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CONTENTS

ForewordWhoweareCHAPTER1OurWorld–HowCanWeActNow?CHAPTER2TheHome–MakingSlowandSimpleChangesCHAPTER3TheBody–GoingFromChemicalstoNaturalCHAPTER4TheGarden–HowtoFarmAnywhereCHAPTER5Work&Play–IncorporatingSustainableLivingintoYourRoutineCHAPTER6OrganicFoodandRecipes–RawFoodforYouandMotherEarthCHAPTER7Spirituality–DiscoveringtheFeelingofTogethernessConclusionAcknowledgmentsInspirationIndex

W

FOREWORD

hendid you last get a handwritten letter?The kind of letter you knew thatsomeonehadtakenthetimetowriteoncarefullyselectedstationery,goneout

tobuyastamp,andstuckitinthemailbox.There’snobetterfeelingthanthejoyof opening one, and then sitting down to read it.Do you take the time towritebackinthesameway?

Timehasbecomescarce.Everyonehasalottodoandthereisneverenoughtime.Everything is speeding up; we look for quick fixes for ourselves and for puttingthings in order.The faster youmove, the better youare; youappear to bemoresuccessful. But what happened to quality thinking, consideration, andcommitment?Andwhat is happening to ourEarth?Natural resources are beingdepletedbecausewe constantlywant a lot of new things. It is time to step back,raiseoureyesandreflectonwhatkindofEarthwewillbequeathtoourchildrenandgrandchildren.

Withthisbookwehopetoconveysensitivityandknowledgeforyoutodaretostop,to think, to increaseyourawarenessofwhat is goingon,andhow tomakeevengreenerchoicesforyourself,yourfellowman,andMotherEarth.

Thisisaguidefromustoyou,foryourdailypracticaluse.Wehavecollectedthebestwehavefoundinourownsearchforhowtoliveamoresustainablelife.Whatworks for our daily routine of work, children, grocery shopping, and vacation –well,forallphasesoflife.Ourgoalistoliveasgreenaspossible,butsometimesLifeinterferes. A first step is to become aware and do the best you can.We are notbetter than you, this is not the message of our book, but rather how we canaccomplishourtasktogether.

Eachoneofus iscapableofgreatness.Eachpersonalcontribution ismeaningful.Wemaychoosetoturnawayfromthisorwecanfacetheresponsibilityweallhavetochangewhatdoesn’twork.

Together we color the world, and the greener we are, the more vibrant it willcontinuetobe.Forinstance,weneedtherainforest,thelungsofEarth,toremain,

sowhatcanwedoonadailybasistopreventitsdevastation?Ourlifestyle,greed,andignorancearelurkingbehindthemaskofprogressandprosperity.

Wehavedividedthebookintosevenchapters,eachrepresentedbyacolorof therainbow.At the endof each chapteryouwill find seven challenges to giveyouanudge in the right direction. It is action that matters and sometimes we needsomeonetokick-startusinordertotransformthoughtintoaction.

“Natureisourmother.Becausewelivecutofffromher,wegetsick.Someofuslivein boxes called apartments, very high above the ground. Around us are onlycement,metal,andhardthingslikethat.Ourfingersdonothaveachancetotouchthesoil;wedon’tgrowlettuceanymore.BecausewearesodistantfromourMotherEarth,webecomesick.Thatiswhyweneedtogooutfromtimetotimeandbeinnature. It isvery important.Weandourchildrenshouldbe in touchagainwithMotherEarth.”

–THICHNHATHANH(zenBuddhistmonk,teacher,andpeaceactivist)

AboutTimeTimeisoftheessenceforus,andwecannotregainlosttime.Giveofyour

time;it’sthemostappreciatedgiftofall.Enjoyeverymoment—eachmomentisamiracle in itself;all thingsareso intelligently interconnected.Therearenocoincidences.

Thisbookisnotintendedtomakeyoufeelguiltyorpointoutwhatyoudowrong.

ThinkBig,ActSmall,StartNow!In the documentary Home, filmmaker Yann Arthus-Bertrand

photographedtheearthfromabove.HeshowshowquicklyourEarthisabletorecoverifwehumanschoosetohelpher.Ahopeinspiringfilmindeed!

Aboutthemovie,whichyoucanwatchforfreeonYouTube:“Wearelivinginexceptionaltimes.Scientiststellusthatwehavetenyears

to change thewaywe live, avert the depletion of natural resources and thecatastrophicevolutionof theearth’s climate.The stakesarehigh forusandour children. Everyone should take part in the effort, andHome has beenconceived to take amessageofmobilizationout to everyhumanbeing.Forthispurpose,Homeneedstobefree.”

“Bethechangeyouwanttoseeintheworld.”–MahatmaGandhi

Havefunontheway.Spreadingjoy,hope,faith,andloveonourpathtoagreenerlifestylewillhelpmaketheworldanevenmoremagicalplace.Replacesadness,anger,andboredomwithjoyandlivefullyeveryday.

P–ositiveU–candoit!R–ealityE–ternal

WHOWEARE

EricaPalmcrantzAzizAGE:36FAMILY:HusbandSamanddaughter,SagaILIVEIN:Gothenburg,Sweden,PlanetEarthIWORK:Toinspirepeopletoeatandlivemorewithrawfood.Youshouldusethispowerfultool,food,toliveinadeeperconnectionwithyourself,andbegratefulforwhateverthereis.Rawfoodisalifestylewhereyoumakebetterchoicesforyourself,yourbrothersandsisters,andforthismagicalplanet.IDREAMOF:Everyheartachievingtheserenityoflove,peace,andacceptance.Peaceonearthbeginsinyourownheart.MYVISION:Ihopetolivemorein,from,andaroundNature.Iwanttogrowandeatmyownfood,drinkspringwater,andwalkbarefooteveryday.

SUSANNEABOUTERICA:Sheisanamazingwomanwithtotalhonestyandlotsoflove,whomakesothersfeelfabulous.Fewpeoplehaveasmuchwisdomasthiswomanpossesses.

SusanneHovenäsAGE:44FAMILY:HusbandHåkanandtwodaughters,NannaandNellyILIVEIN:Stockholm,Sweden,PlanetEarthIWORKAS:AjournalistandeditorofoneofthelargesthealthmagazinesinSweden,whosebasicmessageisthatbyeatinggoodfood,gettingamoveon,andtakingcareofNature,wefeelbetterandmayhealourselvesfromdiseases.IDREAMOF:Movingclosertonatureandusingmywordstocontinuetoinspireotherstodiscoverthevalueofshiftingthefocusfromthebraintotheheartandseethateverythingisconnected.MYVISION:Ihopetobecomemoreawareandacceptingofthingsbeingjustastheyshouldbe.Itrynottojudgewithoutseeingthepossibilitiesineachmoment,andkeepdoingthebestIcanforMotherEarth.

ERICAABOUTSUSANNE:Sheisawonderfulwoman,burstingwithenergyandsharinglifeinabeautifulandgenerousway.Mrs.Inspirationishermiddlename!

CHAPTER1

OURWORLD

HOWCANWEACTNOW?

HowfaresourMotherEarth?

Theenvironmentreflectsourhealth

Actionnow

Ourchildren—thenextgeneration

Slowdown!

Livesimpler

WHATISHAPPENINGTOTHEWORLD?•Climatechangeandglobalwarming•Meltingpolaricecaps•Evermorepoisonsonlandandinoceans•Beesfacingextinction•Chemicalcocktails•Biodiversityseriouslythreatened•30percentofarablelandmoreorlessuseless•Increasing

contaminationofpotablewatersources•Oceansbecomingmoreacidic•Devastationofrainforests•Depletionofresourceslikeoil,metals,phosphor,forests,etc•Risingfoodprices•Socialunrest•Financialcrises

HowfaresourMotherEarth?

ThesymbiosisofManandEarthWearepartofNatureandcannotdefyitslaws.Manispartoftheecosystem

whereplantsandanimalsliveinthebalanceofaconstantcycle.Anecosystemisbasedinsymbiosis—coexistence—whereallpartsare

necessary.Everythinghangstogetherinonegreatwhole.Duringthelasthundredyearsmanhasupsetthebalanceofallecosystemsina

remarkableway.Soonwewillreachthesocalled‘tippingpoint,’thatcriticalpointofnoreturnasfarastheworldclimateisconcerned.Thatiswhenthereallycatastrophicchangeswillbecomeinevitable.Butlet’snotdespair;togetherwecanhelpprevent‘tippingpoints.’

EnvironmentalproblemsEnvironmentalproblemsaresteadilyincreasinginspiteofmoreactiveand

organizedeco-movementsthaneverbefore.Aninternationallyskewedagriculturalpolicysubsidizesthosegrowerswhousefertilizersandherbicideswithenormoussums,eventhoughthisisharmfulandhasfarreachingnegativeeffectsforbothhumansandtheearth.MotherEarthisthebasisforourexistenceandshereactsstronglytowhatishappening.Algaebloom,coraldeath,andtheabnormallyhighnumberofhurricanesareonlyafewsignsthatthenaturalecologicalsystemisinextremeimbalance.Theozonelayerisalarminglythinnerandthegreenhouseeffecthasbroughtlongperiodsofrainand,forthatmatter,draughts,floods,andothernaturalcatastrophesaroundtheworld.Cleanwaterandcleanairarescarceinmanyplaces.Duringthelastfortyyearshalfofthefreshwaterreserveshavebeendepletedandintwenty-fiveyearstheywillbehalvedagain.

FROGSINHOTWATER

Oursituationmaybelikenedtowhatiscalledthefrog-effect.Whenafrogisplacedinajarwithcoldwaterthatisslowlyheated,thefrogremains.Itgraduallygetsusedtotherisingtemperatureuntilitisfinallycooked.Butifyoudropafrogintoboilingwateritwouldjumpoutatonce.Wearejustlikethefrogs—weadjustandgetusedtoit,butwhowantstobeboiled?

Bees—crucialtoourfutureDidyouknowthateverythirdbiteoffoodyoueatispollinatedbyahoney

bee?Duringthelastdecadeithasbeenreportedthatthehoneybeeisunfortunatelyfacingextinctionandwithoutbeesourhumanexistenceisinjeopardy.Wesimplydependonthebeesandbumblebeestoflyaroundandhelppollinatetheplants.Thegeneticmodificationofplantsispartofthisthreattothebees.

