Ingrid Callot and the seven weedy sins

Ingrid Callot. Photo Source: http://www.asgardsss.co.uk

Hailed as the green queen of eco-blogosphere, Ingrid Callot is a passionate writer of all things environmental.

Alan Alexander Milne, the famed playwright and novelist best known for his books about the adorable bear named Winnie the Pooh, once said “Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”

Ingrid Callot. Photo Source: http://www.skylarkgardeners.wordpress.com

I couldn’t agree more. Edgardo Versoza, my most devoted friend who also plays the role of the most mischievous sprite in my life, took me out for a stroll today. As if to taunt me about that “weedy incident” on my lawn a couple of months ago, he pulled me to a corner where some charming bushes grew. I couldn’t help but adore them. The clever imp Edgardo took it as his cue to throw a horror-struck guise at me and exclaimed, “Ingrid Callot! You self-proclaimed eco goddess, how could you possibly have no inkling as to what these vile little creatures are!”

Well, how could I not know that the up-to-no-good Edgardo was out to humor himself with a dose of mockery over my vow to green living? It turned out that the fascinating shrubberies were not posies but weeds.

So, here are a few of those cunning pretty wild things that shouldn’t fool any green thumb at first sight:

Canada Thistle

Photo source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cirsium_arvense_with_Bees_Richard_Bartz.jpg

White Clover

Photo source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Trifolium_April_2010-2.jpg

Queen Anne's Lace

Photo source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Daucus_carota_May_2008-1_edit.jpg

Dandelion

Photo source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TaraxacumOfficinaleSeed.JPG

Creeping Jenny

Photo source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lysimachia_nummularia2.jpg

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Ingrid Callot. Photo Source: http://www.suite101.com

Ingrid Callot: Tidy up before you party up

Green queen and recycling goddess are just some of the titles attached to my name. However, I am better known as Ingrid Callot -- the reigning queen of eco-blogosphere. I kid. Though I am adamant about conquering the universe together with my army of recyclists, I am no Miss Universe wannabe. Though I’m sure I’m packaged with both beauty and brains (but enough with this psychobabble), I believe we – as ordinary as we may seem to be -- can change the world one small step at a time without the need for power, affluence, or hype.

Ingrid Callot Image Credit: mylifeasacake.com

My infamous friend Edgardo Versoza, who enjoys belittling my mission in life by bashing me with boorish comments about my scullery in haywire, came over to check out my place the day before my husband Roger’s birthday party. I, Ingrid Callot, took him by surprise when he found I managed to clear all the clutter single-handedly -- a feat I couldn’t be more proud of after seeing the dumbstruck Edgardo’s face. Now, I share to you six simple steps that could transform your muddled habitat into a festive haven.  

Corral your crap. Get all the mess out of the way and tuck them into a safe spot.  

Stash up the bath. Make sure you have sufficient supplies of tissue rolls in the bathroom.

Ingrid Callot Image Credit: blog.gaiam.com

Bring it on! Haul in a table big enough to accommodate the food and make sure you’ve got enough seats for all your guests. Instead of shelling out some money, you might want to try borrowing an extra table or chairs from a friendly neighbor.  

Let the flowers in bloom. Some décor can help brighten up your place. Gathering some flowers from your garden and putting them in vases will do trick.

Light up. Light a dozen unscented candles to create an intimate ambiance.  

Turn on the volume. Play some mellow tunes during meals or dance music to liven up the party.

Ingrid Callot Image Credit: promobiledjs.com.au

Now, you’re all set to welcome your first guest! Don’t forget to add me, Ingrid Callot, on your guest list, alright? Learn more eco- and budget-friendly home improvement tips by following Ingrid Callot on Facebook.

Ingrid Callot: Gearing up the eco way

Known on the blogosphere as Ingrid Callot the recycling enthusiast and domestic goddess, I make it a point to know everything that concerns living the green life.

With the summer season here, I’m sure eager moms like me are already prepping up for the next school year. Thus, I rummaged through the local shops for some great finds that my son Jacob will surely love. Check them out:

Thinksound Sustainable Wood Headphones.

