Hi! I got assigned a family in Gaza to help them escape. I would love if you would help me raise funds for them! In the tiktok I linked I talk more about their story in working with renewables, their adorable cat, and more! 1. Repost my TikTok/share my reel to your story 2. Donate! Even a $1 helps 3. If you want to jump on and help me fundraise. We have a goal of 50K to help their family of 7! LEARN MORE: www.tiktok.com/t/ZTLq7Uuvx/ DONATE HERE: www.gofundme.com/f/help-ghada-abdulrhman-2-programmes-from-gaza
Getting rid of a TV wouldn't change my life as it is right now, but limiting my phone and computer use... Certainly would feel like overcoming a lifelong addiction.
I’m not a very messy eater, but I can’t stand the idea of having even the smallest amount of food on my face. Because of that, up-cycling old cotton clothes into reusable napkins has been my saving grace
I also do not buy paper towels, but one of the best tricks that I offer to people who do is to try putting their paper towels underneath their kitchen sink in the cabinet. It is incredible. The difference that it makes just not seeing them. you will reach for them so much less.
Solid shampoo bars are honestly life-changing. I've had my Liggett's bar for almost six months now and it's still going strong! Once I've finished using all of the shower products I already have, I'm making the full switch to solids😊
Love J.R. Liggett’s bars!! They make a conditioner bar, too; word of warning as someone with long and curly hair, I have to use a lot of it, but I’m a fan
One of my sustainable resolutions this year is to stop buying paper towels. I got my roommate on board too. We still have a paper towel roll from like a year ago… it’s pretty much there for decoration now lol
we have a paper towel holder installed in our kitchen cabinets from the last family & we've not used it the last 2 years. paper towels are sooo unnecessary lol. if we truly need one, we use napkins from takeout!
Absolutely would love a video about what you don't do anymore. Over the years, I think we have all tried some things (like the trash jar) that didn't make sense.
i always cringe when people suggest getting something from target or walmart before even thinking of second hand. Especially when moving. My friends always comment on my home and say how cozy it is (i've put a lot of effort into it). But I found what works with our space and lifestyle by testing out with second hand items, whether that be family, buy nothing, thrift, fb marketplace CL, ect. and seeing what i really enjoy and passing off what doesn't work. like the quality to cost is so much better, and youre saving stuff from the landfill! i have tried so many clean deodorants, and honestly none of them work for me. the best thing for me has actually been glycolic acid, at this point in my life i just cant stink lol. great reminder to bring our reusables with us, i have been failing big time on that especially since covid! definitely something to work on. I hate the paper towel thing, my friend did that at my house, she asked where the paper towels where and set them out for every ones plates (i usually only use them for my pets messes) and all i could think was how wasteful it was. hobbies definitely help lower consumerism in my life, as long as im actually doing those hobbies. it keeps me off my phone and therefore less likely to see ads and be more tempted to buy things i dont need and to gain a serotonin hit Thank you for the wonderfully reminders! i love your videos, and youve encouraged me to work on a native garden in my brothers yard ( i live in apartment so not really viable) and im so excited and overwhelmed lol)
if you wrote a book, ID BUY IT. just saying! Love how you well you put things across. In my area it seems laughable to people in terms of caring about the enviroment, people are pretty selfish and need the next new thing and will dump what they dont want down the road 😐 (Im in the UK in a roughish area of my town) I really wish I had the confidence to be more community focused but honestly my social anxiety cripples me 🫣
My husband sold his car and started using mine. I either use an e-bike that has seat belts for my kids and a lot of storage. Or I’ll walk or take public transit. I’ve also started pulling out some of the plants in my garden and replacing them with native seeds and non-native vegetable seeds. I’m excited to see how it will turn out and change as I add my touches to it!
The fact that you included and talked about smart appliances being better for the environment is something a lot of people miss! Sometimes yes companies make false claims of sustainability but there is a big emphasis on sustainability in many industries and will should point out the good ones!
A big thing for me and my husband this year is being in our apartment building’s dog parent discord server. Such a great little community! We have “swap shop” and “local resources” threads and literally as I type one of the dog moms reached out to ask to borrow a muffin pan and another dog mom is bringing her one. Love to see it!
we are a family of five (I'm the oldest child with 18y) and we use reusable napkins since i can think of! I think we do it because it is cheaper but this will be something i will continue because i don't know different :)
I grew up in a house that used cloth napkins and I've continued that habit into adulthood. I never use paper towels either! Also old towels cut up, old tshirts, and a few new towels as well.
I've pretty effectively phased out toilet paper, and managing _that_ makes anything else seem possible lol. I use a plastic-free, small business Irish deodorant (called Vico) that I've used for years and adore. I do still use paper towels, as it's the best substrate option for my bearded dragon (I'm easily phasing them out for my use, at least!) While I do have a TV, I don't have any sort of provider, have no interest in getting one, and only use it occasionally for gaming. I think the most startling thing of adjusting to less/zero-waste is that before getting into it, it seems like it's more stress to keep up with everything...but for me, it's been so much _less_ stress. You adapt so quickly and easily, and in such a short time you can't imagine going back. 🌻 Things I want to be improve at: remembering to take a water bottle if I go out; taking my time to invest in really good quality, sustainable products, especially second-hand; trying to promote and vote on local projects that promote sustainability and conservation; learning about local flora and fauna to teach my nieces during outside times; trying to volunteer on rewilding / conservation / nature maintenance projects in my area.
Finally gonna give Wild deodorant a try because I’ve been trying to find a deodorant that isn’t on the BDS boycott list. Thank you for reminding me about wild❤️
My local library has so many awesome things! You can check out rice cookers, air fryers, and pots and pans. They have a seed library and a water resources kit to teach about using water wisely and fixing leaks and other household issues. Plus they have so many digital resources that it easy to use. I save so much money by using my library instead of buying new books. I love it!
