swimming
it may be pure coincidence that i'm a pisces and i love swimming, but yesterday i went swimming at the trent pool for the first time, and with my flippers and goggles, i could've swum forever. if i have an untimely death, look for my reincarnation as an otter. or a salsa dress.
chia seeds
it turns out these guys are good for more than terra cotta pets!
chia seeds are not only a nutritional powerhouse (why does flax get the fatty acid rep when chia seeds knock them out of the park on omega 3s and hemp is higher in the 6s?), but it has the awesome quality of creating a tapioca-like consistency when soaked in fluid.
my newest favorite raw delight is soaking chia seeds overnight for pudding in the morning! you can use any non-dairy milk (i didn't have any so i just whipped up some banana and oats with water), and extras like dates, raisins, coconut...
Hooray! :)
transition towns
i didn't even know it, but apparently Peterborough is Canada's first transition town. i chatted up a guy at wednesday's documentary night and, uh, i want to clone myself so i can spend an obscene amount of time volunteering with the transition group. really, really great stuff. a couple days later i picked up a copy of the free "Greenzine" magazine, which is printed by Transition Town Peterborough. man oh MAN it's chock full of people i want to cram into my pockets, and loads of events i must attend in november. highlights include:
Medicinal Herbs (using local flora)
E-Bikes: How to make them your main form of transportation (... a workshop on electrifying your bike? !!)
Sustainable Building Practices (in addition to building a house, i can use this for my new swift towers)
Handcraft Your Own Hair and Skin Products (hopefully i'll learn new tricks!)
i love peterborough more and more with each passing day. there seems to be no shortage of phenomenal organizations (is it weird that there are so many it kindof stresses me out?), stellar live music, tons of art and dance opportunities, and a community full of sweeties. i wish i didn't have to sleep!
UPDATES:
* the retreat was outstanding. we stayed on kushog lake in a couple cabins reminiscent of maine, and i cooked all our vegan meals to rave reviews. not only did no one miss their meat and dairy, i was peppered with questions and asked to send a follow-up email to all with recipes and links to more information. i also got to go swimming (briefly) under a billion stars and i fit in a long lakeside run in the woods. ahh.
oh and i brought "catch phrase", and it was such a raging, hilarious success (which will come as no surprise to some of you) that we played for 3 hours. we only stopped because someone needed a pit break in the wee hours of the morning and we discovered our exhaustion. that game is powerful.
...and i think i have yet to play it competitively. :)
*my DIY workshops are a hit! i've already gotten loads of positive feedback. if you want to see project pictures you can visit our facebook group: OPIRG's Rubbish to Relish DIY Workshops
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Helen Caldicott
this wednesday i'm heading over to see helen caldicott speak. she was named one of the most influencial women of the 21st century, and is one of world's leading voices against nuclear energy. she's also co-founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility, and she hosts a radio program called "If You Love This Planet". check her out: http://www.helencaldicott.com/about.htm
no poo
sometime last year i heard about "no poo", which is a cute/crude term for going without shampoo and conditioner. i browsed a website or two, and learned that people were spouting about the fact that you can use baking soda and apple cider vinegar in place of shampoo and conditioner, resulting in locks as nice and healthy as one has ever seen. well, being a dutiful environmentalist and an economical human being, i gave it a try. i rubbed baking soda into my scalp, and then doused my head with vinegar. my hair was left with a rather sticky residue, but it did the trick- as long as i was planning on braiding my hair. and wearing a hat. so i went back to shampoo and conditioner, trying everything to avoid plastic (bars, bulk shampoo and conditioner, making my own, etc). a couple weeks ago i ran out of the shampoo i'd made, and not having the time to make more (or being very impressed with the recipe i'd used), i decided to look up no poo again. in doing so, i realized what was apparently a rather large faux pas. the baking soda is supposed to be dissolved in water (~1T to 1c) and poured over the head and scalp, followed by rubbing/agitation similar to shampooing and a good rinse. then the apple cider vinegar is supposed to be diluted (again, ~1T to 1c) and poured over your hair, also followed by rinsing. that made an incredibly large difference. also, this time i was more patient. it takes a week or two for your head to adjust its pH and oil secretions. once it balances out, your head and hair take care of themselves and can go longer periods of time without washing. in the long run it saves you money, requires no plastic, saves both you and the environment from exposure to unneccessary chemicals, and happens to be incredibly easy. i know you're all probably skeptical, but my hair is lovely and soft and shiny and clean. i also only wash it once or twice a week. and yes, it looks delightful the whole time.
