Comments on: Corinne and Nils, Week 1

By: Helena

Helena — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:18:16 +0000

Re: plastic produce bags at grocery store…you can buy lightweight mesh bags to purchase your produce at the grocery store (or farmers market). They weigh very little, like the plastic produce bags, and they are washable and reusable. I bought mine at Whole Foods, but you can also buy them online. search for mesh produce bags or reusable produce bags. I love mine and keep them in my car so they are always with me when i go grocery shopping.

By: stacy

stacy — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:34:50 +0000

In reference to the question ” How can we avoid using plastic produce bags?”, well I just use one of my canvas shopping bags, and make sure to not put too much weight in any one bag. ;^)

By: Danielle

Danielle — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:58:12 +0000

“How can we avoid using plastic produce bags at the store? If I buy a bunch of tomatoes or lemons loose, it seems I have no choice but to group them in a plastic bag.”

You always have a choice ;) I used to be a produce bag junkie… but really you can get around the bags. I have never bought produce bags and haven’t taken a plastic produce bag in years now. Here’s what I do:

http://itstartswithme-danielle.blogspot.com/2009/11/plastic-produce.html

Looking forward to checking out your blog!! LOVE LOVE LOVE your commitment to making a difference :)

By: Corinne and Nils

Corinne and Nils — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:41:15 +0000

Great tips! OK, I’m going to try making our own yogurt. A project for a weekend to come.

As for the reusable produce bags idea. Inspiration! I’ll see if I can get some light-weight cotton netting and make my own. It might freak out my grocery store cashier, but worth a try.

By: Condo Blues

Condo Blues — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:27:13 +0000

You can make yogurt in a slow cooker if time is an issue. I haven’t done it because it makes more yogurt than my family generally eats but might be worth a try if you eat a lot of yogurt.

Have you tried reusable produce bags? You can make or buy them out of netting so they are very light and don’t effect the weight of the produce you’re buying. My grocery store let me use them but I had to let the cahier know what they were. I think I was the first person to use them at that store.

By: Surviving and thriving on pennies

Surviving and thriving on pennies — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:15:24 +0000

“What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?

As far as I can tell, there aren’t any plastic-free alternatives when buying yogurt, and it’s an integral part of our diet. :-(”

You might try making your own yogurt. Just Google it and you will find a ton of recipes. All you need are mason jars and milk. This will reduce some but not all your plastic waste from yogurt.

I have yet to do so myself, for now we just stopped buying yogurt all together. We also stopped eating dry cereal which has helped out our plastic waste problem. Instead I make homemade bread in the morning and my girls like butter or my homemade blackberry jam on it. Mmmm

Great post!

By: Beth Terry

Beth Terry — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:48:39 +0000

Hi. Thanks for taking the challenge! Just so you know, yogurt is super easy to make. I blogged a recipe here, but you can find others online.

http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/12/plastic-free-yogurt-well-almost-plus/