tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90364173491206956212024-02-19T05:20:14.381-07:00Waste-Free Home CalgaryHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-72370220459085809772017-03-30T22:56:00.005-06:002017-03-30T22:56:45.824-06:00Looking for new content? Check me out on Instagram!These days I like to post mostly on Instagram. You don't need an account to view my posts, so come check me out there! And if you're an Instagram user, feel free to follow me!<br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-81762970775967337472016-12-08T22:22:00.000-07:002016-12-08T22:32:27.202-07:00Pinterest in Real Life: Can this Cookie Sheet be Saved?As you may know, I recently <a href="http://wastefreehomecalgary.blogspot.com/2016/11/how-to-eat-halloween-pumpkin.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">roasted a Halloween pumpkin</span></a>. What I didn't mention is that the process of roasting it pretty much destroyed my cookie sheet. It is an older pan that has seen better days, but comes in handy a lot, so I wasn't ready to say goodbye to it.<br />
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I have used a hydrogen peroxide/baking soda combination to clean my stove top for a long time. It pops up on Pinterest a lot but I wasn't sure if it was really tough enough to fix a pan treated this badly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboU9Ihk95Q-we-FAtEztV8n_PwEYgmz5g8RHW6ZZXsPeSnCyn1jcuRfCCRhUa-qiFh-xCnuY7le5u5tlrrnag5ZB5pmsndIP8_RLMGf5i_JoRbbunWT9XdPxhso5uNZVC4n8YWptyQP0/s1600/SAM_3170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboU9Ihk95Q-we-FAtEztV8n_PwEYgmz5g8RHW6ZZXsPeSnCyn1jcuRfCCRhUa-qiFh-xCnuY7le5u5tlrrnag5ZB5pmsndIP8_RLMGf5i_JoRbbunWT9XdPxhso5uNZVC4n8YWptyQP0/s400/SAM_3170.JPG" title="Sheet pan destroyed by pumpkin!" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>To make the paste, put some baking soda into a bowl. Then, very slowly, add hydrogen peroxide until it is just a spreadable paste. You don't want this to be too liquidy, so add the peroxide very slowly, mix, and then add more if needed.<br />
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Once mixed, coat the burned areas with the paste, and then leave it to sit.</div>
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If I am just using this to clean my stove, a few minutes is usually enough. For this job, I thought it would need longer so I left it for 15 or 20 minutes.</div>
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Afterwards, use a soft scrubber (<a href="http://wastefreehomecalgary.blogspot.com/2016/02/diy-compostable-loofah-scrubbers.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I use loofah</span></a>) to scrub the burned areas. This took a little more elbow grease than I would have liked, but eventually, I ended up with this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboU9Ihk95Q-we-FAtEztV8n_PwEYgmz5g8RHW6ZZXsPeSnCyn1jcuRfCCRhUa-qiFh-xCnuY7le5u5tlrrnag5ZB5pmsndIP8_RLMGf5i_JoRbbunWT9XdPxhso5uNZVC4n8YWptyQP0/s1600/SAM_3170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboU9Ihk95Q-we-FAtEztV8n_PwEYgmz5g8RHW6ZZXsPeSnCyn1jcuRfCCRhUa-qiFh-xCnuY7le5u5tlrrnag5ZB5pmsndIP8_RLMGf5i_JoRbbunWT9XdPxhso5uNZVC4n8YWptyQP0/s200/SAM_3170.JPG" title="Cookie Sheet BEFORE" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDPDGRohLgbxAT1yJOwvUBkuzbIZSIv2AQvhPKsJpUCG760y5e3tmYj_GyzbDFyeWaiNeUT7-EAJmQnjqOE9Aag1llRvanGkTzgO-97vqjr1elw-ZVy6cfv1hvRsVlu819JVpZDkERIw/s1600/SAM_3174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDPDGRohLgbxAT1yJOwvUBkuzbIZSIv2AQvhPKsJpUCG760y5e3tmYj_GyzbDFyeWaiNeUT7-EAJmQnjqOE9Aag1llRvanGkTzgO-97vqjr1elw-ZVy6cfv1hvRsVlu819JVpZDkERIw/s200/SAM_3174.JPG" title="Cookie Sheet BEFORE" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3uUigCPKoPO9b4FEhgICY2Zankabj0bYbciU2GsaInXQqPQe2lRjx5XUaZueSTdS_jVMf1Qzb9FAOMAGkxMOrLuqeDyjKq1DgH-SgmkmY-sDTtdVQWK8ZyC8v1egP-bZm_-FJBsRPII/s1600/SAM_3182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3uUigCPKoPO9b4FEhgICY2Zankabj0bYbciU2GsaInXQqPQe2lRjx5XUaZueSTdS_jVMf1Qzb9FAOMAGkxMOrLuqeDyjKq1DgH-SgmkmY-sDTtdVQWK8ZyC8v1egP-bZm_-FJBsRPII/s200/SAM_3182.JPG" title="Cookie Sheet AFTER" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2yR8AfVue0C8fhrm2vgP3s-WiVYv7zbvI2DQ14e9n4wLT5jujbXjtBJkjZ1cTgBZIgdku7uVtfvWNzerHciXav709Do-3MQD04Vw7Alnaee_RMiGogcweuzyrNiHeXgRPCG1eE2ZPUY/s1600/SAM_3175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2yR8AfVue0C8fhrm2vgP3s-WiVYv7zbvI2DQ14e9n4wLT5jujbXjtBJkjZ1cTgBZIgdku7uVtfvWNzerHciXav709Do-3MQD04Vw7Alnaee_RMiGogcweuzyrNiHeXgRPCG1eE2ZPUY/s200/SAM_3175.JPG" title="Cookie Sheet AFTER" width="200" /></a></div>
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Not bad, right? It's not magic, but it was almost back to the condition it was in before the pumpkin incident.<br />
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So, there it is, Pinterest in Real Life. I hope not to have to do this again, but if need be, I would use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to rescue another burned sheet pan.<br />
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<b><i>Have you used these two ingredients to clean anything? Leave a comment!</i></b></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-79889033448393049232016-11-19T11:19:00.001-07:002016-11-19T11:19:40.732-07:00How to Eat a Halloween PumpkinThe Internet is quick to caution you against eating Halloween pumpkins. They are great for carving, but were bred for size, not taste. Cooked as-is, they tend to be bland and watery. On top of that, if the pumpkin was carved and sat out for a long time, it may be spoiled.<br />
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If your pumpkin is spoiled, there's not much I can do to help you, except advise you to take advantage of the City's <a href="http://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages/Recycling-information/Residential-services/Organics-recycling/Leaf-and-Pumpkin-Drop-off-Locations.aspx" style="color: #cc0000;" target="_blank">pumpkin composting program</a> (currently closed at the time of writing). But if you're like us and decorate with whole pumpkins, or maybe your pumpkin was only carved for a couple days, there is a way to make it into perfectly tasty pumpkin puree.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhge5MeXzvJ05Mhv9FIAO68Spb1-9Gto68EeZ-ZG2SwxU_xeELplGo6xGHQUh6-02eumbjIGq3vewl0FRRAIXB3XH2E8F1uQVbOAw0KAwHsOI5564Mdch0E3W2-O_Lzg2ZYjYrN76l4t7E/s1600/SAM_3167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhge5MeXzvJ05Mhv9FIAO68Spb1-9Gto68EeZ-ZG2SwxU_xeELplGo6xGHQUh6-02eumbjIGq3vewl0FRRAIXB3XH2E8F1uQVbOAw0KAwHsOI5564Mdch0E3W2-O_Lzg2ZYjYrN76l4t7E/s400/SAM_3167.JPG" title="Homemade Pumpkin Puree" width="225" /></a></div>
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The keys to good puree are caramelisation and draining. That said, the steps are fairy simple.</div>
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<li>Cut the pumpkin into large pieces that will fit on sheet pans in your oven. This was the hardest step for me, as our pumpkin was very large.</li>
<li>Stab some holes through the skin and flesh in a few spots on each piece.</li>
<li>Roast the pumpkin in the oven at 400 degrees until it collapses and the skin is pulling away from the flesh. I left mine in until the skin was black in some areas and I could see the juices collecting onto the pans.</li>
<li>After the pumpkin has cooled, peel off the skin and crispy parts, especially where the pumpkin was touching the pan. </li>
<li>Puree the pumpkin in your food processor. I found it easiest to use the grater attachment in mine rather than the blade.</li>
<li>Set a fine mesh colander over a large bowl, and put your puree in the colander to drain. I left mine overnight and almost two litres of water drained out of the pumpkin.</li>
<li>Now your puree is ready to use!</li>
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I find this pumpkin puree great for an easy dinner (think of it like mashed potatoes) or baked with eggs in a frittata. It is not quite as sweet as you may be used to with sugar pumpkins, but is definitely flavorful and worth the effort. One large pumpkin yields an amazing quantity of puree.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAebzrAKuUPBKpJXEOhAX21VjySKe7uf69-e3qBi-zjzY_iZ9Rwn-gYzGh04SXAbrs8WA_T2vndrxXWsc_czDvGsIFrGs2TAS48FvrGIqzbGypCWPk64UNhmO0f9cbtK7G7e53dPIEfU/s1600/SAM_3158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAebzrAKuUPBKpJXEOhAX21VjySKe7uf69-e3qBi-zjzY_iZ9Rwn-gYzGh04SXAbrs8WA_T2vndrxXWsc_czDvGsIFrGs2TAS48FvrGIqzbGypCWPk64UNhmO0f9cbtK7G7e53dPIEfU/s400/SAM_3158.JPG" title="Pumpkin puree" width="225" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Do you eat your Halloween pumpkin? Leave a comment!</i></b></div>
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-90150909466845507532016-11-07T20:54:00.001-07:002016-11-07T21:05:04.632-07:00Homemade MayoI don't do recipe posts here very often, because it is not really my specialty. We definitely cook and prepare most of our own meals in our house, but we don't necessarily develop our own recipes. We follow other people's recipes, or we just make it up as we go along and eat whatever the results are.<br />
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Over the last couple years, I've tried a few different methods to make my own mayo. The online instructions promised it would be quick and easy, with delicious results. I tried it in my stand mixer, my blender, and my food processor, all with the same result: drippy, runny "mayo" that failed to emulsify. Of course, I always ate it anyway, because I hate to waste, but it was not thick like mayo is supposed to be.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsUwcHuqCvuBpCBm6PLvyI-XXLkpn6mPIaYSEDSqH15HzoS6-2IKrB2ABhAyIvTWRZ8s_tUqE6gdj1mgXuJ4f-Ph8NdcPjHGEZxWB1ILrgp57wwVCTIvgLF50AK0L7g7XcxD6dSRTdfU/s1600/SAM_3151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsUwcHuqCvuBpCBm6PLvyI-XXLkpn6mPIaYSEDSqH15HzoS6-2IKrB2ABhAyIvTWRZ8s_tUqE6gdj1mgXuJ4f-Ph8NdcPjHGEZxWB1ILrgp57wwVCTIvgLF50AK0L7g7XcxD6dSRTdfU/s400/SAM_3151.JPG" title="Homemade Mayo - Before!" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigX59r-hHoPJJMCWs5HGBdyvtYGdYTMBMkkPb2ocydZo4H3_slAMqjJq1UNGW-FcYIsywETykuZ7htgHzBPc0qgKjTS2vlyFYR9gyCgdx10RLYkU57Lcm0Qo_Z1hsw2lzYmOaQEZNA1bE/s1600/SAM_3156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigX59r-hHoPJJMCWs5HGBdyvtYGdYTMBMkkPb2ocydZo4H3_slAMqjJq1UNGW-FcYIsywETykuZ7htgHzBPc0qgKjTS2vlyFYR9gyCgdx10RLYkU57Lcm0Qo_Z1hsw2lzYmOaQEZNA1bE/s400/SAM_3156.JPG" title="Homemade Mayo - After!" width="225" /></a></div>
