Eco Community Seeds Winter Issue 2012

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eco

Winter 2012

Thinking Globally, Living Locally

Community Seeds Magazine

Holiday Stay In San Francisco

Great Gift Ideas

Holiday Centerpiece

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Welcome

Vol. 4, No. 7 Winter 2012 Issue 18 Community Seeds Eco Magazine is published quarterly, exclusively online; at no cost to readers.

Copyright Community Seeds Eco Publishing,

Š2008-2012 All Rights Reserved. May be printed for personal use only.

Please send comments, articles, artwork, testimonials, questions and photos to:

info@communityseeds.com. For advertising and general information, email us at

info@communityseeds.com Or

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www.communityseeds.com. Send all mail to: Community Seeds Eco Magazine 568 Manzanita Ave Ste 7 Chico, CA 95926 Call to make an appointment and/ or leave a message:

Editor-In-Chief Lorianne S. Riley Staff Writers Lorianne S. Riley Jenifer Rodriguez Reanna Jackson Staff Photographers Tracy Lynn Cahn of Tracy Lynn Photography Lorianne S. Riley Kevin Riley Jenifer Rodriguez SALES Lorianne Riley Jenifer Rodriguez

(530) 895-3431

Proof Editors Reanna Jackson Lorianne S. Riley Jenifer Rodriguez

The

On the Cover Photo by Editor-In-Chief, Lorianne S. Riley

Community Seeds Foundation

www.communityseeds.org

Promoting Sustainabilit y CSF is managed, in part, by:

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Community Seeds . wINTER 2012

All articles, photos, advertising, words, design and images are the property of Community Seeds and the individual contributor, as published, and may not be reproduced without permission from the contributor or Community Seeds. Community Seeds reserves the right to edit all content submitted. Although property of Community Seeds, no division of the company may be held liable for its specific content.


From the Editor

A Note From the Editor

Happy Holidays! The holidays are a time for giving to the less fortunate, family, friends, as well as remembering people who are important that have past. I embrace and hold these thoughts a little closer as the years go by. With the recent events in the news and the economy being so poor I feel as though people are remembering the true meaning of the holiday’s and are thankful for who they have in their lives more then what they have. I hope that this trend continues and that family traditions are coveted, treasured and past down through the generations.

Please remember to be kind to all mankind!

Editor-in-Chief Publisher

Holiday Fun At The Riley House!

I love to decorate every nook and cranny of the house. This scene is on top of our china cabinet. We always keep the dinning room table set. It looks and feels more festive that way.

This scene is on top of another hutch we have.

Kevin had to have this red tree. We put it up every year. www.communit yseeds.com 3


Your community site for local web links. All links are free to add to this site. Bookmark this site; it will be right at your fingertips to look up local restaurants, green living, local events, and more!

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Come join us on Facebook and Twitter along with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico Bags, Humanwear tees, Jimmy Eat World, Valcucine Kitchens, EnviroBro, Chico Chai, and much, much more.....

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Community Seeds . wINTER 2012

Compost At Home 16.5% Drive A Hybrid Car 7.5% Recycle 33% Eat Organic Foods 43%

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VALCUCINE EnviroBro C hico C hai

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How Does Sustainability Fit Into Your Life?

On The Cover Photograph of a little grocery store on a snowy winters day in a small town outside of Ttuckee CA.


Prime U.S.D.A. Beef, Fresh Seafood Only The Finest Quality Ingredients!

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eco

Community Seeds Magazine

In Every Features Issue

2 Magazine Information 3 Note From the Editor 8 Issue Contributors 24 Eco Kids Photos 31 Green Scene 89 Advertisers Index

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Community Seeds . wINTER 2012

10 Holiday Stay In San Francisco 13 Great Gift Ideas 16 Holiday Centerpiece

True Life 17 Life In An Earthship


Winter

2012

Departments Easy Being Greener

20 Green Garden Gadgets 21Self-Suficiant Gardening

Family

24 Eco Kids 26 California Dream Week Making a Difference

Eco Friendly Crafts

58 Wreaths For The

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Holidays

60 Holiday Centerpiece Cook’s Corner

62 Kitchen Widgets 64 Cooks Corner:

Family Recipes

65 Grandma’s Dark Fruit

31 Green Scene 38 Eco Movie Review 38 Eco Book Review 39 Solar For All

66 Holiday Egg Nog 68 Myers Lemon

Healthy Living

Natural Beauty

42 A Green New Year 46 Efforts Needed To Safeguard

54 Medicinal Plants You Should Know

72

Cake

Meringue Martini

71 Food Bites

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72 Holiday Gems 81 Earth Friendly Beauty Products

82 Winter Fashion

With WGACA

Gear Head

88 Eco Toys For Boys

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Contributors

Contributors: Winter 2012 Lorianne S. Riley Editor-in-Chief, Owner, Publisher, Web Designer, Photographer & Wife. Lorianne holds a BS Degree in Business Administration from CSU, Chico, and is licensed as a Cosmetologist and Certified Massage Therapist.

Mir a Herman Chiropractor and Acupuncturist and the formulator and manufacturer of the organic skin care line, Rosemira Organics—a woman-owned and operated green business. Rosemira Organics is based on Doctor Herman’s decades of experience in Western and Chinese Herbal Medicine, Aromatherapy and Oriental beauty secrets.

Ken Hodge Ken Hodge started Hodge’s Nursery in 1986. Ken received his Bachelors degree in Agronomy as well as Pomology & Viticulture in 1979 from CSU Chico. Then he returned for his Masters degree in Ornamental Horticulture in 1987. Ken also worked through college doing landscape maintenance as well as landscape contracting in later years.

Jul and Justin Sexton The Sextons are in the process of designing a webpage for Elephant Ocean, but in the meantime can be found at facebook.com/elephantocean and etsy.com/ shop/elephantocean

Sean Delloiacono Sean DelloIacono has been a bartender for eight years and Is currently working at 5th Street Steak House in Chico Ca. He has been as active member of the Flair Bartenders’ Association since 2004 and has competed in, several national and world flair bartending competitions. He is also an active member with The Guild of Sommeliers , and is currently pursing his Sommelier Certification. http://fliptopour.com

Manish Singh Manish is the Director (Business Development) as Abhumka Herbal Pvt Ltd, he can be reached at manish@abhumka.com.

Dr Anshu Shrivastava We at Abhumka Herbal are working on translation of tribal’s traditional herbal knowledge. Botanical Survey of India, Jodhpur was my learning institute where I was associated with the studies of floral elements of Ranthambhore - a famous tiger habitat... in India.

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Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


Contributors

Contributors: Winter 2012 Jenifer Rodriguez Jenifer is a performance-driven and goal-oriented professional who is dedicated to make a difference one event at a time. She holds a BS Degree in Recreation, Hospitality, and Park Management with a double option in Event Management and Community/Commercial Recreation. She has over 10 years of experience in the event industry. Her passion is creating beautiful events with our earth in mind and helping individuals strive toward social responsibility..

Dr Deepak Acharya A microbiologist turned ethnobotanist, a herbal hunter and Director of Abhumka Herbal Pvt Ltd (www.abhumka.com), Ahmedabad, India. He has been involved in scouting, documentation and validation of indigenous herbal practices of indigenous healers in Patalkot (www.patalkot.com) and Dangs. He can be contacted at deepak@patalkot.com.

Reanna Jackson

I am a senior attending CSU, Chico for my last semester. I plan to be finished in the Fall of 2012 and receive a degree in communication studies with an emphasis in special events. I enjoy being apart of the community action and volunteer program at CSU, Chico and meeting new people.

Ger alyn Sheridan Studied at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and Revere Academy Masters Symposium with world class designers. She has been featured in GIA’s Loupe magazine . She also trained at the Drouhard National Jeweler’s School earning certificates in jewelry repair and advanced diamond setting.

Ger ard Maione and Seth Weisser WGACA has become a renowned name in the vintage clothing industry since the opening of its SoHo store. With over 17 years of experience collecting and selling vintage, the co-founders expanded and opened a second retail store in Hollywood, CA, created a wholesale division and developed an appointmentonly Archive in New Jersey to service the fashion industry.

Not Pictured: Kevin Riley Laur a Gill All contributors are named on their corresponding articles.

If you would like to send an article, please include a short bio, along with your photo (and photos to go with your article). Send articles (doc) and photos (jpg) to info@communityseeds.com. For additional guidelines, please go to www.communityseeds.com or send us an email.

www.communit yseeds.com 9


Features

Holiday Stay

In San Francisco

By Lorianne S. Riley

Holiday Schedule November 7th to January 6th - Holiday Ice Rink At The Embarcadero November 16th to December 31st - Daily Snow Falls in The Atrium Lobby November 16th - December 31st - Enjoy Miniature Village In Lobby

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he Hyatt is not the typical hotel chain that I would normally write about, but because of it being the holiday’s I feel compelled to share this guilty pleasure of a hotel with you. It is pure eye candy during this time of the year. When I visited I felt like a kid in a candy shop. The decorations are exquisite.

