Working on my Undergrad degree has been a broken trail for me as I have steadily committed to give it a place of importance, but never wanted it to be The Most Important piece in my very full life. There are other things that I have come before and will always come before my formal education. That being said, it has over the years remained important to me to graduate with a Bachelors degree and because of this I made a return to school last September. I am now attending University of Washington and it has been a very positive experience and I am very much enjoying this part of my life. There are some changes to my schooling habits that I have made upon my return that I would like to share with you.
In the spirit of ecological responsibility at universities around the world, I now present you with NOTES on Environmental Changes for Students (or anyone really):

1. Travel Mug filled with: fair trade, organic tea; fair trade, organic, decaf coffee; or fair trade organic hot chocolate. So, good. Drinking a warm beverage is lovely on these cold, wet Seattle days.
   • Produces less waste than disposable cups
   • On campus they have a Tully’s that only uses fully compostable cups. However, unless you actually put these cups (like any compostable products) in your compost they are not compostable.
   • It provides a lovely treat while sitting in class or studying.
2. Bring a refillable water bottle
3. Take public transportation (or of course walk, bike, or carpool)
4. Rebinders
5. Recycled notebook paper
6. Take notes on my computer through WordPress (how to below):
   • Install a webserver on your laptop. It’s easier than you think. There are packages that make it easy to install and setup (MAMP for a Mac and WAMP for a PC).
   • Create a database using the tools installed with either MAMP or WAMP.
   • Install WordPress. There will be some manual text editing you need to do for setup, but it’s minimal.
   • Create categories for each of your classes.
   • Start a new post for each class session.

   When you use this method of taking notes, you can easily look back at past class periods by date, and also there is a search function installed by default. If you run into trouble, my husband has offered assistance to those who need some direction. You can get in touch with him over at his companies web site Vigilanteweb.

7. Print only when a Professor requires a hard copy of an assignment and print on both the front and back of each paper.
   To print on the front and back from my computer I:
   1. Press Print
   2. Within the Print Detail page select Paper Handling
   3. Select “Print Odd Numbered Pages”
   4. Print
   5. Place either the single sheet or stack of printed pages face down in the paper tray with the bottom of the page closest to me in.
   6. Repeat steps 1 and 2
   7. Select “Print: Even Numbered Pages” and “Page Order: Reverse”
8. Buy used Text Books. There are plenty out there already and they are usually cheaper. You can also check text books out of the library instead of buying it. A final suggestion is to book share. If you have a reliable classmate it may work out for you to share a text book and split the cost. Everyone has their own study habits and you know what works best for you.

If anyone else has tips feel free to share them through comments!

I don’t like New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t like the unreality of it– people getting an idea of who they want to be and thinking that they can become that person by making a list and tackling it all at once. That is not how it works and because of this misunderstanding many people fail at keeping their New Year’s Resolutions. Changing your life, becoming a person whose ideas reflect reality takes a lot of work and patience. It is definitely something that needs to be taken more seriously than making a list of five things you are going to start doing, that represent five things you want to change about your life, and thinking that if you just stick to that list you will accomplish the desired outcome. It is more complicated, difficult, and full than that. It is also something of which the outcome is more beautiful and wonderful because of the complexity and seriousness of it.

The New Year is something to be celebrated. It gives us the opportunity to look at where we have come and then to where we want to go. Sometimes this comes in the midst of years of sadness and struggle and other times it arrives amongst much joy. Whatever it is for you, the New Year symbolizes the hope of more time for all of us.

For those who are working towards being molded and refined, I want to take a moment to acknowledge your bravery and encourage you in your walk.

Happy New Year to all of you! May Peace, Joy, and Love accompany you on all of your different journeys.

We have been doing a sibling/spouse Secret Santa gift exchange on my side of the family for a couple of years. It has worked really well and has provided the opportunity within my fairly large family to focus on one person. This year we have decided to make another change in our gift giving.

