Our story It began in a foreign country in Western Europe. It was the summer of 2018. We made a move and later, another decision that would change our lives f o r e v e r. The city was Berlin. The year was 2017, in the … Read more...
Homemade laundry detergent, a bang for your money
Various experiments in the all-natural laundry detergent field. What works and what doesn’t. Mother Earth to rescue!
While there are of course many things to think of, when on such a new path, as we are in our new home and it all may be a bit overwhelming. The situations you have to tackle, just come living your everyday life. Like was I thinking of the laundry detergent as we got the keys of the apartment? No. But when the laundry basket was getting quite full for our large and energy-efficient washing machine.
Getting to know the world of all-natural cleaners
Now, when the laundry asked to be cleaned I was on research to find the best washing detergent for the laundry machine. My key wishes were that it had to be all-natural and can be self-made. I didn’t know that, when I opened the chest to this wonderful DIY home cleaning products, that it will be quite a ride.
Many people have been sharing their recipes, using many different ingredients resulting different looks of the detergents and therefore different results. No wonder that my own Word document of “The ultimate guide to homemade all-natural cleaning recipes” became a whopping 30 pages of research. I just kept finding new stuff, which I should consider and which would cover not only laundry but also cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, toilet and the rest of the house, including windows.
The road finding what really works the best was a bit bumpy in the beginning as there were tips to try and detergents to mix. Often times it didn’t give the needed results. But after a while, I found recipes, which worked for me and which I am happy to share with you as well.
Liquid laundry detergent – fail
I am not sure why I decided that the laundry detergent has to be liquid. Though I have been using a powder one all my life. Anyway, most likely it seemed the best and the easiest option to make. I used it a couple of times, but I wasn’t sure how long such liquid would last in a jar. Also how much to really use, as I didn’t use Borax in my recipe.
This is a tricky ingredient, as in many countries it is forbidden or just not available. I was trying to find new ones, which wouldn’t have any ingredients I had no way of getting my hands to, such as Borax, Dawn dish soap or any of Dr. Bronner’s products. These all are luckily available to those living in North America. The liquid detergent did do its job. But I think I just over-used it and it wasn’t so cost-saving, as it should have been.
I am not sharing any recipes, as it was still a lot of work and didn’t give the results. Also, this recipe created a little but took quite a lot of ingredients. Hence there is nothing to share, as this didn’t work out. So I realized, that the best would be powder, as there is nothing to go bad. The powder detergent can sit in a jar and is ready to use in an instant.
Dry laundry detergent – win
Finally, I came across this really simple laundry detergent recipe, which I have been using ever since.
Mix 2 cups of washing soda with the gratings from one 5-ounce/140 g bar of castile soap.
Use 1 tbsp for light loads; 2 tbsp for heavy loads.
I ended up using half of the recipe. Instead of castile soap, I used the Almawin curd soap, which I found for 0.90 cents from a health store. As I experimented later, any other soap will do. I used the kitchen grater to ground the soap. I mixed it with baking soda on a jar, which was home of pickles before.
Does it really work?
How do I know it really works? Unfortunately, I have no photos as proof, but I can tell a little story of a garment, which became clean after using this detergent.
In 2017 summer we worked literally as slaves for pennies at a hotel by the Black Sea in Bulgaria. Since the premises weren’t used for a few years it meant that after the renovations the place was really dirty. We had our own personal outfits we were wearing while working. The shorts I wore, were made of polyester and while wearing those I pushed, knelt, rubbed, sat and whatever there is to do when wearing pants.
I started noticing that the ends of the pants had some grey lines, which referred to heavy-duty wear and they didn’t fade or turned any lighter after many washes. When the whole nightmare was finally done and we were safely back at home and I was finally able to do a nice machine wash to all of our items I noticed for my sadness that the pants didn’t clean after all. I took it as a reality and understood that they have been just damaged until I washed them with my own made detergent described above and after the first wash – the lines were gone. I am a believer!
The best thing is yet to come – chestnuts!
I wasn’t done with it, as I knew that there had to be another way how to wash your laundry. Without spending any money at all. I remembered that somebody mentioned once, that you can use as a laundry detergent chestnuts. Cool! They are free when the season is in. Totally worthy of looking more into.
I found a few good pages, which were really helpful. One stood out though. The site described the whole process very thoroughly. Plus there were photos of every step on the way. So it was easy like bliss to follow.
Since it was October last year, when I found out that I can use chestnuts as laundry detergent, I went out to pick them. I followed the steps of the website to create a completely free all-natural product. I have been using chestnut laundry detergent for a year and I am very happy with the results. Especially with the savings 😉
Before I will write my own article about how to make chestnut laundry please read below a list of things…
…to keep in mind while using chestnut detergent
- Preparing chestnuts for the detergent is a bit of a job.
- Chestnuts need to be soaked overnight in a cup of hot water to make detergent for the next day. Takes a little planning.
- It is not a powerful stain remover. It doesn’t remove blood stains (they get lighter after few washes).
