A Trip to the Co-op

I have briefly mentioned the Gainesville Citizens Co-op in the past, but I want to elaborate on the zero waste treasures this store holds within. At first, I disregarded the Co-op as a good place to shop because it's a 20 minute drive for me to get there(far by Gainesville standards). However, about a month into my journey, I decided to give them a call to find out what type of items they stocked. At this point, I had been desperately searching for a place that carried liquid bulk, but had mostly given up hope, deciding that my ability to achieve zero waste would be limited by this missing piece of the puzzle. Instead, I hit the jack pot.

The first time I went to the store, I wandered around with a goofy grin on my face, marveling at all the things I could now buy package-free. This was shortly after my troubles at the Publix deli counter, so finding a place where bringing my own containers was welcomed and encouraged felt a bit like fighting my way through the jungle and landing at a tiki bar.

So here's what they've got- 

First, they carry a decent variety of local, organic, package-free, sticker-free produce, and it's the only place I've found un-stickered apples and naked bananas. This seems to vary, however, as there have been times when I've seen both items with stickers, but I've never seen the bananas wrapped up in the crime scene tape. They also have a large amount of dry bulk goods, which is mostly the same as what I've found at Earth Origins, with a few notable exceptions: pasta, active dry yeast, and cornstarch.

Drum roll for the liquid bulk:

Canola oil, olive oil, honey(partially pictured)
Bragg's liquid amino acid, organic unpasteurized apple cider vinegar,
organic tamari(just like soy sauce, only w/o gluten),
balsamic vinegar (partially pictured).
They also have maple syrup in the refrigerated section.

Here we have multiple scents of Dr. Bronner's liquid castille soap, bulk laundry powder, all-purpose biodegradable cleaners, and an entire line of Griffin Remedy personal care products- shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, bubble bath. All paraben-free, biodegradable, and vegan. And every time one of the pumps gets pushed down, an angel gets its wings. 

For filling up on liquid bulk, I bring a variety of glass and plastic bottles that I began saving at the start of my journey. The Co-op usually has extra bottles stored under one of the shelves for anyone who doesn't have their own. This is also a great place to bring any of your own extra bottles and leave them for re-use. When I first started going to the Co-op, they sold glass jars with rubber seals and swing-top glass bottles, all in a variety of sizes and completely package-free. I bought a few jars and bottles each time I visited until I had enough in which to store all my bulk purchases. However, during the last 6 months, I noticed their supply of these slowly dwindling. When I went last week, they were completely gone except for 3 glass jars. I was told that people hadn't been buying them and they didn't have it in their budget to keep them in stock. I was also told that if people began requesting them, they would re-consider stocking them again.

My most recent trip to the Co-op from left to right:
Olive oil in swing-top bottle purchased from the Co-op,
tamari and maple syrup in bottles that I saved,
last 3 air-tight jars from the Co-op,
chili powder in saved jelly jar,
corkscrew pasta, sticker-free apples and avocados.

The distance to the Co-op is still a prohibitive factor for me, but I am able to stock up on bulk items such that I only need to go about once every 2 months. I also combine my trip with other errands that are somewhat nearby.

I am aware that the Co-op has been in the news lately regarding problems between the management and some employees, but I refrain from making any judgements, as it is impossible to know all the details in these types of situations. All I know is that every time I go to the Co-op, I am met by friendly, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful staff members. Membership is not required to shop there, and I am not a member.

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Making Changes

When my son was born, Robeez were extremely popular.

However,  I was baffled when I received a pair as a baby gift, having no idea what they were at the time or why they were all the rage.  He was born in August in Dallas, so I didn't have any need for footwear until the colder weather came when he was a few months old. I began using the Robeez at that time, and quickly learned why they were such a hit. As he grew and started walking, I bought more pairs, never purchasing any hard soled shoes. In April of 2006, when he was 19 months old, we planned our first post-baby ski trip to Colorado. As we got ready, I realized that Robeez weren't going to cut it for walking around in the snow.

My husband and I took my son to a shoe store and promptly found a very cute and practical pair of boots. As soon as my son realized we were going to put the boots on his feet, he began screaming hysterically and kicking wildly. We had many curious peekers looking to see the people who were (apparently) hogtying their child in the middle of Payless. There was absolutely no negotiating or rationalizing our way through this situation. I eventually just held the sole of the shoe up to the bottom of his foot (not easily done either) and called it good. I figured that once we were in Colorado, I could show him that playing in the snow would require boots on his feet. Off we flew.

He never set boot in the snow. In fact, he didn't take one single step in those boots the entire week we were there, although he did let us put them on just so we could carry him outside.

The day we got back from the trip, I unpacked
our bags, momentarily placing the boots on the floor.
My son promptly walked over, plopped himself down,
stuck his sweet little foot in the air, and demanded 'Boots on!'
(insert mommy eye twitch here)

I share this story as an illustration of the challenges I face when introducing changes into my home. Most people are resistant to change, especially when it's initiated by someone else, and my desire to switch to zero waste has set off a huge series of changes in what we eat, what we purchase, and the activities in which we partake. I tried to begin by changing the things that nobody else cared about too much, like the paper products, the re-usable items, and buying our usual food package-free. After that, almost every change has been a slow process of give and take.

