Archive for the 'Green Living' Category

Greetings from the middle of Nebraska! We are at camp this week, and I am without a consistent Internet connection. I wanted to quickly post this reminder about Low Impact Week, which begins on June 1 and runs through June 7. Here are a few specific tips from Crunchy Chicken to get you started…please check her site out for more information.

For those of you who want to be more “green”, but don’t know where to begin, this “challenge” is a great starting point. You can do ANYTHING for one week, right? Just choose one item from each category (on her site) to start…and hopefully after that, some of these habits will remain for longer. Be sure to report your progress here (and on your blog of course!).

You can also check out Greenpa’s Planet Party (yes, Greenpa is the guy who doesn’t have a fridge!) and the ladies at Simple Living and Casaubon’s Book are hosting Lowering 93%. It’s so encouraging to see this grassroots movement taking place…everyone’s little actions add up to BIG CHANGE!

I’ll be starting to blog more again after June 5…see you then!

I have always loved bicycles. This love started out with the brand new blue and white Schwinn from my grandparents when I was 7 years old. Then it was the pink ten- speed Huffy. In my pre-teenage years, my friends and I used to ride around on my vintage tandem Schwinn. That was crazy stuff. Life was good. And then cars entered into the scene and stole my bicycle love. Somehow, riding around town in my 1977 White Toronado was more fun than a bike. But never fear, my bicycle love has returned full force.

Why do I love to ride? There is just something about arriving at my destination by pedaling that excites me. I love the wind in my face when I go down hills and the bugs that get stuck in my eyes when I ride too late at night. Nothing gives me greater joy than transporting my groceries via bicycle (our coop gives $5.00 off for every 10 times you ride/walk there ). Bella really likes riding in her Burley. Getting exercise without even thinking about it is a plus…and not having to find a parking spot is one of the best things in life.

I think that I could live and thrive without a car. Even in the winter? Yes! Many people continue to bike throughout the winter…installing “snow tires” and dressing for the cold. Bikes are everywhere in Bozeman. It’s so fun to ride around on a Friday night and see bikes parked everywhere, even at the “fancier” restaurants. The only thing that is lacking are completely separate bike lanes, which would be helpful. Bozeman is not quite as “bike friendly” as a town like Boulder, CO , but they’re coming around. The town is still small and slow enough where I feel relatively safe sharing the road with cars on city streets. Most drivers are respectful of your right to ride on the road.

Those of you that live in the suburbs, I feel for ya. We are visiting my family back in Des Moines right now and everything is so far away! I rode my bike to the Farmer’s Market with Bella and it took 40 minutes one way. Wow! There are many things within biking distance (malls, restaurants, etc), but it’s just not “bike friendly”. When I ride my bike up to a store, people look at me like a have something growing from my head. As I was walking up to unlock my bike from the rack one day, I overheard a little girl say to her mom…”Why would someone ride their bike to the store?!”. It was also a strange dichotomy to ride my bike alongside the Hummers (please don’t run me over! ). Overall, Des Moines is a great city to bike in…and they have a lot of great events happening this week for “Bike to Work Week“. This week, across the nation, thousands of people are riding instead of driving. Wheeeee!

With gas prices as they are right now ($3+ a gallon!) and the greater focus on green living, I suspect you will see more and more cities becoming “bicycle friendly“. Large metropolitan cities have always been more focused on bikes than the suburbs…by necessity. In the suburbs, you find trails that take you around in circles for a pretty ride (which is fun too), but in the city, you actually go places on your bike. I’ve always had the secret dream of being a bicycle messenger (like Puck on the Real World..but with less falling down). If I ever did start my little bike business…I would definitely be getting one of these sweet rides:

• Main Street Pedicabs
• The Dutch Bicycle Company (scroll down to see the “sorte jernhest”)

Aren’t those amazing!? I love the “Pedal Pick-Up“. It just goes to show that you CAN move some big stuff with a bike! If you don’t want to spend quite as much, you can make your own trailer. Cruisers are gaining popularity…I love the colors and designs on this one. I’m trying not to be jealous of Aimee who got this cruiser for her birthday…and Andrea who got one for Mother’s Day. Beautiful bikes!

This week, I challenge you to CHALLENGE YOURSELF. Ride your bike! Ride for fun. Ride to the store. Ride for exercise. Ride to remind people that cars aren’t the only option.

