Going Green - One Day at a Time

I was talking to a co-worker about how harsh perfumes bother me the other day. I explained that since I stopped using most perfumes and cheap room fragrances, I was more sensitive to the "chemically" smells that most of them gave off. She said that she wanted to live a more natural life, but that it seemed so hard! Learning about all the toxins and unhealthy things around us today can be very overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be hard. Here is some advice I have to share from my journey. 

1. What's most important? For me, it was going vegetarian. I was concerned about the quality of the meat I was eating and frustrated at the cost of quality, humanely-raised and hormone-free meat. Do some thinking and discover what's most important to you. It could be the cleaning products in your home, the bath and beauty products that you use, your food, your transportation, how much waste you produce, among others. Try writing down those areas that are important to you, then focus in on one at a time. 

2. Replace things as you run out, unless you can afford to buy green products you want to use all at once; most of us can't, and that's okay! I still have some bath and cleaning products that I'd rather not use, but I  opt replace them as I run out so I don't stress myself and my bank account out. Say you run out of surface cleaner, hop on the internet and see if you can make one yourself. There are a ton of great beauty and cleaning DIY instructions out there. It's fun and it'll prevent you from getting too overwhelmed. 

3. Don't fall for the "well everything is bad for me, so why try" argument. It just isn't true. Yes, it's nearly impossible to remove every cancer-causing hormone-disrupting free radical nastiness from your life, but you can make a difference in your own well-being! For instance, I can't currently help the fact that I live in a big city that has pollution, but I can make sure that I eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to give my body the strength it needs to stay healthy as long as possible. 

4. Make a goal list. This goes hand-in-hand with number 1. After you've decided what things are most important to you, make a goal list and divide it into three columns:

• Short-Term Goals
• Mid-Term Goals
• Long-Term Goals

The length of time for each is completely up to you. I have my goal list hanging on the wall and I cross out things as I accomplish them. It's a great reminder of how far you've come! 

Bonus: If you don't live alone, try making a goal list with those that you share a home with. It's a lot of fun and a great way to get to know your room mate, significant other, or family member better!

5. Lastly, here are some of the easy things I did to be more green that you can do, too! 

• Replace your paper towels with wash cloths. We got ours from the dollar store. I fold them in half, roll them up, then store them on the kitchen counter in a cute basket I got at the thrift store. Perfect!
• For company, have a nice set of linen napkins on hand.
• Stop buying water bottles. Our investment in a water cooler paid for itself in a short time and helps the environment. If you can afford to install a water filtration system, even better!
• If something is in walking distance, walk! It's great for your body, mind, and the environment. Every little bit counts!
• Those reusable bags you bought? Use them. Some stores even offer discounts for using reusable bags. 
• Start growing your own food, even if it's just one tomato plant. You won't regret it.
• Shop local.
• Plant flowers that bees love; they'll love you for it!

Do you have any tips or tricks? Please share them below! :)

Urban Farming Externship - Week 6 (Quail!)

This week's externship work was limited to research, since I had my wisdom teeth removed on Friday. It went better than I expected, but my face is still quite swollen and sore, so no outside work for me. 

I wanted to look into what to do with the space on the side of our house. Originally, we wanted to get chickens, but the Mesa Arizona Chicken Ordinance states that chicken coops must be 75 feet away from another residence, which isn't possible for us. Our next idea was quail! Specifically, the coturnix quail:

Aren't they cute? Since they aren't native to Arizona and aren't as loud and messy as chickens can be, there aren't any strict regulations with keeping them. Here are some quick facts about the coturnix quail:

• First domesticated in Japan in the twelfth century.
• By the early 1900's they were widely raised in Japan for their meat and eggs. (However, we don't eat meat, so we'd be raising them for their eggs only.)
• An adult male weighs just 100-140 grams, while an adult female weighs 120-160 grams - much smaller than a chicken!
• They lay small, speckled eggs that usually weigh about ten grams.
• Hens usually lay about one egg a day. 
• Nutrition:

Hatch or Purchase?

