Hello lovely people! Rain and wind here in Ireland today. Hope you are all keeping well. Next week is a home tour. The most requested video over the last few years. I thought it was the best time to do a home tour in celebration of the audio and ebook which will launch on the same day! Have a great week and see you all next Sunday xxx
Thanks to the covid quarantine, I've re-disvovered the joys of home cooked simple meals, made from scratch, over takeaways. It has really improved my digestion, my energy level & also my sleep. My body feels lighter, my pocket feels much heavier & my heart feels happier :)
There’s also less garbage, less food waste, less energy used, less pollution... the earth thanks you... and so do I. Once you “get the hang of it”, it isn’t hard. I’ve lost count of the number of new gardeners and sourdough bread bakers I’ve mentored during Covid. And before Covid, I was teaching baking classes. People do care, they just need a little support along the way, like we get from this lovely cottage fairy... and her gnome. LOL
Me too. I had stopped cooking after my children left and it was just myself, but covid has given me the opportunity to slow down, go back to my roots and rediscover Spanish Andalusian cooking. It’s so much better and satisfying than buying processed frozen foods!
I also no longer buy the majority of these things 😊 I have also stopped dying my hair and are embracing my silver locks. I used to be a huge spender but it really brought me little in the way of happiness - now I prefer to thrift shop and upcycle items. I have also completely ditched Facebook....best decision ever!!
Same here! Deleted facebook. Took me 3 month to load down and save all photos. Best decision! Also twitter did me the favour to delete my account 😆 when I took a break. Thinking about stopping to dye my hair, let’s see how it goes.. there is always natural hair dye like henna
@@momomnc7206 I have always been a fleamarket thriftstore kind a girl! Why pay more? And you get unique things. Love that! Why use something new full of toxins that might shrink in the washer? I support quality ecofair fashion whenever I can though!
In india it was a regular feature in families to use hand me downs -clothes, cutlery, vessels. Since aeons Indian households have been following sustainability when it was not a buzz word. For us being sustainable is a way of life. It was so nice to see you following a sustainable way of life. Thanks Niamh for popularizing this way of life.
In Pakistan also and I suppose in other south Asian cultures. I was born in the uk and loved here all my life but I still use my sisters old clothes Waste not want not 😊 Peace and happiness to you
@@FairylandCottage It was the same in my country in Europe, when I was born it was hard to found baby clothes so my mom had to knit clothes for me, or you had to find someone who gave it to you the old ones. Even, when I was little, people used to hand down clothes for neighbors, friends etc. Now, everyone is doing it for money and sell it or throw it rather be gave it someone. I think is very sad.
@Makeup Minion ur right or Pakistan. Fortunately a lot of the western world is going towards minimalism zero waste etc. And the eastern world is turning its back on these things. I'm a British Pakistani. I know a lot of its generalization what I've just wrote but I see it quite often 😊
It was the same in the southern, United States until the 21st century. Some of us still hand down furniture, appliances and household goods to family and friends. I have a bag of clothes I'm saving to give a cousin now. A dear friend passed down lots of used baby clothes from. her slightly older daughter to me in the 1990's - I took good care of them and passed them on to a cousin. The sustainable way of life was the only life my grandmother & mother knew!!
And here's the description:- 1)Nut milk 2)Bread 3)Tea bags 4)Fast fashion 5)Flowers 6)Seasonal decorations 7)Streaming services 8)Phone contract 9)New appliances 10)Cleaning products 11)Cling film and tin foil 12)Dry shampoo and hair spray 13)scrunchies 14)Shampoo 15)Makeup wipes Sorry if I missed out anything!
GREAT List! SIR:) ..But BREAD Could Be AN OPTION At THE END of the VIDEO PLEAZ 🙏 CAUSE MANY People DON'T Have LUXURY Of TIME or ORGANISATION to maknig Good Gluten Free Bread and FARMERZ MARKETS are Great LOCAL SOURCES FOR MANY TASTE BREAD & PASTRY Goodiez Served IN TOUGH PAPER That is RE-USEABLE MANNY TIMEZ !! &IT PROVIDES Other Peepz Witha FUN VOCATIONAL VENTURE!!👍💟👩🌾👩🌾👩🌾
@@mrmarmellow555 They just copied the list from the video in case people don’t wanna watch it. It’s their personal opinion of what they themselves stopped buying, you don’t need to follow it. Also most people don’t mind if their bread has gluten or not.
I wouldn’t classify my lifestyle as strictly “low-waste”, but when I watched this I realized I already stopped buying these things ages ago! It was a slow, gradual process that slowly became my life. Thank you for the lovely reminders, and for inspiring 🦋
I have given up ALL of the things you listed above, some of which I have never used. I'm 65 and have lived simply my whole adult life, continually expanding and reaching deeper to be increasingly respectful of the environment, my body, and my spirit. Besides the things you mentioned, I also plant from seeds, not plants from nurseries or big box store garden centers. It's a fraction of the cost, more satisfying, and the plants are healthier this way. I do not have a washer or dryer. I hand wash all of my clothes including towels and sheets. I do have a spinner because wringing out with arthritic hands can be painful. I use a clothesline and clothes rack for drying.I have an 11 cubic ft. refrigerator and an apartment size stove. My home is 950 sq. ft. Perfect size for me. I do not use toilet paper when I urinate. I use small, cloth (reusable) baby diapering wipes and feel cleaner for it. (Grovia Brand -set of 12 on Amazon.) Buy all my clothes resale except bras and underwear and shoes (because I have feet issues). I ate salads all summer from greens and herbs I grow in my yard and lost 5 pounds doing so:) I too, use all my own herbs for tea (no more tea bags!) Store almost everything in glass. Make my own skincare, hair, and cleaning products, using organic, simple and minimal ingredients. And, the act of gathering flowers, leaves, and other natural items from ones yard (instead of the grocery store) is for me at least, a spiritual act that cultivates inner peace and gratitude I love living this way because it is more creative, spiritual, and healthy. I'm going to read through all the comments and see what other wonderful ideas I can find! We must be soulfully connected!
@@rowan7658 I think that's why they consume so much, they think it will fill a void, but maybe lockdown has made people aware that a different way of living can be more rewarding.
Wow! Your lifestyle choices are really admirable, especially hand washing your clothes. I'm afraid I haven't reach that level of commitment yet, but is it really ecological? Washing machines use electricity sure and if you use ecolological washing liquid that's OK. It's like dishwashers used once for everything dirty actually using less water than washing up by hand several times a day. One big load of washing a week would do the same, perhaps? Except for the electricity bills of course.
@@annishilcock4587 Hi Ann! I'm pretty sure my conservative system (including reusing water and pouring the rinse water on my trees, shrubs and perennials is overall much more environmentally and cost friendly than even the most efficient washer and dryer. I use Castile soap for my laundry, which is natural, nontoxic, and biodegradable.You're smart to be thinking about it though. I don't have a dishwasher (have in the past, as well as a washer and dryer) and I only wash my dishes once a day-in the evening. I live alone (which also makes it doable) cook from scratch and find it no problem hand washing without being wasteful. But these aren't the only reason I choose such methods. I love hand washing my dishes and kitchen items. I find great joy hanging clothes on the line. This is just how I live, and I'm only sharing the pleasure it gives me. Happy to share, but not interested in arguing or defending my lifestyle. Everyone has their own circumstances.
It's so easy if you have all the raw ingredients handy. Some people are not as fortunate as you in terms of their surroundings. It seems like almost all the things you need are just within your reach. Good for you :)
I'm slowly changing my habits as well, but at the same time I'm trying to use what I already have first. I hate the idea that I've seen on other channels of trashing every non-vegan make up, fast fashion clothes and everything plastic to replace with new "ethical" stuff. I find it extremely counter productive... I want to use what I already have first. So this past 2 years, when something breaks I make sure to replace it by something that isn't made of plastic. I hand wash most of my fast fashion clothes to make them last longer and when the time comes I'll replace them with more natural and ethical options. I have enough cosmetics and make up to last me forever so I'll use them until they are all empty or not good anymore then I'll search for something more natural. I also eat way less processed food (yogurt, cheese, pasta and bread are about the only processed food I still purchase), switched to reusable bags, rags, cloths, etc. and I try to purchase more second hands as well. I got rid of my television and microwave, too. It's a slow process but my friends already started noticing that I have almost no plastic at all in my home and that's a huge victory for me who used to buy everything for cheap, all in plastic made in China, at the Dollarstore.
Keep in mind that almost all cosmetics and skin care products have an expiration date, after which they can go rancid or just fill with bacteria. Mascara, for example, shouldn’t be kept much longer than 3 months. Really old makeup should definitely be tossed.
Thats good you’re changing, im still living with my family tbh they use plastic not like me but in my house i want to use only natural stuffs i love nature and i wear only second hand im trying to go vegan im vegetarian 🌱 I want to have a simple life and to live in a cottage house 🏡
@@mimi1o8 It's actually far gentler on the hair than most shampoos. You just rinse it out with water. If you have oily scalp you can also mix some fuller's earth (multani mitti) powder in it. Although rinsing it out definitely takes more time than shampoo so I wouldn't recommend doing this on a work day. Also, the bathroom is a bit of a mess afterwards.
I love to make homemade deodorant. Mix equal parts of coconut oil, baking soda and corn starch (refined corn flour). Keep in a jar and scrape a little with your thumbnail and apply directly. I add a few drops of lavender and peppermint essential oils. Despite containing oil, it never stains my clothes. Coconut oil is a main ingredient in many soaps.
Great idea. I already enjoy making lip balm with olive oil, coconut oil, and bees wax. Adding a few drops of a gentle essential oil for fragrance can be nice.
I stopped buying things that I don't really need. Esp clothes and other material things, I've come to realize that I really don't need a lot of them, all I need is to be grateful for what I already have and pay attention to what's more important and gives me genuine happiness. Enjoy what's really matter. Enjoy the simple things. And start to realize that less is more. ♡
Hello! I’m a 20 year old college student from the US, and I love your videos! Thank you for making a simple life look accessible to people with different lifestyles. I am not nearly as disciplined as you, but I take tips from every video, and I’m learning how to incorporate it in my life. It’s a little difficult at first, but every change makes me significantly happier. You’re doing great things with your RUclips channel. Thanks so much ❤️
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ my friend laugh at me for having clothes I bought 20 yrs ago their still in great condition. I'm not going to buy new clothes when I have alot of old good condition clothes. I have 2 dresses I bought when I was 12, i still fit them which is wow they are cotton lol I'm 44 now their in great condition. Love your lifestyle learned something new chick pea flour interesting.
Plus they don’t make great quality like they used to decades ago anymore! I had some H&M clothes from when I was a Teenager. That quality doesn’t compare to todays standard anymore. I like to get my clothes at thriftstores, fleamarket, secondhand platforms and the swap shop!
