advice
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Umbra on food-waste collection
Dear Umbra, Are any communities collecting food waste — potato peels, meat scraps, corn husks, etc. — for recycling? Is there a market for such material? Wendy S. Far Hills, N.J. Dearest Wendy, Yes and yes. Multiple communities collect food waste, in a variety of ways. Which is great, considering that food makes up about […]
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A review of eco-minded feminine products
A picture speaks a thousand euphemisms. Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series on feminine products. The second column focuses on tampons and menstrual cups. Suffering the curse. Surfing the crimson wave. Being on the rag. Falling to the communists. Call it what you will, menstruation is a monthly reality […]
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Smaller breasts are better, and other advice for holiday-bird quandaries
In Checkout Line, Lou Bendrick cooks up answers to reader questions about how to green their food choices and other diet-related quandaries. Lettuce know what food worries keep you up at night. May I suggest a nice ham this year? Dear Checkout Line, Let’s talk turkey. I want to green my Thanksgiving table, but […]
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When farmers and activists get together, food culture ferments like delicious sauerkraut
The Carrboro Farmers Market in North Carolina. Photo: North Carolina Cooperative Extension “Thank God, she’s not another one of those community activists.” I was at Terre Madre, Slow Food’s biennial international meeting of farmers, food producers, academics, cooks, and youth delegates in Turin, Italy. I had just introduced myself to a […]
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Umbra on compost and climate
Dear Umbra, I was explaining to my neighbor (who doesn’t even recycle) why he shouldn’t throw out a bag of leaves with his trash. Just to clarify, he asked what to do with it. I explained composting; he doesn’t want to. I explained the energy expended in transporting his leaves and that landfills emit greenhouse […]
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Umbra on composting with worms
Dear Umbra, I recently moved into a studio apartment in an urban area. I used to compost in my backyard but don’t have that option anymore. I looked into getting a worm bin to use inside my apartment, but the cheapest ones seem to run around $200 and don’t hold very much. Can you recommend […]
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Umbra on unused fireplaces
Dear Umbra, We have a gas fireplace and a new baby girl, so we have decided to not use the fireplace this winter. What is the best way to keep the cold air from coming in through the fireplace? JeffRochester, N.Y. Dearest Jeff, First of all, congratulations! There are “hearth gates” one can use to […]
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How to green your garage
Start greening your car hole. Photo: Paul Salzman Alt-rock band Weezer kept a Dungeon Master’s Guide, 12-sided die, and KISS posters there. Yours likely has a jumble of old tires, extension cords, motor oil, tire pumps, or camping gear. Not to get all SAT on you, but a garage is to a house what a […]
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Umbra on soap
Dear Umbra, Every time I’m lathering with Dr. Bronner’s hemp castile soap, I wonder, what is castile soap? And how is it different from my bar of olive oil-based soap from the farmers market, or my partner’s Dove? Finally, does the ingredient triclosan in antibacterial soap really convert to dioxin in sunlight? And if so, […]
