Me too! The problem is, I haven’t been getting one recently….

Usually I sleep well. I enjoy sleeping. In fact, I love sleeping. Perhaps too much!

But in the past week or so I just can’t seem to nod off. These days, whenever I get into bed, I toss and I turn until I can’t stand it any longer and get back out of bed again. It’s probably got something to do with the fact that my body still has a few minor aches and pains following the accident. It probably needs time to heal itself.

So I’ve been spending a lot of time surfing the net and chatting with friends on skype.

Jessica, a good friend of mine from Austin, Texas, seems to have an herbal remedy for everything. She’s given me a sleeping remedy to try out. Actually, it’s a tea. I intend to give it a go tonight.

So, what should be the sleep-deprived persons tea of choice? According to Jessica, Rosemary and Lavender tea…

I have it on good authority that rosemary is energizing, yet calming, while lavender is known to be an effective, yet mild, anti-depressant. Sounds good so far.

So how does one go about making this wonder brew?

2 teaspoons chopped fresh (needless to say, organic) rosemary leaves
2 teaspoons of chopped fresh lavender flower/leaf
2 cups of boiling water

Combine the rosemary and lavender in a warmed glass or ceramic teapot. Add the boiling water, cover and let steep for 5-10 minutes. Strain. Drink.

For best results, I should get this into me at least 3 times each day for 2 weeks. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Here are some resources for any fellow insomniacs…

National Sleep Foundation – pretty much everything you’d ever want to know about sleep – from why you need it to what to do if you’re not getting enough

Sleep Net – includes a sleep test that helps you determine if you’ve got a sleep disorder

Organic bedding boat that floats – a look at what happens to a bunch of organic mattress guys when they’re given a few hours and told to make a boat (for a worthy charity)

Good night…

What do you call a vacation where you don’t go anywhere? According to JT from The Environmental Blog you call it a “staycation”. I like that idea – a stay at home vacation. Think about it for a minute – no rushing around in planes, trains or buses, no credit card bills to pay immediately following your vacation, and no long car journeys involving a repetitious series of questions starting with, “Are we there yet?” Yep – this is the only no aggravation, low carbon footprint, money saving vacation idea I’ve heard of. And what’s more, if approached sensibly, it has the potential to deliver a lot of fun for everyone in the family! JT, I take my hat off to you…

Okay, so what do you do on a “staycation”? Well, The Environmental Blog reckons that…

If you live on the west coast or the east coast, try visiting the ocean. The beach is always fun whether it is off the hot southern California coastline or the rocky tide pools off of Oregon’s coast, there is always some great summer adventures.

I’ve got a couple of additional ideas about what you might do during a staycation. I’d like to toss them out there…

Start an herb garden – Whether you’ve got a spare bit of yard that’s not being used, a few old tubs that no longer see the light of day, or simply a windowsill covered in pigeon poo, you’re in business. Starting an herb garden is good fun, relaxing, and provides you with a wonderful source of fresh food in the weeks and months to come. If you’ve got young children, get them involved. Children that can enjoy the simple pleasures to be had in growing an herb garden are probably going to do pretty well in life. With all the distractions and nonsense that they’re going to have to contend with in their later years, any time spent now enjoying life’s simple pleasures will likely generate positive outcomes.

Volunteer – A bit of social connection is always good for the soul. If you look around your local neighbourhood there’s bound to be projects and groups looking out for people to lend a hand. Does your neighbourhood have a community garden project? Is there a low cost housing precinct nearby requiring volunteers? How about your local school – do they need someone to lend a hand mending some items? Is there a local history group that’s in need of assistance? Getting involved in the community makes a difference to both your life and the lives of those around you. Helping other folks out is a pretty special feeling and one that’s not easily replicated during a traditional vacation.

Give it a try – having a “staycation” might just be a lot of fun!

Okay – only four sleeps left until Halloween 2007 blows into town. If you read Bev’s earlier post, your pantry may already be chock-a-block full of store-bought organic treats to give those hungry, menacing, night-prowling monsters. But if you’re like some of our readers and you’re not overly keen to hand out treats containing too much sugar – whether organic or not – you might want to consider some alternative Halloween approaches.

Here’s a quick organic Halloween suggestion that is not only low in sugar but should keep most monster’s at bay – popcorn! Homemade organic popcorn – you can’t beat it. Popcorn’s fun, nutritious and it’s really easy to prepare. Simply start with some good quality organic yellow popcorn kernels such as those available from Purcell Mountain Farms and start cooking.

3 Tablespoons oil (canola oil, coconut oil, or olive oil may be used)
4oz. Organic yellow popcorn
1 Popcorn Popper or Large Sauce Pan
1 Large Serving Bowl

Here’s how – start by preheating the oil on high in the bottom of a popcorn popper (or a large saucepan if you’re coming up short with the popcorn popper) for approximately 1 minute. Add the popcorn kernels to the popper and cover. Lower the heat slightly. Agitate the popper until the popcorn ceases to pop. Pour the popcorn into a large serving bowl to cool. Sprinkle with salt to taste. Place the popcorn into paper bags so that each monster is able to have their own bag. Depending on how many monsters will visit, you may need to make several batches.

