Looking back and forward for Earth Day

While I didn't get my Earth Day post done on Earth Day, I still wanted to share my thoughts about what's going on in my world. When reflecting on what I've done to lessen my impact on the earth in the last year, I realized that I had made some real changes:

1. Began purchasing my home's energy from renewable (solar and wind) sources. One phone call and an extra few bucks per month - easy!

2. Planted an herb garden in my yard.

3. Joined Terra Firma Farms, a CSA that provides us with a weekly box of fresh, local, organic fruits and veggies for less than it would cost to buy the same items at the grocery store.

4. Started carpooling whenever possible. Since I live about 20 miles from work, riding my bike isn't an option and light rail doesn't come out here so the best option for me is carpooling. I have a friend that lives a mile from me and works three blocks from me - perfect! And coordinating our work schedules wasn't as hard as I thought it might be.

5. Began going organic - food, beauty routine, cleaning products - wherever I have the option, I've switched and it's amazing all of the great organic products out there now.

So what do I have planned for this year? Continuing to make small changes that have an impact on our health, our environment and the earth:

1. I've gone from a few herbs in one raised bed to three raised beds of vegetables, a barrel of herbs and a basket of strawberries. Hopefully we'll get to eat REALLY local this summer!

2. Canning - I haven't done this since I was a kid, but I'm hoping to can some of my own bounty this summer including making pickles!

3. Water Conservation - This is a major issue here in the west. I'm hoping to get some rain barrels this year and maybe even a rain garden.

4. My bicycle - I admit, I'm not a very confident bike rider. But with the extensive bike path network in my neighborhood, I've begun to venture out some for coffee runs or to the park, but in the next year, I hope to get much better with the bike so we can go to dinner, small grocery runs and more - all on our bikes!

5. Who knows?? It's getting easier and easier to be "green" so what new opportunities will come about in the next year could surprise me.

So - what tips do you have for me? What are you doing in your world? I'd love to hear from you - and happy Earth Day!

Blooms!

Here's what's blooming in my yard at this moment!

Roses! I have lots of buds (and lots of aphids due to be assasinated tomorrow!). But this is the first *almost* rose.

When we moved into this house, there were three hot pink camellias already here...and then there is this unusual one...my favorite which blooms much later than the pink ones!

The apple blossoms. As referenced before - something bores holes into the apples each summer although I never see an actual bug or worm. Maybe I will take the time to figure it out this summer. Thoughts anyone??

Skin Care - Part 2

The next victim to get the axe in my B.O. (Before Organic) products was my proactiv cleanser. I've so far been very happy with the Dr. Alkaitis line of skin care, but this time I used a different source, but lucky for me - still local! Bella Floria is a local Sacramento company that finds brands who use natural and organic ingredients and sells them on one, convenient website. I've been doing a ton of research and can understand why people don't take the time to buy "greener" products. Once you start researching and reading, the amount of information is overwhelming, but also conflicting.

Is a paraben actually bad or just not completly confirmed as bad? Even though mica is a naturally occuring element, will it still irritate my skin?? The more research I do, the more of these questions I find. Regardless - Bella Floria makes it a little easier.

In the end, I ordered the Dr. Alkaitis cleanser on a Saturday and it arrived on Monday (wow!) and I continue to be a satisfied customer. The best part?? The packaging from Bella Floria was minimal and it arrived with a hand written note from the owner along with free samples of the Alkaitis eye cream and toner - BONUS!

The List - Summer 2009

I have spent the last few months contemplating my raised bed plantings for the spring and summer. Last year I only did one of the beds and filled it with herbs with limited success. It dawned on me after doing all of the planting that the one bed I picked would be in a fair amount of shade during the day once my trees leafed out...OOPS!

So, this year I have done quite a bit more soil prep (see composting story below!) and have decided to move into some fruit and veggie plantings as well. I think I'll move my herbs that lived into half wine barrels into sunnier spots (plus the barrel will better corral things like spearmint which can take over). That being said, here is my planned planting list:

HERBS:
Basil - I'm waiting for the Farmer's Market at Casesar Chavez park to start next month because there is a guy that brings tons of different varieties of basil plants to sell and I want a big variety this year since none of mine made it through last summer.
Spearmint
Lavender
Thyme
Chives
Dill

VEGGIES: I know - in Sac, everyone grows tomatoes...but I'm not a big tomato eater and we get tons from the CSA all summer to satisfy my husband.
Green beans
Cucumber - I want to make pickles this year which is why I'm also planting the dill weed
Zucchini

FRUIT: I have an apple tree in the yard, but the fruit suffers from some kind of bug damage that I have to figure out how to control.
Watermelon - I understand you can train them up a trellis to save space, but you have to put the melons in "slings" once they get heavy. Not sure what my plan is yet on that.
Strawberries - I'll probably put these in a hanging basket to keep them off the ground
Pumpkins - is this a fruit?? I guess it's a gourd so maybe it should be on the veggie list :-)

CITRUS: I already have a very large orange tree in the yard and since I'm limited on sunny locations in my yard, I'm going to add the following in large pots that I can move around:
Seedless Mandarin
Meyer Lemon

JUST BECAUSE: Sweet peas on a teepee of branches from my winter pruning!

Okay - that seems like quite a bit for my two little raised beds, but with the supplimenting pots, I think I can get everything in. Let me know what you're planning for the summer and what I've forgotten on my list that I'll have to sqeeze in!