Please can I have the freezer?

Filed in Blog by on April 4, 2011 8 Comments
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Our party wasn't quite as glamorous as this you understand!

Our party wasn't quite as glamorous as this you understand!

These were the words of Little Miss Green this week. She said “Dad, when the freezer is empty can I have it in my bedroom?”

The thing is bigger than she is!

Let me tell you the history of this comment: We had a bit of a catastrophe last weekend. Little Miss Green was standing at the kitchen sink when she noticed a light on the freezer was flashing.

We found the manual and realised this meant the freezer wasn’t up to temperature. When I checked the food it was all semi soft.

Unfortunately the freezer was half full which meant a lot of food. As a zero waste family with worms that eat a modest amount, 2 bokashi bins and no cats and dogs any more how could we avoid landfill waste?

There was no other option but to throw an impromptu party!

We called friends and neighbours and invited them around. Even if they already had plans and couldn’t stay to eat with us, we asked them to take the food and eat it at home. I cooked it all up and that’s what we did.

It was a strange looking affair with fish fingers next to soup and enough peas to feed the village. There was stewed fruit and curry, roast parsnips and cakes. But by the end of the night there were full tummies, an empty freezer, an empty bin and a good night had by all.

As for the freezer, we’ve decided to try and experiment to reduce our carbon footprint and we’re going to see if we can get by without one. I don’t think the old one will be going into LMG’s bedroom for storage, space ships or dens however, so it will be off to the recycling centre for WEEE. If a similar fate should await you over in the US, find out where to recycle your WEEE locally with 1800Recycling.

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About the Author ()

I am a long time supporter of the Green and Sustainable lifestyle. After being caught in the Boscastle floods in 2004, our family begun a journey to respect and promote the importance of Earth's fragile ecosystem, that focussed on reducing waste. Inspired by the beauty and resourcefulness of this wonderful planet, I have published numerous magazine articles on green issues and the author of four books.

Comments (8)

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  1. Carolyn says:

    Wow… if life hands you lemons, you make lemonade? This is such a grand idea on your part… well done to decide to have fun instead!

  2. Becks says:

    Ooops. Great idea to throw an impromptu party though. We have a similarly strange menu every monday, the day before the veg box arrives. So what if you don’t generally have butternut squash and mushroom curry accompanied by sprouts and roast parsnips, the children loved it.
    As for no freezer, well we haven’t had one for about two years now despite being a larger family. I do occasionally think it would be a good idea so as to freeze leftovers but now we just use them the following day. We do miss it occasionally in the summer for ice creams etc but there’s always the ice cream van for an occasional treat. And I find it saves waste for us as there’s no chance of storing food and then forgetting how long it’s been there. Or buying stuff that never gets used.

  3. nicola baird says:

    I think my freezer saves more stuff we would otherwise waste – and we’ve got hens and a dog to throw waste bits at as well as composting. |it certainly saves time, I have 5 loaves of bread in it at the mo which means I don’t have to walk to the baker until next week. I look forward to finding out how you get on. I had one friend who used the spring in her garden to keep milk/beer/white wine cold; her house was chilly enough for 3 seasons to keep it indoors. Good luck.

  4. Sandy says:

    wow big step, when you have been used to having a freezer, takes alot more planning. good luck. x

  5. Mrs Green says:

    @Carolyn: Hi Carolyn, nice to see you and thanks for taking time to comment.

    @Becks: Great to hear of another family without a freezer – thanks for sharing, and loving the sound of butternut squash and mushroom curry!

    @nicola baird: Hi Nicola, it *is* quite a radical decision for us, but I’ve realised I was never using it to its full potential. I still think I’ll need to get another one when the harvest comes in – I don’t fancy salted beans 😉

    @Sandy: Thanks Sandy – will keep you posted!

  6. Alyson says:

    Your’e a brave woman than I. I don’t know if I can go without a freezer, I shall have to think about that one. I can’t wait for my tumble dryer to break down. It’s not my intention to get it fixed when it eventually does. I only got it 9 nine years ago when baby no 6 came along, but now 3 of them have upped and gone, the excuse I originally had for getting it in the first place is no longer there. I’m not planning on replacing the microwave, either, when that dies. My eldest daughter gave hers away a few months ago, she said it was just taking up space and it wasn’t being used. I was surprised at her, young thing that she is. I, obviously use mine more, porridge doesn’t taste the same in a saucepan.I did once go without a fridge for 2 years, but that was in the days when I didn’t have any money and it took me that long to save up to buy one. Those were the days… awful! The milk kept going off in the summer, typical. TV went just over 6 years ago now, ah yes, those celebrities, who are they? Oh and the 2nd car wasn’t replaced when the gearbox went, that’s coming up for 6 years soon.But I would be lost without my washing machine, please don’t ask me to give up my washing machine, I’m not ready for that.

  7. Jo says:

    I just love that you threw a party and turned a disaster into a celebration!

  8. Mrs Green says:

    @Alyson: You and me both, my love. I don’t intend to thrash my smalls against rocks by the stream any time soon!

    @Jo: Always an optimist, me! 😀

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