Organic Food on a Budget, Part 1

Eating organic produce is becoming more and more important as a protection to your health and the health of your family than ever before. With the increased use of toxic pesticides, genetically modified crops and growth hormones, knowing what is in the food you eat is vital.

If you think that organics are out of your price range, think again! It's true that coupons for organics are not as common as traditional processed foods. But, as you saw in my last post, there are deals to be found if you know where to look. In the first part of my organic savings series, I want to talk about the produce co-op.

At our local health food store, we have a program called Bargain Share. Basically, the owner of the shop orders organic produce in bulk which offers the best price. She then divides up the bulk produce into our individual boxes which we buy each week. A 'whole share' is $50.00 and a 'half share' is $25.00. My family of eight buys a 'half share' each week. Today's box yielded the pictured items. We never know what will be in the box as that depends on the best deal the store can get and what is in season. The basic staples of lettuce, apples and such are generally in the box every week.

To buy this amount of organic produce from a grocery store or health food store would be about double the Bargain Share price. Buy purchasing organic produce as a group, you can greatly lower your cost. If you are interested in this type of bulk savings, there are several options to explore.

• Go in with several other like-minded families and place a regular, standing order with your local health food store. If your store doesn't offer a buying club program similar to our Bargain Share, ask them if they would be willing to start one. If not, see if they will do a bulk order for you and organize one yourself with some of your friends.
• Explore some local buying clubs. I do some of my buying from Something Better Natural Foods. They deliver to a nearby city and I have a friend in that town that is willing to pick up my orders for me when I place one. If they don't deliver near you, look into setting up a delivery point in your area.
• Join a CSA. We have several farms within an hour's drive that we have purchased produce from throughout the year. These farm may not be certified organic but if you know your farmer and know his philosophy and growing practices, you can rest assured your food is not contaminated with pesticides and other unsavory things. To find a local CSA, go here.
• Last but not least, grow your own! That's the best and most economical way to know what is in the food you put into your body. It's not as hard as you might think. I've grown tomatoes, my friends. If I can do it, anybody can do it. Trust me. Don't think you have enough space? Check out the Dervaes family! If you overlook the environmental agenda, you'll find a wealth of inspiration and information on their website. Love those folks! When I saw what they could do with 1/10th of an acre, I got busy on my own rather largish suburban lot. I'm mini-farming right along with them. Still not convinced? Visit the square foot gardener. That guy can get even the blackest thumb neon green. Ask me how I know.

All in all, there are many creative ways to bring organic foods to your table and stay within a modest budget. My mindset about the cost of quality food was changed by a quote from Joel Salatin. He said, "You think my food is expensive? Have you priced cancer lately?" Well Joel, when you put it that way...

Organic food works for my family and it can work for yours as well.

Chewing on GMOs

I'm teaching a class on GMOs next week and I've been organizing my research and thoughts in a way that hopefully won't cause everyone in the class to go comatose within the first five minutes. It's a hard sell. Not everyone is as obsessed interested in this topic as I am. But, what's new about that? No one ever accused me of having common interests.

So, since I'm trying not to be too verbose and technical, I'm weeding out (Ha! Weeding out. I'm a punny, punny girl) all the dribble and the numbers and the stats and trying to find the heart of the matter.

Here's the situation. A genetically modified organism is one in which a scientist type guy takes DNA from one thing and splices it into another. The DNA does not even have to be from the same species. For example, there is a scientist right now who has taken the gene from a fish that can resist freezing and spliced it into a tomato plant with the hope that his tomato plants can now resist freezing. The purpose of this technology is to build better plants... plants that can resist pesticides, pests, extreme temperatures, will last longer on the shelf, produce higher yields and so it goes.

Here's the problem. The process of genetic modification has not been adequately studied and the companies that are out to profit from the technology hold all the cards. That means there has been little to no objective testing on the safety of these foods. Even though there has been no testing, these foods have been in our food supply since the late 90s. The testing that has been done has shown an increased risk of cancer, organ damage, depressed immune system, and unexplained lesions in the digestive tracts of rats. Might warrant a closer look, no?

