THE MODERN VICTORY GARDEN CHALLENGE

What??? I thought I was through with these things. I mean over the years I have taken prt in buy nothing new challenges, freezing my ass off challenges, saving my urine challenges, etc.- Most of these put on by the Crunchy Chicken. But I was perusing my blog the other day and grew reminiscent (and add the fact I am retired now and need a project) for the Independence Day Challenge, put on by Sharon Astyk. It was such a great tool to use to learn more about self sufficiency, and preparing one's self to become more independent. The trouble is it seems to have vanished over the years, so I thought "Rob we need to bring this back". So here it is, The Modern Victory Garden Challenge!

 THE MODERN VICTORY  GARDEN CHALLENGE:

 

1- Grow your own- means grow your own food be it from a huge multi-acre farm/garden, or a backyard garden or even a few pots. Maybe just some sprouts grown indoors. Just grow something!

2-Repair your own - from a brken shovel handle to rebuilding a tractor, repair it yourself and share

3- Learn something NEW! learning a new technique or something to help your garden grow. Could include but not limited to learning seed starting, recipe to cook something or new way to preserve food

4-Eat It! Share how you eat your homegrown food!

5- PRESERVE IT! Share how you are preserving your home grown food. Could include home cannin freezing or dehydrating

There you have it. Sounds pretty easy? I will post monthly and hope you all will join in!

Rob's Independence Day Posts from the past!

Coffee, Tea or Ivy? The Weekly Challenge Update

My coffee carafe planter
Using the new format that Sharon came up for the independence challenge- note: Cook Something New has become Eat the food (I assume that you harvested)Preparation and storage took over for the two categories Prepare something and Store Something- makes sense to me!


Sharon's Independence Day's Challenge-
1. Plant something: Basil, acorn squash, pumpkins, summer squash
2. Harvest something: Just some sprouts. And a nibble of lettuce.
3. Preserve something: Nothing
4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce or compost something): Made a planter out of a coffee carafe; some coffee grounds into the compost from starbucks
5. Preparation and Storage: Built one more raised bed for the pumpkins (moving them into the backyard from the front this year)
6. Build Community Food Systems: Hoping to learn more about the “P-Patch” at next weeks Sustainable Burien meeting.
7. Eat the Food: Ate the sprouts I picked this week on a nice salad

Melinda’s Growing Challenge Planting time- Acorn squash, pumpkins, summer squash. Will be planting my seed started tomatoes tomorrow, weather permitting

MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGES: Getting the gardening purchases out of my system. Little info-mercial watcher that I am, I did by a “Garden Aug” to attach to my drill. Billy Mays is the devil.

Crunchy’s sustainable food budget challenge: (last post for this challenge) Well, I had $39 to last the final week of April. I did not make it. Groceries- $29, Freezer/Pantry Items (Estimate) $20, Coffee Stops $3, lunch at work $9 I went $22 over the budget for the month of May. Not too bad, but I really need to look at my spending habits (And coffee stops might have to be the first to go!)

Weekly Challenge Update

Well the 57 day strike is over at Boeing- I will be returning to work on the 3rd- sigh I must admit I was enjoying practicing for retirement; I must say that challenges have taught me to live frugally, and more self sustaining. If you haven’t tried a challenge, I highly suggest you start! Also, beansprouts blog started a challenge which is right up my alley- A make your own Christmas gifts challenge!

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Week 20
Plant something: Kale plants that I bought

Prep something: 3 more pumpkins roasted, pureed and froze. Roasted pumpkin seeds!

Harvest something- A few beans and some lettuce; sunflower heads from the garden for bird food- strung them up with a stick or twig stuck in the head as a perch for birds- I use to do this as a kid
Manage something: Finish putting up the new siding on the north gable

Cook Something New: Cook some of Beth’s Cat food for my cat

Work on Local Food Systems: Not really, but I did buy three more sugar pumpkins for pie/soup/pumpkin bread from my local green grocer- He lowers the price on the day after halloween!

Re-Cycle, Re-Use, Re-Duce, Repair or Compost something: Saved some of the scrap cedar shingles to use in the rocket stove or my chiminea; took the rest for burn barrel on the picket line; cut down sunflowers as their growing season is over- saved the heads for birdfood and put the stalks in the composter

Learn a skill: Nothing much except learned how to recharge Nicad batteries to reduce waste batteries for flashlights, remotes, etc. Found out the NiCad batteries are rechargeable and not much more expensive than the alkaline- great for my digi-cam or as I call it My AA Battery eater! And learned I could make a solar recharger for them! Also learned That you can use the NiCad rechargeble batteries in your solar powered lights if your batteries in them went tits up

MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGE: Went to St. Vincent’s and bought 2 vegetable peelers, 2 stainless steel bowls with covers and a zester. I needed a new vegetable peeler, they were $6-$14 at the grocery- ridiculous! So I bought two slightly used ones that work fine for $.49 a piece! Since there was a tag sale at St. Vinnie's I got them for $.13 each! Bought two pumpkins from the green grocer that went on sale the day after Halloween! Roasted and pureed and froze them for pie! Roasted the seeds! I Bought four kale plants at Duane’s. Except for groceries, Bought nothing else.

