Shopping Bags, Part Two

Hello, dear readers,

Way back in 2009 I did a quite thorough post about bags, meaning the ones we carry to the market or to stores to bring our purchases home in, so as to be very responsible in helping to reduce plastic bags and paper bags use. At that time I was not in the habit of always bringing bags along, and I knew that if I did a post about bags, and researched consciously my choices, I would find the best solution for my own needs. And I thought I had. At that time I concluded I would be most likely to use the big ones that have a flat bottom and handles on top. But, in fact, I ended up using the ones I could pop into my purse and have at the ready anytime needed. I found them less bulky and much easier to actually have with me at any given time. And I do that now, meticulously. They are inexpensive. They are colorful. They wash readily. The only thing I have to do to maintain the practice is to take the time to roll them back up and snap them in place so they are tucked into my purse at the bottom, not getting in the way. The ones I’m currently using look like this:

openbags

And when they are properly rolled up, they condense down to this:

bagsclosed

Handy, right? And I always have them at the ready. And they carry a lot.

But I did have a hole in my routine, as I was still grabbing plastic bags for individual vegetable and fruit purchases. There are those in this community who pop them unwrapped into their shopping baskets but I must be too fastidious to do this. I start thinking of where those carts have been and what they have been carrying. Eeeuuu. And then a marvelous thing happened. A woman behind me in line at the health food store laid out a few sheer white bags full of vegetables on the counter and I said, “Oh, wow. Where did you get those?” And as convenient fate would have it, they were for sale in a display near the door! So I grabbed a few. This is what they look like rolled up:

whiteclosed

And here is what they look like ready for use:

whiteopen

Aren’t they wonderful?? I am so happy to have this solution to that particular ecological need. The packaging says, “Reuse once a week. Reduce as many as 150 plastic bags a year!” I can easily imagine that is true! They are called 3bbags. I’m sure you can google them.

I’d love to hear what solutions you have found to reduce your consumption of plastic and paper bags, and I hope this post inspires you to add another layer, as I just did!

Kitchen blessings,
Kathryn xoxoxo

Book News: On Sunday morning I was the guest of Lillian Brummet on “Conscious Discussions”, a radio show out of British Columbia. Link here. A review of Plant Whatever Brings You Joy was featured on The Ripple Revolution blog! And on Friday I’m looking forward to doing an Author Meet and Greet at 2:00PM at Copperfield’s Books in Healdsburg in Sonoma County! I hope some of you might stop by!

13 Responses to “Shopping Bags, Part Two”

  1. These are such a great find, mom! I’ve wished for such a thing, and appreciate your bringing them to my (and your lovely reader’s) attention. In my neck of the bay, bags are required or you’ll pay ten cents per bag at the store, which the Europeans have done for years. So, I’m used to carrying bags- these produce bags will be a welcome green addition! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Love you,
    Antonia
    xoxo

  2. I use the brown paper bags for all sorts of things from garden mulch to cookie-cooling so I have no quilt. However, these bags do look more convenient. I never remember to take what I have into the store.

  3. Hi, Antonia–Looking forward to sharing my find with you soon! You will love them, I’m sure! Love, Mom xoxoo

  4. Hi, Alice, As my daughter mentions, above, cities are starting to charge for the paper bags we have taken for granted for decades–and, it’s amazing how charging folks 10 cents will get folks to suddenly start bringing in their own bags! If it’s not in place in your neighborhood, here’s a project you and others can sink their teeth into–making a difference in your local landfills! Once you get used to it you wonder what took you so long. ๐Ÿ™‚ Kathryn xoxo

  5. Love the bags, especially the produce ones. I need to get Susan to look for those as I hate the thin produce ones but have not seen an alternative, either. The kids take fabric bags with them all the time when they shop. We still use paper bags from the grocery stores because we use them for recycling in the kitchen (no room for the big bins that we use in our community). We fill two bags with recycling materials and then put them, brown bags and all into one recycling bin so nothing goes to the landfill, everything is recycled. We average 4-6 brown bags a week or more for recycling and usually do not fill one white 13 gallon trash bag a week with actual “trash” for the landfill. All the plastic bages that we do get, from bread, frozen vegs, etc., go back to the grocery store that has a recycling bin for them. I started this years ago when the kids were very little and it’s just second nature for everyone except my husband Ed. We always have to sort his “misplaced” materials out of the wrong place. We are now training the home health aids that come in to take care of Ed so the message is being extended.

  6. That’s fantastic, Julie! You’ve really got it down! Bravo! Love that you’re including the home health folks, too. Kathryn xoxo

  7. Thank you so much for sharing about the produce bags! I always take my reusable bags for my groceries, but like most others, I have been using the plastic bags for my veggies and fruit. Fantastic find! Thank you.

  8. Hi, Don, Glad this serves you, too! Kathryn xoxo

  9. Thank goodness more people are starting to become aware of the need to find other means to carry our produce. Nice alternatives Kathryn!

  10. Hi, Linda and welcome! Yes, isn’t it amazing it’s taken us this long to come up with a choice? How slow we go. ๐Ÿ™‚ Kathryn xoxo

  11. Yes! Thank you for this, I dont have the small white ones that roll up, but I sure will get some asap! I do have the colorful ones however, and finally have progressed to bringing bags with me for the past five years, yet sometimes too would often forget them, now carry them in my purse or back of the car. Again, kudos, your articles just are wonderful, charming & helpful! :)x

  12. Hi, Saera, and welcome to my blog! Yes, it does take a bit of time to establish a new habit (and break the one we have had for decades!). Good for you for integrating the carrying of our own bags. The more of us who do this, the better for our planet Earth. Thank you for the visit. Kathryn xoxo

  13. I hope you will accept the following award below. It is offered in appreciation of all your inspiring works. Please keep inspiring all of us!
    Very Inspiring Blogger Award
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