Do NOT buy a Gateway Computer EVER!

For the last 9 years, I've owned multiple Dell computers. Mostly because they were recommended to me by co-workers in the IT dept when I was still working. At first, I was greatly impressed with Dell and their customer service department. On my second and third Dell purchases, the computers weren't so great. There were constant lock-ups, peripheral problems, etc. Whatever was covered under warranty was deftly handled by the CS department, but I felt the quality of the computers themselves had gone down.

So, when the time came last year to buy a new computer (the older Dell had finally crapped out for the last time), I decided it was time to change brands. So we decided to give Gateway a try. The computer arrived all gleaming and shiny with it's piercing blue light. It was very exciting. It's worked great until about a month ago. Then it started locking up quite a bit. Yes, I had Anti-Virus/Spyware/etc. on it. I thought we had bought in April 08 and so didn't check on the warranty. It got steadily worse - we tried cleaning, defragging, all the stupid things non-tech people do to salvage what they can without paying for it.

Last Wednesday, I turned it off when I went to bed and Thursday morning it was dead. It wouldn't complete the boot up cycle. Oh, I panicked! I needed my Callidora files and photos badly! Just start up ONE time so I can retrieve my files! Max tried a couple of things from the boot menu but nothing worked. So I pulled out the Recovery disc that came with the computer. You know that one that says, "WARNING: Inserting this disc will erase all your files. Use only to recover your Windows Operating System." So, I put the disc in. It had a Repair function which I tried first, but no - computer cannot be repaired. Then I went to the Install option, and it booted up. Yay! All my files were still there too!

However, the disc had partitioned my hard drive and created a very small C: only big enough to hold the OS files. I could SEE my files, but couldn't use them except for photos. I couldn't access my programs and I couldn't merge the 2 partitions. So I found Gateway's website, looking for support, and low and behold! I had warranty until June 25, 2009! I decided to call right away.

So as not to kill you with the HORRID details, here it is in a nutshell:
I ended up speaking with 6 different reps and a supervisor. The first 4 reps all gave me different solutions totally unrelated to each other. Reps 3 and 4 said that I should have never put that disc in my machine. It was HARMFUL to the computer and they no longer sent it out to customers! I immediately demanded to speak to a supervisor.

Yes, indeed, it's true - THAT DISC IS HARMFUL AND GATEWAY DOESN'T SEND IT OUT ANYMORE! Well, pray, tell me what is Product Registration for than to give you a way to contact your customers in the event you need to recall something. He said, that if I had used that disc in the first 90 days, they would have covered it under my software portion of the warranty. But since I waited until the week before the warranty expired, they could do nothing but offer me the option of backing up my files for $129.95 or receiving a new disc for $19.95.

So, I broke my computer using a disc that was sent with my computer. Gateway knows this disc is harmful and no longer sends the disc out, but hasn't contacted it's previous customers to warn them against using it. Or better yet, with an offer to replace it. I called again to see if there was anyway to fix this after Max spent 4 hours removing my files to another computer. Reps 5 and 6 told me to put this disc into the computer in order to put it back to factory settings. In my shock, I asked if I was supposed to use the disc they acknowledge as harmful to do this. Oh Yes! It's no problem. I asked again 3 times if they really meant for me to use this HARMFUL disc again. Yep, you bet - or however you say that in Punjabi. I said fine and did it. I got an error message.

Oh you need a level 2 tech. Great. Well Steve gets on the line and tells me the error code means my disc is corrupted and he'll sell me a new one. I laughed out loud and said "Did you say SELL me?! NO YOU DID NOT SAY SELL ME!" He said "OH YES I DID SAY 'SELL'!" I asked why I should pay for a disc that I've only used once, is harmful to my computer, and was obviously defective to begin with. Shouldn't the company replace the defective disc. Well, if I had found that out in the first 90 days, they would have replaced it.

I asked if Gateway expects it's brand new computers to crash within the 90 days. Because there is no other reason to use this disc. Oh no, of course a Gateway computer wouldn't falter in the first 90 days. So how am I supposed to know my disc is corrupted in the first 90 days when I have no occasion to use it. Too bad, my problem. I hung up in tears of angry frustration.

