13 ways to fight higher food costs

13 Ways to Combat Rising Food Prices

Have you noticed the jump in food prices lately? The other day while shopping in the produce section, I noticed that many items were 20-30% higher than they’ve been in the past year. Avocados, green peppers, fresh green beans, zucchini—all have had a price hike. Similar to the gas situation, I noticed yesterday that gas was $3.55/gallon. If you think the correlation between gas and food is going to change anytime soon, think again.
What’s the antidote? With peak oil past and the demand for oil still high, those of us who rely on gas for our transportation and the distribution of food need to reevaluate how we use gas and spend our dollars. While some household living bills are rather fixed, our food budget can vary significantly depending on our choices. Continue eating out and buying gourmet ingredients and our food bill can quickly become unmanageable. Hence, here are 13 ways to maximize your food budget without compromising on nutrition:

1.) Eat lower on the food chain. Many people in this country consume vast quantities of animal protein: beef, pork, poultry, or―what the heck, let’s throw in fish while we’re at it. With per pound prices ranging from $2.00―$10.00 on up a pound, it doesn’t take a math genius to realize that beans and eggs and whole grains are a much cheaper option at $0.50/pound. Yes, you may be attached to the habit of eating meats of varying types for your whole life and it may be a big change…You can opt to make the changes gradually if you can afford a more lengthy transition. Substitute one animal protein meal a week, or a day, for starters. Check out some recipes with legumes to give you ideas, or just substitute your favorite bean in a casserole or stir fry in place of what you’re accustomed to using. The non-meat options are quite varied. Some of my favorites are: eggplant parmesan, vegetable stir fry with rice, vegetarian spring rolls, Mediterranean salad with garbanzo beans, hummus with fresh cut vegetables, black bean/corn/onion enchiladas. The options are endless…truly.
I’ve come to realize that some people think that having a diet high in animal protein as a superior diet and hold the position that a diet with more legumes is somehow ‘less than.’ Here’s a site that displays what people around the world consume and how much it costs them.http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1626519_1373675,00.html

2.) Eat simpler: Basic vs. Gourmet. OK, I admit, I have a food snob attitude about certain things. I like trying new, exotic foods whenever I have the opportunity. However, I’ve been rediscovering basic ingredients with a new mindset. Do I really need to only eat high grade gourmet mustard or can I savor French’s yellow mustard some of the time? You know, it tastes good. Crunchy fried potatoes dipped in a bit of yellow mustard packs quite a taste punch!