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When I was recently having a hard time finding mayo without added sugar, I thought I would try it again. This time, I followed a recipe using an immersion blender. The recipe I followed was for "<a href="http://thehealthyfoodie.com/fail-proof-home-made-paleo-mayo-whole30-compliant/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Foolproof Homemade Paleo Mayo</span></a>", from <a href="http://thehealthyfoodie.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">thehealthyfoodie.com</span></a>. I'm sure there are similar recipes for non-Paleo mayo, I just happened to be looking for a sugar-free recipe at the time.<br />
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<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
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<li>1 cup extra-light olive oil</li>
<li>1 large egg (I used two as my eggs were smaller)</li>
<li>3 tsp lemon juice</li>
<li>Pinch of salt</li>
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I also added some mustard powder and pepper to mine.</div>
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The <b>basic steps</b> are as follows, but please feel free to follow the real recipe as well.<br />
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<li>Add the egg, lemon juice, salt, and other spices to the bottom of a tall mason jar.</li>
<li>Dump the oil over top of those ingredients and allow everything to settle in the jar for a few seconds.</li>
<li>Put your immersion blender into the jar, straight to the bottom, and turn on for 20 seconds. Your mayo should turn white and start to thicken.</li>
<li>After 20 seconds, move your blender straight up through the contents, then start to move the blender around to finish blending the rest of the oil in the jar. Be careful not to come above the top of the contents or you may splatter mayo all over the place.</li>
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<b>A couple of notes!</b></div>
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<li>Make sure you use the lightest olive oil you can find. My first batch tasted strongly of olive oil, my second batch with lighter oil was much better.</li>
<li>The mayo can look a little runny at first but gets thicker once you cool it in the fridge.</li>
<li>This lasts in the fridge for two weeks, max! Only make as much as you can use. If you see any black specs of mold on it, sorry, it's done.</li>
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From the perspective of<b> bulk ingredients</b>, here's how it stacks up.</div>
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<li>Olive oil - currently we are still using up olive oil purchased in conventional bottles. However, a lot of you have made me aware of bulk options that I will be checking out as soon as it is used up!</li>
<li>Eggs - we purchase our eggs direct from a farmer, who takes the cartons back. If that is not available to you, you can easily buy eggs in recyclable cardboard cartons.</li>
<li>Lemon juice - straight from whole lemons, then freeze any left over juice.</li>
<li>Salt - available in bulk at multiple locations (Community Natural Foods, Superstore, Bulk Barn, etc).</li>
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Anyways, I'm stoked I finally found a method that works!</div>
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<b><i>Have you ever made your own mayo? Leave a comment!</i></b></div>
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-9396034670211156852016-09-12T17:25:00.002-06:002016-09-12T17:26:11.646-06:00The Waste-Free Baking Cupboard: Brown SugarThese days, I still have a few challenges sourcing certain items in bulk. In some cases the store where they are sold does not accept outside containers or do not tare them, or the stores that do accept outside containers do not carry the items. Brown sugar is one of those items. You could certainly buy it from Superstore, but you would wind up paying the weight of your container as well. Bulk Barn is another option, but they have a policy against bringing your own container.<br />
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I have read a few times on various websites that people make their own brown sugar using just plain sugar and molasses, and I thought I would give it a try. Of course, this would be a better bulk recipe if I had a source for bulk molasses, but a few years ago Fair Trade molasses was on sale somewhere, so I have had a surplus of it ever since. I do think you can buy molasses in bulk at Bulk Barn and their container would be recyclable, but I have not been there in a long time, so I cannot confirm.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGh6dm_i-DMuldRnzgswl3a6P4en-5IoPvv9PwZACK8JLnhXmCnk7IUViqarP-Lt8dnTwYxfqSIccoZPnMVR1pQbV59WsxJEruxXHWPKJKMoWsiUzk81l7fp4Huer8PfmbeCRtOBCPspU/s1600/SAM_3116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGh6dm_i-DMuldRnzgswl3a6P4en-5IoPvv9PwZACK8JLnhXmCnk7IUViqarP-Lt8dnTwYxfqSIccoZPnMVR1pQbV59WsxJEruxXHWPKJKMoWsiUzk81l7fp4Huer8PfmbeCRtOBCPspU/s400/SAM_3116.JPG" title="DIY Brown Sugar" width="225" /></a></div>
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Either way, if you bake reasonably often, you likely have molasses in your kitchen anyway. This avoids an extra plastic bag by using something that is otherwise on-hand for other purposes. The sugar you can buy in bulk at Community Natural Foods or Sunnyside Market.<br />
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To make brown sugar, just mix <b>one cup of brown sugar</b> with <b>one tablespoon of molasses</b>. I used a food processor which made this easy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMrsrpkKDgrY0T5iZnNqILikfWlMSEJqUQ-AdV55wDvd-4SDaEBp-zeLhf42brsndZYM-yH-1rqEnPogVBYhG6lC4_PlZwdstwrcS1-qmbWWhm0KGgnERxTLSVJj2khmSm-QYpom8isk/s1600/SAM_3113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMrsrpkKDgrY0T5iZnNqILikfWlMSEJqUQ-AdV55wDvd-4SDaEBp-zeLhf42brsndZYM-yH-1rqEnPogVBYhG6lC4_PlZwdstwrcS1-qmbWWhm0KGgnERxTLSVJj2khmSm-QYpom8isk/s400/SAM_3113.JPG" title="Sugar and Molasses" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwyV27zPMJ88jqumQqCToKJ5ei_ccMhTxZlZPSyD6RAcaVyZzc2yQReid_Q7-e3sjH7CsKutnyCPvSolQPpRifdQfDjJVxkj6hvdIWJ7YjhZ9KYXj5bsdw3o2eDllEtzAJNYDd2rJiw8/s1600/SAM_3114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwyV27zPMJ88jqumQqCToKJ5ei_ccMhTxZlZPSyD6RAcaVyZzc2yQReid_Q7-e3sjH7CsKutnyCPvSolQPpRifdQfDjJVxkj6hvdIWJ7YjhZ9KYXj5bsdw3o2eDllEtzAJNYDd2rJiw8/s400/SAM_3114.JPG" title="Brown sugar!" width="225" /></a></div>
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Then store the brown sugar in an air-tight container as you normally would.<br />
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We used this to make cupcakes last week and it worked great. It may be the molasses I had, but it made a very dark brown sugar. Feel free to use less molasses to make a lighter sugar.<br />
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<b><i>Do you have a source for bulk molasses? Leave a comment!</i></b>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-40164914803910431942016-07-10T12:44:00.001-06:002016-07-10T22:44:28.736-06:00When Life Gives You Sad BreadI have been trying to use our slow cooker more recently. We have had one around for a while now but I have a hard time finding anything to use it for. It seems to me the only benefit to it is that you can leave it running when you are asleep or not home, but we are just not the sort of people who are organized enough to set something up to cook before we go to work. We try to do the bulk of our cooking on the weekend and then eat quick leftovers all week.<br />
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I did see a number of recipes for slow cooker bread though, that I thought seemed like a good idea. However, rather than follow a proper recipe, I thought I would see what would happen if I used my regular bread recipe on the warm setting, overnight.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFDMdS4X5q21S0O67NXeVbG9aALArU_hQY4fH7zjG6d7h5NsTIQl80v-2CbHy3JTxJS5KyVD_MN-U9GIZy7CA-Jj5JcXfDSnBM2eL_mLZsjb2u02w8GmCeI5nzpVzBdGsMcdn_mxQ3Gs/s1600/SAM_2356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFDMdS4X5q21S0O67NXeVbG9aALArU_hQY4fH7zjG6d7h5NsTIQl80v-2CbHy3JTxJS5KyVD_MN-U9GIZy7CA-Jj5JcXfDSnBM2eL_mLZsjb2u02w8GmCeI5nzpVzBdGsMcdn_mxQ3Gs/s400/SAM_2356.JPG" title="Sad Bread" width="400" /></a></div>
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As you can see, it created a flat disc of bread.<br />
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Rather than eat the sad thing as-is, or throw it out, I thought I would prep for CSA season (which just started) by making it into croutons.<br />
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To make croutons, just cut the bread up into small cubes, toss with some olive oil and herbs (I used red pepper flakes, oregano, salt, pepper, and paprika), and toast in the oven until dried out. I set my oven to 300 degrees, but I would probably go lower next time. I added some nutritional yeast after they were done baking.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37pagTpeAGO5Lv9XnaVHEtkiHZRPDfm6dHNiy9_fWiq-5ct3-ixTn4cQHckCwqcjdmEF7deNVFJrEGj95x4lRWatpKhc0MsbPVfmrNDW4T1UHiyFOp7HpeiTLyC5l0gGSMdnyx30fCWw/s1600/SAM_2363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37pagTpeAGO5Lv9XnaVHEtkiHZRPDfm6dHNiy9_fWiq-5ct3-ixTn4cQHckCwqcjdmEF7deNVFJrEGj95x4lRWatpKhc0MsbPVfmrNDW4T1UHiyFOp7HpeiTLyC5l0gGSMdnyx30fCWw/s400/SAM_2363.JPG" title="Croutons before baking" width="400" /></a></div>
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I would love to show you a photo of the finished product, but the truth is that I over-cooked them a little bit, and I didn't want to discourage you by showing you over-toasted croutons. So remember to set a timer for every 10 minutes to make sure you don't overdo it. Ok, fine, here they are. Just imagine them slightly... lighter. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrll-KrB2fSJmqy907TsFGniGg9ghy1XDPkPdiAR8JoIlp7_l_Y2g1YEPEhFuNQKwWi5dWffjDwsAbXBa4s2A5-V7eM5IGXJXEbDVdIgbdHONIVLVrFhqUTrFcFkVF8skB-Jg0Fw9XNk/s1600/SAM_2366.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrll-KrB2fSJmqy907TsFGniGg9ghy1XDPkPdiAR8JoIlp7_l_Y2g1YEPEhFuNQKwWi5dWffjDwsAbXBa4s2A5-V7eM5IGXJXEbDVdIgbdHONIVLVrFhqUTrFcFkVF8skB-Jg0Fw9XNk/s400/SAM_2366.JPG" title="(Over)Baked Croutons" width="266" /></a></div>
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Anyways, I will still be eating them on my salads, despite their over-doneness, but next time I will be more careful.<br />
