Eco Community Seeds, Spring 2011 Issue

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www.communityseeds.com

Earth Day!

Green Wedding Some Of The Biggest Trends!

When A Life PassesBecoming Aware of the Choices

Green Wedding Some Of The Biggest Trends!

Eco-MagazineSpring 2011

Community Seeds

Community Seeds . Spring 20112

MagazineECOCommunity Seeds

www.communityseeds.com

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Vol. 3, No. 4Spring 2011

Issue 12Community Seeds Eco Magazine is published

quarterly, exclusively online; at no cost to readers.

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©2008-2011All Rights Reserved.

May be printed for personal use only.

Editor-In-ChiefLorianne S. Riley

Associate EditorDeAnna Holman

Staff WritersAshley Grebe

Lorianne S. RileyDeAnna Holman

Staff PhotographersTracy Lynn Cahn of Tracy Lynn Photography

Lorianne S. Riley

Proof EditorsTara Kilkenny

Chelsey EdgingtonKaylee Agaman

On the CoverPhoto by local photographer Tracy Cahn of

TracyLynn Photography

Welcome

All articles, photos, advertising, words, design and images are the property of Community Seeds and the individual contributor, as published, and may not be reproduced without permission from the contributor or Community Seeds. Community Seeds reserves the right to edit all content submitted. Although property of Community Seeds, no division of the company may be held liable for its specific content.

Promoting Sustainabilit y

TheCommunity Seeds Foundation

Promoting Sustainabilit ywww.communityseeds.org

CSF is managed, in part, by:

www.communityseeds.com 3

Spring represents new life and growth. As trees branch out and flowers bloom the Community Seeds Eco Magazine will be experiencing the wonders of Spring

too! As the New Editor-in-Chief, I will be slowly adding some broader topics that I am passionate about such as: Lifestyle, Leisure, Beauty and Gardening Tips, to the already interesting and popular topic line-up that has made Community Seeds Eco Magazine the invaluable periodical that it is. I hope that you will be as excited as I am to see the Community Seeds continue to bloom even more into its own.

It has been over three years now since I found myself wanting to do something creative and make a difference. I had been a teacher, but had stopped teaching to be a

stay-at-home mom. I had the need to be creative, but also enjoyed science and working with the community. I wondered how I could satisfy those interests, remain active in my family’s lives and still make a difference. That is how Community Seeds Eco Magazine came about. As time went on, community support grew and so did I (as a business woman, an editor and a person). Community Seeds became what was called, “a forum for communities to share ideas, writings, and tips on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle and come together for a common goal.”

A Note From the EditorsSpring represents new life and growth.

From the Editor

Editor-in-ChiefPublisher

DeAnna HolmanEditor-in-Chief

Publisher

Continued on Page 4


WWW.TheDurhamConnection.com

Durham’s Community WebsiteBusiness Links•Durham Business Directory•

Durham Community CalendarSchool Events•Community Events•Durham Recreation Events•Interactive•

CLICK

Hundreds of Ridge Links, InteractiveCommunity Calendar and More!

www.theparadiseconnection.net

www.TheChicoConnection.com

Your community site for local web links. All links are free to add to this site. Bookmark this site; it will be right at your fingertips to look up local restaurants, green living, local events, and more!

I still envision a world where people are more environmentally, socially and community aware and I am excited that Community Seeds will continue to promote these ideals. I, however, will be moving on to other projects and spending quality time with my husband and three children, while addressing some medical needs of myself and my family.

I had a lot of fun developing the magazine and promoting it by getting out into the community. I learned a lot through challenges that were thrown my way and I became a better business woman. I do feel the experience has also made me a stronger and more introspective person.

I want to thank the readers, contributors and advertisers, without whom Community Seeds Eco Magazine would not have been possible. I would also like to thank all of those who have donated their time to work on the magazine, including wonderful interns with whom I had the chance to work.

I will miss being the Editor-in-Chief, but I feel confident that Community Seeds Eco Magazine will continue to encourage people to make small changes that they are able to make; changes that would not have been made without a little information and encouragement. I hope you will continue to read this wonderful, free resource and tell your friends and family about it. It is truly a unique project and I wish the new publishing/editing team all my best as they add their own gifts to the publication.

From the Editor, Continued



Eco-MagazineSpring 2011

Features10 So You Want A Green Wedding? Learn What it Entails

13 Earth Day Becoming Aware of the Choices

True Life 14 When A Life Passes Becoming Aware of the Choices

Images: Idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In Every Issue

2 Magazine Information

3 Note From the Editor

8 Issue Contributors

18 Crafts

50 Community Photos

56 Advertisers Index

Community Seeds


Easy Being Greener19 Green Your Clean This Spring!21 3 Green Cleaners, 4 Basic Ingredients!

Eco Friendly Crafts22 Recycled Wool Mug Mat or Trivet

Family24 Music Key to Raising Kids’ IQ26 Working As A Family To Reduce Waste

Making a Difference29 My Recycled Greyhound

31 The Library Project

Healthy Living33 Sustainable Splurging36 Understanding The Nutrition Guidelines 38 In Praise of Home Cooking

Cook’s Corner45 Apple Strudel Muffins47 Bruschetta

Natural Beauty48 Do It Yourself Lip Balm49 Earth Friendly Beauty Products

34Departments

34

3636

2424

1414Woman Image Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net, Flower Image: Mindy McGregor / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


Lorianne S. Riley Editor-in-Chief, Owner, Publisher, Web Designer, & Wife. Lorianne holds a BS Degree in Business Administration from CSU, Chico, and is licensed as a Cosmetologist and Certified Massage Therapist.

DeAnna Holman Editor-in-Chief, Owner, Publisher, Web Designer, Mother of Three & Wife.DeAnna holds a BS Degree in Gerontology from USC, a California Teaching Credential and Science Supplement From CSU, Chico, and an AA Degree in Liberal Studies/Photo Journalism from Grossmont College in San Diego.

Amy Behlke Associate Editor, Writer, Links Coordinator, Mother of Two, and Wife. Amy holds a BA Degree in Liberal Studies from CSU, Chico, a California Teaching Credential From CSU, Chico, works full time teaching 6th grade and writes grants.

Deanna Zachrich Mother, Wife, Volunteer, Artist, Gardener, and Writer; Deanna lives in northwest Ohio with her husband and daughter. She is a regular contributor to Community Seeds. She believes green living does not have to be difficult. Deanna shares her ideas on her website at www.TheBigGreenEasy.com..

Tara Kilkenny Tara is graduating this May from Chico State with a BA in Communication Studies: Public Affairs and a minor in European Studies. She has lived in Japan and Ireland and is looking forward to future travels.

Holly Nevarez Mother of 3, Wife, and Active Community Member. Holly currently works as a Professor at Chico State in the Department of Health and Community Services. She helps run the Harvest Food Drive for the Jesus Center and serves on the Board of Directors.

Elizabeth Fournier Elizabeth is affectionately known as The Green Reaper in her tiny community of Boring, Oregon. She is the owner of Cornerstone Funeral Services and works as a green burial funeral director, educator and advocate who is always ready to lend a hand, or a shovel.

Ashley Grebe Ashley is a student at CSU, Chico, majoring in Communication Studies with the option of Public Affairs and will be graduating this May. She works as an intern for Community Seeds Eco Magazine and is enjoying her last few months here in Chico.

