Little things make me happy.
On a Tuesday evening a month ago, Scott and I were kid-less. We contemplated going to the local theatre for Comedy Night, but opted for a downtown stroll and a stop for dessert instead. With Zizou, our Chihuahua, ecstatic at the sound of his leash, we knew we had made a good choice - little did I know that Dana Carvey would make the theatre roar that same evening! The night was chilly, and with much haste, we made our way to the town's organic gelato place, tied the dog to the tree outside and headed straight for the colorful lit display of the handmade delicacy. After a couple of minutes perusing our options (decisions, decisions!), it was time to deliver our words of choice. Since my heart was torn between Fior di Latte and Honey Lavender, I let Scott decide. He too hesitated, and asked for a taster.
As I finally took my eyes off the display, I looked up and there they were! That's when I noticed the reusable stainless tasting spoons that the store had recently adopted . "Yes! They did it!", I yelled. The sight of these little tasters made my day. Yep, that's right, as meaningless as it seems, this small change makes me happy.
Last year, as part of an Earth day event, my kids and I picked up trash around town. Not that picking up garbage was a first (we had participated in such events as Coastal Cleanup before), but this time was different. It was not about picking up the floating plastic bag that might have come from some faraway place, it was about picking up the waste that my own community would dare discard on their own city streets. The items we found also said a lot about the business practices taking place downtown Mill Valley. And from the amount of "biodegradable" plastic spoons and single serve cups that we found, I concluded that our gelateria, was the main source of street waste on its block. I found out "Looks ( Flavors) are not everything". An organic business ought to know that Tater Ware spoons do not simply "biodegrade" (as mentioned on the spoons) or disappear from the street.
I believe that it is not only up to residents, but also businesses to show care for the environment and lead by example. And as you already know, I strongly believe that one must "Refuse the things that we do not need or do not want to support in order to be sustainable". Along with a few words of explanation, I brought the found spoons back to the gelateria and discussed solutions with the owner. I boycotted for a year the practices that I did not condone, but let my kids enjoy a cone when Grandma offered.
The fact that the business is organic and uses local ingredients, shows interest in being sustainable. I am really happy that they took their sustainability further by offering reusable stainless taster spoons, and will support their business going forward. I thank you, Noci, for the new spoons, and applaud your efforts. At least until the cups that I still find on the ground, get me back on the boycott ;-)
What a fabulous story of successful change! My next project is going to be Farm Fresh to You, the delivered boxes of produce from Capay Farms. For all of their organic, sustainable, community talk, they stuff everything in plastic bags, twist ties, and rubber bands. It's absurd how much waste they produce; totally hypocritical! I am hoping they will listen to my reasoning and make some changes, like your gelato place did!
ReplyDeleteAriel: I had the same problem. We belonged to a CSA a few years ago, at the same time that we started refusing all plastic bags, and ironically the only bags making it into the house where from the organic farm (600 members x 5 plastic bags a box is a lot). I chatted with the owner, he said he was working on reducing their need for bags. I gave him 6 months, but nothing changed, so we left. That's the reason why I now shop the farmer's market.
ReplyDeleteOur small town sandwich shop placed their take out orders in styrofoam. Ugh! After offering a few suggestions, they now use white butcher paper. Sometimes people aren't aware of their options or the impact they can make.
ReplyDeleteSeeing your post today made me happy.
Don't know if you have gone over this but our Goodwill excepts worn out clothing and rags which they can sell to a recycler.
Small changes make the way for bigger ones! In this crazy culture we need to celebrate every step in the right direction! I am glad to hear of the change.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your continued inspiration!!!
ReplyDeleteAriel - did you click on the "no plastic" choice on your Farm Fresh to You account, and are STILL getting plastic? I had to give my my FFTY account for other silly reasons (no good place to deliver box perceivable to the driver, so the box kept being in the middle of my blind driveway), but I definitely noticed a "no plastic" choice when I set up the account.
ReplyDeletefantastic! those taste tester spoons are just awful!
