Comments on: Learning to Sleep http://myplasticfreelife.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/ Think we can't live without plastic? Think again. In 2007 I committed to stop buying any new plastic & I've almost succeeded! Won't you join me? Let's see what plastic-free looks like in 2012... for the health of our bodies, our oceans, our planet. ~Beth Terry Thu, 23 May 2013 01:54:37 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://myplasticfreelife.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-3524 Anonymous Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:38:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/#comment-3524 We’re lucky enough to have a grandpa who loves to make wooden toys for our girls. Also both preschoolers take music lessons (violin and cello) which helps with limiting toy gifts. However, we still get lots of plastic toys from well meaning friends. In plastic toys, we are down to Weebles, a busfull of Little People, a tub of Duplo blocks, some plastic play dishes, some 30+ year old Play Family sets, some bath toys, a water table, and some empty food containers for the play kitchen.

I’ve switched to cloth diapers and wish I had found the nice ones for child number one.

I can’t find plastic free dairy (milk and cheese) but I do buy local. My two children drink 4-5 gallons of milk a week. However, I use cloth produce bags at the farmers’ market and to buy dried beans, etc. in bulk.

We are improving but still have a long way to go in becoming plastic free.

–Ave

]]> By: Joules http://myplasticfreelife.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-3515 Joules Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:07:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/#comment-3515 Refrigerator Dishes! After reading Fake Plastic Fish for a while I started thinking about plastics everywhere and decided that one place I *can’t stand* plastic is in the kitchen – it never seems to ever get clean enough.

We usually store leftover food in some manner of tupperware dish especially the cheap kind you get at the grocery store and it’s always seemed kind of icky – not to mention the thought of microwaving food in them :P

So I thought and thought for days trying to figure out what to put the leftovers in, until I finally gave up and called my mother, which is my usual path when trying to become more “sustainable” – just call your mom or grandmother and ask her what people used to do when she was young, and there’s your answer…

So we ended up buying some fun Pyrex vintage refrigerator dishes (we also keep some foods in wide mouth mason jars), and I must say the refrigerator is just more pleasant to look in these days!

]]> By: Maya http://myplasticfreelife.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-3514 Maya Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:05:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/#comment-3514 Good luck on the sleep-learning!

I have two kids, and I still have reduced plastic some. I use cloth diapers (but some of them are technically made of plasic (fleece)…but 12 over a kids lifetime in diapers vs. ? in huggies or whatever still makes a huge difference). I use all my own produce bags and grocery bags. I do my best not to buy plastic toys for my boys–of course they still get some. But it’s hard, and it can get expensive!

The thing I hate the most is plastic packaging! Totally pointless and totally wasteful. It’s one thing to use plastic for an actual item that gets used, but packaging, ugh.

]]> By: nollij http://myplasticfreelife.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-3508 nollij Sat, 20 Sep 2008 10:17:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/#comment-3508 I have to agree with daharja, it is very difficult once you have kids. It is also difficult when you have a partner who doesn’t share your convictions about reducing plastic. I was recently badly injured in a skateboard crash. Having landed in a wheelchair with 3 bad limbs, my wife has had to take over all the shopping and much of the household duties, as well as a greater share in taking care of our son. This has led to an EXPLOSION of plastics entering out house (mostly in the form of prepackaged foods). I’ve had to use a lot of my personal discipline to shut my mouth and just say “thanks for shopping honey” or something similar. I’ve tried enlisting my son in “saving the sea creatures” by pointing out waste to him, and he’s starting to get it. My wife on the other hand just feels like I’m preaching at her or making her feel bad about herself whenever I say something, and I’ve yet to get her to read the article about the pacific gyre or this blog for that matter: it’s frustrating.

When I regain my mobility, I’ll be reducing the plastics again by taking responsibility for the shopping, but in the meantime, I’m trying not to go insane. As for the plastics in toys issue… it’s a lot easier if your children never see TV. If they do, it’s over. There isn’t a toy you’ll see on TV that isn’t made from some sort of plastic, and you’re kids will no doubt beg you for toys they see on TV until you’re blue in the face. If you want them to eschew plastics (and plastic toys), you better start programming them at a VERY early age, otherwise you’re screwed. Used toys are one way to go to reduce plastics, but kids are hard on things, and getting used toys can pose health risks too! Try and find used wood or metal toys sometime: they are few and far between! Try asking toy manufacturers to make things without plastic… it’ll be a cold day in hell, as it’s WAY cheaper for them to build out of plastic. The only way to stop it is to actively boycott it, and get others to do the same. I’ve yet to see a boycott on toys! I try to be optimistic, but it’s really really hard sometimes with such an avalanche of plastics, especially when much of it is targeted right at our children. Beth, thank you for all you do… I’m right there with you on the “oh my god it’s late, why aren’t I asleep?” situation. Most of my blog entries are posted past midnight as well. :)

]]> By: knutty knitter http://myplasticfreelife.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-3506 knutty knitter Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:04:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/#comment-3506 I find it hard to avoid plastic as my choices are somewhat limited round here. I have finally started making my own bread and that will help. I already avoid shopping bags and quite a lot of pre packaged stuff but with a family of boys, it can get a bit complicated. Their friends have stuff so why can’t they. As they get a little older I will be able to explain a bit better and already this is having an effect but it will take time. The new school helps. It is a Steiner school so plastic etc is not encouraged or welcome. Plastic toys have been reduced to what one grandmother and about three trips a year to the toyshop produce and there I try to make sure their choices are not ten second whims.