Me too! Recently though, I’ve started blending it with pure shea butter (melted together on the stove over low/medium heat), and a few drops of lavender essential oil. It’s a bit more substantial that way, and the lavender is calming.
i have started to" minimize", my first rule - ONLY have one product at a time..one shampoo, one glass cleaner, one sunglasses etc..and IF i have multi's then I must use them up FIRST, before i buy a new one..I counted 38 lipsticks !! so i have a way to go before buying a new one , ha
I think my life LITERALLY changed when I started using a menstrual cup! I’m so comfortable on my period now(i’m an interning doctor so I can now go long hours in my shifts without things getting messy) and it’s also so nice to know that i’m saving so much money and also creating less waste for the landfills. If anyone is starting out on their zero/low waste journey- this is definitely the way to go!
Agreed, starting to use a menstrual cup was a huge improvement for me too. My periods suddenly got sooooo much more comfortable, in addition to the satisfaction of removing that source of waste!
I tried those, but they never sat right and irritated my lady bits to the point where I would get thrush every couple of months. I’ve since switched to reusable pads and haven’t had the issue since. I don’t do it because I care about the environment, I just like the cash savings and knowing I’m not suddenly going to run out of lady products in the middle of the night.
The big change in our habits now compared to that of our grandparents is easy credit. The invention of the credit card really tricked people into thinking that they could live a high-value lifestyle with all the things money could buy and pay for it later at some unspecified future date.
@@annishilcock4587 Ann I sent you this comment with profound respect. I became a minimalist about 3 years ago. Never been happier. Don't own a tv.or car.Take the bus into town and home.No Social media just RUclips. Kind regards from Ireland Kate. 👱♀️🏡💕
@@kateoloughlin8774 I hope I haven't disrespected your lifestyle choice in any way. I admire you, and I believe your decision has made you happy. I am trying to follow your example, living with my animals, sadly with no garden, as simply as I can, and gartefully with the freedom to follow my own path.
Hello Niam, my name is Mariolys, I am from Dominican Republic, I love your channel💗. I have a tip : with oat flour that I grind myself, I found out that adding a table spoon directly to my cup of coffee works as a direct creamer, just make sure to sieve the flour to reduce lumps and stir very well, this was an eye opener 😆😱.
We have been doing a lot of this, reassess what we can live without and what we can create ourselves, especially since COVID. I wanted a path on our property to walk on during the winter when it is very wet and slippy. We used the cardboard we have had forever to line the path and shredded plant waste to make the path itself. I have also started baking a lot more. I now make bread every day (No-knead recipe) today, I am making a cotton bowl cover so I can stop using clingfilm when it proofs. Just finished caning all the plums, grapes, and apples for the winter to eliminate going to the store. It is really wonderful to get back to a simpler way of life.
I had eliminated shampoo and conditioner. I was using your chickpea recipe and I was making herbal rinses but I missed the fresh organic smells and I found my hair got smelly quickly. I hate the smell of ACV too. Fortunately though I can buy bulk organic shampoo and conditioner so I just take my bottles and fill them up. I’m still using make-up remover pads but I buy organic compostable ones. I make my own oil mix for washing my face and body with. I use Dr Bronners castille liquid soap for hand washing and dishes and once again I can buy that in bulk along with my laundry det and all purpose cleaner. All of which is organic. The bulk store I go to now has organic bulk tamari, tahini, white vinegar, local honey, baking soda, olive oil, spices etc etc oh the list goes on. Lol So I just take my jars and bottles and fill up. I’ve tried making soy milk but I didn’t like it. I haven’t tried any other nut milks though. I love Bonsoy in my cup of tea so I’m still buying that. I buy loose leaf tea that come in a cardboard box coz I like black tea and my loose leaf herb teas come in glass jars and I can buy refills of those too, as well as I do grow some herbs myself. I’m celiac and can’t bake for the life of me so I do buy an organic gf bread from the health food store. All my clothes are thrifted and I try to look for natural fabrics where possible. So too is all my antique furniture and decor items. I love to bring nature inside so I decorate with branches, flowers, greenery/leaves etc. I’m fortunate that I live in a forest so it’s in abundance. There’s no rubbish pick up where I live so I’m very low waste living. I love your tips, recipes and ideas and I do try them out from time to time. Thank you for doing your best for Mother Earth 🙏🏻
Thank you, I enjoyed reading your comment because it was just so honest, saying what you buy and don't buy and the reasons. We have very similar ways of going about things. I tried the no shampoo/no conditioner but quite frankly my head wasn't clean and got smelly, also the head itch was unbearable! Buying bulk is great because you can still have the convenience of food/beauty/household products without all the packaging. Certain things are a bridge too far for me to give up though, I love my box of Twinings black tea! I buy Silk unsweetened soy milk. Soy milk the only kind of milk I can have because of food allergies, and homemade soy milk tastes like sad bean water. I gave up bread altogether, it's a combination of, I don't really miss it, and I'm not much of a baker either. All my clothes are thrifted. Most of everything in my house, including furniture (except my mattress because hygiene) is a hand me down, thrifted or antique. I grow Flowers, herbs, and veggies in the garden. I'm big on composting, every thing that can be composted gets composted and returned to the earth. I live on the West Coast in the country and I love to walk in the forest and make small wildflower bouquets to decorate the house.
Since COVID, I’ve cut down on buying some of the things you mentioned as well. I love how you are creating a greener everyday life! I’ve started making my own nut milk, and salad dressings, eating cleaner, reusing containers, using cleaner products in my house and on my body. I’m loving the simplicity and the freedom from buying harmful products.
@@mariek.474 I go to the thrift store and find the same items from walmart and target for only slightly cheaper, and they are used, sometimes with small rips, stains, worn elastic, etc. I've never gotten a decent article of clothes from them. It's hard not to justify paying an extra couple dollars for something new and just what you want. I've given up on thrift stores
@@stitches318 I too find that there is so much garbage in the thrift stores these days and very little good quality, it takes so much time to sift through row upon row. I prefer to buy good quality hemp or cotton clothing and wool for the winter which I often knit.
@@mariek.474 Funny I got rid of almost all my wardrobe 3 years ago, to downsize it. As soon as that was done, all my friends started giving me their clothes ( they had been keeping them hoping to get thinner but gave up) and all of a sudden, here I am again with a huge collection of too many pieces of clothing ...
Thanks Niamh for the wonderful tips they will come very handy. I've stopped buying so many Mason jars to use in the kitchen. Now if l have any jars from spaghetti sauce l keep them an clean them up an reuse them for food or dryer fruit. Saves alot of money buying this or that when we can reuse what we already have at home. Enjoy the week. 👍😉
I am recently returning to my roots and living simply, low waste and seasonally. It has been like coming home to myself again. I have stopped buying nut milks and started making my own. The same with bread, flour, and nut butters. I love fresh almond milk, so I will reuse the pulp, dry it in the oven, and use my blender to grind it down to make almond flour. I will use my flour to make my almond bread, and almond butters. I no longer buy spreads because I am also making my own. I am also no longer buying make up but instead going make up free except for a bit of eyeshadow, liner and mascara. I am planning, already, for my garden next year to start growing herbs and flowers.
For the last few days I was feeling really low in energy. I was waiting for your video to cheer me up and I hope that I can make a loaf of bread and a pear cake after watching it. Maybe I can even help my husband with the tomato sauce. I always feel a lot more productive and inspired from your videos so I have high hopes 💛
Fairyland Cottage Bread is in the oven, the tomato sauce was very delicious and I spent some time in the garden. The pears have to be eaten asap so I‘m planning to bake the cake as well when the bread is out of the oven. So far I‘m proud of myself 😊
Same here. Any chance with winter coming you can do two videos a week? Everyone's energy gets low in the winter. If nothing else a meditation of some sort would be nice. Your voice is so soothing.
@@baus7 Most You tuber's only do a weekly video. It isn't as easy as you think to produce a quality video. Planning, preparing everything, videoing it- camera angles, enough battery, etc. Then there is the editing of all the footage. She has a life too. Just watch her past videos again.
Sometimes spending a little more up front saves money. Invested in higher quality cookware recently and I’ll never have to buy another frying pan/baking dish again.
Hi Niamh! Happy Sunday! In my house, we've gotten rid of using paper plates--we had gotten into the bad habit of using them frequently. We also now buy our toilet paper from an ethical company that uses sustainably farmed bamboo and the (small) box we get lasts us about a year. It's amazing how much money we have saved there. I do the same and buy thrifted shoes, clothes, jewelry, books, appliances etc. If I lived alone, I think I would be doing more, but, my mom likes the convenience of certain products (like cleaning ones, plastic wrap) even though she knows it is less friendly to the environment. It's all about small steps and changing your lifestyle, one thing at a time. Every bit counts! Thanks for a great video, I'm going to share this one. Congrats on the release of your book next week!
Hi, I'm curious what brand the bamboo tp you get is? I've considered buying some. Also, for your mom and plastic wrap, maybe gift her some cute beeswax wraps?
I stopped buying paper towels and use wash cloths and small felt towels for paper towels. I have a small trash can in the kitchen for people to put their dirty towels as well as one in the bathroom. When towels become too stained they go in a separate bin for cleaning up floor messes, animal accidents etc. I too have been minimizing products and can probably have enough for years to come and for friends because I enjoy making products much more. This year I have committed to making my own nut milks, butter and creamer and ice cream, again to save on purchasing processed products. I too use reusable face pads, beeswax wraps, and reusable ziplocs which has saves so much on wase in the household. It really is so much fun and exciting to find new ways to repurpose and create your own products and healthy food. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story, it's inspiring.
Once I had a sporty new haircut and was asked where I got it done. I said, “In my bathroom” as I’ve been cutting it myself since high school. I’m close to 60.
Have eliminated many of things on your list. Good one for me has been laundry detergent softener And all the plastic bottles it comes in as well as the chemicals ..... Instead Soap Nuts which can even be reused several times and no need for softener..... use very very very diluted castile soap to hand wash white clothes Or delicates....Also have eliminated all products for dishwasher. I rinse dishes put on hot cycle which sterilizes dishes as well as dry heat ...... no chemicals flow into water system .....so important for Health and Well Being of our bodies and for the Earth 🌏 thanks for doing this.......
If any of you are like me and are bothered by the loose petals in the tea (either texture issues or anything else really), I suggest getting a mesh tea net! They are reusable, just got to wash them! :)
I also stopped buying new clothes, I have always found great prices and brands in second hand stores, besides, I still use my clothes from 20 years ago.... I also harvest my own tea plants. I prepare my own cheese, yoghurt, butter and so on... It is amazing... I have taught my kids to do so, as well..