3.) Eat local food. There are people who grow or raise their own food in your locale. Because they don’t need to ship it long distances, there’s no need to inflate prices due to the high gas prices to distribute it. When you consciously support your local market, it’s one way of getting more nutrients for the mile; and it’s a way to protest Big Oil.
4.) Seek out alternative markets. Asian grocery stores and vegetable markets offer many of the vegetables and staples you’re accustomed to―at a much lower price. The freshness is there too; however, not all discount markets maintain the highest freshness standards so be on the lookout for that too. You may have a chance to try new items as well. Ask your friendly sales clerk and she’ll be happy to give you quick tips on easy ways to prepare the new food. Try it! You could be delighted.
5.) Buy in bulk. For those items that you know you’re going to need a steady supply of, make a list of them and make a once a month trip to your local bulk box store for those purchases. However, when traveling up and down the aisles, don’t get tempted to buy the deal if you know you’re really not going to use it up in a reasonable timeframe. If you have to throw out half of it, you’re not really saving, are you? Also, just because it’s available at the bulk box store, doesn’t mean it’s cheaper than your regular store offerings―check prices. By practicing awareness and discipline, though, you’ll be able to navigate through the temptations and not be scalped at the cash register.
6.) Exchange food with friends and neighbors. An upside to economic hard times is that people often turn to each other in creative ways to navigate through economic troubled waters. As in eras past, it’s not too late to build community with friends and neighbors. If you have a pear tree or a peach tree that produces more than you can manage or preserve, offer to trade some to your neighbors and friends. See what they offer back; they may not feel they have anything to offer, but maybe they’ll offer to mow your lawn or trim the unwieldy trees. This produces good karma on your side of the balance sheet. Even when there isn’t a direct exchange―person to person―oftentimes, there’ll be another unexpected offering passed your way when you least expect it, but probably need it most.
7.) Buy items on sale or seasonally. The words, CLEARANCE, seem like a beacon of hope when I have little to spend. I gravitate to the display and say to myself, “I wonder what lovelies are waiting for me there today?!” More often than not, I find some unexpected treasure that will work with what existing stuff I already have. Additionally, don’t buy watermelon in January, unless you live somewhere where watermelon is ‘in season’ in January. I recall buying berries off season once upon a time. They had been shipped half a world away. Even though the price was fair the berries were so bitter. They had to have been picked long before they were even close to being ripe. Who knows what they had been gassed with to ensure their ‘freshness’ along the way? If you want food that tastes good, is not too expensive, and still has nutrients in it, buy it when it’s in season and nearby.
8.) Have more potlucks. Have you ever noticed that you don’t have to go through a lot of work or expense to enjoy a nutritious, delicious meal with friends when you have a potluck? The Stone Soup story lives on. If you’re bored of cooking for yourself or your family, crank it up by hosting a potluck or participating at one at your church or social connection group.
9.) Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Many CSAs offer a signup period before the season starts, so start looking to buy in early.  A CSA is a farm operation, usually small, that grows food for local consumption. Veggies, fruits, eggs, and some even offer meats, poultry, pork, and are offered on a per share basis. If you invest $1,000 and are going to receive deliveries of food every week for 25 weeks―that’s $40 dollars per delivery.  Many of these CSA growers are organic, so you will be getting more natural foods. Many also pick the best for their customers and sell the leftovers at the local farmers market.  If you are getting 20 pounds of food a week, the cost is only TWO DOLLARS a pound!  Try finding that in your local supermarket!  Look to Google to find CSAs in your area. Also, get thee to a Farmer’s Market and ask questions. You might find local knowledge at your Agricultural Extension Service―a Federal office with local roots―they often can provide you with exactly what you are looking for. If not, email me atjanesaun@gmail.com.
10.) Form a food buying co-op with coworkers, church members, your school or neighbors. Food co-ops are not a new thing. They rise up every decade or so when food prices start their upward spiral―like now!  By combining the buying power of group purchases, many more items become available because of the lower per item cost. These co-ops could use the community room at any number of places to divide the purchases.  Many hands make for quick work.  Set up a delivery day for the purchases and some of the distributors will drop it right at your site.  Community meal times could be centered around the distribution day. A good time will be had by all.
11.) Make food from scratch rather than buying processed foods. I remember learning some years ago that for every process that is done for you the expense of the food increases. The more steps you do for yourself, the less money it costs to enjoy the food. My mother raised five children on a meager income. Our family enjoyed wonderfully fresh, nutritious meals every day, every meal. We never felt deprived, because we weren’t. My mom made food from scratch and it was heavenly―a tradition that I have tried to carry on for my family as much as I could over the years.
12.) Eat at home as opposed to in restaurants. This is linked to step 11. It doesn’t take much to really hike the food costs when you find yourself in a restaurant as opposed to making the food at home. Try to limit your meals out to once a month or for special treats only. This may take some getting used to if you are accustomed to eating out frequently, but once you make the transition and no longer view it as a hardship, you’ll come to appreciate all those home cooked meals and the savings that go along with them.
13.) Grow your own food. Gardening is a joy. It may seem daunting and you may have no experience with gardening, but there are lots of guides, books, how-tos, and even, eBooks available in addition to videos that can show you everything you want to know. Start with where you’re at. Have you never gardened before? Try container gardening as a beginning step. Do you have very little space? Try vertical or indoor gardening to get started. Have you been gardening for years, but half-heartedly? Enlarge your circle of contacts to include Extension service agents or master gardeners who can provide you with enough new information to enable you to take gardening to the next level. Did you know that you can garden year round with very little expense? Look further on this blog to learn about hoop house gardening in the winter. It really works and the results are worth it!

Bon Appetit!

13 Ways to Combat Rising Food Prices

13 Ways to Combat Rising Food Prices

Have you noticed the jump in food prices lately? The other day while shopping in the produce section, I noticed that many items were 20-30% higher than they’ve been in the past year. Avocados, green peppers, fresh green beans, zucchini—all have had a price hike. Similar to the gas situation, I noticed yesterday that gas was $3.55/gallon. If you think the correlation between gas and food is going to change anytime soon, think again.

