Finest Foodies Friday: Top 5 Green or Sustainable Eating Blogs
I work hard everyday to make this day Greener in my household than the last. It is a constant struggle between convenience and doing what I know is better for the earth. This year I have made a commitment to my local farmers by purchasing over 75 % of my food items from the Farmer’s Market and changing my recipes to suit what is available seasonally. I am still as committed as ever to using leftovers and not throwing away food AND taking less trips to the grocery store because of it.
I recycle like crazy – people call me the “recycle naziâ€. I use recycled paper products when I use paper products – but mostly use cloth napkins and placemats for eating. I ration paper towels and plastic bags – rewashing them for later use. I use environmentally friendly cleaning products. We have even stopped eating non-organic meats and have cut way down on meat intake altogether. I am a self-professed Tree-Hugger, no I am NOT a hippy or flower child – though there is nothing wrong with those labels, they just never really fit me.
I get asked a lot why I went to college to study Native American studies. Being a white anthropologist comes with its baggage, but for me, it was not about learning about “the other†it was about me needing to learn from Native peoples how we can better take care of the earth. It is something I have always been passionate about, but not something ingrained in our culture, so I wanted to go to the experts.
I have always respected and it has always resonated with me that Native people have a spiritual and environmental approach to the way they look at the earth, which cannot be separated from each other – they go hand in hand. It has always been the same for me as well. The earth is our mother, we cannot own her and we should not ravage her – we should be more considerate about how much space we take up in the world – or we will have no world left to take care of. This does not mean we all have to become militant about being Greener, but just being conscious about it and doing little things in our daily life to make our imprint on Mother Earth a little smaller. Small changes can make a big difference.
So today, in honor of people who are doing their part, I want to feature my Top 5 Green Blogs – these blogs are managed by people who are doing what they can to look out for our Mother Earth – through the food choices they make, how they prepare their food and how they purchase it. I commend them for their conscious effort to make the world a little Greener. So go check these blogs out – get ideas, and that can be your one step closer to Green-ness TODAY!
First there is Eat Here Now. This blog focuses on eating locally and sustainably. The mission of the blog is to bring awareness and understanding that there are social, political and environmental factors to what and how we eat. Not only does it give you a more cerebral take on food, it offers up some yummy recipes that you can feel good about preparing!
Food Revolution: This blog is relatively new and currently having some technical difficulties due to a change in blog hosting – but please go check it out – it is a great concept for all of us foodies and we can all learn something – how to make a food budget and really stick to it – buying only what you really need and trying to make that food last! It causes you to be really creative and really think before you buy! When you purchase food with this concept, you can’t help but eat healthier!
Food Stories: This is a great blog all about the experiment of eating seasonally and really doing only that. Many studies relating to health show that having a seasonal diet is better for you, because it is genetically what our bodies are looking for. I love that this blog because behind it is a second philosophy – food as a celebration. Good food tastes good too!
The Year of Eating Seasonally: The philosophy behind this blog is, the fresher the food, the better the taste. It all came from eating a strawberry fresh, when it was in season, and getting so excited about the concept that when foods are in season, they taste better. This experience launched a whole experiment – to see if food is really better seasonally and if one is stuck eating only cabbage in winter. It is also an experiment to learn more about the hunger gap – if you eat what is only in the ground that season, is it really that bad or do you really feel deprived or hungry? Very cool stuff. Her family is going to learn so much about the environment – I think it is great to raise kids this way!
Then there is, Straight From The Farm. It is all about living in an urban area, but still committing to eating locally, or straight from the farm. In this blog you get the perspective of the farmers as well as those that support them by using their food exclusively. It is a wonderful project and so inspiring!
And here I need to honorable mention Judy, from No Fear Entertaining. Over the past several months there has been a HUGE transformation in Judy and the focus of her blog. She has been frequenting her local Farmer’s Market as well – and has made a commitment to eating locally. I feel a special bond with Judy, because not only are we both Florida girls, but we both started this journey around the same time. We get inspired by each other’s bounty and the dishes we make from our finds! So way to go Judy! You Rock, Girlfriend! 🙂
Bellini Valli - March 14, 2008 at 10:40 am
Great choices Jenn:D I will have to check out these blogs, the only one I am aware of is Judy:D
Peter - March 14, 2008 at 11:17 am
I believe most homes are conscientious consumers…to a degree.
I’m not sure if you’ve heard of this but in Europe, people started removing unwanted packaging from their groceries and leaving them behind at the store in protest.
Some supermarkets have taken notice and changes to their over-packaging is taking place.
