Palm Oil, Super Sizing, and Kanye West, Oh My!!

Okay, this won't look like much to anyone else, but remember that I am learning to use Aeroponic Garden Towers for urban gardening. When I ordered the seedlings, I didn't pay any attention to how they were marked, so to be honest, I wasn't entirely sure what I was growing. I was waiting until it burst open with vegetables, and then I'd know. Yesterday a new friend, who is a nutritionist, came over and pointed out that two of the mystery plants were kale. Kale!!! And ready to harvest! I also had an impressive bunch of chives, too, but they aren't pictured.

So....yay! One small step in the right direction! My baby seedlings are about a week away from planting into the second garden tower- I am hoping to get the swing of it in the next few months so I can help teach others how to do it. I think it will be amazing to help people who live in apartment buildings learn to grow their own vegetables, in spite of the lack of soil. So cool!

Could Kanye West grow Kale like this?

Here is the second picture my sweet friend Becca took- she told me to look as excited as I was- personally I think I look a little psychotic, but make no mistake, that is sheer enthusiasm. And then...I made a big fat kale/strawberry/almond/banana/coconut milk smoothie with it.

Yay organic home grown kale!

My nutritionist friend dropped some science on me about, errrrrr, well nutrition of course, and she always leaves me feeling like the world of food is a great and amazing mystery- not unlike my recently harvested kale. She is like a food Yoda. She says things like- "smokers need to eat more vitamin C than non smokers, so when given a choice between strawberries or bananas, they should always pick bananas." Or, 'adding lemon juice to dark leafy green liberates the nutrients', or "an actual serving of a bagel is 1/4 of a bagel. Not the whole bagel. 1/4. Same with red meat. A serving is 3 oz. Americans eat 12 or more ounce steaks. And we wonder why obesity is what it is." When she explained to me how insulin in the blood works, and how it responds to stuff like pasta, that its this whole tricky thing that goes on inside creating spikes in insulin, more than the body can use, so the insulin is just hanging out in the blood, telling you that you are hungry, even if you are completely full, you will often still feel hungry." Such cool information! I plan on picking her brain and sharing what I find in there with YOU.

Yoda is cute, but my Food Yoda is waaaaay cuter

I really liked this bit of info. It points to the different sides of the fence we all make in regards to food. Its such a personal matter, which is why changing your way of eating is, in my opinion, such a revolutionary act. Some do it for weight, some do it for health, some do it not to hurt animals, some do it to stop supporting the food corporations, hence a socio/political stance. Some unexamined eaters will eat for comfort, out of boredom, for the high, because of a disordered relationship to food, they supersize it because they can, they eat it because its there.  For those who eat healthy out of concerns for weight, I just want to say- the last two times I was at the Farmer's Market, I did not see one single obese person there. Not one. Everyone was, dare I say it, easy on the eyes. They looked fit and healthy and content in their skin.

Here is an angle we don't hear about much, in the face of Monsanto and GMOs. Palm oil production. Have you heard of this?  I hadn't. Apparently palm oil is now in pretty much everything. And this palm oil is harvested in places like Indonesia, where the climate is perfect for it. In order to grow it, they are destroying rain forests at an alarming rate, threatening many species of animals- not the least of which is the orangutan of Sumatra's rain forests.

Read more about palm oil, deforestation and the plight of orangutans HERE

Learn more about what food to avoid that contains palm oil HERE.

Suffice it to say, its many of the same foods you might already be avoiding if you are trying not to eat GMOs. If you aren't there yet, here is another good reason to start being very conscious about your eating habits- these little babies below are one of the species that is being endangered so the food corporations can give the world snacks. SNACKS.

This whole radical shift in the way I am living my life when it comes to my eating habits continues to surprise me. Its so much more than it seems, on the surface. "Its just food, what's the big deal," I used to think, and many still do. But our food is everything. Its the one thing we ALL have to do, eat. Its the one thing that will determine the state of our health. Those who control it have us by the short and curlies and we as a culture are not even aware. Did you know that it benefits insurance companies to keep Americans fat? They can charge you higher rates if your BMI is over a certain percent. Do you think they might be very happy, in fact very encouraging, of the whole Super Sizing food portions?  This isn't conspiracy theorizing. This is an actual conspiracy, and the joke is on us all.

This very reason is why this is a radical thing to do. This is why its revolutionary. If we don't buy or eat their food, then we are, individually, free from their toxic influence. If enough people do it, we start to shift the mantle of power. They need our money to succeed in a capitalist society. Its our money- lets not use it to support those who want to make us fat and dumb, to feed us poison and destroy the earth and its critters. Every cent you spend on processed foods, non locally grown produce, fast food, etc- is money you are giving the McDeath Corporations to poison your children and kill your world. Have you ever seen the movie Wall-E? I'm just sayin'.

Okay, so perhaps I am waxing a little dramatic, but its not far from the truth. Give it some thought. I am here to tell you that if I can do this, you can too. I am here to tell you it IS affordable, it IS fun, there are so many amazing new things to try that you don't even know of yet (check out my Radical Recipes on this blog! New recipes every week.) Its sexy. It changes the way you look at everything. It feels liberating. You feel...awake.  It feels good! In ways you can't possibly understand until you cross over.  And if you aren't ready yet- I ain't mad at ya. You can do your part in other ways. Like share the crap out of this blog!!!!

I will leave my ranting and raving for the day with my favorite song of the week... Kanye West, Black Skinhead. He has redeemed himself, if you ask me.

Xoxo,

Ashley Dane

Radical Recipe #127- Brussel Sprouts again...I am determined to love them!!!

I have gone my entire life hating brussel sprouts, categorically. Emphatically. Ridiculously, as it turns out- I never ate a single one until a couple of months ago. Now I am feeling repentant and a little hang dog that I could be such an inveterate brat as to turn up my nose at something simply because it, well...looked like a tiny cabbage, and cabbages are old people food. And, let me be perfectly honest, it didn't fit into my food groups, which went something like this-

That is my explanation of two brussel sprout recipes in a row. I am happy to discover I am wrong, and am reveling in my new found delight that there is food outside the realm of sugar-y processed goodness. If you think I am joking, I will have you know I ate nothing but Kraft Deluxe mac and cheese and ten spoons of cookie dough nuked in the microwave and smothered in milk for an ENTIRE WINTER last year. I've come a long way, baby.

