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The garden has gone frighteningly wild and the pepita pumpkin growing in the chicken garden has taken over. The Dashwoods forage around beneath the giant leaves and half the time you wouldn’t even know there are chickens out there.
I did a 24-hour bike race last weekend. yes, you read that right, 24 hours. It started at 7 p.m. Friday and ended at 7 p.m. Saturday. Except it got called at 6 p.m. Saturday due to a torrential downpour that flooded the streets and threatened the safety of the riders. I came in fourth place in the solo women category. It’s a points race, not miles, but in the process of completing 45 laps and 19 vacation bonus point stops, I rode a total of 230 miles. And I had a heck of a fun time doing it!
Between gardening and cycling, I have not been remiss in continuing the zero waste grocery shopping challenge I started at the beginning of the year. It’s going great and after reading Life Without Plastic by Jay Sinha and Chantal Plamondon, avoiding plastic at the grocery store has expanded into avoiding it as much as possible in the rest of my life too. Not only are plastics made from fossil fuels and contribute significantly to the climate crisis, plastic pollution is a blight, kills wildlife, and, because of all the toxic chemicals in plastic, makes us sick and is possibly killing us too.
Plastic has become ubiquitous and we don’t even notice it anymore. I’m thinking if you want to improve your health and make an effort to stop climate change, aside from not driving and eating less meat, getting rid of as much plastic from your life as you can is the next most significant thing you can do. Is it easy? No. It is pretty much impossible to live a 100% plastic-free life if you are lucky enough to enjoy the privileges of living in a developed country. However, not even the Arctic is free from plastic. But if you care about the world, living as plastic free as you can is living your life aligned with your values.
Grocery shopping. We’ve got it down pretty well now. Local sweet corn is finally in season and James bought 15 ears of corn at the farmers market the other day. He cooked them up, removed the corn from the cobs and, after making a fantastic corn chowder, put the corn in the freezer. Since we can’t buy frozen corn in plastic bags in winter, we are stocking up now. Yes, it is work but we are really happy that we are achieving multiple goals: organic, in-season corn from a local farmer 100% plastic-free. Can we save up enough to last us all winter? No, our freezer is not that big. Sure we could can some, but there is no real reason to do that. We need to get used to not having all the food available to us all year round. It’s not just tomatoes we shouldn’t buy in winter.
We ran out of dish soap and even though we could get a refill in the bulk area of our co-op, we decided to make our own dish soap instead. We bought a bar of palm-oil free castile soap (if you don’t know why it is important to avoid palm oil, Treading My Own Path has a fantastic blog post explaining it all), shredded it up, boiled 2 cups of water, added the shredded soap and stirred it around to melt it. This turns the soap to liquid. Let it cool to room temperature and then add a tablespoon of baking soda. Mix it in, and there you go, liquid dish soap. It cleans just fine and is mild on the hands. If you want a scent, you can add a few drops of essential oil.
We ran out of bathroom cleaner too. I have been using Bon Ami scrub for years, it is non-toxic and comes in a cardboard and metal can. But I decided to make my own cleaner with 2 tablespoons of citric acid and 2 cups of water. It works great! The only thing is, citric acid was surprisingly hard to find. Finally managed to locate some at Target with their food canning supplies. Sadly, it is in a plastic jar. I bought it anyway because I wanted to try it. The jar will last a long time and maybe I will be able to find some that is not contained in plastic by the time it’s out. If not, I will be using vinegar instead. That both citric acid and vinegar work so well to clean my bathroom has made me decide that we have all pretty much fallen prey to advertising that says we need a melange of chemicals to clean our tubs and toilets.
A couple weeks ago our Mr Coffee died. It is the second coffee maker we have had in the past four years. That it would cost more to repair my Mr. Coffee than to buy a new one, and that the one we had prior to four years ago lasted for about eight or nine years was a rather eye-opening realization on just how much of a disposable society this has gotten to be.
Well, so a new coffee maker was in order but it could not have any plastic at all. We ended up getting a lovely porcelain and stainless steel French press. We heat the water in a stainless steel and copper kettle on the stove. The coffee is fantastic and, bonus, we don’t need to use paper coffee filters any longer. Unless we drop it on the floor and break it, our porcelain French press should pretty much last forever.
Also a couple weeks ago our swiffer broom snapped in half. James was beating the dust out of it on the deck a little too vigorously. We have hardwood floors and the swiffer picked up the dust and cat fur quite nicely. We thought we were doing really well because the swiffer thingy was washable so we were able to use it over and over. But when the handle snapped we had the chance to re-evaluate. Swiffer handle: plastic. Swiffer broom/mop head: synthetic and therefore plastic.
We happen to also have an old fashioned wooden handled broom with natural bristles. So that is what we use to sweep the floors now. The first time I had a major allergy attack because it doesn’t catch all the dust in the broom like the swiffer did, but kicks it up in the air where I promptly inhale it. That was a hard lesson.
Now sweeping is an opportunity for mindfulness. I must move slowly and carefully, paying attention so I don’t whip all the dust up into the air. It’s hard! This morning was the first time I actually managed to sweep and not have an allergy attack. Sweeping mindfully is oddly satisfying and felt at one point today almost like a dance. I’m starting to understand why Buddhist monks spend so much time sweeping.
