Sustainable September 2015 - Day Seventeen

Hello my lovelies,

I had to stay home from work today because I was so crook/ill/sick. I spent the day resting and healing, with lots of vegetable soup, hot tea, tissues/hankies and a couple good books. I think often when we look at kindness we forget ourselves. So today was a day for me to get myself healed and rested, a true kindness to myself. If I am not well, how can I act with kindness to others?
I admit I had had a very busy weekend, and I have not had a chance to slow down since returning from Sydney. I am so blessed that my boss allowed me the time off today to recover. I am not completely 'fixed' yet, but I am well on my way now. At least I hope so. :)

Sustainable September is always a perfect time for me to get in a daily act of blogging. Sometimes it is simple, sometimes a lot of research goes into a subject. Some ideas I have had for a long time and been meaning to add them to the list of possible Sustainable September ideas.

Tomorrows idea is one of those 'long time' ideas. This idea sprang from last years Sustainable September idea for a Meat Free Monday (which is an awesome idea to undertake regularly not just in September). I have been watching a lot of TED talks recently. I am learning everything I can on all sorts of issues. The one that stuck out for me was this one below.

September 17: Become a Weekday Vegetarian. 

I saw the video by Graham Hill on TED about why he is a Weekday Vegetarian. It is pretty good. Plus its only a short 5 minutes, as opposed to the video yesterday that was 43minutes. Here it is.. 

Now this sounds really hard for us meat lovers everywhere. However I love the benefits that becoming a Weekday Vegetarian can afford you.

Lets look at the financial benefits first. Meat is often the most expensive component of any meal you prepare. I often spend on average about $4 AUD per person per meal on the meat component of any given meal. Sometimes its less, sometimes more. The Vegetable part of the meal is often less... way WAY less. Plus with vegetables you can also often grow your own. Winning!

Then there is the part that it is better for the animals on this planet if we don't eat them. The cows, pigs, sheep and chickens in this world (the most consumed meats in the Australia, and perhaps the world), often are not treated as well as they could be. The smaller of the animals often stuck into intensive farms, that do not allow quality of life. Being a weekday vegetarian helps or reduces the impact on these animals.

Then there is the environmental impact of the meat. In 2006 the Independent News wrote that "A United Nations report has identified the world's rapidly growing herds of cattle as the greatest threat to the climate, forests and wildlife. And they are blamed for a host of other environmental crimes, from acid rain to the introduction of alien species, from producing deserts to creating dead zones in the oceans, from poisoning rivers and drinking water to destroying coral reefs. The 400-page report by the Food and Agricultural Organisation, entitled Livestock's Long Shadow, also surveys the damage done by sheep, chickens, pigs and goats. But in almost every case, the world's 1.5 billion cattle are most to blame. Livestock are responsible for 18 per cent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together." Read the article here.

Then there is the whole Carbon Footprint side to it too. What resources have gone into producing the meat?  How far has the meat travelled before it got to your plate? The distance your food travels from the farm to your plate, the better it is for the environment. Environmentally speaking reducing the amount of meat we consume and therefore demand for it, has to help. It might not seem like it but it does make a difference.

Then you look at the waste that the meat packing industry creates. I know I throw out a whole bunch of plastic, in either plastic wrap, plastic tray or even polystyrene tray form (i use the old meat trays after they have been washed, as pallets for my paint and my artworks - its a nice way to reuse something that would otherwise be thrown into landfill).

I love that on this Weekday Vegetarian lifestyle you can still eat meat, you don't have to give up Bacon! mmmm Bacon! You just save it for a treat on the weekends, where you have time to savour it, enjoy it and celebrate the deliciousness. mmmmm... bacon! Did I mention the bacon? mmmmm. Bacon! Bacon! BACON!!! Forgive me for my mild obsession with the deliciousness that is bacon. I know that for some religious people bacon is not consumed, so just imagine you have replaced all the bacon in this blog post with your favourite type of meaty goodness! :)

If you are looking for recipes for being a Weekday Vegetarian the simply google "vegetarian recipes" and thousands, probably MILLIONS of recipes will come up. You might be lucky too if you add what ingredients you have in your fridge/garden that you could add to the meal.

