Community Seeds Eco-Magazine
Thinking Globally, Living Locally
Summer 2011
Vacation in Leed Luxury!
Tribesmen of Patalkot
Unconventional Sustainablity?
Biodynamic vs. Organic vs. Sustainable What To Know
3
y r a rs e v ni n A r a Ye
! e u Iss
www.communityseeds.com
Welcome
Vol. 4, No. 1 Summer 2011 Issue 13
Community Seeds Eco Magazine is published quarterly, exclusively online; at no cost to readers.
Copyright
Community Seeds Eco Publishing,
Š2008-2011 All Rights Reserved. May be printed for personal use only.
Please send comments, articles, artwork, testimonials, questions and photos to:
info@communityseeds.com. For advertising and general information, email us at
info@communityseeds.com Or
sales@communityseeds.com. Also, visit:
www.communityseeds.com. Send all mail to: Community Seeds Eco Magazine 1035 Village Lane. Chico, CA 95926 Call to make an appointment and/ or leave a message:
Staff Writers Ashley Grebe Lorianne S. Riley Chelsey Edgington Tara Kilkenny Kaylee Agaman Staff Photographers Tracy Lynn Cahn of Tracy Lynn Photography Lorianne S. Riley Chelsey Edgington Ashley Grebe SALES Lorianne Riley Dwight Aitkens
(530) 895-3431
Proof Editors Tara Kilkenny Chelsey Edgington Kaylee Agaman DeAnna Holman
The
Consultant DeAnna Holman
Foundation
On the Cover Photo by Editor-In-Chief, Lorianne S. Riley
Community Seeds www.communityseeds.org
Promoting Sustainabilit y CSF is managed, in part, by:
2
Editor-In-Chief Lorianne S. Riley
Community Seeds . Summer 2011
All articles, photos, advertising, words, design and images are the property of Community Seeds and the individual contributor, as published, and may not be reproduced without permission from the contributor or Community Seeds. Community Seeds reserves the right to edit all content submitted. Although property of Community Seeds, no division of the company may be held liable for its specific content.
From the Editor
A Note From the Editor
What Does Summer Mean To You?
W
hen we think of summer and what the meaning of summer entails, the word summer represents and evokes a lot of different feelings. What does Summer mean to me? I think of physical awareness, cultivating the land and relationships, the knowledge a person possesses in the “summer of their life� and the beautiful ending life cycle of a flower while in full bloom. This Issue has touched on all of these subjects plus some others:
A
wareness
We have included articles that will touch on physical awareness through morning yoga (page 51) as well as maintaining optimal physical health by including herbs into your diet (page 12).
C
Editor-in-Chief Publisher
ultivation
We have included articles regarding healthy, non-toxic pest control (page 23), a guide on caring for tomatoes (page 56) as well as the amazing value of community gardens (page 53) and local farmers markets.
K
nowledge
We have included articles on the confusing issues regarding the meaning of organic vs Biodynamic vs sustainable (page 20) and how to define the difference between them. We also included recipes on sustainable cooking from the famed cook book, The Sustainable Kitchen (page 65). And last but not least... Continued on Page 4
www.communit yseeds.com 3
From the Editor, Continued
F
ull bloom
Your community site for local web links. All links are free to add to this site. Bookmark this site; it will be right at your fingertips to look up local restaurants, green living, local events, and more!
www.TheChicoConnection.com
Follow Us!
Come join us on Facebook and Twitter along with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico Bags, Humanwear tees, Jimmy Eat World, Valcucine Kitchens, EnviroBro, Chico Chai, and much, much more.....
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico Bag HUMANWEAR JIMMY EAT WORLD
VALCUCINE EnviroBro Chico Chai Find us at: http://twitter.com/#!/CSEcoMagazine http://www.facebook.com/CommunitySeedsEcoMagazine http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/Communityseeds
4
Community Seeds . Summer 2011
One of the most beautiful spectacles of summer is flowers coming into full bloom. Not unlike flowers, people and businesses can also come into full bloom. Although Community Seeds is not yet in full bloom, we have made a lot of changes. We now are including reviews on hotels that practice Green Incentives (page 10); previews of kitchen (page 63), beauty (page 74) and gearhead widgets (page 76); as well as a new section called, The Green Scene (page 35) that profiles sustainable events.
W
e hope that you are enjoying all of the additions we have added to the magazine and we appreciate your readership. Please feel free to write in with your opinions, thoughts and photos. We love to hear from you!
Community Seeds Eco Magazine would like to extend very a special thank you to Mediastar Data Recovery in Chico for making this 3rd Anniversary issue possible. We cannot thank you enough!
(530)82MEDIA (530)826-3342
Prime U.S.D.A. Beef, Fresh Seafood Only The Finest Quality Ingredients!
(916) 351-9100 604 Sutter Street - Folsom CA
(530) 891-6328 345 West Fifth Street - Chico CA
Our Passion Is Providing You Exquisite Cuisine Matched With Exceptional Service
www.communit yseeds.com 5
Community Seeds Summer 2011
In Every Issue
2 Magazine Information 3 Note From the Editor 8 Issue Contributors 35 Green Scene 26 Eco Kids Photos 80 Advertisers Index
Eco-Magazine
Features
10 Vacation in Leed Luxury!
LV Mandarin Oriental Hotel Resort
12 Tribesmen of Patalkot
Unconventional Sustainablity?
20 Biodynamic vs. Organic vs. Sustainable
What you Should Know
True Life
12 Traditional Applications of Indian Herbs
6
Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Departments Easy Being Greener
23 Natural Weed Killers Family
26 Eco Kids 28 Things Are Warming Up (Refashioning)
40
Eco Friendly Crafts
24
Egg Shell Mosaic
Cook’s Corner
63 Kitchen Widgets 65 Cooks Corner:
The Sustainable Kitchen
29 Kids Fashion
66 Summer Vegetable
Making a Difference
68 Grilled Rib-Eye
46
Slaw
of Beef
35 Green Scene 43 Clothing Drive Strips
70 Peach Upside-Down
42 Enviro Bro 42 Eco Movie Review 46 Ties That Matter 48 SCOOP, What?
Natural Beauty
Healthy Living
Gear Head
Through Town
51 Morning Yoga 53 Community Garden 56 Caring For Tomatoes
Polenta Cake
72 74
76 78
Do It Yourself Sugar Scrubs
29
Earth Friendly Beauty Products
Eco Toys For Boys Electric Tractor
51 www.communit yseeds.com 7
Contributors
Contributors: Summer 2011 Lorianne S. Riley
Editor-in-Chief, Owner, Publisher, Web Designer, Photographer & Wife. Lorianne holds a BS Degree in Business Administration from CSU, Chico, and is licensed as a Cosmetologist and Certified Massage Therapist.
Deanna Holman
Web Designer, Graphic Artist and Mother of Three, DeAnna holds a BS Degree in Gerontology from USC, a California Teaching Credential and Science Supplement From CSU, Chico, and an AA Degree in Liberal Studies/ Photo Journalism from Grossmont College in San Diego.
K ate Adams
Kate Adams has lived in Hawaii for the past 3 years studying Digital Imaging and Art History at the University of Hawaii. Kate has recently moved back to the mainland to seek more photo opportunities and to finish getting her degree. Kate shot the catwalk photos on page 41.
Ken Hodge
Husband, Father and Owner of Hodges Nursery and Gifts, Ken is a graduate of California State University, Chico and studied Ornamental Horticulture. Ken is also a hobbyist photographer of people and nature. See Ken’s photos on pages 35 and 40.
Tar a Kilkenny
Tara is graduating this May from California State University, Chico, with a BA in Communication Studies: Public Affairs and a minor in European Studies. She has lived in Japan and Ireland and is looking forward to future travels.
Steve Goto
Steve Goto is an expert nurseryman and lecturer based in southern California. He uses organic gardening practices to grow over a 900 varieties of heirloom tomatoes and other vegetables. He gives seminars every spring and tomato tastings every summer all across the west coast.
K aylee Agaman
Kaylee is currently a student at Chico State University, pursuing a degree in Organizational Communication Studies with a minor in Public Relations. She will be graduating in May and looks forward to seeing the journey on which her education will take her.
Ashley Grebe
Ashley is a student at CSU, Chico, majoring in Communication Studies with the option of Public Affairs and will be graduating this May. She works as an intern for Community Seeds Eco Magazine and is enjoying her last few months here in Chico.
Stuart Stein
Graduate of the University of Illinois Business School and the Culinary Arts program at Chicago’s Kendall College, Stuart has worked as a cook, executive chef, culinary instructor and restaurateur all over the US and France. He has translated his dedication for local, eco-friendly ingredients into his book, The Sustainable Kitchen: Passionate Cooking Inspired by Farms, Forests, and Oceans.
8
Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Contributors
Contributors: Summer 2011 Chelsey Edgington
Chelsey is currently at student at California State University, Chico. She is pursuing a degree in Organizational Communication with a minor in Marketing. Chelsey will finish her studies this fall in Torino, Italy, and will be graduating in Fall 2012.
Devang Patel
He has worked with Abhumka Herbal Pvt. Ltd as a senior research fellow. He can be contacted via devangpatels@gmail.com.
Dr Deepak Acharya
A microbiologist turned ethnobotanist, a herbal hunter and Director of Abhumka Herbal Pvt Ltd (www.abhumka.com), Ahmedabad, India. He has been involved in scouting, documentation and validation of indigenous herbal practices of indigenous healers in Patalkot (www.patalkot.com) and Dangs. He can be contacted at deepak@patalkot.com.
Dr Garima Sancheti Acharya
Garima is a doctorate from Rajasthan University, Jaipur. She is scientific content writer, educational counselor and author for many popular and research articles about herbs. She can be contacted at garima@patalkot.com.
Dr Sanjay Pawar
A Botanist involved in documentation of indigenous herbal practices in Patalkot. He has written several herb research based popular articles (sanjay@ patalkot.com).
Manish Singh
He is Director (Business Development) as Abhumka Herbal Pvt Ltd, he can be reached at manish@abhumka.com.
Laura Martin, Elizabeth Chrane, Cameron McCord In 2008, three friends realized their shared passion for creativity, a desire to help others and to produce Earth-friendly products. They became Founders and owners of Ties That Matter. They collected 1,500 ties, involved more than 100 volunteers, sold 1,000 reusable grocery bags and contributed proceeds from their sale to Central Presbyterian’s Outreach and Advocacy Center in downtown Atlanta.
Not Pictured: Darci Crossin Steven Lemos Dr Anshu Shrivastava All contributors are named on their corresponding articles. If you would like to send an article, please include a short bio, along with your photo (and photos to go with your article). Send articles (doc) and photos (jpg) to info@communityseeds.com. For additional guidelines, please go to www.communityseeds.com or send us an email.
www.communit yseeds.com 9
Features
Vacation In
LEED Luxury
By Lorianne S. Riley
F
or my 10th Wedding Anniversary, my husband and I wanted to stay somewhere special and that was memorable. As you all know sustainability is an important part of my life and I try to practice it, as well as do business with companies that partake in some sort of a green initiative. With this in mind, my husband and I chose the Mandarin Oriental Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, as our getaway; which is 1 of 5 properties within the City Center that is LEED certified.
T L
he Mandarin Oriental is a Luxury chain of Hotel Resorts. They have approximately 41 properties world wide. The Las Vegas Resort is the organization’s first property that is LEED Complaint, scoring a Gold rating.