Resources:
CarFree World
How to Live Well Without a Car
Why I Ride: The Art of Bicycling in New York (download the catalog for some fun reading)

Home. Just saying that word makes you feel so warm and cozy. However, the definition of home is different for everyone. It seems that in America, we get so stuck in the “American Dream” mentality…more and more people are buying homes that they cannot afford and sometimes homes that they didn’t “need” in the first place. It’s common in other countries to save up until you can buy a house outright…taking whatever measures necessary to reach that goal (living with parents, etc). There is an article on the history of mortgages here. And another interesting little fact: the word mortgage is from the Old French language and translates roughly to “death pledge.”While it’s true that real estate can be a wonderful way to create personal wealth, owning a home is not essential to a happy life. In fact, I would argue that being free from a mortgage makes life VERY happy While it’s not always possible to be completely free of a mortgage or a payment for housing of some sort, there are housing options that cost much less than a traditional home AND are more earth-friendly. Here are some of those options:

Straw Bale

A straw bale home is insulated with straw bales. They can be beautiful and elegant…as well as efficient. I have always wanted to take a straw bale workshop…we had actually signed up to go to Dancing Rabbit for a week and do that, but it fell through. I have plans to go there someday and learn. I would love to build my own house as we can pay for it…and do the labor ourselves. More photos here…this one is particularly fun.

Cob

Cob is a mixture of sand, clay, and straw. You are able to mold it to your liking…which allows for great creativity in your space. They are so whimsical and lovely with the rounded edges. I love the feel. Here is a cob house in Mayne Island, BC…I am in LOVE with it. Can it be any cuter? Her main website is here which includes more cob resources.

Yurts

I love yurts. I’ve always been attracted to the round shape and the fact that they can be put anywhere. They can be extremely basic and off the grid, or they can be decked out…to the height of luxury. Although they can be just one large room, they can also be separated into different areas and can also have a loft. Yurts have been around for a long time…and are still used in Mongolia today. There is just something about living in a yurt that thrills me. I love reading stories about those who are doing it.

• Yurt Magic
• Rainier Yurts
  
• Pacific Yurts
• Colorado Yurt Company

A “Tiny” House

Tumbleweed houses are so stinking cute…how could you not want to live in one?! If you buy their pre-fab models, the cost is quite high, but if you just buy the plans and build it yourself, they range from $4,000-$14,000. The B-52 Bungalow rings in at 500 sq. feet. Sounds just perfect to me! Check out this great little documentary about a lady who sold her “big” house and moved into a “tiny” house.

Living in Community

Ask any of my closest friends…and they will tell you that “Yes, Sara wants to go live in a commune. She’s crazy”. But seriously. I do. But not a “let’s-all-run-around-naked-commune” in the sense that you may be thinking. I want to live in close COMMUNITY with other like-minded people (it is often referred to as an “intentional community”). I would love to share gardens, share playgrounds, and share meals a few times a week (vegetarian, of course). I would love a community where everyone could have their own living space (preferably a cob home like Kate’s ) There would be a large area where cars were not allowed. Bikes would be the preferred mode of transportation…and everyone would work from home. There would be lots of music, drumming, and singing…and people who like to think and talk a lot (if you’ve ever been in camping ministry, it’s kind of similar!). Ahhh…so fun to dream. I love to read Communities magazine, the Intentional Community website, and dream about living in communities like this or this. When we were visiting our friends in Boulder, we met some wonderful people who were sharing a home to help make it more affordable. There was a married couple with a child, and two single guys. I loved that they were thinking outside the box…combining their resources to achieve their goals. Eventually, they want to acquire land in southern Colorado and build a community.

Renting
And of course, another option to buying a traditional home is to rent. We love renting right now. We have a teeny tiny little rent payment (like our square footage ), and we’ve never been happier…knowing that we’re not “tied down” by a house and that we don’t have to work endless hours to make a payment. Renting allows a certain level of freedom that many are attracted to. I know that there are lots of compelling arguments about why you should buy your own house and stop renting. I’ve heard them…so please don’t try to convince me I’m not AGAINST owning a home. There is a wonderful feeling that comes with making it your own and putting down roots. I’m not saying that we won’t ever own again. I just want people to really examine WHY they are buying a home…and to look at all the options that are out there. When we were renting before, we said “we should just buy so we can stop paying rent”. So we qualified for a loan, and bought a house (the house you see at the top of this post). It was a beautiful home and we were happy there, for awhile…but it was too big (in our eyes). but it wasn’t the best for us at that time. And it costs money to maintain a home. And just because you can “afford” a certain home does not mean you have to purchase all the way up to the loan limit. Be smart and buy a house because it’s the right decision for you and your family…and not because your cousin, your brother, and your brother’s friend’s sister’s uncle is doing it. Just think for yourself. And of course, wherever you decide to call home…make it YOUR HOME…whether you are going to be living there for 1 month or 30 years.