This brussel sprout dish I recently ate at the uber fabulous SLS hotel in Los Angeles. I don't usually go to such swanky places, but on this occasion I did, and of all the amazing things I ate, the sprouts were my favorite. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the recipe, and here it is- scaled down and sans the 'lemon air'. When you order this dish, it comes with what looks like foamy soap bubbles on top. Its lemon air. if you want to know more, check it out here. There is a video to walk you through it as well.


Makes one serving- You will have to do the math for each person you plan to serve

3 oz. Brussels Sprout Leaves (organic, or from your local farmer's market)
 you have to pull the leaves off the stalk-y bit...I had to cut a little off the stalk to get the leaf to come loose, and as you go in further you may find you need to cut it again- they should look like this-

Its upside down, I don't know how to reverse it, but that is some amazing Himalayan sea salt next to the brussel leaves

1 T. sliced Green Grapes (or whole champagne grapes)
(I got the champagne grapes- if you can get those- Trader Joe's has them- they are your best bet)

1 T. Lemon Pith
(What the hell is pith??? I'll tell you. Its the bitter white stuff on the inside of a citrus peel. You don't have to use this but yo ucan. I scraped it off with a knife.)

1 T. Granny Smith Apple (medium dice)

2 T. Sherry Vinaigrette (sherry vinegar + olive oil)
(red wine vinegar will do just as well, you won't taste the difference unless you are some kind of vinegar aficionado)


1 tsp. Dried Apricot (medium dice)
(Yes, these are plain old dried apricots- you can usually get them at your local farmer's market)

1 tsp. Chives

Lemon Zest

The Radical Recipe Laboratory in Full swing, Yo!

1.    Trim the Brussels sprouts.

2.     Put water on to boil

3. dice into small squares the apple and the dried apricot (make the apricot bigger squares, its hard to cut precisely) chop chives, and put all in a small bowl with the grapes.

4. Mix vinegar and olive oil in a small bowl

5. Put a teaspoon of salt in the water (I prefer Himalayan sea salt- its the best)

6.  Blanch Brussels sprouts leaves for 60seconds in boiling salted water.
(I would take them out with a big spoon and put in a big colander- bite one- if it doesn't sort of melt in your mouth and is still rubbery, blanch them a little while longer)

7.    Place in mixing bowl with apricots, apples, grapes, chives, and sherry vinaigrette. Mix well. Add a little sea salt.

5.    Place lemon pith puree on bottom of bowl and pour brussels sprouts mix

                 NOW EAT LIKE YOU GIVE A GREEN GODDAMN! BECAUSE YOU DO!

I couldn't wait, so here is a picture of my half eaten brussel sprout dish. So freaking good I could slap my grandma!

So the skinny on brussel sprouts is... they are extremely nutrient dense. The more you eat, the less likely it is you will succumb to a variety of ills. And since we are all endeavoring to avoid GMOs- you can safely make this dish from locally grown produce and a couple of condiments from TJ's. Hell to the yeah! Its very sexy to know how to whip together a tasty dish of pure goodness. It will wow your friends and impress your neighbors. And you will be giving a little FU to the bad guys at Monsanto!

 

 

BENEFITS OF BRUSSEL SPROUTS

 Cholesterol
The high fiber content (over 15% of our RDA) of Brussels sprouts lowers our cholesterol by binding with bile acids that the liver produces from cholesterol for digesting fat. Because many of these bile acids are coupled with fiber, the liver is charged with producing more bile acid to digest fat, and therefore requires more cholesterol to do so, ultimately lowering the cholesterol amount within our bodies.
DNA
Recent studies have shown that certain compounds in Brussels sprouts block the activity of sulphotransferase enzymes that can be detrimental to the health and stability of DNA within white blood cells.

Antioxidants
A host of antioxidant ingredients are found in Brussels sprouts, including Vitamins C, E, and A, as well as the mineral manganese. Furthermore, flavonoid antioxidants like isorhamnetin, quercitin, and kaempferol also serve well to protect against oxidative stress on the body's cells.
Inflammation
Glucobrassicin, a glucosinolate particularly abundant in Brussels sprouts, has been shown to fight inflammation on a genetic level once converted into the molecule indole-3-carbinol, or ITC. Furthermore, one and a half cups of Brussels sprouts contain about 430 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids (about ⅓ of the daily recommended amount) that are an essential part of our body's anti-inflammatory messaging molecules. Finally, the wealth of vitamin K found in Brussels sprouts has been shown to effectively regulate our body's inflammatory responses.

Cancer Prevention
Glucosinolates in Brussels sprouts and their detox-activating isothiocyanates are shown to fight against and even prevent various cancers, including bladder, breast, colon, lung, prostate, and ovarian cancer.

Cardiovascular Support
Brussels sprouts contain the isothiocyanate sulforaphane made from glucosinolates. This powerful compounds not only triggers anti-inflammatory activity in our cardiovascular system but may also prevent and even possibly help reverse blood vessel damage. By regulating inflammation within the body, Brussels sprouts can fight against the onset of heart attacks, ischemic heart disease, and arteriosclerosis. Furthermore, the lowered cholesterol mentioned earlier may also lessen the possibility of arterial blockage.

Digestion and Diet
One cup of Brussels sprouts contains four grams (16% of the RDA) of dietary fiber, which can aid in digestion, prevent constipation, maintain low blood sugar and check overeating. The sulforaphane found in Brussels spouts also protects our stomach lining by obstructing the overgrowth of Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria that can lead to gastric cancer.

Vitamin K
Brussels sprouts are especially high in vitamin K (one cup contains 273.5% of the RDA), which promotes healthy bones, prevents calcification of the body’s tissues, serves as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, and is essential for proper brain and nerve function.

