Green Muslims in the District

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noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:51:00 +0000

Day 6 and 7-Community

noreply@blogger.com (sarsoorti) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:51:00 +0000

Salams,

Welcome to days 6&7 of No Impact Week, Sat & Sun Oct 24th & 25th! The last two days are all about how we interact with our community, friends and family.

Please use the information below in addition to the No Impact Project's Manual (alongside the DC Green Muslims No Impact Manual).

Remember each day builds upon the previous one, so keep up what you have been doing today and previous days and add to it with what you do tomorrow as well.

Notes
Community and enjoining friends and neighbors to good are keystones of the Islamic faith. God speaks of knowing your neighbors, of serving others, of building a community together. These are basic tenants of our faith, and there are multiple hadith regarding how even our daily personal prayers can be heightened in reward by joining together with a fellow friend.

God speaks of the best of people being the ones who invite others to “all that is good.” In Surah Al‐Emraan this is seen clearly:

“Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity.” (3:104)

We as Muslims are not asked to practice our faith in a vacuum. We clearly are told that what we do on a daily basis has effects on the larger society in which we live. There are countless chapters in the Quran that speak about helping others less fortunate than ourselves. These are clear calls to action to better the communities we are a part of.

Islamic Inspiration:

“O mankind! Lo! We have created you from male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.” (49:13)

Allah’s Messenger said, “The reward of the prayer offered by a person in congregation is twenty five times greater than that of the prayer offered in one’s house or in the market (alone).” ‐ Narrated by Abu Hurairah

“And worship God [alone], and do not ascribe divinity, in any way, to aught beside Him. And do good unto your parents, and near of kin, and unto orphans, and the needy, and the neighbor from among your own people, and the neighbor who is a stranger, and the friend by your side, and the wayfarer, and those whom you rightfully possess. Verily, God does not love any of those who, full of self‐conceit, act in a boastful manner” (4:36)

“Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity.” (3:104)

Dont forget to relate your experiences and thoughts and comment on the appropriate days blog post at our blog, dcgreenmuslims.blogspot.com, for a chance to win organic soaps from Mosaic Soaps (http://mosaic.azam.org/)

Day 5: Water and Electricity

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Welcome to day 5 of No Impact Week, Fri Oct 23rd! The fifth day is all out about the most common and ubiquitous resources available to us, that we almost never stop and think about, water & electricity.

Please use the information below in addition to the No Impact Project's Manual (alongside the DC Green Muslims No Impact Manual).

Remember each day builds upon the previous one, so keep up what you have been doing today and previous days and add to it with what you do tomorrow as well.

General Tips

Water Conservation:

Wudu is an act of purification and we can be conscious of how much water is being used, in hopes of preventing unnecessary loss of water.
Shorter showers, turning the faucet off when washing the dishes and brushing teeth.

Electricity Conservation:

Turn off the lights when exiting a room.
Unplug appliances.
Wear a jacket instead of turning up the heat.

Islamic Inspiration:

“And it is God who created the human being out of water.”

Water is a symbol of life. In Islam, it is also seen as an important sign of God as it is mentioned over 60 times in the Qu’ran. We are told “from water God brought everything to life.” (21:30)

“Your God is One God, there is no deity other than Him, the most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Truly in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the succession of the night and the days, and in the ships that speed through the sea with what is useful to humanity, and in the waters which
God sends down from the sky, giving life thereby to the earth after its death, and…in all of this, there are ayat for those the people who use their intelligence.”(2:163‐164)

Water is typically described as being “sent down” from the sky, comparable to how God’s scripture and mercy came from above. Some scholars have referred to water as a metaphor for a broader meaning based on mercy and knowledge being distributed widely to mankind.

God sends down water from the sky, and [once‐dry] valleys are running high, Each according to its capacity. (13:17)

God asks Muslims to pay attention the signs around us as proof of God’s bounty and mercy and as a way to become closer to Him. Once we start contemplating the natural signs all around us, we can begin to recognize the symbiotic relationship that exists between man and nature.
And when Moses asked for water for his people, We said: ‘Strike with your staff the rock.’ And there gushed forth from it twelve springs, and everyone knew his drinking place. (2:60)

The advice that Moses’ community is given in that verse is the very ethical notion of eco‐spiritual trusteeship that we also need to heed today:

“So eat and drink of God’s sustenance, and do no evil or mischief on Earth.”

In a subsequent verse of the Qur’an, we are told that the rock that the prophets strike is not just a physical rock, but rather the rock‐like hardness of our own hearts:

‘‘Then even after that, your hearts grew hard so that they were like rocks, or even harder, for indeed there are rocks from which rivers gush forth, and there are rocks which split asunder so that water flows from them, and others which sink because of the awe they have towards God. And God is not unmindful of what you do.’’(2:74)

Days 2, 3, & 4

noreply@blogger.com (Sabira) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:45:00 +0000

Well, getting sick this week has been a double edged sword as concerns no impact week.

FOOD
As far as food goes, its always been a compromise. We seldom eat meat although there is a halal store within walking distance and owned by family, and another only 7 minutes away. We tried Organic Zabiha and LOVED it (mashallah, the simplest chicken broth adds TONS of flavor, it was extraordinary and I highly recommend it to all, even if you just splurge once every 6 months).

Since we stick to veggies, we also stick to H-Mart, which is certainly NOT local. I've tried growing my own tomatoes and without the fertilizer, but there is only a single, green baby tomatoe hanging from the vines of the plant on my terrace.

Anyway, being sick has meant tons of sunshine soup (recipe at the end of this post) and juice. No processed food (except for that graham cracker pie crust), and no excessive eating (since there is no real appetite to speak of).

BTW, since we're on the topic of food, everyone needs to read The Omnivore's Dilemma--I'm sure lots of people who write for and read this blog have heard of it and read it, but for the others who have not yet had this chance, please do it!