Geneticallymodifiedorganisms(GMOs)areplantsthatarecreatedbybiotechnologytoberesistanttobiocides—butcanstillcarryvariouspesticidesthatharmbeesandotherinsects.

Ithasnotbeenproventhatgeneticallymodifiedvegetablesandgrainsarehurtingpeopledirectly,butitmayleadtothedeathofthebees.CriticsmaintainthatitisnotsufficientlyresearchedyetifGMOsareaffectinghumans.

Whatishappeningisthatbeesflyingfreelyfindnectarcontainingpesticidetwomilesawayfromtheirhive.ThusthebeesthemselvesmaycausethespreadofbiocidesfromGMO-cropstocropsthatarenotgeneticallymodified.

Theenvironmentreflectsourhealth

TheenvironmentandourlifestylearedirectreflectionsofhowourMotherEarthreallyfeels.Manypeopletodayarenotintouchwiththemselvesandinsteadofseeingourownuniquenesswetrycopyingothers.

Inthewesternworldanonymity,efficiency,andprofitcomebeforeethics,morals,andvaluesinasocialinterplay.Wehaveforgottenwhatitisliketotrulyliveandenjoylife,withoutstressanddistractions.Wedon’thavetimetoappreciatethelittlethingsinourdailylives,andwearesointentonmakingmoneythatweforgetourownhealth.

Ourdailylivestodaylooktotallydifferentfromwhattheywereahundredyearsago,andinspiteofInternetandglobalizationwearemoreisolatedfromeachothernowthanbefore.Wehandoverourchildrentosomeoneelsetobewiththemduringthedaywhilewegotowork.Whenwepickthemupintheafternoonitis“thehourofhell”whenthechildrenaretiredandcrankybeforetheygetsupper.AfterwardsmanyofuscollapsepassivelybythecomputerorTVtobefedloadsofinformation,tomorrow’stopicofconversation,upsettingusunnecessarily.TVs,computers,andtelephonesalsoupsetourdiurnalrhythm;lackofsleepandbeingtiredisadangertosociety.Thebluelightofthemonitorsfoolourbodiesanddepriveusoftherestorativesleepweneedinordertolivealifeofhighquality.

Wemustbecomeawareofourlifestyle,breakdestructivepatterns,andrespectMotherEarthasweoncedid.

ThemoneygoesroundandroundMoneyisthedrivingengine,constantlycirculating.Weseewhathappensin

ourmodernfinancialworldwhencirculationstops.Somehaveloadsofmoneyandothershavenone.Ifthemoneythatisheldbythefewshouldstartflowingagain,wewouldhaveamorejustworld.Butmoneyisnoteverything.ItisourtimehereonEarththatisthemostimportant.Atimethatislimitedandatimemanyofusspenddoingthingswe’drathernot,justsothatwecanbuystuffwemaynottrulyneed.Thatistimewecanneverregain.Howmanyofusthink:ifI

maynottrulyneed.Thatistimewecanneverregain.Howmanyofusthink:ifIonlyhadmoney,Icouldrealizemydreams.Or:whenIretireIwillhavetimeandmoneytoenjoylife.

Ourchildrengrowupwithoutusbeingquitepresent,aswekeepworryingaboutmoney.Buthowmanythingsdowe,andourfamilies,reallyneed?Carpediemandlet’strytospendourtimedoingthingsclosetoourhearts,asoftenaspossible.

CountingthecostWeneedanewwayofthinkingwhenitcomestotheexpense,time,andwhat

wepayfor.ItissaidthatTimeisMoney,anditistrueinmanycases.Butifwespendeighttotenhoursadayatworkandareathomewiththefamilyonlytwohoursintheevenings,wemaybespendingmoreonthingswedon’tnecessarilyneed.Ifwecutbackonworkandspendfourhourswiththefamily,ourchildrenwillbealothappierandatthesametimewemayconsumelessandsparetheenvironment.Howdoyouwishtospendyourtime?

Whenweareabouttobuysomething,let’sstopandaskourselveshowitgothere,howitwasmade,andhowthepeoplewhoproduceditaredoing.Thecloserourrelationtoaproductis,thebetterwetakecareofit,andthemoregratefulwearetohaveit.Itwillnotbeathrow-away.AlwayslookforFairTradeandecologicallabeling.

SavemoneywiselyWhensavingmoneyweshouldcheckwhereandhowourmoneyisinvested.

Thereareethicalfunds,supportingsustainabilityandfairtradethatwecanchoose,ratherthaninvestinginalcohol,tobacco,gaming,pornography,weapons,drugs,andtheThirdWorld.

TherearealsoEco-banks,whereoursavingsaremanagedmoretransparentlyandresponsiblybypeoplewithecological,social,andculturalvalues.Allloansandcreditsarepublishedintheirbrochureandwebsite.

“Man.Becausehesacrificeshishealthinordertomakemoney.Thenhesacrificesmoneytorecuperatehishealth.Andthenheissoanxiousaboutthefuturethathedoesnotenjoythepresent;theresultbeingthathedoesnotliveinthepresentorthefuture;helivesasifheisnevergoingtodie,andthenhedieshavingneverreallylived.”

–TheDalaiLama,whenaskedwhatsurprisedhimthemostabouthumanity

ActionNow

ThereisbothhopeandpotentialtosaveandcorrectwhatwehumanshavedonetoourMotherEarth,butwemusthurry.Weallneedtotakesmallstepsinthesamedirection.

Weneedtofindsustainablesolutionsinallareas:economy,development,technology,consumption,globalization,travel,research,andeducation…andthesolutionsweworkoutshouldpreferablyendureforsevengenerations.

WENEED:•anewvisionofManaspartofNature,whereeveryonerespectsnatureand

itsneedforrecovery.•torealizethatsustainableagricultureisacornerstoneinallproduction.•tominimizeemissionsfromoursoils.•tocompostleftoverfood.•asustainablehumanwastemanagement.•todrasticallyreduceconsumption.•newsustainabletechnology.•todecreaseemissionsofcarbondioxidesandpollutants.•toincreaselocalfoodproductionandminimizeitstransportation.•toseeourpartinthewhole,theeternalcycle;tosharewiththosewhohave

less.

TIP!globalreporting.orglistscompaniesthatdarereporttheirownworkingconditions,suchaschildlaborforinstance.

Children—thenewgeneration

Asadultsandasparentswehaveahugetaskinraisingourchildren.Wemustguidethemintherightdirectionandsetgoodexamples.Childrendoaswedo,notaswesay.Ifwerecycle,thechildwilllearntodoso,too.Ifwedon’tbuyunnecessarythings,theywon’teither.Ifweshopatfleamarketsandsecondhandstores,thechildrenwillseetheadvantagesandlearntoappreciatethemtoo.

ItstartsinthewombAswomenwehavetobeespeciallyalerttopoisonsintheenvironmentandin

thefoodweeat.Ourbodiesstoretoxinswhichthenarepassedontothechildviatheumbilicalcord.Researchhasshownthatanewbornbabymayhaveabout300chemicaltoxinsinitsbody,frommercurytoamalgam,fromhormone-damagingsubstancestohaircoloringagents,andtracesofmedications.

Avarieddietoforganicallygrownfruitandvegetablesisbestduringpregnancy,andsoistheneedforrest.Thearrivalofanewchilddemandsmentalandphysicalpreparation.

Everythingweeatalsobecomesthebaby’sfood.Samethingwithbreastfeeding.Ifwesmoke,thetarandothertoxinsinthecigarettepassdirectlyontothechild.Itsorgansaresosmallandhavetoworksohard.Avoidgivingthechildsugarandgluten,andfeedithomemadefoodasmuchaspossiblethefirstfewyears—thenweknowexactlywhatthechildgets.

Cleanandtoxin-freefoodshelpthebabytodevelopandgrowstrong.

YouthsOurchildrenandyouthsaretheoneswhowillinherittheearth.That’swhyit

isimportantthatwe,asparents,butalsotheschools,takeresponsibilityandstarttalkingaboutwhatishappeningtoourbodieswhenwelivethewaywedo.

Addictiontogamblingamongyouthshasincreasedandmanyyoungpeoplestayupallnightdrinkingenergydrinks.Thislifestylecanevenbecomeadangertotheparentsifthekidsarenotallowedtoplay.Hormonalbalanceinteenagegirlsisdisruptedbyjunkfood,sugar,andcoloringagentstheyingestviafast

girlsisdisruptedbyjunkfood,sugar,andcoloringagentstheyingestviafastfoodandotherquickfixfood.Atworsttheymaydevelopaneatingdisorderinterferingwiththeproperdevelopmentoftheirbrainsandbodies.Childobesityisontheriseallovertheworld,asischilddepression.MoreandmorechildrenandyouthsarediagnosedwithType2diabetes,alsoknownasoldagediabetes.Source:care.diabetesjournals.org

SIMPLEEVERYDAYSUGGESTIONSFORBABY’SCARE:•Usewaterandwashclothswhenchangingdiapers–avoidWet-wipes.•Useclothdiapers.•Exchangeplasticpacifiersforeco-friendlypacifiers.•Exchangeplasticbottlesforglassbottles.•Avoidplasticplatesandcutlerythatleachtoxinswhenheated.•Replacetherubberduckwithnaturalmaterialbathtoys.•Buyonlyclothesofnaturalandecologicaltextiles.Remembertowashthembeforewearing.•Letthechildgowithoutadiaperasoftenaspossible–atricktopottytrainthemsooner.•Washthechildwithwater–keepingtheskin’snaturalph-balance.•Useonlynaturaloilslikealmondandcoconutoil.•Washthechild’shairseldomtomaintainthehair’snaturaloils.•Readuponoldhomecuresforalternativewaystotreatasickchild.•Avoidbuyingnewfurniturefortheyoungestasitmaycontainflameretardants.•Letthechildhelppreparefood—givingitanincreasedawarenessoftheingredientsandagreater

appreciationforthefood.Itisalsoalotmorefunforbothparentsandchild.

DowhatwecanWewantwhatisbestforourchildren.Loveiswhattheyneedmostofall,and

thatweareawareofourparenthood.Stresshasanunhealthyeffectonourchildren,sogettingallworkedupaboutallthetoxinstheyareexposedtomayactuallybeas‘poisonous’asthetoxinsthemselves.Wemustdowhatwecanwhereweare;learnmoreandbecomemoreawareofhowthingsaffectourchildren.

