Comments on: Plastic Challenge: Melody, Week 1

By: Melody

Melody — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:37:39 +0000

The meat is coming from the farmer’s market already shrink wrapped and frozen. We buy meat sometimes from a local shop where I can bring my own container, but I also have a strong commitment to buying direct from local farmers. Maybe I can talk to them about packaging alternatives.

I’ll have to try freezing cheese to see if buying a whole wheel would be an option.

The toothbrush head is an Eco Dent brush. I didn’t feel that I got my teeth clean enough with the funny angle on the preserve brush, though one of my kids liked it.

How do you keep the scabs from forming through the gauze or cotton? Lots of ointment?

By: Rachael

Rachael — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:46:34 +0000

So much food packaging is still hard for me, but Band Aids are actually the easy one – we use cotton padding (cut as needed) and medical paper tape (also cut as needed) – you generally can find these in the first aid section of your drug or grocery store/ CVS, Rite Aid, etc –

And keeping the kids (and yourself) moisturized (for my baby i use Weleda Calendula cream in the morning and then if she has a scrape or minor cut i can use Weleda minor scrape ointment) reduces boo boo’s drastically…

But it’s a lovely inspiration to see someone doing so well with the challenge who has children…thanks and good luck!

By: Pheas

Pheas — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:05:20 +0000

Cheese and beef are definitely not essential. Keep in mind that staying healthy reduces plastic, too!

By: Beth Terry

Beth Terry — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 04:37:01 +0000

Wow Melody, it seems like you’ve already made great progress. Cheese and meat are tough ones. Is it possible to bring your container to the butcher shop for local meat? Or is it delivered from the farm pre-packaged? I found whole cheese wheels out here that are not wrapped in plastic, and I buy a whole wheel, grate it, and freeze it in glass jars. Is that a possibility?

Bandaids — I have not found an alternative, but I did post the question on Facebook in case anyone else has an idea. Check it out: http://www.facebook.com/MyPlasticfreeLife/posts/244819945538878

3D glasses — save them and bring them with you next time so you don’t have to take new ones. I know they reuse the ones they get back, but if you bring your own, you eliminate the plastic bag.

Toothbrush head — Is that an electric toothbrush or some other kind? If electric, it’s a pet peeve of mine that they won’t take back the heads for recycling. If not electric, there are less plastic alternatives. Let me know.

Cheers! And welcome to the challenge!