Blog Worth Sharing: Good Eats, Good Inspiration

Moms Matter

Motherhood changes you in the most profound ways. We give birth to our children, and a huge part of ourselves as well; each day brings new teachings and a greater appreciation, and deep respect for the nurturing power of L O V E. Enjoy today mothers! You are shaping the future and your significance is IMMENSE!

Community Gardens

Gardening together is one of the most rewarding activities that a community can do, and getting dirty for a great cause excites everyone! I have yet to see a grumpy gardener--there's something to that; being outdoors and working the soil brings harmony and healing to everyone and it's ripe with educational benefits. To see your child learning about proper planting techniques or petal formations from a lifelong, avid gardener is to witness one of the sweetest teaching moments ever!

All around us there are planting opportunities for our families and our communities and many people just don't realize how easy it is to get your neighbors growing together. The process doesn't happen overnight, but very few rewarding endeavors do. Our own MdTL garden expansion is thanks to an energized and determined parent who decided to pose the question and start a dialogue with the City of San Rafael. So the next time you're walking around your neighborhood, take special note of the empty lots, or vacant strips of land--the smallest of gardens can yield an incredible amount of wholesome, fresh food. The American Community Garden Association has great tips for how to do this in your neighborhood. STARTING A COMMUNITY GARDEN

Sharing the Seeds of Love

It's that time of year again and the window sills are lined with starters: beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash. The Green Committee is caring for the seedlings now that will become your family's food at the great giveaway this April. Earth Week at MdTL is my favorite time of year, embodying so much of what we all strive for: a strong community that shares with joyful, expectation-free abundance; an opportunity to learn from one another about how to simplify our lives through practical, responsible living; a time to celebrate the great Earth that we all inhabit; and an occasion when our children can inspire us with compost 'how-to' and planet inspired poetry! This living is a supreme gift and Earth Week provides the sprinkling of wonder, friendship, partnership and generosity that makes our community whole.

Help Bay Area Families in Need This Holiday Season

By Natalie Quinan, mommy to Shane (almost 5 yrs old) ~ Aspen Class

After a recent play date, I surveyed the devastation around our house and in particular my son’s room. Five boys in any small space can create fun chaos and quite a mess. Every toy box had been overturned and their contents strewn out about the room. We were so grateful when mommies and kids were thoughtful in helping with the clean up. But, that’s when it hit me. I realized I couldn’t even see the floor, as the toy piles were so dense, they blocked out the carpeting. We have too many toys. How many does any one kid need to be happy? Do we really need the entire Thomas the Train collection with working bridges and sound effects? My son Shane had the same realization.

So we decided to do something about it.

I shared with him that some little boys and girls are sad because they don’t have toys, food, a house; and some don’t even have a mom and dad. The look in his big brown eyes was of concern and sadness. Then he declared, “well, mommy this is an emergency! I have a solution! I can give them my toys! I want to go and share!” And there it is folks! I was so proud. He got the lesson of giving.

So together we just cleaned out his toy chests (which were bursting at the seams) and I asked him to point out the toys he still loves. We went from toy bin to toy bin in his room, plus a toy chest located in our living room, and made two piles: an “I Love Pile” and an “I Could Do Without Pile.” Suffice to say, the “I Could Do Without” pile was pretty big.

We’re now ready to deliver our “gifts of fun” to several needy organizations.

Shane told me that his heart “got so big” and I looked at him and told him that mine did too. It feels good to share.

Since, I’m not an expert, I have included a few links on great articles about lessons in giving and how it creates confidence and compassion in a child.

http://www.scholastic.com/resources/article/lessons-in-giving/

http://www.scholastic.com/resources/article/share-your-thoughts-the-gift-of-giving

http://www.scholastic.com/resources/article/raising-a-caring-and-compassionate-child

If you would like to take this opportunity to teach your child about giving and kindness, please find a list below of Bay Area non-profits that could use toys and other donations. Marin charities have been and continue to be blessed by its generous Marinite community. However, many Bay Area non-profits (in SF & the East Bay) have a resounding need for food, coats and blankets.

Please know that it is always best to call before dropping off any donation to confirm the current needs and that every item must be in very good condition and clean.

