waste stream week

Cricket Bread has become more than just a local food project. It has further influenced my ideology and ways of looking at what is going on around me. It has me looking closely at my neighborhood and the edges of my backyard; examining trees, wondering why one tree is loaded with pecans and the next tree is empty; looking at roadsides to see if I have missed something that is edible and flowering at this time of year.

I am also closely looking at the waste I generate on a daily basis. What can I reuse or carry with me to refill or use again? Is this pile of broccoli stalk trimmings from work still useful somehow, maybe in a stir fry or broccoli soup? Where is the edge between usability and garbage, and how can I walk that edge while still getting good nutrition out of out-of-date food or scraps?

For the next part of this project I will attempt to eat out of the waste stream for 100% of my meals for seven days straight. Whereas I usually incorporate some waste into my meals throughout the week, this will be a much more conscious effort to do so. Twenty-one meals starting this Sunday morning. I will document as much as I can, but since I don’t always have my camera with me I may have to rely on some detailed descriptions.

Wish me luck…