Topsy Turvy - Month 3

As you can see, the tomato plant has grown and grown. However, it hasn't been hot enough for many of my grape tomatoes to ripen!

I just hope we can pick these before it snows...

Today's harvest.

Topsy Turvy - Week 5

Won't it stink if I do this whole photo-journal of my Topsy Turvy and we only get one tiny, rock solid tomato? Because so far, that's what we have.

An Urban Experiment - Topsy Turvy

OK, so it's already been established that I have a thing for infomercials.

So...in the hope of all things "too good to be true," I purchased a Topsy Turvy tomato planter. (Actually, it was a gift from Lauren. Tomato, tomahto.)

I am love the idea of growing my own tomatoes without the trouble of tilling a garden.

Here's what we've got after one week of growth:

It may not look like much, but already, the plant has doubled in size and is reaching toward the sun instead of the ground. I'm pretty excited. Updates to follow!

p.s. Miracle Grow for tomatoes makes your begonias go crazy!

Green?

I'm turning so green I just reused a zip-lock bag.
Or does that just make me old?

New Bike

I got a new bike.

I had visions of riding all over St. Paul with Shirley in our matching helmets and our cute Burley trailer, saving the Earth from the noxious fumes of our mini-van.

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret.

Riding a bike...is a workout.

It hurts. A lot.

I'm not sure I'm that into my new bike anymore.

Confession.

I am obsessed with conserving energy--and I'm a republican!

Haha. Anyway. I think it started with my reusable grocery bags. Then I saw a girl on Oprah who cut her energy bill in half by unplugging all the appliances in her home.

Now, I unplug everything. The microwave, the clock in Shirley's room (she doesn't need it, right?), lamps that are not in use, the VCR, the toaster, the coffee pot, the washer and dryer. You name it. If it's not in use, it's probably unplugged.

Also, I sit in the dark a lot of the time. And I lay awake at night trying to think of ways to cut back on our energy consumption. If we didn't have the baby I swear it would be 60 degrees in here.

If I could figure out a way to do it, I would unplug the fridge...I just don't think it would be wise.

I think it's getting a little weird.

Next time you come over, would you mind bringing your own slippers and candle?

It ain't easy being green.

I invested in one of those reusable grocery bags.

I know.

Honestly, it was for more selfish reasons than green reasons. I'm so tired of plastic bags everywhere. Ev.er.y.where.

I've used it four times now, and I have to say, it's a refreshing change, AND it holds twice as much as a regular plastic bag.

Here's the thing, though: typically at Walmart, I use the "self-check" aisle, which is not green bag friendly. After the fifth item that "skipped bagging," I had to get special approval from the head cashier. By then, I had smashed my bread, the toddler with her mom in line behind us had thrown a frozen pizza into my pile of stuff on the conveyor belt, and my baby had woken up.

As I walked out, I realized I had forgotten the item I went in for.

Sigh.

I didn't go back.

I mean, I can live without maxi pads. Less waste in a landfill, right?