Zero Waste Challenge Day 30: Live Local

We have reached the end of our challenge! Just one last tip for you to bring with you into the rest of the year. 

the challenge:

Explore your town - on foot. A lot of local businesses don't have a footprint online. You could be overlooking the most amazing place! Look into the little shops in your downtown area. You may be surprised with what you find. Whether it's new bulk selections,or a new tool store that has exactly what you need! Live local.

It's one of my favorite aspects of the zero waste lifestyle. We aren't distancing ourselves from the supply chain. Rather we are putting a face, a name, and a story with what we buy. We're able to support our local community and economy by shopping local. We're encouraging goods to be made not just in America, but in our own community. 

• Farmers Market
• Book Stores
• Co-ops
• Locally Owned Cafes
• Cobblers
• Tailors
• Craftsmen
• Plant Nurseries 
• Hardware Stores

The list doesn't end here! There are so many types of local, small businesses. Everyone I've encountered in town has been more than happy to talk to me about the life of their product i.e where/how it's made. They have also been wonderfully accommodating with my plastic/package/trash free requests.

While it isn't possible to buy everything locally, I encourage you to take a look in your own area before automatically buying it on Amazon. Putting a face and a story to your things encourages repairs and mindfulness; it subtracts from our throw away culture. 

If you've enjoyed this 30 Day Challenge you can donate to Be Zero - they are a non-profit organization which helps spread the word on waste reduction! Andrea is doing some amazing stuff all around the globe. 

If you are looking for more guidance or more structure, you should check out my consulting packages. Anyone who mentions the Zero Waste Challenge in the month of July will get 50% off their consultation.

I have thoroughly enjoyed putting this together for you, and look forward to posting again in July! We will go back to Tuesday and Friday posting. Or possibly to a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday schedule.

What do you think? Can you handle three posts a week? 

In cased you missed any - you can see ALL of the 30 Day Posts Here! 
 

Zero Waste Challenge Day 28: Food Waste

I hate food waste. I know we've already talked about composting. But, I want to encourage you to think about stems and scraps in a different way. Scraps and peels are still food! I would love to do a longer and fuller post on what I like to call "Root to fork" - eating and utilizing the whole veggie! (I did not coin the term) I offer root to fork workshops for those of you interested! 

Here are some of my favorite ways to utilize foods found in the composter. 

• Broccoli Stems
• Beet Tops
• Carrot Tops
• Banana Peels
• Stale Bread
• Odds and Ends

the challenge:

Once this week - before you throw your scraps in the composter, ask yourself if there's anything else you could make with them! Try out some of the recipes above or do a little google searching for ideas.  

I would love to hear what you come up with. What are some of your favorite ways to re-invent food scraps? 

Zero Waste Challenge 27: Bamboo Dish Scrubs

When I first went zero waste, I was thinking about buying reusables. Not necessarily about the end life of a product. But, some products, just don't last forever. The two products that come to my mind are dish scrubs and toothbrushes. 

In both of these situations, I've opted for bamboo instead of plastic. By choosing bamboo, the base of the item can be composted instead of landfilled. When looking for products, try to think about the end life. Thing about what happens after you can't use it anymore? 

the challenge:

Swap out plastic brushes and sponges for something with a better end life. Things aren't going to last forever, but we can make better choices. Check out what I stash in my dish scrub jar! 

click on the images to read more about the product. 

A long brush is essential when you have as many mason jars as I do! 

A fabulous basic.

I love my bamboo pot scraper. This really revolutionized dish washing for me.  It can handle any caked on goop with ease.

Necessary for cleaning flip top bottles! 

I have also found my bamboo dish brushes last A LOT longer than sponges. I've had some of my brushes over a year, and they're still amazing. I can't imagine a sponge lasting over two months - ick! 

Zero waste isn't just about buying all of your food in bulk bins. There is so much you can do to make a difference! Things that aren't time consuming or hard. It doesn't take any extra effort to switch things like your toothbrush or dish scrub. We can all do something to make the world a little greener.