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he Hyatt Regency on the Embarcaderro in San Francisco, CA is a beautiful, spacious, full service, four and a half star hotel that is close

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to; Chinatown, The Pier, Union Square, the Business District, as well as the Muni and Bart Station. It encompasses a beautiful bar and lounge with a small restaurant, business center, gift shop, gym, large lobby and reception rooms for parties and meetings.

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hat I love about this hotel is that its location is convenient. Everything is within walking distance or a short cab ride away. On Saturday the Farmers Market is just a step outside. While walking through


Holiday Stay In San francisco

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hope you check it out before January 1st.. the Farmers Market be sure to visit the Fairy It is a great place to catch the Christmas Building on the Pier for farm fresh and organic spirit, as well as get away to shop, eat fare. Also, there is an outdoor public ice rink wonderful food and relax. This hotel not even a block away! There is no way that you can’t catch the holiday spirit while staying practices a green initiative. here.

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ut what I like the most about this hotel is the depth of the decorations that they display during this time of the year. They have a detailed holiday snow village. A waterfall of lights through out the atrium lobby hanging from the banisters, A large Christmas tree with an area for Santa photos to be taken along with many smaller snowscaped trees adorn through out the lobby. They even had a snow machine to simulate snow.

Reference Links http://sanfranciscoregency.hyatt.com/ hyatt/hotels-sanfranciscoregency/activites/ onsite/details.jsp;jseesionid=6E4D5274A 0A9B6898B7FA6C9BAE33.atg06-prdatg2?onsiteActId=48631940

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It’s Here!

to a webstore accessible to you!

Live The Lifestyle of... Sustainable Wishes... and Organic Dreams...

@ www.elementsbybeaute.com/store

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Seeds . wINTER 12 Community skincare . house goods candles .2012 bedding . jewelry . bedding . haircare . art . clothing . nailcare


Great Gift Ideas Under $100.00

Great

Gift Ideas Under $100.00 By Reanna Jackson

www.communit yseeds.com 13


Features

Under $25.00 Lipper International Wine Rack, Bamboo Stack With 5 Bottle Storage

$19.99 www1.macys.com

Martha Stewart Collection Cutting Boards, Bamboo Set Of 3

$24.99 www1.macys.com

14 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012

Handmade Bronze Wrapped Onyx Earrings

$17.99 www.goodgiftsnaturally.com


Great Gift Ideas Under $100.00

Recycled Wine Bottle Planters

Handmade Sea Glass Wire Mesh Bangle Bracelet Cuff

$18.00

$17.99

www.uncommongoods.com

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Under $100.00 Handmade San Juan Wrap

$45.00 www.goodgiftsnaturally.com

Corkcicle

$22.95 www.uncommongoods.com

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Features

Love Cymbal Earrings

$80.00 www.uncommongoods.com

Sea Stone Wine Glasses Set Of 2 Protect Our Earth Glass Set Of 4

$40.00 www.gifts.com

Protect Our Earth Glass Set Of 4

$40.00 www.globalgoodspartners.com

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58.00 www.uncommongoods.com

Recycled Beer & Wine Bottle Vase

$90.00 www.uncommongoods.com


Life In An Earthship

Life In An Earthship By Juliet Sexton

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n a quiet hillside tucked away in farmland near Royston Georgia the rather special home of Andy Hickman and Rosemary Kimble is being built. When driving up the long gravel road leading to the home it appears as if there isn’t a house there at all. All that can be seen coming up is the slanted metal roof which is almost level with the ground. This is because the house is being built in an Earthship or “basement house” style, where three sides of it are built into the ground. Though the idea of basement houses are certainly not a new idea, Earthship architect and founder Michael Reynolds took them to the next level. He developed plans for homes which were completely sustainable, using the Earth as a natural asset as well as using recycled materials in the building

process. Though Andy did go to Michael Reynold’s Taos, New Mexico training program in 2008, he took the Earthship idea and created his own unique home. Andy opened his doors and gave us a personal tour through his home explaining how every aspect of the homes design is created to work with the environment, reduce or eliminate its carbon footprint and work together in a continual cycle. Due to code enforcement, they used concrete rather than the tradition “Earthship tire, can and bottle walls.” They made sure to design every space with sustainability in mind. The front of the home is a greenhouse style enclosed porch which faces the south and has large windows allowing the sun to warm it during the winter months. In the greenwww.communit yseeds.com 17


True Life Andy explained that while the cost of building an Earthship type home can be about the same as traditional homes, the long term costs are reduced dramatically.

house are large trenches which will house greywater cells underneath edible plants. This allows any wastewater such as bath water, sink, laundry water that would normally be automatically drained into the septic tank to be used to water their garden and also run to the toilet so fresh water is not wasted. Year round they will have access to fresh vegetables through this system.

“The benefits of owning an Earthship are so many…the propane bill is as low as $400 per year, water is free from the sky, the house is engineered to optimally utilize natural heating and cooling, hot water and electricity is obtained by using the sun. I think the largest benefit of owning/building an Earthship is that the ‘end the user’ will have a home that will provide and not consume so wastefully.” The metal roof is slanted and runs into gutters which drain into large cisterns buried in the ground. One of the most remarkable things about the Earthship design is all the water used is collected from rainwater. In

In the greenhouse area Andy has also installed windows, called sky vents, in the roof which open to allow hot air to escape and in the adjacent living room which is built into the earth he has install wind tunnels. This allows hot air from the greenroom to escape out of the roof and draw cool air from the tunnels, which run through the ground into the home. The home is heated naturally by the sun in the cooler months through the large windows, even though they plan to also have a wood stove for heating, and cooled by the wind tunnels in the warmer months. addition using the greywater cells prevent waste of excess water. The average home uses 70-80 gallons of water per day per person while and Earthship only uses 25-30 gallons per day per person. The greywater which runs into the toilet will have been used four times before it gets there. Andy and Rosemary’s home is completely off the grid, meaning it’s not attached to any main utility lines. They are in the process of mounting solar panels on the south facing roof which will tie into a battery bank on the other side of the roof. They can then draw the power stored from the batteries to areas of the house in which it is needed. Not only does this allow them to use the sun to have electricity it also reminds them to conserve, because unlike traditional homes there is not an unlimited supply of power. 18 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


“There are a lot of moving parts to an Earthship, it requires awareness of usage…in a great way. Most folks don’t even think about consumption until they receive their bills…we are constantly aware of it because our home won’t function otherwise. I love it!”

Life In An Earthship in design from the region. He dreams of one day developing a community with these type homes, acres of green space, community gardens, walking and biking trails, schools and community centers also using the same sustainable building techniques. He would like these types of communities to be available to people from all walks of life. While he understands not everyone can give up their traditional homes he has some tips for making any home more sustainable. “Important things to look closely at are how traditional homes consume and use resources. If you need a new roof, consider metal, it captures potable water that can be harvested easily into cisterns. There are a lot of ways in which to harvest greywater and reuse it as landscape irrigation. If you already have a basement that is three sided in the ground and the fourth is on the south side, then you already have 30% of an Earthship.”

Just because an Earthship is built with practicality and sustainability in mind doesn’t mean it lacks character. Andy is developing designs for different types of these homes to fit any need. He also points out once the first three phases of building the home is complete, the fourth phase allows for creativity and unique design. In their home Andy has built beautiful reclaimed bottle walls to allow light to filter in and bring color and design to the space. He pointed out people can finish the walls, cabinets and floors with whatever they enjoy. Each home has the potential to be a reflection of its owner. Outside the home they are working on a beautiful landscape design which not only uses permaculture techniques, but also will be completely edible. The goal is for them to produce enough food year round to survive off the land and house. Though Andy did not have a back ground in construction he has built 95% of the house himself. Through what he has learned he has held workshops, given tours and plans to move forward with developing designs for individuals and communities interested in Earthship type houses. Andy is becoming quickly in demand, being one of the only builders with experience in Earthship type homes that use reclaimed wood

To find out more information about this style of home you can find Andy on Facebook under Northeast Georgia Earthship. He recommends watching the documentary “Garbage Warriors” about Earthship founder Michael Reynolds. Andy can be contacted at andrewhickman1@hotmail.com or by calling 404454-9995 Photos courtesy of Drue Zaharis

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Easy Being Greener

Green Garden Gadgets By Reanna Jackson

Solar-powered lights for eco friendly gardens! Look For It SOON! ikea.com

Wildflower Farm’s Eco-Lawn Grass Seed A drought-resistant grass that requires mowing only once per month. $34.95 eartheasy.com

Pop up Rain Barrel .Capture and store up to 60 gallons of free landscaping water. $115 gaiam.com

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Becoming Self-Sufficent In Growing Your Own Fruit