JENNIFER'S STOP THE LEAKS CHALLENGE: Finished the gable project- 2 more to go on the house, two more on the garage. The holes are gone! Will do/finish the house first since the garage is not heated and is an “outbuilding”.

CRUNCHY DOMESTIC GODDESS’ DITCH THE DISPOSABLES CHALLENGE: Didn’t do too well this week- went to a local creperie that opened here in Burien- they put crepes in cardboard boxes which went into my yard waste container, and no bag but I could have eaten them there- but they use chinet paper plates and plastic forks/spoons so I thought it would be better to eat them at home- at least I knew containers would get composted! And bought two pizzas this week- we needed a quick meal one night- the containers also went into yard waste bin! No coffee to go without my stainless steel commuter cup this week though so that was good!

MELINDA'S GROWING CHALLENGE: Trying to figure out why my Kale etc. is not growing. Am going to try bell Cloche’s (I made some out of 2 liter pop bottles)
Any info anyone has on Kale would be appreciated!

Beansprout's Make a Christmas Gift Challenge: Ms. Melanie has a wonderful challenge for November- I make most of my Christmas gifts, so this should be neat and easy. She didn't have a button for the challenge, at least not one I saw so I made her one! I have laready started- I made fruit infused vodka for my relatives, and will make brownies in a jar, ornaments and I am making or rather reupholstering a head board for my mom for christmas, and a turning pig shaped cutting board into a clock for her as well.

THE ID CHALLENGE 2012

The Independence Day Challenge- 2012 Version!

Seems like this is the fifth year I have done this challenge, albeit with some changes from the official version. I like this challenge because it motivates me, keeps me active and it helps keep me honest!

Plant: Started some gourd seeds, started some sprouts

Harvest: sprouts

Preserve: Froze some leftovers from my Mom's 80th B-day party (buns, meat);

Prepare: bought seed potatoes for 2012; Bought and traded seeds as well.
Local Foods: Nothing yet

Community: Getting ready for another year at the community garden- put in my plot fee!

Eat the food: Put some sprouts in Green Pea Hummus I made
Repair, Re-use, Reduce, Recycle: Repaired an old umbrella I use at work.  Repaired my garden clogs.

Make Do and Mend Challenge

After joining countless challenges, I am ready to host my first one:

Annoucing The Make Do and Mend Challenge, to celebrate that old friend –“Repair”
The challenge is simple, really, instead of throwing out something and adding to the waste stream, try repairing it instead.

This helps out in your other challenges:
Buying Challenges- you are not buying something new
Frugality Challenges- You are saving money buy fixing whatever and not buying new
Waste Reduction Challenges- Should be obvious
Independence Day’s challenge- I am big proponent on adding Repair to the “3R’s” –ReDuce, Re-Use and Recycle
Sustainability Challenges- Nothing more sustainable than Mending something to save from buying new now is there?

It could be something as simple as sewing a button back on a shirt or blouse, or mending holes in your jeans, doing a repair job on your vehicle or bike, sharpening and cleaning your gardening tools for winter, mending a fence, You get the idea- Just FIX something!

Once a week, On Sunday Evenings, I will hold a Make Do and Mend Challenge Check-In- where you can brag about your Repairing Prowess and what you repaired or ask questions on how to repair something-

Nifty little badge to put on your blog:

Anyone who signs up will get their name posted on the sidebar!

Garden Parties, No Reefer and Dog Trailers-- The Weekly Challenge Update

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Year 3, week 31
1. Plant something: nada
2. Harvest something: Kohl Rabi, Radishes, cucumber
3. Preserve something: nada
4. Waste Not: Got the old reefer going again, canceled the order on the new one.

5: Want not: Made Romeo a trailer so I can take him along when riding my bike. Save a little money making it myself.
6. Preparation and Storage: Thinking I should add a storage building in the front yard to store my bike and scooter in. And Romeo’s trailer; Also, Will use the three Self Watering Planters, the mason bee house and the lady bug house I used in Demo at the Garden Day celebration.
7. Build Community Food Systems: showed folks how to make Self Irrigating planters, Mason Bee houses and lady bug houses, as part of B-Patch Garden Day, our tip off to World Kitchen Garden Day
8. Eat the food (cook something new): Caprese Salad, pickled zucchini, zucchini bread

Garden Challenge: Extreme Evangelist Edition- showed folks how to make Self Irrigating planters, Mason Bee houses and lady bug houses, as part of B-Patch Garden Day, our tip off to World Kitchen Garden Day


Crunchy Chicken’s Pioneer Week Sunday- discovered that my fridge had died. So this week I am roughing it with the cooler. Of course I am pretty sure the Ingalls family didn't have a freezer making ice in milk jugs to get them through!