What’s the antidote? With peak oil past and the demand for oil still high, those of us who rely on gas for our transportation and the distribution of food need to reevaluate how we use gas and spend our dollars. While some household living bills are rather fixed, our food budget can vary significantly depending on our choices. Continue eating out and buying gourmet ingredients and our food bill can quickly become unmanageable. Hence, here are 13 ways to maximize your food budget without compromising on nutrition:
1.) Eat lower on the food chain. Many people in this country consume vast quantities of animal protein: beef, pork, poultry, or―what the heck, let’s throw in fish while we’re at it. With per pound prices ranging from $2.00―$10.00 on up a pound, it doesn’t take a math genius to realize that beans and eggs and whole grains are a much cheaper option at $0.50/pound. Yes, you may be attached to the habit of eating meats of varying types for your whole life and it may be a big change…You can opt to make the changes gradually if you can afford a more lengthy transition. Substitute one animal protein meal a week, or a day, for starters. Check out some recipes with legumes to give you ideas, or just substitute your favorite bean in a casserole or stir fry in place of what you’re accustomed to using. The non-meat options are quite varied. Some of my favorites are: eggplant parmesan, vegetable stir fry with rice, vegetarian spring rolls, Mediterranean salad with garbanzo beans, hummus with fresh cut vegetables, black bean/corn/onion enchiladas. The options are endless…truly.

I’ve come to realize that some people think that having a diet high in animal protein as a superior diet and hold the position that a diet with more legumes is somehow ‘less than.’ Here’s a site that displays what people around the world consume and how much it costs them.http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1626519_1373675,00.html

2.) Eat simpler: Basic vs. Gourmet. OK, I admit, I have a food snob attitude about certain things. I like trying new, exotic foods whenever I have the opportunity. However, I’ve been rediscovering basic ingredients with a new mindset. Do I really need to only eat high grade gourmet mustard or can I savor French’s yellow mustard some of the time? You know, it tastes good. Crunchy fried potatoes dipped in a bit of yellow mustard packs quite a taste punch!

3.) Eat local food. There are people who grow or raise their own food in your locale. Because they don’t need to ship it long distances, there’s no need to inflate prices due to the high gas prices to distribute it. When you consciously support your local market, it’s one way of getting more nutrients for the mile; and it’s a way to protest Big Oil.

4.) Seek out alternative markets. Asian grocery stores and vegetable markets offer many of the vegetables and staples you’re accustomed to―at a much lower price. The freshness is there too; however, not all discount markets maintain the highest freshness standards so be on the lookout for that too. You may have a chance to try new items as well. Ask your friendly sales clerk and she’ll be happy to give you quick tips on easy ways to prepare the new food. Try it! You could be delighted.

5.) Buy in bulk. For those items that you know you’re going to need a steady supply of, make a list of them and make a once a month trip to your local bulk box store for those purchases. However, when traveling up and down the aisles, don’t get tempted to buy the deal if you know you’re really not going to use it up in a reasonable timeframe. If you have to throw out half of it, you’re not really saving, are you? Also, just because it’s available at the bulk box store, doesn’t mean it’s cheaper than your regular store offerings―check prices. By practicing awareness and discipline, though, you’ll be able to navigate through the temptations and not be scalped at the cash register.

6.) Exchange food with friends and neighbors. An upside to economic hard times is that people often turn to each other in creative ways to navigate through economic troubled waters. As in eras past, it’s not too late to build community with friends and neighbors. If you have a pear tree or a peach tree that produces more than you can manage or preserve, offer to trade some to your neighbors and friends. See what they offer back; they may not feel they have anything to offer, but maybe they’ll offer to mow your lawn or trim the unwieldy trees. This produces good karma on your side of the balance sheet. Even when there isn’t a direct exchange―person to person―oftentimes, there’ll be another unexpected offering passed your way when you least expect it, but probably need it most.

