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perspective

8/31/2016

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august 8 was the day that we used up all of our sustainable resources allotted for the year. racial tensions are bubbling over here in the usa.  terrorism is terrorizing.  wild fires are raging.  droughts are devastating.  wars are raging.  refugees are drowning.  earthquakes and floods are destroying whole cities.  from a distance, we are taking notice. tears have even been shed, but a common refrain i've heard over and over is, "but, what can we do?"  

well, all i can say is that we cannot simply despair and do absolutely nothing.  our actions (and inaction) will shape our children's lives and their children's lives too.  once we change our focus and start to look for all the things that people are already doing, it does not take long to see just how much people can do.

there are a lot of people out there doing good things, thinking good thoughts, taking action. we are not alone. we can look around and see people willing to stand together against coal, people willing to stand up, people willing to shout, and people willing to hug.  there are people willing to stop making trash and people willing to stop driving cars.  people are behind uruguay's ability to power their country with 95 % renewable energy. people are behind sweden's ability to use all of its garbage (and much of its neighbor's) as fuel. people grow food in the city, and people open restaurants serving farm to table.  there are people helping refugees learn to farm and sell their produce in their new climates.  there are people who bring food into urban food deserts.  there are people rethinking supportive housing, and people raising native buffalo in order to support the prairie lands. there are people willing to sell only organic cotton t-shirts and people making shirts out of sustainable hemp.  there are people who make art out of trash and people who rescue and sell other people's used art supplies.  there are people willing to provide ebola patient care and people willing to stay in war zones to provide medical care.  people donate toward school uniforms for children who can't go to school without them and jobs for adults in the same communities.  people provide foster care for children in their homes and give them real love.  people give kidneys to people they don't know.  people risk their lives to protect people they don't know.  people risk their employment and even their lives in order to stand up for the rights of their coworkers.  there are people who forgive in order to build peace and people who forgive because they were forgiven.

what can i do?  just begin.

love,
​jane
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compost

8/30/2016

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we all know that there is too much food waste today.  there are lots of facts and figures out there about how much food we throw away.  i used to think that all that wasted food decomposed at the landfill, but apparently it is all put into enormous plastic landfill liners to avoid soil contamination...and it is buried like that.  

when food decomposes in a landfill it's sealed away from oxygen.  this causes it to release methane rather than just carbon dioxide, which experts say is 20-25 times stronger than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.  ~grant gerlock via harvest public media

somehow we've never thrown much food away at our house.  we don't have enough money to be buying excess food.  we clean our plates with each meal, because yes, i am blessed with quite un-picky eaters... but i also try to make meals we all love... and not too much. leftovers are prized for next day lunches around here, but we don't often have them. making a weekly menu and a corresponding list is something i won't shop without doing first.  even if i am dictating a list to someone writing it down in the car... we only go into the grocery store with a list.  
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anyway... what i really want to write about today is compost... because even though we are not wasting food, we do end up with some organic waste.  when i began to focus on zero-waste and also to care about where our food came from, we became interested in composting as well.  

of course there are a few different ways to compost.  worm composting speeds the process, specially made bins keep the process contained, and simple burying of compost works too (i didn't know this, but my mom has been burying compost in her yard for years).  some areas have curbside compost pick-up and many areas have some place that compost can be brought... like the farmer's market or a nearby farm.

we are blessed to live in a house with a yard... and we want that black gold for our own use. mr. tribe built our compost bin of discarded pallets and wire (pretty much like this, but ours has two sections).  this was a simple method and almost free. ;) we add compost to one section until we decide to let that pile sit and really finish turning to dirt... at which point we start to use the other side.  we also have a big round of chicken wire next to the compost that we put raked leaves and spent garden plants into (no weeds)... these are the "browns", which i'll get to shortly.

strangely, the only item left behind by the previous owners of our house was a round plastic lidded tub with 2 ventilation valves that can open and close.  maybe someone will tell me what its real purpose is, but i thought it would make the perfect vessel for compost collection.  it sits next to our sink (something my mom has commented on, "i've never seen compost sitting on the counter"). i'm not sure that is the most lovely spot for it, but it does encourage use... and i would have never known that my mom composts, if it hadn't been sitting there.  that makes me think that it might be well-positioned for starting conversations.  ;)  a lot of people say that compost does not smell.  ours does (not outside, but inside)... especially cantaloupe rinds and banana peels (yuck)... but as long as the lid stays on, it's not a problem at all.    ​
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the process of composting is quite simple.  we only add non-meat/non-dairy items to our compost (that means no bones or dog poo either).  i don't add cooked food waste (not that there ever is any), because we don't want to attract critters.  (i save any unwanted compost items separately and bring them to the compost bin at whole foods. we were also able to compost this way on vacation.) we compost hair, dryer lint (because we only dry cotton in the dryer), food-soiled paper, peels, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea leaves, dead flowers, pits, seeds, finger nails, bits of yarn or twine, and a stray napkin or piece of toilet paper. once the tub is full, it gets dumped onto the heap outside. a scoop of "browns" from the leaf round gets added... and a black plastic garbage bag that acts as a cover weighed down by rocks gets replaced.  this black plastic concentrates the suns heat... which is a good thing, because heat speeds decomposition.  a periodic shovel "stir" happens too.

