locals with their reusable bags, smiling and thoroughly enjoying the shopping experience. And it's always encouraging to hear how invested the farmers are in their products, how much passion and thought and care goes into the production of their fruits, vegetables, meats, or dairy products. It makes me realize how removed our "normal" food shopping experience is from the source.

Your local farmers’ market is a great source for whole, natural (sometimes organic) foods. Not only are farmers’ markets an excellent way to support healthful farming, and reduced fuel usage (less transportation is involved in shipping the products) you can’t beat the freshness of fruits and vegetables picked that morning. Food from the supermarket just never tastes that flavorful. For a listing of farmers’ markets in your area, look in your local Yellow Pages, or check out the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) interactive map.

Healthy Halloween Makeup

Today I came across a post over at Continuum Wellness on a recent report that found substantial levels of lead in several popular brands of lipstick. Scary! I knew there were many unhealthy chemicals in commercial makeup, but was not aware of the presence of lead. It occurred to me that with Halloween coming up soon, the topic of makeup is very timely. It is of special concern since so many children will be wearing makeup for this holiday. I decided to do some research and see what is out there in terms of ideas for healthy alternatives in Halloween face makeup.

There are several brands of everyday makeup that are made from organic plant essences. These earth-friendly, people-friendly products are safer for the environment and better for your skin than products made from petroleum-based ingredients. For example, Aveda and Terra Firma Cosmetics both offer a wide range of all-natural, earth-friendly, non-toxic makeup products. And PinkQuartzMinerals over at Etsy offers everyday makeup as well as kid-friendly, non-toxic, mineral-based Halloween makeup in a wide range of colors.

If you have the time and inclination, you concoct your own makeup. Family Corner has recipes for “Homemade Halloween Make Up, Bruises & Blood” and Budget101 offers a face paint recipe. All of these recipes call for food coloring. Whole Foods offers all-natural, non-petroleum-based food coloring in their stores. They also provide several healthy Halloween recipes on their website.

Have a Happy, Healthy Halloween!

Magnificent Mammals

On our recent trip to Oregon, we were fortunate to have a hotel room right on the ocean. Every day we were thankful to have such a breathtaking view of nature right outside our door. The sound of the waves and the wind were both soothing and energizing. A couple of times, we actually spotted whales not too far off the shore. Inspired, we decided to go on a whale watching tour in the hope that we could see one up close. We were very fortunate – about 15 minutes into the tour, we spotted our first whale. We stayed with her the entire time we were out on the open water. This very short video was my attempt to capture the beauty of our experience. It's pretty fuzzy since it was my first time using the camera, and I was zoomed in to the max, but I hope it serves to portray even an iota of how amazing it was to be so close to one of these magnificent mammals.

Whale Watch has some impressive videos of humback whales up close, including shots of them breaching the water (actually jumping out). And the IMAX Whales movie website and Whale Net, hosted by Wheelock College, offer tons of information if you want to learn more about these amazing creatures.

An Organic Experience

We just returned home from a 10-day trip to Oregon. Half of our time was spent in Portland, and the other half was spent in the Newport Beach area of the gorgeous Oregon Coast. There was an abundance of fresh seafood, and we had many great dining experiences, but the standout restaurant for us was Panache in the Nye Beach area of Newport, OR. Their menu features fresh, local, organic seasonal produce as well as local wild seafood and hormone-free/natural beef, pork, and lamb.

Panache opened two years ago in October. Their mission was to provide a source of excellent, organic food. Ninety percent of the meats they serve are organic grass-fed. And they source their produce from local farmers markets and family farms. They use organic produce whenever it is available. The chefs' enthusiasm for and understanding of the the food results in a creative, modern American menu, beautifully presented. Each component of our meals were fresh and full of flavor, and the combined effect was outstanding.

We had the roasted breast of chicken stuffed with mixed dried fruit and goat cheese, with a strawberry champagne reduction, a green salad with feta and grilled buffalo, and an exquisite dessert of mixed berry crumble (nearby Willamette Valley is considered one of the best sources for all types of berries in the US).

Panache was a perfect representation of the best of Oregon cuisine -- fresh, seasonal, local, upscale, but with a friendly attitude.

To Market, To Market, Again

Today I had the good fortune of visiting one of my favorite places -- the Portland Farmers Market at Shemanski Park between Salmon and Main Streets on Wednesdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm. I discovered the market around this time last year, and sang my praises to it in one of my earliest posts. There are so many reasons to support one's local Farmers Market (e.g., local food tastes better, the markets support the local economy and family-run farms, local food is fresher, has more nutrients and wastes less energy because of shorter transport time).

