Like so:

Oh yeah wait, it could!




Don’t forget to save the seeds for next year!

Growing my own luffa sponges is definitely something I’ll be doing annually, forevermore. And I hope you’ll consider doing it too. If you want to order your own luffa seeds, I highly recommend the fine folks over at Baker Creek – keepers of heirloom seed strains. They’re good people and very much worth supporting.

♥ Cheers! ♥

This month we took on a mission that seemed, on the surface, to be pretty simple: find those little eco-unfriendly things in your life, and “green” them. But sometimes the little things prove to be bigger hurdles than we’d imagined, and finding solutions can take some creativity!

I don’t know about you, but I had a lot of fun with this mission. I replaced my paper coffee filters with a hemp reusable version (LOVE!). I looked into replacing my razor, since the enormous pack that I bought at Costco like 5 years ago, is about to finally run out. I’m considering going the Preserve route (same as my toothbrushes! this company is pretty spectacular). I also noticed that when I get little sample coffees at Trader Joe’s, I absent-mindedly (ALWAYS-GAH!) grab a little stir stick to mix in my agave. Otherwise the sweetness just sits at the bottom! So, I started keeping a little stir stick in my Ergo baby carrier (which is what I’m always wearing when I’m there), and now I re-use the same little stir stick over and over and over. Um, talk about little things, right!? But you know, that’s the sort of stuff that adds up. I’m also going to try keeping and reusing the sample cup itself!

Mostly, I spent the month recommitting myself to some of my old intentions that have fallen by the wayside. I’m back to line drying lots of my laundry. I’m totally back on family cloth, and I feel really good about that one. And now I’m biking everywhere . . .

I think this was a really great Mission with so much adaptability and room for interpretation, which is why I can’t wait to hear what you guys did with it! So tell me tell me, what little things did you address in your life this month? Leave it in the comments!

~~~

Just a reminder that next Monday we kick off our very first Bonzai Book Club, instead of another Monday Monthly Mission. We’ll be reading Just Food: Where Locavores Get It Wrong And How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly, so make sure to pick up your copy this weekend! I’m so excited!!!

This month we’ve made it our mission to finally find alternatives for some of the less conspicuous, but nevertheless wasteful, objects in our lives. For example, this whole idea was inspired by my desire to replace my paper coffee filters with something I could reuse. And just last week, I picked up a seriously awesome hemp filter that I’m loving! Other people suggested I switch to a French press or cold brew system, both great options.

There are a million ways that you can tweak your life to lessen your imprint on this Earth. The great thing about “going green” is that it’s a journey, not a destination, and we’re all walking on this path together. Each of us makes our little changes, at our own pace and as our life allows. And working together, keeping each other motivated, all those little alterations add up to an enormous impact!

Here are some other ideas:


Plastic Sandwich Bags
Make your own!
or
Buy pre-made to support a crafter


Plastic Tupperware
Dudes, it’s all about the repurposed glass jars.
or
Fancy glass! (this company uses recycled glass and manufactures in America, w00t!)


Kitchen Sponges
Make your own!
or
Grow your own? (!)


Plastic Water Bottles
I say, just re-use a glass mason jar. Easy and CHEAP!
But,
Maybe you like something fancy? There’s a million billion options out there in glass, steel, and more. I couldn’t possibly list them all. However, I love glass and these are adorable!!!


“Java Jackets” For Hot Drinks
Make your own!


Menstrual Pads
Make your own!
or
Buy pre-made to support a crafter


Tampons
Switch to Diva (or other menstrual cup)


Paper Towels As Napkins
Make your own!
or
Buy pre-made to support a crafter


Paper Towels As Cleaning Rags
Dudes, just cut up an old bath towel!
or
Buy pre-made to support a crafter


Plastic Take-Out Utensils
Replace with reusable


Take-Out Chopsticks
Replace with reusable


Take-Out Food Containers
Bring your own from home. Like these! Just tell the restaurant ahead of time, when you place your order. If this sounds crazy, just think about how far we’ve come with cloth grocery bags. Be a pioneer!


Plastic Straws
Replace with reusable


Wrapping Paper
Use newspaper, brown paper bags (you can draw or write on it for decoration), pieces of fabric, or a cloth bag.


Toilet Paper
Make your own cloth reusables! Sound crazy? I know, I know. Read this on how to get set up.


Single-Portion Foods
Stop buying those big bags full of tiny bags of chips or trail mix or whatever. Buy in bulk and pack it up yourself in reusable containers. Stop buying the individual yogurts or the single-serving soy milks. Buy the biggest container (or make your own!) and portion it out at home. Make your own trail mix. Make your own granola. Make your own Larabars. Buy loose leaf tea. You get the picture!

