Looking for the answers to your “EarthFest Take a Test?” Search no further! Click the button below to access the answer key!
1) 46 million
2) True
3) True
4) C
5) A
6) T
7) A
8) T
9) D
10) T
♻️ #PlasticFreeChallenge - The Story of Stasher Bag
Written by Amy Newsome for Community News, April 2021
Sometimes ingenuity strikes when you’re doing the most repetitive and mundane task. Kat Nouri was packing her kids’ millionth school lunch and it just struck her one day how much plastic waste they were generating with each meal. As a silicone textile developer, she immediately wondered if silicone could be used to create an alternative to plastic food bags.
In addition to replacing plastic bags in lunch boxes, Stasher bags can safely go from the freezer to the microwave, oven, or boiling water; and then into the dishwasher! To avoid those mystery bags in your freezer, you can label your bags with a dry erase marker. The bags can be exposed to 400° Fahrenheit safely.
And if you’re super fancy you can use the bags for sous vide cooking, which is a technique in which your food and seasonings are sealed in a bag and cooked in hot water. This approach keeps all the food’s flavor, nutrition and moisture intact. Made of pure platinum silicone (the highest grade of silicone), Stasher bags are completely free of BPA, BPS, lead, latex, and phthalates so they meet all U.S., Canadian and even the most restrictive, European Union, food safety standards. One Stasher can be used over a thousand times. And if the bag eventually loses its ability to seal, you can send it back to Stasher Bags and they have them ground down to be made into playground pebble surface material!
Last September, Kat published a book called Let’s Fix Lunch: Enjoy Delicious, Planet-Friendly Meals at Work, School, or On the Go. The book includes 30 recipes for salads, soups, sandwiches, pastas and snacks as well as tips for using more sustainable ingredients. For every copy sold, Stasher will donate to No Kid Hungry, a terrific organization that works to feed hungry kids.
The Moscow Food Co-Op carries Stasher’s snack, sandwich and half gallon sized bags in lots of fun colors.
Stasher Bags’ mission is to “provide beautifully designed, hyper-functional alternatives to plastic that are better for people and the planet."
This information and more can be found at https://www.stasherbag.com/.
♻️ #PlasticFreeChallenge - More Sustainable Household Swaps
Changing out the items we use every day can have a significant impact on plastic waste. Check out our simple household swaps above and join us in our #PlasticFreeChallenge this month to support the health of our planet!
Plastic Toothbrush ➡️ Bamboo Toothbrush
Making the transition from plastic toothbrushes to a bamboo toothbrush is a great way to start using less plastic in your day-to-day life. With similar super-scrubber bristles and lifespan, a bamboo toothbrush reduces plastic waste with its biodegradable handle all while providing a good clean.
Plastic Silverware ➡️ Reusable Silverware
According to National Geographic, more than 100 million plastic utensils are used every single day. Similar to a toothbrush, reducing your reliance on single-use plastic silverware can make a big difference! Stash a reusable bamboo or metal set in your bag for on-the-go snacks and meals.
To-Go Coffee Cup ➡️ Reusable Tumbler
Now that the Co-op can happily accept your clean reusable drink tumblers (yay!), opt to get your espresso or hot tea loaded into your favorite tumbler! Tumblers keep your hot drinks hotter and cold drinks colder, all while vastly reducing the amount of plastic-lined paper cups and plastic lids in our landfills.
Earth Month BINGO
The Moscow Food Co-op’s Sustainability Committee offers some educational, (and fun!), was to celebrate Earth Month! Click the image below to download the BINGO card, which you can use to track eco-friendly activities and enter to win a Co-op gift card.
We’ve provided some fun resources for you on activities inside a green box! Scroll below to read more.
We’ve also created a new DIGITAL Bingo card! Just take a screenshot of your card and email it to boardadmin@moscowfood.coop to be entered to win! Click here to access the digital bingo card!
Questions? Email Chloe at BoardAdmin@moscowfood.coop.
Reducing Waste - The 6 R's
Written by Alice Ma, Moscow Food Co-op Board of Directors
Many of us were quite frustrated with the recent changes in recycling standards, and it has been heartwarming to see how much our community has supported the Co-op’s efforts to reduce waste, especially when it comes to plastic.
