Books by Ina May Gaskin

If you don't already know who Ina May Gaskin in, allow me to have the honour of introducing you to her.

Born in 1940 on a farm in Iowa, Ina May (and her husband) founded a commune in Tennessee called The Farm. Because they were attempting self-sufficiency and she had an amazing gift for it, she became a midwife to the expectant mothers there and eventually created The Farm Midwifery Center.

Through the 70's and until now, she has been helping women achieve the natural birth they desire for their babies, and has been speaking publicly, publishing books and travelling the world to spread the message of natural birth. She was featured in the films, The Business of Being Born and Orgasmic Birth.

She also founded The Gaskin Maneuver which allows a baby to be born safely when they were at risk of broken shoulders. She recently celebrated her much deserved induction into the National Women's Fall of Hame.

If you want to learn more about her amazing work, there is a new documentary out called Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin and The Farm Midwives.

So why am I head over heels excited to talk about her right now? Well, besides the fact that I am entering my third trimester of pregnancy and she is my inspiration for natural birth, it's because... We are speaking at the same conference in a few short weeks! On November 9th, 2013 - I, Amy Harrison, will be presenting a lecture on Holistic Nutrition as the same conference, in the same convention centre, that the legendary Ina May Gaskin is also presenting at. (On a range of topics from .... )

You can hear more about the conference on their website, and in my YouTube video here:

So my main reason for writing this post today is to inspire you to read one of her books and let it change your life! A good friend lent me Spiritual Midwifery when I was only a few weeks pregnant the first time and it motivated me to get in the care of a midwife, start practicing my relaxation, and ultimately it led to an amazing outcome.

You can find all of them at your local library but I recommend making them a purchase!

Unjunk Your Kid's Lunch Box: FREE eBook!

Hey friends! It's almost halfway through October: does that scare anyone else? (Scare... Halloween... no pun intended.)

For the parents of school-aged kids out there you're probably already on the edge of lunch packing boredom/psychosis. My little ones are only 2 yrs old & 6 month in-utero, and I already feel the lunch packing blues just from myself and the occasional lending of help to my husband.

The fact is: healthy school lunches are really important. Just ask Jamie Oliver. No really: I don't even want to give you more information about his passion - you should look it up yourself. He's an inspiration.

If you have the time (and desire to save money) to pack your children's lunches instead of having them buy them - you rock! And their nutrition will be better for it! Packed lunches are a better choice... most of the time.

We all know if school lunches are filled with packaged foods, loaded with garbage chemicals, they aren't much healthier than meat-surprise and slop in a caf. So here's an amazing resource to make your lunch packing skills healthy & top notch.

The amazing people (Andrea Donsky and Lisa Tsakos) at Naturally Savvy who brought you Unjunk your Junk Food (read my review here) now have a FREE eBook all about packing healthy school lunches. It's called Label Lessons: How to Unjunk your Kid's Lunch Box. From what ingredients to avoid on labels to which bread you should buy for sandwiches - it has it all!

Best of all: everytime someone reads it, $1 will be donated to the Holistic Moms Network which generates awareness, education and support for holistic/green parenting! Sweet!

Not to mention the book is full of printable coupons for the very foods you're learning about in it. Love that - just need new ink in my printer.

I totally suggest going to this link today and reading the book/ getting the coupons/ supporting an amazing cause.

Label Lessons Free E-Book

I am excited to be able to pass along some good news to my readers.

You can go to this link and get a FREE book:

http://www.naturallysavvy.com/labellessons/

It's all about how to mindfully purchase food in the grocery store using key ingredients on labels.

It gives suggestions for what brands make quality products, and which you should avoid.

Let me know if you give it a read - I'd love to hear what you think!

Make Your Mom a Book!

Mother's Day is right around the corner.

My sisters and I (with the help of Calvin and Dad) have had lots of fun ideas in the past for what to do for Mom. One of my favourites was our Momma-Brunch: we set up a full spread of breakfast foods in the backyard and enjoyed it in the fresh air and sun. There was coffee. There was fruit. That's all I need to say!

This year I can give you an awesome deal. It seems like this blog gets me some great opportunities sometimes. I get free products to sample, access to cool events, and the first look at new books. I love it. So here's one that YOU can enjoy.

