April 2019 Newsletter
May each and every day be considered Earth Day.
|
Can Less be the New More?
Many of us have lived our entire lives within a set of cultural norms that fervently expound beliefs such as bigger is better, you are what you wear, what you drive, where you live, and that having more is always better than having less. The daily mantras that cross our paths claiming the benefits of More are incessant and unending: Grow your bottom line. Increase your wages. Enlarge your portfolio. Expand your family. Move up the ladder. Get what you deserve. Maximize your profits. Optimize your efficiency. Improve your position. The lessons here are to get, take and keep the most of everything you can.
|
Whether you embrace or abhor these principles, or are just trying to do the best you can amidst all of life’s challenges, there can be no doubt that your behaviors are affected by these principles and cultural norms. When your day to day ability to pay your bills and feed your family is intricately interwoven into the economic, political and cultural fabric of More, it is hard not to be drawn into the very circle of behaviors that have helped to usher in some of the most pressing issues we face today: global climate change, overpopulation and resource depletion.
Knowing that we cannot change our cultural, political and economic systems overnight, while we work to affect change in these areas, we must also look for practical and meaningful ways to make a difference at Ground Zero. Right here – where we live, work and play. This is where Less can become the new More.
|
In an effort to honor the Earth and all of the other plants and animals we share it with, I have written some new mantras for seeing the beauty to be found in Less. My hope is that one or two items from this list call to you, and you find some new ways to do more with less.
Build smaller homes.
Buy less.
Buy fewer products shipped from faraway places; buy more of what you need from sources close to home.
|
Buy less; grow more.
Buy less; make more.
Buy less; share more.
Clear cut less; plant more trees.
Drive less; bike more.
Drive less; carpool more.
Drive less; walk more.
Less concrete; more forests.
Less fossil fuels; more solar, wind, water and human power.
Less investment in fossil fuel industries & environmental polluters; more investment in earth friendly solutions.
Less meat; more vegetables.
Less processed foods; more raw/whole foods.
Less replacing; more repairing.
Less rigid community systems; more resiliencies built into our systems.
Less synthetic; more organic.
Less wasted energy; unplug computers, TVs and other electronics when not in use.
|
Less wasted energy; use energy efficient light bulbs, Energy Star appliances.
Less wasted energy; wash clothes in cold water, hang clothes outside to dry.
Less wasted energy; weatherize your home.
Less wasted time; get involved.
Less wasted time; start a local movement.
Less water pollution in our creeks and rivers; fence water sources off from cattle.
Less water pollution in our creeks and rivers; less toxic chemicals applied to the soil.
Smaller houses; bigger gardens.
Spend less; save more.
Think less about ourselves; think more about the futures of our children.
Throw away less packaging materials; buy in bulk.
Throw away less; donate more.
Throw away less; reuse more.
Use less plastic bags; use more cloth bags.
Waste less; compost more.
Waste less; recycle more.
The future trajectory of our community is in each of our hands.
|
Every Day is Earth Day at the Harvest Moon
The Harvest Moon staff is always looking for ways to bring more sustainability into what we buy and sell at the store.
Cheri and Kim are working hard to find the right biodegradable bags to use in the produce department, where we provide only local and organic produce.
Keep your eye out in the coming months as we begin to reduce our use of plastics and non-compostable materials in the store.
Candra is always on the lookout for supplements that are organic, or at least sustainably produced, and packaged in glass. And in the wine department, if she can find sustainably produced wines that taste good, those are the ones she brings in.
We primarily use the used bags that customers bring back, as well as the boxes that we receive products in, for packing groceries. We only use new bags if we run out of donated ones. We also collect used egg cartons for local producers to pick up and reuse.
We collect all of the packing peanuts and bubble wrap from shipments we receive and give them to local businesses, potters, and other artists to have the need to ship their products. When we don’t have any ‘takers’ for these materials, we give them to the Post Office to share with their customers.
Most of our household cleaning products and skin care products are made with natural ingredients and scented with essential oils.
Most of the food products in the store are made with organic ingredients, and we are almost free of anything with artificial colors, flavorings, or trans-fats.
We are always looking for ways to lighten our environmental footprint at the Harvest Moon. We also appreciate all of your support, feedback and ideas in this arena. Please continue to share with us. It matters.
|
Earth Friendly Recipes
Approximately 20-30% of your overall household energy usage comes from the kitchen. Food storage, cooking and cleaning can be an energy intensive business.
Following is a recipe that is good for you and the planet. A one pot, meatless meal with minimal clean up—-and the meal is delicious!
Warm Asparagus Tomato Quinoa Salad
Rich in taste; infused with flavours from peppers, garlic and cumin. The perfect meatless one pan meal for easy prep and cleanup.
Ingredients
20 asparagus trimmed and chopped in medium stalks
1 cup quinoa thoroughly washed and drained
1 cup vegetable stock
1 tsp cumin powder
1.5 tsp sea salt
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 orange bell pepper
1 onion
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 lemon juice
12 cherry tomatoes
3 cloves garlic
1 green chili
Instructions
Heat oil in a medium pan. Fry the onion and garlic for a few minutes, until golden.
Add the peppers, green chili, asparagus, tomatoes and spices.
Cook for 3-4 minutes on medium heat.
Add stock and quinoa, and bring to boil on high. Cook for 10 minutes or until the quinoa is cooked through. If soaking the quinoa, it will cook much faster.