Here's the solution. Legislation needs to be enacted (We can pass that bogus health care bill but we can't get this? Classic.) that requires genetically modified foods to be labeled. Get this. Monsanto has successful sued some companies that have labeled their products as free from GMOs. Monsanto's position is that to label something as GMO-free implies that to have GMOs is bad. So, even companies that do not use GMOs can't necessarily freely label that fact even if they want to.

Also, MUCH more research free from corporate and government influence needs to happen en masse and pronto.

In the meantime, know that the main sources of GMOs are corn, soy, cotton and canola. These GMO ingredients make up 70% of all processed foods. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, does it not?

Buy organic. Organic products do not use GMOs. That's not always possible but do the best you can with what you have.

Are you still awake? Did you learn something? Add a PowerPoint and my infectious laughter plus about another hour and a half of this stuff and tell me if you'd be riveted.

Or maybe I'd rather not know. Ignorance is bliss... except when it comes to GMOs.

Organic Savings!

When you strive to feed your family a diet made up of natural, organic, whole foods, you do not have to sacrifice bargain shopping or coupons. It's true that there are few, if any, coupons for fresh produce, especially organic produce. You can find some deals and coupons for processed organics but we try not to eat too many of those either.

Eating healthy does not have to break the bank, however! I am beginning a series this week on how I feed my family organic whole foods on a tight (read: pinching grocery pennies until they scream for mercy) single-income-big-family-including-teenagers-who-eat-a-lot budget.

Here is my best deal this week. At Whole Foods, the large cans of Muir Glen Fire Roasted Tomatoes (well, actually all the Muir Glen Tomatoes but my favorite is the fire roasted) were on sale 2 for $4.00. This is quite a deal at Whole Foods where this can is usually priced at $4.39 each. There were point-of-purchase coupons on the aisle for $1.00 off 2 cans of tomatoes. Because I stock up when I find great deals, I bought 20 big cans of Muir Glen Fire Roasted Tomatoes for $30.00 or $1.50 a can. The same size can of Publix store brand non-organic tomatoes (and not fire roasted, I might add) is $1.79. That is quite a deal and my pantry is now well stocked until the next great deal rolls around.

Later this week I'll talk about produce options, packaged organics, and buying and storing in bulk. (See link below) Really, if we can do it on our microscopic grocery budget, anybody can!

For more great deals, be sure to hop over to Money Saving Mom!

Organic Food on a Budget, Part 1

Look up "cute" in the dictionary and this is what you'll find...

I "heart" Dandelions!

Remind me I said that when I'm on my hands and knees yanking these suckers up by their roots with the summer sun beating down on my back cursing the day Adam fell and brought forth dandelions thorns and thistles.

Then again, that sounds amazing and wonderful and downright blissful right now. Never mind. I would never complain about such a lovely bright flower that heralds the beginning of spring and the beginning of all that is right with the world.

Dandelions, how I have missed you! Come to mama. xxooxx

I wonder if I'll feel the same way about fleas.

Ramblings of a perimenopausal woman

I'm not in the mood to check my grammar or my sentence construction so who knows what will show up when I hit publish. But, today I'm going to live on the edge. Lucky you!

I've decided to get my act together and get back on the health bandwagon. I didn't really fall off the wagon but life just sort of gets in my way from time to time. Cadbury Mini-Eggs don't help either but I only have to endure that temptation for another ten days or so. Not that I'm counting. This year I vow not to stash bags in my freezer to last me all year. Should I consider that progress or grounds for therapy? Don't answer that.

My garden is empty and bare but holding the promise of Cherokee Purple tomatoes. Last night I accidentally left my seedlings outside. It didn't go below freezing but it was still frigid by seedling standards. And my standards, but you probably already knew that. My dill is a droopy dead looking bunch but everything else looks OK. We'll have the verdict tomorrow.

Today was 75 degrees and sunny, the weather which will be our perpetual state in heaven. I'm pretty sure that's scriptural. I have some sun on my shoulders. That reminds me of the John Denver song. And the movie Sunshine. And the dying mother in that movie. Did I mention I haven't received the results of my mammogram yet? You know the one that I got during 'The Visit'? No news is good news, right?

