Some of you must have noticed the enthusiastic discussion Kevin, Kris, and I have been enjoying on Facebook that the almond muffins post triggered. I agree with Kris, it is a great discussion, timely because Earth Day is tomorrow.
It's a responsibility we should all be aware of and that needs some thought. You may be recycling diligently, but that doesn't permit you to waste packaging and plastic. You may be using natural cosmetics, but what about the tons of plastic grocery bags you get for every trip to the store? You may be buying bulk already, but wasting lots of water when you wash and clean. The task of being conscious consumers is not an easy one. Whatever you do, think of the chain of activities associated with it and how you can do your bit in your lifestyle to create sustainable practices.
On Earth Day tomorrow, let's make a pledge to incorporate one little thing in to our routines to thank mother Earth. We may not be able to clear traces of all the waste we've created dring our lifetime, but we can try to not leave a greater mess behind when we leave. You may call it carbon footprint or have other names for it. The point is to think beyond your needs and keep in mind how your actions affect the environment and the future.
Here are a few things you can incorporate in your lifestyle. I would love it if you shared some of your practices of how small steps can lead to big change for our planet.
I am proud and inspired to have close friends who go the extra step quietly in their daily lives and with great awareness beyond themselves to work towards a healthier planet for us and our future generations.
It's a responsibility we should all be aware of and that needs some thought. You may be recycling diligently, but that doesn't permit you to waste packaging and plastic. You may be using natural cosmetics, but what about the tons of plastic grocery bags you get for every trip to the store? You may be buying bulk already, but wasting lots of water when you wash and clean. The task of being conscious consumers is not an easy one. Whatever you do, think of the chain of activities associated with it and how you can do your bit in your lifestyle to create sustainable practices.
On Earth Day tomorrow, let's make a pledge to incorporate one little thing in to our routines to thank mother Earth. We may not be able to clear traces of all the waste we've created dring our lifetime, but we can try to not leave a greater mess behind when we leave. You may call it carbon footprint or have other names for it. The point is to think beyond your needs and keep in mind how your actions affect the environment and the future.
 |
| This beautiful image was taken from the Earth Day, Sacremento, CA website |
- Buying unpackaged, loose foods in bulk are a good way to start. - farmers' markets are a great way to buy local food that is not packaged or shipped from the other sie of the world. In India, I would buy from street vendors or organic farmers and take my own cloth carry bags. We also still have the luxury of buying grain in gunny sacks in India or easily getting loose grains by weight. Out here in the US, Whole Foods and similar conscious grocery stores have bulk sections where you can buy lose grains in a bag or your own container and pay by weight.
- No plastic water bottles, please! - More and more I see people carrying their empty water bottles through security check at airports and then refilling them. Plastic bottles are a menace and I noticed the overuse in India and cringed a the thought that we are making the same mistakes the West made ten years ago. It's about forming the habit - get a light weight water bottle and take it with you when you leave the house or keep it in your car.
- Soak. Sprout. Pressure cook. - Here's another practice I find very common in India, but something we need to hold on to. Sprouting is healthy and uses less energy to cool. Pressure cookers are irreplaceable and you can cook anything from greens and lentils to chicken in them in minutes. So, you save time, energy, and calories. What a great solution!
- You can use nature's cleaning agents to clean. - Do whatever it takes to use less gas and less water when you are in the kitchen. Salt, vinegar, and lemon and orange peels are the best cleaning agents. I rub used peels on my counter tops, cooking range, and my face. Their fruit acid works great on all surfaces.
There are so many such solutions. You just have to look around with an open and aware mind.
Your life, your relationships, your actions can all have a sustainable approach that includes the environment, economics, and society.
Here are some interesting links for more lifestyle ideas -
Have a beautiful Earth Day!
Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers this week and thank our lovely planet for it's endless beauty.
Great post, Tarana! I can add a few things we do to stretch our budget and waste less of the beautiful bounty the earth gives us.
ReplyDeleteThink carefully before you trim off and discard ends, peels, or seeds.
1. We have found that the leaves at the base of cauliflower heads are very tasty! Just slice them up and add them to the florets that you are stir frying, steaming, or roasting. Same goes with broccoli.
2. I've also never understood why so many recipes instruct us to peel and or seed tomatoes. Don't throw away all that healthy fiber. What a waste!
3. If you eat as much watermelon as we do in the summer, you'll find yourself with a lot of leftover rinds. A couple of years ago, my husband and I started experimenting with the rinds and came up with some very tasty dishes with cooked and raw (grated) rind. You can find some recipe ideas by searching with your favorite search engine.
4. The peel of many kinds of winter squash that is generally deemed (at least here in the USA) too tough to eat may not be. That tough peel can soften up to a lovely chewy texture in the pressure cooker. Just make sure you thoroughly wash the squahs, and buy/grow organic, if possible.
5. The peel of citrus fruits--particularly large ones such as grapefruit and pomelo--are used to absorb kitchen odors in China. We put them in the fridge to keep it smelling fresh (instead of or in addition to baking soda).
These are just a few quick ideas. I'm sure other people out there can add more!
Let's let tomorrow's official Earth Day remind us that, really, we should be thinking about our planet every day!
Thanks so much for all these ideas, Kris. I love them. I agree about tomatoes and citrus peels. The watermelon and squash peel ideas are new to me. Watermelons don't suit me, but whenever I get a chance, I am going to try cooking with them. I pretty much use most of the cauliflower. If I had a compost, I would throw them in it. Xie, Xie, Ni!
ReplyDelete