Archive for the ‘Going Green’ Category
How Do I Find a Community Supported Agriculture Farm?
by Dena Smith Givens
Source: Planet Green
Isn’t awareness amazing? Suddenly, we discover a whole new world right under our own noses: we buy a Volvo and suddenly, it seems, our town is full of them or, for us mothers, when we are pregnant, we suddenly see pregnant women everywhere. When something is important and relevant to us, we take notice.
Chances are, there is a farm near you (even those of you in urban areas) that operates as a community supported agriculture cooperative (known as a “CSA”). You can contact your local USDA Cooperative Extension office to inquire about CSA in your area or check out the interactive CSA search at LocalHarvest.org.
To find a CSA that suits you, it is important to first inventory your own needs and resources: time, money, level of involvement, family friendliness, etc. Some farms require members to pick up their harvest from the farm; others offer delivery to a common pick-up location or, in some cases, even directly to your door. You should also have in mind what kind of produce you are looking for (variety and growing method, such as organic vs. conventional). Are you looking for other products besides vegetables? Some farms offer fresh dairy, eggs, meat, honey, maple syrup, fruit, flowers, and baked goods, depending on location and season.
The best way to get your questions answered, and any concerns resolved, is to visit the prospective farm(s) in person. This way you can tour the land, interview the farmers, and possibly sample the harvest (in season). If this is not possible, then do your legwork by phone. Developing a relationship with the farm is important not only for customer service and communication purposes; it also offers you a potentially rewarding educational experience.
In fact, some farms even encourage their members to roll up their sleeves and occasionally get their hands dirty by lending a hand with the harvest. Not at all a requirement, in most cases (although some farms offer a work-share program), but rather an opportunity to get connected (literally!) with your food chain. This is a valuable lesson for adults and children alike. In fact, even schools, churches, businesses, and food banks are benefiting from shares in CSA. Many farms also host regular member gatherings and potlucks to further encourage a sense of community.
Early spring is the perfect time to be thinking about CSA as most farm subscriptions run from late spring to late fall. Now that you have raised your awareness of CSA, it is possible that you may find one right around the corner.
Why Try Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?
by Dena Smith Givens
Source: Planet Green
Organic. Local. Seasonal. Sustainable.
These are all popular keywords used prolifically by the media today. We know these methods are important, if not the ideal, but how realistic is it that the average American can support them? Well, there is a growing trend (pun intended) in food production and distribution that encompasses and embraces these, and many other, eco-conscious practices.
Imagine getting a large box every week filled with familiar farm favorites such as potatoes, carrots, peppers, onions, and garlic, as well as other less commonly known vegetables such as arugula, mizuna, bok choy, daikon, and kale. No grocery store lines, no weighing and inspecting at the produce stand, and no haggling at the farmer’s market. Instead, you can take the guesswork out of produce shopping by joining a CSA.
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. According to LocalHarves—a website that maintains a nationwide directory of local food sources such as farmers markets and small family farms, CSA “reflects an innovative and resourceful strategy to connect local farmers with local consumers; develop a regional food supply and strong local economy; maintain a sense of community; encourage land stewardship; and honor the knowledge and experience of growers and producers working with small to medium farms.”
Depending on the farm that you choose to support, your level of involvement and commitment will vary. In many cases, you will have the option of visiting the farm and seeing firsthand where and how your food is grown. For those of you with children, this experience is invaluable. What better lessons to teach our children than living and eating simply, locally, and cooperatively? CSA is good for you, your family, your health, and your pocketbook.
This is the first in a series of posts on CSA in which I will explore the various aspects of CSA such as finding and choosing a farm in your area, what to expect as a CSA member, and ideas on how to maximize your experience and your harvest.
Do the New Organic Wine Labeling Laws Mean You Can Sip With Ease?
by Sara Novak
Source: Planet Green
Organic wine labeling laws have been a source of contention for years. In fact winemakers like Robert Sinskey have been producing organic wines since the 90′s but still refuse to certify them by the USDA because they disagree with the current labeling laws.
New Wine Labeling Guidelines
Prior to the new wine labeling laws a wine maker didn’t need to include if a wine was made with non-organic ingredients as well. That means a wine made with 1 percent organic ingredients could state that they were made with organic ingredients. Now wines that are labeled Made with Organic Ingredients will have to indicate if there are non-organic ingredients in the wine, too. The statement must appear on the information panel in proximity to the organic ingredients statement. According to Wine Industry Insight found via Mother Nature Network, the USDA implemented the new laws starting June 1 of this year.
