A friend recently turned me on to this fantastic blog Zero Waste Home.

Just in time as I was just getting to the point of frustration with all of the trash I have my family has created.  I have been recycling all of the mini yogurt containers and almond milk boxes I collect.  I have had less time to hand make all of the things I use.  Usually I never throw things out, (I’m an artist!), but have recently ridded myself of clutter.

If you are like me and really want to get to a place where you feel you are not contributing to the Story of Stuff, check out Bea’s tips and recipes.

Below are her recipes for a zero waste household:

Zero Waste Recipes

http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com/2010/03/zero-waste-recipes.html

These are recipes of items that I have not been able to find in bulk or as a refill, items that our household “can’t live without”. We have tried and tested many recipes but these are the ones that have made the cut because they tasted good and worked best for us (which is why I won’t give the instructions on how to wash your hair with baking soda, or make cheese from kefir). Most importantly my recipes only require very few ingredients (all available in bulk, except for the yogurt starter) and are easy/quick to make. Every home is different: you might not find the toothpowder to your liking, and can find more options (with more ingredients) online. Experiment, have fun and make quantities that last!

Bathroom

Tooth powder:

2 tb baking soda

1/8 ts white stevia powder

In a parmesan shaker

(for my shaker pictured, it takes 16tb baking soda, 1 ts stevia)

Hair Spray:

2-4 lemons sliced

Cover with water

Simmer for 30 min

Strain

Pour in spray bottle

Add 1tb rhum or vodka

Vitamin E balm:

1 tb beeswax

4 tb vitamin E (a friend gave me some but you can find sesame oil in bulk. It has a high concentration of vitamin E, and does not carry the strong smell)

Pour in small tin (got mine from Container Store)

Let cool

I use this balm on under eye, lips, hair tips, and home applications that call for Vaseline, like greasing up our attic ladder…

Lip/Cheeks Stain:

Cook beets, as you normally would, in a bit of water (eat the beets)

Reduce the left over juice until it thickens

Add a splash of vodka

Pour into a glass roll-on

Laundry/Cleaning

Ironing Starch:

1 pint water

1 tb cornstarch

In a spray bottle

Drain Cleaner:

¼ c. baking soda in your drain

Followed by ½ c. white vinegar

Multi Purpose Cleaner:

1 ½ ts. castile soap (optional, for scent)

3 ts. white vinegar

4 c. water

In a spray bottle.

Kitchen

Mustard:

Soak ¾ c. yellow mustard seeds in ¾ c. white vinegar + ½ c. white wine, in a canning jar

Blend (immersion blender) with salt and 2 ts honey

Add water to reach your preferred consistency

Vanilla Extract:

Combine 2 vanilla beans chopped, ½ c. brandy, ¼ water

Steep for 3 days

Strain

Pour in glass bottle

Hot Sauce:

Blend ½ c. chiles (serrano or jalapeno), 2/3 c. vinegar, 1 ¾ ts salt

Steep for 3 days

Strain

Pour in glass bottle

Soymilk:

Soak 2 c. soy beans overnight

Drain

Blend (immersion blender) with 12 c. water

Strain and squeeze in handkerchief into a large pot

Add sugar and vanilla to taste

Bring to a boil

Boil for 10min

Let cool

Pour in a glass (Straus Creamery) milk bottle

Lasts a week

or check out Rachel Rossitto’s Almond Milk recipe by signing up for her newsletter here

Yogurt (you need a thermometer):

Heat oven to 100-150, turn light on

Heat 4 c. milk on the stove to 185F

Pour milk in a French or mason canning jar

Cool milk to 110F

Add yogurt starter or ¼ c. yogurt that you already have

Put in oven, turn oven off, keep light on (to keep temp at 110F)

(to save energy, you can also drop the jar in a 110F water bath in a closed pressure cooker)

Wait 4-6 hrs

Refrigerate

http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com/2010/03/zero-waste-recipes.htmlrt

I made my own yogurt using walnuts for awhile, not for those with weak stomachs! I also tried using coconut yogurt and could not get it to thicken.