by Umbra Fisk
Send your question to Umbra!
Q. Dear Umbra,
I’m a big fan of organic produce
(especially when the local version isn’t at hand or I’m eating it raw), and I’m
also one of those folks who is obsessed with mushrooms.
When I come across organic
mushrooms, though, my curiosity is piqued: What don’t I know about the
conventional mushroom market that warrants an organic alternative? Are these
underground crops doused with pesticides, too?
I’d love for you to shed some
light on my fungal-farming ignorance.
Mark
Tryon, N.C.
A. Dearest Mark,
Did you hear
the one about the mushroom that asked out this lady? She said, “No, I’m not
going out with a mushroom!” So he said, “But I’m a fungi!” Get it? Fun … guy? Technically, though, he’s not a fungi. He’s a fungus. Singular form, you suave
mushroom you.
Anywho, my
head is just spinning from an overwhelming dose of ‘shroom research and a
fantastically informative phone call with the kind folks at the American
Mushroom Institute. So here’s some dirt for you on mushroom production (we’ll
leave wild foraging aside for now). First of all, mushrooms don’t grow
underground. In fact, according to the AMI, most large-scale, commercial
mushrooms are actually grown in climate-controlled buildings which keep out
most pests. And chlorinated water is the most common disease control agent in
the commercial mushroom industry. The substrate in which the mushrooms are grown
is produced outside, where, also
according to the AMI, minimal pesticides are used and biorational controls
(read: naturally occurring pest pathogens and predators) are generally utilized
to fend off the bad guys.
A mushroom
is a very delicate little thing, and thus wouldn’t be doused with anything, including pesticides. Even when you’re
cleaning them at your house post-grocer, you don’t want to douse. The Mushroom
Council (not to be confused with the AMI—who knew there were so many
dedicated mushroom groups?) says that because mushrooms are porous and have a
sponge-like reaction to water, they should not be washed. Instead, you want to gently
rub away any dirt with a soft brush or damp cloth.
Basically,
the AMI peeps sum up the conventional versus organic mushroom conundrum with
this: “There’s not a whole lot of difference between the two.”
As you may
know, the Environmental Working Group has a handy list of fruits and vegetables
ranked by pesticide residue levels. EWG puts mushrooms in the middle of the
pack, at number 23 out of 45. So I wouldn’t sweat it too much. You’re better
off focusing on organic versions of the top third of EWG’s list—items like
peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, and celery. And feel free to bust out this
info at parties; I’m sure everyone will think you’re a really fun guy—or
fungus, as the case may be.
Psychedelically,
Umbra
Q. Dear Umbra,
I recently adopted a dog and find
myself in need of toys to keep his mouth occupied. In a world of plastic and
rawhide chew toys, what are some good options for doggie toys that have the
least impact on the environment?
Yours,
Jesse
New Orleans
A. Dearest Jesse,
Congrats on your new addition! Just to get this out of the
way: To have the least impact on the environment, indeed the solution would be
no pet at all. But I would never rob someone of the joy of four paws underfoot,
and it’s commendable that you adopted a dog rather than investing in one of
those dreaded puppy mills. So on with the inquiry.
Perhaps he’d enjoy keeping his mouth occupied with some organic
mini muffins for pups (did you see my
video with the teeny, tiny dog brigade?). When chewing rather than eating
is the goal, I suggest you look for toys that are free of three nasties: PVC (no vinyl, that’s final!);
plastic-softening, hormone-disrupting phthalates; and endocrine-disrupting BPA, which lends
hardness and durability to plastics.
Pets are contaminated with even higher levels of toxic
chemicals than humans are, according to a report from the EWG, and items like
pet toys aren’t well-regulated. But HealthyStuff.org has a good
list of newer pet toys along with test results for toxins in them. And although I don’t usually go the product
endorsement route, I can recommend some other options to look into for your new
pal: West Paw Design’s BPA-, PVC-
and phthalate-free dog toys, which are recyclable through the company; sweet potato dog chews instead of
animal rawhides; or a hemp rope
bone. Maybe get creative and make your own dog toy from an old, unmatched
sock. Or perhaps use something from nature, like a stick—don’t pull it from a
living tree, though; wait for the tree to give it to you.
Finally, I’m no vet (gasp!),
so be sure to check in with yours to make sure everything’s kosher with
whatever toys you choose.
Also please pass this message on to your little fur ball, as
I am, in fact, fluent in dog: Ruff,
ruff, bark! Pant, pant, pant. He’ll know what it means.
Slobberly,
Umbra
Last week I tackled
the topic of tots and table napkins. These readers jumped in with sage advice
of their own.
Q. Dear Umbra,
I’d like to add on to your information on cloth napkins. In the dark ages of my childhood in the ‘50s, my parents did not
make decisions based on environmental issues. They hate to spend money, so
disposable items were out (except for toilet paper). Each of us had our own
napkin ring to identify our napkin that was used for many meals. Mine was
silver with the name Virginia engraved on it. She was an aunt of my father who
had passed away in the ‘30s. Twenty-first century moms might look for
individual napkin rings for their family.
Kathleen C.
Modesto, Calif.
Lindsay@TPA had this
to say in the comments section of the column:
Napkins: For the kids
and most any other regular use, check your local thrift shops. You can usually
find sets of three or four for about $2. I’ve had some for as long as 10 years
before I finally had to retire them to being cleaning rags. Of course, darker
colors and prints show stains less, and if you take the advice about washing
them in cold water and avoiding the dryer, your kids will be in high school
before they wear out the napkins.
A. Dearest Kathleen and Lindsay@TPA,
Thanks for the great ideas. I’ve got a touch of DIY fever
(and the only cure is more crafting), so I’m considering making my own
napkin rings out of vintage 1990s paperclips I’ve found down here in the
stacks. Readers, keep the goodness coming. It takes a village to save a planet,
and I love to hear what you guys are up to.
Swan-shapedly,
Umbra
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