The wording on the new wine labels must read one of four ways:
1. Made with Organic and Non-Organic Grapes
Wine makers choose just to inform customers that the wine is made with non-organic ingredients without including the percentage.
2. Made with Organic [variety] Grapes and Non-Organic [variety]
Wine makers can include which grapes are organic and which grapes are not organic.
3. Grapes, Made with _% Organic Grapes and _% Grapes
Wine makers can include what percentage of the wine is organic and what percentage of the wine is not organic.
4. Made with _% Organic [variety] Grapes and _% Non-Organic [variety] Grapes
Wine makers can include both what percentage of the wine is organic and non-organic and what variety of grape is organic and non-organic.
Wine Labels Still Fall Short
This still does not take into account the additive issue. Kelly pointed out that the U.S. government allows more than 200 additives in wine without adding them to the label. For example, some additives like egg whites, casein, gelatin, and isinglass (a fish product) can be added to wine for coloring. Just like I can read the ingredients in the foods I eat, I would like that ability in the wines I drink. How can we the consumer make choices when we don’t know the whole truth?
Green Sweeteners Compared: Honey, Palm Sugar, Raw Sugar
by Sara Novak
Source: Planet Green
It has been an ongoing debate amongst green foodies for a while now and still the debate over the tastiest, greeniest, and healthiest sweeteners rages on. I’m not talking the artificial junk here, I can think of no greater travesty than dumping carcinogenic pretend food like Splenda, Sweet and Low, or NutraSweet onto anything that I would actually eat or drink for that matter. Amongst the real sweeteners, however, we’ll be highlighting honey, palm sugar, and raw sugar.
Honey
Honey is truly nature’s sweetener. And if you purchase it in the raw variety you can enjoy some truly significant health benefits. It depends on the floral variety of honey that you eat but it may include niacin, riboflavin, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and it’s known for its antioxidant value. A University of California-Davis study detected higher levels of polyphenolic antioxidants in participants after just one month of honey supplementation. Other studies confirm that honey contains numerous antioxidants, including chrysin, pinobanksin, vitamin C, catalase, and pinocembrin. Each of these help to prevent and repair cellular damage.
Buy it from a local, raw, organic honey source and it is in my humble opinion the most eco-friendly sweetener of all. It doesn’t waste fossil fuels to get to you, it isn’t processed in some massive facility, and depending on where you purchase it (at the farmers’ market), it’s minimally packaged. Honey is great in teas, smoothies, atop oatmeal (right before it’s served), and with fresh yogurt. Once heated, however, it doesn’t retain its antioxidant value.
Palm Sugar
Palm sugar reminds me of a less processed version of brown sugar. It’s a little lighter in color and the granules are much larger in size. It’s about as sweet as brown sugar. Manufacturers like Navitas Naturals claim that it has high amounts of potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron, as well as vitamin C and many of the B vitamins. Harvesting palm sugar is traditionally done by small, local sugar tappers that climb to the top of the palms (often palmyra palms) to collect the sap from the palm flowers. The sap is collected in bamboo containers and then cooked for several days and the residual molasses is filled into coconut shells and allowed to harden into a cake.
Palm sugar is a pure cane sugar alternative. According to the Inner Press Service (IPS), “a major advantage with palm sugar is that palm trees can be tapped all year round, ensuring continuous production and incomes, compared to the seasonal harvesting of cane sugar.” The trees are maintained for their sap instead of being cut down. This could potentially bring another economic industry to areas dealing with the environmental destruction that goes along with the massive oil palm plantations that according to the UN, are clearing trees so rapidly that up to 98 percent of Malaysian and Indonesian rainforests may be destroyed by 2022. Palm sugar is great in homemade granola and cookies as a less processed alternative.
8 Ways to Eat Green by Slashing Your Grocery Bill
by Blythe Copeland
Source: Planet Green
If you’ve been hesitant to start buying organic food because it just plain costs more than regular, we understand—but we also think it’s worth spending a little bit more to keep your body and the environment healthy and strong. So with that in mind, we found eight places you can save on eating—from cutting your food budget by 40% to banking an extra $1,200 a year by using your leftovers—giving you enough extra to buy organic without thinking twice.
1. Cut Back on Take Out
When you start cooking at home more, your first few grocery trips might be more expensive than you’re expecting—after all, stocking up on spices and ingredients can add up. But once you have a pantry stocked with supplies, you’ll be surprised at how easy and cheap it is to whip up meals for just a few dollars—and once you try making your fast-food favorites on your own, you’ll get hooked on the health benefits and savings. Then you can put most of your takeout budget back into your grocery shopping budget.
