Eco Community Seeds, Winter 2009 Issue by Eco Community Seeds Magazine

Community Seeds Eco-Magazine

Winter Greening

Tips on Green and Healthy Winter Living

Part 4 of our “Going Solar” Series Where Can We Recycle?

A Waste/Recycling Center Is the Answer

Out and About

Visit Your Local Sustainable Tree Farm

Universities Are Going Green

Thinking Globally, Living Locally

We’ve Gone Solar

A Look at the CSU, Chico, Sustainability Program

Got the Winter Blues?

Help With Common Seasonal Depression

FREE

www.communityseeds.com

Winter 2009-2010

Welcome

Vol. 2, No. 3 Winter 2009-2010 Issue 7

Community Seeds Eco Magazine is published quarterly, exclusively online; at no cost to readers.

Community Seeds Eco Publishing,

Please send comments, articles, artwork, testimonials, questions and photos to: info@communityseeds.com. For advertising and general information, e-mail us at info@communityseeds.com Or sales@communityseeds.com

Also, visit: www.communityseeds.com Send all mail to: Community Seeds Eco Magazine 1376 Longfellow Ave. Chico, CA 95938 Call to make an appointment and/or leave a message: (530) 570-5581

Community Seeds

ECO Magazine

www.communityseeds.com Editor-In-Chief DeAnna Holman Associate Editor Amy Behlke Environmental Advisor/Contributing Editor Greg Holman Staff Writers Amy Behlke DeAnna Holman Greg Holman Jessica Bahamondes Staff Photographers Tracy Lynn Cahn of Tracy Lynn Photography DeAnna Holman Greg Holman Proof Editor CarrollAnn Davis Advertising/Marketing Deborah Watt Jessica Bahamondes Art/Layout Design DeAnna Holman Amy Behlke Jessica Bahamondes

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, DeAnna Holman (right) Amy Behlke, Associate Editor (left)

Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Winter Cover: Spruce in Lake Tahoe, CA All articles, photos, advertising, words, design and images are the property of Community Seeds Publishing and may not be reproduced without permission. Community Seeds Publishing 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 The Big, Sustainable Picture Community Seeds Eco Magazine has been growing and we are excited about the changes! We have expanded into an office (I will still work from home) and we have been lucky to have the best intern, Jessica, help us with all of the craziness (She did some of the design for this issue, too). We have seen a remarkable amount of support from our local community, as well as communities far and wide. Our message of making small changes toward living a sustainable lifestyle is universal and is not limited to those in our own city, or state, or country. Community Seeds Eco Magazine is being enjoyed by so many! Since we began our journey toward being green, we have grown to expand our views on what that means. When we started, our focus was on the tiny changes to help the environment and the community. As we evolved, so did the magazine. Our focus has become more broad and encompasses more than just environmental efforts. I, personally, am actually on my journey to living a more sustainable lifestyle which includes doing my part to help care for the environment, helping my local community, realizing my global social responsibility, and making a commitment to caring for myself. That final commitment has been the hardest. Taking care of myself has been last priority. I know many people can relate. We are living in a busy, fast paced society and we feel like we cannot keep up. How can we possibly care for ourselves with such a lack of time? That is where I stand, and as I look ahead, that road is bleak. Therefore, this next year is going to be the year that I begin to take care of the health part of living sustainably. Over time, my family and I have made many positive green changes. These include: • Composting • Recycling • Planting fruit trees • Planting a vegetable garden • Getting dual pane windows • Weather stripping the doors • Getting Energy Star appliances • Buying reused or recycled items • Having yard sales, selling on Craig’s List, putting stuff on Free-Cycle • Using reusable water bottles • GOING SOLAR!!! We also have tried not to remodel things in our house until they wear out, which can be a challenge for me personally. I guess we are greener than I thought. Now, my focus will be on becoming healthy. I am really changing and it will show in the focus of the magazine. It shows me that if you start with a small change, you begin to make other changes until you realize you are GOING GREEN! Have a happy, healthy, green winter and I hope you will share your green journey with us!

DeAnna Holman

Editor-in-Chief

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Contents

FALL 2009

Features 4 Welcome! 5 Note From the Editor 8 Issue Contributors 10 Community Photos 36 Crafts 58 Calendar Links 44 Winter Fun Photos 70 Advertisers Index 71 Be in the Spring

Issue!

The One Stop Solution

Thinking of Going Solar?

Universities Are Going Green

Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Part 4 of Our Solar Home Series A Good Look At One Sustainability Program

Out and About Mountain View Tree Farm

True Life 30

Making a Difference

Featured Artist

Recycling Should Be Easier

Local Business Helps Feed the Hungry Eco Friendly Techno Musician From Turkey

44 Departments Easy Being Greener

12 Helpful Green

Household Tips

13 What Are You Doing to Be Greener?

18 Not Freshman 15, But Freshman Go Green!

24 Planning For The

Eco Friendly Burial

Family

47 The Struggles of

Disciplining Our Kids

64 Have a Healthy Holiday Eat Right, Feel Great

Green Crafts

38 Light Bulb Ornaments 40 Pajama Pants 42 Pine Cone Christmas Trees

Book Review

62 Alice Waters’

The Edible Schoolyard

Healthy Living

56 Skin Care: What’s

The Problem With Parabens?

52 Seasonal Depression:

Mother and Daughter Survival Guide

59 Growing Our Own: Winter Fruits and Vegetables

Food

65 Healthy Recipes For

the New Year

67 Cook’s Corner: Winter Flavors

68 Pesto Cream Cheese, Sauteed Butternut Squash and Leafy Greens and Rice

Community

30 Feed Others While Feeding Yourself

32 28th Annual Almond Blossom Run

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Contributors

Contributors- FALL 2009 DeAnna Holman Editor-in-Chief, Owner, Publisher, Web Designer, Mother of Three & Wife. 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. Amy Behlke Associate Editor, Writer, Links Coordinator, Mother of Two, and Wife. Amy holds a BA Degree in Liberal Studies from CSU, Chico, a California Teaching Credential From CSU, Chico, works full time teaching 6th grade and writes grants. Greg Holman Writer, Environmental Advisor, Father of Three, Husband. Greg is a Science Teacher, Writer for EnergySeeds.com, Grant Writer, Workshop Facilitator for the National Energy Education Development Project, who holds a BA and CA Teaching Credential from CSU, Chico. Jessica Bahamondes Chico State University student and Community Seeds Eco Magazine Intern, Jessica, is finishing up her BA degree in Organizational Communications and holds a minor in Recreation Administration. She is an avid sports fan and hopes to find an amazing job in the sports field in the spring. Ken Hodge Ken holds a B.S. degree and M.S. degree in Ornamental Horticulture from CSU, Chico. In 1986, after owning a landscape business for ten years, Ken and his wife Shelly started Hodge’s Nursery in Durham. They have raised 4 children and 3 of them still work at the family nursery. Darnell Caesar Chico, California local and Pleasant Valley High School Alumni, Darnell is a full time employee at Pita Pit in Downtown Chico and is a part time student at Butte College. He plans to transfer to CSUC, Chico, in the fall of 2010. He enjoys playing basketball, and lives by this quote, “work hard, play hard.”. Shelly Hodge As a California State University, Chico, graduate of 1979, Shelly received her BA degree in Parks and Recreation. She is a mother of four children and grandmother of two. Shelly helped start Hodge’s Nursery in 1986 and she opened the gift shop at the nursery in 2006. Allison Randall Allison Randall’s career stints include: Artist, Cook, Baker, Barista, Belly Dancer, Bookseller, and Mom. She has lived in Boulder, Colorado and Auckland, New Zealand. Currently, she and her family call the San Francisco Bay Area home. Sheryl Caesar Sheryl is first, and foremost, a loving mother of 7. While four of her children are grown, there are still three young boys at home that keep her busy as a bee. She loves to read, cook, write, find ways to be more eco friendly, and she hopes to someday open a Bed and Breakfast. Community Seeds e-Magazine

Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Contributors

Tracy Cahn Tracy is a professional photographer who enjoys photographing families, wedding, pets, and events. She has joined the staff of Community Seeds Eco Magazine as a photographer. A Paradise, CA resident, Tracy is a mom, a wife and the owner of Tracy Lynn Photography. Emily Protine Full time student at CSU, Chico, Emily majors in Human Communication with a minor in Recreation Administration. Upon graduating in December, she will be moving to Houston, Texas in search of a job that involves the outdoors and would love to write for a newspaper or magazine. Elizabeth Fournier Elizabeth is affectionately known as The Green Reaper in her tiny community of Boring, Oregon. She is the owner of Cornerstone Funeral Services and works as a green burial funeral director, educator and advocate who is always ready to lend a hand, or a shovel.

Contributors -Not Pictured CarrollAnn Davis- CarrollAnn works with Community Seeds Magazine as a Proof Editor and Writer. She is the Editor’s mom, a math tutor, Stampin” Up! Demonstrator, Vice President of her local PTA, mother of six and grandmother of ten. Danae Dominichi- Writer and Chef Extraordinare, Danae works for Paradise Unified School District at Evergreen 6. She has a son and is involved in 4-H in Paradise, CA. Lori Nelson- Lori is one of the owners of Pure Skin, a unique retail boutique of skincare, cosmetics, and spa services in Chico, CA. Lori has been researching skincare for over eight years to ensure she offers safe and effective products to her customers. Mary Portis- Mary is a professor and department chairperson in the Health and Community Services Department at California State University, Chico, CA. Kayla Cook- Kayla is the Media Coordinator/Power Play! Campaign Assistant Coordinator for Network for a Healthy California—Sierra Cascade Region, a freelance writer and a Chico resident. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and has a certificate in editing and publishing. Stacie Bingham- Stacie is a doula and La Leche League leader in Chico and is very involved in the birth /young mother community in Chico, CA. Anne Benoit- Retired after 32 years of teaching at Ridgeview High School in Magalia, California, Anne and her husband established a Christmas tree farm in 1981. Anne stays busy with tree farming and tending the pet donkeys, goats, turkeys, dogs and cats. Anne chairs the northern section of the California Christmas Tree Association, is a Sierra Oro Farm Trails participant, and volunteers for North Valley Animal Disaster Group. All contributors are named on their corresponding article

If you would like to send an article for the next issue of Community Seeds, 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. w w w.communityseeds.com

Commun

nity Faces

It’s Easy Being Greener

Everyone can do a little something....

er It’s not Easy Being Green

HELPFUL GREEN HOUSEHOLD TIPS W By Sheryl Caesar

e all think we have the answers to everything as we get older. In fact, we are the reason, as are our parents, for the environment being as it is. So now we need to help be the solution. There are everyday things we all can do, no matter who we are or what age. For example, you can change what products you use for cleaning. Instead of toxic chemicals, cleaning products like Green Works and Bright Works are biodegradable and they clean just as well.

hen I had to purchase a new washer and dryer, I made the decision to get energy star appliances with bigger capacities. With three boys at home, it seemed to be a good choice. I now do three loads of laundry a week instead of seven. Really, don’t we all like less housework? Speaking of laundry: Are you one of those people that adds a dryer sheet to your dryer every time you use it? If so, reuse them. You can put them in drawers to keep the laundry smelling fresh. In my case, remember the boys, we’ll throw the used dryer sheets in the hamper with their dirty clothes. 12 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

You’re not only able to reuse them; you can hide the “boy odor.” They can also be used for that frying pan you burned the bottom of; just lay the sheet in bottom of pan, add water, and let it sit for 20 minutes and then, POOF, it just wipes out. Now, on to that lint trap, yes the lint. Did you know that, if you have a bare spot in your lawn, you can soak the lint and place it over new grass seed, and it will protect the seed from being eaten by the birds?

