leave nothing but footprints/take nothing but pictures

It's been a long time since my last post. I was very busy working at Crowsnest Lake Bible Camp and then settling into our new home. I let things that were secondary go to the side so I could focus on Josh and camp. But now I am ready to get back into posting more regularly, so prepare yourself for more of me talking about how I try to save the earth.

To kick off a new season of writing this blog I'm going to write a list of things I worked on/learned in the past couple months.

1) it is easier to make garbage, and somedays I don't have the energy to care and thats ok.  Zero waste is less important than my mental health, so when it gets overwhelming to exist I don't worry about trash. I hope one day to have zero waste be so much of a habit that it's easier to do when I am sad.

2) Zero waste concepts are the same as no trace camping. No trace camping is the practice of existing in the back country and leaving it a better place by "Leaving nothing but footprints/take nothing but pictures". Camp is very careful about being no trace. Digging no trace fires, packing out all our garbage, and cleaning all our campsites.

3) At camp we talk about the "fish bowl". The idea that people in leadership are constantly watched by everyone. Younger and older staff, campers, other leaders, and visitors are all watching you. At first it stressed me out, what if I did something that people didn't like, or if I lead a child astray? As the summer progressed I realized that it is not a burden to be watched, but it gave me a stage from which I could proclaim truth. The first truth is that Christ loves all of us, and secondarily that we have a obligation to be careful stewards of the earth. I personally believe that this obligation is a biblical mandate to care for the earth and I life that out by practicing zero waste.

4) It is much harder to reduce waste on a corporate level. Camp has to consider food safety and mass packaging so it's much harder for them to just not use seran wrap. But they are careful about no trace camping. In the backwoods it is easy to leave to trace with the proper education on no trace camping.

5) The world is not always conducive to reducing waste. Grocery stores put all your things in plastic bags before you even ask. Everything comes in packaging. Compost, at least in Coleman, is not provided by the municipality. (I miss Calgary). Paper towel seems easier then Culture is slowly shifting toward being more responsible. I want to be part of the movement toward caring. Because it matters.

6) It reinforced for me that buying secondhand is often a better way to shop, but I also want to start thinking about slow fashion and the ethics of the things I wear.

7) Living in a small town is going to make zero waste a lot harder. My local grocery shop doesn't really have a bulk section. So I'm going to have to get creative. It's weird to move from Calgary were compost is provided to Coleman were the city doesn't even pick up recycling. Maybe I shop become Mayor and change things, lol.

R R R R R

When I was first researching how to reduce waste I found TONS of blog posts about the 5 R's! It made a huge idea into a easy to grasp step by step process. So I've written my thoughts about the 5 R's here! We all can take these steps to varying degrees to reduce what we send to the landfill!

Refuse
According to a super quick google search Canada alone sends 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags a year to the landfill and many of those end up in the ocean. Our personal contribution to this can be reduced greatly by refusing the plastic bag any time we purchase a product. Saying no to samples means you reduce the waste you've sent to the landfill. Skipping samples at Costco is the worlds hardest thing and I hate it. But the urge to grab free food is slightly less then the urge to send less garbage to the landfill. Unless it looks really delicious. It's hard. Refusing plastic cutlery is another easy way to reduce the amount of things you toss. Refusing straws at bars.
Once you get into the practice of refusing things you have massively reduced the amount of trash you have tossed. It surprised me how easy it was to do this step. It was a little uncomfortable to ask people to leave out the straw or to say no to a plastic bag or a pamphlet. But people are using understanding if you are kind when you ask. Trust me, I am chronically bad at confrontation and if I am able to say 'no thanks, pal' then so can you!

Reduce 
 After you have practiced refusing you are still creating waste. The next step is to reduce. Paper towels are a huge thing, they can be composted now in Calgary, but there is still massive production waste, packaging, and if you aren't in the practice of composting them they go to the landfill. They are also expensive and that blows. To reduce that waste I use dishcloths and tea towels. Instead of buying spaghetti in boxes and plastic I buy it in jars from Bulk Barn. Reducing your consumption, in regards to clothing can mean purchasing second hand. Thrift stores often only have a small tag on them OR NO TAG! Also easier on the wallet which is wonderful.

