Archive for ‘Healthy Living’

« Older Entries  |   Newer Entries »
May 15, 2012

Do your plants look like you?

As I sit down tonight, hundreds of thoughts swirl through my head.

What am I forgetting?  What’s left to be done?  What have I started?  Did I water?  Did you see the wind today?  Oh, no!  I forgot to water.  Those poor little things are going to die!  When am I going to get back over to school?  The chemicals.  How do we deal with the chemicals?  When is the soil coming?  What’s the bigger picture?  Measure in the morning, design mid-day, consult, baseball game.  I think I have time to measure!  Wait, finish plan, then measure, then design? Not sure I’ll have time…

Life has been crazy lately.  While I’m doing things I love, I’m burning the candle at both ends so to speak.  Yesterday my body tried to give me a wake-up call, it knocked me down for a while.  Sore throat, worn down.  I’m doing better today than yesterday, but honestly ignoring the leftover warnings.  I just have to get through this week and then I can take a breath.  Or at least that’s what I tell myself.

Life is funny that way, at least for me.  When it rains, it pours and I hate to say “no”.  I want to make it all work, especially in areas that I’m passionate about.  But when it comes to living mindfully, I know that what I’m doing is flat-out flying in the face of mindful living.  How on earth can I take in each moment when I’m going mach 10 and my mind is racing 100 miles ahead of my body?  And when my body is waving red flags like an accident in a NASCAR race I ignore them.  I’m really a fool.  For what am I going to do if I maintain this speed?  Crash.  Hard.

But here I am.  Trying to make it all work, trying to make it all happen, trying to make sure I follow through on my word because if my word means nothing, then what does that say about me?

Please tell me you’ve been there.  That you’ve had your days or your weeks, where things keep piling, and you keep pushing, thinking the end is near, then pile on more until the pile gets deeper.  You whittle away until finally you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Tell me I’m not alone.

So what does all of this have to do with gardening or sustainable living?  I thought you’d never ask.  Like people, plants have needs.  We both need ample amounts of water.  We need sunlight (heard of Vitamin D?) so do they.  We need firm ground, so do they.  We need air, so do they.  (Thankfully we exchange our air with each other.)

Our bodies wave flags when something is wrong.  So do plants.  We get tired, get headaches, get run down and finally get sick.  They get run down, wilt and finally get sick.  But if we’re paying attention to ourselves and our plants, we can stop it before it gets that bad.  Plant leaves get dull, cup toward the sky (to catch water), then if we continue to ignore them, they wilt.  Wilt in a plant is called stress.  Funny, we have that word about us too, don’t we?  When we get stressed our skin gets dull, eyes look dull or red, we feel run down… and wilt.

But what’s the long-term effect of stress?  In plants, repeated stress equals death.  Thankfully plants are a little more dramatic than we are.  When we have repeated, long-term stress, we get sick.  Our bodies go into survival mode.  Remember, we started as hunters and gathers except the difference is that the stress then really was life or death.  Now?  It’s “just stress”.  Or is it?  Stress is linked to many problems today including obesity and long-term illness and I guess, if we don’t take care of ourselves and continue that pattern… yes, perhaps even death.

Loving this post, right?  Okay, I’m not meaning to take a sour turn or to bring anyone down, quite the opposite, in fact.  What I’m suggesting is that if you get home, like I did today, and find your plants looking limp, wilted and thirsty, grab a mirror.  How are you doing?  How are you feeling?  Limp?  Wilted?  Thirsty?  Often times the care we give our plants reflects the care we give ourselves.  Too busy to take care of your plants?  Chances are you’re too busy to take care of yourself.  So the next time your plants need water, grab a glass for yourself.  If your plants are getting leggy because they need more light give it to them, then get outside, go for a walk.  Do they just look sickly?  Give them food.  Good food.  Compost.  And while you’re at it, grab yourself an apple, bring it outside and take a break to care for both of you.  Before long you’ll have yourself and your plants looking fabulous!

Kate

Posted in Healthy Living, Mindful Living, Sustainable Living | 2 Comments »

Tags: , , , ,
May 1, 2012

What happened to U through Z?

A, B, C, D… sing with me… E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P… Q, S, R…  T.  What?!?

