Vegan Livin’ is Easy January 12, 2009

Aside from getting egg at a local breakfast place when I ordered tofu and going to my husband’s company party where I had pre-ordered a vegetarian lasagna (not vegan) months ago, and then a resulting awful stomachache… my transition to veganism has been really great.  Those are the only non-vegan things I’ve eaten and the restaurant that brought me eggs instead of tofu paid for my meal and also gave me a coupon for another free meal!  Anyhow, I’m really loving the peace of mind it’s brought me, just knowing that my decisions in this area are all finally lining up with my values completely, is so so nice.  And the food? Delicious, oh yes, even when eating out.  Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you can’t live without meat, eggs and dairy.  You will get all of the nutrients you need (ok, assuming you don’t live on vegan cupcakes and cereal or something) and most likely you will find yourself eating a healthier, wider, more delicious array of vegetables, grains, fruits and more!  If you’re looking into the vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, here are my favorite links to get you started:

Food:

• Happy Herbivore - Lindsay at Happy Herbivore creates wonderful fat-free, whole foods vegan recipes that are always sure to please. She rarely uses meat analogues, so I think her recipes are great for beginners who may be a little scared of seitan, tempeh and tofu.  Try her nacho “cheeze” and spinach and artichoke dip and you’ll find yourself all the more assured that it is easy peasy to give up dairy.  I’m drooling right now just thinking about those nachos.  They are Brian’s favorite, too.
• Post Punk Kitchen – If i’ve got a question about something, whether food related or not, I will often go onto the PPK website, click “forums” and then search whatever it is I’m thinking of and it never fails me.  Plus, the recipes are amazing.  Scrambled tofu will have you living egg-free in no time.  It’s the perfect recipe for the tofu virgin – especially wrapped up in a tortilla with some breakfast potatoes.  It’s my all-time favorite brunch.
• Happy Foody – Sara was the first person to introduce me, via her blog of course, to vegetarian living.  It’s not that I hadn’t heard of vegetarianism before, obviously, but she was the first to inspire me to learn more.  And the recipes from her food blog are some of the first I made and still some of my favorites.  Her favorite salad dressing is now the favorite for Brian and I too. 
• Dreena Burton’s Blog and Recipes – Dreena Burton has published several cookbooks.  Her recipes are healthy and delicious!
• I’ve posted some of my favorite recipes in the past here and here.

Books:

• Diet for a New America by John Robbins – a book I’ve mentioned again and again.  Well worth the read.
• Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman – In this book, the author advocates a (at least 95%) vegan diet. It is well-researched and documented and will give you all the reasons you need to go vegan from a health perspective.

Cookbooks:

• Veganomicon – It’s like the vegan version of the Joy of Cooking, meaning it’s a comprehensive type of book that will set you up for success if all you’ve ever cooked is something from a box.  Try some sample recipes and you’ll be hooked and buy the book the next time you have a spare twenty bucks.  Isa Chandra Moskowitz also wrote Vegan with a Vengeance, another favorite vegan cookbook.  Here’s a bunch of her recipes for you to try until you can come up with that twenty bucks.  I love her coffeecake and waffles.  That woman knows how to do brunch.  I can’t wait for her latest book to come out!
• The Joy of Vegan Baking – a comprehensive baking book.  If you are a afraid of losing your ability to bake familiar favorites without milk, eggs and butter, this book will put your fears to rest for sure.  This book also has a few unconventional and healthy recipes as well, like the raw strawberry pie that I love.

Wishlist…

• Get it Ripe by Jae Steele,
• Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen by Donna Klein
• The Voluptuous Vegan by Myra Kornfeld
• Eat, Drink & Be Vegan by Dreena Burton

More web stuff:

• Vegan&Vintage
• Vegan Beauty Review
• Vegan Etsy – go here and here for fabulous vegan handmade things

Resources for Research and Making the Transition:

• Vegan Outreach is my fave

Now, go give it a try why don’t you!

