Basic Self Evident Truths.

I published these as a note on facebook a few days ago but I though I would put them here too..

In the interest of having a sane society and saving money and time I write these with the goal that from this writing we need not study any of these truths again but can keep them in mind as self evident. Our government, Universities and Nonprofits can save Millions of dollars, now that these basic truths have been stated. We can hold our communities, governments and corporations accountable and we can put the money we are spending trying to prove these truths to better uses; like planting trees and feeding people. If I missed some please feel free to add them!

I hold these Basic Truths to be Self Evident.

• All things that are alive will die. Birth, life and death are part of a cycle. This also includes most other entities such as groups, countries, corporations and civilizations. We live and we die.
• Once created, life forms and other entities, generally want to keep growing until they die.
• We are dependent on the earth, sun, water and soil. Without these we would not be here.
• We are dependent on the other life forms of this planet, trees, insects, microorganisms etc. Without these we would not be here.
• We, humans are animals and mammals. All mammals, besides modern westernized humans, breast feed their babies and most all sleep with their babies.
• Humans evolved eating whole foods; Nuts, fruits, vegetables, meats, and grains. Whole foods are best for our health. No humans or animals evolved with processed food.
• Humans need love, acceptance, touch and to feel needed.
• Humans are happier and healthier if they in touch with nature. Humans are happier and healthier if they have sunlight, fresh air and rest.
• Humans are happier when they are healthier.
• Humans are social creatures and like to help each other and work for their community.
• Violence and peacefulness are both part of our nature. Humans and almost all animals are in general peaceful and will not attack other creatures unless they are hunting for food or feel threatened.
• Anger and fear are a natural part of our emotional life, they help us make changes when our circumstances are not meeting our needs.
• We need challenges to have a fulfilling life.
• We cannot remove risk from life.
• War kills and maims. War damages the souls of those involved and effected.
• There are lots of religions and all the people practicing them are humans.
• There are lots of humans and they all look different.
• There are lots of humans and some are attracted to the same sex.
• None of our differences make us less human.
• Humans and animals need access to space, water and resources to live
• No one wants to not have access to the resources needed to live.
• No one wants to be a slave.
• Happy, healthy children want to learn. The goal of childhood is to learn how to be a productive adult.
• Healthy people want to be seen, listened to and to get and give attention, this includes children.
• Humans need a spiritual life or connection to nature, art, music and humor to be fully happy.
• It feels better and is more fun to be happy, safe and well fed.

My holiday wish list....

If you like this letter, please share it.

I am asking for a gift from everyone I know, it is not a gift from a store, it is nothing you can buy. What I am asking for is for everyone I know, every friend, family member, neighbor and everyone who reads this, to help save my children and grandchildren. From those who are already working hard I am gratefully asking for even more.
Here is the beginning of the article from the Washington Post that inspired my own gift this year; "Climate researchers now predict the planet will warm by 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century even if the world's leaders fulfill their most ambitious climate pledges, a much faster and broader scale of change than forecast just two years ago, according to a report released by the United Nations Environment Program." (11-25-09) This might be one of the darker predictions but even if you don't fully trust these facts, a small percentage of a chance of this happening is too high of a risk. I personally put seat belts on my children every time we get in the car even though the chance of being in a accident it much lower. This means we have no cushion of time to act and all of our actions must be much bolder than we have as countries, communities and individuals have committed to so far. Now is our time to take our power and defend our future. The facts are scary and I will not go into them, except to say this is a future we do not want to go to. Weaning ourselves from oil and coal needs to become our primary focus. Nuclear is too dangerous to be a real alternative and until truly renewable energy in found this mean we need to safely power down. We need to step up our actions, recycling a few cans is not going to fix it, we need more.
This is as if we have gone to the Doctor and she has told us we have a terminal illness and unless we change our diet and life style drastically we have a very high chance of dieing young. We have a choice, we can become depressed and not even try, we can ignore the Dr.'s advice and keep sitting around eating junk food and then every now and then take a bit of broccoli, or we can really change our diet and get more exercise, not easy, but doable and in the long run more enjoyable. The big difference is that it is not just our own lives we are talking about but that of our children and grandchildren. It is also something we can not do alone. It does not matter what I do if others do not change also and if we allow corporations and governments to go on with business as usual. We must all work and change together.
We need not think of this as a sacrifice because really we can make our community better as we do this. We can have fun, have better connections with our families and neighbors, better health, and more beauty around us.
For my best friends wedding gift I decided not to fly to her wedding in Florida but to give and her future children the gift of working my hardest to save this beautiful planet and all of our grand children. For my own children's gift I have recommitted myself to spreading the word on why we need to change, how now is the time, and changing myself.
I recently heard an essay about Hope, in which it was said that hope is for things we do not have power over. On my way home in the evening I do not "hope" I will make dinner. I say "I am going to go home and make dinner." Scientists agree that Global Climate change is happening and is caused mostly by human activity, that means we can influence it, we have power. We do not need to "hope" that we stop climate change. We can simply say "we will stop climate change."
So again what am I really asking for, for Christmas? That you talk to everyone you know about global warming and how we can slow it. If you have not already joined in the efforts, research what needs to be done and join others that are already working. Demand from our politicians much higher carbon emissions standards and energy efficiency standards. Demand we take away corporate "person hood." Help take back our food system, get out of your car, don't buy stuff, buy local. Hold businesses accountable. Hold each other accountable. Hold me accountable. Support each other, take care of what we have, repair, reuse, relearn...... Let the momma and papa bear that is inside of you out and do whatever you can to protect the future of all of our children...... Blessings and may you enjoy all the gifts you have today.