- Don’t stuff your machine too full, as it will leave some dark lines on your laundry. But this happens with commercial detergents as well.
- But it is environmentally friendly, totally free and all-natural!
Please read the ever so wonderful article by Wasteland Rebel. Believe me, it makes you want to go and collect those chestnuts now! It is not too late!
Also, please check our article on baking soda, which may come handy at home. Hint, it is also all-natural and very cheap.
Windows open for health – fall is here!
Though it is colder outside, do not think that the windows have to be closed. Now it is the right time to keep them open for your better health!
Summer is over and therefore autumn blues may creep in for many of you. We may get the feeling of cold in our bones. Also, low activity and extra weight or bad health may welcome us. Though it doesn’t sound all so beautiful, the beginning of the fall is a great time to make a change. Yes, another change. We sure love changes. Now is a good time to stop for a moment and think about what can we do for our health.
Chinese Medicine
I am a big fan of Chinese Medicine. I have had acupuncture annually since I was 14. It has helped me a lot. Just in case if you do not know what acupuncture is, let me explain. It is a medicine in which the needles are inserted in the skin at specific points. These are considered lines of energy, in other words meridians. They are used to heal various physical and mental conditions.
You have to keep in mind that acupuncture is a good way to keep your health in a good balance. But it doesn’t always help. For example, if you have inflammation in your tooth’s root channel, then the needles are not going to heal it. You actually have to go and see a dentist and get the nidus removed. I am not saying that it never helps. I am sure there are people who have received miracles to their health thanks to needles.
Why did I mention Chinese Medicine? Other than that it seems like a good health practice to follow. It may also be your way of discovering something new. Something you may consider a better option for your health. I think it is useful to know what fall in Chinese Medicine represents and what can we learn from it.
Fall and health in Chinese Medicine
In Chinese, Medicine fall represents the transition season from the height of (yang or) active energy of summer into the passive (yin) energy of winter. It is associated with the Metal element and the Lung organ network. Just as the lungs and the breath help to establish a rhythm within our bodies. Fall is the natural season to rediscover a healthy rhythm in your life. If you think about fall, doesn’t it remind you of a sore throat and running nose? Looks like we have been neglecting our lung organ network altogether. Why else we experience the low immune system during fall time.
The Metal element of fall symbolizes clarity and diamond-like strength. Harness the natural energy of fall to both clarify what you value most and to find the strength to set boundaries. And say no to what no longer supports a fulfilling life. If you fell away from your commitment to your health routines during summer. Fall is a great time to recommit to eating healthy, exercising regularly, and addressing your health concerns. What could be the best to give a great start for a new season than doing all this!
Perhaps some tips from a Chinese Medicine perspective can help you to stay in good health this fall. Some of those are by Tara Gregory, LAc from Dr. Samantha’s clinic in Portland, Evergreen Natural Health Center. I was inspired by her post to talk about health during fall time.
Tips to stay at good health at fall
- Prioritize what is most valuable to you. In the fall we become acutely aware that there are never enough hours in the day. Are there tasks that are occupying your time that are preventing you from eating well, exercising regularly and spending quality time with loved ones?
- Eat with the season to stop colds in their tracks. Fall is the time to transition towards eating warming and cooked food. The warm yang nature of summer helps the body digest raw food and salads. But, as the weather turns cooler, eating raw and cold food puts a strain on the digestive system. This takes energy away from the body’s ability to defend itself from illness. Build up your reserve of energy to keep your health this winter, by incorporating baked root vegetables and winter squashes into your diet.
- Pungent flavors open up the pores, causing diaphoresis to help you sweat out a cold. Try adding garlic, ginger, fresh green onions and chives to a bowl of hot soup.
- Keep Warm and Wear A Scarf. In Chinese Medicine, the wind is seen as the root of many diseases. Especially with colds characterized by sneezing, runny noses and chills. There is an acupuncture point located at the base of the skull about an inch in either direction from the spine. This point is named Wind Pool. Keeping this point protected and covered by a scarf will help ward off a cold.
- Boost Your Immune System with Acupuncture. It’s a great time to get back into your acupuncture routine. Especially if you suffer from colds, pneumonia, asthma, depression, fatigue, arthritis, or any condition that worsen in the winter month. Keep healthy with Acupuncture as preventative medicine. Acupuncture can directly boost your immune system. And tone your lungs to make you less susceptible to illnesses in the coming months.
Take time for yourself and watch what you eat
Find inspiration from the following tips as well. Hopefully, that keeps you away from falling on a cozy sofa. Also not eating so much of calorie-rich foods and spending most of your time indoors.
- Try a new hobby or go and scout your neighborhood for possible work out places. That is if you already didn’t work out throughout the summer 😉 Keep the visits to the lot regular to stay active. Or just walk a lot or cycle and aim for 10 000 steps daily.
- Consider continuing that healthy summer diet: lots of fruits and vegetables. Perhaps maybe it is time to become vegan.
