Women were created to birth- naturally that is!

Posted on by
Reply


A very good childhood friend and her husband recently came out to visit my family and I, and it was lovely catching up like old times!!
While she was here, we discussed natural birth- which was way exciting for me! It is so rare to talk to someone who knows as much as she does about birth in this country…
I mean, she hasn’t even had children yet and she knows more about birth than most people that have kids…That’s right girl! You educate yourself!!!
It makes me so happy when I hear about people looking into doing things naturally for the benefit of mom and baby. A trauma-free birth is what every parent should want for their child. Doing things like separating mother & baby after birth, early cord clamping/cutting, genital mutilation (circumcision), inducing labor and performing C-Sections when not medically necessary, epidurals, and other drugs used during labor have consequences that unfortunately most are not educated about when going to have their baby. It’s such a shame we have turned something so natural and normal into an emergency that requires medical assistance and causes harm.
I digress….
So I suggested we watch the documentary- “The Business of Being Born “, since she is so informed on natural birth. She absolutely LOVED it!! She could relate to it since she’s done research into medical interventions and sees the correlation between starting interventions and having it lead to a cesarean. (It’s one of those documentaries that everyone needs to see, especially those that are completely unaware of what birth was meant to be.)
I wish I could share my knowledge of natural birth with every woman, whether she is young, old, pregnant or not. It seems as though we have been lied to and mislead by those we are supposed to trust. Women should be taught to trust in and believe in their bodies, not fear them and rely on someone else to do for them what our Creator intended for us.
Informed decisions!!
Love & Truth,
Savannah

So I asked my girlfriend if she would like to share her thoughts and feelings with me on birth/what she’s learned and I enjoyed her lovely words:
“I have to say first off that I have not yet had the amazing opportunity to experience pregnancy or a natural birth- but am forever grateful for the information I have read, experienced and watched. I feel so empowered and confident in what a woman’s body can do! The beginning of my research and journey into the world of natural birth started when I got to watch my little sister give birth to her first son. It was the most amazing and life changing experience ever. From then on I was infatuated with learning about pregnancy and birth. Later down the road I had a good friend who decided to do a natural, water hospital birth. I was so intrigued. What really pushed me over the edge was that recently a lot of my girl friends were getting pregnant. I noticed that it seemed to become a trend of their births ending in c-sections. I was sad that out of 6 of my friends, 5 ended in c-sections. The c-section rate has increased rapidly and I do not want to be apart of that raging statistic. Now knowing what I know, there is no way I can go back to what people call the “normal” way of thinking how a birth should go. After watching the “Business of Being Born” my mind has been changed from wanting to have a natural water hospital birth to truly considering an intimate home birth with a mid-wife. I cannot wait until the day I find out I am pregnant to experience pregnancy, natural birth, pain and the absolute JOY. The fact that i get to reach down to grab MY beautifully made baby and bring him/her to my chest and bond immediately is joyous and no words will be able to describe it….. Please do your research. LEARN AND KNOW WHAT YOUR BEAUTIFUL BODY CAN DO!!!!”
~Sabrina Sweeney

You guys aren’t married?

Posted on by
Reply

I always fantasized about the day I’d get engaged, the kind of wedding dress I’d pick, and how big of a diamond there would be on my finger.
I got the man without looking for him at the time- the friendship turned into a relationship and then to love- after a few weeks, we were inseparable. T had proposed to me after being together over a year, but that just fell on the back burner. Months turned into years and before we knew it, our first son was brought into this world and things were pretty darn good. We were blessed, healthy, and had a beautiful baby. The longer we were together, the less we cared about being married. We were busy building a life for ourselves. We moved across the Country, bought a house, and had our second baby (you can read more on our journey here if you like!). Our relationship is work- there are good days and bad days. There is love and there is hate (I am always right, but he wants to think he is). There is happiness and there is hard times. We work at it everyday to make each other a priority. 8 years and 3 kids later,  we are happy with our lives. And we ARE NOT married.
…. So this brings me to my question of….
What is the point of being married?  Did anything change on the day a couple went from being “boyfriend/girlfriend” to “husband/wife” ?? Do we love that person more after saying “I do” than 20 minutes earlier when we were just engaged?

