#mindfullysustainable

[closedloopcooking]

GROW YOUR OWN

Yes, even those windowsill herbs are an act of resilience. Learning where your food comes from and how to sustain yourself is a powerful act of persistence. We’ve learned so much from our farmer features, namely, that you don’t have to have a special background to grow your own food. Anyone can learn how to commune with nature, we’re not separate from it.

As summer rolls into an autumnal quiet, I’m starting a few indoor growing projects. I’m hopeful and understand this is the best way to learn, even if it doesn’t go perfectly.

I come back to this quote from our friends at @smarterbynature often. “To me that component is so important because the process of growing food and the value of food is undermined in our society. People are used to getting things fast. When you purchase something at the supermarket you have no idea how long it took to make it or how it got there. When people start learning about growing food, they start appreciating the time and work that it takes, so that creates a higher value in their minds, and then they begin to treat themselves with that same value when they eat that food, and they take pride in it.”

When we value the things we eat, we better understand the value of ourselves. Let’s take time in these colder months to explore how these systems work. We’ve got a lot to learn!

What are your cold weather growing projects? #closedloopcooking

[thetinyveganlife]

🥣 Breakfast 🥣 For some reason, there seems to be a lot of #breakfasttalk going around lately. So I’m taking it as a sign and putting the link to my 5 most customizable #veganbrekkie ideas in my bio! I hope you like them! . 🥣 Petit Dej 🥣 J’entends beaucoup parler de petits déjeuners en ce moment! Du coup j’en profite pour vous remettre le lien vers mes 5 idées de petits dejs vegan les plus customisables dans ma bio! J’espère que ça vous plaira ! . . . #vegan #bevegan #govegan #vegansofig #vegansofinstagram #zerowaste #lowwaste #lowimpact #sustainable #zeroplastic #veganfortheplanet #noplanetb #earthlover #sustainability #sustainableliving #goingzerowaste #mindfullysustainable #lifewithoutplastic #packagefree #plasticfree #zerowastelifestyle #zerowastehome #zerowasteliving #nowaste #waronplastic #veganfood #coconutbowl #coconutbowls #porridge #veganporridge #smoothie #smoothiebowl #smoothielife #tofuscramble https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Jw_s3IqXu/?igshid=spw7vkiaa23k

[rangachakra]

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A post shared by R A N G A C H A K R A (@rangachakrastudio)

Online Store coming soon... Stay Tunned! . . #RangaChakra #RangaChakraStudio #mindfullysustainable #colourspeaking #handloomwithlove #ayurvastra #sarees #handmade #ecoconciousbrands #natureinspired #storyofsaree #handcrafted #chakraclothing #chakracolours #positivvibes #holisticliving #handmadeindia (at Ranga Chakra) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFvzVl8JRKi/?igshid=oart2eg3dnpw

[all-considered]

AIR DRYING CLOTHING I've always preferred to hang up my washing, even our little flat in London, but I know that tumble drying is a go-to method for many. Is air drying the done thing where you live or are most people set on using a tumble dryer? 🌬Here are 4 reasons why it's better to let clothes air dry: 1. It's way kinder to our planet.   If all households with a tumble dryer air dried one load of washing outside each week instead of tumble drying it, they would save over a million tonnes of CO2 in a year. Bam. 2. It’s a step towards slower living.  Taking time to hang clothes can be therapeutic. :) It reminds us of what we own & it's a chance to feel gratitude for each item rather than chucking it into a machine. 3. It's better for the clothes. #lovedclotheslast  Tumble dryers weaken the fabric’s fibres faster than if they had been air dried. Also, air drying doesn't shrink clothes. 4. The sun is a natural whitener. Great for work shirts & the like. 🌬 Even on cold days, the lower humidity aids the drying process so, if you can, leave a window open where your clothes are drying in Winter. Hanging the items up straight after the wash instead of leaving them to sit in the machine helps too.  . . . #ecoconscious #themoreyouknow #allconsidered #theartofslowliving #mindfulfashion #mindfullysustainable (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw4wcfnnCRE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=11sq7su4k63oh

[blog-healingherbs-universe-blog]

Gay Love Spells | How to get Psychic readings online | Call | WhatsApp: +27843769238

https://youtu.be/DEwAIEBmxf0

    #mindfullysustainable #lowwasteliving  

[ecobotato]

