I can’t get enough of the delicious, mini, orange colored Cuties. I engulfed 5 and thought I only ate two! The Cutie Zone took over, and I couldn’t stop. Holy Moly, they are delicious. The kids love them just as much, maybe even more! Little a was in the zone yesterday! I was laughing as she got up from the couch, peeled and ate one, sat back down and watched a bit of t.v., sat for a few minutes, got back up, peeled and ate one. She then returned to the basket and got another one, peeled that, then sat down to watch t.v. Then she immediately got up, went to the kitchen, peeled and ate another one and sat down to watch the rest of Spongebob! What is it about these things! I know they are delicious, but I often think about food cravings. Do we have them because our bodies are telling us something? Are we lacking something that the food is providing? Like the Cuties, for example, are loaded with Vitamin C. Am I lacking Vitamin C? Do I have a cold coming on? but I feel fine?! Maybe I devour them because they are just plain delicious. Certain food are just awesome and fun to eat like chocolate cake, peanut butter, ice cream, homemade bread, pizza, pretzels, pretzels dipped in peanut butter. The list goes on and on. Food glorious food!
Well, when I think of food, I always (really…,not exaggerating) think of the Red Wigglers and what they eat. I know they can’t eat the peels. They are too acidic and will avoid them so I try my best to compost the peels in my tumbler. Now in this case, I wonder why they devour watermelon, cantaloupe, and pumpkin at such lightening speed. Is is because it’s so freakin’ delicious or are they lacking something in their diet. Now, this is where I wish I could be the worm whisperer. Hmmmmmmm????
Books! Books! Books! The library is filled with them, of course, and so are the bookstores. Nothing new with that statement, right?! On Monday, I went to the library to do a bit of composting research and came home with a few books. Looking at my selection this morning kind of scares me. It is proof that I am really confused with where I am in my life. I checked out 6 books. They break down like this…oh by the way, I am not putting them into any particular order. Well that’s not all together true. My brain is categorizing them as I am typing, and I am getting distracted because I can’t concentrate as I type this…geez! (Close your mouth, close your brain, just type!) Here goes….
2 composting books found in the kid’s section…but I think they are great for all ages. The only ones I’ve read so far!
2 composting books for adults found in the non fiction adult section. They look boring!
1 non fiction book about an Amish schoolteacher. What the heck was I thinking?…hilarious
1 fiction book about raising a teenager!…Help! just kidding…no really. Help I remember how sassy I was to my dad!
I know exactly why I read the kids’ books first. They look fun. One is illustrated and the other has photos. The images drew me in instantly. The info is well written and easy to understand. Well of course, Laurie, they’re kids books. I love kids books so much and encourage all of you to read some more often. Composting can be intimidating, especially composting with worms. One of the two books actually “touches” on the topic. They both explain the importance of composting and the benefits it provides for you and the planet. I highly recommend these two children’s books and will have a link to the amazon store if you can’t find them at your local library or bookstore.
I will try my best to read the other “adult” composting books soon. No really, I will try! I do love the title of one, Let it Rot! but it looks too long, and there aren’t many pictures so I think I am going to skim through it.
Now on to the other 2 books! The Bridge of Peace by Cindy Woodsmall and Teen 2.0 by Robert Epstein, PH.D. Just the titles crack me up. They should be linked together. I am laughing as I am typing this! How about this title…
The Bridge of Peace for your Teen or The Bridge of Peace away from your Teen or The Bridge of Peace to your Teen or how about this plain and simple…I NEED to take a ride on The Bridge of Peace
The purpose of this post was to recommend the children’s books, but Hey, Sorry I got carried away and come to think of it. ……..My brain feels a lot better. I am ready to start the day! Woohoo a laxative for the brain!
Members of Deschutes Recycling and St.Charles Health Care Center and me! I got to wear a vest, too!!!
Today, I had the coolest opportunity to visit the Deschutes Recycling Compost Facility housed at the Knott Landfill! I loved every single minute of the visit and couldn’t stop the smile from shining the whole, entire time! There’s something so inspiring and motivating to see composting on such a massive level.
This week, I had a meeting with members of St. Charles Health Care Center to talk about their planned community garden and learn more about their pre and post consumer waste which is being collected by Deschutes Recycling. I was fascinated by the composting program and asked if I could tag along on their visit to the composting facility. I had to see it in action. Their set-up is truly amazing.
Brown and Green waste ready to be moved to the next phase of the composting process.
