Reflection: Weeks 9-12

I know everyone, including me, has said this over and over again but where has this semester gone?! I feel like three weeks ago we were just learning how to blog now we all have our blogs decorated fancy with cool backgrounds and tools and are making our posting so interesting and fun. Lets see, in the past four weeks we have learned a lot about:

• Advocacy (Advocacy Prjoects)
• Healthy People/THOMAS
  
• Eco-Chic Lifestyle Choices (SMART goal)
• Photo Essays
• Junking

I think two of the most important things we have done in the past four weeks are our advocacy and eco-chic projects. Because of this class I was obligated to find out about our political representatives. This actually made me happy because everyone should at least know who their representatives are. I am usually up-to-date with politics but this year I just had too many things going on. I also enjoyed being able to look on the Healthy People and THOMAS sites for current bills or proposals that are trying to be passed. Since our blogging groups are larger I was able to read about many different bills and why others' felt they should be passed.

Our SMART goals were another fun project. It was cool seeing how and why everyone picked their goals the way they did. Being able to receive positive feedback and constructive criticism from my groups members really helped me stay on track and become more eco-friendly.

Personally, I had a lot of fun with the photo essay. I was able to go to my friend Emily's farm, which I had wanted to do for a while. It was very exciting to be able to see things like this first hand because it puts things into perspective. It was also fun being able to see what others photo essays were about. I think our junking projects are going to be a lot like the photo essay. We are able to pick or make whatever we want to do and then show the class. I am excited to see what people make with their "junk".

Overall, besides learning a lot of from our eco-chic and advocacy projects, I have learned a lot from my group members. By switching groups and having to post individual messages on each blog I have got to know a lot of people in the class. I have read what others are doing, what interests them, and what they think of what I do. I love posting and reading the comments because then I get others' opinions and suggestions. Blogging is a good way to network, get others' opinions and ideas, and post what is on your mind.

Picture Source: Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

Share & Voice: Wrap Recipe

Pepper Roll-Ups

Well since I have had a lot of requests for the wrap recipe I made for class, I decided to post it to my blog for anyone to have! They are very easy and usually a crowd pleaser!

Ingredients:

• 1 package of Whole-Wheat Tortillas (Any type of tortilla would work)
• 1 package of Neufchatel Cheese (Any type of cream cheese works)
• 1 jar of Jalapeno Pepper slices
  
• 1 jar of Roasted Red peppers
• 1/2 tsp Cumin (Can alter to your taste)
• 1 bag of Shredded Cheese
  
• 1 package of turkey (optional)

Directions:
Mix cream cheese and cumin. Spread across wraps. Finely chop jalapenos and red peppers. Sprinkle shredded cheese and peppers over wraps. Roll up and cut into thicker slices so ingredients do not fall out. If using turkey or other meats put on meat after sprinkling shredded cheese then put on peppers.

The great thing about this recipe is you can really make it however you want. You can alter or change the ingredients to your liking. Other ingredients you could use are ham, roast beef, olives, other types of peppers, other spices, and etc. Hope you all enjoy! Also, if there are any questions just ask!

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 4: Weekly Update

My SMART goal is I will only eat 3 servings (serving= 3 oz) of hormone-free, grass-fed meat, per week. I did a good job at achieving my SMART goal.

My successes were once again being able to find hormone-free meat, eating out less, having more of a variety of foods, and influencing others. Since I started to look over the meat I eat I do not feel as bad when I do eat it. By having more meat in my meals it has added variety because I was getting bored with, my usual veggie sandwich. Over Thanksgiving break I talked to my family about what we have been learning and my SMART goal. My mom and sister were very interested in what I had to say. My sister is already a bit of a "freak" about her meat so I think it is safe to say I have her on "my side". :) It was also a great experience being able to see first hand a farm that raises animals the natural way. Shepard's Homestead raises grass-fed cattle and hormone-free chickens.

My challenges have still been when I do go out to eat or when I go home. Going out to eat has not been as big of a challenge since I cut back on that but with the holidays approaching I have been going home a lot. When I go home, meat is definitely one of the items on the menu for every meal. When I asked my dad if the deli meat was hormone-free he gave me the funniest look. Looks like I still have some rubbing off to do on some of my family members.

I feel I am doing very good on being consistent with my SMART goal. A couple of times I have slipped up but I got right back on track. I am happy with the outcome so far. I learned this past week that with accurate information you can really make an impact on others' lives. I took everything we have learned from Environmental Health and told it to my family in a nutshell. We ended up having about a 30 minute conversation about how some animals are butchered and how unethical it is (We didn't have this chat at the most ideal time either...after stuffing ourselves with Turkey).

I think for next week I am going to change my goal to: I will eat 4 servings (serving= 3 oz.) of hormone-free meat, per week. Since I have started to eat more meat I realized how many of my meals before were blah. I plan to keep up with this goal while influencing others to do the same.


"Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 4 hosted by Amy@Amy in the Rain."

Eye Opener: Photo Essay

For my Photo Essay I decided to visit a sixty acre farm called Sheperd's Homestead located in Oulu, Wisconsin. It is owned by Larry and Margie Falter, my friend Emily's parents. I chose to visit their farm for many reasons. One day I was talking to my friend Emily about this assignment because I wanted to do something I would enjoy. She ended up telling me about her family farm and it really caught my attention. They raise their own animals and eat what their animals produce. I asked her if there were any days she had free to make the 60 mile drive to visit. We chose this past Saturday to make the drive. It was awesome meeting with her family and seeing all of the different things they do to make ends meet. Some of the things they do on the farm are:

• Raise grass-fed beef cattle (Hay and grain during the Winter)
• Raise chickens ( 2 separate types)- Eat the eggs and meat they produce
• Harvest a garden during summer months-sell produce to people in the community (There are 2 gardens)
• Use products produced on farm (grind grain to make flour, drink milk from dairy cows)
• Have sheep-eat meat; sell wool (Biggest seller on the farm for the meat)
• Make homemade applesauce/cider, spaghetti sauce, yogurt, bread, salsa, pickles
• Excess products get canned during winter months; eat fresh during summer months

Farm Fresh Eggs

Ground Beef from their farm

Fresh Bread made from the grain produced in the field

Homemade Yogurt and Strawberry Jam

Milk from the neighbor's dairy cow and container used to hold the milk

Layer Hens in their coop

Beef Cows eating their hay

Sheep in the hay bed