I have to say that when it comes to not using plastic bags, I have managed to bring home 3 plastic shopping bags so far this month. I am still using plastic produce bags, and therefore want to make some re-usable produce bags out of sheer curtains. I am on the lookout for some at my local re-sale shops to use for just that purpose but have not found any.
I have faithfully taken my 5 TJ bags (that I LOVE because they are so strong and large) to the grocery store. Those 5 bags are usually more than enough to bag up my weekly groceries, but this week I purchased more than my 5 bags could hold, so I ended up needing one plastic bag for the remaining items. (And it never occurred to me until just now that I should have asked for paper! duh!!) I did purchase a roast last week and the bagger put it in plastic, even after I had already used a plastic produce bag to contain leaks.
The girls and I went out to eat one evening and we had leftovers. The take out container was, of course, Styrofoam. I managed to stuff my leftovers and Ziggy's leftovers into one container, but it was VERY full, so I did use the plastic bag they provided. We were doing some back to school shopping and I did not want the food to leak in my purse! So plastic bag #2 was brought home.
My large purse has worked wonderfully for stashing the odds and ends that I purchase when I am out and about. I stuffed fabric in it one day, I stuffed it with 5 or 6 shirts and some old sheets from a resale store.
I also brought home a plastic bag with a new school outfit for Ziggy and a shirt for Gherkie. They like to carry their own stuff, and I did not bring a separate bag since this shopping trip was rather spontaneous. I have since decided to make a little fold-up bag to keep in my huge purse for just such purposes. (I also try to purchase used clothing for them, but I do promise them that they can have one new outfit each; I try not to let them look too "recycled.")
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So bags have really not been an issue this month! But composting my food scraps, well, I've been really bad!! My worms died a year ago, and our compost bin is just awkward to get to and the evening is just not my prime-time to want to go climbing over rocks and garden to dump my food waste. Lazy. I know. I am working on this, and actually want to get more worms. That seems to work well for me.
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Organic dairy: I know I should purchase only organic dairy. But since milk prices dropped so drastically I have a hard time justifying $5.30 a gallon when the non-hormone milk is only $1.40 gallon. I do buy organic yogurt, or use organic milk to make yogurt, but I rarely see organic cheese or other dairy items in our local grocery store. So, yea, organic dairy is still a stumbling block.
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All in all, I think I have done really well. And I even made some pretty cool bags to tuck into my purse so that when the girls and I go shopping on a whim, I can whip out my own bag for them to carry! Now I need to commit to a September change soon!
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