Resolute. January 5, 2009

I believe the credit for the above photo goes to Herbivore Clothing Company, but I can’t seem to find where I got it from now…

 

As New Years was approaching, I began to think about the past year, as we all do, and of course, the year to come.  It seems a convenient time to me to make a resolution in my life to make a permanent change.  Something has been weighing on my heart and my mind a lot lately.  

I bought a sweater a few months ago and saw that the tag said “angora” and I bought it anyway because I loved the fit and styling so much, but the decision has weighed on me.  My dad took me shopping after Christmas and wanted to buy me warm socks at REI.  He loves the SmartWool brand and really wanted to get some for me.  I didn’t have the heart to have the “please no animal product” conversation with him.  He bought me four pair, two of which I’ll be taking back and two of which I’ve been wearing.  And it’s been weighing on me.  I’ve somewhat been in the market for a new pair of boots and can’t bring myself to buy leather ones, even though I love these, because it’s been weighing on me.  Every time I crack the eggs for some cornbread or put the cheese on top of my pizza, something just doesn’t feel right in my spirit.  

So, I’m making the change… toward the vegan way of life.  When I went vegetarian a year and a half ago, I cut out most dairy and eggs as well.  The only reason I’ve not gone vegan yet is because I haven’t wanted to deal with what others will say and I don’t want to inconvenience anyone (admittedly myself on occasion), but this is hardly a good reason to continue to make choices that don’t line up with my values.  Factory farming practices are shockingly horrifying.  Really.  I don’t want to be a part of it in any way, shape or form.  It is not good for anyone involved – not the animals, not the environment, surely, not the people perpetuating the violence and not for the health of those who consume those products.  It would be wrong for me to continue to support these practices, particularly against my own conscience.  At this point I plan to keep the things I already own that are not vegan, because I don’t think it would benefit anyone for me to just throw them out, but from here on out all purchases shall be cruelty free.  

While it may seem like an extreme choice to some, for me I think for the most part it will just be woven into the fabric of my life, as so many other changes have been.  I’ve learned that nothing is so difficult as it seems it will be, especially when motivated by something more important than any minor inconvenience.  This is not meant as a judgment upon anyone else, though sadly, I know some will perceive it that way.  It’s just another step toward becoming who I am.  Wish me luck!  I think it’s going to feel really good.  Happy New Year!

One Year, One Step at a Time May 29, 2008

It’s been about a year now since I first started making changes in my life toward a “greener”, healthier and more mindful life.  While I often focus on how much more I could be doing differently, as this little milestone approaches, I’ve been thinking about how different things really are for me now.  It’s pretty crazy.  So, I figured I’d list out some of the changes I’ve made.  And who knows, maybe help someone else who’s looking to make changes as well. 

 

  At Home:        

• No more paper towels.  I think this was my first change, any easy one. I use old cotton dish towels for cleaning and cloth napkins for snacks.  It’s just as convenient and I feel much better about not being so wasteful and saving some money while I’m at it.
• Switched to natural “shampoo” and bar soap (wrapped in paper).  I really like it.  I think I’m getting really comfortable with the whole “unshampoo” thing.
• Switched to baking soda as a deoderant. 
• Switched to natural household cleaners and dish soap.  Here’s a recent post with recipes.
• I try to recycle everything I can.  (Look here for tips if you live in Whatcom County.)
• I’m constantly looking for ways to reuse - anything from produce and ziploc bags to applesauce jars.
• Switched to cloth diapering.  Now that I think about it, I can’t imagine going back.  
• Switched to natural baby wash
• Unplug things like phone/computer chargers, the coffee maker, etc.
• Only run full loads of laundry, wash on cold and use natural laundry detergent. 
• I definitely use the dryer way less.   There are some things that I still feel like need to go in the dryer or they don’t fit right/are too wrinkled.  and things take forever to dry here in Bellingham, especially in the summer when the heater isn’t on to help out. 
• I have fairly successfully weaned myself from my addiction to long showers and hot baths. I would like to work on taking shorter, cooler showers, though.  I like my showers abnormally scorchingly hot, so there’s plenty of room for improvement.
• I turn off the water when I brush my teeth, try to be mindful at the kitchen sink, etc.
• I’m much more mindful of what lights are on and turn them off when not in use. We do have lots of natural light in our apartment, so this is pretty easy.
• I reuse clothes that aren’t dirty, rather than throwing them in the laundry after wearing. 
• Bring my own bags to the grocery store (and other stores) or just say no if I don’t need a bag.

