Record #1

So I decided to take some pictures of what things look like today, so we can see how things go. I'll probably have to do a few of these; that is to say I have a lot of things I want to improve upon.





Here is my refrigerator.












And freezer.


















This is what my pantry looks like.
















This is my broom closet.














This is what my tupperware looks like.






Success #2: I just got these great glass spice jars with stainless lids. (And yes, I will be keeping a running tally of successes)





As you can see a lot of what we eat is packaged. I'm actually surprised looking at it. We work pretty hard to eat healthy. I just didn't notice how trash-laden it all is. I mean we buy cheese in the pouches with the little pieces of paper between them instead of just buying the blocks... Yipes. I noticed looking in my pantry that we really have a lot of boxed/jarred/bottled things. When we took a trip to the East End Food Co-Op here in the 'Burgh most of those things were in bulk, and if you belong to the co-op all bulk is 20% off. So, that's an immediate change I could make. Just have to get some jars.

We have a lot of tupperware and we use it a lot. I noticed that super lady uses japanese wrapping techniques called furoshiki. I don't know if I'm quite there yet. Maybe I am... Shoot, I don't know what other options there even are. You could go for the crazy pyrex tempered glass with rubber lids, but those things are heavy and the lids don't stay on as well as tupperware. There's these things... But with a tagline like, "Earth Friendly Stainless Steel Containers Are Smarter And More Stylish Than Plastic" it feels a little weird to go for it. Why the heck does it have to be stylish? What does that word mean when referencing food containers? I'm going to keep looking.

I use those terrible cleaners, which I have found recently make my hands incredibly dry/flakey. My toilet bowl cleaner can literally burn your eyes out - like no eyeballs left. I saw it whiten my grout before my eyes - within seconds. I don't remember this stuff happening when I was a kid. Did i just not notice?

Success #3: Just noticed that my reusable bags are pictured in the broom closet. Go me! And yes, we do actually use them. Although, I realize now, it's just for groceries. Why did I never think to use cloth bags for other purchases? What a sheep I am.

I'll be doing some more of this. Keeping a little record of my initial observations. You try it too! Let me know how it goes.

Realization(s)

I found this amazing blog. I don't remember how anymore, but I have read every entry all the while wondering why I was so intrigued. I think I may have figured it out:

1. She talks about what you buy being a vote. I've known that. Who hasn't been told that? But if you watch this video, you can see it. You can see plainly - by the way they live - that each thing you buy is a vote. They have decided to vote for things that are manufactured as sustainably as possible. They have decided to vote for simplicity and thoughtfulness.

2. She talks about literally pulling out what's in her trash can and analyzing it... This isn't an idea I first heard through her. Actually, there's this great guy (Bob Johnson) right here in Pittsburgh who tries to get people a little closer to their trash through his RiverCubes. I was enthralled when Bob talked about it, but I never thought to apply it to my own life. I love that... I'm always thinking, "what a cool idea!" I almost never take it in as a challenge.

3. She gets a lot of questions about how much time it takes; she is constantly asked, "what are the "costs" of going zero waste?" Heck, I mentioned the blog to a man who had changed his name to Water and he even said, "I wonder how much TIME it takes." This man was wearing a purple tie-dyed shirt with a stencil of irises on it and he was questioning this woman's (who's practically saving the planet single-handedly) lifestyle. Her answer is always that it allows time for things that are actually important because they don't have to worry about all their stuff, that her life became simpler. I've been realizing lately that in many ways I am frustrated with having so much to do that I cannot be present in the simple things: making dinner, planting seeds, cleaning the floor. What do I gain from having so many tasks, so many goals, which all seem to work against one another?

4. She talks about having the power to decide what is in our lives. I see all the time, that my job/house/car/etc. decides what I do. I am bound to these things. I choose them every day, but not consciously. Somewhere inside of me is a false assumption: This is the way life is.

So, I'm going to start thinking about choices. Spending time deciding how I will vote with my money. Choosing how I live each moment. Deciding that what I throw away is a reflection of who I am, of how I care for others as much as for myself (not to mention our Mother Earth (call me a hippie if you like)). I'm going to try it and I think I'm also going to document it, right here. Stay tuned folks.