The certification levels are Silver, Gold or Platinum rating, which are determined by a point system. The topics considered are: Sustainable Site, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation in Design and Regional Priority.
H
ere are some of the sustainable highlights Alyssa Bushey, Director of Communications, boasts about on the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas website; • Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas will achieve approximately 34% more energy efficiency than required by local and national regulations.
• The building’s thermal façade system, using sustainable building materials and incorporating day-lighting controls, produces EED certification is a rating system that is set by the U.S. Green Building low emissions and reduces solar heat gain. This system within the structure’s façade Council. The stringent guidelines accounts for as much as 9 percent of the vary depending on if the project is building’s total energy savings. new or old construction. There are 7 topics that must be considered in order to become • Water conservation technology and programs LEED certified and there are different levels save an estimated 4.1 million gallons annually, of compliance to achieve the certification. equating to a 45% reduction in portable water
10 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Vacation In LEED Luxury
use within the building through efficient showers, faucets and water closets.
I
mo/media/press_kits/las_vegas/leed.aspx.
loved staying at the Mandarin Oriental. It was first class all the way. All of the • Floor-to-ceiling windows enhance the guest front desk, door, and spa attendants knew experience by providing abundant natural light our names and were extremely polite. and impressive views, while reducing the need There are four restaurants within the resort. for artificial lighting. • Non-toxic paints, sealants, adhesives, carpet The choices are a casual restaurant, serving and composite wood products have been used excellent Sushi or Indian cuisine; a 5 star French restaurant, if you want to titillate your in Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas. taste buds with elegant food; a restaurant in • Energy Star appliances are installed in each the lounge that serves high tea for lunch and residential unit. just drinks at night; and a pool side restaurant • Preferred parking is available for employees for more casual fare. Everywhere in the and guests, using alternative-fuel vehicles such Resort there are ceiling to floor views of the as hybrids and electric cars; preferred parking strip including the spa! The guest rooms are also will be available for employees that all smart rooms, but I think the amenity I love carpool to work. You can read more about this the most is the complementary yoga mat and at http://www.mandarinoriental.com/about_ yoga DVD. www.communit yseeds.com 11
Traditional Applications Of Indian Herbs
View of Patalkot valley from top
Traditional Applications of Indian Herbs Tribesmen of Patalkot: Unconventional Sustainablity?
By Deepak Acharya, Garima Sancheti Acharya, Sanjay Pawar, Devang Patel, Manish Singh and Anshu Shrivastava
12 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
C
Features
hhindwara, a forest disorders. So far, there is no district of Madhya recognized and well equipped Pradesh, is situated government health clinic in on Satpura plateau the area. Tribal folks have to at 473-1165 meters above the depend only upon the natural sea level. It is spread from 21° resources for their primary 28’ to 22° 49’ North latitude health care need (Acharya and and 78° 40’ to 79° 24’ East Shrivastava). longitude. Deep in the heart of Chhindwara, there is a wild Periodical surveys were forest surrounded by sheer, made for the search of new 915m cliffs known as Patalkot valley. Patalkot is situated 79 km away from the district headquarter. The Patalkot forest is so well hidden that people on the outside didn’t even know it existed. It is a very special place, rich with plants and animals. The natives who live there know how to collect and grow the plants they need for food, clothing and building their homes. They also have a special skill that has been passed down every generation. The local herbal healer is known as A herbal healer in Patalkot Bhumka. Bhumkas know the traditional herbal medicines secrets of the medicine plants in villages of Patalkot valley and they have cures for almost by the authors during 1997all human health ailments. 2010. The village chief and Gonds and Bharias are the local healers were interviewed local tribe who are the main (Table 1) and the local uses inhabitants of the area. The of enigmatic specimens were knowledge of these medicines confirmed by more than is age old. For them, use of two senior people having herbs is the cheapest way knowledge of local herbs. A for curing various health consent letter of knowledge
sharing was undersigned by the herbal healer and the interviewer. In the later stages, the herbal practices were cross-checked to get the full and authentic information and then the information was incorporated in the digital library of traditional herbal knowledge. The plant names in the present paper are arranged alphabetically.
Herbs and their formulation in various practices 1. Acorus calamus L.
(Family: Araceae) Vernacular names: Bach (Hindi); Calamus, Sweet Flag (English). Traditional Uses: The rhizome of this plant is used to cure stammering in children. For relieving pain during the delivery in ladies, rhizome is crushed in water and Ricinus communis (castor oil) is added in it and applied over the navel region. Tribals of Harra ka Chhar village make a decoction of Coriandrum sativum (coriander) leaves, Cuminum cyminum (cumin) seeds and Calamus roots to cure cough. They put rhizome of this plant in mouth to get relieved from cough and cold. About 500 mg Calamus
www.communit yseeds.com 13
Traditional Applications Of Indian Herbs, Continued
Author Dr Acharya during the documentation in Patalkot
rhizome powder is mixed with Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) fruit pulp and given for curing cough. Water or milk extract of Calamus is said to be good for the brain.
2. Argemone mexicana L.
(Family: Papaveraceae) Vernacular names: Pili Kateri (Hindi); Maxican Poppy, Prickly Poppy (English). Traditional Uses: The plant root-powder is mixed with sugar and taken orally with water in the cases of skin diseases. Root powder mixed thoroughly in hot water is said to be purgative in nature. For curing impotency, bark of the Maxican Poppy and latex of Ficus benghalensis (Banyan
tree) is boiled together in a pot. About 2g of this mixture is given along with a fresh leaf of Piper betel (Betel leaves) for 14 consecutive days. Leaf extract is effective in eye disorders. Latex of this plant is effective against various skin infections.
3. Asparagus racemosus Willd. (Family: Liliaceae)
Vernacular names: Naarbod, Satawar, Shatawari (Hindi); Indian Asparagus (English). Traditional Uses: Root powder is given for the promotion of vitality and vigor. Plant leaf extract helps in low sperm counts. Root powder is good in cough and cold. Root powder (5g) mixed in Goat milk (40 ml) is given
14 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
thrice a day for curing internal ulcers. Root powder boiled in Cow milk is very effective in acidity. In diabetes, 1 cup cow milk and 20 g root extract is said to be effective.
4. Butea monosperma
(Lam.) Taub. (Family: Fabaceae) Vernacular names: Palaas (Hindi); Bastard Teak, Flame of the Forest (English). Traditional Uses: Seed powder is employed to cure ringworm. Petioles are chewed in cases of heat or burning in urination. Seeds crushed in lime water and applied on infected skin. It cures the wound or infection rapidly. In arthritis, seeds are crushed in honey and
Features
applied over the painful body parts and joints. For delivering healthy babies, tribals prescribe cow milk and extract of fresh leaves of this plant. Seeds powder mixed in honey and clarified butter is applied over the vagina to avoid pregnancy.
6. Cassia tora L. (Family:
Calotropis procera
Caesalpiniaceae) Vernacular names: Panwar, Titi (Hindi); Foetid Cassia, Sickle Senna, Wild Senna (English). Traditional Uses: Powder of the dry seeds is used in Asthma. The powder is mixed with jaggery (unrefined sugar) and about 7 small balls are prepared. One ball is taken every day with water up to 7 days. Seed powder mixed in Citrus limon (lemon) juice is effective in ring worm. To relieve in boils, leaves should be crushed and tied over the affected body parts, it relieves and heals the wound quickly.
5. Calotropis procera
7. Citrullus colocynthis
(Ait.) Ait. f. (Family: Asclepiadaceae) Vernacular names: Akada, Madaar (Hindi); Milkweed, Swallow-wort (English). Traditional Uses: Crushed leaves are applied over boils. Leaf extract mixed with rhizomes of Curcuma longa (Turmeric) and Brassica campestris (Mustard) oil is effective in curing skin problems. One leaf of each Milkweed and Piper betel (Betel leaf) is crushed together and given in the cases of malaria. In arthritis, Ricinus communis (Castor) seeds are crushed along with old leaves of this plant and applied over the painful body parts. It helps in getting rid of pain.
(L.) Schrad. (Family: Cucurbitaceae) Vernacular names: Indrayan (Hindi); Bitter-apple, Colocynth (English). Traditional Uses: The fruits are used in stomachache. Pulp of the fruit is good in foul taste of the mouth. Colocynth fruit juice with salt and pinch of Trachyspermum ammi (Bishop’s weed) seed powder is given in stomachache, joint pains and typhoid. In snake bite, Colocynth root powder is taken with the Piper betel (betel leaf), it works amazingly. In case of pneumonia in children, 1g root powder with 0.25g black salt is stirred in luke warm water and given. Piper nigrum (Black Pepper) is put inside
the Colocyth fruit and taken orally to cure chronic cough.
8. Cocculus hirsutus
(L.) Diels. (Family: Menispermaceae) Vernacular names: Jal Jamani (Hindi); Broomcreeper, Ink-berry (English). Traditional Uses: The leaves are useful to cure leucorrhea. Roots are crushed in water and given to the patients for 2-3 times a day at an average interval of 6 hours. The plant is considered as an antidote to snakebites and scorpion stings. A paste of root can be applied externally to treat painful joints, arthritis and rheumatism. The plant is also considered as an aphrodisiac. Fresh leaves are crushed in a glass of cold water and taken orally in night before sleep. It improves problems related to that of premature ejaculation.
9. Costus speciosus
(Koenig.) Sm. (Family: Zingiberaceae) Vernacular names: Keokand (Hindi); Wild or Spiral Ginger, Canereed (English). Traditional Uses: The plant is basically used in skin and respiratory diseases. In dysentery, rhizome of the plant is mixed with Coriandrum sativum (Coriander) leaves and Zingiber officinalis (Ginger) rhizome and given to the patient. For improving appetite, combination of
www.communit yseeds.com 15
Traditional Applications Of Indian Herbs, Continued
Colocynth rhizome powder, Coriandrum sativum, Elettaria cardamomum (Cardamom) and Piper nigrum (Black Pepper) is said to be effective. To prevent vomiting during the pregnancy, a mixture of rhizome of the plant, Zingiber officinalis, Cyperus rotundus (Nut Grass) and sugar is given. Rhizome powder mixed with Coriandrum sativum and sugar acts as a coolant and given in sun strokes.
Acorus calamus
10. Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.
(Family: Cuscutaceae) Vernacular names: Amarbel (Hindi); Giant Dodder (English). Traditional Uses: The extract of the plant is applied over the scalp to get rid of dandruff. Whole plant is boiled in acetic acid and given to the patient suffering with severe joint pains. According to the
healers, patient should add Prunus amygdalus (Almond) with this decoction to get the better results. A paste of fresh aerial parts is applied over the skin for the treatment of itching and infection. Plant oil is said to effective in curing baldness.
11. Emblica officinalis
Gaertn.(Family: Euphorbiaceae) Vernacular names: Aonla (Hindi); Emblic Myrobalan, Indian Gooseberry (English). Traditional Uses: Fruit powder and juice is effective in dandruff. Leaves are good in mouth ulcers. Fruit powder mixed with Curcuma longa (Turmeric) powder is given in diabetes. Fresh fruit juice and cow ghee supports the increasing of sperm count. Powder of dry fruit of this plant and Sesamum indicum (Sesame) seeds in equal amount should be taken for 20 days with honey or ghee, it is a wonderful tonic. In leucorrhea, fruit powder with sugar should be given.
