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zero-waste in a pandemic?

6/26/2020

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How are you feeling about waste in the midst of a pandemic? It was sad to see the bulk bins empty + be filled with plastic bins + bags of beans, grains + nuts instead. All of the bread is now sitting in plastic bags + the salad bar is empty. Some of the systems that I depended on to lower my waste output have crumbled like many of the other systems we depended before the pandemic. 

My feeling always was that sometimes other priorities take precedence over zero-waste thinking. As a nurse, I would not complain about the disposable, plastic oxygen tubing or all the wrappers + syringes that we used + discarded. During a pandemic, some packaged (rather than bulk) food makes sense. I'm not going to add to the stress of this time by feeling guilty about making a bit more trash than I previously did. That's why I've waited to write this post. As always, guilt is often unproductive + even in the best of times, only takes us so far. Compassion + love...choosing to do better...to make a positive difference...that is the motivation I want to employ.

While things have changed + some of my previous choices are no longer available, there are still a bunch of ways that we can choose to create less waste in the kitchen. I'm going to focus on the kitchen here, because this is where a big portion of our waste is created + where the differences are most seen lately.

There are still lots of things we can do to be mindful of + decrease our waste even during a pandemic:

:: Eat lots of fruits + vegetables. 
This is the time of year (in the Northern Hemisphere) to enjoy all of the local, unpackaged produce available. A CSA box is a fantastic way to eat like a king, support a local farmer, reduce exposure to coronavirus and reduce transport miles + packaging.

:: Eat less (or no) meat.
"The greenhouse emissions from the livestock industry are greater than power + transportation combined and because of its huge land footprint, it is responsible for a catastrophic meltdown in global biodiversity. If you could snap your fingers + make the livestock industry go away, the recovery of biomass, trees + shrubs + grasses + so forth, would immediately start pulling carbon out of the atmosphere. The bottom line is that nothing even comes close, in terms of its destructive impact on the environment." 
~Pat Brown

:: Pack your own groceries into reusable bags.
Since we are not allowed to place containers from home onto the conveyor belt, I put all of our loose produce into my own bags while shopping...unload it onto the conveyor belt for the cashier...and then load it back into my own bags again myself. Our grocery store employees won't pack our groceries into our bags (not that they always did anyway), but they will let us pack our own groceries into our reusable bags.

:: Grow something.
Basil or mint in front of a window...peppers on the balcony...tomatoes or cucumbers in the yard or at a community garden plot. There's nothing more zero-waste than package-free food grown close to home.

:: Eat raw.
Saving gas + electricity qualifies as part of zero-waste too. When I turn on the oven, it not only takes electricity to heat...it also takes more electricity to cool down our house as a result. Make sun tea + cold brew rather than using the kettle. Salads + fruit/yogurt/granola are mainstays of our diets these days. Make bigger batches of rice + other grains to avoid turning on the stove again.

:: Preserve seasonal goodness.
This is a great time to think about what we'd like to preserve for colder days ahead. We could buy a box of peaches to cut up + freeze...or a few extra cucumbers each grocery trip to pickle. Lots of packaging can be avoided this way. (If plastic ziploc bags are a preference for freezing, wash + reuse them.)


:: Drink water, make sun tea.
Drinks can create unnecessary waste + often contain a lot of sugar. Water from the tap (refrigerate a pitcher in order to save water from having to run to get cold) with or without a squeeze of lemon, making sun tea or cold brew from bulk and smoothies from fruit + vegetables are great low-waste summer drinks. Skip tea bags + choose bulk leaves in a can. Compost the leaves, grounds + rinds.

:: Make food + coffee at home.
Mindfully making meals + coffee from scratch at home can cut out a lot of packaging. Consider supporting locally-owned businesses by getting take-out on occasion too. 

:: Prioritize certain packaging. Reuse + recycle.
Reusable packaging may still be an option. I try to recycle as little as possible, because recycling doesn't always happen + requires a lot of energy + often new resources too. Paper + aluminum can be recycled. Glass + cans too. I try to avoid plastic, but stretchy bags can be added to the plastic, grocery bag recycling bins. Make an effort to get recycling to the right spots.

:: Eat it all.
So much food gets thrown away. What a waste of not only food, but of all the resources it takes to grow, nurture, water, de-pest, harvest, clean, transport, stock, sell + buy food. Make meal plans + grocery lists. Eat what is in the house before buying more.

:: Compost.
Food fills up landfills + produces harmful methane gas. Get it to a community compost site. Do it on a balcony. Do it in the yard.

:: Reassess.
Go through the trash + recycling to see what's in there. Reassess how some of it could be avoided. Sometimes we feel pressured in the moment to make a quick decision at the grocery, but later we can be a little more thoughtful about our choices + make a better plan for next time. Sometimes seeing the amount of clamshells or plastic cups in the trash can spark motivation to shift a habit.

:: Use rags instead of paper towels. Skip disposable sponges.
It was a pleasure to not feel this scarcity.

:: Wear a mask + practice social distancing.
Doing what we can to stay well + to keep others well saves a lot of medical supplies from needing to be used + disposed of.  :)

:: Do your best. And do your best again.

