It was hard to come up with a title for this week's blog. It is a little different from my usual content but also a follow up to a blog I wrote several weeks ago. Between the freeze and thaws, my son and I have been cleaning up around the apartment complex. We picked trash up around the pond, a total of four big heavy bags so far. Trust me when I say there is still a "ton" more to clean up. The lawn crew just mows over everything so I thought to clean up before they start would be helpful. Earth day is coming up and I urge you to invest in work gloves and some trash bags and join us in this quest in your own neighborhood or natural area. We should consider everyday Earth day and do our part in cleaning up and consider ways to reduce the amount of trash we produce. It would be nice to eliminate waste completely but I don't believe that possible. I have seen many commercials about the "war on plastic" and how it is filling our oceans. It is not just our oceans that plastics are polluting but our lakes, forests, mountain trails, backyards, roadsides and ponds too! How many videos have you seen with animals trapped in buckets or with their head caught or tangled in trash. I applaud the folks who are able to come to their rescue but admire those who refuse to be the cause of such accidents. Don't get me wrong, accidents happen. When cleaning up around the pond we collected quite a few plastic containers animals could get trapped in. Drink containers were the number one item we picked up. Smashed beer and soda cans, Gatorade and water bottles carelessly lining the pond and woods. I imagine most people who read my blog already do this but if not invest in reusable BPA free water bottles and use them! Don't set them down in the woods and walk away put them in your pack, strap them to a belt or your wrist, wash and reuse! I know what you're about to say get off your high horse and click away, but it really does matter. Someday if things don't change the only mountains to photograph will be those made of trash, maybe not in my life time but very possible in our great grandchildren's future. Small changes like this are so important that many of our national parks offer water bottle refill stations, no charge! I think that is awesome and would love to soon see that option at all of them! So when you head out for the day don't forget your water bottle and bring it back with you! Metal insulated ones can even help regulate your beverages temperature too! Water bottles come in many fun designs and stickers are being made to be used on water bottles. You can have fun and customize your own. Sticker options are available many places but if you order some from my gift shop I would be forever grateful. I have made it a goal of mine to reduce the amount of plastic we use, especially after learning most of what I put in the recycle bin isn't getting recycled. Many products are refused due to chemical reactions between the product and the plastic. Here I thought I was doing good by recycling all these years. Can you see the big sad face? A few years ago I had trouble with my hair falling out. It turns out there were multiple causes for it but one was the sulfates in the shampoos. In my quest to find sulfate free shampoos and conditioners I came across Ethique which is a bar that you rub on your wet hair, scrub and rinse. I actually get it via an Amazon subscription but you can order it direct from the company.. It took a little while to get used too but is totally plastic free and the thin cardboard can be recycled. Another bonus of bar shampoo is that it is very easy to travel with, no problems stepping on the plane since it is not liquid or metal! I have not been able to find bar shampoos or conditioners in stores yet, but a simple internet search can lead to many options to choose from and order. I may link a few resources under in my Facebook comment section if you follow me on there.
I have also changed to using laundry sheets recently. The one I am currently trying out is Kind laundry and can be found at https://www.kindlaundry.com/. I actually just bought it off Amazon for a few pennies less. I couldn't wait to try it out, guess I'm getting old. Anyways so far the clothes seem brighter! There are many different places and formulations of laundry sheets. The top and most expensive is True Earth, another popular one is Earth Breeze an I also looked into a Minnesota based Company called Good Hands which supports protecting the boundary waters! I chose to try Kind because it doesn't have a lot of sulfates and the ingredients can be found on its listing page. Price wise it was in the middle when compared to the above companies. One thing I love about the idea of these sheets is that they are light weight and easy to pack if you are traveling! Not every laundromat has sample size detergent for sale anymore. I recall our trip to Montana we took years ago the I wound up buying a regular bottle of detergent to wash just three loads. We couldn't pack it home with us so I left it for someone else to use. Powders can be messy to especially if the lid should pop off during travel. Just a though to consider. Another way to cut down on plastic that I have yet to try is to use reusable bottles for your cleaning agents, like dish soap, counter cleansers and bathroom cleansers. I have looked into Blueland and love their concept of a "forever bottle" that you fill with water and then just drop a cleansing tab (comes paper wrapped) into the bottle and voila you have cleanser and only one bottle! However, I have read a lot of reviews about either the bottles or the sprayer breaking which defeats the purpose. Good Hands offer a similar option and I am sure if I dug deeper I could find more options. I wish I had thought of that when I had to throw everything in my bathroom out last fall, but I will use up the cleaners I have now then switch. If you have any more "plastic free" or "planet saving" ideas please share in the comments! I would love to hear your suggestions! |
Julie MetottNature Photographer, wife, mother, lover of outdoor adventure! Archives
November 2022
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