Sustainable Minimalists

  5 Facts Carbon Footprint Facts You Likely Didn’t Know   Carbon footprints are confusing. What’s a carbon footprint, exactly, and how is yours related to climate change? Carbon footprints are a handy-dandy metric that makes clear how severely your lifestyle impacts the planet.  Your diet, travel habits, and your home’s cooling and heating practices are just some lifestyle considerations that may increase (or decrease!) your unique footprint. If you live in the United States or another developed country, your carbon footprint is likely around 16 metric tons per year. Yet the Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change warns that it’s imperative to prevent a warming of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050. To achieve this, every human on Earth must reduce their carbon footprints to just 2 metric tons per year. Sounds impossible, right? The sad reality is that bringing reusable shopping bags to the supermarket isn’t enough. On this week’s episode, we take a good, hard look at the big picture: If we are serious about doing our parts, we must forego the notion that we can continue to live the cushy lives so many of us are accustomed to.   Here’s a preview of this week’s episode: [5:00] How affluence and environmental impact are uniquely intertwined [7:35] The 4 behaviors that *most substantially reduce* one’s carbon footprint [14:00] Why national politics matter to American environmentalism, and what the 2020 election means for global warming Resources mentioned in the episode:   * Carbon footprint calculator * The relationship between affluence and carbon footprints * The 100 most polluting companies responsible for 70% of greenhouse gas emissions * Show Notes   This episode is generously sponsored by Rent-a-Romper. Want more episodes like this one? Check out #112: The NItty-Gritty Behind Microplastic Pollution. Want to support the show and help it grow? Here’s how (and thank you!): * Leave a review on Apple Podcasts: On the app, hit the Library tab, make sure you’re subscribed, scroll to the bottom past all prior episodes, then click on the stars to leave a review. * Leave a review on Facebook. * Tell a friend (or two!) * Reach out on Facebook or Instagram (I promise to respond!)

  Eco-Conscious Gifts for New Parents (That Are Actually Helpful)   Are you always on the hunt for gifts for new parents, but often feel as though you’re coming up short? OR do you plan to become a new parent someday but find it difficult – if not downright impossible – to distinguish true needs amidst all the hype? It’s time to discern new baby Must-Haves from Don’t-Needs, once and for all. On this week’s episode, I’m thrilled to replace the most unnecessary (and unneeded) gifts for new parents with 6 eco-conscious, minimalist, and exceptionally useful ones. On the second part of today’s episode, I speak with Lauren Gregor, a fellow mother who has come up with a solution to the baby clothes conundrum once and for all. Here’s a preview of today’s episode: [3:25] 7 items new babies *don’t* need [7:35] The Top 5 gifts for new parents (as determined by actual parents) [18:00] A sustainable minimalist’s solution to excessive and impractical baby clothes [26:05]  What a subscription-based clothing service for babies is, exactly, and why new parents (and gifters!) should consider joining one   Resources mentioned in the episode:  * Meal Train * The Sustainable Minimalists private Facebook group * Rent-a-Romper * Show Notes   Want to support the show and help it grow? Here’s how (and thank you!): Leave a review on Apple Podcasts: On the app, hit the Library tab, make sure you’re subscribed, scroll to the bottom past all prior episodes, then click on the stars to leave a review. Leave a review on Facebook. Tell a friend (or two!) Reach out on Facebook or Instagram (I promise to respond!)

How to Simplify (and Green-ify!) Housework   Laundry, dishes, and general home cleaning: Mundane housework got you down? Sustainable minimalism is about doing less and living more. The good news? It’s entirely possible to apply the tenets of sustainable minimalism to housework by simplifying tasks, minimizing magnitude and -finally! – incorporating incremental eco-friendliness to our efforts. On this week’s episode, I offer dozens of tips and tricks to simplify (and green-ify!) our laundry, dishes, and general housework routines so that you and I can spend less time maintaining our homes and more time enjoying them. Happy listening!   Resources mentioned in the episode: Stain Spray and Spot Remover  Eco Nuts laundry detergent Dropps laundry detergent pods Laundry washing ball (to collect microfibers) Le Creuset (to minimize dirty dishes) (Pro tip: Acquire these items secondhand!) Bamboo dish brush with interchangeable heads Castile soap (for DIY cleansers) Dropps dishwasher pods Vegetable-oil based body soap (for less soap scum) Microfiber cleaning cloths   * This week’s episode is sponsored by Oregon State University Ecampus. * Access this week’s Show Notes here.  * Find your tribe! Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.    

