5 Eco-Friendly Ideas for the Fall

The temperatures have cooled off. The leaves have started to turn orange and yellow colors. The garden is slowing down a bit. The warm Summer months have ended and we have entered a season of rest. Summer months are usually filled with lots of outside time, family travel, and just more activities in general. When the weather become cooler, we stay inside, we warm up together under a blanket and watch a movie, and we rest during the Winter. Here are some of the eco-friendly ideas we are implementing this Fall.

1. Upgraded Water Filter System

I finally decided to upgrade our old Brita water pitcher filter to a more robust and purifying system like the Berkey water filter system. I also purchased the fluoride and arsenic filters to help us to have the most pure water we can have in our home. I have been wanting this water purifying system for a long time and am so excited to finally have it setup and in use.

I chose the Big Berkey size, which is perfect for our family of 3. This provides enough water for at least one day. I can tell a subtle taste difference in the water between the old Brita water pitcher filter and the Big Berkey water filter system. I'm glad our family finally made this investment in more pure water.

2. Canning More

I have been canning homemade apple butter for a few years. I've canned some other vegetables, like peppers, in the past, but really have not gone outside this comfort zone. This year, after my parents brought me 4.5 boxes of homegrown, organic apples from their back yard, I had to venture out to try new recipes. In addition to the apple butter, I canned sliced apples and apple jam. It was not as hard as I imagined it would be.

As the Summer growing season wraps up and there is an abundance of harvest, I want to try my hand at canning vegetables like tomatoes, green beans, and salsas.

3. Using Our Food Storage Supply

Being prepared for an emergency situation, whether natural or man made, is something that is very important to me. I feel like there have been so many natural disasters this year. It is good to be prepared for those. I try to keep a short term food supply in the deep freezer, regular freezer, pantry and downstairs in the laundry room. Our laundry room has a huge storage closet. I purchased a few heavyweight plastic bins with locking lids to store dry goods. The plastic bins help to protect them from any critters or bugs.

One of the things I have not been as good at is using our short term food storage supply. Therefore, this is on my list for soups, stews, and crockpot meals as I use the beans, grains, and frozen meat.

4. Thrifting

I have been so surprised at the amount of nice and high quality items that I have been able to find at thrift stores. Initially, I got into thrifting because I was not able to find an older style of jeans at one of the popular jeans stores, but I found them at a local Goodwill. I knew the exact style and size that fit me so well. I found that style at thrift stores. Since I started thrifting, I have bought lots of adorable decor items for the home, stuff for the kitchen, and wooden toys for my son. Don't be afraid of the thrift store!

5. Drive Less, Walk More

Even though our neighborhood does not have sidewalks and we do not live in an area that has a lot of shopping and restaurants close to us, we still try to walk as much as possible. There is a little shopping center about one mile away. When I need something from one of the stores there, I will take my 3.5 year old in our BOB jogging stroller and either run or walk there. We also try to combine trips to store that are close so we are not driving from one place to another. Taking a toddler in and out of a car seat multiple times is hard enough! My son is at the age now where he can walk quite a bit and I take advantage of that.

These are 5 eco-friendly ideas that we are implementing for the Fall. Some of them we were doing already, but want to kick it up a notch.

What are some eco-friendly things your family is doing this Fall??
 

Tweet

reCAP Mason Jar Pour Cap [Review]

I have acquired a number of glass Mason jars over the past few years from my canning endeavors. From the small 4 oz canning jars to the big 1/2 gallon canning jars, I love the versatility for more than just canning. The 4 oz canning jars are perfect for storing leftovers for my toddler. The quart and half gallon canning jars are great for storing grains and dried beans. However, Mason canning jars can be used for so much more! From on-the-go drinks to organizing pantry items, reCAP Mason jar pour caps transform ordinary glass jars to containers that shake, pour and store.

Mason Jar Pour Cap              (wide mouth, silver color)

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Transform Mason jars into storage containers	Cap is made from plastic
Regular and wide mouth sizes

I have seen Mason jars being used for purposes other than canning a lot lately, but never took the plunge to try it myself until recently. I have been using used lids and rings if I was storing something in the fridge or the pantry. The used lids cannot be reused for canning. Instead of throwing them out, I decided to use them if I were storing something in the canning jar. However, unscrewing the ring and lining up the lids and rings when putting back on was becoming a bit cumbersome each time. Let's just say, I prefer easy and efficient methods. The reCAP Mason jar pour cap is the answer!