- Vitamin D supplements to keep your mind and body active, plus it helps to build up your immune system.
- Start checking sugars in your snacks and drinks. They are hidden everywhere and say no to really rich and unhealthy foods. Show some character!
Fall is a great time to prioritize what is important to us. Keep an eye on our eating, exercise regularly and spend time with your loved ones. Also, it is a season to enjoy warm, healthy, plant-based meals prepared of local produce. Use garlic, ginger, and onion to flavour to keep the cold away. Don’t forget your scarf, as wind is a real menace to your body. And if you really need a boost, get some good quality vitamin D for the darker times ahead.
And yes, keep the windows open, especially in the morning after waking up. So that the fresh air can exchange the night stuffy air and bring in freshness to your home.
What are your tips to stay healthy this coming fall season?
Cleaning your mattress is easy as baking soda
Now we are happy owners of a free bed plus many other items of furniture. How to clean the mattress and what keep to mind, when caring for new old things?
The five items we got were free, but for the van rental, we had to pay – 50€. Divided by the items, each item cost us 10€. Not bad, not bad at all. Plus on top of it, we got a mirror and two floor/doormats!
Anyway, one thing you definitely have to keep in mind, when getting things for free, is their condition. They may come from a neat household, well-taken care of and tidy. Or from a smoker’s home, with stains, smells, and signs of wear. If you have never brought free furniture into your home, it may be a bit scary, as the items may need some work. In our case, the mattress needed the most care.
You may be thinking, why talk about about a bed (or you may wonder why to save one from a landfill), as this is what we just use when sleeping. That’s it, this is the reason we need to talk about it and take care of it. I hope this post will help people like myself. I had to do thorough research on the internet to complete my cleaning task.
Get to know your mattress
Our mattress came with a cover and an extra cover. These were both dirty. Had stains and everything smelled of cigar smoke. Pretty gross – for many a garbage, but for us a treasure, which needed a little TLC. I wasn’t sure if the cleaning was going to work out. Really, how was I supposed to get rid of the smoking smell??? Google to rescue. After my many unfruitful searches, finally, a treasure revealed itself – Clean My Space. I really enjoyed their video and the “leading actress” does a great role, talking about cleaning and maintenance.
What to keep in mind while cleaning the mattress and maintaining it:
*cleaning mattress is not only necessary, when getting a used mattress, but it has to be carried out with every one you are owning and using to sleep on, even if they are brand new and once came from the store, like brand new;
*mattresses become extremely dirty, as we sweat every night a lot, which all will be stored in the mattress, therefore the airing of mattress and your bedclothes is very important;
*turn and flip your mattress every season;
*no water/liquids on your mattress, especially on memory foam mattresses, use a fan to try any wet spots;
*get the protector to protect your mattress, wash it and clean often;
*most mattresses are not cleanable, as they do not come with a cover, you can zip off
Cleaning a mattress without a zip-off cover
If the cover can’t be zipped off, then you should follow these steps:
*vacuum the mattress, to get rid of whatever may be there; do that at least once a season;
*deodorize your mattress, while shifting baking soda on your mattress and letting it sit for a little and then vacuuming it off, adding few drops of essential oils, will add a nice aroma to the cleaning;
*spot cleaning and stains, better tune in the video to get a complete overview of the stain types and how to handle them, but the main thing to know is, tackle the stains ASAP.
Take a look at the video HERE.
Clean My Space is an awesome outlet for all cleaning related questions you may ever have, check them definitely out!
The place where we are living at the moment is not our permanent home. So, therefore, all these mishaps are easier to handle. As we really do not want to bury so much money into something we are not going to use in the long run. Remember you can use these tips in your permanent home. Don’t be afraid of trying.
Read more on how we managed to get the cigarette smells out of our old new mattress in our future posts!
Why go vegan and take your vitamins
Veganism plays a really big role in our lives. Health is the main word, what comes to mind when we think of eating foods made of plants. Vitamins, anybody?
Why are we vegans?
Most of the time, when we believe in something, we believe, that this is the only and the right way. Many may think that all vegans think the same. Being vegan is hip, healthy and you do not need your vitamins, right? There’s the difference – we do not think like that. We don’t consume animal products, because we are compassionate and how it makes us feel. We like how being vegan has affected our lives, as we feel better in our bodies. Of course, our internal reality also benefits.
Everybody has an opinion since they are like belly buttons – we all have them. We can’t be loved by everybody and we should not even wish that. Vegans should have thick skin (with help by vitamins?), as there are always people who try to make us fall. None of us are perfect, so we can’t all fill in spaces others often put us in. This is a reality. That doesn’t mean that plant-eaters are worthless, not at all. We are different because we believe in different things and we also – eat and hopefully live differently.
Being vegan is weird!