Every year my parents are left buying gifts for all 8 of us plus each other. Even though they do a great job of being thoughtful in their gift giving, in our very consumer driven culture this gets really really expensive. So, this year we are doing an experiment. My parents are making each of us a present and can spend no more than $10/person on supplies. In return each of us will make our parents a present and can spend no more on $10/person.

There are so many reasons why I am excited about this. I love that it simplifies our gifts. I love that it takes away a bit of the consumer oriented aspect of these holidays. However, most of what I love about it is that we will get to know each other better. We will be giving to our parents and receiving gifts from them that in some way represent our skills and a part of our lives that we want to share.

As we near Christmas I hope that you are all able to remain rooted in the midst of much unnecessary chaos.

We bought a beautiful box of apples from our farmer’s market a couple of weeks ago. The box above was round two of our splurge on local, crisp, sweet, Fall Apples. Unfortunately we were not able to make our way through them as quickly as our first and they began to loose their wonderful texture and rich flavor. So, on Sunday night Kendall and I made a double batch of applesauce. One with cinnamon and one without and both are delicious! It took us a leisurely 35 minutes from start to finish and was so easy.

Ingredients:

• 9 medium apples, peeled, quartered, and cored
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 to 2/3 cup sugar (I would imagine that you could substitute honey for sugar. I think I will try this next time.)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

1. In a large pot combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover, simmering for 8-10 minutes or until apples are tender, adding more water if necessary.
2. Remove from heat. Mash mixture with a potato masher, food processor, or blender to desired texture.
3. Serve warm or chilled. We stored our in some glass food storage containers and have been adding it to oatmeal, eating it with lunch, and as a snack or dessert.

The ANWR debate has been going on for decades and while conservation groups have been winning for the most part, it doesn’t seem like big oil companies are going to give up anytime soon. When reading about the ANWR issue there are many conflicting facts based on different testing and who is funding the tests. Most of the information that I have in this relatively brief overview of the situation is from The Union For Concerned Scientists, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Information Update and has been supplemented or confirmed by The Class Menagerie written by David B. Williams, ANWR Oil Threat Drilling Delayed by Dawn M. Smith, and World Wildlife Fund.

It is estimated that there is 100 million to 49.5 billion barrels of oil located in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). In 1998 the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that there would be a 50/50 chance of 7.7 billion barrels of oil being technically recoverable. The debate over whether to drill, or not to drill in this protected area only stands to get more intense as oil nears a record $100/barrel.

I am aware that there are many possibilities for new jobs and financial gains by drilling in ANWR. However, when this region became a refuge, it was not done so under the contingency of the wants of corporations or residents. The whole reason that these areas of protection have to be established, in the first place, is because we have bulldozed our way through so much of our natural world that we have to protect it from our own greed. ANWR holds more than just wealth for oil companies and petroleum for gas-guzzling consumers.

This is an area rich in wildlife and wilderness. Porcupine caribou, polar bears, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, wolves, moose, a herd of rare muskoxen, snow geese, shorebirds, loons, songbirds, raptors, and fish such as the Arctic char and Arctic grayling all live within ANWR. All of these animals create a balanced ecosystem living off the tundra and other animals. As a result of industrialization we have lost respect for the delicate balance of ecosystems and living in a way where we take only what we need. When we drill for oil, we do so at the expense of the ecosystem that it is located within. There is evidence from previous oil spills of the damage that it causes. The Exxon Valdez oil spill is still affecting Alaskan beaches and in 2005 (10 years later) unweathered oil was found on over half the beaches and still causing harm to fish, birds, and polar bears.
The risk for oils spills only increases as we continue to drill for and transport oil. Polar bears, endangered bowhead whales, and the fragile tundra are all disturbed by the seismic testing used for oil exploration. The porcupine caribou herd that migrate through ANWR from the mountainous area to the coastal plains to give birth, are thought to be the largest animal group immediately affected by the drilling. The cows (female caribou) and calves are disturbed by the seismic activity. In addition to this, the porcupine caribou, especially the cows and calves, that depend on the nutritious vegetation of the tundra will be negatively impacted as the permafrost that is easily broken by road construction and seismic explosions, changes the water drainage patterns of the soil, thus retention of moisture, and further the vegetation which grows on the tundra.

