In coordination with the whole rant about the lack of social connections these days, I am walking to the camp my friend Ana is working at and having lunch with her. The lunch? Vegan french bread and hummus I made last night (while not watching TV). I'm also involved in a play, and work, and dance, not to mention that my cousin is up and we went to a reggae fest yesterday at a local park. Everything is just beautiful, and my emissions are lowering. As of yet, though, I still have to find a convenient way to stop buying tempeh, as it seems no store around here carries it in bulk. I've found organic fairtrade bulk tofu and TVP, but no tempeh.
Is making and storing tempeh hard? It didn't appear to be so in the New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook. Does anyone have any tips on making tempeh, what kind of equipment or packaging I'm going to need, and is it possible to get a price range on tempeh starter? I haven't found that in stores, either, and I may have to special order it.
Right now, I'm buying Lightlife's tempeh, I think. I may update this post to make sure this is the actual brand. I haven't done any research into this company, but I know that when I was just a vegetarian, I used to buy a lot of their products. They weren't insanely great tasting, but they were alright. However, I'd like to know if their products are: organic, GMO free, fairtrade, or sustainably produced. Any help on that would be great.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
Today- Community Counts!
Sure, corny though that title is, how many of us can honestly say we love our neighbor? Oh, forget that- how many of us can say we even know them? Sometime over the course of history, we've lost our world of wholesome community to the blaring of ipods and cell phones. And laptops, and TVs, and blackberries, and electronicarealityvisionquestfloatingairimagesallsystemsgo. And whatever the hell else it is that they've shoved down our throats.
I'm not yearning for some Beaver Cleaver nostalgia rebound; for christ's sake, I haven't any idea what that would be like! I'm still some spring chicken. That doesn't mean that I don't want some sense of realness in my life. It's hard sometimes, because nearly everything I see in my culture and among kids my own age is so... false. Our hair, our nails, our waistlines, our eyelashes, our skin color, our packages, our minds, our smiles. I know that everyone, deep down somewhere, is their own person and I shouldn't judge them, no matter what my personal opinion is. But-c'mon- get off the damn phone and help me out!
This past weekend, I spent time with my family. I went to a bbq at the young couple's house up the street. They just moved in, and they have a child who turned two. Our new neighbors from Scotland and their little daughter showed up, too, along with plenty of families and couples who are just starting to leave their marks. The family from Scotland has a daughter who is allergic to dairy, and she was delighted that she could eat my cookies (they were vegan, made while I was ignoring the television).
And Sunday, also while I was on technology restriction, I showed up to work and we had to waitress short hand. I found out that the girl that I was working with, who looked incredibly exhausted, had been working for 8 days in a row at the local supermarket. Later, our friends stopped by on a motorcycle and had some drinks with my parents and I.
Today, I baked raspberry-cornmeal vegan muffins and took them to our neighbors with the lactose intolerant daughter. I picked the raspberries with my mother. While they baked, my dad taught me a new song on the guitar. It's funny, but before that bbq, I never even knew our old neighbors had moved out, which is sad, and I realize this.
So when I finally got my techno-whore self to shut up, I guess I learned a lot.
I'm not yearning for some Beaver Cleaver nostalgia rebound; for christ's sake, I haven't any idea what that would be like! I'm still some spring chicken. That doesn't mean that I don't want some sense of realness in my life. It's hard sometimes, because nearly everything I see in my culture and among kids my own age is so... false. Our hair, our nails, our waistlines, our eyelashes, our skin color, our packages, our minds, our smiles. I know that everyone, deep down somewhere, is their own person and I shouldn't judge them, no matter what my personal opinion is. But-c'mon- get off the damn phone and help me out!
This past weekend, I spent time with my family. I went to a bbq at the young couple's house up the street. They just moved in, and they have a child who turned two. Our new neighbors from Scotland and their little daughter showed up, too, along with plenty of families and couples who are just starting to leave their marks. The family from Scotland has a daughter who is allergic to dairy, and she was delighted that she could eat my cookies (they were vegan, made while I was ignoring the television).
And Sunday, also while I was on technology restriction, I showed up to work and we had to waitress short hand. I found out that the girl that I was working with, who looked incredibly exhausted, had been working for 8 days in a row at the local supermarket. Later, our friends stopped by on a motorcycle and had some drinks with my parents and I.
Today, I baked raspberry-cornmeal vegan muffins and took them to our neighbors with the lactose intolerant daughter. I picked the raspberries with my mother. While they baked, my dad taught me a new song on the guitar. It's funny, but before that bbq, I never even knew our old neighbors had moved out, which is sad, and I realize this.
So when I finally got my techno-whore self to shut up, I guess I learned a lot.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Today- Update on the rideshare! And a compost!
I'm doing all I can to eliminate the waste I create, including doing some superuse- like making these nifty soymilk wallets instead of trashing the carton (http://soywallets.com/diy/)! But as of yet, I haven't composted. Now that our family garden is beginning to yield delicious food and beautiful flowers, I'm sure it would appreciate the extra nutrients that composting could give it. The new No Impact Man entry is about composting with worms in your kitchen, but I was thinking of keeping our compost outdoors. We live in a rural community, and there's no need to keep it indoors. Besides, I would think it would begin to stink up the house, and I'm not sure the parents would be pleased.
Them: Kindra! What the fuck is a box of worms doing in our kitchen!
Me: It's a compost, you guys! NO! STOP! Don't toss it! It's important- the environment needs me to compost!
Them: The cats took a dump in it this morning! Out it goes!