7.) Buy items on sale or seasonally. The words, CLEARANCE, seem like a beacon of hope when I have little to spend. I gravitate to the display and say to myself, “I wonder what lovelies are waiting for me there today?!” More often than not, I find some unexpected treasure that will work with what existing stuff I already have. Additionally, don’t buy watermelon in January, unless you live somewhere where watermelon is ‘in season’ in January. I recall buying berries off season once upon a time. They had been shipped half a world away. Even though the price was fair the berries were so bitter. They had to have been picked long before they were even close to being ripe. Who knows what they had been gassed with to ensure their ‘freshness’ along the way? If you want food that tastes good, is not too expensive, and still has nutrients in it, buy it when it’s in season and nearby.

8.) Have more potlucks. Have you ever noticed that you don’t have to go through a lot of work or expense to enjoy a nutritious, delicious meal with friends when you have a potluck? The Stone Soup story lives on. If you’re bored of cooking for yourself or your family, crank it up by hosting a potluck or participating at one at your church or social connection group.

9.) Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Many CSAs offer a signup period before the season starts, so start looking to buy in early.  A CSA is a farm operation, usually small, that grows food for local consumption. Veggies, fruits, eggs, and some even offer meats, poultry, pork, and are offered on a per share basis. If you invest $1,000 and are going to receive deliveries of food every week for 25 weeks―that’s $40 dollars per delivery.  Many of these CSA growers are organic, so you will be getting more natural foods. Many also pick the best for their customers and sell the leftovers at the local farmers market.  If you are getting 20 pounds of food a week, the cost is only TWO DOLLARS a pound!  Try finding that in your local supermarket!  Look to Google to find CSAs in your area. Also, get thee to a Farmer’s Market and ask questions. You might find local knowledge at your Agricultural Extension Service―a Federal office with local roots―they often can provide you with exactly what you are looking for. If not, email me atjanesaun@gmail.com.

10.) Form a food buying co-op with coworkers, church members, your school or neighbors. Food co-ops are not a new thing. They rise up every decade or so when food prices start their upward spiral―like now!  By combining the buying power of group purchases, many more items become available because of the lower per item cost. These co-ops could use the community room at any number of places to divide the purchases.  Many hands make for quick work.  Set up a delivery day for the purchases and some of the distributors will drop it right at your site.  Community meal times could be centered around the distribution day. A good time will be had by all.

11.) Make food from scratch rather than buying processed foods. I remember learning some years ago that for every process that is done for you the expense of the food increases. The more steps you do for yourself, the less money it costs to enjoy the food. My mother raised five children on a meager income. Our family enjoyed wonderfully fresh, nutritious meals every day, every meal. We never felt deprived, because we weren’t. My mom made food from scratch and it was heavenly―a tradition that I have tried to carry on for my family as much as I could over the years.

12.) Eat at home as opposed to in restaurants. This is linked to step 11. It doesn’t take much to really hike the food costs when you find yourself in a restaurant as opposed to making the food at home. Try to limit your meals out to once a month or for special treats only. This may take some getting used to if you are accustomed to eating out frequently, but once you make the transition and no longer view it as a hardship, you’ll come to appreciate all those home cooked meals and the savings that go along with them.

13.) Grow your own food. Gardening is a joy. It may seem daunting and you may have no experience with gardening, but there are lots of guides, books, how-tos, and even, eBooks available in addition to videos that can show you everything you want to know. Start with where you’re at. Have you never gardened before? Try container gardening as a beginning step. Do you have very little space? Try vertical or indoor gardening to get started. Have you been gardening for years, but half-heartedly? Enlarge your circle of contacts to include Extension service agents or master gardeners who can provide you with enough new information to enable you to take gardening to the next level. Did you know that you can garden year round with very little expense? Look further on this blog to learn about hoop house gardening in the winter. It really works and the results are worth it!

Bon Appetit!

It's is springtime in the garden of Jane!

Gardening, gardening everywhere...

The temperature outside seems to resemble the stock market these days. Spring brings us days of warm highs, and cold lows. Investing in gardening is about as risky as investing in Wall Street—one never knows which way the wind will blow.

