The Green Hedonist

03/17/2020

Potting up bare-root fruit trees received from Monticello this morning. Why?
A) because it's sunny and gorgeous outside,
B) because these babies are drying out and I can't abide that, and
C) because regardless of what the talking heads are screaming this morning, tomorrow IS gonna come, and when it does I'm having caramelized pears over homemade french vanilla ice cream.

02/23/2020

As I purge things from my life that I no longer need or want, it opens up -- bite by bite -- room in my annual budget for supporting organizations that align with the world I want to see. Not only is Kimbal Musk one of my favorite people (don't judge him by his brother...) his organization Big Green is a huge favorite of mine: https://biggreen.org/

Big GreenReal Food Grows Here Announcing The Seed Bank   It’s here! The Seed Bank – a new monthly giving program dedicated to giving every child the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed in a healthy community. Monthly giving tells kids you’re here for them today, you’re here for them tom...

02/12/2020

Still a great place to buy alternatives to the mainstream plastic garbage that litters many of our homes: https://lifewithoutplastic.com/

[email protected]

01/12/2020

My first (and perhaps most exciting) 2020 seed order has come in.....from the gardens at Monticello. Have you given in to the siren song of seed catalogs yet?

12/30/2019

Awesome.

https://returntonow.net/2019/06/27/atlanta-turns-7-acres-vacant-lot-into-largest-free-food-forest-in-the-country/

Atlanta just turned a former “food desert” into a “food forest” that will provide citizens with free, organic fruits, nuts, veggies, mushrooms and herbs Instead of developing it into townhouses, the City of Atlanta recently voted to transform a vacant, old, overgrown pecan farm into a food f...

01/03/2019

Oh my.

Here’s an attractive modern home built by Olive Nest Tiny Homes, nicknamed The Elsa, in some ways the tiny house that’s unlike any other tiny house you’ve ever seen. When at it’s destination, the tiny house has a separate trailer that connects with it and has a greenhouse mounted to it. In e...

11/13/2018

From the "I want it on my Xmas list but I wish it weren't so expensive but I still WANT it" category...

https://www.gardeners.com/buy/galvanized-seed-starting-tray/8595893.html

Heirloom-quality tapered galvanized metal pots let you easily remove seedlings. Sturdy galvanized steel tray lets you transport with confidence. Gardener's Supply

11/10/2018

There are very few people in this world who actually need more Stuff. (refugees perhaps...) So it's not too early to be thinking about this...we still have time to do a little fun planning :D
https://www.attainable-sustainable.net/giving-experiences-instead-of-gifts/

Too much stuff? Give a gift of experiences instead of gifts this year. This gift guide features experiences as gift ideas for a memorable holiday.

10/30/2018

Hmmmm...

"Where did the term "tree hugger" come from?

The first tree huggers were 294 men and 69 women belonging to the Bishnois branch of Hinduism, who, in 1730, died while trying to protect the trees in their village from being turned into the raw material for building a palace. They literally clung to the trees, while being slaughtered by the foresters. But their action led to a royal decree prohibiting the cutting of trees in any Bishnoi village. And now those villages are virtual wooded oases amidst an otherwise desert landscape.

Not only that, the Bishnois inspired the Chipko movement (chipko means “to cling” in Hindi) that started in the 1970s, when a group of peasant women in the Himalayan hills of northern India threw their arms around trees designated to be cut down. Within a few years, this tactic, also known as tree satyagraha, had spread across India, ultimately forcing reforms in forestry and a moratorium on tree felling in Himalayan regions."

This article is from: earthisland.org

10/15/2018

Yet another experience that reminds me what a freaky weirdo I am...

In September was in Nashville at a conference, surrounded by the land of music tourism, and all I could think of was how badly I wanted to visit the ABLE store: https://www.livefashionable.com/pages/accountable-our-story

Instead of dropping my cash on the Johnny Cash Museum, the Grand Old Opry, the trinkets, I instead bought myself the softest, most feminine - and most soulful - shirt I own. Their "radical and disruptive transparency" about the wages they actually pay workers (the lowest, not the average) and their focus on healing the world by healing women...gosh, I just love these guys.