that's all it takes to turn organic waste into productive soil.  when that black gold is ready (that is, all dirt), it gets added to our garden beds and grows the best vegetables!  it amazes me every time to think about how that waste nourishes new life.  what an amazing Creator! zero-waste by design!

​For more on what to compost...right this way.


love,
jane
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sewn :: oversized shirtdress :: 01

8/29/2016

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the fabric was chosen, washed + dried... the pattern arrived... the instructions were read... the fabric was cut... and the sewing tackled.  i took my time, and i like the way it turned out.

the pattern envelope pictures my ideal shirtdress... it's just the right amount oversized with a low collar, rolled sleeves, and somewhat tapered toward the bottom so as to not be too flowy.  the shape is what i bought the pattern for, and i am not disappointed.  

since the seam allowances included were only 1 cm, and i knew that i wanted french seams, i cut out a size and a half bigger than my measurements called for.  i figured that i was going for an oversized fit anyway, so wouldn't mind if there was a little more room.  it was a good thing that i made this adjustment, because i don't think that i would have been happy with the fit otherwise.
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the cutting layout involved quite of bit of determination and precise jigsawing with single layer cutting, but i do appreciate the tiny amount of waste fabric that was left over... definitely a perk since i am concerned with waste!  

i must say that the instructions were a bit of a disappointment.  if sewn according to the instructions provided, this dress would be full of raw edges prone to fraying and would look totally unfinished on the inside.  the option of overlocking all the edges of each piece before sewing was mentioned, but i never seem to have much success with that method.  it is difficult to keep the edges from bunching when zigzagging the edges of lighter-weight fabrics.  with a bit of sewing knowledge this lack of instruction can be remedied, however. french seams and enclosed edgings enable the finished product to be quite lovely.  i had to remain mindful during my entire process and felt as though i were solving a puzzle.  the seam ripper got a little use too.  :)

the buttons are quite far apart, and i am concerned that there could be some gaping with sitting, so i think i may end up sewing the button packet closed (sew one seam along the inside edge of the button placket in order to keep it looking functional- here that would be to the left of the buttons...and start below the second button down).
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i think this pattern could create a pretty great long shirt jacket too.  it would look cool worn open over a fitted tee or turtle neck + jeans... with maybe a couple patch pockets added at the hips.  this one might get some wear like that too (if i don't end up sewing it closed).  for now it is long enough to wear comfortably with bare legs + clog sandals or tennies.  as the weather cools, i think it will be cute over skinnies, cropped flares or leggings... and over a turtleneck as well.  all in all, i'm pretty happy with this shirtdress, and it feels good to have taken the time to sew it myself.

sewing pattern:  the makers atelier oversized shirtdress
fabric:  keiko goke yuwa cotton (shirting weight)

love,
jane
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fair wearer :: andrea randall :: near-o-waste

8/29/2016

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I'm so excited to introduce Andrea to you today!  I found Andrea's blog Near-o Waste recently and promptly read through the whole thing!  :)  Andrea writes about her family's efforts to get as close to zero-waste as they can while still living the good life...traveling, eating well and even throwing birthday parties.  When I read her post about how she approaches her wardrobe, I hoped that she would be willing to share her thoughts about it here with us!   Lucky for us, this busy, working mama agreed!  

Please tell us a bit about yourself and what makes you you.  :)
I’m a mother of two boys, living beneath the redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains in California. I’m a kindergarten and first grade teacher, passionate about Near-O Waste (near zero waste) and minimalism, and addicted to traveling. We like to be out in nature or doing something active whenever we can. I love to cuddle with my kids, watch them play Legos, and read to them. In my free time, I cook or read and I’ve always got a night-time project. First it was teaching myself how to decorate cakes. Then I went through a phase of making phonics puppets to go with my self-published language arts workbook for beginning readers. A year and a half ago I started a blog. My next project is writing a travel novel about seeing the 50 states with my family. 

