So I've been pondering on my peanut dilemmas these past few days and while I don't have a particular solution, I do have a few new thoughts to share.
Firstly, thank you for all your useful comments on my last post. It's always helpful to have use of a 'brains trust' and I'm also a firm believer in the axiom of 'Ask...and you shall be given lots of information that may help with your dilemma'!!
My thinking is that yes, I do the best I can - although I know I can do better. Not necessarily just with plastic bags but also with plastic containers. An example would be when I buy olives or sundried tomatoes from the deli, I could take my own glass container instead of regularly bringing home the little plastic ones. And if I need a top up of flour or dried fruit, I can head to the wholefoods store and buy a kilo in a paper bag rather than from Woolies in the regular plastic bag. The wholefood shop doesn't have easy parking but you know what? I have enough time in my day to have a long phone call with a friend or a leisurely cuppa in a cafe, so I certainly have time to walk a little further!
I really wouldn't buy peanuts more than once a year, so there is only one large plastic bag which does get re-used. I do buy almonds, cashews, oats, sultanas and quite a few other things, every 3 months, however since I share the kilo quantity with friends, I don't always get/keep the bag! And yes, the ones I do keep get re-used in all sorts of ways before they head off to the soft plastics bin! So overall the amount of plastic is still smaller than if I bought small bags of nuts or whatever from the supermarket.
I re-use and recycle and repurpose. I rarely buy new clothes. I shop at farm shops and markets as often as I can. I use fabric produce bags and take my own shopping bags to carry things home with. I do many other small things that I cant even think of right now. I do them all so that my grandchildren's children can still breathe fresh air and explore unpolluted seas.
I know that the small alterations you and I do can produce big results for the future.
I just wish that everybody would stop buying plastic Stuff!!!!
*I was looking for a photo for this post - a flower or something pretty - and I found a pic of one of my art journal pages. Appropriate I think ;o)
All we can do is the best we can manage at the moment. All will be well! x
ReplyDeleteThat is so true!
DeleteI sometimes feel as if I have to save the whole world and that sends me to a mental space that is very difficult to negotiate myself out of. You are so passionate about reducing your waste, and you have done! And you will keep doing it. If the whole world was as careful about waste as you, our waste problem would be enormously reduced. So think of this - everyone should be more like you! And you will keep going one plastic container at a time, and so will many of the rest of us and all of us together will keep influencing others and eventually we will all make a difference. It already has.
ReplyDeletePS I love the title of this post. It could have gone anywhere:)
Ugh, I know, although I don't get into a bad headspace about it, I do get really annoyed when I see the crap bought and then thoughtlessly thrown away. I think my biggest achievement will be if I can get all my children to be really environmentally aware - at this point some are just mostly aware ;o)
DeleteI thought the title was a bit clever too haha
I often find myself becoming stressed over feeling like I'm not doing enough, but I am trying my best and making adjustments when I am able. X
ReplyDeleteYes and I think thats where it's at - being aware and making those adjustments as we are able. I reckon you probably are doing a whole lot more than you give yourself credit for - please dont get stressed - "Mad Englishwoman" in the first comment hit the nail on the head!!
DeleteI try hard & luckily my oats, sugar, flour all come packaged in either a cardboard carton & paper style bags. Sometimes it is hard, but I've been using canvas type bags since we lived in Tassie in the late 80's. My original bag has Purity written on it along with Woolworths, Safeway & Rolf Voss. The days before Woolies was the only title they used in different states. Take care, stay safe & hugs.
ReplyDeleteWow! I didn't even know that Woolies had been something else once! Yes I have a lot of calico bags too and I do use them to divide up the wholesale things we buy on occasion.
DeleteI have a couple of those calico bags too,
DeleteYou are being mindful and that is what matters. When we think about it, do our best and know that we can always improve that is important. I agree with your wish for people to stop buying plastic stuff. There are many things I won't buy because of the packaging they come in.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important to concentrate on the positivity of what we can do and to be mindful of what we are doing and the effects that has, but also not to get stressed up about it.
ReplyDeleteWe can all do something to help even if it is reusing envelopes for shopping lists and then shredding them and adding to the compost. Thanks for the reminder Evi x
I like your journal page - "small alterations, big results" really resonated with me. We may not be able to change the world but every little bit helps and adds to the momentum so that eventually much of the world can be changed. Thanks, Evi :)
ReplyDeleteI'm terrible at forgetting just how far I've come and beating myself up about not doing enough. I try all the time to limit the waste I create while balancing the needs of a family, not all of whom are happy to compromise or just plain do without. It's an ongoing challenge.
ReplyDeleteCheers Kate
My recipe is "less". Have a nice weekend! Regula
ReplyDeleteHello Evi, Thank you for your visit to my blog & the lovely comment you left me. I totally agree with you regarding the plastic issue. If we all did our own small bit towards reducing our plastic usage, then think of the impact this would have globally - its those small bits that add up. Have a lovely weekend Evi. Julie xx
ReplyDeleteI have the dilemma that my CPAP breathing machine and its disposable parts are all made of plastic, plus the distilled water that I have to use in the CPAP machine comes in 10 litre plastic bottles. I have no alternatives and the council won't recycle the water bottles as they are too big. So I have a small mountain of bottles piling up to go in the yearly inorganic rubbish collection. Sighs. But I am careful with packaging of groceries and use cloth re-usable bags wherever possible. I suppose we can only do our individual best and keep being mindful of the resources we use. Hugs Rose x
ReplyDeleteYou already do so much by the look of it so stop being so hard on yourself. I love the look of your art journals. Stay safe. x
ReplyDelete