Kaylee Agaman Kaylee is currently a student at Chico State, pursuing a degree in Organizational Communication Studies with a minor in Public Relations. She will be graduating in May and looks forward to seeing the journey that her education will take her on.

Contributors

Contributors: Spring 2011


Contributors: Spring 2011

Chelsey Edgington Chelsey is currently at student at California State University, Chico. She is pursuing a degree in Organizational Communication with a minor in Marketing. Chelsey will be finish her studies this fall in Torino, Italy and will be graduating in Fall 2012.

Sharon Burch Sharon is a nationally regarded music education teacher and advocate. She is the author of Freddie the Frog®, a “Fantastical 4” book/CD series that helps children learn musical concepts while immersed in Freddie’s colorfully illustrated adventures. She may be reached at FreddieTheFrogBooks.com

Emiley Baldwin Emily is pursuing a degree in Latin American Studies with a minor in Spanish at Chico State. She is planning to graduate May of 2012!

Jellie Stanton Jellie Stanton is the creator of HumanWear hip eco T-shirts. She donates a percentage of her sales to GREY2KUSA, to help end greyhound racing.

Breanna Crabtree Breanna is a Paradise High School Student who worked on Africa Library Project.

Cordy Humble Cordy is a family man and is Head Chef at Franky’s Restaurant in Chico.

Adrianna & Dena Royal Mom and teenage daughter from Whidbey Island, WA, Fiber Arts 4H leaders, have taught fiber arts to community youth for seven years, fledgling bloggers, ardent recyclers and community service focused. Raise alpacas and teach “farm to yarn” process. Merry Mittens Project creates and delivers recycled woolen mittens to the homeless.

Ches & Wendy O. Kaplan, MPH

Not Pictured:

If you would like to send an article, please include a short bio, along with your photo (and photos to go with your article). Send articles (doc) and photos (jpg) to [email protected].

For additional guidelines, please go to www.communityseeds.com or send us an email.

Contributors

All contributors are named on their corresponding articles.


Features

Image: Jonathan Fitch / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So You Want A

Green Wedding? By Ashley Grebe

A great deal of time and consideration goes into planning one of the most memorable days of your lives. A wedding is a beautiful celebration

of the love you have found and the values you share. For those that value our environment and use sustainable practices in their everyday lives, incorporating those habits on your special day is an amazing opportunity to express who you are as a couple and your love for the earth.

We at Community Seeds have found some brilliant ideas for an ecologically aware ceremony. One might assume

that planning a green ceremony is going to end up costing you more than a traditional wedding. With a few helpful tips and cutting out unnecessary expenses, you would most likely end up saving money!

One of the first things to consider is location, location, location. Choose a central location that does not require your guests to travel

too far. If you wish to offset your guests’ carbon footprints created by their travel, an incredible idea is to give your guests the option of purchasing a tree to be planted by a national organization such as the Arbor Day Foundation, in lieu of a wedding gift. When selecting a vendor, try to choose one that utilizes sustainable practices such as on-site composting and recycling. It is important to support local businesses when making this decision.

The choice to send paperless invitations is a great way to save paper products. Sending them via email is efficient and giving your

guests the option to RSVP online is convenient for them. You may have to make phone calls to those that are not online very often, but choosing not to use paper is a small, yet beneficial change.

Finding the perfect dress for your wedding is a special memory. Beautiful dresses are available that are designed with vintage and


So You Want A Green Wedding?

remnant fabrics, along with Eco-tech fabrics like bamboo, organic cotton, peace silk and many others. You may be surprised to find how many options are offered for eco-friendly dresses.

When it comes to the food served at your wedding, there are several options if you are interested in using an organic

caterer. Try to find a caterer that uses local and in-season produce. Organic wines are available as well, and there are many wineries in California that employ sustainable practices. Another fabulous option for the dining aspect of your wedding is biodegradable dishes and utensils. There are several options online made

from leaves and other biodegradable materials.

When choosing flowers, support a local florist that uses in- season flowers and organic, if possible. An interesting fact we

discovered is that the roses commonly used in weddings are usually imported, creating a larger carbon footprint. They also require a greater amount of pesticides.

Using these ideas will get you well on your way to planning an ecologically aware ceremony that is a true celebration of who you are

as a couple.

Image: Sarah Arbogast / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


Green Wedding Guide


Earth Day

Earth Day 2011 By Ashley Grebe

The Green movement has increased rapidly over the last few years, with people all over the world pledging to make small, simple changes in an effort to preserve our planet. This year on April 22, 2011 is Earth Day and an opportunity for you to get active in your

community and to create or renew your pledge to your environment. Changes you vow to make can be as simple as using reusable water bottle, canvas shopping bag or making sure to turn off lights when you leave the room. You can check locally to see what events your community has available to you on Earth Day. With the many natural resources available in California, it is important to keep them healthy. Organize a group to go clean up a river, lake or beach. Planting a tree or creating a compost area at your home are ways you can help to improve the world we live in for future generations to come. Join us at Community Seeds in making the pledge to better our Earth, Earth Day and every day.

Image: Idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


When A Life Passes

When A Life Passes: Becoming Aware of the Choices

By Elizabeth Fournier

Image: Mindy McGregor / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


When a family member dies, most Americans

instinctively grab for a telephone and call on their loyal undertakers. But there was a tradition, before the telephone and the advent of licensed morticians, where women came to lay out the dead.

Even today, a family support group has the right to handle death arrangements without the assistance of outside professionals. It is completely legal, in most states, to care for your own loved ones at death. Oregon and Washington are no exception to the rule. A funeral director does not need to be a part of the process if someone is acting in lieu of a funeral service practitioner.

For the last 100 years, the care of our dead has gradually been turned over to businesses. But in the recent decade, we have seen a resurgence in families providing end-of-life care to loved ones through home hospice care. As a natural extension of hospice, more families are choosing to care for their loved one—before and after death—in their homes.

The general public is not

always aware of their choices, such as the fact embalming is rarely mandatory, nor necessary. The public also is not informed that bodies can stay at home, and the logistics of doing so are fairly straightforward and manageable in most circumstances.

These little known facts provide us a great opportunity to rethink and recreate how we care for the deceased, so that their passing more closely represents who we are as people and what is important to us.

Let us consider the legal and moral aspects, as well as the practical procedures, to be followed in the event that you or your family member opts for a funeral without a funeral director.

-Involving Yourself in the Mourning Process-In Lisa Carlson’s book, Caring For Your Own Dead, she writes that this can be one of “the most meaningful”

ways to “say goodbye to someone you love.”

There is a reclaiming of death as being a part of the natural order of life, instead of a failure of treatment or a medical event. Since many of us have not been part of this process with our families over the years, hospice becomes the gentle guide, as we keep our loved ones close to home and out of the hospitals.

Like home schooling, home birth, and home care for the terminally ill, home funerals allow us to take control of a critical area of our lives. Not everyone may be emotionally prepared for this choice, but grief therapists of long ago recognized that the American way of death usually offers no satisfactory way of socially and physically involving the bereaved in the mourning process.

The family who experiences the death of their loved one, and desires to handle the arrangements will have a list of things to do. They must be prepared to provide the services and products normally supplied by a funeral home.

