The switch to zero-waste toothpaste has been a process for this tribe. I had a little apprehension about the effectiveness of straight baking soda in the beginning, but I think that I probably could have overcome it if it had only been myself that I was considering. Since I wanted to bring the rest of my tribe along in this journey, I knew that I might need to ease a couple of them into this one.

Our first try at homemade toothpaste that really stuck moved us away from non-recyclable toothpaste tubes + the unknown ingredients list, but still used a few (recyclable) packaged goods. I've never been a fan of this sort of substitution, so my goal was always to use this only as a beginning. 

Next, I stopped using clay in the recipe (and added a bit more baking soda to it). Without clay, the toothpaste doesn't keep its consistency quite as well, but "leaves teeth + mouth feeling more clean" than the clay version. (via family reviewer)  :) After a couple of rounds of that paste, I was ready to try leaving out the aloe vera...which results in tooth powder.

So...here is our zero-waste toothpowder! It's a mixture of:

4 Tbsp. baking soda (available in paper box)
pinch of xylitol (using the rest of what I have now- won't buy again)
8 drops peppermint oil (available in glass- again using up what I already have)

Baking soda :: Helps to remove plaque + reduces acidity. This is the main ingredient in most tooth powder/paste recipes. Though there are those who say it is too abrasive for everyday use, its abrasiveness is less than many commercial pastes. via

Xylitol :: I chose xylitol instead of stevia, because xylitol reduces tooth decay + plaque and promotes the remineralization of teeth :: via + via :: choose xylitol from birch wood, so it's non GMO

Peppermint Oil :: has antimicrobial properties, reduces cavities + freshens bad breath :: via

I stir this up with a chopstick. To use: we simply wet our toothbrushes, tap the excess water off, touch the toothpowder + brush as usual. We have all been to the dentist since our switches began. None of us were asked if we'd changed anything, and no one had any cavities. 

Update 2019 :: We no longer use the xylitol, so now it's just a simple two ingredient toothpowder! Still working great.

This process of moving through the recipes is totally unnecessary, but I think it did help move my tribe along toward more zero-waste tooth care. Initially the consistency + the smell of the peppermint helped convince the skeptics. Now we're used to the taste + the experience, which will not change with this latest adaptation. Used in combination with dental lace (now coated in a natural wax instead of a petroleum product!) + bamboo toothbrushes...I feel good about our waste reduction in the oral hygiene department.  :)

Love,
Jane

We all know by now that a big day is on the horizon here in the USA. Hope is high, but a little uncertainty or confusion can linger. How can we be certain we are making the right choices? Where can we find some unbiased, reliable information? Showing up to vote is important, but showing up informed is crucial. Thank you, Jo for sharing these words +  resources with us!!

voting impacts our lives, and many others’. our vote is a privilege. it is the freedom of choice, of voice. however, we want to be educated voters! we don't want to simply follow party lines. at this point, our personal beliefs and morals could outweigh groupthink in terms of importance. and is this not what democracy is for? educating ourselves and then following our own thoughts, our personal views, our own understanding of the world is not only in line with our individualist culture, but also embraces exactly what a vote is: a chance to express our personal selves, rather than following or being dragged along. still wondering if your vote matters? take a minute to watch this.

linked below are easy online resources to make your assessment as streamlined and efficient as possible:  

- start by viewing your sample ballot via ballotpedia. this will be your roadmap. the ballot does link to info provided by ballotpedia; unfortunately, it's very clunky. just use this site to view your ballot, or to use the info in the sidebar, if you so desire.
- next, search the candidates via votesmart to view their bios, professional and political histories, votes, positions, ratings, speeches, and funding, as well as all contact and social information, if you need these.
- now's a good time to click through votesmart to the candidates' websites to view stances on issues. just a reminder; it's a good idea to keep an open mind + do research on all candidates involved. you may want to take note of spirit/tone and organizational skills/clarity.
- we're getting closer to the vote now! head over to vote411 for practical voting info, from registration status to polling locations (for both of these, use sidebar to enter address). a search by state or topic gives you more details on voting, like id's necessary or absentee ballots, specific to your location.
- once you have made your selections, ballotready can help you keep it straight while voting, ensuring a swift trip. simply enter your address and select your chosen candidates to stay organized. when you enter the polling station, simply pull up your selections on your phone and you're ready to copy in your selections. ballotready does give you minimal info on each candidate, so if you're in a hurry, this is the site for you.
- congrats! you're ready to vote! don't let transportation stop you from getting to a polling station. uber, lyft and carpool are offering free rides for voters. download the app, and a button for free rides to polling centers will appear on election day. otherwise use this coupon code or use this code for carpool.
- more info on voting laws by state can be found at rockthevote and electionary
- finally keep tabs on your democracy using fact checking such as politifact, factcheck, and politico. easily contact your elected officials via the contact links you found via votesmart, or try resistbot. Simply text resistbot at 50409, and it will allow you to type your message and send, all via text.