Vitamin C
The nutritional benefits of vitamin C (one cup contains over 161% of the RDA) found in Brussels sprouts ensure a healthy immune system, ward against hyper tension, lower blood pressure, fight lead toxicity, combat cataracts, and serve as a powerful antioxidant that prevents “cellular rust,” which can lead to atherosclerosis, heart disease, stroke and cancer. Vitamin A Brussels sprouts also contains over 20% of the RDA of vitamin A that boosts immunity, protects eyes against cataracts and macular degeneration, maintains healthy bones and teeth, prevents urinary stones, and is essential to our reproductive organs. Folate A biochemical event called the methylation cycle relies on folate to properly transcribe DNA, transform norepinephrine into adrenalin, as well as transform serotonin into melatonin. Furthermore, folate suppresses the amino acid homocysteine that has been shown to contribute to heart disease. One cup of Brussels sprouts contains a healthy dose of folate (almost 25% of the RDA) and the health benefits associated with it.

Consume What You Must, and Boogie

This week, I started to count all the ways I contribute to the problems in this world. As  consumers in this modern age, we barely notice all the waste we cause just by living. Its seemingly natural to have the checkout person at the grocery store double bag our groceries, to drink water out of plastic bottles, to pay the outrageous sums of money for the gas our cars require, which add to emissions and create an environmental crisis that is just rearing its ugly head. We drink our Coffee Bean or Starbucks out of paper or plastic cups with plastic lids, and perhaps a straw every day. We use those wooden chopsticks at Chinese restaurants that are thrown away after one use- for which entire forests have been used, in order to provide the world with these utensils. Its mind boggling.

So, here is what a normal week for me used to look like-

Coffee Bean, every morning. Plastic cup, lid and straw in summer/ paper cup with plastic lid in winter.  7 cups/ lids/ straws a week/ 365 a year

Groceries- once a week, two stores/ Vons and Trader Joes- about 20 bags since they double them

Speaking of groceries- all the packaging. Fruit in plastic clamshells. Cartons of milk, plastic bottles of juice, plastic bags for bread- boxes, wrappers, all of it. Too much to quantify

Gas- about $100 a week- around 25 gallons. $5200 year (around 1050 gallons)

Plastic water bottles- I have a confession to make. I personally don't make much of ripple here, as water is something I am learning to drink. My kids, however, go through about 24 bottles a week.

Electricity- So here is a little lesson. Most people haven't given it much thought as to how the electricity is produced that we all use, and that it requires fossil fuels, in most cases. For your edification-

 

 

Power plants make electricity out of other forms of energy. Most electricity in the U.S. today comes from converting the heat energy released from burning fossil fuels--coal, natural gas and oil. The rest is generated from nuclear reactors and from renewable sources, such as sunlight, wind, falling water and geothermal heat (see Renewables, Unit 5). In a typical power plant, a primary energy source like coal is burned to create heat, which is converted in a boiler to mechanical energy in the form of superheated, high-pressure steam. The steam is directed into a turbine, where it pushes on blades attached to a central shaft or rotor. The rapidly spinning rotor powers a generator. I am going to stop right there. I could just keep going, but I think this paints a pretty adequate picture of what we, individually, are doing to trash the globe. So what am I going to do about it? I'll tell you. Like all things I recommend, its baby steps. You can take big ones- that's awesome- but I find that for something to stick, its best not to change too much at once or your life won't support the shift. 1. For my morning coffee, I now get one cup on Monday, and I re-use it all week. Its easy to rinse it out when I am done and stick it in my work bag. I can't tell you how many times I mindlessly threw it in the trash, only to go back and get it out later. Its shocking, really, to confront that auto pilot thing, to realize how easy it is to just be a consuming and wasteful robot. Today, one of the baristas asked me why I did that. I told him because I love the planet, and we had a nice chat about it. You never know how a chat like that could inspire someone else to do things differently. Talk about what you are doing, and why. Not in a preachy way- no one will listen. 2. Groceries- I've started to shop mostly locally. This reduces the fossil fuel waste which occurs when they ship the produce from a foreign country, usually via several trucks, a plane, and sometimes a train as well. I use bags I bought specifically for shopping. At Trader Joe's,  I try to look at how things are packaged and choose items which are loose- for example- a clamshells full of nectarines, or loose ones that I put in a little plastic bag that I brought, and that I reuse. Or a large bottle of juice instead of 6 small bottles, or a 32 ounce yogurt instead of 8 single serve ones. Another way that this sneaks up on you- you just run into 7-11 for a gallon of milk and don't notice that its in a bag until you get home. or at CVS, you are buying lotion and razors and stuff like that, and you forgot to bring a bag in with you and its too much to carry out. I have been known to take the stuff to my car, empty the bag, and take it back in and give it back to them. It becomes a habit after a while. 3. Gas- I got a Prius! Its funny, I have friends who are judgmental about those cars, and people who drive them. I had one friend tell me that if I go vegan, to lose his number. Someone else said- Not you! You are becoming one of them!  Another said- the money you think you save on gas, you spend on the car itself, so it doesn't average out. What he was missing is that its better for the environment, and for me, that is one of the most important factors when deciding anything. If you think global warming isn't real, check this out. I love Prius drivers. I think they are sexy. I think when people show their concern for the state of the planet and its evident in the choices they make, its just plain old hot. The cars are definitely not sexy, but the drivers are. And the opposite is also true- someone in a gas guzzling but beautiful Aston Martin can not really be sexy by my standards. Someone flying around the globe in a private jet is maybe the most unattractive sort of person there is. No one who loves the planet or cares for the future of mankind would be so wasteful. If you haven't at least looked into getting a hybrid- there is no harm in looking. You might be surprised at how easy they are to finance, or buy used. But you won't know until you look. The other good news, for anyone who says they can't afford to eat local and organic- I will spend about $350 less a month on gas, so I will have more to spend on eating like someone who gives a f*ck about this world. And, p.s.- I am actually spending less by eating right. There aren't brands and ads to lure me in to buy items I don't really need.  I purchase only what I need, I love that its fresh from the farm,  I learn new recipes, and its fun as hell. 4. Plastic water bottles-  Contigo water bottles are my solution. Instead of buying cases of water bottles, we are buying 5 gallon jugs and filling our water bottles for the day at home. (At my work, I installed water filtration systems that also alkalinize the water, and I fill up when I am there, too). Here is a pretty good example of why we should all stop using water bottles, plastic bags, and 6 packs that use those plastic sturdy rings to hold them together. This picture isn't terribly shocking until you realize it is twice the size of Texas, in the Pacific Ocean, and growing all the time.     This is an aerial representation of the garbage vortexes in the pacific ocean. The scale is also represented.     Here are some of the sad results for creatures-   That could have been something I threw away years ago. or you. I can't live with that. If all I have to do is change my ways so this might not happen to another turtle, so that vortex of plastic waste materials doesn't become 5 times the size of Texas by the time my daughters have children. Given these facts, why wouldn't I endeavor to change my ways???  And if you do the same, and influence others to also do the same, we can change where this is going.   5. Electricity. This one is a no brainer. Turn things off when you aren't using them. If you live in an apartment and you notice that the building leaves all its lights on during the day, ask them to get a timer. My kids and I have a tradition when we exit our elevator on the ground floor- we turn off the laundry room light and the one directly outside the elevator. I have trouble getting them to do it at home, but at least its in their consciousness. They are beginning to recognize how gorgeous a person is when you can see that they care, and are willing to take a few extra steps (or more) to be less of a problem and more of a solution on this planet.  If you own your own home- solar is such an exciting option, you lucky thing you! You can also collect rain water, compost, and garden organically, and have a few beehives, and a chicken coop for fresh eggs! You are so freaking lucky- I would give my eye teeth to have a home and some land so I could really take this to the next level.   Here is a great link for all things solar, sustainable, and green for your home- Green Home Solutions   I encourage everyone to make a small list of ways they can change some of these habits ASAP. Here is a small list- try it out!   1. Use recycled bags any time you make a purchase. keep them in your car at all times.   2. re-use your coffee cups, or buy sustainable ones   3. Purchase water bottles that you can keep with you, and buy one big 5 gallon jug at a time, instead of 36 small bottles   4. Look into getting a hybrid car. Just look. Amazing things happen when you start to look into your options- they somehow manifest in the strangest ways. Just start looking on the internet. Can't hurt!   5. Turn off your lights! Turn off other people's lights. remind people to turn things off. Look into solar powered electricity for your home, if you own one.   6. Buy locally grown produce and other goods! This way, you don't contribute to the fossil fuels needed to ship them via truck, train and plane to your grocer. Support the good guys growing in your neck of the woods. Go to your local farmer's market once a week and stock up. Try your very best not to shop at the major chain stores or purchase major brands. I have kids and I have gone in Vons twice in two months- you can do it! Learn new recipes that concentrate on the fresh food in your area. Avoid bringing GMOs into your home. (Click here to check out the buycott app, which will tell you what foods to avoid while you are shopping)   There- 6 simple things that will make a huge impact, the more of us take on this way of living, the better. Even if you just pick one and practice it until it becomes a habit, and then pick another- but by all means, pay attention to your life and in what ways you are contributing to the demise of the planet. We are all part of the problem, by virtue of being alive in this day and age. But we can become part of the solution. Share this blog with your family and friends, so they can join the cause. OCCUPY YOURSELF!   (Why do I keep saying Occupy yourself? Because until you do, something else is occupying you. Only right action and waking up to reality will allow you to OCCUPY YOURSELF. Watch this short video below. This concept is best conveyed with visuals.)     And last but not least, Frank Zappa has something to say. Listen up.       Much love, Ashley Dane

