Beth Buczynski | Bay Area Community Exchange

6 Year-Old Explains The Gift Economy In Her Own Words [Video]

02-01-2012

Uncategorized

If you haven’t figured it out already, live in a very selfish world. Even processes that seem completely benign, like grocery shopping or eating out at a restaurant are flush with self-centered expectations.

“The customer’s always right.”

“Getting my money’s worth.”

“Donate and receive an AMAZING thank you gift.”

From a very early age we’re taught to expect a swindle. We learn that “there’s no such thing as a free lunch,” and “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

Even when we give gifts to each other, we’re preoccupied with what it means and what we’ve done (or will have to do) to deserve the gesture.

Giving in order to receive – exchange – is ego-oriented. It is the satisfaction of one’s own need that is the purpose of the transaction. Giving to satisfy another’s need is other-oriented. These two motivations constitute the basis of two logics, one of which is intransitive (exchange), the other of which is transitive (gift giving).

Wikipedia tells us that In the social sciences, a gift economy (or gift culture) is a society where valuable goods and services are regularly given without any explicit agreement for immediate or future rewards (i.e. no formal quid pro quo exists). Ideally, simultaneous or recurring giving serves to circulate and redistribute valuables within the community. The organization of a gift economy stands in contrast to a barter economy or a market economy. Informal custom governs exchanges, rather than an explicit exchange of goods or services for money or some other commodity.

Think that sounds radical and incredibly complicated?? It’s not. In fact, the basic principles of a gift economy are actually quite intuitive to humans…we just spend a lot of time convincing ourselves that it won’t work. Younger, more innocent, and you could argue wiser minds, have no problem envisioning a future of other-oriented action.

Watch below as a 6 year-old shares her concept of a community she establish when she grows up, based on Gift Economy. Listen to her, it is her generation that will see the world operate this way, after all! It is from the children that we will about the world to come, for they, as Khalil Gibran says, “live in the house of tomorrow.”

If you feel inspired by her words, check out Shareable’s guide to legally opening a gift economy.

Image Credit: Flickr - 0pensourceway

Ivy League Universities To Offer Free Online Education For All

By: Beth Buczynski

30-12-2011

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I recently read that my alma mater, a public university, will raise tuition rates by 12% next year. This is just the latest in a string of tuition hikes that have taken place since I earned my undergraduate degree almost 10 years ago.

With jobs at an all-time low, and student aid programs like the Pell Grant under attack from cut-happy politicians, it’s no wonder that high school grads are questioning the ROI of higher education.

Of course, I’m a firm believer that your ability to afford tuition should prevent you from learning, and that a formal degree, while it may be expected, is certainly not required for a successful career.

That’s why I was stunned by recent news that MIT, Stanford, and Princeton, plan to offer many of their top-quality classes in an online format that would be open to anyone around the world, and completely free.

Although students of the free online M.I.T.x program won’t be able to earn an official degree from the prestigious school, those who are able to exhibit a mastery of the subjects taught on the platform will receive an official certificate of completion for what will likely be a nominal fee.

And we’re not just talking about live streams of lectures or online reading material, either.

Students using the program will be able to communicate with their peers through student-to-student discussions, allowing them an opportunity to ask questions or simply brainstorm with others, while also being able to access online laboratories and self-assessments. In the future, students and faculty will be able to control which classes will be available on the system based on their interests, creating a personalized education setting.

What do you think about this initiative to make education more accessible? Is it the next generation of online learning, an option that has long been hailed as the affordable alternative for non-traditional students? Or is it merely a distraction that could prevent future generations from actually pursuing higher education?

Share your thoughts in a comment!

Uncollege: The Answer For Students Who Are Fed Up With Higher Ed

Image Credit: Vartanov Anatoly/Shutterstock

New App Helps Eliminate Printed Catalogs Once And For All

By: Beth Buczynski

29-12-2011

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We had the pleasure of an extended stay with family over the holidays. It’s always funny to spend time in a home inhabited by an older couple, because you’re likely to spot remnants of “the way life used to be” before cell phones and laptops took over.

