MayesGoFixIt

Meredith Mayes Word Count: 518

The collage contains the three components I am going to discuss. The first is the menus, which are in the compost bin to represent menu planning and its contribution to reduction of take out. It also has two vegetable pots to represent window box growing. The whole scene takes place in the compost box, which is the final component of the solution to food waste The problem: 14.1% of all waste in 2009 was from food scraps, and it constitutes the largest component of waste in incinerators and landfills at 34 million tons. This decomposition results in higher methane production and just a general waste of needed food sources [8]. The first step to reducing food waste is menu planning. Menu planning is a process where you plan your meals for the next two weeks or month and then only buy what you need to make those items. The process reduces impulse buys and food spoiling because of disuse. This also decreases the purchasing of takeout and reduces the stress of cooking. It can also help ensure that you create balanced and healthy meals [1]. For this reason, several groups have been applying this strategy to people trying to lose weight. One study found that this process can help change the eating behaviors of overweight people and overcome that feeling of lack of willpower [2]. In order to reduce the food spoilage and the effects of global trade, grow foods in window boxes. Many fresh, healthy foods go bad in under a week, such as asparagus, bananas, basil, broccoli, dill, lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini, leeks, parsley, and pepper [3]. Many of these can be grown in window boxes, reducing spoilage, as plants won’t go bad as fast if they are still growing. Stagger your crop and plant items known to do well in window boxes. Seed companies have even developed plants designed to grow in these smaller boxes. The plants generally advised are carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, lettuce, peppers, radishes, squash and tomatoes [4]. These crops can be grown even without a large plot of land, bring fresh, sustainable vegetables to people even living in apartments. The final solution to the quantity of food waste that requires only a small change to your habits is composting. One group of families in Canada found that they cut up to 437 kilograms of organic matter going into a landfill in a year. If their entire community followed suit, it could keep 10,100 tons of organic matter off the curb and out of the landfills, which could save their municipality up to 800,000 Canadian dollars per year [5]. The process is fairly easy to begin. Allot a space on your lawn, and then construct the composter of your choice, an open bin or enclosed container. Both have their pros and cons. Then, add food scraps, lawn clippings and leaves, shredded paper towels, napkins, or toilet paper rolls and wait, occasionally turning the compost mix [6]. One team did an analysis on the environmental assessment of home composting and determined that only a minor amount of volatile organic compounds and no ammonia, methane or nitrous oxide was detected as a result of this composting. If more people switched to composting, the researchers estimate the potential for impacting global warmng to be about 64% and the alleviation of acidification and eutrophication to be over 32% [7] [1] “Benefits of Planning Family Meals – Why Families Should Eat Together.” < []> [2] Thompson, Warren G. et al. ”Treatment of Obesity.” Mayo Clinic Procedings, January 2007. < []> [3] Romine, Stepfanie. “The Shelf Life of Fruits and Vegetables.” <[]> [4] Iannotti, Marie. “Container Vegetable Gardening” <[]> [5] Leboe, Elizabeth and Amanda Vantol.”Backyard Composting: Even More Important Than We Thought.” North Shore News, p. A26, 13 April, 2011. [6] OZ Gardener. “Composting 101.” < []> [7] Colon, Joan and et al. “Environmental Assessment of Home Composting.” Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 54, Issue 11. September 2010. [8] “Basic Information on Food Waste.” USEPA, 1 November 2011. <[]> 1. Full citation.

Leboe, Elizabeth and Amanda Vantol.”Backyard Composting: Even More Important Than We Thought.” North Shore News, p. A26, 13 April, 2011

2. Where does the author work, what else has s/he written about, and what are her/his credentials?

Elizabeth Leboe is the Community Programs Coordinator at the North Shore Recycling Program, in the City of North Vancouver. She has also written about how to compost for the Get Bear Smart society and was on the City of North Vancouver Parks and Environment Advisory Committee.

3. What is the main topic or argument of the text?

 Backyard composting is both good for you and the community as it reduces wastes and waste disposal costs.

4. Describe at least three ways that the main topic or argument is fleshed out.

 The article gives examples of families participating in the experiment, and how they felt. The article also outlines the exact way that the study on the benefits of composting was conducted.

5. What three quotes capture the critical import of the text?

“I can’t believe that my family of six only puts out one tiny bag of garbage each week!” “These households are keeping over 10,100 tonnes of organics off the curb each year.” “It’s easy to start composting and, right away, you will notice a significant reduction in the garbage you carry to the curb.”

6. Explain how the argument and evidence in the text supports your research focus.

I’m looking up easy ways to reduce food waste, and returning it into the ground while reducing landfill usage definitely fits into that category.

7. List at least two details or references from the text that you have used in your presentation and wiki post.

You can cut up to 437 kilos of organic matter per year, keep 10,100 tons of organics off the curbs and landfills (~800,000 C$/yr for the community). The how-to compost.

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1. Full citation.

Thompson, Warren G. et al. ”Treatment of Obesity.” Mayo Clinic Procedings, January 2007. < []>

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">2. Where does the author work, what else has s/he written about, and what are her/his credentials?

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">There are a large number of authors, but the lead author, Warren G. Thompson is an MD from Dartmouth Medical School, certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and practices in Minnesota.

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">3. What is the main topic or argument of the text?

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> There are multiple factors and treatment options for obesity.

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">4. Describe at least three ways that the main topic or argument is fleshed out.

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> First, the team analyzes the diets often used to help reduce weight, the possible drugs to use, surgeries and so on. The argument also addresses how to facilitate the changes of certain behaviors that negatively impact weight and how to synthesize these components into a strategy to beat obesity.

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">5. What three quotes capture the critical import of the text?

“Reducing fat in the diet reduces the energy density of the diet” “Energy expenditure consists of resting metabolic rate, the thermic effect of food and activity thermogenesis, which can be divided into formal exercise and non-exercise activity thermogenesis.” “An important component of behavior change is self-monitoring of that behavior.”

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">6. Explain how the argument and evidence in the text supports your research focus.

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Menu planning is a viable way to not only reduce waste, but consumption at the source and reduce obesity rates.

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">7. List at least two details or references from the text that you have used in your presentation and wiki post.

The process can help control the diet to keep obese people on track Gives people something to focus on so that they don’t fall into the “I just didn’t have enough willpower” trap.