New Year's Resolution - Use Less Plastic

My resolution for 2018 is to use less plastic. According to the Plastic Ocean Foundation approximately 300 million tons of plastic are generated each year. In the last ten years alone companies have manufactured more plastic than in the previous century. And, according to Common Dreams, a non-profit independent news center, investments from the fossil fuels industry for plastics production are going to increase production by an additional 40 percent over the next decade. The major problem with plastic is that it takes hundreds of years to break down, and if it ends up in waterbodies, it may never decompose. Sadly it is estimated that 8 million tons of plastic ends up in the oceans annually which causes tremendous harm to marine wildlife and ecosystems.  From plastic bags, to plastic take out containers, we have become a disposable plastics society. To personally address this problem, the following are specific actions that are part of my New Year's resolution.

1. Paper or reusable bags. I own multiple reusable grocery bags that are always in my car and accompany me to the grocery store. In the past, I occasionally accepted the store plastic bags so that I could reuse them at home as trash can liners. I am going to seek alternatives.

A simple Google search reveals that there are a few compostable, bag options. A little research also revealed that these may not be a better option unless you have a municipal facility that specifically accepts them.  I need to do some more research to determine what better options exist. If I'm disposing of my granddaughter's dirty diaper, I may stick with a plastic bag, but for other types of trash, a paper liner or leaving the indoor can unlined is probably the best option. 

Contract your municipality before purchasing compostable bags

I am hopeful that as more countries adopt bans on disposable plastic bags (e.g. Bangladash, Rwanda, China) manufacturers will produce more environmental friendly options. One company in India EnviGreen is already doing this as they advertise a one hundred percent plastics free bag.
 
2. At the coffee shop, bring my own mug. I used to think that hot "paper" cups from coffee shops were okay since I could just rinse them and add them to the paper bin to be recycled.

This may be a better option than Styrofoam, but it still cannot be recycled

However, I recently learned that to keep the cup from falling apart when hot, it is lined with a thin plastic coating. This means that the cup cannot be recyled, but must be put in the trash. I am going to make sure that I always have a thermos style mug in my car for those stops at the coffee shop. And an added bonus is that some stores, such as Starbucks, give you a small discount for providing your own mug.

3. Avoid single use containers when possible. I love having a yogurt every day and single use containers are convenient. I have previously featured Yoplait's Oui yogurt because it is made in a glass container. This is a great option to avoid plastic, although at over double the price of most single use containers, it is a costly option. 

Another choice which does not eliminate plastic, but reduces it, is to purchase the 32 oz. size containers and then pack individual servings in reusable glass containers at home.

4. Limit use of small plastic sandwich bags. When I am not reheating leftovers for lunch, I am packing bread and typically use fold over plastic bags. I recently purchased some reusable sandwich bags and will be trying these out instead.

These bags can be rinsed or placed in the dishwasher to clean

A small company called Bee's Wrap out of Vermont, makes food wraps out of organic cotton, beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin. These are truly an environmentally safe alternative and is local to boot!

In today's world it is impossible to eliminate plastic entirely from our lives, but with these few steps   I will not only feel better about myself, but I will have contributed, albeit in a small way, to the reduction of this pervasive pollutant.  If you are interested in joining an  international movement to combat plastic pollution sign up at https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/.

January 15, 2018 Update: Over the past week I kept track of plastic use I eliminated just by making a little extra effort - such as remembering to bring my thermos mug into the coffee shop, to use the reusable sandwich wraps, and to not accept a plastic bag at any store, not just the grocery store. It totaled 3 styrofoam or plastic cups; 4 sandwich bags and 6 store bags. It may not seem like much, but over the course of a year, it all adds up.

Also, in the news this month was a story on an innovative plastics recovery program in Boise, Idaho which will convert lower grade plastics to diesel fuel. The city is embarking on this effort utilizing a grant from Dow Chemical Co. and administered by Keep America Beautiful. It is going to allow residents to set aside for pick-up lighter weight plastics, such as foam cartons, plastic bags and candy wrappers, which are not allowed under their current mixed-waste recycling program. These materials will be bagged separately, then delivered to a plant in Salt Lake City where they will be converted to fuel. If the program is successful, it is hoped that other cities will jump on board. 

Animals of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

We are in the midst of a deep freeze here in New Hampshire, with temperatures well below zero at night. Since very few animals will be leaving their winter shelter to brave the cold, I thought that now would be a good time to look back to this past Spring and all the animals we saw when visiting Wyoming and Idaho.