Your Open Mind

Last night, I met three friends and one brand new one for dinner at Good Earth in Studio City. One of them, I travel the globe with. One of them I work with and wish I could travel the globe with. One is very good friends with the previous two and I am getting to know her- we went to the Monsanto Rally together in May. And one is a brand new friend, who will, I am sure, be one of my dear old friends in a few years.

When you get a group of women together, you never know what you are going to get. Often those with a personal history will touch on topics and the others will listen in, too unfamiliar to press for clarifying details, waiting for the conversation to turn into one they can participate in. Usually it revolves around men, botox and filler, or gossip.  This night, however, we had a group of socially and politically conscious women all in one place, and I wish wish WISH we recorded it.

Two of the friends are vegan. I love that they are, I think thats amazing. One of them is very insistent that I watch a documentary called Earthlings. Very insistent. She says she knows if I watch that I will never eat meat again. I am not ready for this- its already a challenge to re-train my taste buds that I eat much less than I used to, because that alone is a process. I don't really eat red meat, but in certain situations, I would. I eat chicken and fish. I rarely eat pork but I might have a little bacon with my fresh from the farm eggs. I just know that right this minute, I am not ready to go to that extreme. But it does seem like a natural progression. She and the other vegan choose that lifestyle out of moral imperatives towards animals. I choose to take on this shift in my life for political reasons, mostly. I love animals, but right now in my life, I am okay with eating them. Thats just me and where I am right now. I prefer to eat free range meat that has been raised gently, and not in meat factories. That works for me, right now.

There was another woman there who is a nutritionist. She could cite reasons for so much of the obesity, diabetes, and heart disease in the US, attributed mostly to the diet of most Americans. Americans eat shit. Seriously. Americans eat fast food constantly. Or they eat specifically with concern to weight, without changing their diets they opt for 'fat free',  or diet products, like diet coke. Lean cuisines and a diet coke is the staple lunch for office workers across the country.  Our food is often 85% GMOs. This woman, who I was quickly growing to love, then brought up the issue coming about in North carolina- this new platform to make the public display of a woman's nipples a felony, to which we all thought we would post pictures of our nipples in a show of resistance.  She also brought up fracking, passionately talking about what a danger it is to the future of all mankind and the planet, and the inevitability of this planet becoming completely incapable of supporting life if this practice continues. She isn't wrong. This planet and its ecosystem can only take so much. These could be the last few centuries of human life on earth if we don't all start to understand and do our part.

