It's another very hot and sticky summer day on Eleuthera. Good news, though!
The Whistling Duck's new website has been launched!
We're getting ever so much closer now. Although, we haven't yet begun a fund raising campaign in earnest, we're gearing up for one, and donations are always welcome. We're going to have to put together another $25k for legal niceties: permits, licenses, fees, etc. It's quite funny, the differences in the way that we need to go about the legal system, vs the way many Bahamians might. While it's true that much of the legal red tape can be skipped without too much trouble (if you're Bahamian and keep it low key), if we attempted such tomfoolery, we could be thrown off the island.
We've learned to become incredibly patient...very, very, very patient, indeed. It took us a year to purchase our land, another four or five months to get a copy of our conveyance. We hope to be ready to open by late 2015.
Monday 29 July 2013
Thursday 25 July 2013
Views from the in-town office
There is something very calming about these views, day in and day out. We work out of the library if our internet is down at home, which happens all too frequently, and unlike the power, which is likely to be out for about 2-4 hours at a time, when the internet goes down, it's a week or two before it comes back up. It's a bit noisier than home, but it's kind of like the town "water cooler". It's the place to meet up and socialize.
Wednesday 24 July 2013
Off to see the architect...
Rise and shine! Feed the kitty gnawing on our feet. Take deep breaths and stretch. Put the kettle on. Get dressed. Make breakfast, do the washing up. Play with the kitty. Make lunch. Put mobile office (computers & headsets) and lunch in backpack. Slip on shoes and walk out the door with a cup of tea! So far, life on an island isn't that different from yours.
*blink* Good morning. *blink*
After months of back and forth, designing and redesigning our property and facilities, we've got fairly finalized drawings. The hostel itself, as well as the Manager's house will both be Deltec, unless something changes. Although Deltec does the architectural drafts for you, Bahamian law states that you have to have a Bahamian architect approve the final design. In addition, we're doing a number of other buildings and towers that the local architect will need to draft for us. We have an 11.00 appointment.
11.00
Um, this is awkward. He's not there. Some very cheerful young people working in his office manage to get a hold of him. Can we meet at one? Sure, why not.
Our in-town "office", also known as the library, is abuzz with kids. The little ones fill the downstairs to overflowing. It's too loud to hear one's self think. Upstairs, there is a summer photography camp for older kids. They've all got cameras and are trying to get creative and think outside the box. There are two pictures that are here to inspire them with the power of photography, with a number of the kids and adults side by side on the pavement, "blood" on clothes and dripping down the exposed limbs poking out from underneath what appear to be garbage bags attempting to cover cadavers. It was apparently done in Nassau as a protest against the crime there. Unfortunately, it was so realistic that it kept upsetting people coming into the library, so the librarian moved the photos upstairs out of common view.
Forty-five minutes until we can head back to the architect's office. Quite possibly, the most difficult thing about living on a very quiet island, is the sensory overload when suddenly in the midst of a group of people, especially kids.
*blink* Good morning. *blink*
After months of back and forth, designing and redesigning our property and facilities, we've got fairly finalized drawings. The hostel itself, as well as the Manager's house will both be Deltec, unless something changes. Although Deltec does the architectural drafts for you, Bahamian law states that you have to have a Bahamian architect approve the final design. In addition, we're doing a number of other buildings and towers that the local architect will need to draft for us. We have an 11.00 appointment.
11.00
Um, this is awkward. He's not there. Some very cheerful young people working in his office manage to get a hold of him. Can we meet at one? Sure, why not.
Our in-town "office", also known as the library, is abuzz with kids. The little ones fill the downstairs to overflowing. It's too loud to hear one's self think. Upstairs, there is a summer photography camp for older kids. They've all got cameras and are trying to get creative and think outside the box. There are two pictures that are here to inspire them with the power of photography, with a number of the kids and adults side by side on the pavement, "blood" on clothes and dripping down the exposed limbs poking out from underneath what appear to be garbage bags attempting to cover cadavers. It was apparently done in Nassau as a protest against the crime there. Unfortunately, it was so realistic that it kept upsetting people coming into the library, so the librarian moved the photos upstairs out of common view.
