#zero food waste | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

balkanradfem · 4 months

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Anti capitalistic methods of self reliance!

Everyday items:

Plastic bags can be replaced by cloth bags you can sew, without any prior knowledge of sewing, from any old shirt you were going to throw away

Toilet paper can partly or completely be replaced by 'Family cloth', which is a series of cloth napkins cut to the size you like, which are then washed after each use! There's no risk of disease if only used for number one, for number two they need to be submerged into peroxide liquid in order to be safely cleaned. Even if you only use them for number one to stay safe, being reusable and costing nothing they will save you a lot in not having to buy toilet paper

Paper towels can be replaced by little cut-out cloths you can easily wash after use, or a simple kitchen and bathroom cloth for cleaning

Paper tissues have originally been handkerchiefs, washable and reusable, zero waste option (and they can be very pretty too!)

Laundry detergent can be replaced by horse chestnuts, or conkers! If cut open and submerged in water, they will produce soapy water, which is equally good at cleaning as your laundry detergent, completely environmentally friendly and free if you foraged the chestnuts. They can be collected and dried to use for the entire year, and you can tie them up in a sock to put in your washing machine.

Cleaning products can be replaced by vinegar, and if you hate the smell you can change it by infusing citrus peels in it! It will smell like oranges and lemons after you leave them in there for a few weeks

Cleaning products can also be self-made, by fermenting food scraps, it's called 'enzyme cleaner' and it can clean most of things in a completely environmentally friendly way!

Shampoo can be self-made, or replaced with options like herbal teas, which will also ensure that your hair no longer gets greasy, as grease is the result of using shampoo

Menstrual pads can be sown from any discarded pieces of cloth, they only need to be submerged in cold water after use in order for blood to wash out. Additionally you can make washable menstrual panties, which make sure your pads don't move in there!

Simple medicine for aches like stomach cramps, headaches, anxiety, sore throat can be found in the basic knowledge of herbalism, and simply making teas from herbs that soothe these issues. They will not be able to cure a heavy disease, but are able to provide momentary relief from annoying aches!

Immunity booster syrup can be made out of elderberries, if you're careful about not getting any seeds or stems in!

if you're growing food, you can grow your own dish sponges, and washing sponges, the plant is called 'Loofah' and you can grow a whole lot in one season then use them for years

Reuse plastic items for as long as you can, to lessen the amount being thrown into landfills, and if you need new items, aim to get a not-plastic one

If you have lots of paper trash or newspapers, you can learn to make baskets from it.

Instead of throwing away food scraps, you can try setting up a simple composting bin and also get some valuable free soil, that is great for growing little plants and herbs in it

If you're composting on a big scale, the heat compost produces can be used to heat a room

getting into hobbies like soap making, pottery, woodcarving, sewing, knitting or weaving can also save you a lot of purchasing because you realize you can simply make that thing yourself, and in better quality than it would be available at the store

Saving water and energy:

Accumulating water in a big pot while you're washing dishes, then using that water to water your houseplants is safe, especially if you're not using a lot of detergent, and it saves a lot of water

To save energy when cooking in a pot in the stove, wait until your pot starts boiling, then take it off the stove, and wrap it in a cloth, then a towel, then a blanket, and leave it wrapped up. The layers of cloth are making it difficult for the heat to escape the pot, ensuring it will keep very high temperature for half an hour, cooking as if it was on the stove. If it needs to cook longer, you can just put in on the stove for a minute to get it back to boil. You can cook pasta, rice, beans, potatoes, soups, stews, risotto, pretty much anything with long cooking time like this.

If your water boiler is big, you don't need to leave it on at all times, I've reduced my electricity bills by a lot by turning it on only when I intend to use the hot water. In the summer, if you have access to a natural body of water, use that for washing!

If you own a property, watch where the water is naturally going and accumulating; you can collec t this water and set up a system to use it for gardening/any outdoor use

if you're building a structure, making sure that the sun hits the windows in the winter, and that the place is protected from the wind by growing trees as a wind shield, will save loads of energy in heating and cooling it, as well as making sure the structure is well insulated

Heat/cool only the parts of the structure/house that you're using, making it both environmentally friendly and ensuring you don't have a too big temperature difference when you go outside, making you healthier

Try an experiment were you go a day without electricity and see what you can use as alternative in this situation; it's okay if you fail, it will provide you with knowledge of how dependant you are on the energy, and the ideas of what you can possibly do when without!