Is it odd that I think about my mortality more since my oldest daughter turned 20 last week? Why does her 20th birthday freak me out more than my own 40th? I thought the big 4-0 would send me reeling. Since I was pregnant at the time, I guess I shoved the fact that I'm at the top of the hill looking down a steep incline right out of my mind. I'm not pregnant now and my oldest child is 20. The view down from the top of the proverbial hill is in clear view. Sort of like the one and only time my high school boyfriend talked me into riding the Scream Machine at Six Flags. Have I ever mentioned that I'm "Slow and Educational"? The Scream Machine ride? It didn't end well. I have that same sense of foreboding.

Did you know I'm so daunted by black bean burgers that I've had the ingredients for two weeks and haven't tried to make them? Why do they intimidate me so? I must learn to embrace my inner black bean burger. But, not tonight. Tonight we're having gnocchi. I'm a coward.

I'm still not over this healthcare thing. I've lost sleep over it. Of course, one must have perspective about such things. That doesn't negate my desire to snatch some Democrats bald headed. There. I said it. You were thinking it, though. We all know that. There is one that is a particularly loathsome shrew but I'm not going to name names. My discreet and genteel nature won't allow me to be so crass. Yet if I were a pig that spoke Latin, I would call her ancy-nay elosi-pay. Pigs who speak Latin are not held to the same standards of civility so it's all good.

There is a book I must get my hands on. It's called Norms & Nobility: A Treatise on Education by David V. Hicks. My blogging friend, Cindy, is reading through it and blogging about it. Whenever she does this, I join in vicariously. I'm too chicken to actually comment because she has such deep intellectual thoughts. I'm afraid I would sound like a ninny. When Cindy recommends a book, I read. She never disappoints. Problem is, this book is VERY expensive for such a short little thing. I've toyed with buying it but my frugalness won't let me. I've checked all the libraries and the closest library that has it is twenty-six miles away at a college that I haven't attended in many, many years. So, I have choices.

One, I can go to the college library early one day and see if I can read it in one sitting. Since it's a Cindy recommendation, chances are that's not happening. Cindy recommendations are books that have to be chewed on, processed and revisited. Not something I can do in a room full of college kids, albeit quiet college kids. They will be sitting around distracting me with all that texting. It's unnerving.

Or, I can go to the college get the book and copy it for a mere 5 cents a page. I think it's about 100 pages so that's doable, but it might be illegal. Copyright infringement and all that. I'm consulting my lawyer about it.

Or, I can take my camera and photograph every page, come home and read it on my computer. Technically, since there is no actual copy made, I'm thinking I'm safe on the whole copyright thing. Any legal experts want to chime in?

Or, I can cough up the $33.88 and buy the book.

Or, I can go flash my couple decades old college ID and see if they'll let me check it out.

I'll let you know if I get arrested. Or sued.

In the meantime, I think I'll go watch more episodes of House. My nephew loaned me all the seasons and I'm on season five right now. House, where have you been all my life? How did I miss this show for so long? It's perfect for me and feeds my neurotic hypochondria like nothing else can. Of course, now when I hear anyone complain of any symptom no matter how minor, I'm convinced they have sarcoidosis.

More grounds for therapy or progesterone cream, I'm not sure which. The way I see it, everyone needs a few neuroses. It makes life interesting.

And I've been accused of being a pessimist. Pfft.

So this is how freedom dies.... with thunderous applause

Bear with me. I'm a little grumpy this morning.

I made the mistake of underestimating the trickery and diabolical lengths the wicked men running our country would go to in order to thwart the will of the American people and dismantle our great healthcare system in order to increase their own power and wealth. Stupid me.

I do intend to actively participate in the next election by supporting each and every opponent of each and every 'yes to socialism' vote that occurred in the Constitution-less House last night. Care to join me?

This is what I would have said if I had been there last night.

For those of you that might be less obsessed informed than I, you are aware, are you not, that this "legislation" takes over student loans and gives the IRS sweeping control over your lives in addition to destroying the healthcare system that all the leaders of countries with socialized medicine flock to when they, themselves, need the best in medical care?

Kucinich and Stupak are particularly loathsome to me. I had hope that some Democrat somewhere had some scruples. Stupid me again. I don't know what Obama promised Kucinich in Air Force One, but it must have been pretty good. And, Stupak caved for the promise of an Executive Order.

Ace has a lot to say on the matter and it's all good reading (language warning, however). Here's just a taste:

Here's the EO: Worthless paper.
The President can not (or at least could not, back when we were a Republic) rescind a law at the stroke of a pen, or deny someone (or some organization) federal money to which they are entitled.

