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Greenwashing vs. Dishwashing
Posted on September 18th, 2010 13 comments Add a comment >>
As the Adirondack Green Circle was planning the recent Farm 2 Fork Festival held in Saranac Lake (September 4th), we wanted to keep the event as “green” as possible,. We tried to find ways to keep our veggie sample containers, Locavore Grill plates, and all other materials out of the long-term waste stream. That meant using paper for serving up the food and avoiding plastic, but what do you use to get those beets into your mouth?! One option that was explored was buying compostable forks and spoons that someone could just “process” in her home compost pile. Great (if pricey) solution, right?
It turns out that the “compostable” part of such forks and spoons appears to be a marketing scam aimed at ecofriendly types, a.k.a. greenwashing. An informal study done in San Francisco of such forks and spoons that had been through the city’s commercial compost operation (composted for 60-90 days at high temperatures) showed that they were not only recognizable in their original form but you could probably just wash them off and use them over and over. (See detatils at Fake Plastic Fish.) It seems beyond anyone’s wildest imaginings that anyone’s backyard compost pile could even approach breaking this stuff down. Turns out there is a little cyberuniverse out there discussing this issue, and there are lots of ideas. See what WholeFoods has to say: link.
Pictured above is our solution to this dilemma. The Green Circle bought a load of old flatware, from a local thrift store and the senior center. (And we asked folks to bring their own forks with them next time.) Buckets were put out for depositing the used utensils, and a Green Circle member (thanks, Susan!!!) took them home and ran them through her dishwasher. Someone will surely criticize using the dishwasher, but a lot of people told us they liked this simple, green, forward-thinking solution. And maybe next time folks really will bring their own forks.
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Let’s Eat Beets at the Farm 2 Fork Festival
Posted on September 1st, 2010 4 comments Add a comment >>
What do you do with beets? They always look beautiful on the farmer’s table – gorgeous deep red globes with glossy big leaves. It turns out that a lot of folks enjoy them only for their visual beauty but have no idea how delicious they can be. Too bad, because they are a stellar vegetable for our northern climate. They love cool weather and they can be grown pretty much all season long, with the bonus of a very long storage period (for the root portion) in root celler or refrigerator.
Come on over to the First Annual Farm 2 Fork Festival in Saranac Lake and find out what do with beets and other locally-grown veggies (including the mysterious Kolhrabi!). The festival will be held in conjunction with the weekly farmers’ market in Riverside Park on Saturday, September 4th from 9 am to 2 pm. Lots of details at the Farm 2 Fork website.
The Festival is being organized by the Adirondack Green Circle. In addition to cooking demonstrations and food tastings, the Circle is going to operate the Locavore Grill, featuring local lamb sausage and pulled pork sandwiches on locally-made rolls, as well as a special coleslaw and potato chips made from locally-grown ingredients. Lots more happening at the park – see the website for the most up-to-date schedule of events.
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Name: Cris
Bio: Cris Winters visited the Adirondacks as a child and fell in love with the region. Now her home and art studio – two small, rustic cabins – are in Fernville, just outside Saranac Lake. Her views on the environment are informed by a master’s degree in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy; extensive work as a field biologist; and a desire to make a life and some art with meaning. Her other blogs are In Cris’ Niche (an arts blog), In the Green Circle (one of several contributors), and Panama Field Notes (about a month-long journey across Panama).
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