trying to live toxic-chemical-free?

Table of Contents

• how toxic chemicals motivate environmentalism

• detox as a gateway drug — or a snowball

• treks in the snow & in the writing world

Hi all!

If you've thrown away your black plastic kitchen utensils in recent weeks, you're not alone.

Toxic chemicals have been big in the news lately, especially PFAS in our nonstick cookware and flame-retardants in our black kitchen utensils.

After some headline-grabbing research had countless Americans tossing their black plastic utensils, its now been found that those researchers miscalculated. In a simple decimal error, they stated the safe limit of the relevant chemicals to be around 42,000 ng per day instead of 420,000 ng per day. Meaning, the threat is real but less severe than they thought.

But having so little knowledge of what we’re consuming and surrounding us by, and the threats attached to that, is a powerful motivator — especially when our loved ones might be affected.

So how can we turn a temporary panic into a positive spiral? one that can help the planet, help our loved one's health, and help us feel more security and control in our lives?

how toxic chemicals motivate environmentalism

as I’ve been revising my book proposal (more details below), I’ve been going back through interview quotes, this week focusing on the topic of what motivated people to change their lifestyles.

Toxic chemicals have historically a huge motivator for environmentalism — think Rachel Carson in Silent Spring — but in my interviews, I was also able to hear case studies of how they can motivate dramatic shifts towards sustainable living.

I met Nancy as a co-owner at Whole Village Ecovillage in Caledon Hills, Ontario. We sat in her studio apartment, a collection of individual rooms that branched out from common areas: the main dwellings at Whole Village are set up like spokes of a wheel, a series of private spaces stemming from shared kitchen, dining, living, and play spaces.

Decades before Nancy moved to, and later helped run, an ecovillage, she started her journey by trying to avoid chemicals put on the food she bought.

Can the prevalence of toxic chemicals be a motivator for more drastic lifestyle changes? How can we leverage this?

detox as a gateway drug — or a snowball

Generating a snowball effect takes a big push, and then gradual, consistent changes.

These big toxic chemical scares offer a push. Now, they can lead to bigger effects if we keep taking small actions on the things we can control, one at a time.

Here are some of the big ideas gaining popularity right now:

• consider using natural building materials for your next construction project, like adobe and cob

• try to get produce directly from farmers and distributors, instead of supermarkets, where products are mass-treated, even if they’re organic. if heading to the farmers’ market every week is a hassle, try out a CSA box or a conscientious grocery delivery service. these help support small farmers, too!

• look for kitchen items made of glass, rubber, wood, and bamboo

• try out a cast-iron pan

• or a delivery service of environmentally-safe cleaning products

(Note: none of these links are sponsored, just some quick ideas & articles you can check out if you’re interested)

treks in the snow & in the writing world

I’ve been frolicking around Oregon this weekend with my former college roomie Eva, exploring this winter wonderland and putting up the first grassroots newsletter stickers in portland, oregon!

Writing-wise, I’m back in the thick of revising my book proposal — the 50-or-so-page business proposal you need to send out to land a nonfiction book deal — with the plan of sending it out by early March.

Grass roots newsletter has been growing like crazy lately — we’ve gotten 100 or so new subscribers in the past weeks, and half a dozen new paid subscribers. I’m so grateful to you all for being here ❤️ 

Much love,

Jasper