~~~

Clearly, this is by no means a comprehensive list, but it’s a great jumping off point. Got something to add? Leave it in the comments!

Also, check out ReUseIt.com. Oh my god I want, like, everything there. Hippy heaven!

It’s really all about the little things, ya know?

At the end of our last mission, our 20th mission, I reached out to you guys for some feedback. I wasn’t sure we should continue forging forward in the same fashion, with a new mission each month. To be honest, coming up with new tasks has become increasingly difficult – we’ve done a lot already! We’ve covered dietary choices and health, we’ve become activists, we’ve become exercisers, we’ve worked internally on our growth, we’ve taken on environmental challenges, and so much more.

You know, I’m really proud of us.

But we can still push ourselves farther, can’t we? I really wanted to focus on an eco-friendly theme this month, but after the composting, the line-dried laundry, the reusable femenine products, the secondhand shopping, the driving less, and omg we mustn’t forget the cloth toilet paper for great hippie’s sake. What was left?


Last week I was making my coffee at midnight (I make it the night before and refrigerate it for iced morning java) and I came across the last of my paper coffee filter. And, maybe since it was midnight and I have a wandering mind, it put me to thinking. Do I really need to keep buying paper for my coffee, even unbleached, “natural” paper? Between my daily imbibing and Damian’s morning drip and on the weekend, our afternoon refills, we can go through as many as 3 or 4 of these filters a day. That can really add up! Is there an alternative?

And what else can we replace, or live without?


I remember how much I used to adore lotion. I would slather it over every inch of my body, every single morning. I even wrote about it, a review of all the most “natural” brands. It was the last non-homemade item I held onto, because I couldn’t imagine living without it, and because every time I tried to go off it, my skin dried out.

Well, then I had a baby, and my hormones got all wonky-like, and my skin got suuuuper sensitive, and also, I was really really really busy. There was no luxurious lotioning for me anymore. And when I did manage to get some on, my lovely lotion was giving me rashes, eek! One day I ran out and I just didn’t bother replacing it. No time! And my skin was dry for about a week, and then it balanced out. Now I never use body lotion and my skin is supple and fantastic and NOT addicted to added moisturizers. In the end, it’s so much better this way.

The same thing happened with Q-Tips. I’m not even kidding you, I was working my way through a Q-Tip collection the was 5 years old (Cosco, baby). I always said when it ran out is when I’d go off the Tips, but the truth was that I secretly dreaded it. I hated the feeling of water in my ears! I never felt like I was completely “clean” until I’d wiped my ears out. True story, I’m a weirdo.

Anyway, I’m sure you can see where this is going. I ran out of Q-Tips, I felt yucky and soggy-eared for about a week, and then I got used to it and now I don’t even notice anymore. Except that I’m no longer throwing away sticks of chemically-treated bleached cotton that I’ve shoved into my ears everyday. Q-Tips are really bad for you, anyways.


The point is, sometimes you just have to take the plunge and kick those old wasteful habits to the curb. Think you can’t function without paper towels in your kitchen? You can, I promise. Cut up an old bath towel and keep cloth rags in the cabinet. We’ve been paper-free in our kitchen for years.

You could replace paper napkins with pretty cloth ones (sewing project!)

You could replace disposable bathroom cotton balls with soft washable hemp pads.

You could switch from bagged tea to looseleaf, and use a metal strainer.

There are a million little things all around your house than can be replaced or done away with completely. These little things really add up, and over time it’s the little things that can actually do the most damage. So let’s not overlook them anymore!

Me, I’m starting with my coffee filters, and getting myself a metal mesh insert. I’ll also be keeping my eyes out all throughout my life, watching for ways to tweak and tame the wasteful beast.

