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 

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