i often carry my salad for lunch in mason jars.
its glass, resuable and versitle.
i also bought BPA free container for lunches that are a bit more messy.
but mason jars are a great alternative.
sure i’m a bit more careful with my bag now, but at least im not polluting more by using plastic wraps or buyign lunch in extra packaging.
This post was submitted by mabel.
I used to work at MTV Networks, living a great life in NYC and consuming like crazy. When i finally got the courage to follow my heart and make my dream of becoming a social entrepreneur, i did it. Now I try to consume less, trying to recycle as much as I can, my business partner and i try to use all the greenwise products and do everything energy efficient as much as we can.
We’re not not the most green and environmentally conscious people, but we’re learning and we’re getting there.
BY the way, my business partner/best friend (Gloria Camacho) is a vegetarian, super animal lover and activist for animal rights.
We try to live healthier lives, we consume less and we are the happiest we’ve even been.
Our company Aceneth is a social entrepreneurship venture aimed at educating, enabling and empowering social entrepreneurs around the world thru film, documentaries, programming and events. We are in the beginning stages of our social venture but we love it!!!
Please check out our blog (www.latingipgy.com) a blog site focused at empowering and educating young social entrepreneurs around the world.
We’re at the beginning of our journey and we love what you guys are doing and what you stand for… thank you for getting your story out and empowering others to also follow their passions to make our world a better place.
Changemakers here we go!!!!
This post was submitted by Johanna Salazar.
Stop buying magazines, newspapers, books, dvd’s and cd’s - use your local library instead. Your library already purchases many of these items with your tax - make good use of it. Recycling a purchased book these can be checked out make one book get a thousand uses. Libraries also house free programs, reference services and many other services. Make good use of this resource and be part of your community through your library.
This post was submitted by Betsy.
I converted a Honda CRX to all electric. I have used it for a year, over 6000 miles every day as a commute vehicle. To squash those that say “When we are all electric, the power grid will come to a halt” I added solar power to the roof of my house as a supplement. It doesn’t provide all our needs, but it more than makes up for the charging of my car. The net affect, is today I have reduced the C02 used at home by 11000 pounds, from the solar, and I don’t even no the savings from driving the EV. I love driving the car. If I’m not using the EV, I ride a bicycle.
Converting a car to an EV can be done by anyone skilled with basic automotive skills. It can be done for under $6,000. Seems like a lot of $$$, how much do you spend going to the movies these days? The “entertainment” of converting a car to an EV is much more satisfying than sitting though a bunch of movies…
This post was submitted by Michael .
I keep my thermostat below 60deg in the winter and wear sweaters
I removed my lawn and planted a garden
I use my computer for all my needs, eliminating material items like TV, CD player, etc
I print pdf documents and email them instead of printing
I eat vegetarian (no that doesn’t mean I eat vegetarians)
I bring used plastic containers and bags and use them when I buy bulk items at the store
I ride my bike everywhere
I built a cargo trailer and use it to carry large items like lumber, furniture, etc.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60961560@N00/sets/72157594287363109/
This post was submitted by Aaron.
We have started a co-operative, pooled our resources, and bought more prime farmland than any of us could have afforded alone. (In fact, it’s more than even the founders can afford, and we’re seeking additional member-investors.)
Our goal is to produce most of our own food and energy, and to distribute the excess within the greater community.
We heat with wood from our own land, drive (a limited amount) on biodiesel that we make from restaurant waste, and grow almost all our vegetables and produce all our own eggs and milk.
Many of the ten current residents have home-based businesses to avoid commuting.
This post was submitted by Jan Steinman.
We purchased a hillside property of several acres, some years ago. It was almost void of trees, except some at the property lines. There were several erosion gullies, poor soil for supporting native plants, etc. The slopes were between 20-35%. We started planting trees, leveled vegetable garden areas, repaired erosion gullies, etc. We terraced the steep slopes, built raised beds for vegetables, planted redwoods, pines, and fruit trees. We built a holding pond for containing some erosion causing sheet flows during the California rainy season, etc.
From our initial efforts, it’s almost 20 years. We have no significant erosion. Even the native plants seem much happier. We are happier.
This post was submitted by Reijo Koski.
learn how to sew.
instead of buying new clothes, or paying someone to fix your old clothes, learn how to diy it yourself.
currently im making my own coat. and as a liner im using an old comforter ..yup thats right an old comforter.
the outside textile was donated to me( retail value 200$ a yard) so im lucky in that sense.
but sewing gives you such a vast selection of things to make ( clothes, household goods etc)
and you can buy a cheap second hand machine anywhere, or even go that extra mile and get a manual one.
This post was submitted by mabel.
Reduce your full time working week to 4 days of 9.5hrs each.
I am trying this for the first time and expect to save money mostly on transport. Another small bonus is reducing my professional wardrobe needs.
Obviously the best bit is to have a whole day to myself to work on hobbies. This might increase my homesteading and self sufficiency.
I’ve already found that I like starting work earlier, its very quiet and peaceful in the office. This is good for reducing stress.
*This tip was originally from the Your Money or Your Life book.
This post was submitted by BohoBelle.
For one year I bought no clothes for myself - new or used. The point of this is not what you might assume. It is a way to recalibrate your mind away from consuming as pleasure seeking or pain avoiding. Other ways I’ve done this is to have Buy Nothing Tuesdays, or Eat Local Meals, Weeks or forever! What I found is that my trip was busted - like Colin, I went a long time thinking being grumpy at SUV’s or ‘talking about ecology’ was actually doing something positive. I call that ‘David Suzuki Syndrome’. You just get mad and nothing happens. This year I’m buying no food at work, I’m packing or going without. I stress this is a method to change the way I think (or don’t think) but just consume without need or really the wherewithall to continue apace.
This post was submitted by Jan Morrison.