The following is a basic guide of factors to consider that a family would otherwise pay a

True Life


When A Life Passes, Continued

funeral director to handle:

-Pronouncement - Someone will need to issue a pronouncement of death. If the death occurs in a hospital or nursing home, tell a doctor or nurse right away. He or she will need to fill out the forms confirming the time, place, and cause of death. If the person has been under hospice care at home, then it is usually the hospice caregiver that you need to call. If not, and the person dies at home, you may have to contact your local police department or medical examiner. Contrary to what television teaches us, a Coroner’s Inquest and immediate autopsy do not take place, and a forensic crime unit does not normally arrive on the scene.

If a person dies at home, at work, at a business or in a public place, call 911; police must investigate all deaths that occur without medical personnel in attendance. If the person was under hospice care, call the hospice nurse first. If they passed away in the hospital, then the staff will contact the authorities if necessary.

-Organ Donation- The most urgent decision to make is organ donation; collection must be made

two? Very important to note: California has a 24 hour rule that needs to be complied with. Within the first 24 hours, the body needs to be buried, cremated, or the remains must be embalmed or refrigerated at 36°F, or cooler, until final disposition.

-Death Certificate- Obtain a blank Certificate of Death, permit for final disposition, and other forms as needed. These forms vary from state to state. This task alone may take two or three team members, depending on if the family or a funeral home is handling the details of the burial or cremation.

Great care must be taken in completing the death certificate. White-out or other corrections are not usually permitted. If an error is made, you may have to start over again with a new certificate. A death certificate signed by a doctor stating the cause of death must be filed—usually in the county where death occurs, where a body is found, or where a body is removed from a public conveyance or vehicle.

The information usually needed on a certificate of death include: full legal name, legal residence, length of time

within a few hours of death. If your loved-one signed a donor card, then under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, the donation must be honored by survivors.

-Disposition Plan-The next pressing decision to make is disposition of the body. This is an important decision, not to be made without considering your options and your budget. The choices are: earth burial, entombment, cremation, or donation to science. Each alternative has different services, rituals, conveniences, inconveniences, and all at different prices. The least expensive option is donating the body to science. The body may be rejected due to organ donation, autopsy, age, physical condition, or disease.

The next few questions you need to ask are: What type of funeral or memorial did the deceased want? What do the family members want? Where is the balance between the


True Life

on the beneficiary’s earnings record for the month of death. If there is no surviving spouse, the payment is made to a child who was eligible for benefits on the beneficiary’s earnings record in the month of death.

-Washing and Dressing the Body-Between two and six people should help wash and dress the body within a few hours of death, before rigor mortis sets in. Close the eyes and lay an eye pillow on them for a few hours to keep the eyelids shut. If the mouth drops open, wrap a cotton bandana under the chin and tie it at the top of the head.

-Keeping the Body Cool- Keep the body cool with pieces of a 20- to 30-pound block of dry ice, placed in bags under the torso. Replace the dry ice as needed. Note that dry ice will sublimate directly to gaseous carbon dioxide, and while this is not poisonous, it will displace oxygen in the air which can be a problem in a closed room. So for odor management and to prevent the build-up of carbon dioxide, keep the body near an open window. The body can be kept at home for two to three days at a temperature of 60 to 75 degrees, with little or no

decomposition.

-Transporting the Body- If you need to move the body, you can call a service that will take care of this, or you can use a suitable vehicle (van, SUV, pickup truck, station wagon). Placing the body on a rigid board and loading the apparatus into the back or bed of a vehicle, tends to work the easiest. Although you can bury the body without a coffin, it will be easier to carry and transport it in a sturdy container.

-Saving Money-Since friends and family can duplicate the services of the funeral director (except embalming the body), there is absolutely no reason why they should be prohibited from caring for their own dead.While it is quite possible to save money, the primary motivation for caring for your own dead should not be a financial concern. It should be a moral and caring decision, regardless of what choice is made.

at current residence, date of birth, place of birth, mother’s birth name, father’s birth name, date of death, place of death, ethnicity, education, Social Security number, occupation, employment or business history, marital history, military history, spouse’s full name, next of kin, addresses, and their relationship to the deceased.The certificate then needs to be filed with the local register of births and deaths.

-Burial Permit- Obtain a Permit for Disposition from the local registrar of births and deaths. Fill it out, and it will need to accompany the body to the burial place. A Permit for Disposition is required in order for a cemetery or crematory to accept delivery of a body for final disposition. This permit will be issued at the time the death registration is approved.

-Social Security-Your local Social Security office requires that the deceased’s Social Security number is retired. A one-time payment of $255 is payable to the surviving spouse if he or she was living with the beneficiary at the time of death. If the spouses were living apart, he/she is eligible for Social Security benefits

Bow Image: healingdream / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Rose Image: Mindy McGregor


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Green Your Clean This Spring

Green Your Clean This Spring!By Deanna Zachrich

When spring arrives, most of us grab a bucket of cleaners from under the kitchen sink and freshen up our homes

with winter finally over. This year, vow to clean green! Your pantry probably already has everything you need to clean your home without all the nasty chemicals.

Vinegar is this frugal Eco-girl’s favorite cleaning ingredient! It is inexpensive, readily available, and does a miraculous job of disinfecting and eliminating odors. This is why I love using vinegar in my homemade cleaners. Whether you use it alone or combined with another natural ingredient, vinegar can clean it all up green in hundreds of different ways!

I’ve used vinegar to remove gum from my car upholstery, and kill weeds between my sidewalks. I have combined it with baking

soda to clear a sink drain, removed hard water build-up from my shower head, topped it off with cooking oil in small bowls to rid my home of gnats, and even used it in my dishwasher’s and washing machine’s rinse cycles for spot-free glassware and static-free blankets! Because vinegar can disinfect, it is a great green alternative to harsh chemical cleaners in the kitchen and bathroom. I use it daily on my kitchen counters, on my kitchen and bathroom sinks, and even the toilet. Vinegar is one versatile cleaner that respects the planet.

Baking soda is another natural cleaning alternative. I use it to freshen up my carpet at home. I just shake it up in an old Parmesan cheese dispenser, along with a few drops of my favorite essential oil, and sprinkle a generous amount over my carpet. I let it set overnight and then vacuum as usual. The same technique works on my couch and other

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


Green Your Clean This Spring!, Continued

upholstery, such as my dog’s bedding, and my daughter’s stuffed animal collection. I’ve even used dried flower petals (such as lavender or rose blooms) to add a beautiful smell to my baking soda carpet freshener.

Of course we have all heard how great baking soda is at eliminating odors in our tennis shoes, boots, slippers, and even sports equipment. It is also a must-have for any camper. I have used it to freshen up my tent and sleeping bag, soothe a bee sting or a poison ivy rash, and extinguish a campfire. Baking soda even does a great job at cleaning my teeth. Why pack toothpaste when you can just sprinkle a little baking soda on your wet toothbrush?

In addition, baking soda makes a great scouring paste when combined with a little water on a sponge. It does an amazing job on tough stains on smooth surfaces like my

kitchen counter-tops. Baking soda can also be used to clean up grease spills, which might explain why it works so well on my grill. I simply sprinkle the metal grates with baking soda and let them soak in warm water for several hours. Any baked-on spots easily come loose. No scrubbing required!

