Natural Living

Welcome to the Seed Room!

2008-01-23T08:21:00.000-08:00

Welcome to The Seed Room! It is in this room that Mary and I fill all incoming seed orders and package them up to send out to you! We carry a large variety of native forb, grass, and sedge species--one of the neat things about being in the Seed Room is that you learn to identify seed based on smell! Sometimes good....somtimes not so good....phew! One of our favorites is Rudbeckia subtomentosa, or Sweet Black-eyed Susan, which has a very sweet, other-worldy aroma. Check us out online at www.ionxchange.com!

Part of the Cycle

2008-01-23T07:10:00.000-08:00

Babies!!! Spring is one of my favorite times of the year, simply because it brings with it the birth of new generations, both in the animal and plant world. This year, however, I didn't have to wait for spring--the miracle of birth has come early (for life and death move in their own time, giving no consideration for weather or readiness).

I remember the first birth I witnessed. It was magical, awe-inspiring, and, well, kinda gross. I began my initiation into 'real life'--for I feel I was very naive (and still am, to be quite honest with you) about the workings of life and death. I did not have the farm life as a child and was very removed from these processes. This isn't to mean we didn't have pets, for Skippy (our very first dog) was an amazing huntress and often came back with a bounty of little critters--the thing with Skippy was that she didn't 'do them in' before she brought them home. Thus, the numerous baby bunnies that ended up on our doorstep were safely returned to their homes (mentally scarred for life, physically ok). It was not until I subjected myself to the whims of mother nature and decided farming was a facet my soul needed to experience that I encountered the beauty of life, and death.

This birth, this entrance into the world, was on one of the coldest nights in February. Mama goats are notorious for kidding on the coldest, snowiest, wettest, most inhospitiable weather. It's like a sweet revenge for the pain and time spent birthing. I think we can learn a lot from our animal companions, and here is why. Watching the Girls kid that season, I noticed they did not shy away from or try to evade the process of birth, for it was inevitable. When the kids started coming, their eyes glazed, ready for the pain, the process, the relief. Their entire being was stoic. It's an amazing process to witness and be part of. Of course, there is the other side to consider also. The grief of losing a kid (for they have a memory and feelings too), of dying in birth. This too I witnessed. And cried. And came to a greater understanding that to be part of the cycle of life, we all must live and die, no matter the length of time we are allowed, no matter how young or old. And came to realize that I was no longer removed from life.

About a month ago, the Saturday before Christmas, to be exact, 7 (or 8 depending on who you talk to--we have a bit of a puppy discrepency) beautiful little puppies were delivered. They have grown steadily, every day it seems they are bigger, more curious, and even happier than the day before. They come running out of their house to give kisses and say a brief hello, for it is too cold out for something so little, and run back in to cuddle with each other. These pups have inspired me to do some further exploration in natural dog care, which I will share as it comes, and hope that you stay tuned in to watch the clan grow! The cycle has just begun, and while I continually remind myself we must take the good with the bad, I am also reminded to make the most of what I've got and enjoy every minute.

Gabi

Plight of the Doughnut

2008-01-09T07:13:00.000-08:00

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo

Food expenditure for one week: $31.55

Yesterday, my friend Scott sent an e-mail regarding the weekly eating habits of people around the country. Amazed by the differences in diets and the way the cost for groceries decreases the more fresh fruits and vegetables and grains one is eating, I forwarded the e-mail on. I try very hard to maintain a vegetarian diet, or at least as veggy as I can be. Living in North East Iowa, going out to eat can be difficult if one does not allow some wiggle room, and dating a very carnivorous person (who is, mind you, quite adventurous when it comes to eating) I have made exceptions to a strict diet I used to follow. I will give you an example. Yesterday was an incredibly foggy morning, and as I set out for work, my car rendered itself unable to tackle the layers of ice on the driveway. Getting a ride from a very generous friend, we made our way to town, already late for work, he turned to me and asked if I wanted a doughnut for breakfast. Well, I thought. It has been a long time since I've had a doughnut. Sure! Expecting a little round cake one, he came back with two huge 'nuts stuffed to the gills with cream frosting. I am sure they weighed a pound each, at least! Ok, so to make a long story short, later in the day--lunch time to be exact--I busted out the other half of that breakfast beast. You should have seen the look on Verna and Diane's faces! Oh, it was priceless! Ms. Healthnut downing a sugar-filled delicacy. Wish I had a camera!

After seeing these pictures, and learning what other people are living on for a week, I am determined to be more conscious about my diet and the amount that I spend on food. I hope these pictures encourage you to think about your diet a little also--not only what's on your plate, but where it comes from.