Okay, we all know the alphabet doesn’t stop at T.  So what happened to U through Z? Perhaps you wonder why I lost my momentum? Maybe you don’t wonder at all.  But I’m gonna tell ya anyway.

Spring sprung in Minnesota.

For those of you who live in a warm climate you might be saying to yourself “So what?!”, but for those of us who live in the arctic tundra (although this year really didn’t count as arctic or tundra) we go into our caves (a.k.a. houses) in about October and hibernate for about six or seven months.  We peer out of our windows all winter long waiting for a sign from above telling us that it’s safe to come out.  Those signs come in the form of melting snow, buds, blossoms and birds migrating North.  Once the robins appear, we think we’re safe.  We cautiously poke our heads out of our doorways, clinching our teeth as we await one last cold blast from the North.  When the frigid wind doesn’t come, we slowly move forward, easing ourselves through the doorway, looking left and right for other signs of life.  All the while leaving one foot in the door so it doesn’t shut behind us “just in case” that last Alberta Clipper quickly whips around the corner and smacks us in the face.  However, the foot trick doesn’t always work.  That arctic blast usually causes a ricochet effect starting with our face, then rapidly moving through our bodies, snapping every, single, muscle into rigidity a Colonel would be proud of.  Unfortunately, that includes the foot, which then releases the door, allowing it to slam shut and latch behind us leaving us stranded, outside, unprepared for the hypothermic chill that is about to set in over our bodies in record time.

But we didn’t get that this year.  In fact, we didn’t even have snow to watch melt.  Instead, we just peered out the windows and waited.  We waited until about a month ago, when spring came early.  Actually, winter went right into summer, and then Mother Nature came to her senses and we went back to “normal”.  Anyway, about two weeks ago, when everyone poked their heads out of their caves they were greeted with mildness.  Actually, we were greeted with mild weather most of the winter, which is probably what caused the distrust we were having for spring.  We kept waiting for that one last nasty blast of cold, but we never got it.  Anyway, as you looked down Minnesota streets the past couple of weeks, you could see a series of heads poking out, surprised to see other heads poking out.  Then full bodies emerged.  Followed by even more bodies.  Before you knew it, people were everywhere.

Then it happened… mowers fired up, people started cleaning out gardens and planting, and then… the phone started ringing.  And I started running!  Not in the running for my health sense, but as in running to keep up sense.  And I love it.  However, spring and running, tend to leave me little time to blog, at least not much during the daylight hours.  In the spring I become more of a vampire blogger and so it will remain until, well, we all get blasted by that first arctic chill of the fall.

So what happened to the rest of the alphabet?  It’s simple really.  Spring sprung, life got busy, I got busy and although I tried my darndest, I couldn’t cram any more hours into the day, so my A-Z April Challenge ended with T.  Am I proud?  Nope.  Am I a titch frustrated with myself?  Yep.  In fact I’m really bothered by the fact that my alphabet went from A to T, and that I even managed to transpose a couple of letters in the middle due to an oversight in realizing one of them never went “live”, but because I have a couple of fun posts in the works to wrap it all up, I will complete the alphabet.  Later.

That’s right, the end of the alphabet is coming.  When you least expect it.  When you’re all nestled safely in your beds, all of a sudden there will be a U, then a V, followed by W, X, Y and finally Z.  So when you’re resting, rest well, but keep one eye open for the vampire blogger because you never know when she might strike.

Kate

Posted in Challenges, Laughing at Life | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , ,
April 22, 2012

R is for Rodent

Rabbits eat my lettuce

Squirrels steal my pears

Raccoons peak in my windows and freak me out when they stare

Opossum at my back door

Woodchuck under the shed

Garter snakes slither and stop my heart nearly dead

Toads in all directions hopping here and there

Neighbor’s cats adding scents for which I don’t particularly care

Japanese Beetles and June Bugs and May Flies

Might make you wonder why I garden, why I even try?

You might say I like it, or love it at the least

For why else would I put up with these less than sightly beasts?

As I venture outside to plant and weed and water

I realize there’s nothing that rhymes with rodent

I only wish my garden wasn’t their fodder

Kate

Posted in Critter Problems, Insects & Diseases, Insects and Diseases, Laughing at Life | 1 Comment »

Tags: ,
April 22, 2012

S is for Sustainable Living

Sustainable.  We all hear the word flying about, but what does it mean?

