How Green are you
By p1kef1sh
@p1kef1sh (45681)
March 10, 2008 7:32am CST
I am a struggling environmentalist. I recycle, compost, try to buy ethically, only buy organic vegetables and meat (free range sometimes), have a hybrid car, try not to fly, but according to the environmental lifestyle magazines there is so much more that I can do. I can use some kind of nut (not me) to us in my washing machine (tried it, didn't do much for me), I could buy all my clothes woven from vegetable fibres. The women in my life could buy all they feminine hygiene requirements made from recycled something or others. I can insulate my house with straw and grow all my own vegetables. The list never stops. So, how Green are you, and is it driving you mad.
3 people like this
13 responses
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
10 Mar 08
I really can't say how "green" I am...but I do know that I grew up when we re-used everything. Flour/sugar sacks were bright & colorful, they made blouses, skirts, dish towels (I am really not as old as this sounds). Canned foods (commercial) were a treat..seldom bought, it was home canning where the only thing that you couldn't re-use was the lid. About the only disposable thing we disposed of was TP! I don't buy magazines that are printed on non-recycled paper. I just bought the first pair of brand new shoes, yesterday, in 11 yrs. Believe it or not...I can dress smartly...and all my clothes are from Sally Ann or Thrift shops. I grow as much as I can..have never used chemicals. Do not use anything with floroucarbons (propellant sprays)! Use Shaklee products for cleaning, so all my water can go on flora & fauna! Mostly ride a bike! The list is long...but it's simple. Don't ever impulse buy. Great topic, p1kef1sh!
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
10 Mar 08
I'll trust you when you say that you are not that old? My mother can tell stories about her underwear being parachute silk during the War and has a lovely tale of being taken to a dance and her knickers falling down mid dance!! She say that she was keen, but not that keen. LOL. Sounds to me that you have really embraced the lifestyle. I would dearly like to do more, but we are so bombarded now with "do this. Try that" that it's becoming hard to know what to do next. I just try to do what seems achievable. Thank so much for responding.
2 people like this
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
11 Mar 08
Now, listen, my dear....I was born after the war, but I'll be hard pressed to tell you which one.
It was a lifestyle when I was young, we were poor! I certainly not some-one to hold up as an example...but because I am selfish and like things to be multi-purpose, it's easy. When you live on a small Island, you really have to "hug" a toxic free lifestyle! I really try to avoid plastics, but it's getting harder. Even my trusty Bayers Aspirins just recently went to plastic bottles.
Seems to me you are doing your share and making a difference, and for that I thank you!
@smacksman (6053)
•
11 Mar 08
I'm afraid I am one of the new-age heretics that think this whole 'green movement' has now become bunkum. It started off as a good idea but has now jumped on every bandwagon going.
My target is simply to reduce waste in all it's forms.
@smacksman (6053)
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11 Mar 08
Haha - spot on.
And the last thing they want is a drop in their standard of living.
Next-day-deliveries not in a month.
Spend 14 billion to cut 2 hours off the London/Paris train time.
Seven day seminars on carbon footprints in Thailand for 4000 delegates instead of an online video conference.
Et al ...
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
11 Mar 08
I find the arrogance irritating. If you don't walk around in an environmental hair shirt then you are clearly failing to be a good member of the community. I say let's do what we can, as you say, reduce the waste and not increase our usage of things that we know to be damaging. Now if you'll excuse me, I've just got to go and mow the grass carpet that we bought rather than the nice wool mix that we really wanted.
@FaerieAne2003 (679)
• United States
10 Mar 08
Some of that stuff sounds a bit off-the-wall to me! I did try to recycle for a while, but I have a tendency to start things and then never finish them, so I would collect my recyclables in a bin to be sorted into bags later... and then never sort or take them off. It bothers me a bit, but it hasn't driven me mad. Yet!
If you want a good "green" cleaning product that works like a charm and is chemical-free, try this: Mix 1 part white vinegar to 5 parts tap water. It smells like vinegar, but once you're finished cleaning the smell dissipates pretty quickly. It cleans everything, from windows to floors to dishes & laundry and everything in between. Look it up on Wikipedia.com (just type in "vinegar"). It gives an entire range of things that white vinegar can be used for, among other vinegars. Just read the white vinegar entries and then skip past the other ones to the "medicinal uses" and read from there. It's really great!