How to Save Money Like a Minimalist   The minimalist lifestyle often centers itself around possessions. Yet how we spend our money – what we choose to buy and how long we must work to make purchases – matters, as the tenets of minimalism uniquely lend themselves to finances. Indeed, simplified money matters can reduce stress, contribute to savings goals, and increase free time. On today’s show I speak with Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), author, and fellow minimalist Dawn Starks. Dawn offers both mindset shifts and action-oriented techniques that go beyond automatic bill pay as she inspires you and me to apply minimalist principles to our bank accounts. Here’s a preview of today’s episode: [4:45] What a time-and-money balance looks like; plus why achieving such balance matters [9:40] Why tidying your financial life starts with tidying your home [16:15] How to trim your budget without sacrificing too much [18:50] Beginner and intermediate strategies that simplify finances and save money Resources mentioned in the episode: – Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin – The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo   Happy listening!   * This week’s episode is sponsored by DalHae Jewelry. Get 20% off and free shipping with code MAMAMINIMALISTS. * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #108: 6 Minimalist Lifestyle Tips for Overarching Simplicity. * Learn more about this week’s eco-tip here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.  

Environmental racism occurs every day and all over the globe. Worse, it rarely receives the media attention it deserves. In the United States, African Americans are more likely to live near toxic waste facilities and breathe polluted air. Their communities are less likely to receive adequate protection to prevent disasters and – when disasters do occur – they are less likely to receive an immediate, comprehensive response. We don’t have to look far to find instances of environmental racism all over the world, either. Razed indigenous lands for grazing cattle, polluting textile factories, and boatloads of trash shipped from wealthy countries to developing ones are three examples of real-life environmental inequities of many. This week, we bring environmental racism out into the light by defining the term, highlighting its common characteristics from examples in recent history, and offering 5 potential solutions so that all people and all races may bear the brunt of climate change equally.   * This week’s episode is sponsored by Oregon State University Ecampus. * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.

COVID-19 has forced many of us to look critically at consumerist culture for perhaps the first time. If you don’t like what you see, you aren’t alone. Although anti-consumerism is countercultural, it isn’t uncommon. Proponents argue that breaking free from the purchasing hamster wheel ushers in financial freedom; it provides clarity around what’s *actually* important, too. My guest this week is Aleah Mohammed. Aleah had an ‘a-ha’ moment as she took out the trash; she committed herself to a no-new-purchases year shortly after. Aleah has been documenting her successes and struggles and is on the show to divulge what it’s really like to be an anti-consumer.   Here’s a preview of today’s episode: [16:30] How to navigate holidays and birthdays without gifts [19:45] What to say to less-than-supportive friends and family (and how to say it) [23:30] Why it’s important to be loud and proud when advocating for your life choices   Happy listening!   * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #049: The Why and How of a No-Spend Challenge. * This week’s eco-tip: Tinted mineral sunscreen brands include Elta MD, Coola, and Juice Beauty. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.  

  Summer is all about living the simple life, with extended bedtimes, spur-of-the-moment jaunts, and a general commitment to squeezing out every last frills-free moment in the sunshine. But thanks to unnecessary purchases, chemical-laden sunscreen and bug repellent, and unsustainable vacations that create excessive carbon emissions, our summer celebrations may harm the planet. The good news is it’s entirely possible to enjoy a simple and eco-friendly summer. On this week’s episode we are discussing practical ways to tweak our summer choices so that we enjoy the best season of the year with intention. Here’s a preview of today’s episode: [2:20] Sustainable swimwear and sunglass ideas [8:20] The importance of reef-safe sunscreen [13:25] The bug repellent conundrum [19:20] Green vacation tips for intentional travelers   Happy listening! Highly-rated sustainable swimsuit brands include: * Summersalt * Vitamin A Swim * Wolven * Reformation Reef-Safe sunscreens are: * Badger * All Good * Manda * Attitude Tinted mineral sunscreens (that don’t leave the white glow) are: * Elta MD * Coola * Juice Beauty Alternatives to Deet bug repellent include: * eucalyptus oil *  soybean oil * good, old-fashioned citronella   * This week’s episode is sponsored by Oregon State University Ecampus. * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.    