BANANAS, Contact prior to donation drop off. Likes getting high quality children's items, including clean stuffed animals, games, toys, etc… that they distribute to home day-care facilities (most of which operate on a very low budget), as well as needy families. 5232 Claremont Ave., Oakland, CA 94618. (510) 658- 7353 * www.bananasinc.org

Bay Area Women's and Children's Center services families, children, women, esp. in Tenderloin Please call in advance to arrange a drop off time and confirm items to donate. They will accept women's and baby/children's clothing and small household items. (415) 474-2400, 318 Leavenworth, San Francisco, CA 94102 www.bawcc.org

Books for the Barrios, accepts clean stuffed animals, children's books, games, puzzles, art materials, and working computers. This organization has sent over 9 million books to the most remote areas or “barrios” of the Philippines. 2350 Whitman Rd, Suite D, Concord 94518 * Phone is 925 687 7707 * www.booksforthebarrios.org.

Compass Community Services, a homeless shelter, family resource center, early childhood education/childcare, and other services for families desperately needs: Diapers, travel sized toiletries, new socks and underwear for children & adults, arts & crafts supplies, canned and other non-perishable items. 
WISH LIST: www.compass-sf.org/get-involved/donation-wishlist Please see website link for more information and for questions, contact them through a form available on their website: www.compass-sf.org * 995 Market St. San Francisco, CA

Help a Mother Out, dedicated to increasing access to diapers for families in need. Diaper "bank" is located in San Francisco and provides diapers to over 22 agencies in the Bay Area. Drop off location for diapers and wipes: Natural Resources (1367 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA) www.helpamotherout.org

Holy Family Day Home, provides affordable, high-quality early educational childcare in a stable and nurturing environment. Desperately needs range from diapers, toys & educational supplies, clothes, dry goods/non perishable items. Drop off times are between 10am-3pm M-F, they ask to call ahead to confirm. WISH LIST: www.holyfamilydayhome.org/getinvolved/wishlist.html * 299 Dolores Street, 415-861-5361

Koret House, is a
home away from home for families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses by providing physical comfort and emotional support, free from financial concerns. Needs are mainly household and food items. Contact: (415) 476-8321 or (415) 514-6660 to discuss or arrange donation.
WISH LIST: http://www.familyhouseinc.org/?p=wishlist

Oakland Children's Hospital donations of toys and supplies help supplement the activities and entertainment provided to the patients of Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland. Especially needed items are for teens and babies and they primarily accept NEW items that have been in a smoke-free environment. They will accept gently used books and DVDs (rated PG-13 and under) for their Red Book Cart program. Both inpatients and outpatients (in the waiting areas) can read the books while in the hospital, and if they like the book, they’re welcome to keep it. For more information and to schedule a delivery call (510) 428-3471, Extension 2, or visit http://childrenshospitaloakland.org/join/join_other-donations.asp

St. Anthony Foundation, accepts toys, clean stuffed animals, clothing, furniture and housewares 1185 Mission Street (at 8th Street)
415-241-2600 www.stanthonysf.org

Women's Daytime Drop-in Center at 2218 Acton St., Berkeley, 548-2884. Offers services for homeless women and their kids. They can come during the day and get showers, meals, counseling, and a supportive, warm place off the streets. They manage to get some of their clients into homes and jobs. Call them first and see if they can use your kids' stuff. They recently added a playroom/classroom.

NON-GMO Month

I recently saw a very compelling sign, held by a child simply stating: I am not a science project. My kids love edamame beans--they are definitely a staple in our house. In honor of Non-GMO month and the consumer's right to know here's a compelling fact worth sharing:

Organic soybeans and edamame beans are never genetically modified. Just Label It!

Why It's Important to Know

Regardless of your political bent, there isn't a person in the world who should be using RoundUp weed killer (this means if you have gardeners that you should tell them as well). At this time in our history, not knowing is just not an option anymore. That I am still seeing neighbors and parents buying this product at Home Depots and the like, completely baffles me.
Naturally, there is a great deal more here to digest; and if it interests you in anyway you won't want to miss Food, Inc.--available on Netflix as a watch instantly or as a DVD http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Food_Inc./70108783?trkid=2361637.

Here's to being a conscientious consumer:

The World According To Monsanto - FULL LENGTH

Film Night San Anselmo

Free and Fabulous Family Summer Outings:
Saturday, August 27 - Creek Park in San Anselmo

Showtime: 8:00 PM

A Fair to Remember

The Gravenstein Apple Fair is sponsored by Sonoma County Farm Trails, a non-profit organization created to support sustainable agricultural diversity in Sonoma County through the promotion of its members’ products via on-site sales.

