Becoming Less

Bizz chats with Guiscela about wasting water and the differences she sees with water usage in Canada vs Mexico.   Tips to reduce water usage: Turn tap off while brushing teeth Turn on only the hot water while waiting to heat and start using as soon as it warms up Water lawn before sunrise or after sunset Change lawn from grass to garden to grow food, or to something that doesn't require watering Shop less and/or shop second-hand (manufacturing requires water, too!) Use concentrated cleansers and drink flavours Check for leaks and running toilets Get/make a rain barrel Shower less often/shorter showers/skip the hair every other time Low flow toilets and shower heads Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks Reuse clean wastewater for plants Things we talk about: Water isn't just used by using water directly, not just the water we see Direct uses: Drinking Cooking Water lawn/garden Shower/bath Indirect uses: Agriculture  Food Raise animals Materials for building Materials for clothing Industrial use Make pretty much everything we use About 1,800 gallons of water are needed to produce the cotton in a pair jeans Processing materials such as paper and steel Energy During a water shortage, often it's the individuals who are restricted, while large corporations can continue using as much as they want to produce non-essential products. Glaciers are receding - this is our water reserve! Lakes shrinking Oil spills can also affect water availability, and this can happen very quickly Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz and Claire chat about how doing your best doesn't mean doing everything and that creating a balance in your life is the key to sustainability.   Concepts: Focusing on one thing at a time Doing research before diving in Choosing to NOT do/use/have rather than finding an alternative Don't need to fit all your waste in a jar to be low waste Self care and self compassion Just DO. Doing something is better than nothing, even if it's small. Try to find the one thing with the biggest impact Try to find the simplest thing  Take into consideration other people in your life when making changes New changes in life can mean going backward a bit New job, new baby, new home, etc. Specifics: Public transportation  Using it is the best way to make it better Strategically choosing where you live  Size Location Efficiency Car share Cycling Meal planning Shopping for food in bulk Mending clothes Visible mending Compost alternatives to green bin for apartment dwellers References: Spud - spud.ca Bulk Barn - bulkbarn.ca Communauto - alberta.communauto.com Bike Edmonton - bikeedmonton.ca Bulldog Razors - bulldogskincare.com Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz and Bri chat about consumerism and the importance of switching to a circular economy system.   Things we talk about: Composting toilets Glass and aluminum instead of plastic Reuse vs recycle Clothing fiber content Visible mending Valuing service, not just "stuff" Amazon hurts small businesses and the expertise they offer with their products References we make: Earth's General Store - earthsgeneralstore.ca Compost S'Cool - edmonton.ca Blush Lane -blushlane.com  Patagonia - patagonia.ca Fjallraven - fjallraven.ca The Dress Library - dresslibraryrentals.com Edmonton Tool Library - edmontontoollibrary.ca Indigo Proof - indigoproof.com Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz chats with Megan about maker hobbies like sewing, crafting, knitting, etc.. With maybe a little tangent on the joys of cat ownership.   Things we talk about: Getting creative with what we already have Not being afraid to experiment Sourcing the best materials available to us Using all the little pieces Making new things out of old things Buying used tools and equipment, especially when just getting started Normalizing second hand Repairing and dying to lengthen the life of our clothing What to do with "unusable" scraps "Recyclable" doesn't always mean it's recyclable Plastic spools replacing wooden spools References we make: Natural Earth Paint - naturalearthpaint.ca Reuse Centre Website - edmonton.ca/reusecentre Facebook - facebook.com/edmontonreusecentre Bead Sweaters - pinterest.ca Yarn Ends Sweaters - ravelry.com/patterns/library/stash-dive-raglan Bizz's Scraps Hoodie - instagram.com/p/CTlA0WMMeOq/ Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz and Lesley chat about many things, most of which revolve around the balancing act of doing what you can, not burning out, and avoiding the all or nothing mindset.   Things we talk about: Avoiding the all or nothing mindset Embracing minimalism in order to avoid over-cluttering Minimalism Experimenting with DIY options Certain DIYs have a cost savings, others definitely do not Problem with system that making clothes is more expensive Mindful creativity Everyone make a t-shirt, then think about how much you think it should be worth Trading/swapping/barter system Giving unwanted items directly to those who could use them rather than relying on thrift stores who throw out or export 80-90% of clothing they take in anyway Read more on cbc.ca Capsule Wardrobe The struggle with finding your "magic bra" or any other unreturnable undergarments Gift giving and receiving Surviving cycling in the winter Visible mending References we make: Blenderz - blenderzgarmentrecyclers.com Girlfriend Collective - girlfriend.com Everlane - everlane.com Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz chats with Anka from Get Ruth to discuss more convenient options for becoming less with our periods.   