Becoming Self-Sufficient In Growing Your Own Fruit By Ken Hodge

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raditionally, gardeners felt that they needed a large plot of unused land to grow fruit trees. Since fruit trees grow 20 to 30 feet tall and wide Now days there are some new rootstock’s and genetic dwarf varieties of fruit that keep some fruit trees smaller. But, many of the genetic dwarf varieties of peaches and nectarines don’t have the flavor of the standard peaches; such as O’Henry, Red Haven, Strawberry Free or Fay Elberta. The standard nectarines of Fantasia, Goldmine, Liz’s Late and Arctic Jay have far better flavor than the new genetically dwarf nectarines. Semi-dwarf rootstocks can make these standard fruit varieties a little smaller, but not

by much. Semi-dwarf rootstocks may only dwarf standard fruit trees like apples, apricots, plums, peaches and nectarines about 10 to 30%. So, a 30X30 foot standard tree may be dwarfed down to about 20X20 feet. This is still too large for many people’s yards. Semidwarf fruit trees are a good alternative for people that have plenty of room for big fruit trees, but do not want to take the risk of climbing a 12 foot ladder in order to prune and spray the trees. Also, to maintain larger fruit trees climbing into the tree is in order to thin out the fruit. Most fruit trees will set too much fruit thus breaking the branches from the weight. What we have tried over the past 20 years in www.communit yseeds.com 21


Easy Being Greener

our ‘demonstration fruit and citrus orchard’ at Hodge’s Nursery, is to dwarf the trees by simply pruning them. It works wonderfully! This practice keeps the fruit trees to a manageable 5 to 6 feet tall and wide. The dwarf trees produce plenty of fruit for a family. Our dwarf peaches and nectarines produce about 50 to 60 fruit on a mature 5 to 6 foot tree. The plums and Pluots produce 100 to 300 fruit

kitchens and enjoy canning.

on a mature dwarf tree. This is more than my family and all the nursery employees can eat. At Hodge’s we conduct many fruit, citrus and grapes clinics a year. Everyone is welcome to sample the fruit and grapes. If you are doing canning and want to produce more fruit, you can allow your trees to grow 8 to10 feet tall and wide. We have a second ‘demonstration orchard’ in the back of the nursery, where the fruit, citrus and cold hardy avocados are planted 10 feet apart and are being allowing to grow 10 feet tall. The Fuyu Persimmon roughly set 400 fruit this year. Our family, employees families, nursery customers and even a friend of ours who harvest for a local food kitchen, have not harvested all the persimmons on this dwarf tree. Likewise, several of the citrus trees, pomegranates and our Loquat produce far more than we can consume. So, allowing the fruit trees to grow 8 to 10 feet tall and wide may be what you are looking for if you like to share with local food 22 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012

We also grow both table and wine grapes as dwarf standards on a stake. This works well for people not wanting to build a trellis or arbor to support the grapes. Each grape “tree” produces 30 to 40 bunches of grapes. In the summer and fall when these 18 varieties of table and wine grapes become ripe, the ‘demonstration vineyard’ becomes very popular with our friends and customers, not to mention my grand kids. If you haven’t tried eating wine grapes fresh off the vine, you will fall in love with the intense flavor. I personally don’t mind the seeds. I like crunching them down for protein. If you’re enticed enough to want to grow your own fruit, citrus, avocados or grapes, then it just takes a little creativity to find or make a place for these in your yard. Even renters or people living in apartments with a patio, can grow these fruit bearing marvels. Come out to the nursery and take a look at the citrus, fruit trees, grapes and even blueberries that we have growing in oak half barrels. All these plants produce well in the barrel and you can take them with you when you move or find your own home. Many gardeners have plenty of land to grow


Practical edible landscaping can also be practiced by using fruit bearing plants for practical needs; like planting a row of citrus trees, which are evergreen, instead of a hedge or barrier shrubs, like photinia or privet. Grapes can be used along a fence. Fruit trees can be espaliered along a fence or walk. Blueberries are a small free standing shrub that can replace spireas or other small shrubs in your yard. Almost any edible can replace an ornamental. Not that you would need to replace everything. When you grow several kinds of fruits, berries or grapes, wonderful fruit is available throughout the year. If you want help in planning and growing fruit trees and other edibles in your yard, feel free to visit our nursery. We almost always have a ripe fruit or edibles for you to sample and get inspired.

Photos courtesy of Ken Hodge

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fruit trees especially where we are located in Durham, California. For smaller yards or a city lot, there is almost always room for some “Edible Landscaping”. If you want a shade tree that produces fruit, many of these fruit trees can be allowed to grow larger. Dwarf pruned fruit trees only take up a 5 X5 foot area, so if you have a short strip that is 5X20, you can grow four fruit trees easily in that area. Also, planting multiple fruit trees in the same hole, such as two, three or even four trees per hole, is a great way to utilize a small space. If you can’t visualize this, come out to the nursery to see how we have planted a whole row of plums and Pluots, two per hole! We have examples of a peach, nectarine, plum and Pluot all spaced about 18” apart. My youngest son wanted to try four completely different types of fruit in the same hole. So, he planted a fig, pomegranate, mandarin orange and prune. We call it a fruit for each season. I know this seems unreal. I’ve read “high apple pie” ideas before myself. But, this is something you can actually come out to nursery and see how simple it is to do.

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Kids

Photo Submission If you would like a photo of your child published, please email it to info@ communityseeds.com along with our Photo Release Form. www.communit yseeds.com 25


Family

California Dream Week: Dreaming a Sustainable Tomorrow Scholarship Program By California Dream Week

A

bout California Dream Week: California

Dream Week (CADW) announces the 3rd edition of its scholarship program challenging high school juniors and seniors from California to dream and propose innovative ideas and designs for a sustainable tomorrow. Student winners will once again receive over $5000 in higher education scholarships and their high schools will receive funds raised during the California Dream Week Festival in Summer 2013. For the festival, international architects and designers, from around the world and of renown fame, freely participate in the creation of a large graphic exhibit demonstrating how they have been inspired by our California teens. In the two editions since CADW’s launch, the scholarship program has seen some amazing success stories of students who never dreamed of going to college, finding the courage and 26 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012

inspiration to move forward with new dreams thanks to their participation in the CADW scholarship program. Teachers have found that students who participate frequently demonstrate a new enthusiasm for their future and the world they live in, some students even improving their overall school performance! The scholarship competition and festival have proven to be an excellent way to help students stand out with real eye-catching bullet points on their college entrance applications (a recent winner is now at Princeton doing some amazing research work around sustainability), as well as providing them a very memorable life-changing experience. Students from all California counties may participate alone or in groups, in up to two available categories:

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rchitecture & Interior Product Design, Transportation, and Product Compliments/Industrial Images Š Discovery Museum, www.baykidsmuseum.org


California Dream Week

design. A total of 9 awards will be awarded, 3 in each category. Since its conception, the scholarship program has seen the participation of students from 51 schools in 15 California counties. Over $10,000 in scholarships and school funds awarded. Professionals interested in being a part of the 2013 judging panel or participating within the context of the graphic designer interpretations for the California Dream Week Festival, should contact the organizers at press@bt-media.net.

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ho Can Participate? The contest is open to eleventh and twelfth graders enrolled in public, private or home schooling networks coming from all California counties. Complete documentation, including the Call for Entries, program description, information and inspiration for students in each competing category, as well as an overview on the 2nd edition’s project winners and international designers, is available at www. californiadreamweek.org. Free online registration is open now through March 20, 2013, and projects may be submitted starting December 20, 2012, through March 20, 2013. The online project submission process has been streamlined to make it super easy for all students to submit their sustainability dreams. Student scholarships totaling $5250 will be awarded and further cash awards from funds raised during the Festival will be donated to the high schools of the winning students.

F

ree Online Registration Open – now until March 20, 2013 (students are encouraged to register now to allow the organizers the opportunity to visit their school and present the program) Quantity of submissions: each student may submit up to two projects in the categories

of their choice. • Online Project submission deadline: March 20, 2013 • University or Higher Education Scholarship – 9 awards totaling $5250 in three competing categories • Festival show week: Summer 2013 – date to be announced • High schools: Funds raised during the California Dream Week Festival will be donated to winning students’ high schools www.communit yseeds.com 27


Family

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530-566-0132 Text

530-588-3814 1025 Village Lane Chico, CA 95926 Dmjmedicalservices@gmail.com 28 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012

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hat is a unique element? The scholarship program involves sharing the student winning projects with professional architects and designers from around the globe. These international personalities in the world of design dedicate their time to graphically demonstrate how the projects have impacted their own design process and creativity. A series of student-inspired posters with content shared by the designers will be revealed during the California Dream Week Festival held in Chico, one of the nation’s hotbeds of sustainability. Participating designers from previous editions count thirteen to date from Argentina, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, USA, and The Netherlands. These include renowned names such as Ilaria Marelli, Roberto Paoli, Kurt Stapelfeldt and Brian Garrett, to name just a few. California Dream Week is a nonprofit event supported by companies, communities and individuals throughout the world who believe in the need for sustainability, for investing in today’s youth and in international cultural awareness. Its 2012-2013 mission is to continue to raise funds for Northern California’s suffering schools and nurture students’ innovative ideas, giving them a chance to believe in a sustainable tomorrow. About the organizer – California Dream Week is organized with the help and support of businesses and communities who believe in a culture of sustainability. For the 2012-2013 editions, it is organized for the second time by The Worm Farm [www.thewormfarm. net]. As organizer for California Dream Week, The Worm Farm is able to extend its vast relationships with schools to facilitate knowledge and awareness of the scholarship program. The Worm Farm, founded in 1990, is one of the nation’s leaders in fostering a culture of sustainability, providing the continental United States and Canada with fun, easy and affordable solutions for decreasing their environmental footprint. The company also provides professional and back-yard gardeners in California with personalized organic and natural soil solutions to fit an extensive variety


of needs. The Worm Farm is actively involved with children of all ages and is renowned by schools and universities alike as offering one of the best hands-on learning tours available. Its founder Mark Purser is recognized as one of the world’s leading vermicomposter specialists and he is regularly requested as a speaker at national venues across the country. 2012 California Dream Week Winners: Cristina Calva, Orland High School (Orland) - 1st Place in Architecture & Design Category Jake Houtman, Inspire School of the Arts & Sciences (Chico) – 1st Place in Transportation Category Ryan Alexander, Chico High School (Chico) – 2nd Place in Architecture & Design Category Matthew Hutter, Chico High School (Chico) – Honorable Mention in Architecture & Design Category