   When I’m out and about:

• Bring my own bags to the grocery store (and other stores) or just say no if I don’t need a bag.
• I carry a little cloth napkin with me so that I don’t use paper towels in public restrooms or paper napkins to clean up messes or my baby’s face.  When I forget, I wipe my hands on my pants
• I bring my own mug to coffee shops and I love my Sigg for drinking water (I haven’t bought bottled water in a year!) I bring my own plates and forks to Mosaic and other potluck, BBQ situations.
• Generally try to stay away from disposables.

Diet/Health:

• I haven’t eaten meat since sometime in June 2007 (except for that one time at Mosaic when I didn’t notice the bacon in my broccoli salad until it was in my mouth.  that was pretty funny
• I’ve cut way back on dairy (no cow milk, except in lattes, no yogurt, no creamy dressings and sauces and waay less cheese, if any, when I cook, etc.)
• I eat a salad for lunch every day and I love love LOVE it! I also incorporate more raw food in general.
• Stopped eating processed packaged cereals and cut way back on packaged foods of all sorts (I still have a way to go on this one)
• Stopped purchasing packaged drinks for myself and recently stopped drinking soda.
• Stopped chewing gum/mints.  Too much packaging and artificial sweeteners and I used to have it all the time.
• Switched to this bread.  

   Goals:        

• Compost!  I need to figure out a way to do this while living in an apartment and not having extra money…
• De-clutter and donate on a continual basis.
• Shop at thrift stores (more).
• Buy more in bulk to reduce packaging. (Note to self: buy loose-leaf tea and dry beans)
• Replace all Teflon and similar cookware with cast iron and stainless steel.
• Buy locally grown foods when possible.
• Walk more, drive less.
• Make progress in the living with less plastic category.
• Cut back/cut out refined sugar.  But, this is difficult.  it’s more addictive than cocaine.  

Overall, I think I’ve realized that the biggest change is not in all of my actions, it is the change in how I think about things.  I’m so much more aware of being wasteful and the implications of my actions. It changes the way I approach just about everything.  So, even though there’s so much more I could be doing, I know that I’ll get there eventually because the biggest change is the one IN me.  

photo credit: sabine butterblume/flickr

Perfection March 21, 2008

I’ve been thinking about perfection, grace and holiness.  Sometimes the more I read, the more I feel burdened about the things I do and think that need to change.  This is a good thing, to a certain extent, but perfection of action has never been the point.  Aiming for perfection brings guilt, discouragement and crankiness.  So you see, we need Grace.  We have unending grace in Jesus.  Grace that empowers us to change, enables us to change and makes us want to.  Without it, there is no point.  I would turn into one of those bitter people who preaches your ear off and makes you feel like dirt if you disagree with them or don’t practice what they preach. That’s not who i want to be. That isn’t who i am. That isn’t grace or holiness.
The point of the things I’ve written about on this blog is grace and compassion.  Grace with others, grace with yourself, grace because of and in Jesus.  I want to me motivated by love and proceed in it.  Therefore, I hope you will never hear that kind of condescension or preaching from me. more importantly, i pray you won’t find it in my heart. It’s not there now, since I’m more consumed by thoughts of my inadequacy than anything, but these issues are two sides of the same coin.   Neither one is love, grace or holiness. I’m learning how important it is to just take the next step and not take my eyes off of Christ. That’s what I’m aiming for: to become more like Him, not to attain my own sense of perfection. so, I suppose can stop feeling inadequate now Grace.

