Bonnie Cathers

I finding it challenging to cook waste free. But, I have become much better at eating leftovers and composting other items. There is still some waste, but I am getting better!

It is so easy to compost items I would have put in the trash in the past. Between composting and recycling, we have cut out trash going to the dump in just about half! The compost is helping feed my chickens and fertilize my many flower and herb gardens. 

Keeping track of the food waste has made me very aware of how much I waste, and what I can do to decrease or eliminate this waste. 

A lot of the waste is from vegetables. There are only two of us at home now, and many vegetables come in packages made for three or more. 

One thing I have started is a compost bin. Any veggies that go bad can be put in there. This in turn helps feed my chickens and creates organic fertilizer for my herbs and flowers that I grow for my use and provides pollen and nectar for my bees.  

Using smaller plates has made me realize how much I DO NOT need to eat!

An incredible amount of food is wasted in the United States alone each year. Some sources suggest the number can be as high as 40 - 50%. This waste is not just the food, but everything it takes to produce that food; the land used,  water used, labor for production, packaging, materials needed for delivery and sale of these products.
 
"It has been estimated that redistributing 30 percent of all the food lost in the United States could feed every food insecure American their TOTAL diet." (Leib 5)
What is causing this? One big speculation is the "date"-by labels on food containers. The fact is, consumers are plan confused about what they mean.

A 64 page report on this very subject was published by Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic and the Natural Resources Defense Council in September of 2013.  It is based on a, "...comprehensive ligature review, a 50-state study of current date labeling regulations and data from interviews with experts in the government."  (Leib 5)

There is too much to cover here, but I would strongly suggest, if you are interested, you check this report out. It is an eye opener!

Leib, Emily Broad. The Dating Game: How Confusing Food Date Labels Lead to Food Waste in America. National Resources Defense Council, 2013, pp. 1–64, The Dating Game: How Confusing Food Date Labels Lead to Food Waste in America. 

First I learned that it existed. I had not head of it before. 

There are at least 6 ways developed to harness the power of tides. 

As with anything, there are advantages and disadvantages. From what I read, the disadvantages, in my opinion, are much less than those of other energy sources.

Yes, I was surprised to find this kind of energy production and that is has been used for several years in GB and several other countries. 

A lot of my diet can have an impact on deforestation. From my coffee in the morning, to my meat sandwich at lunch, to my chocolate for dessert. 
I can lessen my impact by purchasing products made in collaboration with Rainforest Alliance and using products bearing the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal. 
I can remove my impact from eating meat, dairy and eggs by choosing plant-base options and growing some of it myself (as in eggs).