Happy 2007!

Northern Lights Photo Courtesy of Stock.xchnge

Here's to the days of good will, cold weather, and warm hearts.
~ New Year's Toast

Happy Holidays 2006

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
~ Calvin Coolidge

Happy Thanksgiving 2006!

Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths. At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings.
~ J. Robert Moskin

Enhance Your Beauty, Naturally

Your friendly neighborhood webmom is now a Marlo Quinn Consultant!

Marlo Quinn offers natural-based bath, body and skin care for the entire family. All of our products are 95% natural and above. Our formulator is quality tested and assured, as well as natural, botanical, organic and vegan certified. You can rest assured that our products are made fresh and overflowing with the highest quality natural butters, waxes and oils. We believe that you have the right to know what you are putting on your skin, all of our products include full ingredient disclosure. Marlo Quinn never uses animal testing of any kind.

Book an online party today! Marvel's Webstore: http://www.marloquinn.com/marvel


Treehuggerz on Squidoo.com
25% of all TreeHuggerz Squidoo revenue goes to OxFam America. If you don't already have a lens, they are free and easy to create. Check out our lens and join the Green Web Group for treehugging lenses.

TreeHuggerz News
New articles on the tips and herbals pages.
Treehuggerz secondhand store is closed for renovations. I'll post here when it's back up and open for business.


TreeHuggerz Freebies
Share your photos or download those you like for free from the following websites.
Free Range Stock
Morguefile.com
Stock.XCHANGE


A big thank you to all customers, visitors and supporters! You are very much appreciated.

Enjoy a Recycled Halloween

Fall is my favorite time of year and Halloween is still a time for "dressing up". The best costumes of my childhood were the times we made our own. One of the funniest was when my sister and I made ourselves into Martians. I must have been about 13 years old and my sister 11. We wore matching track suits that zipped to the chin. Used foil for our antennae which were stuck into our hair. Finally, we covered our faces and hands with green food coloring. While on our trick or treating rounds, one gentleman even took our picture to add to his collection of outstanding costumes. The only problem was that undiluted food coloring stains the skin. Unfortunately, we were faintly green for days!

Have a safe time and use some of the links below to spark your creativity while saving money and natural resources.

New TreeHuggerz Articles:
10 Alternate Energy Sources to Live Well With Global Warming
Planting Herbs in the Fall
Small Things You Can Do Everyday has been updated.

Halloween Ideas Using Recycled Materials

Make your own costume Ideas including some for chair users
http://www.robinsfyi.com/holidays/halloween/costumes.htm

Family friendly eco-Halloween Hike in Wisconsin
http://www.bongnaturalistassociation.org/

Bleach Bottle Cat
This project uses spray paint. However, a better alternate would be nontoxic acrylic paint.
http://www.craftown.com/halloween/craft27.htm

Cat crafts for children, many suitable for Halloween.
http://stepbystepcc.com/animals/cats2.html

Plastic Tub and Grocery Bag Ghost
http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/sackghost.html

Egg Carton Pumpkins
http://crafterscommunity.com/index.php/248

Make Your Own Mummy Costume
http://www.craftown.com/halloween/craft4.htm

Paper Sack Pumpkins
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/stuffed_paper_sack_pumpkins.htm

Apple Head Witch Dolls
http://www.craftown.com/halloween/craft53.htm

How to Make Tempera Paint
http://www.eggtempera.com/paint.html

How to Make Poster Paint (kid friendly)
http://www.kidsturncentral.com/crafts/crecipe6.htm

Crafting Tips: Please use an all-purpose acrylic craft paint that is water-based and nontoxic for your painting needs. Tempera paint (egg-based) works well on porous surfaces and is a better choice environmentally speaking. Just say no to spray paint.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

57% of homeless families identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness. (The United States Conference of Mayors, A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities: 1999, December 1999, p. 39.)

That is just one of the many statistics about how domestic violence affects communities, not just the abuser and victim. Wear a purple ribbon to show support for victims of domestic abuse this month. Read the article below and donate to or volunteer for a crisis center in your community. As a former crisis-line and shelter worker I can say that education about abuse is important to both the victim and abuser, not to mention the public. Please use this month to erase some of the myths that exist in your own mind concerning violence in the home.


*******************
Domestic Violence and Women
By Kadence Buchanan

Every single day a number of health care professionals have to encounter an incident of an abused victim turning to them to request help. But even of you are not a trained professional you should be familiar with what domestic violence is and what it can do to victims. Then you will be better prepared to react correctly in case you encounter such an unfortunate incident. Helping the victim regain a sense of control over his or her life should not be your responsibility if you are not a trained professional, but being informed can sometimes save a victim from keeping everything within and self-destruct.