Ecosystems hold a complex ecology of organisms that rely on each other and, in doing so, create a balance that sustains their existence. The affects of drilling for oil in this protected refuge for wildlife and wilderness could destroy it. It is a sad truth but the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge needs to be protected from the actions of human beings that prey on these precious ecosystems.

Take Action.

This past July Kendall and I got rid of our car. We had been thinking about doing it for about a year. It began around the time we decided to move to Seattle. One of the many reasons this move has been so good for us is because it has given us the opportunity to start from scratch in so many ways. We are getting to decide what we want our life to look like and make decisions based on that.

Part of the reason we wanted to live a car-free life (besides the obvious environmental reasons) is because we are in the process of creating a life that reflects our values and part of that means that our regular life is not one that we dread coming home to after a vacation. We want to have a life that we don’t constantly feel the need to have a break from. Giving away our car is part of our commitment to slow down and to live a sustainable life. That means living within our means–financially, environmentally, and overall within the energy that we have instead of daily moving deeper into debt. It’s too hard to live under increasing debt of any kind and to us it is just not worth it.

So, when the lease on our car was up we turned in the key and walked home. Now we walk, bus, and occasionally use a flexcar. We live within our community. We run less errands. Consume less. Spend more time outside. Decide if something we want is worth the energy output to get it. Most of the time we end up making do with what we have and are really glad we did so.

One of the things Kendall and I love doing is reading out loud to each other. Most nights we crawl into bed and read our book. Actually, Kendall reads and I listen and each of us enjoys every minute of it, until, the moment comes when we can resist the deep pull of sleep no more and go to rest in the world of dreams.

We talk about the characters, discuss what we think is going to happen, get sad when our book is coming to an end, knowing we have to say good-bye, and figure out what book will be just right to read next. If things go well we have a new book lined up so we don’t have to suffer withdrawal from our beloved story time. Perfectly enough, this time around, with a great recommendation from a friend, we were able to have a seamless transition.

After deciding on a book, we start leisurely stopping into used bookstores to see if they have it in stock. This is how we found The Golden Compass at Twice Sold Tales. It is a great story about a strong, little girl named Lyra, her friend Roger, the alluring and evil Mrs. Coulter, the mysterious explorer Lord Asriel, and Iorek Byrnison the intensely loyal, armored Polar Bear and their great adventure in the Wild North.

Now I tell you all this because this morning I saw this on No Impact Man’s blog and it touched what has become an increasingly special spot.

Photographer Norbert Rosing planned to take some sunset photos of a group of sled dogs near Churchill, Manitoba, in northern Canada on the Hudson Bay, when from stage left comes a 1200 pound polar bear.

Images from Tuco

**We are almost done with The Golden Compass and currently have our eye out for a used copy of The Subtle Knife, the second book in the series.

I don’t have any pets, but I came across this natural flea fighter on Care2 and wanted to share it. Usually I test any recipes or remedies that I post, but since I don’t have dogs, cats, or fleas I cannot tell you how well it works or ways that I may alter it. However, if any of you do try this I would love to hear your thoughts through some comment feedback.

Citrus peel extract is an excellent choice against fleas for dogs, because its components—d-limonene and linalool—kill all stages of the flea’s life cycle. I have completely eradicated our home and dogs of fleas using citrus peel extract—I don’t think anything else works as well. Still, you must use caution: while it is a natural material, and much safer for health and the environment than toxic synthetic pesticides, it is not without problems, especially for asthmatics (see “Caution,” below). Citrus shouldn’t be used around cats.

