"Hard-working American families are suffering from higher gasoline prices. John McCain calls on Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. "
I sometimes think that maybe I shouldn't spend all day listening to the news as half the time I'm one step away from a screaming fit. NO NO NO, the idea of a gas tax holiday is NOT the answer. However, other people (including Barack Obama) have explained this much better than I so instead I'm going to write about how to reduce our demand on oil.
First and foremost we, as a nation, must get it through our big fat heads that we need to drive less. I've had it quoted at me that if people drive 10 fewer miles a week it would reduce their carbon emissions by 500 lbs a year. Now, I'm not saying that you should take that figure as gospel but 10 miles a week isn't much AND the equation is easy
Less driving = less gas used = less demand for fuel + less pollution + $$ saved
How can you do this? Walk, bike, ride the bus, carpool and combine trips. This isn't something everyone doesn't already know, but most are just too damn lazy to do it. Well get off your ass and do something if nothing else you'll have a little more money in your pocket for your other vices.
So since everyone already knows about that what else can you do?
Well buying local always works. The average American meal travels about 1,200 miles from where it is grown to your table which takes engergy, lots of it. So get to know your small local farmers especially the ones who use responsible farming practices. Not only will you get fantastic food you will be saving the family farm which has been a part of our nation's history from the get go. One way to do this is at local farmer's market (remember to bring some totes). These are so much fun and you get to meet the people who grow your food face to face which is so rewarding. You can also participate in a Community Sponsored Agriculture program (CSA). Each program is different but John and I get a box of produce every other week for $60 a month. The food is always very fresh and it makes us try things that we might have otherwise passed up. (I never knew fennel was sooo yummy).
Okay, this is it for the day. For some reason the writing juices aren't flowing. So sorry to my readers and I'll be back in force next time.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
5 easy things to do
Happy earth day everyone! This morning I was listening to NPR and one respondent to the show wrote in to complain that she was tired of feeling guilty for not being "green enough" in her daily life because she was "too busy". Bullshit. Do you have to be perfect? No! Do you have to live a trash free organic tofu eating life? NO! (Tough don't knock organic tofu until you've had some that John cooked)
You wanna know a dirty little secret? Probably the best thing you could do for the environment is DON'T CONSUME SO FREAKING MUCH! Seriously, that's it. Think about the things you use and buy. Do you really need it? Can you get it used? More durable? Do you really need that giant house that will take tons of energy to heat/cool? Do you need a huge SUV for your 3 person household? The population of the world is growing though the planet is not. We in the west have been taught that we are entitled to whatever we want whether we need it or not, myself included. Once you start thinking about these things its amazing how your world view changes.
So, thinking is not hard, we've evolved these amazing brains. Use them!
On that note, today I'm going to share some really easy things that you can do in your every day life, things that are so easy there really is no excuse not to do them. Also, please feel free to share your secrets to using less.
1) Ditch disposables at lunch. Even biodegradable "plastic"wear take energy to produce and ship and really only work in a compost environment. I just have two sets of reusable utensils and two cloth napkins in my desk drawer at work. Once I'm done eating I wash off the silverware dry it off with the napkin and then back into the desk with it. I can usually get 3-5 good uses out of a napkin unless I have soup for lunch, but that's just because I'm messy.
2) Just say no to paper towels. If you work in an office it is easy to keep a small hand towel at your desk (I hang mine from my chair's armrest). It takes a while to get used to leaving the bathroom with wet hands but even if you only remember 50% of the time, that's a lot fewer paper towels over a year.
3) Reuse, reuse, reuse! Don't Throw It Out: Recycle, Renew and Reuse to Make Things Last has a lot of really good ideas on giving new life to old objects. Turn old clothes into rags, which can then be used to replace paper towels. Nice bottles can be reused to store bulk liquids. Prescription bottles, which cannot be recycled, can be donated to local animal shelters for reuse.
4) Plastic bags blow so take totes with you when shopping. This takes a while to get used to but once you get in the habit the benefits really rack up. Some stores offer a discounts for people who bring their own bags, they hold more than disposable bags and are more comfortable to carry. If you buy dry bulk foods reuse the plastic bags especially since those bags usually aren't recyclable.
5) Raise your voice. Share your ideas on living greener with others, communicate with your representatives about your feelings on government policy, call people out when they need it, protest. Don't be passive, don't worry about offending people. This is important and people have to realize that. Bad Religion said it best "Our evolution didn't hinge on passivity so raise your voice".
