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Dec 13
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Kill a Tree, Save a Fish? The Brown Bag Investigates

By BBBlog

If you celebrate Christmas, you may be wondering what to do with your tree when the holidays are over, or maybe you’re wondering if you should buy an artificial tree or go vintage and trek out into the woods (or a nice tree farm) and cut one down with the fam.  What to do, what to do…..and what’s best for the environment?

The American Christmas Tree Association  sponsored a study to find out which kind of tree—artificial or real—is healthier for the environment (the study was conducted by the international sustainability firm PE Americas).  Have a guess who won?  The artificial tree.  There’s a big debate among environmentalists about this subject, but the study funded by ACTA asserts that, over a ten year period, owning an artificial tree leaves a smaller carbon footprint than buying fresh from a tree lot or trekking out to a farm and cutting your own tree down.  Actually, going to a farm, they say, is the worst option because of the fossil fuel consumption involved in the drive to and from.  They recommend finding a local tree lot, as close to home as possible, from which to buy your tree.

Some groups say that due to the toxic, cancer-causing agents used in producing artificial trees, as well as the possibility of lead dust that artificial trees can shed, they are clearly the bigger concern; but the study by ACTA claims to have taken all of this into account when calculating their carbon footprint results, and still they go with the faker (although you may want to consider the workers in China who produce the bulk of fake trees bought in the US and the less than stellar protections their government has in place to protect them from the toxins produced by these factories).  The ACTA study takes into account the pesticide use on the 8-year lifespan of farmed Christmas trees, the fossil fuels used to transport them and other factors.  The key to this equation though is time—keep your artificial tree for less than 10 years and the math doesn’t work out.  So, if you really want to save the Earth and reduce your own carbon footprint, AND you’re a Christmas tree person—go artificial, but hold onto your tree for as long as possible.

So, what if, even knowing this, you go au natural?  What’s the best way to dispose of your Christmas tree?  Call your local waste disposal company and ask.  Most waste disposal services have a program in place to collect discarded Christmas trees.  Don’t be afraid to give them a ring and specifically ask about the disposal program.  What do they do with the trees?  We did a little research and we found that there are some really interesting programs going on around the nation to dispose of trees in a way that actually does some good.  The one we found most interesting?  There are some programs that take discarded trees and use them to create fish habitats, almost like little fish nurseries.  The trees are bound together and sunk in lakes to create a natural refuge for fish to hide and grow.  Some lakes and ponds, especially those that are man-made, can be essentially flat on the bottom with no place for small and immature fish to hide from predators.  So what happens to them?  They get eaten.  And what happens to the fish population in the lake or pond?  It decreases.  This program has been very successful.  Fish populations have rebounded and the trees biodegrade naturally.  They can be replaced every few years and continue the program.  Win/win.

Another option is take your tree to a recycling station where it can be shredded and used as mulch.  Mulch reduces the amount of water that plants need in the summer months by helping the soil to retain moisture, it insulates plants in the winter, and it degrades to act as a natural fertilizer.  In New York City, you can bring your tree in to be recycled, and get a free bag of mulch.  Other places will give you a sapling when you bring them your Christmas tree—kill a tree, plant a tree.

There’s always the option of buying a tree with its root ball still attached as well, but more planning must go into this process.  Trees are dormant in the winter months, so if you’re going to buy a tree that you can then replant, you shouldn’t have it in the house for more than a week or it may “wake up” and begin to grow again.  This reduces its chances of survival once you take it back into the winter weather for replanting.  So, if you go this route, we applaud you, but plan ahead—know where it will be planted, wait to buy it until at least a week before Christmas and plant it in the ground as soon as possible.

Whatever decision you make about your tree this holiday season, we wish you a merry one.  Come see us!  Take a break from the mad rush of festivities and sit down for a healthy, delicious lunch with us.  Say hello!  Take a breath.  Enjoy your families.  Then, send us some pictures of you and your loved ones in your best holiday sweaters and we might just be feeding you lunch for FREE in the New Year.  Check out our Facebook  page for the details!

