Recycled Yarn Scarves

I was at Kohl's with a friend a few weeks ago and saw a display of knitted scarves made of all kinds of crazy colors and fibers. I wanted them all! Then I looked at the price: $24, on sale. I decided to make one instead. I posted an ad on CraigsList seeking free or cheap yarn of all colors and fibers so I could make some multi-colored scarves. I just wanted to make one for myself, and the rest I planned to donate to women's or homeless shelters in the Bay Area in anticipation of the cold weather.

A wonderful lady met up with me and happily donated 3 HUGE garbage bags of yarn and unfinished projects. She was so happy to get them out of her garage, and I was happy to have more than enough yarn for my holiday crafting. We both benefitted. When I got home to look at the yarn, I realized that many of the skeins were vintage. Cool!

I originally wanted to make a scarf with alternating sections of color, but decided that for the sake instant gratification I would find something less time-consuming. I want to make a lot of scarves to donate, and we had our first rain of the Fall yesterday. I did a Google search for "easy crochet scarf" and after a few clicks I stumbled upon a blog called Laughing Purple Goldfish. One of the entries was a pattern (click here to see it) for exactly what I had in mind: a chunky, crocheted scarf that takes less than an hour to make. Here's how I made mine:

I used a size Q (really, really big) crochet hook my mom had. I chose 3 skeins of yarn in complementary colors and wound them into balls. I gathered all 3 strands of yarn and tied a loop at the end, then I single crocheted 80 stitches to create the length of the scarf. (You could do more or less depending on your style preference.) Then, I double crocheted 4 more rows, working into the single chains. When the scarf reached my desired width, i tied it off and added some tassles to the ends. I'd say it took me about an hour and a half; I'm still a little slow at crocheting.

Tah dahhh! Check out the photo above to see what it looks like. I'm really pleased with how fast and easy it was to make, and I think it looks pretty awesome too. I can't wait to try out some more color combinations!

Book Review: Organic, Inc.

I read this book about a month ago and need to blog about it, now that I am onto my next personal reading assignment. It's by Samuel Fromartz, who has a background in business journalism, mainly writing about start-up companies. His background in this area provides a great jumping-off point for the book in general, because Organic, Inc. is essentially about the business aspect of the organic foods movement.

One thing I enjoyed most about this book was that it often describes farms and companies that started right here in California. (We were, after all, where the organic movement first took off.) It was really cool knowing that just a couple hours' drive south of where I live, I could go see organic farms that have been around for decades, and have paved the way for many other back-to-the-land entrepreneurs. Woven in with all of the business aspects of organic agriculture is a critical study of the use of pesticides, and a comparison between pesticide-based agricultural systems and their organic nemeses.

When I finished reading this book there were tons of sticky notes protruding from the edges of the pages, marking excerpts that I wanted to think about further. The one statement that has stuck with me though is this: In West Oakland, there is ONE supermarket for 25,000 people, and 36 liquor stores—only 3 of which sell fresh produce. This is absolutely insane to me, and is so disgusting in its racial, class, and economic inequality that I find myself getting angry about it every time this fact pops into my mind. (I will write about this issue more in the next post, when I'll tell you about the plans I've hatched to combat this very damning, close-to-home problem.)

I would highly recommend this book to those who are interested in organic gardening, the organic food movement, or sustainable agriculture. Additionally, if you've been curious about the business aspects behind organic agriculture, Organic, Inc. is a must-read.

Please try looking at your local library first. If they don't have it, you can buy it used from a local bookstore or online:

Buy it from Alibris.
Buy it on Amazon.

Quick Hit: Some Prisons are Going Green

I found this article through Yahoo!'s main page about several prisons in the U. S. that are embracing alternative energy, composting, and gardening to reduce their consumption and save money. Really interesting stuff. It just goes to show that the fight against global warming, and participating in the green movement in general, is something everyone can do.

Read the article here.

California Student Sustainability Coalition

While cruising around San Francisco State University's website, I came across an event going on there October 24th, 25th, and 26th (Friday, Saturday Sunday). It's called the California Student Sustainability Coalition, and there will be tons of high school and college students converging on SFSU for the weekend to network, attend panels and workshops on sustainability, and to discuss environmentalism. AWESOME! I am totally going.

Some of the workshops they're offering: Green design innovations, personal sustainability, greening your career, alternative energy, permaculture, sustainable food systems... and so many other really cool meetings!

For more info, click here

Bad, Bad Blogger

I know, I know. It has been about 3 weeks since I last posted. But not because I haven't wanted to!

I have been gainfully employed since the end of August as a nanny for two wonderful families with the greatest kids EVER. So that has taken up quite a bit of time. I am also taking classes this semester (my gay/lesbian literature class is awesome), helping my mom renovate a condo, and going on little adventures around the Bay Area.