While recycling is a much better alternative to tossing something in the trash, it is important to keep in mind that there are more effective ways of reducing waste. If you’ve ever heard of the 3R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, you might be aware that those are listed in order of the most to the least preferred. Many efforts are focused on recycling, but addressing the root cause of waste involves reducing and reusing first. Reducing our consumption prevents the introduction of new items into the waste stream. Reusing what we do have gives the item another life before it goes into recycling or the landfill. There are many ways we can be mindful and reduce and reuse before we recycle. Here are a few examples of some ways you can practice all three of those R’s, plus a few bonus ones!
1) Reduce: Consume and make your purchases thoughtfully and with intention. Before purchasing something, stop and evaluate your need for the item. Is the item truly a necessity? Is this something that will add to your life in the long run? Often, when it comes to purchases like new electronics and clothing, the answer is no. For necessities, look for the most environmentally-conscious way of purchasing the item. For example, purchasing food without packaging, borrowing the item from a friend, or purchasing a new-to-you version from a local thrift or consignment shop.
2) Refuse: Consumption waste can occur without the exchange of money. We are often enticed by free samples and other giveaways while attending events. Many times, these items are made of plastic, or otherwise meant to be an item with a limited lifespan. Instead of accepting every freebie that comes our way, try politely refusing.
3) Reuse or Repurpose: If you’ve come across an item that has served its intended function, give it another life by reusing or repurposing it. Did you recently buy a plastic jar of gelato that is now empty? Bring it into the Co-op bulk section, use the scale to measure the tare weight, and fill it up with your favorite bulk item. Other examples include using old clothing to make reusable produce or bulk bags, or reusing paper bags to wrap gifts.
4) Repair: It’s tempting to throw away items that are no longer in working order. Before sending the item away, consider whether or not a repair can be done. This may involve patching up a hole in clothing, or finding a replacement part for an electronic. Many times, if you are unable or unwilling to make the repair, regifting the item to someone may be an option.
5) Regift: One person’s trash can certainly be another person’s treasure. If you have something you can no longer use or repair, ask around to see if someone else will find it useful. The Buy Nothing Project (www.buynothingproject.org) is a wonderful resource for donors looking for receivers, and has local chapters in both the Pullman and Moscow areas. If you’ve got some extra silverware on hand, the Co-op’s Sustainable Silverware project is happy to take them. Extra shopping bags and egg cartons can also be dropped off at the front end and shared with fellow shoppers.
6) Recycle: Lastly, if the item has no useful life left in it for you or anyone else, search for a means of recycling it. Moscow Recycling accepts paper, aluminum, glass, plastics #1 and #2, and a few types of electronic items. For items that don’t fit into those categories, consider looking into alternatives, like the Co-op’s partnership with Trex, to recycle plastic film and packaging. Companies like TerraCycle (www.terracycle.com) can also take your granola bar wrappers, toothpaste tubes, and other items and upcycle them into backpacks, shoes, and shower curtains. Check the recycling standards in your community to be sure you are not contaminating recyclables with non-recyclables or unclean items. Unwashed recyclables or recyclables that haven’t been emptied out can cause a whole neighborhood’s collected load to be unrecyclable!
The Co-op is happy to help shoppers reduce, reuse, recycle, and everything in between. We welcome any suggestions on how we can improve our waste management efforts. For more information on the Co-op’s sustainability initiatives, visit www.moscowfood.coop/sustainability .
Sustainability in the New Year: The 6 S’s
It is safe to say 2020 was a challenging year for most of us, as we had to be creative and adapt our daily activities to meet the constraints of a global pandemic. In-person gatherings with friends and family were done virtually and/or from a distance, visits to the gym had to be substituted with outdoor or at-home workouts, and we pushed extra hard to keep our mental, physical, and emotional well-beings in check.
One of my biggest personal challenges in 2020 was adapting my earth-friendly habits. As someone who is used to bringing their reusable bags, containers, utensils, and tumbler everywhere, the new safety measures in grocery and food service operations meant a large shift in my minimal-waste habits. While I support these protocols to help keep us all safe and healthy, it was a mental struggle for me to come to terms with the fact that I might be generating more trash in 2020 than I had in the past five years.