Domestic violence is characterized as a pattern of coercive behaviors that may include repeated battering and injury, psychological abuse, sexual assault, progressive social isolation, deprivation and intimidation. Someone who is or was involved in an intimate relationship, with the victim, might perpetrate these behaviors. According to official data from law enforcement units and medical institutions, gender plays an important role in dynamics of abuse. Over 85 percent of reported victims of domestic violence are women and most perpetrators are men. Moreover, domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women of all ages and the leading cause of injury to pregnant women and ladies between 18 and 44 years of age.

On the other hand, domestic violence is also known as "partner violence or spouse abuse" since experts recognize that also men may be abused in intimate relationships. In addition, many of today's societies report domestic violence incidents between gay or lesbian partners, since this type of intimidating behavior is not a characteristic of a specific sexual orientation. Physical assault, sexual abuse, threats against person, creating stress and psychological damage to children or loved ones, destruction of home or personal property, are some of the most common cases reported as examples of domestic violence incidents.

Unfortunately, although extremely common, domestic violence is considered an extremely sensitive subject that victims do not easily report and thus it remains confined inside the particular territory of a family's neighborhood or even walls. Some of the most common domestic violence myths include that it is a behavior pattern indicative of particular economic and social groups; it is a marital problem; victims will never speak of what they are experiencing; it is associated with alcohol or drug abuse; and that violence can be handed down from one generation to the next.

In fact, research indicates that violence may be a learned behavior, particularly from observation, however all men who are violent do not have histories of violence in childhood. Very interesting is the fact that unmarried partners and those who are separated or divorced have higher rates of abuse than those who are married. Additionally, rate of domestic violence vary little between economic and/or cultural groups. Finally, while studies have shown that alcohol and/or drug addiction and violence frequently coexist, they are not resulting from each other and that violent behavior will not end unless professional treatment and adequate interventions address both problems; the substance abuse and the violent behavior.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Women's Health, Cooking, and Women

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kadence_Buchanan

*******************


New TreeHuggerz Articles
Eating Can Be An Adventure - Keep It Interesting, Simple, Healthy and Fun
Aromatherapy Travel Insurance - Essential Oils For Your Journeys


TreeHuggerz Freebies
Hope For Healing.Org has free brochures available for download in PDF format. This organization is Christian-based with many resources, both on and offline, for victims of assault.

National Domestic Violence 24/7 Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
Hotline advocates are available to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 140 languages through interpreter services.

Feminist Internet Gateway: Domestic Violence Resources
This is the most comprehensive online listing I've come across.

Light A Million Candles

The innocent victims of Internet child abuse cannot speak for themselves.

But you can.

With your help, we can eradicate this evil trade.

We do not need your money.

We need you to light a candle of support http://www.lightamillioncandles.com.

We're aiming to light at least One Million Candles by December 31, 2006.

This petition will be used to encourage governments, politicians, financial institutions, payment organisations, Internet service providers, technology companies and law enforcement agencies to eradicate the commercial viability of online child abuse.

They have the power to work together. You have the power to get them to take action.

Please light your candle at lightamillioncandles.com or send an email of support to light@lightamillioncandles.com.

Together, we can destroy the commercial viability of Internet child abuse sites that are destroying the lives of innocent children.

Kindly forward this email to your friends, relatives and work colleagues so that they can light a candle too.

Homestead September Anniversary Special

Try Homestead for FREE!

I wanted to let you know about Homestead Technologies. For sometime now, Homestead has powered my website, ensuring I'm always connected online. Why Homestead?

- Award-winning web design software
- No design experience or HTML required
- Web hosting and personalized domain name
- Great customer support
- Shopping Cart Available
- Photo and Clip Art Library (my personal favorite)
- Templates
- Only in September - Packages start from $4.99/mo

Take advantage of Homestead today! You can build your website free for 30 days. Sign up before October 31, 2006.

Click here to start your free trial.

The Office

No, not the TV show but a guest article from Trash Talk authors, Dave and Lillian Brummet.

New Articles on TreeHuggerz.com
Budgeting For Your Personal Finance
Aromatherapy At Work


TreeHuggerz Freebies
Debtors Anonymous -Recover from problems with debt.
Spenders Anonymous -A 12-Step Fellowship to help control your spending habits.
Clutterers Anonymous -Help to eliminate clutter and bring order into your life.

********************************
Efficiency Around The Office
By Dave Brummet and Lillian Brummet

Nearly every office, be it commercial or home-based, may have areas of inefficiency that can be improved upon. We are not talking sales figures or profit margins or budgets, but inefficient waste and resource management. For instance, let us look at some common aspects and consider how consumption can be reduced and how to make better use of resources.

