Some toys I made out of old baby clothes.

Produce No Waste is one of the 12 principles of permaculture and one that I love, well to be honest I love them all. All 12 apply to every area of our lives on a intimate level and in how we interact with others and with our environment.

There is no doubt that we are producing a huge amount of waste around the world. There are so many appliances, so much clothing and food that is produced and simply never used. On top of that is the amount of things that get dumped so that newer versions can be bought.

Nothing in nature goes to waste, everything is utilized and when it can not be used any further it breaks down and feeds the soil so that other life forms can flourish. This is the natural order of things, the natural life cycle.

There is such a huge demand for new and improved versions of everything that we use. And this something that really needs to be addressed. But for now, what really matters is what we are doing on a individual level.

Pallet Garden I made.

Like I have written before, permaculture is something that really applies to us on so many different levels. There are so many ways in which we can reduce the amount of waste in our lives. One a start we can begin to really look after the things we have in our lives, look after the items we use on a daily basis, so that they will last longer. This is such a wonderful thing to instill in our children too, as in today's society the change over of all items is really quick.

It is time to turn this idea into a fashionable one.

Recycling and up-cycling are so important. I personal hate waste and will use things until they no longer can be used. I am so lucky that I live in a community that feels the same way and as a result we have a community boat where we leave things we no longer use or need. Clothes swaps are also very common where I live. It is easy to arrange clothes swaps between friends and also perhaps to have a monthly meet up where other items can be passed on.

Monsters I made from old clothes.

I have in the past reused my girls clothing to make little toys, which I then sold on and it is something I will do again. I only use cloth and clothes that are torn and not salvageable. There are so many ways in which you can recycle clothes and make them into other items.

Any buckets or baskets that I find with holes in them, I reuse as plant pots, I have even used wooden drawers to grow food in. The possibilities are endless and it is a wonderful way to get creative.

When we are being creative, we are expressing ourselves and connecting with our inner creative power. There is such an amazing freedom that comes with being creative. We allow our imagination to flow and let go of any fears we have we stop putting restrictions on ourselves and we fully engage with ourselves and the world at that moment.

There are so many health benefits that come with being creative, it is a wonderful way to relieve stress and allows us to be fully present, becoming more mindful. I know that when I am being creative I enter a meditative state, it is just me and whatever I am creating, allowing me to let go of any worries that I may be harbouring.

growing food in old containers, baskets, buckets and drawers.

We are meant to create. We are meant to connect with ourselves and learn from the many lessons that come to us throughout our lives. Unless we embrace what is happening, then we waste that opportunity to learn and move forward in our lives. Permaculture asks that nothing goes to waste, that what we live through should be embraced, that who we are should be embraced.