Hi Friends,
I hope everyone is staying safe & healthy!
I don’t know how you all are feeling, but I am definitely dealing with a lot of anxiety and fear in the unknown, along with a lot of hope and thankfulness. I am trying to focus on the things I am grateful for: my good health, my cozy home, my amazing partner, chats with my family & friends, the epic books I am reading, an awesome job that I can do from home, this caring community of people coming together, and all of the hard-working doctors/nurses/janitors/researchers/etc! I encourage you to also take the time to reflect on the positive parts of your life right now — your mental & emotional health is as important as your physical!
I have been a little silent lately because I have been focused on my personal self-care. I have also been battling the feeling that conversations about sustainability are less important than ones about our collective health. And, I do believe that we should always choose the safer, healthier path even if it isn’t #ZeroWaste. But, I also think that panic can sometimes alter our better judgment, mine included. Which, instead of going into stock-up-shopping with a clear mind and making healthy decisions for yourself, other humans, AND the earth - we are prone to make selfish & quick decisions (sometimes that is the only one you can make, and that’s okay, too! As long as you are taking a pause to breathe and assess the situation, and not just making it out of fear!)
So, I wanted to take some time to give ideas on how to still live zero/low waste even during this lockdown!
1) Walk to the store, if possible! This will give you quality time outside in the fresh air & sunshine - which is wonderful for your mental & emotional health. It will also be good for your body to move & get a little low-impact exercise in. And, it’s great for the earth since you’re not using fossil fuels! Winning all around.
2) Stock up on your non-perishables (beans, rice, quinoa, flour, nuts, etc.) from the bulk section of your local grocery store. If you can’t/don’t want to… choose aluminum and/or glass containers over plastic, whenever possible!
3) It is very important to have fresh produce and get the nutrients you need to keep your body healthy! Buy your produce fresh*, but do not put them into the store-provided plastic bags, either have them loose in your cart or bring your own cloth bags from home!Some delicious (and long-lasting) produce that can also help boost your immune system: citrus (oranges, grapefruit, lemon, lime), ginger, garlic, onion, potatoes (preferably sweet potatoes), squash, broccoli & leafy greens, etc… If you are concerned about anything going bad before you use it, chop it up & freeze it! *always thoroughly wash your produce!
4) Choose recycled toilet paper and paper towels… if there is an option wrapped in paper vs. plastic, that’s even better!
5) Most coffee shops are no longer accepting your reusable cups, and rightfully so! (Except for Nossa Familia Coffee’s #ZeroWaste shop in Portland ↞click to read their statement) Instead, ask “for here” when ordering and enjoy 15 minutes of relaxing (and reading/journaling/?) with your cup of coffee! Or simply make your coffee at home for the time being. You can fill up bulk coffee beans in most grocery stores, too! Sometimes this is located in a different section than the rest of the bulk foods - ask an employee to help find it, if needed!
6) Drink tap water and loose-leaf tea… and, lots of it!! Worried about the quality of your tap water? Use a filter or add water purifying tablets/activated charcoal.
7) Choose to buy/cook/eat local, seasonal, & vegetarian/vegan (or low-meat) whenever possible!! Take this extra time at home to get creative & learn new recipes in the kitchen… be sure to share them with me and your community! I am going to challenge myself to do that in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Let me know if you have any other ideas for how to be low waste during the COVID-19 lockdown. Above all, always make the best decision for your health, first and foremost! We are all in this together, and need to contiue to support each other & the earth.
Sending lots of love & light (from a safe social distance),