 

Dec 05
Love0

101 Things to Do With an Ugly Holiday Sweater

By BBBlog

Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but we can give you a few more reasons to hold onto that antique Rudolph sweater that’s stinking up your bottom drawer. Remember Mark in Bridget Jones’ Diary? He showed up in just such a sweater at a holiday party. Bridget approached, saying, “Maybe this time Mum had got it right…maybe this was the mysterious Mr. Right I’d been waiting my whole life to meet.” Then poor Mark turns around, red-nosed sweater speaking louder than he ever could, and Bridget says, “Or not.” Not to worry, Mark’s sweater didn’t ruin things so much as Bridget’s constant pratering on, but you get the point—there’s nothing like a screaming holiday sweater to stop a whole roomful of people in its tracks. So, besides looking like a walking Christmas tree, what is the point?

To introduce a little holiday cheer, of course! So, put on your twinkly lights, tuck a battery pack in your back pocket and light up the night (or office!)! Here are a few things to do this year once you’ve decked yourself (and your halls):

1. Take a picture! Come on–you have to document the moment you broke out the dancing snowman, the Rudolph nose, the jelly-belly Santa sweater! The Brown Bag wants to see! We’re not completely selfish either—we’ll give you something back! Post your very best-est ugly holiday sweater photo to our Facebook page and we’ll gather them up into the most obnoxiously festive, little FB photo album you’ve ever seen; then you stop by, like your favorites and on December 21st, we’ll tally the votes! The pic with the most “likes” wins FREE lunch at The Brown Bag for a week (up to $75)! Cha-ching and happy holidays to you! Post your pics to our Facebook page by December 20th to enter!

2. Thinking you can’t participate in the ugly sweater festivities because you don’t do Christmas? Please. People of all faiths (and no faiths) cansuit up anyway.Break out your Chanukah sweater! Make your wool menorah bright, spin some yarn into a dayglo-pink dreidel! Don some antlers, hang some tinsel, light some birthday candles for your December day—there’s no reason to forego the fiesta. All are welcome to embrace the holiday kitsch!

3. Have a party! Invite your friends, co-workers, neighbors, whomever; offer prizes for most original, best handmade, coolest vintage, brightest, best teacher-sweater, ugliest all-around, the list goes on. Need some party ideas? Check out Oh My! Creative’s website for some cool ideas. Whip up some cocktails, put the hot chocolate on to warm and watch your guests walk the red, fur-lined carpet!

4. Join a parade. Enter a race. Go to a Salt-N-Pepa concert (yes, we’re serious). Have a beer. Fight cancer. There are so many things you can do in your holiday sweater! So, put it on already and get out there!

5. When the holidays are over, what then? Donate them to a good cause? Consignment store? Save them and hope to win the Ugly Sweater Contest in another venue next year? How about you upcycle those sweaters! Make some mittens, slippers, jar cozies, or a sweater for your dog. No idea how to do any of those things? Then just them give them to someone who does. Put a query out on Facebook or Twitter—trust us, someone you know would love them!

We’re digging our sweaters out. We’re lighting them up. We’re singing along with our Frosty the Snowman jumpers, spinning dreidels, and ho-ho-ho-ing all the way. Now it’s your turn. Drag yours out of storage, go shopping, get crafty, but whatever you do—send us a picture! We’re waiting…

Nov 19
Love0

Heritage Turkeys: Worth Their Weight in Gravy?

By BBBlog

Traditional Thanksgiving dinners (and oftentimes other holiday dinners) have, at their heart, a big, fat turkey. And we love them, right? In a letter to his daughter, Benjamin Franklin, expressed his admiration for everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving centerpiece this way, “For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison [with the Bald Eagle] a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America… He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.” Clearly, the turkey is much more than just tasty in old Ben’s eyes—it is also admirable, a bird of good character. The idea of a turkey’s character may not matter so much on the tongue, but if you’re looking to show your gratitude instead of just pleasing your taste buds, maybe this year you should think about that bird of old and consider buying what is now called a “heritage turkey” for the big meal.

