April 29, 2016: Arbor Day: Trees, Food & Veganism

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 20 DAYS

Beyond Planting Trees

Hey Hey Hey!

OMGeeeeee can you believe that I am under 3 weeks before we leave on the amazing trip that is planned to Europe!!!

I spent some time yesterday going over various reservations that we have, in order to confirm that we got the best prices possible for our bookings.
​
This is a step that I always take, because... uhhhh well I don't like the idea of spending more than I have to on identical purchases!

And since I'm always on the go and traveling - the more money saved, the more money for more travel!
So it is definitely worth it to me to recheck my bookings and potentially save some extra dough.

I also got some news yesterday from a friend who has been going back and forth about coming on our Florida Parks and Bahamas Cruise trip (Oct 2016). She sent me a screen shot of her cruise confirmation page - it's BOOKED!

So I guess it looks like she is coming (along with her son and boyfriend). The trip is really piecing together well and I'm sure that it's gonna be one heck of a fun filled adventure!

​Now onto the feature of the day - Arbor Day
Be sure to read Elisa's column to find out more information about Arbor Day.

What I'm going to do is focus on why this day is so important, tell you a little bit about the major issue of Deforestation - because as wonderful as planting trees is, but the bigger picture is to stop supporting the corporations that at cutting them all down - at rates of which are unimaginable!

Plus how Veganism is a key to helping the environment - our environment. Our home!

• 16 Facts on Deforestation

1. Forests cover 30% of the earth’s land.
2. Agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation.
3. One and a half acres of forest is cut down every second.
4. If the current rate of deforestation continues, it will take less than 100 years to destroy all the rainforests on the earth.
5. The rate of deforestation equals to loss of 20 football fields every minute.
6. There are more than 121 natural remedies in the rain forest which can be used as medicines.
7. According to Rainforest Action Network, the United States has less than 5% of the world’s population yet consumes more than 30% of the world’s paper.
8. The over exploitation of forests is making it extremely difficult to replant a new ecology.
9. Up to 28,000 species are expected to become extinct by the next quarter of the century due to deforestation.
10. Almost half of world’s timber and up to 70% of paper is consumed by Europe, United States and Japan alone.
11. The United States has less than 5% of the world’s population but consumes more than 30% of the world’s paper.
12. The paper industry is fourth largest in producing greenhouse gas thereby majorly contributing to deforestation.
13. On an average, a person in the United States uses more than 700 pounds of paper every year.
14. Support eco-friendly companies by buying their products that promise more durability in an inexpensive way.
15. Reduce the consumption of beef to tone down the pressure to clear more forests for the cattle.
16. Boycott companies by supporting organizations that care about the environment at the cost of fighting back for the evergreen trees.

Arbor Day is the day when we focus on planting trees — but here are a few more ideas that could help:

• Drink Shade-Grown Coffee
• Stop Receiving Junk Mail
• Buy Recycled Paper Products
• Use Paperless Billing
• Use Reusable Shopping Bags
• Avoid Unsustainable Palm Oil - AT ALL COSTS

Check the ingredients of EVERYTHING you purchase, because it is in so very many things!

There is just so much that we can do.   
But the one thing we shouldn't do is ignore the fact that we need to stand together and take a stand against this awful situation.

It doesn't have to take much, and each step taken no matter how small they might be, is a step taken in the right direction.

I'm vegan (as you probably already know), as are my kids and much of my family. 
And believe it or not, by going vegan, we can reduce the impact of climate change, rainforest destruction, and pollution, while saving water and other precious resources.

Did you realize: The fact that by raising animals for food produces more greenhouse gas emissions than all of the cars, planes, and other forms of transportation combined.

Did you know: Veganism is a protected belief.
Veganism is protected as a human right under Article 9 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights. 

Today is also FOODIE FRIDAY and we all know how much I LOVE (good) food!
I am beyond delighted to share with you that veganism has become so much easier than it once was and that veganism is going mainstream!

In my quest for amazing food around the globe, I have found some outstanding dishes where even a ominivore wouldn't miss the meat!
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
If you need advice, please contact me.

We can all make a difference!

Continue to follow me as I travel the globe one vegan meal at a time. Living the Joys of being a Vegan!

I'm now off to take Cosette to the stables, we've got a busy weekend ahead of us - the kids have a performance, tomorrow is Chaplin's 5th birthday (lots of fun planned), and Sunday is the VegFest!

See ya tomorrow,
-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop

Arbor Day & Tree Foods

Good day to you! Here it is, Friday already, the beginning of the weekend.

Not much going on this weekend, except for the usual - Saturday out at the barn and perhaps some surprise activities on Sunday.

Going to see what the kids are in the mood to do...I will keep you posted. 

But, sometimes it's nice not to have a full agenda!

So, let's take a closer look at Arbor Day...

Arbor Day is always the last Friday in April, celebrated since 1872 and celebrates the importance of trees.

The holiday is The Tree Planter's holiday which has its beginnings in Nebraska, a largely treeless plain back in the 1800's.  

​It is a day to plant and dedicate a tree to help nature and the environment.  Millions of trees are planted on this day.

The National Arbor Day Foundation is the biggest non-profit organization in the world, that works towards planting trees, which was started on September 3, 1971.  It provides millions of trees for planting.

The wonder is that we can see these trees and not wonder more. 
-Ralph Waldo Emerson  

It is estimated that 18 million trees are planted each year on Arbor Day.

Arbor Day was founded by J. Sterling Morton in the year 1872.  He proposed a tree-planting holiday to be called "Arbor Day" at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture.

Other countries that celebrate Arbor Day include ​New Zealand, Canada, and Australia.

To me, because Arbor Day is about the importance of trees, it made Tanya and I think about how it relates to food since it is Foodie Friday here on our blog.

Well, for one thing, did you know the following foods came from trees? 

16 Foods
That Grow on Trees

Persimmons (credit: Flickr: kthread / Creative Commons)

1. Cashews

2. Pomegranates

3. Kiwis

4. Persimmons

5. Cocoa Beans

Cloves from the Clove Tree (credit: en.wikipedia.org)

6. Bananas

7. Cloves

8. Black Pepper

Kiwis (credit: Flickr: scazzophoto / Creative Commons)

9. Avocados

10. Olives

11. Lemons

12. Maple Syrup 

The "cousins" gang walking through the forest of maple trees at White Meadow Farm, St. Catharine, Canada (c)travelincousins.com) CLICK IMAGE TO READ ABOUT HOW MAPLE SYRUP IS HARVESTED!!

13. Brazil Nuts

14. Almonds

15. Chestnuts

16. Apples

I found two recipes from Yummly.com that look super deelish to me that are made with the above ingredients, in honor of Arbor Day! And they are vegan too!

Creamy Cashew Lemon Pasta with Spring Vegetables

Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Persimmon Bundt Cake
(this contains a  number of tree foods: persimmons, cocoa, bananas & maple syrup)

Well, folks, here's to a happy Arbor Day!  I'll be heading to walk among the trees today around my neighborhood!!

Tanya is chatting about the benefits of being a Vegan as it relates to Mother Earth!  Read up!

​Meet ya back here tomorrow for Hairstyle Appreciation Day and some world famous Salons! 

Till then,
-E
xoxo