It's Hanging Time

Technically, I hang laundry year round. There are always loads of bike clothes to hang dry, or bedding. Sometimes the winter weather is warm and I manage to get an entire load on the line. Still, May is when I start to hang laundry in earnest. I change the laundry routine and make an effort not to use the dryer at all.

I suppose this is an area I could do better in. I could find a way to air dry all of the laundry year round, using folding racks, wall racks, or these really cool pull down racks. The problem is, all of these solutions cost money. I calculated the cost of operating my clothes dryer, and it worked out to about $5 a month if I used the dryer exclusively, and that didn't even take into consideration that my clothes are coming from a front loading high efficiency washing machine, so the clothes are well on their way to being dry before they get put in. I hang full time for about half of the year, and part time for the rest of the year, so my annual expense is closer to $20.

We always have this tug between what is right environmentally and what works for us financially; sometimes the environment wins (buying organic groceries, organic underclothing, and spending more for Energy Star appliances), sometimes being frugal wins (not installing solar power or buying indoor clothes racks).

In truth, I'd love a big umbrella drying rack for outside. My problem is that I don't want the less expensive imported version, I want the made in the USA rack. At $199 it would take a long time to pay for itself, especially when I consider that most of the time what I am using now works well enough. I have two lengths of old cotton clothesline; one is tied around a palm tree and the basketball hoop, the other goes between the hoop and a different tree. When the boys want to play basketball I have to take down the line that goes from the palm tree to the hoop. Sometimes they are unhappy about not playing basketball while I have clothes on the line. The system does, however, work. My expense has been limited to buying new clothes pins as needed. As a bonus, I hang over concrete, and my lines don't shade any of my growing areas.

Of course, if I was making the choice now, I probably would have chosen not to buy the gas dryer, and instead would have installed a sturdy, permanent system outside as well as purchased indoor drying racks. I'm sure I would have come out ahead. In a drying emergency I could put the wet clothes in the bike trailer and head for the coin laundry.

Anyway, today I started our warm weather laundry system (I did get a head start yesterday by washing and line drying all of the bedding for the twin bed). I usually wash everyday that we are home, alternating between a cold water load and a hot water load. During the winter I wash only three times a week; the dryer works more efficiently if it doesn't have to cool down between loads.

I ordered this small hanging dryer rack; the plastic one I bought 9 years ago was involved in a mishap with young children (mine claim that it was not them, but a friend). The small rack works great for socks and small wash rags, and saves space so that I can hang the big loads that my washing machine accommodates. I'd love a metal spinning rack, but they are too expensive. I need new pins this year (I use both kinds, and find that each has its purpose); those we'll get from the dollar store.

Why don't I hang my lines from the fence? Most of it just isn't sturdy enough for the weight of a loaded clothesline, and new fencing is expensive!

CONTEST!

Okay, it's just a little contest. I really want to know if anyone is out there! So add a comment to this post, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win the January 2007 issue of The Herb Companion.

I'll choose a winner Monday, May 7th.

Then it gets more exciting! Every Monday I'll check for comments on the previous week's posts, and I'll draw a winner and send a prize (on Friday). Next week's prize will be your choice:

1) A copy of the premiere issue of Somerset Studio magazine (paper crafts) ~or~
2) An unopened packet of Ferry-Morse Alyssum (Royal Carpet) seeds ~or~
3) A loom knit baby cap, 100% wool ~or~
4) Decorating For Christmas, a hardbound book put out by The Home Decorating Institute

I have tons of goodies to rotate into the prize pool!

Also coming soon: photos!