In the beginning, as much as I wanted to say THIS is our new way of doing things, or THIS is the only type of food I will be buying, I knew if I behaved like a tyrant, I would alienate myself from my family. Above all, I believe that people are more important than things(zero waste counts as a 'thing'), and I constantly strive to remain connected with my family, especially when we disagree. I spend a lot of time explaining what I wish to do and my reasons for wanting to do it, and I try to treat everything as an experiment, always leaving the option open to reject things that don't work. Still, I don't always handle situations perfectly and things rarely go smoothly. My kids seem to take turns with accepting changes, such that there is hardly agreement when I present new zero waste foods or items.  As frustrating as this is, my kids have taught me that the best way to handle their reticence is to back off. (I have found this to be true with all people, actually). Anytime something is forced, defenses go up, heels get dug in, and disconnection follows. I've learned that gentle, repeated exposure to new things is the only comfortable way for them to be accepted by others.  This has required me to develop much more patience than I had pre-kids, and to tuck my ego safely away, although I am far from perfect at doing these things.


This doesn't mean our journey is all smooth sailing now, but after a year and a half of following this path, the dust has mostly settled, allowing all of us to enjoy the many benefits of zero waste living. My recommendation to someone embarking on an endeavor that requires a change of habit, especially if the decision means change will be requested of others, is to begin slowly and with deep respect for the process of change that takes place on an individual basis.

How is your journey going?

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Package-Free Grocery Shopping

When I began taking a closer look at the things going into the trash can each day, it was immediately apparent that food packaging was the #1 source of our waste. I started to search for places that offered package-free grocery shopping and was amazed to discover so many options.

1. Farmers Markets-

There are 7 markets in the Alachua County area. These are great for picking up local, organic, sticker-free, package-free produce(bring your totes and produce bags). Frequently, there are a variety of other foods that can be found without packaging, or at least in containers that can be returned to the vendors. I buy eggs, honey, mustard, jelly, and flats of strawberries, and bring back the empty containers. I also buy homemade empanadas and lasagna at the farmers market, placing them in containers I bring with me. The vendors experience the direct cost of any type of packaging, so they are thrilled when people bring their own containers or return empties. Some even offer a discount.

From the farmers market- The jars and strawberry flat will
be returned when empty. The empanadas make a delicious
and quick meal anytime during the week.

2. Bulk bins-

Most people think of places like Sam's or Costco when they hear the word 'bulk', but the bulk bins I'm referring to are the ones in grocery stores with the scoops. In Gainesville, these bins are in some Publixes, Earth Origins, Fresh Market, the Gainesville Citizens Co-op, and Ward's. They contain things like rice, beans, flour, sugar, granola, nuts, and pasta.  Customers usually fill up plastic bags with these dry goods, write the item number on a twist tie, then take them to check out. For zero waste, I use my mesh and cotton bags and keep a list of the numbers in my phone to tell the cashier.

3. Salad bars and specialty bars within grocery stores-

The Fresh Market has an olive bar, a prepared seafood bar, and a salad bar. The store provides containers at each station, which I bring back with me and reuse. The variety of ready-made food that is available at these bars is great for quick family meals or for entertaining guests.

4. Deli, meat, and seafood counters-

These are tough because it requires being brave enough to withstand receiving strange looks and possible rejection when requesting to have food put into your own containers. The first time I tried this at a Publix deli, the person behind the counter seemed annoyed, then told me they couldn't honor my request because of contamination issues. I left feeling somewhat stupid, as well as angered, because I knew that what I was asking them to do was not a big deal, just unusual and not part of our culture. Before my next shopping trip, I wavered between trying again or just giving up, but I felt determined to make it work. This time I decided to start by speaking to a manager, explaining the purpose behind my request, and finding out more about the store's official policy. When I first approached him with my questions, the look in his eyes made me think he was contemplating calling security. I was glad I had taken the time to dress somewhat nicely, and I tried to give off the general vibe of someone who was not about to start throwing animal feces. After deciding I was feces free, he told me that he didn't know about any policy in regards to using my own containers, and took me with him to talk to the head of the meat department. They were both extremely nice, and after some discussion, it seemed that my request would be honored. However, my next trip to the deli was met with the same refusal, even after I told them about my discussion with the manager, etc. I then made a phone call to the Publix corporate offices and learned that officially, the concern with contamination is not from the meat(or whatever) being placed into my container, it's from my container coming into contact with their sanitized equipment. Fair enough. This means, however, that they can slice and weigh my food the same as always, but instead of sliding it into their disposable plastic bags, they can place it into my reusable container. At this point, I was a bit tired of making a scene at the deli counter, but I didn't back down, and eventually all the people working at the deli got to know me and now my containers are no big deal. For the record, the Fresh Market has never once questioned my containers and they have the best selection of unpackaged meats, seafood, and ready-made meals that I have found in town. Most people now give me tons of compliments on my use of containers and constantly tell me what a good idea it is.

Sliced turkey from Publix, sliced cheese and wild salmon from Fresh Market.

Shopping without packaging definitely required my family to adjust some of the foods we were eating, which was not always warmly welcomed, but our diet has become varied and healthier as a result. Most packaged foods have been processed in some way, with preservatives added, and sometimes the packaging itself contains undesirable chemicals. It is true that not all unpackaged items are health food, like bulk candy and certain snack foods, but the majority is healthful and is far cheaper than its packaged counterpart.

The author of Zero Waste Home created a free app to help people locate package-free food options in their area. It is still in it's infancy and has some issues, but the more people who use it and give feedback, the better it will become.

Thanks for stopping by,
Allison

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