http://permaculture.tv/wake-up-and-freak-out/ So well done
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE6Kdo1AQmY simple funny but right on
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/24/AR2009092402602.html

my first power down day

I posted this on the Trasition web site too but since i have this blog i thought I would keep it up to date!

A few weeks ago Xav Leplae brought up the idea of an off the grid or power down week with me. which I love and am very excited about us possibly doing in Riverwest in the spring. But then as I talked with others and we batted around the idea on the Transition yahoo group I heard about the idea of power down days. So I started inviting others to pick a day with me. The idea as I see it is that every family or individual can choose what power down means to them. If that means a day with out the radio and that is all you feel comfortable and ready for than take that first step and try just that. The idea is not to be uncomfortable but to learn for ourselves what what we truly need to be comfortable, happy and healthy. The biggest thing for me about this day is that although I may do it with just my family we are are not doing it alone, but we are doing it with a community. with the in put of a few friends I picked Saturdays for the power down days in Milwaukee's Riverwest but now I have friends Madison and other places that are doing it too.

For my first day I set using no electric beside my fridge, ( I also left my phone and answering machine on and answered the phone a few times. ) I turned the heat down to 55. I planned on turning my hot water off but didn't get to doing that. I also did not use my car at all even though I had a job across the city.

highlight of my power down day:
one of the best things about this day is that it forced me to not turn on the radio or computer leaving me much more available for my children, a perfect reason to do it on the weekend. Being off the Grid in this way is weird at first if you are used to being able to hook in when ever you want. I have been pushing myself on this before this power down day and it has been so nice for me that I have been inspired to turn them on less on other days and already I am getting used to being less plugged in.

I turned the heat down to 55 but it stayed warmer because it was so mild out and we baked bread to warm up kitchen in am. I think I will try turning down to 50 next weekend, (which it may not go down to unless it is deeply cold out. ) We are getting used to dressing warmer, sweaters, even a hat inside in the evening. I am also learning that if you don't sit at a computer or desk you stay warmer!

most of my bus rides are normally rather short and I have been driving to jobs that are across town. for my first power down day I took two buses to get to 95th and greenfield from riverwest. I must have missed my first bus but as I waited for the bus I relearned how it is a great time to do a few stretches and it was a beautiful sunny morning. after that I had good luck with buses, crocheted 2 washcloths ( I mainly only crochet while the bus is stopped because I get sick if I look down too much, if I didn't I would read and take the bus ALL the time! ) I also got practice talking about the weather and making conversation which really was nice.
Here i will say although I did my ride on Saturday without my kids I find the bus a wonderful way to spend time with kids. waiting for the bus we often have time to play...tag, walking backwards etc. On the bus you can see what your children are looking at and hold little children.
We baked chicken for dinner, than the best part was eating dinner by candle light, After dinner my mom played the piano and we danced by candle light too which was a truly magical way to end the day.
I am really excited about this and see how it is changing how I behave already and am really hoping it will grow!! Power Down with me!!

