NEW Simple Living Madison Blog Coming in August

Simple Living Madison was initially created as a project for a fantastic web writing class by Madison College instructor Martha Schwer.

We've been dormant for awhile as we learned new things...but kept going back to the idea behind SLM, something we felt was badly needed in Madison—a central place to include local resources, events and issues focusing on simple, frugal and conscious living in our fair city.

Simple Living Madison is relaunching at blog.simplelivingmadison.com starting August 1, 2010.

Madison simple living issues will continue to the focus of the "new" blog, but we are excited to introduce a Simple Living Calendar of events and important dates around town.

How many times have you found out too late that the city had a day set aside to recycle old pharmaceuticals or missed out on the UW Credit Union's "Shred It" day because of poor publicity?

The Simple Living Calendar will gather all these important dates into one handy resource.

Madison-based organizations or groups devoted to simple living will be able to send us event information. Locally owned Madison businesses will have opportunities to get the word out on products and services that support simple living.

Stop on by the new site after August and send us your ideas!

Bust Summer Boredom with Simple Games

School’s almost out and summer’s around the corner. You’re about to hear that sad refrain. “Mom, I’m bored.”

Combat summer doldrums with “lawn games” passed down by our parents and grandparents.

Wii isn’t necessary. You don’t need a court, diamond or special facility to play. You don’t need special equipment, not even a ball.

Offer up some of these suggestions next time a small face appears at your bedroom door at 8 am with that “look.”

Tag too simple? Try Amoeba Tag:

1. Select 2 people to join hands and be “it.”
2. The pair chase others to catch them.
3. First person caught links hands with the pair to form a chain.
4. Add the next person to the chain to make 4.
5. The 4 can stay together or break into 2 + 2.
6. Each next pair caught can either join or break from the chain but must stay together.
7. Play the game until no one is left off the chain.

Ghost in the Graveyard is especially fun and spooky at night:

1. Gather at least 3 people; more is better.
2. Designate a field of play.
3. Select a “base” big enough for all to stand on or touch.
4. Choose 1 to be the "ghost.
5. The ghost hides while the rest remain on base.
6. Chant “1 o’clock, 2 o’clock" and so forth,
   
7. At midnight shout “I hope I don’t see a ghost tonight!”
   
8. Leave the base to search for the ghost.
9. The ghost must come out and tag others to become a ghost.
10. Shout “Ghost in the graveyard” if a ghost is spotted.
11. Run to base to remain “safe” from the ghost.
12. Repeat until everyone is caught and becomes a ghost.
    

Before Twister there was the Human Knot:

1. Gather a group, the more the merrier.
2. Stand in a circle facing inward.
3. Grasp 2 other people’s hands.
4. Try to untangle the “knot” without letting go.
5. Be prepared to climb and crawl!

Statues tests balance, stamina and stability:

1. Gather a group in an area big enough for movement.
2. Select a leader.
3. Jump, dance around, run and swing each other for about a minute.
4. The leader yells freeze.
5. Stop immediately and hold very still.
6. First one to move is “out.”
7. Play until no one is left.
   

See Games Kids Play for more simple games.

Illustration by Donna Collinwood.

Eating Local Hamilton: Adventures in Locavor Blogging

Eating locally is getting popular. Our grandmothers ate this way, but the current movement began around 2007, about the same time interest in blogging surged. Coincidence? Hmmm, I don't know.

Locavores are an adventurous lot so I hoped to find adventurous blogs about local food. I started with one I found in a random search, Ontario-based The Hamilton Eat Local blog. The subtitle even reads "issues and adventures in local foods."

Adventures with Hamilton Eat Local

The Hamilton Eat Local blog has an attractive and warm design. Promising. But for a blog about locality, figuring out where it originates was difficult. The title of the blog blended into the nice big homepage photo. Staring and squinting was required to see it.

Most annoying was the lack of an "about us" link. Lots of Hamiltons in the world! I grew up near Hamilton, Ohio, and live not far from Hamilton, Wisconsin. Fortunately, I discovered it was Hamilton, Ontario, by examining the blogroll links.

Hamilton eateries, farms and food organizations are featured in a great set of links organized by type. The site also includes tons of links to provincial and national food resources including government entities, farm organizations, slow and local food movement organizations and foodie blogs.

No recipes found here, but lots of resources

Foodies may be disappointed I found no recipes on the blog. Content is devoted to local food events and activities, and issues in the local food community. The homepage also includes a helpful book list and a user survey.

Beer and food festivals, farms, orchards, restuarants, markets, nutrition issues and interviews with local foodies are among the many and varied topics listed in the archive.

The Hamilton Eat Local blog is a great resource. Rather than an adventure itself, extensive coverage of local restaurants, foodie groups and events makes this a nice launching pad for those who like their adventures in real-time.

"The Rise of the Locavore" in BusinessWeek (May 2008) and "Local Food Movement Grows Even in Recession" from Green Daily (February 2009) attest to the growth of the local food movement.

photo courtesy of Dreamstime free images.

Keeping Cool During Uncertainty

Uncertainty—We all have to live with it, but how?