Other resources:
Mortgage-Free!: Radical Strategies for Home Ownership
More Dancing Rabbit photos
The Farm…one of the first intentional communities

Photo credits:
Straw bale: Flickr/cer!se
Cob: Flickr/the_usr
Yurt: Flickr/emdot
Tiny House: Flickr/ Telstar Logistics
Living in Community: Flickr/lalallallalala

I’ve been thinking trashy thoughts again.

I have re-read Garbage Land and I’ve been putting my trash can under scrutiny…and I recycle everything I can. However, instead of focusing on reducing TRASH, I want to start focusing on reducing intake of potential trash into my house and life. Where is it all coming from?

Disposables: For the most part, I have gotten rid of all of the disposable products in our house. The occasional bottled water creeps in, especially after we’ve been traveling. I hate bottled water, but it tastes so much better than nasty gas station water in the middle of Wyoming! I carry my trusty Klean Kanteen bottle everywhere (and one for Bella too) and we fill it up whenever we can. I am going to focus more on this and try not to get caught “waterless”. And for those of you who are buying bottled water for use at home…STOP! It creates so much waste (even if you are recycling). Instead, invest in a water filter. If you’re like me and just like to have something cold to grab from the fridge, fill up empty glass bottles with filtered water and keep them in there. Bozeman just announced that it’s not recycling glass anymore, so all of my old root beer bottles are now water bottles. Wine bottles work great too and make an elegant water pitcher when company is over!

I am also guilty of one too many disposable coffee cups in the trash. I have a harder time remembering my stainless steel coffee mug when I go to my local cafe, but I’m getting better. Most shops have no problem putting your drink into your own cup…and some will even offer a discount. That’s great, but the discount is just pathetic. It’s usually around 10 cents. 10 cents! It’s just not very motivating. Now, give me 50 cents off my coffee and I’ll never forget my re-usable cup. Chains like Starbucks and Caribou usually don’t offer a non-disposable option…but many local cafes do. You may have to ASK for a ceramic glass, however, as most will give you a disposable cup by default. It’s mind boggling to me to think of how much coffee cup trash I have been personally responsible for in my lifetime (case in point…the above photo is my cup from Sunday!). Here are a few stats on disposable cups. And a great article about how Starbucks could have saved the world.

Packaging: Have you ever REALLY paid attention to the hideous amount of packaging you bring home when you go to the store? I did an inventory of my kitchen…in search of items that I can buy without a package. Check out your own kitchen and see where you can reduce. An easy first step is to not bring anything into your home that is “single serving” or “single use”.

• Cereal…will only be purchased in bulk. This will avoid the box that so quickly crowds my little recycling bin.
• Granola bars…will be made from scratch. Matt takes a Clif bar with him to work everyday, so I will TRY to start making them from scratch to avoid the box and endless wrappers.
• Condiments and misc…such as ketchup, butter, mayo, etc. I can make ketchup, mayo, and mustard from scratch (they are much tastier too!). I will examine all options when shopping for these types of items.
• Milk…most of the time I buy soy or almond milk in cardboard containers. I can make my own nut milks at home and put them in reusable glass containers.
• Much of what I purchase is already in bulk…spices, grains, flour, tea, etc. and I already have containers at home for them.
• Other types of packaging…such as that for craft supplies, etc. can be avoided by striving to buy used. The thrift stores don’t have any packaging!

