Category: Zero Waste - fairdare

indigo

2/1/2023

A little creativity check-in today...a handmade pillow for a charcoal couch. My thought has been that I would cover our couches with white denim slipcovers...and maybe I will one day. Right now, it's feeling right to embrace the dark of our charcoal couch...which sits in our north facing living room...and to double down with some dark pillows.

I love any opportunity to dip into my little stash of denim + indigo dyed scraps...zero-waste...meditative stitching...wabi-sabi...boro inspired goodness. One down...one to go.

Love,
Jane

everyday climate action :: 125 - 132

7/10/2022

125 :: eating fresh, local, in-season plums...simply. fewer miles traveled. no chemicals added. no electricity needed for preparation. delicious.
126 :: loving this thrifted tee + handprinted logo from the farm that will provide lots of the food that we eat this summer. worth adding to my small tee stack.
127 :: getting up early on these hot summer days (+ finding shadier spots too) in order to exercise outdoors. no gym membership...just pure outdoor therapy.
128 :: making cold brew with a filter + a glass jar. zero-waste.
129 :: making the most of what's in the kitchen...use it up...make it last.
130 :: readying toothbrushes for the compost after they've brushed the teeth + cleaned the corners too.
131 :: using the library. sharing good books allows us to read so many more things than we could pay for, saves storage space + is just plain cool!
132 :: admiring local flowers. why is there even a market for flowers flown in from other continents?

everyday climate action :: 115 - 124

6/30/2022

115 :: picking backyard-garden-to-belly strawberries. no packaging or transport emissions necessary.
116 :: noticing + appreciating even the smallest beauty...that table in a less than optimal spot offering some beauty in concert with that stem left over from a spent bouquet of flowers which were rescued from being dumped elsewhere.
117 :: wearing a chosen uniform to work. perfectly functional. less to care for. no urge to shop. less choices to make.
118 :: visiting the local farm that will supply lots of our food this summer.
119 + 120 :: tailoring a thrifted pair of pants to fit like a glove...and returning the pants that I bought instead.
121 :: picking up other people's rubbish (even though I don't like doing it).
122 + 123 :: freezing excess strawberries from our garden to preserve them for later + then making ice cream out of them.
124 :: choosing period underwear instead of disposable liners.

period, again

6/5/2022

I've been using period underwear for years as a replacement for disposable liners. Recently, I wanted to add a couple to my collection. I like the ones that I have, but that exact pair is no longer available. And so...the search began again.

I prefer natural fibers to synthetic fibers...and organic cotton to tencel. The brand I had landed on during my previous search (Lunapads) rebranded to Aisle + now uses a tencel/organic cotton blend rather than organic cotton. This is still preferable to the vast majority of other period underwear brands who use synthetic materials, but it prompted me to do a little bit more investigating.

Not only are synthetic fabrics oil derived, they do not biodegrade. Synthetic fibers produce plastic microfibers that end up in oceans, air, fish, drinking water + even in our blood. Years ago, when synthetic period underwear were the only option, I tried some + found the synthetic fabrics too compressing for my crampy periods...and sweaty too.

Period has some organic cotton offerings, but the absorbency level I wanted did not have a corresponding natural fiber option. When I asked about the working conditions of their garment workers, I received a very polite response that they did not know...but should maybe look into that. I gently encouraged them to do so, especially since period products are inherently connected to women + most garment workers are women.

I decided to try Modibodi. They are made from bamboo viscose rather than organic cotton + come from Australia, but are less expensive than Aisle. Modibodi has some statements about fair wages in their factories + work they are currently doing to trace their supply chain. Modibodi offers an almost completely biodegradable pair (just cut off the waistband before composting). They just aren't my preferred absorbency or color.

I really like the ones I bought. I've used the first one I purchased for a month + would truly wear them any day of the month. They are that comfortable + work as I depend on them to do too.

I would love to have found some completely compostable, comfortable, effective, leak-proof underwear priced + sized for everyone...and made from American-grown, organic cotton, spun + sewn close to the farm...with all those involved in the supply chain receiving fair wages + healthy working conditions. As usual, I'm doing the best I can for now.

If you decide Modibodi is something you'd like to try, you can click through the links here to receive $15 off your purchase. I would receive $15 off a future purchase too. Thank you so much!

Love,
Jane

a tale of unworn pants (trousers) :)

5/28/2022

Once upon a time I had a pair of vintage army pants that felt like my unicorn pants (trousers to some). :) Over the past year, my weight changed + our relationship wasn't quite the same any more. I found a new to me vintage pair that fit pretty well. Every time I put them on, however, I didn't like the fact that I could grab a handful of fabric at each hip...so I would take them off again.

I found another pair of olive pants that were made in a fair-trade certified factory that fit like a glove. I bought them, because I just wasn't wearing that vintage pair. For some reason, I would take these off again each time I put them on too. I just wasn't sure about them.

This week, I finally found the courage to take the vintage pair in hand + start seam ripping. There is just so much about these vintage pants to love. There is really nothing like the worn-in color, texture, softness + durability of the vintage fabric of these pants. The exaggeratedly high waistline is my favorite. They are exceedingly comfortable and have been around for a long time.

