Here we are at the end of a year and a decade. It seems like just yesterday the world was worried about all the computers going haywire when the year turned to 2000. People were genuinely freaked out. And now 20 years later we have more to worry about than how computers will handle a date.
There is a lot wrong in the world. Still. But in the midst of the horrors and tragedies, there is also joy to be found. It is not easy, that’s for sure. And some days after hearing the latest climate crisis stories, mass shootings, children in cages, rapes, car bombs, and white supremacist anti-semitic racial slurs from the president of my own country, I want to throw in the towel and not give a shit about anything anymore.
But I can’t ignore it. I can’t pretend.
I spent time this year thinking about what I can do. I thought I should be out on the streets marching, should be out there being all the things an activist is supposed to be. But all the protests happened during the week while I was at work or on the weekends when I needed mental health me time. I felt guilty frequently. Then I began to realize there are other ways to be an activist, other ways to resist, other ways to advocate for change without using all my vacation time at work to go to rallies that, while inspiring, often leave me feeling exhausted. As an introvert and someone who finds crowds and events overstimulating, I needed to work out a quieter way to be. I am still working on it, but I am finding ways.
Even though I have a big garden it isn’t enough to meet all my produce needs. I found a CSA, Sin Fronteras Farm. My farmer, Eduardo, is Lantinx and is active in organizations that support farmers of color. His produce also has a Latin flavor, different than the standard csa fare, which we loved even though there were herbs we had no idea what to do with. We signed up for another season.
Quite a few years ago, a group of gardeners in my neighborhood were given a small piece of city property next to the light rail station upon which to make a native plant and monarch garden. They designed the garden in the shape of a butterfly wing. Most of the gardeners have reached an age they are finding it difficult to keep up the garden. They gifted the garden to the neighborhood association who put out a call for volunteers. James and I were the only ones who showed up at the meeting. If the garden could not be maintained, the city was going to take the plot back and mow it all down. So, under the direction of Fernando, the volunteer who organized the meeting and who works as a landscape designer, James and I and a few of the original gardeners, kept the garden going. I wasn’t able to spend as much time there as I would have liked. In this coming year I hope to do more work there.
In January James and I took on a zero waste grocery shopping challenge. Yes, we had to make adjustments that weren’t always easy and there are items we can no longer buy because of their packaging, but it has been amazing! And it has crept into other areas of our life. The amount of trash we produce in a week doesn’t even fill a one gallon trash can. And the amount of recycling we produce is also significantly less and composed mainly of glass, metal, and paper.
In the bulk section of my food co-op they have bins of dried fruit like raisins, apples, cranberries, cherries, etc, that the co-op buys in bulk and then puts in weighted and barcoded plastic bags. We asked them early on why they put the fruit in bags because they didn’t do that with all of it, only some of it. They had a reason but it didn’t seem like something that couldn’t be solved somehow.
We asked a couple times and explained why, and then we began asking about how big the bulk packaging was because we did not want to buy the stuff in plastic bags. We decided to buy a big box of raisins. We thought it was going to be ten pounds, big, but reasonable since we eat a lot of raisins as my house. Well, it turned out the box is 20 pounds! We laughed out asses off and we have thus far managed to work our way through half the box.
But a curious thing has happened. About a month ago, some of the dried fruit was bagged in compostable bags! We were practically giddy and mentioned how excited we are about the new bags. I am hoping they continue using the compostable bags and eventually use them for all their bagged dried fruit. When I finally need to buy raisins again next September, it will be nice to not have to buy a twenty pound box! I don’t know whether James and I had anything to do with the change, but I like to think we at least helped push it along.
After coming across a post at Zero Waste Chef about repurposing old pillow cases into bulk bin and produce bags, I have been itching to try it myself. I’ve had a little time off from work for the holidays so I dusted off my sewing machine, found an old pillow case, and now have four bags. I added ribbon drawstrings to my bags because I need to be able to close them up so beans or apples don’t spill out all over the place while shopping or during transport home. Really pleased and excited to take them with me when James and I go shopping later in the week.Here is something else that is super exciting. A year or two ago Minneapolis banned plastic grocery bags. Now, starting January 1, if you do not bring your own bag to the store, any store, grocery or otherwise, and use a bag provided by that store instead, you will be charged five cents for each bag you use. Single-use takeout plastics from food places (restaurants, bakeries, food trucks, cafes) have also been banned. I personally had nothing to do with these things directly, but I did vote for the city council person who has been a big driver in getting these new ordinances passed.