You wanna know a dirty little secret? Probably the best thing you could do for the environment is DON'T CONSUME SO FREAKING MUCH! Seriously, that's it. Think about the things you use and buy. Do you really need it? Can you get it used? More durable? Do you really need that giant house that will take tons of energy to heat/cool? Do you need a huge SUV for your 3 person household? The population of the world is growing though the planet is not. We in the west have been taught that we are entitled to whatever we want whether we need it or not, myself included. Once you start thinking about these things its amazing how your world view changes.
So, thinking is not hard, we've evolved these amazing brains. Use them!
On that note, today I'm going to share some really easy things that you can do in your every day life, things that are so easy there really is no excuse not to do them. Also, please feel free to share your secrets to using less.
1) Ditch disposables at lunch. Even biodegradable "plastic"wear take energy to produce and ship and really only work in a compost environment. I just have two sets of reusable utensils and two cloth napkins in my desk drawer at work. Once I'm done eating I wash off the silverware dry it off with the napkin and then back into the desk with it. I can usually get 3-5 good uses out of a napkin unless I have soup for lunch, but that's just because I'm messy.
2) Just say no to paper towels. If you work in an office it is easy to keep a small hand towel at your desk (I hang mine from my chair's armrest). It takes a while to get used to leaving the bathroom with wet hands but even if you only remember 50% of the time, that's a lot fewer paper towels over a year.
3) Reuse, reuse, reuse! Don't Throw It Out: Recycle, Renew and Reuse to Make Things Last has a lot of really good ideas on giving new life to old objects. Turn old clothes into rags, which can then be used to replace paper towels. Nice bottles can be reused to store bulk liquids. Prescription bottles, which cannot be recycled, can be donated to local animal shelters for reuse.
4) Plastic bags blow so take totes with you when shopping. This takes a while to get used to but once you get in the habit the benefits really rack up. Some stores offer a discounts for people who bring their own bags, they hold more than disposable bags and are more comfortable to carry. If you buy dry bulk foods reuse the plastic bags especially since those bags usually aren't recyclable.
5) Raise your voice. Share your ideas on living greener with others, communicate with your representatives about your feelings on government policy, call people out when they need it, protest. Don't be passive, don't worry about offending people. This is important and people have to realize that. Bad Religion said it best "Our evolution didn't hinge on passivity so raise your voice".
Monday, April 21, 2008
Better late than never
So it turns out that I actually have readers. WHEEE! Of course this means that I actually should start, you know, writing. >.>
That being said here is my review of the Seattle Green Festival which took place weekend before last.
We actually got to the festival pretty late on Sunday since I was not having a good day. I feel like I still got a really good feel for the convention despite being unable to hear any of the speakers. Next year my goal is to go for both days (maybe as press if my blog gets big enough hopehope).
The goodness started at the registration desk. John and I had free tickets from being delegates at the Democratic Convention, but Green Festival had partnered with Better World Books to offer a discount for people who donated their used books. I'm a big fan of Better World Books and like what they are trying to do. While at the convention I got a chance to talk to one of their representatives about some suggestions I had and they were excited to hear what I had to say, especially when I mentioned that I was getting my master's in library science. I got the guy's card with his e-mail address and will hopefully have many more productive conversations with this company.
The first set of exhibits was for Seattle Climate Action NOW. Most were programs that I already knew about but the information was FANTASTIC for beginners. (Oh heck, even the queen of green learned a thing or two but I'll never admit that again.) I did find out about the Way to go Seattle program which encourages people to drive less by offering incentives for good behavior. Well, one of those rewards is for selling a car so your household has more drivers than vehicles so hopefully I'll be able to take advantage of that.
Once we got into the main area we were assaulted by every kind of eco friendly business imaginable. There was everything from green toys, organic food and beer (w00t beer), to natural fiber wedding dresses. I met lots of great people who really care about the planet and got a bunch of samples which I'll be reviewing here as they get used. Overall this was an amazing experience and helped me to realize that what I'm doing here IS important and that I'm not the only one who cares. So check out the Green Festival website and see if it's coming to a city near you. I guarantee that you won't be disappointed.
That being said here is my review of the Seattle Green Festival which took place weekend before last.
We actually got to the festival pretty late on Sunday since I was not having a good day. I feel like I still got a really good feel for the convention despite being unable to hear any of the speakers. Next year my goal is to go for both days (maybe as press if my blog gets big enough hopehope).
