Comments for The Footprint

Comment on local chicken by Ray

Ray — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:30:14 +0000

In this time before the farmers market get fresh greens just a reminder that using locally grown frozen foods is probably better carbon wise and health wise than the “fresh” produce from far away lands. Ray

Comment on What’s Fresh Now? ~ January 2008 by Miranda

Miranda — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 02:38:04 +0000

This is exactly how I make my bread. It is wonderful - perfect every time. I highly recommend it!

Comment on What’s Fresh Now? ~ November/December 2007 by Ray Schmitz

Ray Schmitz — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:44:43 +0000

The organic vegies from Caledonia are in a new package, but still the best bargain and taste I have found. Get them in the freezer at the good food store, they also have Alaskan Halibut, I don’t trust Chinese etc. fish.

Comment on November/December 2007 by Ray Schmitz

Ray Schmitz — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 23:24:26 +0000

I suspect all of us are familiar with the “sold his soul” music, the mysterious stranger who offers to make you the best banjo/violin player in return for guess what. Well listening to an interview with the CEO of Walmart this week on NPR I was left with the impression that this could be happening.
The company that we all love to hate for its social and business practices is going green in a big way. Their sales of over a million compact florescent lights, updated energy plans for stores, energy efficient trucks and other steps may be just the surface. His discussion of greening a major paper manufacturer, something that an advocate was quoted as saying was impossible, by simply refusing to stock their products is a good example.
As he said, when you are the worlds largest retailer doors are open that are normally closed. He did decline a couple tough questions, for example how many of their new stores or remodels with actually be carbon neutral, his response was that the market will determine how quickly that happens.
A recent visit to the local store did not give me any great confidence in what was happening, but then I could not see the packaging steps that he says suppliers were making to reduce waste.
I suspect that time will tell how serious this is, but I still have this overtone of sulfur that lingers around the radio.

Comment on The Life of Jeans by Patricia A.

Patricia A. — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 14:03:15 +0000

Dear Madison,

Interesting information,and very impressive research.I was thinking that one thing we could do is to share some of the clothes that we really don’t use and just sits in our closets, with more unfortunate folks. Every six months or so we could go through our closets and give away what we haven’t been using, to places like the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, or someone we personally know that is in need. This would help conserve some energy,save water, keep pesticides off the land and help some people out.

Keep up the god work

Patricia

Comment on Walking School Buses by MEA

MEA — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:35:52 +0000

Hi, Emmy.

We are close enough to be walkers for the elementry school, but becuase we have no sidewalks, we have what we call the “school walk”. Three families, and the grown up take turns. In our case it works out well because of adult work schedules, having to get younger or old children to other places on certain days, etc.

Comment on Rethink Shopping by Brian Hokanson

Brian Hokanson — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:22:12 +0000

I think the biggest question really is this one:

2) Do I need or want the item?

Most of the time our use of the word “need” really equals “want.” It’s important that after asking, “Do I really need it?” to again ask “Do I REALLY need it?” over and over. Often times on the sixth or seventh or twentieth repetition, the answer becomes No, I don’t.

It’s also a whole lot easier to not spend the time trying to discern which products/brands/designs are a little more green (read: a smidgen less destructive), and instead simply stop buying crap.

Comment on What’s For Lunch? by suzanne greenleaf

suzanne greenleaf — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:00:00 +0000

How interesting! Suzanne

Comment on Rethink Shopping by suzanne greenleaf

suzanne greenleaf — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:55:58 +0000

This article provides good food for thought. I have one thing to add. Buy used when you can. Since I have adopted the attitude of buying good used items, I have been amazed at what I can save. The items I buy stay out of a land fill and because I am buying items that already exist precious resouces are not used in producing another new item. Many excellent resources for buying previously used goods exist in Rochester and more are surfacing all the time. Simply consult the yellow pages.

Comment on Rethink Shopping by Ray Schmitz

Ray Schmitz — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 01:29:25 +0000

Good article, oiur trash consists almost exclusively of packing, the only problem is that the recent articles are featuring Target and Walmart as green buyers, including demanding cardboard rather than PVC packaging. Life is complicated.