Saving our planet: some unexpected finds

Recently, whilst travelling around in our caravan (and escaping the heat at home) we have come across some lovely cottage industries that produce products that help to preserve the resources of our planet.

Eden Eco Products

This is a small business in Eden that distributes metal straws (complete with cleaning brushes), bamboo toothbrushes, re-usable shopping and produce bags and beeswax wraps. They don't have a shop-front, but offer a mail-order service, have stalls at local markets and sell some products through other local outlets.

They can be found here:

https://edenecos.com.au/

Yesteryear Plantations

A home-based business tucked up in the ranges near Batlow, that sells Eucalyptus based products from oil produced in their own still from trees on their property. It is possible to buy directly from them by following gravel roads out of Batlow (an interesting and scenic drive to a lovely location on top of a mountain, which overlooks the waters of Blowering Dam), but they also sell by mail-order and through other local outlets (including Tumut Visitor's Information Centre).

This is their website: 

https://www.yesteryearplantations.com.au/

Tumut Broom Factory

Straw brooms are hand-made from Millet in this factory and it is possible to watch the process whilst visiting. Single,quality, long-lasting brooms can be purchased here, but it is only possible for them to to mail order at least 12 at a time.

More information can be found here:

https://tumutbroomfactory.com/

Saving our planet: knitting cotton dishcloths

Knitted cotton dishcloths have become so popular that there are now myriads of patterns on the internet. These dishcloths replace wettex and chux etc, are much more durable and can be placed in the compost when worn out. They can be used for washing up, wiping benches, washing people (instead of washers) and as general cleaning cloths. They can be thrown in the washing machine and washed numerous times. What is not to like about them?

Below I have featured some of my favourite patterns (they are all free) and given links to them.

Ripples

This was knitted in 8 ply cotton, but would work with two balls of 4 ply cotton of the same colour used together.

The pattern can be found here:

https://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Ripples_Dishcloth__D55836220.html

Mock Honeycomb

This is a fun stitch to do and quite easy once you get the hang of it. This was also knitted in 8 ply cotton, which is probably easier than trying to use 2 strands of 4 ply together.

The pattern can be found here (click on the words "available for free"):

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mock-honeycomb-dishcloth

Diamond Brocade

An easy pattern knitted in 8 ply cotton, but would work with two strands of the same coloured 4 ply used together.

This is the link:

https://knittingunlimited.blogspot.com/2016/08/dishcloth-6-diamond-brocade.html

Waffle Weave

I have made this one up in many colour variations, usually using two strands of 4 ply cotton together in complementary colours, as the pattern lends itself well to this. Stripes of a contrasting colour can also be used.

The pattern can be found here:

https://homespunliving.blogspot.com/2007/11/waffle-knit-dishcloth-pattern.html

Leaf Lace

For something a little less utilitarian, this is a lovely pattern to try. I did this one with two strands of the same coloured 4 ply.

Here is the pattern(once again click on "free Ravelry download"):

 https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/leaf-lace-washcloth

Butterflies and Hearts

There are many patterns that use purl and plain stitches to create pictures, and I searched for butterflies and hearts dishcloth patterns to use in a lap rug for my granddaughter (another use for dishcloth patterns, but this time knitted with wool). This was the result, and I have listed links to some of the patterns below:

Butterfly dishcloth by Emily Jagos:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/butterfly-dishcloth-3

Butterfly dish or face cloth knitting pattern by Barbara Brieter;

http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/clothbutterfly2.htm

Lacy Butterfly dishcloth by Rachael van Schie:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lacy-butterfly-dishcloth

A Valentine Surprise "Be My Dishcloth" by Kris Knits:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/be-my-dishcloth

The mauve lace heart squares came from "Sweethearts Baby Blanket" by Anjela Govan, which was on Ravelry, but unfortunately is no longer available.

Dishcloths are small projects that are fun to knit and give us the chance to try out many different patterns.

Remember: Knitting is relaxing and good for time-out from more arduous tasks.

Connecting with others

It takes courage to reach out and connect with new people, and it can be risky. When it works it can leave us feeling contented and balanced, lovable and friendly, calm and peaceful and no longer like we are on our journey alone. However we may find that we have been gullible and end up discovering that we cannot trust some people; we may end up being abused, back-stabbed, not respected and/or controlled.

Our past experiences may make us hold back, especially if we have been hurt or abused, are feeling traumatised, depressed, unsafe or powerless; or maybe we have been isolated and never been taught how to connect with others.

The metaphor of a castle and a drawbridge representing each person, with a river in between can help us to explore ways to safely connect with others. This is a metaphor I have used with individuals and groups of clients in the past.