The goodness started at the registration desk. John and I had free tickets from being delegates at the Democratic Convention, but Green Festival had partnered with Better World Books to offer a discount for people who donated their used books. I'm a big fan of Better World Books and like what they are trying to do. While at the convention I got a chance to talk to one of their representatives about some suggestions I had and they were excited to hear what I had to say, especially when I mentioned that I was getting my master's in library science. I got the guy's card with his e-mail address and will hopefully have many more productive conversations with this company.
The first set of exhibits was for Seattle Climate Action NOW. Most were programs that I already knew about but the information was FANTASTIC for beginners. (Oh heck, even the queen of green learned a thing or two but I'll never admit that again.) I did find out about the Way to go Seattle program which encourages people to drive less by offering incentives for good behavior. Well, one of those rewards is for selling a car so your household has more drivers than vehicles so hopefully I'll be able to take advantage of that.
Once we got into the main area we were assaulted by every kind of eco friendly business imaginable. There was everything from green toys, organic food and beer (w00t beer), to natural fiber wedding dresses. I met lots of great people who really care about the planet and got a bunch of samples which I'll be reviewing here as they get used. Overall this was an amazing experience and helped me to realize that what I'm doing here IS important and that I'm not the only one who cares. So check out the Green Festival website and see if it's coming to a city near you. I guarantee that you won't be disappointed.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Sometimes it's easy to forget
It's so easy to get caught up in the bad, in the despair that I sometimes forget why I'm doing this. Thanks Discovery Channel.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Despair
Today I despaired while folding socks. I happened to notice that many pairs are way past their prime, filled with holes and ready to be reborn into their next existence as... something. I decided a while back that I wouldn't be buying any new clothes except underwear and socks, and those I would buy sustainably made. That's when it hit me. This overwhelming sense of scale hit me. Here I was worrying about buying ecologically friendly socks when the world is going to shit. There are people being held without trial for fighting for what they believe. Our government is encouraging its people to participate rampant consumption at such a horrible rate that I can only believe that they think the end times are coming so fuck all. We are at war so we can obtain more oil when instead we should be investing that money in finding alternatives to petroleum.
And what am I doing? I write a blog that no one reads telling people little creative ways they can be less bad. And in the end will that help? Will it make a difference? Does anything I do matter at all?
I could be so happy living my life like it is. Becoming a librarian, teaching myself and others to live simpler, less wasteful lives, but there is this deep guilt that it isn't enough. I feel like I should quit my life and somehow make a real difference. Become a single crusader like Gandhi or MLK, scream at the top of my lungs until people start paying attention to the world around them instead of just marching along in their own little lives totally unaware of their surroundings.
Even then, though, could I actually make a change or is everyone so accustomed to their consumerist lifestyles that nothing short of a worldwide disaster would change them? I know people who don't see, who laugh off my concerns as eccentric, and in a way I envy them. I wonder what it's like not to feel like you have to save the world. But once you look around you can't close your eyes again. You can't watch the videos of how animals are treated and go back to eating factory farmed meat. You can't empathize with normal Iraqies who just want their lives back and then go back to using petroleum products like they will never run out.
I just don't know what I can do to actually make a difference except to just keep trying, to lead by example and to talk and talk and talk until someone listens. But even then will that be enough?
And what am I doing? I write a blog that no one reads telling people little creative ways they can be less bad. And in the end will that help? Will it make a difference? Does anything I do matter at all?
I could be so happy living my life like it is. Becoming a librarian, teaching myself and others to live simpler, less wasteful lives, but there is this deep guilt that it isn't enough. I feel like I should quit my life and somehow make a real difference. Become a single crusader like Gandhi or MLK, scream at the top of my lungs until people start paying attention to the world around them instead of just marching along in their own little lives totally unaware of their surroundings.
Even then, though, could I actually make a change or is everyone so accustomed to their consumerist lifestyles that nothing short of a worldwide disaster would change them? I know people who don't see, who laugh off my concerns as eccentric, and in a way I envy them. I wonder what it's like not to feel like you have to save the world. But once you look around you can't close your eyes again. You can't watch the videos of how animals are treated and go back to eating factory farmed meat. You can't empathize with normal Iraqies who just want their lives back and then go back to using petroleum products like they will never run out.
I just don't know what I can do to actually make a difference except to just keep trying, to lead by example and to talk and talk and talk until someone listens. But even then will that be enough?
