Reading World Café

Well it may not be Paris in the 30's, but I do think this can really be a happening event. Now is the chance to really talk the talk and advocate for issues regarding Reading. The Reading World Cafe, scheduled for Wednesday Feb. 27th 6:30 p.m. at the Field House, is as local a process you can get. While it is not changing any laws or plans for Reading, it can get folks and the powers-that-be a chance to hear what is on your mind. Basically, you sit around a table with other Readingites and discuss what you see for the future of Reading. I am copying the key points from their site so you can get an idea of the format and goals:

World Café Process
The World Café is a structured conversation process that allows large groups of people to talk courteously together about their desires for the future of Reading. Following simple guidelines, participants discuss key questions in small groups at separate tables. The small groups shift and the conversation evolves as people change tables, share insights and perspectives, and discover what is commonly believed, desired and valued by community members. We will harvest emerging ideas from the discussion to identify dreams, opportunities, dilemmas and the next steps for getting what we collectively want.

This is quite an opportunity to bring up some of the ideas that we have discussed since last year. Healthier living, local food, and changing some habits for a better tomorrow. I really think that we will find many,many folks who agree with these "Eco Reading" views, perhaps some citizens may surprise you!

So please sign up. All you have to do is go here or call (781) 942-6660. I will be going and joining in on the conversations. I have high hopes that it will be a Mr. Rogers kind of experience where we all revel in our neighborliness and good cheer. I have no hand at organizing this event nor have I attended this kind of meeting before, but I think that even if you are shy, the small group setting will make it easy for everyone to participate. What do you think? Are you in?

Let's Get the Farm Into Reading Public Schools

Reading loves its children. It is obvious from all the towns events, goals and policies that Reading loves its children. We have wonderful folks in all positions working towards growing children into healthy and happy adults. Our schools are top-notch, and we spend lavishly making sure the physical spaces, the curriculum, and the technologies are worthy of our most precious gems. However, one area that many parents in Reading and around the country are concerned with is child nutrition. We have lower rates of obesity in Massachusetts than other parts of the country, but there is no doubt childhood obesity is on the rise. Obviously, Reading officials care very much about the health of our children as they have a wellness site dedicated to getting students fit and drug-free. What it really doesn't address is the food offerings in the public schools. Perhaps Reading can do better with providing lunches that are healthier, fresher and filled with more complete nutrition in one simple way...it is grown locally.

Massachusetts has a program to partner farms with schools throughout the state called the Farm to School Project. During the last school year 63 systems participated in the program and used locally-grown food in their cafeterias. Why couldn't Reading?

I have to be honest and let you know that I don't have a students in RPS, yet. So I do not have direct testimony to the quality of the food served in its lunch program. What I do have is experience eating many a federally-subsidized school lunch as a teacher. Yes, there were days that I forgot to pack, or was too lazy to pack, a lunch and it was cafeteria city for me. I tasted many a meal that is were similar to what I see listed in the newspaper for Reading lunches. Hot dogs, baked beans, french fries, tacos, subs, etc. I can not be sure, but I bet most of these ingredients were not cooked fresh. More than likely, they were heated from a can or defrosted from a frozen package. Make no mistake about my feelings, I am grateful for federally-subsidized lunches, as I recall the sweet faces of my former students that depended upon lunch in order to have at least one meal that was balanced and calorie-rich. But really, can't we do better? Can we stop including ketchup as a vegetable? Can't we challenge our cafeteria planners to include locally grown products in our children's menu? Wouldn't they be better off? I think, "Yes!"

Oh now I can hear some naysayers detailing how their kids won't eat healthy foods or how the cafeteria workers could not possibly deviate from their lower impact service. Then let's start small and incorporate steps and see how we can grow the program for our town. Perhaps we buy broccoli one season than add potatoes for the next. I think this is totally doable.

There are many resources being created in Massachusetts and across the country that will assist localities in creating the link between local food and local students. The Center for Ecoliteracy has created a very in depth guide to assist local school systems incorporate all aspects of a change in food policy.

So parents, it really is up to you to make some noise and make sure the changes that we would like to see can come into being. As for school officials, I know that you have so much on your plates (pun intended:) but this is something that will show leadership in a profound way. How wonderful would it be if Reading could be on the list of Farm to School participants next year. It just takes a bit of time, effort and the belief in possibilities!

Let's Review Shall We?

Happy new year! I hope you all had a lovely time spent with your families and eating wonderful fresh food....local of course! I must say I had a wonderful time and our homemade gifts for our son were a total hit! Santa's elves did a really great job making all of those toys at the North Pole and not in China.:)

The other day my son was in a bit of a tantrum and was not liking my discipline tone. He told me that I was being a "bad Mommy" and he was going to put a toy into the closet. (He actually gets a toy taken away if he is acting up pretty badly). He marches into my room (I am trying not to laugh) and looks around at what he will take away. Of course it has to be a most beloved toy for his discipline to work. What does he come up with? My hand lotion. Clever, but kinda naughty boy!