Garden Chores

Goals and Chores for May:

Check garden every morning, water when needed
Add compost to bring up level of soil
Pull beets
Harvest seed heads from red romaine
Split alyssum and daisies and figure out where to put the extras (they are outgrowing their allotted squares)
Build trellises for tomatoes
Observe the bed on the south side of the house for number of sunlight hours (it's block somewhat by the neighbor's house)
Prepare same bed for planting, and decide what to plant
Put in more herbs
Plant zucchini and cucumbers
Decide on what type of composting to pursue (bin vs. worm) and get on it
Research pear trees
Create a master planting plan for the rest of the year

A Local Dinner, and What We Found at the Farmer's Market

I had to throw together dinner last night; we had decided not to buy any groceries until we had been to the farmer's market. And so I made a frittata, with local eggs and produce from my garden (turnips, kale, spinach, Swiss chard, and green onion tops). I used raw butter as my fat, which at least comes from California (about 250 miles as the crow flies).

The market was hopping last night, and happily for Papa the "tomato lady" was finally back. We bought:

tomatoes
a cucumber
avocados
local, free-range eggs
Cara Cara oranges
sugar snap peas
leeks
a maui onion
a red onion
Fuji apples from the Tehachapi area

There was much more, however many of the growers are conventional. The farmer I bought my onions and leeks from took the time to tell me what he sprays and what he doesn't, and how often, and why. I bought from him even though he uses urea as his fertilizer, because of his openness and honesty. I don't know that I would buy from him again; I have to balance my belief in organics with my belief in eating local.

After that we walked to Trader Joe's for a few things, and again lamented how hard it is to find local produce there.

I'm more inspired than ever to expand the garden and grow more of our own food. The question is when, and where, and how do we do it sustainably (not buying plastic or old growth lumber) and without breaking the bank?

My "Local" Market and the Search for Local Food

Today I decided to actually roam the aisles of my local market, searching for organic and local food. Sadly, they carry less organic produce than they did a few months ago, and they only had one local produce item: navel oranges. Local citrus is one thing I can get easily. They did have local (conventionally-produced) bread and kettle corn.

It's frustrating. In the summer they do carry local strawberries, from a conventional farm. In the fall they have unpasteurized apple cider pressed just 15 miles away.

My best source of varied, local, organic produce dried up about 6 years ago when the farmer started supplying a local restaurant instead. Good for the restaurant, bad for us. Papa was just mentioning the other day how great it would be if someone opened a restaurant that served local, organic food without a pretentious, gourmet spin. He's right; it would be fantastic.

I tried to think of all the places where I can get local and organic food (although not necessarily certified). My garden is the first place, however, right now that means enough lettuce for 3 of us to have big salads 2-3 times a week, and other cool weather crops in small amounts. We've had kale, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips, radishes, and onions. We still have the greens growing, and beets that need to be harvested soon, and more onions. We will soon, however, be in the place between spring and summer crops. Our garden is small; we will spend all year making it bigger and growing things wherever we can. We've planted tomatoes, peppers, and basil, and will get zucchini and cucumbers in this weekend. This year we will have a handful of blackberries, and hopefully next year the crop will be bigger.

Next I have my neighbor. I can count on her for lemons, and usually grapefruit as well.

We have a year round weekly farmers market, and several of the growers do live in the area. One great thing is that we can walk to this market, thus avoiding the use of petroleum to bring our food home. We have one preferred farmer; he and his wife usually have eggs and citrus, sometimes avocados, and in the warmer months they have some zucchini, stone fruit, kiwi fruit, persimmons, etc. Another grower comes only in the warmer months; she has tomatoes and cucumbers. These growers use organic growing practices but are not certified. Lately we've had a certified grower with apples; they come from about 100 miles away. Most of the other growers are conventional, and some come from as far away as Fresno.

The health food store occasionally has local produce. It isn't something I can count on.

Reaching out a bit, there are a few more farmer's markets, but we would have to drive. One we could take the train to, but it'd cost more than $30 and we'd still have to drive to the station. We can occasionally take the train into San Juan Capistrano to buy from the organic farm just down the road from my in-laws, visit them, and go to the beach.

We're exploring public fruit and the laws concerning our city-owned groves.

