We're on a mission to find joy in a more sustainable life.

This is our journey as we recommit to a simple life with more time to play, less stuff to clean, and less waste to manage.

We celebrate our biggest triumphs, learn from utter failures, and share everything in between. We welcome you to do the same!

RECENT BLOG POSTS

The 80/20 Rule and Sustainability Lessons from COVID


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I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how sustainability does and does not go hand in hand with this global pandemic. On one hand, we’re all struggling with big and challenging things, like unemployment, safely shopping for groceries, and educating our children. On the other hand, I think it’s important […]

Waste Free Halloween Candy

I was wrong in my post last week… trick-or-treating isn’t canceled in my community. And as we’re approaching everything differently this year, with everyone’s health and safety in the front and center of our minds, let’s talk Halloween candy… I’m committed to plastic free candy! Individually wrapped candies already feel […]

Waste Free Halloween Costumes

Happy Halloween from my family to yours!   It’s almost Halloween and if you’re anything like me, you’re just realizing that Halloween this year isn’t going to be the same. Our town has canceled trick-or-treating. Our school has canceled the Halloween parade. Our kids are allowed to wear their costumes […]

Got Hot Peppers? (Or medium or mild ones)

If you have extra hot, medium, or mild peppers hanging around your house, I highly recommend making your own shatta. If you don’t have peppers hanging around your house, I recommend you go find some from your local farmers market or roadside stand and make your own shatta. However you […]

GETTING STARTED

Photo taken by James Harnois. Find him at http://www.jamesharnois.com/ and @jamesharnoisphoto on Instagram.

Introduction to Carbon Free Family

Hi! I’m Erin Augustine and welcome to Carbon Free Family — a blog where I’ll share tips and stories about my sustainability progress, failures, and philosophy.

I hope to help you define what sustainability means for you and your family, achieve progress on your journey from exactly where you are, and debunk the “sustainability is hard” myth.

How Do You Measure and Define Sustainability?

Let’s start with further defining sustainability.

The traditional business definition is the triple bottom line – people, planet, profit –  and any good business needs to deliver on all three. I believe these same three values apply to personal life and I apply them in the following ways.

Getting Started on Your Journey

At least once a year (usually in January, but it can be anytime) I like to take a few moments to reflect on life and my progress on my sustainability journey. I think there’s huge value in reviewing my actions to make sure they’re a good reflection of my core beliefs and that I’m living the life of my dreams (or at least actively striving for it).

UPCOMING EVENTS

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  • Carbon Free Family’s Kickstart Your Sustainability Journey workshop was transformative. Erin’s breadth of knowledge on sustainable practices is vast, but her true talent lies in her unique ability to flip your mindset and show you what is actually possible, what can indeed work in your life. 

  • Erin is the voice of The Carbon Free Family - a family that "walks the walk" along the path we all must take, if we want to continue to enjoy life on Planet Earth. Her presentation is non-judgemental, thought-provoking and, most importantly, FUN! So, no matter where you might be on that path, you're sure to learn something from Erin. Her enthusiasm is infectious and you will come away realizing that the walk is not about sacrifice, it's about joy! 

  • Our Unitarian Universalist church engaged Erin as our guest speaker for our Earth Day service. Erin was really easy to work with and graciously practiced with us prior to the service as we were still learning how to conduct a virtual service during a global pandemic. This was one our best attended virtual services to date. Erin stayed after the service to join our coffee hour and answer questions. The service was so inspiring that our congregation has started a small sustainability group that is meeting monthly. What a great success!

  • Erin's presentation was very approachable for those new to sustainability. She focuses on the joy you can find in this lifestyle and explains that being sustainable doesn't have to be expensive, which can keep many people from exploring this lifestyle. She also talked about how lessening your carbon footprint is a journey and that no matter where you are in that journey, it is important to be transparent and learn from others. Fostering such encouragement in a sustainable community is really inspiring!