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<b><i>What do you do with a bread fail? Leave a comment!</i></b>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-31101697845559290792016-06-28T23:07:00.000-06:002016-06-28T23:07:15.360-06:00The Waste-Free Baking Cupboard: Flour and SugarIn my <a href="http://wastefreehomecalgary.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-waste-free-baking-cupboard-chocolate.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">last post</span></a>, I mentioned that I had finally picked up a couple of types of chocolate for baking projects. These were items I was frequently buying in small, plastic-wrapped quantities, so it was great to finally have a supply of them tucked away.<br />
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I thought I would continue the theme with a series on how to build a waste-free baking cupboard. Today's topic is just the basics: flour and granulated sugar.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDF1iGpPLlH-oFWHpjebdwMclf5cvZ6aolcEytm3vQ989YSl-6ZRl8OScDNUy0OM30oUxOodsp3xD2DV1ts-cY6-pmXt7tU8ZAj2oU_WED0EJZGE7s26xCtLpSLXpyJ5dVcneszM5YOns/s1600/SAM_2351.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDF1iGpPLlH-oFWHpjebdwMclf5cvZ6aolcEytm3vQ989YSl-6ZRl8OScDNUy0OM30oUxOodsp3xD2DV1ts-cY6-pmXt7tU8ZAj2oU_WED0EJZGE7s26xCtLpSLXpyJ5dVcneszM5YOns/s400/SAM_2351.JPG" title="Bulk Flour and Sugar" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>I buy my flour and sugar and Community Natural Foods because they are the easiest place I have found to buy bulk straight into my own containers. I keep their bin numbers and the tare weight of my containers written on the bins, so it is always quick and easy to pop in and get a re-fill.<br />
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I do have a few tips when it comes to buying bulk into your own containers.<br />
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<li>Make sure you get the tare written down before you fill them up. You don't want to pay for the weight of your bin.</li>
<li>Bring a container with a wide enough mouth that you can fill it without the bulk scoop touching your container. This is more sanitary for everyone, and helps avoid spillage.</li>
<li>Make sure you are selecting the right product before you put it in your container. Once you put it in, it is your responsibility to buy it. I once bought an entire bin of gluten-free flour because I did not double-check the product first. It was expensive!!</li>
<li>Keep the tare and bin number easily readable to make it easy for the cashier to find.</li>
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See you next time as we keep talking about building a waste-free baking cupboard.</div>
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<b><i>Do you buy baking supplies in bulk? Leave a comment!</i></b></div>
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-29702746773599194062016-06-22T23:00:00.000-06:002016-06-22T23:02:42.546-06:00The Waste-Free Baking Cupboard: ChocolateSometimes I am at a bit of a loss for topics to talk about on this blog. We buy a lot of the same groceries on a regular basis, from a lot of the same stores, so I am not often making new, waste-free discoveries. Unfortunately, the bulk selection at our go-to stores (Community Natural Foods and Calgary Co-op) doesn't change very often. But sometimes we make a trip beyond the 5km around our house, and that's when I find new things.<br />
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On our last trip to Superstore, I had one thing on my mind: chocolate. Normally when we bake with chocolate, we are doing it with limited planning. For the most part, we end up buying little bags of chocolate chips from the convenience store in our neighborhood. I have tried buying bigger bags in advance and keeping them in the cupboard, but I have the habit of eating them bit by bit, until there's none left when it's time to bake.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxR6N9MOuv0Jzs_c0bC3y77Ms4dx_9Kq_tR9kGj2v2cK-FOySispc4Dz_A8S5wC_IL91BT0YsqtmO3Cx_DG9HVClmGGYOoCnD8-ky4BOA1B_cHLaSjGeSdM4wlo9ncdDb8Bxk-VbkYR8/s1600/SAM_2348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxR6N9MOuv0Jzs_c0bC3y77Ms4dx_9Kq_tR9kGj2v2cK-FOySispc4Dz_A8S5wC_IL91BT0YsqtmO3Cx_DG9HVClmGGYOoCnD8-ky4BOA1B_cHLaSjGeSdM4wlo9ncdDb8Bxk-VbkYR8/s400/SAM_2348.JPG" title="Bulk baking chocolate" width="400" /></a></div>
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At Superstore, the bulk bins are well stocked. I picked up some basic chocolate chips, and some semi-sweet baking chocolate. I would honestly have preferred unsweetened baking chocolate, but it wasn't available. We don't make it to Superstore very often, so I bought <i>a lot</i>!<br />
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In an effort to make sure it's still available when the baking mood stikes, I have packed it into mason jars and buried it at the bottom of our basement deep freezer. It has been a few weeks and so far it's untouched!<br />
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<b><i>Have you found baking ingredients in bulk? Leave a comment!</i></b>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-89943520858515887592016-06-01T23:42:00.000-06:002016-06-01T23:42:02.019-06:00Why I'm Excited about the Green Cart ProgramRecently the <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/curbside-composting-fees-calgary-1.3608192" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">news around town</span></a> has been about the City of Calgary's Green Cart program. It is set to start rolling out in the spring of 2017. You might think this wouldn't be exciting news to us since we have <a href="http://wastefreehomecalgary.blogspot.ca/2015/05/how-we-compost.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">three composters</span></a> already, but there are going to be some real benefits to the new program.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_nlbz1tzHZvZDyQYAYPoryPKVSiOf5PGaTNN1VTVoFG-8bYqg5_0M8S_l4eBNtcGhe46TI2ZhuslKtWoP9z0eH-NMTSg8bT1GCdLQbQCm0VIvWblWp8Ebqk5nP_ipNPr11kcHN1Sdn8/s1600/Compost+Dog+Waste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_nlbz1tzHZvZDyQYAYPoryPKVSiOf5PGaTNN1VTVoFG-8bYqg5_0M8S_l4eBNtcGhe46TI2ZhuslKtWoP9z0eH-NMTSg8bT1GCdLQbQCm0VIvWblWp8Ebqk5nP_ipNPr11kcHN1Sdn8/s400/Compost+Dog+Waste.jpg" title="Soon we'll be able to compost pet waste!" width="300" /></a></div>
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Even with all our compost bins, there are still some materials we send to the landfill, either because they would attract pests or they would not break down properly in our home bins.<br />
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<li>Meat scraps and bones</li>
<li>Cat litter and pet waste</li>
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The program will also accept dairy, bread, and cooked food, none of which we have a lot of in our waste bin, but could be useful for other households. And of course, it will also accept the kitchen scraps and yard waste that currently go in our home composters.</div>
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If you're interested in more information about the program, the City has a useful FAQ <a href="http://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages/Recycling-information/Residential-services/Green-cart/Green-cart-FAQ.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">here</span></a>.</div>
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Even with the Green Cart roll-out, we will likely keep using our existing compost bins. However, being able to compost our pet waste is going to put a huge dent in the trash coming out of our household. I am pretty stoked about it! Too bad we have to wait until next year!</div>
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<b><i>Are you looking forward to the Green Cart program? Leave a comment!</i></b></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-16136662531110801162016-05-20T23:06:00.000-06:002016-05-20T23:06:21.166-06:00The New Addition to my Purse: CutleryBeing prepared, or planning ahead, is definitely one of the keys to avoiding waste. Whether it's by remembering your reusable shopping bags, bringing your own containers to the store, or bringing your package-free toiletries when you travel, remembering your zero waste alternatives is sometimes the only way to avoid disposables (unless you're prepared to carry your groceries out of the store in your arms).<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRg6uTzCPe55kNfdDYLvef6sBkb2wWS2z1DKNmb691JrwBvHRXLPB4HraAdAxcZrJng42hWzZ3plQ7ofvcrZfkwhIHnSH9xouEDUAcZNxjNDTbMah20qJ-xyQj2ianSaFMvnW7r0AHutQ/s1600/SAM_2340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRg6uTzCPe55kNfdDYLvef6sBkb2wWS2z1DKNmb691JrwBvHRXLPB4HraAdAxcZrJng42hWzZ3plQ7ofvcrZfkwhIHnSH9xouEDUAcZNxjNDTbMah20qJ-xyQj2ianSaFMvnW7r0AHutQ/s400/SAM_2340.JPG" title="Fork, spoon, and napkin for my purse" width="266" /></a></div>
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The same goes for avoiding plastic cutlery. <a href="http://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages/What-goes-where/Misc-Plastics.aspx" style="color: #cc0000;" target="_blank">In Calgary, plastic cutlery is not recyclable</a>; it is too small to be sorted properly by the machines. Over the past few months I have found myself in a couple of situations where I cursed myself for not having a fork or spoon with me. I have been carrying a cloth napkin in my purse for a while now, and it often comes in handy when I pick up something to eat, or need to wipe the mouth of my slobbering dog. </div>
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So now I have added a small fork and spoon to my purse as well, wrapped in the napkin (free of dog slobber) and secured with a rubber band. I don't know where or when I will need it, but at least I will be prepared.</div>
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<b><i>What do you carry with you to be prepared? Leave a comment!</i></b></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-85434105633695899012016-04-30T19:01:00.000-06:002016-04-30T19:01:04.850-06:00Our Cats' Favorite DIY ProjectsIf you've ever been to a pet store, you know that there is basically no end to the number of toys available to buy for your pets. For cats, these are, for the most part, various versions of little toy mice, plastic balls with bells in them, and fluffy/feathery things for them to chase around. There are elaborate scratching posts, comfy beds, and of course, cat nip toys. I don't know how many of these toys people buy, but whatever the number, I suspect 95% of them have ended up in the trash or lost underneath of furniture. Every time we pull out our couch, we find all of the dog's favorite things (and a few dust bunnies).<br />
