Green Goals for. 2008

**geckoace** · 12-27-2007, 07:45 PM

this year I want to do better, so my green goals for 2008 are:

1)recycle more - now that my city has expanded their program I will try hard to put out more recycling than trash
2)Use fewer plastic bags - I made huge strides last year and I want to bring my own bag more often
3) compost - I really need to get serious abouthis
4)buy less but better quality
5) use less energy - I've managed to find comfort at 67degrees but my big problem is sleeping with the tv on I really need to break that habit

Anyone else have goals for a greener 08?

**MVS0122** · 12-27-2007, 08:17 PM

My goals are similar to yours except that I don't watch TV and my composting often consists of tossing our leftovers into the woods behind our house. I'm definitely getting rid of those plastic bags! This year I'm hoping to get my company more eco-friendly so I am going to be looking for things I can do or ways we can change.

**shortcake** · 12-27-2007, 09:14 PM

My goals are:
1-No more plastic bags
2-Recycle everything I can
3-Chemical free home and make my own green safe cleaners.
4-Buy and waste less.

**monkeymia** · 12-27-2007, 10:46 PM

My goals are:

* To recycle grey water from the bath and washing machine.
* Use less plastic bags.
* Recycle more.

**mom2matty** · 12-27-2007, 10:49 PM

I have pretty much the same goals as all of you.........

-recycle more
-no more plastic bags (found some really neat cloth bags at Trader Joe's!!)
-making better use of our compost bin!
-create less waste......really watch what we are using and throwing away
-buying less

**sunshine** · 12-27-2007, 11:14 PM

- no paper or plastic bags from the grocery store. Will take my cloth bags EACH time I grocery shop.

- enlarge our garden, so we can eat more of our own produce, thereby reducing herbicide/pesticide use, gas use to travel to/from the grocery store, etc.

- get at least one heat grabber working in our house by next winter

**Marie78** · 12-27-2007, 11:33 PM

I am going to continue to recycle. Use the dishwasher only twice a week.
Hang dry a load or more of laundry every week.
Use only 1 garbage bag a week.
Use a few reusable bags for groceries to cut back on or eliminate plastic grocery bags.
Use my steam cleaner to clean the hard surface floors, the kitchen, and the bathroom (use less cleaning products).
Use cloth napkins and cloth towels more.
Take 5-10 minute showers to use less water.

**Amanda W** · 12-27-2007, 11:41 PM

* Since I learned how to sew this year, I'd like to sew my own grocery totes.
* Be conscious of my water usage and try to encourage DH to do the same.
* Continue making and using my own green cleaning products.
* Recycle more.
* Educate before springtime about chemical-free lawns.

**sunshine** · 12-27-2007, 11:43 PM

Oh yeah -- I'm making lots more fabric gift bags for birthdays, Christmas, etc.

**kaykwilts** · 12-28-2007, 07:29 AM

I'd like to start taking my own cloth bags to the store. I'd like to start using cloth napkins more at home. I have a hard time getting the rest of my family on board with my green ideas. This past year I did more composting. Just about all my veggie and fruit scraps go into the compost bucket that gets emptied at the end of the day. I have had to fish egg shells out of the trash that my DD and DH tossed. They know I compost and it irritates me that they toss things that can be composted. Other things I've done is cart the newspapers to the recycling center. I wish our recycling center took plastics but they don't.

**ilovechocolate** · 12-28-2007, 09:00 AM

Reading through all these posts, I realize I already do quite a few of these ideas. I don't yet compost, though, so that is on my list for 2008.

**AmyBoz** · 12-28-2007, 09:02 AM

These are all wonderful ideas! I will definitely be looking into our lifestyle and see where I can be greener! Thanks for the inspiration!

**McD** · 12-28-2007, 09:18 AM

-Use the recycling program that my city offers
-Use more cloth, less paper products
-conserve water
-More to come.

**Jeanna** · 12-28-2007, 12:23 PM

Here are my goals:

Study and learn how I can do more to help the planet.

Make and use cloth bags at the store.

Make my own produce bags and use.

Try to get things as close to home as posible--as in purchase, but also made.

Try to be as anti-consumer as possible.

Use homemade cleaners.

Use less paper products and look for recycled ones of the ones I do use.

Use less electricity and water.

These are plenty to start with.

**latte** · 12-28-2007, 12:54 PM

hi im latte a newbie (i'll further intoduce myself in the introductions after here)
my green goals for 2008
1) continue using my grocery totes that mom gave me last year for my birthday, along with the others ive accumulated over the years
2)use my grocery totes at WALGREENS, RITE AID, WALMART, AND ANY OTHER STORE I GO INTO! (the only time plastic bags as it is, that come into my house is when frankenstein goes to the store, or when the cashiers bag up my groceries........those get used in my small garbage cans)
3) figure out a way to make fresh produce and veggie bags so i dont have to spend the $ on them
4) grow container herbs (this will be a first, im excited)
5) grow container tomatoes, and maybe container zuchini (also a first, and really missed out the last few years as id always had friends and family near that had gardens.......)