For More Info: www.CaliforniaDreamWeek.org organizer – California Dream Week is organized with the help and support of businesses and communities who believe in a culture of sustainability. For the 2012-2013 editions, it is organized for the second time by The Worm Farm [www.thewormfarm.net]. As organizer for California Dream Week, The Worm Farm is able to extend its vast relationships with schools to facilitate knowledge and awareness of the scholarship program. The Worm Farm, founded in 1990, is one of the nation’s leaders in fostering a culture of sustainability, providing the continental United States and Canada with fun, easy

Eco Community Seeds Magazine would like to extend a very special thank you to Mediastar Data Recovery in Chico for making our 3rd Anniversary issue possible. We cannot thank you enough!

(530)82MEDIA (530)826-3342 www.communit yseeds.com 29


byBeaute’ eleMENts

Unisex Spa, Boutique, & Wellness Center

568 Manzanita Ave Ste 7, CA 95926

1-877-345-3430

What’s Good For The Earth Is Great For Your Body Only Organic and / or Sustainable Products Are Used!

www.elementsbybeaute.com

Meet The Owner Lorianne S. Riley, CMT Cosmetologist, Makeup Artist, Body Care & Household Product Creator

Lori is a business major that has been working in the beauty industry for approximately fourteen years. She has and will continue to comb the United States to find only the best organic and / or sustainable products available.

very own hand crafted Lavender Products. Made with only the finest natural ingredients we could find. While enjoying a pedicure, manicure or massage at eleMENts you will enjoy our very own Lavenderology product line made with your health in mind.

Upon Entry

Upon arrival savor the aromatherapy of elegant spices, hear the trickling water from a fountain, and dare to enjoy a glass of wines. If an wine is not what you desire we also have a complementary coffee, tea bar and fruit infused water.

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Online Store

foot bath, as well as a heated flax seed neck cozy. We also offer a wide variety of waxing services.

***************** Boutique Spa

Relax in the restful zen inspired spa adorn with aroma -therapeutic candles, chiming Tibetan Bells, and soothing background music. All facial, massage and body treatments are preformed with only the finest certified organic products. Each treatment begins with a cup of tea or fruit infused water, a botanical and healing salt

Nail Salon

Only beautifully crafted organic products are used for our nail services. Nothing but the best!

Everything in the boutique is available for sale online. Including makeup, hair care, skin care, nail care,vitamins, candles, one-of-a-kind art, artisan jewelry, home goods, and luxury bedding, plus much, much, more...

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The on premise boutique encompasses every product used during the salon and spa services, even the one -of-a kind art is available to take home.

30 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012

Hand Crafted Lavender Products We are proud to offer our

Hours of Operation Tuesday through Thursday 9am to 5pm

Friday through Saturday 10am to 5pm By Appointment Only 6am to 10am & 5pm to 9pm


Green Scene-Competitions

Green Scene-Competitions

L

Master Chef

ori Riley competed to become one of the top 100 televised contestants for the television show Master Chef November 3, 2012 at the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in Hollywood CA. It was a huge event with thousands of people vying for the coveted spots. She made a Flourless Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Honey Ice Cream. She was able to make it to the second round of interviews but not to the top 100. Maybe next time... - By Lorianne S. Riley

www.communit yseeds.com 31


Making A Difference

Green Scene-Parties

T

Mom Riley’s 80th Birthday

erry Riley, also known in our family as ‘Mom’ turned 80 years old November 10, 2012. She and roughly 100 of her family members who traveled from all over the United States to celebrated her special day at McCormick & Kuleto’s Restaurant in San Francisco, CA. Filet Mignon and Salmon was served. -By Lorianne S. Riley

32 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


Green Scene-Parties

Green Scene-Parties

It’s a celebration sierra nevada’s celebration ale release party by jenifer rodriguez

o

n Tuesday, october 23, 2012 at 6:oo pm, sierra nevada brewing company hosted a release party at their taproom to celebrate their seasonal beer, the celebration ale. a special california-american india pale ale (IPA) 6.8% ABV.

i

ts full, rich, wildy hoppy, and intensed aroma filled the taproom with chico locals who enjoyed celebration pints and live music performances.

t

he release party included a special menu with celebration sliders, celebration tacos, butter lettuce wraps, spicy sausage sandwiches, bavarian style pretzels, and celebration panna cotta.

it was a good night for all beer lovers and a great way to start the holiday

season.

www.communit yseeds.com 33


Making A Difference

Green Scene-Awards

Turner Board Announces Art Collector Reed Applegate Recipient of 2012 Turner Prize

R

eed Applegate – a native of Chico and avid collector of Northern California art – has been selected by the Board of Directors of The Janet Turner Print Museum as the 2012-2013 recipient of The Turner Prize for Excellence in the Arts. The prize, awarded each academic year, honors a person or organization whose work enhances and expands the arts in the North State.

Applegate focused on purchasing from area artists beginning in the 1970’s and has collected works by major artists, including Wayne Thiebaud, Roy De Forest, Nathan Olivera, Robert Arneson, Roland Peterson, Paul Wonner, David Park, and California Society of Six member Maurice Logan. The Reed Applegate Collection currently comprises over 400 works of art and includes paintings, watercolors, prints, drawings, sculpture, ceramics, and photography. Prints are a prominent part of his collection, which Reed attributes directly to the influence of Janet Turner. Applegate received his Bachelor of Arts degree from CSU, Chico in the mid sixties, which meant he had John Ayres for Art History, Ken Morrow for Painting, Jack Windsor for Ceramics, and Janet Turner for Printmaking. It was Turner who impressed upon him that prints were equal to paintings, and not the art stepchild, as many at the time believed. - Submitted by Joe DiMaggio Photo by Sean Chen

34 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


Green Scene-Events

Green Scene-Events Healthy Child, Healthy World

O

n October 8, the CEO of Healthy Child, Healthy World, Gigi lee Chang, is coming to Houston for the first time to attend and speak at an event hosted by Houston Sustainable leaders to share the mission of Healthy Child Healthy World and Green Ribbon Schools, which is an awa rd program that recognizes schools and individuals who accomplish great things in areas of sustainability and health.There are already 60 schools in Houston that are Green Ribbon Schools and they are looking forward to growing that movement. Healthy Child Healthy World empowers parents to protect children from harmful chemicals. With a growing body of evidence linking everyday environmental contaminants to asthma, learning disabilities, obesity, cancer and more, HC HW provides resources, education and information preventative health care for all families and children. I have attached the invitation with the information on the event and profiles of Steve Amos, Executive Director, Green Ribbons School and Gigi Lee Chang, CEO Healthy Child Healthy World. -Submitted by Jessica Zapatero

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Lucero Olive Oil to Celebrate the Second Annual Winter Crush Family Event to Feature Live Olive Oil Citrus Crush, Local Microbreweries and Cooking Demonstrations

Corning, Calif. (November 1, 2012) – Families, foodies and anyone looking to enjoy a unique experience is invited to join the Lucero family as they host the Second Annual Winter Crush, on Saturday, December 8, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lucero Olive Oil Mill in Corning, California. Event-goers will enjoy the unique experience of witnessing the annual citrus olive oil crush by touring the mill and tasting the fresh olive oil being made right before their eyes. The event will also feature live music performances and a vendor market place highlighting local artisan producers, eateries and more than 10 local microbreweries. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to watch live cooking demonstrations hosted by four local chefs, one of whom will be Lucero Olive Oil’s own Bobby Lucero (father of Lucero Olive Oil Founder, Dewey Lucero). There will also be a kid’s zone that will include the following art stations: jewelry making, bag decorating, olive branch crowns and coloring.- Submitted by Lindsay Martin www.communit yseeds.com 35


