food for thought

it's a lovely 20-something-feels-like-18-degrees outside. i think i have reached the point where i'm sort of feeling over it. you know, this winter business. i'm ready for the birds to return, for the grass to be green and dewy in the morning, for the sunlight to hang around for a couple more hours a day. and for it to not seem like 4 am when i have to drag my butt out of my nice warm bed at quarter to six each weekday. i'm kind of tired of being chilly in the house (we have been extremely cautious about turning on the heat at all this year, and have opted for using our fireplaces more and running those trusty delonghi heaters in the bedrooms at night. translation: the gas bill was insane last year.) and oh, it'd be really nice to put on a lovely vintage cotton dress and sit outdoors for lunch. ok, i'll stop now.

so i've had the whole "green movement" on my mind for a while now. i've heard some folks talk negatively about how it's just so trendy, and every other person is driving one of those funny looking prius things, and blah-blah-blah with global warming, but really? could it be a bad thing for it to be trendy to be environmentally conscious? as for hybrids, we've owned one (a honda) for a little over a year, i don't know how i could ever go back. if you really don't give a hoot about the environment, don't you want to just save money on gas and get more bang for your buck? and as for the bigger picture, i think all you really have to do is look around- at all the people, the waste, the vehicles and trucks and fast food places and wal-marts and strip malls and so much more. and think about where we'll be in 25 years, even. can we really just keep on keepin' on?

so it's got me wondering about you guys. is there anything that you've done in the new year to "go green"?

take for example, recycling- what i consider to be a basic. but maybe in your life, or in your location, it's not? do you recycle? does your town or neighborhood make it easy? i know for us, even though we've recycled for years, it's often a struggle to kind of "make it work" within the house. i'm on the search for a recycling station for my own home that doesn't really look messy or seem overwhelming, and that's close by the kitchen so that it's user friendly. and this is probably the one thing that keeps people from incorporating it into their daily life. it's not all that convenient, right? you've got trash hanging around, and you have to make an extra trip to the recycling center each week to get rid of it. you don't really have the space for 4 or 5 different bins, you've only got an area for the actual trash can itself. but you know, it's really not all that inconvenient, once you just make the commitment. and it really will make a difference. and you'll be proud of yourself for doing your part.

as for our family, we've made a few small (but totally easy) changes in the past couple months that i know you could do as well. and the thing is: i could go on and on about this. and i don't want to seem preachy, and i don't want to overwhelm anyone. so i thought i would create a new category in the blog, and maybe post about it whenever it's on my mind, maybe once a month. and together, we can tackle some of these issues. whaddya say?

so we'll start with an easy one: RE-USABLE BAGS. here's the thing. if you are like me, and you are the main 'domestic-go-getter' (for lack of a better term) in your household (you know, the grocery store person, the overall shopper), you can come home with a lot of plastic bags in just one week. if you go to the market and you have 8 plastic bags of food (sometimes the baggers will double bag the heavier stuff) then you are coming home with say, a dozen plastic bags per week. that's roughly 50 a month, 600 per year. just from the grocery store. where do these end up? under the kitchen sink, until the bag full of bags gets so big that you just get irritated and throw it away? do you take it back to the grocery store and stick it in one of those recycling bins? use it for kitty litter? the bathroom trash can? taking leftovers over to your sister's house? all 600 of them? and then there are all the other places that you move through in your daily life. target. department stores. the goodwill. the pet food store, and on an on. everyone is sticking your stuff in a plastic bag. even if it's just one item. in it goes. do we really need to bag a pack of gum? or a book? or a box of shoes, crackers, or new CDs? (it's worth mentioning: i've read that the average person takes home 1000 of these per year. one thousand!!!)

if you are a woman, you are one step ahead in that, you already (most likely) carry a purse. if you are a guy, perhaps you don't. but maybe you carry a messenger bag, backpack or brief case? well, maybe you can do what i do, which is to carry along a few re-usable grocery bags inside your purse or messenger for all those times when you are out and about and someone is handing you another one of those plastic numbers.

and, just like incorporating recycling into your daily life, this is easy-peasy. it might take you about a week to remember to take along your re-usables, and hand them to the kind grocery person before they get started with your groceries. and hey! if you are crafty, you can sew your own, if you are not, there are plenty of places that you can make your one-time purchase. even the grocery stores these days sell their own versions of re-usable bags. and often times they are like, $1 each and they donate them to a greater cause.

alright. something to think about. i'm going to get off my soap box now, and head into the kitchen to warm my chilly fingers by the fire. happy tuesday, everyone :)

Comments

[kacey]

ok this is funny because I just finished writing a big blog entry today too about the exact same subject. www.rockergirrl.blogspot.com . I hit send and then started reading my daily blog reads to come across yours for today. Great minds think alike ;)

[Mandy Ford]

I love the idea of the reusable grocery bags. We always have a ton of the plastic ones laying around, and while I do use them for the bathroom trash, kitty litter etc, we never use all of the bags that we have. I may have to invest in a couple reusable bags and really make an effort to use them(I just know I would forget them when I go to the store...maybe if I leave them in the car??).

