Friday, May 1, 2009

Going Green, a little at a time

It seems like everyone is talking about going green, now more than ever before. The environmentalist in me is thrilled, because my adult years have shaped me into more of a consumerist than I ever was as a child.
So the kids and I have been thinking about ways to help our environment, and to move toward more sustainable living. Some of these we've been doing for years, and others we're just starting.
Ways we're going greener:
~Switching our light bulbs to low energy bulbs
~Turning off lights, tv's, computers, etc. when not in use (boy, this is a hard one for the kids!)
~Unplugging chargers, appliances, etc. when not in use
~Recycling as many recyclable products as possible
~Listing unwanted items on freecycle or craigslist, rather than throwing them away
~"Shopping" on craigslist or freecycle rather than buying new
~Making our own eco-friendly laundry detergent
~Experimenting with our own home-made cleaning products (this one is hard for me because I can't get past the smell of vinegar! And the cleaning product aisle in Walmart has always been my favorite...)
~Trying to shop locally when possible (this one seems hard for us in this economy, but we're trying!)
~Raising hens for our own eggs and fertilizer
~Growing our own vegetables (and as a bonus, using local fertilizer rather than the fertilizer in the pretty packages)
~Conserving water whenever possible (not watering lawn, turning off water when brushing teeth, taking shorter showers, etc.)
~No longer using paper plates, plastic ware, etc.
~Packing lunches for the kids with reusable items (tupperware containers, silverware, etc.)
~Cutting down on driving
~Enjoying our natural resources- time spent in nature makes the kids want to conserve!
~Keeping our heat low (very low!)

Coincidentally, many of these things are also good for the budget, as well.
We have a long way to go, but I figure baby steps are better than no steps at all.
What are you doing for the environment? I'd love to hear more suggestions, too. :)

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