My Footprint – Update/ recalculation!!

Frodo and Kashmir ~ The Bodyceuticals Farm Alpacas

 

Last time I took the footprint calculator test I received 1.8 earths and this time I am down to 1.4!

 

 

I think part of this has to do with the fact that when I first took the footprint test I said my apartment sources 0% of our energy from renewables when it should actually be 36%.

I do have some fun goal updates though ~

GOALS (update)

• Support Local:
  • My original plan was to go to the farmers market on Saturdays for local produce but unfortunately I’ve been scheduled to work every Saturday morning since the farmer’s market has opened.
  • However, I have been going to the food bank once a week for food that would otherwise end up in the landfill. Using the food from the food bank for most of my meals has also allow me to spend a little bit more money at the food co-op for local produce.
  • I have also been asking my mom to send care packages with excess fresh produce from her garden

• Practice zero – minimal waste:
  • I bought a 4 pack of glass straws – one for my purse, backpack, and two for home.
    • Glass straws
  • I bought silicone baking sheets so I don’t waste single use parchment paper.
    • silicone baking mats
  • I stopped shopping at Trader Joe’s – SO MUCH PLASTIC.
  • Use my juicer more often to reduce food waste & stop buying plastic bottles
• 

  

  
  • Began making food that I would normally buy
    • sauerkraut
  • 

    
    • nut/ coconut/ oat milk
  • 
    • chocolate
    • vegan cheese – made from cauliflower or cashews
    • veggie soup – Saved my veggie scraps from this week to make a veggie scrap soup
      
      

      

       

      • apple butter – made from bruised apples

• vegan yogurt
• granola

 

• Committed to bringing my grocery bags into grocery stores
• Bought a french press – no more wasting coffee filters
  • French press
• Switched to glass Tupperware

 

• Eat completely vegan 5 days of the week:
  • Before this challenge, the only thing holding me back from being completely vegan other than the occasional non-vegan dessert, was my love for eggs. However, this week I learned how to make vegan scrambled eggs from tofu!

• Buy eco friendly household and personal care products:
  • So far, I haven’t had the need to buy new products yet so an update for this goal is yet to come.

• No more disposable coffee cups!
  • I have been keeping my coffee tumbler in my backpack – we also save $1 by bringing a reusable cup to Starbucks 🙂

GOALS (new)

• Switch to renewable energy with PSE by the end of the day tomorrow (May 8th)
• Stop using paper towels

All in all, I am very proud of what I have achieved in regards to my footprint reduction. I have been meeting my goals and I do see myself continuing on this path for many years to come. One thing I would like to add to this though ~ I do hold my Amazon Prime account near and dear to my heart, but in order to live more in alignment with my values, I will have to let go of my consumption habit.

Thats all for now,

Thanks 🙂

~Olivia