I also want to set up a better recycling center in the house. Our local trash pick-up gives us a bin for just recyclables, which makes it pretty easy, but we need a separate trash can in the pantry to hold everything between trips to the outdoor trash can.

[jeannie]

We try to be more mindful of the things we buy (do we really need this? is there a more environmentally sound alternative?). Something I realized that adds up a lot but is rarely noticed is plastic bottles for shampoo, dish soap, lotion, and so on -- so we've made an effort to buy those things in bulk whenever possible.

When we're buying groceries, we stay away from things that are over-packaged (like those plastic clamshell containers for lettuce? geez!) Oh, I can't wait for the winter to leave so that we can have our Farmers Market back!

[Hyena In Petticoats]

I've been on this bandwagon for ages, and where I live in Australia, things like recycling are supported by infrastructure, so we have a recycling collection every two weeks..... We keep one of those big white bins with a sloping lid from IKEA in the kitchen and just pop the bottles and things in that.

Where I live, people are starting to lean more in the direction of smaller, more economical cars, and the rate of scooter drivers has grown at an amazing rate - though I do have concerns about the safety of some of those riders! (especially the girls riding their scooters in heels)

I'm also committed to vintage - not only for style reasons, but to keep out of the consumer nightmare that is commercial retail - the only new clothes I buy are underwear and work clothes - the rest comes from the op shop or I make it myself - I can't stand the constant consumption that goes on around all goods - I look at a retail store and all I see is landfill.......

Anyways - I'm ranting now - such a good, thoughtful post! Thanks for the opportunity to discuss!

Leah xx

[Keira]

Are those Baggubags? I have a bunch and I love them. I feel better going food shopping or even going to the drugstore and being able to carry it home in something so pretty (and good for the environment).

[jenny]

hey keira: YES, they're BAGGU bags! i bought a 6-pack before the holidays and they work GREAT.
the colors are fun, and i love that the fold up so tiny into their little pouches, making it that much easier to tote them along inside my purse.
i was just about to edit this post with a few links to some re-useable bag sites...

[kim]

WholeFoods gives 10% off when you bring in your own bag. We also use those sweet Steve Madden bags they give you at check out for grocery shopping. Since moving to New York City I have been way more conscious about recycling.

[kim]

WholeFoods gives 10% off when you bring in your own bag. We also use those sweet Steve Madden bags they give you at check out for grocery shopping. Since moving to New York City I have been way more conscious about recycling.

[Becca]

Hi there! I found your blog today and just think it's so cute! :o)

I also am a user of reusables, when I remember them. I'm much better now that I just keep 'em in my car. Pier One has really cute zebra striped ones. Even my local commissary (Navy wife, here) is starting to carry them. Woohoo! My favorites are from Whole Foods. They're really big and have a Queen Bee Clover Honey logo on them. Might as well be cute and green at the same time, eh?

Have a great New Year!

[val]

Just yesterday...I just bought 2 really large sturdy bags from whole foods at only 99 cents a piece. I was surprised that Whole Foods had them so cheap and they were larger so I bought 2 even though my purchases fit into 1. I have been collecting them but need a few to just save in my trunk, work, and other handy locations. But last weekend I opted to not have a bag for my 6 pack of Cider I was bringing to a friend's dinner party and the salesperson said I "had to" take the black plastic bag concealing my liquor purchase. It was insane! I didn't argue but I thought it was funny as it isn't illegal!

[louisa]

Thanks for this, Jenny.

I have lots of great old t-shirts that are just too battered or big to wear, but I still love the designs (some designed by my Very Self, in fact). So, I got some cheapo canvas bags from Michael's or something, and sewed on my old t-shirts, and I get to enjoy them every time I hit the Harris Teeter, Giant, or Whole Foods!

(And BTW, UMS will take those plastic ones anytime - we need them for kids who have to take stuff home!)

[Stefanie]

I just posted something similar on my own blog. Here is a great site you should look at

www.storyofstuff.com Because of that site I have vowed to no longer keep consuming. If I buy something and it isnt a needed item I will remove one thing from my home.

My husband is also getting on board (and no longer thinks I am some sort of raving hippie on a tangent!) and asked me to make some reusable grocerry bags which I plan to make this weekend.

Step up on your soap box anytime I would love to keep hearing your thoughts about it!

[kate]

thanks for the awesome thoughts... We did the handmade thing for Christmas this year and several people got cloth grocery bags... not only are they great for the store but for soooo much they can't possibly not be worth it!

[Jennifer Johnson]

I recently went to a 'clothing exchange party'. It was a blast. Everyone brought the clothes/jewelry they no longer wanted and they went into a big pile and we all could just grab what we wanted. It was such a great idea. Everyone got new stuff. And the leftovers went to charity.

