She's my world, she's so rad, she's the best ride I ever had

I know that material possessions, consumerism and capitalism in general are unnecessary evils...but I pine for one of these babies.

Eating Organic

Until I started working on an organic farm, I had not in truth put much thought into eating organically grown produce. It always seemed like the clearly better choice, but was it worth the money? What did it really matter, what did it really mean? I was already a long time vegetarian, surely that was enough?

But now that I go out into the fields every day, dig into the soil, harvest, handle the produce, I have realized how important the distinction is between organic and not. I can not imagine working everyday in a field polluted by pesticides and herbicides. Handling chemically laden produce. Breathing in toxic air. Having acid water absorbed into my skin. If I can not imagine working in those conditions, than why can I so easily eat food produced in those conditions?

Thankfully, as I work at an organic farm, there is nothing to fear. The air is as clean as any New Jersey air (how clean is that...?), the soil is natural, the produce healthy.

I am now going to make a concious effort to eat organic as often as possible. At this point in my life it is far too expensive to eat solely organic, as well as nearly impossible when one considers eating at restaurants, on campus, and at friends houses. But as often as possible. Put as few of those pesticides and toxins into my body as I can manage. And I will continue to work to make this a reality for those around me as well. First by working on an organic farm, and by one day operating my own organic farm. It's better for the environment and it's better for your body. It's the way agriculture existed for thousands of years before some giant corporation decided corporate farmers could maximize profit by spraying toxic chemicals all over their produce.

JSRG!

I have officially passed the WFTDA minimum skills requirement test for roller derby!
It took 7 months of intense practice (plus 2 months of having mono and not skating)
I passed a written test, a safety test, a skills test.
Wednesday pork roller practices, Monday night endurance practices, and open skate in between. There was outdoor rink practices, huge bruises and crazy falls and collisions. A lot of sweat and laughter. And now I am offically a full league member of Jersey Shore Roller Girls! I will be drafted onto a team this summer.
Now the real work starts. I've gotta keep up the hard work. Skate at least four times a week and exercise in between. Practices Monday and Thursday nights and volunteering at Saturday bouts. This is what I have been working my ass off for, this is what all the JSRG girls work their asses off for. Because we love this sport, we love our league, we love the teams.
June 12th! Asbury Park Convention Hall! Second Intraleague bout of the season!
Be there!

Travel Bug

So lately I have been thinking about travel a lot.
I have been thinking about all of the places in the world, and how New Jersey is so small and how I just want to get out there and see as much as possible. Mostly, I want to see as much nature as possible before it is gone. I want to see hundred foot tall trees, so large in diameter that it takes five people to encircle it. I want to see clear blue streams and the tops of mountains and the insides of caves and the dense greenery of forests. I want to see fields of wildflowers and bees and all of the animals that inhabit these lands. I want to camp, live in a tent, backpack, bicycle. I wish there was a good way to travel to other countries without taking planes, with the high emission rate and all. But the expanse of the United States is just a train ride away. So here is a list of places that I want to be right now.

Washington State and Oregon: I've heard the natural landscape in these states is breathtaking. You have it all. The mountains, rivers, forests, ocean...

Budapest, Hungary: My grandmother on my mother's side is Hungarian/Eastern European. I want to see where that side of the family is from. Plus, I have heard Budapest is a wonderful city

South America: Any country really, I have never been to the continent and the nature there must be fascinating

New Zealand: Green mountains, surrounded by ocean, Lord of the Rings was filmed there...need I say more?

I haven't left the Tri-State area in two years, and I haven't left the country in three years. I need to get out into the world again.

Organic Farming

Yesterday I spent 9 hours working at the organic farm to which I am an intern this summer.
I can tell it is going to be a great experience.
Working outside, playing in the dirt, the smell of tomato plants.
The feeling of working at a useful project, the growing and tending to vegetation, is a rewarding experience.
Last summer, when I maintained a large vegetable garden at my home, there was no better feeling than walking to the house with a large tub of grape tomatoes or squash or peas that I had grown from seed or seedling. Watching the tiny plants fulfill their destinies, from seed to flower to fruit, helps me to appreciate the seasons of life.
I want to learn as much from this internship as possible.
Owning and operating my own organic farm in the future has become a accessible goal of mine, and I will work with dedication toward this goal. Most other aspects of my life are up in the air right now, where I will live after college, graduate school immediately or later, the day to day tasks, but mark my words I will have an organic farm. There will be fields of ripening vegetables, possibly some fruit trees, goats, sheep, chicken, ducks and rabbits roaming about. There will be a border collie and a blue heeler and probably too many cats to count. I will be surrounded by life and I will care for it and it will care for me.

Menacing Kittah

Vegan agave nectar cupcakes

On Monday night, I baked vegan agave nectar cupcakes.
The ingredients of vegan recipes always make me smile.
Soy milk, agave nectar, apple cider vinegar...
I brought them to roller derby endurance practice and the were a big hit.

Endurance practice was challenging and excellent.
I got to use my R3's at a practice for the first time, and they didn't let me down.
My heels were in a considerable amount of pain though, and I may have to invest in some of those soft heel pads you can put in shoes. I bought a pair of squishy arch supports today to try out at practice tomorrow, I am hoping they help to support my wonky feet.

One of the things I love about derby is the energy I always feel AFTER a practice. It's a mix of endorphins, adrenaline, the feeling of community, the feeling of achievement at having completed a strenuous two-hour work out...I never leave derby practice in a bad mood. I am always glad that I went. I encourage any woman who will listen to try out derby. There are so many wonderful benefits to the sport.