And Now a Word From National Geographic/Ocean Views

Asking the Question, "Should Plastics Be Labeled 'Hazardous' To Reduce Ocean Pollution?"

Every year worldwide, 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used. That is one million every minute of everyday. And that does not included plastic bottles, packaging and the hundred and hundreds of other things we use made from plastic. How are we as a world at recycling them? Well to be honest, not very good at all. So they end up in landfills or the ocean.
Once in the ocean do they disappear? Slowly overtime, they are broken down into small, then tiny bits, but it takes hundreds and hundred of years for them to decompose.Their effect on sea life can be devastating.
So should they be considered "hazardous'? Check out the link to National Geographic's Ocean Views to get their take. 
Should Plastics Be Labeled “Hazardous” to Reduce Ocean Pollution?

ask/A.S.K. What is this mysterious veggie?

The plant in question was grown in the Central Coast and purchased at the Altadena Farmers Market in an effort to try new things.

It goes by many names: Yu Choy, Yu Choy Sum, Cantonese Pak Choy, Cai Xin, Tsoi Sim, Yiu Tsai, Tsai Hsin, Yintsai Sim, Edible rape, Hon Tsai Tai (Hontsaitai), Red Choy Sum and essentially it is a flowering Chinese cabbage and can be steamed, boiled, or sauteed.

ask/A.S.K.: What is SEE-LA?

Answer: Sustainable Economic Enterprises Of 

Los Angeles (SEE-LA)

SEE-LA is the organization behind the iconic Hollywood Farmers Market as well as six others. The farmers markets are only a part of their expansive mission to develop, support and operate community food distribution projects and to support sustainable food choices and food systems, agricultural species diversity, and environmental conservation.

ask/A.S.K. Topic: CSA vs Local Farm Box

Question: What is the difference between a CSA and a local Farm Box?
Answer from Kali Wnuck, SavRaw Local Farm Box

A CSA, community supported agriculture, is when you become a shareholder to a farm and pay for the season directly to the farm. Some farms have a more flexible system set up where you can pay by the week. Usually these boxes are picked up at a farmer’s market, the farm, or they have other convenient locations set up. Often, their CSA members are their top priority so if they are low in volume in a certain special veggie, their CSA members are the first to get it. With the increase in interest of joining a CSA, some farms are not only expanding their variety, but also connecting with other farms they trust in order to increase the variety in their boxes.

Similar to a CSA, a farm box supports local farms and you get a bundle of delicious fruits and vegetables. A farm box has produce that is sourced from multiple farms for more variety yet the farm does not run the program itself. There’s also a flexible ordering system where you can usually pay by the week with a recurring subscription and can cancel or place holds on vacation weeks. It helps the farms that don’t have a CSA (as well as those that do) because they get a consistent order every week without having to manage all the members and aspects of the program.
 
Since not everyone can pay by the season, the farms are happy the option is available for people (as long as they are treated well and their prices are respected). It also helps many people who are too busy to make it to the Farmers Markets or to pick up at certain locations to have the option of a home delivery.  This is much more preferred than having to rely on the super market when they miss their farmer’s market, with little option for local and food that isn’t nearly as fresh. It also helps those who want to consistently support the same farms they see at their local farmers markets. The farms are reaching more people that they may not otherwise be able to. It’s important to know, though, that not all farm box companies are local.

Here are some of our favorite CSA’s:
 
JR Organics, Valley Center
Sage Mountain Farm, Temecula
Red Rock Farm, Inner Gardens, Topanga
McGrath Family Farms, Camarillo

Question: September is National _____ Month?

A. National Guide Dog Month
B. National Hispanic Heritage Month

C. National Honey Month
D. National Yoga Month
E. National Preparedness Month
F. National Biscuit Month
G. National Organic Harvest Month

H. All of the above

You have questions, A.S.K. has answers...or we will find them

Introducing ask/A.S.K.

ask/A.S.K. will be a regular feature of the blog. 
Do you have a question about sustainability? Ask us, A.S.K.
Our knowledgeable group of editors have a wide range of expertise in sustainability, but if we cannot answer your question, we will find someone who can.

First up, Dr. Stephanie Georgeiff take on something several people have questioned, Zero Land Fill Plants. What are they, are they for real or just 'green washed'  advertising? Check out the following post to see her findings.

If you have a question about some terminology, organic gardening, building materials, anything sustainable, just ask. Send your questions to asustainablekitchen@gmail.com with ask/ A.S.K. as the subject. We will do our best to get you an answer. If we think others might be interested in the question and answer (who wouldn't be?) we will post them on the blog.

ask/A.S.K. What is a Zero Waste Factory?

From the desk of our Contributing Editor on Agriculture, Dr. Stephanie Georgieff.

One of the best definitions of “Zero Waste” is the recycling of all materials into
nature or the marketplace in a manner that protects human health and the
environment. The EPA defines “Zero Waste” as “minimizing waste and resource
consumption in order to conserve energy, mitigate climate change, reduce water
usage, prevent toxics creation and minimize ecosystem destruction.” 

I like to think of zero waste as something nature simply does within all living systems. There are a few buzzwords associated with Zero Waste: Eliminate, Minimize and Substitute.
Many large companies, particularly in Europe, are becoming aware that landfills for
garbage are quickly filling up to capacity. In order to deal with this reality, as well as
stem the rising costs of disposing of toxics and other substances, numerous large
industries are re-evaluating their practices with “Zero Waste” in mind. 

When a company wants to create a climate of “Zero Waste” they work on all aspects of their business; energy usage, toxic creation and disposal, green house gas emissions, and
usage of recycled products. There are a few companies that have actually met this
goal. One of the more famous “Zero Waste” factories in the US is the Subaru factory
in Lafayette, Indiana, where the claim is “Raw Materials go in, Subarus and nothing
else come out of a zero landfill factory.” They reuse things such as brass lug nuts
which used to be thrown away, recycle paint and plastic sludge into other useful
products, and reuse solvents. 

Some other examples of Corporate “Zero Waste” are Albertsons, which has diverted 95% of all its waste products from landfills or incinerators and a UK Nestle Kit Kat Factory with a 2015 “Zero Waste” goal which has been already been 70% achieved. Several nations, Scotland and Brazil to name a few, have ambitious “Zero Waste” goals, where the US EPA is consulting to help design and implement policies to make their goals a reality. Critics say it is impossible to achieve or too expensive, but as landfills continue to be closed and
human population rises, available land for trash is forcing many industries to
rethink their disposal practices with impressive results.