What Scrambling Families Can Do to Protect Our Environment - The Six O'Clock Scramble

WHAT SCRAMBLING FAMILIES CAN DO TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT

These are some tough times for Mother Earth. With worrisome news about global warming, depleted species, drought and pollution, she’s really going to need many Earth Days to bask in her own glow (hopefully she’ll wear her SPF 2007 to protect herself).

If you’ve been Scrambling for a while, you may have noticed I try to be solution-oriented. So I’ve been brainstorming about what we as home cooks can do to protect the Earth. Following are some ways I’ve been trying to reduce my family’s environmental impact. I hope you’ll consider adopting some of these practices in your life if you haven’t already. If you have other ideas, please drop me a line.

Reduce waste by reusing all types of containers: Rinse take-out containers, platters, and plastic serving utensils to bring to potlucks, picnics or parties. Rinse and reuse Ziploc bags. Reuse bread loaf bags to store bagels or clean up after dogs.
Reuse grocery bags: Not only have I been reusing paper bags at the supermarket, but I’ve been bringing my own canvas bags to the grocery store, farmer’s market, and other errands.
Recycle cans, bottles, paper products, and anything else your city will collect.
Purchase and eat organic and/or local produce whenever possible. Farmer’s markets are a great resource for fresh and locally grown foods, often with fewer pesticides.
Reduce your consumption of meat: Meatless or low-meat meals are nearly always easier on the environment that those that are meat-heavy because of the resources the animals we eat consume and the waste they produce.
Finally, reduce waste and impulse buying, and save gas, by grocery shopping just once a week. Many Scrambling families are amazed not only by how much less food they waste, but how much money and stress they save when they shop with a plan.