Things we still do: Reusables, composting food waste, bidets, intentional travel, volunteering, recycling and buying more recycled/recyclable items. What I have started recently: Being active in our local civics and government, removing invasive plants and grasses and building a more native yard. Because of the changes we have made, and continue to make to our landscape, it has completely changed how we maintain it and allowing the ecosystem to build back naturally. I frequently feel like I should be doing more, and try incrementally. When you said that if we had to give everything except one thing the thing you would keep is your native wildlife habitat, it hit home and I had an aha moment. 2 years ago we had neighbors move in that are bee keepers. Our other neighbor used to use pesticides and sprays all the time, professionally spread monthly. The new neighbor asked if the other would hold off for a few months to help his bee population re-establish and she she agreed. It has been 2 years since she has used pest control services. When I removed sod and replaced with clover, the bees went nuts. Some times all you have to do is get others involved. Thanks for this great video!! Also, love the new tattoos!
My Buy Nothing group is semi new (we branched off from a bigger city) and still small, but we're growing and creating a lovely little community ❤ I'm even and admin now for mine to help continue to grow. Loveee it!
I’m in the stage of my life of still living at home, but trying to use up any plastic things first and then make swaps where possible over time. Some things I accept can’t be swapped (ie: my hair can’t be clean with a shampoo bar), but where possible, trying to be as resourceful and reusable as able to. So thank you, Shelbi, for not being like some on social media who say only zero waste, green, vegan, etc. lifestyles count. And as a newly graduated librarian, thank you for supporting libraries! They truly do lift communities up! Love watching these videos.
I’m watching your video, while surveying my belongings and realizing that I AM doing my best! I look at all of the things I absolutely love and they were gifts or thrifted! I love the Wild deodorant too! I’m trying to be better every day, in my consumerism by reducing my waste!
I'm a truly messy eater and need a napkin for every meal, but also cloth napkins are so abundant at the thrift stores. Thrifted enough to have a weeks worth for about $10, and just throw them in a laundry load with my cleaning cloths and bathroom towels once a week. I got into cloth napkins 5 years ago and haven't looked back.
@10:46 I completely agree. A few years back I contacted H G T V and suggested they work with their famous design staff to create a new TV show concept about transforming grass-zones into a more eco-friendly, less water native plant lush area.. but as you might've guessed it never happened. I want to see more of those kinds of transformations though. It would be wonderful and let the viewer feel less daunted by doing a project like that too.
I'm still using period cup, my own cutleries, reusable water bottles, reusable coffe cup, not buying much, walking a lot, using my napkins, not buying makeup products (but akincare yes), using reusable shop bags
when it comes to washing my hair I use a shampoo bar and the same with my body it's a bar to it's called Kitsch and I love it so much it makes my hair so soft and clean. and I don't use napkins I just some kind of cloth love your vlogs ❤️❤️
I think this is partly just Dutch thrift, but growing up in the Netherlands, my family did a lot of sustainable things already. Things like reusing old towels and clothes as rags for cleaning, my dad mostly used them for washing the car etc. We did have paper towels, but my parents wanted us to use a reusable cloth most of the time. We mostly used paper towels for when the dog had an accident, so we could just throw it away afterwards. I now mostly use paper towels (recycled paper) for taking out excess grease from my skillet, because I don't want to clog the drains, but I reuse old towels to clean my countertops and also the rest of my house, plus the microfibre cloths I bought when I moved out of my parents' house. I maybe buy a new roll of paper towels once every couple of months.
The paper towel thing happened to me too when family was over! I haven’t bought them in years. I actually ordered a few from WhoGivesACrap but rarely use them.
i hate having a napkin! my gran will give a napkin to every one any time she gives them a drink or snack and i'm always trying to stop her. like i'll just go wash my hands if i get messy lol
I think about buying second hand more cause cheaper but it's also reusing so i love it ❤ im moving and had get some new but i also went to goodwill and got some stuff which is best or facebook market
I’ve been thinking a lot about community too and I’ve started volunteering! It isn’t inherently sexy, but it is beautiful. Getting to work with people and meet new people who share your values and geographic location is wonderful and so rewarding, and just knowing you’re contributing to something bigger, is awesome. I’m gonna see if you already have a video on this, but if not, I’d love to hear more! I’m craving more community
For sensory reasons, my family often uses paper towels but they go straight into our home compost for our plants & garden💗 (*as long as they didn’t wipe up anything that cannot be composted.)
@@raapyna8544 having a clean towel for each occasion is preferable. Our paper towels go into our home compost bin unless they made contact something like meats, chemicals, etc.
I have also experienced the weirdness of when people come over and asks for a paper towel/napkin and going, "Oh....yeah, we don't have any..." I don't think about it. Our cloth napkins and towels work fine. I do now have a small stash of paper towels for cleaning up my dog's vomit if she gets sick, because while yes, you could still use reusable towels for that clean-up job, it just feels a little too icky to me. But that's pretty much all that we use paper towels for these days.
I love the native wildlife lawn. I wish more people would do this too. I saw this concept in the good garden; the author has some really helpful tips for gardening, compost, and setting up native wildlife habitats in your yard.
Shelby! I found my buy nothing group because of you. Thank you, your channel is what unleashed my inner environmentalism/crunchiness. Thank you for sharing your habits 10+ years running 🩷
I absolutely need a napkin… but to me a napkin has always been a cloth napkin. It’s how I grew up, and honestly, cloth napkins are probably something I wouldn’t want to live without!
You're an my inspiration, I've started with personal care and slowly moving to the rest, and I'm happy I am doing this, more people should, and I live in 🇲🇽.
What keeps me out of buy nothing groups is that the only ones near me are done through Facebook and for my mental health I absolutely had to give it up, I cannot have Facebook. I try to keep a close eye on yard sales and bulk trash days because people toss a ton of stuff that can be reused if I'm looking for something, or secondhand stores as an alternative if my immediate friends or family don't have something I can borrow.
