Perma-Fusion: Sun Room and the Rocket Mass Heater

I'm enjoying my studies in Permaculture along with my newly found love for Pinterest.  


While browsing information on Rock Mass Heaters and Stoves,  I wondered if  the functionality of the Rocket Mass can be merged with the serenity of a fancy sun room.  Rocket Mass heaters are cleaner and more energy efficient than wood burning stoves and heaters.


I don't know how functional this will be, but in my world, I want to merge the two pictures below.

A Rocket Mass Heater 

Source: plus.google.com via Joana on Pinterest

A sun room room I found on Pinterest.  I can do without the staircase.

Source: encoreuneminute.tumblr.com via Ann on Pinterest

Going Green: 2011 Reflections

How well did I do in my quest to go green last year?

I've added tactics I used last year, and plans for this year below.

GREEN	2011	2012
Household Items:	Replaced some  insect repellants with safer essential oil mixes Began purchasing natural household brands:  Method natural air fresheners  Vinegar for mold removal Collected digital and old subscriptions to gardening, natural home health, and organic magazines	Purchase more natural , cleansing and household brands: 7th Generation and Method Detergents Use vinegar, lemon juice, salt and baking soda for household mixes  Look for natural products coupon and savings online or through natural magazines
Green Jobs or Workforce:	Green Office: Oxygen-giving plants Mugs over styrofoam cups Encouraged steel canisters Used  fair trade coffee  Moved towards paperless office Recycled paper, plastic, ink and occasional  tissue,	Consider getting certifications in green building or landscape design (LEED, Permaculture PDC) Add green marketing to my skills and possibly seek out work or add tactics to my projects Possibly volunteer for a green building project (Habitat For Humanity) or an organic food co-op, CSA, non-profit or urban farm.
Energy-efficient products:	Subscribed to Renewable Energy Electricity Plan Added CFL bulbs Rarely used dishwasher use Connected printer, tv, and other heavy burning electrical items to power pack to turn off	Transition from CFL bulbs to natural lighting or LED lights Use less microwave, and cook on stove Caulk everything!
Food:	Monitor pesticide-heavy vegetables and fruits; chose organic fruits/veggies when possible Learned about freezer cooking	Start vegetable and herb garden. Just garden everywhere! Prepare to go Vegan, Vegetarian or Flexitarian Join a local CSA, Co-op or non-profit to supplement organic vegetables Join Seedsavers or become a part of seed library Learn to cook well Learn and start freezer cooking, preserving, and fermenting with food.
Cosmetics:	Removed all cosmetics; changed hair products to natural products  Made my own skin and hair products to monitor ingredient allergies	Slowly incorporate "natural cosmetics" into my regimen; monitor reactions to various products Create my own lotions, deodorant, and cosmetics Stay away from Triclosan, Phthalates, Parabens, Petroleum By-products, harsh Fragrances, dyes in cosmetics (FD & C) with coal tar, hydroquinone, mercury, lead, 1,4 dioxane (peg, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol)
Water:	Added aerators to sink and shower Purchased spring and distilled waters	Consider filters to tap water and shower  Look into water harvesting
Recycle:	Recycle Printer Ink	Look for ways to reuse paper Use cardboard for gardening layers Consider if it makes sense to separate plastics, paper, and recycle at a distant center Compost
Indoor Air Quality:	Opened windows	Use air-cleaning and oxygen-giving plants for home
Transportation (fuel efficiency)		Work from home or close to home If public transportation is feasible, do it.
Fair Trade:		Consider fair trade coffee for home/guests.
Studies:	Urban Farming General Sustainability Gardening	Consider taking a permaculture course or preparing to get LEED accredited Read 48 books on gardening, permaculture, renewable energy, self-sufficiency  Start first garden  Watch 20 environmental documentaries (e.g. Gasland, Geoff Lawton Soils, Dirt,

Fruit Tree "Resolutions" for 2012

Happy New Years Growing!

I am proud to present the first fruit trees I will purchase this winter!

These fruit trees with begin in large containers! 

Pomegranate (Eversweet)

Tangerines (Kishu Mandarin)

Figs (LSU Gold)

For the new year, I will start a garden that will contain fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, and medicinal plants. 

I will also add indoor air cleaning plants along with a mini seedling green house.

My gardening purchase list is getting long so I plan to convince relatives to forgo holiday gifts, and support my needs for containers, planters, organic compost, seeds, potted plants, and even a fruit tree! 


Since I want to stay organic, I will look for companion plants to grow along with my purchases.   Wish me the best!  I am determined to make my family Gardening Santas!


