FLYing Green!!! : Share the ways you help keep our world green!! Options

[ShinyStella]

It is such a blessing to be in this forum, there are so many strong, powerful and creative FLY Babies fluttering and flying all around.

One issues that is lately on everyone's mind is being "Green" reducing our carbon foot print, etc. FLY Lady herself has talked about this on her podcast.

Just like anything else, looking at the big picture can be overwhelming, how am i supposed to do it all??! Well just like the FLYing system, every little bit counts.

It would be great if we could post ideas here of what we do to be greeener as a way to encourage others, no one is perfect, but we can all get better, one baby step at a time!

SS

[shellie196]

Good Point

What we do (here in Australia), is we have recycle kerbside pick up. We have 2 wheelie bins. 1 for rubbish (collected weekly) and the other for recycle (collected fortnightly) divided into paper recycle on one side and glass/plastic/cans recycle on the other. My kitchen bin is also divided into garbage and recycled. I have further divided as I have a big box on the pantry floor(tucked tidy under a shelf) for all paper recycling. I have taught kids what from what (it's their world now, so they need to be aware).

Our local council is also in the process of adding a Green Waste Bin (yard clippings and green food scraps. This will go to mulch to be recycled rather than land fill.

I also always donate decent unwanted items to charity rather than binning them. Just seems better all round if another can be blessed by something I don't need. And it doesn't end up in land fill.

There has also been some threads started RE: Green Cleaning, but I try to look for products making a green effort in there ingredients and production. After all, we all deserve to make a living

Great idea for a thread, I hope you get heaps of ideas and I learn a few more things

[Cuppa Coffee]

Yes our council in South Australia you can recycle almost everything, we have 3 wheelie bins - general paper, plastic, tins, glass jars etc in one bin; green waste - lawn clippings etc in another, also all food scraps can go in there too now and SA has a 10c refund on soft drink and juice cans and bottles, you take them to the depot or donate them to a charity to do so for fund raising.

Our rubbish bin is half the size of our recycling and green waste bins - and DH and I rarely more than half fill it these days - one or at most 2 kitchen bin amounts per week.

[Featherball]

Okay, sorting trash and recycling already mentioned, we do it too in germany.

Watch what you are buying. Some products are packed several times, much trash for the landfills. If possible, leave as much trash in the stores as possible, so the economy realizes, it's too much trash. Bring your own bags instead of taking plastics or paper bags. Only buy what you need. Somewhere a child is starving and we throw away expired food. Insane.

Use the car as seldon as possible. Maybe walk or go by bike, if possible ( toughi in rural areas ). Do as much on one tour as possible so you won't have to go twice.

Don't use harsh chemical cleaners.

Try to save water.

Use rags instead of paper towels.

Okay, those are the daily ones, I always keep in mind. Most of them save money as well. Trashing earth and environment is just convinient....

Others: watch where your electricity comes from. In germany the power company has to show, from what resources they mix:coal, nuclear, solar&wind-you get the point.

If money allows, buy a green car.

Teach DH and children the worth of the earth.

Get a insect hotel in your yard ( careful in areas with poisonous insects). Bees need a home. When the bees are all gone, it takes four years, till the humans will disappear.

Fight against plants, which are foreign to your country. They are weeds now and push local kinda away.

Uhhhm, I'll come back when I think of more....

Bye
Feathers

[ShinyStella]

Hi Shellie!!

That sounds great! Australia has it going on!
The Green Waste Bin project sounds sooo exciting. Wish we had it in nyc

Hi Cuppa!!

You are so lucky as well with the Green Waste!
So awesome of you and DH to be earth conscious

Hi Feathers!

Woa! Germany is way ahead of the game, and so are you!! You are SOOO green!
I have so much to improve upon.

Most of my groceries come from Trader Joes, they are a super-market chain here in the US and seem to have better trade policies in place and prices are reasonable. That being said, they are not very green. All the veggies are over-packaged and when I asked if I could return the plastic bins cherry tomatoes come in, they said they have no use for them, which is sad, because I love cherry tomatoes and was eating 2 to 3 bins a week, now I buy regular (unpackaged) tomatoes which are not as fun/tasty, but are a better choice for the environment.

You have inspired me to buy a dish rag, I usually just let them dry on the rack but there is the occasional paper towel dry-off :/

Keep ‘em coming!!

So, my green baby step today was that when i bought the dishwashing gloves for the office, i put them straight in my purse and did not take a bag from the store.

Sometimes i forget my canvas tote for shopping but always make the decision to put stuff in my purse or just hold in my hands if im going straight home or the office.