SIMPLE SOLUTION: For Fleas from and on Dogs
Assuming you don’t own a cat, and you keep your windows open when using citrus peel extract products, get rid of fleas in your house by washing floors twice a week with a solution of 1/4 cup citrus peel extract (available in health food stores–citra solve is one brand) in 1 to 2 gallons of water. Spray bedding with a mixture of 2 teaspoons citrus peel extract and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle.To make a fur rub for the dog, cut up 4 lemons, and simmer for one hour in 1 quart of water, adding more water as it evaporates. Cool the mixture, strain, and massage into the dog’s coat. Note that there are a number of pure citrus-peel-based pet products on the market (see Shop for Supplies, below).For Cats *and* Dogs
Herbal repellents work well to repel fleas. Make an herbal infusion by adding a handful of dried herbs (available in most health food stores) to a tea pot and fill with boiling water. Let the “tea” set overnight, and then strain it into a spray bottle. Recommended herbs include southernwood, rue, rosemary, sage, catmint, eucalyptus, and leaves from the black walnut tree. Start with just a small amount to make sure the pet can tolerate the herb.

Boric acid and borax are also widely used against fleas. Sprinkle a thin powder or boric acid or borax on carpets, leave on for a few days, and then vacuum up.

Other Flea Controls

• Feed your dogs (but not cats) garlic and yeast.
• Wash your pets frequently.
• Use a flea comb.
• Make your own flea shampoo.
• Use a natural flea collar.

HELPFUL HINTS: Caution

• One controversial study found that when fed extremely high doses of d-limonene, male rats developed cancer. There was no evidence that it did so in female rats or in mice of either sex.
• Citrus-peel extract is a strong volatile organic chemical (VOC). Make sure you use adequate ventilation when using. Asthmatics should not use this approach.
• Don’t use pennyroyal around pets, especially pregnant pets or people.
• Avoid pet’s eyes when using any of the above recommended ingredients.

The air is cool. The leaves are beginning to transform from the greens of summer to the earthy, bright colors of fire.

Sky is swallowed by gray and the days of rain guide me into a slow and deep rhythm. When the sun appears and reminds me that it is not far away, I run outside to catch its warm and joyful gift.

Increasingly swift,

The temperature rests low and we cozy in under a pile of blankets.

My attention turns to things of comfort. Mugs of thick hot chocolate. Yarn. Fabric. Creativity. Books. Sleep.

This season brings to me an unexpected challenge,

a struggle to care about the consequences of my actions.

Convenience and warmth sit so easily next to my water soaked, clean clothes. I want to put my clothes in the dryer.

I don’t care.

I sigh.

No matter how much I want to I just can’t shake that I do care. I will hang my clothes to dry. The fan that allows me to borrow its gentle breeze for these cold and wet months treads much lighter than the dryer for which I yearn.

Autumn moves about with a gentleness. I will try to do the same.

Los Angeles-based design company Stolen, Inc. was researching a project they were working on and came across some staggering information.

came across “Life Expectancy at Birth.” Andorra was the highest with 83.51 years, and all the way at the bottom was Mozambique with 31.1 years

They decided to do something about it. They’ve created a line of tshirts to educate and raise funds. It’s called StatAttak. Stolen will be setting aside 20% of the money from the sale of the shirts to build an orphanage in Mozambique.

Since Mozambique was the country that inspired all of this, the Sons of Stolen are putting 20% of the money from the sale of the shirts towards building an orphanage in Mozambique. Instead of giving the money to a charity, we will go to Mozambique with a group of volunteers from the design industry and build an orphanage from the ground up. We hope that this will help us better understand Africa and that a personal interaction with the local population will inspire everyone involved to keep working towards solutions to the many problems facing that continent.

Not only is this a great opportunity to make a change in the world, the shirts are also beautiful. Mollie and I will both be sporting StatAttak tshirts.