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“It’s only single-use if you use it once.” This quote, by @popcorn.ceiling.life rings through my head at least once a day. Not only is Sarah one of the funniest and kindest people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in this online world, but she’s also very wise!
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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there’s a big difference between plastic-free and Zero Waste. Going low-waste is not about throwing “away” all of your plastic for (admittedly beautiful) natural items. It’s about using the plastic that you have as long as you can.
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Like these plastic bags. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve washed and reused them for buying or freezing bread, or for bulk shopping. They’re pretty ugly, I know, and like all plastic, they’ll eventually meet an unhappy end on this planet, but since they exist, I’d might as well use them!
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Do you reuse some “single-use” plastic too? What do you use it for?
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Here are some tips for reusing plastic:
1️⃣ Handle plastic with care. Try not to heat it, subject it to UV damage, or physically damage it. “Stressing” plastic with high temperatures or physical damage can cause it to leach potentially harmful chemicals. I wash these bags by hand with mild soap and lukewarm water, and I hang them to dry.
2️⃣ Can’t use it? See if anyone else can! Donate it to a local refill store (many have a “free containers” section), give existing bags to pet owners for pet waste, or post it for free on a local online buy and swap group.
3️⃣ Create art! Feeling crafty? You need to check out @common_earth’s trash art projects (and also watch her stories on a regular basis because she’s hilarious!).
I’m so excited to be supporting the “Create memories, not garbage” holiday campaign– brought to you by Metro Vancouver. Every week for four weeks, I’m writing content encouraging my fellow Vancouverites (and everyone who’s reading this) to reduce their waste this holiday season. And it starts today!
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First up, I’m discussing how to create holiday traditions that the whole family will love, without overspending or creating waste. The link to the full post is in my bio, where I share a strange but beloved holiday tradition my family participates in, as well as a full list of holiday traditions to inspire you and your family! ❄️⛄️
I’d love to know: what holiday traditions do you participate in with your family? Do you do anything weird and wonderful, like my family? ❤️
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#sponsored
#zerowastechristmas
#zerowasteholidays
#zerowastefamily
#lowwaste
#lowwastehome
#greenmana
#zerowastefamily
#ecomom
#inbeautyandchaos
#simplejoys
#myeverydaymagic
#familytraditions
#lowastedecor
#ecomom
#vancouvermom
#metrovancouver
#creatememoriesnotgarbage
#sustainableliving
#theartofslowliving
#wintermagic
#embracetheseasons
#ecofriendlygifts
#wastefree
#holidaydecor
#ecofriendly
#ecofriendlyliving
#greenchristmas
#handmadechristmas
#naturalchristmas
Toddlers + transit. We’re a one-car family, and since my husband needs the car for work, my son and I are without a car during the day. Thankfully, we live in an area with good public transportation, and we can walk to a few places as well. This is a huge shift from when I was a girl—there was almost no reliable public transportation where I lived.
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Taking a toddler on transit is an interesting experience, but overall I think it’s a positive one.
1️⃣ It helps teach patience (I cannot control when the bus is going to come, and we both have to wait patiently).
2️⃣ It encourages more participation with the world. When you’re in your own car, it’s like your own little world, but being on transit means you need to engage with others. We say hello, thank you, and goodbye to the bus driver; we wait in lines; and we make small-talk with other passengers. (As an introvert I don’t always love this, I have to admit, but I still think they’re good life lessons.)
3️⃣ It helps foster a more intimate connection with the world. In my experience, when we take transit, or wait for transit, the process is a lot slower than driving. We take time to notice the little things and reflect on the world around us.
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I’m not going to pretend that I always love taking the bus! It means that I have to carry lots of things or push a stroller; it’s often raining here in Vancouver; and it really sucks to miss a connection (especially if my son is cranky). But at the same time, I try to frame it as a little adventure with my son, and it’s a key part of our low-waste life.
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What about you? Do you have good transit options where you live? Do you take kids on transit? Any tips or tricks to share? Swipe to read my top tips!
Swipe to see the before picture! 🌱I’m so thrilled with my little science experiment of regrowing green onions in a glass of water. Once again, I was floored by how simple it was. Why didn’t I know about this? Why doesn’t everyone do this? Why on earth are we buying green onions every week?