So I might as well deliberately start it outside instead of waiting for everyone to realize there's a giant box of decomposing matter sitting by the table.
The rideshare yesterday went well. My dance teacher and I picked up a younger student as well, so that's an even higher number of participants! When we got to the studio, I was pleased to see multiple dancer coming out of all the vehicles. Turns out we're all carpooling to and from classes! It's nice to know I've got a network if I need it.
Keep the peace!
Them: Kindra! What the fuck is a box of worms doing in our kitchen!
Me: It's a compost, you guys! NO! STOP! Don't toss it! It's important- the environment needs me to compost!
Them: The cats took a dump in it this morning! Out it goes!
So I might as well deliberately start it outside instead of waiting for everyone to realize there's a giant box of decomposing matter sitting by the table.
The rideshare yesterday went well. My dance teacher and I picked up a younger student as well, so that's an even higher number of participants! When we got to the studio, I was pleased to see multiple dancer coming out of all the vehicles. Turns out we're all carpooling to and from classes! It's nice to know I've got a network if I need it.
Keep the peace!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Today- An obvious choice
I live a 45 minute walk from the nearest store. At that store, chain-smoking Maine natives grunt hello and then throw my oatmeal, the only vegan thing in the renovated trailer/cig shop, at me and expect me to walk peacefully back home. It's just not worth it. In order to get places where I live, the reality is that I need a car.
So what can be done for people who live in remote places that lack public transportation, or even the convenience of a convenience store? Rideshare, obviously. I've carpooled for years to and from dance classes with local girls. It's stressful, also, because I don't have my license, and I'm not sure if a car is a good investment. I've always assumed that buying an extra car just for the 2 years I'll need it at home would be a waste of money, because I'm ditching the gas-guzzler as soon as I move out to wherever I roam.
I guess that part of the reason why my ecological footprint number was so large was because I do have to commute in order to get where I'm going. So, in an effort to offset that number, I'm upping the number of commuters in the vehicle. I'm putting this into practice as soon as I can, which means I'm riding with my dance teacher partway to the studio tomorrow morning when I go to class. It not only saves the environment, my mother won't have to wake up and make the 50 minute drive after she's work all night (she's a nurse). Needless to say, my parents are all for it.
In the past, I've had experiences with alternative transportation, like buses, bikes, subways, and even hitchhiking. Because some of my modes have been a little dangerous, I'm going to have to get my license soon. I'd like to know of the "greenest" cars out there, whether they are specifically designed to be Green, or are just fuel-efficient, what your opinion is on the best transportation available, and just how much all this is going to cost me.
Thanks.
So what can be done for people who live in remote places that lack public transportation, or even the convenience of a convenience store? Rideshare, obviously. I've carpooled for years to and from dance classes with local girls. It's stressful, also, because I don't have my license, and I'm not sure if a car is a good investment. I've always assumed that buying an extra car just for the 2 years I'll need it at home would be a waste of money, because I'm ditching the gas-guzzler as soon as I move out to wherever I roam.
I guess that part of the reason why my ecological footprint number was so large was because I do have to commute in order to get where I'm going. So, in an effort to offset that number, I'm upping the number of commuters in the vehicle. I'm putting this into practice as soon as I can, which means I'm riding with my dance teacher partway to the studio tomorrow morning when I go to class. It not only saves the environment, my mother won't have to wake up and make the 50 minute drive after she's work all night (she's a nurse). Needless to say, my parents are all for it.
In the past, I've had experiences with alternative transportation, like buses, bikes, subways, and even hitchhiking. Because some of my modes have been a little dangerous, I'm going to have to get my license soon. I'd like to know of the "greenest" cars out there, whether they are specifically designed to be Green, or are just fuel-efficient, what your opinion is on the best transportation available, and just how much all this is going to cost me.
Thanks.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Today- It's hairstyling, not chemistry class
Vinyl Acetate. PEG-12 Dimethicone. Panthenyl ethyl Ether. ETHER??? That is what the hell I am putting in my hair? Sweet Jesus.
So, why do hairspray and other beauty products need everything to come out of a lab? I'm betting it's pretty simple. In essence, they re-create things that occur in nature, only they do it in a lab and try and control the fuck out of it. Then, they bottle it. We stick it on our heads, slather it onto our skins, and watch it foam out of our mouths.
You don't even need the liquified gas, in the form of dimethyl ether, usually, to style your hair or hold it in place. It is only used as a propellant to send the sticky stuff through the nozzle at your locks. The appearance of silky smooth hair, even, clear skin, and a bright, white smile can all be achieved naturally as well, making all this lab work hardly worth the effort.
Though there are many products on the market which use all natural ingredients and aren't all that different from things you can pick up at the grocery, you might just be better off heading to Stop n' Shop sometimes. There are many different treatments for all your beauty woes which can be performed easily at home. And it could save testing on animals, the ozone layer, landfill space, your money, and damage to your hair, skin, and nails.
So today, I did just that. I wanted to treat my new hair cut, and I remembered how much damage I had done to my hair before. So I searched online (see, this why technology can be a good thing) and found a chem-free home made hair mask. After I sat around looking like a housewife, with my green face and sticky hair, I showered and used a vinegar rinse. Tada! Natural beauty.
Go here to try the honey mask I used today, along with other home made hair masks: http://www.hairstylecity.com/HairCare/HomeMadeHairMasks.aspx
For some good general information on the science of hairspray products, go here: http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/hair_spray.html
So, why do hairspray and other beauty products need everything to come out of a lab? I'm betting it's pretty simple. In essence, they re-create things that occur in nature, only they do it in a lab and try and control the fuck out of it. Then, they bottle it. We stick it on our heads, slather it onto our skins, and watch it foam out of our mouths.
