DIGGIN IT SUNDAYS * On a Friday

I was going to wait to post this on Sunday but can't wait that long to share with you what I am into these days.....

I am so happy that I know how to sew.  Even though it took me a long time to actually "get it" (sort of, I am still a huge beginner), I finally do and I am so excited.  Finally, that sewing machine I bought 8 years ago is finally getting some use.  Not a lot of use mind you, what with two children and all.  The funny thing is I rarely buy new fabric.  A friend of mine gave me a bunch of fabric she had leftover from a project of hers and I used that stuff every time I wanted to make something with nice "new" fabric instead of the old sheets, towels, and curtains I usually use.  

So, as you can imagine, I am really enjoying the lovely stash of fabric I recently purchased.  One of the reasons I don't like buying fabric is because it is really hard to find nice, organic fabric at a reasonable price.  I looked and looked online and wasn't really satisified with the selection and/or the prices for shipping.  That is, until I discovered this shop on Etsy that had beautiful organic prints that were pretty reasonable.  

     I am also really loving the organic thread I found online that comes on wooden spools.  I was getting very frustrated with the selection at my local fabric store because all the thread comes on plastic.  Even some organic threads come on plastic spools as well.  So, when I found this shop, I was in un-plastic heaven.  Now I just have to find some time so I can sew some magical gifts for my sister who is expecting her first child in March.

     I am full steam ahead into my holistic nutrition studies and am amazed at how much conflicting information there is out there when it comes to what to eat.  Lately, I lean more toward the current (cutting edge) trend toward eating foods as outlined in Sally Fallon's "Nourishing Traditions", which is chock full of recommendations that totally buck the way most people view nutrition nowadays.  You may be thinking, "Really, like what?"  Well, how about that meat, saturated fats, and raw milk products are actually good for you, and the earth.  Having been a vegetarian for so many years, I sometimes still find it difficult to eat meat, even though I do.  So I am really digging the book "The Vegetarian Myth" right now because it explores meat eating in a whole new way from the perspective of a reformed vegan.  Loving it.

Well, that's it for now.......Happy Sunday! 

PLASTIC FREE URBAN FORAGING: A How To Vlog

Despite all the technical difficulties I experienced today trying to get this thing edited, I am pretty happy to share with you what a typical Saturday is like for me.  I leave the house as early as possible for a little alone time away from the family and head into the city to shop for supplies.  It's been over a year now since I've consciously attempted to drastically reduce the amount of plastic pollution our family generates.  It is amazing how much plastic still manages to find it's way into our house even when we try to avoid it like the plague.  Along the way I've refined my plastic avoidance skills and thought I'd share some of them with you via this Vlog.  I had to edit away alot of footage in order to fit it into the 10 minutes I was allotted by You Tube so I am going to do my best to fill you in on some more details after the video.  

VLOG ENDNOTES
Plastic:  for more information about why it is important to avoid plastic go here and here

Bags and Containers: The directions for making your own cotton vegetable bags can be found here

- the same site also has directions for making the simple fabric grocery bags that I show you in the video.  The only thing I did differently is sew down the little corner flaps.

- when using glass or stainless steel containers for buying meats, fish and cheeses, simply give the container to the salesperson and they can place it on the scale and tare the weight before adding your purchases to the container

Maple Syrup:  We tend to go through a lot of maple syrup and I really wish I could buy it in large quantities in a can like they used to sell it in the good old days.  But it appears that most producers are into using the plastic jugs.  So, until I find a source for that, I buy the can.  Note: many maple syrup bottles are glass and even come with metal caps...

Cart:  When shopping at Farmer's Markets I highly recommend a shopping cart that folds up because you will be more inclined to buy a larger percentage of your groceries there if you know you don't have to struggle carrying heavy bags around.  Same goes for a cooler - you can relax knowing your precious market goods will be safe and sound in their icy home.

