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I’ve written about my zero waste journey beginning in 2017.  Mostly in the forms of lists ‘cause that’s how I roll.  Each year, I added an action until Covid.  We all know how challenging that was!   

If you are wanting to start 2023 by reducing a bit of your trash- go back and read any of the blogs.  All the info is valid, you will have to makes tweaks to fit your life style.  Please remember going zero waste is like any goal or accomplishment, it’s a dance.  Two steps forward, one back, a bit of spinning in the same space and then two steps forward.

I’m not going to add to that list but I’d love to hear your suggestions and strategies.   Instead I'm sharing another list with ideas about how to help address the imbalance in our economy.

I believe if you want to help heal our planet one step you can take is to “buy local, shop indie”.  Sure I’m biased because I have a small business but I have a small business because I want the world to be a better place. 

Here’s my list of ways to support small and indie businesses-

 Word of mouth really matters- take the time to tell others about your favorite businesses and why you like them.

 Sign up for emails- in the ever changing word of social media an email list is a godsend to a small business, it’s where they can actually connect with people who are interested in their product or service

 Unsubscribe from emails you never open.  In order to sent out batches of emails you need to subscribe to an email server and you pay for the service.  If you are on someone’s list but never open an email you still count in terms of payment.  It’s very helpful for a small company to have you unsubscribe because they safe money and you will stop getting an email that you’re not interested in.

Post a nice comment on social to help the algorithms used in social media sites.  The way this works is a site limits access to how many folks can see a post because they want to make money.  Liking, sharing and commenting on a post makes it more “popular” and visible.

Post a picture and tag a business to help spread the word.

Use locations and hashtags, another way to help a business be visible on social media. 

Write reviews and share your positive experience.  If your experience was negative contact the business first before posting on social media.  Social media thrives on negativity so post with caution and kindness.

Say “thank you” whenever possible and be understanding with problems.  Chances are if you have a problem you’ll get way better service and results than with a big business.

 Buy gift cards especially at busy holiday seasons.  It can be quite challenging in today’s ever changing world to keep items stocked and gift cards do help.

 When it’s time to make a purchase investigate options and if possible buy small, local and indie first before giving all the big boys your money.

 Consider a subscription service.  Similar to a CSA for farms a subscription service helps weather the year during slower times.  Subscription services are also a great way to support a creative that you admire.  The way social media works makes it easy to expect information and inspiration for free but it’s a lot of work and a subscription helps someone stay creative.

Enjoy your zero waste journey and share your success.

We are having a Seaweed Social at our sweet farm shop.

Friday August 12 from 4:00-6:00, PM before the popular Delicious Drag Divas Show at Gouldsboro Town Park and and Saturday August 13 from 12:00 to 6:00. 

What is a Seaweed Social?  It’s a gathering centered around eating and appreciating Maine seaweed.  Explore our “grazing table” with seaweed dishes both savory and sweet.  On our menu we will feature a wide variety of unique seaweed products from many of Maine’s seaweed producers.

Our menu-

Sea Deviled Eggs with Smithereen Farm Kelp Pickles and Vitamin Sea Smoked Dulse Flakes

Nori Flatbread made with Vitamin Sea Nori Flakes

Cheesy Kelpy Popcorn made with Springtide Seaweed Cheese Kelp

Kelpy Humus made with Ocean’s Balance Kelp Puree

Downeast Spring Rolls made with Nori Sheets

Good Karma Cosmic Dumpling Dipping Sauce

Ocean’s Balance Mariana Dipping Sauce

Maine Homestead Pickles

Spicy Edamame with Ariel’s Hot Pepper Infused Honey and Ocean’s Balance Spicy Seaweed Sprinkle

Turkish Pide made with Curio’s Supeq Spice

Irish moss Pudding made with Maine Coast Sea Vegetable Irish Moss Flakes

Original and Ginger Kelp Krunch Bars from Maine Coast Sea Vegetable

Pirate Brownies made with Ocean’s Balance Dulse Flakes

Jamy Cookies made with Maine Homestead jams and Springtide’s Table Kelp

Iced Emerald Honeybush Tea from Cup of Sea

The Fog Iced Coffee from Precipice Coffee

This event is free and open to everyone who is interested in discovering ways to incorporate seaweed into your diet for taste, nutrition and sustainability.  For more info email us at dulseandrugosa@gmail.com

Vintage Clothing Sale July 8,9,10 337 RT 1, Gouldsboro ME Our sweet farm shop will be turned into a fashion destination. Vintage in many sizes and inspiration for "upcycling" to keep garments out of the landfills. Be inspired to turn a "meh" garment in a loved garment. Loved clothes last.

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Recently I decided my brain needed a news break and I’ve been listening to Spotify- the free version.  I’ve enjoyed how their playlist or "radio" takes you from a familiar artist to a new one but the ads can be super annoying.  One in particular that I've heard a thousand times is pitching a hand sanitizer designed in an aerodynamic bird shape.  It’s a plastic bird that squirts sanitizer.  The sanitizer is made with only “conscious ingredients”. WTF is a conscious ingredient?  To be conscious is to be aware of one’s environment.   We pick flowers and dry them to use in our skin care products but I never think of a dried flower petal as being a conscious ingredient. 