I might not be out on the streets shouting for change, but I am, in my own quiet way, changing myself and, I hope, encouraging others to make changes too. One of the things I have learned from my cycling team composed of women of different ages and abilities is we all have something to contribute. We don’t need to be pro or semi-pro racers, we don’t have to be the fasted or strongest, we don’t even need to be the one who stands on the podium at the end of the race. But we do need to work hard. We do need to show up. We do need be positive and welcoming and encouraging and supportive to everyone, including the competition. When we bring our best selves, no matter the outcome, we all make a difference because we are stronger together.
So for 2020, I am going to bring my best self. Will you bring your best self too? I will help you, and you will help me. Together we will make amazing things happen.
Life moves in circles, goes through cycles, regenerates, starts over. Every 24 hours the sky goes dark and night comes and we sleep and the next morning sunshine pours in and we are given another chance to begin anew.
—Taylor Plimpton, “Starting Over, Again”
Happy New Year Everyone!
Nice post. There is really good and bad in the world and it is so important that everyone keep trying to make things better.
Have a Happy New Years!
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Thanks Brian Joseph! Happy New Year! I hope you read lots of great books in 2020!
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I look to you for inspiration, although I can’t find the energy to be as committed as you and James. Even so, for the last 15-20 years, I’ve made small, incremental changes and hope to continue. Our area doesn’t have the same commitment that many in your area do. We don’t even have any kind of recycling pick up, so recyclables must be hauled to a center, which fortunately if pretty close. Across the river in Shreveport, they have had recycling pickup for years. What I hope for is that companies will discontinue the plastic packaging and have more compostable or recyclable packaging making it easier for everyone to reduce waste.
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Aw, thanks JenClair! Your fabric Christmas wrapping is amazing (I left a comment but I don’t know if it stuck). I also hope companies discontinue plastic packaging. Some are making changes but they all need to get on the bandwagon. Wouldn’t that be something? Maybe if we all sent letters or emails? Happy New Year!
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Well done! Keep on keeping on!
I especially love the idea of remaking pillow cases into bags. I’m going to take a beginners sewing class at the public library in January (I sewed in school but not since, and you have to take a class in order to show you are able to use their machines responsibly in order to sign up to use them) and doing things like this are the very reason why (to make more durable linens because the options on the market for purchase are so temporary now or directly contribute to other industries that I seek to avoid supporting).
Your discussions of various endeavors here are surely having small reverberations around the digital/actual world too. Quiet as they are too. Quiet, but not TOO quiet. 🙂
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Thank you buriedinprint! And well done to you too since I know you are also working on these sorts of things! I think it is awesome your public library has sewing machines! I assume you have to bring your own thread. Do you have to bring your own bobbins and other supplies too? I would love to hear more about this and more about making your own linens. Where will you get the fabric for instance?
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What you are doing with this blog matters, Stefanie. You are the reason I am religious about bringing reusable bags now to Target and the grocery store and other stores, and also why I use bar soap now instead of plastic bottle soap. I am going to try and take more steps in 2020 to be less wasteful. Thank you! Happy New Year.
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Thank you Laila you are so kind! Well done with the reusable bags and the bar soap! Happy New Year!
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Super-good post and has helped me regain my enthusiasm for the world. Thank you for reminding me of the good that is out there – and thank you to both you and James for going above-and-beyond. You are my role models for being responsible in this fragile world of ours. 🙂
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Oh Liz, I am happy to hear that! It is easy to forget the good when the bad is so very loud. And thank you, we do what we can! Happy New Year!
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I really admire what you’re doing and even though we have four recycle bins there’s still a big problem with the plastic film that can’t be recycled yet. In Scotland we’re further ahead with ‘green’ things than in the rest of the UK and our government is going to bring in machines where you can recycle tin drinks cans and get some money back when you deposit the can. Most people take their own bags to the supermarket nowadays, just as we used to years ago before plastic carrier bags existed. This year I’m going to grow all of my own salad greens as they come in film bags. Every little helps, I hope.