kay, I am sure you’re tired of the cleaning thing, but I am a mom, so yes, cleaning is what I do. Vinegar, baking soda, rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are very good cleaners; So, cleaning and disinfecting will be all at once; moms are so smart sometimes. Vinegar is great for cleaning glass and adding baking soda to it can clean a clogged drain. Sprinkle the baking soda in your sinks instead of cleansers; it will freshen up your drain at same time (also another way to save some time in your cleaning). Did you know vinegar in the bath tub kills the fungus that causes athlete’s foot? Yes, the boys again.

have a friend that called me the other day. She said her daughters’ bathroom floor was so dirty, and she tried everything to clean it, but nothing was working. Well, one day, she poured some

hydrogen peroxide on her son’s cut and it spilled on floor and, POOF, it cleaned the spot where it spilled. Sometimes we just find these little tips out by accident.

n the kitchen, I have been keeping an old coffee can near my sink for compost. Once it is full, it is taken out to the large container in my yard. If you are in an apartment you can buy a large plastic tub for the patio, add some soil, and then start adding egg shells, fruit and vegetable peels, cores, coffee grounds, and tea bags. It’s great for the indoor plants also. I’m not sure if you realize, but those bills you shred can be added to the compost pile as well.

ow how many of you go out and pay for that plastic liner to lay under your soil to keep out the weeds? Well, as we know,

It’s Easy Being Greener

those plastic bags from the stores are pains, so let’s lay them overlapping on one another to block those weeds. Personally, I own the cloth bags, but on occasion, I am not perfect and forget to put them back in car so when I do get plastic bags, I find a way to reuse them.

ater seems to be an issue and has been for a long time, so here are a few things you may like to try: I have a bucket I use for cleaning under my sink in bathroom. When I get ready for my shower, it takes time for the water to get hot, so I put the bucket in shower to fill. I use it to water my indoor plants. My boys have learned to not run the water while brushing their teeth, when I can get them to do that (roll eyes).

What are you doing to be greener?

By Jessica Bahamondes

“When it comes to living more sustainably, we do it all: composting, recycling everything, walking instead of driving around the city, sharing stuff with friends, educating our kids about green living. It all adds up and I am happy to do my part!” –Laura Fernandez “I started a compost for my garden and bought the cloth bags for shopping. I am using more biodegradable laundry and household cleaners.” -Sheryl Caesar

“When I go to the store, wherever it is, I never get a plastic shopping bag if I have less than 7 items, and when I get more items, I bring my own reusable Chico Bags!” –Cesar Reyes

have two trash containers for my family; one for recycling and the other for trash. Even with four people in my home, we only set out our cans once a month at the most, and no, my home is not full of trash. Yes, I know your are thinking, “Well, how is that possible?” We reuse and compost almost everything we can. I learned from a few children that had been homeless that, if you think about it, you can find a use for just about anything. There are so many ways to help this cause. Think about how you want your children’s children to live in the future. If you can take a few minutes a day just to say to yourself before you throw something in the trash, “What can I do with this?” or “Can someone else use this?” it could make all the difference.

“I just signed up to get paperless bank statements, and whenever I go into the bank, I choose to not get a receipt because I just look at it and throw it away. Also, when I am at the ATM, I choose the option to not get a printed receipt because I can look at all that stuff online anyway.” –Lauren Bolllier “I have stopped buying bottled water and instead have invested in a Brita pitcher as well as a Klean Kanteen. I have stopped spending so much on bottled water and have also seen my recycling go decrease in size because I don’t have all those bottles to recycle” - Brandi Aceves w w w.communityseeds.com

It’s Easy Being Greener

The Recycling and Waste Center The One Stop Solution By Greg Holman

Recently, there was a tire amnesty day in Oroville, California. This was a great opportunity for our family to turn in some tires we had used on cars, and when they became too worn, we used them on farm equipment. My father took tires in, but there was a limit to how many you could haul. Actually, there was an exemption form you could fill out for that day only. Wait; there were some types of tires that were still not allowed. As good as the collection site was- it could not handle the amounts of tires needing to be recycled. We all want to recycle. Mixed recycling bins in some areas have helped to make things easier. Unfortunately, there are still several items that are not allowed in the trash, and not allowed in the recycling bin: Tires Broken CFL’s (properly sealed in a plastic bag) Scrap metal Mattresses Waste oil Batteries Paints Several companies and entities are working to 14 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

and recycling – a one stop solution. Here, they have a clean, organized solution to our currently fragmented system. By showing proof that you live in the county, all residents can deposit waste and recycle as much as they can – at one location. provide ways to legally and environmentally dispose of these and other items. I propose they work together. This summer, I was very fortunate to visit my Aunt Louise and Uncle Vernon in Howard County, Maryland. On one day of my visit, we went to the local waste management center. There they have the solution we need: centralized, comprehensive waste management. We need one place to take all of our waste

At the center, you can deposit things we are used to recycling including: glass, metal, plastic, batteries, and appliances. At the same location you could recycle tires, waste oil, oil filters, mattresses, carpet, carpet pads and more. By having everything in one location, it actually saves the energy of people driving all around to drop off all of these items. Unfortunately, since recycling is so fragmented, people will often throw away, or pile up their recyclables, until they have enough for a trip. Butte County and all counties: let’s get it together, literally, and form a place to take all of our recyclables! Until then, we will start a new pile of old tires, ready for another tire amnesty day…

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It’s Easy Being Greener

Not ‘Freshman Fifteen’, But Freshman Go Green!

By Emily Protine

ollege freshmen have so much to anticipate: the liberty of living on their own, the new faces that turn into friends, and the four-plus years of aspiration and hard work that produce a degree. Freshman at CSU, Chico, have something else to look forward to: taking part in the green movement.

n the past, Chico State has been recognized for its efforts in sustainability, but now more than ever, the freshmen class is getting a dose of the green scene whenever they chow down in Whitney Dining Hall. The fee for on-campus housing includes a mealplan that can also be purchased by those freshmen not living on campus, or by any Chico State student. The mealplans can provide up to 19 meals a week that can be eaten in Whitney Hall, and these meals are as green as they are sheen.

atrick Brockman, Manager for

18 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Residential Dining, gave up the inside scoop on how the kitchen and dining hall function in a sustainable manner. Brockman says the students are asked to separate their leftovers from each meal into two bins: compostable and garbage. The surplus food from the dining hall and kitchen is transported daily to Chico State’s University Farm, just five miles away. Once at the farm,

the leftovers become compost, fertilizing the vegetables grown on the farm. These same vegetables are later purchased by Whitney Dining for consumption. This process is what Brockman calls “completing the circle of self-efficiency.”

eyond the self-sustained produce, even the hamburger-loving students are enjoying the products of the green movement. All of the beef served in Residential Dining is organic, grainfed and is fresh from the near-by University Farm. Brockman also buys from local produce companies that buy from local farmers. Purchasing locally grown products is part of being a “localvore”. While carnivores eat meat and herbivores eat plants, “localvores” eat foods produced locally. Eating locally reduces resources used to package and transport products; ultimately contributing to sustainability..

owever, not all of the products

It’s Easy Being Greener

into the dining area to fill up their tray with as much chow as they can fit. Often this tray allows for overindulgence (hence the cursed ‘freshmen fifteen’) and more often than served in Whitney Hall can come from the University Farm or local produce companies. The remaining products come from CSUC’s partner, US Foodservice, San Francisco. USF is certified by the Bay Area Green Business with a “Green Certification,” which means they perform earthfriendly practices while operating business. Purchasing food is just the tip of Whitney Dining’s sustainable iceberg.

hen asked what future sustainable plans are to be implemented in Residential Dining, Brockman had an unexpected, yet simple response. “We’re going tray-less” he answered. As of right now, students pick up a tray and head

ot only is the tray-less system expected to dramatically cut down on waste, the amount of resources used to wash these trays will be eliminated. On a busy day Whitney Dining serves 1700 meals, which produces 1700 trays that need to be washed. Removing trays from the system means reducing the use of water and cleaning chemicals. The planet AND the employees in the dish room will be happy about this renovation!

urrently Brockman is working on a marketing plan to advertise to his primary patrons, the freshmen, to inform them of the green scene in Whitney Dining. In the meantime, Brockman, his team of employees, and their commitment to social responsibility, continue to exercise sustainability behind the kitchen doors. While the freshmen of Chico State may dread the rumored ‘freshmen fifteen’, they can at least relax knowing their food is green.

n the kitchen, all #10, #5, and plastic bottles are recycled. The trash bags used both in the kitchen and in the dining hall are made of recycled material. The to-go coffee cups, napkins, and plastic ware are all biodegradable. The dining service also uses a zero-emission electric vehicle for traveling in and around campus.

service, so no one will go to bed on an empty stomach.

not, substantial amounts of waste. Going tray-less means each student can only take as much food as they can fit on a plate. But don’t worry, Whitney Dining offers an all-you-can-eat w w w.communityseeds.com

It’s Easy Being Greener

Going Solar

Part 4 of Our 3 Part Series? By Greg Holman

elcome to part 4 of our 3 part series on going solar. Yes, you read that right. As I said in the last issue, part of the trouble in going solar lies in the complex formula of rebates, tax incentives, loan structures, and difficulty in comparing estimates from one company to another. Right at press time, we are extremely excited to report that our system is almost completely installed!

fter countless estimates from several local and regional solar installers, we finally signed our contract on September 20th. Sizing the system to generate up to half of our electricity in a given month, should enable us to get out of the “penalty tiers” that have seen us paying in excess of three times the baseline use price for our power. With the loan being rolled into a home equity loan, and seeing a reduction in our interest rate by over 1%, we should be looking to lose money for 2-3 months, break even 2-4 months, and be ahead the balance in a year. We look forward to finding out if our math was right!

tay tuned until the next issue when we reveal the company we decided to go with, as well as data from our newly installed system… 20 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Promoting Sustainable Practices By Jessica Bahamondes

California State University, Chico is located in the heart of downtown Chico. The school is famous for it’s social aspects, but has recently become very involved in the sustainability movement. As a matter of fact according to Chico News released in July 2008, “Chico has once again been named to an exclusive list of national schools leading the way in sustainability and environmental awareness.” Chico State also “ranks 34th on the Sierra Club’s 2009 ‘Cool Schools’ list. The rankings rate schools in nine categories, including energy efficiency, waste management, and transportation policies. Chico was the only CSU campus included among the 135 U.S. colleges and universities on the list.” These rankings would have never occurred if it weren’t for such a dedicated and unique program created three years ago called, the Associated Students Sustainability Program. AS Sustainability is a program that implements sustainable practices throughout AS departments, provides funding opportunities for student-driven sustainability projects, offers

internships and volunteer opportunities, and promotes sustainability awareness on campus and in the community. For the record, the AS stands for Associated Students and it was in the student’s hands to vote to create and fund such a monumental program. The students decided that a program like this would be extremely beneficial to our campus as well as our community and very much needed, so they got it on the ballot in Spring of 2006. By putting this on the ballot it meant that student fees would increase by $5.00 per student each semester in order to fund the program. This money not only pays for a coordinator and two student staff positions; most importantly, it funds all the student-driven sustainability projects at Chico State University. With a high number of student supporters, the proposed program passed, and the AS Sustainability Program was established. The AS sustainability program was started in the Fall of 2006. Since then, they have increased awareness about the program, gauged interest from community members and groups, and have w w w.communityseeds.com