Getting Along September 16, 2007

Recent events in my life have caused me to think about friendship, peacemaking, pride, forgiveness and the relationship between them all. I want to be a peace-maker, a friend, one who loves, lets things slide and isn’t so caught up in pride (or self-consciousness – which is really the same thing) as to not be outgoing. i don’t ever want to say to myself – i could never be friends with him/her and act like people aren’t good enough for me. i’ve never been perfect at this and let’s face it – some people will be near and dear to your heart and some will stay more distant. but, i don’t want to find myself screening people out of my life or crossing them off my list or making people feel awkward (i.e. we can’t invite lauren because she doesn’t like so-and-so). i want to love, to use my language and my mind in a way that makes people feel secure, not insecure. this is not my greatest strength, but rather a hope. i think the holy spirit will get me there in time. i know that God desires for me to love the way he does and is more than happy to oblige. that’s what i want most out of life – to learn to love. to be thoughtful, patient, fogiving, humble. a laundry list of things i am not, but want to be. And maybe if some of us really learned to love – especially when difficult – it would cause restitution rather than division on a larger scale. And we could all have a chance at getting along. peace.

Trendy July 24, 2007

I heard someone say recently that caring about social justice issues is trendy. Someone else said recently that people talk about “being green” just to be cool. I had two reactions to said statements:

1. WHAT?! how can caring about people be trendy? hollister is trendy. skinny pants are trendy. urban outfitters is trendy. or maybe i don’t know what’s trendy, but i can tell you one thing: caring about the world and the people in it is not allowed to be labeled as trendy. What is wrong with the world? does that mean mother theresa was just ahead of the times, trying to be cool?

2. i guess that’s true, to an extent. lots of us want to care about these issues because it seems good or feels good, but we just end up talking about it, wearing our ONE bracelets or something and buying a bunch of environmentally friendly products we never use and we never go out of our way to make actual sacrifices to support what we claim to believe.

So, I guess it’s just like anything else – there are people who will just talk about things and never do anything and in so doing, leave a funky taste in people’s mouths when it comes to environmentalists or activists or whatever it is that we claim to be but aren’t. i’m working on making sure i don’t live like that.

images courtesy of joshuawallis, apologists, on flickr and the blood:water mission website

HOMELESS July 23, 2007

Homeless. Resource-less, food-less, family-less. I can’t imagine what it would be like. my family has had issues over the years – times when one of my parents didn’t know if or how the bills would get paid – but i know nothing of what it would be like to truly be homeless. nowhere to go. unimaginable.
i’ve been reading this book called the irresistible revolution by shane claiborne and thinking about homelessness (it’s an absolutely incredible, life-altering book that addresses a lot more issues than just homelessness). i agree with him that our tithe belongs to the poor, that we are detached as a culture and as a church from the poor and that we ignore the endless passages in the bible that insist that following Jesus entails caring for and living among the poor. we are desensitized as a culture. i have found that it has been ingrained into me to look at the homeless population as dangerous, irresponsible alcoholics who cannot be trusted with charity. that’s tragic. while i certainly cannot claim that no one is homeless due to their own irresponsibility, there is a part of me that keeps asking, “who cares?” since when is charity and grace and love dependent upon worthiness? I need to let he who is without sin cast the first stone, not me.
last night brian and i rented the the pursuit of happyness. you know, that movie with will smith and his son that chronicles the true story of the struggles of a single dad. i watched it and bawled right in the middle of it (and i really don’t usually cry at movies) watching that movie was the last straw in realizing how ugly my attitude and lack of action has been.
i don’t want to just sit in my comfortable house with my comfortable family, watching Extreme Makeover:Home Edition, tearing up and feeling good that someone else is taking care of the struggling and homeless while i do nothing. Jesus is changing my heart and now the way i live my life is certainly in need of reform.
any ideas as to what a broke, 23 year old stay at home mom can do to give her time and love away to the homeless and underprivileged while taking care of an eight month old?

photo courtesy of steven mcdonald on flickr

Fair Trade July 19, 2007

What is this fair trade business about, you ask?

