Come with me on another journey towards the dark green side!
It was announced recently that Matsen, the largest transporter of cargo to and from Hawaii, is raising its fuel surcharge by 8.5%
That's a lotta hooch!
The price of living here on our gorgeous island paradise is already pretty high and I am afraid that this is not going to make it any easier. But maybe, just maybe, this will be a good way to bring light to a subject close to my heart and save some money.
Buying Fresh. Buying Local.
I know, I am in Hawaii, but I got a lot of family and friends in Cali, so...you're welcome ;)
Farmers Markets are an excellent way to buy what is in season. You also know that it is fresh and organic (if you shop with organic farmers). To me, there is nothing more fabulous than a farm fresh egg poached to perfection over crusty bread and a big glob of homemade cilantro pesto.....but I digest...
Supporting local agriculture is a good way to keep money in the community as well an excellent way of knowing exactly where your food is coming from. In supporting local small agriculture you are also NOT supporting GIANT conglomerate mega corporations.
Speaking of Evil corporations, lets talk corn. Corn and soy are in almost every processed food we eat in one form or another. Monsanto is one of, if not the biggest corporations out there. 90% of all corn and soy are grown from GMO's, which appear in about 70% of all processed food in America. They control 90% of all genetically engineered seeds. So basically, Monsanto owns the food supply in America. I would use the term "food" loosely.... So, to surmise: if you are eating processed food in America, you are most likely eating corn, amongst other things, and it is most likely genetically modified.
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| Soy-lent green? |
But this is not a Monsanto blog. I highly recommend Food Inc. for a closer look at the farm/food culture in America.
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| Big Island Farmer's Market |
Buy Local.
In supporting local small organic farms you are supporting your community. I know organic food is not cheap, trust me, it's SUPER not cheap in Hawaii. Look at the big picture though. A lunch at Mac Donalds might seem cheaper now, but in the long run, the diabetes, heart disease, and weight gain are going to cost you way more. The definition of "food" has changed in America. Fast food ISN'T food. I know it is not possible to buy strictly organic, though I make an effort, but....
Ever heard of the Dirty Dozen?
Ok, Yes and No.
This list changes every year. I noticed that the more hype or attention a certain food is getting in the media because of its omegawhathaveyous, or superfiberfuckers, it ends up on this list, where it might not have been previously: blueberries and kale are good examples of that.
The Environmental Working Group states that it is possible to reduce exposure to pesticides by 80% by avoiding "the dirty dozen". No, not the men in the picture above, though, that might not be such a bad idea either...
We are talking about the 12 foods that are the most susceptible to pesticides. And they are....Drum roll please!
1. Beef- may be laced with: pesticides, hormones, antibiotics. Most likely fed a diet of corn, Uses huge amounts of water to raise, petroleum to ship, and not treated as if they have a right to matter. On a more personal note, not eating meat has cleared up my allergies in a way that no pills or drugs ever could.
2. Milk- 12 different pesticides have been identified in milk. Cows are also given growth hormones rGBH and rbST. Most people are actually more sensitive to dairy than they realize...take it out of your diet for a week and see how you feel.
3. Coffee- look for Fair Trade Certification and Rain Forest Alliance. Most coffee is grown out of the US, therefore, it can not be regulated and pesticides are often used.
4. Celery- there were 64 pesticide residues found on this plant. nuf said.
5. Peaches- 62 pesticides detected on this southern Belle.
6. Strawberries- another out of country unregulated fruit. 59 pesticides detected on these babies.
7. Apples- A good scrub wont rid you of the 42 pesticides found on Eve's favorite fruit.
8.Blueberries- 52 pesticides.
9. Nectarines-33 pesticides
10. Bell Peppers- 49 different kinds of pesticides
11. Spinach- The most contaminated leafy green with 48 different pesticides
12. Kale - well known for its hardiness...and now pesticides
If you can buy THOSE 12 things organically, you will dramatically cut your intake of pesticides.
Another fabulous way to support local agriculture in your community is to join a CSA. Community Sponsored Agriculture gives you the opportunity to have a giant surprise mix box every week from a local farm. They are not very expensive and I have found too much for just one person, so also a good thing to do with a friend and cut the cost even more. I have also found that there are things in there that I would not normally buy and it has helped me to broaden my veggie horizons.
