Wednesday 25 August 2010

Fresh: The documentary

Fresh is a new documentary examining the consequences of our industrial food system, and offering practical alternatives... Looks like a good one!

Click here to find a screening near you... or to find out how you can host a screening!

If you're in Toronto- there's a screening tomorrow, followed by a panel discussion with some of the leading food activists in the Toronto area! Click here or here for more information on that.


Thursday 19 August 2010

Seeds of Hope: We are the leaders we've been looking for

In the clip below, Grace Lee Boggs, author and activist, talks about change.

While she states that our planet is currently facing a serious time of uncertainty, she sees hope, and a movement emerging where, instead of people complaining about things, they're doing something about it.

She gives the example of Will Allen, former basketball player and current urban farmer, community organizer, writer and activist. Allen puchased a 2-acre piece of land to grow food for a community. According to Boggs, growing our own food provides a way for young people to relate to the earth, their elders, and time, in a different way.

In answer to the question often posed, "How do I make a difference?", Boggs says that it should be something local and something real- however small. Even starting a dialogue is doing something.

When asked if there are leaders we can look to, Boggs states that we have to rethink the concept of leaders; leader implies power.
Instead, we need to embrace the idea that we are the leaders we've been looking for.

Inspiring!


Friday 6 August 2010

What to do if there's a kitchen oil fire

According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking fires are the No. 1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Most kitchen fires happen when people aren't paying attention or they leave things unattended.

Cooking oil is particularly dangerous because it can catch on fire if it gets too hot.

  • Never fill a pan or deep fryer more than one-third full of oil.
  • Make sure pans and utensils are completely dry- water and oil don't mix.
  • Never leave your pan unattended. If you leave the room, turn off the heat.
  • Use a thermostat-controlled deep fryer to make sure the fat doesn’t get too hot.
  • If the oil starts to boil, remove it from the heat source right away. Turning down the temperature won't reduce the heat fast enough.

If your pan catches fire...
Watch this to find out what to do





To recap: What to do if there's a kitchen oil fire

  • Don't move the pan, it'll be very hot.
  • If you can, turn off the heat, making sure not to lean over the pan to reach the controls.
  • Don’t use a fire extinguisher on a pan of oil because the force of the extinguisher can spread the fire.
  • Never use water- this will cause a fireball (see video!)
  • If you can, wet a cloth, wring it out, and place over the pan to smother the fire. Make sure the cloth has no holes in it.
  • Get outside, stay outside and call 911

Other tips to prevent fires when cooking

  • Don't wear loose clothing- they can catch fire easily.
  • Never leave pans unattended. If you're called away from the stove, turn off the heat.
  • Don't cook if you've been drinking alcohol or taken prescription drugs.
  • Turn saucepans so the handles don't stick out over the edge of the stove top.
  • Keep the oven and stove top clean - built-up fat and bits of food can start a fire.
  • Check that your toaster's clean, well away from curtains and empty the crumb tray regularly.
  • If an electrical appliance catches fire, don’t throw water on it. If it is safe to do so, you may be able to put out the fire immediately by either pulling the appliance’s plug out or switching off the power at the fuse box.
  • If a fire doesn’t go out, get out of the house right away, stay out and call 911.