I can offer you 20% off if you want to design a photo book for your mom for Mother's Day. (But order soon so it'll come on time!)

Blurb is so easy to use. You choose a size, a type of book, and what photos you want to include. From there you can go the easy route and have them do the design for you, or be totally creative and make it your own. The end product is amazing. You have options for hardcover or softcover, the type of paper, etc. Your mom will love it.

It will take you less than an hour to make and the cost starts at $12.99. (That's less than the cost of flowers...)

If you want to use the discount, create your book and at the checkout use the promocode LOVEYOUMOM - it will work until May 10th.

So click here and make a book today!

Best of the Foodie Web: December

1. These guys are selling their bacon jam in mason jars for the Holidays, but you can make it yourself using the recipe here.

2. Ashley from Not Without Salt taught us how to make hot buttered rum which prompted me to want to invite 30 friends over immediately.

3. On to Baby featured a family photo shoot inspired by the farmers market. Too cute.

4. Sara Forte (who has a new book out) posted a brownie recipe on Sprouted Kitchen that will make any mouth water.

5. Also with the new cookbook out, the folks at Golubka posted a spiced hot chocolate recipe. Hipster food did too - with hazelnuts instead of spice.

6. Kinfolk promotes the age-old art of gathering over food. Volume six is available now. In the photo below my dear friend Adriana is enjoyed it over a mug of coffee.

7. Minimalist Baker suggested I make raw Mayan truffles. It took me 4 seconds to start pulling out ingredients.

To Do Before 2013

I have several things that I'd like to do before the New Year is upon us. None of them are Pinteresting in nature.Pinteresting: related in anyway to weight loss, crafting or a living room makeover.

Just for the heck of it, why don't I put it in count down form?

10. Read Sprouted Kitchen (Forte) and True Food (Weil). Beautiful cookbooks by beautiful people.

9. Receive a huge bag of nice second hand clothes from a close friend. Please and thank you.

8. Go to the cottage. Be included in a game of Risk.

7. Take Oliver to the Children's Museum.

6. Force Calvin to host Sausage Fest '12, literally a sausage-making gathering of friends with all of his fancy equipment.

5. Finish writing my novel and put it up on blurb.com - print one for me, the rest will be e-books.

4. Bring back "Christmas Movie Night Sundays".

3. Enjoy the annual Christmas party with friends, which I hope will feature many an egg nog, in all its glory.

2. Go sledding.

1. See THE GREAT Freaking GATSBY. (DJango Unchained looks pretty good too.)

Magical Breakfast Cream Recipe

You'll never believe it, but I just made a recipe from a weight loss cookbook. NO, I am not trying to lose weight and/or begin a new chapter of my life in which I believe in trendy weight loss diets... but I saw a movie called Midnight in Paris and it got me re-interested in French culture. I'd already read Bringing Up Bebe in which Druckerman suggests exposing your young to strange cheeses and this has been very successful with Oliver. He is now a connoisseur of bries, aged cheddars and even the little gem that Calvin brought home the other day that cost more per gram than most drugs. So that was my experience with popular books that comment on French eating patterns, and I thought I'd give "French Women Don't Get Fat" a try.

The author claims her recipe helps you to drop pounds fast - if you eat it every day for breakfast.

It goes like this:

• 4-6 tablespoons yogurt (about 1/2 cup)
• 1 teaspoon flaxseed oil
• 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice (preferably Meyer or organic)
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 2 tablespoons finely ground cereal (with zero sugar, such as Post Shredded Wheat)
• 2 teaspoons finely ground walnuts

Blend.


Well, what'dya know, I had to go and change it. So I did this:

• Yogurt stayed the same :) - I used PC's Natural line, in vanilla bean
• I have only capsule flax oil at the moment, so I took a huge leap and added a Tablespoon of peanut butter (ha ha)
• All out of lemons, so I replaced the juice, and the honey, with a couple of pitted dates for flavour and sweetness
• I used oats as cereal
• I used almonds for nuts

And it was good! In fact I lost 9 months halfway through the first serving - kidding. But I actually don't tolerate dairy well in the morning so although I liked the taste I probably won't be whizzing this up again any day soon.