Paper: There is so much paper! It’s everywhere! Whenever I can, I use an electronic copy of a document and try to avoid printing at all costs. The invention of email/internet was a wonderful thing to save paper waste. Of course, if you print out your emails or articles online, that kind of defeats the purpose. Receipts drive me crazy. I rarely keep them (unless it’s a large purchase or I know I might return it). If all retail establishments, fast food chains, etc. would implement a rule to ask if you want your receipt before they print it…just think of all the paper saved! Around the house, be sure to use both sides of the paper, re-use envelopes, etc. for craft projects, re-use padded envelopes for mailing, and shred paper to use for packing boxes. And of course, RECYCLE. However, just becuase you CAN recycle something doesn’t mean you should use it. It’s best to not use it in the first place. Especially with paper because it can only be recycled a limited number of times, unlike glass which can be recycled endlessly.

I found an interesting little clip detailing our country’s trash addiction. It’s 19 minutes long, but worth watching. See it here. It is based on the book “Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage”. Their website offers lots of statistics:

• Packaging comprises the single largest category of household waste, taking up 30% of all landfill space in the U.S.
• About 80% of U.S. products are used once and then thrown away.
• More than 60% of waste in U.S. landfills could be composted.
• Methane gas, which is always produced by trash rotting in landfills, is 21 times more heat trapping than carbon dioxide; garbage presents a major global warming threat.
• Garbage production in the U.S. has DOUBLED in the last 30 years.

I have always been interested in the concept of “Zero Waste”. I am inspired by communities who have taken the initiative to make hard changes. EcoCycle describes this in more detail and has lots of links.

San Francisco has recently banned plastic bags AND has proposed banning Styrofoam take-out containers. Go San Francisco! That’s my kind of town.

The trash problem in the U.S. seems so overwhelming, but people are taking notice and changes are slowly being made. If everyone makes small changes, it will add up to a big change! What will you do to REDUCE your trash today?

I came across an interesting blog…No Impact Man. It’s one man’s radical attempt to decrease his family’s “impact” on the earth over the course of a year. It’s inspiring and CRAZY. It’s been in the news lately, so you may have already heard about it…but I know that many of you will enjoy tracking his progress this year as they live mindfully.

Photo credit: Flickr/strph

Hello friends. I apologize for being gone for so long! It’s been a crazy couple of weeks…we are still getting settled, my mom flew in from Des Moines and was here all week, we don’t have a consistent Internet connection, and well, I’ve been busy living life. Please don’t fret if I’m not “keeping up” with my blog. I have lots of ideas…but not a lot of free time. Thanks for your patience!

I’d like to share a few of my thoughts on cleaning products…both for home and for body. The cleaning product industry is BIG business. Just walk into Target or any drugstore and count how many items you have to choose from to clean your floor. Or you face. Or you toilet. It’s madness. Even the natural cleaning market is easy to get sucked into. There is a better way!

Natural Home
About a year ago, I decided that I wanted my house to be completely safe…and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money doing it. I gave away all of my old cleaners…Lysol, Clorox Wipes, 409 spray, etc. It was amazing how much space I had under my sinks and in my closets after they were gone. I replaced it all with a simple spray bottle of vinegar, water, Dr. Bronner’s, and essential oils. I use this mixture as a multi-purpose spray for everything. For windows, I use straight vinegar and wipe with newspapers. For scrubbing the counter, sinks, tubs, and toilet, I use baking soda and essential oils.

I love letting Bella help me clean now (and she loves it too) because I know there is nothing that could hurt her. She sprays and I wipe…we’re a great team. There is no way I would have ever let her help when I was using traditional cleaners. I have noticed that I am much more sensitive to the harsh smell of cleansers now that I don’t use them. I usually have to tell hotel staff to not clean the bathroom while we are there because the chemicals are much to strong.

When you make the change to natural cleansers, the first thing you might notice is that they don’t “smell clean” like you are used to. There is no bleach smell. No chlorine. No watery eyes, itchy skin…no turning the fans on and opening the windows. You may get a slight vinegar scent, but it fades quickly. The smell of the cleaner is not what cleans…don’t be deceived

I also think that we, as a culture, have become so phobic about germs, etc. There is no need for artificial anti-bacterial soaps, sprays, etc. They actually hurt your body’s natural ability to fight bacteria. Plain ‘ol soap and water is the best defense again spreading germs.

Adding essential oils to your cleansers is so fun…because you can choose your scents! I especially like tea tree oil for it’s natural anti-bacterial power and lavender for it’s soothing scent. Lemon, peppermint, rosemary, and sweet orange are also high on my list. The sky is the limit…there are so many options.

