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Saturday, July 25, 2009

so far, it's been a month...

 It has been one month into the plastic diet, and I am surviving stronger than ever! 
I have decided to add aluminium and tin to my diet...so I am cutting out all disposable consumer plastic, aluminium and tin. I have also decided to purchase only local seasonal fruit and veges(and when I can, organic)

How my lifestyle has changed:
* I basically only shop at co-op's or small local food shops
* I plan my meals! and am cooking more than ever...(yoghurt making is next on my list!)
* I have to think about my substitutes... eg. my one big crave is potato chips...I now make my own  pop corn and carry that around for snacks!
* I am eating more fresh veges and fruit.
* Fish and Meat have been a problem...I haven't been able to purchase this anywhere? I am almost vegetarian(except for when we eat out).
* I have realised that consumers are just as responsible for the crazy packaging:the plastic etc as are the designers who create them.


My one big inspiration for this month is "cradle to cradle" by Michael Braungart and William McDonough...an amazing read, truly eye opening to our ignorance.
Watch this for some inspiration:


 
Michael Braungart is a chemist and William McDonough is an architect. Their philosophy is that everything we design must either be 100% recyclable or that it can be repaired and re-used, and that nothing of that object pollutes the planet. 
There is no such thing as throwing something "away"...that place does not exist and in reality it just means "out of your sight".

A dead albatross was found recently with a piece of plastic from the 1940's...things really don't go away...

(An albatross found with more than half a pound of plastic... you can read more on that here and here)

On a happier note...I have decided to use this philosophy as the basis for my design project. It will be on show at the COFA spring fair Sept 19th.

p.s. you might have noticed a little someone saying "hello" at the top right hand corner?! She is new...and is part of my project...roll your mouse over her! and I will reveal more on her later!

4 comments:

  1. congratulations!!! - it is so amazing to hear the differences it is making to your everyday life - so very very inspiring ( i feel so guilty about my potato chips now, and will try your popcorn snack!!)

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  2. Thank you! I'm going to try and make my own potato chips...I will let you know how that goes!

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  3. Cradle to Cradle rocks. (no pun intended!).

    I am featuring u on my blog this week Missy..stay tuned!

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  4. thank u livvy! you are very sweet!

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