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| BOO! |
The CSA I am joining even DELIVERS for a small fee of $5! Just Add Water! I am very excited about this.
Buy Fresh.
So, while it is not always possible to buy organic, it is almost always possible to buy fresh and in season. There is an important note that I think people forget to talk about when they are discussing organic foods. Organic foods are becoming more and more readable available in most super markets. However, some "organics" come from countries that don't have the same standards for organic that we do in the USA. Ever heard of Night Soil?
Google it. I dare ya!
So, while eating organic is a fabulous change in your diet, buying organic strawberries from Mexico in the middle of winter, is not. The other habit that I have to stress here is to buy seasonal. If it ain't growing where you live, don't buy it. Again, another gem about farmer's markets. They are always producing what is in season and THAT is what you should be eating.
Lucky for us Cali and Hawaii have longer growing seasons than just about anywhere in the US. The KCC Farmers market runs ALL YEAR! I believe that the foods match the seasons. I don't think that I would want to eat a batch of pumpkin soup in the middle of summer..(though I LOVE pumpkin!) Not to mention the amount of petroleum it is taking to ship those strawberries from Mexico to Hawaii, the way that veggies and fruits are harvested way before they are actually ripe and forced to ripen, though most fruits and veggies will not develop more flavor off the vine ( I said mosttt.....) If you have ever had a tomato in the middle of summer, you will never go back to eating those hard little, mealy tennis balls from Mexico ever again.
Talking 'bout a Revolution...
Here is the thing. YOU can grow your own vegetables. Yessss. Even YOU Jenn and LaLa of the Black Thumbs, and Pinkies, and Ring Fingers...
I had a container garden on my 3x8 balcony in Arcata and I grew: peppers, carrots, lettuce, peas (YES, I strung them up and everything), beans, swiss chard, kale, bok choy, tomato (it blighted..booooo arcata fog), rosemary, thyme, dill, basil. I also had worms, lady bugs, aphids, butterflies, bees, frogs and birds. It was just fantastic. I literally sat and watched that instead of the TV; yes, I AM easily amused!? Why do you ask???
No balcony you say? Do you have a window?
Check this out!
Not super stoked on the plastic bottles, hopefully they are being recycled for this and not bought solely for this purpose.
There is a revolution going on in this country. People are getting back to the earth. Bee keeping is becoming a popular hobby, gardening is on the rise due to the recession, canning and pickling is making a comeback, even the White House has a victory garden (so retro Mrs. Obama!) The ability to be self-sustaining is amazing. In my fantasy world I get out of bed, check for eggs in my hen house, let them out, milk my goat Brucie (yeah kylee! I went there ;) weed/harvest/water/plant depending on the season, and can whatever else is extra, make bread and goat cheese. We are so damn busy with our live that we forget to live them. Gardening, even in a container is a way of connecting back to the dirt. Trust me, once you try it, you will be hooked. Nothing tastes better than that first row of lettuce you grow....
We are moving on Monday to an apt that has neither balcony nor space for a window garden. My remedy for this was to get a job at a NPO "working" a few days a week in trade for veggies. I get my dirt fix, a little help with my food bills and they help preserve Hawaiian culture through maintaining native plants, flowers and foods. I will write more in detail about this NPO once I talk to them and start working. I also recently got a work trade job with Otsuji Farms! Come see me on Thursdays rvenings at the Farmers market in Kailua I am sure that this is an option for you too. Check out craigslist, ask around at market....it can be done!
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| ilka Hartmann.com |
But here is the kicker. The thing that shot me in my little hapa heart when I moved to Hawaii. While at first I was overwhelmed by the avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, papayas, mangoes, apple bananas, greens, fish, bread, butter, popcorn, honey, pickles, salsa, pasteles and okinawan doughnuts...I couldn't find garlic anywhere. I was informed by a vendor at the market that I was not going to find any at the market because it doesn't grow in Hawaii and therefore can not be sold at the market. Oh. Dear. God. What ever am I going to do with out garlic!!!!?????
*Dedicated to Brucie. My dear friend and Dirty Hippy*
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-25/matson-up-fuel-surcharge-amid-middle-east-unrest.html
http://www.walletpop.com/2010/02/04/monsanto-the-evil-corporation-in-your-refrigerator/
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Dirty-Dozen-Foods
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/GP/listpage/weird-veg
http://homegrown.org/blog/about/
http://www.peta.org