TRANSPORTATION
Being sick has also limited my transportation, since I have stayed home for about 2 days in my effort to not spread germs more. But in thinking further about alternative means of transportation, I come to the bike discussion. Ladies, did you ever feel that you looked goofy on a bike with your helmet on your hijab? Or, did you even grow up riding one? I think some of were in this position, obviously myself included. It wasn't really intentional, its just that I didn't really get out there as a child on a bike. And so, I found myself in the early 20's, a muhajibah and environmentalist-ish person trying to do my body and earth some good ,but stumbling over this small issue of learning to ride a bike in the first place, and getting over the whole "does this helmet make my hijab look goofy?" bit. Thanks to a supportive mentor and friend (aka Faheem), I'm slowly gaining confidence on the bike and hope to use it for errands and such instead of driving. To all the sisters out there who feel hesitant to get on a bike in public/ with their hijabs, don't sweat it. For me, there are few things as awesome as seeing a modest woman do her thang and cruise the city with her uber cool bike (might I add, she knows how to ride well!).

WASTE
Here's one of the disadvantages of being sick this week: LOTS and LOTS of tissue waste. Why? I have an upper respiratory infection. Not a huge deal, but still supposedly highly contagious. And so I resort to carrying boxes of tissues with me wherever I go. Other than that, most things that can go in the recycling end up there. I live in an apartment right now so I didn't try to buy a compost bin/ barrel, but I am looking into buying or building one as soon as we move out to a location that gives us access to land/ more of an outdoor space. In the meantime, lemon peels do double duty: rub them on your hands as my mama does to give your skin a vitamin C-rich polish, then throw them down the disposer for a lemony scent. OK thats the only doublt-duty type thing I have to share right now.... :p

Sunshine Soup (for any sick readers or for soup lovers, I hope you enjoy)
1/2 butternut squash
2 stems celery
1 large sweet potatoe or yam
2 carrots
1 large white potatoe
1 large onion
1 small turnip (optional)
1 yellow squash or zucchini
1 small bunch fresh parsely
1 Tbsp oil

2-4 tsp. turmeric (fights inflammation)
1-2 tsp. garlic powder
salt and pepper
2-3 large bay leaves

Chop all the ingredients very finely so that you can get a little bit of each in a spoonful. Heat oil, saute onions carefully. Add seasoning (all but the bay leaves). Add celery and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the rest of the veggies (except for the turnip, parsely, and yellow squash/zucchini) and cover with water (add the bay leaves now). Boil for 15-20 minutes. Add the final ingredients. Boil an additional 7 minutes and turn down the heat to simmer for about 15 minutes or as long as you like. Garnish with more fresh chopped herbs if you like. These instructions are very general, so use your own judgement while cooking and feel free to add to exclude other ingredients.

(BTW word to the wise: DONT overcook turnips or they'll become bitter!)

Day 4- Waste

noreply@blogger.com (sarsoorti) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:31:00 +0000

Salams,
Welcome to day 4 of No Impact Week, Thur Oct 22nd! The third day is all about the waste we generate throughout our daily lives.
Please use the information below in addition to the No Impact Project's Manual (alongside the DC Green Muslims No Impact Manual).
Remember each day builds upon the previous one, so keep up what you have been doing today and previous days and add to it with what you do tomorrow as well.

General Tips

No WasteTry it out. Generate no waste and find a reusable or recyclable way of disposing all of your waste. This includes anything that can be thrown into a trash‐can.

Islamic Inspiration:

“Mischief has appeared on land and sea because of (the meed)that the hands of men have earned, that (Allah) may give them ataste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back(from Evil)” (30:41)

“But waste not in excess: for Allah loveth not the wasters”(6:141), (7:31)

Notes:

In the U.S., 4.39 pounds of trash per day and up to 56 tons of trash per year are created by the average person.Every year we fill enough garbage trucks to form a line that would stretch from the earth, halfway to the moon. Almost 1/3 of the waste generated the U.S. is packaging. Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.Every year, Americans make enough plastic film to shrink‐wrap the state of Texas. Americans throw away enough aluminum cans to rebuild our commercial air fleet every three months, and enough iron and steel to supply all our nation's automakers every day.
Each year, Americans trash enough office paper to build a 12‐ foot wall from Los Angeles to New York City. Americans toss out enough paper & plastic cups, forks and spoons every year to circle the equator 300 times.As of 1992, 14 billion pounds of trash were dumped into ocean annually around the world. Only two manmade structures on Earth are large enough to be seen from outer space: the Great Wall of China and the Fresh Kills landfill.For more facts go to Clean Air Council:http://www.cleanair.org/Waste/wasteFacts.html

Dont forget to relate your experiences and thoughts and comment on the appropriate days blog post at our blog, dcgreenmuslims.blogspot.com, for a chance to win organic soaps from Mosaic Soaps (http://mosaic.azam.org/)

Day 3-Transportation

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:52:00 +0000

Welcome to day 3 of No Impact Week, Wed Oct 21st! I hope everyone's first day has went well. The third day is all about the ways in which we use transportation and get from point A to point B.

Please use the information below in addition to the No Impact Project's Manual (alongside the DC Green Muslims No Impact Manual).

Remember each day builds upon the previous one, so keep up what you have been doing today and previous days and add to it with what you do tomorrow as well.

General Tips

Carpool: 2 people carpooling lessens the impact by half, 3 people carpooling lessens it by two‐thirds, etc…
Take the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator if possible: Good for both body & environment
Try more environmentally friendly commutes to school or work.
The higher the number, the worst the impact :
- 1. Walking (nature’s transport)
- 2. Bicycling
- 3. Other non‐motorized transportation (rollerblading, skateboarding)
- 4. Public Transportation (bus first, train/subway second)
- 5. Multiple occupancy car
- 6. Single occupancy car
- 7. Private jet (mentioned just in case…)

Islamic Inspiration:

The Prophet (pbuh) declared, “The world is beautiful and
verdant, and verily Allah (SWT), be He exalted, has made you His
stewards in it, and He sees how you acquit yourselves.” (Muslim)
“And when he turns away, he endeavors about the earth to
corrupt in it and cause the tillage and stock to perish; and Allah
(SWT) does not love corruption” (2:205)

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Prevention of damage and corruption
before it occurs is better than treatment after it occurs….The
averting of harm takes precedence over the acquisition of
benefits." (Majallat al‐Ahkam al‐Adliya)

The Prophet (pbuh) stated: “The benefit of a thing is in return for
the liability attaching to it." (Tirmidhi and Abu‐Dawud on
authority of Aisha)

Day 2 - FOOD

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:58:00 +0000

Welcome to day 2 of No Impact Week, Tuesday Oct 20th! I hope everyone's first day has went well. The second day is all about the ways in which we eat and drink and use food.

