Hi Everybody, sorry for not posting for many many months. I hope all my faithful readers are still making their own yoghurt and eschewing all plastic products. You'll be happy to hear I'm sure that I've repented of my sloth vis à vis this blog and vow to post regularly for the next little while
So as I alluded to in my last post, I've given up on Europe and its high cost of living and come home to Canada. I am currently a resident of Calgary, a city not necessarily known for its commitment to environmental stewardship. It has one of the largest civic footprints in North America and is (to borrow for Volkswagen) built for drivers, public transit is a far cry from what it is in Berlin or London, and people threaten to revolt when recycling infrastructure is introduced. However, there is a small but dedicated community of people who are interested in making ecologically sound life choices, and I think the city has potential to make itself respectable. So for the next little while, this will be a Calgary-centred blog, although my large international fanbase is welcome to read and comment as well.
So as I alluded to in my last post, I've given up on Europe and its high cost of living and come home to Canada. I am currently a resident of Calgary, a city not necessarily known for its commitment to environmental stewardship. It has one of the largest civic footprints in North America and is (to borrow for Volkswagen) built for drivers, public transit is a far cry from what it is in Berlin or London, and people threaten to revolt when recycling infrastructure is introduced. However, there is a small but dedicated community of people who are interested in making ecologically sound life choices, and I think the city has potential to make itself respectable. So for the next little while, this will be a Calgary-centred blog, although my large international fanbase is welcome to read and comment as well.
Calgarians, let me introduce you to Pyrex food containers. Like many Calgarians, I work downtown, and as such I eat lunch downtown, usually at Sunterra or Marcello's. Both restaurants (can you really call them restaurants) serve a wide variety of delicious and healthy lunch options, but then PACKAGE THEM IN DISPOSABLE PLASTIC OR STYROFOAM CONTAINERS, WHICH PEOPLE USE ONCE THEN CARELESSLY DISCARD. When I see long lines at either of these places, all I can think about is the amount of unnecessary waste generated by foolish wasteful downtowners.
Marcello's is one of my favourite places to eat downtown because of the variety in it's soup line. They usually have six different flavours of soup and both veggie and meat chilli, all of which are served in styrofoam containers EXACTLY THE SAME SIZE AS THE PYREX DISH PICTURED HERE. Normally I bring my breakfast of yoghurt and fruit to work in a container such as this, and one day as I was leaving the office for lunch I had a life-changing epiphany: I could use my glass container for my lunchtime soup as well! I asked the woman at the counter if she would kindly substitute my reusable glass container for styrofoam, and though it was confusing at first she eventually consented. They are used to me now, but I still get strange looks from others in line when I eschew the disposable containers provided.
I am also a big fan of Sunterra, where I have found that my plastic container comes in very useful. My half-order of big pan with spinach fits perfectly. A while ago I decided to branch out and try their turkey breast and some maple-roasted squash, and asked for it in my pyrex container. This request was greeted with a modicum of consternation since we were no longer dealing with volume, but weight. It took me several explanations but finally they conceded that they could tare their scale to my container and weigh my food accordingly. Now they know exactly what to do when I arrive for my lunch.
Bringing your own pyrex bowl to lunch is a small thing. However, thousands of people eat lunch downtown every day, and their waste adds up. I can only imagine how many tonnes of garbage are generated each day by people who don't bother to consider that there are easy, painless ways to reduce our garbage quotient.
Marcello's is one of my favourite places to eat downtown because of the variety in it's soup line. They usually have six different flavours of soup and both veggie and meat chilli, all of which are served in styrofoam containers EXACTLY THE SAME SIZE AS THE PYREX DISH PICTURED HERE. Normally I bring my breakfast of yoghurt and fruit to work in a container such as this, and one day as I was leaving the office for lunch I had a life-changing epiphany: I could use my glass container for my lunchtime soup as well! I asked the woman at the counter if she would kindly substitute my reusable glass container for styrofoam, and though it was confusing at first she eventually consented. They are used to me now, but I still get strange looks from others in line when I eschew the disposable containers provided.
I am also a big fan of Sunterra, where I have found that my plastic container comes in very useful. My half-order of big pan with spinach fits perfectly. A while ago I decided to branch out and try their turkey breast and some maple-roasted squash, and asked for it in my pyrex container. This request was greeted with a modicum of consternation since we were no longer dealing with volume, but weight. It took me several explanations but finally they conceded that they could tare their scale to my container and weigh my food accordingly. Now they know exactly what to do when I arrive for my lunch.
Bringing your own pyrex bowl to lunch is a small thing. However, thousands of people eat lunch downtown every day, and their waste adds up. I can only imagine how many tonnes of garbage are generated each day by people who don't bother to consider that there are easy, painless ways to reduce our garbage quotient.
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