You don't even need the liquified gas, in the form of dimethyl ether, usually, to style your hair or hold it in place. It is only used as a propellant to send the sticky stuff through the nozzle at your locks. The appearance of silky smooth hair, even, clear skin, and a bright, white smile can all be achieved naturally as well, making all this lab work hardly worth the effort.
Though there are many products on the market which use all natural ingredients and aren't all that different from things you can pick up at the grocery, you might just be better off heading to Stop n' Shop sometimes. There are many different treatments for all your beauty woes which can be performed easily at home. And it could save testing on animals, the ozone layer, landfill space, your money, and damage to your hair, skin, and nails.
So today, I did just that. I wanted to treat my new hair cut, and I remembered how much damage I had done to my hair before. So I searched online (see, this why technology can be a good thing) and found a chem-free home made hair mask. After I sat around looking like a housewife, with my green face and sticky hair, I showered and used a vinegar rinse. Tada! Natural beauty.
Go here to try the honey mask I used today, along with other home made hair masks: http://www.hairstylecity.com/HairCare/HomeMadeHairMasks.aspx
For some good general information on the science of hairspray products, go here: http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/hair_spray.html
Monday, July 16, 2007
Today- new rule/ results of freezing meals
It took me 4 months to get rid of everything I didn't need or want anymore. I started way back in March in preparation for painting my room. It took me a month just to de-clutter enough so I could move things out, and start to paint. Finally, three months and several Good Will runs later, I'm satisfied with the amount of things I've decided to keep- which is very little, thank the bloody lord. I didn't realize how much crap I had been keeping for years! I've been frantically posting on Freecycle, shelling out unused, still wrapped things as gifts to friends, and begging my parents for yet another ride to the closest clothing donation box (environmentally friendly though it is, it sucks that I still can't drive).
And clothing was a big thing.
I had so much of, there was enough to wear an entirely knew outfit every day for 4 months, no joke, and truth of the matter is, I didn't wear even half of it on a regular basis. I adore vintage clothing, and even though I can't sew worth a lick, I still "re-did" a lot of clothing that was given to me by friends of the family. Since I'm a very small size, none of it fit anyway. Did that stop me from hording it like a bag lady? No. Of course not. It was clothes! Why shouldn't someone want more clothes? So, I kept it.
What for? So it could sit around? It was useless, keeping all those things I'd never use, that someone else could. Same goes for the ridiculous amount of things I kept because I thought I'd miss them otherwise, things with only a small fraction of even sentimental memories. It was selfish and materialistic. I don't want my life to have base in material things; I really don't. I'm completely glad I gave those things away.
So if you read this, think about everything you're holding onto unnecessarily, and get rid of it. Maybe you already know how good it feels to just have it out of your life, as well as the nice feeling you get knowing that you didn't just junk it or let it sit around. As always, put your unwanteds to good use- reuse.
With that said, I've now decided that I with my new wardrobe comes responsibilities. I definitely still have enough clothes to go about two weeks without washing, which is my ultimate goal. But until I receive my shipment of, ahem, personals, I'm going to cut back to one washing every week. Hopefully, I may even achieve my Two-week goal now, depending on what kind of load the rest of my family is doing at the moment.
And the results of freezing meals- excellent, and delicious, if I do say so myself. I made and froze a meal featuring the Shepard's Pie from How It All Vegan, which is one of my favorite dishes, and just had some today. Well worth the mere 40 minutes or so it took me on Saturday. (By the way, this shepard's pie meal was made to replace my favorite frozen meal, Amy's Vegetarian Meatloaf.)
If anyone has word on Microwaves vs. Oven, electricity or health-wise, I'd like to hear it. Keep in mind, though, that I'm freezing these meals with tupperware, nothing oven-safe. So, if you also have information on oven safe reusable containers, I'd love to hear about them also.
And clothing was a big thing.
I had so much of, there was enough to wear an entirely knew outfit every day for 4 months, no joke, and truth of the matter is, I didn't wear even half of it on a regular basis. I adore vintage clothing, and even though I can't sew worth a lick, I still "re-did" a lot of clothing that was given to me by friends of the family. Since I'm a very small size, none of it fit anyway. Did that stop me from hording it like a bag lady? No. Of course not. It was clothes! Why shouldn't someone want more clothes? So, I kept it.
What for? So it could sit around? It was useless, keeping all those things I'd never use, that someone else could. Same goes for the ridiculous amount of things I kept because I thought I'd miss them otherwise, things with only a small fraction of even sentimental memories. It was selfish and materialistic. I don't want my life to have base in material things; I really don't. I'm completely glad I gave those things away.
So if you read this, think about everything you're holding onto unnecessarily, and get rid of it. Maybe you already know how good it feels to just have it out of your life, as well as the nice feeling you get knowing that you didn't just junk it or let it sit around. As always, put your unwanteds to good use- reuse.
With that said, I've now decided that I with my new wardrobe comes responsibilities. I definitely still have enough clothes to go about two weeks without washing, which is my ultimate goal. But until I receive my shipment of, ahem, personals, I'm going to cut back to one washing every week. Hopefully, I may even achieve my Two-week goal now, depending on what kind of load the rest of my family is doing at the moment.
