4 Zero Waste Alternatives to Cream in your Coffee

At the present moment I've managed to wander down to St. Croix, one of the US Virgin Islands.  I'm working a turtle conservation job where we have supplied housing and meals. This means a few things:

1. I only generally get to a grocery store about 1 / 2 weeks
2. When I do get a chance to buy food, it all needs to fit in a tiny mini-fridge that I share with my roommate
3. If I get anything in cartons, it can't be recycled

Therefore, I have not been getting cream to put in my coffee, which is normally how I take it.

These are the simple fixes I've done with the limited means I have here:

1. Dark Chocolate

I've started putting about 1/2 a square of dark chocolate, I like Alter-Eco's Brown Butter, in my to-go mug so that it melts when I pour in the hot coffee. This gives an amazing flavor, slightly sweetens it, and can cut the acidity of the coffee just enough!

2. Coconut Milk

I'm not talking about the coconut milk sold in cartons for drinking, I'm talking straight out of the can with some congealed oil at the top. Dump this into a jar and mix it up, then pour it into coffee and enjoy! This keeps better than dairy milk, takes up less room, and comes in aluminum cans! This will also more closely resemble the creamy texture of coffee with dairy cream.

3. Vanilla Extract

I especially love to add vanilla extract to my cold brew coffee. It has just enough of another flavor to take the edge off the coffee alone. Though I do just use this instead of cream, admittedly, it also tastes freaking amazing in addition to cream! Almond extract is excellent as well, if you like that flavor!

4. Drink it Black

I know this sounds obvious, or like something to totally write off. But, if you get good quality coffee from a local roaster (if you have one near you) black coffee can taste pretty darn good. If you haven't given it a solid effort in a while, maybe try just a cup or two and see how you like it!

A New Pela Case

I've been using a Pela Case since 2017 for my iPhone 5, and it was a freaking trooper! I don't really treat my phones with a great deal of delicacy. Which is probably why I ended up going swimming with my iPhone 5, something from which it did not recover.  However my phone was on its way out anyway, and I was preparing to replace it soon.

I ordered a used iPhone 6 off of Gazelle, which also meant I got to order a new Pela case! I've been eyeing their turtle cases for a while now, and wanted to be able to protect my new phone immediately. I have to say, the quality of their cases has increased dramatically since I first ordered my iPhone 5 case back in 2017. My new Pela Case fits my phone better, is more snug, and the material is thicker so I think it provides even better protection now! And their cases continue to be shipped in a compostable package, completely plastic free!

We will see how my new case holds up, but I have high hopes for it!

Zero Waste Travel: Caribbean Packing List

The Situation

So the situation for myself is that I am traveling to St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands for three months to conduct research and nest monitoring for sea turtles with the National Park Service. I know, I know, very hard life over here. 

I've done lots of small zero-waste trips, but this is the first long term one. I've been doing a lot of prep, and despite all the lists I have all over my house, I still have things pop into my head that I need that I probably won't have much access to down there, especially when it comes to zero waste living. 

I don't know how many of you will need a packing list for a three month stay in the Caribbean, but here's what I'm bringing, while attempting to travel light and efficiently.

Clothes

* A star indicates that the item(s) were specific to my work, so may differ greatly from your needs

pants

• 3 pair casual pants - 1 linen/hemp, 1 cotton, 1 leggings
• *4 pair field pants - good for hiking, I need several because I will be doing field work 5 nights/week

Shorts

• 5 pair casual - 3 hemp, 2 mid-length, 2 jean
• 5 pair athletic - 2 running, 2 spandex, 1 water

Shirts

• *15 cotton T-shirts - probably the most excessive, but that's because of the field work I'm doing could involve being pulled into the ocean by a turtle
• 10 Tank Tops - I'm a shorts and tank top kind of gal, these are small and back down easily so I don't mind bringing some extra
• 5 nice T-shirts - for office days or dinners

Skirts/dresses

• 2 skirts
• 2 sundresses
• 1 nice dress

Long Sleeves/Cover Ups

• 1 flannel
• 1 fleece
• 1 light-weight jacket
• 1 Rain Jaket
• 1 button up sun shirt

Nighttime/Undies

• 6 sports Bras – I mostly wear sports bras, I also stuck in a few bralettes 
• ALL the Underwear – I like to have enough undies
• Socks – Yes. Socks. socks are good for hiking and I need them for field work
• Sleepwear - some cotton shorts and a few comfy T-shirts

Swimwear

• Sarong  
• 3 bathing suits sets

Footwear

• Running/hiking shoes 
• Bierkenstocks
• *Chacos - close and open toed

sundry

• 1 scarf – super versatile and good for overly air-conditioned places
• 1 Hat 
• 1 Sunglasses 
• 3 Buffs/Headsox
• 1 belt

Toiletries

• Medication/Painkillers – I have no medications that I take regularly, but on some islands painkillers such as ibuprofen are not available over the counter, so this could be something to throw in your bag.
• Deodorant– I normally make my own deodorant, but I decided to take this as an opportunity to try out some other stuff. I brought down Lush's
• Lotion - coming from dry, dry Colorado, I'm not bringing to many lotion products. I am bringing a small vile of daily moisturizer made by Denver's local zero waste shop to help my face recover from the sun
• Toothbrush/Toothpaste - Brush with bamboo, and Tom's of Maine (keeping tubes to send into TerraCycle)
• Razors – I brought my trusty safety razor and razor blades
• Hair care – 2 shampoo bars & 1 conditioner bar from Lush
• Soaps - body soap from Sallye Ander and Little Seed Farm, Face soap from Lush
• Towel and Facecloth – Because you need to shower, and you will shower often. A facecloth can be used for wiping sweat off you in general.
• Sunscreen – I brought 2 Raw Elements Face + Body sunscreen that comes in tins!
• Bug Repellent – I'm bringing an essential oil mix to make bug repellent with.

Laundry

I know I will have access to laundry machines where I am staying, but I have no idea what will be available as far as laundry products go. Since all the water I use will drain into the ocean pretty immediately, I wanted to make sure I was prepared for eco-friendly laundering.

• Nellie's All-Natural Laundry Detergent - refillable tin
• STOP! MicroWaste washing bag 
• 2 rolls quarters 

Tech Gear

• Camera
• Laptop
• Cell Phone

other

• Day-Pack
• small first aid kit
• Hammock
• 1 Reusable grocery bag
• COFFEE

things i forgot

• Food Storage - this was such a zero waste fail. I forgot my snacks for the airplane, which not only left me w/o snacks but w/o containers! Luckily I was able to acquire some w/i the first week, but I definitely generated waste w/o them
• Silverware/spork - I also forgot my spork! How? I don't know, but so far I haven't had to use any plastic utensils, I've just had to get a little creative with the spoon I brought for scooping coffee.