By making soda bread, she is also continuing indigenous traditions of her country/region. Irish soda bread spread to America and may have been a prototype for our Southern biscuits. Kudos
Amazing ideas thanks again soo much :) we are on similar journey too. Flowers apparently are more heavily sprayed than other produce as they are not considered ‘food’ by the supermarkets so they can spray as much as they want, this also impacts the farmers and pickers and everyone coming into contact so def grow your own and also we are lucky to have a beautiful organic zero waste farm with their own flowers plastic and packaging free. I have noticed natural organic flowers are much more vibrant in colour too
I question the terminology of "processed" versus "non processed" food. I think it is an inaccurate description. The materials you use to make the alternatives to store-bought nut milk and bread--well, unless you grow all your own nuts yourself, they went through a "process" of cleaning and selection before getting to you. A farmer put them all on a conveyor belt and sorted out for any bad ones and had them rinsed and packaged. The flour you use has to be milled, the wheat separated from the chaff, and it has to be inspected and bagged and packed and shipped, and so on. Even the water you use presumably comes from a municipal authority and has been purified and perhaps fortified with fluoride. Most of the food we eat has been "processed" in some way because most of us are not subsistence farmers or foragers of wild foods, and we depend on global or national food infrastructures to purchase our ingredients at least some of the time. I think a better term for what you are describing would be "commercially produced" versus "homemade."
I would also say while store bought milk (even nut milk) has preservatives, in many countries it is also fortified with vitamins and minerals that homemade milk won't have.
I believe only in the US are fluoride added to tap water. Unless I’m wrong. However, the point is each of us can do our best to minimize the “process” especially in food instead of buying it from a box that has been sitting on a shelf for who knows how long. It’s better for our healthy, finances, and our environment.
I chuckle to myself every time I shop for clothes at places like target, because I’ve started label-reading the materials like you would for grocery items. 😂 I get weird looks occasionally, but now that I’ve discovered the beauty of 100% cotton or linen products and their quality I can’t go back!
Lovely video❤️ These things are all things we’re working on implementing as well 😊 It’s been about 3 years since I started using only natural cleaning products, and I can really notice the chemically smell when I’m around someone that uses the store bought fabric softeners etc. I really enjoy sewing, and the past several years I’ve been making clothes for myself and now my family 😀 Every Christmas I make a pair of pyjamas each for my children. We also use many of the local second hand shops. I agree, I feel such a wonderful sense of simplicity not immersed in the consumer/ disposable world🌱🌻❤️ Your videos are so enjoyable, I look forward to seeing you every week 😊❤️❤️
We also make our own bread here. We learned how to brew our beer. I started to make my cosmetic products. We grow our vegetables. We love this feeling of proudness when we show what we do to friends. Love it :) and love your video !
Ah nice! My grandad use to make wine in the shed. I think that’s why I don’t drink, we would have a drop in Sunday’s and it was so bad it put me off alcohol for life 😂
My low waste journey began because I was very low income, I simply didn’t have money for all the things normal people “need”. What’s interesting is that instead of looking at videos from modern zero waste folks, I looked to the historic records, like videos from WWII that depict making do and mending. They did not have plastics back then and only a fraction of the cleaning agents we have now. Other videos I learned from were the documentaries about life in the castle. Where the researchers showed how they cleaned with salt and lemon, how they made bread and also how they used plants from the garden to make potage. I also learned from how my dad used to live in Greece in the late 60’s without running water or electricity. The one thing I have to get better at is buying dry beans. With two kids and arthritis to deal with it’s so much easier for me to purchase the pop top tin, I do want to give it another go when my stock pile is finished.
and you can mix herbs for your tea too. When you grow your own garden, so many of the plants go from food to tea to medicine, beauty, decor and let's not forget cleaners. Thank you this was a great video especially for those who are new to living sustainably.
Just wash my hair with a mild shower gel, use it on my body, washing my clothes and even cleaning things like my loo and dishes. One product that works exceptionally well and saves space and money.
I love your account, it’s how I’m striving to live and I’m young and learning all about things like making my own food and sewing and dying and gardening and how to be self sustainable and your a great inspiration
I love what you do. I’m old enough to remember when most of what you share was the norm. Technology is new of course but the latest isn’t always the greatest. We don’t need 45 of the same product even as a Prepper if you know the basics to most of the things you use on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. The most obvious thing that you demonstrate so well is that a simple life is so good for you. Thank you. 💚🇦🇺😷
Basically we used to live sustainably until we were told it is "misery" and "not cool" and that we need new things. Currently in search for shampoo recipes you can make yourself at home with cooking ingredients. Same regarding cosmetics (make up etc). Suggestions warmly welcome 😘❤️
I particularly agree with you about buying secondhand clothes. I discovered Ebay years ago and, since then have not bought ANY new clothes ( apart, maybe, for underclothes). I have saved a fortune and love the idea of recycling. I always wash them when they arrive and they are perfectly fine. Marks and Spencer must miss me!
As always, a lovely video with great suggestions for those ready to live more mindfully. I have done many similar things over the years- no tv- no cable contract, no streaming services, thrifted clothing and home furnishings, growing foods and flowers, using wax wraps -no foil or plastic wrap, wooden and natural bristle dish brush, natural cleaning products, no paper towels or napkins used. I replaced my purchased eye makeup remover pads with using a washcloth, eliminated cotton balls and nail polish and polish remover. I have a hybrid car and with the pandemic, my driving has really shrunk. I have cut my own hair for over 9 years, and groom my dog myself. I already make almost all my food, but would like to switch to making tahini instead of buying it, and make ketchup myself. I am still working on ending the boxes of tea bags, as well.
One thing I am leery of is the silicone. I am concerned it may be the "new" plastic. Maybe it has no plastic in it...have not researched...what about teflon? Bakelite or PFAS?s highly carcinogenic near plastic chemicals. Whenever I see it...I think why open that door...what if everybody buys it, relies on it, tosses them out, what does it become? The "next" plastic blob?What does silicon's "Grave" look like? As in a product's "cradle to grave"? Paper and oil works for me...why bother with silicone at all? Paper and oil go back into the dust of the earth, my intended goal. I apologize in advance as I have not researched the silicone. I would be interested in the products "cradle to grave" cycle. It is sold in the Ecology center, I think, and in my natural grocery store. I can't help it...when my eyes see silicon to store or cook food...there is a dark cloud over it and I totally avoid it. Grandma did without it so can I.
You might like reading a book called "plastic". I am a chemist and started reading it. The prose is lovely and I haven't found any errors yet in the chemical knowledge. Plastic in chemistry is just a substitute word for polymer which means BIG molecule. The concerns with most plastics are two fold; lack if decomposition and the small molecules (called plasticizers) that can leach out. Silicone is a silicon and oxygen polymer that should not require the use of a plastizer. So you know BPA? That's a plastizer. Many times its not the health affects of the plastic, but the small mole rules in it that make the material malleable and able to be molded into the products we use.
I love to go around the yard and picking up pods and cones leaves mostly from my own yard. I wanted to add that you can get so much out of a garden, it is worth all the effort esthetically and financially.
Thank you for reminding me. I noticed I have been intuitively leaning towards this lifestyle very slowly. LOL I am stubborn Taurus. Today's society makes you so damn depressed by convincing you that your so distant from Earth and life treasures. Why do you think people feel so relaxed after a retreat in nature? We tell ourselves I have to go here for this and acquire this to have that when in truth God provided us with everything we need. So, again thank you for the reminder. :)
Hello from very rainy London. Less is most definitely more! A little bit of what you like, does you and the environment more good than harm. Further more I don’t feel so deprived, I enjoy everything that much more.... learning to say No! goes such a long way.... Years ago I stop buying women’s magazines and news papers. I am now at that stage in my life where I no longer feel the pressure to do, to have things right now. I learnt to enjoy things and life at my . own pace . I have weaned myself away from the media. Instead, I listen to and follow my gut feelings. I know a few people close to me, who hoard cloths and all manor of things they don,t need or use. When they come to mine they are 😯 shocked! To find everything I wear is all in one small wardrobe. I still have much to learn and that’s why I love to watch your videos. They really help keep me focused, and stay on the right track... Thankyou🙏🏻
Something I started doing to save money and waste is trim and color my hair at home. It takes just about 10-15 minutes to trim and I use organic henna powder mixed with chamomile tea, hibiscus powder, and turmeric for color 😊
I’ve been eliminating lots of that stuff too. All of our cleaning products are made from items I have in the kitchen and my beauty products are either home made or bought from local businesses that follow an environmentally friendly and chemical free ethos. The only thing I haven’t really found a good replacement for is a shower cleaner. All the ones I’ve made just don’t cut the mustard. So I’ll just keep looking. ☺️
I like the music 🎶 For my hair I’ve been using Indian herbs 🌿 and henna instead of common shampoo for the last 5 years and they work just fine. I don’t regret at all giving up the shampoo (I usually pay about 30€ per year) For my skin (face and body) sweet almond oil is perfect as make up remover or moisturiser Thank you for this video Love your style
I've been doing most of these as well. I can't tolerate processed food very well so that was first. We also switched to thrift stores for most of our clothing and household needs. They just don't make things as well as they use to. Most new products are junk. One added thing we don't "buy" is paying other people to do things. Such as hair styling, repairs on appliances, vehicles, or home improvement. We also grow a lot of our own food in the growing season.
Love to use organic cold pressed coconut oil, also from the kitchen. Delicious in smoothies, a great laxative if taken before bed 1 tsp, a little (pea sized) between meals if I want a snack. Keeps skin soft by ingesting and using as a cream/lotion on skin. Like olive oil that is organic and cold pressed, it has anti bacterial, anti-fungal and anti viral properties. A little goes a long way. Can’t praise either enough!
I make salves from bees wax, coconut oil, ( that I buy for ten other reasons too in a large bulk jar) and thyme, lavender, chickweed, plantain, oregano and other herbs for different reasons, instead of using cortisone, anti fungals or anti bacterial creams such as cortaid or neosporin. I also raise hens to eat their eggs and other, and we catch fish and or hunt deer for our meat. We buy very little meat for our recipes at home. We also grow all our herbs and all our garden foods.
Best facial exfoliator! A half a cup of olive oil and a half a cup of sugar and a few drops of essential oil stirred up and put in a jar. I just use a little bit on my face after moistening it and gently do circular motions with your fingertips. Rinse or gently wipe off with a warm cloth.
I'm currently in the process of reducing my storage. I too had so much cleaning stuff 🙈 for each room a bottle, makeup (my passion) there is still so much to finish, I don't see an end to it 🙈🙈 each time before buying something I ask myself if there is not another option or if I can't make it on my own.
Thats great questions to ask yourself... it takes ages to get through everything... i made piles for different family and friends and just gave away...
