Some More List-Making
Parts two and three of the list of things I do to live more sustainably. See my numerous caveats in the intro to part one below.
Part 2: Eating like you Belong to your Ecosystem
1. Buy local organic produce[1]
2. Cook with in-season vegetables
3. Save inedible vegetable scraps in a container in the freezer to make soup stock[2]
4. When you cook, make extra to feed your roommates and friends and to eat for lunch the next day
5. Compost[3]
Part 3: Wasting not
1. Wash your clothes in cold water and air-dry them
2. Shower only when you have to, and time your showers
3. Don’t flush every time[4]
4. Don’t let the water run while scrubbing dishes or brushing your teeth[5]. Use a high efficiency dishwasher if you have one (after you’ve filled it up all the way)
5. Sweep hard floors and shake out area rugs outside rather than vacuuming them
6. Rather than throwing perfectly useful things away, donate them or find someone who could use them[6]
[1] Or local OR organic, if those are your only options. If I have to choose between the two, I tend to go for local, but that’s debatable.
[2] To make soup stock: save scraps of onions, shallots, garlic, leeks, chives and scallions, parsnips, carrots, burdock and turnips, mushrooms, celery, fennel, squash and tomatoes in the freezer. Avoid cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and greens. When you have a good 5 or 6 cups of scraps, sauté them in a little oil for a few minutes, and then add the water. Boil for an hour or so. Strain into a second pot, mashing the vegetables to get all the juices out. Et voila! (Thanks to Peter Berley.)
[3] The city of Oakland makes this easy for me, since they collect food scraps and yard waste, and all I have to do is put them in the right bin. I do wonder about toxins from things like milk cartons and pizza boxes that you’re also allowed to throw in, though.
[4] Not actually gross, I swear!
[5] This video changed my life, at the age of 5.
[6] Free stuff on craigslist gets positively gobbled up, in my experience.