For the past year, I have been craving one of the most delicious sandwiches I've ever eaten -- a Lamb-kabob pita with garbanzo bean hummus, wheatberry salad and fresh greens from Tastebuds, whose stand sits at the end of the U-shaped market. The Tastebuds staff arrives at the market at 5:00am to begin baking their wholegrain pitas in their mobile brick oven. All of the ingredients are incredibly fresh and they come together in exquisite perfection. Their raspberry lemonade with sparkling water and fresh berries is the perfect accompaniment. As I sat eating the pita, a couple walking by stopped and commented, "Aren't those the best thing you've ever tasted?" I agreed, and they went on their way. A man sitting next to me said, "They are incredible. I can't believe those people walked away when they had a chance to have one!" Just then, the couple turned around. As they passed us, the man next to me smiled at them and said, "I didn't think you could pass up such a rare opportunity."

The main attraction at the Farmers Market is the vast array of produce, much of it organic or at least pesticide-free. Last year, I did my best to describe the rainbow of colors and variety of textures that were abundant in the market. But mere words cannot do it justice. This time I had the wherewithall to take some pictures, so at least I can share some images with you!

Mouth watering? Even if you don't live in Portland, you can find a farmers market in your area by visiting the USDA's website. And check out the Tastebuds website for several farmers market-inspired recipes.

Read a Book, Save a Tree

I recently came across a really great idea on Phylameana lila Désy's Spiral Visions blog. She mentioned a company, Eco-Libris, whose mission is to plant trees to offset the environmental impact of paper production for books.

This idea really appeals to me. I have been very excited about the release of my new book, Growing Toward Balance, but I have had some guilty feelings about it not being printed on recycled paper. I know there are some publishers that offer this, but mine doesn't offer that service as of yet.

According to the Eco-Libris website, 20 million trees are harvested annually in the U.S. for use in book production. Eco-Libris offers a simple way that individuals can help offset this problem. As they explain: "we believe in providing people with easy and affordable ways to take responsibility for their actions and go green. We don’t believe in preaching doom and gloom. It’s not our style. We do believe in taking action and in the power of small changes to make a big impact."

It works this way: for every dollar you donate, they provide a tree to their planting partners, non-profit organizations in developing countries who help local communities in regions where deforestation is a problem. In turn, you get a sticker (made of recycled paper, of course) that you can put on your book.

Cool idea! I plan to donate a bunch of trees today!

P.S. If you would like to learn more about what is being done to promote the use of recycled and alternative fiber paper in the publishing industry, visit the <a href="http://www.greenpressinitiative.org/">Green Press Initiative</a> website.

Fresh Food Inspiration

I love my local farmers market. It's so cool to have access to incredibly fresh, locally produced, often organic or pesticide-free produce. My market also features dairy farms, meat producers, a mushroom farm, bakers and more. There is nothing like an abundance of fresh produce in getting my creative cooking juices flowing. This past weekend, I stopped by my local farmers market and was inspired by the huge variety of fruits and vegetables – it is the peak of the season here in the DC area.

Every week, I let the landscape of the farmers market lead me to my weekend menu. This weekend I bought a bunch of different vegetables and some gorgeous ciabatta and made delicious grilled veggie sandwiches. In the spring, inspired by the brief, but wonderful availability of fresh peas, I created a pea and mint soup. Peaches are readily available right now, and I plan to make several different dishes including grilled peaches, cold peach soup, and peach cobbler.

I am a huge fan of farmers markets for several reasons. They are great for local farmers as it provides a direct-to-consumer outlet for their products. It's great for consumers because we can access fresh produce direct from the growers, and can learn about our food from the actual people who produce it. And it's good for the environment because much less energy is spent in transporting the food.

In looking for the USDA's webpage listing farmers markets throughout the US, I was please to find out that this is National Farmers Market week! So, if there is a farmers market near you, I hope you have a chance to visit and join in celebrating this incredible local treasure.

A Cleaner Cleaner

I've always had a love/hate relationship with dry cleaners. Most of the places I've used over the years had very friendly people behind the counter, and I love how pressed everything looks. However, I hate the chemical smell that my clothes carry after dry cleaning. And knowing that this chemical smell is from a substance that is toxic to me, the people cleaning my clothes, and the Eart makes me feel awful. I was thrilled several years ago when a new ecofriendly dry cleaner opened up near me, but I think they were ahead of their time as they went out of business within a year. Since then, I've tried home dryer-based "dry cleaning" products, but haven't been satisfied with the results. Unfortunately, there are just some things that my husband and I own that require dry cleaning (I do my best to only buy clothes that don't).

