A practice of letting go, giving and receiving.

            Yesterday I wrote about sitting on the floor, emphasizing how it is healthy for our bodies.  With an attack pending on Syria and the reality of our economy and environment it is important to also realize that anytime we choose to live with less it is not only healthier for us but for the rest of the world.   The more we are in the practice in letting go of things, clutter and even what we think of as “useful” objects the more we will experience that true health and happiness come not from these things but from inside ourselves and from living in connect with a healthy community.  So let go of you chair today, you couch tomorrow,   Who know what will be next, juice boxes? your morning coffee? your car?    We don’t need to be consumers, we can be givers.  Changing our lifestyle in our homes is a wonderful step towards living a life that is more in tune with our own needs and the rest of the worlds inhabitants.  

Letting go of chairs can also be looked as a spiritual practice, embracing the work of supporting our own weight.  Our great gift is this life we are living, this magical experience, and these bodies are our homes while we experience this wild ride.  The gift of using our bodies is to be appreciated not avoided.  We can embrace the work of sitting up tall, of getting up and down of supporting our own weight.  We can embrace the work of moving ourselves around, walking, running, biking, carrying groceries, growing food, building homes, helping each other.  In our past most of our ancestors often did need to conserve energy but right now many of us are at a different point. Physical work is a gift that many of us fail to value these day and many of us need.     As we recreate our economy we can go back to giving through our bodies.   We don’t need gyms to get in shape we can give our lives, our time and energy back to the world and in return we will be given the gift of health.   

Why we are living near the floor.

   For most of my life I have been a dancer, blessed with a mainly strong and healthy body but still I have had pain, tightness and recurring body ailments.  Mostly I have had lower back pain, sometimes extremely painful and even debilitating.   I have come to believe that most of that pain started from tightness, imbalances and poor movement patterns caused by my life style, the lifestyle I share with most of the rest of America.  According to the Mayo Clinic "Most people in the United States will experience low back pain at least once during their lives.  Back pain is one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor or miss work."    Studies show that the back pain we experience in developed western countries is not experienced in most "less" developed countries.   This is great to think about, if most of the pain is caused by lifestyle than that means if we are willing to change we can live healthier, happier and more productive lives!  

         Shortly after of high school I got my first of many jobs of being a waitress and started experiencing body pain for the first time in my life.  The next year I started training as a dancer.  Soon after I started a yoga practice that I kept on and off for the rest of my adult life,  but still I began a struggle with tight hips and lower back pain.  I never seemed to have the discipline in yoga to get beyond it or when I did push myself often the pain would act up and I would have to back off.  I tried the doctor, chiropractor and rolfing.  What seemed to help the most was not worrying to much about the pain when it came and going on with me life, and staying active but not pushing to hard.  The episodes of extreme back pain were aggravated with pregnancy but other wise lessened but never went away.  Shortly after my second son I realized I was getting stiffer and stiffer.  I was not dancing much or going to yoga and had little free time.   I used to play cards and board games sitting on the floor with my older son but with the new baby I realized the only time I ever sat down was to eat!  To help my hips, back and legs get at least some passive stretching by sitting on the floor everyday I decided to take the legs off our kitchen table and make new short legs for it.  (I saved the legs and still use them for holidays when the whole family comes over.)  This helped but still I had stiffness in my lower back and hips.  I wasn't getting stiffer but I was not getting looser either.  Then I went to an outdoor wilderness school and lived in the woods for 11 months with NO chairs (or cars or bikes or couches!)  Sitting on the ground was not always comfortable, sometimes it was very challenging. for most of the first 3/4 of the year I often used something under my but for elevation but by the end of the program I realized... It was gone! Whatever that stiffness that was in my back and hips was it was gone!  Now it is easy to sit on the ground and not have to hunch over.  I can sit up strait and tall with ease and even when I worked hard I don't have pain. Now I can go to a yoga class, really push myself and the next day I just feel good!

I still believe in yoga, pilates, going to the chiropractor and other alternatives but I see them as mostly reactive therapies that support us as we recover from the unhealthy life style modern western culture taught us.  To maintain healthy bodies we need to look at the rest of our lives too, but focusing on how we live in our homes is a great starting place.  Living on the floor (or ground) is the simplest, cheapest and easiest.  It works with our human nature.  you can be as lazy as you want to but if you want to sit down you are going to have to bend and stretch.  

         So now that I am back home living in a "civilized" home again I have moved beyond just having the kitchen table on the floor.  I got rid of our futon frame and put the futon on the floor.  I got rid of almost all the rest of our chairs.  I still have a standard desk for myself but I put a VERY large wood chair in front of it so I can sit cross legged on it as if I am on the floor. To support my husband, who has extremely tight hips and a long history of knee pain, we have a whole stack of blankets that can be arranged as he needs them when he sits.  I have extra pillows as well as folding chairs and a table that I can use for guests.  Sure our house looks like a hippy house. I have to sweep a lot.  Sometimes I miss the aesthetic of a couch and the cute chairs I collected, but it is worth it.  I am going to be able to keep my flexible body into my older years instead of losing it,  Our children can keep theirs and my husband is gaining flexibility.  Our home is wealthy in health and we are happy.  

Basic Self Evident Truths.

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

             This recipe was based on the New York Times no knead bread recipe when I started.   Now I make this bread mainly with fresh rolled grains; oats, wheat, barley, a little flax, lentils, and sunflower seeds etc mixed with some store bought flour for lightness.  Whole grains spoil quickly once they are milled, so it is hard to buy fresh and tasty whole wheat flour and bread.  I believe that this is the main reason many people think they don't like whole wheat.  They most likely just don't like the taste of spoiled grain which gets bitter and dull and makes dry bread.   (Listen to Michale Pollan and Amy Goodman talk about this on D.N)   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 measurements 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 grains and flour.  Rolled grains have more air or space in them, when I started I did about half flour, half home rolled grain.
1/4 teaspoon yeast
1 & 1/4 teaspoon salt ( I use a little less)
just a hair over 1 & 1/2 cups warm water

mix together until it is all wet
put it in greased baking dish or glass bread pan
cover it and let it sit 12-20 hours, I put it on top of the fridge.
bake at 350 - 400 for around 45-60 min,
Take out of pan but don't wash your pan, after a few uses it get easier to get the bread out.

For a while I made two loaves at the same time because they go so fast.    I also mixed 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.   for treats add raisins, cinnamon spices etc.

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