Forty-five minutes until we can head back to the architect's office. Quite possibly, the most difficult thing about living on a very quiet island, is the sensory overload when suddenly in the midst of a group of people, especially kids.
Saturday 20 July 2013
All About the Face
Today is another rainy Bahamian summer day, lightning shooting across the sky, with almost simultaneous, house shaking thunder. Just to be on the safe side, we've plugged the modem into our trusty solar battery pack. Rain is both cooling and fills the rainwater catchment tanks around the island, so no complaints here.
I've had a couple of mind blowing revelations this week about cosmetics. Now, being a simple girl, my "beauty regime" has long consisted of washing my face with Clinique soap, roughly $14.50, and following it up with Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing lotion, $26. While not cheap, they don't break the bank, I've used them for years. I love them. I'm not allergic to them! I'm allergic to nearly everything that I've ever tried. I stopped for a few months last year, as I experimented with washing with Dr. Bronner's Tea Tree Oil bar soap and moisturizing with organic jojoba oil, but I didn't like the texture of my skin while using them, so I went back. I bought enough Clinique to get me through a year of living on the island. Then, last week, I discovered the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM).
I was skeptical. The idea of cleaning my face with oil just sounded, well, absurd. I've got oily skin. I read a number of posts all over the crunchy internet world and words"dewy skin" caught my eye. I think that was the phrase that sold me. Crunchy Betty has some wonderful things to say about it, I recommend clicking on her name for five trouble shooting tips.
What is the oil cleansing method?
Well, essentially, you take about a dime to a quarter's worth of oil into the palm of your hand and then massage it into your face for about two minutes. Then, take a clean wash cloth, wet it with hot tap water, wring it out and cover your face with it, letting the heat and steam soak into your pores for about a minute. Personally, I end up rinsing the wash cloth and repeating the process of cloth steaming my face two to three times before using it to wipe/scrub the oil from my face. Afterwards, my skin feels super soft and hydrated, not oily at all! After a week of twice daily OCM, Jon has noticed the incredible difference in the texture of my skin. It's smooth, radiant, and yes, even dewy!
The basic concept of this skin care and cleansing method is that the oil used to massage your skin will dissolve the oil that has hardened with impurities and found itself stuck in your pores. The steam will open your pores, allowing the oil to be easily removed. Should you need it, the smallest drop of the same oil formula patted over damp skin will provide the necessary lubrication to keep your skin from over-compensating in oil production.
Getting the right mix for you, will probably involve some experimentation. Two of the most commonly recommended oils to mix are Castor oil and Olive oil. Yet olive oil is very heavy and has been known to cause problems in some skin. Castor oil is quite strong and needs to be mixed, or it will actually dry out your skin. The oils that you choose are up to you, but remember that organic is best, as anything that you put on your skin, gets absorbed into the body. The fewer chemicals, the better. I've been using pure organic grapeseed oil all week, but I'm going to try mixing it with a little castor oil this weekend.
*What Oils Are Best for Oil Cleansing?
Castor oil is gives you the most cleansing, dissolving bang for your buck. It’s also highly antibacterial in nature.It can also be drying. So depending on your skin type, you’ll either use more or less castor oil proportionally to the other oils. Try experimenting with 10-15% castor oil, if your skin is oily. If your skin is dry, I'd recommend skipping it altogether, as it can be quite drying.
Good Oil Cleansing Varieties
Jojoba (all skin types, but very desirable for acne-prone skin)
Sweet almond (all skin types, especially oily)
Grapeseed (all skin types, especially oily)
Avocado (dry and aging skin)
Sunflower Seed (all skin types)
Olive (all skin types)*
Apricot Kernel (dry, aging, and normal skin)
Argan (all skin types, especially aging skin … very pricey)
Tamanu (all skin types … very pricey)
*You’ll probably want to stay away from coconut oil for oil cleansing, as it is a known comedogenic and may possibly clog your pores and exacerbate blackheads.
