The other day I was talking to a friend about laundry. I know, really interesting, right? Actually, it was rather eye opening to me. She was telling me that she feels so overwhelmed by all of the laundry that she needs to do, and when I asked a bit further, one of the things she mentioned was that she washes all of their towels every day.… Continue reading
sustainability
Zero-Waste, Natural Feminine Care
Feminine Hygiene is something that’s rarely discussed in public places. And if this conversation makes you uncomfortable, you can always click away and come back tomorrow. But I encourage you, especially if you are a pre-menopausal woman, to stay and read on.
Every month our bodies create an amazing nest, hoping that a fertilized egg will implant on our uterine walls and grow into a baby.… Continue reading
Zero-Waste and Plastic-Free Storage for Leftovers
One of the key ways to reduce food waste (see HERE) is to eat leftovers, and part of making those leftovers desirable to eat is storing them in a way that keeps them fresh. In many houses, storing leftovers is synonymous with plastic containers or large amounts of trash (for example, disposable plastic wrap or aluminum foil). This isn’t good for your health (see HERE) or for the environment.… Continue reading
34 Ways to Reduce Food Waste
The other week, I posted about the huge amount of food that is wasted on a daily basis in the United States (see HERE): almost 40% of our food supply is wasted. While you may not have direct control over what happens on a large farm or within food processing facilities, you can control what happens in your kitchen. Since US consumers throw away roughly 25% of the food they buy, that can add up to huge savings.… Continue reading
On-the-Go Food Containers for Kids
We frequently take food on the go. Whether we are eating a picnic in the park (or in our own yard), bringing food for a trip in the car, or simply sending a snack with my 6-year-old as he attends his weekly art class, we bring food with us almost every time we leave the house.
I used to use glass containers for packing almost all of this food.… Continue reading
Water on the Go with a Reusable Water Bottle
With warmer weather approaching, this typically means more time outside. It also means more time sweating, and more times when you’re likely to feel thirsty while you’re out and about. We carry our water bottles with us year round, wherever we go. But this becomes especially important in the summer time.
Why should you carry a reusable water bottle too?
- It reduces waste.
The Problem of Food Waste
Food waste is a problem. A huge problem. It may not seem like much when we toss out some leftovers, whether at home or from a restaurant, or when we throw out produce that we didn’t eat before it started to go bad, but it all adds up. Researchers have calculated that the average person produces nearly 475 pounds of food waste each year (GRACE, 2015).… Continue reading
Public Water Bottle Filling Station
Our local Natural History Museum has a water bottle filling station connected to its drinking fountain. Every time we walk past it, it makes me smile. We head to the museum about once a month, and each time we look to see how much the number of refills has increased. It now stands at over 15,793.
It can be challenging to fill a reusable water bottle from a typical drinking fountain; this spigot makes it easy.… Continue reading
40 Ways to Reduce Plastic Exposure
While plastics are pervasive and convenient, they come with a heavy toxic load. (You can find more information on the Hazards of Plastics HERE).
Some plastic exposure is beyond our immediate control. This type of exposure occurs when toxins from plastics are released during the production process and end up in our air, land, and waterways.
However, we also encounter plastics that we have more of a choice about: those used to package and store food, drinks, and medications, as well as the products we choose to keep and use within our homes.… Continue reading