One for me, One for my homies.

This no garbage thing isn't all that hard.  This past week I have been really into coming up with ideas to reduce waste.  I truly think it is possible to live a semi-conventional life style and avoid waste that cannot be composted or recycled.  It's all about convenience.  Look at commercials, for instance, its all about convenience.  Not need, just pure, unadulterated "wants".  Overall, convenience hasn't been getting in the way too much with our day to day life.  If anything, the "inconveniences" of this month are welcomed.   I enjoy doing things differently.

I'm having a good time coming up with new ways to live life with less waste, and I have come across a lot of good/practical ideas.  The last few nights for dinner we made everything from scratch.  Sunday night was pizza night.  I made a pretty killer whole wheat pizza crust (if I do say so myself), with homemade pizza sauce from fresh tomatoes, topped with peppers, onions, mushrooms, and other spices.  No canned food needed, and not very hard to make.  I really liked it, but I think Nicki would have liked it better with cheese. I'm toying with the idea of giving up dairy, but that discussion is for another day.

Tonight we made the rustic pasta we love so much from the Kind Life book.  I made homemade whole wheat pasta, and it turned out much better than I had expected.  I think next time I will cut the pasta to be a bit thinner and not as wide, but the taste was really good.  Last week I dabbled with dried beans to a mixed review.  I tried to make black bean burgers, but apparently I didn't soften the beans enough before mashing them up.  They really didn't form very good patties, but with a few tweaks, made for an excellent base for some black bean fajitas.  We also made our own chickpea spread with avocado, lemon, and other spices that made a really good sandwich...until the next day.  The leftovers really didn't keep much flavor, more of a green chickpea sandwich.

The only thing that we are getting from the grocery store that is adding trash is Nicki's clementines.  There are no brand of clementines that we have found that come without packaging, so we are opting for the brand that comes in a wooden box with a plastic mesh top.  We are going to reuse the wooden boxes in the baby room, but I haven't thought of any idea to reuse the plastic mesh top. (any ideas are appreciated)

I'm not sure if I have mentioned it before, but Nicki is hooked on a neighborhood frozen yogurt place.  The bowls they use are recyclable and now I'm very good at remembering to pass on the plastic spoon before they put it in the yogurt.  I actually had a nice conversation with the lady who owns the store about bringing our own bowls that we can wash at home.  Not only did she like the idea, but she may start selling mugs that people can reuse when they come into the store.

Next on the agenda before the month closes is to make our own laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, and snicker bar for the one with the cravings.  We have discussed the possibility of making chapstick, but after some research, I think I will actually make more waste making our own chapstick than just buying a natural brand in a tin.  I'm up for other suggestions, please leave a comment and give me some ideas on homemade "stuff" that can be eaten, worn, or used around the house.

Now...for the homies.  I have been really appreciative of friends/family who have given me great ideas on how to make the transition to a more conscious way of living.  I have enjoyed reading others blogs, not only for the good information, but to realize that there are a lot of people out there who want to change things for the better, in their own unique ways, on both large and small scales.  I wanted to share a couple of other websites I think you should check out.

My friend *Kelli (* I may or may not be using his/her real name) has a friend in Chicago.  I don't know him, but I know the type Kelli hangs out with, and you should support his company.  He has a company called Ethically Engineered Vegan.  You can find vegan friendly bathroom supplies like shampoo, soap, moisturizers, lip balm, ect.  Stop by and peruse, buy something, or at least pass it on to someone you think may be interested.

Check it out here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/ethicallyengineered#

Kelli also has a few things you should check out.  One of her projects is the Urban Folk Circuit.  For those of you in the chicago area, you should really check this out.  I stole this from their website to give you an idea of what its about.

"The Urban Folk Circuit is a simple practice:: we bring an old-fashioned awareness to a hip, urban market. We exist to support local livelihoods and reconnect mindful buyers to modern handmakers.

The Urban Folk Circuit, a craft-market series, was initiated in the summer of 2010 by two Chicago women,  veterans of the independent craft community, as a means to promote fellow, local artisans and neighborhood establishments in a way that is sustainable and beneficial to both."

Check it out here:  http://www.urbanfolkcircuit.com.

She also has an online store where you can buy her upcycled bags/totes, quilts, journals, and other cool and interesting items.  I would highly recommend her website, it's really well done, easy to navigate, and cool to look through

Check it out here: http://greeniebeanrecycle.com

Finally, my good friend Evan has this wife.  She is pretty much awesome.  I can't do any justice to what she is going to accomplish, so I will copy and paste an email I got from Evan about her organization "Allowance for Good".

As some of you know, my wonderful wife, Elizabeth, began work on starting a non-profit organization after completing her Master’s in International Education from Stanford University last summer.  After careful thought and planning, Allowance for Good (“AfG”) was born.  AfG provides funds to schools and communities in emerging markets to better improve the lives of students.  More impressively, these funds will come from teenagers!  Through a web-based giving platform, teenagers in the U.S. will be able to pledge funds from their own allowance and job earnings to help students in other countries get the education they deserve.  While AfG has come a long way since its inception, its goal of educating and engaging the next generation of philanthropists to improve education internationally is a lofty one.  This is where you come into the picture.  Below are several ways you can help Allowance for Good find success:

1.       Visit www.allowanceforgood.org and learn more about AfG.

2.       Sign up for the organization’s newsletter by clicking here.

3.       If you have teenagers in your family, encourage them to learn more about becoming a global philanthropist by clicking here.

4.       Spread the word – pass this message along to your family and friends.

5.       Consider donating by clicking here.  It’s easy, painless, and gifts are tax deductible (AfG is a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) organization).