Lovely to see @NaturalMedicine and @Ecotrain collaborating for bringing forward folk's bits of wisdom with their Alternative Consumer Challenge -details here They ask the question-

What alternative consumer habits do you have, or can you explore, that support your HEALTH and the planet you love?

My biggest thing that addresses this is to grow my own food in a sustainable fashion or ethically harvest from the wild.

Gardening not only can give you pesticide free and fresh, nutritious food but it is also good exercise and gets you more in tune with nature, also you will not be contributing to pollution by transporting your food from far away.

It can give you a real sense of food security to know how to grow your own food or know what is edible when out foraging.

If you are just starting to garden here's some Beginner's Gardening Tips (It was geared for children but is good for all beginner gardeners)-

Flip through the booklet at: https://sqribble.net/viewflipbook/9811/2258

Next best thing is to buy direct from the producers, get to know your local farmers or go to the Farmers Markets.

Something to keep in mind when buying fresh produce is not to buy more than you can use.

Here's a handy list of some items with the length of time you can store them and where to store them whether in a cold room (c) or at room temperature (rt)

Fruits

Apples weeks C
Berries 3-5 days c note: diluted vinegar to prevent mold
Grapes 3-7 days c
Mellons 5-7 days c note: Ripen at room temperature.
Peaches 3-5 days c note: Ripen at room temperature.

Vegetables

Asparagus 1 week c note: stand in water
Basil 3-5 days rt note:Store in a dry bag, or stand in water
Beans 5-7 days c
Broccoli 3-7 days c
Brussel Sprouts weeks c note: Store off the stalk
Cabbage weeks c note: Remove wilted leafs
Cauliflower 3-7 days c
Celery weeks c
Cilantro 2-4 days c
Corn 3-6 days c note: Store with Husks on
Cucumbers 1 week c
Eggplant 3-5 days c
Leafy Greens 3-7 days c
Leeks weeks c
Onions month rt note: Store in the Dark
Parsley 1 week c
Peas 3-5 days c
Peppers 1 week c
Potatoes month rt note: Store in the dark
Root Crops weeks c note: Remove leaf tops
Summer Squash 5-7 days c
Ripe Tomatoes 3 days rt

One product that I have stopped buying from the store is salad dress for I've found a super delicious and healthy alternative - Tahini Mayonnaise. I use this on all my salads and any where I would use mayonnaise.
I make this up in a mason jar and keep it in the fridge. No more salad dressing jars to throw out, I just keep reusing the mason jar.

Tahini Mayonnaise
Melt about 1 cup coconut oil and place it in a mason jar
Add about 1/4 cup tahini ( I just grind up sesame seed in a coffee grinder to replace the tahini which is basically the same thing)
1/2 tsp seasoning ( I use Braggs 24 herbs and spices blend )
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
juice of 2 fresh lemons
a good splash of apple cider vineger
4-5 drop liquid Stevia

I'm not one for measuring so these amounts are just estimates. You can adjust them to your taste.

Blend together and it's ready to use. I store it in the fridge. When I'm ready to use it I place the jar in some hot water to melt the coconut oil which solidifies.

Thanks for stopping by!

Proud member of @naturalmedicine, @homesteaderscoop, @tribesteemup, @ecotrain, @freedomtribe & @earthtribe

Discover previous ecoTrain magazines at @ecoTrain


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