12. Mangifera indica L.
(Family: Anacardiaceae) Vernacular names: Aam (Hindi); Mango (English). Traditional Uses: The leaves are used in mouth ulcer. Seed kernel is grounded in water and applied over wounds,
16 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
sores, boils and a variety of skin infections. It is very effective. A decoction of unripe fruits is supposed to be the best remedy in sun and heat stroke. It is also helpful in diarrhea, dysentery and cholera. Seed powder, along with honey and water, works wonders in bleeding hemorrhoids.
13. Moringa oleifera Lam.
(Family: Moringaceae) Vernacular names: Munga, Sahjan (Hindi); Drumstick Tree, Horse Radish Tree (English). Traditional Uses: Root bark paste is applied over the skin in cases of infection and wounds. The juice of the leaves is effective in curing eye related various problems. Leaf extract is beneficial in respiratory diseases. Powder of dried flower is mixed in Cocos nucifera (Coconut) and put inside the ear in the cases of earache and infections. Drumstick pod curry acts as an anthelmintic agent. Tribals prepare curry from the pods and leaves of the plant and serve to the patient suffering from intestinal worm infection. Seed oil is applied externally in arthritis and joint pains.
14. Mucuna pruriens Baker (Family: Fabaceae)
Features
Vernacular names: Kaunch, Kimaach (Hindi); Common Cowitch, Cowhage (English). Traditional Uses: Seeds are used as an aphrodisiac. They are added in cow milk along with wheat flour and a local dish ‘Kheer’ is prepared. It is said to be a good tonic and it also works as a wonderful rejuvenator. Root extract is applied in and around the vaginal walls, it is said that it adds to sexual pleasure.
15. Ocimum sanctum L.
(Family: Lamiaceae) Vernacular names: Tulsi (Hindi); Sacred Basil, Holy Basil (English). Traditional Uses: The plant is traditionally used in cough, cold, asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism, diabetes, gastric disorders and earache. The leaves are found very effective against various skin diseases. Dried leaves are mixed with Piper nigrum (Black Pepper) powder and boiled for 15 minutes to prepare a decoction. The decoction is consumed to reduce cough and cold. It is also found effective in toothache. Seed powder is mixed with jaggery and consumed with milk twice a day to delay orgasm.
16. Semecarpus anacardium L. f. (Family:
Anacardiaceae) Vernacular names: Bhilwa, Bhilma (Hindi); Marking Nut Tree Oriental Cashew (English). Traditional Uses: The oil extracted from the seeds is applied on the painful body parts. Powder of the fruits is given orally with Tamarindus indica (Tamerind) fruit powder to kill intestinal worms. Plant leaves are dried under shade and powdered. It is used in fever and also considered diuretic. Powdered leaves are snuffed to control nasal bleeding. Fruits are used externally in rheumatism. In joint pain and arthritis, seed oil is applied topically on affected parts. Paste of the crushed fruits is externally applied over abscess.
17. Solanum virginianum L. (Family: Solanaceae) Vernacular names: Bhatkataiya (Hindi); Yellow Berried Nightshade (English). Traditional Uses: The plant is used in the treatment of cough, asthma and pain in chest. The root powder is employed in stomach pain, toothache and as an expectorant. A decoction is prepared by mixing aerial parts of the plant, Adhatoda zeylanica (Malabar Nut) leaves, Tinospora cordifolia (Gulancha Tinospora) leaves
and honey. This decoction is given twice a day to cure fever. The plant is also found beneficial in relieving painful menstruation. Powdered roots are given with honey in heart disorders.
18. Syzygium cumini (L.)
Skeels (Family: Myrtaceae) Vernacular names: Jamun (Hindi); Jambolan, Black Plum, Java Plum (English). Traditional Uses: Bark is used in dysentery, diarrhea, diabetes, indigestion and as a blood purifier. Seed powder is useful in diarrhoea, dysentery and diabetes. Bark is used as mouth wash; it removes foul smell from the mouth. Seeds are dried and crushed to make powder. The powder is externally applied on pimples. Seed powder and Mangifera indica (Mango) is mixed and taken twice a day in hemorrhage. Black plum seeds, and powder obtained from Curcuma longa (Turmeric) rhizome, Swertia chirata (Chiretta) bark, Enicostema axillare (Indian Gentian) seeds, Terminalia chebula (Chebulic Myrobalan) bark and Azadirachta indica (Neem) bark is mixed thoroughly and given twice a day with water to cure diabetes.
19. Terminalia arjuna
www.communit yseeds.com 17
Traditional Applications Of Indian Herbs, Continued
(Roxb.) Wight & Arn. (Family: Combretaceae) Vernacular names: Arjun, Kahuaa (Hindi); Arjun Tree (English). Traditional Uses: The decoction of the bark is used as a wash in ulcers. It is also given as tea in cardiac problems. The bark gives strength to the heart. It is a good stomachic. Bark powder is mixed in milk and given to the heart patient. Powder of the bark is also mixed in clarified butter, jaggery and milk, and given to the patients twice a day for treatment of various heart diseases. A decoction of bark serves good wound healer. It is considered good remedy for low blood pressure. Approximately 1-3g bark powder is given to cure spermatorrhea.
20. Withania somnifera (L.)
Dunal (Family: Solanaceae) Vernacular names: Asgandh, Ashwagandha (Hindi); Winter Cherry, Indian Ginseng (English). Traditional Uses: Powder of roots is mixed with roots of Curculigo orchioides (Orchid Palm Grass) and Tribulus terrestris (Puncture-vine) and given with milk in arthritis.
To treat male sterility, semen count and early orgasm, roots of the plant, powder of Mucuna pruriens (Cow Hedge plant) seeds and Tribulus terrestris roots are mixed in equal proportion. The mixture is given with clarified butter, sugar or milk twice a day. In low sperm count and sterility, equal amount of roots of the plant, fruits of Trapa natans (Water Chestnut), Asparagus racemosus (Indian Asparagus) and Pueraria tuberosa (Indian Kudzu) are mixed and taken orally with sugar and milk. Roots of plant are powdered and mixed with Tinospora cordifolia (gulancha tinospora) plant, Emblica officinalis (emblic myrobalan) fruit, Zingiber officinale (Ginger) rhizome powder and Tribulus terrestris and a decoction is made. This is given orally in case of pain during urination.
T
he survey provides evidence that the Gond and Bharia tribes in Patalkot use the above mentioned plants for curing various health ailments. There is need to conduct training about the traditional knowledge to the young generation in the valley as they seem to be less interested in learning it. Cultivation and conservation
18 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
of medicinal plants methods should be taught to the healers so that the valley remains green and unaffected by routinely removal of herbs and shrubs. It is, in fact, a need of the hour to establish a Traditional Medicine Centre in these areas as to monitor and promote the collection of herbs from the Bhumkas through the research agencies/companies or other institutions. The tribal people can also be encouraged to take up this job as an income generation activity. The information about medicinal uses and formulation are for information purposes. We have not conducted any clinical trials on practices mentioned in this article. The main aim of this study was to scout and document the indigenous knowledge.
Acknowledgement
Authors are thankful to indigenous herbal healers for sharing their invaluable information with us. Special thanks are due to Dr Surendra Bhade, Munnalal Bharti, Mr Sanjay Pandre, Rural Resource Development Organization (RRDO), ECOCampus and Friend’s Nature Club, Danielson College who supported the scouting and documentation activity in the Patalkot valley.
Features
References
Acharya, D. and Shrivastava, A. 2008. Indigenous Herbal Medicines: Tribal Formulations and Traditional Herbal Practices. Aavishkar Publishers Distributors, Jaipur. ISBN 978-81-7910-252-7.
Table 1 Information about herbal healers No. Healer’s Name 1. Chaitram 2. Sarju Gond 3. Fagulal Kavreti 4. Munnalal Gond 5. Pankhu Bharia 6. Chimmilal 7. Kohru 8. Patiram 9. Mangat Bharti 10. Rajelal 11. Sukhram Bhalavi 12. Nathulal Gond 13. Kavaria 14. Munnalal Bharia 15. Bhurelal DA- Deepak Acharya, SP- Sanjay Pawar
Village Sukhabhand Gujja Dongri Dhurni Malni Chimtipur Ghatlinga Kareyam Ghana Harra-ka-Char Jhiram Palani Gaildubba Sahra Pachgol Rated Gudichattri Ghana Gaildubba
Interviewed by DA SP SP SP DA SP DA DA DA DA DA SP SP SP SP
www.communit yseeds.com 19
Biodynamic Vs. Organic Vs. Sustainable
Biodynamic vs. Organic vs. Sustainable What to Know? By Tara Kilkenny
20 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
W
ithin the last decade there has been a huge push to be healthier. With this health craze there are lots of terms flying around that are describing what we are eating, and what critics are saying is better for us. But do you really know the difference between organic and traditional produce? What makes a company sustainable? Have you ever even heard of biodynamic practices? Let me help educate you to what you are really putting in your body and let you be the judge of how healthy it is.
Features
traditional produce, is very regulated. They must be in separate bins and if cases like pallets or flats have been used previously for traditional produce, they may not be used to transport organic produce. All these regulations are there to insure that you receive truly organic produce.
N
ow what is the difference between organic and sustainable? By definition, sustainability is just to support its own weight. In the produce world, this has come to mean that there is no negative effects on the surroundings and the production may even be putting something back into the system. Up irst of all, let us start with the term, organic. until recently there have been no government When I think of this term, I think of the all regulated standards of sustainability. Late last natural approaches to produce, no chemicals or year, a committee got together and decided that genetically altered seeds. These are both true to some extent, but organic goes much further than there should be legal regulation of sustainability. This year, there have been several meetings at that. Since 2000, the National Organic Program the Leonardo Academy in Madison, Wisconsin has been the organization that defines and regulates the production of “organic” goods. This to define, for each agricultural industry, the sustainable standards. For the moment, office is an addition to the earlier Organic Food sustainable means that the production does not Production Act of 1990. These institutions also deem a product fully organic or some percentage harm the produce or its surrounding and may add to the wellness of the area, but in the very near thereof. In essence, these organizations set, future there will be legal standards to this. maintain, and regulate the standards.
F
S
F
inally, who has ever heard of biodynamic practices? They are a step farther than organic. They have the same land and fertilizer regulations, but are a bit tighter on the types of pesticide use as well. The main difference, according to these farmers, is the way they think about the production. They are focused on forces and processes where they see organic and sustainable farmers focused on substances. A biodynamic farmer is aware of and uses earthly and cosmic rhythms to better their crops; an example of which would be the affects of full and new moons and their impact on plant rganic does not stop when the produce leaves the farms. There are strict regulations growth. For a biodynamic farmer, the farm is a living organism and functions best when on where the produce is kept. “Comingling”, it sustains itself and replenishes the soil. The which refers to organic produce being near o what are these standards and what does that mean for our produce? The very first standard is that the fields where this produce is grown has to be pesticide free for at least three years before the produce from it is considered organic. There are regulations on the types of seeds that can be planted. This means no genetically modified seeds. There is also a tight list of what types of pesticides, synthetic or chemical, can be used on the land. Also, only natural fertilizers can be used.
O
www.communit yseeds.com 21
Biodynamic Vs. Organic Vs. Sustainable, Continued
final defining aspect is the use of small quantities of homeopathic treated compost, soil and plants. These things are made up of horn manure, horn silica, yarrow, chamomile, stinging nettles, oak bark, dandelion flowers, valerian, and horsetail. Biodynamic farmers add a completely different aspect and option when purchasing produce.