board retreat
i won't be posting next week, because i'm shooting off on a retreat to the wilderness with my OPIRG tribe. for some reason i thought i'd volunteer to help organize all the food, even though it was going to be vegan anyway. "helping" quickly turned into planning the menu, buying and transporting all the food, and being responsible for delegating duties related to cooking and such. it's a good thing i have an absolute surplus of time...
between the good company, planned events, canoeing, swimming (it may be mid-Oct but i'm going swimming- and i've convinced at least one other guy to go with me), the great food, and the fact that it's all paid for, it should be a marvelous time.
is that a book you're holding, or a super sweet clutch?
my brain-baby workshops are taking off- there's a lot of hype about the kickoff next week. a few of us got together to make examples of next friday's projects, which will focus on things to make out of unwanted books (journals, photo albums, photo frames, and clutches). the projects turned out better than i expected. i only have a pic of the clutch i made, although i wish i could show you how well everything turned out. i was so impressed with us.
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this wednesday i'm heading over to see helen caldicott speak. she was named one of the most influencial women of the 21st century, and is one of world's leading voices against nuclear energy. she's also co-founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility, and she hosts a radio program called "If You Love This Planet". check her out: http://www.helencaldicott.com/about.htm
no poo
sometime last year i heard about "no poo", which is a cute/crude term for going without shampoo and conditioner. i browsed a website or two, and learned that people were spouting about the fact that you can use baking soda and apple cider vinegar in place of shampoo and conditioner, resulting in locks as nice and healthy as one has ever seen. well, being a dutiful environmentalist and an economical human being, i gave it a try. i rubbed baking soda into my scalp, and then doused my head with vinegar. my hair was left with a rather sticky residue, but it did the trick- as long as i was planning on braiding my hair. and wearing a hat. so i went back to shampoo and conditioner, trying everything to avoid plastic (bars, bulk shampoo and conditioner, making my own, etc). a couple weeks ago i ran out of the shampoo i'd made, and not having the time to make more (or being very impressed with the recipe i'd used), i decided to look up no poo again. in doing so, i realized what was apparently a rather large faux pas. the baking soda is supposed to be dissolved in water (~1T to 1c) and poured over the head and scalp, followed by rubbing/agitation similar to shampooing and a good rinse. then the apple cider vinegar is supposed to be diluted (again, ~1T to 1c) and poured over your hair, also followed by rinsing. that made an incredibly large difference. also, this time i was more patient. it takes a week or two for your head to adjust its pH and oil secretions. once it balances out, your head and hair take care of themselves and can go longer periods of time without washing. in the long run it saves you money, requires no plastic, saves both you and the environment from exposure to unneccessary chemicals, and happens to be incredibly easy. i know you're all probably skeptical, but my hair is lovely and soft and shiny and clean. i also only wash it once or twice a week. and yes, it looks delightful the whole time.
board retreat
i won't be posting next week, because i'm shooting off on a retreat to the wilderness with my OPIRG tribe. for some reason i thought i'd volunteer to help organize all the food, even though it was going to be vegan anyway. "helping" quickly turned into planning the menu, buying and transporting all the food, and being responsible for delegating duties related to cooking and such. it's a good thing i have an absolute surplus of time...
between the good company, planned events, canoeing, swimming (it may be mid-Oct but i'm going swimming- and i've convinced at least one other guy to go with me), the great food, and the fact that it's all paid for, it should be a marvelous time.