Guilt isn't proactive. Each choice is a new chance to make a good choice. 

Thank you for all the good choices you make! We are doing this for each other, and I appreciate you + your efforts so much!  :)

Love,
Jane
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work

6/26/2020

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Do not wait:
the time will never be 'just right'.
Start where you stand,
+ work with whatever tools you have at your command
+ better tools will be found as you go along.
~Napoleon Hill
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thrifting summer

6/25/2020

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This summer there were a few pieces that I needed to add to my simple wardrobe. Thrifting is my first choice for "new" fair clothes. (Well, after refashioning pieces from our own closets.) Secondhand clothes already exist...and choosing them instead of new clothes saves new resources from having to be grown or extracted (polyester comes from petroleum), transported, processed + spun into fibers, transported, woven into fabric, transported, dyed, transported, cut, sewn, transported, stocked + sold. (phew!)

I love the idea that a single shirt or pair of shorts can be worn + enjoyed by many people. It's fantastic to find a piece of clothing to love + wear for years + years to come...but if a piece of clothing is only loved + worn for a period of time + has yet to become useless...why not let someone else wear it + love it?

Online thrifting can be a bit tricky, since we can't feel or smell the fabric or try clothing on before purchasing. This summer, however, I was able to find a few secondhand pieces that I am happy to add to my wardrobe. (yay!) I find it helpful to know my own + the garment's measurements. I appreciate that I can search for brands that I like online + know to be of higher quality. It's also nice to save a little money!

Buy secondhand. Swap secondhand. Sell secondhand (even for a low price). (Donate as a last resort, because donations are often sold overseas where they sabotage the local clothing economy or get put into the landfill.) If it's still got some life in it, get it worn!  :)

Love, 
Jane
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a fairdare summer (or winter)

6/25/2020

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How are you feeling about clothes this season? Has quarantine changed the way you're thinking about getting dressed? This might be a great time to do a little experimenting. 

This might be a great time to:
:: happily wear what is already in the closet without much pressure to perform fashion.

:: test out how much is enough.

:: tackle the mending.

:: search for + try an (online) thrifted piece. 

:: learn to sew (or knit)...and start (or finish) a project.

:: save all the pennies that would normally be spent from week to week on fast fashion + put them together toward a fair piece that has always seemed out of the budget.

I'm doing a little bit of most everything on this list. How is your fairdare summer going?

Love,
Jane
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weekend reads + such

6/20/2020

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Over the past few weeks, I've come across Jack Kornfield again + again. I'm currently pouring over his No Time Like the Present + The Art of Forgiveness, Loving kindness, and Peace (for starters). Lovely, cathartic reads!

Let us march on until victory is won. 
Revisiting Summer is a good thing. (more plantssssssssss.)
Knock Down the House had us on a rollercoaster of tears + cheers.
I've signed up for Slow Fashion Season...let's transform the fashion industry!

Sitting here with doors + windows open...listening to the birds + feeling the breeze. Looking forward to eating some raspberries + blueberries. Dreaming of indigo dye + vintage sewing patterns. Happy Summer (or winter) Solstice, friends!

Love,
Jane
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strength

6/18/2020

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In this world there are two great sources of strength.
One rests with those who are not afraid to kill.
The other rests with those who are not afraid to love.
​~Jack Kornfield
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curbing consumerism :: clothing

6/13/2020

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When it comes to shopping for clothing (a favorite shopping focus of mine),  :) I practice a few habits that help to keep my wanties in check. I don't want to consume more than I need to- in regards both to the planet's resources + to items that I'm keeping from others. I like for my wardrobe to minimal + manageable...but also satisfying + supportive of my happiness + well-being.

A few of the habits that I've found to be supportive of these goals:

:: Keeping a list of pieces that are enough and that serve me, my lifestyle at the moment, + my climate well. I revisit this list periodically + make changes based on recent observations.  My current year-round, every-day-wear list looks like this:

tanks 
long-sleeved tee
button-up
sweatshirts
pullover sweaters
dress?
jeans
white pants
olive pants
leggings
shorts
boots
sandals
trainers
flats

:: Going through all of my pieces, trying them on + assessing needs at the beginning of each season. With the above list in hand, I figure out what I need to replace + focus on finding only those pieces. (Though I'm not super strict about excluding a perfect, fair gem that I can afford.) Then I can settle in + be content with the good things I have at the ready.

:: Letting things go periodically not only funds necessary purchases + keeps those pieces in use...but it also helps to hone my preferences + reminds me to choose wisely.

:: Being quite picky. When my pieces of clothing are few, each one needs to work hard. 

:: Being willing to go without. At this point, I know that I can make do with few pieces of clothing. 

:: Keeping a (not-too-long) list of my personal go-to thrift spots/sites, sewing resources + fair brands. I start my shopping search at my local thrift shops...then I'll take a look at ebay, etsy + poshmark. I'll consider making, and then I refer to the ethical brands list (scanning for my favorites).

​:: Keeping a "desirables" list. Sometimes I come across something lovely for which I don't currently have the money or need. I'll make a note of it +  know that I can revisit it, if I want to. Somehow just having this list allows me to obsess a little less about lovely things. I try to keep this list minimal + delete items about as often as I add them.

