Christmas Tree Debate

Yesterday, Linda Kervin from the Bridgerland Audubon Society on Wild About Utah "re-purposes" her Christmas tree for the birds in her yard. This got me to thinking about one of the posts that Andree' put up last year about the infamous Christmas Tree Debate.

Real or fake? What are the benefits of each? The cons? What is the environmental impact? I think it would probably be safe to argue that the best bet is to simply do with out the tree, rather than worry about the transportation of the live trees down from Canada, or the chemicals used in the fake trees, and the degradation of both in the landfills. But traditions die hard.

In my own family, we have a fake tree. We have had this tree for probably 15 years or so, or at least as long as when we moved into the house my parents own. The Christmas tree debate doesn't really happen in our house any more because we got the tree before it was "cool to be green" and now that we have it, there's no reason to not use it. I also have a small fake tree that I found in my parent's garage. I have no idea where it came from, but I've used it every year since I moved out.

My Family's Tree
Photo Credit: Cath Edvalson

The debate continues in sustainability circles, but if your traditions die hard on this matter, I encourage you to read Andree's post from last year, and to think about providing a safe haven for your local bird populations as Linda does if you do get a real tree.

Take a Break - Weekend Plans?

I don't know about you, but this week has been a very busy one. We are in the full throes of our Annual Conference preparation, recovering from being gone all last week in Portland, and of course all of the other "life-as-usual" things here at USEE. Needless to say, I am very happy that it is Friday!

I thought it might be nice to write about something other than the usual this afternoon. Something easy, that doesn't require a lot of research, but still might be at least somewhat interesting to read. So how about weekend plans?


This weekend I have a mix of fun, productivity, and relaxation on my list. Tonight I am going to dinner with my family at my uncle's to see his new house. After that, my sister is coming home with me and she will be staying with me for the weekend as she takes a break from her regular life. She owns a photography business, so we are going to visit Andree' to take pictures of Little Olive and the family. Saturday night my sister and I are getting together with an old friend - maybe we will all watch the University of Utah football game together, or maybe we will just laugh the night away after going to dinner. Those plans haven't been completely solidified yet.

Other than that, the rest of my weekend is free to do as I please, other than the regular things like cleaning out my garden area, cleaning the house, and early-morning runs. I hope to get in a good bike ride, or maybe even a hike somewhere below the snowline on Sunday. I feel some studying at the local coffee shop is also on the horizon.

I am definitely feeling the seasons change. Many of my friends have gotten really sick with the flu in the recent weather changes, I feel like I've missed fall completely since the snow fell in the mountains before the leaves had a chance to change, my house is very chilly, and I've pulled out the pumpkin candle, long-sleeved shirts, blankets, and hot tea. Part of me embraces the change. I look forward to the holidays and all of the festivities they entail, getting warm with hot cider under a blanket after cross-country skiing, and wearing slippers again. The other part of me is already nostalgic for late summer vegetables, long evenings on the porch, and flip-flops.

The transition from summer to fall is always a happy one for me, as fall is most definitely my favorite season. But when summer heads straight into winter, I find myself wishing it wouldn't all happen so fast. But don't get me wrong, I am excited to go skiing! And I plan on visiting the Black Diamond Gear swap tomorrow to see if I can get a good deal on some decent skis to justify buying a pre-season ski pass from Solitude. We'll see how that goes. For now, I'm going to try and enjoy the weather as best I can and hopefully I'll be able to get one more rock-climbing day in before the snow really starts to fly.

Jason has informed me that he plans to do an 18 mile run tomorrow in preparation for the marathon he is running in a few months, followed by a short bare-foot relaxation run around the park on Sunday.

So what are you doing this weekend? Getting outside? Going for a run? Spending time with your family and friends? Enjoying life? I hope so!

Photos by Mallory Platt

Zucchini Insights

Even though it is September and the height of the Zucchini season has passed, I still feel inspired to write about these delicious and diverse vegetables.

I heard somewhere the other day about "Zucchini Day," or otherwise known as "Sneak Some Zucchini on to your Neighbor's Porch Day," which I think was aptly named. The holiday is celebrated by stealthily disposing of excess zucchini and summer squash by leaving them in neighborhood yards, cars, and porches. (Check out some fun ways to do so here.) Unfortunately I missed this summer harvest holiday, on August 8, but I will look forward to it for next year.

As I was looking up information about Zucchini Day, I also came across the National Zucchini Bread Day. I checked it out and was surprised to discover that this holiday is on April 23. Why isn't it in August? I don't know about you, but unless you have shredded and frozen vast amounts of zucchini, I think zucchini bread isn't exactly on your mind in April - or is it? Maybe by the time April rolls around, the urge for some tasty zucchini bread is prevalent six months after the creative and frantic vending of zucchini and summer squash.

Finding out about "Sneak Some Zucchini on to your Neighbor's Porch Day" and "National Zucchini Bread Day" was inspired by a chat with my mom the other day. She mentioned that she had to go to the store to buy some zucchini in order to make a zucchini cake that she wanted to try...This made me feel terrible: I have so much zucchini I don't even know what to do with it all! I've been making (or eating other people's stuff as they try to use their zucchini as well) zucchini cake, chocolate chip zucchini cookies, zucchini bread, feta and zucchini pancakes, sauteed, raw, grilled, and even pasta made out of zucchini. I have four giant freezer bags full of shredded zucchini in my freezer to use this winter - And here is my mother, buying zucchini at the store. Guess I need to remember to bring some over next time I stop by for dinner.

Photo Credit

Jumping on the Simplicity Bandwagon

With all of the efforts that seem to be going on around me of people taking their lives back-to-basics, I'm making some changes of my own. Inspired by Andree's "buy nothing new" resolution, the start of the Voluntary Simplicity class I'm participating in, as well as the book I'm currently reading, Not Buying It by Judith Levine, I have decided to forgo getting the internet in my home.

