Self-centered Humans

Pardon the language at the end, but I think this is a fantastic little comic!


See the original, here.

Local on a Budget

In response to my recent post about the cost of buying local food for one week, I'd like to share this link from the Co+op Stronger Together website. It talks about buying local food on a Budget. The tip about joining a CSA is a great one, I don't know why I ever decided against joining the closest co-op this past year, I seriously regret it!

Composting

I have been composting since the end of Spring. It feels so much better to keep my food waste out of the trash. I live in a house with 6 adults, half of whom are foodies- and who love to cook with whole ingredients. Now, all the food goes into our compost pail and then into our compost bin and not into landfills.

Composting is a tricky habit to learn. I know a lot of people complain about recycling- they're unsure of what can be recycled. I have been recycling for so long that it has become second nature for me. Composting shouldn't take too long to understand. If you're going to start composting at home, be sure you know what can and cannot be put into a compost heap. The dos and don'ts of composting are very simple.

Do put in produce scraps, organic matter, and lawn clippings. Do not, however include cooked food, not even vegetables. Always (and especially in a home compost pile) avoid adding meat, fish, dairy products and bones, pet waste or items cooked in oil to the compost pile. They can attract outdoor pests and harbor many types of bacteria and disease.

Moldy fruits and vegetables are fine to add. Watch the fats you add to the pile as fats are difficult for the good bacteria to digest. Breads and grains can also be added, but in moderation.

Anything you eat can be composted. This statement is true; however, that doesn't mean that every food is ideal for a compost pile. Citrus and alkaline are harmful in excess, and rinds are difficult to break down. As I mentioned before, breads and grains can be composted but are not as quick to decompose. This is also why meat and fats should not be added.

Do you research, read some text on the subject, and then just go at it! It's so much easier to begin than you might think!

The Total Cost

The total cost of my local purchases these past 9 days was $105.51

$5- 12 ears of local corn
$1- 2 local cucumbers
$4.50 - small loaf of local Zucchini bread
$3.50- local brownie (an unnecessary purchase)
$3.07- locally brewed mocha latte (another unnecessary purchase)
$37.00- Dinner for two at a local, vegetarian restaurant. Supplied a total of 4 meals.
$14.00- dinner at a local foods restaurant
$1- toffee, graham, pecan bar
$4.75- 1 local zucchini and 1 basket blackberries
$3.99- 1 Tub Seven Stars Farm Vanilla Yogurt
$3.49- 1 Dozen Nature's Yoke Large, vegetarian fed, free range eggs
$4.95-Spring Mill Bread Co. Honey Whole Wheat loaf
$1.38- 2 local Bagels
$2.99- 1 Salazon Chocolate Company dark chocolate bar
$5.71- 1 block chedder from Bowling Green Farm
$5.19- 1 package La Pasta ravioli
$3.99- 1/2 Gallon Trickling Spring Milks

That was for well over a weeks worth of food, plus I went out to dinner twice, and bought food out another time as well. Take those purchases out and it become $47.94! When I think about the amount of food I bought in excess of what I needed, and what I bought because I considered this past week a special occasion, it ends up being very affordable!

EAT LOCAL!