still need a little inspiration? this.

- Jo

"There's also the issue of privilege. The sustainability movement has been charged with being elitist- and it most certainly is. You need a fair amount of disposable income to afford ethical and sustainable consumption options, the leisure time to research the purchasing decisions you make, the luxury to turn up your nose at 95% of what you're offered, and, arguably, a post-graduate degree in chemistry to understand the true meaning behind ingredient labels." via
​
"Though inspiring, a zero-waste lifestyle will be impractical or impossible for most of us within current economic systems." via

I hear this line of thinking loud + clear. Our household income is not huge. When I first started hearing about eco-friendly cleaning products + makeup years ago, I really could not afford the extra pennies or dollars to make the switches. When first contemplating moving toward zero-waste, I hesitated wondering if my budget could handle it.

When I think of sustainability today, however, eco-friendly products are not the first things that come to mind. I don't think of any the "green" products on store shelves at all actually (unlike the author of the top quote). My brand of sustainability has more to do with the things that I've realized are unnecessary altogether. Things like:

- putting our clothes in the dryer (we use drying racks) 
-cleaning products (we use vinegar + baking soda + cotton rags)
-meat (bulk beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas, nuts + seeds are protein packed)
-lots of imported produce (eat more local + seasonal)
-owning lots of clothing (less is enough)
-shopping at the mall (almost nothing is fair there anyway)
-a tv or cable package (no commercials either)
-buying books or movies (the library is our big bookshelf)
-lots of new clothes (we wear, care for, mend, repair our clothes)
-perpetual 72 degrees F indoors (we wear shorts + sweaters as needed)
-lots of meals in restaurants + movies in theaters (more special the less we go)
-throwing dinner parties (we can go for a walk, meet for "coffee" or have a picnic or potluck)
-driving willy-nilly all over town every day (I wait + combine errands)
-owning everything ourselves (borrow + lend)
-paying for everything (trade jobs + services + clothing + stuff)
-new stuff (search for a used option first)
-throwing unwanted stuff away (we can get it into the hands of someone who can use it)
-recycling (much less packaging means much less recycling)
-throwing food away (eat it + compost the scraps)
-buying some food (we have a garden + grow the most-expensive-to-buy things possible)
-stuff (do without some)
-outdoor landscaping that needs extra watering (pick native plants + food)
(I'm not even going to deal with stuff like a big house, storage unit, frequent vacations, air travel...because we're talking about privilege...and those involve choices of privilege + costs to the environment that can obviously be downsized or done without.)

We did many of the above things out of necessity during our very lean, first years of marriage too. A few more of our actions that qualified as (unintentionally) sustainable were:
-having only one car for 7 years
-biking to work 
-budgeting
-packing sack lunches
-not buying anything for long periods of time
-minimally fixing up old houses by ourselves
-using free furniture
-consuming very little
-shopping at flea markets + yard sales

We did not need to be wealthy to consider any of this. None of these sustainable practices cost more money than their unsustainable counterparts. In fact they save money! Interestingly, most of the ways that I can think of to save money...are also better for the environment! (I wish I would have skipped the dryer + saved all those quarters + the time at the laundromat!) A few of these practices do cost a little more in time, but I've shifted my perspective toward appropriate time costs. We've become so obsessed with convenience that sometimes it feels like we've lost sight of appropriate time dispersal. Healthy food that provides the fuel we need to do anything + everything that we do requires that someone take the time to prepare it.  People used to have to prepare the soil, sow the seed, weed, keep the pests away, pray for rain, harvest at the just the right time, preserve, ration through winter, AND prepare their food. Today we can pay someone else to do all of that, or we can do at least that last step ourselves.  :) Batch cook + freeze as necessary. 

