Oregon is DEFINITELY the "Land of Plenty"

I meant to share this back in June, but time got away from me, so here we are now.  The state of Oregon made the June issue of Martha Stewart Living and was labeled the "Land of Plenty."  I found that title and name very fitting for Oregon totally!  From the small businesses that offer more than you expect, like micro beer, to the handmade, local, and sustainable fruit, berry, and soap stands along the roads going north or south.  There is also little off-roads from the main highway were many go bicycling, mountain biking, four-wheeling, and even deep into the woods to streams where fisherman catch the biggest and best salmon.

The story talked of how great certain areas of Oregon are and what the state businesses have to offer and it went into detail about what cities off there best of the state's "Land of Plenty."  If you missed the June issue with this story, you can back order here.

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Oregon is definitely the land of plenty when it comes to food and handmade/homemade goods.  Since moving up from Arkansas I have learned so much more about taking care of the planet, my family, and myself.  I try my best to pass on what I have learned by living here and I try to get my family and friends to live by the standard of a better quality of life.

From the salmon, berries, fruit, and waters, Oregon is definitely a great place to live, or even visit.  

There's so much to see and do here.  Oregon offers so much for those that want to get in touch with nature, or just to learn have to live a more pure, earth-friendly life to take back home with them.  

This almost sounds like an advertisement to visit Oregon, but I can't stress enough about how great this area of the United States is.  I've lived here for almost 9 years and I wouldn't change a thing that I've learned while living here.  When I do make the move back down south, I will truly, truly miss this area of the world and I am so very pleased that Martha Stewart Living covered the greatest parts that Oregon has to offer. 

 Oregon is like the best kept secret, and knowing the little areas and nooks and crannies where the goods are, is the best secret to take with me when I leave.

Martha Stewart Living Magazine is owned and operated by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. Although these images are my own photos, what the photos are of is owned by the Martha Stewart Omnimedia group and I have no ownership of or claim to own the images within my own photos.

Eco-Tip:  The specialty drinks from places like Starbuck's and Dunkin' Donuts are costing you a fortune.  Why not take the money back and make your own specialty drink with fresh fruits, a splash of organic milk and a dash of sugar in the blender, or organic coffee with vanilla or other flavors.  The process of making things yourself will save you money and trim you waste line in the process.  Give it a try!  For this and other tips on living more green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

Burgerville and their Earth-Friendly ways

For it's "local, fresh and sustainable" food, Burgerville gets high marks for being a great burger joint.  I am really digging the way they handle their food and the packaging of their food products.  And almost all the food they serve at Burgerville is either local right here in Oregon, or comes from a local area around the Northwest from Idaho, to California and even all the way up into Washington.

Their packaging tells a story of why it's important to support local wildlife, as well as using earth friendly ways to be more sustainable on the planet.

They are locally sourced for their food products that come from local farmers that help in the effort to keep everything functioning on a more eco-friendly level within their own area.

Some of their containers tell a story of animals and the production of their food and containers.  Most of the containers, as you can see, are made from plant-based materials and are biodegradable just the same.

Their food is always fresh and made with the greatest care!

They encourage customers to waste less and use only what they need.

Every food container tells a story of why it's important to recycle, reuse, and reduce the amount of waste that our planet seems everyday.

Food utensils made from plant-based materials make it easier to degrade through the trash once they have been used.

Learn more about Burgerville and the strides they are taking to make their food just a bit better for you and a whole deal better for the planet.  Visit their website here.

Eco-Tip:  Make it a habit to frequent that places and businesses that take pride in recycling and composting. Not all places are equal when it comes to helping do their part for the environment.  For more tips on going green, visit The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

Fireman's Fill the Boot Campaign

Jeff is very involved with the goings on at the local fire department here in the city where we live.  His dad (Chester) and his brother (Scott) both have given most of their adult lives to helping combat the fires that have burned throughout the Willamette Valley here in Oregon. And it just seemed right for Jeff to follow suit behind his father and brother.

One of the great things about having someone that's a firefighter in the family and even someone close to you that's a firefighter, you learn the rights and wrongs of what not to do and also the right way to handle certain ways to prevent fires.  We love being a part of the firefighting community and love donating our time and our money to help that cause.

One of the great ways the fire department helps others is with their Fill the Boot Campaign where they raise money for Jerry's Kids.  They line up along the main intersection here in town and carry around fireman's boots for people to place bills and coins in.  We think it's a great campaign and we donate to it every time!

We're proud of you Jeff, keep up the good work at keeping us all safe!

Eco-Tip:  When it comes to fruits and vegetables, always reach for ones that are grown with the earth in mind.  If organic or local isn't available, consider growing them yourself.  For more tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

Getting back to the swing of things

So as of today, I am officially back from my 10 day escape to Arkansas, with a two day rest period, and I am glad to get things back on track.  Skylar starts school tomorrow, so today we are picking out the "new" clothes for the first week of classes and getting school supplies labeled and packed into a box.  I always use the Bankers Boxes to carry his supplies to school, they just make more sense than lugging a large bag or carrying them separately.

I am really freaked out at the fact that I have a third grader, I mean, really....what the heck?  Where did the time go with my little baby boy?  It makes me sad....really!  He is such a great kid though, I couldn't have asked for a more passionate, caring, and sensitive little kid to be mine.  I was a dreadful little girl growing up, or so my mom likes to joke tell people, so it makes no sense to me why I have such a well-behaved child.  I should be the mom with the outrageous, hard to control, beast for a kid.  Ha!  Nah, not really, but I am blessed more than I deserve sometimes.  :-)

           

With back to school looming over our heads, I am still beaming from our Arkansas trip and can't wait to share all of our fun activities and adventures with everyone that reads my blog.

We had quite an adventure while we were down south and some of them are mildly amusing, to say the least.  From mosquito bites covering Skylar's little legs, to a scorpion stinging my foot, to getting stuck in a simulation cavern shaft at Mid-America Science Museum, we have a lot to talk about.  All of which we have recovered from completely and are now very laughable to most everyone we tell the stories to.

Eco-Tip:  Keeping up on the regular maintenance on your car is a great way to save you time and money, but it also helps the environment too.  Running a fuel-efficient vehicle is a great way to step up your green living and it will save you on maintenance and fuel loss in the end.  For more tips on living a greener lifestyle visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.  

    

Labor Day for hardworking Americans

Happy Labor Day! Today is the day to actually be proud that you are a working American.  As hard as most of us work throughout the entire year and sacrifice all that we give to companies, factories, restaurants, small businesses, schools, government jobs, and jobs that require most of our day and nights, Labor Day is a day to celebrate all that we give to provide for our families, our self, and our country.

Photo Credit:  66Batman.

Labor Day, which was established more than 100 years ago, falls on the first Monday in September.  It's a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of all hard working Americans nationwide. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions American workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country; the great United States.

Regular blogging for SNORTH will pick back up on Tuesday.  Enjoy the day today!  :-)

Photo Credit:  Burning Love BBQ.

Eco-Tip:  Living off the land is no longer something that is meant for hippies or survivalist.  With this day and age it means a lot with the fact that saving money and living a more healthy lifestyle.  Starting with a small yard garden is a great way to get you started and can provide a lot of fruits and vegetables that your family can depend on throughout the entire year to come.  To learn more tips on living more green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

Blueberry picking

This past weekend we took advantage of the sunny weather and went to pick a few bags of blueberries.  We took a walk through the local water shed too in Waterloo, Oregon and the weather was wonderful.  

Blueberry picker.