Try It Tuesday: Serve Beer in the Right Glass

The beer enthusiast would argue that each sparkling glass contains an array of B vitamins and all the glorious benefits of fermentation, but let's be frank: beer isn't the healthiest thing on Earth.

Even so, there's something to be said of being dedicated to a craft and becoming a master of your interest. I myself laugh at the research articles that claim coffee is harmful to your overall health and choose to, instead, spend my time perfecting the classic French press.

In hopes of inspiring you to elevate your nightly brew to more than just a one-dollar can, I bring to you: How to Serve Beer in the Right Glass!

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Inspired by the wildly entertaining book: Show Me How
A compulsive library-grab from last week that has proven to be most aesthetically pleasing and strangely inspiring. It offers illustrated instructions on a variety of tasks, from quite necessary to ultimate party trick, including: How to Install a Tire Swing, How to Defend Against a Shark Attack, and, How to Tango.

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A Belgian ale or barley wine goes great in a tulip glass. The bulbous body and flared lip will make the most of its hearty aroma.

The Weizenbier glass is great for wheat beer because its shape showcases fluffy foam and golden hues.

A strong ale is great in a snifter because the big bowl captures aromas and concentrates them at the glass's lip.

In the US, ales and lagers are typically served in a straight-edged "poor man's pint" glass measuring a measly 475ml.

In England it's illegal to serve a pint less than 600ml and they use a glass with a slight bulge to allow for more head.

Anything with a malty flavour will taste best in a goblet as it traps the flavours and retains hearty head.

Lastly, a flute's elegant form, often used for champagne, boosts carbonation and will compliment fruity and lambic beers.

No matter what your favourite style of beer is it deserves the right glass. Serve anything from a hefty Guinness to a Bud Light to the new Rickard's Blonde (in sampler packs now!) and you're sure to impress. Just be sure that one of your guests knows they're on dishes duty.

Make Up's Dirty Secret

You may have heard of conventional produce's dirty dozen (the 12 fruits and veggies you really should buy organic) but you probably haven't heard of the cosmetic dirty dozen.

With books like There's Lead in Your Lipstick becoming best sellers people are more aware of what's in the products that they smear on their faces daily. Here are some of the worst additives in make up today, according to the David Suzuki Foundation:

- BHA, BHT
- Coal tar dyes
- DEA
- Dibutyl phthalate
- Formaldehyde-releasing chemicals
- Parabens
- Parfum (fragrance)
- PEG compounds
- Petrolatum
- Siloxanes
- SLS
- Tricolsan

If any of your cosmetics contain these ingredients it's time to hit the natural foods store & pick up a better brand. Or - an even greater solution is to make your own. (Wow, who thought I'd say that?)

Email or comment me your favourite face, body & hair products and I'll see what nifty homemade recipes I can scrounge up.

For more posts on cosmetics click here.

Try It Tuesday: The Vaccination Book by Dr. Sears

Choosing whether or not to vaccinate your children is an important decision, the outcome of which can affect their ability to attend public school and travel globally. Vaccinating your child without doing ample research runs you the risk of suffering severe consequences, on the flip side being cavalier about not vaccinating your child could hold equal risk. I have seen both sides of this dilemma. One friend now parents a child with mental and social delays that she credits to additives in her young boy's vaccination. Another lost her newborn to a preventable disease after choosing to opt out of its vaccination. Which is worse, a loss caused by action or inaction? These are the questions I've weighed since becoming pregnant last November.

Oliver is nearly 3 months now. With his 2 month pediatric appointment come and gone, and his next one in a few days, I am knee deep in this decision. Even if he receives all of his shots this Friday he will still be on a "delayed schedule" as we opted out last time. Currently our decision stands that we will choose to vaccinate him (on the basis of preventing death, but also making access to future school and travel easier) for only severe illnesses. This means we will opt out of the chicken pox (varicella) vaccine and all seasonal flu vaccines. We will, however, boost his immunity through the homeopathic flu shot which you can read about on one of my earlier blog posts. He will, therefore, be receving the mandatory DPTP and MMR but I have to say I am not looking forward to helping him through this tough appointment.