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I have made a few things for the cats over the years, inspired by the world of Pinterest. I thought I would share the few projects that are favored by our cats.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKpb9zD2W-BOYhSj3ObL13V1t7-fBhQsOicD2GKm_yU-9TDBM6UcsLUsyw4uQEUDburk0y9Cq5B4vkZGZOW0SSVihK75blKVKh70bsZnJBEFUCUzOXU-eGYtPYLENw0kV3EpHU3LUczA/s1600/SAM_2315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKpb9zD2W-BOYhSj3ObL13V1t7-fBhQsOicD2GKm_yU-9TDBM6UcsLUsyw4uQEUDburk0y9Cq5B4vkZGZOW0SSVihK75blKVKh70bsZnJBEFUCUzOXU-eGYtPYLENw0kV3EpHU3LUczA/s400/SAM_2315.JPG" title="DIY Cat Scratching Bed" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Scratching Post Bed</b><br />
This is simply a second-hand basket filled with cardboard scraps, cut to fit. In some places the cardboard is held together by paper tape. I'm not going to lie, this took a long time to make. Because of the shape of the basket, which is oval as well as round on the bottom, each piece had to be trimmed to fit the exact spot it would go in. However, with a square basket I would think you could put this together much faster.<br />
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This is Muphin's favorite place to scratch and to sleep. It makes far less mess than the carpet scratching post, and I suspect will last indefinitely.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVCMoRnO6JLpQJlPPkfgF1nZvDov0fO37AkGozczAtujntbmcr561Ac250RsFVbB8nNHaNmpQB0Y4wPmXXkOcZsMa3Iw6FS5WVhmO7bHwBUaIf5cf4qs6Z1xdMs0WOpaJmwVJo-ijS8c/s1600/SAM_2323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVCMoRnO6JLpQJlPPkfgF1nZvDov0fO37AkGozczAtujntbmcr561Ac250RsFVbB8nNHaNmpQB0Y4wPmXXkOcZsMa3Iw6FS5WVhmO7bHwBUaIf5cf4qs6Z1xdMs0WOpaJmwVJo-ijS8c/s400/SAM_2323.JPG" title="Denim Knot Toy" width="266" /></a></div>
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<b>Denim Knot Ball</b><br />
I originally made this for our dog, who had no interest in it. It is just a few scraps of denim knotted together over and over to make a tight ball. The cats don't actually play with it, but it is a great location to tuck cat nip. I just loosen the knots a little bit, tuck in some nip, and re-tighten. Then they will roll around with and and rub their faces on it for a long time. At the time of photographing, the knot was moist with cat slobber.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzr0U3wzTOHqI8eI6PNmwC207PrQIHrFMzYC4-RENQbcTgvC-lsI3C_9VRc6rspUeQ1EBlp6KgS4TxHzeWHNqfUC3ilQvZKo6YhGHWxL3hhuY2FLMSdXDyML4lF4jlP8fNSDBfATkicE/s1600/SAM_2326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzr0U3wzTOHqI8eI6PNmwC207PrQIHrFMzYC4-RENQbcTgvC-lsI3C_9VRc6rspUeQ1EBlp6KgS4TxHzeWHNqfUC3ilQvZKo6YhGHWxL3hhuY2FLMSdXDyML4lF4jlP8fNSDBfATkicE/s400/SAM_2326.JPG" title="Cats love twist-ties" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Twist-Ties</b><br />
Does this really count as DIY? Probably not. But there is no other toy as popular with Muphin as a twist-tie. She bats them around, runs around with them in her mouth, stomps on them, and runs back and forth across the house after them. There is no end to the fun she can have with a twist-tie. She is partying with one right now but I had a hard time getting a non-blurry photograph.<br />
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<b>String</b><br />
Not photographed, but my pal Goats doesn't need fancy feathers or strings to play with. He's happy with any piece of string you're willing to dangle. He's also interested in the belt from your bath rope or wrap-dress, or whatever else you might have available.<br />
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<b><i>Do you make your own cat toys? What are their favorites?</i></b>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-20473789774073961462016-04-22T21:54:00.000-06:002016-04-22T21:56:37.014-06:00Yard Waste Cleanup Time in CalgaryToday's post has two purposes. The first is to let you know, if you didn't know already, that it is <a href="http://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages/Recycling-information/Residential-services/Organics-recycling/Spring-yard-waste-drop-off.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">spring cleanup time in Calgary</span></a>. That means that you can take your yard waste (grass clippings, branches, plants, etc) to city landfills for composting. This program runs until May 29th.<br />
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If the landfill isn't convenient for you, they are also accepting yard waste, as well as other recyclable items, at the <a href="http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/ABS/Pages/Partnership-programs/Community-cleanups.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">community cleanups</span></a> which are held throughout the city starting this weekend. Each community's cleanup is different, so it's best to double-check what they're accepting before hauling your stuff down there.<br />
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At our house, we throw our yard waste in a compost pile we framed out of pallets, but if you don't have the space for that, the City programs could be quite helpful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d-zmjhRAIGTLOfdUbmvlQDKobod6xL_T4PJ0RIFdYvTEwsmXcrdACJk37WgbR3uBh9Lz8MBbdM6CUas8NT0pfNkwZqHuQyrQN0IyEC2A2tqDHS3sqvEGTy5uH0Rc-0FygiZvexPjh7g/s1600/SAM_1895.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d-zmjhRAIGTLOfdUbmvlQDKobod6xL_T4PJ0RIFdYvTEwsmXcrdACJk37WgbR3uBh9Lz8MBbdM6CUas8NT0pfNkwZqHuQyrQN0IyEC2A2tqDHS3sqvEGTy5uH0Rc-0FygiZvexPjh7g/s400/SAM_1895.JPG" title="Yard Waste Cleanup!" width="266" /></a></div>
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The second purpose of this post is to air one of my biggest pet peeves: compostable materials in plastic bags. It has been many years since we bought plastic bags around here, for garbage or for yard waste. Of course, we are trying not to create garbage, but what we do throw out, we throw straight in the black bin without bagging it first. Yard waste goes in the compost pile, and if it is too much to carry in our arms, we put it in the wheelbarrow or a bucket to get it there.</div>
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Every year the alleys in our neighborhood are scattered with plastic bags filled with leaves, sticks, grass, and weeds. Something about compostable materials entombed in plastic really brings me down. I realize that those materials have almost no chance of actually breaking down in a landfill setting, but they certainly have none when first wrapped up in non-biodegradable garbage bags. So, for the record, there are other options available if you must send your yard waste to the landfill.</div>
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First, you could throw it directly into your black bin. As long as you are not breaking the weight restrictions for the bins, the City <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages/Garbage-collection-information/Residential-services/Preparing-Garbage-for-pickup.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">does not require your garbage to be bagged</span></a>,</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span>except for a few types of trash which they've listed. As it happens, one of the things they ask to be bagged is grass clippings.</div>
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If you feel that bags are required, there are compostable/bio-degradable types available. You can find them at lots of stores, with <a href="https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.kraft-paper-yard-waste-bags-2-ply---5-pack.1000417216.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Home Depot</span></a> coming to mind. You can find them made of corn starch, potato starch, paper, and likely other materials. In my mind, almost anything is better than sending plastic to the landfill.</div>
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<b><i>What do you do with your yard waste? Leave a comment!</i></b></div>
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-22708394799355586032016-04-01T20:56:00.002-06:002016-04-01T20:56:38.782-06:00In Lieu of Bulk Oil and VinegarIf you follow Bea Johnson at <a href="http://www.zerowastehome.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Zero Waste Home</span></a>, you'll know that she has found a bulk source for pretty much everything. Perhaps there are just more bulk stores in California than there are in Alberta, or maybe I just haven't found everything that's available here yet (I suspect it's a bit of both). Whatever the reason, I have yet to find a place to buy bulk oil or vinegar.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifuHoO3TDPL4geNRcBrJgJsDWRrm-po7Ot-I4elkfYyjA483Mjinc-Fj8tWYSeLp28qWfKdJQcACbjL6Qz6P0u0nyUSX7AtR_538MayGXSMZ58u-KGpUkJOxfVAJqqj0Ji9t35ZkKnH4/s1600/SAM_2313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifuHoO3TDPL4geNRcBrJgJsDWRrm-po7Ot-I4elkfYyjA483Mjinc-Fj8tWYSeLp28qWfKdJQcACbjL6Qz6P0u0nyUSX7AtR_538MayGXSMZ58u-KGpUkJOxfVAJqqj0Ji9t35ZkKnH4/s400/SAM_2313.JPG" title="Oil and Vinegar" width="266" /></a></div>
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When I can't find an item in bulk, I try to buy it in the largest package possible. This optimizes the product to packaging ratio and helps ensure that the package is successfully recycled. Vinegar is available in 4-litre bottles from most grocery stores, as is canola oil. We don't buy olive oil in as large of quantity, but you can generally find glass bottles in the 2-litre size wherever you shop.<br />
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There are two major issues with buying oil and vinegar in such a large quantity. First, the bottles either don't fit in the cupboard at all, or take up too much space. For a long time, ours sat on the kitchen floor for lack of a better location. The second issue is that oil bottles are messy. Oil tends to spill down the side of the bottle, and in a household with three animals, the sticky oil residue collects dust and hair. Combine that with a bottle sitting on the floor, and suddenly your oil bottle is dirty and disgusting.<br />
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The solution? Three re-used Soy Sauce bottles. The vinegar bottle uses the original cap. The oil pourers we found at Bed Bath and Beyond for about $6 for 2. The result is that the three are clean, easy to pour, and can all fit on the counter next to the stove.<br />
