~ Meatless Monday – for Earth Day I am keeping this here. It is a small individual action that has a large positive impact on the environment. It connects us to one another by engaging in the same action at the same time. Take a babystep for the Earth each Monday by embracing vegetarian and vegan options for the day!
~ What are the 4 R’s?Refuse, then Reduce, reuse and recycle. Refuse single use plastics. These are most prevalent at meal times, and they are heavily represented in the ocean garbage.
~ A new “R” – Reconnect. Reconnect with Mother Earth. You and I came from the Earth, we rely on the Earth to sustain our lives, each and every minute. What happens to the Earth happens to our health.
Yes, it is Mother Earth Day, and this is the day to get your Earth Warrior on!!! Take Mother Earth with you to the coffee shop, and choose a reusable mug or bring your own. Take Mother Earth with you to the lunch spot, and choose to eat in from washable dishes, or bring your own containers for your takeout food.
Develop habits that make it a practice to think of the Earth while you think of yourself. When you are hungry, think of ways to satisfy your hunger with minimal impact on the Earth.
Hunger is a repetitive experience that we all have. Our daily eating habits are the fastest way to take actions for the Earth. Limiting single use food packaging has a positive and direct impact on the environment. Go back to the beauty of the Mother with every meal by making a commitment to eat from reusables only.
Okay, I can hear all of the people around me saying, “Sydney, the most direct way to get people to care about the environment is through their personal health. If you want to get their attention you have to tell them the potential harm it is having on their bodies.”Please read this article from the Mother Jones Magazine on the effects of BPA on the hormonal system. Be aware of the potential imprint these chemicals are making on our bodies for generations to come.
We may not know everything about BPA and its estrogen related chemicals, but if it even shows a hint of problems, why do we risk it? What is it about the convenience of a plastic water bottle that is worth the risk of dis-ease? Is it that much of an inconvenience to wait for water at home or at a fountain, or to come prepared with a reusable bottle?
Get the info, know the implications, engage your heart, and throw caution to the wind! Come out of the habitual you, and into the natural you!
The Earth is in our hands in each moment. May the carbon and waste footprint of your journey in life be ones that benefit those of future generations.
Shanthi (Peace)
Simple Split Pea Soup
Over the Easter Holiday weekend, I made this soup as the vegetarian option. Although I can go on about the soup, which was amazing, I want to go on about the animals that surrounded me and my family this weekend. In particular we were surrounded by ewes (female sheep) that were giving birth during the weekend.The perfection of the Nature played out each time a lamb was born. The mother instinctually licked the lamb to remove the amniotic fluid, and the lamb struggled in that first hour to stand up and then walk to the utters where they began to nurse. How is that all available without our spoken language, without machines? It just happens the same way with each birth.
Dip into the simple wisdom of Nature. Eat lower on the food chain to experience more of Nature’s simplicity in your body, mind and soul.
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 pound dried split green or yellow peas, rinsed
8 cups vegetable stock or water
1 1/2 t salt
1 t freshly ground pepper
Fresh cilantro, chopped
In a large saucepan over a medium low heat, saute the onions with the ghee or olive oil until they are almost translucent (about 10 minutes). Add the garlic, carrots, and potatoes and cook for a further 3 minutes. Then add the oregano, half of the split peas and the stock or water. Bring to a boil, then gently simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Skim off the foam while cooking. Add the remaining split peas and continue to simmer for another 40 minutes, or until all the peas are soft. Stir frequently to keep the solids from burning on the bottom. In the last 10 minutes of the cooking, add the salt and pepper. Let the soup sit for 10-20 minutes before serving. Add the cilantro just before serving.
This soup is delicious when made the day before, and then reheated.
Enjoy the fullness of the soup, in both texture and flavor. Eat for the lambs, eat for your health. We are all sharing this Earth.
