On my weekly shopping trip to my local grocery store, I was
standing by the bulk isle. I was getting my supplies for my granola. One of the
employees came up to the bin next to mine and said what a waste. This bin contained
candied bananas and stuff. There was about 2 cups worth lying in the tray below
it. (I am sure there were kids involved.) "This is why the cost food is so expensive," she said.
I just looked at her shrugged my shoulders and smiled. It was a, I understand smile. I remember when I worked there year ago and I took
a tour of the facilities. The produce manager showed us around the dept. He
took us back to where they put all the produce that was to ripe to sell. “We
use to be able to send this to the local pig farm but now we cannot even do
that anymore,” he grumbled.
I was surprised “why not” I asked, “what is wrong with pigs
eating ripe produce?”
“Contamination or something like that” he said back.” I do
not know why we cannot send it to the food shelf either” he went on to grumbling.
“It is such a shame”. “I know they do send day old bead to the food shelf.” You
could tell he was down hearted about the whole thing.
On the home front, I know I have a waste problem also. As I
write this (well actually I did throw it out prior to writing this) have some kale
(that has turned yellow) stuck in the back of the fridge. I put it in the
compost bucket. That is taken to the compost bin though. It is outside where
birds and other creatures can dig in and feed off what they want. All our food
waste goes outside to feed God’s creatures. The crows really like it when I
have a cake or bead that we really do not want to finish. Therefore, I do not look at our food waste as
anything more than feeding God’s creature.
I remember when my nieces and nephews were young (I love
them dearly). They would come over and we would have family meals. Of course,
we used plastic plates and plastic forks for convenience. Plastic utensils and
plates can be recycled or washed and used again. My biggest problem was my nieces
and nephews filling their plates and then just taking a small bite of
everything. Then they would throw everything in the trash, food and all. There
was enough food there to feed six people.
I think of this because of my day’s when food was scarce and
I did not know where my next meal was coming from. Thank God for the food shelf. The problem is what
can be given to the food self. I stopped buying the prepackaged food shelf-bags.
Everything is processed food. Just because
someone cannot afford food does not mean they do not care about what there is to eat.
So, I buy canned tuna or salmon, canned vegetables, Jars of fruit and whole-wheat
pastas. I then put it in my local food bin
box at the store. I also volunteer at fare
share. They give out fresh produce.