Not all paper work and receipts need to be shredded, but sometimes, for the sake of security, it is necessary. This shredded paper is recyclable or it can be contributed in layers to a compost or worm bin. It can also be donated to animal shelters or pet stores where it is used in the bottom of cages to help keep them clean. This will ease workloads on staff, keep operational costs down, and the animals are more comfortable in their cages. The animal waste along with the bedding is easily composted.

Technology now makes it possible to save paper on a daily basis by sending emails. Worth mentioning, is the time saved as compared to communicating via the postal system. When sending a fax, if possible, refrain from using a cover sheet. For efficient paper use at the photocopy machine, set it to automatically print pages on both sides. When making draft copies with the photocopier or printer, use the reverse side of any suitable scrap paper. We keep a box of this paper handy for visiting children to color and draw upon. The blank side of any scrap paper can be used for shopping lists, reminder notes, game scoring, or the perpetual to do list(s) that we all have.

We often use sheets of adhesive labels in our office printer. The edges, top and bottom of each used sheet have 1/4" of remaining unused material. These can be trimmed to convenient lengths and stored in a small jar (or other storage container of choice). These labels come in handy when labeling items destined for the freezer, jam jars, bulk foods or shop and craft supplies.

Keep computer equipment such as external drives, printers and scanners powered off when they are not in use – turn them on only for the duration that they are needed. Stand-by power (lights or clock displays) can be eliminated by either using a power bar or by manually unplugging the equipment. Sleep the computer during the day when not in use (lunch, coffee, or meetings) and turn all equipment off before leaving at the end of the day.

These are some simple suggestions, yet they will save time, money, and resources, which is in the best interest of any office.

Written by Dave and Lillian Brummet based on the concept of their book, Trash Talk. The book offers useful solutions for the individual to reduce waste and better manage resources. A guide for anyone concerned about their impact on the environment. (http://www.sunshinecable.com/)

********************************

Goodbye Crocodile Hunter

It's hard to believe that Steve Irwin is actually gone. He was a man that reached across generations. My elderly clients got a kick of him as much and my young daughter. I was impressed by his passion about conservation and his willingness to laugh at himself. My condolences go out to his family and friends.

Happy Labor Day!

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.
~Ovid







Photo by Mary K. Baird

Green Contest

"Name That Television Show" Contest
Email your entry by midnight Aug. 22, 2006. They need a new title for the Built Green TV show. The best entry will be chosen and used to retitle the show. One winner will receive a Voltaic solar backpack from 3r living.

I'm still working on my idea. What do you think about, "Treehuggerz At Large"? (Sorry, couldn't resist.) The official rules and all entry requirements are posted at builtgreentv.com.


TreeHuggerz Articles
New Tips article on how to prevent and treat head lice naturally. The new Herbals article has information for the breastfeeding mother.

TreeHuggerz Freebie
Oceangram.com
Send a virtual message in a bottle.

New Diapering System

gDiaper
Flushable inserts in a "little g" cover that don't cost much more than disposables. You can compost the urine soaked inserts and even save on water. Available in a few retail outlets (Oregon, yay!) and by mail-order. They offer automatic delivery, too. So you can have them bill your credit card, then delivered right to your door. Each purchase also helps support the Children's Health Environmental Coalition's Blue Butterfly campaign. Wow, I would have jumped on these if I'd known about them when DD arrived. Has anyone tried them?

TreeHuggerz Tips and Hints
New article about using honey as a healthy sweetener and I've included some recipes.

TreeHuggerz Freebie
Polly Klaas Foundation Child Safety Kit
Free by calling 1-800-587-HELP

Happy Fourth of July!

"Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
~Benjamin Franklin

For Kids of All Ages

Homemade Bubble Fun is the title of the latest TreeHuggerz Tips article. You'll find tips and recipes for making your own bubbles. Below is a recipe for modeling clay that is also a treat to eat.

 

EDIBLE  CLAY

 

1 (18 oz.) jar smooth peanut butter
6 tbs. honey
1/2 cup instant dried milk

Optional: raisins, chocolate chips, nuts and pretzels

 

Combine peanut butter and honey, then add milk to play dough consistency. Use raisins, chocolate chips, nuts and pretzels to decorate.

Warning: Not for children under the age of two.

Happy Father's Day!

"I talk and talk and talk, and I haven't taught people in 50 years what my father taught by example in one week."
Mario Cuomo, former governor of N.Y.

Treat Dad to a healthier grilled meal this weekend. Check out TreeHuggerz Herbals page for recipes and healthy tips on grilling.

Photo courtesy of Mary and Morguefile.com

Celebrate Loving Day!

