COMPOSt THIS!

Hay there ya'll

With Christmas coming I thought I would talk about the importance of composting all that food waste! Food and paper waste takes up over 50% of our landfills! Can you believe it??

And a staggering 50% of all food created..................gets thrown away before it can be eaten, in the USA! That is just downright ridiculous!

Check out these outrageous facts from Duke University:

1. Food and paper are the two largest contributors to landfill, and make up more than half of all landfill waste – more than all plastics, diapers, Styrofoam, and tires, COMBINED. [source: US EPA]

2. Food and paper are biodegradable in nature but not in landfills, due to lack of OXYGEN being buried deep and saturated with water. Landfills EMBALM food and paper for many years. The only real decomposition is anaerobic (lacking oxygen) which produces methane horrible greenhouse gas (see global warming).

3. Food is the #1 LEAST recycled [composted] material [US EPA]

4. The average American produces 4 lbs of landfill waste every day – that’s more than 50 TONS over a lifetime. Half of this waste is compostable .

5. The US is far behind the rest of the world in recycling– most Asian and European have far more advanced recycling efforts, in many cases with steep fees and more categories for separating recyclable materials (including compostables). In some countries, clear plastic trash bags are required so that “trash police” can inspect trash and issue fines for non-compliance.

•6.We are literally running out of landfill space – even with all of our wide open western and mid-western states. Suburban sprawl requires hauling trash longer and longer distances to landfills – with great expense and environmental impact.

7. The US creates more and more trash every year, despite increased recycling attention. This is because of population growth and overall economic growth (we’re buying and trashing more stuff as we “trade up” to higher levels of prosperity). In many cases, even the rates of recycling are decreasing, due to general apathy/complacency.

8. Many communities in the US don’t even have curbside collection of recyclables

SEATTLE has a wonderful composting program that became mandatory last year. Not only does composting remove waste out of the garbage cycle. It is also responsible for providing clean air. Remember the days of dumpster smell? The odor would permeate the dumpster, a sickly sweet, grotesque smell ............never would I want to live in the apartment above the trash pickup area. With compost, it is a clean smell. No more methane trapped in plastic.

I challenge all of you to go out and get your community in on the composting craze! Heck Seattle makes it into something people will by for their gardens!

Thinkin' Sunshine

Ok. Living in the Northwest of the continental US is a bit daunting at times during the winter. Don't get me wrong, I like the rain at times -just not all the time- and I enjoy drab, gray, rainforesty days.......

but today I need to think SUN.

SUNSHINE. What reminds me of sunshine............

let see.....Yellow. More yellow.

Brilliant dewdrops reflecting, sparkling in the morning light.

All of that but most of all I think of sunflowers. Sunflowers to me are the reflection in nature of the sun. Perfectly symmetrical and a mirror image of mathematics......... check out sunflowers, Fibonacci numbers, and the "golden mean" -click here-

Watch the sunflowers

Sunflowers have been part of our myths and stories for centuries. These tall, graceful plants are well-known around the world:

Check out : Flower Stories by Lenore E. Mulets, Colonial Press, Boston, MA 1903.

The Sunflower: A tale from ancient Greece

How to grow bananas in the Pacific Northwest!

Ok. I'll bet you think I'm joking right? Well. I'm not. My cousin, Jill, has a huge banana plant growing in her backyard (near the house). How pray-tell did she keep it from dying in the winter you ask?

Burlap sacks and christmas lights!

Wrap the banana tree with burlap and string lights all the way around and up and down the tree. Keep the lights on all season until mid Spring, early summer. It may be necessary to keep the burlap on longer than that to insure that the tree doesn't freeze.

The burlap and the small amount of heat and energy from the christmas lights keeps the leaves from freezing.

Here is to having a bit of the tropics in the "other" rainforest!
:-)

WINDOW GARDENS!

OK. I have to say it, my sister gives me the most awesome ideas for my blog! Thank you Shan! So here is an awesome site on how to turn your window into a garden! http://www.windowfarms.org/ Check it out! Turn your 'trash' into garden space! Create beautiful gardens in your city apartment! I need to start salvaging my plastic bottles and start creating my garden right here!

Vegetables, Herbs, you name it you can grow it! No need for a balcony~! I've heard that growing one regular sized tree (you know relatively normal sized....not gargantuan) can remove 48 lbs of CO2 a year! Well heck! I want to have green space inside my home, enjoy clean air, provide a sanctuary for my weary self when I get off work, AND protect the planet from global warming. WOW! HERE IS ONE WAY!

Here is to protecting the planet!

Grow plants! One way to change the planet

Ok. So today I want to talk about our Earth's air quality. Yesterday thousands of people made a stand for 350. See http://www.350.org/ . Three fifty is the amount of CO2 in parts per million in the atmosphere that is considered 'healthy'. Currently our world is surrounded by 385 parts per million of CO2. Carbon dioxide is not healthy in those numbers.

