Thursday, November 26, 2009

Fall Greens in the Green Mountain State

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I have lots to be grateful for this year, as always, and the publication of Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties has given me many opportunities to travel and see friends this holiday season. I was in Vermont this past week at a book party hosted by Buch Spieler in Montpelier, and I was also able to head to the Round Barn in Waitsfield for the annual Thanksgiving Farmer's Market.

Waitsfield is in the "valley", which is home to the Mad River Glen and Sugarbush ski areas, and it also boasts a wealth of small farms. While the farmers' market is not year-round (it is a region of the country that relies on snow, remember), farmers bring out their end-of-season bounty for the annual Thanksgiving market.

I was on my way to Spain, so I didn't have the chance to enjoy too much of the local produce, but I was able to get some amazing maple syrup and raspberry jam, both of which which will soon be on their way to Jordan with my husband, and I made an incredible salad from the carrots, radishes, and hearty greens I picked up.

And, if I was going to be there for Thanksgiving, I could have feasted on the potatoes, squash, onions, garlic, and mixed greens that are all in season now.

Just to get you in the mood, here is one of my favorite desserts for the holiday season:

Hazelnut Linzertorte with Cranberry-Apricot Filling (note that I find I need to cook at 375 instead of at 350)

Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Book Is Here!

Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties has been released! On paper and everything. You can find it at the following places, and many local, independent bookstores are carrying it as well:

Order online!
Barnes and Noble
Amazon.com
Borders
Books a Million
Indie-Bound
Chapters Indigo.ca

Thanks to all of you for all of your support throughout the last few years of researching and writing. I hope the book serves as a jumping off point and that our community of world changers continues to grow!

Some writers and activists who I really respect had a chance to read the book before it was released, and here is what they had to say about it:

''Everywhere I go around the planet, I find young people, fresh from
college, leading the new green movement. With savvy and heart, they're
making a real difference--and as this book shows, you can too!"

-Bill McKibben, 350.org

"Having a positive impact doesn't have to be complicated, but sometimes
the biggest obstacle is knowing where--and how to start. Ten Ways is a
great resource to help people who are just starting out know how to start
making a difference."

- Meg Busse - The Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers for First-time Job Seekers

"What I love about Ten Ways is that it picks up where so many books leave
off and answers the question, “what exactly is to be done by individuals
who want to help?” Libuse Binder has found the perfect combination of
information, inspiration, and detailed suggestions for adults of all ages to
begin to make a difference."
-Laurie David, Stopglobalwarming.org


"What really distinguishes Ten Ways is how Binder presents real world
cases of young people creating positive change. These aren't just ideas--they're success stories."

-Ben Jervey, Environmental journalist and author of The Big Green Apple

"Ten Ways to Change the World In Your Twenties won't only teach you
how to change the world, it will get you exhilarated about doing so. Libuse Binder
is a passionate advocate and activist, and she writes in fun, accessible prose
that's never preachy, that speaks to any generation--whether you're in your 20s
or your 80s--about how to live mindfully, and have a blast while doing so."

-Melissa Kirsch, author of The Girl's Guide to Absolutely Everything
"Libuse Binder has a heart as big as the world. Ten Ways To Change the World in Your Twenties is imperative reading young people committed to helping the planet, and one another, toward a more enlightened future. Read this book!"

-Mark Matousek, author of When You're Falling, Dive, and Ethical Wisdom: What Makes Us Good?

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Who Knew Voting Could Be So Much Fun?

What were you all doing last year at this time? It's probably easy to conjure up images of election parties past, since presidential elections (especially the most recent one) tend to be pretty memorable.

However, every election is important, especially since many local policies eventually filter up to the state and even the national level.

Granted, it's hard to get fired up about some of the measures on the ballot like whether or not to amend the King County Charter, which apparently was so poorly written that it gets amended every year. Lucky for me and my fellow voters, the funny folks at The Stranger in Seattle have done the admittedly dull legwork and condensed all of the info into an easy-to-follow (and laugh at) voting guide. I discovered the guide during my last voting stint in the summer primary, when I was unfamiliar with many of the candidates and the county brochure containing the candidate statements didn't offer enough info to help me make a decision. The Stranger's guide is so good that I'd read it for fun even if I didn't live in Seattle.

Your town or city will offer voting guides too, and even if they aren't as entertaining as The Stranger's, they are worth a read. Certain organizations, such as The Sierra Club, also publish voting guides by region.

So before you start filling out your ballot, take a few minutes to read the opinions of others, especially about issues you may not be familiar with. That way, you won't end up with a power-mad comptroller or a parking lot where your paradise is supposed to be.