Hey, hi, hello! I’m Chrystene, and welcome to Leafveins. You might know me as your Imperfect Environmentalist friend, or that online radically empathetic eco-enthusiast, or as your friendly neighborhood plant nerd. I love exploring botanic gardens, dressing up in thrifted outfits, drinking matcha lattes out of plastic free upcycled cups (i.e. pasta sauce jars), spreading genetically local native wildflower seeds, cooking meals for my friends, watching nature documentaries swimming in the ocean, and (most recently) playing pickle ball.

I think I have always been an environmentalist, but I didn’t identify as such until 2017 (when I had an ‘aha!’ moment while drinking from a plastic water bottle). Big shocker, my favorite color is green. But honestly I love all colors that can be found in nature, from cotton candy sunsets to blazing California poppy orange to topaz ocean waves. Nature is what inspires me, Gaia truly is a master artist.

As a keen storyteller, I love sharing the ways I have learned to navigate the world as a susty (sustainable), eco-conscious, and radically empathetic human. I am continually learning, and trying to do so in a self empathetic way. Personally, I have let shame and negative self talk stop me from pursuing so much of what I have wanted to do. I hope that by sharing my story of being an imperfect environmentalist, I can encourage you to pursue sustainability in a way that empowers you. And I’ll be here to remind you that you don’t have to do this “perfectly”, you just have to show up how you best can.

If you’re looking for an online eco friend, want to learn about sustainability, looking to feel inspired about environmentalism, and want to find the best matcha lattes in the greater LA and OC area, I would love it you would stick around.

Everyone’s sustainability journey will look different, and that’s a beautiful thing. We all have a unique set of perspectives and experiences that we bring to the table. Learn from each other, makes changes that work for you, share your wins, learn from your ‘mistakes’, talk to your friends, keep growing, challenge yourself, do your best. If you have the ability to make positive changes, do so. You got this, boo.

The more the merrier, right?

Part of living more sustainably is talking about it with your friends and family. You shouldn’t expect everyone around you to change (trust me, they won’t), but communication is an important first step.

1. Start by sharing changes you’ve made

2. Explain why it’s imprant to you

3. Offer ideas or incouragment if they seem interested

4. (Optional) Gift them the tools they need to make more sustainable changes

I’ve gifted worm composting bins, Stasher reusable silicone bags, refilled soap from the bulk store, reusable straws, reusable water bottles, DIY canvas produce bags, Baggu bags, and other eco goodies to much appreciation.

Jose has been my partner in crime as we work on developing a lifestyle that has a lower environmental impact. He’s developed a similar disdain for plastic packaging, always brings his reusable water bottle and coffee thermos, makes conscious purchases to minimize trash, and has reduced his possessions to maintain a more minimal lifestyle. He approaches some things differently than I would, and it’s been great to learn from each other.

LA Pubic Works says that “Recycling is the process of collecting, sorting, cleaning, treating, restoring, and then converting materials that would otherwise become solid waste, into raw materials for new, reused, or restored products.” That process takes the work of many moving parts, including us making sure we’re recycling correctly at home.

Every city, county, and municipal services differ, so it’s important to learn about the recycling services in your area. But in general, important things to keep in mind are :

• know what you can and can’t recycle
• make sure your items are clean and DRY (water is the #1 contaminant)
• keep food and water out of recycling
• DON’T put your recycling in plastic bags (plastic bags often jam sorting machines)
• repurpose before you recycle
• don’t recycle anything smaller than a credit card (sorting machines often can’t pick it out)
• combined materials are trash (ex plastic lined paper cups from the coffee shop)
• stop “wishcycling” and instead learn what your municipality accepts

I first got into composting from watching British Gardening shows on Youtube, namely Gardener’s World and The Edible Garden. In the shows, they talked so much about compost, making compost, using compost in the garden… As an aspiring home gardener, those shows inspired me to make my own compost. I set up a compost system in my backyard, alongside my small raised garden beds. I don’t think I had the right mix of ingredients (definitely did not have the right mix of ‘browns’ and ‘greens’), but it was my first foray into diverting organic waste away from the trash.