People are usually afraid of what they do not know and have lots of prejudice on what is strange to them. We all are supposed to be normal, to fit into these normal societal norms. But some like we, just can’t human properly and do not fit in most of the times. We are different in some ways. As vegans, we constantly have to justify why we are vegans. We do not question meat-eaters or criticize their meals. Oftentimes we find their fingers or forks reaching to our vegan plates. Why? Curiosity? Interest? Judgment? Health reasons?
What is really healthy?
Is being a vegan is healthy? Anything is healthy if you believe it is healthy, you see it all comes down on you. Plant foods are known to be filled with vitamins, but vegans most likely need to take some extra. So do the meat-eaters. Eating fried potatoes only may be healthy in some opinions or chewing steaks every night, as well. When we were omnivores and pescatarians, we didn’t think of the many aspects of a balanced diet. What was that anyway?
Balanced diet means:
- foremost enjoying an abundance of freshly prepared vegetables
- eating very little processed foods
- getting enough vitamins with your meals
- cooking your own meals from scratch
- using local, seasonal, organic foods and supporting small farms
- not to forget, eating slowly and mindfully
Meat-eater vs. vegan
We weren’t fully committed to eating a balanced diet of the above until recent years. The change came with becoming a vegan – when we woke up! For somebody, I may be really asleep for not eating animal products. This is a subject on its own, but it has been getting kind of tiring to justify my veganism so often. I came across a list online by somebody who introduced their 10 reasons why I will never be a vegan.
1. A vegan diet never sustained any traditional culture
Oh, who cares? Really. We weren’t in a situation like we are at the moment from the environmental point of view. There weren’t many options to be vegans ages ago. There are plenty of options today, so veganism could sustain traditional cultures at ease. It is safe that humans have shifted from
2. Vegan diets do not provide fat-soluble vitamins A, D, K2, B12, and iron (I put the vitamin reasons all together into one reason)
If you are a meat-eater, do you even think of vitamins A and D? How much you get them? Do you get them at all? Where you get them, etc? I think not. I didn’t and I know many people who don’t. If anything at all veganism has really made me think of where to get all the vitamins I need. I am probably not getting enough vitamins. Present food production is very synthesized and full of antibiotics.
Vitamin A
Type of Vitamin A is found only in animal foods. Plants are abundant in vitamin A precursors such as beta-carotene. You can easily meet your vitamin A requirement for the day by drinking a one-quarter cup of carrot juice or eating a cup of kale or spinach. We add this daily to our smoothies.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D3 is made from the
Vitamin K
By Jack Norris, vegans who eat leafy green vegetables with some added oil on a daily basis should receive more than adequate vitamin K. This is needed for proper blood clotting and bone health. Making sure you get plenty of vitamin K through leafy green vegetables is the best plan. Check more about vitamin K here.
B12
Vitamin B12 is generally found in all animal-derived foods, except honey. This is there for the same reason – it has been added to the animal feed. There is no reliable B12 in plant foods, including tempeh, seaweeds, and organic produce. Luckily, vitamin B12 is made by bacteria and doesn’t need to be obtained from animal products. It’s fairly easy for most vegans to obtain a source of vitamin B12 in liquid or dry form. Taking B12 on a regular basis will provide you with a B12 status equal to or superior to people who rely on animal products for B12. It protects the nervous system and without it, permanent damage can result. Therefore this is a must for every vegan to introduce to their diet. It is not complicated and it is not expensive. More about B12 here.
If you’re healthy and eat a varied vegan diet, you don’t need to worry about iron as it’s plentiful in a vegan diet. However, some people have trouble absorbing plant iron. If you think your iron stores might be low, you can increase iron absorption by:
Iron
- Adding a source of vitamin C at meals
- Avoiding tea and coffee at meals.
- Increasing legume (peanuts, beans, lentils, peas) intake.
- Cooking foods (especially water-based acidic foods like tomato sauce) in cast iron skillets.
- Avoiding calcium supplements with meals.
The major functions of iron are:
- Energy production
- Oxygen transport via the hemoglobin of red blood cells.
- Oxygen transport to the muscles via myoglobin.
- Part of the enzyme NADH dehydrogenase in the electron transport chain that produces ATP.
- Immunity – iron has pro-oxidation properties used by the immune system to destroy bacteria
- DNA synthesis
It’s important for any vegan with iron deficiency to take care of it because, during iron deficiency, the body has a tendency to absorb too much manganese.
3. Vegan diets often rely heavily on soy
Not really. Soy makes it easier for people to go from eating meat to eating another kind of meat, a plant-based kind. We, at CHP hardly ever eat soy. Mostly, when we eat out in restaurants, as it is not a staple food product to cook at home. I guess by now everybody has heard that your hormones go crazy when you eat soy. Again, there are many articles that support this and many that do not. The choice is yours.
4. Ethical omnivorism supports a healthy planet
It is a known fact, that it is not a common practice to consume or buy sustainably-raised animal products from small and local producers. Most meat you can see on the stores are a result of mass production and unfortunately $1 hamburgers have a place in an omnivore world. Companies often produce too much meat for the grocery stores and the bulk of it gets trashed due to its short shelf life.