What will you do? Do you accept this mission? Share your ideas in the comments so we can all benefit – I’m sure you guys will have some great ones!

~~~

Next month will be the first installment of our Bonzai Book Club, which will switch off with the Monday Monthly Mission, every other month. I’m so excited! But I know that reading can be time-intensive, and we’re a very busy bunch of movers and shakes around here. So I’ll always give you the reading assignment a month ahead, at the end of the MMM post, in case you want to get a head start.

For our very first BBC we will be reading James McWilliams’ Just Food: Where Locavores Get It Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly. I can’t wait!

So, how did it go driving less this month?! Did you walk, bike, or bus more? What creative solutions did you come up with to save on gas and lighten the carbon load? I can’t wait to hear!

Me, I had a moderately successful mission. My goal was to use only 1/2 a tank of gas this month (down from my usual 1 tank). Alas, I didn’t quite get there. I used ~3/4 tank, which is 50% more than I intended to use . . . or 25% LESS than I used to use, if you’re an optimist (I am). So I still think that’s pretty rad.

As far as I’m concerned, the real champion of this mission is Damian. He started a new job mid-May (YAY!) and was diligent about biking, no matter the weather. That’s 10 miles round trip and he faced torrential rain, strong wind and even hail! But he stuck with it and only took the bus once. I’m so inspired by him!

So, now I want to hear about all of you. Bikes? Busses? Skateboards? How have you been transporting???

1. Soy/rice/almond/etc milk
2. Coffee grounds
3. Fireplace ash
4. Nut shells (not walnut)
5. Toenail clippings
6. Pet hair
7. Human hair (home haircut or saved from the barber shop)
8. Dryer lint
9. Dust bunnies
10. Innards of a vacuum bag (empty the bag into the compost)
11. Burlap sacks
12. Pumpkin/sunflower/sesame seeds (chop them to ensure they won’t grow)
13. Toothpicks
14. Cotton or wool clothes, cut into strips
15. Stale tortilla chips/potato chips
16. Stale crackers
17. Domestic bird and bunny droppings
18. Old potpourri
19. Sawdust
20. Fish food
21. Dog food
22. Crumbs
23. Flowers
24. Seaweed/nori/kelp
25. Peanut shells
26. Bran (wheat or oat, etc)
27. Condoms! (latex only)
28. Paper towels
29. Paper napkins
30. Paper plates (non wax- or plastic-coated)
31. Trimmings from an electric razor
32. Tea bags/looseleaf tea
33. Crepe paper streamers
34. Q-tips (not the plastic ones)
35. Old breakfast cereal
36. Dead houseplants (or their dropped leaves)
37. Newspaper
38. Avocado pits (chop them up first)
39. Frozen fruits and vegetables
40. Tofu/tempeh
41. Expired jam or jelly
42. Feathers
43. Kleenex (including ‘used’)
44. The dead bugs on the windowsill
45. Pickles
46. Balloons (latex only)
47. Egg shells
48. Coffee filters
49. Popcorn kernels (the ones at the bottom of the bucket)
50. Oatmeal
51. Aquatic plants (from aquariums)
52. Matches
53. Old loofas (real, not synthetic)
54. Tampon applicators (cardboard, not plastic)
55. Pencil shavings
56. Holiday wreaths
57. Bamboo Skewers
58. Old herbs and spices
59. Pizza boxes (shredded)
60. Cooked rice
61. Cooked Pasta
62. Wine corks
63. Paper muffin/cupcake cups
64. Cotton balls
65. Booze! (beer and wine)

And how better to jumpstart our community, than with a challenging new MMM?

High atop my vintage Schwinn, ‘Althea’. Summer 2008.

#11


Let’s talk transportation. We all know that gas-powered vehicles are an environmental nightmare, but it can be hard to break out of such a convenient (and let’s face it – comfortable) habit. The truth is, if you really want to cut your carbon footprint, transport is key – in terms of impact it’s second only to going veg*n.

So in honor of springtime and the sunshine that it brings (perfect for vehicle-free transportation), I challenge you to rethink how you get around. Could you alter your errands to stay within a bike-friendly zone? Could you jog around your neighborhood instead of driving to the gym? Could you walk to work, or to the coffee shop, or to the drug store? Could you do your grocery shopping with a friend, for the company *and* the car share? Could you catch the bus to school? Could you ride the subway to dinner? Could you set up an office carpool? Could you rollerblade to brunch?

As you can see, the possibilities for change are endless. And they really add up!

Personally, I do own a car. But I do the vast majority of my ‘moving’ by other means. I do my grocery shopping daily, by foot (while walking the dogs). I walk a lot actually, and it’s a great way for Waits to experience the world. I used to ride my bike everywhere, which gave me an even greater range, but that’s out until this baby gets a bit bigger.

