Coffee Shop Rant

Okay, this week's suggestion might just be the easiest one yet - it won't cost you any money, it won't require a lifestyle change, AND it takes no time. Ready?

If you are eating or drinking at a restaurant or coffee shop, don't accept to-go cups, containers, or plastic utensils. The vast majority of these products are made from the types of plastic that is impossible, or at the very least, difficult to recycle.

I have been spending a lot of time working in coffee shops the past several months, and I can't help but notice how much unnecessary waste is generated at these fair-trade, eco-minded havens. Even in Seattle, a city that prides itself on environmental awareness, the majority of people in the coffee shops I frequent are drinking out of to-go containers in the shop. A quick poll of the coffee shop I am in right now offers a good illustration of this point: There are 22 patrons, and of these mostly cheerful, caffeine-swilling folk, only 3 of them are drinking out of reusable mugs.

These cups and lids represent not only the resources needed to produce and ship them, but these one-time caffeine conveyors also add to the mounds of garbage that must be trucked out of the city. Seattle, like most metropolitan regions, pays to ship its garbage to its final resting place hundreds of miles away, and many cities have to send their unwanted stuff even further afield.

So the next time you have the choice, please make the one that will produce no waste.

If you want to take your efforts a step further, bring your reusable mugs and water bottles with you and refill and wash as necessary. For extra credit bring your own to-go containers and reusable utensils. For some excellent products, check out To-Go Ware, which was founded by Stephanie Bernstein while she was still in her twenties. And, of course, always try to purchase coffee that has been grown in an ethically and environmentally responsible manner. For more info on fair trade certified products, visit the website for Transfair USA.

Winter Markets

Come for the cabbage, stay for the crepes

I have been singing the praises of farmers markets for a while now on this blog. I also know that many of you reading this blog may find yourself in an area covered with snow, and therefore might be having a hard time imagining what you could possibly find to eat right now from local farmers. The answer (no matter where you live) is probably plenty.

The ocean offers up its bounty year round...Its mysterious and terrifying bounty

Seattle, which has a temperate climate, has a year-round growing season and a few year-round markets, but even in colder areas like New York, there are still farmers markets selling goods that keep for long periods of time (think apples and potatoes) as well as goods that can be produced year-round like cheese and baked goods. Eating locally minimizes the carbon footprint of your food, and local delicacies are often made with healthier ingredients and therefore usually taste better!

A visit to a winter market is also a great impetus for trying new food - I am currently in love with rutabagas, which can be eaten raw in salads, roasted, or baked. Rutabaga Gratin anyone? Check out Local Harvest to see what's available in your area right now, and check out these pictures from my recent trip to the Sunday Market in the Ballard neighborhood.

Tomatoes are a stretch, but there's plenty of kale, cabbage, potatoes, and other root veggies around

Salmon and apples: Two things you can always find at Seattle markets

Here's to Your Health...Kitty

At the natural vet, where cats are given human chairs.

Perhaps I should preface this post with the disclaimer that, yes, I am a crazy cat lady. Nevertheless, what follows is still legitimate counsel. Many of you may have already begun to explore the joys of alternative and preventative health care for yourself, but did you also know that you can get the same kind of care for your pets?

The same rules generally apply - the natural practitioner is a trained veterinarian, who has decided to also treat pets using homeopathic and natural options.

My husband and I have been feeding our cats quality food and using natural remedies from Earth Animal in Connecticut for years now; most of their products are available online, so check out their website. When we moved to Seattle, we also decided to try out a natural vet, and we were happy to find the aptly named Seattle Natural Vet.

The vet, Kate Fernald, spent an hour with us during our first visit going over treatment options for our venerable kitty Toonces. Each subsequent visit is a half hour, and she patiently answers all of our questions about nutrition and alternative and traditional treatments for him. Our visits there are the least rushed, most comfortable vet visits I have ever had.