By integrating new skills and habits, maybe its possible to carve out a different path. Through personal empowerment comes agency, freedom and responsibility.
I don't feel the need to purchase what I used to need to purchase. I have the choice now, to buy or not, across multiple domains. Food, cleaning, hygiene, entertainment. This list is growing, and it's only starting to click how empowering this can be.
Systems are falling into place, and are working.
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It's been a good month in many respects. I've swapped drinking beer from glass bottles (for the most part) to growlers that are filled by my local brewery.
I've swapped a plastic disposable shaver for a safety shaver.
I love making things, and the more things I am able to make, the better. I've been continuing to experiment with homemade recipes for dishwashing liquid, mouthwash, shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser - all quite successfully.
Also: the apple tree in my garden gave a nice harvest!
I've started dehydrating food. Rice, pasta, beans, lentils, tomatoes, spinach, cabbage, onion, banana, mandarins, kiwi, grapefruit. Combining various ingredients has made for some excellent reconstituted meals.
I've also put these meals to the test in the real world, by packing food for hiking. One day's worth of snacks and meals weigh around 500 - 550 g which, although not super light, is not too bad for efficiency. The ability to pre-pack dehydrated, homemade meals is powerful in terms of waste reduction when camping / hiking / busy times, and in terms of control over what goes into the body.
I managed to find time to go hiking twice - once on Waitpinga Road and also two nights walking the Nukan Kungan trail. Beautiful scenery and short days during winter.
Electricity use for the last quarter is down by 10% compared to the same time last year.
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In terms of garbage for this month, here's what was collected:
As always, the top row, from left to right, is glass, tins, paper. The bottom row, from left to right, is hard plastic, soft plastic, and miscellaneous.
A bit of a reduction from last month - and a massive reduction since February. This doesn't include a snack pack container and coke bottle that I had in Melbourne earlier in June.
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I have to stop ordering things from the internet. Less things, yes.
Otherwise, a great month overall!
As always, the top row, from left to right, is glass, tins, paper. The bottom row, from left to right, is hard plastic, soft plastic, and miscellaneous.
A bit of a reduction from last month - and a massive reduction since February. This doesn't include a snack pack container and coke bottle that I had in Melbourne earlier in June.
---
I have to stop ordering things from the internet. Less things, yes.
Otherwise, a great month overall!
