since july 30, fellow etsymetal member laura crawford (tangerinetreehouse) & her partner have been 'on an open-ended bicycle tour around the US
(and, hopefully, the world!)' how inspiring!
laura has packed a bare-bones metalsmithing kit & continues to make & sell work in her etsy shop!
(you can also sponder a day for $40, or donate any amount you like.)
this past week, i cleaned my studio (a rare and challenging event!) and unpacked more from my recent move.
i found many goodies, such as errant pieces of my personal jewelry collection, cassette tapes from back in the day, sewing supplies, beads, and a single bag of yogi tea, specifically green tea and kombucha.
for months, i've been exclusively drinking red rose earl grey tea. from now on, i really need to get a keep as supply of this green tea with kombucha instead- I had forgotten how simply delicious it is...
and how health-promoting!
from the yogi website:
'Yogi’s special formula of kombucha
with organic green tea is designed to support your immune system, fight
fatigue and detoxify your body. Spearmint naturally aids digestion, and
plum and lemongrass combine to create a fragrant tea with a light,
fruity flavor.* Once the steeping process has released the benefits of
these ingredients, you are ready to enjoy a delicious, delightful and
soothing cup of tea—one that is naturally rich in antioxidants and
other health boosters.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.'
additional links: more about the benefits of green tea (camellia sinensis) and kombucha (which is fascinating, and i know it's really good for you, but i still can't stomach except in this delicious tea)
i also like recycling yogi tea boxes into sleeves for shipping earrings that are too big for my regular boxes(!)
i feel so outraged and helpless against the latest chronicle of american economic and political SNAFUs....
i will surely be voting next month, but who knows what good that will actually do :(
money talks, of this we can be sure....
i strongly believe in voting with my dollar whenever possible.
one way (possibly the only way, considering that almost every dollar of mine goes towards food!) that i exercise this ideal is by purchasing organic foods, locally grown when available. this serves the dual purpose of showing my support for organic farming, and making healthier choices for myself and my family.
sadly, i am not independently wealthy (but rather an artist and a mom) and i am hard-pressed to afford to buy any food, let alone any fancy expensive food....but the health angle is very important!
happily, i've found this handy chart distributed by the EWG (environmental working group.)
it ranks the top 45 fruits and vegetables in terms of pesticide contamination (even after washing & peeling). now i can easily prioritize the organic items on my shopping list!
also, check out stonyfield farms' (yummy yogurt!) website, where they will donate $1 to the EWG for every click. they also have coupons.
RANK FRUIT OR VEGGIE SCORE 1 (worst) Peaches 100 (highest pesticide load) 2 Apples 96 3 Sweet Bell Peppers 86 4 Celery 85 5 Nectarines 84 6 Strawberries 83 7 Cherries 75 8 Lettuce 69 9 Grapes - Imported 68 10 Pears 65 11 Spinach 60 12 Potatoes 58 13 Carrots 57 14 Green Beans 55 15 Hot Peppers 53 16 Cucumbers 52 17 Raspberries 47 18 Plums 46 19 Oranges 46 20 Grapes-Domestic 46 21 Cauliflower 39 22 Tangerine 38 23 Mushrooms 37 24 Cantaloupe 34 25 Lemon 31 26 Honeydew Melon 31 27 Grapefruit 31 28 Winter Squash 31 29 Tomatoes 30 30 Sweet Potatoes 30 31 Watermelon 25 32 Blueberries 24 33 Papaya 21 34 Eggplant 19 35 Broccoli 18 36 Cabbage 17 37 Bananas 16 38 Kiwi 14 39 Asparagus 11 40 Sweet Peas-Frozen 11 41 Mango 9 42 Pineapples 7 43 Sweet Corn-Frozen 2 44 Avocado 1 45 (best) Onions 1 (lowest pesticide load)The Full List: 43 Fruits & Veggies
(top left- Oregon Tilth certification seal, which adds an increased level of respectability to organic growers:
'Oregon Tilth is a nonprofit research and education membership organization dedicated to biologically sound and socially equitable agriculture. Oregon Tilth offers educational events throughout the state of Oregon, and provides organic certification services to organic growers, processors, and handlers internationally.)
