A Travelin' Trash Gypsy

Dear friends of love, flowers and green-living,

I am on the road with Pick Up America! I arrived in Colorado three days ago - first touring around Colorado Springs: (an eco-city right below an enormous mountain view) smothered with small vintage shops, vegan cafes, bikes lanes, doggies, friendly peeps and hipsters!!! Four hours passed and I bused to Denver: home to the Nuggets and other sport icons, it's the center of bars, energy and night life. (*Yawn, it's not so eco-friendly!*)

Six hours later, I made my way to Grand Junction: an isolated, peaceful, desert terrain area of Colorado. I met up with the crew there and observed as they went dumpster diving behind a bagel shop. They scored a giant bag of onion, garlic and poppy seed bagels. Sweet!

The Pick Up America bus settled miles away from civilization in public land owned by the Bureau of Land Management. We camped out and fought the freezing desert night and woke up to a bright sun, warming weather and hot tea in the mornin'! We then packed our lunch, camel jugs, gloves and trash bags to set off to reach our next destination: Utah's dirt roads and mountainsides.

On our way there, we met a lovely woman Sharon, her sweet horse and Jack Russel Terrier dog. She rides on the trails of the public land (where we camped) and seems so happy and liberated to be on those desert roads. I think it was my first real encounter with a cowgirl!

1st Day of Clean Up and I'm already shocked by the plethora of trash!
I'm still learning how pick up days work but we split up into group, and started off with a couple of miles into between us on the same road. The car with the trash wagon attached would leapfrog and collect the groups and their bags as we cover our daily mileage. We each walked around 6 miles, dragging our bags full of scrap metal, recyclables and litter along the way. This Utah road was home to hundreds of rusted beer cans seeming to have been left from a party as big as Woodstock and most cans even dated back to the sixties. What a shame!

Why we should pick up litter vs. Why we shouldn't litter!
The prairie dogs, desert trails and mountain breeze accompanied us. Seeing tons of trash in such beauty is saddening. Is humanity to blame for being so overbearing, dominating and selfish? When will we consider the billions of other species we share our planet with? When we will think about the plants, the animals -- and all creatures of green-living? How can we focus on a more inclusive lifestyle that promotes simplicity, self-sustaining communities, waste minimization and living in harmony with the environment and the life it provides for?
Well, in P.U.A., our form of action is turning it all around! We work to restore the outdoors, to experience the feeling of stewardship and to be in tune with the green-living that sustains us all! The natural world is crying to be considered, embraced, cared for and nurtured. To break from the societal ways of tearing it apart is SO rewarding!!! We are setting cultural change across America. We need your help too.
I can tell ya, the sun was just filling us up with hugs, energy and good vibes. Our group felt so connected. Jane Matt, Jeff Chen and I, were so comforted in our work as swayed to folk music, cleaned up our earth and formed such a close team!!!

SO to wrap up my thoughts on the first day, I love simple living, environmental stewardship and tackling anything that takes way from humanity and community ----yes, meaning inconsiderate hurtful things like trash!!!


:) :) :)

Twistin' (from High School to College)

Hey friends of earthly smells, sprouting greens, sunshine, streams and all lovely things!

I'm back on the blogosphere - dangling on the tire swing of Blogspot's evergreens!!!

Scan these minty updates about the latest twirls of my oh-so-raspberry days then follow the flowery path to the end of the post where you'll find my guide to your extra happy, bright and fulfilling life as a college student, for sure! :) :) :)

1. The front locks are now 14 inches
2. January 9 marked my 7th year of vegetarianism and 5th year of veganism
3. Finally met President Obama
4. Traveling eco-style for the last 7 months - (cycling, walking, carpooling, metro)
5. Appointed Philanthropy Chair in Student Government Association
6. Scored an internship with the respectable environmental organization, Pick Up America!
7. Mastered and ventured D. C. and NYC's transit system!
8. Took on Winter's coldness with Occupy DC & organized w/ Tar Sands Action at Occupy Wall St
9. Overcame student financial worries
10. Took on Honors Calculus and moved on to the next semester of Engineering!
11. Entertained students with Bollywood performances for two special events!
12. Organized on campus "All We Need is Love" Open Mics
13. Moved in with my friends to an isolated, peaceful side of Virginia - perfect for gardening!
14. Built tight knit friendships, friendships, friendships galore!
15. The list goes on but I'll keep y'all updated weekly, for sure!