"While it may seem negligible on the outside, interracial marriage and dating, is a hot topic and somewhat of a taboo, still, and quite controversial."
Alfre Woodard



Loving Day commemorates June 12, 1967 when the US Supreme Court made it a legal right to love a person of any race. Before that decision interracial couples could be legally separated and/or punished by their state governments. In the state of Oregon (my current residence) there were laws from 1862-1951 making marriage between specific interracial couples null and void. Join a celebration happening in your city or have one of your own.

Contest Suspended

TreeHuggerz Contest has been suspended until further notice. The winner of April's contest was Lauri A. of Vermont. Check out her tomato plant tip on the Winner's Page. Many thanks to all who have entered and made it a success for the last year. If anyone would like to sponsor a TreeHuggerz Contest, please let me know. Email: webmom @ treehuggez.org (remove the spaces)

My computer is still dead and unfortunately the loaner I had is on the fritz as well. Therefore, my online duties are getting the bare minimum of my attention until I have a working system in my home.

Below is a new ad for the March of Dimes, "Be A Hero For Babies Day" Campaign. Give if you can and pass the word along. They hope to raise $1 million dollars this month. All donations made through my affiliate links go directly to the March of Dimes, they do not pay affiliates.

Happy Mother's Day

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.
~George Cooper

Pantene Beautiful Lengths Campaign

"Bring beauty and hope to women living with the effects of cancer."

 

Deadline is 4/25/06

Go to http://www.beautifullengths.com/

 

Register to become a hometown ambassador. Men and women are encouraged to apply. You must be willing to have your hair cut for donation. Diane Lane is the spokesperson and will be donating her own hair in July.

 

Even if you don't want to be an ambassador, please consider donating your hair. The link above has a free donation kit available.

 

Thanks to the anonymous poster who sent TreeHuggerz Blog this information.

Earth Day Freebie

Get a FREE ACME Workhorse 1500 Bag with our Earth Day Coupon and more!


For the last five years, we have been fighting hard to
spread the word on the massive over-consumption of
plastic shopping bags.  We've made a significant
impact through raising awareness ? from inspiring
hundreds of news stories to empowering individuals
with practical tools to supporting non-profits (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=9n6cxubab.0.ytwcyubab.afayh7n6.3600&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reusablebags.com%2Faction.php%3Fid%3D10).  To date, we?ve shipped nearly
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In celebration of Earth Day, we are making it easier
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our "freeacmebag" coupon. 
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don't delay.

Be sure to check out some of our newly added activist tools (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=9n6cxubab.0.8s6aeebab.afayh7n6.3600&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reusablebags.com%2Fstore%2Factivist-tools-c-5.html) that help you
spread the word.  And stay educated and informed
by taking a look at our
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Gallery (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=9n6cxubab.0.9twcyubab.afayh7n6.3600&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reusablebags.com%2Fgallery.php), featuring the latest articles on the
issue along with some photos of "Plastics Bags Gone
Wild."

Feel free to pass this offer on to others!

Computer Problems

Yes, I am still around but only via email because my computer died last week. Please allow for extra time between postings and updates as we shuffle the parts of two broken machines into one working model. So far it looks like all my hard drive data is intact, just not accessible.  (Mama needs a new laptop!)

 

There is a new tips and hints page on TreeHuggerz.com and our Contest winner for March is Kim C., congratulations! April's Contest winner will receive the Student Success System by Blaine Athorn, be sure to enter your tip or recipe.

 

Passover Greetings and Happy Easter to all!

--
TreeHuggerz.com
Get tips and hints for green living on a budget.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

An Irish Blessing: 
May brooks and trees and singing hills
Join in the chorus too,
And every gentle wind that blows
Send happiness to you.

WikiHow

Find or request an article on how-to do almost anything you can imagine. Free to use and you don't even have to register to view articles.

Contest Winner's

Congratulations to Barbra A. of IL who won TreeHuggerz February Contest!

Belated Congratulations! to Diane P. of CA who won TreeHuggerz January Contest.

Both their tips can be found at TreeHuggerz Winner's Page.

Please note that the Contest Rules have been updated. I've decided to limit the number of winner's chosen each month to three. If I don't get a response then the prize will roll over to the next month. This is due to my own time limitations.

Happy Valentine's Day!

"We cannot compel love to come to us. We simply invite it. When it comes, let us gives thanks for it and see what we can do to attract still more. We should express affection, even if all we do is pat dogs. The more love we give away, the greater love we have to share."
-Thomas Dreier 

TreeHuggerz February Update

There's been a new page of books added to the bookstore. Check out the new titles and feel free to send me your recommendations. Yours truly just received a copy of "Eat Up Slim Down Annual Recipes 2006" with her recipe for Pasta with Chickpea Sauce on page 176. :-) If you are in need of a good read please use any of the Amazon.com links on the site and blog, they help finance our efforts.