Photo Credit

I moved into a new studio apartment not more than a month ago. My previous 2 residences have all had free internet available. After going for a year and half without having to pay for internet service, I am reluctant to sign up with any company that is going to make me shell out $30 to $50 for something I've been able to take for granted for so long. Now that I've been in my new apartment for several weeks without any internet access, I find myself getting back to doing the things I really love to do. I've read two books in the last two weeks, gotten caught up on my ever-long to-do list, spent some quality time with my guitar almost every day, exercised regularly, enjoyed the company of close friends spontaneously getting together, and have cooked several excellent meals while listening to my favorite music.

In light of all this merriment of enjoying the things that really make me happy, I am going to try going without the internet. I still have plenty of ways to access the things that require my online attention such as paying bills, my banking information, email accounts, and all other various online "needs" by staying a little late after work, using my lunch break wisely, or by heading down to the local coffee shop. It's easy to fall into the habit of coming home, dead-dog-tired, and logging on to email, Facebook, and the ever expanding realms of Hulu to watch all of my favorite TV shows (I don't have a television either, and haven't for a couple of years now), or even blogging after work. Then before you know it, it's practically time for bed to start the whole mundane process all over again. Well, I've had enough of that.

So this is my experiment. In this time of fast-paced technology, can I take a step back and lead a simpler life of not being plugged in to Goolge constantly to satisfy my want for impulse information? Can I realize the importance of taking the time to call my mom for cooking tips and recipes, rather than searching for them online? Can I relax and enjoy the fact that I'm not constantly available on whatever chat program of your choice? That's what my cell phone is for, isn't it? I think so. I've already begun to realize the benefits of the disconnected life and am savoring it.

I don't have a set goal; maybe I should. Three months? That sounds good. Done. We'll see how I feel in April.

What are you going to tell them?

I've just returned from the North American Association for Environmental Education (for those acronym lovers amongst you that's NAAEE--N Double-A Double-E) Conference in Wichita, KS. I love going to this conference as it's a time to meet new people and re-connect with friends from across North America. Climate Change education was a big theme, as was the idea that children need experiences in the outdoors. While the topics at the meeting were mainly about structured environmental education, research continues to show that the simple act of getting children outside has profound effects on children's health, including attention deficit disorder. The final keynote speaker, Jerome Ringo from the Apollo Alliance, left the meeting attendees with one important question to ask themselves: "When your grandchildren ask what you did to ensure a healthy environment, what are you going to be able to tell them?" I'd love to hear answers to this question in the comment thread.

Mountain Ablaze

Have you ever witnessed a natural disaster? What exactly is a natural disaster? According to dictionary.com, a natural disaster is any event or force of nature that has catastrophic consequences, such as avalanche, earthquake, flood, forest fire, hurricane, lightning, tornado, tsunami, and volcanic eruption. Catastrophic consequences. Catastrophic consequences to whom? To the animals, the landscape, the ecosystem? To people?

Yesterday a natural disaster that had catastrophic consequences such as a forest fire struck the mountain just above where I live. Firefighters haven't yet confirmed what started the fire, but it was big and raging.

Photo David Kockerhaer

Photo courtesy of ksl.com

The fire started at about noon yesterday and by the time that I came home from work, nearly the entire mountain beneath Lone Peak had been eaten by the rising flames. Many emotions ensued. Is my family okay? Neighbors? My house is in one of the lower parts of the valley, and though the fire started less than two miles from my home, the wind was blowing away from me and since fire burns in the upward direction, I knew that I was safe. But what about the people that lived even closer to the fire? Evacuations had been taking place all day for dozens of homes. The fire burned all night, and was still burning when I left for work in the morning.

Photo Kevin Nash

Luckily, no homes were damaged and no one was hurt. But the winds were howling, fueling the fire farther and farther out in nearly every direction. As I watched the black mass grow over the mountain I have lived beneath for nearly my entire life, I began thinking of all the trails that I frequent. Would the bridge on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail have to be rebuilt? That mountain is very sandy. There could be mudslides along that whole slope if rains come too soon. The "beauty" of the mountain has been sacrificed in some people's eyes, namely my mom, who displays her emotional reaction in her own blog. This natural disaster has, or could have, catastrophic consequences for humans, to be sure.

Photo Gary Hansen

Photo Jim Mcclintic

But what about the ecosystem of the mountain itself? Now I am no fire expert, but I do know that low intensity fires that don't burn too hot are extremely beneficial for forest ecosystems. Low intensity fires help clear dead underbrush and fallen trees and leave behind nutrient rich ash behind. This process is known as nutrient recycling and is good for replenishing the forest floor with vital nutrients that will be used by new plants beginning to grow back, replenishing food sources for animals. So the question is, how hot was this fire? Did it burn in such a way that a healthy ecosystem may emerge, or did it completely destroy everything in its path?

The forest will grow back no matter what, but a healthy ecosystem depends on nutrient recycling. And as far as ecosystems go, it may be that this fire is a good thing in the end. Forest fires, it would seem, are ultimately catastrophic for humans. But what about the consequences of other forces of nature? Are natural disasters only defined in terms of human reactions? Should they be defined any differently?

Teaching Evolution

There was an interesting article on some issues related to religion and the teaching of evolution in the New York Times on Sunday. I particularly liked this quote from a teacher:

“Faith is not based on science,” Mr. Campbell said. “And science is not based on faith. I don’t expect you to ‘believe’ the scientific explanation of evolution that we’re going to talk about over the next few weeks.”

“But I do,” he added, “expect you to understand it.”