And this is just the beginning...Container & vertical gardening now.....raised beds and bio-intensive later...hydroponics or aquaponics, maybe....permaculture for generations. 

Consumerism & Enviroment Review: The Story Of Stuff (UPDATE)

THE STORY OF BROKE




THE STORY OF STUFF

I became familiar with The Story Of Stuff movies through my quest to find a solution to my cosmetic and beauty product woes.  I've added the new movie The Story of Broke with a quick overview from 2007 of consumption patterns and systems that affects our lifestyle, economics, and environment.  

Food Deserts: The Cornerstore Curse

A Snapshot of a Food Desert In Inner City Houston

I'm overjoyed about Michelle Obama's nationwide mission to end "food deserts" in urban communities.   Food deserts are communities that lack accessible low-cost nutritious foods.  You'll find a variety of corner stores (liquor stores) that specializes in alcoholic beverages and junk food: such as  expired foods, canned goods, salted corn and potato chips, hard candies such as jolly ranchers and a Mexican salt/chili candies such as pica.


In addition to inner city corner stores, larger grocery chains or independent stores hardly fill the gap for healthy fresh food.   I don't believe an inundation of them is the only solution.  


Fresh food availability should also include, your home garden,  farmer's markets, co-ops, CSA's and community centers with programs aimed at getting the youth and elderly to buy local, grow their own food, and cook new cuisines.  I believe a form of home economics,  and sustainable agriculture should return back to schools and community centers.


Once the art of cooking is mastered with healthy, efficient, and, sustainable meals, (such as freezing, canning, storing, and growing), I believe the desire for quality food will exceed the need for fast food.  That's how a slow food movement can grow, through better tasting, healthier, quick foods.

Make Organic Food Choices With Acronyms For Fruit and Vegetables

Dirty Dozen of Fruit & Veggies

Annually, the  Environment Working Group releases a list called the Dirty Dozen, which displays fruits and vegetables with high pesticide content.  This information gives you the option to purchase organic replacements or grow  fruit and "veggies"  at home. 

2011 Dirty Dozen Fruits and Vegetables

Dirty Dozen Honorable Mention

Following the Dirty Dozen list of fruits and vegetables can became complicated with a busy life.  To solve them problem, add acronyms to your "dirty list."  PLACCKS & PIBBS  are used for the 2011 list  fruits and vegetables.  

Acronym List for Grocery Shopping

NOTE: Because I rarely shop for nectarines, I left them out of my acronyms, even though it was #6 on the high pesticide list.   In the future, I  will plan a garden to grow the items on the Dirty Dozen list.






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Green Reading List

Green Reading List For The Fall

My green reading list is important because most of these books require application and action.  I will spend the rest of the year reading environmental books from various areas of the green movement, and follow-up with a future review or demonstration.  In addition, I will do further study on natural cosmetics; and gardening (container and raised-bed).  


CATEGORIES

• Going Green / Green Living
• Food
• History
• Green and Sustainable Building
• Business
• Urban Farms and Gardening

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Picture Yourself Going Green
Erinn Morgan
This book is broken down into an eight week  "going green" program with areas ranging from cosmetics, energy, clothing, food,  pets, transportation, and more.

Freedom Colonies: Independent Black Texas in the Time of Jim Crow
Jack and Doris Smothers
I always wanted to learn about black Texas homesteads, which were quite different from the culture of sharecropping post-slavery.  Having a great-great grandfather who owned one of these homesteads, I'm embarrassed to say I knew little about his life.


The New Rules of Green Marketing
Jacquelyn Ottman
I'm only reading this for career reasons. I expected to learn about marketing tactics and a lot of new terms, but I'm getting a compassionate and well-rounded view of responsible green marketing.  This isn't a greenwashing manual! 


Vegan Soul Kitchen
Bryan Terry
 Web worker and author, Anne Zelenka, suggested vegan and vegetarian meals when traveling in her book Connect!   She mentioned how these meals were more flavorful, and I agree!  I plan to go vegan for a season, but I want to try new recipes.  Why not start with soul food!  I expect to get a twist on my grandmother's recipes from Vegan Soul Kitchen with an amazing flavor. I will document meals I cook from this book!


The Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Building and Remodeling
John Barrows
This is another career book for me.  The title sounds intimidating, but I find it to be as much a "green your home"  as  a "building and remodeling book."  I can't wait to review and share what I've learned.  Hopefully, I can give multiple demonstrations.


Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer
Novella Carpenter
I recently finished this book.  Novella Carpenter gave us a window seat into her urban farm experience in Oakland.  There's no way you can read this book and not get inspired to start gardening or urban farming. Expect a review soon!