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

Sustainable September 2015 - Day Ten

Hello my lovelies,

How are you doing today? What did you have your lunch wrapped in today? did you take time to make a lunch wrap? or did you put everything in a reusable lunch box? (Any less plastic in the environment is an awesome start).

It wasn't until earlier today I realised that I did a lunch box challenge last year for Sustainable September where I asked people to create a Rubbish Free Lunch Box. Based on the work of the lady who runs the blog Small Steps for Sustainability, she did a particular blog post JUST on Rubbish accumulated during her kids school lunch time... it was insane. Then times that by more than one meal in a school day, x days of school in a week, x school weeks in a year, and it gets astronomical. If we can reduce (and hopefully eliminate completely) the rubbish in our lunch boxes, then we help save the planet, one meal at a time.
So now that yuo have non-plastic lunch wrappers, lets look at how to...

September 10: Create a Rubbish free lunch.

I had a salad in a Tupperware container , and some nuts in another, much smaller, Tupperware container that I took to work today. Silly me forgot to photograph it, however it was delicious & there was no rubbish that would end up in landfill as a result of it. I think that is important.

KINDNESS IDEA: Ask Someone  "Are You Okay?"

Tomorrow the 10th of September is "R U OK? DAY. " It is a mental health initiative, that has you ask the simple question "are you okay?" This is a great kindness idea. If you have no idea how to ask this question... you can visit the website https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask.

I hope you get something out of this idea. Also Check out "Small Steps for Sustainability" I met the lady who writes it last year and she completely inspired me. It was as a result of her blog I realised the full awesomeness that Sustainable September could be for 365days of Kindness, and made it happen. I've had many more inspiring people help me get this blog about kindness to the planet. So thank you to those who made it happen.

I hope this finds you all well.
Much love,
Daena x

Sustainable September 2015 - Day Nine

Good day to you all,

Today I am back at work with the Social Justice Unit, after my trip to Sydney. Something has shifted in our community over the weekend. I have been deeply moved by the love, support and kindness that has been coming from the community in support for refugees and asylum seekers. In the office here at JAMWA, we have been working for years (me only a year and some more than a decade) on helping refugees and asylum seekers find safe places in our community. I have been moved by those who continue to act with kindness for those more vulnerable than themselves. I have been empowered by those who are supporting this latest campaign for Syrian refugees when perhaps, a few months ago, they might of been against it. It takes great courage to be kind sometimes, particularly with an unknown entity. I am proud of all of you who are standing up for the rights of all people. I am proud of those who continue in their long time efforts to support those who need it most. So thank you, all of you, for being kind when it is most needed. We can do better than we have been doing. You are showing us all that is true.

If you are interested in supporting refugees, CARAD is always looking for support. CARAD is the Coalition for Asylum Seekers, Refugees And Detainees. CARAD provides welfare support, including financial assistance, material aid, accommodation and case management to community based asylum seekers and newly arrived refugees in need. Gift cards, financial donations and your kind thoughts are all appreciated.

ASRC is the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre who also need support, volunteers, encouragement and Facebook likes.

If you want to read more about it check out the article on the ABC News site : Europe 'rediscovers its humanity' through migrant crisis, UNHCR says

So now that i have acknowledged the kind work of you all, lets talk about Sustainable September? Have you learnt anything new yet? have you done any of the simple swaps?

Awesomely my Bamboo Toothbrushes have arrived whilst I was away. I get to try them out for the first time tonight! Exciting!!!!

September 9: Instead of using plastic wrap to wrap sandwiches make your own reusable sandwich wrap. 

This idea came out of me participating in the Plastic Free July.  The awesome people at www.ecofaeries.com during Plastic Free July posted a video tutorial on Food wrappings  and "How to make a reusable lunch wrap" ...

KINDNESS IDEA: Make some Reusable lunch wraps for you and for a friend. When you make some, make more than just one and give a couple (or how many you want really) to someone else during Sustainable September.

Thank you again to everyone for following along with my blog.

Remember Kindness is the key. Kindness for everyone, kindness for yourself and kindness for the environment. We all share this world together so lets care for each other and the world we live in.

Much love to you all,
Love Daena x