Which is interesting when you consider what the President had to say about such actions. Hypocrisy, much? Of course, Obama probably had his fingers crossed. Maybe I should try to sell Stupak some swamp land in Michigan.

Did you hear about the protestor that shouted, "You took an oath!" and "The people have said no!"? That was not me. I felt the need to clarify that. At least the Republicans applauded.

Mark Steyn had this to say in his piece, "Happy Dependence Day!":

...over time, as I've been saying for years now, governmentalized health care not only changes the relationship of the citizen to the state but the very character of the people. As I wrote in NR recently, there's plenty of evidence to support that from Britain, Canada, and elsewhere.

This assault to our Constitution is a travesty of epic proportions. And, I'm not even exaggerating this time. What can be done? I'm not sure. Since there is no regard for the Constitution, procedural rules and laws, I can't imagine how this can be fixed because Congress and this president are above the law.

There is a Silver Lining according to John at Power Line:

With Stupak's collapse, passage of the Democrats' government medicine bill is assured. This is a dark day in American history; one of the darkest. But there are many reasons for optimism. Here are a few:

* The health care battle is just beginning. Next, the Senate will try to enact the House's "fixes" to the original Senate bill. Some Senators say that won't happen. If not, then President Obama has the option of signing the original Senate bill--now passed by the House--Cornhusker Kickback and all. I assume he would do that, but the resulting blowback from House Democrats, not to mention the American people, would be something to behold.

* The health care bill's taxes will go into effect promptly, but its substantive provisions are, for the most part, deferred for four years. This means that we have plenty of time to repeal the legislation. Sure, it will take a new Congress and new President. But repealing this disaster of a bill will by a rallying cry for the American people for years to come. Moreover, even if the Republicans only take over the House in November, and not the Senate, won't it be possible to throw roadblocks in the way of the bill's implementation? Won't budget appropriations be necessary to sustain the various federal tentacles the bill seeks to establish? What will happen if the House simply refuses to fund them?

* I've never been prouder to be a Republican. The party's Congressional leaders have fought this battle to the end on behalf of the American people--with intelligence, toughness, persistence and good humor. The contrast between the parties has never been starker than in today's debate. If any intelligent Democrats were watching--there must be some left--they had to be embarrassed for their party.

I know the lawsuits are pouring out of the woodwork but I'm not convinced they will do any good because again, if you don't have rules and laws that govern you, you don't have to live by rules and laws. That's the condition we're in and it's a sad one.

So what can we do? Eat right and exercise before we have to interact with Obamacare and/or his death panels. Americans will have to rely on themselves for their own health. That's a positive spin, right? OK, I'm stretching but I don't have much to work with on this one.

Did you hear that? That was the sound of our founding fathers rolling over in their graves.

Brace Face

I'm going to miss seeing these for the next few years.
And, I suppose I will get used to these but if you ask me, they make him look much too old.And, so another phase of life begins for my boy.

Happy Birthday to my all-grown-up slice of Flibby Pie!

My baby girl is 20 (that's 2 tens) years old today. It is surreal. Yesterday she was bringing me lizards and speaking with a slight lisp. Yesterday we were trying to tame that big brown mane of newborn hair with various sprays and gels. Yesterday she was playing in our Florida backyard with our new puppy dog, Hershey. Yesterday she had braces. Yesterday she only came up to my shoulders. Yesterday I had this....

Today I have this....

Yesterday...

Today...

Yesterday I was holding babies...

Today she's holding babies...

Foreshadowing of things to come? I certainly hope so!

Happy Birthday, Flibbypie! No matter how grown up you are, you'll always be my baby. I love you to the moon and back!

Anyone know where I can find a good ark?

I've been watching the temperatures so closely lately trying to eek out every moment of warmth I can find, I barely noticed when my favorite weatherman mentioned it might rain.

Rain. Who's bothered by a little rain?