I
n the end, the options are vast. Whether you are extremely health conscious and want to be extremely sure that the produce you are eating has been grown in the proper cycle of the moon with these natural homeopathic elements, or you just want the peace of mind that you are not eating synthetic pesticide, there are farmers out there willing to meet your desires. Maybe it is time to put more stock in the adage, you are what you eat. For more information, visit: http://www.leonardoacademy.org/programs/ standards/agstandard/development.html http://www.ota.com/organic/us_standards.html http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop http://www.demeterbta.com/certification.html
BY GIVING JUST A FEW HOURS OF MY DAY
I HELP CHILDREN PREPARE FOR
ABECAUSE LIFETIME OF LEARNING I DON’T JUST WEAR THE SHIRT, I LIVE IT. GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. LIVE UNITED
®
Ruth Rusie is part of United Way’s ongoing work to improve the education, income, and health of our communities. To find out how you can help create opportunities for a better life for all, visit LIVEUNITED.ORG. ®
22 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
http://www.demeterbta.com/biodynamic.html
Easy Being Greener
All Natural Weed Killers These natural weed killers are better for the environment, more cost effective and safe for children and pets!
Boiling Water: The boiling water
will kill the weeds as well as any seeds. You can poor the water on weeds growing out of your walkways.
Vinegar: Yes, the vinegar you find in
your kitchen! You can use the vinegar by itself or use it in a mixture of salt or soapy water, depending on the type of weeds you are trying to kill.
Alcohol: Combine1-2 tablespoons
of rubbing alcohol to 1 quart of water. You can also use other alcohols, such as gin or bourbon.
Citrus Oils: You can use oils such
as orange or lemon oil. To use citrus oil as a natural weed killer, combine 1 cup of citrus oil, 1 tablespoon of dish soap, and one gallon of vinegar.
Illustration by DeAnna Holman
By Chelsey Edgington
Salt: Add 3 pounds of salt with a gallon of
soapy water mixture (suggested below). You can also add equal parts of salt and vinegar. It is not suggested to use salt mixtures on cement or near flowers. Also, be aware that salt is difficult to get rid of and will be in your soil for a long time. Salt mixtures are best used when using as spot treatments on weeds.
Soap: Use 2 tablespoons of dish soap to
every gallon of your natural weed killer. The soap will allow you to see where you have sprayed and will also help the weeds absorb the weed killer. If the soap is strong enough it can be used with water.
E
ach of these mixtures are easy to use when put into spray bottles and directly sprayed onto the weeds. Be careful when spraying near certain plants and flowers. www.communit yseeds.com 23
Egg Shell Mosaic
24 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Eco Friendly Crafts
Egg Shell Mosaic By Ashley Grebe
C
reating crafts with your children using materials found in your home allows for a wonderful surge of creativity from your little ones. This fun activity uses egg shells, paint and imagination to create a colorful mosaic image.
Materials: •
At least 3 dozen clean dry egg shells
•
Food coloring
•
Brown grocery bags or a thick paper
•
White liquid glue
Instructions: Mix food coloring according to the package instructions, just like you were dying Easter Eggs. Dye the shells in a variety of colors for your children to choose from. Let the shells dry completely. Break the shells up into small pieces of varying sizes. Cut open a grocery store paper bag so it lays flat or lay out your paper of choice. This will be the canvas for their creation, and you can cut it to any size or shape they desire. Use glue and the colored shells to create a design on the paper. You can draw a design then fill it in with colored shells or just glue shell pieces down in bunches, or one at time, to make freeform designs. Add more imagination and creativity by using paint, markers, or glitter to embellish your eggshell art.
Egg photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net www.communit yseeds.com 25
Family
Eco
26 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Family
Kids
Photo Submission If you would like a photo of your child published, please email it to info@ communityseeds.com along with our Photo Release Form.
www.communit yseeds.com 27
Familiy
Things Are Warming Up Reconstructing Winter Clothes for Summer Use By Ashley Grebe
jeans that have become too short, is to cut them into shorts! Doing so yourself gives you the freedom to choose the length appropriate for your family. This is a fun project for parents and kids when you consider adding embellishments like patches or colorful trim.
S
ummer is upon us, and what better way to get full use out of your preexisting wardrobe than by reconstructing pieces you already own to compliment warmer temperatures? We have a few great ideas for you and your family to sustainably increase your wardrobe choices for summer. Our kids grow up quickly, and one of the best ways to get use out of
28 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Another fabulous idea for updating your wardrobe is to break out the bleach for your old pairs of denim. This is an option I hadn’t necessarily considered for myself, but I took the challenge one Saturday afternoon and decided to bleach white an old pair of Levi’s shorts. I immersed the shorts in a tub of bleach for about six hours. You are able to control how light the denim gets, I opted for a totally white look. After rinsing, hang in the sun to complete the bleaching process. White denim is a great look for summer and easily obtained on a budget. If you are skilled with a needle and thread, there are also great ways to reconstruct long sleeve tops and sweaters to better suit warmer weather. Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
SummerTime And The Living Is Easy Kids Eco Fashion
By Lorianne S. Riley
www.communit yseeds.com 29
Things Are Warming Up
And The Living Is Easy 30 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Family
The Grass is high
www.communit yseeds.com 31
Oh your daddy’s rich
32 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Your mama’s good looking
www.communit yseeds.com 33
What You Need To Know to Achieve THe Looks Vintage Fabrics
Stitching Details
Cool Accessories
Where To Find
I said hush little baby Don’t you cry
34 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
www.appleblossombaby.com
Designs by Sue Sue Vintage Baby’s Indulgeree
Making A Difference
Green Scene-Philanthropy
H
Tomatofest
odges Nursery held their Annual Tomatofest in Durham, CA. The Guest of Honor was the famed Tomato King himself, Steve Goto from Southern California. The Tomato King, known for his organic practices, talked about caring for, as well as how to reep great results organically in, your tomato and pepper gardens. Other speakers included: Tim Felegy, developer of Denali Gold & Happy Mediam Potting Soil, Joyce Jong of Jong’s Gro Better Fertilizer, Carole Rollins of Nature’s Solutions, and Remi Lohse of Serenade Organic Disease Control. - By Lorianne Riley
S
Springfest
mall businesses owned by local women in northern California came together at Hodges Nursery in Durham, CA to show their goods and celebrate spring. The event benefited Relay For Life Teams: Durham Blossoms & Buds, who also served their tri-tip sandwiches at the event. Several speakers and local vendors, with booths and demonstrations, participated. A portion of the proceeds go to the Durham Blossoms & Buds. - By Lorianne Riley www.communit yseeds.com 35
Green Scene
Green Scene-Culinary
Cooking Solutions
T
he Monterey Bay Aquarium was the setting for the 10th Annual Cooking Solutions Event. Nathan Lyon was one of the many celebrity chefs that taught classes. Whole Foods was one of the sponsors and had booths available to visit with venders of various organic products. - By Lorianne Riley
36 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Making A Difference
Green Scene-Anniversaries Kevin& Lori Riley’s 10th Anniversary
P
ublisher and Editor-inchief, Lorianne Riley, celebrated her 10th Anniversary with her husband Kevin Riley in Las Vegas, NV. They stayed at the Mandarin Orient, a LEED Resort and saw the show Beetles Love. - By Lorianne Riley
Riley’s 25th Anniversary
R
ileys Bar and Grill in Chico, CA, celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Chico State Alumni came from all over the United States for this fun filled party, including a live band, DJ and 3 bars. Riley’s is know for its green initiatives and Community Support.. - By Lorianne Riley
www.communit yseeds.com 37
38 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Making A Difference
Green Scene-Festivals California Nut Festival
H
eld at the Patrick Ranch in Durham, CA, this annual event is held to help consumers gain awareness of the local farmers in Northern California. Live bands, food demonstrations and local artist where all featured at this fun filled event. All proceeds go the preservation of the Patrick Ranch Museum, a non-profit organization. -By Lorianne Riley
C
Eco Festival
hico State held its Annual Eco Festival on the California State, Chico campus where people enjoyed dancing and kids received free face painting. -By Lorianne Riley
www.communit yseeds.com 39
Green Scene
Green Scene-Parties Dawn’s 40th Birthday
D
awn Geonichoni celebrated her 40th Birthday in style with a few of her closest friends. The scene was a private garden party at 5th Street Steak House in Chico, CA. They all enjoyed 5th Street’s sustainable fare. -By Lorianne Riley
The 39th annual Chico Sports Hall of Fame and Senior Athletes Banquet
T
he four inductees into the Chico Sports Hall of Fame were: Jay Anderson, Armand Brett, Kirk Freitas and Sandy Goulart, as selected by the Hall of Fame committee. Chico State, Butte College and nine Northern California high schools had students that were also awarded for their athletic excellence and abilities. Aaron Rodgers was honored as Sports Person of The Year. During the ceremony, Aaron Rodgers sat and ate dinner at the PV High School nominees’ table. What a thrill and memorable moment for these young talented athletes! - By Lorianne Riley
40 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Making A Difference
Green Scene-Fashion
The Coup De Tat Fashion Show
C
olorful artwork and fashion designs where featured by local artist and designers in Chico, CA. Clothing was reconstructed and /or designed with vintage fabrics. Hair and makeup was done by eleMENts by Beaute and MPK Productions. Four design houses where involved in the showcase of eclectic fashion including, Shonna Frietas of Abigail’s Clothing, Micah Hankins of ...Iron and Ink, Natalie Hays of Natalie Hays and Marc Andrew Fitzgerald of Able Abe Clothing. -By Lorianne Riley
www.communit yseeds.com 41
Green Scene
Green Scene- Making A Difference Edited By Lorianne S. Riley
L
ori Riley recently spoke on 97.7 FM KDEE, Sacramento’s #1 Community Radio about Community Seeds Eco Magazine. “Going Green with Envirobro” is a radio show hosted by Leonard Robinson on Thursdays at 10 am and Saturdays at 8 am: http://envirobro.com. The California Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation, a non profit organization, aims to educate and empower the listeners through radio programs that will help influence the hearts and minds of the community. -By Kaylee Agaman
EnviroBro Movie Review Under Rich Earth
With Chelsey Edgington
T
he award winning film, Under Rich Earth, is a captivating and inspiring story about courage and determination. The story of hardworking farmers in a remote mountain valley in Ecuador, Under Rich Earth depicts the gripping hardships the people of Intag Valley face when a Canadian mining company threatens to invade their land in pursuit of copper. In the Intag valley of Ecuador, lush and fertile land has been peacefully nurtured for decades. The locals there have become resourceful inhabitants with a small group of families that have honed their crafts as coffee and sugarcane farmers. Three generations have protected and cultivated this land. Their means of survival is threatened by the aggressive invasion of the mining company. After miners determine the land to be rich in copper, they will stop at nothing to acquire it. In an effort to protect their livelihood, the farmers and their families are willing to risk their lives standing up to the company. With no protection from the police and no support from their government, the farmers take matters into their own hands, leading to a standoff between farmers and armed para militaries deep in the forest. This film shows the hopeful journey of the Ecuadorian underdogs, and serves as a reminder to all of determination and optimism. Community Seeds staffer, Chelsey Edgington, viewed the film in Chico and found herself stirred by this heartbreaking story. Chelsey had this to say about Under Rich Earth, “This film was an eye-opener for me in terms of the devastation of mining and the lack of support from the government in other parts of the world.” Chelsey went on to give her recommendation of this critically acclaimed film, ensuring the satisfaction of those who view it. - Ashley Grebe
42 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Making A Difference
Clothing Drive Strips through Downtown Chico By Kaylee Agaman
D
ead week for Chico State students is not always so dead. For the past few years, Chico State students have taken over the downtown City Plaza to take part in a clothing drive the Friday before finals.