I don’t even know what to call my partner because there’s no term for it. I really don’t like  telling people “Hey, this is T- he is my domestic partner”  ….  and how can I call the father of my children and person I have shared my life with just a “boyfriend”?? That doesn’t do him justice. He deserves to be called my husband- because he is. He does everything a husband is supposed to do, and more. I have married couples all around me that are miserable and the husband doesn’t do shit. The wife does it all and then some! She works, she takes care of the kid(s), she takes care of the house, on and on- he is just there for the ride. Yet my “boyfriend” (*laughs out loud) does the dishes, makes meals, folds the laundry, gardens, takes care of our kids AND goes to work. He is the reason I get to stay at home with my children everyday and why we have a roof over our head. I am so grateful he is an awesome partner- most women are not so lucky. And we AREN’T even married!!! So it’s a pretty lame excuse if someone thinks that because you’re married, a man is suddenly a better spouse or a woman all of a sudden becomes Susie-Home-Maker. …
So what do we call each other? I am not a fan of the word “wife” and I would rather not be called that. When T introduces me to people, he calls me that and I feel like we’re lying. But it’s just easier to say we’re married- Why? 1)Because it’s easier to lie than to be judged  2) Rather not start an argument with someone because they are ignorant and believe that we are “living in sin” and going to “hell”  (what a sad way to live your life) 3) It’s easier than explaining to someone that we do not believe in a piece of paper (that’s really all marriage is- a document.
(*from Wikipedia)
“ Marriage (also called matrimony or wedlock) is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. The definition of marriage varies according to different cultures, but is usually an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged. Such a union is often formalized via a wedding ceremony.
The act of marriage usually creates normative or legal obligations between the individuals involved. Some cultures allow the dissolution of marriage through divorce or annulment.
It is often viewed as a contract.”

When you’re married, then people know your ‘status’, your living situation;  it’s just a given that you are committed to each other. When people hear that you aren’t married, it’s like you’re some scum bag or something!!! Like “how dare you be together and have kids, and NOT have a piece of paper for it!?!!”  Lol….
Since something like 50% of marriages end in divorce, it isn’t all that high on my list of things I think we should do. We are not naive and we believe that people change. Things change. People grow- sometimes they grow together, sometimes they grow apart. We like knowing that we choose to be with each other but also that we are not bound to each other in contract! ….If things do not work out with T and I, then we go our separate ways and figure it out. Without having to pay for something called a divorce. That’s probably the biggest benefit to not being married- if we don’t want to be together anymore for whatever reason- we get to walk away. No nasty divorce. No drama. Yeah, of course we’d have to work it out with the kids and all that- but that’s not something I’d even like to think about, so I won’t. We are happy and we love each other. We choose this life. Not because some piece of paper says so- but because that is what we WANT. To be with this person and only this person. To share a life with, experience good times and bad. To raise our children to be positive, honest, respectful, courageous, and care for our Earth. We want all the things married people want- but without a label attached to what role we play in our relationship. People identify with their roles in life and that’s all they know. Eckhart Tolle said it best: “What really matters is not what function you fulfill in this world, but whether you identify with your function to such an extent that it takes you over and becomes a role that you play. When you play roles you are unconscious. When you catch yourself playing a role, that recognition creates a space between you and the role.
We all play many many roles…the roles are NOT us…but we tend to identify with the role that we play.”