That was 2 days ago. I'm writing this now on said computer that has been totally reformatted, wiped clean and reprogrammed with Linux using Ubuntu, Mozilla Firefox, and am using OpenOffice.org for my programs. Microsoft can go to hell with Gateway in the lead.

Do you want to free yourself from the Microsoft matrix? You can, it takes a little effort, but it's all free and when you get everything up and running, it's as familiar as Windows with better programs and no glitches. Start with Ubuntu. Firefox and OpenOffice come with it automatically. You'll need download Flashplayer for Linux once you're up and running, but it's easy. Ubuntu has an unbelievable image editor, accessories, games, music player, burner, sound recorder, and lots of cool stuff.

So DON'T BUY A GATEWAY! Their Customer DISservice Department sucks!

Buy It! Mom's Best Cereals

I just want to give a review and promote the cereals made by Mom's Best. If you haven't seen these cereals yet, look a little harder. They are usually near the organic or healthier cereals. They come in bright yellow boxes and are so incredibly priced!

Mom's Best is a family-owned (for four generations) business that makes cereals the way I would. No artificial preservative, colors, or flavors; no hydrogenated (do you know what THAT is?! blech) or palm oil; and NO high fructose corn syrup! There are a variety of flavors and my kids love them all.

Now, granted, my kids are food snobs and probably love it mostly because it's healthy, but they really do like the different flavors. The best part is that since they don't do any promoting or advertising, the savings are passed onto their customers. I bought a 24 oz box of their version of Frosted Mini-Wheats for $1.92 at Walmart. 44 grams of Whole Grain Goodness per serving for less than $2 a box.

Can't say enough good stuff about them. Check out their website at www.momsbestnaturals.com. If your local store doesn't carry it, ask for it. Since they don't advertise, spread the word for them. Do something good for the earth and your kids, buy Mom's Best! It's what I would make!

"The Kingdom"

I saw this movie the other night, and if you are at all interested in our government, the Middle East, oil, and/or Muslim faction wars; then you should see this movie. Lots of violence (necessary to storyline, not random "get the rating" crap), so maybe the littles shouldn't be sitting around when you watch. But a good movie. Great cast - Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, and Chris Cooper.

Creations By Celeste!

First of all, let me say that chat rooms can be a wonderful thing. That's where I met this wonderful, kind new Etsy artist. She makes the most wonderful little hair things - barrettes and bows. Very very cute.

I want you to check out her store because 1. it's NEW!, 2. she's very generous (sent me a lovely sample that I plan on giving to my as yet unborn NIECE!, and 3. it's beautiful work!



Give her some love! If you don't have daughters, you probably have sisters, cousins, friends with little girls, fine hair yourself -find a female and deck them out in Creations By Celeste!

It's MARVEL-ous!

The new Hulk movie really is INCREDIBLE! As a fan of the TV Series (yes I actually watched that as a kid - a girl kid!), I was tearfully surprised by how well done this movie was in keeping with the comic and the series. I tried to love the 2003 Hulk movie, but Eric Bana just didn't do it for me and the comic split screens were too much for my non-ADD brain to follow.

This Hulk is the Hulk that I've known and loved all these years. Ed Norton does a fantastic job as Banner, the special effects are amazing, Liv Tyler is a lovely, and believable Betty Ross, and the CG Hulk took me on a real rollercoaster ride. The Abomination was disgusting and hateful -everything he should've been.

I own a copy of the 2003 Hulk, but I think the kids and I will use that for a frisbee game. This one is a must-own! And I think a second viewing at the theater is in order :)

My Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

Well, I finished the book last week. I've been so busy, this is the first chance I've had to sit down and write about it. I definitely think that was this was the best book from the fictional story perspective. It was very engaging and difficult to put down. The knowledge imparted however, was just as important as the other two. As a matter of fact, I would suggest that it is important to read them in the order they were written. It doesn't say that anywhere, that you should, but I think there is a natural progression of thoughts.

