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!