Now, every time I share my view, everyone wants to jump the gun and freak out on me because they take what I’m saying all personal. Another great Eckhart Tolle quote:
“When you are completely identified with form, you take everything personally” . ..
ATTENTION: If you are married- I am NOT attacking you!!!
I am simply stating my opinion on the matter and expressing how we are constantly attacked for NOT being married!!! I am showing the other side. Our side. And I know there are probably millions of people who are living their lives like we are. In love, happy, and raising their kids to the best of their abilities. We are no different than you- we just didn’t think we had to sign a piece of paper to have what we wanted….
Love & Truth,
Savannah

Top 5 Reasons to use cloth diapers

Posted on by
Reply

1. Best for baby’s health-
*Disposables contain highly toxic chemicals: chlorine bleach, dyes, TBT plastics, petrolatum, Sodium Polyacrylate (moisture-absorbing gels)- that have been linked to long term health issues.  (*Read last paragraph’s for more on this)

2. Best choice for the planet-
*1 disposable will sit in a landfill for 250-500 plus years before decomposing.
*The average child will go through over 6,000 disposables is JUST 2 years.
*Disposables (most) use non-sustainable materials, and the substances (dioxins, solvents, heavy metals) used in production leech into the environment (not to mention babies skin).

3. Better on your wallet-
*Disposables can run a family average of $2,000-$2,800 if used from birth to 3 years of age.

4. Great investment!!-
*Use your diapers over and over again on your next baby/children! Or pass along to friends/family or someone who cannot afford to buy their own.

5. They are SOOOOOO cute!!!! -
*No disposable can compete with the designs and options of cloth!

Cloth gives a variety to choose from whether it’s a pocket diaper, hybrid diaper,  All-in-One, or just a cover, along with tons of adorable fabrics and designs!
The best part about using cloth is how good you feel about it, knowing you are trying to do everything you can to help out the Earth & your little one. Not contributing to the tons and tons of waste that is sitting in landfills and polluting the Planet is very rewarding.
We will not be giving our hard earned money away to a giant CASH COW like the disposable diaper industry that continues to make insane amounts of money while trashing the earth and causing harm to our children that most parents aren’t even aware of or thinking about.
If you aren’t using cloth, you should definitely consider it- not only for your child’s best interest, but for the environment as well. Cloth diapers have come a LONG way and are nothing like what most people imagine them to be. No safety pins or difficult folding- this is not 1980 anymore!!  Do your research- you’ll be glad you did.
Love & Truth,
Savannah

From :Toxins in disposable diapers
“Dioxins are a byproduct of chlorine, which is used during the bleaching process. Dioxins accumulate in the body throughout the lifetime of victims. Dioxin exposure as a child will impede the immune system of the individual forever. It means that they will never be as strong as they should have been. Dioxins are responsible for a range of reproductive and developmental problems, damaging the immune system, along with causing major hormonal imbalances and cancer. Many infants are now exposed to dioxins 24 hours a day, and yet society wonders why girls are beginning puberty younger than ever, and hormonal disorders are becoming increasingly common in children.”
~Thomas Corriher

From Real Diaper Facts- RealDiaperassociation.org
*Disposable diapers contain traces of Dioxin, an extremely toxic by-product of the paper-bleaching process. It is a carcinogenic chemical, listed by the EPA as the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals. It is banned in most countries, but not the U.S.

*Over 300 pounds of wood, 50 pounds of petroleum feed stocks and 20 pounds of chlorine are used to produce disposable diapers for one baby EACH YEAR.

*Disposable diapers are the third largest single consumer item in landfills, and represent about 4% of solid waste. In a house with a child in diapers, disposables make up 50% of household waste.

Oh, she’s sooo tiny….

Posted on by
2

Ok, I’m going to take this time to vent about something that sure has started to irritate us lately… I may offend some people, so don’t read any further if you are a fan of formula or don’t believe breast milk is best for newborns, babies, children!!

So we went to the ‘Great Cloth Diaper Change’ yesterday- it was great! A bunch of cloth diaper parents/families met up at locations all over the world to all change their kids/babies cloth diaper at the same time to set a Guiness Word Record… GO CLOTH!!!!

There we are, bottom left corner- I'm in pink shirt and my "tiny" little baby is on her tummy checking things out!