Ithasbecomemoreobviousthatherbicidesdoaffectchildren.Thesprayingofcropsisarathernewconceptandsincewecannotgobackintimeandseehowchemicalsinfoodproductionaffecthumanhealth,itisdifficulttodaytoscientificallyprovethenegativehealtheffects.However,parentshavenoticedhowADHD,autism,allergies,andsleepdifficultiesarerelatedtowhetherthechildreneatorganicorconventionally-grownproduce.

Plastictoxinsintoysarenotnoticeableinthesamewayuntilthechildisabit

Plastictoxinsintoysarenotnoticeableinthesamewayuntilthechildisabitolder,whenthetoxinsmaydisruptthehormonalbalance.

Heavymetalsandvariousagents,suchasflameretardants,alsoinfluencethehealthofthechildbutremaininvisibletooureyes.Itisthereforeimportanttobealertwhenwebuynewfurniture,choosehowwewishtolive,andwhatkindoffoodwefeedourchildren.

Readmoreabouthomeandbelongingsonpage45.

TIP!InsteadofbuyingnewBarbiedollsandothertoys,makeatriptoafleamarketorthriftstorewhereyoumayfindgooddealsforthechildren.

FindyourequilibriumItisaboutfindingabalancebetweendoingwhatmakesusfeelgoodandwhat

worksinourlives.Startingwithourselvesandwhatispossibletodowhereweliveandwork.InNewYorkCity,withitspollutionbeingsomuchworsethanoutinthecountry,weareperhapsmorecarefultoeateco-friendlyfoodandavoidcertainareasorhourswhentheexhaustfumesareattheirworst.Havingfastfoodonceinawhileisokayifweusuallymanagetobuyorganicproduceandprepareourownfoodasmuchaspossible.

DOWNSHIFTINGDownshiftingmeansexchangingoutwardwealthwithinnerwealth.Whataremoneyandpossessionsworthiftheyrobusoftimeforwhatreallymeanssomething?Whatismeaningfultoyouifyoucannot

worthiftheyrobusoftimeforwhatreallymeanssomething?Whatismeaningfultoyouifyoucannotslowdownandenjoyit?

Slowdown!

Asacounteractiontothestressfulexistencemanyofusexperience,severalslow-movementshavearisen.AmongthefirstwasSlow-food,foundedin1989inItalytocounterthespreadoffastfoodchainsandtheeverincreasingtempopermeatingsociety.

TodaySlow-foodhasbranchedoutacrosstheworldtomanyotherareasofourdailylives:slowgardening,slowdancing,slowshopping,etc.Butyoudonothavetojoinamovementtoslowdown.Takeawalkinsteadofdriving,readabookinsteadofturningontheTV,eatahome-cookedmealinsteadoftakeout,spendtimedoingwhatyouenjoyinyourfreetime,learnyogaormeditation,laughwithnearanddear,hangouttogether,talkaboutlife’sgreatmysteriesoveracupoftea.Orwhynotshiftdownanddownsize?Ifyouchoosetodoeverythingonasmallerscale;workless,haveasmallerhouse,orshopless,thenyouwillhavemoretimeandopportunitytochoosehowyouwishtospendyourtime.

LiveSimpler!

Ithasnowbeenproven.Toomuchstuffmakesussick,saytheauthorsofthebookLifeatHomeintheTwenty-FirstCentury,publishedbyUniversityofCalifornia,UCLA(2012).Thisbookistheresultofafive-yearresearchproject,followingthirty-twomiddle-classfamiliesinSouthernCaliforniatoseehowtheycopewithourconsumersociety.

Itturnsoutthatafteronlyafewyearsthefamilieswhohadrecentlymovedinhadfilledtheirclosets,drawers,andgaragewithsomuchstuffthatthecarhadtobeparkedinthestreet,andthatitwasnearlyimpossibletogetintothekid’sroomtocleanup.Intheinterviewsthefamilieshaveadmittedtheyfeelstressedthattheydon’thavespacebecauseofallthestuff.Whentheresearchersmeasuredtheparents’levelsofthestresshormonecortisol,theyfoundheightenedlevelsinthemotherswhentheyattemptedtoclearuptheirclutteredhomes.

SEVENCHALLENGES:

1.WatchthemovieHomeonYoutube.com

2.Lookathowyouaresavingtodayandwhereanymoneyisinvested.Askquestionsatthebankandmakechangesifitdoesnotmatchyourvalues.

3.Buyonlyecologicallyproducedfoodforoneweek.

4.Nexttimeyouplantobuysomething,askyourselfifyoureallyneedit.DoIhavesomethingsimilarathome?CanIdowithoutthispurchase?

5.ReadabookoralovelymagazineonenightaweekinsteadofwatchingTV.

6.Makeaninventory;canyoucutbackonworkhours?Listtheeffectsonyourconsumptionvs.yourtimewiththefamily.

7.Figurethreewaysthatyoucancontributeonalocalorgloballevel.Forexample:volunteerwithhomelesspeople,orsendingmoneytochildren’saidorganizations.

CHAPTER2

THEHOMEMAKINGSLOWANDSIMPLECHANGES

Home—oursanctuary

HowtoliveWabiSabi&FengShui

Stufftoavoid

Haveahealthyhouse

Bettercleaning—cleansuggestions!

Reducewaste

Fromroomtoroom

Cleansex

Dressmoreeco-friendly

CHAPTER3

THEBODYGOINGFROMCHEMICALSTONATURAL

OurSkin

Questionablesubstances

Thereasonfornaturalcosmetics

Organiclabeling

Skin–upcloseandpersonal

DIYskincareproducts

Buyorganic

TIP!Amashedavocadoisalovelymoisturizerfortheface.

CHAPTER4

THEGARDENHOWTOFARMANYWHERE

Inretrospect

Plantwhereyoulive!

Urbanfarming

Tomowornottomow

Slowgardening

Otherwaysofgardening

Inretrospect

About100yearsagoagriculturewentfromthesmallscaletothelargewherethelatterusesfertilizersandbiocidestoincreasethecropyields,albeitqualitywaslostintheshuffle.Conventionalcultivationshowclearlyhowthesoilsleachminerals,anddecreasenutrientlevels.

Tomakeplantsevenmoreresistanttodiseaseandpeststheyarenowgeneticallymanipulatedinordertowithstandallthebiocidestowhichtheyareexposed.Wehavenowseenthatweedshavebecomeresistanttoherbicideswhichmeansnewherbicideswillneedtobedeveloped.Wehavenoideaofhowthesenewconcoctionswillaffectnature.

Inmanygreenhousesplantsgrowwithonlyanutrientsolutionandneverseethesun.Fruitispickedunripeandtravelslongdistancesbeforereachingtheconsumer.

Conventional,orchemicalcultivation,usesinorganicnutrientsandbiocides,likeherbicides,fungicidesandpesticides,hormones,andGMOs.GMOisshortforGeneticallyModifiedOrganisms.AGMOmaybeaplant,ananimal,oramicro-organismthathashaditsgenesalteredbymaninanartificialwaywhichcannothappennaturallyorbyordinaryplantbreeding,suchascross-pollinationorhybridization.GMOmeansthatyoucan,onthemolecularlevel,transfergenesfromonespeciestoanother,oralterasinglegenegoverningaspecifictrait.Soy,canola,corn,andcottonareamongthecropsthataregeneticallymodifiedinmanypartsoftheworld,ifnotorganicallygrown.

ManyareconvincedthatGMOsthreatenbiologicaldiversity.ThepollenofGMOcropsmayspreadtobothcultivatedandwildplantsofsimilarspecies,threateningorganicfarming.

BiotechnologycompanieshavedevelopedGMOcropsandthesecompanieshavepatentedplantsandanimals.Thefarmerbecomesdependentonafewmultinationalcorporations.

Plantsarefedbyaddingnutrientsdirectlytotheplantwhichleadstoanimbalanceinthemicro-organismsinthesoil.Imbalanceleadsinturntopestinfestationsandmorepesticidesareapplied.Thetoxinsharmthemicro-organismsandmoretoxinsareused.Ithasbecomeaviciouscircle.

Evermoresoilisdestroyedinthisway.Closeto30percentofallarablesoilsaredepleted.Soilshavelost80–90percentoftheirmineralsin70years.Conventionalfarmingemitsfourtimesmorephosphorousandnitrogenthan

organicfarming.Asanexample,40percentofDenmark’sgroundwatercontainstheherbicideRoundup(source:www.monsanto.no).Thisinturnleadstosickanimalsandpeople,whichcausesalotofsufferinginboth.

Eachindividualhastotakeastandinthismatter.Howdowewanttheworldtolookin70years?Howdowewanttofeedourselves—withtoxinsornaturalcropsfromahealthyandhappyearth?Thechoiceisours!

Plantwhereyoulive!

Doyoulivein…

…anapartmentoracondo?–PlantonasmallscaleinoldPETbottlesandhanginthewindow.Sproutor

plantinpots,seepage105.

…anapartmentwithabalcony?–Amini-greenhouseisperfectforthebalcony.Potsworkwell,too.Useyour

owncompostsoilorbuyeco-soil.Keepinmindthatyourplantsneedwateringeachoreveryotherday.Spices,herbs,berries,greens,andexoticfruitcaneasilybegrownonabalcony.

Rememberthatplantswithlargerootsystems,liketomatoesandpotatoes,requiremuchmoresoilandlargepots,from1to1.5feetdeep,whileherbs,strawberries,andradishescanmanagein4to6inches.

•Pottedsoildriesoutfasterthanthatinthegarden,sobesuretowater.•Choosepotswithdrainingholes,ordrillthemyourself,soexcesswatercan

drainoffandnotdrowntheplant.•After3–4weeksthenutrientsinthesoilareusedup.Fertilizewithwater-

solubleplantfeedaccordingtospecifications.Ordinaryplantfeedworkswell.

•Ifyouliveonastreetwithheavytraffic,justshowertheleavesiftheygetdirty,andtheplantwillbehealthierandtastier!

…ahousewithagarden?Growyourownvegetables!Makethemostoftheharvestfromfruittreesand

berrybushes.