is that a book you're holding, or a super sweet clutch?
my brain-baby workshops are taking off- there's a lot of hype about the kickoff next week. a few of us got together to make examples of next friday's projects, which will focus on things to make out of unwanted books (journals, photo albums, photo frames, and clutches). the projects turned out better than i expected. i only have a pic of the clutch i made, although i wish i could show you how well everything turned out. i was so impressed with us.
here's the clutch (do you know what a clutch is? i didn't, although now i'll have to try to find a reason to use one...), which i made out of a tom swift book entitled "Tom Swift and His Atomic Earth Blaster". it's hilarious. and Awesome. you can't tell from these photos, but i found some gold sparkle fingernail polish and painted the atomic earth blast featured on the cover. also, the fabric i used along the sides and on the inside of the bind is a very atomic stretchy silver.
this quote
from the http://www.justfortheloveofit.org/ website, which expresses a viewpoint i've long held:
"One of the critical reasons that we have so many major issues in the world today - such as climate change, sweatshops, wars over oil reserves, factory farms, polluted oceans and rivers - is because we never have to see the direct repercussions that our purchases have on the people, environment and animals they affect. The degrees of separation between the consumer and the consumed have increased so much that it now, conveniently, means that people are completely unaware of the levels of destruction and suffering involved in the making of the 'stuff' they purchase. We have no longer any idea how much embodied energy has gone into the things we consume. The main reason we have no appreciation for this energy is because we are so disconnected from what we buy."
in this crowded world, many people feel they have no power to make a social or environmental impact. what they don't realize is that there's power in every single purchase made. any time money changes hands, it goes to a person, a corporation, an organization, an ethical or unethical approach to people and or the planet.
who or what do your purchases support?
enough of the heavy stuff, how about this guy? :)
hah! it's a newly banded 7 day old ovenbird.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
organizations
enough of you have asked me for a rundown of my "free-time" activities that i'll make a little review list of my regular loves:
OPIRG (ontario public interest research group): this is the super environmental and social justice org with whom i've spent copious hours volunteering since feb. we host a seemingly endless number of events throughout the year that cover a broad range of topics. a couple of constants are the free market and the food cupboard, and free wed night popcorn & documentaries. right now i'm doing a lot of work on my Do It Yourself pet project, which has received overwhelming support and will start on Oct 16th. i'm also regularly designing/writing/posting publicity, running movie nights, painting things, calling people, or monitoring events on a regular basis.
it's a phenomenal group.
Seeds for Justice: a working group through the Kawartha World Issues Center (KWIC), i've just started collaborating with them. they focus on educating and empowering youth on environmental and social justice issues, usually through art and workshops. i'm brainstorming on a political theatre project involving paper mache masks, along the vein of Bread and Puppet theatre.
Latin & Swing Dance: this website is on its way to being updated. i dance with this group mon & wed, and usually at least one other day of the week. i'll be dancing in an united way fundraiser competition later this month and i'll also be starting rehearsal this afternoon for an early november cabaret performance. and they just asked me to join their committee, so i went to my first meeting last night.
Scottish Country Dance (yes, i get to dance with those kilted studs every week): my beloved scottish country dance group, which occupies my tues evenings. they also host monthly social dances.
Food Not Bombs: this group cooks FREE vegan meals from food donated by local farmers. on mon nights i walk less than 1 block from my house and divulge in a feast (we're talking over a dozen dishes). people are also encouraged to bring take-home containers and fill them to overflowing. it's just too bad so many plates and plasticware get thrown out... oh wait, that's right- they provide plates and silverware, so there's no waste! volunteers cook all the food and wash all the dishes.
they also frequently provide free vegan food for OPIRG events.
i <3 peterborough.
i obviously recommed tracking down and getting involved in community groups. and if you can't find the group you want, you could follow julia's beacon and just start one (big shout out to inspirational julia who got a whole newspaper feature this week on her flourishing vegan group -in ireland, where they're still burning garbage in their fireplaces-!).