Meat:  So after having done a little more research on butcher paper I just discovered that the pink butcher paper is often lined with polyethyene, which is PET (#1) plastic.  So, your best bet is to head over to an ethical butcher shop and bring your own containers and/or unlined butcher paper/waxed paper for packaging your meat

Vegetables:  The Farmer's Market is your best bet for finding seasonal, local, unpackaged vegetables.  Caution though, there is still a lot of over packaging and plastic at the market!

Feta Cheese:  I choose the Bulgarian variety because I like it that that Europe generally has higher standards when it comes to food production (like they oppose the use of GMO's) and also because it comes to the store in a can instead of a plastic bucket like the other bulk cheeses.  The Mid-East Food Centre is located on Agricola Street in Halifax's North End.  They also have an olive bar and bulk food bins.

Planet Organic:  also sells bulk medicinal and culinary herbs that can be put into paper bags.

Bulk:  I tend to buy flours, grains etc from organic mills in bulk because they come in paper bags.  I also buy organic nuts and seeds in bulk even though they come in large plastic bags because sometimes there is no way around it.  The way I see it, bulk stores generally fill their bins from plastic packaged goods anyway.

PUTTING IT UP

  One look in my garden today and I knew it was definitely time to start preserving some of this harvest before it was too late.  Like all of us, I have list a mile long of all the things I'd like to do, but some things just can't wait.  So during Jude's third and final nap of the day I headed into the garden and began to harvest chard, spinach and rhubarb.  I gave them all a little rinse and then set a huge pot of water on to boil.  Meanwhile, I chopped up the rhubarb and filled up a Mason jar with it and stuck it in the freezer.  I can't speak highly enough of Mason jars.  We use them for storing all of our food and beverages. 

  The spinach and chard are going to taste great in the dead of winter when not a leafy green is to be found (well except for some kale perhaps).  Into the boiling water went the chopped chard for just a little bit, enough to blanch it, and then bam! (Emeril style) I dunk it into ice water to shock it and help keep it's vibrant green colour.  This too went in the freezer in a Mason jar.  

I cook the spinach in a smaller pot with just a wee bit of water until it is wilted and then plop that into ice water.

 

 So, now I just have to keep this up until all the greens are safely put away for the long, cold winter.....

NO PLASTIC

I am inspired to reduce and hopefully eliminate my use of plastic.  There is pretty much nothing good about plastic and it sticks around forever which is bad for us and future generations.  So that being said I am on a journey of discovery of alternatives to life with plastic.  I thought I would share with you some of the things I am now using instead of plastic around our house, especially the kitchen.

     In the photo you will see a lovely dish brush called The Laid Back Dish Brush.  I bought it at P'lovers in Halifax and I really like it.  It's pretty cool, made with natural bristles and recycled plastic, bamboo and a biodegradable plant based plastic.  You buy replaceable heads too instead of buying a whole new handle each time.  Seeing as this does still contain some plastic, I am thinking of buying ones that I recently saw online that are made from tampico.

     The next product are these really great biodegradable dish cloths from Vileda.  They are 70% viscose from cellulose and 30% organic cotton!  The best part is you can get them at Atlantic Superstore!  I love that these work so well to wash dishes and wipe counters.  They also hold up really well to being washed in the laundry.  The price is great too....I think I paid 2.99 for a pack of 3.  Way to go Vileda!

  The last item I'd like to mention is the unbleached soywax paper.  Although I am concerned about the potential of the soy in this being of genetically modified origin, I am glad to have an alternative to plastic wrap.  This stuff is great for wrapping food, and I even bring it to the store and have them wrap deli items and seafood in it.  It is available at Planet Organic and will run you about $3.29 for a roll.  And the packaging has no plastic either.  Yay!

  As I was browsing the blog Plastic Manners, I followed the links and found myself at the Berkeley Farmer's Market list for storing vegetables without plastic.  Here is the link if you are so moved to start refrigerating your goodies without plastic: http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/images/Berkeley%20Farmers%20Market%20Tips%20for%20Storing%20Produce.pdf