I stick with a very basic concoction…I just fill a spray bottle up about 1/4 way with white vinegar, add a little Dr. Bronner’s (so many scents to choose from there as well), add my essential oils (just a few drops) and fill the rest up with water. That’s it. Simple. One bottle.
If you need a “recipe”, check out this site. And more here. They have everything from furniture polish to drain cleaner to air fresheners.

I use a natural soap for washing dishes. I will be switching to my own mixture for laundry soon. Here are the recipes I am checking out. Baking soda is an amazing help in the laundry room and everywhere else. Being that we don’t use bleach, our whites tend to look a little dingy. Sunning is a great natural way to bleach things. Even in the winter, you can lay or hang things in sunny windows. We don’t have a dishwasher right now…but please be aware that traditional dishwasher detergent is one of the most poisonous items in your home. Go natural!

There is a huge market for all natural cleansers…but they are SUPER expensive. I do purchase them sometimes…but there really isn’t a need. If you read the ingredients, you will see that all it is is exactly what you can make at home. You can make wonderful, inexpensive cleansers for pennies.

Natural Body
Shampoos and conditioners have insane amounts of disgusting things in them. I can hardly believe that our government allows us to purchase some of these items and put them on our delicate bodies! Some of the main ingredients to avoid are sodium laurel sulfate and any parabens. Yucky!

Your skin is your largest organ and it drinks in everything you put on it. I like the rule “If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your body!”. You can check your own beauty products here. There are 8 ingredients/chemicals that have been outlawed in America, but over 1,000 that have been outlawed in Europe. I urge you to do your own research on the ingredients in your makeup, shampoos, soaps, etc. If you aren’t scared, alarmed, and angered…something is wrong with you. However, if you have trouble believing it…it might be because there are billions of dollars spent on commercials to tell you otherwise. You will find contradictory information on everything, but you have to think for yourself and make the best decision for you and your family. There is a lot of money at stake…if everyone switched to natural body care, the beauty product business would be in a lot of trouble. I’m sure someone is making sure that doesn’t happen. It’s always about the bottom line.

What are the options? Natural shampoos and conditioners. Pure bar soaps for shampoo or body. Many people go without soap altogether because it’s so drying. Hot water and a wash cloth work great. Pure toothpastes (fluoride is poisonous …I’m not crazy…do your research). You can use baking soda for toothpaste, flavored with essential oils. You can use Dr. Bronner’s to brush your teeth as well…it’s very sudsy, but it works. The other (and I think better) option is to go completely natural and use baking soda to “wash” your hair and apple cider vinegar to rinse. You can also use honey and other foods to condition. It’s wonderful.

As for face washing routines…I use the oil method. I’m sure many of you have heard of it or use the same thing. Basically, you wash your face with oil…because oil dissolves oil. It’s the best face cleansing “system” I’ve ever used…and I’ve tried MANY. My skin is acne prone and oily and this really helps to keep blackheads under control. Here is how you do it:

• Combine 1 part extra virgin olive oil (organic is best because pesticides are concentrated in fats) to 1 part castor oil and add whatever essential oils you want. I like tea tree oil and lavender. Store it in an airtight glass container. If your skin is super oil, you may want to increase the amount of castor oil…to keep it lighter.
• Tie all your hair back and have a wash cloth handy. Pour a liberal amount of the oil mixture into your hand and then start massaging it onto your face. Think of it as a mini-facial. Massage the oil into your skin for 30 seconds – 1 minute.
  
• Wet the wash cloth with STEAMING hot water. Ring it out and lay it on your face. When it cools, do it again. And again. You’re steaming out the impurities. Just be sure to make the water as hot as you can stand. Sometimes I’ll just sit on the bathroom floor with the wash cloth on my face and enjoy my facial.
• Rinse the wash cloth out and use it to wipe the oil off of your face. Be sure to get all of it…especially on the jaw and hairline. This is the part that exfoliates…your skin will be silky smooth!
• Splash more hot water on your face and pat dry.
  
• Use extra moisturizer after your done if you want…you can just use a small drop of the oil and rub it in your hands and then on your face as well.

I was hesitant to use this at first because I thought it would make my face more oily, but it doesn’t at all. It’s wonderful and my skin is amazingly soft and glowing. It does take more time and energy, but it’s worth it.

