I’ve come up with for the year, laying out exactly when I’m going to examine various parts of our impact to see if we can improve. It probably looks a little ambitious written out like this, but I’m hoping it will actually help me to relax because I won’t feel like I have to do everything at once. Since I’ve already started experimenting in many of these areas, I’ll probably end up doing a few things out of order. But this will help me to feel like I am accomplishing more by checking things off a list.
http://underthewildroseasweasels.com/2010/01/02/a-road-map/
This post was submitted by Nina Interlandi Bell.
Looks like a good road map to me! Although, if you’re considering growing some veggies on your patio, the time to start is May or very early in June. Trying to start in July/August will be an exercise in frustration!
I’ve almost completely eliminated paper towels by using dish rags, and you’re right, absorbancy is the key! But for cat barf, paper towels still end up being my tool of choice! At least they’re compostable.
Have you tried natural kitty litter yet? My latest project is composting the kitty litter for use on ornamental plants. Might be a little hard if you don’t have a yard…
BTW - while waxed paper isn’t recyclable, it IS compostable. Saran wrap is evil, and washing plastic bags is such a pain in the rear! I’m trying to use ceramic or glass containers with sealable lids, and upside down bowls for covers in the microwave.
And as if you need anything else to add to your list, check out my list:
http://open.salon.com/blog/the_almighty_beckster/2010/01/01/101_easy_ways_to_have_a_greener_2010
I’m enjoying your blog!
Comment by Rebecca — January 26, 2010 @ 6:05 pm
Neat. This brings back memories.
1) We’ve never used towels. Why?
2) handkerchiefs? We used cloth diapers with the kids. When they were done they became handkerchiefs, craft wipe cloths …
3) I keep receipts. Read Your Money Or Your Life. All spending is tracked
to make intention purchase decisions.
4) we recycle zip-log bags from others and never buy them. Parchment paer we’ve used for years for baking.
5) Freecycle double plus good - but the no shows can drive you crazy.
6) to get food without packaging avoid all processed foods. We refuse to buy organic foods that are wraped in layers of plastic. We’d rather buy local - unpackaged - or we provide the package - or in dual purpose packaging (sacks of flour, flakes, seeds which is used to keep leaves over winter for composting …). Going vegetarian helped reduce packaging as did buying what local in season and storing our own food.
7) We’ve not bought new clothes in years.
Go on a buy nothing month saving spree. It’ll force you to consider what you’re spending your money one. As will reading Your Money Or Your Life and doing the audit.
9) Going on a 100 mile diet taught us more about making our own food - pasta in particular. I make it with potates, squash or just flour. I nixtamalize corn and grow Indian corn for that.
10) Simplify your life - made a thinking decision about what to do - re-evaluate everything. We don’t spending time trucking our kids around - we feel that play and free time are more important than a life chocked full of shuttling to and from activities.
Comment by Eric — January 27, 2010 @ 8:31 am
Yes Yes YES!! “Your Money or your Life” should be required reading for anyone who wants to “go green”
So Eric…
You’ve never used towels?!? Do you mean paper towels, or do you mean that you just drip dry after you bathe? Don’t you get cold in the winter time?
And what in the world does it mean to “nixtamalize” corn?!? Sounds like an Aztec word or something!
Comment by Rebecca — January 27, 2010 @ 4:38 pm