Clematis Blooms on Earth Day

As I watered my vegetable garden this morning, I couldn't help but think about how lucky I am to have this little plot of land on the Earth, so big and diverse. Today, do something to show your respect for the planet.

As promised, I went to the Mississippi Farmers Market on Saturday to check out what they had in mid-April. I was hoping for produce, but I didn't find much. I did, however, pick up farm fresh eggs from BobKat Farms in Florence, MS. I am most excited about my purchase of one half of a grass fed, free range lamb from Livingston Springs Farm in Madison county. This share includes a leg, rack, chops, ribs, a shoulder roast, and 2-3 pounds of ground lamb. The lamb will ready in early fall, just in time to try out some fall lamb recipes. I've never cooked lamb at all before, but Chip and I both like it. It will definitely be a new experience for me!

Ok, enough meat talk. Let's get to the flowers! Clematis H.F. Young is in full bloom. This vine is right outside my bedroom window, so it is the first thing I see when I open the blinds each morning. Soon the jasmine will be blooming, too.






- Posted from my iPhone with BlogPress

Garden Bloggers Sustainible Living Project

In recognition of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, Jan over at Thanks for Today is asking garden bloggers to post about ways they are actively practicing a greener lifestyle and contributing to protecting our environment. Jan calls it the Garden Bloggers Sustainable Living Project.

On Earth Day 2008, I described the things we do on a daily basis to respect the Earth and live a greener lifestyle. We recycle, buy CFLs, bring reuseable bags to the grocery store, use cloth napkins instead of paper, buy recycled toilet paper, and compost. We still practice these activities, and over the past two years, we've added a few others.

1. We eat locally when we can
I try my best to grow yummy veggies, and this fall I increased our plantable space by moving a raised bed. I am working on getting my produce yields up so that we will have more home grown produce. But, I am also trying to make the farmers market a priority on Saturday mornings. The Mississippi Farmers Market in Jackson is such a wonderful resource. Can you believe this is what they have this week? Cornish Game Hens, farm fresh eggs, buttercrunch lettuce, goat cheese, shares of free range and grass fed beef and lamb, local honey, fresh herbs, and strawberries! I am going to hit it up on Saturday morning. I can't wait to blog about what I got!

2. We eat less meat
There are many studies out there that show that meat production (factory farming) contributes to climate change. Cows especially contribute to climate change because of all the methane they put back into the environment. Recently, a study by the Worldwatch Institute found that half of the world's greenhouse emissions are produced by the livestock and poultry industry. I am not a vegetarian, but in our house we have chicken only once a week. Once a month we'll have beef or pork. The rest of the time I cook vegetarian or we have fish or shrimp. If you haven't seen the documentary Food, Inc. go rent it now. It will change the way you look at factory farmed meat and processed foods.

3. I shop secondhand
I've been trying to make this more of a priority lately. When I need something, I try to hit up the secondhand/antique/junk stores before I buy it brand new. I've found an awesome lamp, some pretty table linens, water glasses, even funky jewelry. You'd be amazed at what you can find in these places.

4. I reuse what I can
I bought this countertop plastic bag dryer at gaiam.com and it has more than paid for itself in ziplock savings! I don't think I've had to purchase any since we got this thing.

5. We get our butts outside!!
There's nothing that will encourage you to love the planet Earth like spending time with it will! I like to hit up the local Nature Center for a walk or the Natchez Trace for a bike ride or the Yazoo River to kayak. I adore Smoky Mountains National Park. Since I first ventured to the park as a 19-year-old on Spring Break, I've looked for excuses to return. I'm going back in June to see the azaleas in bloom on Gregory Bald. It will be my 6th trip. I encourage everyone to find something they like to do outside that is close to home. Even if it is just a favorite walk through a pretty neighborhood or forest. There are opportunities to enjoy Earth all around us!

Earth Day 2008

Woah - where does the time go?! I missed Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day this month. On the 15th of each month, gardeners all over the world (yes, all over the world) post photos and lists of what is blooming in their gardens. I was working up in Oxford on the 15th and just didn't think about posting. Yesteray after work I spent quite a bit of time in the garden puttering around and taking photos for my Bloom Day post, and I decided I'd make it an Earth Day post. First, the photos...

I have two beautiful David Austin roses beside the front porch: Molineux and Golden Celebration. Molineux is blooming its little heart out. I say little because this is a smallish shrub rose.



I counted about 8 buds on Golden Celebration, so it isn't far behind. In the backyard I have...

Spiderwort


Clematis "Henryii"






Gorgeous Autumn Ferns unfurling their fresh auburn growth



And the first sugar snap blossom. Peas to follow shortly!

Growing peas, radishes, carrots, and chard in my veggie garden is just one thing I am doing to tread more lightly on this Earth. Other things I am doing:

• I purchase only CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs). My dad began using CFLs back in 1998, ten years ago. Back then we thought he'd gone off the deep end. They buzzed and flickered, but he was determined to save energy. The bulbs have come a long way since then. If you aren't using these yet, go out and buy a pack today and try them out.
• I bring my own reusable bags to the grocery store. They aren't designer bags. They don't have cute prints or colors on them, and they don't go with my outfit. But I am keeping about 1,000 plastic bags out of the landfill every year I use them.
• We use cloth napkins at dinner and dishtowels in the kitchen instead of paper towels. In my house growing up, my parents never bought paper towels. My friends always thought we were "weird" because they had to use cloth napkins when they came to eat at my house. These days, Chip and I do use paper towels, but we use them sparingly. I always buy the Seventh Generation ones made from 100% recycled paper.
• When I buy the bathroom tissue, I always buy 100% recycled paper. You'll hear my husband groan about this one, and when he buys the bathroom tissue he usually gets the stuff made from virgin trees. Ugh.
• We've cut back on our total meat consumption, and we rarely eat beef. I cook a few vegetarian meals each week. I really enjoy cooking vegetarian meals. There are so many wonderful vegetables out there, and I love trying them in new ways.
• I'm growing some of my own vegetables, but I also visit the Farmers' Market on the weekends so that we eat local produce. I can find produce at the market about 9 months out of the year. Pretty darn good, I'd say!
• I am composting my kitchen waste and most of my shredded paper.
• I try to reduce, reuse, and recycle. I'm not doing a great job, really. I have a second home in Oxford. I have a pool in my backyard at my first home. These are not good things for the Earth, and I am aware of that. But because I work in Oxford often (and because the real estate market sucks), we aren't getting rid of that house just yet. Having these things has made me mindful of my other purchases, and I am trying my best to reduce and reuse in other areas. Just recently I heard an interview on treehugger radio (via podcast) with Gary Hirshberg, CEO of Stonyfield Farm. He said that "Recycling is what we should do only after we have failed to reduce or reuse." I think that's right. Reduce and reuse first. It is 2008, people! By now, recycling should be a given for us all. Let's work on the other two.

So, what am I doing to celebrate Earth Day? I am planting Seeds of Change seeds that I purchased from Rainbow, the local natural foods co-op. Yum, yum. What are you doing?

The Story of Stuff

Emma at coopette.com posted a link to this video and I thought I'd pass it on. It really hit home here at Christmastime when we are buying gifts for our friends and family. I learned a lot and so will you...