Anyway, while there, we saw tons of the chubsters (babies with Michelin- man rolls), which we love, don’t get me wrong- but when you have a baby on the average side, and others have these fatty patty babies, we are constantly hearing “how tiny” our daughter is (Compared to what??)
It’s starting to get very annoying. So back to my story- At the Great Cloth Diaper Change yesterday, a really nice couple made the comment (I really don’t think they were trying to be rude or anything) that our baby is “so tiny!!!” So I bit my tongue and tried not to say something that would offend them, even though it feels like you as a parent are being insulted and your baby called sickly :( Like, do people honestly not think before they speak? Telling someone their baby is little or tiny is just as rude as me telling you yours is a fatty. I know I’m guilty of putting my foot in my mouth, but I don’t go around to chubby babies saying “Oh my! She’s soooooo huge!!! Look at all those rolls!!! Are you feeding her hormone-filled, powdered milk in a can?!!!?”
While we were patiently waiting for the time to change the diapers, our sweet little girl, being the advanced, intelligent, over-achiever that she is (lol) starts rolling from back to side to tummy-and the parents that were just commenting on how small our baby is- are then in amazement and shock (our babies are both 5 mo’s old) that our baby is about to start crawling already…. So then you want to go “HA!! Look at that!! My baby seems to be doing quite well if you ask me! What is your baby doing???” …. But of course we can only think these things- we don’t get to actually say them. Darn.

I don't see a tiny baby- I see a beautiful, happy baby with gorgeous blue eyes and chubby cheeks!


So this morning my spouse and I were discussing how irritating it is when chubby babies’ parents want to call our baby ‘tiny’, when we see a perfectly healthy, very intelligent little girl, not some tiny little thing. We also started getting into the differences of formula vs breastfed babies, vaccinated vs non vaccinated, natural vs unnatural birth, and how all these things play a significant role in the development of children. Some of the things he said while we were talking that deserve mentioning: “When people say our baby is small, what answer do they want us to give them? Do they want us to tell them the truth? I want to tell them my baby is NORMAL, yours looks overweight. Do you eat foods that were grown genetically, with toxic chemicals, or filled with hormones, that are then being passed on to baby in your milk? Do you exclusively breastfeed or use GMO-high-fructose-corn-syrup formula? What kind of birth experience did you/baby have? Was it trauma-free and peaceful? Because these are all things that you probably know nothing of and these could all be reasons why your baby is way bigger than ours and why she is not doing the things developmentally that our daughter is” ….

It’s just a shame that people feel they need to compare the weight or length of their child to feel superior or like their kid is better than yours. “Oh, Bobby weighs 20lbs-what does Susie weigh? OH! ONLY 16lbs? Geesh! She’s so small” (*Rolls eyes*)… What is important is remembering that we are all unique and different and not everyone fits into the same round hole. We all grow and develop differently and there is nothing wrong with some babies being on the thin, long side, while others are on the short, chunky side. People often forget this and pass judgement on others due to what their child “is” and yours “is not”. Parents also need to educate themselves and learn the ingredients of formula and the importance of breast milk. Maybe if more babies were breastfed from mother’s who were eating a diet high in whole, organic foods like fruits, veggies, leafy greens, seeds and nuts vs eating the Standard American Diet, we would see that reflect in the children they are nursing and the outcome would be a society of all-around healthier and not-so-heavy babies. Instead of children and adults that have to live with numerous health problems that probably could have been avoided, had parents chosen to breastfeed and eaten an optimal diet- not one of processed, packaged, artificial, frozen, GM, or fast foods….
*And this is coming from someone who has ‘Been-there, Done-that’ !!! We’ve done formula, we’ve eaten shit foods, we have had the unnecessary interventions and a traumatic birth, the poison filled shots, on and on – but we know better now. We have educated ourselves. We KNOW there is a better way. So we choose it. And it shows in our daughter. She is the most content, happy, wonderful baby that sleeps amazing at night when she’s snuggled next to me or during naps while she’s against my chest in the Moby wrap. When she wants to eat, she eats and she can’t get enough of her favorite meal: Mama’s milk!! :)
It is very obvious that our baby is exceptional- just being in her presence makes this known. She is the picture of health and we intend to keep it that way!