Finally, the problem is always the Single-Used Plastic. 😞 #Repost @another_space_store (@get_repost) ・・・ #noplanetb #designforchange #designforgood #designforimpact #bethechange #bethechange🌎 #smallsustainablesteps #smallsteps #consciousliving #consciousconsumer #savetheplanet #extinctionrebellion #plasticfree #plasticfreeforthesea #plasticfreeliving #environmentallyfriendly #bansingleuse #consciousfashion #ethicalfashion #mindfullysustainable #lowwasteliving #lowimpactmovement #wastefreeliving 📷 @ocean_sustainability_battle https://www.instagram.com/p/ByRUXkwHg9c/?igshid=vb0zfbrmvdr0

[gardencaptures-blog]

I got a super cute bag from @ikeanederland today; will use it for groceries and save some plastic ending up in the landfill 💛 Do you bring your own bag to the supermarket or local farmers market? *********************************************** #sustainableliving #totebag #zerowasteliving #zerowastekitchen #packagefreeshopping #shopping #groceryshopping #groceryhaul #zerowasteworld #lesswaste #mindfullysustainable #packagefree #reusablebags #sustainable #zerowaste #trashisfortossers #plasticfree #zerowastegoals #ourplanetourhome #waystozerowaste #greeneducation #lowtoxliving #protecttheearth #zerowastehome #ikea #shoppingbag #savetheplanet (at Netherlands)

[closedloopcooking]

SMARTER BY NATURE

If you haven’t read Maia’s latest interview with the innovative folx @smarterbynature y’all have some homework! I’m so in awe of this small scale farm in Tallahassee, FL. From the tools they use to the educational aspect of their work, Smarter by Nature is setting a standard for sustainable agriculture.

“We started growing on a countertop—basically just bringing our seeds out to the balcony during the day to let them get some light. If you don’t have outdoor space of your own we also recommend joining a community garden where you can start to get familiar with planting different seeds and experimenting.” Y’all, this expansive operation started on a COUNTERTOP! Resourcefulness and just finding the next right step put this farm into action. While we might not all have access farm land, we’re all capable of finding room on the counter to bring something to life. I’m so appreciative of their mission and giving visibility to black farmers. 

“Every week we also bring our food to Frenchtown Farmer’s Market, which is a local market serving a community that has very little access to fresh produce otherwise. A lot of our customers there may not have ever been exposed to things like kale or oyster mushrooms, and they get to come to this market around the corner from their homes and purchase produce like that and talk to the farmers that grew them.” Small scale makes massive change y’all. These community efforts have ripple effects. It starts with just a seed. <3 Read the full interview over on closedloopcooking.com! And if you’d like to support Smarter by Nature donate to help them purchase land of their own!

[closedloopcooking]

DIY Orange Peel Cleaner

Are y’all making citrus infused vinegar yet? This mixture is low effort and low waste for a sparklin’ home. I love cleaning with vinegar as it’s less harsh than most industrial cleaners and does a thorough job on those grimy areas (looking at you toilet bowl.) You can save your excess citrus peel – that orange is scent is divine – and make a batch every few weeks or so. A much better smell than straight vinegar, trust me. If you’ve got more than a few peels on hand try dehydrating them to use later on. The dried peels keep well until you’re ready to infuse.

To make your own infused vinegar all you have to do is: - tear or cut citrus peels into small pieces and place in glass jar - cover with white vinegar (make sure your pieces are fully submerged or fermentation will occur) - let sit in a cool, dark place for 3 - 4 weeks (a cupboard works well) - strain peels when you’re ready to get cleaning! (compost the excess please) Simple as that. You get to extend the life of your produce and make the cleaning process a little more enjoyable :D PSA - just remember to avoid cleaning granite with vinegar! it’ll work most everywhere else though.

Have you made your own citrus cleaner?? #closedloopcooking

[closedloopcooking]

How-to make a low waste shopping kit

One of my favorite #lowwaste shopping tricks is super simple–just stuff things into other things and keep it on your person. A small glass jar usually fits several other bags that prepare me for a mindful trip to the grocery store. Shout out to this well worn tote I’ve had for 10 years, a sturdy mesh produce bag, and a plastic produce bag I’ve reused more times than I care to share. If an unexpected trip to get groceries pops up you can always be prepared! The glass jar comes in handy if you’re out getting coffee and forget your travel mug or have leftovers from a quick bite to eat. I usually keep some variation of this mini travel kit in my bag or backpack and it comes in handy almost everyday.