OK... enough philosophizing...after buying all those heirloom seeds and starting them indoors in egg carton containers, we started talking about where are we going to plant all those babies... In years past, I would have crowded them in without giving enough regard to the 'requirements' listed on the package. However, this year, with some guidance and common sense, it was decided to really give these plants an opportunity to grow as nature intended for them. Having help to maintain them throughout the growing seasons makes it all so much more feasible than in years past. Discussion ensued about how much room would be needed, and therefore, expansion of the garden beds is a must. We decided to extend the two existing beds and add in a third bed between the two existing ones. Also, it seems like we need a bed dedicated to herbs since some of them are perennial and grow to large sizes. With a plan in mind and a warm day at hand, tools and equipment were gathered to complete the expansion project.

Before: Trenches were dug to mark the extension points of the existing beds and to mark off the new beds.

Here you can see the two existing beds. Notice where the new beds will be...

With a new carport installed, it was thought that it could provide a bit of wind protection and make for a nice place to plant some heirloom tomatoes. Additionally, we could add a shade cloth for those very hot, sunny days. Thus, with rototiller in hand, a new bed was cut in next to the carport allowing a couple of feet to the right as a walkway to access the future tomato plants.

Once that rototiller got going there was just no stopping it! Here you can see the two existing beds—extended—and the new third bed in the middle cut in. Back behind the three beds, look at the curvy bed in the background. What could that be for? Hold on... I'll tell you in a minute.

OK... here it is close up... it's going to be the herb garden...! I have to tell you that having my yard worked up like this really makes me feel like a farmer this year—more than ever before... I've long thought that having those perfectly manicured development lawns that just suck water and don't produce anything were really not the best use of space and ground and natural nutrients. Transforming a yard into a garden brings with it thoughts of abundance of the universe and is a great way to start to build community. Neighbors drive by and look and wave. Some, stop by and chat. When it's harvest time, we'll have plenty to give away and even some to sell, so it's also an income stream. The abundance of the universe is a truth worth tapping into.

All we needed now was a nice warm day to inspire us to go to the Big Box store to get a few supplies...

Voila! There it is...! Warm day in hand... and who could pass up some BIG heirloom tomatoes and a few inexpensive plants: red cabbage and cauliflower. Don't they look lovely?!

It was decided to put the red cabbage and the cauliflower next to and outside of the hoop house. Using a small hand trowel, holes were dug and the plants were inserted into their slots. We gave each one a good dose of 7.0 pH water and a bit of 5.5 pH water to get started—followed with some regular water from the hose.

In went the two heirloom tomato plants...

We also stopped by the local nursery and purchased some potatoes and some Vidalia Onion shoots along with a package of red-leafed lettuce. We decided to plant the onions and the lettuce here. Rather than spacing the onions 6 inches apart, we figured that if they were planted 3 inches apart, then every other one could be pulled at a smaller size to eat during the growing season. This would allow enough room for full development of the remaining onions.

The lettuce is planted under the sand...by the way...

Indoors... there are seedlings growing away in the egg-shelled cartons. Here's the broccoli seedlings and the eggplant sprouts... my son says I have a laboratory going in there...

And the tomato seedlings and green peppers look terrific too. I had always shied away from starting tomatoes from seed in the past because those seedlings looked so spindly that i just didn't know how they'd get to be like the big strong plants one sees in the nursery stores... this year I get to witness this amazing transformation. Now the tomato plants have their secondary leaves. After turning them around the other day, they seem to have grown stronger and more sturdy just in their effort to reach the sunlight. I'm delighted with this process. Plus since everything has energy, I speak lovingly to the plants so they are encouraged to be the best and strongest plants they can. I know that that may be over the top for some of you, but the more I study the nature and energy of the universe and how we are all connected and affect everything around us, I'm learning the importance of everything we think, do, and say. I am striving for the best possible outcome for these heirloom seeds turned plants, so why wouldn't I want to speak in a loving, supportive, nuturing way to them? How could that be bad for them? So... grow my little seedlings... go forth and multiply... 

peace and love and bon appetit!

Ways to store more stuff-in closets and beyond

March 17, 2011 by dan rapson  (Edit)
Filed under Featured, Green Living Tips

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One of the great things we have here in the US is lots and lots of room in our homes. Maybe a bit short of space in some of the larger cities but then these individuals really can use the help in organizing small spaces-pantries, closets, even entire rooms and halls. Well, look here!