I watched these women get very upset by the complacency of other Americans. My vegan friends were angry at people who eat meat, and the nutritionist said she got so upset when people said, "GMOs are proven not to be bad for you," or, "there is plenty of water in the world, fracking will not affect our water supply." The ignorance of others makes them crazy. We had a long talk about that.  They come from families who always viewed people who did not think as they did as idiots. That quickly became the running joke at the table- anyone expressing a view that differed from anyone else the whole table would quip- "you're an idiot!" Its interesting to note that this stance is usually off putting to the very people who would benefit from their message, but I understand their passion and enthusiasm for what they believe in wholeheartedly.

I let my very good and dear vegan friend know that, if I didn't know her and she came preaching at me, I would think, "You're a real bitch, lady." She isn't, she is the furthest things from it, but if I didn't know her I would think it, because I am not where she is, my values are in a different place- that doesn't make me bad, or wrong, or an idiot. It just means I am where I am. There is an opportunity to enlighten me, to raise my consciousness about the issues that matter to her, but making me wrong won't do it. It feels judgmental, and no one likes that. We talked about that, how my vegan friend is not environmentally concerned, where I am all about recycling and re-using and being mindful. I was surprised to hear that, but thats all. The nutritionist says she eats some meat, just not red meat, and the two vegans sort of jumped on her about how she could know what she knows and still eat meat. She said it is simply what she is at peace with in her life, her reasons for making the choices might not be informed by the same passions they are driven by- sure, we all love animals. The nutritionist eats the way she does because she is concerned about her health. The vegans, out of a moral obligation they feel towards animals. My quiet friend that I work with eats the ways she does, which is very healthy, partly because she is a marathon runner and she gives her body what she knows it needs. Her stance is largely a pragmatic approach to being the best running machine possible. Also, she was raised by hippies in a vegetarian household and was never acclimated to processed or fast foods, so in that way, she doesn't need to make a stand in giving up foods that don't support her passion- those things were simply never present. Its just a way of life for her.

It was such a cool night, so many things were talked about, and I realized I was sitting with some really beautiful creatures. Like, not just in appearance- which, I might add, they all are stunning creatures- but they just all vibrate differently. They glow. They are filled with purpose and meaning, concern for animals, the planet, their bodies, women's issues, each other. Their lives are a testament to what they believe in, and all of them believe in greater good.  Including me- I should be saying 'We' here. We want to change the world, in our own corners of it where we live. It would be great if it rippled outward. Thats the goal.

 I want this journey of understanding my own place in the solution to be relatable, so that it might inspire others to do even just one thing differently. And then maybe another, and then to begin to enjoy it, to love the shift, to revel in it, to take on newer and better ways to live in harmony with all things, and to be so enthusiastic that others can't help but notice.

Here I am, working on my blog. I wish I had gotten pictures of all my friends last night- one thing is for sure, if I put real photos on a blog, I get twice as many hits. This is going to be yet another challenge, as I don't like to be photographed. But I will do what it takes to get your attention and connect. I care about you and your world! If you are reading this, you are exactly where you should be. Keep your mind open.

OCCUPY YOURSELF!

Guerilla Gardening

Tonight I committed my first act of guerilla gardening. I waited until it was dark, as I don't know what anyone would say if they caught you planting vegetables in their garden. I chose a space in front of an apartment building near my house- I noticed that they water it every night and it gets lots of sunlight.

I had about 14 plants- cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes- just a little bigger than seedlings. A friend of mine had too many left over from his garden tower project for the homeless, so I had more than I needed for my garden tower project. Perfect for my first plant bombing.

I love the idea of people everywhere using public spaces to create edible gardens- why not? There is plenty of useable soil that is getting watered. And, while I love flowers and anything green, why not plant something green that also makes food?

I must have heard the term guerilla gardening somewhere, but I am not sure. To be honest, I just googled it for the first time just this minute, and found that its actually a thing. I love it!

Its hard to tell from these photos, but here is the before picture- you can see my little tray of vegetable bearing plants on the right-

And here is the after photo. Again, its hard to really tell yet, they are so small its not a dramatic difference.

It was also really fun to do. I sort of don't do things that aren't fun if I can help it- but I do if I have to. However, this was indeed fun, and I would highly recommend that you get a gang of people together and go night planting in your neighborhood. Some really hardy plants to start right now are pumpkin plants. Tomatoes are high yield and aren't too finicky. There is a bank by my house with strawberries planted all along in front of it- of course I now love this bank and am thinking of changing over to them.

A lot of guerilla gardeners I am discovering, now that I am looking it up, will use flowering plants to beautify neglected areas, which is awesome, too. Any improvements with nature in areas that neglect to honor it is radical. I still maintain, for my purposes, that I prefer to plant edible plants like lettuces or herbs, or that produce vegetables or fruit.

Try it! Then post about it. Take pictures and upload to facebook- spread the word about the guerilla gardening movement and lets see what happens. This revolution is a gentle one, and calls for a return to simple ways and unplugging as much as we can from the system. We can not unplug completely, but we can all find ways to cut back and get down to brass tacks that work with our lives.

OCCUPY YOURSELF!

-Ashley Dane

I don't know these people, but I love them anyway

A Message For All Humanity

This is an amazing video montage, with the a moving and heartfelt speech by Charlie Chaplin in his movie The Little Dictator. Certain truths remain true no matter what the age might be, and this is no exception. Its very moving, and it calls on every one of us to step up and claim our natural birthright- many of us think we are already doing that, but we are sleepwalking to our graves, mollified by evil corporations that don't need to demand your loyalty- they have tricked it out of you, and require nothing else but your first born child- and your second, and all of them. If you are bought in to this system, its natural that your children will belong to them, too. Watch this video, and give it some thought. If it doesn't move and inspire you, please check and see if you have a pulse. Then watch it again. Its a message for you.

 

 

Radical Recipes/ Crispy Brussel Leaves with Truffle (and a song to cook by)

I am really tickled that this blog has been getting so many hits! Whoever you are, reading this right now, I think about you all the time. I don't have to know you- but the fact that you are here, now, reading this- it means a lot to me to be able to write this- for you. I don't write this blog for me.

So last weekend, I went to one of my favorite little eating spots, La Poubelle. I love that the name means 'trash can' in French; I love anything irreverent and cheeky. Inside, you can barely see what's going on- its primarily lit by candles and dim Edison bulbs. The music they play is really good, and instead of the usual sports on the TV behind the bar, there is usually an old black and white movie. Its all about the atmosphere, and that suits me just fine.