T
hree years ago, Blake Levingston and myself, Kaylee Agaman. decided we wanted to bring “The Undie Run” to Chico State. We were high school friends and some of our friends from UC campus’ and out of state schools had told us about The Undie Run at their school. We knew that this had to happen in Chico. So here is our thought process.
B
lake decided to start this up in 2009 and asked for my help as the event got closer. Most of the planning for this event took place via Facebook. We had no idea what to expect
going into the evening of the event. To our surprise, as Blake and I turned the corner of 4th and Broadway, we were shocked to see over 150 people. We simply made a pile of clothes in the Plaza and went on a mile jog through downtown Chico. Once we made it to the finish line, many people had worked up a sweat and decided to dance in the fountain to cool off.
I
n the end, Blake and I collected the clothes in trash bags and threw them in our cars to donate to The Salvation Army. We were proud of what we had done but we knew we could www.communit yseeds.com 43
Clothing Drive Strips Through Downtown Chico
make it better in the future.
grateful and I wish every runner would have been able to see how genuinely grateful they were for all of the donations.
A
G
oing into the 2nd Annual Chico State Undie Run, we decided to plan a little further in advance. The Facebook group was created at the end of the fall semester and we brought a few more helpers on board. With the help of our committee, we were able to borrow orange buckets from Home Depot to collect the clothes in and then U-Haul allowed us to borrow a truck to store the hundreds of clothes we collected.
T
he second year was a great success with over 2200 people confirmed to attend on Facebook and over 4000 others that were notified of the event. People showed up early and gathered around the fountain. A local pedi-cab driver, Mike G-Ride provided some tunes to pump people up for the run. Blake and I brought a mega phone to lead cheers and direct people what was going on.
O
ur planning and hard work resulted in over 600 people actually showing up and running through downtown for the cause of donating clothes and relieving stress before finals week. Almost the entire back of the U-Haul was full of clothes to donate. A few of us went the following day to The Salvation Army to make our contribution. It was an amazing feeling to see the reactions of those helping us unload the truck. They were all so
44 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
s I approach graduation this year I decided this had to be the biggest Undie Run we’ve had thus far. Word has spread the last few years and I even heard freshman talking about it before the Facebook page was even created. Within the first 24 hours of making this year’s event, there was 500+ people confirmed to attend. Two weeks away from the event there was 1680 people Attending, 375 Maybe Attending, 1670 Awaiting Reply and only 355 Not Attending. With the help of a little social networking, the word of the event had spread to over 4080 people!!! Blake and I were ecstatic to see the success that this year’s event turned out to be.
T
he 3rd Annual Chico State Undie Run was held on Friday, May 13th, 2011 at 7 pm at the Downtown Plaza on 5th and Broadway in Chico, CA and had an amazing turn out from both students and community members.
W
e are proud to be a part of this green event. By publicizing for the Undie Run virtually via Facebook along with making the physical donation of the clothing we feel that our efforts to give back to the Chico community in a healthy manner have been successful these past three years. We look
Making A Difference
forward to keeping this Chico Tradition going for years to come.
G
ranted Blake will be here one more year to keep things going, we are always looking for committee members to help out and eventually take things over for us as we graduate and unfortunately leave Chico. You can find the Facebook event listed as: 3rd Annual Chico State Undie Run!!! Or can contact either of us on Facebook: Blake Levingston or Kaylee Agaman.
Restaurant Hours: Mon - Fri 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM Friday and Saturday Open til 10 PM Sunday Open till 9 PM Late Night Hours: Thursday - Saturday Open til 2 AM
506 Ivy Street Chico, CA 95928 Take Out: 530-898-9947 Reservation: 530-898-9948 www.frankyschico.com www.communit yseeds.com 45
Making A Difference
Ties That
Matter
T
ies That Matter, www.tiesthatmatter.com, is an Atlanta company that uses recycled neckties to create beautiful fashion and home accessories. They hire low income women to do the sewing and donate 10% of their profits to help support services for the homeless. It all began with a slightly frayed, but still beautiful, necktie. My husband, who along with most men in America, is downsizing his tie collection. He tossed an old tie into the trash can and I fished it out. All silky and swirly, the tie was bursting with potential. At that point, I wasn’t sure just what it was going to become and I certainly did not have a clue that it was the first of approximately 10,000 ties (to date) that would end up in my studio; I just knew that it was pretty and it was a shame to throw it away. I was on the prowl for cheap (and preferably free) art materials as I had recently started an art program at Central’s Outreach and Advocacy Center (OAC) in downtown Atlanta. The OAC provides services for the homeless and there were dozens of men and women who came each day and sat for hours waiting for an appointment. My idea was to give them something to do that would stimulate their 46 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
By Laura Martin
creativity. After a few weeks, I realized that people on the street are already extremely creative. They have to be, their survival depends on it. What they really loved was a project – something to do that involved directions and instructions and a finished product at the end, things that their lives were woefully lacking. I came up with the idea of making small, reusable grocery bags, but knew that the group lacked sewing skills. I was trying to figure out how they could easily and quickly make handles for the bag, when my eye fell on my husband’s swirly, silky tie. Voila! A tie, with it’s nice, smooth edges, would make perfect handles. With only a moment’s hesitation, I grabbed a pair of scissors and cut the tie to make two handles just the right length and stitched them onto a simple polyester bag. Then I noticed the wide end of the tie lying on the cutting table and it dawned on me that folded up and stitched, it would make a perfect little stuff pouch for the polyester bag. The OAC folks made a few and we sold them for $6.00 each and gave the money back to the OAC. People loved them and I soon found myself taking orders for dozens more. I sent out a plea for used neckties, corralled volunteers from the American Sewing Guild and
Ties That Matter together, we made 1000 of these small bags in 2008, sold them and were able to donate $6,000.00 to the OAC to support their programs. The problem was, people were so generous in giving us neckties that we had several hundred leftover when we finished the grocery bag project. It seemed wasteful not to use them. I stayed up nights trying to figure out what to do with them. One night, over dinner, I discussed this with my daughter, Cameron McCord, and another friend, Elizabeth Chrane. Both had been intimately involved with the grocery bag project and both wanted to do something to continue to help make change for the better in our community. We began to brainstorm and came up with the idea of using the ties, not only to make small grocery bags, but to use them to cover fabric to make larger purses and bags. I left the restaurant on fire with ideas and enthusiasm and quickly designed a series of travel bags, small cosmetic bags and purses – all covered with beautiful ties and in 2009, the three of us started Ties That Matter. We created an LLC and wrote a mission statement that included a pledge to do three things: (1) use recycled materials (2) create jobs for low income women who would do the sewing and (3) give back 10% of our profits to continue to support the OAC. We have been thrilled with the results! We have added to our product line and have included special occasion bags made from ruffled tie pieces and small necktie “flowers,” hats and belts. We were asked to be a part of the 2010 American Craft Council Show and have done a series of juried art shows since. We are on socially innovative online shops, such as Global Girlfriend and, of course, have our own website store (www.tiesthatmatter.com). To date, we have been able to pay our sewers over $10,000. 00 and have donated a total of $8,000.00 to the OAC; success by any standard. Like most business owners, we found that most of our time, effort and money goes to marketing and sales. We realized that we were spending so much time selling our products that we were no longer in contact with the people we were trying to help and we were not sure we were happy about that. After seemingly endless discussions, Cameron, Elizabeth and I decided that our hearts are with the people we are trying to help and we want to increase that number. We decided that instead of just employing a small number of women to sew the products, we were going to give away all our designs
and instructions, put them into a book and encourage as many women as we possibly could to make and sell these products themselves. We would still collect ties and would distribute them to women who are interested in making and selling these products to provide, or supplement, an income for themselves. We would do everything we could to help them be successful. Once the decision was made, the opportunities began to open up almost immediately. I designed several tie products that can be quickly sewn by hand (no electricity needed) and I will be going to Haiti in October to teach a week long class to women there, in the hopes that they can make these products and earn some much needed income. I hope to do the same in my own city, teaching at women’s shelters, churches and schools. Our idea is to help empower women and facilitate their efforts to use their time and talents to earn income wherever they may be. It is our hope that we will continue to have enough ties donated that we can offer a “starter kit” to individual women that includes a bag of ties and instructions for making products. We will still continue to make and sell our products and hope for continued success in doing this. But our greater efforts will be in helping everyone we can to realize the joy and satisfaction of transforming their own skills and talents into a profit. It is our greater dream that this is an idea that will spread. Our particular materials happen to be ties because we get them in quantities large enough to share and because they are beautiful materials to work with, but there are all kinds of found materials that can be salvaged to be used for a similar purpose and there are unemployed people everywhere with skills to share. For us, the idea of “zero waste” goes far beyond recycling and composting. For us, not wasting means helping people recognize the beauty and potential in everything, whether it be a tossed out necktie or a homeless person on the street. Truly, these are the ties that matter.
How can you help? Buy a product at www.tiesthatmatter.com! Collect ties. Contact us at info@tiesthatmatter.com. Host a workshop for women in need in your own area. For more information, contact Laura@tiesthatmatter.com. www.communit yseeds.com 47
Making A Difference
The
Scoop By Ashley Grebe
Get the SCOOP on Chico State’s Effort to Regulate Office Energy Use
“Think globally, act locally.” This statement resonates with many people, especially when it comes to encouraging others to adopt an environmentally conscious, sustainable lifestyle. Extending the behavioral changes we have already made in our immediate environment to our offices is another way to greatly improve the world in which we live.
S
tudents at California State University, Chico are working together to educate offices in the area about how they can work efficiently while using their energy wisely. The group known as SCOOP, Sustainable Consultations of Office Practices, performs free consultations of all campus department offices. Using energy auditing tools, the trained students and employees audit the energy an office uses and offer sustainable recommendations for behavior change. The teams focus on an offices use of computers, fax machines, copiers, lighting, electrical equipment, paper and recycling, and purchasing.
48 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
C
onsidering some spend as much time in their offices as they do in their homes, monitoring the amount of energy used is a good idea. Although SCOOP is currently only auditing offices on Chico State’s campus you can monitor the same focus areas in your place of work. Switching desk lights to LED bulbs can significantly reduce energy. Closing windows while heating or air systems are in use conserves energy as well. Using power strips for your appliances and being sure to switch them off by the end of the day will immensely reduce overnight energy output.
M
any of us may overlook the way energy is spent in the offices we work in daily. One may choose to see it as the employers responsibility, but simply introducing the issue to your employer has the potential to significantly reduce your offices energy output and cost. Collectively offices have the option to greatly reduce the energy consumed. Taking the suggestions offered by SCOOP serve as a further extension of conscious living. Image: Pixomar / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
• New
Construction
• Remodels • Additions • Kitchens • Baths • Decks 35 Years
License # 930420
Why build green?...
Of Experience Counts!
...We do it for
their future Build it GREEN (BIG) Member
...No job too big or small...
www.communit yseeds.com 49
50 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Healthy Living
Morning Yoga By Ashley Grebe
W
e all need a little help getting going in the morning. This sequence of yoga moves is designed to give your body an energizing stretch, awakening the body and assisting you in greeting the sun! Do this sequence of poses 1-5 times, finishing with five minutes of still meditation to calm you before you begin another busy day. Continued on Page 52
www.communit yseeds.com 51
Morning Yoga
3.