5. Real food > Fake food
Vegans are smart to create the products they miss eating. There is a variety to choose from, which is all plant-based: cheese, milk, meat, etc. Processed foods usually include stabilizers, gums, thickeners, and highly processed protein extracts. Gluten-free products include lots of artificial ingredients, which may not give you gluten, but a whole variety of other unhealthy stuff. Instead of losing weight, they make people gain weight. All produced foods are not good for you vegan or non-vegan, so you should avoid those and make as much as you can from scratch. On 2018 there are many options to be a smart and healthy vegan.
For example, Earth Balance, a non-dairy butter often used in vegan diets is made of: Palm fruit oil, canola oil, safflower oil, flax oil, olive oil, salt, natural flavor, pea protein, sunflower lecithin, lactic acid, annatto color, which doesn’t sound so exciting to eat, isn’t it?
That doesn’t really make you want to consume a product like that, right?
6. Vegan isn’t the answer to autoimmune disease
Is eating meat, though? To which diseases eating meat it is an answer?
7. You must take life to have life
Yes, animals die when even vegan products are produced, but this is more sort of natural choice than a relentless everyday mass killing.
Plants are known to respond to human emotions and being alive, but without nervous systems, with what it is possible to feel a variety of emotions, you can’t compare plants to animals!
8. Animal fats offer unique nutrients
You probably have heard that flax seeds, walnuts, hemp seeds, and chia seeds are all excellent sources of omega-3? That may be true, but these plant sources provide a form of omega-3 that is not well absorbed by the body. The O-3 in plant sources, such as flaxseed and walnuts, is called ALA. ALA must be converted to EPA or DHA in the body to be useable. Unfortunately, the conversion between ALA and EPA/ DHA is extremely low. One study showed that women convert about 21% of ALA to EPA and 9% to DHA. The conversion rates for men are even lower.
Why nobody brings any comparisons of how much and how often you have to eat meat to get all the goodies into your body, which are listed in this list enough for somebody not to go vegan?
Conclusion
It all comes down to you and your tolerance really, as people can and will argue what is best for everybody, some say omnivores are right and some say veganism is the whole truth.
If you dislike the killing of animals and have a higher level of compassion, then be vegan and enjoy being one. If you do not care about participating in the killing of the animals and you think that being all-eater is better for your health, then also, do it.
You are the one, who is making a decision and we can just listen and read an array of opinions every day. Whatever you are eating, do not forget to take your vitamins.
The original article of “10 reasons why I’ll never be a vegan” can be found here.
Empty home? eBay to the rescue!
How easy it is to fill your empty apartment? Which one of these comes the most help – malls, friends or eBay? I guess you are about to find out!
Most likely the first thing you want to do when moving to a new place is to get your furniture game on ASAP! For us, it didn’t work out quite like this. We really wanted to get the best deal there is and as cheap as possible. Moreover, if we know we are going to stay here temporarily. Hence we are not looking to invest at all. (Pssst! Have you heard of eBay?). Being frugal doesn’t mean that you are cheap, you are just smart. Luckily we had three chairs and a round balcony table, which we were offered from the last tenant. But other than that the apartment was completely empty.
Let the search begin!
Somebody referred us to a local eBay, where people oftentimes give things away for free. Things offered may be cable ties, t-shirts or furniture. I love that people actually do that, giving away their things without asking any compensation for it. Wherever you are, check the options in your area. If you do not speak the language of the country you are in, then translate the ad using google translate. You can reply to them using the same tool.
Competing with hordes!
I had no idea that this was going to be so time-consuming. But at the same time so energizing and actually made me pumped with adrenaline. The ads just flew in, so you may think that there are many options for you to choose. – stop there! As much as there are ads, there is triple of those who want to reply to those ads and who are looking to nail the same thing you are! eBay got some traffic!
I refreshed the page every possible second I could and constantly was google translating different ads and writing my replies. We were looking for a bed, closet, futon and some dressers, which meant that the replies had to be written for five different ads. I wrote and I translated. I wrote and I translated. Many of my letters never got a reply or I got back replies: “Sorry, it is no longer available” or “It’s gone”. Anyway, you get the idea.
Finally, luck is on our side!
It took many visits to a local library to check the ever-active eBay web site. We didn’t have the internet at home at that time, but I finally came across a wonderful ad. I remember that Saturday very well, as we were sitting on the parking lot of a closed library! I got my message out to a kind girl called Lara. She had to offer her Ikea bed, closet, two dressers, and a side table. I mean.. what?!!! Really?!?!?! It seemed like all was set. Now we finally have furniture after sleeping on two temporary Ikea mattresses. BUT how to get ALL THAT to HERE, our home in the middle of nowhere???? Obviously, we are car-free and with a bike, you can transport just a little, sooooo….
When the need is the strongest, the friends are the closest!