2011 Apple Fair Dates
August 13th (10am-6pm)
August 14th (10am-5pm)

Admissions Information

* Adults $12
* Seniors $10
* Youth 6-12 $5
* and kids under 6 FREE.
* Tickets will be available at the door, no advance ticket sales.

http://www.gravensteinapplefair.com/

Vanishing of the Bees Free Screening

Marin Organic, Point Reyes Books and Marin Country Mart present:
A special film screening of

"Vanishing of the Bees"
Moderated by Jerry Draper of Draper Farms

Saturday, June 11, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

I LOVE MARIN GALLERY
Marin Country Mart
2257 Larkspur Landing Circle
Larkspur

Admission is Free!

Click here for full event details

National Take Back Recycling Day: SAT 4/29

An Easy One-Stop Recycling Day: This Sat. from 10-2 at the Civic Center, Marin County, Police, GWC, LGVSD, MSS and Ewaste groups are having a BIG take back day.

• Police will recycle ALL unused or expired medications to keep them out of landfill and the Bay
• MSS will shred onsite, up to 6 banker's boxes per person
• LGVSD will exchange a brand new digital thermometer for an old mercury filled one
• Ewaste group will recycle anything with a cord (small appliances and computers, not washer/dryers)

County of Marin, Susan Adams' office, has been the coordinator for this project.

Volunteers are still needed to help direct traffic, esp. 9am-noon. Contact judy@leapfrogproductions.com if you can assist.

EARTHWEEK DAY 5: Happy Earth Day

"The earth is what we all have in common." ~ Wendell Berry

Please join us as we celebrate Earth Day with a composting demonstration by our Upper Elementary students, and a display of earthly thoughts by the students as well. At 3PM we will meet at our newly approved garden plot behind the school for a brief overview of what is to come this fall. Your soil donations can be brought to the school in the morning or the afternoon. Either way, we're going to get you dirty!

Earth Week Day Two: Made at Home

"Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art." ~Leondard da Vinci

Beautiful breads and yogurt by Daniela Weeren

Please join us Tuesday morning for an offering of homemade breads, muffins, yogurt and even a lemon sugar moisturizing hand scrub. Everyone benefits when you swing open the cupboards, and get busy.

Sugar scrub recipes are easy to mix up in a couple of minutes. When you want to clean your skin and lighten it at the same time one of the neatest ways to do it is by using items you already have in your kitchen. Lemons are natural skin exfoliators and using them in your sugar scrub will give it an additional boost. The fragrance is divine!

Lemon Skincare Tip

The most important part of using any type of lemon skin care product is to make sure that you dilute the lemon juice.Why? Because lemon has a very high pH factor. It isn’t suitable for using on your skin by itself. When combined with water, it changes the pH to a more acceptable level.

Take 1 lemon and roll it on the counter while pressing. This will “mush” the inside of the lemon so that it will be easier to extract the juice.Now, just cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into a small cup or bowl. Mix with an equal amount of water.Begin by adding a tablespoon of white granulated sugar into your the lemon water and stir. Continue adding small amounts of sugar until a paste is formed. Use in the shower.

Moisturizing Lemon Scrub

If you want to transform your lemon sugar scrub into a moisturizing sugar scrub it's possible by simply adding almond, olive, or grape seed oil.

To modify your mixture simply add a little oil by the spoonful and mix to the desired consistency. It will be approximately 2 parts of your lemon sugar to 1 part oil.

* Never use almond oil in a skin care recipe if you are allergic to nuts!

Lemon Sugar Body Polish

You can even transform your lemon sugar scrub into a body polish. Simply mix it with an equal amount of liquid soap. It makes the perfect quick body scrub. Sugar scrub recipes will last for several days if you keep them in your refrigerator. You can enhance the fragrance even further by adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Sugar scrub recipes are perfect for experimenting with because the ingredients are inexpensive and can be mixed quickly.

Hand scrub courtesy of Loren Altura-Hopkins

Cozy World

Beautifying Cities One Stop Sign at a Time

Someone took the time to knit a beautiful cozy for our neighborhood stop sign and in doing so, completely brightened my day. After a simple internet search I discovered that 'yarnbombers' all over the world are decorating bike racks, lamp posts and stop signs to delight, and inspire, while beautifying our urban landscapes.
Well, thanks to someone in my neighborhood, I definitely smiled for the rest of my walk--and several times throughout the day, so I'd say the movement is working.