Our latest piece from Moji Igun on forming intentional habits really resonates. If collectively we want to make change, to reduce the amount of to-go containers, flimsy plastic bags, and single use items in the landfill we have to be mindful about how that change takes place. We have to intentionally implement small habit shifts that add up over time. Moji sums it up so well, “We simply want to adopt habits at a pace that won’t be overwhelming to the point of inaction. When we are able to consistently see ourselves have small wins, it transforms the new habit into a behavior we no longer have to actively think about.” YES. Adopting an entirely zero waste lifestyle change cold tofurkey is not sustainable for most people. 

So, small steps. Packing a mini travel kit in your bag everyday is an impactful habit shift that will influence other actions. This is an achievable intention that will help you navigate the overwhelm of trying to live a completely zero waste life. Low impact intentions, y’all. We know this is an imperfect practice and giving yourself the kindness to make mistakes and correct is how things stick. If you haven’t read Moji’s latest piece about intention setting get on over to closedloopcooking.com already!

What’s in your low waste travel kit?? #closedloopcooking

[closedloopcooking]

DIY Low Impact Produce Wash

Apple peels, sweet potato skins, carrot tops, curly leaf kale, all dirty dudes, all nutritious, and worth a good wash. Taking on this ethos of using every part of your produce requires a little bit more preparation.

I try to buy organic / local when possible to avoid any extra chemical residue. (In situations when this isn’t possible, removing a waxy or damaged skin from your produce is probably the better bet.) A sustainable cleaning process ensures your fruits and veggies are ready to eat and last longer. Getting in the habit of washing your produce as soon as you get home from the store or market makes it super easy to use it later throughout the week.

Baking soda is an awesome low cost, low impact alternative for clean eats! It’s way better to wash this down the drain than most other commercial dish detergents that are usually dyed, scented, and in a plastic bottle. I buy baking soda in a cute lil cardboard box and it lasts for a few months.

How-to:

Gather all fruits and veggies (it’s helpful to do everything at once to make it easier to pull out of the fridge for later use) and a large bowl.

Fill bowl with cool water about halfway.

Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to bowl and mix to combine.

Add in produce, make sure all pieces are fully submerged, and let sit for 12 – 15 minutes.

Using a dedicated produce scrub or clean dish towel, scrub and rinse off produce and repeat steps 4 and 5 as needed. (I use the same solution for all of my produce at one time to do a batch wash.)

It’s that easy!

How do you clean your produce?? #closedloopcooking

[closedloopcooking]

Earth care, people care, and fair share with Pandora Thomas

“I turn to the concept of Sankofa, meaning going back and fetching our stories in order to move forward.”

I am enamored with the work of Pandora Thomas. She is an emblem of intuitive activism, a steward of mindful care taking for the people in her life and the planet. Last week and over the weekend here in Portland felt like I aged ten years. As we’re still engulfed in this blanket of smoke, waiting for rain, I find a comforting solace in Pandora’s grace and wisdom. This is the work we all need to invest in and bring about change. At this critical turning point we have the choice to do things differently. We must.

On permaculture and social justice.

“Then I discovered permaculture. And because permaculture is a design system rooted in the idea that we are from and part of the earth, I got really excited about it.

I learned early on that farming is a destructive practice—we are forcing the earth to create bounty however we determine. Permaculture talks about a permanent agriculture where we can right that relationship by understanding the type of environment that nourishes crops to grow, and not taking more than we need. The three central ethics of permaculture are ‘earth care, people care, and fair share.’

Permaculture, as a design system, helped me relearn what I knew about farming. And I wanted to apply its principles to social issues. What does it look like if those ethics are applied to how we care for people? Because that’s really where so much of this dysfunction is happening—how we are treating the people who are caring for the land and taking from the land.”

Maia’s full interview is a must read. It’s live over on closedloopcooking.com. Trust me, this is going to stick with you.

#closedloopcooking

[closedloopcooking]

SLOW GROWTH Happily surprised to see baby shoots coming up through this celery. In a matter of just a few days this odd end is serving up life again. A small, magic moment you can create in your own kitchen. You just need a shallow dish, enough water to cover the very bottom of the root, some sunshine, and patience. I placed this start on the window ledge and replace the water every other day or so to keep it fresh. I’ve never considered myself someone with a green thumb. All surviving plants in my house are here out of sheer will. But seeing slow growth from something that would normally make its way into the bin or compost is a little, meaningful win.