You can raise and hatch your own quail, but this requires more of an investment. To hatch quail eggs you would need an incubator and a special brooder. I think, at least to begin, we'd rather purchase adult quail. I have seen quail for sale for between $3 and $5. 

Getting Started - Checklist

Regardless if you hatch your quail yourself or buy adults, once they are 5-7 weeks old they are ready to go outside. Here's a checklist of what we'd need to adopt adult coturnix quail:

1. Aviary - Your aviary should be fully enclosed and at least 6 feet tall, also, have at least 2 square feet of floor space per bird. 

2. Containers for both feed and water - Consider having more than one container for water, in case one runs out or dries up. 

3. Sand - They like to take sand baths!

4. Feed

5. Supplemental oyster shell to provide calcium. 

6. Wood chips for bedding.

7. Provide hiding and play spaces - wood planks or even cardboard boxes work well for this!

For further reading, there's an excellent article on raising and keeping quail here: http://www.squidoo.com/raise-coturnix-quail-for-eggs-meat-and-profit

Our goal right now is to complete the wicking beds and get some vegetables going. After that, I'll be sure to document us building an aviary and purchasing quail!

Urban Farming Externship - Week 5

This was the week of the gravel. We opted to clear out an unused space on the side of our house and use the gravel there. First, we had to clear the space of the weeds, debris, and random junk. Next, we shoveled the gravel into ten gallon buckets, which we then carried over to a setup I made with a plastic produce tray and a couple of bricks to rinse the gravel of dirt and leaves. Finally, after rinsing, the gravel was ready for the bed. 

By the end of it, I was soaking wet, covered in dirt, and sporting a legitimate farmer's tan! I'll admit, I was actually a little excited about the farmer's tan; it feel's really amazing to finally have a little piece of land that I can work with and connect to, and the silly-looking tan lines are a reminder of what's important to me - a connection with the Earth and learning to live a sustainable life. 

Here's a before-and-after of the space we cleared. I have so many ideas for what I want to do with it! Rows of veggies, quail, chickens, or even a quiet little reading nook! The space probably only gets a couple of hours of afternoon sun, so I'll have to take that into consideration when planning.

Here's a picture of the bed we filled. It still needs a bit more gravel for the overflow to work properly. I did fill it with water, and it seems to be functioning as it should. I'm actually glad I tested it as we added the gravel, because lots of little crickets had set up house in the pipe! 

Next week is the week of my wisdom teeth removal, so I'm not sure what it has in store for me as far as our project goes - but I'll post an update regardless. Blessings! 

Finding a Balance Between Technology, Nature, and Life

Technology is amazing and can benefit your life in multiple ways – I’ll be the first to admit it – but what do you do when you catch yourself obsessing over your phone or laptop? I've recently noticed a series of unhealthy patterns in my behavior that are leading me to make some changes in my life. For example, it’s difficult for me to sit and watch a movie or a television show without picking up my phone. When did I stop being able to enjoy a movie? My first thought when seeing a pretty flower is to take a picture, not enjoy it. Reading sessions are interrupted by phone-checking and walks outside “have” to go hand-in-hand with music or a podcast. I'm not alone. Various articles discussing the subject have popped up all over the internet. Guys, it's time for a change.

