Happy Fall!- Pumpkin Pickin' and Donatin'-- Here I come!

The chill is in the air, and we are entering my favorite time of year! Time to cull through the clothes, exchange the summer for the winter/fall, take the summer ones to storage, AND donate the clothes I cull to one of the deserving charities in the area.

I have my favorite thrift shops to donate to, in New York City. We have an abundance of them here, and you can image how much great stuff you find there, since everyone in NYC has about the same amount of storage space as I do. Something HAS to go!

My fav is located close to us on 10th Street and 2nd, run by a Catholic Church to aide their soup kitchen. Cancer Care is another great organization as is Housing Works. But if it's a little far for you to travel to my favorite stores from Ohio or something, you can never go wrong with Goodwill or the Salvation Army for your donating.

And keep in mind, there is nothing more Green than donating your items, AND you are helping people at the same time, AND clearing out space in your closet.

I'm one of those weird folks that actually likes doing my taxes each year.... I don't know why... looking at the receipts makes me remember my year in review and reminds me of the good/fun things we did all year long. A short term memory lane so to speak.

It's kinda the same when I go through the clothes to switch out the summer for the fall, etc. "Ah, I remember where we were dancing when I wore that dress," or "Oh yeah, we were in San Sabastian (or Aviles) when I took that picture wearing that one." In fact, there are a few dresses I'll probably just keep for nostalgia reasons, even if I never wear them again.

But for the others.... they'll find a second life.

As for me, after all the sorting is done, I'll happily settle into the crisp air and apple cider days of fall and street fairs and pumpkin pickin', and outrageous costumes during NYC Halloween! (Now! That's a sight if you've never seen it!)


Gotta love the Fall!

--Renee


(Above: Here's a photo from the market in Aviles, Spain. I could not believe the size of the vegetables there! And as far as I know, Monsantos has not invaded that part of Europe yet, so I'm assuming they might also be natural. Wow. I don't think I'll pick up any pumpkins that size this year....maybe just a few NYC apt. sized ones, but the looking for them is half the fun!)

In Time for the Holidays--Give a chicken, a Goat or a Duck to a Needy Family!!

Here's another idea for the holidays and a great way to help those in need via World Vision, a non-profit organization that looks at the essentials of survival for these families and makes miracles happen.

Check Out: http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/pages/gift-catalog-dynamic-search-holidays?Open&cmp=KNC-10152549&campaign=10152549&gccode=000005&mboxSession=1260306552893-228725&display=A

You can give a gift of two chickens for $25, five ducks for $30, a goat and a chicken for $100, and a goat $75-- and more to needy families in other countries as well as make donations to = families in the US as well.

What is the significance of this? Give a goat for example ($75), and a goat nourishes hungry children and families with healthy milk, cheese, and yogurt. Goats also give a much-needed income boost by providing offspring and extra dairy products for sale at the market. A healthy diary goat can give up to 16 cups of milk a day. Goat milk is easier to digest than cow’s milk and is an excellent source of calcium, protein, and other essential nutrients that growing children need. Goats are practical animals — flourishing in harsh climates while producing valuable manure to fertilize crops and vegetable gardens.

Give two chickens ($25). Chickens give children and families a lasting source of nutrition and income. Fresh eggs raise the levels of protein and other nutrients in a family’s diet, and the sale of extra eggs and chickens can pay for vital basics.

Your gift of chickens will also naturally multiply to impact generations of children. Each family that receives chickens can sell the offspring for extra income or share them with other families in need. Chicks require little money, space, or food to thrive and grow — making them an ideal business venture for a single mom or vulnerable family.

Donate five ducks ($30). Give ducks to a hungry family today and they’ll benefit from hundreds of large, protein-rich eggs all year long. Extra duck eggs and hatched ducklings can be sold to buy medicine or help send a child to school.

A duck also offers valuable down-feathers, famous for their thermal insulation and padding — great for use in bedding materials and warm clothing, or to fetch much-needed income at the market. Ducks even produce fertilizer that can dramatically increase crop yields!

There are so many ways to help. Check it out.

--Renee