Sustainable Food Management Not Only Saves Money but Also Protects the Environment-

Tossing a banana peel into the bin may seem like a pretty harmless and habitual action; but that banana peel could be accumulating to the ever growing problem of food waste. Many people are aware of methods and devices available to reduce the human effects of climate change. Using renewable energy resources, such as installing domestic solar panels and reducing electricity usage by switching to energy saving light bulbs are common knowledge. What many people are unaware of is that food waste is a huge contributor to climate change and the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases are increasing the temperature of the earth’s surface, with devastating global effects. Freak weather conditions such as: flooding due to rising sea levels; droughts caused by variable rainfall; and an increased risk of certain animal species becoming extinct because of an inhabitable environment are all symptoms of climate change. Greenhouse gases include methane, carbon dioxide, water vapor and nitrous oxide. When food is thrown away it is transported to a landfill site where it decomposes. As the food decomposes it releases methane – one of the powerful greenhouse gases. In the US, landfill sites are the largest source of methane emissions caused by humans, and are accountable for around 34% of all methane emissions. It is predicted that cutting down food waste would have the same effect of taking around 25% of cars off the road. If you have some extra space around the house, using a compost bin is an excellent way to avoid sending organic materials to the garbage dump and, to boot, it can be used as fertilizer to grow your own fruits and veggies. But it’s not just the environmental factors that are deterring people from wasting food. The US spends around $1B every year to dispose of food waste. Families are also affected; Love Food Hate Waste state a regular family with children could save an estimated £50 per month if they were to cut their wasting habits. This leaves people asking: Why are we wasting so much food? Expiration details on packaging are a predominant reason why so much food gets wasted. Confusion over the terms: Display Until, Best Before and Use-by are regularly misinterpreted by shoppers. It is important that shoppers understand what the date stamps mean to reduce food waste.

Use-by: This is the label that states consuming the product prior to the date stamp can be harmful to human health.

Best Before: This seems self-explanatory but can often be misconstrued. Best Before dates imply that the product may not be of the highest quality after the date stamp. Products containing Best Before dates are not perishable items and are not a health hazard to humans, should they be consumed after the date. However, some eggs may contain Best Before dates and these are an exception to the Best Before rule and should be treated as Use-by products.

Display Until: This label is stock rotation purposes and is for staff – not shoppers. Many people wrongly believe the product should be consumed before this date; this is not the case and merely relates to “shelf life”.

Many people generally lack knowledge or desire to utilize their leftovers from a meal. This is a huge contributor to food waste, and people are being encouraged to use their left overs. Many websites offer tips and recipes for leftovers which help families to significantly reduce their food waste and expenditures. Particular parts of food products can be inedible and there is no way for these to be added to daily cuisine. Home composting is an encouraged alternative to binning useless parts of food, such as egg shells, banana skins and tea bags. Some areas offer a food waste collection service in which families can put all their food waste in a specific bin which is collected weekly and used for compost and recycling. With climate change revealing devastating affects around the globe, the importance of being conscientious when it comes to waste is ever greater. In the 21st century, more people are becoming aware of the effects of global warming and how they can help to reduce the carbon footprint and carbon emissions.

System Supports Sustainably-Grown, Large Scale Food Production for Anyone with Backyard-


Algosolar LLC, a farming research and design group, has announced the launch of Bioponica™ — an organic gardening system geared for homeowners, schools, restaurants and commercial growers. On November 20th, from 6pm until 12am, the company will begin a public displaying event for this innovative growing system. The 10′x4′ table, complete with 120 gallon fish tank, is designed to convert waste such as grass clippings, table scraps and other carbon and nitrogen-rich waste sources into fertilizer. “It is unfortunate that we have relied on our municipalities to dispose of waste, whether that be urine, food or yard trimmings,” says co-creator, Dr. Epstein, a holistic osteopathic physician. “It is not practical or sustainable. When nutrients that come from the environment or from the food we eat are buried in landfills or else incinerated then we lose that valuable resource and it becomes a greenhouse gas that negatively impacts our climate and environment. The alternative is to recycle nutrients with the least amount of effort and cost.” The Bioponica™ system works by taking waste and converting it into worm castings and worm teas which are then used to fertilize hydroponic plant beds.

The system also accomodates the growth of algae and duckweed, as well as microbes and aquatic animals that feed on the algae. The table is intended for ample food production, and will grow a variety of medicinal and edible plants — from micro-greens to wheatgrass. “When growing high value crops such as these, the return on investment is less than one year. And without having to purchase fish food or fertilizer the cost is limited to a small electric bill for water pumps and labor,” says Epstein. The Bioponica™ gardening system will grow indoors or outdoors and also come complete with a UV filtered polycarbonate roofing option to help keep the temperature, CO2 and nutrient load stable. Fellow creator and professional engineer, Kenneth Lovell, says, “By converting carbon and nitrogen rich waste into fish and plant food we are effectively sequestering carbon turning it into a food before it escapes as a CO2 gas. The tables capture heat and warm the water within the fish tanks. On cool nights, the heated thermal mass of water returns to the beds, warming the plant area to extend the growing season into colder months.”

Ecological Footprint Quiz Will Estimate Total Environmental Impact-

Curious about the ecological “footprint” you’ll leave behind on this planet? Want to be more environmentally conscious? By answering a few simple questions, the handy Ecological Footprint Quiz will estimate the impact you will leave behind for later generations. Afterward, you can learn how to minimize your consumption by using more sustainable products, housing, foods, services, and transportation. To take the quiz, visit MyFootprint.Org and please share with your friends and family! Educate those around you, in your city and work environment, about the countless benefits of going green.

Environmentalist Gives up Money, Lives off the Land-

Mark Boyle, an economics graduate from the U.K., gave up currency and the big city to live off-grid. In his book, ‘The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living’, Boyle explains his reasons for giving up the lush city lifestyle and the resources he’s used to survive out in the wilderness. Freecycle.Org supplied his trailer at no cost, and Boyle only cooks food which has grown himself, bartered for, or scavenged from the land. He uses a compost toilet, bathes in a solar-powered shower, and even makes his own paper. Boyle says that regardless of the challenges he faces each day, he has never been happier. Video below is an in-depth interview with Mark Boyle on how to live a successful moneyless life.

Small Recycled Yard Composters to Provide Organic Soil for the Home-

Help to conserve precious landfill space by composting waste in your own backyard simply and naturally. Made of about 90 percent recycled materials, the plastic yard composter can work to convert common yard and food waste into valuable organic gardening fertilizer for a flourishing organic garden of your own. The composter features foam composition to insulate the waste naturally, making it completely impermeable to soil damaging UV rays and harsh weather. Recycled plastic containers are entirely black to help attract sunlight which creates a hothouse environment to break down food waste and yard scraps into organic materials, serving homes of up to five people. Some come available bottomless, which can be placed over dead grass and other areas with low soil nutrients. Dimensions are fairly small and apt for easy storage; usually between 40-30 inches in length, 28 inches wide and about 32 inches tall, about 1/5 inch thick and features duel slide up doors and locking lid to keep pests out. At the low price range of $55 to $110 for a large yard compost bin, it is an excellent choice for sustaining your home with fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. Purchase a recycled plastic yard composter for your home today, and help preserve our planet and environment for future generations to come.