To learn more please visit: Yarnbombing.com

In Search of Finding the Spirit for Service

We all hear quite a bit about "giving" lately in this seemingly endless recession. The true impact and fall-out from the recession may be felt for years to come. A lot of bad news; yes, we have heard. Yet, the call seems to be stronger to give as "giving is down, way down." So, "be charitable," "lending a helping hand," donate your services, donate your time and, all the while, do recognize the value of doing so.

But, just where you ask, is the spirit of giving going to come from when the chips are down, the worker bees are working harder than we have ever worked, the incessant chores need to be done, the children need to be bathed and the steady lists of to-dos are growing at alarmingly increasing rates like the well-fed pigeons in Venice.

Where does the art of giving, the drive to give back and be of service to others come from? Is there a deep well to drink from to recharge and renew? Can we visit the well only to return time and time again?

At least for this mother-of-two, wife, dog walker, non-stop cleaner and worker bee, the wells can be hard to discern. One well that I have re-discovered in the past years is the well from the practice of yoga.

And yes, yoga can get a very bad rap. Isn't yoga only for limber-Gumbyesque-types in their 20s and 30s? Doesn't yoga attract more women than it does men? What about the fact that I really want to sweat when I exercise? Isn't yoga just sitting on a mat and contorting one's body into circus-like poses? I can tell you that the answers to call of these questions are a resounding, "No." Here's why:

Take part in a vigorous "Vinyasa"styled yoga class and you will soon discover that the class is a.) sometimes more men than women; b.) a place where almost everyone is sweating profusely; c.) in some classes there are more yoginis in their 50s and 60s than their 20s. And, these yoginis are in such fantastic shape!

In search of the spirit of giving and inducing the giving state, one learns a valuable lesson time and time again. As one of my yoga teachers says repeatedly, "Think about your intent and why you have carved out this time for yourself. You have to be able to serve yourself before you can go out into the world and serve others."

So just how does one draw from this deep well? How does one retool, reprocess, lock and reload those energy reserves? In an exhilarating Vinyasa class, it typically starts with a chant or kirtan in Sanskrit. The accompaniment might be a small organ with the legs cut off which rests on the floor and is called a harmonium. The harmonium is a great tone setter and comes from India.

The words to these chants are unfamiliar, but the melodies catch enough to get the tune. The words come later. In dimmed lights and the room slowly starting to heating up into what will become a rainforest-like experience, the yogi is quieting the mind and focusing the intention with deep Pranayamic breathing. The intention is whatever the intention happens to be on that particular day. Then, the often eclectic music is revved up. Robert Plant can be heard through the initial poses, followed by maybe a little Coldplay and then a blues number comes up.

All of this works itself up into a heated series of asanas where lots of emerging sweaty bodies are often trance-like under the spell of a little pop and a lot of R&B. The class keeps going, building more and more heat with every pose; the energy palpable and sweaty bodies have caused the wooden floor becomes sprinkled in big and small trickles of sweat. The class culminates into some back bends and an A Capella version of a beautiful Sanskrit song. Sometimes, if you are lucky, the song is followed by a sound of a live magical flute.

The class then sets up for a collective exhale and deep relaxation pose called "Shevasana" or "corpse pose." The end is rather like just after a good run or sweet tennis match. What you get: the runner's high equivalent becomes you. The yoginis simply know it as "yoga brain."

This is where the well part comes in. You have now drank from this well and you got as good as you gave. If you turned your body and mind over to the practice, the rewards will not be lost. Like any good rewards, the"points" from yoga slowly add up.

You now know that that the well is a place to tap into when the giving needs to be done and you are wondering where the reserves can be drawn. They are right where you put them, deep inside a mindful yoga practice and waiting to be untapped and brought forth.

All the Best,


Loren

Daniela's Scrumptious Secrets

There was a yum yum yum buzz going on at the Food Matters table during Earth Week. Daniela Weeren offers up her trade secrets so we can bring this simple scrumptious goodness home...

Five Minute Bread (literally so)

Mix together with a spoon

600 gr. Flour

60 gr. Sunflower seeds

60 gr. Flax seeds

60 gr. Sesame seeds

1 package yeast

2 Teaspoons Salt

2 ½ Tablespoons Fruitvinegar

Add 600 ml. lukewarm water

Stir until everything is wet

Pour into a oiled and floured pan

Put it in a cold oven. (do not preheat)

Turn the oven on to 395 F.

After one hour take it out and it is done!

