Bulk containers

I recently finished reading the book Plastic Free by local author Beth Terry. I would love for everyone to read this book, because it is non-preachy and packed with practical tips for reducing your plastic consumption (and consumption in general). Whether you're just considering making small, easy changes to reduce the harmful and wasteful plastic your food and body come into contact with, or you're a green pro who needs fresh ideas and resources, I am sure that you will find great info.

I was inspired to make a few small changes to the way I purchase and store my food. When I last went to the grocery store to buy chicken for the dogs, I brought along my own container. The person at the meat counter put my container on the scale, zero-ed it, then packed in the chicken and charged me accurately. That saved the plastic-coated, non-recyclable paper that the food would otherwise have been wrapped in. It was easy-peasy, and ridiculously exciting.

I decided to purchase all my baking flour, nuts, and seeds from bulk bins from now on, and likewise bring my own containers for them. I had to buy a couple of large, stainless steel containers for the flour -- I go through a lot now that I'm regularly baking bread!

The "bulk food" corner of my counter. Fruit has always been purchased packaging-free.

Speaking of baking bread, I'm still in awe of how (a) easy, and (b) delicious it is.

Poppy seed and walnut loaf. Clearly I love them poppy seeds.

In order to make this "buying in bulk" thing easier, I made a list in my phone of all the foods I purchase regularly, and which of the local stores I can buy them in. I'm also committing to buying loose leaf tea whenever I can, and preferably in metal tins rather than plastic bags. I'll have to buy some things online, but I'll purchase larger quantities to lower the ratio of energy used to pack and ship them. (5 pounds of organic poppy seeds!)

Yuummm.

On one last do-it-yerself note, I fixed the space heater today.

Give me heat!

I took it apart and found the problem. The two metal connectors that complete the electrical circuit when you turn the dial were separated by a thick layer of dust and pet hair. A thorough cleaning fixed it right up. Note to self: clean it more often.