Expanding on the theme of leftovers, it is interesting to see the

practice of gleaning becoming popular in urban areas.   Many local

councils spend time and money removing wasted fruits from street

trees and public areas, and it really seems wasteful this vitamin

packed food just ends up in the bin. 

Now, with new solutions,  old apple trees are used and also intentionally

planted in urban places like railway stations, where they can be

eaten on the way to work.  Waste only seems to cost money in the long

run and when the value of a long awaited fruit harvest is known, people

are more prepared to savour it and use it, rather than let it go waste

in urban places.  Ceres has some great ideas on urban fruit supply in

inner Melbourne, where a haven has been created minutes from the city.

This interesting and common sense video, “Urban Fruit Gleaning” is

produced by Rebecca Gerendasy from the brilliant CookingUpAStory.

(Please wait a moment for the correct video to auto upload.)

(copyright Monika Roleff 2009.)

(copyright CookingUpAStory, 2009.)

(Image – Gleaned lemons.)

Great food is often left over, or comes through from friends who have too much of something, and it’s naturally shared around.  As a result of Jonathan Bloom’s videos, ideas about leftovers have been talked about in the comments.  Here are some handy hints and leftover recipes, which is fast becoming a trend in the food and produce world.  Don’t be shy to try something new and do recipes for preserving type foods that keep in the pantry for ages.

Cookery Circle UK – Ideas for Using Up Leftovers

This link has some great storage tips and ideas as well as good recipes.

The Leftover Chef USA – Great Leftover Recipe Finder

This link has leftovers by category, so you choose what you have and then find what to do with it.

Love Food, Hate Waste UK – Great Recipe Resource and Info

This link focuses on recipes that reduce waste and encourages user interaction.

Enjoy!

(copyright Monika Roleff 2009)

(Image – Surplus Crabapples.)

The final part of this series about Food Waste from Jonathan Bloom, who puts some practical ideas across about dealing with daily food management, which save time and money in the long run.  He also talks about prolific domestic fruit growth, which is not able to be used or isn’t needed, and how it can be redistributed in simple ways.

This series of interesting videos is produced by Rebecca Gerendasy from the brilliant CookingUpAStory.

(copyright Monika Roleff 2009.)

(copyright CookingUpAStory, 2009.)

Continuing on with Jonathan Bloom’s discussion about food waste, part two.   Many of these issues have been changed of late, and it all seems positive change, through awareness. 

This series of interesting videos is produced by Rebecca Gerendasy from the brilliant CookingUpAStory.

(copyright Monika Roleff 2009.)

(copyright CookingUpAStory, 2009.)

Here’s to a great Earth Day, 2009!   Many things

are happening all over the world, and again it’s

an inspiring thing to see just how much is happening

to celebrate the earth and nature.   Even the smallest

gesture is enough to create awareness…

Happy Earth Day!

(copyright Monika Roleff 2009.)

(image – Autumn Rosehips.)

In the first part of this discussion about food waste, Jonathan Bloom states the waste factor of food worldwide is at a rate of 40%!  When lifestyles were more rural and there were ways to dispose of excess food, waste was not such an issue.  Increasingly urban areas worldwide are tuning into different ways of being more conscious of waste, and many programmes have been started to minimize these issues. 

This series of interesting videos is produced by Rebecca Gerendasy from the brilliant CookingUpAStory.

(copyright Monika Roleff 2009.)

(copyright CookingUpAStory, 2009.)

Great to check in and read the results of Earth Hour 2009, coming through the Official Earth Hour site.  Many people said they felt good being part of a collective initiative, and it helped them feel part of things.  Others just felt it was fun to be creative and work with it in their individual ways.  Power was saved across the globe in various ways.  All in all, a good result!

OFFICIAL EARTH HOUR 2009 SITE.

(copyright Monika Roleff 2009.)

Earth Hour 2009 is happening around the globe this weekend. 

Their target is one billion participants this year,

so let’s see what happens!

Saturday March 28th, 8.30 pm Australians are turning off their

lights for an hour.   Be part of this amazing event where it happens,

around the world!

(copyright Monika Roleff 2009.)

(Earth Hour 2009 clip courtesy You Tube 2009.)

Have been chatting to a long time apiarist in rural regions

and asked about the bee situation, in case it was an

exaggerated thing, but he confirmed that without bees,

humanity would not survive.  He also explained that

bees never swarm at people, they only follow the 

command of the Queen Bee and do her bidding.  This is

why bees appear so “busy” all the time, and make

“beelines” for certain flowers or trees.  They are simply

following the beat of nature, so be kind to bees!

(copyright Monika Roleff 2009.)

“Ever since Rachel Carson’s book “Silent Spring” first warned us against the dangers of chemicals in our natural world—we seem to be entering a new, more dangerous period, where the accumulated human effects upon the environment are producing an obvious toll. In this story, another human soul speaks out, this time, about the plight of the honeybees.” – from Cooking Up A Story. 

When David Suzuki came to Australia in the last few years, and gave numerous talks, he counted one of the main influences on his life’s work as being Rachel Carson.  A silent spring would indeed be a very strange thing, no sounds to show the humming back into life of the cosmos for the growing season. 

This short video, thanks to the brilliant work of Rebecca Gerendasy from CookingUpAStory, shows entomologist Lynne Royce, talking about her passion for bees, showing that understanding these small, ancient, industrious creatures who give so much to the world, leads to better interaction with them. 

Bees are known for their quirks and intelligences, and have even been venerated as gods and goddesses in ancient times, and have scientists endlessly studying their tendency to “Bee Dance”.  Rich bounty comes from the ancient involvement of bees with humankind, in beeswax, honey, pollenations and propogations in Nature.  It seems unlikely bees will disappear from the earth, but with better understanding, a more insightful connection to them is possible, interwoven into culture as they have been for millions of years.

(copyright Monika Roleff 2008.)

(copyright CookingUpAStory, 2008.)