September Updates

A crisp breeze is in the air, the leaves are changing, it’s fall y’all! Our talented team of volunteers and supporters managed to donate over $2400 in produce and dry goods in the month of September, as well as deliver 416 nutritious, ready-to-eat meals to the community.  We are continually humbled and thankful for all the support.

If you’re carving pumpkins soon, remember to save your seeds for planting next year, dry them and place them in your bird feeder, or roast them in the oven to enjoy them yourself and turn that Jack-o-lantern into a Snack-o-lantern. 😉

In developing countries, 45% of food spoils mainly due to lack of cold storage. Coldhubs is a solar-powered walk-in cold room that extends the life of produce from 2 days to about 21, reducing food waste, increasing local farmer income, and ensuring more nutritious food will be available to rural children and families. A fantastic stride in technology, self-sufficiency and social wellness! Read all about it. 

Are you an environmentally conscious college student looking to make the world a better place? Our small but mighty team is looking for interns, volunteers, supporters, and big ideas! As you know, our long-term mission is to develop an eco-friendly living and educational space dedicated to a sustainable future, and we are open to all types of innovative ideas to help us make this happen! From home gardeners to environmental scientists, from handymen to engineers, with all of our skills combined, we can build a brighter future. 

Plastic is Poison Part 2

We’re separating out plastics from the trash, washing containers before they go in the blue bin, bringing our reusable bags to the grocery store. We’re breaking free of the cycle of single-use plastic waste. But plastic isn’t just a problem due to its wastefulness, plastic is still poisoning us. 

We know that plastic does not biodegrade at the end of its use, but at every stage of its lifecycle plastic poses distinct risks to human health. Initially produced with petroleum byproducts, chemicals are added to raw plastic to change its suitable properties, such as to make it stretchier or make it stiffer. These chemicals do not fully bind with the plastic compounds which facilitates toxic leaching. If your product arrives in a plastic container, there is a strong possibility that these chemicals have come into contact with your product. Beauty product bottles, yogurt containers, that new car smell, are all examples of how these chemicals can reach your body in different ways. They contain toxins known to disrupt the endocrine system, affect reproductive health, cause cancers and diabetes. We drink them, we eat them, we breathe them.

According to the Economist, only 9% of plastic created since 1950 has been recycled. 12% has been incinerated unleashing toxins into the air, disproportionately affecting low income families, underdeveloped countries, and communities of color.  Leaving 79% of toxic plastic degrading in landfills, dumps or the natural environment where it poisons our water, our food chain, and our agriculture. From beginning to end, the convenience of plastics is just not worth the damage it causes. 

So how can we avoid plastic toxins in our every day life? Of course, this is so much easier said than done, but don’t use them. Use glass and stainless steel water bottles, purchase from companies that use glass or cardboard, don’t store foods in plastic containers and don’t heat up food in plastic as high heat causes chemicals to leach at a faster rate. Get to know the corporations you buy from because where you spend your money matters. 

“Individually, we are not going to solve the plastic waste problem, but you’re not alone in wanting to do so. A lot of people around the world are also concerned and if you join them in adopting some small changes, it could add up to something meaningful.” – Audrey Nguyen, NPR
Further Reading

The Plastic Problem Isn’t Your Fault,
But You Can Be Part of the Solution
-npr.org

How to Avoid Toxic Chemicals in Plastic
-madesafe.org