Forgotten, Restored. The Maya Nut Revolution.

 Recently, I came across this article about the Maya Nut and how it is changing lives. At one time, the Maya Nut was an staple food for the Mayan people, providing high levels of important nutrients such as protein, calcium, fiber, iron, zinc and vitamins A, B, C, and E. Today, in the rainforests where the Maya Nut tree grows, people are going hungry. They have forgotten about the nut, and don't know how to use it. Biologist Erika Vohman is working to bring the nut back to the people that need it the most. People in Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador. People that are cutting down rainforests to plant food crops - crops that have nowhere near the nutritional value. One Maya Nut tree produces 400 pounds of food a year and is less susceptible to climate change than the crops that have been brought in to replace it. The Equilibrium Fund, of which Vohman is the Executive Director, is teaching woman how to use the nut to make pancakes, cookies, salads, soup and shakes to feed their community year-round.

"The Equilibrium Fund mission is to improve rainforest conservation, food security, women's income, status and self-esteem through production, consumption and sales of Maya Nut (Brosimum alicastrum)."

Women are becoming champions of rainforest preservation.The project is having a positive affect on poverty,health and is impacting gender equality. Balance is returning to these communities. Women are talking to each other again about how to use resources readily available to them - and they are teaching those that 'haven't' remembered yet. One nut. All the difference.


Forgotten food. Forgotten wisdom. Forgotten resources. Solutions right in front of us, if only we remember. Sometimes the best solution is to return to our roots.
I started thinking about cultures and indigenous people and traditions that are passed on through the generations using nothing more than a story and practical application. No books. No Internet. Just Mother to child teaching, demonstrating and talking about the ways of life. Ways to survive and thrive. How is it possible that such critical information to a cultures very survival simply stops being communicated - or heard? We all bear witness to how that happens, what that looks like. In truth, the break down of information can happen in one generation. I am reminded of the shame my ancestors felt in their heritage and how hard they worked to disassociate themselves from it. Language lost. Culture lost. Life skills lost.

I gain hope as I witness many younger people working to restore their cultures, traditions, and languages. The Equilibrium Fund endeavor is an inspiration. What inspires you? What good works have you recently witnessed or learned about that bring you hope? The conversation is open. We would love to hear your perspective.

If you would like more information on the Equilibrium Fund or to get involved, check it out here. You can download the Equilibrium Fund Maya Nut Cookbook here. For information on how to purchase Maya Nut go here.

Photo Credits: Maya Nut Tree and Nuts via Wikipedia Commons Indigenous Woman via istockphoto

Read more...

Going Dark for Mother Earth - Earth Hour

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming. For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard. -voteearth2009.org

At 8:30pm local time on March 28, 2009 all around the world, Businesses, Governments, Schools, and a host of Individuals will be turning off all non-essential lights and electricity. Earth Hour, sponsored by World Wildlife Fund is a global event to raise awareness about climate change and global warming. It's not about saving electricity. According to the official website, “it’s much broader than that – it is a symbolic action to show governments that the people of the world want an effective global climate deal at the end of 2009.”

Go to Earth Hour to sign up and add your voice. So far 2,500 CITIES IN 82 COUNTRIES which is quadruple the number of cities that participated last year have signed up to participate.

Learn more and get involved:
Follow Earth Hour on Twitter: http://twitter.com/earthhourUS
Earth Hour US
Earth Hour Global
Vote Earth
There is even an Earth Hour kids website too.
For more Blogger's Earth Hour Post's, visit: Bloggers Unite - Earth Hour.



A whole hour without electricity? Here are some ideas to pass the time.

• Tell Stories
• Go for a walk
• Visit with Neighbors and/or a love one
• Bundle up and watch the night sky
• Light a beeswax candle and write (with a pen or pencil!!!???!!)
• Sing songs
• Meditate

My plan is to learn some new songs.

Have a great idea of how to spend and hour without power? Or already have plans for Earth Hour? Tell us about it in the comments of this post.

Earth Hour logo via http://www.earthhourus.org

Read more...

Carbon Footprints and Green Resolutions

I've heard all kinds of "Green" New Years Resolutions from friends and work mates and all over the web.

While I don't sit down and create New Years Resolutions for myself (I do something different), finding better ways to live "green" are always on my "to do" list.

So I thought it was time to check back in with my carbon footprint. My carbon footprint represents my impact on resources.

The quiz breaks down footprints by category; Carbon Footprint, Food Footprint, Housing Footprint, and Goods and Services Footprint.

So if you are inclined, check out how eco-friendly your lifestyle is.


Take the Footprint Quiz here
Learn how to reduce your footprint here
Explore the myfootprint.org webiste here

My results, according to Ecological Footprint. Despite all the changes I've made over the past couple of years, if everyone on the planet lived my lifestyle, we would need 3.18 Earths to sustain us. Room for improvement! I am well below the Country average in each category with my largest impact was in the Carbon Footprint category.