Find Ruth: Website - getruth.ca Instagram - @getruth.ca LinkedIn Co-Founder - Anka Chan LinkedIn Co-Founder - Nicole Sanchez Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz chats with Steph about her kids thrift/consignment business, The Green Canoe Shop.   You can find Steph's kids' clothes at: Website - greencanoeshop.ca Instagram - @greencanoeshop Facebook - facebook.com/greencanoeshop Other great Instagram accounts to find second hand kids clothes: Oak Forage - @oak_forage Prairie Littles Co - @prairielittlesco United Clothing for Motherhood - @unitedclothing4motherhood Blenderz Garment Recyclers - @blenderz_garment_recyclers Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz chats with Jennifer of Jennifer Bergman Weddings about how to become less while celebrating one of the most important days of our lives.    Find Jennifer: Instagram - @jbweddings Website - jenniferbergmanweddings.com Things we talk about: Food - Buy local, use reusable dishes, find out where food waste goes Flowers - Buy as local as possible, buy in season, rent silk Decorations - No balloons, rent anything you can, use what you have Favors - Keep them personal, keep them plastic-free, or omit them altogether Attire - Buy used, rent, take dresses somewhere where they can be reused Location - Destination weddings have a huge footprint Size - Every additional guest means additional waste References: The Dress Library - dresslibraryrentals.com Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz chats with Tracy about the idea of themed thrift stores.    Things we talk about: Our own ideas to incorporate second hand into our own businesses Second-hand pet supplies Second-hand fabric and sewing supplies What kind of themed thrift is already out there Cars. Pretty much just cars. Oh, and women's clothing Other ideas for incorporating second-hand into existing businesses Gyms and water bottles Kitchen appliances Coffee shop - mugs, etc. Working around the "low end" feel of thrifting, normalizing Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz and Emma chat about their own experiences doing home renovations and discuss ways to be less with our renovations.   Things we talk about: Use what you have Repair and freshen up before replacing Get materials used or other people's leftovers When buying new materials, aim for high quality that will last as long as possible References we make: Reuse Centre - edmonton.ca Habitat for Humanity - Edmonton: hfh.org - Canada: habitat.org Buy Nothing Groups - buynothingproject.org Tool Library - Edmonton: edmontontoollibrary.ca - Everywhere else: Google It Kijiji/Facebook Marketplace/thrift stores and other such resources for used materials and items Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz chats with Waste Free Edmonton co-founder, Sean, about the city's proposed Single Use Items Bylaw and how this strategy will reduce waste in our city.    Find more on the proposed bylaw: City of Edmonton's Website - edmonton.ca Single Use Items PDF Follow and connect with Waste Free Edmonton to stay updated on the SUI bylaw progress and more: Website - wastefree.ca Instagram - @wastefreeyeg Facebook - facebook.com/WasteFreeYeg Twitter - @wastefreeyeg YouTube - Waste Free Edmonton Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz and Emma chat about becoming less with our books, including some good reads for more information and ideas.   Things we talk about: Minimalism E-Readers Using old worn out books for crafts Libraries Little Free Libraries - littlefreelibrary.org Books mentioned: Flaneuse - Lauren Elkin Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit - Jeanette Winterson Zero Waste Home - Bea Johnson The 100-Mile Diet - Alisa Smith, J.B. MacKinnon A Beautiful Constraint - Adam Morgan, Mark Barden Drawdown - Paul Hawken Why Shrinkwrap A Cucumber - Stephen Aldridge, Laurel Miller 101 Ways To Go Zero Waste - Kathryn Kellogg Books not mentioned: Doughnut Economics - Kate Raworth This Changes Everything - Naomi Klein The Story of Stuff - Annie Leonard The Uninhabitable Earth - David Wallace-Wells Hope Matters - Elin Kelsey More books on environment and sustainability: Goodreads - Environment Goodreads - Sustainability Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz chats with Sam Kriviak, a registered provisional psychologist who specializes in eco-grief.   Things we talk about: What is anxiety? What is grief? What is trauma? How do these tie in with environmentalism? If we do identify with one or more of these descriptions, what can we do? Where can we find help if we need it? Psychology Today - psychologytoday.com/ca Locations in Edmonton, some with sliding scale fees: YWCA - ywcacanada.ca or ywcaofedmonton.org Momentum Counselling - momentumcounselling.org Drop-In YEG - dropinyeg.ca Chat Lines. In Edmonton: Distress Line - 780-482-HELP(4357) Addictions and Mental Health - 780-424-2424 Canadian Mental Health Association - cmha.ca or edmonton.cmha.ca Eco-grief specialists, such as Sam Kriviak or Catherine Forth here in Edmonton Books we mentioned: Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by Lori Gottlieb Hope Matters by Elin Kelsey Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz and Cara chat about how becoming less can be challenging at work.   