Well, it’s Trade that is fair. Decent wages. Safe working conditions. A global marketplace that works for all. Natural resources that will be around for our children’s children. Helping everyone—even people we may never meet. Fair trade is a commitment to social justice in which employees and farmers are treated and paid fairly, sustainable environmental practices are followed and long-term trade relationships are fostered.

(From the TransFair USA website)…
Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
Fair Trade is much more than a fair price! Fair Trade principles include:
Fair price: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic products. Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.
Fair labor conditions: Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.
Direct trade: With Fair Trade, importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
Community development: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.
Environmental sustainability: Harmful agrochemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.

Products widely available Fair Trade Certified:
Coffee – liguid planet is my favorite so far, available at our local Save Mart grocery
Tea – i’m not a big tea drinker, i tend to buy whatever looks good at Trader Joe’s
Chocolate – I love love love Endangered Species chocolate (available at Target) it’s a little expensive, so i try to just buy less, so that i can still support the company.

Things that i have yet to buy fair trade, but seem to be available in some places:
Bananas
Crafts and Jewelry

Chashews, Olive Oil

Sugar

Rice

Vanilla

Beauty Products (Shea Butter, Coconut Oil)

Beer & Wine
Mangoes

flowers

For more information on fair trade, check out these organizations:

Fair Trade Federation

Fair Trade Certified

Fair Trade Foundation

New American Dream (my favorite)

image courtesy of New American Dream

No Impact Man and Inspiration July 19, 2007

I found the blog of this guy who calls himself “No Impact Man”. I had to go back to the beginning of his blog to understand what he and his family are doing – and let me tell ya, it’s amazing. He and his wife and 2 year old daughter live in an apartment in New York city. “No Impact Man” is a project for them which began last November. They are going in stages, dealing with different aspects of their life, trying to live for a year with as little ecological impact as possible (hence the name “No Impact”). I got hooked on reading about their journey. They only eat food that comes 250 miles or less, they don’t use anything disposable, they ride their bikes/scooters everywhere and they even turned off their electricity (they use a little solar panel for a few things). He talks about their journey and how much they’ve learned and the fact that they are enjoying this process (for the most part), rather than feeling deprived like you might expect. Anyway, if you are in the mood for some reading and inspiration, check him out!

And you know, it’s funny how a couple of months ago, people like this seemed crazy radical to me and now it’s just exciting to read about what they’re doing. It makes me happy. It makes me want to continue learning how to live small and simply… Brian even told me this week that he hopes someday we won’t really need our car anymore – wouldn’t that be amazing?! Living simpler and smaller just seems right. I can’t believe I wasn’t even thinking about this stuff just a few months ago. Jesus is definitely changing me, thank God!

Oh and something else that’s been inspiring me lately is Another World is Possible. These people are wonderful, they are where I stole the label “becoming an ordinary radical”, but more on that later.

picture courtesy of the No Impact Man blog, it is him and his family

Water July 17, 2007

Water. It symbolizes a lot of things – life, redemption, renewal, recreation… It is the substance of our bodies, our earth, our food; it’s everywhere. It is essential for every living thing. Yet, how often do we think about how we treat water or what happens to what we put down our drains and in our sewers? Most of us probably don’t think about it at all. We just hope that a waste water treatment plant does a good job of cleaning up after us and we go on about buying our bottled “mountain spring” water and put whatever we like, or more likely don’t like, down our drains. In America, and perhaps the rest of the western world, we take for granted all of the clean water that we have right at our fingertips and doing so is harmful. 1.4 million die each year from lack of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. A mere 12 percent of the world’s population uses 85 percent of its water, and these 12 percent do not live in the Third World. so, i’ve been thinking about this whole process and reading up on what i can do to be more responsible in my handling of this essential substance.
Some facts about water and water pollution:

• Water from rain, storm drains, and ditches flows directly to streams and bays with little or no treatment. Storm drains and ditches are DIFFERENT than sewers. They are NOT CONNECTED to a treatment plant.
• We all live in a watershed. What you do personally does affect streams, even if you don’t live on a stream. A watershed is an area of land which drains to the lowest point, usually a stream or bay.
• Small amounts of contaminants from all over the land add up to cause pollution in our water. Yes, even the little things matter. You will make a difference, no matter how small, if you change the way you do some things.