lost and found
i wrote this letter to the school newspaper and they printed it. the great thing is that i totally found it! now i just need to find the girl...
you know, the world doesn't have to be a mean, angry place.
enough of you have asked me for a rundown of my "free-time" activities that i'll make a little review list of my regular loves:
OPIRG (ontario public interest research group): this is the super environmental and social justice org with whom i've spent copious hours volunteering since feb. we host a seemingly endless number of events throughout the year that cover a broad range of topics. a couple of constants are the free market and the food cupboard, and free wed night popcorn & documentaries. right now i'm doing a lot of work on my Do It Yourself pet project, which has received overwhelming support and will start on Oct 16th. i'm also regularly designing/writing/posting publicity, running movie nights, painting things, calling people, or monitoring events on a regular basis.
it's a phenomenal group.
Seeds for Justice: a working group through the Kawartha World Issues Center (KWIC), i've just started collaborating with them. they focus on educating and empowering youth on environmental and social justice issues, usually through art and workshops. i'm brainstorming on a political theatre project involving paper mache masks, along the vein of Bread and Puppet theatre.
Latin & Swing Dance: this website is on its way to being updated. i dance with this group mon & wed, and usually at least one other day of the week. i'll be dancing in an united way fundraiser competition later this month and i'll also be starting rehearsal this afternoon for an early november cabaret performance. and they just asked me to join their committee, so i went to my first meeting last night.
Scottish Country Dance (yes, i get to dance with those kilted studs every week): my beloved scottish country dance group, which occupies my tues evenings. they also host monthly social dances.
Food Not Bombs: this group cooks FREE vegan meals from food donated by local farmers. on mon nights i walk less than 1 block from my house and divulge in a feast (we're talking over a dozen dishes). people are also encouraged to bring take-home containers and fill them to overflowing. it's just too bad so many plates and plasticware get thrown out... oh wait, that's right- they provide plates and silverware, so there's no waste! volunteers cook all the food and wash all the dishes.
they also frequently provide free vegan food for OPIRG events.
i <3 peterborough.
i obviously recommed tracking down and getting involved in community groups. and if you can't find the group you want, you could follow julia's beacon and just start one (big shout out to inspirational julia who got a whole newspaper feature this week on her flourishing vegan group -in ireland, where they're still burning garbage in their fireplaces-!).
lost and found
i wrote this letter to the school newspaper and they printed it. the great thing is that i totally found it! now i just need to find the girl...
you know, the world doesn't have to be a mean, angry place.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
rehearsal
unfortunately there's absolutely no time for theatre, but my latin posse approached me about doing a 3 couple tango-salsa presentation the first weekend in november, so i'll be starting dance rehearsal for that in the next week. the latin & swing guys are loads of fun and quickly becoming my favorite new hang-out buddies. karaoke? yes! spanish chatting sessions? yes! dance parties? yes yes yes!
DIY
the start of my do-it-yourself workshops is almost here. i have a couple enthusiastic gals on the scene to help with the tutorials, and we're set to start in mid-october. i'm very excited.
dub trinity
going to see these guys tonight. apparently their live show is incredible.
manual labor
i really enjoy hauling stuff and whacking stuff and dragging stuff and getting dirty and sweaty and achy, so i'm looking forward to volunteering all day today at the kawartha outdoor education centre, building a bird observation tower.
unfortunately there's absolutely no time for theatre, but my latin posse approached me about doing a 3 couple tango-salsa presentation the first weekend in november, so i'll be starting dance rehearsal for that in the next week. the latin & swing guys are loads of fun and quickly becoming my favorite new hang-out buddies. karaoke? yes! spanish chatting sessions? yes! dance parties? yes yes yes!