Another wonderful, cleansing practice is dry brushing. I first heard of it when I was on my raw food kick last summer, and I love it. Check it out.

It’s really easy to make your own lip balm, lotions, salves, etc. But if you want to buy them…one of my favorite sources is Prairieland Herbs. I have met the mother and daughter who make and sell the products and they are wonderful. I love the lotion bars and the cheek gloss. The soaps that they sell on the site are amazing too.

The only mainstream brand I will buy is Aubrey Organics (if I do buy something…which is not very often). All of my research shows that they are the purest and “cleanest” brand out there.

Please be aware that the phrase “natural” is not regulated by the FDA. Any company can put “natural” in their advertising and get away with it. Even many of the brands you can find at Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and your local health food store contain the ingredients I have told you about. Be sure to read labels…and then read them again! If it’s a long list of unpronounceable ingredients…don’t buy it!

There is a lot of information here…and it can be a bit overwhelming. Try not to become cynical…it’s easy to just dismiss it and say “well, everything is toxic…who cares?!”. But please consider how many times a day you put on that chemical lip gloss, and the 12 gels and lotions and concoctions when you’re getting ready in the morning. Every day…for your entire life. There are so many cancerous chemicals that we willingly put on our bodies. Educating yourself is the first step.

Go check out your bathroom right now…and make the choice to go natural!

Photo credit: Flickr/KbH

Tree Hugger. Granola Girl. Eco-Freak. Crunchy Mama. There are lots of ways to describe me…and all of the aforementioned names are compliments in my mind. My path to “green living” has been slow and steady…definitely not an overnight conversion. Every piece of knowledge has led me in a new direction, and helped spark interest in other areas (i.e. I cloth diapered, so it was a natural fit to use cloth toilet paper). As a Christian, I feel even more compelled to be a good steward of the earth. It’s not just about stopping global warming or saving trees, it’s to honor God and to be wise with the resources He has abundantly given us. We live in a nation of excess and ease…we need to get back to the basics and “live simply so that others may live” -Gandhi.

After reading a great thread on Mothering, I thought I would do a quick overview of the things I do to reduce my footprint on the earth (and things I am still working on). It will be a reminder for me to remain diligent in them, and will hopefully encourage you to start or continue in your own journey towards natural/green living.

When you know better, you do better. -Maya Angelo

• Use clothesline/hang clothes outside. Our landlord is going to build me a clothesline this summer…I could not be more excited! In the meantime, we do hang some clothes on a rack inside.
• Be mindful of what lights are on and turn them off when not in use. We do have lots of natural light in our apartment, so this is pretty easy.
• Keep the thermostat set low. This is so difficult for me to do because I LOVE being warm. Our utilities are included in our rent, so I’m not motivated by the money savings. I must decide to motivate myself for the pure ecological impact.
• Reuse clothes that aren’t dirty. This is another hard one, especially with Bella. She changes clothes about 5 times a day…and yes, they are all dirty. It’s so easy just to run a load now that we have our own washer and dryer. Luckily, it is an efficient front loader and the dryer has a sensor in it. However, still not a good excuse.
• Decrease garbage. With recycling and composting, this has become easier. We go through about 1 bag a week. Go check out “Garbageland” to understand the business of garbage better. I think it should be required reading for everyone!
• Use cloth bags at the grocery store. I have been out of my “routine” with this for awhile and need to get a system in place so I have them when I need them.
• Use hand dryers in public restrooms instead of paper towels.
• Carry stainless steel water bottles for drinking when away from the house. (Sigg or Klean Kanteen). I phased out all of our Nalgene bottles a few years back due to health concerns, especially regarding women. This is controversial, but when it comes to plastic, I don’t like ANY of it. Especially for food. They just haven’t been around long enough to perform long-term studies.
• Use cloth hankies/bandanas instead of tissues.
• Use cloth napkins.
• Use cloth towels for cleaning.
• Use cloth mama pads and The Diva Cup.
• Use cloth toilet paper/family cloth.
• Rinse/reuse plastic bags and aluminum foil.
• Use glass jars for storing food in fridge and for bulk items.
• Recycle everything.
• De-clutter and donate on a continual basis.
• Don’t buy anything new.
• If I must make a purchase, buy locally…from small stores.
• Shop at thrift stores.
• Buy more in bulk to reduce packaging.
• Use natural bar soaps with few ingredients for hand/body washing.
• Use all natural body care products.
• Would like to wear only natural fibers (wool, cotton, linen, flax, hemp…).
• Dreaded my hair. I am now able to use less products and less electricity.
• Use earth-friendly/homemade cleaners (my next blog will be about natural cleaning products…stay tuned).
• Would like to get rid of particleboard furniture in the house (off-gassing).
• Would eventually like to get an organic/natural mattress. I have my eye on one of these…they are locally made.
• Replaced all Teflon and similar cookware with cast iron and stainless steel.
• Replaced plastic containers with glass storage containers for food storage (dry goods and in the fridge).
• Compost! We are just starting to compost and I am amazed and saddened at how much food we have wasted in the past. I am very aware of how much food I toss because we don’t have a disposal either.
• Eat organic foods at home…we are at about 90%. When we are out and can’t choose our meals as much, I try very hard to avoid the “dirty dozen“. This is not only for our health, but for the health of the earth by reducing pesticides, etc.
• Eat more raw foods as a way to prevent disease, feel more alive, and save energy by not cooking. To learn more about raw foods, check out Alissa Cohen’s site. Eating raw food doesn’t have to be difficult…just add a smoothie for breakfast and a big salad for lunch and you’re on your way.
• Eat a vegetarian diet. Read “Diet for a New America” or “Food Revolution” to learn how your food choices affect more than just you.
• Buy locally grown foods when possible.
• Breastfeed Bella for optimum nutrition.
• I’d like to learn to can and freeze this year.
• Start gardening this summer.
• Walk more, drive less. Even in the winter, we can walk to the co-op to do grocery shopping, get coffee, etc.
• Ride bike more often. Obviously this will be easier when it’s not snowy and icy…but I am so excited to bike to my errands! Wheeeee!