The best online thrifting stores Prefer vintage? Love designer? If you have a distinct style – or if you simply prefer new clothes! – you may assume that thrifting couldn’t possibly be for you. But thanks to 5 of the best online thrifting stores, secondhand shopping makes thrifting for unique styles, shapes, and price ranges accessible for all of us. Corporations have fed us the false truth that new is best. Capitalist societies flourish when consumers constantly buy, but purchasing new goods leaves little space for older but perfectly fine garments to thrive. The good news? Thrifting is recycling, and it is a powerful way to acquire needed items without all the problems associated with overconsumption. The internet empowers us to spice up our closets with new-to-us items from the comfort of our own couches and for a fraction of the price of buying new. And thanks to the best online thrifting sites’ advanced search parameters, we can find the exact item we are looking for in our desired color, size, and brand. On this week’s show I divulge where to find the best online stores for thrifting, how to score items that are new with tags, and why thrifting never equates to sacrifice. You’ll walk away from today’s episode with new tools to up your existing thrifting game, too. Here’s a preview of today’s episode: [4:00] 3 lesser-known benefits to thrifting just some of the time [9:23]  Common thrifting concerns, debunked [14:57]  The 5 best online thrifting stores for every style, shape, and price range Enjoy!   * Access this episode’s Show Notes here. * Want more episodes like this one? Try #033: Thrifting 101. * Social distancing is the *perfect* time to review your favorite podcasts! On the Apple Podcasts app, hit the Library tab, scroll alllll the way to the bottom past all prior episodes, then click on the stars to leave a review. (Thank you!) * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.

5 Unique Ways to be Frugal Without Being Cheap   Pennypincher. Tightwad. Cheapskate. Under normal circumstances, public opinion tends to shun frugality. But frugality has been reborn, so to speak, thanks to the novel Coronavirus pandemic. Many are wasting less food and experimenting with gardening. Others are making conscious efforts to send less to the landfill by reusing, repurposing, and rethinking waste culture. Thrifty behaviors aren’t worthy of the side-eye anymore. Instead, the opposite is true: during a pandemic, frugality is smart. Thriftiness is about using resources wisely and reducing waste as a consequence. On this week’s show, I offer 5 habits we can cultivate that both save money and increase self-sufficiency well after the pandemic comes and goes. Here’s a preview of today’s episode: [3:30] 3 benefits to incremental thriftiness [8:50] the main distinctions between internal, external, and novel frugality [13:40] 5 behaviors to adopt right now that save money and foster self-sufficiency   Happy listening!   * This week’s episode is sponsored by Oregon State University Ecampus. * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.

Work From Home Tips (Konmari Homeschool Ideas, too!)   Quarantined in a small space with a big family? Establishing spaces within our homes that work for everyone, including the work from home professionals, the homeschooled kids, and the adults in charge of keeping All. The. Clutter. under control maintains cohesion and reduces family tension. My guest this week is minimalist and Konmari consultant Jessica Yatrofsky. Jessica presents practical tidying tips for quarantine and always, including reasons why picking up at the end of the day is an act of self-respect, how to determine the best spaces for working and homeschooling at home, and why it’s important for all of us to maintain our sparks when quarantined in sweatpants.   Here’s a preview of today’s episode: [8:22] Work from home tips that curate mindful, professional spaces [17:10] Summon an organizing mindset when dealing with homeschooling supplies [27:48] Declutter the Konmari way in quarantine and always   Happy listening!   * Want more episodes like this one? Try #022: Debunking KonMari Myths. * Social distancing is the *perfect* time to review your favorite podcasts! On the Apple Podcasts app, hit the Library tab, scroll allll the way to the bottom past all prior episodes, then click on the stars to leave a review. (Thank you!) * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.    

Fair Trade, Certified B and More   Ever wonder what the Fair Trade label on products *really* means? How about that elusive Certified B Corp distinction? “All-natural”, “fat-free”, and “non-toxic” are blanket marketing statements that have no real meaning. But third party certifications? Their distinct logos distinguish the best from the rest. Yet while certifications are meant to give consumers confidence, it can be difficult to understand what all the different labels stand for. On today’s show I break down the differences between products that are MADE SAFE® and GOTS certified. I demystify the Certified B Corporation label, too, before bringing you an interview with podcaster, marketing professional, and Fair Trade expert Liza Moiseeva. Enjoy!   * This week’s episode is sponsored by Oregon State University Ecampus. * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.