DIY
the start of my do-it-yourself workshops is almost here. i have a couple enthusiastic gals on the scene to help with the tutorials, and we're set to start in mid-october. i'm very excited.
dub trinity
going to see these guys tonight. apparently their live show is incredible.
manual labor
i really enjoy hauling stuff and whacking stuff and dragging stuff and getting dirty and sweaty and achy, so i'm looking forward to volunteering all day today at the kawartha outdoor education centre, building a bird observation tower.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
...more dancing
scottish country dancing and latin & swing dancing started up this week. i'm positively smitten with my latin & swing group, and the bonus is that they meet 2x a week. there's nothing like getting flung around the dance floor. i was impressed with the number of guys there- normally dynamics are off, but it was nearly even. still, i'm going to harp on all the guys i know. i mean, don't you guys get it? ladies LOVE men that can dance. so you'd think if someone was offering TOTALLY FREE classes, men would flock to it like hungry hyenas to an unattended baby. unfortunately i'm missing the salsa social tonight because i already committed to the scottish country barn dance & corn roast...
drive to the country? dance to live music in a barn? eat some roasted corn? don't mind if i do!
reading
i've been spending copious amounts of time reading. i do have a neil gaiman book to offset my school books, but otherwise it's a lot of stable isotopes and statistics. i know it'll make you totally sick, but i really like statistics. i feel like i was bullied into believing i didn't like numbers in public school. as it turns out, i think numbers (and especially when numbers come to life!) very interesting. i have to find creative ways to drag the artsy half of my brain along though, which involves a lot of freelance learning.
disorientation
this week OPIRG hosted a series of workshops that followed orientation week, aptly dubbed "disorientation". i went to the silk screening workshop (and ended up leading it...). i hadn't brought any clothes to print, but i ran down and grabbed a shirt from the free market to print this:
scottish country dancing and latin & swing dancing started up this week. i'm positively smitten with my latin & swing group, and the bonus is that they meet 2x a week. there's nothing like getting flung around the dance floor. i was impressed with the number of guys there- normally dynamics are off, but it was nearly even. still, i'm going to harp on all the guys i know. i mean, don't you guys get it? ladies LOVE men that can dance. so you'd think if someone was offering TOTALLY FREE classes, men would flock to it like hungry hyenas to an unattended baby. unfortunately i'm missing the salsa social tonight because i already committed to the scottish country barn dance & corn roast...
drive to the country? dance to live music in a barn? eat some roasted corn? don't mind if i do!
reading
i've been spending copious amounts of time reading. i do have a neil gaiman book to offset my school books, but otherwise it's a lot of stable isotopes and statistics. i know it'll make you totally sick, but i really like statistics. i feel like i was bullied into believing i didn't like numbers in public school. as it turns out, i think numbers (and especially when numbers come to life!) very interesting. i have to find creative ways to drag the artsy half of my brain along though, which involves a lot of freelance learning.
disorientation
this week OPIRG hosted a series of workshops that followed orientation week, aptly dubbed "disorientation". i went to the silk screening workshop (and ended up leading it...). i hadn't brought any clothes to print, but i ran down and grabbed a shirt from the free market to print this:
ahahahahah!
a huge free vegan barbecue followed that, and then a presentation by this awesome group called Otesha (here's a test for jonny- what does that mean in swahili?). they bike around the province camping out and doing environmental theatre performances. does anyone else think this is what i should be doing?...?!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Trial by Fire: Did Texas execute an innocent man?
click here to read this compelling article that was in the New Yorker. i started reading it somewhat absently, but was quickly enthralled. it's written exceptionally well, in a format that made me question and then cross-question, and then cross-cross-question my conclusion.
Ageless Ageing
i checked this book out from the library, and it's been keeping me on my toes with the author's assertations on how to ward off aging. it's comprehensively intriguing. fortunately jesse's simultaneously tripped into an interest in Big Bad Health, so i have a cohort.
there are a few of you who i'm certain would love this book. check it out.
