Tips for a Sustainable Kitchen
By Mahlea Rasmussen, Education Coordinator
Outside of work I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I find it a soothing space to create nourishing meals and lasting memories. I find it essential to be as eco-friendly as possible and a few changes can transform your kitchen into a sustainable center of your home.
The choices begin with shopping for your food. It is important to stay organized so you don’t end up over-shopping or purchasing items you already have. This can lead to food waste - the USDA found that Americans on average each waste a pound of food per day. To avoid this, create a list on a chalkboard or white board and take a photo, so you know just what to purchase.
Don’t shop when your hungry. Although all of us have been there and heard this before, we are much more likely to purchase unnecessary items when our tummies are doing the talking.
Leave your reusable tote bags in the car, so you don’t leave them at home. After unloading your goods, run out to the car one more time and throw your bags in the back seat. That way you won't be caught without them next time you hit the market. Some estimates put the average 'lifespan' of a plastic bag at just 12 minutes.
Shop in the bulk and produce departments to avoid packaging and bring your own containers. The beautiful thing about bulk is that it goes far beyond food items: shampoo, dishwashing detergent, pet food and more are available. Because you can bring your own containers to fill, you're skipping the single-use packaging that many products on the shelf come in.
When shopping for produce, I choose a bag made from recycled plastic bottles available for $0.50 in our produce department. For dry goods, a muslin cloth bag is also available for the same price. For flours and liquids, I bring my own glass jars and bottles.
Shopping for herbs and spices with your own containers is especially advantages as you can save as much as 95% on the goods you buy. Remember: every time you purchase an item in a container, part of the cost is paying for the container itself.
At home some other ways to make your kitchen more sustainable is by growing your own herbs and making your own products. This doesn’t have to be overly time consuming. Herbs, rosemary, oregano and thyme are easy to grow and require minimal time.
Having a stock container in your freezer can significantly reduce your waste and save you money. Most vegetable scraps can be used such as carrot ends, celery and onion. After boiling the stock vegetables you can compost them as long as there is no meat product or oil used.
Replace soft drinks with infused water you make at home. Fill a pitcher with refreshing citrus, mint or cucumber. Not only is this good for your budget, but it's good for your waistline by reducing unnecessary sugar intake.
Another item found commonly in kitchens and easily eliminated is paper towels: it’s easy to sub in some worn out, clean t-shirts and cloth napkins.
And finally, when you're serving dinner, create smaller plates. Those who are hungry can always go back for more, but you will end up throwing out less uneaten food.
The benefits of a zero waste kitchen go beyond the trash compactor. You will find yourself saving money and eating clean. “The zero waste lifestyle is not about complicating your life; it’s about simplifying.” - Bea Johnson.
More Co-op News
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And that help came through in big ways, getting nutritious food to displaced families, home supplies in high demand, and wellness and food for first responders and firefighters. Thank you for supporting these businesses as thanks for their help in our community's relief efforts.
October news at the Co-op
October is typically Co-op month, to highlight how differently cooperatives do business. But instead of talking about the 7 Cooperative Principles, or the ownership benefits of being part of the Co-op, we only need to look at the past four weeks to see what being a cooperative really means.
As part of the co-op family, you've helped the entire community immensely.
Lecture recording: "Nutrition for autism and related conditions"
Lisa Shelton, BioIndividual Nutrition Practitioner & Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, put together this recording to discuss nutrition for autism and related conditions including, ADHD, anxiety, and learning disorders as well as strategies for picky eating.
Click here to watch the lecture at your convenience.
Password: p!=Fw6R7
Support Co-op staff to rebuild
The Ashland Food Co-op is dedicated to helping our community and our staff rebuild after the Almeda Fires in early September.
For immediate support, the Co-op gave $1,000 to staff who lost their homes in the fires, as well as $250 for food and other household needs for anyone displaced due to a level 3 evacuation order.
Change for Good in September: Southern Oregon Land Conservancy
For the month of September, Ashland Food Co-op shoppers can round up at the register to support Southern Oregon Land Conservancy. Since 1973, SOLC has been working on multiple fronts to improve land quality and conservation for humans and nature alike. Check out some of the projects below that SOLC has been working on recently. And mark your calendar for Saturday, October 24, as SOLC hosts an Open Lands Day hike and tour on the Rogue River Preserve.
Free Monday Night Lecture - Some Cool Science about Breathing
Join Kelly Martin as she explains how your breath impacts everything from ankle sprains to headaches. Learn why belly breathing isn't good for you, how to breathe correctly, and how to maximize lung health, improve posture, enhance walking efficiency, reduce anxiety, and improve sports performance.
Access the Zoom recording here.
Zoom access password: 2zu@KQWU
Chatting about community giving with JPR's "Jefferson Exchange"
Recently, Julie O'Dwyer, Ashland Food Co-op board vice-president, joined a panel of guests on Jefferson Public Radio's "Jefferson Exchange" to discuss how the pandemic has led to an even greater need for community giving and support of local non-profits.
Change for Good in August: KS Wild
This month's featured organization in the new Change for Good register round-up program is KS Wild (short for Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center).
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Get to know Ashland Emergency Food Bank
The sixth cooperative principle, "Concern for Community," has become even more important since the pandemic began and economies, locally and globally, started to constrict. To address this, the Board of Directors agreed in April to release 100% of patronage dividends and designate Ashland Emergency Food Bank as a donation option for those dividends - resulting in over $20,000 in donations. And with the early launch of Change for Good register round-up, AEFB was a natural choice to receive round-up donations.
July / August GM Update: Walking the Walk
I wrote at the beginning of the year that the Co-op model of business was a blueprint for the future. The concept of “planet, principles and people before profit” is a guide for how cooperatives can run a successful business that puts more back into the community and local economy than national chains, while using less resources and creating less waste.
2020 Co-op Election Results
2020 Co-op Election Results
Ashland Food Co-op owners voted for three open seats on the Board of Directors, and for ten non-profit organizations for the Change for Good register round-up program.
Click a name below to read more about that Co-op Board member.
A statement from the Board of Directors on racial justice
Dear Ashland Food Cooperative Family and Community,
Co-op Owners Step-Up to Support the Ashland Emergency Food Bank!
AFC and AEFB Press Release - Local Strength!
Release Date: 5-26-2020
In April, the Ashland Food Co-op Board of Directors announced to the community that the Co-op would be returning 100% of the 2019 Patronage Dividend to its owners. The 100% Patronage Dividend return to Co-op owners converted to over $628,000.
The Co-op Board felt in this time of great need it was not the right time for the Co-op to put away funds for the future, but rather to support owners fully so they may have more strength to weather these stormy times.
Free Monday Night Lectures - virtual and recorded
Thanks to the many agile and adaptable experts in the Rogue Valley, the much-loved Free Monday Night Lectures live on - even if everything is moving online.
While we miss seeing community members with a joy of learning showing up at the Co-op Classroom, we hope these recordings teach and inspire you.