Let's go green! - a discussion of local food, wild food, recipes, backyard gardens, recycling, reducing waste and living a greener life.

December 14, 2011
This time of year presents challenges to eating healthy. All the parties with decadent or traditional or sweet dishes afford little in the way of healthy sustenance. The prices on many foods have become so high that it makes shopping at local business difficult. You can still support your community, be and eat local by adding some additional foods you may not otherwise think about. This is a wonderful time of year for dried beans and legumes. They are inexpensive, even at small, local stores. They are filling, full of protein and good carbs, as well as warming. Other foods that are great choices this time of year, as well as being low in cost are sweet potatoes, yams, winter squashes and apples. All these foods have a long shelf life, so you can stock up when they're at the best price and as long as they're stored in a cool, dry spot, they will keep very well much longer than most other 'fresh' produce. Here's a recipe for a winter hash that is wonderful, warming and simple to prepare.

A great recipe for desserts at this time of year is fruit crisp with pure stevia instead of sugar. You can use any fruit you like, although pears or plums are so nice this time of year.

I use pure Stevia powder, but you could use the appropriate replacement value of splenda if you prefer. Stevia powder is natural and has no glucose impact. Note: there are now stevia products on the market that have fillers. This recipe uses pure stevia powder with no fillers. If you use one with fillers, you'll need to calculate the correct amount to use.

Fruit
1 3/4 lb. pitted and quartered plums (weigh after pitting) or pears
1/2 tsp pure stevia powder (equal to 1/2 cup sugar)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbl water

Topping
1 cup almond meal (about 3.5-4oz)
1/2 cup oats
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp pure stevia powder (equal to 1/4 cup sugar)
6 Tbl melted unsalted butter, olive oil or vegetable oil

Another healthy recipe - Sweet Potato Hash with Onions, Rosemary & Lentils
Other recipes for beans and legumes.

A Philosophy; choose a starting point and move forward.

Some years ago a woman with whom I was working on a local non-profit project gave me some interesting advice. The project was intended to aid our community and I was responsible for making reminder calls to those who were participating. One woman fluffed off her participation and I found myself frustrated after being unable to persuade her to reconsider. My co-worker said 'We all learn things in our own time. You can only help those who understand and are ready to make a change.' It was good advice.

As in all things, the most important thing is to decide where your passion lies, and start there. Either by studying or simply taking a new approach to something. Below are various areas where we can make simple changes -- that starting point -- to make an impact on our environment and community.

Living Green; our daily efforts

Living Green is a mindset that is as unique to each person as their fingerprints. We all can develop things that are important to us and achievable. The best approach to starting a green lifestyle is to start small, with one or two things that really touch you. Every person can make a difference, and it doesn't matter if it seems small. There are other people who are making their own efforts. If we all understand the problems, and make some simple changes, we can collectively have a positive impact on our space.

See some easy ideas for living green.

Eating Local Foods; what is a locavore?

The definition is somewhat general, and very specific to each individual who cares to be part of this experience. Here's a link to a definition, but to simplify, a locavore is one who chooses local foods instead of those grown outside the community. Two of the ways you can do this is to grow some of your own food, and to shop at local farmers markets.

Read more about eating local.

Backyard Gardens; the most local you can get!

Growing edible foods in your garden space is a wonderful and economical way to have fresh, local food. Of course, summertime is a common time of year to grow edible foods in your garden, but there are things you can grow year round. Click here to learn more...

Eating Wild; you might be surprised...

what's edible in your own garden. Do you try to eradicate those dandelions? Do you have wild greens in your garden? Click here for some ideas of wild foods easily found.

Recycling; it isn't just about putting out the paper and plastics.

A friend from San Francisco was just telling me about how in SF, people put things they no longer want out on the sidewalks and others pick them up and take them home. That's recycling!

There are also benefits to purchasing previously owned items. It prevents new resources being consumed to make the item completely new from scratch. (Plastic and synthetic manufacture processes contribute adversely to environmental and health concerns. Sweatshops - including child labor - do still exist. Why kill another cow, calf or pig so we can have a new pair of shoes, slacks, handbag or jacket?)

See more simple recycling philosophies.

Reducing Waste; some easy ideas

We advocate the concept of having the things we believe make our lives enjoyable and help us feel we've achieved success. We also know that it is possible to have such a lifestyle without having a large impact (footprint) on our planet. Our decision to address a small part of this and work to make a difference is what led to Imelda's Closet.

we then begin to consider how to have the things we love and still not "consume" quite so much. For some people, cleaning out the closets means filling the trash can or a trip to the local landfill. For others it's a trip to their local or favorite charity. You may not realize how many great and useful items are donated to non-profit organizations on a nearly continual basis. When a thrift store needs to make room for new donations, old, unsold inventory will most likely go to a landfill anyway.

Click here for a few things that can be done to make a difference.


