One Small Change, and one rather large one
Last month we joined Hip Mountain Mama’s One Small Change project- one earth/family/environmentally-friendly change per month leading up to April and Earth Day. Ours was to try some new recipes from Nourishing Traditions and continue to make organic dairy and meat a habit, not a splurge. Even if it means forgoing snack foods and other luxuries. After watching Food, Inc., buying decent meat seems to be a moral imperative.
The cooking went great- I’d recommend the cookbook to anyone and everyone- we made a beef stew, pot roast, potatoes, and a chicken dish that John loved. We played with sauces and marinades. Everything was from scratch, and it felt good to expand the repertoire a bit more. The premise of the book is to resurrect “traditional” recipes, simple, and from scratch, that optimize digestion and overall health. I look forward to many more meals from its pages.
I did my best to reach for the organic stuff despite the cost. I am enormously frugal, but have come around to appreciate quality over CHEAP. I put less meat in a dish to be able to recoup the cost of organic. I am heartened to see the natural meats picked over and the supermarket debuting its own line of organic dairy. All good signs. It’s still a matter of considering most everything I pick up- but once it becomes a habit, it will get easier, I’m quite sure.
This is the month of THE BOAT! We spent last weekend living aboard, getting adjusted, and are so excited about our new home. February brings the challenge of outfitting the boat in the most earth-friendly way we know how. Re-rigging our solar panels and fitting the DC system to run from our batteries (currently we have shore power that runs our insanely efficient fridge, a TV and 2 lamps- not bad!). Smalls things too, like using dish soap that won’t hurt fish. Reducing our laundry (potty trained babies help in that department!). Driving less (moving aboard shaves 500+ miles of driving off the odometer every week). Buying pillows and sheets that aren’t full of fire-retardants. So many things to consider in a 33-foot space. But we love it. And we’re living it.
I am so so so so SO excited for you all! What a fabulous new change, I can’t wait to hear and see more! Happy boat warming!
I remain awed by you guys.
Applause from our corner on ALL counts!
Nourishing traditions approach: I think it’s the right thing to do, the best thing to do for so many reasons. I am a big fan… checked that book out from the library so much I really should have my own. But, this brings up a cruising irony. What do we know about the meat and dairy we get here in Mexico? Not much, and I don’t find much online. The things I spent SO much time and effort on securing, as reasonbly as I could when we had information available to us… I can’t here. Or at least I haven’t figured it out yet. And by the time we do, we’ll be on to the next country, it seems!
In the realm of small things: speaking of fish-friendly detergent, there is this old cruising myth about Joy. Liveaboards / cruisers are supposed to love it “because it gives suds in salt water.” Somehow I don’t think it’s fish friendly, although I can’t point to a reference. And… why the fuss about suds? They’re not necessary to get clean, right? The friendly stuff still seems to work just fine. How on earth- (Earth!) can we get this myth dispelled?
Meanwhile, HUZZAH for boat living. One step at a time, the fridge efficiency will follow.
So glad Jan went well. I have that cook book, but haven’t used it much lately. I am inspired to get it back out! How awesome that you will be outfitting your boat in an eco friendly manor! How fun!!
Suzy