Water, water, everywhere...

"Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink"

- Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner, by Coleridge.

Here in our area summer is dry. Even the summer thunderstorms carry little moisture, which is why the Solstice storm was able to start so many fires. Dry lightning is a danger in a dry forest.

But even without fire, these long, dry summers make one hyper-aware of how precious water is. Well out of reach of municipal water supplies, each home or ranch is responsible for its own water supply. Developing a source, maintaining it, pumping and storage is up to each of us, and when that supply gets low, particularly if you garden or when there is a threat of fire in the vicinity, every drop of water counts.

Pretty much everyone is aware that water is the backbone of life as we know it. When they talk about traces of water indicating the possibility of life on Mars they may only be talking about bacteria... But without water - nothing at all. Luckily, we live on a very wet planet.
Earth's surface is almost 3/4 water, but despite that only a tiny amount is fresh water, available for humans and most animals to share. Merely 7 thousandths (.007%) of a percent of the water on Earth is accessible for human use!

Interestingly, this amount is fairly finite. We are not making more fresh water: it is a closed cycle (learn more about The Water Cycle). And, while we effectively reduce the amount of water available through pollution and other contamination, what we really need is access to more fresh water to support the Earth's growing population, agriculture, and industry. The numbers don't add up.

In many parts of the world water has traditionally been scarce and therefore a treasured commodity. But it is now becoming more precious even in places where it was once free and abundant. Perhaps we can start now to conserve water to prevent a last ditch effort to restore our aquifers or ration our supply. How you live, what you eat, what you use... all these things have a much bigger impact on water use than you may think. For instance, water is an important part of almost all manufacturing processes. Consider that it takes about 3 to 5 liters of water to manufacture a 1 liter water bottle - before you fill it! And that steak - there was a lot of water invested in the raising of that steer before it moved to the dining table.

[Speaking of bottled water... It is usually no better than the tap water in the location it was bottled in and is actually less regulated for contaminants than that tap water! Check out the Environmental Working Group's Guide for Safe Drinking Water.]

Check out this site to learn what your water footprint really is made up of, and then use the handy Water Footprint Calculator to see the impact you have as an individual on the world's water supply (Use this conversion tool to figure gallons from meters). You may be surprised!
See this great article, "Everything You Know About Water Conservation is- Wrong", in Discover magazine's online version for more on how water is used.

But, that said, you must have water to stay alive, to stay clean, to stay healthy. The biggest beauty aid there is is drinking enough clean water. It will keep you hydrated, which gives you healthy skin, helps remove toxins from your body, and keeps you healthy overall. And the true key to radiant beauty is health.

I don't think we need to be stingy with water - yet. But I do think it is important not to be wasteful of it. If you are watering your lawn and the water is running off down the street... that's overkill. Ditto for running water down the drain while brushing your teeth. Simply being conscious of your use can make big changes in your overall water consumption.

Many municipalities have laws regulating water use. I was made aware recently of water regulations in Denver, Colorado. Despite strict rules for greywater use (many health related and understandable... some not so much), I was relieved to see this in the law: "However, Denver Water customers are encouraged to catch unused clear water in a bucket or other container as it comes out of the tap and then use this water once; to mop floors, refresh pet water or water plants. For example, try catching water that comes out before the shower water warms up and then use this water to flush toilets or rinse the shower.” This is a great suggestion. Not only are you paying for this water that goes down the drain, but it is throwing away a valuable resource you can use to water plants, wash the sink, water your pets... You get the idea.
Then there was this: "Colorado Water Law requires that precipitation fall to the ground, run off and into the river of the watershed where it fell. Because rights to water are legally allocated in this state, an individual may not capture and use water to which he/she does not have a right.”
That’s right folks, in Colorado they do not have a RIGHT to the rainwater falling on their property because someone else OWNS it! Heck, if everyone caught every drop of rainwater the city (or water bottling plant) wouldn’t be able to sell it back to you.
If you are legally allowed to collect rainwater in your locale, AquaBarrel has a great storage method. This water can be used for landscaping and other uses while conserving your house water and lessening your water bill.
Just another little thing to be conscious of that is basic to life. As we acquire these habits we become more aware of the relationship of our lives to the world around us and the wonder of it all.