A heritage turkey is a throwback to a bygone age—some might say a tastier, kinder and healthier age. Heritage turkeys are the ancestors of today’s Broad-Breasted White industrial turkeys, which will be perched, juicy and golden, on most of your dining room tables in a few days. Heritage turkeys were mostly developed in the US and Europe and were identified by the American Poultry Association’s turkey  Standard of Perfection of 1874. The term ‘heritage turkeys’ comprises a few different breeds, namely Standard Bronze, Bourbon Red, Narragansett, Jersey Buff, Slate, Black Spanish, and White Holland. Later, the standard came to include the Royal Palm, White Midget and Beltsville Small White. In the 1960’s, large corporations overtook the turkey market, and relied on the modern Broad-Breasted White because of its particularly large breast and shorter growing time. Your typical supermarket variety of turkey grows to about 32 pounds in 18 weeks, whereas as a heritage turkey takes about twice as long to reach the same weight. You can hear the price multiplying, can’t you?

So, I’ll break it to you: Heritage turkeys are pretty expensive. Nationally, the average turkey in your supermarket costs about $1.39/pound but a heritage turkey can cost as much as $7.00 and up per pound. Why the huge discrepancy? Earlier, I mentioned that the growing time for a heritage turkey is roughly twice as long as the more common Broad-Breasted White turkey, and that longer growing period incurs a lot more costs. Most farmers who raise heritage turkeys do so in a very different environment than an industrial turkey farm. Heritage farms generally have more space for the turkeys—large barns to roost in at night, and acres and acres for them to roam, forage and explore while taking in some nice, fresh air. This is a huge difference from your typical commercial farm where birds are crowded into metal confinements, have little to no human interaction due to mechanized feeding and watering systems, and–I’ll just give it to you straight–cheap feed that often is chock-full of pharmaceuticals and slaughterhouse waste.

Clearly, you just can’t raise as many of heritage turkeys on a small farm with the conditions we’ve described above (spacious barns and room to roam). The yield is far higher on a commercial farm, and that plays a large part in the price of a heritage turkey. If a commercial turkey farm loses some turkeys due to disease, injury, etc, they’ve got plenty of other turkeys to make up for it—a new crop waiting to replace the old by the time a heritage turkey is only half grown. A small heritage turkey farmer is depending more on every bird to recoup their expenses, so if they lose birds, it’s more of a problem. Ka-ching.

So yes, heritage turkeys are more expensive, but the way they are raised makes them generally healthier. Heritage birds are more closely related to their wild ancestors, so they tend to be healthier, hardier and can mate naturally (and run and fly!). Why is this exciting, you might ask? Did you know that Broad-Breasted Whites are too heavy to fly because they are weighted down by their unusually large breasts? They’ve been specifically bred to produce more white meat and to grow fast; so much so that they are now incapable of flight, have difficulty walking and can’t mate naturally.

There’s also the environmental factor to consider in purchasing your turkey this year. Airborne ammonia emissions produced by the birds can be harmful to both turkeys and those who work with them; and often, large industrial farms end up polluting our air, soil and water through agricultural waste because of environmental laws that leave too much leeway for large companies to dispose of waste irresponsibly (or when said environmental laws are not strictly enforced). Heritage turkey farmers contend that large, commercial companies tend to more often produce meat with antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to their wide-spread use of antibiotics in their turkeys (the need for drugs is considerably more in a bird raised in close quarters), though the USDA assures consumers that there is no evidence that either type of turkey is safer than the other from potential contaminants like salmonella and e. coli. The USDA also requires a mandatory pre-slaughter antibiotic withdrawal period and has set a strict legal limit for antibiotic residues. They contend that that level is well below what could potentially be harmful to humans. Heritage turkeys, on the other hand, are raised antibiotic free.

You might also consider the quality of life of the birds being raised, and the fact that most varieties of heritage turkeys have been on the verge of extinction, so supporting farmers who raise them supports the continued bio-diversity of our planet.

So, is it worth it? Chefs and turkey connoisseurs tend to agree that heritage birds taste better, are less salty and have a better texture when compared to your typical store-bought bird. Maybe since its Thanksgiving and we’re all thinking about how much we have and what we might be able to do for others, you might consider trying a heritage turkey this year. You’ll be helping the environment, eating healthier, and giving at least one bird the turkey equivalent of a rock star life.