SoilGoodsoilisteemingwithlife.It’salivewithbacteria,fungi,dewworms,and

otherusefullittlecritters—about2lbsofthemineachcubicyardofsoil!They

otherusefullittlecritters—about2lbsofthemineachcubicyardofsoil!Theylivebybreakingdownorganicmaterial,witheredflowersinthecompost,leavesontheground,oradeadhareintheforest,totheendproductsofcarbondioxideandwater.Intheprocessnutrientsarereleasedandvariousorganiccombinations(humus)areformed.Forthesoilorganismstobeabletodelivernourishmenttotheplantstheyneedconstantfeeding—likecompost,gardenwaste,grasscuttings,andbarkmulch.Thentheyrestoreareserveofnutrientsinthesoilthattherootsuseasneeded.

“Wehavetopractiseawarenessofeachthingwedo,ifwewanttosaveourMotherEarth,andourselvesandourchildrenaswell.Forexample,whenwelookintoourgarbage,wecanseelettuce,cucumbers,tomatoesandflowers.Whenwethrowabananapeelintothegarbage,weareawarethatitisabananapeelthatwearethrowingoutandthatitwillbetransformedintoafloweroravegetablesoon.Thisisexactlythepractiseofmeditation.Whenwethrowaplasticbagintothegarbage,weknowthatitisdifferentfromabananapeel.Itwilltakealongtimetobecomeaflower.Throwingaplasticbagintothe

garbage,IknowIamthrowingaplasticbagintothegarbage.ThatawarenessalonehelpsustoprotecttheEarth,makepeaceandtakecareoflifeinthepresentmomentandinthefuture.Ifweareaware,naturallywewilltrytousefewerplasticbags.Thisisanactofpeace,abasicpeaceaction.”

–ThichNhatHanh

CompostCompostsoilisthebestsoil!Itgivesourplantsasoilfullofnutrients,enriches

theground,makingheavysoillighterandlightsoilheavier.Itreducesbiocidesthatmaycomewiththesoilwebuy.

IfyourcommunityhasaSolidWasteProgram,followtheirrecommendations.Ifyouhaveagardenyoucanputmostofyourgardenwasteintoit,butavoidnoxiousweedsandinvasivespecies.Kitchenscraps,likevegetablematter,teabags,usedcoffeefilters,andeggshellsaregood,butnocookedfood,meat,orfishleftoversastheyattractrats,raccoons,andevenlargeranimalslikebears.

Formillionsofyearsnaturehasdevelopedanamazingsystemforalllivingorganisms.Everythinghangstogetherinonehugeecologicalsystem,whereallpartsdependoneachother—SYMBIOSIS.Wehumans,andtheanimals,liveinthiseco-systemandhavetodosowithoutcausingtoomuchdamage.Natureisbalancedifwedonotdisruptitsabilitytonourishwhatisgrowing.Wildplantshaveoptimalnutrientsandbiophotons.*Whenwecultivateandaddmanure,thenaturalprocessisdiminished.Whenwethentakeastepfurtherandaddchemicalstotheplants,weruinthewholesymbiosis.Modernagriculturewithchemicalfertilizersisonlyabout150yearsold.GMOsandirradiatedproduceappearedonly15yearsago.Itisarelativelyshorttime,butduringthisshorttimemodernagriculturehascausedNatureandMotherEarthsubstantialharm.

*Biophotons,orultraweakphotonemissionsofbiologicalsystems,areweakelectromagneticwavesintheopticalrangeofthespectrum—inotherwords:light.Alllivingcellsofplants,animalsandhumanbeingsemitbiophotonswhichcannotbeseenbythenakedeye,butcanbemeasuredbyspecialequipmentdevelopedbyGermanresearchers.

Urbanfarming

UrbanfarmingUrbanfarmingwillbecomeanecessityinthefuture.Itisawaytoreducethe

vulnerabilityofcitylifeandweneedtoutilizeallavailablelandinthelargercitiesforcultivating.Wearefacingacrisisofresourceswithenergyshortages,whileatthesametimetheglobaleconomyisteetering.Thefoodchainisfragile,andifonelinkfailswegowithoutfood.

Evenifurbanfarmscannotmakecitiescompletelyself-sufficient,theyarestillanimportantcontribution,notleastforthemind.Apalletcollarwithcarrotsinthemiddleoftownmaymakeusstopandthinkaboutthingslikelocallygrownfood,foodproduction,andfoodsecurity.

FoodsecurityFoodsecurityisaboutguaranteeingpeopleaccesstofoodandcontrolofthe

production.“Visionsarebetterenginesofchangethanthreats,andrealchangebeginsat

thelocallevel.”SosaysBjörnForsberg,authorofTimeofTransition,inwhichhedescribesseveraltransitionprojectshehasvisitedaroundtheworld.

InoneofAmerica’scitiesthereare65,000abandonedhousesand46percentunemploymentaftertheautomotiveindustrymovedaway—andwiththemmanyothercompanies,amongthemallthebiggrocerychains.Insteadabout800communalurbanfarmshavesprouted,morethananyotherbigcityinthewesternworld.Apartfromproducingfood,urbanfarmingalsocreatesupwardspiralsbyofferingtheunemployedsomethingtodoandimprovingthesocialclimate.Somemaintainthattheurbanfarmshavelessenedviolenceandcriminality.

InHavana,Cuba’scapitalwithits2.5millioninhabitants,44,000todayworkfull-timeinurbanfarming.In2005thesefarmsproduced12ozofvegetablesperinhabitanteachday.Comparethatnumbertotherecommendeddailyintakeofvegetableswhichis10½oz.

Urbanfarmingcreatesanecologicallearningopportunity,wherepeople,apartfromfarming,learnaboutnature’seco-systemanditsbenefits,theimportanceof

fromfarming,learnaboutnature’seco-systemanditsbenefits,theimportanceofbiodiversity,andaboutthecityandpolitics.Itmakespeoplecaremoreaboutenvironmentalquestions,whichisimportantforthewholeplanet.Itcanalsocreategreaterunderstandingfortheinconvenient,environmentalpoliticaldecisionsthatmustbemade.

TENSTEPSTOAPRODUCTIVEVEGETABLEGARDEN

1.SELECTVARIETIES.Vegetablesdon’tthriveinjustanyplace.Askyourlocalnurserywhichvarietiesaresuitableforyourarea.Theremayberesistantvarietiesthatcanhandlediseasesinyourarea,oryieldabetterharvestinyourclimatezone.

2.PLANTATTHERIGHTTIME.Normallyitsaysontheseedenvelopewhentosow.Insomeregionsthegrowingseasonisveryshortandyoumusttimeitpreciselyforanabundantharvest.Inotherregionsyoumaybeabletosowseveraltimesduringthesummerandhavealongerharvesttime.Thebestthingtodoistoaskforadviceatalocalnurseryorgardenstore.

3.PREPARETHESOILPROPERLYBEFORESOWING.Useplentyofcompostorfertilizer.Ifyoudon’talreadyusefertilizercontainingnitrogen,useonethatdoes.

4.SOWTHERIGHTWAY.Sowtheseedsatthedepthanddistancerecommendedontheseedenvelope.Vegetablessowntooclosedon’tyieldasmuch.Itisbettertospreadthemout.Ifyouplantseedlingsmakesuretheyarenotplantedtoodeep,ortheymayrot.Makeaholejustsotherootsarecovered.

5.WATERPROPERLY.Keepthesoilevenlymoistsotheplantsdon’tdryout,butdon’twatertoomucheither.Waterdeeplyandletthesoildryoutabitbeforewateringagain.Irregularwateringwilllessentheyieldofmostvegetablesandmaymakecucumberandlettucetastebitter.Thebestresultisachievedbyinstallinganirrigationsystemwithatimer.Seepinghosesworkwellandwillnotsoaktheleaves.

6.FERTILIZEREGULARLY.Maintainingisimportantforalmostallkindsofvegetables.Mostofthemneednitrogeneveryfourthtosixthweek.Becarefulnottooverdoitthough,assomeveggies,especiallytomatoes,willproduceless.

7.COMPOST.A3-inch-thicklayeroforganicmattercoveringtherootslessenstheriskofweedsandhelpstopreventdrasticchangesinthemoisturecontentofthesoil.

8.WEEDS.Weedscompetewiththevegetablesforthewater,nutrients,andsunlightthusreducingtheyield.Pulltheweedsoutbyhandandhoethesoiloftentokeeptheweedsincheckasmuchaspossible.

9.HARVESTOFTEN.Manyvegetablesandespeciallybeans,squash,peppers,andcucumbersstopproducingifyoudon’tpickthemoften.Pickeverysecondorthirdday.Ifyoucannoteateverythingyoupick,sharewithfriendsandneighbors.

10.KEEPPESTSATBAY.Manykindsofinsectsenjoyfreshvegetablesasmuchasyoudo.Watchfordamagecausedbyinsectsandprotectyourplantswithpesticidesmadeforvegetables.

Tomowornottomow,thatisthequestion

Thoseofuswholiveinahouseprobablyhavealawninthebackyard.It’sgreatforkidsandpets,butitneedsmowing,weeding,andwatering.Whynotturnoverthesodinhalfthelawn,oraquarter,orjustasmallcorner?Digitup!

Oneofthenicestandmostrewardingwaysofenjoyingthegardenistogrowyourownvegetables.Thegratefulnessyoufeelasyouharvesttomatoes,beans,andcucumbersfortheday’smealisintensifiedbyknowingyougetthefreshest,tastiest,andhealthiestfoodMotherNaturecanprovide.

Growingvegetablesisnotverydifferentfromanyotherkindofgardening.Thereishoweverlessroomformistakes.Tosucceedwithveggiesonemustbeconsistent—toensurethatthegrowingconditionsaremaintainedthroughouttheseason.Iftheplantsdryoutevenforashortperiod,oryouforgettofertilize,alargeportionoftheharvestwillbelost.

TIP!Makeyourownorganicspraytofightaphids.Mixsoapandwaterinaspraybottle.

Slowgardening

Slowgardeningisabouthavingadazzlinggardenorbalcony—atalowcostandleastpossibleeffectonclimate.