*Source
So, now that I have that dewy glow, what can I do about that persistent shine?
Facial Powder
Being fair skinned puts me well into the minority on our island. I know that it's impossible to buy any kind of facial powder here. It's left me feeling more than a little alarmed as my stores of it are now nearly at an end. Today, at the recommendation of Wellness Mama, I've decided to make my own. I bought a box of cornstarch ($4 for a pound or so) in the baking section of the market today and discovered that it can be brushed straight onto the skin, or as she recommends, you can mix with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg or cocoa powder to add a bit of color. She actually recommends using arrowroot powder over corn starch, but that's an impossible find when you live back of the beyond. Of course, I'd be happier if I had organic corn starch, but this is a great start, and not as harsh on the skin as talc. The lovely Crunchy Betty goes into a little bit more depth about mixing facial powders from your kitchen!
Savings? Well, with Clinique, I typically spent $10 a month on my face, plus another $5-$20 per month on facial powder depending on the brand. The OCM will end up costing about $5 a month, if I've calculated the oil usage correctly. The corn starch is pennies per month. All that, and my skin looks and feels better than ever!
I've had a couple of mind blowing revelations this week about cosmetics. Now, being a simple girl, my "beauty regime" has long consisted of washing my face with Clinique soap, roughly $14.50, and following it up with Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing lotion, $26. While not cheap, they don't break the bank, I've used them for years. I love them. I'm not allergic to them! I'm allergic to nearly everything that I've ever tried. I stopped for a few months last year, as I experimented with washing with Dr. Bronner's Tea Tree Oil bar soap and moisturizing with organic jojoba oil, but I didn't like the texture of my skin while using them, so I went back. I bought enough Clinique to get me through a year of living on the island. Then, last week, I discovered the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM).
I was skeptical. The idea of cleaning my face with oil just sounded, well, absurd. I've got oily skin. I read a number of posts all over the crunchy internet world and words"dewy skin" caught my eye. I think that was the phrase that sold me. Crunchy Betty has some wonderful things to say about it, I recommend clicking on her name for five trouble shooting tips.
What is the oil cleansing method?
Well, essentially, you take about a dime to a quarter's worth of oil into the palm of your hand and then massage it into your face for about two minutes. Then, take a clean wash cloth, wet it with hot tap water, wring it out and cover your face with it, letting the heat and steam soak into your pores for about a minute. Personally, I end up rinsing the wash cloth and repeating the process of cloth steaming my face two to three times before using it to wipe/scrub the oil from my face. Afterwards, my skin feels super soft and hydrated, not oily at all! After a week of twice daily OCM, Jon has noticed the incredible difference in the texture of my skin. It's smooth, radiant, and yes, even dewy!
The basic concept of this skin care and cleansing method is that the oil used to massage your skin will dissolve the oil that has hardened with impurities and found itself stuck in your pores. The steam will open your pores, allowing the oil to be easily removed. Should you need it, the smallest drop of the same oil formula patted over damp skin will provide the necessary lubrication to keep your skin from over-compensating in oil production.
Getting the right mix for you, will probably involve some experimentation. Two of the most commonly recommended oils to mix are Castor oil and Olive oil. Yet olive oil is very heavy and has been known to cause problems in some skin. Castor oil is quite strong and needs to be mixed, or it will actually dry out your skin. The oils that you choose are up to you, but remember that organic is best, as anything that you put on your skin, gets absorbed into the body. The fewer chemicals, the better. I've been using pure organic grapeseed oil all week, but I'm going to try mixing it with a little castor oil this weekend.
*What Oils Are Best for Oil Cleansing?
