Today is my birthday and that’s as good a reason as Jan 1st to review how far I’ve come on my sustainable, living local journey.One thing I’ve learned is that I’m not going to save the world, nor am I going to be perfect in my attempts to live as greenly as possible. I may not join any local green groups. They seem to be all twentysomethings and single and I’m not. My synagogue green team may fizzle, at least for the moment.
Since starting my blog last summer and reading and bookmarking way too many other blogs about the subject, I realized that there are some things I’m just not going to do. Oh well.
I will wear make-up, I won’t stop using shampoo and gel. So far I plan on continuing to dye my hair and those products aren’t the least toxic, I’m sure, and the greener stuff is too expensive. And don’t even bring up the concept of a Diva Cup. The dishwasher and refrigerator stay. Ditto the nasty cleaning solutions, at least for this year. I will never bike anywhere; my balance sucks.
But here’s what I have done:
- used cloth napkins
- used face towels instead of paper towels for clean-ups
- shut off lights
- kept the AC and heater off as much as possible
- washed clothes with cold water in an energy efficient washer/dryer
- rack dried several loads a week
- used less soap when I washed clothes
- used recycled tissues and toilet paper
- used recycled paper towels, but only to wipe off vegetables and fruits
- showered in the downstairs bathroom because the water heats up way faster than the upstairs bath
- recycled voraciously meaning I pull misplaced cardboard boxes and toilet paper rolls from wastebaskets
- printed less from the computer
- screwed in CFS lights throughout most of the house
- took re-useable bags to the market including hemp produce bags
- worked from home – both me and my husband
- planted a garden (this weekend we went beyond a few pots and the side yard and dug up the backyard, more on that in future posts)
- cooked from scratch (new efforts to do it as much as possible means less packaging, less chemicals, less money spent - my personal political statement)
- baked bread, cakes, muffins
- baked challah every week, almost
- cooked fearlessly knowing it’s only food and everything is an experiment
- lived more fearlessly, life is an experiment and there’s no constants, only variables
- bypassed non-local food when possible which is easy enough in CA
- shopped at non-chain stores or at least engaged sales clerks from chain stores in conversation (it’s not their fault they work for The Man)
- supported green political measures, helped elect Obama with calls and driving to Nevada to knock on doors
- attended local and county-wide meetings on issues
- attended city meetings to hear the issues, so what if it’s boring at least someone cares
- read my hometown city newsletter website
- composted every single onion, carrot and potato peel. I will personally build more topsoil on my little nano acre of California countryside
- flushed less, since I live in California, where it never rains, nor pours anymore either
- monitored our errands so driving is efficient
- carpooled to lectures and theaters
- rented movies or used the library stacks
- bought books from library sales or borrowed from within the county system
- supported bloggers who help get the word out by commenting on their posts
- kickboxed at my local, non-chain gym
- used re-useable water bottle
- took my drive-time coffee in a re-useable mug
- shopped from my closet and accessorize from my stash
- made some charity donations
- put in some volunteer time
- read about other cultures
- read something besides the LA Times and the NY Times, like the Financial Times, to get another perspective
- shot photos of other cultures, buildings, anything
- signed up on Facebook, yawn, at least that’s my thought
- learned more techie stuff, but there’s always more, more, more
- smiled at people, looked them in the eye, listened when they talk
- reconnected with lost relatives and friends
- and said please
- thank you
- I’m sorry – lots more
… and that was just ten months. Not that I want to brag – not that I ever do - but that looks pretty damn good when you number it. I’ve boiled my goals down to community and creativity. Oh and earning money too, but that’s only my day job. To which I must now return. But only a half day, as it is my b’day.
