#package reduction

[refilltoyou]

No More Wire Hangers

Stock photo

Before I became one, I pictured people who worked from home as crumpled and jammie-clad and hunched over computers all day, maybe with headsets accessorizing bed headed hair. For me, the reality of self-employment and grooming habits is not disheveled per se but it probably verges on too comfortable. I get ready in the morning with the whole day in mind. I do not plan for transition or transformation, which I guess, is the ultimate approach to day-to-evening wear. Or more likely it is casual morning meeting, to walking the dog, to toiling at my desk, to midday Pilates, to afternoon errands, to working on the go, to volunteering or going to the gym wear; and it looks a lot like yoga pants, roomie capris, or jeans & ts.

Working for myself, I did not realize how fluid my days would become, and mostly I am supremely happy for it. I feel like I am just being me most of the time getting stuff done according to my preferences, priorities, and timelines. I do not move in and out of roles like wife, worker, dog mom, active adult, eco freak, etc. like I used to. Yes, I still have people to answer to, deadlines, and stress; the difference is that what I do now is, for better or worse, mine soup-to-nuts, which has improved my productivity and creativity. One downside, though, is that it is difficult to draw boundaries, take time off, or turn things off. There is always a mountain of revenue generating stuff left undone and it likes stare at me right in the face.

This is a roundabout introduction to the new excitement and appreciation I have for getting all gussied up for serious engagements. Though my wardrobe is not chic or stylish, I know that presentation makes a difference and I usually know when the situation calls for it. However, cleaning up after playing dress up is not my forte and I would rather pay someone else to professionally pre-spot and press my shirts and pants rather than doing it myself. I can do this in good conscience thanks to Eco Friendly Cleaners and their no packaging options.

At EFC, customers can choose to bring in or purchase their own reusable bag, or like me, they can choose the naked option where no plastic or paper unnecessarily dons cleaned clothes. EFC also welcomes customers to provide their own hangars so now I have “no [more] wire hangers!”* to return, nor a need to transfer clothes from them to the “good kind” once I get home. 

Best of all, these options are in the system at EFC so the counter help does not have to make special note of what the customer wants. EFC's no packaging options are used often enough so that processors and finishers look for the notes and allow clothes to go home unprotected.  Now, on to a little sweeping and vacuuming…

*Famous line from Mommie Dearest

[refilltoyou]

Six Months of “Refillification” – Part 2

Thank you, Peter, for coining the term. I love that looking back on this time in our lives we will be able to refer to it as the Refillification, our own era if you will. Anyway, I have enjoyed the first phase of my experiment in paring down on packaging and other throwaways and it has given me better peace of mind and an avenue to regular engagement with small business shopkeepers. I learn new ways and means almost everyday and would like to share a couple of addendums:

Bagless Bread - Our Daily Bread’s ciabatta cuadro makes a perfectly good nest for veggie burgers, and since they are also offered in bagless, bulk supply, I no longer buy burger buns at the grocery store. Once I stumbled in on a day the bakers made hotdog style challah buns which were yummy and bag free too. And now there’s a new loaf in town; Crazy Good Bread Company just opened their retail location in Carp and they offer naked artisan loaves of all sorts. We like the Orange Chocolate round and pretzel sticks best.

Refillable Moo Juice - I already wrote that Broguiere’s milk which comes in returnable/refillable bottles can be had at six Santa Barbara area stores: Gelson’s, Lazy Acres, Montecito Village Grocery, Ralph’s on Carrillo, Tri-County Produce, and Whole Foods. Now that I am again shopping in the dairy case rather than on the almond milk shelves, I have noticed that Straus Family Creamery also supplies our neck of the woods. They have various dairy products in different volume sizes (also in returnable, refillable glass containers) available at Gelson’s, Isla Vista Co-op, Lassen’s, Lazy Acres, Tri-County Produce, and Whole Foods. I choose Broguiere’s because it’s produced at least three times closer than Straus and because their quart size best suits our needs (mostly I see Straus half-gallons around town).

DIY Yogurt - Once I got around to giving it a try and figuring out the timing, making my own yogurt was pretty easy. I used low-fat milk which made the yogurt more liquidy than what we are used to, but since we really only use it for smoothies and granola, I would rather make an imperfect batch myself than continue to buy store bought in plastic containers.

DIY “Yogurt”- After I wrote about fro-yo in this Edhat article, I was informed that by and large this frozen dessert is not the real deal and mostly filled with additives. Bummer. But rumor has it a new store is opening soon in downtown Carp that will have a natural ingredients only soft serve. We look forward to bringing our own container and giving it a (s)whirl.

Olive Oil - Thanks to the readers of my article on Edhat, I have been informed that Il Fustino on Upper State in Santa Barbara also does olive oil and balsamic refills. We will give them a try next time we’re needy.