What I've been up to

Lately I have written a few articles over at Medium on topics like minimalism, self-improvement, and sustainability. I tend to post there pretty frequently, so you can catch new articles all the time.

Due to some life issues, I've had to put my book on the back burner at the moment. However, I hope to pick it up soon and work on it again. I am thinking of releasing a short book on decluttering if there is interest.

My "low buy" month results

My newest post is available on Medium! You can read it here.

Upcycling ideas for gardening

I’m a gardener, but people are sometimes surprised that I don’t buy a lot of plants or devote a ton of money to my hobby. Why?

Because I don’t need to! Most of what I need can be upcycled. Besides, growing plants from seeds is rewarding. When neighbors stop by, you can say, “Look at these flowers! I grew them myself!” You’ll either discover that your neighbors love gardening, or they’ll avoid you in the future. Win-win!

With gardening, the upcycling possibilities are really endless. From license plate planters, to old mailboxes for gardening supplies, you can create a unique garden and re-use materials. I tend to be a little simpler in what I use, and focus on function.

Starting plants

I start many of my plants indoors. The last frost date in my area is in mid-May, so it gets me a head start on the growing season. I usually save seeds from plants to grow next year. If you’re gardening for the first time, seed packets are inexpensive from garden stores. I have the best luck with starting marigolds and zucchini.

You can buy trays for planting, but it’s much cheaper to upcycle a few things. The only thing I really buy is a small bag of potting soil, and it often lasts two years. For containers, I use whatever I can save. Yogurt cups seem to be the best. The generic brands have thinner plastic, so it’s easier to poke holes in the bottom.

You can also use coffee pods. Don’t run out and buy coffee pods for this - I’m sure you know someone who uses them, so ask them for their leftovers. Knock all the coffee grounds into your compost bin or garden; it’s great fertilizer.

Cardboard egg cartons are compostable, so you can start seedlings, and toss the carton in your bin when you’re done. I haven’t tried starting seeds in them yet, but I have it on my list for next year.

Whatever you use, rinse out and dry the containers, poke drainage holes in the bottom, and then spoon in some potting soil. This is a step best done outside, as potting soil yearns to be free and will get everywhere. Pour in some water and let the soil settle. Then put in your seeds and cover with the amount of soil needed (usually one inch or less).

To deal with escaping soil and water, grab a few saucers. Not the UFO kind; the ones that go with tea cups. If you don’t have any, your local thrift store probably has a ton. Slip one under each container and you're good to go.

Growing Plants

A bit of advice: some seeds will not start unless they reach 70-85 degrees. Sometimes just putting them in a really warm spot, like next to a computer, will jump-start the growing process.

You can use all sorts of containers if you need to protect your tiny plant nursery from pets - empty plastic containers seem to work best. My plants are currently sitting under a plastic cookie container. Otherwise, put them next to a sunny window.

Outdoors

Outside, there’s a lot you can do. A compost bin is awesome for gardening, and you can make one yourself with some chicken wire and posts. Also, one thing I didn’t realize early on was that you need about 20x more dry items like shredded cardboard and leaves than wet stuff like fruit/veggie scraps in your compost. Junk mail? More like worm food. Do that for a few seasons, and you won’t need to buy fertilizer.

For some plants, you can use sticks and a bit of string to stake them. Vines like tomato plants require dedicated cages, though.

To mark your plants, use popsicle sticks and marker. And if you don’t have a watering can yet, an empty milk jug will work in a pinch.

Once the gardening season is done, collect and dry your seeds, and store them in a paper bag until next spring.

I hope these ideas have been helpful! Happy gardening (and upcycling).


Ellie Daforge is a writer and office worker. She writes fiction as well as health/lifestyle writing. You can follow her on Instagram @elliedaforge.

Related posts
Urban gardening for minimalists
Five hobbies for minimalists

Zero waste party ideas

Parties are fun, but if not planned properly, they can also be wasteful. Food might be served on disposable plates, and gift wraps and glittery cards might be glanced at once before being thrown away. However, there are easy ways to have a party without producing bags of trash.

What is zero waste? 
Zero waste is a movement that aims to send nothing to a landfill. As much as possible is avoided, re-used, composted, or recycled.

I'm not 100% zero waste, but I'm working to reduce what I throw away. The responses I get from people have been mixed--from eye rolls when I say "compostable," to "Wow, what's that? I should get some!" to my reusable silicone cupcake liners.