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It was a simple, inexpensive solution that will work for us until the day that we can buy oil and vinegar in bulk.<br />
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<b><i>Have you found oil or vinegar in bulk? Leave a comment!</i></b>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-8124732507374872422016-03-25T23:41:00.000-06:002016-03-25T23:41:55.393-06:00DIY Easter Egg DyesToday I set out to make a lasagna with what I believed were some beet greens from the freezer. On closer inspection, I found that they were actually a bag of beet stems, the greens and roots already cut off and used. At that, they appeared to have thrown in the freezer on their last legs, as they were stringy and unappetizing.<br />
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I thought it might be fun, and in the spirit of the Easters we used to have as kids, to try out making my own egg dyes. We don't actually decorate for Easter around here, but I thought it would be fun to try just dying some hard-boiled eggs that we could eat later in the week.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMXwFlQ_6vb54mM9ah_Uzp5eWvy57_EO3PAcTyhn-3yKoS-_fgEL36WM5tieMHRKg9UIQhrz1ZOfN888T-zxdN7ZctgNFtNRVBM1pMSzuMseqq7iGWxMEq44Ea99PZRLRrMTyIEcEz7I/s1600/SAM_2309.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMXwFlQ_6vb54mM9ah_Uzp5eWvy57_EO3PAcTyhn-3yKoS-_fgEL36WM5tieMHRKg9UIQhrz1ZOfN888T-zxdN7ZctgNFtNRVBM1pMSzuMseqq7iGWxMEq44Ea99PZRLRrMTyIEcEz7I/s400/SAM_2309.JPG" title="DIY Egg Dye" width="400" /></a></div>
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In reading <a href="http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/simple-step-by-step-guide-to-naturally-dyed-easter-eggs/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">this post</span></a>, I thought I would also try a batch with the morning's left-over coffee grounds.<br />
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To start out, I extracted the colors from the beet stems and coffee grounds by boiling each rapidly. I wanted to be able to compost the stems and grounds after, so I didn't add the other ingredients at this point. Fairly soon it became clear that the beet stems were not going to create a pleasant color, so I discarded that batch and boiled up a small pot of turmeric to try out a yellow egg, and some paprika for a red one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkDXfHh7udSOF9Jma-sNaXbVn1_b7_3UA2JQ2TlFia4C1G_Xni0F9jNkFicbAkthlqB5ACvOVBBDjnG4NIzLuPPDjBn3SD17mnvGa9-g6iaKDEa8bZ27kX4DQLp1HIvYBDXzPJ9bopis/s1600/SAM_2297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkDXfHh7udSOF9Jma-sNaXbVn1_b7_3UA2JQ2TlFia4C1G_Xni0F9jNkFicbAkthlqB5ACvOVBBDjnG4NIzLuPPDjBn3SD17mnvGa9-g6iaKDEa8bZ27kX4DQLp1HIvYBDXzPJ9bopis/s400/SAM_2297.JPG" title="Extracting colors" width="266" /></a></div>
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Once I had some concentrated colored water from each batch, I put three eggs in three mason jars and poured one color in each jar. I added two tablespoons of vinegar and one teaspoon of salt to each jar, and let them steep.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-5C92HwyU-iEH_LK1IHs36KPCK_tTh4XPKMZOWtAoH0tVCHj3NCawYU2_S5NOLnpGr8xaCR3UMlXeb4s2lr2p5zXXYL51kw60DziUTFb0EDVK7C1_Bh4t7s8dQ_yZYiQox4sp8KOq60/s1600/SAM_2301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-5C92HwyU-iEH_LK1IHs36KPCK_tTh4XPKMZOWtAoH0tVCHj3NCawYU2_S5NOLnpGr8xaCR3UMlXeb4s2lr2p5zXXYL51kw60DziUTFb0EDVK7C1_Bh4t7s8dQ_yZYiQox4sp8KOq60/s400/SAM_2301.JPG" title="Steeping eggs" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tutorials online tell you that the longer you let the eggs steep, the deeper the color will get. In this case, I let them steep for a few hours. The results? Other than the coffee, which turned the egg a nice brown, the colors were quite light. I would think that they would have benefited from steeping overnight.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCTh35YUiWuwjrxsGNhsmBiY8q4aiaeCIDlddWwReu-ajLnjD7LV1A_v6qtzjBCptjWEmDYnOhB6xD0QMQ3VUvl0xZwPL-JiIhp3rZL0kzfu4DwoNA0UcSWW-pv0VjHzk96IwGgJMezE/s1600/SAM_2309.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCTh35YUiWuwjrxsGNhsmBiY8q4aiaeCIDlddWwReu-ajLnjD7LV1A_v6qtzjBCptjWEmDYnOhB6xD0QMQ3VUvl0xZwPL-JiIhp3rZL0kzfu4DwoNA0UcSWW-pv0VjHzk96IwGgJMezE/s400/SAM_2309.JPG" title="Dyed eggs" width="400" /></a></div>
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Soaked overnight, and perhaps with some pressed flower or design on them, these could look really nice.<br />
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Anyways, it was a fun experiment using things we had around the house, and with a little more planning and care, could have a lot of potential for nice results. Check out <a href="http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/simple-step-by-step-guide-to-naturally-dyed-easter-eggs/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">this website</span></a> for a tutorial with more details, and more colors!<br />
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<b><i>Have you made your own egg dyes? Leave a comment!</i></b>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-38758672634670129862016-03-07T22:29:00.001-07:002016-03-07T22:29:19.861-07:00Replacing Plastic Containers with Canning JarsIf you visit Pinterest as much as I do, you know that mason jars are pretty trendy right now. People are using them for all kinds of crafty little projects, making them into pencil holders, chandeliers, plant pots, you name it. Sometimes I think people forget what they were meant for: food storage. Well, canning, actually, but let's generalize just a little bit.<div>
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For a while now I have been trying to decide how to wean myself off of plastic food storage containers. My cupboards, fridge, and freezer were filled with a variety of store-bought and re-used plastic containers holding leftovers, frozen soups, pestos, meats, and scraps for soup stock. We store a lot of food for the winter from our CSA share, and that takes a lot of containers.</div>
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There are a few types of glass storage containers on the market, and they all have one thing in common: they are expensive. Plus, they are not designed for mass use; they are usually sold individually or in small sets. If you have a lot of food to store, they are not a practical solution.</div>
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Enter the humble canning jar!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpysfeipaSmy_ZChMy4fnXDWTmXsE8AuOXyb3Vm8PmbIm9-OA93nAgd8kPSaHsvJbVqFeSjLYuCsZr7oAvmc_SEc0Q-31x2oX3ek_KlBOwNLO_dIig21jhgHpPmLyVx5YOMrx3k-8nGnk/s1600/SAM_2296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpysfeipaSmy_ZChMy4fnXDWTmXsE8AuOXyb3Vm8PmbIm9-OA93nAgd8kPSaHsvJbVqFeSjLYuCsZr7oAvmc_SEc0Q-31x2oX3ek_KlBOwNLO_dIig21jhgHpPmLyVx5YOMrx3k-8nGnk/s400/SAM_2296.JPG" title="Canning jars are great for storing leftovers!" width="400" /></a></div>
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This week it dawned on me that the solution has been staring me in the face all along. While my cupboards have been cluttered with plastic containers, my basement has been well stocked with canning jars of all sizes. I generally use them for canning tomatoes, stock, beans, and jam, but now they will serve double-duty as food storage in the fridge and freezer.</div>
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Canning jars have a few key features going for them:</div>
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<li>They are easy to clean, and dry quickly in the dishwasher. </li>
<li>There are multiple sizes for different types of storage.</li>
<li>There are only two sizes of lids, shared by all the jars. This means a much less cluttered lid drawer.</li>
<li>The lids are cheaply and easily replaceable if lost. A lost lid does not mean an unusable container.</li>
<li>They are inexpensive. A set of 12 at Canadian Tire is $13 - $15, depending on the size. Plus you can get them second hand all over the place.</li>
<li>They can go in the fridge, the freezer, the oven, a pot of boiling water, or the microwave, as long as you follow proper methods for managing temperature changes in glass.</li>
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There are more benefits to mason jars (portability! strength!), but I thought I would mention a couple of the challenges I foresee as well.</div>
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<li>They take up more room. They don't nest tightly as my plastic containers did, so not as many fit in the cupboard. I will probably need to get a cupboard shelf unit to maximize space. (Hopefully I can find one second hand.)</li>
<li>They can burst in the freezer. I am being extra careful by leaving lots of head space in the jars I freeze my soup in, more than the recommended 2 inches.</li>
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Anyways, I brought up and washed all my wide-mouth quarts and pints, as well as regular mouth half and quarter pints (all four sizes are pictured above). Once washed, I started swapping plastic for jars. It's going to take a long time to transition everything, because a lot of it is frozen. But as we use the food in the old containers, I am washing them and gathering them in the basement until we see how the summer goes. If we make it through the CSA season without resorting back to plastic, I will be getting rid of them in the fall.</div>
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I'm pretty excited though. I can't believe how much I've been thinking about jars lately!</div>
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<b><i>Do you use canning jars instead of plastic containers? Leave a comment!</i></b><br /><div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-60714243079521984582016-02-22T20:58:00.001-07:002016-02-22T20:58:29.503-07:00CSA Season ApproachesIt's that time of year again! The local farms with CSA programs are starting to open up for registration.<br />
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For those who don't know, CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and refers a program where consumers pre-purchase shares in local farms for the upcoming season. The inherent risks associated with farming is therefore shared among the consumers rather than just the farm. The amount and variety of vegetables you receive is dependent on weather events, and changes as the season progresses. Below is a photo of one of our weekly pickups from a previous year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YzBdL78ucOlVfQ4ZkNlGGVKAuH6t628lrC7CTPIcCkgR5suJ0MQH0vzdC3BVptSg56oxbdW_fpnjlEZJQg26a8VwMGtnTy_-gzXohLFDdfGz9amYWNEdth9KnLoIvgf3OdPFulY-xNQ/s1600/CSA+Season+Approaches.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YzBdL78ucOlVfQ4ZkNlGGVKAuH6t628lrC7CTPIcCkgR5suJ0MQH0vzdC3BVptSg56oxbdW_fpnjlEZJQg26a8VwMGtnTy_-gzXohLFDdfGz9amYWNEdth9KnLoIvgf3OdPFulY-xNQ/s400/CSA+Season+Approaches.JPG" title="CSA Weekly Pickup" width="266" /></a></div>
