tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60080509570567445992011-11-27T17:02:46.441-07:00The journey of going green through experiments with organic foods, green babies, smaller carbon footprints, growing organic foods and composting.OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.comBlogger281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-18628816383312637312010-01-05T19:06:00.000-07:002010-01-05T19:06:26.068-07:00

So, since I've been away for 8 weeks now, your compost should be nearly ready!  Let's talk about acceptance.  You can accept your situation, accept yourself, accept others or accept your ability to compost.  Maybe you're great at it and already rolling around in it.  Maybe you're not good at it.  Most therapists would tell you to try, try again.  Don't.  Especially if you haven't been enjoying

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-89434900010664212732010-01-05T18:57:00.002-07:002010-01-05T18:58:21.206-07:00

To my two most loyal fans.  I apologize for the long absence......

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-74137794842466591002009-11-30T14:16:00.000-07:002009-11-30T14:16:17.686-07:00

"There are five stages to grief, which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. And right now, out there, they're all denying the fact that they're sad. And that's hard, and it's making them all angry. And it is my job to get them all the way through to acceptance. And if not acceptance, then just depression. If I can get them depressed, then I'll have done my job."- Michael

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-42473740830101981152009-11-18T10:48:00.003-07:002009-11-18T10:54:37.399-07:00

By now I'm hoping that you have sited and built your first compost bin!  If not, I'll be patient.  Speaking of patience, you'll need some of this while you start trying to fill your bin with goodies.  You might be having small bursts of desperation as you try to fill your new bin (especially if you have already raked and disposed of your leaves).  This is okay, you'll be fine.  Some typical

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-87971256131814394072009-11-17T12:21:00.000-07:002009-11-17T12:21:00.254-07:00

You might have been brainwashed by commercials as a child to believe that your mother only loved you if she bought you Jif...or Skippy if she could sneak it in a sandwich without your knowing.  I was raised on Jif and I still think it's delicious.  I read the label once and switched to Jif 50%.  Even though it had less fat it was still chalk full of sugar and fat.  We got hooked on natural

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-21060820777346438002009-11-08T22:30:00.004-07:002009-11-08T22:35:02.786-07:00

Welcome back to the composting series!  This week we'll be working through the Anger phase.  Anger during these early stages of composting can crop up in a variety of different ways.  I'll share my points of angst and you can feel free to comment below on your particular points of pain. If you're following along, you should have surveyed your land and chosen your ideal place for your compost

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-78869876514268298692009-11-08T22:00:00.001-07:002009-11-08T22:02:48.855-07:00

I've been against animal testing ever since 6th grade when the horrifying stories of rubbing mascara into bunnies' eyes came out.  Regardless, I used my dog today to test a natural beauty product!  What is wrong with me!?  I didn't even give it a second thought.  Before you report me to PITA or similar, my friend and I have been talking about experimenting with various natural beauty techniques.

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-33643106507577579842009-11-07T13:52:00.001-07:002009-11-07T19:41:14.918-07:00

I'm stingy.  About as stingy as they come.  When our weekly trash service company began increasing my rate by $10 a month for 4 consecutive months, I got fed up.   I called around and was thrilled to discover that another company (Waste Management) was nearly 1/2 the cost and provided WAY better service.  This event was coupled with an ordinance in my town called "pay per trash" or something

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-49645295756405219962009-11-05T08:48:00.001-07:002009-11-07T19:41:39.608-07:00

I decided that I wanted to start composting in our backyard last May.  I researched different containers: ready made vs. build your own, I tried to learn what you could compost and what you couldn't: I refuse to compost nail and hair clippings. I stressed out over how big, how moist and how smelly my pile might be and stayed up night worrying that I wouldn't do it right and would be saddled with

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-84729249930600902852009-11-03T10:55:00.003-07:002009-11-07T19:47:13.924-07:00

3B Bags sent me some samples!  3B is offering a free shipping deal through Dec. 5th. Their reusable produce bags would make great stocking stuffers not to mention a nice, gentle nudge in a green direction! 3B Bags Website ..........................................................................