Please use the information below in addition to the No Impact Project's Manual (alongside the DC Green Muslims No Impact Manual), to give you an Islamic perspective to help you through your eco-conscious journey this week which hopefully will be a stepping stone to a life long journey incorporating the eco-spiritual ethics of the Qur'an and Sunnah.

Remember each day builds upon the previous one, so keep up what you have been doing today and add to it with what you do tomorrow as well.

General Tips

Eat Local Food: How many miles did it take for your food to come to you? Reduce your carbon‐footprint by reducing your food‐miles and eating locally. Imported perishable foods are especially bad for the environment considering that they have to be refrigerated along the way as well.
Eat Organic: The more it’s organic, the better it is for both your body & the environment.
Eat Completely Halal: Eat something that’s both raised & slaughtered in a Halal manner. In other words, in addition to finding (for example) meat that is slaughtered Halal, find something that is simultaneously raised in a cruelty‐free manner. Examples of completely Halal meat‐providers are Green Zabihah and Sumayyah’s Peaceful Poultry (see notes below).
Don’t Eat in Excess: Create a balance in your diet that does not take more than what you need from nature. It’s better for both your body & the environment well.

Islamic Inspiration:

O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time
and place of prayer: eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for
Allah loveth not the wasters. (31:5)

O ye people! Eat of what is on earth, Lawful and good; and do
not follow the footsteps of the evil one, for he is to you an
avowed enemy. (2:168)

Thus, partake of the lawful, good things which God grants you as
sustenance, and be conscious of God, in whom you believe.
(5:88)

On the authority of Al‐Miqdaam ibn Maadiy‐Karib who said: I
heard the Messenger of Allah saying: "No human ever filled a
vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Adam
are some morsels to keep his back straight. But if it must be, then
one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his
breath."

“Eat and drink, but do not be extravagant. Verily, Allah does not love extravagant people.” (7: 31)

Notes:
Green Zabiha: http://www.greenzabiha.com
Sumayah’s Peaceful Poultry: http://www.peacefulpoultry.com

Day One

noreply@blogger.com (Sabira) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:59:00 +0000

I probably won't make it for the end of week potluck so I'm just sharing my little experience of No Impact Week here instead. Nothing big,

So it seems I actually started this project yesterday without knowing. I was invited to a babyshower for a beautiful mother to-be. I ended up making the card and offering a massage as the gift (but I still feel like I need to buy something--but it will be a USEFUL and organic little something).

Today, I stopped off at a thrift store looking for inexpensive wall art for my living room. Didn't find anything I was crazy for so I just left. And didn't go to an expensive store either (I actually did on Saturday, but didn't buy anything then either. So I started on Saturday! Yay for me!)

As for foods, I guess I did pretty good: bought some organic bread, cabot cheese which sports both halal and kosher labels on the front (score), canned and frozen veggies (they're not fresh or organic but they sure are cheaper when you're at Giant--btw have I mentioned that the Korean store is AMAZING for fresh produce?? So much selection and such low prices). I decided to forgoe the frozen juices my husband requested (um, first ingredient is corn syrup followed by sugar thankyouverymuch), and all the sweets. Inshallah I'll be baking something from scratch instead. My own bag? Check. The only other thing I coulda done was walk to the store from my apartment, but I was already out driving (muhahah, driving is later on in the week, so we'll see what I do about that).

This topic of consumption is important to me b/c I always used to be pretty good about not buying--I barely bought anything in fact. Recently, however, I've been feathering my nest and catching up to things I never really used to purchase. It didn't go out of hand but its been more than I have ever done before.

Day 1 - Consumption

noreply@blogger.com (sarsoorti) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:54:00 +0000

The No-Impact guide

http://noimpactproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/No-Impact-Experiment-How-To-Manual1.pdf

Please use the additional information below to give you an Islamic perspective to help you through your eco-conscious journey this week which hopefully will be a stepping stone to a life long journey incorporating the eco-spiritual ethics of the Qur'an and Sunnah.

General Tips

Needs, Not Wants
Distinguish needs from wants, and act upon it.

Budget
Budget so as to identify exactly where do your resources go.

Avoid Luxury Spending
Identify the luxuries that have become commonplace. Take steps so as to wean yourself off of them.

Know what you’re buying
Develop a more intimate relationship with what you consume, and avoid blind consumption.

Aftermath
Understand the aftermath effect of your spending of money. Does this company use its finances responsibly? Does it undergo in ecologically unsustainable, or simply unethical, actions?

Islamic Inspiration

“And those on the left hand, how unfortunate will be those on the left hand. In fierce hot wind and scalding water, and under the shadow of black smoke that provides no coolness or comfort. Verily, before this they used to live in luxury.”
(56: 40-46)

“Give the kinsman, the poor, and the wayfarer their due, but do not spend wastefully. Verily, the spendthrifts are the brethren of the devils and Satan is ever ungrateful to his Lord.”
(17: 26-27)

“Eat and drink, but do not be extravagant. Verily, Allah does not love extravagant people.”
(7: 31)

“Do not make your hand as if it is tied to your neck nor extend it to its utmost reach so that you become blameworthy and in severe poverty.”
(17: 29)

Please leave comments about what you did to become more aware and/or lessen your consumption today, all week, and implemented into your daily practice.

No Impact Week

noreply@blogger.com (sarsoorti) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:50:00 +0000

Salaams,

Hope you are all well!