It’s Easy Being Greener

begun to change Chico State’s campus and “green” reputation one project at a time. When the program first started, their initial vision was to bring about more student involvement in sustainability projects, support students and their projects, work to green all AS departments, and educate the staff, employees, and community members of Chico State about sustainable practices. The current coordinator, Robyn DiFalco, and her assistant coordinator, Gavin Dixon, are working to do just this. According to Gavin Dixon their vision has not had the opportunity to change much because they are still so new. He really doesn’t anticipate it changing too much because they are doing exactly what they envisioned; raising awareness about sustainability through student-driven projects and educating others in the process. The way the program works is mainly focused on getting students involved. The sustainability fund has about $80,000 in its fund at the beginning of each semester. Besides paying the staff positions, this money goes toward funding and supporting student driven projects such as CFL Take it Back, Bring Your Own Cup, Diversion Excursion, and the Compost Display Area. Each of these projects are focused on sustainability but have different goals in mind. CFL Take it Back is a project aimed at providing education and outreach regarding the need for recycling used Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). The program also educates and promotes the energy efficiency benefits of using CFL bulbs. They are also in the process of setting up business locations for Butte County residents to drop off their used CFL bulbs to 22 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

get properly recycled. Bring Your Own Cup is a discount program designed to help eliminate the amount of paper cups that get used and thrown away on a daily basis at Chico State. AS dining services and other departments are in on this and grant discounts to students purchasing fountain drinks or coffee when they “bring their own cup.” Diversion Excursion is a project that is mostly done by students with some aid from the University Housing Services. The project works by AS sustainability students and volunteers devoting their time to diverting the waste that freshmen throw away when moving out of their dorm rooms at the end of the year. As a matter of fact, last year they prevented over 18,000 pounds of waste from going to the landfill during the freshmen move out. Projects like this not only help our environment, but also help others by collecting items that are in good condition and can be reused. Lastly, among the many student projects they support they also have several student interns who run the Compost Display Area. This area is designated for the BMU, Union Express, and other areas to bring their compostable waste so it can be composted instead of just thrown into a landfill. They are also in charge of putting on workshops for the community, school children, as well as university students. They are extremely knowledgeable about what they do and invite new people to come and check out their workshops. Since the starting of their program, they have been extremely successful in implementing specific changes to take effect.

CSUC Sustainability Program

One of the most successful has been the “Green Cleaning Policy,” which basically states that all cleaning supplies used at Chico state must be non-toxic and natural cleaning products. One example of this would be when they decided to change the maintenance of the Bell Memorial Union floor to remain unfinished. Prior to this the floor was refinished about every year and now that they have decided to leave it unfinished, it has lessened the toxic chemicals used in the process. They have also started the AS zero waste program, which by 2015 aims to have 90% of Chico State’s waste diverted into a composting site. They also want to reduce the build-up of packaging supplies, so I am sure the BMU and other places on campus will see more local buying efforts take place to eliminate all the packaging used when things are shipped or delivered in large quantities. According to their website, www.aschico. com/sustainability, they are in the process of greening all AS departments. Mr. Dixon explained that several things have already taken place to make all departments more green. Some of these changes have occurred in Associated Student Dining Services and Catering Services, and although these departments are two separate units they work very closely in much of things

they do. Some of the changes they have made were switching their food buying tactics to include buying more organic and local food mostly from our very own University Farm. They have also shifted away from the use of glass plates to ceramic plates. Another department where significant change has occurred is in the Associated Student Bookstore located inside the Bell Memorial Union. The bookstore has started using and selling several recycled and organic products such as recycled printing paper, notebooks, binder paper, T-shirts, napkins, and plates. In addition, Chico State is the leading school in selling used textbooks. This not only helps our environment because we are reusing a lot of the books that are needed, it is also easier on students because it saves them money. If you are interested in getting involved in the sustainability efforts of Chico State’s AS Sustainability Program, they welcome everyone who would like to help. A common misconception is that volunteers have to go to Chico State, which is not entirely true. In the case of wanting to complete an internship with the sustainability program a student must be enrolled, however, to be a volunteer you just have to get in contact with the correct people; Robyn DiFalco or Gavin Dixon.

The AS Sustainability Program at CSUChico holds weekly Sustainability Collaborative Meetings every Monday at 5 PM in BMU 312, where community members and groups, students, AS faculty, and volunteers come together to discuss current events, projects, and opportunities. The Associated Students Sustainability program can be contacted by phone at 530.898.6677, by email at ASSPintern@ csuchico.edu, and in person on the third floor of the BMU room 301, Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 PM.

Visit our Green Page at www.thechicoconnection.comClick on “Green Living” for local & global links on sustainable living.

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Family

Green burial organizations and Funeral Services are working to make burial more sustainable, economical, and consequential.

Green Burial By Elizabeth Fournier

pending my last several years working as a small-town funeral director has given me the unique pleasure and privilege to serve families during their greatest time of need. I am always honored to be chosen to facilitate the journey of their loved one’s passing. It is my role as a small-town minister that allows me to convey to the family that the death of our bodies is a sacred and spiritual passage.

“Death is not a period,” says Swami Rama in his book Sacred Journey: Living Purposefully and Dying 24 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Gracefully, “but merely a pause.” As I see it, death is a spiritual transition, especially at the time of death of the physical body. The practical realization of passing away is guided by an advanced spiritual revelation. In the green burial movement, this advanced spiritual revelation is focused on the earth’s well-being, and the movement attempts to realize this. My own ethical and spiritual beliefs naturally veer me towards the path of a green burial, and I am increasingly not alone. Various sorts of natural burial options are

progressively more popular due to a collective, heightened consciousness. People aren’t interested so much in how they will be remembered, but rather, how they can continue to give back, even in death. Natural burial means no embalming, no elaborate casket, no burial vault: Just a body returning to the earth. The concept is quite biblical if you consider the beautiful simplicity of ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Conventional burials typically involve toxic embalming fluids, which can leak into the ground

Eco Friendly Burial

her friends brought food and flowers. They were able to look at her face and touch her hands and say goodbye. After the celebration of her life, she was brought to a burial space in a wooded area and her children slowly lowered her shrouded body. The day was glorious.

“A green burial not only saves money, but open space is preserved as well.” water and water supply. Rare wood caskets and metal vaults are also commonly sunk deep into the earth. Burials green in color include only caskets made from biodegradable wood and other eco-friendly materials. A green burial not only saves money, but open space is preserved as well. Allowing people to feel as though their last act on earth contributes to a positive purpose connects them in an almost holy way to this concept. It makes people’s eyes sparkle. Those who have laid loved ones to rest in this setting have found comfort in knowing the body will return to the earth as the circle of life continues. The green burial movement is crucial to restore this freedom and choice, both during the actual death and in the arrangements made after death. It also enables a more “natural” death, surrounded

by one’s loved ones in one’s own surroundings. Important to note, the concept of natural death strives to include active family involvement and home funerals as well.

Until this century, funerals were a family ritual. I think that every person should have the choice as to whether or not they want to have a service handled by a funeral director, or if they want to re-claim their roles of caring for the dying and for the dead.

No matter the circumstances of loss, we are never prepared emotionally. It always seems It’s been proven that sudden. By having our departed participation by the mourners loved ones at home, we eases the grieving process. maintain control in an event Being involved really does help that is otherwise beyond our the constant flow of energy, control. We are assured that our and the effect is quite evident. loved ones are treated with the The idea is to bring everyone love that they deserve. We feel into the actual process. From less a victim of circumstance. a personal experience I had We are allowed the time we recently, it truly helped the need to assimilate this loss distraught family to participate into our lives. There is greater in making all the decisions, opportunity for healing and we and I think in a practical way, it are allowed ample time for an helped to be occupied. often difficult parting. The matriarch of the family had finally passed after many months on hospice care. The days following were amazingly powerful and quite personal for all involved. Her family clothed and laid her out on a bed in her living room. All

For more information on green burials, visit: http://cornerstonefuneral.com/ resource_htms/green-burial_resources. htm

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Featured Artist

Turkish Architect (and Community Seeds Eco Magazine reader), turned award winning musician, Evrim Tuzun, shares his ideas on the environment, his pull towards social responsibility and the power of creating music...

Written by DeAnna Holman Photographs Courtesy of Evrim Tuzum

ommunity Seeds Eco Magazine has an audience that reaches far and wide. Many people across the U.S. and the world have read our articles, sent in articles, and have made a contribution to help spread the word about green consciousness. Although published in Chico, California, in the United States, our messages are universal: It is essential to the future of our children to work toward living a sustainable lifestyle by caring for the environment, our health and our 26 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

communities. Evrim Tuzun couldn’t agree more.

vrim is a Turkish Architect, specializing in renewable energy and green building materials. He is an environmentalist. He is also a singer, song writer, composer and environmental activist.

vrim’s creative musical career began twelve years ago as a result of a broken heart. “I thought, how can I get through this? I took my

Environmentalist, Musician, Evrim Tuzun

newly bought guitar in my hand and I said, ‘yeah, music never gives (up on you), on a good day or a bad day.’” A few days later, he had composed his first song. Two years later, he was singing his own songs in concerts. Today, he plays guitar, sings, writes songs, and uses keyboards and digital technology to compose his music. “In today’s digital world, you can play any instrument with the help of a keyboard.”

s Evrim’s musical style evolved, so did his passion for sharing his message of a world coming together in an effort toward change. He believes in peace and feels music is a means to connect people. He wants to use his music to inspire others to recognize their social responsibilities. “As an artist I do entertain people, but sure, I have some responsibilities. Music is sharing. Music is love.”

ith these ideals in mind, Evrim came up with a song and philosophy called, “Hemen Hemen”, or “Heart.” “‘Hemen Hemen’ symbolizes

our mission. Yes, we will change this world together!” Evrim uploaded his techno dance song on his website and a few days later, he noticed people were remixing his song. “The remixes kept coming and coming. DJs from all around the world got connected with ‘Hemen Hemen.’ That is the real magic. I call it ‘Hemen Hemen Magic.’” Evrim created a website www. hemenhemen.net and started to compile the remixes. Soon, “Hemen Hemen” became the most remixed song in the world with more than 200 remixes and Evrim was holding a Trance World music award for, “The Most Remixed Song of The World.” “‘Hemen Hemen’ shows that, even if we don’t speak the same language, have the same skin color, or whatever, love is a universal language. Love connects us.”

n spite of his creative success, Evrim has not lost sight of his commitment to the environment. He now feels an added responsibility to spread the word about the importance of being w w w.communityseeds.com

Featured Artist, Continued

eco friendly. “I am interested in anything that’s eco friendly. We must be aware of the global warming problem. Every year the temperature of our world increases rapidly, which has lots of side effects. We have to think about our children’s future. So I (have) made some projects about global warming.”

vrim joined a group called Global Warming Official or G.W.O. This group believes, “Global warming isn’t opinion; It’s a scientific reality. The science tells us that human activity has made enormous impact to our planet that affects our well-being and even our survival as a species. The world’s leading science journals report that glaciers are melting ten times faster than previously thought, that atmospheric greenhouse gases have reached levels not seen for millions of years, and that species are vanishing as a result of climate change. They also report of extreme weather events, long-term droughts, and rising sea levels. Fortunately, the science also tells us how we can begin to make significant repairs to try and reverse those impacts, but only through immediate action.”

.W.O. asked Evrim to create a song about global warming to be put online. Upon the song’s completion, friends from Creative Instincts

28 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Featured Artist

Photography took photos relating to global warming and those photos were combined with photos sent in by the public to create a photo slide show video. The song and video were titled, “1040.” The Turkish song in the video has a universal beat and the video offers a slide show of photography to which all people can relate, regardless of language spoken.

vrim is currently working on the “Hemen Hemen” Project which is also connected with Global Warming project: www. HemenHemen.net (Love & Peace Mission). “‘Hemen Hemen’ events will spread the world love and peace, but also, we all will have a chance to warn the people about our (children’s) future. Nothing will change, if we don’t make this change. Let’s start today!”

he power of the internet is amazing.