:: Reminding myself that I don't need to own all of the lovely things. Sometimes just curating a collection of lovely things is enough. 

:: Limiting exposure. I try to be mindful of the shops I go into, the instagram accounts I'm following + the email lists to which I'm subscribed. Sometimes these things are just invitations to look + want. I want to want what I already have. 

I've probably said all of this before, but since it's not a one time + done thing...a reminder is helpful at least for me.  :)

Love,
Jane
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fair sandals

6/13/2020

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christy dawn
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cydwoq
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birkenstock
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sseko
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brave souls
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ottowin
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nisolo
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larry 
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zuzii
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sven
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rachel sees snail
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beatrice valenzuela
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bryr
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pons avarcas
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mohinders
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kiwi
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feelgoodz
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proud mary
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fortress of inca
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cano
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No. 6
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santa venitia
Sandal weather is here, and there are some lovely, fair sandals to be found. It's interesting to note that more than a few of these sandals have their origins in the traditional warm weather footwear of their regions...and some are still made there by craftspeople who have had skills handed down to them through multiple generations. These designs have stood the test of time + wear, which gives testimony to durability + comfort. Many of these sandal brands utilize upcycled materials + vegetable tanned leather (processing which requires less harmful chemicals). When looking for sandals that qualify as "fair", I prioritize fair wages, care toward working conditions, attention toward production miles, environmentally conscious production + natural (biodegradable) materials. Each of these brands applies these standards to different degrees.

Beatrice Valenzuela :: designed + made in Los Angeles
Birkenstock :: made in Europe with cork + other natural materials
Brave Souls :: made in the Dominican Republic from local leather + upcycled car tires, fair wages
Bryr :: made to order in-house in San Francisco from wood + leather
​Cano :: made in Mexico, fair-trade
​Christy Dawn :: designed + made in Los Angeles from deadstock + upcycled leather
Cydwoq :: made in-house in Burbank, California from natural materials
Feelgoodz :: fair-trade, natural rubber
Fortress of Inca :: made in Peru, fair wages
Kiwi Sandals :: made by Rhett, a second generation maker, in Lucerne Valley, California
Larry :: made in NYC from American-made, shoemaker offcuts

Mohinders :: handcrafted by artisans in rural India with transparent + respectful sourcing
Nisolo :: fairly made in Peru, Mexico + Kenya
No6 :: clogs handmade in the USA
Ottowin :: locally sourced materials, made in Bristol, UK by Lucy + Ollie
Proud Mary :: made by artisans in Morocco, fair wages
Pons Avarcas :: made in Ciutadella, Spain by third generation makers, local materials
Rachel Sees Snail :: made by Rachel in Portland, Oregon...kits + classes too
Santa Venitia :: clogs designed + made in California on bases from Sweden
Sseko :: made in Uganda, multiple styling options, fair-trade

Sven Clogs :: handcrafted in the USA
Zuzii :: designed + made in-house + to order in Los Angeles

This is only a small collection of fair sandals. Secondhand sandals are worth a try (fit may be an issue). Search for handmade + vintage gems on Etsy. My intention was to keep the sandals listed here a little bit more budget friendly. Coclico + Beklina are two brands making some beautiful, fair, investment sandals.

As ever, the sandals in our own closets are the fairest of them all!  :) And a good cobbler is a treasure indeed. Enjoy these longer, warmer, sandal-weather days with all of the sunshine, long walks, food eaten outside, easy conversation + adventure that await.  :)


​Photos via links. This post will be easily accessible toward the bottom of the ethical brands page...for when we're looking for some fair sandals.  :)

Love,
Jane
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forward

6/12/2020

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The beauty of anti-racism
is that you don't have to pretend to be free of racism to be an anti-racist.
Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism
wherever you find it, including in yourself.
And it's the only way forward. 
​~Ijeoma Oluo
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a few lovely things

6/11/2020

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Just a few lovely things I've come across lately: Go Gently Nation's summer collection is gorgeous. I love the guaze-y, strappy dress + the story shared along with it of the founder's trips to Palm Springs packing only this dress. The colors + easy fit of these natural-fiber, made-in-Los-Angeles pieces are completely dreamy to me. And these photos have me longing for California sand between my toes.
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I'm loving the simplicity of these meals offered as inspiration for what to do with our farmer's market or CSA hauls. It always feels affirming to see recipes listing a limited number of common ingredients that result in super tasty meals. (Also- yay!- summer produce!)
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I enjoyed spending some time this week with this article by Laura Rubin about writing for self-worth. I tend to spend a lot more time thinking about ways that I need to improve rather than respecting who I am. I appreciate Laura pointing out that self-worth "creates a beautiful foundation for self-improvement" (if that is what we want to pursue) as well.

And I'm looking forward to diving into the Self-Compassion Workbook alongside Julia. I'm hoping that the illustrations by one of our favorite artists help sweeten the willingness to engage.  :)

I hope you are finding some mind, body + soul-nourishing ways to spend some time each day.

All lovely images via links.

Lots of love,
Jane
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