The key to success is organisation.
On Friday I was mightily smug because I had prepared my breakfast smoothie and also my lunch on Thursday night. I took my own coffee to work in a travel mug, and also a spare in case I needed an afternoon pick me up, which I did.
My lunch was a veggie noodle jar which I made by cooking rice noodles for a few minutes and layering them in a jar with various vegetables I had in the fridge, chilli, ginger and some bouillon powder. You can creative and add whatever you fancy. Next time I will use a spoon of miso paste and some tofu to bulk it out in the protein department. Then you simply pour boiling water in the jar, stir and let it rest a few minutes before eating. I have wooden chopsticks in a handy travel pouch I take with me.
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| Homemade veggie noodles |
Saturday was household chores day. I am still realising how much plastic is used in my everyday life. This is particularly noticeable in my bathroom and kitchen cleaning products. Fortunately, my local health food store in East Dulwich offers re-fills for washing up liquid and laundry detergent and conditioner. You can take your own container and they charge per litre. It works out cheaper than buying a new bottle so its a good incentive. I'd like to find a hand-soap re-fill too. Any suggestions?
I also found bio-degradable bin bags in the same store. Great for the garden and cleaning out my guinea pigs' cage. It's crazy that we put biodegradable material into a non-biodegradable bag and then send it to landfill to sit there for hundreds of years. There's no logic! But I am guilty of committing this crime and have been doing so for years! With an apologetic twist of my mouth I drop it into the wheelie bin. I know it's wrong, but a few seconds later I've moved on with my life the crime is out of sight and therefore doesn't exist. I found my eco-conscience, finally, and have changed my ways!
We don't have a kitchen bin but use a plastic bag. It makes us feel better about getting one in the supermarket when we forget our re-usable bag. Like it's being recycled or something. Complete nonsense, of course, but these are the excuses people use everyday to let themselves off the hook. People hate being made to feel bad and they hate to feel judged. Even by themselves..
Since we have a food compost bin and a recycling bag, most of what goes into the bin is non-recyclable wrappers and packaging, which is dry. I simply emptied the bag out and re-used it since it was clean. Normally I'd throw the whole lot away. Soon we won't need to do this as there will be NO PLASTIC wrappers, packaging ANYTHING in my house that isn't being re-used. We will finally be able to say Goodbye! to the unsightly plastic bag hanging in the kitchen. Streamlined!
I have been looking up traditional, homemade cleaning solutions in books and online and it seems there is nothing that can't be cleaned with some white vinegar, lemon and bicarb. Just add elbow grease. I will be making my own concoctions as I use up all my store bought, plastic products.
It occurred to me I could use tea-tree essential oil diluted in a spray bottle as a work-surface disinfectant. Tea tree is used in hospitals now as it's one of the few anti-bacterial solutions that can kill antibiotic resistant strains of E.coli and other super-bugs. Plus it's natural and smells great. It can also be used to clean childrens' toys, spray yoga mats or any other sports equipment after use, and of course, clean toilets. I will dedicate a blog post to cleaning products at a later date.
I am lucky where I live as there is an amazing eco-home shop called Karavan Eco. It sells all kinds of lovely things for your home from up-cycled flower pots made from inner tubes, to fair trade bags, baskets, rugs, blankets, bamboo bowls, water bottles, travel mugs, bamboo clothing, pet care, kids' toys, books, gifts and decorations. I want everything in there but I must restrain myself! They will also try to source items you need if they don't stock them already. I have asked them to get me some bamboo travel or kids' cutlery to keep in my car for when I'm on the road with work.
Take a look at the links below. I included the web address for Keepcup. Their designs are very modern, fun and stylish. I don't know why you'd want to use a disposable after seeing these! If you sign up to their mailing list you get 15% off your first order. They make great presents too.
I have decided to practise the art of self-denial. If I don't have my reusable cup with me, I cannot have a take-away coffee. Simple. Whatever happened to "going without"? We have become a spoilt and self-entitled species. Either drink in, or wait until you are home. Did you know that 14% of the worlds litter is from beverage containers? This isn't including caps or labels either. Something needs to change our throw-away attitudes, and soon.
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