TBT -- Summertime... time to get away

Today's Throwback Thursday's post originally appeared on the blog on June 30, 2010. Not much has changed for me since then. I still feel the exact same way.

We have never been big on vacations in our house. How about you? Do you save up all year so you can escape normal life for a week or two in the summer? If so, where do you go? Same place each year, or do you like to seek out new places?

I have to admit I'm pretty boring when it comes to travel. I don't like the idea of busy vacations and endless travel. While there are places I'd like to see, the travel part just doesn't appeal to me. For me, a vacation in Orlando would be a nightmare, although we did do it once. To spend long days and nights at amusement parks is not my idea of a vacation. And, of course, flying has become such a hassle, I want no part of it. Between figuring out what you can pack, how much you can pack and paying extra if you pack too much only to arrive at your destination without your luggage anyway...not my idea of fun. Certainly not my idea of relaxation.

Then there's the driving option. I used to enjoy that, but let's face it: there seems to be a whole lot more idiots on the road these days. It's hard to enjoy a drive across the state, much less across the country! And that's not to mention the cost at the gas pump and the ongoing oil crisis we're facing!

If I had my way, I'd travel by train as much as possible. I love riding the rails. Traveling by train is a greener option as well because trains generate less pollution than cars and, according to Joseph R. Provey and Owen Lockwood in The Little Green Book, they "produce about two to three times less CO2 per person per mile than planes generate." They also point out that "according to some estimates, emitting CO2 into the upper stmosphere -- which planes do -- does more than twice the damage of the same amount of CO2 emitted at ground level." I'm sold. Put me on a train.

Regardless of how you get there, here are some other eco-friendly tips when it comes to vacations:

Before you leave home, invest in some timers for your lights, particularly your outdoor lights. That way you don't have to leave your porch light on all the time, which in addition to being a waste of money and energy, also is an invitation for burglars, since it's an advertisement of your being gone.

If you have a family member or friend traveling over to your house to pick up your mail everyday, consider putting a hold on it with the post office. This will save gas for the person taking care of it for you. Oh, and make sure you cancel your newspaper subscription for the days you're gone. Paper's a major waste issue in the landfills, so save a bit and keep the burglars guessing.

Pull the shades down or close the drapes before you go, which will keep your home cooler (or warmer in the winter, thus cutting back on the energy used to heat your empty house). If it's hot when you return and you turn on the AC, it won't take as long to cool down the house. If you choose to leave the AC on while you're gone, at least turn the thermostat up to 85 degrees (or down to 50 degrees in the winter). At our house, we rarely use the AC, so we have it turned off when we leave, no matter how hot it may be. Up until this year, we always had birds in the house, so we had to leave the heat turned up a bit for them. Now that the only pets we have are furry kitties, we're confident they'll be warm enough in the winter...and as long as the summer's not too hot, they'll be okay then, too.

One more thing you want to do before you head out the door for a few days or weeks...unplug, unplug, unplug!! Other than your refrigerator, of course, there's no reason to keep your appliances plugged in. By unplugging your TVs, office machinery, washer/dryer, etc., you'll be saving money and energy.

So, maybe that's enough for now. Ways to be green at home when you're away. Whatever you do this summer, and whatever mode of transportation you choose, enjoy your vacations. Rest, relax, revive and remember it's up to you to preserve your little corner of the earth. Someday, future generations will appreciate you for it.

Keeping it green,

Unexpected Unicycles -- When the diagnosis is Down's

Today, I'm thrilled to feature guest blogger, Joy Givens. Joy and I met at a writers' conference a few years ago. While there, her husband showed up one evening with her precious baby boy. Here is her story:

Unexpected Unicycles

Picture yourself, your family, and your friends together, all riding your bicycles along a sunny road. Then imagine that someone rolls up on a unicycle. How do you react? What do you say to them?

I have been the mother of an outstanding child named Joshua for about two and a half years now. There are tranquil nights when I kiss Josh’s sleeping face and thank God for the quiet, safe house that holds him, and there are days when I pull the dog’s toys out of Josh’s mouth and wipe Crayola marker off the walls. Parenthood is the most difficult, rewarding, exhausting, delightful, infuriating, fulfilling role I have ever received, and I think most parents would agree with that description. 