One thing I noticed was that my older relatives have TONS of clothing catalogs, and more arrive in the mail almost every day. The idea of shopping from a catalog seems totally foreign to me, but they would rather thumb through the pages of a catalog rather than conduct a targeted internet search and quickly scrolling through the results.

And she’s not alone.

As a recent TriplePundit article pointed out, “each year, about 19 billion catalogs are mailed to American consumers. It means that every American receives more than 60 catalogs every year on average. Why? Because according to the Direct Marketing Association, printed catalogs provide a 7 to 1 ROI and an impressive direct order response rate of 2.24 percent. With such impressive figures, is it surprising retailers are printing hundreds of billions of catalogs every year?”

But as the author, Raz Godelnik, goes on to state, this ROI is only impressive because neither consumers nor retailers are forced to acknowledge the immense environmental impact of this outdated marketing tactic:

53 million trees that produce 3.6 million tons of paper,
5.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and
53 billion gallons of wastewater

Thankfully, the digital revolution means that the days of print advertising, even entrenched concepts like direct mail catalogs, are numbered. And a new iPad app, Catalog Spree, hopes to speed the change by appealing to the millions who found an Apple tablet in their stocking last weekend.

The free app offers all the glossy images and browsing pleasure of a catalog with out all the planet-killing, mailbox choking paper. And unlike those paper catalogs, Catalog Spree allows shoppers to track their favorite items, share them with friends on Facebook, and receive special promotions via email.

What do you think? Are digital apps like Catalog Spree the final death knell for the direct mail industry?

Also Check Out: Creative Recycling: 6 Ways To Reuse Junk Mail

Image Credit: Scott Leman/Shutterstock

5 Resolutions For A Greener, More Self-Sufficient New Year

By: Beth Buczynski

28-12-2011

Uncategorized

The year is quickly drawing to a close. These days after Christmas are always a curious type of limbo. While some reflect on the blessings and accomplishments of the 2011, many will spend their time crafting goals for a happier, healthier New Year.

Resolutions, while frequently unsuccessful, are a good way to ensure that you start 2012 with a positive outlook focused on the things that are really important: family, community, sharing, and sustainability. Each family and lifestyle is different, but if you’d like to reduce your negative impact on the planet while becoming more self-sufficient, here are some resolution ideas to get you started.

Go Ride A Bike

Many cities across the country are investing in new mobility options that provide exercise and offer an alternative to being cramped in subways or buses. Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C. have major bike sharing programs that allow people to rent bikes for short-term use. Similar programs exist in other cities, and more are planned for places from Miami, Florida, to Madison, Wisconsin.

What you can do:

If available, use your city’s bike share program to run short errands or commute to work. Memberships are generally inexpensive (only $75 for the year in Washington, D.C.), and by eliminating transportation costs, as well as a gym membership, you can save quite a bit of money!
Even if without bike share programs, many cities and towns are incorporating bike lanes and trails, making it easier and safer to use your bike for transportation and recreation.

Plant A Garden

Whether you live in a studio loft or a suburban McMansion, growing your own vegetables is a simple way to bring fresh and nutritious food literally to your doorstep. Researchers at the FAO and the United Nations Development Programme estimate that 200 million city dwellers around the world are already growing and selling their own food, feeding some 800 million of their neighbors. Growing a garden doesn’t have to take up a lot of space, and in light of high food prices and recent food safety scares, even a small plot can make a big impact on your diet and wallet.

What you can do:

Plant some lettuce in a window box. Lettuce seeds are cheap and easy to find, and when planted in full sun, one window box can provide enough to make several salads worth throughout a season.

Buy Local

“Small Business Saturday,” falling between “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday,” was established in 2010 as a way to support small businesses during the busiest shopping time of the year. Author and consumer advocate Michael Shuman argues that local small businesses are more sustainable because they are often more accountable for their actions, have smaller environmental footprints, and innovate to meet local conditions—-providing models for others to learn from.

