Falling Into “Green”

by Miranda Hitchcock

As much as I hate to see Summer fade away, it’s time to welcome in Fall! When we think of Fall, most of us think of gold and crimson leaves, pumpkins, cooler weather and football. But it’s also a season full of opportunities to go green (and save money!) Here are a few of our favorite ways to live sustainably this Fall.

Open Your Windows- As the weather begins to cool and the smell of fall hits the air, take the opportunity to let your A/C and heat take a break by opening windows. You can bring in more natural light and increase airflow throughout your home and save on utility bills!

***Attend a Local Festival- Fall is a great time for festivities. This Saturday features the Taste of Bethesda festival, and many similar food festivals are taking place throughout the area. Head to an apple festival to taste the many different varieties.

***Hit the Thrift Store- Thrift stores are perfect for fall. Looking for a jersey to support your favorite football team each Sunday? Want some new fashions for fall but don’t want to spend too much? Hoping to find a Halloween costume that’s unique and inexpensive? Thrift stores can be a great, fun way to get all of these things. Your purchases are inexpensive, and they’re less wasteful than buying new! Purchasing used clothing prevents it from heading to the landfill and eliminates the need for more manufacturing. Not to mention the beauty of having something unique!

***Use the Whole Pumpkin- When you purchase pumpkins or gourds, use everything! You can scoop and bake the seeds for a tasty snack and use the insides to make delicious pies after you’ve carved your scary (or happy!) Jack-o-Lantern. Many pumpkins and gourds get wasted each year, allowed to rot and be tossed in the trash. End the cycle by using yours to the fullest!

***Swap Costumes- If you have kids, you know that Halloween costumes are a big deal (and can be a big cost!) Organize a costume swap with neighbors or friends to save some money (and the earth) by switching costumes.  This way kids get excited about a new costume but you don’t have to go through hunting down and buying one from the store.

***Green Your Decorations- You can literally green your decorations by using natural items like leaves, branches and pumpkins to spruce up your house and yard. Try to avoid waste by re-using old decorations or making them from scrap paper and cardboard. You’ll have fun with the whole family, and reduce waste in the process!

***Go Local on Thanksgiving- When preparing your famous, secret-recipe Thanksgiving feast, throw a bone to your environment! Order a turkey from a local farm (they’re often more humanely raised and don’t travel thousands of miles to your door) and you’ll be impressed with the taste! Get veggies from your CSA, and even try that pumpkin pie recipe you’ve been hearing about.

For more Fall tips, check out this blog or this site.

Miranda Hitchcock is the Associate Director for the Maryland Energy & Sustainability Co-op.

‘Tis a Gift to Eat Simple

by Miranda Hitchcock

Every Wednesday, I play hooky from my job. But I don’t go to the mall or watch the soaps- I head to Gorman Produce Farm in Laurel, MD. I spend a few hours volunteering there, and in exchange I take home some delicious produce. Over the past two summers I’ve had a variety of jobs working on the farm for “farmer Dave.” I’ve harvested cherry tomatoes and green beans and picked squash. I’ve sorted and counted vegetables and organized produce for their CSA program. I’ve harvested potatoes and boxed more heirloom tomatoes than I’d ever seen before going to the farm.

Volunteering here has taught me the value of the food I eat based on several principles.

1. Eating Local

By now, most of us know that greenhouse gases have a negative impact on our environment. We know that processing foods and transporting them across the country (and the world) releases enormous amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the environment. This knowledge has led many people to start eating locally. Most of the food in our grocery stores has come from thousands of miles away, from monolithic farms and processing plants. Eating local foods is a way to reinvest capital in your community and reduce greenhouse gases. You can do this by purchasing local produce from your grocery store or signing up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program next year. You can also visit a local produce stand or farmer’s market to get your local food.

2.Eating Seasonal

Seasonal eating is a great way to get back in touch with where our food comes from. It’s too easy today to forget that artichokes come from a big plant with beautiful flowers- not from aisle 2! And that peas come from pods, not the freezer section. Seasonal eating is even a great influence on your healthy eating! Not only do foods in season carry more of the nutrients and flavors that we love, but they help us bring versatility into our diets. Seasonal eating prevents the ruts we get into when cooking- where we can never think of what to make. Instead, getting your entire family into seasonal cooking can be a blast! It can be so exciting to finally be able to cook homemade butternut squash soup when fall comes, or to make strawberry shortcake in the spring. Most of our produce has distinct seasons (though some are longer than others) and experiencing each of those seasons is good for our health, our taste buds, and our environment. For more information, check out the Sustainable Table.

3. Eating Personal

When speaking to a friend the other day about his CSA, he made an insightful observation. He said that at some point, “this watermelon could be costing me $14, but I feel good about it.” There’s something to be said for knowing where your food comes from. In the grocery store, it can be hard to tell much about your food. Who planted it? What chemicals were used? Has it been genetically modified? Were the people picking it from the ground or the vine proud of it? Having a home garden is a wonderful way to develop a personal relationship with your food. If you can’t do that, getting to know your local farmers through a CSA or farmers market is a great way to get to know your food, too! This can give you faith in the produce you purchase and the people who put so much work into bringing it to you! For a list of Maryland farmers markets, check online. http://www.mda.state.md.us/md_products/farmers_market_dir.php

Miranda Hitchcock is the Implementation Manager at the Maryland Energy & Sustainability Co-op.