So - obviously, everyone and their brother has heard about the concept of "going green". Method sales are up, rock festivals are recycling and even small cars are cool to drive. But how many people have started to be green in small ways? Based on reactions that I get from people when I mention my current projects, it doesn't seem many. I get a lot of "wish I had time for that" or "so much effort"...
Well, we don't try that hard. Really. Don't overestimate our motivation. Brian and I are busy people - just check our calender, or the mileage on our cars...but, to sort of tell people that it really isn't so hard to be green...here is our progression into being greenies...or at least greener.
It started with recycling. It took a few years for us to stop grumbling - but we did. Now, we have 2 overflowing bins every 2 weeks and one barely full garbage bin weekly. Mostly disposable diapers, unfortunately.
Then came the efficient house years. This is the phase when we analyzed increasing insulation in our attics, added a ridge vent, got new windows, stopped using AC so much, made an attic fan cover for winter. You know, all those little things that makes your heating/cooling bills so high. To this day, we are still amazed at how efficient our 40-something year old house is, compared to other people's houses. (yeah, yeah, SF probably does have something to do with it - but I feel like I have a big house! ha)
This year has begun other, small changes. Light bulbs. Reusable grocery bags. Cloth diapers. A failed attempt at organic lawn care (ok, there is some info behind that later). And most recently - cleaning products.
I have been phasing out my cleaning products and began making the switch to home-made cleaning products. I have replaced windex, floor cleaner, toliet bowl cleaner, all purpose cleaner, comet, laundry detergent - all with recipes that pretty much include vinegar, water, borax, washing soda, baking soda, salt and castile soap. Ok - there are a few essential oils dumped in there for pretties too. I have been impressed - I don't see any difference - and it's nice to be able to get Isaac in on the "cleaning gig". ;) I have a few clingers - I haven't used up my furniture polish yet...but all n' all - not only is everything green - but WAY cheaper!
And ok, it's kinda fun too. Isaac helped me make laundry detergent this morning and it was hilarious.
So far, our only failure has been the lawn - but, we think if our back lawn was in good shape when we started, we would be able to maintain organically....but, it has been riddled with weeds and crabgrass for a few years due to lack of chemicals (we try to keep pesticides away from Blue)...so, we are going to re-evaluate that later. I believe it can be done (Brian did some experiments killing weeds with Borax and Baking Soda - and it worked!).
Anyways...that's the update on our green transition. More to come, I am sure...
So..anyways,
6 comments:
As long as we have dogs we will never do anything to the back yard (thank god for the fence). We are very picky on the front too. Dethatching this spring did a lot of good. A lot thicker grass. We also don't water-let the heavens take care of that.
If I am at a place that uses disposable dishes to serve, I take mine home (I think it grosses Courtney out-too bad) but I restrain myself from digging in my SIL's garbage anymore.
We are going to new bulbs for about the last two years-as each burns out. But the bath Ron uses will remail reg. bulb unless we can find instant on-he only has a 10 minute timetable for the 4AM shave. The outdoor newfangled bulbs are listed at up to 7 years, but the ones we bought are lasting less than 6 months. HMMM>
Now I am in search of kitty litter without perfumes as it seems they are no longer going to make it. unless you want designer stuff-45 bucks a bag. I may have to toilet train the cats.
Yesterday's News.....Feline Pine....
I've tried both, gone back to the ungreen stuff. Some things are worth it.
We've been doing "greener" things for about a year now. I have wanted to ask Becky, what do you think about your cloth diapers? I have a friend who is WAY GREEN. Everything is organic, they have their own garden, she does baking soda cleaning, they hardly eat anything they don't grow themselves. But she uses disposables. She did a TON of research and came up with the conclusion that they were about equal when it came to the amount of washing the cloth ones needed. (I must say she didn't have a HE washer, so this might be part of the reason.) But I was wondering how you felt about it, I haven't remembered to ask you before. I know you LOVE your AngelDrys, but do you think it makes that much of a difference? I'm thinking of switching.
Holly - you totally lost me with the feline pine...that one needs an explanation!
The lady from the "green meeting" I went to did say - now and then, the green stuff doesn't cut it. For now, I am giving it a go - but I haven't discarded my bleach yet!
I really like my cloth diapers. Seriously. The only drawback, in my opinion - is that some pants are just way too snug with them on. That is literally, my only complaint. If I had more, I would gladly travel with them anywhere and use them all the time(except at night probably). My friends who went all cloth got fancy sprayers to attach to their toliets and only do one big load of diapers every couple days. When you consider loads of laundry - is a couple a week THAT big of a difference? Plus, I find them totally convenient. There are no "have to run to get diapers" because you are almost out, or your kid is up to the next size. I also let Isaac wear his in the little pool - why waste mulah on the disposable ones if I don't have to (it's not like they hold pee!) There are lots of other tricks of the trade my "greenie" mom's have told me - which we could discuss at length on my blog...but suffice it to say - next kid, I plan to use as much cloth as possible...I think it will be worth the investment! Oh - and AngelDry plug - traveling with them is easy too - because you can roll them up and snap them shut when they are soiled - just like a disposable! Although, I can't confirm if I will go 100% AngelDry at this time (because you never know til you make the investment) - I am VERY happy with them.
Oh - and I will probably go with reusable wipes too. How about them apples?
Feline Pine and Yesterdays News are the green kitty litters that I've tried. But, unless you want to go in right after your cat goes to the bathroom, and clean it out EVERY time, they aren't worth it.
Cloth diapers and reusable wipes are what are parents used, so I'm sure you will do fine with them. I don't really use wipes unless there is a poo mess, and I rip them in half and only use half. (Unless it's really yucky, then I plop Bodie in our utility sink in the laundry room.) But that would probably lead to a waste of water. Ahh, you can NEVER win. We've jsut been trying to make our footprint as small as we can. It seems like you guys are too. If you come up with any new, neat tricks, I would love for you to fill me in. Since the move to a place with a recycling program and a sewer system, it's been much easier. I used to take our recycling every week into town to the recycling center, and there was so much iron in the well water, there was no way I could use non chemical cleaners.
Don't forget to fill me in on anything new you hear about.
For anyone wanting to make the first green change- check out http://envirosax.com/ They are super cute re-usable bags and I use them for everything- always have one in my bag, really lightweight and saves a ton of plastic bags. People at the grocery store, or dept store, look at me funny when I say I have my own bag and some almost insist on using their own bags. It's goofy. Congrats on what you're doing- it's a wonderful thing.
Some grocery stores give you a 5-10cent discount on each of your own bag you bring with you. I know that Spartan Stores do.
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