Merriam -Webster defines SUSTAINABLE as:

1
: capable of being sustained
2
a : of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged <sustainable techniques> <sustainable agriculture>
b : of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods <sustainable society>

When I was searching for a name for this blog, I wanted it to go along with my beliefs.  Something that symbolized, growing (both physically and metaphorically) and living in a way that nurtures our soil, our environment, our planet and each other.  Living in a way that leaves a gentle footprint rather than a deep trench.

Walnuts and Pears stems from the old saying,  “Walnuts and pears you plant for your heirs.”  In other words planting trees, not for ourselves, but for the generations to come.  In addition, living, conducting our lives, in the same manner.  Or in other words, “living today for tomorrow’s generation”.  Taking care of what we have.  Using only what we need in a responsible manner.  Not depleting our resources, but figuring out ways to use less and give back. Planning and planting for the future.  Living sustainably.

I created a list of things each of us can do to live a more sustainable life.

Steps to Sustainable Living (in no particular order):

  • Use a programmable thermostat
  • Lower your thermostat in the colder months
  • Raise your thermostat in the summer months
  • Open windows and use less A/C
  • Take shorter showers
  • Shut-off the water when you’re washing hands and brushing teeth
  • Turn off and unplug what you’re not using (get rid of phantom power usage)
  • Plant a veggie garden
  • Compost
  • Raise chickens
  • Raise bees
  • Plant a tree on the South side of your house to provide shade and help cool your home
  • Plant a tree on the North or Northwest side of your house for protection from winter winds
  • Plant the right tree, shrub or plant in the right location.  Plants that like sun in sun, plants that like shade in shade, plants that like well-drained soil in well-drained soil, etc.  They’ll be happier, healthier and have less risk of insects and diseases, which means they will last longer.
  • Plant a fruit tree for you (or two – most need a buddy for pollination)
  • Plant a fruit tree or shrub (or two) for the birds
  • Learn to work with nature instead of fight her
  • Have less lawn
  • Keep your lawn no shorter than 3″
  • Train your lawn – don’t water daily for 15 minutes it creates shallow roots; instead water once a week until the soil has gotten 1″ of water, this will create deep roots, better ready for drought and ultimately consuming less water
  • Don’t bag ’em! (Leave your grass clippings on your lawn – it’s a natural nitrogen fertilizer)
  • Plant white clover in your lawn – yes, on purpose!  This too is a natural nitrogen fixer and will help keep your lawn healthy
  • Feed your soil, even your lawn with compost
  • Create a rain garden to prevent run-off
  • Mulch your plants – this keeps their roots cool and the soil moist, requiring less frequent watering
  • Compost your leaves
  • Meet your neighbors
  • Share with your neighbors
  • Start or join a community garden
  • Start a Little Free Library
  • Go to the public library
  • Buy less
  • Waste less – water, gas, electricity, packaging, food
  • Repair – repair what you have instead of buying new (Buy from companies that offer this option!)
  • Reuse
  • Repurpose – find a new use for old objects
  • Recycle
  • Buy items in bulk and reuse your own containers
  • Bring reusable shopping bags everywhere you go and use them!
  • Buy a fun water bottle, drink from it and refill it
  • Don’t buy “disposables”
  • Donate what you don’t need
  • Install a rain barrel
  • Use your rain water to water your garden
  • Don’t use pesticides, herbicides in your lawn or garden
  • Bike
  • Walk
  • Run
  • Buy real food
  • Cook from scratch, even if it’s just one day a week
  • Support local businesses and restaurants
  • Buy local as much as possible
  • Buy organic food (organic producers use sustainable methods for growing their food)
  • Eat organic food (it will sustain you)
  • Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) – this provides a direct connection between you and a farmer
  • Clean without chemicals
  • Eliminate toxins from your home, start with fabric softener, bleach and toilet bowl cleaner
  • Eliminate toxins from your health & beauty supplies, start by ditching toothpaste with triclosan
  • Buy from sustainable companies.  What they do effects you.
  • Do a “gut check”.  If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.

These are just a starting point.  Please feel free to comment and add to the list.

Kate

Posted in Healthy Living, Mindful Living, Sustainable Living | 2 Comments »

Tags: ,
« Older Entries  |   Newer Entries »