So, how do you walk the walk?
I started this, so I'll go first.
I think I'm most proud of my very conscious effort to read labels and buy organic and/or local food as often as possible. This is not an inexpensive commitment though, and as my two children (ages 13 and 9) get older their appetites get bigger and the food budget grows exponentially. But as long as I can afford to I will buy the organic alternative - especially fruit and produce.
And you? What do you do?
wendy
I started doing most of these things because I don't like waste. Yet the side benefit is that they've turned out to be great for the environment!
- Reusable shopping bags: I snag a ton of these from the annual conference my work hosts, and use them religiously during my weekly trip to Trader Joe's. It's tricky getting them back to the car and have a tendency to clutter up the hallway, but it's worth it.
- Reusing Glass containers: Glass jars of all sizes are no longer recycled, but washed and occasionally goo-goned, then used as storage for all kinds of food. This has the side benefit of not leaching plastic into the stuff I eat. I even use a glass VOSS bottle for my water bottle, which is handy because it can be tossed into the washing machine and kept clean!
-Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box: this started off as a bid to get more veggies into my diet, but has had the side effect of giving me a greater appreciation for unprocessed food. hubby and I go through a box of these veggies with just the two of us, granted, veggies make up the bulk of our diet these days. Cooking all of these vegetables has also encouraged me to stretch my cooking skills, and I now bake my own wheat bread for sandwiches as well (although still looking for a recipe which will deliver the soft and chewy results of store-bought!) You can find a CSA Box as well at www.localharvest.org.
Thanks for starting this thread. :)
Two years ago I unexplicably decided that I wanted to ride a bicycle again. Kids love it so much and I don't know why I stopped. I started biking to work eventually working up to daily. I eventually started using it for small errands and eventually bigger errands (like buying groceries - admitedly I shop for one.. but still). I calculated it out one day and I save about $15 to $20 a week in gas by using a bicycle. Of course that also translates into tonnes of emissions saved from the environment. PLUS, I feel incredible. I've now started vacationing on my bike. Instead of driving through the rocky mountains last year, I biked around them. Next year I'm biking from Vancouver to Calgary. What a way to see the world without impacting it.
My only regret is that I live in Canada and our winters are REDICULOUS and I have yet to man up and bike to work in the snow and -40 (that's celsius in my world)
"Work to eat, eat to live, live to bike, bike to work"!!!!
Sarah Day
live large, laugh often, wear purple underwear
Growing up in rural Idaho my Mom hung everything out to dry because she thought the dryer consumed too much electricity and she wanted to save money. After using dryers in college, I realized that mechanically dried clothes also aged faster. So I got a couple old drying racks at a flea market and I've used them ever since. I consume less because my clothes last longer. I use less electricity and save money. Sometimes I have to iron a blouse or two but it's a small price to pay.
In general, I also try to use less "disposable" stuff. I use zip loc bags ONLY as a last resort and use 1/2 gallon glass "preserving" jars to hold rice, flour, sugar, salt etc. I have glass jars of various sizes to hold left overs. Ball makes a great wide mouthed flat 250 ml jar that is good for spices and smaller quantities. The wide mouth makes it easy to get things in and out. The flat shape makes it easily stackable.
Lynn PO Blogging about helping elderly parents and assisted living at http://help-4-mom.blogspot.com
I have been experimenting with natural cleaning products, and so far, so good. I mean lets not get completely nuts here, I will not give up my Tide until they find something that works as well without all the chemicals.. But I have found that baking soda makes a better cleanser than Comet or Ajax like stuff. And I found a totally kick a** floor cleaner. Mix one cup of vinegar and half a cup of alcohol with a gallon of water. Seriously, no streaks and it kills germs. It works on windows too. Baking soda is a great stain remover for laundry and countertops, too. Half a lemon and kosher salt works great on cutting boards and stainless steel sinks. This all has saved me a lot of money, which I have spent on the beauty products below...
Sulfate free beauty products are not only better for the environment, but better for you. I LOVE sulfate free shampoo, my hair is sooo much better. And my skin is looking better too. Anything with sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate or ammonium laureth sulfate just strips the good oils from your skin and hair. Over time it can build up in your system and clog up the works. Coconut oil works great as a moisturizer, if you happen to live in a desert, like I do.
Food is a different story. When I can afford it, I try to buy organic, but really if they want that one to catch on, they have GOT to lower the cost. Oh, but coffee grounds and egg shells are great for mulching your garden with. I have been doing it for about 2 years now, and can really tell a difference. Starbucks will give you their used grounds if you ask, and it really works.
I'm trying, but it is a slow process. Every little bit helps.
I am proud of the small yet important effort I have made to be green.
*I drive a gas saving well maintain car.
*I recycle, recycle recycle. Every piece of cardboard, plastic and glass I can.
*I use a reusable water bottle.
*I use my own canvas bags for groceries.
*I have changed all the light bulbs in my house to the compact bulbs, and turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
*I keep my thermostat at 78-80 degrees in the house.
*I have low flow shower heads, I reduce my shower time and turn off water while brushing.
*I have new washer and dryer with the low E symbol, and now that its summer I hang lots more of my laundry that doesn't need to be dried to be fluffy.
Looking at this list it looks great but, its just a drop in a big bucket!! I wish we could get restaurants to stop using Styrofoam to go boxes and cups. Also that we could get more businesses to recycle or donate. We need to eliminate excess packaging and un-necessary plastics! More recycling collection for apartment complexes. But, until all that happens I keep plugging along. Always finding ways to do my part to be green. *humming the Kermit The Frog Song
BeckiHRH-Queen of all this!
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Saying PFFT! to the Jones'
Leighbra August 12, 2009 - 12:27amOur neighbors on one side have fantastic green lawns fit for a golf course. Watered daily, mowed every FOUR days, with flower beds that get watered 3 times a day in the dead of summer, their yards are green, but not GREEN, if you know what I mean. Chemical fertilizers and weed killers help keep the illusion alive.
I'm sure when people drive by and see our mediocre yard (but the amazing garden is in back), it looks pretty shabby.
Teaching myself that I don't HAVE to keep up with the Jones' is my proudest green accomplishment.
I have to actually tell my brain to shut up when I'm hanging up our clothes to dry and I can see the husband watching me while he waters his yard. Who really cares if they see my laundry hanging out to dry. I'm saving energy and I should feel good about that.
right? right?! lol
And yikes, feeding a 13yo and a 9yo is expensive on the best of days!