Hi I’m Michele!
I want to share my zero waste journey so far. I am not claiming to live a zero waste lifestyle … yet. I have many things to figure out still about zero waste in a “normal” first world suburb. I want to share my progress in hopes that it will help you on your journey as well.
I have always been conscientious of mindless consumption and the waste that I create. I have been actively decluttering my home for years. The fact that it is never ending is alarming. Where is all of this stuff coming from?
A few years back, we decided to investigate with a kids decluttering experiment. This sparked many conversations about the way we bring things into our home. We learned about the very first and most important of the rule of 5 R’s.
- REFUSE
- Reduce
- Reuse
- Recycle
- Rot
Refusing to bring things into your home is not an easy task. Especially when it comes to packaging! And so my zero waste journey began.
I have been actively reading online about how other families are achieving a zero waste lifestyle. It sounds simple but why don’t I know anyone who does this in my community?
When I show up at my grocery store with food storage containers for olives and cheese and meats, I get confused looks. When I get to the checkout with my jar filled with bulk spices, I cause a kerfuffle. When I order take out but want it in my own containers, I have to explain. I, like so many others, am paving the way.
Trees Do Listen
You might be wondering why I chose the domain treesdolisten.com. When I first moved to BC, I came across a bench in a magical forest with a plaque that read “trees do listen”. I sat on that bench and immediately knew I was where I was supposed to be. The trees listened to my intentions and soon after the world presented the most amazing opportunities for me. Trees remind me of the interconnectedness of our world. Any choice I make with my consumption impacts everyone so I will try to make smart choices.
The goal of this site to is share the experiences I have had moving to a zero waste home. I will review products, share knowledge and hopefully spark discussions. I would love to hear from you, please comment on this site if you have questions, comments or recommendations.