And the results of freezing meals- excellent, and delicious, if I do say so myself. I made and froze a meal featuring the Shepard's Pie from How It All Vegan, which is one of my favorite dishes, and just had some today. Well worth the mere 40 minutes or so it took me on Saturday. (By the way, this shepard's pie meal was made to replace my favorite frozen meal, Amy's Vegetarian Meatloaf.)
If anyone has word on Microwaves vs. Oven, electricity or health-wise, I'd like to hear it. Keep in mind, though, that I'm freezing these meals with tupperware, nothing oven-safe. So, if you also have information on oven safe reusable containers, I'd love to hear about them also.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Today- As a citizen of the world, I pledge...
Today, I'm officially starting my pledge not to purchase any more "chain" food. Not that I was ever a big fan or fast food or convenience store cuisine, but, at times, I've stopped in for a bite, especially if I was on the road. It was easy. It was there. I grabbed a bottled water, and Odwalla bar, and left.
Not anymore. From now on, unless absolutely necessary, I will not even buy coffee at a gas station while I'm on vacation. I will try as hard as I can to use up the materials at my house, or those that will soon be made available to me (i.e.- in a motel room). So, not only am I abstaining from buying prepackaged goods while I'm grocery shopping, I'm also carrying that through when I'm away from the house. When in coffee shops or other eateries, I won't get the "togo" option unless I must. Things like that.
This actually used to confuse me sometimes, because I realized one day that technically, I'm just making people wash something again, and some restaurants use multiple plates for a dish for a prettier presentation, even though I'd only need one bowl to eat my linguine. However, by not using the ToGo-ware, which hardly ever would be recycled, I'm not contributing to landfills. Though it wasn't a big question to begin with, I still feel better, now that I know more, about my decision. Besides, I would have to do about the same number of dishes, anyway, it just doesn't become a pain the ass for me.
Also, if anyone has information on how harmful dishwashers are to the environment, I'd love to hear it. Right now, we use a dishwasher, but how are the comparisons, both electrical and water conserving wise, between hand washing and using a dishwasher.
Thanks
-Kindra FM
Not anymore. From now on, unless absolutely necessary, I will not even buy coffee at a gas station while I'm on vacation. I will try as hard as I can to use up the materials at my house, or those that will soon be made available to me (i.e.- in a motel room). So, not only am I abstaining from buying prepackaged goods while I'm grocery shopping, I'm also carrying that through when I'm away from the house. When in coffee shops or other eateries, I won't get the "togo" option unless I must. Things like that.
This actually used to confuse me sometimes, because I realized one day that technically, I'm just making people wash something again, and some restaurants use multiple plates for a dish for a prettier presentation, even though I'd only need one bowl to eat my linguine. However, by not using the ToGo-ware, which hardly ever would be recycled, I'm not contributing to landfills. Though it wasn't a big question to begin with, I still feel better, now that I know more, about my decision. Besides, I would have to do about the same number of dishes, anyway, it just doesn't become a pain the ass for me.
Also, if anyone has information on how harmful dishwashers are to the environment, I'd love to hear it. Right now, we use a dishwasher, but how are the comparisons, both electrical and water conserving wise, between hand washing and using a dishwasher.
Thanks
-Kindra FM
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Today- Turning off technology
So it kind of doesn't make sense to be posting about this on a goddamn blog, right? But here's where I make the cut- the point of this blog isn't to revert back to living in the dark ages, it's to learn to work with technology while treating the rest of the world with respect. Excessiveness is just that- something extra, something we can do without. For example, not only is it lazy and mindless, but I really don't need to watch 5 episodes of Full House on TV today, especially not 'just because it's on'. Besides, I've got friggin' burgers to make, people!
Sometimes I fear that I'm really growing stupider with each hour I waste in front of the TV. It's worse than waking up after a night of heavy smoking. It's a "whoa, I can feel the braincells dying" kind of alert in my head. I wonder if other people feel the same. So why do I do it? Because it's there, which is barely a reason; it's an excuse.
Still, my new outlook is this- the improvements made on 'the way things were' are there for my convenience only. It's like this whole new deal with food- sure, I can buy 4 boxes of veggie burgers a month, but unless I really need the ease of pre-packaged foods, I don't mind taking 15 minutes to make my own. So, yeah, I could watch that re-run of Seinfeld, but I've got pre-packaged foods to replace, walks to take, friends at camp to write to. What's the difference? The TV will be there when I'm finished.
Sometimes I fear that I'm really growing stupider with each hour I waste in front of the TV. It's worse than waking up after a night of heavy smoking. It's a "whoa, I can feel the braincells dying" kind of alert in my head. I wonder if other people feel the same. So why do I do it? Because it's there, which is barely a reason; it's an excuse.
Still, my new outlook is this- the improvements made on 'the way things were' are there for my convenience only. It's like this whole new deal with food- sure, I can buy 4 boxes of veggie burgers a month, but unless I really need the ease of pre-packaged foods, I don't mind taking 15 minutes to make my own. So, yeah, I could watch that re-run of Seinfeld, but I've got pre-packaged foods to replace, walks to take, friends at camp to write to. What's the difference? The TV will be there when I'm finished.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Today- Cancel catalog subscriptions; Get lost in grocery
Eliminate Paper Waste-
I haven't a clue why, but my mother seems to like to save up all the catalogs we receive through the mail. She holds onto them with almost a religious fashion, every so often sorting through them and keeping the ones she thinks are "pretty", which is nearly all of them. The only ones she doesn't like keeping at all the hardware and tool catalogs companies send my dad. She throws those out immediately.