ReplyDeleteLol, I totally would have been happy about that too, I love that you yelled "Yes! They did it!", too funny! I have noticed that that organic choices usually come with plastic. I try to buy organic and waste free but often it's impossible. I live in norther Canada so I can't grow everything here (although I can grow A LOT more than you would think). Our farmers market has EVERYTHING covered in plastic, argg! I am blessed with many good relationships with local farmers so I can usually avoid the plastic, but I still wish the organic market would stop using plastic. Thanks for the encouragement Bea!
ReplyDeleteThat's a huge change. I thought of you as I opted for glass milk bottles at the store this evening. Thanks for your efforts and your blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Bea,
ReplyDeleteI manage the EO Products blog and did a posting on "compostable" cutlery and take out containers, after wondering about it for a long time. The bottom line: decent intention, without the infrastructure to make it break down in place. I've asked local stores like Good Earth, Noci and Cafe del Sol about it and I think folks have good intentions, but seem to be unaware that these products either end up in the landfill or muck up the recycling process. There are no commercial composting faciliites in or near Marin that accept these products.
Anyway, thanks for the great work, lover your blog.
If you want to see the posting for more details, here's the link:
http://www.lovelifewitheo.com/?p=2755
Oh that's great! I have often lamented all the plastic waste gelato shops produce (I've worked at 2) and it is so inspiring to see that your efforts had a hand in change. It motivates me to speak up about issues I have been thinking of - you never know when your voice might be the one that pushes it over.
ReplyDeleteThis post made my day. I too have spent time locally picking up the trash that is strewn along the countryside road, thrown from car windows after visits to McDonald's at the nearby retail park. They talk about how they employ people to pick up the trash (but only within walking distance) but it would be so much better if they didn't create trash that lasts for years in in the first place. Well done to you for encouraging yor ice cream place to make a sustainable choice that benefits everyone.
ReplyDeleteI would be thrilled also - I am going to my gelato place today - they do give a 5% discount if you bring your own coffee cup - maybe I will donate some metal taster spoons (they are from an Ikea set and are coffee spoons that I never use) and see if I can point them in the right direction ! Now if I could just track down some fresh achovies.........
ReplyDeleteLizzie: great idea! Who can argue that De-cluttering does not help the environment? ;)
ReplyDeleteSo many great ideas and I am so happy they listened to you! I have a few places around here I want to talk to. The towns nearby also need to set up recycling. They are small towns but we have to drive an hr to a recycling center (glass, plastic, paper)... I avoid plastic of course thanks to your blog and encouragement. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThis maybe old news to you but I posted on my blog about the dangers of mineral oil and also things your old bottle can be used for. http://www.mskathleen.org/2011/10/dangers-of-baby-mineral-oil-and.html
Mary-Thanks for the tip, but I wasn't able to find that feature on the website. I'll call and ask them!
ReplyDeleteHi Bea,
ReplyDeleteafter a recent trip to the US I just HAVE to renew my appreciation for your blog - and for everybody over there trying so hard to change the way things are going. I almost went insane with a lot of the practices which seem to be so automized by the people that they don't even question silly things like putting a filled and heavy water canister which had a handle to carry it in a flimsy plastic bag.
But I have also seen places where the sugar was not packed individually and the spoons to stir your coffee were real spoons. And: not one place rejected filling my to go cup (which was a must buying travelling around - but I got a nice white porcelain one with the silicone sleeve and the silicone lid removable which then just is a plain tall cup which can double as cup at home, storage for utensils or even as a vase ... see what you (and the reading of some books) made of me? ;-)
And if anyone from the US now is cross with me for pointing out how shocked I was seeing the usual practises: Don't be. I don't mean to be rude. Where I live (Germany) things are far from perfect, too. I am more impressed to meet so many people who do care (and deeply!) here in a country that makes it so easy to waste (and sometimes/someplace so hard not to).