What you can do:

Instead of relying exclusively on large supermarkets, consider farmers markets and local farms for your produce, eggs, dairy, and meat. Food from these sources is usually fresher and more flavorful, and your money will be going directly to these food producers.

Share A Car

Car sharing programs spread from Europe to the United States nearly 13 years ago and are increasingly popular, with U.S. membership jumping 117 percent between 2007 and 2009. According to the University of California Transportation Center, each shared car replaces 15 personally owned vehicles, and roughly 80 percent of more than 6,000 car-sharing households surveyed across North America got rid of their cars after joining a sharing service. In 2009, car-sharing was credited with reducing U.S. carbon emissions by more than 482,000 tons. Innovative programs such as Chicago’s I-GO are even introducing solar-powered cars to their fleets, making the impact of these programs even more eco-friendly.

What you can do:

Join a car share program! As of July 2011, there were 26 such programs in the U.S., with more than 560,000 people sharing over 10,000 vehicles. Even if you don’t want to get rid of your own car, using a shared car when traveling in a city can greatly reduce the challenges of finding parking (car share programs have their own designated spots), as well as your environmental impact as you run errands or commute to work.

Tap The Tap

The bottled water industry sold 8.8 billion gallons of water in 2010, generating nearly $11 billion in profits. Yet plastic water bottles create huge environmental problems. The energy required to produce and transport these bottles could fuel an estimated 1.5 million cars for a year, yet approximately 75 percent of water bottles are not recycled—-they end up in landfills, litter roadsides, and pollute waterways and oceans. And while public tap water is subject to strict safety regulations, the bottled water industry is not required to report testing results for its products. According to a study, 10 of the most popular brands of bottled water contain a wide range of pollutants, including pharmaceuticals, fertilizer residue, and arsenic.

What you can do:

Fill up your glasses and reusable water bottles with water from the sink. The United States has more than 160,000 public water systems, and by eliminating bottled water you can help to keep nearly 1 million tons of bottles out of the landfill, as well as save money on water costs.

Image Credit: designsstock/Shutterstock

Tiny House: Could You Live In A Hole In The Ground?

By: Beth Buczynski

23-12-2011

Uncategorized

The days of big houses that suck up vast amount of energy so families of four live together without speaking to each other are over. Not only are these McMansions expensive and unnecessary, they lack the unique character of a home built to suit the needs of those that inhabit it.

Tiny houses, homes built to be super efficient while often operating off the grid, are the new trend. Many people, like Welshman Simon Dale, are rejecting the high price building contractors and architects to take back the design process themselves.

The fairy-tale hobbit home pictured above was designed and built into a hillside by Dale for a scant $4,700 USD! And the interior is hardly what you’d expect from this “hole in the ground.”

If you’re already envious of this woodland paradise, but don’t think you could ever emulate it, think again. The only modern tool used in its construction was a chainsaw, which Dale used to cut down about 30 small trees. No old growth forest fell to his family’s needs. He focused on tools that used his own energy, like shovel, chisel, and hammer. Yet it took him only four months to produce this lovely home. A wood stove and solar panel provide power, while a composting toilet removes the need for complicated plumbing and a septic tank.

Listen to Dale talk about why the principles behind tiny, self-built homes are essential for the health of our society and environment in the video below. For more information about the home, building plans, and more photos, please go to his website, A Low Impact Woodland Home .

h/t to Gaia–health.com

Handmade Holiday Gift Idea: Personalized Coffee Mug

By: Beth Buczynski

23-12-2011

Uncategorized

During the cold winter months, there’s nothing better than curling up on the couch with a nice hot cup of herbal tea or fair trade cocoa. The only thing that can make it a cozier experience is using a mug that was decorated with love by someone you know!

If you’re still looking for an easy DIY gift idea, why not follow this simple tutorial for creating a personalized mug by Wit & Whistle?

All you’ll need is a porcelain mug and porcelain paint, available at most craft stores. Once the mug has been decorated and baked, you can fill it with a selection of homemade tea bags or candy. Add a box made from recycled yarn or ribbon, and you’ve got a handmade gift that’s sure to please!