Next is a to-do list of some sort with what to do in high school to prepare yourself for your college years. Of course, this is based on my own experience: what I did in high school, what helped and what didn't. Just like in organizing, I'm sharing my story and giving you ideas on how to form yours. SO let us *toast* to creative, story-filled lives! What's your narrative?

You have a four year time span in high school -- get things done!
1. Get involved in Club Student Life!!! Run for a position, develop leadership, multitasking, time management and social lives! Do not take short cuts (they should not be just another title to add onto your resume. You need to take these experiences and GROW!) Build connections with other students, faculty and community members. NETWORK to the max. Make business cards:

Community Activist
Rebekah Vegan
- 1 (987) 123-7654
- 1972 Hickleberry Lane, Sunshine Vill, NY 98765- nebraskajones@email.com
- rebekahvegan.blogspot.com


Take good notes on your organizing tasks. Develop a narrative (story of self) that gets you connected with all student groups. Find your common interests - GET ACTIVE.
2. Practice self care --- stay healthy, energized and positive. Eat well, be mindful, in tune with nature, be selfless and compassionate - be of service and a follower of Jesus by upholding these values in your life. Let people find out how you are through the God you honor! Choose vegan (animal cruelty free, organic/enviro conscious, locally grown foods) and feel good about your choices! Grow and harvest from your own backyard garden. Self-healing is VERY important because it involves your everyday interactions, how you influence others and the feel good vibes that they should be getting from you!!!

3. WORK HARD. I find it very rewarding to have pushed my limits in high school because it has made me a more stronger and prepared college student. Aim to surpass your "best," keep making those goals and achieving them. It's a lovely feeling! If you don't sleep one night to make sure you get the extra points on your research paper, then so be it. It's worth the temporary pain for the long term self discipline, responsibility and time management.

4.Take every opportunity available. If there is an out-of-state summer program offered, take it! You'll make long lasting friendships, memories and be more exposed to people, culture, places, LIFE.

5. Scholarships available in your field of study? Take it and run!!! Apply today, apply tomorrow, stack them up. They will help you get where you need to go and have more time to do lovely things in the world without financial worries or restrictions. Do NOT waste your rewarded money on things not school, food, or living expense related. Give back to the community in other ways. Please, I'm telling you, that you can do great things for people as others have done for you! Use a free Saturday that you otherwise would spend working and devote time for volunteering. Make a difference--today!

These activist days. #Occupy

I wanna see the world...

and spread my love one place at a time. . . . .

Are you with me?

How To Hide Your Dreads If You're Going to a Very Important Meeting

Dreadlocks are comfy, care-free, fun and adventurous. They symbolize open mindedness, a free spirit, loveliness, compassion and a statement of peace. They bring contentment, a closer connection to nature and truly makes your inner beauty glow.

So, why would you want to hide them? Although the list above goes on and on, during certain circumstances dreadlocks can be dreadfully unprofessional. Just like any hairstyle that is wild, loose and free, there's always a time a place for it. This blog post describes different strategies ofhow to tame your dreads and make yourself look more presentable in a professional setting. Perhaps, you'd just like to control them a little more but would still like to keep your Bohemian style? Here you can grab many tips on how to tidy, clean and sharpen up your look.