The Thinksound Sustainable Wood Headphones, a bright idea developed by the eco-friendly firm Rain, are designed with sleek wooden ear buds that render high-def sound. It surely is the greenest way to listen to your favorite tunes while passing time.

Ingrid Callot. Image credit: Ecotechninja.com

EarthDrive 2GB Flash Drive.

I’m far from being anything techie but I, Ingrid Callot, am not called a green queen for nothing. And yes, I own an EarthDrive myself. Known as the world’s first recyclable USB drive, it is made of recycled materials. And with each EarthDrive purchase, 50 cents is donated to the American Forests.

Ingrid Callot. Image credit: Gadgetsatz.com

Voltaic Fuse Solar Charger.

Youngsters and adults carry an average of three gadgets with them: a mobile phone, digital music player, and a laptop or tablet. It sure is annoying if all three run out of juice just when you’re in the middle of something urgent. With the Voltaic Fuse Solar Charger, you can power up your battery with an estimated 19 hours of talk time or 48 hours of tunes whenever you need to.

Ingrid Callot. Image credit: Voltaicsystems.com

Discover loads of green ideas with Ingrid Callot by following her blog here.

Something sweet for your avian visitors: Ingrid Callot on attracting hummingbirds

For Ingrid Callot, there’s something so enchanting about having birds in the garden, much more seeing hummingbirds hovering over it and feeding from a hanging feeder basket. Read about what she does to attract hummingbirds in her garden.

Ingrid Callot. Image credit: Spiritbloggerkids.wordpress.com

My family and friends love to stay in my garden—a haven for birds, especially for hummingbirds. The sight of these tiny, feathered creatures in my garden makes me feel so lucky and my home naturally pretty. Attracting birds, when done properly, can do a lot of favor to the bird population. I can’t emphasize enough how significant this is to avian life since most of the country’s wildlife habitats have gone private and millions of acres every year are lost to commercial or residential use.

For Ingrid Callot, maintaining a garden gives her a sense of serenity and pride as it does not only beautify her home but also keep her healthy inside out.

Sad, but true. That’s why I do what it takes to keep hummingbirds close by.

Ingrid Callot. Image credit: Calloways.com

Having hummingbirds in my garden is also a great way to teach my young son Jacob and his friends the value of nature. I’m sure many moms would want to do the same for their kids. So here’s a little something I’d like to share to you if you want hummingbirds making regular visits in your yard. It’s all about this simple yet optimal food formula: cane sugar (1 part) + water (4 parts). This recipe replicates the nectar of various wildflowers, so it should work. A word of caution: Never replace sugar with honey since honey ferments quickly when added to water causing hummingbirds to die.

Ingrid Callot. Image credit: Leader.co.uk

Did you know that hummingbirds are the world’s tiniest birds and they can either flash or hide their bright colors when they need to? Get updates from Ingrid Callot from her Twitter page.

Ingrid Callot: Growing paradise in your backyard

Ingrid Callot. Photo Credit: flickr.com/photos/gardeninginaminute

I’ll probably never forget that day Edgardo Versoza stepped onto my porch, his jaw dropped as he exclaimed, “Ingrid Callot! Why’s your garden full of weeds?”

You see, Edgardo is like the Devil himself. Playing the antagonist’s role in the story of my life, he never tires of whacking me with uncouth remarks with the purpose of bruising my self-esteem. Not! I would give him too much credit should I allow him the pleasure. However, that day on my porch was different. It was a wake-up call for me. And I vowed to take my commitment to green living more seriously. I brushed up on my green IQ and made an oath to bring Eden to the world -- or at least to my backyard.

With the hopes of conquering the world together with her army of recyclists, Ingrid Callot often writes about her green ideals that range from overcoming closet mayhem to finding the greenest, cheapest deals.