La Poubelle Bistro in Los Angeles

There is a dish there that I really like, which surprised the hell out of me. Crispy brussel leaves. Sounds weird, right? But it is sooo good. And in my new lifestyle of eating in ways that will not support evil food corporations, it seemed to me that learning to make this dish would be a yummy alternative to some of the other things I am trying to eliminate, like Kraft mac and Cheese, for example. Or any brand with GMOs, or an affiliation with Monsanto. Or steak. (I don't know that I am going vegetarian, but I can see how limiting my meat intake, which used to be DAILY, has its merit in taking this stand.)

I made them today, and they were AMAZING! And easy. I won't ever share a radical recipe on here that is time consuming and tedious- I just don't have the kind of life where I can commit to hours in the kitchen.  But I want a lot from my short time in the kitchen- and I bet you feel the same way.

Here is what you need-

1 lb brussel sprouts- fresh ones, not frozen, preferably organic!!
1 cup extra virgin olive oil (click the link for a study by UC Davis on fraudulent extra virgin olive oil, as well as non GMO brands)
salt, or truffle salt, if you like truffle

there are two tricks to make this work- very hot oil, and peeling the leaves off the brussel sprouts. I found that if you cut the stalk-y end of the brussel sprout, you can peel the first few layers off easily, then you have to cut a little more off again to loosen the leaves from the center of the stalk. This is the most time consuming part of this culinary adventure. I suggest putting on some good music so your mind won't spin out and make you start thinking about other things you need to do- it happens a lot, and that takes one out of the experience. Just be with the task, don't rush. Here is a good song for peeling leaves by-

When you are half way through, put oil in a pan- you can use a frying pan- a wok is better- but what I learned today is that when you put those things in super hot oil, it spatters like a mofo.  Once you sense that the oil is good and hot, get a lid or a cooking screen ready to throw over it after you toss the leaves in the oil. I had a glass lid, so I could see what was going on underneath. I sort of held the lid over the skillet and tossed the leaves around in the oil, moving them so they didn't burn. You want them to get crispy and a little brown around the edges, though.  Maybe 3 minutes, depending on your stove top.

Once they are done, spoon them out with a draining spoon, allowing the oil to drip off for a few seconds, and onto a plate. Sprinkle them liberally with salt or truffle salt. I promise you, even if you think you can't stand brussel sprouts (I did) this is surprisingly delicious.

I am no cook, so I can't tell you how many people a pound will feed. If you are like me, then I would say make it once for yourself to see if you like it and gauge your own measurements for future reference.

I hope you like it! You certainly don't get the ambience of La Poubelle, but its way cheaper than $15 for a small dish of it. I will be eating a lot of this as I continue to replace my processed, super convenient food preferences with healthy alternatives. I get excited about this stuff, as this is the little tiny revolution that is a game changer for me and for my family- we are taking a stand not to support the major food corporations that seek to dominate the world food supply, while killing our bees, making us fat and threatening our overall health with GMOs. Screw that. There is yummy food in the world that isn't in a box or a bag or shrink wrapped or in a can. Believe it! OCCUPY YOURSELF!!!

Me and my sprouts, and me with a mouthful of sprouts, because I am a cheeky brat.



Bees In Crisis/ Greenpeace

So I am totally borrowing this blog from Greenpeace. Mostly because it says so much, and for me to try to figure out a way to say the same thing with different words seems like a waste of time. That, and I am learning a new recipe for the next blog, and I am not gonna tell you what it is until I taste it. What I will tell you is that I am craving a Coke, and a pizza, and that is not what I am about to eat. I also need to groom my yorkies. And I am on the last episode of Mad Men. That is my Wednesday evening for you. Enjoy this re-post of a really insightful article, which was sent to me by my good and soulful friend Darkbloom.

 

If you, dear reader, are in LA, there is a Honeylove urban beekeeping event on July 21. Go to the honeylove website. I will be there!

 

BEES IN CRISIS

 

Save the Bees!!!!

 

 

"In the last four years, the chemical industry has spent $11.2 million on
a PR initiative to say it's not their fault, so we know whose fault it is."
― Jon Cooksey, writer, director: How to Boil a Frog.

The honey bee, responsible for 80 percent of pollination worldwide, is disappearing globally.

Why and why do bees matter?

This is no marginal species loss. Honey bees – wild and domestic – perform about 80 percent of all pollination worldwide. A single bee colony can pollinate 300 million flowers each day. Grains are primarily pollinated by the wind, but the best and healthiest food – fruits, nuts, and vegetables – are pollinated by bees. Seventy out of the top 100 human food crops, which supply about 90 percent of the world's nutrition, are pollinated by bees.

We know what is killing the bees. Worldwide Bee Colony Collapse is not as big a mystery as the chemical companies claim. The systemic nature of the problem makes it complex, but not impenetrable. Scientists know that bees are dying from a variety of factors – pesticides, drought, habitat destruction, nutrition deficit, air pollution, global heating, and so forth. The causes of collapse merge and synergise, but we know that humanity is the perpetrator, and that the two most prominent causes appear to be pesticides and habitat loss.

Worker bees (females) live about 6 weeks in summer, and several months in the winter. Colonies produce new worker bees continuously during the spring and summer, and then reproduction slows during the winter. Typically, a bee hive or colony will decline by 5-10% over the winter, and replace those lost bees in the spring. In a bad year, a bee colony might lose 15-20% of its bees.

In the US, winter losses have commonly reached 30-50% and in some cases more. In 2006, David Hackenberg, a bee keeper for 42 years, reported a 90% die-off among his 3,000 hives.US National Agriculture Statistics show a honey bee decline from about 6 million hives in 1947 to 2.4 million hives in 2008, a 60% reduction.

The number of working bee colonies per hectare provides a critical metric of crop health. In the US, among crops that require bee pollination, the number of bee colonies per hectare has declined by 90% since 1962. The bees cannot keep pace with the winter die-off rates and habitat loss.

