Alas! So far, it has rained every time I've gone to the Farmer's Market. Of course, it has rained here almost every day for the last 4 weeks, so it's no surprise that it rained today. *sigh*
Anyway, Bloomington, like almost all other cities/towns in the US, has an awesome Farmer's Market during the summer months. (In LA, the farmer's markets are year-round. So, they might be year-round in other places, too.) Here, the market is open every saturday morning, and I love it! Even when it's raining...
Shopping at farmer's markets makes the world a better place in a lot of ways:
1) You buy directly from local growers, so the money stays in the local economy. As with local elections, your local economy actually has more direct impact on your life than state or national economies (I'll expand on this in another post, but, for now, I'll leave you with a cliff-hanger.). Plus, you can meet and talk with the growers themselves and, therefore, see who your money is supporting. At a grocery chain, your money is just a drop in a pot of corporate profits, but, to a family farmer, your money is their lifeline directly. Farmer's are struggling these days on account of corporate exploitation, so it makes a difference whether or not you buy from them. That's a well-spent $3 for a box of tomatoes!
2) By purchasing from Farmer's Markets, you can truly be aware of where your food is coming from and how it was produced. Local Growers are really interesting people to talk with, and they are usually happy to talk about their growing practices, chemicals used/not used, etc... Today, I met a man who was eager to tell me how to make sassafrass root tea!
3) Locally grown food does not have to travel as far as grocery chain food, and so, the environment is spared the fuel and other resources needed to transport food long distances.
4) The food at farmer's markets tastes better because it is fresher and can ripen "on the vine!"
5) Farmer's Markets are great centers of community! They are a vibrant place to meet new people and find out what your community has to offer. Often, markets are not just about food, local musicians play and other artists and organizations set up booths, as well. If nothing else, I like to go and just hang out.
I should also mention that shopping at farmer's markets is not noticeably more expensive than shopping at a grocery chain. In fact, the local growers are down-right reasonable.
Finally, I want to say that I tasted (and purchased) natural maple syrup today, and it was delicious! I thought it would be far too thick and unbearably sweet. However, it was not thicker than store-bought syrup, and it was slightly less sweet than its name-brand counter-parts. Somehow, it tasted fresh and even light, which I wouldn't have thought possible for syrup.
If you're interested, you can find a farmer's market here. Enjoy!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Day 7: Have a Beer with a Narwhal
Today, I got an oil change and a maintanance inspection. "Hold up!" you say. "Aren't cars and our dependence on oil bad for the world? Don't you remember BP and the Gulf of Mexico (BTW: another recent oil spoil)? Don't you know that they're expanding drilling to the arctic??? Aren't you concerned about the rich, arctic ecosystems? What about the polar bears? What about the narwhals!?!"
To you I say, "yes, I remember these things. And, yes, I'm absolutely concerned about polar bears and narwhals." HOWEVER, it's no big secret that our dependence on oil won't end overnight. It's also no big secret that many of us can't afford to run out and buy a new Nissan Leaf immediately. (Ideally, I would love to purchase a Nissan Leaf or a hybrid car.) In the meantime, I drive a '95 Honda Accord, and, as long as I drive a gas-powered vehicle, it's good for the world for me to take care of it for 2 reasons:
1) A well-maintained car is more fuel efficient, emits fewer air pollutants, and costs less money in repairs.
2) Regular maintenance extends the life of a car, which, in turn, reduces the number of unwanted cars that essentially become trash.
Still, in case you aren't satisfied with an oil change, here are some other 'G' thangs today:
Josh and I also purchased a 6-pack of New Belgium beer. New Belgium is known for being a model company with regards to social and environmental responsibility, so it's cool to support them. They make Fat Tire, but we're trying the Tripel tonight. I'll let you know how it is!
