When I told my husband we were beginning a new project he just looked at me, no words, just "the look". After 20 years of marriage he is used to me coming up with new projects, adventures or journey's for us to try. So his looks are two fold, one of question and one of waiting. The silent question is him wanting to know what part he has in this new project. Will the new project mean "we" or "he", since our children and I are quite good at claiming "we" need to do this or that, but ultimately it means "he" will do this or that, like cleaning the garage or hanging things on the wall. His silence and look also means he is waiting for me to explain the latest to take place in the Bright household. So here is where I will begin, what exactly is Project Reduce Waste?
HISTORY
In our family, we each do our part to help the environment (like eating plant-based, recycling and turning off the water while brushing our teeth), but I wondered if that should be enough. Should we sit back and feel we have done enough, because in all reality we have already done far more than billions of other people on this planet. Right? Then I thought, is that what this should be about? Is it a competition as to who has done what or more? Is that what I want to teach my children, that doing one good deed is enough? Did I want my children to think that we did our part, and the cause seems so vast anyway, that it's just easier to be done? These were really important questions to me that I knew only I could answer as this is, and should be, a personal decision for each person to sit with and figure out for themselves.
In our family, we each do our part to help the environment (like eating plant-based, recycling and turning off the water while brushing our teeth), but I wondered if that should be enough. Should we sit back and feel we have done enough, because in all reality we have already done far more than billions of other people on this planet. Right? Then I thought, is that what this should be about? Is it a competition as to who has done what or more? Is that what I want to teach my children, that doing one good deed is enough? Did I want my children to think that we did our part, and the cause seems so vast anyway, that it's just easier to be done? These were really important questions to me that I knew only I could answer as this is, and should be, a personal decision for each person to sit with and figure out for themselves.
It just so happened that one of the homeschool lessons we were on was learning about space, which led to a lesson about the Earth, which led to a lesson about the environment, which led to a lesson regarding the condition and future of our environment, which has led us to our current lesson about what can we do. Wow, I think I need a family tree here as to our lessons and what they have birthed. Anyway, what we have already done is well and good, but that should not be the focus. I realized the focus needed to shift from what we have done to what ELSE can WE do? So we started asking ourselves some questions. What ELSE can WE do that will create a positive impact for the environment? What ELSE can WE do to repair damage we, as humans, have done? What ELSE can WE do for a better future?
CREATION
From this, the creation of our most recent family project was born… Project Reduce Waste! Headed to the kitchen, I took inventory of what we had on hand. Groceries were running low, or so it seemed when you're used to seeing an overflowing refrigerator, and I decided I would not be going to the grocery store until the end of the week. I was determined to use up what is here. I noticed there are actually several meals possible with what we had on hand. I do, however, feel there should always be plenty of fruits and veggies, especially when you're a plant-based family :). So, I told everyone I would make one run to the local produce market called Reardon's, which is only 1 mile from our house (see, saving gas and, therefore, less pollution). I went to Reardon's and stocked up on fruits and veggies. The remainder of our meals needed to come from items already in the house.
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| Reardon's run |
Another bullet point on our project list is our compost barrel, which we have been extremely lax in using. I decided we would rotate responsibility as to who would take out the small compost bin in the kitchen to be added to the large barrel out back. This way the responsibility didn't fall on one person. Not everyone likes this idea, but they understand that to make a difference it takes each of us to make an effort, and composting is a no-brainer that literally takes seconds to do.
SUMMARY
So here you have it, phase one, two and three of Project Reduce Waste. As a recap here it is:
So here you have it, phase one, two and three of Project Reduce Waste. As a recap here it is:
1. Use what is on hand instead of immediately running to the grocery store. If necessary, go to the local market instead of one further away, unless combining errands in that vicinity.
2. Reduce gas used making unnecessary trips, therefore saving money and reducing negative impact to the air quality.
3. Compost all scraps, rotating responsibility for small compost emptying.
Items that we currently do, but will make sure we are more diligent on are:
1. Turn lights off after leaving a room.
2. Do not flush the toilet throughout the night if only going #1 (definitely flush every time for #2 or #3, yikes).
3. Turn the TV off if gone from the room longer than 10 minutes.
4. TV/ electronic time limited to 2 hours per 24 hours.
5. Recycle all paper, cardboard, cans and glass.
6. Turn off water while brushing teeth or washing face until needed to rinse.
7. Continue eating plant-based, and minimizing packaged foods which add to pollution and waste.
MEASURING SUCCESS
So we have our plan, but how do we track or monitor this to ensure everyone does their part? A jar was placed on the counter for each person to pay a fine per penalty. What is the penalty plan?
So we have our plan, but how do we track or monitor this to ensure everyone does their part? A jar was placed on the counter for each person to pay a fine per penalty. What is the penalty plan?
1. Every time a light is left on you must pay $0.01 (we have a seven year old, give us break).
2. Every time the TV is left on longer than 10 minutes you pay $0.10.
3. Every time items not recycled or composted you pay $0.05.
4. Besides the jar, we will get out the 60 different cookbooks I have (yes, I have a cookbook addiction) and find ways to use items we already have.
5. We will limit the amount of packaged items bought by making those items ourselves (granola bars, cookies, deodorant, toothpaste, etc).
GOAL
The goal of this project is:
1. To bring greater awareness of our impact in this world
2. Notice and take responsibility as to how we can help, instead of harm, the environment.
3. Hopefully, there will be less and less fines, but in the meantime, any fines collected from the jar will then be used for home improvement items.
The goal of this project is:
1. To bring greater awareness of our impact in this world
2. Notice and take responsibility as to how we can help, instead of harm, the environment.
3. Hopefully, there will be less and less fines, but in the meantime, any fines collected from the jar will then be used for home improvement items.
This is what works for our family, each family is different and unique, thank goodness. However, our wish is that each person will allow themselves to sit with the same questions we did at the beginning of this project, deciding for themselves what makes sense and how they can make a difference.
Please feel free to continue following us on our latest journey as I add updates and recipes, stay tuned...
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