Am I Green Enough?

#8DCB41, #7A7700, #1D3403…No, I’m not speaking Klingon nor are these words from a lost episode of Seinfeld. These are hexadecimal values or “hex colors” and they are all shades of green. Jennifer K. and her husband are olive and after reading Sommer’s post, I felt compelled to share a little bit more about me. I guess, to confess.

When I was asked to participate as a writer at 5M4GG, I was honored and then a little concerned because going green is still somewhat new to me. I was never a fan of the color green. I was a Brownie, but never became a Girl Scout. I prefer lemons over limes and I somehow manage to kill plants because I don’t have a green thumb.

When we bought our first house, choosing paint colors was a lot of fun. I don’t know how it happened, but I found myself leaning heavily towards shades of green with little specs of red (it looked like Christmas). In our current home, the children’s bedroom is #84BE6A (or frog) and all of the other rooms are natural colors (hmm), still with little specs of red. So, maybe it was the plan all along for me to be green and natural. I am not sure to what degree. All I know is that I’m probably more natural, but I AM green enough!

I wrote about this at Little Green Secrets. Going green is not a contest where we have one winner and everyone else is a loser. It is also not about being better than the next mom as we try to determine who is more green than the other. Going green is personal. Fortunately, there are several ways to be green and as far as shades go, pick anyone you would like. There are quite a few areas in my life where I need to improve choices I make, which would inadvertently make me more green, and also just make sense. On the other hand, there are some activities in my life that may never change like enjoying long hot showers or the fact that I leave my computer on ALL day.

I was raised mostly green and natural. Despite the fact that my mother used cloth diapers on my siblings and me, you will still find a few Pampers neatly stacked on my son’s changing table. On the other hand, I made all of my youngest son’s baby food from fresh fruit and vegetables and am still breastfeeding him at the ripe old age of 20 months. I think he’s using me. I also breastfed my daughter through to table food.

When reading here, you may find similarities between you and the mom writers and hopefully not be turned off by our occasional “true confessions.” If you are here at 5M4GG to learn how to become more green and natural, then consider yourself at the right place. You are officially going green. The Green Team is composed of moms just like you. At one time, we were all new to green living and didn’t have a clue. Through reading, researching, and sharing our personal experiences with others, we have incorporated new activities and eliminated others from our lives. We are each doing it our own way just as you should do.

Visit 5M4GG often, ask questions, share your experiences because I too want to learn everything I can. I don’t know about you, but right now, I’m feeling a little #3AD75F I'm pretty! because I think it’s pretty.

What shade are you?

To laugh, learn, and live more green and natural, visit Jennifer at Little Green Secrets where she shares the country living adventures she has with her children in child’s play and enjoy delicious vegetarian food that will make your mouth water. Subscribe to her blog here.

An original post written for 5 Minutes for Going Green.

2 Responses to Am I Green Enough?
  1. Beth (Coming Up For Air)
    July 21, 2008 | 10:20 am

    This is such a wonderful, candid post. I am not 100% green either…not sure what shade I am really! :) But I appreciate your honesty. I felt the same way when asked to participate here. It’s nice to know there are other women who feel the same as me!!

  2. Arianne (To Think Is To Create)
    July 21, 2008 | 4:41 pm

    Totally loved how real this post was, great job. :)