practice mindful consumption

I have been getting fortnightly vegetable boxes from Riverford for a few months now and I think that they have encouraged me to be much more mindful about food waste and locality. Some of the stuff has come a distance (I think their eggs are from Devon or something and I should really source Sussex eggs) but over all it is a step in the right direction.

I remember adding a new years resolution in January to buy 80% of my food from the UK and I gave up on it because I thought it was unachieveable. But now almost all my fruit and veg comes from the UK except bananas and the odd european ingredient. Things that come from outside the UK tend to be shippable like tea so I’m hopefully not contributing to too much air freight traffic.

Eating seasonally is also fun. I thought it would be this great big impediment making me eat stuff I didn’t like. Instead I have the opportunity to get really excited about certain things coming in to season. I don’t waste strawberries because I know that they will only be available for a short time, I am learning new recipes for corn (Riverford have a corn mountain at the moment so there’s a lot to eat).

In conclusion, vege boxes are the best. Of course there is always room for improvement when it comes to consumption but this is a big move forward.

So my everyday shoes are nearly done and I need to get some new ones. I have discussed it a little in regard to my other goal (not buying new clothes) but basically I decided to pay more thought to what I choose when I replace footwear.

So I saw some converse-type shoes in a shop and they were labelled as fair trade which is a start. Then when I tried some on the chap said that the uppers are also organic. Plus his shop is independent so I am supporting a local small business by getting them. He didn’t have the colour I want today but he’s going to call me when he does and soon I will have great shoes. I feel very content as a consumer right now and feel that the only way I could have been more mindful is if I’d gone for shoes that will last a very long time. But perhaps next time.

It is green week at work at the moment and I just had my carbon footprint measured. it was nearly 9 tonnes which is bad but the worst part was that over 4 tonnes of this was due to my travel. I walk short distances, don’t own or use a car, never fly and use the train to get to work. What can I do to improve that? Aside from moving closer to my job or getting a new job nearer my home both of which are not possible. It is only 8 miles or so I am travelling each way.

Anyway, this prompted me to think again about bikes. I can’t ride but like the idea. It would be too far to ride to work but maybe for other journeys. Anyway, I spoke to the transport chap at work and he said he was thinking of putting together a group for adults to learn about bikes, how to choose one, mend them, learn to ride on roads, so that may be nice to do. Even if I don’t ride to work by bike there are loads of nice trails around so it could be a good excercise/ hobby.

I have been fairly good with food this week by taking leftovers to work to eat and putting any vegetables that look a bit peaky into soup.

But I still threw away an inch of cucumber, some cooked rice (not enough for another meal) and a green and furry slice of bread. It was a crust really and was in a bag at the bottom of the bread bin. I haven’t had much bread recently so it really is my partner’s fault as he asks me to buy bread before checking in the bin and in the freezer.

I added the thing about not buying new clothes this year as well. This will be good as general goals can be difficult to feel enthusiastic about over time.

I also took many books to the charity shop and managed to gift aid the donation which was nice. I bought a book from another charity shop. I’m not sure whether this is good consumption or bad. I buy them 2nd hand, read them, then return them to charity shops. I think this is mindful and contributes to charity as well. I’d still prefer to get books from the library but that isn’t possible with every title.

it is not going so good. my over-eating actually is just one sign which proves that. I have been stressed and overworked lately. I pushed myself and, at the same time, felt not very productive because I still “just study” instead of doing some real work…
plus, my personal life is not really personal at all. I study most of the time and don’t have a serious relationship. my friendships are nice, but right now, not really close…that is ok…but I really am trying to stay in balance, but I guess on some level I am not so balanced at all. so it is really hard for me to be ” in the moment” and to indulge in a right, well proportioned way…

I’ve been trying not to waste paper this week. I’ve written my shopping list double sided and printed double sided at work. I am also saving magazines for craft projects (like in Living Out Loud and LTLYM which are other “things”). I have also not made notes on post its because our recycling service doesn’t take them.

In regard to food this week I have only thrown away non recyclable packets and peelings. I am not peeling organic fruit and veg so that is less wsteful. Meal planning really helps cut down on waste.

Today I am planning on baking oatmeal cookies :-) I have been looking forward to this for weeks. To satisfy my appetite I did buy some subway cookies last week, but I have to say that I think baking has something so mindful about it that can’t be replaced by all the great cookies that are sold out there.
The reason why I write this “statement about cookie baking” ;) is that I am really proud of the fact that I really feel the difference between the feeling that I feel when I am just following cravings (which usually does not last very long)and really putting an effort in doing something mindful.

- Not waste food
- Freecycle goods I don’t want and take clothes and books to charity shops
- Repair items (or get them repaired) instead of replacing them
- Use libraries and share with friends instead of buying things
- Not take new plastic bags when shopping but re-use old and cloth bags

I’ll consider this done when I have followed the above for three months

• Wealth without work
  * Pleasure without conscience
  * Knowledge without character
  * Commerce without morality
  * Science without humanity
  * Worship without sacrifice
  * Politics without principle

from

I am not sure I understand this fully but I’ll do a bit more research on it. I liked the commerce without morality one, especially for this particular goal.

last night I made a great dinner where we ate as many of the veggies in the frig that needed to be eaten as well as consumed the leftovers. It feels good to eat everything in time before it gets spoiled.

Money is not going out the door in the form of spoiled food.