This is the lovely waterfall in our little town square after 7 3/4 inches of rain in 24 hours. And, the rain is still falling.
Here is the same waterfall on a beautiful evening last summer when Poppy went out to play around with night photography. As a point of reference, notice the two purple lights in the flooded picture above. They are right at the water line. Notice how high those same purple lights are in the night picture. Perspective, my friends.
Here is the deck that we love to stand on and look out over the waterfall. It's a good six to eight foot drop normally.
This is the normal view from that flooded deck.
No waterfall...
Waterfall...
And, this is the park area next to what is normally a lovely little creek in the background. Our town's farmers' market is held here every Saturday morning in the spring and summer. I hope my ability to buy squash is not adversely impacted. That would be even more tragic than seeing my waterfall disappear.

Anyone have a canoe I can borrow? Or an ark? In the twelve years we've lived in our little town, we've never see the waterfall disappear. It was cool and unnerving all at the same time.

OK, rain. You can stop now.

I'm sorry but I cannot give out recipes while wearing a paper gown

I had THAT doctor visit this morning. You know the one. I really don't enjoy those nearly as much when I'm not full of eight pounds of baby. Babies make those visits fun. Otherwise, I can take them or leave them... emphasis on the leaving them.

It has been five years since I had a mammogram. Who knew? I don't keep up with these things. My baby girl is about to turn 20 years old in five days. Decades are disappearing before my very eyes. How on earth can I be expected to keep up with pesky yearly mammograms?

After a little lecture on the stewardship of my health, he proceeded with 'the deed', or 'deeds' as the case may be. Doctors have this knack for small talk while they are probing and prodding the nether regions. It's disconcerting. I'm usually quite the talker but when I put on that paper gown, I freeze up faster than a water pipe in Siberia. Today we were chatting about chicken salad. Or I should say he was chatting about chicken salad. I was sweating even though I was cold. After some uncomfortable discussion on whether to grape or not to grape one's chicken salad, he asked me for my recipe.

There are two reasons why I could not give him my recipe. First of all, my recipe is actually Poppy's recipe and she's the one who has it memorized. Not me. Secondly, I was wearing a paper gown, people! I cannot discuss my chicken salad while my unmentionables are folded into the tiniest square possible and carefully hidden under all my other clothes in a chair in the corner. (Please, tell me I'm not the only one that tries to hide her unmentionables from view of her doctor while at the same time painstakingly doing laundry at 10pm the night before so that her nicest matching set of unmentionables is clean for said doctor's visit.)

It is basic Emily Post etiquette. A lady does not share recipes while donning paper. It's simply not done in polite society. He suggested I email it to his wife. Something else that's not done in polite society? Emailing the wife of your gynecologist.

I'm sorry. No can do. Hopefully he'll forget about the chicken salad before my next visit.

In five years. AWKWARD.

This, my friends, is education.

Do you remember yesterday when I told you we tossed the school books and hung upside down in the trees? Well, my little Cindy Lou presented me with a poem this morning that she composed all on her own for her own good pleasure yesterday from her perch in the tree. No school assignment. No nagging. No discussion of iambic pentameter or other such lofty educational thought processes. Just a little girl left to her own imaginations in a tree with spring breezes and a stuffed bear inspired her to wax poetic.

Yes! I am doing something right after all.

Up in a tree

I can see over the house top.

I can see the big blue sky.

I can see over the treetops,

but I'm not really that high.

I can see the grass below me.

It is very far away.

But, I know if I climb down,

it will be OK.

It is very fun to climb a tree,

if you know how to climb one

just like me.

~Cindy Lou Who

Apply at your own risk

Those of you who have been hanging out with us for a while know that we don't date. Many a young man has found this out the hard way but such is life. When I saw this application making the rounds on facebook recently, I chuckled. If we were into the whole dating thing, I would SO be making copies of this.

APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO DATE MY DAUGHTER

Print out and submit as per instructions at the bottom of the form.

1. Name :__________________________________________________
Date of Birth :_________________
2. Height :___________________________ Weight :_______________________ GPA :________________
3. Social Sec. #_______________________

Drivers license #______________________
4. Boy Scout Rank :__________________________
5. Home address :____________________________ City/State____________________________________
6. Do you have one male and one female parent ? Yes _______ No _______
7. If no, explain :________________________________________________

8. Number of years parents married :______________
9. Do you own a van ?______ A truck with oversized tires ?______ A water bed ?_______ 10. Do you have an earring , nose ring , belly-button ring ?______ A tattoo ?_______ (If yes to any of #9 or #10, Discontinue application and leave premises ...
11. In ten words or less, what does LATE mean to you ?___________________________________________
12. In ten words or less, what does Abstinence mean to you ?______________________________________
13. In ten words or less, what does DON'T TOUCH MY DAUGHTER mean to you ?____________________________________________________________

14. Church you attend :_________________________________ How often you attend :_______________
15. When would be the best time to interview your Father, Mother, And Minister ? ___________________
16. What would you want to be IF you grew up ? _______________________________________________

Answer by filling in the blanks. Please answer freely - all answers are confidential (that I won't tell anyone - ever- I promise).

