OsoEco’s Recent Comments

• Click here to view comment in original post

  7 to 1

  I like to say that for each person that buys from a breeder, they kill 7 puppies,

  Now that is probably not even true, but it gets the point across that as long as people support/buy from breeders instead of a shelter, dogs WILL unnecessarily die.

  For anyone who is going to purchase a dog from a breeder, I suggest you first go to a local shelter and watch them put dogs down. Really watch. Look in the dog's eyes and watch them take their last breath.On Animal-rights group makes the stupid claim that enviros must be vegetarians posted 2 years, 1 month ago 208 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  LOVE it!

  Clap, clap, clap, clap. Bravo, Matt! As a PR professional I LOVE your statement about meat-eaters not being environmentalists!

  Have you seen the way the site lit up? Kudos to both you and Grist for picking such a hot topic.

  Keep doing what your doing.

  Best,
  OsoEcoOn Animal-rights group makes the stupid claim that enviros must be vegetarians posted 2 years, 1 month ago 208 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Keep the Conversation Going!

  I have one thing to point out about the article...

  "This eminently reasonable insight leads him to a startling claim: that locally grown food under certain conditions burns more energy, and leads to higher greenhouse-gas emissions, than food produced thousands of miles away."

  What are those "certain conditions"? The farm near my home uses well water, compost made from products of the garden and sun to grow their fruits and veggies. People pick up their CSA share and/or utilize the farm stand at the edge of the farm.

  I'm feeling a bit stupid, but when I read these articles that are down with local, I wonder what energy is the above farm utilizing that "leads to higher greenhouse-gas emissions, than food produced thousands of miles away."

  I'd love to understand where these articles come from and which farms/how many they are looking at when they conduct their research.On If buying locally isn't the answer, then what is? posted 2 years, 2 months ago 28 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  $300 a month

  Hubby and I spend $300 a month on all our food and beverages (including wine). We are vegetarians, eat organic, cook gourmet meals and even shop at an independent food store whose products are generally .15 - .30 cents more than the larger local chain store.

  You must think we're crazy, even I can't believe we only spend that much, but it's true! We're not minimalists, in fact we're obsessed with good food. What lowered our food bills from $600 or even $800(!) a month was cutting out the daily stops to the grocery store on the way home. We'd end up with a pantry full of food, yet would keep shopping b/c a meal ingredient was missing.

  Before we put ourselves on a budget, we did something really creative and fun...we challenged ourselves for a month to use up everything in our pantry, fridge and freezer, only buying fresh veggies for that month. Friends loved the idea and would call each night to say "what are you having now?" and I'd update them on our current supply "well, we finished all the pasta and frozen food so we're down to brown rice and veggie broth". Don't get me wrong, some meals were down right boring.

  Once we cleaned out/utilized our current food resources, we set a budget of $300 for food each month. How do we reach it? We meal plan, take leftovers to work for lunch and lowered the frequency of purchasing extraneous indulgences we don't need to be eating anyways (ice cream, soda, most snacks).

  Instead of buying pints of local ice cream each week, I buy them every other week. It's taught us to slow down and enjoy our food (see www.slow food.com) leaving us more satisfied than before.

  Good luck, and try to cut other expenses so you and your partner can model healthy living for you child. That's priceless.On Umbra on prioritizing organic purchases posted 2 years, 2 months ago 10 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Lucky Me

  I've enjoyed the debate quite a bit about fuel use vs. supporting local communities. Living in the great green valley of Eugene, OR where I can purchase dairy, beef, seafood, veggies, fruit, nuts, etc within 50 miles, I'm biased and would have to say that if I didn't support local farmers and other local businesses, where would I/they be?

  Probably in some big city since my local small city economy would have folded without local people supporting local businesses, thus I'd find myself to be like the majority of Americans, buying crappy quality produce from all over the world.

  Nobody's mentioned health issues yet. Isn't that a factor? Isn't eating fresh better for everyone? Could someone add health insurance data to the numbers? On Think again posted 2 years, 3 months ago 29 Responses