If you decide to green your spring cleaning by purchasing environmentally friendly packaged cleaners, there are many choices to consider. Some so-called “green” cleaners are just chemicals masked in deceptive labeling, so be cautious when choosing your brand. When purchasing a green cleaner, choose one from an environmentally responsible company. Method and Seventh Generation are two great companies that know the importance of keeping our planet and families healthy. Both have a variety of great home cleaners that are not harmful to our planet or our loved ones.


Ingredients White distilled vinegar, liquid soap, baking soda, and

water.

General Purpose Spray

¼ cup of white distilled vinegar ½ teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon liquid soap 16 oz. spray bottle

Top your bottle off with hot water and shake well before each use.

Scouring Paste

16oz. of baking soda 2 tablespoons liquid soap One cup of warm water

Mix well and store the mixture in a sealed container.

Window Cleaner

¼ cup white distilled vinegar 1 tablespoon liquid soap

16 oz. spray bottle.

Top off your bottle with hot water and shake well before each use.

I do not purchase paper towels, so I use newspaper, a lint-free rag, or my squeegee to remove the

cleaner from the glass.

It’s Easy Being Greener

3 Green Cleaners4 Basic ingredients!

Sujin Jetkasettakorn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


Eco Friendly Crafts

Recycled Wool Mug Mat or Trivet

By Adrianna and Dena Royal

We have all had one of those “Oh No!” moments when we have discovered a favorite wool clothing item

has gone through the washing machine. Good news! You can now rescue your shrunken sweater from the landfill by

upcycling it into a fun family craft. An afternoon or evening of crafting, using 100% recycled materials, will result in the creation of a useful, attractive mug mat or trivet. These make great gifts for family members, friends, or to deliver to your local senior center.


Recycled Wool Mug Mat Or Trivet

You’ll Need:

Recycled felted wool scrap• Thinner craft felt scrap (or can use a • thinner wool scrap piece)Leftover yarn or embroidery floss or • crochet threadsLarge eyed needle• Straight pin•

We would like to challenge your family to use all recycled materials. Be creative! We have used ribbon, string, and all sorts of other items for the “sewing thread” for these mug mats. The kids will have fun conducting a treasure hunt for materials around the house.

Steps:1. Cut out your wool and felt pieces. A cereal bowl works great for a circle template, as this size can be used for either a large mug mat or a trivet for a hot dish.

2. If you wish to embellish/embroider your wool felt, do it now. You can search the internet for embroidery stitch tutorials if you want to get fancy. We do not recommend using thread or superfine yarn, as you will lose your embellishment in the thick felted wool. You can, however, sew two different threads together for a thicker yarn.

3. Using a straight pin, pin your two pieces together.

4. Blanket stitch the pieces together with leftover yarn. TIP: If you use a bulky yarn and/or a thick scrap, use a sail, leather or upholstery needle. It will make your job much easier. Be sure to use caution with children using these “mega” needles.

5. If you have any dried lavender buds available, you can place a few between the layers right before finishing your stitches.

6. Do not knot your yarn at the end. Simply weave your yarn end back and forth in your stitches and cut close.

7. For a more polished finished project, use an iron and steam your mug mat/hot pad flat.

Want more recycled wool craft ideas? Check out our blog at:www.recycledfiberarts.blogspot.com.


“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is proven to be a case of “don’t want to,” rather than too old to change. Daniel Levitin passionately explores the connection between music and the brain in his book of the same name. Google his name, watch video clips on YouTube, or go to his website. It is an exciting time of discovering how little we know and how much there is to learn.

There is definitely enough evidence to recognize it is not in a music teacher’s imagination. Music has a huge impact on activity in the brain. You can physically see the growth and changes that happen inside the brain. The possibilities are endless. The implications for music therapy and music education are profound. Just check out PBS video “The Music Instinct.”

scans and MRI imaging by scanning the blood flow in the brain. Our brains are “wired” with neural pathways. Most activities only cause a portion of the brain to “light up” with activity; thus, the saying about “right brain/left brain,” and so on. But there are actually four parts to the brain and music makes ALL of the areas “light up” and creates new neural pathways as a person is learning and playing an instrument. Those neural pathways remain in tact and can be used for other things besides music.

Norman Doidge, in his book, The Brain That Changes Itself, shares case after case of people forcing their brains to change and adapt either voluntarily with discipline, or involuntarily due to odd incidences. Studies confirm that our brains have plasticity.

In past generations, singing and playing instruments was an integral part of family

life. It was a great way to express and entertain yourself and others. We did not realize it, but we were also exercising our brain while we played. This was causing us to be creative, more vibrant, more intelligent, etc. In our current generation, we tend to be passive listeners and consumers, and as a result, we are shortening our mental development and stripping our children of the opportunity to reach their full mental potential.

Humans are “wired” for music. Until recently, scientists did not know how music affected the brain. The advancement in technology allows scientists to actually “see” brain activity via PET

Music: Key to Raising Kids’ IQ By Sharon Burch

Music: Key To Raising Kids’ IQ


Neurologist and author, Oliver Sacks, relays a true story from his book, Musicophilia, where a man was indirectly struck by lightning through a telephone and three weeks later was composing and playing the piano for the first time. Sacks believes the man was “rewired” through that experience. The list goes on and on.

Even if you are still skeptical about music making kids smarter, let us look at the other benefits. Socially, music is an ageless hobby, creating interaction with great people. Take a look at any school band, orchestra, or top-ranking choir and you will find a huge percentage of the members are in the top ten percent of their classes and

instrument makes you smarter, but all the indicators are there, so let us look at it from the opposite angle. Instead of trying to prove that music makes you smarter or is good for you and your child, try to prove that it is not. I can not think of a single reason how learning a musical instrument is detrimental, can you?

Give your child every opportunity and advantage you can. Enroll them in music lessons and watch them grow and mentally develop as they play, create, express, and struggle through the rigors of the discipline of mastering an instrument. You will discover a more creative, brighter, and mature person in the making.

are college bound. Striving for excellence is a given in a musical group. Everyone has to perfect their parts for the group to perform at their best, therefore nobody “sits on the bench.” Everyone has to pull their own weight or the whole group suffers. Creativity, especially in jazz groups, is developed, honed, and embraced. Who could not use more creativity in their workforce? Creativity is what makes the difference and gives any company the cutting edge.

There are many benefits of being involved in making music, but the neural pathways drive home the point and that gets our attention. Scientists are reluctant to state that playing a musical

Family


Working as a family to create a waste free home requires an inventive mind,

minimalist lifestyle and a day to day intention to live lighter on the earth. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average family throws away about 1,600 pounds of waste each year. It is possible to reduce the waste your family creates by making small changes. If everyone worked at making small changes, it would make a huge difference. Most of these changes many of us have never considered and most of the changes require sacrifice on the part of your family. By working together, each family could significantly reduce the waste their home creates.

Many of us are product junkies; we assume that we need an elixir for everything. But imagine fitting every toiletry your entire family needs into

one medicine cabinet. This is where the minimalistic lifestyle comes into play. Really think about what is a necessary part of your daily routine. If your family were to use no Q-tips, cotton balls, or tissue, you would begin to see a change in the waste your family produces. Many recipes are available online to create your own natural hair products and facial cleansers, enabling you to reuse your packaging. At the very least, make sure the packaging that these products are in is recyclable. To further reduce plastic packaging, here is how you can mix up your own multipurpose cleaner: 1 ½ tsp. Castile soap, 3 tsp. white vinegar, and 4 cups water (For more at home cleaners checkout pg.19!)