How many Earth's does your lifestyle require? Do the results surprise you? What are you doing to be more eco-friendly and green? Share your tips and thoughts in the comments section below.

Read more...

FDA Flip Flops

The news is breaking everywhere, but I originally heard the story from the Environmental Working Group feed.

The FDA is working to get the current administration to approve a reversal of the 2004 EPA & FDA Advisory regarding fish consumption for Pregnant and Lactating Women and Young Children. The 2004 advisory states that Mercury is a neuro-toxin and can cause medical issues for humans. Now, the FDA suggests that the benefit of eating fish far outweighs any potential risk of consuming the neuro-toxin, Mercury.

You can read the Washington Post article by Lyndsey Layton here (please note you must have a free account with WP in order to read the article). Here is what EWG Senior Analyst Sonya Lunder thinks about the matter.

It's becoming increasingly more challenging to discern fact from fiction, especially when it comes to the chemicals we use on this planet and the effect they have on our bodies and ecology in general. I tend to use my own critical thinking process about things like this, starting with a series of questions. Does eating a high quantity of Mercury laden fish sound like a good idea? Are there other ways to obtain the nutritional benefit without increasing my consumption of Mercury? Do I trust others that have unknown interests (to me) to make decisions for me? What does it mean to make a public health advisory and then change your mind about your recommendation? Where does the cash (profit) flow point to? Who benefits from the recommendation? Who's best interest are being considered?

All that said, I will simply state that personally, I am more careful now than ever before to monitor the amount of mercury I take into my body. I will also confess to you that I am in the process of chelating Mercury out of my body. Would you consider me crazy if I just starting emphatically yelling out, "Don't do it. No matter what 'they' say. Please eat fish containing high levels of Mercury in moderation." Well it isn't my business what you choose to put in your mouth. However, wouldn't be nice in today's age of technology and science, to make those decisions armed with the facts, just the facts?

What do you think?

Should you want to read more here are some links for you:
Here is an extensive list of fish and their associated mercury levels courtsey of the USDHHS and EPA.
Here is a link to a mercury calculator which is a handy way to track your own intake.

Read more...

Unique, Eco-Friendly, Sustainable Holiday Gift Ideas

For many years now, I have made a good portion of my Holiday gifts. It's kind of become a thing for my family and my preferred way to stress myself out for the holidays. I have historically chosen to create things I have NO EXPERIENCE with. Like creating 7 lap quilts when I have never even conceive of such a thing, or weaving scarves on a lap loom, or knitting something having never before held knitting needles in my hands. Call me crazy. I call it fun.

I am not giving away any clues about this years project. Except to say that it's secret and simple and DONE!

However, because I love giving gifts, and some people have recently asked me for ideas, I thought I would share Thea's Top 7 List of Unique, Eco-Friendly, Sustainable Holiday Gift Ideas for the Whole Family.

1. Adopt an Endangered Species at Defenders of Wildlife or World Wild Life Fund. Your donation goes to research, education and rehabilitation for animals of the Planet. You can "adopt" in the name of the person you are gifting to and receive an Adoption Certification and sometimes even a stuffed animal to give.

2. Give a Micro-Loan at Kiva. Micro-Loans are small dollar investments that create a big benefit. You can communicate with your borrower in many cases and see the real impact your loan is having.

3. Give a Cow (Not 'Have a Cow' - that's different) at Heifer International. You can give Chickens, Goats, Llama, etc. if you have a thing about Cows. Entire families and communities are changed when they have a food and income source all tied up into one donated critter.

4. Give Handmade. Not everyone has the time or inkling to hand make gifts, but don't let that stop you. There are LOTS and LOTS of amazing, one of a kind, gifts at Etsy. If you have yet to visit, please, just go.

5. Give the Gift of Fair Trade Art. Fair trade arts and crafts assure good working conditions and a living wage for the artisans. Fair Trade goods are available in many places, check out Fair Trade Federation and Bead For Life for a good start down the path of Fair Trade.

6. Give a Pollution Solutions Holiday Gift Bag from Environmental Working Group. Includes things such as glass storage containers and steel water bottles and tips on how to Green up your life all packaged in a reusable shopping tote. Chic.

7. Give a gift purchased at a local Holiday Market. They are springing up everywhere and are chalk full of handmade gift options. Check your local listing and get out for a little local Holiday Cheer.


*It's probably important to say that these Businesses and Organizations have no idea that I have a list like this, nor do they have a clue that they are on it. Oh, and to be very clear, I get nothing, nada, zilch, zip for mentioning them here on my blog except that inner warmth that comes along with doing something good for the world.

Read more...