This book completes the equation of what has gone wrong with our society. Even as I type that, I know it conveys the wrong idea. It's difficult to say what the flavor of these books are because they really are so different from anything else. These were written to open your mind and help you see what our culture really looks like objectively. There are no answers here on how to fix it, just a history of how it got this way and where it's going if it doesn't change. And I think we all know that it's going to H-E-double hockey sticks in a handbasket.

My Ishmael focuses on the areas of business/capitalism and education of our young. Once the simple fact is laid out before you that if food weren't locked up, the world would be an entirely different place; you sort of shudder and say "Why didn't I realize that before?" Really, you must think about that - if food weren't locked up, would you work in a job you hate? would you be trudging through each day of your life? wouldn't your "hobby" actually become your life's work? Why is the food locked up? To benefit a few elite by getting what they want in exchange for the food so desperately needed by all. Sure, it started off small and has escalated into what it is today - 95% of the world's population dependent on commerce in order to live. I think this why Star Trek appeals to me so much. I watch every episode repeatedly, because I love to revel in the fantasy that human beings actually can elevate themselves to the point of eliminating money from the equation. There it is - a technologically advanced (warp drive capable) civilization that runs smoothly without currency. People excel in jobs they love because they are fulfilling their true calling in life and there is no stigma about some jobs being better than others - they are necessary and keep the wheels turning. And their food is given to them as they need it - no hoarding and no cost, freeing the mind to pursue its dreams instead of its survival.

The other topic is the education of our young. Everyone says that school systems need to be overhauled, no matter what country they're in - but the US in particular, definitely. As homeschoolers, we have already figured out that isn't the way to help children thrive. And private school is no better than public, simply more expensive. But here, in this book, homeschooling is also seen as an extension of a structured educational system if it is not unschooling. Four years ago, I would not have seen that as a true statement. These past few years of learning from my children about how they learn best, I have begun to see that unschooling really is the only way for children to learn well and permanently. And to let them learn what they are interested in - forcing boring subjects does not increase learning or make a person well-rounded. And really, why is "well-rounded" absolutely necessary? Look at the picture as a whole, every part of our knowledge will be passed down through generations by people who know it best to the people who want to know about it. Children only retain what's interesting to them, so why waste years trying to cram things in there that won't stick anyway.

The most important lessons learned from these books collectively is that there is no ONE right way to live for all people. This of course is completely contrary to central beliefs of technologically advanced, world power civilizations. I don't want to elaborate more here because I am trying to get you to read these books. You will learn so much more from them than from a summary by me. This shift in thinking can't come about by reading a summary - you have to have all the details, chew on it, swallow it, digest it - then you really know it and understand.

I really believe that if you have strong desire to change the world, you have to start here.

The Search Is Over!

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you'll know that I've been in search of chemical free body wash. Well, I'm happy to say that I've found it! Heidi has been working on her shampoo recipe and she gave me 2 bottles as part of our trade. She said she's still working on it and she's not completely happy with it yet. I tried it and thought that it was fine. I've had other shampoos leave me hair feeling a little softer, but this wasn't overdrying at all.

After the second time of shampooing, I thought "This really lathers well and smells so good. There's no chemicals in here - there really shouldn't be any reason not to use it as a body wash." I sent Heidi an email just to be sure. I mean who knows, right? I don't make soap. Anyway, she said to go for it, it's fine for both. And (a little whisper aside) she's in the process of developing and all-n-one shampoo, body wash, bubble bath (so keep an eye out!). Well, my dear friends! It was fantastic! The lather was great, the smell fantastic, a quarter lasted the WHOLE body (and there's lots of body!) and then some - even through shaving! My skin didn't feel dried afterward and I'm just in love.

So, my search is over. I have found my chem free body wash and she makes a ton of different scents. Cheaper than Bath & Body Works for the same amount - so worth it! And earth-friendly and human-friendly :)

Heidi's Candles

I've never used soy candles before getting Heidi's. Years ago, when I lived in Arizona, I got hooked on Yankee Candles at first, then Party Lite, and then finally Gold Canyon Candles. Gold Canyon are the best smelling, as far as one candle gets the job done. I didn't like Yankdee because they smoked too much, leaving the jars all black and the walls had soot marks. Party Lite was too expensive for the amount you got. Gold Canyon had the most scent and does pretty good in the smoke department as long as you trim the wicks.