I contacted my friend who had a car, but too small anyway to help us with the stuff, to ask him if he has any options for us getting all this at one go to our apartment. Luckily, he had a suggestion for us – he would rent a van, drive to the location, where the furniture is and help us carry the stuff to the van and drive to our home. We would have to pay for the rent of the van. This Idea sounded more than beautiful to us, as who would offer their time to help us anyway?
The only thing with the van was that it was charging per minute and had limited drop-off spots. I mean these were way closer to the inner city than where we are living. If you are ever going to do such endeavour, find an option where you are not charged by the minute, rather by flat rate or hourly instead.
Kind people do exist!
Lara was super nice to help us in getting the stuff closer to the van. Also, her friend was there, who had some muscle, so she was a great bonus to all this. We even got a small mirror, mattress cover, and doormats from her on top of it all. Thankfully all the stuff was located on the first floor, so we didn’t have to do so much carrying.
Just a little remark here, know the size of your van when getting big items like beds and closets. Rather than risk large furniture like the bed not fitting in the van, dismantle it and be sure to save those valuable van renting minutes. Luckily Lara had the necessary tools. So most of the time we had while waiting for our friend Zack to pick us up with the rental van, went to dismantle the bed! So many screws, hooks, nooks, and a whole lot of strength was needed! Luckily Lara’s friend had it! So blessed!
Even better if your friends are fast!
When Zack arrived it all went quite fast. In 15 minutes, the things were in the van. Shortly after we were on our 15-minute drive and then offloading for another 15 minutes. Then Zack took off and dropped the van at the closest location, as he wanted to save our money! How wonderful is that? How many people would really do that?
So we finally have a bed, closet, side table, dresser and another dresser for bathroom, plus a small mirror and two doormats. Not too shabby, right? Most importantly, it all came to us for free, via a wonderful community webpage eBay!
That still leaves us the futon and the kitchen table to find…what it is going to be this time: friends or eBay?
How to appreciate the environment?
As I wrote in my earlier post, I became vegan mostly for animals. I didn’t want to participate in their killing, but while as a vegetarian I was seemingly okay with the trauma, misfortunes, and death happening to fish, cows, chickens. I still consumed seafood and the bodily fluids and products made from them. Also, I wasn’t thinking so much about the environment.
Vegan for all
More than 10 years, I didn’t think of the environment, just the pain of animals. However, as a vegan, I became really awake, environmental protection really came to my mind. I am not an avid user of social media, but Instagram has been a really great tool for me on educating myself. At first, I following Peta, James Aspey and Animal Liberation Front and later many vegan individuals all around the world.
On this day, I am vegan for all – for animals, for the planet, and for health. I really love the way I feel without eating any animal products. I am not in a haze, nor do I feel overstuffed after rich meals and I am definitely a smarter shopper, as I make wiser decisions, taking into consideration planet Earth.
Since there are more vegans, actually the number of vegans has increased 160% over the past 10 years. Because of that, there is a higher demand and shops are responding to the changing needs. Many big supermarket chains all over the world have created special vegan range of foods and also free-from items such as in Tesco’s in the UK. If you haven’t noticed them, then I guess you really haven’t been looking for them in your home store.
Support local products
A great place to start is looking more closely at where most fresh produce and many packaged foods come from. When entering supermarkets to get our fresh produce, we oftentimes do not think from where these items have traveled from. But we should consider the environmental impact, and what we are supporting while buying these items. The foods that travel from the other side of the world, are not so environmentally-friendly as the produce coming near where you live.
Our eating habits can affect other countries’ economics and well-being. Exporting is good for any country’s well-being, but of course only to an extent. If we exploit a country and its resources, the people who live there cannot eat the products we demand from them. Then, this is a problem caused by us, for instance, quinoa and avocados are known to cause such problems in their country of origin. Kenya, for example, has banned the exporting of avocados, because the country’s supply is at risk. There is little room to think about what this means for the environment. More forests are cut down, oftentimes illegally, so more avocado trees can be planted.
Being vegan is definitely a better choice for the planet. Balance is the key to everything and also educating yourself. The long-haul produce traveling is not disappearing, but perhaps we do not have to eat quinoa and avocados every day. Maybe there are other people who do the same. I haven’t been a follower of popular food items. I have had quinoa, every now and then, but I haven’t bought it for years myself. What we should keep in mind is that there are products we can buy and therefore support small country economics. So the idea is not to boycott everything that comes from far away.
Choices and needs?
It all comes down to our choices and needs. We do not have to eat products shipped from far away when we could eat the locally grown food variety instead. Not only eat, but we should grow more of the nutrient-rich foods, like beans, millet, peas, and hemp. What is good about pulses, is that they do not require nitrogen inputs and carbon emissions. Also, they are insect-pollinated thus boosting wildlife and biodiversity.
We basically have to grow more food locally for us, not to grab the food from other countries half the world away. Growing plant food is better for the land as well, because of the increased diversity, a grower doesn’t have to control so much the diseases, as usually happens when growing wheat from year to year.