The goal was to provide an alternative that would give these women an opportunity to earn a living, empowering them to end the cycle of poverty that kept them trapped. Armed with multiple studies illustrating how the employment of women benefits and strengthens the entire community, the ABLE team se...

06/17/2018

Whether or not you shop there, it's a brilliant and welcome move by IKEA - and August 2020 is not far off! No more service items, packaging, plastic bags... They've also invested $1.7 billion in becoming 100% renewable energy dependent by the same deadline. (and donated to animal rescue...and now sell solar panels, and and and)
Thank you IKEA.
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/everyones-favorite-furniture-store-is-ditching-all-single-use-plastic/

The company's 363 stores are ditching every kind of single-use plastic, from garbage bags to straws and drink stirrers.

03/23/2018

Little things like this make me smile. In and of themselves, they will not save the world, but if they can help me shift my everyday needs and behaviors so they're playing a supporting role, no matter how small, my life becomes an engine for Goodness from sunrise to sunset.

Ecosia uses over 80% of the profits from your web searches to plant trees where they are needed most. Give it a try!

02/21/2018

Some people look at solar farms and wind turbines and think they are ugly. I find them incredibly beautiful - carrying the hopes that future loved ones can continue to enjoy this beautiful World we have here. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/morocco-turns-the-sahara-desert-into-a-solar-energy-oasis

Morocco says it wants to be the Saudi Arabia of solar energy. Its flagship project is a first-of-its-kind, $9-billion energy plant called Noor, meaning "light" in Arabic, and the size of the city of Paris. Special correspondent Monica Villamizar reports from the city of Ouarzazate.

02/09/2018

Oh, now here's something this high-altitude-living but banana-loving gardener can get excited about!
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/02/07/582466810/a-banana-grown-at-subzero-temps-also-has-an-edible-peel

Banana crops aren't in the best shape, but new varieties could help. Japanese Mongee bananas debuted this winter, bred to be cold-resistant and pesticide-free. Plus, you can eat the peel.

02/08/2018

Everybody treats herself in a different way. Some buy jewelry or shoes. I buy things like this. Weird, I know. She has so many nice (and beautiful) zero-waste things...sigh...

https://www.etsy.com/listing/543003832/linen-bread-bag-bread-storage-zero-waste

Bread has been stored in linen bags for centuries. Linen is a natural fiber that breathes and will keep your bread fresh without using plastic. These bags also work well for carrying your bread home from the bakery. Linen provides natural anti-bacterial properties to keep bread from getting moldy. T...

02/07/2018

“…it's hard to find a single destination with a spotless record on human rights, animal rights, and the environment…(his) two key questions for informed travellers are: Will my holiday be enjoyable, and will it benefit local people?” I found this article very interesting and good food for thought, all in all.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-42957225

Should we pick our holiday destinations for their ethical credentials? And if so, where would we go?

01/15/2018

This is still too expensive for many in THIS country at least, but if they follow the curve of solar in general, the costs will come down in time. And then....daaaaang. Good-lookin' product. I was skeptical last year when I read about this, but they've actually been in production now for some time.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-09/tesla-powers-up-new-york-gigafactory-solar-roof-assembly-line?cmpId=flipboard

Tesla Inc. has kicked off production of its long-awaited electricity-producing shingles that Elon Musk says will transform the rooftop solar industry.

01/11/2018

I follow this pyramid as often as I can, and still consider myself a card-carrying (green) hedonist. Life is still beautiful, and it feels exactly right.

