Compacting… My Pledge

Yes, I found another thing to sign up for (it’s a good thing Eric never reads this!)

But THIS one is really useful! Really!

Compacting: The Compact has several aims more or less prioritized below:
- To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc. — a step that, we hope, inherits the revolutionary impulse of the Mayflower Compact.
- To reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-or).
- To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact) .
(Copied from Mama’s on the Compact)

Well, I’m signing up to try this out for the next 4 months… yes, just in time for back to school and Christmas. ugh. It shouldn’t be too hard though, right?

Well, here goes. My Pledge.

I pledge (starting on Aug 1, 2008) to not buy anything new from a big box store for the next 4 months – through Jan 1, 2009.

If we need something, we will utilize freecycle, craigs list, goodwill, 2nd hand shops, etc.

I also pledge to donate un-used items through the aforementioned channels.

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Some exceptions:

As I have a business to run, I can purchase NECESSARY items for that – thread, notions, printer paper, etc. No fabric shopping sprees though. I really need to use up what I already have!

As the hubby has some projects that he wants completed by the end of Summer, we are allowed to purchase mulch and blocks to build the terraces in the back, although I will post to freecycle to see if there are any available there first.

In the event that we do not have enough canning jars left (after giving them away last year – filled, of course!) we can purchase some new ones – or find them on freecycle! I will need to purchase new seals though.

Christmas…
Christmas gifts will be handmade wherever possible. In the event that we do not already have everything necessary to complete a project, we can purchase the needed items provided that we already have 75% of the needed supplies, and there is no way to work around the missing supplies (like foam for that certain gift…)

Christmas Gifting can also be purchased through Indie/small businesses to help support my fellow independent crafters. Etsy is a good thing!

Back To School…
After looking over the supply lists, I think we have 95% of what is required. As I don’t have the tissue boxes & glue already on hand (and they want new ones for that!) I will need to buy new. New purchases will be on an absolute MUST HAVE as required by the school. No “oh Mommy, but I WANT it!” purchases.

As per tradition, Eric can take the girls to get 1 new outfit each. It’s just a Daddy thing. HOWEVER, I will be making a trip down to Others Mothers to trade in old clothes, and get clothes appropriate for school!

Before purchasing any new fabric for clothes, I will use up what we already have. There should be plenty for the next couple of years!

Shoes. As their feet are growing, we will need to get more shoes. HOWEVER, we do not need to buy 5 new pairs each! They can each have 1 pair of running shoes and 1 pair of dress shoes.

Tights. There really isn’t a way around this one… they need new ones, and 2nd hand ones just don’t seem to exist. I’ve looked, a lot.

Part of this pledge extends to school lunches. They each have a Laptop Lunchbox, and a bento box. We do not need to purchase plastic baggies for lunches. I will NOT do it! They will take their lunch each day, and they will be filled with wholesome, homemade food. No pre-packaged junk! This worked well last year, although I did have a couple of slip-ups.

Books.
We will utilize PaperBackSwap.com for new books.
This will help with cleaning out some old books too – a pleasant by-product.

Software.
Unfortunately, there are a couple of programs that we do need, and as we have funds, we can purchase those. No games though.

Flowers.
As per a prior agreement, Eric is allowed to buy flowers for the kitchen. Actually, he is allowed to buy flowers for any reason at all! ;~)

Music.
Electronic purchases are allowed. They don’t end up in a landfill somewhere, and are one of the few things that Eric spends $ on – and it isn’t excessive by any stretch. HOWEVER, we need to continue weeding out the CD’s we no longer listen to.

Birthdays.
We can purchase “specialty” ingredients to bake birthday cakes. We have wrapping paper, bags & tissue, and should have plenty of decorations. We can use regular dishes instead of paper plates. Invitations can be handmade. Gifts can be purchased from Indie shops or handmade. Even for the gents…

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Outside of these exceptions, we will re-use, recycle or do without. It should help on the financial front too. Honestly, Target is my biggest downfall. It doesn’t seem to matter what I go in for, I end up spending around $100 somehow. It’s frustrating.

For food, we should be set for a while.
- We get our veggies from a CSA farm weekly, and that lasts into October.
- We purchased a 1/4 of a pig, so we have meat for a bit.
- The currants are coming in, so we will have jam made to last for a few months. I need to go pick some berries though.
- Once the apples are in we can make some applesauce.
- I pledge to make bread at least once per week. It’s cheaper, and I know what is going into it.
- The herbs are doing well, and are drying now for use until next Summer.

I also pledge to not purchase any new plants during the next 4 months. If I really want something, I will see if someone else has a start for it. This will be a hard one! Anyone have Lemon Balm? How about Basil? I will trade Oregano for it! Or Lavender! Please?

I pledge to use cloth napkins and towels rather than paper. We have some paper napkins on hand that we can use for camping. We were doing this, but the girls found the stash & went back to paper.

Unless something vital breaks (a possibility!) we will not purchase new. Vital: the oven, washing machine, etc. The car already broke, so that’s no longer an issue!

Well, I think thats just about enough loopholes, don’t you?

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