Mother’s Day

Four years ago tonight my best friend died of cancer.  She was a pivotal person in my life and her memory inspires and motivates me every single day.

She led by example and was always finding ways to do for others. This blog is my way of sharing what I’ve learned in the hope that this information will make a positive difference for someone else.  If even one person benefits from my experience then I have accomplished my goal.

Another important thing she taught me was to take care of myself by planning for the rough times as much as possible.  So today, in anticipation of this difficult anniversary, I arranged to attend a restorative yoga class.  Restorative is a meditative form of yoga which involves resting in a relatively few, well supported, positions through the course of the class.

It is ironic really because my friend tried to interest me in yoga many times but it was not until after I lost her that I was moved to try it.  All these years later, I go regularly to Yoga.  Hot, not hot, props, no props, active or restorative.  Its all great.  Invigorating and, ultimately,  relaxing.  Never one to say “I told you so” I can see her shaking her head and smiling as I admit this.

Good night Mum.  I love you.

When The Alarm Doesn’t Go Off…

I was awakened this morning when my husband bolted out of bed saying “It’s 8:23”.  We normally get up at 7:30 a.m. to give our son breakfast and make his lunch etc. before taking him to school. We arrived downstairs to find the little man enjoying an extended session of Donkey Kong – yes, that old dinosaur of a video game.

“Why didn’t you wake us up at 7:30 or even 7:45?”, we asked him.

“I was watching the game and couldn’t keep track of the time” came the answer,  amid barely concealed glee.  His giggles continued throughout breakfast, that is until I informed him that he would not be playing Donkey Kong for the rest of the day as his consequence for not waking us when he knew he should have.

Guess we’ll be conserving some electricity this afternoon…

A Little Bit Personal

My apologies for the delay since my last entry.  When not writing about all things environmental chances are I am either doing a free lance piece – which I adore so by all means take a peek at my portfolio and contact me if you need something written – or blogging about my other obsession, pop culture.

When the Student Becomes the Teacher – My First Organic Food Box

Today I brought home our first ever organic food box. The vast majority of the food that comes into our house is organic but I’ve never bought a box before. I’ve shied away from the idea because the contents of the box are fixed so I cannot choose peppers over asparagus or which particular pepper I want.  Fussy I definitely am.

Two things inspired me to try a box. First was my Auntie Claire’s announcement that she had joined an organic co-op and was getting a box of veggies and fruit every week. The second bit of encouragement was our dinner at Seven Shores Urban Market and Café. When we were there I noticed a sign up sheet for the weekly boxes. Each week they would email me a list of what the $25 and $50 boxes contain. It would be my decision whether or not to buy a box. I signed up.

When I arrived to pick up my box this morning I already knew what I would be getting and that 73% of the items were local. What I was a tad nervous about is what the food would look like. I joke that I want my food to be organic, just look like it isn’t. To my delight every item in the box was lovely.

I came home and made a beautiful salad with the fresh spinach and grape tomatoes. I added hemp seeds and a drizzle of lemon/olive oil dressing. Delicious!

You know what? I even like the idea that the box will determine which veggies and fruit we eat for a few days. It’s a chance to be creative. The freshness of the food and the knowledge that it is local (and also came with less wrap/containers than had it come from the supermarket) also make me feel good about this choice.

I’m hooked!

A Special Aunt

My Aunty Claire is a resourceful person.  Always has been.  She patiently gathers information to use appropriately later on.  As my family has journeyed toward the 'green' she has been an interested observer.  Eventually she became a participant, adding organic foods at home and substituting greener cleaners and personal care products.  Wise.  But also wary. 

A few months ago she asked me a tough question.  "How do I know the foods are really organic?"  I thought about it briefly and then responded that "The only way to know if products are certified is to make sure they contain a seal that says "Certified Organic" and/or "USDA Organic".  Beyond that you have to trust the person or retailer selling it to you." 
Aunty Claire thanked me, seemed to accept this explanation and quietly went about her business. 

As we were catching up today she dropped a delightful bomb.  "I've joined an organic co-op run by farmers in the north part of Toronto.  I go every Thursday to pick up my box of goodies". 
I was sorry that we were on the phone because she couldn't see the smile spread across my face. Talk about setting a goal and achieving it in a practical, environmentally friendly way.  Go to the local source.  Way to make it work for you, AC! 

And a personal PS.  My Aunty Claire, the defacto hostess of most family functions since her sister/my mother's death two years ago, always goes above and beyond to make sure there is lots for my son to eat, food allergies and all, at each family function.  If you deal with food allergies, you know how much we appreciate her efforts.  Thanks AC.   

Ecoinhabit

Apologies for my lengthy absence – it has been a busy time
around here. Hope everyone enjoyed their Easter and Passover celebrations!

I met a lovely young woman named Mandy last week.  Mandy is an occupational therapist who is
expecting her second child.  When she mentioned
her ongoing home renovations, I suggested she contact Ecoinhabit , a great
source for environmentally-friendly building materials.