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This will be our fourth year as CSA members. We have not registered for a program yet this year, but for the past three we have been with Eagle Creek Farms. Last year they also started offering a fruit share option, which was a really nice addition.<br />
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Although some of the leafy greens and certain types of vegetables do come pre-wrapped in plastic bags, most of the vegetables in past years have been un-wrapped, or there are unwrapped options. Although not as waste-free as I would like, I made a decision a few years ago to prioritize the benefits of the CSA system over purely avoiding plastic. However, when given the option between a wrapped item (a bag of small cucumbers) and an un-wrapped one (one large cucumber), I will always choose the un-wrapped option. I avoid the bags as much as possible and recycle the ones that I do bring home.<br />
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There are a few different options for CSA programs in the Calgary area. The <a href="http://www.csaalberta.com/calgary.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">CSA Alberta website</span></a> has a list of options if you are interested.<br />
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<b><i>Are you in a CSA program? Leave a comment!</i></b>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-30906480896851133832016-02-06T20:47:00.000-07:002016-02-07T13:17:10.827-07:00DIY Compostable Loofah ScrubbersDid you know that loofah is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luffa" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">type of cucumber</span></a>? For some reason, I always thought they grew in the ocean. Actually, they are the dried-out fibers of fully-ripened Luffa fruit. When left to dry on the vine, they lose their flesh leaving just the fibers, skin, and seeds. Once the seeds and skin are removed, you have loofah!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBf7H5eXju2vewmAqGmqoJxeto_LzYi-BkxCRq8KuwnMRzwBUWM_fLnQPD7IcHcUrs4ec8LEkCO6MEbtMOm71LEgL0VvOWXiRWyJbh9ckmmQxIg9STBdj3yNZ5PHwsE9wu4dw4cNzrt0/s1600/SAM_2235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBf7H5eXju2vewmAqGmqoJxeto_LzYi-BkxCRq8KuwnMRzwBUWM_fLnQPD7IcHcUrs4ec8LEkCO6MEbtMOm71LEgL0VvOWXiRWyJbh9ckmmQxIg9STBdj3yNZ5PHwsE9wu4dw4cNzrt0/s400/SAM_2235.JPG" title="Loofah" width="400" /></a></div>
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A few weeks ago, I had the joy of being invited to attend a tour of the Forest Lawn area, during which we stopped at many businesses that are part of the Forest Lawn BRZ. One of the stops was at <a href="http://internationalavenue.ca/business-directory/green-cedars-food-mart/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Green Cedars Food Mart</span>,</a> a grocery store specializing in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and North African groceries, including some of the best home-made hummus we've ever tasted. Squirreled away at the back of the store was a pile of massive loofahs.</div>
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Using just the tail of this one $7 loofah, I cut out five pieces. Three are rectangles for the kitchen and bathrooms, plus two for showering. With these, I can clean the stove, wash dishes, scrub the bath tub, shower, and bathroom sinks; plus, they are great for scrubbing in the shower. And after they're all worn out, they can go in the compost bin and I still have plenty of loofah left for my next batch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0-jGELDQm15VyyN5KO1fbmY21w81pa0g468k1IxI_MM5Bq_EvSjWJrmDfuaht0vBsPhwHyVcwC9W8w6pK7BBet2G-ZM_0b-WqLAmoAownKk_6t0-RZy5P38LPbhvPo7Ba9gyUj3rwfU/s1600/SAM_2269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0-jGELDQm15VyyN5KO1fbmY21w81pa0g468k1IxI_MM5Bq_EvSjWJrmDfuaht0vBsPhwHyVcwC9W8w6pK7BBet2G-ZM_0b-WqLAmoAownKk_6t0-RZy5P38LPbhvPo7Ba9gyUj3rwfU/s400/SAM_2269.JPG" title="Loofah scrubbers" width="400" /></a></div>
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Today I threw out my last plastic bathroom puff and green kitchen scrubby. I hope to never buy any of those things again.</div>
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<b><i>Do you use natural loofah at home? Leave a comment!</i></b></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-64210374253167680062016-01-22T22:34:00.000-07:002016-01-22T22:34:17.666-07:00Life without Plastic Wrap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Plastic wrap got kicked out of our household pretty quickly when we started trying to reduce our waste. <a href="http://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages/What-goes-where/Plastic-film.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Plastic wrap is technically recyclable in Calgary</span></a>, but I would guess that a pretty small percentage of the world's plastic wrap ends up anywhere but the landfill. Or in the oceans.</div>
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For the most part, ditching cling wrap hasn't been much of an inconvenience. Although widely used in many households, it really isn't necessary, and can be easily replaced by items you probably already have in your kitchen.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Fv3tFsRv19ZPTrdC1UkCQm777g2fWo-lQ-6aLx-RybbPrEytl0TtfkFPASxRFZEMHJcAwaA7xB_x_7yi4Mgrx3kURRtFqV4WAqQ1MpZApJ5FVOLEtwmHLR9xCCAHG6DvM3rcLiYnPvg/s1600/SAM_2234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Fv3tFsRv19ZPTrdC1UkCQm777g2fWo-lQ-6aLx-RybbPrEytl0TtfkFPASxRFZEMHJcAwaA7xB_x_7yi4Mgrx3kURRtFqV4WAqQ1MpZApJ5FVOLEtwmHLR9xCCAHG6DvM3rcLiYnPvg/s400/SAM_2234.JPG" title="Rising Bread Dough" width="400" /></a></div>
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Just to start, here is a list of simple replacements for plastic wrap:<br />
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<li><b>Leftovers:</b> Put them in a reusable container with a lid, in a glass jar, or left on the plate with another plate on top (upside down). A clean side plate also makes a fine cover for a soup bowl, and dinner plates fit on top of serving bowls nicely.</li>
<li><b>Freezer: </b>Freeze food in reusable containers, or in zipper-top freezer bags. Ideally we will phase out the freezer bags over time, but we have been using the same ones for many years and I see no reason to <a href="http://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages/What-goes-where/Plastic-Bags.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">recycle them</span></a> when they are still usable.</li>
<li><b>Transport:</b> To take a dish to a potluck or outing, use a casserole dish or bake ware with a lid. Alternatively, pack it in a reusable container and bring a plate to transfer it to on arrival. If your bake ware doesn't have a lid, a clean dishtowel held in place with a rubber band also does the trick.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.phillymag.com/be-well-philly/2013/07/23/bananas-turning-brown/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Wrapping Banana Stems</b></span></a><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">:</span></b> I've provided a link in case you, like me, had never heard of this usage for plastic wrap. I don't have a replacement for this one. I would suggest not buying more bananas than your household can eat before they get too ripe.</li>
<li><b>Cleanliness:</b> Various Internet sources suggest using plastic wrap as shelf liners in the fridge, drawer lines, or elsewhere to catch mess and aid the cleaning process. If this is a concern for you, I would use a tea towel that can be swapped out and thrown in the wash. Or keep the mess off your shelves by putting the food in your fridge in containers or on plates, which can be thrown in the dishwasher.</li>
<li><b>Baking:</b> Many recipes suggest covering rising bread dough with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out. Instead, wet a clean dish cloth and lay on top of the dough as it rises. Adjust the dampness of the cloth to how long the dough needs to rise. My standard dough rises overnight, so I wet the cloth just short of dripping. For only a couple hours, I would make it just barely damp.</li>
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I should mention we also have some beeswax cloth covers that we use for covering bake ware for potlucks. These were homemade by a friend and given to us as a gift. There are versions of them <a href="http://abeego.com/collections/all" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">available to buy online</span></a> or at places like Community Natural Foods, or you can <a href="http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2014/07/diy-food-wrap.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">make your own</span></a>.<br />
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We have gone several years without cling wrap now, and never miss it.</div>
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<b><i>Do you have tips to replace plastic wrap? Leave a comment!</i></b></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-8546051113102508072016-01-08T20:35:00.000-07:002016-01-08T20:35:25.080-07:00Waste-free CoffeePod-based coffee is a <i>little bit</i> wasteful; that's old news. K-Cups, Krups, Tassimo, whatever the kind, if every cup of coffee you drink produces a plastic cup for the garbage can, you're probably producing a lot of garbage. The <a href="http://www.kienna.com/coffee-pods.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">pods we use at our office</span></a> are slightly better, as you can easily compost the coffee, but each is still wrapped in a plastic wrapper (technically recyclable, but unlikely to be accepted by the City of Calgary's program).<br />
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Coffee-shop coffee in a reusable mug is an option if it fits into your lifestyle. For me, it doesn't really work. I don't live or work in an area with coffee shops near by, and I don't want to go out of my way to find one. I am not picky about coffee, so it is easy to make.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0n5dovlEAbqdOS4dqMXkQwRPWlSeRKVXmAFK3l5A0DtY-CE-ApbYfx3AvqSHP4da_C_6wH98iJYL4eRBAQ0213B0F-dkxmsgC21tnooLsj3eC37o2HtXYwFdXA-w4xw-Pl4z5GUeZCE/s1600/SAM_2231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0n5dovlEAbqdOS4dqMXkQwRPWlSeRKVXmAFK3l5A0DtY-CE-ApbYfx3AvqSHP4da_C_6wH98iJYL4eRBAQ0213B0F-dkxmsgC21tnooLsj3eC37o2HtXYwFdXA-w4xw-Pl4z5GUeZCE/s400/SAM_2231.JPG" title="Bulk Coffee" width="266" /></a></div>