When it comes to entertaining our families, most of the time a lot of money and garbage is wasted in doing so. There are many ways to reduce

Working As A Family To Reduce WasteBy Ashley Grebe

It’s Easy Being Greener

Image: xedos4 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


that waste and still entertain. Try getting your books from the library. When your children outgrow their toys, donate, sell or re-gift them. Give gifts of experience to your children, like ice skating or rock climbing, rather than things. Our kitchens are an area where a lot of waste occurs. Composting is an extremely valuable habit to practice. Any food waste that can be composted, should. To reduce paper waste, use glass jars to store dry foods like cereal, nuts or cookies. Most natural food aisles of grocery stores have sections where these dry goods can be refilled. Even wine is available locally with refillable bottles. Always remember to shop with your canvas tote! Shopping for groceries at your local farmers market is an easy way to avoid plastic packaging. You can also replace paper towels with micro fiber cloths, which will significantly reduces you waste.

Making small changes like these are an easy challenge for your family. If each household committed to living lighter on the earth, imagine how much waste would be reduced! Sustainable living requires sacrifice, but the benefits largely outweigh any loss.

Family



My Recycled Greyhound

My Recycled GreyhoundBy Jellie Stanton

GSome people believe greyhounds are working dogs that enjoy chasing a mechanical rabbit, and at the end of their exciting careers become

recycled into a family pet - a nice life with the ultimate retirement. This however, is just not the way the story goes, and in the case of my repurposed greyhound, he simply beat the odds.

The real story is the life of a greyhound is not even close to nice. When housed at the race track, they spend about 20 hours of the day confined in small cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around. If their stats are below par, they are retired from racing. A retired female may end up as a brood, spending years on a farm breeding more potential racers. Some retirees end up in veterinary research labs because greyhounds

have a universal blood type and because they are so docile, they are easy to handle. The lucky get adopted, and the remaining get destroyed.

Over 15,000 greyhounds were registered in 2009(1). More were born, but got culled as they were not suitable for racing. Many suffer broken legs, necks, spinal cord paralysis or go into cardiac arrest while racing and have to be put down. Some states do not require that records be kept on injuries or deaths, which is deemed too much information for the public. The industry does admit to destroying thousands of greyhounds each year, which is estimated to be as many as 3,000(2). I was also shocked when I recently read that greyhounds tested positive for cocaine at a track in Birmingham. It is hard for me to even get my head around this act of cruelty. My


My Recycled Greyhound, Continued

husband took me to our local track to see the deal firsthand. What I saw was mostly shady characters who probably consider gambling their “job” and a few semi-normal people that might have been just looking for something different to do on a Saturday night.

Thanks though to the tireless efforts of GREY2K USA, a non-profit group headed by the talented Christine Dorchak who serves as both President and General Counsel, only twenty three tracks are still operational in seven states: Alabama has three tracks, Arizona one, Arkansas one, Florida has thirteen, Iowa has two, Texas one, and West Virginia has two. Most recently, the tracks in Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Oregon have been eliminated.

This amazing group has been able to ban greyhound racing by working with state politicians to pass the Greyhound Protection Act. While defeating attempts to keep tracks alive with subsidies and tax breaks, or the back door approach where promoters lobby for a law legalizing slot machines to save the live racing. If the tracks are successful at getting slots, they remain economically viable and the dogs continue to remain disposable commodities.

Defeating dog track owners is no easy task. It has taken the laborious grassroots approach of collecting thousands of signatures in order to place a measure to end dog racing before voters. People were shown state records documenting hundreds of injuries, along with actual video footage of terrible collisions that are common occurrences and photographs of the endless confinement greyhounds endure. This hard proof gave the greyhounds a voice. The numbers and force of the people proved that small groups of people really can bring about big change.

There is currently a blogger dedicated to seeing that last remaining track in Arizona is closed. The blogger discusses the issues associated with this industry in no uncertain terms. There are also roughly 350 greyhound

rescue groups throughout the U.S. They are comprised of volunteers that find ways to transport, feed, medically treat, house and market these dogs to the public. If a track closes, these groups network in an effort to place dogs across states. You can imagine the constant work involved to make even a dent in the number greyhounds needing homes in a state like Florida with a whopping thirteen tracks. What does this say about my state of Florida? Gambling trumps animal welfare?

I was initially put off to hear that my local rescue group was neutral on racing, but then it occurred to me that they are dealing with ruthless people and this is their way of getting in to make the saves. I had the experience of going with members of a rescue group to pick up dogs as space had become available. We went to a kennel that was full of all these beautiful dogs in all their wonderful colors, stacked in crates with their almost human eyes looking so intently at us as if to say, “please pick me.” It was heart-wrenching to leave with only two, and no one can convince me that another group came to that particular kennel to pick up the rest. My greyhound, Buddie, who raced for a short period under the name Mr. Pibb, is an amazing recycled dog. He is gentle, loving, and gives standing hugs if allowed. He is an ambassador for his breed, using his charm to give hugs and kisses to people everywhere he goes. Most tend to think greyhounds are full of energy, but the truth is they are used to lying around and being active for only short periods of time. Other things that people usually do not know is that greyhounds do not bark, have a sweet smell, and barely shed. They walk right by your side on a leash and many enjoy cats. What more could you ask for in a pet?

If you are interested in learning more about greyhounds or adopting go to www.grey2kusa.com.(1) National Greyhound Association, Breeding Stats, 2009.(2) National Greyhound Association, KABC Channel 7 ABC TV, February 20, 2009.


Making A Difference

The African Library Project By: Breanna Crabtree

Continued on page 32

During my junior year in high school, I was told by a former teacher of mine, Amy Behlke, about an organization known as

The African Library Project. Suggesting it as a possible senior project, Amy briefly explained the key aspects of the organization’s objective. My attention was immediately drawn to this cause because I have a special affinity for serving others.

When my senior year came around, I contemplated what I wanted to do for my fifteen hours that would need to fulfill the service requirement. I decided that I wanted to put my time and effort towards a worthy

cause by helping better the lives of others less fortunate than I have been. Having come to this conclusion, I decided to help with The Library Project. I contacted Amy Behlke and we arranged to contact The African Library Project as soon as possible. Amy referred me to their website, where I familiarized myself with information about what and how they carry out the project.

After emailing and arranging Amy as my senior mentor, I received a notification from Amelia, the head supervisor of The African Library Project, explaining that I would be collecting children books for a village in Botswana, Africa. I was eventually assigned


The Library Project, Continued

to a primary school in Gakhibane. The task was to collect 1,000 children books, along with $500.

By visiting local elementary schools and family friends, word of mouth of my project soon spread. Many community members were willing to sacrifice their books and time for the children in Africa who have had little access to books. Over the next couple of months, my mother and I had picked up weekly donations of books. When it came to funding the shipping costs, there was a great response from the generous people who were willing to donate.

When it was time to ship the boxes, friends were there to help count, sort and pack up the books.

This project was not just something I saw as project that I had to do, I approached it with a willing heart and mind. I was ready to serve and assist those children in Africa in order to help decrease their problem with illiteracy and broaden their educational horizons. I would like to give a huge thank you to all who helped in making this such a successful project!