Same! I almost never use a napkin! My mom and I went to the thrift store a while back and bought cloth napkins so if I do use a napkin, that's what I use. People get weirded out though and they're always like, "Are you sure you want me to use this?" Obviously, that's what it's for!
Shelbi, you've influenced my life so much! I buy paper towels only as backup rolls, buy Who Gives A Crap toilet paper, reusable water bottles, recycle, sometimes meal prep, don't travel as much as possible/use the car as much as possible, buy clothes, furniture, kitchenware second hand, and even more. I love living this way! And I uphold it too! Thank you so much. It was partially what I wanted, but it's nice to have a cheerleader like you! I'm not perfect by any means, but I'm getting there!!
Dude! You just rocked my world 🤯 I never thought of zoos as being exploitative. I was always under the impression that they had higher regulation and were doing conservation work, now that I'm looking in to it I feel that I was a little naive. Thank you!!!
As someone who has taught education at AZA zoos I think it’s important to not blanket them all. It’s important to find credible zoos (the associations of zoos and aquariums makes this easy). Zoos and aquariums can be vital in helping people connect to animals. It’s through connections that many people find the importance in protecting them. They can also be a last resort for many animals. This could be because an animal is non-releasable, habitat is destroyed, or they are endangered/threatened. There are some terrible zoos and aquariums in the world, but there are also amazing ones (both in the US and across the world). Just some food for thought.
Most zoos and aquariums are unnecessary and horrible. For many reasons. Wild animals are just not well in captivity, nothing can justify that, mostly there's no "education" because animals do not behave or look like they would in nature. Nothing can replace freedom. Food for thought: why is my right to see a rl Gorilla more important than the Gorillas right to be free?
It really depends on the zoo. Some zoos are definitely not good. Others are involved in important conservation programs or provide homes to endangered animals that wouldn't otherwise have them, and these tend to do their best to build suitable habitats for the animals and provide them with good care. A well-run zoo can be a useful resource in educating people about nature; sometimes actually seeing a given animal can make you care a lot more about the other members of its species that are living in the wild, you know?
Congratulations on becoming a Texas Master Naturalist! That's a goal of mine. I hope you get fireflies in your yard...it is absolute magic. Oh...and have you seen the seed libraries at the Austin libraries? So cool!
I never grew up with paper towel in the house we always just used rags so when I moved out I still didn’t buy it but my now boyfriend and his friends thinks it’s absolutely wild that we don’t have any in the house
I would love to hear more about your civic engagements! It’s something I’m very passionate about but it sometimes feels overwhelming trying to understand the system and how to advocate within it. There’s also a big opportunity in my city to have more advocacy groups and volunteering, like you mentioned being a Texas Master Naturalist. I’d be so interested in learning more about that with the idea of launching something similar in my area/city.
Just wanted you to know, I've been watching you for years. I appreciate your videos a lot. I try really hard to live sustainably, low waste, and reduced our plastic use. I have two kids and I hope they will carry these habits forward as they grow into adults.
lately i’ve been obsessed with your channel - i’ve always been passionate about saving the planet but i never knew exactly how to go beyond just turning off lights in your house (which is important ofc, but there’s a lot more to sustainability ;)) thank you for doing what you do, you’ve inspired me so much
I'm also reamenaging my front yard into native one. I do it little by little everyyear because of money. Strangly, I have 2 neigbhourts doing it (not exclusivly native species) the same year than me because they were bored of taking care of useless grass. I only have to figth with my nearest neighboard to stop him shave my remining grass too early and too short since I want to peotect my vegetal cover the time I transition. He don't like "long" (i.e. normal) leigth of grass.
these were all great ones! my mom was just telling me i should have a blog lol bc i talk about sustainability and so much and live differently than most. but since i mostly follow eco people, i forget this isn’t how everyone lives!
Because of you I created a buy nothing (also known as gifting With integrity in some areas) group. I gave gifted and recieved so much from this group! I have recently bifted a record player and gotten a carpet cleaner ❤
I very, very rarely use napkins or paper towels as well. I can think of barbecue ribs as one food that I would use a napkin with. But if I am at home, I don’t care how messy I get. I will just get up and go wash my hands with soap and water and use the towel in the kitchen.
I have a reusable water cup that I got second hand and have been using for about 7 years. My brother and his wife visited us recently and she saw my cup and must have thought I needed a new one because I came home one day and she'd bought me a new one. She's a real gift giver, and in the past I have asked for "consumable" gifts like for christmas etc for example they donated to charity in my name one year.. Now I've got this huge brand new tumbler and I don't want to stop using my old one, it's still perfect (maybe a bit beat up, but works the same as it always did).
On napkins: I rarely use them, but always have a few miscellaneous cloths around and use them for napkins, paper towels, tissues as needed. My parents still use paper towels as napkins but my mom makes sure to have a cloth napkin for me. Not ideal, but I appreciate her trying 😂
Probably the big thing I do that most people don't is go as long as I can without my heat and A/C in the spring and fall. Every spring when it warms up enough that the house doesn't become an icebox overnight, I'll turn off the heat and just not switch the A/C on until it's consistently too warm outside for the house to ever cool off. I'll just run some fans and open some windows and call it good. And then the opposite direction the fall. I'm not a complete monster; if we have guests over and the temperature isn't the most comfortable, I turn it on and don't make them put up with our weirdness. But otherwise, it's fun to see how long I can go without it. It started as a money-saving thing (it definitely cuts the power bill way down), then became a sustainability thing, and now it's sort of a personal challenge/stubbornness thing. I'm loving the weather this year because it's stayed cool enough that I may be able to get a couple of weeks into June before I have to switch it on again.