DC Green Muslims is participating in No Impact Week, starting tomorrow October 19th. For those of you who participate and write reflections on the blog, you will be entered into a drawing to receive homemade organic soaps to support family-owned businesses! (More Info below)

Each day we are paying special attention to a given topic in hopes of reducing our carbon footprint. The night before Ryan Strom will send out a reminder for the topic we are focusing on for the following day. With each coming day, our goal is to be mindful of and build upon the topics from the previous days so by the seventh day, we will be paying attention to all of the topics. We have linked the No Impact Project's guide here. Daily, we will be posting a page of our addendum with an Islamic perspective as a guide to help you through your eco-conscious journey this week which hopefully will be a stepping stone to a life long journey incorporating the eco-spiritual ethics of the Qur'an and Sunnah.

In addition to helping this week, the attached guides can be used at any time. Participating in the entirety of No Impact Week can be daunting so please do not feel as though you have to do everything. Do what you can and insha'Allah, reflect on the changes you make. Share your experience with your communities and anyone else you think would benefit from the No Impact experience. Be sure to comment on the blog with your thoughts. (More info below)

October 19th---Day 1: Consumption
October 20th---Day 2: Food
October 21st---Day 3: Transportation
October 22nd---Day 4: Waste
October 23rd---Day 5: Utilities (water/electricity)
October 24th---Day 6: Community Gathering

Event Planned= In collaboration with Greater Washington Power and Light, DC Green Muslims will participate w/ International Day of Climate Action. Please stay tuned for an email from Sarrah AbuLughod.

October 25th---Day 7: Community Sharing

Event Planned= In celebrating the conclusion of No Impact Week, a potluck dinner will be planned. Please stay tuned for an email from Sarrah AbuLughod.

Reflection:
DC Green Muslims' Blog

Each day, the blog will be updated with a given topic. Please comment with what you did during the day and your reflections under each blog post. These reflections can be as simple as a few words on your experience. When you respond to the blog, please be sure to put your name in the comment because you will be entered into a drawing to win the gift!!!

THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE A BATCH OF ALL NATURAL SOAPS WITH NO SYNTHETIC INGREDIENTS FROM Mosaic Soaps.

So let's be conscious stewards of this Earth!!

The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him and there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise. But you understand not their glorification. Truly, He is Ever Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving. (17:44)

Apple Picking Time

noreply@blogger.com (sarsoorti) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:31:00 +0000

This past Sunday a group of the Green Muslims had the opportunity to get out of the city and participate in the traditional autumn activity of apple picking. Having grown up in the Midwest, I (Alhumdulilah) had the opportunity of going on family trips to the orchard and nearby farms to celebrate the season of harvest. One of my fond memories as a child is of spending an entire weekend in the process of apples. There was an orchard behind my grandfather’s farm in Wisconsin and I remember picking the apples in the morning with all my aunts, uncles and cousins and then spending the rest of the day peeling, and cutting and juicing and canning apples into many different delicious appley-end products.

As I watched the trees slowly turn color and the air slowly grow more crisp and cool as I walked to work each day in the city, I felt the urge to escape the busy day-to -day schedule that I’ve created for myself here in DC, and head out to the country to revisit those childhood experiences.

With help from friends and gracious hosting by Kevin and Munjed, the day was soon planned.

I woke with little effort the morning of, even though it was an hour or so before I normally would have. I was motivated by the promise of Belgian waffles and a breakfast gathering of new and old friends alike. Earlier in the week I had sent out an email asking if anyone wanted to come along with me to an orchard in Virginia. After receiving an overwhelming response of over 22 people, the event basically planned itself. As we all crammed into Kevin and Munjed’s apartment and feasted on the potluck breakfast, we started off with introductions and I learned that over half the people there had never been apple picking before (I also learned what kind of animal they would want to be as that was the other icebreaker question).

The orchard was only an hour drive away through the hills of Virginia. Though the leaves had not reached their peak colors, the drive was amazingly beautiful and a perfect prelude to a day in the country. The farther we got from the city, the clearer the sky seemed to get. The closer we got to the orchard, the slower time seemed to move. Perhaps it is the schedule I’ve created for myself, or perhaps it’s just the culture of DC, but one of the things I’ve noticed is that people have stopped noticing things around them. People don’t comment on the weather unless it is to complain about the heat or remind a coworker to take an umbrella in case of the notorious DC showers. People literally do not stop to smell the roses, or the other hundreds other flowering plants that grace DC’s streets. Even though our surroundings are so abundant with gifts, it takes a day’s sabbatical to allow us to count the blessings we do have.

The orchard helped remind me of those blessings. It reminded me of all the friends I have who jumped at the opportunity to share the day together. It reminded me of the blessings of being able to exit the city and experience a new environment, a blessing that perhaps not all of my neighbors can enjoy. It reminded me of the miraculous Earth that God created with nutrients and ingredients to sustain mankind. It reminded me of the blessings of my childhood and the blessings of my family.

Together with the other DC Green Muslims I enjoyed learning about the different apples and terrains on which they grow. We picked bushels and bushels to bring back to the city. We purchased cider and apple butter and learned of the different flavors of honey that come frome the orchard depending on which field the bees visit. We learned what poison ivy looked like, but (Inshallah) avoided learning what it feels like.

Soon our time there came to an end, and a group gathered together to pray noon prayers on top of a hill that overlooked much of the farm. As we gave our supplications to our Creator, we were reminded of how close we are to the rest of His creation. As we whispered the chapters of the Quran, the trees whispered along with us. As we bowed our heads in the grass, it bowed along with us as it tickled our faces. As we thanked our Creator for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us, it felt as if the entire Earth was in sync.

Below I’ve shared a number of Apple recipes that my mom gave me for all those who, like me, still have an enormous amount of apples at home.

