March 2011

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EndofAmerica33, the stock market and a looming crisis

03/31/2011 in News, Things that Suck, Thoughts by Curt Siters | No comments

I just watched a video, EndofAmerica33.com (stansberryresearch.com – this is an advertisement). It is interesting to say the least. The subjects discussed include the stock market (the Crash and today), the price of gold and silver, and a looming crisis when the U.S. Dollar is no longer the world’s reserve currency.

I feel that stansberryresearch.com may have either intentionally left out information or has misconstrued some information for the sake of driving fear. Some of the information is stating President Obama is a socialist and is driving the U.S. down the road of England under the Marshall Plan. This is wrong – England was not covered under the Marshall Plan. This made my red flags go up.

He spoke of the Crash and the current recession comparing them. I like to do number crunching and find that the shapes are similar, however, that is where the similarity ends.

Are the Great Depression and the Crash related? Continue reading “EndofAmerica33, the stock market and a looming crisis” »

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Curt SitersCurt Siters

Webmaster

Shoals Creek Village - a new build intentional community.

My Eco Oasis - the hub for what will be a network of many ecovillages.

Big fan of living simply

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.  ~Albert Einstein

Man's heart away from nature becomes hard.  ~Standing Bear

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Dandelion Magic: George Cairns Story of Divine Intervention

03/27/2011 in First Aid (natural), Health, Herbs, How To, Plants, Recipe, Reflections & Discoveries by Evelyn | 2 comments

DandelionBelow are two beautiful and touching stories. Carl, a friend of a friend, discovered he had cancer and heard about a man, George Cairns who also had a special story and a recipe that helped him to become cancer-free. Here are their stories…

From Carl:

Hi, my name is Carl and I have been a musician and friend of Victor Wooten for many years. 

Six years ago, I was diagnosed with advanced type-3 throat cancer. Even though it has a lower success rate, I decided to undergo radiation treatment rather than disfiguring surgery or debilitating chemotherapy. One of my neighbors told me about a 85-year-old farmer named George who cured his prostrate cancer with dandelion root powder.

George was told by doctors he had maybe six months to live. I met with George and he told me that God inspired him to use the dandelion root powder. In thanks to God for saving his life he makes dandelion root powder to give away for free to all who need help. He helps hundreds of people some who were told they had no chance & were going to die within months, most of them are alive and well today. George is now 90 and its been 11 years since his diagnosis. Continue reading “Dandelion Magic: George Cairns Story of Divine Intervention” »

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Obama gives $36 Billion in Guarantees for Nuclear Power Plants

03/24/2011 in Intelligent Designing, News, Reflections & Discoveries, Things that Suck, Thoughts, What Matters Most by Curt Siters | No comments

Just how much is 36 Billion dollars?

36 Billion Dollars seems like a large amount of money. It can be a little hard to comprehend so, I broke it down with several examples so that we can see what it really is. money

  • It is one-half of Bill Gates net worth
  • It is enough for every (legal) man, woman and child to each receive $119.90 (based upon a population of approximately 300 million).
  • It is enough to build 720 new schools at $50,000,000 each.
  • At 0.0043 inches thick 1 trillion dollar bills would reach 2,605 miles high, or or reach two thirds of the way across the US
  • 3,797,468 households, each would receive $9,480.46 – enough to solarize each and every household (averaging $9,000 per installation)
  • At 16 square inches if you laid them side by side they would cover 125.9 square miles or cover a little less than one-third of New York City (468.9 sq.mi.)

36 Billion Dollars worth of solar energy would reduce the U.S. need for fossil fuel or nuclear power plants by 4% (based upon the US Census of 2000 with 105+ million households). Add to that an additional 8% (for a total of 12%) by redirecting the subsidies of $100,000,000  for the oil, coal and gas companies every year. Within 10 years our country would be energy independent.

Ever notice whenever there is a major storm or earthquake how hundreds of thousands of people lose power? That is due to the centralized power production scheme that is currently in place. If these power companies instead would invest in decentralized production by offering to help with the purchase, install and maintenance of solar systems on buildings their job would be much easier and the effects of natural, or man-made, disasters would affect fewer people.

I’m just wondering when the power companies will wake up and say “DECENTRALIZED is the way to go!”