And wear a helmet! I know most people prefer the feeling of an unencumbered head when they bicycle, but helmets can prevent some fatal injuries in the event of an accident.
thank you for sharing your new deodorant find!! i remember when u explained parent companies and thus why you needed to replace ur native deodorants. i’m from singapore and it’s extremely hard to find sustainable products bc we are such a small country that not many sustainable companies choose to import to us. i’ve currently not been wearing deodorant (im sorry alls but i care about ethics and the environment too) but hopefully i’ll somehow get my hands on wild!
I use cloth napkins instead of paper towels. Just throw them in the washing machine. It’s so simple and affordable. I’ve been using the same ones for 2 years. My fiances family are huge paper towel people and it weirds them out when they visit. Like idk why they can’t seem to just use cloth in the same way.
I joined a no but group in my area and have given away a few things to people who actually want them! Instead of throwing or donating them which would eventually get thrown away
I would love to see the things you no longer do video. I've had to learn the hard way (burn out) how important it is to be compassionate with yourself and accept when things are beyond your capacity. I'm poor and neurodivergent and so there are definitely things I wish I could do but know I don't have the capacity for. Washing laundry is insanely difficult for me most days so I still use disposable paper products. I know dryers aren't great for the planet but I'm still saving up for one because it would help me be more of a functional, independent human, and I'd actually have capacity for more sustainable choices. I use a meal delivery service for the bulk of my meals to lessen my cognitive load but for anything extra I'm at my local co-op or bulk store. I'm always thinking second hand first and borrowing second. I ride my e-bike or take public transport when I can. I use bamboo toothbrushes but fun flavoured toothpaste in plastic because otherwise I wouldn't brush my teeth enough. I'm always repairing and repurposing. I'm an activist too. I live by the idea of advocating for the rest 💜
i always need a napkin when im eating cause i hate feeling like my hands or face are messy. But we have cloth napkin sets. My mom always used them cause they're classy and now i use them to reduce waste :)
I finally got to a place where my hyper-consumer sister will ask me before throwing anything out lol! And i got her to at least drop stuff off at goodwill (and she donates really good stuff like coach bags that def will be kept). She's giving me a platform bed tomorrow lol!
I mostly buy second hand clothes and if possible furniture. I think about 60% of my clothes are thrifted. Of course, there are some things that are not so easy to find second hand, but I really do my best to avoid buying new stuff. I also bring my water bottle (no need for dozens of Stanley cups) and a canvas tote bag everywhere. Personally, I haven't tried period undies, but I do love my lily cup and cloth pads.
I’m a messy eater but I actually think that’s part of why I don’t like single use napkins or paper towels. They’re just so flimsy and weak and you need a million of them to wipe your hands sufficiently. Cloth napkins are better, period. Even if I didn’t care at all about sustainability I think I’d still like them because they just work way better.
great video as always. I'm still subsvriebd but haven't watched a video in a while. It was affirming when you'd share something you do that i started doing because of you years ago, and now don't think about it because it's habit.. like looking second hand before buying first hand and picking out the single bananas at the store! Sharing about not having a tv is so important and thought-provoking!
Unfortunately, very often in New Zealand, the imperfect foods at the Supermarket get bagged up in plastic. It's a very frustrating ethical dilemma, but I usually still go for it as it is also more financially sustainable
Loved this. Also Wild deodorant is amazing and I honestly don't think I could ever go back to anything else. Now to just remember to buy refills before my last one runs out 🙈
I'd never turn down travel - the need to meet other people, especially to build new connections via personal being at the moment is so important to me, but i try to do it in a way that is sustainable and i do engage in the local culture and not just vain activity. I am trying to be sustainable but accessibility plays a huge role in what steps i am able to make and what is out of my own control.
Hey Shelby great vid!! 😁 I was wondering if you could link the bamboo attachment for your electric toothbrush. My whole family uses Sonicare but they still use plastic and I’ve been trying to find a bamboo alternative they like so I’d like to try the one you use.
Hi! I got assigned a family in Gaza to help them escape. I would love if you would help me raise funds for them! In the tiktok I linked I talk more about their story in working with renewables, their adorable cat, and more!
1. Repost my TikTok/share my reel to your story
2. Donate! Even a $1 helps
3. If you want to jump on and help me fundraise. We have a goal of 50K to help their family of 7!
LEARN MORE: www.tiktok.com/t/ZTLq7Uuvx/
DONATE HERE: www.gofundme.com/f/help-ghada-abdulrhman-2-programmes-from-gaza
❤️❤️❤️ i so appreciate you doing this!!!
❤️❤️❤️❤️
How do you get assigned a family?? This is amazing and so truly inspiring.
18:49 Libraries and librarians are worth gold, silver, platinum, diamonds and gemstones.
As someone who was a librarian for many years, thank you!!!
Getting rid of a TV wouldn't change my life as it is right now, but limiting my phone and computer use... Certainly would feel like overcoming a lifelong addiction.
make volunteering and compassion sexy with "today you, tomorrow me"! most people are selfish and i find that this approach appeals to many
I’m not a very messy eater, but I can’t stand the idea of having even the smallest amount of food on my face. Because of that, up-cycling old cotton clothes into reusable napkins has been my saving grace
I also do not buy paper towels, but one of the best tricks that I offer to people who do is to try putting their paper towels underneath their kitchen sink in the cabinet. It is incredible. The difference that it makes just not seeing them. you will reach for them so much less.
I need these reminders about every 6 months! These videos never get old!!
Solid shampoo bars are honestly life-changing. I've had my Liggett's bar for almost six months now and it's still going strong! Once I've finished using all of the shower products I already have, I'm making the full switch to solids😊
I use bar soap for my hair and it still smells good. I get compliments.
Love J.R. Liggett’s bars!! They make a conditioner bar, too; word of warning as someone with long and curly hair, I have to use a lot of it, but I’m a fan
One of my sustainable resolutions this year is to stop buying paper towels. I got my roommate on board too. We still have a paper towel roll from like a year ago… it’s pretty much there for decoration now lol
we have a paper towel holder installed in our kitchen cabinets from the last family & we've not used it the last 2 years. paper towels are sooo unnecessary lol. if we truly need one, we use napkins from takeout!
we only use paper towels for cat vomit clean up lol tremendously cut down
@@JoJo-is-the-name ah yea I just use tp for that
I’ve stocked up on dish towels so I don’t need paper towels
I love to see you getting so passionate that your eyes tear up. These are the things that matter most in life.