If you are interested in becoming involved with The Library Project please visit… http://www.africanlibraryproject.org/


Healthy Living

Sustainable SplurgingBy Emily Baldwin

Does eating out feel like a splurge or an extravagant expense? We all know we are living in an economic crisis and eating out is often one of

the first things people cut out of their budget.

Something to consider while searching through your wallet is the growing trend of sustainability that has erupted in the restaurant industry. Trends are changing to where many Americans are becoming more aware of environmental issues. Consumers want to live a sustainable life in and out of their homes, but can we as consumers have it all? Can we preserve our planet, while enjoying a great

meal at the same time? Yes, we can have it all. There are many restaurants that are adopting sustainable practices.

Franky’s, a local Chico restaurant is doing their part to stay green. Nick Andrew, Co-Owner of Chico’s popular restaurant and bar proclaims, “It’s our moral responsibility. If you can’t be proud of what you have, what you do, than it’s not much.” Franky’s, prides themselves on the efforts they have made towards becoming sustainable. Many of us know Franky’s for its mouth-watering pizza, house-made fresh pasta and the irresistible happy hour. My personal favorite is the


Sustainable Splurging, Continued

Chicken Alla Pana. Franky’s is doing their part in carrying out their “moral duty” of staying sustainable.

Franky’s has acknowledged their responsibility to do what’s right for our planet. Becoming sustainable helps businesses cut costs in energy, water and wastes. It can bring in new clientele as well as increase customer loyalty. Consumers are likely to make a restaurant choice based on an operation’s practices in sustainability. Sustainability is good for business and the planet. Restaurants are the number one consumer of electricity and comprise 10% of the American economy. This impacts the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink.

Restaurants are now practicing sustainability by being more efficient with water, waste reduction, buying locally grown food and reducing energy use. The kitchen dishwashers at Franky’s have water savers and gaskets to ensure less water use, allowing them to become more water efficient. In addition, Franky’s purchases their dish washing necessities from Gager Distributors, a local company. Another way to become more water efficient is to invest in low flush toilets. In efforts to lower food waste, Franky’s makes Holiday food donations to Chico’s local Jesus Center. Recycling is imperative to waste reduction. Franky’s separates all waste into cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, and other recyclable products.

Next on the list of restaurant sustainable measures is the consumer favorite, the food. Franky’s excels in this area. Pasta is made from scratch, in house, which prevents the waste of gas and energy it would take for the pasta to be delivered. In addition, the

pasta is whole wheat for a healthier, guilt-free indulgence. Andrew insists to buy local whenever possible. They thrive to offer foods that do not have any chemicals or preservatives, turning to local S&S Produce for meat and free range ground beef. For example, Franky’s meatballs are made from prime grade, free range and hormone free beef, which are the same meatballs that are served at another local Chico restaurant, 5th Street Steakhouse.

Managing the amount of energy is a vital way to maintain sustainability. Franky’s does this with the help of cinder block walls which act as insulation for the restaurant. Franky’s has double paned windows and two fast-acting air conditioning units that can be left off the majority of open hours.

Most admirable of all, Franky’s insists that their to-go containers are recyclable. Styrofoam is the cheapest option for restaurant owners, and it takes some serious commitment to choose the more expensive, but environmentally friendlier option. Napkins, hand towels, and dishes are all reusable.

Being conscious about sourcing food is vital to being sustainable. Though Franky’s emphasizes their success from offering consistent menu items, they still reflect seasonal changes of availability with their fish options and fresh local produce.

The food industry is in the position to influence the damage of non-sustainable businesses. They can alleviate many of the negative effects of factory farming, meat production, pesticide use, fishery depletion and transporting food by moving forward in being a green business. A business can be more sustainable by buying organic food and from


Healthy Living

EXTRA FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Green Your Dinning Experience

1.) Choose a great local sustainable restaurant.2.) Walk, take public transportation or carpool when dinning out.3.) Bring your own mugs for coffee. Bring your own “take home” box to offer your server for your leftovers.4.) Be smart at the fish counter.5.) Consider menu items that are lower on the food chain, having a lower environmental impact. Chicken has a lower impact than beef, while sustainable seafood has even lower impact than chicken. The lowest of all would be the vegetarian and vegan options.6.) Taste, don’t waste! A large amount of food ordered by customers is wasted and thrown out. Make conscious order choices!

local family farms, in hopes of a healthier environment.

We, as consumers, have the power. We can lead a world-wide demand for health and quality in everyday living. We can mandate the new model for a healthy and vigorous food system.

The key is to simply spend our green- green. We, as consumers, can express a demand by what we put our money into. Franky’s has committed to putting money back into the local Chico area with charities revolved around kids and family, as well as giving back to local Chico Schools. These are the businesses that deserve our hard earned money. So, if you have a short break from work and want to get away, stop in for a quick bite, a drink or maybe just to chat with the welcoming bartenders and servers who will instantly brighten your day. As consumers, we CAN have it all!


In January, the federal government updated the nutrition guidelines for Americans. The new guidelines focus more on improving nutrition and

increasing physical activity with hopes of promoting health, reducing the risk of chronic disease, and reducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity among all Americans (USDA, 2011A). The statistics – especially in regards to children – do not paint a good picture. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that if current trends continue, 1 in 3 children born after the year 2000 will develop type II diabetes (CDC,

2010). This generation of kids may be the first in history to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

As busy health professionals and parents of young children, the authors recognize the struggle with our children making healthy food choices. Through this article we hope to simplify the nutrition guidelines in hopes of making it easier for you to help your family eat healthier.

Historically, the USDA has provided guidelines based on serving size. For

Understanding the Nutrition Guidelines

By Holly C. Nevarez, PhD, CHES & Wendy O. Kaplan, MPH

Understanding The Nutrition Guidelines


example, one medium apple about the size of a baseball, equaled one serving of fruit. It was recommended we eat 2 – 4 serving sizes of fruit per day. While this seems easy to understand it requires us to know what equals a serving size for each food we eat, which can be hard to remember. More recently, the recommendation changed from serving sizes to cups (USDA, 2011B). Since most Americans can approximate the size of a cup, it seemed this measuring system would be easier to follow. Based on these guidelines children between the ages of four and six should have one and-a-half cups of fruits and vegetables per day, for a total of ten and-a-half cups per week. These guidelines require much less memorization of serving sizes. The recommendations change for children based on their age, gender, and activity level which means children who are two have different recommendations than three year olds, four to six year olds, or seven to nine year olds. The recommendations continue to change as people grow older. As parents of multiple children, it is difficult to remember the guidelines for each one of our children, as they fall into different recommendation groups.

If all of this seems too complicated, here are some simple strategies you can follow to help ensure your children are getting the nutrients they need:

Make half your child’s plate fruits and vegetables. This is easier than trying to remember how many cups of fruits and vegetables they have had each day.Make fruits and vegetables easier to access than less healthy foods. We used to have cookies and chips in our house. It was a hard habit to break getting rid of those quick and

easy snacks, but now they are gone and we rarely miss them. Now we keep a bowl of apples, oranges, and bananas in an easy to reach spot. Without those high-fat snacks our families make healthier choices.

Eat your colors. Sometimes we will do “rainbow week” for dinners. Each night of the week is a different color. So on red night, we might have spaghetti and red apples. On green night, it could be green scrambled eggs (you can use a little food coloring or pureed spinach) and green grapes.

