F.A.R.T.S stands for "Frugal Actions Related to Sustainability", and it's a series that I try to write about once a month. F.A.R.T.S are all about small actions that you can take in your life to reduce your footprint on this planet.
This month, I wanted to address the idea of reusable containers. For years, I rocked the cheap plastic containers available from any store. My "top Tupperware saleswoman of Washington State" Nana rolled over in her grave on a daily basis.
Then, I read more about plastic and some of the icky side effects that come with it. I was moved to action, but it was a turtle-slow action given the cost associated with it. I'm probably 95% glass now, and love it, but it was a multi-year process. Here are a few tips for making the switch yourself:
- Slow and steady wins the race. Don't skip a mortgage payment to replace everything all at once.
- Hit up a thriftshop. Pop some tags.
- Use mason jars. Wide-mouth mason jars, with 1 inch of headspace (the space from the top of the food to the top of the jar) are safe for freezing. I lose maybe one jar per year due to breakage. Just don't throw a frozen jar in to hot water and you should be golden. New mason jars can be purchased for about $11 for 12 jars. Most thrift stores sell them for about $.25.
- Try freecycle. I snagged 3 milk crates full of them recently. Because I have so many, I offered them to a coworker who has asked me to teach her to can this summer.
- Try craigslist.
- Wait out Costco sales. They sell their Glasslock kit (I want to say 8-10 containers and lids) for $6 off , about twice a year.
- Challenge yourself to go under your grocery budget for the month. Use the savings to "treat" yourself to a few containers.
With all the health benefits of leaving plastic behind, the best reason for switching to glass? If you air-dry your dishes in the dishwasher like we do, glass dries soooooooo much faster!
Boom. There it is.
You can do as much research in to toxins as you want, but it all comes down to the fact that it makes my life easier in the long run.
After three hours air drying. See all the water droplets on the plastic containers? See how the glass is bone dry? Oh yeah baby!
Altruistic about reducing waste in the landfill, and chemicals in my food? Nope.
Lazy? Yep.
I've shared this over at Brambleberry Cottage, Fresh Food Wednesdays, Tuned in Tuesday, and Backyard Farming Connection.
Labels: F.A.R.T.S.