Parenthood unites us, in ways we never anticipated—like when you see a mom firmly initiating a time-out in the middle of the dinosaur exhibit at the museum, or a frazzled new dad buying diapers at CVS at 10pm. You catch each other’s eye and offer a nod, a smile, some brief encouragement that says, “I’ve been there. Keep it up. You’re doing fine.”

But parenthood is also unique for each person who experiences it. No two children are exactly alike, and no two parents respond the same way to every situation (ask any two-parent family ever). This means that sometimes we don’t quite know what to say to each other. This is especially true, I have found, with parents of children with special needs. When we’ve only ridden bicycles, we don’t necessarily know how to talk about unicycles.

Let me tell you about my unicycle.

I was thrilled when I became pregnant in the late spring of 2012. My husband David and I had spent the past few years settling into a charming brick house, complete with a dog and a white picket fence, and the timing was just about perfect to start our family. We devised creative ways to announce the happy news. We thought of baby names. I didn’t throw up once. We found out that we were having a boy.

In our heads we were already riding bicycles.

And then one Friday morning in August, I got a call from my doctor’s office. My second trimester blood test had indicated an increased possibility of Down syndrome in the baby. I hung up the phone in tears. No expectant parent expects to hear that news. 

The next two weeks were a fog of panic and powerlessness, until a second blood test confirmed that our son Joshua had three copies of his 21^st chromosome—a diagnosis of Down syndrome. David and I had been excitedly preparing to ride our perfect, brand new parenting bicycle and found out halfway through the pregnancy that a unicycle was coming instead. What were we going to do?

Start learning to ride a unicycle.

It was slow going at first—we had no idea what we were doing! But as we began to learn about the unique possibilities that lay ahead with Josh, two truly beautiful things happened. 

First, we learned to balance on that unexpected unicycle by being completely surrounded with support: our family, our friends, our church, our doctors, and our faith. It took more trust than I had ever thought I could give. But we found our balance. We decorated the nursery. We put up our Christmas tree. And we reclaimed the excitement of expecting a baby—our baby.

The second beautiful thing happened just after New Year’s, on a cold, clear Thursday morning. 

Joshua was born at 11:13am, at the same hospital where his daddy was born. He was the picture of health—a pink, squirming baby with dark hair and alert eyes. Joshua tried to put his feet down on my belly and stand up at the ripe old age of ten minutes. He was perfect. 

In the years since, Josh has amazed us at every turn with his abilities, his curious and insightful mind, his kind spirit, and his sense of humor. He has learned to walk, to dance, to sing, to laugh, to finger paint, to give exceptionally fantastic hugs, and so much more. He’s “delayed” in some things and “advanced” in others, according to the averages parents hear about. Averages stopped mattering a long time ago, though. He’s perfect to us, and (spoiler alert) he always will be.

So here’s what I want you to know about unicycles.

Most parents ride bicycles. And that’s great. Bicycles are awesome. But there’s nothing wrong with unicycles—quite the opposite. A unicycle teaches you to seek greater balance and to be more aware of your surroundings. A bicycle might get you somewhere faster, but you can do tricks on a unicycle that you could never do on a bike, things you might never even think of trying. Having one wheel instead of two is not a loss. It’s a uniqueness that encourages diversity, appreciation, and even innovation.

So if you’re ever pedaling along my metaphorical sunny road and you see a parent on a “unicycle,” you don’t need to say any variant of the following:

“What happened to your bicycle?”

“Wow, you must be a super-cycler to balance on that thing!”

“Do you think you’ll ever be able to go faster, though?”

“It’s so great how you’re making it work with only one wheel.”

“… I’m sorry you didn’t get a bicycle.”

I wouldn’t trade my incredible unicycle for all the bicycles in the world. 

Having a child with Down syndrome does not mean that I’ve missed out on a journey. It means that I’ve learned to look at the path from a different perspective, and to keep better in mind that every other person’s perspective is different from mine, but no less valid. After all, we might each be travelling at our own speeds and in our own ways, but we’re going in the same direction. 

It also means that I’ve been continually reminded that the journey, not the destination, is what really matters.

So if you happen to see me firmly initiating a time-out for Joshua next to the T-Rex exhibit, or sleepily purchasing diapers at ten o’clock at night, or wiping Crayola marker off a wall, feel free to say, “I’ve been there. Keep it up. You’re doing fine.”

