Ecocheapo

How will my garden grow?

ecocheapo — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:52:00 +0000

Well, I have done it. I finally planted all of the seeds for my herb garden. I bought a kit with several different herbs and a design plan. This plan includes borage, purple basil, sweet basil, parsely, nasturtium, chives, and dill. I have never done this before so I am a little nervous that nothing is going to grow. I am also excited to see what happens.

I thought I would try herbs this year and see how it goes. Then maybe next year I will get crazy and plant some vegetables. Ok, Ok, I should not get ahead of myself here. Let’s see if my herbs grow first.

Keep posted to see the progress (hopefully). If anyone has any helpful hints, please post a comment. I would love to hear from you.

Happy Earthworm Day…I mean Earth Day

ecocheapo — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:31:00 +0000

Check out the worms in my compost heap.

I am excited to celebrate Earth Day this year. To be honest in previous years, this day has not meant too much to me. I have to admit I have always been a little “crunchy” (a new word I have picked up from fellow green bloggers). This term always reminds me of my friend Ladonna who liked to refer to hippie-ish types as being “granola”. Plus, my husband is a self proclaimed treehugger. Meaning he really likes to hug trees. However, I have never done anything special for Earth Day.

Anyway, I digress. I plan on doing a few special things with the kids. Earth Day gives us an excuse to do something fun. You know I am a sucker for a good craft project. I did take the recycling to the drop off center this weekend so my supplies are limited, but I am sure we will think of something we can reuse. Here are some good Earth Day crafts. These are even better.

Since we will have to start saving bottle caps to do this project, I might settle for the cereal box sandals instead. Or even better maybe we will make coffee ground fossils. Of course, digging in the dirt seems appropriate too. My kids love to search for earthworms and move them to a new home. They have created a central location for all the worms in the yard to live.

As for me, I plan on celebrating our progress so far. We have come a long way since January. Just thinking about it keeps me motivated to push forward and do even more.

Happy Earth Day everyone. I hope you have a good one.

Menu Monday April 20-24

ecocheapo — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:46:00 +0000

Since the weather is getting nice, I feel like making this week low (ok, I mean even lower) maintenance.

Sunday- Rotisserie Chicken (store bought), Sherry Potatoes, and Steamed Broccoli

Monday- Broiled Tilapia Parmesan, Portobello Mushrooms, and Salad

Tuesday- Basil-Balsamic Chops, Polenta, and Roasted Asparagus

Wednesday- Parmesan Pasta with Chicken & Rosemary (using leftover chicken from Sunday) and garlic bread

Thursday- Breakfast- Cottage Cheese Egg Muffins, Biscuits, Bacon, Sausage, and Fruit

I might try to pull together a special dessert for Earth Day. Family Fun has some great ideas. I was thinking chocolate pudding with crushed oreos (dirt) on top with some gummy worms.

Menu Monday April 13-17 Recipe Review

ecocheapo — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:02:00 +0000

Here’s my weekly review:

Sunday- Manicotti, Garlic Bread, Salad

The manicotti was better this time. I made three batches about a month ago and froze two of them.

Monday- Pesto & Tomato Salmon and Chickpeas with Arugula & Sherry

The salmon smelled really good. I love pesto. It was really easy to make too. I added a hard boiled egg to the chickpeas and arugula to make it a meal for me.

Tuesday- Sweet Asian Chicken, Fried Rice (with tofu for me), and Sesame Green Beans

I thought this meal came out really well. I especially liked the fried rice.

Wednesday- Pasta with Wilted Spinach

This was my favorite meal of the week. Yum!

Thursday- Pizza- store bought whole wheat crust

You can’t go wrong with pizza. Just look at the picture above.

Is Beauty Only Skin Deep?

ecocheapo — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:09:00 +0000

“Beauty’s but skin deep; nay, it is not so:
It floats but on the skin beneath the skin,
That, like pure air, scarce hides her fullest flow:
It is so subtle, fading, fragile, and thin:
Were she skin-deep, she could not be so shallow
To win but fools her purity to hallow. ”

- John Davies of Hereford

If you are interested click here for the story behind this quote.

On average, a woman puts on around 11 pounds of lipcare a year according to ecofabulous. Wow. That is a lot of lip balm and lipstick. Imagine how much of this is ingested. It definitely makes me think twice about what I put on my lips. But it does not stop there, what about everything else that we put on our skin? What is safe? What is not? These have been the questions that I have been struggling with lately.

I have discovered Skin Deep, the Environmental Working Groups Cosmetic Safety Database. I especially like the Parents Guide, which gives you the ingredients to avoid and outlines some good picks for products in certain categories.

I have been slowly trying to change my shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, and make-up to safer brands. I now use a bar soap made by Pure & Natural. The packaging is biodegradeable and contains seeds that can be planted. My shampoo, conditioner, and lotion are paraben free. I use Alba & Burt’s Bees lip balm. I am still working on my make-up.

It is very overwhelming at times with so many choices and so many opinions. I want the product to be safe for the environment and safe for my family. Plus, I want it to work. I don’t want my hair to look greasy. I don’t want my face broken out. I don’t want to stink. I wish I could skip make-up altogether, but that is not going to happen.

