[EcoDharma] ECO-Life

[Heiso]

If you only have a small space you can grow vertically and potatoes will do well in any old container like a bucket.

We are big on composting too and while I hate food waste I feel a bit better knowing it will be going back into producing the next season's vegetables. It's also pretty Buddhist!

On a separate note, with a toddler we go through a lot of milk and the containers have been making up a significant amount of our plastic consumption. Inspired by this thread we've switched over to delivery from a milkman using glass bottles. Not much but a little less plastic.

Gassho,

Neil

ST/LaH.

[Jundo]

This was in the news today, and might cause some rethinking ...

The Plastic We 'Recycle' Is Actually Horrible for the Environment

That plastic bottle that you drop into a recycling bin on the streets of New York isn't always broken down and crafted into a brand-new product. Sometimes, it ends up across the world in someone's backyard, taking its place among scores of supermarket bags and snack pouches. [In Photos: The World's 10 Most Polluted Places]

The U.S. ships about 1 million tons of plastic waste overseas every year. Much of that plastic used to end up in China, where it was recycled — that is, until the country abruptly stopped most of the plastic waste imports in 2017. Now, a good part of U.S. plastic waste is shipped to the world's poorest countries for recycling, including Bangladesh, Laos, Ethiopia and Senegal, the Guardian reported.

Last year, about 68,000 shipping containers' worth of plastic recycling waste from the U.S. were shipped to developing countries, which mismanage over 70% of their own plastic waste, they wrote. For example, Malaysia dumps or improperly disposes 55% of its own plastic waste, yet it receives more U.S. recyclables than any other country, they wrote. What's more, an estimated 20% to 70% of plastic waste that goes to recycling facilities worldwide is unusable and discarded as trash, according to the report.

https://www.livescience.com/65730-wh...ing-lands.html

Gassho, J

STLah

[Shokai]

The best re-use of plastic bottles I've seen was to spin it like cotton candy to make insulation filling for Nylon Winter Jackets.

Gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Amelia]

Thank you for starting this, Meitou. You must have read my mind: I was going to ask Jundo if we could start some kind of zero-waste-hopefuls club! It is something that has become really important to me and I am often watching YouTube videos about how to cut down on the plastics and waste in general.

Gassho

Sat today, lah

[Junkyo]

Hi everyone!

Has anyone used wood/bamboo cutlery? I was thinking of getting a few sets for camping/bbq's etc. where we would prefer not to use plastic but I am not sure of the quality or durability of the wood sets. Perhaps it is better to get a second set of metal?

Gassho,

Junkyo
SAT

[Tairin]

Hi everyone!

Has anyone used wood/bamboo cutlery? I was thinking of getting a few sets for camping/bbq's etc. where we would prefer not to use plastic but I am not sure of the quality or durability of the wood sets. Perhaps it is better to get a second set of metal?

Gassho,

Junkyo
SAT

My wife just bought a few bamboo teaspoons. We are using them in place of stir sticks or other such uses. They aren’t replacing our metal spoons. So far they are holding up fine after a few weeks of use. These are not finished in any way so I am expecting them to eventually stain.

We also have some bamboo utensils for cooking. They are also holding up well.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Amelia]

I have a travel set of bamboo cutlery and a straw. They come in handy. For camping we like to go backpacking so we have the metal all-in-one spork knife.

Gassho

Sat today, lah

[Doshin]

I am with Geika for backpacking and camping. Simple and durable. Heck I would use it at home if my wife did not try to civilize me some Only need to replace if you loose it!

Gassho
Doshin
St

[Meitou]

This was in the news today, and might cause some rethinking ...The Plastic We 'Recycle' Is Actually Horrible for the Environment

That plastic bottle that you drop into a recycling bin on the streets of New York isn't always broken down and crafted into a brand-new product. Sometimes, it ends up across the world in someone's backyard, taking its place among scores of supermarket bags and snack pouches. [In Photos: The World's 10 Most Polluted Places]

The U.S. ships about 1 million tons of plastic waste overseas every year. Much of that plastic used to end up in China, where it was recycled — that is, until the country abruptly stopped most of the plastic waste imports in 2017. Now, a good part of U.S. plastic waste is shipped to the world's poorest countries for recycling, including Bangladesh, Laos, Ethiopia and Senegal, the Guardian reported.

Last year, about 68,000 shipping containers' worth of plastic recycling waste from the U.S. were shipped to developing countries, which mismanage over 70% of their own plastic waste, they wrote. For example, Malaysia dumps or improperly disposes 55% of its own plastic waste, yet it receives more U.S. recyclables than any other country, they wrote. What's more, an estimated 20% to 70% of plastic waste that goes to recycling facilities worldwide is unusable and discarded as trash, according to the report.

https://www.livescience.com/65730-wh...ing-lands.html

Gassho, J

STLah

Thanks everyone for your ideas and practices. I'm all for growing what you can at home, even if you only have window boxes or a couple of windowsills. A few years ago I managed to buy tomato seeds suitable for growing in 5" pots - I actually planted them in windowboxes on my balcony and they gave an amazing crop. We don't have space for much but still manage to grow lots of basil, parsley, sage, rocket and small leaf lettuce. Something that isn't available here is fresh coriander ( cilantro) and I've had no success growing it from seed -any tips on that gratefully received!