Find some Valentine's Day tips to give you a few ideas for celebrating the holiday and get some herbal advice for staying healthy through flu season.


The winner of January's contest has not been validated yet and I am on the third choice. Please add trhuggerz @ aol .com (remove the spaces) to your accepted email addresses if you use a SP*M filter or check the Winner page to find out if you are the potential winner.

Goodbye Coretta Scott King. May you always be remembered for your contribution to society. 

I'm a finalist!

Please vote for me (Marvel Selke) at Treehugger.com's Dress an Eco-Celeb Contest. I'm one of four finalists but am currently in last place. I don't mind losing but not dead last. :-( Thank you for your support.

Goodbye Organic Style

While expecting my new issue of "Organic Style" this is what I received in it's place. The following letter was attached to the latest issue of "Experience Life" magazine:

Dear "Organic Style" Subscriber,

Rodale Publishing recently decided to cease publication of "Organic Style" magazine. The October 2005 issue was the final issue.


"Organic Style" made its debut in September 2001 and was the first magazine to focus on providing information about organic, balanced living in an authentic and contemporary way. We at "Experience Life" are also pleased to have been at the forefront of the balanced living movement and to witness the movement's shift into the mainstream.


In an effort to help fulfill "Organic Style's" commitment to its valued customers, we have arranged for you to receive "Experience Life" in place of the issues that remained in your former "Organic Style" subscription. Your first issue is enclosed. We hope you will enjoy this award-winning, healthy-way-of-life magazine.


(Skipping over part about if you are already an "Experience Life" subscriber.)

Thank you again for your loyal support of "Organic Style" and for your understanding and patience in this matter.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-749-3964 or email us at explifeorgstyle0106@pmgdata.com.

Sincerely,
(signed)
Hervey Evans
Circulation Manager
"Experience Life" Magazine

The site was disabled December 1. 2005, but says that you can still find "Organic Style" articles at Organic Gardening.com.

I don't know what happened but this is really disappointing. My subscription to "Organic Style" started in 2004. It was in the check-out stand of the grocery store. Spying that magazine was like a sign that I needed to get TreeHuggerz.com started (I had ownership of the domain since 2001). So I bought my first issue and subscribed immediately. It's been one of my all-time favorite periodicals but our relationship has been way too brief.

MLK Celebration Suggestion

Celebrate. . .

. . .the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King by planting a sycamore or live oak grown from the seeds of trees at Brown Chapel AME in Selma, Alabama. As a young minister, King used to make fiery speeches at Brown Chapel, where he gathered thousands for his peaceful Selma-to-Montgomery march that helped lead to passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. For more on these trees or to order, visit: www.historictrees.org or call 800/320-TREE.

What's New at TreeHuggerz.com

Herbal Lore has a new article, "How Garlic Can Fight -and Cure- Ear Infections" and I'm soliciting articles for the Feature page. If your non-profit or community project could use some free publicity please submit a press release to: webmom@treehuggerz.org. Photos are acceptable as long as they are in jpg or gif format.

Green Contest
Treehugger.com has a contest ending January 20, 2006. To enter you have to outfit an eco-celeb head-to-toe using fashionable green items. You can check out my Wists.com entry for outfitting Brad Pitt. The prize is a HER design bag but I had lots of fun just fantasy dressing Brad and learning how to use Wists. If you enter and feel like sharing, post a link to your entry in the comments. Who's up for Angelina?

Jeremy Likness On Bread

In keeping with my current obsession over bread...enjoy.
--------------

The Worshipful Company of Bakers
Copyright 2005 Jeremy Likness

Bread is one of the oldest known recipes to man. It has
been around for several millennia.

The recent low-carbohydrate craze has given bread a bad
reputation, but not all breads are created equal. There are
more varieties of bread than there are supplement
companies. This article will explain the history of bread,
the types of bread, and the role that bread can play in the
quest for good health and a better body.

The History of Bread

It is estimated that the first bread was made around 10000
years BC or over 12,000 years in the past. This bread was
more than likely flatbread, similar to a tortilla, made
simply of ground grains (flour) and water that was mashed
and baked. The first tools and implements used in the
making of bread are dated to about 8000 years BC.

Egypt is attributed with popularizing the art of making
bread. Egyptians are considered to be the agricultural
pioneers of the old world, probably benefiting from
interactions with Samaria. The closed oven was invented
circa 3000 BC and allowed for more varieties of bread to be
produced. It is around this time that leavened bread is
first described, that is bread, bread with yeast added so
that it would rise during production. Refined grains were
considered superior and therefore were prevalent in the
higher courts, so the poorer populations used barley and
sorghum in their breads.

