In Gratitude...

There are not many days that go by that, even if only for a fleet moment, I don't realize how fortunate I am.
Despite all the things that go wrong most days: the things that don't go as planned; the things I cannot afford; the minor pains and glitches; overall I do know I have much to be thankful for.

Thank you
Mahalo (Hawaiian)
Bedankt (Dutch)
Akun (Khymer)

Some time back I started writing thank you notes on a broad scale. From individuals to the state highway department, I want to let it be known that I appreciate the work that is done that has helped make my life easier.
Everyone voices it when they have something to complain about. We all want to point out when there's something that needs done or changed or that we disagree with. But when those changes happen we are often already on to the next issue that needs fixing rather than ready to acknowledge the things that have occurred to improve our lives or fix some problem.

Spasibo (Russian)
Bayarlalaa (Mongolian)
Arigato (Japanese)
Grazie (Italian)

Letting it be known that we appreciate the work done by our family, friends, and neighbors, community or government organizations and representatives goes a long way in reinforcing the energy and spirit of those who do what they can to make things happen.
Show your gratitude. It will be appreciated.

Ngiyabonga (Zulu)
Mamnoon (Arabic)
Tack (Swedish)
Asante (Swahili)

The Future... A Matter of Balance

I now know I am definitely solar powered. This year's unbelievably long, dreary, wet and chill spring had me sluggish and depressed. I thought "Gee, I AM getting old and decrepit". Well, turns out that as soon as we had a sunny day my energy came back just fine, although I confess I do seem to keep getting older.

Seriously, sun and warmth provide the energy that drives the most important aspects of our life. Just watch the acceleration in the growth of the garden (or lawn) as soon as the weather warms. And it is our great fortune that Earth's distance from our Sun is just right, not too hot nor too cold. Wow! Are we lucky! We really depend on this delicate balance between our planetary home and it's star to create the amazing conditions that sustains life here on Earth. With all the changes it goes through, this is still an imminently habitable planet (See post: "Habitat for One and All"). Yet, that it's 'not nice to fool with Mother Nature' may turn out to be an understatement in relatively short order.

But still, it is this fortuitous geometry that permits the habitable planet that we have, despite the extreme weather conditions we've been having and that could intensify. Weather is determined by the balance between hot and cold air, which then creates conditions from flood to drought, searing heat to frigid chill. All this affects the living situation on the earth and in the sea in ways we are really only beginning to understand. But life is resilient and humans are determined and, hopefully, we will be able to adapt to what we must and, through our actions, modify the degree of change that could happen.

Interestingly, despite some fears, working toward a sustainable future may not mean total deprivation. There are many changes that will not only streamline your life, but make it more affordable in this time of economic stress, AND lighten the burden we are placing on the natural system's delicate balance. There are so many people on the planet that if we all adjust our habits some the end result will add up quickly. If you haven't started to change your lifestyle to make it more "Earth - Friendly", there's no better time to start than now!

Right away it will help save money and help the environment to not buy so much stuff! OK, the economy is awful, so we are already not buying as much stuff, but pay attention to which stuff you do buy. Right away, if it is a disposable, single use, item that can be replaced with something more durable, go for the durable. The initial cost may be a bit more, but the overall cost ( and we are talking $$ here) is much less. You generally do get what you pay for, and cheap junk is still junk and shortly ends up in the landfill to be replaced by??? See "the Story of Stuff" to get an idea of how this impacts our lives.
I don't advocate discarding what you have now that works, but replacing stuff with a better alternative (if replacement is even necessary) when it gets discarded.

One area which is easy to improve is electrical appliances. Some of them are real energy hogs, and when you replace them with efficient Energy Star rated appliances you save money on your bill and less electricity needs to be produced. If, instead of ever increasing energy needs we could keep the demand even or reduce it, the possibility of a future of Green, renewable energy alternatives becomes brighter. Here are some  energy calculators to help you evaluate your energy use and whether energy efficient products or renewable energy are right for you.

"Nature can provide for the needs of people; [she] can't provide for the greed of people."

- Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)

I really believe change is in the air, but that it doesn't have to be disastrous. I don't believe anyone could be maliciously out to destroy the habitability of Earth's future in order to have a more convenient, wealthy life now. But I do believe we do some unfortunate things out of ignorance and blundering, coupled with the desire to always have more than fills our needs. More money, more convenience, more stuff... No one has ever shown this to create contentment or happiness. Only to feed an endless desire. And in the long run, we could lose it all.

Garden Delights - Don't that Beet all!

Business life has been intense lately, mostly because of unexpected computer death, unexpected new computer glitches and all the accompanying headaches. Truly a love/hate relationship. So, to detox from this desk bound electronic entanglement, I wander out to work in the garden.