The 1040 degrees video can be seen at: http://vids.myspace.com/ index.cfm?fuseaction=vids. channel&vanity=globalwar mingofficial. The translated lyrics are posted on the G.W.O. website (www. GlobalWarmingOfficial. com) and Evrim’s website. Evrim’s official website is at www.evrimtuzun.com. w w w.communityseeds.com

Community

Feed Others While Feeding Yourself: A Local Business Steps Up By: Darnell Robert Caesar

hen I think of the holidays, I think of family, friends, laughter, good times, and of course food! Due to various reasons, not everyone can be with their family or even friends to share in the laughter and joy of the holiday season, but one thing that everyone should always have access to is a hot and satisfying meal! Unfortunately, not everyone has the resources to obtain a meal, especially around the holidays, but thanks to community centers, food banks, volunteers, and donations, it’s becoming available to more people.

ne day in early November I was thinking of how I have spent the last few holidays; hanging out and spending it with friends in Chico, but not family. It made me think about my family, both near and far. I realized that I haven’t been able to see my birth mother for some time now, especially around the holidays. I thought about her because I know she has a tough time making ends meet and sometimes relies on food banks or community centers to help her get by. If it weren’t for her community center and local food bank, she probably wouldn’t have been able to have that satisfying meal everyone deserves. This got me to brainstorming ways I, personally, could positively impact my community and help someone else’s relative in that time of need; the same way someone in Sacramento helps my mother when necessary.

30 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

s an employee at Pita Pit in Chico, CA, I was thinking of ways I could help out this holiday season. In the past, I have always donated money, clothes, food, and toys for the holiday season, but never thought about hosting my/our very own holiday drive. After talking with my bosses, Mike and Jay Dakof, I decided to look into this further. I decided to partner with the Jesus Center, which is one of the bigger donation centers in Chico, to help bring in donations for their annual holiday collecting of necessities. I decided that it would be the most effective if we held our drive the second week in December in order to spread out the donations they receive, since many businesses held canned food drives in November leading up to Thanksgiving. I thought this would be a great idea, because someone in another town gives their time to help my mother and others in need, so why not help the people in my own town?

f a person just took a couple of minutes to think about how easy it is to give back, there would be an abundant amount of resources. Unfortunately, not everyone can give back, but the people who can and do are the reasons behind these donations. If you think about it, we all probably have a family member, immediate or extended family, somewhere that gets some kind of assistance from outside sources. These sources are available because

Making a Difference

anything during this whole process is that it doesn’t have to be the holiday season to help people in need. It is definitely a good way to start and get your feet wet, but we should all try to help our community everyday of the year. Of course, the holidays have more meaning to donate, but if you are willing and able, you should seek out ways you can give back to your community. It doesn’t always have to involve money; it could be as simple as donating your time to prepare and serve meals or wash laundry. Again, anything helps, and places like the Jesus Center invite anyone willing to help to come and join in!

fter researching this information and ways to get involved, I have realized how much donations are really needed. I think things like this make me a better person and I hope more people can find it in their hearts to give back in some way.

Photo courtesy of Margie Hurwich Photography

of committed volunteers and because of the time and effort they put into collecting items and preparing and serving meals for the less fortunate.

s I make the fliers and posters to promote this holiday drive, I am hoping there will be a good turnout. Pita Pit will be granting specific discounts on pitas in accordance to how many items a person brings in. The drive will begin December 4, 2009 and will run until the 11th of December. We are calling it, “Feed Other’s While Feeding Yourself.” People can donate things from canned foods to toiletry items. Basically ANYTHING HELPS. The most important thing is knowing that, by donating whatever you can, it is helping someone in need around the holidays.

s I think about the years to come, it would be great to continue this drive annually. What I have realized more than

Photo courtesy of HippyKitty at deviantart.com

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Community

32 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Almond Blossom Run

Start Warming Up For the 28th Annual Almond Blossom Run To Be Held in Durham, California February 20, 2010 By Shelly Hodge

The Almond Blossom Run is a 5 kilometer and 10 kilometer run held in Durham, California every year when the almond trees are blossoming. The run is one of the main fundraisers of The Durham Sports Boosters. The money raised is used to fund the local sport programs and scholarships. This year’s run will be Saturday, February 20th, with a start time of 9:00am. Runners come an hour early to get a race number and free T-shirt. The course runs through the town and country roads of Durham, finishing in the Durham High School parking lot. All of the roads are flat and paved. People can come and walk, run, push a stroller, use a wheelchair or walk with a walker. All are welcome, but dogs are not allowed on the course. The run is held rain or shine. The course is beautiful and alive with blossoms from the surrounding almond trees. Commemorative T-shirts are given at no extra charge to the first 500 sign ups. The cost of sign ups will be $25 and $30 on the day of the event. This February 20th run will be the 28th year of the Almond Blossom Run. It is a fun run/walk that you don’t want to miss. The local Durham almond farmers pronounce almond as “am- end” (am-uh nd). They say they are almonds until they shake the “l” out of them! Don’t be surprise if you hear that pronunciation on race day! See you there! Registration brochures are available at the Chico, Paradise and Durham public libraries, as well as the Parks and Recreation offices, and the Chambers of Commerce. Some of the places in Durham that will have registration brochures are: TriCounties Bank, Napa Auto Parts, Tozier’s Hardware & Hodge’s Nursery. In Chico, most all of the health clubs and Fleet Feet will have the

brochures. In Paradise, the health clubs will have these registration brochures. If you are coming from out of town, have any questions, or have trouble finding the registration brochures, you can contact Ken or Shelly Hodge at 530-894-6598.

FACTS ABOUT THE DURHAM ALMOND BLOSSOM RUN • The local Durham almond farmers pronounce almond as “am- end” (am-uh nd). They say they are almonds until they shake the “l” out of them! Don’t be surprise if you hear that pronunciation on race day! See you there! • You can still sign up on the day of the event. • There are always plenty of volunteers to help out. • You can run as a group, such as Dr. Stricker’s dental office. • You can be in any shape. There is no excuse not to try it. • The 5 kilometer run is for all kinds of runners and passengers. • It’s great for parents and kids. • It’s a beautiful run and a great time to visit with friends. • The 5 kilometer run [3 miles for the layman] starts at the Durham Intermediate School parking lot and you can run it competitively or walk it with friends. • The event is put on by the Sports Boosters to help fund sports and scholarships for high school kids in the area. • The start of the 10 kilometer run is on Holland Avenue amongst the beautiful blossoming almond trees. • The first 500 runners to sign up get an Almond Blossom Run T-shirt at no extra charge. w w w.communityseeds.com

In our last issue, we saw how real Christmas tress were eco friendly. Now let’s head to a local tree farm for some fun and an education!

Out and About Mountain View Christmas Tree Farm Paradise, CA By Anne Benoit

rofessional educators are often searching for that “teachable moment” or method of imparting information that truly is effective. My most successful teaching times usually involved hands on approaches that incorporated multiple pathways to knowledge. So, enough of the educator jargon: whether you’re a teacher, parent, or you are involved with children’s groups, the Mountain View Christmas Tree Farm in Paradise, CA, offers many teachable moments for children. For groups that visit the farm (Sept-May), there are many 34 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Adventure Travel Fun Education

Out and About

activities to keep little minds, and little hands busy. In one activity, children collect leaves of evergreen and deciduous trees. They create a simple negative print of the deciduous leaf and a positive print using the evergreen needles and then make notes on the similarities and differences (Email Anne: info @mtnviewtrees.com if you need specifics on how to easily do this craft activity using old toothbrushes and wire screen). During springtime tours, we might make lavender wands, or at cherry blooming time, collect blossoms, discuss pollination and make paper.

Mountain View Christmas Tree Farm

It is a great time of year to get out and enjoy the lovely winter weather and have a little learning experience along the way. For those not in the area, or for those that just can’t arrange a school/group tour, there is a “virtual” field trip offered on the farm’s website at mtnviewtrees. com. First, look at the information online: http://wwwrealtrees4kids. org/. Besides the classroom information, under the teacher drop down menu on the home page, there are multiple reproducible words searches, mazes, etc. One enterprising 3rd grade teacher from Texas had her class snail mail the farm a collection of questions the students had formed, along with a 2-foot paper person: Flat Stanley. He served as a visual scale (think ruler). We took photos in the Christmas trees utilizing Flat Stanley to illustrate answers to the students’ questions. You can see this classroom project by visiting the Mountain View Tree Farm web site at: http://www.mtnviewtrees. com/toursactivities.php. At the home page, you can click the school/tours button and see for yourself how math, science and literature can create fun learning activities. Whether you want to arrange a field trip, take the virtual field trip, pick out the perfect eco-friendly real Christmas tree, or come to enjoy the festivities, there is something for everyone at the Mountain View Tree Farm.

CHRISTMAS TREE SPECIES WORD SCRAMBLE Unscramble each of the following sets of letters to make a species of Christmas Tree. (Hint: visit www.christmastree.org/types.cfm for additional help.) 1. HSOCTC NEIP 2. RSRFAE RFI 3. YLDELNA PCESYRS 4. IAVGRIIN EPNI 5. SMABLA IRF 6. BNLOE FRI 7. OCLODAOR UBEL UESRPC 8. LUDASOG IFR 9. YNRAOW RPSUEC 10. ZIRANOA YESPSCR National Christmas Tree Association - 2006

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Green Winter Crafts Green Crafts

Turn old incandescent light bulbs into holiday ornaments hunt for pine cones and turn them into holiday decor, and sew cozy pajama pants for the whole family.

By Amy Behlke and Mary Portis

36 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Community Seeds “I’m a Chico Seed” and “I’m a Paradise Seed” baby onesies, youth, and adult shirts are on sale now!

Visit The Paradise Community Website for local information, links to recreation, community calendar, lodging, shopping and more.

These soft, organic cotton shirts, are made in the U.S.A. and sell for $14 (shipping is $2).

The Paradise Connection:

To order any seed shirt, please e-mail your request to

Your window into Paradise!

info@communityseeds.com. Please specify quantity and size.

The Seeds shirts may also be purchased at Baby’s Boutique and Apple Blossom Baby in Chico!

www.TheParadiseConnection.com It’s Easy Being Greener

Join Perry as he gathers treasures, makes new friends and learns life lessons!

Learn From Perry the Pack Rat how to find a friend, how sharing lets your heart smile and how important it is to be yourself. These colorful, whimsical stories will delight the entire family! www.wordsofwhimsy.net www.perrythepackrat.com Visit the website for more information and the author signing schedule.

www.sunshinekidsclub.org

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GreenWinter Crafts Incandescent Bulb Ornaments

Now that you’ve changed all the bulbs in your house to CFL’s, what should you do with all those unused incandescent bulbs laying around? With this clever craft you can turn your old energy-sucking bulbs into adorable ornaments for your Christmas tree! We’ll show you how to make a holiday penguin, Santa, Rudolph and a snowman using old bulbs. By Amy Behlke

: Incandescent bulbs d e e N l l i W u Craft paint & brushes Materials Yo Use old light bulbs in a new way this holiday season.

3-D Squeeze-paints Pipe cleaners Felt, puff balls and other decorative items An old shoebox Scissors Hot glue

After covering your craft space with a protective sheet, paint two bulbs white, one brown, and one red. I used washable kids’ paints since I was doing this craft with my children.

38 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Green Crafts

Use the old shoebox as a stand to dry the ornaments by cutting holes the size of the bulb ends into the bottom of the box. Place the bulb ends into the holes and let dry several hours or until completely dry.

Once completely dry, paint one of the white bulbs mostly black with a white patch showing in the front (this will become the penguin), and set aside to dry. Use 3-D squeeze paints to paint faces on the snowman, Santa and Rudolph as shown. Do the same to the penguin once the paint has dried. Let these sit overnight to ensure all 3-D squeeze paint has dried.