Love & Truth,
Savannah

The low-down on Agave Nectar

Posted on by
Reply

Natural sweeteners are a big market right now, especially since people are starting to learn the dangers of artificial sweeteners & their harmful effects on our health. We need to keep in mind that processed foods are not found in nature, and even foods claiming to be ‘raw’ may not always be the case (there are no ‘raw labeling laws’- anyone can put ‘RAW’ on their label).

From (*Wikipedia)
“Chiefly Mexican, agaves are also native to the southern and western United States and central and tropical South America. They are succulents with a large rosette of thick fleshy leaves, each ending generally in a sharp point and with a spiny margin; the stout stem is usually short, the leaves apparently springing from the root. It is a common misconception that agaves are cacti. They are not related to cacti, nor are they closely related to Aloe whose leaves are similar in appearance.”

From everything I’ve read, Organic agave nectar is not chemically processed, and is free from harmful chemical additives or fillers.
We think it tastes delicious and the best part is having it take the place of refined sugars in recipes. Although it provides as many calories as sucrose (table sugar), it is sweeter, so you can use less of it when substituting for sugar (Ex: 1/4 of a cup instead of 1 cup of sugar). It can be used in raw recipes, to cook, bake, or sweeten beverages like tea. A big reason for it’s popularity is because it’s a low glycemic food that does not spike your blood sugar levels. It also contains fructans (the longer chains of fructose)- a type of soluble fibre- which studies have shown improve digestive health. Some vegans/raw foodists use it in place of honey because it’s derived from a plant, and they believe we shouldn’t be exploiting the bees and stealing their gold! Some raw foodists believe that it is not a raw food as it gets processed at high heat, while others say that when the nectar is processed with enzymes instead of heat, it can technically be considered raw. Basically, Agave nectar is not always raw, but it can be. (Some manufacturers process agave using high heat, while many sorts of agave are processed using low heat, below the 118F threshold which is the limit for food to be considered raw.)
The most alarming thing I found in my searches is the claim that pregnant women should avoid it, because some agave species contain saponin- which some say can lead to a miscarriage. But just like everything has more than 2 sides to the story, others say this naturally occurring element is found in many common foods and there is no evidence associating agave nectar with miscarriage. Other information claims that saponins are beneficial and contribute to keeping us healthy in many many ways!!

Some of the research I’ve been doing on Agave has led me to some great articles, blogs, websites and manufactures of it. Here are some on the positive side to agave:

The claims from ‘Global Goods, Inc. about their Organic Volcanic Agave Nectar:
“Our Volcanic Nectar has the Lowest Glycemic Index which means when you use our Volcanic Nectar to sweeten recipes your blood sugar level won’t sky rocket like other sweeteners. It’s also an organic product which means you don’t have to worry about unhealthy chemicals or pesticides.
You can use about 1/3 cup of Volcanic Nectar to each cup of sugar thus reducing your caloric intake.
Improves the functioning of the gall bladder by breaking down fats easier.
Helps remove the blockages in arteries associated with high cholesterol levels.”

‘The Truth About Agave: It is a great alternative to sugar, honey and other natural sweeteners‘
-”The agave process is nothing like the process used to derive High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) from corn starch as agave nectar is derived from the fructans of the agave plant. There are two processes utilized, one is simply heating the nectar to break the fructans down into sugars (fructose and glucose) and the other is to introduce organic certified enzymes to break the fructans down into sugars (fructose and glucose). We prefer the organic enzymes process due to the fact that it eliminates the need to heat the nectar and permits us to retain a “raw” status.”