We need to make a conscious effort to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

They tell us to stop driving our cars.....and I don't own one.......but I believe one person can do one simple thing to improve the quality of our air---and our planet.

GROW PLANTS. Plants remove CO2 naturally and get this.............they produce oxygen as a by-product!

Square miles of the rainforest are being destroyed every day. Some sources indicate we may loose our rainforests in the next 40 years. What does this mean? This means somehow if we don't change our ways we will need to replace millions of individual plants. Why? Because like it or not, the rainforests of the world replace the oxygen we need to BREATHE.

At this point in the Earth's history, we can not have too many plants. GROW PLANTS. Anything you like! Flowers have been shown to reduce stress and help maintain mental health. Vegetables feed us in addition to being beautiful.

GROW PLANTS!

what do do in October

Ok. So I took a couple months off of bloggin'. I mean really, what should one be doing when the weather is perfect? GARDEN!
So, what can you do in October? There is a lot you can do!
If you live in the Northwest of the United States you can start your spring crop!
Mustards, greens, spinach etc....grows slowly and hardy in the winter months.

Other things you can do? Start to improve your soil.....bring in some older manure or compost and cover your garden. Later in the season dig it in to the soil.............

Life is good all year round.

Rockin' Awesome Salsa

Ok. it's been awhile...........too hot in Seattle to think straight I tell ya!

Garden is going gang-busters..........I've got tons of ripe beautiful tomatoes, peppers, and onions! Whatever should I do??

MAKE salsa! I love to make my own. What do you need?

Tracy's Rockin' Awesome (MUCH) Easier than Pie Salsa!
tomatoes (as many as you want to eat)
peppers ( a little less than the tomatoes) I like both hot and mild
cilantro..........I love this stuff so add to taste
onions ...........gotta have onions
and lime juice! I love limes, I buy them by the pound!

wahla!

Other stuff to add?
black beans (cooked)
sweet corn

HAPPY EATING!

Our Earth is Loosing its Ice

Ok.
I just need to write about how my computer is overheating not because I'm using it but because it has stayed over 85 degrees in my apartment for the last 3 days straight. No worries though.........I'm stayin' cool and thinking about ice.
ice cream
ice bergs
icicles
iced latte
ice ice baby (shows how old I am right?)
glaciers
Ut oh. That is a hard one. The word "glacier" conjures up other thoughts about the environment and how our precious planet is loosing its ice. Now those of us who may not appreciate bitter temperatures and snowfall should really understand that when we loose our glaciers this is not really the best of scenarios. Glaciers hold water that would be in our oceans if it melted. Not such a big deal right? Except if you happen to live near a beach, which most of us do. Check out the World View of Global Warming website.....for more info.
We need ice.
Actually, I need ice right now. It is darn HOT in Seattle, Washington. We may hit 107 degrees tomorrow. A record. Today I walked outside and it smelled like Tuscon, Arizona. What does Arizona smell like? You ask....
"Hot, dry grass and rocks." Actually quite refreshing in it's own way.....cept I miss the saguaro cacti.
Stay cool everyone.

What NOT to compost

Today I found a 6 inch replica of the Star Trek Enterprise NCC-1701-D on the dumpster next to the bus stop today. It is on my list of things that should NOT be composted or thrown away. Other things of note that were left for the garbage truck that have been given a home in my apartment:
desk,
end table,
desk lamp,
bed headboard/footboard,
brand new broom (old fashioned broomcorn),
frying pan (NEW! can you believe what people throw away?)
stainless steel cuisinart grind-and-brew coffeemaker (with the manual!)
cool modern chair
kennedy rocker (circa 1875.....I took a class and re-caned it)
black modern table
glass coffeetable with stainless frame
wooden stool
etc....etc....etc....

Come on people! You can ask Salvation Army to come and pick this sort of thing up for you. Don't throw this stuff away!

Gardens Gardens everywhere!

Just got this in my email............

GO SAN FRAN! San Fran is growing produce nearly everywhere! Check it out click HERE.



Seattle is doing it too!

Seattle has an organization that matches property owners with people who want to garden! Urban Garden Share!

We also have a great organization called "Community Harvest". They organize pickings for fruit and vege's all over the city. Many homeowners have extra produce that would go to waste otherwise! Volunteers come and 'glean it (the tree)'. Homeowners give back to the community and don't have to clean up rotting food!



Whoooooooohooooooooo! Go Go Garden!

Urban Lifestyles Improve the Environment

We make a difference when we live in older places, live in the city and other places that have already been developed.
Some of my friends have asked me why I live in the metro area of Seattle--right downtown. I'm a homebody, but I live in the center of the city because I am a dyed-in-the-wool environmentalist--right to the core. I live here because it is one of the least places I can do more damage. I can make this space better by creating container gardening and encouraging native landscaping (which my apartment does).