Castor oil is gives you the most cleansing, dissolving bang for your buck. It’s also highly antibacterial in nature.It can also be drying. So depending on your skin type, you’ll either use more or less castor oil proportionally to the other oils. Try experimenting with 10-15% castor oil, if your skin is oily. If your skin is dry, I'd recommend skipping it altogether, as it can be quite drying.
Good Oil Cleansing Varieties
Jojoba (all skin types, but very desirable for acne-prone skin)
Sweet almond (all skin types, especially oily)
Grapeseed (all skin types, especially oily)
Avocado (dry and aging skin)
Sunflower Seed (all skin types)
Olive (all skin types)*
Apricot Kernel (dry, aging, and normal skin)
Argan (all skin types, especially aging skin … very pricey)
Tamanu (all skin types … very pricey)
*You’ll probably want to stay away from coconut oil for oil cleansing, as it is a known comedogenic and may possibly clog your pores and exacerbate blackheads.
*Source
So, now that I have that dewy glow, what can I do about that persistent shine?
Facial Powder
Being fair skinned puts me well into the minority on our island. I know that it's impossible to buy any kind of facial powder here. It's left me feeling more than a little alarmed as my stores of it are now nearly at an end. Today, at the recommendation of Wellness Mama, I've decided to make my own. I bought a box of cornstarch ($4 for a pound or so) in the baking section of the market today and discovered that it can be brushed straight onto the skin, or as she recommends, you can mix with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg or cocoa powder to add a bit of color. She actually recommends using arrowroot powder over corn starch, but that's an impossible find when you live back of the beyond. Of course, I'd be happier if I had organic corn starch, but this is a great start, and not as harsh on the skin as talc. The lovely Crunchy Betty goes into a little bit more depth about mixing facial powders from your kitchen!
Savings? Well, with Clinique, I typically spent $10 a month on my face, plus another $5-$20 per month on facial powder depending on the brand. The OCM will end up costing about $5 a month, if I've calculated the oil usage correctly. The corn starch is pennies per month. All that, and my skin looks and feels better than ever!
Friday 19 July 2013
Laundry Detergent from Scratch
This week has been an excellent study in how to make things at home instead of buying them. The Bahamas are prohibitively expensive. Almost everything that we buy costs two to three times more than it would in the nearby U.S., if it's available at all. This has meant a lot of cut backs in the way that we shop. I think that Jon has suffered the most from this. He's significantly cut back on his snack foods. To buy his peanuts, we have to drive an hour (gas is $6 a gallon), and pray that they have them in stock, of course we'll stock up on other items while we're there. There's only one store on the island that has a laundry detergent that's dye and perfume free, but they usually only have one in stock, if that. Further, although we're currently on a septic system, once we've built The Whistling Duck, our plan is to use rainwater harvesting and grey water gardens. We need to be able to do things in a less toxic way.
What to do?
Homemade Laundry Detergent
I've read quite a number of "how to" articles about laundry detergent over the last couple of weeks. One of the most common ingredients, Borax, is highly debated. Borax is toxic, and used in pesticides, yet the toxicity in such diluted amounts is perhaps negligible. It's used as an effective stain lifter and boosts the power of your homemade detergent. However, since it's bad for greywater, as are products with salt, I opted not to use it.
My Recipe
You'll need: hot tap water, a large container or pitcher for mixing, a wooden mixing spoon, a one gallon air tight container for your detergent when finished.
~1/4 cup Washing Soda
You can find this in the store, or make your own from Baking Soda
~1/4 cup Baking Soda
~3/8 cup Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Soap
Any of his 18-in-1 liquid soaps will do, or your local castile soap
*20-ish drops of lavender essential oil
This step is optional. You may use any essential oil that you wish, or skip this step and leave it scent free
In the mixing pitcher, pour a about 3-4 cups of hot water. Stir in the Washing Soda and Baking powder slowly, stirring with the wooden spoon until they dissolve. Add the Dr. Bronner's or other castile soap, stir, then add drops of essential oil as desired. Add water to fill the pitcher.
Pour mix into 1 gallon container and if your pitcher was smaller than that, add water until the container is full. Close and gently swish to mix.
