Sustainable Minimalists

Got yourself some leather boots? How about a faux leather handbag? The fashion industry relies heavily on both the durability and aesthetic of leather and, these days, vegan leather is rapidly rising in popularity as an ethical alternative to animal-based hides. But what is vegan leather, exactly, and does it stand up to the hype?On this episode, I'm answering a listener's question about the environmental and ethical considerations associated with all-things leather and leather alternatives.Here's a preview:[3:45] Animal-based leather's dirty little secrets[10:15] What is vegan, cruelty-free, plant-based, faux leather? Is it as great as it sounds?[15:00] Everything you need to know before buying an exotic leather[17:30] 5 tips for making informed leather and vegan leather purchases Resources mentioned: Prefer to send an email? Reach out at MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Episode #200: Navigating The Eco-Contradiction Minefield Episode #109: What Are Eco-Friendly Fibers?   * Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Fairy lights for our little girl? A dinosaur theme for our baby boy? When designing our children's nurseries and, later, their big kid rooms, it's natural for parents to get caught up in the aesthetics. After all, designing is fun; researching ethical and eco-friendly products is decidedly not.But sustainable interior design is more accessible today than it has ever been before and with a bit of forethought it's entirely possible to curate beautiful spaces for our children that use lower impact materials.This week's guest is author Rachel Fowler. Rachel combines her knowledge as both a nurse and sustainable interior designer to give us her best ideas for creating nurseries and kids rooms that are safe, minimalist, eco-friendly, and fun. Here's a preview:[6:00] Ten items that should never be in your child's room for health and safety[9:30] What to consider before painting a room's walls and ceiling, with a nod toward wallpaper[16:00] The problems with carpet and vinyl floors[20:00] How to make informed furniture decisions[24:00] What to use instead instead of blackout blinds Resources mentioned: My Happy Place: Healthy, Sustainable And Humane Interior Design For Life And Work Auro paint Episode #190: Curating A Healthy House   * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

"I’d love to hear a podcast episode about a bidet for toilet attachment ... Our family recently got one, and we love it but I know a lot of people have questions about them, including myself." I did it. I bought a bidet attachment, installed it myself and, on this short and sweet episode, I'm answering a listener's question all about whether bidets have a place in a modern family home (and if yes, how).Here's a preview:[2:15] Sleek and (kinda) sexy? The features and benefits of today's bidet for toilet attachment[4:00] Toilet paper's financial and environmental problems[5:15] 5 oversized benefits to embracing a bidet attachment[11:00] My thoughts on bidets in homes with kids[15:00] This week's eco-tip: A creative way for reusing stained kids' clothes Resources mentioned: Why Don’t Americans Use Bidets? (via The Atlantic) Episode #120: Your Sustainability Questions, Answered Tushy bidet attachment    * Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Cooking takes time, and few of us have time to spare. Convenient food options—like processed snacks, meal subscriptions, and even takeout—solve problems for busy adults who feel the pull towards what's quick and easy, and those with disabilities view such options as daily necessities. But for those of us who are able and do indeed have a bit of time? Convenient alternatives have disconnected us from our food. Worse, such options have pushed us farther from cooking, an essential self-sufficient skill.Today I'm speaking with Kate Flynn. Kate is the co-founder and CEO of Sun & Swell, the world's first online, plastic-free health food store. She's on the show to suggest first steps for ways for making fewer convenience-driven food choices in our (hectic) daily lives; she offers tried-and-true hacks from her own kitchen that simplify food routines, too. Here's a preview:[4:00] Three big reasons why the packaged food industry is broken[8:00] Practical ways for those of us who can to fight back against the allure of convenience food options[11:00] What needs to change so that healthy food becomes available to everyone[14:00] How to make smarter choices at the grocery store (without committing to buying only fruits and veggies)[24:00] Food routines that prioritize healthy eating when you're hangry[30:00] My 6 cooking tips for beginner home chefs Resources mentioned: Malk non-dairy milks Honey Mamas chocolate Siete tortilla chips Sun & Swell cookie bites (Use code SUSTAINABLE25 for 25% off your first order!)  * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #177: Becoming A Zero-Waste Chef.* Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.* Watch the unedited version of this interview on Youtube here.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Non-toxic, eco-friendly living is rapidly growing in popularity, and many corporations that sell home cleansers are modifying their marketing (not their products!) to garner more sales. We may not have the time or energy to DIY our own cleaning products, and rampant greenwashing muddles our best attempts at finding the products aligned with our values. What are green cleaners, exactly, and where can they be found? On this episode Megan Mikkelson and I outline tried-and-true ways for finding safe home... Read More Read More The post What Are Green Cleaners (& Where Do I Find Them)? appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Excessive amounts of shoes. Keys that are somehow always lost. We feel it when our entryways *don’t* flow, sure. But in what ways can we elevate an entryway’s function while also ensuring that it remains aesthetically pleasing? My guest today believes that tidy homes elevate personal style. This week I’m speaking with globally recognized home organizing expert Shira Gill who’s here to offer up her best organized entryway ideas for creating spaces that both function and flow.   Here’s a preview:... Read More Read More The post Organized Entryway Ideas appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

“Do you have any tips for making kids arts and crafts more sustainable? I have a craft shelf that the kids love. I keep it stocked and love to encourage their creativity, but it feels so wasteful!”   Pom pons, glitter glue, and googly eyes, oh my. While we all want to provide our children with opportunities to express their creativity, I believe there’s a fine line between offering artistic inspiration and being wasteful. (While we’re at it, there’s also a... Read More Read More The post Simplifying Kids’ Craft Clutter appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Your Minimalism-Guided Life And Career   67% of workers say excessive meetings keep them from getting their best work done, and up to half of an employee’s day is wasted on unproductive effort (source). While we are well-versed in the whys and hows of slow living in our personal lives, our professional ones may be hindered by societal expectations and workplace norms. This week, Chris Lovett and I examine the ways in which hard work, materialism, and busyness collide. Chris had... Read More Read More The post Minimalism: Your Life and Career appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Apple pie, Jack-o-lanterns, and gourds galore: Autumn has arrived! Saving money and environmental resources starts by reducing—or even better, eliminating—food waste in your home. With a bit of forethought, we can get creative in the kitchen and commit to making use of *entire* food items this fall. In this short and sweet episode I’m offering my best suggestions for using every part of our favorite fall foods—pumpkins and apples—including the pumpkin’s guts, the apple’s core, and more.   Here’s a... Read More Read More The post Using The Whole Pumpkin (& The Whole Apple) appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Automobiles convey freedom and status. They’re also a symbol of modern convenience: why walk when you can drive? Why take public transit if you can ride in the comfort of what’s decidedly yours? But a car’s convenience comes with a host of environmental problems that extend beyond the obvious guzzling of gas (which indeed comprises approximately 80-percent of a car’s impact). An automobile’s beforelife requires excessive energy expenditure in the creation of the steel, rubber, glass, and other parts that... Read More Read More The post Going Car-Light appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content