This blog was SO VERY VERY INFORMATIVE, I can’t express that enough! Read this one if you would like ACCURATE information on Agave!!
http://betterworldcookies.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-i-use-agave-nectar-examination-of.html
“I’ve found that agave nectar is indeed a safe and beneficial product which I intend to keep on using. More importantly, there are some disturbing oversights and blatant errors coming from trusted information sources.
The production of many natural sweeteners such as honey, agave nectar, brown rice syrup, and amazake use natural enzymatic action to convert complex starches and sugars into their simpler components. However, HFCS is chemically processed from non-organic, genetically modified corn using caustics and acids, and retains none of the nutrients of the whole food from which it was made.”

Here is the more negative side that I have come across, that made me second guess myself and using agave. But are the one’s criticizing agave just spreading disinformation? I believe so now. I am grateful to have uncovered information that examines facts of agave vs fiction like the blog above. You can do your research and make a decision for yourself as to whether you will be using Agave or not.

This blog cites The Weston A Price Foundation for it’s proof of “how bad agave is” (but I’m not buying it after reading this)
http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/
“So there you have it. Agave nectar is not traditional, is highly refined, and actually has more concentrated fructose than high-fructose corn syrup. It is not a “natural” sweetener. Thus far, the evidence definitely points toward the conclusion: Agave Nectar = Bad.”

I thought it was interesting that the article: ‘Agave Nectar, the High Fructose Health Food Fraud‘ has been removed from Natural News. Did they receive new information and remove their previous articles because it was incorrect in it’s assumptions..?

As with ALL sweeteners, we need to keep in mind that too much of anything is never a good idea and moderation is best. We will most likely continue to use agave occasionally, as the information that I have read has all pointed to the fact that all those damning agave reference a single source — Russ Bianchi — to back up their claims. There are no credible, peer-reviewed studies to the information that Russ Bianchi puts out, bashing agave. Thorough research reveals that most of Bianchi’s claims are untrue or incorrect, but widely spread as fact- especially on the internet. Russ Bianchi just so happens to be the CEO of ‘Adept Solutions, Inc.’ — a company that independently markets a sugar-sweetened energy drink. Hmmm- can you say something fishy is going on here??
This article is one that most people reference when speaking negatively on Agave- and then you have this one that totally shows you the facts behind Raw, Organic Agave.
I would hope that people do their own research or read into what I have shared and make the choice for themselves whether they think agave is as good as people claim it is or if it is just another ploy to make money in the Organic/Natural food industry…?
If I come across anything new, I will add it- as information is always coming out and we are always learning. If anyone has any information or links they’d like to share, please do so!!
Love & Truth,
Savannah

“Free yourselfs from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds” ~ Bob Marley

Posted on by
Reply

This sentence is so true. So damn true. Only you can free yourself from your thoughts. Only you can unlock that other 90% of your brain that you are not using. Only you can get in touch with your higher self.
Study the Chakras. Learn Meditation. Practice Yoga. Read books by Bob Frissell, Patricia Cori, Eckhart Tolle and Wayne Dyer. Study different religions such as Buddhism and Taoism and see the beauty that connects all human beings.

“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.”
― C.S. Lewis

Learn how to live in your Now, in this present moment no matter what it is. Be grateful and appreciate all that you have, no matter how small.
Spend more time in nature, walk barefoot and get closer to the Earth. Send positive thoughts and intentions out into the Universe while you smell a beautiful flower or stare out into the blue sky.

“We are what we think. Everything we are arises from our thoughts. With our thinking we create the world.”
~ Buddha

Stop dwelling on the past and hoping for the future- this takes you out of your Now and you are no longer enjoying the present moment. So many times we allow ourselves to get so wrapped up in events that have happened in our pasts.
We are NOT victims. We are spiritual beings, capable of creating our reality with our thoughts.
Learn how to let go of your Ego. Let go of that part of self that feels the need to always be right, or have the last word. Let go of caring what others think of you or what you think of yourself.
Learn to love yourself. You have to learn to love YOU before you can love others. Once you heal you, you can work on your other relationships that need healing.
Forget things like race, gender, religious beliefs, nationality, etc. These are all things that divide us and keep us separate. We are all ONE. One race of human beings living upon the Planet Earth. We need to realize that we are all equal regardless of the amount of money in our bank account or what ‘god’ we believe in.
Free your mind and the rest will follow…..
Love & Truth,
Savannah

The 411 on compost!!