While many bulk items like carrots, rice, beans + spices may be cheaper than their packaged counterparts, things like milk in reusable bottles + organic produce can cost more than their conventional equivalents. I'm not sure I could have made the more expensive grocery store choices every time years ago...but I most certainly could have skipped the meat + the middle aisles at the grocery store, bought as much bulk + fresh produce as possible, and used vinegar + baking soda to clean. 
 
When it comes to clothing, the most sustainable choice will always be to wear what's already in our closets. We can care for, repair + even refashion those pieces. When something new is necessary, buying secondhand is not only ethical...it saves money too.

Sustainability is not just about what we buy. It's very much about what we don't buy...and the choices we make in other areas of our lives including what we do for entertainment, how we use our utilities, how we get around, the homes we choose to live in, etc. From my experience, it is actually easier to live a more sustainable life when my resources are limited. My constraints push me to be more creative + resourceful, + I find that I'm less tempted to mindlessly over-consume.

Wealthy or not, I will never be zero-waste. Emissions waste is involved in getting my food from the farm to the grocery store (or even to the farmer's market). The food that fills the bulk bins often arrives at the store packed in plastic. There are places we need to go that involve fossil fuels. I can only be on a journey toward zero-waste. I try to make sustainable choices along the way. Most of them do not need to cost more money. We don't have to do every thing every time in order to make sustainable choices some of the time. Each one of us can choose to do what we can with what we have.

So...is sustainable living only for the wealthy?  My view is that it certainly is not. 
-Sustainability is not about purchasing "green" products.
-Sustainability is about consuming less.
-Most sustainable practices actually save money.
-Sustainability is not an all or nothing endeavor. Everyone can make some sustainable choices that make sense for them.

Love,
Jane

"Every election is decided by the people who show up."
~Larry J. Sabato

blouse + short jumpsuit + sandals + baseball cap
for canyon exploring + beach walking

Eight days in October in California with only the things that fit into a backpack...were amazing! In short...I didn't miss a thing + felt prepared for all that we did. Thirteen pieces of clothing (including shoes) were more than enough.

I loved that I had just a few choices that layered + mixed well. I could change a bottom or layer a top for different activities, temperatures + locations.

Once we arrived (+ it was only 10am), I changed out of my sweater, tee, jeans + trainers (it was a record low at home)...and into my short jumpsuit, block print voile top + sandals. The temperatures were in the low 70s F to mid 80s F during the days + dipped into the 60s F in the mornings + evenings. There were a couple of mornings that were cool enough to wear jeans with my blouse before changing into shorts, but most days I just wore a lightweight, loose blouse over my shorts jumpsuit with sandals. I washed the jumpsuit in the sink + hung it to dry overnight once. (It helped to bring lightweight fabrics that I knew line dried quickly.)

I bought a swingy jumpsuit that I wore one hot day. It was cool + breezy during the day and layered well under my tied up long-sleeved tee for an evening spent watching the sunset on the beach. I also bought a hat (which was on my list) on our first day there + it came in very handy. My cashmere sweater was the most (unexpectedly) perfect layer even over shorts at the beach in the evening.

When we hiked or worked out, I could wear my tee, leggings + trainers. I changed out of the leggings + into my block print pants post-hike. The tee + tank were easy to wash + hang dry. The tank could be worn as pajamas + with leggings for lounging. I wore the tank, shorts + long-sleeved tee to the beach the day we headed home. Closer to departure, I traded the shorts/sandals for jeans/trainers + added my sweater.

I don't know how easy that is to follow, but it gives a little peek into how I was able to happily wear thirteen pieces so many ways + for all situations. No regrets!  :)

Love,
Jane

I love that moving toward zero-waste gives me opportunities to use my creativity. There's nothing mind-blowing here...just a simple way to pack my toothbrush + deodorant without using any plastic. 

This method works well on a few different levels. Both my toothbrush + deodorant get used right before leaving + consequently get packed a little damp. Wrapping them in breathable cotton allows them to get a little air + to dry. The wrap keeps them clean, and the above positioning works well for daily use (+ allows for drying between uses) at our destination.

