Reusables exchange
The city is holding its final reusable exchange weekend of the year this weekend. People who have reusable items they would like to give to someone else for free can place the items at the curbside on Friday night. Any items that are not taken over the weekend should be taken back in from the curbside by 7 p.m. Sunday. Meanwhile the city’s final large article collection, for items including furniture and appliances, is taking place on Sept. 25. The deadline to pay the fee to arrange pickup is 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 21. The fee is $15 for the first item and $5 for additional items. Mattresses and box springs are also being collected for recycling, but they are collected separately with a fee of $15 each. The fees can be paid online at www. peterborough.ca, in person at City Hall at 500 George St. N. or the public works office at 182 Townsend St.
Coun. Dean Pappas is challenging anyone who’ll listen.
He wants you to only eat local food for the next two weeks.
Pappas launched his 100-mile Diet Challenge at the Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market on Wednesday. It asks resident to only eat food produced by local farmers, within 100 miles.
He goes by miles instead of kilometres because that’s how the international challenge is best known.
“It sounds better than the 160-kilometre challenge,” Pappas said jokingly.
The Town Ward councillor has been challenging residents for 11 years. He launches it around the same time each year, saying it’s easier to do during harvest time.
That way you’re eating what’s in season, as you should be, Pappas said.
“There’s lot of produce to pick from,” Pappas said, standing in the middle of the downtown market filled with fresh fruits and veggies.
And with two farmers’ markets running weekly in the city, plus others in the county, fresh produce is at your finger tips twice a week.
“We have two markets a week in Peterborough – how many times do you go grocery shopping ? Once or twice a week. Come to the market and you’re good to go,” Pappas said.
The father of two decided to try to the challenge with his family after reading the 100-Mile Diet book.
Then he thought, why not challenge others with it?
Once you do it for two weeks, Pappas said you’ll realize how easy it is to do because there’s so much great produce in the area, from maple syrup to fruit and veggies to honey.
And shopping at the markets isn’t any more expensive than the grocery store, he added.
Plus, not only is the 100-mile diet a healthier option, but it also supports the local economy.
“That money gets moved around in the local economy,” Pappas said. Town Ward Coun. Dean Pappas checks out the fresh produce on display Wednesday at the Peterborough Downtown Farmers' Market in the Louis St. parking lot as part of his annual 100-Mile Challenge which asks people to eat food grown within 100 miles of where they live for two weeks.