I’m also wondering when our government will wake up and serve the people instead of the corporations (in spite of the Citizens United case).

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Curt SitersCurt Siters

Webmaster

Shoals Creek Village - a new build intentional community.

My Eco Oasis - the hub for what will be a network of many ecovillages.

Big fan of living simply

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.  ~Albert Einstein

Man's heart away from nature becomes hard.  ~Standing Bear

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Eat the Weeds: Sauteed Dandelion Greens Recipe

03/23/2011 in Cooking, Food, Health, Herbs, How To, Plants, Recipe by Evelyn | No comments

Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) are wild, abundant, extremely nutritious, free food! Dandelion

5 Tips on Harvesting Your Own Dandelion Greens for Peak Flavor

  1. Pick dandelion greens before the plant flowers; after flowering the greens can have a bitter flavor. Harvest dandelion greens in early spring, before the flowers appear is when they’re the tenderest and least bitter.
  2. After the first frost in fall is another time when dandelion greens aren’t so bitter. Boiling them will further reduce their bitterness.
  3. If you wish to have dandelion greens during or after they flower be sure to select only the youngest leaves as they will not be nearly as bitter.
  4. This recipe calls for the green leafy part of the plant. Be certain to only harvest wild plants in areas that are quite free of chemical pollution and away from roadways and parking areas.
  5. I prefer to pick-my-own dandelion greens because I have more control over selecting the youngest, best tasting leaves; as compared to those sold in stores, those can be bitter and the texture isn’t so good either, companies just don’t care as much about the quality of my food as I do… so, pick your own for the best [least bitter] flavor!

Dandelion leaves are a well known ‘spring tonic’, used for centuries to cleanse the liver in the springtime after a long winter of eating hard-to-digest foods. Dandelions are one of the most nutritious plants on earth, far more nutritious than all fresh foods on the produce shelf of any store. For those seeking to eat locally, healthfully, and reduce their food miles, dandelions are an excellent addition to the kitchen and diet.

Foraging: Picking the Correct Plant

When foraging for your own wild foods it’s extremely important that you correctly identify the plant. The fact is, some plants can look like others to the novice. For instance, in the Southeast USA there’s a plant called False Dandelion (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus); note the Latin name, it’s completely different than Taraxacum officinale because it’s a different species. Here’s a link to False Dandelion and Common Dandelion (the plant described in this article for eating). Here’s another example, Asiatic Hawksbeard (Youngia japonica).

A good field guide for those new to identifying free wild foods is: Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification

Sauteed Dandelion Greens Recipe Continue reading “Eat the Weeds: Sauteed Dandelion Greens Recipe” »

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Mountain Bread

03/22/2011 in Cooking, Food, Fun Stuff, Health, How To, Recipe, Simple Skills, Tools by Curt Siters | No comments

When I was growing up in the 70′s and 80′s I wasn’t really a big fan of bread. I would eat sandwiches and, if I was really hungry, I might eat the bread you got at restaurants before the main course was served.

That all changed when my girlfriend and I settled into Seattle and I decided to start baking our bread. We found a book called “The Breads of France” that had a recipe similar to my girlfriends favorite bread from Bread Alone in Woodstock, NY. The end result was bread I could eat because it tasted good and my body said “Ooooooo Yeaaaaa! That’s it!”

The recipe below, however, is not a bread from the book. It is a simple bread based upon several different recipes and is quite pleasant in its form. The size makes it easy to take along for a treat on a special picnic or to make your lunch at work special. The crust is solid but not hard. The crumb (the center part with the air spaces in it) is firm. I have been able to slice it 1/8th of an inch thin without it falling apart which gives you a wide range of possibilities in making meals or hor d’eouvres.

It toasts great. Even at 1/8th of an inch it can be toasted for 3 1/2 minutes and will be crispy and not burned. Continue reading “Mountain Bread” »

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Curt SitersCurt Siters

Webmaster

Shoals Creek Village - a new build intentional community.

My Eco Oasis - the hub for what will be a network of many ecovillages.

