If sustainable living seems hard, try passive zero-waste. In other words, do nothing (or very little). Here are 11 strategies.
compost
Unpaving Paradise: Plans for a Parched Yard In a Drought
At the end of the month, I move back to my house, where I plan to install a greywater system and grow food in the neglected yard.
The (Literal) Ins and Outs of Curbside Composting
Curbside composting bins divert organic materials from overburdened landfills. But what should go in them? And what should stay out?
Lazy, Experimental, Give-It-a-Whirl Gardening
If Covid disrupted the food supply chain, imagine what more extreme weather will do. Now’s a good time to start a garden.
Go Zero-Waste in 31 Days
Adopt a zero-waste life in 31 days. As you accomplish each task in this plan, you’ll slash your waste, reduce your carbon footprint, eat better, save money, reduce stress and more.
Kitchen Science for Kids: Food Waste Audit
Most young kids understand—better than some adults—that we have only one planet and so should preserve it rather than trash it. Curious and inquisitive, they are also natural scientists. In this kitchen science for kids lesson plan, your kids will learn about food waste—why we waste food, what else we waste when we waste it, […]
Compost for the Lazy: Throw It on the Ground
Compost can save the world! It sucks carbon dioxide out of the air and not only that, a half-inch layer of this black gold can still increase yields six years after its application. I had been composting in our community bins for nearly 10 years—and for several years before that at my house—but decided to start a rogue […]
7 Tactics for a Trash-Free Road Trip
Notice I didn’t use the term “zero-waste” in the title. I would feel a little ridiculous writing about a road trip to Tahoe—an entire tank of fossil fuel away—and then saying, “Look at me! I brought my own fork!” I think twice before I travel these days and I haven’t flown this year, although I […]
7 Tips for a Zero-Waste Kitchen
Updated 01/05/18 I love my (nearly) zero-waste kitchen routine. I eat a delicious, healthy diet and have simplified my shopping habits. But it did take me a couple of years to (nearly) perfect this routine and I may never achieve complete zero-waste. (Remember calculus class? You merely approach zero.)
Zero-Waste Vegetable Broth from Scraps
I love to make soups, but I hate to buy broth for several reasons: If you read the label of virtually any commercial broth on the shelf at the grocery store, you’ll probably find loads of salt and—depending on the brand—crud. Canned broth can expose you to the hormone-disrupting chemical BPA. Food and beverage cans […]