Slowgardeningispartofthesamephilosophyasslowfood.Toletthingstaketheirtimeandtotakepleasureinthefactthatthingsdotaketime;inthehome-grownflowersandvegetables,butalsoinwatchingthemgrowandblossom.Itissimplytheoppositeof‘extrememakeover’andshort-cuts.Themessageissimple:Youdonotbuyagarden,youcreateit.Youareworkingwithnature,notagainstit.Slowgardeningisaboutsoilimprovement,seedsandpropagation,re-claiming,andrecycling,howtoharvestandcompost,planandselectplants.

TIP!ReadmoreinthebookTheThriftyGardenerbyAlysFowler.

Otherwaysofgardening

LendyourgardenIfyoudon’thavetimeoropportunitytogarden,lendittosomeonewhohas.

Itdoesn’thavetobethewholegarden,butjustasmallpartofit.Howtheagreementisformulatedisuptothetwoofyou.Perhapsyousplittheharvest?Perhapstheuserwillhaveaccesstothegardenonlyatcertaintimessoyouandyourfamilycanenjoyitasusual?

Startaco-opThemorethemerrier,andmorepeoplemakesitmucheasiertostartagarden.

Startaco-opandsharethetasks,thecostsand,ofcourse,theharvest.

CommunalplotsIfyouhaveagreenthumbanddon’thaveasmallplot,rentorborrowone.

CollectthewindfallsHaveyougotmorefruitthanyoucanhandle?Sharewithothers.Donateto

thehomeless,restaurants,daycare,schools,orputoutabasketbythesidewalkforotherstoenjoy.Ifyouhavetime,trytousethefruit.Itdoesn’tcostanythingandyouwillenjoythememoriesofsummerandearlyfallallwinter.Besides,thefruitislocallygrown,organic,andhasmorenutrientsthanthefruityouwouldotherwisehavetobuyinthestore.

Youcanfreeze,preserve,dry,orcookfruit.Wrapeachappleinnewspaperandstoreinacoolplace.

TIP!Coreapplesandcutinrings.Hangtheringsonathinwoodenrod.Prettyandtasty!

TIP!GARDENINGAPPS!OrganicGardeninghasagoodPlantingPlanner

GrowingyourownorganicfruitOrganicGardeningforbeginnersBook:GrowYourFoodforFree…Well,Almost,byDaveHamilton

SEVENCHALLENGES:

1.Startplanninghowyoucouldplantmorewhereyoulive.

2.Atharvesttimecheckyourareaforwhatisavailabletopick.Eveninacitythereareoftenberriesandleavesyoucanpick.

3.Growedibleflowerstodecorateyourfoodorputintoicecubes.Simpleandpretty.

4.Buyatomatoplant;itworkseveninanapartmentwithoutabalcony,andyoucanenjoyyourowntomatoes.

5.Askyourneighborifhewantstogardentogetherandsplittheharvest.Youcuttheworkeffortinhalfanditismorefuntosharethejoywhenitstartstogrow.

6.Makeuseofseasonalberries,fruit,andvegetables—jam,juice,dry,andfreeze,andyouwillhavefoodthatremindsyouofsummerallyearlong.

7.Arrangeyourownlittleherbgarden.Freshherbsenhancefoodandcanbegrowninagarden,onabalcony,orinawindow.

CHAPTER5

WORK&PLAYINCORPORATINGSUSTAINABLELIVINGINTOYOUR

ROUTINE

Greenerworkplaces

Greenroutine

Greenshopping

Greengifts

Makeacontributiononvacation—volunteer!

Climatesmartvacation

Thegreentourist

Travelslowly,experiencemore

SUGGESTIONSFORTHEWORKPLACE:•Offeremployeesfreefruit.•UseonlyFairTradeandorganicteaandcoffee.•Encourageeveryemployeetobringherownglassandmugtominimizewashingup.

•Encourageemployeestothinktwicebeforeusingtheprinter.•Userecycledpaper.•Ifeveryemployeeusesherowntowelinsteadofpapertowels,itwillhelptheenvironment.•InsteadofChristmasgiftsandexpensiveChristmasdinnersaskthecompanytodonatethatmoney

toacharitableorganization.

Greenerworkplaces

Manyofussitbythecomputerbothatworkandathome.Homosapienswasnotcreatedtositbyacomputer,butevolutionhasshownthathumansactuallyadaptmoreandmoretotheconditionsinwhichtheyfindthemselves.

Soperhapsinahundredyearsourbodiesmaylookquitedifferent.Buttodayscienceistellingustolimitourcomputertimetofourhours,andweshouldavoidsittingdowninfrontoftheTVorcomputerbeforebedtime.Thisismainlybecauseallthatsittingmakesusfatterandsicker.

IFYOUDOSITBYTHECOMPUTERALOT,REMEMBERTO:•Takemini-breaks,tolowerstresslevelsandloosenmuscles.Computers

emitradiationthatimpactsthenegativeionsintheair.Toomuchofthepositiveionswillneutralizethenegativeions,whichmaycauserespiratoryproblems,tiredness,headaches,irritation,anddigestiveproblems.

•KeeparosequartznexttoyourcomputerandTV.Thecrystalhelpsprotectyoufromharmfulelectromagneticradiation(EMF).

•Keepgreenplantsnearbyforfreshair.•Standupandstretcheveryhour.Ifyouhaveanadjustableworkstationyou

canraiseandlower,standupandworktwiceanhour.•Stretchyourmusclesseveraltimesaday.•Liedownflatonyourbackonthefloortwiceadaytoletyourbackrest.

Threeminutesisenoughtorestoreyourgoodposture.•Drinkwaterwithalittlelemon,lime,orfreshherbstostayhydrated—

makingyourmindandbodyfeelbetter.Officeenvironmentsareoftendryanddusty.

•Gooutsideindaylight,evenonrainydays.Eatyourlunchonaparkbenchortakeaquickwalkaroundtheblock.

Greenroutine

•Reducecartravel.Walkorbicycleforshorttrips—theseactivitiesaregoodforyourhealthaswellasfortheenvironment.Usethetrainorbuswherepossible.

•Ifyoushopbycar,doalltheshoppinginonetripperweekandcombinewithasmanyothererrandsaspossible.

•Carpoolwithotherpeople.•UseParkandRideifavailable.•Ifyoutakethecar—drivingslower(speedingalongat70mphcangobble

up30percentmoregasthandoing55mph)andacceleratinggentlyuseslessgas;drivesmoothly!

•Trytogobypublictransportasoftenaspossible.

TIP!Onriderecycle.comyouwillfindabikemadefromreclaimedmaterials.Ifyoudrive,thereareappsthatshowhowtodriveinamoreenvironmentallyfriendlyway.

Greenshopping

Shoppingcanbealotoffun—youfeelprettierandfresherwithanewdress,abunchofflowersonthediningtable,newcushionstomatchtheseasons,oracutesweaterforyourchild.

No,youdon’thavetostopshopping,butdoitwithdueconsideration.Askyourself,“DoIreallyneedthisgadgetorthispieceofclothing?”

•BuyorganicandFairTradeflowers•Fleamarkets—bothforbuyingandselling!•Thinkqualityratherthanquantity.•Trytofindoutasmuchasyoucanabouttheitemyouwanttobuy.•Skipitandseeifyoucanfindsomethingsimilarathome—youhavemore

athomeyoucanstillusethatyouhaveforgotten,guaranteed!•Bringclothshoppingbagswhenyoushop.•Runseveralerrandsatthesametimeifyoudrive.•Buycandlesmadefromrealstearin,beeswax,orsoy.•Ifyoucook—buypotsandpansthatdon’tleachheavymetals.Investin

cast-ironpotsandskilletsthatwilllastalifetimewithpropercare.•Thebrainreactstoimpulsesandimpulseshoppingusuallyleadsto

purchasesthatwillsoonbecomegarbage.Seeifyoucandoan‘onapproval’purchaseorlay-away,thengohomeandthinkaboutitforaday.Asmartmoveforboththeenvironmentandyourwallet!

Greengifts

Insteadofbuyingpresents,givesomethingyouyourselfhavereallylikedandused,andnowmaypleaseanewowner.Whyisitconsideredbadtogiveawaysomethingthathasbeenveryprecioustous?Doeseverythinghavetobebrandnew?

•Cutoffapairofjeanstoturnintoapairofshorts.•JazzupoldT-shirtswithtextilepaint.•Makepiggy-banksofglassjars.•Makeyourowntrail-mixfromyourfavoriteblendofnuts,seeds,dried

fruit,andsuperfoods.•Makeyourownfacecream,seepage81.•Makeyourownsalt,herbsalt,orasaltmixforthebath.•Giveawayabookthathadamessageforyou—amessageyouwanttopass

on.Payitforward!•Makefleamarketfindsanddecorateoldladlesinyouruniquestyle.•Knitashawlorwashclothsandwipes,seepage88.

TIP!VintageHome:StylishIdeasandOver50ProjectsfromFurnituretoDecorating,bySarahMoore.

JunkGenius:StylishWaystoRepurposeEverydayObjects,withOver80ProjectsandIdeas,byJulietteGogginandStacySirk.

Makeacontributiononvacation—volunteer!

Combinepleasurewithserviceandmakeabadly-neededcontributiononyourvacation.Ratherthanlazylollingonabeachorhammockyoucantraveltheworldandsaveturtles,workonanorganicfarm,takecareofhorses,orhelpoutatanorphanage.Checktheweblinksforhowyoucanmakeyourvacationmoreeventfulandinteresting!

TIP!Usefullinks:globalvolunteers.orgglobeaware.orghowstuffworks.com/economics/volunteer/information/volunteer-vacations.htmwwoofinternational.org

Climatesmartvacation

Afterworkinghardforayear,vacationislikeagiftfromheaven.Naturallyyouwanttodofunthingswhenyouarefreeandachangeofpaceandplaceiswonderful.Justrelaxingonabeachorexploringanewcityisinspiringandrechargesyourbatteries.Butdowereallyhavetotraveleveryyear?Anddoesithavetobebyair?

•Travelingbytrainisthemostclimatefriendlyformoftravel.Itmaynotbepossibleifthedestinationismanyhundredsofmilesaway,thenyourvacationwouldbeoverbythetimeyougetthere.

•Wedon’thavetostopflyingaltogether,butitisnotsustainabletohaveusallflylongdistancesseveraltimesayear.Planandpickatimewhenitisnecessarytoflyandinbetweenchooseamoreclimate-friendlymodeoftransportation.Flyingcharterisoftenbetterthanregularflightsastheplanesareoftenfullandareusuallydirectflights.

