Sunday, January 25, 2009

Old Mother Hubbard...


I organized my cupboards this weekend.  I know, it's a thrilling life I lead.  Try not to get too jealous.  Anyway, my point is, I was struck by the beauty of the glass jars all lined up there holding our food items.  They are a symbol of my family's efforts over the last few months to stop waste in its tracks, starting with what we bring home from the grocery store.  We have been trying harder and harder to buy in bulk and store in repurposed glass jars.  

Obviously there are still a few items we haven't found a way around yet (anyone have a good suggestion from reducing the waste of packaging with cereal bars?) but for every glass jar I see in my cupboard, that's at least one plastic container that didn't even have to be made, let alone recycled.  That is beautiful to me all the way around.  

What about you?  What do your cupboards look like?  What ways have you found to reduce waste at the front end of grocery shopping?  Please share!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can't help you with the cereal bar thing, but you'd appreciate the German laws on excessive packaging! For example--laundry detergents & cleaning product refills in bags instead of bottles, toothpaste w/out boxes, and deposits on almost all beverages (the smaller the bottle, the higher the deposit, to encourage people to buy less packaging).

Anonymous said...

Hi Willo. Great job cleaning the pantry. I love using jars in the pantry. I actully have some that were a wedding present to my grandmother more than 60 years ago!

Re the cereal bars and packaging..you could always make them yourself to avoid packaging. I have seen a few recipes online...

Cheers,
Tricia

Willo said...

Emilie-that's great! I feel like so many other countries are so far in front of the US on so many things sometimes.

Tricia-thanks for the tip! I am definitely going to look up some recipes and see if they are something someone like me who is totally stunted in the kitchen could figure out!

Amy said...

Your cupboards look great!! I have some recipes for cereal bars that you can email me if you are interested, that will really help reduce packaging.

My cupboards are looking a little sad right now so this picture was great motivation for me! Great idea and I love your jars!

jubilee said...

There IS something beautiful about glass jars. The simplicity of it, the colors of foods, whatever it is, it speaks to me aesthetically.

Maureen said...

Yours is how I want my pantry to look when it grows up :)


(I found your blog from a comment you left on One Green Generation...I will be back!)