Use approximately 1/3 cup per load.
For more recipes, try The Humbled Home Maker
My laundry smelled clean and fresh, with a hint of lavender. It's not a strong detergent, so if you have a heavy duty load, it's probably best to pretreat stains. The next time we have a heavy load, I might opt to double the amount, or add a little more castile soap. Over all, the results were pleasing. It's also nice to know that neither my daughter or myself are likely to have allergic reactions to such a toxic free laundry soap!
What to do?
Homemade Laundry Detergent
I've read quite a number of "how to" articles about laundry detergent over the last couple of weeks. One of the most common ingredients, Borax, is highly debated. Borax is toxic, and used in pesticides, yet the toxicity in such diluted amounts is perhaps negligible. It's used as an effective stain lifter and boosts the power of your homemade detergent. However, since it's bad for greywater, as are products with salt, I opted not to use it.
My Recipe
You'll need: hot tap water, a large container or pitcher for mixing, a wooden mixing spoon, a one gallon air tight container for your detergent when finished.
~1/4 cup Washing Soda
You can find this in the store, or make your own from Baking Soda
~1/4 cup Baking Soda
~3/8 cup Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Soap
Any of his 18-in-1 liquid soaps will do, or your local castile soap
*20-ish drops of lavender essential oil
This step is optional. You may use any essential oil that you wish, or skip this step and leave it scent free
In the mixing pitcher, pour a about 3-4 cups of hot water. Stir in the Washing Soda and Baking powder slowly, stirring with the wooden spoon until they dissolve. Add the Dr. Bronner's or other castile soap, stir, then add drops of essential oil as desired. Add water to fill the pitcher.
Pour mix into 1 gallon container and if your pitcher was smaller than that, add water until the container is full. Close and gently swish to mix.
Use approximately 1/3 cup per load.
For more recipes, try The Humbled Home Maker
My laundry smelled clean and fresh, with a hint of lavender. It's not a strong detergent, so if you have a heavy duty load, it's probably best to pretreat stains. The next time we have a heavy load, I might opt to double the amount, or add a little more castile soap. Over all, the results were pleasing. It's also nice to know that neither my daughter or myself are likely to have allergic reactions to such a toxic free laundry soap!
Wednesday 17 July 2013
30% Chance of Rain & Lentil Soup
I'm so very thankful that there's only a 30% chance of rain. I'd like to think that that means at some point today, the rain will let up. Last week, the laundry was on the line for three days before getting enough continuous sun to actually dry the soaked and re-soaked clothes. As small as the house is, I'm beginning to wonder if I couldn't string a line across the kitchen.
Today is a very rainy day and in July, I've got few classes to occupy my time. It doesn't feel like the balmy 80 degrees that the weather forecast seems to think it must be. There's nothing quite like the pitter patter of rain on the eaves and palms outside the windows to make you feel nostalgic and crave soup.
Looking around the kitchen for inspiration, hmm...no onions, and the ginger root appears to have died a horrible death. This may be more complicated than I thought. Not to worry, Post Punk Kitchen to the rescue! Okay, the truth is that I didn't have all of the ingredients or a pot that is big enough (they called for a 4 qt, I have a 2qt), but all in all, their recipe for Smoky Tomato Lentil Soup with Spinach and Olives was a great base for what actually happened. In fact, I think that what I ate was much closer to what they intended than I usually manage, when following a recipe.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil √ This is an approximation, right?
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced ...err, no. Unspeakable decay happened to the last of our onions, although it made a happy home for a baby gecko. I'll substitute a cup and a half of diced chives from the um...chive garden. (We've only got chives and clover in our garden)
3 cloves garlic, minced √ I threw in a 4th for good measure, after all, garlic makes everything better, and helps round out the flavor when you're short on vegetable broth or really trying to make the bouillon last longer.
1 teaspoon dried thyme √ Wait, it said "tsp?!" I took that to mean, "a few good shakes".