APPLESAUCE For 1 Quart (approximately)
Wash and quarter 8-10 large apples, take out the seedy core- and peel the apples if you want it smooth (leave peel if you want the best nutrition and don’t mind chewing or if you have access to a blender to puree it after cooking).
Place in sauce pan, cover partially with water (about 3/4 cup).
Add a pinch of salt and a slice of lemon (opt.)
Cook until tender by stirring every few minutes. Puree, or leave chunky
Return to heat and add cinnamon to taste. Cook until thickened.

APPLE PIE SHAKE

From an Appleland Orchard, Belgium, WI
For a single serving, in a blender combine:
1cup of vanilla ice cream

1/2 cup apple cider

1/2 apple

a shake of cinnamon and/or nutmeg and/or cloves and/or ginger

Pour into a glass and enjoy.

APPLE BUTTER-
Place 1 quart of applesauce in a heavy bottomed (cast iron) pot and continue cooking over low heat for several hours until the sauce turns brown. Stir often so that it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
Variation:
Cook with the apples-
2 cups of apple juice/cider (instead of the water when making the applesauce)

1/2 cup of honey

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon cloves

1/2 teaspoon of all spice

dash of salt

juice & grated rind of a lemon
Apple Butter will be fine refrigerated for up to 2 months or you can freeze or can it.
A no-fuss, no-stir way to cook the apple butter down would be to use a slow cooker, on a slow boil, with the lid ajar, overnight. (protect the surrounding counter top from sticky splashes with towels)

NO COOK APPLESAUCE
2 tablespoons fruit juice (lemon, orange, lime, apple)
3 apples, washed, cored, unpeeled
2 tablespoons of honey
Sprinkle of cinnamon, (optional)
Wash, peel and cut apples into chunks. Blend juice and one apple in blender, add remaining apples, seasonings and blend again. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Remember to say “Bismillah!”

Original Post from: http://abulublog.wordpress.com/

Farm of Peace

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Sitte) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:12:00 +0000

Over Labor Day weekend, a group of Green Muslims drove up to south-central Pennsylvania to the Farm of Peace. The Farm of Peace is a Sufi-run free range farm that raises chickens, donkeys, and sheep, and keeps a small orchard. Its rolling pastures, tucked between cerulean tree covered hills, are a bucolic treasure. The visual gem of the farm reflects the ideology that drives it - all animals are raised halal. Nowhere is this more evident than with the chickens, who make up the part of the farm called Sumayah's Peaceful Poultry. It is second

nature for us to block out where the drumstick at dinner or breakfast eggs come from, but most of the chicken we ingest, including chicken slaughtered according to Zabiha standards, comes from hormone-injected birds who often have their beaks removed and are kept in cages too cramped to move around or flap their wings. On the other end of the spectrum is Peaceful Poultry, where the chickens are true free range and given the opportunity to live and grow naturally. You can learn more about Peaceful Poultry and its philosophy at their website.

Sumayah herself is an inspirational character

who kept us captivated as she spoke about her efforts. She helped us look deeper into the ethics of where our food comes from, reminding us of the great privilege mankind is given to take another creature's life, and the responsibility that comes with that. We rarely think of the dignity and God-given purpose that is so often robbed from creation to supply our own sustenance. Sumayah helped bring our place in nature's order to focus.

She made sure we gave back to the land as well, and had us clean the manure from the donkey stalls and lay it on one of their pastures. Though a small effort, it felt good to reconnect with the land and take part in its natural renewal. DC can leave one wanting for a stronger connection to nature, and the work was therapeutic. It also made the potluck iftar with some members of the local Sufi community that much more satisfying.

At some point, it would be great to bring more members of Green Muslims to the Farm of Peace. They would greatly appreciate the help, and there is reward to be found in it by anyone. Sumayah would certainly be thrilled to meet more members of our group as well, and we all have much to learn from her insight and experiences.

Ramadan Marks New Beginnings for Green Muslims

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Sitte) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:42:00 +0000

Ramadan is an intensely introspective experience for Muslims. It allows the faster to focus their attention on ways to improve and purify their own thoughts and actions. However, the month also offers a unique chance to deeply examine one's individual role in the society and world around them. Thus, there is no better time to commit to being green conscious.

Gathering at the Muslim Public Service Network house on Capitol Hill, more than twenty area Muslims came together to break their fast and kick Green Muslims off to a renewed start on Thursday, August 27th. Green Muslims is an environmental group concerned with two core questions - how does one be Muslim in the green community, and how does one be green in the Muslim community? After an ice breaker that demonstrated how we all came to this group from different professional and personal backgrounds with diverse motivations, we tackled these two questions.

Being Muslim in the green community requires more than simply doing good in a green manner, but shedding a different light on those acts and offering others a positive example of Muslims fulfilling the duties of their religion. By maintaining our Muslim identity in the green community, we are able to show Muslims a broader side of their religion, and demonstrate that being green isn’t exclusive to singular ethnic, religious, or socioeconomic groups.

Being green in the Muslim community means focussing on our own community and ways in which we can inspire it to be aware of this important Islamic duty. Belief in our role as a caretaker of the world is an essential part of our religion, and we should aim to help other Muslims to embrace this responsibility with an enthusiastic spirit, whether that means instituting energy efficient measures at local mosques or educating Muslim youth about environmentalism.

We continued this discussion by making a list of twenty-one ideas for activities the group can do, from outreach, to projects, to volunteering, to environmental appreciation. The list included sponsoring getting recycling bins at Howard University, interfaith tree planting, apple and pumpkin picking, and having a 'green fast' where we only eat local foods. Each activity was unique and a valuable example of the variety of means through which Green Muslims can fulfill its mission.

After producing our list, we talked about accountability within the group and how we can implement our goals. We decided to keep it a grass-roots effort, with no hierarchy. We will allow individuals to assess the types of activities they want to be involved in and figure out what special skills they have within the group, and from there create smaller circles that are in charge of sub-sets of activities. To stay connected, we will refine the group site and get connected through our online database.