Thursday and Friday -Rode my Bicycle into to town and I have to say I need to invest in a kinder gentler seat, but in spite of a case of saddle soreness went pretty good


Sunday- topped off the week with a potluck at the community garden, and showed folks how to make Self Irrigating planters, Mason Bee houses and lady bug houses, as part of B-Patch Garden Day, our tip off to World Kitchen Garden Day

POST # 150-What I learn from Challenges: (Or No, I am not insane!)

Wow! Post number 150. Fanfare! Somebody toot a horn. This should be the mutha of all posts! Afraid to disappoint. I am simply going to write about challenges. Yup these *&%$# blogger challenges.
I like to participate in a myriad of challenges. I like to think I learn something from all of them. When I thought about writing a post on challenges, I first thought “Hmmm… Maybe I could write about the females who put these on, you know gals that sit there and eat cold porridge for dinner and bug with us fun folks.” But then I would be doing them a disservice (although it is truly fun to picture Crunchy or Chile sitting there like that wringing their bony hands wondering what they will do to us this month!)
Then I thought the idea is to promote these challenges as a tool of self learning and self realization, why not write what you have learned? So that is what I will do.
In Crunchy’s Don’t Buy Nutthing challenge- I learned that I am basically a consumerist. When I can’t find something- I go out and buy a new one. When something breaks or I cant find something, my first reaction is automatically go out and buy a new one. Or rather it used to. Now I ask myself if I need it, what good will it do, and have I lived without it? Usually the answer is NO. Then, hopefully, I don’t purchase whatever it was!
Then I went onto Chile’s Cut the crap challenge. The idea behind that one was to organize your spaces. I am no where near where I should be on this. Take a look at my garage and you would say a pack rat lives here. But I am better at it. And this is a good thing as it goes in tally with Crunchy’s don’t buy nutthing challenge. If you can’t find something- you want to buy a new one! If my tools are all neat and organized I don’t want a new tool! If my tool shed is nice and organized I don’t need another shovel to replace the one I can’t find!
Then we move on to Chile’s Addiction in a Peak Oil World challenge where the idea is to give up something that you seem to be addicted to. I gave up eating in restaurants, and that included fast food, and take out. And let me tell you this was a hard one. Like most single guys, I enjoy take out and fast food something awful. And while I joke that this challenge put a bunch of restaurateurs out of business, that ain’t so far from the truth. And a really hard part of this one was no coffee at the "bigbucks" espresso shop. How could I go in there order a coffee and just look at the pastry? Even if I bring my own trusty old steel cup?
That was a tough month. And while now I don’t eat out every lunch, and I now eat take out very rarely, I found out I like to take my lunch to work! I like filling my little jars with food I made myself. And yes… I will admit it- I like to cook! I like to bake pie! And desserts! I have turned into a regular Martha Stewart in the kitchen! Okay I look like and use as much butter as Paula Dean, but you get the picture.
Then came phase two of Chile’s Addiction in a Peak Oil World challenge- giving up diet soda. This was not a difficult thing for me to give up. Diet Soda is expensive, and I waste so much gas trying to find ones I like. I can’t drink regular due to my diabetes. I’d rather have a cup of healthy coffee! I know – I am kidding. I would rather have a gallon of healthy coffee!
Now we hit the big one! SHARON’S INDEPENDENCE DAYS CHALLENGE! The idea on this one is to Plant something, harvest something, preserve something, prep something, cook something new, manage your reserves and work on local food systems, of course compost, repair, re-use, reduce, recycle something and do all this each week! My first thought was- is she kidding? But after doing it for a month or two you would be amazed how easy it gets. And what better way to learn to be more self sustaining? I have fallen back in love with gardening, and it is fun to eat something and know you grew it! And putting up jam and pickles and such is good because you are extending your growing season. AND this year I have been jamming. I have even proclaimed myself "Rob...The KING of the jam!" And I even learned to make my own beef jerky!
And I signed up with Crunchy Domestic Goddess' 5 minute shower challenge. I already do this but I like to learn more about what the outcome is. 1- I save money. My water bill is about at the minimum for my water district. 2- At Bean Sprouts’ suggestion I plugged my drain and found out what my water usage is showering- 10-15 gallons per shower. And it made me check out my shower heads flow. (3.5 gpm). These things are all important!
Sure there have been fun ones like Crunchy’s Golden Shower Party. Imagine getting a bunch of folks to pee on their gardens! Again more money saved- Every flush is 3-5 gallons or in my case 1.8 gpf- no flush is no flush, add into that the numbers of time I urinate in a day, (due to medication) and you save somewhere around 18 gallons a day, plus your bodily fluids are full of nitrogen and other things good for your soil – no need to go out and buy Miracle Grow or some other chemically induced fertilizer. Just water down the urine (10-1 ratio) and there you are!
And recently I joined Melinda’s growing challenge. She is a local (Seattle) blogger, her and her husband just moved back to Seattle. She is into community. She is into local eating. She wants folks to grow new and different things. Smart girl. People will try new and different produce, fruits and vegetables. And know where it came from. You gotta love her style!
So in short I want to thank Crunchers, Chile, Crunchy Domestic Goddess, and Melinda- you ladies have shown me a new way to live. A more self sustaining, greener lifestyle. One that saves money, is healthier for me and the enviorment, and toughens me up.