Composting utilizes the natural decomposition process, in a more controlled manner, to turn organic matter into a nutrient rich soil amendment. Organic ‘waste’ is broken down into simpler substances (like carbon dioxide, water, and carbs) and recycled back into the ecosystem. Compost itself is nutrient rich, increases soil health, increases soil fertility, and protects soil against drought and erosion. All organic matter, from apple cores to houseplants to your 100% cotton t-shirt, is capable of being composted.

Tossing your food waste and yard trimmings into the garbage means it ends up in a landfill. Organic matter that ends up in a landfill does not have ideal conditions for decomposition; this is a major contributor of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Of all sources of methane emissions in the US, landfills account for 15% of emissions. Not only that, but organic waste that ends up in a landfill means that nutrients will not be effectively recycled back into the ecosystem. The resulting garbage slurry is also a major source of pollution for our soils and waterways.

There are many ways to get started with composting and diverting organic waste from the landfill :

• start a compost pile in your yard
• make a worm compost (can be kept indoors or outdoors)
• find a compost drop off near you
• start a bokashi composting system
• try an overnight ‘composter’ device

Here’s a fun (but by no means all inclusive) list of things that can be composted :

Apple cores, melon rinds, wilted lettuce, carrot tops, banana peels, coffee grounds, paper coffee filters, potato skins, bell pepper cores, egg shells, grass clippings, zucchini ends, grape stems, onion skins, avocado pits, avocado skins, tea leaves, citrus rinds, strawberry tops, moldy berries, pumpkin guts, stale bread, shredded non-glossy paper, pineapple skin, pizza boxes, egg cartons, nail clippings, paper cotton swabs, popsicle sticks, wooden toothpicks, pet hair, wood chips, corn cobs, corn husks, used paper napkins, bread crumbs, stale cookies, used matches, toilet paper tubes, the crumbs at the bottom of the cereal bag, withered flower bouquets, celery hearts, green bean ends, and the tough parts of asparagus stems.

As a kid, my dad would take us up to Lake Isabella for camping and colonial reenacting rendezvous (he’s a big history nerd). After driving in a cramped 1988 Mitsubishi truck for 4 hours, we’d set up our campsite, dress up in (mostly) historical accurate colonial garb, and hang out at the rendezvous. I spent our trips swimming in the bracing creek waters, turning over rocks to look for hidden critters, hiking the hills perfumed from the dusty sagebrush, braiding grass into bracelets, and collecting wildflowers blooming amongst tall grass.

I have a distinct memory while picking some purple flowers (now I know it was blue eye grass), of another camper telling me, “Make sure not to pick all the flowers or there won’t be any next year.” My child brain didn’t really understand how that worked… didn’t the flowers just appear for my own enjoyment? Weren’t they just there?

Looking back, I really attribute that one off conversation for sparking the start of my environmentalist mindset. It made me realize that my actions in the world could have broad and far reaching consequences. Picking flowers this year could mean fewer next year. How else could I have an impact on my surrounding environment? The words that woman shared with me became a seed that blossomed into all that I do now to be a eco conscious steward of the planet.

The National Parks Service have long touted the importance of practicing the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, and they are great pricinples to follow when you’re exploring any outdoor space.

1. Plan ahead and prepare
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces
3. Dispose of waste properly
4. Leave what you find
5. Minimize campfire impacts
6. Respect wildlife
7. Be considerate of other visitors

We are all capable of being good stewards of the earth, and our collective efforts truly have far reaching impacts for the ecological well being of this unique planet of ours. Practicing mindfulness when making day to day choices is a big part of living a more sustainable lifestyle. It’s especially important that, when we navigate outdoor spaces, that we leave no trace. Your actions could perhaps be the seed that inspire others to blossom into good stewards of this unique planet of ours.

Healthy ecosystems help to support a diverse array of plants, animals, and fungi. Nutrient cycles and energy flows are part of the systems that support ecosystem health. Resiliency is an important aspect of ecosystem health, which helps to keep things in balance as conditions change.

However with more stresses placed on our ecosystems and wild habitat (including industrial development, housing, pollution, mining, and deforestation), habitat loss and fragmentation is becoming more prevalent. Non-native landscaping, derelict empty lots, manicured lawns, astroturf, the spread of invasive species, and the tendency to cover spaces with asphalt or concrete further pushes habitat loss and fragmentation within developed spaces.

