Fun Upcycling Projects

Recently, a reader asked me to talk about "upcycling." For those of you that don't know, upcycling means taking your used or worn out items and turning them into something else that's useful, ideally of even better quality and higher environmental value (and hopefully cute, clever and practical). To me, upcycling is like re-purposing, which I talk about in a previous blog post Reduce & Reuse- Even More than Recycle, and it means finding ways to create a usable item out of something after its initial intended purpose has worn out- and before it hits the recycling bin- which we now know often ends up getting shipped to China- eek! (see earlier blog post)

You've already seen the practice of turning plastic water bottles into reusable shopping bags- here's a great, inexpensive one on reuseit.com - but I wanted to find some ideas closer to home and inspire you to try some fun upcycling projects on you own.

Check out these 6 upcycling projects from Sustainablog.org. Granted some of these might not be your idea of "fun" so you can always try a few of these (easier!) ideas from this list at Ecosalon.com.

And don't forget about the limitless ways of upcycling used clothing! Try Threadbanger.com for great ideas; I once used a pattern on their site to create a reversible dog carrying bag for my 10 lbs dog, Trixie, out of my grandmother's old polyester pants.

But my favorite example of upcycling used clothing is New Dress A Day, about a blogger who vows to upcycle one new outfit a day for 365 days for only $365- and she manages to look cute while doing it! Think of all the pollution, waste and money she saved that year by upcycling; nothing more was wasted on shipping from China, or chemicals from new leather, or inflated department store prices.

Here are even more ideas to get you upcycling. Be sure to share you ideas with me and leave comments about on the ones you've tried! Whether you're a tech nerd, a mommy, a grandmommy or just a pet's mommy- there is something you can upcycle.

• UPcycle Tee Shirts to Toddler size
• Upcyled Pet Projects
  
• 100 Upcycling Projects
• 20 Wood Pallet Upcyling Projects (I'd rate these amazing, but advanced)
• Easy Upcycled Coasters

Vertical Farming- Wow!

This is brilliant; urban vertical farming! http://www.verticalfarm.com/

Stress Reducing Foods

Reduce your stress. You've heard it before, but here it is again, in a nice concise article about 7 Stress Busting foods and how they help:

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatthis/7-best-stress-fighting-foods

And I especially like that papaya "the stinky feet fruit" as my husband calls it, because "it smells like stinky feet," has made the top of the list! It's one of my favorites- wish I could grow it myself.

Need Some Urban Homesteading Inspiration?

In case you need a little inspiration, or are feeling discouraged at a recent homesteading endeavor sometimes it's great to be reminded of others' hard work and what they have accomplished. It pushes us to rethink what's possible. And reminds us that we aren't crazy for trying to do what's best for our families and the earth!

I encourage you to check out what these folks are doing at Path to Freedom, albeit this might be waaaay to radical for many Idyllic City folk... but it's always great to be inspired! ! click here

And if you need inspiration a little closer to home, you can always look to one of these great places, right here in San Francisco:

Hayes Valley Farm

Alemany Farm

For how-to information and classes on just about everything related to your urban homestead, try the The Institute of Urban Homesteading in Oakland.

Or check out the list of resources for urban homesteading in San Francisco at
Urban-Homesteader.com.

The sun in shining on this glorious Sunday morning, and after this bit of inspiration, I hope you're warmed up, feeling good and ready to create another idyllic day in the city.

The Egg Recall, Salmonella Outbreak & Animal Abuse- Great Reasons to Keep Your Own Chickens

Today I read this heart breaking article in the Washington Post.

Not only are people at risk for contracting salmonella, but what a sad waste of time and energy for all those poor chickens, that according to the article, likely came from farms with a history of chicken abuse and mistreatment. I have trouble understanding how, as a civilized society, we have allowed our need for eggs to translate into a turn-the-other-cheek attitude toward factory farms and the sad treatment of innocent creatures. Creatures that dedicate their entire lives to providing us with nourishment.

Perhaps too many people are just plain ignorant to the concept of factory farms or what happens to their meat, eggs and dairy before they eat them? I can't dare to think that they just plain don't care. I am not advocating that everyone become vegan, simple that we treat animals humanely whenever possible. And that we make a concerted effort to buy only meat, eggs and dairy from sources that treat animals with decency and respect.