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All of this was a non-issue for me until a few months ago, when I started drinking coffee regularly. I had underestimated its ability to jump-start my day. It did annoy me that coffee beans normally come in a plastic bag, or a paper one lined with plastic film. Lucky for me, Community Natural Foods is always there for me. They have fair-trade coffee available in bulk.<br />
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Now, our household coffee routine looks like this:<br />
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<li>Buy bulk coffee beans at Community Natural Foods.</li>
<li>Use their coffee grinder to grind it before we bring it home.</li>
<li>Heat water in our stove-top kettle</li>
<li>Make coffee in a french press.</li>
<li>Take coffee to work in a stainless-steel reusable mug.</li>
<li>Compost coffee grounds.</li>
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I keep the tare weight and bin number on the jar (as seen above) because it makes things quick and easy at check-out time. Make sure you get your tare weight before you fill your container, or you will have an awkward situation on your hands.</div>
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There you go! Daily coffee with no pods, disposable cups, plastic bags, or paper filters.</div>
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<b><i>What's your coffee routine? Leave a comment!</i></b></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-17037746286144347542015-12-22T20:56:00.000-07:002015-12-22T20:56:10.346-07:00In Lieu of a Christmas TreeMany years ago, when I lived in a condo with a more open layout than our home now, I bought an artificial Christmas tree. It was to be my first time hosting Christmas dinner and I got caught up in the excitement of decorating. <div>
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Since then, it has come out a few more times depending on our levels of motivation each December, and whether or not we would be hosting for the holidays. Since we moved into our house almost four years ago, it has been a struggle to find a place for it to fit, and I have become less excited by the look of an artificial tree. On top of all that, last year one of the feet twisted like a cork-screw and the whole thing fell down, smashing ornaments along the way.</div>
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This year, knowing we would be hosting, and nurturing the Christmas-loving child inside of me, we wanted to decorate, but I didn't want to buy another artificial tree. My ruined artificial tree is still squirrelled away in my basement because I feel terrible about sending it to the landfill; I certainly don't want to be responsible for the eventual discarding of another one. </div>
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We considered getting a real tree, but the cost and the unknown growing practises turned us off. We considered chopping down a little tree growing in our back yard, but weren't sure where to put it in our house. Eventually, we found what I think is the perfect combination of space-saving and zero-waste: a Christmas branch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeYtlkqCAxBFjbe3hWC4F0TMCylgdRSbQB4pBHKWIG5DXJE7TeifKfOdEqdqBKJlcalI36hzMcrTaBPkK9m___KDBf8bToNzNVBjGDyCyuPjqspoYWK7Ek5SLIi3LuhQesccP_IZxEFM/s1600/SAM_2227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeYtlkqCAxBFjbe3hWC4F0TMCylgdRSbQB4pBHKWIG5DXJE7TeifKfOdEqdqBKJlcalI36hzMcrTaBPkK9m___KDBf8bToNzNVBjGDyCyuPjqspoYWK7Ek5SLIi3LuhQesccP_IZxEFM/s400/SAM_2227.JPG" title="Christmas Branch!" width="266" /></a></div>
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All of my favourite ornaments from my childhood on display, out of the way but in full view. I am very happy with how it turned out.</div>
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We also hung the ornaments from my partner's childhood off of a shelf on the other wall.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrc3pTeQ1yq-blINI51Ov2423-nnEUpiPfJQnrSy726MqnxQMxlKhg2ZNYjUNPG_IoQm9W67TzwBEpS3VDwjzehZIDg9g4tG_uROYnzdD6bga1zB2WMu3EoHhQeIDLDzSiTtcNlLN5UM/s1600/SAM_2228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrc3pTeQ1yq-blINI51Ov2423-nnEUpiPfJQnrSy726MqnxQMxlKhg2ZNYjUNPG_IoQm9W67TzwBEpS3VDwjzehZIDg9g4tG_uROYnzdD6bga1zB2WMu3EoHhQeIDLDzSiTtcNlLN5UM/s400/SAM_2228.JPG" title="Childhood Ornaments" width="400" /></a></div>
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Overall, I am feeling very festive without needing to buy anything, and with nothing to throw away. </div>
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<b><i>Have any waste-saving decoration ideas? Leave a comment!</i></b></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-43925350083933501582015-12-09T23:34:00.003-07:002015-12-09T23:41:06.840-07:00Draft Beer at HomeLate last year, we finally got our home draft system set up. It was a project we had talked about for a long time but had a hard time getting done. There was so much to learn, so many decisions to make, and so many components to get a hold of. Or at least that's how it seemed, and so the project drug on.<br />
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As it turned out, it was a relatively simple project once we got past the learning phase, and has had an enormous impact on the number of recyclable cans and bottles our household generates. The <a href="http://wastefreehomecalgary.blogspot.com/2013/01/refundables-recycling.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">two mesh bags</span></a> that we use to store our returnables can hold a few months' worth now and our trips to the depot are much faster and easier.<br />
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With a draft beer system, or "Kegerator", you can enjoy cold, locally-brewed beer on tap, at home. No bottles, no cans, no plastic rings, caps, or cardboard boxes. Many people set theirs up in mini-fridges, and some people get really fancy with nice taps mounted on the top. We went the simple route.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBTcOcDa7-SrXQgeFcnVEvJMdoKbeqo0uJ8B16dV3ZiHizXCuXuR2CQX6EnRV0ewgEm0jdHGXHUJe01AYcInpptF4kTy2TH_H0cpWxF99iubRyGaeX8ZUSws_bKZMf45WpgeBvAZN9bE/s1600/SAM_2219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBTcOcDa7-SrXQgeFcnVEvJMdoKbeqo0uJ8B16dV3ZiHizXCuXuR2CQX6EnRV0ewgEm0jdHGXHUJe01AYcInpptF4kTy2TH_H0cpWxF99iubRyGaeX8ZUSws_bKZMf45WpgeBvAZN9bE/s400/SAM_2219.JPG" title="Our Kegerator" width="266" /></a></div>
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<i>**I do not get any kind of commission from Ontario Beer Kegs, I am just providing links to be clear about the parts we bought when setting up our system. You can also get a lot of these components locally at <a href="http://www.thevineyard.ca/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Vineyard</span></a> and likely elsewhere.</i><br />
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<li>A <a href="http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Taprite_D_Style_Coupler_p/dcoupler-taprite.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">'D' Style Coupler</span></a> - This is what attaches directly to the brewery keg. You can see it on the right with the blue handle.</li>
<li>A <a href="http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Sanke_Picnic_Faucet_Assembly_p/sanke-picnic-faucet-assembly.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Tap</span></a> - You can go a lot of ways here, we went the most affordable way. We bought the one with all the fixtures and hose already assembled because it seemed easiest.</li>
<li>A <a href="http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Taprite_Dual_Product_Dual_Pressure_Regulator_p/taprite-dual-product.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Regulator</span></a> - This controls the pressure that your CO2 leaves the tank, you can see it above with all the dials. There are different levels of regulators depending on how many types of beverages you want to tap. For just beer, a single-pressure regulator should suffice. We also have a soda-water keg in our system (more on that another day), which requires a different pressure, so we got the dual pressure model. You can also get regulators that have one pressure gauge but two output lines so you can supply two types of beer at the same time. The type of regulator to get is a good decision to make carefully, since it is the most expensive part of the setup.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/product_p/ultraflex.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Gas Line</span></a> - To get CO2 from your tank to the keg.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Stainless_Steel_Hose_Clamps_p/ss-hose-clamp.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Clamps</span></a> - For securing tubing to the fixtures</li>
<li>A CO2 Tank - For this you need a local supplier of CO2 tanks. We get ours from a place called Oxygen Products, which is a welding supply shop. Our 10lb tank lasted for over a year, at which time we swapped our tank for a full one.</li>
<li>Beer! - There are keg programs both at <a href="http://www.wildrosebrewery.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Wildrose Brewery</span></a> and <a href="http://www.villagebrewery.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Village Brewery</span></a>. We alternate kegs from each location so that we always have a full one on hand. We get the smaller size kegs because they are easier to carry and fit in the fridge, but they do also carry full size kegs. We have also dabbled in brewing our own beer. This requires a different type of keg and coupler that I'm not getting in to in this post, but otherwise uses the same components listed here. More on that another time.</li>
<li>A fridge - Technically this is optional, but without it, things become more tricky or your beer will be warm. We are lucky enough to have a fridge in our basement that we weren't using.</li>
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There you have it, those are the basics. I have tried to be thorough, but <i>*please*</i>, before you order anything, talk to one of the experts at The Vineyard or Ontario Beer Kegs and make sure you're buying the right parts. Every setup is a little bit different and you'll want to make sure you're not wasting money on the wrong components.<br />