Yurts: Not just for Nomads

2007-12-26T11:29:00.000-08:00

Within the past year I have become increasingly fascinated by Yurts. Perhaps part romantic ideal, part living a more simple life dream, but for some reason these round structures speak to my very being; inspire simplicity and thought, ask me to take a deep breath.

Yurt (noun): a circular, portable shelter used by Central Asian nomads for over 2,000 years (yurtinfo.org)

The Yurt. What an adaptable structure. Although initially constructed over 2,000 years ago for use in the steppes of Central Asia by nomadic herders, the basics of these dwellings have been borrowed and modified to allow yurt construction in a variety of weather conditions. One of my first questions when I began getting interested was whether or not the yurt could survive an Iowan winter. Although our winters are not what they used to be (so those who have lived here, and their parents before them, say) I was worried they would be unable to withstand the buildup of snow (which, after I got to thinking, would probably melt due to the heat). I was also worried about what moisture and the freeze/thaw would do to the canvas and wooden pieces that are used in the construction. Not to worry. As I gathered more information and conducted more research (which, I must admit, is still minimal in the scheme of things) I have begun to decide that one day I WILL live in a yurt!

Benefits of Yurt Living:

Round structure promotes a more efficient use of space

They are very efficient to heat and there are many ways to heat them (wood, corn, LP, electric)

Require no internal support system

Promotes a closeness with nature traditional housing sometimes doesn't capture

Better sleep--so I hear.

I happened to pick up a brochure for the North House Folk School, located in Grand Marais, Wisconsin, a while back, and while flipping through came upon a course entitled, "Nomadic Pursuits: Building Your Own Yurt." For more information on this, and other classes, I encourage you to explore their website--there is garaunteed to be something to spark your creative interests! I am, as of now, undecided about attending this 5-day course, but with curiosity and interest piqued, I shall continue my exploration of this indigenous housing-style and allow myself to continue to dream!

Sites to Explore!

Pacific Yurts, Inc.

Colorado Yurt Company

Nesting Bird Yurts

Yurt Foundation

Wikipedia

Enjoy!

Gabi

A Wonderful Winter Herb

2007-12-19T12:22:00.001-08:00

I wait in anticipation all winter for spring, and the emergence of some of my favorite wild culinaries--I pace fields, distractedly drive down the road, and can be found on streambanks and in fields that I have no business being in. And what for? Ahh....the power of herbs is not to be underestimated, for they have me totally enchanted.

Yarrow, or as it is known scientfically, Achillea millefolium, is one such native herb. I fell under this plants healing spell during my sophomore year in college, when a woman I was working with suggested that I try yarrow tea in an effort to alleviate my cold symptoms. Always one to try something new, I strolled the meadow behind campus and picked the newest, freshest stems and florets I could find, drying what I wouldn't use immediately, and making a hardy brew with the rest. WOWZA! Once you taste yarrow, you will never forget it, and forever more associate the smell of the plant with memories of its healing properties.

So, after adding more honey that I am willing to tell you, I drank several cups of this tea for a couple days, and within two days, my head had drained and I had perspired enough to release the toxins that were making my body so ill. I felt wonderful, renewed, and empowered. I hadn't used over-the-counter medicines (which, if you've ever tried to give a cat or dog pills....well, that's kinda how I feel about them too), hadn't gone to the doctor, I had used the resources available to cure what ailed me and the encouragement of one very wise woman.

Description: Leaves are alternate, fern-like, and wooly, very aromatic. Plants usually stand 1-4 feet tall, producing white flowering heads made up of many small florets. Member of the Asteraceae family.

Parts to use: Strongest parts are the top branches, leaves and flowers

Recommended dosage: 1-3 cups of tea daily*

Harvest: Mid-late summer while in full flower

Uses: Astringent, increase bile production, relaxation, sleep aid, anti-inflammatory, diarrhea, wounds/cuts, burns, break fevers, induce perspiration, eliminate cold symptoms, muscle aches, gastrointestinal health, improve circulation**

Folklore: Yarrow was given it's scientific name for the Greek hero, Achilles, who was reported to have used this native plant to heal wounds. Millefolium, translated from Latin, means 'thousand leaves', and if you have ever observed this plant, it's quite fitting.

There are some very important things to know about yarrow before one begins self-medicating, cautions, we'll call them:

1. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage.

