Running to Save the World, Knitting to Save my Sanity (Plus a GIVEAWAY!)

When we were still living in Michigan, one of the magazines that I acquired had an ad for Nike® of a female runner, standing there, looking all bad-a$$.  The caption was something to the effect of "Yeah, I could be a knitter, but then I wouldn't be a good runner."  I'm totally paraphrasing.  I can hardly remember the Pledge of Allegiance, so I surely can't remember, verbatim, an ad from pre-2007.  Anyway, I was, at the time, not a runner, although I did go to the gym regularly and workout with weights, cardio, and pilates classes.  I was also already knitting, so I remember taking great umbrage at the ad.  Why can't I be in shape AND knit?  Heaven knows that, in Michigan, one can never have too many knit scarves during the winter months.

Fast forward to last fall, when I actually began running for the first time since high school.  I learned that I really do enjoy running (even when someone whose name rhymes with Schmooey trips me because she saw a cat on the other side of the street) and that my knees can handle it (amazing what happens when one stops wearing high heels every day of the week, right?) and even feel great afterwards.  I signed up for my first run - the Colon Cancer Alliance's Undy 5000 - and had a blast.  Then I signed up for London's Run, Dakota's Run, and more.  This year I've signed up for the Undy 5000 again, and I'll be signing up for several more in the next few weeks.

All of my runs have this in common: they help raise money for organizations dedicated to helping others.  Whether that is finding a cure for colon cancer, the cancer that took my dad from me, or helping out military families like the Tillmans, I run even more happily knowing that my entry fee went to more than the pockets of various racing companies.  I am able to run; I need to utilize that ability to help those who might be so weak from chemo a walk to the bathroom is a challenge or who are struggling to make ends meet because their loved ones perished fighting for the freedom I so enjoy.

In spite of all my running, I have also recently made sure that I find time to knit.  Knitting is relaxing to me in a way that running isn't.  When I work late into the evening - shocking that I'd have to do that while on jury duty - I usually knit at least a few rows of one of my projects to wind down before going to bed.  I've finally finished my 2-year-old daughter's baby big-girl blanket as well as a scarf that I'd started before I became pregnant (when your puppy likes to eat yarn, you are very cautious about your knitting habits).  I even made Wee One a sparkly purple scarf with some yarn remnants that I had, although she hasn't taken to wearing it quite yet; she's waiting for it to cool down to the mid-90's again.  Currently one of my projects is my first double-knit scarf that I am making for one of my fellow jurors.

But this blog isn't about my knitting.  It's about our family trying to eat better and live more sustainably.  I willingly posted pictures of the food that I threw out, which has given me pause at how I consider my ability to "just compost it."  I've talked about how I am no longer using shampoo (still loving it).  I look to support my local businesses and pass my favorites on to my readers, should they have a sudden need to find the best ice cream on the planet.

But this time, my knitting is helping be more sustainable.  The summer we spent in DC right before we came back to Arizona, I discovered an awesome knitting shop over by Eastern Market.  The ladies who run this shop love to have customers sit and knit, and they have many special kinds of yarn that you won't find at the large chain stores.  They also have some interesting knitting magazines.  It was in one of these magazines that I saw a picture of a bag knitted out of plastic bags.  I was intrigued, to say the least, and that magazine traveled back to Arizona with us among my other knitting patterns and books.

Here's the thing - everyone knows the phrase, "reduce, reuse, recycle," right?  Many of us, myself included, feel like we are doing our part when we toss a soda can in the recycle bin.  We're recycling - that's good for the planet.  But what many of us, myself again included, often forget is that "reduce, reuse, recycle" is stated in order of importance.  Reduce first; when you can't reduce, attempt to reuse.  As a last resort, recycle.

Cukes in a bag

So how do I reuse those plastic bags?  DUH - a bag knitted out of them!  We all get those plastic bags, whether they are from the grocery store produce/bulk sections or through CSAs.  On the average week, we receive 6 plastic bags from our CSA.  Now, Desert Roots Farm can't very well deliver arugula to us just strewn at the bottom of a bag; that arugula has to be contained.  I completely understand that.  And thus far, I have been too lazy not been able to return the bags to the farm so they may reuse them another week (I'm not even sure that they would be able to, to be honest - I know there are regulations about things).  So I've been saving those weekly bags and have made, for your viewing pleasure, a bag made out of bags:

The handles are another remnant yarn - reducing my purchasing.

Hanging with my assortment of reusable bags

Close-up - a simple stocking stitch

I also took three of the brown paper bags that we get each week, stapled them together, and then sealed them with duct tape in order to make a bottom for the bag:

I had a student write a fascinating essay last year regarding "paper or plastic" that culminated in the argument "neither."  While the paper bags won't choke a seal when tossed into the ocean, the energy, water, and (obviously) trees that it takes to continue to make these bags is staggering (the student's argument was amazing and well-researched, and he truly earned an A).  I can recycle these bags, of course, but I am also trying to reuse them when I can't reduce them personally, although.... I think only having one per week is nothing to sneeze at, reduction-wise.

It's got amazing tensile strength, so although I would not recommend taking to out to buy a bagful of bricks, you can most certainly get many goods in there.  It WILL stretch to a point (I did reinforce it with fishing line, so it won't stretch infinitely).

Here's where the knitting, sustainability, and giveaway aspects come together.

I am giving away this handmade bag to one lucky follower.  

In addition to this bag, I'm also offering some reusable, mesh produce bags that I love.  These are fantastic for produce, like these tomatoes (we actually got them from our CSA, but I transferred them into the mesh bag so I could use the plastic one), and they are also great when shopping in the bulk foods aisle, like when you need to buy chickpeas.

They can also be utilized for when the local 2YO needs a bag in which to put her "friendship bracelets" in order to help Dora and Swiper get all the friendship bracelets to everyone around the world (don't let your child watch this episode if you hope to have him or her have a true understanding of geopgraphy; apparently Paris is on the Atlantic coast).

"Oh, no, Mommy - we have to return the friendship bracelets!"

To enter into this contest, all you need to do is leave a comment here telling me what you try to do in order to either reduce or reuse.  It doesn't have to be in the kitchen - it can be any aspect of your home or work.  I hope that everyone who comments (and me, too) can get some great ideas for further reducing and reusing items!

Comments will be open through Sunday, August 28.  The winner will be selected via random number generator on Monday, August 29.

Good luck - can't wait to see how you reduce and reuse!

Hmmm... who knew I could run AND knit in order to save the world...