For the Lazy Zero Wasters

I totally realize and respect there are people out there who would like to go zero-waste, yet just don't want to create more work for themselves.  Fair enough.

Shocking as it might seem, these people can continue on being lazy and be zero-wasters.  How?

It's all in the purchase baby, all of it.

Say you don't want to bake or cook- anything.  Well, you really don't need to.  Assuming you've got containers and jars (easily purchased for a low price at a thrift store or hardware store), you can stuff them into a large cloth bag and head to the store (really any grocery store will do) and get the nice person behind the counter to fill them with ready-made foods.  

You can pick out buns, breads, muffins and treats and put them in separate cloth bags (be sure to bring scrap paper to write down the codes).

 Rice, pasta, granola, chocolate: it's all in the bulk section these days.  Bulk stores have started making their own nut butters.  Milk can be purchased in glass.

 

If you like take-out again, bring your own containers for them to put your meal in.  Most restaurants are happy to do this as it saves them money on packaging.  

Buy large paper bags of staples like, oats, rice and nuts.  They maybe seem expensive initially, but actually save you loads of dollars and keep things extra chill as you need to shop less.

If you don't mind chopping up a salad or cooking every once in awhile, cook and chop double or triple and store it for later in the week.

Buy glass juice and when they're empty fill them with lemonade or make some iced tea.

The coffee-shop?  

Purchase a reusable mug and keep it in your vehicle.  Man, buy two to ensure there's always a clean one with you!  Keep a jar of water in there too.

And always, always when purchasing something new, ask yourself it it's really needed and Eco friendly.  

Am I missing anything?  Please post a comment of any questions you might have.  

Do Zero-Wasters Recycle?

How many times have I been told that a stores packaging can be recycled or has been made from recycled materials, meant to lead me to accept it guilt-free?  If I could put money-value on it, I'd be rich.  Hmmm....

How many times, upon someone hearing my family has gone zero-waste has the comment followed that I must have A LOT of recycle?  Pretty much every one of them.  So let's look at this.  Let me define exactly what zero-waste means:

"Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use." 
-From good 'ole Wikipedia

Zero Wasters will recycle the least amount of stuff possible.  They will try with every effort not to take on waste of any kind.  If it cannot be composted, reused for a greater purpose or if it has any detrimental consequence of any kind on our earth- they pretty much won't take it.

There was a time when I thought recycling was a good thing, a sound way to deal with my waste.  All those packaged items in a week, stuffed into my great big yellow bags (sometimes two or three!) would eventually be swept away from my curb.  And no, I didn't think about it beyond this.  I truly believed I was doing my part.  

The dirty truth about recycling is this: As our society has gone berserk in the packaging age, the money spent on dealing with it has expanded into the billions of $ that, let's face it, could be used in other places.  The recycling demands far expand what our centers are capable of.  Sadly 32% of our recycle ends up in our oceans, killing sea-life and making our pristine oceans toxic.  We also have to consider the factors of the recycling process and the air and water as well as soil pollution it causes. 

Personally, those 2-3 large bags of recycle I used to haul to the end of my drive once a week has been reduced to a very small gift bag.  Most of it is run-off from what's been left over through my Cross-Over stage (packaged items I've chosen to use up rather than just throw out).  Paper scraps and toilet paper rolls is the least I produce.

Every second week I put out the little blue bag

. 

Crazy, it is.  I never would have thought it was possible, yet I catch myself, wondering how I ever produced that much at one time.  It is possible to go zero waste.  It really is!

The aim, the goal, the total philosophy of zero-waste is not only to reduce our waste, but to eliminate it altogether.        





 

 
 
  

Choosing a Sustainable Work-Out

How are you filling your cup?  In our ever-buzzing age of doing a lot in the time granted, may of us (especially parents in many instances) have failed to consider the intrinsic value in taking time to do something entirely for ourselves.  It can be something as simple as a walk in the forest to lean up against a tree and breath deeply, or hiding in the backyard to sit calmly and center our thoughts.  Some of us like to work out.

Yoga's my thing.  I know it's not necessarily a 'work-out' yet it keeps my body limber and toned.  My mind/body connection is strengthened and, like any other form of physical exercise I feel great afterwards. Not to say I don't lift weights, because I do and I have my collection of kettle bells purchased both from workout shops and thrift stores.  I've always chosen metal ones without the wearing foam covers or environmental polluting plastic. 

As for yoga...I've been to studios that use foam blocks, their rooms built with non-sustainable materials, the walls painted with toxic paint, not to mention the chemical cleaners they use to prim the place.  

When choosing my studio to practice in (because I find practicing among others both inspirational and connective) I found Moksha Yoga. Their studios are built, using Eco-friendly natural resources.  The floors are always bamboo or cork.  The paint non-toxic, the props wooden.  They provide natural soaps for afterwards.

 

The best part is the money put in goes back out to support the Earth and Humanity causes. These are their seven pillars they base their business on.  So while you wreak the benefits from your own growing practice, you are able to support the earth and humanity coming into a more peaceful, supported age.