Almost Frugal's Kelly Rigotti is facing this issue as she finishes up her master's degree. She doesn't know what the future holds, so she decided to repost a question she asked when she first started her journey in 2008.

Making plans are difficult when you don't know where you're headed. In "Going Back to School" she asks (my emphasis added) :

So how do you set goals or make plans when you don’t know what is going to happen? Here are the two ways I handled it.

* Control what you can. OK, so I didn’t know if I was going back to school or back to work. But I did know that I would be signing my children up for reading classes in English, so I had to prepare and plan for that in my budget.

* Accept that you can’t control everything. You can call it giving yourself up to a higher power, accepting the inevitable, or just resigning yourself to the situation, but I find that accepting things helps when there is nothing else to do. There was a point at which the waiting seemed interminable. Stressing about it made it worse and certainly didn’t help the decision happen quicker.

How do you handle situations when you can’t plan for the future? How do you set goals when you don’t know what you’re aiming for?

Setting goals when you can't plan the future? Great question—and great solutions.

Control what you can and don't sweat what you can't, says Kelly. These tactics have helped me around many a dark corner. When things are really tough, I plan dinner. Hey, it's a plan!

Dare to dream is one I would add to the list. When I'm not sure, the sky's the limit, so I let myself imagine different scenarios.

Write it down is another one. As a writer, I tend to write these scenarios out. It gives me a better handle when I see all the possibilities on paper or the computer screen. I try to write out how I will feel about each possibility.

Start something new. This might seem an odd idea when you don't know what's ahead but it gives you something to concentrate on and keep your mind off that blurry future. Knit a new sweater, take lessons, join a book group, whatever gives you a temporary purpose and occupies your thought.

Get back to an old project. Back before you started school or took your last job or made a big move, there was probably something you didn't finish. Go back to it and start anew before you get busy with a new goal to keep you from it.

Relish the opportunity to not have a plan. It can be freeing (at least for awhile) and the anticipation of what comes next is exciting. Here's to the future, whatever it holds!

photo courtesy of Bixentro via Flickr's Creative Commons.

Laura Paprocki on Home Energy Audits

Is your home leaky?

Heat loss in winter, cool loss in summer, if your home hasn't been inspected lately, chances are good you are losing energy and money at a rate that might surprise you.

A home can never be too tight, says Laura Paprocki, a Madison-based independent civil and environmental engineer. Through her company, Trinity Environmental, she performs Home Performance audits with Energy Star as a consultant for Wisconsin's Focus on Energy.

Established residences are Laura's side of the business. Trinity also performs audits on new construction for builders looking for Energy Star certification.

Home energy advice from Laura

Home energy and homeowners were chief among the topics Laura shared recently with Simple Living Madison.

SLM: How did you get started as an energy consultant?

Laura: I was always interested in science in school and had science-based jobs since college but this job is the first to allow me to combine my science background with something I'm passionate about, helping people. I love taking people through this process because it's so valuable for homeowners.

SLM: Combining all your passions into a career sounds like a dream job.

Laura: You might not think that when you're crawling around on your stomach in the attic looking at old insulation...but I do love what I do!

Leakage testing exposes hidden costs

SLM: What exactly do you do?

Laura: A Home Performance Audit involves four areas of testing:

• House leakage testing is the most exciting part and the most valuable service I can provide as a consultant. I do a "blower door test" combined with an infrared camera reading to see how much energy is leaking from a house and where.
  
  You'd be surprised how much of heat loss is due to air moving in and out of the house. And, it's often not just about adding insulation. Windows, doors, other areas of the house can leak.
  
  
• Insulation checks are another part of what I do. People don't know that you need different types of insulation in different parts of your house to get the most efficiency.
  
  
• Ventilation and moisture checks are very important, too. If you make a house tight, you still need to have a way for bad air and moisture to escape. I check bath and kitchen fans to make sure they are taking the air from inside the home and pushing it outside.
  
  A house is like the human body. Like you, houses need a good set of lungs to push air in and out. And keep in mind, just because a fan is making noise, does not mean it's working properly. You want to make sure you get cooking oil, indoor air pollution, moisture out.
  
  
• The furnace and hot water systems are next. Are they're efficient? Properly ventilated? What is the carbon monoxide level? I check for efficiency and safety. Ventilation is key especially in cold climates. After all, we're shut up in our homes for six months out of the year.
  

Energy savings offer return on investment

SLM: What happens after you do the evaluation?

Laura: I give the homeowner a report, actually a series of reports about each of the four areas. This isn't information most owners have so it's very valuable when buying a house.

SLM: With the economy the way it is, what about costs?

Laura: I base the information in the reports on return on investment so homeowners can see how much they might save and set their own priorities. I work with them to help them prioritize, and we talk about the things they can do themselves.

Focus on Energy offers cash back rewards for taking care of these problems. I return to the home to check how well the home is performing. It's great to see that increased performance!

For more on the Home Energy Audit, check out Madison Gas and Electric's energy saving tips for homeowners or go to Laura's Paprocki's website (note: she is currently changing the name of her company).

Photo of Madison houses by Cimexus from Flickr Creative Commons.