Around 1000 BC the Mosaic laws were introduced. These laws,
in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, contained
instructions to the nation of Israel regarding proper food
preparation. When the Hebrew people fled Egypt during the
legendary Exodus, they were forced to make unleavened
(flat) bread in their haste. Leviticus declares a feast
commemorating the exodus using flatbread. Bread is a common
symbol of bounty in the bible – Leviticus 21:22 declares,
“He shall eat the bread of his God.” When the people of God
were lost in the wilderness, they were fed manna, which was
described as bread from heaven. The Christian Savior, Jesus
Christ, is called the “Bread of Life”.

The bible also gives one of the earliest recipes for
sprouted grain bread. It reads, in Ezekiel 4:9-17: “The
thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and
lentils, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one
vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the
number of days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three
hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.” While more
than a year of nothing but this bread sounds like quite a
marathon diet, analysis of products today using the same
recipe show that it was a well-balanced, nutritious bread
that yielded plenty of protein, fiber, carbohydrate, and
healthy fat.

In 400 BC, around the time when Socrates was providing sage
dietary advice, Plato imagined an ideal world. In this
world, men would live to a ripe old age. Their main source
of sustenance would be whole grain bread from local wheat.

168 BC saw the establishment of baker’s guilds in Rome.
Bread even played a major role in politics when, in 40 BC,
as part of a campaign, it was decreed that bread should be
freely distributed to every male adult.

In 1202 AD, English laws were passed to regulate the
production of bread. While many people are aware of the
differences between whole grain (brown) bread and white
breads, few realize that it caused quite a stir in 1307
when the white bread bakers and brown bread bakers split to
form separate guilds! It was not until two centuries later,
in 1569, that the guilds were reunited and called the
“Worshipful Company of Bakers.”

As early as 1826, the whole grain bread used by the
military was called superior for health to the white,
refined bread used by the aristocracy. In fact, the term
refined today comes from this fact. Before the industrial
revolution, it was more labor consuming (and therefore
costly) to refine bread, so white bread was the main staple
for aristocracy. This made them “refined”.

In 1910, Americans were eating 210 pounds of wheat flour
every year. The commercial bread-slicing machine was
invented in 1912 by Otto Rohwedder, and unveiled in 1928.
The 1930s saw the United States pursue a diet enrichment
program to begin fortifying breads with vitamins and
minerals after their discovery in the late 1920s. In 1941,
calcium was added to help prevent rickets, observed in many
female recruits to the military. In 1956, it became the law
to enrich all refined breads. By 1971 consumption of white
bread had dropped to around 110 pounds per year, but by
1997 (possibly due in part to the low fat, high
carbohydrate craze and the food pyramid) consumption was up
to 150 pounds – still 60 pounds shy of the fit, trim
Americans at the turn of the century.

Types of Bread

There are many types of bread. This is by no means an
exhaustive list.

In the most basic form, grinding grains, adding water, and
heating it produces whole grain flatbread. Whole grain
bread is similar, only yeast is added so that the bread
rises. White bread starts out similar to whole grain bread.
The grain is processed, however. The hard, outer portion of
the grain is stripped, removing fiber and many vitamins,
minerals, and healthy fats that are naturally available.
The remaining portion is ground to a fine powder, the
enriched with a generic spray of vitamins and minerals.
This is then used to bake the bread.

Spelt bread is a grain-bread, but made from special wheat
that does not contain gluten. Gluten, a form of protein, is
a common allergen and gluten intolerance or allergies are
quite common.

Since whole grains are not sweet, sourdough bread is simply
wheat bread with no sweetener added. Once a sweetener is
added – often high fructose corn syrup in commercial
breads, but typically brown sugar, honey, or molasses in
fresh baked breads – it becomes the typical bread you are
used to buying.

Varieties such as oat, barley, rye, kamut, triticale,
millet, and even rice bread are simply variations using
different grains other than traditional wheat. Sometimes
seeds and spices are added, creating varieties such as
basil, garlic, onion, or cinnamon bread.

Sprouted grain bread has increased in popularity in recent
years. Traditional bread is made from ground flour from the
hardened kernel of grain. Sprouted grain bread involves
soaking the grain and allowing it to sprout. The sprouted
seedlings are then mashed together and baked. Sprouting
allows the enzymes in the grain to convert some of the
carbohydrates and fats to vitamins, minerals, and amino
acids. Due to the changes that take place, sprouted grain
bread typically is higher in protein, fiber, and certain
vitamins and minerals than regular bread. It is also less
refined and processed than even stone ground wheat bread,
so it has less of an impact on your blood sugar.

Bread and Nutrition

Many commercial types of bread are highly refined. Enriched
breads have the original nutrients stripped out and
replaced with inferior, often lesser quantities of standard
vitamins and minerals. Some companies will try to produce
wholesome-looking bread by adding grains to the outside,
even when the main ingredient is enriched bread. High
fructose corn syrup is often added as a sweetener.