On the composting site, the food waste travels to 4 areas before it is ready to be usable compost for your gardens. (Carlos took amazing video footage and will be edited sometime soon!) This photo shows the compost moving from the 2nd phase to the 3rd phase. This is a mixture of brown and green organic waste. You can see the brown waste on the bottom and the green food waste in the middle and a bit of brown on the top. The drop box also has black tubes inserted to pump in air so aerobic decomposition occurs. This process takes about 30 days and temperatures reach about 130F which kills the pathogens in the compost.
Can you find the white sprout?
Here’s a close up of the compost. They are doing a terrific job keeping it aerated. A sure sign of aerobic decomposition is the smell it gives off while breaking down. This batch has an earthy smell. Good Job Deschutes! This will then move to a windrow to continue decomposing and then move to the screening process to remove any pieces that didn’t compost, such as large pieces of bone.
There are only 2 facilities participating in this food composting program on a commercial level. Soon, Deschutes Recycling will continue to provide this service to many more commercial businesses in Deschutes County. Very cool, very cool indeed!
Stalk Market provides compostable tableware made with Ingeo
Elements Naturals makes compostable baby wipes with Ingeo
Jillson and Roberts uses compostable packing made with Ingeo.
Ingeo (pronounced in-gee-o) keeps popping up in my life and so unexpectedly! I’ve developed an interesting relationship with this silly word but great product!
Ingeo was first introduced to me over the summer when I met with Linda, the owner of Elements Naturals. Her compostable baby wipes are made with Ingeo, a plant based product which is 100% compostable. I was very happy to meet Ingeo and was very impressed by it’s capabilities. I also thought “Ooooooh, Ingeo, you are so soft!”
Four days later, while wrapping a present, I started to undress Ingeo! Ingeo was covering my pretty yellow tissue paper. I then said , “ooooooh, Ingeo, you are sooooo smoooth!”
Then today the unspeakable happened! I had my lips on Ingeo!! While sipping a cup of coffee, I noticed the cup and lid were made with Ingeo.
Hmmmm, I am on the hunt for you Ingeo! Where and when will we meet again?! I can’t believe you had me kiss you without even asking! You are one smooooth operator!
If you’d like to learn more about this smooth, soft, sometimes loud but good for the planet product click here! (And to also see if you, too, may have had or still have a relationship with Ingeo?!)
I am in the process of vermicomposting the SunChips bag, some baby wipes and now the coffe lid and cup! I have to get rid of that evidence!
This past weekend, ‘Little a’ and I went to visit the HA Ranch in Tulelake, Ca. My super, terrific, lovable, dearest
friend, Jenn and her husband Jack, who’s also super and terrific and, of course, lovable in a rugged sort of way, run a huge operation on a billion acres of land. It’s not quite a billion acres more like 30,000, but it sure feels like a billion compared to my cozy lot here in Bend.
Jenn and Jack have cows, lots and lots of ’em, chickens, sheep, and new this year, rabbits. (In a post later on this week, I will share my new venture, composting with rabbit poop). They have been running the HA Ranch with other family members for about 10 years after making a life change and huge move from Long Island! The property is amazing, and there aren’t any neighbors for at least 2 -3 miles. The only sounds out there are the ocasional “moos” and “cackles” from the livestock and “screams” and “hollers” from the folks, especially when my brood comes for a visit!
While venturing on the acreage, Jen and Jack took me into the bunny barn which is more like “The Bunny Mansion”….G rated version, of course! Take a look at that massive structure. Jack built this with his Pa and some siblings who venture out to the HA Ranch, escaping the hustle and bustle of the city life.
Jack is amazing! There’s nothin’ he’s ‘fraid of, or no job he can’t tackle!
Inside there’s a row of bunny cages, lots of hay, and lots of poop! I took some home with me and will discover the ways of the poop!
….in a later post!
This visit was not only for poop collecting, but for my ‘Little a’ to see her buddies and of course, for me to hang with my Jenn! We have been besties for about 25 years! Jenn is a city slicker! It’s in her blood, and there’s nothing that can take that away from her. While she does live in the middle – of -no where, she will continue to yell and swear even if you are standing a few inches from her face! She is a New Yorker through and through! I am happy to see that hasn’t changed! I love everything about her….her brutal honesty, her fierce love for her kids, family, and friends. She has this amazing passion for life and a continued drive to better herself.
I am proud of her and will forever be visiting the HA Ranch!
It’s a magical place full of so much opportunity!!!
(Max Man was sick and needed to hang with Carrrrlos which wasn’t too bad for them. They got to catch up on some hours of HaloReach!)