-Be Healthy
-Be Accessible
-Live Green
-Community Support
-Reach Out
-Live to Learn
-Be Peace

This past month my particular studio has thrown a 'Grow Your Own Yoga'.  Each teacher has come up with a unique class with all donations going to their charity of choice. 

A pop up market was organized with all proceeds going to the David Suzuki Foundation.  

This supports a zero-waste lifestyle as your money and time is being spent at a place supporting our planet and it's beings in both financial and Eco-friendly ways.  

If you're up for trying something new check out a studio near you.
http://mokshayoga.ca/

 

Namaste 

Mother's Day

A day to express our gratitude towards our mothers, both alive and passed.  She was our vessel into this experience.  We chose her by some choice we cannot remember.  Some mom's have been nurturing, a pillar of strength and moral while others have had their own struggles, making it harder to be the end-all of what we needed.  Both birthed us into our ultimate experience.  Without them, we would not exist. 

For mother's passed, this can be a sore day.  I suggest letting the pain flow, giving thanks to their Spirit.  Maybe do something for yourself you know she would have done for you-or you her.  Make a meal in her honor.  Take a walk in the forest and talk to her.  My own mother is no longer available to me and I plan on going out to the nursery to buy a plant she would have appreciated and planting it in honor of our years close and together.  I might even play her songs the ones she loved, and dance with my eyes closed, in the past.  

Many mother's alive and well, will be receiving gifts of appreciation.  How does one do this zero-waste?  Here are some suggestions:
-Give her a day off and feed her cake and tea on pretty plates.
-Take the dog and the kids for a morning walk, leaving her to sleep in, leaving a note telling her to call her friends or family and catch up without interruption.
-If you're going to get her flowers, pick them yourself or tell the florist not to include any plastic or paper in the arrangement.
-Buy her a book she's wanted for a long time and leave her alone with it.

Momma's Night Out

-If possible, call her best girlfriends prier and make them reservations for a lunch or supper.  
-Pull out the family photos and videos and reminisce together.

Material gifts are nice, yet experiences, words of gratitude and hugs (always hugs) will forever be in our memories.  I remember reading a post many years ago that has stuck with me.  A woman's husband stopped her in their hallway, after putting the kids to bed.  He told her how grateful he was that she was the mother to their children.  He told her all the great things he had observed of her kindness, patience, and love for them.  In return, she felt ultimately appreciated.  

Make today a day to express your gratitude towards your mother or the mother of your children.  Really think about what you want her to know of your love and gratitude.  For the mom's who were troubled, let the past be in the past and forgive her.  Remember, she was your vessel into this existence.

I wish all the mother's out there, as well as the women who lost their babies and will forever mourn them, all the love and peace from my heart.  Today we celebrate the miraculous beauty of Mothers.         

Exhausting Days

I'm right there with you darling.  It's been a long day and there's about an ounce of energy left, only enough to get a quick meal on the table before putting the kids to bed before your sanity tips.  Or maybe you're feeling under-the-weather and your ounce of energy is more like an eighth.  The solution is preparing for these times ahead of time.

Things you'll find in my freezer are:

-Dough for wraps or pizza
-Soup in Jars
-A casserole 
-Supper Pies

Always in my fridge you'll find:

-An array of veggies and fruit

My Reserves:

-Granola
-Rice
-Pasta

Warm something up from your freezer and put your feet up for half an hour or deal with the muddy feet and hands, clean up what the dog tore apart.  Soon your home will fill up with the smell of a good meal and I promise you, you'll relax a little knowing you've got this.

If you didn't prepare: You're not swimming up dump creek without a paddle, you can still get through with some grace.  

You'll look to your reserves and throw some rice or pasta on.  You'll chop up any veggies and mix that in.  

If you're on your way home, duck into a grocery store and fill up your bag, jar or containers with sandwich supplies or drop by a restaurant and get your food put into your own containers. 

Best solution is Preparing ahead of time though.  Trust me, you'll thank yourself on that kinda day.

Pizza Dough Recipe - from my good friend Cathy, the baker by love:)

(I make double this and freeze half of it for one of these days)

1 1/2 cups warm water
2 1/4 tsp yeast 
Mix these two together and let sit for 10 minutes

2 Tbls olive oil
4 cups flour 
1 1/2 tsp salt

Mix these together with your yeast/water and knead for about 5 minutes then leave to rest for 45 minutes, covered in a warm place.

After this, put half away to freeze and form your stuff on hand into pizza crust.  Add what you will on top and bake it up for 20 minutes. 

Can Your Family Go Zero-Waste?

So really, can your family go zero-waste?

Yes and yes!!!

Time and again, the most honing concerns come from parents who worry a zero-waste lifestyle will be too time consuming and expensive- basically an upheaval of what they're used to.

Going zero-waste actually frees up time, heightens and supports energy levels and saves us quite a bit of money.  Just buying bulk alone makes a difference considering about 15% of food cost is in the packaging.  In some ways it is an upheaval of a lifestyle when you consider grocery store visits become less and you don't have to drag your garbage or recycle bins to the curb once a week.  The time you spent doing that, you can use more constructively at home preparing your foods or as a peaceful family day at a farmers market connecting with your community.

