Terra Talks… Last week we talked about our food choices for Thanksgiving. Let’s look at other ways to create a holiday that honors God’s earth. Save Energy— Glass and ceramic baking dishes retain heat better; turn the oven down 25 degrees. Do all prep work before preheating oven. Use crockpots, chafing dishes, etc. to keep food warm instead of the oven. Turn down the house thermostat, too! Use coolers (NOT Styrofoam!) to store extra food Read more…
Terra Talks… It’s November already and Thanksgiving isn’t far behind! Do you love the extravagance of a groaning table, more food than you can possibly eat, or special treats shipped long distances, justifying it because “It’s Thanksgiving”? Are we willing to look hard, to ask, “Am I more deserving of extravagant abundance than the farmer in Bangladesh whose fields are poisoned by rising salt water or the Central American coffee farmer whose crops are increasingly Read more…
Terra Talks… Last week we reviewed the new Plastic Carryout Bag Ban. Today we look at reusable bags and bag alternatives. —The most eco-friendly bag is the one you have! Heavy plastic bags, cloth bags, paper shopping bags can all be used many times. Keep 1-2 lightweight bags tucked in purse or pocket for that quick dash into the store. —A divided tote is perfect for storing bags in the car. Put rolled up bags Read more…
BAGS BANNED!!! Dear Terra I thought there was a state ban on single use plastic bags, but I still see small produce bags in the grocery stores. I’m confused! Baffled by Bags Dear Baffled, Let’s try to “unpack” the new plastic bag ban that went into effect on Oct. 1. Every year, Washingtonians use 2 billion single-use plastic bags. These create a huge problem for recycling systems as they clog machinery and contaminate food and Read more…
Dear Talking the Talk, This week we address the second part of your question about how to contact your legislators. There are MANY sites you can refer to, but here are some constants I gleaned. Letters and emails are both effective, but if time is critical, snail mail, is, well, snail mail. Some sites preferred calling, but most focused on emails and letters. Here are the basics on how to make your wishes known: State Read more…
Dear Terra, I want to be an activist in the fight around climate change, but I am a chicken when it comes to writing to politicians. Is there a resource I can use that has pre-written, ready-to-sign letters or petitions to express my views? Is it effective to send letters on-line? I care so much but feel too ignorant to matter. Please help! Talking the Talk Dear Talking the Talk, Wow! You’ve opened a huge Read more…
Prep Time: 10 Min Cook Time: 15 Min Total Time: 25 Min NOTE: There are two ways to make this, depending on what flavor you prefer. You can either boil the ingredients or roast them in the oven. INGREDIENTS 8 medium-to-large tomatillos 1 jalapeño (remove the seeds if you would prefer it more mild) ¼ of a medium-sized white onion ¼ cup chopped cilantro with stems 2 small cloves garlic peeled 1 lime Salt to Read more…
2-3 cups fresh basil 1 cup olive oil 6 cloves garlic, or more to taste 1 cup pine nuts (or walnuts) 1 cup parmesan cheese 1/4 cup Romano cheese Blend in a food processor in the order given. Add salt to taste. NOTE: Basil and garlic are natural antibiotics, so it will stay a long while in the refrigerator but turns brownish in the air, so cover tightly.
Dear Terra, We LOVE Halloween! Can we be earth-friendly and still go wild? Hyper for Halloween Dear Hyper for Halloween, We love Halloween, too, but not at the expense of our world. Americans will spend over $8 billion on Halloween this year on cheap, plastic, disposable, packaging-heavy trash. What to do? ~Decorations–Use natural materials like cornstalks or decorate with items you already have. (Picture by flickr.com.) ~Pumpkins–Commercially grown ones often use pesticides and are shipped Read more…
Bed A19 Tended by Jill Jill has been a faithful Gardener since ECG’s 2nd year. She is an active member of the Gardeneers, regularly attending meetings and offering all kinds of suggestions and advice. A veteran gardener of over 30 years–having grown up working in her grandfather’s huge garden and her uncle’s flower beds–Jill came to us after moving into the Blue Point Apartments, and realizing there was no place there for a garden! Most Read more…