First: Decide what look you are actually aiming for. Is this meeting a job interview, a presentation, a formal dinner or is it a date, party, family reunion? I separate these into two categories. The first few are scenarios in which you may want to hide your dreads. (Note: I am not in any way promoting that you should change your look to please societal standards. I am simply stating your options.) The second scenarios such as a date, party or family reunion may be one where you'd still like to show off your natural look but only to an extent.
As you know, dreadlocks are a commitment. You may have your reasons as so do I but there are many people in society who will need time to understand you. Help them to accept and respect your lifestyle. Your personal appearance may be judged but if you are willing to undergo getting dreads then you have the ultimate power! Please, do not ever give in to societal standards - instead let them adapt to you. This post will help you to gradually show off your look. You know your reasons for your hairstyle choice and do not let others influence your decision. Show them better and make a difference! :-)

To illustrate styles that I'm familiar with, I will use photos of Wynd Mulysa whom is a dread lock model and has a hairstyle similar to mine. Remind you, I have bangs like Wynd, two dread locks that hang onto the side of my face and layer of a few dreads on the top of my head. The rest of my hair is naturally curly with smaller dreads here and there.

1. If you suffer from excess strands of hair and loads of frizz: use a straighter to flatten those hairs, then separate and twirl them onto your dreads so they can tighten, join and lock. This will give your dreads a fresh and less of a nappy bed head look. You can also use dread wax or gel to bring down the frizz. I recommend neither of these! A flat iron works fine. This specific look is two ponytails and preferably a date or hangout look. It's also my favorite because it's fun and care-free! I usually tie a ribbon onto one and allow it to hang. It looks really nice when the ribbon is colorful or full of designs!

2. For a fierce business look- a tight bun with a small front bump! If you have extra thick dreadlocks that don't seem to settle then a carefully wrapped bun may be the one for you. Pull all of your hair to one side, twirl it together and make a circular motion towards the back of your head. Do not raise the bun too high, it should be no higher than eye radius. Accessorize with a large eloquent clip slightly above the bun to make it appear like it's holding it together. If it's a business atmosphere, wear pearl or other round-like earrings - NO dangling earrings. Leave those for your more laid back outings. If you're into doing a bump, begin this part before the bun: section some of your top dreads away from the others. Pull these dreads out in front of you and start by rolling and tucking them in until you get your desired size of a bump. To keep it in place, secure a clip under the bump that will hold the dreads inside and keep them from unrolling. Bobby pins may be helpful to use on the sides of dreads that are untamed but I don't recommend using plastic ones as they are just too small and wont hold.

I'm awfully tired now from typing so much...so I'll finish this post tomorrow... is that okay? See you then.

In response to my dread lock post:

Here is the initial post that documents my dread lock journey and my desire for a new style in the future.
http://rebekahvegan.blogspot.com/2010/07/dreads.html

Now, (three years later) I still have a few dreads in and they're as locked solid as they can possibly get! I did also mention in the post above that I was really itching to get a peace sign shaved in. Hair is like art work, right? You've got to get creative!
I'm sorry to fill you in so late but yes, I did eventually get my peace sign! :D Pictures of the shaved look from September of 2010 and my current look (May of 2011) are below if you're interested!!! :-)

Don't hesitate to read my next dread lock post: How To Hide Your Dreads If You're Going to a Very Important Meeting! I am considering a dread blog in the future, ya know, with things like 1. Why you should dread 2. How to dread 3. How long it takes to dread, strategies and more! What do you think friends. . . is it worth writing? Let me know - I like readers!
Well. . . lots of love to you until the next post!!!!! :-)

This picture is from February and was taken in a nature reserve-bike trail the Bronx, NY. Click for a larger / less distorted image!

Here is the finished piece of the peace sign. Continue reading for some extra tips!
Before and After:
Here are some tips if you are considering the look as well.

Preview

1. Ask a barber or an artistic friend! Never, ever, ever walk into a hair salon and expect them to do THIS for you. Have someone with image shaving experience. Ya know, like the type of barber that is known for perfect edge ups and shaves Nike signs, names and symbols.