If you want to learn more about heritage turkeys, check out The Heritage Turkey Foundation. To find a heritage turkey for your Thanksgiving or Christmas table, check out Heritage Foods USA, Dartagnan, Rainbow Ranch Farms, Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch, Mary’s Turkey, or check out Local Harvest for farms in your area.
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Nov 14
Love0

It’s Not All About the Turkey—Brown Bag’s Guide to Thanksgiving in the DC Area

By BBBlog

There are plenty of things to do in DC before and after your Thanksgiving feast is kaput, so get off your tired, turkey behind and get out there!

If you’re a runner—or a walker—consider signing up for the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot for Hunger, sponsored by SOME (So Others Might Eat). You’ll be doing something great for others, setting a good example for yourself and your family (esp. the kiddies!), and working up an appetite for The Big Meal later in the day. If you’re looking at this and thinking, “All I really want to do on Thanksgiving Day is lie around, watch football and wait for the timer to ding on my turkey,” think about the multitudes of people out there who may not even have a hot meal, much less a kitchen-wide spread just waiting for them. Get up. Get out. Help. There’s a 5K run/walk starting at 9 AM, and a Little Turkey One-Mile Fun Run beginning at 8:30 AM.

How about volunteering with Food and Friends? They have a whole list of things that they need help with! Take your pick: volunteer for Slice of Life and help out at a pie pick-up location Tuesday, November 20th; deliver Turkey Boxes from November 19th through the 21st; or help with food preparation and holiday meal delivery on Thanksgiving Day (or earlier in the week). Food and Friends is a very cool organization. If you’re not familiar with them, go to their website and learn more about what they do. In a nutshell, they serve men, women and children of all ages living with HIV/AIDS, all types of cancer, ALS, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and more. Often, Food and Friends is the only support these individuals receive. People all over need help, but maybe this Thanksgiving, you can start with your neighbors in DC, Maryland and Virginia.

We’re all busy this year and every year, so if you’re short on time (and energy), consider donating to one of these very worthy organizations:

Bringing in the Birds with Bucks: This year, the Capital Area Food Bank is looking to provide meals for almost 4000 seniors in the DC area. That’s a lot of seniors that need help—and you can give it to them.

Bread For the City: Let them eat turkey, we say! This great group is looking to provide turkey and trimmings to 9000 hungry families in the DC area this Thanksgiving. Each meal costs approximately $29. Can you feed a family?

The Salvation Army: Every year (all year), The Salvation Army helps families. You see them out ringing their bells, asking for change and advocating for people in need. Consider helping them do what they do best. Donate or start your own Red Kettle Campaign.

The American Red Cross: Today and every day, consider donating to the American Red Cross. People in New York and New Jersey are still reeling from the impacts of Hurrican Sandy and desperately need your help and generosity right now. The work that The American Red Cross does in times of natural disasters is beyond inspiring–it is, quite literally, life-saving. Remember this organization this holiday season and consider donating your time as well as your money.

And after you’ve done your part, given of yourself—what then? DC’s got lots in store for you! If you’re looking for a little parade action, look no farther! Check out The Silver Spring’s (Ellsworth Dr, Silver Springs, MD) pre-Thanksgiving Day parade on Saturday, November 19th at 10 AM. The day after Thanksgiving (November 25th), you can have a little storybook magic on your Black Friday shopping spree. Reston Town Center in Reston, VA is hosting their annual Storybook Magic Parade beginning at 11 AM. There will be lots of costumes, over 70 performers, music and smiles galore! Check it out!

Another time-honored DC turkey tradition? The presidential turkey pardon! Presidents have been presented with Thanksgiving turkeys since the days of Lincoln, but it was only with President George H.W. Bush in 1989 that a turkey was officially pardoned. Since 2005, these lucky birds have been flown to Disneyland to serve as the grand marshal of their annual Thanksgiving Day parade. After their service at the parade, they live the rest of their charmed lives in Frontier Land. That’s a lucky bird—they don’t call it “The Happiest Place on Earth” for nothing.

Whatever you do this Thanksgiving, The Brown Bag wishes you well. We hope you are surrounded by love and gratitude and that you’ll consider giving that love to the world around you. Enjoy your families, your fun, and of course, your food. We’ll be here when you get back—waiting to serve you all your healthy, honest favorites to get you through the holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving!