Our first stop: USA

Week one in LA. We’re settling in, overcoming jet lag and finding our rhythm as a travelling family. This first stop has been about following paths, connecting dots and setting the scene for the year ahead. The realisation that we are really doing this thing sinks in, we're not heading home for a long time. It's an exciting time, but also a little daunting at this stage. I'm trying my best to trust in the process and be open to what wants to happen.

We made our first attempt at going plastic free for the “Plastic-free picnic” at Long Beach CA. Organised by Bonnie Wright and Greenpeace, as part of the international campaign to reduce single use plastics. We had met our good friend Jen Fella earlier in the week who had given us a tour around the Greenpeace ship, (Arctic Sunrise) that was docked at Long Beach as part of its current tour around the pacific. The picnic was a great start to our world travels and our journey into living with less plastic. We met some people doing really great things, such events are great for making connections with others with a similar passion.

Its about Progress not Perfection

Limited time and resources, meant keeping it simple was our only option. We made simple swaps of using parchment paper rather than plastic wrap and taking along whole fruits and vegetables to save on packaging. I am not going to lie, even this small effort did take some consideration. I recognise there are times when it is just not going to be possible, having the mindset that it's about progress not perfection is helpful. At this stage, its small steps, as and when we can. We are just starting out, I am not an expert, but I will share our ups and downs along the way, in the hope that you may find it useful if you are considering reducing your waste too.

Thanks to Brush with Bamboo, we were gifted with re-useable straws and toothbrushes, that we will use on our travels. Providing us with simple swaps, that seem tiny but can make a big impact over time.

After listening to the panel and researching the zero waste movement, learning more from Bea Johnson of the Zero Waste Movement, about her family’s secret to reducing their annual trash with 5 steps: Refusing, Reducing, Reusing, Recycling, and Rotting, and Lauren Singer of trashisfortossers.com who shares simple tips and offers creative solutions for reducing waste. I realise how far we have come as a family. In the shedding of our stuff ahead of the trip, that seemed to take weeks and weeks. We now carry our items on our backs as we travel and have been freed from the tyranny of things, that take up so much of our time at home.

It’s a pared down, simple life, that feels agile and light. The things we bring in are now considered and intentional. I hope that we can find ways to continue o reduce our waste as we travel, the ultimate challenge will be to continue to reduce waste once we return home in twelve months time.

Have you tried a plastic free picnic? Find some tips here to give it a go. I'd love to know how you get on.