A "peep" from the Loser Sister

Hey ladies, I'm still on Chapter One. I'll get there, though. . . Kristen has lighted a fire under my tousche. But I have been thinking about the blurb on "oily food" in that beginning chapter. I didn't realize that about 17% of our nation's energy use goes to food production and transport. Wow. And talk about making a positive impact: Hopp suggests that if every US citizen were to eat one meal a week from local and organic sources (any meal. . . thinking breakfast anyone??), US consumption of oil would be reduced by 1.1 MILLION barrels EVERY WEEK?!?!? Talk about political and environmental change rolled into one great move.

I have to say I am disappointed when I purchase oranges from the supermarket, and they have California stickers. Hello, Florida? Where are your oranges???

Finished

Sorry guys, I finished the book already. I will not give anything away. I hope you guys finish it soon too so we can talk about it.

I started the book this weekend while I was camping! It felt so appropriate, sitting in my tent surrounded by the beautiful fall trees up payson canyon. It was beautiful. So, the book... I love it. I still have a chapter to go to reach last weeks goal, so more to come later.

Slackers

You guys better get on board. I am way ahead.

This book is pretty life altering for me. It has inspired me to be more aware of what I put into my mouth. I have rethought the "treat my kids to a happy meal" to "treat my kids to a healthy meal" (my phrase) mentality. Next summer I am going to do my garden even though I will be leaving in Aug probably-maybe. I will get most the summer crop, because stuff doesn't really do well here in Aug anyway. I am not finished with the book but I definitely want to try making my own cheese. Does everyone want to join me? Maybe we can learn together during Christmas. I think it would be fun.

About the free range chickens--I never really understood the importance of it, but now I do. They dose all these chickens with antibiotics because the living conditions are so unsanitary. There is chicken crap everywhere and instead of going into the ground to fertilize it and cycle back into the ground, it is rendered useless, having to be cleaned out and gotten rid, polluting. Also, the chickens diets are not what chickens were designed to eat.

I am kinda tired, so this is pretty choppy. I did want to say that one of the biggest things I have taken away so far is the importance of farmers markets and buying things locally. With the prices of fossil fuels these days, it is a waste to buy things from large commercial companies that spend and use tons of fossil fuels to package/produce/ship the items thousands of miles from where we live. We should invest in the local economy because it is better for the earth, and cheaper in the long run. Anyway, if you want to know more details about why--read the book!

Beginning

So I am 3 cd's deep into the 12 cd book...sorry guys, this is the way it has to be for me. (I also got dishes done and other things around the house during the one and a half I listened to today--don't be jealous!) I liked the book at first, but there were some "issues" that bothered me. It seemed like the author had a bone to pick. My ingrained, deep rooted conventional knowledge was miffed. "How dare she say those things! She has no idea what the other side of the coin's reasons are." And part of me has to dismiss some of what she says (like defending tobacco growers--I get it but I still don't think it is right.) but for the most part I am liking it! I am salivating over the vegetables she is describing. Not eat strawberring from April TO Oct?? Are you crazy? Why not? OHHHHH, that's why not. Touché. I will probably still eat strawberries in all those months, but now I will KNOW why they aren't the best I have every had. Same with oranges. I hate going through all the trouble of peeling one only to my dismay it is juiceless and tasteless. Next time I should not INDULDGE and buy it whenever I please, only when the integrity of the fruit is in tact (ie in season). I am going to her website this week to get recipes.
Let me know if I am going to fast for you guys...I will try to slow down. But you better hurry up!
Next post--free range chickens.

Has Anyone started???

Life was a little crazy last week and I never got around to getting the book! I swear it is on my to do list for this week!