Reuse or Repair or Replace
Disposable things are prevalent in our society: plastic bags, bottled water, plastic wrap, disposable razors, coffee filters, and many more. Replacing those items with compostable or multiple use items takes time and attention but is attainable. Once you have finished a tub of toothpaste you can make your own! Instead of using plastic water bottles you can carry a water bottle, I use a Nalgene because I already had one! No need to buy a new water bottle and create more waste. Refusing a plastic bag means you may want to carry a cloth bag with you to carry home groceries or other items. Instead of buying new pants everytime yours tear consider repairing them! I love finding multiple ways to use an item and ways to reuse things I considered useless. For example, Josh had some stanky work shirts from a long summer working construction. But I didn't want to just through those away, so I washed them (a couple times) and cut the parts that weren't super nasty into rags that I used instead of paper towels! Also sometimes Josh and I will get a plastic bag (sorry to shock you the I am not perfect) we will use it to clean our rabbits cage, or in our smaller bathroom garbage. I'm still working on getting to the point we don't need one.

Recycle
Living in Calgary recycling was a dream, just put it in the correct bin and it disappeared. I went on a field trip to the recycling facility in Calgary once, it smelled and the snacks were subpar. In regards to how it can help reduce waste, this redirects things from the landfill! Some companies are using recycled materials to create new sustainable products. Since Josh and I have moved to the pass I am going to have to figure out how to properly recycle. This will be interesting.

Rot 
Everything you can not refuse, reduce, reuse, or recycle then you should be able to compost! Again, Calgary made composting 10/10 easy. I just had to keep it all in a compostable bag that I got at Safeway and then take it down to the bin. I hope to start composting for myself in the fall. We shall see how that goes!

Deodorant

I've been using my own toothpaste for months now and I am very happy with it! It's a cheap and easy way to create/use toothpaste. It did take awhile to get used to the taste, but after a week it was totally fine. To keep with my zero waste ideals I kept my deodorant until I used it all. It doesn't make sense to throw out my old deodorant because that would just be creating even more waste, waste I could've used. So I used it for the last couple of months and finally used it all up. Now I have made my own!

I just googled 'easy homemade deodorant recipe' and found the one that had ingredients I mostly had, the ones I didn't have I borrowed from my mom. Can you call it borrowed if you are never given it back and plan on spreading it on your pits? I looked at a couple and picked one that had only a little bit of baking soda. Some people have a sensitivity to baking soda and the skin in your pits is also very sensitive.

I have used it a little bit and liked it so far! I used lavender essential oil to scent it and I loved the smell! I will let you know if the baking soda bothers my skin and how easy it is to use!

I haven't been able to take any big steps toward zero waste in awhile and this felt really great! To create something I will use everyday and to know exactly what's in the product I'm using is a great feeling. Also seeing another step toward reducing waste is really encouraging.

Shout out to my mom for letting me use her ingredients!

Being Gentle

I have been planning on posting for months. I've drafted several posts and haven't posted them. I got caught up in reading other women blogs about zero waste and comparing myself to them. I began to compare myself to them and I was feeling really discouraged because I hadn't attained the level of zero waste they had. I got in my head and felt like a fraud if I posted. Then I remembered that I have been working on reducing my waste for around 6 months and they have been doing this for 4 or more YEARS. It is not reasonable of my to compare myself to people who have been practicing for years. So I resolve to allow myself even more grace and to create a space where I can grow.

In the last couple of months of practicing zero waste I have learned and grown and tried new things. It's been refreshing hearing my friends be inspired to take small steps toward reducing waste! Josh has been encouraging and has kept me realistic about my exceptions. It's been a learning curve but it's been a very rewarding and fascinating.

Looking forward I am excited to accomplish more in regards to zero waste. Reaching the things I aspire to and creating a more beautiful home. This year I plan on making more changes to my life to aide my health and awareness. My goal is to replace unhealthy, or merely subpar, habits with habits that are more sustainable and happy.

In the next couple of months I will be living at camp, so zero waste will be interesting, some of it will have less to of with me and more to do with camp. But as far as I'm concerned I will do my utmost. Personally I can use my thermos or a mug more then once to preserve a small amount of water and time used to wash it in the dish pit. I can wrap my food leftovers and bagged lunches in my beeswax wraps. As the summer progresses I can figure out other ways to reduce waste and save.