In the fall we have apples just a short drive away; we need to figure out storage or preservation.

There is a citrus CSA in town, and it may be possible that a CSA farm in the L.A. area now has a drop off point here as well.

We have local honey, and pumpkins in season. There are many houses with citrus, avocados, pomegranates, or persimmons for sale out front.

Sleuthing around I have found gouda cheese made from raw milk just 40 miles from us. We need to get more information about how the cows are fed and housed. My guess is that we'll be able to find a lot more locally produced food than we originally thought.

Predominately our area has citrus. We can grow a diverse number of vegetables and fruits over a long growing season (as long as we have city water for irrigation). We aren't near a river, but we are less than 100 miles from lakes and the ocean.

Papa and I have talked about eating locally and seasonally for about a year now; I think it's time we set some parameters and make a go of it. Questions to ponder:

We haven't found locally sourced grass-fed beef. Would we be willing to purchase beef if it comes from within the state, and if it is trucked down by the producer to many customers in the area, rather than being flown in?

What do we do about grains and legumes?

Is it acceptable to get our raw milk from producers within a few hundred miles of us?

The most important thing for me to remember is that this is a journey; it isn't all or nothing. The more locally grown food we can eat the better.

I am a Radical!

There! I said (wrote) it, out loud. Not that most people who know me don't already consider me a radical. No, I'm claiming the title because I want to be even more radical. But first, a few highlights from my past:

At age 15, I declare myself a vegetarian. It is short-lived; I have the kind of father who shouted "Not while you live under my roof!" Still, the seeds are planted.

Also at age 15, I decide that I am not willing to accept the umbrella theory of (Judeo-Christian) God-Dad (or Husband)-Child; where the child is under the disciplinary hand of the father, and the father is under the disciplinary hand of G-d. I told the pastor straight out that I'd be doing my own talking with any deity and that I'd be responsible for my own actions. He told my parents I was "troubled."

At 19, revolted by the practices of industrial meat production and unaware of any alternatives, I go vegetarian. Soon I am a card carrying PETA member; I return hundreds (if not thousands) of American Express applications to the company (postage-paid) with Fur is Dead written in big red letters (Amex offered fur coats in their rewards catalog). By 21 I am vegan.

In 1990 I celebrate the reemergence of Earth Day. I buy canvas grocery bags, I recycle, I start my interest in natural hair and body products, I join the Green party.

As I go through my college years I am introduced to feminism. My life changes. I study women's literature and decide to pursue a minor degree in Feminist Studies (the university insisted on calling it Women's Studies, however both the students and professors preferred the former).

I am introduced to a wide range of thinking of campus, and my ideas evolve regarding homosexuality, patriarchy, environmentalism, religion, politics, and much more. I attend a great women's conference and find out how great it was to be someplace where their are vegetarian options, openly lesbian women, women of color speaking out...women of all ages, races, sizes, religions, and sexual orientations connecting in a way I've never experienced before.

Back at my home university, I participate in a women's consciousness raising group, and I am a founding member of the women's center on campus. I spend hours alone everyday in a cold room with a desk, a couple of chairs, some old copies of Ms. Magazine, and a poster of Rosie the Riveter on the wall. Obviously, we got off to a slow start, but today the university has a large, thriving women's resource center.

I graduate, and ditch the idea of getting my teaching credential. Instead I pursue banking. I become the youngest branch manager in the history of the company, and help to change a lot of people's thinking about the abilities of young people. I butt heads with upper management quite often, advocating for better wages for my staff.

In 1999 I become a mother, and a stay-at-home mother at that. Many people see this as a step backward. I, however, am a radical mother. I make baby food from organic produce. I use cloth diapers on my baby, and I don't bleach them. I wear my baby in a sling, and I sleep with him too. Soon I have two babies, both boys, and I realize that I am raising the next generation of feminist men....