Recently I read "Your Child's Best Shot" by Ronald Gold and was very disappointed to see how biased it was. It was essentially 400 pages of assurance that there are barely any risks or side effects of vaccination, and scare tactics about the potential risks of the relevant illnesses. The book also featured information about past, subpar vaccinations put out to the public and how we've miraculously (note my sarcasm) improved them. By my logic, if a previous shot was, at that time, promoted as safe and is now seen as risky, could we not assume that future editions of this book will feature information on how 2011's vaccination versions were inadequate? We never know what future research will show us about things that we currently have confidence in: see thalidomide.

But here's a book that's worth its weight in gold: Dr. Sears' The Vaccine Book. He is a brilliant man, promoting concepts and philosophies well before his time. I believe future generations will look back on his books and say "This is what changed everything." Because the public library does not offer it, I recommend purchasing it now!



What a hard decision for any parent, but how lucky we are to have this information at our finger tips.

31 Days: Day 5

Alright, this is impossible. Some how unless my day involves very significant events I lose all ability to remember how I spent my hours by the next morning.

Yesterday... I know I made cranberry oatmeal for breakfast. I went for a long walk with Calvin and Oliver. Somewhere along the line we had tuna wraps for lunch. We checked the mail*. I drove Calvin to work and stopped at the police station for a criminal records check (I am going to be volunteering as a nutrition educator at the YMCA and would also like to start volunteering in my church's nursery). Then I hung out at my friend Megan's place, on Wortley Rd. Her son Kelan is 2 weeks older than Oliver so they became friends.

We had chai tea and bonded over countless similar experiences. I'm really glad to have her in my life. We walked down to Quarter Master because I had forgotten a bottle of mint chlorophyll in the staff fridge (Iron Man reminded me of this) and I got to visit with the old staff, plus some customers. Upon leaving to try and find my friend Alla I ran into her son who was also looking for her, and we began a journey of searching for her together. Once we did find her I went to the library (Canadian Living: Create, Update, Remake - DIY Projects for You, Your Family and Your Home) walked back to Megan's to get my car - ran into 3 friends working at burger joint extraordinaire, Relish - and then drove to get Cal. Then we went to East Side Mario's for my friend Ashley's 25th birthday. We chatted about mushrooms and baseball and buying condoms in a wheelchair. We forced Ashley to allow a Happy Birthday singing so that we could eat her cake. And I gave her a homemade present - 2 wood log coasters, tied in a grey yarn bracelet. With a homemade card that used rosemary as a tree in the design. After that we went to Calvin's parents' house to pick up a second hand breast pump that Jeff procured for me. (Was so hoping that his receptionist would blast JEFF YOUR BREAST PUMP IS HERE over the PA system - but no luck). Then I got really tired so we came home. I fell asleep reading "The Thrive Diet".

* In the mail was a free infant formula sample from Similac. Not only do I not know how they got my information, but I don't believe it's right to send unwanted samples to new moms. Dr. Sears says you're much more likely to "give up" breastfeeding if you have formula in the house. Think of the nursing relationships that could be saved if we met challenge with support instead of a way out. I understand that some people need formula and it saves lives, but it needs to be a last resort and not an easy decision. I plan to contact them about my discomfort with the situation and I might even drink the stuff myself since it's probably a decent meal replacement and I'm all for saving money :) What do you think?

It's Creating Time!

The last days of summer are absolutely made for my favourite things: gardening, canning and crocheting (because you'll need some new scarves, mitts and hats soon!) I could probably include coffee brewin' in there too when the mornings are chilly. Just out of curiosity, does it offend anyone that I drink a mug of coffee every day despite breastfeeding? I would love to know how people feel.

So in honour of this glorious time of year, I have a challenge for my readers. Read through this list of creative ventures and do at least one of them before the autumn equinox on Sept 23rd. Heck, do more than one. I plan to do all of them if my little Ollie Wolfe's sleeping habits will allow.