Making A Difference

Green Scene-Awards

2012 Holiday Season at the Exploratorium

A

s the holidays approach, don’t miss the sound of Dylan Thomas’s voice on Saturday, December 22, when the Exploratorium screens A Child’s Christmas in Wales (1963). Directed by Marvin Lightner, this film features a story written and narrated by Dylan Thomas, one that follows a boy’s Christmas time memories in Wales. The program includes the short, animated film The Sweater (1980, 10 min.), directed by Sheldon Cohen, is an animated version of a short story by Québec author Roch Carrier, set in the rural Québec of his boyhood. This funny, poignant story is animated in a style that evokes the period of the late 1940s. Don’t miss our week-long Holiday Animation Film Festival, from Wednesday, December 26 through Sunday, December 30, a round up of animated shorts that utilize computers, stop-motion and other animation techniques to capture hilarity in several playful scenarios. Among the shorts to be screened are: Sour Death Balls (1993, 4 min.), by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Jessica Yu, offers a humorous and quirky look at how people from all ages and backgrounds react to extremely sour candy and Fetch (2001, 5 min.), by Nina Paley, a funny exploration of space involving an animated dog chasing a ball to a soundtrack by Nik Phelps and The Sprocket Ensemble. Submited by Linda Dackman

H

Glorious Sounds of the Season!

as become a holiday season tradition in Chico over the last 10 years. It features various music ensembles from the department, including the Wind Ensemble, Jazz XPress, A Cappella Choir, Brass Choir, Chamber Singers, and the University Chorus, as well as student and faculty soloists, small ensembles and performers from the Chico community, including the Children’s Choir of Chico. The Centennial Organ is also featured during the performances. The concert also has several opportunities for the audience to join in with the performers by singing along on various seasonal favorites, such as “Silent Night,” “Deck the Halls” and “Jingle Bells.” - Submitted by Kristen Moran, Graphic by Stacey Lo, School of the Arts Graphic Designer

36 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


Green Scene-Events

Green Scene-Events Salmon Back in the Upper San Joaquin River After 62 Years

C

hinook salmon capture and release into spawning grounds below Friant Dam SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, CA - Salmon are starting their comeback. San Joaquin River Restoration Program fish biologists will capture salmon blocked by a metal barrier at the confluence of the San Joaquin and Merced Rivers and relocate them to some of their historic spawning grounds below Friant Dam. These fish will be some of the first salmon to spawn in the upper San Joaquin since the late 1940s. Scientific studies tracking the movement and behavior of these fish will contribute to the full reintroduction of salmon to the San Joaquin River. After the completion of Friant Dam by the federal government in the 1940s, nearly 95 percent of the river’s flow was diverted in most years. As a result, 60 miles of the river ran dry, the second largest salmon population in the state was lost, fish and wildlife populations declined, and California lost one of its great rivers. This fall’s translocation and release of adult fall-run salmon is the latest step in the revitalization of California’s second longest river. - Submitted by Cyril Manning for Dave Koehler, photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

S

Cavallo Point Cooking Class

aturday, January 19th 5:30–9:30 pm This hands-on cooking class with dinner will feature seasonal produce grown within miles of Cavallo Point hand selected fresh from local farmers and purveyors. Prepare and learn about local Bay Area ocean-fresh fish and sustainably raised meats. Once the cooking is done, enjoy your culinary endeavors with wines to match. - Submitted by Jayne Reichert

www.communit yseeds.com 37


Making a difference

Lori’s Book Pick By Lorianne S. Riley

T

his is a great biography about the life and death of a single gay woman biologist/activist who started and lead the environmental act back in the 1950’s by writing a series of books about pesticides, the ocean and nature. Her most noted and controversial book was Silent Spring published in 1962. The biography lightly covers her personal life and untimely death, but the body of On A Father Shore is about the trials and tribulations that she went through throughout her career, as well as her achievements. She had an fascinating life.

White Christmas

B

By Lorianne S. Riley

ecause of the season I picked a classic film to talk about. There are three films that my family must watch this time of year. White Christmas, Miracle On 54th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life. I love them all, so this was a hard choice for me. But, I decided to discuss White Christmas, because I think out of the three it is probably the least viewed by modern audiences. This film was made in 1954, but I feel that the plot is very relevant to the times and troubles of what is going on now days. It stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen and Rosemary Clooney. It is a musical that features a lot of fun standard. So, get ready to listen to some amazing classic music. The movie is about two war veterans that make it big as an entertaining act after the war is over. They find out that their retired Major General’s family Inn is in financially trouble, so they donate there time to save it. 38 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


Solar For All

Solar For All

How one non-profit is bringing the benefits of solar technology to communities in need By Solar for Social Justice

The energy economy and climate change have been much-discussed issues during this year’s election season. With extreme weather events across the globe and continually high unemployment rates in recent months, it’s no wonder. Despite a persistent national recession, the clean energy sector grew at twice the rate of the national economy from 2003-2010, and green jobs comprised more than one-third of the jobs in the struggling construction and manufacturing industries. In California, where 6 million people live in poverty, one non-profit –GRID Alternatives- is targeting the benefits of renewable energy to lowincome communities, intersecting clean energy job

training with environmental and economic justice. Rising energy costs and unemployment affect moderate- to low-income families disproportionately from those of higher incomes. In Northern California, with over 100 degrees temperatures, energy costs are of critical concern to families living in poverty. Nationally, low-income families pay up to four times as much of their income on utilities as average consumers[1]. Medical equipment like oxygen tanks and other life support systems also require constant temperatures and large amounts of electricity to run. Many households are faced with either affording www.communit yseeds.com 39


Making A Difference solar installation projects for nearly 11,000 community volunteers and job trainees. Volunteers gain valuable skills and experience that they can bring back to their homes, businesses and communities, and help build broad-based, grassroots leadership and support for renewable energy. California’s Clean Energy Climate

energy for their home or food, transportation, and medicines. GRID Alternatives believes that economic and environmental sustainability must go hand-in-hand, particularly in low-income communities that have been hit hardest by unemployment, recession, and pollution. As a licensed solar and electrical contractor, the organization is giving the gift of solar energy systems to low-income homeowners across California. GRID Alternatives’ program, the Solar Affordable Housing Program, puts the savings solar provides into the pockets of struggling families while diversifying the power grid. The program also helps homeowners connect with energy efficiency services and educates families on energy conservation before they go solar. The money families save from their electric bills is often in turn spent directly back in the community, building the local economy while improving an area’s affordable housing stock. GRID Alternatives program is a win-win. Training a Skilled Workforce for the Clean Energy Economy Solar energy is the fastest growing renewable energy sector, with a 22 percent expected growth rate for 2011-2012. Four of five solar contractors say they cannot find enough experienced workers to fill their ranks. GRID Alternatives serves as a classroom in the field for the green workforce, integrating job trainees and community volunteers into nearly 70 percent of their residential solar installations. GRID Alternatives has provided hands-on experience with real-world 40 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012

In California, the passage of AB 32 was an effort to strengthen California’s economy and create jobs through energy efficiency, clean energy, renewable standards and smart growth, funded through payto-pollute policies. The result has been record investment in clean energy technology in the state and a growing energy sector. In 2006, the California Public Utility Commission approved the California Solar Initiative, which dedicates $3.2 billion over 11 years to developing 3,000 megawatts of new solar electricity, the equivalent of placing solar systems on a million rooftops. Within the California Solar Initiative, GRID Alternatives accesses a special rebate program that buys down the cost of providing low-income homeowners with low, and often no-cost solar systems. While the rebate doesn’t cover the entire costs of delivering the program, GRID Alternatives has been successful in filling funding gaps through corporate sponsorships, manufacturer donations, individual donations, grants and local government support for their program. In 2012, GRID Alternatives will install over 1,000 systems and begin program expansion nationally. The California Solar Initiative – the current rebate program - is set to expire in Through


Solar For All

The organization is working diligently to ensure that beyond 2016, there will be sufficient state and federal incentives to allow low-income access to renewable energy. About GRID Alternatives GRID Alternatives- GRID stands for Generating Renewable Ideas for Development- was founded by Erica Mackie, P.E., and Tim Sears, P.E. in response to the California energy crisis in 2001. The organization’s founders shared a simple vision: free, clean electricity from the sun should be available to everyone, not just big businesses and wealthy environmentalists. In GRID Alternatives, the founders established a unique funding and program delivery model to bring clean solar energy to communities that would otherwise not have access to it, where families often live in the shadow of polluting energy plants. Since piloting the Solar Affordable Housing Program in 2004, GRID has installed 2,600 solar electric systems in partnership with low-income families throughout California. These systems represent over 7.6 megawatts of generating capacity, and are reducing each family’s electric bills by approximately 75%, which translates to more than $71 million in energy savings over a 20 year lifespan of the systems. The savings will be directly reinvested into the community on a family’s other critical needs. These installed systems will also prevent roughly 220,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the next 30 years. their solar program, GRID Alternatives is able to serve a unique cross-

section of a community. Low-income is not a static state of being. The federal designation of “low-income” means that a household earns less than 80% of an area’s median income. In these economic times, it is very easy to be low-income. Many GRID Alternatives clients are families that care for an elderly or disabled family member. Many other are young families, veterans, or the recently unemployed. With long-term energy cost savings of up to $40,000 over the lifetime their systems, GRID Alternatives’ clients can use their limited incomes pay for other critical needs such as medicine, food, school supplies, and clothes for their children. In order to qualify for GRID Alternatives’ low-income solar program, clients must own and live in an eligible home, meet the 80% of AMI income requirements and purchase electrical energy from one of the 3 major California utility companies (PG&E, SDGE, or Southern California Edison. For information on whether you or someone you know qualifies or for information on volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, please contact GRID’s North Valley office by phone at (530) 217-6154,

Sources: [1] http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/ program_offices/comm_planning/library/energy; https://www.aep.com/about/IssuesAndPositions/ Financial/docs/risingcostLow-Income.pdf

www.communit yseeds.com 41


Healthy Living

A Green New Year How to host an earthfriendly New Years Eve party By Jenifer Rodriguez

New year, why not

choose to make it a green one. 2013 is the year where we should all make a conscious effort to be more kind to our earth. On November 17, 2012, I hosted a New Years Eve party at my apartment for 12 guests. The purpose of this event was to strive towards earth consciousness through positive social gatherings. My guests were provided with fresh, organic, and local appetizers and drinks. We managed to put together a zero waste event with accurate food servings, using reusable dinnerware and decor, local flowers, LED lighting (Refrain from open flame with indoor events), recycling all bottles, and donating our corks to Korks for Kids.