Or better yet, keep your own happy backyard chickens! They are easy, lovable, fun and will provide you with healthy eggs. Many cities allow the keeping of up to two hens, and if your city, county or HOA ordinance prohibits it- you could always fight to change the laws. My wonderful chickens, Mavis and Flo, provided me with 1 egg a day. And their daily stroll in the garden added wonderful fertilizer to my crops.

So for anyone who needs to know more about why or how, I suggest a review of the following:

Food, Inc

Omnivore's Dilemma

backyardchickens.com

Farm City

Re-use & Reduce... even MORE than recycle, please?

One of my fellow Master Gardeners from San Francisco mentioned to me that she had recently taken a trip to the SF recycling center and learned that, sadly, most of our mingled recycling (the stuff that's in the blue bin), gets compacted, stuffed into a container, and SHIPPED TO CHINA- eeek!- where it gets recycled and shipped back to us in the form of recycled packaging for consumer products- double eeek!! Check out this story from the New York Times. And for a local angle read the article from Spot.us or watch the nifty 4 minute video.

So the lesson is, recycling is better than trashing, but re-using, re-purposing, upcycling and reducing is even better than recycling. That is the only sure way to reduce the amount of pollution and toxins going into our loving mother earth. Think of all that shipping pollution you'll save if you can reduce the amount of recycling in your blue bin and reduce what you use in the first place!

I know, I know, easier said than done, but we are clever and resourceful! We will find ways to repurpose our stuff!

Below is a short list of ideas for reusing and reducing common household items that we would otherwise throw away or toss in the recycling bin. I'll continue to add to the list as I come up with new ideas- and be sure to send me some of yours, I'd love to see what you come up with!

(If any of these are too radical or too much of a hassle for you, try getting the kids involved, or just do what you can.)

Ideas for Re-using & Reducing:

1.) Costco plastic 6 pack mango containers- use them to start seedlings. Fill each cup with soil, a seed of your choice, place them on a windowsill and watch them grow. The pre-made hole in the bottom allows for easy water drainage, and the top snaps over to create a mini-green house for each seed. Fun!

2.) Plastic lettuce containers & big yogurt containers with lids- use them as kitchen-top compost bins. There's no need to buy a fancy counter-top compost bin that you empty daily, when you can simple re-use your salad or yogurt containers for the very same purpose. The lid closes tight so you have no odor and keep fruit flies out, and if they're too unsightly for you, just store them under the sink after each use. They'll hold about 1 days worth of kitchen compost, then you can empty them in your compost (or green bin) and use them again.

3.) Store-bought spice jars- when empty, peel off labels and use as your own spice jars. Most store-bought spices, like the ones from Trader Joe's, still come in tiny glass containers. These are perfect to use as your own spice jars, just wash and dry thoroughly and label with a Sharpie directly onto the glass or lid.

4.) Paper grocery bags- turn inside out and use as wrapping paper. Tie with a bit of twine & decorate with stickers or flowers (drawn on or from the garden), and you have a very cute, shabby-chic way to present your gift- that doesn't require wasting extra paper.

5.) Egg containers- use as packing materials. Egg containers are so strong you can usually stand on them with all your weight before they begin to collapse. They make great packing materials when sending gifts or packing items you don't want damaged. Try ripping the lids off and use just the egg-holding part.

6.) Plastic grocery bags, produce bags & Chinese food take out bags- use as waste basket liners, dog poop bags, lunch bags, or as shopping bags. Although I recommend bringing your own reusable grocery bags to the store, if you've acquired plastic bags, it's always better to use them again, rather than just sending them to the recycling or trash bin. Turn them inside out or rinse them out if you have to, but these bags should definitely be used as many times as possible. Keep a stack of them in your car so that you're ready whenever you stop at the store. They fold down very small and can easily fit in your purse or pocket while you shop, not just at the grocery store, but think of the bookstore, the drug store, bakery, library, nursery, art class, or anywhere you might need to carry something extra.

7.) Mortens Salt container- peel the label off, cut the top off and use the cardboard cylinder as a great pencil, pen or crayon holder for the kids or art room. Same goes for frozen orange juice cans; wash & dry thoroughly, then decorate the outside by gluing yard or fabric. A great kids art project that's useful too. (My mom still keeps one of these that I made when I was 5.)


Keep the reusing and reducing... and keep the ideas coming!

Day 1 of the Master Gardener Program (with goats!)

Yesterday I attended the orientation for the Master Gardener Program for which I had applied back in June, and was (happily!) accepted to in August. The Master Gardener Program is run by the University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources Cooperative Extension. Programs are set up by county (about 45 counties in California have programs) and a limited number of applicants are selected from each county to partake in the 3 month intensive training course and subsequent volunteer intern program.