Absolutely would love a video about what you don't do anymore. Over the years, I think we have all tried some things (like the trash jar) that didn't make sense.
i always cringe when people suggest getting something from target or walmart before even thinking of second hand. Especially when moving. My friends always comment on my home and say how cozy it is (i've put a lot of effort into it). But I found what works with our space and lifestyle by testing out with second hand items, whether that be family, buy nothing, thrift, fb marketplace CL, ect. and seeing what i really enjoy and passing off what doesn't work. like the quality to cost is so much better, and youre saving stuff from the landfill!
i have tried so many clean deodorants, and honestly none of them work for me. the best thing for me has actually been glycolic acid, at this point in my life i just cant stink lol.
great reminder to bring our reusables with us, i have been failing big time on that especially since covid! definitely something to work on.
I hate the paper towel thing, my friend did that at my house, she asked where the paper towels where and set them out for every ones plates (i usually only use them for my pets messes) and all i could think was how wasteful it was.
hobbies definitely help lower consumerism in my life, as long as im actually doing those hobbies. it keeps me off my phone and therefore less likely to see ads and be more tempted to buy things i dont need and to gain a serotonin hit
Thank you for the wonderfully reminders! i love your videos, and youve encouraged me to work on a native garden in my brothers yard ( i live in apartment so not really viable) and im so excited and overwhelmed lol)
if you wrote a book, ID BUY IT. just saying! Love how you well you put things across. In my area it seems laughable to people in terms of caring about the enviroment, people are pretty selfish and need the next new thing and will dump what they dont want down the road 😐 (Im in the UK in a roughish area of my town) I really wish I had the confidence to be more community focused but honestly my social anxiety cripples me 🫣
My husband sold his car and started using mine. I either use an e-bike that has seat belts for my kids and a lot of storage. Or I’ll walk or take public transit. I’ve also started pulling out some of the plants in my garden and replacing them with native seeds and non-native vegetable seeds. I’m excited to see how it will turn out and change as I add my touches to it!
The fact that you included and talked about smart appliances being better for the environment is something a lot of people miss! Sometimes yes companies make false claims of sustainability but there is a big emphasis on sustainability in many industries and will should point out the good ones!
I love the new milkweed tattoo right under your butterfly one! The perfect placement lol
Thank you!! I’m so happy with it 🥹
A big thing for me and my husband this year is being in our apartment building’s dog parent discord server. Such a great little community! We have “swap shop” and “local resources” threads and literally as I type one of the dog moms reached out to ask to borrow a muffin pan and another dog mom is bringing her one. Love to see it!
Got in my first apartment and got 80% of the furniture secondhand and I’m so proud and also happy how much money I saved it’s crazy!!!!
we are a family of five (I'm the oldest child with 18y) and we use reusable napkins since i can think of! I think we do it because it is cheaper but this will be something i will continue because i don't know different :)
I grew up in a house that used cloth napkins and I've continued that habit into adulthood. I never use paper towels either! Also old towels cut up, old tshirts, and a few new towels as well.
I've pretty effectively phased out toilet paper, and managing _that_ makes anything else seem possible lol. I use a plastic-free, small business Irish deodorant (called Vico) that I've used for years and adore. I do still use paper towels, as it's the best substrate option for my bearded dragon (I'm easily phasing them out for my use, at least!) While I do have a TV, I don't have any sort of provider, have no interest in getting one, and only use it occasionally for gaming. I think the most startling thing of adjusting to less/zero-waste is that before getting into it, it seems like it's more stress to keep up with everything...but for me, it's been so much _less_ stress. You adapt so quickly and easily, and in such a short time you can't imagine going back. 🌻
Things I want to be improve at: remembering to take a water bottle if I go out; taking my time to invest in really good quality, sustainable products, especially second-hand; trying to promote and vote on local projects that promote sustainability and conservation; learning about local flora and fauna to teach my nieces during outside times; trying to volunteer on rewilding / conservation / nature maintenance projects in my area.
omg I cant believe there are bamboo replacements for the electric toothbrush!!!
THANK YOU
Finally gonna give Wild deodorant a try because I’ve been trying to find a deodorant that isn’t on the BDS boycott list. Thank you for reminding me about wild❤️
My local library has so many awesome things! You can check out rice cookers, air fryers, and pots and pans. They have a seed library and a water resources kit to teach about using water wisely and fixing leaks and other household issues. Plus they have so many digital resources that it easy to use. I save so much money by using my library instead of buying new books. I love it!
Things we still do: Reusables, composting food waste, bidets, intentional travel, volunteering, recycling and buying more recycled/recyclable items. What I have started recently: Being active in our local civics and government, removing invasive plants and grasses and building a more native yard. Because of the changes we have made, and continue to make to our landscape, it has completely changed how we maintain it and allowing the ecosystem to build back naturally. I frequently feel like I should be doing more, and try incrementally. When you said that if we had to give everything except one thing the thing you would keep is your native wildlife habitat, it hit home and I had an aha moment. 2 years ago we had neighbors move in that are bee keepers. Our other neighbor used to use pesticides and sprays all the time, professionally spread monthly. The new neighbor asked if the other would hold off for a few months to help his bee population re-establish and she she agreed. It has been 2 years since she has used pest control services. When I removed sod and replaced with clover, the bees went nuts. Some times all you have to do is get others involved. Thanks for this great video!! Also, love the new tattoos!
I am aligned with SO MUCH, nearly everything, that you metioned
My Buy Nothing group is semi new (we branched off from a bigger city) and still small, but we're growing and creating a lovely little community ❤ I'm even and admin now for mine to help continue to grow. Loveee it!
