This is a crucial topic, as many of us know we are on a precipice of major change.

I believe the topic of consumerism, at it's core is about

ACCOUNTABILITY

of our actions. If we do not understand that the tomato at our local grocery store was grown in California, shipped to Florida, to Michigan then to Montana or wherever you live, this is absolute madness. (In early 1900's there were over 89% of all Americans had back yard gardens, today less than 1% are growing their own food or have a relationship with what sustains them.)
https://images.app.goo.gl/3MvhBpRezruuSti46

However, with the great AWAKENING as I like to call it, many our taking their power back and learning how to garden and create healthy habits that support local agriculture, homesteading @homesteaderscoop and education if possible.

A topic that runs heavy in my heart is that of the chemical/plastic/hazardous waste pollution problems globally. If I see another picture of a plastic beach, I might try to jump from a cliff. I can only cry so much for the turtles, whales and all life on this beautiful planet before I create a tsunami of tears! To change the extinction of all life, we must change our basic knowledge/understanding of our carbon footprint and what we leave behind from what we consume consume consume.

I am an advocator of system tools that you integrate into your lifestyle that can make it easier and attainable. These healthier choices for you, friends and family can inspire others to do the same. If there is no easy system, in my experience it will become a fad thing you try and never go back to.

System tools, System tools, System tools!

For Example: Heading out to the grocery store, do you have cloth or reusable bags? I keep a box of clean glass jars/lids, clean cloth and plastic bags, that includes the thin plastic you get to put your veggies in, wire ties/rubber bands, a pen, and some blank labels. I even have 2 cooler kind of bags, that work well for re-fridge items. Yes, I actually re-use the thin bags! As soon as I am done with one, I rinse it and have a cork board in my kitchen that I tack all random stuffs like that I need to dry. It works amazing and is super easy to do.
@kimmysomelove42

I am a coffee drinker, and like to buy it in bulk. One day I had a thought, my goddess, I have a pile of these coffee bags, why do I keep taking a new one? So I save them now, re-use them, put several empties into my box in my car and I figured out a great use for them, which is to save and keep your dried seeds from your garden. Coffee has tanic acids in it and the residue left behind in those bags will kill any kind of weavel or bug that wants to get into your seeds. Many of these coffee bags have an air hole at the top or in the bag to let any moisture out, perfect once again for seed storage.
@kimmysomelove42

@kimmysomelove42
My radish seeds from 3 years ago, look like I just harvested them, no weavel holes nothing!

Tannis are the way nature preserves a seed by a coating of tannins, this insures survival of the species and for the seed to withstand the harshness conditions of Winter and protect from bugs etc. Plants with high tannins; tobacco, coffee, black walnut.

I am fortunate to have access to good local farmers markets, buying co-ops and many grocery stores that sell in bulk. For those that don't, it can be challenging to find anything not in packaging, perhaps you could form a buyers co-op in your town/village that allows you to buy better quality and more local as possible?

I find myself asking questions when I'm shopping, can I re-use the bottle or container the product is in? I always always read labels as I am super picky about chemicals and corporation agendas. Typically, the products loaded with toxins are usually the products that have an unconscionable amount of plastic packaging and I stay far away from those.

A wonderful law in our city, that I helped getting signatures for, is: it is illegal for any store in our county to give away plastic bags!!!! If this was a national law there would be billions of pounds of plastic saved from entering our rivers, streams, lakes, oceans etc. Many Northwest cities and counties are implementing this and making single use plastics illegal as well.

My next quest is to approach, my local YMCA. They offer a roll of really heavy plastic bags in the women's locker room for bathing suits etc. I watch as the same members, come every day and take yet another bag for their suit, what about using the one from yesterday PEOPLE? Do you really need another bag? The thought is not even in their consciousness, because the system tool of just taking taking taking anything free is somewhere programmed in the limbic system. I'm going to see if we can get a towel/suit spinner unit and if I can find a company that supplies bio-degradable bags instead and perhaps to even find a corporate sponsor for them. @ElAmental has really encouraged many of us here with many @earthdeed challenges. I keep his words of inspiration in my daily activities, thanks buddie!

Oregon is setting the stage for the HEMP revolution. I truly believe in our lifetime we will see the transformation of all plastics being replaced with biodegradable hemp and compost products.

It is happening!!!

The more we stop buying the single use plastic containers and forcing the manufactures to change their production habits, the quickest way we can get on with the restoration of our planet and sanity as a species. This is the best and quickest way to start the healing of our planet, from the destruction of petrochemicals and the consumption and dependency on them. Hemp is the number one carbon sequestering plant!
That is a MIRACLE people!!

Check out this company that is actually doing it.
I came across them last year when vending a festival in southern Oregon.
http://box5717.temp.domains/~oregengr/home-page/ this is part of their mission statement and all is grown locally! Seems like a wonderful chart to apply to any level of consumerism. Perhaps I'll approach them about the bags for the YMCA?

One of my lifetime goals is to approach many of the festivals I work for and see if we can change policies and products within. For example, in the U.S. there are 1500 plastic water bottles being used every second, uh this is CRAZY TALK!!!!!! We send over 38 billion tons of waste to our landfills each year in American alone!! How will there be any space or living Earth in the future if this continues?
Several years ago, I was working a giant festival and the entire catering area for the thousands of production people, only offered bottled water in plastic, they had a bleak recycling/trash crew that year as well. It broke my heart to have to see this level of insanity. I blathered my face off, insisting they bring water trucks in and we bring our own bottles and to get a recycle crew that worked with the local municipalities etc. and landfills or I was walking and would let the world know what dismal carbon footprint policy they had! To my pleasant surprise, the following year, many water trucks were brought in. Costs were saved and it was a step in a better direction for all. Sometimes, it's just the mere idea of changing the system, most people when given the choice, in my experience, will make a healthier decision if educated.

I hope to get wiser and wiser with my consumer behavior and a healthy balance between that behavior and my creative behaviors. There is much peace for me when I'm balanced with these 2 energies. I love to encourage others to hold high respect for themselves and this miracle living breathing loving Earth we all share.

Blessings and PLEASE BE ACCOUNTABLE for YOUR CONSUMPTION habits for the short time you are here.

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