Friday, April 11, 2008
I am not your personal carbon offset
I really feel like I should post something about how awesome it is that I sold my car and that we are now a one vehicle family, but really it's not that big of a deal. John and I sat down and tried to think of a time in the past year that we actually needed both cars and couldn't think of a single one. So yeah, we're down to one car with the eventual goal of no cars and a flexcar account for those times we really need a vehicle.
However, what has really been getting my goat lately is the patronizing attitude people direct towards my attempts at being as green as possible.
Oh look at the silly hippie printing on the back of things. Isn't that cute? I'm so glad she's doing that kind of stuff so I feel better about being a lazy slob.
Well I'm here to set the record straight, I am not your personal carbon offset. Don't you DARE feel okay about not being part of the answer because I work so hard. I don't do this so you can feel good. I do this because I FUCKING CARE. I work hard to make a difference because I don't see that there is any other way, kind of like if I saw a woman being raped I wouldn't see continuing on to the grocery store as being an option.
We as a culture have a tendency to view everything as someone else's problem. Well you know what? The welfare of the planet is EVERYONE'S PROBLEM. We ALL live here, our future generations will live here and if you can't bring yourself to care about your neighbors at least attempt to care about the future of your children.
This blog is my way of sharing with the world all of the ways I have found to live a slightly greener life. I'm not asking that everyone go as far as I do, though it's NOT hard and is VERY rewarding, I'm just asking you to THINK about how you live and maybe take some small steps. Before you know it those small steps turn into bounding leaps and then you are running through the trees.
However, what has really been getting my goat lately is the patronizing attitude people direct towards my attempts at being as green as possible.
Oh look at the silly hippie printing on the back of things. Isn't that cute? I'm so glad she's doing that kind of stuff so I feel better about being a lazy slob.
Well I'm here to set the record straight, I am not your personal carbon offset. Don't you DARE feel okay about not being part of the answer because I work so hard. I don't do this so you can feel good. I do this because I FUCKING CARE. I work hard to make a difference because I don't see that there is any other way, kind of like if I saw a woman being raped I wouldn't see continuing on to the grocery store as being an option.
We as a culture have a tendency to view everything as someone else's problem. Well you know what? The welfare of the planet is EVERYONE'S PROBLEM. We ALL live here, our future generations will live here and if you can't bring yourself to care about your neighbors at least attempt to care about the future of your children.
This blog is my way of sharing with the world all of the ways I have found to live a slightly greener life. I'm not asking that everyone go as far as I do, though it's NOT hard and is VERY rewarding, I'm just asking you to THINK about how you live and maybe take some small steps. Before you know it those small steps turn into bounding leaps and then you are running through the trees.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Plastic bags blow, disposables suck!
Do you know what pisses me off? The fact that you appear to have no readers? Well yes, but besides that. Pretty much everything? I mean your blogs name IS Mean Green Girl.
Smartass.
But seriously, I get really pissed off every time I see a new disposable product out that replaces a perfectly serviceable reusable product. For example, while taking my car, which I am selling, to the car wash yesterday (Brown Bear Car Wash, which is a much greener alternative to hand washing your car) John pointed out a billboard for a new disposable razor replacing one with heads that you changed out. Okay people, lets have a little reality check. Do you know what those little disposable things are made out of? Plastic. Do you know what plastic is made out of? Petroleum.
That's right kiddies all of your little disposable plastic bits are made out of non-biodegradable petroleum products and I don't know if I missed the memo but last I remembered this was a non-renewable resource that we are currently at war to get more of. So just taking that into consideration (and ignoring the fact that creating more trash then before is bad) shouldn't we be trying to find alternatives that use less and NOT more petroleum? DUH
So Miss Smartypants, what do you suggest you ask. Well, there are lots of alternatives to your average disposable razor. You can always get a name brand razor with replaceable heads or an electric razor (and if you ever find one of these that works well let me know). Both options are a bit expensive so I recommend the preserve recycled razor. John and I have been using these for about half a year now and have been really impressed. The handles are made of 100% recycled plastic and are themselves recyclable. The heads are replaceable, are really affordable and last for a long time. Overall I give these 4 out of 5 trees with a deduction that the heads still have to eventually be thrown away.
Smartass.
But seriously, I get really pissed off every time I see a new disposable product out that replaces a perfectly serviceable reusable product. For example, while taking my car, which I am selling, to the car wash yesterday (Brown Bear Car Wash, which is a much greener alternative to hand washing your car) John pointed out a billboard for a new disposable razor replacing one with heads that you changed out. Okay people, lets have a little reality check. Do you know what those little disposable things are made out of? Plastic. Do you know what plastic is made out of? Petroleum.