The great news is that anyone can apply, even urban gardening amateurs like myself who have no formal horticulture training. Applicants are selected based on a wide range of gardening interests and experiences. And the best part- the entire training course is designed as a volunteer intern and community education program, so the cost is astoundingly low. This is a great thing. I wish more educational programs could incorporate volunteer service and this "pay if forward" model. It benefits the individual and the community.

For more information, check out the Master Gardener Program website.

And for me, one of the most exciting parts is that many of my classes will be held at the UC Elkus Ranch... that has GOATS. Yes, I got a little bit of goat-petting heaven yesterday. I also got to hang out with some chickens, cows and a bunch of genius gardening nuts too!

And did I mention the gardens?!

Joy isn't just an emotion- It's a Physical Sensation

Sadness isn't just an emotion, it's a physical sensation. Ask anyone who has ever lost anyone they love, and they'll tell you, they feel sadness, like a heavy stone, right in the pit of their gut.

But that means so is JOY- a physical sensation. And you feel it, too, like a bright light radiating from within. You feel it when you laugh. You feel it when you make children laugh. And you feel it in all the little things you do to care for your family, friends and community. So today I celebrate all the women, single and married, young and old, who create joy in their own lives and the lives of others by making healthy choices and doing the best for their families. Cheers to those who are eating organic, tending backyard gardens, reading labels, reducing pesticides, buying free-range (or going vegan), composting, recycling, doing more with less, and helping raise environmentally conscious kids.

I celebrate this joyous juncture in my own life as well. I am grateful for the opportunity to provide my family with some of the wholesome benefits of the homestead amidst the pace of city living. It is a joy for me to spend time and energy digging my hands in the dirt, cooking homemade meals, and investing in my urban homestead- and I celebrate others who are finding their own ways to create idyllic lives in the city.

So when you see me dragging a ladder and a bucket to Golden Gate Park to pick blackberries for a homemade cobbler that I'll later share with friends and family, feel free to join me- and don't call me crazy.

Gelato Over the Gym

Pressed for time, yesterday I chose to make homemade gelato over going to the gym. Not something I recommend regularly for one's health, but life requires the nurturing of the soul as well as the body. And who soul isn't smiling when eating a rich, creamy gelato?

My first gelato-making experiment yielded two important bits of wisdom: 1) gelato is easier and healthier (but messier) to make than one might think and 2) my gelato recipe and technique could use improvement!

I created a honey gelato by hand, based on a recipe from an Italian cookbook, using organic ingredients. I was pleased that this dessert derived it's sweetness from a natural source (honey, not sugar), required only 4 egg yolks as the primary source of fat, and could be made using local, organic ingredients, honey, milk and eggs. The end result was a sweet, fragrant gelato with nice flavor and consistency, but the texture was a little chalky. This may have been due to my novice technique; perhaps I didn't correctly dissolve the dry milk, or maybe the recipe itself needs a little tweaking?

But, practice makes perfect- so I'm off to become the gelato queen of my castle. I encourage you to do the same, and share you results!

Here is the recipe I used, adapted from the book Cooking Light Italian, published by Oxmoor House, Inc. 2006.

Honey Gelato
1/2 c local honey
1/3 c organic non fat dry milk
1 (12 oz) can organic evaporated fat-free milk
1/8 tsp salt
4 large organic, free-range eggs yolks
1 c organic 2% reduced-fat milk
mint sprigs from the garden (optional)

1. Combine dry milk and evaporated milk in large saucepan, following directions on package for dissolving dry milk, which may require the dry milk be combined with cold evaporated milk and stirred or shaken vigorously to dissolve. Add honey and heat this mixture over medium heat until honey dissolves, stirring frequently (do not boil). Remove from heat.

2. Combine salt and egg yoks in a large bowl, stir with a whisk. Gradually add honey mixture to egg mixture, stirring constantly with whisk. Place honey mixture in pan; cook over medium heat until mixture reaches 180 degrees (about 3 minutes); stir constantly (do not boil). Remove from heat; stir in 2% milk. Cool completely.

3. Pour mixture into freezer-safe container. Cover and freeze, about 2 hours, ready when firm. Or for creamier texture, try freezing mixture for 1 hour, remove and churn, then freeze for another 2 hours. Garnish with mint sprigs and enjoy! Yield: 8 servings, 1/2 cup scoops.