Use black felt to cut out a hat for the snowman, red felt for the Rudolph and Santa hats, and yellow felt for the penguinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hat. Attach hats and puff balls to light bulbs using hot glue. Bend sparkly pipe cleaners around the rims of the hats, twisting at the back to make loops for hanging these ornaments on the Christmas tree. w w w.communityseeds.com

PJ Pants

Green Winter Crafts, Continued

Make Your Own P.J. Pants Without A Pattern

Pajama pants are just about the easiest sewing project around. It is silly to pay $14+ for a pair of children’s pajamas that will only fit for a few weeks. Instead, use a favorite pair of pajama pants and sew new ones yourself. I was able to cut out and sew seven pairs of pajama bottoms in one morning using pieces of fabric I already had on hand. This is a project that I encourage even beginners to try! By Amy Behlke

Materials:

• A favorite pair of P.J. pants • 1 yard of fabric for kids’s pants, 2 yards for adult pants- flannel is recommended • Thread to match • 1”elastic- measure the waist of the wearer for length, my 5 year old takes 22” • Good scissors to cut fabric

1. Wash, dry and press any fabric you will be using to make pajama pants before cutting or sewing. 2. Fold your favorite pair of pajama bottoms in half lengthwise, matching up seams on inside & outside of the legs and press flat. 3. Fold fabric in half, wrong sides together, lengthwise (it should still be 45” wide) and lay pressed P.J. bottoms on the fabric. 4. Cut through both layers of fabric around the top, bottom, and front of the pants. Be sure to cut about 1 inch from the sides and 3 inches from the waist and ankles to allow for seams and elastic. DO NOT CUT along the back of the pants. 5. Maintaining the placement of the pants on the fabric, flip the pants over lengthwise and cut along the top, bottom, and front of the pants again, creating two leg pieces. 6. With right sides of the fabric together, sew all the way up the side seam of the pants using a ¼” seam allowance. Press seam open and repeat with other pant-leg. 40 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Green Crafts

At the ankles, fold the fabric up about 1/4“ and press. Fold again, 1” this time, and press. Stitch along the fold to create a finished cuff.

Match pant legs together at center seam and pin crotch to waist. Stitch pant legs together using ¼” seam allowance, removing pins as you go.

At waist, fold the top down ¼” and press, then fold another 2” all the way around the top, press and pin. Stitch at the edge of the fabric, leaving a 2” opening to feed the elastic inside.

10. Measure the waist of the person you are making the P.J. pants for and cut the elastic to fit their waist. I like to cut the elastic about ¼ smaller than their waist so the pants are not too tight, but also don’t fall down. 11. Using a safety-pin, feed the elastic through the pocket just created at the waist. 12. Sew the ends of the elastic together well and stitch opening closed. 13. Try the pants on, adjust length as needed by hemming ankle cuffs. 14. Optional: To make matching P.J. tops very easily, simply embellish in-expensive T-shirts with fabric scraps. Get creative, the sky is the limit!

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Pine Cone Holiday Tree

Green Winter Crafts, Continued

Pine Cone Christmas Tree

By Mary Portis

Materials:

• Large, open, tree-shaped pine cone • Cotton balls • Liquid glue • Glitter glue • String of beads or glitter pipe cleaners • Ribbon or small star for the top of the tree

Directions:

Hike where pine cones fall. Choose pine cones that are open, tree-shaped, and have a base that allows the pine cone to stand up easily. When you get the pine cones home, you can bake them on a foil-lined cookie sheet for 60 minutes at 200 degrees to dry any sap and kill any bugs or spider mites (This step is optional). Glue cotton balls to the base of the pine cone for snow. Glue pieces of cotton in between the scales of the pine cone for a dusting of snow. Wrap beads or pipe cleaners (or both) through the scales. Glitter glue the ends of the scales. Attach a ribbon or small star to the top of the pine cone. 42 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Start your holiday season with a warm tradition— Bring the family and select your perfect Christmas tree! • Acres of sustainably-harvested “You Cut” Christmas trees • Pre-cut Nobles and Silvertips–all sizes!

Make it a fun-filled family day— • Enjoy roasting marshmallows and making sticky s’mores • Explore acres of beautiful foothill forest • Visit with our goats, donkeys and turkeys • Shop for unique gifts in our Christmas boutique • Sneak a kiss under the mistletoe (wreaths for sale, too) • Bring a picnic or visit our snack bar

Mountain View ChristMas tree FarM www.MtnViewTrees.com

872-0165

1986 Mountain View Drive Paradise, California 95969

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The Wondermen

ent of Winter

Family

46 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

The Struggles of Disciplining Children

The challenges of disciplining children are universal. Some days parents feel like “new, green” parents. When does it get easier, I wonder? Someone once said, “If you’re green, you’re growing; if you’re ripe, you rot.”

I Will Not Rot Written By: Stacie Bingham

Before my husband and I had children, the only thing we agreed on in the discipline area was that we did not want to spank our children. We both grew up in households where spanking was the norm, and we were determined to break that cycle in our own family. Fast forward to now: We have three boys, ages 10, 8, and 4. They are active, loud, and boisterous. They have quickly learned how to push Mom and Dad’s buttons, and most days, I feel more like a cow-wrangler than a mother. They suffer from frequent bouts of hearing loss and they are, I’m told, perfectly normal. I don’t know why, but one thing I was not prepared for was how easy it would be to

revert to all those old, ineffective techniques which my parents futilely used on me. It never occurred to me that unless I sought out new, better, more effective (and real-life) strategies, I was pretty much destined to, well, become my mother. I needed to step off the only path I ever knew (the familiar, mapped out road) and with energy, focus, and determination, start forging a new trail filled with unfamiliar terrain and foreign obstacles toward a destination unknown. My brother-in-law has had the following quotation on a chalkboard in his kitchen for, well, long enough for me to finally take notice: “If you want something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.” The truth is in the simplicity: How can w w w.communityseeds.com

Disciplining Children, Continued

I expect different results if I don’t alter the formula? This statement has become my mantra for changing our approach to discipline. Quickly, it dawned on me that this was going to require a great deal of thought, foresight, and consistency. I needed tools to help me carve out this new path. Counseling? Weekend retreats? Conferences? They all sound good, but they take the extra resources of time and money – both on short supply around here. After a great deal of thought, I decided to use the assets to which I already had (free) access: good friends, a willing partner, and my own mother-sense.

with which we were all uncomfortable. I stepped in and offered to finish putting him in his seat. From an outsider’s perspective, it was easy to see he was reacting strongly against his mother’s attempts, simply because she was his mother! He had no issue with me, and feeling a bit confused by the change of guard, he relented and sat back, allowing himself to be buckled in.

This circle is also a great place to ask for advice or coaching. I was spending the afternoon with a good friend, our boys going crazy around us. Her three-year-old was intent on jumping on the mattress where his baby brother lay. She asked him a few times to please stop. He seemed to blatantly ignore her (ahh, selective hearing!). She looked at me and I am fortunate to be surrounded by good asked, “What should I do?” We agreed it was friends who mother the way I want to mother. not okay for him to jump dangerously around We are a close group. We may be separated his brother’s helpless frame. I asked her if there by religion, politics, and ethnic backgrounds, was a place where it was okay to partake in but the thing that joins us is our resolve to the said behavior? She agreed he could jump provide respectful, gentle discipline and loving on her bed in the other room. This mom then guidance in the hopes we are helping our had a conversation with her three-year old that children grow to be people of whom we will be went something like this: proud. “Oh, that looks like fun! You know, when you Being able to ask for and accept help is of great jump by your baby brother like that I am afraid importance within these friendships. We are all he might get hurt. If you still want to jump, you struggling. We recognize when a mom seems can go jump on my bed; I will come and watch to be at the end of her rope. Once, while out on while you do a few silly tricks. Come on!” an adventure, a friend was working hard to get her little guy into his car seat. I could see her As crazy as it sounds, it worked. Kids get used frustration quickly mushroom into something to the way we phrase things, even when we 48 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Family

think we are disguising our requests as nicesounding, interesting ideas. By changing her approach, this mother was able to not only get her adventure-seeking child’s attention, but she was also able to redirect him to an activity which was agreeable for all parties. Just today, I sat with another friend and shared an interesting point with her: I would never dream of telling my friend, “Don’t do that! No! Stop! I said don’t!” Most adults do not communicate like that with other adults – we figure out kinder, more respectful ways of sharing our ideas or requests, even in situations where we have to say something negative or potentially hurtful. If a fellow adult spoke to me the way I naturally speak to my children, I would either feel greatly insulted, or deeply hurt, depending on whom the person was. Yet, I have no problem saying those things ad nauseam to my children all day long. When we break things down a bit and internalize the affect our actions and words really have on our children, it sheds a new light on the importance of our own self-control and need for ingenuity. My second line of defense is my dear husband. I am home most days with our boys by mutual decision. He realizes I go for a ride on the crazy bus daily. He supports my need for adult interaction outside the home, and I support his need to not be overwhelmed by my parenting books, videos, lectures, and ideas which surround me like that Pigpen swarm of dirt surrounds my boys. Don’t get me wrong, I can usually count on his support when I plan to implement the latest, greatest, next-bestthing-when-it-comes-to-our-kids idea, but I cannot always count on him taking the time, energy, or interest to fully dissect this newest information. I understand and appreciate that. Of course, there have been times he has read/ watched/endured the source of my newest promising epiphany, but mostly I have to do the footwork and then give him the condensed

version and the practical applications of such protocols. Neither of us is perfect, and this I say truthfully; but, when citing examples of change, his changes seem more apparent than those which naturally and softly have taken place in me. I see his shaping as a more radical venture – a braver, bolder occurrence. Through my eyes, his changes are more easily marked and noted than my own. Back when our oldest was about two years old, my husband decided our son could not leave his high chair until he ate every last bite of his pasta dinner. I felt a storm brewing, but not wanting to usurp my partner’s power, I stepped out of the picture. I watched, with my mouth closed, from a distance. Of course, a power struggle ensued. I still felt very uncomfortable, but I was hoping like with so many lessons learned by children through natural consequences, my husband would find an answer from the way the situation played out. My husband repeatedly told our son there was no escape from the high chair until the food was gone. Our toddler continued to cry and wail. Finally, our son was brought to his room, where Daddy told him he would have to stay until he felt like finishing dinner. My partner then came to me, exasperated. He said he felt rotten about the way things were going. That nagging feeling, the little voice inside – often serves as a compass, helping to point us in the right direction. My husband lifted the ban, freed the prisoner, and apologized -- righting what felt wrong. In recording these events, I get the feeling I am presenting myself as a guide in the journeys of others; this could not be more misleading. I have my own struggles, my own learning moments, and I certainly welcome and utilize help when it comes my way. Balancing the w w w.communityseeds.com

Disciplining Children, Continued

space between my ideals, beliefs, experiences, and capabilities, I, each day, learn to value more my true mothering instincts. As I choose to trust myself, I grow closer to becoming the parent I want to be. Many times, what I term a discipline issue is really just a conflict of power. As a parent who wants the power, it is easier for me, when my children naturally press against the boundaries I create, to assign blame on the disobedient children. I am in charge and I expect to be obeyed. The fault in this thinking lies in the all-or-nothing aspect it creates, the win-lose outcome, when in reality, things are not often that simple. My first power struggle, I am ashamed to admit, occurred before my first son was even two weeks old. He had an extended hospital stay after birth during which time, the nurses had him on a perfect three-hour-schedule. I brought him home on day nine; fully expecting he would keep to this three-hour-schedule. I 50 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

nursed him before bed, and once he fell asleep, I slipped him into his crib. He slept soundly for about 7 minutes. He then screamed loudly, wildly, desperately. Knowing what his schedule had been in the hospital, I decided (and I even told him) he could wait until the magical threehour-mark hit. “You were on a schedule, so I know you can keep it,” I told him, probably with steel in my voice. I laid myself down in bed (which was a few feet from his crib), and I cried along with him. I felt something awful would be triggered if I “gave in.” Instead, I hid in my bed, crying; the baby flailed in his crib, crying, and I don’t know for sure, but if my husband was not crying out of sheer frustration, I am sure he was close to it. I don’t have any idea how much time passed- it seemed like forever- but I had a conversation in my head. I was fighting an inner battle, jumping back and forth between these two points: He stayed on a three-hour-schedule; surely he was not being hurt. On the other

