Comments for Ecojustice08's Weblog http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com A bunch of people doing their part to make this world a better place for future generations Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:14:17 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Oh Joy! Oh Bliss! by Emily Barton http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/oh-joy-oh-bliss/#comment-140 Emily Barton Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:14:17 +0000 http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/?p=31#comment-140 I know, I know, Cam. And I don't have the answers. I do think, though, that supporting local businesses is important, period. Better for the economy and better for workers, and ecojustice is about that, too. I know, I know, Cam. And I don’t have the answers. I do think, though, that supporting local businesses is important, period. Better for the economy and better for workers, and ecojustice is about that, too.

]]> Comment on Oh Joy! Oh Bliss! by Cam http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/oh-joy-oh-bliss/#comment-139 Cam Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:19:01 +0000 http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/?p=31#comment-139 This raises all sorts of questions about the supply chain. Like, if the ingredients come from someplace else (like cocoa) but it's made locally, is it local? Where does one draw the line? While that decision must be made on the individual level, it does give one pause -- what are you trying to accomplish by eating locally and how does that translate into quotidian purchasing decisions? These are the questions that I've been struggling with. I don't live where coffee grows, but I buy my organic, shade-grown, free-trade beans from a local roaster. In doing so, I support a local business -- something that I believe in doing for reasons other than ecology (besides, we just like her, so we support her business) -- but am I cutting any transportation costs by not buying beans from a regional or national distributor? Or do I just do this because I like the supplier and her store? Do you buy something that is recyclable, or something that is recycled? If natural gas is cleaner than electricity, but more expensive, are you wrong to use electricity in an energy-efficient furnace/heat pump? Do I use grain-based biofuels in my car -- or do I boycott them because they take valuable commodities out of the food chain and adversly impact the hungry in poverty-stricken regions of the world? So many questions for which there aren't clear cut answers. That we ask the questions, though, is important. This raises all sorts of questions about the supply chain. Like, if the ingredients come from someplace else (like cocoa) but it’s made locally, is it local? Where does one draw the line? While that decision must be made on the individual level, it does give one pause — what are you trying to accomplish by eating locally and how does that translate into quotidian purchasing decisions? These are the questions that I’ve been struggling with. I don’t live where coffee grows, but I buy my organic, shade-grown, free-trade beans from a local roaster. In doing so, I support a local business — something that I believe in doing for reasons other than ecology (besides, we just like her, so we support her business) — but am I cutting any transportation costs by not buying beans from a regional or national distributor? Or do I just do this because I like the supplier and her store? Do you buy something that is recyclable, or something that is recycled? If natural gas is cleaner than electricity, but more expensive, are you wrong to use electricity in an energy-efficient furnace/heat pump? Do I use grain-based biofuels in my car — or do I boycott them because they take valuable commodities out of the food chain and adversly impact the hungry in poverty-stricken regions of the world? So many questions for which there aren’t clear cut answers. That we ask the questions, though, is important.

]]> Comment on The Joy of Cast Iron Cooking by mandarine http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/the-joy-of-cast-iron-cooking/#comment-138 mandarine Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:25:43 +0000 http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/?p=24#comment-138 OK, so I was logged with my wordpress account, which I also use for other wordpress blogs I am managing, and for which I should use my real name and not Mandarine. And wordpress.com does not allow different nicknames across different blogs, hence the name in the above comment. But you guys know me as Mandarine, so I guess I will have to create a different wordpress.com account. OK, so I was logged with my wordpress account, which I also use for other wordpress blogs I am managing, and for which I should use my real name and not Mandarine. And wordpress.com does not allow different nicknames across different blogs, hence the name in the above comment. But you guys know me as Mandarine, so I guess I will have to create a different wordpress.com account.

]]> Comment on The Joy of Cast Iron Cooking by kristen http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/the-joy-of-cast-iron-cooking/#comment-137 kristen Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:03:32 +0000 http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/?p=24#comment-137 We've switched from teflon to <a href="http://www.wisemandarine.com/panrack-0103/" rel="nofollow">copperware</a>, and we are very happy about that too. The key to lasting non-stick properties is not to wash the pans with soap nor scrub them. I know it is hard for people who have been brainwashed into putting everything in the dishwasher, but hot water (+ time if needed) and cloth make miracles. Obviously, a little soap is desirable if you have to cook apples after sardines, but otherwise not. We’ve switched from teflon to copperware, and we are very happy about that too. The key to lasting non-stick properties is not to wash the pans with soap nor scrub them. I know it is hard for people who have been brainwashed into putting everything in the dishwasher, but hot water (+ time if needed) and cloth make miracles. Obviously, a little soap is desirable if you have to cook apples after sardines, but otherwise not.