The past 8 years have seen me moving more and more away from the mainstream. Once I realized that many of my values had been co-opted and were being marketed to I stepped away. If big organic wants to sell me food, I decide to grow as much of my own as I can. If they want me to buy eco-friendly clothing, I decide to buy second hand clothing and other items. I focus strongly on the reduce portion of reduce-reuse-recycle. I reduce my electricity use, and I reduce it again. I walk and ride my bike to reduce my use of oil. I find local farmers to purchase food from.

So, yes, my eating is radical. We eat nearly 100% organic, and we are making a conscious shift toward local and seasonal food. We don't eat trans fats, HFCS, artificial flavorings or colorings, or much that is processed in any way. In an absolute shift from the vegetarianism we once pursued, we have begun eating humanely-raised meat. Our standards are high, and big organic doesn't make the cut. For us there must be no CAFOs. Animals must be treated with respect during their lives and at death. All ruminants must be strictly grass-fed, on pasture. Eggs come from a small, local, free-ranging flock. We don't eat a lot of meat, however we are voting with our dollars for sustainable agriculture. After years as vegetarians we see that the organic life must include animals for soil fertility.

My parenting is radical. I don't hit my children. I don't shame them. I live my life with them. They don't go to public school, and we don't home learn for religious reasons either. They are growing up in a home where their father and I live as partners, sharing the tasks of home tending and child raising. Most importantly, my children are growing up with the belief that they are important. They aren't second class citizens. They have wants and needs that are as important as mine. I want them to live now, and not only for the future.

After years of informally studying women and friendship I have finally overcome many of the stumbling blocks that prevent true friendship among women, and I have a great group of friends. Each and everyone of us is radical in some way. We are all home learners. Some are home birthers, some cloth diaper, some co-sleep, some baby wear, some use alternative medicine, some are environmentalists, some are hand crafters, some are gardeners, some are thrifters, some eat an organic diet, some eat local, some don't vaccinate...the list goes on.

There is more, of course. Laundry lists aren't that helpful. I, however, wanted to shout loud and clear "I AM A RADICAL!" I'm at a place now where I'm not sure I want to hide the radical things about myself that other people don't like. I'm proud to be radical, and I want to be even more so. A radical woman, raising radical children, changing the world.

Things You Can Learn From Your Grandmother

1) Don't trust the thermometer. In other words, use your senses and you'll know.

2) There are stories your parents didn't tell you, and some of the stories they told you they got wrong. These stories are worth hearing.

3) The right hand ring was around long before DeBeers trademarked the phrase.

4) It's not the end of the world if your hair is not freshly washed.

5) A person needs meaningful work. For some women that doesn't mean staying home and caring for children. For some women ironing is boring. Don't judge the women who choose not to stay home and mother 24/7. Don't judge the women who do.

6) There is time to be patient, whether you die young or die old.

7) Friends are more important than you think. Take time to cultivate friendships and keep up with old friends. Never tell yourself that there isn't time; we need friends as much as we need family.

8) Things don't really change all that much. Way back when girls decided to wear the same thing to school on the same day; couples got divorced; women worked; elders were shocked; people had housecleaners; teens drank alcohol, smoked, drove too fast, and got pregnant. Technology changes; people really don't.

9) Do what you need to do to keep your family healthy, with strong ties. Love your children unconditionally and accept them for who they are. Don't lose sight of the big picture while fighting over bed times, dirty hands, and too-loud music. You are tending the saplings that will grow to protect you in your old age.

10) Frugality will win in the end...unless you are fabulously wealthy from the beginning you'd better learn the skills you need to get you through the lean years, and to take you into retirement. Let people laugh when you cut corners, let them say you're cheap, and take comfort in a paid-for house and adequate retirement savings.

11) Give of yourself. Donate your time and talents. Get involved, because you can make a difference.

12) You will hold your child's hand, and your grandchild's hand, and the time will come when you need them to hold yours. It's precious.