Food and Diet

DIET 

An easy way to reduce your carbon footprint is to increase a plant-based diet.
 
Carlisle resident and Harvard professor Naomi Oreskes wrote in Scientific American that “if every person in the US cut their meat consumption by 25%, it would reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1 %." The Gleason Public Library has numerous Vegetarian Cook books to borrow and vegetarian recipes are easy to come by online. 

Research from EAT: Lancet Commission., a global health organization, shows how the world needs to change food production as well as what foods are consumed in order to ensure there will be enough food in the future. 
 
Have you ever wondered what the carbon footprint is of what you eat and drink? Circular Ecology analyzed a cup of tea, and what makes a difference is what type of milk you add.  

FOOD WASTE

According to Axios Boston, 1.6 million tons of food was wasted in Massachusetts in 2022. Most of it was from residential households. Food waste constitutes 24% of the state’s landfill/waste incineration and 6.1% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. 

You can reduce food waste by reviewing what you already have in the pantry and fridge and base the menu on what you have, make a grocery list and resist impulse buys at the store (especially for perishables) and promptly eat, freeze or repurpose leftovers. 

Sites like savethefood.com can help with portion estimates and there are various apps that can hook you up surplus meals from local restaurants and shops. 

COMPOSTING

Composting reduces the need to incinerate food scraps or send them to landfill. The process also produces nutrient-rich compost which can benefit your garden.

Plant matter, coffee grounds, un-bleached paper products (not contaminated with cleaning products or other chemicals), and egg shells can be composted on your property. The Transfer Station Action Committee can provide subsidized compost bins.

Meat products and scraps, bones, pet food, along with everything that can be composted on your property can be composted in the special composting bins at the transfer station. You can keep scraps in a compostable bag in the freezer to prevent any odors until your trip to the transfer station.

 Former ESC member Dan Cook explains why it is important to compost your food waste rather than throwing it in the trash.

BUY LOCAL

There are several farm stands around Carlisle and in surrounding towns. The Farmers Market runs seasonally every Saturday morning, and you can also purchase locally grown produce at the various farm stands and farm market in Town. A number of local farms also offer Farm Share Programs.