March 21

Published by Panetary Health Initiative on 21/03/2022

Giving X-rays a new life!

Did you know that X-ray films contain silver in the form of halides, which can be extracted and converted into pure silver! The more we recycle silver, the less we’ll need to mine for it. You can now drop off your X-rays at the Katoomba and Blaxland Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facilities for recycling, so my #AYearInADay action today was to collect all the X-rays in the house so I could give them a new life.

Blue Mountains City Council is working to create a circular economy which supports the continuous cycling of resources so nothing is wasted. It changes the ‘cradle to grave’ production and consumption model (where resources ‘die’ in landfill) to a ‘cradle to cradle’ model ….  where everything is given the opportunity to be reborn.

PRODUCE > CONSUME

In my ongoing attempt to produce at least as much as I consume, today I planted the excellent companion plants, celery, leek and onions. They’re the basis of so many meals. Celery is particularly good to plant because it’s delicious raw, but also gives extraordinary flavour to so many meals when cooked. The problem, however, is that we often only need one or two stalks for a dish and the rest is often wasted. Growing it is a no-brainer.

PLANT-BASED EATING: Roasted Cherry Tomato, Thyme & White Bean Stew

Tonight I was too tired to NOT cook! Wandering around the garden picking herbs and then enjoying doing such a nurturing and creative thing as cooking, is one of the most relaxing ways I switch off at the end of a day.

I decided to make a delicious White Bean Stew with the cherry-type tomatoes we’re finally harvesting after this no-show summer.

Dried beans are the original ‘ECO-food’! They’re dehydrated so water isn’t being needlessly transported. They’re low-cost, super healthy and cooking up one pack can give you enough beans to freeze for a number of future meals. (Canned beans on the other are needlessly extractive and energy intensive … and more expensive.)

To start with I chopped some fresh parsley and grated some lemon zest – to add to the stew at the end for a vitamin and taste explosion.

The mixed tomatoes were baked with oil and freshly picked thyme, and then added to the white beans that were cooking in vegetable stock with onion, garlic and chilli. Yum!

Roasted Cherry Tomato, Thyme and White Bean Stew

A delicious plant-based soup with surprise taste explosions!

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Servings 4

Ingredients

  

• ½ cup roughly chopped Italian parsley leaves and tender stems
• 2 tsp lemon zest (1 large lemon)
• 2 - 3 cups cherry or grape tomatoes
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• salt and pepper
• 1 medium brown onion
• 3 large garlic cloves
• ½ tsp chilli flakes
• 900 gms cooked white beans (butter or cannellini)
• 1 ½ cups vegetable stock or water
• toasted bread for serving

Instructions

 

• Heat the oven to 220 C. In a small bowl, gently toss together the parsley and lemon zest with your hands until well combined; set aside.
• In a large baking dish toss the tomatoes with ¼ cup oil and thyme; season well with salt and pepper. Roast tomatoes until they have collapsed and begin to turn golden around the edges - 20-25 minutes
• While the tomatoes are roasting, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large pot over medium. Add the garlic, onion and chilli flakes and cook until the onion is softened - 4-5 minutes. Stir in the cooked beans and stock and bring to simmer. With the back of a spoon or spatula, gently smash about ½ cup of the beans so they slightly thicken the stock. If you want a thicker stew, crush more. Season with salt and pepper.
• When the tomatoes are finished roasting, add them directly to the stew along with any juices that have been released. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes more so the flavours become more friendly; season to taste with salt.
• Ladle into bowls. Top each serving with some of the lemon-parsley mixture and drizzle with more olive oil. Serve with toasted bread

How are other people contributing to A Year in a Day?

Ian’s action today was to use Sendle to send a book to WA. They were cheaper than Australia Post and they picked up from his door. They advertise themselves as being 100% carbon-neutral. (Interesting fact: The Company was founded by James Chin Moody who used to be on The ABC’s New Inventors. Its slogan is Sendle builds shipping that is good for the world.) 

Libby’s action yesterday was to add to their Urban Balcony Garden- a small water tank for watering plants and a compost bin.

Others are continuing to email me about actions they hope to do on the 7th April for World Health Day so that we can try to reach 365 actions in one day. Would love everyone to contribute on that day if you can!