I moved to this area a couple of years ago, an area with one of the highest per capita rates of hybrid vehical ownership in the country, so I figured there should be an ecofriendly dry cleaner somewhere nearby. So, I put out a query on an awesome DC women's listserv I belong to asking if anyone knew of a local, environmentally-friendly dry cleaners. I received several responses. A family-owned company called Cupid Cleaners was mentioned by several different people, and it turned out to be just 10 minutes from my house. I Googled them and found that they are a certified Green Earth cleaner. The Green Earth website explains that they use a different type of chemical than traditional dry cleaners, one that is not only easier on the environment, but gentler on your clothes, and according to one of their press releases, "does not exhibit adverse health effects when used properly."

I'm not a chemist, and have not done extensive research on this process, so I not sure how good it is for the environment or for people. But, barring not using dry cleaning services at all, I feel as if I am taking a step in the right direction.

Along two sides of the parking lot are thin strips of earth, maybe two feet wide, in which the owners of Cupid Cleaners have planted several vegetables, including tomatoes and peppers. It made me think that the owners are pretty confident that there are no toxic chemicals seeping out of the cleaning facilities. I don't know if I would feel the same way, but regardless, it's really great to have found a dry cleaning company that is making an attempt to lessen its impact on the Earth.

Park It

I spent a good amount of time inside yesterday working on my computer, catching up on all sorts of stuff that needed attention. It was a gorgeous day, and I kept looking out the window wishing I could go outside. By late afternoon, I was done with what I needed to do and headed out for some much-needed fresh air. I decided it would be nice to take a hike around Theodore Roosevelt Island, a small national park situated in the middle of the Potomac River between Virginia and DC.

The park was filled with people taking advantage of the gorgeous weather, and I saw several kayakers in the Potomac surrounding the little island. On the way to the park, I saw several bikers and runners on the path that runs alongside the George Washington Parkway, which is also part of the national parks system (it's actually pretty gorgeous as far as parkways go, with lots of nice stops off of it).

While I was enjoying the park setting, I recalled that a couple of days earlier, I heard a story on the radio about how attendance in the U.S.'s national parks has dropped dramatically in the past couple few years. Today I found a National Park Services report dated March 17, 2007 indicating that the decline was not even across the entire country -- DC, Alaska and the Southeast have actually shown an increase in number of visitors, while other areas of the country showed a decline of around 1 million visitors in the past couple of years.

They aren't sure why this is the case, but one of their theories is that people just don't have the time for long vacations. This could definitely be a contributing factor. According to an annual survey by Expedia, not only do Americans earn fewer vacation days than any other developed nation, we also leave more days unused, leaving us the most vacation-deprived.

Our national parks are an incredible resource, and I highly recommend visiting them. Being outdoors has so many benefits for the body, mind and spirit. Even if you don't have a lot of vacation time, you can likely find a national park near you that you can visit in just one day or afternoon. You can find a part near you by searching the National Park Services' website.

To Market, To Market

Yesterday I discovered a small, but wonderful farmers' market in downtown Portland, on Salmon Street. It was a total feast for the eyes, with a whole rainbow of colors in the form of a wide array of fruit and vegetable varieties, fresh dairy products, freshly baked breads, grass-fed meats, and even the offerings of a mushroom farm. And most of the products were natural (grown without pesticides) or organic.

According to studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, over the past 50 years, conventionally grown fruits and vegetables have shown a six percent decrease in protein; 15 percent decline of calcium, phosphorous and iron; 20 percent decline in vitamin C; and 38 percent decrease in riboflavin. Research conducted by Alyson Mitchell, Ph.D., of the University of California, Davis has shown that organically grown produce is higher in flavinoids (micronutrients instrumental in preventing cancer and heart disease) than conventionally-grown produce.

Eating whole, natural, organic foods is not just good for your health. In the bigger picture, supporting organic farming is good for all of us. By encouraging and enabling more farms to avoid the use of pesticides, we benefit from purer food, cleaner water, and a healthier society. Stanford University biologist Harold Mooney, points out that nitrogen compounds from fertilizer can enter the atmosphere and contribute to global warming, and they also leach out of fields into watersheds where they can cause “biological dead zones” in our rivers. Organic farming can play a role in reducing these problems.

Not only are farmers' markets an excellent way to support healthful farming, you can't beat the freshness of fruits and vegetables picked that morning. Food from the supermarket just never tastes that flavorful. For a listing of farmers' markets in your area, check out the USDA's interactive map.