(Feel free to experiment with the seeds in the bread. For the bread on the Earth week Table I used spelt berries, sunflower seeds and rolled spelt flakes…)

Click here for Gram conversion calculator

Banana bites

125 gr. Butter

70-80 gr. Brown sugar (the recipe calls for 125 gr., but I found that far too much)

2 mixed eggs

200 gr. Flour (I used Spelt and Whole Wheat)

2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

1 Pinch of Salt

2 Tablespoons Joghurt or Buttermilk

200 – 300 gr. mashed Bananas (again the recipe calls for more (500 gr.), but it tasted also good with less)

preheat over to 375 F.

Grease a squared pan (20 / 20 cm) and put a squared sheet of baking paper on the bottom

mix Butter and Sugar together until it is well blended together – the longer the better

pour in the eggs and mix well

mix Flour, Salt and Baking Powder in a second bowl

put (or sieve) it into the egg mixture and gently stir together with a wooden spoon

Add the mashed Bananas and the Joghurt/Buttermilk

Pour into the pan

Bake for about 35 Minutes

Take it out and let it cool down for about 10 Minutes

Cut into little squares

Enjoy!

They taste great with Joghurt cheese (let European Style Plain Joghurt (Strauss) drain out over night in a cheese cloth and a sieve. Add a little bit of Agave Syrup to that more firm Joghurt in the morning).

EARTH WEEK: DAY FOUR

"We must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society." Martin Luther King Jr.

Earth Day Clothing Swap

Rethinking the way that we live is the single most important act that any of us can make. When we begin to question why we make purchases, where we make purchases, how we purchase what we need, and what we are purchasing––we begin a solution minded, thoughtful living existence that feels gooooooooood.

Clothing swaps, freecycle programs, sharing, bartering, and trading all force us to connect with one another more and connections breed yummy things.

Some thoughtful investments that we can make:

* very high quality, long-lifetime goods
* locally made goods
* locally available or recycled building materials
* low toxicity goods and furnishings
* locally grown, organic food
* self-sufficient lifestyle products

EARTH WEEK: DAY THREE

"I am not a glutton, I am an explorer of food" Erma Bombeck

FOOD MATTERS. Food truly connects us all and when we stop sharing meals together or caring about what we eat, our children, our planet and our communities suffer.

For a simple infusion of joy: cook and cook a lot.

If our grandparents were closer and our communities stronger we'd all have the time and know how to:

Bake bread

Make yogurt

Make sauerkraut

Batch cook

Enjoy preparing meals

Start cooking and do it with friends. Lighten your load and team up with other families to share homemade treats. Taste the love. Yum. Yum. Yum.

Local Mooooooows

Where is your milk from?
(Thank you Roots of Change)

You'd be surprised. Did you know different brands of milk often come from the same dairy - and the same cows? Often, the same dairy provides milk for store and brand names, only differentiating them by their label!

Most dairy products, especially milk have a state and plant code. Go get the milk out of your fridge and, and find out which dairy it comes from.

Type in the code onto the milk carton at this site Milk Locator to find out where yours is from!

Works with most dairy products:

* Milk
* Yogurt
* Chocolate milk
* Soy milk and Organic milk
* Coffee creamer
* Cottage cheese
* Some ice cream
* ...and plenty more!

Infecting Ahmedabad: Kiran Bir Sethi Teaches Kids to Take Charge (TEDIndia)

TED WARNING: Only go to this site if you have at least 10 minutes (you'll want at least an hour) to watch one of the hundreds of empowering talks. http://www.ted.com/talks

Each year, the world's leading thinkers and doers gather in for an event many describe as the highlight of their year. Attendees have called it "The ultimate brain spa," "Davos for optimists" and "A four-day journey into the future, in the company of those creating it." This event is called TED and it is truly a transformational conference like no other.

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design -- three broad subject areas that are, collectively, shaping our future. And in fact, the event is broader still, showcasing ideas that matter in any discipline. The format is fast paced: 50+ talks over the course of four days (to say nothing of the morning and evening events). This immersive environment allows attendees and speakers from vastly different fields to cross-fertilize and draw inspiration from unlikely places. This is the magic of TED.

Attendance at TED is by invitation only, and the attendees -- CEOs, scientists, designers, intellectuals -- are as extraordinary as the speakers

http://www.ted.com/talks

It's hard to not think of Montessori in this 'infectious' talk by Kiran Bir Sethi.