Update April 2009: We are only at 75% of normal rainfall - an average that was downgraded last time they recalculated it. There are predictions that this will be the year with the most wildfires in recorded history for the United States. Our water consciousness is greater than ever.

Update July 2012: Severe drought conditions exist across a broad swath of the United States & around the world. As the climate continues to warm this will probably persist. Check out this weekly updated World Drought Risk Map.

Update January 2014: Here we are, experiencing serious drought conditions here in California and the West in general. All this information is more pertinent than ever. Here are some more good water conservation tips.
And here is a good article in the Lost Coast Outpost on the situation here in Humboldt County right now(Jan. 2014).

Update April 2015: Another warm, dry, winter. Water is ever more precious in California, even in our traditionally wet corner of the state. You can view the current California drought conditions here.

Fire on the Mountain

The Solstice dawned here with welcome summer heat and glorious skies. These skies included the first puff of cumulus clouds that ultimately formed into towering thunderheads and afternoon storms, dramatic with lightning and sporadic fits of hail or giant raindrops.

A classic start to summer but for one thing - these storms sparked 100's of fires in the state, over 30 in our local area alone.

The next day there was the tell tale brownish streak of a cloud across the sky that can only be smoke and by Sunday morning we awoke to smokey skies and air. Today was even worse, you cannot see the top of the mountain across the canyon at all and our eyes are puffy, throats scratchy and everything tastes and smells of smoke. This with no fire really that close to us.
This affects all living beings. If you look closely, you will see a deer in the photo (bottom, right of center). They, the birds, and all the wildlife, are suffering the same ill effects to lungs and eyes that we are.

Nothing we can do about it except go somewhere else where it is not smokey or hope the wind comes up from the other direction and blows it away, rather than making it thicker, which is what has happened since I took the photo this morning.

But there are atmospheric pollutants in our lives every day that we can do something about. Given that there are so many, like this smoke, auto exhaust, industrial emissions, and such, that are only slowly being lessened as awareness grows, it is in our best interest to cut the number of irritants and toxins that we may inadvertently expose ourselves and our families to.

Air fresheners, scented candles, heavily scented soaps, dish, and laundry detergents... many of these rely on synthetic chemical fragrances to overwhelm our senses. Some of these chemicals are far from good for us, and are often the triggers for reactions for those with sensitivities. Chemical based household cleaners, pesticides and other products used in the home have caused the indoor air to be more polluted than outdoor air, even in cities, in some cases!

Remember that you can find fragrance-free or lightly scented, nontoxic and environmentally friendly products for all your needs at almost any store these days. And you can find everything you need for basic body and hair care at Simmons Natural Bodycare including a whole section of fragrance-free products.

Fire Update: As of June 28, the smoke just gets worse. It looks like a long, smokey summer ahead. To get the latest information on fires all around the United States check out this Fire Center site.
July Update: After a lovely 4 day reprieve, the smoke is back. There are simple face masks (small, similar to a painter mask in size and shape) that will filter out the smoke. If you are in an area with heavy smoke here is information on these respirator masks. They are available inexpensively in many places online as well as at medical supply and industrial supply stores.

In Memory of Rosie...

Our beloved old Australian Shepard, Rosie, died last week. That's her, with kid friends and with her good pal, the cat, Pepper. We miss her.

Rosie was my shadow and loyal pal, friend to all, and overseer of the farm. She lived the best possible dog life, to a ripe old age of 17 (119 in dog years?). A happy girl, ready to visit and play no matter how difficult for her increasingly arthritic bones, until the end.

May we all see life as excitedly as she did, each moment new, each being a potential friend, each hardship and ailment a mere aside to the things she wanted to do each day.

Heat wave! Here comes the Sun...