Today I am working on the second issue of my zine, which will have about twice as much content as the first issue. Woot! I never made it out to the Berkeley Farmer's Market to hand out copies, mostly because I am broke. I'm looking for a second job so hopefully I'll be able to do that soon. I really want people to read my stuff!

More to come.

I'm Going to Slow Food Nation

I'll be wandering around in San Francisco this weekend at the Slow Food Nation festival/market/whateveritscalled. SOOOO excited! Details about my trip to come...

(Out of Season?) Lemonade!

The weather has been hovering in the 98-104 degree range the past few days, so I decided it was time for some hand-squeezed lemonade. Unfortunately, the lemons I bought from Trader Joe's were small and didn't have a whole lot of juice inside. I'm thinking I missed the lemon season :-)

In any case, here is the recipe I made up:

3/4 C fresh-squeezed lemon juice
3/4 C sugar
3 C water

Combine the 3 ingredients in a small pitcher. If the sugar doesn't dissolve easily, you can heat the entire thing in the microwave for a minute or on the stove until the sugar is dissolved. Then, chill for a few hours, and serve over ice cubes in a glass! (The glass is more conductive than plastic and will keep your drink colder longer.)

Of course, you can add less/more sugar or water to taste.

Yummm!

September 2008 Zine Available

Volume 1, Issue 1 of my printed zine Prairie Skirts is available now! Please E-mail me at prairieskirts@ymail.com if you'd like me to snail mail you a copy. The zine is free, but if you really liked the zine or want to see more stuff in the future, a $2.00 donation made via PayPal to the E-mail address above is greatly appreciated! Stay on the lookout for the downloadable online version, coming in a month or two.

The Prairie Skirts Zine is Here!

I am soo excited to announce that the zine, which was just an idea about 4 days ago, is now sitting on my desk. I went to Staples yesterday and ran off 10 copies. It goes against my don't-buy-anything-new-for-a-year pledge, and I'm not sure how to get around it. I figure that it's printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, and that (hopefully) people will read it and learn about environmentalism... do you think that cancels it out?

I've dreamed up a system for distribution that I think will work really well. I'm going to have 10 copies of the zine printed a week before the end of the month. During that week, I will mail the 10 copies to a few selected friends/family members, who will get the sneak preview for that month's edition. In return, I'll ask them to give a brief (or detailed, if they have time) feedback on the issue, so that I can find out what I may have overlooked and be sure to include those things when I run off tons of copies.

The articles in my first issue are:

Nothing New for A Year (Posted first on this blog)
A book review on The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Non-Profit Spotlight on Heifer International
Jewelry at the hardware Store? (Making a necklace from a washer)
Someday I Want A Fiber Farm
Business Spotlight on Mountain Rose Herbs
My Accidentally-Vegan Homemade Bread (posted first on this blog)

I'm pretty sure subsequent zines will have more content, because I'll be writing about stuff all month, rather than for 2 days. I've already got a small list started of ideas for the October zine.

It is SO much fun, and feels really good to see my opinions on paper, knowing people may read them.

I'm Taking Up Spinning!

Soon, I hope. After I pay rent for September :-D

For the past six months or so I have reeeally wanted to start an alpaca herd. Then I decided I wanted to have a whole huge fiber farm, with merino sheep, angora goats, and angora rabbits. Oh, I'm going to have a fiber farm someday. But I need something related to these gentle creatures to keep me occupied in the meantime, and to keep me motivated. Plus, my Lovely is out of the country until February, and I'm bored.

Thus, my desire to learn spinning. What I'll probably do is purchase roving from other handspinners on Etsy, make a simple treadle, and hop to it! Once I get the hang of it and can make a decent yarn, I'd like to learn how to make natural plant dyes to color my skeins with. I was looking on Etsy and there are so many beautiful, creative skeins out there.

So I'm currently looking for a class or someone in the Bay Area who'd be willing to spend a few hours with me showing me the ropes (hardy har har). If I can't find someone, I'll go the route of Teach Yourself Visually: Handspinning, but when it comes to crafts, I tend to learn by doing instead of reading.

I can't wait to get started!

Photo courtesy of fuzzyfibers1960, an awesome handspinner who sells yarn on Etsy.

Homesteading (&stuff) Zine in the Works

I've always wanted to start a zine. One of those booklets copied off at Kinko's, all 3 pages folded and stapled at the kitchen table, and then handed out at random places in Berkeley and Santa Cruz. I never knew what to write, because I didn't really have a passion for anything back when I first got the zine bug. But now that I'm all crazy about self-sufficiency and homesteading and the environment and stuff, I feel like I have something to say!

I want to write about the fucked up things.