It was a productive, and inspirational first meeting that provided a great launching point for our future activity. God willing, we can use this month to establish a precedent of action that helps both ourselves and those around us well into the future.

speaking of beginnings and spring...

noreply@blogger.com (hijabihoodlum) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:29:00 +0000

there's this nifty event going on this sunday. it's interfaith. it's environment. that makes it pretty awesome, right? and you the reader must know by now that just about anything awesome in the district has 'dc green muslims' written allll over it- or at least, in this case, written in the list of co-sponsors :) we certainly cannot take credit for this event but we *love* it and wish to be a part of it.

if i might say so, i think they've picked a great time for the event- a sunday evening! so go ahead- you know you want to. i'll be there. info is below, find the link, register, and we'll see you there :-)

Oh and YES, there's more info at the link. Spread the word, bring a friend.

The Link (for those wary of embeds):
https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/602/event/checkOut.jsp?event_KEY=47013

New Beginings~

noreply@blogger.com (Sabira) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:56:00 +0000

Happy first day of Spring everyone!!
This also happens to be the Persian New Year, as Mr. Obama acknowledged...It was definitely a new experience to hear "Eideh shoma mobarak" from the president.

Traditionally, Iranians have a special table spread to mark this occasion. Besides the Qur'an, mirror, and candles, that represent light and the remembrance of God, they have at least seven symbolic items that all begin with the letter seen:

sabzi: grass that they have been growing for the last 3 weeks from lentil or barley seeds
seer: garlic
sekkeh: gold coins
serkeh: vinegar
sib: apples
senjed: dried fruit of a lotus tree
sonbol: hyacinth flowers--the smell is instant spring!

There's a whole bunch of other items to include as well, and a traditional dish of smoked fish and sabzi polo (rice cooked with fresh green herbs) to eat with the family. To me, this is a nice tradition but all of these things are secondary compared to the sheer joy of walking outside and seeing GREEN instead of GREY, of being reminded of the miracle of rebith and growth within ourselves and around us.

red, black, blue....and green!

noreply@blogger.com (hijabihoodlum) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:00:00 +0000

sooo, how about that new president, eh? dc was abuzz with swarms of people on january 20th, and lucky me i got to experience it from the warmth of my office, just on the other side of that there capitol. i want to give a shout out to the good Lord for live streaming.

my being at work on the 20th came at a price though. it meant i was in dc all day the 19th, that night at a friend's on the hill, and all day the 20th- right smack in the middle of inaugural happenings (ie, waaayy too many people). those who know me know i am not city. translation: too much pavement too often makes me a grouch. and my theory has always been that it's true, to varying degrees, for everyone. you might *claim* you're not a nature-y type, but spend a few days (longer if you're stubborn) without traffic, bricks walls, street lights, and sewers, and tell me that again. i'm not trying to open the technology can of worms here; i'm just saying that it is human nature to enjoy things green, alive, and, well, natural. so when sarah i. sent this article out, i felt nicely justified in my beliefs. challenge away though, if you wish - there's a comment box for a reason!

and you mighta thought obama was black, but actually, the man is green. take from that what you will, but he's on a mission. impossible? maybe. though after 8 years of the equivalent of an "i can't heaarr youuu" coming out of the west wing, this is pretty cool. personally, obama's brand of environmentalism worries me because i think the american people need to understand its ramifications- i won't be a dissenting voice, at all, but much needs to be said and done in the way of kind education for a people that are still reeling from being told that global warming (call or define it what and how you will) doesn't exist.

snowy day!

noreply@blogger.com (hijabihoodlum) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:37:00 +0000

there was a much more substantive post i had lined up to publish, but why would i bother with something so boring when compared to real, live snow (scroll down a little)?

our region has been snow-starved this season, so yes, this is a big deal. i don't even want to hear it from yall northerners about how insignificant this is. weather-ly speaking, we're in a transition zone, so snow that sticks is rare delicacy in my book.

you know how, normally, you have to unglue yourself from your bed in the mornings? not so for me today; it was easy. and i feel that it was partly that way because of the snow- not that i could see it, but the quieting blanket effect it has on white noise. know what i mean? all those flakes have a wonderful way of absorbing noise that no other precipitation can quite match. so getting out of bed was music to my ears.

also to note- snow's ability to keep things warm. ask a farmer if you don't know- a good layer of snow is her best friend when it comes to winter crops. and igloos ring a bell?

enjoy it while it lasts, everyone. and stay warm/safe/happy.

(I'm adding my snowy day to Yasmin's post...here's a view out of my office window. SubhanAllah so peaceful -- Sanjana)

DCGM----Center for American Progress!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:37:00 +0000

Article about the origins of DC Green Muslims in the context of the larger DC Muslim community embracing eco-consciousness!

"green muslim"

noreply@blogger.com (Mohamad A. Chakaki) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:31:00 +0000

how's this for a working definition?

"being green in the muslim community,
and muslim in the green community."

-bilal, 12/20/2008

less money less problems?

noreply@blogger.com (hijabihoodlum) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:02:00 +0000

if notorious was right, then we're in for a ride, but the good kind. a national sobering up of sorts. don't get me wrong- layoffs and second jobs are no joke. but maybe the silver lining of this economic (social?) shift is a re-discovered sense of priority, thrift, and values. and not just with money, either.

i find it frustrating that whenever people want to "hang out" it ends up with a movie ($) or eating out ($$). it's not bothersome because it costs money so much as we tend to equate spending quality time with spending money- we give but we don't get. no trickle down economics there, buddy. just a slow accumulation of emotional debt.

we've built our culture in such a way where we start to take as reality the ridiculous notions of commercials where clothes, credit cards, or cars equal happiness. mastercard uses reverse psychology to make itself out *not* to be a shark (priceless my foot), but it's time to take a step back. it's the jump scene in a horror movie- time to register the shock, delayed though the reaction may be.

happily, being "green" can help. i will share just one thing, one that i've enjoyed quizzing my saturday school students on until they know the exact number. did you know it's sunnah to use approximately 24 ounces (that's like, one really big glass) of water to make wudu? if anyone remembers that sesame street sketch where the fish's pond starts losing water because of the child running the tap while brushing his teeth- that always resonated with me. it's adab (manners, way of conducting yourself), it's common sense, it's closer to our fitra (natural disposition), and it might take practice but if we manage to make it into habit, we can lead simpler and more fulfilling lives.

lives, perhaps, where we can focus on our personal relationships and our closeness to God rather than our bank accounts.