Wow! After all this unseasonably cold weather punctuated by a few warm (not hot) days, suddenly (like - overnight!) we are having a serious heat wave. A trip out to the coast to deliver soap and do chores today gave no relief, even the traditionally cool and foggy coast was in the 80's and 90's. And the coastal folks are not used to it.

Up in Arcata they used to have a bumper sticker that said "Arcatans don't tan, they rust". Presented with this unusual sun and heat, it seemed half the pale population was out in tank tops and shorts. From the look of it many of them will soon realize they have a serious case of sunburn. Oh dear.

It feels so good to finally get the chance to get outside and enjoy the sun... and then we are bombarded not just by the warmth and light, but by all the warnings about skin cancer and skin damage. What’s really happening and what should we do about it?

Well, first of all, relax. It’s not all bad news. That timeless adage “moderation in all things” pertains here as it does everywhere else.

Earth is habitable by humans and other life forms in large part because of it’s proximity to the sun. It is bathed in an invisible form of solar radiation called ultraviolet (UV) rays.
There are three types of UV rays: UVA; UVB; and UVC. UVA is the most abundant at earth’s surface level, and can penetrate below the top layer of skin. UVB rays are partially absorbed by the ozone layer, so are less abundant at the surface, and do not penetrate as deeply as UVA. UVB also stimulates the reaction that produces vitamin D, but UVB in excess causes sunburn and cell damage.
The most hazardous is UVC, but it is completely absorbed by earth’s stratospheric ozone layer. It’s the main reason we want to keep that ozone layer intact. Without it we fry.

After years of warning us to stay out of the sun or be covered with UV blocking sunscreen at all times, the medical community now is debating whether too little sun is as bad as too much. Not only does sunshine melt away the winter blues (seasonal affective disorder- SAD), it helps our bodies synthesize vitamin D. Current research shows many people are deficient in vitamin D and ongoing studies indicate the importance of vitamin D in preventing muscle and skeletal pain and a variety of cancers. This vitamin, which we require more of as we age, occurs naturally in salmon, tuna, and other fatty fish, but is difficult to get in high enough doses nutritionally or in supplements.

Hot off the Press: "UVB exposure triggers photosynthesis of vitamin D3 in the body. This form of vitamin D also is available through diet and supplements. Studies have shown an association between higher levels of vitamin D3 and a lower risk of cancers of the breast, colon, ovary, and kidney." It may help prevent Diabetes as well.
Nonetheless, too much sun has been shown not only to accelerate wrinkles and rough, dry skin through a process called photoaging, but is directly linked to skin cancer and associated with various eye conditions, including cataracts, not to mention the immediate pain of sunburn.

So where is the balance? It depends on your location (Canada, say, or Mexico, for instance), age, time of day and year, and skin type.

The evidence indicates that exposure when you are young may matter most. Your risk of melanoma, the most severe form of skin cancer, is greatest if you had too much sun before the age of 20. Adolescence is the most dangerous time to get a sunburn for this reason. While recent exposure to the sun doesn't seem to be a factor in basal cell carcinoma (the commonest and mildest form), cumulative exposure at all ages is strongly associated with the skin growths that are a risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common and a more severe type of skin cancer.
Most medical professionals agree it is safe to sun 15 minutes at a time, a few times a week, without sunscreen. The rest of the time wear sunscreen with SPF15 or greater UVA and UVB protection, or light, long-sleeved shirts and long pants. You should always remember UV blocking sunglasses and wide brimmed hat. Try to avoid the most intense sun, from around 10a.m. to 4p.m., in the summer.

We carry UV Natural, a natural and effective sunscreen to help you maintain your sunshine balance. It rates in the top 5 of safest, most effective, sunscreens rated by the Environmental Working Group & Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
And, for burned or sun-dried skin, try our Simmons Cocoa Butter Creme. This all-natural basic balm for the body is formulated specifically to soften and soothe dry problem skin. Phenomenal for sunburn, it mosturizes & nourishes to help aid the skin's natural replenishing process.

