i’ve created a product to allow inviduals to:
1. spend less money
2. reduce their stress
3. reduce landfill
4. encourage community sharing of resources
this is a retail product that i’m expecting could, of only slightly, change the way people think of clothing and has the potential to reduce carbon footprints on a wide reaching scale. if you would like to receive one of the products for free. let me know.
Nik Bergenske
Stretch LLC
www.stretchllc.com
This post was submitted by nk.
We’ve lived a minimalist lifestyle for thirty-five years in rural Alaska; fourteen years without power, telephone, or running water, and heating our home from the forest on our property. 13 acres includes original growth forest, carefully harvested for firewood, building materials and non-timber resources. The river-flats hold our gardens and small livestock raised for food and trail companions.
We shared our 20×20′ A-frame cabin with our three children who are now contributing young adults, two in the larger world of the lower 48 working to help realize change.
Our choices to live the way we have made sound ecological sense by requiring us to be as self-sufficient as possible and living far within our small financial means. It’s instilled a deep and abiding passion for place and community. Our kids are carrying those convictions with them and returning regularly to refuel while we maintain the homestead.
It’s been a happy, fortunate life.
This post was submitted by Adrian Revenaugh.
On the 1st of each month, I record my car’s mileage to see how far I drove during the prior month. My car travel has done down significantly in recent months as I strive to drive less by grouping errands, walking to get them done, or postponing things until I have a number to do.
This post was submitted by Mary Keil.
Nobody has mentioned spinning. weaving, dyeing, sewing and other 18th C life skills. Not only is spinning fun but you can use your yarn for whatever purpose. I am currently working on angora neckwarmers for my kids. Handwoven dish towels last much much longer than store bought ones. Handknit chenille washcloths are pure luxury. Sewing clothes is fast, easy and cheap.
My sheep eat the lawn, I shear the sheep and use them to make whatever. The black walnuts produce 1) nuts, 2) dye from the husk and 3) VERY strong arm muscles.
One homeschooling project is that we are attempting to make flour from acorns this year. Not sure how that will work but worth a try.
I have goats and cows so fresh milk is in glass containers. The surplus is used for cheese, ice cream, etc. I recycle most kitchen scraps back to the hens. Even olive oil is purchased in metal cans that are put back in play by turning them into lamps. Many types of cans make very cute lamps.
The last time we ate out was a year ago. I make bread, ice cream, everything. And it is better than store bought, cheaper and generates much less trash. When you have a system developed, meals can be * fast food* in less time than it takes to run out and get something. I go to the grocery once every 2 weeks as my cows are dry right now and we use a lot of milk.
Another current project is to cart train one of the goats. Then he can be used to pull a cart to do the * heavy work* here. Plus amuse the kids.
I am not a farmer type. I am a city girl that chose to have better quality foods and has a few acres to do so.
This post was submitted by Mary Margaret.
Check out the book “Your Money or Your Life” by Joe Dominguez (tip: you can probably get it at your local library). I read this book over 10 years ago and it made a HUGE impact on how I live. I now enjoy a level of freedom and financial independence that I never thought possible.
The book walks you through the process of tracking every penny that comes in and goes out of your life. You also assign a happiness score to each expenditure. Even if you only do it for one month, you’ll be SHOCKED at the amount of money you spend on stupid things that don’t make you happy.
The first month that I tracked my expenses I had a category called “stuff” for lack of a better term. I has horrified an the amount of money I had spent on things… I couldn’t even remember what most of them were by the end of the month! I then proceeded to have an arguement with myself. Part of me was saying “but I want to be able to treat myself and buy things… it’s MY money after all.” Then it hit me… “IT’S MY MONEY!!!” why was I trhowing it away instead of keeping it?
That was step one in a long process of extracting myself from the consumer rat-race. Exiting from the consumer culture also means living a much more eco-friendly lifestyle!
This post was submitted by Rebecca.
Very few things actually save a tonne of CO2. Here they are. Anyone can do these, you may even be able to do all ten and so save 10 tonnes and halve your CO2 emissions. Most other actions are small fry – go for the big savings to make a real difference.
Fly one less long haul trip
Fly three less short haul trips
Get a better car — 10mpg less than your current one
Drive 3000 less miles per year
Have 75% of your food be grown in your state AND Seasonal
Reduce Meat and Dairy consumption by 75%
Give your house a Thermal Makeover
Switch your thermostat 3 degrees lower
Share your house with an additional person
Shift $3000 of spending from high carbon goods to low carbon goods and services. For example spend on durable products, second hand goods, repairs, live entertainment, education and experiences rather than physical goods like electronics, building materials and short life products
This post was submitted by Edwin Datschefski.
For about 8 years now I’ve been using a programmable thermostat for my heating system. It has made a huge difference and I’ve learned a few things. The best part is that you don’t have to think about it all the time.