I noticed Santa Monica banned plastic bags - due to people who care, I suppose. That made me hope for the future :-)
Hi Ariel, you can call customer service of Farm Fresh to you and request no plastic in your deliveries. They already have this option :)
ReplyDeleteHi Bea:
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
Just thought that I would let you know about my recent successes.
I contacted Canada Post just last week and requested that they discontinue delivery of unaddressed mail. Only a couple of days later they placed a small red dot on my mailbox to let the mail carrier know that we should not receive junk mail and voila, no more unaddressed mail! Love it.
Secondly, I had an opportunity to refuse two plastic items without saying a word. I am a teacher and at this weeks staff meeting we each found a plastic travel mug and a plastic pen in our place. I don't drink coffee and I have lots of pens so when the meeting was over I just left without the "goodies". I do appreciate the fact that the administration wanted to do something nice for us but I just could not accept the items. I'm finding this refusing thing a bit addictive!
you don't have to accept the plastic from Farm Fresh to You. CSA has started a new program from the survey they did and they are leaving it up to us as customers to decide whether we want our fruits & veggies in plastic. Call customer service at Farm Fresh to You, tell them I sent you, and tell them you don't want your fruits & vegetables wrapped in plastic.
ReplyDeletehave a great day!
Diane
Your post touches on something that, until recently I didn't know: the so-called biodegradable cutlery, plates, etc., if placed into community compost bins, will not decompose in the timeframe set at the big commercial composting facilities. Same with those fancy biodegradable pens, etc.
ReplyDeleteYou could bury in the yard, leave in a home bin for a long time, but at the commercial facilities they're just pulled out and sent to the landfill.
Just a comment on the CSA boxes....don't know if this is the case with others...but I am able to return (reuse) my box each week and my produce does not come in bags (although there are occasionally twist ties on bunches of things). Today I received my CSA box with a glass jar of jam inside and I decided that I will return the clean empty jar along with my box next week. I figure if they won't reuse it (I don't see why not), at least it will send a message. Good work Bea, btw!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter recommended your blog...so here I am reading.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Dana Carvey lived 8 houses from where we live now and went to high school where my children went- many years later.
Oh! This makes me happy too! Thanks for sharing this inspiring story.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an inspiring post, Bea. It's amazing the things people do that they don't think about. I'm in line with the CSA folks above. My local CSA just started this past summer and it's very small so we're all quite friendly with one another. It's expected that we return our box, our little freezer pack, and any empty jelly jars; but, I also return every single plastic bag, paper clip, and rubber band. I noticed after a couple weeks they weren't using nearly as many plastic bags, so that's a start! The paper clips make me crazy, though. They always have a write-up on what's in the order and some recipes, which is nice, but why clip it to the box?
ReplyDeleteI frequent Noci and also appreciate this change! Also, inspired by your blog, I spoke with our csa last year about the plastic bags... this year they have adopted a cloth bag system where we return the bags in rotation for small things (nuts, raisins, grapes) that were in plastic last year. Hooray!
ReplyDeleteI just realized last night that I could get my tea from Pete's Coffee in a ceramic cup and my pastry on a real plate to consume in the store. I'm not sure why I never noticed before, but I think tea and coffee taste much better when they are not in paper or, God forbid, styrofoam.
ReplyDeleteI am in love with your blog. LAst week a ice cream/french fry shop opened up around the block. My family was very happy since our neighborhood needed a good ice cream shop. When I went there I got a sample and when I looked down and saw that the spoon was reusable I literally started jumping wright there. I commended the owner on making a green choice. But I must go back to ask if he could use reusable spoons for the actual cup of ice cream too instead of plastic ones.
ReplyDeleteHi there! I so love your blog and inspired by your dedication and discipline. I live in the Philippines and sad to say, our country must be one of the worst with comes to garbage. I still live with my parents and I really wish I would be able to influence my family in living the same kind of lifestyle as yours. I hope you could give beginners some advice on how you transitioned from your previous lifestyle to a zero waste one. =) Thanks for your posts!!! =)
ReplyDelete