http://transitionmilwaukee.ning

fruity, nutty 350

I have joined up with Transition Milwaukee and The Victory Garden Initiative to challenge Milwaukee to plant at least 350 fruit and nut trees bushes or vines by Oct 24th the international day of action. Join Us. you can plant one on your own or check the VGI website if you want to volunteer to plant else where. We are working on setting up a few actions people can join in. http://thevictorygardeninitiative.com/ Minors Harden center told me they have lots of good edibles left and they
also my favorite Milwaukee group; http://transitionmilwaukee.ning.com/ hope to post more about this later!
make an actio yourself because this in the number we all need in our heads to save our world!! 350.org

how I do the no knead bread recipe

I make my batches with as much as 4 and 1/2 cups grains and I let it sit sometimes for 2 days, it is not as light but it has a nice mild sour taste.
I recommend making this recipe as I have it below first, learn that texture of the dough then make it bigger. i don't have exact measurement s for a larger batch at the moment. I like this bread More than kneaded yeast dough that I was making with the bread machine. the crust is a little harder sometimes but it tastes less yeasty and slices nicer. If you bake it just a little on the under done side and add a tad more water the crust can be softer.

3 Cups flour. ( I am currently using 2 cups white and 1-2 cup freshly rolled oats and wheat but you can be creative with this)
1/4 teaspoon yeast
1 & 1/4 teaspoon salt ( I use less)
just a hair over 1 & 1/2 cups warm water

mix together until it is all wet
cover it and let it sit 12-20 hours, I put it on top of the fridge.
with out messing it with it more;
put it in greased baking dish or glass bread pan with lid or use tin foil (i no longer cover mine)
bake at 400 for around 30 min,
remove cover bake another 20-35 min (I now bake mine until it is done..... maybe 45-60 min)
take out of pan right away. ( I don't wash my pan often, just reuse it)

for a while i made two at the same time because they do go fast. I also mix ed all the dry ingredients together for 6 batches at a time and put the extra batches in jars on a shelf then the next morning I only need to add water and put it on top of the fridge for the next batch while I am baking that days. SO EASY. My mom added raisins and cinnamon and that was good too.

after doing this for a few months I know the right texture and have learned that you can be a little loose with the measurements. ( like I put in a tad less salt a bit more flour and water sometimes...)
here is a link to the grain roller i use.
http://www.lehmans.com/store/Natural_Goods___Hand_Cranked_Items___Roller_Mill_for_Grain___16595?Args=&customField1=W9

Christmas in July

this was my last article in the Riverwest Currents, Christmas in July
Now is the perfect time to get ready for the winter gift giving season. If this makes you feel that I am pushing it as summer has just arrived, think of this as a way to slow down time, to make sure you are not rushed in the end of fall and early winter. A way to make sure you don't waste money and time shopping for gifts that are not needed or maybe even not wanted. Now is the perfect for three reasons;
No. 1 Time is on your side. Start thinking and working now and you can get a lot done with out feeling like you are drudging though anything. Take a hobby you have or have always wanted to learn and materials you may already have around the house and start making small gifts for gift giving to extended family. Knit, paint, cut, nail etc. I am crocheting cotton washcloths this year while I am at meetings, on the bus etc. Bird houses, earrings, homemade stationary, hot pads, soap, paint on t-shirts or personalized shopping bags are all ideas that might help you get started. Homemade candles made out of remnants of old candles might really get burned. some of these projects are fun to do with kids too when you need an activity to fill the summer hours.
No. 2 The Rummage sale season continues and shopping for others is the perfect way to enjoy these sales without filling your own home with things you don't need. Make sure you buy gifts with specific people in mind other wise you do run a risk of creating a stuff problem which most of us still need to avoid. If you are really into this you can keep notes of gifts that might be needed or wanted i.e.: Anna, bread maker, blue plates for mom... or keep an eye out for the materials for those craft gifts you might be making.
No. 3 Seasonal ingredients from your yard, our farmers markets or local farms are readily available and affordable. Herb infused vinegar's (I love mint), pickles, jams and jellies, or elderberry syrup for flu's are all useful, healthy, easy to make with local harvest, and far more affordable if you make them yourself than they are from the stores. This turns the holiday season into a time of trading summers harvest. Be creative with the bounty, there is plenty of information on the internet or in the library to get you started. These gifts also gives us something to enjoy and remind us of the warmer months just when we need it!
No matter what enjoy these blessed summer months when the earth and sun are giving us so many gifts, many of which we can share.

Experts and a few things they got wrong

Experts and a few things they got wrong about my families bodies and health and why we would should change how we live to one of trusting ourselves and sitting on the floor!