]]> Comment on The Joy of Cast Iron Cooking by Emily Barton http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/the-joy-of-cast-iron-cooking/#comment-136 Emily Barton Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:31:44 +0000 http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/?p=24#comment-136 Ahhh, an excuse to go out and buy more cast iron. I love my frying pan. And here's a tip: you CAN cook with them on your flat-topic electric ranges, despite what the range directions say. Just don't slam them around on top of the stove. Who slams around cast iron anyway? Ahhh, an excuse to go out and buy more cast iron. I love my frying pan. And here’s a tip: you CAN cook with them on your flat-topic electric ranges, despite what the range directions say. Just don’t slam them around on top of the stove. Who slams around cast iron anyway?

]]> Comment on The Joy of Cast Iron Cooking by Rick Mansfield http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/the-joy-of-cast-iron-cooking/#comment-135 Rick Mansfield Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:10:54 +0000 http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/?p=24#comment-135 Great post on switching from teflon to cast iron. I heartily agree. I've linked this post on our "Cast Iron Around the Web" post at http://www.cookingincastiron.com Great post on switching from teflon to cast iron. I heartily agree. I’ve linked this post on our “Cast Iron Around the Web” post at http://www.cookingincastiron.com

]]> Comment on On Being Vegan by Steph http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/2008/06/14/on-being-vegan/#comment-134 Steph Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:32:46 +0000 http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-134 Great post! I find a lot of vegans (the ones I know) are sometimes condescending. You sound very informed, but modest about it, which I think is fantastic :) I'm a vegetarian, but I do eat fish, which I've been bugged about. I try to eat fish only if I know where it's coming from (ie: not from bottom trawling and instead from sustainable fisheries). I'm always trying to inform myself and you're absolutely right, it's not giving anything up, it's really a discovery of new foods! I eat so much fruit now (which I never did before, I was always more into veggies) and it's quite awesome :) Great post!
I find a lot of vegans (the ones I know) are sometimes condescending. You sound very informed, but modest about it, which I think is fantastic :)
I’m a vegetarian, but I do eat fish, which I’ve been bugged about. I try to eat fish only if I know where it’s coming from (ie: not from bottom trawling and instead from sustainable fisheries). I’m always trying to inform myself and you’re absolutely right, it’s not giving anything up, it’s really a discovery of new foods! I eat so much fruit now (which I never did before, I was always more into veggies) and it’s quite awesome :)

]]> Comment on The Joy of Cast Iron Cooking by Courtney http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/the-joy-of-cast-iron-cooking/#comment-132 Courtney Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:28:35 +0000 http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/?p=24#comment-132 My husband has been on me forever to switch over to cash iron and I think you are the one to convince me (shh, don't tell him that) - you know, i never thought about the effect of throwing pans away since ours will just be passed down to my sister in law, but that is an excellent point. Great post! My husband has been on me forever to switch over to cash iron and I think you are the one to convince me (shh, don’t tell him that) – you know, i never thought about the effect of throwing pans away since ours will just be passed down to my sister in law, but that is an excellent point. Great post!

]]> Comment on The Joy of Cast Iron Cooking by Cam http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/the-joy-of-cast-iron-cooking/#comment-131 Cam Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:36:59 +0000 http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/?p=24#comment-131 I have a Le Crueset dutch oven that I love. It was very expensive for a pan, but I love it. The ceramic coating on the iron is probably not necessary, but I do like it. I use it frequently, even when a dutch oven isn't needed. One of the wonderful things, imo, about cast iron is that it can be used either on the cooktop or in the oven. Very versatile. I have a Le Crueset dutch oven that I love. It was very expensive for a pan, but I love it. The ceramic coating on the iron is probably not necessary, but I do like it. I use it frequently, even when a dutch oven isn’t needed. One of the wonderful things, imo, about cast iron is that it can be used either on the cooktop or in the oven. Very versatile.

]]> Comment on Twenty thousand miles on the meter and counting by mandarine http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/2008/06/13/twenty-thousand-miles-on-the-meter-and-counting/#comment-130 mandarine Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:11:28 +0000 http://ecojusticechallenge.wordpress.com/?p=21#comment-130 Emily: car are not only a nuisance to drivers, but they also make roads longer and more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. Cars are a little like GMOs: once they get somewhere, they pervade and contaminate everything and people are forced to get one if they want a normal life. Lucky you to live in one of the very few parts of the world where there are real automobile objectors left. Stefanie: the coldest weather I rode in was -5 °C (that would be 23F). It takes special clothing not to turn this into very bad memories of frozen ears and fingers Emily: car are not only a nuisance to drivers, but they also make roads longer and more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. Cars are a little like GMOs: once they get somewhere, they pervade and contaminate everything and people are forced to get one if they want a normal life. Lucky you to live in one of the very few parts of the world where there are real automobile objectors left.

Stefanie: the coldest weather I rode in was -5 °C (that would be 23F). It takes special clothing not to turn this into very bad memories of frozen ears and fingers

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