Birdhouses and Chicken poop- The Weekly Challenge Update

Busy time at Casa Del Rob- the Golden Plum tree is making me work in the hot weather, giving me pounds of fresh plums; Trying to figure out how I can do my artsy thing during the buy nothing challenge; Romeo and Sammy keep me hopping! Well onto the challenges:

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge- Year two, week 13

1. Plant something: Experimenting with mints in a hanging (topsy turvey ) planter, transplanted some india mustard to the victory garden, planted a lavendar plant there, dug up two pumpkin plants and donated to the Bias to have some pumpkins growing by Halloween/day of the dead, Planted bok choy and corn salad seeds in victory garden, at home started some bok choy plants, some lettuce plants, planted sweet potato slips that I started on window sill(a little late I know but hey they wanted to be planted!)
2. Harvest something: Plum tree is wild with plums, been picking two or three pounds every day. Arugula and mustard greens that where starting to bolt; Bought some pickling cucumbers a garden stand; borage leaves; lettuce; basil, tomatoes
3. Harvest Something From the Victory Garden for the Food bank- Fennel, Swiss Chard, Lettuce, and plums from my tree
4. Preserve something: Canned pickles; froze some basil cubes, made and froze some plum turnovers,
5. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Made a birdhouse from license plates, turn and added chicken manure to compost bin, made some fresh bedding for worm bin
6. Preparation and Storage: Stored the pickles in the pantry, still working on eating last years! Obtain some large terra-cotta planters from thrift store; Bought a fancy sprouter (found on sale at the Grainery- marked down because one tier had two minute cracks - doesn't take away from performance)

7. Build Community Food Systems: Took some plums to the food bank along with the Fennel, leaf lettuce and Swiss Chard grown in the Victory Garden; Did my watering day at the community gardens, Helping to plan a garden party at the community gardens
8. Eat the Food/Cook or eat something new): Made a salad with the mustard greens, arugula, some lettuce, (new)Plum turnovers, Used basil in spaghetti sauce;


Melinda’s Growing Challenge: I have artichokes on my artichoke plant- planted some lettuce and bok choy inside to start plants, still waiting on the broccoli to make a show!

Meat Free Mondays: This Monday I ate some oatmeal for breakfast with toast and homemade raspberry jam; At lunch My mom prepared a BBQ sandwich with TVP BBQ Beef; and fresh fruit,(gotta hand it to Ma- she really takes this Meat Free Monday thing serious- Thanks Ma!); for dinner I had a Brioche Roll with peanut butter and jam, and some rye-krisp crackers with pub cheese. And plums- I had plums! Lots of plums and tomatoes

A look at some of Romeo's Puppy Bling

Prepping For Crunchys Dont buy nothing challenge starting in August- Bought some metal working tools, Bought Romeo a stainless steel Water Bottle that I could hang from his leash, bought a fancy sprouter (found on sale at the grainery- marked down because one tier had two cracks - doesn't take away from performance)

CHALLENGE CHECK IN

Getting ready for crunchy's golden shower garden party

Chile's Peak Oil Addiction Challenge- No restaurants or take out-I was doing Pretty good...even went to the farmers market and didn't have my usual wurst then came Saturday... We ordered a pizza as I spent all day painting trim, doing yard work. But I am back on the horse this week. Just that falling off horses sucks.

Domestic Crunchy Goddess' 5 minute Shower Challenge- Very good- still under 5 minutes every day. Started catching the warm up water in a bucket every shower- saves 2 1/2 gallons everytime for plant watering or flushing my toilet!

and now for something new, I joined

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge: here is the challenge- (I decided to try at least one thing per week) :
Planting- plant something everyweek
Preserving- something different every week
Storing- storing a different supply every week
Prepping- preparing something new every week
Managing- managing (organising) something every week
Cook something new- cook something new every week
Work on local food systems
Compost something
Learn a new skill
The idea is to help educate ourselves toward more self suffiency-
here is how I did this week-
PLANTING- planted the huckleberrie bushes I bought at the famers market
Preserving: Got out the dehydrator I got as a gift years ago, cleaned it up
Storing:See preserving
Learn a new skill: Am going to learn to dehydrate fruits and veggies
Cook comething new: Cooked Game hens following the directions (a new concept in my kitchen!). These would be good to buy and freeze. Can get them relatively cheaply at grocery outlet.
Compost something- added stuff to both my worm bin and my compost bin
Work on local food system- Unavailable at this time
I am surprised how much I did this week!

Stuff Coming Up:
GREEN BEAN DREAMS STILL A BOOKWORM CHALLENGE: Just finished the "Green Book", plan to have my review later this week.

