Waste Stream Wednesday

Each Wednesday, I take inventory of my waste stream and think of ways to reduce my garbage. Inspired by Zero Waste Home and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, I hope to lead a sustainable and minimal waste producing household

Progress

Laundry line drying

Lint,  the deterioration of our clothing , has overtaken our outside laundry room, covering every surface like mold on old cheese.  The cloth dryer spewing lint so thick that a weeding hoe was employed to remove it from the concrete floor.

Two days it took to remove the lint and the dust that it harbored. Two pounds of lint was removed from the outside laundry (I weighed it). 

and thus came the realization that

1) Clothes will be lined dried and
2) My family is a laundry producing machine, we own way too many clothes and linens.

To Be Improved

Laundry audit - Too many clothes go thru the laundry system.  Currently three piles of laundry  are waiting to be sorted, washed and line dried. The added activity of line drying, means that I need to reduce the sheer amount of laundry we produce. I want to smile at my laundry pile as I hang each individual item of clothing.  Line drying the quantity of clothing currently in use is not a task I am brave enough to embark on.

I will simplify the laundry needs of my family.

Landfill Audit

meat butcher paper
meat plastic wrappers
misc plastics
walnut plastic wrapper
cookie wrapper
plastic toy parts (an argument to buy better quality toys)
milk and ice cream carton
butter wrapper
cheese wrapper
tea bag wrapper
broken cup
broken pen
cloth waste, clothing tags

Do you have a simple laundry tip?

Waste Stream Wednesday

This week waste stream was interrupted by a family camping trip in the Mattole Valley, Humboldt County, and because I left my garbage in the campground dumpster, I want to talk about clothes........

Don't Waste Your Good Clothes

I found myself avoiding my "good clothes" because I did not want to stain or ruin them. So I would look into my closet of good cloth and avoid them by wearing my grungy old clothes (sweats, T shirts, stained yoga pants, but no never that cute new black dress I haven't worn yet).

Wearing old cloths and never wearing "good clothes" has become a waste. A waste of the shopping trip it took to acquire them, a waste of the manufacturing , the material and the storage in my tiny 50's style closet. (My closet houses my "good clothes" and my dresser houses "my not good clothes that I wear").

I would not wear my good cloth for years and then decultter with the rule that when an article of clothing is not worn for six months get rid of it.

Perhaps I was suffering from episodes of ADD. I don't know, but I am making an effort to wear my good clothes everyday.  Each morning I look into my closet (a very stimulating and creative activity , I must admit I love self-decorating)  take my pretty outfit out of the closet and put in on my body for everyday activities.  Yes, my brain screams "you can't wear this"   as I slip into the delightful organic cotton dress.


I wear the cloths I buy and I love the way I feel in my everyday Sunday's best.

How To Prepare Herbal Baths

On Sundays, my rhythm is to prepare an herbal bath for myself and the kids. We take turns soaking in the hot herbal sanctuary. The scented steam of rose, chamomile, lavender, and marjoram fills my house.

My life is more peaceful, calmer when I collect, brew, ingest and soak in the delicate yet profound essence of plants. Their absence is noted, when I am too busy to make a cup of tea, or pick roses to dry.

To prepare an herbal bath:

I combine whatever fresh herbs are growing in my yard at the time, for example today I have rose, lavender, marjoram, spearmint, dried St johns wort I foraged, wilted calendula and store bought dried comfrey.

I put them all in a pot and fill with water. I bring the tea to boil and let simmer for about 1 hour.

I draw a bath, add some essential oils such as lavender and chamomile. When the bath is full, I bring my pot of herbal tea and a strainer. I strain the tea as I pour it into my bath. and voila, a most marvelous soak.

The bath will cheer up even the most grumpy baby.

Do share your favorite herbs.

How to Make Your Own After Sun and Burn Lotion

Aloe vera and lavender calms and heals burns. The Aloe vera is soothing and cool and the lavender just smells so good. I love to use it on my sunburns after a day in the sun.

What you need:

Aloe Vera Gel

Lavender Essential Oil

Container

Fill the container with the aloe vera gel. I buy my aloe vera gel in bulk from Eureka's local herb store.  I like to use a peri bottle as a dispenser, however the bottle top does not seal, so its not really travel friendly.  The peri bottle infuses the air with lavender, so I keep it out within easy reach of my nose.

Add the lavender essential oil. I estimate the volume of lavender based on the strenght of the fragrance.  I usually add about 40 drops to 8 oz of aloe. I will keep adding the lavender to the aloe until the smell of lavender is pleasing to me.

Shake, label and smother, you have now a burn and after sun lotion.

No Driving Anywhere Day

On Sundays, I have a no driving anywhere policy. I make a conscious choice to only partake in activities that I can walk to. Activities usually include gardening, walking to the park, and cooking.

The no driving day is relaxing, partly because my activity choices are limited. I stay close to home and don't shop. Maybe I should include more no driving days in my week. I don't wash my hair,I wear comfortable clothes that I can get grubby. Eat creatively from what is in my fridge.

Today we planted a tomato plant, Eva's pumpkin plant and a raised bed with carrots and beets.

Eva looking for worms.

Finally found one.

Wearing Julien in a Moby.

This tomato plant will provide sungold cherry tomatoes through the fall and sometimes through the winter.

Jason planting carrots and beets in a backyard raised bed.

Our little garden in the back yard.

Using our front yard to plant food. All in all a very wholesome family activity that provides food for our table.

What are your No Driving Days like?