Plant a garden or at least one plant. One of our kids would not eat green beans or carrots. We planted a very small garden with the children. After caring for the garden and seeing the plants grow they wanted to try the vegetables they grew. Amazingly, they even ate them!You don’t have to follow all of these recommendations, choose what fits with your family. Remember, in this situation, more is better.

Of course exercise helps, too. Exercise does not have to mean going to the gym or running (although those are good physical activities); just play. You can play tag, go for walks, explore outside, just get moving. The CDC recommends children (6 – 17 years old) get 60 minutes of physical activity a day (CDC, 2010B). Adults do not need quite as much; the CDC recommends 2 ½ hours per week which could equal 30 minutes 5 days per week. If your family hikes, bikes, walks, or plays together, everyone can get the physical activity they need, and your family can be healthier.

As parents we need to do what we can to protect our children. Helping them eat more fruits will help your child get the nutrients they need. The guidelines from the USDA

Healthy Living


Understanding the nutrition Guidelines , Continued

give us a starting point. Hopefully, these common sense suggestions will help you apply the government guidelines to your family. This will make your child healthier now. Good nutrition ensures your body is getting the vitamins and minerals it needs, which can help your body by fighting common colds and flus and increasing energy levels. It will also help them in the future by preventing overweight, obesity, and other chronic diseases.

References:Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). Childhood obesity and overweight retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html.Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2010B). How much physical activity do you need? Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/children.html.California Department of Public Health (2011). Champions for Change; Network for a healthy California retrieved from http://www.cachampionsforchange.net/en/index.php.U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). (2011A). Dietary guidelines for Americans retrieved from http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/dietaryguidelines.html.U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). (2011B). Mypyramid.gov retrieved from http://www.mypyramid.gov/index.html.

Photo courtesy of Ambro:www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1499



In Praise of Home Cooking

By Birdsong Sundsrom

Healthy Living

This article is dedicated to home cooks everywhere: those who love gourmet food, those who love to whip up

comfort-rich meals and all others in between! Cooking meals from scratch is one of the best things any of us can do to reduce our carbon footprint and it helps more if your basic ingredients do not have any packaging. Let us walk through the step-by-step process and see if I can convince you to hit the pans more frequently than the drive-through.

First, the items you bring home to cook are entirely under your control. You can get the best, fresh, local ingredients by walking out to your garden to grab a bite to eat. You can even start storing your own surplus so that your off-season shopping is done at home. For those who cannot garden, there are farmers’ markets in many areas of the country that operate year-round.

Next, you have some measure of control over how much packaging hitches a ride into your kitchen, along with the food. You also have control over the food-miles (how far your food

has traveled to get to you). Both of these are important sustainability considerations. If you are not doing so yet, spend the next week reading the labels of the items you buy to see if you can determine how far they have traveled to get to you. It is a lot easier to ‘eat local’ during the abundant summer months than it is during winter. You may still be surprised how far the food had to go... which is related to how fresh it really is. If your store does not make this information readily available, especially for produce, now is your chance to ask them why not!

Packaging can be steadily reduced by exploring the bulk bins and the deli counters in your area. Ask yourself, “What can you buy in bulk?” Even my local food cooperative clerks were surprised to see me bring the large jar, that weighed in at 2.59 pounds, filled with Nevada County Free Range beef. This will go into the slow cooker early next week as part of a great tamale pie recipe. Buying this quantity was not my own idea (visit ZeroWasteHome.blogspot.com), but it was still a novel one. Why not, though? I transferred the meat into a

Image courtesy of koratmember: www.freedigitalphotos.net


and ingredient substitutions to keep it tasting yummy, while slimming you down.

What about eating out? Why should you give it up? I will be the first to say, “You don’t have to!” I will modify that, however, by saying it is time to start applying the same principles I stated above (regarding choosing foods to bring into your home), to what you purchase when eating out. It might take more work, but you can begin by looking into what your favorite eateries do about purchase decisions and packaging, both brought in to the restaurant and sent out with you. Does your favorite coffee house discuss whether their beans are fair-traded? Shade-grown? Organic? Do they have the purchasing power to help small coffee-grower collectives earn fair wages? How do you feel about whether they exercise that purchase power or not? Do they give you a discount for bringing in your own mug? If not, suggest that they could save money that way and please customers at the same time. Many fast-food chains do not have a single real dish in the place; Possibly some cooking utensils, but there is no way you can get them to serve your meal to you on a plate. By contrast, one of my favorite Grass Valley eateries regularly sends out meals on china plates, saying that all of their crockery was donated to them (making for a lot of character in the place settings), and they have no qualms about getting almost all of it back and washed clean! They are committed to reducing their business’ carbon footprint, and walk their talk! Plus, they cook up the most wonderful South American cuisine. What’s not to love?

I hope to hear back from readers about how they feel about home cooking, what they do about it, and what they might consider changing about their habits. Each step leads to another!

Healthy Eating

Continued on page 42

smaller, sealed refrigerator container where it will await its turn to become dinner.

Now, we turn to food prepping and cooking. Once again, you get to determine what you eat, and how complex or simple the fare. Personally, I love food and cooking, but still have those workdays when I come home with no energy and no clue what to make. From past experience, I can vouch for a pre-planned menu as one of the best remedies; though I do not stick to that process as much as I used to when there were six people to feed in my house. The house was an hour’s drive from the nearest ‘real’ grocery store. In those days, it was essential to plan out menus and lists or we would all go hungry. Now, we can manage to throw together a sandwich/salad dinner or an egg dish (thanks to our hens) for a dinner when the energy runs low.

What if you do not know how to cook? This problem is rapidly growing, especially since schools stopped offering Home Economics. It is no longer an elective and is a loss to home cooking. I can recall during my days as a high school teacher, that this was a favorite class. A class that allowed you to earn a decent grade while eating, was a big hit.

Our local food cooperative decided to address this problem by partnering with a local chef/caterer to offer cooking classes. There are various places you can locate cooking classes in your community: check your local community colleges, adult education courses, cooking stores and even hospitals! For those of you who are dedicated to losing weight this new year, I want to suggest that you start by looking for a cooking class that focuses on healthy eating. You will have a much easier time figuring out how to diminish your caloric intake if you know the ingredients in each dish


Start making weekly and seasonal menus • so that your trips to the farmers market and store can follow your plan, rather than your impulses. You will save money and waste less the more you build pre-planning into your routine.

Begin cooking double dinners, and freeze • the other half for later. Steam or prep veggies at the same time and save them for lunches during the week.

Set up a cooking circle with a few foodie • friends, and begin doing your once-a-week cooking together.

Season, and begin processing some food • this year. It is more fun to do with a few friends, and you all will have more in your pantry.

Use a slow cooker in the winter and a solar • oven in the summer to have a tasty meal waiting for you when you return home from work.

Sign up for a cooking class!•

Write out a few days worth of menus • on the back of a recycled envelope, just to see what it feels like to think about making most of your own meals.

Begin collecting glass containers at • yard sales and thrift stores for your bulk purchases; the kind with rubber rings and clamp-down lids are your healthiest choice and last longest too. Look for small containers to carry your lunch in.

Mesh laundry bags make great options for • when you need to bag up loose oranges, onions, apples, etc., and have them weighed; be sure to have the checker weigh for tare weight, and write it on your list next to the item.

Grow, cut, and hang to dry some of your • own herbs.