1. Do some end of summer maintenance to your garden. If you're really ambitious this could include attempting seed saving.
2. Make something DIY instead of buying it. Like these wood coasters (see photo) that my coffee table desperately needs.
3. Learn a new song on your instrument of choice. I suggest Iron & Wine.
4. Crochet a fall scarf. Charcoal grey is particularly satisfying.
5. Host a pickling party. Have friends bring their own jars and pay a buck or two for your supplies (pickling cucumbers, vinegar, salt, maybe sugar and other spices). Or let everyone bring a unque veg to pickle (think asparagus, carrots, pearl onions..)
6. Donate your rarely worn summer clothes. Commit to going new-clothes free all autumn. If you really need something get it second hand.
7. Write a thank you card. Lately I've realized gratitude is one of life's sweetest virtues. Recognize the people in your life that bless you.
8. Brew some joe (or tea!) in a french press. If you're near a specialty coffee shop, a thrift store or an Italian family home, try using a Moka stove top pot.
9. Go on a library binge. It's free!
10. Read myideaofhappiness regularly ;)

Updates

Oh my garden is being so good to me. Yesterday I went out there for a check up and came back with patty pan squash, cucumbers and one lunar carrot. They all tasted stupidly delicious. The tomatoes are really taking their time but they taste good green so if I get antsy I just eat them anyways. I have a cute idea for bringing my herbs in when it gets cold, but it involves a ton of mason jars and I worry I should save them for canning.

I am reading so many good books. Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin is the best read I've found in a while. My friend Debbie lent it to me and now I don't know if my life will be complete without owning it. I also read the Baby Food Bible, every issue of Canadian Family & Today's Parent that I could find. I read Dr. Bradley's Husband-Coached Childbirth and BirthCentre's Baby's First Year and.. well, to be honest just about every book in the Pregnancy, Birthing, Parenting, Eco-friendly, Recipe Book & Craft sections of both Landon & Stoney Creek library. I've had so much time on my hands with being off work but being too pregnant to do anything useful. Which brings me to my next point.

I spent 2 days in Toronto with Calvin and various members of my family trying to find my little sister, Sarah, an apartment. It was really fun and a good way to get out of the house. We found a great restaurant called Just Thai, so next time you're there check it out. I think it's on Jarvis, somewhere near King if I remember.

My blog turns 1 year old on the 7th. I'd like to write a celebratory post and give away all sorts of prizes and make it miraculous but that's a day away from my Estimated Due Date and I seriously doubt I'll be thinking about blogging. Well, maybe I will :) Would anyone like if I share my birth story on here? I plan to if anyone would enjoy.

Calvin got a great hair cut from my talented friend Bethany last night. He's still asleep but I can admire it none the less. And he finally has a long weekend which is very exciting!

If I don't post much in the coming days I hope you understand but I look forward to writing up a storm once things settle down & I already having canning plans so we can be sure that I will document the heck out of that! Thanks for reading my friends.

Rhubarb Crumble

Wow, short of the fiddlehead pasta I've been really slack on posting seasonal recipes! This was brought to my attention with the new books I've been reading:

and

So in all my guilt I've decided to post a recipe. Really after this one I'm not that far behind. I don't have anything brilliant to show you about asparagus (just cook it lightly and eat - can't get any better) so with fiddleheads, asparagus & rhubarb down I'm on to June which of course brings to mind strawberries so I'll see what I can do about that one soon! Roots are also available right now but because they're so easily stored I say enjoy them all year round.

Here's my favourite rhubarb crumble.

Preheat the oven to 350.
In a large bowl combine 3 cups chopped rhubarb, 2 medium apples chopped, 1 egg and 1/2 cup maple syrup. Sprinkle in a few nice warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Pour into a large baking dish.
In that same bowl (don't bother cleaning it) combine 1 cup flour (I've tried this recipe with 3/4 cup rice flour and 1/4 cup tapioca starch - it was great), 1/2 cup sucanat or brown sugar and a pinch of sea salt. Then cut in 1/2 cup cold butter or Earth Balance.
Crumble this mixture over the fruit and bake for 45 - 55 minutes.



There's no picture. We ate it all right away. Every time.

My Natural Bathroom!

"There's Lead in Your Lipstick" is a new book hitting top sellers lists quickly and leaving me on a library hold list for longer than I'm used to waiting. It's a great book, and the thing I'm most excited for is the resulting awareness of the public in regards to the chemical toxicity of mainstream make up and hygiene products. I haven't read the whole thing yet, and I don't agree with everything she writes, but it prompted me to write you a list of things I use every morning. Make that, every morning that I actually will myself to get in the shower.