Our endless late cold and rainy weather finally ended in June, and we were able to get the rest of the garden planted. Greens &  root crops were planted earlier in the raised beds we were able to put up on Mother's Day. As a result, while our first summer squash are just coming on, we have been rich with lettuce, chard, and beets for some time (also radishes, other greens, onions, etc...). We love salads, greens, and sweet, colorful beets. Brilliant gems of the garden, beets are incredibly nutritious. Not only are the roots full of vitamins and minerals, but the greens are rich in nutrients as well. Did we mention they are delicious?

So it was no surprise when my sister e mailed us a link to a New York Times article touting beets as a superfood with a plethora of wonderful recipes.

Well, I can always use more recipes, especially now when the dinner menu question is: "What would you like with your Beets?" (earlier it was Asparagus, then Artichokes.. whatever needs eaten before it gets past it's prime). On top of that, I am always looking for recipes that are compatible with cooking in our solar oven (see earlier post: Sun Worship - of the Culinary Kind ).
We easily roast beet roots in the Solar Oven. Wash the beets and cut the leaves off, leaving about 1" of stem. Place in lidded casserole, add about 1/2 cup of water, cover, and cook in solar oven until tender when pierced with a fork. The time varies depending on the size of the beets, but all should be done in an hour. When done, remove from the oven and allow to cool in the covered baking dish. At this point the ends and skins should slip right off.
Roasted beets are wonderful sliced plain or in a salad, dressed with a vinegarette. They are fabulous heated and served with a dollop of sour cream. They're the basis for borscht, a more wintery favorite around here. They will keep several days in a covered bowl in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them.

But back to the NY Times article. There was one idea I had never had that looked like a Solar Oven winner. I am sure the original recipe is marvelous, the one I modified and made, substituting what I had on hand, sure was:

Beet & Beet Green Gratin Variation

6 to 8 beets with greens 
Salt to taste
3 eggs
3/4 cup skim milk
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup grated Swiss or other cheese
dash Cayenne pepper
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1. Roast the beets as noted above. Cool, slip off the skins and slice.
2. Wash and sort the beet greens, discard the stems and chop the leaves coarsely.
3. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a medium skillet, and add the garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring, until fragrant. Stir in the greens. Stir together for a minute, season the greens with salt, cayenne and black pepper, cover with a lid and turn off the heat. The greens will wilt as they steam slightly.
4. Preheat the Solar Oven (regular oven to 375 degrees). Oil a 2-quart lidded baking dish with olive oil. Beat together eggs, salt (about 1/2 teaspoon), pepper, milk, green onions and cheese. Gently stir in the greens and beets. Scrape into the gratin dish. Bake until puffy and lightly browned on the top (35 to 40 minutes in conventional oven). Allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Serve hot, warm or room temperature.
This should serve six.
Enjoy!

It's All the Buzzz...

MOSQUITOS AND THEIR NATURAL CONTROL

Mosquitoes, those annoying, whining, biting insects,  are high on the list of important pests due to their ability  to transmit diseases such as malaria and encephalitis.
While  human malaria is not an issue in most of the United States, there are  occasional out breaks of encephalitis. West Nile Virus is a mosquito  transmitted encephalitis, primarily a virus of birds, but other animals  and people are occasional hosts. You can find the most recent  information on West Nile Virus at the Center  for Disease Control website .
Adult mosquitoes feed on flower nectar. Soon after mating male  mosquitoes die and the females require a blood meal for protein for  their developing eggs. Some feed during daylight hours, others at dusk and dawn.
They will be found near water, as moisture is essential  for their reproduction. Mosquito eggs and larvae grow in water while the  adults are terrestrial. Eggs can be laid on land, but cannot hatch or mature until flooded.
The most effective, long term mosquito control is to prevent  reproduction by altering their habitat.

HABITAT CONTROL  CHECKLIST:

•Drain puddles of standing water, or fill with dirt.
•Empty containers that collect water and store them upside down.
•Check faucets and irrigation for leaks or seepage.
•Remove debris from gutters.
•Change water in birdbaths at least weekly.
•Drain water from plastic pools when not in use.
•Check pool and spa covers, as well as sheets of discarded plastic film.  These catch water easily, shield against evaporation and even help  moisture condense, providing superb breeding sites.
•Stock watering troughs and ornamental pools with fish and encourage  natural predators such as frogs.
•Regularly remove floating debris  from ponds and reservoirs to reduce  egg-laying sites.
•Fill tree holes with sand or mortar.
•Promote drainage of old tires by drilling holes.
•Avoid overwatering of lawns and gardens and drain standing water.
•Manage weeds around bodies of water where adult mosquitoes congregate.
•Encourage natural predators such as birds, bats, and yellowjackets(!).
•Treat standing water which cannot be drained with Bacillus  thuringiensis israeliensis (Bti), often sold as 'Mosquito Dunks'.