2 tablespoons sweet smoked paprika...sigh, I don't have this beautiful spice, but I do have paprika. 2 tablespoons of regular, American, grocery store bought paprika are a bit much. I started with 1.5 tbsp
1 cup dried brown lentils (or green lentils) √ Truth told, I used 1.5 cups, because how soupy is this supposed to be??
5 cups vegetable broth √ I assume that this meant, two veggie bouillon cubes and I fill the 2 qt pan with water, remember that I added extra lentils.
1/2 teaspoon salt √ This had a recommended measurement? I did a couple of shakes of Celtic Sea Salt, which I keep in a parmesan bottle.
Fresh black pepper √ Yes! I ground it fresh, and appreciate that they didn't try to tell me how much to put in. I feel that I nailed this little direction perfectly!
1 24 oz can fire-roasted tomatoes. ≈ Well, I've got a 16oz bottle of island tomatoes that I wish were fire-roasted.
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced ...err, no. Unspeakable decay happened to the last of our onions, although it made a happy home for a baby gecko. I'll substitute a cup and a half of diced chives from the um...chive garden. (We've only got chives and clover in our garden)
3 cloves garlic, minced √ I threw in a 4th for good measure, after all, garlic makes everything better, and helps round out the flavor when you're short on vegetable broth or really trying to make the bouillon last longer.
1 teaspoon dried thyme √ Wait, it said "tsp?!" I took that to mean, "a few good shakes".
2 tablespoons sweet smoked paprika...sigh, I don't have this beautiful spice, but I do have paprika. 2 tablespoons of regular, American, grocery store bought paprika are a bit much. I started with 1.5 tbsp
1 cup dried brown lentils (or green lentils) √ Truth told, I used 1.5 cups, because how soupy is this supposed to be??
5 cups vegetable broth √ I assume that this meant, two veggie bouillon cubes and I fill the 2 qt pan with water, remember that I added extra lentils.
1/2 teaspoon salt √ This had a recommended measurement? I did a couple of shakes of Celtic Sea Salt, which I keep in a parmesan bottle.
Fresh black pepper √ Yes! I ground it fresh, and appreciate that they didn't try to tell me how much to put in. I feel that I nailed this little direction perfectly!
1 24 oz can fire-roasted tomatoes. ≈ Well, I've got a 16oz bottle of island tomatoes that I wish were fire-roasted.
4 cups fresh baby spinach ≈ Ojala! (If only!)
3/4 cup roughly chopped kalamata olives √ Some of mine were kalamata, the others were green, and I probably only had about 1/4 a cup.
3/4 cup roughly chopped kalamata olives √ Some of mine were kalamata, the others were green, and I probably only had about 1/4 a cup.
Directions
Sauté onions in oil with a pinch of sea salt, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 15 seconds or so, then mix in the thyme and paprika.
Add the lentils, broth, and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn heat to medium and cook for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils are almost tender. Add the tomatoes, crushing them with your hands as you add them (unless like mine, they were already pulp). Bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer for another 20 minutes or so, or until lentils are very tender. Add spinach (I wish I had had spinach) and olives and stir frequently until spinach is wilted and velvety. Add water to thin, if necessary. Personally, I ladled out a bowlful, then added water to the bowl and to the pot, since the pot wasn't big enough to put in all of the necessary water to begin with.
Salt to taste, and let sit for 10 minutes or so for flavors to marry, then serve! For a stand alone meal, serve over brown rice, and add fun garnishes. I added pumpkin seeds, golden flax seeds and a dash of roasted habanero, then drizzled olive oil over it for good measure. It was delicious!
Lucky thing, too. The power was out for most of the day, which meant not opening the fridge. As fortune would have it, I took a trip to Florida a few weeks ago and brought back our Goal Zero Escape 150 solar power battery and panels. It was charged, and able to keep our modem going for the five hours it took to get the power back. It's difficult to impress upon those who have constant utilities or back up access, how much stress that a simple backup battery can relieve, particularly when you work on line. It then becomes a question of whether or not your gadgets and computers were charged before the power went out.