So you can see, I have a candle history. If you ever come to my Cave, there are over 20 candles lit on a Friday night. Mostly candles from local stores - just for looks, not scent because they don't smell know matter what they say. I've heard of soy candles but never bought one before, so I was excited to try one through my trade.

I got White Tea & (you guessed it!) Ginger and Brown Sugar & Fig. They both smell VERY yummy. They come in a plain tin and are white wax - goes with any decor. I believe the tins are 4 oz. and have a single wick. They burn very cleanly - no smoke or soot marks anywhere. I had one burning in a rather large room so the scent dissipated - not as strong as Gold Canyon. I will try it again in my bathroom and see how it does there. I love to smell the scent of the candle while it's burning, so I'm hoping that a smaller room will hold the scent better, because it is heavenly when sniffed in the tin.

The Story of B by Daniel Quinn

The Story of B by Daniel Quinn is the second book in the Ishmael series. This story is another piece of the "Where did we (society) go wrong puzzle?". While Ishmael focused on our current society being a culmination of the last 10,000 years of history and how that culture differs from the other indigenous cultures; The Story of B looks at the problem from the viewpoint of the spiritual and our disconnect from it. After having read The Story of B, I now realize that I can summarize Ishmael better. I just re-read my review on Ishmael so I wouldn't repeat myself. I am a bit shocked that you, my dear readers, let me get away with such a 'non-review'.

So, Ishmael in a paragraph - Defining Mother Culture. Our current society has arisen from a cradle of civilization roughly 10,000 years ago. It came about as a result of totalitarian agriculture which fixed us to one place and created the need for other skills based on farming and trade. Mother Culture tells us that this is the only way to live and that there is only pre-history before this. Ishmael shows us that there are other cultures that were present before 'civilization' and are still in existence today. Examples would have been Native Americans prior to the European settlers, and currently indigenous peoples such as the Aborigine. What they value is so different from what our Culture values that we think of them as non-people. Ishmael also shows us that their way of doing things is a way that worked for them for hundreds of thousands of years - and our way is collapsing after only 10,000.

The Story of B looks at the spiritual aspect of what Mother Culture has told us over the last 10,000 years versus what the other indigenous cultures already know spiritually. I'm using the word "spiritually" sort of loosely to connote an idea rather than spirituality in the way we think of things as organized religion. B was a student of Ishmael's who has gone out into Europe, in a sort of underground manner trying to recruit people to this way of thinking. At the very least, to make them aware of the problem. Because as we all know, we need to identify the problem before we can find a solution. I liked it and I didn't. First, I'll start with why I didn't like it.

This book is again a collection of non-fiction ideas told in a fictional setting. However, this time, it is not a telling style like Ishmael. It is a combination of journal entries and speech transcripts. I found this difficult to keep up with because the speech would be referred to in a journal entry, but was actually written in an appendix. At first, I skipped the speeches and kept reading the journal entries, but found that I was missing out on some key elements. Then I had to go the appendix and read those speeches I missed and going forward, had to flip back and forth between entries and speeches to know what was going on. Mr. Quinn should have just put the speeches in the body of work as it was referred to.

The other aspect I didn't like was that the learning character was a Roman Catholic priest who was sent by the Church to determine if B was the Antichrist, was having a crisis of faith before this started and it pushed him over. Being a Roman Catholic myself, I did not have a crisis of faith over learning these new concepts. He gave up too easily and didn't follow apologetics in any way to really sort of prove or disprove B's support of animism. Animism says that there is not one God, but rather gods of nature living in communion with each other infused throughout all living things - people, plants, animals, earth. This story emphasizes that salvationist religions are useless and we are on the wrong path with them.

What I did like was how it took Ishmael's concepts are far as culture and expanded them. While Ishmael looked at the role of historic culture, this book looked at the role of modern culture and the lies we continue to tell ourselves in the name of technology, capitalism, expansion, democracy, government, and so forth.