	Being Green: staying local, reducing waste and recycling. December 14, 2011 This time of year presents challenges to eating healthy. All the parties with decadent or traditional or sweet dishes afford little in the way of healthy sustenance. The prices on many foods have become so high that it makes shopping at local business difficult. You can still support your community, be and eat local by adding some additional foods you may not otherwise think about. This is a wonderful time of year for dried beans and legumes. They are inexpensive, even at small, local stores. They are filling, full of protein and good carbs, as well as warming. Other foods that are great choices this time of year, as well as being low in cost are sweet potatoes, yams, winter squashes and apples. All these foods have a long shelf life, so you can stock up when they're at the best price and as long as they're stored in a cool, dry spot, they will keep very well much longer than most other 'fresh' produce. Here's a recipe for a winter hash that is wonderful, warming and simple to prepare. A great recipe for desserts at this time of year is fruit crisp with pure stevia instead of sugar. You can use any fruit you like, although pears or plums are so nice this time of year. I use pure Stevia powder, but you could use the appropriate replacement value of splenda if you prefer. Stevia powder is natural and has no glucose impact. Note: there are now stevia products on the market that have fillers. This recipe uses pure stevia powder with no fillers. If you use one with fillers, you'll need to calculate the correct amount to use. Fruit 1 3/4 lb. pitted and quartered plums (weigh after pitting) or pears 1/2 tsp pure stevia powder (equal to 1/2 cup sugar) 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 2 tsp cornstarch 1 tsp fresh lemon juice 1 Tbl water Topping 1 cup almond meal (about 3.5-4oz) 1/2 cup oats 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp pure stevia powder (equal to 1/4 cup sugar) 6 Tbl melted unsalted butter, olive oil or vegetable oil Preheat oven to 350º For plums: whisk together stevia powder, cinnamon, cornstarch and sprinkle over plums Mix and add lemon juice and water Let stand while you make the topping For topping: whisk together all ingredients except melted butter Add butter and stir Pour plums into a buttered 7 x 9 inch baking dish Crumble topping evenly over top - take time with this so it covers well Bake for approximately 1 hour, until the sauce is bubbly and a sharp knife pierces the plums very easily Another healthy recipe - Sweet Potato Hash with Onions, Rosemary & Lentils Other recipes for beans and legumes. A Philosophy; choose a starting point and move forward. Some years ago a woman with whom I was working on a local non-profit project gave me some interesting advice. The project was intended to aid our community and I was responsible for making reminder calls to those who were participating. One woman fluffed off her participation and I found myself frustrated after being unable to persuade her to reconsider. My co-worker said 'We all learn things in our own time. You can only help those who understand and are ready to make a change.' It was good advice. As in all things, the most important thing is to decide where your passion lies, and start there. Either by studying or simply taking a new approach to something. Below are various areas where we can make simple changes -- that starting point -- to make an impact on our environment and community. Living Green; our daily efforts Living Green is a mindset that is as unique to each person as their fingerprints. We all can develop things that are important to us and achievable. The best approach to starting a green lifestyle is to start small, with one or two things that really touch you. Every person can make a difference, and it doesn't matter if it seems small. There are other people who are making their own efforts. If we all understand the problems, and make some simple changes, we can collectively have a positive impact on our space. See some easy ideas for living green. Eating Local Foods; what is a locavore? The definition is somewhat general, and very specific to each individual who cares to be part of this experience. Here's a link to a definition, but to simplify, a locavore is one who chooses local foods instead of those grown outside the community. Two of the ways you can do this is to grow some of your own food, and to shop at local farmers markets. Read more about eating local. Backyard Gardens; the most local you can get! Growing edible foods in your garden space is a wonderful and economical way to have fresh, local food. Of course, summertime is a common time of year to grow edible foods in your garden, but there are things you can grow year round. Click here to learn more... Eating Wild; you might be surprised... what's edible in your own garden. Do you try to eradicate those dandelions? Do you have wild greens in your garden? Click here for some ideas of wild foods easily found. Recycling; it isn't just about putting out the paper and plastics. A friend from San Francisco was just telling me about how in SF, people put things they no longer want out on the sidewalks and others pick them up and take them home. That's recycling! There are also benefits to purchasing previously owned items. It prevents new resources being consumed to make the item completely new from scratch. (Plastic and synthetic manufacture processes contribute adversely to environmental and health concerns. Sweatshops - including child labor - do still exist. Why kill another cow, calf or pig so we can have a new pair of shoes, slacks, handbag or jacket?) See more simple recycling philosophies. Reducing Waste; some easy ideas We advocate the concept of having the things we believe make our lives enjoyable and help us feel we've achieved success. We also know that it is possible to have such a lifestyle without having a large impact (footprint) on our planet. Our decision to address a small part of this and work to make a difference is what led to Imelda's Closet. we then begin to consider how to have the things we love and still not "consume" quite so much. For some people, cleaning out the closets means filling the trash can or a trip to the local landfill. For others it's a trip to their local or favorite charity. You may not realize how many great and useful items are donated to non-profit organizations on a nearly continual basis. When a thrift store needs to make room for new donations, old, unsold inventory will most likely go to a landfill anyway. Click here for a few things that can be done to make a difference.	iSickbay iPhone Repair
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