April 22, 2012
This is Sunday morning, my typical day to go to the weekly Farmer’s Market in my neighborhood. Today I’d like to take a moment or many moments to appreciate the farmer. This farmer and their team that gives up their Sunday to get up early, pack all their produce into their trucks, set up the stands, spend hours on their feet and tear down at the end of the day to repeat again at various other farmer’s markets – to bring us the freshest and nutritious foods! And this doesn’t include all the work involved in growing and harvesting the produce for us. Happy Earth Day to our farmers that work so hard to give us the produce that we city people have become accustomed to. It makes going to the grocery store a much less interesting experience. Thank you!
April 17, 2012
Another year gone by, is it Earth Day already?! If you live in the Seattle, Ballard neighborhood, the Sierra Club is hosting a forum on coal trains on Wednesday, 4/18/12, 7:00 pm at the Trinity United Methodist Church (6512 23rd Ave NW). It could happen in your neighborhood, trains loaded with coal distributing toxic coal dust in the air and threatening your community’s health. These trains loaded with coal are bound for Asia.
On a positive note: Let’s start planting our Spring veggies. So far, I’ve planted my snap peas, lettuce and parsley. The locally grown asparagus as arrived at the Farmer’s Market!
October 2, 2011
October 24, 2011 is Food Day! Challenge yourself to eat whole foods. Replace unhealthy processed foods with vegetables, fruit, beans and whole grains. Learn about healthy foods produced in a sustainable and humane way. Get on board! Visit FoodDay.org for more details.
October 19, 2011 attend the GMO-free Rally in Seattle, show solidarity with those rallying in Washington DC.
Date: 10/19/2011, Place: Westlake Center in Seattle, Time: 4-5:00pm Maybe I’ll see you there!
April 22, 2011
Do something for the planet today and for the days to come. Things I did today: did not use gasoline for transportation and searched for phantom energy users around the house (unplugged all those laptop and cell phone chargers when not in use). This weekend I hope to start my vegetable garden to get ready for Spring and Summer produce. Get ready to attend the Green Festival in Seattle, it’s scheduled for May 21-22. Happy Earth Day!
March 8, 2011
Since December 16th, 2010, I have entered the realm of being the ultimate eco-nutritionist by going car-less. This was not a choice that I personally made for myself, although it was something I had been considering. Circumstance has made that decision for me. On the morning of December 16th I awoke to find that my car was no longer parked in the driveway. Someone had stolen my car, my old 1995 Acura was gone. The club was locked on the steering wheel and the car alarm had been set but that didn’t seem to matter. Someone really wanted that car. Maybe the thieves assumed I didn’t need my car since I only drove it once every few weeks. Maybe they thought I was neglecting my car or that I really didn’t need it and they deserved to have it. Rather, they took the car and took what they needed. It was found two days later, minus the engine, transmission and wheels. Needless to say, it wasn’t worth fixing. Now I rely on my own power to get myself around town. My fitness level has improved. Mostly it’s been walking and biking with the occasional bus ride. If I really need a car, I’ve joined Zipcar for those situations. I curse the Seattle weather when it’s too windy and becomes difficult to ride my bike. I’ve figured out how to stay mostly dry and to ride my mtn bike with the knobby tires when it’s slushy out. Thankfully there have been few of those days. I still miss my car on occasion but I placate myself by considering the money saved on gas, insurance, license fees and car repair. “Saving the planet, two wheels at time.” (a quote from my friend, Mateo)
November 25, 2010
Happy Holidays!
Today is Thanksgiving. I know that not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving but it’s great time to gather with friends and family to share a meal. “Happy Meals” should NOT conjure up images of bags or boxes of fast food with toys inside. A true “Happy Meal” should be about food that is fresh, prepared with care and thought of the people will be eating it. The slow food movement brings us back to traditions of when we made time in our lives to carefully shop and prepare food. It also means taking the time to gather, talk and share that meal. For this holiday season, I would like to say do less, de-stress and eat well. Happy Thanksgiving or have a Happy Meal (a real traditional one)!
November 9, 2010
Since when did a company called Dairy Management funded by the USDA (US Dept. of Agriculture) help companies like Domino’s Pizza and Taco Bell put more cheese in their products. Thus, introducing additional saturated fat and sodium to already unhealthy foods. The basis of this funding is historical, from government mandated fees collected from the dairy industry. Wondering why the big push to use cheese? It appears the government buys the dairy industries excess milk and the excess milk is due to our changing demand for low fat dairy products. Therefore, an excess of whole milk, what’s better than to make cheese with it. Basically, it sounds like the government is charging the dairy industry to help them offload excess milk. The New York Times article can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/us/07fat.html
I wonder why the dairy industry is producing so much excess milk. And why the predominate use of bovine growth hormone (rBGH) on cows to increase their milk production. I don’t understand how our food production system has gotten so out of touch with basic economic rules of supply and demand.
October 31, 2010
I was at Trader Joes the other day and noticed at the cashier’s stand a notification about a recall on Good Earth Tea due to a possibility of foodborne illness. It baffling to find what appears to be another issue of cross-contamination, in a tea of all things. Since when do we have to be concerned about tea? I guess this is the world we live in now. While looking for a reliable source for this I was perusing the www.foodsafety.gov website and came across a news release on the chemical test for dispersant in Gulf seafood. Good news (according to the site) the chemical DOSS a major component of the dispersant does not build up in fish tissue. The sampling of a range of species from the area from show that they metabolize and clear DOSS from their systems. Unfortunately only this one chemical is discussed. What about the other chemicals? I’m not a chemist to know what else they should be testing for but it does not instill confidence that this seafood is completely “clean.” I have more investigating to do. Please let me know if you have more information on Gulf Seafood.
Back to the discussion about Good Earth tea I found this on the Good Earth Website. It’s a voluntary recall on the Caffeine Free Original blend of tea with a “possible presence of salmonella.” This tea was only sent to two retailers: Costco and Trader Joe’s. I don’t understand how salmonella which is typically found with chicken got into tea. Makes me wonder where they process their tea.
July 30, 2010
ride = independence
Well, at the least the Gulf oil leak has stopped. Thinking of energy independence, if only we didn’t need our cars. This occurred to me today as I plunked down $650 on much needed car repair. I ride my bike most of time and hardly use my car but I can’t seem to take that step, to give up my car. Must be the dreary, cold Seattle days that keep me linked to my car. But now, when the weather is warm and dry, I could almost consider it. Still waiting for the perfect electric car…