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-52093605964012043522009-11-03T08:48:00.001-07:002009-11-07T19:47:40.383-07:00

I saw a pbs special on tulips and flower trading in Holland recently.  It was fascinating and the flowers and gardens were a sight to behold.  Nevertheless, since embarking my green journey, I've started seeing things through green tinted glasses.  The first thing that tweeked the newly formed green section of my brain is that the world's largest flower auction, Aalsmeer Flower Auction, is

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-57809740984306913122009-10-30T21:52:00.005-06:002009-11-13T17:56:26.941-07:00

I am pleased to have Laurie Boucke as a guest blogger today!  Laurie has a wealth of experience in natural potty training.  Enjoy! ............................................................................ Infant potty training is a gentle and ancient means of toilet learning. It has several names because several of us mothers “discovered” it on our own and have written about it for different

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-60696446338858863662009-10-30T09:32:00.002-06:002009-11-07T19:48:52.381-07:00

White flour as we know it today is a product of the industrial revolution. Freshly ground whole grain flour goes rancid quickly because of the oil in the germ of the grain, which is, coincidentally, where nearly all of the nutrients are found. When food started becoming mass produced and shipped, flour needed to become shelf stable, so the bran and germ were removed and the remnant (called the

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-64435316898277267552009-10-29T13:53:00.001-06:002009-11-07T19:49:18.688-07:00

Every Sunday night or Monday morning I select which recipes I want to make for dinner that week. Lucky for me, I only cook 3 times/week and we eat leftovers. I prefer to go to the grocery store in the morning, which is ideal and low stress. No more weekend shopping and fighting the crowds! When selecting recipes try to: Make your meat dishes early in the week and transition to vegetarian or

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-24138714734348842552009-10-27T15:51:00.003-06:002009-11-07T19:49:53.647-07:00

ZeroHero Events is a business that creates sustainable events through zero waste, renewable energy and education.  I stumbled across their carbon calculators while perusing their site.  Carbon Calculators Use the "yearly admissions" calculator to figure your annual carbon footprint -yikes for me! Use the travel calculators to weigh your options for car vs air travel and then buy carbon

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-469449677410916372009-10-23T18:07:00.001-06:002009-11-13T17:55:57.564-07:00

A comment to the green diaper post prompted me to check out diaperless babies.  What could be more green than not using diapers at all?  Check out this website.  There's a whole non-profit associated with how to not diaper your baby.  http://diaperfreebaby.org/index.php?module=article&view=8&page_num=1 As I read through the site, I was SHOCKED at how similar the technique is to potty training

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-14270392344639108442009-10-23T09:57:00.003-06:002009-11-07T19:50:40.828-07:00

If you are aiming to be green, using cloth diapers instead of disposables may seem like a no brainer. I don't believe, however, that the choice is that black and white. With disposables, you have to consider land fill waste, and chemical/gas use in manufacturing, shipping, and the associated packaging. With cloth diapers the main consideration is water use for washing, and some possible chemical

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-35486643405000616072009-10-23T09:34:00.002-06:002009-11-07T19:51:11.403-07:00

Everytime I feature a product, I send the company an email letting them know that I have done it.  I provide the link to the blog.  So far, every company except the farm has personally replied to my email which feels very cool.  Maybe it's a Colorado company thing.  Yesterday, I sent 3B Bags the email and within 24 hours, Staci wrote me back and asked for my address so she could sent me more bags

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-15943420759279887422009-10-22T15:45:00.003-06:002009-11-07T19:51:26.364-07:00

It's been bugging me for some time that grocery stores still offer millions of plastic bags in the produce section.  What ever happened to living in the land of innovation?  We're smart people, we should have figured this out years ago! I happened across some reusable produce bags recently, and I wanted to share in case you've been feeling guilty about using those plastic bags OR if you were

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-4736609917744544802009-10-17T22:47:00.002-06:002009-11-07T19:51:53.184-07:00

