I’ve been testing out a few new things things year with excellent results.   The first is a reusable parchment paper of sorts for cooking.  It’s the Cookina Reusable Baking Mat.  It’s non-stick and replaces foils and parchment papers.  You can cut it to fit your favourite baking trays or pans and it’s even microwave and dishwasher safe.  It is for baking, not the BBQ though.  I found mine at Thrifty Foods for $14.99 and have been using it happily for 6 months.  

My next great finds are available at Ecotopia Naturals for $4 and made by Nature Bee, locally in Saanichton, BC!  They are paper wrapped cleaning tabs that dissolve in water.  There are several scents of Foaming Hand Soap, Multi-purpose Spray Cleaners and just out… a Bathroom Cleaner.

Hope you'll give these products a try, if you haven't already! :) And share the info with your friends.
#yyj #ditchtheplastic #nomoreplastic #bakingnonstick #plasticfreecleaners

p.s. - I've turned off commenting as I was getting spammed. :(

I'm always on the lookout for something new, plastic free or a new recipe to try to replace something wrapped in plastic.  I've let my guard down every once in a while, English cucumbers being a good example.  I've heard there is a biodegradable wrap alternative coming, soon I hope! 

From the plethora of recipes out there to try...I did have success first time with this one for deodorant.  We know how many can be bad just with their ingredients, but so many are also encased in plastic.  So, when my last Tom's ran out, I pulled out this recipe...and voila!  Super easy.  Arrowroot powder seems to be the hardest to come across for making the next batch - but I've got a couple of months to go.  So save the old container of the push up style and reuse it for a homemade batch. 
Thank you to whomever posted it originally - I deleted all the ad stuff, so it's just an easy pdf for you.  
Deodorant Recipe 

As to what's working...I love the Soap Refill Centre at Ecotopia Naturals in Sidney, BC.  I now refill my shampoo, conditioner, dish detergent, dishwasher detergent and body lotion.  They also carry the TruEarth Laundry Strips.   A lovely warm your heart new find at Ecotopia are the Salish Sea Soap Pebbles by Soap for Hope Canada.  Proceeds go to help families in need.  <3 

Keep up the Nude Shopping, it's the best we can do and buy local! 
#homemade #deodorant #soap #salishsea 

Increasingly, it is getting harder at your local grocer to be plastic free and when COVID arrived, pretty much impossible! But the positive side of that is I am finding small local businesses that offer plastic free options with a smile. 😀

If you haven’t already visited, I would like to introduce you to Fraser Orr’s Butcher & Deli in Saanichton, BC. A beautiful selection of meat with no plastic, wrapped only in butcher paper if you ask and chicken galore. My fave is the asparagus wrapped chicken breast, no coatings, just lovely tender chicken, asparagus and provolone.

Next, I would like to introduce you to The Farmer’s Daughter. This lovely little fromagerie, Bistro and wine bar is located in Sidney, BC. A bit of a dilemma with the cheese in their case, it is all wrapped in plastic to keep the flavours from spreading. They have a special cheese wrap, but there is some plastic involved. Solution, they sell cheese storage bags that are re-useable and are happy of course to place your cheese in these. The bags (in a package of 15) sell for $16.99.

While changing to plastic free may be a challenge at times, when you search for solutions, you meet wonderful people who encourage rather than dampen the plastic free enthusiasm.  Last year I watched a YouTube launched by our own UVIC as part of Ideafest 2020. The data is staggering that we must break our plastic addiction.

It's fantastic to see the bulk food options have returned almost fully at most grocers and glass milk bottles are making a comeback, so if we all get on board with that, maybe it will help drop the price. 
Every little thing we do makes a difference and as a community, we make a huge difference.  In less than 6 months we saw Tru Earth laundry strips go from online only, to Ecotopia, to Home Hardware and then Fairways.  Big steps to get it out to the general public when there is demand.  Now when will English cucumbers be free of plastic?

#butcher #fromagerie #FraserOrr #FarmersDaughter #buylocal #ditchtheplastic #freetheenglishcucumber

Through support from Piers Island Association and grant funding from CRD, we were able to put together and film this presentation about how every consumer has the power to #ditchtheplastic 
I was able to buy the products that I'd found and use them as draw prizes for our audience, which was present with masks (only 6 people) or there via Zoom.  I apologize in advance for my Ums, which were many...but I hope you come away with inspiration to try and change the way you buy.  I had to  remind myself today...when buying green relish - choose the glass, not the plastic!  

Thank you for watching, please hunt out these fantastic refill stations in your area and spread the word to "ditch the plastic".  

I've been posting new products as I find them on the New Finds page and I wanted to update on a couple of them because there is some good and some bad, or rather...disappointing.  

First up - the good news - Tru Earth Laundry Strips.  I've bought my second package and will continue to use them.  No more lugging laundry soap, hooray!  Ecotopia in Sidney sells them by the package or you can buy from the company direct on a auto-supply basis for a cost savings for families.  I don't do that much laundry, so I would rather buy as I need, #supportlocal even though I pay a little more. 

I'm still using the silk dental floss - it's been wonderful.  And my fave bar soaps from SoapWorks are olive and the cucumber/calendula.  

​#newproducts #barsoap #refillstations #toothpaste