EcoStrides

Dock at Ancón, near Lima, Peru

I just joined Mississippi Market, a natural foods co-op. The one-time stock investment of $90 seemed steep, but I will recoup it in less than 18 months with member discounts. I’m already a member of a CSA (Foxtail Farm), which delivers fresh vegetables from June to October, but I wanted a good source for organic produce the rest of the year, as well as a source for sustainably-raised meat.

The co-op’s current newsletter expresses the values that help create good food:

• We need to care about how our food is grown.
• We need to be willing to pay the true cost of food.
• We need to understand and respect the connection between our food and the health of our families and our planet.

Memaloose State Park on the Columbia River, Oregon, June 13, 2009

The Blue Sky Guide is a book of coupons for living green. The guide is temporarily discounted at your local co-op for $15 (usually $20). I purchased it the past two years and broke even with the coupons I used. I’m more motivated for 2009 and expect to save lots of money. If you enjoy co-op hopping, you’ll be happy to hear that most of the co-ops have coupons for $5 off your grocery bill. There are also free bus passes, manufacturer’s coupons, discounts from restaurants, bike shops, museums, garden centers, and more. And everything has a green flair!

Hoping that the sage and rosemary make it through the winter indoors

I am already looking forward to spring. I know, I know—winter is not even here yet. But next year I plan to convert areas of grass (weeds, really) to gardens with flowers, herbs, and berries. I’ll be spending time this winter strategizing with the book Landscaping with Native Plants of Minnesota. Gardening is a lot of work, so I’ll be taking it one step at a time, starting with the sunniest patch in the yard.

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

Farmer in Chief is a thought-provoking article by Michael Pollan in New York Times Magazine. Pollan exposes the consequences of this nation’s food policy and gives practical suggestions to the president-elect on how to turn our food system around. The interconnectedness is clear! Our current food system negatively affects health care, climate change, energy independence, and national security.

Michael Pollan has written several books about our food system, none of which have I read; all of which I would like to read: In Defense of Food, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, The Botany of Desire, and Second Nature.

First loaf with The Zo

It’s hard to find a loaf of bread at the grocery store that doesn’t have high fructose corn syrup. So I’m going back to basics—baking bread.

A year ago I bought a top-of-the-line Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme, affectionately known as The Zo. At $200 this was quite an investment, but by my very rough calculations, the break-even point has been crossed. I have made bread without fail twice per week for the past year.

My first loaf was white bread, which turned out great, but it really was only a step up from WonderBread. So now I bake with whole wheat, rye, oatmeal, and flaxseed. It’s healthy, tastes great, and the aroma helps get me up in the morning.

By the way, what’s so bad about high fructose corn syrup? Check out this essay on Grist.