I am enjoying this part of the “vegetable and fruit season” in Quebec. More and more produce is slowly coming into season, which means there is more of a variety of foods in my diet! I am especially looking forward to when the peppers will be available at our local farm. I am impatiently waiting. I could eat a red or orange or yellow pepper daily!
I cheated this past week though and bought some orange peppers from my local health food store. They are grown in Quebec, but, unfortunately, they came wrapped in plastic. I can hear Beth Terry from My Plastic-Free Life cursing me now. It is my reality, however, living in Quebec that most foods come wrapped in plastic or in a plastic something or other. Our growing season is just so very short, and most of our foods are shipped from the U.S.A, therefore apparently needing to be wrapped in plastic.
What is your favorite fruit or vegetable that you look forward to every year?
1-PURCHASES (over the last 2 weeks)
Week 45
La Moisson (Natural Food Store)
Bulk
- Fair trade bananas from Equator (9.3 lbs)
- 26 oranges (California)
- Cucumbers from Quebec (2.2 lbs)
Non-Bulk
- Carrots (Quebec)
- Vegetable glycerine (USA)
- Welda bum cream (USA)
- Dr.Bronner’s soap (USA)
- 2 glass jars of apple cider vinegar (Quebec)
- 1 glass jar of peanut butter (Quebec)
- 1 paper bag of blue tortillas chips (Texas)
- 1 large glass bottle of Kombucha (Quebec)
- 1 glass jar of raw agave-mustard dressing (Quebec)
- 1 bag of red potatoes (USA)
- 1 carton of chocolate chip mint coconut ice cream (USA)
Sub-total: 157.04
Week 46
La Moisson (Natural Food Store)
Bulk
- Fair trade bananas from Equator (7.5 lbs)
- 14 oranges (California)
- Cucumbers (2.2 lbs)
- Peppers (4.4 lbs)
Non-Bulk
- 1 glass jar of peanut butter (Quebec)
- 1 glass jar of pickles (USA)
- 1 package of yeast (Montreal)
- 2 bags of raisin bread (Montreal)
- Daiya cheese (Vancouver)
- Onion powder (Quebec)
- 2 glass jars of tomato paste (Quebec)
- Coconut ice cream (U.S.A)
Sub-total: 101.32
Runaway Creek Farm
- 2 heads of lettuce
- 1 large bag of kale
- 3 cucumbers
- 3 large baskets of cherry tomatoes
- 10 regular tomatoes
- 1 bunch of colourful carrots
- 1 small bag of shitake mushrooms
- 1 bunch of basil
- 1 glass jar of blueberry jam
Sub-total:75.00
Verger Terrasolen (local farm certified organic)
- 2 large boxes of raspberries (12 cartons per box)
Sub-total: 60.00
Non-Food Items
- Salon Coiffure I got my hair dyed (Organic Color Systems) and cut 140.00
Restaurants
Week 45
- Thursday: J.P and my mom ordered chicken and fries for dinner 18.00
- Friday: J.P went for lunch with his friends from work 10.00
- Saturday: I had a raw vegan wrap from La Crudessence for dinner 8.99
Sub-Total: 36.99
Week 46
- Friday: J.P went for lunch with some friends 16.00
Sub-total: 16.00
Week 45 Total: 203.02
Week 46 Total: 392.32
2-COMPOSTING
We had lots of compost this past week. I am not really sure why. We didn't juice more than usual. Usually J.P brings our compost to his sister’s during the week, but a few weeks ago I took on the job. When I opened the compost bin I was pretty much attacked by moths. I do not want that job anymore. I would much rather just fill up our container of compost and let the compost fairy magical have it disappear once a week. That would be nice.
I would say at least 19 lbs.
3-RECYCLING
We didn’t have much recycling. Pretty much the same amount as every other week. I did have a few glass jars that I won’t be able to reuse that I decided to put in the recycling as well as random pieces of paper that can’t be reused.
4-TRASH
We had the usual suspects like receipts, and some random pieces of plastic that can’t be recycled over the last few weeks. The biggest item that has recently been added to our trash tally is disposable diapers. We are using one disposable diaper a night for little E. She has had a chronic rash for the last several months and if we use a reusable diaper at night, it flares right back up. I have to put her first on this one.
5-TRAVEL
Week 45
JP drove his Mazda to work and back all week. I drove the TDI to little E’s daycare, local farm, the grocery store, and JP’s friends for dinner.
TDI
Travel: 498 km (309.4 mi)
Gas: 38 liters (10.04 gal) for 48.14
Mazda
Travel: 245 km (152.2 mi)
Gas: 46 liters (12.15 gal) 52.00
Week 46
JP drove his Mazda to work and back all week. I drove the TDI to little E’s daycare, grocery store, a local farm, my parents and we also drove up north to JP’s parents place. Lots of long distance driving this week.
TDI
Travel: 809 km (502.7 mi)
Gas: 50 liters (13.21 gal) for $42.00
Mazda
Travel: 147 km (91.3 mi)
Gas: 46 liters (12.15 gal) for 52.60