As a child my mother taught us that hydrogenated oils such as those in processed peanut butter were bad for us. My memory was that it was bad for your heart and joints. She learned this from an alternative source. It made sense to me.
It took the "Experts" until 25 years to except this idea and tell the masses of people. My mother also told me that prunes are good for relieving constipation. You still to this day will never read that on a label of prunes as it has not been "proven"

I have read and been told a lot of miss information. I have also not been given a lot of correct information.
In 2001 I read in a book by a doctor that my uncircumcised sons foreskin would pull back by the time he was 2 years old. It didn't. When I talked to my neighbor, who also had an uncircumcised boy she had read the same thing somewhere else and her sons also had not.

Experts also miss led me with the use of antibiotics and ear infection. when my first son was less than two I took him in for a well baby check up and the Doc told me that he had an ear infection and her was a prescription for some antibiotics. I knew about the over use of anti antibiotics so I went home to do some research on my own and found a preponderance of evidence that I would be putting my son in harms ay if I did not use the antibiotics. We then started on a long and painful roller coaster of ear infection and antibiotics that did not work until when he was 5 he finally had tubs put in his ear. We will never know if that roller coaster of infections was related to the antibiotics but since than the American pediatrics has changed what they recommend and both of my sons have had ear infections, including burst ear drums, that under the guidance of an experienced doctor we have not treated. these infections clear up easily on their own and I don't have to go to the doctor every three weeks.

Here is another one. Early potty training and diaper use in the US. An estimated 27.4 billion disposable diapers are used each year in the US, resulting in a possible 3.4 million tons of used diapers adding to landfills each year.
As of this writing you can still find all over the internet and at all the MD sites that I found that children are mostly ready to potty train between the ages of 2 and 3. Here is a quote from one site " Before the age of two, the release of solid and fluid waste is generally involuntary. Most children only BEGIN to develop control of these muscles around their second birthday. " they often also say that starting earlier is "risky" It has been suggested that they are protecting me from abusing my child incase he doesn't learn quickly. Well I am sorry but my children don't need to be protected threw misinformation.

It happens again that I have a second weird child, It turns now that this one that knew how to control his own body. He also knew how to take in fluids and some solids at this time so it was helpful that he was aware of both ends. It also happens that many children around the world are like my son and learn to control them selves be for two and most before 3. I am not sure what is in the water in the US that makes most of our children different but I guess they must be something.....!

One of the great things that happened when I was doing early potty training with my son (I don't really like the term elimination communication, it's just too.... ? "experty"
I had been putting my son, at the time around 6 month old, in cloth diapers and cotton pants with no diaper covers or liners so that I would know when he went but I was trying to catch when he need to go. I had been trying to write down when ever he went in relation to when he had slept eaten, nursed etc. I am a bit lazy and I wasn't doing the greatest at this task and was a bit disappointed in myself, when my mother sat down at the piano and started to play, I think it was a moonlight sonata and I found myself humming along right in sink SP? with her and every note. Now I do not play any instrument and do not know anything of how to read or write music, I had never made myself sit down and focus on her playing and yet my brain know every note she was to play before she even played it. Ah the epiphany " My brain is a computer, I don't need to write down the data

Chairs and back pain. Ok so here this one I have no proof about as of yet. there seems to be little to read about this either way unless I do a lot of research...which guess what? I don't want to do so: Low back pain is very significant health problems in the US. Consider these statistics from the National Institutes of Health (NIH):
* Seventy to 85 percent of all people have back pain at some time in their life.
* Back pain is the most frequent cause of activity limitation in people younger than 45 years old.
That is all the information I have except that I know a lot of americans spend a lot of time sitting chairs and unless we come from wealth most of our ancestors didn't. I see my parents as they get older having a hard time getting down on the floor with my children to play and I felt myself getting stiffer also. I also know from talking to those that have visited "3rd world" countries that many people are still very flexible and still spend much time squatting or sitting on the floor or ground. I see this mentioned NO WHERE on websites that talk about back pain. So what am I doing? Last year I put my kitchen table on the floor and I am suggesting you do it too. I also am suggesting you look at all the aspect of your and ask yourself could or did my ancestors do this or eat this? if they didn't is it ok for me. Going to the movie, my great grandparents didn't do go but I think I'll still go. Eating white bread every day? driving to work everyday and not walking no I don't need a study to tell me that isn't right and neither do you.