The one thing in my life I interact with as much as my garden (ok...probably more) is my phone. Being able to hold an endless amount of information, art, entertainment, etc in the palm of your hand is addicting sometimes, but we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves. We can wield this power for good. I've found some great whole-living, green apps that will help maintain your family's civil pantry.
1. Fooducate: Scan the barcode on almost any food product and get a 'grade' based on ingredients, calories, etc. It gives accurate warnings of toxic ingredients and gives detailed descriptions of many of those ingredients, including why we find them in our foods, the affects they have on our body, and how we might be able to avoid them. It of course gives basic information such as calories and tips for dieters. My favorite feature of the app is the alternatives tab, which provides a substantial list of alternatives to choose from. Great app with a fun and easy to use interface.
2. Locavore: Maps out farms and farmer's markets nearby. You can search by zipcode or use your phone's GPS to locate local food sources close to your current position. Eating locally is a crucial part of keeping a civil pantry in your own home and Locavore is where its at.
3. Garden Guide: If you like to play in the dirt as much as me, you MUST get this app. Its the virtual version of your favorite gardening resource, with all the excitement that comes along with finding Urban Farm in the mailbox. It has detailed crop descriptions (that include plating and harvesting instructions) and tips on pest control, season extension, watering, etc. If you can find it online, in a book, or in a magazine...you can find it on Garden Guide. If you are a gardener with limited space, such as myself, check out Garden Squared as well. Its a great app that helps make sure you are getting the most out of your square foot or container gardens.
4. GoodGuide: Simply scan a barcode to make sure the product is sustainable healthy, and safe. This app includes awesome detailed ratings for the health,
environment, and social responsibility of more than 70,000 products and
companies. A super informative app!
5. Seafood Watch: The Monterey Bay Aquarium developed this resource to educate consumers about sustainable seafood. Their recommendations indicate which seafood items are "Best Choices," "Good Alternatives," and which ones you should "Avoid."
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