When a company sits down and makes a list of adjectives that appeal to a certain type of customer it’s called “green washing”.  It can be very effective.  When we hear certain words- reusable, refillable, clean fragrances we use our frame of reference and values to make a decision about a product.  Green washing happens in the world of beauty and fashion, and its insidious.  When you are getting ready to make a purchase, pause, because how we spend our money is a vote for the world we want to inhabit.

We had the chance to shop European awhile back.  That’s how we discovered Ritonka Chocolate from Austria.  I’m guessing the chocolate will only be available for a limited time due to world circumstances and while the ingredients aren’t “conscious” they are extraordinary.  The bars are beautiful and have unique garden based flavors and include many of our favorite flowers.  Rose, Marigold, Bee Balm, Cornflower and more.  We have dark, milk and white chocolate bars.  Honestly, I am not a fan of white chocolate, in general, it’s just too sweet.  Ritonka’s white chocolate bar is yummy!  It’s topped with lavender buds- it's not an overly floral, soapy taste but instead a delightful crunch. The dried black currents  give the bar a cool sour explosion in your mouth. 

We take time and care with our products but also with researching products made by other companies.  We love to discover new brands that are making  thoughtful decisions when creating.  It’s quite a bit of work because we have high standards and values.  We know you will enjoy this chocolate, it’s a perfect Easter or spring basket goody or just a treat for yourself. 

Let us know what you think about "conscious ingredients" or your favorite way to eat flowers. 

We are all glued to the news and wondering how Ukraine is faring.  The news is changing daily and I expect it to get worse before it gets better.  Any time there is a crisis in the world, Chef Jose Andres and World Central Kitchen is there.   Over 660,000 Ukrainians have fled since the attack began, with that number expected to rise dramatically. The journey is daunting, with many Ukrainian families traveling for days without food.  World Central Kitchen is serving hot food, feeding not just weary bodies but souls.  We’ve sent in a donation and you can too- here is the link
https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine

Of course, there are many other worthy organizations helping to ease the plight of these proud and fierce people.   NPR has put together a list-
https://www.npr.org/2022/02/25/1082992947/ukraine-support-help 

Another great place to check is local social media.  There was a big stuffed animal drive in my area as a Polish American with family ties near the border organized a way to give refugee children a bit of comfort. 

We feel at times that our small steps don’t make much of a difference but imagine the joy of a hot bowl of nourishing soup after an arduous journey or cuddling a stuffed animal while trying to sleep in a strange location.  We might not see or hear how our actions helped but we can know they did.

I’m an avid “stress stitcher”.  Working with thread and a needle is a way to calm anxiety and create something of value.  I’ve been inspired by Clare Hunter’s Threads of Life: A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle.  Banners and buntings have been used to raise awareness and bring about change through many periods of history.  Both are easy to make. 

Bunting is one of my favorite ways to celebrate a season.  Quick and easy to put together its a great way to use up fabric scraps and is a sustainable way to decorate and avoid celebrating with a bunch of plastic.  Once a holiday is over, tuck the bunting away- if it’s been outside pop in the laundry first and you can use bunting for many years. 

Simple Steps to Make Bunting

 

-gather together all your materials including fabric, scissors, cardboard to make a template, needle and thread and ribbon or string.  You can sew bunting by hand or use a machine.  Making bunting is a great family/kid project and can be put together entirely by hand using the running stitch.  We have a blog tutorial all about the running stitch here-

https://www.dulseandrugosa.com/blogs/news/lets-get-mending-running-stitch-basics

-decide on the shape for your bunting.  Triangles are traditional but rectangles or squares can be easier to cut.   You can make single layer bunting but putting two pieces together- with the pretty side showing each way makes your bunting sturdier.  If using two layer stitch together.

-cut a length of ribbon, twine or material.  I’m working on using up my fabric scraps so I’ve been using lengths of fabric, folded with the wrong sides together as my twine.  This is also super easy to sew so it’s great for kids.  Place your bunting pieces on your fabric length and stick.  Again you can do by hand or machine. 

-You are done!  Hang and enjoy.

 

I made my banner using mostly scraps, the blue was from an old fitted sheet.  I did need to buy some yellow as that’s a color I didn’t have in my fabric stitch.  The blue goes on top representing wide skies and the yellow on the bottom for wheat fields.  I added appliquéd shapes- hearts and peace sign cut from bits of fabric.  I tend to trace shapes on scrap paper first and then use as a guide for fabric.  It’s also a good idea to baste the shapes to the banner before doing your permanent stitching.  Basting is a very loose running stitch and holds better than pins.  Hem around all the edges.  You can make a casing (a wide open at both ends hem) to insert a rod for hanging if you want.  I just used a few nails top and bottom to hang my banner.

It’s great to be inspired by the work and skills of others but don’t get intimidated. It’s ok to make mistakes or make something wonky.  One of my bunting strings is completely wonky, everything is off kilter.  Once I hang it up and it blows in the breeze no one will notice.