Be sure check out all of our other DIY ideas in the 2011 Handmade Holiday Gift Guide!

Kickstarter Find: Little Bee Pops Put Smiles On Kids’ Faces

By: Beth Buczynski

21-12-2011

Uncategorized

Kids can understand more than we think. If you explain it to them with care, they can even understand a factory farming system that infuses what should be delicious treats with corn syrup and chemical preservatives rendering them a health risk instead.

But that doesn’t make them want the treats any less.

Liz Snyder, a small farmer and food activist living in Silicon Valley, was tired of launching into a lecture of food economics every time her daughter asked for something from the ice cream truck. One day her daughter asked why she didn’t sell her homemade popsicles in the park so that both kids and moms could be happy.

Snyder thought it was a good question, and so the dream of Little Bee Pops was born.

“We want Little Bee Pops to be the defender of good food in Silicon Valley,” writes Snyder on the company’s Kickstarter page. “Because c’mon all you smartie pants programmers, there is no excuse for our little paradise to be light years behind SF and Berkeley, is there? If we can make smart phones, why not smart food?”

Ultimately, Snyder and her friend/business partner Lilia Schwartz hope to have bicycle-powered ice cream carts streaming through Mountain View, California, selling sweet treats that improve the local economy, the viability of small farms and gardens, and the health of children childen.

“Our goal is to have a kitchen that supports other locavore, sustainable food entrepreneurs in that shaky, what-the-hell-are-we-doing start up phase,” continued Snyder. “To donate our time and pops to raising funds for garden-based education, sustainable agriculture, and fiercely local food.”

In just ONE WEEK Little Bee Pops has raised almost $4,000 of its $15,000 goal!

The Little Bee Pops Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign will run through January 15th, 2012. Kickstarting is all or nothing; Every Kickstarter project must be fully funded by its deadline or no money changes hands. For Snyder and Schwartz, they’re hoping that crowdfunding Little Bee Pops will be another sweet success story.

Check out the page to learn lots more about the two women and one girl behind this delightful micro-business. If you’ve been blessed to eat delicious healthy food this year and want to support the small farms and family businesses that are dedicated to growing it, consider making a donation to help get Little Bee Pops up and running!

Handmade Holiday Gift Idea: DIY Necktie Eyeglass Case

By: Beth Buczynski

20-12-2011

Uncategorized

It’s getting down to the wire! There are only a few days left in which to choose and make a unique handmade gift for those on your holiday list.

But there’s no need to fret, because we’ve still got a few DIY gift ideas up our sleeve and they can be executed in just an hour or two.

This super fun tutorial from Olive and Love shows you how to turn a couple of funky old thrift store ties into a one-of-a-kind glasses case for your bespectacled loved ones.

All you’ll need is a measuring tape, a seam ripper, some fabric glue, and a needle and thread. But I promise you there’s no sewing experience required!

Be sure check out all of our other DIY ideas in the 2011 Handmade Holiday Gift Guide!

Medieval Spanish Ghost Town Becomes Self-Sufficient Ecovillage

By: Beth Buczynski

17-12-2011

Uncategorized

Hundreds of years ago, there were thousands of small, isolated villages built all around the Spanish countryside. These villages were depopulated in the 1950s and ’60s, when the villagers were pressured to join the country’s growing industrial workforce.

In a very short period of time, these once bustling villages became desolate ghost towns, destined to crumble back into the dust from which they were built. But a group of motivated, young Spaniards rediscovered one of the villages in the 1980s, and set out to rebuild them into the self-sufficient communities of former centuries.

There are now a few dozen “ecoaldeas” – ecovillages – in Spain, most build from the ashes of former Medieval towns. One of the first towns to be rediscovered was a tiny hamlet in the mountains of northern Navarra.

Listen to Mauge Cañada, one of the early pioneers in the repopulation of the town, explain the restoration process as she shows you around the village, which is slowly coming back to life.

