What a Crock: Kitchen Composter

Think turning your food scraps into fertilizer is all BS? Think again! All you need is a composter. Simply collect your compostable waste like coffee grounds, egg shells, fruit peels, and tea bags in a compost bin or crock, stir and water a few times a week. The waste will breakdown into nutrient-packed fertilizer in about a month’s time. We found this way-too-cute ceramic Kitchen Compost Crock ($42) that will look great on your countertop or terrace. Don’t worry; there is a charcoal odor filter so you can conveniently and stylishly collect scraps without yucky smells until you take it to your composting heap. There are even bio-degradable trash bags to line the bin that break down in about a month. If you are new to composting, you can get more details on how to turn that perfect pile of waste into wonders. For real.

Greenista Cocktail Factoid: Disposing of food waste in a landfill contributes to global warming. Every metric dry ton of food that goes to a landfill may generate .25 metric tons of methane in the first 120 days. Thus, composting this food waste would reduce emissions by the equivalent of up to 6 metric tons of CO2.

Written by Greenista Girl Shubhra

Photo by Giam and Frog&Princess

The Low Down on Organic Labeling!

According to http://www.greenearthorganics.com, “organic” refers to how the food has been grown and processed. The standards for the production, processing and certification of organic foods have been established by the Federal Organic Food Protection Act of 1990. Organically grown foods are grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Instead, common practices used in organic farming and food production include the use of natural fertilizers and composts; crop rotation for building healthy soil; pest and weed control using naturally occurring toxins, predator insects, and hand cultivation. Organic farming is time-consuming and often more costly than the non-organic methods but it provides the highest quality foods without the risk to public health or to the environment.

So, want to know the down and dirty about what Organically Produced means?

1. 100% Organic – is actually 95% organic.  The other 5% have to be approved on the “National List” of items that are not available on an organic farm.  Products cannot be made using sewage sludge, ionization radiation, and excluded methods.

2. Made with organic ingredients – is actually 70% organic.  Can list up to 3 organic ingredients.  USDA Seal cannot be used.  So for example, if you buy a CAN OF SOUP, and it states – “Made with Organic Vegetables” (It is only 70% organic).

Remember those eggs of yours?

Listen to this! There are no restrictions regarding: “No drugs or growth hormones used…Free Range….Sustainably Harvested”  Ack!

For more information please go to:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?navid=ORGANIC_CERTIFICATIO&navtype=RT&parentnav=AGRICULTURE

3. Take a Few Steps to Green Your Diet!
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating-plans/