Since this project began thirty days ago, the kids have been taking it pretty well. No, scratch that. They’ve been taking it VERY well. They haven’t asked for a thing (except for a magazine plastered with the Jonas Brothers’ faces), which has led to a startling revelation:
Our kids have lots and lots and lots of stuff, most of which they never even asked for. That’s right. THEY NEVER ASKED FOR IT.
Many times when I’m out and about, I’ll see something I think they’ll enjoy and I’ll just pick it up. Books, magazines, little toys. MallDad loves to buy them movies, games for the Wii and the DS, and other tech gadgets. (Although personally, I think they’re more for him than them.)
About the only time the kids ask for things is if we’re shopping together, and they see something that interests them. Now that we haven’t been shopping, it’s been pretty much a non-issue. Which begs the question: What have we been doing to our children?
We’ve been teaching them to be thoughtless consumers. To value “stuff.” Not only have we been spoiling them, we’ve been loading them up with toys and games they don’t need, or even necessarily want, and then complaining when they don’t play with them.
Sure, they’ve gone through phases where they HAD to have things (like dozens of Bratz dolls, or every Webkinz ever made), but for the most part, they aren’t really consumeristic kids. Yet.
However, if MallDad and I keep it up, they will be.
There’s a definite psychology behind this. Wanting your kids to have all the stuff you didn’t have, maybe. Or living vicariously through them. Or buying their love? It’s a terrible thing.
A change is definitely in order around here. When this is all over, the kids are going to get gifts only on gift-giving occasions, like birthdays and Christmas. And we’re going to limit to our shopping excursions to reduce the temptation to buy.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Tip for Day 30 – Limit shopping excursions to limit temptation.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Day 29 - WALL-E World
Today we went to see the movie WALL-E. It’s pretty stark for a kids’ movie, portraying the Earth as a trash-filled wasteland in the aftermath of obsessive consumption fueled by a Walmart-like corporation.
In fact, it has become so polluted that all human beings have had to escape it aboard a giant space cruise ship, where they must stay until Earth is habitable again.
It’s pretty grim, but one might argue it’s a good lesson for kids. One that may make them think about how they can change the course of things. Except the promoters blew it. Big time.
Every kid going into the movie gets a little rubber watch wrapped in plastic wrap. A watch that, if it works to begin with, surely won’t by the end of a weeks’ time. So it will end up in a landfill. So if half a million kids see the movie? That’s right. A half million little watches will end up in landfills.
That doesn’t even take into consideration the rest of the marketing juggernaut. The toys in the fast food kids’ meals. The plastic WALL-E action figures in the toy stores (making their way here from China, no doubt). So what kind of message is that sending?
This could have been a great opportunity to disseminate kid-friendly information about ways to protect the environment, instead of contributing to its destruction with a lot of useless junk. Or at the very least, don’t give away anything at all. Let kids take away something far more important that a rubber watch:
The message.
Tip 29 – Just say “no” to the little plastic toys in fast-food kids’ meals.
In fact, it has become so polluted that all human beings have had to escape it aboard a giant space cruise ship, where they must stay until Earth is habitable again.
It’s pretty grim, but one might argue it’s a good lesson for kids. One that may make them think about how they can change the course of things. Except the promoters blew it. Big time.
Every kid going into the movie gets a little rubber watch wrapped in plastic wrap. A watch that, if it works to begin with, surely won’t by the end of a weeks’ time. So it will end up in a landfill. So if half a million kids see the movie? That’s right. A half million little watches will end up in landfills.
That doesn’t even take into consideration the rest of the marketing juggernaut. The toys in the fast food kids’ meals. The plastic WALL-E action figures in the toy stores (making their way here from China, no doubt). So what kind of message is that sending?
This could have been a great opportunity to disseminate kid-friendly information about ways to protect the environment, instead of contributing to its destruction with a lot of useless junk. Or at the very least, don’t give away anything at all. Let kids take away something far more important that a rubber watch:
The message.
Tip 29 – Just say “no” to the little plastic toys in fast-food kids’ meals.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Day 28 - Bulk up
One of our biggest sources of waste is prepackaged food for lunches and snacks. We’ve tried to cut down, but those single-serving packages are just so convenient to grab and go.