That's right kiddies all of your little disposable plastic bits are made out of non-biodegradable petroleum products and I don't know if I missed the memo but last I remembered this was a non-renewable resource that we are currently at war to get more of. So just taking that into consideration (and ignoring the fact that creating more trash then before is bad) shouldn't we be trying to find alternatives that use less and NOT more petroleum? DUH
So Miss Smartypants, what do you suggest you ask. Well, there are lots of alternatives to your average disposable razor. You can always get a name brand razor with replaceable heads or an electric razor (and if you ever find one of these that works well let me know). Both options are a bit expensive so I recommend the preserve recycled razor. John and I have been using these for about half a year now and have been really impressed. The handles are made of 100% recycled plastic and are themselves recyclable. The heads are replaceable, are really affordable and last for a long time. Overall I give these 4 out of 5 trees with a deduction that the heads still have to eventually be thrown away.
Friday, April 4, 2008
It's a nice day for a green wedding
A little less than two months ago my long time boyfriend proposed which started my quest to have an awesome yet green wedding. As has been stated in other blogs I found that there wasn't much information on having a green AND inexpensive wedding. Most of the stuff out there is greener alternatives to traditional wedding junk which just isn't my style. Because of this I've had to get creative and while I doubt we'll manage a 100% eco friendly wedding I'm going to do everything I can to get as close as possible.
1) The wedding dress: I'm still not positive what I'm going to do about my dress. I am thinking about sewing my own with some pretty unbleached linen I have, but that is just so daunting. I'm just not sure I'm skilled enough to produce the kind of garment that I would want to wear on my wedding day. The other alternative is to buy a used dress and then sell it again. Supposedly there are also dress rental services but the wedding is out of town so it would probably get pretty expensive renting it for the entire time I'd be gone.
2) The location: I'm really fortunate to know people affiliated with an organization back home that owns about 100 acres that they are willing to rent out. The idea is to have an outdoor wedding and reception and then afterwards have a camp out/party. The only problem with the land is that it's about 45 min away from the city. One of the things we will be asking for in our registry is for people to offer their cars for carpools. We may also think about renting a van for the people who won't be staying the night so there is less driving.
3) The catering: And by catering I mean us cooking a lot of locally grown/raised food and asking friends to help out with some potluck stuff. Instead of using disposable dishes I had the idea of hitting up local Goodwills and talking to the managers about offering a bulk discount on plates, cutlery and glasses that we would then wash and donate back the next day. I'm also making cloth napkins out of fabric I find at thrift stores with a bit of embroidery that the guests can take home with them as favors.
1) The wedding dress: I'm still not positive what I'm going to do about my dress. I am thinking about sewing my own with some pretty unbleached linen I have, but that is just so daunting. I'm just not sure I'm skilled enough to produce the kind of garment that I would want to wear on my wedding day. The other alternative is to buy a used dress and then sell it again. Supposedly there are also dress rental services but the wedding is out of town so it would probably get pretty expensive renting it for the entire time I'd be gone.
2) The location: I'm really fortunate to know people affiliated with an organization back home that owns about 100 acres that they are willing to rent out. The idea is to have an outdoor wedding and reception and then afterwards have a camp out/party. The only problem with the land is that it's about 45 min away from the city. One of the things we will be asking for in our registry is for people to offer their cars for carpools. We may also think about renting a van for the people who won't be staying the night so there is less driving.
3) The catering: And by catering I mean us cooking a lot of locally grown/raised food and asking friends to help out with some potluck stuff. Instead of using disposable dishes I had the idea of hitting up local Goodwills and talking to the managers about offering a bulk discount on plates, cutlery and glasses that we would then wash and donate back the next day. I'm also making cloth napkins out of fabric I find at thrift stores with a bit of embroidery that the guests can take home with them as favors.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Work work work
One of the great things about working in the public sector is that it tends to embrace environmental measures faster than most large companies. The University of Washington has a number of really fantastic programs including all sorts of recycling, composting and discount bus passes for employees. Now, don't get my wrong; I LOVE the U for doing this, but really, what kind of green girl would I be if I didn't go further? And I have to say, I've been pleased at my co-workers willingness, nay in some cases eagerness, to go the extra steps to waste less.
Here are some of the easy to implement things we've started doing around the office for those of you looking for ideas.
