Tips: Question it all & Achieve through little steps

I got back from a trip to St. Louis a couple of weeks ago. I came across two things that made me think a bit.

On the way there, my dad and I stopped at a restaurant. Now sorry this was kind of weird of me, but I noticed this in the restroom. They had a single roll of tissue paper wrapped in plastic with  "ECO WISE" printed all over the plastic. This is typical false advertising. It's why I hate the phrases "going green" or "eco-friendly" or anything of that nature. They mislead. Companies know that if they package something in green and plaster the word "ECO" on the front, the public will feel good about themselves for buying the product. They'll think they're doing something good for the world. I urge you to step back and question whether they're misleading you. Is the product wrapped in plastic when it could be wrapped in paper or not packaged at all? If so, they're definitely misleading. So the moral of the story is question everything. Just because something says it's "green" doesn't mean it's good for the planet or sustainable by any means. Find your own alternatives. Reusables are an alternative. Plastic should be avoided. But none of our products are "good for our planet." No matter what, everything we own will end up as trash one day. Eventually it will break. That's why we should buy products that last long and can be repaired (aka avoid plastic). Glass, steel, and metal alternatives can usually be found. Okay I'm done with that rant now.

So then I saw sign at the Missouri Botanical Garden just as my trip was coming to an end.

Now this is something I really really really like, and I wish it'd say this on every trashcan.

"Landfill trash"

That's something to think about, right? Because it's something we hardly think about. Most people throw their trash away and only think about it reaching the garbage can by the curb or the dumpster in the back of their apartment complex. What if everyone had to read where their trash was going every time they threw something away? The landfill. That's where it's going. To rot past your lifetime. So maybe next time you throw something away, think about why you got that trash in the first place. Is there a way to avoid having to throw away that product again? Is there a reusable alternative? Or maybe you can go without it? Try to pare down your trash to only recyclables, but ultimately recycling is still waste, too. It's not super fantastic. There's bleach and shipping and all kinds of other unsustainable practices involved with recycling. So try Bea Johnson's 5 R's.

Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot.

And by the way, her book is out! Order it here or even better try to find it at your public library. The Baton Rouge public library system will have one in a few months for sure.

But anyways, question it all. And achieve it through little steps.

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.

Zero Waste Cleaning: Produce

I wish I could update more regularly. I think of things to write about all the time, and write paragraphs in my head as I'm walking through campus or driving my car. But when I get home and open up my laptop, it's unfortunately fully dedicated to homework. I decided to do this instead for today. It's Saturday after all.

Last time I mentioned an article I read about cleaning produce. I read about it on this blog. And she linked her readers to this article. The article explains the difference between organic and inorganic food. Mostly what it focuses on is how organic food is grown with no pesticides; therefore, when you eat the produce you aren't ingesting any pesticides. But obviously, most of us (including me) cannot afford organic produce. So this article points out the produce that tends to harbor the most pesticides and offers alternatives with less pesticides. I highly suggest skimming through the list. It all really surprised me.

Now back to the blog. She gives a suggestion for how to clean those pesticides off your produce. It's simple enough.

Soak it in 3 parts water 1 part vinegar for an hour. Rinse and eat! That simple. She put a colander in a bowl to make it simpler to drain.

Of course I tried it.

I soaked mushrooms, a green bell pepper, spinach, grapes, and blueberries. 

The berries, grapes, and bell peppers turned out great. They stayed good for a really long time, and I felt like they were clean when I ate them. 

As for the mushrooms and the spinach....it didn't turn out too well. The spinach was a definite no go. I didn't have a good way to dry it, so it went downhill fast, and I had to throw it away. In defense of the mushrooms, they didn't seem too fresh when I bought them in the first place. I didn't have an efficient way to dry them either. So they went in the trash as well.

Another problem: I felt awful pouring out all that water. That probably wouldn't bother every person, but it really bothered me.

So have I done it again? Nope, sure haven't. I don't really have the time. Would I do it again? Yes, maybe. If I have the time. Mostly for apples, grapes, bell peppers, and the occasional eggplant I buy. 

The problem is, this really isn't a zero-waste solution. You're using an excessive amount of water. You're still buying produce that has had pesticides used on it. Most of the produce has those annoying little stickers on them. Organic really is the way to go. The word has been turned into this fashion statement unfortunately. But when it comes to produce, something you don't buy prepackaged and processed, something you can just put in a mesh bag and go. It's just the right thing to do in my opinion.

So yes, this post was essentially pointless. I screwed up. But that's what I'm here for. To screw up, so you don't have to. Making mistakes is the only way to learn sometimes. I'm really hard on myself, and obviously hate wasting anything (especially food), so I've been kicking myself for weeks on this, dreading sharing it. But I told you I'd tell you about it, so there it is.

My next story to share is a success thankfully, but you can still tell that I'm a total novice at this. It's a funny story though. After this week I have an entire week without tests, so I'll definitely be able to share soon. Looking forward to it.

Zero Waste Eating: Salsa Edition

As my school schedule is becoming a routine, I've been finding more time to think and live zero waste.

There's something Bea mentioned about zero waste grocery shopping in her "Tips" section that has always stuck with me. She encourages to make the food that you cannot find in bulk. As I was grocery shopping for my apartment for the first time, I kept this idea in mind, and chose foods that came in glass jars rather than plastic (jelly, salsa, etc...) in hopes that I could reuse those jars in the future.