Plants and Animals
i saw these guys at the "moho" last week, and they were terrific. we made a very sweaty night out of it. here's a second video.
latin and swing dance
this next week i get to start latin and swing dancing 2x/week. oh don't worry, i'm still scottish country dancing. my teacher (who i've lovingly nicknamed "mama joan" due to her excessive doting) would tear sweet cherubic babes limb from limb before she'd let me leave. do i have time for this on top of all my other obligations? probably not. but good god I WILL MAKE THE TIME. :)
click here to read this compelling article that was in the New Yorker. i started reading it somewhat absently, but was quickly enthralled. it's written exceptionally well, in a format that made me question and then cross-question, and then cross-cross-question my conclusion.
Ageless Ageing
i checked this book out from the library, and it's been keeping me on my toes with the author's assertations on how to ward off aging. it's comprehensively intriguing. fortunately jesse's simultaneously tripped into an interest in Big Bad Health, so i have a cohort.
there are a few of you who i'm certain would love this book. check it out.
Plants and Animals
i saw these guys at the "moho" last week, and they were terrific. we made a very sweaty night out of it. here's a second video.
latin and swing dance
this next week i get to start latin and swing dancing 2x/week. oh don't worry, i'm still scottish country dancing. my teacher (who i've lovingly nicknamed "mama joan" due to her excessive doting) would tear sweet cherubic babes limb from limb before she'd let me leave. do i have time for this on top of all my other obligations? probably not. but good god I WILL MAKE THE TIME. :)
Saturday, September 5, 2009
stress!
stress has negative connotations for most people, but as many of you are probably aware i function best when under at least mild stress. therefore, although i'm daunted by my responsibilities (classes and TAships and lab debates and building swift towers and contacting every single birder in south america and grants and OPIRG and my various althetic pursuits and juggling crazy bills while living on a very small income...), i also really appreciate being challenged. i'm in a little over my head, but my swimming skills are pretty solid.
apples
we wrapped up field work this past week, and like a celebratory high five from a higher power, apple trees along the road began dropping their bounty. fortunately dan was tolerant of pulling over and waiting while i scrambled out to throw CRISP, JUICY, SUCCULENT apples in my bag. what's with people's wariness at eating Free! Fresh! Wild! things? sounds great to me, but i can't count the number of times people have rejected what i've picked or collected, although they would pay (sometimes out the ear) for the same or similar products in the grocery store or at a farmer's market.
why didn't dan bound out of the car and raid the tree with me? why did he resist trying one of the apples? why did he only reluctantly accept the apple that i forcefully implored him to take and try later?
he's not even a purebred urbanite! people are so weird.
GMO guide
if any of you are as overwhelmed by monsanto and avoiding GMOs as i am, this is a very comprehensive website. actually, it may be too much stimuli for you if you're already overwhelmed. in that case, do ask and i'll send you a concise no gmo shopping guide .pdf i have.
stress has negative connotations for most people, but as many of you are probably aware i function best when under at least mild stress. therefore, although i'm daunted by my responsibilities (classes and TAships and lab debates and building swift towers and contacting every single birder in south america and grants and OPIRG and my various althetic pursuits and juggling crazy bills while living on a very small income...), i also really appreciate being challenged. i'm in a little over my head, but my swimming skills are pretty solid.
apples
we wrapped up field work this past week, and like a celebratory high five from a higher power, apple trees along the road began dropping their bounty. fortunately dan was tolerant of pulling over and waiting while i scrambled out to throw CRISP, JUICY, SUCCULENT apples in my bag. what's with people's wariness at eating Free! Fresh! Wild! things? sounds great to me, but i can't count the number of times people have rejected what i've picked or collected, although they would pay (sometimes out the ear) for the same or similar products in the grocery store or at a farmer's market.
why didn't dan bound out of the car and raid the tree with me? why did he resist trying one of the apples? why did he only reluctantly accept the apple that i forcefully implored him to take and try later?
he's not even a purebred urbanite! people are so weird.
GMO guide
if any of you are as overwhelmed by monsanto and avoiding GMOs as i am, this is a very comprehensive website. actually, it may be too much stimuli for you if you're already overwhelmed. in that case, do ask and i'll send you a concise no gmo shopping guide .pdf i have.
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