Decaying Vegitation & Meditation

I actually enjoyed cleaning the refrigerator while preparing a meal this evening. The knife and cutting board were already out and it wasn't necessary to clean them before chopping up the celery whose shelf life had reached the re-incarnation stage. It was a peaceful event; to be gleaning then preparing more fodder for my bin.
Only last month I had considered how much food I waste because I buy fruits and vegetables for a healthy diet and then neglect to eat them soon enough. I actually considered that I owed it to my guilty conscience to buy only canned or frozen going forward. Since then, I have discovered that the expensive, organically grown vegetables (Which are grown in near-by Sarasota) have a much longer shelf life and taste absolutely delicious.
What's really great is my Publix offers a seasonal line of these all grown by "Noah's Organic Garden" in Sarasota.

FRUIT FLIES

I have learned not to open the compost bucket lid while on the patio. I first must take the bucket to the wide open out of doors, since my patio is screened in. If I don't take this precaution, I will let loose unwanted fruit flies into my home.
Today I added about a 2 inch layer of dried leaves to the compost.
Gee, this is a messy hobby.

Smelly Christmas

Today marks the 7th day I have chopped, ground, and collected non-dairy, non-meat scraps from my kitchen in a five pound coffee tin. As I added the grounds from this morning's coffee brew, I smelled the pungent odor of rot and decided it was time to move this batch to the filtered bin. I am now wondering if the bin will suffice my needs for the four month process that must happen next in order to turn this rotting stinking vegetation into rich soil. With the charcoal filter in place, I am encouraged that at least the stink will be under control temporarily. My next concern is whether the structure of the bin will meet my needs for the process. I am researching other blog posts and information to determine that. The ideal situation would be to use the bin as a holding point for the stinky stuff and to prepare layered batches in 2liter bottles having one month's scraps composting separately so that they all meet the time requirements for composting and in the future, supply me with a 2liter amount of rich soil each month going forward. Yeah, that's what I'll do.

Non-Food Purchases

These are household items that I purchase regularly. I currently have brand loyalty to three items: Pedigree for the dog food, Coast or Irish Spring for the bath soap, and Gain for the laundry soap. Many of these non-food products state on the label that they are packaged in the USA, but it is impossible to identify where they are produced or manufactured by reading the label. I have emailed several brand companies for further information.

• Dog food-Pedigree-waiting on response from Mars Company
  
• Toilet paper-Walgreen's Ultra tissue is made in the USA
  
• Paper towels-Publix store brand-more info needed
  
• Laundry soap-Gain-by Proctor & Gamble (more info needed)
  
• Dish soap-Ajax-it's phosphate free-by Colgate Palmolive (more info needed)
  
• Dish washer soap-Publix store brand-(more info needed but it is distributed in Lakeland which is local)
  
• Bath soap-Coast is made in the USA by the Dial Corporation of Scottsdale, AZ
  
• All purpose cleaner-Fabuloso-(I did not expect this) made in the USA by Colgate Palmolive!

I am surprised at the results so far, I expected that I was consuming more off shore goods than this. I will also check labelling regulations to ensure "made in the USA" means the product was manufactured here and not just packaged here.

.composting

Yoda gave me a composting bucket as a Christmas gift. Made in England, this is meant for collecting kitchen scraps that are headed for the heap. It has a charcoal filter on top to minimize odors and a handle for easy carrying. Since I don't have a backyard, but instead will be composting in miniature in 2 liter bottles, my new bucket will hold finely chopped vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and ground egg shells before making the journey to the patio and into a 2 liter bottle. I am hoping the scraps can be stored for a week without stinking.
I purchased a 3lb bag of Miracle-Gro Organic Choice bone meal at Target for $4.18. It is graded 6-9-0 and is labled "proudly made in the USA". This will be added to the compost in minute amounts.

The beginning of my change away from conspicuous consumption

This is the day I resolve to buy local/national, go green, and to begin my terrace farm. I also intend to follow Einstein's advice to eat only vegetarian.

• Buy local: purchase fruits and vegetables from local farmer's markets
• Buy national: Identify expected purchases for 2009 and research to find American made goods for those purchases.
• Review each product's impact on the environment.
• Plan terrace garden
• Track progress in all four projects listed above by maintaining this blog.