I finished off my salsa the other day, and realized that I could definitely make my own. I started off with peeling off the label from the jar, scrubbing all the sticky glue off (vinegar works great), and washing it thoroughly.

Then I got a recipe for salsa from a family friend. The whole process of making the salsa took about 30 minutes. I think technically it's pico de gallo because I didn't cook it. But I prefer the thin salsa to the chunky anyways. I would give you the recipe, but I'm not sure if I'm supposed to share. It's essentially just throwing some tomato, cilantro, garlic, red pepper, jalapenos and garlic salt in a blender. Not difficult to make at all. I found a similar recipe here, and this one doesn't even use a blender! What's great about making your own salsa is that you can add and delete and ingredients you want, make it more spicy, less spicy, more thin, more chunky, etc. You can pretty much customize it, unlike when you buy it in the store.

So yes, it takes longer to make than picking up a jar and placing it in your buggy. But when you make it yourself, you know what your eating, you know how it's being prepared, you're reducing waste, and you're making it strictly to your taste buds. To me, it's really self-satisfying. Although, I know I find self-satisfaction in strange things.

I must admit, I did buy canned diced tomatoes. Next time, I plan on using whole tomatoes, but I was scared to not follow the directions the first time! But now I'm more brave. The rest of my ingredients were either bought in either reusable spice jars (dried cilantro and red pepper), reuseable glass jars (jalapenos - I plan to use whole jalapenos once the jarred ones run out), or fresh in my reusable mesh bags illustrated below (the garlic is mixed in with the onions). These mesh bags have worked great so far. I used them at Target, and the woman who checked me out didn't even react strangely to them. I'll admit, it was a bit difficult for her to tell the fruits apart because the bags aren't very transparent, so you may want to get thinner ones. But to be honest, I wouldn't change my purchase for more transparent ones. I can tell these can handle weight and will last a long time. I plan on buying some more cause I only have four. I got these! I found these that seem like you can identify the produce easier. Also, there are a ton of more options at reuseit.com. You can also just google "reusable produce bags," and you'll receive a ton of options.

I've gotten off topic of this salsa, but I'm really excited about those produce bags embarrassingly enough. The point of it is, I reused my old salsa jar for the salsa I made! And it has worked great, and I'm sure it will continue to work great for quite a long time.

I made it last weekend, and it's already halfway gone (my batch made a ton - the other half was stored in some tupperware - I need another glass jar!) . It has been quite the hit around my apartment.

My next step: buy produce at the Farmer's Market instead of Target, experiment with properly cleaning the produce (I'll test it out then show you guys - comes along with a really neat article I'll link you to), and finding someway to buy tortilla chips without that plastic bag. I think that last one will prove to be challenging.

**Update: In my defense with those tomato cans, I recycled one and used the other for that makeup brush holder I was wanting! By the way, this is all the makeup I own (besides some lipstick). Just what I need, no excess. I'm excited to see what makeup alternatives I can find once I run out.

Also some valuable information: feel free to click the blue (which are mostly used) and green words on my page. They'll link you to other pages I want to show you; however, watch out for the green underlined words. It's this awful advertisement strategy that I can't get rid of. I'll keep trying to rid my page of them, but until then: don't press the underlined words, but check out the words that are only colored.

Delays, delays.

My life has been on a delay for a while due to Hurricane Isaac. I've been back at my mom's house in my hometown in northeast Louisiana waiting out the storm. Unfortunately no matter if I stayed in Baton Rouge or came to my hometown, being zero-waste isn't working out well.

If I were home in BR, I would have had to bought a ton of emergency supplies including bottled water (which was already sold out most places), packaged snacks, use-once batteries, and flashlights.

Coming back to my home town meant driving four hours and now living in a more disposable minded home. It's okay though. I suppose it's nice to be home, and I'm trying to adjust as much as possible. School keeps getting canceled, so I'm trying to be as productive while I'm here.

I've been needing a cup for my makeup brushes, so today after I ate some soup, I cleaned out the can to use as my new cup. It may not work for everyone due to the sharp edges on the cans, but my mom has a special can opener that gets rid of those. I found this article about upcycling aluminum cans. Apparently a sanding block or just sand paper is enough to get rid of those sharp edges. I had to soak it in warm soapy water for a while to make sure it didn't smell like soup anymore. But it's great now! A perfect cup for my brushes. Later on, I figured I could paint it or wrap it in paper to make it cuter, but I think I like the can look for now. But that's my reusing project for the day.

Unfortunate update on my brush holder: mom threw it away cause she didn't realize I was reusing it. But that's okay! I'll recreate it with another can when I go back to Baton Rouge and I'll make sure to get a picture of it.

I've also been brainstorming for preparations for the next storm. For now on, after my roommates and I are done with our jug of milk, I think I'll just wash it out and fill it up with clean water. I'll store it in pantry, and hopefully we'll collect enough water as to not have to buy any next storm (I really hate the idea of buying water and plastic). As for the batteries, I only own four. Literally. They're all rechargeable though. I plan on buying some more soon. You can always use extra when the powers out, and your only light is candles and flashlights. I own one flashlight, so I suppose I need another one.

Lately my mind has been more consumed with school than organizing my zero-waste thoughts. Because we've missed three days due to the hurricane, we'll be playing catch up for a while, and my mind will be completely consumed with school. I hope that after that, I'll become accustomed to my schedule and find more time to work on this which is all I ever want to do anyways.

Maybe I'll come up with something this weekend. For now, I'm heading back home and celebrating my water-free first floor apartment! Flooding would honestly be a zero-waste nightmare.