Supplies
Before you buy supplies for a party (like new dishes or kitchen utensils), check thrift stores first, or ask friends and family if there's stuff you can borrow. You can save money and packaging by re-using an item.

Ditch Disposables
You can reduce your use of disposables by bringing reusable bags to the grocery store and using real plates, cutlery, and forks. For times when it's necessary to go disposable (such as a large outdoor event), try compostable plates and cups. They’re available in most grocery stores.

Gifts and Cards
I've cut back on the amount of gifts I give. Many kids I know have bedrooms overflowing with toys. When I do give gifts, I tend to give something I know the person will appreciate, or stick with cash. I include a simple paper card (no plastic or glitter) and skip the wrapping paper.

Snacks
Skip the chips, and try cutting up your own veggies! Or, bake something deceptively simple, like sweet potato fries.

Dessert
When I was young, I learned to make my own cakes and desserts. A boxed mix and the assorted ingredients was $7 cheaper than store-bought--a huge deal for a kid in the early 2000s. I've branched out beyond boxed mixes and now make my own pies and other desserts from scratch--stuff you can't often find in a bakery.

However, I don't always have the time to whip up dessert before a big event (especially if I have multiple in a row). So if you get a cake from a bakery, bring your own container. You can wrap the leftovers in beeswax wrap (available in many zero waste stores) instead of plastic wrap, too.
You can also get sustainable birthday candles!

Photo by Brooke Lark at Unsplash

Urban gardening for minimalists

I love gardening, even though for much of my life I didn't have access to my own outdoor space. I also live in a climate where the growing season is about four months long (if we're lucky). If all you have is a windowsill, you can still create a cool, minimalist urban garden.

Why garden? It makes our spaces look more lively, we can grow flowers instead of buying (and then tossing) bouquets, and plants make great gifts.

Container Gardening

Container gardening is easy. You can grow a variety of herbs and other small plants with minimal care; they often just need water and a sunny window. You can buy plants at garden centers, farmer’s markets, grocery stores or home improvement stores.

Have pets? You can try this adorable little cat garden, or make your own using pet-safe seeds.

To grow my own plants, I use yogurt cups, a bag of potting soil, and seeds I saved from the previous year. I like to grow marigolds, since they're easy to start, and last until autumn if transplanted outside. Just rinse out the yogurt containers, poke a few holes in the bottom, fill with soil, and add seeds and water. Place in a cardboard box or saucer to catch extra soil/water, and let it sit in a warm, sunny location.

Buying specialized "greenhouse" kits are expensive, but it can be tough to keep container gardens safe when you have pets nearby, or keep plants a little warmer in a cool place. Here's a tip: you know those clear plastic zipper bags that linens come in? Save those and put your plants inside. Voila, instant mini-greenhouse.

Seed "Bombs"

I've been gardening for years, but I just heard about these recently. Seed bombs are little spheres of seeds and paper, compost, or clay that you can just toss and let grow. They’re great to involve kids in gardening, and they can be used as party favors. You can buy them on Etsy here or make your own.

Community Gardens

Many cities have community gardens that you can join. In a community garden, volunteers donate time and/or plants and then bring home their share of the harvest. If there isn't one near you, look into starting one, especially if your school or workplace has a little land that isn't used.

And if all else fails, most places don't object to flowers being planted, especially if someone volunteers to water and weed them.

For more ideas, check out The Minimalist Writer on Pinterest.

Photo originally by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Easy minimalist & zero waste ideas (that don’t cost a lot of money)

When people see "zero waste," they usually think about drastic lifestyle changes, but it's possible to reduce your waste without rearranging your whole life.

Why go zero waste? On top of the enormous environmental benefits, you can save money. Reusing products is cheaper than constantly buying disposables. Many cities near me are now charging by the trash bag or levying fees for garbage collection. And if they don't, it's bundled into your property taxes or rent. Why pay to throw out stuff you never needed in the first place?

Here are a few quick, easy, zero waste solutions you can implement right away.

Coffee

If you buy coffee on their way to work, consider bringing a reusable cup. Some stores now offer discounts for bringing your own cup, and you're avoiding sending all those disposables to landfills. Or, brew coffee in the morning and take it with you in a stainless steel container.