Image Credit: Flickr – slow Spain

Handmade Holiday Gift Idea: DIY Infused Vodkas

By: Beth Buczynski

14-12-2011

Uncategorized

Holidays are the time for making spirits bright, right?

Instead of buying expensive flavored spirits for all your holiday cocktail recipes, why not make your own? A bottle of vodka infused with your own creative blends of local fruit and organic spices also makes a great gift for those that imbibe.

This easy to follow tutorial from Wired How-To will show you how to transform plain old vodka into a handcrafted masterpiece in a few easy steps.

All you’ll need is some vodka, something to infused flavor, some unique jars or bottles, and a creative mind! Here’s more on how to find/choose your ingredients:

Vodka - Vodka is easily the most important (and expensive) part of the process. Although practically any brand will do in a pinch, close attention should be paid to its ingredients and distillation methods. In short, the fewer high quality sources of starch (wheat, potato, or even soy), and the more distillation and filtration, the better. A quick and dirty test: If it smells like rubbing alcohol and burns going down, spend the extra ducats to upgrade. It doesn’t matter what kind of flavor you infuse if the base vodka tastes like death.

Flavor - In terms of flavor, it’s an open playing field. Berries, melons, vegetables, and even spices can be infused to add some kick. However, just like gourmet cooking, the fresher the ingredients the more vibrant the flavor. Frozen or jarred fruits and vegetables should be avoided at all costs. At a loss for which flavor to shoot for? Some common choices include: Watermelon, lemon, apple, strawberry, peach, mango, cucumber, chili, mint, ginger, garlic, and lavender. If you want to get really saucy, try mixing a few.

Infusion Jar - Almost any glass jar will work, if short on time or materials. If you can track down a bona fide infusion jar, even better. They’re easy to spot as most have a spigot at the bottom and a secure lid for the top. In a worst case scenario, you can always go to local retailer (Target, Wal-Mart, etc.) and pick up a cheap sun tea jar. Just make sure that whatever you bring home is clear, can hold up to 750ml, and has a tight lid.

Click here for complete directions.

Be sure check out all of our other DIY ideas in the 2011 Handmade Holiday Gift Guide!

Image: Buddha’s Hand Infused Vodka
Credit: Flickr – geminica

California Concept Cafe Celebrates Families And Community

By: Beth Buczynski

13-12-2011

Uncategorized

There are plenty of restaurants that DON’T cater to families. While those who prefer dining free from the shrieks and giggles of children are entitled to their preferences, it can be hard for hard-working parents to find a place where their brood can eat together in peace.

This gap in the restaurant industry is exactly what inspired the creation of Bumble: a new concept cafe in downtown Los Altos serving up farm to table organic fare for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

“We welcome customers of any age but cater to families with young children as an inviting place to dine and relax with kids,” said proprieter Mary Heffernan.

Unique offerings include a fully-stocked playroom with teachers leading arts and crafts projects, story time and free play where you can drop your kids to eat and play while parents relax on site, a welcoming sandbox in the front yard with sparkling play-safe sand and a 22 foot aquarium between the Family Room and Playroom to engage and entertain while you eat dishes made from local and organic ingredients.

Ok so it has a play space. One could argue that McDonald’s offers the same combination of services. But it’s how Bumble chooses to use its amenities that sets it apart from toy-hawking fast food restaurants.

“Our concept includes Family Memberships, offering the opportunity for families to be a part of the community at Bumble, explained Heffernan. “Members can charge their bill to their house account and use their membership points for playroom time, art classes for kids and special events like Mom’s Nights Out and Friday Night Family Style Dinners. Sunday Nights are Movie Night in the playroom at Bumble and we have lots of fun seasonal special events too.”

Basically imagine that your favorite restaurant suddenly fell in love with your favorite bar, your buddy’s man cave, your best friend’s living room, an art studio and a movie theater all at once, and your babysitter just happens to live there. I’m not even a parent, but that combo sounds fantastic!