Love your video, as I was watching it I was making a list in my head of the stuffs that I stopped buying over the last few years... I've started making bioenzyme with citrus peels, and this I use as floor cleaner and dishwashing liquid I make my own face scrub powder grinding together oats, cane sugar, few almonds, few dried lemon rinds and a pinch of turmeric powder I started making newspaper trashbags for our dry waste. All kitchen wet waste goes into the compost bin
My hair accessories are sadly not something I've ever thought about the sustainability of, but I have lots of silk ribbons that I've collected over the years from Christmas presents. (Shout out to grandma!) You can make silk flowers from ribbons somehow, which might be a fun thing to try? Although I usually go for a traditional bow or weave them in some fancy schmancy way. That being said, this year has most defiantly been the year of the scrunchie! The addictions been a little too real... Haha
Great video with some really good tips. I love how you talk about reducing waste and saving money at the same time. I feel that too many people think that it's expensive to live low-waste or zero waste. My family of five live zero waste and have estimated that we save $18,000 a year and we save most money of things we no longer buy so the refuse part.
Several years ago I started using cloth napkins, cloth dish towels, and I even crocheted small reusable cotton face pads that I use for makeup removal. All of these can be washed weekly and reused over and over. The savings has been quite notable.
Yes, but the nut milks that you buy have added calcium, etc. so it's important to know you won't be getting those with home made ones. Especially for children
@@dsmith9796 I take a supplement. But yeah.. I don't know. As long as you are aware and make sure you get it from different sources I guess it's ok (the nutrients that milk has and home made nut milk hasn't)
The joys of Zero-Waste! Before buying anything I like to make sure I absolutely need it and that I buy it sustainable with as little packaging as possible. For instance, I love catsup but I make it myself from my own canned tomatoes. I like to make oatmeal milk and then use the solids to make pancakes, or make soy milk and use the okara to make veggie burgers or add to corn muffins, also made from scratch. My compost heap has given up on me because I rarely have any food waste to give it. We visited family for dinner and had to stay overnight unexpectedly. They didn't know what to make to extend dinner, so I raided the fridge and made a stir fry over rice from some broccoli, carrots, and onions on their last legs, with mushrooms and walnuts found in the cupboard. They had vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, honey, and cornstarch. That was all we needed to make a yummy extension to dinner. I'm a big believer in having a pantry of shelf-stable foods that can rise to any occasion. We've also given up bread and just make flatbreads from alternative ingredients like oats, barley, and masa. Bread and other wheat products were giving us brain fog and had to go.
probably you already know, but for some herbs (tea) its very important to store them in dark glas (not a glas where light comes through) so they really keep there health benefits
@@whosaidthat4299 yes paper, old newspapers work perfectly with a rubber band around or something simalar! Just google it, there are plenty articles about it. The herbs can loose due to the light (UV rays) their aroma, oils, colour etc
Hi! Just wanted to say again I love your videos. I wanted to thank you for the inspiration you provide. I recently was told by my doctor to make some lifestyle changes- going to bed and getting up early, eating the main meal at lunch, dramatically cutting down on alcohol, caffeine, processed foods... and it feels kind of scary and hard, but watching your videos where you share about living that kind of lifestyle makes me feel less alone and kind of excited to start the journey towards making those changes!
Ah isn't that a lovely synchronicity... yes slowly slowly and the changes don't seem too big!... it's one step at a time... I pick one and each week add another... the reward is magical.. keep being kind and respectful to yourself...
I see a fellow Lizqi watcher ohoho! Watching you and her making sustainable living from two completely different households is really magical. Keep it up! :D
I cut down the herbs and mint out of our garden a couple weeks ago and left it to dry out in the garage. Over this past weekend I got them ready to be put into their glass containers. Can’t wait to have mint tea over the winter that I grew myself☺️
Was there a defining moment in your life that made you make all of these changes, thus creating the fairyland cottage? I hope to see a “sustainable holiday gift ideas” video soon. 🎄 Also, your videos are so relaxing. I appreciate all of the work you and your partner (I would imagine they help, as well) put into making them. Watching the videos is a perfect way to begin the week. And, Bonus footage of Ireland?! Brings the stress levels down pretty low. ❤️
Ah thanks... yes my husband is a huge help now with the camera and editing. I share my journey to simple living in the ebook out next week! I was a city girl living on adrenaline and debt until I took a post in Austria and the rest is history.
Excellent. I have little by little stopped buying many of the things you have shown. You’ve given me a couple new ones about the hair and makeup. I’m still working on the bread. Discovered recently that I am gluten intolerant, and need to take the intimidating task of making my own break. Thank you for your time, inspiration, and motivating videos.
@@calisongbird cold cream! Straight up Coconut oil isn’t as good for your skin as people think it is. But the cold cream I use does have coconut oil in it :)
Hello, my newest bargain is coconut oil, you can use it for everything cooking and beauty products, I haven’t used it in my hair yet but it’s really good for roasting and making soup, massage oil and lip balm 💕💕💕 love the smell and it’s really easy for our bodies to digest too
Coconut oil is a natural sunscreen too. For you hair olive oil is best. Warm it a bit - then massage it into you scalp to the ends of your hair. But be warned to use a small amount. Or you will be doing several washes to get it out. This not only makes you hair soft, but you will notice you hair thicken too. Obviously, a one time use won't do this. Weekly is what I've done. Its like a spa treatment on my head. Oh, adding a few drops lavender essential oil is nice and calming too.
@@skyblue-lb9kr Yes, you only need to use about a teaspoon size bit of it. Then swish it around for about ten or so mins. Spit it out. Do daily. But I would advise to brush teeth too- to get any other gunk off you teeth too.
Great tips, especially with respect to herbs. I live in a major metro area apartment and grow a few herbs on my patio. My apartment community is also landscaped with all kinds of edible herbs. I harvest and dry for herbal teas and seasoning. Yarrow, Russian Sage, Mugwort, to name a few. There are kale and apples growing on the grounds as well, which I also harvest and use at home. So far as I know, I am the only community member to take advantage of the local flora in this way.
Good tips! I don’t use dry shampoo because I like the feeling of freshly washed hair… I buy commercial shampoo that I purchase at a health food store and I water it down… I find it works better that way.
I have eczema so I dropped makeup decades ago. Castile soap and water with a fragrance free moisturizer is my daily routine. I am retired so clothes are jeans and t-shirts or button up shirts. I live better now than I did when I had to dress up for work every day.
I loved these tips it's made me think about these things you have covered makes all the difference in the world and for the world if everyone lived like this 💕
Thanks Niamh for the inspiration to make spreads for my bread. I use old stainless steel saucepans covered with a lids or a plate to keep food fresh in the fridge. Works great for salad and bread
A hack I found that works amazing is instead of using cotton pads (reusable or not) and makeup remover, to take an old plush blanket and cut it into little squares. All you need to do it get them wet and they take makeup no problem. I found this works WAY better then using makeup remover and its way softer on the eyes and face. I saw this on tiktok and I couldn't believe how well it worked when I tried it. Not only does it reduce waste, its so much cheaper since you don't need to worry about buying remover or whatever product you use to take your makeup off. It's insane!
I stopped buying body scrub, thanks to your recipe which you posted sometime ago. I recently stopped buying expensive serums and my face actually looks better. I use face oils (again following your recipes). You saved me a lot of money and my skin improved.
Hello lovely people!
Rain and wind here in Ireland today.
Hope you are all keeping well.
Next week is a home tour. The most requested video over the last few years.
I thought it was the best time to do a home tour in celebration of the audio and ebook which will launch on the same day!
Have a great week and see you all next Sunday xxx
Waiting for home tour video and congratulations for the book in advance ❤
Can't wait for the launch of your ebook and of course home tour. 😍
I’m so looking forward to both next week, Niamh. Congratulations!
Sure looking forward to it!!
A lot of rain and wind in Norway too, but it´s so beautiful with all the colors in autumn :-) Wish you a great week!
This is so calming. The older I get the less I want a ‘modern’ life
Same here.
Same
Same here....💞
That's the thing
Ditto
Thanks to the covid quarantine, I've re-disvovered the joys of home cooked simple meals, made from scratch, over takeaways. It has really improved my digestion, my energy level & also my sleep. My body feels lighter, my pocket feels much heavier & my heart feels happier :)
Wonderful! x
Glad to hear that 🤗
There’s also less garbage, less food waste, less energy used, less pollution... the earth thanks you... and so do I. Once you “get the hang of it”, it isn’t hard. I’ve lost count of the number of new gardeners and sourdough bread bakers I’ve mentored during Covid. And before Covid, I was teaching baking classes. People do care, they just need a little support along the way, like we get from this lovely cottage fairy... and her gnome. LOL
It's a pleasure to read a comment from someone wise enough to recognize this opportunity for what it is and use it well.
Me too. I had stopped cooking after my children left and it was just myself, but covid has given me the opportunity to slow down, go back to my roots and rediscover Spanish Andalusian cooking. It’s so much better and satisfying than buying processed frozen foods!
I also no longer buy the majority of these things 😊 I have also stopped dying my hair and are embracing my silver locks.
I used to be a huge spender but it really brought me little in the way of happiness - now I prefer to thrift shop and upcycle items.
I have also completely ditched Facebook....best decision ever!!
@Oporajita FRS What a difference it makes!!!!
Same here! Deleted facebook. Took me 3 month to load down and save all photos. Best decision! Also twitter did me the favour to delete my account 😆 when I took a break. Thinking about stopping to dye my hair, let’s see how it goes.. there is always natural hair dye like henna
Yes, yes,and yes.
Going gray, thrift shops, ditched FB!!
@@momomnc7206 I have always been a fleamarket thriftstore kind a girl! Why pay more? And you get unique things. Love that! Why use something new full of toxins that might shrink in the washer? I support quality ecofair fashion whenever I can though!
@ChilledPanda It’s not the color that bothers me, it’s the structure of my grey hair: it super dry and kind of wiry ➿🙄🤪😄
In india it was a regular feature in families to use hand me downs -clothes, cutlery, vessels. Since aeons Indian households have been following sustainability when it was not a buzz word. For us being sustainable is a way of life. It was so nice to see you following a sustainable way of life. Thanks Niamh for popularizing this way of life.
In Pakistan also and I suppose in other south Asian cultures.
I was born in the uk and loved here all my life but I still use my sisters old clothes
Waste not want not 😊
Peace and happiness to you
It was the same here in old Ireland before modern and fancy came in to play
@@FairylandCottage It was the same in my country in Europe, when I was born it was hard to found baby clothes so my mom had to knit clothes for me, or you had to find someone who gave it to you the old ones. Even, when I was little, people used to hand down clothes for neighbors, friends etc. Now, everyone is doing it for money and sell it or throw it rather be gave it someone. I think is very sad.
@Makeup Minion ur right or Pakistan.
Fortunately a lot of the western world is going towards minimalism zero waste etc.
And the eastern world is turning its back on these things.
I'm a British Pakistani.
I know a lot of its generalization what I've just wrote but I see it quite often
😊
It was the same in the southern, United States until the 21st century. Some of us still hand down furniture, appliances and household goods to family and friends. I have a bag of clothes I'm saving to give a cousin now. A dear friend passed down lots of used baby clothes from. her slightly older daughter to me in the 1990's - I took good care of them and passed them on to a cousin. The sustainable way of life was the only life my grandmother & mother knew!!