Potential savings: Around 40%, based on an AARP report that the average family spends 42% of its food budget on meals prepared outside the home.
2. Become a DIY Cook
Putting in a little extra preparation effort in the kitchen can help you save even more: try making your own spaghetti sauce for the cost of two cans of tomatoes (about $2) instead of buying a $4 jar. Get out your food processor to make your own hummus with canned garbanzo beans, spices, and lemon juice or olive oil. Buy your veggies whole and chop them at home; buy packets of yeast to mix with flour and water for pizza dough; mix olive oil and vinegars for quick and cheap salad dressings. For more ideas, check out Marye’s list of 45 foods you can DIY, from baking powder and vanilla extract to nutella and bacon—and then think about the processed food, preservatives, and other weird stuff you’re cutting out of your diet by knowing exactly what goes into each dish.
Potential savings: Endless. This is another place where you might have to spend more at first, but the overall price of your meals will go down (and the quality will go up).
3. Eat Less Meat
This might be kind of a no-brainer, but meat costs more than vegetables or beans—and has a higher environmental impact—so creating meatless meals during the week can help your bottom line and your carbon footprint. An added bonus: you won’t have to remember to take that chicken, beef, or pork out of the fridge before work, and then get stuck with take-out on the days you forget.
Potential savings: $2-$4 per pound for buying one pound of veggies vs. one pound of meat
4. Support Your Neighborhood
Choosing local, seasonal foods at your grocery store can help you save, since you aren’t paying the transportation costs to get those bananas to Michigan in January. But take it one step further in the summer and join a CSA: for a one-time cost, you’ll get fresh fruit and veggies from your local farmers in your kitchen every week. The quality will be better than what you’d get at the supermarket, the variety will inspire you to try new dishes—and the CSA products are already organic, so you’re really just spending the money you’ve already allocated.
Potential savings: One study showed that CSA members saved as much as $50 over the cost of similar items at the grocery store—and though it will vary based on how willing you are to try new veggies, the benefits of supporting your local economy can’t be beat.
5. Waste Less Food
A leftover serving of pasta, one small piece of chicken, a handful of salad, or the ends of the bread might not seem like enough to make a meal on their own—and they’re likely not—but saving your leftovers is one of the simplest kinds of reuse, and an easy way to save money. Combine the chicken and pasta with a fresh, chopped tomato and some spices for a five-minute meal; throw the handful of greens into soup; add extra anything to a frittata.. Start seeing your leftovers as lunches and ingredients in other meals, and use your freezer to keep fresh veggies and fruits from going rotten in the fridge if you can’t eat them fast enough.
Potential savings: Up to $1,200 each year
6. Plan Your Shopping Trip
If you find yourself running back to the grocery store several times between major shopping trips to pick up those few things you’ve forgotten, you could be also running up your grocery bill by as much as $120 each month. Try making a list of the foods you buy most often and keeping a copy on the refrigerator for easy access when something runs out—so that those Wednesday morning cries of, “There’s no milk for breakfast!” won’t send you scrambling. Bonus: plan your meals ahead, too, so you can choose dishes that use similar fresh ingredients and prevent half tub of sour cream or head of lettuce from spoiling.
Potential savings: Up to $120 each month
7. Cut Back Elsewhere
Cutting back on the rest of your weekly shopping—cleaning supplies, toiletries, paper products— is another way of cutting costs (and waste). Give up paper towels in favor of reusable towels, buy concentrated (non-toxic) cleaning products and dilute them, and hit the bulk bins for dry goods that you can keep in storage. You’ll trim your bill and cut back on unnecessary packaging.
Potential savings: Huge: It’s not unusual for a family to use more than one roll of paper towels every week; replace these and you could save more than $200 each year. Concentrated cleaners can help you spend as little as 50 cents on each scrub-down, and the list goes on.
8. Grow Your Own
From a backyard garden to windowsill containers—and everything in between—it’s easier than you think to find the space and time to grow your own vegetables. The best for beginners? Try garlic, basil, or zucchini. Best for small spaces? Tiny vegetables, like baby cauliflower or cherry tomatoes. If your plot gets extremely prolific, try your hand at canning and freezing to preserve the harvest for the winter and keep fresh, organic food at hand all year long.
Potential savings: Depending on where you live and what you grow, they’ll vary—but, for example, you can get a pack of organic Abraham Lincoln tomato seeds for $2.95; expect to grow 12-oz tomatoes for a fraction of the price per tomato you’d pay at the grocery store.
Recent Comments