One less bag that makes it into my home is 1 less piece of clutter, and also helps the landfills!!


Glad you like the thread, hopefully we get tons of good tips from other FLYbabies!

SS

[Cuppa Coffee]

and when I asked if I could return the plastic bins cherry tomatoes come in, they said they have no use for them, which is sad, because I love cherry tomatoes and was eating 2 to 3 bins a week, now I buy regular (unpackaged) tomatoes which are not as fun/tasty, but are a better choice for the environment.

Yes, see that is exactly the sort of thing that would go in recyling bin here!

Re using recylable bags for shopping - you might be interested to know thay have been discontinued in SA - everyone brings their own recylable bag to the shops or has to buy one there or take items without a bag - buying a bag for one item would be frowned upon.
has been the case for about 3 years now, you soon get used to it, and easy enough to keep your recyclabe bags in boot of car (trunk of car to you?) and get them out when you get to shops - I keep a small lightweight bag folded in my handbag for unplanned purchases too.

I also try to avoid using unneccesary electricity - hanging clothes on line instead of tumble drying - I have a tumble dryer but use it about half dozen times a year and almost never in summer - I realise this may not be possible for people in all climates or in apartments etc - but almost everyone in Australia uses clothelines at least some of the time ,many people do not own a dryer at all.
And putting on more clothing, a rug over yourself watching tellie - before putting heater on.
We have solar panels on the roof too but I realise this is not practical for everyone. In the last 9 months I have actually put more electricty into the grid than I have taken out of it.

[Featherball]

Hey,

I truly believe, the most important green fact is, that you CAN make a difference, it starts with one person. Others will follow the set example.

Maybe trader joe's are having recycling bins at the store? Most supermarkezs over here have, i can leave trash there. Though I keep the bins of tomatoes and put them to the recycling bin at home.

I always let my dishes dry on a dishtowel. It is used as a base a couple of times, then I use ot for drying hands, swiping something and throw it to the laundry. No need for paper towels.

Good on babystep, very proud of you. It's the same wirh the routines, slow and steady will get you there.

Cuppa: we also want solar on the roof, but couldn't afford it so far, but we'll one day.

Most of the time going green will save money too, just like keeping the heat down, or the A/C reasonable. Some people cool it down so much that they need to put long sweaters on - a little ridiculous to me....

I also got this one: try to buy only fruits from your area. Some fruits travelled farther, than I ever will. Ican wait for european strawberries instead of buying south africans in january. Okay, my bananas are from brazil, but you can't always be that strict. it shoul be reasonable.

Growing your own garden fruits is also a good thing, you know what chemicals have been used and get a good value of food.

And I'm not green all day and could improve, but it's a big topic here and made easy at a lot of times. But i use the car, when it's raining or I'm late, I sometimes forget my bag and have to buy a new one, and sometimes I have to choose the cheaper veggies, though zhey travelled....

But I try, I can set an example and I am one less person who doesn't care.

Bye
Feathers

[ShinyStella]

Yes, see that is exactly the sort of thing that would go in recyling bin here!

Re using recylable bags for shopping - you might be interested to know thay have been discontinued in SA - everyone brings their own recylable bag to the shops or has to buy one there or take items without a bag - buying a bag for one item would be frowned upon.
has been the case for about 3 years now, you soon get used to it, and easy enough to keep your recyclabe bags in boot of car (trunk of car to you?) and get them out when you get to shops - I keep a small lightweight bag folded in my handbag for unplanned purchases too.

I also try to avoid using unneccesary electricity - hanging clothes on line instead of tumble drying - I have a tumble dryer but use it about half dozen times a year and almost never in summer - I realise this may not be possible for people in all climates or in apartments etc - but almost everyone in Australia uses clothelines at least some of the time ,many people do not own a dryer at all.
And putting on more clothing, a rug over yourself watching tellie - before putting heater on.
We have solar panels on the roof too but I realise this is not practical for everyone. In the last 9 months I have actually put more electricty into the grid than I have taken out of it.

Cuppa!!! A solar panel sounds soooo fab!!! Good for you about putting all that juice in the grid! So jelly! Looking forward to having one in the future. Living in an NYC rental apartment doesnt make it very feasible.

The temperatures have been soaring in nyc and i feel really bad about turning the AC on.. but sometimes i just have to, sweat was dripping down my knees and into the sofa. I turn the AC in the living room on a bit, but so far have only slept with the fan.. surely that will change in the coming weeks but hey, every little bit helps!!

When I lived in Italy we had to pay 10 euro cents per plastic bag, so everyone brought their own bags. Do not think that would go down very well in the US, they recently tried to do that in California and a big mess erupted.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/01/op...c-bags-20100901

[ShinyStella]

Hey,

I truly believe, the most important green fact is, that you CAN make a difference, it starts with one person. Others will follow the set example.