There is still lots to achieve but plastic rubbish has reduced to about one small garbage bag a fortnight or so.

Worst problem in my eyes is the ubiquitous bottle top. They are always plastic! Even the oil jar has a plastic insert for pouring and there is no alternative that doesn’t.

aaaargh!

viv in nz

]]> By: heather from Make A Bag http://myplasticfreelife.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-3504 heather from Make A Bag Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:52:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/#comment-3504 dharja – I hear you! I have 3 kids and I completely agree!

It amazes me how much trash, especially plastic trash, can come from a typical homemade school lunch – juice box, individual servings of applesauce, chips, cookies, even pre-wrapped frozen PB&J sandwiches. A new school year is when I like to look at how I'm packing lunches and make a small change or two.

I've never been a fan of the individual servings of applesauce, etc. I put applesauce, goldfish, nuts, and other little goodies in reusable (plastic) bowls.

Last year I stopped buying juice boxes for school and bought small (plastic) sport drink-type bottle to reuse. I buy concentrated juice in aluminum cans (Welch's) and mix it at home. We still buy juice boxes for other purposes, but we have cut down on our juice-related waste quite a bit.

This year the kids got new stainless thermos-type bottles. I'm experimenting with wrapping their sandwiches in cloth napkins instead of plastic sandwich baggies. I hope to make some cloth snack bags for cookies, etc., soon.

I'm sure there's a lot more I could be doing, but small changes, one at a time, is the only way I can keep going without getting overwhelmed.

(Hey, I'm probably going to post this on Make A Bag if you don't mind. I need more stuff over there and you got me thinking!)

]]> By: SusanB http://myplasticfreelife.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-3502 SusanB Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:30:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/#comment-3502 Less plastic is something we work on, especially in packaging and non-durable goods, as a household but with far less concentration the you, oh-great-role-model. For us it is part of trying to live lighter on the earth generally. Some weeks we do better on avoiding plastic then others, some weeks we do better with other things. One thing I buy specifically in plastic are pots/tubs for container gardening, simply because of the lightness/cost/durability equation.
Here in built up east coast suburbia we don’t have all those cool returnable glass milk bottles and buy in bulk bring your own container coops. Of this, I admit to moments of envy.
Ultimately, cost is a factor for us . . . I can buy peanut butter in a plastic jar or I can pay twice as much and buy it in a glass jar.
Re sleep — sleep is something I rarely have a problem with, waking up is another thing. But I find a regular schedule for sleeping really helps control my migraine.

]]> By: Kristen@thefrugalgirl http://myplasticfreelife.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-3501 Kristen@thefrugalgirl Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:23:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/#comment-3501 Goodness! I hope you get some sleep soon…I’d be dead on my feet if I stayed up until 5:30 am.

I’ve been trying to use less plastic…eating more home-grown food, bringing cloth bags to the store, making my own yogurt in glass jars from milk that comes in glass jars(they go back to the farm each week), and so on.

]]> By: Carmen http://myplasticfreelife.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-3500 Carmen Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:56:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/#comment-3500 Beth, I hope you get on a good sleep schedule soon!

I love your blog and find it INCREDIBLY motivating.

My husband and I have been very actively trying to reduce the amount of plastic in our life over the past 6 months or so. We do have three little boys (3, 3, and 5) which makes it especially difficult.

The absolute most difficult thing for me is Ziploc bags. Whether it is packing up sandwiches or saving our homemade bread so it doesn’t go moldy. No alternative is truly airtight and flexible the way baggies are. I’ve dramatically cut down on the usage, but I am just not happy with the alternatives.

So, here is what we HAVE done so far:
* Started our own herb garden – no need to buy fresh herbs in plastic packaging
* Reusable grocery bags (obvious one)
* Buy milk in returnable glass bottles at the farmer’s market
* Make our own yogurt
* Personalized leftover tea tins with the kids names for reusable snack tins
* Tin lunch box for my kindergartner. Pack applesauce from glass jar into glass jar for lunch. Wrap up sandwich in napkin.
* Reuse canning jars for leftover food storage in the fridge.
* Less take-out of all kinds
* Klean Kanteens instead of water bottles
* No soda in bottles
* More composting = fewer garbage bags

So much is specifically inspired from your blog, Thanks. I know you don’t have kids – but would love to see a guest post on reducing plastic with kid-specific issues.

]]> By: Fr. Peter Doodes http://myplasticfreelife.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-3499 Fr. Peter Doodes Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:24:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2008/09/learning-to-sleep/#comment-3499 Learn sleep… if only I could. Severe tinitus due to the years of once being involved in motor racing has deprived me of the ‘dropping off’ ability unless, and perhaps we have this in common, I am fairly exhausted, so the answer was easy.

I sleep when I am tired, even if that is at 20.00h, and get up when I wake, even if that is at 04.00h.

Like me, I suspect your body tells you what is best, and if that is to tell you to sleep when your mind is thinking about posting ignore your mind!

Blessings.

PS. I am posting from the UK and whatever Blogger says it is 17:13hrs here.

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