An Environerd’s Nightmare + Book Update

March 15, 2021Food, GeneralDebra Castellano 1 Comment

So I finished rewriting the Introduction and Chapter 1 of the book (How to Save the Planet (or Should We?) [working title]), and given them to my agent. PROGRESS!! Will wait to hear if she thinks we’re good to go to publishers with it, but I’m moving forward with the next chapter, which is on . . . Waste (my pet topic, yo).

Meanwhile I bought this Canola oil spray at Target for $1.99 because my cast iron skillet needed some re-seasoning. I also figured I could spray it on my popcorn, given that it would provide much more efficient coverage than pouring melted vegan butter over it. (Writing requires me to eat a LOT of popcorn, which I make on the stove.)

Unfort I didn’t look at the ingredients label, because it’s not simply canola oil in a can. Au contraire. Evidently “nonstick cooking spray” is different. For one thing, it contains dimethyl silicone (for antifoaming), and no, you don’t need to know much more than that it includes the word “silicone,” which I do not desire to eat. The other ingredient (besides canola oil, which, according to the label, “*adds a trivial amount of fat” — as if I couldn’t figure out that there’s fat in fat) is soy lecithin.

Soy lecithin must be bad for at least some people, because right below the ingredient list are the words “CONTAINS SOY” with a box drawn around it. Again pointing out the obvious: that soy lecithin contains soy.

And below those indiscreetly boxed words, it says “Also contains propellant to dispense spray.” This turn out to be some unidentified chemicals used to drive the fluid out of the can. Now, ozone-depleting propellants that were previously used in aerosols aren’t used much anymore, but the kind that are used (HFCs) still aren’t awesome for the planet.

Sooo . . . now that I know I’m not going to use this stuff (and p.s., I sprayed a little on my fingers to taste it, and it’s HORRIBLE — kind of plastic-y, which I guess is the silicone?) . . . WHAT DO I DO WITH IT???

The can says “Empty Before Recycling” (not pictured). Huh? So . . . stand there for 20 minutes with my finger on the sprayer button thingie until it’s empty? Guys. There are “About 565 servings per container.” Oh, and then — breaking my heart even further — is that the plastic cap isn’t recyclable.

This is what keeps me up at night. Welcome to my world.

And if you have any other title ideas for my book, please LEAVE THEM IN THE COMMENTS. I need help!! (Or just subscribe below to follow along.)

xo,
Deb

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For a few years now, my roommate and I have been stashing our compostable food scraps in the freezer, and taking them to the GrowNYC guy at the farmer’s market on Saturdays.

I can compost pretty much everything, since I’m plant-based; if you see eggshells, they’re hers. We reuse four of those clear plastic containers that baby spinach comes in (you know the ones?), and dump our scraps into these bins throughout the week.

Often when I add things to the containers, or get ready to take the scraps to the farmer’s market, they have become gorgeous compositions. NOTE: I do not arrange them at all. Except to make room for more scraps in the containers.

What follows are ten of the photos I’ve taken as part of an ongoing project. I envision a gallery show at some point, to raise funds (and awareness) for preventing food waste.

Meanwhile, enjoy! Feel free to share this post, but please ask before using the photos for anything. (And see if you can identify the foods before reading the ingredients . . . 🙂 )

“From a Small Seed”