I would recommend this book only because it takes these ideas further and it is a trilogy. You can't read one and three and get the whole idea. The characters from one book aren't dependent on another book and neither is the plot - but the ideas are. So, my suggestion would be to read the speeches as they are referred to, instead of at the end. If you are person with substantial faith, do not be put off by the references to religions. Just recognize that he is putting forth his idea and doesn't, in my opinion, have to sway you away from your spiritual belief system.

Soon, a review on My Ishmael, the third installment.

Feedback Gripe

Okay, so Etsy has a feedback system like Ebay. You leave a rating (positive, neutral, or negative) for the buyer and the seller, and others read your ratings to decide whether or not they want to do business with you. Well, as you know, I was not impressed with Sandy Creek Soap's Body Wash, so I left the following feedback:

Great communication and fast shipping. I personally was not crazy about the body wash. It didn't lather well and I had to use quite a bit to get through a shower. 4 0z. only lasted 5 showers. Scent was wonderful, though.

and coded it Neutral.

They left me Neutral feedback with no comments only after I had left my comment. Is this a good business practice? As a buyer, I ordered and paid immediately. Does that not warrant a Positive feedback? My end of the bargain was fulfilled perfectly and promptly. They should have given me my feedback on the same day I completed my transaction, rather than waiting to see what I was going to say first.

They have lots of positive feedback and only about 5 neutrals, but honestly, after that - I will never buy from them again. It's just a bit underhanded. So, my dear readers, if you are in the market for chemical-free bath and body products, I cannot in any way confidently recommend Sandy Creek Soap.

You've been warned.

:(

To Smell or Not To Smell...

So, another product review - this one on chemical - free deodorant. I bought Ginger & Sage deodorant from Spa Therapy on Etsy. It was $6 for a 2 oz. stick. (Have you noticed yet that I like ginger?) It works very well. I almost feel like it works for about 36 hours!

Cons: At first, the smell is overpowering, like for an hour. Maybe that's good if it's floral - it could be perfume, choose your scent wisely. It goes on stiffly. Almost a too stiffly; it doesn't glide - it's a stick, and sort of catches on you a bit.

Pros: doesn't leave any goopy residue, won't stain your clothes, won't even come off on your clothes. If you want to see it on your clothes, you will need to rub directly onto your shirt. Lasts more than a day. Lasts through perspiration and doesn't inhibit perspiration.

Will I buy it again? I very well may. What I will do is try my next one from another chem-free company in hopes of better gliding. If not, I will go back to Spa Therapy. It works very well, and I will probably have this stick for the next 3 or 4 months. I've had for about 3 weeks already and you can't even tell I've used it. It lasts. So come on, get close and smell me!

In Search of....

a chemical free shower gel or souffle that lathers well. I had thought about doing my weekly feature on one of the EGCG Etsy Team members this week. I ordered several products last week from different EGCG vendors. I was excited about getting them all and thought I would have a hard time choosing one for this week's featured artist. I was right; it is hard, but for the opposite reason. So here is my review on a couple of the products I tried, I will review the rest in another post.

Body washes - I am really looking for a chemical free body wash/shower gel. I ordered one in Frankincense and Myrrh from Sandy Creek Soap Company and one sample of Sweet Ginger Orange from Shower Treat Soap. First, Eco Body Wash from Sandy Creek Soap. It was $8 including shipping for a 4 oz. bottle. When I got it and saw the size, I was a little disappointed. But I thouhgt that if it was concentrated and I didn't need a lot, then that would be okay. It was well packaged, so nothing leaked out during shipping. I opened it; it smelled wonderful, I couldn't wait to try it. I put the usual amount (about a quarter size) onto my bath pouf and started to wash. I got halfway down the front side when the lather and everything quit. It was like I didn't have anything on it all. I put the same amount on to complete the shower and looked at the little 4 oz. bottle. At this rate, I would need a new bottle every 5 days - definitely not cost effective. It also has a 'melted pizza cheese'-like quality to it as it comes out. I literally had to "break" the string of gel with my fingers.

Then, the next day I turned to my sample from ShowerTreat Soap. It smells great! I put the quarter size amount on the pouf. This one I got 3/4 of my whole body done before it quit on me. My skin sort of tingled from the ginger for a few hours. I'm not sure if I liked the sensation; it was sort of like being on edge. So, this one had better lathering, but still not enough to complete a shower and the tingling was weird. That could probably be alleviated by choosing a different scent.