Big fan of living simply

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.  ~Albert Einstein

Man's heart away from nature becomes hard.  ~Standing Bear

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Lavender Lemonade

03/18/2011 in Cooking, Food, Herbs, How To, Recipe by Evelyn | No comments

Making your own Lavender Lemonade is easy, nutritious, and oh so delicious. Lavender has adaptogenic properties, meaning it’s balancing to the system. Kick back, relax and enjoy a soothing glass of Lavender Lemonade! Lavender essential oil

  • 7 Lemons, squeezed
  • 2 Limes, squeezed
  • 14 cups water
  • 1 1/2 cups Agave syrup
  • 1 drop Young  Living Lavender essential oil

Mix all ingredients together and chill. Serve over ice cubes in a tall glass, garnish with a fresh strawberry or sprig of fresh peppermint.

Learn more about cooking with food-grade essential oils at my Young Living website.

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Italian Black Cherry Vanilla Cream Soda

03/16/2011 in Cooking, Food, Recipe by Evelyn | No comments

To make this delicious Black Cherry Vanilla Cream Soda you will need:

Fill a tall glass halfway full of natural, sparkling water. Add a tiny splash of vanilla extract. Add Agave. Stir well, but slowly to avoid quick fizzing up and overflowing glass. Slowly, in stages, top off with raw milk and stir gently.

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Soothing Strawberry Facial Scrub

03/14/2011 in Gardening, How To, Plants, Recipe by Evelyn | No comments

Strawberries planted in a large hanging basketUse this strawberry facial scrub recipe on normal or combination skin. The strawberry seeds help to exfoliate old skin while the yogurt sooths.

This picture shows one of my hanging baskets and how I had been growing my strawberries while living in an apartment. I found that growing strawberries in very large hanging baskets, available from any nursery, to be exceptionally easy to do and extremely easy to maintain… no weeding, no insect pests!

The only thing you will need to be mindful of is if you’re growing anything in one of these large baskets is the weight, they are quite heavy… so make certain the place you’re hanging them from can support the weight.

You will need:

1/4 cup plain yogurt; chilled
3-4 strawberries; mashed

Instructions:

Stir all ingredients together.

Apply to freshly cleaned face and gently massage strawberry mixture to exfoliate.

Wash off with warm water and pat dry.

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

Follow Me on Pinterest

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Nuclear Power, Earthquakes and Our Energy Consumption

03/11/2011 in How To, News, Reflections & Discoveries, Saving Energy, Things that Suck, Thoughts, What Matters Most by Evelyn | No comments

This really sucks… devastating news about what occurred in Japan. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake caused extremely destructive tsunami waves in northeastern Japan. Leaving thousands of people confirmed dead, injured or missing, and millions more affected by lack of electricity, water and transportation… one can only imagine what’s going to happen with those nuclear reactors.

Slightly a month before I was born; December 2, 1957, in Shippingport, Pennsylvania, the first full scale nuclear power plant went into service.

I didn’t know a thing about nuclear power until March 28, 1979 when Three Mile Island near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania had a major nuclear accident. Since then I have questioned ‘why’ are we building these things??? Continue reading “Nuclear Power, Earthquakes and Our Energy Consumption” »

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Lemon-Tomato Facial Mask

03/11/2011 in Aromatherapy, How To, Recipe by Evelyn | No comments

This facial mask recipe is for oily skin. The acid in the tomato and lemon work on acne and blackheads too. Using tomatoes in this recipe also provides a use for the abundance of tomatoes in the garden that may be getting a bit over-ripe for eating.Lemon essential oil

You will need:

1 over-ripe tomato; inside scooped and mashed
1 drop Young Living Lemon Essential Oil
1 tsp instant oatmeal

Instructions:

Puree all ingredients in a blender. Apply to freshly cleaned face and leave on for 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water and pat dry.

About Lemon Essential Oil

Therapeutic-grade Lemon essential oil is know for promoting clarity of though and has a fragrance that is fresh, invigorating, enhancing, and warming. University researchers in Japan found that diffusing certain aromas in an office environment dramatically improved mental accuracy and concentration. Diffused lemon resulted in 54 percent fewer errors, jasmine 33 percent fewer errors, and lavender 20 percent fewer errors. When aromas were diffused during test taking, scores increased by as much as 50 percent. A 1995 Mie University study found that citrus fragrances boosted immunity, induced relaxation, and reduced depression.

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

Follow Me on Pinterest

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