Grizzly bears, elk and wolves were the three species I was hoping to see when we visited Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and we were fortunate to see two out of three along with many other mammals.

First, small mammals can be just as interesting as large, especially when they are different species than we have back home. To arrive at Grand Teton National Park from our lodging in Alta, Wyoming we had to travel through Victor, Idaho and then over the Teton Pass. Once back on the Wyoming side of the mountains we saw a Short-tailed weasel after stopping at a parking area to admire the view.  

Short-tailed weasel

One evening in Grand Teton National Park we went on a horse-drawn wagon ride and had a barbecue picnic for dinner. Surrounding the picnic tables were small mammals that looked like prairie dogs, but were actually Uinta ground squirrels. They were very amusing to watch as they playfully chased each other.

Uinta Ground Squirrel

The first time I saw a Marmot was last year in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This year we saw them in Yellowstone National Park at Sheepeater Cliff which is known for its Marmot population. This one was resting while we ate our lunch at the base of the basalt columns.

Yellow-bellied Marmot

I was hoping to see elk last year in Custer State Park, but we did not since it was only mid-May when most of the cows were preparing to give birth to their young and are less likely to be seen in open fields. This trip they were abundant and it was very exciting to see the first one shortly after we entered Yellowstone park.

Our first Elk Sighting - next to Yellowstone Lake.

We saw many elk in their natural surroundings - in fields and by streams and lakes - so it was a little odd to see them lying down on the grass in the center of Mammoth Springs, but apparently this is quite common. There was a ranger standing nearby to make sure that tourists kept their distance.

Two elk resting on a lawn in Mammoth Springs

If there are a lot of cars stopped along the side of the road you know that some type of wildlife is nearby. If there are so many cars and people that you can't pass then chances are good that a bear has been sighted. Toward the end of our first day in Yellowstone, we were on our way to see Old Faithful and came across a "bear jam." We couldn't believe our luck. No binoculars were needed as a grizzly bear and two cubs were hanging out just a short distance from the road. We couldn't have asked for a better bear sighting.

A mother grizzly bear with her two cubs in Yellowstone National Park

After seeing the famous geyser erupt we had dinner at the Old Faithful Inn.

Upon exiting the inn, there was a large buffalo (American bison) that had decided to plop down in the middle on the circular driveway. It was impossible to keep the recommended 100 yard distance, but everyone seemed to be respecting its privacy and it seemed totally oblivious to its surroundings. Yellowstone is unique in that it is the only place in the United States where bison have existed since pre-historic times. It is hard to believe that in the mid-nineteenth century approximately 60 million bison once roamed the Great Plains. In the late 1800's the U.S. Army had a campaign to eliminate bison, which they almost did. By 1902 only two dozen bison existed in Yellowstone. Protection efforts were finally initiated at the beginning of the 20th century and now the Yellowstone bison population ranges from 2,300 - 5,500 (nps.gov).

During our second day in Yellowstone, we went on a short hike on the Lost Lake Trail. It was a beautiful area, but a little unnerving to see bison hanging out right next to the trail. They didn't seem to mind us being there, but it still made me nervous knowing that if they wanted they could seriously hurt us.

A handsome bison at rest along the Lost Lake Trail in Yellowstone National Park (above) and several bison at rest (below)

At one of our stops we saw some cool Bighorn sheep with their young. It was amazing to watch them traverse a very steep slope.The babies kept taking off to explore on their own, but would eventually run to catch up with their mothers.

Two female Bighorn sheep with their young

A distant view of the cliff (below) they were descending puts the amazing agility of these creatures in perspective.

We did not see any wolves, but we did come across several coyotes. One time, two were stalking a Sandhill Crane. We watched until the coyotes eventually gave up their quest.

Coyote - Yellowstone National Park

We also saw a handful of deer and plenty of Pronghorn. The Pronghorn were difficult to capture on camera as they never remained still for very long. When running Pronghorn can reach speeds of over fifty miles an hour.

Pronghorn in field off Hwy ID-21 on approach to Stanley

I'll end this blog with a photo of a handsome bull moose. It's always exciting to see these huge creatures back home and spotting three on our trip was totally unexpected. We saw a mother and a very young calf along the banks of the Snake River while on a rafting trip in Grand Teton National Park and this guy in Yellowstone near the Petrified Tree trail.

