After watching No Impact Man, I realized how much energy and waste I create and I felt, like Colin, like a guilty Liberal. So I decided to adopt many of the things Colin and his family did in the film:
I live in Southern California, so cars are a must here. But I promised myself that I will only drive to work and to school (since they are in entirely different cities from my home). If i need to go get coffee or go to the supermarket, I will only walk. I’m going to buy a bike soon so I can go even further without my car.
I’ve begun my own vegetable garden and have started a blog about it: http://veggiesveggies.blogspot.com/
I’ve unplugged everything in my bedroom when I’m not using it including lights, TV, computer and clock.
I’ve been a vegetarian for over 8 months now and have never felt more healthier.
I’ve stopped using plastic bags, plastic cups and have cancelled my magazine subscriptions. I’m addicted to my newspaper, but I’ll get off of that eventually and switch to online reading.
I read with a battery powered light at night so I don’t have to have my lights on.
I’ve started watching less and less TV and opt for books instead.
I just joined a local environmental group to volunteer for and can’t wait to begin!
I’m going to my first ever Farmers Market on Sunday and am so excited to buy some local produce!
I’ve never felt better in my whole life. Knowing that I’m making less of an impact on my planet is the best feeling in the world. I hope to spread the word to others and help create a better planet for all of us to live in.
This post was submitted by Melody Rahbari.
after doing the one week cleanse in January…I did spend some money..I bought a clothesline, a wind up flashlight and a solar/wind-up lantern..I don’t need to use the dryer and I have saved on the electriciy bill by using my new “NO batteries required” lantern and flashlight instead of just flicking on the light all the time..It’s like camping inside the house.
This post was submitted by candy.
I gave up all foods derived from animal products, almost 30 days ago, to lessen the environmental impact of my life! I started as a thirty day experiment, but now I know it’s going to become part of my lifestyle, because I’ve never been happier. The more I learn about the environment, and ways I can help, the more I’ve been doing, reducing garbage (virtually eliminating paper products (minus toilet paper)) starting a veggie garden, taking my car off the road, un plugging things, not watching t.v, etc. I really believe in the benefits of becoming more environmentally aware, and think that everyone would benefit from trying to live with a lower impact!
This post was submitted by Carmen.
I keep my baby’s not-so-dirty bath water (he uses a baby tub) and empty it into the washing machine when he’s done. I’m now trying to think of a system to do the same once he uses the big tub…
This post was submitted by Cecile.
Hanging clothes on the line outdoors to dry.
This post was submitted by Susan Phillips.
There are two areas that I haven’t heard many people talk about-probably because people don’t like to talk about “women’s stuff”. Sure, we can use cloth diapers on our babies, but what about the feminine hygiene products we throw away or flush down the toilet? I have recently started using a menstrual cup instead of pads or tampons, and it is great. It is re-usable and produces no waste. It is boiled once per month so it is hygienic as well. And cheaper too (in the long run).
The second “women related” area I’ve changed is birth control. My husband and I use the billings ovulation method, which involves charting your cycle to track cervical mucous and basal temperature. There are no extra hormones going into my body (why would I stop eating meat with hormones but keep putting them in me anyway?). Also, those hormones are not going into the water supply when flushed down the toilet. There are many scientific studies that prove the effectiveness of this method (as effective as IUDs when used properly). Plus, there is no trash (no condoms to throw away, no birth control pill cases, etc). Also, there is nothing to purchase, other than a thermometer (one time).
This post was submitted by Mary.
Became a one car family - my husband now commutes year round by bike.
Any journey under 4 miles, my daughter and I bike.
We traded our 2 cars in for a low-sulphur emissions diesel.
We use cloth diapers, cloth wipes and cloth sanitary products.
We compost and recycle all that we can.
Reduced our large, rotten lawn by adding some raised beds for veggies in our suburban garden and have made some beds for our friends and neighbors who do not have a garden.
Members of a local CSA and shop at the farmer’s market whenever we can.
Second hand first and then if not possible, buy new.
Line dry all clothes - we don’t own a dryer.
After seeing Colin’s film yesterday, our aim for April is to reduce our trash by looking at the packaged products we buy and purchase/make an alternative. Our aim…how low can you go?
This post was submitted by suzanne Cadge.
Ok the best bet is probably a thermos, BUT…You know how you get that early morning city dweller coffee craving when you’ve been pulling an all nighter and have to be chipper at work anyway? Or you’re stuck in a hospital emergency room waiting for a looong time? And they don’t have a coffee maker, all they have are those machines? Although cutting down on and even cutting out coffee is probably one of the better choices to make to lower your impact, I found a cheater’s way to not use the plastic cup that is thrust upon you if you do really really want that little pick me up: most offices have porcelain or glass cups lying around, even cafeterias have glasses that can do the trick- I bring my own.
I open the little door and snatch the plastic cup out and replace it with my own- then, I and several other collegues stack up the unused cups on top of the machine with the stacks of refills. They will probably get used eventually, unfortunately, but when 25 or 30 people are not using those cups, it’s that many less in landfill, and savings for the companies who have to buy them for their machines. Just a thought.
This post was submitted by Barbara Weber.
One pack of organic seeds 1.99
yields at least 20lb of veggies
grow with stacking planters on your balcony, fire escape, in boxes out your sunny window or in your tiny yard - vertically.
We are urban farmers. Our friends always tell us - oh, I don’t have enough space, I live in a flat, condo etc. When I suggest I come over and help them start a veggie garden and we can do it all under $10 - they freak out a little.
Either I give them seeds or we get some, I help them build growing places out of reusable materials, we get free compost and mulch from the city.
I teach them how to soak, score, and plant their seeds. I teach them how to use “cloches” to make the most out of light and constant temperature - also conserving moisture.
Their seeds sprout, they use conservative watering methods like simple drip, reservoir, and semi-hydroponics.
They all of a sudden don’t have to buy herbs, tomatoes, strawberries, squash, watermelon, green beans, snap peas, artichokes, etc anymore.
With the money they save they can buy hardy fruit trees for the patio.
You can grow your own, no matter where you are - if you have some sunshine.
This post was submitted by allison burgueno.
We were not ready to make the switch from razors with disposable blades to a straight razor. Fortunately we found a great item at www.lehmans.com that sharpens disposable razor blades making them useful almost endlessly. I was skeptical that it would work, but it really does. Now we can still shave using the razors we’re used to, but without the waste.
This post was submitted by Meghan.