feeds
April 22 is Earth Day, 2010 and I’m doing my small bit to be green. Well, at least green conscious! It’s hard, I admit, and by no means have I installed green, environmentally-friendly appliances in my house – a matter of finances and everything working fine (touch wood, oops, excuse the pun!)
I haven’t gone so far as to be self-sustaining and grow my own vegetables – I’m still tackling the weeds! But I do eventually want to grow herbs and a few easy to grow things that my less-than-green thumbs can’t destroy!
I think it’s right and good we care for our planet because I believe our excesses lead to environmental disharmony and you don’t need the scientists to tell you that. Just think about the air you breathe and the pollutants around your everyday things, including your food.
I think a little action goes a long way and that it’s really our civic duty, and not the ruminations of a tree-hugging vegan green goddess, which I’m not – my apologies to you, if I speak your name in vain!
Where I can make changes, I have tried my best. Here are a few of the things I do at home and out and about.
What are you doing? How hard is it for you to be green?
Please share your ideas. As I said, a little action goes a long way.
MY GREEN ACTION PLAN
As each regular light bulb blows, I switch it for a long-life bulb.
I used canvas tote bags for grocery shopping and carrying things around – have you noticed they have such cute designs now?
I pack lunches every day for my children and husband in containers and lunch boxes rather than brown bags (actually, my husband packs and often cooks his own lunch, least you think I’m a slave to the stove!) This, also, means we don’t buy lunch out and, therefore, we save on money and packaging. Likewise, we use permanent water bottles and travel coffee mugs for our beverages.
I recycle cardboard and other things that can be recyclable, depending on local situation.
I would love to buy all organic foods, but it’s a matter of availability and finances, so I buy a mix of both regular and organic, and make sure I wash everything, even when it says, “Triple-Washed” because I worry about pesticides.
I cook from scratch most days and try and use what’s in season. We only eat out as a family once a week.
I drive an older, compact car; maintain it well and it still gives me great mileage. I’m sure I have the smallest car in the package lot, but I don’t care – I’ve never been one for status symbols – as long as it means less gas usage and, therefore, less money.
I think about double duty for household products. For example, used dryer sheets make great dusters. I keep a bag of used sheets handy.
I buy cleaning cloths I can wash and use over and over again.
Check the labels of products. For example, you don’t need to use concentrated laundry detergent in the same quantities as regular detergent, but most people just throw the stuff in without checking. You may be putting too much detergent into your wash.
Use vinegar, baking soda, or lemon as natural cleaners instead of the commercial stuff. White vinegar mixed with water is great for hard wood floors. Lemon juice is great for cleaning grease, such as cookers. Likewise baking soda mixed in hot water cuts through even the toughest of grease.
Don’t throw away lemons, or limes after you’ve squeezed out their juice. Leave the cut pieces in your refrigerator to absorb food smells. It really does work.
I save old cards and cut out pictures from marketing junk through the mail for my children’s art projects. I get them to make homemade birthday cards and gift bags using the recycled pictures, or give them to their teachers for projects. Likewise, I save the inner cardboard tubes from the toilet tissue, or kitchen paper towels for craft projects, or give them to the children’s teachers for projects at school.
The art work the children bring home from school make great cards to send to relatives and friends who live out of state, or overseas. I send a packet of artwork to the grandparents each quarter and I also use them as a means for my children to keep in touch with their old friends.
I go around switching off lights when I’m not in the room, and unplug electrical appliances before bed as this saves the pennies over time.
Adjusting the thermostat on your heat and air unit and setting the timer will save you money. You don’t need to live in an ice box in the summer, or a furnace in the winter. Pull out the socks, sweaters and blankets to watch TV in the winter, and set the cool air on a timer schedule for when you most need it. Did you know drinking hot tea on a hot day cools you down? It doesn’t sound logical, does it? But try it the next time it’s a hot day and let me know what you think.
I’ve started to receive household statements and pay bills online to save on postage and paper.
I pass on the children’s gently-used clothes and toys to friends who have younger children, and I donate gently-used books and DVDs to the library.
I’ve started knitting and I hope I can knit enough scarves as Christmas presents for my family and friends by the holiday season – otherwise, they’ll be a Chinese New Year present!
I’m sure there are other things I’ve forgotten, but this was just to give you a flavor of what I do as an average person. You don’t have to channel your inner Martha Stewart. Just use your common sense and I’m sure you have great ideas, too.
HAPPY EARTH DAY AND THINK GREEN!
SUSAN S. CHEUNG
Susan is a writer originally from London, England. She moved to Nashville, Tenn. in July 2008 when her husband accepted a position at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The family relocated after eight years in Guilderland, New York. And now they’ve made their home in Franklin, Tenn., where she’s trying to be a domestic diva green goddess – and the optimal word is trying!