CRUNCHY'S GOLDEN SHOWERS GARDEN PARTY am saving my pee for Saturday and will fertilize everything, once in awhile I go up to the compost pile and pee there too. I should get my neighbors kid to help- I was painting the trim on the house, looked out the corner of my eye and there he was, not a care in the world peeing to his hearts content on his mom's flower bed! Later I spyed him in the back yard watering their lawn. Nice to see them start out so young

Challenge update

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge:

Plant something: Garlic, Beets, icicle radishes

Prep something: currently installing a window on the south wall of my kitchen- it should let in more light and help warm the kitchen

Harvest something: Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers

Manage something:not this week

Cook Something New:Blackberry fritters

Work on Local Food Systems: Participated in NW Bloggers picnic

Reuse, reduce, recycle or repair or Compost something: reusing 6 X 4’S for my window project

Learn a skill: nope

CRUNCHY DOMESTIC GODDESS’ 5 MINUTE SHOWER CHALLENGE : One day this week I stayed in the shower for 10 minutes due to a sore shoulder. The water massage blasted it. I felt so guilty I didn't shower the next day.

CRUNCHY CHICKENS' SWEATY BUTT-CRACK CHALLENGE: No A/C. Nope. No way.

MELINDA'S GROWING CHALLENGE: Borage is in full bloom, the flowers do not taste like honey they taste like cucumber! I didn't realize how big the plant would get- next year it will get it's own spot not share with my huckleberries. Gave the broccoli some liquid gold.

JENNIFER'S STOP THE LEAKS CHALLENGE: Caulked the windows. Adding a duo-pane window to the kitchen on the southern wall, hoping to help warm the kitchen and give some light, too

Greenhouses and Christmas Gifts- the Weekly Challenge Update

Week was pretty busy- starting a greenhouse, my Idea of using a very large plastic bag for the roof went hopelessly awry, got an idea from a gardening book for another "greenhouse", and working on Christmas gifts (buy Hand challenge)

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge- Year two, week 23

1. Plant something: Started some basil, chives and parsley seeds indoors for a windowsill herb garden
2. Harvest something: Thai Peppers, Kohl Rabi, Corn Salad Greens, Mesclun Greens, Chard, and Lettuce;From the Community Garden: Basil, Tomatoes, beets; Swiss chard
3. Preserve something: Processed and froze pumpkins, Roasted and stored pumpkin seeds;
4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Repaired my favorite winter Jacket for work- sewed new buttons, repaired tear in sleeves
5. Preparation and Storage: Found out my Big plastic bag for the greenhouse isn’t big enough, going to use 10 foot wide plastic sheeting- but will keep large bag for another winter gardening project already in my mind.
6. Build Community Food Systems: Did my volunteer day at the community garden; took harvested veggies to the food bank
7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new): Pumpkin seeds, ate Swiss Chard, Corn Salad greens, Mesclun greens and Lettuce in a salad;

Melinda’s Growing Challenge: Saved some gourd seeds and saved some pumpkin seeds that I did not roast


Meat Free Mondays: Breakfast muffin and coffee, Lunch- TVP Chik’n patties, potato salad, orange, Lunch at work- Cheese and Rye Crackers, dinner Almond Butter and Banana stuffed pita French toast


Ditch The Disposables -Still going strong. Guy at work notice I used my fancy hankie made out of a T-shirt- told him they are the best snot rags! One problem I had this week- Even though not a part of my personal DTD challenge-I forgot my shopping bags at the Farmers Market- so used the plastic produce bags- one vendor was reusing old plastic shopping bags Since I was buying gourds and a few pumpkins, I told him the small sugar pumpkin would fit in with the gourds, saving a bag- all the bags will be reused or recycled. Another problem I had this week was I ate at a teriyaki place, while the food on my plate was an actual plate- they only offered plastic cutlery or chopsticks- not having brought my own I opted for chopsticks- while not plastic, they are made from bamboo, I took them home with me as chopsticks have 101 uses. Julia Child and I beat our omelets with them.

Charging Cradle for the buy hand challenge

Clock for the Buy Hand Challenge

Buy Hand challenge: Made a clock- actually, I changed the face of one for my friends at the coffee shop; making same for my uncle(did not buy a new clock for it- using one I already had), and one for martin(an alarm clock bought from the as-is at Ikea). Made charging cradles for I-phones and blackberries.