This is by no means an exhaustive list..because it’s always changing and growing…but it’s amazing to me how adaptable humans are. Five years ago I would have laughed out loud at the thought of most of the things on this list. So, if you are just starting your journey, take heart! Just pick one thing at a time to change and keep moving forward.

I came across a wonderful website today. The Miniature Earth explores what the earth would “look” like if it was reduced to 100 people, but the proportions remained the same. It’s so easy to forget that we, as Americans, are not the only people on this earth. It’s easy to forget that we are wealthy beyond measure when compared to others across the world.

Along the same lines, Peter Menzel has created 3 books that have been life-changing for me. Material World, Hungry Planet, and Women of the Material World. He compares famililes from around the globe and give us a glimpse into their everyday lives. Here are a few of the families that are featured. These books were pivotal in my journey towards a more simple and sustainable lifestyle…I just could not go on doing the same wasteful things, knowing that the rest of the world has so much less.

I subscribe to very few magazines, but one of my favorites came this week. VegNews is packed with great recipes, vegetarian news, fun interviews, and more. I was pleasantly surprised to find a fabulous article on Daryl Hannah and her efforts to promote green living and other social issues. She has a website with “mini-documentaries” that I have fallen in love with. Each little movie is so rich with information. She covers a wide variety of topics…from bio diesel to hemp to bike culture. Go check it out for yourself!

Another celebrity that I have come to love is Woody Harrelson. Woody isn’t afraid to speak the truth, and I think anyone who is actively trying to educate others about living “greener” and more simply deserves respect. I first learned of his activism when I found the documentary “Go Further” on Netflix. The film shows Woody’s bicycle trek down the West Coast. He makes stops along the way to educate students and anyone else who will listen about bio diesel, the sustainable uses of hemp, deforestation, raw foodism, and more. There are tons of “extras” on the DVD, including a little clip of Julia Butterfly Hill, whom I also admire. You can check out more of his work at his website, Voice Yourself. If you decide to watch the movie…you will also love the companion book, To Go Further: A Guide to Simple Organic Living. It’s a favorite on my bookshelf.

It’s the simple pleasures in life that make everyday fresh and new. This weekend, while visiting with Matt’s family…I realized that I had the rare opportunity to wash clothes and hang them OUTSIDE on the line. Oh the excitement! I’ve never had a clothesline of my own…so it’s quite a novelty for me. It was a gorgeously sunny fall day, and I savored every clothes pin. Every breeze. Every piece of clothing was lovingly adjusted to look just right on that line. What are some of your simple pleasures?