I’ve been regrowing green onions since elementary school, always amazed at how quickly they come back. Trying out new produce starts, like celery, is an exciting way to dip your toe into what I call “gardening light.” I’m treating this process as a low waste experiment and learning what else will take to at home growth.

Always curious about ways to extend the life of your produce, what are you regrowing in your kitchen?

[closedloopcooking]

STRAWBERRY TOPS

If you haven’t downloaded Moji’s habit tracker on CLC yet, do yourself a favor and check it out! (Link in bio.) We could all use a moment to reset and recover so we may continue to show up for the things that matter.

She reminds us to: Feed yourself Snacks are having a big moment in quarantine, but when was the last time you ate a healthy meal? You know, one with different colors and food groups? (No, chips and salsa don’t count.)

Check in on your mental health What are you doing for your mind today? Do you need human connection? Set up a call/FaceTime/Zoom date with a friend. Do you need relief from the chaos? Turn your phone on Do Not Disturb, or dare to turn it off completely. Do you need to process? Explore journaling or, if it’s available to you, try talk therapy. There are resources out there like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Open Path Collective that can support you with this.

Experiment Use today to try something new. Have you ever tried painting, indoor gardening, DIY crafts, or baking? It doesn’t necessarily need to be as involved as learning a new skill, but treat yourself to a fresh experience and you might find a new way to express yourself.

So many more mindful suggestions to help us check in with ourselves and find moments of calm.

For my daily CLC experiment, I’m making use of all the extra summer strawberry tops! Saving these beauties for strawberry top infused water, smoothies, salads, and just general snacking. Honestly, I usually just eat the entire berry whole!

Have you downloaded the habit tracker yet?? What are you experimenting with? #closedloopcooking

[closedloopcooking]

7 LOW WASTE SWAPS FOR PLASTIC WRAP

Y’all it is time to ditch the cling, it’s 2020, there are other alternatives. Plastic wrap is not a kitchen necessity, though Thanksgiving leftovers might have you thinking otherwise. It’s been an ever present accessory for chilling cookie dough, wrapping up produce, and packing sandwiches to go. Crumpled up once you’ve used it and sports-balled into your closet bin for points. A single use convenience item most of us don’t think twice about. It’s time to change that! Swapping out single use kitchen items for reusables makes a huge difference in reducing our impact and creating sustainable long term habits.

A few ideas to help you make the switch:

- Glass jars. My favorite form of storage. Truly, you can forgo a cling wrapped container 100% of the time if you’ve got other storage options on hand. Glass jars can be thrifted, repurposed from that excess of pickle juice you have in the fridge (just me?), or if you just need a bunch to get started, invest in a few to help ya get that collection started. Reuse first!

- A plate or clean linen. Cover resting or chilling dough with a simple plate or clean dish towel. A lot of recipes will tell ya to cover your cookie dough or yeasty bread to be with plastic wrap while it sits in the fridge or on the counter. Replace that wrap with a plate that covers the bowl or a clean linen or two and you’ll protect your goods just as good.

- Beeswax wraps. Eco-friendly, reusable magic wrap that’s perfect for saving leftovers, wrapping halves of avocados, and packing sandwiches to go! Great to have on hand and easy to pack when not in use. Easily moldable from the warmth of your hands you can form it to fit just about any produce or piece of dishware. Bee’s Wrap is a reusable fav you’ll pull out almost daily. We’re inspired by this beautiful Bee’s Wrap illustration Morgan Skye did for us!)

You can check out all 7 swaps on our latest article over at closedloopcooking.com! Low waste for the long term baby.

What are your hacks for ditching the plastic wrap?? #closedloopcooking

[closedloopcooking]

Found vessels

Moving into 2020 thinking about the spaces we fill. I spent much of this last year transitioning through spaces that weren’t quite the right fit, wondering why I was taking up space somewhere that didn’t align with my values. It was uncomfortable, it was slow moving, but each space was important. The opportunities of the past year may not have been perfect but I honor each experience as moving me closer to the work that matters. At the end of 2019 we consider our intentions for the next year, wanting to move on from the things we didn’t accomplish or places we didn’t get to. Intentions are essential but I encourage you to spend a few moments, before stepping into the future, to appreciate where you’ve been in 2019.

You showed up. It wasn’t always perfect but the spaces you filled this year matter. <3

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We’re so excited for a brand new editorial calendar coming in 2020! Lots of amazing content to inspire, educate, and create conversation around a #lowimpact lifestyle. Stay tuned for our first interview of the new year tomorrow! Happy happy new year y’all!