Environment

stasher bags, period undies, Primal trust and more…

~ gypsy116toast2001 ~ Leave a comment

Just wanted to post a quick update…

I’ve recently bought some Stasher bags so that we can stop using disposable sandwich baggies. They’re a little pricey, so I could only afford to get four. I’ll probably end up getting a few more in the future but this will work well enough for us right now. These are supposed to last for years, so in the long run, the price should be well worth it. I’ll update later and let you know how they’re working out.

In the picture, you might also be able to see that we’ve started composting. I’d still like to do a little research to find out if we have off site composting in my area but as we intend to use it in our garden, we’ve been doing it ourselves. I think many people assume food waste isn’t a big deal (I did). I mean, it’s food, it breaks down, right? What I’ve learned recently, is that food waste doesn’t break down properly in the landfill thus creating methane. Methane is a really potent greenhouse gas so food waste is actually really damaging to the environment.

One last update. I’ve been using period panties for a few years now but I’ve still been using pads as well. I didn’t have enough pairs to change them more than once a day ( the undies). I decided to rectify that problem and bought five more pairs. The ones I already had are Thinx brand. I decided to go with a more environmentally conscious company this time and bought from Kayaness.

Bam, reduce your junk mail

~ gypsy116toast2001 ~ Leave a comment

I just started reading How To Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum. I was surprised to realize that I already do some of the things that they recommend. Such as using a reusable water bottle, rarely eating out and using plastic utensils/straws/food containers, using a shampoo and conditioner bar wrapped in compostable materials. Now, that I’m thinking, I also use bamboo toothbrushes that are also compostable.

Anyway, the point is that I am and have been making changes and I’d like to share them here. So… I found out (not from the book, I can’t recall where) that you can register to reduce the amount of junk mail that you receive, and I wanted to leave that link here. You just register and pay five dollars for processing and bam,10 years of reduced junk mail.

https://www.dmachoice.org/register.php

Calling the Kettle Black

~ gypsy116toast2001 ~ Leave a comment

I got some reusable grocery bags and some books on living more sustainably.

Originally, I intended to just tell you guys and let you know that I will share any changes that I make in my life attempting to minimize my impact but… Then I saw this.

The tone of the meme suggests that making changes in our personal lives is pointless. We may as well just give up. I call bullshit.

Yes, I absolutely agree that behaviors like flying across the world for cheesecake make a larger impact than someone using paper straws or something similar. I also agree, wholeheartedly that we need to push back against the behaviors of the rich, whether it be celebrities, business’s or government but that doesn’t mean we just give up.

I believe every little bit counts but also, it’s the right thing to do. If you’re saying well Kim Kardashian is doing x,y or z so I don’t have to do anything, you’re just as bad as they are, in my opinion.

This is an argument that I see come up a lot…More of the problem is coming from big business so individual action is futile, we should be lobbying our representatives instead of reducing our impact. If that is what you are called to do, please do that. However, for me it seems the opposite. I can’t see the government or any business making any changes unless or until they see that the public wants it. How do we show that we want it? By living the change. So, that’s what I’m going to do. Join me or don’t but please, for the love of God, don’t just sit there twiddling your thumbs while calling out other people. That helps no one.

One day at a time, one foot in front of the other

~ gypsy116toast2001 ~ Leave a comment

I’ve just started reading No Impact Man by Colin Beavan. The book follows a man and his family, over a year, while they try to lower their impact on the environment to virtually nothing. I bought this book because I’ve read other life as experiment books and enjoyed them and I was hoping to pick up some tips on decreasing my impact.

This is something that I think about a lot. And when I say think about, what I actually mean is panic. There are so many changes that I’d like to make, feel like I need to make, that my illness gets in the way of.

Things like making my own self care products, shopping locally, walking instead of driving… Are all rendered impossible when you don’t even have the energy to get through the basics of living on a daily basis.

I am constantly telling myself to focus on my healing. The more I heal, the more I will be able to do and the more I will be able to live a life aligned with my values. This is true, but… The guilt I feel…. And the panic…

*Sigh* One day at a time, one foot in front of the other…