2. This remedy is NOT for prolonged use as it causes your skin to become very sensitive to the sun.

3. DO NOT take yarrow in any form if you are pregnant.

I would love to hear about your adventures with native plants, natural remedies, or stories of your adventures and discoveries in nature!

*Healing Plants: A Medicinal Guide by Ana Nez Heatherly. New York: Lyons Press. 1998 (this book can be purchase at Ion Exchange)

**These are compiled uses from a variety of sources and not tested or approved by the FDA. Use at your own discression.

A White--I mean Green--Christmas!

2007-12-10T09:59:00.001-08:00

How to Have a Green Holiday
11 ways to have an environmentally sound season.

Want to make sure the things you do during the holidays are friendly toward the Earth? Here are 11 tips from the Sierra Club that will help you do just that.

1. Recycle your old cellphone. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org/cellphones.

2. Give the gift of guilt-free chocolate. Ever thought you could eat your way to a better planet? Now you can! Sierra Club chocolate is not only organic, it’s fair-trade, and a portion of the proceeds directly supports environmental programs.

3. Make your own wrapping paper. Most mass-produced wrapping paper you find in stores is not recyclable and ends up in landfills. Instead, here’s a great chance to get creative! Wrap presents with old maps, the comics section of a newspaper, or children’s artwork. If every family wrapped just three gifts this way, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.

4. Add organic and local foods to your holiday feast. Support local family farmers who grow sustainable meat and produce. Not only does it taste better, you’ll be doing your part for the planet too. Looking for an organic turkey or ham for Christmas dinner? Find out where to get local green products in your neighborhood by visiting www.sierraclub.org/zoomer.

5. Stuff your stockings with eco-knowledge. Do you have a family member who loves the outdoors? Stuff their stockings with Sierra Club Knowledge Cards, which come in a variety of outdoor themes ranging from survival skills to baby animals. www.pomegranate.com

6. Do a “cool home” tour with the Sierra Club’s energy-saving checklist. Take a pledge this New Year’s to reduce your home energy use by buying energy-efficient light bulbs. Installing only six compact fluorescent light bulbs will save the average American family $60 per year. You also can use our handy “Cool Homes” checklist to see what easy things you can do in your home to save energy. If there’s a fire in your fireplace this Christmas, turn down that thermostat! Lowering the temperature even five degrees can take 10 percent off your energy bill. Check out a complete list of energy-saving tips at www.sierraclub.org/coolhome.

7. Buy energy-saving LED holiday lights. Now you can decorate your house with LED lights that use 90 percent less energy than conventional holiday lights, and can save your family up to $50 on your energy bills during the holiday season!

8. Get a pesticide-free tree. Search for an organic tree farm near you at www.localharvest.org.

9. Recycle your Christmas tree. Call (800) CLEANUP or visit www.earth911.org to find a tree-recycling program near you.

10. Donate your time or money to an environmental group. Get into the holiday spirit by volunteering!

11. Last but not least: Get ready for dinner-table debate. Are you likely to be the lone environmentalist at the dinner table sometime soon? Win arguments and influence people with the Sierra Club’s famous holiday survival guide (www.sierraclub.org/talk). You’ll find ready responses to the predictable dinner table arguments that’ll be directed at you. Who knows, you might even make a few converts!

Excerpt taken from the December 2007 issue of the Radish Magazine. This article can also be found, in entirety, online at www.radishmagazine.com

The Meaning of Christmas....

2007-12-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

What is the meaning of Christmas? When did the tradition of gift-giving begin? Why do we need a specific time to give presents to those we love? Christmas is always a tricky time of year for me, and I am sure many others as well. This year especially, I think, as the cost of living continues to increase, consumers continue to spend, and wages remain relatively the same. Last week I listened to a wonderful broadcast on NPR about our economy and future predictions. The guest was adamant that saving, not spending, is the direction to take if we hope to improve our shaky economy. Saving! With Christmas almost upon us, how can we save!? There are presents to buy for 30-something family members, extended family, friends....save what!

In my expanding search for personal sustainability and community support, I have turned toward my surrounding communities this Christmas to provide me with what I need. Hoping to begin the tradition of a local Christmas with my own family, my goal is to purchase gifts from local vendors, as well as the fixin's for Christmas dinner (the Oneota Co-op has a great selection of local meat, cheese, and vegetables to make this possible). My goal is also to create as many of my own gifts as possible, in the hopes that my home-made wares make my dollar go a little further. Home-made bread, fudge, toffee, knitted hats, quilted throws...and more. This approach, I am finding, requires much more thought than merely purchasing goods at the store. Actually crafting something for someone else takes time and effort, and while this goal may keep me up into the wee hours of the morning, I can't wait to see the smiles on my loved ones faces!