What really helped me shift my focus to something more positive was a quote from my favorite blogger, Anne Marie Bonneau, aka the Zero Waste Chef: “Just because we can’t reach the zero in ‘zero-waste’ is no reason to take zero action.” The zero-waste movement isn’t about being perfect or being able to fit all our trash in a mason jar, it is about focusing on what we can do to minimize our environmental footprint. I love that the Co-op recently put out an Earth-Friendly Resolutions Bingo challenge for 2021 full of great examples of what we can do, and am looking forward to participating! In the meantime, here are some of my favorite earth-friendly habits from 2020 that I plan to continue in the new year. If you love the six R’s (reduce, refuse, reuse/repurpose, repair, regift, recycle), I think you’ll also appreciate these six S’s!
SUBSTITUTE (or make it from SCRATCH). Focusing on staying home pushed many of us to get creative with what we have. Practice mindfulness before purchasing something. Is it possible to make a homemade version or find a substitute, or can you forego the item entirely? Some of my favorite DIY products from 2020 were lotion from whipped coconut oil, oat milk, vegetable stock from scraps, and homemade roasted peanut butter. Making your own or skipping the item entirely can save on packaging, and maybe even prevent an unnecessary trip to the store!
SKIP the produce bags. Buying a few limes? A single avocado? A bunch of bananas? Save the plastic/paper bag and place the produce loose in your cart or basket when you can. Co-op shoppers can also still skip paper grocery bags by bringing in reusable ones and bagging their own groceries.
SUPPORT Local. While I was initially hesitant about getting take-out from restaurants because of all the disposable ware, I always try to remember that it is so important to support our local businesses, especially during this time. One small way to ease the amount of trash when ordering carry-out or delivery is to request “no utensils” when ordering. Or, if available, show your support by buying yourself a few gift cards to use later. The Palouse is also home to many local retail establishments where you can find a perfect gift for your next birthday or anniversary.
SHARE your successes with your friends (and the Co-op) on social media, or start an earth-friendly challenge with your peers. Someone may be inspired by you!
SPEAK up. We can all make a difference with our own practices as individuals, but we can create even bigger positive change by supporting and advocating for policies and practices that protect our environment. Email a suggestion to the Co-op or fill out a comment card, write to your representative, or research legislation that affects our environmental footprint.
STAY the course. It is okay to acknowledge feelings of loss, sadness, and guilt over how difficult it has been to practice some of our favorite earth-friendly habits during the last year, but that doesn’t mean we should give up. Whether you found some of these ideas helpful, get inspired by the Co-op’s bingo challenge, or think of some creative ideas on your own, remember that all efforts, no matter how big or how small they are, make a difference.
Read Our Top Picks - Books and Documentaries Sharing Information on Sustainability
BOOKS:
”Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things” by William McDonough & Michael Braungart
”Climate Justice: Hope, Resilience, and the Fight for a Sustainable Future” by Mary Robinson
”The Omnivore’s Dilemma" and “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan
”The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability - Designing for Abundance” by William McDonough & Michael Braungart
“The Human Age: The World Shaped by Us” by Diane Ackerman
“Sustainability for the Rest of Us: Your No-Bullsh*t, Five-Point Plan for Saving the Planet” by John Pabon
“How Bad are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything” by Mike Berners-Lee
“Wear No Evil: How to Change the World with Your Wardrobe” by Greta Egan
“Grow Food for Free: The Sustainable, Zero-Cost, Low-Effort Way to a Bountiful Harvest” by Huw Richards
“Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer
“Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer
MOVIES
”Our Planet” featuring David Attenborough
“Chasing Coral” directed by Jeff Orlowski -> Check out his prior work, “Chasing Ice”
“Fools & Dreamers” by Happen Films
“The Biggest Little Farm” by NEON
“Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things”
“DamNation: The Problem with Hydropower” by Patagonia
Earth-Friendly Resolutions BINGO
The Moscow Food Co-op’s Sustainability Committee offers some educational, (and fun!), was to create Earth-friendly habits with the new year. Click the image below to download a BINGO card, which you can use to track sustainable habits and enter to win a Co-op gift card.
We’ve provided some fun resources for you on activities inside a green box! Scroll below to read more.