I am looking forward to our vacation next summer to Glacier National Park and the wildlife that we will see there.

Warm Nut Loaf

Sunrise in December

Although not yet official on the calendar, winter weather has arrived. We received our first significant snowfall this week and temperatures are expected to drop into the single digits tonight. This is a great recipe that is very satisfying and will provide you with extra fuel for winter activities like shoveling  the walkway and driveway.

Ingredients:
1 medium onion chopped
oil for sauteing
2 cups chopped mushrooms of your choice
2 cloves garlic minced 
1/4 cup sherry or broth
2 cups cooked brown rice
2 cups walnuts chopped fine
1 cup almonds chopped fine
5 eggs beaten
1 cup cottage cheese
8 ounces grated gruyere cheese
4 ounces fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon 
1 teaspoon dried sage

4 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley or 1 teaspoon dried
salt and pepper

Saute onion in oil about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until softened. Add garlic, thyme, tarragon and sage. When mushrooms and onion begin to dry add sherry or broth and cook over low heat about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.

In a large bowl, mix rice and nuts together. In a small bowl combine eggs and cottage cheese. Add to nuts and rice then stir in mushroom mixture. Add cheeses and parsley and mix well. Season with salt and pepper.

Grease a loaf pan and line with parchment paper, overlapping sides. Pat loaf mixture firmly into pan. Place on baking tray and bake at 350 degrees for an hour or longer until set. Cool on rack for ten minutes, then lift out of pan with parchment paper. Serve warm with mushroom gravy.

Mushroom Gravy:
1 cup mushrooms sliced
3 Tablespoons butter
1 clove garlic
1 Tablespoon flour
1/2 cup broth 
1/2 cup cream
 
Saute mushrooms and garlic in 2 Tablespoons butter until soft. Remove pan from heat and set aside. Melt 1 Tablespoon butter over low heat then stir in 1 Tablespoon flour. Cook roux until it begins to thicken, then gradual add liquid ingredients, continuing to stir until heated through and thickened.  Serve immediately over nut loaf. 

A Walk in Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge

 Instead of shopping the day after Thanksgiving, my son, nephew and I drove up to the White Mountains to explore the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson, New Hampshire. This conservation area is part of the same Silvio O. Conte Wildlife Refuge that is up in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. I had heard of this beautiful piece of property, but had never visited. As has been typical this November, it was a relatively mild day. We all packed boots and winter gear which was good since there was a little bit of snow.

The beginning of the trail out to Cherry Pond

Since I am used to climbing when I hike, this hike was different, following an old railroad line the entire way. This made it no less enjoyable, since we could take our time and just enjoy the peace, quiet and each other's company. I am sure that in the Spring the woods are filled with the sounds of birds, but today, other than an occasional chickadee, there was just the sound of our feet crunching leaves under the snow.

After a mile and a half we turned right at Waumbak Junction, which used to be the site of a railroad station. This path merges onto the Presidential Rail Trail, an 18 mile multi-use trail that runs from Cherry Pond all the way to a parking area in Gorham. This path would be wonderful to take a mountain bike on in the summer, or to cross country ski on when there is more snow. The trail leads you to a viewing platform with a fantastic view of the Presidential Range.

Lee, Wendy and Andrew at the Cherry Pond Platform

We retraced our steps and continued right onto the railroad tracks. After a quarter of a mile, we took the trail to the left to Little Cherry Pond.

Trail to Little Cherry Pond

This is a loop trail that travels through woods and wetlands and consists of a series of bog bridges.

Bog bridges

 

Shoreline of Little Cherry Pond

The trail ends at a viewing platform overlooking Little Cherry Pond. This is another quiet place for reflection.We took the loop back to the railroad tracks and took a short detour onto the Shoreline Path. Here we saw some fresh tracks which looked like they were from a chipmunk.
 

This side path provided some of the best views of Cherry Pond and the mountains. and was a great way to cap off the hike before heading back to the parking lot.

Beaver dam on Cherry Pond and snow-capped Presidential range in the background

Now that I have gotten a taste of the area, I will definitely be back in the Spring to witness the abundance of wildlife that seasonally call this place home.

Take-out Tonight

With all the preparations involved with hosting Thanksgiving dinner this week, the last thing I want to think about is preparing dinner ahead of time. Fortunately, we have two take home meal stores in town so I decided this was a great time to try them out.