Pesticides and bees

Biologists have found more than 150 different chemical residues in bee pollen, a deadly "pesticide cocktail" according to University of California apiculturist Eric Mussen. The chemical companies Bayer, Syngenta, BASF, Dow, DuPont, and Monsanto shrug their shoulders at the systemic complexity, as if the mystery were too complicated. They advocate no change in pesticide policy. After all, selling poisons to the world's farmers is profitable.

Furthermore, wild bee habitat shrinks every year as industrial agri-business converts grasslands and forest into mono-culture farms, which are then contaminated with pesticides. To reverse the world bees decline, we need to fix our dysfunctional and destructive agricultural system.

Solutions exist

Common sense actions could restore and protect the world's bees.

1. Ban the seven most dangerous pesticides
2. Protect pollinator health by preserving wild habitat, and
3. Restore ecological agriculture

Ecological farming is the over-arching new policy trend that will stabilise human food production, preserve wild habitats, and protect the bees. The nation of Bhutan has led the world in adopting a 100% organic farming policy. Mexico has banned genetically modified (GM) corn to protect its native corn varieties. In January, eight European countries banned GM crops, and Hungary has burned over a 1,000 acres of corn contaminated with GM varieties. In India, scientist Vandana Shiva and a network of small farmers have built an organic farming resistance to industrial agriculture over two decades.

Ecological, organic farming is, of course, nothing new. It is the way most farming has been done throughout human history. Ecological farming resists insect damage by avoiding large monocrops and preserving ecosystem diversity. Ecological farming restores soil nutrients with natural composting systems, avoids soil loss from wind and water erosion, and avoids pesticides and chemical fertilisers.

By restoring bee populations and healthier bees, ecological agriculture improves pollination, which in turn improves crop yields. Ecological farming takes advantage of the natural ecosystem services, water filtration, pollination, oxygen production, and disease and pest control.

Organic farmers have advocated better research and funding by industry, government, farmers, and the public to develop organic farming techniques, improve food production, and maintain ecological health. The revolution in farming would promote equitable diets around the world and support crops primarily for human consumption, avoiding crops for animal food and biofuels.

How can the US learn from Europe?

In Europe, Asia, and South America, the annual die-off lags behind the US decline, but the trend is clear, and the response is more appropriate. In Europe, Rabobank reported that the annual European die-offs have reached 30-35% and that the colonies-per-hectare count is down 25%.

A European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) scientific report determined that three widely used pesticides – nicotine-based clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiametoxam – pose "high acute risks" for bees. The nicotinoid pesticides – used in soils, on foliage, and embedded in seeds – persist at the core of the toxic pesticide cocktail found in bee hives.

A Greenpeace scientific report identifies seven priority bee-killer pesticides – including the three nicotine culprits – plus clorpyriphos, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, and fipronil. The three neonicotinoids act on insect nervous systems. They accumulate in individual bees and within entire colonies, including the honey that bees feed to infant larvae. Bees that do not die outright, experience sub-lethal systemic effects, development defects, weakness, and loss of orientation. The die-off leaves fewer bees and weaker bees, who must work harder to produce honey in depleted wild habitats. These conditions create the nightmare formula for bee colony collapse.

Bayer makes and markets imidacloprid and clothianidin; Syngenta produces thiamethoxam. In 2009, the world market for these three toxins reached over $2bn. Syngenta, Bayer, Dow, Monsanto, and DuPont control nearly 100% of the world market for genetically modified pesticides, plants and seeds.

In 2012, a German court criminally charged Syngenta with perjury for concealing its own report showing that its genetically modified corn had killed livestock. In the US, the company paid out $105m to settle a class-action lawsuit for contaminating the drinking water for over 50 million citizens with its "gender-bending" herbicide Atrazine. Now, these corporate polluters are waging multi-million-euro campaigns to deny responsibility for bee colony collapse.

In May, the European Commission responded, adopting a two-year ban on the three necotinoid pesticides, and later added the non-neonicotinoid fibronil. Scientists will use the two years to assess the recovery rate of the bees and a longer-term ban on these and other pesticides.

Meanwhile, the US dithers and supports the corporations that produce and market the deadly pesticides. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to allow the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, in spite of a US Department of Agriculture report warning about the dangers of the bee colony collapse.

Also in May, US president Obama, signed the now infamous "Monsanto Protection Act" – written by Monsanto lobbyists – that gives biotech companies immunity in federal US courts from damages to people and the environment caused by their commercial compounds.

Can You Survive in a Post Apocalyptic World?

Lately when I am driving, or lying in bed before I fall asleep, I have been thinking about the End Times. Yep, the oft referred to end of days, when humans finally cannibalize themselves to the point of complete destruction.

Don't be skeered. I am not fanatic about it. What I wonder is how I would fare in a survival setting, and how useful would I be to others. This is not really surprising to me, as I recently went through a spate of post apocalyptic movies- 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, Legend, Children of Men, World War Z, and of course, Walking Dead. Most of these focus on zombies- but as I have said in other blog posts- the zombie apocalypse is already upon us. What happens when the zombies destroy the fabric of society in their mindless consuming? (To wit, a great quote from Judith Froemming-A true zombie is nothing more than an unconscious being apathetically and lifelessly lumbering across the planet buying and consuming everything in its path, unsatisfied, unfulfilled, anxious and unstill.”)

Zombie Attack Survival Kit- a must have

The zombies have me very nervous. They are everywhere on parade, all over the internet and facebook. They really have no thought at all about anything except what to consume next, or what entertainment is available next. But all of this could culminate in a bad scene for all of us, and I wonder about that. First- I wonder if there are enough people who are conscious and aware to stop the madness. I wonder if we are doing enough, or if there is enough we can do. I will continue to do the best I can, and just maybe I will start preparing.


So I got a survival book. And it got me thinking about all kinds of stuff I didn't need to start thinking about. Why? Well, it shakes me up, for one. Like the section of the book about survival dentistry. When I think about survival, I always picture myself smashing zombies in the face, or building a fire, or getting supplies from a heavily looted grocery store, armed to the teeth. That one chapter put the reality of it in perspective. Its not a movie. If it happened, there are skills we don't have the first idea about. Dentistry? Setting bones? Surviving in a desert with no readily available clean water sources? Not nearly as fun as zombie killing.

