We have reached Day 100

What an exciting few months getting our Daily Tips up and running on One World to Share on Facebook! Sometimes it can be easy to think that one person cannot make a difference. But remember that one person, multiplied by a movement, can transform the world. We attract the things that we focus on, so by thinking and talking about making positive changes, we will notice more good things happen around us. So here are some of the topics we have discussed since my last web post on Day 31.

HOSTING PARTIES

No matter whether you’re organising a kids’ event, or one for the adults, you can still have a great time whilst helping look after the environment, and save money too.

Many people are opting for e-invitations now, to avoid the hassle as well as the expense of printing and mailing invitations. Check out your local op shop for reusable cutlery and plates, rather than using disposables.

One of the posts I enjoyed writing about the most, was about decorations and activities for kids’ parties, that have a low-impact upon the environment, were cheap and easy to organise, but still loads of fun. Avoid the balloons, straws, and other plastic items - they're hazardous to marine life.

At my daughter’s birthday party, we gave each guest a small seedling in a newspaper “container” to plant at home, which would flower in spring and remind them of the day that they had all spent together.

I liked this article from Auckland Council https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/articles/news/2017/08/9-tips-for-a-zero-waste-birthday-party/, which was featured on One World to Share at the beginning of September, to coincide with our kids’ party segment.

Planning is a critical skill to learn when hosting any party, and it will help you avoid food waste, reduce stress, and save money. When buying meat and vegetables, avoid polystyrene as it is toxic to human life and to aquatic life if it enters waterways, and it is very difficult and expensive to recycle. Cover food as soon as meals are finished, and store in the appropriate place to reduce food-borne illnesses, and offer leftovers to guests to take home, or gift to a charity who can distribute it, to reduce food waste. Remember if you are serving alcohol, be a responsible host and provide food and don’t let guests drink and drive. Make sure you have different bins (or something similar if your party is away from home) to collect recycling (bottles, gift wrapping, etc), compost waste, soft plastics (if there will be any) and general landfill. We all love traditions, however, sometimes it’s time to start a new tradition with your family and friends. Zero-waste Halloween and giving up (or toning down) fireworks displays for Guy Fawkes’ were subjects in September.

GREEN WEDDINGS

On the subject of traditions, it was time to start fresh with the topic of green weddings. From clothing and shoes made from sustainable fabrics sewn by ethical companies, or choosing “gently worn” garments, we can make a significant impact upon pollution, water usage, and to employment conditions in many developing countries. I loved the plantable invitations from Forever Fiances Wedding Invitations (you plant the invitation, which has embedded seeds in the paper, which grows with love and care). With the cost of weddings, my suggestion is to only invite those people who you really cannot get married without. I think the time has passed when you need to invite your Great Auntie Mildred’s second-cousin twice-removed whom you haven’t seen since you were two. OK, that might be an exaggeration, but you get my point.

Many of the same party principles apply to reduce waste, disposables especially plastic, and giving gifts that are natural, ethical, fair trade, quality that lasts, and/or serve some purpose to the newlyweds. Maybe, be bold, and have a “no-gifts-thank-you” wedding?

Have you ever thought about the environmental and social impact of jewellery? Here are my tips for choosing jewellery:

Finally, organise an eco-honeymoon, by choosing providers who share the same values as you do eg use renewable energy, conserve water, etc. Be mindful of your travel miles and the impact that transport has upon climate change. Buy locally when away, as this supports the community through employment, and reinvestment in infrastructure. Look for authentic experiences that help to preserve and respect indigenous cultures. Watch for “greenwashing”, which is when a product or service is marketed as eco-friendly, but on further investigation, it falls short of its claims.

A SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS

It’s time to ditch, or rethink, Christmas traditions, in my opinion. In the recent past, we have generally acted as if we have another planet to go to, buying up large because that’s what the media tells us that we ought to do to show our loved ones how much we care. All of this is wrapped in plastic, foil and shiny decorations, that ends up in landfill (and that’s not great when the only land left for a refuse station is right next to your house) or even worse, ends up in our waterways, flows out to sea, and ends up in the food chain, and if you’re having fish for Christmas dinner, yes, it will be there on your plate!

