Sustainable Living Archives - Page 7 of 15

Where has the Sombrero Gone?

February 4, 2011 by David Mark Brown

[dropcap2]T[/dropcap2]he literal translation of sombrero is ‘shader,’ and for good reason. It is the ultimate shade hat. Interestingly, try to find one in the United States and 9 out of 10 google hits will bring back the “Tequila Pop N’ Dude” costume. But don’t worry, you can choose between the drunk, fat guy version or the female “Sexy Shooter.” (Which, because it includes less fabric, is appropriately priced $15 less.)

In Spanish, sombrero typically refers to any hat with a brim, so an on-line shopper would expect to be able to find some nice contemporary options available to satisfy their sombrero urgings, the empty ache in their soul for head shade. But no. Surprisingly, no one really wears the sombrero anymore, unless its Halloween or you’re in a Mariachi band (or you’re the “Tequila Pop N’ Dude” on spring break).

I think that’s a shame.

Hunting the Texas German-Redneck

January 3, 2011 by David Mark Brown

In Texas some necks are red. Some necks are German. And a select few necks are both. While my experience with German-Americans is limited, I am married to one and so feel entitled to make sweeping generalizations. The chief of which is that German-Americans are the practical, hardworking sort of folk that know a spade from a shovel.

Having originated from Middle America (or Germany itself) and transmogrified in the hill country of Texas, these mythic German settlers have become a sort of super redneck. Let’s just say that if Crawford Texas was a wee bit further south and west (that is to say a wee more German) then George W. would have figured out a way to increase military spending, bring world peace, cut taxes and balance the budget all while discovering a better-adapted wine grape, and all in his first term.

But alas, these super rednecks of German heritage (let’s call them ROGHs) prefer a behind the scenes sort of benevolence, and so few have heard of them.

Redneck Sustainability: Chow-Chow

December 27, 2010 by David Mark Brown

jars of chow-chow — sweat and spicy chow-chow relish

While not exclusively a redneck food, chow-chow (the relish, not the dog), is certainly championed most by the rural folk of America, and with no uncertainty, is one of the sustainable marvels of our day. Seriously.

For you see, chow-chow is indeed the kitchen sink of canning. For my rural-impaired readers I will need to pause here for some clarification. Let’s start with canning.

Canning, for you urban folk, refers to the practice of preserving freshly grown fruits and vegetables in glass jars for use throughout the year. It is in and of itself a very sustainable practice due to its reliance on local produce rather than off-season stuff shipped from Timbuktu via carbon-emitting yack. And don’t think for a second that the “vine-ripened” tomatoes you find in January are anything of the sort, unless you live in California or think ripe means something like “edible enough to withstand commercial harvesting, processing, shipping and retail sale over the next week).