I know I should buy in bulk, and put those things into reusable containers. The issue is, of course, time. It takes time to put stuff into little containers. It takes time to wash the little containers, too. And every minute counts when you’re on the run.
I’m not sure what the solution is. Perhaps setting aside half an hour a week to prepackage snacks, or starting a few minutes early when packing lunches. But it will take time and effort to make this a habit. Time and effort on all our parts. And lots of little containers.
Here are a few sites that have some alternatives to those little single-serve packages or plastic bags:
http://www.lifewithoutplastic.com/cart/storagecont.htm
http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/17/compostable-containers-by-eatware/
http://www.reusablebags.com/store/lunch-bags-lunch-boxes-c-4_20.html
Tip for Day 28 – Get rid of those single-serve snack packs. Buy in bulk and pack them yourself in reusable containers.
I know I should buy in bulk, and put those things into reusable containers. The issue is, of course, time. It takes time to put stuff into little containers. It takes time to wash the little containers, too. And every minute counts when you’re on the run.
I’m not sure what the solution is. Perhaps setting aside half an hour a week to prepackage snacks, or starting a few minutes early when packing lunches. But it will take time and effort to make this a habit. Time and effort on all our parts. And lots of little containers.
Here are a few sites that have some alternatives to those little single-serve packages or plastic bags:
http://www.lifewithoutplastic.com/cart/storagecont.htm
http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/17/compostable-containers-by-eatware/
http://www.reusablebags.com/store/lunch-bags-lunch-boxes-c-4_20.html
Tip for Day 28 – Get rid of those single-serve snack packs. Buy in bulk and pack them yourself in reusable containers.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Day 27 - Green In Vogue
Day 27 – Green In Vogue
What are you wearing these days?
One website that sells natural clothing claims that the conventional non-organic cotton industry uses a quarter of the world's pesticides. The dyes used in clothing can be dangerous to the environment, too, as can the manufacture of synthetic fibers.
Production, shipping, and disposal of clothes all have an impact on the Earth. But there are choices you can make that will lessen that impact.
Choosing clothes made from natural fibers, from sustainable sources is one way. Wearing clothes longer, buying from local manufacturers, and donating your worn clothes instead of throwing them away will help reduce that impact. There are even clothing manufacturers that create their wares from recycled soda bottles! (See Patagonia.com)
Some sites I found are:
www.thegreenloop.com
www.happyhippie.com
www.whiteapricot.com
www.getconscious.com
While some “earth-conscious” fashions look like park ranger gear, there are plenty of choices for the more fashion-conscious, too.
Tip for Day 27 – Become more clothes-conscious. Natural fibers, local manufacturers and “gently used” clothes can all benefit the Earth.
What are you wearing these days?
One website that sells natural clothing claims that the conventional non-organic cotton industry uses a quarter of the world's pesticides. The dyes used in clothing can be dangerous to the environment, too, as can the manufacture of synthetic fibers.
Production, shipping, and disposal of clothes all have an impact on the Earth. But there are choices you can make that will lessen that impact.
Choosing clothes made from natural fibers, from sustainable sources is one way. Wearing clothes longer, buying from local manufacturers, and donating your worn clothes instead of throwing them away will help reduce that impact. There are even clothing manufacturers that create their wares from recycled soda bottles! (See Patagonia.com)
Some sites I found are:
www.thegreenloop.com
www.happyhippie.com
www.whiteapricot.com
www.getconscious.com
While some “earth-conscious” fashions look like park ranger gear, there are plenty of choices for the more fashion-conscious, too.
Tip for Day 27 – Become more clothes-conscious. Natural fibers, local manufacturers and “gently used” clothes can all benefit the Earth.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Day 26 - Green roofs
I’m not a big gardener.
Let me rephrase that. I am a terrible gardener. I have a black thumb. Anything I plant immediately dies, and then weeds grow there. You should see my lawn.
So I can’t imagine growing things on the roof. But today I got a newsletter from a hotel we stay at in the Adirondacks every year. They’ve been working to lessen their environmental impact for the past few years, and have done some amazing things. The most recent is their “green roof.”
I had never heard of this, but apparently, it’s a growing trend. No pun intended.
Green roofs, or vegetative roofs (VRs), reduce heating and cooling costs by insulating the building, can be used to grow fruit and vegetables, and filter pollutants out of the rainwater and air, among other things.
