Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Fascinating Quote
"If you consciously hold within yourself three quarters of your power and use only one quarter to respond to any communication coming from others, you can stop the automatic, immediate and thoughtless movement outwards, which leaves you with a feeling of emptiness, of having been consumed by life. This stopping of the movement outwards is not self defense, but rather an effort to have the response come from within, from the deepest part of one's being."
-Samkhya
First seen on the deep middle: A great blog!
http://deepmiddle.blogspot.com/
-Samkhya
First seen on the deep middle: A great blog!
http://deepmiddle.blogspot.com/
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/
A great article on an artisan home builder who uses stones and straw!
A great article on an artisan home builder who uses stones and straw!
Let's help out bats!
Buy your own bat box to attach to your house.
One source of bat boxes that has been approved by bat conservationists is:
http://www.featherednestsite.
A source of water is also important for these tiny flying mammals
- You can take an active role in our conservation efforts by contacting local range and wildlife managers, as well as landowners with horses or other livestock. Explain the need for all water troughs to have wildlife escape structuresand for minimizing obstructions to the water’s surface. The following summary of conservation actions will help ensure that bats and other wildlife have safe and accessible access to live-giving water:
- Water troughs must have properly designed and placed escape structures and obstructions to the water’s surface should be minimized where possible.
- The larger or longer the water development, the better it is for bats. Where possible, try to provide at least eight feet of unobstructed water surface.
- Maintain consistent water availability and full water levels in troughs, ponds, etc., especially during the late spring through mid-summer bat maternity season and in times of drought.
From Water for Wildlife:
Monday, July 18, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
iced tea fresh
MAKES 1 QUART
- 2 tea bags, or the equivalent in loose tea (I used English Breakfast, but you can really use any tea you like)
- 1 cup packed fresh mint leaves
- 3 to 4 tablespoons sugar (turbinado is good here, but you could also use honey, maple syrup or agave)
- Lemon slices for serving
- Boil a kettle of water, and put the tea and the mint into a large, heatproof pot or pitcher. Pour a quart of boiling water into the pot, add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Carefully taste a little and add more sugar if you like. Set the tea aside to cool to room temperature and then refrigerate until cold.
- Strain and serve over plenty of ice with lemon wedges
soft colors
Via Alexandra Angle
Also: An online source for your all your patio citrus needs:
http://rgvnursery.com
Friday, July 15, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
community projects
Start Your Own
(reprinted from the Sunday Soup Network website)
The Soup program fund creative projects through community meals. We encourage others to organize their own alternative funding program. If you are interested in running a program like Sunday Soup, the following suggestions may be helpful. Soup is not an essential element, it is just a cheap and easy way to get started. We see this project as adaptable and user-friendly to all sorts of different contexts. Any of the elements may be modified to fit your particular situation.
How to Organize a Sunday Soup Granting Program
* Find a space for people to cook and eat soup. This could be someone’s apartment, a public building or a city park.
* Schedule guest cooks, purchase supplies and promote the event.
* Put out a call for proposals for your soup grant.
* Send proposal descriptions to each month’s soup customers and ask that they vote for one project.
* Establishing a consistent time and place makes it easier to build an engaged and committed community.
* Sell the soup for a modest profit.
* Gather contact information for each customer.
* Distribute the grant according to the vote.
* Document your activities and share your experiences with others.
* Think about other ways you can collectively fundraise.
Organize a bake sale, a darts tournament, a chili cook-off, or a team trivia night. There are lots of models out there to raise small amounts of money that can augment Sunday Soup. Think about fundraising activities that are fun, low stress, and affordable for your target audience. Be clear about where the money will go and provide ways for your community to get involved in planning events and make them as participatory as possible.
Detailed Explanation
Find a space for people to gather. When cooking soup it is ideal to have a kitchen space, but it is possible to rough it outdoors. This will require camping style equipment, or access to electricity for a hot plate. If someone is giving a presentation you may need to obtain a television, stereo, computer or projector. Once a regular schedule is established, hosting duties can be shared (so that one person’s hospitality is not exhausted).
The exciting part about being an organizer of a Sunday Soup Granting Program is the opportunity it provides for meeting new people. Attend some art events, attend a lecture at a local university, and seek out cultural producers in your neighborhood. Tell them about the Soup Granting Program and invite them to participate. Point people to the Sunday Soup website for reference to the project to help illustrate your intentions. Obtain contact information for interested people. Start networking!
Once you have secured a space, supplies and confirmed a guest cook, you will need to promote the event. This could be as simple as calling or emailing some friends or using social networking sites. If your venue has capacity, invite the general public by putting flyers in your neighborhood or at work.
The Soup Granting Program benefits from repetition. As with a book club or reading group, regular meetings can establish a dedicated community and provide an opportunity for conversations and relationships to develop over time. Depending on the group’s level of interest or availability, you may wish to meet once a week or once a month. Create a schedule. Use online calendar systems or pick a time and place that is consistent so that it can become part of everyone’s routine.
Document your Soup Granting Program meetings through video, photographs or any other means. Share your experiences with others through a group web log or newsletter. Use your email list to reach a large group quickly and efficiently.
Add your project to the Sunday Soup network!
Also see phillystake.org
(reprinted from the Sunday Soup Network website)
The Soup program fund creative projects through community meals. We encourage others to organize their own alternative funding program. If you are interested in running a program like Sunday Soup, the following suggestions may be helpful. Soup is not an essential element, it is just a cheap and easy way to get started. We see this project as adaptable and user-friendly to all sorts of different contexts. Any of the elements may be modified to fit your particular situation.
How to Organize a Sunday Soup Granting Program
* Find a space for people to cook and eat soup. This could be someone’s apartment, a public building or a city park.
