"Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." |
1/5/2021 1 Comment My Trip to the Refill StationI FINALLY went to Mighty Market in Martinez. I had heard about it from multiple friends saying "wow this seems like it would be right up your alley", yet with covid I really have not been "about town" much. I cannot express how much I LOVED this little shop, and will be making sure I frequent it (I signed up for their email list, and if you're local you should too!) Everything about this shop was mindful. From the minimalist but charming aesthetic to the covid compliance- their whole vibe was dialed. The first thing I saw upon entering the building was their doormat- it read HYGGE. If you are unfamiliar with this term it is defined as "the quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture)." I (kinda) joke that hygge is basically one of the guiding pillars in my life. My girlfriend Alicia gave me the book The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living and I have never looked back. From that doormat on, I knew I was going to love this store.
At this time I did not have many purchase needs, as we have slowly swapped out many of our household and personal care items for zero waste or low waste options over the past few years-but I very much wanted to buy ALLLL of the things at this store. We are FAR from a zero waste household and really have many places that we could do more (or less I should say), but we have actively tried to reduce our plastic usage in our home for waste reasons in addition to the scary health effects of leaching plastic. It takes time, money and effort to make these swaps, and I know it can all feel a bit overwhelming. I think it is important to have a growth mindset when adopting more sustainable practices- you are NOT striving for perfection, but instead trying to make small but sustainable changes to your lifestyle. "We do not need a few people doing zero waste perfectly, we need everyone doing zero waste imperfectly." As with any time you try a new product, it can take a few tries to get a product/item that works for you, and we have done some trial and error with different sustainable options for our household. There are many options out there and I urge you to not give up after not having a low waste or zero waste option work out. Celebrate the wins and start with one swap at a time. Collectively, small actions can add up to big changes. Certainly personal choices and individual responsibility are important aspects in the fight against climate change, but I actually think that the onus primarily lies with the large corporations and industries that have been creating an astonishing amount of pollution for decades. In order to effect real change, there needs to be more regulations and policies to restrict these industries as well as incentives for them to adopt "greener" practices. It is not right to put the burden of climate change on consumers "A recent report found that just 100 companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions since 1988. Incredibly, a mere 25 corporations and state-owned entities were responsible for more than half of global industrial emissions in that same period." All of that being said, we still have the power to make more conscious decisions about how we create waste and where we spend our money. Our trip to Mighty Market served as a much needed mommy and daughter trip for Ruby and I. With Covid surging, we have been sheltered in place and not taking unnecessary trips to stores, and we RARELY take the girls with us when we do need to go out for errands. Ruby keeps asking when we can go back to "the market" and I tell her what I will tell you now- I cannot WAIT to go back to Mighty Market, and very much look forward to giving them my business for years to come! Where are you in your journey to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly life? I'd love to hear your successes and challenges! Below are some helpful links: Zero Waste Nerd Columbia University's 35 ways to reduce your carbon footprint State by state zero waste grocery guide Harvard Health Article- Is plastic a threat to your health? XO Allie
1 Comment
Carol L. Peterson
3/9/2024 05:56:12 am
I don't know when this article was published, as I just read it. Now need to investigate. I'm 70 years-old and have been adding things to do for the past 30 yrs. and wish I had something this, close to home. If I find one, I will tell everyone. Thanks for the info.
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