Pumpkin Fest 2009- The Weekly Challenge Update

I have been busy this week processing and pureeing pumpkins, making soup and dog and cat food. Participating in the Day of the Dead festivities at the BIAS.
Sharon's Independence Days Challenge- Year two, week 27
1. Plant something: Nothing
2. Harvest something: Sprouts
3. Preserve something: Processed the last of the pumpkins, Made and froze dog/cat food
4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something) -Repaired my old favorite sweater; Recycled some Halloween decorations- used the cloth from an umbrella to make a cape for one of my skeletons, Participating in the BIAS Day of the Dead celebration, where the city parks has arranged for people to bring their pumpkins, to be lit and at the end composted!
5. Preparation and Storage: Still working on cleaning out (using up the food) the freezer in prep for a new freezer
6. Build Community Food Systems: Nothing this week. Participating in the BIAS Day of the Dead celebration, saying goodbye to the community garden
7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new): Pumpkin soup, veggies in dog food,


Melinda’s Growing Challenge: Nothing new to report


Meat Free Mondays: Did not have a muffin for breakfast- had a bean burritto for lunch, cheese and crackers for dinner, fruit for dessert


Ditch The Disposables -No FAILS this week.


Buy Hand challenge: Nothing new got done for Christmas. Was a busy Halloween week.

Fake Plastic Rob- The Weekly Challenge Update

The Fake Plastic Gauntlet Challenge-
Starring Rob as The Wannabe Fake Plastic Fish
guest starring
Sammy The cat as Soots the cat

When I started this I totally expected to have a low total. What an eye opener! How quick we forget about bread wrappers, coffee lids etc.
I have a greater appreciation for what Beth goes through day in and day out. Now I realize that we were not suppose to alter our patterns for this challenge, but you can’t help it when you have on the back of the mind WWFPFD? I was surprised how easily forces beyond my control throw plastic at me. I was also surprised I remembered my own shopping bag all week. The coffee thing is something I gotta work on. I am very good at carrying my own mug (muggsly) everywhere, but I also forget from time to time. If I am more vigilant over my forgetfulness, I can be more like Beth. I even wrote an email to a company over their packaging- The American Peanut Company.
Notice I divide my waste to total amount, amount to be re-used and amount to be recycled. Of course one realizes it is better to reduce, but it’s nice to know I do pretty well at re-using and re-cycling.
Total plastic waste=28.25 ounces
Total of Plastic to be recycled =2.0
Total of Plastic for re-use= 21oz
Total to be Discarded= 6.0 ounces

Notice the nice new t-shirt- No plastic waste at all !
SUNDAY:
Container lid and straw from a Mocha Joe .5 ounces

MONDAY:

Sammy "Soots" can't leave the plastic alone
A small container of 2 cycle motor oil (kept the container to use for a measure cup and I can buy a larger size of the same oil)
A large ziplock bag that Romeo’s dog food comes in (washed the bag- will reuse) 2.0
(obviuosly that is not the ziplock bag- that bag is on tomorrows count)

A couple of plastic bags that some of my compost came in (will reuse those bags in the garden)
A zippered bag that I got as a gift containing a mattress pad (reuse to put sweaters in)
Milk Jug (recycle) I would buy milk in a glass bottle if it were available- stores that sell it (whole Foods, PCC) have no interest in expanding south of Seattle
2 small (single serving) bags of peanuts – I thought they were paper, plastic that looks and feels like paper? The nerve!
Total for Tuesday- 15 oz

1 Large (5lb) container from NW BEST POTATO SALAD 2.5 OZ(reuse for a compost container to feed worms in worm bin)
2 top ramen wrappers .5 Oz
3 envelopes with plastic windows- recycle
1 Large envelope that my Union Lobbyist pin came in
1 very small ziplock bag that the pin came in way to small to re-use
1 six pack ring- cut up before throwing away (need to figure out a way to reuse those in an art project one of these days)
Total for Wednesday- 4.5 oz


THURSDAY
1 small plastic bag that contained four of the best snickerdoodles I ever ate (bought at the farmers market).25 oz will reuse for cheese or something
1 small plastic cup from a “Crystal Light” orange drink mix (My “orange Juice”).25 TOTAL WASTE FOR THURSDAY= .50 Oz.
FRIDAY
1 plastic lid from a coffee(I was bad this week- that’s two coffee purchases and no Muggsly).25 oz
2 “ramen” wrappers (Notice I don’t include the seasoning packets with the top ramen – I am not cheating- I save them if the recipe doesn’t call for them- then when a recipe calls for boullion or stock and I don’t have any they go in) .5 oz
1 Dakota Organic Hamburger package-.5 (at least it was“organic”)
1 Ziplock type bag from shredded mozzarella cheese .5 (will reuse)
TOTAL FOR FRIDAY= 1.75

Saturday
1 Ziplock style bag from cheese- .5 oz (will be re-used)
1 plastic cover from a hacksaw I bought (drives me nuts that the feel they need that kind of packaging- like the tool will spoil or something ).5 oz
1 plastic spoon that broke- am going to buy only wooden mixing spoons from now on 1.0 ounces
Total for Saturday 2.0 ounces