1. Technology is freaking brilliant, use it. Seriously, drag your co-workers kicking and screaming into the 21st century. If they want something faxed ask if it can be scanned and e-mailed instead. I would put down money that unless it's an official signature the answer will be yes. Woot- now the person on the receiving end doesn't have any extra paper unless they choose to print the document out themselves.
2. Print on the back of used paper. I work in an office where lots and lots of drafts of things are printed for editing. Because of this we keep the printer stocked with used paper and have plain white paper on the side for official documents. I do the supply ordering for our department and have noticed a significant reduction in the amount of paper I order since we started this. Thus not only are we saving trees but we're also saving money (always a good thing to tell your boss when trying to make changes) AND have reduced our carbon footprint by having fewer deliveries.
3. Reuse post-it notes. Being the office grunt I get lots and lots of post-its from people asking me to do things. Before I would toss the notes in the recycling as soon as I was done, but then I noticed the crazy number that would fall out of my desk's bin. Usually there is only a line or two on a full sized sheet, often written in pencil so now I have a post-it dispenser on my desk with reusable paper and haven't opened a new pack in months.
Oh yeah, if people start worrying about your office's image with printing on the back of things remind them that green is in. Every time I give someone a reused piece of paper I just let them know that we are trying to waste as little as possible and have had a 100% positive response.
Here are some of the easy to implement things we've started doing around the office for those of you looking for ideas.
1. Technology is freaking brilliant, use it. Seriously, drag your co-workers kicking and screaming into the 21st century. If they want something faxed ask if it can be scanned and e-mailed instead. I would put down money that unless it's an official signature the answer will be yes. Woot- now the person on the receiving end doesn't have any extra paper unless they choose to print the document out themselves.
2. Print on the back of used paper. I work in an office where lots and lots of drafts of things are printed for editing. Because of this we keep the printer stocked with used paper and have plain white paper on the side for official documents. I do the supply ordering for our department and have noticed a significant reduction in the amount of paper I order since we started this. Thus not only are we saving trees but we're also saving money (always a good thing to tell your boss when trying to make changes) AND have reduced our carbon footprint by having fewer deliveries.
3. Reuse post-it notes. Being the office grunt I get lots and lots of post-its from people asking me to do things. Before I would toss the notes in the recycling as soon as I was done, but then I noticed the crazy number that would fall out of my desk's bin. Usually there is only a line or two on a full sized sheet, often written in pencil so now I have a post-it dispenser on my desk with reusable paper and haven't opened a new pack in months.
Oh yeah, if people start worrying about your office's image with printing on the back of things remind them that green is in. Every time I give someone a reused piece of paper I just let them know that we are trying to waste as little as possible and have had a 100% positive response.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Mean Green Greeting
I've been putting off starting this blog for a while. In the beginning it was because I couldn't think of a pithy name. Then it was because I was embarrassed that my writing style wasn't as thoughtful and intelligent as my blogging friends. Well, screw it. This is important so I'm just going to have to sit down and write and you are just going to have to deal with my less than elegant style.
I really started this journey about a year ago when I moved with John from Austin, Texas to Seattle, Washington. We were basically dissatisfied with the directions our lives were taking (read that as nowhere) and needed a change. We then got rid of like 80% of what we owned, packed the rest into our two little cars and drove up here.
I was amazed at how liberating it was to go through my stuff and get rid of things (except for my books, that was not fun) and at how much stuff I had accumulated over the years that I really didn't need. This also made me think differently about buying things used at Goodwill since we donated A LOT of nice stuff.
After we got up here I've been constantly moving forward in my quest to reduce my impact on the environment. This blog will be a resource for what I have discovered, my experiences, product reviews, project ideas and anything else I can think of to help other people take the step towards living a greener life.
I really started this journey about a year ago when I moved with John from Austin, Texas to Seattle, Washington. We were basically dissatisfied with the directions our lives were taking (read that as nowhere) and needed a change. We then got rid of like 80% of what we owned, packed the rest into our two little cars and drove up here.
I was amazed at how liberating it was to go through my stuff and get rid of things (except for my books, that was not fun) and at how much stuff I had accumulated over the years that I really didn't need. This also made me think differently about buying things used at Goodwill since we donated A LOT of nice stuff.
After we got up here I've been constantly moving forward in my quest to reduce my impact on the environment. This blog will be a resource for what I have discovered, my experiences, product reviews, project ideas and anything else I can think of to help other people take the step towards living a greener life.
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