I've also just bought some bamboo cutlery, to use with my oryoki kit, so I'll let you know how they last.

Now my pet peeve, highlighted by Jundo's post above. Plastic bottles, specifically plastic bottled water. Apart from the unethical way water is taken from poorer countries to be sold to rich water-plenty countries, I'm really dumbfounded as to why people buy water in bottles at all when they have what is for some, the unimagined luxury of potable water coming straight out of their taps in their own homes.Even in the UK now people buy water in bottles because they 'don't like the taste' of tap water. What privilege to have that choice!
Here in Sardinia where I live, it's almost unheard of to drink water out of the tap even though it is drinkable. Bottled water is ridiculously cheap, between 20 and 25 centesimi for a litre - the water itself is often from local underground springs - and is hardly a deterrent to adding to the huge mountain of bottles that are used every year - Italy is the number one consumer of bottled water in Europe. I know that our water is drinkable, I drink it, but my husband wouldn't dream of it, so we are as much part of this problem as everyone else. Our plastic is collected separately once a week and we all put out huge sacks of it, but as pointed out above, then what happens to it?
There are some great intiatives - as well as that jacket filling Shokai mentions, I've seen ocean plastic recycled into all sorts of stuff - here are some companies who are doing that https://www.businessinsider.com/comp...s?IR=T#bureo-2
This is great, as long as they aren't producing more stuff that will again end up being thrown away after a few uses. This is why I believe it's important to honour the plastic you already have, make as much use of it as you can, then dispose of it as responsibly as possible when it reaches the end of its life. Otherwise, we are just perpetuating the problem.
I don't have an answer to the bottled water problem, I think in the end it's like so many other issues of consumerism - it comes down to each of us taking responsibility and asking ourselves 'Do I really need this?' and 'How will I dispose of it?'. Understanding the difference between 'want' and 'need' is always a good ( and sometimes uncomfortable) place to start.

Gassho
Meitou
sattodaylah

[Tai Do]

Bottled water is really a problem, Meitou. I think is a cultural problem. Nowadays no establishment gives a free glass of water, only sell a bottle. Here in Brazil bottled water isn’t very cheap (4 or 5 reais, even more) but when we are out of home and thirsty, it’s the only water we usually get. I buy them but keep the bottles for replenishing with water at home (I usually bring a bottle or two of water when I go out).
And at home we usually buy water. In part because the tap water not only tastes bad but can be a little dangerous. That’s why we are saving money to buy a ceramic filter. My mother-in-law has one and the filtered water taste is great and there is no danger in drinking it even if is tap water.
Still looking for a good solution.
Thank you all for the suggestions.
Gassho,
Mateus
Sat today/LAH

[Kyonin]

Hi Meitou,

I'm a simple man and I need so very little to live. All I do is to go for things as local and natural as I can and I only consume what I need to live. I restrain myself from excess.

That means I have very few clothes like only have 5 t-shirts, 1 pair of pants and my priest robes. I buy food at the local farmer's market and cook at home. I don't have a car, but I walk and use public transport. I take cold "showers" using a small bucket of water (about 10 liters) and some generic soap.

Not sure if what I do is eco, but it sure it's liberating.

Gassho,

Kyonin
Sat/LAH

[Doshin]

Kyonin,
If we all lived like you there would be no reason for this thread

Gassho
Doshin
St

[Meian]

Kyonin, thank you for your description. I now have a revised goal to consider. The car is difficult with my kids, but the rest of it, I'm partway there.

It goes directly against American culture but individually it is possible.

Learning what works for others can help.

Gassho
Kim
St lh

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

[Meian]

We use filtered water due to the chemicals in tap water, but we use steel water bottles. If we have gallon plastic bottles, we reuse them around the house for other purposes. Due to city living, it can be difficult to find ways around all waste. My city seems to invite trash and pollution.

Gassho
Kim
St lh

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

[Junkyo]

Hi Meitou,

I'm a simple man and I need so very little to live. All I do is to go for things as local and natural as I can and I only consume what I need to live. I restrain myself from excess.

That means I have very few clothes like only have 5 t-shirts, 1 pair of pants and my priest robes. I buy food at the local farmer's market and cook at home. I don't have a car, but I walk and use public transport. I take cold "showers" using a small bucket of water (about 10 liters) and some generic soap.

Not sure if what I do is eco, but it sure it's liberating.

Gassho,

Kyonin
Sat/LAH

Last night it really hit me as to how much "stuff" my wife and I have, our house is literally full of items that we never use, or nearly never use. I think it may be time to get rid of a few things! We often talk together about simplifying and downsizing what we own, and yet we never seem to get around to doing it. You post may be the motivation I need to finally get rid of a few things!

Thanks!

Gassho,

Junkyo
SAT