Things we talk about: Being the only person who's passionate about environmentalism Creating an environmental committee Low-hanging fruit such as recycling paper and cardboard, or not using single-use plastics Starting discussions with coworkers or, better yet, your boss Working for a business whose business model does not align with your values We all need to work, so find balance References: Terracycle - terracycle.ca Psychology of Batman podcast - peterrollins.com/podcast Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz chats with Sarah from Blenderz Garment Recyclers about how much they've grown over the last couple years. They're moving into an even bigger location with some cool machinery upgrades.    Find Blenderz: Support their campaign for the upgrade - app.atbboostr.ca/offering/buildatextilerecyclingfacility Website - blenderzgarmentrecyclers.com Instagram - @blenderz_garment_recyclers Facebook - facebook.com/blenderzgarmentrecyclers Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz and Cara go over their biggest eco-wins from 2021 and discuss their goals for the upcoming new year.   What happened in 2021: Moved to new home Small means lower impact, close to work and amenities to reduce travel Reusable diapers So many diapers go to landfill every year, then the diapers can be passed on to someone else New Bike Purchased from small local business, had used bike first to see what features were good and bad before buying new, can now bike all winter Woodstove pellets for cat litter Bizz and Cara both do this! Composting Bizz takes compost to a friend's and Cara has the cart system in her new home Edmonton Cart Rollout Edmonton now provides pick up to detached homes for compost Bizz is now treasurer for Waste Free Edmonton WFE has SUPs bylaw in progress with the city Cara is now Climate Action Champion for her ward Begins her new role in 2022 Switched to reusing growlers instead of recycling bottles and cans Goals for 2022: Cara hopes to keep close tabs on what goes into her garbage and recycling with regular trash audits Bizz wants to start getting her chicken from a local butcher and plans on starting a side hustle that will reduce textile waste Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz and Cara talk about how voting with our dollar can create a demand for better ways to become less.   Things we talk about and references we make: How we spend our money controls the direction of the market Supporting businesses with good practices means a demand is created for more good practices.  Supporting businesses with poor practices means a demand is created for more poor practices.  Buying second hand does not create a demand up the chain Unless it's from a thrift store that has questionable practices Bunz trading app Buy Nothing app/groups Blenderz textile recyclers Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz and Cara chat about setting boundaries with others who may not see eye to eye with you on becoming less.   Things we talk about: Gifts - always a big topic Choosing to ride a bike Not using paper towels Bringing a container to a restaurant Composting - at home and at work Not accepting disposable diapers as a gift Getting a spouse/partner on board Which is more difficult to set boundaries with: friends, family or coworkers? Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz chats with new co-host, Cara, about her tips on being an eco-mom.   Things we talk about: Reusable Diapers Reusable Wipes (See Sniffle Crate Pattern on Etsy) Diaper services Babies grow so quickly Get clothing second hand Get toys second hand, too Choose toys from natural materials, avoid things that take batteries. Formula Choose concentrates like powder Consider the materials that the formula comes in - metal cans are more easily recycled than a pouch or something with mixed materials Baby food jars are only reusable if you have a use for them - and you end up with A LOT Make your own baby food - it's just cooked, blended veggies Maternity clothes are temporary - borrow or get used Safety devices, such as car seats - know the history, or get it new. You don't want to skimp on safety! Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

Bizz and Emma continue their conversation about becoming less with their pets.   Things we talk about: Buying treats in bulk Make your own food Use bags from food and litter to line your trash bin Dryer lint is often still plastic Dehydrating treats Wood pellet litter Toilet training cats Clay litter requires strip mining Compostable bags require very specific environments to break down. Edmonton's composting facility requires BPI or BNQ rated bags (not BPA as I said in the podcast!) Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)