Questions? Email Chloe at BoardAdmin@moscowfood.coop. Happy New Year!
Click here to see some delicious organic granola recipes.
Check a local hardware store to find your new favorite water-saving shower head, or contact your city’s water department to learn about programs to decrease water use in your home!
Click here to learn about 30 eco-friendly hobbies you can pick up this year!
Click here to learn more about eco-friendly alternatives to salting your sidewalk or driveway, to help prevent slips and falls!
Click here to learn more about meal planning to help prevent food waste.
Click here to see our list of books and movies that share sustainability education!
Click here to learn more about creating a capsule wardrobe.
Click here to see a great list of recipes to make Meatless Mondays easy and delicious for the whole family.
Sustainable, Alternative Gift-Giving this Year
This article is part of the “Have a Sustainable Holiday Season” series presented by the Moscow Food Co-op’s owner-ran Sustainability Committee.
If your house is overflowing with forgotten toys, try these gift-giving alternatives this year (or invent your own). Friends and relatives might also appreciate your suggestions for practical, meaningful gifts for your child.
Subscriptions - Children’s magazines, book clubs, activity books, pay television channels like (Disney+).
Lessons - Music, art, gymnastics, ballet, swimming.
Games - Concentration, Memory, deck of playing cards, dice, marbles, Crazy Eights, number/math games.
Tools for Creativity - Special kinds of paper, felt tip markers, crayons, stickers, rubber stamp sets, paints, pipe cleaners.
Things to Build With - Blocks, building sets, hammers, pliers, screwdrivers, nails, scrap wood.
Special Keepsakes - Photo of you as a child, a favorite old toy or book, your first teddy bear.
Entertainment - Tickets to a play movie or other special performance, videocassettes, roller skating passes, zoo passes.
New Hobbies - Art posters and children’s art books, camera, film and photo album, soccer ball and jersey, kid’s cookbook, apron and cooking utensils.
You - A special day spent together doing an activity of the child’s choice.
Resourced provided by Miriam K. and Totline.
Look for future editions of the “Have a Sustainable Holiday Season” series from Miriam and the Sustainability Committee here!
The Tree Question: Use a Live or Artificial Tree?
This article is part of the “Have a Sustainable Holiday Season” series presented by the Moscow Food Co-op’s owner-ran Sustainability Committee.
Artificial trees are only more sustainable than real cut trees after 10-20 years of use. This figure does not take into account the plastic or the toxic PVC used to make the tree. About 85% of artificial trees are from China, and most ultimately end up in landfills. In contrast, live Christmas trees are a crop that helps local farmers. After holiday use, live trees can be mulched or chipped and reused in the landscape.
Reuse your artificial tree for multiple years if you already have one; otherwise, buy a locally sourced tree from a tree farm. A trip to cut down the tree can also be fun for the whole family, adding to the holiday experience.
Purchasing fresh cut Christmas trees from local farmers helps encourage tree farming. More tree farming means more trees absorbing more carbon from the atmosphere. This reduces global warming and also helps insure a healthier ecosystem. Trees stabilize soil, protect water supplies, provide wildlife habitat, and add oxygen to the air.
Or mix it up and make your own holiday ‘tree’ out of recycled items!
Here is another article with inspirational photos of some awesome trees made from trash.
Penned by Susan F., PhD
Look for future editions of the “Have a Sustainable Holiday Season” series from Susan and the Sustainability Committee here!
Making the Holiday Meal More Sustainable
This article is part of the “Have a Sustainable Holiday Season” series presented by the Moscow Food Co-op’s owner-ran Sustainability Committee.
Make it special by buying local or from family farms. Know your food’s birthplace.
Use local seasonable foods like squash. Eat from root to stem; use the whole vegetable if possible.
The average family wastes 1/3 of their holiday food. Don’t buy or make more than you can eat. Take an inventory of your refrigerator and kitchen shelves to see what you have already available before heading out to the store. Plan what you will make with the leftovers.
To calculate how much food you need use The GUEST-IMATOR; this will help you estimate food to buy for guests.
Consider donating food baskets to those in need.
Penned by Susan F., PhD
Look for future editions of the “Have a Sustainable Holiday Season” series from Susan and the Sustainability Committee here!
