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[plantpractice]

life lately on film no. 01

Spring and longer days are here, and I’ve been embracing every moment of it. Here are some snippets that I’m grateful for:

Morning light and our east facing bedroom

The presence of animals

The moment you cut open an avocado and find that it’s perfectly ripe

Sustenance in smoothie form

Fresh, homemade donuts at midnight

Small paws

[plantpractice]

checking in: march 2021

It’s been a few years, hasn’t it? I took an unintentional break from documenting here, and it was quite a strange experience to come back and rediscover my old entries from long ago. I admit, I have not prioritized reducing my waste during the pandemic. But that’s okay! I’m grateful for my health and safety, and I’ve been learning to not sweat over imperfection and unrealistic expectations. I once heard this quote that resonated with me: “I cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good that I can do.” I’m learning to be content as long as my intentions are true.

This journal has taken on many forms over the last 8 (!) years — a photo dump, sketchbook library, waste journal. I’m not sure what it’s new life will be this time around, but I’m excited to come back and use this space more often.

[plantpractice]

dreamy chocolate protein smoothie

This smoothie is quite a treat, my friends. On days when I have a sweet tooth or want something a little thicker or a little heartier after a good workout, I definitely gravitate towards this smoothie to satisfy. I like to add protein powder (something that I’ve recently been experimenting with), nut butter, and/or hemp seeds to boost up the protein. 

1 frozen banana

1 scoop plant-based protein powder

2 tablespoons nut butter (i’ve been using peanut butter these days)

3/4 cup cashew milk (or any non-dairy milk)

1 tablespoon cacao powder

Optional add-ins: maca powder, flax seeds, hemp seeds, 3-5 dates, oats for extra thickness, shot of espresso or a couple tablespoons of strong coffee.

This morning, I added hemp seeds and dates for some extra sweetness. Take these measurements as guidelines and taste and adjust to make the drink yours. Blend the ingredients above and enjoy ⚡️

[plantpractice]

waste journal, the first seven days of february

I was a little off my game the last few weeks of January, hence, why the waste journal was on hold. The weather has been dreary, we had family in town, we’re slowly planning a wedding, and I’ve been feeling just a little burnt out from work. Today, I’m back with a little more pep after a slow morning; I literally watched the sun shine on my bedside table for ten minutes because it was that dreamy and rejuvenating.

So here is my weekly waste journal. Maybe this is a new thing I’ll do instead of posting daily to switch things up for a bit. 

The first photo is everything sent to recycling:

aluminum cans

tofu containers

pasta box

glass vinegar bottle

Everything sent to the landfill:

produce stickers

twist ties

receipt

snack wrappers

plastic flour bag tab

misc seals on packaging

bottle label

computer screen wipe and wrapper

not pictured: chinese take out containers with plastic bags, sorbet cup, wooden chopsticks and wrapper

Forgot to mention that these photos don’t show what I composted–lots of hair, food scraps, paper bags, silk floss, toilet paper roll, etc.

I’m not going to say that this was a stellar week. I’m also not going to say that it was a fail of a week because of what was sent to the landfill. I’d rather not reward or punish myself based on my waste. Looking back, I could have been proactive by bringing my own snacks to work (maybe I’ll experiment and make some yummy bars this weekend), but I’m letting things go and taking this as a learning moment. I’m still not quite sure what to make of this information at the moment, but it’s still eye opening to see what circulates through my trash bin these days.

[plantpractice]

in rotation: plastic containers

There are those days when I don’t pack a lunch to work. I have my excuses: I don’t have enough leftovers, I don’t want to eat my leftovers, I forgot to pack my lunch, I don’t have time. So when I have to buy a quick lunch, I usually walk to a cafe down the street from my office that has house made vegan soup which, unfortunately, always comes prepackaged in a plastic container.

I could go to another restaurant and do the whole “Thank you, but I don’t need any disposable cutlery/plastic bags/extra sauces/napkins/xxx” dance and save a few items from going into the trash. Or, I could buy the soup at the cafe “for here” so the cashier can transfer the soup from the plastic tub into a bowl, heat up the soup, and (hopefully) keep the plastic tub to be used again. I’ve been trying to get into the habit of weighing all of my options when making a decision and the potential waste involved, but here is a reason why my plastic-free life is not actually plastic-free. I choose to purchase the soup and the plastic tub even if it’s not ideal.

