Comments on: On the Cutting Block http://parmeter.net/ingrid/2009/08/18/on-the-cutting-block/ Ingrid's WordPress Blog Fri, 18 May 2012 20:55:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Maria http://parmeter.net/ingrid/2009/08/18/on-the-cutting-block/comment-page-1/#comment-776 Maria Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:09:01 +0000 http://parmeter.net/ingrid/?p=763#comment-776 This is why I loved reading "The Tightwad Gazette." Lots of good ideas in there for frugal use of one's finances and our natural resources. It really is shocking how wastefully we package food (and other things). Well, we don't normally find apricots packaged in styrofoam cups, wrapped in plastic here in the PNW, but... There's no reason why we can't use cloth to cover our plates of cookies, or reusable/washable plastic/elastic covers over leftovers in the refrigerator, or wax paper, or whatever else people used to keep their food tasty and relatively clean in storage way back when. I agree about cereal, too. It leaves me hungry. That and toast. Eggs have nature's packing in a biodegradable shell, and protein is more filling and has a lower glycemic index (makes you feel fuller longer). I add fruit or veggies to breakfast (leftover steamed broccoli scrambled with eggs is yummy). While I'm gabbing away on your blog, Ingrid, I'm compelled to relate a little story. I went into the grocery store in Sheridan earlier this year with one of my cloth Trader Joe's bags and gave it to the clerk when checking out. She looked askance at it. I suh-wear she seemed bound and determined to make me use a plastic bag from the store, so she unnecessarily stuffed some odd food item into one to separate it from the rest of the groceries. Sigh! I didn't argue with her, though I have a plan in place if I see it's going to happen again. Little things add up, and I feel better for using as little as I can, when I can. This is why I loved reading “The Tightwad Gazette.” Lots of good ideas in there for frugal use of one’s finances and our natural resources.

It really is shocking how wastefully we package food (and other things). Well, we don’t normally find apricots packaged in styrofoam cups, wrapped in plastic here in the PNW, but…

There’s no reason why we can’t use cloth to cover our plates of cookies, or reusable/washable plastic/elastic covers over leftovers in the refrigerator, or wax paper, or whatever else people used to keep their food tasty and relatively clean in storage way back when.

I agree about cereal, too. It leaves me hungry. That and toast. Eggs have nature’s packing in a biodegradable shell, and protein is more filling and has a lower glycemic index (makes you feel fuller longer). I add fruit or veggies to breakfast (leftover steamed broccoli scrambled with eggs is yummy).

While I’m gabbing away on your blog, Ingrid, I’m compelled to relate a little story. I went into the grocery store in Sheridan earlier this year with one of my cloth Trader Joe’s bags and gave it to the clerk when checking out. She looked askance at it. I suh-wear she seemed bound and determined to make me use a plastic bag from the store, so she unnecessarily stuffed some odd food item into one to separate it from the rest of the groceries. Sigh! I didn’t argue with her, though I have a plan in place if I see it’s going to happen again.

Little things add up, and I feel better for using as little as I can, when I can.

]]> By: ingrid http://parmeter.net/ingrid/2009/08/18/on-the-cutting-block/comment-page-1/#comment-766 ingrid Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:12:59 +0000 http://parmeter.net/ingrid/?p=763#comment-766 Sometimes you wonder if all our "progress" has just put us further behind. We don't know how to make things, we think we need foods and products that we don't, and we create so much waste out of what we don't need that there is now a giant mountain off to the side of Hwy 18 that I don't remember from my childhood. It is disturbing to me. I feel that I have a huge responsibility to do better--- I went and had three little garbage-producing people. Just that choice means that I need to train them to consume much, much less. Sometimes you wonder if all our “progress” has just put us further behind. We don’t know how to make things, we think we need foods and products that we don’t, and we create so much waste out of what we don’t need that there is now a giant mountain off to the side of Hwy 18 that I don’t remember from my childhood. It is disturbing to me. I feel that I have a huge responsibility to do better— I went and had three little garbage-producing people. Just that choice means that I need to train them to consume much, much less.

]]> By: Mom http://parmeter.net/ingrid/2009/08/18/on-the-cutting-block/comment-page-1/#comment-765 Mom Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:05:16 +0000 http://parmeter.net/ingrid/?p=763#comment-765 It seems that many people are getting to the point of disgust with the level of our consumerism. I've been very aware of how much time and effort it takes to do a good job of recycling. . . and there are only two of us . . . but the damaging items creep in and add to the growing pile! Dog food bags get filled with kindling and stacked in wood storage, but we still have so many. I swear my shampoo bottles are reproducing by the upstairs tub, and yes, cereal boxes that give a mere 12 ounces of product. We just finished reading Malcolm Gladwell's "Tipping Point" .... the time is right for a revolution. There is hope. It seems that many people are getting to the point of disgust with the level of our consumerism. I’ve been very aware of how much time and effort it takes to do a good job of recycling. . . and there are only two of us . . . but the damaging items creep in and add to the growing pile! Dog food bags get filled with kindling and stacked in wood storage, but we still have so many. I swear my shampoo bottles are reproducing by the upstairs tub, and yes, cereal boxes that give a mere 12 ounces of product. We just finished reading Malcolm Gladwell’s “Tipping Point” …. the time is right for a revolution. There is hope.

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