I hope to stop comparing myself to others but rather to learn from them. Heres to learning, growing, and accepting our failures. As they lead to greater things.

teeth

As you already know I have been making my own toothpaste. I am used to the taste now and actually really appreciate being able to make such a staple. It's cheap and zero waste, my two favourite things. I love that I know exactly whats in it and how it's made.

But until now I had still been using a plastic tooth brush. If you replace your toothbrush once a month  starting from when you are three then by the time you are 50 you have replaced it upwards of 500 times. (it took me a long time to do that math because that's not how my brain works but I think it's right) That waste just chills in a land fill or ends up in the ocean killing my friends, the fish. I've been thinking about that for awhile, everyday while I brush my teeth, how I have been making my own toothpaste but I still use a plastic toothbrush. I filed that away in my 'deal with this later' part of my brain.

One solution is to stop brushing my teeth. Because we all know that isn't practical and its gross so it's not gonna happen.  Some people also 'oil pull' but I tried it and almost threw up, so that's a no go.

This Christmas my sister gave me a sweet gift, a bamboo toothbrush! Which is wonderful on many levels. It came in simple, recyclable packaging. Often, even products meant to help reduce waste, are packaged in layers upon layers of plastic. It's an oxymoron. So the fact that this toothbrush comes in recyclable packaging is lovely! It is also really beautiful. It's a sleek design, it makes me happy when I see it. I love things that are functional and beautiful and this toothbrush is both of those. In addition to the packaging, and the beauty the whole thing is compostable because it is made of bamboo! Instead of throwing out packages made of plastic, a toothbrush made of plastic, and a having an ugly toothbrush I now use a sustainable, beautiful, compostable toothbrush.

https://brushnaked.com is the company my toothbrush is from. There are nylon and plant based bristles, different colours, and affordable. They also make charcoal activated toothpaste! (this isn't an ad) I like mine so far. Before I buy a new one I will research some more brands and let you know what brand I decide to use.

For now, I'm very excited about a new toothbrush!

Christmas

Christmas has come and past. It was a wonderful time visiting friends and family in the Pass and Calgary. It was beautiful, restful, and fun. It was also our first year as a married couple which made it extra special to me. I love that we get to share both of our families traditions and spend time with the people we love.

One of the main contributors to waste during the Christmas season is the wrapping we use for our gifts. I've already written a post about how to make gift bags, simple cloth bags that you can toss the gift in, cinch it up and that gift! This is also wonderfully handy because then I can easily and beautifully wrap strangely shaped items. I used a few of mine this year! Not only do I create less waste but I am also adding one more handmade item to someone else's gift!

I still had some gift wrap from previous years that I hadn't used. I also had some twine and ribbon left over from my wedding. I didn't want to just throw out these things so I figured out a way to use them. I wrapped them with the paper, as per the usual, but instead of adhering them with tape I used the twine to tie it up and added some ribbon to make it prettier.

This used up most of the old wrapping material I had and made it easy for the old paper to be reused later because it didn't tear because of the tape. It could be used to wrap another gift or as scrap paper to write/draw on.

Next year I plan on using old flyers or some craft paper, or perhaps making enough bags to suite my needs! Some people only gift 'experiences' such as a trip to the movies or a museum, a picnic, or a day skiing. Those are also good options for creating less waste. I try to do that for my nieces birthday's, it's a good option if you're into that or it fits in your schedule. Some people just don't wrap the presents and just give them. Figure out what works best for you. For me, at least this year, it was about using what I had and a mix of paper wrapping and my gift bags! It's not about being perfect, it's about using what you have and making it work for you!

I also forgot to take pictures of the things I wrapped until they had been unwrapped, whoops! Use your imagination!

Merry Christmas!

rot and new habits

Living in Calgary is pretty awesome for moving toward zero waste. There is a really good recycling program and now there is a wonderful compost program! I was so stoked to hear about this program as most of the waste I was still creating was food waste and compostable items! The program began in more suburban neighbourhoods and I live in an apartment building so unfortunately I couldn't participate easily. BUT MY BUILDING GOT COMPOST AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT!

I love seeing the massive difference between my the garbage I throw out compared to when I wasn't composting! It's so incredibly easy to compost, if it is food it can be composted. So many other things can be composted as well and it is so easy! It takes a while to get into the habit of separating your trash but the slight inconvenience is worth it when you consider the difference it can make!

