Post in Progress, Chicken Coop in Progress...

It has been quite awhile since I've written & I apologize, life has recently gotten the better of me.  Today I'm going to start a post that will be edited a couple times over until it's complete.
Back in April we purchased our first couple of chicks (yes, baby chickens) and so it began....  my husband started building the coop, 100% reclaimed, reused, free materials, so far we have not purchased 1 item for the coop, this is for two very important reasons, the materials have been there, the money to buy them has not & to buy a coop already built is fairly expensive (at least to us).  So we purchased 10 chicks all together, coming in 2 at a time over several weeks, we lost 1 her first week here, the store said she was probably sick to begin with & the other chicks just trampled her, sad.  We now have 9 chicks who are almost full grown chickens and we should start seeing eggs by next month; how exciting!  We give them strictly organic feed & we let them roam the yard all day long, once the coop is complete, the will have a huge fenced in area all to themselves with plenty of feed & bonus weeds to munch on.  I will update this again very shortly with pics from beginning of coop (materials used) to end of coop with happy chickens living inside.

This is the 1st wall framed, all reclaimed wood (oak) from my husband's work place.  (spare pallet & packing/shipping wood)

Back to Doctor this Friday.....Found Gluten Free Pizza Delivery

I go back to the Dr. this Friday to find out if I am indeed positively Gluten-Intolerant (which I'm pretty sure I am).  He'll run another round of blood work, take blood pressure.  Since cutting it out, I'm allready down 12 pounds (in my 40lb. weight-loss goal).  I've been trying to work out every single day (and almost have).  I'm taking my blood pressure pills every morning, which are gluten free & following a pretty strict gluten free diet. 
I tried my first gluten free pizza last Friday (I had been craving pizza so badly) and didn't think anyone around here did it, but they do... So first, I found this site: Gluten Free Registry, which in turn led me to: Plymouth House of Pizza!!  Now, I promised you all that I would be honest...So, I will not say that this was the best pizza I've ever tasted, though my husband really liked his (Gluten-filled...lol) pizza & my two boys certainly enjoyed it (though they also ate some of mine, so they're not exactly discerning, or finnicky judges).   It did at least fulfill my craving for a pizza and probably helped me to not crave one for quite awhile.  I don't mean that in a negative way, but it was not the same; it didn't make me want to run out & spend money to get another one right away, which is a good thing.  I was extremely happy & greatful to have it & will certainly order from them the next time I have a craving! 
It feels very good to know that restaurants have become so much more accomodating.  It is appreciated.

So, today, I leave you with this quote: "When someone asks you a question, answer him or her sincerely, and when you are not asked, do not force your teaching upon others."
-Jae Woong Kim, "Polishing the Diamond"

Is Gluten Intolerance causing your weight gain?

After recenly discovering that I am gluten intolerant (do no have Celiac disease, though I will get tested for it), at this point we have strictly confirmed the intolerance.  I have started a lot of research & even cleaner eating than what I was before.  And I feel great & am shedding pounds.  In just under 2 weeks I have allready lost 10lbs.  Here is a great article, I have placed the link to.  Gluten Factsheet #2

Custom No-Sew High End look Bed

Lyds’ No-Sew Upholstered Bed, here is the link to this gorgeous project shared by Ana White. I love her blog, read it often, she shares great do-it-yourself projects, some for even the most skeptical DIY'ers.
This particular bed is not only gorgeous, but also cost effective (steal at about $100), looks high end & because you're making this yourself & it's not a mass produced (or over produced) purchase product, it's eco-friendly as well.
I really feel like I could make this bed; that being said...stay tuned. I will be making this within the next couple months & will post pics of my progress.
If any of you decide to try this I ask that you share as well.
As always thanks for reading & please follow my blog, or subscribe to my RSS.

Very Sad Letter Today from our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farmer Dave

Very Sad News to report from Plato's Harvest (our local CSA farm)  This is a letter I received today (email) from Farmer Dave to the CSA members:

Hi All. Happy Snowstorm! (again)




The lease on the land at Fuller Street was changed abruptly, unexpectedly, and unacceptably and I have decided to not renew it. I still have three acres at the Soule farm that I will be growing on for 2011.



What this means for the csa is that there is no distribution spot, and I will not be selling shares this year. I will continue to sell at the Plymouth and Cambridge farmers markets.



I have been putting this email off in the hope that I would figure something else out by now. My first impulse was to look for another piece of land to serve as a distribution spot and continue what I've done for the past several years. There are a couple of other local possibilities that may be available to lease, but it's not going to happen in time for this year.



These weeks since I decided not to renew have made me see 'the farm' in a new light, and think hard about what it is I'm trying to accomplish, how and why. The thought of trying to maintain separate locations, with insecure tenure agreements, that I don't own is no longer attractive. It's hard to be able to make long-term plans, decisions and investment in land that you don't own, or a situation that you can't control.



So 2011 will be a year of scaled-back operations which will allow me to explore other possibilities for the future, hopefully locally, hopefully farm-related.



I sincerely appreciate the support you all have shown me. I know that we have a viable model, a desirable and valuable community resource, that I can use to make a winning pitch to the right opportunity. It's also been a pleasure to get to know you all, some for several years now, and some quite well. Stay tuned.



dave



ps, if you know of someone with an old farm with from 10 to 100 acres of stone-free sandy loam cultivated fields, pasture, and wood lot, trustee land, conservation-restricted land, looking to sell or for long-term tenancy, send them my way :`)



pps, we will continue to have farm field days, with the first scheduled for early april for potato and onion planting, details to follow.

Blog Author's Note**Please, Please if you know anyone with a farm as described above, will you please comment, or contact me**  Thank you, Colette

Today I dedicate my blog to Martin Luther King, Jr.

A man who once said, "A man who won't die for something is not fit to live."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

I'm sure when it was said he did not know how unfortunately true those words would be.  As his life was cut short we will never know how much more he could have given to the world, but we can be thankful that he gave us what he had and that was all of himself. 

Today's post is in Memoriam to Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most prolific leaders in our Nation's history.

Peace and Love to all!

A site that offers Sweat Deals....

Mamapedia - Daily Sweet Deals! Check out this site, the deal today is one near & dear to my heart - a "green" deal.  $10 for $25 worth of home products. 
Here is a little more information about the Eco-Friendly site itself:

LetsGoGreen.biz is a business that believes their products can make a positive difference one home at a time. They’re environmentally friendly, and are selected specifically for use in every room in the house.




We were sent a few items to take a look at. Their 100% Recycled Toilet Paper is free of dyes, inks and fragrances and is recycled without chlorine or bleaching. Frankly, as far as I can tell, this was the same as the non-recycled type, so there is absolutely no reason not to switch from the non-recycled type which are cutting down ancient forests. If every home in America changed just one roll for a recycled roll, then it would save a million trees a year.



Another no-brainer is to switch to Ecosafe degradable trash bags. We have the 13-gallon Tall Kitchen Bags. Ecosafe bags are just like regular plastic bags, except that they will totally degrade and compost in 12 to 24 months. They contain an additive called DCP which remains dormant until triggered by sufficient UV light, heat or mechanical stress. The bags leave no toxic or harmful residue.



Finally, I’m getting quite good at looking at reusable bags. Their canvas totes are made in the U.S.A. and are grocery-sized and sturdy.



LifeGoggles.com

Here is a link directly to the site itself:
Green your 2011 with Let's Go Green Biz Free shipping on orders $49 & over.  (always love free shipping!)

Happy Shopping, Happy Tuesday.