Off the Cuff

[#1]

I’d like to pitch some tomatoes but I think that my target might be the organizers of a tomato-throwing fundraiser held in Reno last month. Yes, it raised $20,000 for the American Cancer Society.

But to do so wasted 150,000 pounds of edible food - about 60 pounds for each participant in the event. Yes, I know it’s modeled after the big tomato fight in Spain. That doesn’t make it any less insensitive.

Every year, 15 million children die of hunger throughout the world. Even in the United States, one out of every six households is considered “very food insecure,” which means that one or more in the family routinely goes hungry. Nearly 40 percent of Americans qualify for food stamps; mor than half of them are children.

The irony of it all is that tomatoes contain lycopene, which some studies show may help ward off cancer. The fight against cancer might have been better served by having the participants eat the tomatoes rather than throw them.

[#2]

What an incredible waste! I'm an avid gardener, and we try to eat plentifully from our garden each summer. I usually have such abundant harvests that I make it a point to can and preserve everything we can't eat or give to friends to eat. Every precious bit of fruits, vegetables and herbs. The fruits and veggies I put up each year, including an amazing pesto I make and freeze, and the herbs are either dried for culinary use or chopped fresh and frozen in ice cubes for use throughout the winter. With the high costs of organic foods, and the yuck factor of all the pesticides and preservatives that make it into non-organic foods, I'm so delighted to have my gardens. It physically pains me to think of that much food going to such abominable waste.

[#3]

I agree!  I'm a gardener on a smaller scale, but I love the taste of fresh fruits and veggies that are pesticide-free.  

One thing that has struck me recently about waste involves certain cooking shows.  They often have a big bowl or pot for the "garbage" -- the peelings and chopped off ends of veggies which are all compostable.  I think they should make a point of encouraging people who have even small yards to compost their unused parts of fruits and vegetables (and coffee grounds, etc.).  I still remember our first house where I had accumulated an enormous container of compost and right before we moved, I remembered it and even wondered if there was any room for it on the moving truck!! Sadly I had to leave it behind for the new owners.  I hope they used it....

[#4]

i've noticed what scout11 has...the amount of waste on cooking shows of food that would be perfect for composting...can anyone provide a list of what types of food can get composted?  i have lots of friends who would probably do it but they're afraid of putting in the wrong things...i know a little, but i'm not an expert by any means....

actually, maybe it would be easier to make a list of what shouldn't go into the compost pile...

[#5]

My mom always said as long as it's organic and uncooked. Like, peelings from fruits and vegetables, and any raw stuff that didn't get into the cooking. No meats, which will draw animals. No egg shells which can breed bacteria.

[#6]

Thanks, flannery, for asking about the do's and don'ts of composting.  And thanks, petgirl, for the tip about egg shells.  I didn't know about the bacteria issue.   What about coffee grounds?  Are they okay?   

[#7]

petgirl - thanks for the advice.... while we're at it,  once you have a pile of compost, do you have to turn it or just let it sit there?  when is it ready to use?  and how do you keep animals from getting into it? oh, and can't you add grass clippings and shredded newspaper to it?  i think i heard somewhere you could...

[#8]

I think  some people make their own containers out of wood and  just turn it every now and then with a pitchfork.  But I don't know how they separate the old stuff which is ready to be put on gardens from the newer stuff which isn't yet broken down?  I've seen pictures of fancy composters that actually turn and aerate the material more rapidly.  I've heard that grass clippings are good, but I don't know about shredded newspapers.  Are there any other compost experts out there?

[#9]

I'm no expert, but I'm taking notes on everything you guys have been saying. I keep seeing ads for composters, too, and they're really expensive. I bet it would be much cheaper to make your own.