Bulk buy episode

I sent my husband on a bulk buying expedition.

(Please note, this is not an official binn inn store).

I thought this would be a great way to minimise packaging.

They don't provide paper bags instead of plastic bags and I don't have big enough containers for bulk buying. Those really large margarine containers (5kg?) would be perfect as I only shop once a month.

The main problem is we didn't like the taste of what we brought. I think we have about 5kgs of milk powder. It said it was skim milk but tastes like whole milk powder YUK! We also brought heaps of oats as I have been making porridge for breakfast. The kids hate them and I can't blame them. They weren't very nice. So I think the pigs and chooks will be getting porridge made with milk for breakfast.

Rubbish challenge

Theoretically I shouldn't be empting my rubbish bin till tomorrow night but it's full.

We were trying really hard too.

I haven't started shopping at Binn Inn yet. Binn inn is a shop where you can buy all you baking needs unpackaged (therefore saving all those plastic non-reusable bags). I have been told, that the one I will be going to, supply brown paper bags or you can take in your own containers.

Here's my list so far:

coconut

brown sugar

icing sugar

caster sugar

cocoa powder

baking powder

baking soda

corn flour

chocolate chips

cream of tartar

sultanas

oats

cereals

dog biscuis

salt

1 week rubbish bag challenge

YEP! Our challenge started today. We are hopefully going to take one whole week to fill this bin (not our usual one or two days).

So far it has one biscuit packet, 2 wipes and 5 oxo wrappers.

I have to say that my one week rubbish challenge doesn't work very well with trying to minimalise the house. I went through my sons room today and came up with this bag of non-recyclable, broken toys.

Now..... if I was to put this in the bin it would fill it up in one day, so.... I'm going to cheat!

I am going to put all this broken stuff in a separate bag and use my bin for all the everyday normal rubbish.

I also filled a box with crappy plastic McDonald type toys that I will donate, so they can fill up someone else's home.

Eco fruit and vege bags

I was wanting some light weight, reusable bags to put my fruit and veg in when I shop at the markets and found these mesh wash bags at a $2 kinda store.

They are washable, available in different sizes and best of all, no nasty plastic bags filling up my rubbish bin.

A change of direction

I have found it hard to continue blogging as my crafting as taken a back seat to being a mum, recyclist (is that even a word), fair trader, local market supporter, ethical buyer, self sufficient, low carbon footprint woman.

Soooooo, my blog will be changing (it's OK, change doesn't have to be scary). I will be sharing how I am changing my lifestyle to be more who I believe I should be.

I already recycle and cook most meals from scratch. I still am crafting, but it is crafting with a purpose and mainly for my family. I am trying to grow a vege garden from seed and have chooks for eggs but I still manage to produce at least one shopping bag full of rubbish per day.

Having been inspired by these people who managed just one small, tiny rubbish bag for a year.

I am going for one a week.