so as you can tell i have dropped off the face of the blogging planet.
been wanting to post more but there have been so many things happening since Slow Food Nation that i have been, well, overwhelmed.
- in the retail world, yes it is the holiday season and i have been prepping for that.
-as you know, i have been in the middle of a remodel….it has really wiped me out.
-my niece Nicole of random nicole has moved in, meaning i have had to move out of the “original store” and yes that is the remodel part of it. part 1 of it.
- i am also changing residence….i am finally moving to SA
which brings me to really evaluate my life. i am currently moving a 3 bd townhouse in Irvine with a yard (with a ton of crap in it) into a small, quaint, beautiful 1 bd apt near the store…basically 4 rooms (a bd, ba, living and kitch) from 7 plus a yard a 2 car garage filled with STUFF.
i have been inspired not only to change my blog as a result of the move and Slow Food, but to really encompass what it is to live small and with very little.
PS does anyone need a fridge (great condition, 2 yr old 22 cuft for 250) or a LARGE dining room table with leaves that can seat almost 20 (150)…let me know if you are interested…there are other things too!
more to come!
No rest for the weary-only had 48 hours!
Next up was a 1 ½ mi walk to Rainbow Grocery, a place that I have been wanting to go to since my first visit to GreenFest 4 years ago.
(so unassuming from the front)
This place is amazing: bulk-buying of natural products, this place puts WF to shame!
Let’s hope the new Mothers Market looks like this!
We had to rush back to Civic Center for our 3pm lecture on A New Fair Food System with moderator Eric Schlosser, the stud who wrote Fast Food Nation and basically changed the way we look at fast food forever (PS if you haven’t read this book please ready it NOW).
The panel discussed the issues of food sustainability and that the human aspect of it MUST be considered for it to every truly be sustainable. We have come such a long way in terms of organics, farmers and animal rights, however there are millions of people who are literally treated like slaves in this country and simply neglects who are a crucial part of feeding every single one of us.
(A New Fair Food System panel)
This is seen and probably most heard in the people that comprise the harvesting of our produce (but really it isn’t as much as it really deserves), however, it is the people of the meat industry that is the most neglected (and have one of the most dangerous jobs in the US outside of mining!). One thing that was stressed in the panel was ice-raids or immigration raid in the meat industry. These workers are basically held for weeks with their children abandoned & in horrible conditions. You may say that they are illegal, but if it weren’t for them, you wouldn’t have 90% of the meat products you consume today, and they risk their lives preparing it for us.
I usually have 2 places that I stay whenever I visit SF that is both economical and light on the footprint: a friend’s place or the HI (Hosteling International) off Mason Street Downtown.
I am a huge advocate of the hostel, not only for foreign travel but domestic as well. Traveling is becoming so expensive lately…I would so much rather spend money on a great show, meal or local artist than a place where I brush my teeth and close my eyes. Think about it.
The great thing about staying in hostels is that you can also meet so many people. Folks usually keep to themselves in a conventional hotel and you miss out on tips, recommendations and other people to do things with.
One of my great experiences at the Mason St. hostel was running into my dear friend Charlie Krafft after several years, just sitting in the lobby drinking coffee.
The only problem with the friend’s house and hostel route is that you have to plan in advance…and we didn’t and we could not find a room for more than one day at a single location. So instead of becoming nomads for the weekend, we opted for a Certified Green Hotel in the Nob Hill area called the Hotel Carlton.
Granted this was a little bit more than my traditional sleeping options, The Carlton gave me an understanding of the amount of waste that conventional hotels can generate. Some of the things I noticed:
• All CFL lighting, and some with motion detectors and timers
• Showers & toilets are all low-flow and there are dispensers for shampoo, etc instead of the little plastic containers.
• All recycled paper products
• Vegan/veggie options in the hotel restaurant
• Recycling bins throughout the room and hotel
• The will not give you new linens unless you request it.
• No air conditioning, only large windows and a ceiling fan (which was completely fine)
• Superb staff and multicultural décor…very unique!
If you are not comfortable with the hostel, I would definitely suggest this hotel.
LA Time Home section (one of the top things i look forward to during the week besides Food section), had this awesome article about how to transform the basic IKEA varde wall shelf and give it some personality.
(the piece in question and one of the results)
I love me some IKEA. It is a great, low-cost alternative for eco-friendly living…now i am NOT SAYING THEY ARE THE BEST, but i do suggest them to help with expenses when people want to make changes because not all of us are Leonardo Dicaprio .
link to video
will be posting more as of tomorrow. it is difficult, b/c i have the time to write at night, but i dont have images!!! they are at the store. but in the coming weeks you will see:
-what events i have been going to
-what new things i have learned
-new items in the store in general.
PROMISE! 
OK you may have realized that i am a bit of a SLACKER for the posts as of recently. not a blogger by trade (as you can already guess), but there is a reason::: i have been doing WAY too MUCH!!
i do however have a ton of things to report on.
Earth Day 2008 has really taken on a life of its own and i must admit that it has taken over me. the month of April has literally been so crazy that i have
1. not had a day off in about 5 months- for reals!
2. have been working a minimum of 10 hours a day
yes i am a loser!
super-duper excited about Mother’s Market coming to Santa Ana…every customer in the store keeps talking about it along with my stomach…wait no restaurant?
yes, sources say that there will be NO place to put your feet up while having a tummy-filling-and-yummy breakfast burrito, with a fair trade Yerba Mate with soy (and agave!)…please DIOS tell me i am wrong!