Clothing:

If sewing clothing from scratch is something that appeals to you, that is ideal for self-reliance! It is likely that after just a bit of practice, you'll be able to sew more quality items than are sold, because current fashion items are made to fall apart, and you can make your clothing strong and durable.

Sharing clothing you no longer want to wear, and letting others know they can offer their unwanted pieces to you can provide you not only with practical clothing, but you can use all fabric, buttons, zippers and other materials to sew! You can, again with minimal practice and even by hand-sewing, make your own bags, tablecloths, placemats, pillows, blankets, decorations, hats and scarfs

Visible mending, embroidering, adding details or creating your own little alterations on clothing will not only provide a sense of accomplishment, but enrich your life in the way of skill development and being able to make and mend things with little resources

Learning about history of textiles and what fast fashion is doing to the environment provides appreciation and love for sewing and creating textiles, and could inspire you to try and see how it feels to do!

Any piece of clothing that is no longer fit to be remade into something new, can still be cut into pieces and used for cleaning, as a paper towel replacement, for wiping the floor or wiping your shoes, and if it's soft, for pillow filling!

For extra clothing or furniture, you can join online groups named 'buy nothing' and 'sharing is caring', where people will often gift extra clothes and furniture for free, sometime appliances and electronics too

Food:

If any outside space is available, learning to garden is an excellent investment in food security

Seeds can be harvested from plants you already have, gifted from neighbour or friend gardeners, and some can even be taken out of store-bought produce

Soil can be taken from the forest ground which has composted leaves as topsoil, dig under a tree for best results

If no outside space is availabe, dwarf plants, herbs, and greens can be grown in containers, clean your air while they also provide food

Learning to forage for wild edible plants will provide both entertainment and free food! Any wild plant you find is likely to be more rich in nutrients than a cultivated plant, making your diet well rounded and healthy

Learning to grow trees and care for them will provide free food not only for you, but for generations to come, as well as offset the damage from the climate change. Knowing how trees work and how to prune and nourish them is powerful knowledge.

Preserving food:

Ways of preserving your food long-term are curing (for onions, potatoes, garlic, pumpkins), canning (tomatoes, peppers, fruit), fermenting (cabbage, hot peppers, turnips), dehydrating and sun-drying (tomatoes, fruit, herbs, hot peppers, mushrooms)

Growing and collecting food during warm months and then saving them for winter was done by people for centuries and it provides a safe and reliable access to food all year round

Buying cheap produce when it's in-season and preserving it can save you a lot of money and bring you far in self-reliance

Making your own recipes and then getting to eat them later in the season bring a sense of accomplishment and pride, as well as providing a zero waste food option

Cooking food from scratch is made easier by having some of your food preserved, because a lot of the time you've already prepaired most of your ingredients, and only have to place them in the pot

If you already know to make your own bread, you can also try making your own yeast, by mixing flour and water, and letting it ferment while adding more flour and water every day. It can last forever.

If you're interested in knowing more about gardening, herbalism, tree care, and foraging, check the 'Homesteading Survival Knowledge' masterlist, filled with links on these specific topics!

These are not ideas that anyone should quickly or immediately integrate in their life; instead, trying whatever seems interesting and appealing, slowly learning about it and trying one thing at the time is more encouraging and sustainable! I myself have spent years learning and integrating these, enabling me to feel happy and confident doing any and all of this. If this is overwhelming, pick whatever feels appealing and do only that! Forget the rest until it feels easy and fun thing to try out.

