I have taken the approach of gradually implementing permanent changes, rather than doing nothing because it is too overwhelming, or doing too much at once so that it is not sustainable. Taking consistent action, no matter how small, takes away the sense of helplessness and hopelessness that can threaten to engulf us when we despair about the state of our world.
Less waste
Lindsay Miles has a very informative blog called "Treading my own path" and, during the year, I enrolled in her course "Wasteless", thus freeing myself up from conflicting information on the internet. I learnt lots about recycling, composting and other ways to reduce food waste, how to shop for, and store, food without plastics, and how to substitute plastic in the bathroom and laundry (including recipes for making home-made products which work e.g. she points out that if you mix bicarb soda and vinegar they cancel each other out and you end up with salt water -- yet many on-line recipes erroneously combine the two). She also included many links to reputable on-line businesses that support the Zero Waste movement.
Her blog can be found here:
Recycling
We have no garbage service to our farm and have to take it all to our local tip, which only provides for land-fill. However, encouraged by the "Wasteless" course, I did some local research and discovered that we can deposit recyclables at the Waste Management Facility in our nearest town (without charge), so now we collect them and do just that. I also discovered that all Coles stores have Redcycle bins for soft plastics, and that these take a large variety of soft food packaging. For more information, here is a link to their Website:
There are also many other things that can be recycled e.g. Aldi collects used batteries, the Post Office takes used ink cartridges and Telstra collects old mobile phones. Planet Ark has information on where many other items can be recycled, and their Website can be found here:
Decluttering
Having taken on board the concept that if something is not used, and is just languishing in a cupboard, it is waste, I bought a book on cleaning and decluttering, "Real Life Organising" by Cassandra Aarssen, as I liked her approach that one size does not fit all. This then led me to her Website "ClutterBug", which provides resources and a fun approach to cleaning and decluttering, although she is not into Zero Waste or plastic free living. This is the link to her Website, but scroll down past the ad for her course, to find lots of free resources:
Plastic substitutes
I have found it useful to list all the plastic items I use and to gradually replace them with non-plastic items as they wear out. Otherwise it is kinder to the planet to keep using them rather than offloading them and buying new items. However I have moved food items into glass jars, and made sure that I save glass jars and bottles, which I have been more conscious if using.
When it comes to single use plastic, however, I have progressively worked towards eliminating this by taking my own reusable shopping and produce bags with me (some live in my hand-bag) and refusing plastic shopping bags wherever they are offered, taking my own container to the butcher for meat, visiting Bulk Food stores if we are in larger towns, shopping at Farmer's Markets, and sewing substitutes e.g. snack bags, bread bags, shopping bags, cloth napkins, food covers etc. There are many patterns on the internet and Pinterest is a great source of ideas.
Cooking from scratch and making my own cleaners etc
I have had a long history of mostly cooking from scratch, so it was not difficult to increase this to include finding home-made versions of things like chicken stock, vanilla essence, sauces, jams and preserves and the like and, in this endeavour, I have been inspired by the blogs of others like:
Stay Home Instead
The Make your own Zone
Live Simply Me
When it comes to cleaners and personal products, I have found that it pays to seek reputable information, and a great site I have found for soap making and lotions is:
The Nerdy Farm Wife
Having a focus on giving
One of the strategies that has helped me in my journey through healing has been to focus on others instead of just on myself. I have made a point of reflecting, at the end of each day, on what acts of giving I have accomplished that day, and written these in my diary. This reminds me to keep this strategy alive, and works to increase my confidence and belief that I am an OK person.
Acts of kindness and giving to others also makes our planet a better place.
Remember:Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes the ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust and hostility to evaporate. Albert Schweitzer
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