Inspiring Nelson family Q&A with Claudia and Steve

Q: What did inspire you to go on the zero waste journey?
A: Bea Johnson – Zero Waste Home, Bob Greenfield – Adventurer, Environmental Activist, ecological footprint and future generations, eating better and healthier and saving money.

Q: What do you do to reduce your waste?
A: We try as much as possible to consume only what we really need. Buying bulk. Making our own food like bread, granola, goodies, and salad dressing. We buy second hand and we try to reuse to limits the packaging. We buy local. We do fewer trips to the transfer station which reduce the carbon footprint. We make home-brewed beer and wine (Art of brewing) to reduce glass usage. We compost and garden. We do canning and fruit picking. We
plan a weekly menu.

Q: What are your challenges? Continue reading “Inspiring Nelson family Q&A with Claudia and Steve”

Zero Waste talk in Nelson

Come and get inspire to the Green Home and Energy Show, Oct. 2 at the Prestige.

Nelson Hydro’s EcoSave Program and the West Kootenay EcoSociety present the 7th annual trade show event.

The theme of this year’s show is zero waste, Slimmer Waste will be there hoping to inspire many to transition to a less garbage journey.

Full schedule

Refuse and Inspire – Me? Yes, YOU!

If we talk about reducing our waste, we need to tackle how to grow into a refuser.

Isn’t it the hardest thing to do?
It seems like it but I hope to convince you that it is actually easier than you think.

Refusers are just like you and me.

Refuse is THE most important R from the 5-R’s (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot). Why? To prevent garbage and unnecessary items from coming into your home rather than just reduce accumulated waste and recycling. It is called PRECYCLE, a much more uplifting word than refuse. Isn’t it?

Growing into a PRECYCLER is capital.

It really needs courage to take action according to your values. I know! With this post, I will try to inspire you to refuse more and get better at saying NO in your own way. No need to become a militant or an angry friend that reminds others how bad they are for the planet. The best precyclers inspire others and start a domino effect without even knowing it.

OK but refuse what?

Good question! Are you disturbed by all the plastic waste? Learn how to refuse single-use plastic. Do you want to buy less? Learn how to refuse to buy new when possible and/or refuse to follow a trend. Are you sad at all the plastic trash when going to a party or an event? Refuse to continue a tradition that is no longer matching your values and get creative. Take action on what calls you the most.

Tips and ideas to help you. Continue reading “Refuse and Inspire – Me? Yes, YOU!”

Less Waste Shopping – Bulk 101

On a rewarding journey!

Going on a less waste journey is really rewarding and a LOT LESS complicated than most people expect it to be. What do you think you can buy in bulk with your own containers? Chips? No. Cheese? Yes! Meat? Yes! Vanilla? Yes! Essential Oils? Yes! Fish? Yes! Dip? Yes! Apple Cider Vinegar? Yes and all in Nelson. At the end of this post, you will find a list of what you can buy in bulk in town.

Hopefully, this list will keep on getting longer. I visited all the stores on the list. You will be surprised by the offer and the choices. Store’s owners are getting on it more and more. Are you ready?

Resisting the change?

Maybe you are inspired by friends and neighbors who produce less garbage? Maybe you want to make changes but for some reason, you keep pushing your start date? Maybe you feel some pressure on your shoulders or guilt about having to do something regarding climate change but, it blocks you instead of giving you the energy to do something. I understand and I’m sending you a virtual hug. No need for these negative feelings. I know it’s action time but the saying Slowly but surely does really apply here in order to create a real change. What about having fun with it? Explore. Be creative. We all have different needs, different strengths, different limitations. Just start with that. I believe in you!

Let’s explore buying in bulk with your own containers! Continue reading “Less Waste Shopping – Bulk 101”