This is where Rachel Pulley teaches Zero Waste Life Style classes. She will be adding summer classes soon as well: http://www.kickshawsdowntownmarket.com For more info on the anti-microbial bags that we speak about contact Ginny or visit her site: ginnygrotholson@gmail.com Ginnygrotholson.norwex.biz Zero Waste Living http://learntruehealth.com/zero-waste-living/ How many of you have tried to live a life of zero waste? In this materialistic world,  having zero waste seems something hard to do.  But it is possible.  My guest Rachel Pulley will teach us the beauty of having zero waste lifestyle and how to be aware of the problems that our waste is creating. How It All Began Rachel Pulley’s zero waste journey began about over two years ago.  She says her zero waste lifestyle started in a place that is quite unusual for most people. One day, Rachel Pulley got overwhelmed with how much waste we create during whenever women have their period. That is indeed an odd place where people would start a zero-waste lifestyle. “I say it’s a funny place to begin this journey because this change is usually the last one people make. And I became overwhelmed by the thought of all the waste I would produce in my lifetime alone,” said Rachel Pulley. Starting The Research So Rachel Pulley began researching for feasible solutions or alternatives. That’s where her journey started.  The more she dug into the zero waste lifestyle, Rachel Pulley found different podcasts that she loves to listen to.  “I found bloggers living a Zero Waste Lifestyle, authors, and community and I began my journey through those experiences,” said Rachel Pulley. “But I am not a scientist or environmentalist but I see what’s happening and it worries me.” Menstrual Cup Using a menstrual cup was Rachel Pulley’s initial attempt to live a life of zero waste. A menstrual cup comes in different kinds, and Rachel Pulley declares the little silicone cup as life-changing. For sanitary reasons, Rachel Pulley boils her menstrual cup once a month, and she even has no problems sleeping with it.  There’s a brand of a menstrual cup that comes in assorted colors, and Rachel Pulley assures that it’s not hard to use it. She also advises women to watch Youtube tutorials to learn how to use a menstrual cup. I have read that tampons and pads are harmful if they aren’t organic.  This is because we can absorb chemicals from the cotton. That’s why Rachel Pulley also recommends using cloth pads.  In A Nutshell Rachel Pulley says she strives to live the zero waste lifestyle. And there are so many factors in our surroundings that contribute to waste. Plastic breaks up over time and becomes smaller. Eventually, the fishes in the ocean will think it’s food, so they eat it, and we eat them. That’s how plastic is starting to show up in us. “Our waste doesn’t just go away. It’s affecting our environment, killing animals, affecting our health and draining our resources,” said Rachel Pulley. Baby Steps Apart from the menstrual cup, Rachel Pulley started bringing a reusable bag everywhere especially during shopping trips and doing the grocery. This is because she says plastic bags get ripped and soiled. It then ends up in landfills or shipped to underdeveloped countries. A big chunk of plastic also ends up in oceans.  The plastic by then looks like food, which turtles think it’s jellyfish. “There are so many different forms of waste. It can be trash, food waste or clothing,” explains Rachel Pulley. “When you’re starting this journey, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by it all. But we aren’t perfect.”  She adds, “Try a zero waste audit. Look at your trash. Think of what you can get rid off and what you can’t live without. It’s a fun journey, and it should uplift you.” Zero Waste Party Rachel Pulley threw a unique birthday party to celebrate her 30th birthday last year. She says doing a zero waste party needs ample time for planning since you have to figure out how to get products in alternative ways. One way is to