Would going black be the opposite of going green?  Let's say it is and let's say that I totally blew it this weekend.  I'm going to list all of the things I did today that were in direct violation of a greener lifestyle.  What's worse, is that I was/am fully aware that I was engaging in counterproductive "black" behaviors.  Call me addicted to my lifestyle...I'm coming clean here. Saturday

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-83411602520399830232009-10-16T09:31:00.003-06:002009-11-07T19:52:30.945-07:00

It is very easy to make your own baby food and only a little more time consuming, and doesn't really require any special equipment. You basically just steam or boil fruits and veggies for babies and then blend them with a little water to a smooth consistency. Preparing fresh fruits and veggies preserves many of the vitamins and antioxidants that are lost in the processing of jarred food. As they

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-55560822076755640162009-10-14T09:23:00.001-06:002009-10-14T09:25:04.248-06:00

Part of the going green process seems to be that I need to learn to get comfortable experimenting with new foods and especially with new brands.  I was raised on Jif peanut butter, Pop Tarts, Tide, Bounce, Comet, 409, Pam, Hidden Valley and other mainstream national brands.  I saw a study once that looked at college students' buying habits.  They found that about 87% of college students will buy

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-41054641139197976532009-10-12T10:24:00.001-06:002009-11-07T19:53:08.118-07:00

Whole Foods is a chain grocery store that focuses on providing the least processed, most flavorful foods without preservatives or artificialness.  We have a Whole Foods in my town and most of my friends say, "I love, love, love Whole Foods but it costs SO much, I just can't shop there for everything."  I decided to do a quick comparative study based on my weekly shopping list.  My shopping list

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-28770034331223697142009-10-11T11:34:00.004-06:002009-11-07T19:53:53.245-07:00

Today I "put up" my supply of organic apples.  If you know what "put up" means: you win!  This is an old school term that means to make a lot of one thing at a time and then can or freeze it to eat later.  I started with my apple peeler/corer/slicer from Pampered Chef or my "apple lathe" as my husband calls it.  You can peel/core and slice a dozen apples in about 10 minutes or less.  I like to do

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-36676305105601094112009-10-09T11:27:00.000-06:002009-10-09T11:27:37.029-06:00

Welcome to my Green Baby Series!  In an attempt to hit more facets of life, I have asked my long time friend, and college roommate, Laura, to provide content for the series.  She'll help us learn about greener baby foods/processes, cloth diapers and more!  This series will occur once a week for 5 weeks. **************************************************************************** Making your own

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-52210319915420661742009-10-08T09:17:00.001-06:002009-10-08T09:19:00.540-06:00

Yesterday's afternoon snack was an apple from the farmer's market and a little packet of honey peanut butter.  I was explaining about how awesome this new peanut butter is to my co-worker when I realized that I was eating both an organic apple AND organic peanut butter!  A small, even if accidental, victory to log in my quest for a more organic life.  A plug for the peanut butter:  Justin's at

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-51685584942631388142009-10-07T09:17:00.000-06:002009-10-07T09:17:12.030-06:00

Take note: this WILL happen to you.  It is not a matter of IF you will feel compelled to buy a natural looking cauliflower, but WHEN.  If you're like me, you've probably never seen a cauliflower in it's natural state.  I'm only familiar buying one at the supermarket all white and perfect looking and sometimes wrapped in plastic!  Did you know that a bonafied cauliflower is covered up by alien

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050957056744599.post-15952833332902588812009-10-06T19:54:00.000-06:002009-10-06T19:54:12.933-06:00

Am I really doing this?  This seems like a terrible way to start winter!  I can't even use up the modest amount of organic vegetables that we impulse purchased last Saturday at a farmer's market we weren't supposed to be at!  I'm pretty sure that they only allowed us IN TO the farmer's market b/c we looked like newbies.  We didn't even bring our own shopping bags with us and both felt terrible as

OrganicAngel?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02271304746187142129noreply@blogger.com0