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".  

It's been about a month since I started this journey of changing the way I shopped.  In that time I've gone from being all excited using my "net bags" in the bulk and produce section at Thrifty Foods, to being told that it was acceptable for produce only - not in the bulk section.  :(  My only way to buy chicken was covered in styrofoam and plastic and I haven't eaten a cucumber in a month!  English cucumbers are covered in plastic but apparently there is something new coming along.  I retweeted the announcement and can only hope that we see it soon.  I miss my cucumbers! 

I am now baking my own bread and snacks and have found other sources for interesting meats, cheese and refillable soap products!  Advice...don't give up!  Over the past 30 years, I have probably spent $250,000 in food at Thrifty Foods (now owned by Sobey's).  The bad news for them is that they are already seeing less of my money.  The good news...I'm finding lovely new local sources that are happy to help me ditch the plastic.  I know that if you are a working family, you don't have time to search out these things - I'll do it for you and hopefully, your local grocer will get the message and as sales go down they'll make changes and we'll find a new balance supporting local businesses. 

By buying bulk, even if I have to use mushroom bags, not buying produce covered in plastic, using a seltzer maker & CO2 cartridges and baking a few things myself, we've seen our recycling and landfill volume reduce by 75%!  We can succeed in the goal of  #ditchtheplastic