Garbage day on our farm in South Africa doesn’t mean rolling a big green garbage bin out to the front lawn for pick-up. It means, hauling the bag(s) into the back of the car and driving 40 minutes on mostly country roads to our dump.
This is what we saw during Week 50.
I believe that if we all had to regularly face the inconvenience and this “in your face” look at what we’re doing to our planet, we’d re-think and take greater care about what we consume and how we treat our Earth. I know that my attitude and habits have changed since this first trip ever to our dump.
Don’t think for an instant that I’m an Angel. Not very long ago, I was probably one of the greatest consumers of ziplock bags. Before they became commonplace in Europe, I’d have family and friends send me boxes of them in a CARE package. When I traveled (which was often), I wouldn’t just single ziplock liquids in my suitcase, I’d DOUBLE ziplock them! So, I shamefully admit that I’ve contributed more than my share to dumps like these. Many a ziplock bag will remain on this planet much longer than I.
I don’t really want that to be my legacy.
Through the year, Nils and I both feel we’ve taken many small steps and made many lifestyle changes toward a more eco-friendly existence. But, we’re ready to up the ante again — how appropriate that we’re reaching toward a new year.
Toward 2011
We’ve made Green Resolutions for the new year that we’d like to share. Many are made easier by the fact that as of Week 50, we already started with some:
- Consciously choose products with the least amount of packaging.
- Eat vegetarian and local at least one day per week.
- Register with and order through the local, organic farms delivery service. (something we’ve been “meaning to do” for a year now).
- Cut back by half our paper towel consumption — I use a lot of paper towels! I’ve read many good reviews of Skoy cloths and am going to see if they can become my alternative.
- ALWAYS carry my bamboo chopsticks in my bag (I haven’t yet found the perfect knife and fork to carry with me to replace plasticware at takeout restaurants).
- Be more diligent in using public transportation instead of the car (Nils isn’t always good about this).
- Be more conscious of what can be re-used or re-purposed (I’m going to re-learn crocheting now that I’ve seen some very cool ideas of making handbags from plastic bags).
And you? Have you Green Resolutions for 2011?
Another “Bravo!” to you both (I guess that would be a “Brava” to Corinne
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I continue to be in aware of your efforts- you have made me a greener person – thanks! I love the idea of carrying chopsticks – never thought of that well. . . that is because I don’t have much skill – but that sounds like something to work on in 2011!
Paper towels – ahhh, my downfall – haven’t found a recycled brand that works – yet. But, thanks to you will try Skoy. Also thanks to you I did find a recycled TP that people actually LIKE! And have almost stopped using paper napkins. New hint- buy stacks of flour cloth dishtowels – can find them cheap – use them as napkins until they stain – then use them a dish cloths. They even look really nice is a pretty napkin holder.
Also – have everyone consider writing to Amazon.com and begging them to stop shrink-wrapping everything they put in the mail – what a waste!
Hope you have a very Happy New Year – looking forward to weeks 53-104!!!!
Love your tip on buying flour cloth dishtowels! Double duty.
Also, thanks for suggestion to get everyone to write amazon. (we’ll use this idea!) We ordered a small electronic cord for a Kindle last month and it came shrink wrapped in a box more than 20 times its size. I LOVE Amazon and want to continue to buy from them, but their lack of “consciousness” is disturbing!
53 – 104?
Happy New Year!
I have a tip regarding cutlery: in camping stores over here they sell knife/spoon/ fork sets in a small sturdy case, lightweight too. Maybe that will be your solution?
It’s funny, I think that we use about three paper towel rolls in a year, maybe even less. Most of those get used to clean up animal spillage *ahem*
For eating I use cloth napkins, unless it’s greasy (chicken wings), for cleaning purposes I have started knitting dishcloths again (cotton comes in purdy colours!). If you want to start crochet, you can also try crocheting one
I want to use less paper towels tho, even tho i always use recycled paper. Also want to watch water consumption. Like only use small amounts of water in the WC
My big crusade this year is and remains bottled water. Those plastic bottles are a curse and we need to stop buying them!
Thanks for the tip on cutlery! Based on your suggestion, I’m already doing research on best brands of camping sets. One will be on my birthday wish list.
Please send us a photo of one of your knitted dishcloths. Wed’ love to see!
And yes, isn’t it nice to use cloth napkins instead of paper? Both ecologically sound AND it makes even a simple meal seem that much more elegant!
I’m completely with you on your plastic bottle campaign! We live in a city where the water is exceptionally good quality, so it makes me crazy when I see people drinking plastic-bottled water! Let’s DO something!