Testing the water

The first step is to “test the water” between us and them to see if it is safe to connect, and we can do this by: taking things slowly and steadily, watching and observing how they treat others, tuning into our instincts, asking questions, noticing how they treat us, checking that they are not “sharks”, and even rowing a “boat” across first to check before we start to build a bridge.

The things we need to find in the water

The second step is to consider the nature of the water in order to feel comfortable to begin building a “bridge” between the “castles”. We need to look for things from them like: being treated with respect, lack of jealousy, consideration of our needs, being trustworthy, feeling safe with them, feeling confident and supported, not being dominated or controlled, respect for our boundaries, acceptance, warmth and encouragement, kindness, and sharing in the responsibility of forming the friendship.

Building the bridge

The third step is to begin to build a bridge between the castles, and we can do this by: getting to know them better first, trusting our instincts as we go, respecting boundaries, being friendly, having confidence in ourselves, talking to them and listening to them, meeting with them in different environments to check for different reactions, and meeting away from our homes initially.

Keeping the bridge strong once it is built

Friendships need to be maintained, and some of the things that can keep our “bridge” strong include: knowing and treating the other person as an individual with their own unique needs, giving positives not negatives, admiring their abilities rather than being jealous of them, respecting differences and not judging, mutual respect, allowing space away from each other sometimes, listening not just talking, being considerate, checking out their needs and wants, being genuinely interested in them, and giving them time.

The drawbridges

These allow us to have boundaries to keep our “castles” (personal lives) safe. To protect ourselves we need to be able to say “no” when needed (and maybe re-schedule), ask for space when needed, be able to balance our needs with their needs, tell them what is right or wrong for us, and remind ourselves that we are allowed to shut our “drawbridges” when needed.

 However we also need to respect the other person’s boundaries, so need to:  be aware of their needs and be sensitise to these, not be offended when they need their space, ask if it is OK to visit/ come in, and notice whether their “drawbridge” is open, closed or partly closed.

The strengths we need to help us connect with others

It can be helpful to end this exercise by considering the personal strengths we already have to help us connect with others. These may include: trust in ourselves and our own judgements, skills in communication, co-operation/ give and take (this is a two way process), respect for others and ourselves, acceptance that everyone is different and no-one is perfect, encouragement for others and ourselves as well, friendship, and carefulness (don’t just jump in).

Remember: Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others. (Brene Brown)

Getting through January

In Australia January is the month when heat takes over, a lot of usual activities and businesses take a break, the hectic pace of Christmas is over and the children are on a long school break. Some of my clients in the past would report that this time of the year was difficult to endure and they felt lonely and isolated.

But there are some things that can help us to survive this month, and some opportunities that can be taken up in this less busy time.

Cultivate being

Life needs to be a balance between being and doing, and this month provides an opportunity to build more times of “being” into our lives before “doing” takes over again. One of the best ways of “being” is mindfulness, and I have found two good resources to assist with this.

Sarah Rudell Beach of “Left Brain Buddha” offers a blog and free (as well as paid) courses on Mindfulness. Her style is relaxed, realistic and non-dogmatic and she is very generous in sharing resources. Left Brain Buddha can be accessed at:

https://leftbrainbuddha.com/

Insight Timer is a website or App that offers thousands of free guided meditations (including some Christian ones, for those who are seeking these), and can be found at:

https://insighttimer.com

Expand your mind

This month is a good time to do some reading (borrow books from the local Library) and/ or to learn a new skill (there are many opportunities on the internet and these can be sourced by doing a simple google search).

Find creative things to do

There is time now to be spent on following creative interests and hobbies, by either starting new projects or finding unfinished ones that may have been relegated to the cupboard. This can result in a sense of achievement and possibly a chance to build up a store of gifts to give to others throughout the year (or even to prepare for next Christmas). Small projects, that are not too hot to work on, can use up left-over materials from other projects.

Take time to do some organising

Planning for the year ahead can be as simple as writing reminders on a calendar or in a diary, or more in depth. Rhonda Hetzel on her “Down to Earth” blog  wrote some good ideas on this topic this time last year, and these can be accessed here:

https://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2018/01/january-thinking-about-year-ahead-and.html

Informal gatherings

Whilst taking a break from formal groups, take advantage of opportunities for informal gatherings, by inviting friends over, arranging spontaneous coffee mornings, meeting friends for lunch, and generally doing the socialising that it can be difficult to find time for during the rest of the year.

Remember: During January we have the gift of time.

When life creates the perfect storm

Sometimes we are so overwhelmed by challenges, reactions, disappointments, reminders of traumas etc. that we feel like we are drowning. At these times I find the metaphor of the perfect storm to be helpful, as it describes the situation perfectly, but allows us to step back from it with a metaphor.

