Who doesn’t love the aroma of a fresh cut fir tree or the imperfectly perfect way a real tree’s branches aren’t quite symmetrical (unlike those plastic gizmos)? I know I do. And top that tree with strings of popcorn, baked orange slices, and gingerbread stars and you’ve got yourself a good ole fashion, traditional Christmas … More Waste Free:: Holiday Decor
Holidays are full of good cheer, eggnog, celebrations, and delectable treats. And it’s a time of giving. Although the best gifts can be quality time with loved ones, material goods tend to predominate the present world. Christmas is the perfect time to embrace sustainability and think more globally. There are so many great local artisans … More Waste Free:: Gift Wrapping
Just imagine… crisp autumn air, ochre and crimson leaves rustling outside with a steely grey sky behind. Maybe a puff of smoke spiraling out of a neighboring chimney, or possibly a stash of gourds on the table. And permeating it all, the scent of cinnamon and apples wafting through the room. This is the epitome … More Seasonal Living:: Apple Butter
This may seem so obvious to most of you, but a surprising number of people can’t fathom popcorn without the shrink wrap and fake butter. I get that store bought popcorn is delicious in its own overly salty and yellow buttery syrup way, but Whitney’s go-to popcorn seasoning makes any ole kernel a million times … More Waste Free:: Popcorn
It is no secret that Whitney and I have dreamed of homesteading a piece of land in the mountains for years. We envision a large swath of land in the foothills surrounded by pines with a central clearing for our home. We want goats, chickens, and bees to keep us company and a large greenhouse … More Urban Homestead:: Starting Seedlings
Once you have simplified your lifestyle, de-cluttered your space, and invested in solid and long-lasting household objects, the next step is keeping those things in good shape. Sometimes a little TLC is all that’s needed like the wood butter I wrote about in a prior post. Other times, it’s just a few weaves of thread, … More Waste Free: Mend the Old, Avoid the New
Clutter at home is a huge source of stress for me. In order for me to truly simplify my mind, I have to first simplify my space. If I look around my apartment and see piles of books or a closet stuffed to the brim with clothes or knick knacks strewn about, I feel suffocated … More Waste Free: Simplify then Recycle
So much about transitioning to a waste free lifestyle is about shifting habits. Habit shifts like always carrying a refillable water bottle, having coffee mugs on hand when grabbing a cup-of-joe to go, and bringing cloth grocery bags to the store make a significant impact on daily waste creation. A major habit shift for us … More Waste Free: What’s In Our Bag?
Who hates labels? I think the real question is, does anyone not hate labels? They are a far cry from aesthetic, get goopy and sticky over time, and create a more cluttered look. Since we rarely buy anything new, I don’t have to bust out this homemade “goo-be-gone” very often. But it does come in … More Waste Free: Homemade Goo-Be-Gone
One of the most frequent questions I get asked about regarding waste free living is what to do about junk mail. And it is one heck of a problem, as everyone knows. There are many options online for sites that help rid one of these nasty wastes of paper, my favorite being Catalog Choice. You … More Waste Free: Minimizing Junk Mail