And here's the description:-
1)Nut milk
2)Bread
3)Tea bags
4)Fast fashion
5)Flowers
6)Seasonal decorations
7)Streaming services
8)Phone contract
9)New appliances
10)Cleaning products
11)Cling film and tin foil
12)Dry shampoo and hair spray
13)scrunchies
14)Shampoo
15)Makeup wipes
Sorry if I missed out anything!
GREAT List! SIR:) ..But BREAD Could Be AN OPTION At THE END of the VIDEO PLEAZ 🙏 CAUSE MANY People DON'T Have LUXURY Of TIME or ORGANISATION to maknig Good Gluten Free Bread and FARMERZ MARKETS are Great LOCAL SOURCES FOR MANY TASTE BREAD & PASTRY Goodiez Served IN TOUGH PAPER That is RE-USEABLE MANNY TIMEZ !! &IT PROVIDES Other Peepz Witha FUN VOCATIONAL VENTURE!!👍💟👩🌾👩🌾👩🌾
@@mrmarmellow555 They just copied the list from the video in case people don’t wanna watch it. It’s their personal opinion of what they themselves stopped buying, you don’t need to follow it. Also most people don’t mind if their bread has gluten or not.
B
I use cornstarch for dry shampoo
I wouldn’t classify my lifestyle as strictly “low-waste”, but when I watched this I realized I already stopped buying these things ages ago! It was a slow, gradual process that slowly became my life. Thank you for the lovely reminders, and for inspiring 🦋
Ah yes slow and gradual is the best!
You are probably more low waste than you think x
Fairyland Cottage Thank you, I’m just trying to do the best I can 😌
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I have given up ALL of the things you listed above, some of which I have never used.
I'm 65 and have lived simply my whole adult life, continually expanding and reaching deeper to be increasingly respectful of the environment, my body, and my spirit.
Besides the things you mentioned, I also plant from seeds, not plants from nurseries or big box store garden centers. It's a fraction of the cost, more satisfying, and the plants are healthier this way.
I do not have a washer or dryer. I hand wash all of my clothes including towels and sheets. I do have a spinner because wringing out with arthritic hands can be painful. I use a clothesline and clothes rack for drying.I have an 11 cubic ft. refrigerator and an apartment size stove. My home is 950 sq. ft. Perfect size for me.
I do not use toilet paper when I urinate. I use small, cloth (reusable) baby diapering wipes and feel cleaner for it. (Grovia Brand -set of 12 on Amazon.)
Buy all my clothes resale except bras and underwear and shoes (because I have feet issues).
I ate salads all summer from greens and herbs I grow in my yard and lost 5 pounds doing so:)
I too, use all my own herbs for tea (no more tea bags!)
Store almost everything in glass.
Make my own skincare, hair, and cleaning products, using organic, simple and minimal ingredients.
And, the act of gathering flowers, leaves, and other natural items from ones yard (instead of the grocery store) is for me at least, a spiritual act that cultivates inner peace and gratitude
I love living this way because it is more creative, spiritual, and healthy.
I'm going to read through all the comments and see what other wonderful ideas I can find!
We must be soulfully connected!
Cathleen. I am enjoying living this way too. You sound happy and contented ...... how many people who live to consume can say that these days.
Our home is around that size too! We are so similar is so many things we do!
@@rowan7658 I think that's why they consume so much, they think it will fill a void, but maybe lockdown has made people aware that a different way of living can be more rewarding.
Wow! Your lifestyle choices are really admirable, especially hand washing your clothes. I'm afraid I haven't reach that level of commitment yet, but is it really ecological? Washing machines use electricity sure and if you use ecolological washing liquid that's OK. It's like dishwashers used once for everything dirty actually using less water than washing up by hand several times a day. One big load of washing a week would do the same, perhaps? Except for the electricity bills of course.
@@annishilcock4587 Hi Ann!
I'm pretty sure my conservative system (including reusing water and pouring the rinse water on my trees, shrubs and perennials is overall much more environmentally and cost friendly than even the most efficient washer and dryer. I use Castile soap for my laundry, which is natural, nontoxic, and biodegradable.You're smart to be thinking about it though.
I don't have a dishwasher (have in the past, as well as a washer and dryer) and I only wash my dishes once a day-in the evening.
I live alone (which also makes it doable) cook from scratch and find it no problem hand washing without being wasteful. But these aren't the only reason I choose such methods. I love hand washing my dishes and kitchen items. I find great joy hanging clothes on the line.
This is just how I live, and I'm only sharing the pleasure it gives me. Happy to share, but not interested in arguing or defending my lifestyle. Everyone has their own circumstances.
It's so easy if you have all the raw ingredients handy. Some people are not as fortunate as you in terms of their surroundings. It seems like almost all the things you need are just within your reach. Good for you :)
I'm slowly changing my habits as well, but at the same time I'm trying to use what I already have first. I hate the idea that I've seen on other channels of trashing every non-vegan make up, fast fashion clothes and everything plastic to replace with new "ethical" stuff. I find it extremely counter productive... I want to use what I already have first. So this past 2 years, when something breaks I make sure to replace it by something that isn't made of plastic. I hand wash most of my fast fashion clothes to make them last longer and when the time comes I'll replace them with more natural and ethical options. I have enough cosmetics and make up to last me forever so I'll use them until they are all empty or not good anymore then I'll search for something more natural. I also eat way less processed food (yogurt, cheese, pasta and bread are about the only processed food I still purchase), switched to reusable bags, rags, cloths, etc. and I try to purchase more second hands as well. I got rid of my television and microwave, too. It's a slow process but my friends already started noticing that I have almost no plastic at all in my home and that's a huge victory for me who used to buy everything for cheap, all in plastic made in China, at the Dollarstore.
I hear you! I was the same... it took years to move on from plastic products... it's all about just reusing what you have isn't it!
Yep I do the same thing, use up what you have, also I only buy leather 2nd hand.
Keep in mind that almost all cosmetics and skin care products have an expiration date, after which they can go rancid or just fill with bacteria. Mascara, for example, shouldn’t be kept much longer than 3 months. Really old makeup should definitely be tossed.
Thats good you’re changing, im still living with my family tbh they use plastic not like me but in my house i want to use only natural stuffs i love nature and i wear only second hand im trying to go vegan im vegetarian 🌱
I want to have a simple life and to live in a cottage house 🏡
@@calisongbird my make up is years old . I've not had a problem with used old make up for 40 years
Ooooh, you watch Liziqi, too. She’s incredible.
RachelTeeKae I was gonna comment the same thing. Adore her videos as well.
Me too!! Love her!
Same here! She’s such an inspiration
She is my fav too
Rubiks Cube you do realize there are other Chinese youtubers in China right? You just haven’t found them.
Most of these ... especially the kitchen cleaning and the beauty are traditional Indian Practices that we still follow.
Yes, true :-)
Especially using chickpea flour for shampoo. I was surprised to see it here.
Yessss
Shweta Gupta , doesn’t it dry your hair? What type of rinse do you use after the chickpea flour?
@@mimi1o8 It's actually far gentler on the hair than most shampoos. You just rinse it out with water. If you have oily scalp you can also mix some fuller's earth (multani mitti) powder in it. Although rinsing it out definitely takes more time than shampoo so I wouldn't recommend doing this on a work day. Also, the bathroom is a bit of a mess afterwards.
I love to make homemade deodorant. Mix equal parts of coconut oil, baking soda and corn starch (refined corn flour). Keep in a jar and scrape a little with your thumbnail and apply directly. I add a few drops of lavender and peppermint essential oils. Despite containing oil, it never stains my clothes. Coconut oil is a main ingredient in many soaps.
Beware of lavender. It is an oestrogen mimic and therefore a hormone disruptor
I'd be careful about using essential oils on sensitive skin, like under your arms and face, especially citrus and mint.
You don’t have to add any scent if you don’t want to. The coconut scent is very pleasant all by itself.
Great idea. I already enjoy making lip balm with olive oil, coconut oil, and bees wax.
Adding a few drops of a gentle essential oil for fragrance can be nice.
Thank you for posting the recipe. I wanted to try a natural deodorant this summer, but wasn't sure of the ingredients.
I stopped buying things that I don't really need. Esp clothes and other material things, I've come to realize that I really don't need a lot of them, all I need is to be grateful for what I already have and pay attention to what's more important and gives me genuine happiness. Enjoy what's really matter. Enjoy the simple things. And start to realize that less is more. ♡
Hello! I’m a 20 year old college student from the US, and I love your videos! Thank you for making a simple life look accessible to people with different lifestyles. I am not nearly as disciplined as you, but I take tips from every video, and I’m learning how to incorporate it in my life. It’s a little difficult at first, but every change makes me significantly happier. You’re doing great things with your RUclips channel. Thanks so much ❤️
The more mature we get, the simpler we become. There are many things in life we don’t actually need, but due to societal reasons we buy them
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ my friend laugh at me for having clothes I bought 20 yrs ago their still in great condition. I'm not going to buy new clothes when I have alot of old good condition clothes. I have 2 dresses I bought when I was 12, i still fit them which is wow they are cotton lol I'm 44 now their in great condition. Love your lifestyle learned something new chick pea flour interesting.
Plus they don’t make great quality like they used to decades ago anymore! I had some H&M clothes from when I was a Teenager. That quality doesn’t compare to todays standard anymore. I like to get my clothes at thriftstores, fleamarket, secondhand platforms and the swap shop!
Sounds like instead of new clothes you could use some new friends who appreciate sustainability. Be you and be proud.
My favorite moisturizer is coconut oil. It absorbed quickly and my skin looks wonderful. I'm 71 and have very few wrinkles or fine lines.
Me too! Recently though, I’ve started blending it with pure shea butter (melted together on the stove over low/medium heat), and a few drops of lavender essential oil. It’s a bit more substantial that way, and the lavender is calming.
try olive oil...organic...much better than coconut oil.
@@chislett2480 almond oil and olive oil are the best.
@@chislett2480 what else would you use?
@@chislett2480 Witch Hazel works well also, as a make up remover & cleanser.
i have started to" minimize", my first rule - ONLY have one product at a time..one shampoo, one glass cleaner, one sunglasses etc..and IF i have multi's then I must use them up FIRST, before i buy a new one..I counted 38 lipsticks !! so i have a way to go before buying a new one , ha
I think my life LITERALLY changed when I started using a menstrual cup! I’m so comfortable on my period now(i’m an interning doctor so I can now go long hours in my shifts without things getting messy) and it’s also so nice to know that i’m saving so much money and also creating less waste for the landfills. If anyone is starting out on their zero/low waste journey- this is definitely the way to go!
such a great change!!
Agreed, starting to use a menstrual cup was a huge improvement for me too. My periods suddenly got sooooo much more comfortable, in addition to the satisfaction of removing that source of waste!
For a time when I was young I used lambs ear which I then composted... Best compost ever!
