Monthly Wrap Up - March 2018

March was a renaissance month. 

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I started carrying metal cutlery, just in case I wanted to eat at a food court where the plates are supplied but the cutlery is plastic. As with all attempts to lower waste and yet feel unrestricted, preparation plays a big part. Polenta works really well in the rice cooker, with a ratio of 4:1 when combined with water plus other items for flavour (tomatoes, chillies, onion). Froze well.

 I've also recently looked into energy use of stove top versus slow cooker, and to my surprise it appears as though a slow cooker may be more efficient for some meals. I've started making some simple and delicious meals. Our household recently acquired a second hand bread machine. I'm surprised at how easy it is to use. The zero waste, bulk purchase multigrain mix works great. I've started sprouting again, in a very simple fashion - just keeping the seeds damp on a plate in the sun and rinsing every twelve hours.

My spices are also better organised. So is my tea.

I made a small quantity of 'travel' deodorant, for long days at work and interstate trips. The recipe works really well - shea butter, arrowroot, baking soda, tea tree oil and lavender oil. For the last six weeks I've been using a concentrated dish washing liquid that can be purchase in bulk called 'Encore'. A cap full of the concentrate is diluted with 1.5L water, a mixture that will last for four or five lots of dishes. Higher concentrations can be made for heavier loads.

I camped at Deep Creek, and tested out a minimal setup with just a poncho tarp and bug bivy. I also didn't take a stove, and trialled some new dehydrated recipes. 

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Waste was very minimal. Almost all plastic was from cat food or cat hygiene products, which are still difficult for me to replace. I have found some (expensive cat food), which can be bought in bulk, which the cats love. This is a step forward. I replaced my shaving razor for the first time in six months. The photo from this month doesn't include two Red Bull cans that I had in Melbourne.

Monthly Wrap Up - February 2018

Not too much to report this month.

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The household ran a slight electricity deficit of 10% over summer, which can be improved one for next year. Still, this isn't too bad considering the season. I started using a cat litter made from recycled material, where the packaging is recycled cardboard. The Soda King machine gets a lot of use!

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The majority of packaging is from electronic components and music gear. Some cat stuff in there, too. First cat food tin I've used in a while! And the first batteries I've thrown out in ages, too.