Last Sunday Matt and I went to the Riparian Wildlife Preserve in Gilbert. It’s one of my new favorite places to go as it’s completely free and a wonderful spot to bird watch! Normally, I’m identifying and documenting birds or taking pictures of beautiful things I see to share afterwards, but there was one point where I wasn't doing either, and it’s the part of the day I remember with the most clarity and enjoyment. We were sitting on the edge of the lake, and four geese came right up on shore. It was obvious that these geese were used to a human presence. There Matt and I sat and just watched the geese. Granted, I took a few pictures because I couldn't resist, but towards the end, it was simple observation and enjoyment for what was around me. I noticed how the goose’s bill was so strong – he/she was pulling up grass growing out of the water and devouring it. I noticed the orange around his eyes, the webbing on his feet, the way he was enjoying this Sunday as much as I. I noticed that his friend preferred the taste of dried grasses to fresh – and that he was clearly like “What the heck?!” when he realized all his buddies left him to go back in the water before swimming out to rejoin them. We were so still that a rat or rodent of some kind came up pretty close to Matt and just nibbled on something while we sat and watched. Plenty of us have thought "ugh!" at the mention of a rat, but how many of us have actually watched a rat in it's natural habitat, just living life? How many have taken the time to see it for what it is - a life? A life that can feel, walk, distinguish food from the inedible, sense danger and run. A being that can fear, breathe, and enjoy a moment. 

How many of these experiences had I missed in the past due to looking at my phone?

This afternoon, I came home to see that the finches finally found the food we had hidden away for them in a tree by our bedroom window. Yes – I took a picture, but then I sat. I sat and watched them eat, bicker, and play while I sipped my tea. I noticed the scent of the tea; I enjoyed it. I noticed that it was really a family of house finches. I saw the “dad” stand aside and let the young ones eat the feed. I saw another family on Earth, enjoying their day.

This is connecting with nature. This is what my life is about. These are the moments that make it so important that I put down my phone or log off the computer. My Facebook is currently deactivated, and no, it probably won’t stay that way, and I’ll continue to use the apps that make my life easier. I’ll continue to share pictures on Instagram because I do enjoy sharing beautiful things with others, but then I’m going to put down the phone. I’m going to live life through my own eyes – not the screen of my iPhone. I'm going to enjoy the moments in my life that I'm so blessed to have. 

Here are some things I want to do differently – feel free to share if you have any suggestions or tips you’d like to add!

1. Schedule a technology-free day/evening. No phones, no computer – just enjoy the moment.

2. Facebook Detox – It sounds silly, but it’s not! Many people are truly addicted to social media. Schedule a week-long “detox” to give yourself a break; you might be surprised what you realize!

3. Enjoy the world through your own eyes, not a camera lens. This one is going to be the hardest for me. I get really picture happy when I see pretty things! But you know what? I usually end up regretting it afterwards because I feel like I missed out! It’s been proven that our clearest memories are made when we aren't taking pictures!

4. No phones or computers during movies or TV shows. Isn't the enjoyment of one technology enough? Being on my phone at the same time means I’m not enjoying the movie or my phone, which is just wasted time.

5. Meditate. It’s just good for you! It trains your brain to slow down and enjoy the moment, which is what this post is all about!

                                                                                                              

Urban Farming Externship - Week 4

Well, it's week 4 and our project is starting to resemble more than two holes in the ground! We got the PVC watering system put together. It began with a trip to Ace Hardware where we bought the following:

• 25 feet of 4mm Heavy Duty Plastic Sheeting 
• 1 1/2 inch-1 1/2 inch-1/2 inch Tee (2)
• 1 1/2 inch Cap (2)
• 1 1/2 inch Elbow (2)
• 3 1/2 feet of 1 1/2 inch PVC (2)
• 1 1/2 feet of 1 1/2 inch PVC (2)
• 1 foot of 1 1/2 inch PVC (2)
• 1/2 foot of 1/2 inch PVC (2)

First, we lined the holes with the plastic sheeting, which we rolled out and cut into thirds:

Next, we assembled the PVC pieces, cut a small hole in the plastic for the overflow, and put them in. I will note that we ended up trimming each of the 1 foot PVC pieces quite a bit, but I would still recommend buying a foot, as the length will be largely determined by how perfect you dug your hole. After putting in the PVC system, we stapled the plastic sheeting to the wood to somewhat hold it together. It looks messy right now, but I'll trim it up once we put in the gravel. I wanted to leave plenty of slack just in case. 

YAY for wicking beds! 