KINDNESS IDEA: Make a vegetarian meal to share. You could make it for a friend or family member going through a rough time. Or you could invite a friend, neighbour, colleague over for a meal to share something different with them. Be aware of some peoples allergies, and dietary requirement.

I hope this finds you all well. And if you are not well, that you are on the mend. And if you are not yet on the mend, that the tide will break soon and you will heal fast when you can. Sending healing love to you all.

Much love to you all,
Love Daena (Bacon) Guest

PS. I going vegetarian for 5 days straight is hard, start with Meat Free Mondays. It is a great way to regularly reduce the quantity of meat we consume.

Sustainable September 2015 - Day Sixteen

Hello my dear friends and followers,
Forgive me for a late blog post today but I'm rather unwell. I wanted to do something fun and exciting because i want it to inspire me to be fun and excited (even when i feel so crappy).

So today's Sustainable September idea is...

September 16: Dejunk! 

Go through your things and get rid of everything you don't NEED! One idea for this is so you can make some extra cash selling the stuff at a garage sale, eBay, or at a vintage shop (depends how old your stuff is really). I was reading an article today about how actually holding, or even shopping at, Garage Sales are excellent for the environment. The article by Domain talks about putting "personal financial gain aside, garage sales are also doing their part for making us a greener country by encouraging reuse and reducing waste. “Passing on what you don’t want to someone who does want it is a fantastic form of sustainability,” Nichols says. “Over the past decade, Australians have doubled the amount of waste we generate, from 22.7 million tonnes to 43.6 million tonnes. Landfill is a significant issue but collectively we can make a real difference” (2015).

Okay, I know you might not think this whole de-junking business is exciting, but for me it is. Currently I actually have a crazy messy room at the moment. I hate the mess. And I am a little ashamed of how bad I have let it get. I have been so busy this last month that I have literally thrown thing into my room so as to get more stuff in there. I think its time I got rid of some of the "Stuff". I do not need it all. Except the books. I do need those right? ;) 

This is also part of the Zero Waste book. The Second Phase of Bea Johnson's book talks about Reducing. I know you have seen the below diagram before. And this is another part of it.

Diagram: page 15 of Zero Waste Home.

Bea Johnson writes... "Reducing is an immediate aid to our environmental crisis. It addresses the core issues of our waste problem and takes into consideration the imminent environmental consequences of population growth, associated consumption, and the finite planetary resources that cannot support the world's needs. Reducing also results in a simplified lifestyle that allows you to focus on quality verses quantity and experiences verses stuff. It encourages questioning the need and use of past, present, and future purchases. The things you own, you own because you need them." (pg 19).

I love this book! On page 21 Bea offers a range of places to get rid of your excess "stuff" too. Things like selling to Amazon.com, eBay, flea markets. Or even if you want to continue the kindness on, pass it on to Goodwill, Salvation Army, Freecycle.org, Homeless or women's shelters, schools, etc.

There are so many things you could pass on. That you do not need in your life, that someone might need. And that you can share.

I have been following the work of an organisational specialist from Japan recently,  Mary Kondo. The following video is from her...



She is a genius. Asking the question "Does this item spark joy?" To clarify does it make you happy? does it make you proud? If it doesn't get rid of it. If it does, keep it! :) This is a perfect way to de-clutter. The video is long but it is really worth it. And you can always buy Mary Kondo's book "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up", which I will probably buy in the near future.

KINDNESS IDEA: Donate some of your de-cluttering to charity, so that they can make money off your donations.

I hope this finds you well, and healthy!
Much love,
Daena x

Sustainable September 2015 - Day Fifteen

Hello my lovely people.
I survived work and have been busy again today. I learnt a new skill today. I learnt how to change a car tyre. Thank you very much to the man in the parking lot who helped mum and i in the Perth Convention Centre Car park. He helped us get the bolts off the tyre because they had been mechanically tightened. I now know how to do it myself too! What a great piece of knowledge to pass on. I did everything else myself, mostly with mums directions. You learn something new every day! :) I am so grateful to be on the receiving end of a kindness too! :) Good things do come back to you when you need it! 