If this idea won’t work with your monsters at this time of year, then you might want to check out some:

Alternative green Halloween ideas from the site dedicated to alternative consumers (and monsters too!).

Spooky trick or treat ideas from the Tree Hugging Family.

Eco-friendly Halloween suggestions from Nature Moms

Whatever you decide to do – act fast. I know of at least two little monsters that are getting their tricks ready right now!

It’s fast approaching the time of year when grandparents, police officers, and neighbors stock up on those candy treats which contribute to the traditional festivities of Halloween. When we were little, our favourite treats were the brightly coloured toffee apples and the candied popcorn which came in brown paper bags. The goblins of today are just as likely to receive wholesome muesli bars, trade fair chocolates, or one of the organically certified candy products now appealing to health conscious parents.

Organic candy has been around for several decades but has only recently become a mainstream item. A few years ago, you had to search the internet for limited supplies of organic candy. Dealing with small-scale manufacturers and the lack of consistent product information often presented challenges. It was essentially a hit and miss exercise. The recent arrival of recognised confectionery brands and manufacturers has increased competitive marketing to the extent that overall quality and widespread availability is assured.

Our local supermarket devotes one of their shelf sections to a full range of organic candy and other sweet snacks. The grandkids have already marked out their favourites. Something about their bright wrappers and cheerful presentation, no doubt.

The question which must be asked, of course, is whether organically certified candy is better for children than the conventional alternative. In terms of the overall sugar content, there is probably insufficient difference to separate the two options. Some organic products claim to use less refined sugar or natural sugars, but what does that count for? Unfortunately, sugar is simply that. There’s lots of information about the health risks of excessive sugar consumption so let’s practice moderation where we can. The real advantage of the organic treats is their purity. You will rest assured that organically certified candy does not contain the chemical additives which are frequently used as colouring, preservative, and flavouring agents in conventional candy products. Several of these chemical additives are suspected to contribute to childhood medical conditions like allergy, hyperactivity, and sleep disorders.

The principle of care is one of the tenets underpinning organic agriculture. IFOAM indicate that Organic Agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations as well as the environment. Most organic consumers I speak to are keen to extend this fundamental principle into other areas of their daily lives. Saving energy in the home is one of the surest ways we, as individuals, can reduce the load we place on our precious planet. Choosing energy efficient lighting sources can result in significant reductions in household green house gas emissions. So, having some understanding of energy efficient lighting tends to be useful for most organic consumers. But what exactly is energy efficient lighting?

Energy efficient lighting is an approach to lighting that seeks to minimise energy usage while simultaneously delivering upon required functionality. Why is it important? Well, it’s estimated that a 13% reduction in household greenhouse gas emissions is possible merely by choosing appropriate lighting technology. Lighting technology has come a long way in the past ten years. In the past, virtually every household in the United States used incandescent globes. Nowadays, households are able to choose between the older style incandescent globes and the more modern compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL).

What’s the difference? I’m glad you asked. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use around 80 percent less electricity and last around 9 times longer than incandescent light globes. Instead of using between 40 and 100 watts, common in incandescent globes, compact fluorescent light bulbs generally use between 9 and 20 watts. Given that energy consumption and the cost of lighting is directly proportional to a globe’s wattage, it’s fairly easy to see why the newer compact fluorescent light bulbs have the capacity to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save you money.

Are there any drawbacks? Compact fluorescent light bulbs are generally more expensive than incandescent globes. However, when their increased lifespan and the cost savings associated with lower energy usage are taken into account, compact fluorescent light bulbs are actually a much less expensive option. In fact, the payback period associated with them, which is the time that elapses before you cover your initial investment, is generally less than a year.

Where can I get them? Compact fluorescent light bulbs are generally available wherever conventional light bulbs are sold, with most hardware stores and major supermarkets stocking a good range. Most will fit straight into your existing light sockets, whether they are the conventional bayonet or screw fitting light sockets. And the good news is, with their increased popularity, the range of colours, shapes, sizes and functions has broadened in recent times. So, whether you’re after a ‘warm white’ colour, similar in appearance to an incandescent globe for use in living areas, kitchens, and bedrooms, or whether you need a ‘cool’ white colour suitable for use in bathrooms, toilets and for outdoor use, you should be able to find something to suit.

If you want to play your part, seriously consider switching over to compact fluorescent light bulbs in favour of the less efficient incandescent globes of yesteryear. In the interim, here are some additional lighting tips that will not only save you money, but will help you to reduce your carbon footprint:

• Use natural lighting as much as possible. If you’re building a new home, look for opportunities to utilise natural light by incorporating skylights and sky dome lighting.
• Turn all lights off when they are not in use.
• Replace any incandescent globes with energy saving compact fluorescent globes.
• Choose globes with the lowest wattage required for each particular area of your home.
• For outdoor settings, choose solar-powered lights.

None of these steps are particularly difficult. And believe me, they can make a difference.