I'm so frustrated.  For years now, maybe decades even, I've shopped with packaging in mind. But more and more, packaging is changing towards plastic, not away from it!! I used to choose mayonnaise by the glass container vs. plastic, but they are all plastic now, except some that cost an arm and a leg. I've been trying to buy organic and plastic free for a long time and it's becoming harder and harder. It is a conundrum, and a contradiction, to find so much that is organic – vegetables, sugar, meats, other foods and household products – wrapped or contained in so much plastic. Plastic usage is only increasing, and making it more difficult to shop with the goal of avoiding synthetic chemicals and petroleum products (plastics, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides).  It is ironic that I have to choose between avoiding the petrochemicals of plastics and the petrochemicals of non-"organic" synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, etc.  The prime example: Organic sugar comes in plastic bags. Regular pesticide laden refined white sugar comes in paper. Aargh!  At Wegmans, each organic green pepper is individually wrapped in plastic!!! WHY!  I finally found some yogurt in glass.  Wholesome Dairy Farms in Yellow House, PA.

Enough ranting about that. Now I have to find non-plastic presents for 2 first graders birthday parties. I won't go to Walmart!

The other problem, to add to having to choose between organic and plastic-encased, is the financial factor.  It's all so expensive!  I want to bake today, but need more sugar. At my Whole Foods, bulk sugar is not organic. And it's very expensive. At Costco, it's a good price, about $1.20/lb. but it's in a plastic bag.

: (    I can't even find any organic sugar at any price in non-plastic packaging.

 The problem of the day is: The Spring package of School Pictures. Lifetouch automatically sends each child home with a package of pictures, etc. that you can choose from, buy it if you want, send it back in to the school if you don't want it. The problem is that they include a plastic sheet of things with the kid's picture on, like the keychain picture, a ruler, a little credit card calendar, etc.  I've been on the phone, and can't opt out, apparently, if my second grader gets her picture taken. It's tough on the kids to have to "be different".