So Sustainable September ideas for tomorrow is based on something I did today...

September 15: Go to Cafe or Restaurant or eatery that has sustainable practices and is environmentally friendly, and grab something to eat or drink (and maybe ask for a tour if you want).

The following photos are from my trip today to one of my most favourite Sustainable Cafe/restraunts in Perth, Western Australia. Its called the Green House Perth. I wrote about it last year and it is worth sharing again. :)

One of the most awesome things that Green House Perth does is give discounts on their take away coffees for those who bring their own reusable cups! Save 50c AUD! :) Pretty good!!

My super fancy Chai Latte that was made with Freshly made almond milk, in which the Chai tea was steeped. Sooooooo delicious!!!

This was the menu topper. Mum and I had a delicious and light lunch today.

they have even updated their Toilets because they are saving water by using the clean water that would usually just end up in the cistern, as the water to wash your hands! So clever! I love this idea! :) 

I am a bit bummed I didn't take a photo of the fresh and delicious food. I love the way that almost everything that is used to create the atmosphere is either recycled, repurposed or reused. I love that the bottles from the alcohol that they serve (yes they are a licenced bar too!) are used as the bottles for water on the table. I love that they use an old popcorn dispenser as the glass cabinet that they keep their muffins and cupcakes in for display for sale. I love that they used Bread Crates in the cement in the ground, using the waste from some places and incorporating it into their build. Everything seems thoughtful and considered. Even their food waste goes in to make compost. Often which they give away! :) so that is awesome!!! :)

I hope you have a great time trying out a new place, and a new way of eating - supporting those who use sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. This is the fun part of Sustainable September! Adventuring! :) hehehe.

Sending love,
from Daena x

Sustainable September 2015 - Day Fourteen

Hello my beautiful followers,

Yesterday and today I've been hard at work, so this Sustainable September idea is a short and sweet one.

Image from: Whiteley Creek Homestead Bed and Breakfast in Minnesota, USA

September 14: Buy your bread directly from the bakery, and get them to put it in a fabric bread bag or pillow case instead of a plastic bag.

Image from: MLG International (on this link they sell bread bags)

To be honest, I no longer eat bread at all. I have had some serious health issues that have and continue to stop me eating grains at all. So this is not an idea for me personally.  However the principal still is important.

Picture from: Elsie Green (Swedish bread bags for sale in link).

If you are super keen in reducing your plastic waste, you could even make your own bread. There are many bread recipes on the magic 'Google' machine. Just type in what type of bread you like or even "simple bread recipe" and you should have hundreds of options to go on. Best thing about baking your own bread... the smell! Oh... how I love the smell of freshly baked bread in my house. Even if I can't eat it.

There is one bread recipe that is not too bad for me, that is mainly made with nuts and seeds. I have had to change out the Rolled Oats for Rolled Quinoa (a seed), it's called The Life Changing Bread recipe. It smells delicious. Mmmmmmm...bread.

KINDNESS IDEA: made some bread and share it with your neighbour. Please make sure that it is safe for your neighbours to eat. Some people, like me, have grain intolerances, other have nut allergies... so please be kind and generous in response to these health issues. A kind gesture of offering is often enough for someone to know your are thinking of them.

Have a wonderful day everyone,
Much love,
Daena

Sustainable September 2015 - Day Thirteen

Hello again,

Still with me? How did you go kindly turning down things you don't need? Did you leave that free pen behind? How about saying no to the pamphlet from the pizza place down the road? No matter what you did, well done.

Yesterday we talked about "refusing" things, which is the first of the 5 stages of having a waste free life, based on the book by Bea Johnson called "Zero Waste Home".

The kindness for tomorrow sticks along these same lines.

This awesome picture comes from Chad Geran.