#anti capitalism #homesteading #self reliance #permaculture #alternatives to capitalism #growing food #environment #zero waste

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of-mutts-and-men · 5 months

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I’m not meant to work I’m meant to be part of a werewolf pack and be so very eepy and snuggly with all the other omegas in a big cozy nest all day >:((

#turning my failures into fantasy #im scared im never actually going to ever have a significant amount of income #i make like 20 something bucks a month if im lucky from side hustles #ive worked 2 fast food jobs for a collective 6 days and couldn’t handle it #only hired me in the first place because they said they were desperate for workers #only hurts a little bit #i just wanna move out so im not sensory overloaded 24/7 and my ocpd brain can give it a break with constantly day dreaming about moving out #i finish college this week!!! and have zero experience in anything #don’t go to college kids it’s a waste of time if you’re not doing a trade job #sighh

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zerofuckingwaste · 5 months

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Easy zero waste tip no. 6: Find out what caffeinated beverage you actually want/need, then learn how to make it; aka "The Starbucks Lie"

Tl;Dr: You may be misinformed about how coffee actually works, leading you to purchase beverages that you may not actually like, that may not serve the purpose you want them to serve, and you can save money (and the environment!) by learning to make something you'll actually like at home.

Last week, I went to Starbucks to get a pumpkin chai latte, because I'm not perfect and needed to fulfill a craving on a bad day- but at least I used a reusable cup. Anyhow, while I was there, I witnessed the following conversation, not for the first time, nor the last, which I'm sure is commonplace:

Barista: What can I get you?

Customer: Do you have a dark roast? I like my coffee dark.

B: We just have a medium roast ready, but I can do a dark roast pourover.

C: Nah, that's not going to be enough caffeine for me, and I need drip coffee, not anything fancy. I'll have an Americano, then- espresso beans should be high enough in caffeine!

Now, if this seems like a reasonable exchange, that's ok- you're likely not a trained barista, and even if you are, there's a chance your training was at least a little bit wrong. Let's walk through it point by point, to explain why this exchange made me want to tear my hair out of my head.

"I like my coffee dark!" Most likely, this is false- studies have shown that people are most likely to say they want dark coffee, when they actually most enjoy a lighter or medium roast. Darker roasts are bitter, partially due to having more tannins- which is why they can cause more side effects, like headaches and digestive issues.

"Not enough caffeine" In fact, the longer (darker) you roast coffee, the more caffeine it loses. If you want a highly caffeinated beverage, you should opt for the lightest roast available.

"I need drip coffee, not anything fancy (pourover)" Pourover is essentially a method of making drip coffee one cup at a time. No machine or anything, it's the least fancy coffee option possible.

"Espresso beans should have high enough caffeine" The beans used for espresso are the same as the beans used for the drip coffee- they're just ground more finely before going through the machine.

"An Americano [...] should have enough caffeine" An Americano is a double shot with hot water, about 160 mg of caffeine if you're getting a 'grande'. A drip coffee that same size is over 300 mg.

This man claimed to love coffee, but didn't understand anything about it, leading him to pay $4.39 for 160 mg of caffeine instead of $3.28 for almost double that- keeping in mind that number could easily have been doubled again had he opted for the lighter roast. So, let's fix that.

1. Light or Dark Roast?

Have you ever wondered why Starbucks has a medium roast, the Pike Place, as their go to roast all the time? It's because it's the most middle of the road, bland option, completely inoffensive- not very good, but also, not too bad. It's a blend from a bunch of places, so there's no overwhelming flavor besides coffee with a slight hint of being burned. That burn taste everyone complains about, btw, is a result of the roast being too dark for them, hello tannins!

A lot of things happen to coffee as you roast it. Let's go through each point one by one:

The color changes. The darker the roast, the darker the roast- literally. This is best gauged with ground coffee, where you can see the average of the whole bean, not just the outer shell.

The mass decreases due to a loss of moisture. However, the bean actually expands in volume due to the strength of the cell walls. In essence, the density decreases.

Oils seep out from inside of the beans, coating them, and protecting volatile chemical compounds that give them flavor.

The caffeine content is lessened the longer you roast.

With high heat, the Maillard reaction occurs. While this reaction is responsible for the lovely color and the viscous, dark flavor notes, it's also responsible for breaking down the citric and tartaric acid, which causes the sweet and fruity flavors to dissipate. It also breaks down chlorogenic acid, creating caffeic acid and quinic acid, aka bitter, bitter tastes.

High heat also causes caramelization of sugars- but at a certain point, those sugars start to burn away.

Taking all this into consideration, we can begin to figure out what kinds of coffee you'll actually like. One quick note: always get single origin coffees. Each region has its own flavors, and if you're only getting coffee from one spot in your cup, then those notes will be amplified for your enjoyment.

