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Recycling: The fifth R of waste reduction

Sadly, many people justify excess waste because they recycle. But not everything tossed in our blue bins is actually recyclable. Let’s look at how to recycle the most effectively.  Know what’s recyclable in your area. This is the most important step in recycling! Each waste hauler accepts different items, which is determined by demand. Don’t just go by the recycle triangle on the bottom, or what someone can recycle in another city/county. If there’s no market for Read more…

By MJ Woods, ago

Reuse-ables

Today we’re talking about the next R: Reuse. Reusing items even one time significantly reduces the amount of trash we produce. Try looking at the things you automatically toss in the trash or recycling as see if you could reuse or repurpose it. Here are some things Terra routinely reuses. *Zip Top Baggies–If it only has veggies, crackers, etc., rinse, allow to dry completely and reuse. *Bread Bags/Produce Bags–Use instead of a baggie. *Glass Jars–Reuse Read more…

By MJ Woods, ago

Vegan Dinner in a Pumpkin

Vegan Pumpkin Soup with Pumpkin Seed/Mint Pesto Total time: 50 min Yield: 4-5 servings Nutritional Information: Calories: 263 Calories from fat: 184 Protein: 8.3g Fat: 21g Satfat: 3.4g Carbohydrate: 13g Fiber: 2.6g Ingredients Soup 1 large onion, chopped 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 large garlic cloves, chopped 2 teaspoons ground coriander 4 1/2 cups peeled, 1-in. chunks pumpkin or other orange-fleshed squash (from a 2 1/2-lb. squash) 4 1/2 Read more…

By MJ Woods, ago

The 6 R’s, continued

As we continue our look at the six R’s of zero waste, remember, zero waste isn’t really possible yet but that doesn’t mean we stop working towards it as best we can. Once we spend time RETHINKING our lifestyle and habits and REFUSING to bring home throwaway or low value items which don’t enhance our quality of life and the environment, we can look for ways to REDUCE what we do buy. Consider quality vs Read more…

By MJ Woods, ago

The 6 R’s

Terra Reruns… (Revisiting themes from last year.) Last week we talked about how there are really six R’s in working toward a zero-waste lifestyle. The first R is Rethinking how we consume and discard resources. Did anything jump out at you or encourage you to look for a new solution to an old habit? Are you slipping back into disposables like plastic coated paper plates and bottled water, etc. Are you rethinking ways you can Read more…

By MJ Woods, ago

Sealife-Safe Sunscreens

Dear Terra, I’m so excited to be going on vacation in Hawaii this year but heard that some sunscreens have been banned there. Is this something new? Beach Bound Dear Beach Bound, Yes! Chemicals in many sunscreens are contributing to coral bleaching, especially in areas with high concentrations of visitors. Hawaii and other areas are banning some products to save their reefs. Since no one wants to risk getting skin cancer, let’s look at our Read more…

By MJ Woods, ago

Green Tomato Cake

Written by Angela Jackson-Selle: Community Gardener,  It’s October: The air has a brisk tang, the leaves are turning, and those tomato plants are laden with beautiful green fruit that isn’t going to ripen. Some of them are starting to yellow, and will still turn red on the kitchen counter, but the really green ones—how disappointing. WAIT! Don’t compost or even (gasp) throw away those green tomatoes. They can still be delicious. Fried green tomatoes are yummy Read more…

By MJ Woods, ago

Laundry Room Hacks

June 7, 2021 Dear Terra, I’m looking for more ways to go plastic-free. Can I do something to reduce the plastic bottles on top of my washer? Signed, Conscientious Clean Freak Dear CCF, I applaud your efforts to cut down on the use of plastics in your home. There are several ways to do this. Since you asked specifically, let’s focus on the laundry room, where we can save water and energy as well as reducing Read more…

By MJ Woods, ago

Bathroom Bottle Blaster

Terra talks… How many plastic bottles and jars are in your bathroom? How many disposable items end up in the trash? Here are some ideas to make your bathroom more creation friendly.  *Plastic Shampoo and Conditioner Bottles- Swap for shampoo and conditioner bars. Rub directly on wet hair. You can grate a conditioner bar into a plastic jar with lid, fill with water to make a paste, dip fingers in the jar and rub into Read more…

By MJ Woods, ago

Top 5 Kitchen Swaps

Terra Talks… Terra is going back to basics. Each week, we’ll review some simple things all of us can try in our homes to live more gently on the earth. Let’s start with Terra’s top 5 green swaps in the kitchen. 1. Kitchen Sponge- We can’t say enough good things about the Swedish synthetic sponges! Use as a dishrag, sponge or paper towel, then wash in the dishwasher and compost when it wears out! 2. Read more…

By MJ Woods, ago