A post shared by Ellie Daforge (@elliedaforge) on Jan 14, 2018 at 12:43pm PST

If you have a machine that brews single cups, get a reusable filter cup (pictured above). I fill mine with ground coffee ($3 a can that lasts months vs. as much as 50 cents per disposable K-cup) and toss the grounds in my compost bin when I'm done. (Just don't put coffee grounds down the drain--they can clog pipes.)

Reusable water bottle & lunch container

When I was a kid, sandwiches always went in disposable bags. I still pack my lunch every day, and a few years ago I switched to a reusable plastic container for my sandwich. I haven't needed to buy sandwich bags since. I even bring a larger container to restaurants that give huge portions instead of asking for a disposable take-away container.

I have a reusable water bottle that unscrews in two parts, so I can wash it or add items like ice or fruit. If you can't buy a reusable bottle yet, a mason jar will work.

Bar soap or refills

Those little disposable soap pumps add up, both in cost and landfills. If you want to keep the pumps you have, buy large refill jugs (usually about the same price as one tiny pump, and last a lot longer). Or, switch to bar soap to reduce packaging.

“Unpaper” towels (and handkerchiefs!)

Instead of using paper towels, cut up old towels/shirts or use washcloths, and use a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water to clean most surfaces.

Reusable bags

Many stores now charge for a disposable plastic or paper bag. Pick up a few cloth bags (often sold for $1 each, or given away free by some businesses--or check thrift stores) and put them by your door, or take them with you when you go out. There are some that fold up very small, so you can place them in a purse or backpack. Many reusable bags are also insulated, helping to keep food cold or hot when you're transporting it home. And if you don't want to buy a reusable bag just yet, you can use a cardboard box.

If you have disposable bags still lying around your home, you can bring them back to the store for recycling (look for a bin near where soda cans are collected).


I hope these tips were helpful. In a future blog post, I plan to outline more minimalist/zero waste tips for parties.

Related posts
Zero Waste Shops
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Minimalist Valentine's Day ideas

Valentine’s Day is, in my opinion, one of the most commercialized holidays. It’s painful for people who are single. And even if you have a partner, you’re bombarded with ads saying you need to show your love with diamonds or a pre-printed card. Yuck.

But for many people, there’s the expectation that gifts should be exchanged, and there are ways to show your love without creating a lot of unnecessary waste (or breaking the bank).

Consumables are a great Valentine’s Day gift. If you’re giving candy, look for bars wrapped in recyclable foil and paper, not plastic. Skip the boxes of sampler candies that look nice but create a lot of trash (and who likes all those flavors?). Or you can bake a dessert, such as cookies or brownies, to share.

Flowers are a classic gift for a partner. Choose simple, thoughtful arrangements from a local florist, and ask if you can skip the plastic and have them wrapped in paper instead. If you can, compost the flowers once they’ve wilted.

If you’re giving jewelry, opt for vintage. It’s much more affordable than new pieces, and you can find really classic looks that aren’t available new. Etsy is a great place to look for vintage jewelry.

Finally, a handwritten card or letter is meaningful and personal, and it’s more likely to be saved and treasured than a pre-printed card.

Photo by Mira Bozhko on Unsplash

Zero waste shops

Updated 2/6/18

During my declutter/minimalist journey, I started to rethink all of my purchases. Were my clothes sustainable? What about my personal care or cleaning supplies?

There aren't a lot of eco-friendly shops near me, so I started looking for really good online shops. The stores on this list have sustainable products and minimal or zero waste packaging. Many also have good shipping or return policies. I haven’t tried all of them yet (I really am trying to be a minimalist), but I will add more information as I go along. I listed them alphabetically.

I left off Etsy shops because many of the ones I follow are in “vacation” mode. However, Etsy is a great place to find handmade or vintage items (and support small businesses!).

Aquarian Bath 
http://www.aquarianbath.com
Personal care items, including soap and shampoo.

Lush
https://www.lushusa.com - in USA (has sites for other countries)
Lush sells cosmetics and is dedicated to reducing their packaging. I love their Charity Pot lotion.

Meow Meow Tweet
https://meowmeowtweet.com
They specialize in personal care items, from lip balm to deodorant.

Package Free Shop 
https://packagefreeshop.com 
Carries a wide variety of zero waste products. One caveat is that they don’t accept returns.

