No Impact Man

via other bloggers I have stumbled upon No Impact Man.

I haven't gotten through even 3 months of his 1 year mission but I am incredibly impressed.

I'm very critical of "green" and "sustainable" (I find a lot of times these are just pretty words people throw around) and have not yet been disappointed.

I have recently done a complete switch in terms of food purchases,

I used to go to the super market 3-4x a week to purchase food and consequently had to compost a lot more than I should have.

I'm now buying ALL produce at the farmer's market and limit grocery store purchases to flour, beans, and milk.

As a leaving present from the farm I spent some time working at I was given a lovely organic cotton, fair wage shopping bag.

GOODBYE crappy 35% post consumer, sort of plastic, made in China bags.

I've enlisted in Crunchy Chicken's August BUY NOTHING Challenge.

with the exception of daily coffees it shouldn't be too hard (B and I spend far too much time at the coffee shop anyways...we walk by and she BEGS to go in...)

I'm a student, a single mother, and a summer worker who doesn't get paid much.

I don't have much extra anyways.

but back to the point.

No Impact Man, I look forward to your movie.

Trout Lake Farmers market weekly adventure: eggplant (B is not excited about this, and asked me to put it back..she's 2), Kale, swiss chard, peaches, blackberries,blueberries, apple chips, 2 purple peppers, little qualicum cheeseworks cheese, potatoes, and 1 lb of organic/grass fed beef for B, and from the farm: mixed greens, green peas, and ...more swiss chard.

Discipline books

I'm on a 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. Week 1: The master and the margarita.

I've also just purchased a couple of "gentle discipline" books so hopefully I'll get those soon. We're in what I'm hoping is the middle of temper tantrum-ness. Yes I just made up a word. I'm really at a loss about what to do most of the time in re: to tantrums. I've found what doesn't work is trying to hug her (OW!), but sometimes singing rock a bye baby does calm her. I found the Baby Book by Sears really helpful so I just ordered the discipline book. I'm quite skeptical about "gentle" discipline but don't believe in spanking..and so to say the least I am completely confused.

I'm trying to see the tantrums in a positive light, she is learning independance and makes it quite clear to me that she knows what she wants. B is also learning that she doesn't get what she wants all the time (also a good thing). But it's hard to watch her get so upset.

I know she's probably stressed out about switching daycares, and her dad being away for a bit.

I need to figure out how to let her express her emotions without hurting herself/me or causing too big of a scene when we're out (although the scene isn't really what I care about..it's her not hurting herself when she's wailing on the floor).

Tips? Thoughts? Book recommendations?

Mindless consumption of "reusable" bags

Most stores you go into now offer reusable bags.

Almost everyone I know now forgoes plastic or paper bags in favor of "reusable" bags.

Okay..fantastic.

Sort of.

What I'm finding is that people have massive piles of reusable bags though...

and instead of reusing them they are buying more and more of them (they are so cheap after all).

My mother would be the perfect example. She has reusable bags from just about every store, and so I get passed down RB on an almost weekly basis.

But these bags aren't cloth. They don't seem to be cotton or any other natural material.

I accidently put one through the dryer a couple of weeks ago and ended up with a lot of hard black stuff stuck to the inside of the dryer.

I don't know where these bags are being made, who is making them or out of what materials.

The only thing I seem to know about them is that everyone has at LEAST 3.

So yes fair enough, they're not plastic.

But that doesn't make them the best choice.

Unless you only have one or two...and they don't break on you...or melt...

and are made using sustainable production practices.

It's really just an easy way for big corporations to make themselves look good.

Ask them to sell organic cotton, fair labour bags.

Trout Lake Farmer's market

I work most saturdays so we hadn't made it to the farmer's market at Trout Lake until today. I brought B in her wagon with the cover on, and she quietly sat and read and ate on the way to the market (20 min walk). We picked up some apple chips, beans, cherries, zucchini, and peas. I left work yesterday with a ton of salad mix and kale...so I think we're good until mid week.

Some day I'll be able to afford a CSA... some day.

First Farmer's market

Our first market went so well yesterday!

There were tons of people and all the produce sold out.

I am completely exhausted.

B is down for a nap right now, and I should be too.

