zerowasteblog

Habits I started after learning about ZeroWaste:

saving seeds from fruits, I want to try grow them, buying fully grown plants costs money, whatever green looks nice

washing and drying egg shells to crush into fertilizer water or to put near plant roots over soil

saving fabric scraps, I want to make pillow again, it was easy to do

growing herbs on windowsill, I would love to have nice garden, but its nice to use self grown herbs for tea, salad or baking, I have relatives who like plants and hand crafts and inspiration jumped to me

drying fresh and washed fruit peels, I used these powdered in cake, in slices in tea, scent pouch and decoration for candle

making vinegar from fruit scraps and using it as home cleaner, I used apples and sugar, but vinegar can be made from any fruits and sugar, it needs to be left to ferment with some airflow, its ready after two weeks and can be mixed into water so that it wont be too strong to surfaces, it can be used on metal, plastic, some materials it can't be used on because it is too strong wood, porcelain, mineral stone, it can be used to kill bacteria from surfaces and remove scent from clothes by adding little bit into cloth wash, I tried this because I developed health issues and finding

drying used coffee grounds to use later for plant fertilizer water

using left over tea for hair mask, using it long time or often it will change tone little bit, for short time it softens hair and makes it silky, I tried black tea and later with other one result wasn't as soft

using freshly used coffee grounds for refreshing face scrub / body scrub, coffee and coconut oil etc, don't store the mix - use it same day, it will go bad fast

ZeroWaste habits I want to try:

making patch work blanket from left over fabric pieces, patchwork looks so nice, I tried to crochet a patchwork shirt before but it was too difficult, but I can do anything with ready pieces just need to attach them together

compost, sounds funny but I would like to how it works close and what effects it has on garden, watching effects of fertilizer mix was fun it made herbs more lush and green

make bread snack with

I have used fabric scraps as paint rags in art school, pillow filler and decorated napkins from them. These hair scrunchie, patch work and scarf tutorial looks easy and fun to do.

some ideas I have tried:

shirt with colour mistake > colour it with darker colour or bleach it

hoodie with too small sleeves > cut sleeves off to make use of comfy hood in fall, wrap scarf around it

broken leggings > use as leg warmers

broken leggings > protective sleeve over patched skin damage to avoid scratching or dust irritating it

big shirt broken sleeves > cut into t-shirt for gym to wear over tight long sleeve shirt for comfort/cold

cloth with small mistake > hide it with embroidery or decorative or minimalist patch

salvage buttons, ribbons from completely ruined cloth

this is my tiny windowsill garden on a tray

Tips I have tried and these work:

reuse thin plastic containers as mini greenhouse for growing plants from seed

add baking yeast powder to plant watering bottle and mix it well into water, it prevents root rot

fertilizer: powdered egg shell, banana peel, piece of paracetamol, rice water, veggie nutrient broth, lentil/couscous, magnesium, coffee grounds in fertilizer water (add fertilizer liquid into water to not make it too strong)

plant shower: once a month or every other month, put plant with a pot into a bigger water container and let in soak 20 min and let the pot drop exess water before putting on a plate

Tips I haven't tried:

root rot: remove plant from pot and separate infected soil, scratch softened parts of roots or cut fully rotted roots, wash under water, wash the pot too, take fresh soil and repot the plant in fresh soil, in the future add baking yeast powder into plant watering bottle to reduce chance for root rot

composting in small home/ balcony

When you cook after washing and peeling veggies:

You can boil those fresh and clean left over pieces to separate nutrients from them.

Let water get some colour and pour into cup through a filter.

With this broth you can easily add nutrients and taste to current dish or freeze it to add into soups later.

Use fresh and clean, or clean and freshly frozen veggie scraps for nutrient broth for cooking.

When frozen into ice cubes storing it takes less space and stays good longer.

What to do with damaged or less than ideal veggie scraps?

Less than ideal veggie scraps you can use to make great fertilizer, just mix broth into water so it won't be too strong for plants. I have tried this tip too and it works well. If veggie scraps look damaged and not fresh and nonaesthetic after washing them, those can still feed your house plants well. After boiling left over scraps you can add them to your compost or freeze to make plant fertilizer later. You don't need them lot because everytime you cook you get often bits you don't want to include in the dish. You can freeze fertilizer too.

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Use store bought or homemade vinegar.

Add citrus peels to add scent. I added mandarin.

I added ginger and bay leaf, I heard scent of bay leaf repels some bugs.

Let it sit for 2 weeks.

You can use it for metal/glass/bathroom surface, but not on wood/stone/sensitive materials

I have tried using ricewater and banana peel fertilizer for houseplants and recently tried out boiled nutrient water from fresh food scraps to be used as houseplant fertilizer.

Here are some more ideas:

This artist uses left over flowers and other waste material to create beautiful candles. This makes nice gift idea or product. Artists have some outside box thinking and different visions to make use of materials.

This is a sideblog dedicated for zerowaste info and ideas.

I made profile image by using Picrew: @/ Wawa.o.o.

https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/2308695