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge- Year two, week 3
Note I added a new (old) Category to sharon’s challenge: “Cook or Eat something new” because I missed that part of last years challenge so much. And I think it is important to try new things (food wise) this gives me an opportunity to find new ways to cook things- This week I went totally Ramen crazy and made Tomato Pie for the first time
1. Plant something: India Mustard greens, Arugula; Purple Kohl Rabi; Chives, Spaghetti Squash
2. Harvest something: dandelion greens
3. Preserve something: Dehydrated some “orange flesh” honey dew melon, dehydrated cantaloupe
4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce or compost something): Re-used an old mattress pad for weed block;
5. Preparation and Storage: nope
6. Build Community Food Systems: Saved coupons to take for sustainable Burien meeting, for food bank.
7. Eat the Food: ate some dandelion greens
8 Cook or eat something new: Made Ramen noodle Surprize and I made Ramen Spaghetti Pie; Tomato Pie

Melinda’s Growing Challenge I planted India Mustard greens, Arugula; Purple Kohl Rabi; Chives, Spaghetti Squash; Harvested some Dandelion greens for a salad

MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGES: Did pretty good… ate out twice- all local (no chain restaurants); Bought my spaghetti squash plants at the farmers market;

Weekly Challenge Update

Happy World Kitchen Garden Day Everyone!

Yup it's World Kitchen Garden day! So go out and hug your zucchini!

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Year 3, week 30
1. Plant something:
2. Harvest something: Bok Choy, cucumber, zucchini, fennel, tomatoes
3. Preserve something: Pickled Fennel Slices, Beets
4. Waste Not: Getting some more miles out of my LL Bean shoes- the insoles wore holes in them- replaced with new insoles
5: Want not: Made a headlight for the new bike out of a 9 L.E.D. flashlight I got for free from Harbor Freight and got an entry for Condo Blues's Remake your Swag Challenge at the same time!
6. Preparation and Storage: Got some canning jars at a yard sale (and they were new- still in the box)!
7. Build Community Food Systems: Getting the celebration ready at the community garden for next weekend- getting my demo's ready; planning my part of potluck etc. etc.
8. Eat the food (cook something new): Pickled Fennel slices; tomatoes and Bok Choy in a CLT sandwich


Garden Challenge: Extreme Evangelist Edition- Nothing new to report except for what’s above

Remember to check out CB's Remake your swag challenge

Easy Up? Greenhouses and cooking school- The Weekly Challenge Update

Putting up the Greenhouse Well it finally got nice enough outside (read No Rain!) to put up my green house, from flowerhouses.com. Easy "Pop Up Assembly" my ass, although it wasn't that hard to set up after you figure out the instructions, which I did glance at - last night. Instructions??? I don't need no stinkin' instructions. It went up like IKEA furniture, whose instruction sheets are a language all their own. Now to decide where to put the shelves. The Shelves? I am going to reuse some shelving in the scooter shed. And I need to find some big squares of cardboard to put down as a floor. Then gravel over it. And hopefully this week start some seeds!Also this week I signed up for a class on cooking borscht two ways (I love borscht- and this would also allow me to learn to make it- new use for beets. And I will find out if you can freeze it as well though I don't see why not)
Sharon's Independence Days Challenge: Year 3, week 5

1. Plant something: Nope

2. Harvest something: Sprouts

3. Preserve something: Saved some bread for bread pudding

4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Going to reuse some shelving in the "Scooter shed" in the greenhouse!

5. Preparation and Storage: Set up the greenhouse.

6. Build Community Food Systems: Signed up for a class on cooking Borscht!

7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new): Pickles, Pickled onions, pickled tomatoes
　
　
Freeze Your Buns off challenge- No changes this week.


One Small Change- Started sealing the outlets and Light switches on the exterior walls-


Food waste reduction challenge- No changes- ate some pizza the next day for lunch at work, Find that I think ahead before cooking supper- as in "What can I make that I can eat leftovers the next day" type of thing.

The Growing Challenge (Extreme Evangelist Edition)- Set up my greenhouse… now to start those seeds!

Weekly Challenge Update- Chicken soup for the goal

Crunchy’s Food Waste Challenge:

After yesterday's cow fest, i thought I would get a little more sustainable- this was tonights lunch at work

Some chicken soup- No Idea why it turned so dark- all it had was some leftover chicken, some lentils, some lentil sprouts and chicken stock and some leftover peas. It was tasty!

Anyway here we go-

SUNDAY-No Food waste-Froze pizza leftover from Super Bowl Sunday- will take to work as lunch
MONDAY-Peels from an avocado, trying to root the pit-
TUESDAY- No food waste
WEDNESDAY- add coffee grounds for the week from work, orange peels to food waste
THURSDAY-Saved chicken from dinner to make in soup- Chicken Bones
FRIDAY- Made coca cola pot roast- saved and froze au jus to make soup later. Made Chicken and lentil soup in little crock pot for lunch tomorrow-No Food Waste
SATURDAY- Took soup to work, had a second bowl for dinner- No Food Waste

TOTAL FOOD WASTE- 22.7 ounces of foodwaste- The baggie of coffee grounds is going into the compost, I could have boiled the chicken bones to get 100% of the meat but didn't- The avacado peelings and orange peelings along with chicken bones are going into the Yard waste bin to be composted. I could have candied the orange peelings, but since I am diabetic, I thought it wise not to.