I’m in the stage of my life of still living at home, but trying to use up any plastic things first and then make swaps where possible over time. Some things I accept can’t be swapped (ie: my hair can’t be clean with a shampoo bar), but where possible, trying to be as resourceful and reusable as able to. So thank you, Shelbi, for not being like some on social media who say only zero waste, green, vegan, etc. lifestyles count. And as a newly graduated librarian, thank you for supporting libraries! They truly do lift communities up! Love watching these videos.
Ty young lady! I was using reusable period pads 27 years ago.
My front and backyard are full blown gardens…haven’t had a lawn in about 10 years. It’s been absolutely amazing. 😊
I’m watching your video, while surveying my belongings and realizing that I AM doing my best! I look at all of the things I absolutely love and they were gifts or thrifted! I love the Wild deodorant too! I’m trying to be better every day, in my consumerism by reducing my waste!
I'm a truly messy eater and need a napkin for every meal, but also cloth napkins are so abundant at the thrift stores. Thrifted enough to have a weeks worth for about $10, and just throw them in a laundry load with my cleaning cloths and bathroom towels once a week. I got into cloth napkins 5 years ago and haven't looked back.
I also use cloth napkins! Anyone that comes to my house thinks we are fancy. But no we are frugal and green as possible. 💙
@@hollyjobitner3285I love how the sustainable options often come off as "fancy" when they are the cheapest in the long run.
@10:46 I completely agree. A few years back I contacted H G T V and suggested they work with their famous design staff to create a new TV show concept about transforming grass-zones into a more eco-friendly, less water native plant lush area.. but as you might've guessed it never happened. I want to see more of those kinds of transformations though. It would be wonderful and let the viewer feel less daunted by doing a project like that too.
There's a program kinda like that called my dream green home. Not sure if you can watch it outside of New Zealand though.
I'm still using period cup, my own cutleries, reusable water bottles, reusable coffe cup, not buying much, walking a lot, using my napkins, not buying makeup products (but akincare yes), using reusable shop bags
when it comes to washing my hair I use a shampoo bar and the same with my body it's a bar to it's called Kitsch and I love it so much it makes my hair so soft and clean. and I don't use napkins I just some kind of cloth love your vlogs ❤️❤️
I've been sharing these with my family. Thank you for explaining things well and making them feel doable.
I think this is partly just Dutch thrift, but growing up in the Netherlands, my family did a lot of sustainable things already. Things like reusing old towels and clothes as rags for cleaning, my dad mostly used them for washing the car etc. We did have paper towels, but my parents wanted us to use a reusable cloth most of the time. We mostly used paper towels for when the dog had an accident, so we could just throw it away afterwards. I now mostly use paper towels (recycled paper) for taking out excess grease from my skillet, because I don't want to clog the drains, but I reuse old towels to clean my countertops and also the rest of my house, plus the microfibre cloths I bought when I moved out of my parents' house. I maybe buy a new roll of paper towels once every couple of months.
The paper towel thing happened to me too when family was over! I haven’t bought them in years. I actually ordered a few from WhoGivesACrap but rarely use them.
same, happened with friends, but it took me so aback
Oh wow! I didn’t know bamboo attachments for electric toothbrushes existed! Thank you for mentioning it 💪🏼
I haven’t bought paper towels in years. I have cloth napkins but rarely use them. I also have a bag of rags I use for messy jobs.
i hate having a napkin! my gran will give a napkin to every one any time she gives them a drink or snack and i'm always trying to stop her. like i'll just go wash my hands if i get messy lol
I think about buying second hand more cause cheaper but it's also reusing so i love it ❤ im moving and had get some new but i also went to goodwill and got some stuff which is best or facebook market
I’ve been thinking a lot about community too and I’ve started volunteering! It isn’t inherently sexy, but it is beautiful. Getting to work with people and meet new people who share your values and geographic location is wonderful and so rewarding, and just knowing you’re contributing to something bigger, is awesome. I’m gonna see if you already have a video on this, but if not, I’d love to hear more! I’m craving more community
For sensory reasons, my family often uses paper towels but they go straight into our home compost for our plants & garden💗
(*as long as they didn’t wipe up anything that cannot be composted.)
Can you explain more? I think cotton is softer than paper.
@@raapyna8544 having a clean towel for each occasion is preferable. Our paper towels go into our home compost bin unless they made contact something like meats, chemicals, etc.
I have also experienced the weirdness of when people come over and asks for a paper towel/napkin and going, "Oh....yeah, we don't have any..." I don't think about it. Our cloth napkins and towels work fine. I do now have a small stash of paper towels for cleaning up my dog's vomit if she gets sick, because while yes, you could still use reusable towels for that clean-up job, it just feels a little too icky to me. But that's pretty much all that we use paper towels for these days.
Heck yeah, I am slowly but surely replacing my household essentials. I also use wild deo and its great!
I love the native wildlife lawn. I wish more people would do this too. I saw this concept in the good garden; the author has some really helpful tips for gardening, compost, and setting up native wildlife habitats in your yard.
Omg! Huge thanks for mentioning that there was such a thing as the bamboo electric toothbrush heads!
I would love to make this swap!
Shelby! I found my buy nothing group because of you. Thank you, your channel is what unleashed my inner environmentalism/crunchiness. Thank you for sharing your habits 10+ years running 🩷
I absolutely need a napkin… but to me a napkin has always been a cloth napkin. It’s how I grew up, and honestly, cloth napkins are probably something I wouldn’t want to live without!
You're an my inspiration, I've started with personal care and slowly moving to the rest, and I'm happy I am doing this, more people should, and I live in 🇲🇽.
What keeps me out of buy nothing groups is that the only ones near me are done through Facebook and for my mental health I absolutely had to give it up, I cannot have Facebook. I try to keep a close eye on yard sales and bulk trash days because people toss a ton of stuff that can be reused if I'm looking for something, or secondhand stores as an alternative if my immediate friends or family don't have something I can borrow.
