Feedback #1:

My former next door neighbor in State College reads my blog every month, despite the fact she is young enough to be my daughter. Her comment from last month’s posting, based on taken from her native language of Italian, is very heartwarming:

“I Love this edition! Personal fotos that accompany the personal stories are great. And the recipies and (what I call “dondalling” in Italian) - just your random thoughts, as I perceive them, are lovely.” Suzan

I asked permission to reprint her comments and this was her reply:

“Si, please feel free to quote me. ‘Dondalling’ is actually an English corruption of the Italian “Dondolare” -literally, ‘to swing rythmically, or rock’ (as in rocking chair), or, ‘to ramble with intelligence’ and it just seemed appropriate with your sweet whimsical rememberances… Love, Youth… all of that gooey stuff!” Suzan

So if I use the word “dondalling” in the future, hopefully you will know what I mean.

In the June issue of my blog, I profiled Charles Eisenstein. Since he writes essays that are posted on other sites, I thought I would post the website to his two-part article entitled “The Miracle of Creation” in www.realitysandwich.com. If you liked his profile, you may enjoy his philosophical ideas.

Several months ago I featured the Dirty Dozen from the Environmental Working Group. This term refers to the 12 most heavily-sprayed fruits and vegetables. Now there is an expanded list from the this sane group. Just go to www.foodnews.org and look on the Home Page for “Get the Guide” and order it for free, as I have done.

The expanded list includes 43 fruits and vegetables with a score for levels of pesticides. For examples, peaches are at the top of the list with a score of 100, so peaches should definitely be purchased organically. Onions are at the bottom of the list with a score of 1, so these are less important to buy organically grown.

This is an excellent guide for those who are considering organic and can only afford to do it gradually. Buy organic produce for the foods you eat most often and are high on the list and gradually add those foods you eat less frequently. Eventually, you may find that your food budget balances out, even if this means avoiding certain foods. For example, I am unable to buy organic grapes in winter, so I just eat them in season and savor them even more, since I don’t eat them during winter months.

If organic is important to you, then get the guide. I plan to hang it on my ‘frig and/or carry another list in my purse. And when you shop at the Farmers’ Market, don’t be afraid to ask if the produce is organic or at least unsprayed. Your health is important, and I have yet to find any research that says our bodies need pesticides!