Comments on: Disposable

By: Luke Jackson

Luke Jackson — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:38:09 +0000

our local shop is giving away some free coffe mugs that are also of high quality,’.,

By: magda

magda — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:28:00 +0000

my husband also had a clif bar addiction. i was so bothered by all of the packaging waste that i figured out my own. now he won't eat the clif bars anymore, cause these taste so much better! you can veganizes these by replacing the eggs with flax seed (1 TBS flax to 3 TBS water, whisked together) and the milk with nut-milk. you can mix in whatever you like in terms of nuts, fruits, etc, and the sugar can be reduced or eliminated without calamity.

Wet
1 c applesauce
1/2 c nut butter
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 c milk

Dry
1 c wheat flour
1 c ground oats
3 TBS ground flax seeds
2 c oatmeal
1 tsp soda

Mix-ins
1/2 c chopped chocolate
1/2 c chopped dried figs
1/2 c chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350. Beat wet ingredients. Stir together dry ingredients. Add wet to dry and mix well. Stir in mix-ins. Butter a large baking dish (13x9) and spread mixture evenly in the dish. Bake for about 20 minutes, until beginning to brown about the edges, but still soft. Allow to cool completely in the baking dish. Cut into squares and freeze.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 18:41:00 +0000

Dear Sara, I just love this blog. I read you comment about the book Garbage Land (which I had never heard of) and I went to the library and got it. I am going to start reading it soon. Right next to it was a book called "Waste and Want: A social History of Trash" by Susan Strasser. I can't put it down! Go figure. A book about the history of our country and it's attitudes about recycling and trash - a page turner? But it is fascinating. I thought I'd recommend it to your blog readers.

I am lucky enough to live in a town in Oregon that has a lovely locally owned health food store/deli and they really do their due diligence about the products they sell and where they come from. I don't have to do a lot of research. We also have an excellent recycling program and I am down to one teeny Safeway bag of garbage per week. With the exception of cat litter. I've tried alternatives to clay, but they are sooooo expensive and my cat turns his nose up to them...so we will see how that progresses.

After reading all the comments I am really starting to consider a worm bin -- I love to garden and that would be a win-win situation, but I'm still a bit squeemish about that many worms! They aren't stinky all packed in like that?

We also have a great farmers market, but I thought, I buy organic, why bother? Well, now I realize I should support local, as well as organic.

Please, also, I have chemical allergies (which embarked me on this lifestyle) so I would love to hear people's comments on how they keep chemicals and fragrances out of their lives and homes and useful/working alternative products. My Grandmother died of Parkinsons and I know in my heart it was all the chemical stuff she was exposed to in her lifetime. There wasn't a housecleaning product Grandma didn't have and her house was spic and span clean but smelled like chemicals! And the garden! Oh my! The stuff we used to dust on those plants! I think about it now....

I don't want to go on and on, but I've learned so much from your blog and your readers comments. Blessings to you for this blog and keep up the good work!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 06:05:00 +0000

You know, we've gotten really bad about this lately, not stopping to think about the garbage we take in. This is a good reminder to get more focused on this!

But I stand strong in my resolve to continue purchasing water for my household! We buy in the refillable giant 5 gal jugs, and are actually going to switch to glass.

They don't make water filters that will take out all the crap in our water! (seriously. It's our pipes. Lead.)

By: Carol

Carol — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 15:08:00 +0000

Thank you Sara,
I will look for the stoneware. It does sound ideal.

By: Gwyn

Gwyn — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 09:54:00 +0000

It’s great to see from these comments how many people you have thinking about these things! We are reducing our waste in three stages – so its less overwhelming. First, reduce non-recyclable kitchen waste by going to the health food store and buying rice etc in cloth bags. Next, reduce recyclable kitchen waste by, for example, cooking my own beans bought in cloth from health food shop rather than buying them pre-cooked in tins (not looking forward to this stage really – sounds hard work but we’ll see!) and then looking at other household waste (not much).

By: Sara

Sara — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 21:24:00 +0000

I haven’t tested any recipes yet…but if you Google “granola bars”, “healthy granola bars”, or “vegan granola bars”…you’ll get TONS of results. I saw one out there from Whole Foods Market that looked delicious.

Carol…I use Pampered Chef stoneware exclusively and I LOVE them. They are wonderful. I have the bar pan, the 9 x 13, the small round, and the flat cookie sheet. I used to be a consultant, and had almost every stone, and when we moved, I got rid of everything except these and it’s worked well.
I think you can actually get a lid for the 9 x 13 too. Not sure…

I would second the idea of wool covers as a solution to diaper rash. We never had a rash with B unless we were traveling and she was sitting a lot without air flow. Also…don’t forget just not doing diapers altogther! With our next child, I’m definitely doing elimination communiation (infant potty training). Not saying you won’t need some diapers, but if they are running naked while at the house, you won’t have a rash.

Laurie…I actually don’t go out for coffee much anymore. If I do, it’s tea When I’m back in DM, we tend to go out a lot more because my parents go a lot. And that’s when I always forget it because I’m out of my normal routine. Thanks for the great encouragement on contacting legislature…you’ve always been so activist minded and I appreciate that.

By: Carol

Carol — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:36:00 +0000

I would also love any recipes for granola bars. I alternate between Cliff bars and ones by Kashi. The higher protein ones are ideal for keeping my blood sugar happy.

As for what to cook them in, I discovered this week that someone used to much force or a sharp knife on my brownie pan. The scratches they left damaged the pan and I will not be using it again. It was a nonstick that I was saving up to replace.

What would others purchase now? I had though of Pyrex but have found in reading that their bakeware has been known to shatter while being used. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/pyrex.html
That may certainly be a rareish thing to have happen but I think I’ll pass. Nonstick coatings are out obviously.

Ideally I want a 9×13 pan for baking that has its own cover so I don’t waste aluminum foil.

By: aimee w.

aimee w. — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 15:53:00 +0000

tv free asked about diaper rash and cloth diapers.

Could be detergent used to wash diapers, or the plastic cover.

We switched to wool covers since our daughter's skin was sensitive. They allow air-flow, are very absorbent and are very soft and no leaks.

By: Aimee W.

Aimee W. — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 15:46:00 +0000

I love reading your blog…
If you do start making your own ketchup, mustard, and esp granola bars, please post recipes. I have been wanting to do the same, instead of buying. I stopped buying them, but they make great snacks to carry around, so you don’t have to buy a snack when out and about with toddler.