What can you live without?

In an effort to simplify our lives and hence reduce stress, it is important to determine what clutters our lives.  When we can do this, we can start clearing the clutter; learn to say no to temptations and then see a simpler life unfold.

Many people wonder how I can live without a microwave.  Fair question as most people are unable to cook three times a day.  I cook every few days and I place meals in containers.  When I need to I use my stove to heat up the meal.  I however, am incapable of eating the same meal three times and I loathe the concept of frozen food.  So simple decision for me

Another item that I can certainly live without is a dryer.  I can't understand why people who live in the tropics need a dryer.  It takes an hour, tops, to dry clothes on a line.  And nothing beats the scent of fresh air-dried clothes.  Maybe except for cut grass.

What can you live without?

Saying No to Plastic

This week I was asked to justify a plastic bottles recycling programme - using Life Cycle Analysis.  This got me thinking about recycling in general.  (You should note that I generally say no to plastic bottles) In TnT we have to ship a lot of our recyclable material abroad for further processing.  This leads me to my point - why can't we just say no to plastic?

Here are some ideas I have put together so far.

1. Cook.  Simple, nutritious and economical.  And remember to use cook extra and take to work in glass containers.  And of course the ingredients should be local produce purchased at the market

2. Go vintage.  See my previous posts on this

3. Bring your own reusable bag to the supermarket and market

4. Say no to free giveaways.  Who needs another plastic bottle opener?

5. If you are a foodie (I am not) consider making your own condiments (jams, pickles, hummus etc)

6. Flea-market, garage sales etc  where you can buy, you guessed it, VINTAGE!

Moving Beyond Dredging Rivers and Clearing Drains

The recent floods have made me quite upset but not in the way you would think.  I was lucky to be spared any damage and I was able to spend that very rainy day in the comfort of my dry home.  I was upset, for once again, we have been derailed by nature and man.  Nature provided us with a lot of rain.  And man ensured that whatever infrastructure we had in place was useless.  So now we're hearing the same story: dredge the rivers, clean the drains, rivers are being blocked by legal and illegal development etc etc.  I do appreciate that relief is needed but perhaps there should be some persons who can think beyond wearing tall boots and giving away money.

Perhaps the Government should set up a fund (Green Fund perhaps?) that can be accessed by cities, communities, development, villages etc where they can use the funds to "green" their areas of residence.  Some of these initiatives can include:

- Community Composting
- Organic Farming
- Rainwater Harvesting Initiatives
- Development of bicycle parks
- LEED certification for new buildings
- Provision of energy efficient lighting
- Development of green spaces
- Rehabilitation of old buildings into parks or green spaces
- Use of community centres to teach residents sustainable practices such as organic farming, composting, sustainable water use etc

On a larger scale the Government should look at the Energy Policy to ensure that we start incorporating renewable energy into our grid and overall, we should be looking to reduce our dependence on oil and gas.

Reinvention

I have been busy with world cup.  Less said the better as I am a Brazil fan

I honour of my theme, I have changed the look of my blog.  Hope you like it

So let's talk sustainability and reinvention.

- Why not repair your shoes when minor repairs are needed and if possible change the colour.  Don't discard after  the slightest scuff.  Find a good cobbler and you will be amazed at how long your shoes can last.  However, bear in mind that you need to invest in well crafted shoes made of good materials, shoes must fit well and must be comfortable

- Why not host a clothes and jewellery swap?  Gather your friends and family and swap clothes.  Immediate new wardrobe - no cost attached.  My clothes tend to be of good quality and many are classic styles.  Problem is that I get bored easily.

- I love crisp white button downs and silky white blouses.  However, white clothes do not last!  So what's a girl to do when her favourite whites show age after one wearing?  She invests TT$4.50 in clothes dye and after one hour she has new blouses and shirts in blue, orange, violet etc etc

- Convert old sheets into sofa covers

- Use old towels and cut them up to get rags and small kitchen towels

- Use old packaging and put them at the bottom of plant pots before the potting soil.  This helps with drainage

- As much as possible buy food items in glass jars and use the old jars to store legumes and spices (remember to label)

- Compost

I have tried all these and they work!  Any ideas that you want to share?

Small Changes

If nothing else, the big oil spill off the Gulf Coast of the US has made me realise that more and more I have to reduce my reliance on big oil and fossil fuel.  So how do I do that?  Short of becoming a scientist and inventing some new form of alternative energy I have to look at my habits and tweak, again!

Cutting back on airline travel - I have substantially done that by my change of job.
Cutting driving time - lime less, done!
Use less air conditioning - thanks to cooler weather, this is now possible
Eat local - this is a big one for me now.  I am trying to reduce my consumption of processed food as well as imported food.  This includes more frequent trips to the market and consumption of more local fruits and vegetables.  Getting easier and easier every week
Buy less books, borrow from the library more

Now if only I could calculate the real value of these changes.  But one thing for sure is that it will lead to a healthier and ultimately healthier life.  What more can a girl ask for.

Nine Things I am Grateful For..........

1. The smell of freshly cut grass
2. Smell of rain, especially on the city's pavements
3. Having an umbrella on hand, when said rain falls (see 2. above)
4. A cold shower at 3pm
5. Rain
6. First bloom of an orchid that you haev been nurturing for three years
7. Paying ten dollars for an orchid and waiting three years for first bloom (see 6. above)
8. The first mango of mango season
9. Mango chow

Oil Spill and Elections

I have not updated for a while as I have been quite busy.  But I have been following the politics and the oil spill in the Gulf Coast. First elections.  Congratulations to the new Prime Minister and Government.  I hope that soon we can see how environmental policies will be implemented.

The oil spill persists and has reached land.  I worry about how the mangroves, beaches and fisheries would withstand such an assault.  Now I am waiting to see if the new experiment would work and the source of the spill will be contained.

No time for lists this time but look out soon.  It will be ready in time for World Environment Day.