Never Homeless

noreply@blogger.com (Mohamad A. Chakaki) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:55:00 +0000

He is never homeless.
For the earth is his dwelling.

The sky is his ceiling.
The earth his floor.
Tired eyes are his windows.
Day and night his doors.

He is never homeless-
As long as the trees have the earth
And the birds have the sky.
This is where he lives; this is where we live.
Still we call him homeless.
Why?

-Starlette McNeill

In Washington DC's Street Sense Newspaper
"Where the poor and homeless earn and give their two cents"
Dec. 10-23 2008 V.6, issue 3

what do chocolate and a synagogue have in common?

noreply@blogger.com (hijabihoodlum) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:14:00 +0000

nothing really, but greater washington interfaith power and light ("gwipl" - i think part of dc culture is definitely its acronyms) had its 2008 awards ceremony on monday night in the form of a chocolate reception. awesome. i didn't really have to read the subject line twice to know i was already there. anyway, rabbi fred and mike tidwell gave us a tour of adat shalom, which i believe was built in 2000 with a lot of "green" practices. if any DCGMs have pictures from the event, please comment so i can post them.

the event was also a fundraiser, and it seems the interfaith community has caught wind of imam johari's (an area imam) fundraising skills, and as imam johari has tendency to do, he assigned everyone homework. each of us was asked to tell 5 people to donate to GWIPL. here's my proposition for you the reader: you should, if you're able, donate to gwipl because it's a local, effective, truly sincere organization. it's not some big organization where your money might go to red tape. i realize a blog isn't the most personal way to fundraise, but think of it like this- if you've got 10, 20, whatever bucks to spare (bring a lunch to work for a couple days instead of eating out), and you like this blog and the things dc green muslims supports, why not? no big deal.

part two

part of the reason people appreciate DCGM events/activities so much is because it's such an open, non-judgemental atmosphere. young muslims seem to especially appreciate this because perhaps their masjid isn't the friendliest place, or they had a bad experience with muslim clubs on college campuses. so even if they come more for the socialization and less for directly "green" things, it makes DCGM a good thing to be a part of. i do have some (hopefully constructive) criticism, though, and it applies to the greater "green" movement as well as to us. let's call it greenvangelism (yes i googled it out of curiosity and yes i could probably link to something interesting, but you have fingers too!). greenvangelism is sneaky because it appeals to our moral sensibility - "you don't recycle?! what's wrong with you??" and while it certainly comes from good intentions it can definitely turn people off. see, it's kind of like religious proselytizing - no one really likes being talked down to. it can be a little more insidious when the atmosphere is ripe with it to the point where differing views/practices aren't even on the table for discussion. people start experiencing mild anxiety over what kind of food to bring to an event, whether they're "allowed" to drive to something, etc. - suddenly it's not a love for environmentalism that drives their actions but a fear of social castigation.

i don't think DCGM has gone down that road, and for that i'm thankful. but i personally would like to avoid it, and i hope this blog is one place to start that discussion in the hopes of maintaining that wonderful atmosphere that we are so known for.

happy Friday!

Greentrification

WeeZieinc@gmail.com (Subalternate) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:33:00 +0000

This is an extended and edited version of my presentation

At the most basic level, a community space is somewhere that people live and work together. School, mosques, grocery stores and neighborhood are all community spaces in that people come together to create a place, and that space is defined by its individual component parts. For example, one can say that a neighborhood is defined by the sum of all the buildings, roads, parks and trees which it contains.

Remove any part of the equation and you have altered that community space to some degree. Altering is not always a negative thing and many communities need to be developed and changed in order to become more sustainable and livable. In the era of environmental degradation, 'green' discourse seems almost unchallengeable precisely because an alternative model is so badly needed.

Certainly, those who are not too fond of the environmental movement come up with their usual complaints, but internal criticism if rare, and where it is found, it has yet to pick up any steam. This is because planting trees, opening cafes, building walkways, using recycled bags to do our shopping, planting community gardens, installing solar panels on traffic lights, all these things are needed in order to develop a community space and make it sustainable.

But what often goes unnoticed and sometimes even ignored is the idea that no matter our intentions, the present green development paradigm has dramatic consequences on the urban poor. In order for the green movement to be successful in developing sustainable community spaces, the community which is most impacted and which defines the space MUST be at the forefront of all projects.

In Islam, our deeds are judged by our intentions. Good rarely comes from a bad intention.

The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:

“Surely actions are by intentions and each will get that for which they intend”

But what if a good intention actually produces a negative consequence for some? Examples of this abound here in DC and in urban centers around the country where the dominant green discourse is said to clean up areas and promote sustainability while actually accelerating the process of gentrification. Communities may be developed but seldom do the current residents of these spaces benefit from such development.

The reason that the urban poor are often left out of the equation is because the development paradigm began not as a movement to make cities more sustainable, but rather, to stop the spread of and reverse the process of urban sprawl. This movement, almost from inception was led by the middle and upper class. Susana Almanza, in her article, Removing the Poor through Land Use and Planning published in Race, Poverty and the Environment, asserts:

People of color, the poor, and the working poor were not at the table and thus, the impacts on these communities did not receive meaningful consideration. Urban planners and developers began developing the urban core as if people of color were not living in them. New zoning codes and policies were adopted to make room for the new urbanisism. Communities of color throughout the United States began to see condos, lofts, McMansions, and live/work buildings pop up in low-income and people of color neighborhoods. A tidal wave of gentrification began to engulf people of color communities.

Columbia Heights is but one example.