How do you see and or approach "fair" in your closet?
My ideal pieces are at least 90% organic cotton. I will buy a non-organic item if it is made in the USA and contains no plastic. I probably have an equal balance of organic items and locally made non-organic items. I know I should be shopping  mostly second hand, but I only usually do it for denim. I have two pairs of second hand jeans that fit perfectly without a belt. ​​
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Does "less" play a role in your fair wardrobe?
Most definitely! That’s my favorite thing about my wardrobe. I did a minimization project I call “Wardrobe 777”. I whittled my closet down to seven items in eleven different categories (short sleeve shirts, pants, tank tops, etc.) plus 7 pairs of shoes. I’ve replaced most of my wardrobe over the past year to eliminate plastic (polyester, spandex, etc.) and now I love each piece and am finally satisfied! 

Do you have a favorite outfit that just makes you feel like you?
I love to wear my 7 for all Mankind jeans (purchased second hand, 98% cotton, made in the USA, wide leg with a cuff) and a Bandit brand vintage black tee that says “On the Road Again” with a rose graphic. It’s not organic, but is 100% cotton and made in the USA. I like it so much because it’s casual and, although it’s pretty new, it reminds me of our travels and makes me feel excited about the next trip. I always wear an under tank top. I have seven that I’ve had for over a decade. They are 40% polyester, but I figure the fact that I’ve gotten so much use out of them and plan on keeping them until they disintegrate makes them a tiny bit “green”. My favorite shoes are Ipanema flip flops (black with a large gold heart embellishment). They’re ethically made in Brazil and are 100% recyclable. And I always feel completely “like me” when I put on the handmade turquoise heart ring my husband bought me on our 7th anniversary in Santa Fe. ​​
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Do you have a piece in your closet with a special story?  Would you mind sharing?
I no longer have anything old with a special story, since everything plastic was recently replaced. But I do have a fondness for two shirts; a flowing, asymmetrical grey tee shirt that my mom bought me (it was my first high-quality shirt and inspired the rest of my wardrobe) and a three-quarter sleeve tee that I bought using a birthday gift certificate from my husband. It has all the phases of the moon on it. It’s one of my most unique pieces and reminds me of our younger son because he was born on a mezzaluna (half moon).

Do you struggle with any part of buying fair clothing?
Lack of patterns! When I first started revamping my wardrobe, I loved the simplicity of the solid colors, and chose mostly black and grey with a few splashes of turquoise and dusty shades of purple and orange. But I do miss the prints sometimes. I have the moon phases shirt, two striped shirts, and two casual graphic tees. Everything else is solid. Simple, classic, and versatile, but sometimes a little too solid! Plus, there just aren’t very many organic, plastic-free options out there, but I feel like they’re on the rise.  

Do you have any goals for a next step you'd like to take in your own fair fashion future?
My goal is to not buy anything new for a very long time. And when I finally do, it will be organic, locally made, or second hand, and I will donate one item I already have to keep my limit at 777!

All photos courtesy of Andrea Randall.

Please check out Andrea's blog, Near-o Waste, and her Facebook page too for more of her story.

Thanks so much for inspiring us with your unique approach to fair in your own closet, Andrea!
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mini-challenge :: jeans

8/29/2016

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It's that time of year when our attention turns back to jeans.  Most of us probably already have enough pairs of jeans to get us through another season (or lifetime), but if the need or urge to buy is strong... think vintage.  It looks to me like the styles of the moment really are all drawn from the not so distant past, so this is the perfect time to head to the thrift store instead of the mall.  ​​
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This is not even half of the jeans in one size at a typical thrift store in my area.  I truly feel that there is more selection in each size here than at the mall.  All of these jeans already exist.  The resources and materials have been used already.  The work has been done to grow, dye, and make them.  The style of the moment already exists here!  

The mini-challenge is this:  This season commit to buying jeans from the thrift store instead of the mall.  Your perfect pair are waiting for you!  :)

Love,
Jane
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weekend reads + such

8/27/2016

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a most exciting, ever so inspiring, not to be missed guest post!!  
this exploration of how a country deals with waste is thought provoking.
i like these thoughts on comparison...especially related to zero-waste.
nearo-waste school lunches!
a new approach.

if this is how the summer ends, may it be surrounded by friends!

happy weekend, friends!  
love,
jane
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progress

8/26/2016

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i am better than i was.
i will be better than i am.
~unknown
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not buying new clothes

8/26/2016

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Laura, 23 :: “I’m wearing a jacket from Fida, my favorite trousers and shoes I bought when I was in high school. At the moment I am inspired by not buying new clothes, but combining differently what I already have. Otherwise my style inspirations must be subconscious; I’m not that aware of them. I like multipurpose outfits and not feeling too serious.”

