compost: Starting a compost bin is one of the best things you can do for the environment. 25% of everything Americans throw out is compostable, and 16% of methane emissions are from organics unable to decompose in landfills. Starting a backyard compost is easy. Even if you’re bad at composting, it’s better than not composting...
Due to the recent Climate Talks in Paris, I thought I should go through my trash. I’ve recently been terrified by the red smog alert in China. I can’t imagine living in a world like that, can you? It got me thinking about the cost of convenience. It’s very convenient to ship everything to your...
Bidet Curious? Bidets aren’t popular in America, but they’re incredibly popular almost everywhere else in the world. Ever since Justin heard about Japan’s Happy Toilet, he’s been dying to get one. Since moving, we’ve been doing some home upgrades that are better for the environment. We got a new low flow toilet and a bidet...
We all know the mantra, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” right? Well, I’d like to throw in another “R” word – Refuse. Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle It’s an amazingly simple concept to keep in mind: “What comes into your space must leave your space.” Only you can control what comes into your space (unless of course, it’s...
So, I know this is what you’ve all been waiting for – the big reveal. How much trash have I made since starting this journey? There are lots of stickers stuck together that I could not pull apart. I hope I can upcycle the twist ties. This does not include anything I’ve had before going...
Fall is right around the corner. The summer is winding down. Peaches and strawberry stands are having their last hurrahs. Apples and grapes are starting to appear. The air is stagnant and hot waiting for the cool winds of September to blow it all away. I briskly walk 6 blocks to my new favorite place...
Growing up I would microwave my Chinese takeout in Styrofoam, load up plastic Tupperware with leftovers, eat individual plastic wrapped snacks with lunch, and grab water bottles on the golf course. Of course, I would throw all of this into a landfill without a second thought. But, I also didn’t realize the harm I was...
The weekend is by far the best part of the week. I’m not trying to discredit fajita Mondays, because waiting till taco Tuesday is impossible, or sipping wine and snuggling after work. All of these things are wonderful, but there’s something about a summer weekend. Sunlight pours through the blinds at 8:00, snuggly hands are...
Failure without a doubt is an inevitable part of life. Sometimes your dishes are packed in a box, your mason jars are neatly tucked away, and your fridge won’t fit through the doorway. On days like these, you may need to sit back, relax, and order a pizza. I tried to enjoy every last slice...
The grocery store is a magical place. There are so many ingredients waiting to be made into delicious meals. If you want to start shopping zero waste, you’ll need to get a grocery store pack ready to go. You’ll want a reusable sack to carry your groceries, some bags for produce and dry ingredients, and...
The landscape of lunch time in America has gone through some major changes. In the early 1900’s leftovers were wrapped in the remaining wax paper from loaves of bread and stuffed inside stainless steel boxes. As we approached mid-century, hot lunches were becoming readily available. Going into our modern age, disposables have taken over the...
Budgeting, although not a sexy topic, entirely necessary. If you’re thinking about starting something new, it’s always nice to know what it costs. I’m almost always tempted to bust the budget grocery shopping. I love food! It is the ultimate sharing experience, it nourishes you, it brings joy, and it’s fun to make new things. My goal is...
On my way to work this morning. It’s not uncommon to drive past a couple of trash bags tossed out into the fields the night before. The average American generates 4 pounds of waste a day. There are 319,000,000 people in the US. That’s 1,276,000,000 pounds of discarded material a day. At first I was...
I grew up in the South and have very fond memories of Easter. It was a large family get together that usually involved Aunt Carolyn’s deviled eggs. (secret ingredient: smoked paprika) Mom always bought us new sun dresses most likely adorned with flowers or polk-a-dots. I dreamt of shiny stained glass windows, a warm sun, and singing “Because He...