OH! I found out that Target carries a line of reusable gift bags for wrapping presents. They're only $1 more than paper gift bags, and they can be used as beach bags, lunch bags, purses, etc...after the present is opened rather than just being thrown away! Huzzah!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Desperately Seeking Dog
To begin, for anyone contemplating eating an entire apple (core and all!) but afraid to take the plunge, here's a tip: leave some of the meat (the sweet, white part) on the core, and eat the core starting at the bottom. :)
Today, I joined ASPCA! Am I planning to canvas neighborhoods or go door-to-door searching for abused/neglected animals? No, not at this point. I just don't have time. However, I do believe in the work that ASPCA does, so I think it's important to support them as I am able. Maybe someday I'll be able to give to them in more ways than a small monetary donation, but, for now, I hope that my gift encourages them to continue saving helpless animals.
Here's the thing: You don't have to have time for volunteering to be part of an organization. I feel that if you believe in the work an organization does, then the important thing is to let them know that you are in their corner. A donation not only gives them needed resources, it encourages them to continue doing good because it let's them know they are not alone in fighting for their cause. You are with them.
In a way, if I think of my hourly pay as my donation, then, it's like I worked 3 hours on behalf of aspca today! Personally, that makes my whole work day seem more meaningful.
Plus, I really want to adopt a dog. But, sadly, I'm not home enough to take care of one. So, giving to aspca is kind of the next best thing!
Other good organizations:
World Wildlife Fund
Kiva
CO-op America
Global Exchange
UNICEF
United for a Fair Economy
Human Rights Watch
20/20 Vision
Public Citizen
Center for a New American Dream
Today, I joined ASPCA! Am I planning to canvas neighborhoods or go door-to-door searching for abused/neglected animals? No, not at this point. I just don't have time. However, I do believe in the work that ASPCA does, so I think it's important to support them as I am able. Maybe someday I'll be able to give to them in more ways than a small monetary donation, but, for now, I hope that my gift encourages them to continue saving helpless animals.
Here's the thing: You don't have to have time for volunteering to be part of an organization. I feel that if you believe in the work an organization does, then the important thing is to let them know that you are in their corner. A donation not only gives them needed resources, it encourages them to continue doing good because it let's them know they are not alone in fighting for their cause. You are with them.
In a way, if I think of my hourly pay as my donation, then, it's like I worked 3 hours on behalf of aspca today! Personally, that makes my whole work day seem more meaningful.
Plus, I really want to adopt a dog. But, sadly, I'm not home enough to take care of one. So, giving to aspca is kind of the next best thing!
Other good organizations:
World Wildlife Fund
Kiva
CO-op America
Global Exchange
UNICEF
United for a Fair Economy
Human Rights Watch
20/20 Vision
Public Citizen
Center for a New American Dream
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Trash Free Lunch!
I have one of those jobs that requires me to bring my lunch every day, and, every day, I bring something ready-made and frozen. Easy? yes! Delicious? sometimes... good in a global sense? not really... :-/
The problem with food today is that most of it is cursed with excessive packaging. Is it necessary for my Enchilada Pie to be in a cardboard tray topped with plastic and in an additional cardboard box? uh...
Ok, most days I just eat a burrito, which is packaged in 1 simple layer of plastic. HOWEVER, a burrito every day would generate 365 plastic packages. If that number is altered to include the occasional package of cookies, yogurt, bottled water, or any other of the endless single serving options available in grocery stores today...I shudder to think of the trash produced. The average American creates 4.6 lbs of trash a day. That's a total of 230 million tons from the country in one year. Imagine if I just put all of it in a hole in my backyard. or in your backyard. After all, a landfill is, for all intents and purposes, just a hole in the ground with trash in it. Most people just aren't concerned because it's out-of-sight-out-of-mind. Unfortunately, landfills will eventually fill completely because holes by their very nature are finite. Where will we put our trash then?
Fortunately, 70% of our trash is reusabe or recyclable, and our trash production doesn't have to be as extreme as it is in the first place. The only cool extreme hobbies are extreme couponing or extreme angling (Actually, I love the show, RiverMonsters, truth be told.) Anyway, my point is that most food packaging is excess and, as such, is unnecessary trash. SO, today, I ate a trash free lunch: a chicken sandwich, which I carried in a reusable rubbermaid tub; an actual cup of water; and an apple whose core I ate. I didn't even use a napkin; I simply washed my hands and dried them with a towel. It was actually so easy to make my lunch trash free that I feel like I cheated on my good action today. But, then I remind myself how many plastic burrito wrappers and enchilada pie boxes will stay out of landfills if I keep this up, and suddenly trash-free lunch doesn't seem so insignificant. Maybe I'll get a snazzy lunchbox!