Plastic containers used to be the bane of my existence. They’re not the prettiest  and can be just another sad item sent to the recycling bin after a single use. But lately, I’ve been keeping them around for a bit longer. Isn’t this moving backwards? Shouldn’t we use less plastic? I think it’s always a good goal to use less plastic and to be aware of its harm, but I also think it’s just as important to use up what we acquire. So because I still let a plastic container into my life every so often, I’m trying to find ways to squeeze more uses out of them:

Freezer storage. I haven’t tried storing things that need to be microwaved directly in the container (like soups and beans), but I’ve had success freezing foods like dumplings and fruit.

Leftovers to give your friends. So much harder to miss than your favorite glass jar/pyrex.

Travel/camping snacks. Lighter on your pack, less likely to break on the go.

Mixing paints, dyes, etc.

Surprisingly, there are a lot more ways to find life in the not-so-pretty containers we get stuck with. I still keep an old plastic spray bottle around that I’ve had for years to house my vinegar cleaner. It’s not aesthetically pleasing like an amber glass bottle, but at least it works. Anyone else trying to use up what they have? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

[plantpractice]

waste journal 01/21/19

Receipts (trash)

Plastic shower curtain wrapper (trash)

Cardboard floss box (recycled)

Not pictured: my old plastic shower curtain which tore (trash)

[plantpractice]

waste journal 01/20/19

Produce twist tie (trash)

Plastic cat food bag (trash)

Toilet paper roll + wrapper (recycled)

Aluminum can (recycled)

Floss + plastic dispenser (trash)

[plantpractice]

waste journal 01/19/19

Plastic jar seal (trash), receipts (trash), plastic bag (trash), 2 jar labels (trash), 1 produce sticker (trash)

Paper smoothie container + lid (recycled) 

Chinese take out box (trash)

Not pictured: floss (trash)

[plantpractice]

waste journal 01/18/19

Panty liner adhesive (compost)

Starbucks drink sticker (trash)

Plastic seal (trash)

[plantpractice]

waste journal 01/17/19

Paper pastry bag + panty liner adhesive (compost)

[plantpractice]

waste journal 01/16/19

Floss (trash)

Paper bag, panty liner adhesives, bandaid wrapper (compost)

Receipt (trash)

[plantpractice]

two weeks over 

After documenting my waste for over two weeks now, I thought I’d share some learns and thoughts. 

I started this project hoping to learn more about the products I use day to day and the ways I dispose of my waste (whether that’s by landfill, recycling bin, or home compost). In the past, I never had much luck keeping a trash jar or writing down my waste in a journal. It felt too serious and I didn’t like the baggage. Since I am a visual thinker, I thought taking a photo would be the best and most fuss-free way to look back and reflect.

Honestly, doing this has been an amazing way to keep myself accountable. I never saw patterns until I started to take photos and was able to see every item in one album at once. I’m really excited to see what this looks like one month, six months, one year from now.

Not by any means is this project supposed to criticize or ostracize me or others for using plastic or accumulating waste. I’ve come to terms with the fact that no one is perfect and a “zero waste” lifestyle is nearly impossible in today’s society. However, I’ve also come to terms that mindfulness is key and, at the very least, I’m trying. And to me, that is a celebration.

[plantpractice]

waste journal 01/15/19

Receipt + produce stickers (trash)

Panty liner adhesives + tissue paper (compost)

Soy milk carton (recycled)

[plantpractice]

waste journal 01/14/19

Produce twist ties (trash)

Floss (trash)

Panty liner adhesive (composted)

Pasta bag (trash). I bought this brand because I thought the bag was made of paper with just a window of plastic, but the whole bag is actually lined with plastic, womp womp

[plantpractice]

waste journal 01/13/19

Produce sticker, produce label, and part of a paper bag of pasta that’s lined with plastic (trash)

Toiler paper roll + wrapper (recycled)

Carton (recycled)

Wine bottle (recycled)

Aluminum can (recycled)

[plantpractice]

waste journal 01/12/19

Plastic noodle wrapper (trash)

Receipt (trash)

[plantpractice]

waste journal 01/11/19

Cat food bag (trash)

Aluminum cat food can (recycled)

Some thoughts on this: I have two cats and their health and wellness mean everything to me. I’ve done a lot of research on making their food from scratch, but it doesn’t fit my lifestyle at the moment. I haven’t had a lot of luck finding a good brand of cat food in bulk near me, so this is what I do for now. Sure, their dry food comes in a plastic bag, but my cats’ health and happiness always come first.