Hey Nicole, this is awesome! I’m definitely curious to start composting. I’ll have to read up about doing so in Upstate New York because I’m assuming the winter temps would be somewhat of an obstacle. We have a great local CSA that does workshops, I’m guessing they’ll do one on composting eventually.

Yesss! I love to compost. You can do it differently depending o where you live. When I lived in England, I could just dig a hole in the backyard. Staying in an apartment in LA though, I had compost bins and kept them on the balcony. If you drill holes into a big bin, you can keep adding to it (by creating layers of fruit&veg compost, dirt, dried leaves, and water occasionally. Stir a bit) There’s virtually no foul smell if you do it right, though expect some odd insects in there, and the occasional cute baby plants growing!

If you’re used to carrying some reusable things, you’re already half way there! Straws is a tough one to switch to for some reason, but once you start, you’ll feel so good every time you use a steel one! (Or whatever material you choose.)

Oh and as for the water, after living in countries where fresh water is a precious commodity, it always strikes me now (mostly on the East Coast) to go to restaurants with a group, and the waiter brings water and no one touches them and just leaves the table with like half a gallon of beautiful drinking water just sitting there. Some of those waiters are so eager to refill your glass after a single sip I have to have cat-like reflexes to catch them and stop them from refilling when I know I’m getting full and won’t be able to drink anymore. I can’t stand to waste clean drinking water now that I view it as such a precious commodity! I like that you have to request it in California.

Glad to hear you guys are cutting down on plastic! Excited to see it for myself soon when I VISIT! (Yayyyy!) Tell Tucker camels are pretty grumpy and I’ve yet to win one over, despite my best efforts. Which, come to think of it, feels like they’d probably get along quite well…

Cool, Abi! Thanks for sharing! Definitely something I would consider in the future if I had a home base and a period again 🙂

That’s awesome! I think composting is going to be one of my next big projects… my mom did it at our house when I was growing up, so I don’t know why I haven’t carried on the tradition!

Finally got into your Instagram pics from Egypt. Tucker wants to know if you are bringing the Camel home with you. He thinks he would be fun to hang out with.

Love Dad