stalking the wild asparagus

This one's for you, Dad!


If you don't know who Euell Gibbons was (I didn't), let's just say he was an expert on wild edibles (he died a year before I was born). Growing up during the Dust Bowl era, his mother taught him how to forage. In the 1960s he was well known for his views on natural, wild eating -- he wrote the book Stalking the Wild Asparagus about the subject.



This seems to be my new favorite subject. Though I remember back in high school, on a sort of outward-bound-lite camping trip, eating clover leaves on my solo night when my tummy was grumbling for lack of food. They didn't fill my belly, but they did plant a seed in my mind for a future passion.

Related post
yesterday's brooklyn foraging tour

gotta love goats

I do at least. They're hysterical. Like these pygmy goats who like to jump on their dog:


Or this kid who likes to jump on the bed:


How about an office goat?


According to the National Pygmy Goat Association (NPGA):

The Pygmy Goat is hardy, alert and animated, good-natured and gregarious; a docile, responsive pet, a cooperative provider of milk, and an ecologically effective browser. The Pygmy goat is an asset in a wide variety of settings, and can adapt to virtually all climates.

Sadly, we can't buy a goat because we live in the city -- their are ordinances against owning them here (and where would we put the little bugger in our apartment?).
But if you're interested in getting your own pygmy goat, as a pet, for milking, or maybe for mowing your lawn, try these NPGA-approved breeders:

• Prairie Wood Ranch
• The 12 Star
• Cutie Pie Acres
• Other NPGA-approved breeders

If you don't want to commit to having your own goat, you can rent one!

Related posts:

• interspecies love, or at least friendship
• dairy air: milk production sources exposed
• love animals, hate sprawl

hittin' the books

If you're a parent, you're probably celebrating. A student, mourning the unofficial end of summer. It's that time of year -- Back to School. And just like other marketed "seasons," there's something to buy. School supplies, accessories, clothes, etc.

But instead of the conventional stuff that was available to me when I was a kid, there's a whole range of eco-friendly options for back to school.



At the The Green Office, they make it easy to get back-to-school supplies with kits for both students and teachers. For example, for kids in 3rd to 5th grade, for $24.99 a kit would include:

• 3 Repocket Recycled Pocket Folders
• 1 Envirotech™ 100% Recycled Wirebound Notebook
• 1 Earth Write® Pencil (12-pack), Made in USA from recycled newspaper
  
• 1 Classic Colors Washable Waterbased (non-toxic) Markers
• 1 Crayola Classic Colors Crayons, 16/box (non-toxic)
• 1 Triggerwood Pen (plus refill)
• 1 Foohy® Colored Pencils (non-toxic)
• 1 Professional Watercolor Set with Brush, 8 Assorted Colors, Half Pans
• 1 KleenEarth® Steel Children's Safety Scissors
• 1 Washable, Nontoxic, Removable, Restickable Glue Stick
• 1 Pack of 7th Generation Facial Tissues

They also sell individual products, from recycled paper notebooks and printing paper to refillable pens and recycled content pencils.




Buy Green also has a range of eco-friendly office and back-to-school supplies.

Like this cool set of recycled newspaper pencils ($6.62 by O'BON)


Or this elephant dung paper notebook (that's right! It's by Ellie Poo, $9)

And this classic composition notebook of recycled paper ($2.79 by New Leaf)


Also...
Check out the back-to-school giveaway at Sustainable Is Good.
They're giving away 2 bags from act2 GreenSmart that are made from 100% recycled PET plastic bottles. Note: You must be a student to enter. Entry deadline: September 2, 2008. Check out their site for details.