I tried those, but they never sat right and irritated my lady bits to the point where I would get thrush every couple of months. I’ve since switched to reusable pads and haven’t had the issue since. I don’t do it because I care about the environment, I just like the cash savings and knowing I’m not suddenly going to run out of lady products in the middle of the night.
Me too!
I always feel bad cutting flowers from my garden to bring in, it's like I'm stealing food from the bees
I prefer to fill the house with plants, and keep the flowers for the garden 😊
Marina, I got to say that's the sweetest thing I heard today!!
Ur so cute lol 😄😊 God Bless!
Sometimes I feel this way, too. 😂 I usually just collect a few wildflowers while I’m out for a walk, making sure I leave lots for the pollinators!
Gahaha
The new form of slavery in modern lifestyle are in debts and consumerism 🙏🏻
👍👍👍👍
@@meredithheath5272 And the unhappiness it brings.
The big change in our habits now compared to that of our grandparents is easy credit. The invention of the credit card really tricked people into thinking that they could live a high-value lifestyle with all the things money could buy and pay for it later at some unspecified future date.
@@annishilcock4587
Ann I sent you this comment with profound respect.
I became a minimalist about 3 years ago. Never been happier.
Don't own a tv.or car.Take the bus into town and home.No Social media just RUclips.
Kind regards from Ireland Kate. 👱♀️🏡💕
@@kateoloughlin8774 I hope I haven't disrespected your lifestyle choice in any way. I admire you, and I believe your decision has made you happy. I am trying to follow your example, living with my animals, sadly with no garden, as simply as I can, and gartefully with the freedom to follow my own path.
Hello Niam, my name is Mariolys, I am from Dominican Republic, I love your channel💗.
I have a tip : with oat flour that I grind myself, I found out that adding a table spoon directly to my cup of coffee works as a direct creamer, just make sure to sieve the flour to reduce lumps and stir very well, this was an eye opener 😆😱.
wow what an interesting tip!
ruclips.net/video/WzPBjWFNVKw/видео.html
Great tip. Thank you I will try that.
Thank you…I was looking to find something to replace coffee mate which is the last factory foodstuff in my life….I am off to make some.
We have been doing a lot of this, reassess what we can live without and what we can create ourselves, especially since COVID. I wanted a path on our property to walk on during the winter when it is very wet and slippy. We used the cardboard we have had forever to line the path and shredded plant waste to make the path itself. I have also started baking a lot more. I now make bread every day (No-knead recipe) today, I am making a cotton bowl cover so I can stop using clingfilm when it proofs. Just finished caning all the plums, grapes, and apples for the winter to eliminate going to the store. It is really wonderful to get back to a simpler way of life.
I had eliminated shampoo and conditioner. I was using your chickpea recipe and I was making herbal rinses but I missed the fresh organic smells and I found my hair got smelly quickly. I hate the smell of ACV too. Fortunately though I can buy bulk organic shampoo and conditioner so I just take my bottles and fill them up. I’m still using make-up remover pads but I buy organic compostable ones. I make my own oil mix for washing my face and body with. I use Dr Bronners castille liquid soap for hand washing and dishes and once again I can buy that in bulk along with my laundry det and all purpose cleaner. All of which is organic. The bulk store I go to now has organic bulk tamari, tahini, white vinegar, local honey, baking soda, olive oil, spices etc etc oh the list goes on. Lol So I just take my jars and bottles and fill up. I’ve tried making soy milk but I didn’t like it. I haven’t tried any other nut milks though. I love Bonsoy in my cup of tea so I’m still buying that. I buy loose leaf tea that come in a cardboard box coz I like black tea and my loose leaf herb teas come in glass jars and I can buy refills of those too, as well as I do grow some herbs myself. I’m celiac and can’t bake for the life of me so I do buy an organic gf bread from the health food store. All my clothes are thrifted and I try to look for natural fabrics where possible. So too is all my antique furniture and decor items. I love to bring nature inside so I decorate with branches, flowers, greenery/leaves etc. I’m fortunate that I live in a forest so it’s in abundance. There’s no rubbish pick up where I live so I’m very low waste living. I love your tips, recipes and ideas and I do try them out from time to time. Thank you for doing your best for Mother Earth 🙏🏻
You are doing everything perfect as needed ❤️. Thank you for the tips by the way!☺️
Soda bread is very easy- you don’t need to know how to bake! As long as you can read u r good. And its so yum.
Thank you, I enjoyed reading your comment because it was just so honest, saying what you buy and don't buy and the reasons. We have very similar ways of going about things. I tried the no shampoo/no conditioner but quite frankly my head wasn't clean and got smelly, also the head itch was unbearable! Buying bulk is great because you can still have the convenience of food/beauty/household products without all the packaging. Certain things are a bridge too far for me to give up though, I love my box of Twinings black tea! I buy Silk unsweetened soy milk. Soy milk the only kind of milk I can have because of food allergies, and homemade soy milk tastes like sad bean water. I gave up bread altogether, it's a combination of, I don't really miss it, and I'm not much of a baker either. All my clothes are thrifted. Most of everything in my house, including furniture (except my mattress because hygiene) is a hand me down, thrifted or antique. I grow Flowers, herbs, and veggies in the garden. I'm big on composting, every thing that can be composted gets composted and returned to the earth. I live on the West Coast in the country and I love to walk in the forest and make small wildflower bouquets to decorate the house.
Since COVID, I’ve cut down on buying some of the things you mentioned as well. I love how you are creating a greener everyday life! I’ve started making my own nut milk, and salad dressings, eating cleaner, reusing containers, using cleaner products in my house and on my body. I’m loving the simplicity and the freedom from buying harmful products.
Fast fashion is indeed a big problem of our times but not many of us are really willing to do something about it..
It's demoralizing to go to the thrift store and find much more fast fashion clothes than good quality ones 😔
@@mariek.474 I go to the thrift store and find the same items from walmart and target for only slightly cheaper, and they are used, sometimes with small rips, stains, worn elastic, etc. I've never gotten a decent article of clothes from them. It's hard not to justify paying an extra couple dollars for something new and just what you want. I've given up on thrift stores
@@stitches318 I too find that there is so much garbage in the thrift stores these days and very little good quality, it takes so much time to sift through row upon row. I prefer to buy good quality hemp or cotton clothing and wool for the winter which I often knit.
I am always in vogue and yet authentic.
90% of my things come from charity
shops. I wear everything with pride.
More so than ever....
@@mariek.474 Funny I got rid of almost all my wardrobe 3 years ago, to downsize it. As soon as that was done, all my friends started giving me their clothes ( they had been keeping them hoping to get thinner but gave up) and all of a sudden, here I am again with a huge collection of too many pieces of clothing ...
Thanks Niamh for the wonderful tips they will come very handy. I've stopped buying so many Mason jars to use in the kitchen. Now if l have any jars from spaghetti sauce l keep them an clean them up an reuse them for food or dryer fruit. Saves alot of money buying this or that when we can reuse what we already have at home. Enjoy the week. 👍😉
That's great! Enjoy week too!
I am recently returning to my roots and living simply, low waste and seasonally. It has been like coming home to myself again. I have stopped buying nut milks and started making my own. The same with bread, flour, and nut butters. I love fresh almond milk, so I will reuse the pulp, dry it in the oven, and use my blender to grind it down to make almond flour. I will use my flour to make my almond bread, and almond butters. I no longer buy spreads because I am also making my own. I am also no longer buying make up but instead going make up free except for a bit of eyeshadow, liner and mascara. I am planning, already, for my garden next year to start growing herbs and flowers.
For the last few days I was feeling really low in energy. I was waiting for your video to cheer me up and I hope that I can make a loaf of bread and a pear cake after watching it. Maybe I can even help my husband with the tomato sauce. I always feel a lot more productive and inspired from your videos so I have high hopes 💛
Let me know how you get on with the baking!
Fairyland Cottage
Bread is in the oven, the tomato sauce was very delicious and I spent some time in the garden.
The pears have to be eaten asap so I‘m planning to bake the cake as well when the bread is out of the oven. So far I‘m proud of myself 😊
Same here. Any chance with winter coming you can do two videos a week? Everyone's energy gets low in the winter. If nothing else a meditation of some sort would be nice. Your voice is so soothing.
@@baus7 Most You tuber's only do a weekly video. It isn't as easy as you think to produce a quality video. Planning, preparing everything, videoing it- camera angles, enough battery, etc. Then there is the editing of all the footage. She has a life too. Just watch her past videos again.
Ooh, pear cake!! Sounds lush!
Sometimes spending a little more up front saves money. Invested in higher quality cookware recently and I’ll never have to buy another frying pan/baking dish again.
Hi Niamh! Happy Sunday! In my house, we've gotten rid of using paper plates--we had gotten into the bad habit of using them frequently. We also now buy our toilet paper from an ethical company that uses sustainably farmed bamboo and the (small) box we get lasts us about a year. It's amazing how much money we have saved there. I do the same and buy thrifted shoes, clothes, jewelry, books, appliances etc. If I lived alone, I think I would be doing more, but, my mom likes the convenience of certain products (like cleaning ones, plastic wrap) even though she knows it is less friendly to the environment. It's all about small steps and changing your lifestyle, one thing at a time. Every bit counts! Thanks for a great video, I'm going to share this one. Congrats on the release of your book next week!
Hi, I'm curious what brand the bamboo tp you get is? I've considered buying some. Also, for your mom and plastic wrap, maybe gift her some cute beeswax wraps?
Ah thanks Diane! small steps are the best :-) thanks also for sharing x
@@jackson4860 it's a company called "Who Gives A Crap" 😉
@@dianechaniewski293 🚽😂😂😂🤓
This was great! A tip: remow all the leavs of the flower that is in contakt with water. Then the flowers last longer😌
I stopped buying paper towels and use wash cloths and small felt towels for paper towels. I have a small trash can in the kitchen for people to put their dirty towels as well as one in the bathroom. When towels become too stained they go in a separate bin for cleaning up floor messes, animal accidents etc. I too have been minimizing products and can probably have enough for years to come and for friends because I enjoy making products much more. This year I have committed to making my own nut milks, butter and creamer and ice cream, again to save on purchasing processed products. I too use reusable face pads, beeswax wraps, and reusable ziplocs which has saves so much on wase in the household. It really is so much fun and exciting to find new ways to repurpose and create your own products and healthy food. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story, it's inspiring.
No more hairdresser or beauty center for me! I have better results when I am doing it on my own, and more money in my „no spend month“ jar 😁💰
love the idea of a no spend month jar! I've been cutting my hair for a year now.. so much money saved for other things
Once I had a sporty new haircut and was asked where I got it done. I said, “In my bathroom” as I’ve been cutting it myself since high school. I’m close to 60.
