Well, it's been almost a full month of going green. Lots more recycling, lots of planting, lots of running around to make sure we are turning lights off and conserving water. Am I happy about it? ABSOLUTELY. I love the ways our lives have changed. I feel like we are finally 'earning our keep' on this planet. I love that my oldest daughter frequently yells at her sister for "wasting" and that she will hold an aluminun can in her hands the whole way home if there are no recycling receptacles availabble.
Since my last post, I think the major changes we have made have been within the house. We switched over all of our cleaning products and rarely use paper towels (if we do, they are recycled products). We are currently 'auditioing' recycled toilet paper, but the verdict is still out on that. Our cats have switched over to natural kitty litter and their waste is now flushed down the toilets instead of placed in plastic bags that sit in landfills for thousands of years. Our dairy and poultry products are all organic now and at least half of our fruits and vegetables.
Stay tuned for more updates! :)
Friday, May 30, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
what can WE do?
since earth day, we've been talking about all the things we are going to change. and maya asks for a new tip almost every day. so, today we actually sat down and came up with a list of ways we can help the environment. here's what we have initiated in our house so far:
- we use canvas shopping totes for food shopping and trips to target.
- we started making a conscience effort to turn off the water while we brush our teeth and being mindful on how much water we use for showers and baths.
- we flush the potty a lot less. if it's yellow, we let it mellow. you know the rest.....
- we started buying organic dairy products and will be introducing some organic meats and poultry as well. we also try to buy organic fruit.
- we started subsituting washcloths in the kitchen instead of the massive amounts of paper towels i used to go through. (note: i didn't think i would like this one at all, but i am pleasantly suprised!) i'm not ready to give up paper towels completely yet, but at least this helps!
- we turn off lights when we're not in a room and we took a few lights off timers to save energy.
- we started using some earth-friendly toiletries and will change over to "greener" cleaning solutions when it's time to replace what we have.
- we now recycle EVERYTHING- even things we didn't know could be recycled!
- we started unplugging appliances/electronics that we aren't using.
- we are going to try to buy more groceries in bulk to save on gas/trips to the store.
- i purchased a travel mug from starbucks for my morning coffee instead of using 5 paper cups a week (even though starbucks cups can be recycled)!!!!
- we use canvas shopping totes for food shopping and trips to target.
- we started making a conscience effort to turn off the water while we brush our teeth and being mindful on how much water we use for showers and baths.
- we flush the potty a lot less. if it's yellow, we let it mellow. you know the rest.....
- we started buying organic dairy products and will be introducing some organic meats and poultry as well. we also try to buy organic fruit.
- we started subsituting washcloths in the kitchen instead of the massive amounts of paper towels i used to go through. (note: i didn't think i would like this one at all, but i am pleasantly suprised!) i'm not ready to give up paper towels completely yet, but at least this helps!
- we turn off lights when we're not in a room and we took a few lights off timers to save energy.
- we started using some earth-friendly toiletries and will change over to "greener" cleaning solutions when it's time to replace what we have.
- we now recycle EVERYTHING- even things we didn't know could be recycled!
- we started unplugging appliances/electronics that we aren't using.
- we are going to try to buy more groceries in bulk to save on gas/trips to the store.
- i purchased a travel mug from starbucks for my morning coffee instead of using 5 paper cups a week (even though starbucks cups can be recycled)!!!!
green is good?
my family is making some changes with how we live our daily lives. my 4 year old daughter was quite intruiged with earth day this year and really wants to "save our planet". we talked about the 3 R's and how we as a family can make that happen. i even decided that i could invest in some canvas shopping bags to demonstrate "reducing". she was so excited to make such a change, but the real 'pat on the back' came from the few grocery clerks who immdiately complimented me on my green notion. hmmmmm, this green thing IS kind of fun!
well, the very next day we went to our usual story time at the bookstore and right inside the front door was an entire table of books dedicated to helping the environment. i picked one up to browse while the kids enjoyed their event...i had no idea how much that one book would change us and the way we treat our planet.
i am a stay-at-home mom raising 2 small children.... you can imagine the amount of waste we dispose of. there are some things i have decided that i cannot change at the moment- like that i drive an SUV or throw aways 4 or 5 disposable diapers a day. but, there are a ton of little things i can change as part of our daily routines to help us live a "greener life". i love that this is something we can do as a family each and every day, and i love that my children are so excited to make such a difference.
i started this blog to help me keep track of our progress. i am still reading the book i purchased last week, but we have started to implement some of the changes already. off we go!
well, the very next day we went to our usual story time at the bookstore and right inside the front door was an entire table of books dedicated to helping the environment. i picked one up to browse while the kids enjoyed their event...i had no idea how much that one book would change us and the way we treat our planet.
i am a stay-at-home mom raising 2 small children.... you can imagine the amount of waste we dispose of. there are some things i have decided that i cannot change at the moment- like that i drive an SUV or throw aways 4 or 5 disposable diapers a day. but, there are a ton of little things i can change as part of our daily routines to help us live a "greener life". i love that this is something we can do as a family each and every day, and i love that my children are so excited to make such a difference.
i started this blog to help me keep track of our progress. i am still reading the book i purchased last week, but we have started to implement some of the changes already. off we go!
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