the evolution of bread waste
the evolution of bread waste i started out buying bread in a double layer of plastic. throwing away two bags of plastic almost daily really bothered me so i started making my own bread. i used packaged flour and butter in the beginning and lined the bread pans with parchment paper. as i threw away the parchment paper with each creation of bread i was crushed to realize that i was making close to as much trash as buying bread, though this at least wasn’t the horrid plastic kind. i realized i could keep the parchment paper till it got ripped, several bakings later. and moved on to getting locally grown a

progress report
when i write this i feel like i am writing a progress report. and if i am not progressing, i feel i have nothing to say. after all, if you have nothing good to say, say nothing. but there is so much to think about in this crazy mixed up world. my main issue is my feeling of powerlessness. i was hoping that this message in a bottle was going to hit some shores and i was going to hear from others trying to achieve a zero garbage lifestyle, or a more naturally oriented one. and the truth is that my focus has helped me find others that are as passionate about living closer to nature and less consumer oriented. let’s just leave it at that... so, progress report:

mad mom
today i am not the softie, the fantasy filled mom flying around the room in her imaginary cape and wand. today i made ricotta cheese and i am high. actually i am probably just feeling my chocolate and coffee in combination with my miraculously sleeping kids, while alas, i am not cleaning or cooking or asleep myself. i am thankful that i have found motivation to live the slow food life. (next, fresh pasta to go with the fresh ricotta.) attempting to avoid the evil plastic drives me to be more creative. i just wish that i didn’t feel so strongly when plastic tubs or wrappings enter our lives, because, of course, there is no avoiding them. well there is, but i am not so severe, st

eco-warrior on the loose
what does it mean to be an eco-warrior? i will tell you. i wake up every day in the middle of the night. i stealthily slip out of my organic, hypo-allergenic bed, past my sleeping pile of homeschooling family bed, to don my felted wool mask and union made in the us, cotton cape. sliding down my responsibly harvested wood stair railing, i flip into my fluorescent lit kitchen to hatch a few eggs, i mean lay them, no, i mean to make yogurt, or is it granola this time? or maybe decadent chocolate pudding... hmmm. yes that is what i should be doing now. i quickly whisk all that together while humming no, not kumbaya, but, what’s so funny about peace, love, and u

balancing change
i haven’t written in over a week now. i am having trouble with my cause, my religion, my commitment. i refuse to say that it is wavering, rather that i need to find balance in my life. balance is key. unfortunately, as we all know, passionate people are rarely balanced. so, do i want to be balanced, or imbalanced? i do have passion for living cleaner, for knowing i am doing the best that i can to reduce the waste that my family produces, for trying, oh dear, trying to live without the sin of plastic. or do i want a happy family? (a false dichotomy, i know, but many times the heads do butt). my gains: my kitchen is now filled w