TrashFreeTales

Just an introduction to me, and my goals

Welcome to my blog. Not entirely sure how to start so I suppose I will just jump in. I am just an average person, who has a desire to reduce my waste and plastic footprint on the world. This has been a thought/feeling that has been bouncing around in my head and soul for several years. Yet, it has proven to be harder than I ever thought it would be.

The way modern western society has been designed makes it difficult to escape the trap of plastic and waste. Plastics, especially single served plastics, has become such an integral part of our world trying to reduce it is, let’s face it, hard.

Years ago, I had made my first attempt at this. Any items I purchased that came in a single served plastic item I saved and tried to work it into a crafting project. I was getting into building miniature doll house items and a lot of these items worked for things like windows. But within a month I had a mountain of plastic items collected in my spare room.

That made me realize that this was the amount of garbage I had collected just with my own shopping habits, and it was quickly taking over an entire room in my house. There was only so much I could do with it. And even though I was working at using it all up, it still became overwhelming. It was also a physical, eye opening look at how quickly trash can add up, and this was from just one household.

And as it happens, life seemed to get in the way of my efforts. I was married, raising children, working full-time, and there never seemed to be enough time. The things I wanted to implement into a new lifestyle often conflicted with how busy our schedules were. There really is only so much time, and at the end of the day you often just want to relax in some manner so that you can get up and do it all again the next day.

Have you ever tried to reduce your plastic footprint, spending, and waste? If so how did you go about it? What hurtles did you find and if possible how did you break through the hurtles? Comment on any tips and advice that you found useful on your own path.

Opinion on why being more mindful of our spending, plastic use and waste is hard.

It became clear that we live in a world where the system is designed to break us down. Keep us so physically and mentally exhausted that we just march in the direction ‘they’, and I mean corporations, lead us in. Who has time to really consider where our products come from when we are forced to work ourselves to the point of exhaustion.

So, my main goal with this blog is to NOT have any judgements. It has been my experience that most people want to reduce their own plastic footprint and waste, save money, and live a life that feels more purposeful. And that comes with baby steps. Nothing can change overnight.

I am lucky now to have entered a period of my life where things are a little more relaxed. I find that I have a better idea of how to use my time and who and what I give my time too. So hopefully as I learn to make different choices and gather knowledge, I can share it with others and we can baby step together towards more sustainable choices.

Getting a Respark on My Journey

My renewed efforts began like it does for so many, with a documentary-How the world is choking on Plastic|DW Documentary-on YouTube.

It was extremely knowledgeable and thought-provoking on this subject. It reparked my desire to see the damage that plastic and waste is having on our planet. And how there are people out there working daily to make more biodegradable items and clean the oceans and our bodies of plastic waste.

I understand that I am only just one person and may not have the resources they have to achieve their goals. But, I could in my own small way help them with their mission. It helped to reshape my mindset of ‘This can’t be done’ to ‘This is my new challenge’.

The Challenge: Just Start at the beginning.

So here is the start of my new Challenge. To challenge myself to stay positive and motivated on this new journey. So, I suppose I need to go back to the beginning, start over, and try not to fall into the trap that says this can’t be done. My first step will be to look around my house and see where I can start to make improvements. The kitchen will most likely be the real start, and chances are feel overwhelming.

What would be your first step?

It is difficult in this day and age, when everything seems to be designed to keep us distracted and broke. When just surviving another day is the only achievement that seems to be realistic. Yet I fully believe that it can be reworked, made better. And even if I feel alone, know that I am not alone in this.

I am a creative, artistic person, with a multitude of hobbies. I enjoy crocheting, cross stitching, painting, writing, building miniatures and so much more.  A few ideas I have already come up with:

• crochet produce/grocery bags
• crochet wash cloths/dishcloths/face scrubbies
• natural fibers that are biodegradable
• dollhouse miniatures
• natural cleaning products
• upcycled crafts
• reduce, reuse, and recycle
• garden ornaments

I am also a certified herbalist. And would like to really explore more homemade, natural products. Products that I make at home and with easy to find ingredients that won’t break the bank.

As this blog grows, I hope to be able to share the creative and artistic ways I find to help reduce waste, turning plastic purchases that cannot be avoided into useful and artistic items.  To be more mindful of purchases I make. To take the time to really reflect on my spending habits. To make the purchases that are defined as a need instead of just blindly buying my wants. Finding ways around the system, save money and share recipes, tips, and creative ways to achieve my goals.

If you have any tips and advice on saving money, recipes, tips or creative ways please feel free to share them in the comments section. It would greatly help me and others wishing to challenge themselves.

Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings. I look forward to sharing more thoughts, tales, recipes and crafting ideas designed to reduce the impact of waste and plastic on the only home we have-Earth.