There are great charities to support, local wares and vendors to purchase from, and of course, your own imagination to tap into. Be creative this Christmas in using your the resources that make your area unique and I think you will be amazed at not only your own ingenuity, but also how simple it is to make someone smile.

Enjoy the Holidays!

**Remember to recognize the Winter Solstice, December 21st!!

Lady of the Imagination

2007-12-10T07:27:00.000-08:00

Three years ago, before I had even graduated college, I packed my belongings and headed West. A journey I swore I would never take. Iowa, here I come! I was brought here through my desire to grow food, to feed people, to experience life on another farm and get another small farmers perspective—I came to challenge my education and cultivate my field of knowledge. My experiences there changed me, gave me the opportunity to grow, reach out, meet innovative family farmers who are giving their all to keep the family farming community alive. To keep their communities alive. I also had the chance not only to work with several of these farmers, but to work with other interns who shared some of the same passions and concerns. While some people lasted only a month, others two or three, one woman, Katharine, deeply touched me in the relatively short time we worked together, allowing us to form a very profound friendship. I would like to share her most recent project with everyone and encourage support in whatever manner you can offer.

Katharine Smith began work on the Ghana Youth Photo Project in 2005. I remember the fall of 2005, when she set of to Ghana for a couple weeks to work for a non-profit she and her parents were starting, and keep up with the connections she had made there on previous trips. Always finding a way to find the beauty in an object or situation, we used to sit around at the dinner table and talk of food, art, and philosophy. The Ghana Youth Photo Project is just that—Katharine seeing the beauty, and helping others find it.

The photos represent the lives of eleven children from Accra, the capitol city of Ghana. These children are more accurately from Nima, “the worst slum in Accra, and the Muslim section of the city. The kids not only live in poverty, but some also have to deal with the stigma of being Muslim in a Christian dominated city. The Muslim/Christian divide, which seems to be growing further apart, is not only affecting people in America, but all over the world. I not only taught the kids a new skill but also gave them an opportunity to visually represent their country, culture and religion through photography” (www.ghanayouthphoto.org)

The photographs on display are striking; the insight into the world of these eleven kids is beautifully honest. The colorful outbursts and patterns are matched by the darker depictions, challenging the viewer to look at their world with new eyes and find the beauty in their own life. Each photographer has a distinct personality that comes through in their photos, and while it is difficult, and almost seems unfair to choose a favorite, I definitely have mine chosen. I hope you enjoy this site and artwork and I look forward to reading comments and passing them on to Katharine and her students.

www.ghanayouthphoto.org

Thanks!
Gabi

Feeding the World

2007-11-21T10:55:00.000-08:00

I was recently introduced to a website that I would like to share with everyone, a website that not only encourages humanitarian efforts but also challenges that 'ol brain of yours using something dear to my heart.....VOCABULARY!!

The website I am urging you to visit is www.freerice.com

"Over two-and-a-half billion grains of rice have been donated to WFP thanks to online campaign FreeRice -- enough to feed more than 125,000 people. Web surfers have the chance to boost their word power and donate food to the hungry thanks to the internet quiz which is the brainchild of John Breen."

Free Rice is a division of the World Food Programme, one of the frontline UN programs to combat world hunger. Created in 1962, the WFP works with Governemnts, NGO's, Corporate Partners, and Individuals to enable the distribution, and purchasing, of food supplies.

The WFP primarily provides aid to:
1. Victims of natural disasters
2. Displaced persons
3. Hungry poor

In 2006 the WFP fed 87.8 million people from 78 different countries. I spent some time browsing the website before I decided to promote what they are working for. Feeding people and nurturing others is something that I feel is very important in my life, and I found the website brimming with information and incredibly educational. For instance, did you know that there IS enough food in the world to feed everyone, the problem lies in a distribution imbalance?

Do you know the difference between malnourishment and under-nourishment?
Do you know how many people go hungry every night?
Do you know how many people die from starvation every day?

Something I feel compelled to point out is that this is not a distant problem, a problem of developing countries. Hunger is everywhere--and not just hunger. Malnourshment and under-nourishment are common afflictions even in the United States. The difference in nourishment between countries like the United States and those like Zimbabwe, are that under-nourishment in the US is, in my view, often caused through the choices made in the grocery store.