So, I am in search of a good lathering, chemical free gel or wash for the the shower. There are plenty of hard bar products out there, but I don't like those in the shower. If you know of a great gel, please pass on the information. If you have a great lathering shower gel and would like me to review it, send me a message and I will be happy to do so.

Got my Handcrafted Cards!

Wow! That's about all I can say. I don't ever even buy cards - not Christmas cards, not birthday cards. I figure "Why bother?" It gonna end up in the trash, why spend $4 at Hallmark. Well, I wouldn't. Since I'm an Etsy supporter, I decided to purchase 2 cards from LaMar last week because I have 2 very important birthdays - my brother-in-law and my hubby. I got to choose my colors, theme, inside greeting; that was pretty cool. I got email photos of them for approval and I thought they looked nice.

Well I got them in the mail today and I was STUNNED! They were not at all what I expected. These cards are solid! They have texture - an almost 3-D like quality! One of them is hand drawn. This is true art folks! Keepsakes! And I didn't pay $4, but I would have for this kind of quality. These are the cards that make into the scrapbook, not the trashcan.

Buy, buy, buy right now! Get your St. Patty's Day cards, Easter cards, invites, birthday cards, Mother's Day.

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

Okay, so originally I thought I would write about a bunch of different things each day, but I'm finding that all lot of time is consumed with crafting and homeschooling. I do read each night for about a half hour, but it takes me about a month to get through a book at that rate. So I think my blog will consist mostly of crafting news, new finds, etsy artists, some homeschooling stuff and the occassional book review (as I finish them)

I read Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn, on the recommendation of my friend Becky. This book is a very good read for people who feel like the world is falling apart at the seams. It really should be a non-fiction book, but it is told in a fictional way, so there you have it. All of the premises are non-fictional however, so it is very enlightening to be able to get to the heart of what's wrong today - and give it a name. I would love to be able to explain it all in a nutshell, but I wouldn't be able to do the concepts justice in a small space.

If you feel that the global community is sort of spiraling out of control, and there's too much emphasis on capitalism and defining the "axis of evil", and that society is breaking down, etc.; then you will want to read this. The book is ABOUT these things, it's about how we got where we are today. Because as we all know, you can't find a solution, if you don't know what the problem is.

There are two other books written by Daniel Quinn that take this concept further. I am still reading them, so you'll have to wait for the reviews or read them yourself!

Oh My Word! Jump into Two Rivers!

Right now! Go to Two Rivers Soap, get your soap - order it today! I just got mine - I could smell it through the box. My mail lady must have been so jealous :) Actually it probably drove her crazy all day long. "Mmmm, that smells good! What is in that box? Is it a candle? Is it soap? Where is that from?" Oh Jennifer, honey, get yourself a larger return address label. Put your shop info on it and you'll have massive orders coming in from mail carriers all over the country! Get yours people! I got White Tea & Ginger, Sandalwood Vanilla, and Brown Sugar & Fig. Delish! Oh and don't come over here thinking you're gonna wash your hands at my place - you'll just get Walmart liquid soap. This is mine all mine :)

Plenty: One Man, One Woman, and a Raucous Year of Eating Locally

Hahaha, it's Wednesday and I'm now realizing that yesterday was Book Tuesday. Okay, so the day got away from me. Anyway, back to it...

Alisa and J.B. are a long-term couple who live together in the Pacific Northwest, in a little apartment with no patch of grass to call their own. So their attempt to only eat food harvested within a 100 mile radius was a grand and lofty goal. And probably a bit more along the lines of how we surbanites would have to go about it if we decided to make the big break. They don't have any problems finding food during the growing season due to all the local farmers' markets. However, they do have to go on a bit of a hunt to find many things we take for granted: flour, rice, oats, wheat, beans, etc.

They spend one month living completely off the land during the summer in the Canadian wilderness - no electricity, no plumbing, just a shelter, lots of lush foliage, and a nearby stream. The crunch comes when they are trying to preserve a variety of foods to have in the winter when they can't go to the grocery store - keeping in mind they have a tiny apartment.

