Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
At Midway Christian Church, caring for Gods creation is central. We must always remain mindful of ways we can respect God’s creation by minimizing our food waste. Here are five easy steps:
1. Start at the grocery store and be realistic about your purchases. Stick with the list!
2. Use it up.
3. Understand sell-by dates. When it comes to “expiration” and “use-by” dates, use your senses before throwing something away. If food looks, smells and tastes normal, it should be safe to use even if the expiration date has passed.
4. Finish the leftovers.
5. Store it smarter. Always store perishables in an airtight container, and know when to move foods from the fridge to the freezer.
(from earth911.com)
Support Local
Green Chalice encourages everyone to shop for Kentucky Proud and locally-grown foods when buying groceries. Our own Midway Corner Grocery carries local products such as lettuce from Bluegrass Aquaponics, Brown’s Beer Cheese made in Versailles, and a wide selection of Midway honey from the two honey companies in Midway. Area Kroger stores have a section of Kentucky Proud products, and we should encourage the store managers to keep adding other items to it. Our communities and our bodies and spirits are healthier when we support local businesses, know the people where we live, and eat foods grown by local farmers. Midway Green Chalice has compiled a list of locally sourced foods in the Midway area.
Conserve Water
Water conservation saves money, helps prevent water pollution in nearby lakes and streams, and can prevent greenhouse gas emissions associated with water treament. Some tips for water conservation in the home include:
• Calculate your water footprint.
• Replace shower heads. Install low-flow shower heads, rated 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm) or less.
• Install aerators. Screw aerators rated at 1.5 gpm onto your faucets.
• Use toilet tank banks. Reduce water used per flush with these flexible inserts placed in the tank.
• Go WaterSense. This certification ensures your appliances are the most water efficient in their class.
• Turn it off! Shut off water when soaping up, shaving, washing dishes or brushing teeth. If you let it run to warm up/cool down, collect it for other uses.
• Wash dishes wisely. Scrape, don’t rinse, dishes before using the dishwasher. Plug up the sink/basin if washing dishes by hand.
• Wash clothes with less. Do only full loads of laundry, or lower the water setting to match the size of the load.
• Check for leaks. Each month check all appliances for leaks.
• Avoid the garbage disposal! Collect food waste in a drain trap.
(from GreenFaith.org):