I don’t get anything for promoting Rubbermaid products here.  I do have an interest in the following and hope you would take a look at it:
http://discoverorganization.com/guide/index.htm?hop=jadamktng
The book and bonuses are for organizing more than your closet, but they do also cover that area.  Rubbermaid Products for Closet Organizing

I worked in Raleigh, NC building closet organizers and then installing them. I did a bit of sales and design work and was fascinated at how much you can get into a well organized closet.  Many of the homes we worked in were new. The builders just try to make the house sell for a number and don’t really care what the efficiencies are.  Most of you realize this if you have purchased anything built in the last 40 years.

We then moved into custom designed and built desks and home offices.  This was a lot of fun as the designs were new and the conversion of a home office into an efficient home office is a real passion of mine.
One of the really fun places I worked was in North Raleigh on a wealthy salesman’s house.  He had 3 main houses on the property; an older southern farmhouse(thoroughly remodeled), a log cabin(about 4,500 sq ft), and then a large white French Chateau.  This one also incorporated a 10 car garage(it was full).  We started with doing the closets, then turning extra rooms into closets, then pantries, then turned a second living room into an office for the salesman.  We surrounded the walls in 4′wide, 2′ deep by 7′high sections.  I believe it contained mor than 10 such units. A similar size one for shoes, and a couple of this size full of drawers on the bottom half.  Then I added a desk, a bank of file drawers and finally a massage table with a section of drawers underneath.
I spent quite a while there and had a wonderful time. They were the nicest people and appreciated all the work.
When I was finished with the office he came in late on the final Friday and looked around and said it was his first real office.  He said, “well, if I did this well without an office, think what I will do now that I have one!”  He was probably worth $50 Million or more!



Rubbermaid is a household name, known for supplying us with reliable products for a variety of uses in our home. They are also known for being well priced and long lasting. If you are in the market for products to organize your closet, it only makes sense to purchase from a brand name you trust and respect.

One of the top selling closet organizing products right now is the Rubbermaid closet in a box. This is a unique feature that allows you to customize your closet to your individual storage space and needs. Most closet organizing kits give you specific items, but not this one. Instead you decide what pieces you want and the sizes, then Rubbermaid customizes a kit specifically built for you. Sounds great right?

If you are worried about making those decisions, don’t be. Rubbermaid offers outstanding customer service representatives to assist you every step of the way. You can also give them the basic information and allow them to come up with some layout and designs for your closet. You will then be able to visually see the transformation and how it will work for you. If you don’t like the results, then you are not under any obligation to purchase anything from Rubbermaid. That is quite an offer!

One of the reasons Rubbermaid products are so well accepted by the consumer is that they are expandable including the clothing rods, rails, and the shelves. This makes installation much easier as you simply extend the product to your desired length. This process makes installing several different products much simpler because you have some room to make adjustments. This really minimized the measuring process as well as eliminates the need for cutting.

One thing I would like to mention is that many of the rooms we have in our homes can have multiple uses.  I put many a ‘murphy’ type bed into home offices and even in other rooms that were not typical guest room types. These beds are enclosed in a cabinet or even in a closet and then pulled down when needed for more bedtime space. They are very efficient and I hope many of you will consider using them in your homes as you find the need for more room.  This will also keep our neighborhoods intact and keep many from moving away from their current neighbors.

One of the best features about these types of closet organization products is that you can rearrange them at any time without too much effort. Over time, the contents in our closet change right? It just makes sense that having a closet organization system that can change with us is quite the investment. You aren’t locked into having your closet organized the same way forever. Even the shelves can have their height adjusted because of the Fast Track design. You can space them out or bring them closer together, even add more shelves if you like.

It is very important for your custom closet organization products to stand up to the test of time. You don’t have to worry about that with items from Rubbermaid. Each piece of material comes with a life time warranty. You can obtain a free copy of their warranty information to review by calling them or visiting their website.

To see all of the custom closet organization products Rubbermaid has to offer, check out your local home improvement stores. Most of them carry this brand. You can also check out the internet including www.Rubbermaid.com. They also have a product catalog that you can view online and even request for one to be mailed to you.