Family

hand, how hard was it to just go to him, pick him up, and nurse him? It was a moment in my life where I felt the cartoon angel-devil scenario. After much struggle, my mothersense won out. I picked up my blotchy-faced, hiccupping baby and brought him to my breast. He immediately calmed down and we both fell asleep in my bed, for the first of what became many nights of snuggling and nursing together. That single event comes back to me during almost every power struggle I engage in with my children. It helps ground me and gets me thinking about what is truly important. Is their behavior dangerous? Is their safety or the safety of someone else being jeopardized? Is it simply a nuisance behavior? Can things be arranged differently so that this behavior is acceptable? Am I worried about what observers might be thinking? Do I feel the need to show the world I, indeed, have control over my offspring? With this knowledge, one might think things are easy now, right? The journey is over, the destination has been met? While this would be a great place to end, it would not be accurate. Another embarrassing revelation would be to share that ,within a week of this writing, I behaved badly and made a display of sorts while reprimanding my younger son. We were at a dinner for our Japanese exchange student, and the director was giving us some

highlight information. My rowdies, in a normal display of behavior appropriate to their age and immediate circumstance, became quite noisy, to the point of the director stopping her remarks to ask my boys to quiet down. I was so humiliated! I wanted to disappear. Feeding off my own wounded pride, I (loudly and with more animation than needed) picked up my little guy and carried him outside, continuing my stream of no-no-no’s out the door. I felt such pressure to show these people I could take care of the problem! I am in control! In reality, I can accept I am the one who set this situation up. My boys had already been very good through the beginning of this program and dinner -- for at least an hour and a half. I noticed they started to get a little boisterous. At that moment, I should have taken them out and let them play a bit in another room, but selfishly wanting to participate in the program, I remained seated. Poof! They boiled over, the program was interrupted, and all attention was turned on my boys and me. Every day presents new challenges. When does it get easier, I wonder? Someone once said, “If you’re green, you’re growing; if you’re ripe, you rot.” One fact remains solidly in place: I am being refined as a parent by my children – everyday brings a new challenge -- and surely, in that mix, I will not rot.

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Healthy Living

n the spring and summer, I greet the day before 7:00 am, ready to accomplish great feats of housework and parenting, prepared to plant and tend a garden, capable of writing until well after midnight, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. In the fall and winter, I have little desire to do much besides knit simple scarves, bury my head in a book or

sleep; and then I want to sleep some more. This is when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going well. At its worst, I devise ways to eat enough so that I can hibernate like a bear and not have to wake up until we turn our clocks forward in the spring. You see, I am one of millions who have, in one degree or another, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression. So what do I do about

it? I do more as I get older, a little bit wiser and, quite unfortunately, worse. My mom has it, too, and it breaks my heart knowing that, unless her dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s genes muscle their way through, my daughter could end up with it, since depression of all kinds, is hereditary and more common in women. Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD) is a condition brought on by the change of seasons,

Seasonal Depression:

A Mother/Daughter Survival Guide By: Allison Randall

52 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Healthy Living

usually beginning early to mid-autumn and lasting until spring. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-IV, defines SAD not as a unique mood disorder, but a ‘specifier of major depression;’ it is a form of depression brought on by specific circumstances. In lay terms, it means being solarpowered: the less quality sunlight, the less energy. During the winter, not only are sunlight hours fewer, the light is less intense, because the Earth is farther from the sun. In other words, those of us with SAD are a lot like plants, functioning on less light and not growing. That would be fine if we were plants, but instead, we are expected to act like human beings -- go to work, take care of family responsibilities and, hardest of all, get our Christmas shopping done. Most people are affected by the seasons, but those who suffer from SAD are affected so much that the change in season causes marked and significant problems in their lives. I remember during my school years, I could always expect to do better spring semester, able to indulge my springtime mania in allnighters for final papers, projects or study sessions. Fall semester, I was just grateful to get a passing grade.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of seasonal depression are not unlike those

of conventional depression: significant weight gain; social withdrawal and difficulty in relationships; disruption of sleep patterns, usually sleeping more; inability to concentrate or make even small decisions; decrease in sex drive; lack of interest in things one used to enjoy; general lack of feelings of well-being and loss of energy, among others. My mom describes SAD as ‘sliding into depression as the sunlight diminishes,’ or, even more vividly, as a bit like gradual suffocation as the winter drags painfully onward. She describes herself gulping for light, needing it just as acutely as we all need air to breathe. The bad news is that, like most cases of depression and many other physiological afflictions, it is not curable. There is no cure for being unable to process serotonin correctly or needing more sunlight, but there is always help. Since the early 1980’s doctors and scientists have been studying patients that report some of these symptoms of seasonal depression. The solutions they discovered were sometimes unique to SAD, but often relatable to common forms of depression as well. Light therapy, herbal supplements and a sensible diet, and exercise all go a long way to helping the SAD sufferer make it through the winter, perhaps not as their

sunny summer-self, but at least someone they and their family still recognizes, and someone able to perform their necessary daily routines.

Light Therapy:

In all the studies of SAD, its therapy and solutions, the most helpful therapy is light therapy with a light box sufficient to supplant summer sunlight must be 10,000 lumens. How bright is this? By comparison, most offices only offer about 400 lumens -- no wonder work can be so depressing! A light box is a high-powered fluorescent light that needs to be fairly close, within a few feet, of the place where you are sitting and working. Some people set theirs up at a desk; others have a cozy corner at home. I try to get light at the same time every day, but it also is somewhat restricted by my responsibilities as the mother of a young child, so I use a small, portable light box in the kitchen while I’m starting my day and making breakfast for my family. In the early afternoon, I am able then to get another 1 1/2 to 2 hours and sometimes I use the light again while making dinner in the early evening. I have found that I cannot use the light after about 6:00pm or it interferes with my nighttime sleep patterns. It is usually necessary to exercise a bit of trial and error with the frequency, time and duration of light therapy. w w w.communityseeds.com

Seasonal Depression, Continued

St. John’s Wort:

Some people find using prescription anti-depressants helpful during the winter, just as one would for general depression, but for a myriad of reasons, I do not take them. Instead, I turn to nature’s century-old remedy for depression and ‘melancholia’ or St. John’s Wort. This herb was first noted for its medicinal use by Pliny the Elder in the first century A.D., and was widely studied and used by Italian doctors during the early Renaissance. St. John’s Wort works in the brain similarly to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), of which Prozac and Zoloft are popular brands. Its advantages are that one can buy it in reputable herbal health stores without needing a prescription, and it has few side effects in most people. Of course, nothing is perfect, and one should always discuss medications and herbal supplements with one’s health care provider. St. John’s Wort can cause eye and skin sun sensitivity, and

can also interfere with some prescription medications, most notably, birth control pills. Many herbalists know the best quality brands and proper potency for these herbs.

carbohydrates and sweets, some claiming an increase in energy. Obviously, complex carbohydrates in moderation are important for a healthy diet, but the false high obtained from refined sugar only leads to a crash later on My mom says that when she is wise about her food choices, she feels better, limiting rich, heavy foods that can make her feel. It can be a vicious circle: when she doesn’t feel well, she eats poorly, and when she eats poorly, she doesn’t feel well. Careful planning sets her on a successful course.

“ Exercise has been found by most health experts to be beneficial to mood, and is an essential natural anti-depressant.” I have been taking St. John’s Wort for twelve years, with a brief hiatus when I was pregnant and breastfeeding, and have had little problem with it. The obvious bonus is that it has indeed helped with my depression. I always tell my doctors that I’m taking it for depression and they all seem to be fairly impressed that it works. Perhaps one day, they’ll be able to recommend it to patients. Studies of depression also have shown the importance of a diet high in Omega-3’s, noting that a supplement of two grams complements other forms of treatment. Dietary sources include flaxseed, walnuts, avocados and fish, especially salmon. Of course, with fish sources and fish oilderived supplements, one must be aware of mercury levels.

Diet:

Those with SAD many times report an intense craving for 54 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Exercise:

Exercise has been found by most health experts to be beneficial to mood, and is an essential natural antidepressant. It is even more necessary for those who have SAD and, as a result, struggle with weight gain and poor eating habits. Not only is it vital to better one’s mood, but it may help in getting a better night’s sleep and boosting the immune system, both of which suffer in winter. The best possible exercise for those with SAD is, of course, to get outside on a sunny day. An exercise machine in front of a light box would be the next best thing. Just as important as all the other components of therapy is the concept of recognizing set-backs and being able to carry

on. Depression can easily cause one to dwell or obsess, especially on negative situations. By taking St. John’s Wort, getting light, and keeping up a reasonable exercise and diet plan, I am able to get through my day and take care of the basic responsibilities of running a home. It also means I have hope that I can, indeed, teach a few dance classes and be able to write a few articles. It does not end up being a replacement for my seemingly boundless springtime energy or my delight of life in the summer, but it enables me to be more than borderline

functional in winter. My mom and I know that energy is scarce in the winter, and we plan ahead for things that she enjoys but which require the least amount of energy. Planning is important and Careful planning will set us on a successful course. We look forward to Valentine’s Day when we first notice that the days really are getting longer. And, there’s nothing that heralds spring like the announcement that pitchers and catchers are reporting to spring training. Then we cast off our heavy mantles of winter and begin another season of our lives.

Healthy Living

If you think you, or someone close to you, may suffer from SAD, do not hesitate to get help. My mom found it difficult to come to her family when she didn’t know what was going on; she wondered how she could tell them she was losing her mind. Here are some better, more specific clues: <> Are holiday social functions really painful and draining for you, even though you enjoy summer barbeques? <> Do you gain more than just a few pounds during the holidays, really craving carbs and sweets? <> Do you feel that January is ten times as long as July, despite the fact that they are both only 31 days long? <> Are you unable to accomplish simple daily tasks during the winter months? <> Do you find even the smallest decisions to be overwhelming? <> Do you like yourself better during the summer?

Want to learn more? Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D., a pioneer of SAD studies wrote two great books that are very readable and worth checking out: Winter Blues, Revised Edition: Everything You Need to Know to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder and St. John’s Wort : The Herbal Way to Feeling Good w w w.communityseeds.com

Healthy Living

“... these

chemicals mimic your body’s own hormones and can have endocrinedisrupting action...”

Skincare

So what’s the problem with Parabens?