Adult's-Only Patio

But more than all the beautiful interior design and fantastic services offered by Bumble, I appreciate their emphasis on personal relationships, play, and whole body wellness. You can eat all the local, organic food you want, but it you’re stressed out all day and all night without a break, you’re not going to feel great in the morning. Bumble truly is a new concept in the restaurant industry–a friendly place where community members of all ages can nourish their body and mind.

So if you live in Los Altos, I’m officially jealous that you have the chance to experience Bumble first hand.

Even though Bumble is just getting started- they’ve been open for 3 months and have a fast following of local families already. And Heffernan hopes that you’ll join them over the holidays.

“We are planning a “New Years Eve Bash” event for families- kids bring their PJ’s and sleeping bags to watch the ball drop in the Playroom while parents get a real New Years party experience upstairs (everyone knows how hard it is to find a babysitter on New Years, here’s your solution!)”

Learn more about Bumble on Facebook, Twitter and Yelp

All images courtesy Bumble Cafe/Picasa

Handmade Holiday Gift Idea: DIY Laptop Stand (And More!)

By: Beth Buczynski

12-12-2011

Uncategorized

Electronics are sure to be high on everyone’s holiday list once again this year. While it’s possible to build your own computer, we’re gonna go out on a limb and assume you’re looking for DIY presents that involve less electrical wiring.

The world of electronic mods and accessories is almost as prolific as the number of devices on the market. And the good news is that many of the high priced accessories can be made at home for much less.

Instructables, the ultimate site for hackers and tinkerers, featured this offers this step-by-step guide for building a laptop stand from some thin pieces of wood and a bistro tray. This guide inspired a Lifehacker reader to design his own attractive version from aluminum (no instructions, but some great images that could make it possible to reproduce), and here’s a tutorial showing how to make a laptop stand from an old binder.

There’s also a round-up of easy customized USB flash drive mods posted over at CrispGreen, and this DIY speaker set that’s perfect for kids or travelers!

What other DIY tech projects have you come across in the past? Share them in a comment!

Be sure check out all of our other DIY ideas in the 2011 Handmade Holiday Gift Guide!

Can We Crowdsource A DIY Solution To Our Broken Food System?

By: Beth Buczynski

09-12-2011

Uncategorized

Tired of depending on corporations and factory farms to supply her food, artist and technologist Britta Riley decided to employ the experience (and window space) of a community of co-developers to quickly find an indoor farming solution for urban dwellers.

The result, a scant two years later, is Windowfarms: an independent company that makes vertical hydroponic platforms for growing food in city windows, designed in conjunction with a online citizen science web platform for with over 16,000 community members worldwide.

“What we’re doing is what NASA or a large corporation would call R&D, or research and development,” explained Riley in her presentation for TEDxManhattan. “But what we call it is R&D-I-Y, or research and develop it yourself. So for example, Jackson came along and suggested that we use air pumps instead of water pumps. It took building a whole bunch of systems to get it right, but once we did, we were able to cut our carbon footprint nearly in half.”

Hear more about how crowdsourcing can help solve one of the biggest environmental problems on the planet (and shrink your food bill) in the video below.

Handmade Holiday Gift Idea: DIY Beeswax Candles (Two Ways)

By: Beth Buczynski

09-12-2011

Uncategorized

There’s nothing guaranteed to soften the mood in any room like a candle. Candles are a wonderful way to release a wonderful scent or enhance relaxation.

Many conventional paraffin candles and air fresheners utilize artificial and chemical-based ingredients, which actually pollute your air instead of making it more pleasant to breathe.

Candles made from beeswax instead of paraffin is a great gift idea, especially for loved ones who are sensitive to perfumes and fragrances, or have allergies. Beeswax candles also produce very little soot and burn much longer than traditional candles.

We found these handy tutorials to guide you through the process of making two different styles of beeswax candles. Be sure to let us know how they turn out!

