Frugality, the environment, and time

[wolakota]

No one has been here in years, but I will post anyway. I think if you just start with all the plastic bags you get from shopping, reusing them, or donating them to the libraries, or thrifts stores is better for the enviroment. And now some stores have recycle containers where you can drop them into.

[madhen]

I had a history teacher once, who said something that really left its impression with me. Basically (and I'm not doing him justice), he said that organic foods won't be "affordable" until people start choosing them over chemically-treated foods. Because farmers who grow organic cannot sell it in bulk (because stores won't buy enough of it, because they can't sell it fast enough), they can't become large commercial producers and must stay as smaller, less profitable, companies and charge more to stay afloat.

If the public demanded organic, and commercial chemical-using producers found THEIR produce sitting on the shelves, untouched, they would change their ways, and the price of organic produce would go down, because you would again have the free market competition AND large companies figuring out how to do it cheaper. We, as a society, drive the market. If enough of us choose to do something more time-consuming, complicated, and expensive, as opposed to the "easy" way, because the easy way is bad for the environment, then Big Business will find a way to make that something LESS time-consuming, complicated and expensive, and less bad for the environment, to get us to do it again, because they want our money.

It is seldom easy to do the right thing. Even something as simple as recycling takes more effort than just throwing things into a landfill. And as a society, we tend to take the easy way out. It *is* difficult, and sometimes time-consuming, complicated, and expensive, as an individual, to start swimming against the current, when you feel that you don't make a difference. But if enough people do it, then we DO make a difference. But you have to ask yourself, if *I'm* not going to do it, why should I expect anyone else to do it?"

If you ever watch "You Are What You Eat," you'll have even more incentive to eat organic. First of all, the change after just two months, for most of these people, is amazing. Second, many of them find that their grocery bill goes DOWN, because while organic is more expensive than non-organic, it is LESS expensive than buying pre-packaged meals and soda and beer and all the things that make you unhealthy in the first place.

Unfortunately, if you want to see change the world for the better, you can't just sit around and wait for someone else to change it for you. Wasn't it Gandhi who said "Be the change you wish to see in the world"? It's not just a cool quote for a bumper sticker.

[MoonMommy]

Every little Green change makes a difference. Especially if many many people make little changes.

For me:
I recycle whatever I can. I made my own grocery bags out of old t-shirts to reduce the amount of plastic bags I receive as well as the amount of trash I make with old clothes. If I do get plastic bags, I use them to clean the cat litter or I take them to be recycled at the store.

I also have a big bag of items that I could use at a later time either for kids crafts or other things.

Small steps are often the best way to make long term changes.

[Trishagirl]

I have always recycled and returned those plastic bags to the stores. I really hate how they collect around my house. If the store has paper bags I choose them. Just doing my little part. I also use them for cleaning out the litter box. Yeah Madhen You are what you eat is a real eye opener! Love watching that show.

[The Muse]

You sound like me 3 years ago! It's a gradual process, best made in baby steps.

Here are some of this things I've done:

• Planted a garden
• Buy or acquire things used when I can
• Buy/keep only what we need, love, and use
• Pass things along when I'm done with them, vs. junking up my storage spaces or throwing it out
• Installed solar panels and cut our energy use with CFLs, clothesline, etc
• Make my own laundry soap (no phosphates, water can be used in garden)
• Make my own cleaning products & some beauty products
• Walk or ride my recalimed from the trash bike instead of drive when possible
• Use canvas grocery bags
• Use a rain barrel to collect water for my gardens
• Recycle (our trash bin is pretty empty and our recycling bin overflowing every week)
• Bought more fuel efficient and better EPA-rated car
• Buy from the "reduced for quick sale" bread and produce racks
• Use homemade cloth napkins made from reclaimed fabric
• Use rags instead of paper towels & skip disposables in general
• Combine errands and do as much as possible on my way to and from work.
• No kids!
• No cable! (less TV = less electricity)
• Live in a house of appropriate size for 2 people vs. the bigger house people expect us to have.
• Cook from scratch (less packaging, less processing)
• Once a week oven days
• Feed food scraps to my worms and use the compost in my gardens
• Went vegetarian (and took my husband with me)

I disagree that vegetarianism needs to be expensive. I feed DH and myself on less than $100/month and even the omnivores in my life agree that my cooking is delicious and inventive.

Organics are expensive, but that's why I garden. We eat organic produce all summer and next year, hopefully I'll grown enough to keep us in organics for most of the winter with canning, freezing, etc.

All this from a woman who 3 years ago, wore $500 shoes, would never turn down a steak, would never step foot in a thrift or consignment store, wouldn't get dirty, thought worms were gross, and drove a car with half the fuel economy, twice the emissions, and 4x the pricetag of her current car.

I made small changes over time, which added up to a complete shift in how I live. Follow your heart and concentrate on one thing at a time. For me, I went vegetarian and everything else followed.

[PrairieRose]

I really have to say that this is one of the main reasons that I love thrifting. I'm always soooooo pleased with myself in donating things as well as buying things, giving them a chance at a second, third or another use..............Now if I could just remember my canvas bags and to use them every time I shop anywhere.