PAREdown
http://www.paredownhome.com/store
This shop has a lot of essentials, and cool items like art supplies. It’s more minimalist than zero waste (some items have packaging).

thredUP
https://www.thredup.com
This is my go-to source for secondhand clothing. They often run 15% off discounts, too.

Tiny Yellow Bungalow
https://www.tinyyellowbungalow.com
This shop has a little of everything, from biodegradable cotton swabs and toothbrushes to vintage items.

Wild Minimalist
https://wildminimalist.com
They carry a lot of essentials, including woven bags, beeswax wraps, and silk floss.

Zero Waste Home
https://zerowastehome.com/shop
Bea literally wrote the book on zero waste. Her shop features items that help you shop and clean, as well as sustainable office or travel supplies.

Decluttering: a process

Awhile back, I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo. Ever since, I've been trying to declutter my life.

Kondo divides the tidying process into categories, and I've been stuck on the "Paper" category for a few months now. Cleaning my cubicle at work was a snap, probably because it's about three square feet, but my home is still ongoing. I even pulled a piece of paper out of a vent (put there by a previous owner), so paper has literally been hidden in the walls! I had records going back to the year 2000, so I will just take it a little bit at a time.

As I go along, I toss items I don't need into a donation box and arrange for pickup every few weeks. A local charity will accept clothes, books, and household goods, and I think I've been keeping them in business for the last year or so. I didn't think I had that much clutter to begin with, but it doesn't seem to end.

For example, I'm still quietly "rehoming" some Christmas gifts (don't tell my extended family members). My birthday is coming up soon, and I'm thinking of asking for people to donate to a charity instead of giving me a gift.

However, my closets are now organized, and I can open the doors and see everything at a glance. I don't need to move anything to get stuff out, which is nice. I also scrutinize every purchase before an item comes into my home, and so far I haven't bought anything that I regret. As I go along, I'm also taking notes for a book I'm writing on decluttering.

With any luck, one day my home will be spotless and I'll have a book to share.

Five hobbies for minimalists

A lot of hobbies require stuff. Stuff costs money. Stuff has to be stored and organized.

But there are plenty of activities that don't require all that.

Writing
You don't need fancy software to start writing. A pen and paper, or a computer and Google Docs will suffice. Resources on how to write are available for free online and in libraries.

Reading
Many people don’t take advantage of libraries, but they offer free books (and other media, like DVDs). Check out Goodreads and Twitter for book recommendations.

Running
All you really need to start running is a safe location and a good pair of shoes. Search for online running forums for tips. Many cities have running groups that welcome beginners (check your local free newspapers). Some health insurance plans will reimburse race registration fees, too.

Volunteering
You can volunteer at animal shelter or soup kitchen, serve as a companion at a local senior center or nursing home, read to children at schools, volunteer at a museum docent ... the possibilities are really endless. I attended a dinner recently in which a woman told me she volunteered as an usher at a local community theater, and was able to see shows and concerts for free.

Baking
This is a personal favorite of mine. All you need are a few pantry staples (flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, etc.) and a few pans (check out thrift stores for great deals, although you may already have a lot of what you need) and you can start baking bread, cakes, cookies, and pies. Allrecipes.com is a great place to start finding recipes. Bringing home-baked desserts to a party is a great way to save money, too.

Five unusual items you can recycle

Everyone knows that they should recycle. Paper, plastic containers, glass ... but what about items that you can't put into your curbside recycling?

It takes a little more effort to recycle these items, but if you're trying for a zero waste lifestyle (or you get charged per bag of trash you throw out), it can make a difference. As I noted in some sections, it especially makes a difference if you can get your school, workplace or a local business to participate. But even if you can't, you probably have these five items lying around your home, and can help the environment or a charity by giving them a second life.

Eyeglasses
The Lions Club collects old eyeglasses to give away. You can either ship eyeglasses directly, or put them in a drop-off location (many banks and retail stores have boxes by the doors).

Batteries
Batteries are one item that people often toss, but definitely shouldn't. Batteries have harmful chemicals and should be disposed of properly. I haven't been able to find one large organization that collects them, but check to see if there is a local electronics recycling company near you--they often take batteries.

I have a jar of all the old batteries I find rattling in drawers, or dead batteries from flashlights and remotes. Once it's full, I plan to take it to a local recycling company. From now on, I plan on using rechargeable batteries, too.