1. Beeswax Candles In A Jar

The first tutorial comes to us from Kanelstrand.com. All you’ll need is some beeswax pellets (available from Amazon and other online retailers for about $7/lb), cotton or hemp wick, wick tabs, glass jars of various shapes and sizes, super glue, and pliers. Once the candle is formed, decorate the jar to make a unique gift!

2. Rolled Beeswax Candles

If you’re short on time, making your own rolled beeswax candles (see featured image) is even easier! Simply buy some sheets of beeswax from a local craft store or online craft supply vendor and find some cotton or hemp wick material. Then, follow the delightfully dated tutorial below! This DIY project is especially handy for young children as there is not hot wax to contend with.

Be sure check out all of our other DIY ideas in the 2011 Handmade Holiday Gift Guide!

Image Credit: Andreja Donko/Shutterstock

Participatory Budgeting Returns Power To The Taxpayers

By: Beth Buczynski

07-12-2011

Uncategorized

One of the chief grievances of those involved with the Occupy Wall Street movement is that they no longer have a say in how tax revenue is put to use in their own communities.

This was vividly demonstrated by the billions (and possibly trillions) paid to bail out the Big Banks that caused the credit and mortgage crisis in the first place. It is further demonstrated by the current suggestion to raise taxes on the middle and lower classes while subsequently cutting funding the the public programs they most rely on for survival.

There might not be much we can do to force changes to the federal tax code or spending cuts, but things are much more accessible at the local level. If you’re unhappy with budget cuts for schools and libraries, fire fighters and social services in your community, and think you could do a better job managing your town’s money, participatory budgeting might be the answer.

On the following pages are excerpts from an article about participatory budgeting by our friends at Shareable Magazine. Residents of over 1,000 cities are already using aspects of this process to re-involve citizens in creating and balancing municipal budgets. This article offers some initial tips for how you could start participatory budgeting in your city.

>>Up Next: What is Participatory Budgeting?

Handmade Holiday Gift Idea: Mason Jar Cookie Kits

By: Beth Buczynski

05-12-2011

Uncategorized

Holiday Cookie Kits

Who doesn’t love a cookie during the holidays? Unfortunately, many people don’t have the time to mix cookies up from scratch so they opt for pre-made dough in a refrigerator tube, or a boxed mix.

Not only are these processed versions of the classic holiday cookie boring, but they’re also unhealthy: containing about a thousand preservatives and chemicals that you’d never find in a regular cookie recipe.

So why not give your friends a chance to mix up your favorite healthy cookie recipe with a few time-saving short-cuts?

Mason Jar Cookie Kits are a great gift idea for neighbors, teachers, the UPS delivery person, or relatives that live on the other side of the country.

All you need are a few mason jars (but any glass jar will do–check the thrift stores!), the dry ingredients from your favorite cookie recipe, 6 – 8 inches of festive fabric or ribbon for each jar, some craft paper, and a hole punch.

Here are some great cookie recipes from our sister site Eat. Drink. Better that you might want to try:

Grapefruit Sugar Cookies

Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Once you’ve filled the jar with the dry ingredients from your desired recipe, it’s time to decorate! One idea is to drape fabric over the lid. Cut the fabric into a circle by using the top of a small bowl. Place the top of the lid onto the jar, drape the fabric over it and screw on the lid. You can also experiment with glue and glitter, stickers, recycled wrapping paper, gift bows, and more!

Print or hand write the entire recipe for the cookie mix on your craft paper. Then punch a hole in the corner, and thread the ribbon through it. Tie the ribbon around the jar’s neck, and you’ve got a container of instant holiday cheer!

Image Credit: Flickr - rochelle, just rochelle

Farmers & Foodies To March At Occupy Wall Street

By: Beth Buczynski

02-12-2011

Uncategorized

Americans of all ages, political persuasions, and socio-economic backgrounds have been gathered in parks, churches, plazas, and court houses around the nation for over two months.

And while politicians and their corporate sponsors might do everything within their power (and a few things outside of it) to get Occupy Wall Street out of the public eye, the larger movement shows no sign of surrender.