I urge you to visit this site, see how many bowls of rice you can donate, FOR FREE, and add some sunshine to someone else's day!
www.freerice.com

Increasing Your Fuel Efficiency

2007-11-21T10:48:00.000-08:00

"Wayne Gerdes of Wadsworth, Ill., is a champion hypermiler — one of a growing number of Americans who use specific driving techniques and science to drastically increase their vehicles’ fuel efficiency. Gerdes — who gets 59 miles per gallon in his ordinary Honda Accord — shows how ordinary drivers can begin hypermiling and save big money at the fuel pump."

This is a wonderful article taken from the Radish Magazine, November 2007. Wayne Gerdes provides a comprehensive and simple means to increase fuel efficiency--perhaps more practical for 'city-dwellers', but it provides suggestions we can all implement on some level--and with the rising gas prices, who wouldn't want to get the most out of their buck!?

For more information, visit www.CleanMPG.com.

Comforting Words

2007-11-15T12:31:00.000-08:00

A favorite poem of mine:

Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting-
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

Mary Oliver

It seems this time of every year I begin to turn to the words of favorite authors and poets to aid me in the transition from fall to winter. Mary Oliver has long been a cherished poet of mine, putting words to feelings about the natural world that I share but haven't the words to express (or if I do, they are not near as poetic and beautiful!) Hoping this poem inspires thought, introspection, and acceptance--and would love to hear your thoughts on her words or your experiences as well!

On Becomming a Huntress....

2007-11-08T11:59:00.000-08:00

This year has been marked by my transition from taking a relatively Buddhist-minded approach towards other organisms (since there is always an exception, mine is spiders....) to becoming an 'Along-for-the-Ride" Huntress. Let me explain this a little.

In college I began to really form my first opinions about hunters, befriending one of the few males on campus, a local to the area, a farmer, and an avid hunter (of many things). My Grandparents have hunted since time began, so I am not sure why this was the defining moment, but it was. It was like the scene from “Alice’s Restaurant” when Arlo Guthrie jumps up and down at the Army Recruiting office screaming “I wanna Kill!” This boy was out for blood. He knew the best time during each season to get the species he was looking for. He knew the best spots, where they would be crossing the road, how many were here, there, everywhere. Although this knowledge amazed me, for I have never known any place like that, I was also somewhat saddened by the desire to hunt these beautiful critters. Squirrel, rabbits, raccoon, deer, pheasant…you name it, he shot it. I preferred them where they were—not in my freezer.

Over time and through my formal and non-formal education, I began to see the need for hunting: a source of food, a source of income, a way to control populations of species that boomed due to our mismanagement. While in Iowa, I worked for a couple who had a sign in their living room that read: “Don’t let your love of nature blind you to the needs of man.” We had many discussions about the meanings of this saying, and even today I am still on the fence about the degree of intrinsic value I assign something, but I do know it is a culmination of these events, and many others, that have allowed my perception to expand and become more realistic. Yes, we need to hunt. Yes, there are people who rely on their skills in this area to provide a living. Yes, when done with a conservation minded approach, hunting is an art and I don’t want to be removed from this aspect of life any longer.

Why did I shy away from hunting for so many years? Was it a fear of facing my own mortality? I definitely wouldn’t put that notion out of the realm of possibilities, but I think it was more a displaced act of compassion—I was allowing my love of these animals to taint my views of my fellow man who were, and are, surviving utilizing this way of life. The friend I talked about earlier, his chin would drop if I told him that I recently entered the world of ‘Coon hunting, and love it. I should specify—I love the hike, the crispness of the night air, watching the stars while we wait for the dogs. I love how magical the landscapes are at night, hearing the dogs when they tree a ‘coon, becoming part of this nocturnal world, and I love just listening to the night. When I think about what I am learning about this art, I am somewhat amazed that for as much as I love hiking and nature, I never thought to do this sooner. So, I call myself an “Along-for-the-Ride-Huntress” because 1) I don’t do any of the shooting or skinning, and 2) because I say I am going for the hike, when, secretly, it is the whole way of life that has me captivated, and perhaps I am not ready to admit that yet.

2007-10-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

Well, it is that time of year again--the time of year where I realize just how far behind in the garden I really am! Still have tomatoes on the vine, beds haven't been prepared for winter yet--which means no compost, no cover crop....aye aye aye. Although this might seem daunting, like something I should be overwhelmed over, the anticipation of when the new seed catalogs are going to arrive and the excitement of choosing new species to try, have overpowered any sense of being unprepared for the next season.

Check out these websites for more great info!
http://www.fedcoseeds.com
http://www.johnnyseeds.com
http://attra.ncat.org/organic.html