ReCAP Mason Jar Pour Cap is made from plastic and is 100% BPA free. The caps are also made in the USA.

The jar pour cap can be used for many different uses like pouring liquids and solids. That means you can use a Mason jar like a portable cup with a lid. Though I would be careful if pouring hot liquid as the glass would get very hot. Likewise with cold liquids. I could see myself using the pour cap for thinner soups if I wanted to take food on the go.

I really like that the caps can be used for just about anything. The opening is wide enough to allow most items through. The reCAP pour cap has a rubber gasket inside that provides for a good seal against the glass Mason jar. I feel comfortable that nothing would be spilled. The top opening is firm enough that it will come open accidentally, but easy enough to open. The opening is about the size of a quarter.

 

I am in love with reCAP Mason Jar Pour Caps. I would like get a few more lids for smaller containers that I can take on the go. ReCAP Mason jar pour caps are a great way to reuse Mason jars in many different ways.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.

Tweet

Lambie and Me Swaddle Blankets [Giveaway]

The beauty and usefulness of swaddle blankets is that they can be used for just about anything. Use it as a blanket to cover the stroller or car seat. Use as a changing mat or nursing cover. Once the baby grows out of the swaddling stage, swaddling blankets can continue to be used. I have been using swaddling blankets as a lap cover for my son when we eat at restaurants. I have even used a swaddle blanket to wipe up a spill. A small investment will guarantee usefulness beyond the baby and toddler years.

Enter to win a 2-pack of Lambie & Me Swaddle Blankets below!

Please use the Rafflecopter entry form below. Open to US only. All entries will be verified. Duplicate and invalid entries will be deleted. 

Giveaway

Lambie & Me Swaddle Blankets - 2 pack ($27 value)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.
  

Tweet

Reduce BPA Exposure from Food Packages [#CTWW]

This week's Change the World Wednesday challenge comes at just the right time. I have been working on my emergency preparedness kit and restocking the pantry with what else by canned and prepackaged items. To make things a little more interesting, the challenge in front of me is as follows.

This week ban BPA from your life. Need some ideas? Avoid canned foods, including prepared soups, vegetables, sauces, soda and beer. Don’t microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers. Say no to printed receipts; they contain BPA. 

An audit of my pantry showed a number of items in cans. Since can lining potentially contains BPA, my task is to find these products in safer containers. The table below shows the items, the container I usually purchase these products in and what changes I plan on making to the container. 

Some items are only available in cans, so I will plan on freezing or caning (in glass jars) the fresh vegetables myself. I prefer to eat vegetables fresh, so the items I buy in jars are mostly legumes and vegetables.

Product	BPA Package	Non-BPA Package
Beans	Can	Buy and store dry in glass
Tomatoes	Can	Freeze or can fresh in glass
Tomato Sauce	Can	Glass jar
Soup	Can	Aseptic (paperboard carton)
Jalapenos	Can	Freeze or can fresh in glass
Coconut Milk	Can	TBD

A little side story for you...

During the last grocery trip, I was shopping for ingredients to make a Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe that called for canned tomatoes. As I stood in the canned goods aisle, the little "greenie" on my shoulder reminded me of this week's challenge. I turned around and went back to the produce section to pick up 5 tomatoes. I decided they would taste better and I would eliminate exposure to BPA and one more can going into the recycle bin.

>> What are some items in your pantry that can be switched for BPA-free packaging??

  

Tweet

Apple Sauce vs. Apple Butter

I have always been a huge fan of apple butter. This summer, my dad gathered apples from their organic
apple tree for me. I decided to make apple butter and can it. After a little research, I noted that I needed to add a little acidity and to thin the apple butter a little to reduce the air bubbles in the jars. As I was filling the canning jars with the apple butter, I was faintly reminded of apple sauce. I was curious: what is the difference between apple sauce and apple butter?

Here are the main differences:

• Apple sauce is prepared quickly, while apple butter cooks for a long time (up to 10 hours)
• Apple sauce has a lighter color (shorter cooking time), while apple butter has a darker color (longer cooking time)
• Apple sauce has water added, while apple butter has spices added
• Apple butter is thicker and more caramelized due to the longer cooking time
• Apple sauce is typically pureed or mashed, while apple butter is spreadable and has a smooth, thick consistency
• Apple sauce is used as a side dish, while apple butter is used as a spread/condiment because of its rich flavor

>> Do you prefer apple sauce or apple butter??
  