Due to this, we have enough catalogs to papier-mache the pentagon. That's a lot of wasted paper. Recycling one ton of paper will save about 6.7 cubic feet of landfill space, and as paper waste now accounts for nearly 40% of all landfill space, recycling paper instead of throwing it away would double the lives of landfills. Not only that, but it also helps the environment by avoiding production of more paper. Every ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees, 462 gallons of oil, and also saves some pollution made by paper manufacturing plants. (go here for more facts- http://es.epa.gov/techinfo/facts/michigan/mich-fs4.html)
At the moment, I regularly receive the catalogs of about 7 companies. I do love the clothing that these companies have to offer, but I've decided to call them and ask to be taken off their mailing lists. I'm sure they have a way to end subscriptions- teens grow up, they move away; what 75 year old woman wants to look at an Urban Outfitters catalog?- so hopefully, calling them will work.
This is also very practical because I'm on many of the catalog's online newsletter lists, which means I receive the same information via e-mail every week (or every day, the spammers). This is a definite plus to technology- you don't have to waste paper on their gigantic catalogs when it's made available online! Junk e-mail doesn't clog landfills, no matter how obnoxious it is.
Today's other goal is to put my grocery list (*shudder*) to work for me when we go shopping this afternoon. Wish me luck on my pilot mission!
I haven't a clue why, but my mother seems to like to save up all the catalogs we receive through the mail. She holds onto them with almost a religious fashion, every so often sorting through them and keeping the ones she thinks are "pretty", which is nearly all of them. The only ones she doesn't like keeping at all the hardware and tool catalogs companies send my dad. She throws those out immediately.
Due to this, we have enough catalogs to papier-mache the pentagon. That's a lot of wasted paper. Recycling one ton of paper will save about 6.7 cubic feet of landfill space, and as paper waste now accounts for nearly 40% of all landfill space, recycling paper instead of throwing it away would double the lives of landfills. Not only that, but it also helps the environment by avoiding production of more paper. Every ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees, 462 gallons of oil, and also saves some pollution made by paper manufacturing plants. (go here for more facts- http://es.epa.gov/techinfo/facts/michigan/mich-fs4.html)
At the moment, I regularly receive the catalogs of about 7 companies. I do love the clothing that these companies have to offer, but I've decided to call them and ask to be taken off their mailing lists. I'm sure they have a way to end subscriptions- teens grow up, they move away; what 75 year old woman wants to look at an Urban Outfitters catalog?- so hopefully, calling them will work.
This is also very practical because I'm on many of the catalog's online newsletter lists, which means I receive the same information via e-mail every week (or every day, the spammers). This is a definite plus to technology- you don't have to waste paper on their gigantic catalogs when it's made available online! Junk e-mail doesn't clog landfills, no matter how obnoxious it is.
Today's other goal is to put my grocery list (*shudder*) to work for me when we go shopping this afternoon. Wish me luck on my pilot mission!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Today- The Supermarket Fandango!
I never use a grocery list. I hate it- I feel like an old lady. I love the grocery; I love being at the grocery. I hate "the grocery list". But now, apparently, I must make one. It's confusing and it's hurting my brain- how do you adults do this properly? Organize by aisle? Are you kidding me?- but it's for a good cause.
The goal of this grocery list is to help me abstain from excessive packaging, GMO filled foods, and go for as much local and/or sustainedly grown foods as possible. With that in mind, the emphasis is on bulk foods, in season produce, using my own reusable packages when I can, and only buying as much as I know I will eat within the 2 weeks. This may mean an extra trip to the store, but as at least one member of the family passes through town everyday, it would be more of a stop, if needed at all.
By the way, the first venture on making my own equivalent to my favorite packaged foods has been settled. I've decided to try 'Big Ben's Lentil Burgers' recipe from "How it all vegan!" (excellent cookbook) to wean me off those damn fine Boca burgers. But you know what they say- you can't beat home-cooked! Here's the slightly tweaked recipe, meeting my own 'Delicious' standards-
1/2 cup wheat germ
2 cups cooked or canned lentils
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 small tomato, diced
1/4 cup diced onions
2 cloves finely chopped garlic
1+ tbsp oil
1+ tbsp braggs*
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2+ tsp pepper (to taste)
First, set aside about an 1/8 cup of the wheat germ for coating the patties. You may first want to mash about 1/2- 1 cup of the lentils before mixing the ingredients. Then combine the remaining wheat germ, all of the lentils, bread crumbs, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Incorporate the wet ingredients and spices; you may need to add more oil or braggs to help the patties stay together. Coat the surface of each patty in the extra wheat germ. Cook the burgers on a lightly oiled frying pan over medium-high heat for 5-10 minutes, flipping occasionally.
I just hope they freeze well!
*Braggs is the brand name for bottled liquid amino acids, which is a very awesome flavoring agent much like soy sauce and often used in vegan cooking. You could also use a steak or wocestshire sauce.
The goal of this grocery list is to help me abstain from excessive packaging, GMO filled foods, and go for as much local and/or sustainedly grown foods as possible. With that in mind, the emphasis is on bulk foods, in season produce, using my own reusable packages when I can, and only buying as much as I know I will eat within the 2 weeks. This may mean an extra trip to the store, but as at least one member of the family passes through town everyday, it would be more of a stop, if needed at all.