B. Jesse Clarke, editor of Race, Poverty and the Environment admits to me that the current system is doing nothing more then "greenwashing and smart development at the expense of established poor communities." The solution, according to Clarke, is to put political power in the hands of the poor and communities of color who have historically been disenfranchised. In short, "it takes political power to win social and economic rights for communities of color and low income people", a power which often takes a backseat while we figure out the next project that will make us feel good about ourselves.

The fundamental issue is that the green movement is perceived as, and in many ways actually is, a movement of the elite, or rather, to be less critical, a movement that is, more often then not, led by those who have the ability and the time to care. If we are to move beyond just feeling good about ourselves because we recycle, reuse and reduce and towards developing communities, the urban poor, the residents of these neighborhoods MUST be at the forefront and we MUST work towards their political rights and their power. Unfortunately, the poor often don't have the means or ends to participate, just as they do not have the means to shop at Trader Joe's or buy organic products.

If the people most impacted by environmental degradation are not considered, then green projects ultimately fail in their goal of sustainability. We must make sure that our good intentions result in good deeds which benefit the poor rather then making their communities unlivable.

Reflecting On Our Personal Spaces

noreply@blogger.com (Bilal) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:58:00 +0000

A survey was sent out before the Green Dinner #6 to gather an idea of how people perceive their space. During the dinner, we shared some of the responses with everyone for some of the questions. I think the most telling responses from this survey came from the question that asked to describe your favorite space using 3 adjectives. We compiled these words into a Wordle:

The more frequently a word was used, the larger it appears in the Wordle. We can see that the largest words are "reflective", "comfortable", "peaceful", "happy", and "safe". When I saw this, I thought it was interesting that individuals in this group found the places most dear to them to be places where they could be reflective, comfortable, peaceful, etc. The question then arose, what does this say about us?

If we are a people of reflection, comfort, and inner peace, than our environment must simply be reflecting its inhabitants. In this way, our environment is directly affected by us. Our own behavior and character directly shapes the spaces we occupy. Similarly, it must be true that an environment can also affect the character and behavior of the individual. If you spend enough time in a certain place, it becomes a part of you.

I'd like to put forth an aphorism for all to reflect on, "Where you are, is who you are." Our connection with the environment is stronger and more serious than most would like to believe. If we find that we need to make improvements in our lives, changing our environment should be one of the things we concern ourselves with. The reverse should also serve true. If we wish to make changes in our environment, we should start with changing ourselves, and this will resonate in the places around us.

Community spaces

sanjana.ahmad+blog@gmail.com (Sanjana) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:36:00 +0000

A slightly edited version of my presentation from Saturday's green dinner...

As we were going through the process of organizing this dinner, one of the most challenging things was: how do you define space? For the purposes of my discussion, I’m going to build on the idea that spaces and public places define communities; communities can either be limited by them or empowered by them.

So say you lived in a neighborhood where every other building had burned down? Because of a policy of divestment by banks and local developers, landlords in your neighbor found it more profitable to torch their buildings and collect insurance on it, rather than selling them.

In addition to these creepy, burned shells of buildings, what if you also had a sewage treatment plants that processed more than 40 percent of the entire city's waste, four electric power plants, and thousands of diesel trucks coming through every day to service these facilities?

What sort of community spaces would this neighborhood have? Probably not many, with poor air quality caused by the power plants and toxic waste facilities, limited green space, and few economic opportunities.

The picture I just described is the Bronx in New York City but might be true of many inner-city urban areas. One of the recurring themes in our understanding of community space is the impact of environmental injustices. Some communities bear a disproportionate burden of environmental problems and receive little environmental benefit. The South Bronx neighborhood that I described has suffered from many years of economic and environmental degradation, which has recently been brought to the attention of the environmental community by Majora Carter and the Sustainable South Bronx.

Through their work, which you can find out more about in detail at www.ssbx.org, the plan is to revitalize the neighborhood through a project to provide safe, walkable streets; green spaces – a park and access to the waterfront; better traffic management to redirect trucks away from the neighborhoods; small businesses opportunities; job training; and ecological restoration projects.

Before

After

A little closer to home, many of us are familiar with the amazing work done by the folks at Washington Parks and People, our hosts for tonight. Washington Parks has worked to revitalize some of the most beautiful but long neglected areas of the city. Watts Branch or Marvin Gaye Park, which stretches through Ward 7 of the District, is located in one of the longest inhabited black communities in the country; some records indicate that there were black landowners as far back as the 1700s. In more recent history, Martin Luther King, Jr. led a rally in the park to get people to begin a sit-in at a downtown lunch counter. Local residents would gather for music, picnics, fishing, baptisms, and more in the park.

The park was originally established in the 1920s and 30s and managed through the Federal parks system up to the 1970s. Later when it was turned over to the District, the area fell into neglect because of internal squabbles within the government as to who was responsible for maintenance. The park became a haven for drug dealers and users; the stream, because of the trash, illegal dumping, and chemical run-off, was polluted and unsafe to drink from or swim in 100 percent of the time.

Despite the bad conditions, here was something about this place – this community space – that attracted people. What if that negative use could be transformed into something positive?

The folks at Washington Parks had the idea of taking the "marketplace" concept of the park and using it to start a small fruit and vegetable stand, supplied by a nearby community garden. This created a positive, safe place for people to come get fresh produce – which is normally several bus rides away.

As part of the park revitalization process, Washington Parks also brought in local school-aged children to discuss what they thought the park really needed. I’d like to highlight this as the second important theme in our discussion: you need participation to create the right kinds of public spaces for the community. Whether it's a mosque, a park, or another type of public place, the space won't serve the needs of the community unless it's designed with input from the community.

So what did the kids want? They said, "trash cans."

The coordinators thought, "What trash cans, that’s it??"

"Yes, because if you don’t have somewhere to throw your trash, you’ll just leave it on the ground and the park will end up dirty again."

So with trash cans and a produce stand – small changes to start with – and input from the community, WPP with hundreds of volunteers have begun a comprehensive plan to change the community using the park as an entry point. To learn more about the parks history and future development, I encourage you to come when we have our next service day...you’ll learn a lot and feel more connected to the community you live in and the public spaces around us.