Don’t hold back out of concern over how many wheels or chromosomes we’ve got. Parenthood unites us. You and I, your child and my child, we all want the same things: to be loved and accepted, to learn and grow, and to feel safe. So let’s enjoy the ride together.

* * *

Joy Givens is the author of the young adult novel UGLY STICK and the short story collection APRIL'S ROOTS, both available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers. Joy resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her fantastic husband David, their remarkable son Joshua, and their impossibly lovable dog Riley. When she's not writing, Joy can be found tutoring high school students, singing and listening to all kinds of music, and spending time with good friends, good books, and good coffee. www.joygivens.com

Ask Green Grandma online and off!

I have exciting news to share! My Ask Green Grandma column is now appearing in both Green Child Magazine (online) and Freedom Farms Magazine. How awesome is that? 

If you're familiar with the show, Farm Kings, you'll recognize the Lisa King and her crew from Freedom Farms. As it turns out, long before I knew anything about the show, I met Pete King and some of his brothers at local Pittsburgh area Farmers Markets. They had the best corn around, and eventually I sought them out and eventually started buying produce only from them. 

After my daughter moved to Gibsonia, PA, we discovered that the Freedom Farms Farmers Market was several miles north on Route 8, so we started going there. On one particular visit, I spoke with Lisa (Mama) King and told her about this blog and gave her a copy of my book, Vinegar Fridays. As it turns out, she loved it, and enthusiastically told me so several times now. 

That's what led to Ask Green Grandma being featured in their magazine. My daughter brought me a copy yesterday, and I was thrilled to discover I made the cover. THE COVER! Additionally, there is a nice ad for Vinegar Fridays on the last page and the column itself is a nice 2-page spread. Sometimes it pays to give things away.

I'm hoping that my book will soon be available in their store as well, so if you stop in, ask if it's there yet. 

If you're local, you can purchase the magazine directly from the Kings at area Farmers Markets, at the Donut Shop, Sandwich Shop, and Freedom Farms Farmers Market. Or you can subscribe (click here) and have all that Farm Kings' yumminess sent to your home. With features like Ask Farmer Tim, Ask Farmer Pete AND Ask Green Grandma, how can you go wrong?

Editor-in-Chief Joe King, along with Senior Writer and Photographer Kate Stapleton and Graphic Designer Jenna Dascanio do a phenomenal job putting together an informative and visually appealing publication. And, of course, they demonstrate great taste. They included my column after all!

Sharing my excitement,

 

What does freedom in America really mean anymore?

Freedom in America. What does it mean? 

As I celebrate my freedom to sit on my porch and write as laundry flaps in the breeze, I am grateful for the bravery and sacrifice of so many who made this type of life possible. But there's a part of me that fears what's happening as I see freedoms being stripped away bit by bit.

Freedom of speech has become a joke in this country. While I don't subscribe to or condone name-calling, bullying, or speech that indicates any type of prejudice, I'm concerned about this freedom being taken away. It's getting to the point where I believe the government should just write their version of politically correct speeches and dole them out to the rest of us so we don't, gasp, misspeak at any time. This is especially true of public figures, newscasters, and celebrities. God forbid they speak their mind in this "free" country of ours. When will it stop? Will we all eventually be issued a list of forbidden words and phrases?

You know what? I was mocked for being skinny all through my childhood. It may or may not have caused me some permanent damage in the self-esteem department. Maybe I should petition to have the word "skinny" banned. What do you think? 

The bottom line is, not everyone is going to agree with your beliefs, lifestyle, clothing choice, size, hair color, tattoos, body piercings, sexual preference, taste in music, religion, or which side of the climate change debate you end up on. We're all different. When, my dear friends, did that become wrong? When did we lose the freedom to think as individuals, rather than as a so-deemed politically correct group??

Personally, I subscribe to the life choice of being kind. Therefore, I'm not going to resort to name calling, even when I may not agree with someone. 

Here are some things I hate:

• tattoos
• pee on public toilet seats
• barking dogs
• rap music
• prejudice against a group of people
• smoking
• wastefulness
• self-righteousness
• inflexibility
• people's intolerance of Christian beliefs
• corporate greed
• Monsanto
• backyard fireworks
• toxic products
• disposable diapers
• GMOs

Okay, the list could go on. But let me tell you something -- none of the above gives me the right to be unkind. But I do have the right to feel the way I do. And so do you. Your list may differ vastly from mine, and that's okay. Freedom dictates that it's okay, doesn't it? Didn't our forefathers establish this country to escape a forced belief system? 