Your Sustainability Questions, Answered Many listeners write to me with compliments and criticisms; occasionally, listeners reach out with questions, too. I collected some of the most pressing queries from both personal messages and public ones in the show’s closed Facebook group. On this week’s episode I answer 5 of the most common sustainability questions you listeners have asked me. Here’s a preview of today’s show: [1:40] Why are silicone products preferable to plastic ones? [4:11] Why has plastic become so popular? [7:14] What’s the most sustainable toilet paper: recycled or bamboo? [16:15] Why do people buy things to be sustainable? [20:10] What are some innovative uses for mason jars?   Happy listening!   * Want more episodes like this one? Try #112: The Nitty-Gritty Behind Microplastic Pollution. * Learn more about about this week’s eco-tip here. * Social distancing is the *perfect* time to review your favorite podcasts! On the Apple Podcasts app, hit the Library tab, scroll allll the way to the bottom past all prior episodes, then click on the stars to leave a review. (Thank you!) * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.    

  Los Angeles boasts clear, smog-free skies. Passerby on New York City’s busiest avenues enjoy the sounds of chirping birds. And in Venice? Fish are visible in the city’s once-murky canals. In some ways, the COVID-19 pandemic has done wonders for the health of our planet. But in others? For many of us, sticking to our zero waste lifestyle goals feels nearly impossible. The reason is twofold. First, many of us experience the tug and pull of purchasing more than we need. Are you panic buying All. The. Things. as a means of preparing for whatever the virus ushers in next? Second, we have increased the frequency with which we shop online so as to stay out of stores; we opt for grocery home delivery, too. But all that excess packaging waste? It really adds up. While our zero waste lifestyle goals have certainly taken a hit since the novel Coronavirus closed businesses and forced social isolation, I believe it is possible for all of us to recommit to low-waste living despite the pandemic. On today’s show I offer 9 ways to re-center ourselves around our low-waste principles while in quarantine, including shopping smarter (not harder!), making reusable Clorox wipes at home, and looking outside the box when using up what we already have, too. Enjoy!   * This week’s episode is sponsored by Oregon State University Ecampus. * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.

What’s a menstrual cup? (And other zero-waste period queries)   Ever find yourself wondering what a menstrual cup is, exactly? Want to zero-wastify your monthly cycle but don’t know how? The average woman uses 22 disposable tampons or pads per cycle, or 264 products per year. Assuming a woman menstruates for 35 years, she will throw away a whopping 9,240 single-use menstrual products in  her lifetime.  On this week’s episode I identify six (amazing) reusable menstrual products on the market right now. I also bring you a conversation with co-founder of The Sustainable Period Project Carol Morris whose initiative provides every secondary school in both Australia and New Zealand with sustainable menstrual kits for educational purposes.   Here’s a preview of today’s episode: [06:26] Why disposable menstrual products are terrible (and exactly why they’re unnecessary!) [09:27] Cost savings attributed to reusable over single-use [ 13:22] The low-down on six of the best reusable menstrual products on the market [26:52 ] Common menstrual cup criticisms and how to get over them [31:15] The Sustainable Period Project’s mission and future goals   Enjoy!   * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #048:The Zero-Waste Swaps that Save Serious Cash. * Social distancing is the *perfect* time to review your favorite podcasts! On the Apple Podcasts app, hit the Library tab, scroll allll the way to the bottom past all prior episodes, then click on the stars to leave a review. (Thank you!) * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.  

Slow Homes, Climate Change, and Coronavirus   Cornoavirus has forced one in four people worldwide into social isolation; indeed, slow homes have replaced on-the-go living for weeks to come. But what are the implications of forced slowness on reluctant mothers, and how is social isolation impacting the planet? On this week’s episode we examine Coronavirus’s implications by considering long-term effects. Although online content covers small picture issues – like how to keep children entertained despite social distancing and how to become homeschooling pros overnight – many of us continue to struggle with long-term stressors, like how to maintain sanity though June and beyond. Further, while forced isolation has been an unexpected hassle for many, slow homes have considerably improved Earth’s health. This week, I offer up my ideas as to how the pandemic has slowed climate change; I suggest three the lessons the pandemic has (already) taught us, too.   Here’s a preview of today’s episode: [07:59] Common-sense tips for people whose nature is not to “go with the flow” [11: 41] Why it’s the perfect time to lean-in to activities that make us whole [20:29] How the planet has responded to worldwide social isolation [21:10] One major similarity between the pandemic and climate change [ 22:12] Three lessons the pandemic has (already) taught us   Happy listening!   * Want more episodes like these? Check out this special episode: How I’m Preparing for Coronavirus. * Learn more about guest Cathy Struecker on her website. * Social distancing is the *perfect* time to rate and review your favorite podcasts! On the Apple Podcasts app, hit the Library tab, scroll allllll the way to the bottom past all prior episodes, then click on the stars to leave a review. (Thank you!) * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.