Add lemon juice and serve.
|
Another Delicious Meal Choice for You and the Earth
Black Bean & Sweet Potato Vegetarian Kebabs
Servings
Approximately 5 Kebabs
Ingredients
1 sweet potato large, baked
2 cups black beans cooked (not too soft)
1 tsp olive oil
2 tbsp water
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 cup coriander fresh
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp garam masala
1 onion small, finely chopped
1 lemon fresh, juiced
Instructions
Bake the sweet potato until soft. Remove the sweet potato skin and mash the flesh with a fork. Set aside.
In a food processor, pulse the beans, oil and water. (Sweet potato skins have a lot of fiber and potassium. Don’t hesitate to pulse them with the black beans, adding a bit more nutrition and texture to your kebabs).
In a large bowl, add the bean mixture, mashed potato, rest of the ingredients and mix well.
Ensure the ingredients are combined.
Divide the mixture into 10 portions and form into kebabs.
Place on hot oiled grill or pan over medium-low heat and cook for about 3-4 minutes a side or until heated through.
Serve with freshly squeezed lemon juice.
The kebabs are great when:
Used in wraps with tahini spread or chili avocado mash.
In a sandwich.
Crumbled on a quinoa salad.
Alongside roasted or grilled veggies.
With tender sliced avocado, a crisp bed of greens, and fermented mixed vegetables.
|
Let’s talk about Carob:
The chocolate substitute that we all have loved and some of us have..well…less than loved, all our lives. The Carob tree, that is native to the Mediterranean region, is a flowering evergreen shrub that belongs to the pea family. It is drought tolerant and can grow up to 49 feet tall. The trees bloom in autumn and the flowers are small and plentiful, resembling the buckeye flower. The seedpods, when immature, are bright green, and very much resemble a pea pod. Each pod harbors numerous tiny seeds and is also referred to as Locust Pods and Sweet Pods. Ripe pods (minus the seeds) taste sweet when chewed, but due to a high Isobutyric acid content, release an aroma reminiscent of Limburger cheese when opened. When pods are fully ripe and dried, the hard seeds inside detach and produce a rattle effect.
|
The seeds can be separated from the pod and used to make locust bean gum sometimes known as Ceratonia or Carob bean gum; which is a very fine polysaccharide gum–mucilaginous, odorless, tasteless, and colorless. Most carob trees are selected and grown to produce lots of seeds in skinny pods to maximize this thickening agent. The pods are a by-product that is mostly used for animal feed.
|
There is evidence of the use of Carob products by humans dating back to ancient Greece and Egypt where the plant was used as a source of food for humans as well as live stock. Since the carob seeds are extremely consistent in size and weight, they were used by ancient Romans as a weight comparison against pieces of gold. Over time, a standardized method of determining the purity of the metal was establish based on the fact that a single gold coin, called a solidus, was the same weight as 24 carob seeds (called keration). Eventually the term evolved into carat, a label that means an object is 100% pure. The Carob plant also made an appearance in Biblical writings. According to legends, carob bean pods were the “locusts that sustained St. John the Baptist as he preached through the desert wilderness. For this reason, carob pods are commonly called St. Johns Bread.
|
Carob was once the primary source of sugar until can sugar became widely available. Today, it is a common substitute for chocolate, which contains an enzyme called theobromine that is highly toxic to dogs and some people. Carob powder is free of the allergenic and addictive effects of caffeine. It also contains less fat and more sugar than Cocoa. Carob also has excellent nutritional value. Along with up to 80% protein, it contains Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium Manganese, Barium, Copper, Nickel and the vitamins A, B, B2, B3, and D.
|
One final note to make about the carob tree is that while food production is a very important characteristic of this species, it is by no means the only benefit that can be obtained from growing Carob. Tannin is obtained from the bark of the tree. The Italians use the seed to make rosary beads. Cosmetic face-packs are made from flour made from the seed pods. The wood is hard and highly sought after by wood turners and also makes an excellent fire wood. It provides shade, shelter, and fodder for livestock, and finally it is a nitrogen fixing species, providing improvements to soil fertility. So remember the next time you reach for the cocoa powder, Carob has so much more to offer!
|
Did You Know?
Don’t Preheat Your Oven
Did you know that unless you are cooking temperamental things—such as bread or other baked goods—there is no need to warm up your oven? The next time you make dinner (be that meat or lasagna), go green and don’t turn on your oven until you put in the food. Also, never preheat for things that will cook for more than an hour—the oven will reach the desired temperature as the food cooks. By cooking with glass or ceramic pans instead of metal, you can lower the called-for oven temperature by 25 degrees.
|
Use a Low-Flow Showerhead
Gone are the days when low-flow meant subpar in terms of showering. To give consumers who want to go green more control, these devices now offer options for different GPM (gallons per minute) rates during a shower. The result: Users can adjust to a low rate for lathering and a higher rate for rinsing.
Unplug an Appliance or Two
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 75 percent of all electricity used to power electronics is consumed by devices that are turned off. Skip the annoyance of disconnecting electronics with internal clocks, and unplug just a few items to save energy.
|
Clean Your Lint Filter
If you use a dryer, keep your lift filter clean. Full lint filters make your dryer work harder and produce more heat. Clean your filter after each load to help go green by decreasing your energy usage and speeding up your drying time.
Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
Clean clothes in cold water to save big on your next bill while going green. Even switching the water setting from hot to warm can cut a load’s energy use in half.
|
We Love Our Customers
We want to be YOUR store. Please let us know if there is something we don’t have that you want, and we will do our best to get it in!
New, Back in Stock, and Seasonal Items at the Harvest Moon During March!
|
|
|