 

September 13: Put up a "No Junk Mail Please" sticker on your mail box.

This reduces the unconscious waste coming into your home and into your life.

Alternatively, If you don't want to stick a sticker, you can add a magnet like this one from Mailbox Magnets.

I, personally, still like to receive the community news paper. I read it and then use it to clean my windows, wrap my kitchen scraps or pack fragile things up with it. Often unless you call and cancel your local community newspaper from the source they will keep delivering to your address. So, if you don't want to receive the newspapers, contact your paper directly.

KINDNESS IDEA: If a neighbour is going away, offer to collect their mail for them. That way it looks like someone is still home. Overflowing mailboxes are a good notification for thieves that people are away and have been away for some time. And this is a simple kindness almost anyone can do, that doesn't cost you any money.

Let me know how you go with it all.

With love and kindness,
Love Daena xx

Sustainable September 2015 - Day Twelve

Good day fellow Sustainable September-ers (that is totally a word),

So how did your walk to work go? Did you get wet? Did you share an umbrella with someone? Did the sun shine?

I hope you took the time out to have a beautiful walk even if it wasn't to work or school.

The below pictures were of a walk I took through the State Botanic Gardens and park lands. Kings park is bigger than Central Park NYC. It is beautiful.

Getting back to nature is a wonderful reminder of what we do Sustainable September for.

The Spring Festival at Kings Park, Perth, WA, opened this month with this awesome tree. Its called "The Queens Tree" because Queen Elizabeth planted it on her trip a few decades ago. For the Festival her tree was dressed up just like her. :)

The Reflection pond and Flame of Remembrance at Kingspark.

The View of Perth City from Kings Park.

Such a beautiful Spring display of Native Australian Flowers

The state emblem of the Western Australian Kangaroo Paw on the path from the car park to the views.

The rare Black Kangaroo Paw

Our environment has such a powerful impact on us. How we treat it, has a greater impact on us all.

At the beginning of Sustainable September I shared that i would be reading the book by Bea Johnson called "Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste". So far I haven't finished it, but I have learned a lot already. The first chapter is called "The 5 R's and the Benefits of the Zero Waste Lifestyle".  This chapter has been an eye opener for me. Often we see the 3 R's Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, however Bea Johnson adds another two things to that list.

Diagram: Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste (Page 15).

I thought that one thing that we forget to mention is to refuse certain items in our attempts to be environmentally friendly. Think about all those times you have been handed pamphlets on the street or a free voucher to some place you know you will never go. Think about when you stay in a hotel and you get those little Shampoos and Conditioners. Do you really need it? Or will the papers and the little plastic bottles, just end up in land fill? 

I had my first trial by fire with this when I was in Sydney. I had managed to forget to bring my Shampoo, so ended up using one of the, several, little bottles that were available to me at the hotel I was staying at. I used what I had to. The hardest part was leaving the rest of them behind. I really didn't need them. In fact they would have been more trouble than they are worth. Not to mention the environmental cost of more plastic in land fill.

So today's Sustainable September idea is based on this premise...

September 12: Refuse any thing that you do not need. e.g.. Pamphlets, show bags filled with stuff you won't use, little bottles of shampoo or conditioner, business cards, pens, plastic bags, cups, double bagged items, extra receipts (unless needed for tax purposes for course), etc. 

This is about stopping "needless waste". Often the pamphlets are on shiny paper that some councils do not accept as recycling. So best to avoid them completely.

I know for some people they collect pamphlets for Kindergarten classes or art classes. At least there is one type of use for these things. Or its does seem like a sad waste. 

Bea Johnson beautifully points out that 'refusing', often unconsciously, "condones and reinforces wasteful practices". She writes "Every bit we accept, or take, creates a demand to make more... When we let waiters fill our glass with water that we wont be drinking and a straw that we wont use, we are saying: "Water is not important" and "Please make more disposable Straws". When we take a "free" shampoo bottle from a hotel room, more oil will be rigged to make a replacement. When we passively accept an advertising flyer, a tree is cut down somewhere to make more flyers, and our time is unwisely spent dealing with and recycling something trivial" (Pg. 16).

