Positivity

Bea Johnson wrote a new blog post recently. I think it's my favorite yet. Check it out by clicking here. Or look at her entire blog at www.zerowastehome.blogspot.com

Zero Waste Grocery Shopping: Deli

All right everyone, I'm back and ready to keep this up.

As I said previously, it's not that I stopped my plans to become zero waste. I just had a series of events in my life that made me question how public I wanted to be with it. To be perfectly honest, I feel kinda stupid sharing this aspect of my life. It's strange. It opens me up for ridicule. It makes me feel vulnerable.

So I've considered it for a few months. And I'm back to stay. I want to share my story in order to open this idea to others, and make the transition to a zero waste lifestyle easier to others.

Yes there will still be some hiatuses when I'm drowning in school work, and don't have time to write. But finals are just around the corner, and then I'll have summer break. My plans are still finalizing for that, but it's looking very promising so far and full of zero waste improvements.

Something I have been very committed to this past school year is my deli shopping. Another way to reduce your waste is to take glass jars to your deli when purchasing cheese and meats. I've greatly decreased my meat intake, so I only buy cheese.

My first experience with this was last September. The two employees behind the deli counter were extremely confused when I requested to have my cheese in my jar instead of in a plastic bag. To be honest, I wasn't very clear with my request. I didn't know how to phrase it. She ended up slicing the cheese before shoving in my jar, while the guy behind the counter questioned my strange shopping. I made a mental note to request the cheese in a block instead of sliced (slicing it myself is easier to handle), and he ended up asking me on a date. So it must not be that bad to shop like this, right? It definitely sparks interest.

Another experience I had was a guy who cut the cheese in a block, wrapped it in plastic wrap, and plopped it on the counter while I wasn't paying attention.

So here's what I've learned it you want to try purchasing items at the deli with your glass jar.

1. Be extremely clear about what you want: I put the jar on the counter and request a half-pound block of cheese to be placed in the jar with no plastic.
2. You're probably going to get weird looks: Don't let it bother you. If they ask, just say you're trying to get rid of the trash in your home. Because that's the truth! 
3. Ask for the sticker with the barcode to be put on the lid of the jar. Sometimes they stick it to a piece of wax paper which just becomes something else you have to throw away. You can get the sticky residue off of your jar with rubbing alcohol.
4. They may refuse: It's never happened to me, but I've read about deli employees denying jars saying it's against "sanitation regulations." Whether they honestly think it's against regulations or they just don't feel like dealing with the jar, chances are it's not true. Press to see a manager. Your jar will then most likely be used. 
5. I've never done this with meat, though it seems very similar. You may want to get that sliced though. If anyone does happen to try that, I'd love to get some feedback to share.

Remember, shopping is voting and influential to others. By doing this just once, you introduce a new way of grocery shopping to the deli employee, people in line behind you at the deli, the cashier, and people in line behind you waiting to checkout. You'll get questions, but they're easy to answer. And all these people are introduced to the idea of reducing trash.

Spring break is in a week. I'll be spending it with my dad, a person who fully supports and finds his own interest in my zero waste lifestyle, so I'll update more then with some new ideas and changes I've had.

Though I know my site does not get many views, I'd love feedback. And please share with anyone you think would be interested! I want to start making a difference.

I'm back

I lost inspiration for the blog.

Not because I lost inspiration for zero waste, but because setting aside time to write a post has proved to be extremely challenging.

Some changes have arisen within the last six months that are putting me back on track and reinstating my inspiration to share my story.

I've come farther with my zero waste journey since the last time I shared, and I am looking forward to share again soon.