Long Time No Newsletter
(sorry about that)
At first I was just busy, and then I was out of state, and then I was back home but fundamentally not in the mood to write because everything I had to say seemed completely inane compared to the things I couldn’t write about, and, well, here we are. Finally pushing something into the world after several abandoned posts. I’m sure that my absence was all but unnoticeable, so tell me what you’ve been up to? Maybe this little gap gave your inboxes a nice break and your eyeballs too; one less thing to read on the computer or your phone. I’ve been reading a number of pretty surprising things online. There was a whole article about a woman discovering her Japanese-American parents’ eighty year old wedding cake hidden away in a handmade box. Then I saw something about the discovery of a massive black hole that is “the brightest and hungriest ever” - and while I admit I didn’t read past the headline, that descriptor alone was enough to make me feel a sort of kinship with this hole of which the article speaks: I am bright, and God knows I’m often hungry.
We are at the precipice of spring here. Everything is moving at an agonizing but assured pace toward warmer weather and the growing season. I’m eager for it. Longer daylight has thrown one leg out of the covers. Last week I felt my own spring flowers were taking much too long to bloom so I took a good walk around the botanical gardens in Norfolk. Some of their daffodils have sprung into action, a couple hidden tulip trees are unfurling an orchid-colored buds, but by and large everything is moving at a similar pace to the young plants in my own beds. The earth is still (mostly) asleep and there’s nothing any of us can do to hurry it along. My notion of being behind schedule isn’t really supported by fact. Things will bloom when they bloom. Nothing is ahead or behind, it just is. Comforting, isn’t it?
Though there are precious few things we can plant outside just yet, my friend Bea sent out her annual message about the tomato shoots (saplings?) she is growing for sale. They all have fanciful names like “sunrise bumblebee” and “green zebra” and “chocolate cherry.” I buy tomato plants from her each year and I finally have a raised-bed in which to plant them more solidly. It should be a marvelous year for tomatoes, which makes me accepting of the concept that Virginia heat will swoop in on us sooner than we think. I’ve bought some seed potatoes and am letting them sprout on my window sill - I plan to grow potatoes in buckets this season, as an experiment. I also planted three grocery-store herb plants into pots out front, and hope they will survive the remaining and hopefully-mild frosts we will continue having till late March. I boiled egg shells in water and poured the water over my houseplants because a person on Instagram claimed it’ll do something vaguely beneficial for them. And yes, a few of my bulbs have finally bloomed!
You know, gardening is trendy right now. I’ve always hated when my own taste and inclinations accidentally collide with trends. But I can’t help that things like gardening, sourdough, sustainability, and slow living are trendy right now. That lifestyle has always appealed to me. And now that I’m grown and in charge of my own home, I take an interest in deciding on things (like how sustainably we’re going to run our household) with intentionality. The thing is, each one of us is a temporary citizen of this world. I try to handle that responsibility well. Since we’re the ones who have the most agency in using up resources, how carefully can I choose what resources to use? Since we’re the ones who are leaving the most side-effects from some pretty long lifetimes, how can I try to mitigate the harmful outcomes and amplify the positive ones? I don’t tear my hair and beat my chest about this subject, but I do feel a certain level of stewardship is required of us during our brief time on this planet, and it brings me joy to live as connected as I can to creation. When I share in the joy of this created world rather than blindly “mastering” (wasting) it, I begin to care for it, quite without realizing the change. And while I’ll never be the person who makes only one Mason jar worth of trash a year, I am trying to become someone who lives at a lower-waste, slower-consumption level in her habits.
Okay, but what does this actually look like in reality? How does one go from being an unconsciously-high waste person to a more sustainable one? How do you go from spending (consuming) to saving (reusing/doing without/substituting/mending)? I don’t have it completely arranged but I’d love to share some swaps I’ve made. I’d also like to acknowledge that I’m not 100% on this yet, and am always looking for places to adjust and improve. For instance, I still use occasional plastic wrap (gasp) because I can’t afford to buy lots of beeswrap, and also sometimes I DO need an airtight seal for a kitchen project. Nevertheless, here are some changes I’m making! I start with one improvement and when it has become pretty natural, I add another.
Using cleaning rags instead of paper towels for cleaning - okay sure, my microfiber cloths are probably not the most sustainable version of this (torn up kitchen towels or something else would be) but it’s a start. These, at least, are very very reusable. I know paper towels are so crispy and fresh and make me feel like I have a mess fundamentally under control (see Bounty commercials for reference), but a dishcloth or rag will do just as well if not better for most things.
Using old-school cloth napkins instead of paper - we are still working on this, as we don’t own quite as many cloth napkins as we need before we can totally get rid of paper ones. Still, it’s a vast improvement to how it used to be! I balked at this for a while thinking about how much more laundry it would make and then I realized that napkins are very small, and add a negligible amount to the hamper. They are actually something I enjoy using as well, so this was a good swap for me.
Replacing things with more sustainable swaps after I’ve used up the non-sustainable items we already own - what many gimmicky, greenwashing brands don’t want you to think about is that using the reusable plastic water-bottle you currently own is still a more sustainable choice than throwing it away while it still has life left and buying a stainless steel one. Same with low-waste, clean beauty and hygiene products. I just ran out of the shampoo I’d been using and rather than purchase it again, I chose to try out shampoo and conditioner bars from Dip - not only are they plastic-free, but my hair actually has stayed way cleaner, longer. I’m a fan!