10/27/2017

I'm considering doing the Whole Foods Food Stamp Challenge again. Because - reportedly - some prices at Whole Foods Market have been reduced following their acquisition by Amazon, I'm curious as to whether this would make the challenge easier, and how it might affect what I buy and how I eat. The current monthly allotment for 2 adults is $352.00. Stay tuned...

https://thegreenhedonist.com/the-whole-foods-food-stamp-challenge/

I've been pondering some guidelines for the Whole Foods Food Stamp Challenge. There are many ways to go with this, and a lot of confusing gray areas. For example: One method of taking a food challenge is to go "empty cupboard," as though you're starting with absolutely nothing, not even a salt

10/12/2017

I am so sick of endless plastic bottles in my shower. I am on a mission to get rid of ALL of them by the end of the year, and never go back. I'm ever-so-slightly in love with these shampoo bars, which last me (long-haired me) many weeks, smell amazing, clean perfectly, and get me closer to hopping off the plastic train: http://www.lushusa.com/hair/shampoo-bars/

These mighty bars are concentrated pucks of shampoo that can outlast two to three bottles of the liquid stuff: one bar will last up to 80 washes! They’re also packed full of essential oils and fresh ingredients so you'll have gorgeous hair every time.

09/26/2017

There are so many amazing ideas out there to combine something luscious with a sustainable lifestyle. Here's just one of thousands: https://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/japan-looks-combine-solar-power-mushroom-farm.html

In a country where land available for renewable energy generation is scarce, this solves two problems at once.

09/12/2017

"Studies show pleasurable emotions are associated with broader and more creative thinking, and a range of positive outcomes including better resilience, social connectedness, well-being, physical health, and longevity. So, pleasure might not only help us to live more enjoyably, but longer."

So...CNN finally catches up with us, gang 😊

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/12/health/hedonism-partner/index.html

What if, instead of a guaranteed one-way road to ruin, hedonism is good for your health? Seeking and maximizing simple pleasures can boost our health and well-being.

09/09/2017

For that person on your gift list who loves composting, or wants to learn to love it 😉
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07321KPVC/

Compost: Because a rind is a terrible thing to waste

09/01/2017

Love this article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4812742/Ron-Finley-wants-end-food-slavery-LA.html

Ron Finley, also known as the ‘Gangsta Gardener’, has made it his mission to create a healthier and more sustainable South Central Los Angeles with the urban jungle in his backyard.

09/01/2017

LA's real OG (that's organic gardener):Man wants to feed South Central

Love this article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4812742/Ron-Finley-wants-end-food-slavery-LA.html

Ron Finley, also known as the ‘Gangsta Gardener’, has made it his mission to create a healthier and more sustainable South Central Los Angeles with the urban jungle in his backyard.

07/26/2017

The Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant in Every State

Kudos to The Kitchen in Boulder/Denver, one of my favey-faves: http://www.travelandleisure.com/food-drink/restaurants/best-eco-friendly-restaurants-united-states

These 51 restaurants go way beyond farm-to-table—with responsible ingredient sourcing, a focus on local purveyors, and even electric car chargers, they're changing the world for the better. Read on.

07/26/2017

Kudos to The Kitchen in Boulder/Denver, one of my favey-faves: http://www.travelandleisure.com/food-drink/restaurants/best-eco-friendly-restaurants-united-states

These 51 restaurants go way beyond farm-to-table—with responsible ingredient sourcing, a focus on local purveyors, and even electric car chargers, they're changing the world for the better. Read on.

07/25/2017

Goodful

I love this so much. Homemade salad dressing is so easy, so delicious, and so much easier on my conscience (otherwise we'd be dropping dozens of salad dressing plastic bottles in the recycling every year, and wtf's up with that??)

You're just a quick shake away from super fresh salad dressings that are perfect for summer! Which salad dressing do you like most? 😋!
FULL RECIPES: http://bzfd.it/2snhdtd

07/25/2017

I love this so much. Homemade salad dressing is so easy, so delicious, and so much easier on my conscience (otherwise we'd be dropping dozens of salad dressing plastic bottles in the recycling every year, and wtf's up with that??)

06/05/2017

Are you KIDDING me?