2 4.
5.
3 1.
2.
R
aised Hands: Hold this pose for three deep breaths, being sure to expand your rib cage as you inhale.
F
orward Bend: Hold this pose for three breaths. Curve your spine and allow your body to hang above your toes. This move allows blood to travel to the brain and is a great stretch for the spine.
4 52 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
5
D
ownward Facing Dog: Hold this pose for three breaths. Focus on pushing the heel of your foot towards the ground and keeping a straight back. This pose invigorates the spine.
C
obra Pose: Push up from your arms and arch your back as much as your comfort will allow. This is a great stretch for the abdomen.
C
hild’s Pose: This is a great move to end a yoga sequence. Push your bottom back to allow for a great stretch of the spine.
Healthy Living
Every Town Needs At Least One Community Garden By Chelsey Edgington
I T
n the past decade, community gardens have been pooping up everywhere from parks in New York City to schools in rural areas. They are a great way to be active outside, promote healthy eating, and help reduce our carbon foot print; all while bringing local communities together.
there is dirt and sun. It is becoming more and more popular for schools to have community gardens to promote healthy eating and to teach kids ways of cooking healthier meals.
C
ommunity Seeds recently interviewed a local sustainable activist in Chico, California. Richard Roth, who here are all types community gardens. participates in two farmers markets, Some gardens will charge for the started one community garden at a Chico produce and others will not. You can School and is the executive director of cChaos, find community gardens at homeless a non-profit organization (One the many things shelters, churches, schools, and retirement he involved with). We had the opportunity homes. Community gardens can be anywhere to sit down with Richard and ask him some www.communit yseeds.com 53
Community Garden
questions about community gardens and get some of his gardening tips.
the creatures that like to come for a free lunch. Richard is proud to say that all of his solutions to fight the weeds and creatures are always all natural and he never uses pesticides in his gardens. For example, he is fighting weeds in his community garden now with cardboard, mulch, and newspaper. Richard’s number one gardening tip is: “If you plant things alive they tend to stay that way.”
T
here are many ways you can become involved in community garden. One option is to start volunteering at your local garden. Or you can start up your own local community garden. Another great
R
ichard was raised around farming and has continued his family values of farming through out his adult life. Richard finds having community gardens to be very rewarding. He loves getting his hands in the dirt and teaching younger children about healthier food. Richard says participating in community gardens is also a great way to become one with the earth. Some may think it is much more difficult to manage a community garden than your own at home, but Richard told us this is far from the truth. Community gardens are just like gardens at home, but on a larger scale. The biggest struggles are the dreadful weeds and
54 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
place to become involved with community gardens is through American Community Garden Association. You can check their website at communitygarden.org to discover ways to become involved in areas around you. If you are having trouble locating community gardens, Roth suggests to “Check around at local schools, churches and retirement homes. If you don’t have any luck there, you can of course, check on Google.” If you are one of our more courageous readers and interested in starting up your own community garden, Roth says, “You just need soil, air, water and sun, but if you gather with any of your local groups and have a good amount of people interested and committed, you can have your own community garden anywhere. Even if
Healthy Living
you live in a area that does not have rich soil, you can still have a community garden by having soil beds and compost. Also, research and see what types of grants your state offers for community gardens. Many times grants are given to community gardens because they promote healthy eating.�
C
ommunity gardens are a great way to become involved with your community. Community gardens have been bringing generations together and getting the younger generations off the couch and back outside.
www.communit yseeds.com 55
Caring For Tomatoes
Caring For Tomatoes Everything You Need To Know
By Steve Goto
Exposure Full sun is best, but some of us are not that lucky. The amount of sunlight a tomato variety requires can depend on the variety you choose. A simple rule of thumb is: The larger the tomato, the more sunlight it will need. At least 8 to 10 hours is good. Remember that 6 hours of sunlight is the minimum amount required to produce some fruit. Organic Soil Amendments Always amend your soil. Amending the soil helps to break up compacted soils. It helps oxygenate and aid in water percolation and water retention. Amendments also become nutrients for the micro organisms to feed on after it is finally decomposed. Yes, add your compost. Your fully decomposed compost is 56 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
excellent as an amendment. I recommend adding no more than 50% compost 50% amendments. Soil Preparation Currently, I recommend preparing the soil using the “Lasagna method.” This is a very easy and less time consuming way to amend your soil. This method first incorporates compost, soil amendments, fertilizer and soil conditioners. Till and mix together. Thereafter, this method does not recommend you to ever till the soil again. All fertilizers, compost/ castings/soil conditioners are “layered” over the planting area. Finally, your choice of amendment is used to cover the entire garden. Add an ample amount of water to compact and moisten the soil. You can immediately plant
Healthy Living
your starts through the layers, only removing enough soil to accommodate the new seedling. The idea behind this method is not to disturb the established bio-mass already living in the soil. Tilling disrupts these established communities which will need time to rebuild to become an effective unit. Organic Potting Soil for Containers Current organic potting mixes are teaming with everything you need to successfully plant tomatoes in containers. When planting “indeterminate varieties,” I suggest using a container or pot that is a minimum 15 gallon, a standard size nursery container or larger. It should hold a 2 cu ft bag of potting soil. Determinate varieties will do fine in a 5 gallon size nursery container or larger. This container should hold just short of 1 cu ft of potting soil. Add worm castings, John and Bob’s Soil Optimizer, and your choice of organic fertilizer and mix everything together to complete the potting mix. Selecting Tomato Starts Most people spend too much energy selecting the perfect plant. I’m not that picky about how a tomato plant looks. “Too small or too big.” “Does it have flowers?” “Does it have fruit?” “Is the foliage a little yellow on the bottom?” These questions never play in my decision to select a plant. Remember tomatoes grow like weeds. With the proper nutrition, your plant will grow strong and healthy. Planting Tomato Starts Remove your plant from its container. Save
the TAG! If the plant is 4 inches or smaller, just plant it into the ground as you would any bedding plant with the top of the root ball equal to the soil line. Taller plants, maybe older plants, need a little extra attention. Prepare the plant my removing all the foliage on the stem, leaving only the top three leaves or 4 to 6 inches at the tip. Bury the plants stem all the way except exposing the top three leave or 4 to 6 inches exposed above the soil line. Tomato plants are amazing this way. The buried stems will turn into roots in 5 days, creating a much more organized system where your plant will be able to absorb more nutrients from the larger established root system. Remember to always remove the flowers and any forming fruit! Trellis Indeterminate plants can grow 6 to 20 feet long or more. This means that some sort of support is necessary to keep your vines and tomatoes off the ground. A 2”x 2” stake 8’ or 10’ is very effective. Select a heavy mesh wire cage to support larger plants. If you use a wire cage, buy the largest cage available. Determinate plants grow much smaller. A medium sized wire cage is enough for these plants. Stake the same day you plant! If you come back a week or two later, you may damage the new roots that are growing away from the main root mass. Waiting too long can injure these roots as you push the stake through the root and into the soil. Fertilizing Using organic fertilizers is simple to do. There are extremely important products to supplement soil amendments and compost. Most organic fertilizers are made from recycled animal parts and/or plant
Images on this page: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
www.communit yseeds.com 57
Caring For Tomatoes, Continued
parts; over application will never be harmful to the soil or damage plant roots. Organic fertilizers are slow-release, and are a complete source on nutrition that keeps the plant and soil healthy. Most are applied every 30 days up to 180 days. Make sure you read the applications rates on each label you use. Soil Conditioners John and Bob’s Soil Optimizer is a Humic Acid product that creates sustainable life in the soil. It’s the third part of the soil chain, often overlooked. It is used to create true biomass sustainability as it feeds the beneficial bacteria into the soil. These highly active beneficial bacteria provide complete nutrient availability to your plant. This complete nutrition availability provides your plant with the ability resist insect and disease pressures and from hot and cold temperature stress. Starches/sugars are the results of this interaction and flow throughout the vascular system of the plant and end up in the fruit you are harvesting. Ever wonder why vine ripen is so sweet? A side benefit of Humic Acid is its ability stimulates the plant to create sugars as food which is eventually formed in the fruit. As a soil conditioner, it will permanently change the tilth of clay or sandy soil over time.
again when the foliage is drooping only in the cool early morning. Count the intervals between waterings. That will determine your interval. You will know about when the plant will need water again.
Pruning Pruning is a method of removing side branches from the main stem. Most times tomato plants can get out of hand and should be pruned to keep the plant orderly. Another reason is to enhance the growth of the remaining fruit by channeling the plants growth energy to only the fruit on the main stem. This causes the fruit to grow to its maximum flavor and size. This method also produces less fruit. Pruning side branches decreases where fruit is born. All Watering side branches on the plant will produce fruit. How much? How Often? I found that a deep Many are confused about the need to prune or watering at intervals is the best way to water. even what to prune. I find that this answer lies A rule of thumb is: deep water once every 7 with the grower. Pruning is directly related days for the first 4 weeks. Watch the foliage in the coolest part of the morning after sunrise to what the grower wants to accomplish. The rule of thumb is: Do you want maximum and check to see if the foliage is drooping. If the foliage is drooping in the cool morning air, size and flavor? Yes, then prune all side branches. Do you want a large crop of fruit then that’s the best time to water. Do not be fooled by a plant’s foliage drooping as needing but don’t especially care about size? Then do not prune. I have a plant that is too thick/ water. This is natural for the foliage to droop wide/tall or blocking my door! Yes, prune in the mid-morning or afternoon heat. Deep watering is key. A slow drip from the hose for only the branches necessary to clear access or prune some branches that will aid in better air at least 45 minutes is advised. Apply water 58 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Healthy Living
circulation and light penetration through the plant.
