Sunday, April 18, 2010

A Moment of Restoration

Pregnancy was a completely transformative experience- both in terms of the physical being as well as the emotional. Looking backwards a year, I was 34 weeks pregnant. Even after giving birth, my mind still has trouble comprehending the fact that there was another human being sharing my body. But I have physical proof: my gorgeous 11 month old son, little Green tree himself!

Over the course of 9 months, I transformed. If you were to look at my transformation in terms of the animal kingdom, I physically transformed from a gazelle, grazing on grass and effortlessly running 5+ miles daily to that of a grizzly bear in the process of bulking up for hibernation.

For 9 months, I lovingly slathered belly lotion, rubbing my enormous stomach in gentle circles, wondering about the being shifting and wiggling beneath. I ate generous (ok VERY generous) helpings of good foods, nourishing both of our bodies from the inside out. I took prenatal yoga and learned to connect with my breath. I swam laps, slow and steady, to help relieve my aching joints and swollen limbs. I am proud to say that I took amazing care of my body and the body of my growing baby.

Then the big day came- and I was completely and totally lost in my love for my child. Every moment that was spent caring for us as one was now lovingly spent caring for my beautiful son. Physically, after giving birth, I felt a little bit like a deflated balloon. But spiritually, I was radiant with love.

Now, spring has come and I am anxious to begin running again. I've had a year to settle into my new body, so now it's time to start taking gentle, loving steps towards getting back into the things I love to do. I recently got a (very!) part time job at the YMCA. I'll be teaching some classes, teaching folks about the equipment, and eventually personal training and getting my life guarding certification back up to date. It's awesome because I also get a membership for working there- which means I can take Green swimming without breaking the bank!

I did a very gentle run last week at the Y and attended a few group fitnesses classes. I went for another run in the woods tonight- my muscles are feeling a little achy! One of my favorite restorative practices is taking a foot soak.

A picture of my foot bath oasis

Here is my recipe for an awesome restorative moment
-Fill the biggest vessel you can find with warm/hot water
- Dried lavender (known for its many healing properties, lavender is a calming herb) and a squirt of Dr. Bronners Organic Castile soap
- A cup of chamomile tea with raw honey and fresh, chopped ginger root (a word of caution: according to traditional chinese medicine, ginger is a drying herb- so if you are newly nursing and don't yet know how ginger affects your nursing body, you might want to skip it)
- Comfy wool socks to put on when your foot bath is done


Another wonderful source of restoration : )

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Composting

We've been so busy outside that I haven't had time to do much on the computer besides my usual time wasting on Facebook (*blush*)

My seedlings are still doing quite well- I've had a few die off here and there, but most of them are fairing nicely. We still haven't picked out the perfect spot for our garden bed, but we've got plenty of time to get that taken care of.

Last weekend Ry built us a composting bin in hopes of brewing up some nice fertile soil for our garden-to-be.
Green and Ry ceremoniously adding the first orange peel

I have a soft spot for botany (and a fair portion of a biology degree), so I was pleased to learn that there is actually a good amount of science behind the table scraps rotting away in the corner of our yard. Here is what I've gleaned so far:

When composting, you want to keep a carbon (brown, dry yard waste) to nitrogen (green, plant material, fruits and veggies) of roughly 30:1 - but close enough is good enough in a home composting situation. It will all break down eventually!

There are many different ways to construct your bin (or you can buy one for like $100)

Add material in brown and green layers

You want to keep your pile moist but not totally soaking, like a wrung out sponge

Covering it is also a good idea- heat speeds up the process

It is a good idea to turn your pile every time something new is added - this oxygenates the pile, speeding up the breakdown process - Once your pile is as big as you intend to make it, it is a good idea to turn it every three days or so

Finished compost can be ready in as little as 3 months or can take up to a year

Here is an awesome resource if you are thinking about composting!