Wearing an apron while cooking - aprons aren’t cutesy and decorative, or shouldn’t be. They protect your clothing from stains and splatters, lengthening the life of your garment and keeping you from having to do as much laundry. Whenever I forget to wear one, I regret all my choices. I can’t tell you the number of beloved sweatshirts I’ve had to relegate to the “wear at home” pile because of a grease stain. It’s my red flag.
Buying slowly, and buying second-hand - whether I’m looking for a particular piece of furniture, a windbreaker, or a food processor, I try to check second-hand sources first. There are so many gently-used things lying around in the world waiting for a new chance to be used and loved. Additionally, some companies even have a re-sale program as part of their brand - I got my Blundstone boots from REI’s version of this. Sometimes buying new is the move (underwear and bras, lingerie, swimsuits are things I’m always going to buy new) but more often than not if I eliminate my sense of urgency, I can find something really wonderful and in great second-hand condition. I like to set alerts for favorite brands on Poshmark, and send out the APB to my friends’ to keep their eyes out for items I’m scouting for, like my current need for another bookshelf.
Learning how to clean/repair - after attacking my decidedly grey Hokas with some hot water and powdered Tide before my trip to New York City and seeing them restored to pristine condition, I’m a sworn fan of cleaning vs. replacing. Obviously some things are beyond repair but a lot of cases just need creative thinking and a powerful blend of the right products. I just succeeded in whitening/brightening my duvet cover today by applying some crowdsourced knowledge from my Instagram friends: a long soak cycle in very hot water, powdered Tide, small amount of bleach, then a rinse and spin. It looks brand new! And to think I almost chucked this one out and ordered a new one off Amazon. Embarassed.
Keeping a list of future swap-outs - because of the concept that the most sustainable thing is buying nothing, I keep a list of swaps I hope to make in the future after I’ve used up the product/item/garment I already own. Not only does this often allow me to get the things at a better price (waiting for sales) but I also have time to research exactly what I’m looking for, and tend to waste less money over all on purchases that aren’t what I hoped they would be.
Unsubscribing from marketing emails - I can’t tell you the number of times I have loaded things into an online shopping cart, only to realize that I don’t need or even truly want these items. It’s kind of gross. And while I do still stay subscribed to marketing emails from a few brands I’d like to support but can’t afford full-price, I’ve totally unsubscribed from nearly all the others. While sales do make some things more accessible and I value that, they’re also largely opportunities for brands to goad you into spending so you don’t miss the one latest and greatest best deal only ever! This one sounds silly, but it works: if I’m not being fed spending-bait, I’m going to purchase way less.
Re-selling or thoughtfully donating - before I donate clothing, I usually try to sell it on Poshmark. This achieves two things: first, it ensures the garment is going on to be purchased and worn vs. merely ending up dumped by a donation site as overflow. Secondly, it allows me the chance to raise a little money with which I can purchase other thrifted clothes. I find that using Poshmark as a seller is nearly effortless, so it’s really become something that I enjoy and will continue doing! I think I’m up to seventeen sales at this point which, considering I’ve sold everything from an Old Navy sundress to re-selling a pair of Vionic flats that didn’t fit well, is pretty satisfying! If something doesn’t sell on Poshmark or I’m not interested in selling it, I try to find someplace useful to donate - Goodwill is not the best bet - women’s shelters or smaller charity shops are a better option.
Re-using useful containers before recycling - Andrew teases me for the number of jars I hoard, but I never know when I’ll need that Bonne Maman jar or another bouillon jar for my (numerous) spices. Don’t forget, also, that some local brands like the kombucha I get during the summer accept empties, sometimes for a discount! One of my favorite vases right now is a super cute pyramidal-shaped glass bottle from a Phony Negroni drink I enjoyed on my birthday last summer and smuggled home from the restaurant. My current dilemma is that our city does not accept glass for recycling because there is no “vendor” committed to buying the glass from the recycling centers. All the more reason to repurpose my glass recyclables as often as I can!
Skipping the plastic baggies for produce at the grocery store - I aspire to be someone who always remembers her reusable grocery bags for each store trip, but short of that, try this swap! I do my best to avoid ripping those little plastic bags from the huge rolls at the grocery store for packing up my individual produce. Instead, I try to reserve the “kid” area of my cart for more delicate produce, and wait to pack it in bags till I’m actually checking out. (Yeah, this’ll change when I have a kid to use the seat, but I doubt I’ll start using the bags again). This change might not seem like it makes much of a difference, but putting a plastic bag into a plastic bag is one step too obscene for me. Anything I can do to eliminate some of that plastic is a win for me. And I am getting better at bringing my own bags.
Shopping my pantry, fridge, and freezer - a lot of us meal plan and strictly shop for that, and this is a great budgeting tool! However, an aspect of this that I used to overlook is the waste that happens when I forget to consult the bits of what I already have before shopping. When I do remember, suddenly I have a ghost of a meal plan without having even gone out to shop. I build this out into an actual meal plan, buy what I need, and come in more or less under budget pretty routinely! Plus it feels great to know exactly what is in your fridge at all times. No mystery meat for me!
Could any of the above be considered ground-breaking advice? Nah. But I find that I derive a growing sense of satisfaction each time I do something with a little more ingenuity and a little less waste. Maybe you do too? I promise I’ll have a recipe for you soon! Apart from resurrecting my starter and making loaves of bread to trade for eggs (full granny mode) and a batch of moreish sourdough discard crackers from Maurizio Leo’s cookbook, I’ve been making a late-winter brand of boring dinners. My heart has turned the corner from winter into yearning for farmers’ markets and their bounty again. I’m tired of clinical grapes and restrained strawberries. I want a peach so ripe it is incandescent. But till then I am
Your Hungry Friend,
Rachel