56 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

By Lori Nelson

arabens are used as preservatives in everything from food to cosmetics. They came under fire in 2004, when it was found that parabens were in the tumors of women with breast cancer. This study has yet to be fully followed through, but it set off a consumer awareness which has left most people in confusion. What is a paraben really? It is a chemical compound, but what does that mean? I searched further and this is what I found: Take some crude oil and extract Toluene (also used in the making of gasoline). Then mix the Toluene with oxygen, cobalt and manganese to create Benzoic Acid. Then, you add alcohol to the solid form and voila, you have a paraben. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want THAT on my skin! This is a simplified explanation, but you can see now how parabens are derived from the petrochemical industry. Yes, it’s natural, but the top 3 ingredient irritants in skincare come from the petrochemical industry: FD&C dyes, chemical fragrance, and parabens… just something to ponder. According to an article from The Cosmetic Database, “Laboratory tests reveal adolescent girls across America are contaminated with chemicals commonly used in cosmetics and body care products. Environmental Working Group (EWG) detected sixteen chemicals from four chemical families- phthalates, triclosan, parabens, and musks - in blood and urine samples

Parabens and Skin Care Products

from twenty teen girls ages 1419. Studies link these chemicals to potential health effects including cancer and hormone disruption. These tests feature first-ever exposure data for parabens in teens, and indicate that young women are widely exposed to this common class of cosmetic preservatives, with two parabens, methylparaben and propylparaben, detected in every single girl tested.” Wow, that’s a little scary. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their report “Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Environment: Agents of Subtle Change?” reported that the chemical preservatives called parabens—methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl (alkyl-phydroxybenzoates)—displayed estrogenic activity in several tests. This means that these chemicals mimic your body’s own hormones and can have endocrine-disrupting action when they are rubbed into your body or washed down the drain into your drinking water. These disruptors interfere with your body’s endocrine system: your hypothalamus, your ovaries, your thyroid—virtually every system in your body. The EPA also stated that “continual introduction of these benzoates (parabens) into sewage treatment systems and directly to recreational waters from the skin leads to the question of risk to aquatic organisms.” Scientists in Europe found other endocrinedisrupting body care chemicals in the bodies of fish that humans are eating, and in human breast milk.

You should know that there are parabens that actually appear in nature in many fruits, vegetables and spices and are natural components of black and green teas. They are generated by plants as a way of defending themselves from fungal and bacterial invaders. That’s why these types of ingredients in skincare help as good preservatives. Parabens are also found naturally in our own bodies, but of course, these are different than the ones found in food and skincare. Parabens became the standard because they’re cheap and a great bi-product use of the petrochemical industry. For now, we know that parabens are in serious question. When something is in question for me, I either eliminate or moderate. It is that simple. Read, not just one side, but all sides, and always consider the source. You may choose to eliminate the use of parabens, but even moderating is far better than using the amounts shown in the study on adolescent girls. The FDA says it is okay in small amounts; but, what I see is small amounts in EVERYTHING. What I see is that it is not small amounts anymore. When my customers ask me if I think parabens are okay, I say, “Read both sides and make a decision.” Eventually, we will have the answers. Until then, I suggest: eliminate or moderate. Lori Nelson is a skincare researcher and co-owner of Pure Skin cosmetics, skincare and spa services in Chico, California.

w w w.communityseeds.com

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58 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

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Healthy Living

Growing Our Own: Winter Fruits and Vegetables By Ken Hodge

Courtesy of planningqueen on Flickr.com

rowing one’s own food has been a goal for many people. When my wife, Shelly, and I were newly married and even during the first few years as I was finishing college, we were renting and didn’t have much of a yard to grow a vegetable garden or a fruit orchard. We started a nursery (Hodge’s) and moved to Durham over 20 years ago, and since then, we have acquired enough room for a pretty self-sufficient vegetable garden. My wife, Shelly, has always taken the time to plant the spring and winter vegetable gardens that she has wanted. Now she gets the help of our two young granddaughters. Last fall, when the economy was taking such a downward turn, I noticed that the fall and winter vegetables that we have at the nursery were moving much faster than any year in the past. Onions and broccoli, in particular, sold out and no supplier had any left. It was clear that people were planting gardens and growing their own food, much as they did during the Depression or World War II. Growing your own food is a great reaction to the uncertain times in which we are living. It’s a good experience to teach your children how to plant and care for vegetables and fruit trees. We have local Durham school kids coming over to the nursery every year, especially FFA kids. Even though many high school kids would rather be somewhere else than in school, I’m surprised at how interested they are about growing their own

food. Many have never done it, and sometimes it is a little humorous, like when one of the students was surprised to see our pistachio nuts growing on a tree rather than under ground like peanuts. It’s enjoyable to work with kids that are so inquisitive and interested in something that will help them be more self-sustaining. Fall and winter planted crops include: broccoli, cauliflower, onions, garlic, radishes, lettuce, celery, Brussel sprouts, red and green cabbage, collards, sugar peas, parsley, Swiss chard and many more. The perennial type of plants you plant now are asparagus, artichokes, rhubarb, berries of all types, grapes, strawberries, and of course, fruit trees, nut trees, citrus and even cold hardy avocados. The fruit orchard is probably the most permanent part of your garden, so it is good to plan it out. I like to draw it out on a map, especially if you are planting more than just a few trees. Many people are afraid of planting fruit trees because they fear the trees will get away from them and get so big that they are unmanageable. Many of the new varieties of fruit trees are dwarfer trees. Probably the most important thing in keeping fruit trees manageable is to dwarf them even further by pruning them during the growing season. I prune our fruit orchard in late spring and early fall. Our main demonstration fruit orchard has about 70 trees in it and it takes me or my son only about an hour to prune it. This is because the trees are only 5 feet apart and we only let the trees get 6 or 7 feet tall. We never need a ladder. We started another fruit orchard in the far back of the nursery with more area. In this orchard of mainly citrus and avocados, the trees are planted 10 feet apart and will be allowed to grow 10 feet tall. I figure, you can never have too many citrus or avocados. Hopefully, we’ll have bumper crops that we can bring some to the local homeless shelters and rescue missions. The trees were planted just 3 years ago in this new orchard and many of them will have more fruit than our family and employees can consume. Another experiment, that is being tried out in the back of the nursery is a table and wine grape vineyard. Driving through Napa and Sonoma w w w.communityseeds.com

Winter Garden

Counties over the years, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve noticed that sometimes especially the older grapes are grown like a small tree on a stake and they are pruned back so they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ramble all over the vineyard. So my son, Jeremy, planted a dozen different table and wine grapes last fall. To our surprise, each vine bore 10 to 15 bunches of grapes the first year. The wine grapes are for eating fresh, but they have much more flavor than the table grapes do.

When planting winter vegetables, and especially fruit trees, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good to map out the area and mark the varieties down on the map. As you want to add to your orchard, you know what you already have planted. If you would like to, or are ever in Durham (California), come by and see how it is done. Our nursery is at 9681 the Midway, one mile north of the town of Durham.

PHOTOS: 1. Experimental Table and Wine Grape vineyard as it is turning fall colors. Keeping the vines separate on their own stakes may be easier than trellising them and allowing them to intertwine. Although just planted last fall, every variety yielded grape clusters. 2. Mexicola Avocado is the larger tree in the foreground. The smaller Stuart Avocado is in the background. Both of these varieties are very cold hardy, but young citrus and avocados need more protection their first couple of years. 60 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

3 4

Healthy Living 3. The fruit picture board at the nursery is helpful for customers to identify the varieties of fruit that they love. The bare root fruit trees are healed into the sand bed behind the boards.

4. The Champagne Loquat is starting to flower for next year’s crop. 5. This tiny Meyers Lemon was just planted this spring. Lemons bear very young. 6. The very popular Satsuma Mandarin Orange grows a little slower than the other citrus, but it’s ripening a pretty good crop after only its 3rd year planted. 7. This 2 year old Royal Blenhiem Apricot is turning fall colors. It produced about 30 fruit in its second year. 8. Look at the abundance of fruit on this young Algerian or Clemantine Mandarin Orange. Most of this citrus and avocado orchard in the back of the nursery was only planted 3 years ago.

9. The Fuyu Persimmon still has a load of fruit, although between the family and the employees, we’ve eaten most of it. 10. Ten year old Pluot tree. This tree would be 20 feet tall if it was unpruned. Even at this small size it yields 200-300 fruit every year. 11. The row of trees to the left of Shelly are Peach and Nectarine trees.

12. We are starting to plant our fruit trees 2 per hole. It saves space and increases the number of different varieties we are able to fit in our small orchard space. w w w.communityseeds.com

Community Seeds’ Suggested Readings

Off the Shelf Book Reviews

Edible Schoolyard: A Universal Idea By Alice Waters REVIEWED BY ALLISON RANDALL

Edible Schoolyard: A Universal Idea, written by Alice Waters and photographed by National Geographic photographer, David Liittschwager, is like a colorful brochure, extolling the virtues of gardening and cooking in a middle school curriculum. It’s not so much a book to be read (it takes only about an hour to read the entire text), but more importantly, a philosophy to be seriously considered. It is part coffee table book, with its gorgeous illustrations, part educational reference, small part cookbook, and a wholly inspirational story. Alice Waters is perhaps best known for being a pioneer of California cuisine featured in her restaurant, Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA. The revolution it began when she touted and demonstrated the benefits of local, organic, sustainable and seasonal food, not just as a benefit to the environment, but because of its superior taste and quality. Before she became a modern food guru or even a chef, Waters was a Montessori preschool teacher. After her success in the restaurant business, she decided to take her message of simple, seasonal food to the ground level-literally. She returned to her roots as an educator, and she and her restaurant staff began bringing The principles of Edible Education: • • • • •

Food is an Academic Subject School Provides Lunch for Every Child Schools Support Farms Children Learn by Doing Beauty is a Language

62 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

fresh food and culinary experiences to Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Berkeley. The Edible Schoolyard (ESY) project began fifteen years ago when Waters told a local reporter how the worn-down, graffiti-encrusted middle school in her neighborhood represented a poor use of land, suggesting that perhaps more urban lots should be used for gardens. The school principal sent her a personal letter, prompting her to join him on a tour of the school. ‘Let’s work together,’ she told him, ‘and change everything about the way children experience food at school.’ The result of this pact was a brilliant and revolutionary program, illustrated and chronicled in Edible Schoolyard. The one-acre garden at King Middle School was built by the children with the guidance and inspiration of a few committed adults. Together, they created raised beds out of willow branches, shoveled compost donated by the city of Berkeley and even created a human-sized bird’s nest that holds four kids! During a science class at the Edible Schoolyard, kids learned about how photosynthesis in plants produces nutrients for use in human bodies. Then the teacher cut up some fresh organic lettuces, red peppers and summer

tomatoes to make a salad, which she served to the class. The lesson was so well received by her students, they gave her a standing ovation. After several years, and with additional funding scraped together through vigorous fundraising, the school was able to re-open its long unused kitchen, and a creative cook was hired to provide meals and to teach lessons there as well. For instance, humanities classes came to the kitchen where the children learned about ancient cultures by gathering and grinding their own grains and making bread. Twenty-five years after the opening of Chez Panisse, Alice Waters set up the Chez Panisse Foundation, of which the Edible Schoolyard at King Middle School is a major recipient. Through the Foundation, Edible Schoolyard programs have been started in New Orleans and at a school in the Hunter’s Point neighborhood of San Francisco. Through the ESY programs and op-ed articles in the New York Times and other media outlets, Alice Waters campaigns for an overhaul of the entire

National School Lunch Program, which would go a long way in educating children about food, encouraging community by growing, preparing and sharing meals together, promoting healthy eating habits and preventing a myriad of diet-related health problems, including type-2 diabetes, all for about five dollars per child. Politicians, educators, and foreign dignitaries have all come to observe and be inspired by the Edible Schoolyard. Alice Waters notes that when these people see what the program can do for children, “they know in their hearts that Edible Education is just plain right.” It could be why First Lady Michelle Obama planted an organic garden at the White House within a month of moving in. It also can be as simple as growing a window box of herbs, or encouraging your toddler to play in the dirt. The Edible Schoolyard is a beautiful and inspiring book (of that there is no doubt), but look a little closer. Between the lines of poetic prose and hidden in the smiles of happy, healthy children, you’ll find a revolution bubbling.