•Comparedtotakingaplanethecarisnotsuchabadchoice,especiallyanecocar.Ifyouhavethespace,askifyourneighborwantstocomealongandsharetherideandminimizeemissions.

•Busisanotheralternativewheremanycantravelwithfeweremissions.Youthinkperhapsthatitwilltaketoolong,butmakethejourneyapleasure.Packapicnic,agoodbookand,ifthewholefamilyisgoing,challengeeachotherinaparlorgame.

•Choosingslowermeansoftransportationisagoodruleofthumbastherewillbefeweremissions.Ifyougobyboat,slowboatsarenotasbadasfastones.High-speedferriesarenotaseco-friendlyasanordinaryferry,astheyemitmorecarbondioxide.

•Insteadofgettingahotelroom,tradeapartmentsorhouseswithsomeonewholiveswhereyouwanttogo.Itisnotonlycheaper,butitalsoopensupopportunitiestogetclosertothecultureandpeopleyouarevisiting.Thebestthingisthatyouwillperhapsgotoplacesyouhadnotexpectedtovisit,

oryouwilldiscovernewplaceswhenyouseethatitispossibletoswapyourhomeforahomeinaplaceyouhadn’tevendreamedof.

TIP!Usefullinkstoswap/lendyourhome:homeexchange.comlovehomeswap.com

TheGreenTourist

Eco-tourismisaconceptthatisbecomingmorecommon.Eco-tourismisresponsibletraveltonaturalareasthatconservetheenvironmentandimprovesthewell-beingoflocalpeople.

Eco-tourism…•minimizesharmfulimpactsinnature.•isfun.•doesnotdestroyandweardownwhatyouhavecometoexperience.•contributestoenvironmentalandculturalawareness.•benefitslocalpopulationsandplaceseconomically.•encouragesexploration,curiosity,andrespect.•isaneffectivemeansofsettinganeconomicvalueonconservationareas.•createsemploymentandself-sufficiencyinsparselypopulatedareaswithout

harmingtheenvironment.It’sawaytohaveyourcakeandeatittoo.•isabusinessideaofcombiningcommercialtourisminarespectfuland

fruitfulwaywithtraditionaleconomiesandnativecultures.•isaformoftourismempoweringnaturalandculturalpreservation,with

fewerenvironmentaldamages.•issimplyamoreenjoyableformoftravelforeveryoneinvolved—tourist,

localpopulation,travelagent,and,notleast,Natureitself.

TIP!Takethetrainratherthanflyingifpossible.

Whyeco-tourism?Eco-tourismisagrowingsectoroftheglobaltouristindustrythatcontributes

positivelytothelocalenvironmental,social,cultural,andeconomicwelfarearoundtheworld.Eco-tourismofferslong-termsolutionsbypreservingand

aroundtheworld.Eco-tourismofferslong-termsolutionsbypreservingandimprovingthebio-culturaldiversityandbyprotectingthenaturalandculturalheritageoftheworld.Byincreasingthepotentialforgrowth,eco-tourismisalsoaneffectivetoolforlocalcommunitiestofightpovertyandachieveasustainabledevelopment.Eco-tourismisalsohelpfulinfosteringagreenertourismonotherfronts.

VacationaroundthecornerAvacationonhometurfcanbealotoffun.Dustoffthebikeandmake

excursionswhereyoulive.Youwillbesuretodiscovernewandinterestingplacesaroundthecorner.Bringapicnicinabasketanditiseasytostopforabreakandabite.

BECLIMATESMARTONYOURVACATION:•“WheninRome,doastheRomansdo!”Readuponandstudytheplace

beforeyougothere.Beawareoflocalcustomsandlaws;youareaguestintheircountryandexpectedtobehaverespectfully.

•Chooseasmaller,locally-ownedhotelratherthanamulti-nationalhotelchain.

•Buyfromthelocals,organicandlocallygrownwhenpossibleandmoreofyourmoneywillstayinthecountry.

•Usewatersparinglywhenyoushower.•Askroomservicenottochangetowelseveryday;acoupleoftimesaweekis

enough.•Don’thaggleforthesakeofhaggling.Thepenniesyousavemaymakea

hugedifferencetotheseller.•Don’tbuyitemsmadefromspeciesthreatenedbyextinction,likeivoryand

coral.•Choosepublictransportorbikewhengettingaround.•TurnofflightsandTVswhenyouleavethehotelroom.•Recycleplasticandpaperonthespot.•Avoidusingthehairdrierandletclothesdrybyair.•Bringaclothbagwhenshoppinginsteadofbuyingnewplasticbagsallthe

time.•Askthehoteltoprovidelargewatercontainerswhereyoucanrefillyour

bottles.Baliisonecountrythathasintroducedthisintheirhotels,andtheirpolicyisthatguestsmayquestionanyhotelthatdoesnotprovidewaterfortheguests.Allinordertominimizeplasticwaste.

•Whenyougethome:reportanyshortcomingsyounoticedtoyourtravelagent.

TIP!Ifyoufly,chooseanon-stopflighttominimizetake-offsandlandingswiththeirhugecarbondioxideemissions.

Travelslowly,experiencemore

Relaxationandharmonyiswhatthebigtravelagenciesusuallyadvertise.Buthowrelaxingisyourtripifyouhavetovisitallthetouristspotsonthemap?SlowTravelrecommendstheslowjourneyandisanewadditiontotheSlowmovement.

Inaworldwhereweareconstantlyfedfastinformationandpushedtoeverincreasingspeeds,theSlowmovement,seemoreonpage27,ispullingtheemergencybrakeandismovingagainstthecurrentwithfirmsteps.

Theyencourageaslowerjourney.Inotherwords,stayinoneplaceduringthevacationinsteadofchasingthebigtouristattractionsfromonehoteltothenext.Eventhetraveltoandfromthedestinationcouldbeslower.

NickyGardner,editorofHiddenEuropeisagenuineSlowTravelpromoterwww.hiddeneurope.co.uk

Shebelievesarushedtripdestroysthecontactwiththesurroundingswhilealeisurelytravelrestoresit.Themainideaisnottobeinarush,buttoallowoneselftobeopentoaplaceforalongertimesoastogetagreateranddeeperappreciationforanarea.

NICKY’SBESTSUGGESTIONFORSLOWTRAVEL:•Enjoythecaféculture!Sitdownanddosomepeoplewatching.•Eatandshoplocallyanddowhatthelocalsdo;don’tjustgobytheguide

books.•Learnafewsimplephrasesandtryoutthelanguage.Trytoreadthelocal

newspaperwithadictionaryathand.•Donotallowunexpectedeventstoruinyourvacation,suchasdelayed

trainsorbusses;itmayopennewpathsyouhadn’tplanned,leadingtoexcitingadventuresorinterestingdiscoveries.

•ThemainideabehindSlowTravelistobefreetoexploreplacesatyourowntempoandnottobetiedtooughtto’s,sothatyouwillfeelbetterand

makeyourtripmoreenjoyableand,aboveall,morerelaxing.

SEVENCHALLENGES:

1.Checktoseehowyoucanmakeyourworkplacegreener.

2.Planyournextvacationandfindoutwhatkindofcontributionyoucanmake.Makeyourselfandothershappy.

3.Thinktwicebeforetakingthecar.Isitpossibletorideabike,walk,ortakepublictransport?

4.Ifyoudrivetowork,askyourcolleaguesifyoucouldsharerides.

5.Wouldyouliketoswaphomesduringyourvacation?Whatcountrydoyoudreamabout,andwhatarethealternatives?

6.Haveagaragesale!

7.NextChristmas,makeyourownChristmaspresentsorgiveawaysomethingyouhaveusedandlikedverymuch,forexample:afavoritebook,apottedflower,orthecardiganyouneverwear.

Objekt#110803homeexchange.com

CHAPTER6

ORGANICFOODANDRECIPESRAWFOODFORYOUANDMOTHEREARTH

RawFood

TheIndustrializationoffood

Avoidthese—andfeelbetter

GetstartedwithRawfood

Youramazingbody

Youaresloshing!

Eatingmindfully

CHAPTER7

SPIRITUALITY

DISCOVERINGTHEFEELINGOFTOGETHERNESS

Staygrounded

Mentalgardening

Karma

Beatruebeliever

Insideandout

REALITYCHECKInourdailyobligations,commitments,activities,andenergiesfrompeoplewemeet,wesometimesloseourowncore.Tofindourwaybackweneedtotakea

meet,wesometimesloseourowncore.Tofindourwaybackweneedtotakeafewminuteseverydaytocheckinwithourselves.Stop,feelwhereyouare.Donothing.Justsitandbreathe.Ifpossible,putyourbarefeetontheground.Aftersucharealitycheckwearebetterabletodistanceourselvesandnottakethingssopersonally,norgettooemotional,andthestresswilleaseoff.Itisalsoagoodwaytocheckwhereyourenergylevelisthatday.Ifyouaretired—doless.Didyouwakeuponthewrongside?Letthedaypass.Areyoufullofbubblingjoy?Shareit!

Staygrounded

Inspring2010thebookEarthing:TheMostImportantHealthDiscoveryEver?byClintOber,DrStephenSinatraandMartinZucker,waspublished.

Itstartedahealthrevolution.ItisafantasticstoryofhowClintOberdiscoveredthehealthbenefitsofbeinggrounded.Itfocuseson12yearsofOber’sresearchwithsomeoftheworld’sforemostresearchersinbiophysics,electro-physiology,andenergy-medicine,andwithdoctorsandsportsresearchers.Itexplainswhathappenswhenthebodycanassimilatethefreeelectronswhicheliminatethefreeradicals.Afreeradicalisamoleculelackingoneelectron,whichisthusisaweakenedcell.Whenwearesick,ourcellsaredamagedbyfreeradicals.Today’sairpollutionmeansmorefreeradicalsthaninearliertimes.Astheincreasedamountoffreeradicalsaffectouragingcausingcelldamage,weneedantioxidantstohelppreventthis.Smoking,over-exertion,stress,medications,andprocessedfoodsalsoincreasetheamountoffreeradicals.

Whenweareindirectcontactwiththeearth,weabsorbthenatural,subtleenergyoftheground—thefreeelectrons.Withregulargroundcontacttheelectronsrestoreandstabilizethebody’selectricalstate.Rememberthatourbodies—fromcellstoorgans—functionelectrically.

