Tammy’s Top Ten (t3 report) Reasons to Become a Vegetarian

“Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty. Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” Albert Einstein

 

flickr.com/photos/blatantnews/4013089449/

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This is National Farmers Market Week

There is encouraging news coming from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Today we have 6,132 farmers markets. That’s a 16 % increase over 2009 and a marked increase since the USDA started tracking. The USDA has declared August 1-7 as National Farmers Market Week for 2010.

Olympia Farmers Market

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Tammy’s Top Ten (the t3 report) Reasons to join a CSA

Community Supported Agriculture is a growing phenomena and if you haven’t guessed, I think that’s a good thing. And I’m tickled by the variations that I’m seeing.  ArizonaKnitter recently posted about the CSA that she joined which is focused on yarn and fiber. At one of my kid’s schools, they’ve embraced a slighty marked up CSA program as a weekly fundraiser.  But to what end? Why should you participate in Community Supported Agriculture?

 

flickr.cc.thebittenworld.smalleggplant

 

Here are my top ten reasons for joining a CSA:

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Read the Recipe Because Words Matter

Several years back I was in a dinner club. On one occasion I opened my assigned recipe the day of our meal and realized that my dish was supposed to have marinated overnight. Problem! I don’t remember how I resurrected the food item but I certainly learned a lesson. Read the recipe in a timely fashion.

Photo by Kevin Dooley FlickrCC

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Ladybug, Ladybug, fly away home

In the days following my cancer diagnosis I recall a conversation with my husband. “Breast cancer just isn’t my cause,” I told him. It wasn’t that I didn’t think it worthy – of course it was. I’d sponsored friends in the famous 3-day walk, made contributions to Komen and supported a close friend who founded the Arizona Institute for Breast Health. I wore pink bows to honor my best friend, my coworkers, and others but my community involvement leaned in other directions and I wasn’t ready to abandon those due to an unwanted illness. I’m terribly thankful for the thousands who do crusade on behalf of the cure and I’ve enjoyed helping the Wellness Community of Arizona, an organization that was very helpful to me, but whatever the activity, I work hard to make certain that it is well aligned with me and my values.

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An Old-fashioned Barn Raising?

Let me start by apologizing for my overuse of the word “delight”.  I know I write it too often but I haven’t come up with an appropriate synonym for that moment of precious excitement upon discovery of something new.  This morning, I heard it in my 7 year old’s voice, “Mom, come here and see this!”  The object of his delight? His Ant Farm.

The ants had created a new tunnel and it appeared that one might be stuck but another 6-legged critter quickly marched in to alleviate the issue.  For the guy in trouble, his friend, neighbor, family member (or perhaps all three) showed up to help him out of his dilemma. Ok, that might not have been what was really going on but watching caused me to think about something I recently learned about from the Ozarkhomesteader – crop mobbing. (more…)