Reduce, Reuse, Rejoice: A Spiritual Guide to Waste Management

Several months back I published a post about the waste we humans produce due to our eating habits (Click Here To Read). A lot of what I learned while writing this piece has stuck with me, influencing the way I think and feel, and consequently, the way I eat. At times I'm overwhelmed by this knowledge; I struggle with guilt brought on in part by my own, and in part by my fellow species, decision to exist in a way not consistent with nature. But as I continue to ponder these decisions, I'm beginning to realize something quite extraordinary.

First Compost

I know, I know... you are on the edge of your seat, waiting to hear all about my first compost!  Well I am happy to say the wait is over! Here it is! After weeks of researching and saving up my green food waste, I was ready to build my very own makeshift compost bin. Since I wasn’t sure which one to buy (there are several varieties) I decided to keep it simple and use a large, old, wooden planter I found in the backyard. I dug out the old potting soil, and got to work!

Finding Fantasia (the local way)

Some time ago I made a promise to dedicate an entire post to the Golden Temple, "the holiest Gurdwara of Sikhism" and their recent decision to serve 100% organic food (for free) to the public. This is not that post. I promise (yet again) that it will be written, in the near-ish future, but for now I have been busy exploring local flavors in my own back yard, give or take 3 hours.

Last weekend my boo and I journeyed to the quaint village of Easton, P.A. to visit what we thought would be a dog breeder (will explain later). We were there to see Shiba Inus (yes we are getting a dog!!), but we ended up discovering a vibrant, self sustaining culture replete with family farms, organically grown grapes (for winemaking!), microbreweries, and rustic, local cafes.

View from our table at the Riegelsville Inn, built in 1838