(sorry about the qual of the photos today. I took them on my phone. It's actually fine. I don't know why I'm apologizing)

ALSO!!

After several months of practicing waste free grocery shopping Im actually getting better at it! I had to do an unexpected run for a few things tonight and was able to do it without using any plastic bags and I am really stoked about that! It's so easy to shop and not use plastic bags! I clean my veggies before I eat them and therefore can just place them in my basket and not into those small plastic bags that feel weird! The bag my mushrooms came in can be composted! The glass bottle the sweet chill sauce came in could either be reused or recycled! Because I have been planning and practicing and making mistakes for months I now know what I can do, I know my resources, and I'm comfortable with a new way of shopping. I'm pretty proud of myself and I wanted to share.

Inheritance

Josh and I stopped using paper towel. The transition has been easier for me then Josh because I didn't grow up using it. Josh is wonderfully supportive and is totally willing to make this adjustment. Like all the other adjustments we have made toward a more sustainable lifestyle it takes a week or so and then it becomes a new normal, it's suprisingly easy once you make the initial step.

We have replaced the paper towel with cotton dishcloths. I make my own dishcloths and have been doing this for years. It is an easy way to save money. The ones I create are durable and beautiful. I usually make them while I watch a movie to give my hands something to do. Because I make them myself the only waste I create is the recyclable paper that is wrapped around the yarn when I buy it. I learned to knit them when I was nine. 

I have spent most of my life watching and then emulating people. Especially my Grandma. 

Through out the last months it has become increasingly evident that she was a powerhouse of influence. In my life and my families. Her and my Grandpa left us a legacy of faith, work ethic, and family. 

She was an avid knitter. Creating sweaters, socks, and dishcloths for everyone in her family. She taught me and my cousin Naomi to make dishcloths when we were nine. She guided us through the motions. I will never forget how it felt to sit in her TV room, watching Anne of Green Gables, and struggling with some yarn. Her hands were swift and perfect. Mine were slow and childish. 

I still make dishcloths. I still create the same thing she made. She used to supply my mothers linen cupboard with as many dishcloths as she needed, and now I have taken that role.

I hold this skill dear to my heart. It is my little piece of her. 

I honour her by using this skill to bless others. 

Wrap it up

My friend Naomi gave me an incredible gift! It's a beeswax food wrap! They are the perfect replacement for using plastic on your left overs, or to put over a bowl to transport. The plastic is virtually impossible to reuse and recycle (unless I'm wrong and you can recycle them) which means every time you use them  you have to throw it out and it goes right to the landfill and could end up in the ocean killing fish. Which sucks.

These come in three sizes. Large, medium, and small. The largest size is 13" by 13" and the smallest is 7" by 7". They are a good range of sizes. I have yet to see how they work and if 3 is enough.

They are made with beeswax, tree resin, jojoba oil, infused into a hemp and organic cotton cloth. All natural ingredient acting like a second peel for my food keeping it fresh. They last about a year with proper care, and once they are worn out I can compost them! I feel much better using this product on my food then plastic.

Also they smell really nice.

Clothes

Hi my name is Bronwyn and I am insecure. Who isn't? Maybe if I talk about it then other people will be more comfortable talking about it and we can all lift each other up. Also I wear clothes.

Originally this post was just about clothes. When you have a lot of clothes you can look at a jammed closet and not be able to find a outfit. Which means descending into the endless cycle of "I have nothing to wear." Then going out to get more clothes so you have something to wear but then just putting those clothes into an already crowded closet. Then the next morning you have the same conundrum. Everything sucks and you have spent a lot more money and don't have a beautiful functional wardrobe. I had this problem and it was compounded by a deep sense of insecurity. Because I had so many clothes I could never put together something that fit me nicely, went together, or made me feel comfortable. So I got upset with myself. My insecurity about myself wasn't just about clothes but this sure didn't help

I am learning that my insecurity does not reflect my worth. It is not what I think about myself that matters. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am a ghost inside a machine. My body is not my beauty. These are the things I tell myself when I get myself down. I also know that faith without works is dead. If I just say these things and do nothing then insecurity with overcome me and crowd my thought life. I've learned to do tangible things to help me. For example one time I dyed my hair pink. In short it was a lesson in looking at myself differently.