Posted on by
1

2 days worth of kitchen scraps


We have been composting for about a year now and I don’t know why we didn’t start sooner!?!! It blows my mind when I see the BAGS and BAGS full of banana peels, pieces of tomato, and apple cores that we throw into our compost pile- I can’t believe we used to throw this precious, useful stuff in the trash when it has such beneficial use to the soil! So not only are we cutting down on the amount of trash bags we are using and sending into the landfill, we are creating nutrient-rich soil that we didn’t have to pay for!

Compost is known as ‘Gardener’s Gold’ due to the amazing benefits it has on soil. It is a free way to attain excellent soil by using the decomposition process to provide nutrients to plants, create moisture retention, and eliminate the need for fertilizers!

*There are 2 categories for compost ingredients- a good compost pile should have some of both for the best decomposition.

Green & Wet
*These things are high in nitrogen/low in carbon.
-Kitchen scraps (coffee grounds, fruit & veggie peels, egg shells)
-Glass clippings
-Rotted manure
-Grass, hay, garden clippings

Brown & Dry
*High in carbon/low in nitrogen
-Dry leaves
-newspaper
-straw, pine needles, sawdust

*Strive for a balanced mixture of 2 parts brown/dry to 1 part green/wet.
*Don’t add fat from kitchen scraps (ie-meat) since this attracts animals, and takes too long to break down.
*If decomposition is slow, add more green & wet to speed it up!
*If your pile is stinky, there is too much nitrogen, not enough carbon- add brown & dry.

Make a basic, inexpensive compost bin from wood or use fencing around your pile to keep out critters for a quick, cheap solution. You can even purchase a tumbler, which makes small batches of compost and much quicker. These are your best bet if space is an issue in your yard. These are as super easy and only require being spun every few days to mix the contents well.

Once you have your bin, start collecting your kitchen scraps, leaves, etc and get to composting!! Remember to keep your pile balanced with wet and dry, aerate your pile weekly by turning with a pitch fork, keep your pile moist (not wet!) and create a large pile around 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide.

Some helpful links for information:
All you need to get to composting!!
Composting for beginnners
Composting containers

Help your soil & our Mother Earth out & get to composting!!
Love & Truth,
Savannah

5 ingredient raw dessert or snack

Posted on by
Reply

I took about 4 or 5 frozen bananas and cut them into thin slices. Then I got 1/2 cup organic rolled oats or so and pulse-chopped them till they were fine. Add them to 3 or 4 TBS of raw almond butter and 2 or 3 TBS of raw honey. Mix well & add a splash of warm water to help make it more of a sauce.
Put on top of sliced bananas and stir well! Top with coconut for a nice sweet treat! SOOOO good, this did not last long.

Happy eating!!!
Savannah

The amazing world of Tropical fruits!

Posted on by
Reply

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I took these pictures when we were first trying Papaya, Starfruit, and Durian! We even had a Jakfruit also but I didn’t take any pics… The Jakfruit was by far our favorite! It is an amazing fruit! We knew when we saw them in videos and pictures online that we HAD to try one! They are the largest fruit in the world that grows on a tree. They are MASSIVE and you wonder how in the world it can even grow and stay on a tree for how much it weighs!! (The biggest weigh in around 50-80lbs!) The Durian is known as the “King of Fruits” but we weren’t so fond of it. Which was a let-down, cause we have heard SO much positive feedback on it. But then again, when you purchase fruit in the states that has been frozen and shipped from great distances, of course it’s not going to taste the way it should. So we will have to try a Durian again and hope for a better one next time! It was definitely the weirdest thing to chop open one of it’s compartments and peel out the soft, gooey flesh. I’ve never seen anything like it. And then the seeds were inside the little balls of flesh- it was pretty interesting!! And the smell- wow. I’ve heard people describe it. But you just can’t!! It is weird. Fishy, eggy. So weird!! My kids didn’t want anything to do with it. And that is saying something!
The papaya surprised me and is very very good! It reminds me of the texture of a melon. Tastes like watermelon, just not. The staruit was really yummy, with a consistency of an apple. It tasted like an apple and a strawberry but just watery. We have had some before that were so good and some that were not so great. So I guess like everything, it just depends.
Anyway, try some of these little beauties if you haven’t had the pleasure already.
Happy eating!!!
Savannah

