Change the World Wednesdays September 7, 2009

I have joined this group for environmental change, please click here for more information.

The idea behind the Challenge is that the group pick a new green challenge every Wednesday. Join the group and make a difference.

Sorry, got stuck in UK with the volcanic dust cloud – so a little late with this challenge.

Wednesday 26th May

Our challenge, today, comes from my friend, Connie Mishali, who has taken a break from blogging but still drops in, occasionally, to check things out. This week we’re going back to plastic bags … specifically plastic produce bags. We’ve learned to say “no” at the checkout stand … now we’re going to say “no” in the produce department. Here it is:

This week refuse to use plastic produce bags. Instead, opt for reusable bags such as cotton mesh bags available at many stores, small canvas totes which you may have around … or no bag at all (not all produce needs to be bagged).

Or …

If you never use plastic produce bags, please tell us what you use instead.

What do you think? Can you do it?

Wednesday 19th May
This week, give up single-serving foods. No single-serving containers of yogurt, pudding or jello. No single-serving snacks or drinks. Eliminate individually wrapped slices of cheese and fruit cups. Basically, if a container holds only one serving … don’t buy it.

Or …

If you never buy single-serve foods, please share other ways in which one can reduce packaging waste at the grocery store.

Wednesday 28th April
This week remove, or begin to phase out, antibacterial products from your home (specifically those products containing Triclosan). Why? Antibacterial products contribute to new strains of antibiotic-resistant “super-bugs”. They are toxic chemicals which also pollute waterways and affect the environment. So this week … get rid of them.

Or …

If you have already rid your home of antibacterial products, please write a post about all the commonly used products which contain Triclosan and suggest alternatives.

Wednesday 14th April
This week, plant something. This can be as large as a vegetable garden or landscaping a yard … or as small as planting an herb garden in a container for your window. You can plant by seeds … or transplant something from your local garden shop. The idea, here, is simply to plant something.

Or …

If you’ve already been busy planting, we’d like to hear about it. So, please write a post about your planting adventures and include why it’s good for the earth.

I have planted a small fig tree and I am looking for a Comfrey plant as this is the best for making green manure for the rest of the garden – although it does smell pretty awful as liquid manure it does the soil a lot of good. Also it appears that writing about trees is a popular subject…my post on Olive trees gets more hits than any other! The most interesting and health giving vegetables to grow would definately be several varieties of mushrooms but they do need specialised knowledge and conditions.

Wednesday 7th April
This week, please visit “Stop Global Warming” and use their Carbon Calculator. Then, choose at least one activity, improve it, and at the end of the week use the Carbon Calculator again to measure the improvement. This challenge is all about awareness! Be sure to come back here and tell us what changes you made to improve your score.

Wednesday 31st March Easy challenge for me this week – eat wholefoods as much as you can this week. I made up a new recipe that would be quick, tasty and easy and also highly nutritious, full of cancer fighting ingredients.

Curry Bean Soup

Ingredients

• chopped onion and 3 cloves garlic
• pre-cooked white beans
• about 200g chopped tomatoes
• small bunch coriander (cilantro) chopped
• 2 tsp. Tumeric
• 1 tsp. Garam Masarla or Moroc spice
• 1 tsp Cumin powder
• chilli pepper to taste.
• 1-2 oz of chopped seaweed such as Nori soaked in 4ozs cold water.
• chicken or vegetable stock

Fry the onion and garlic gently in a little Olive oil until lightly brown. Add the spices and fry for 1 minute. Add all the other ingredients and simmer slowly for about 10 minutes.

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