What was the main reason you went natural?

**cheappearls** · 01-12-2007, 11:22 AM

Just to kick this board in the butt. haha.

I first realized how bad we were when we had at least 7 trash bags a week. I started recycling and it went down to 2 1/2-3. We have only been recycling for a few months but I already feel it's made a huge difference.

So what was your kick in the head moment to start being green?

**ama** · 01-12-2007, 11:50 AM

I began to realize that alot of the daily things I take for granted caused an awful lot of waste and envroormental problems. There's def enough media to show us what the big picture is starting to look like. Dirty!

I try to look at things as what kind of footprint am I leaving behind. I try to use cloth bags and re-use the plastic grocery bags I do get. I keep a bucket in the shower to re-use water that fills up while waiting for the water to heat up and darn it, my water bill dropped so much. What other small actions can save me $$$ and the enviroment??

**Wendy.Cooper** · 01-13-2007, 01:27 AM

What a great question.

For me I think it was when I knew I was going to start trying to have a baby or would be trying soon. Once I had my son, anything commercial that I used.. went... I couldn't handle the thought of him laying on me with 'normal' lotion on me.

Also... an um *cough* under arm issue that I couldn't get a handle on started the transformation. It took me almost 2 years to figure out how to fix it by using different natural methods of care.

I haven't used commercial products to clean my house in about 5 years and I love it! I use baking soda, vinegar and tea tree oil to clean everything. I even use baking soda to wash my hair rather than shampoo.

I'm pretty much plastic free in the kitchen. I've even found a water company that delivers 5 gallon jugs in GLASS! Haven't ordered yet.. I'm hoping their water is good, will be ordering as soon as I buy the ceramic dispenser at the local natural store.

I didn't do this on purpose but... I'm pretty much synthetic free with most of our clothes (DH not included - he doesn't like the same styles for himself as I do).

Other things:
Cloth diapers, mostly wooden, cloth or metal toys for the boy, breastfeeding, etc.

I really need to work on the food part. I had a gall bladder attack on New Year's Day and that's helping me to be more responsible in that area.

Ama... what sort of things do you use the water for?

cheappearls... we live in a house that has three suites in it... three apartments... one per floor and we live on a pretty quiet street... we're the only one in our house that recycle and one of very few on our block and we bought a big plastic bin for it because our landlady uses the blue one for her gardening stuff lol

**i.m.cheap** · 01-13-2007, 12:19 PM

We are the only ones on our street who recycle too! I had the hardest time getting the driver of the recycling truck to even pick up our stuff. They were billing us for the service, but every pick up day they failed to come get it. I had to call them every two weeks (that is how often they pick up) to tell them that the driver had missed us. This went on for four or five months! They finally come without being reminded now. I always had the recycle bin sitting on the curb on the appointed day, they just never came down our street. I thin more people might recycle in my city if it didn't cost MORE than just having everything hauled to the landfill.

**cheappearls** · 01-13-2007, 01:17 PM

I think more people would recycle here if there was a pick up too. Lawton has NO recycle pick up service but there's a few recycle centers around town and one on the base.

I have DH drop off the stuff on his lunch break since his work is just right down the street from the center. It's on the way and only takes a few minutes to unload it all.

**Hardy1** · 01-13-2007, 03:55 PM

I started recycling and caring more about the environment as my kids started getting older. I used to do a lot of this when they were very little, then I became lazier for a good few years, and now am back on the wagon again. I am aware of the harm dumping all our household rubbish does. I try not to buy as much 'stuff' now. I really ask myself if I need another whatever before I buy it. Usually the answer is no.
Good thread!!
W

**miss_thrifty** · 01-13-2007, 08:18 PM

about 4 years ago, when the our whole island went green. And we recycle almost everything. what we cant recycle on PEI , goes off island.

**baxjul** · 01-14-2007, 10:02 AM

I started when my dd was born, 6 years ago. We do all of the things mentioned above. I usually buy organic food also.

**Monner 1** · 01-17-2007, 11:45 AM

I think that my recycling started in earnest when our county built a new landfill and they started having pick ups for recyclables. I also try to use natural cleaners whenever I can since the others bother my asthma. I try to eat as much organic as I can buy in our local stores. They have some but not alot and both my husband and I can definitely taste the difference but it is expensive so we just eat less meat which is better for us anyway. I just keep on trying, sometimes I win sometimes I lose but anything that helps our health and environment is a good thing.

**Edna_E** · 02-05-2007, 08:33 PM

Pretty much me too on this. Our town does not pick up recrycling, however, and there are rumours that what is placed in the recycle dumpsters may not actually be recycled, so I've tried to switch my focus much more to re-use.

**i.m.cheap** · 02-05-2007, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by Edna_E

Pretty much me too on this. Our town does not pick up recrycling, however, and there are rumours that what is placed in the recycle dumpsters may not actually be recycled, so I've tried to switch my focus much more to re-use.

We drink bottled water. Since I started refilling our one gallon jugs from the Culligan machine at the grocery store, it has cut our plastic recyclables down by more than half. The water is only 39¢ a gallon for refills, so it saves money, too!