The next time I go grocery shopping, I’ll see if I can do this.
Judy - March 14, 2008 at 11:25 am
Thanks so much Jenn-I feel so honored to be mentioned! You are truly an incredible inspiration to so many.
I hope through this post you can change the way that even just one more person thinks about the food they consume and the effect that it has on them and the earth around them!
Jennie - March 14, 2008 at 11:33 am
What a great roundup, Jenn! Thanks for the shout-out for Straight from the Farm. You really hit the nail on the head with your summary. 🙂 I find what you do here with the leftover concept to be equally inspiring as so very much food goes to waste in our over-indulgent culture. Keep up the good work!!
Heather - March 14, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Yay, you guys! I am so happy that there are bloggers out there really walking their talk (instead of just always making snarky comments and cooking pork, like me).
Once my garden starts growing I can join in the fun, but for now I’ll just hafta start visiting my farmer’s markets.
Ley - March 14, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I love this group of blogs! I really look forward to this every Friday. Discovering new people is fun!
And I agree with you (and these bloggers, I guess!) whole-heartedly. It’s like that saying, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
brittany - March 14, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Great group! I am already a huge fan of Judy, so I am anxious to check the others out!
Emiline - March 14, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Congrats to all of the Green Blogs!
I admire your actions, Jenn (and other bloggers) in going green, and trying to keep our Earth a beautiful place. I do a few of the things you listed, but not as nearly as much as you. When I get out on my own, I hope to do more.
courtney - March 14, 2008 at 10:46 pm
I am starting to llok forward to Fridays to discover more great blogs through you. I am tring to become more green and just reading blogs like yours make me think more.
Trotter - March 15, 2008 at 9:00 am
OK! Green I take; it may also help my diet… 😉
Congrats on your Yogi Times Magazine appearance! Loved to see the eyeglasses!
Have a great weekend!
Gil
Ivy - March 15, 2008 at 11:24 am
You’ve made good choices and I’ll have to visit all of them to congratulate them as I haven’t visited them yet. We are trying to do our best and become green and examine the relationship between the environment and actions that affect it.
Helen - March 15, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Hey Jenn, thank you for featuring my blog! Seasonal eating is really important to me. I couldn’t agree more with the philosophy of your blog either, if there is one thing I never ever do, it is throw food away. What to do with that leftover parsley? The leftover queen will have the answer!
Astra Libris - March 15, 2008 at 2:28 pm
This is an incredible post – especially your comments about being a white anthropologist! Bravo!
Huge, well-deserved congrats on the Yogi Times Feature! You rock!
Sophie - March 15, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Great links Jenn! I think you should add yourself to the list too – using up leftovers is very green 🙂
I write about combining local, ethical eating with good nutrition so it’s always good to hear about new blogs with the same kind of interests
Deb - March 15, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I will definately pay a visit to your list! Talk about recycling, Publix grocery store is where I purchase all of my wine. They have started giving you a free, reusable wine bag when you purchase 4 bottles of wine. They also are selling their reusable “green” grocery bags for only .99 each. So I have completely eliminated plastic grocery bags when I shop for food and wine. If everyone would start doing this, look how much less plastic would be put into Mother Earth!
This is a great post Jenn!
SallyGardener - March 15, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Thanks so much for choosing my blog! I’m really chuffed. We are so enjoying our seasonal eating experiment – it’s led me along paths I never expected I’d be following.
Love your blog, and will enjoy visiting the others on your list too!
Sally
theyearofeatingseasonally.wordpress.com
katie - March 15, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I think if you live in the US, where so much is available all of the time, you have to work a bit harder to live ‘green’. I know I eat seasonally because that’s all that is available (for the most part). I don’t eat ‘packaged’ food because there really isn’t any. I didn’t realize it when it happened (and I bitched a lot 11 years ago when we moved) but it’s just the way we live now.
katie - March 15, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Oh yeah, I brought one of my grocery bags (we have to supply our own) with me to shop in the US – so now I can embarrass my family and friends by bringing my own bag to the supermarket ;-))
We Are Never Full - March 15, 2008 at 8:24 pm
This is such a wonderful post. We do try to be as ‘green’ as we can, but I know it’s not good enough. Just switching lightbulbs, turning off lights, not using plastic bags at stores and recycling isn’t enough. And I know I need to do more!! Reading this post made me think (which after 2 drinks and an empty stomach is not easy) and I thank you for that! I often think about trying to make food from local ingredients b/c, even though I live in Brooklyn, NY, there are plenty of resources. Unfortunately they really are so much more expensive (which I know isn’t really a good excuse). One day when we live on land and we are able to grow our own food we’ll be practicing what we preach!