DISEASES Most Heirloom Tomato varieties generally have poor disease resistance; however, disease is not usually a problem until mid-season. Leaf blight diseases such as early blight and alternaria begin to appear about mid-April, and are more susceptible once fruit production begins. To reduce disease problems, use disease resistant or tolerant varieties and use organic sprays. Fusarium wilt (race 1), a disease caused by a soil fungus, is common when soil temperatures approach 60 degrees. Fusarium races 1 and 2 are present in southern areas. Where Fusarium wilt is present, use resistant varieties, but remember that getting these varieties is not a complete cure for the problem. They will succumb to the disease later in the season. Compost teas have recently been quite effective in combating soil and leaf infections, insects, while aiding the plant by gathering nutrients and conditioning the soil. Blossom-end rot (a hard dark patch that develops at the blossom end of the fruit) is prevented by ensuring an adequate level of soil calcium, and steady moisture. Temperature is usually a major factor of the cause of Blossom End Rot. When soil temperatures rise, calcium is locked up in the soil. These nutrients are released by using organic gardening methods. PESTS Aphids, White flies, mites and Little Green Worms (Loopers) are common invaders on our plants. Spray with a fast jet of water or use organic products containing Spinosad or herb oils such as garlic, cinnamon, thyme, clove or citrus. Using organic fertilizers aid in repelling invaders that are sizing your tomato plants for dinner. Tomato hornworms can best be controlled by just picking them off your plant with a pair of tongs but it is best to spray
first then hand control. Hornworms with the white egg cases of parasitic wasps should not be destroyed because the wasps will hatch out and destroy other hornworms in the garden. Organic controls such as Spinosad or B.T. are safe for people but deadly for insects. FLAVOR Complete plant nutrition has a great effect on how a tomato tastes. Plant stress such as insect or disease pressures, and adverse weather lead to “off flavors.” Avoid placing freshly harvested tomatoes in the refrigerator. Refrigeration will destroy much of the delicate flavor by turning the sugar to starch. Tomatoes are best stored at a temperature above 50 degrees F (10°C) to maximize vine ripen tomato flavors. It is also best to watch your cultural practices. Over watering is a common mistake that leads to “Watery Tasting Fruit” Liquid dilutes the sugars in the plants vascular system, making them bland. A rule of thumb is to harvest your fruit 24 to 48 hours after watering. This allows a more concentrated stream of sugars to be stored in the fruit which will then be trapped when you harvest it. ACIDITY Many ask which tomatoes are low in acid. Yellow and white tomatoes are assumed to be low acid. Alas, this rumor is false. There is no such thing as a low acid tomato. Yellow and white varieties have the same acid pH as red, pink and black varieties, but have a higher sugar content that masks the acidity. For more information:
Gotomato 951-813-9953 www.gotomato.us.com www.johnandbobs.com majortomato@verizon.net
www.communit yseeds.com 59
ADVETORIAL
byBeaute’ eleMENts Unisex Spa, Salon, Boutique, Wine Bar & Wellness Center
1035 Village Lane, CA 95926
1-877-345-3430
What’s Good For The Earth Is Great For Your Body Only Organic and / or Sustainable Products Are Used!
www.elementsbybeaute.com
Meet The Owner Lorianne S. Riley, CMT
Artistic Director, Cosmetologist, Makeup Artist Lori is a business major that has been working in the beauty industry for approximately ten years. She has and will continue to combed the United States to find only the best organic and / or sustainable products available.
organic botanicals and use sustainable practices while producing their products.
Upon Entry
Upon arrival savor the aromatherapy of elegant spices, hear the trickling water from a fountain, and dare to enjoy 9 varietals of organic wines or a selection of Sierra Nevada beers. If an alcoholic beverage is not what you desire we also have a complementary tea bar and fruit infused water.
******************* Online Store
Everything in the boutique is available for sale online. Including makeup, hair care, skin care, nail care,vitamins, candles, one-of-a-kind art, artisan jewelry, home goods, and luxury bedding, plus much, much, more... We also offer a wide variety of waxing services.
***************** ******************* Spa
Relax in the restful zen inspired spa adorned with aroma -therapeutic candles, chiming Tibetan Bells, and soothing background music. All facial, massage and body treatments are preformed with only the finest certified organic products. Each treatment begins with a cup of tea or fruit infused water, a botanical and healing salt foot bath, as well as a heated flax seed neck cozy.
Boutique
The on premise boutique encompasses every product used during the salon and spa services, even the one -of-a kind art is available to take home.
60 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Nail Salon
*******************
*******************
We believe in giving back by re-using our industry by-products to make the world a better place to live. We donate hair to:
Only beautifully crafted organic products are used for our nail services. Nothing but the best!
Full Service Hair Salon
The salon is completely full service. Hair cuts, color, color correction, texturizing perms, relaxers, braiding, hair extensions, clipper cuts and old fashion hot shaves, as well as specializing in ethnic hair is what the talented hair styling team thrives at doing. All hair care products contain
Giving Back
Matter of Trust- Hair is used for nets to clean up oil spills. Locks of Love - Hair cuts are free to anyone that donates hair over ten inches long. The hair is used to make wigs for children that have lost their hair due to illness.
Hours of Operation Tuesday through Thursday 9am to 5pm
Friday through Saturday 10am to 5pm By Appointment Only 6am to 10am & 5pm to 9pm
www.communit yseeds.com 61
Moving is the best medicine. Keeping active and losing weight are just two of the ways that you can fight osteoarthritis pain. In fact, for every pound you lose, that’s four pounds less pressure on each knee. For information on managing pain, go to fightarthritispain.org.
62 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Kitchen Widgets By Lorianne S. Riley
T
he best rated brands of paper towels include Seventh Generation paper products which use 100% total recycled paper and 90% post-consumer content. Other good brands include Planet (100% / 80%), Green Forest (100% / 40%) and Marcal (100% / 40-60%).
C
C
omposting is great for the garden and great for the environment, but sometimes not so great for the kitchen. Let’s face it, little bowls of peels and fruit bits waiting to go out to the main compost bin get smelly pretty quickly, especially in the summer. They soon start to attract fruit flies and other bugs. The answer is to have a mini compost bin in the kitchen to collect the bits in so that you do not have to run out to the main bin in the back yard every time you peel a potato. This affordable lidded compost bucket has a carbon filter in the lid which allows ventilation, but prevents odors. Because the air can get in, things can start the compost process without getting stinky and the flies don’t even know it’s there! The carbon filter lasts for 8 months or so and is replaceable (a pack of three filters costs $5.99). Costs $19.95 at Amazon.com.
oncerns over the health hazards of Teflon non-stick coatings have given birth to a whole range of new Eco-friendly cookware. Cuisinart has risen to the challenge with their Green Gourmet range of non-stick cookware. They use a hard anodized pan construction for heat conductivity and a natural petroleumfree ceramic coating to create a functional non-stick surface. The stainless steel handles are made from 70 percent recycled steel and even the packaging is recycled, so they really are making an effort to be genuinely green. As with all non-stick surfaces, they have not managed to make the surfaces tough enough to resist scratching from metal objects, so you need to treat them with care to get the best from them. Maybe you can get yourself some bamboo cooking implements for a truly green kitchen! Currently Costs $224.99 for a 12 piece set at Sears.com.
www.communit yseeds.com 63
64 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Cook’s Corner
Cook’s Corner Today, all across America, more and more chefs are doing as Stu and Mary do, forging mutually rewarding relationships with growers and purveyors in their communities to create food that is fresh, seasonal and full of vitality. In the process, they are preserving small-scale agriculture, local economies and healthy regional food supplies. www.communit yseeds.com 65
Healthy Eating
Summer Vegetable Slaw by Stu Stein
T
his dish has become a July Fourth tradition at the Peerless. It’s a perfect side dish for summer picnics since it’s an ideal accompaniment to grilled meats. The slightly acidic mustard dressing is a refreshing contrast to crunchy, colorful vegetables like red and yellow peppers, radishes, fennel, onion and cabbage.
Change the vegetables based on the season, keeping in mind that it is best to have a variety of colors, textures and flavors. Avoid any vegetable that will blend, such as red beets, or that will overpower the other flavors. Avoid any vegetable that will bleed, such as red beets, or that will overpower any other flavors in the dish. The key is to cut the vegetables in roughly the same size and shape.
Photo courtesy of The Sustainable Kitchen
66 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Healthy Eating
VEGETABLE SLAW: You will need approximately 1 pound of any combination of the following vegetables: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
1 red bell pepper, seeds removed and julienned 1 yellow bell pepper, seeds removed and julienned 1 head radicchio, core removed and cut into chiffonage ½ small head of Napa cabbage, core removed and cut into chiffonade 1 green zucchini, cut in half, seeds removed and julienned 1 yellow squash, cut in half, seeds removed and julienned 1 bulb fennel, core removed and julienned 1/2 daikon radish, julienned 1 large red onion, cut into half moons 1 bunch green onions, cut on bias about 1 inch long 1/4 cup mint leaves, cut into chiffonade 1/4 cup basil leaves, cut into chiffonade 1 tablespoon cilantro leaves, finely chopped Mustard dressing Kosher salt and white pepper, to taste.
MUSTARD DRESSING: Makes 2 1/2 cups 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons honey 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup vegetable oil Kosher salt and white pepper, to taste
TO PREPARE THE SLAW: In a large stainless steel bowl, combine vegetables, herbs and enough mustard dressing to lightly coat the vegetables. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. Taste and adjust seasoning.
TO PREPARE THE DRESSING: Place mustard, honey, vinegar, salt and pepper in a small stainless steel bowl. Slowly drizzle in both oils, whisking constantly, until ingredients are combined. Taste and adjust seasoning.
www.communit yseeds.com 67
Healthy Eating
Grilled Rib-Eye of Beef w/ Balsamic Glazed Onions & Grilled Summer Vegetables
by Stu Stein
G
rass-fed beef is better for you, but it is the taste that matters to us. It has been our experience that you will have a passionate response: either you love it or you hate it. Grass-fed is leaner, gamier and will be together if cooked all the way through. The fat in grass-fed beef tastes lighter and does not coat your mouth like corn-fed beef; you will not get that heavy feeling after eating. Grass-fed beef requires a few cooking tips. In general, grass-fed beef will cook more quickly than other beef. When grilling, first sear the meat over high heat, then move it to a cooler part of the grill to finish cooking. Be careful not to pierce the meat when turning or moving it, or the beef will lose some moisture.
68 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Healthy Eating BEEF AND VEGETABLES 1 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 Tablespoons garlic, finely chopped 1 large eggplant, cut in half and then cut into 1/4-inch thick slices 1 medium green zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices 1 medium yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices 1 red pepper 1 yellow pepper Kosher salt and cracked pepper, to taste 4 10-ounce beef rib-eye steaks, trimmed of excess fat Kosher salt and cracked pepper, to taste BALSAMIC ONIONS 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced 1 Tablespoon butter 4 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar TO PREPARE THE RIB EYE: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Combine oil and garlic. Set half of the oil mixture aside for the steaks and half for the vegetables. Place eggplant in a large colander set over large bowl. Sprinkle salt over eggplant. Allow eggplant to sit and give off moisture for 45 minutes to an hour. Wash salt off of eggplant and pat dry with a towel. In a large bowl, toss all the vegetables with half of the oil mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange eggplant, zucchini, squash and peppers on grill at a 45-degree angle. Cook 3 to 4 minutes and then turn vegetables 90 degrees to create crosshatching marks. After 3 to 4 minutes, flip to other side and repeat process. Make sure the peppers are charred evenly on all sides.