Tweet

Eco-Friendly Resolutions Update

We are about three weeks into the New Year. I decided to do a self-check on my eco-friendly resolutions. Updates are in blue.

Eco-Friendly Resolutions

1. Continue the switch to non-toxic cleaning products - We cleaned out the cleaning supplies and organized by toxic vs. non-toxic. I would love to throw out the toxic ones, but that would freak my husband out. I did dispose of some toxic cleaning products that were almost empty. My goal is to continue to slowly replace the toxic cleaners with non-toxic cleaners.
2. Make more homemade cleaning products - No progress.
3. Use my new dehydrator to dry in-season produce - I dried pineapple! It was easy and delicious! There is not a lot of in season produce right now, so I am planning on dehydrating a lot during the summer. There is a berry farm trip on the agenda!
4. Can fruits (jams, jellies, etc.) - No progress. Once we get into the summer fruit seasons, I will kick this into full gear! My sister-in-law is on board (berry farm trip!).
5. Find a new CSA farm and join - I researched and made a list. Now to select the farm and submit the paperwork. LocalHarvest.org is a great resource.

>> How are you progressing toward your eco-friendly resolutions?
  

Tweet

Eco-Friendly Resolutions for 2013

This year, I have made great strides in changing some of our eco-UNfriendly habits. Even those these changes seemed like they were fairly small, they do add up and make an impact. Here is a summary of what was accomplished in 2012 and what I hope to accomplish in 2013.

2012 Accomplishments

1. Stopped using Tide and switched to a natural laundry detergent (Tropical Traditions)
2. Used reusable grocery bags 95% of the time (there were a few times I was not prepared)
3. Completed 2 vegan fasts and switched to a vegetarian diet
4. Participated in a CSA farm share
5. Expanded the garden
6. Canned hot peppers from the CSA farm
7. Cleaned out remaining toxic body products

Eco-Friendly Resolutions

1. Continue the switch to non-toxic cleaning products
2. Make more homemade cleaning products
3. Use my new dehydrator to dry in-season produce
4. Can fruits (jams, jellies, etc.)
5. Find a new CSA farm and join

Blog Resolutions

1. Post vegetarian and vegan recipes
2. Post about my personal dilemmas and challenges with green and eco-friendly living
3. Determine what you (my readers) would like to know more about

>> What are your eco-friendly resolutions for 2013?
  

Tweet

From Farm to Jar [Canning]

I completed my second canning endeavor. The first time I canned (last year), I canned one jar using the water bath canning method. It is not recommended to can only one jar (you should have the recommended minimum number of jars in the water bath to safely can). This time, I had a bigger and better pot and more produce to can. As you read in my post on Final Thoughts About This Year's CSA, I had almost a full bag of peppers. Since the majority of the peppers were hot peppers (chili, banana, jalapeno), I decided to can those instead of freezing them since my freezer is already stuffed full.

My initial plan was to water bath can with the EcoZoom Zoom Versa Stove, but the rain prompted for Plan B. Plan B included canning inside on the glass top electric range with a porcelain enameled pot. The pot I used had a flat bottom and did not exceed more than 1 inch in diameter over the burner area. The water took about 30 minutes to come to 180 degrees, which is what is required for what I was canning.  I placed the jars inside and waited for the water to come to a rolling boil, which only took about 10 more minutes. I had no issues canning on the glass top electrical range with a flat bottom porcelain enameled pot using the water bath canning method.

The prep work took a little bit of time. I chopped the chili peppers and put them in the smaller jars. The banana and jalapenos went into the big jars as whole peppers. I did stuff one jar prior to cleaning to figure out how many peppers would fit. For quart jars, I estimated about 26 jalapeno peppers. I want to say it was around the same number for the banana peppers.

Recipe used for hot peppers: http://www.simplycanning.com/pickled-peppers-rings.html

Recipe to try next time: http://www.simplycanning.com/pickled-green-tomatoes.html

Water bath canning method: http://www.simplycanning.com/water-bath-canning.html

There are many great resources for canning available through the Ball Blue Canning Books as well as online resources. Do your research before your start canning so that you can safely can and safely enjoy your efforts for years to come.

>> Did you can anything this year??
 

Tweet