While the marches, arrests and evictions at OWS might catch the headlines, it’s what’s going on behind the scenes that has the potential to create real change in communities around the world. Especially when it comes to food.

Check out this awesome video to learn more.

LUNCH AT ZUCOTTI from ONE PACK PRODUCTIONS on Vimeo.

On December 4th, all those concerned with the growing, distributing and eating of healthy food (that’s pretty much everyone!) will gather in New York City to open up a dialogue about the politics of our current food system and what can be done to fix it.

After some speaking and a march to Wall Street, the Farmers March will convene at Zuccotti Park where there will be a seed swap among all who attend. One Pack Productions and Seismologik Media, the two organizations that filmed the video above and have had a big hand in broadcasting the sustainability efforts of Occupy Wall Street, will be on hand to kick off the filming for their feature-length documentary about the movement.

Even if you can’t attend, you can also help support these efforts by contributing to the documentary’s crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo.

Handmade Holiday Gift Idea: DIY Terrarium Necklace

By: Beth Buczynski

01-12-2011

Uncategorized

Jewelry is an incredibly popular gift for the holidays, especially the very expensive gold and diamond varieties. But who has hundreds (or sometimes thousands) of dollars to spend on earrings or watch? Especially when you think of the human and environmental toll paid to get it out of the earth and into the jewelry store.

Instead of buying into the high priced jewelry game, why not make a thoughtful trinket that will reflect your loved one’s fascination with sustainability, gardening, and all things handmade?

Clossette.com recently published a wonderful tutorial on how to turn a few simple materials into a lovely upcycled necklace. The best part? The necklace is also a tiny garden!

via Ecouterre

What’s The Best Way To Recycle An Abandoned Oil Rig?

By: Beth Buczynski

30-11-2011

Uncategorized

We love talking about alternative living arrangements: from houses you can grow, to tiny homes, to off-grid fortresses. Which is why we were excited by something spotted by the Seasteading Institute.

Seasteading is dedicated to the establishment of permanent, ocean communities, and since there’s a good chance we may run out of land to populate someday, it’s nice to know that someone’s already thinking about ways to live elsewhere.

Recently, Seasteading found a curious advertisement on a popular Norwegian classifieds website:

“Well-maintained 20-room platform for sale. Panoramic sea views and a Heli deck.”

The ad was of course talking about an abandoned oil drilling platform–one of over 200 expected to be decommissioned over the next decade. Unless it’s sold, this platform will have to be disassembled by its owners, a very costly task. Otherwise, it will be classified as ocean pollution (which it is regardless) and leave the company at risk for big dollar fines.

Seasteading suggests the repurposing of these discarded into useful ocean front properties, such as base-stations for oceanography and meteorology research, bare-bones lodging for scuba divers, and alternative energy generators.

While there are many pros and cons to this development perspective, we’d like to engage in a little no-holds-barred imagination for a second.

If maintenance fees and permits were of no consequence, what’s your best idea for recycling this unwanted oil rig? Share your thoughts in a comment!

Image Credit: suwatpo/Shutterstock

Handmade Holiday Gift Idea: Make-Your-Own Cookbook

By: Beth Buczynski

30-11-2011

Uncategorized

Preparing food from scratch is a lost art these days. We rip open boxes and packages in an effort to satisfy our hunger, but these processed alternatives pale in comparison to home cooked meals–in both care and nutritional value.

A few decades ago this wasn’t the case: many people had gardens, and were well versed in many styles of food preservation and preparation.

If you’ve got a stockpile of family recipes on the brink of being lost forever, think about preserving them for posterity in a cookbook that you make yourself!

Tastebook helps anyone create their own gourmet cookbook by making it easy to organize your own recipes and photos, and then print the whole thing in a beautifully made binder with a custom cover. If you’re short on original recipes, but have favorite dishes you want to share, Tastebook also allows you to choose recipes from magazines, Web sites and professional cookbooks.

It’s the perfect holiday present for foodies and those that wish they were, as well as a great way to preserve a special part of your family heritage. (Starting at $19.95!)