Maybe trader joe's are having recycling bins at the store? Most supermarkezs over here have, i can leave trash there. Though I keep the bins of tomatoes and put them to the recycling bin at home.

I always let my dishes dry on a dishtowel. It is used as a base a couple of times, then I use ot for drying hands, swiping something and throw it to the laundry. No need for paper towels.

Good on babystep, very proud of you. It's the same wirh the routines, slow and steady will get you there.

Cuppa: we also want solar on the roof, but couldn't afford it so far, but we'll one day.

Most of the time going green will save money too, just like keeping the heat down, or the A/C reasonable. Some people cool it down so much that they need to put long sweaters on - a little ridiculous to me....

I also got this one: try to buy only fruits from your area. Some fruits travelled farther, than I ever will. Ican wait for european strawberries instead of buying south africans in january. Okay, my bananas are from brazil, but you can't always be that strict. it shoul be reasonable.

Growing your own garden fruits is also a good thing, you know what chemicals have been used and get a good value of food.

And I'm not green all day and could improve, but it's a big topic here and made easy at a lot of times. But i use the car, when it's raining or I'm late, I sometimes forget my bag and have to buy a new one, and sometimes I have to choose the cheaper veggies, though zhey travelled....

But I try, I can set an example and I am one less person who doesn't care.

Bye
Feathers

Hi Feathers,

No recycling bins at TJs (Trader Joes)

Where do you wash your dish towel, in the regular wash with clothes?

I try to do the same for the veggies, actually joined a CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture) last fall in efforts of supporting local farmers, but it was too much food for a single girl, so will try again when DH2B and i move in...

[ShinyStella]

so baby step today.

went to the gym, i didn't "DO" anything green... but i did not generate trash in the am.

there is a vending machine with gatorades etc, DH2B and i ordered gatorade powder from amazon.com and make our own. It makes tons of gallons and we dont have to be throwing out plastic bottles, and plastic bottles dont have to be transported back and forth.

[ADD Flybaby]

I live im Texas. My city also has curb side pick-up for recyclables (picked up 1 time aweek). Itried growimg my owm veggies, but with a fulltime job, four kids & a black-thumb that didm't go to well. I used to use my reusable bags all the time but them they were throwm away by my hubby . Will have to stock-up whem they go om sale for 3 for a dollar agaim.

I like buyig used thimgs like gemtly used clothes for the kids, or thimgs for the kitchem. I got me a breadmaker at a thrift shop for $10. Make my owm homemade breads...yum!

I go to the library amd check out books imstead of buyimg them. Saves $$$ as well as beimg greem.

sorry about all the typos, our keyboard om this computer is brokem

Kelli

[Carin]

Good to see all the ideas for going green. We have the solar geysers and a gas stove. In sunny South Africa that is working very well. We replaces all light globes with CFL's and are in the process of going with LED's. Our newest way of going green is to keep a few chickens in the yard. They make great pets and produce us breakfast in the form of very fresh eggs. They are also consumers of all sorts of kitchen scraps. I realize this will not be working for everybody but it is a real joy for us

[Cuppa Coffee]

Where do you wash your dish towel, in the regular wash with clothes?

By dishtowel, do you mean what we in Australia call a tea towel - ie the cloth/towel that you dry dishes with?

If so, yes, I just wash in with my ordinary clothes - or some of the tea towels I have are terry towelling material and I sometimes wash them in my towel load.

Carin, I loved having chickens, we had for many years when we lived in our previous house, usually about a dozen at a time - have moved now and yard much smaller, I think we would still have room for a small area and 2 or 3 chickens but DH says No.

Do not think that would go down very well in the US, they recently tried to do that in California and a big mess erupted.

Read the linked article, very interesting.
There were a few objections when it was first introduced here too but people soon got used to it and I think is here to stay now - would be amazed if we go back to disposable plastic shopping bags now.
Even places like Subway and KFC, if you get your takeaway in a bag, it is a paper bag that goes in the recycle bin afterwards, not a plastic bag.

[ShinyStella]

So many great ideas ladies!!

Carin SOOO jelly of the chickens. Fresh eggs sound deeelish.
I told DH2b that if he ever took me out of nyc we better go all or nothing and move to a place where i can have a chicken coop. Extra bonus for them eating some of the kitchen scraps!