@smacksman (6053)
•
11 Mar 08
We use vinegar and water in our household too. Works well.
And the best stuff to finish of cleaning windows/mirrors/glass is newsprint. Wash off the dirt then polish with a paper. Brilliant.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
11 Mar 08
Oh yea, I use rechargeable batteries too.
I try to use refillable ink cartridges for my printer.
I've donated old cell phones to be re-used.
I can't garden or compost here, but my fruit/vegetable scraps go out for the birds and other critters in the yard.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
11 Mar 08
I was going to answer both your posts here. But I cannot recall what you said in the first one, so I'll have to go back. In the meantime though. You seem to be doing plenty. I use rechargeable batteries but people keep stealing them - I mean family. I only have the one cell phone and as I don't know how to use it, I may as well give it away. Do you know anything about SIM cards? Apparently I need to fit a new one. But I don't know how. Right, now back to your earlier post.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
11 Mar 08
I do what I can, but I'm not fanatical about it.
I don't use household cleaning products or personal care products that are full of chemicals (with very few exceptions that I use sparingly).
I don't drive my car much and I re-use and recycle what I can. I just bought some sweaters at the thrift store yesterday so I could use the buttons in other things, and hopefully some of the yarn too.
I shop at Aldi's and re-use my grocery bags, and use the plastic bags from WalMart, etc, for other things (especially cleaning the kitty box!).
@p1kef1sh (45681)
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11 Mar 08
That all looks great. I agree that we shouldn't become fanatical. Do what you can I say. But I do rather feel that there is going to be some new Police force formed, full of earnest young people that will snoop in your trash can, check on your fridge (CFC free of course) and limit the number of miles that you can drive, quite soon. They've even started snooping in trash cans here. Some poor guy in Wales got taken to court because he left a paper envelope in his trash. Unfortunately it had his name and address on it. Mad.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
10 Mar 08
Maybe a very light shade of green. I do recycle paper, bottles, plastic etc and do buy some organic vegetables and products too. I know I don't do enough though as I'm sure there is a lot more things I could do around our home especially with the cleaning products. I need to look into that.
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
11 Mar 08
Dear friend,
I am a vegetarian, use organic cultivation methods. Even though I do not admit that I am pure green but I try to more environmental friendly and not to harm the environment even though there are limitations. I use clothes bags as far as possible. Moreover I now use a cycle for my bike for going near by places. Moreover I appreciate those who care for the environment and who really try hard to protect it.
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
11 Mar 08
YOU CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.we use green shopping bags. Eco-friendly lightbulbs are in use, we recycle plastic aluminum some papers.Rechargable batteries too.The difficulty is not enough people doing just a few things. Not the people doing a whole bunch.Breath. Do not go mad.Sounds like you are doing your part.
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
10 Mar 08
I planted 2 fruit trees when I moved into this house. I grow my own garden in the summer time. I use energy saver appliances, my minivan can taken ethanol as a fuel source but the closest station that supplies it is 180 miles away from my home. And I use $10 a piece 2 year life span light bulbs.
I think that is enough for me.
But it seems to me the more green I try to be the less green I have in my wallet.
@charleelai (27)
• China
11 Mar 08
I'm trying to be that king of person....
but find it really difficult to do ..
@CherBear04 (483)
• United States
10 Mar 08
To be honest I'm not that "green". Being a newlywed and 21 and having lots of college debt to pay off I don't have much money to be "green". We try to get organic foods as much as we can afford, and we have a hydroponics system set up inside the house for fresh peas, tomatoes, broccoli and carrots. We drive a car built in 1995, and we don't recycle. However, the only reason we don't recycle is because the closest recycling plant is about an hour to an hour and half away and we don't have the money to be driving that far on a regular basis.
We can't use nuts for anything because people in my family are allergic and break out in hives if they are even near them. I am not sure how I feel about feminine hygiene products made from recycled materials, it sounds as if it could be slightly dangerous.
But good for you for doing the best you can!
@saturn1986 (26)
• Philippines
11 Mar 08
WOW! Just Wow! You must be very proud of your green deeds. I want to be an environmentalist but I'm not proactive. Sorry, Mother Earth! But I don't smoke,would that be cool? Hahaha!