26 May 2016, Pre Helsinki House

picture + quote via Hel looks
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zero-waste summer check-in :: to do better

8/25/2016

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besides editing and letting a few things go, i wanted to figure out where i could do better with my zero-waste efforts during this summer check-in.  lots of efforts have become habit... a few habits need a renewed commitment... and a few new improvements need to be investigated.

i'm looking back at my list of things that i buy in packaging and the places where i mentioned habits that could use some work.  some of those things i buy in packaging such as baking powder and salt can not really be improved upon at the moment (my area does not offer either of these in bulk)... but many of them can.   keeping those 5 r's in mind helps too:  refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and rot... and only in that order.

renew commitment:
-#1:  no plastic cups or straws.  i find this easy enough when it is just me, but putting three mason jars on the counter (when i'm with my girls) makes me feel embarrassed.  mason jars are not a common site where i live. i don't think i've ever seen anyone else ask for a drink in a mason jar or even a reusable bottle to be honest. guts, girl! 
-just don't buy coconut oil.  i mostly use olive oil anyway.
-do without ketchup.  we don't use it much.
-depend less on take-out pizza.  at least recycle the tops of the boxes and compost the bottoms.
-continue to encourage a certain family member to bring less packaged food home.  :)
-only bulk candy + cookies (or homemade)
-only ice-cream out (in a cone) or made from unpackaged fruit at home
-when autumn comes, buy yeast in glass instead of individual packets.  i use it more in the cooler months.
-reevaluate and brainstorm really tasty, quick, zero-waste meals and snacks, so that we don't have to be tempted to buy packaged ingredients as "treats".

to investigate:
-try making mustard.  i don't like mustard, but two here do and we aren't quitting it.
-request that my store buy bulk pasta again.  muster the confidence.
-explore pretzel alternatives... that is, a cheap snack alternative.
-try making vinegar.
-only buy bulk tea.  research + look for teas with medicinal tea ingredients.
-ask dentist/hygeinist about diy toothpaste.
-get silk for floss, when ours runs out.
​-look for recyclable hairspray bottle.

-get back to crystal deodorant.
-make a little screw top jar of lip balm to take in my purse.

one by one, i feel like this is a doable list.  i've said that i don't necessarily strive for perfection, but i do strive for progress.  well, to progress then.  :)

love,
jane
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recycling is not zero-waste

8/24/2016

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sorry, but these make me laugh.  :)  (images via)
first of all, i have to say that i am incredibly grateful for recycling.  i think that it is an amazing process and positive for the environment in many ways.  the need for paper has greatly decreased in this age of computers and cell phones, but we still need it.  the fact that we can buy recycled paper is great, because we need trees recycling CO2 into O2.  i'm grateful for glass recycling and for plastic recycling too... to some extent.  

what i'm not so grateful for is the idea that can come from recycling... the idea that there is nothing wrong with buying packaging that gets recycled anyway.  because not all of what goes into the bin is recycled. because new plastic has to be added all the time to old plastic in order to make new bottles and bags, etc. because lots of energy goes into cleaning, breaking down and remolding plastic and glass.  because plastic hits a point (quickly) where it can't be recycled any more.

i wrote last week about my zero-waste check in and listed the products i still buy in packaging along with their recycling status.  i want to make it clear that i don't count that as "good waste".  it is still waste.
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is this what recycling looks like?  :(  (images via)
i've written about how my toothpaste tubes haunt me (since i have yet to put my trust in diy methods).  toms of maine strives to be natural and good for the environment.  they've written about their toothpaste tubes on their website (something that most companies probably do not devote website space to).  their tubes are apparently recyclable.  i recently found this explanation of how to clean your toothpaste tubes to ready them for conventional recycling... um, not currently doing that... so i'm not sure that they are getting recycled. toms has a deal with terracylce to recycle the tubes.  i requested that my whole foods get a box so that we can encourage our community to recycle them together.  we'll see if they go ahead with it (it does cost quite a bit to "purchase" a box).  i've got to say that all of this work to recycle one piece of packaging makes me feel a bit frustrated, because this is only one item!

and then... i have this struggle even with the idea of terracylce.  it is undoubtedly a good thing... to recycle hard to recycle things.  but every kid is not walking around with a backpack made out of lunchables lids.  i mean honestly this just makes me laugh.  first, these are not cute (in my opinion)... second, that's only one week's worth of lunchables (so each kid would need like 30 of these bags to account for one year's worth of lunches)... and third, what does that become when it breaks or is discarded?   there is plastic webbing added to each pile of garbage for crying out loud!

some of the plastic gets cleaned and made into little pellets that are then made into recycled plastic park benches and picnic tables.  but these are still enormous hunks of plastic that will someday be discarded... and never decompose (i think compostable wood park benches and picnic tables are the better option!).  


recycling is not zero-waste.  

love,
jane
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