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All I did after using the tops of the green onions for cooking is clean off the stems with my hands and placed then in a glass of clean water on the counter. Just an inch or two works! Every day I changed the water. It’s so funny, I didn’t actually believe they were growing much until I looked at the before picture!
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If I lived in a warmer climate I could transfer these outside, but it’s way too cold here. So now I’m considering getting a little pot for inside, so I can grow these year-round.
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Have you ever re-grown green onions? Or anything else? Any tips to share? (PS. I managed this before with lettuce and it was great too!)
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#lesswaste #reducewaste #zerowaste #zerowastetips #zerowasteblogger #lesswastelifestyle #lowwasteliving #zerowastejourney #vancouverblogger #reducereuserecycle #refill #plasticfree #saynotosingleuse #discoverunder10k #vancouverinfluencer #zerowasteirl #lowimpact #noplanetb #nopackaging #ditchplastic #sustainablefuture #oneearth #greenliving #ethicalliving #reducefoodwaste #fightfoodwaste #lowwastekitchen #wasteless #consciousliving #regrow
Horrible things are happening all around the world, as we start to see and feel the effects of climate change more and more. And yet, somehow, in our daily lives, we find joy and gratitude. How do we balance these feelings? How do we feel the urgency of the situation and the need for action, as well as the little, happy moments that mean so much to us?
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I remind myself that it’s allowed, even necessary, to let myself feel joy and gratitude, because if I don’t, what am I fighting for? Being aware of the problems in the world means that we have a responsibility to act on them, but it doesn’t mean we’re not allowed to see the joy in our everyday lives. On the contrary, I think it’s more important than ever to experience joy.
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Here, my son gathers autumn leaves. It was a good summer. For the first time in recent memory, Vancouver wasn’t under a cloud of forest fire smog. I know the smoke will return, but in addition to doing my best to fight climate change, I also tried to savour every smog-free moment.
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Gratitude has somehow become a cliche and a buzzword, but it really is crucial. Where do you find joy? What are you grateful for today?
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#climatechange #climatecrusis #climateemergency #lesswaste #reducewaste #zerowaste #zerowasteblogger #lesswastelifestyle #lowwasteliving #zerowastejourney #vancouverblogger #reducereuserecycle #lowimpact #saveourplanet #saynotosingleuse #waronwaste #ourplanetourhome #selfcare #gowildlyandslow #embracetheseasons #myeverydaymagic #motherhoodunplugged #theartofslowliving #vancouvermom #vancouverinfluencer #slowchildhood #seekthesimplicity #ecoliving #sustainable #sustainableliving
A happy little bulk and low-waste haul from this past weekend. ✨🛒
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I love bringing my own cloth bags for bulk dry goods like popcorn, rice, and oats (just a few staples that I’m always stocking up on!). Not going to lie, I’m also always open to the interested looks I get from other shoppers. If I catch someone glancing, I’ll chat with them about using cloth bags, and they’re usually really excited by the idea. Just subtly recruiting other low-waste people wherever I go! 💁🏻♀️
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I also picked up a little scrubber from @portmoodyrefillery, as my husband accidentally threw ours in the garbage. 🙄 (Yes, it had a lot of life left in it. Yes, I mourned. Yes, he thinks I’m nuts. It was tough, folks, but I think we’ll get through it.) On the bright side, this scrubber is plastic-free and a much better option than the old one I had been using. Onwards and upwards, am I right?
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What do you love to buy in bulk? Any tips you use while shopping? Are you a weirdo like me who tries to talk to strangers about cloth bags?
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@greenpeace_canada .
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#lesswaste #reducewaste #zerowastetips #zerowasteblogger #lesswastelifestyle #lowwasteliving #plasticpollution #plasticpollutes #goingzerowaste #zerowastejourney #vancouverblogger #zerowastehome #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #plasticfreetips #reducereuserecycle #lowimpact #endplasticpollution #vancouverinfluencer #discoverunder10k #zerowasteirl #noplanetb #ecoadvocate #refillrevolution #breakfreefromplastic #ecolife #refill