Have eliminated many of things on your list. Good one for me has been laundry detergent softener And all the plastic bottles it comes in as well as the chemicals ..... Instead Soap Nuts which can even be reused several times and no need for softener..... use very very very diluted castile soap to hand wash white clothes
Or delicates....Also have eliminated all products for dishwasher. I rinse dishes put on hot cycle which sterilizes dishes as well as dry heat ...... no chemicals flow into water system .....so important for Health and Well Being of our bodies and for the Earth 🌏 thanks for doing this.......
If any of you are like me and are bothered by the loose petals in the tea (either texture issues or anything else really), I suggest getting a mesh tea net! They are reusable, just got to wash them! :)
I also stopped buying new clothes, I have always found great prices and brands in second hand stores, besides, I still use my clothes from 20 years ago.... I also harvest my own tea plants. I prepare my own cheese, yoghurt, butter and so on... It is amazing... I have taught my kids to do so, as well..
By making soda bread, she is also continuing indigenous traditions of her country/region. Irish soda bread spread to America and may have been a prototype for our Southern biscuits. Kudos
I have watched several videos on what to stop buying and I must say this is the best most practical advice I have seen. Thanks 🤗
Amazing ideas thanks again soo much :) we are on similar journey too. Flowers apparently are more heavily sprayed than other produce as they are not considered ‘food’ by the supermarkets so they can spray as much as they want, this also impacts the farmers and pickers and everyone coming into contact so def grow your own and also we are lucky to have a beautiful organic zero waste farm with their own flowers plastic and packaging free. I have noticed natural organic flowers are much more vibrant in colour too
I question the terminology of "processed" versus "non processed" food. I think it is an inaccurate description. The materials you use to make the alternatives to store-bought nut milk and bread--well, unless you grow all your own nuts yourself, they went through a "process" of cleaning and selection before getting to you. A farmer put them all on a conveyor belt and sorted out for any bad ones and had them rinsed and packaged. The flour you use has to be milled, the wheat separated from the chaff, and it has to be inspected and bagged and packed and shipped, and so on. Even the water you use presumably comes from a municipal authority and has been purified and perhaps fortified with fluoride. Most of the food we eat has been "processed" in some way because most of us are not subsistence farmers or foragers of wild foods, and we depend on global or national food infrastructures to purchase our ingredients at least some of the time.
I think a better term for what you are describing would be "commercially produced" versus "homemade."
This is an excellent analysis, thank you 💖
I would also say while store bought milk (even nut milk) has preservatives, in many countries it is also fortified with vitamins and minerals that homemade milk won't have.
I believe only in the US are fluoride added to tap water. Unless I’m wrong. However, the point is each of us can do our best to minimize the “process” especially in food instead of buying it from a box that has been sitting on a shelf for who knows how long. It’s better for our healthy, finances, and our environment.
Interesting!! 🤔
Unless you have your own nut trees, I don’t see how making your own nut milk is cheaper
I chuckle to myself every time I shop for clothes at places like target, because I’ve started label-reading the materials like you would for grocery items. 😂 I get weird looks occasionally, but now that I’ve discovered the beauty of 100% cotton or linen products and their quality I can’t go back!
Lovely video❤️
These things are all things we’re working on implementing as well 😊
It’s been about 3 years since I started using only natural cleaning products, and I can really notice the chemically smell when I’m around someone that uses the store bought fabric softeners etc.
I really enjoy sewing, and the past several years I’ve been making clothes for myself and now my family 😀
Every Christmas I make a pair of pyjamas each for my children. We also use many of the local second hand shops.
I agree, I feel such a wonderful sense of simplicity not immersed in the consumer/ disposable world🌱🌻❤️
Your videos are so enjoyable, I look forward to seeing you every week 😊❤️❤️
We also make our own bread here. We learned how to brew our beer. I started to make my cosmetic products. We grow our vegetables. We love this feeling of proudness when we show what we do to friends. Love it :) and love your video !
Ah nice! My grandad use to make wine in the shed. I think that’s why I don’t drink, we would have a drop in Sunday’s and it was so bad it put me off alcohol for life 😂
@@FairylandCottage ahaha bad experiment, but better for your health 😂😉
This is some hard core minimalism right here. This would be my dream but the thought of not having shampoo gives me anxiety
ruclips.net/video/mJOvFPmnCVI/видео.html
My low waste journey began because I was very low income, I simply didn’t have money for all the things normal people “need”. What’s interesting is that instead of looking at videos from modern zero waste folks, I looked to the historic records, like videos from WWII that depict making do and mending. They did not have plastics back then and only a fraction of the cleaning agents we have now. Other videos I learned from were the documentaries about life in the castle. Where the researchers showed how they cleaned with salt and lemon, how they made bread and also how they used plants from the garden to make potage. I also learned from how my dad used to live in Greece in the late 60’s without running water or electricity. The one thing I have to get better at is buying dry beans. With two kids and arthritis to deal with it’s so much easier for me to purchase the pop top tin, I do want to give it another go when my stock pile is finished.
and you can mix herbs for your tea too. When you grow your own garden, so many of the plants go from food to tea to medicine, beauty, decor and let's not forget cleaners. Thank you this was a great video especially for those who are new to living sustainably.
Just wash my hair with a mild
shower gel, use it on my body,
washing my clothes and even
cleaning things like my loo and
dishes. One product that works
exceptionally well and saves
space and money.
That blue dress!
Interestingly, most of the things you have given up are unhealthy.
I love decorating 😭 I can’t say no to cute and pretty decorations. But I only buy what makes me happy
I love your account, it’s how I’m striving to live and I’m young and learning all about things like making my own food and sewing and dying and gardening and how to be self sustainable and your a great inspiration
I love what you do. I’m old enough to remember when most of what you share was the norm. Technology is new of course but the latest isn’t always the greatest. We don’t need 45 of the same product even as a Prepper if you know the basics to most of the things you use on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. The most obvious thing that you demonstrate so well is that a simple life is so good for you. Thank you. 💚🇦🇺😷
Ah thanks.... going back to the way it use to be... easier on the planet and ourselves.
Basically we used to live sustainably until we were told it is "misery" and "not cool" and that we need new things. Currently in search for shampoo recipes you can make yourself at home with cooking ingredients. Same regarding cosmetics (make up etc). Suggestions warmly welcome 😘❤️
I particularly agree with you about buying secondhand clothes. I discovered Ebay years ago and, since then have not bought ANY new clothes ( apart, maybe, for underclothes). I have saved a fortune and love the idea of recycling. I always wash them when they arrive and they are perfectly fine. Marks and Spencer must miss me!
As always, a lovely video with great suggestions for those ready to live more mindfully. I have done many similar things over the years- no tv- no cable contract, no streaming services, thrifted clothing and home furnishings, growing foods and flowers, using wax wraps -no foil or plastic wrap, wooden and natural bristle dish brush, natural cleaning products, no paper towels or napkins used. I replaced my purchased eye makeup remover pads with using a washcloth, eliminated cotton balls and nail polish and polish remover. I have a hybrid car and with the pandemic, my driving has really shrunk. I have cut my own hair for over 9 years, and groom my dog myself. I already make almost all my food, but would like to switch to making tahini instead of buying it, and make ketchup myself. I am still working on ending the boxes of tea bags, as well.
Still using the internet though!
Self sustainable, so much cheaper, no preservatives and natural. Love this content! The world needs more people like you.
One thing I am leery of is the silicone. I am concerned it may be the "new" plastic. Maybe it has no plastic in it...have not researched...what about teflon? Bakelite or PFAS?s highly carcinogenic near plastic chemicals. Whenever I see it...I think why open that door...what if everybody buys it, relies on it, tosses them out, what does it become? The "next" plastic blob?What does silicon's "Grave" look like? As in a product's "cradle to grave"? Paper and oil works for me...why bother with silicone at all? Paper and oil go back into the dust of the earth, my intended goal. I apologize in advance as I have not researched the silicone. I would be interested in the products "cradle to grave" cycle. It is sold in the Ecology center, I think, and in my natural grocery store. I can't help it...when my eyes see silicon to store or cook food...there is a dark cloud over it and I totally avoid it. Grandma did without it so can I.
You might like reading a book called "plastic". I am a chemist and started reading it. The prose is lovely and I haven't found any errors yet in the chemical knowledge. Plastic in chemistry is just a substitute word for polymer which means BIG molecule. The concerns with most plastics are two fold; lack if decomposition and the small molecules (called plasticizers) that can leach out. Silicone is a silicon and oxygen polymer that should not require the use of a plastizer. So you know BPA? That's a plastizer. Many times its not the health affects of the plastic, but the small mole rules in it that make the material malleable and able to be molded into the products we use.
I love to go around the yard and picking up pods and cones leaves mostly from my own yard. I wanted to add that you can get so much out of a garden, it is worth all the effort esthetically and financially.
Thank you for reminding me. I noticed I have been intuitively leaning towards this lifestyle very slowly. LOL I am stubborn Taurus. Today's society makes you so damn depressed by convincing you that your so distant from Earth and life treasures. Why do you think people feel so relaxed after a retreat in nature? We tell ourselves I have to go here for this and acquire this to have that when in truth God provided us with everything we need. So, again thank you for the reminder. :)
Hello from very rainy London. Less is most definitely more! A little bit of what you like, does you and the environment more good
than harm. Further more I don’t feel so deprived, I enjoy everything that much more....
learning to say No! goes such a long way....
Years ago I stop buying women’s magazines and news papers. I am now at that stage in my life where
I no longer feel the pressure to do, to have things right now. I learnt to enjoy things and life at my .
own pace . I have weaned myself away from the media. Instead, I listen to and follow my gut feelings.
I know a few people close to me, who hoard cloths and all manor of things they don,t need or use.
When they come to mine they are 😯 shocked! To find everything I wear is all in one small wardrobe.
I still have much to learn and that’s why I love to watch your videos. They really help keep me
focused, and stay on the right track... Thankyou🙏🏻
Something I started doing to save money and waste is trim and color my hair at home. It takes just about 10-15 minutes to trim and I use organic henna powder mixed with chamomile tea, hibiscus powder, and turmeric for color 😊
I’ve been eliminating lots of that stuff too. All of our cleaning products are made from items I have in the kitchen and my beauty products are either home made or bought from local businesses that follow an environmentally friendly and chemical free ethos. The only thing I haven’t really found a good replacement for is a shower cleaner. All the ones I’ve made just don’t cut the mustard. So I’ll just keep looking. ☺️
I like the music 🎶
For my hair I’ve been using Indian herbs 🌿 and henna instead of common shampoo for the last 5 years and they work just fine. I don’t regret at all giving up the shampoo (I usually pay about 30€ per year)
For my skin (face and body) sweet almond oil is perfect as make up remover or moisturiser
Thank you for this video
Love your style
I've been doing most of these as well. I can't tolerate processed food very well so that was first. We also switched to thrift stores for most of our clothing and household needs. They just don't make things as well as they use to. Most new products are junk. One added thing we don't "buy" is paying other people to do things. Such as hair styling, repairs on appliances, vehicles, or home improvement. We also grow a lot of our own food in the growing season.