I want to write about the drawbacks of monoculture (growing hundreds of acres of just one crop, year after year). The pervasive and unneccassary use of pesticides because monoculture depends on synthetic nutrients and false systems to work. The fact that my mom can't pronounce the ingredients in the bath soap she buys for our family. How organic produce is largely available, but only if you have the extra money to buy it. Deforestation. Oil companies not having to pay for the environmental havoc they create.

I want to write about awesome things, things of promise.

Farmer's markets. Sustainable agriculture. Zero-waste companies. Xeroscape efforts in Las Vegas. The importance of the bicycle and public transportation. Beach clean-ups. Radical bumper stickers. And alpacas!

I want to provide people with how tos.

How to... make a compost bin. Bake bread. Make your own soap. Make paper. Refinish a wooden desk.

I want to open my mouth and not be shy, because what I have to say is important, and I want people to listen.

Accidentally Vegan Homemade Bread

I did it! I have accomplished one of the things on my to-do list: make bread. I chose a recipe that didn't require yeast, not for any dietary reason, I was just too lazy to go to the store and buy some. (Remember, too, I made a pledge to not buy anything new for a year.) The recipe is really simple, and turns out the bread is pretty cheap to make too, since it doesn't contain, yeast, eggs, milk, or anything fancy schmancy:

3 cups whole wheat flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 and 1/2 cups water (or other liquid)
1/4 cup olive oil (or other fat/oil)

It's considered vegan because it contains no animal byproducts. The bread turned out a little crumbly, with a crust a bit harder than I prefer. It was also very biscuit-y and bland. I'm not ready to give up on the recipe just yet, so I think I am going to experiment with it and turn it into a mixed seed/nut loaf and add some honey next time. It would make a good bread to accompany tea, I think. Here are the easy peasy directions (it literally took me 5 minutes to get it from pantry to oven):

1) Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
2) Add the liquids to the large bowl.
3) Stir until there is no more dry flour. (Don't knead or overwork.)
4) Shape the ball into a loaf with oiled hands.
5) Place on a greased baking sheet.
6) Score the top.
7) Bake for 40 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Voila!

Stay tuned for more updates as I experiment with my Accidentally Vegan Homemade Bread recipe.

Nothing New for A Year

I think it was in Michael Pollan's book The Omnivore's Dilemma that I first heard about a person who chose to not buy anything new for a year. She didn't buy anything from a department store, nothing from WalMart, McDonald's, or Home Depot. Everything the person bought was either used or previously owned (clothes, dishes, DVDs), handmade (arts and crafts, produce, gifts), or she made herself. At the time, I thought this was a commendable idea—but I stared wild-eyed at the page, because I realized that the depth of my consumerism was more extensive than I had imagined. I couldn't envision myself not buying anything new for a whole month, let alone a year.

That was over a year ago. In the year that has gone by, I have grown tremendously and learned tons about environmentalism, consumerism, and the need to reduce my "footprint." So, it was on a recent trip to my local Salvation Army that I thought back to this woman from Pollan's book who didn't buy anything new for a year. I was impressed by the variety of items I found at Goodwill: table and chair sets, armoires, sofas, tons of clothes, dishes, home accessories, kids' toys, books. A lot of the stuff was in good condition, or just need a washing or to be re-upholstered or refinished. How I found myself at Goodwill in the first place was because my mom needed my help to haul our stuff there after our garage sale last weekend. I thought back to the garage sale, and realized that yard sales are another way to buy not-new items. There are tons of other places too:

1) CraigsList (most helpful if you're in the Bay Area)
2) eBay (who doesn't know that one?)
3) Kijiji (souped-up CraigsList)
4) And even Amazon has tons of used stuff too, especially books

Of course, I was quizzical when it came to items like feminine products, food, beauty products, and gifts for others. If I were to embark on such an ambitious endeavor, what would I do about those items? I haven't fully figured it out. For the food, I would most likely buy my produce at farmer's markets to support local agriculture. There are some really big ones around here, where you can get bread, eggs, honey, and free-range beef too. Beauty products... Make my own lipbalm? I might have to buy the mineral makeup as a compromise—yeah, I'd have to buy it new, but maybe I could buy it from the Avon Lady, and put money in her pocket rather than WalMart's. I'm very creative and artsy fartsy, so I could probably come up with some thoughtful, clever gifts for birthdays and the holidays by using items I might find at Goodwill or garage sales. Of course, if you aren't too crafty, there's always Etsy, one of my favorite websites EVER (artists and crafters from all over selling handmade stuff).

Besides reducing one's consumption and using less resources (saving trees by buying used books, for example), buying items used rather than new would save a ton of money. As a working college student living on my own, this feature is especially attractive.

My goal: Try my best not to buy anything new for a whole year. In all honesty, I know it will be an incredible challenge. But at the same time, I am incredibly excited about it! I'll try to keep you updated on my progress, and I hope you'll be inspired by my actions and possibly do the same!