P.S. Click on the word recyclable. It's a quick read, and the statistics are a little mind-blowing.
The problem with food today is that most of it is cursed with excessive packaging. Is it necessary for my Enchilada Pie to be in a cardboard tray topped with plastic and in an additional cardboard box? uh...
Ok, most days I just eat a burrito, which is packaged in 1 simple layer of plastic. HOWEVER, a burrito every day would generate 365 plastic packages. If that number is altered to include the occasional package of cookies, yogurt, bottled water, or any other of the endless single serving options available in grocery stores today...I shudder to think of the trash produced. The average American creates 4.6 lbs of trash a day. That's a total of 230 million tons from the country in one year. Imagine if I just put all of it in a hole in my backyard. or in your backyard. After all, a landfill is, for all intents and purposes, just a hole in the ground with trash in it. Most people just aren't concerned because it's out-of-sight-out-of-mind. Unfortunately, landfills will eventually fill completely because holes by their very nature are finite. Where will we put our trash then?
Fortunately, 70% of our trash is reusabe or recyclable, and our trash production doesn't have to be as extreme as it is in the first place. The only cool extreme hobbies are extreme couponing or extreme angling (Actually, I love the show, RiverMonsters, truth be told.) Anyway, my point is that most food packaging is excess and, as such, is unnecessary trash. SO, today, I ate a trash free lunch: a chicken sandwich, which I carried in a reusable rubbermaid tub; an actual cup of water; and an apple whose core I ate. I didn't even use a napkin; I simply washed my hands and dried them with a towel. It was actually so easy to make my lunch trash free that I feel like I cheated on my good action today. But, then I remind myself how many plastic burrito wrappers and enchilada pie boxes will stay out of landfills if I keep this up, and suddenly trash-free lunch doesn't seem so insignificant. Maybe I'll get a snazzy lunchbox!
P.S. Click on the word recyclable. It's a quick read, and the statistics are a little mind-blowing.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
No Chad Left Hanging
My story today is tragic. I tried to vote in a local, primary, mayoral election and was turned away. Apparently, though my address says Bloomington, my voting district is is not actually in the city. Therefore, I'm not qualified to vote in city elections. *sigh*
My disappointment aside, it's important to take advantage of opportunities to vote in local elections. Most people skip local elections, and I think it's because they think local elections have little bearing on their lives and, therefore, don't matter. In actuality, the opposite is true. Local elections actually effect our lives more directly than state and national elections because they're local. If they don't effect you and the community you live in, then who do they effect? They have to effect someone... Moreover, local elections are often decided by a seeming handful of votes because the pool of voters is small compared to that of state and national elections. This means a person's vote holds more weight in local elections than in any other election. To recap: your vote has more power and more direct effect on your life in local elections than in other elections. So, why do most people skip them?
As for primary elections: people often complain that they don't vote in general elections because they don't like any of the candidates. Primary elections give voters the opportunity to choose their general election options. www.votesmart.org
Don't worry, readers, I didn't skip my world bettering action of the day. I wasn't thwarted just because I didn't get to vote! Josh and I get coffee and a snack almost every day. Today, we drove a little farther and went to a not-for-profit coffee shop. All funds taken in at this business go to helping others. For example, they are currently donating all profits to relief efforts in Japan. Our purchase totaled about $8, which isn't much. BUT, there were probably 30 other customers having coffee and a snack at the same time, and we were only there 20 minutes. Imagine if all of those people went all day every day. The good adds up fast. :)
My disappointment aside, it's important to take advantage of opportunities to vote in local elections. Most people skip local elections, and I think it's because they think local elections have little bearing on their lives and, therefore, don't matter. In actuality, the opposite is true. Local elections actually effect our lives more directly than state and national elections because they're local. If they don't effect you and the community you live in, then who do they effect? They have to effect someone... Moreover, local elections are often decided by a seeming handful of votes because the pool of voters is small compared to that of state and national elections. This means a person's vote holds more weight in local elections than in any other election. To recap: your vote has more power and more direct effect on your life in local elections than in other elections. So, why do most people skip them?