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Thanks Pining! Oh that plastic film! Sometimes it is unavoidable and it makes me very unhappy. Really great the hear about the things Scotland is doing! It gives me hope. I think it’s awesome you are going to grow your own salad greens! They will always be fresh! And you get to avoid plastic bags. So many benefits!
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I think one of the biggest challenges these days is figuring out where and how to use our limited energy and time. The work you are doing and writing about is good and it matters because it helps others see steps they can take. I think you’re right that each of us can show up in some way, even if none of us can show up in every way. If we all find something to do, we can get a lot done.
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You are right about that Teresa! So much needs to be done and we can’t do it all. So we have to choose what is most meaningful to each of us. It’s kind of frustrating, and part of what had me feeling guilty for a while, that those who are out on the streets often act as though that is the only way to go about making change. It is definitely important, but it is only one aspect of what needs doing. And, as you say, if we all find something to do we can get a lot done! Thank you for your kind words! Happy New Year!
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I think you are an inspiration. It’s so easy to feel guilt ridden, to think we’re not doing enough, but anything we do is something and worth it. I think figuring out what’s possible for us is almost all of the battle – and so I commend you. Wholeheartedly.
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Wonderer, you are so kind, thank you. Happy New Year!
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All the little things add up to big change. You and James are an inspiration. I know I can do better in 2020.
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Thank you Joan, they do add up and everyone can, and needs to play a part. Happy New Year! I hope it brings you lots of good reading and an amazing garden!
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So much yes to this post! I feel so overwhelmed sometimes by all the things I want to get involved in but I think even if I make one small change or one small action, it can have a positive impact. I love reading about your efforts. Wishing you a fabulous 2020!
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It is hard to not feel overwhelmed Iliana, I think most people do and that’s okay. Barring government action, I think that only way most of the problems will be solved is by lots of people doing little things. It all helps! I hope 202 is off to a good start for you!
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If every person took actions like this we would be in a much stronger position. sadly too many people think that waste is nothing to do with them.
My new campaign is targeted at a supermarket where they sell bread you have to put in a brown paper bag. Great on the surface of it because that can be recycled BUT the bag has a plastic strip right down the centre so has to be cut out and then incinerated. The strip serves no practical purpose so I want it eradicated
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You are right BookerTalk, many people are feeling like it is hopeless so why even bother? I love your campaign! I hope the market listens and changes the bags. It doesn’t make sense to have a plastic strip in them! What a waste.
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Since I got more active politically I’ve found out that when you ask for volunteers, only about 30% of them will stick with whatever they’ve volunteered for. It’s heartening to hear about people showing up for community meetings and persevering with any kind of community work. I’m heartened by any story of someone getting outside of their own house, their own family, and involving themselves in the lives of others.
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Jeanne, yes it’s hard to shake people out of the regular routine especially since we all feel so pressed for time. There is much good intention out there. I am not sure how to go about shaking us all out of our stupor and into actually doing something. That’s the $1 million question for every group and organization I imagine!
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Hear, hear! Here’s to thinking globally and acting locally, making sustainable changes for ourselves and the world, and being more present for all of it.
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Cheers Daphne! I hope your 2020 is off to a good start!
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Good post, Stefanie. I’m glad you got over those shoulds. The only should, for me, is that we should do what we feel we can. I don’t attend protest marches, not because I’m an introvert but because crowds scare me. If I could guarantee a peaceful protest I’d take part, but you can never be sure whether there are people there who don’t have the same philosophy. It doesn’t take much for a crowd to turn ugly.
Our jurisdiction has charged for plastic bags in supermarkets since 2011, and has reduced by 1/3 the plastic bags going to landfill. They (we – the ACT) are now looking to completely phasing our single-use plastics. We hope legislation will happen this year. South Australia which has been a leader in this area is moving even closer to phasing out these plastics.
We haven’t gone zero fill but continue to do our best to reduce our use of plastics, and to reuse the plastic we do have.
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Thanks Whisperinggums! James gets nervous regarding crowds too, wondering what if things go wrong. Sadly, it is a valid concern.
That is great to hear about plastic bags in your district! I hope the single-use legislation gets passed this year!
Keep up the good work! 🙂
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I’m glad I’m not the only one. And, I hope so too.
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