Remove the vegetables from the grill and set aside. Place peppers in a paper bag, close the top and let steam for 10 minutes to loosen their skins, then scrape the charred skin from the roasted peppers. Slice peppers in half. Remove the seeds and cut into ½ inch wide strips. Brush remaining oil mixture on steaks with a basting brush. Sprinkle steaks with cracked black peppercorns and salt. Lay steaks on grill at a 45-degree angle. Cook 3 to 4 minutes and then turn 90 degrees to create crosshatching. After 3 to 4 minutes, flip steaks to other side, and repeat process. Grill until desired doneness. TO PREPARE THE BALSAMIC ONIONS: In a mediumsize sauté pan, over low to medium heat, melt butter. Add sliced onions and sauté, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and golden brown, approximately 20 minutes. Add vinegar. Bring to a boil and cook until the volume is reduced by one third. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and reserve. TO SERVE: Arrange the grilled vegetables on a warm plate. Place steaks next to vegetables and top with balsamic onions. ADVANCE PREPARATION: The onions can be made a day head and reheated in a sauté pan. The vegetables can be grilled a day ahead and reheated at 350-degree oven just prior to serving. SUBSTITUTIONS AND OPTIONS: Mix and match whichever seasonal vegetables are the best and suite your taste. The balsamic onion mixture is also a wonderful accompaniment for stronger game meats such as grilled venison or buffalo. WINE NOTES: A well-balanced, not over the top, not overly fruity red wine will work with the slightly sweeter and gamier flavor of the grass-fed beef and the reduced balsamic vinegar. Recommended: 2000 Troon Vineyard, Druid Fluid, Applegate Valley is a sub-appellation within the Rogue Valley in southern Oregon, and is home to the most unusual acre of Zinfandel grapes named the “Druid Fluid Factory” in honor of winemaker Dick Troon’s Scottish heritage. Makes 4 entrée serving
Photo courtesy of The Sustainable Kitchen
www.communit yseeds.com 69
Peach Upside-Down Polenta Cake w/ Peach Syrup
by Stu Stein
T
he peach is a member of the rose family, a cousin to apricots, cherries, plums and almonds. Peaches are usually classified as clingstone (the fruit of the peach clings to the stone or pit), semi-freestone (the fruit pulls away from the stone when the peach is fully ripened) and freestone, the most popular, where the fruit of the peach readily pulls away from the stone. July and August are peak months for fresh peaches. The fruit is extremely perishable, so buy only the amount you intend to use or eat within a few days. Choose peaches that are firm to the touch, but whose flesh yields with gentle pressure. The fruits should be free of bruises with a warm, fragrant aroma. 70 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Healthy Eating PEACH-POLENTA CAKE ½ cup blanched almonds, peeled ¼ cup granulated sugar ½ cup of polenta or cornmeal 8 Tablespoons soft butter ½ cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 5 peaches, peeled, cut in half, (we recommend Red Haven or Suncrest varieties, both freestone varieties) 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon peach schnapps (optional) PEACH SYRUP ½ pound peaches, peeled, cut in half and roughly chopped, approximately 2 peaches 1 cup granulated sugar ½ cup dry white wine ½ cup water 1 teaspoon peach schnapps (optional) 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped NOTE: To remove the skins, blanch the peaches in boiling water for one to two minutes and then immediately plunge fruit into ice water to cease the cooking process. The skin should easily slip off. Do not let the peaches soak in the water. TO PREPARE THE PEACHPOLENTA CAKE: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the almonds and sugar in food processor and pulse until they are finely ground. In a mediumsized bowl, combine the almond/ sugar mixture, polenta, flour and salt.
Place the butter and sugar in a bowl of an electric mixer. Beat with paddle, using medium speed, until the butter is creamy and smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and peach schnapps. Turn the mixer to low and add the dry ingredients a little at a time. Cut the peach halves into ¼-inch wedges. In the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan, arrange the peaches in concentric circles, starting in the center of the pan, forming spiral pattern. Spoon the batter over the peaches. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until the cake springs back when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes clean. Remove the sides from the pan and allow the cake to cool on rack. TO PREPARE THE PEACH SYRUP: In small stainless steal saucepan, combine the peaches, sugar, wine, water and vanilla bean and seeds. Set over low to medium heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is slightly syrupy, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Allow syrup to cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours or overnight. Remove the vanilla bean pieces from the syrup. Place syrup in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. TO SERVE: Turn cake over onto a serving plate and remove the bottom of the pan. Cut into 6 to 8 wedges and serve with peach vanilla syrup. ADVANCED PREPARATION: The cake can be made several days ahead of time and refrigerated. Remove the cake from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature before serving. SUBSTITUTIONS AND OPTIONS: In place of peaches, substitute other stone fruit, such as plums or apricots, or substitute tree fruit such as apples, figs or pears. Make sure the fruit is thinly sliced so that it will be cooked through when the cake is baked. WINE NOTES: A slightly sweet dessert wine with peach overtones will put you over the top. Recommended: 2001 Casta Diva, Alicante Muscat, Bodegas, Spain. Makes one 9-inche cake or ten 3 ½ -inch individual cakes Photo courtesy of The Sustainable Kitchen
www.communit yseeds.com 71
Do It Yourself Sugar Scrubs
Do It Yourself Sugar Scrubs By Ashley Grebe
A
s the weather warms up, its important to keep skin supple and exfoliated. Creating a facial or body scrub at home is an inexpensive way to pamper yourself and take care of your skin. There are several recipes you can use to cater to your individual needs. Scrubs are great for all skin types and are amazing for summer skin. Keep your scrubs fresh in a sealed jar. These scrubs make a wonderful gift. Tie a festive ribbon around your container of choice to personalize your gift. Here are a few of my favorites! Brown Sugar Scrub 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
Citrus Scrub 1 Tbsp. dried citrus peel of your choice, chopped and finely ground in a food processor 1/2 cup plain yogurt 1 tsp. pure honey 1/4 cup vitamin E oil 2 Tbsp. cornmeal Simply mix ingredients together until blended to create your scrub of choice. Gently rub the mixture on your skin in a circular motion for one to two minutes. Rinse off in warm water and follow up with your favorite moisturizer to lock in moisture.
1/2 cup sweet almond oil 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 tablespoon ground oatmeal 1 teaspoon nutmeg Large pinch of calendula petals 72 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Image by africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net manostphoto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Paul / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
www.communit yseeds.com 73
Earth Friendly Products
Earth Friendly Beauty Products By Lorianne S. Riley
H
I
ndulge your favorite pregnant mama (Yes, even if that’s you!) with dreamy products now until after the baby arrives. This collection includes Belly Balm, Mama Massage Oil, Labor Massage Oil, Small Lavender Sugar Scrub, Postpartum Herbs, Relaxing Essential Oil Blend, and Healing Lip Balm. Can be found at http://www.lusaorganics.com
appy Aging Face Cleanser and body wash contains natural vitamins, anti-oxidants, and other skin-nourishing substances that are particularly beneficial for aging skin. The product is formulated without the use of soaps and detergents and is therefore very mild that works with the skin’s natural self-cleansing processes to keep skin clear, smooth, and supple. Can be found at www.eco-beauty.com
P
owerful enough to give your hair hold, but gentle enough to leave it silky, shiny and flexible, this USDA Certified Organic spray gets its staying power from natural acacia gum. The all-natural formula contains none of the harmful petrochemicals found in most hair sprays that get released into the air, coating your lungs with toxic ingredients. Bergamot, aloe vera and the antioxidant-rich Intellimune Seed Oil Complex help keep hair healthy-looking and soft. It has a light scent and is safe for color-treated hair. Can be found atwww.saffronrouge.com
M
ineral Radiance Crème Powder Foundation: This long-wearing, lightweight 2-in-1 cream-to-powder foundation provides buildable, effortless coverage. Glides on smoothly with a creamy feel and sets to a luminous, powdery finish. The nutrient-rich formula helps soothe redness and keeps skin hydrated and supple. Oil-free. Non-caking. Suitable for all skin types; ideal for combination skin or those with rosacea. Can be found at www.elementsbybeaute.com/store 74 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Q
uickly calm and help heal superficial cuts, grazes and irritation with this lightweight gel. Perfect for all skin types, the fast-absorbing formula especially helps calm and aid blemish prone skin. It rescues skin with native New Zealand ingredients that nourish, calm and heal with manuka oil and manuka honey. Available in two sizes. Has a light earthy and green tea scent. Can be found atwww.saffronrouge.com
Coming Soon to a webstore accessible to you!
Live The Lifestyle of... Sustainable Wishes... and Organic Dreams...
@ www.elementsbybeaute.com/store
www.communit yseeds.com 75 skincare . house goods . candles . bedding . jewelry . bedding . haircare . art . clothing . nailcare
Gearhead
Eco Toys For Boys
A
By Lorianne S. Riley
n Affordable Electric Vehicle? The $30K ZAP Alias
B
e Seen And Be Green With Puma’s Glow In The Dark Bike
D
76 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
odge Zeo Goes 250 Miles On One Charge
www.communit yseeds.com 77
Gearhead
Electric Tractor By Steven Lemos
I
met with Richard Roth around November of last year, in an inquiry to an ad to build an electric tractor; I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. His friend David Grau (who is still a very active participant in the project) had bought the tractor we are working on, without letting it slip to Richard, who most likely would have been overwhelmed with excitement; which in fact he was, upon setting eyes on the tractor. We talked, went over initial ideas and I made notes about what he wanted and what he did not. Around January I had 78 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
a list of parts to order for the tractor, which I would order from www.EVAmerica.com, and by January 15, 2011, the parts showed up and build had started. Things progressed slower than Richard or I had hoped, I am/was attending my final Junior year of Mechanical Engineering at CSUC, and I was very busy with school as well as building the electric tractor. The working situation did not help as I did not have that much room to work with, and basically no tools besides the mechanics set I had already owned.
Electric Tractor
we showed the tractor on May 8, 2011.
T
T
he tractor’s main purpose is for organic farming where you do not want any chemicals that can drop on your plants while you are doing work (gas, oil, etc.). Ideally, I would like to hook it up to a solar panel for power; that way we are truly being “green” instead of relying on the power grid, but that is more of a future project than primary concern.
he actual project consisted of removing all the internal combustion parts from the tractor and determining what we needed to keep or modify to make everything work. We started with laying out the general location of everything and did measurements to make sure everything would fit. Richard’s friend, Rafael, did much of the welding of the frame
For pictures and a little more information on each sub division of the tractor visit http://www.evtractor.blogspot.com/
for the battery box. Another friend, David, helped out immensely with the machining of certain parts, as well as allowing access to his machine shop for various jobs. As of now, the tractor is running and I am driving it everyday to break in the batteries for their intended use. We finished up some of the last details, like a hydraulic pump to power the attachments, and
Durham’s Community Website
t Business Links t Durham Business Directory
Durham Community Calendar
t t t t
School Events Community Events Durham Recreation Events Interactive
WWW.TheDurhamConnection.com www.communit yseeds.com 79
Community Seeds
Advertisers Index
Arthritis Foundation California Health Collaborative Chico Connection The Durham Community Website eleMENts by Beaute Salon and Spa eleMENts Online Store eleMENts Magazine Growing Up Chico Magazine Growing Up Chico Magazine Franky’s In Motion Fitness In Motion Fitness In Motion Fitness The Paradise Connection Community WebSite Sutter, 5th Street Steak House Szep Elet Thomas ACE Hardware Tracy Lynn Photography United Way Watt Green Construction
62 38 04 79 60-1 75 55 36 64 45 50 82 64 04 05 73 18 19 22 49
Special Thanks To: In Motion Fitness ------------------------------------------------------------ www.InMotionFitness.com
Additional Thanks To:
Susan Burke March, MS, RD/LD, CDE ---------------------------------- www.SusanBurkeMarch.com Deanna Zachrich ------------------------------------------------------------ www.TheBigGreenEasy.com The Health and Community Services Department at California State University, Chico
80 Community Seeds . Summer 2011
Join Us In The Fall! • Send us an article about being eco-friendly eco friendly or community-minded • Send us photos of you and/or your family and friends in the fall • Send photos of unique green products • Tell us what you like to do in the fall to be more sustainable • Send us a green craft idea • Write a book review • Send us an article on living a healthier lifestyle • Tell us how your business is being more sustainable • Tell us about fall community projects • Purchase advertising • Become a sponsor
Th
e Co Next mm I Wil uni ssue O f Sep l Be ty Se ed tem Rel ber ease s d 15, 201 1! The deadline for the Fall issue is Aug. 10, 2011. E-mail items to info@communityseeds.com. For more information go to www.communityseeds.com. Photo courtesy of TracyLynn Photography
www.communit yseeds.com 81
82 Community Seeds . Summer 2011