Same! I almost never use a napkin! My mom and I went to the thrift store a while back and bought cloth napkins so if I do use a napkin, that's what I use. People get weirded out though and they're always like, "Are you sure you want me to use this?" Obviously, that's what it's for!
i am new to the channel and i cannot thank you enough for advertising buy nothing, i had no idea they exsisted and now i do!!! :)
Shelbi, you've influenced my life so much! I buy paper towels only as backup rolls, buy Who Gives A Crap toilet paper, reusable water bottles, recycle, sometimes meal prep, don't travel as much as possible/use the car as much as possible, buy clothes, furniture, kitchenware second hand, and even more. I love living this way! And I uphold it too! Thank you so much. It was partially what I wanted, but it's nice to have a cheerleader like you! I'm not perfect by any means, but I'm getting there!!
Dude! You just rocked my world 🤯 I never thought of zoos as being exploitative. I was always under the impression that they had higher regulation and were doing conservation work, now that I'm looking in to it I feel that I was a little naive. Thank you!!!
As someone who has taught education at AZA zoos I think it’s important to not blanket them all. It’s important to find credible zoos (the associations of zoos and aquariums makes this easy). Zoos and aquariums can be vital in helping people connect to animals. It’s through connections that many people find the importance in protecting them. They can also be a last resort for many animals. This could be because an animal is non-releasable, habitat is destroyed, or they are endangered/threatened. There are some terrible zoos and aquariums in the world, but there are also amazing ones (both in the US and across the world). Just some food for thought.
Most zoos and aquariums are unnecessary and horrible. For many reasons. Wild animals are just not well in captivity, nothing can justify that, mostly there's no "education" because animals do not behave or look like they would in nature. Nothing can replace freedom. Food for thought: why is my right to see a rl Gorilla more important than the Gorillas right to be free?
It really depends on the zoo. Some zoos are definitely not good. Others are involved in important conservation programs or provide homes to endangered animals that wouldn't otherwise have them, and these tend to do their best to build suitable habitats for the animals and provide them with good care. A well-run zoo can be a useful resource in educating people about nature; sometimes actually seeing a given animal can make you care a lot more about the other members of its species that are living in the wild, you know?
Congratulations on becoming a Texas Master Naturalist! That's a goal of mine. I hope you get fireflies in your yard...it is absolute magic. Oh...and have you seen the seed libraries at the Austin libraries? So cool!
I never grew up with paper towel in the house we always just used rags so when I moved out I still didn’t buy it but my now boyfriend and his friends thinks it’s absolutely wild that we don’t have any in the house
I would love to hear more about your civic engagements! It’s something I’m very passionate about but it sometimes feels overwhelming trying to understand the system and how to advocate within it. There’s also a big opportunity in my city to have more advocacy groups and volunteering, like you mentioned being a Texas Master Naturalist. I’d be so interested in learning more about that with the idea of launching something similar in my area/city.
Just wanted you to know, I've been watching you for years. I appreciate your videos a lot. I try really hard to live sustainably, low waste, and reduced our plastic use. I have two kids and I hope they will carry these habits forward as they grow into adults.
lately i’ve been obsessed with your channel - i’ve always been passionate about saving the planet but i never knew exactly how to go beyond just turning off lights in your house (which is important ofc, but there’s a lot more to sustainability ;)) thank you for doing what you do, you’ve inspired me so much
Libraries!
I'm also reamenaging my front yard into native one. I do it little by little everyyear because of money. Strangly, I have 2 neigbhourts doing it (not exclusivly native species) the same year than me because they were bored of taking care of useless grass.
I only have to figth with my nearest neighboard to stop him shave my remining grass too early and too short since I want to peotect my vegetal cover the time I transition. He don't like "long" (i.e. normal) leigth of grass.
I love the backdrop! I’ve missed so much but just know, I will be catching up soon! I miss watching you so much!
these were all great ones! my mom was just telling me i should have a blog lol bc i talk about sustainability and so much and live differently than most. but since i mostly follow eco people, i forget this isn’t how everyone lives!
Because of you I created a buy nothing (also known as gifting With integrity in some areas) group. I gave gifted and recieved so much from this group! I have recently bifted a record player and gotten a carpet cleaner ❤
I always need a napkin! But now I almost exclusively use cloth napkins. I
It’s crazy that you can bike downtown in just 30 minutes! It takes me longer than that to drive to my downtown. Biking would take almost 2 hours
Been using wild for a couple of years now. I love it! 💚
I very, very rarely use napkins or paper towels as well. I can think of barbecue ribs as one food that I would use a napkin with. But if I am at home, I don’t care how messy I get. I will just get up and go wash my hands with soap and water and use the towel in the kitchen.
libraries are the best
I really hope you do a video on hobbies! The little bit you said in this video really got me thinking & I’d love to hear more about this topic 🙂🙂
I started going to the discount bread aisle and “scratch and dent” part of the produce section. Especially if I am going to use it the next day or two
I have a reusable water cup that I got second hand and have been using for about 7 years. My brother and his wife visited us recently and she saw my cup and must have thought I needed a new one because I came home one day and she'd bought me a new one. She's a real gift giver, and in the past I have asked for "consumable" gifts like for christmas etc for example they donated to charity in my name one year..
Now I've got this huge brand new tumbler and I don't want to stop using my old one, it's still perfect (maybe a bit beat up, but works the same as it always did).
Yes I've been waiting for you to review a new deodarant to replace Native!
