I'm going to go rogue for a moment and post something completely off-topic and personal. I'm sure I'll regret it immediately, but it's so refreshing to actually have some goals again that I can't help but share them with all 6 of you who read my blog.
These goals are especially exciting because they are all things I've been thinking about for a while and really feel committed to doing, so they are more real than most goals I've had in my life. Plus they are measurable, realistic, and aren't dependent on anyone but me.
Eat real food
I've been trying to eat better for a while now, and I'm more committed than ever to greatly reduce the amount of processed foods in my diet. It's not good for my health or for the environment and it's ridiculous to eat something if I don't even know what's in it. In the past year two members of my immediate family have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and if that's not enough to scare someone into taking charge of their health, I don't know what is. I've gotten into a great exercise routine in the past six months, and now it's time to compliment that by eating better. Michael Pollan and Barbara Kingsolver both have the right ideas and their books have been incredibly inspiring and motivating.
I have a lot of thoughts about how vegetarianism does and doesn't fit in with this goal and my distaste for labor-intensive and time-consuming cooking, but that could be another whole post. Suffice it to say I've started eating some seafood (like the sustainably harvested and mercury tested Dave's Tuna) and I like having the additional variety. I've also started spending more time with my friend the lentil, who I haven't seen in a while. As much as I don't enjoy cooking, I do love food and I have simple tastes. Adding just a few recipes to my tiny repertoire could make a big difference in making cooking more pleasant for me.
Compost and garden
I've been wanting to start a compost since buying my house almost three years ago, and I think it's about time I took some action. I just ordered my copy of The Urban Homestead which has some easy instructions on cheaply building a worm bin. I plan to make this my winter project and hopefully I'll have some compost in a few months when I start thinking about gardening. I have somewhat of a black thumb, but I am committed to growing something this year, even if it's just a few of my favorite vegetables. It's silly to have an entire yard and not use it to grow some food. This should also help aid in my goal of eating better. See? It all fits together!
Get away from chemical cleaners
I was recently choking on fumes while cleaning the shower when I thought, how can such toxicity possibly equal cleanliness? It simply can't. I've already stopped using commercial floor cleaners, and as I use up the last of the other household cleaning products, they won't be replaced. I'll be making my own out of simple ingredients like soap, vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice. It will be cheaper, take up less space, and not damage anyone's health.
It looks like health and sustainability are my themes for 2009. Any advice or words of wisdom?
4 comments:
It's your blog so you get to talk about anything you want. I'm with you on one and three but I don't have space for two. Foods are so much better when not overly processed. And cleaning shouldn't throw a person into an asthmatic coughing fit from the fumes. I've been making the switch as well.
Those are all great goals! And, you can count me in on your list of 6 readers :)
I was given a Worm Factory composting system last Christmas. From the literature on-line it seemed easy but the literature that came with it made it seem like a lot of work to maintain it properly. I would love to hear about your experiences with it, if you decide to go that route.
You #3 goal has been on my mind lately too. As someone with asthma I need to eliminate harsh cleansers as well. I have been too lazy to make my own so I buys some of the "greener" stuff at stores. But they require some green on my part! I'd rather make my own for a lot of reasons. Would love to share ideas with you (hmmm...I mean get ideas from you as I have none at the moment). Any good books to recommend?
Trinity, I will keep you apprised of the worm composting as it happens!
April, the only book in which I've read about this stuff is a chapter in the Urban Homestead. There was also an article in Bust magazine a while back. I'll let you know what works as I try it out!
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