Farewell, My Subaru

This book was much needed in my life right now. A mix of wonderful writing, humor, and information that I found completely delightful. I read it in three days (and you all know I am a busy woman) and enjoyed 95% of it. The rest, I didn't understand... lol. His quips and comparisons (like naming his local coyote "Dick Cheney") were a highlight for sure. But the trials he went through were also very informative. I learned things I had never understood before. Including information about converting a huge diesel truck (he calls the ROAT or Ridiculously Oversized American Truck) to biofuel, the oily dog situations that ensue on one's property, and the complications that can arise from your ROAT always smelling like KFC, to the intricate measures one has to take to feed livestock newly bought during a devastating flood, his life on Funky Butte Ranch was enlightening, and highly entertaining.

Chapter Eleven "Modern Snake Charming" was particularly entertaining. If I say much more, I could ruin it... but if you know any New Mexican metaphysical types... you will laugh until you pee your pants.

It was a nice break to the doomsday thinking that sometimes engulfs people who have been studying sustainable living and climate change a bit too much. Like the author, Doug Fine, I believe that we are going to make it as a race. And I sure as hell would rather try than give up. So bring on the information about 'goat pimping', garden fence reinforcement that rivals most jails, rattle snake farming, and oily dogs. I am ready for this type of informative optimism.

Low carb becoming mandatory?

For the last two months, people who make bread and pizza have been constantly concerned with the price of wheat going up. For some of them, it is making their prices sky rocket to the point they are loosing business.

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/feb/29/0229_wheat/

http://www.barternews.com/pdf/WheatShortage.pdf

Aside from people complaining about price, there is a real issue going on with a virus effecting the production of wheat.

Some say the 'shortage' is a myth, talking about the fact that it is really the falling American dollar that is causing the high price. This may be partially true. But with the wheat disease effecting millions in Asia and the Middle East, I think they are wrong. It isn't long before many people with be on mandatory low carbohydrate diets. And some may very well die from the lack.

Even my own local bakery, which we visited yesterday, had a sign up saying "Due to the rising wheat costs, some of our prices may have gone up. We are sorry for the inconveniences this may cause." Before long, bread could be the most expensive item we pick up at the grocery.

Find it hard to find coupons for organics?

Yes... me too. But this organic couponing guide article tells you how to get coupons to your favorites or be able to try new ones with out the bust to your pocket book. I have a friend (and fellow blogger) who has been very successful by writing to these companies and they have been sending her coupons for weeks now. :) What a fun, new way to see new organics, and be able to try new things!

I just sent off for a couple coupon books. I'll let you know how it goes.

To answer another question...

I need some more information on these 'Grassy Green Health Food Drinks'.

Is it this? Or this?

Reviewing the nutrition facts on the label, it seems that it is just ground up things that everyone should be eating anyway. lol... Minus some for some people, and minus others for other people. But honestly, every one should have at least one large serving of green leafy veggies... Organic wheat grass, organic barley grass, organic alfalfa, organic spirulina, organic spinach, organic broccoli, organic chlorella are the ones ground up and added into this "super" powder. Then they added ground up dried veggies that contain large amounts of antioxidants... Organic acai, organic maca, organic carrot, organic beet, raspberry, organic rose hips, pineapple, green tea, acerola cherry. Many of these also double as huge Vit C boosters. There are a few things I don't recognise in this blend. 'Maca' for example. Don't know what it is... so I will look it up. But from the over view of ingredients... it seems like just taking veggies, in powder form. Making them more concentrated. Which may not be the best way to get them, but it can't be the worst. ;)

I myself use a protein powder and some tablets of vit D in the winter time dosed into my smoothies in the morning (which have frozen organic bananas, strawberries or blueberries I picked last summer, maple syrup (you saw my undying love of that stuff), apple juice (the real stuff), and brewers yeast. It helps me keep through the long, cold, wet winters of the Pacific NW without modifying my low meat diet much... so I am not one to jump on the haters bandwagon. But at the same time, I am guessing that drinking these drinks does not substitute eating broccoli, or spinach in it's real and raw (and right out of your neighbors farm Field or your home garden) form. But then again... it is better than not eating them at all.

The main trouble with these super foods is usually in the pocket book, not the body.