Ecoinhabit’s owners, Kati and Jeremy, earned their
dedication to all things green the hard way. 
A talented wood worker and craftsman, Jeremy became seriously ill from
continued exposure to the solvents and chemicals in the materials (paints,
stains, sealers etc) he routinely used in his work. He was young. And smart.
And upon his recovery found ways to build things for people that are as safe
as they are useful and pleasing to the eye. 
It was Jeremy who explained to me that paint can be free of VOC’s
(volatile organic compounds) yet still contain toxic ingredients like
formaldehyde and ammonia that do nasty things to our indoor air. 

Upon his recommendation we used AFM Safecoat paint.  It is fabulous!  The gorgeous saturated colour matches Benjamin Moore’s colour wheel perfectly and the paint spreads like a dream.
Our painter, a pro but a sceptic to say the least, was
beyond impressed.

These days I call Kati – Jeremy is usually busy building
something  
- any time I have a project around the house. 
I’ll send her the list of what I need and ask if she can recommend environmentally friendly products to get the job done.  They can help you with everything from beds, pillows and counter tops to flooring, paint and carpet sealers.  Delivery is easily arranged from their base
in tiny Meaford, Ontario.     

 

Cheers For Woody Harrelson

While checking into Toronto’s Sutton Place Hotel years ago, my husband, Dave, and I noticed a quiet man, dressed head to toe in hemp.  Just then, another man approached the desk clerk next to us and said “Mr. Harrelson would like to check out”.  We looked again and, sure enough, the quiet man in hemp was the gifted actor and, as I later learned, environmental activist, Woody Harrelson.

During a recent web search I came across Mr. Harrelson’s web site Voice Yourself.  This is a well researched, cleverly presented site that is jam-packed with valuable information. I especially like the Healthy House section that leads you on a toxin-finding tour through a typical kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Although I have lots to say about this topic, Voice Yourself does such a complete job of describing the dangers of perfluorochemicals aka PFC’s – the toxins found in Teflon, Gore-Tex and Scotchguard brands and best known for their non-stick, water proofing and stain resistant properties, that I figure “why reinvent the wheel?”

I am inspired by the presence of Voice Yourself.  With their resources, Woody Harrelson and his wife Laura Louie could easily cocoon in a quiet little green enclave on Maui, which by the way sounds not at all bad to me! Instead they are walking the walk and sharing the talk.  They are providing the kind of information we all need in order to both  improve our own lives and be part of the environmental solution.

Cheers!

Barack Obama’s Inauguration

I've had the flu since Saturday.  The fever and aches persist and I do not feel much like writing.  But I do want to say a quick congratulations to our American neighbors on this important day.  Congratulations on electing a President who is cut from fresh cloth and is definitely what the thinking world needs at this time.  Barack Obama is clearly well educated and of superior intelligence.  He is a great orator.  But these are not the qualities that make him special or that have inspired the confidence of the world's population.  He earned that respect by being willing, as so many politicians are not, to  take on the tough challenges, such as the development of clean fuel technologies, and to put government money on the line to support these fledgling industries.  His mantra, "Yes we can", his call to service and his promise to help integrate that service into the daily lives of Americans further sets him apart.  He is giving citizens of the world a much needed boot in our collective behind by requiring us to consider others as ourselves and to be responsible for our mutual success.  I wish him the opportunity and the cooperation he will need to accomplish the lofty goals he has set.

The Super Allergy Girl Cookbook

Lisa Lundy is a Buffalo, NY-based mother who has been to hell and back with her childrens’ food
allergies.  She knows more about food
allergies than I hope to ever need to know. 
Believe me.

 

The first time I saw Lisa’s name was on the front cover of
her cookbook, The Super Allergy Girl,
Gluten-Free, Casein-Free, Nut-Free Allergy & Celiac Cookbook From A Mother
Who Knows. 

 

Not sure if I would receive an answer, I emailed Lisa with a
few questions when my initial baking efforts failed rather miserably.  Before I knew it we were talking on the phone
and she patiently helped me understand that the gluten free flours which now
crowded my pantry were different to work with than the all purpose wheat flour
I was used to.  At one point I sent her a
photo of my fresh-from-the-oven buns so she could see what they looked like.
I’m still getting comic mileage out of the fact that pictures of my buns have
been on the internet!

 

Through careful questioning, Lisa discovered that in my
haste to bake, I had neglected to read her instructions about measuring gluten
free flour and wasn’t using enough. 
Similarly, we discovered that these ingredients required baking in a
conventional oven and that my convection oven wasn’t going to cut it.  These are two tips that I diligently pass
along.

 

The bread I bake these days looks and tastes great and my
son doesn’t miss his old standbys at all. 
Although I now have the confidence to experiment a little, I continue to
use many of the bun recipes regularly and will testify under oath that Lisa’s
Quinoa Amaranth pizza crust is perfection and never to be tampered with.  Even my husband, whose only ‘allergies’ are
to the broccoli and cucumbers he refuses to eat , envies the home made
buns and pizza crust that my son enjoys.

