Isn't that what husbands are forNo worries, it will be recycled!
I'm presently laid up with a knackered back..tried to move some mahoosive paving stones on my own this morning to try and finish the path to the compost bin, (silly woman!) So it will be early next week before I can post your thank you package.
Why do I do this? Just got so fed up with waiting for help to lay just two paving slabs. It's been months waiting for the proffered help, I must remember I can't lift and carry as I once used to!
If you still have one I guess yes. Mine had a fatal stroke.Isn't that what husbands are for
It would have been better if more thought to sustainability had been given at the time. But it was about making money. Cotton bags, or wicker or sisal, all of which I use are far more sustainable, but sadly don't make as much money for the producer.The guy who invented the plastic carrier bag did so to create a reusable bag as we were felling way to much forest to supply the demand for wood to make paper for bags
I wasn't making a statement, just a little known bit of info on the carrier bag .It would have been better if more thought to sustainability had been given at the time. But it was about making money. Cotton bags, or wicker or sisal, all of which I use are far more sustainable, but sadly don't make as much money for the producer.
I have, a wicker basket from the early 1970s which I still use, and about a year ago, had a new handle put on it. Only it's second handle in all those years.
I agree that we should be thinking twice about paper bags with the massive loss of trees over the years. (Rain forest depletion and fires etc) Cotton bags can be made from old cotton clothing to hold loose veg, and to make wax cotton wraps for fresh cut cheese etc.
There are many ways round it if you look and don't just shop at the supermarket by default.
Sorry to hear thatIf you still have one I guess yes. Mine had a fatal stroke.
Meanwhile, I have to try to do things for myself.
I wasn't making a statement, just a little known bit of info on the carrier bag .
I don't use carrier bags as always have my own
For what reason ? If you have the items you need and some are plastic. Then if they are not disposable, which of course as kit they would not be there is no reason not to use them. In fact better to use them rather than dispose of them.Recently I have been attempting to get a plastic free camp kit. Not as easy as you might think !
So far, my cooking, and tools have been easy. Among my collection I have a canvas rucksack.
I use a tin for my fire kit, and a home made leather tinder pouch.
Ive been making some of my clothes from natural wool or cotton.
Carrying food wrapped in home made waxed cotton or grease proof paper and tied with cotton string. Water bottle is stainless steel, and a milbank bag for filtering water....so far so good.
But, then sleeping and shelter has been much more difficult. I have wool blankets, but they are bulky and heavy, a down bag has a synthetic cover, and unless I want to spend a fortune, with bushcraft spain for a lovely plastic free tarp,(and employ a donkey to cart it, )I'm pretty stumped.
Also I need an air bed, unless I hammock(which is not plastic free either)
So, I'm wondering, is anyone else trying to use more natural materials in their bushcraft,? what is stumping your efforts?
What are your solutions?
I'm still working on things, and am trying to go as light as possible but use as much natural material, and avoid as much plastic as I can. By no means perfect, but I'm getting there very slowly, and trying to make conscious sustainable choices .
Not disagreeing with you. My observations: I see people purchasing ridiculous amounts of kit half of which they never use. The most sustainable way is to use what we already have. I buy once and I am the last owner of pretty much everything I purchase. Planet in peril or no I have always made things, mended and made do. The other thing is that this is a bush craft forum. We can learn how to make most of the things we use for camping anyway. Much better fun, better for learning, better for the spirit and better for the planet. Rant over lol xRecently I have been attempting to get a plastic free camp kit. Not as easy as you might think !
So far, my cooking, and tools have been easy. Among my collection I have a canvas rucksack.
I use a tin for my fire kit, and a home made leather tinder pouch.
Ive been making some of my clothes from natural wool or cotton.
Carrying food wrapped in home made waxed cotton or grease proof paper and tied with cotton string. Water bottle is stainless steel, and a milbank bag for filtering water....so far so good.
But, then sleeping and shelter has been much more difficult. I have wool blankets, but they are bulky and heavy, a down bag has a synthetic cover, and unless I want to spend a fortune, with bushcraft spain for a lovely plastic free tarp,(and employ a donkey to cart it, )I'm pretty stumped.
Also I need an air bed, unless I hammock(which is not plastic free either)
So, I'm wondering, is anyone else trying to use more natural materials in their bushcraft,? what is stumping your efforts?
What are your solutions?
I'm still working on things, and am trying to go as light as possible but use as much natural material, and avoid as much plastic as I can. By no means perfect, but I'm getting there very slowly, and trying to make conscious sustainable choices .
For what reason ? If you have the items you need and some are plastic. Then if they are not disposable, which of course as kit they would not be there is no reason not to use them. In fact better to use them rather than dispose of them.
Just my thoughts
I dont think that for a minute. I read your post carefully. I was just putting forward my own views on the subject, Have less , make more. good way to go. xI think some are missing the point of my origional post. I never said I was getting rid of the items I already have. It was more of a thought/awareness exercise.
I do think that when items do need replacing that I would like to have more natural products, rather than just buy the same old stuff if it was possible.
I already have most of what I need, both in items or clothing.
I just came up against replacing shelter, ie tarp and hammock, air mat, and sleeping bag. There just don't seem to be many alternatives out there. I wondered if the hive mind could come up with viable alternatives that don't weigh half a ton.
Obviously one could use wool blankets, canvas tarps and sheepskins, but they are a) expensive, b)weigh a ton.
So perhaps we can start thinking how this could happen rather than just decide there are no alternatives. And everything is just going to carry on as it is forever.
I do realise that many people try to rationalise their consumption of dwindling and destructive oil recourses, but we have to start thinking of alternatives now, rather than wait for the inevitable bullet to hit.
I'm not trying to preach, just attempting forward thinking.
Remember, I'm looking for alternatives when it comes to shelter and sleeping comfortably, not to preach eradication of plastics, (though that would be no bad thing in my opinion.)
I'm old enough to remember before everything we ate and drank was covered in the stuff and what we wore was a plastic derivative.
So it's not undoable.
For sure, I Iike to make my own things too, (food, clothing and bushcraft gear) and I make a lot of my own stuff, or buy second hand, recently grey cat helped me to make a new belt for an old, second hand rucksack, so it was useable for me, so repurposeing rather than buying new is also high on my list.I dont think that for a minute. I read your post carefully. I was just putting forward my own views on the subject, Have less , make more. good way to go. x
I fully agree , plastic is a great product we just need to limit it's use and learn to recycle it properly.There is some research done that identified a significant amount of the micro plastics found in fish caught in the sea. It was actually from vehicle tyres. Now how do you stop that? We will need a lot of Ash plantations to make enough wooden wheels! Lol!
Now that adds another element, how plastic free is the supply chain for your plastic free solutions? Not very if there is transportation at any stage of production.
I'm afraid that in the modern world there is no such thing as completely plastic free. Kind of like being vegan when pretty much animal products get into all supply chains at some point. Whether it's in the dyes used or what, it's there somewhere unless you make everything from scratch using known sources.
This is why I think we need to look to reduced plastic use not plastic free. We can do one which makes a difference, the other is fantasy or delusion.
Microplastics are found in clouds, so found everywhere.I think I read somewhere a few days ago that micro plastics had been found in the soil around bones on an archaeological dig recently.
I know they are in penguins that are many hundreds of miles from civilisation, and in the snow on top of everest.