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge- Week 34

Plant Something: Some more lentil sprouts, pea sprouts
Harvest Something: Radish sprouts, lentil sprouts
Preserve something: Froze the “au jus” from the Coca Cola Roast I made on Friday for soup
Store something: A bag of lentils I bought, put in a mason jar to use later for sprouting
Manage Reserves: Figured I could turn the garage into a studio to make and sell junk art. Ordered broccolli seeds, mung beans and alfalfa seeds for sprouting
Cook Something New: A grilled cheese sandwich with Tomato and radish sprouts. Chicken soup with lentil beans and sprouts (See above in the food waste challenge)
Prep Something: Got my starter pots ready to go with soil
Reduce Waste: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair: Fix a pair of Channel Lock pliers, the holding bolt and nut was stripped out, replaced it! MORE IN THE Crunchy’s Food Waste Challenge above
Learn a New Skill: Nothing really
Work on Community Food Security: Shared this week on my blog how to make starter jars for sprouting

MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGE: Did good this week. Just groceries and I did buy some repair parts for plumbing in my bathroom

Crunchy’s Freeze Yer Balls off Challenge: Still at 55/65 here.

Sergeant Chile’s Operation Clean Out-Last report as Chile is shutting this one down- but I need to get the garage done, if it is to be a working studio. Figure if I go in there an hour each day it will be done soon

Independence Day Challenge for week of 9/6

I got my peach harvest. -1 stinkin' peach. But that's 100% more than I got last year!

Plant: nothing

Harvest: Corn, Peach, Green Beans, Tomatoes

Preserve:: Nothing

Prepare:  Started remodeling the pantry/laundry/mud room for maximum storage

Local Foods: Bought some cookies and Baba ghanoush and bread at the Farmers Market

Community: Attended a B-Town D.O.G. (Dog Owners Group) Meeting to establish an off leash dog park here in town

Making Do (Repair, Re-use, Reduce, Recycle): Making lanterns out of discarded items for the annual Lantern Festival, and just the standard recycling, re-using, composting.

Not much to report- Weekly Challenge Update

I don't have much to report on this week, didn't plant anything, blew meat free monday (although not too bad); no major reuse projects or anything

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge- Year two, week 19

1. Plant something: Not a thing
2. Harvest something: Basil, Tomatoes;From the community garden- Basil, tomatoes, Chard
3. Preserve something: Made some Basil Cubes; Dehydrated basil;
4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Made some lanterns out of recycled materials for the Arts Aglow festival in Burien; other than that just general recycling, composting
5. Preparation and Storage: Filled my Gas cans for the generator with gas, starting to read up on propane conversion for generator
6. Build Community Food Systems; took Tomatoes, Basil and chard to the food bank from the community garden; did my watering day at community garden
7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new)- Ate tomatoes and Basil in my Portobello Parmesan;

Melinda’s Growing Challenge: Nothing new to report


Meat Free Mondays: Well I blew it- after months of successfully watching myself on meat free Mondays and no meat Wednesdays; I totally forgot about my pledge when I went for lunch at my favorite Deli and ordered a Philly Cheese steak- I remembered halfway through, quit eating my sandwich, ate the delicious potato salad instead. I saved the other half of the sandwich for lunch the next day and got back on the horse. I suppose since it is Labor Day I forgot and thought it was Sunday. I don’t know- but I am not going to beat myself up over it. So Lunch was ½ philly cheese steak, 1 cup of potato salad; Dinner was Portobello Parmesan,, a vegan brownie for a snack,

Independence Day Challenge week ending 3/23

Plant: Started kale; Broccoli, Purple Sprouting; Broccoli, Romanesco; Cantoloupe, Minnesota Midget; Cucumber, Lemon; Tomato, Clint Eastwood; Tomato, Window Box Roma; Tomato, Red Robin, and  Amaranth; Planted Radishes, Beets
Harvest: Some sprouts;

Preserve: Froze some corned beef and cooked cabbage.
Prepare: Made another Duct Tape shopping bag;

Local Foods: Some local eggs

Community:  Gave those seeds I talked about to the student starting the Food Bank Community garden;

Eat the food: Eggs in an Omelet;
Repair, Re-use, Reduce, Recycle: Repaired my glasses; Made another Duct Tape shopping bag;

Independence Day Challenge- update for week of 5/4

Plant: Planted some basil, lemon balm, sage. Planted more peas beans, sugar pumpkin;

Harvest:Some pea tendrils and shoots; radishes

Preserve:

Prepare: Made a few more SIP's;

Local Foods: Are you kidding? The Burien Farmers' Market opened yesterday

Community: As I said before The Burien Farmers' Market opened yesterday!

Repair, Re-use, Reduce, Recycle: Made a few more SIP Planters,Saved some water bottles out of the public trash and used them in planters as the water "trap" for the Sub Irrigation part of the planter;