Comments for SustainableTogether.com http://sustainabletogether.com Ways we share the journey toward a more sustainable life Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:53:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Affordable Local Food…But How? by Shelly http://sustainabletogether.com/2012/02/09/affordable-local-food-but-how/#comment-1482 Shelly Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:53:22 +0000 http://sustainabletogether.com/?p=649#comment-1482 Regarding the time it takes to source local food affordably and prepare healthy meals, I realize I am privileged to <i>choose</i> to spend my time this way. I am deeply sympathetic to the time and budget constraints faced by TOO MANY families in our country. This post (indeed, this blog) does not pretend to offer solutions for the working poor. The dilemma faced by single mothers forced into minimum-wage jobs by "welfare reform" is very much on my mind after reading this <a href="http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2012/0112albelda.html" rel="nofollow">Dollars & Sense article</a>. It's sobering to read that food assistance is "based on a very low-cost food budget that assume[s] hours of home cooking." Hours single moms just don't have. Regarding the time it takes to source local food affordably and prepare healthy meals, I realize I am privileged to choose to spend my time this way.

I am deeply sympathetic to the time and budget constraints faced by TOO MANY families in our country. This post (indeed, this blog) does not pretend to offer solutions for the working poor.

The dilemma faced by single mothers forced into minimum-wage jobs by “welfare reform” is very much on my mind after reading this Dollars & Sense article. It’s sobering to read that food assistance is “based on a very low-cost food budget that assume[s] hours of home cooking.” Hours single moms just don’t have.

]]> Comment on Affordable Local Food…But How? by Shelly http://sustainabletogether.com/2012/02/09/affordable-local-food-but-how/#comment-1481 Shelly Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:55:30 +0000 http://sustainabletogether.com/?p=649#comment-1481 Chauncey, you are right on in recommending work-trade on a farm or at a local retailer. When you have an opportunity to trade your labor for fresh produce, take it! The year before my son was born, I spent a delightful season as a work-trade volunteer at Frog Hill Farm. Not only did I learn a lot about planting and harvesting, I took home so much "free" produce that I routinely shared it with another family. And you don't have to be <i>that</i> young to volunteer on a farm. I hear they take folks of any age. :-) Chauncey, you are right on in recommending work-trade on a farm or at a local retailer. When you have an opportunity to trade your labor for fresh produce, take it!

The year before my son was born, I spent a delightful season as a work-trade volunteer at Frog Hill Farm. Not only did I learn a lot about planting and harvesting, I took home so much “free” produce that I routinely shared it with another family.

And you don’t have to be that young to volunteer on a farm. I hear they take folks of any age. :-)

]]> Comment on Affordable Local Food…But How? by Chauncey http://sustainabletogether.com/2012/02/09/affordable-local-food-but-how/#comment-1480 Chauncey Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:08:29 +0000 http://sustainabletogether.com/?p=649#comment-1480 BTW, what I meant by (if you're young) was that most older people 40+ view most physical labor as "hard." - while most young people don't carry that illusion. BTW, what I meant by (if you’re young) was that most older people 40+ view most physical labor as “hard.” – while most young people don’t carry that illusion.

]]> Comment on Affordable Local Food…But How? by Chauncey http://sustainabletogether.com/2012/02/09/affordable-local-food-but-how/#comment-1479 Chauncey Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:06:06 +0000 http://sustainabletogether.com/?p=649#comment-1479 Love it! One of my room mates is a farmer and another room mate works at the Chimacum Corner Farmstand. We get a mix of local organic greens and whatnot as a perk of their working at the source! Getting involved in volunteering at the source of food is an AMAZINGLY easy (if your're young), enjoyable, and mutually beneficial way of acquiring local food affordably for anyone. Sadly, the majority of people shop at Safeway or QFC and are not comfortable/informed enough to figure out other ways of acquiring food affordably. Thanks for the words! We can be conscious! Love it! One of my room mates is a farmer and another room mate works at the Chimacum Corner Farmstand. We get a mix of local organic greens and whatnot as a perk of their working at the source! Getting involved in volunteering at the source of food is an AMAZINGLY easy (if your’re young), enjoyable, and mutually beneficial way of acquiring local food affordably for anyone. Sadly, the majority of people shop at Safeway or QFC and are not comfortable/informed enough to figure out other ways of acquiring food affordably. Thanks for the words! We can be conscious!

]]> Comment on VIDEO: Transportation (Presentation to Chamber of Commerce, 11/14/11) by Chauncey http://sustainabletogether.com/2012/01/22/video-transportation-in-jefferson-county/#comment-1384 Chauncey Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:19:03 +0000 http://sustainabletogether.com/?p=611#comment-1384 Thank you Shelly for the shout out and for conveying some of the inspiring potential of our new location! We are hard at work to open in the next couple of months. We are shooting for an opening date of April 1st. Everyone, keep your eyes open for us! :o) P.S.- I must mention that the Finn River cider delivery was carried out using ReCyclery volunteers and The ReCyclery's trailer. Christie K. contacted us to help make the delivery a possibility and our volunteers trucked the trailer all the way out to Chimacum, with one volunteer doing half of the actual delivery from the farm to the boat. Thank you ReCyclery volunteers! Woop woop! Thank you Shelly for the shout out and for conveying some of the inspiring potential of our new location! We are hard at work to open in the next couple of months. We are shooting for an opening date of April 1st. Everyone, keep your eyes open for us! :o )

P.S.- I must mention that the Finn River cider delivery was carried out using ReCyclery volunteers and The ReCyclery’s trailer. Christie K. contacted us to help make the delivery a possibility and our volunteers trucked the trailer all the way out to Chimacum, with one volunteer doing half of the actual delivery from the farm to the boat. Thank you ReCyclery volunteers! Woop woop!