In case a little more explanation is helpful...I placed each piece at the corners of my scarf...began rolling each one toward the center...and tied the loose ends together. There are so many creative uses for a scarf!  :)

Love,
Jane

The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. ~unknown

Nothing new here...just popcorn. But this particular popcorn is local + came from our CSA box.  :) Normally, we buy our popcorn kernels in bulk. Our minimalist kitchen doesn't contain a popcorn popper, so I just use my trusty lidded pot + about a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat to pop it. A handful or two of kernels can fill the entire pot!

A few of the ways we like to eat popcorn include:
-sprinkled with salt + a melted butter 
-sprinkled with salt, melted butter + nutritional yeast (available in bulk where we live)
-a spoonful (or two) of sugar thrown in with the kernels (just shake the pot periodically during popping to avoid burning) + salt + melted butter (if desired)
-a little cayenne or cinnamon sprinkled in with salt + butter 

All of these make a great, light snack...in the middle of the afternoon or after dinner. What are your favorite popcorn "toppings"?

Love,
Jane

A trip often offers the perfect opportunity to try out dressing with less. I've always preferred to pack lightly. It might come from long camping trips with my family of six growing up. There wasn't room to take a whole lot along...but we always had plenty to do + enough to wear. For some reason, I just never want to have too much to keep track of...and I'd most always prefer a little more space rather than more stuff. 

Anyway...we are planning a trip to California + decided to just take backpacks. For me, it's probably a sort of exercise in minimalism...but it turned out to be less of a challenge than expected. We will be hiking, beach going, museum visiting, sightseeing, pool + balcony sitting, shopping + eating (lots). It will be warmer during the day in the city and cooler by the ocean + in the mornings + evenings.

Here's what I'm taking for 8 days in Los Angeles in October:
-3 breezy blouses- that work well with jeans + jumpsuit
-shorts jumpsuit- works as shorts + swimsuit coverup
-long-sleeved tee
-leggings- for hikes + workout + relaxing
-tank- for sleep + workout 
-soft pants
-sandals
-underwear 
-swimsuit
-purse, sunglasses, keys, wallet
-water bottle + reusable bag
-journal + pen
-phone + charger
-toothbrush, toothpaste, conditioner, comb, hairspray, deodorant, face cream, lip balm, hair ties, vitamins, allergy pills, advil, bandaids
-book + magazine
-all packed in a 12.7 in x 15.6 in x 5 in backpack  :)

I'm wearing my bulkiest clothing which will work well, since it'll be colder here when we leave. I'll be wearing:
-tee
-jeans
-sweater
-trainers

Most of my things can be hand-washed + hung to dry overnight, if necessary. I'll pick up sunscreen + maybe a baseball cap there.

Love,
Jane

When my girls were small, my simple wardrobe consisted most prominently of a pair of soft denim overalls, a pair of natural twill overalls + a selection of fitted tees. My love for overalls hasn't waned, so I decided to make a pair. I've had an idea of what my perfect pair would look like for years, but haven't decided to make them a part of my simple wardrobe until now.

I've made Marilla Walker's Roberts Collection jumpsuit in the past, so I knew that I liked the fit. I had some linen purchased with pants in mind about a year + a half ago. When the fabric arrived, (major pitfall of internet fabric buying) it was thicker than I'd anticipated. It is lovely linen though, + I thought it could make a good, wearable muslin of these overalls. So...pattern + fabric already in hand...it was easy to make thought into reality in one weekend.  :)

I wanted to make a few changes to the pattern, beginning with removing the pleats at the waist...which was an easy alteration once I understood what was happening. In case it might be helpful to anyone else (+ to remind myself for future reference), here's what I did:

A few of the other alterations I made to the pattern were to widen the straps + the corresponding junction at the top of the back piece, make loop ties, leave the side button opening off, shorten the length, widen the pant legs (+ 1 1/2 inches at the bottom outer edge of the pant leg + blended to the hip), + deepen the pockets by 1 1/4 inches. I lined the pockets with some scrap liberty fabric in order to decrease the bulk there.

These overalls have a slightly oversized fit, which I like. I prefer the bib tied up high, which also eliminates a bit of the dropped crotch look. This linen grows a bit with wear, so I like that the straps can be adjusted higher as the day goes on.  :) So happy to be wearing overalls again!

Pattern :: Marilla Walker's Roberts Collection
Fabric :: 2 meters, 55 inch wide natural linen from Lithuania

Love, 
Jane