As Earth Day approaches I am hearing a lot of buzz about living green. Sort of like close to Valentines Day when you start seeing jewelry, chocolate and floral commercials everywhere. We always try to do things the green way but the buzz around Earth Day is making me realize that most people want to be green and just don’t know how to begin. Like our diet, green has been a journey we took step by step. To begin I find it helpful to read the Lorax to preschool-aged kids and explain everything to them. They will be appalled at what’s happening to the planet and constantly keep you on track should you stray.
We started by selling our bigger house and buying a much smaller one with more yard. By buying a fixer rather than building something new we were “re-using” existing resources. We then replaced all the appliances and toilet (that’s right, one toilet) with new high-efficiency ones. We decommisioned the old oil tank to remove any future chance of oil leaching into the water table. We installed a combination of gas and radiant heating. We replaced the original single pane windows with new double pane ones. We installed a fan in the attic to remove hot air in the summer then insulated the whole house. We updated the electric and replaced the fixtures with newer ones and high efficiency bulbs. We planted 17 trees in the yard, deciduous ones directly on the south side of the house so they would let light and warmth in during the winter months and then screen the windows and roof in the summer months. We bought rain barrels for watering the new trees.
I breastfed exclusively - no need for plastic bottles or formula made from dairy industry by-products. We cloth diaper. I wash them myself but you could further reduce water use by using a diaper service. When we do use disposables I use Seventh Generation or G Diapers. I now only buy natural products (toothpaste, lotion, shampoo and underarm deoderant). We try to share baby gear, kids clothes and toys between our circle of friends. I try to buy wooden toys made from renewable sources like rubber wood.
I try to buy minimal processed food, opting instead for items in the bulk bin. We eat a lot of oatmeal and granola for breakfast in place of cereal. If I do buy processed food I only buy the natural brands. I also try not to buy canned items since metals are non-renewable and many cans are lined with unsavory chemicals that leach into the food. We have a farm-share (CSA) from a farm that is both local AND organic, not to mention they use sustainable farming practices. That will be the new buzz word you’ll be reading about in a few year’s time. My dollar is my vote and the only way to get corporate America to make changes in the food industry.
Likewise for cleaning products. I use Bon Ami and Ecover cleansers, otherwise baking soda, vinegar, or dish soap. I remember my grandfather teaching me to clean the bathtub just before those Dow Scrubbing Bubbles came out. I remember whining “I wiped it and it’s not coming off, how do you get it clean?” His response was “Elbow grease, kid.” That is something we seem to have lost in the last 30 years - elbow grease does the same thing that many toxic chemicals do and it will help you stave off those lunch lady arms. The biggest trick is to not wait a month before cleaning the toilet bowl or shower. It will take a quick 2 minute rubdown in the shower if you do it a few times a week and you won’t need anything other than the same soap you use to shower. And as far as bar soap goes - I use Dr. Bonners or Kiss My Face. It’s soap, not a beauty bar. It is designed for cleaning rather than foaming and smelling pretty. You’ll notice the difference right away.
We have switched to all chargable batteries as well. It’s a big committment initially because they cost more and you need a charger (or several for different sizes) but once you’ve replaced all the appliances and remotes in your house you don’t need to keep buying batteries. And don’t throw your old batteries in the garbage! They contain lead, mercury, cadmium and other elemental metals that don’t disappear. They end up in the water and soil if not disposed of properly.
And speaking of things that never disappear, I do not buy from online stores that use styrofoam packing material and I do not buy takeout food from places that use it either. Not only does it contain an estrogen mimic, like BPA in plastic drinking bottles but it never breaks down. It get smaller and smaller but it never goes away and ends up in the food chain by starting with fish and birds. We all have stryene in our bodies, like it or not.
Now speaking of things in our bodies, I only cook with stainless steel pans. No more caphalon or teflon for me. I know manufacturers say the new generation non-stick pans aren’t toxic but trust them once shame on them. Shame on me is not in my future, at least as it concerns coated pans.
I’m not sure if this one counts because it’s not necessarily my choice but my showers aren’t as frequent as they used to be, or as long. That is mainly because I have small children who cry and swing from the shower curtain or throw items into the shower and try to climb in with me. Likewise I don’t wash my car frequently. Think of all the water I’m saving! And since I have two small boys I make them bathe together in a tub that is no more than 1/4 full. In the summer we try to frequent wading pools rather than filling up a blow up pool for ourselves, or I let the boys run through the sprinkler while we water the grass in the backyard. The front yard we let yellow in the summer to save water.
Before we make purchases I try to check craig’s list to see if we can find a used one somewhere. I don’t do this for any plastic or painted kid’s toys because of the safety issues but it’s a great way to buy a couch or rug and the flame retardants are just that much more aired out the older the item is! Another great place to look for used and free items is zwaggle.com. You can also periodically take a buy nothing challenge. Try to go a week with only buying groceries and gas. The next time try to go a month. If you are able to do this on a periodic basis you will have made a huge environmental impact.
As far as mail goes we cancelled all magazine and newspaper subscriptions and any mail order catalogs. It helps keep down on recycling and I find I’m much less likely to buy things - a double whammy.
We sold the Jeep and bought a diesel. My husband is very committed to biodiesel fuel, although I have my reservations. I’m opposed to mono-crop farming and genetic modification and both of those things are used to create the grains from which alternative fuels are made from.
The most difficult thing for me has been giving up Starbucks. They tout that they are committed to fair trade and the environment but sadly they only have one blend of coffee that is shade grown and fair trade. Instead I keep trying new roasts of coffee beans that are both fair trade and shade grown but I haven’t found one yet with that beautiful Starbucks bite. I’ll keep trying though.
Things that I am working on - being less of a consumer (my weakness is the kids and the yard), buying more local things at much higher prices - handmade clothes, locally made lotions and soaps, growing more of our own vegetables in the summer and riding the bus more with the kids. The challenge is getting home from our travels by naptime with all of our gear.
Books I admire that inspire: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral by Barbara Kingsolver. It will make you think seriously about the choices you make.
Happy Earth Day!