Like everything else in my life, it is hard to strike a balance between good and good for me (and everyone else). For now I am muddling my way through. Doing the best I can with what I have available to me.

Green & Clean Mom Giveaway

ecocheapo — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:44:00 +0000

Green & Clean Mom, one of my favorite bloggers, is doing a BPA free sippy cup giveaway. Click here to enter.

Too Lazy or Scared to Use Reusable Bags?

ecocheapo — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:21:00 +0000

I have to admit the first time I walked into the grocery store with my reusable grocery bags in tow, I was a little nervous. I felt a little strange handing them over to the bagger. It seems crazy that I would feel that way, but I did. Now I don’t even think twice about it. Every now and then when I am out and about I don’t have them with me and have to settle for plastic instead.

Did you know that you can recycle the plastic bags? I just store mine with my reusable bags and put them in the recycling bin when I go to the grocery store. I shop at Publix and they have bins in front of the store for plastic bags and also foam trays. Since I knew I could recycle these bags, I decided to find out what other plastic bags could be recycled.

Here is a good resource explaining what plastic bags can and can not be recycled. Below is a summary:

These are the items you can recycle:

Grocery bags
Retail bags (hard plastic and string handles removed)
Paper towel and toilet paper plastic wrap
Plastic newspaper bags
Plastic dry cleaning bags
All clean, clear bags labeled with a #2 or #4
Note: Please recycle only plastic bags that are clean and dry. Please remove receipts.

Do NOT include the following.
The following are considered contaminants and could jeopardize recycling programs:
NO food or cling wrap
NO prepackaged food bags including frozen food bags(e.g., prewashed salad bags)
NO film that has been painted or has excessive glue
NO other bags or films
NO bio-based or compostable plastic bags

Toys ‘R’ Us introduces Natural Toys

ecocheapo — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:33:00 +0000

Toys ‘R’ Us announced they will be selling a new line of Natural Toys just in time for Earth Day. They will have wooden toys, organic cotton dolls, and organic plush animals. Here is one of the product descriptions from their website:

“The new, natural wood formula race car, available only at Toys R Us, is both fun and forest-friendly. It bears the Forest Stewardship Council seal of certification and is decorated by a unique wood-burning technique. Crafted from replenishable materials that are chemical-free and eco-friendly, our natural wood toys make for good, green fun and safe play. No batteries required. Keep it natural with Natural Wood Toys from Toys R Us.”

I am not sure how I feel about this announcement. I do think it is a step in the right direction, but I am skeptical. Is this just another marketing ploy? According to Eco Child’s Play the wooden toys and organic plush animals are made in China. The organic dolls are made in Egypt.

I have not been to the store to see the toys and how they are packaged. I do know the packaging will be made out of materials that are least 70% recycled. Hopefully, packaging will be minimal and the toys will be well made.

Eventhough the toys are not made in the USA, it is encouraging that big retailers see the need to change. I am not going to run to the store to buy one of these toys, but it is nice to know I have more options.

Menu Monday April 13-17

ecocheapo — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:32:00 +0000

Here’s this weeks menu:

Sunday- Manicotti, Garlic Bread, Salad

Monday- Pesto & Tomato Salmon and Chickpeas with Arugula & Sherry

Tuesday- Sweet Asian Chicken, Fried Rice (with tofu for me), and Sesame Green Beans

Wednesday- Pasta with Wilted Spinach

Thursday- Pizza- store bought whole wheat crust

Menu Monday Recipe Review Apr 6-10

ecocheapo — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:26:00 +0000

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Well, it is only week 2 and I am already straying from my set menu. I changed the menu to reflect what we actually ate. Guess I can’t review something we did not eat.

Sunday- Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Corn Casserole and Green Beans -This meal was good and not very labor intensive. Everyone seemed to like the chicken.

Monday- Fettucine Alfredo with Shrimp (whole wheat fettucine with sauce made with tofu, evaporated swim milk and parmesan cheese), Garlic Bread, and Steamed Broccoli -The garlic bread was the highlight of this meal. I was really excited to try an alfredo sauce that incorporated tofu, but I was very disappointed. I will not be making the alfredo sauce again.

Tuesday- Apple Cranberry Pork Loin, 10 minute Asparagus and Brown Rice dish-The pork loin seemed to be a hit. The asparagus was pretty good, but next time I will not make the tahini dressing. I will just add some parmesan cheese and maybe some butter.

Wednesday- Chicken Sausage, Baked Tofu, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Parmesan, roasted garlic couscous – This meal was thrown together at the last minute. I had planned on having caramelized tofu with shredded brussels sprouts. I just wasn’t feeling it when I went to cook dinner. I kept looking at my cute little sprouts and did not want them to be shredded. Anyway, the roasted brussels sprouts were very tasty when they first came out of the oven. They lost some of their appeal once they sat for awhile. I will definitely make these again.

Thursday- Mango Black Bean Salad- I had a mango and some cilantro that needed to be used so I winged it on this one. Maybe next week I will be more organized.