Yes to Cucumbers shampoo and Yes to Carrots conditioner:
I'm a strong believer that your hair is healthier if you don't wash it every day or even every two days, so I get by using shampoo probably once a week and just rinsing with water in between. When I do think my roots need a scrub, and it'll take more than baking soda solution or soap bar, I reach for these products because they are a mix good of decent ingredients and excellent result. Some natural shampoos and conditioners I've used are garbage and I don't think it's worth the effort if they don't have any effect. You can find them in any Shoppers Drug Mart.

Soap Works simple bar soap:
I switch between varieties - I like them all. Right now I'm using their pine tar and I have a bar of chamomile in the shower too. They made good honest soaps, cold-pressed method I believe and they're cheap as heck. You can buy them at Quarter Master or the Bulk Barn.

Homemade tinted moisturizer:
For this concoction I simply saved an old pot from a night cream and filled it with a brew of: face cream, sunscreen and a few pumps of foundation. It doesn't give me a lot of coverage but I don't really need it. I'm particularly prone to sun burning right now (if it weren't snowing) because I'm pregnant, so even though I love my vitamin D, I put a little SPF on the face for good measure.

Lavera Intense Volume mascara:
It was a miracle to find a 100% chemical-free mascara that actually works. It is organic, vegan & cruelty free with no parabens, petrochemicals or toxic chemicals.

JASON Sea Fresh toothpaste:
I'm addicted to this product, I'll never switch to anything else (OK fine, I sometimes use Weleda Calendula toothpaste and Hakeem's herbal). It tastes so good, cleans so well and has great ingredients.

Lastly,

Green Beaver Wild Yam deodorant:
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Green Beaver is the best company on the planet. Honestly, they're from Ontario, they made amazing things that work and use all natural ingredients. This deodorant is my recommendation for anyone who wants to get away from cancer-causing ingredients living under their arms. Buy one today!

The Very Best Gardening Books...

... or, the very best gardening books that my library has to offer, would be a more suitable name.

Fresh Food from Small Spaces - RJ Ruppenthal

 This book goes way beyond growing vegetables in the city. It was my first in depth look at urban beekeeping and chicken raising. Yes, it did convince me to adopt a duck but don't tell Calvin. The book is a great guide to gardening in small areas like apartment building balconies, cozy backyards, fire escapes and even abandoned areas that you don't own (guerilla gardening). I found some of the information only pertained to southern, warm climates so keep in mind if you're from Ontario like me you'll have to adjust.

Carrots Love Tomatoes - Louise Riotte

I'm actually still waiting to read this book but just about every one who's anyone recommends it. It goes into the relationships (beneficial and harmful) between various garden crops. This year I'll be growing the classic companion planting combination: the Three Sisters. The theory goes that if you grow corn, winter squash and pole beans together they will each benefit the others in some way. Corn provides a pole for the beans to grow up. Beans bind nitrogen into the soil. Squash provide pest control and insulation through ground cover. 

Four-Season Harvest - Eliot Coleman

Finally, a Zone-5 specific book to teach me gardening techniques specific to my cold climate. This man believes (and has easily persuaded me) that you shouldn't just plant seeds once a year and harvest them when they're ready. Rather, you should practice succession planting. This is where you plant new seed every two weeks or so and enjoy multiple harvests. Using cold frames (built up boxes with glass on top) he eats fresh produce all year round.

You Grow Girl - Gayla Trail

Probably the most visually appealing book that this subject has to offer, Gayla does a great job at plainly, and interestingly, explaining a wide range of gardening topics with no risk of losing your attention. From planning a garden, to starting one, to caring for it, reaping the benefits and then winterizing, she has it all. She also throws in a lot of her creative flair with instruction how to paint your pots, make fancy seed posts, brew up herbal tea and use old garage sale junk to make your backyard look great.

Putting Food By - Janet Greene, Ruth Hertzberg, Beatrice Vaugman

My reaction to this book is equally 'inspired' as it is 'entertained'. The book was probably written before my parents were born and uses some hilarious language. It is the ultimate guide to preserving food. I don't plan on using the guide to canning wild game or collard greens, I will remember the tips on sauerkraut and stewed tomatoes.



Lastly, if you would like heirloom, organic seeds for this growing season I am doing group orders through Quarter Master. The packets are $3 each and I prefer pre-payment but depends how well I know you. Varieties can be found at www.cottagegardener.com and will be sent/ready for pick up in May.