Even in cities, neighborhoods, or towns, its possible to create valuable habitat for native species. Creating a native plant garden adds to the matrix of much needed habitat to support the landscape for birds, pollinators, and other animals. If you’re able to, growing plants that are native to your area is incredibly valuable because they :

• support biodiversity
• provide habitat and food for insects, birds, and wildlife
• are already adapted to your climate
• better at supporting healthy soil
• can be way less maintenance than ‘traditional’ landscaping
• use less water
• require less (or no) pesticides
• look damn good!

You don’t need to rip out your entire yard put in natives (but please don’t let me hold you back if that’s your plan), but growing any amount of native plant species is so impactful and important.

Clothes can really have an impact. The fashion industry (particularly the fast fashion sector) has a considerable environmental footprint, accounting for 20% of the waste water produced worldwide, contributing to 35% of microfibers found in the ocean, and resulting in 35 tons of clothing ending up in landfills.

The issues of fast fashion aside, maintaining our wardrobe can also have a major footprint. About 75% of our clothes’ life cycle impact comes from washing and drying them. Between the energy consumption, water usage, maintenance of machines, and products used, there’s a lot of opportunities for incorporating sustainable practices.

Here are some easy ways to ‘green’ up your laundry routine :

• wash clothes less frequently
• spray clothes with vodka between washes (as a ‘refresh’ between washes’
• wash clothes on the cold water cycle only
• line dry delicate items
• use fragrance free and eco friendly detergent (like Dropps, Earth Zero Plastic, or Sal Suds
• skip the fabric softeners and dryer sheets (they damage your clothes!)
• use a Guppyfriend Wash Bag to wash synthetic fabric clothes so they don’t shed micro plastics into the water

Washing on the cold cycle alone can save 90% of energy consumption compared to washing on hot (heating up the water uses more energy than running the motor). 34 million tons of CO2 emissions would be saved if every American household used only cold water to wash clothes. Small changes add up to make a big impact!

Given a choice, Jose and I would normally dine in a restaurant vs order it to go. Dining in means we can skip out on all the plastic associated with takeout : plastic bags, plastic cutlery, plastic wrappers, plastic sauce packets, plastic entree containers…

COVID restrictions made dining a non-option for a while, but luckily things are opening up again here in California. Even so, we’ve amassed a collection of plastic takeout containers during lockdown. With dining options restricted, ordering takeout was a no brainer way for me to support my favorite restaurants. I feel no regrets about ordering crispy tofu, pad Thai, and yellow curry from our favorite Thai restaurant and supporting a local business.

Despite our best efforts to reduce plastic usage, we’re still bound to have some amount make its way into our lives. Unfortunately here in the US (and basically everywhere), the plastic recycling system is not able to withstand the flood of plastic that is currently being produced. As best as I can, I try to repurpose those containers for things like :

• storing leftovers
• freezing food
• packing snacks for car rides
• storing vegetable and food scraps in the freezer until I’m ready to compost them
• as a seed starter for the garden
• growing sprouts for a salad
• organizing a junk drawer
• growing house plant cuttings

It’s generally not a good idea to reheat foods in to go container. It’s not always possible to eliminate plastic items from your day to day, but it’s definitely a good idea to reduce and repurpose when you can.

As I’ve learned more about sustainable living, it’s made me more conscious of my role as a consumer in an economic system that heavily relies on and fuels the creation of excessive plastic. Systemic change is absolutely necessary to address the plastic pollution crisis, but I feel that personal actions are an important aspect to making that possible. Individual actions are the first steps in spurring on larger systemic change and that can start with something as simple packing your own lunch.

Plastic food wrappers and containers are the TOP sources of plastic pollution on our planet. Grab and go snacks, pre-made lunches, no convenience foods contribute to the plastic found polluting every environment on Earth. Not all plastic can be avoided, but packing your own lunches can help to curb unnecessary plastic waste.

When possible, I try to avoid buying foods that come wrapped in excessive plastic. I haven’t been able to go plastic free (far from it), but I reduce where I can. Packing my own lunches has been a great way to :

1. choose the foods that go into my lunch and fuel me
2. control portion size
3. pick low waste options when possible
4. reduce food waste
5. avoid hunger induced impulse purchases
6. save money
7. pack your favorite foods!