One more thing before I go. Clothes. Synthetic fabric is made of plastic. I have been paring down my wardrobe to begin with, and haven’t bought anything new since last summer when I needed pants. Going forward, I am going to be careful to buy only natural fibers. Cotton is my preference and since cotton is laden with petrochemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) I will be investing in organic cotton. Good thing I don’t buy a lot of clothes! An alternative is buying secondhand, but there are some things, like underwear, you want to buy new. And since I needed some underwear I bought a pair of Thunderpants.
Is that not an awesome name for underwear? They are a great company–small family-owned business, organic cotton, fair trade, the mill workers who make the fabric are paid fairly, and the people who sew the underwear are paid fairly. I bought a pair with the space invaders video game on them. The underwear arrived in a recycled and compostable plastic mailing bag. Inside they were wrapped in tissue paper and had a note thanking me for my order. Yes, they were expensive for a single pair of underwear. But they are well made and will be lasting a very long time. Also, the fit is fantastic. And it’s fun walking around with space invaders on my underwear even when I am the only one who knows it.
I found another organic cotton underwear company called Pact that I plan on trying eventually. They are a certified B Corporation. Their underwear is pretty plain compared to Thunderpants, but they are also half the price. I am looking forward to a little compare and contrast when the time comes.
Ok, I’ve gone on enough for one day. But allow me to challenge you. What is one thing you buy regularly that is plastic or has plastic packaging? Here’s the challenge: find a plastic-free alternative. You can do it! Be sure to let me know so I can cheer you on!
I’ve always used the bare minimum of any commercial cleaning stuff as my husband has a PhD in chemistry so I know how nasty most of the ingredients are. We also only eat food in season and I’m not interested in fashion so still wear clothes that are older than my kids! I should look for plastic free shampoo though. That Thunderpants name is inspired!
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Piningforthewest – smart you regarding the cleaning stuff! I’ve been pretty careful over the years in what I buy but I was still convinced I needed to buy special stuff. Oy. Nice work too only eating food in season! Heh, I have some clothes in my closet that are 20 years old, I am glad to hear I am not the only one! For shampoo, you could try a shampoo bar. Looks like a bar of soap but it’s for you hair. I’ve been using one since the start of the year and love it. I love the Thunderpants name! It is a New Zealand company, and a couple women in Oregon licensed the name so they could make and sell them in the US too. 🙂
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Congratulations on finishing so strongly in the bike race.
Your efforts to cut plastic out of your life are heroic. My wife and I have been attempting to cut our plastic use for years. However, our efforts pale in comparison to yours.
Have a great week.
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Thanks Brian Joseph! Keep trying to cut the plastic waste!
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It confounds me a little that nail files are so often packaged in plastic. I try to buy them “naked” when I find one.
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Oh Jeanne, I know what you mean! Like do people who find them “naked” on the shelf walk up and use them or something? They definitely don’t need to be in plastic!
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I like this point “We need to get used to not having all the food available to us all year round. It’s not just tomatoes we shouldn’t buy in winter.” It’s something we’ve been focusing on for some time now – know what’s in season. Our supermarkets label all the fruit and vegetables with their origin – not stickers ON the food, but on the price labels – so, if the oranges come from California, then we don’t buy them. But I do buy some frozen veggies still in plastic I admit.
Re cleaning I have been moving more and more to vinegar, baking soda cleaning wherever possible. Usually works very well. Though I still do have some cleaners in the cupboard. Re dish liquid, my brother and partner just use soap in one of those wire holders – they swish that around in the warm water to get their suds. It seems to do the job.
As someone who suffers from chronic eczema, I have focused on natural fibres for decades, but it’s only recently that I’ve been seeing organics, and I do still, I admit buy blends. However, I’m improving.
The majority of our friends are moving more and more away from plastics, and my city has had a no plastic bags legislation for supermarket shopping for some years now. (In that, if you want a plastic bag, you have to pay for it, otherwise bring your own bag.)
We have a long way to go – and I’m not, I’m ashamed to say, as devoted as you, but every bit helps I reckon. Like Brian says, our efforts pale in comparison to yours.
BTW Congrats on that ride. Very impressive indeed!
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Nice work Whisperinggums on buying in season produce! My food co-op lists where the produce came from on the shelf tag so it’s easy to know where it came from and if it is in season. I admit to buying bananas year round though. I have no idea when banana season is!
After your comment, James has decided to not go through all the trouble to make liquid soap and now swishes the soap around in the sink of water before he puts the dishes in. So thanks for that tip! Saves a lot of time and bother 🙂
Thanks for all the good things you are doing!
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Wow, I’m glad I’ve given James a tip that saves some time. Look out for those wire holders. They make storing the soap between use easy, though of course you can use soap dishes I know.
I hate bananas so that’s not a worry for me, but this right, I have no idea what their season is either. How strange. Like you I’m sure I know most plants. I think they’re summer but am not sure. I do buy them all year round for my parents, as they live on them.