Here are some tips:

• Use less fertilizer. Instead, mulch grass clippings to enrich your lawn and create a compost pile that will provide natural nutrients for your gardens.
• Keep harmful runoff and litter out of storm drains.
• Plant trees. Trees contribute to clean water; they are the oceans’ best filters.
• Don’t use the toilet as a trashcan or garbage disposal. Doing so contributes to overload sewer and septic systems, which release their effluent into local waterways and the ocean.
• Sweep walks and driveways rather than hosing them down. Water picks up chemicals and transports them to the nearest storm drain, creek, or waterway. Often, these hard surfaces contain oil, antifreeze, lawn chemicals, and other substances.
• Empty your swimming pool or hot tub on the grass, not into the street. Chlorinated water is harmful to aquatic life. By emptying it into a wooded or grassy area, you are making use of nature’s natural filtering action.
• On trips to the beach, carry out whatever you carry in. Wildlife can ingest, or become entangled in, trash left behind.
• If you decrease your water use at home, you’ll decrease the amount of water that must be treated with chemicals before entering rivers, streams, and the oceans:
• Fix leaky faucets and plumbing joints. Saves 20 gallons per day for every leak stopped.
• Don’t run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end. Saves 150 gallons each time.
• Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors. Saves 500 to 800 gallons per month.
• Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. Saves 300 to 800 gallons per month.
• Shorten your showers. Even a one or two minute reduction can save up to 700 gallons per month.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks. Saves 150 gallons or more each time. At once a week, that’s more than 600 gallons a month.
• Capture tap water. While you wait for hot water to come down the pipes, catch the flow in a watering can to use later on house plants or your garden. Saves 200 to 300 gallons per month.
• Don’t water the sidewalks, driveway or gutter. Adjust your sprinklers so that water lands on your lawn or garden where it belongs–and only there. Saves 500 gallons per month.
• If you’re taking a shower, don’t waste cold water while waiting for hot water to reach the shower head. Catch that water in a container to use on your outside plants or to flush your toilet. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Saves three gallons each day.
• Turn off the water while shaving. Fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of water to rinse your razor. Saves three gallons each day.
• If you wash dishes by hand–don’t leave the water running for rinsing. If you have two sinks, fill one with rinse water. If you only have one sink, use a spray device or short blasts instead of letting the water run. Saves 200 to 500 gallons a month.
• When washing dishes by hand, use the least amount of detergent possible. This minimizes rinse water needed. Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.
• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. This beats the wasteful habit of running tap water to cool it for drinking. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.
• Don’t defrost frozen foods with running water. Either plan ahead by placing frozen items in the refrigerator overnight or defrost them in the microwave. Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.
• Use the garbage disposal less and the garbage more (even better–compost!). Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.
• Water during the cool parts of the day. Early morning is better than dusk since it helps prevent the growth of fungus. Saves 300 gallons.
• Don’t water the lawn on windy days. There’s too much evaporation. Can waste up to 300 gallons in one watering. Cut down watering on cool and overcast days and don’t water in the rain. Can save up to 300 gallons each time.
• Set lawn mower blades one notch higher. Longer grass means less evaporation. Saves 500 to 1,500 gallons each month.
• Have an evaporative air conditioner? Direct the water drain line to a flower bed, tree base, or lawn.
• Drive your car onto a lawn to wash it. Rinse water can help water the grass.
• Dispose of hazardous materials properly! One quart of oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water, effectively eliminating that much water from our water supply. Contact your city or county for proper waste disposal options. And don’t flush prescription medications!
• Use natural soaps and cleansers in your home.

sources:

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ta_choiceshttp://www.monolake.org/socalwater/wctips.htm

image courtesy of randy shelton on flickr