For more info on native landscaping in your area google "your state + native plant society"

Here are a few that I found:

Washington State Native Plant Society

For other states check out this awesome website which lists all of the native plant societies in the USA! The Michigan State Botanical Club has got it goin' on! SAY YES TO MICHIGAN!

Change the world--Neighboorhood by Neighboorhood

Did you know that even in this economy there is still money out there for community enhancement? Think about it. How much is it worth to you to live in a safe, fun, healthy, environment?

Seattle is one of many cities that offers neighborhood improvement grants. Trust me. I know. The community garden I belong to just got one--for $15,000. (that is three zeros...!). We are getting a certified, legal landscape design that will incorporate ideas and infrastructural plans to improve the quality of the garden. After we get this we will go on and apply for grants to do the things we have drawn up in our plans.....

This neighborhood grant will pull together community support by involving members of the neighborhood to come together and hash out what we want to see. Dreams are supposed to be big right? No use in dreaming small.

When people dream together they produce wonderful things...........not all of them physical. We produce an element of connectedness, a feeling of security, a sense of awe and hope. We become what we dream.

So get out there and DREAM BIG!
Google your city and 'grants'.
For you Seattlelites check out the Department of Neighborhoods website HERE.

DREAM BIG! Ain't no use in dreaming small.

Bottle houses-changing lives

We need to think differently. We need to flip the box/bottle over! Let's start really looking at an object for what it IS not what it has always been 'doing'. We need to build homes. We need shelter. What do we have A LOT OF? Water bottles, soda bottles......plastic that floats in a mass double the size of Texas out in the Pacific. Want to see this attrocity click . WE NEED TO USE THIS STUFF. We can't recycle it all..........we don't have the facilities world-wide to do that. And even if we did, it is cheaper to throw it away. WE need to CHANGE the way we THINK.

We can make bottle HOUSES:
Bolivia Bottle House Video
Plastic Bottle House Projects in Honduras
Eco-tec Honduras – lots of photos of bottle house projects

WE can make BOATS - Plastic Bottle Boat/Plastiki

We can make Solar Water heaters from plastic bottles

WE can REcycle Bottles!

10 amazing ways to recycle plastic bottles

COMPOST THIS!

Hay there all. Just wanted express my thanks to the city of Seattle for making it manadory for residents to COMPOST their waste. We have a yard/food waste container here at the apartment and it is AWESOME! Now the city takes meat products (all those bones) and dairy. WOOHOO.
Now if they would make it necessary for the food companies and restaurants do the same. COME ON SEATTLE! we can DO it!
Check out the City of Seattle website on foodwaste!

Green Homes -Creating living structures

Ok. So now I am on a kick when it comes to green homes. What does that mean exactly? Well, I want a home that is made out of something that had a use before it made my home. Like the container homes I showcased the other day. Multi-use.

I don't want to pull down a couple thousand trees and the wildlife that goes with it to create my space. I want to use material that has been around before or that grew that year on the property (straw for example).

Check out this website on building green homes.

Say hello to the darkness...

Today, I noticed under the threat of a thunderstorm....my lovely dahlia was in full bloom. Decadently dark....she reminds me of the night sky...right before the darkness envelopes.

Watching the Garden

Wow. We have had a summer like no other this year. FULL SUN for over a month. That is unheard of in Seattle. My corn is up to my thigh and it isn't even the 4th of July! I may actually have sweet corn by the end of July! How awesome is that!

Cooked up my first batch of green beans. Tomatoes are starting to produce...........maybe they will be ripe in the next few weeks. Cucumbers are starting to flower. My peas are done. Lettuce is starting to bolt. Gotta figure out what I can plant this week. Maybe more beans?

RAIN! RAIN! SAY YES TO RAIN!

You know there is just something that rain provides that any other source of water just can't. I don't know if it is the bringing of the atmosphere closer to the earth, or if it is that I feel a connection to the rest of the planet because the rain falling on me..........definitely didn't come from here. Today I woke up to the sound of rain falling. Nature's percussion. Soothing. Washing away the grit and grime of the day. I could feel the trees sighing in relief.

Moss!

I took this picture (currently in the header ---the really big picture on my blog right now--while walking around my neighboorhood in Capitol Hill in April. Around 100 different species live here in Seattle (the city!). Click here for more info.
GREEN.

Oh and a quick FYI: We are going on 30 days with no rain. No RAIN in SEATTLE. It is just not natural!

:)

Ok so it's been forever

It has been forever (actually over a year) since my last post! I can't believe how fast time goes. I've been in the garden getting it ready for the summer!
Of course still working on the black garden...........but this year red roses came up as volunteers so I couldn't say no. I hope to see black hollyhocks, calla lilies and dahlias this year. Believe it or not the black pansies that I planted last year are still going strong!
Royal purple (black) beans are up and blooming! Black tomatoes! (best for the Seattle summer--hybridized in Russia).

Well, I hope to keep better tabs on this blog this year!
Happy Gardening!
Live Long and Prosper!