The first thing to look at when purchasing breads is the
ingredients list. Look for breads where the very first
ingredient is “whole grain” or “stone ground” rather than
“enriched” (even if whole grains follow the enriched flour
ingredient). Look for natural sweeteners like molasses or
honey over high fructose corn syrup. Preferably, the
sweetener and salt should be last on the ingredients list.
If you consume high quantities of bread or keep the bread
refrigerated, it will last longer and you can purchase
fresher varieties that do not contain additives or
preservatives. The most basic ingredients list will look
like this: whole-wheat flour, water, salt. There should be
a few grams of protein and fiber per slice – low protein
and/or fiber is a sign of excessive processing that has
stripped these nutrients, and implies that the other
nutrients will be missing as well.

Rye bread typically contains moderate portions of protein
and fiber per slice. A 100-calorie slice will contain a few
grams of protein, a few grams of fiber, around 20 grams of
carbohydrate, and decent amounts of calcium and iron. The
addition of flaxseed increases protein and fiber (for the
same 100 calorie slice) but also adds trace amounts of
health, unsaturated fats.

There are actually some amazing bread recipes that can be
very beneficial for the bodybuilder. A variety of bread
called “Men’s Bread” by French Meadow Bakery contains the
following: Organic whole wheat flour, filtered water,
organic flaxseed, organic pumpkin seeds, organic oat fiber,
organic low fat soy flour, organic wheat flour, organic
sesame seeds, organic raw sprouted fava beans, organic
sunflower seeds, organic millet, organic pea protein
isolate (non-GMO), organic wheat flour (wheat germ
restored), soy germ isoflavone concentrate (non-GMO),
organic sprouted quinoa, organic sprouted amaranth, organic
sprouted spelt, organic sprouted kamut, wheat gluten,
organic sprouted barley, organic sprouted oats, organic
sprouted wheat, unrefined sea salt.

This power-packed ingredients list provides a 100-calorie
slice of bread with essential fatty acids, 5 grams of
fiber, and 8 grams of protein to only 11 grams of
carbohydrate. It is abundant in over 13 vitamins and
minerals. Compare this to a typical slice of white bread,
which contains no fiber, trace amounts of protein, and
double the carbohydrate.

Summary

Bread has been around for ages. While trends such as low
carbohydrate nutrition or low fat dieting come and go,
bread is here to stay – people “earn their bread” or “bring
the bread home” and are constantly looking for the “best
thing since sliced bread”. Before eliminating bread from
your program, consider the many types of bread that are
available and decide if there is one that suits your needs.
Bread can increase your protein intake, add fiber to your
diet, refill you muscles by supply quality carbohydrate in
addition to healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. People
are always looking for the next great protein or power bar.
Why not try a slice of bread?


About the Author:
Jeremy Likness is an internationally-selling author,
motivational speaker, and health coach. His unique coaching
services have assisted people around the world with losing
hundreds of pounds of weight. Jeremy is the author of "Lose
Fat, Not Faith: A Transformation Guide" available at
www.LoseFatNotFaith.com or through major bookstores (ISBN:
0976907925). To learn more about Jeremy and his unique form
of coaching from the heart, visit:
http://www.naturalphysiques.com/hire/ or call Jeremy direct
at 1-888-472-2829 (770-456-5580).

Herman -Week Two

November 13-19, 2005
Tuesday of this week is day 10! He's been in the fridge and I forgot to take him out for use Monday night. So...I took him out Tuesday night and left him at room temperature. There's been much discussion around here over which recipe to try first. I want pancakes but Richard wants bread. We compromised and I baked a batch of Herman biscuits Wednesday for breakfast.

Richard liked the biscuits but I thought they had a real strong yeasty/alcohol flavor. Nothing some butter and honey couldn't cure. The biscuit dough itself was perfect and there is no need to roll and cut unless you want to. Each biscuit is made by pinching off an egg sized piece of dough and placing it into a greased 8' or 9' cake pan. The sides of each biscuit should touch. Traditionally they were baked in a cast iron skillet. Then cover with a tea towel and allow them to rest at least 10 minutes before baking. I did note that they took longer to cook than other biscuit recipes I've used.

Herman was fed and left outside the fridge because I have plans for him Thursday morning. Grandma Ruby used Herman almost daily so I don't have a problem using him the next day. I only mention this because many Herman tips recommend using Herman every 48 hours - 10 days after feeding. Some suggest pouring off the alcohol layer that forms on Herman but Grandma Ruby just stirred it in. Be aware of the color of the liquid, if it's green or brown toss your Herman and start over. Some say to toss if it's orange but some say it's okay. If the layer is clear or yellow, it's fine. For those of you who feed Herman milk or milk products toss Herman if there is any pink in the crock. Grandma Ruby used water and so do I. Herman will normally have various scents such as yeast, wine, beer and sourdough which can be quite strong. However, Herman should not smell rotten or have mold growing on top of him.