So here are my top picks for a sustainable Christmas:

• Offer your friends and family your “presence”, rather than presents

• Live in the moment, and experience “joy” rather than worry whether all your place settings match!

• Donate to a charity (eg buy a goat for a family in a developing country through Oxfam, to empower them to become self-sufficient, instead of buying material gifts that people often don’t want or need

• Avoid buying lots of toys for the kids – too many toys can harm their development!

• Check out my Pinterest board for some homemade gift ideas https://www.pinterest.nz/joyb145/

• Buy pre-loved gifts, or upcycle items

• Gift heirlooms to cherished family members (this can also be the gift of time or skill – maybe Grandma can pass down her favourite sponge recipe that you make together, or you can teach Grandpa how to join Facebook?)

• Choose experiences rather than "stuff"

• Send e-cards, or connect over the Internet eg Skype etc

• Make your own creative Christmas tree from the many designs on https://www.pinterest.nz/joyb145/

• Make do with your existing decorations, or choose natural pieces such as pine cones to bring inside; homemade decorations are also a unique way of dressing your home

• Read the post for Alternative Advent Calendars and keep following One World to Share on Facebook as we initiate some of these ideas this Christmas

• Use the tips and tools provided on Facebook to plan food and drinks for minimal waste

• Volunteer your time on Christmas day to give back to your local community – it’s good for your mental and physical health, will increase your happiness, and it creates a stronger community – not to mention what it does for the recipients

• Reduce the number of lights you have for Christmas, and use LED bulbs – don’t forget to turn them off when you go to bed

• Think and act consciously

CLEANING TIPS

This is one of my favourite cleaning tips. Did you know that you can almost quit buying commercial cleaners, in favour of white vinegar, baking soda, lemons, salt, castille soap, essential oils, and a few other ingredients? Gradually replace cleaning products with natural alternatives, which can also be used outdoors to keep paths clean and free of moss, keep furniture looking great, cars sparkling, and so on. Not only will you save a lot of money, but the impact upon the Earth, and your wellbeing, is significantly reduced. Wendyl’s Green Goddess has a recipe for almost every cleaning situation http://wendyls.co.nz/

Replace microfibre cloths (that will usually shed tiny microparticles in the washing machine that lead to the sea) and make your own dishcloths, unpaper towels, and upcycled mop pads. There are now many bamboo brushes that can be purchased instead of plastic ones, and bamboo is compostable.

To make cleaning even easier, quicker, and to share the love with your local community, start decluttering! We often have more stuff than we need or desire, so why not share it with those who could use it, and then you won’t have to manage, clean, repair, or maintain it? Downsizing your home will also help you to reduce your cleaning time and the cleaning products required, as well as reducing your energy usage, and possibly even your water use. In the laundry, it is recommended that bath towels be hung to dry after each use, and washed after every third use. Sheets can be safely cleaned every two weeks in most cases (weekly in hot weather), thereby reducing water, energy and detergent use. The top loader came out on top as being the most energy and water efficient of washing machines, and the most gentler on clothes helping garments to last longer. Using an outside clothesline will make enormous power savings, and help to reduce the appearance of stains due to “bleaching” by the sun. By the way, ironing is also bad for the environment, so that’s one item off your “to do list”! If you really need to use a drycleaning service, ask to see their green credentials first and choose one that is trying to limit its negative impact upon the environment.

The waste disposal unit in the kitchen needs to become a thing of the past. Instead of washing your food scraps down the drain, to go out to sea, put them in your compost, Bokashi or worm farm. If you have a lot of dishes to wash, your dishwasher will probably be more efficient than to wash them by hand. Check your other appliances, such as fridge/freezer units, televisions, and other electronic devices, to make sure that they’re maintained and working to maximum efficiency. Only update these items (or buy new electronics), when you work through the checklist on day 99 (published 8 November) to determine that you’re making the right decision for yourself and for the planet.

So, which of these ideas have you incorporated so far? Drop us a line at connemara109@gmail.com or on Facebook or Twitter @OneWorld2Share. I’d love to hear from you! Best wishes Joy