All in all, it's been a good day, against the soundscape of raindrops and the occasional thunder. It's been cool and comfortable even with clothes on, all work obligations were met by both Jon and myself despite the power being out for hours, I made a pretty yummy lentil soup, have some pigeon peas and rice to cook now that the power is back on, and I made my own laundry detergent.
Coming soon: home made laundry detergent, pass or fail?
Speaking of which, the rain has stopped, the locusts are buzzing, and I have laundry to hang. Perhaps one day soon, it might even dry.
Tuesday 16 July 2013
Eleuthera, or "freedom"
It always fascinates me, discovering how people ended up here. In the gift shop in Gregory Town, you'll find T-shirts, caps, and more, all proclaiming, "Eleuthera, it's not for everyone." It's true. The power goes out regularly. When the internet goes out, it means going into BTC's offices every morning when they open for up to two weeks before anything will be done. You have to go into their office, because the phone company has a strict policy of not answering their phone. Sometimes the water will go out without warning (okay, that one thrilled our daughter, who was not keen on having a bath anyway). The scary thing is that because you've had no warning, you also don't know when it will come back on. Twice, we've had weeks where our 15 gallons of drinking water was salty and undrinkable. What do you do if your potable water is non-potable?
We're renting a cosy little two room cottage across from an exquisite Caribbean beach. We're very thankful for this cottage, as our building plans seem to be a couple of years behind our planned schedule and we feel very fortunate to have a house that we can afford while paying our mortgage, which did begin billing on schedule. Unfortunately, our darling little cottage is not exactly critter proof. I don't mind the lizards, or even most of the spiders (we have some that are really good at eating no see ums), I'm not keen on the no see ums that sometimes swarm our bed at night, the ticks (although we've managed to get rid of them), or the occasional scorpion or centipede. I'm not fond of the wasps either, though I confess being more concerned for our cat when they're in the house. She caught one once and it stung her paw, which then swelled up to twice its normal size. She was limping for days.
So, why exactly are we here? Well, we have a dream. We're going to build the first eco-hostel in the Bahamas. In fact, it will be the first hostel in the Bahamas. The time is ripe for eco-tourism, and we want to work more with the 99% more than the 1%. It's a business with a triple bottom line: social, environmental and economic impact. Sounds great, no?
What does this mean for us? Well, the higher your environmental ideals, the more work you have to put into what you're doing. There are a lot of details. For two years, I've been changing our own life habits and researching better, more environmentally friendly ways to do things, then introducing them into our household in the least disruptive way possible as kind of a test run for The Whistling Duck. The challenge is that when looking at products, I have to decide based on a combination of price and sustainability. Something might be made with fewer resources, but will it last a fraction of the time as other ones, thereby resulting in more waste?
There is no recycling on the island. I spent the last year getting our family of three down to one, not quite full, kitchen trash bag per month. Of course, we had a bin or two of recycling every two weeks. Often, our food choices come down to packaging and waste. Until we're growing much of our own food, it's going to be very difficult.
On this blog, I'd like to share the journey, for all of its frustrations and joys. I'd also like to share some of the incredible resources that I've found inspirational on our path to more sustainable living. I hope that you'll share as well. Perhaps you've read or done something that you think might be useful. Perhaps you are an artisan who makes something that you think could have a place in our lives and dream. We are very open to trade, most of what we'll have to trade is a beautiful, safe and spiritually minded place to stay on an incredible island.
I can just see some looks of concern...you're remembering the insects and such, right? What is it about this island that I love? While it's true, the frustrations and challenges are many, once you let go of the need for convenience and instant gratification, and insect fears, it's heavenly.