Anyways, the booze is talking now so I’ll go. Good job, Jenn! I’m going to go start a compost pile now! Wait, I live in Brooklyn…
amy @ http://www.weareneverfull.com
Marie - March 16, 2008 at 12:49 am
Whole foods and Trader Joes, are going to stop carrying plasic and paper bags by Earth Day, here in Chicagoland. I now carry my own bags into the store with me, they’re reusable. I have to admit, I often forget them in the trunk of my car, and have to run back out to get them. Creature of habit I guess. Hopefully this new way will become a habit to me soon. Nice post Jenn!
Laurie Constantino - March 16, 2008 at 4:47 am
A very thought-provoking and well-written post, Jenn. I share your sentiments entirely. I’m really enjoying your Friday posts highlighting great blogs, already I’ve found some new favorites! I also wanted to mention how terrific your Yogi Times article was – congratulations!
núria - March 16, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Hola Jenn, Thanks for your enlightment in this green area!!! I love this Fridays top 5!!! Let’s all be more concious about the land and what we’ll leave to our kids!!!♥
Alexx - March 16, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Championing these blogs is such a great thing to do – I will definitely check them out! 🙂
Cris - March 16, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Schools have a great share on helping our kids to save the planet… at least here, my kids go to schools that promote a lot of recycling. Jenn, I love the FFF, it’s when you get to talk more about yourself too and share some more great ideas.
The Leftover Queen - March 17, 2008 at 10:48 am
I am thrilled that you all are still enjoying FFF. I enjoy it too – it gets me re-acquainted with all the great blogs we have for reference in The Foodie Blogroll and reminds me how diverse the food blogging community is!
It also gives me an oppurtunity to talk about things I am passionate about! So thanks for all your feedback!
Valli! I know, Judy’s blog is great! I am sure you will enjoy the others as well!
That is a great idea Peter! I think we should take action when we feel it is right!
Thank you Judy for all that you do! That was my goal with this post!
Thanks Jennie for all that you do as well! We are all one big team!
Hey I love the pork too, Heather, don’t get me wrong – there is a place for all of this on the planet – but you are starting a garden and going to your market – so you are doing stuff too! 🙂
Thanks Ley! I love that quote! 🙂
Yes, Brittany! You will love them too!
Thanks Emiline! I appreciate your comment! I am sure when you get out on your own, it will be easier to be greener.
Thanks Courtney! That is great! 🙂 I am so glad that you are enjoying FFF.
Thanks Gil! I appreciate it!
Thanks Ivy! I am glad to hear about what you are doing to go green!
Hey Helen! Make Tabbouleh! I think that is the best use of parsley ever! You can also try parsley pesto…some people swear by it! Not me, because I don’t really like parsley…thanks for commenting!
Thanks Astra! I really appreciate it!
Thanks Sophie! Keep up the good work on your blog! 🙂
Deb, I bring my own bags to the store as well! It is an easy way to do your part…I did not know this about Publix though with the wine…I will have to look into that! ;)Thanks for the tip!
Hey Sally! No problem! Keep up the good work! Isn’t it amazing how food can be so inspirational!?
This is true Katie! It is harder to be green when you have so much choice and so much of it is based on convenience which translates to CRAP. Hey, I also bring my own bags to the grocery! 🙂
I hear you We Are Never Full! One day I hope to have my own land too where I can be more sustainable, not just green. Glad to hear you are having a good weekend! 😉
You’ll get there Marie! It does take a while to start a new habit – I think I have finally gotten to the point where I remember to bring my own bags into the store! 🙂
Thanks so much Laurie! I really appreciate it and I am glad you are enjoying FFF.
EXACTLY, Nuria! Just like Ley’s quote – it is all about the next 7 generations…a Native point of view that everything you do affects the next 7 generations, so you need to be thougtful about every action you take.
Thanks Alexx! I know you will enjoy them!
That is great to hear Cris! We need to do this more in schools in the US. it is amazing to me when I hear how many people still don’t recycle! Thanks Cris! 🙂
Arlene (MOM) - March 18, 2008 at 11:47 am
Go GREEN! And not just for St. Paddy’s Day.
Johanna - March 19, 2008 at 2:49 am
It is always encouraging to hear from others – I would like to eat more seasonally and I think I am slowly learning and changing but I find it harder to find information on blogs and in cookbooks about our seasons in Melbourne (even the south of Australia is different to the north) – but it makes me think I need to get out to farmers markets more and I will be checking out these blogs – thanks