Food Isn’t Trash
People like us don’t enjoy throwing out food. Sometimes I let berries go moldy or become blind to the lettuce sitting in my crisper. It happens. "Oh man, I can’t believe I let this happen again!" The overly ambitious person I was at the beginning of the week didn’t make it to Thursday. I told myself, “I’m going to eat all these vegetables this week. I’ll cook every night.” But it didn’t happen. Now, not only do I have to face the reality of throwing away food, but I also have to reconcile it with my food budget. When I think about all the work and resources that go into producing a head of lettuce, it stresses me out, because all I did was toss it in the fridge and let it rot. Now it’s heading for a landfill, doing absolutely no good for anyone.
Does this sound like you? Do you want to stop the madness? Here are some tips on how you can reduce your food waste.
1.) Prevention
Be realistic about your vegetable consumption goals. If you struggle to finish a bag of carrots, is there an option to buy just two or three carrots at your grocery store? Also, consider reorganizing your fridge. Sometimes people forget they have items because they're not visible. If needed, rearrange everything so that more items are in plain sight. Personally, I no longer keep perishables in the crisper, as it tends to be a blind spot for me. Instead, I store my LaCroix there.
2.) Feed others
If you have items that are about to go bad but could still be consumed consider donating them to the OKC Free Fridge at Flora Bodega in the Paseo District. This is a great way to give back to the community and reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill.
3.) Compost
Composting at home is a great option for people who own their home, have the space and time to do it. Vermicomposting (composting with worms) is a great option for people without a yard. As a renter and apartment dweller, I’ve chosen to drop-off my food scraps at Fertile Ground.
Food Scrap Drop-Off Sites
Fertile Ground has recently been sub-awarded a grant to create 20 new food scrap drop-off sites in Central Oklahoma, making it easier than ever to start composting and positively impact our local environment. When you participate in this program, several things happen. First, you’ll become more aware of your food purchases. Second, you'll help prevent food waste from going to landfills. And lastly, you'll feel good about yourself by eliminating food waste guilt.
This pilot program is FREE to the public. All we need is for you to watch the educational video and submit your email address. We promise not to spam you; you’ll only receive updates about the drop-off sites. Additionally, when you participate, you’ll receive a 5-gallon bucket of finished compost.