Of course, they are expensive (around $14 to $50 a square foot, depending on what type you get), and not practical in areas prone to drought. But they are definitely an interesting concept.
For more information about green roofs, check this out:
http://www.greenroofs.net/
If you can’t green your roof, try planting a new tree, or a few plants around your house and yard, either in the ground or in pots. Replace portions of your high-maintenance grass, which needs to be watered (wasteful), fertilized (pollution), and mown (fossil fuels) with low-maintenance ground cover.
Here’s a great article about replacing your lawn in the St. Petersburg Times:
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/01/Homes/Lawn_begone__Replacin.shtml
For information about what types of plants are native to your region, try:
www.Lesslawn.com
Isn’t it amazing what you can find on the internet?!
Tip 26 – Replace your resource-sucking lawn with plants and hardscaping.
Let me rephrase that. I am a terrible gardener. I have a black thumb. Anything I plant immediately dies, and then weeds grow there. You should see my lawn.
So I can’t imagine growing things on the roof. But today I got a newsletter from a hotel we stay at in the Adirondacks every year. They’ve been working to lessen their environmental impact for the past few years, and have done some amazing things. The most recent is their “green roof.”
I had never heard of this, but apparently, it’s a growing trend. No pun intended.
Green roofs, or vegetative roofs (VRs), reduce heating and cooling costs by insulating the building, can be used to grow fruit and vegetables, and filter pollutants out of the rainwater and air, among other things.
Of course, they are expensive (around $14 to $50 a square foot, depending on what type you get), and not practical in areas prone to drought. But they are definitely an interesting concept.
For more information about green roofs, check this out:
http://www.greenroofs.net/
If you can’t green your roof, try planting a new tree, or a few plants around your house and yard, either in the ground or in pots. Replace portions of your high-maintenance grass, which needs to be watered (wasteful), fertilized (pollution), and mown (fossil fuels) with low-maintenance ground cover.
Here’s a great article about replacing your lawn in the St. Petersburg Times:
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/01/Homes/Lawn_begone__Replacin.shtml
For information about what types of plants are native to your region, try:
www.Lesslawn.com
Isn’t it amazing what you can find on the internet?!
Tip 26 – Replace your resource-sucking lawn with plants and hardscaping.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Day 25 -Quarterly review
Okay, I definitely know how you can cut down on paper towel waste. Remember back in Day 6, when I suggested switching to unbleached paper towels made from post-consumer waste? Well, we did!
We now use less than one roll of paper towels a week, down by at least a whole roll. The reason? They suck. Seriously. (At least, the ones I bought suck.)
But that’s a good thing! Because I’ve found myself actually reaching for them and going, “Ugh. No way. That won’t work,” which has forced me to make a habit out of going for kitchen rags instead.
As for some of the other changes we’ve made so far?
The toilet paper, I must say, has been a good thing—for real. No, we haven’t given that up! We can hardly tell the difference between the recycled post-consumer stuff and the new-pulp stuff. It’s been great.
Cleaning-wise, I love Sun and Earth. I just cleaned a glass-top table with it, and it works great. The old blue stuff is on its way out! The laundry detergent seems to work well, too. Haven’t tried the dish detergent, yet, though. Still using up the last of my conventional stuff.
Natural shampoo? Haven’t found one I like. Suggestions are welcome. But the deodorant works well, and the toothpaste, too (Tom’s of Maine).
The supermarket bag thing is going really, really well. I estimate I’ve un-used about over 100 plastic bags so far.
The driving thing has been tough. It seems like there’s always somewhere we have to be, immediately, and we’re doing pretty much driving around. Need to find a couple of families to carpool with to the pool and swim meets.
Bought a couple of things like birthday gifts and graduation cards, because we’re sort of embarrassed not to. But otherwise, no unnecessary purchases so far.
We’re working on our list of ways to cut back every day, really starting to get into this. MallDad said the other day that it has been sort of a relief not to even have to think about buying things. We have a lots of free time now, too.
So, that’s how it’s going 1/4 of the way in. Another update in 25 days…
Tip for Day 25 – Make a list of little things you can change to reduce your waste, and try to implement one of those things each week.
We now use less than one roll of paper towels a week, down by at least a whole roll. The reason? They suck. Seriously. (At least, the ones I bought suck.)
