Comments frantique1 has made

Very interesting and disturbing article.  I was born and raised on a diversified farm and was a partner in a similar operation (one family operation) for another 15 years as an adult.  I have great respect for anyone raising grass fed animals, free range poultry of various kinds, and practices conservation methods in crop management.  It is very important that everyone becomes very conscious of how their choices in the marketplace affect demand for all products.  I buy very few shoes and they are never made of plastic.  Leather shoes will last a long time if taken care of.  I have shoes in my closet that are 20-30 years old.  I dress very stylishly and create a stir when I pull out shoes from 1976 to wear to the symphony.  We have all gotten too wrapped up in what the marketing/advertising, fashion magazines etc. tell us.  Stop the 'trend' and 'fashion' idea. We can all make a difference. 

However, do we want to put oil produced fabrics in our automobiles, furniture, bedding etc.?  It surely is a dilemma.  My suggestion is 'be conscious' and use what you buy carefully to extend its life.  Corporations are all about speed and money - if it doesn't fit into their rigid process it goes to the landfill.

Fresh Greens by topsymax13

I agree with the salad spinner.  When I bring fresh romaine, spinach and other fresh greens home I take it apart, rinse it thorougly in the spinner in water to which I have added several drops of 3% peroxide.  Then I spin thoroughly and drain off all water. Store in the refrigerator in the spinner and you will be amazed how much longer the fresh greens last while being fresh and crisp.  I also can, dry or freeze vegetables and fruits when in season.  Asparagus soup, carrot soup, rhubarb crunch, baked apples, pesto are fabulous in the middle of winter or when a work crunch normally would send many people to the fast food restaurant. Freeze all foods in glass jars for best results. Fruit and tomatoes should never be stored in the refrigerator.
Since I grow a garden I am regularly making soups when the swiss chard, spinach, tomaotes,are getting ahead of me. The rabbits and deer tend to ravage much of my garden unfortunately even though I live in a fairly large city. However, the garden is the best therapy after working all day.
My mother used to say "1/2 - 1 hour from garden to the table (or canning/freezer container). She was absolutely right.   On Umbra on storing produce posted 1 year, 4 months ago 15 Responses

Fabulous food ideas....

Since setting my goal of fresh and local I have come to realize how WONDERFUL truly FRESH FOOD tastes.  No excess fat from who knows where, no MSG, aspartame, high fructose corn syrup,red dye, excessive sodium etc, etc.  Just try organic, wash your food or grow it yourself-if you don't spray weeds and pests near your property. Join a CSA if possible. Since weaning myself off all those truly UN-NECESSARY additives I find myself eating much less! Many of these additives are shown to increase our taste for more of the same sweeteners, sodium and fats.  Skip going to the local ST....coffe shop for a 700+ calorie $8.00 drink full of all of the 'stuff' mentioned earlier. Saturday morning get out those fresh vegies and spend the day making wonderful vegetarian soups, etc.  Freeze them in GLASS JARS in appropriate serving sizes.  Buy your fresh spinach and/or romaine, clean it but do not chop it ahead.  Wash thoroughly leaf by leaf, spin in the spinner and leave it there for use during the week as needed.  Clean & cut into salad size bites your celery, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, red/green pepper.  Have some nice VINE RIPENED tomatoes ready on your counter-DO NOT REFRIGERATE.  Organic grilled chicken can be slivered and added to your salad as well.  Some ORGANIC feta, blue cheese, raw milk cheddar etc. Make your own salad dressings.  High fiber bread toasted w/roasted garlic.  Saute some garlic and fresh spinach and serve with a scrambled egg or two for breakfast.  It does NOT TAKE THAT LONG!!  Fresh fruit in season or frozen served w/ Kefir over top makes a fabulous desert.  You get the idea. Oh yes, don't forget to switch to coconut oil for cooking/sauteing.  MAKE YOUR NEW HEALTHY DIET YOUR NEWEST ART FORM!!!  Oh, I can't deny that I don't have St....Java Chip once or twice a year but truthfully, it just reminds me that my style of cooking and eating is so much better tasting.  The internet or bookstore has more than enough resources to get you knee-deep in HEALTHY EATING AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND HOUSEHOLD AND PERSONAL HEALTH HABITS...Now, walk to the Organic Food store for your excercise.  Oh, and stop useing that microwave...it changes the way your body utilizes the food.On Umbra on the impact of food purchases posted 2 years, 2 months ago 21 Responses