My mom may be shocked to read that since I detested every green vegetable for most of my life, but now I love just about everything green! What I most love about the color green is that it is an "earthy" tone - a color that often shows itself in nature.
For these reasons, it should not surprise you that my husband and I also strive to "be green" in many ways. Though it is not always easy to put the environment above our own convenience, it has become more natural for me over the last few years. I thought I would share some of the ways that we strive to minimize our carbon footprint - not because I want to say "look what we do," but because I hope it may inspire you to "go green" in ways that you may not have thought of before. That's what it took for me - other people to simply say, "Have you thought of doing it this way?" Some of my suggestions are so simple - definitely not new or unique ideas, but perhaps they will be new to you.
- Using a clothes line - I know it sounds silly and small in the grand scheme of buying a house, but I was thrilled to find out that our home came with a clothes line! I love not having to use the dryer as often, especially for those clothes that you don't want to shrink! As long as the weather cooperates, I use our clothes line on a weekly basis from spring through fall.
- Eating vegetarian - When my husband (then boyfriend) first told me he was going to become a vegetarian about 5 years ago, I must admit that I wasn't thrilled. But now he has rubbed off on me! We don't buy or eat any meat in our home. Not only does this benefit the environment (and the animals!), but it also helps with our grocery budget. I do enjoy chicken or a burger once in a while when we eat with others or go out for a bite. Though I must say I don't miss eating meat as much as I once thought I would! There are so many delicious, healthy, and easy vegetarian options that I was unaware of!
- Composting - Since we eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, we decided recently to save on waste and start a compost. We bought a compost tumbler and some starter mix, simply added some water, brown yard waste, and of course our table scraps, and nature does the rest! We turn the tumbler every few days and add water as necessary to keep the compost at the right temperature. We hope to use our composted soil in our own garden someday!
- Growing a "mini garden" - For as much as I love the color green, I can't say I have a "green thumb." But I received such a sweet and practical gift from a student at the end of the school year - a mini garden for the kitchen - that I became determined to keep the plants alive! So far, so good! Right in our own home, we are growing basil, oregano, and sage. Unfortunately, we used all of the cilantro and it did not grow back. Even still, I love that we can pull off some fresh herbs while cooking and enjoy them as we want to!
- Going "paperless" - I am proud to say that since we've been married, we have not purchased paper plates or paper napkins! We stick to our dishes and cloth napkins for all meals throughout the day. As long as the napkins don't get too dirty, we use them for several meals and then toss them in the hamper to be washed with our towels. Though we do use paper towels for cleaning, we try to use them sparingly. This is another great way to save at the grocery store - those paper products can add up after a while!
- Lighting our home with CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs - Yes, these bulbs are more expensive but they last so long! We've been married for over 2 years and we have not needed to replace any of our CFL bulbs yet.
- Saying good-bye to plastic snack bags - As a teacher, I pack my lunch for school every day. My husband was doing the same as a grad student in the city. We were flying through plastic snack bags, even if we reused them a few times. What a great surprise to find "Lunch Skins" in our Christmas stockings from my parents! These reusable sandwich/snack bags are perfect for taking food on the go. During the school year, we use them on a daily basis! In fact, we use them several days in a row and then simply hand wash them or put them on the top rack of the dishwasher for a good cleaning. I love that they come in so many fun colors and patterns!
- Shopping with grocery and produce bags - I am happy to see that many people are "going green" in this way - canvas totes are everywhere! My husband bought 6 reusable bags from the grocery store during our college years, and they are still holding up great! We use them all the time for grocery shopping or just packing to go somewhere. More recently, I realized that even by bringing my own grocery bags to the store, I was still using a lot of plastic bags in the produce section. A quick google search later and I discovered reusable plastic produce bags! I used them for the first time today and loved the drawstring close - no apples falling into the cart this time! I also loved that the cashier rang me up as having 12 reusable bags (6 canvas bags and 6 produce bags). For each bag, the store gives a 5 cent discount. I know it's not much, but 60 cents off every grocery bill will add up by the end of the year, right?!
- Making it work with one car - Though there are times when it is inconvenient to only have one car, most of the time, it is a huge blessing. We have only one car to repair, one gas tank to fill, and one car to pay insurance on. Plus, having just one car forces us to think of other ways of getting around when we need to. My husband used public transportation to commute into the city for his grad school program, and rides his bike to local places whenever possible. We also walk in our neighborhood a lot - most often to church since it is a quick 5 minute stroll. I love that we live in a community where places are close together and we can manage to get by with just one car.
Though it may seem like a long list, I realize that we have a ways to go in our efforts to protect the environment. But the way I look at it, every little bit helps!