[busylizzie]

I can totally relate to the original post. My work life leaves me little private time and I waste a lot in terms of car and plane travel. So at home I try to compensate. Being frugal at home makes me appreciate things a lot more and wherever I can try to be environmently conscious. Cooking from scratch, recycling and searching for second hand stuff takes time, but it's time to slow down and relax as well. I feel a lot less stressed this way.

[Patty A]

Little things soon add up and become big! Every little step you take toward being **GREEN** soon add up and become a way of life for you. I doesn't have to be big things to really count, and ever thing we do in life starts out as a learning experience. You look around with the idea of being green and you will be surprised how many things you are already doing that really have an impact on the planet.
Try google......do frugally green in the search. You will be so surprised by how many hints and ideas are out there. And each little step you take is helpful. I try hard to be greener in the way I live. I know I have a ton of things to learn, but I am will to learn them to help out the only planet we have!
I pat you on the back for trying to do you part, and little steps in (JMHO) is the only way to learn it and make it stick as part of your way of life.
Every journey starts out with one step........

[Gunny_Frost]

Great ideas.

We re-use our grocery bags at ALDIS.
We donate our soda cans to the local retirement home (proceeds help with their recreation fund).
My wife and will not do a garage sale at home, but donte anything we do not need anymore to the local mission.
We have the flouresent squiggly bulbs in out fixtures.

Next year when I am home we plan to:

Start a small garden.
Mill our own flour.
Look into solar for the water heater.

Cheers,

[Debbie-cat]

I LOVE all the ideas on this thread! Thanks for sharing everyone!

[redhead68]

Here are some things we do:

* We recently bought a worm composter to handle our vegetable scraps and paper waste, rather than filling up the waste bin. We currently use the worm tea to fertilize our indoor plants, and we'll eventually use the compost on our small garden in the spring.

* Like others, we take our own bags to the grocery. Additionally, I fill up my own containers from the bulk foods section. Customer service was happy to weigh my containers for me, so I'm not paying any extra. I rarely use plastic bags anymore.

* We registered for the "Do Not Mail" list to reduce our junk mail, and whenever we receive a paper catalog, I call the vendor to request removal from their mail list.

* We pay our bills on-line, which our bank offers for a small fee. It works out to be much less than the cost of checks, envelopes, & postage. We also signed up to receive electronic bills from every company that allows it.

* We gave away our television. Seriously, once that puppy was gone, we suddenly had lots of time to spend on green activities, and with less exposure to advertising, we saw our wants decrease dramatically.

* We got rid of our second car. It was not as difficult as we assumed it would be, even with two kids going opposite directions. The children can't participate in as many activities as their peers do, but I think that's a good thing. We actually have dinner at home together nearly every night, rather than eating in the car as we run from place to place.

* When we replaced our washer and dryer, we bought a front loading washer, which dramatically reduced our water usage, and a gas-powered dryer, which is greener than electric. We also hang-dry a portion of our clothes.

* We're eating a lot less meat, and we try very hard to purchase our produce in season and from nearby vendors.

* We use a programmable thermostat to heat the house only during the morning and evening hours when somebody is home.

* We installed a combination attic/whole house fan to keep the house comfortable in the summer without air conditioning.

* We installed a low-flow showerhead and use a timer to make sure we don't hang out in there too long.

* I carry a metal Sigg bottle to tote water or tea with me throughout the day. It was my favorite Christmas present this past year! I also pack my lunch in a washable container, and use a bandanna & flatware rather than a paper napkin & plastic utensils.

* I combine errands, so I'm not driving the car more than necessary. And, everyone in our family walks, bikes, or takes public transportation whenever possible.

* We installed CFLs in our light fixtures, and we bought re-chargeable batteries for the kids' electronic toys.

* I use vinegar, baking soda, borax, washing soda, & Dr. Bronners to clean the house.

* I got a short & sassy haircut that doesn't require a blow dryer to look good. My husband is balding, so that's not an issue for him!

* I use minimal make-up and keep my short nails buffed rather than polished.

* We used a Kill-a-Watt to find leaky outlets and had them replaced. While we were at it, we insulated every outlet on an exterior wall. We also unplugged everything that wasn't necessary, and put our computer and printer on a power strip, so now we can turn them completely off when they are not in use.

* We bought a just big enough house.

That's all I can think of right now.

[MoonMommy]

I read somewhere that you can also shred most of your "junk" mail and use it in your garden as a kind of compost. I can't remember where I read it, but I have been thinking about doing this.

Any thoughts about this. Does anyone do this?

[MomToTwoBoys]

I'm doing that this year. I got a paper shredder two months ago and I love it. We're getting some nice shrubbery for outdoors and I plan on composting the shredded paper for just that purpose.

[peanut]

I read somewhere that you can also shred most of your "junk" mail and use it in your garden as a kind of compost. I can't remember where I read it, but I have been thinking about doing this.

Any thoughts about this. Does anyone do this?

I used to work for a newspaper office. Not sure about doing this with coloured inks on paper. The pigments are often made from toxic chemicals. But black on white should be okay.

[homesteadmamma]

This is an old thread and it was fun thinking about some of the members who use to be here.

Back to the op - the best thing is starting with baby steps. We do so many of the things that have already been mentioned.

We aren't vegetarian, however we don't eat a lot of meat. Our garden is organic, no fertilizers go in it other than compost.

We started with a small garden when we lived in the city and it just grew from there. Now it's easy to think of the environment, it becomes a lifestyle.