* Schedule guest cooks, purchase supplies and promote the event.
* Put out a call for proposals for your soup grant.
* Send proposal descriptions to each month’s soup customers and ask that they vote for one project.
* Establishing a consistent time and place makes it easier to build an engaged and committed community.
* Sell the soup for a modest profit.
* Gather contact information for each customer.
* Distribute the grant according to the vote.
* Document your activities and share your experiences with others.
* Think about other ways you can collectively fundraise.
Organize a bake sale, a darts tournament, a chili cook-off, or a team trivia night. There are lots of models out there to raise small amounts of money that can augment Sunday Soup. Think about fundraising activities that are fun, low stress, and affordable for your target audience. Be clear about where the money will go and provide ways for your community to get involved in planning events and make them as participatory as possible.
Detailed Explanation
Find a space for people to gather. When cooking soup it is ideal to have a kitchen space, but it is possible to rough it outdoors. This will require camping style equipment, or access to electricity for a hot plate. If someone is giving a presentation you may need to obtain a television, stereo, computer or projector. Once a regular schedule is established, hosting duties can be shared (so that one person’s hospitality is not exhausted).
The exciting part about being an organizer of a Sunday Soup Granting Program is the opportunity it provides for meeting new people. Attend some art events, attend a lecture at a local university, and seek out cultural producers in your neighborhood. Tell them about the Soup Granting Program and invite them to participate. Point people to the Sunday Soup website for reference to the project to help illustrate your intentions. Obtain contact information for interested people. Start networking!
Once you have secured a space, supplies and confirmed a guest cook, you will need to promote the event. This could be as simple as calling or emailing some friends or using social networking sites. If your venue has capacity, invite the general public by putting flyers in your neighborhood or at work.
The Soup Granting Program benefits from repetition. As with a book club or reading group, regular meetings can establish a dedicated community and provide an opportunity for conversations and relationships to develop over time. Depending on the group’s level of interest or availability, you may wish to meet once a week or once a month. Create a schedule. Use online calendar systems or pick a time and place that is consistent so that it can become part of everyone’s routine.
Document your Soup Granting Program meetings through video, photographs or any other means. Share your experiences with others through a group web log or newsletter. Use your email list to reach a large group quickly and efficiently.
Add your project to the Sunday Soup network!
Also see phillystake.org
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
My favorite bath oil combination
I use an oil in the shower before I get out to maximize moisturization. The following recipe is my current favorite:
2/3 olive oil
1/3 coconut oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil
5 drops nutmeg essential oil
shake and apply while wet, rinse off so you don't get grease on your clothes
2/3 olive oil
1/3 coconut oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil
5 drops nutmeg essential oil
shake and apply while wet, rinse off so you don't get grease on your clothes
Thursday, July 7, 2011
A nice video from the 80's on gardening with a calm Canadian.
http://www.nfb.ca/film/my_urban_garden
Monday, July 4, 2011
phenology: planting when you see other stuff growing
-Plant peppers, melon, and eggplant outside when bearded iris is in bloom.
-Plant corn when oak leaves are the size of a squirrels' ear.
-When lilac has leafed out plant lettuce, peas, beets, carrots, lettuces and other cool weather varieties.
-When lilac flowers are in full bloom plant beans,cucumbers and squash.
-Direct seed your morning glories when maple trees have full size leaves.
-When you see new growth on green ash, grapes and bur oaks it is safe to plant tender vines, annuals and perennials.
-Plant peas when you hear the first spring peeper.
-Plant tomatoes when lily-of-the-valley are in full bloom.
-Plant corn when oak leaves are the size of a squirrels' ear.
-When lilac has leafed out plant lettuce, peas, beets, carrots, lettuces and other cool weather varieties.
-When lilac flowers are in full bloom plant beans,cucumbers and squash.
-Direct seed your morning glories when maple trees have full size leaves.
-When you see new growth on green ash, grapes and bur oaks it is safe to plant tender vines, annuals and perennials.
-Plant peas when you hear the first spring peeper.
-Plant tomatoes when lily-of-the-valley are in full bloom.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
RAW ZUCCHINI CRUDO Inspired by Tyler Florence
Use your choice of cheese and herbs.
1 medium farm stand zucchini
1-2 tsp good extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 small lemon, juiced
freshly ground black pepper
kosher salt
1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
fresh feta cheese, crumbled
handful of fresh mint, parsley and chives, finely minced
Method
Slice zucchini into rounds as thin as you can get them with a mandolin, or slowly and carefully with a sharp knife. Arrange on a large plate in shingle formation, overlapping zucchini rounds in one layer. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Drizzle with good olive oil and lemon juice. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
A few minutes before removing zucchini crudo from refrigerator, soak red onion slices in remaining lemon juice. Remove chilled zucchini crudo and top with red onions, crumbled feta and herbs. Lightly drizzle with olive oil and serve immediately.
via http://kissmyspatula.com/2010/08/09/zucchini-crudo/
1 medium farm stand zucchini
1-2 tsp good extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 small lemon, juiced
freshly ground black pepper
kosher salt
1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
fresh feta cheese, crumbled
handful of fresh mint, parsley and chives, finely minced
Method
Slice zucchini into rounds as thin as you can get them with a mandolin, or slowly and carefully with a sharp knife. Arrange on a large plate in shingle formation, overlapping zucchini rounds in one layer. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Drizzle with good olive oil and lemon juice. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
A few minutes before removing zucchini crudo from refrigerator, soak red onion slices in remaining lemon juice. Remove chilled zucchini crudo and top with red onions, crumbled feta and herbs. Lightly drizzle with olive oil and serve immediately.
via http://kissmyspatula.com/2010/08/09/zucchini-crudo/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)