Ingrid Callot. Photo Credit:foodshedalliance.org

I’ve admitted a gazillion times and more that I am no green thumb. Moreover, I’ve never read the bible from cover to cover. But I truly believe nirvana is not impossible to achieve. Everyone can start growing their own paradise in their backyard. And today, I share 10 of the easiest vegetables you can grow in your garden without the aid of an expert:

1. Carrots
2. Green beans
3. Lettuce
4. Cucumbers
5. Spinach
6. Tomatoes
7. Radish
8. Bell peppers
9. Summer squash
10. Basil

Searching for eco- and budget-friendly DIY projects? Follow Ingrid Callot on Twitter.

Ingrid Callot. Photo Credit: foodshedalliance.org

Ingrid Callot and her admiration for urban eco pioneers

Ingrid Callot image credit: thevividedge.com

Ingrid Callot lives with her husband Roger and son Jacob, who, like her, have embraced a life of sustainability. This blog talks about two of her most admired families, which have gone a mile more than others in their pursuit to save Mother Earth, pioneering ec0-friendly concepts to lessen their carbon footprints, save money, and improve health right within the city.

So you drive a small car, recycle, and eat organic. But what about creating your very own urban eco-friendly household? There are several individuals who have journeyed this worthy path. They are considered “leaders” in many ways as they truly inspire others to plant, grow, or breed organics at the comfort of their home.

Ingrid Callot maintains a lush backyard with greens ranging from flowery ornamental plants to vegetables.

Ingrid Callot image credit: lh6.ggpht.com

Growing organics in a teeny-weeny lot… in the city
The Dervaes family of Pasadena, California has shown how a small piece of land in the city can be used to produce organic food. Believe it or not, this family produces three tons of food in a tenth of an acre of a property (66 ft x 132 square-foot lot) with more than 400 different fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Add to that their collection of hundreds of eggs and 25-pound honey. This is amazing since, with this amount of success, you’d need at least two acres of property. To top it all, the family’s gross annual earning reaches to a whopping $20,000 from the sales of their organics.

Bringing fish farms to urban communities
How about a fish farm combined with a naturally fertilized veggie patch in your kitchen? Christopher and Anya Pozdeeva--former New York bankers who founded the Society for Aquaponics Values and Education--can help. Aquaponics is a method for breeding tank fish, recycling their filled water to fertilize vegetation, and having this naturally cleaned water to get back to the tank below. These eco-pioneers show that you can utilize even a cramped apartment with this “eco-system” almost without the help of specialized equipment. This is a perfect way to grow your own food naturally and economically.

Ingrid Callot image credit: inhabitat.com

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Fresh, sweet, and oh so yummy: Ingrid Callot's lemon yogurt cake

It’s so wonderful how much tang you can put together with a healthy combination of lemon zest and yogurt. Ingrid Callot shows her readers her version of a crisp-on-top -moist-inside lemon yogurt cake.

Ingrid Callot. Image credit: Ldlevy.wordpress.com

For me, healthy living doesn’t mean depriving oneself with simple pleasures like the occasional indulgence in sweets. But even with that, you can find a way to not to be “sinful.” Here’s a cake recipe that your family and friends will surely love: Lemon yogurt cake. Enriched with vitamin C, protein, and calcium, this healthy treat comes directly from the oven with a shiny and crisp surface. Straight from the oven, take a slice and you’ll see how it sets free a steamy, lemony aroma that makes mouths water with anticipation. My husband Roger and son Jacob always go for seconds, thirds, and yes, most of the time fourths.

Ingrid Callot. Image credit: Ldlevy.wordpress.com

Here’s the Ingrid Callot recipe:  

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups organic sugar
2 Tbsp lemon zest (the rich outermost part of the rind of an orange, lemon, or other citrus fruit)
1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon or orange juice

Procedure
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8 1/2” loaf pan and then line its bottom with parchment paper.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. In another large bowl, whisk together yogurt, sugar, eggs, fruit zest, and vanilla and lemon extracts. Stir to fully incorporate all ingredients.
3. Fold dry ingredients into the wet using gentle stirring motions.
4. Fill loaf pan with batter and smoothen the top area. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 50 minutes or until it passes the cake tester.

From Delameredairy.co.uk

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