Planet health: Reducing my paper consumption

Have you seen The Story of Stuff yet?

Since it was posted online a couple years ago, the film which makes a compelling case for reducing our consumption, has received over 10 million viewers.

I was reminded of the film and its case in April's Body & Soul magazine, which features an interview with Annie Leonard, the Environmentalist and Sustainability Expert behind the film. To sum up her view: "We're trashing the planet. We're trashing each other. And we're not even having fun doing it."

As someone who's rather eco-conscious, I took this article as a reminder to revisit my footprint. Yes, I've been doing great on the recycling front. In addition to sorting my paper and plastics each week, I compost my food scraps and recycle plastics not taken by the city to the Park Slope Food Co-op every second Saturday.

While commendable (pat on back), I must admit I haven't given as much thought on reducing my consumption. So I decided to look at my paper consumption, most of which floods my mailbox each week, and figure out a plan to clamp down. So far this morning I have:

• Canceled the delivery of my phone book by visiting yellowpagesgoesgreen.org. If half of us do that, we could save 10 million trees a year.
  
• Wrote to my landlord about posting a "no menus, flyers, ads" sign on our building to reduce the solicitations we receive. Park Slope residents can pick up a pre-made one from the Park Slope Civic Council.
• Canceled my subscription to a magazine I no longer read. And putting out old issues for people to take, rather than sending them right to the recycling bin.

This is in addition to:

• Collecting scrap paper, and feeding the blank side through my printer
  
• Signing up for electronic bill paying through my bank/credit card company
  
• Opting for no receipt when I make withdrawals at the ATM
  
• Calling catalog companies to remove my name from their mailing list

I love how these are all simple things we can all do, without causing too much pain. In fact, you'll notice that most of what I listed is unconscious consumption - stuff we didn't even ask for in the first place. So what's stopping us?

Just remember - the positive improvements we make to our planet (more trees, clean air/water, good quality soil) directly leads to higher quality food and better health for us all.

To my green friends out there, I'd love to hear from you. What have you done to reduce your consumption?

Sacha weds Mike, potluck style

We've heard of people going 'green,' but few live it like my friend Sacha. Her wedding was no different.

A self-proclaimed fan of No Impact Man and pusher of compost, Sacha Jones and her partner Mike Nies threw a 'bloody marvelous' wedding for 170-guests in the East Village on Sunday. The couple managed to stay true to their eco-principles, on an event that can easily force couples to give-in to convenience and comfort.

All invitations were sent out electronically (no paper), a 'no-gift' policy erected, and all guests were asked to bring a dish to share. The Ukranian Ballroom, the location of the reception, became perhaps the East Village's largest potluck dinner.

The couple urged guests to try their hands making a vegetarian dish using quinoa and rice. (Yes, Sacha is also a health counselor!) I chose to show up with my cornmeal crusted tempeh, a favorite of the newly minted husband and wife. Others brought pasta salads, roasted vegetables, and garlic-y greens. Fortunately, for the culinary-challenged, a Whole Foods Market was nearby. Others contributed beer and wine.

It was really remarkable to see the community come together. The wedding cake was gifted by Ayse, owner of polka dot cakes, and even made gluten free to accommodate the bride. Instead of a professional photographers, the couple relied on the shutter skills of their artist friends. And everyone donated plates and silverware to be used for the occasion.

Swati and I had a great time at the event and left inspired for our own wedding. It is always refreshing to see authenticity prevail in a time when its easy to give into the cookie-cutter-wedding-industry-establishment. I personally would be very grateful to have my life play out like this wedding - full of good food, love, and amazing people.

We all scream for Blue Marble ice cream

Ice cream, it seems, has once again become in vogue for health counselors.

The shift in our universe is largely thanks to Blue Marble Ice Cream in Brooklyn. Here ice cream is handmade from local organic milk. Chocolate is fair trade organic. And the bowls and spoons are all compostable.

I was tipped off to the place by my friend and fellow health counselor, Angela, who has been visiting the store a little more frequently than she would like. Both of us, it seems, have been craving ice cream lately. So I recently decided to visit the store with my sister, Nina, who was visiting.

This conversion didn't come easy though. It had been almost a year since I've indulged in the stuff. Part of my attempt to reduce the amount of sugar in my diet. Blue Marble's commitment to quality sourcing did ease my guilt a bit. However, I would be lying if part of me, didn't still think what I was doing was 'bad.'

So I put on my health counselor hat. Why might I be causing my craving for ice cream? Or rather what was my body trying to tell me? Perhaps I need to cool down. Or be less strict with my diet. Or maybe I just need more fat.

I realized there was some truth in all of this. My success in eliminating most processed foods from my diet over the last year had brought with it significant weight loss. More so than perhaps my body was ready for! Ice cream, while not the only source of fat, was actually beneficial in helping me return to balance.

The whole episode reminded me that it important to have a flexible attitude towards food. And there are no universally good or bad foods. Yet, don't get my wrong, most of us eat too much ice cream and sugar. But if you want to indulge, why not choose the best?

I recommend the Mocha Chip. :)

Yummy food comes from yummy compost

I've officially caught the compost bug.

I never thought I'd get much satisfaction from dumping smelly food scraps into a bin of other smelly food scraps. But sometimes I surprise myself.

I now bring my raw food scraps (i.e. fruits, vegetables, egg shells, tea bags) to the Garden of Union community garden every Thursday in Park Slope. The scraps are then processed into compost that is used to nourish the vegetables and other plants in the garden with essential minerals.

I love the concept of making some useful from something we have no use for. We recycle paper and plastic. Why not food? Food waste accounts for the largest component of our trash each year. Composting also reduces our need for chemically laden fertilizers, most of which are derived from oil.


If you are interested in composting, check with your local sanitation department to see what options are available in your area. New Yorkers can drop off their compost at the Union Square Farmers Market every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. There are also several other community gardens and ecological centers around the city that will gladly accept your goodies.

I store my food scraps in the freezer. That way, you can enjoy the benefits of composting without the stink factor. You can also buy a special compost bin that has a carbon filter. I then make my weekly trip to the Garden of Union (Union St between 4th and 5th Ave) on Thursdays. I simply look for the marked bin, add my scraps, and cover with sawdust. And that's it! I'm doing my part to reduce my footprint, and yes, make yummy food!