April 22, 2207........Earth Day 2007........"creative expression in everyday living".... a tribute to the planet.

I am trying to count the number of ways I am switching to non-powered gadgets around the house. The list is small for now, but I am pleased with these small contributions. For years now we have used a clothesline for clothes drying. This would have to be a more than a small contribution I would have to say. I like this method and have become used to it, infact even during inclement weather such as this weekend, we have a system in place in the garage where the clothes can be suspended from a high bar. And to get the hangers up so high I have a nifty little rod that is to be used for opening the water valve outside ones home. What a great value! A steel rod that has a "u" prong on one end fits the hangers neatly in it and enables me to get the hangers onto the rod high above in the garage. And this steel "u" rod cost me some three bucks from the local hardware store. I have used it countless times and it is not going to break down anytime soon, no need for power cords and recharging batteries etc with this gadget. It feels cool to find an alternate use for this water valve opener.

Another switch was when we got ourselves a push mower. I feel happy that while our little lawn is being manicured, we are not spewing emissions into the yard.

In the kitchen there are a couple of non-electric gadgets of which I am particularly proud. One is the lowly stone mortar and pestle. I tell you, nothing like a bit of hard rock to pulverize the pepper. All it takes is a little bit of toasting of spices to dry them out a bit, and the stone pestle does the rest; aromatic spices powdered to the right amount, no more no less. Infact I have a mini collection of mortar and pestles. The first one came from India, a flat stone with a rounded second piece. This is actually called a "ammi" with a stone rolling pin. Very useful gadget, comes in all sizes. I have a cute, portable one. I usually place it on a folded towel on the counter and roll the stone rolling pin to do the grinding or powdering. Then I have a stainless steel one, this is a true mortar and pestle, with a cup base and long pounding stick. Also quite useful. The third one that is well used in our kitchen is this piece from Indonesia.....Oh, I could sing the praises of this one for ever and ever. What a fun piece. The base is like a shallow stone bowl and the top piece is this ergonomically shaped stone piece that is angled so it fits in your hand just so. I love this set. It is small, portable and organic. Powder peppers and coriander seeds or smash ginger and garlic, it can do the dry thing or the wet thing. I am firmly convinced every kitchen needs a mortar and pestle. You don't need to turn on a mini blender and waste electricity.

One more gadget that has never been used in our house is the electric can opener. We still have the hand cranking one and it has worked out beautifully.

I read in the San Francisco Chronicle yesterday about a hand cranked washing machine. I am very curious to see how effective this is. Called the WonderWash it is selling for $42.95 and according to the Chronicle it is surprisingly effective in cleaning clothes. I would like to hear if anyone has had similar experience with the WonderWash. If this a good non-electric gadget, what a neat invention. But for now I am happy to don on a pair of blue gloves and sink my hands into a dishpan for soapy laundry water to tackle the hand washables. Or I might consider building a "stone" clothes washing block like the kind they use in other countries in my backyard. How fun and practical would that be and of course it will be work, but imagine you and your laundry bonding on the clothes block!

This is all for today, till next time let me bid you "creative living."