Theeasiestformofgroundingistowalkbarefootongrass,sand,soil,androck,ashumanshavedonefromthebeginning.Toswiminlakeandseaisanothergoodwaytogetgrounded.Inourmodernsocietywehaveinsulatedourselvesfromcontactingtheearth’ssurfacebywearingrubber-soledshoesoutdoors,livingourcity-lifeonasphalt,walkingoninsulatingwoodorvinylfloorsindoors,sleepingfarfromtheground,andspendingalmostallourtimeinsulatedfromtheearth.

LAWOFATTRACTIONWhatdoyouattractintoyourlife?Whatdoyouwishfor?Canyousensethatfeelingalready?Doyouseeyourgoalinfrontofyou?Manysaythatthelawofattractionworks;thatitisalawoftheUniverse.Whateveryouwishtocometoyou,willcome,ifyoutrulywantitandareopentothislawworkingforyou.Theideaistoseethewholepictureandnottoworryaboutthedetails—itwillallworkoutalongtheway.Aimforthegoalandletthelawofattractiondotherest.Unfortunately,thelawofattractionhasbeenabitabused.Itisnotpossibletobe

Unfortunately,thelawofattractionhasbeenabitabused.ItisnotpossibletobeacouchpotatoinfrontoftheTValldayandthinkthatyouwillgetthejobofanexecutive,orafitbody.Youmusttakeactioninthedirectionofyourgoal.Followyourinspirationalgut-feeling,afeelingofease,andthingswillworkout.

MentalGardening

Weweedourgardens,cleanourhomes,dothedishes,buthowoftendowecleanourmindsofstuffwenolongerneed?Fear,negativity,worry,anxiety,andastagnantmind—thoughtsthatareofnousetousarelikementaldust-bunnies.

Grababrushandsoapandstartscrubbingthenooksandcranniesofyourmind.You’llfindabitofworryhere,abitoffearthere,andanxietyhidinginapantry.Saybye-byetothesebitsofdebrisandthankthemforvisiting,butthattheyarenotneededanymore.

Itiseasiertothinkclearlywhenyouhavealsocleanedoutyourbodyandyouarefeedingyourbodylive,nutritiousfoodthatgivesyouenergyandvitality.Startcultivatingyourseedssotheywillbloominyourmind!

“NonJudgmentDay”byEricaOneearly,freezingcoldmorningIwasoutjoggingwhenathoughtstruckme.

Awomanpassedmewithlightandquickstepsonanuphillpath.Iwashuffingandpuffinglikeanoldladyandcouldhardlygetupthehill.Mythoughtsbegantospin:“Goodness,howIampuffing,whycan’tIrunassmoothandeasy,butamgaspingupthishillwithheavyfeet?”

MywholesystemfeltweakandIcouldnotcontinuetorun,andslowedtoawalk.That’swhenitstruckmethatitwasmyownthoughtsaboutmyselfthatmademefeelweak.Ihadjudgedandcomparedmyselftosomeoneelse,insteadofthinkingIwasactuallyprettygood,gettingoutofbedthatbittercoldmorningtogoforajog.ThefactisthatIhavenotbeenabletorunforalmostsixyears,asIhavehadspinalsurgeryresultingindailypain.NorhaveIprioritizedexercisingduringSaga’sinfancy.That’swhenIbeganthinkingthatIneedtopayattentiontomythoughtsandbeawareofthosejudgmentalandcomparingthoughtswhentheypoppedup.Icallit“NonJudgmentDay.”SincethatdayIhavenoticedthemandlookcuriouslyatthem,wonderingifthereisanytruthinthem.Iacceptedtheirturningup,andthenreleasedthem.My“NonJudgmentDay”continuedandafteraweekIfeltfreer,lighter,stronger,andmoreatonewith

continuedandafteraweekIfeltfreer,lighter,stronger,andmoreatonewithmyself.Thesethoughtsareintimatelyconnectedtorawfood,inmyexperience.Thosewhosaythatsomeoneeatsbetterorworsethansomeoneelse,arereallyjustcomparing.Butwhydowehavetocompare?

Weareonourownjourneywherewecandiscover,test,andexperiencewhatgivesusgreaterjoyandpeace.Forme,rawfoodhasbeenandcontinuesdailytobeabeautifultooltoreachthatplacewithinmyself.

Trytofollowyourheart,freefromjudgmentandcomparison.Tryone,two,orthreedaystodoadetoxandafew“NonJudgmentDays”andobservewhathappenswithinyou.

Karma

InIndiaandotherEasterntraditionskarmaissomethingmorethanjustsuperstition.TheIndiancastesystemisbasedonkarma.Whateveronebelievesaboutpreviouslivesandthedissolutionofkarma,whatiscertainisthatwhateverwegivecomesback,likeaboomerang.TheBalineseapproachistoimprovekarmabylaughingandbeinghappy.

SmilefreelyTosmileisoneofthebestthingswecando.Itdoesn’tcostanything,but

spreadsmuchhappiness.Canyounotsmile?Whatisbotheringyounowthatyoucannotsmile?Isitaworryaboutsomethingthatmayhappeninthefuture?Wemustletgoofourworriesaboutthefuture;weneverknowwhatwillhappen,sowhywasteallthatenergyonsomethingthatmaynotevenhappen?

Whenwesmile,wereleasesubstancesinourbodiesthataffectthewholesystem,ourinnerandouterhealing.Welookyoungerwhenwesmile,too.

Itisnoefforttosmile,itistheeasiestthingwecando!

Smileandyouwillsmileathousandfold.

Beatruebeliever

Believeinyourowntransformation.Believeinthetransformationofyourneighbor.BelieveinthetransformationoftheEarth.Thedaywestopbelievingsomethingdieswithinus.Itisfaith,loveandtrustthatcarriesusforward.

DreamsAllowyourselftodreamwhateverdreamsyouwant.Whatwouldyoumostof

allliketodo?Createyourowndreamworldordreammap,andseewhichdreamsarerealisticandwhichmayjustremaindreamsuntiltimeisripe.

Manylivetotallyshutofffromtheirdreams.Theydoeverythingtodistancethemselvesfromfindingthatsparkwithin,soitwon’tflareuptomotivatethemtomoveforward.Dreamsareverypreciousandyetitdoesn’tcostanythingtodream.Theydotakeupyourtime,butitistimethatiswellspent,becauseyouareactuallydoingsomethingwiththetimethatbenefitsyouandgivesyouhappinessandvitality.

Oneness/togethernessWeareallinterdependent.Itmayseemnicetositonamountaintopand

meditateallyourlife,tobeenlightened,butinteractingwithourfellowbeings,situations,andallkindsofweatheriswhatlifeisallabout.Wearepartofawhole,webelongtogetherandweneedeachother.

Itissaidthatifwehave3minutesofeyecontacteverydaywithourfamilymembers,therewouldbenoconflicts.Tolookintoeachothers’eyesspeaksmorethanathousandwordsandwerealizethatweareonlyareflectionofeachother.Tomeetsomeone’seyesforjustafewminutesmakesusfeelnoticedandrathervulnerable.Beautiful.

Trylookingintoyourowneyesinamirrorfor3minutesonceadayforaweek.Perhapsyouseesomethingyouhaveneverseenbefore:aunique,brilliantandfantasticpersonwhoexistsjusttomakeearthmorebeautiful.

Howcanwefindawaytocommunicatewitheachother,understandour

Howcanwefindawaytocommunicatewitheachother,understandourdifferencesandbenefitfromthem,ratherthancompetingforeverything?Weallwanttobeloved,feelsafe,tobeseen,heard,andrespected.Deepdownweallwantthesamething—peace.

Issomeoneyouconsidersuccessfulcelebrated?Thenletthatpersoninspireyouinsteadofputtinghimdownandfeelingyouarenotasgood.Weareallgood,indifferentways.

Yougotthewholeworldinyourhand.

Insideandout

Alllifetransformationsneedtocomefromtheinsideout.Theonlywayoutisin.EverychangeonEarthstartswiththeindividual.Thecircumstancesaroundapersonareoftenjustareflectionofwhatishappeninginside.

Wecanonlystartwithourselves;wedonothavetochangetheworld.Weneedtochangeourselvesinordertochangetheworld.

Peaceonearthbeginswithpeacewithinus.Howcanwepromotepeaceifwearenotatpeacewithourselves?

ResponsibilityWearebornintothislifewitharesponsibility,aresponsibilitywecannot

refuse.Thereisalwayssomethingorsomeoneelsetoblame,andifyouwanttofindfaultswithsomethingorsomeoneitiseasy.Tofreeourselvesfromblamingsomeoneelseandbecomingavictimofcircumstances,wecanraiseourownlevelandtakeresponsibilityforourpartofthesituation.

TIP!Writedownwhatangersyou,orthethoughtsyouwanttogetridof,onapieceofpaper.Throwitoutorburnit.Youwillfeelbothrelievedandhappy.

DoyourbestandleavetherestDoyourbest.Itistheonlythingyoucando.Ifyouknowthatyouhavealways

doneyourbestbasedontheconditionsyouhave/had,youcanstopworrying.Responsibilitymeansalwaysdoingyourbest.Forreal.Yourbestisgoodenough.

MakeyourfootprintssmallerHowcanweminimizethemarksweleaveontheearthafterwedie,orhow

canwecompensateandadd,sothatweleavemorethanwhatwehavetaken?Perhapsthisbookwillinspireyoutotakeafewstepsinagreendirection?Thatinturnwillresultinfewerharmfulfootprintsontheearth.

UpwardspiralAgoodchoiceleadstomoregoodchoices.Wechoosewhichspiralwewantto

beapartof:upordownward.Dowewanttosharejoy,trust,abundance,andlaughter,ordowewantto

sharefear,hatred,anddarkthoughts?Whatdoyouneedtodoinyourlifetomoveintotheupwardratherthanthe

downwardspiral?Whenwestartchangingoureatinghabitstomoreorganicandgreenfood,it

affectsotherpartsofourlife.Ifwestartthinkingaboutwhatwerubintoourskinorwhatdetergentweuse,itwillspreadtootherareasofourlife.Likeringsonthewater,spreadingeverfartherinapositivespiraleffect.

CleanerfoodandcleanerEarthmakesforacleanermind.Pure.