Local Baskit is located at 10 Ferry Street, Concord. They started out as an online only store, but earlier this year opened a storefront where you can stop in and order or pick up your meal kits. While in the store I noticed that they also have a cooler of craft beers. If you are familiar with on-line meal kits, you know that they provide are all or most of your ingredients, proportionately-sized, along with a recipe card. At Local Baskit you can sign-up for weekly meal subscriptions with a $6 delivery charge, or you can order ahead and pick up at one of their locations across the state. I did not order ahead, but was still able to stop in the store and pickup a Spinach Ravioli kit for two.  This meal was great because the raviolis had already been made, so all I had to prepare was the sauce.

Spinach Ravioli Meal kit from Local Baskit

The kit came almost complete with all the ingredients - all I had to provide were oil, butter, salt and pepper. The recipe card had clear photos and easy to follow instructions.

Preparation was a breeze, and for the cost of not much more than going out for fast food, we had a tasty and healthy meal at home with half the effort. The final result looking almost like the photo on the recipe card, and my husband and I both agreed that it was delicious.

Finished spinach ravioli with pistachio lemon cream sauce

When you don't even have time to prepare a meal from take home ingredients, yet want to eat healthy without dining at a restaurant, Concord has another option - The Clean Take, at Capital Two Plaza, conveniently located next to the Durgin Block parking garage.

The Clean Take's meals are already prepared for you and come in reheat-able containers. Like Local Baskit, Clean Take uses fresh and local ingredients whenever possible. Last night we picked up eggplant "meatballs" over rice with a tossed salad. After just twenty minutes in the oven we had a satisfying vegetarian meal which I would definitely order again.

Eggplant meatballs over a bed of rice with fresh salad greens

The Capital Region is fortunate to have two such high quality take-home meal service locations. Check out their websites and if you live in the area, do not hesitate to stop in and chat with the owners about their philosophies on the importance of healthy eating and how they can make meal preparation both simple and enjoyable.

Beef and Apple Chili

One thing that helps get me through the cold days of fall and winter is cooking warm meals in the crock pot. This recipe adds fruit to a basic chili which results in a unique flavor.

Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon oil
1/2 medium onion chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped
1 pound ground beef
1 14.5 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 14.5 oz can kidney beans or other
beans of your choice
1 cup chopped apples
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon cumin
1 cup beef or chicken broth
 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Heat oil and saute onion and garlic. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Add all ingredients to slow cooker and cook on high for 4-6 hours. Garnish with cheese if desired.
 

Protect Evergreens from Winter Stress

It is now November and although the temperature is supposed to stay in the fifties tonight, the calendar says that freezing temperatures are not far off. This weekend was spent doing fall cleanup, raking leaves, picking up dead branches from the storm Sunday night and spraying our evergreen leaf shrubs with Wilt-Pruf®. I use it on Rhodedendrums, Azaleas, Boxwood and Andromeda. Although these plants are winter hardy, sometimes during severe winters if the leaves are exposed to drying winds and thawing then freezing temperature, this can stress the plant, resulting in brown curled leaves that may not recover in the Spring. Although it may not be needed every winter, to be safe, I apply this spray each year after the temperatures dip below freezing. Since, using it I have not lost any  shrubs due to winter weather. Wilt-Pruf® contains a trademark chemical Pinolene®, a Lewis acid catalyzed polymer of beta-pinene which is derived from the resin of a pine tree. It can be purchased in a spray bottle, or as a concentrate. Also, note that Wilt-Pruf® is not the only brand out there. Bonide sells a Wilt Stop® made from Pinene. Both brands offer a ready-made spray or a concentrate.

Ready made on left and concentrate Wilt Pruf on right.

I prefer the concentrate as it is less expensive and easier to apply with a pump-style sprayer. It is important to apply early in the day as it needs several hours of daylight to properly dry. If you can, it's best to apply on both sides of the leaf surface.

Another way to protect shrubs from winter damage is to wrap them. I do this for our Yew and Arborvitae, but the primary reason is to keep deer from browsing on them. If we get a lot of snow, they will be coming up to the house looking for exposed plants and these two shrubs seem to be their favorite. I use burlap which can be reused for several years. I will do this chore in a couple weeks, after it gets a little colder and before a significant snowfall. I feel a little bad that the shrubs are covered from sunlight for five to six months, but it's better than being eaten.