[gwen]

-Recycle
-Belong to a co-op buy local/organic
-Compost in our city’s green bins
-Own a hybrid & carpool
-Use cloth bags
-Use only environmentally friendly household products
-Use energy efficient light bulbs
-Don’t use lawn chemicals/ fertilizers
-Have our gardner come fewer times a month (switching to www.cleanairlawncare.com when they come to our area)
-Use tea towels instead of paper towels
-Use recycled paper products
-Energy star appliances
-Installed a water filtration system
-Tinted all west facing windows in our house to reduce heat from the sun
-Use a dustbuster instead of swiffers
-Stopped all junk mail
-Cut down on the use of our heating and a/c
-Make scrap paper note books ala Martha Stewart (http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=b97041a967557110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&autonomy_kw=scrap%20paper&rsc=header_1)

Things I would like to do this year
-Grow a garden
-Add solar panels
-Tank lees water heater
-Install a graywater sprinkler system
-Switch our pool to a saltwater system

Wow! I really sound like a hippie:)
Btw, I love your blog!

[Nanci]

I think your blog today is fantastic!

[joleen]

wonderful conversation you've started. thankfully, my city makes it easy for us to recycle. i personally care more about the big picture then how my kitchen looks and we keep three big black plastic bags each week - one for trash, one for recycle, one for water bottles (which we recycle separately as a fund raiser for my sister).

as for reusable bags- this is something we've started in the last six months or so and i like to keep a variety of bags in the car for shopping- sturdy grocery bags (from trader joes), two insulated bags for the frozen foods, and two huge bags that we have for trips to places like target or ikea. ;)

i'm really looking for other changes i can make and look forward to great ideas and dialog here. :)

[tracy]

i never use plastic bags anymore! it's the most liberating thing every. I love your post! Thank you for encouraging people to do their part!

p.s.- im SOOO ready for spring too. im so sick of walking on cold floors in the morning. yowsers!

[nicole]

haha, my boyfriend calls me the crazy bag lady because I'm always obsessing about how bad they are and telling store baggers that they shouldn't use so many. I hate it when they give you a bag for an item that's just as easy to carry without one. I always say "I don't need a bag thank you." I myself work at a coffee shop and never give anyone a bag unless they ask for it.

[Michelle]

We are really lucky in my town (in Massachusetts). We have weekly recycle pick-up. WEEKLY! And let me tell you, it makes it so much easier to recycle. We also don't have to separate our plastics (1-7 in the same bin is fine). The only thing they won't take is those plastic shopping bags you mentioned. I have been using reusable shopping bags for a while now. I will admit, it takes a while to get used to it. I get funny looks when I am in places like Target and I pull out my own shopping bags (no one really notices at the grocery)....but who cares. I have a family of 6 and am proud to say we have only one kitchen size bag of garbage a week.... It took me a few YEARS to get to that point but it was obviously worth it. I get a lot of questions from my neighbors (we are new to the neighborhood) asking if we hoard garbage in our home because they just can't imagine having 4 children and only generating one bag of trash a week! I just laugh....let them think what they want. I am all for your blog posts re: being green..bring it on!

[abby]

we use canvas bags for all of our shopping and occasionally get some plastic bags for the bathroom bin...it really does save a lot. there's a book out there, which you probably know about, called Green is the New Black from Hodder, with lots good websites and things like that.

good blog post!

[Dan]

A few practices at our home:

~ BioBags for Garbage Bin
~ Canvas bags for all shopping (multiple sizes, IKEA bag is huge!)
~ Unload groceries, place canvas bags on door handle to bring out to the car for next time.
~ Dispose of cat litter directly into garbage bin (see first practice)

My Whole Foods gives a nickel or dime for every canvas bag used, not 10%. I wish!

Most pertinent to Frecklewonder-ers:

VINTAGE IS THE BEST AND MOST FUN RECYCLING!!!

[Heather]

I have had this project in my mind for a while now to try.. Melting those plastic bags (with your iron) into a thick, stronger plastic and then using that to sew into reusable bags! I can't wait to start on those.

I think this is a great post and am glad "going green" is becoming a trendy thing.

[Paper Treasure]

Great list! I'd also like to add a couple more things...

*Re-Use those plastic food containers (from sour cream/yogurt/take out/etc to store your left-overs instead of buying tupperware.

*Re-use those nice glass jars from spaghetti sauc/jam/etc for drinking glasses/vases or clutter storage.

*Put extra blankets on the beds at night instead of using the heat at night (or at least so you can turn it town). Extra bonus points if those extra blankets are hand-made or thrifted.

*Walk more often or ride your bike. Use public transportation.

*Buy food that's grown locally, not just organically whenever possible.

*Before you buy something or as you admire something in a magazine, think... couldn't I just make this with materials I already have lying around the house? (Or find it second-hand).

Thanks for bringing this up, Jenny. And congrats on the little-lady-to-be!

[priya]

great ideas everyone!

ALSO.. there is always plastic bag crochet!

if you have the time and patience there is so much scope!

I started a little something:
www.plaastiquebague.com

(on my blog there are other reusable bag options too)

so happy to hear about the baby girl a'comin!
c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s!!
*p