These days my car averages 1 tank of gas per month, almost exactly on the nose. I fill it up around the 1st, and it takes about 4 weeks to get down near ‘empty’. So my personal goal for this MMM is to cut that in half. I intend to use only 1/2 a tank of gas this month! If I can make that my standard I’ll be sittin’ pretty, don’t you think?

Damian and I rockin’ the bike helmets. Safety first! haha. Summer 2008.

The bike basket during an afternoon of errand-running. Summer 2008.

So, what could *YOU* do to curb your emissions in the transportation arena? And do you choose to accept this mission??

Although my bed rest kept my thrifting to a minimum, I was able to pick up a few awesome items this month. And of course, all the clothes and baby clothes I bought were gently used. But it’s not about me – I want to hear about you guys!

How did this month go for you? Were you able to remain entirely secondhand? What kind of goods did you get and how did you have to alter your habits? And most importantly, are you going to try to keep it up indefinitely???

I’d really love to share the thrift store love, so please please please:

1) Send me pics of the pillage! If you scored something amazing that you’d like to share, email me a picture (you don’t have to be wearing it if you don’t want to) at info@bonzaiaphrodite.com Please include your first name and the city/country you found it in.

2) Send me the names and addresses of the BEST secondhand stores in your city, and maybe a brief description of why they’re so rad. I want to compile a list of the greatest thrift stores across America (across the world??). So send me all the top secret hot spots you know of in every city you’ve been to. Send your thrift stats to info@bonzaiaphrodite.com

#17

So the holidays are over and you’ve got a pile of greetings and gift cards, on display and collecting dust in a corner of the living room. But they’ve got to come down eventually, and unfortunately most will find their way into the rubbish bin.

Of course you, diligent Bonzai readers, would never trash that precious card stock, I’m sure. We’re all recyclers here, are we not?

But what about doing one better? Instead of tossing them in with the newspapers and tomato tins, why not hold on to them for later use? Simply remove that pretty (and valuable) front! (leaving the back, inscribed with your relative’s well wishes, to recycle) Now you have a brand new post card, a clever thank-you note, or a lovely gift tag!

You can also wrap a gift in simple brown paper (re-use a paper grocery bag), then tape the recycled card front to it, to add a festive image.

So save your holiday cards for the next years festivities! But don’t forget to save other cards throughout the year – this works equally well for Valentines, birthdays, and beyond!

BONZAI!

Alas, we’ve been a bit waylaid here at HQ. Being on bed rest certainly puts a damper on shopping trips. Still, I managed to sneak off to the gently used baby boutique in my neighborhood, and picked up a few super cute essentials, as well as some much needed cloth diapers for my slowly growing collection. And just this past weekend, Damian took some of my store credit (trade-in value) at one of the local shoppes, and found a pair of mint condition Lucky brand jeans for 1/5 the cost of a new pair. Lucky is his favorite, so this was quite the cause for celebration!

Since this mission is all about thrifting, and anyone who shops secondhand knows the joy and the thrill of the hunt, I thought it might be fun for us to really share the love. Here’s what I’m thinking:

1) Send me pics of the pillage! If you score something amazing that you’d like to share, email me a picture (you don’t have to be wearing it if you don’t want to) at info@bonzaiaphrodite.com Please include your first name and the city/country you found it in. At the end of the month I’ll post all the pictures, and we can all revel in the glory of the secondhand goods!

2) Send me the names and addresses of the BEST secondhand stores in your city, and maybe a brief description of why they’re so rad. I want to compile a list of the greatest thrift stores across America (across the world??). So send me all the top secret hot spots you know of in every city you’ve been to. At the end of the month I’ll post a master list, and I’ll continue to update it periodically.

I hope this mission is treating you well – it’s a fun one! Happy hunting, and may the thrift store faeries sprinkle their pixie dust all over you!