My water is green!

Okay, my water isn't really green. But I have- we have- taken steps to ensure that we are more "green" in the way we use and drink water.
First, and easily enough, we installed a water filter and bid farewell to purchases of bottled water. I saw a video where it showed a waterfall of waterbottles representing the 60 millioin that are tossed every day. It is amazing and when you think about it, incredulous that there is any room left for us! We now have a glass pitcher filled in the fridge and use reuseable water bottles.
The harder part is reducing how much non-drinking water is used- doing dishes, watering the garden, taking showers, brushing teeth. This morning I sort of zoned out in the shower and all of a sudden I realized I'd been standing there a good 5 minutes! I was finished- just zoned out. I TRY to shorten my showers, but they are just so lovely. Okay- that's a work in progress. I usually remember to turn the faucet off when I brush my teeth, but often I forget- it's just habit! It's almost like the faucet water is "white noise"- I'm so used to it. Again, work in progress. Just need to make it a habit. But brushing teeth is not as lovely as a nice hot shower. Ahhh. OKAY! I'm working on it....
We do water the garden, do laundry and run the dishwasher (only when it's full) in the evenings. And we don't water the garden if the weather forcasts rain, which typically will backfire b/c the weathermen are not particularly accurate and now a few plants are dying. Funny story- down at the beach I saw this water sprinkler on not only with ominous looking clouds overhead but with it angled in a way that it was watering their driveway, car, and side of the house. Not so much the grass. And then it downpoured and stormed for a good 2 huors. Good planning. At least I do better than that.
I'm not at the point where I save my boiled water from cooking to water my garden. Instead I forgo giving the dog a bath. :) Stinky dog.


(http://www.container-recycling.org/mediafold/newsarticles/plastic/2006/5-WMW-DownDrain.htm)

Week 2- Cleaning Green

Step 2 in our "Going Green" transformation includes tossing all the nasty toxic cleaning products that have clogged our under-sink cabinets. Okay, "tossing" items isn't necessarily "green". The best thing to do would be to use up what you have, and then start fresh with more natural cleaning products. Which is what my husband wanted to do. However, does anyone else have 5 different products to clean upholstry? Try having a dog that likes to pee on the couch- you try different ones until you find one that works. And really, when it comes to dog pee, nothing REALLY works. SO- do I hold on to the 5 different products? And what about the 1/2 full bottles of "goo be gone" and numerous lysol products? Since the Hazardous Waste Disposal site is only 5 minutes from my house (and my husband was away at a golf tournament) , I decided to head on over there- short lines, proper disposal of the contents and recycling of the bottles (and open each Saturday from 8am-5pm; check local HWD sites in your area). Plus they gave me "paint hardener"- you mix it in with leftover paint, it hardens, and you can throw it out with the regular trash.
I have now stocked up on Method and Murray's natural household cleaners. They are not the super duper bacteria killing cleaners. But they smell good and everything looks just as clean. No hint of chemical smell. And the super duper bacteria killers create more super duper bacteria b/c they adapt to the cleaners and get stronger. If you wash thoroughly, you will be safe and everything will be clean. And I did save a couple of the very full bottles, and told my husband that I am not hanging out cleaning in the bathroom with all the fumes from the noxious chemical tub cleaners (the cartoon bubble LOOK friendly). He said it didn't matter b/c I never hung out cleaning the bathroom anyways. Okay, good point.

Week 1- Going Organic

I love to cook. I love fresh fruits and vegetables, farmer markets and roadside farm stands. Unfortunately, sometimes a local farm stand isn't available when I want tomatoes in the summer, so I head over to Safeway of Harris Teeter. Now, I know they have Organic choices- but the experience of being in a grocery store isn't as aesthetically pleasing as being outside amongst heaping piles of fresh fruit and veggies. I live close to Eastern Market- close enough to walk, not drive, which has local farm stands. I head over there every weekend that I am in town. I like to support the local farmers, and after the research I began, realized how much that support means. I am not contributing to the mass transport of vegetables from across the country and all the waste and pollution that creates. But what about when I can't get to Eastern Market? Door to Door Organics to the rescue! I have begun to order organic fruits and vegetables on-line and have a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits delivered to our door each week. You don't always know what you are going to get- you can choose from a fruit, veggie, or mixed box in small/med/large sizes. My first box I was so excited! I opened it up and the first thing I saw was: Red Swiss Chard. Okay, I have not ever in my life cooked- and I don't think eaten- swiss chart, red or any other color. I keep looking, and I have plums (the dog got ahold of one- she liked it), nectarines, banana's, oranges, zucchini, squash. Now, they are not as big as I am used to- what with my regular purchase of store brand being all hopped up on stuff to make them big. BUT- the banana's I got Organic didn't get all brown and mushy nearly as quickly as the ones I bought at the store. And they tasted much sweeter. AND- I made a great white bean and sausage soup with swiss chard. Delicous.
SO- week one, going Organic (or at least starting to)- ACCOMPLISHED!

The Decision to "Go Green"

Believe it or not, my inspiration came from watching T.V. I was watching the show "Jon and Kate plus 8", about a family with twins and sextuplets. They were going to an organic farm to buy "half a cow". Now, they have 8 kids, 6 of which are 2 years old. Around 80% of the food they eat is organic, and I thought to myself, if a mother of 8 can make the effort to be healthy and organic, so can I. So I began researching Organic farms in my area. I found a couple organic delivery farms, and decided to try those out. Now, organic farms are very mindful of the environment, so there is a lot of mention about packaging and recycling, and reducing waste, etc. So I began MORE research on recycling. And then I realized that I am a huge garbage dump and am contributing the equivalent of a small town to our poor Earth's growing trash, pollution, and waste problems. I right then and there made a pact to myself, that included my husband (poor guy never had a choice), to "Go Green", and make 1 change per week to reduce my mammoth environmental footprint. I have subjected my husband to many a tip, fact, myth, and informational tidbit regarding becoming environmentally friendly, and have forged ahead, hell bent on becoming a little bit more green each week.