42 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


A Green New Year This New Year’s Eve, instead of celebrating it at a bar/club where you may possibly spend it waiting in line, missing the countdown, paying for overprized drinks, and/or dealing with intoxicated randoms Why not try hosting an intimate, fun, and earth friendly party at your home. Mother earth would appreciate it.

www.communit yseeds.com 43


Healthy Living

44 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


A Green New Year

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Healthy Living

Collection of herbs by healers

Efforts Needed to Safeguard Tribals Traditional Herbal Knowledge in India By Deepak Acharya, Anshu Shrivastava and Manish Singh

46 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


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Efforts Needed To Safeguard Tribals Traditional Herbal Knowledge he traditional storage as unskilled labors in construction Indigenous Healers in Gujarat of ethnobotanical and agriculture. knowledge in memory About 5000 indigenous groups and practices has a long Over 90% of tribal population can be distinguished by linguistic history and must go back to the in Gujarat; depend on traditional and cultural differences and by beginning of human existence. medical practices for day to day geographical separation in the One of the most important sources health care. The herbal healers in world. In India, however, 563 is the Rig Veda (1200-900 BC), Gujarat are known as Bhagats. ethnic groups have been recorded which has been useful in the These healers are expert in curing so far (Maheshwari, 1996). In attempt to identify the source of the terms of tribal population, Gujarat a range of human health disorders traditional medicine system, also with the help of medicinal plants is the 5th largest state in India. known as ‘Ayurveda’. Application growing in their respective The tribal belt runs through the of such herbal regions. Traditional healers remedies has also are generally divided into been mentioned in two categories – those the Atharva Veda that serve the role of (around 3,000 diviner-diagnostician (or to 2,000 BC). It diviner-mediums) and was in the 19th those who are healers (or century when herbalists). The diviner scientists started provides a diagnosis usually focusing on the through spiritual means active components by implying Tantra and found in herbs Mantra, while the herbalist that gave a way chooses herbs for relevant to the research on remedies. The latter have molecular level. the unexplained remedies to The indigenous cure various ailments viz. Indian tribals cancer, bronchial asthma, have accrued diabetes, impotency, skin considerable knowledge in this disorders, jaundice, eye disorders, Eastern part of Gujarat and consists field of potential interest and they arthritis, obesity, gynac problems, of Districts viz. Valsad, Navsari, very well identify the plants which Surat, Vadodara, Narmada, hair falling etc (Acharya and could be utilized at potential source Panchmahal, Sabarkantha and Shrivastava, 2008). of medicine for human, animal and Banaskantha. Major tribes in agri-health. Traditional medicine Gujrat states include: Barda, Needs and Implementations and traditional healers form part of Bavacha, Bharwad, Bhil, Garasia, a broader field of study classified Dholi Bhil, Dungri Bhil, Mewasi Drugs in chemical doses or by medical anthropologists as Bhil, Tadvi Bhil, Bhagalia, synthetic form have swapped Ethnomedicine (Nichter, 1992). Bhilala, Pawra, Vasava, Vasave, herbal healing at a certain level. The tribal people have their own Charan, Chaudhri, Chodhara, But, now people have started cultures, customs, cults, religious Dhanka, Halpati, Gamit, Padvi, realizing various problems rites, taboos, totems, legends and Son Kathodi, Kokna, Kokni, Koli, related with synthetic drugs i.e. myths, folk tales and songs, witch- Kongha, Kunbi, Padhar, Patelia, side effects, chemical pollution, crafts, medical practices etc. They Rathawa, Siddi, Vaghri, Varli, cost and availability of drugs. are the repository of accumulated Padvi etc. These tribesmen mainly Renaissance and awareness on experience and knowledge of rely upon agriculture for their herbal medication is coming back indigenous vegetation that has livelihood. Since the income from now. Anyone can easily afford not been properly utilized for the agriculture is not enough to sustain these herbal medicines. Treatment economic development. their basic needs, they also migrate of various ailments via herbs is the www.communit yseeds.com 47


Healhy Living oldest form of health care known to all the cultures throughout the history. Various parts of the herbs like the stem, leaves, roots, flowers, and fruit are used to cure health and skin disorders. In the age of speeding-up medical costs and their side effects, people are turning to herbs, the “natural medicines”. Herbs are on menu cards of conscious folks in their regular diets. People prefer green herbs not only because of low fatty oil content for good health but also to maintain and restore their vibrant beauty. Traditional herbal knowledge can be the major source of new pharmaceuticals. In the 20th century, however, advances in molecular biology and

farming and achieving milestones in India. Now an extensive validation and value addition to the herbal knowledge is highly needed so that we bring more indigenous knowledge based products in market. The Government should review the act and all the laws that suppress the development of traditional medicine. Financial assistance should be given to the poor healers. They should be provided with mixer, rotator or extractors and other equipment to collect and prepare the traditional medicines. We must consider the role of the new generation of healers. They should be promoted to get trained, examined and certified by the modern research.

Major Challenges

Meeting with the healer in Dangs

pharmacology led to a precipitous decline in the importance of ethnobotany in drug discovery programs but the pendulum is slowly swinging back. It is possible to accomplish in a few minutes what once took months to analyze in the lab by making TMP (Traditional Medicinal Practices) a source of information. Indeed, it is an age old tried, tested and trusted practice. As a result, in the recent times, products purely based on indigenous knowledge are well in demand in the market. DudhNahar (a herbal milk productivity booster for cattle) is one among such products which has started changing the scenario of dairy

Knowledge Transfer: Tribal herbal healers, deficient a printed lingo, rely on oral traditions to transmit their olden times and gathered knowledge from one generation to the next. Unfortunately, in Gujarat and other remote tribal pockets in India, young generation of these tribal groups are merely interested in knowing the secrets of medicinal plants. They are now influenced by the modern world and think that they can earn more money by doing labor work for others. Indeed, it is true that herbal healers are not paid enough for the creative and curative services they do for society. They are deprived of recognition and credit. The new generation doesn’t know the potential of knowledge of their elderly. Healers too are also not much interested in sharing their knowledge with the new

48 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012

generation. They want to transfer this knowledge to safe hands so that it is safeguarded and used for the welfare of the society (Acharya, 2002). Scattered Knowledge: It is in fact a need of the hour to establish a Traditional Medicine Centre in the tribal dominated areas as to

A herbal healer during the collection of herbs

monitor and promote the collection of herbs from the Bhagats through the research agencies / companies or other institutions. Though, there is one Bhagat Mandali (Healer’s Organization) in Dang District, but such sort of organization is not mobilized in other tribal areas in the state. There is a greater need to make a pool of traditional healers to offer health care support to the majority of rural people who are poor and can’t afford costly allopathic drugs. It is important to note that these healers are known as “God Sent Man” in the tribal society because they live and practice within the community (Acharya and Sancheti, 2005). Hence, their services could be quite beneficial to the tribal society. Knowledge Repository: In an attempt to safeguard traditional medicine knowledge, it is necessary that inventories of plants with therapeutic value are carried out, and the knowledge related to their use is documented in systematic studies. These studies can have other values for society


Efforts Needed To Safeguard Tribals Traditional Herbal Knowledge besides conserving traditional knowledge, such as, to identify plants with market potential that can help generate incomes for local communities. Economic Upliftment: As a backward integration, tribals should be promoted for the cultivation of medicinal plants. For instance, a company comes up with an indigenous knowledge based product; they would require raw herbal material in large quantity. For this, tribal groups or Mandali can be formed and encouraged for the cultivation of such needed material. This will provide them with an open market of herbs and also this ex situ conservation of medicinal plant will support forest and medicinal herb conservational activities.