YouarearainbowThechakraisanenergycenter,alinktotheuniversallifeenergy.Each

separatechakrahasthetaskofreceiving,regulating,andmaintainingthephysical,emotional,mental,andspiritualaspectsofourhealth.

Theauraistheenergyfieldthatsurroundsalllivingthingsandcanbeseenasabandoflight.Youcouldsaythattheauraisaresultoftheenergyweemitandisbasedinourthoughts,feelings,andbody.

Thechakraandtheauraworkinasymbiosisandthechakraisconnectedtovariouslayersoftheaura.Togethertheyreflectthewholebeingthatwearewhenactinginourenvironmentandtheuniverseasawhole.

Eachchakrahasacolorrelatedtovitalfunctions.Therootchakra,whichisred,isatthebaseofthespinewhereweexperienceoursecurityandfoundation.

Justabovethisisthenextenergycenter,whichisorangeandrelatedtosexualityandcreativity.Thethirdchakraisyellowandhastodowithpersonalpower.Thefourth,whichisgreen,istheheartchakrathroughwhichwe

experiencelove.Thefifth,blue,isfoundinthethroatanddealswithpersonalexpression.Thesixth,indigo,isintheforeheadandisoftencalledtheThirdEye.Itisthechakraofwisdomandhastodowithourlogicalandintellectualcapacity.Theseventhchakraisatthetopofourheadandhastodowithspirituality,healing,andtransformation.Itstaskistohelpusunderstandthespiritualaspectoflife,andletspiritualitybecomeapartofusandbeourguide.Itisalsotheentranceforthelifeenergythatflowsthroughthewholephysicalbodyandthesixlowerchakras.

“Wearelikeallthecolorsoftherainbow.You,aswellasI.”

SEVENCHALLENGES:

1.Checkinwithyourselfonedaythisweek.Stopandfeelwhereyouare,beawareofyourbreathingandeachbreath.

2.Smileatyourownreflectioninthemirrorinthemorning.Bringthatsmilewithyouallday.Smileatthebusdriver,smileatthecheck-outgirlinthesupermarket,smileatyourcoworkers,andyourchildren’steacher.Theywillsmileback,guaranteed!

3.Getgrounded.Standbyatree,barefoot.Feelthegroundunderyourfeetandsensethelinkyouhavewiththetreerootsdeepdownintheground.

4.Createyourowndreamland.Whatkindofworkwouldyoudo?Wheredoyouwanttolive?Wheredoyouwanttomakeahome?Writeitdown.Makeamoodboardwhereyoupinuppicturesthatsymbolizeyourdreamlife.

5.Didyourcoworkersgetapayraise,andyoudidn’t?Didyourneighborwinthelottery?Behappyfortheminsteadoffeelingleftout.Thereisprogressandhappinessforusall.

6.Stopandpayattentioneverytimeyoucompareyourselftosomeoneelse.Howdoesyourbodyfeel?Ifyoulookwithjoyatthatotherpersoninstead—howdoesyourbodyfeelthen?Notcomparingyourselfleadstomorehappinessinlife.

7.Areyoustrugglingwithnegativethoughts?Emptyyourmind.Tiltyourheadtotherightandimagineyournegativethoughtsdrainingoutofyourrightear.Tiltyourheadtotheleftandimaginetherestofyournegativethoughtsdrippingoutofthatear.Tiltabitinbothdirectionsandfeelyourheademptyofdestructivethoughts.

FLOWWITHGRACEWheneasyisright.Andrightiseasy.

Conclusion

Theearthwasbornoutofcosmos.Itisoneofmanyplanetsintheuniverse—anextra-ordinaryandbeautifulcelestialbodyswimmingamongst

twinklingstarsandaneverexpandinggalaxy,theMilkyWay.Ourplanetisuniqueinsustaininglife.Itisalivingorganism,anecosystem

fromwhichplants,animals,andhumanshaveevolved.Wegrewoutofearth’swomb.TheearthistheMotherofLife,andweareherchildren.Sun,moon,andstarsareourancestors.

Inthebeginningeveryorganismwasindependent,buteventuallyallstartedtocooperateandlivetogether.Cellsdevelopedintolivingentities,eachcellalittleworldofitsown.Likewisethebodybecamelikeawholeuniversewithitsownworldandgalaxies.

EverythingisinterconnectedandaperfectionoftheWhole.Thehumanbeingbelongstothecosmicbody,andtheuniverseresides

withinus.Ourenergyflowsandcycles,influencedbythesunandthemoon.Weareindeedapartofagreaterunity.

Thereisnoinsideandnooutside.WhatoccursintheWorldisreflectedwithinus.

ThesurvivalneedsforMotherEartharethesameasours.Whenwecauseherharm,wealsoinflictitonourselves.

OurbodyispartoftheEarth’sbody.Webreathetogether,andwhateverwedischargeintotheenvironmentremainswithinus.Wereallydon’thaveanywhereelsetogo.

Allisone.Theworldisourhome,andthisiswherewebelong.–FromapaintingatCasBernats,Mallorca

Acknowledgments

Wearegratefulto:•Ourfamiliesfortheirsupportandlove.•BiancaBrandon-Coxforhercalmnessandkindness,forheramazing

picturesandmagicaldesignofthebook.•ChristelPalmcrantzGarrickwhotransformedourwordstoEnglishand

gaveuswiseadvice.•Ourfellowman;weallinheritedthepowertobethechangeyouwishto

seeintheworld.

Wedoittogether,onestepatatime,filledwithloveforMotherEarth,FatherSky,andourdivinespark.

Inspiration

Books:

100sättattlevaekologiskt;MattiasHenrikson,HelenaJansson,Ordalaget,2010Badskumt;KatarinaJohansson,Ordfront,2012Grönaapoteket;Marie-LouiseEklöf,Norstedts,2007Handlarättförengiftfribarndom;AnneLagerqvistmfl,Lux,2012Levenklare;GisélaLinde,Viva,2008Lisensindiskaspa;LisenSundgren,Norstedts,2010Naturallygorgeous;CharlotteVohtz,EburyPress,2007OrganicHome,RosamondRichardson,DorlingKindersleyLImited,2007Omställningenstid;BjörnForsberg,Karnevalförlag,2012RainbowGreenLive-FoodCuisine;GabrielCousens,NorthAtlanticBooks,2003TheSunfoodDietforaSuccessSystem;DavidWolfe,MaulBrothersPublishing,2006Wabisabi,tidlösvisdom;AgnetaNyholmWinqvist,Norstedts,2011TheInternationalEcotourismSociety,1992

Websites:

alaeco.se,babyvarlden.se,choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com,ekoenkelt.wordpress.com,ekoturism.org,ecotourism.org,frokenekoreko.blogspot.se,framtidstigen.se,greenlivingideas.comgreenlivingonline.com,greenlivingtips.com,hairmagazine.se,hallbarlivsstilwebbmagasin.com,hallbarturism.com,husmorsknep.se,livinggreen.se,naturskyddsforeningen.se,passionatehomemaking.com,shenet.se,slangintematen.se,slv.se,sustainabletourism.net,thedailygreen.com,travelcarecode.org,turkos.se,weleda.se,wlifestyleorganics.com,beeurban.se

ForfurtherinspirationaboutgrowinggreensatSkyHorsePublishing:Greens!TipsandTechniquesforGrowingYourOwnVegetables;KarinEliassonFrugavore,HowtoGrowOrganic;ArabellaForgeMiniFarmingGuidetoVegetableGardening;BrettL.MarkhamWindowGardeningtheOld-FashionedWay;TheUltimateSelf-SufficiencyHandbookACompleteGuidetoBaking,Crafts,Gardening,PreservingYourHarvest,RaisingAnimals,andMore;AbigailR.GehringHenryT.Williams

Index

Afternooncrackers167Altar34Apricotcubes168Babycare24Bathroom56Bedroom57Bee16Beetrootandzucchininoodles156Bigsalad153Billingsmethod59Biophotons99Blackcurrantleafsmoothie166Blueberriesingreen166Bodybliss83Buckwheatwithcacaonibs151Breast–feeding60Brownies173Chiaseedporridge150Chiasquares168Children23Chilidip160Classiccheckerboards178Cleanair45Clothes61Coconutmacaroons178Coitusinterruptus59Compost99Conventionalskincare67Coolpeasoup154Coolstrawberrysmoothie165Dehydratedtamariseeds157Deodorants75Diaphragm59Digestion141Downshifting26Earthing187Ecobanks18Ecotourism120EMFRadiation39Essentialoils77Facialbliss81Fengshui35Fertilitymonitor60Filledendiveleaves158Foodadditives135

Gardenburger159GMO16,95Greendandelionsmoothie166Greengifts117Greennettlesmoothie165Greenroutine113Greenshopping114Hair85Home33Homemadecleaners45Homefurnishing43Horseradishdressing152Indianburgerswithparsniprice161Industrializationoffood131Instantcacaowithblueberries169Kaleandcranberries152Karma189Kimchiburger154Kitchen55Lambsquarterswithlucuma165Lasagnawithcrispcabbagesalad157Lawofattraction187Limeballswithcoconut168Liquorishtruffles181Livingroom57Make-up86Mangosherbet172MangoSmoothiewithcashew150Mentalgardening188Mintyballswithcacaonibs171Naturalcosmetics73Naturalpaint39Naturalscents77Nougatballs171Nutcakewithstaranise171Omegastrawberryshake162Orangeandchocolatepastry183Orangemarmaladecrumble-pie174Organicfood133Pakchoi156Pastasauce162PMboost163Preservativstoavoid71Questionablesubstances69Rawcarrotsoup160Rawcinnamonbuns176Rawfood129Rawfoodingredients129Rawfoodmusli149Rawfrappé149

Recycle53Reducewaste53Renovate39Rightmaterial41Shreddedcoconutandorangeballs169Skin67Slowfood27Slowtravel123Smoothandgreen167Soil97Sprouts137Strawberrycheesecake181Strawberrywhitechocolatecheesecake174Stufftoavoid40Sunfruitsalad169Supergranola150Symbiosis99Teeth84Therhythmmethod59Tomatoeswitholivestuffing160Urbanfarming101USDAlabel74Utensils137Vacation119Vegetablegarden102Volunteer118Wabisabi33Walnutburger155Water143Wildgreens140Workplace110YellowCamuCamulemonade148