WAYS TO LEARN MORE, AND HELP OUT: JOIN THE ESY REVOLUTION Visit website www.edibleschoolyard.org to follow the happenings at the ESY through their journal and watch the ESY movement grow to other schools across the country. Chez Panisse Foundation, non-profit organization that began the ESY program can be accessed at : www.chezpanissefoundation.org

Buy the Book Used Book Store

1376 Longfellow Ave Chico, CA 95928 530.898.8555

Open Tues-Sat 10 am- 5:30 pm

Bring in your used books for store credit or to recycle.

Please visit our amazon store: www.amazon.com/ shop/buythebookca buythebookca@yahoo.com w w w.communityseeds.com

Healthy Living

Have a Healthy Holiday

By Kayla Cook

he holiday season has finally arrived bringing joyful gatherings, great company and an abundance of delicious foods and family-favorite treats. As we join the festivities, we tend to kick our healthy habits to the side and eat fewer nutritious foods and get less physical activity. The holidays are by far the toughest time of the year for people to eat right and stay healthy. As you jump from one holiday party to the next, choose healthy food options and smaller portions of the festive favorites. The Network for a Healthy California- Sierra Cascade Region- has some great tips this season that will keep you feeling healthy and happy come January. 1. Never go to a party hungry. Always make sure to have a wholesome breakfast and lunch before the night of a gathering so that you don’t overeat at the party. Also, eat a healthy snack such as a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts, before leaving the house. When food is surrounding you it will be much easier to resist the temptation if you’re not hungry. 2. Pay attention to portion sizes. You don’t have to deny yourself of all the high calorie foods, just remember that moderation is key. The holidays are a time of celebration and food tends to be a big part of the party. It’s ok to have that slice of pie you’re craving, but keep it slim. 3. Steer clear of excess snacks. Don’t sit within arms reach of the snack table. People often snack even if they aren’t hungry if it’s right in front of them. Try to save yourself for the main meal. If you do feel the need to snack, go for the healthier options like vegetable sticks or salsa. 4. Avoid drinking your calories. Try to stay away

64 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

from sugary, high calorie drinks, such as soda or eggnog. These drinks are full of calories and lack the nutrients your body needs. Instead, stick to water or small amounts of 100% juice or skim milk. Water will quench your thirst while also making you feel fuller so you’ll eat less. 5. Add physical activity to your lifestyle. During this busy time of year, it’s easy to lose track of your workout plan. Make it a priority to exercise at least a couple times a week. Fit exercise into daily activities as well. For example, park farther from the store when Christmas shopping or take the stairs instead of the elevator. A great way to motivate yourself to move more is by wearing a pedometer and challenging the amount of steps you take each day. These tips will help you fight the desire to overindulge this season and will leave you feeling much healthier. If you are planning an event at your own home, make sure to set a scene that encourages healthier choices. Try putting the focus on the people around you instead of the food. Play music to get people moving and socializing and offer activities such as crafts or games. When cooking this season, think healthy! Throw a tossed salad and steamed vegetables into the mix so that people have healthier options. Also, make traditional holiday food healthier with substitutions. Use egg whites instead of whole eggs, frozen yogurt rather than ice cream and skim milk in place of whole. In stuffing, substitute white bread crumbs with whole wheat and incorporate brown or wild rice. Make homemade cranberry sauce and add half the sugar the recipe calls for, then sweeten with apple juice and chopped apples.

Here are some great recipes to use this year that are both healthy and delicious. Make this

holiday season a healthy

one. Once the

celebrations

wind down and the smell of pumpkin

pie and gingerbread cookies are a thing of the past, you’ll be happy you did. Enjoy your healthy holiday!

Fudgy Fruit Apple Glazed Sweet Potatoes Makes 4 servings. ½ cup per serving. Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 2½ cups unsweetened 100% apple juice ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon salt 2 pounds sweet potatoes (about 4 small potatoes), peeled and thinly sliced

Makes 4 servings. ½ banana, 2 strawberries per serving. Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 30 seconds Ingredients: 2 tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 large bananas, peeled and cut into quarters 8 large strawberries ¼ cup chopped unsalted peanuts

Preparation 1. Combine apple juice, cinnamon, and salt in a large skillet. Add sliced sweet potatoes and bring to a boil over high heat. 2. Reduce heat slightly and simmer potatoes, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender and juice has been reduced to a glaze. Serve while hot.

Preparation 1. Place chocolate chips in a small microwave safe bowl. Heat on high for 10 seconds and stir. Repeat until chocolate is melted, about 30 seconds. 2. Place fruit on a small tray covered with a piece of waxed paper. Use a spoon to drizzle the melted chocolate on top of the fruit. 3. Sprinkle the fruit with chopped nuts. 4. Cover the fruit and place in the refrigerator for 10 minutes or until the chocolate hardens. Serve chilled.

Nutrition information per serving: Calories 208, Carbohydrate 50 g, Dietary Fiber 5 g, Protein 3 g, Total Fat 0 g, Saturated Fat 0 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Sodium 200 mg.

Nutrition information per serving: Calories 151, Carbohydrate 24 g, Dietary Fiber 4 g, Protein 3 g, Total Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Sodium 2 mg. w w w.communityseeds.com

Deep Tissue . Swedish . 13 Years of Experience

Lisa Ann Barnes

Certified Massage Therapist Paradise and Chico, CA

lisa@cmtlisa.net

530-680-0222 By Appointment Only

1-HOUR Massage $30 or 4 1-HOUR Massages $120 Special Ends 12/31/09

Downtown Chico 240 Broadway Street p 530.899.2847 f 530.343.2847

Expiration date 3/31/10. Available at location only. One coupon per customer per visit. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Cash value is 1/100th of one cent. Offer valid only at time of original purchase. Fountain Drinks Only.

66 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Sodastream would like to offer Community Seeds readers a $25 discount on purchases of new machines at www.sodastreamusa.com. Enter COMMUNITYSEEDS in the promotion code field at the end of the online buying process Expiration date 3/31/10. Available at location only. One coupon per customer per visit. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Cash value is 1/100th of one cent. Offer valid only at time of original purchase. Fountain Drinks Only.

Eco Friedly * Easy

* Quick * Economical * Delicious

Cook’s Corner Winter Flavor By “Danny D”

Photo Courtesy of Leftoverqueen.com

Healthy Eating

Greetings! The winter is upon us. I was chatting with a friend the other day about family recipes. She mentioned to me that her family was putting together a binder of family favorite recipes. I mentioned to her that, while she puts these recipes down, it is very important to share the brands used. My Grandma made the best enchiladas. I had the idea one day to have her show me how she made them. Grandma used Velveeta cheese, not just any cheddar cheese, which gives the recipe a whole different flavor. These days we cook with more organic, healthy, green and economical alternatives. We need to remember to add herbs and others seasonings in place of fats, salts, and sugars. Speaking of organic, our garden yielded some butternut squash which I am storing like the old days in a cool dry cellar environment. I would like to share one of the new ways I found to make the butternut squash in this issue. Also from my garden, I made a large batch of pesto using my organic basil. I came up with a delicious spread to share. Another recipe I would like to share came to mind when talking to my eye doctor. She reminded me of how important leafy greens are to eat. She mentioned that the benefits are increased when cooked, but her kids won’t eat them. I asked her to try adding some left over brown rice to the sautéed Spinach or Swiss chard; my son will eat spinach this way. As you look through these recipes, think of healthy recipes you can send in for the spring. Until then, stay healthy and eat only the good stuff.

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Food

Leafy Greens and Rice Ingredients

Pesto Cream Cheese Ingredients: 2 Tbsp pesto 1-2 cloves minced garlic 8 oz your favorite organic cream cheese Enough organic milk to thin to spreadable consistency

Directions In a bowl, mix at room temperature: cream cheese, then add additional ingredients. Refrigerate.

Sautéed Butternut Squash Ingredients: Butternut squash ½ cup organic vegetable (or chicken) broth 1 small onion, diced 2 Tbsp Olive or sunflower Oil ** Optional: add 1 tsp or less of tarragon. For a sweeter taste, drizzle with honey before serving.

Directions Peel, cut in half and remove seeds from squash. Carefully cut the squash into 1 inch cubes. In a skillet, sauté the onion in oil until tender. Add to onion cubed squash and broth. Cover and simmer for about 1015 minutes on medium heat. Stir occasionally. For the last 5 minutes, uncover and reduce liquid in pan or drain before serving. 68 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

1-1½ cups left over rice 1 lb. organic spinach, Swiss chard or kale (washed and cut up) 2-4 cloves minced garlic 2-4 Tbsp olive or Sunflower oil Salt and Pepper to taste Optional: crushed red pepper and or cooked sausage Directions Sauté minced garlic in 2 Tbsp oil and add the rice. When the rice starts to stick, add additional tablespoon of oil, as needed. You can use a free range turkey sausage which you would add here and continue to warm up with rice. Add leafy greens and stir until greens have wilted. Season to taste. This can be used for a stuffing for bell peppers or free range poultry.

His daughter told him his farm was for the birds

ste a t t a e r g g n i w o r G â&#x201E;˘ s n i o for ge nerat

ne day, when Wendell Lundberg was out driving Eldon, Wendell, Harlan, and Homer Lundberg his daughter Jessica around his rice fields, she told him something that changed his life forever. She pointed out that the land he was farming was originally for the birds, not for rice. That started him thinking. So much so, that he started farming with bird habitats in mind. Today, Jessica is the Chair of the Board. Pretty smart kid. Wendell and his three brothers Eldon, Harlan and Homer have been growing rice sustainably in Richvale, California since they were kids. Their father, Albert Lundberg, taught them a simple lesson: leave the land better than when you first arrived. Since 1937, the Lundberg family has been farming delicious rice while respecting and sustaining the earth. Today, the third generation carries on the family heritage. We continue to use eco-positive farming methods that produce wholesome, healthful rice products, while protecting and improving the environment for future generations. For more of the story go to www.lundberg.com.

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Community Seeds

Advertisers Index Ace Hardware Advanced Inspection Services, Mold Inspection Apple Blossom Baby Buy the Book Champions for Change/Network For a Healthy California Charli’z The Chico Connection.com The Chico Connection Kids Page The Chico Connection Green Page Chico/Paradise Seed Shirts Coldwell Banker, Rhonda Maehl, Realtor The Durham Community Website Eco in Chico, A Baby’s Boutique Green Clean In Motion Fitness Lisa Ann Barnes, Certified Massage Therapist Lundberg Rice Michael C. Cooper, Attorney at Law Mountain View Christmas Tree Farm Mythic Low VOC Paint The Paradise Connection Community Site The Pita Pit Soda Stream The Sunshine Kids Club Tracy Lynn Photography William Watt Construction Words of Whimsy

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Special Thanks To: In Motion Fitness ------------------------------------------------------------ www.InMotionFitness.com Coldwell Banker, Rhonda Maehl, Realtor --------------------------- www.HelpMeRhondaM.com

Additional Thanks To: Be Green on a Budget ------------------------------------------------ www.BeGreenOnABudget.com Affordable Mineral Makeup -------------------------------- www.AffordableMineralMakeup.com Pure Skin ------------------------------------------------------------------ www.www.pureskinchico.com Care Free Pools ------------------------------------------------------------ www.carefreepools-chico.net

70 Community Seeds . Winter 2009-2010

Join Us In The Spring! The The Next Next Issue Issue Of Of Community Community Seeds Seeds Will Will Be Be Released Released March1, March1, 2010. 2010.

• Send us an article about being eco friendly • Send us photos of you and/or your family • Send photos of unique green products • Tell us what you like to do in the spring • Send us a green craft idea • Write a book review • Send us your child’s story and/or artwork • Send us your informational article • Tell us about local spring community projects • Purchase advertising • Become a Sponsor The deadline for the Spring issue is Jan. 25, 2010. E-mail items to info@communityseeds.com. For more information go to www.communityseeds.com. w w w.communityseeds.com

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