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I’ve said it before, but it’s worth saying again – this is so inspiring. Fantastic effort on your part (and not just in the bike race). Your posts are so thought provoking.
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Aw wonderer, thanks all around!
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I’ve become a convert to the vinegar and baking soda mixture – never realised how versatile it can be. Gets rid of nasty smells in the microwave; cleans drains, cleans vases…..
Ive also been making my own fabric freshner – couldn’t be simpler. Just take some fabric conditioner, mix with water and put into a spray bottle.
There’s a new zero waste store opened locally and they are planning to host workshops on how to make cleaning products. I’ll be signing up!!
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BookerTalk, vinegar and baking soda are amazing aren’t they? And nice work on making your own fabric freshener! Really awesome to hear there is a zero waste store that opened near you. I’m hoping as time goes on regular stores will get on the bandwagon.
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So inspiring! It is incredibly difficult to live plastic-free. I struggle to identify the things that I have that are plastic that I can keep on using until they break, and what I might be able to replace sooner than later (for various reasons). It’s overwhelming, but I try to make the effort when I can. I have been making all our cleaning supplies for awhile now, but I haven’t made dish soap! I will try that when the batch we have runs out. I’ve also found local resources for recycling certain things that we’ve been having trouble recycling (plastic film, etc.) and trying to choose paper over plastic for contained goods. I usually buy clothes from the thrift store but have been selecting more local, sustainable clothes when I can, when I need to buy new. I’ll check out Thunderpants — too funny!
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You are doing good work wherethereisjoy! It is really hard to live plastic free, pretty much impossible in the US, but it is worth trying!
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I love reading about your no waste efforts! Keep posting!
I’m going to forego the bottle of soap at the kitchen sink and go to a bar. It’s a small step, but it’s something.
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Thanks Laila! Small steps matter! Bar soap in the kitchen is a great thing to do 🙂
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Wow, that is such a commitment not just the ride but a plastic free life. Good for you! I love reading about your efforts and how you are making a change. We finally bought some cloth bags so when we go to the grocery store we can buy bulk items in our own cloth bags and not have to use plastic bags but it’s so hard. I hadn’t even thought about all the other things!
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Thanks Iliana! Yay for cloth bags! It really does make a difference 🙂
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So inspiring as always Stefanie. I wish you and James every luck with this struggle! (Because you make it look easy but it definitely is a struggle.) I hate it when I buy veg at the standard supermarket as plastic is practically unavoidable but luckily I usually I get from our CSA or local greengrocer and can avoid plastic easily while eating local seasonal produce.
I just read a book I think you’d enjoy called The Way Home by Mark Boyle. I’d be interested to hear what you think.
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Thank you Maggie! It’s definitely not always easy. I was thinking just the other day when we were grocery shopping how I wish I could buy a simple box of cereal instead of making my own all the time. And crackers! I really wanted some crackers too.
Yay for your csa and local grocer!
Thanks for the book recommendation! I looks fantastic! There is a short queue for it at my library but I am on it and will let you know what I think!
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Good on you! You two are doing great. And I love that you’re sharing all the details here and challenging other smart people to try a little harder too.
What did you freeze your sweet corn in? We did manage a few strawberries but they’re expensive (and rightly so) so I just left them on the stainless steel sheet in the freezer and we’ve been pulling them off that gradually. I think we’ll be done before we need to worry about freezer-burn! Hah.
We buy all our veggies farmer-direct but we have learned that there is increasing pressure on small farmers to compete in the organic market (now that parts of it are becoming industrialized) so some, for instance, have resorted to covering their crops with plastic to bring the growth on faster (and max their selling months, which are short in Canada) so we are trying to support the sustainable and organic farmers who are committed to no-plastic more (and the others less). That’s my plastic lesson for the summer. Otherwise, we continue to expand what we’re making at home.
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Thanks buriedinprint! We froze the sweet corn in a big glass pyrex dish. That you even have strawberries to freeze amazes me! They don’t last that long in my house 😀
That’s really sad to hear about the small farmers. I am glad you are able to find some who don’t use plastic that you can support. I was super happy to find both strawberries and grapes in my food co-op this year that were packaged in paper. They were slightly more expensive but I bought them to support those farms. I get a small csa box every week and our farmer recently announced that he is not going to renew his organic certification. He is still going to grow just the way he always has, but the paperwork and the fees are so high he can’t afford them any longer. I have heard that from a few other farmers too. It’s really sad when organic farming movement began with small farms and now the huge farms and government have made certification too expensive for the small growers.
Keep up the good work! It makes me happy and less lonely knowing you are making such big efforts!
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Hi Stefanie, you put Mr. Coffee in so attractive way. I love the style you stated the details. Today we can’t ignore the health benefits of coffee. Different people love to enjoy coffee in different ways. I found two remarkable views in this post interesting. 1. Plastic free life and the 2 is coffee maker. I do believe like you plastic are playing a negative effect on our climate and influenced our environment in harmful way. So, we must have to avoid this. Again, a good quality coffee maker can bring a huge difference in the flavor and taste that can make anybody’s day. Thanks a lot for sharing such an efficient post.
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