Little Kat, Big Planet

Growing up, I was involved. In my school, in my community, in extra-curricular activities. My mom definitely knew the value of having activities in life - new skills, connections with new people, a new lens through which to see the world. But the thing is, most of the things didn't stick. I was a quitter (sorry Mom). Maybe this is a reflection on myself and how I view my place in the world, but I could rarely keep up with a hobby (or sport or skill) for more than a year or two. And sewing was one of those skills. I learned the basics when I was nine or ten. I knew how to thread a machine, how to backstitch and that pinking shears were strangely necessary... And that was it. My interest in sewing never really developed into a lasting interest and love for the craft. I had no need to make my own clothes, and even if I wanted to, most of the available patterns were outdated. There was just no reason for me to keep up with it. Fast forward to today. Slowly, over the last year or so, I&

It's June 2020. It's been over a year and a half since I've written on this blog. But I think it's time to revive it.  We're in the middle of a global pandemic, a civil rights revolution, and a climate crisis. I need a forum to collect my thoughts, my photos, and my memories. And my hobbies... My ever-growing list of hobbies. The only social media platform I currently use is Instagram, which doesn't seem able to capture the feeling I'm looking for: part photo journal, part time capsule, part lifestyle blog.  I'm hoping this can be a basket in which I place my small successes when they occur, and where I can teach and learn from anyone else who finds me here! I'm learning as I go, but I love to share. A small preview of the types of topics I plan to blog about: - Urban gardening - Canning and preserves - Sewing - Knitting - Sewing machine repair - Social justice (racism, prison, poverty) - Film - Sustainability

When shopping around for litter-free lunch alternatives, a product that inevitably presents itself is the beeswax food wrap. The wraps are made by saturating cloth fabric with beeswax, making a moldable, slightly tacky-feeling sheet. You warm the wrap with your hands to melt the wax, which lets it form to whatever shape you want! These had been on the periphery of my zero-waste efforts for some time, but I impulse-bought a variety-sized set at a farmer's market a week and a half ago. I was sold on the cute patterns, and the knowledge that they were locally made by people who source their beeswax ethically. So, $26 later, I was carting home something I hadn't planned to buy, but that I was keen on integrating into my lunchbox nonetheless. I experienced buyer's remorse almost immediately. We already have so many reusable containers, I didn't really need more accessories for my lunch. I actually tend to bring snacks that don't need packaging at all, like apples, ba

If you're like me, you probably spent a long time in blissful ignorance about the dangers facing our planet. And, if you're like me, you didn't know that there is more to sustainability than simply recycling, using energy efficient lightbulbs, or using the clothesline instead of turning on the dryer. So today's post is going to address an aspect of our lives so huge, that it can leave you scratching your head about where to start. And that is plastic. Remember the "Three R's" that we learned in elementary school? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The order they're presented is important, especially in the context of plastic - we should be reducing our plastic use, and reusing items (like yogurt containers) before tossing them in the recycling bin (after cleaning them out, of course!) And what's more, only about 9% of plastics are being recycled in North America, according to the EPA. You can find sources for this claim and more in this really cool video by

I have been talking about starting a blog for some time now. I considered designing my own, but I have since decided to take most of the design work out of it, removing one of the biggest barriers to entry. So we now have a beautiful (is it beautiful?) Google-approved layout. I'll warn you now - I'm not a great writer. But I hope to improve, and hopefully a little bit of practice will help. The reason I'm starting this blog is to keep track of the many, many things I've tried recently to try and minimize my effect on the planet. I'm hoping to bank vegetarian recipes, review some zero-waste products, and assess the impact of some of my lifestyle changes on myself, my family, and the environment. So whether you're a friend who is interested in keeping up with my day-to-day, a family member worried that I'm not getting enough protein, or just someone interested in hearing a first-hand take on a new product (hello reusable menstrual pads), I will try my b