Writing this article was heavily inspired by the Independent article, which you can read here.
What is being vegan all about?
If you have recently heard more and more the words vegan, plant-based, veganism, etc. and you are a bit lost on what it all means or you are looking at the definition of veganism, then by the VeganSociety.com it is:
“A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms, it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.”
Sounds simple? On top of it all, vegans do not wear leather, wool, silk or any other fabrics derived from animals and also do not use products tested on animals. Vegans are more environmentally friendly, active, healthier, often avoid smoking, alcohol, and drugs.
All vegans are connected by plant-based food, which is what initially defines. This is also the main reason for heated discussions between vegans and non-vegans. As a plant eater, you just have to understand that your life can be a constant justification of why you no longer eat animal products. I wonder do vegans also always think why carnivores are not vegans instead?
Busting a myth about vegans
Vegans do not only eat salad, but they are very creative. They love eating an array of different vegetables, legumes, nuts, grains, fruits, seeds. Also, a common practice is stuffing themselves (hopefully not every day) with special replacement products. Options are endless: you can choose a variety of mock meat, cheese, milk, and butter. Most processed foods are no longer healthy, so we should not eat such products so often. All in all, it is very easy to ‘
Not all vegans instantly know what it is all about, like me for example. I wasn’t thinking of animal exploitation or being super healthy, I just didn’t eat animal products, when I became vegetarian. Beans, seeds, nuts? I didn’t care much what I was putting into my mouth, as long that wasn’t meat! When I became vegan, I became more, as we here on Can’t Human Properly say, awake and the rest followed in time. Living is learning. If you are thinking of becoming vegan, then know, that there is a lot to discover first, but that is the fun part.
Thinking like a vegan
When people first become vegan, they may only think about food. Once new plant-eaters hunger is taken care of, they may start thinking more about animals and therefore of the environment as well. Not only about the safety of animals, but also that they are individuals and have feelings as well. They have every right to exist in this world
The devastation of animal farming
Animal farming has an overly high impact on planet earth. Vast areas in the industry are dedicated to
We, here in Can’t Human Properly, don’t think that a simple, I love meat and we need to eat meat can justify this. Earth’s environmental situation is not so great and if we do not make changes, we are doomed. The future generations are not going to able to enjoy the world our parents did.
On top of that, the food industry is also a monster. It is creating lots of pollution, waste and is oftentimes abusive to the growers of some particular foods. The food economy is responsible also for the growing waste problems. It happens mostly due to the high production of plastic, which is threatening marine life, waterways. Therefore affecting directly, fish, animals, birds
How did we start eating meat?
Yes, eating meat has been normal for us and practiced quite since the beginning of the humankind. It helped us to grow bigger brains and move out of Africa to colder climates. Still, our first meals were plants, berries, nuts, and seeds. As the human mind developed, we became smarter and learned how to capture animals, birds, and fish and consume all that we could of the catch.
Beyond evolution, we have become “meat hooked”, as Marta Zaraska titled her book ”Our 2.5 million year obsession with meat.” We live in the 21st century, where most things are possible and there are so many options NOT to eat animals. It is maddening that one should question why people are vegans! Yeah, in ancient times there weren’t beans, legumes, tofu, healthy fats, (definitely no avocados), different flours, fruits,
Reference:
Ammonia Emissions and Animal Agriculture, Jennifer G. Becker and Robert E. Graves
A change introduced itself
Whether we want to or not, a change may just happen. It may creep in secretly or it may come on full force. Read here, how a most likely change may appear and what to expect.
Are you ready for a change?
Locating to a new country is never easy. Even more, if it is the country, which language you do not speak or find extremely difficult. I am not going to write about the paperwork and filling in the forms. Also getting notifications on things that I have no idea about. This is pure madness! I rather would love to write shortly about the change. It all started when we were finally so lucky to land a place of our own. A change introduced itself!
A completely empty apartment, except a kitchen corner, can make the figurative juices flow like a river. Now it is the time to start painting that empty canvas with the most beautiful colours and creative ideas. It offered us a chance to jump into the unknown and realize that living without a fridge is definitely a doable thing!
This is exactly how I felt – so many possibilities, so many great ideas, so many things for us to learn. I felt a surge of inspiration flowing into me. I was walking around our empty space and was thinking that now it is the time to do it our way. A better way, a safer way. But how do I set up all that? What do I need in my new home? How to get all of it in the cheapest way there is? Also how to do all of this in the right way. Well, sometimes the emptiness is the answer, sometimes you need a little help from your friends, read: internet and friends.
A change would do you good!
In the beginning, it was just me with my thoughts. I was trying to figure out what would work and whatnot. I started putting these things into practice and some of those ideas worked. Some I had to alternate a bit and for some, I needed to do a thorough internet search and ask my friends for help.
If you are not locating to a new country or getting a new apartment, then perhaps reading these lines, wherever you are may help you start any kind of change. As one of my favorite singers Sheryl Crow sings in her song Change Would Do You Good: ” A change would do you good, I think a change would do you good“.
