Waste Stream Wednesday

The Weeks Waste:
Landfill

Plastics : plastic wrappers for meat, cheese, chips, bread, Kleenexes,and sewing supply, avocado mesh bag, TP plastic bag, disposable wipe package, straw, foam toys.

Packaging contributed to all plastic waste.

 

Paper (non recyclable) : Kleenex, rice and soymilk container, ice cream container, tea wrappers, meat wrapper, coffee container, juice box.

Use hankies, make rice milk, use bulk herbs for tea.

Misc : Fabric waste, scrubber sponge, broken dish, leaking pen, chocolate bar aluminum foil.

Replace disposable sponge with microfiber cloth and stainless steel scrubber.

One trash bag of disposal diapers and biodegradable wipes.

Recyclables

Paper: Cardboard packaging, junk mail, TP rolls, newspaper.

Put a stop to junk mail. Called a couple of catalogues to request deletion from their mailing list.

Other: Aluminium cans, fruit plastic containers.

Progress this week
I have reused all my plastic bags
Purchased milk in a glass bottle
Refilled a glass bottle with maple syrup
Perused the local health food store's bulk bins
Diapered Julien mostly in cloth
I have decluttered my cloth closet and donated all clothing items that do not fit, and that I haven't worn in years, so that someone else may use them. (I may never be that size again)

To be improved
I need to organize and declutter my pantry, so I am eating food from my pantry and freezer.
I need to make muslin bags to replace my plastics once they are used up.
Keep avoiding plastic packaging, choose products packaged in glass or paper.

Limited choices simplify my decision making. There are only two types of rice pasta in the bulk food section. I choose products with glass or paper packaging. Effortless choices bring peace of mind and I can focus on more important aspects of my live. How is your waste stream?

Garlic Harvest

July brings the excitement of harvesting the garlic we planted in October.We watch the garlic patch grow from little cloves to deep magnificent green plants and unfortunately this year to a withered grasslike stock. Our garlic patch was attacked by a fungus that left rust on the leaves and stunted the cloves.

The fungus prevents us from planting another garlic patch this year. The garlic cloves are too small, not worth the effort to peel them. The garlic can't be composted. To prevent spreading the fungus, the garlic will need to be burned, perhaps a bonfire at the beach...

Jason rallied us to harvest our garlic at 8:00 at night, before another summer storm.

The poor fungus ridden garlic.

The family did enjoy digging up the garlic.

Waste Stream Wednesday

Minimum Mama needs to take a good look at her familie's waste stream. Oh my.......

Each Wednesday, I make a tally of my familie's waste that goes to the landfill and recycling.
I am attempting to reduce our waste since it barely fits into our 30 gallon curbside garbage can.  Oh dear.....  I am inspired by Zero Waste Home.

Our paper, waste to landfill and recycling waste.   I am sparing you from our disposable diaper and wipe waste picture.  Oh dear Eva spots some plastic toys of hers that I am tossing.

Although it hasn't been played with for months, she is inconsolable .

Our composting system: Three Earth Machines, and 50 gallon trash cans holding screened compost and leaves from our trees (brown waste).

Jason's brush pile.

What to work on
--Stop using plastic trash bags in my kitchen garbage can.

--When our current stash of plastic trash  bags is depleated, buy compostable bags (for our diaper bin).

--Reuse all my plastic bags that I have accumulated from each grocery shopping trip, for produce, bulk bin etc.

--Start buying more bulk foods with less packaging, or choose products with cardboard or paper packaging.

--Checking out books from the library.

Reducing waste from day to day living takes time and requires change in ones daily rhythm.

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?