Recognition to the knowledge: Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) of the grassroots knowledge holders should be respected and rewarded. It is indeed necessary to provide them a sense of security. A number of problems present themselves when Intellectual Property Rights discourse and procedures are applied

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Suspicion and hostilities: There has been a great deal of suspicion, secrecy and hostilities existing between traditional healers and modern doctors. To achieve these objectives and those of health for all by the year 2012 and thereafter, open heart dialogue between the two disciplines of medicines is a must. For neither allopathic nor traditional medicine alone can adequately meet the health needs of our Nation (MoH, 1991). We need to strengthen training and research on traditional medicine, and start with the most readily feasible herbal remedies. We should boost our national economies by joining forces in preventive, community, and productive health care for our people.

to traditional medicine. In its document, the “Protection of the Heritage of Indigenous People”, the United Nations (UN) notes that industrial property laws only protect ‘new’ knowledge and that ‘old’ knowledge like herbal remedies that have been used for ages, may not be regarded as patentable (Daes, 1997). A WHO workshop report on intellectual property rights observes that holders of traditional knowledge often do not have the necessary means or resources to register patents, as it is a very expensive process (WHO, 2002). Bioprospectors generally do not have contracts with indigenous people, but rather with academic institutions (UNAIDS, 2002). It is therefore need of the hour to come

forward and protect their rights.

Dang Pharmacy- Setting up an example We must consider seriously the importance of medicinal plants in the developing countries. In many cases, these countries simply cannot afford to spend millions of dollars on imported medicines which they could produce or extract from their tropical forest plants. Indigenous medicines are relatively inexpensive; they are locally available and are usually readily accepted by the people. The ideal situation would be the establishment of local pharmaceutical firms that would create jobs, reduce unemployment, reduce import expenditures, generate foreign exchange, encourage documentation of traditional ethnomedicinal lore, and be based on the conservation and sustainable use of the tropical forests. The Dangs District Ayurvedic Pharmacy is the best example. This was established under the guidance of Dr SK Nanda, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Home, Government of Gujarat and also the Guardian Secretary to Dang District to promote ethnic herbal knowledge and medicines and also to provide employment opportunities to the tribesmen of Dangs. Conclusion According to herbal healers in Dangs, “there is not a single herb that is useless”. It is indeed true;

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Healthy Living there has not been a single civilization on earth that has not included herbs as medicines in its historical record. Herbs have been an integral part in the development of the modern civilization. The slow but certainly effective herbal action in beauty remedies has suffered badly in preference to the fast-acting synthetic cosmetics of the modern world. Fortunately, people are becoming conscious of the long-term side effects of the synthetic products, and herbs are once again staging a dramatic comeback. The success stories of the herbs have raised them to the top in the popularity graph. No doubt, these plants of miraculous therapeutic and medicinal value have won the faith of people all over the world. It is the right time when we seriously act to protect and safeguard the indigenous knowledge of Gujarat’s tribal herbal healers. References Acharya, D. (2002). Few traditional and popular medicinal plants, In: Write-up of Training-cum-workshop on Medicinal Plants: Conservation and Cultivation (Jan 15th, 2002) Department of Botany, Danielson College, Chhindwara. 22-37 pp.

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Acharya, D. and Sancheti, G. (2005). Indian culinary herbs and their traditional uses. The Essential Herbal, Nov/ Dec: 9-13. Acharya, D. and Shrivastava, A. (2008). Indigenous Herbal Medicines (Tribal Formulations and Traditional Herbal Practices). Aavishkar Publishers Distributors, Jaipur. ISBN: 978-81-7910-252-7. Daes, Erica-Irene. (1997). Protection of the Heritage of Indigenous People. New York and Geneva: United Nations. Human Rights Study Series: 10. ISBN- 92-11-54126-3. 30pp. Maheshwari, J.K. (1996). Ethnobotany in South Asia (Editorial). J Econ Tax Bot Add Ser. 12: 1-11. MoH (Ministry of Health). (1991). Traditional Medicinal Plants. Dar Es Salaam University Press Tanzania, 391 pp. Nichter, M. (1992). Anthropological approaches to the study of Ethnomedicine. Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, Tucson, Arizona, ix pp. UNAIDS. (2002). Best Practice Collection. Ancient Remedies, New Disease: Involving traditional healers in increasing access to AIDS care and prevention in East Africa� June 2002, 5 pp. WHO. (2002). Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002-2005, WHO/EDM/TRM/2002.1, Geneva, 7 pp.


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Healthy Living

Medicinal Plants You Should Know

T

he traditional storage of ethnobotanical knowledge in memory and practices has a long history and must go back to the beginning of human existence. Likewise, ethnobotany is of great age in India, where it has been described in several ancient literatures. One of the most important sources is the Rig Veda (1200-900 BC), which has been useful in the attempt to identify the source of the traditional medicine system, also known as ‘Ayurveda’. Application of such herbal remedies has also been mentioned in the Atharva Veda (around 3,000 to 2,000 BC). It was in the 19th century when scientists started focusing on the active components found in herbs that gave a way to the research on molecular level. Herbs like Caraway, Cardamom, Turmeric, Aniseed, Clove, Cumin seeds, Basil, Ginger etc. are a few among the gigantic range of culinary herbs. The wild plants have been providing an important source of medicine and food since time immemorial.

Potato

Botanical Name: Solanum tuberosum L. Family Name: Solanaceae 54 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012

Dr. Deepak Acharya

Vernacular Names: Alu (Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi & Oriya); Potato (English); Batata (Gujarati & Marathi); Batate, Alu-gidde (Kannada); Urulan (Malayalam); Uralakilangu, Wallaraikilangu (Tamil); Bangaladumpa, Uralagadda (Telugu); Plant Profile & Distribution: Much-branched, bushy herbs, with underground stems (stolons), bearing the edible tubers; leaves odd-pinnate, with a large terminal leaflet; flowers in cymose panicles, white; fruit a globose berry, with many oval seeds. Cultivated almost all parts of the World.

Medicinal Importance Potato is very good kitchen medicine. Fresh juice of the tuber is beneficial in acidity and peptic ulcers. Tubers are antiscorbutic, aperient, diuretic and having good galactagogue property. A paste is prepared from the boiled potatoes and externally applied on joints as hot poultice in rheumatic pain and swellings. Paste of raw mashed potatoes is beneficial in scalds, burns and also in ulcers, haemorrhoids and wounds. Mashed


potatoes are good food in periods of convalescence. Potato skins are applied over swollen gums. In a research, the leaves have shown good antispasmodic activity. The roots and leaves are reported as a good cardio tonic. In a research report, the leaves, seeds, and tuber extract has been screened against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and found significant antimicrobial activity against them (Acharya and Shrivastava, 2008, 2011).

Traditional Tribal Formulations Tribals in remote areas of India i.e. Patalkot, Dangs and Aravallis apply Potato in their various herbal applications for treating several health ailments. Digestive disorders Fresh juice extracted from a medium sized potato tuber should be diluted with a glass of water and take empty stomach in the morning. It is very beneficial in severe acidity, inflammation and peptic ulcer. It also relieves gastritis and other gastrointestinal diseases. Weight gain Potato is very rich in energy and a good source of carbohydrates. It is recommended to include it in daily diet to gain weight. Rheumatoid Arthritis The raw potato juice is used in traditional medicine system for rheumatic and arthritic conditions. Take a medium sized potato and cut into slices and soak in a glass of water for overnight. Take this water in the morning empty stomach. Back Pain Prepare a poultice from raw potato tubers and apply applied on the affected area. It helps in curing lower back pain effectively. General health and Nutritional deficiency Potatoes are very rich in nutritive value and it has reported for good antioxidant activity. Prepare one table spoon juice from mashed potatoes. Take this for 4 times in a day. According to the traditional herbal healers, it boosts immunity and helps in preventing the body from many diseases.

Medicinal Plants You Should Know cuts, burn and injuries. It is good remedy to cure the wounds sooner. Scurvy and Eczema Fresh paste of the potato tubers can be applied on skin. It is an effective remedy. Piles / Haemorrhoids Fresh juice of the potato helps in bowel movement and thus provides relief in piles. Fresh paste or juice is also applied over haemorrhoids externally. Galactogogue Potato is used as feed for livestock in lesser quantity. It has galactogogue property and it improves milk secretion. Beauty Care Paste of fresh potato tubers should be applied on pimples and blackheads. Potatoes are considered good cleansing agent. Take grated potatoes and rub it on the face. Wash off with lukewarm water after 10-15 minutes. To remove dark circles under the eyes, apply fresh grated potatoes around the affected area and massage gently. Wash it with fresh water after 30 minutes. Take a raw potato and cut fine slices. Place these slices on your face to improve skin tone. Fresh juice may also be applied for the same. Grate a potato and put in a cotton cloth to form a poultice. Place it over the eyes for 10-15 minutes to reduce puffiness. Cut round slices from fresh potato tuber and rub on the face to remove marks and pigments. References

Acharya, D. and Shrivastava, A. 2008. Indigenous Herbal Medicines: Tribal Formulations and Traditional Herbal Practices. Aavishkar Publishers Distributors, Jaipur. ISBN 97881-7910-252-7. Acharya, D, Shrivastava, A. 2011. Ethnomedicinal Plants of Gujarat State. Forest Department, Gujarat, Gandhinagar. ISBN 8190311484. 412pp.

Cuts, Burns and Ulcers Mash fresh potato and prepare fine paste. Apply it on www.communit yseeds.com 55


Green Scene

Moving is the best medicine. Keeping active and losing weight are just two of the ways that you can fight osteoarthritis pain. In fact, for every pound you lose, that’s four pounds less pressure on each knee. For information on managing pain, go to fightarthritispain.org.