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Once you have it all set up, the beer is also portable for events and outings. We have taken keg beer to house parties and on camping trips in mason jars or pop-top bottles. We have also taken the entire keg system on longer trips with friends when we would be staying in once place for a period of time. However you use it, there is less mess, less waste, and it always impresses!</div>
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<b><i>If you have anything on draft at home, I'd love to hear about it. Leave a comment!</i></b></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-24711177123663884982015-11-20T22:22:00.001-07:002015-11-20T22:22:24.326-07:00Buy Less, Waste Less: Calgary Tool LibraryThere are a two topics that tend to run together in waste-reduction blog circles: zero-waste and minimalism. I talk mostly about zero-waste here, but there is definitely cross-over. Minimalism focuses on reducing the amount of personal belongings we have, making do with what we own already, reducing clutter, and limiting unnecessary shopping.<div>
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Minimalism is popular for a number of reasons. It can help reduce stress by having a cleaner and more organised home, it can help save money by limiting impulse shopping, and it can help the environment by saving resources and reducing waste. Everything we own will ultimately be disposed of when it breaks or loses its usefulness, so the less we own, the less there is to enter the waste stream. There is also less (often plastic) packaging to discard from new products, and less resources wasted on products that are used once and then never used again.</div>
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Tools are a terrible culprit for one-time-use purchases. We often only need a tool for one project and then it sits in the basement, or the garage, never to be used again. Enter <a href="http://calgarytoollibrary.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Calgary Tool Library</span></a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7n4w-grodeFOX3xuEXYnOJ0PYG36JSYIitTYD-U3M7J0e4GZljNIIhP_osY1JRnaVjilT9zvsspLoWLPv1YffdA4r5XxVJkqYn_fdqKhZwBJWa7wezHntCYXGDIpzr2AXHn_3eTjGtk/s1600/CalgaryToolLibrary.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7n4w-grodeFOX3xuEXYnOJ0PYG36JSYIitTYD-U3M7J0e4GZljNIIhP_osY1JRnaVjilT9zvsspLoWLPv1YffdA4r5XxVJkqYn_fdqKhZwBJWa7wezHntCYXGDIpzr2AXHn_3eTjGtk/s400/CalgaryToolLibrary.PNG" title="Calgary Tool Library" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Calgary Tool Library is based out of the Bridgeland/Riverside Community Association building and has a wide variety of tools, which you can <a href="https://calgary.myturn.com/library/inventory/browse" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">browse online</span></a>. For a $40 yearly fee, you can borrow any of their tools for a week at a time. If you are working on a big project, or use tools just a few times a year, the membership fee easily pays for itself. The tools in the library get used to their maximum potential, and we don't have to store and maintain them.</div>
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In the past few months, we have made good use of the tool library. To name a few things, we:</div>
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<li>Used their pressure washer to wash the siding of our house, and clean our gutters.</li>
<li>Used a hand saw and an axe to make firewood.</li>
<li>Borrowed a rototiller and weeding tools for yard and garden maintenance.</li>
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We have also borrowed a cordless drill and possibly other tools that I am just not remembering at this time. My point is that it is a great program, and you should check it out!</div>
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<b><i>Are you members of the Calgary Tool Library? Leave a comment!</i></b></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-52404408756121337512015-11-02T21:10:00.000-07:002015-11-02T21:16:22.066-07:00Lovely Bulk HoneyJust a quick post to remind you that at Community Natural Foods you can get honey in bulk. To fill up, just stop at the Customer Service desk on your way in and get the tare weight of your jar. Fill up your jar with as much honey as you like and then go through check-out as usual. It's super simple!<br />
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And look how pretty it looks!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17XTdARDumXkve4bRyHwhd8qlTrcXfjrQeihSaMoPswQ6sqQ7aMkauM_r4MezhBx7dW8_Bg58_s9hklMPnORicT0GeODkgA12pzcyLKTDAkiMwfn2uZJf2Y1_LE76tywNMFh0-OvQgfs/s1600/SAM_2218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17XTdARDumXkve4bRyHwhd8qlTrcXfjrQeihSaMoPswQ6sqQ7aMkauM_r4MezhBx7dW8_Bg58_s9hklMPnORicT0GeODkgA12pzcyLKTDAkiMwfn2uZJf2Y1_LE76tywNMFh0-OvQgfs/s400/SAM_2218.JPG" title="Bulk Honey" width="266" /></a></div>
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<b><i>What liquids have you found in bulk? Leave a comment!</i></b>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-43891823216061008222015-10-21T23:32:00.003-06:002015-10-21T23:33:16.920-06:00Easy DIY Peanut ButterIt seems like recipes for DIY condiments come in two varieties: quick and easy with a minimum of ingredients, or overly complicated with a laundry-list of components. DIY nut butters fall firmly into the first category, coming together in less than five minutes with only two ingredients, or three if your peanuts aren't already salted.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yjqMNEaIieNcpV4guxDO-sVIbOZqa3RF3tZQIEH_CsThWiOYGc4rXULMEL_GnkPg5-YJ6r8Dm1m17blFQuT2TPCDWDC8Ubum3GfIxkhCdsJJ3jJhK8sHKKpd20xNSVnY3P7_ewpQEJA/s1600/SAM_2216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yjqMNEaIieNcpV4guxDO-sVIbOZqa3RF3tZQIEH_CsThWiOYGc4rXULMEL_GnkPg5-YJ6r8Dm1m17blFQuT2TPCDWDC8Ubum3GfIxkhCdsJJ3jJhK8sHKKpd20xNSVnY3P7_ewpQEJA/s400/SAM_2216.JPG" title="Peanut Butter" width="266" /></a></div>
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There are already lots of recipes for nut butters detailed on the Internet (<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-homemade-peanut-butter-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-199110" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">here's one, for example</span></a>), so I won't go into a lot of details. Basically you can put it together with a few simple steps.</div>
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<li>Put two cups of bulk nuts into the food processor.</li>
<li>Grind up the nuts for several minutes. Depending on the type of nut, they may grind smooth enough on their own. If they form a thick ball, add oil 1 TSP at a time until it is the consistency you'd like.</li>
<li>Add honey and/or salt, to taste.</li>
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In the picture above, I added a bit more oil than I should have, so the resulting butter is a bit runny. Next time I will probably just try 1 TSP rather than 3.<br />
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The nice thing about this recipe is that it is super fast and easy, and two of the three ingredients can be bought package-free. Peanuts are available in the bulk bins at Superstore or Co-op (I had a hard time finding them at the organic grocery stores); salt can be found in bulk at a variety of locations; if you are adding honey to yours, you can get it in bulk at Community Natural Foods. I didn't add honey to mine, but I may next time to make it slightly sweeter.</div>
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<b><i>Have you ever made your own nut butter? Leave a comment! </i></b></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036417349120695621.post-46143412160925974752015-10-05T23:01:00.000-06:002015-10-05T23:02:12.652-06:00Homemade Jam and Lemon JuiceThe CSA season is wrapping up, and this weekend I found myself with an urge to preserve. Our CSA started offering a fruit option this year, and we have had more apples than we could eat. We are not huge jam eaters, so one batch is basically enough to last us the year. Outside of the pectin, jam is also relatively easy to make using bulk ingredients. In this case, my jam was a <a href="http://www.thesimpledollar.com/homemade-gift-series-3-caramel-apple-jam/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">simple recipe</span></a> of apples, sugar, spices, and lemon juice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqg8fwsbejfebaTy4Fvs8lrZOFr5_adxLk_h2ZdtkFC_v1lZ5XZNy4sCBCzJOrwbxA98APWM70uMx9wKP_jrbMsqhjOkh64y2sVgPI6HgbLlmVhmtSUeqBeVSUTrdpz7E6op50DdVC40/s1600/SAM_2211.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqg8fwsbejfebaTy4Fvs8lrZOFr5_adxLk_h2ZdtkFC_v1lZ5XZNy4sCBCzJOrwbxA98APWM70uMx9wKP_jrbMsqhjOkh64y2sVgPI6HgbLlmVhmtSUeqBeVSUTrdpz7E6op50DdVC40/s400/SAM_2211.JPG" title="Apple Jam" width="266" /></a></div>
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At the end of my jam canning, I found myself with a number of left over lemons. Since I already had clean jars and hot water, and juicing lemons takes very little time, I juiced the rest to preserve as an alternative to the bottled lemon juice you buy. Since we rarely use more than a couple tablespoons at a time, I jarred it in the smallest jars I had. Canning the lemon juice was very simple following the instructions found<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><a href="http://www.pickyourown.org/lemonjuice.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">here</span></a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxn-KE6Rs6KUQnPy8QAyv3nydVTf6l_Pgket20fYQBSZAkCzb8eIJ0MZFJl9mAEzlZlHr79YADREDI9KLHL6y5sXwCA8HpTDVKDijPT0URRCt8lLkAkzenfsmDm_uyH1CFqPo1H03s5os/s1600/SAM_2209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxn-KE6Rs6KUQnPy8QAyv3nydVTf6l_Pgket20fYQBSZAkCzb8eIJ0MZFJl9mAEzlZlHr79YADREDI9KLHL6y5sXwCA8HpTDVKDijPT0URRCt8lLkAkzenfsmDm_uyH1CFqPo1H03s5os/s400/SAM_2209.JPG" title="Lemon Juice" width="266" /></a></div>
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I'm still hoping to can tomatoes this year, but as usual, I am running late in sourcing them. If you know where to get flats of tomatoes at the last minute, let me know!</div>
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<b><i>What canning and preserving have you done this year? Leave a comment!</i></b></div>
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989262607766364528noreply@blogger.com0