As mentioned in previous posts (« Minimalism« and « Consumerism« ), I’d like to reduce my waste, try not to buy new stuff and reuse and recycle a maximum (have you heard about the 3 Rs? Reduce, Re-use, and Recycle). As I moved into an empty house on the 1rst January, the challenge was high. And if I need to wait spring before setting up the compost in the garden, I needed to get some furnitures and other houseware to be able to live normally meanwhile.
But without much constraints, I was quite successful in getting simple, useful, and relatively cheap stuff, yet ecologically relevant. I avoided the plastic at all cost, the « Made in China » too, and tried to think overall about the ecological footprint before buying, including the packaging, transport, quality and durability. Here it is:
Almost all furnitures (all except for the mattresses) are second-hands, including the tools for the fireplace, dressers, table and chairs, sofa and desk.
Kitchen tools are bought for most of them new, but I have tried to buy the minimum, preferred bamboo, ceramic or aluminium instead of plastic, Tefal, or other non recyclable or toxic material, and buy only if I thought about this houseware for more than 3 times. I even found buckets made of steel, bamboo broom, and real mops. All the glassware are pre-owned… Some palets are in the garage, waiting for me to scrap and clean them a bit before assembling them to make a bedframe, same for the superb red pine benches that should become shelves, and other small wooden furniture that should be cleaned and painted to have a second life.
I found bulk food, organic and sustainable (mostly local) providers, and organic and natural cosmetic products including hand/body soap and shampoo in bars and 100% natural lipstick for the cold. In my quest I continue to be vegan, even though I became vegan – with cheese… And I clean with the super recipe made of vinegar and baking soda in hot water; bio-detergent + baking soda for the laundry, and bio detergent for the dishes.
Well, nothing is perfect: the house uses oil and is not very well insulated… I also have a 4-wheels car which is not electric, I know. And to be honest I use the dryer sometimes, for the bedsheets for example, that’s not good too.
Ah, and I also leave the light outside on the porch all the time, even if it is a LED bulb. Would otherwise come the deers for dinner?
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