A dark roast will have less caffeine, a stronger coffee bitterness, and very simple, up front flavors: chocolate, nuts, smoke, wood, etc. (My favorite tastes like dark chocolate with a hint of hickory)

A light roast will have more caffeine, a lesser amount of bitterness, and very complex, more nuanced flavors: citrus, caramels, fruits, florals, etc. (My favorite tastes like blueberries and white chocolate, with notes of almonds)

No two coffees are alike. My recommendation is that you purchase a bag of whole beans from your favorite local cafe or roaster based on your caffeine needs, and try out different beans until you find one- or two, or five, or a dozen- that you really love.

One quick note- a much, much greater flavor difference can be found in aerobic v. anaerobic roasted beans. I recommend reading into this process on your own, it's fascinating- both of my favorite coffees are anaerobic roasts, as it happens.

2. How should I make my coffee?

I'm a big fan of the affogato. I'm a dessert for breakfast kind of gal, so it makes sense; a hefty double shot over a scoop of ice cream. Absolutely divine; I pretty much only do espresso for myself, although my partner greatly prefers French press.

The overall rule for caffeine in your coffee is that the finer the grind, the more caffeine you're going to get out of the bean. That being said, that doesn't mean the final product will actually have more caffeine than another method, as different ways of making coffee require different amounts of coffee grounds. Keep the ratio of grounds to water in mind for this reason. However, you must remember that the perceived strength of the beverage- the concentration of flavors- is not necessarily correlated to the amount of caffeine. I'll now go over a few methods of making coffee which can be 100% zero waste (assuming you compost those coffee grounds!).

Cold Brew- You either let grounds freely float in water, or let them steep inside of a little filter bag. Let it rest overnight, up to 48 hours. If you like your coffee cold, and not a lot of effort, this might be your best bet.

Pourover- You put grounds into a little filter over either your cup or a pitcher. Pour water over the filter and let it drip down. If you like having a calming morning ritual, this might be for you. Essentially the same as drip coffee, except you don't have to care about a machine.

French press- You put grounds in the bottom of the press, then fill with hot water, and let it steep for a few minutes, then press the grounds down. If you don't mind a little work every morning, waiting a few minutes (when you could prep your breakfast, perhaps) then give this a go.

Moka pot- You pour water into the base, then put grounds into the basket, then screw on the top. Place on the stovetop, and remove as soon as the coffee begins to come out of the spout within. If you like a strong cup but don't want to invest in espresso, this is a great option. The pressure is too low for it to be true espresso, but it's very good.

Manual espresso- This is a bit more complex. It will be the same as automatic espresso, except there's no chance of the machine failing for any electronic reason. You fill a little basket with grounds, then tamp them down. Water is brought to temperature, then pressed through the espresso at a relatively high psi. If you want espresso, this is the way. You can get an entry level (Flair makes several that are fantastic) or you can get something high end with a built in boiler (I have a La Pavoni with an attached steam wand, great purchase).

Automatic espresso- Essentially the same as manual, but the machine does the pressing for you. If you love espresso but don't want to do a lot of work for it, this is a great investment! If you can buy used, do- just make sure the brand is one that offers replacement parts.

There are plenty of other options, but these are a good place to get started, when figuring out what works for you.

3. Why do I want my coffee?

Are you looking for a caffeine boost to get through a rough workday? Do you want something sweet to accompany your breakfast? Are you just bored?

Figure out why you want your coffee, then tailor your morning experience to your needs. If you need a caffeine boost for a rough workday, maybe don't do anything time consuming- prepare a middle of the road medium roast cold brew for the week on Sunday, and go ahead and grab a glass in your hurry out the door each morning. If you want something sweet with breakfast, get a light roast and a French press, and make it part of the routine for the meal. If you're bored, do pourover with a dark roast into a funky mug, or learn to steam milk to make latte art.

Really, coffee is something lovely, that you should enjoy, without mindlessly spending money on something that's not even good. As a bonus, you can support local businesses (coffee roasters and cafes), develop a new skill, and better the environment.

