My Green Switch Was Flicked On
I was watching Live Earth, I said, Self, what can you do for the environment? So I created this blog. I do a fair bit but I'm running out of ideas. I'm hoping people post comments or suggestions. Let's all do a couple of things to make the EARTH better.
Things I've done to help the environment:1 Replaced 21 light bulbs with CFL's.
2 Put a few lights on motion detectors.
3 Use a real coffee mug and silverware at my desk.
4 Only buy fair trade and/or organic coffee.
5 Only buy organic produce and meat.
6 On the 100 mile diet. (90% Compliant)
7. Use my own grocery bag.
8. Try to buy products with less packaging.
9. Switched to paperless banking/bill payment.
10 Don't use air conditioning.
11. Take public transit.
12. Unplug instant on stuff, except for VCR and alarm clock.
13. Buy only sustainable power from Bullfrog.
14. Switched to Ice Melter instead of salt.
15. Offset the rest of my emmisions with a carbon credit.
Green things I still need to do:1 Get rid of my extra beer fridge. (I don't know about this because I brew my own and it need's to be refrigerated.)
2. Quit smoking. (OK, so I'm working on this now)
3. Buy a hybrid. (So, I couldn't buy a hybrid this time cause I had to get a work truck but, I'll limit my driving and will buy a hybrid for personal use at a later date)
Please Note: I am not a writer. Most of these articles are shared from other sources. Please use the links provided to get the whole article from the source site. Please support these sites too! We all have a role to play.
Where I'm At Now
I've decided that organic may not be the way to go. What's the sense of shipping an organic product 3,000 miles if I can find a locally produced item? OK, so it may not be organic but I guess it's a balance between chemicals to grow or chemicals to ship. I've actually found local chicken, beef, pork, lamb and goat, all naturally raised, antibiotic free and free range where applicable. I've managed to find local potatoes, yams, carrots, onions and garlic all winter. I also have a local hydroponic lettuce grower and besides lettuce he grows cucumber, bell peppers and tomatoes.
I've switched to Bullfrog Power. Bullfrog uses only environmentally sustaining power sources like wind as well as low-impact hydro-electric.
I've also discovered Guerrilla Gardening. Take over an abandoned patch and make it grow. Stay tuned.
Well this year, I've decided to post more about what I'm doing. I'll still have cool products once in a while, especially if I've tried or switched to them.
One of the newest trends in home renovation, restoration and building isn’t actually new. Just an old idea whose time has come back around.
The salvage and junk yards of our grandparents have become slicker and hipper for the eco conscious and the thrifty alike. Reclaimed building supply and deconstruction companies now use words like architectural, sustainable, reclaimed and even reincarnation to describe the junkyards of yesteryear.
More from GetwithGreen.com, http://www.getwithgreen.com/2008/10/09/claim-it-as-your-own-%e2%80%93-reclaimed-building-supply/
The 16 Best Recycled Halloween Costumes of the Web [PICS]
Hey all you scary people. Check out some recycling tips for Halloween from our friends at the daily green, http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/recycled-halloween-costumes-470708
Hi all,
Thanksgiving is coming this weekend and I hope you all have a great holiday.I hope you will consider adding some local fare to your menu.This is the season for a lot of locally produced food.I'll be celebrating this year with another 100 Mile Thanksgiving. This will be my second year on the 100 Mile Diet.
I was able to attend the launch of the 100 Mile Event in Grafton, Ontario this fall. There are a lot of local farmers in the area and I was pleased to have been invited.I was also able to attend the Cobourg Harvest Festival. Another great venue for local farmers.
Don't forget to add your comments and suggestions to the I am Earth group page. Maybe you have tips for greening your life or just something you want to comment on.Barry.
So you bought a set of reusable bags, but now you can’t remember to bring them to the store. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. How do the experts at remembering their bags do it? We found out!
We surveyed 100 people on Mechanical Turk to find out how they remember their reusable bags. Respondents could enter in any method they chose. Despite the free form entry we found that most remembered their bags in 1 of 4 ways.
Read more, http://thegreenroutine.net/how-people-remember-reusable-bags/
Well, I ended up winning a prize package from the city for Car Free Day.I got there a bit early though, Lot's of vendors weren't there yet.I tried a few pictures but their not good enough to post.
Sorry not to have posted much lately.I'm trying to decide what direction to take.I didn't really want to post as much consumer stuff but I find it hard to dig up new items on a regular basis. I'm really not a writer so I have problems trying that route.
I guess I'll just post the normal stull until I figure it out.
I've Started The 100 Mile Diet
Here is a sample market run. Not all of this is available during the winter
All Produce was Local & Organic, Lettuce - Romaine, Red Leaf & Green Leaf
Celery, Peppers - Green, Orange, Red & PURPLE, Radish, Green Onion, Cucumber
(That's my weekly salad stuff)
Spinach, Swiss Chard, Peas, Corn, White and Sweet Potatoes
Onions, Apples, Pears
Lots more available but I didn't buy.
Dairy, All Local & Organic (Naturally Raised or Free Range)Milk (In Glass Bottles), Cheese, Butter, Eggs, Yogurt, Cottage Cheese,
Sour Cream & others available but I didn't buy.
Bread and Rolls, Organic but not all grains local. I've been baking my own too, using local if possible.
And for the Meat Eaters, All Local & Naturally Raised
Chicken - Whole, Boneless & Skinless Cuts (Other Cuts Available)
Lamb Chops (Other Cuts Available)Pork Chops (Other Cuts Available)
Beef - Steak, Ground (Other Cuts Available)
There were other products such as Goat, Emu and others that I didn't buy.
Now, I know not everything is available to all but if you can replace half of your grocery list with local products you would be doing what you can as well as telling retailers you want local products.
I know I'll have a challenge in February. There won't be as much local produce available.
I've committed to starting a greenhouse garden in my basement and growing my salad.I'll let you know how that works out.
Barry
Update: June 2,2008
February produce was a challenge but I found lettuce, bell peppers, cucumber and tomatoes, all grown locally the hydroponic way. At least I had a small salad every day.
I don't have a basement greenhouse yet but I do have a backyard garden.
More later.
Update, August 18th 2008
Well the vegetable garden was a bust. I put in a 10' X 12' garden but I don't get enough sun in my yard. We have tomatoes and peppers in containers and they are doing much better. Looks like I need a new plan.
Update, September 12,2009
So gardening at my house is out. Too shady.
I switched to Bullfrog Power a year ago. My hydro comes from wind and non destructive hydro-electric.
I gave up driving to work a year ago as well.
With a friend of mine, we started Earth Hour By The Dozen.
It's Earth Hour but we have it on the 4th Saturday of every month.
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