Take a canning class early in the•

In Praise of Home Cooking, Continued

Home Cooking: To Get You Started

Photo courtesy of Carlos Porto: www.freedigitalphotos.net



Cook’s Corner

Cook’s Corner

Spring time is the season to enjoy the great outdoors and what better way then a picnic! The Following recipes are great light snacks to include on your picnic outing or just to snack on at home.

Image by Paul : www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1526


Healthy Eating

Using fresh apples, these muffins remind us of apple cake or apple crisp. Packed with soft baked apples and a topping that crisps up to taste almost like toffee. These muffins are a favorite in our home.

Apple Strudel Muffins by Amy Behlke

Ingredients:1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon ¼ tsp. nutmeg ¼ cup butter ½ cup applesauce ½ cup sugar ½ cup brown sugar 2 eggs 2 Tbsp. ground flax 2 Tbsp. wheat bran 2 Tbsp. oat bran 2 Tbsp. water 1 ¼ tsp. vanilla 3 large apples, chopped Topping: 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 1 Tbsp. flour 2 Tbsp rolled oats 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp nutmeg 1 Tbsp. butter

Preheat the oven to 375 ° F.

Grease muffin pans. Beat together butter, sugar, brown sugar, applesauce and eggs until smooth. Mix in vanilla. Stir in apples and gradually add flour, powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, flax, wheat bran, oat bran and water. Spoon mixture into muffin pan. Mix brown sugar, flour, rolled oats, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl. Cut butter into the mixture until it becomes coarse crumbs. Sprinkle this mixture over the tops of the uncooked muffins. Bake for 20 minutes. Allow 5 minutes to cool, then remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Photo courtesy of Maggie Smith www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=172


Healthy Eating

Photo by Tracy Cahn


If you are headed out for a spring picnic or having a friendly get-together, bruschetta is a great appetizer that is easy to make. You do not have to stick to using the traditional tomatoes, you can use many spring vegetables such as beans, artichokes or peas and experiment with flavors for an extra zing! Use this simple recipe or create your own

for special events, family outings, or dinner for two!

Bruschettaby Cordy Humble

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let marinate over night in the fridge. Serve with grilled or toasted bread of your choice.

Bruschetta

Ingredients:

4 small diced tomatoes*4 large basil leaves chopped1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar1 Tbsp red wine vinegar1 tsp minced garlic

Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

*Artichoke hearts are delicious to use in place of the tomatoes for a special spring zest.

Photo courtesy of Suat Eman: www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=151


Do It Yourself Lip Balms By Ashley Grebe

Do It Yourself Lip Balms

We at Community Seeds have found a fun way to create a favorite beauty product at home! Creating your own

lip balm gives you the freedom to create a balm that suits your needs. Add eucalyptus or peppermint oils to heal chapped lips, or choose soothing vanilla relief. By mixing up a batch yourself, you are helping to reduce plastic waste created by store bought products. This surprisingly easy project is beneficial to your kisser, and the environment!

VARIATIONSPeppermint-Eucalyptus Lip Balm

Use 6 drops of peppermint essential oil and 4 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.

Vanilla-Rose Lip Balm Use 10 drops of rose oil, also called rose

otto, and 5 drops of vanilla oil, also known as vanilla absolute.

MAKES FOUR TINS1 tablespoon beeswax pearls

(also called pellets or pastilles)

1 tablespoon pure shea butter

2 tablespoons sweet almond oil

10-15 drops essential oils of your choice

Melt beeswax, shea butter, and almond oil together in the top of a double boiler or in a heat-safe bowl set over a pot of simmering water; stir continuously with a whisk. Once the ingredients are liquefied, remove them from heat. Whisk in essential oils. Working quickly, transfer the liquid to a measuring cup or a container with a pour spout and then divide it among four 1/2-ounce lip balm tins. Let balms cool completely until solid, about 20 minutes. Store in a cool, dry place.

Image by Salvatore Vuono: www.freedigitalphotos.net



Faces Of The Community


Faces Of The Community


The pride of ilike organic skin care is made of raw organic rosehip via a special method.

The whipped cream charges the skin with vitamins, and has a soothing, anti-inflammatory effect. It works well even on the most sensitive, rosacea or scaly seborrhoea skin. And it even beautifies, hydrates and soothes those skin types that could only be treated before with creams containing corticosteroid (medical anti-inflammatory agent). Can be found at www.elementsbybeaute.com

Earth Friendly Beauty Products

By Lorianne S. Riley

For the optimist in us all, Clear Skies is Kaia House’s answer to toxic top and base coats

when we look to polishing up our nails. Clear, and quickly drying... you will well be on your way to ‘greener’ pastures in no time. Can be found at www.kalahouse.com

This is a yummy smelling product! It’s 100% biodegradable, 100% soy and corn based , non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and

free of any Petroleum Ingredients. Derived from farm crops which in turn supports American farming . Can be found at www.elementsbybeaute.com and www.karmaorganicspa.com

Eco_Certified Healing Serum & Soymilk Hair Wash is a

great smelling and amazing for your hair. Can be found at www.hamadibeauty,com

Earth Friendly Products

Beautiful bronzers are sure to create a truly healthy sun-free glow.

Ferro Cosmetics Mineral Makeup is a 100% natural, eco-fabulous line of loose mineral makeup. Can be found at www.elementsbybeaute.com and www.ferrocosmetics.com


Moving is the best medicine. Keeping active and losing weight are just two of the ways that you can fight osteoarthritis pain. In fact, for every pound you lose, that’s four pounds less pressure on each knee. For information on managing pain, go to fightarthritispain.org.


Arthritis FoundationChico Connection The Durham Community WebsiteeleMENts by Beaute Salon and Spa eleMENts MagazineGrowing Up Chico Magazine Ferro CosmeticsIn Motion FitnessIn Motion FitnessThe Paradise Connection Community WebSiteSzep EletThomas ACE HardwareTracy Lynn PhotographyUnited Way Watt Green Construction

Special Thanks To: In Motion Fitness ------------------------------------------------------------ www.InMotionFitness.com

Additional Thanks To: Susan Burke March, MS, RD/LD, CDE ---------------------------------- www.SusanBurkeMarch.comDeanna Zachrich ------------------------------------------------------------ www.TheBigGreenEasy.comThe Health and Community Services Department at California State University, Chico

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Join Us In The Summer!

Send us an article about being eco friendly or • community-mindedSend us photos of you and/or your family and friends in • the summerSend photos of unique green products • Tell us what you like to do in the spring to be more • sustainableSend us a green craft idea• Write a book review• Send us an article on living a healthier lifestyle • Tell us how your business is being more sustainable• Tell us about summer community projects• Purchase advertising• Become a sponsor•

The deadline for the Summer issue is May 10, 2011.E-mail items to [email protected].

For more information go to www.communityseeds.com.Photo courtesy of Simon Howden: www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=404

Send us an article about being eco-friendly or • community-mindedSend us photos of you and/or your family and friends in • the summerSend photos of unique green products • Tell us what you like to do in the spring to be more • sustainableSend us a green craft idea• Write a book review• Send us an article on living a healthier lifestyle • Tell us how your business is being more sustainable• Tell us about summer community projects• Purchase advertising• Become a sponsor•

The Next Issue Of

Community Seeds

Will Be Released

June 15, 2011!


Documents

Eco Community Seeds, Spring 2011 Issue