The Zero Waste Family

29/01/2026

It's Day 3 let's grow food on your city patio!

26/01/2026

Day 2 of our gardening series. Stop buying mulch! Do this instead.
Watch the full video on youtube!

24/01/2026

Hey ZWF! Welcome to our gardening series. FREE mulch for your garden using leaves!

24/01/2026

New YouTube video update on my no-buy and how I used up our fall apples going bad by making apple pie and apple vinegar, recipes included.

Welcome to my Week 3 update of my No-Buy Challenge! This week I did a proper food inventory to see what we actually need to eat before buying anything new — ...

23/01/2026

We don’t often think about what our clothes are really made of, but the truth is kind of shocking

Up to 2,000 different harmful chemicals are used to produce textiles, including formaldehyde, chlorine, lead, and mercury. Most of these are used in the dyeing process.

Take denim for example. Almost all of us own at least one pair of jeans. Most denim is produced in China, and in many factory areas the waterways are literally blue, not natural water blue, but polluted with toxic dye and chemical waste.

My jeans just broke beyond repair, so I’m in the market for “new” ones. But instead of buying brand new, I’m heading to the secondhand store, because they’re full of racks and racks of perfectly good jeans already in circulation.

Choosing secondhand isn’t just about saving money.

It’s about reducing demand for toxic production, protecting waterways, and making fashion a little less harmful.

One pair of reused jeans = one less pair polluting the planet 💙♻️

21/01/2026

Save this post for Valentine's Day!

19/01/2026

No-Buy Week 3 update

Week 3 of our no-buy is going really well, and one big reason is that we’re focusing on eating what we already have at home instead of shopping. One pantry staple we always have plenty of is lentils, they’re climate-smart, healthy, and incredibly budget-friendly.

One of my kids’ favorite meals (and a true no-buy hero) is this lentil bolognese-style pasta sauce. It’s fast, protein-packed, and perfect for busy weeknights.

This is a recipe I always keep in my back pocket. It’s flexible, forgiving, and easy to adapt based on what you already have at home—perfect for a no-buy or pantry challenge.

Ingredients:
• 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
• 2/3 cup grated carrots
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 1 large garlic clove, grated
• 1 vegan bouillon cube
• 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes with Italian herbs
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup sour cream or dairy-free alternative
• 1 tbsp oregano
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt to taste
• Optional: grated cheese or dairy-free topping

Instructions:
1️⃣ Combine lentils, carrots, water, onion, and garlic in a pot. Bring to a boil.
2️⃣ Lower heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, until lentils are soft.
3️⃣ Add crushed tomatoes, bouillon cube, brown sugar, ketchup, sour cream, oregano, chili powder, smoked paprika, and salt.
4️⃣ Simmer for another 5 minutes, stirring well.
5️⃣ Toss with your favorite pasta and serve with veggies or a side salad.

No-buy doesn’t mean boring. It often means simpler meals, less waste, less stress, and more money saved. 💚

17/01/2026

Noah has a tip
Switch to rechargeable batteries instead of disposables.

One rechargeable battery can replace hundreds of single-use ones. That means less manufacturing, less transportation, and way less trash in landfills 🌍♻️. Fewer resources used, less pollution create, and more money saved over time.

Just remember: rechargeables still need proper recycling at the end of their life to handle toxic components responsibly.

Small swap. Big impact.
♻️

13/01/2026

New YouTube video and I share about how my no-buy is going and tips for reducing monthly expenses.

I’m about s week into a no-buy project and using what we already have at home—food, cleaning supplies, and personal care products—to reset our spending and o...