A composting kind of revolution

After two transformers blew outside of my apartment building, I decided to scoot over to my favorite local coffee shop with my room mate, Emma. I must say that Emma is probably one of the best things that has happened to me in my college career. We are going on our second year living together and she has literally become a sister to me. So I would like to shout out to you, Emma! Thanks for the coffee ;-).  

The sky opened up today. It opened wide and spewed a river through downtown Columbia. Now I don't know about you, but I still can't figure out what the Columbia city planners where thinking when they decided to build a financial center of a city right on top of a river. There is a river that literally runs right under Five Points in Columbia, and every few years, a good flood comes and the river rises flooding every store in Five Points. I got to check out the damage myself and no lie, you could have taken a kayak though the streets. So much for my Sunday ride to the grocery store.

But I did get to meet with my project group for my senior seminar class. We are working on a business plan to get more people in Columbia to compost. I am currently working on a design for a composting bin that you can literally put under your kitchen sink. The design will allow you to put your materials into the bin without having to touch the worm castings or dirt. You won't even need to turn the compost. Literally, once you set the bin up, you just use the bin as a garbage can and sell your worm castings once you get a good amount. It is also designed to keep out bugs, flies, rats/mice, and any other potential pest. We also plan on the cost of this bin to be low and the assembly to be convenient. Here is what it will look like and how it will work:

I encourage people to try it out and see how it works! If you do decide to try it, let me know what you think. Also, for those skeptics out there, tell me what your concerns are about composting. As strange as indoor composting may seem, it can actually be convenient and environmentally friendly. It also produces an awesome fertilizer for your home garden! 

I will let you guys know how the bin works as I begin my composting adventure. I also plan on taking on a challenge this week. Over the past few years, I have been hearing about several "miracle diets" that supposedly detoxify your body and allow you to gain control of cravings and food obsessions. But there is one diet in particular that keeps coming up from people who sincerely swear by the process. The diet I speak of is none other than the Master Cleanse Diet. So, I figured for my first major challenge, I will take on the Master Cleanse for 10 days and let you guys know what I think. I will essentially be fasting for 10 days, only to drink a special lemonade concoction. 

I will update you next week about whats going on. If you have a challenge or an idea you want me to try, let me know! My challenge for you this week is to cut your added sugar intake by 1/2. For an added challenge, eliminate soda as well. There is a ridiculous amount of health benefits that come with doing this. Until next time, be safe and practice health!

Tune in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Js2Ef5Ojg

Barefoot- The new black

I am calling it right here and right now with you as my witness. Going barefoot is going to be the next fad. Alright, so maybe not necessarily barefoot, but close! We are already seeing multiple shoe producers making shoes with thinner soles and less support. And there is a good reason behind it too! People are beginning to understand the impacts that shoes with support have on your body. Many athletes and health nuts have gone "barefoot" and they are spreading the word rapidly. 

Hey, there is science to back this stuff up! When you run in conventional running shoes that have tons of support, you tend to run heel to toe. There have been multiple studies done that shows the impact running like this has on your body and how having less support is actually better for your feet, shins, knees, hips, back, neck, and head. With less support, you strengthen your muscles while preventing running injuries. Don't believe me? Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auntctXMS5Q&feature=related

Still don't believe me? Let me give you some history. From the beginning of the known history of man until the late 1960's, man wore shoes that had very little or no support. Humans would hunt, travel, and pretty much live day to day wearing flat shoes or not wearing anything on their feet at all. Starting in the early 1970's, with the rise in jogging interest came the rise of running shoes with support. With the new shoes came new reports of running injuries. Today, people who have switched back to barefoot running have experienced far fewer running injuries. They also find it easier and more fun to run barefoot. Need more evidence? Listen to what a best selling author and barefoot activist has to say about it: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/christopher_mcdougall_are_we_born_to_run.html 

When growing up, I always hated wearing shoes, especially bulky sneakers. As an adult, I have owned several pairs of supporting sneakers but about 10 months ago I was introduced to going barefoot. Since then, I have only worn sandals and minimalist shoes with no support. Since I live in a city I don't want to go fully barefoot, so I do the closest thing I can to it. I wear shoes called fivefingers (made by vibram) for running, biking, hiking, rock climbing, and water sports. It took time (a few weeks) to get the muscles in my feet used to wearing almost nothing, but now I can't go back to sneakers. I recently really put the shoes to the test while hiking along the AT. The terrain was rocky, but the shoes held up and I stayed barefoot! My feet were a bit sore at the end of the day, but I woke up the next morning ready to go. Super cool experience!

I seriously think going barefoot is going to get big soon. When I first got my shoes, it seemed like everyone thought they were weird. I rarely saw anyone else with similar shoes and no one really knew about the benefits of going barefoot. Since then, I have been seeing more people try it out. I have been seeing more barefoot runners around the city and I have had more people accepting the idea of running barefoot. I even got a few friends to get a pair and they love them as well! Wearing these shoes is also a great way to meet people. I constantly have people coming up to me asking me about the shoes. My reply? Like I said earlier, I will never go back to conventional sneakers. 

Here are some links to minimalist shoe websites. What is great about this new fad is that we are starting to see major shoe companies come out with minimalist shoes as well.

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/index.htm

http://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/

http://www.merrell.com/US/en/Women-Footwear-Shoes-Barefoot

http://www.newbalance.com/nb-minimus/

And here is where I got my information about barefooting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot_running

Get in tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT-dxG4WWf4

What is this all about?

As crazy as it may seem, I am a firm believer that we humans are animals who have married ourselves to a societal notion. What is that notion? Everyone is told how they should feel, look, and live by multiple sources. Every day we are bombarded with ads and campaigns to buy a product because it is the new hot stuff on the market. If you don't buy their stuff then you will be more depressed, not as attractive, and just completely uncool. The greatest irony of all of this is the fact that all of these products that we have to buy and all of these foods and drugs that we have to consume in order to be happier are possibly bringing us farther from where we want to be. 

But where do we want to be? Something I personally find hilarious is how humans have no idea what we want until it is presented to us. So I am making an effort to find exactly what it is that we as humans really need in life in order to be comfortable, content, and just all around happy. Personally, I try to live outside of the societal notion. I take a look at what I see in society and I rationalize it for myself.  On a day to day basis, I try my best to find ways to stay mentally and physically healthy. I am constantly coming across people who have alternative ideas about how to maintain health. I have successfully thrown away most of the stuff I was taught about life while growing up and now am in the process of building a stronger foundation of morals and wisdom. 

Now, being a full time student who holds both a job and an internship, I am usually pretty busy and will try to post stuff for this blog at least once a week.  What will I talk about you ask?  I plan on spontaneously jumping onto the occasional bandwagon and telling you what I think. I will be finding new people with new ideas and discussing them. I will be telling you guys about what I know and what I learn. I will review "green" concepts and products. Finally, I plan on telling people about what impacts they may have on the environment and show how easy it is to be less of a consumer. 


I also look forward to hearing about what my followers have to say. So please! If you have any suggestions, ideas, questions, or just a comment, please let me know.


Here, listen to this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyZtxY7L1hI&feature=BFa&list=PLAD6D08DC4A5364AA&lf=mh_lolz