Freshest, non-packaged foods can be found at local farmer markets

Let's take Granola Bars for example.  I used to buy boxes of this over-processed, sugar-laden, package product.  A box of 6-8 bars under $5 seems like a deal.  Truth?
Now that my pantry is stoked with my staples I can take about 1/2 hour a month to make about 40 bars.  They're healthier, tastier and always there so I don't have to take that extra time out to visit a grocery store. 

Mixing up some granola-jam-filled bars.

This is just one small example, yet it goes to show the money and time freed up, not to mention there is no waste produced.  I think it's also important for my children to learn how to properly fuel their body, in place of consuming to feed an craving.  One day, when they go out on their own they will have the knowledge to make their own food and care for themselves health wise as well as respect the environment.

Here is our family's basic granola bar recipe.  We will switch it up adding different ingredients to keep things exciting, even forming them into balls instead of bars.  They can be kept in a glass container in the fridge or freezer for a full month.  

Our Granola Balls

Granola Bars or Balls

1 Cup Chopped Dates

1/4 Cup Maple Syrup or Honey

1/4 Cup Any Nut Butter

1 Cup Chopped Almonds/Pecans

1 1/2 Cups Oats

Anything Else You Desire (dried fruit, chocolate/carob chips)

Mix it all up in a bowl.  Form into balls or press down on a tray.  Place in the fridge or freezer for a month or a little longer.

Any family can go zero-waste.  I believe it teaches our children a whole array of important values in taking care of our body and our earth.  
I'm no different than the next parent in that, I don't have all the time in the world, nor money, my kids keep me on my feet constantly and there are even times when my patience and energy levels are low.  The difference in my days now, is that I am prepared and have the ability to take time to rest or do something that fills my cup.

If you want to take a dip...try a little of this zero-waste thing out, here are some easy suggestions to try:
  
*Buy Less Packaged Food: Check out the Bulk Section 

*Use Cloth Bags: Use smaller Cloth Bags for your Bulk items and be sure to always have some Larger ones to Replace Plastic Shopping Bags.

*Try Shopping Second-Hand: Toys, Clothes, Kitchen wares and the like.

You don't have to commit 100% right away.  Try a few changes, then some more.  One day you might just wake up to realize you've gone zero-waste!
Check out my next post: Exhausting Days, for solutions on how to deal with those times.                                                                                                                                             

Throwing a Zero-Waste Kids Birthday Party

My daughter just had her 7th birthday.  With a little planning and some preparation it was a success.  She had a really fun time.  They all had a really great time. 

Fairy Party- I purchased tea cup plates for less than a $1 each at the thrift store.

I totally get how going zero-waste and planning a party can sound near impossible.  Treat bags, foods everyone will like, decorations and the gifts...it can seem like a lot.

It's actually not hard at all to throw a zero-waste kids party!   

So, how did I pull it off?  Here you are:

The Invitation

Let your guests know your family practices zero-waste

There is the who, the when and the where of it yet the most important part is the 'friendly note' you attach. This lets your guests know your family practices zero-waste as well as what things you don't accept and some ideas of what you know your child will enjoy.  

Food 
Our birthday was about three hours long.  Depending on how long yours is, you'll want to be sure you've got enough food to fill those little bellies.  

Pick three snacks you know everyone will like.  I made jam filled cookies, a fruit plate, jello and, of course the birthday cake!  I also filled a large glass jug with cranberry juice and added chopped lemon slices.  

Here's my Jello Recipe.  It may sound gross, yet it's not.  It was a total hit!  
                      Jello (this makes enough for a party of 6 kids)
                    2 cups water 
                    1/2 cup sugar
                    6 tsp gelatin

*Warm water only enough to dissolve sugar and gelatin.  If it's too hot, the gelatin won't set.
*To color it I used spirulina for the green, turmeric for the yellow and cranberry juice for the red.  
*I poured mine into a small muffin tin and put in the fridge to set for the next day.


If you've got a spring or summer baby try edible flowers for your cake decor.  They're so beautiful and interesting to kids.  

                                             Cake Flowers
                                             1/4 cup water
                                             1/2 cup sugar 
                    Edible Flowers: rose petals, pansies, hollyhocks 
                                snap dragons and honeysuckles

*Mix water and sugar together.
*With a paintbrush paint the flowers with the liquid
*Sit flowers out to dry and then refrigerate until ready to use


Decorations
If you've already gone zero-waste you understand the fun in scouting out stuff.  My big find was soya-based balloons you can actually compost.  Big score!  I suggest visiting your local party stores and asking them about their Eco-friendly options. 

Soya-based balloons @ Pattie's Party Palace

Get creative.  Make and dye popcorn string.  Put out a table cloth.  Set up a sun tent. Go for a walk a pick flowers for a center piece. 

After the party all I was left with was one paper bag.  I was actually surprised how thoughtful and creative the gifts that my daughter received were.  

Painted rocks to make a tic-tac-toe game

You can do this!  It feels so good to throw a party without all the waste a more traditional one produces.  It feels great to know you're supporting the future habitat of your young one while giving others the opportunity to learn about zero-waste.