I applied the same concept of looking at my hair differently to looking at my clothes and wardrobe differently.

I dyed my hair to remind myself that I am art. That my hair is not a signal of my worth as a woman. I had a tangible reminder of that for awhile and now I look at the mirror and remember the lesson of my pink hair. I adjusted how I viewed that portion of myself. I have felt the need to work on my clothes for a long time. So I purged them. I followed the Kon Mari method loosely. Holding each item and deciding whether it sparked joy or not. What didn't spark joy I donated. It ended up being garbage bags full of clothes that didn't fit, or I bought when I was sad that I didn't have enough clothes, or that I bought to impress people. Like my hair I decided to think of my clothes as art. Not only when they are hanging in the closet but when they are hanging on me. I am aligning every part of myself with my values.

All this to say now I own less clothes. Its the simplest solution I found to my problem. I was stressed out every morning by having too many options, I couldn't pick a outfit that was comfortable to me, and I got frustrated and felt insecure. It was not cool. When I moved home from Manitoba I got donated most of the clothes I had. Again when I was getting ready to move into the apartment with josh. And again a couple of weeks ago. Each time I do I shed a layer of choice. I shed clothes that don't suit me. That don't make me feel comfortable. I keep items that 'spark joy'. These items go well with other items in my wardrobe. I chose a colour palette that I loved: greys, blacks, blues, dark greens, stripes, and plaids. Colours and patterns that I love. I want to adorn my thought life with things that I love and I want to dress the same way.

Excluding work out clothes, pjs, and jackets I now own 60ish items of clothing.

Besides alleviating my frustration and insecurity it helps me in other ways. I no longer shop in quantity. Old habit: walk to value village and buy some clothes that don't fit well or that just were not me in order to feel better about myself and not actually addressing the real problem. New habit: have fewer items of clothing and only buy high quality things that fit me beautifully and make me feel pretty and comfy. This saves me money. Instead of buying a whole bunch of unnecessary items I'll only buy things that I know I need and that will add value into my life. Not only that but with my closet less jam packed looking at it causes me less stress. I can easily see everything and I know what does with what.

Hi my name is Bronwyn and I am insecure, but I am working on it. Beginning with how I look at my clothes.

I Like Clean Clothes and I Cannot Lie

My sisters are a wellspring of information and ideas for me in this blog. G suggested I try using soap nuts for my laundry. I looked up some options on amazon but couldn't justify the cost and the shipping and I didn't know if they would work. So I didn't get them. Which was a bit of a bummer because I was using some laundry pods that Josh and I had left over, and I was feeling weird about the A) amount of trash and B) having no idea what was in them. I was still very interested in figuring out a good swap for my laundry.

I have a small wardrobe so taking care of the few clothes that I do have is very important to me. Using laundry pods didn't feel in line with being a good steward of my possessions.

.

Today I went to bulk barn to pick up some pasta and a shampoo/conditioner soap bar that comes without any packaging. While I was looking at the soap I found some soap nuts right by them! They were a bit cheaper then the ones on amazon, I didn't have to pay shipping, and I didn't have to wait for them to come! In order to use soap nuts you need a small bag, which I didn't have. Lo and behold right beside the shampoo bar was some soap nut bags for less then a dollar! Best day ever!

My only concern is that I won't like the smell, or it won't fully clean my clothes, or that it will just be super annoying. I did a test run with some towels and it turned out amazing! It smelled lovely and was beautifully clean. I am really happy about it! Even better is that I can easily compost the soap nuts once I have used them up. I can also compost the bag I have my soap nuts in if it wears out. My building will be getting a composting system soon and I plan on taking full advantage of that.

There are a few downsides to using soap nuts. You have to wash in hot water, which uses more energy then washing. in cold water. It is also requires smaller loads in the wash, it really doesn't matter to me currently because my washer is so small but for someone with a larger washing machine that may be annoying. Some people said that the soap nuts left stains on their clothes. I will keep you updated about how they work .

I am very excited about my laundry set up. I use wool dryer balls in my dryer to reduce the amount of trash I would be making if I used dryer sheets. Which is also less expensive then dryer sheets, and I don't have to dig around in my laundry to find an annoying sheet. And now I am using these soap nuts which are compostable, save money, and I feel better about what I am putting on my skin.