By the way, the first venture on making my own equivalent to my favorite packaged foods has been settled. I've decided to try 'Big Ben's Lentil Burgers' recipe from "How it all vegan!" (excellent cookbook) to wean me off those damn fine Boca burgers. But you know what they say- you can't beat home-cooked! Here's the slightly tweaked recipe, meeting my own 'Delicious' standards-
1/2 cup wheat germ
2 cups cooked or canned lentils
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 small tomato, diced
1/4 cup diced onions
2 cloves finely chopped garlic
1+ tbsp oil
1+ tbsp braggs*
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2+ tsp pepper (to taste)
First, set aside about an 1/8 cup of the wheat germ for coating the patties. You may first want to mash about 1/2- 1 cup of the lentils before mixing the ingredients. Then combine the remaining wheat germ, all of the lentils, bread crumbs, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Incorporate the wet ingredients and spices; you may need to add more oil or braggs to help the patties stay together. Coat the surface of each patty in the extra wheat germ. Cook the burgers on a lightly oiled frying pan over medium-high heat for 5-10 minutes, flipping occasionally.
I just hope they freeze well!
*Braggs is the brand name for bottled liquid amino acids, which is a very awesome flavoring agent much like soy sauce and often used in vegan cooking. You could also use a steak or wocestshire sauce.
Today- Figure out how to make a burger/Wishing I was a autotroph
Well, it would be easier if I ate meat, really. But I don't. Substantial evidence supports the view that being vegan is extremely environmentally friendly, so I don't plan on changing my eating habits to fit in convenience in this case. In fact, it seems that my general eating habits are going to become even harder to deal with, at least from my family's point of view.
Veganism, if you don't already know, is a form of strict vegetarianism that strives to live a completely animal-free lifestyle, which means that on top of meat, vegans don't consume dairy, eggs, honey, or any animal derivative. This does make things hard at times, from a consumer prospective, but if you haven't guessed, this post is all about things being in the eye of the beholder.
If you consider that more food and water is needed to feed animals used for an omnivore's diet vrs. that of an herbivore, that equates to a less globally wasteful lifestyle. On the other hand, I support local business, and I live in Maine, so things like fresh, locally caught seafood and locally hunted meats are easily available. It may make more sense to eat local meats than imported soybeans.
This is only brushing the conflicting issues I have, but with that said and slightly covered, I'll say that I'm choosing to remain a vegan. For more information about veganism and vegetarianism, visit Peta.com or, my favorite, Peta2.com.
Now I need to learn how to make a vegan burger in the most sustainable way possible, which means from now on, I will forgo purchasing Boca burgers unless I really need the convenience. I'm doing this to cut down on unnecessary packaging. See, I LOVE Boca burgers, love them, and I eat about a package a week, which is 4 burgers. We go grocery shopping every two weeks, which means I must buy two packages every shopping trip. The packaging consists of a cardboard container and sealed plastic individually wrapping each patty. I buy them all year round, which means: 52+ packages. So now, I will make burgers and freeze them myself, keeping them in an airtight, tupperware case.
Along with this attempt at saving packaging, I'm also forgoing buying my favorite brand of tofu- Nasoya- and buying it all at the health food store The Rising Tide, which carries tofu in bulk and allows customers to use their own storage containers from home.
As grocery day is tomorrow, I've got to find the easiest, tastiest burger recipe I can tonight, one which preferably uses proteins I can buy in bulk and/or locally, meaning dried beans and such. Hopefully, I can deter my mother from stuffing the Boca burgers in the cart. She lived on a commune in her youth; most of her braincells are gone.
Veganism, if you don't already know, is a form of strict vegetarianism that strives to live a completely animal-free lifestyle, which means that on top of meat, vegans don't consume dairy, eggs, honey, or any animal derivative. This does make things hard at times, from a consumer prospective, but if you haven't guessed, this post is all about things being in the eye of the beholder.
If you consider that more food and water is needed to feed animals used for an omnivore's diet vrs. that of an herbivore, that equates to a less globally wasteful lifestyle. On the other hand, I support local business, and I live in Maine, so things like fresh, locally caught seafood and locally hunted meats are easily available. It may make more sense to eat local meats than imported soybeans.
This is only brushing the conflicting issues I have, but with that said and slightly covered, I'll say that I'm choosing to remain a vegan. For more information about veganism and vegetarianism, visit Peta.com or, my favorite, Peta2.com.
Now I need to learn how to make a vegan burger in the most sustainable way possible, which means from now on, I will forgo purchasing Boca burgers unless I really need the convenience. I'm doing this to cut down on unnecessary packaging. See, I LOVE Boca burgers, love them, and I eat about a package a week, which is 4 burgers. We go grocery shopping every two weeks, which means I must buy two packages every shopping trip. The packaging consists of a cardboard container and sealed plastic individually wrapping each patty. I buy them all year round, which means: 52+ packages. So now, I will make burgers and freeze them myself, keeping them in an airtight, tupperware case.
Along with this attempt at saving packaging, I'm also forgoing buying my favorite brand of tofu- Nasoya- and buying it all at the health food store The Rising Tide, which carries tofu in bulk and allows customers to use their own storage containers from home.
As grocery day is tomorrow, I've got to find the easiest, tastiest burger recipe I can tonight, one which preferably uses proteins I can buy in bulk and/or locally, meaning dried beans and such. Hopefully, I can deter my mother from stuffing the Boca burgers in the cart. She lived on a commune in her youth; most of her braincells are gone.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Feedback and Update
First off, I've changed the blog settings to allow comments from anyone... so post anything, even if you disagree. Show me that you're thinking! Second, thanks for the tips I've received. One clever lady on the Freeganworld rise up list gave me a tip about wasting less water during my shower, specifically because I was having so much trouble with my long hair and washing it. She said that she turns off the water during the lather and then turns it back on during the rinse, and so on. Funny, I actually hadn't even thought about that, but it makes so much since- just like washing your hands, or brushing your teeth. Strange how the obvious escapes you.
