The LoWaste Life is about extending the life of things that already exist, wasting less and reimagining some old ideas about sustainability at a time we all need them most. My great grandmother Ila Rae lived through the Great Depression on a farm in Illinois. The impact of living through tough times molded her entire life. Her house was a model of upcycling - floor mats crocheted from Wonder Bread bags, trash cans made of egg cartons, and when she sent you home with food it was in a reused margarine tub.
I think of the way that conservation and more natural products used to be woven into our consumer habits. Milk was delivered fresh and the bottles would be cleaned and reused, flour was sold in fabric bags that could be turned into clothing and quilts. Along the way, advances in preservation and scalability replaced those old practices and we became numb to the waste that flows through our daily life. The products we use are loaded with ingredients we don’t understand and impacts that are far reaching.
As discouraging as that is, there is an incredible movement of brands making package-free, more sustainable and less toxic versions of products we use every day. The opportunity I see is in helping people know that better options exist.
That’s why I’m so excited to bring upcycled goods, non-plastic cleaning supplies and the bulk refill, zero waste concept to farmer’s markets in San Jose. In California, we’re fortunate to be able to shop year round from our local farmers who are growing organic produce and bringing it to our neighborhoods every week. My goal is to normalize the idea of filling up your dish or hand soap, laundry and general cleaning products at the same time you shop for your weekly fresh food. People can bring their own bottles and jars back to refill, or choose to purchase a reusable, recyclable glass container, and feel great that they are reducing their consumption footprint. Equally important, I’m so excited to offer natural and nontoxic products like YaYa Maria’s in bulk, to help more people understand the importance of the ingredients they bring into their home.
My hope is to add a bit of community and inspiration to the booth each week, whether it’s collecting berry baskets for our farmers to reuse, engaging activities for kids to learn more about conservation, to sharing tips to reduce all kinds of waste.