Free yourself from all that packaging

Hey folks,

I'm almost through the Story of Stuff and let me tell you, that book is having a big impact on me.  Initially I was more focused on minimizing the number of belongings and saving money along the way.  Now, my main effort through this project will be to minimize the production of waste.  I have decided to try to limit our family's waste to a grocery sized bag every 2 weeks.  I think this is do-able and probably not the most ambitious objective, however, our son sleeps in disposable diapers overnight and there are a few other items that I am sure will require the trash can as opposed to the green bin (Ottawa's composting system) or the blue/black bins (plastic/paper recylcling).  As a result of this goal, I am going to have to do some household dumpster diving and really sort through our garbage, e.g., tissue that I use to blow my nose or paper towel can go in the green bin. These are the types of items that often end up multiple different grocery size bags that all get put into a larger black garbage bag. With the new challenge to reduce waste, I am going to be particularly mindful of plastic bags.  Although we own canvas shopping bags we are not great about bringing them with us to the store.  As a result of this newfound consciousness, I am going to be much more careful when it comes to plastic waste and bringing new plastic into the house.  I think I would like to learn how to make something like this with all the extra plastic bags that fill my house and probably many friends and family's homes.

So far, the buy nothing for 6 months challenge is definitely going ok.  I've had a couple minor repairs to make on my bike but I have held off buying anything new.  I went to a fourth of July party at the US ambassador's house on Monday.  Had I not been going through this challenge I definitely would have bought a new dress for the occasion and likely other items as well as a result of that excursion.  I ended up just wearing a dress I owned which is completely fine- there were soooooo many people there and the crowd was wearing a mix of outfits so I don't think I stood out.

So we are dicsussing the story of stuff at Tuesday night's book club.... should be an interesting discussion. I'll definitely post any highlights or surprising viewpoints that come out of the meeting.

Talk to you soon and in the meantime, free youself from all the plastic!!

Next challenges - seriously thinking about food packaging.  This is a tough one.... who doesn't like to eat.  Chocolate and coffee are basically the base of the food pyramid for me.  I have some work to do.... I know it's just about making some changes and I'll be happier for it!