...and here is the progress so far:

Our plan next week is to get the gravel in. I don't know that it's going to be a one-weekend project. We've had excessive heat warnings this past week and shoveling gravel will be hard work! We're going to start with some round-shaped gravel we have on the side of the house. There's quite a bit in a fairly large area, and I'd like to get it cleaned out anyway because it's the perfect place to grow rows of veggies that don't mind some shade! 

Week 6 may be a bit slow; I'm getting my wisdom teeth out that week and I have no idea how long it will take me to recover. I plan to sip on lots of fruit and veggie packed smoothies and juices to speed up recovery - wish me luck! :)

Lastly, and unrelated to my externship - I was finally able to get my hands dirty. Most of my spring flowers are toast since the heat hit, so I planted some pretty lantana that the bees are sure to love:

We also decided to turn over a corner of our yard to nature. I noticed some "weeds" and native trees pop up there, so we're going to just let them be. Birding is another of my hobbies, and I think they would appreciate some native trees and shrubs in our yard. :) 

Urban Farming Externship - Week 3

Well, my update this week isn't too exciting, but the digging is complete! We now have two nice 4 foot by 4 foot by 1 foot holes dug for our reservoirs. :) Now that the hard part is complete I'll get to have some real fun! (..and you'll get to see pictures that are a bit more interesting!) I did more research today on the specific parts needed for the piping. I attempted to go online and pick out all the parts in advance, but this proved to be an overwhelming task, so I jotted down a sketch of the individual parts to take in the store with me.

My main concern at this point is how we're going to put in the overflow since our reservoir is below ground. I came up with two options:

1. Put in the gravel in higher than ground level, drill a hole in the wood, and insert the overflow pipe there. This method would require the beds to be raised a bit more, perhaps another 3 inches or so. 

2. Put in the gravel only to ground level and dig out a little inlet (or outlet?) on the outside of the bed. We could insert an overflow pipe here, then stop watering once the water begins to drain out.

Here are my goals for next week:

• Purchase liner and all piping parts for the reservoir and assemble them.
• Find a free load of gravel for pick-up and bring it to our house. Most free loads that I see require you to bring a shovel and collect it yourself, so the shoveling may not be over just yet!

Here's a picture of the progress so far:

A Lesson in Gratitude

Despite being known for their inaccuracy, I check the weather reports daily. Living in Arizona, I get excited at the slightest chance of rain. I love rain, storms, and the pretty sunsets made after a cloudy day. The past couple of weeks have been a rarity by Arizona standards; we’ve had a chance of rain and clouds nearly every day for over a week. After doing my obligatory weather check yesterday evening, I found myself disappointed. It looked like the cloudy days were gone, only to be replaced by the typical hot summer days without a cloud in the sky.

About two weeks ago, I began bird watching. Like most of my hobbies, I jumped in head first. Unlike most of my hobbies, I fell head over heels in love, enough to wake up earlier in the mornings just so I could grab my notebook, bird book, and binoculars to catch a glimpse of who was visiting that day.

This morning, I wasn’t too excited. I woke up, looked out my window, and saw nothing but blue, endless sky. “Ugh. The Arizona summer is back.” I thought. Still, I got up, got ready, and went outside. It wasn’t long before I heard the pleasant chatter of a nearby hummingbird. I quickly grabbed my binoculars to get a closer look. Wow! There he was, sitting up on a wire. The first thing I saw was a bright flash of magenta in the sunlight. He seemed to know I was looking as he jumped from wire to wire, colors dancing and glinting in the bright morning sun. I had no idea that something so dazzling and beautiful could be found in my desert backyard. In that moment, I didn’t miss the clouds or the rain. I was filled with gratitude and joy for the bright sunlight that allowed me, for the first time, to see the beautiful colors of an Anna’s Hummingbird.

It was a beautiful reminder from Mother Nature. Be grateful. Find the good in every day. There’s always something to be thankful for.