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Eco Friendly Crafts

Wreaths For The Holidays By Lorianne S. Riley

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Wreaths For The Holidays

here is nothing like a beautiful seasonal wreath hanging from the front door. And there is no reason why that wreath can’t be sustainable. I get kind of lazy sometimes during the holiday season. Between decorating, Christmas cards, baking, parties and working it is all I can do to keep up. So, I like to buy my fresh wreaths and then add decorations to it to make it interesting. I know that this is not the greenest way to make a wreaths, but it is the most realistic for me.

Tools Needed

What is green, is how I continue to reuse the decorations and the metal frame that the wreath is constructed on. Here is how I do it.

Materials Needed: • Wire, scissors and ribbon - Cut the wire into 3 inch pieces and then set aside. Then make a bow with weird ribbon by folding it on top of itself at least 5 times. Cut the ribbon from the roll and set it aside so that you can cut about a yard of ribbon to tie in a bow around the center of the folded ribbon. Fluff the loops you created up. Now cut another yard of ribbon and tie it around the bow to create long streaming pieces. Wrap a piece of the 3 inch wire you cut earlier to the back of the bow and attach it to the frame of the wreath. • Bulbs and pinecones - String each bulb with a 3 inch wire and wrap the pinecone heads with its own piece of wire as well. Strategically place items on the wreath and twist the wire to a piece of the foliage. Hide the unfinished ends by tucking them out of sight. • Fresh Pine Wreath- Your done! Hang the wreath up and enjoy. When the seasons over just remember to take everything off of the wreath for next year and reuse the frame for your spring wreath. Have fun creating!

Key Notes • • • •

Have Fun Think Outside The Box Make It A One Of A Kind Be Creative

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Eco Friendly Crafts

Holiday Centerpieces By Lorianne S. Riley

60 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


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Holiday Centerpieces

o make an exceptional centerpiece you don’t necessarily have to buy anything new. I like to resource items from my gardge and garage sales. Usually I incorporate a mirror, vase and small seasonal decorative pieces.

Tools Needed

Materials Needed: • Mirror - I love using interestingly shaped and adorn mirrors, because it contains and creates perimeters for the beginning and end of the centerpiece. I also love the way a mirror reflects. It makes everything that is arranged on top of it look grander. • Seasonal Decorative Pieces - For this particular piece I like to use glass beads, garland, pinecones, and an old vintage ornaments. I try to tell a story with these pieces. • Vase - A vase is the perfect piece to anchor and finish off the center piece. The vase represents the focal point of the arrangement. The vase I used was an old vase my Grandparents owned. I like it because it is colorful and reminds me of them. To construct your centerpiece just place the vase in the center of the mirror and arrange the small seasonal pieces on the mirror around the vase. I then placed the vintage bulb on top of the vase to add more interest. I typically keep the same mirror and vase on my table as the centerpiece year around. The seasonal decorative pieces is what I like to change-up now and again. This is an easy way to always have a festive table with minimal work. If this is a concept that interest you then you may be interested in the next fun suggestion. Make your centerpiece interactive! Every time something eventful happens to you or your family note it and put it in the vase. On New Years Day take all of the notes out of the vase and reflect on your year past.

Key Notes • • • •

Have Fun Think Outside The Box Make It A One Of A Kind Be Creative

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Cooks Corner

Kitchen Widgets By Reanna Jackson

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eautiful Birch Bowls are Hand Carved From Sustainably Sourced Wood

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air Trade Cloth Napkins mossenvy.com

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rue Seal 10 Piece (5 Containers/5 BPA Free Lids) Glass Storage Set

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Cook’s Corner

Cook’s Corner

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amily tradition is such an important part of the holidays. It is not surprising to me that my fathers parents fit the stereotype when it came to their holiday deserts. My Grandfather owned an Ice Cream Parlor called Johnny Silveira’s Ice Cream in the Farmers Market years ago in Santa Monica that is now know as the Grove. Along with their handmade gourmets ice creams my Grandmother made confections that they sold, made for their family and friends. The Dark Fruit Cake recipe is one of my favorites that brings back fond memories of my Grandmother as well as my happy childhood Christmases - By Lorianne S. Riley 64 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


Grandma’s Dark Fruit Cake

Grandma’s Dark Fruit Cake by Lorianne S. Riley

Ingredients

Shopping List 30 Oz. Raisins, Chopped 15 Oz. Golden Raisins, Chopped 11 Oz. Currants, Chopped 1 Lbs. Pitted Date, Chopped 1 Cup White Wine 1 Cup Orange Juice 1 Cup Cake Flour 3 Tbsp Cinnamon 2 Tbsp Salt 1/2 Tbsp Baking Soda 2 Cups Broken Pecans

8 Eggs, Beaten 1 Cup Brown Sugar, Packed 1 Cup Sugar 1 Cup Corn Syrup 2 Cup Salad Oil 4 Cups Flour 4 Tbsp Baking Powder 1 Tbsp Allspice 2 Cups Plum Jam 1 Cup Broken Walnuts

C

ombine candied fruit, raisins, currants and dates in a large bowl. Pour wine and orange juice over fruits and let stand overnight. The next day, beat together thoroughly the eggs, brown sugar, corn syrup and salad oil. Sift flour with baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, and salt. Fold into egg mixture alternately with plum jam and soda. Stir in fruits, liquid and nuts. Pour batter into 4, 5X9 inch bread pans and bake in a water bath at 275º for 2hrs and 45 minutes on the lowest shelf. Cool on racks, remove from pans, wrap cakes in foil and seal in an air tight containers. Let cakes rest for a couple of days before serving.

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Holiday Egg Nog by Sean Delloiacono

66 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


Holiday Egg Nog

Ingredients One dozen eggs 7 cups of Milk 3 cups of Heavy Cream 3 cups of Brandy 2 cups of dark rum 2 cups of sugar 1 table spoon of nutmeg 1 cup whole cloves 1/2 cup of whole star anise Cheese cloth

S

eparate the eggs. Put the egg whites in one bowl and the yolks into a separate large bowl. Use either a whisk or an electric mixer and beat the egg yolks and the sugar together until the mixture has a creamy even texture and color. Next slowly stir in the brandy and the rum. Allow the mixture to chill in the fridge over night. Next on the following day, stir the milk into the chilled mixture, along with the nutmeg. In a separate bowl beat the cream until it thickens. In just one more bowl beat the egg whites until they start to thicken. Now, delicately fold the beaten egg whites into the egg yolk mixture and then do the same with the beaten cream. Take the whole cloves and the star anise and secure them in cheese cloth. Stir them around a little bit and then let them soak in the mixture. Serve garnished with a pinch of nutmeg. www.communit yseeds.com 67


Myers Lemon Meringue Martini By Sean Delloiacono

68 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


Myer Lemon Meringue Martini

Ingredients Myers lemons Hanger One Vodka Two table spoons of sugar Two ounces half and half

P

ut one scoop of ice into a cocktail shaker. Add 2 1/2 ounces of Hanger One Vodka and the juice of one Myers lemon. Shake briefly until mixed. Then add the sugar and the cream. Top and shake again. This time shake vigorously until frost forms on the out side of the shaker. Strain contents into a martini glass. Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and lemon zest.

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Food Bites

Food Bites

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Holiday Gems! By Lorianne S. Riley Jewelry Courtesy of Geralyn Sharidan Designs 72 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


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Amethyst Necklace $40.00 74 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


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Earth Friendly Beauty Products

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his product is made with lip nurturing natural and food-grade ingredients that are healthy enough to eat. It does not contain synthetics, polybutene, or petroleum byproducts. Can be found at sephora.com

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88 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


Community Seeds

Advertisers Index Arthritis Foundation Chico Connection Dr. Marc Garrison DO Eco Peach eleMENts by Beaute Salon and Spa eleMENts by Beaute Salon and Spa eleMENts Online Store eleMENts Magazine Geralyn Sheridan Designs Growing Up Chico Magazine Growing Up Chico Magazine Franky’s Lavenderology Rose Mira Organics Sutter, 5th Street Steak House Tracy Lynn Photography Weight Of The Nation

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Special Thanks To: Jason & Heather Ugie

Additional Thanks To:

TJ Farms.......................................................................................... www.tjfarmsestates.com Susan Burke March, MS, RD/LD, CDE ---------------------------------- www.SusanBurkeMarch.com Deanna Zachrich ----------------------------------------------------------- www.TheBigGreenEasy.com The Health and Community Services Department at California State University, Chicoje

www.communit yseeds.com 89


Join Us In The Spring! • Send us an article about being eco-friendly or community-minded • Send us photos of you and/or your family and friends in the Spring • Send photos of unique green products • Tell us what you like to do in the Spring to be more sustainable • Send us a green craft idea • Write a book review • Send us an article on living a healthier lifestyle • Tell us how your business is being more sustainable • Tell us about Spring community projects • Purchase advertising

Th

e Co Next mm I Wil uni ssue O t l Ma Be Re y Seed f rch le s 15, ased 201 2!

The deadline for the Spring issue is January 31, 2013. info@communityseeds.com. E-mail items to info@communityseeds.com. For more information go to www.communityseeds.com 90 Community Seeds . wINTER 2012


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