Is Recycling Really the Best Option?

Recycling gets the most attention of all the components of the popular mantra, "Reduce, reuse, recycle" but is it the most important?

"Going green" to most communities and business is likely to mean starting a recycling program. Yet, despite good intentions, recycling is weakest solution to the waste stream puzzle.

Recycling takes

• energy for collection and transportation of the material to be recycled
  
• energy to re-manufacture
  
• energy for distribution of the new product
  
• a market for the new product

Energy for recycling activities often comes from nonrenewable, nonsustainable and polluting resources such as fossil fuel and nuclear energy, according to the Center for Sustainability.

Reducing is the best answer

Keeping waste out of our environment altogether is the best option. By reducing packaging, buying in bulk and buying less we have less waste to deal with—no need to figure out how to recycle it.

By buying less stuff you can

• save energy and resources
  
• buy better, more lasting stuff
  
• stop and think, make the best purchasing choices
  
• become more flexible with less stuff to tote around
  
• live less cluttered in your surroundings
  
• save money and time

Sustainable Lifestyle Foundation says buying less stuff allows us to truly live a sustainable lifestyle as we consider the true cost of what we buy.

Reusing creates no waste

Reusing is my personal favorite. Reusing does require some thought and care—and creativity—but finding new life for an old item can be a joy as well as a comfort to your pocket book.

Reuse beats recycling according to Care2 blogger Annie Bond because it not only keeps items out of the waste stream and saves energy but it also can provide things to people who might not be able to afford them brand spanking new.

Reducing and reusing Madison, Wisconsin, style

Buy Nothing Day is big here in Madison, but if you can't go that far, the city offers many resources for buying less or at least buy less packaging. Get bulk food buying tips from Willy Co-op or buy bulk even from most area grocery stores. Community Pharmacy also offers lots of low-packaging options and bulk herbs for making your own personal care products.

Sharing and trading items so you don't have to purchase them is also big here. Try Community Car, Madison Hours or keep an eye out for Absolutely Art's next Re-Art Swap event.

Resale shops abound for everything from clothing and furniture to building materials to computers and office equipment. For bikes and bike gear, check out Brazen Dropout's annual Bike Swap each winter.

Reduce, reuse, recycle, whatever you do, you'll find many options in our area to practice your three R's!

Recycling bin photo courtesy of FreeFoto.com.
Illustration is free free shareware available from About.com.

Celebrate Earth Day with the Kids!

Earth Day is everyday for many people, especially for kids. Children seem especially interested in the environment, and the topic is a great start in developing civic involvement and empathy for others.

Fun Earth Day activities abound in Madison. Here’s a list to get you (and the children in your life) started.

Visit the Madison Children's Museum and learn about earth science. 2009 is "The Year of Science," a national celebration of science by museums across the country. Check out free hands-on activities on first and third Wednesdays at MCM, including "Energy Resources" (April) and "Sustainability and the Environment" (May).

Join Governor Doyle for a Wisconsin Earth Day Celebration. The Gov's got a host of activities planned for April 25 at the Governor's mansion. Activities for children include a nature walk, pop-can fishing, stamping and button making, and the kids will receive a seedling to take home. It's free but you must register for this event.

Take the Earth Day Challenge at city of Madison parks. Mayor Dave has challenged Madison residents to help clean up Madison parks for earth day. If your kids have a lot of energy, this is a great way to use it! Pull weeds and do general clean up at various parks around town on April 18, April 25 and beyond.

Join the Isthmus Green Day celebration on April 25 at the Monona Terrace. Activities happen from 9 am to 6 pm and include a Children's Area sponsored by the Madison Children's Museum and the Aldo Leopold Center. Try hands-on recycling with a plastic-bag weaving project.

Enjoy Breakfast on the Farm on April 26 to learn about agriculture in Wisconsin. Sponsored by the Association of Women in Agriculture (AWA), this event at the UW Stock Pavilion from 8 am to noon. In addition to a good farm breakfast, check out the “education corral” with an interactive petting zoo and agriculture awareness activities.

Learn about early earth at the UW Geology Museum at 1215 West Dayton St. Tours run Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm. Little ones will love the Museum story time at 10:30 am on the first and third Thursdays each month. Aimed at preschoolers, story time includes a story, museum specimens and a take-home craft.

Listen and discover the Songbirds of Spring on April 26 at the UW Arboretum. The event, part of the Earth Partnerships for Families program, runs from 1 to 3 pm. Learn to identify common songbirds, attract them to your yard and how to appreciate these birds' role in our environment.

Explore the Family Interpretive Trail at the Aldo Leopold Center in Monona. The award-winning nature trail is only one of many activities at the Center geared toward offering families opportunities to learn about our natural world. This month the Center is showing "Aldo Leopold as a Boy: Exploring the Mysteries of the Land" about the scientist and nature enthusiast as a child.

Circle a date on the Madison Public Libraries' calendar of Earth Day events. The libraries are featuring free showings of the environmental fable, "Wall-E," special Earth Day events including history talks, recycling demonstrations and musical activities (check out the Junk Band!).

Illustrations are free shareware available from About.com.