So realistically, after reading both of these books, here's what I do. I buy from the farmers' markets from April to November, supplemented with veggies and herbs from my own garden, and sadly traipse off to the grocery store from December to April. I do buy only anti-biotic and hormone free meats, organic hormone-free milk, and try to keep my winter produce from within the United States. "It's expensive! I can't do that!" you say. Well, you're right, it is expensive. But sometimes you have to decide what's more important and make changes. Eat less meat - we are only designed to process red meat once a week and white meats up to 4 times per week. As Americans, we think it's our sworn duty to eat meat at every meal and red meat at least once a day. This is what causes us to be sluggish and irregular. Eat more bean and rice dishes, pasta with veggies, quick processing things. If you reduce the amount of meat you eat and take in more legumes and grains, you can even out the higher cost of the AB & H-free meats.

Also, I'm going to try to plant more this year.

A Year of Food Life

Okay, so I had one of my killer migraines yesterday. I don't get them often, but when I do.... So that means I didn't get to finish my book review of "A Year of Food Life" from last week. (Tuesday is Book Tuesday - trying to set up a pattern here. I'm Type A for those who don't know me.)

It's funny that Book Tuesday (when I'm writing about food) fell on the very day my local CSA opened up their registration. More on that later! Anyway, Barbara Kingsolver, her husband Steve, and daughters Lily and Camille were living in Arizona (Tucson to be exact), living everyday regular lives. Steve had a piece of family property in Southern Virginia that they would visit for summers. (Can you believe it?! Arizona to Virginia - I read that and thought, "Lord? Could you make it any clearer?!) They wanted to do a family experiment of eating only the foods that they knew firsthand the exact origins of, for one year. It helps that they have a family farm just waiting to move onto, but image what a daunting task that would be. Do you have ANY clue where you food comes from? I don't mean Walmart or Kroger. I mean WHERE? Ecuador, Peru, California?

Barbara writes the bulk of the story, month by month, of how eating seasonally affected their lives and buying meats from local farmers and grain from mills changed their outlook on life, nature, etc. Steve offers the hard core commercial facts in what I call Snippet Boxes. These are the bits that make you sit up and realize how terribly wrong we have gone as a consuming public. If you are not an avid reader and don't think you would take the time to read this book. PLEASE, just rent it from the library and only read Steve's Snippets (you can find them easily - only 1 or 2 per chapter and typeset differently). Camille provides wonderful, and EASY, recipes to make from the bounty of your land. And Lily inspired me to get egg-laying hens. I don't have them yet (thank you Brandermill Community Association), but I WILL!

I know, I know! You're saying "I can't grow all my own food!" Blah, blah, me either. But I do grow in little small patches what I can. I suggest you look into the next best thing in your area - the CSA! CSA means Community Supported Agriculture. To keep hardworking family farms afloat and providing us with fantastic foods (and NOT selling out to growing acres of dent corn that no one can eat - or worse! Going bankrupt and losing yet ANOTHER vital piece of local flavor!), the farm will offer shares of the farm to the public. Some are working shares, where you physically help out, but most are financial shares. Farmer Bob will take, let's say, 60 of his 100 acres, and call that portion the Share Farm. He calculates his cost and small profit and divides that number by the number of shares he's offering. So basically, you pay anywhere from $450 to $800 dollars for 16 to 30 weeks of produce.

In my case, it breaks down to about $16 a week for FRESH (most times it's picked the day before pick up), organic, SEASONAL produce. You begin to enjoy things at the height of freshness, experiencing tastes you've never had before. You learn to appreciate new produce that you've never tried before, because it was in your weekly pack. You are not subjected to watered-down hybrid varieties that have virtually NO nutritional impact. The benefits are enormous! You would spend that or more going to a grocery chain. (Oh, and if you can't get into a CSA, please support your farmer's markets. We need a resurgence in this way of life. It may be our only hope of survival as a people.) Why NOT get better produce AND support your local economy?

I could go on an on! Wait till next week when I tell you about "One Raucous Year". More food! I have to go fill out my CSA application.