Let the adventure begin!
…A note from Eve:Â
I am the kind of person that craves change, but I have trouble getting my head around it. It makes me feel anxious when things change, even if it’s for the better.
Moving to a new country, especially when you have already got work takes away one of the biggest stressors of relocating, money. Still, life found another way to create another big stressor- housing. Working while being homeless is very difficult. I am an introvert, and I need time to gather my thoughts, emotions through reflection at the end of the day, especially when I am in a brand new work environment in a foreign country.
Imagine having a 49 plus hour week, and staying with 5 different people, going to work from 5 different locations and going home from work to 5 different places. It doesn’t help me at all when I know that I am on top of it all, also directionally challenged.
The change was welcomed, in fact, it came rushing in all at once. Newly married, new country, new job, new people, homeless. When change is called, it comes rushing in, in all directions. Change is important to our nature, life always moving because of its all energy. When energy is confined and unmoving, it becomes stagnant. It creates a blockage.
I believe I can speak for both of us when I say that the impact of the changes have been more than we could ever imagine. Its made us more resilient, creative, and more purposeful than ever before.
How can you not have a fridge?!
Do we really need a fridge or it has become one of those commodity items in our households? Read here about our life without a fridge in a quite warm climate.
While looking for furniture for our new home, we were also looking to get a fridge. Our new kitchen didn’t come with one. We wanted just something small for our little needs. I almost got the fridge and was quite happy about it. But when I showed the ad to my friend asking for his help to pick it up, he said it was an old model and probably uses lots of electricity.
This got me thinking, do we really need a fridge? Google came to help and I came across a wonderful article at a very lovely webpage www.survivalsullivan.com. They had published a gorgeous article on How to live without a fridge. After finishing it – I was sold. Hahaaa, I am such an easy customer! Read below and see if these few points would work for you to start your own adventure. You can find the link of the whole article below.
Is it possible to live without a fridge?
Our major reason for going fridge-free was that it was a hassle to get one and we wanted trying out living green. Fridges suck up a lot of electricity, so we were open to using less electricity.
Remember I wrote about a change. The idea of having no fridge was nicely adding to the big picture of changing our habits and start saving some money. We were eagerly making this big step, a change and be different. I know we all are afraid of being different. But it doesn’t hurt to test the waters and get comfortable in your own skin and with your choices.
Going fridge free is super easy when you are vegan!
If you do not consume any animal products, which usually demand being stored in the fridge, you really do not need a fridge. Or if you are mostly eating fruits and vegetables, legumes, grains, condiments and as luck has it – none of those really have to be in the fridge. Keep in mind something when buying fruits and vegetables. Though the produce may not come from the fridge in the shopping hall, they most likely were kept in the fridge. It is easy to understand when touching the fruit/vegetable. If possible it is recommended to purchase those items, which weren’t refrigerated before.
NB! If you are not vegan, don’t worry Survival Sullivan has you still covered for making it a step closer becoming fridge-free!
Forgetting having a fridge if you have any of these:
*A cold room in the basement
*A root cellar
*Large 5-gallon buckets (get used ones from wine or grocery store) and place them in a hole in your yard; if the bucket has a lid and the food is underground, it will stay cooler
*A cooler or cooler bag
*A zeer pot or pot-in-pot refrigerator (one smaller clay or terracotta pot inside a larger pot and separated by a barrier of wet sand)
*The great outdoors, such as a backyard or balcony, which is obviously only an option for people who live in colder climates.
We are lucky to have a basement just below us. So it is easy to go there and store vegetables or whatever needs a cooler environment. Plus, it is great to also have a balcony, which I can already imagine, treats us well in the wintertime. Especially during the colder times, we can buy more products, which otherwise need refrigerating.
So how do you feel? Ready to make that big change? If not fully, then give yourself a month or two and see if you manage. As you can always get a fridge if you need.
Read Survival Sullivan’s article how to live without a fridge HERE.
*UPDATE! We survived the hot summer with a constant degree of 30 C and nothing we cooked went bad. All the food stored in the basement was edible. We are completely satisfied and definitely, we are not looking for a fridge in our life.
… A note from Eve:
When Kerly first brought up the idea of living without a fridge, I was more supportive than even I thought I would be. Again, after living on so little for months, I was simply happy to have a beautiful roof over our heads. Living minimally makes sense in the mind and heart too. It feels good to choose to live on less. I was ready for the challenge, therefore positive.
The biggest blessing and an important factor in the no fridge equation is our cold room located in the basement. As Kerly stated, living on the first floor is a huge blessing because we care able to have immediate access. At first, I enjoyed taking a backseat while Kerly went up and down with food, but I soon started going myself.
She also made it super homey, by cleaning and organizing this massive storage/fridge of ours. Adding a new LED light made it even more comfortable. It’s now beautiful, bright when we need to see everything, and most of all, it helps us live happily fridge-free!
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