Is it just me, or does everyone else feel great after a big, healthy bowel movement? ; ) 3/20/2012

Posted on by
Reply

“OOOOOh, YEAH!!! That’s right!!! I just had my second ginormous p**p of the day! The bowels are working in this house! No colon cancer for this family!!!!”
That’s me yelling to my significant other from our bathroom as he lays on the bed with the kids. (We are very open about our bm’s in this house!!)
“Nice, babe. How about closing the door when we have a BM, huh? I always tell the boys to do it, ….” he tells me. But I start to tune him out and begin to think how excited I am that I have just had 2 VERY healthy BM’s in ONE DAY!!!
I am pretty proud of myself and the progress that I have made!! I don’t know if that has ever happened that I can recall. I mean, I’ve had bouts of going too much of course (diarrhea), but that was all from eating greasy, fried, or fast food. (No wonder I used to get the sh*ts my whole life- oh, and fun side note: upon going to the Poctologist and receiving a colonoscopy due to IBS at age 22, I was told to eat better and given a prescription for a pill to help me poop. Like that’s what I needed. I needed to CHANGE the way I was eating. Completely. WHY DON’T THEY EVER TELL US THAT!?!) If I wasn’t having the runs, then I was constipated. Talk about being miserable. I know all about that one. I have gone WEEKS not going #2 before and it’s landed me in the hospital with 2 of my pregnancies. I was so ignorant back then- eating fast food at least once a day while I was carrying a growing life inside me. Drinking soda like it was water. Hardly ever making meals at home, and of course buying NOTHING but processed, fake food. I didn’t even know what ‘Organic’ meant with my first pregnancy back in 2005, but thank goodness his arrival brought about a desire to learn as much as I could about what we should be feeding a growing child. By the time he was ready to start eating foods, I had some knowledge of healthy eating but nothing near what I know now. It is saddening to look back on my experiences and feel like I sure did jip my older 2 kids out of a healthier start to life. Not only with my health during their conception, their pregnancies, but also the way they were brought into this world (or should I say where ie-hospital) and how I fed them when they were littler. I am so happy that I have the Raw food knowledge now so that I can start our daughter off (when she is ready to eat solids) on an optimal diet. ….
It took many a years to get where I am we are now, and I feel very blessed to have the head on my shoulders that I do. I was able to educate myself through reading books and online in blogs and websites and learn the error of my ways. We are always learning, always evolving, as new information comes out. I feel like we are on the path we need to be on at this time in our lives and I am so grateful to be walking it. I am so fortunate to have a partner that is 100% on board with everything I am so passionate about, because like me, he too questions everything and has a love for learning …
Just knowing that my body is performing the way it should be and I am providing it with all of the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, fiber, protein, (on and on) that it needs through a raw foods diet, is such peace of mind. I can rest easy knowing that I am in control of my health and I am doing all that I can to fight disease, I.B.S., or being overweight. My partner and I are setting such a good example for our kids, and giving them the knowledge to keep themselves healthy and well. So yes, I am going to shout it from the roof tops that I had 2 BM’s TODAY!!! Whoo hoo!! Yay for me!!! ….. (As my 4 year old just went to go have his 3rd or maybe his 4th poo of the day…?) Yup, we are some healthy poopers!!!
Love & Truth,
Savannah

What does your poop say about you?
This was an excellent article on the topic!
Poop 101: Do You Have Healthy Bowel Movements?