Easy Being Green?

[olisko]

Environmentalism is going mainstream and it has been on my mind a lot lately. I can honestly say that I have been brain-washed. Look, even the mainstream is finding it hard to resist the PR of environmental concern. It has officially become hip.

Comments

[jinni_x]

Heck, you do a lot more than I do :)
And less packaging is a very good thing since a lot of it is not recyclable and plastic does not biodegrade, but simply breaks into smaller and smaller pieces.
Do you compost? I've been mulling setting that up and maybe getting a rain barrel.

[olisko]

Nope. We live in a 9-story apt building. Isn't compost what my grandparents do back home for toilet? (outhouse)

[jinni_x]

No, no (well, I guess you could, but no!) - basically, toss the uncooked scraps in, some cardboard, grass clippings, etc.
Oh! This might be TMI, but menstrual cups are definitely a good way to go, with washable pads for extra protection. I had to stop using tampons because we have a septic system (and I just can't imagine tossing them), but it's working out well.

[olisko]

Yes, a Diva Cup (right?) has been on my list, as well as Luna Pads. Thanks for the reminder!

[ex_yzzzma459]

I am embarrassed to reply. We are yuppies :( While we have been concerned about the environment long before it became hip we are only willing to do so much as to not inconvenience ourselves.
We just got a new car. It's not a hybrid. It's pretty damn huge.

I want to start making small changes to our lifestyle. Change number one would be to restructure the way we shop for food. (I've been talking about it for 2 months now).

By the way, somehow we didn't get the notice that Christmas cards are not in this season :-\ The only thing that makes me feel better is that we didn't buy any - had a huge stack from previous years.

Btw, I like your idea of taking bags to the grocery store.

[olisko]

By the way, somehow we didn't get the notice that Christmas cards are not in this season :-\ The only thing that makes me feel better is that we didn't buy any - had a huge stack from previous years.

Huh??? I have the same stack I've been using for years, we bought them for 99c a pack. But it would make my life so much easier if I didn't have to send them...

I like your idea of taking bags to the grocery store.

Some stores, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, will even give you discounts :) I personally like the idea because of *convenience* still - I hate sorting through the ton of plastic bags after shopping. Usually, my husband is kind enough to do that.

[kitsele]

Andy does grocery shopping exclusively with cloth bags, always. I, on the other hand, almost always forget i regulyarno poluchayu po golove za eto (but we do the same as Olya with plastic bags, using them as garbage bags).

What he does, is have a bunch of large cloth bags in his trunk whereever he goes.

[iguthrie]

Ol', we re-use plastic bags too. They are great for trash ;) I also recycle all the plastic, paper, and glass (but we have a special recycle garbage can pick up for that, so it's not inconvenient). Well, you know about breastfeeding.

We also use Freecycle (www.freecycle.org) a lot. I have a lot of stuff that I've accumulated throughout the years, that I know I will never use, but other people might. So I give it away. And they come and pick it up from your house, so it's convenient. And keeps things that are in good shape out of landfills.

Also, I did tell you how I use all the chemical-free laundry soap, dish soap, shampoos, etc. So that helps the environment too ;)

Anyway, I can't think of other things right now :)

[olisko]

Freecycle is a great thing! We try hard not to accumulate things, but I'm sure when we decide to move we'll find a ton of stuff that we'd want to get rid of! Do people take small things, like a curling iron? I have one I want to get rid off.

Also, I did tell you how I use all the chemical-free laundry soap, dish soap, shampoos, etc. So that helps the environment too ;)

Yes, I remember! Actually, my local AP forum was discussing Melaleuca recently! I haven't don't anything about our soap. But I have requested "Organic Housekeeping" from the library to see what I can on my own. It's a great resource!

[ellen_]

Freecycle people take anything! I found someone to take my 32A bras! Join and see for youself what kind of crap people are giving away.

[ellen_]

Okay here is what I do

[olisko]

Lenka, this is a great response. When I have more time, I would like to write a longer comment back.

[ellen_]

Oh, another thing I thought of that I should be doing is making tea in a tea kettle instead of using tea bags.

[kitsele]

I have a question about using a dishwasher. How does one do that? I'm embarassed to admit that I still wash ALL of our dishes by hand, just because we almost never have a lot at any one time, I think. Do you basically keep putting things into the dishwasher right after eating, accumulate, and then do a wash? With cold water or hot? What kind of soap? Do you feel like you have enough dishes to last you before you finally do a wash?

[bagira]

Oy. I hate to tell you, but the only thing we do is recycle bottles and plastic, and we try to throw out as little food as possible (mostly because I hate throwing out food). If I have dried bread, I'll make "suhari" or toss it out to the squirrels. Other than that... We both drive non-hybrid SUVs (sadly, carpooling is out of the question, as we don't work anywhere near each other), use our washer A LOT, use our dishwasher A LOT, buy whatever food suits our fancy and budget. I wouldn't be caught dead using washable pads or a diva cup (no offense, but yuck!!! memories of middle school intrude). I do not shop for clothes a lot, and neither does B., but that's mostly financial decision, not environmental. When I do shop for clothes, I most certainly don't buy anything organic/fair trade, but head straight to TJ Maxx or Marshalls or Victoria's Secret. I use plastic bags to stuff my shoes with, so that they don't lose shape. We use 1-gallon plastic water containers and bottled water for drinking because of the taste of the water in our

[ellen_]

I mentioned Diva cap to a friend of mine before we left for Russia and she just told me that she bought one and used it for 3 cycles already. She loves it :) Does not know what to do with all the tampons she just stock piled on. She said that it is not messy at all, the blood stays in the cup. And you don't have to reach too deep inside to put it on. But that friend definitely has a "Diva" personality. I'm sure she wouldn't touch a reusable pad even if it was brand new. I wish I was brave enough to try the Diva (when I ever get my period back). But I can't even do tampons due to yack factor.

[bagira]

Well, now you can. I can't wait for the report!

[olisko]

that was me :)