Farmers Markets are Blooming Nationwide

Food for thought (sorry!) while I get The Green Apt growing again:

Grist Graph

According to a Grist article, the number of farmers markets nationwide has jumped 16% in the last year. Depending on where you are, this may mean more opportunities for you to stock your kitchen in a more earth-friendly manner:

"You can find a market near you via the Eat Well Guide, LocalHarvest, or USDA. And if there isn't one? The USDA has guides for how to start a farmers market, for the truly ambitious."

Gutter Gardens!!

We all deserve fresh, healthy food, and those of us in apartments shouldn't have to do without! That's why I love the gutter garden!

It is a fabulous (non-structural) small-garden option for an apartment's roof deck or small yard, using recycled/scrap gutters, of course.

Once I've moved into in my next Green Apartment (with a roof deck!), I will post some photos of my own. In the meantime, here is a photo from Apartment Therapy:



Thank you t0 Greenmoms for Tweeting this link to the enviromom blog!

KITCHEN: Local Foods

Local Foods. Much of the food in the United States comes from other countries. A glance at the shelves in your local market will reveal avocados from Mexico, apple juice from China and... The transportation of these goods takes precious petroleum resources, releases pollutants into the air, and as the price for oil increases, increases food costs. And, as recent scares with Chinese products illustrate, some
nations take more seriously the due diligence that results in safe, toxin-free foods.

KITCHEN: Organic Yogurt

Organic Yogurt by Stonyfield Farm. Organic products are grown, harvested, and processed using methods that use land responsibly and do not use chemical pesticides or fertilizers, growth hormones, or antibiotics. This results in many, many benefits to health and the environment. My favorite breakfast is Fat
Free Vanilla Stonyfield Yogurt with organic GrandyOats Granola fresh from Maine, but available nationwide. (I love the tart vanilla taste of the yogurt and the fact that both products are local. There's probably a similar product that's more local to you. Check it out!)

KITCHEN: Shopping Totes

Shopping Totes. According to Reusablebags.com, 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed yearly worldwide. Using reusable bags can reduce the stress that this unnecessary waste of petroleum resources and landfill space. Depending on my grocery needs, I use any number of random canvas bags I've amassed over the years, including a beautiful organic one I got for free at this year's Farm Aid!

KITCHEN: Dishwashing Liquid

Free & Clear Dishwashing Liquid by Seventh Generation. This vegetable-based dish cleanser is in my kitchen now, and I was surprised that it works to clean even burnt-on food (not that I burn food!) as well or better the petroleum-based brands
I have used for years! The difference: Non-toxic, Biodegradable, Hypo-allergenic, No dyes, No fragrances, No petroleum based cleaners, No phosphates, Safe for septic and greywater systems, Not tested on animals.

KITCHEN: Composters

Happy Farmer Kitchen Composter by SCD. Electricity-Free Odor-Free Indoor Composter. Once full, product is sealed airtight for four weeks to create plant food. Made of 75% Recycled Plastic soda bottles and EM ceramics. Capacity: 5 liquid gallons. Requires Bokashi Compost Starter. Price: $41.70 + $9.45 for Compost Starter [Oct 16, 2007]

NatureMill Plus Automatic Composter. Energy Efficient Odor-Free
Indoor Composter. Food and paper waste may be added at any time,
on any day, with fresh compost created every two weeks. This product
is on my wish-list, and there are reviews available. Made of recycled stainless steel and food-grade recycled polyethylene. Capacity: 120lb/month. Price: $299 [Nov 13, 2007]