Thursday is Herman pancake day! The recipe I used is basically a regular pancake recipe with 1 cup of Herman added. Since yesterday's biscuits were so-so I didn't feel too confident using Herman as the pancake base, see TreeHuggerz Herman Blueberry Pancake Recipe. The pancakes were good and cooked up beautifully. They didn't have that strong yeasty taste but not a sourdough flavor either. Herman wasn't fed after the pancakes and he went back into the fridge.

With Thanksgiving next week I want to have Herman rolls for dinner but I think I better do a dry run first. After getting Herman to room temperature on Friday, I tried a Herman roll recipe from the internet. All I can say is YUK! The recipe itself had me worried because it only called for a dash of salt. Even biscuits use 1 teaspoon of salt. Then it also required one package of dry yeast in addition to 1 cup of Herman. This seemed like a lot of yeast for a recipe that claimed to make 12 rolls. I calmed my fears by looking at the rave reviews for this recipe. The first sign of trouble was that the dough was more like batter. So I added another cup of flour. This helped but the dough was still too sticky to knead. More flour was added. The recipe only required one rise after kneading and shaping the rolls. However, I gave the dough a rise before I formed the rolls because I wanted them fresh from the oven with dinner. In my bread baking experience an extra rise makes for a better end product. All was well, the dough rose just as it should but it made almost a double number of rolls. Okay, we'd have extra rolls. My timing was on and they were done just as dinner was to be served. They smelled delicious and looked picture perfect. But even hot buttered from the oven these rolls were awful. Very yeasty in flavor; bland due to lack of salt; and the texture was quite coarse. No one wanted the leftovers so I fed them to the birds. Now I've got to find another roll recipe and get it right before Thanksgiving.

Fed Herman and left him at room temperature to work. Grandma Ruby always kept her crock near the stove and since I plan on using Herman often, this seems best. Maybe my lackluster results are because Herman hasn't had a chance to fully ferment at room temperature.

Stay tuned for Week Three.

Job for Apparel Sales Rep

Found this position while surfing for eco-socks. If I had any experience this would be a fantastic job! I wonder what their employee discount would be?

"Sweetgrass Natural Fibers is currently seeking qualified sales reps with extensive experience in apparel sales and an interest in natural products. If you are seriously interested, please contact us toll free (877.391.8936)."

Help Me Win CASH And You Could Win Too!

I need your help to win a $40,000 Campus Ladies contest prize! The person who joins the "Never the Same" Oxygen Social Network, and then gets the most friends to join, will win a $40,000 prize. Simply click on the link below, register and I (marvels1) will be one step closer to this grand prize.

Plus, once you've registered, you can enter to win too, just by inviting YOUR friends to join! While you are there, you can socialize with other people who enjoy a good laugh, and you can watch some funny video or send some crazy e-cards. Oxygen will never share your personal information with anyone so don’t worry about that.

And be sure to watch "Campus Ladies" on Oxygen Sundays at 10pm/9C, premiering Jan 8th. Remember… you’re never too old to party like a freshman! Click here to join now!

For Contest Rules, please visit http://neverthesame.oxygen.com/social_faq.php

Thank you

Herman -Week One

As promised this is the first installment of my adventures with Herman. My plan is to try to keep this Herman journal for one year. If Herman remains alive through the first year he will likely survive hundreds of years.

My knowledge of Herman comes through my daughters great-grandmother, who I will refer to from now on as, Grandma Ruby. Her mother traveled from the Midwest along the Oregon Trail with a crock of Herman. That strain of Herman survived until the 1970s when Grandma Ruby was no longer able to care for him.

Personally, I never even heard of Herman until October 2005. In my teens I tried to make my own sourdough starter but it failed, big time. Richard (grandson of Grandma Ruby and father of DD) encouraged me to give Herman a try because he is sweet, versatile and easy to maintain. His memories of eating Herman baked goods from Grandma Ruby's kitchen persuaded me to go for it.

Started my first pot of Herman on Sunday, November 6, 2005. Used dry package of yeast to start it off, all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup of sugar. My Herman pot is a one gallon glass pickle jar. After allowing it to stand at room temperature for 24 hours I placed it into the fridge, stirring daily.

For Herman directions and recipes check out the current TreeHuggerz Tip page.

December 2005 Contest Winner

Congratulations Kumudha V. of MI! You are the winner of the audio cassette course, 5 Minutes A Day To Perfect Spelling. Be sure to enter the January 2006 contest, we're giving away two bars of all vegetable soap.