I’m calling myself this today. When it comes to going “green”, having a green website, being recognized locally for my efforts and just being noticed more for going green in my small town…I sometimes feel the pressure. For example, I had coffee the other day with a family member and as we drank “organic” coffee I added sweet and low to my drink. She seemed surprised and called me out on this. “How can you be green and natural and use man made sugar?”, she said. Good point. Except, I went through weight watchers and lost a ton of weight and became addicted to diet soda and sweet and low because of the “0” points.
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Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. – Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
One big concern that parents often have about going green is how they can get their kids involved and help them to develop their own affinity for protecting our one home. In a society where where the cultural norm is to consume as much as you can as fast as you can with little regard for the consequences, it is vital that parents start to cultivate some green values within the next generation.
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Although we lived in the city, I grew up in a pretty simple family compared to many of our neighbors and friends. There was no microwave, dishwasher or cable television in our home. No packaged cereals, boxed juice or single serving lunch snacks for school.
We grew and made nearly all our own food. My father was trained in horticulture and he studied bio-dynamic and organic farming in his spare time. He put all his knowledge to work on our gigantic family garden. I can’t tell you how many times I cringed at the sight of another soggy sprouts, cucumber and tomato sandwich in my elementary school lunch!
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Summer is upon us and as the temperatures rise, so does our need to stay cool. Is it possible to beat the heat without (gasp) air conditioning? As someone who has been living in an A/C-free house for most of her life, I can tell you that it’s not always easy or pleasant, but I have picked up many techniques along the way to keep myself and my family as cool and comfortable as possible. Going without air conditioning might take a little getting used to and some creativity, but with my tips below, you will soon be on the path to living a cooler, greener summer.
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When it comes to going green we all want to save our green and not lose it! It can seem as though organic food is more expensive, and frequently people use the excuse of not buying organic food because it costs more. There are simple ways to go green in this department without breaking the bank! Recently, MSN Health even reported how to eat organic on a $7 a day budget, so it can be done! Here are some simple pointers that won’t take too long and can save you money and help you buy organic.
♦Choose to buy organic on some items like milk, cheese or meat.
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For all of you who’ve been patiently waiting for us to fix our button code, we are finally all set and ready to go. Go to our Link To Us page now, and grab a badge for your blog or website.
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Every Sunday we will post links to interesting articles that made us drool, made us laugh, or made us think. If you come across anything you’d like to see featured in this spot, send an email to [email protected].
Around the greenosphere this week:
1. Treehugger tells us about pedal-powered business popping up in Portland.
2. Haute*Nature postes these fabulous lights made from recycled vintage tea cups.
3. Alternative Consumer talks about eco-friendly hotels for your summer travel.
4. Wish you could boil water faster? Eco Geek show us it might be possible.
5. Summer=bug bites, and Nonchalant Mom has a really smart natural remedy to stop the itching.
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My husband Andy has a wonderful saying when people ask us about our journey towards a green lifestyle in Chicago. He says ” We are olive. Not quite green but getting there.” It feels like there is so much to learn and frankly, so much to unlearn that it can be overwhelming. It isn’t about where I am in the process, but that I am in the process of making changes both big and small. I find my biggest lessons come from the messages I share with my kids. “Focus on the effort you give something not the end result” I suggest to them.
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I think one of the best things in the world is homemade bread. I love making it. Baking it. Smelling it. Tasting it fresh out of the oven! Here on our little homestead, homemade bread has become a staple. Baking your own bread is one of the best places to start on a “going-green” journey. In baking your own bread, you are not only guaranteed that the ingredients are wholesome, but when healthy bread at the store costs nearly $5.00 a loaf, baking your own makes good economic sense. It’s also another way not to have to rely on the grocery store so much.
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With gas prices at record highs and only expected to go up, we all need some reminders on how to save money on gas. Not everyone can afford to switch to a hybrid, nor want to, but there are some simple ways to increase the MPG on your current vehicle. It takes a few changes in driving habits, but once you start, they’ll become second nature and you’ll be saving money before you know it!