Mindful, Earth-Friendly Decorations for House and Home
This article is part of the “Have a Sustainable Holiday Season” series presented by the Moscow Food Co-op’s owner-ran Sustainability Committee.
If you decorate with lights, try to switch to LED lights which can cut energy consumption by 90% compared to traditional holiday lights.
Instead of discarding old decorations, keep your holiday bulbs and garlands from year to year. Don’t rush out to buy new ornaments and tinsel. It may help to consider them heirloom decorations.
Make homemade paper chains with recycled paper from magazines or newspapers.
Make papier mache holiday baubles with reused paper.
Decorate with found or grown natural objects like pinecones, gourds, and grass bundles. Or use recycled items to make decorations.
Make pinecone ornaments or other pinecones decorations; these are also good gifts.
Penned by Susan F., PhD
Look for future editions of the “Have a Sustainable Holiday Season” series from Susan and the Sustainability Committee here!
Fun Ways to Reimagine Gift Wrapping
This article is part of the “Have a Sustainable Holiday Season” series presented by the Moscow Food Co-op’s owner-ran Sustainability Committee.
Americans spend around 2.6 billion on holiday wrapping paper. Reduce that amount by wrapping gifts in a renewable paper source: newspaper comics, ad inserts, catalog pages, magazine pages, or other paper.
Use reusable gift boxes, fabric or bags (paper or fabric). You can start a family tradition of exchanging gifts that fit in the same box. See here for how to wrap using fabric. The Japanese art of wrapping with fabric is known as furoshiki. There is no need to buy fabric; you can repurpose fabric from clothes, sheets or other items.
Choose recyclable wrapping paper (papers containing foil, plastic, cellophane or glitter are not recyclable). Reuse ribbons and wrapping paper. Send e-cards or make your cards from recycled materials.
Don’t stress
Whatever you decide to do this holiday season try not to stress! Give the gift of relaxation to yourself. Remember that you are not personally responsible for the holiday happiness of others and let go of the idea of a perfect holiday.
Penned by Susan F., PhD
Look for future editions of the “Have a Sustainable Holiday Season” series from Susan and the Sustainability Committee here!
Giving the Gift of Sustainable
Plants in repurposed containers can make fabulous presents for loved ones and friends.
This article is part of the “Have a Sustainable Holiday Season” series presented by the Moscow Food Co-op’s owner-ran Sustainability Committee.
Reduce the number of presents exchanged by selecting fewer well thought out gifts.
If everyone has everything they need in your family, you could make the holidays a “give gifts to kids only” occasion
Everyone can agree to band together to buy each person one present that that actually want or need. Instead of 12 small inexpensive presents they get one larger or more expensive one. Does little sister need a working used car? Could Grandma use a new cattle feeder? Is Uncle’s washer broken? Does your friend need a swing set for their kids? Could your niece use a new camera?
Give the gift of your time by doing chores or other tasks for people. Does Aunt need her garden tilled? Does Grandpa’s truck need an oil change? Does your older neighbor need someone to shovel their drive? Can you make a custom oldies song mix for your Brother-in-law? Could you commit to zooming Great Aunt once a month?
Give the gift of food: local or handmade by you!
Buy local to support the community and reduce shipping footprint.
Give the gift of helping others to help themselves or preserving the environment.
Give livestock and community help at Heifer international
Plant a tree as a gift at the Arbor Day Foundation
Make donations to local charities in the recipient’s name. Here is a website listing Moscow, ID local nonprofits and charities.
Think recycled gifts
Give recycled, pre-loved, or pre-owned gifts from your home or thrift stores.
Make handmade gifts; this is especially effective for children and artist/crafters.
Sew custom masks using your family and friends favorite cartoon characters or colors. What about incorporating a scrap of fabric from a previously worn favorite t-shirt? More mask patterns and tutorials can be found here and here.
Give secondhand books.
Give gifts that help support artists, charities, or underserved communities.
Give gifts to help people be more sustainable or earth friendly: bicycles, water bottles, compost bins, garden supplies, bee houses, etc.
Penned by Susan F., PhD
Look for future editions of the “Have a Sustainable Holiday Season” series from Susan and the Sustainability Committee here!