A few seconds with garbage

The other day I was killing time while my children practiced some stuff. I had my laptop and went down to the nearest Whole Foods to do some writing and drink some of their over-priced coffee.

That's when I noticed the trash bins in the store's cafe. This is the store on Rt. 123 in Vienna, adjacent to the W&OD trail. The bins were marked for recyclable, trash and compost -- and they were nearly full.

Seems as if the Whole Food shopper walks the talk when it comes to taking care of the environment. But it got me to thinking if the same kind of garbage system would work in the major fast food restaurants? Would the typical McDonald's shopper toss his uneaten french fries in to the compost bin, the paper wrapper in the Big Mac into the recycle slot and the plastic straw from the 300 calorie Coke into the garbage bin?

Yeah, probably not. 

I don't want to pick on McDonald's (I think the same for Burger King and Wendy's for that matter) on suggest that the average customer doesn't care more about the environment than their waistline, I just don't think that habit can be changed. We eat fast food because a lot of us live fast lives and taking even a few seconds to sort our garbage isn't fast.

The Whole Foods vibe almost guilts a customer into sorting the compostable cups from the plastic lids and the uneaten food. 

But I don't want to feel guilty if I toss my mixed trash into a single garbage bag. I do want to feel good about taking care of the environment. Maybe the geniuses on Madison Ave. can come up with a campaign that gives us the warm and fuzzies when we do good.

 

Kreme-ing the Environment

According to an article in the Washington Examiner, Fairfax County is suing the once-upon-a-time donut king Krispy Kreme of sending too much cooking trash down the sewer of its stores.  The county is saying that the donut company's waste is destroying its pipes to the tune of millions of dollars in damage. Talk about dollars to donuts!

Krispy Kreme is fighting back, with the tried and true comment to the press that the claims of Fairfax County are "unfounded."

A long time ago, before iPods and other Apple wonder devices, one of my best friends who now works for Apple worked at a Dunkin' Donuts on Staten Island. Before he worked there I had no idea how donuts were made. I ate them. They were good. I was a teenager and didn't count a calorie. I learned from visiting him on the job one day that the donuts were fried in grease. The back room was filled with the sound of dough frying and the air seemed to have a Los Angeles-type haze because of the grease in the air.

Maybe my friend and his coworkers dumped the grease down the drain in the decades before bio-diesel. I don't know. I do know that my plumber told me not to dump cooking grease down the drain; it'll create a real nasty situation for you and probably run into the hundreds of dollars to fix. 

Hence my collection of cooking oil in containers ready to be dropped off at local hazardous recycling centers. In researching this story, I came across an association for used cooking grease. Ok, it's not actually that, but the National Renderers Association represents the companies that deal in post-consumer food products. And guess what? It's based in Fairfax County!

I'll keep an eye on Krispy Kreme and its battle with the county. Meanwhile, think of this as another example of the behind the scenes effects of the things we do.

After National Trails Day

One day after National Trails Day and three parks later, it looks like I didn't wear enough sun screen. Saturday began with the usual wash out here in Sterling, VA. My daughter's soccer game was cancelled because the field was too soggy from all the rain we had the previous couple of days. You have to wonder with soccer being the major suburban game that it is and Loudoun County having one of the highest household incomes in the whole USA, why is it that the soccer fields turn into a bog after just a couple of days rain?

The walk from the parking lot to the fields adjacent to NoVA Community College on Route 7 is at turns a stroll through dry grass and a soggy slog across poorly draining fields. Are we misspending our tax dollars or do we need more for the fields our children (and quite a few adults) play on?

Compared to the near-surgical care that is taken with the trails at Claude Moore Park, Algonkian Park and Riverbend Park, the soccer fields are like clean restrooms on I-95 -- hit and miss.

But like I said, the Saturday soccer game was cancelled so I had the opportunity to take full advantage of National Trails Day. First stop was Claude Moore, just a few blocks from the house.  Ran some of the trails for a couple of miles and stopped to watch the local kids try their hands at fishing in the local ponds. Great time, and highly recommended for next year. While I never was much of a fisherman, in fact, an old friend of mine teases me these thirty years later about the time I brought a book with me fishing. It was more exciting than the fishing that day, believe me.

But the dozen or so kids who cast and reeled and cast again, had a great time.

Later on, I drove down to River Bend Park. It's right near the more popular Great Falls Park, but without the larger crowds and the parking fee, River Bend is more my style. The trail from their runs north east to Great Falls or south east back toward Sterling. Great plants, wide trails and the Potomac River flush from all the rain we've had the past five or six weeks. Another great time, even counting the german shepherd that got a little too close on the trail. Six foot leash law people!

The day wrapped up in Algonkian Park on a bench overlooking the river and a half-dozen water craft zipping up and down the river. The noise was ok and the wakes they created were wonderful. I slapped at a gazillion gnats and when I nearly knocked my glasses from my face swinging at a particularly pesky swarm, I called it a day.

National Trails Day 2009. Some kids, some fishing, a slobbery dog and a face full of gnats. Beats working every day of the week.

Gas at $2.60, Vacations in our backyard

We've all recovered from the ridiculously high gas prices of last year, although their effect are certainly be felt by GM, its employees and dealers. I read this morning that GM has found a buyer for its Hummer brand, and that the company intends to sell more of the gas guzzlers outside the U.S. Pretty awful idea because carbon emissions here or there mean the same thing -- warmer temps everywhere.

But at least more Americans are getting on board the idea that burning a lot of gas to go a short distance doesn't make much sense. And being resident to Northern Virginia means that I don't have to travel too far to enjoy a wonderful summer. Whether its mountains, beaches or resorts that people only with a portable ATM can afford, everything is just a short distance from home.

Think about it. If you live in Northern Virginia, the Shenandoah mountains and links to the Appalachian Trail are less than two hours away. Same for Harpers Ferry and its historic landmarks and access to the AT. In fact, Harpers Ferry is home to a pretty cool celebration for National Trails day on June 6. 

But if hiking among the bugs, creepy crawlies and sleeping outside doesn't conjure up visions of dreamy vacations then choose from any number of gorgeous B&Bs within a tank of gas. Bed and Breakfast options are all over the region and general vicinity, offering great meals, good company and often gorgeous views. Tips on B&Bs in the area can be found all over the web, but I like the Bed & Breakfast online. 

Of course there are luxury spots also in the state just a few hours from the beltway. Our favorites are down in the Williamsburg area. No, I'm not telling where. Some things need to be kept secret. Meanwhile, if you're in the Williamsburg area, a stay at the Wolf Lodge isn't bad. It's a bit pricey, and while the water park is something to experience, the Lodge's Magi Quest attraction is a pale imitation of the real deal found in Myrtle Beach, SC. 

And speaking of beaches, Virginia Beach is fun and if you're driving a 30 MPG or higher car, you might be able to make it on one tank of gas. Waves are good, boardwalk is nice and if you go at the right time, you can catch some pretty good volleyball.