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One conservationist act that our apartment is doing for Earth Day this year is making the (hopefully permanent) switch over to Scott® Naturals Tube-Free toilet paper. I’ve wanted to switch over since I first heard the news about the new Tube-Free TP over a year ago, but it hadn’t been rolled out to any stores near me until somewhat recently (see what I did there?). Even after it had arrived at the local stores however, I was hesitant to ever buy it because I have one housemate who is a very diehard Charmin® fan and in his eyes, no other brand does toilet paper justice.
Well, since we were running dangerously low on proper bath tissue as of yesterday, another housemate and I went out shopping for some and since we were paying, we chose Scott® Naturals Tube-Free bath tissue. So yes, we essentially forced this change upon our household, but I believe it will be a positive change. Now we get comparative quality (at least in my eyes) for less cost and in doing so, we generate a little less waste. Even though most of us recycle the cardboard tubes around here, it’s still unnecessary solid waste. I won’t miss fishing the tubes out of the trash every time someone forgets that the cardboard tubes are recyclable either.
Don’t let the misshapen holes in the rolls scare you though. Any toilet paper spindle will fit with ease (except maybe the Charmin® mega roll extender). It’s quite plush for one-ply toilet paper too, but you TP elitists may feel free to disagree. I often feel that Charmin® is a bit too comforter-like for comfort anyway, so I’m all for it!
bonjourpeachy asked: I live in Idaho. Very quiet, safe, and lovely scenery. Personally, it would be a place to retire, but not a place to live. Maybe you'd like to explore it someday? ;) Thank you for letting me know about NY. It sounds exciting! Wishing you the best of happiness and success in life!
So you’re an Idahoan, eh? How long have you lived there? All I know about Idaho is that great potatoes come from there and it’s the only other place in the world, besides the Himalayas, where you can find star garnets. It seems like a charming state. It’s never been on my list of places to visit, but why shouldn’t be? I’m sure it has a lot to offer. I’ve never been that far west, but someday I’ll get out there! Thank you, and I wish you the greatest of happiness and prosperity as well!
bonjourpeachy asked: What's it like living in New York? Is it a great place to live or to visit?
New York is a really pretty state with a good diversity of ecosystems and attractions. We’ve got the Adirondack Park to the north (the largest state park in the nation), the state capital to the east, Niagara Falls to the west, the Catskill Park to the southeast, followed by New York City (I love visiting the city!), Long Island, and then the Atlantic Ocean. There are also a handful of smaller cities scattered around the state that each offer their own unique twist on the culture of the state.
So, essentially you can stand atop mountains in the wilderness in one part of the state, visit some of the best shops and restaurants in another, and then kick back and sunbathe on a sandy beach, all in one state! Camping, hiking, kayaking, sailing, snowboarding, skiing, fishing, hunting, and pretty much anything you’d want to do outdoors is also highly encouraged here.
I live in Central New York, in a small suburb between Syracuse and Ithaca, and I find the state really enjoyable. I’m not super close to many of the best places in New York, but they’re still not that far off or troublesome to get to. There are definitely people who complain about life here, but I have thus far enjoyed it. I mean c’mon, we have state recognized marriage equality, state parks galore, beautiful farmlands and landscapes, and one of the most bustling cities in the world. What’s not to love? I definitely want to see and live in more states though, especially those on the west coast.
So I’d say it’s both a great place to live and a great place to visit. Where are you from? What’s life like there?
Yup, that’s how we do it
(Source: lovelysardine, via bonjourpeachy)
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Exactly one year ago today, I had the incredible opportunity to sit in on a lecture given by investigative journalist, Eric Schlosser. He is most notably recognized as the author of the New York Times best-seller, Fast Food Nation, and co-narrator for the film, Food, Inc. I originally intended to create this post on the night that I attended the lecture, but I never finished it, and so there it sat, in my drafts box, collecting dust…until now!
That evening, Schlosser discussed the many food industry-related problems that our nation and our world face and the solutions we could undertake to help solve them. Like many, he believes that our modern food production system cannot continue operating in the unsustainable ways it has been since World War II. Before then, farmers grew food less intensively and sold it locally and consumers were more frugal, cooked more meals at home, and conserved food resources to a higher degree out of necessity and common sense. Your parents would never allow you to throw away half of your dinner or package it in something you’d just end up tossing out. It would be wasted money, time, and effort spanning from the farm all the way to your parents’ wallets. Why then did it become so acceptable today?
Since World War II, we’ve gradually transformed into what many consider, a disposable society. The land we grow food upon, the livestock that we raise for consumption, the people that grow and transport our food, even the food items themselves have all become disposable. It’s a system built entirely for efficiency and profit as opposed to sustainability and nourishment. Our ignorance about how the modern food industry operates is what keeps the system running and that’s exactly why there’s so much controversy surrounding it. This is quite obvious now that so much light has been shed on the issue, thanks to investigative journalists like Schlosser, but when the system was first drafted and implemented, it was accepted as convenient, beneficial, and necessary. Everything became shrink-wrapped and branded, losing all previous identity beyond a name.
More recently however, our notions about food and modern food production have been traveling in the opposite direction. Fad, craze, trend - call it what you will - consumers have raised hell and have been pushing for better and higher standards when it comes to the food they eat. Local, free range, and organic foods are no longer uncommon items purchased only by wealthy elitists, but are food items demanded by average people who care about what they eat, where their food comes from, and how it was produced. Buying locally grown food often times means that you’re eating healthier foods that are actually grown using organic methods, not simply certified as “organic”, but it also means that you’re actively supporting your local economy and getting more bang for your buck. The less miles your food traveled to get to you, the better. Buying locally builds relationships between producers and consumers and nurtures the idea of community.
Schlosser calls this push for a more sustainable food system the leading movement on college campuses today and it all starts with buying locally. It’s become a pretty large movement off of college campuses as well with hypermarkets, like Walmart, and fast food chains, like McDonald’s, seeking to keep up with the Joneses and embrace local food.
Schlosser concluded his lecture that night on a positive note saying, “All of the solutions to these problems can be found right here, in Syracuse…if you care to look.”
It was quite an honor to sit in the presence of a major proponent of the modern food movement and learn from his great body of knowledge and experiences as an investigative journalist. However, I am still slightly upset about missing a Michael Pollan lecture that took place in Syracuse after finding out about it just days after it happened. I will get another chance someday!
My advice: stay eager, never stop learning, and remain alert to the world around you. You’re a big part of it, no matter how big or small your contribution. We need you!
Swedish almond cake. This deliciousness is the result of needing an excuse to use my KitchenAid tonight (even though the recipe regards the use of a mixer as unnecessary) and to satiate my desire for this amazing, in all actuality, giant almond cookie. If you’re looking to fulfill your almond cravings, follow this link for the recipe. Smaklig måltid!
A winter halo that’s currently surrounding the moon, as seen from Central New York, United States.
Love is Love by Victor Maury and Jackson Wimberly