Interrupt the waste stream

We feel a moral obligation to keep our waste stream just as low as we can in today's world. One way to do this is to stop buying so much stuff. Stuff comes in packages, wears out, breaks, etc. adding to the waste stream. Of course having a pitifully small income helps, we can't afford to buy much stuff!

But we do have pets, although the cats are more working animals since they help manage the rodent population around the farm. But the rodents (and unfortunately birds) are not enough to feed our active animals and we buy pet food to supplement their diets. It used to be that their food came in paper sacks, which we could compost. Then the manufacturer switched to plastic coated paper sacks, which were not compostable and not reusable. Lately they've changed to a woven plastic material similar to a tarpaulin.

From Waste Stream

These are really high quality bags! Similar bags are also used for many pet food and packaged animal feeds nowadays. We're saving these for reuse later, maybe as sand bags. How many uses can you think of for some really good quality, slightly used bags? Earthbag construction maybe?

Other items in the waste stream include used boxes, newspapers, junk mail, just about all paper based packaging. We've been collecting this material from our local network all winter and will be using it for sheet mulch, plain old mulch, and compost this year. We run a small CSA and are asking our members to collect packaging and autumn leaves for us as well. Some have been nice enough to shred their junk mail for us.

So, interrupt that waste stream and collect as many quality bags and other items as you can!