I set the temperature lower for nights and for weekdays when no one is at home. So it’s only set for a normal temperature about 1,5 hours in the morning and 4 hours at night. I also found I sleep better at a lower temperature.
It takes time for the apartment to cool down, so in the evening it is set to low about 1,5 hours before I go to sleep. During the day when no one is home the temperature can be even lower.
If we take trips, even just for a day, I set it to low. The savings have been great and I know I’m not heating unnecessarily, so it feels good. I’m betting the same results can be achieved for an A/C, but I don’t need one where I live.
This post was submitted by Cristina Sann.
Go Solar - install solar panels on your house (especially if you live somewhere like California), will pay for itself over 10 years, and then you get 10+ additional years free (with 20 years warranty)
Get rid of your TV but still watch whatever you want - Get netflix ($8/ month), and watch thousands of movies/tv shows on your computer without commercials. You will spend less time and waste less electricity by flipping through channels, only watching what you really want to, and not watching commercials. Plus it’s cheaper than a cable/satellite plan!
Start a compost - you’ll reduce your garbage by a lot, and get great healthy soil by composting your veggie scraps, egg shells, drier lint, certain papers, leaves, lawn clippings, etc.
Let the sun cut your lawn - if you have the cash, this neat little guy will get the job done with no work and no emissions ( http://gizmodo.com/364924/husqvarnas-autonomous-solar-powered-lawnmower-never-mow-again ). Another good idea is just the old push mower, which is also great exercise! Or get rid of the grass all together.
Don’t go vegan or even vegetarian - there is no need to cut out meat completely, if everyone just cut down on their meat consumption by even half, it would do a world of good. I currently only eat chicken and a little fish, but I mostly cook with only vegetables & grains.
Cook! - don’t eat out, don’t get fast food, just cook. If everyone cooked their own meals they’d be healthier, save on packaging, and know exactly what they’re putting into their bodies.
Let there be fruit - plant fruit trees (climate permitting), good for the environment in that you’re adding trees, but you’ll also save money and get great organic fruit right from your yard. (planting veggies is a great idea too) - great use for all that soil from your compost!
Get an ebook reader
Wear your clothes more than once (as long as they’re not too stinky!)
Shower with your significant other
Walk, bike & take the train as often as you can
Re-use any plastic bags you acquire to line garbage’s
Don’t wash your hair everyday (cuts down on shower time, and shampoo/conditioner - plus it’s good for your hair!)
These are just some of the changes I’ve made It really isn’t that hard to live greener - just put some thought into it. You don’t need to make extreme changes to affect the world positively. Baby steps
This post was submitted by Natalie.
Sustainable. Locavore. Environmental steward.
I’m all for it. Really. My blood runs green. It does.
I compost.
I raise heirloom plants.
I own a Prius.
But I could be so much better.
A friend and I went to see the movie, Fresh. Of course, after watching the film, I swore I would never eat mass-produced food again, I would patronize the local farmer, I would eradicate all of the bad choices I make on a daily basis and SAVE THE WORLD.
Then I went home, had a Diet Coke and an Oreo.
But I digress…
The thing is-I really thought my family was pretty eco-savy. But we’ve also become eco-lethargic. So my family and I have embarked on our own year-long experiment to reduce our carbon footprints while positively impacting our environment. We like to call our project: “No Impact Man-Lite.”
We’re attempting to make substantial, meaningful changes…a little bit at a time, focusing on practical tips other parents and families can implement to improve their relationship with the environment. I’m writing about our successes-and misses-at www.growingdays.blogspot.com
From eliminating my beloved Diet Coke cans to fostering biodiversity through my heirloom plant business to deprogramming our consumerist kiddos…we’re working to lower our impact-one day at a time.
This post was submitted by Julie Thompson-Adolf.
I´m a brazilian frutarian-vegan girl. I´m 20 years old, and I decided to become a vegetarian when I was 17.
Since that I started to search for information about vegetarianism… And then, after 2 years and a half, I (re)descovery fruitarianism. All my search was to become simple, and with that cause no-impact to our planet.
Of course I study a lot about that, and I begun to live this way of life. It changed all my life, how I see the world, nature, my self.
Today I do know what is a healthier life, a healthier body, I heatlhier mind… and the consequence, obviuos, is the no-impact. All my “trash” is 100% organic, and it´s totally rich to compost.
I always use eco-bags, I go buy my fruits and vegetables riding a bike, and I always buy local food.
I don´t need to use anymore desodorant, body-lotion, shampoo and a lot of things…because now the consequence of my choice is health.
And I always have energy to exercise every day, at least 1 hour or more!
This choice was possible because I descovery this website :www.foodandsport.com of Dr. Douglas Graham. And then I bought his book
” The 80/10/10 Diet”. After that, all I can say is that cause no-impact to your body and our planet is totally possible and natural!!!
I hope you can discovery that eating simple can change a lot our world (inside and outside)for better!
Good Luck!
Malu
This post was submitted by Maria Luiza.