This Thursday I am reporting on the results of two cutting-edge case studies.
Study 1: The Effect of Cast Iron Skillet on the Shape of Pancakes
Research Question: Is it possible to make pancakes that don't get wrinkled while using a cast iron skillet?
Results: Yes. All the pancakes turned out beautifully. I started with some butter in the pan, but did not need to re-grease as I went along.
Observations: Although this study is limited by the fact that it is a case study, and the small sample size (only 15 pancakes), it seems to indicate that it is possible to get satisfactory pancake production using cast iron. The pancakes also have a high iron content, which may prevent anemia.
Study 2: Trash without Plastic Bags: Aesthetic and Environmental Effects
Research Question: What happens when kitchen trash is put into the trashcan with no plastic liner bag?
Method: Family puts all kitchen trash (food scraps, wrappers, etc.) into small trashcan with no liner.
Results: The subjects noticed a rank odor. When the trash was emptied into the dumpster, the bottom of the trashcan was covered with stinky food particles. Subject had to rinse the trashcan 4 times before it was aesthetically acceptable again. Subject reported feeling like she was "going to hurl" when she emptied the trash.
Observations: Further study is necessary, but it appears that at least in this family, although using no plastic bag may help the environment, it is aesthetically unacceptable. It may also be a boon to the raccoons, who will surely have easier access to their snacks without having to rip open a bag when they go into the dumpster. This is an important area for future research.
Is anybody aware of any other studies about trash? What do the plastic free people do? I don't have a disposal, and I can't compost all my kitchen trash (not enough worms yet), so I have quite a bit of soggy, organic trash. BLECH.
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3 comments:
So, I have a bf who used those big paint buckets as garbage cans without plastic bags. It worked for him because 1) he kept nasty food in his refrigerator for way too long...but that meant it didn't need to go to the garbage and 2) if there were nasty, mushy things, he dumped them on a piece of newspaper right before dumping it all into a dumpster. Probably dumping newpaper is better than plastic. Also, if you have room in your freezer (which you probably don't with 3 kids) then you could follow a smart friend of mine who keeps mushy garbage in her freezer (maybe you could keep it in a glass dish that you could cover up so that you could dump it out). not sure.
Dear Grad Green, Dealing with garbage without plastic bags is a challenge, but an not insurmountable one. I recall from my childhood in the 1950s that my mother and grandmother always had a garbage strainer in the corner of the kitchen sink. It was triangular with drainage holes in it and all the garbage from a meal went into it. When the liquid was all drained out the garbage was thrown in the garbage can, which was lined with several layers of newspaper and had a lid. The newspaper absorbed all the extra liquid and protected the can and the lid helped mask any odors until trash pickup. I think that nowadays a colander could do the job of a strainer. There are other ways of dealing with the sticky, gooey, greasy stuff. You can put it in other packaging that you might have accumulated like paper sugar bags, milk cartons, juice concentrate cartons, etc. Of course, that's a bit hard if you're buying mostly in bulk and using your own containers. My MIL (thanks for the abbreviation), who didn't have a garbage disposal and had grown up with few advantages, eventually started freezing her most disgusting and smelly garbage until trash day. That way it wasn't odoriferous and didn't mess up her kitchen trash can.
By the way, I admire your commitment to making changes and I've enjoyed reading your blog. I think that your desire to share your ideas and challenges is an important part of making a difference.
Thanks for your feedback. I had never heard of a garbage strainer before, but it seems like yet another thing our grandmothers used that now we have to figure out again.
It seems like freezing the squishy stuff and/or wrapping it in some newspaper might be the ticket. I have to admit, I am a little grossed out by freezing food waste, but I guess it's not really any different than keeping a little pot of "worm food" in the refrigerator. In fact, it's exactly the same.
:)
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