This really had me thinking. I mean I know there are plenty of times I have taken pamphlets I don't need. Or show bags filled with crap I don't want to look at. It all ends up in my bin. So I love the idea to refuse, so that we are conscious of what we are receiving in our lives. And we can then be conscious of helping the environment. 

As always remember to be kind in all your interactions.

"Nobody wants to go against the grain or be rude when some thing is offered with no ill will. But a little practice and short justifications make it easy for us to decline the politest entreaties. All you have to say is "I am sorry, but I don't have a trash can," "I am sorry, but I have gone paperless," "I am sorry, but I am trying to simplify my life," or "I am sorry, but we have too much at home already." People usually understand or respect a personal choice and will not insist. In some cases, we  found that pro-activity - such as taking ourselves off mailing lists before junk mail is sent out - works best" (Pg. 18).

When I first wanted to focus on this Sustainable September I didn't expect people to radically change anything in their lives, to the point of being 100% waste free. I am not brave enough to try that myself... YET! Like me all I hope for is small changes. Small changes that can make a huge difference. I love the little ideas that cause you to be conscious of how your actions affect the environment. If that means refusing some stuff you don't want or need... awesome! I also didn't realise the saying 'no' could be so good for the environment.

I hope you learnt something today like I did. 

Oh and...

KINDNESS IDEA FOR TODAY: Donate old magazines to school or kindergartens. Or if they are current, please, please, please donate them to a doctors clinic. It is a special thrill finding a magazine from this year in a doctors surgery. So any time you have a magazine, pass them on to good homes. 

Much love to you all, 

Love Daena x

Sustainable September 2015 - Day Eleven

Hi everyone,

Are you okay? Today is 'R U OK?' Day. This is a day to ask those around you if they are actually okay. You do not need to solve anyones problem, just listen to what someone else has to tell you. Be supportive and act with kindness. Remember that age old adage... "everyone we meet is fighting a hard battle."

How did you go creating a rubbish free lunch? Did you reduce the amount of rubbish used?

I told you the other day that my Bamboo Toothbrush had arrived. I had my first use of them and I was surprised that they were very similar to the usual toothbrushes. I don't know why I expected anything different. I have to say... Bamboo Toothbrushes are pretty good. I used the medium bristle strength one (same rigidity as my usual toothbrushes) and it was basically the same. Not only are they good for your teeth they are excellent for the environment too! :)

*uses the force* this is not a dirty mirror... this is not a dirty mirror... these are not the droids you are looking for *Un-uses the force*

My niece and I brushing our teeth together.

Just a quick reminder that I do these Sustainable September Ideas a day in advance so you have time to plan ahead yourselves. Sometimes I am not so organised getting it done super early. Whoops. :)

So tomorrows Sustainable September kindness idea is:
September 11: Walk to work or school. 

This morning I walked my niece and nephew to school not far from my sisters house. And I was reminded how good it is for us and the environment. I was given the chance to really appreciate the beauty of the environment, and be grateful for the blessings that have been bestowed on us. Particularly that I was not rained on as I walked too and from the school.

My niece and nephew walking to school. Both kids growing up so fast!

I saw this beautiful Kangaroo Paw flower walking home from dropping the kids at school. So beautiful! :)

Most times I walk to work AND catch public transport. Thankfully I live close to easily accessible trains and my workplace is not far from the cities central hub, so it makes it easier to walk.

This is what my walk to work usually involves. The view of the City of Perth from the Claisebrook Bridge. Such a nice way to walk to work.

KINDNESS IDEA: If it is raining (and it was today) share your umbrella with someone. Or if you know ahead of time, offer to go in a car together. Car pooling also helps lower congestion on motor ways but also reduced the environmental impact compared to when everyone drives to work.
Please always be aware of your own personal safety and make decisions based on what is safe for you. 

I hope this finds you all doing alright. And if you are not okay today, that is alright too.
Sending love and hugs to you all.
Love Daena xx