My ideal would be to send mishloach manos in packaging that is both reused and reusable, but that’s not as easy as it sounds.
Use It Up: The Purim Edition
What About That Milk?
There’s a funny story that involves HaShem asking an angel about some human behavior He’s observed. “What are they doing down there?” He asks. “They’re making milk from nuts,” the angel replies. “But I gave them animals to get milk from: cows, goats, sheep, even buffalo.” “They don’t like that milk,” the animal explains. When... Continue Reading →
Eat-It-Up Muffins
I’m sitting down to write this blog post with a cup of chai at one elbow and a muffin at the other. I’ve been on a muffin kick as of late, spurred by the discovery that we had not one, not two, but three bags of dried apricots in our pantry.
Good to the Last Drop
One thing that often happens when people get interested in lowering their environmental impact is that they will run into a lot of bloggers, Instagrammers, and ads telling them about products they have to have for their low-waste efforts.
These Boots are Made for Walking (Away from Shopping)
At the beginning of November, I set an intention not to buy anything except food and household necessities that month. I called it a "Mostly No-Buy November Challenge," and it's good that I included the word "mostly," because I mostly accomplished my goal.
Sweet Rewards
With Chanukah coming up, my mind is turning to sweet treats: crispy doughnuts and cookies. I don’t make frosted cookies, but I do make frosted cakes, and in the past, I had always bought my frosting ready-made in a tub. In looking at plastic packaging I could eliminate, that seemed like a good candidate because... Continue Reading →
Regaining Momentum
Over Sukkot, I have to admit, I used both disposable plates and foil pans. Tishrei was the first time I had been in our local party goods store since Pesach. So while I was making strides in my spiritual life, my material life had a lot more garbage bags in it. But, my home and... Continue Reading →
No New Clothes?!?!
I usually go into chagim and chol hamoed all caught up on laundry. But the week leading up to the Nine Days, and I started off with three full loads of dirty laundry that will have to wait until next week. Luckily, I had enough time to get them sorted and ready to go. I’ve... Continue Reading →
Growth and Perfection
When I trimmed the hose to right before the first kink, the remainder was just long enough to water all but a pot of sage and two tomato plants. Was it perfect? No, but it’s a good reminder that “perfect” is the enemy of “good enough.” As Ben Zoma taught, “Who is rich? The one who is happy with what he has.”
The Bal Tashchit Balabusta 