If anyone has any tips on reducing my purchases of packaged goods, please tell me. Also, I can't seem to find a good list of companies that pledge not to use genetically modified food (no-GMO's), and often, they aren't clearly labeled. If anyone can either help me compile a satisfying list, or give me a heads up about companies and brand names that GMO products are marketed under, please let me know. When I get a good list or some good information, I'll post it all, so it'll be easy to find.
Thanks
-Kindra FM.
PS- it should be noted that although I'm vegan, I'd like information on any and all food products with a no-GMO pledge. I live with two omnivores, who are getting dragged along in this charade.
If anyone has any tips on reducing my purchases of packaged goods, please tell me. Also, I can't seem to find a good list of companies that pledge not to use genetically modified food (no-GMO's), and often, they aren't clearly labeled. If anyone can either help me compile a satisfying list, or give me a heads up about companies and brand names that GMO products are marketed under, please let me know. When I get a good list or some good information, I'll post it all, so it'll be easy to find.
Thanks
-Kindra FM.
PS- it should be noted that although I'm vegan, I'd like information on any and all food products with a no-GMO pledge. I live with two omnivores, who are getting dragged along in this charade.
Today-Get rid of unnecessary food purchases
My family is small right now- it's just my parents and me. Since my brothers moved out years ago, we should no longer have to stock our kitchen like we are feeding the small army that is two teenage boys. So, why do we continue to do so?
This morning alone, while I was looking for cocoa powder to add to my coffee, I counted 9 cans of red kidney beans. Okay, I know we're Mexican, but who the hell needs 9 cans of red kidney beans? Worse still, I think some of them have been there for months, so it's not as though they're in popular demand. Is there something I don't know? Are we saving for a nuclear holocaust? We don't even have dog food, but we have 9 cans of red kidney beans. And 3 cans of green beans, 2 cans of potatoes, 4 cans of corn, 2 cans of garbanzo beans, 7 cans of diced or crushed or stewed tomatoes, 4 cans (in varying sizes) of tomato paste, 1 gigantic can of pears that takes up half the shelf, 2 cans of peaches in heavy syrup, 1 can bamboo shoots, 1 can water chestnuts, 2 cans of peas, and 2 cans dark red kidney beans.
?????????????????????!
?????????????????????!!!
There aren't even words...
Remember, this is just the canned section of our virtual grocery store of a kitchen. I'll spare you the details of our fridge and our dry goods cabinets (does anyone even eat Wheatabix anymore?), but they're just the same or worse. So before I weed out the food matter that isn't sustainable and limit the amount of foods here that are packaged or processed, I guess I have to get rid of all the junk that nobody uses anyway. I mean, I'm vegan, leaving two meat eaters, one of whom can't have red meat. Why do we have 6 lbs of frozen beef patties sitting in our freezer, right next to my Soy Delicious Chocolate Obsession? It makes no sense. We make no sense. I'm tired of watching good food go to waste, especially because I don't believe in even purchasing food anymore.
Check out the link on the sidebar that says Freegan.info. It gives you lists and links of statistics info that may change the way you think about grocery shopping, and hopefully will make you less inclined to waste food like us.
Take only as you need; give as much as you can.
This morning alone, while I was looking for cocoa powder to add to my coffee, I counted 9 cans of red kidney beans. Okay, I know we're Mexican, but who the hell needs 9 cans of red kidney beans? Worse still, I think some of them have been there for months, so it's not as though they're in popular demand. Is there something I don't know? Are we saving for a nuclear holocaust? We don't even have dog food, but we have 9 cans of red kidney beans. And 3 cans of green beans, 2 cans of potatoes, 4 cans of corn, 2 cans of garbanzo beans, 7 cans of diced or crushed or stewed tomatoes, 4 cans (in varying sizes) of tomato paste, 1 gigantic can of pears that takes up half the shelf, 2 cans of peaches in heavy syrup, 1 can bamboo shoots, 1 can water chestnuts, 2 cans of peas, and 2 cans dark red kidney beans.
?????????????????????!
?????????????????????!!!
There aren't even words...
Remember, this is just the canned section of our virtual grocery store of a kitchen. I'll spare you the details of our fridge and our dry goods cabinets (does anyone even eat Wheatabix anymore?), but they're just the same or worse. So before I weed out the food matter that isn't sustainable and limit the amount of foods here that are packaged or processed, I guess I have to get rid of all the junk that nobody uses anyway. I mean, I'm vegan, leaving two meat eaters, one of whom can't have red meat. Why do we have 6 lbs of frozen beef patties sitting in our freezer, right next to my Soy Delicious Chocolate Obsession? It makes no sense. We make no sense. I'm tired of watching good food go to waste, especially because I don't believe in even purchasing food anymore.
Check out the link on the sidebar that says Freegan.info. It gives you lists and links of statistics info that may change the way you think about grocery shopping, and hopefully will make you less inclined to waste food like us.
Take only as you need; give as much as you can.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Today- Reduce shower time
Okay, I know it sounds a bit crazy, but I spend about 25-30 minutes in the shower, daily.
Oh god, I can't believe that number.
