#average zero waster

Check the thrift ship for ornaments before buying brand new from the store

DIY ornaments with natural materials like pine cones (or if you're like me and you live by the ocean sea shells work great!)

Buy plain glass ornaments and stuff them with materials that would end up in the garbage (I've used old fabric scraps in the pic below)

Get creative and make ornaments out of random things you have around the house!

Make ornaments out of dehydrated fruit like orange slices or popcorn garland

Let us know in the comments if you have any good ideas for zero waste Xmas ornaments

To yourself.

To others.

To the planet.

To the animals.

To everyone and everything.

Everytime I buy something, I think about the potential waste it could create.

I think about the turtles mistaking plastic bags for jellyfish, the birds that die with bellies full of plastic bits, the fish strangled by netting.

Looking at that last photo of the fish in the glove makes me physically uncomfortable, like I'm suffocating.

However, I am grateful for the zero waste community here on tumblr. You all inspire me and teach me to be better. That's why I called my blog Average Zero Waster, because were all learning every day to be better and no ones perfect.

Being vegan and zero waste makes it VERY challenging to find an advent calendar. The traditional ones are cardboard on the outside and have a big plastic holder in the middle. And they're single use!

This wall hanging calendar came from Canadian Tire and I will reuse it every year now! Every day there is a pocket with one chocolate covered coffee bean for me and a chocolate covered almond for my partner (both vegan). 

Last night it snowed 15cm...

I keep my house at a balmy 16 celcius (61 farenheit) all winter long. I live in Canada in a small town 40 mins outside Ottawa. Heating the house excessively wastes resources and is not sustainable. So how do I stay warm??

LAYERS

On top I wear a long sleeve shirt, sweater and a thicker sweater or house coat. On the bottom I wear long johns (warm tights / base layer), sweatpants, thick socks and slippers. I use a hot water bottle when I am in bed or curled up on the couch. Flannel sheets and a thick duvet are also a must.

BONUS: I love hot tea and curling up with my hot dogs, both of which keep me extra warm and cozy :)