Photo courtesy of Plato's Closet, a used, name-brand clothing store for teens and young adults in Kansas City.

Organic Soap is Underway!

YAY!

A few days ago I quit my catering job cuz it sucked. I was waking up at 4:30am to drive 17 miles to work, a 23 mile route that I was not reimbursed for, and 17 miles back home. And I was making about $7.00/hr on commission, less than minimum wage. Needless to say, I was re-inspired to start up my soap business.

What was once a partnership between my gal pal Sheena and I, The Earth Goddess Shop, has been re-incarnated as The Sweet Pea Boutique. (Note: the partnership ended amicably.) I'm starting with organic soap in 6 scents (lavender, lemon, orange, peppermint, tea tree and patchouli), organic lip balm in 4 organic flavors (hazelnut, lemon, orange, peppermint), and soy candles and beeswax candles in the same scents as the soap. I'll be expanding as soon as I can, time and money permitting.

You can check out my website, but just remember it's still in progress! I'll be sure to let you know when it officially launches.

www.thesweetpeaboutique.com

The Emmeline Apron

Several months ago I came across Sarah's Homestead Blog, maintained by a female homesteader whose adventures inspired me to start my own. One of the things she blogged about was her excitement to sew this really cool reversible apron designed and created by Meg McElwee over at Montessori by Hand.
I just had to buy the pattern (here, or here), but of course, I haven't yet found the time to sew it up yet. I've been searching for the perfect fabric ;-) I love it because it's so trendy and fun. Anyway, once I get a job and have more than $391.42 in my bank account to last me, ohhh, til I get a job!, I cannot indulge myself in pretty cloth. (Thankfully the employment prospects are looking up.)

Updates

Well, it has been almost exactly 2 months since I last posted. I want to get back in the groove!

My parents just bought a condo, and I will be living in one room and renting out the other. Now that I'll have my own space, I cannot WAIT to get my organic garden started! I am going to start composting, and I'd like to eventually build a koi pond somewhere on the patio. I am helping my mom renovate the condo, and am trying to use as many environmentally-friendly products as possible. We are planning to install tile flooring, and I am in charge of painting the walls, so I plan on buying no-VOC paint.

I have been drinking a lot of (iced) tea lately, and have become pretty good at discerning what herbs and such are contained in it. When I go to the cafe I tell them to "surprise me" with what kind of tea they make for me. I love the guessing game that follows! I am becoming more interested in the medicinal properties of herbs.

I am trying to decide if I am going to spay my dog. She is a beautiful dog, and I would LOVE to have puppies around for a couple months before sending them off to good homes, but she is a pit bull and I worry that, despite my best intentions, her puppies would not necessarily be placed in loving environments. Also, the pounds in the Bay Area are incredibly overcrowded, and because the chances of pit bulls being adopted are pretty slim, I worry that her puppies may end up in one and inevitably be euthanized. Seems pretty selfish of me to want to breed her. However, I can't bring myself to sterilize her. As a feminist, I've read a bit about involuntary sterilization of women in developing countries and even low-income minority women in the US, and I think involuntary sterilization of ANY creature is tragic. So, until i resolve my moral dilemma, my dog will not be spayed, but I won't breed her either.

Once I have a bit more room, I am going to start making more of my clothes. I'm not very much into fashion, but I do enjoy sewing and being self-sufficient, so I plan on making some simple skirts and stuff.

I am currently looking for a job that is within 20 miles of my home, and have had some success thus far with obtaining interviews. I had one two days ago and will attend another one tomorrow. During the course of my job search, I came across a listing for... wait for it... an order fulfillment position for a LOCAL, ALPACA distribution company! They basically warehouse products made with alpaca fiber, and need someone to fill orders and ship them out. I could barely contain my excited and sent them an E-mail right away. I heard back from them last night, and they will be conducting interviews next month, and will stay in touch with me. While I do hope I have a full time job by then, i think it would be AWESOME to work with alpacas, even in a remote way.

I hope to post more often, especially once I'm in the condo and can get started on all the things I want to do.

My Project List

I've been slacking on getting *officially* started on this because my life's been pretty crazy, and I haven't had much time to do anything fun. I though I'd post a list of some of the projects I'd like to try in the near future. Here we go, in no particular order:

1. Preserves - Strawberry jam, raspberry jam, peach marmalade, and dill pickles.

2. Make butter

3. Make cheese

4. Learn to spin fiber into yarn

5. Dye yarn using plants, flowers, etc.

6. Start an organic garden

7. Start a compost bin

8. Sew a prairie skirt

First Post

This is my introductory post to my new blog! I am going to try to post about things I do that help me live a more self-sufficient life. Some of my upcoming projects include sewing a prairie skirt, making jam, and raising angora rabbits. Check back soon!