Inspirational even for us men! Have been reducing a lot, but still have a lot of potential. Will let your ideas sink in...
Love to use organic cold pressed coconut oil, also from the kitchen. Delicious in smoothies, a great laxative if taken before bed 1 tsp, a little (pea sized) between meals if I want a snack. Keeps skin soft by ingesting and using as a cream/lotion on skin. Like olive oil that is organic and cold pressed, it has anti bacterial, anti-fungal and anti viral properties. A little goes a long way. Can’t praise either enough!
I make salves from bees wax, coconut oil, ( that I buy for ten other reasons too in a large bulk jar) and thyme, lavender, chickweed, plantain, oregano and other herbs for different reasons, instead of using cortisone, anti fungals or anti bacterial creams such as cortaid or neosporin. I also raise hens to eat their eggs and other, and we catch fish and or hunt deer for our meat. We buy very little meat for our recipes at home. We also grow all our herbs and all our garden foods.
Can you explain how to make salves or send me in the right direction. TIA
Best facial exfoliator! A half a cup of olive oil and a half a cup of sugar and a few drops of essential oil stirred up and put in a jar. I just use a little bit on my face after moistening it and gently do circular motions with your fingertips. Rinse or gently wipe off with a warm cloth.
I'm currently in the process of reducing my storage. I too had so much cleaning stuff 🙈 for each room a bottle, makeup (my passion) there is still so much to finish, I don't see an end to it 🙈🙈 each time before buying something I ask myself if there is not another option or if I can't make it on my own.
Thats great questions to ask yourself... it takes ages to get through everything... i made piles for different family and friends and just gave away...
Love your video, as I was watching it I was making a list in my head of the stuffs that I stopped buying over the last few years...
I've started making bioenzyme with citrus peels, and this I use as floor cleaner and dishwashing liquid
I make my own face scrub powder grinding together oats, cane sugar, few almonds, few dried lemon rinds and a pinch of turmeric powder
I started making newspaper trashbags for our dry waste. All kitchen wet waste goes into the compost bin
My hair accessories are sadly not something I've ever thought about the sustainability of, but I have lots of silk ribbons that I've collected over the years from Christmas presents. (Shout out to grandma!) You can make silk flowers from ribbons somehow, which might be a fun thing to try? Although I usually go for a traditional bow or weave them in some fancy schmancy way. That being said, this year has most defiantly been the year of the scrunchie! The addictions been a little too real... Haha
Great video with some really good tips. I love how you talk about reducing waste and saving money at the same time. I feel that too many people think that it's expensive to live low-waste or zero waste. My family of five live zero waste and have estimated that we save $18,000 a year and we save most money of things we no longer buy so the refuse part.
My favourite Niamh is watching my another favourite liziqi. Oh my my!❤
hehe awh thanks! Isn't Liziqi special indeed :-)
Several years ago I started using cloth napkins, cloth dish towels, and I even crocheted small reusable cotton face pads that I use for makeup removal. All of these can be washed weekly and reused over and over. The savings has been quite notable.
Yes, but the nut milks that you buy have added calcium, etc. so it's important to know you won't be getting those with home made ones. Especially for children
yep, I make homemade cashew or oat milk on occasion when i'm running out of my shop bought but I appreciate the fortification in them.
Calcium is important and it's great they add to nut milks... I get my calcium from kale, almonds and figs plus tofu and seeds.
Would it be possible to eat other fortified food that cannot be made at home ?
Just make sure you don't rely on fortified foods to supply needed vitamin D - you can't get enough of that even with fortified foods.
@@dsmith9796 I take a supplement. But yeah.. I don't know. As long as you are aware and make sure you get it from different sources I guess it's ok (the nutrients that milk has and home made nut milk hasn't)
The joys of Zero-Waste! Before buying anything I like to make sure I absolutely need it and that I buy it sustainable with as little packaging as possible. For instance, I love catsup but I make it myself from my own canned tomatoes. I like to make oatmeal milk and then use the solids to make pancakes, or make soy milk and use the okara to make veggie burgers or add to corn muffins, also made from scratch. My compost heap has given up on me because I rarely have any food waste to give it.
We visited family for dinner and had to stay overnight unexpectedly. They didn't know what to make to extend dinner, so I raided the fridge and made a stir fry over rice from some broccoli, carrots, and onions on their last legs, with mushrooms and walnuts found in the cupboard. They had vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, honey, and cornstarch. That was all we needed to make a yummy extension to dinner. I'm a big believer in having a pantry of shelf-stable foods that can rise to any occasion.
We've also given up bread and just make flatbreads from alternative ingredients like oats, barley, and masa. Bread and other wheat products were giving us brain fog and had to go.
probably you already know, but for some herbs (tea) its very important to store them in dark glas (not a glas where light comes through) so they really keep there health benefits
Maybe wrap paper or fabric ( old sock, ankle part ) around jar?
@@whosaidthat4299 yes paper, old newspapers work perfectly with a rubber band around or something simalar! Just google it, there are plenty articles about it. The herbs can loose due to the light (UV rays) their aroma, oils, colour etc
I am amazed by your list of things you don't buy anymore. These are definitely inspiring. ❤ Thank you for making this video.
People say what do I do with my old clothes. I say I wear them.
Hi! Just wanted to say again I love your videos. I wanted to thank you for the inspiration you provide. I recently was told by my doctor to make some lifestyle changes- going to bed and getting up early, eating the main meal at lunch, dramatically cutting down on alcohol, caffeine, processed foods... and it feels kind of scary and hard, but watching your videos where you share about living that kind of lifestyle makes me feel less alone and kind of excited to start the journey towards making those changes!
Ah isn't that a lovely synchronicity... yes slowly slowly and the changes don't seem too big!... it's one step at a time... I pick one and each week add another... the reward is magical.. keep being kind and respectful to yourself...
💛💛
I see a fellow Lizqi watcher ohoho! Watching you and her making sustainable living from two completely different households is really magical. Keep it up! :D
I cut down the herbs and mint out of our garden a couple weeks ago and left it to dry out in the garage. Over this past weekend I got them ready to be put into their glass containers. Can’t wait to have mint tea over the winter that I grew myself☺️
Was there a defining moment in your life that made you make all of these changes, thus creating the fairyland cottage?
I hope to see a “sustainable holiday gift ideas” video soon. 🎄 Also, your videos are so relaxing. I appreciate all of the work you and your partner (I would imagine they help, as well) put into making them. Watching the videos is a perfect way to begin the week. And, Bonus footage of Ireland?! Brings the stress levels down pretty low. ❤️
Ah thanks... yes my husband is a huge help now with the camera and editing. I share my journey to simple living in the ebook out next week! I was a city girl living on adrenaline and debt until I took a post in Austria and the rest is history.
@@FairylandCottage oh did you make a video telling about your Austria experience and why you changed your life? That would be interesting
Excellent. I have little by little stopped buying many of the things you have shown. You’ve given me a couple new ones about the hair and makeup. I’m still working on the bread. Discovered recently that I am gluten intolerant, and need to take the intimidating task of making my own break. Thank you for your time, inspiration, and motivating videos.
I stopped buying fast fashion a few years ago, and have just recently changed my skin care from 4+ products to just one :)
What is the one skin care product you use? I’m guessing coconut oil?
@@calisongbird cold cream! Straight up Coconut oil isn’t as good for your skin as people think it is. But the cold cream I use does have coconut oil in it :)
This is one of my favorite videos. I am 85% there. I know the bits and pieces to add now. Love your channel. So glad you came back after baby’s birth🌸
Hello, my newest bargain is coconut oil, you can use it for everything cooking and beauty products, I haven’t used it in my hair yet but it’s really good for roasting and making soup, massage oil and lip balm 💕💕💕 love the smell and it’s really easy for our bodies to digest too
Coconut oil is a natural sunscreen too. For you hair olive oil is best. Warm it a bit - then massage it into you scalp to the ends of your hair. But be warned to use a small amount. Or you will be doing several washes to get it out. This not only makes you hair soft, but you will notice you hair thicken too. Obviously, a one time use won't do this. Weekly is what I've done. Its like a spa treatment on my head. Oh, adding a few drops lavender essential oil is nice and calming too.
@@occo9072 ooooooo thank you for sharing, my hair is looking so thin and lifeless ☺️
Anti-bacterial mouthwash! see "oil-pulling"
@@skyblue-lb9kr Yes, you only need to use about a teaspoon size bit of it. Then swish it around for about ten or so mins. Spit it out. Do daily. But I would advise to brush teeth too- to get any other gunk off you teeth too.
Great tips, especially with respect to herbs. I live in a major metro area apartment and grow a few herbs on my patio. My apartment community is also landscaped with all kinds of edible herbs. I harvest and dry for herbal teas and seasoning. Yarrow, Russian Sage, Mugwort, to name a few. There are kale and apples growing on the grounds as well, which I also harvest and use at home. So far as I know, I am the only community member to take advantage of the local flora in this way.
Your cinematography gives me life
Good tips! I don’t use dry shampoo because I like the feeling of freshly washed hair… I buy commercial shampoo that I purchase at a health food store and I water it down… I find it works better that way.
I've eliminated makeup all together. :)
Ahh to be brunette. You’re lucky! I’m light blonde so if I dont wear makeup I look like I’ve had chemo.
Me too
Me too
Ah so so close .... i just buy foundation twice yearly... well done for eliminating it completely
I have eczema so I dropped makeup decades ago. Castile soap and water with a fragrance free moisturizer is my daily routine. I am retired so clothes are jeans and t-shirts or button up shirts. I live better now than I did when I had to dress up for work every day.
I still have 2 hand washer and dryer. We considered buying new but the old ones are so reliable and hubby can fix them.🤗🤗
I loved these tips it's made me think about these things you have covered makes all the difference in the world and for the world if everyone lived like this 💕
I'm so glad!
Thanks Niamh for the inspiration to make spreads for my bread. I use old stainless steel saucepans covered with a lids or a plate to keep food fresh in the fridge. Works great for salad and bread
Im really curious how you make the bread! Do you have a video or recipe of it? Would love that 🤗
A hack I found that works amazing is instead of using cotton pads (reusable or not) and makeup remover, to take an old plush blanket and cut it into little squares. All you need to do it get them wet and they take makeup no problem. I found this works WAY better then using makeup remover and its way softer on the eyes and face. I saw this on tiktok and I couldn't believe how well it worked when I tried it. Not only does it reduce waste, its so much cheaper since you don't need to worry about buying remover or whatever product you use to take your makeup off. It's insane!
I look forward to your videos every Sunday am never disappointed. Very relaxing and inspirational thank you 💜
I stopped buying body scrub, thanks to your recipe which you posted sometime ago. I recently stopped buying expensive serums and my face actually looks better. I use face oils (again following your recipes). You saved me a lot of money and my skin improved.