But that’s a good thing! Because I’ve found myself actually reaching for them and going, “Ugh. No way. That won’t work,” which has forced me to make a habit out of going for kitchen rags instead.
As for some of the other changes we’ve made so far?
The toilet paper, I must say, has been a good thing—for real. No, we haven’t given that up! We can hardly tell the difference between the recycled post-consumer stuff and the new-pulp stuff. It’s been great.
Cleaning-wise, I love Sun and Earth. I just cleaned a glass-top table with it, and it works great. The old blue stuff is on its way out! The laundry detergent seems to work well, too. Haven’t tried the dish detergent, yet, though. Still using up the last of my conventional stuff.
Natural shampoo? Haven’t found one I like. Suggestions are welcome. But the deodorant works well, and the toothpaste, too (Tom’s of Maine).
The supermarket bag thing is going really, really well. I estimate I’ve un-used about over 100 plastic bags so far.
The driving thing has been tough. It seems like there’s always somewhere we have to be, immediately, and we’re doing pretty much driving around. Need to find a couple of families to carpool with to the pool and swim meets.
Bought a couple of things like birthday gifts and graduation cards, because we’re sort of embarrassed not to. But otherwise, no unnecessary purchases so far.
We’re working on our list of ways to cut back every day, really starting to get into this. MallDad said the other day that it has been sort of a relief not to even have to think about buying things. We have a lots of free time now, too.
So, that’s how it’s going 1/4 of the way in. Another update in 25 days…
Tip for Day 25 – Make a list of little things you can change to reduce your waste, and try to implement one of those things each week.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Day 24 - Climate crisis
Yesterday I got an email alert from The Environmentalist, an online newsletter I subscribed to at the beginning of this project. I didn’t have time to read the message until today, but it’s pretty scary.
It’s an open letter from Dr. James Hansen, originally posted on the Huffingtonpost.com website. Dr. Hansen testified in 1988 at a hearing before congress that “the Earth had entered a long-term warming trend and that human-made greenhouse gases were almost surely responsible.” He is the scientist who alerted us to the “tipping point.”
In this recent letter, Dr. Hansen says he is “99 percent positive” that if our government doesn’t take drastic action within the next year, many irrevocable tipping points will be reached that will seriously and permanently damage our environment beyond repair, and the oceans, rainforests and Arctic will suffer dire consequences.
To read Dr. Hansens’ complete letter, go to:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-james-hansen/twenty-years-later-tippin_b_108766.html
Dr. Hansen says that if politicians refuse to lead in forcing the reduction of the use of fossil fuels, that citizens need to take charge.
“We must demand a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants. We must block fossil fuel interests who aim to squeeze every last drop of oil from public lands, off-shore, and wilderness areas. Those last drops are no solution. They provide continued exorbitant profits for a short-sighted self-serving industry, but no alleviation of our addiction or long-term energy solution.”
It’s time for all of us to take action. Write to your members of congress and your senators today. You can find list of names and addresses at:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
and
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml
Tip for Day 24 – Write to your members of Congress and the Senate and urge them to take action to save our environment.
It’s an open letter from Dr. James Hansen, originally posted on the Huffingtonpost.com website. Dr. Hansen testified in 1988 at a hearing before congress that “the Earth had entered a long-term warming trend and that human-made greenhouse gases were almost surely responsible.” He is the scientist who alerted us to the “tipping point.”
In this recent letter, Dr. Hansen says he is “99 percent positive” that if our government doesn’t take drastic action within the next year, many irrevocable tipping points will be reached that will seriously and permanently damage our environment beyond repair, and the oceans, rainforests and Arctic will suffer dire consequences.
To read Dr. Hansens’ complete letter, go to:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-james-hansen/twenty-years-later-tippin_b_108766.html
Dr. Hansen says that if politicians refuse to lead in forcing the reduction of the use of fossil fuels, that citizens need to take charge.
“We must demand a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants. We must block fossil fuel interests who aim to squeeze every last drop of oil from public lands, off-shore, and wilderness areas. Those last drops are no solution. They provide continued exorbitant profits for a short-sighted self-serving industry, but no alleviation of our addiction or long-term energy solution.”
It’s time for all of us to take action. Write to your members of congress and your senators today. You can find list of names and addresses at:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
and
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml
Tip for Day 24 – Write to your members of Congress and the Senate and urge them to take action to save our environment.
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