Just Braise » Smart Shopper & Policy

Sustainable Table Dairy Page

stacey — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:57:12 +0000

If you are looking for some light (milky) reading, head over to Sustainable Table. I revamped the Dairy Page (http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/dairy/) a while back and its finally posted. (Sadly, the last line was altered– raw milk and raw milk products are illegal in most states.)

I also edited their page on RBGH, you can find by following this link: http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/rbgh/

Step up to the Plate

stacey — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:08:45 +0000

The other night D and I were at Cooper Union’s Great Hall to hear a group of activists discuss today’s food crisis. Sponsored by World Hunger Year, Step up to the Plate: Ending the Food Crisis, brought together a panel of speakers to discuss, what else, our world food crisis. The forum could have been a day-long event, packed into 3 short hours, provided speakers roughly 15 short minutes of talk time. It’s worth a listen to the sound bites below.

The first video is Gerardo Reyes Chavez, leader of the Immokalee worker movement, fighting for rights of tomato pickers in Florida. A very powerful speaker who has already done so much and is sure to keep strong. The second link is to author Raj Patel, who recently published a great book, Stuffed and Starved. Others follow, including Alice Waters.

The event was video taped by Philanthromedia and clips of the evening can be viewed on their blog – www.philanthromedia.org, or on You Tube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT-CIr16G-8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2Mldx3r2rQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu_c5jJ0P6M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu_c5jJ0P6M

Vermicomposting 101

stacey — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:41:33 +0000

I’m guest blogging over at Sustainable Table. My first post is all about vermicomposting (worm composting). Truly, not as disgusting as it sounds (or looks). Since picking up my worms I have swayed many unbelievers– including D who first thought my worms totally gross and now gets extremely mad if we forget to feed them or throw something out that could be destined for the worms.

So many have changed their tune that at our last party I had a group of 8 friends standing around our worm bin asking questions and participating in a feeding (I kid you not and swear most parties do not resort to worms for entertainment or conversation).

Composting is a great solution to stamp out our dependency on synthetic fertilizers, especially petroleum-based ones. It is easy to accomplish in any space– from small scale apartments to large farms. What to do with the compost? Your houseplants and garden will love the rich compost you provide for them. Not much of a planter? Donate your harvested compost to a community garden, neighbor or friend who does plant. You’ll have a friend for life (and maybe some veggies out of the deal!).

Vermicomposting is ideal indoors in a small apartment or house. You can find these, dare I say, fashionable, cedar worm bins on ebay (my friend L has one and loves how it blends into her decor). I have a basic plastic bin with a lid I bought at a discount store for about $10. A bin that will fit under the kitchen sink is a perfect size for a small family.

There are no noticeable bad smells associated with vermicomposting. The only smell will be a sweet Earthiness, and only noticeable when the bin is open, during feeding time. You can still go on vacation when you have your worms and they are not nearly as difficult to care for as a cat, dog, or even fish!

Head over to my post on Sustainable Table: Vermicomposting 101 to read the ins and outs of vermicomposting.