Let's make a deal. I will respect your choices, feelings, and beliefs, if you will do the same for me. Perhaps you think some of my beliefs are just plain crazy. That's okay. But it's not okay for you to treat me like an idiot because of them. Or is it? After all, we're living in the United States of America, Home of the Free and the Brave. Let's suck it up, folks, and toughen up a bit. We're free. We're brave. Let's unite in our fight to keep it that way. Can I hear an Amen?

May you have a safe and happy 4th of July weekend,

Drawing Conclusions -- A Freegan Mystery

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book, DRAWING CONCLUSIONS, in exchange for my honest review.

Have you ever gone dumpster diving? As children, my best friend and I used to accompany a man in our neighborhood on outings (the rest of the story isn't pretty, but we're not going there). Sometimes we'd go for drives in the country. Sometimes we'd go ice skating at the dam. And sometimes, we'd case out the dump for 'treasures' to take back to our clubhouse (located underneath our neighbor's porch). I guess, in some ways, we were Freegans way back in the 60s. 

Today's Freegans attempt to live their lives by not paying for much of anything. They're different than 'freeloaders,' however, in that they're not a burden to anyone. It's just that when they're hungry, they either head out to their gardens to harvest some produce, or they head to the closest dumpster and 'feast' on discarded food. In today's society of wastefulness, finding a good meal isn't as difficult as you may think. Much of the food is still nicely wrapped and fresh, but for one reason or another, is of no use to a restaurant or grocery store.

I 'met' Freegan, CeCe Prentice on page one of the mystery novel, DRAWING CONCLUSIONS, as she and housemate, Charlie, were dumpster diving. They suited up with surgical gloves and hopped into a dumpster behind a catering business. 

"Good stuff," I [CeCe] said, passing a drippy egg carton to Charlie. "A few are broken but I can scramble and freeze them raw." A surge of adrenalin pumped toward my heart as I reached down into a pile of nearly fresh vegetables. It amazed me that after all these years of foraging for discarded food, I still got high out of the hunt. This was a quality I shared with others in the Freegan movement. Freegans aren't necessarily poor or destitute; they simply dislike waste. I was willing to ignore the seeping smell of rot accelerated by the warming spring weather if the food could be put to good use. 

"There's got to be ten pounds of bacon still in the wrapper. Prep the cooler."

Not having studied the lifestyles of Freegans, I was intrigued and had to keep reading. CeCe and her four housemates share a house with a large backyard garden and as much free 'stuff' as they can find. CeCe herself is an artist and has set up her studio in the attic. While her twin brother, Teddy, does not condemn her choices, neither does he subscribe to them. However, he is the only member of her family who continues to have a relationship with her. That is, until the end of chapter one, when Teddy is found dead in his office at the Sound View labs, a prominent business owned by CeCe's and Teddy's father, Dr. William Prentice, founder and lead scientist of the company. Sound View Laboratories was "the central clearing house for all things DNA in the United States and around the globe. It was the home of the double helix, the national genome project, and a slew of other international scientific studies." A prominent scientist, his prodigy son, and a dumpster-diving disgrace of a daughter. Interesting concept.

The rest of the book focuses on solving the mystery of Teddy's death, with CeCe striving to avoid the same fate. Woven into the pages are family dynamics, romance, and some unexpected twists and turns.

Green Grandma community member, Deirdre Verne, has created unique characters whom you quickly develop a strong like or dislike for, often finding yourself wondering which of them is worthy of your trust. A part of me envied the life lived at Harbor House with the group of Freegans, wishing I could be a part of them as they cared for the earth and each other. And isn't that what makes a book worth reading? When you find yourself wanting to be part of the cast of characters who weave a story not easily forgotten. I'm actually waiting for CeCe and her friends to work their way into my dreams.

DRAWING CONCLUSIONS is Verne's debut novel in The Sketch in Crime mystery series and worthy of plenty of attention. I'm expecting it to rise to the top of mysteries available on Amazon. Published by Midnight Ink, an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd., the book did not let me down. As I ended each chapter, I was eager to move on to the next, and I'm confident you will be, too.

A novel combining our love for green living and a good mystery... who could ask for anything more?