Every evening, the sound of the Atlantic on the other side of the island, in peaceful competition with the sound of the Caribbean, soothes me to sleep. The night song of the frogs is enchanting, like water squishing between your toes as you walk in wet galoshes. I revel in the laser light show that the fire flies put on, or discovering a baby nursery of brightly colored tropical fish in the shallows while snorkeling. My heart overflows with joy, that after months of listening to a male bird sing his heart out just beyond our bedroom window, these days I hear the cheep cheep of baby birds begging to be fed. The sound of crabs retreating, shuffling into the woods and shrubs all around when I walk outside to hang laundry, never fails to make me giggle. I fall in love with the sky each and every night, and when I wake from a dream in the wee hours of the morning, my eyes reach for the stars that I can see from my bed, my favorite being a particularly large red one. It's as if the stars are telling me that everything is fine, they're watching over me, I can sleep in peace.
We're renting a cosy little two room cottage across from an exquisite Caribbean beach. We're very thankful for this cottage, as our building plans seem to be a couple of years behind our planned schedule and we feel very fortunate to have a house that we can afford while paying our mortgage, which did begin billing on schedule. Unfortunately, our darling little cottage is not exactly critter proof. I don't mind the lizards, or even most of the spiders (we have some that are really good at eating no see ums), I'm not keen on the no see ums that sometimes swarm our bed at night, the ticks (although we've managed to get rid of them), or the occasional scorpion or centipede. I'm not fond of the wasps either, though I confess being more concerned for our cat when they're in the house. She caught one once and it stung her paw, which then swelled up to twice its normal size. She was limping for days.
So, why exactly are we here? Well, we have a dream. We're going to build the first eco-hostel in the Bahamas. In fact, it will be the first hostel in the Bahamas. The time is ripe for eco-tourism, and we want to work more with the 99% more than the 1%. It's a business with a triple bottom line: social, environmental and economic impact. Sounds great, no?
What does this mean for us? Well, the higher your environmental ideals, the more work you have to put into what you're doing. There are a lot of details. For two years, I've been changing our own life habits and researching better, more environmentally friendly ways to do things, then introducing them into our household in the least disruptive way possible as kind of a test run for The Whistling Duck. The challenge is that when looking at products, I have to decide based on a combination of price and sustainability. Something might be made with fewer resources, but will it last a fraction of the time as other ones, thereby resulting in more waste?
There is no recycling on the island. I spent the last year getting our family of three down to one, not quite full, kitchen trash bag per month. Of course, we had a bin or two of recycling every two weeks. Often, our food choices come down to packaging and waste. Until we're growing much of our own food, it's going to be very difficult.
On this blog, I'd like to share the journey, for all of its frustrations and joys. I'd also like to share some of the incredible resources that I've found inspirational on our path to more sustainable living. I hope that you'll share as well. Perhaps you've read or done something that you think might be useful. Perhaps you are an artisan who makes something that you think could have a place in our lives and dream. We are very open to trade, most of what we'll have to trade is a beautiful, safe and spiritually minded place to stay on an incredible island.
I can just see some looks of concern...you're remembering the insects and such, right? What is it about this island that I love? While it's true, the frustrations and challenges are many, once you let go of the need for convenience and instant gratification, and insect fears, it's heavenly.
Every evening, the sound of the Atlantic on the other side of the island, in peaceful competition with the sound of the Caribbean, soothes me to sleep. The night song of the frogs is enchanting, like water squishing between your toes as you walk in wet galoshes. I revel in the laser light show that the fire flies put on, or discovering a baby nursery of brightly colored tropical fish in the shallows while snorkeling. My heart overflows with joy, that after months of listening to a male bird sing his heart out just beyond our bedroom window, these days I hear the cheep cheep of baby birds begging to be fed. The sound of crabs retreating, shuffling into the woods and shrubs all around when I walk outside to hang laundry, never fails to make me giggle. I fall in love with the sky each and every night, and when I wake from a dream in the wee hours of the morning, my eyes reach for the stars that I can see from my bed, my favorite being a particularly large red one. It's as if the stars are telling me that everything is fine, they're watching over me, I can sleep in peace.
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