Author Archives: WE Watch

Lately it has become trendy to think about food in a decidedly old- fashioned way. While plenty of gourmands still explore the bounty of exotic fruits, vegetables and spices available from around the world, others are sticking closer to home.

Locavores are people committed to eating only foods that have been grown and produced locally. They are at the forefront of the local food and Slow Food movements, and they restrict their diets for environmental, economic and gustatory reasons. Some like the challenge of cooking with seasonal foods, others say food that goes from field to plate in one day just tastes better.  Read more... (219 words, estimated 53 secs reading time)

Teenagers and young adults are abusing medications, some are taken directly from their parents’, grandparents’ or friends’ medicine cabinets.  One in five teens has abused a prescription pain medication.

For everyone’s safety, monitor your medicine cabinet.  Rid your medicine cabinet of unused, unnecessary or expired prescription medications immediately.  You can do so by participating in the local prescription drug “take back” programs available nationwide.

In response to growing demand for a safe, convenient way to dispose of household medications, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department has teamed up with County Public Works to install drop boxes at each of the Sheriff’s nine substations throughout the county.  Read more... (236 words, estimated 57 secs reading time)

There is a secret obsession taking place in kitchens across America.  It’s an addiction to paper towels and napkins.  We know they are easy and convenient and sanitary but there are other choices that will help you tread a little more lightly on the planet without sacrificing convenience.

The most eco-friendly option to paper towels and likely the most inexpensive in the long term is to dedicate a drawer in your kitchen for reusable washcloths and towels that will last for years.  Yes, you will have to launder them and that requires energy and other resources, but this impact is far less than the impact of continually producing, distributing and disposing of a paper towel that we use just once.  Read more... (379 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)