PROTECTION  FROM BITING MOSQUITOES:
•Limit outdoor activities during mosquito active dawn and dusk. Learn  the activity patterns in your area.
•Use window and door screens.
•Put mosquito netting over infant carriages or strollers.
•Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
•Use repellents on exposed areas of skin.

NATURAL REPELLENTS:
Duration of Safe Protection: It appears that protection is about two hours for mosquito repellents that contain 10% essential oils. Catnip oil may be more effective than DEET, although not as long lasting, and citronella, catnip, lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, lemon eucalyptus, bay, some of the mints, and others are also effective. Note that if you make your own, essential oils should never be applied to the skin full strength. Add them to a base, or carrier, oil such as soy, olive, canola or other vegetable oil.
From: Joel R Coats, Entomology, Iowa St. U.,: "The essential oils may not provide as long of a residual protection, but they can repel for two hours - so there would be trade-offs for people preferring the natural oil, or that don't plan to stay out for 6 hours,  or don't mind reapplying it every couple of hours, or prefer using it on  kids."
Citronella candles and incense work best if there is relatively little  air movement, but are otherwise useless. Research shows many products, such as wrist bands and pins with  repellent, ultrasonic & electronic repellers, brewer's yeast,  vitamin B1, and mosquito plant, to be of little or no value, although  some people swear by them.

Tip for natural oil based repellents -  it only takes a little. If you get all oily it doesn't work any better.  Put on a little and spread it around evenly, the residue left on your hands should be enough for your face and neck. While we used to make a natural insect repellent, it is not legal for us to sell it from our location in California. The ingredients: Lavender; Eucalyptus; and Catnip essential oils are not on the Minimum Risk Pesticide List, and there are restrictions for Citronella essential oil as well.

Your county  Agriculture agent will have more information and tips that are specific  to your local. Contact them for further assistance.

Sharing Opportunity...

We are fortunate. No way to deny it.
While far from monetarily rich, our life is full: we have food and shelter; clean abundant water; work; access to school for our children; and a certain amount of access to health care (see earlier posts "A Hungry Man" & "Health care Blues" ). Our life is full of opportunity.
While taken for granted by a large segment of the world's population, this is not a given for an even larger population. Much of the time opportunity is limited in one way or another for people who are ready to work and embrace the responsibility it takes to achieve their goals.

One opportunity we have is to pay it forward. Take some of our good fortune to enhance opportunities for others. We do that in a number of different ways.
As parents, we help our children have the best life possible. From providing nutrition to teaching them to be responsible, conscientious, humans, we do our best to try to raise them ready to face adulthood.
As family we try to be there when there is a time of need.
As community members we volunteer to help fulfill the needs and services within our community both as individuals and in our business.
As Americans we vote and work for the greater good of our nation.
As humans we contribute to organizations that work for the good of all mankind around the planet.

As I have mentioned before, we at Simmons Natural Bodycare have some favorite organizations that we contribute to regularly. These include Heifer International, Trees for the Future, CarbonFund and Kiva.

We have just started a Lending Team, SimmonsNaturals Sharing Opportunity, at Kiva.
Sometimes it only takes a helping hand to give someone the opportunity to improve their situation. We have benefited from the opportunities available to us and want to share, so we started a team to encourage individuals and small businesses who wish to give a lending hand to other entrepreneurs around the world.

Personally, while there are many areas of humanitarian and environmental work to be done, we have chosen to support organizations who facilitate the long term work that aids individuals in achieving a secure standard of living in keeping with their culture and community. These organizations provide the tools and education, a small loan that must be repaid, livestock, or other building blocks that people can utilize to improve their lives over the long haul. While our contribution may be small, it joins with the donations of others to help make a real difference in people's lives.

A percentage from every 4 ounce bar of Simmons special Soap sold goes to help Heifer International in their mission to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth.
By giving families a hand-up, not just a hand-out, they empower them to turn lives of hunger and poverty into self-reliance and hope. For every 12 bars ot the soap we sell we plant a tree through Trees for the Future.

Now we are asking you to join us in giving small loans to enable entrepreneurs around the world grow their small businesses and improve their lives by joining our Kiva Lending Team. It only takes as little as $25 to invest in someone's future. And, when your loan is repaid you can loan it again to help others. The perfect "pay it forward"! Learn More about KIVA.