 I am not talking about current experiences of grief and trauma here (they are more like being caught up in a cyclone), but when a series of things that we could normally handle on their own, all come together one after the other before we have a chance to recover from the first one.

When we feel like we are drowning

During the “storm”, waves wash over us, and just when we come up for air, another wave often hits. These waves represent the reactions we have to the challenges, traumas, disappointments etc. and they often come in sets, allowing us little time to recover before being swamped by another. Once we are battered, even the small waves can cause hurt.  At these times we might just need to let ourselves react and understand why we are feeling this way. This is a time of survival and offloading.

What are our anchors

There may be people and/ or strategies that act as anchors for us during the “storm”, so that we are not completely washed away by it. We may use these consciously, or find that on reflection later, we can recognise their existence.

Islands of refuge/ respite

Be aware of opportunities (however short) for time out from the “storm”, even when it is not yet over. Life is a mixture of experiences and offers good moments here and there, even when we are feeling overwhelmed by challenges and difficulties.

Storms eventually ease

We have not reached the shore until the effects of the “storm” have eased and we begin to feel safer. But it is helpful to remember that even perfect storms do not last forever and eventually will pass, leaving us to recover and begin to look ahead again.

Afterwards

We need to be kind and compassionate with ourselves once we reach the shore, as we will still be bruised and battered. This is a time for comfort, for allowing ourselves to externalise reactions and for engaging in some self-care.

There are two useful questions to reflect on once we have reached the shore and begin to recover, and these are:

• What have we learnt from the storm?
• What clouds were gathering before the storm hit? (Signs that it might be coming).

Remember: God won't take it away, but God will give you the peace to get through it (Touched by an Angel DVD)

Saving our planet: making a pouch for produce bags

I have found it useful to have a small pouch in which to carry the produce bags, to keep them contained and clean.

I cut a piece, 31cm x 17cm, in fabric that matched the casings of the produce bags, and then hemmed both ends of the short sides (folding the fabric over 1 cm twice).

Then I marked the centres of each short end with a pin ....

and placed two sides of a snap separately  on each end (checking to see that it will join together when overlapping on the right side of the fabric). I used a tool that I have not been happy with (it requires a lot of force and too much force tends to distort the hole for the top of the snap to go into, making it impossible to close). I have since ordered another tool and snaps from Snaps Australia, as I believe these will be easier to use, and these can be purchased on line from:

https://www.snapsaustralia.com.au/

Next I closed the snap and turned the pouch inside out, lined up the sides so that the snap was in the middle of the pouch and sewed seams on both sides, over locking them as well for neatness.

Finally, I opened the snap and turned the pouch back to the right side.

I rolled the produce bags up and found that 3 will fit nicely into the pouch.

 Remember: If you don't fear failure, it frees you up. (Anon)

Saving our planet: making produce bags

On my quest to reduce single use plastic, I next designed some produce bags to replace the single use plastic bags in the fruit and vegetable section of the supermarket.

I used a fairly sheer chiffon, which is difficult to cut and sew, so try to seek the stiffest fabric of this type possible.

For a basic bag I cut a piece of chiffon 82 cm long and 35 cm wide.

Fold in half along the long sides and begin to make a french seam by sewing the side seams together.

Then turn the bag inside out and sew the side seams again, this time enclosing the raw edges in the new seams. Turn inside out again so that the french seam is on the inside of the bag.

Measure across the top of the bag (mine was now about 30 cm wide).

From patterned cotton fabric cut 2 pieces 5 cm wide and the length of the top of the bag plus 2 cm (i.e. 32 cm for mine). Fold each end over 1 cm and iron down, then fold the casing in half and iron again (enclosing the folded ends).

Pin the casings to the top of the bag (right sides together), with the ends of each matching up with the side seams.

Sew these right around the top and then neaten with an over-locker or zig-zag stitch.

Fold the casing up (don't iron as it may melt the chiffon -- just finger press).

Cut two pieces of cord that are longer than the entire top of the bag (allowing enough length to tie them together at the edge of the bag). So, for my bag I cut two lengths of cord 80 cm long.

Thread each length of cord through both casings (each one will begin on a different seam edge) and tie each of the ends together with a knot. This makes it easier to pull up the cords, pulling at both sides simultaneously.

Smaller bags can be made from any left-over fabric, and used when only one or two items of food are purchased. And, of course, larger bags can be sewn as well. These are all light-weight and should allow produce to still be scanned at the checkout. I made a small pouch to carry them in and will write a post on this in the future.

Remember: Anxiety and defensiveness closes the mind to new learning and narrows perspective, whereas openness widens perspectives and allows new connections and insights.