Slim but delicious pickings = healthy dinner

I took the swiss chard I harvested today and added a bunch more that I got from Muir Ranch, plus squeezed the lemon I got from my tree today and boiled/steamed it all in 1/2 inch of water with some sea salt and it was delicious! The whole family loved it, except the dog.  I used the cilantro I harvested today in pasta sauce that I made with browned chicken and garlic, with the tiny red bell pepper (added a great flavor!), and Putanesca sauce from Trader Joe's and served it over brown rice and quinoa pasta (everyone but me is gluten free). It was a hit!

Today's Harvest

Swiss chard, snap peas, a tiny red bell pepper and cilantro. 

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Worms employed to make organic fertilizer

Got the worm bin all set up!

#worm-factory
+Nature's Footprint 

Excited about getting a new worm bin tomorrow, su...

Excited about getting a new worm bin tomorrow, subsidized in part by L.A. County.

Fish poop disappeared and compost bin getting thick around the middle

Several months back I noticed that when I did a water change on my aquarium and put the water on my strawberries they became much bigger and also sweeter! Sounds kind of gross but it worked. Then I added more plants to my aquarium including a philodendron that I let drape into the aquarium. Well apparently I have now created a complete ecosystem because when I did a water change yesterday and sucked the water off the bottom of the aquarium it was barely murky where usually it is deep brown. So I guess I have to up my game with my compost or I'll have to keep buying it organic compost like I did today.

If I don't use compost I notice that my veggie plants just sort of sit there but when I use the compost they just take off. My compost bin is in dire need of replacement and it is looking more like a round barrel than the tall rectangle it started off as. In addition to the sides giving out, I now have two rat doors at the top. The little guys made one and were using that for quite a while but then I decided to plug it up, and they quickly chewed one out of the thick black plastic on the other side. L.A. County offers composting classes along with compost bins at a reduced rate in different neighborhoods all over L.A. County. I guess I'll be going to the one in my neighborhood soon - hopefully the new one will be rat-proof.

Use All Your Food

When I was little I had to eat all the food on my plate. I don't think that's the best way to handle kids and food but I do believe it is in all of our best interests to not waste food.  Per the USDA, "In 2010, an estimated 133 billion pounds of food from U.S. retail food stores, restaurants, and homes—valued at approximately $161 billion—went uneaten.  Wholesome food that could have fed families in need is sent to landfills."  Per Feeding America, "Hunger in America exists for over 50 million people. That is 1 in 6 of the U.S. population – including more than 1 in 5 children."

Wasting food is also hurting our environment.  "Food is the single largest component of municipal solid waste going to landfills, accounting for over 20% by weight. Food waste quickly generates methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Landfills are the third largest source of methane in the United States." (USDA) In addition, think of the energy and water that is required to produce and transport the food we buy from the farm to the market to our homes. So what do we do to not waste food? 

1. Buy only what we need. It's great to buy in bulk but if it means food going to waste, then it's not worth it.
2. If we buy more than we need, share with others or give to those in need including homeless shelters and families in need. I asked my husband to pick up a bag of black beans from Smart and Final but instead of getting the 10lb. bag that I can use in a month or two, he bought the 25lb. bag!  Fortunately I have a friend who also cooks a lot of black beans, so I gave her half.
3. Use up fresh foods first.  I generally go shopping once a week. So, I try to use my fresh meats and vegetables soon after I go shopping. Then once all of those foods are used up I transition to the frozen and canned foods if needed.
4. Some vegetables can be replanted. Potatoes that have started to root can be planted in the garden to make more potatoes. The bottom parts of cabbages, leeks and lettuces can often be made to root and then can be planted to grow more. I've been experimenting with this and it works well sometimes!
5. Share prepared foods with friends if we have extra. I bought some pastries for having a friend over for coffee today and there are a lot left over, so I'm going to take them to work tomorrow, since my gluten-free family won't eat them, and neither will I (unless I get hungry at work tomorrow).

Saving Gas

We live in the foothills and have a steep road to climb to get home. My goal is two or less round trips a day - doesn't always work, but when it does I know I'm saving gas (and money) plus releasing fewer emissions into our air. I carpool with two other families which saves me three to four trips a week. I try to keep my car in good condition with oil changes and keeping my tire pressure up as well as not letting the gas go to E - these things all help with gas efficiency, too.
Hypermiling is like the frogger game - you have to look ahead to plan: if I see the light turn red I take my foot off the gas and coast to a stop. This drives some of the California drivers behind me crazy but that's okay. I tried the extreme hypermiling of putting my car into neutral to coast until my husband told me that's illegal and not safe because you don't have as much control of the car - so don't try that. My next step is to get a 21-speed bike and start working my legs up that hill. Happy driving!