Reviewing it for you,

Lemongrass Spa... Ahhhhh

Every once in awhile, I stumble upon a line of products that I love. When I do so, I share them with you. Sometimes, it's a sponsored review. Other times, it's just me letting you know why I think a product or company is worthy of a shout out.

Today, I want to tell you about some products I really, really love. It's not a sponsored post or review. However, I did have a party for the products on Sunday, and the online version is still open, so I will get credit toward free products if you decide to place an order. 

The company is called Lemongrass Spa and they feature products which are safe and affordable, made with only the highest-grade ingredients for your skin. It's an ethical company that tests its products on people, not animals. All items are gluten-free and cruelty-free!

According to their brochure, "Lemongrass has been 'going lime-green' since our inception! We strive to utilize product packaging that can be recycled or reused to provide sustainability to our environment. From our cornstarch packing peanuts and corn-based product labels, to our reusable gift bags and jars, we constantly look for the most eco-friendly options available. And with your health always at the forefront, our fragrances are phthalate-free, colorants are from natural sources and our essential oils are organically grown from farms around the world."

My friend's daughter, Sarah, was the consultant for my Spa Party, and she helped a group of 14 ladies relax on my patio by providing each of us with soothing foot baths. Ahh. What a nice way to de-stress. By the time we were done, each of us had amazingly soft feet and the entire area smelled simply delightful.

While Lemongrass Spa offers a wide range of products from Sheer Minerals makeup, soaps, hair products, body lotions, aromatherapy, and more, I am only going to personally recommend the products I've tried and loved. That's not to say you wouldn't love the other products; it's just that I haven't tried them yet.

I will say there was one product I did not like -- the Natural Stick Deodorant. Neither my husband nor I found it to be effective, so I was given credit to purchase something else. No questions asked and no product to return. Easy peasy.

Here are the products I tried and like:

• Organic Mascara -- Made with chamomile, coffee, and rice extract, it's smudge-proof and water resistant. There are no parabens or petrochemicals and I've been wearing it for weeks.
• Hair Spray -- I only sampled this at the party on Sunday, but I really liked it. Plus, there's a travel size, which is convenient. The spray is made with Flax Seed for softness and shine and it did seem to add volume with a light hold.
• Foaming Liquid Soap -- I LOVED this. It made my hands feel so soft just from washing with it. There are a bunch of choices, too, so you can find a scent that pleases you -- Tea Tree Citrus, Grapefruit Lily, Coconut Lime Vanilla, Lemon Sorbet, Spearmint Eucalyptus, Pomegranate, Lavender, and Unscented. They even have an on-the-go foaming travel pump for those of you who avoid potentially toxic public bathroom soaps.
• Body Polish -- Oh my. After I washed my hands with the liquid soap, I used the Almond Body Polish, which gently exfoliated and moisturized my hands. I couldn't stop touching my hands and rubbing them. They felt that good. 
• Foot Pampering -- The highlight of the evening was when I dropped a small amount of the Epson salt/cucumber and calendula blend into a basin filled with warm water and slid my feet in. The smell was divine. After a short soak, I used the Cucumber Foot Scrub, creating the softest feet I've had since I was an infant. Seriously. Then I rinsed off in the basin and finished off the spa experience with the Cucumber Foot Creme. I smelled and felt delicious!

The above are all products I tried and highly recommend. Of course, I'd love for you to order something, as it would help me get more products for free (and it would, after all, be a great way for you to show your favorite grandma blogger some lovin'... ). Just click the link here and anything you buy between now and July 5, 2015 will be credited to my account. 

Thanks, ladies (and gents),

Anyone else feel burned out at times?

 

Photo by Bethany D. Schad showing what I'd rather be doing right now!

Do you ever feel burned out? I mean totally and completed done. That's how I'm feeling today and it's mostly because I'm being pulled in too many different directions. And most of those directions require my volunteering my time in one way or another. Sometimes, it behooves us to just say no. 

Anyone feel the same way? When bills are piling up and hours are winding down and everyone seems to need a piece of me, I just want to retreat and do nothing. I get super sensitive and snappy, reminiscent of my PMS days. I feel like I could cry at the slightest provocation, intended or not. Oh, and I feel fat.

Yeah, that's how I'm feeling right now and I just thought I'd share it. If I'm absent for a few days, it's just my need to catch up on some other things.

Stick around, okay? I'll be looking for you when I return.