#zero waste #sustainability #anti consumerism #anti consumption #sustainable #eco friendly #environment #cooking #food #kitchen #coffee #cafe #barista #coffee maker #coffee machine #espresso

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goodthingstoknoww · 1 year

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#recipes #food waste #zero waste #sustainability #strawberry #food #diy #cooking #archive #tiktok

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sidewalkchemistry · 9 months

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@/going.zero.waste on Instagram

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clarasunflowers · 1 year

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radfems against food waste! 🥬

here’s some good info compiled from kathryn kellogg on how to make use of food waste - remember to compost the rest! (click link for more from her including zero waste recipes!)

1. make your own apple cider vinegar

save all apple peels and cores in a mason jar. add 2 tbsp sugar, fill with water. let sit 3 weeks in the dark. strain water into new jar. let sit 3 more weeks in the dark. done!

2. how to eat broccoli stalks

trim off the bottom and shave the rough sides. slice long-ways into thin pieces. toss in with the “tops” and prepare how you like.

3. banana bread recipes using overripe bananas

4. revive wilted kale

cut off the stalks, then soak the leaves in ice water 30 mins. store them upright (like a flower bouquet!) in a jar with water in the fridge.

5. preserve lemon peels

boil 4-5 lemon rinds/peels for 30 mins. add rinds to jar, pour in ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ kosher salt. mix. store in the fridge!

6. get the most out of your squeezed fruit juice

simply microwave your lemons and limes 15-20 seconds and squeeze out a whole lot more!!

7. preserve wilted herbs

chop up wilted herbs and fill up and ice tray. add in water or oil or butter or lemon juice. freeze!

8. make stock from your veggie scraps

this is NOT for cruciferous vegetables! save veggie scraps in the freezer until the bowl is full. simmer 1 hour on the stove OR 6 hours in the crock pot. add herbs to your liking.

9. use carrot “tops” in place of parsley

honorable mentions

save and reuse other organic components!

1. maintain your flower petals

air dry or oven dry your flower petals (85°C/200°F for 20 mins). add in dehydrated orange peels and cranberries, rosemary, cinnamon sticks, and/or anything else you like. put in a covered bowl overnight. add to small fabric bag and let sit in your drawers/closet for that lovely potpourri scent!

2. upcycle your christmas trees

trim small parts of your pine, spruce, or balsam fir christmas tree branches. add to a jar with 1x1 mix of vinegar and water. shake shake shake! strain and use as a cleaner spray!

#eco friendly #zero waste #food waste #heart #op

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is-the-owl-video-cute · 1 year

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If you think I’m going to give you any good faith argument on this one when you lot called the cops on someone for having pet cows and not liking you tossing day old bunnies in the blender, I’m sorry you must be new.

I don’t have any respect for any of you, and since we can just lie about people we don’t like on here apparently, bunnywitch swallows baby bunnies alive and sets the mothers on fire for producing a poor product. They make millions on show rabbits and snort cocaine off the severed legs of the homeless with rolled up $500 bills just to get their sick kicks. Bunnywitch takes their baby rabbits to elementary schools and shoves all the live babies in a burlap sack and beats up any disabled child they see with them.

This is all true I swear. Please doxx and kill them because no one would ever go on the internet and tell lies about anyone. Don’t even get me started about bunposting, who notoriously twists baby rabbits in half with their bare hands and holds the two halves over their head just to catch as much blood as possible in their mouth. I heard from an anonymous source that they skin rabbits alive to use the fresh pelt as a face mask. It’s true because I said it on the internet and that means I know more about random people online than anyone else!

#animal death #misinformation #But really though I have zero faith that any of these freaks actually take proper care of their rabbits #I also never said eating the rabbit yourself I said growing them to an older age makes them more viable as food #for carnivorous animals #meaning they’re less of a waste #and my original stance was to not breed animals at all that you can’t actually find homes for #Which is my primary opinion on the subject

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the-solarpunk-activist · 1 year

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We did a lot of zero waste stuff today cooking Sunday dinner! We peeled carrots and the peelings/ends went into the stock bag except a few tops, those went into old oui jars with a little water to sprout for some fresh salad greens since it's winter, we rinsed our vegetables in bowls of water which we used to water house plants, saved the leftover broth from a roast for turning the leftovers into stew tomorrow as well as some in jars in the freezer for rice/noodles in the future. The real highlight was the potato skin chips! They take way longer than the recommended twenty minutes but we also peel with knives so there was a lot of potato left on the skins. They turned out delicious though! And reheatable, just toss in the oven at 425 for a few minutes, we did it for 7.