I'm not sure I altered them the way a tailor would, but they fit just like I'd like them to now. I picked the outside seams from hem to the middle of the pocket and then moved the seam over onto the back of the pants...overlapping more than it had done before. The seams were pinned in place, so that I could try them on for fit. I readjusted them, tried them on again + sewed the seam in place.

I can return the other pants + get on with wearing these now...often + for a long time. All it took was courage + time. I'm glad I found both.

Love,
Jane

everyday climate action 107 - 114

5/27/2022

107 :: choosing furniture with versatility in mind. I wanted two chairs for sitting in front of our sliding door...that could also be moved outside...or into the living room for extra movie-watching seating...two chairs...not six. I held out until we found them.
108 :: looking up...drinking it in...grateful to be a part of nature.
109 :: choosing a fully compostable wallet this time.
110 :: going through my closet as the seasons change...noting what got a lot of wear, caring for what needs a little extra care (mending, cleaning, storing) + letting go of what no longer serves.
111 :: appreciating what someone else is letting go. I loved seeing this interaction. They were happy to know their things were appreciated, and she was happy to have these preloved books (+ that they cost way less too).
112 :: using up my shoes all the way + then getting them to where they can be turned into something new (sports courts, bags or new shoes). We took these shoes to the local Nike outlet.
113 :: keeping cool with open windows rather than depending solely on heat/air conditioning for temperature regulation.
114 :: giving our strawberries space to grow. Yes, we have to dedicate space to them, but they come back every year + bring us such joy!

lived in

5/6/2022

The story of these secondhand pants for me...starts with a shopping trip to not-secondhand stores. I was missing the feeling of shopping new season collections in-store rather than online...taking in the new colors...trying things on...possibly choosing something to take home.

We walked through a few stores + were met with racks of things that held no appeal. I finally found a few pieces at Eileen Fisher that I liked. The women who work there were a delight + the whole experience just felt like relief.

Back home, I took a look around the website + was reminded of their resale site Eileen Fisher Renew. Because I had tried pieces on in the shop, I was able to navigate these preowned pieces with a little more confidence regarding sizing + style preferences. This site has the added perk of accepting returns...quite a luxury in the online secondhand realm.

In the end I was able to try on three pairs of "like-new", Eileen Fisher pants (which altogether cost less than the price of one new pair). I haven't quite decided which ones to keep yet, but I feel like I will wear these pants differently than I would wear a pair I'd bought for three times the cost...which is not to say that I will value them less. I will simply wear them like the tool they are...rather than feeling they are too precious to risk ruining. I will wear these pants to my physical job...to get cuddles from the young pup in our lives...to relax at home...and to look + feel put together out + about too. Clothes are meant to be lived in after all...and if they can be lived in by more than one person...well, that's pretty cool.

Love,
Jane

everyday climate action :: 99 - 106

5/3/2022

This week's everyday climate action seems to have a theme of connection. The more connected we feel to the land, our food, our things, the weather and, most importantly, to each other...the more we will be motivated toward climate action. Slow down. Move in closer. Take notice. Connect the dots. Let it sink in deep.

99 :: keeping those onions regrowing :: changing the water + keeping the roots submerged
100 :: planting the garden :: connecting with where food comes from...which means people...weather...pollinators...
101 :: observing, connecting with, and caring about the creatures with whom we share our neighborhood
102 :: celebrating with beeswax candles + composting them afterward
103 :: wrapping gifts with reusable + reused wrapping :: reusing those indigo-dyed bandanas + folding envelopes out of magazine pages
104 :: eating those regrown onions
105 :: enjoying zero-waste treats out + about...served on dishes that can be washed
106 :: keeping those worn sheets in use a little longer

inspired by :: reuse

4/25/2022

Sometimes I feel like I wake up...again...to the fact that we can make things out of things that already were other things...and it just seems so incredible. This usually happens when I see a particularly beautiful example of this concept...or notice an item that inspires a thought in that direction. These are those for me today. :)

The fabrics that make up this jumpsuit pose the most beautiful contrasts + look intentional at the same time.
Of course, a tired desk chair can look better than it ever did with a tender repair!
Discarded tees become colorful, cushy rugs or chair pads when simply woven together on a giant potholder loom.
Two or three button-downs from his closet or the thrift store = a new dress.
Denim shoddy makes so much sense as stuffing.
Just cut it up + sew it back together.

Keep it out of the landfill. No need to harvest or extract new resources. Good stuff can definitely come from the discards!

All inspiring photos via links that are entirely click worthy!

Love,
Jane

everyday climate action :: 91 - 98

4/21/2022

91 :: taking in the beauty of these zero-waste shelves...because zero-waste is beautiful
92 :: breathing deep here, because sometimes this warm, green place doesn't have the tomato plants i'm looking for...but i still leave smiling
93 :: returning what doesn't work right away...because someone else will actually use it (+ the refund is nice too)
94 :: eating those well-preserved veggies that were still going strong two weeks out
95 :: trying a creative rearranging before buying something new...because sometimes that is enough
96 :: using ginger as a zero-waste tummy tamer (for nausea + cramps)
97 :: snacking on whole foods...because it's best for our bodies + the planet
98 :: composting what we can from his completely spent wallet