The value of a father

A good father 

is one of the most unsung, 

unpraised, unnoticed, and yet 

one of the most valuable assets 

in our society.

~Billy Graham

Fatherhood, the second time around

With Father's Day coming up on Sunday, I wanted to give tribute to my husband, Bill, who stepped in after my first husband died, and became a loving daddy to my little girls. I never imagined how much love he would pour into them. Not only was he a father to the fatherless, but he was the daddy they needed as they grew. 

For all you single moms out there, hold on. Never settle for a man who does not love your children. Period. There are countless good men out there. You just have to wait for the right one. The one who will not only invite you into his heart, but will open his heart to your children as well.

I'm speaking from experience. I'm speaking because I know. 

Not only has he been the best father they could have, but he's an amazing grandpap as well. 

Happy Father's Day, Bill. I'll be ever grateful to God for the gift of you.

Hana

Hard Days Hard Nights... a review

Today's Review it Wednesday is a bit different. We're not talking green living... we're talking Rock 'n' Roll!
 

I recently became acquainted with Pittsburgh legend, Pat DiCesare (of DiCesare Engler Productions) when we both presented workshops at a writers' conference in Leesburg, Virginia. We had dinner together with a group of others and then spent some time together at the Pennwriters conference here in Pittsburgh last month. Pat is a down-to-earth great guy. You'd never know, when meeting him, that he was responsible for bringing the Beatles to Pittsburgh in 1964 or that he promoted nearly every major rock and pop act that came to Pittsburgh and the tri-state area... acts like The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jethro Tull, Aerosmith, Chicago, Janis Joplin... the list goes on. Pat DiCesare has a fascinating story to tell. From his humble beginnings as part of a large Italian family to his tales of dealing with celebrity personalities, Pat maintains a humility and grace rarely seen in people of his stature.

 
Of course, he can't sit down with each of us and share his experiences one-on-one. So he did the next best thing. He wrote a book. Not just any book, but a really, really good book. If you're one of the thousands who attended a concert promoted by Pat DiCesare, or if you simply love true stories about rock stars who seem bigger than life, you have to pick up a copy of his book, HARD DAYS HARD NIGHTS. You won't be disappointed. 



Pick up a copy and find out why, despite all his hard work and considerable expense, Pat couldn't even attend the Beatles concert he promoted. It was September 1964 -- see if you can figure it out.

Discover why Janis Joplin was delayed in her dressing room the night of her concert and what she was wearing (or not wearing) underneath her fishnet dress.

Find out who demanded cases of Dom Perignon in their dressing rooms and what Pat did when he could only locate 3 bottles in all of Pittsburgh. Hint: someone's going to have a hissy fit.

The stories go on and on. And even for someone like me, who was never that into rock 'n' roll and going to concerts, the book is a fascinating read. It would be the perfect Father's Day present... I know it's cutting it close, but you could always slip an IOU into a card and let your husband or dad know the book is on its way. 

You can also buy the books directly from Pat DiCesare at book signings across the region. Or, if you know a group who may be interested in having him as a guest speaker, I highly recommend booking him. Visit his website for more information.

When you pick up the book, you'll notice the endorsements on the back from Alice Cooper and Shep Gordon, Tommy James, and Lou Christie. And this blurb:

Pat DiCesare is widely considered to be one of the fathers of the rock 'n' roll concert business, not only in Pittsburgh, but nationwide.

As he says in the final chapter of the book, "They were hard days and hard nights, but they were the best days of my life." That shines through on every page.

It's an honor to know Pat DiCesare. Read his book and you'll feel as if you know him, too.

Reviewing it for you,

 

5 Ways to Help Save the Bees

My husband worked hard to remove the top layer of grass on an 8'x8' section of our lawn. Then he chopped up the roots from the oak trees and turned the soil a bit. Next, he filled the wheel barrel a few times with compost soil and spread it out, mixing it with some organic top soil he'd bought. Next, he planted seeds; but only after he'd thrown out an entire container of wildflower seeds that bore the Miracle Gro label (we bought them before we knew any better). Why did my 68-year-old husband, who had a heart attack and a bulging disc in his back just this past February, do all of this work? Quite simply, to help save the bees. He's my hero.

Now, we're patiently waiting and watching as the tender, but tenacious, seeds sprout and grow. 