According to the Earth Day Footprint Quiz site, I can reduce my ecological footprint .5 acres by merely spending ten minutes less in the shower each morning. Spending less time in the shower also means that I am saving more water and reducing our electric heating bill. Every minute that it's in use, a standard shower head uses 5-7 gallons of water- which means that I use at least 125 every time I take a shower. Trust me, I know it's vain, wasteful, and completely unnecessary. Now I'm proof that if people know the facts, they're more inclined to take action. (http://www.loudoun.gov/water/tips2.htm) By only spending 15 minutes in the shower instead of 30, I save between 75 and 105 gallons of water a day. Crazy, right?
The shower head can also make a difference. "Low-Flow" shower heads and faucets are available. They are a specially designed, more eco-friendly shower head produced by several different companies. Depending on the brand or the style, they use up to 50% less water, and cost between about 5 and 50 dollars. It's amazing the positive environmental impact simply switching your shower head can make. To find out more about Low Flow shower heads and faucets, I recommend this site: http://eartheasy.com/live_lowflow_aerators.htm
So today, I've decided to get my hair cut. Short. Do you know how long I spend "primping" each morning? Since my beloved long, brown locks are now dry and a bit like electrical wires due to all that "primping", making myself look halfway decent takes forever. And a lot of styling tools. Hopefully, cutting my awful hair will reduce that time by half. This also means, aside from completely conceited reasons, that less time will be spent with a straightener or curler plugged in, the shower or faucet running, and aerosol spray cans issuing vapors into our ozone layer. And that, my friends, makes my hair appointment a worthy cause.
Plus, it's just bloody ridiculous- why spend so much time doing my hair? What am I thinking?
Oh god, I can't believe that number.
According to the Earth Day Footprint Quiz site, I can reduce my ecological footprint .5 acres by merely spending ten minutes less in the shower each morning. Spending less time in the shower also means that I am saving more water and reducing our electric heating bill. Every minute that it's in use, a standard shower head uses 5-7 gallons of water- which means that I use at least 125 every time I take a shower. Trust me, I know it's vain, wasteful, and completely unnecessary. Now I'm proof that if people know the facts, they're more inclined to take action. (http://www.loudoun.gov/water/tips2.htm) By only spending 15 minutes in the shower instead of 30, I save between 75 and 105 gallons of water a day. Crazy, right?
The shower head can also make a difference. "Low-Flow" shower heads and faucets are available. They are a specially designed, more eco-friendly shower head produced by several different companies. Depending on the brand or the style, they use up to 50% less water, and cost between about 5 and 50 dollars. It's amazing the positive environmental impact simply switching your shower head can make. To find out more about Low Flow shower heads and faucets, I recommend this site: http://eartheasy.com/live_lowflow_aerators.htm
So today, I've decided to get my hair cut. Short. Do you know how long I spend "primping" each morning? Since my beloved long, brown locks are now dry and a bit like electrical wires due to all that "primping", making myself look halfway decent takes forever. And a lot of styling tools. Hopefully, cutting my awful hair will reduce that time by half. This also means, aside from completely conceited reasons, that less time will be spent with a straightener or curler plugged in, the shower or faucet running, and aerosol spray cans issuing vapors into our ozone layer. And that, my friends, makes my hair appointment a worthy cause.
Plus, it's just bloody ridiculous- why spend so much time doing my hair? What am I thinking?
Mission statement
So I took an Ecological Footprint quiz online today, thinking that it couldn't do me any harm to learn about how to recycle aluminum foil bits or anything else that I wasn't already doing. I wasn't expecting to be scared out of my mind by the fact that I was doing more harm than good to the environment! Me- we're talking been vegetarian six years, vegan three, into recycling, uses Dr. Bronners, the whole big "modern hippie" shabang- almost. I didn't realize that my "Footprint" was more like a bulging crater in the Earth's surface! There has to be a better way!
The terrible thing is, my huge size of my footprint wasn't caused by something obvious, like traveling, or consuming packaged, overseas goods; it was gigantic because of everyday things, like how many minutes I spend in the shower, or how often I run into town to do errands. I'd like to think that some of my actions that weren't calculated- like how often I shop secondhand and donate used goods, don't run the tap water, and eat a strict vegetarian diet- help offset my impact, but it doesn't appear to be doing much. Which means I must do more.
So here it goes. I will reduce my footprint little by little by choosing a new, simple thing to do each day. Over time, I'm hoping it will help build me a more sustainable approach to life. I want to prove, both to myself and others, that making eco-friendly choices isn't hard and doesn't have to be drastic. I think that's what scares a lot of people. They think that to become environmentally aware, they have to suddenly stop living how they've always lived, and that's not true. Sure, you have to change some (bad) habits, but there has to be a way for everyone to live happily and sustainedly, and now I'm off to try it.
The terrible thing is, my huge size of my footprint wasn't caused by something obvious, like traveling, or consuming packaged, overseas goods; it was gigantic because of everyday things, like how many minutes I spend in the shower, or how often I run into town to do errands. I'd like to think that some of my actions that weren't calculated- like how often I shop secondhand and donate used goods, don't run the tap water, and eat a strict vegetarian diet- help offset my impact, but it doesn't appear to be doing much. Which means I must do more.
So here it goes. I will reduce my footprint little by little by choosing a new, simple thing to do each day. Over time, I'm hoping it will help build me a more sustainable approach to life. I want to prove, both to myself and others, that making eco-friendly choices isn't hard and doesn't have to be drastic. I think that's what scares a lot of people. They think that to become environmentally aware, they have to suddenly stop living how they've always lived, and that's not true. Sure, you have to change some (bad) habits, but there has to be a way for everyone to live happily and sustainedly, and now I'm off to try it.
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