Keys
Keys for Hope collects keys for recycling, and uses the money to fight hunger. I know I have plenty of old keys around my home that I can send in. You can read more about the charity here.

Plastic bags
Plastic grocery bags, some shipping materials, and a lot of plastic wrapping can be recycled. Before you toss plastic, flip it over and check for a recycling symbol. If it's there, bring it to a local store for recycling (hint: there's probably a collection box in the same area where aluminum cans are collected). Most curbside recycling programs aren't equipped to handle it, but the stores are.

Plastic Film Recycling has more information on what's recyclable. It's important to keep plastic bags out of trash, because they can easily blow away and harm wildlife.

Toothbrushes and oral care items
TerraCycle partnered with Colgate to create a recycling program for plastic toothbrushes, floss containers, and empty toothpaste tubes. This is more of a project for a whole school or workplace to collect and ship them in, to make the recycling program worthwhile. I've heard of dentist offices setting up collection bins, which is a great idea.


If you have any more information about recycling, or an experience to share, please leave a comment!

Photo credit: Tim Mossholder, Unsplash

How long can you go without shopping?

The New York Times recently ran a piece called “My Year of No Shopping.” The author, Ann Patchett, explained that she went a year without buying many nonessential items, and she didn’t miss them. 

As far as New Year’s resolutions go, not shopping is a little more unusual. However, this is the time when people often receive significant credit card bills and are shocked by the balances. Many people certainly want to shop less, to save money and space. Minimalists and people practicing a zero waste lifestyle in particular are already focused on limiting their shopping. 

But my first thought was, how can someone not go shopping for a year? My clothes aren’t so high quality that they will last decades. Chances are that I’m going to wear out shoes and sweaters and T-shirts in that time, or my clothing needs will change.

For example, in December I thought my capsule wardrobe of clothing was all set. That is, until the temperature dropped to -9 F (-22 C) and I started looking for seriously warm winter gear.  

I haven’t bought any clothing so far this year, but I eventually will. I plan to start shopping more locally, looking at thrift shops first and prioritizing natural or recyclable fibers - and, of course, bringing a reusable bag.

Photo by Soragrit Wongsa on Unsplash

Gratitude and resolutions

Another year has come and gone, and now is the time for people to make resolutions. Here are some of mine.

I resolve to shop secondhand. I plan to buy the majority of my clothes from thrift or consignment stores. I resolve to use what I have before buying more.

I resolve to be more mindful. I want to be grateful for what I have instead of wanting more. I’m striving to do more learning and living, having experiences instead of shopping.

I resolve to cook more—not just baking (which I love) but more full meals to share with family.

And I resolve to write a book in 2018!

What are your resolutions? Post them in the comments or tweet @elliedaforge.

Photo by Caley Dimmock on Unsplash

How to recharge after the holidays

The winter holidays often leave me drained. The stress of having to clean, shop and prepare gifts, and then socialize for days and days at a time--it feels more like work than being at work!

Or maybe you've been alone for the holidays, and are craving some interaction. Here are a few ideas that may be helpful.

Practice mindfulness
Take a few minutes to sit down, take a few deep breaths, and relax. Let go of all your expectations; nothing goes exactly the way we planned, and that's okay! Let the stress of the holidays go.

Call an old friend
Is there someone you haven't seen for awhile and you find yourself saying, "I should call so-and-so?" Do it now and catch up.

Volunteer
If you don't have any family to visit and are feeling lonely, try volunteering. Food banks and animal shelters need volunteers year-round, too. Call up local senior centers and ask if they need volunteers; it can make a huge difference to someone.

Journal
If you've just been through a lot, write down your experiences so you can process it all later. It can help you remember good times (or remind you later of what to avoid).

Take a break.
If you have children, ask if loved ones can babysit to give yourself a few hours to relax. Or block off some "me time" where nothing is scheduled. Send visitors out to eat or to an activity if you need space. Or visit a cafe by yourself for some quiet time.

Do an activity you love
For me, that's seeing a movie or reading a book.

Avoid malls and department stores
In the week after Christmas, there will be long lines of people making returns or spending gift cards. If you're already overwhelmed by the holidays, skip the stress and wait until the crowds calm down.

Photo by Matus Hatala on Unsplash