So hand lotion is kind of a big deal to me during the winter months. I think I must put on lotion about 10 times a day. The same goes for lip balm. In an effort to be less chemically impacted I used the cosmetic data base and tossed out my most beloved (and expensive) cosmetics that were not so healthy. Surprisingly, I have been able to get a few of my new favorites from local retail and a few products are actually made locally.

I purchased these items from The Natural Food Exchange in Stoneham, Whole Foods in Woburn (also Andover) and at the Newcomers and Neighbors shopping night. I tried many a product out and have been able to give thumbs up to the following products.

Shampoo. Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Shampoo. Great lather and leaves my hair feeling clean but not dry. They changed the formulation and it is not as "healthy" as it was according to the database. They added "fragrance" and it now puts them at a #4 instead of #2 where they were.

Conditioner. Still looking for the total winner. Now using Burt's Bees Conditioner and also the MGA and they are working out pretty well. If you have any that you love, let me know.

Body lotion. Scentsible Soaps Lavender and Rosemary. It really takes the stingy biting out of winter skin and smells wonderful. This is a local gal from Newburyport that sells at shopping nights etc. I bought this last year at the Newcomer and Neighbor shopping night and love it. I am hoping to get some more, but as of yet my email has not been returned. Please email me so I can rave about you as well.

Hand Lotion. Collective Wellbeing Hand Cream. Hand cream is a very difficult one to replace entirely. I find myself supplementing this with other more "toxic" creams that I kept. I know, I know ...bad Eco Reading...but my hand suffer so. I really do think this is a great product...but I am still keeping my eye out for one that I may love even more (sounds like my dating days :)

Face lotion. Grateful Body for normal skin. Grateful Body is a California company is a tad on the expensive side, but I swear I never thought I would find a product that I loved as much as my other not so great for me, designer brands. Well I was proven wrong. I love it!

Tinted Lip Balm. Stolat Organics Pomegranate Lip Shimmer. This is a local gal that works her magic out of Newmarket NH. Really nice products and her website is filled with information detailing ingredients that she uses in her products. Bravo Stolat! Oh...on a side note.... Stolat is a famous slavic song sung at weddings and birthdays etc. Could she be one of my people?...hmmm interesting :)

Lip Balm. -Burts Bees beeswax or honey. I know that it is not the healthiest choice (the honey one gets a 4) and they are owned now by Clorox, but I really like them and decided to live with it for now. A better choice that my son uses is Badger Balm is the unscented variety. He hates anything that is "glwinty" (translation "minty"). I have used the cinnamon variety and it is very nice. The Burt's Bees can be found just about anywhere, and the Badger Balm I purchased at the Natural Food Exchange.

Soap. Steve's Soap Works. This is a new find that I purchased at the Natural Food Exchange and I love it. While the name could be sexier (kind of sounds like a foundry or something) the soap is very delicate and beautifully scented. I really love that it does not melt as fast as some of the other "natural" soaps tend to do.

Perfume. Nadina's Cremes "Night Queen". While this is technically a body lotion, the scents tend to linger so I use this as my perfume. According to the site the products is very versatile and can be used as perfume, massage cream, bath oil, and on and on. I have used this for about 15 years (local to Baltimore area) and I still think it is wonderful. They also employ mentally challenged workers and are committed to economics as change. Really nice.

Well, that leads be to makeup. I am still working on that. I did keep a small about of makeup to us for special occasions, but I have not found as of yet replacements for my foundation, mascara, blush, shadow, lipstick, and eyeliner. Lancome's Mascara sits at a #4 and I believe the foundation does as well. The others I am sure are 7+. Fortunately the big manufacturers are coming out with new "mineral" lines so they will become more mainstream. I think I will continue to look and replace a little at a time.

Oh...I wanted to tell you a bit more of the Natural Food Exchange....they are moving to READING! This is a recent discovery and I am floored that I never visited it before my new cosmetic quest. The staff is really helpful and knowledgeable and I even got to try my face cream at home for a few days before I bought it thanks to a sample they gave me. They have some many products to choose from and a wide variety of goods from honey to gluten free to cosmetics. Love it and after their move, it will be even closer!

Going more "green" has cost a lot of "green", I'm not going to lie to you. But if we don't change, what will be the price to our health? I have just read the book The Secret History of the War on Cancer by Dr. Devra Davis. I don't want to scare you my lovely friends, but please believe me when I tell you to think about making small changes in your choices of daily care products. It can truly have an impact upon your well being. It is the very least we can do for ourselves and our family. Remember, you're worth it!