We avoided planting any seeds or plants in our gardens that were treated with neonics. The problem with neonicotinoids is that they act as a nerve poison. This causes disorientation in bees, adversely affecting their homing instincts, which means they cannot find their way back to their hives. And if they do arrive back at the hive, they come back with pesticide-laden pollen and nectar. The results, since the EPA approved the use of neonics, has been widespread bee colony collapse.

This is just like ours and available here.

Back to what we're doing... In addition to planting the pollinator garden, we hung up our bee house and the bees went in, laid eggs, packed the holes up, and left. Now we're patiently waiting and watching as the tender, but tenacious, baby bees hatch and escape. 

I also put out two saucers of river rocks and colorful glass and filled them with just a bit of water so the pollinators have fresh water every day. And, we're only planting plants and seeds not treated with neonicotinoids.

So, here are the 5 tips I promised you:

1. Plant a bee-friendly garden. (Ask, ask, ask about neonicotinoids before you buy!)
2. Avoid products like Roundup and other toxic pesticides and insecticides.
3. Add a bee house to your garden/yard. 
4. Add a water supply source. Click here for an example.
5. Go organic -- from compost to garden soil, keep it organic and toxin-free.

There are my tips. Feel free to comment below and share what you and your family are doing to save the bees in your neighborhood. Every little bit helps.

Keeping it green in the garden,

Answers to your questions about GMOs

Sometimes, I just assume you all know what I'm talking about when I mention GMOs (which I do on a regular basis!). So I thought it would be a good idea to refresh you a bit on what they are exactly, and why I am so opposed to them. The info I'm sharing today is from a brochure from Non GMO Project Verified.

What are GMOs?

GMO stands for 'genetically modified organisms.' These are plants or animals created through genetic engineering (GE). It's done through a gene splicing technique of biotechnology where the DNA from different species are merged. The results are organisms that cannot occur in nature or traditional crossbreeding (i.e. hybrids).

For the most part, commercial GMOs are created to either produce an insecticide or to survive the direct application of herbicide.

What about safety?

When it comes to consuming genetically modified foods, there are various opinions. Many are based on biased studies done from the very companies set to profit from GMO crops (think Monsanto, Syngenta, etc.). The thing is, 60+ countries worldwide do not believe these foods are safe for consumption. There are strict regulations and/or complete bans on production and sale of GMOs in these countries (Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, for example) However, in the good ol' U. S. of A., the government has approved most GMOs. 

Fortunately, as consumers who care about our health and our families, we have the right to choose non-GMO food. But that brings up the issue:

Why aren't GMOs labeled?

Despite the continual outcry from the public, there are no requirements in the U.S. regarding the labeling of GMOs. In this, as in many cases, what you don't know can hurt you. You can trust, however, that there are no genetically modified organisms in any food labeled 'organic' or with the Non GMO Project Verified label. 

What about the environment and GMOs?

I'm glad you asked. At this point, over 80% of GMOs are engineered for herbicide tolerance. That means the use of products like Roundup and other toxic herbicides has increased dramatically since the introduction of GMOs. Now we have 'super weeds' and 'super bugs.' And, you guessed it, we now have a need for more toxic products to control them. Products like 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange). 

Here are the facts: 

• GMOs are a direct extension of chemical agriculture
• GMOs are developed and sold by the world's biggest chemical companies
• The long-term impact of GMOs on the environment are a mystery right now
• Once these GMOs are released into the environment, these lab-created organisms cannot be recalled (kind of reminds you of a horror movie, doesn't it?)

Are most farmers benefiting from GMOs?

Ask a farmer who's been sued by Monsanto or other biotechnology companies because the companies patented seeds have contaminated the farmers fields. Wait... that sounds backwards. Yep. Sure does. Farmers who opt for non-GMO crops and don't buy into the whole GMO scam the government is propagating cannot sue Monsanto for contaminating their crops by cross pollination, etc., but Monsanto can sue them. Makes me want to puke.

Is the produce at local farmers markets safe?

Maybe. Maybe not. I caution you to ask questions about GMOs and Roundup. Move on to the next booth if

• the farmer pretends to not know what you're talking about
• the farmer actually does not know what you're talking about
• the farmer starts to defend GMOs, Monsanto, or the use of Roundup (Yikes! Run!!)

There, that's my little overview on GMOs and some of the reasons I am opposed to them. I'll share some of the health concerns I have in another post.

Happy and healthy eating,