Still not convinced? You will find pages and pages of consumer reviews regarding Rubbermaid closet organizing products. You won’t be disappointed with the information you find either! The price of Rubbermaid closet organization systems and products is very inexpensive compared to other brands on the market. Combined with their flexibility, easy installation, and warranty, you won’t be disappointed with the results of their products to customize and organize your closet.
Here is a final link to the organizing book and bonuses. I hope you’ll click on this and check it out:


http://discoverorganization.com/guide/index.htm?hop=jadamktng

Be well; peace…
dan

Tags: boxes, catalog, closet, closet kits, custom closet organization, home improvement, organizing, products, Rubbermaid, totes

What happens when we are called the terrorists?

I was reading this article in the Washington Post about the level of efficiency of our drones in killing the civilians in Pakistan.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/20/AR2011022002975.html

The reading talks about how many we have 'gotten', the cost of the hardware, (bombs!) that was used and also the numbers of those killed.

I am wondering what the rest of the world thinks of us at this minute? What if they considered us as terrorists and decided as a world entity to start bombing our population centers? What would our response be and why don't we consider what we do as criminal?

Much of what has happened in the world in the past several years has been in response to the actions of the US, not the actions of Muslims, or poor people, or disenfranchised, or.....any other type of bull that has been tossed on us here in the US of A!


How can we decide on a unilateral action and pursue it without considering the consequences of its effect on these rest of the world?  We have always considered, in great detail I might add, the effect of our buying anything we wanted and could have with our seemingly unlimited resources(cash)!  We have been able to control the worlds money markets and now that these things have slipped into the hands of a few individuals we are no longer in the position of having unlimited influence.

I am just no longer able to justify our bullying of the worlds population and would like to have some ideas on what we can do to change this.

Send me your ideas at d_rapson@yahoo.com or leave a comment at one of the blog sites.

http://blog.learnyourtruth.com

or

http://learnyourtruth.us

thanks in advance, and of course

be well; peace....
dan

Surprising food at the beginning of winter, Greens, really-Green!

Tail end of Dec. & Look at the Greens!

One December 29th, we had a bit of a warm spike (55 degrees F) so we opened the hoop house to capture the warmth of the sun. I gave it several gallons of 5.5 pH water and let it soak in well. Remember on a recent post where the greens were looking pretty wiped out after the very cold spells of single and low double digit temps?! It's amazing how the hoop house protects these plants from freezing entirely. I took a couple of shots to show you how hearty they are and to show you the great harvest I picked in anticipation of the next wave of cold coming our way.

See how the arugula doesn't have that completely wilted, wiped out appearance now!

The bright sun is doing a great job of warming the greens to help them continue growing into the new year.

I picked as much as I could to stock up in the house since it looked like it would be cold for days to come. Eating salad made with these greens, a bit of onion, sliced carrots, and a homemade vinaigrette of balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, garlic powder, sage, and some mustard, makes for a tasty combination and well worth the couple of seconds it takes to shake it up. The thought of eating bottled dressing these days just doesn't appeal to me anymore.

I'm thinking about making a vegetable pie with eggs and cheese using some of these greens and some other vegetables that I have in the house. Doesn't that sound like a good idea? Tell me about what ways you express your creativity...

Bon appetit!

Hoop houses and falling temps, make GREAT greens...

Tuesday's Harvest

Today, I will make only a quick post...

The last few nights have had temperatures, again, plunging quite low—into the lower teens. Today the temperature is supposed to go into the low 40s in the afternoon, so I'm going to try to water the vegetables to give them some moisture because it's been many, many days since they've had a drink. Then I'll get them tucked in again in the hoop house to protect them from the cold and wind of night.

Yesterday I wanted some broccoli raab for dinner. I picked not only the broccoli, but also as much as my aluminum 13x9 pan would hold—even heaping it up until the leaves were tumbling off to the ground. After bringing it into the house and washing it off, I took a photo of yesterday's harvest to share with you...

Don't they look awesomely healthy? 

We consumed the broccoli raab (the stack in the lower right corner) with dinner last night. Yum! I sauteed it with olive oil, fresh garlic, and grated ginger. It made a great accompaniment to the rest of the dinner of baked potatoes with butter and chili beans.  Look how many greens we have left to consume until my next venture out to check on the hoop house veggies!

Bon appetit! Stay warm and healthy out there!