As for primary elections: people often complain that they don't vote in general elections because they don't like any of the candidates. Primary elections give voters the opportunity to choose their general election options. www.votesmart.org
Don't worry, readers, I didn't skip my world bettering action of the day. I wasn't thwarted just because I didn't get to vote! Josh and I get coffee and a snack almost every day. Today, we drove a little farther and went to a not-for-profit coffee shop. All funds taken in at this business go to helping others. For example, they are currently donating all profits to relief efforts in Japan. Our purchase totaled about $8, which isn't much. BUT, there were probably 30 other customers having coffee and a snack at the same time, and we were only there 20 minutes. Imagine if all of those people went all day every day. The good adds up fast. :)
Monday, May 2, 2011
Earthworm Jim vs. the Gasoline Industry
In an effort to encourage environmental and social responsibililty in commerce, I did a bit of research today and consciously chose a gas station to support with my business instead of simply filling up at the gas station closest to my apartment. (Disclaimer: I wish it was possible for me to not drive at all, but we all know that it's impossible to live without a car in most american towns/cities) To that end, I found this website, which ranks and grades the major gas companies based on environmental and social factors! alas, none of the companies earned an 'A' by the standards of the Better World Handbook! Still, my honda accord was desperately seeking a fuel up, so I sought out a Sunoco (B+). Not only did I find a Sunoco (with the help of the ever-handsome Josh), I found a sunoco at a co-op, which is even better! Co-op definition and directory
Consciously choosing where and what we spend our money on is good for the world because businesses need consumer money to survive. In a way, every dollar that you spend is like a vote for that business. (This isn't my original analogy. It's from the Better World Handbook.) If we vote for companies that use sweatshops and child labor or take from the environment without any care for what the negative impacts might be, then we are endorsing these irresponsible practices. Capitalism is supposed to naturally safeguard against these abuses because capitalism assumes that people won't buy from companies they don't support. Unfortunately, most people don't think to care what their money might be supporting, which is like voting for president with a dartboard. Today, I used $30 to vote for Sunoco instead of my usual Marathon.
I also saved an earthworm today. He was drowning in a puddle, so I put him on higher ground. If you doubt the planetary benefits of earthworms, then I present you with Exhibit A- a website dedicated to educating the masses about worms! I know saving one worm might not make much of a difference in the long run, but it did make a difference to that one worm. :)
Consciously choosing where and what we spend our money on is good for the world because businesses need consumer money to survive. In a way, every dollar that you spend is like a vote for that business. (This isn't my original analogy. It's from the Better World Handbook.) If we vote for companies that use sweatshops and child labor or take from the environment without any care for what the negative impacts might be, then we are endorsing these irresponsible practices. Capitalism is supposed to naturally safeguard against these abuses because capitalism assumes that people won't buy from companies they don't support. Unfortunately, most people don't think to care what their money might be supporting, which is like voting for president with a dartboard. Today, I used $30 to vote for Sunoco instead of my usual Marathon.
I also saved an earthworm today. He was drowning in a puddle, so I put him on higher ground. If you doubt the planetary benefits of earthworms, then I present you with Exhibit A- a website dedicated to educating the masses about worms! I know saving one worm might not make much of a difference in the long run, but it did make a difference to that one worm. :)
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Day 2: Recycle, Reduce, Reuse and CLOTHES the loop
Let me begin by saying that I'm thrilled to have my first follower! Thanks for your support! :)
This morning, I got up and sorted all of my clothes into 2 categories: clothes to keep and clothes to donate. I tried to be really honest with myself about what I will and will not wear again, which is hard because it's possible for me to wear most things in my closet again. Still, I think most people can commiserate with me when I say that I get bored with my clothes. I buy new clothes at least every 6 months and, at any given period of my life, I only actually wear my favorite 20 articles with any sort of regularity. As it turns out, producing clothes to meet this kind of demand is a significant strain on the environment. Plus, it means that there are a lot of wearable clothes taking up space and even spilling out of my closet not being used while others in the world struggle to clothe themselves and their children. What a waste!