2. Make sure they know HOW TO make a peace sign. You may want to draw it out first. . .
3. Ask for an OUTLINE of the peace sign as the shaved part and make it a preference that they don't shave the inside hair down too much. They should begin by cutting the piece of you hair into a square shape or rectangle. Then shave it down but not too much! Edge in the peace sign. And lastly, trim the inside of the circle/peace sign...but not too deep!
4. Be prepared to be back in a week or two for another!
5. Once you've got the look down, experiment with other shaves like a heart, a word or a flower! I tried all three! I didn't have the chance to snap pictures but the results were lovely!!!
6. If you want it to show: braid the hair under, twist the hair above, do a side pony in the opposite direction, french braid onto one side or even put a band above to grasp the hair as a whole.
7. If you don't want it to show: simply straighten your hair or keep you hair down! The shaving should not be slightly bigger than four inches and will be easy to cover if you have your hair down and in the way of the space.
8. What to do once your done with the look: Well, it's pretty simple: just let your hair grow! It may stick out/ be slightly spiky for a few days but once it's three centimeters grown, you can then use a bobby pin to maintain it. My piece is around 4 inches long now and what I like to do is wrap it into a twisty on the side of my head. If you are wondering what a twisty is, here is a picture below. (Image is not mine. Click for direct link to hair salon site.)
9. Lastly, have fun with it! If you got a sweet style done then share it! Have something engraved that your passionate about. For me, it would be the word VEGAN. I plan to do it all again and of course, take more pictures next time. Please share with me yours too! I will post them on my blog!!! Love to you friends, I hope this post was helpful!

Sustainably yours,
Bekah

In a Washington D.C. of my own,

all the flowers. . .
Would have very
Extra special powers
They would sit
And talk to me for hours
When I'm lonely
In a world of my own
Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland



Roaming around DC, during our week at the Power Shift sustainability conference, gave my two friends and I the chance to bump into some truly rockin' souls.Meet Cody! When I first saw him I thought of the term "punk." Where else could I actually use it? He has a good heart, I really liked him. He and his brother traveled from West Virginia to Washington D.C. (Travis, also pictured below.) They set off on their grandfather's bikes, both of which were destroyed on the way... School was out, it was Spring break, and they wanted to see what it was like to be on their own and free. I couldn't tell if they were runaways from home or from society. They packed their bags, some cooking tools, and little cash to make their way. Too bad they both forgot their phone chargers. Cody was stuck with a dead phone and they both depended on Travis' cell that had an extremely low battery. Funny kids... I would have thought they would be more prepared? But hey, they did it... and they did it alone. My age and everything. What guts, man! Bless their brave souls.

Traveling along with them was a tall dude. He had just met them an hour before we did.The hitchhiker. Derek is his name. He was traveling with some friends cross country but had a dispute along the way and was dropped off on the side of the road. Wanting to see DC, he hitched a few rides there but hadn't any luck getting out of the city yet. He told us about the night before that he spent with this DC activist group called "The Radicals." They were doing a march and were holding a concert after but the band was kicked out of a spot. A church near by offered their space for the concert and a place to sleep overnight. He was baffled. The image that he described was "rocking out below a statue of Mary and baby Jesus. Frickin awesome." Such a cool dude. His small back pack contained few things, none of which were necessities but I'll always remember this notebook that he had. There were pictures in it and a story for each. He told us of the friends he made traveling and showed us their creations. He then insisted we add on to his pad. My friends drew some trees and vines. We also signed our names and facebooks. Derek's story was -he needed a ride to Charleston, Virginia. We insisted that he roam DC with us for awhile until we headed back to Power Shift, where we knew he was destined to find a ride!
My two friends and I helped all three of them make signs to bring back to Power Shift. "Going green -- would like to carpool to __, any help?" Thank goodness for all the lovely souls that joined us at the P.S. conference. With all the smiley faces and good people, many offered rides without compensation. I shot Cody a text the next day and received warming news. He said him and his brother arrived home safely the night before. They were knocked off their feet by all the sweet people. He also thanked me for calling and worrying about their safety like a "mom." What else was I supposed to do? I mean, we all hung out for close to five hours -- by the end of that time we had made connections and inside jokes. I considered them my friends. And mostly, I was just glad things worked smoothly. Oh and Derek, he made his way to western Virginia with some folks too and he even recently added me on facebook. His pictures are cheery! I'm so happy we were able to reconnect.