I want to bring to our readers’ attention that I have written a post for the Huffington Post about Chicago’s City Council passing a “Green Food Resolution”. As a writer and someone who cares about the environment, this is big milestone for me.

My first column on HuffPo focuses on not only Chicago’s resolution regarding a healthier, more sustainable food system, but also the impact they can have on other cities and the momentum of the food movement:

Competition among large cities to be the first in a given green technology, green roofs or greenest overall city raises the bar for others to improve their relative sustainability. This resolution is a great example of thinking globally and acting locally: as Chicagoans make healthier, more sustainable food choices, the impact can be huge as other cities follow suit and the movement toward sustainable eating grows.

What does Chicago’s Green Food Resolution say? Both its text and its very presence say a lot. The growth of the food movement is exemplified by the fact that local officials are not only discussing, but also have gone so far as to acknowledge in a resolution that the manner in which our food is produced affects both our health and the sustainability of the planet.

Of course, I’ll continue writing on Earthascope regularly, but the opportunity to write for The Huffington Post is a great one that will allow me to reach a greater audience.  I plan to continue writing there about environmentally-related stories in Chicago. 

Check out my piece on The Huffington Post!

Green Life Project is a weekly series of posts highlighting one change for readers to make in order to gradually green their lives.

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Check out these finds! Vollrath pot: $3.90, Revere Ware Pot and Steamer basket: $3.90, sifter: $0.45

This week’s Green Life Project action item is to begin shopping at secondhand stores.

I know, you may have a bias against buying something secondhand.  The fact that someone else was using it can make some of us squeamish, but pretty much anything you buy from a thrift store can be washed, whether clothing or homewares, and how many of us have bougth items at yardsales?  Or tried on a pair of jeans at a store which potentially many other people had tried on?  

The point is, squeamishness can be put aside.  I love to cook and many of us are rediscovering the value of knowing how to cook and cook well, both as a societal/cultural change, and one made to help us to eat locally grown, fresh foods.  I will focus on the cooking/serving items I have bought secondhand.

We can help close the loop on materials through reusing items before sending them off for recycling of their raw materials.  By closing that gap, you can find some deals and improve your envirohuman impact!

What items in my kitchen are secondhand?  Actually, the shorter list for me would be that which is not secondhand.  Most of my lot, my preparation and eating utensils, my mixing bowls, pots, pans, and measuring cups, were bought at different secondhand stores.  And most of it was in great condition — usually with something cooked on that had to be scrubbed away.  But you sometimes will find almost new, some stuff still with the tags left on them!  You would not know my stuff is secondhand items were not bought new — most of them are glass or stainless steel and have been scrubbed back to a like-new shine.