We had pita pizzas for snack (soooo good! roast veggies, whole wheat organic pitas, organic tomato sauce and nutritional yeast).

I get really frustrated with the whole organic thing, so I may just stop saying it and from now on you can just assume that everything is made using organic ingredients.

I haven't taken any pictures lately, but will soon.

Probably.

SUMMER TIME!!

It's been awhile since I've posted.

I'm working on a farm for the summer and it's been pretty incredible.

We harvested some strawberries for the market today:

so I brought some home, I can't explain how great it is to have fresh eggs and produce to purchase at work...from a farm 5 miles from my house...that I harvested myself!

Spring weeding

In an effort to avoid studying for a final I got outside today and planted some bush peas.

Call me an optimist...but I think it's time.

I was weeding another part of the garden and found about 25 carrots that had survived the winter, and the weeds. They had all become worm food (bummer), but were massive.

B's radishes are coming along really well, and begs to go the garden every day.

I have no lunch pictures to provide because I'm home for exam studying, and she's off to her new daycare where they provide lunch.

I forgot to buy broccoli seeds when I did my ordering!

Where would still have some?

Snacks for Easter Party

We're off to an early easter party tomorrow morning, and a birthday party in the afternoon.

The bento box is B's snack and the small container is mine.

B: 2 small mandarin oranges and some TLC crackers, a pbj on whole wheat, red peppers and zucchini and some kiwi (okay yeah...fine..a 100 mile diet's worst nightmare) but it looks delicious.

Mine: kiwi(what was left over from hers) baby tomatoes, and zucchini and red pepper with some roasted almonds.

B is a fairly slim girl, but can eat A LOT. We're heading out around 930am and she will probably have all of her food finished by noon and be hungry for lunch by 1pm (and she will have had a bagel w/ cream cheese and an apple and some yogurt for breakfast).

She's almost two. My guess is she's in a state of perpetual growth spurt.

I didn't bother making anything for lunch. We're stopping by grandma's house between parties and I'm guessing we can have some rice and veggies and beans there.

I ate a bit of meat tonight....I didn't even think about it until just a little while ago actually.

We had some take out (thanks Dad) at my parent's house and I got him to order me spaghetti, and about 5 minutes ago realized i ate half a bowl of spaghetti with beef.

You win some you lose some I guess.

Food Budget

Crunchy's sustainable food budget challenge starts tomorrow. I have a ton of oatmeal and 2 1/2 weeks worth of yogurt ready for my breakfast. B will also be eating a lot of oatmeal. I'm running really low on brown rice right now, but stocked up on some black beans on sale. New monthly food budget for the two of us : $323..but I'm rounding up to $350.
This is $150 less than our usual budget (which ALL gets used...). We eat a lot of fresh fruit and veggies and I'm not interested in changing that so it looks like I don't get soy lattes or americanos anymore.
I'm really excited to cut down the budget, as our biggest expense is food (our rent is "mostly" covered by subsidy because I am a full time college student). It should be doable this month because B is switching daycares, the new daycare provides lunch for $80 month.
I'm really hoping they provide a wide variety of fruits and veggies...and am incredibly worried about how B will adjust to her new daycare.

ps. check out www.thecrunchychicken.com for more info on the Sustainable Food Budget

...and my lunch

My lunch: steamed broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and organic cranberries with dressing (tahini, almond milk, 1/2 lime and some cinnamon)

Whole wheat wrap with avocado and yellow peppers, cheese and kiwi and carrots

Lunches

I've been obsessed with veganlunchbox.blogspot.com, 

So, in honour of my new favorite blog:

B's lunch- 

Organic cranberries, cherry tomatoes, organic kiwi. Veggie chicken, yam "fries" (baked), brussel sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower.

Cheese and cheesy rabbits.

Little update

So it's been awhile since I've updated.

Transitioning slowly back into vegetarian.

The great news is Hannah LOVES black beans...and luckily just about everything vegetarian!!!

I'm also saving a TON of money.

I've been trying to find a good whole wheat bun recipe (the one i have constantly gives me hockey pucks...)

and we started weeding the garden today, though I'm not optimistic enough to try and plant anything yet.

I bought the Vegan lunchbox and can't wait to get it! (online order)