But this new movement I have been privy to, with people learning to garden and create beehives, and even those who have acquired chickens (seriously, there is an urban chicken movement- and it makes sense- fresh eggs? Why not?) in urban environs will fare better than those who have not been learning to get back to simpler ways. If society were to quickly revert to having no power and no water, then these simple skills are going to come in very handy. So, in a very real way, one can both prepare for, and help prevent, an apocalypse. If more of us did these things, and we got more people to grow food, buy local, keep beehives,  drive less, recycle, look into sustainable ways of living- if we were able to tip the scales, we could help prevent a possible catastrophic future. And if it came anyway- we would be in a good position to survive it.

Urban homesteading is on the rise

So sure, there are things like having stores of canned food and water, that's never a bad idea- and first aid kits, and survivalist books, and all of that. I recommend preparedness on any level, for any thing.  But when it comes down to it, people have been living off the earth naturally for millennia. Its the most radical thing you can do right now, in this day and age- to look at all that you consume- from food and entertainment, to ideas and thoughts- all of it could be re-evaluated and re-prioritized. I say start with food, and let the rest come. Food is by far one of the hardest to change, but once you make that commitment to eating foods with no GMOs, shopping local so the foods are not shipped to you grocery store by plane and trucks- thereby wasting precious fossil fuels, giving your body nutrient dense superfoods so you stay healthy (and not just for the sake of health, per say, but because a healthy body is a BIG fuck you to the system- they make a ton of money of our being sick, tired, stressed), avoiding processed food, growing what you can, perhaps having a beehive to help our dying bees and so you can have fresh honey, definitely avoiding all fast food restaurants, and being a good example to others by talking about it and walking the walk you are talking about- if you just start here, with one of those things, it will grow all on its own. The rest will fall into place, in its own time and its own way. It will not feel like a sacrifice, but a gift. You will feel like a light bulb that has never been turned on before now, and finally you have found your purpose.

 I would like to not have to run through abandoned streets with a bad ass cross bow on my back, scavenging for what I can not grow on my own, or practice survival dentistry on my loved ones and learn to filter my pee to water a garden, but if we don't start somewhere, do something, and now, this may be the case.  The time is now. Don't hit the snooze button. OCCUPY YOURSELF!

Urban Gardening

Right about the time I realized I needed to change the way I was looking at, and living, my life, I was lucky enough to have two unused garden towers in my proximity that I could learn to use. At my work, my boss had purchased two of them, but no one had championed the cause. It was perfect synchronicity. How many people living in cities don't have the option of growing their food, due to lack of soil or space? Plenty, I bet. Me included.

I also have the good fortune of having someone show me how to get these things started. There are so many ways to talk oneself out of doing something- "I don't know how", or "Maybe next week," or "I can't afford it," or "It won't work." The universe in all its goodness eliminated all such conversations from my head. If I can learn how to do these things, I can teach others. Its amazing to me that the most radical thing any of us can do is to get back to nature as much as possible- and there is nothing more natural than growing your own food.

So my friend who came to help also takes care of the garden towers at Step Up on Second, which is an organization which helps the homeless in Los Angeles. They have a small café where they serve hotdogs and hamburgers, and the homeless people on the program work the café and learn how to have a job. There are many aspects to this organization, and they are doing amazing work. One aspect is the garden towers on the roof- I think he said there were 25 of them, and they grow food that they can use to help feed the homeless people who come through while they teach them how to be self sustaining.  Here is a picture below- pretty amazing. By the way- you can make monthly payments for a garden tower, and they payments are reasonable.

Garden Towers at Step Up on Vine

My friend and I first started to create the seedlings. I got seed packets of peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, arugula. We put rock wool into plastic trays with individual growing bins- you do this so the roots don't grow into each other. Then you put 4 or 5 seeds in each one, and cover with a nutrient rich covering. Its important to mark what you planted- we did it with coffee stirrers with the name of the vegetable and the date on the back. Then you soak the seed beds, but be careful not to disturb the seeds.

The start of an urban garden



If you were not going to use a tower and were going to go guerilla gardening (which I implore you to do) then you would do the same thing but you could use potting soil which is already fortified with nutrients. In guerilla urban gardening, you would plant vegetables or other edibles in public spaces, or in front of your apartment building, on medians, on the courthouse lawn, parks, etc. Nothing at all wrong with doing this!  once your seedlings are good and strong, plant them where they will be able to get water- any public landscaping will have sprinkler systems.

So in about two weeks, we will have little seedlings. Every day I need to lightly water the seedlings and not leave too much water in the bottom tray- or they roots will grow down towards the water, and we'd rather encourage the plants to grow towards the sun.

Once they are seedlings, we transfer them to the garden towers. The towers only need to be filled with water and the nutrient solution and then you basically leave them alone and let them grow. You need to have access to an outlet as they need to plug in for the water to pump up through to each little basket. My first plants I put in my garden tower are growing- some died. White flies got to many of them. If you have white flies, a water and dish soap solution sprayed onto the leaves makes them go away.


Here is my vision- I want to teach people how to create urban gardens and beehives. Bees have a higher rate of survival in cities, and you can have your own source of honey. The gardens can give you certain vegetables and fruit- I am staying away from things like lettuce or herbs right now and focusing on things like tomatoes and peppers and cucumbers- its easy enough to get salad stuff from the farmer's market. I would like to help people understand the importance of buying from their local farmer's markets- its fresh, generally organic, and has not taken a lot of fossil fuels to send on trucks and airplanes from distant countries to your grocery store chain. I know we can't grow everything, and we can't buy everything at the farmer's market- but we can do a lot, and its a great start.

When I go to the farmer's market, I look at the people there and am so happy to be among like minded people. Its revolutionary. Buying local instead of at the supermarkets takes money out of the hands of those who seek to control the world's food sources.  There is much more at the farmer's market than produce- there is bread, meat, fish, eggs- you can get a lot of your shopping done there. the more you buy there, the more you are telling the GMO food corporations like Monsanto and Syngenta to fuck the fuck off.

OCCUPY YOURSELF!!!