On napkins: I rarely use them, but always have a few miscellaneous cloths around and use them for napkins, paper towels, tissues as needed. My parents still use paper towels as napkins but my mom makes sure to have a cloth napkin for me. Not ideal, but I appreciate her trying 😂
my roommate and I have a TV they inherited from family... it gets turned on like twice a year LOL
Same!😂 my dad gave me his spare tv, as he didn’t need it. It hasn’t been turned on since November😂🤷🏻♀️
Probably the big thing I do that most people don't is go as long as I can without my heat and A/C in the spring and fall. Every spring when it warms up enough that the house doesn't become an icebox overnight, I'll turn off the heat and just not switch the A/C on until it's consistently too warm outside for the house to ever cool off. I'll just run some fans and open some windows and call it good. And then the opposite direction the fall. I'm not a complete monster; if we have guests over and the temperature isn't the most comfortable, I turn it on and don't make them put up with our weirdness. But otherwise, it's fun to see how long I can go without it. It started as a money-saving thing (it definitely cuts the power bill way down), then became a sustainability thing, and now it's sort of a personal challenge/stubbornness thing. I'm loving the weather this year because it's stayed cool enough that I may be able to get a couple of weeks into June before I have to switch it on again.
Just switched to Wild deo 2 weeks ago, it's so good! 😍💚 also ordered my first set of period underwear recently, looking forward to try it!
My sister just had an accident on an e bike and we’re so grateful she didn’t have any serious injuries, be safe, be alert on the roads ❤
And wear a helmet! I know most people prefer the feeling of an unencumbered head when they bicycle, but helmets can prevent some fatal injuries in the event of an accident.
thank you for sharing your new deodorant find!! i remember when u explained parent companies and thus why you needed to replace ur native deodorants. i’m from singapore and it’s extremely hard to find sustainable products bc we are such a small country that not many sustainable companies choose to import to us. i’ve currently not been wearing deodorant (im sorry alls but i care about ethics and the environment too) but hopefully i’ll somehow get my hands on wild!
I'd love to see a video on what hasn't worked for you or isn't worth the time.
I use cloth napkins instead of paper towels. Just throw them in the washing machine. It’s so simple and affordable. I’ve been using the same ones for 2 years. My fiances family are huge paper towel people and it weirds them out when they visit. Like idk why they can’t seem to just use cloth in the same way.
OMG I'm early for once!! Hi Shelby!! 😊Excited for this video
I joined a no but group in my area and have given away a few things to people who actually want them! Instead of throwing or donating them which would eventually get thrown away
I would love to see the things you no longer do video. I've had to learn the hard way (burn out) how important it is to be compassionate with yourself and accept when things are beyond your capacity. I'm poor and neurodivergent and so there are definitely things I wish I could do but know I don't have the capacity for. Washing laundry is insanely difficult for me most days so I still use disposable paper products. I know dryers aren't great for the planet but I'm still saving up for one because it would help me be more of a functional, independent human, and I'd actually have capacity for more sustainable choices. I use a meal delivery service for the bulk of my meals to lessen my cognitive load but for anything extra I'm at my local co-op or bulk store. I'm always thinking second hand first and borrowing second. I ride my e-bike or take public transport when I can. I use bamboo toothbrushes but fun flavoured toothpaste in plastic because otherwise I wouldn't brush my teeth enough. I'm always repairing and repurposing. I'm an activist too. I live by the idea of advocating for the rest 💜
i always need a napkin when im eating cause i hate feeling like my hands or face are messy. But we have cloth napkin sets. My mom always used them cause they're classy and now i use them to reduce waste :)
Ohhh is your flower tattoo new?? it goes so well with the other ones! :) cool video!
I finally got to a place where my hyper-consumer sister will ask me before throwing anything out lol! And i got her to at least drop stuff off at goodwill (and she donates really good stuff like coach bags that def will be kept). She's giving me a platform bed tomorrow lol!
I mostly buy second hand clothes and if possible furniture. I think about 60% of my clothes are thrifted. Of course, there are some things that are not so easy to find second hand, but I really do my best to avoid buying new stuff. I also bring my water bottle (no need for dozens of Stanley cups) and a canvas tote bag everywhere. Personally, I haven't tried period undies, but I do love my lily cup and cloth pads.
Just got my kayaness boyshorts ❤ HOLY CRAP I LOVE THEM!!!! Thanks for being awesome 😊
OMG yayyy!! So glad you like them. We’re totally hoping to get more reviews on the website 👀 appreciate it so so much
I’m a messy eater but I actually think that’s part of why I don’t like single use napkins or paper towels. They’re just so flimsy and weak and you need a million of them to wipe your hands sufficiently. Cloth napkins are better, period. Even if I didn’t care at all about sustainability I think I’d still like them because they just work way better.
great video as always. I'm still subsvriebd but haven't watched a video in a while. It was affirming when you'd share something you do that i started doing because of you years ago, and now don't think about it because it's habit.. like looking second hand before buying first hand and picking out the single bananas at the store! Sharing about not having a tv is so important and thought-provoking!
Love the lighting/style of the video 😍
Unfortunately, very often in New Zealand, the imperfect foods at the Supermarket get bagged up in plastic. It's a very frustrating ethical dilemma, but I usually still go for it as it is also more financially sustainable
Can’t wait to see the next vid! Awesome info :)
Loved this. Also Wild deodorant is amazing and I honestly don't think I could ever go back to anything else. Now to just remember to buy refills before my last one runs out 🙈
I'd never turn down travel - the need to meet other people, especially to build new connections via personal being at the moment is so important to me, but i try to do it in a way that is sustainable and i do engage in the local culture and not just vain activity. I am trying to be sustainable but accessibility plays a huge role in what steps i am able to make and what is out of my own control.
Meeting people & being part of the community where I live is actually the primary reason I’m traveling less.
I'd be sooo interested about your video on hobbies!!
Hey Shelby great vid!! 😁 I was wondering if you could link the bamboo attachment for your electric toothbrush. My whole family uses Sonicare but they still use plastic and I’ve been trying to find a bamboo alternative they like so I’d like to try the one you use.
Yes!! I’m currently reading these at the doctor 😂 but I’ll add it when I get home!!
Thank you so much 😁💚