By the way... Ever wondered exactly what SPF means? It is "Sun Protection Factor".
The SPF of a sunscreen refers to the strength of protection and the length of time a sun- screening product will allow your skin to be in the sun without burning, given that the average person can only remain in the sun for 10 to 15 minutes without burning.
Therefore, a SPF of 30 will provide about 300 minutes (5 hours) of sunburn protection.

What is your skin type?
I - Always burns, never tans, sensitive to sun
II - Burns easily, tans minimally
III - Burns moderately, tans gradually to light brown
IV - Burns minimally, always tans well to moderate brown
V - Rarely burns, tans readily to dark
VI - Never burns, deeply pigmented

While everyone is at risk with excessive sun exposure, skin types I & II are at the highest risk.
For more information, check out the following:
• Benefits of Sun Exposure
• About Vitamin D
• More on Vitamin D
For more on skin cancer:
The Skin Cancer Foundation

Simplicity

You may remember this Shaker song, "Simple Gifts", written in 1848:

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right.

I find myself wondering how we got ourselves into the situation where "going Green" can be viewed as being difficult, or where the idea of "going Green" is needed in the first place. And what it would actually take to lessen the overall impact of human's daily lives on the resources of the Earth and what techniques, technological or otherwise, can do that successfully.

Granted, ever since we moved from hunter gatherers to a less nomadic life, and our population increased to cover the globe, everywhere humans have settled over a period of time has been robbed of its resources. But I think we did learn how to work with it once we saw what was happening. At any rate, I have seen some great examples of land stewardship in folks who have lived in the same place, literally on the same property, for generations.
Those who do it successfully seem to always keep an eye on the future. They cut enough timber, graze enough cattle, farm enough land, to support them comfortably for the year and no more. And they leave enough timber and fallow fields to support them in years to come. Rotating crops, spreading manure, changing pastures, working with the seasons.

And then you see others move into a place and, with an eye on immediate prosperity, use it all up in a few short years. Overgrazing, monoculture and overlogging, reaping as many monetary benefits as possible in the short term and finding, at the end, that it is time to move on as the resource has run dry.

So here we are, the family of man, living on the earth and faced with the possibility that it may be starting to look like time to move on - and there's nowhere to go.

Before technology in the form of fast transportation, refrigeration, and fancy packaging made it possible for everything the heart desired (and the pocketbook could afford) to be available practically everywhere, all the time, there was very little waste. There were maxims like "waste not, want not" and a favorite of mine "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without". Being wasteful of food, clothes, tools, ANYTHING, was frowned upon.
Anymore, the opposite is true. Stores constantly must discard old and outdated food. Clothes, cars, accessories of all sorts - even telephones (oops - make that cellphones) go out of style. Even before they break or wear out things are deemed obsolete and relegated to the trash heap. And those aren't even things that were meant to be instantly disposable - disposable napkins, mops, diapers, towels, pens, plates, lighters, you name it... we are now a society raised on a need to always get more.

Who does this benefit? Often when investigators approach a situation they follow the money trail. I think that is the trail that leads to the answer here. The benefit in a disposable society goes to the folks who are selling (and selling, and selling again) the disposable commodities. The rest of us are just spending more money and sending more stuff to the dump.

The energy that has the least impact on the environment is our own personal physical energy. What it entails to get past a disposable life is often the expenditure of our own energy. If you use real towels or mop, you have to clean them. Rinse them out or throw them in the laundry, this really isn't that tough.

We now see what see what the high cost of energy does to food. Fuel for machinery and transportation, petroleum derived fertilizers added to production and packaging and the futures market on top of that. As the cost of food goes up, so does the cost of waste for the shopkeeper. Perishables are called perishables for a reason, and that cost has to be paid by someone. Either the consumer (us) pays even more or maybe the store will have to carry less products to reduce the risk of loss. Hmmmmm...

Meanwhile, it pays us to think about what the important basics are in our life.
We did that some years ago with our business, and now focus on personal daily care basics for a healthy, clean body. Great results can be achieved with a minimum of fancy additives, and it is healthier for you as well.

See our site for these body care products and tools, and see "The Story of Stuff" for a great description that connects the dots of how we became such a consumer oriented society.