If I were shot, the last place on my body I would want wounded is in the __________________________

If I were beaten the last bone I would want broken is my ________________________________________

The one thing I hope this application does not ask me about is ___________________________________

When I first meet a girl, the thing I notice about her first is_______________________________________ (Note: If answer begins with T or A, discontinue and leave premises: Keeping your head low and running in a serpentine fashion is advised. )

I SWEAR THAT THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED ABOVE IS TRUE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE UNDER PENALTY OF: NATIVE AMERICAN ANT TORTURE, ELECTROCUTION, CHINESE WATER TORTURE, RED HOT POKERS, DEATH, AND DISMEMBERMENT.

Signature (that means your name, moron)______________________________________________________

Thank you for your interest. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for processing. You will be contacted in writing if you are approved. Please do not attempt to call or write. If your application is rejected you will be notified by two gentlemen wearing white coats and carrying a violin case.

APPLICANT'S RIGHT THUMB PRINT IN BLOOD

Warmth, how I love thee. Let me count the ways...

Today was the most practically perfect day ever. And, I say that with sober mindfulness of all the practically perfect days there have ever been. I do not make this proclamation lightly. It was .... drum roll, please.... 74 degrees and sunny! Oh, yes ma'am, it was. How that delights my heart, my soul, and my Vitamin D deprived body, a simple blog post cannot adequately communicate.

It. Was. Glorious.

To celebrate I started another round of seeds for my garden! Yay, garden! I can almost taste the Cherokee Purple Tomatoes now.

And, if that weren't lovely enough, look at what is growing in my front yard.

I did try and stick to my school schedule. We tried to concentrate but the outdoors was calling. So, we congregated on the deck swing with our books. But, the spring breezes, swingset, and trampoline were calling. We gave it our best effort. That has to count for something.

I tried to toss school books up into the trees but they pretended not to be able to catch them. I haven't seen children in my trees in months. A balm to my winter weary soul it was.

They knew I'm a sucker for the first hints of spring and that I didn't want to have school any more than they did. Spring has me wrapped around its little finger.

My boy ventured with me into the garden and found himself a roly poly. I gave him permission to squish it. He thought that was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

You'll be happy to hear he stayed fully clothed.

But, it was summer clothing and who can resist that?

I soaked up every moment of this day's gloriousness in hopes it will carry me through to when spring decides to unpack and stay awhile. That day never comes too soon for me.

Did I mention it was 74 degrees?

Noahisms

The mind of a two year old boy, who can know it? Not I, says his mother.

Yesterday, on a bone chilling 41 degree day (and that ain't Celsius, my friends), I sent my boy to the school room to pick out some books for me to read to him. After a respectable length of time in which he did not return as expected, I decided to embark on a seek and destroy rescue mission. Rescue of my school room, that is.

When I turned the corner, there sat my boy stripped down to his bare ... his bare ... well, his bare EVERYTHING! He was propped comfortably up on the school room sofa enjoying a riveting tale of five little ducklings doing whatever it is that five little ducklings do in cardboard paged books.

HE WAS NAKED, PEOPLE! That's what I'm saying. He disrobed. Of everything. And sat in all his glory on the sofa! Without a care in the world, it seemed.

Did I mention it was 41 degrees outside which makes for an inside that is certainly not warm enough to support nudity. Not that I support nudity on hot days. I'm just saying.

Once I picked my jaw up off the floor, I asked him the obvious question. WHERE ARE YOUR CLOTHES?

He paused. Looked up from the ducklings. Gazed at me in puzzlement. Looked down at his bareness. And said in a voice that would make Willis proud, "What you talkin' bout?"

Two year old boys. Can't live with them. Can't live without them.