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petula-xx · 9 days

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I planted far too many seed potatoes last season and have been struggling with a produce glut ever since. My freezer is well stocked with frozen mashed potato portions!

These little odd bods are the last of the great glut event. They are soft and were sprouting. They were a bugger to peel. But I hate food waste. So tonight they found their way into a potato and leek soup. Simple to make and delicious to eat.

For the first time in months I am now a household without potatoes.

Hooray!!!!!

#vegetables #garden #gardeners on tumblr #self sufficiency #home grown #grow it yourself #organic food #gardening #potatoes #potato and leek soup #cooking #food waste #minimal waste #zero waste

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tomatoluvr69 · 4 months

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I do think the general rule of you can never add too much garlic is a good one, and important training wheels for normie midwesterners, brits, etc (sry 4 the cheap shot lol)…however I just spent literally over 30 minutes slowly browning onions and cumin perfectly for my mujadara and mixed it all up with the lentils and rice. And then I fucked it up supremely by adding garlic powder. Just stomped all over my painstakingly cultivated browned onion flavor :-( :-( :-( :-( what I have now is horrible quotidian lentil rice. My beautiful fleeting mujadara…she is gone…dead with all the things that made her special……….learn from my mistakes. Ouuuuuughhhhh :-(

#I’m so grumpy :-(#whadda waste of onions…#grrgrgrgrgrggrhrgrggg #I’m so fucking mad!!!!!!!!!!!#I will feed it to the roommate. but it’s one of those low resilience high emotional volatility days plus i m having SOOO much trouble #getting sufficient food in these days and I’d been thinking about the mujadara for hours and it’s all I wanted to eat and I ruined it.#this is not a real problem I’m just being a BABY #but WHY did I do that. why #and I made 6-7c like that was the base of 3 dinners auyuugghhhhhgghhhg #it’s just that I have zero appetite due to the vague health issues and I’m nearly six foot and I swim laps 5-6h a week like I have got to #be eating UGH…#and this was like the only appealing and palatable food I could think of. and the only reason it’s so hard is because I haven’t eaten #nearly enough today but I was planning to FIX THAT WITH THE MUJADARA…

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zerofuckingwaste · 8 months

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Easy zero waste tip no. 5: Paradoxically, you need to throw things away sometimes.

When I first went to college, I bought kitchen supplies for my dorm room. When I moved out of my parents' house, I bought some more. When I moved to a house, I bought even more. I was gifted more. I inherited more. More more more.

My kitchen became absolutely stuffed full of things, most of which I either didn't use, couldn't find, or didn't like but dealt with because hey, I already had it and didn't want to buy another.

Eventually, I sat down and pulled everything out of the shelves, the drawers, the baskets, the cabinets, absolutely everything. I was shocked to discover I had dozens of wooden spoons, but no pasta utensil. Seemingly a billion glass containers and only half of their matching lids. Like 6 pairs of tongs? For some reason?

I picked out the things I knew I used, and the things I knew I would use if I actually knew where they were. I was able to sell a few things, donate about half the rest, and the remaining, I unfortunately had no choice but to throw them away. I filled an entire trash bag, and then some, and felt terrible about it.

Then the most miraculous thing happened.

Since then, I haven't bought a single new thing for my kitchen. Meal prep has been easy. Making food in the moment has been easy. I love spending time in my kitchen, it's clean, organized, and fun. There's no stress anymore- and no compulsive need to buy when I couldn't find things, because hey, I know where everything is.

My waste has been significantly reduced by cutting the clutter out. And this is a principle that can apply to every aspect of your life.

Declutter your closet, you'll only wear outfits you love, and you won't feel nearly as much of a need to buy better all the time.

Declutter your bookshelves, and you'll only be surrounded by books you actually love and/or want to read, without feeling the need to buy more that will just end up being tossed out without ever being cracked open.

Declutter your bathroom, and you'll actually use all of the products you have with far less waste that goes bad before you can use it.

Et cetera.

Surround yourself with things you love, rather than just with lots of things.

#zero waste #sustainability #anti consumerism #anti consumption #eco friendly #sustainable #environment #cooking #food #kitchen #declutter #minimalism #minimalist

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