 

Lisa gave me confidence to know that I could feed my
child.  She also provided some humbling
perspective.  I admire her determination
and respect her willingness to channel her considerable knowledge into helping
others. But when I think about it, so many innovators have these same
qualities.

 

Whether you or someone you love has food issues or is just
looking to expand your culinary repertoire, The
Super Allergy Girl Cookbook is worth a look. The book is filled with tasty
recipes, from appetizers through to dessert, that are simple to make and free
of most known allergens.  An added bonus
is that most of her bread recipes do not use yeast. The ingredients are easily
found in health food stores or the natural values section of your local super
market.  You can also visit Lisa on the
web at www.thesuperallergycookbook.com .

Perspective is Everything

Have you ever thrown yourself a full on pity party only to
learn about someone who is truly struggling and realize your own predicament
ain’t so bad?  I sure have.  And this was one of those times.  Perspective. 
That is the gift I received from a woman named Lisa Lundy in November, 2007
even though I had never met her.  But I
digress.

 

My son was 2 ½ when we vanquished the rash by removing dairy
and wheat from his diet.  That was in January,
2006.  That September, at age 3, he
started school. 

 

The school year was barely two weeks old when the colds and
fevers began. I wasn’t overly concerned. 
Everyone had warned me that when kids first go into daycare or start
school they get sick relatively often.  Well,
he was and he did. 

 

Soon a pattern emerged. 
By December he was getting sick every four to six weeks like
clockwork.  This was more than a runny
nose.  He also had weepy eyes, congestion
and fevers lasting for days and spiking
as high as 104F and 105F.  These bouts
would last 7 to 10 days and he would miss a week or so of school with each
one.   

 

“Kids get colds.” the Doctor told me.  The Naturopath prescribed immune boosters
galore but the onslaught continued.  I
was becoming a little too used to giving tepid baths in the middle of the night
and began to suspect that something was amiss.

 

We made it through the school year but the colds continued all
summer. By mid-September, 2007, the first school year cold had already set
in.  I decided to ask the school Administrator if all the kids went through this.  She responded frankly that they did not and that
my son was absent the most often.  From her perspective no other student at this
school had colds of this severity or with this kind of regularity.

 

Ironically our saving grace – the inspiration for the
allergy testing that would equip us to get him healthy – was the fact that we
had been succumbing to the pressure, from ourselves and other well meaning
folks – to try and feed him what most people refer to as a ‘normal’ diet.  We had started to test him every so often
by giving him a piece of cheese or a few bites of a regular bagel.  These occasions were sporadic but the fact
was that he didn’t appear to react.  There was no sign of the rash or any other
rash.  Not even any mild eczema. 

 

I had no idea that his diet could be linked to this ongoing cycle
of colds and fevers. To the contrary, I was optimistic that my son’s days on a
restricted diet might be over.   I asked
the Naturopath if he was now old enough for the blood analysis she had
mentioned when we first consulted her. 
She suggested that at 4 years and 4 months of age the results should be
fairly reliable and we went ahead with the tests.

 

The results arrived by email within three weeks. He was
showing reactions to gluten, wheat, eggs and cow dairy products that were literally off
the charts. He was also having low grade reactions to a host of other foods
ranging from select fruits and vegetables to peanuts and even garlic.

 

Although I didn’t yet understand that the food was making
him sick I knew these foods would have to be removed from his diet.  I sat in front of my computer and cried.

 

I would be happy to talk about the follow up in more detail
or answer specific questions you might have. 
But for now I’ll tell you that the Naturopath did a simple urine test
and told me that my son was having digestive difficulties also sometimes identified as a 'leaky gut'.  As a result his immune system was suffering. 
The foods were indirectly causing his ongoing colds and fevers.   

 

The good news is, that when caught and treated early,
digestive difficulties can be corrected and it is possible that my son may be
able to safely eat some or all of these foods later in life.  The Naturopath suggested we repeat this food
testing after his 7th birthday.  

 

In the mean time, our solution was two-fold. The easy part
was the twice daily amino acid and once daily probiotic supplements.  Both were powders that I mixed in with a tiny
bit of applesauce.  No problem.  The drastic
diet change was another story.  Before he
ate everything except wheat and cow dairy.  He was still eating spelt, kamut, rye, barley and oats.  Now all of these grains were off
the table.  Literally.  Same with eggs.

 

Where was I going to get baked goods? The bakery where I had
been complacently picking up bread, pizza crust, cookies and cakes was now off
limits as none of their products were free of gluten, dairy and eggs.  I found one gluten free bread at the grocery
store that fit the bill but it’s taste could only be described as vile.

 

The confidence to know that I would indeed be able to feed
my son came in the form of the The Super
Allergy Girl Cookbook by Lisa A. Lundy. 
Lisa deserves an entire entry!