So one small green way I adopted last week is i made my own hummus.
I bought a bag of chickpeas and cooked them at home, it made at least 4 cups worth of chickpeas (which eliminated about 4 cans from going to the trash) and then i put 3 cups (in separate tupperwares) in the freezer and made hummus out of 1 cup of beans using olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. I have enough beans to make FOUR tubs worth of hummus!! Sooo great, cheaper and less waste!

Lets share more ideas!!

[bent]

hey girls,
I recently was given a few tips that I'd like to share one involves laundry detergent Ajax dish liquid about 1tsp-1/2 T per load. it's the same chemical makeup as the detergent and cost lot less and just as soon as i go through the rest of my GAIN boxes (stock pile-bought @ $3.98 2 yrs ago got $60 to be split between me and my mom only to find out she only uses TIDE) so I still have several to go lol. but I'm going to find out how many load I can do using 1tsp. the person who suggested this said her laundry came out just as clean using ajax. will see .
i use vinegar in my rinse water , also use it to make cleaners for my kitchen and bath and floors.

[BZmom]

I add to the ladies that:

• recycle
• bring your own bags to stores
• return soda cans/bottles/etc
• bought a reusable water bottle for me and my 2 kids with a filter...saves cases of water bottles (I am really proud of this)
• never have a light on in my house that isn't being used

I know there's some more "little" things that I do...but that's what comes to mind right now!

Every little bit helps!!!

[BZmom]

The Green Waste Bin project sounds sooo exciting. Wish we had it in nyc WAIT!!! WHAT? You live in NYC? ME TOO! Your the closest FB I've talked (forums) too!

All the veggies are over-packaged and when I asked if I could return the plastic bins cherry tomatoes come in, they said they have no use for them, which is sad, because I love cherry tomatoes and was eating 2 to 3 bins a week, now I buy regular (unpackaged) tomatoes which are not as fun/tasty, but are a better choice for the environment. WOW U are dedicated! I do "small" things...but you really GO BIG!


So, my green baby step today was that when i bought the dishwashing gloves for the office, i put them straight in my purse and did not take a bag from the store. I do this whenever possible too. I have reusable bags in my car...but for that occassional very small purchase...my hands or my purse will do. I even do this at the supermarket....if I am only buying 1-2 of a fruit or vegetable...I bypass the bag! Oh...I'll bet you know...CVS even has a program that gives you $1.00 back after 4 trips w/o using a bag! Hey every penny counts right?

[bent]

another thing to add if possible why not make your own reusable bags.... using kids t-shirts they have outgrown.

[ShinyStella]

Hi Bent, BZ, these are great ideas!

Bent making bags sounds fun!!! Do you have a sewing machine? Im taking sewing classes and thursday is the last one, im using an old pillow case i never used (its really cute but i hate having 4 pillows on the bed) and will use that fabric to make 1 decorative pillow that i can use on the bed or sofa... but i dont own a sewing machine so that will be the last project for a while.

BZ where in NYC are you? So fun to have FLYbabies so close!!!
So cute that you think giving up on cherry tomatoes is going "big" since i beat myself up over so many things that i think are wasteful, its nice to get a compliment

So the green step i took lastnight is a boiled some water and in reused glass jars (one from marinara sauce, one from olives) i put 2 tea bags in each, one was mint one was citrusy, and i make concentrated tea that i put in the fridge. Whenever i get tired of bland water and want a little kick, i add a bit of the concentrated tea!!! So yum and simple...

Keep the ideas coming!!

[Nashes]

Great topic! I am going to try your concentrated tea as water flavouring idea, Shiny.

I try to be a diligent recycler (and composter and donater) but what I find more fun (and more challenging) is to reduce and reuse. Reducing and reusing require a bit more effort at the beginning in terms of research and experimentation but are more satisfying at the end.

Some things that I do:

reusable feminine products (many users say that menstrual cups shorten their periods and that cloth pads lessen their cramping)
reusable cleaning tools (cut up old tshirts and towels and make your own swiffer cloths)
homemade cleaning products (lots of easy non-toxic and/or less-toxic recipes out there that do a great job)
homemade toiletries (So far, I make my own bar lotion & lip balm, facial cleanser, toner & moisturizer, deodorant and toothpaste.)

Some things I need to work on:

going no poo
eating less fast food for less fast food waste, esp takeout coffee cups
buying organic and/or local
buying less
buying good quality and using it until it wears out and then fixing it and using it longer


Please note:

1. I don't use anything that doesn't work as well as the store bought equivalent I used previously.

2. I babystep, only making a homemade product as I run out of my supply of store bought.

3. Many of the homemade products are super simple, taking only 1 or 2 ingredients and ready in 2 minutes or less.

4. Most of these tips can save you money right away.

5. I am not a hippie.