I did 2 things with my 'Clothes to donate:'
1) I took a pair of jeans to Plato's Closet for resell. http://www.platoscloset.com/ Honestly, I was really impressed with Plato's Closet. They paid me $5.85 for 1 pair of jeans and resold most clothes for $6-$12. Their selection was huge and stylish, and the clothes were in shockingly good condition. Many items even still had original tags on them. In the future, I've decided that I will go there first if I want new clothes. In this way, I will save money and the strain on the environment needed to produce brand new clothes while still changing up my wardrobe enough to keep me from getting bored.
2) I put the rest of my 'Clothes to Donate' in a Gaia Movement bin, which I found at a local grocery store. Most donated clothes in these bins get sent to third world countries to clothe the world's poorest, but all of it is used in some way that is beneficial to society and the environment. Even clothes that can't be re-used can be and are recycled. It turns out that textiles are almost 100% recyclable. This webpage also has information on the specific environmental resources needed to produce 1 pair of pants. It's pretty shocking how wasteful it is to continually produce new clothes-85% of which are never recycled.
Another option for seeing that used clothes go to a good cause is Goodwill of course, which has locations and donation drop-offs nationwide. I'm not sure why I didn't choose this option. I just didn't. *shrug.*
To better the world today, I also chose to buy applesauce in a glass jar instead of a plastic jar because glass is FAR more recyclabe than plastic. I know I'm only supposed to do one thing a day. But, I needed applesauce today not tomorrow, and this just seemed like the right thing to do.
Incidentally, I also registered myself for the national 'Do Not Call' list yesterday. I'm not sur if this really betters the world as a whole, but it definitely betters my personal world. haha
This morning, I got up and sorted all of my clothes into 2 categories: clothes to keep and clothes to donate. I tried to be really honest with myself about what I will and will not wear again, which is hard because it's possible for me to wear most things in my closet again. Still, I think most people can commiserate with me when I say that I get bored with my clothes. I buy new clothes at least every 6 months and, at any given period of my life, I only actually wear my favorite 20 articles with any sort of regularity. As it turns out, producing clothes to meet this kind of demand is a significant strain on the environment. Plus, it means that there are a lot of wearable clothes taking up space and even spilling out of my closet not being used while others in the world struggle to clothe themselves and their children. What a waste!
I did 2 things with my 'Clothes to donate:'
1) I took a pair of jeans to Plato's Closet for resell. http://www.platoscloset.com/ Honestly, I was really impressed with Plato's Closet. They paid me $5.85 for 1 pair of jeans and resold most clothes for $6-$12. Their selection was huge and stylish, and the clothes were in shockingly good condition. Many items even still had original tags on them. In the future, I've decided that I will go there first if I want new clothes. In this way, I will save money and the strain on the environment needed to produce brand new clothes while still changing up my wardrobe enough to keep me from getting bored.
2) I put the rest of my 'Clothes to Donate' in a Gaia Movement bin, which I found at a local grocery store. Most donated clothes in these bins get sent to third world countries to clothe the world's poorest, but all of it is used in some way that is beneficial to society and the environment. Even clothes that can't be re-used can be and are recycled. It turns out that textiles are almost 100% recyclable. This webpage also has information on the specific environmental resources needed to produce 1 pair of pants. It's pretty shocking how wasteful it is to continually produce new clothes-85% of which are never recycled.
Another option for seeing that used clothes go to a good cause is Goodwill of course, which has locations and donation drop-offs nationwide. I'm not sure why I didn't choose this option. I just didn't. *shrug.*
To better the world today, I also chose to buy applesauce in a glass jar instead of a plastic jar because glass is FAR more recyclabe than plastic. I know I'm only supposed to do one thing a day. But, I needed applesauce today not tomorrow, and this just seemed like the right thing to do.
Incidentally, I also registered myself for the national 'Do Not Call' list yesterday. I'm not sur if this really betters the world as a whole, but it definitely betters my personal world. haha
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