]]> Comment on VIDEO: Transportation (Presentation to Chamber of Commerce, 11/14/11) by Brian Goldstein http://sustainabletogether.com/2012/01/22/video-transportation-in-jefferson-county/#comment-1381 Brian Goldstein Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:44:17 +0000 http://sustainabletogether.com/?p=611#comment-1381 The snow storm last week incited me to walk to work for a couple of days. It's a 45 minute one-way trip (compared to a 7 minute drive), but because my office opened late, it was easy to fit into the day. It proved to me that we will change our habits when our priorites (and choices) shift. The snow storm last week incited me to walk to work for a couple of days. It’s a 45 minute one-way trip (compared to a 7 minute drive), but because my office opened late, it was easy to fit into the day. It proved to me that we will change our habits when our priorites (and choices) shift.

]]> Comment on Sustainability Topics by Be Careful What You Wish For: My Chamber of Commerce Dream Come True | SustainableTogether.com http://sustainabletogether.com/sustainability-topics/#comment-1376 Be Careful What You Wish For: My Chamber of Commerce Dream Come True | SustainableTogether.com Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:13:26 +0000 http://sustainabletogether.com/?page_id=25#comment-1376 [...] Sustainability Topics [...] [...] Sustainability Topics [...]

]]> Comment on Resolve to Be “Curious, Doubtful” in 2012 by Shelly http://sustainabletogether.com/2011/12/30/curious-doubtful-in-2012/#comment-1292 Shelly Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:28:55 +0000 http://sustainabletogether.com/?p=585#comment-1292 Glad this post struck a chord! Thanks for the local credit card suggestions, and I'll report back on my research into these options. As long as there is no annual fee, rates and fees don't really matter to us, since we don't carry a balance on our credit cards. Because of this, I made the casual comment that the mega-banks aren't making money off of us with our credit cards, but it was pointed out to me that the banks make money off the <i>merchants</i> we swipe the credit cards with. So true. Glad this post struck a chord!

Thanks for the local credit card suggestions, and I’ll report back on my research into these options. As long as there is no annual fee, rates and fees don’t really matter to us, since we don’t carry a balance on our credit cards.

Because of this, I made the casual comment that the mega-banks aren’t making money off of us with our credit cards, but it was pointed out to me that the banks make money off the merchants we swipe the credit cards with. So true.

]]> Comment on Resolve to Be “Curious, Doubtful” in 2012 by bethany axtman http://sustainabletogether.com/2011/12/30/curious-doubtful-in-2012/#comment-1268 bethany axtman Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:26:30 +0000 http://sustainabletogether.com/?p=585#comment-1268 Wow, lots of good food for thought. A couple of credit card options: 1. I've had a "salmon nation" card through Shorebank Pacific, now One PacificCoast Bank, for a couple of years. The rates and services are pretty much identical to my prior national bank cards, but I feel better about the logo on it. If you're not familiar with them, here's an intro: http://www.onepacificcoastbank.com/about-us.aspx 2. I've been told that Kitsap Bank is a more local option for credit cards. I've been meaning to check it out, but have to admit that I haven't yet. Wow, lots of good food for thought. A couple of credit card options:
1. I’ve had a “salmon nation” card through Shorebank Pacific, now One PacificCoast Bank, for a couple of years. The rates and services are pretty much identical to my prior national bank cards, but I feel better about the logo on it. If you’re not familiar with them, here’s an intro: http://www.onepacificcoastbank.com/about-us.aspx
2. I’ve been told that Kitsap Bank is a more local option for credit cards. I’ve been meaning to check it out, but have to admit that I haven’t yet.

]]> Comment on Resolve to Be “Curious, Doubtful” in 2012 by Dennis Daneau http://sustainabletogether.com/2011/12/30/curious-doubtful-in-2012/#comment-1258 Dennis Daneau Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:17:13 +0000 http://sustainabletogether.com/?p=585#comment-1258 Shelly, Debbi and i just got a message from Quimper Federal Credit Union that stated they are now offering a low interest credit card. We have not checked into this yet, but will be calling them soon. I am hoping it is not somehow attached to a larger bank. You might also call them. Shelly,
Debbi and i just got a message from Quimper Federal Credit Union that stated they are now offering a low interest credit card. We have not checked into this yet, but will be calling them soon. I am hoping it is not somehow attached to a larger bank. You might also call them.

]]>