Thursday, February 27, 2014

CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH

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These days I'm trying to make a move toward a more environmentally conscious life-style. One great thing about being back in California is that it's pretty easy and even encouraged to be "crunchy."

Some changes we've made lately:
  • We've started to compost.
  • We're taking re-usable bags to the grocery store now. Actually Monterey does not allow plastic bags to be used - way to go Monterey!!
  • I'm looking at ways to re-use and recycle more of our garbage (see my new Pinterest board for some great ideas). I'm currently working on some pretty sweet tin can planters and lanterns :-)
  • We're using environmentally friendly cleaning products and using cloth or compostable wipes for cleaning.
  • We're buying more organic and locally grown/produced foods. We're so lucky to have access to Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and the local chain Nob Hill - all of which carry lots of organic choices. PLUS Monterey County has tons of Farmer's Markets to choose from and it's home to Earthbound Farm organic foods.
  • I've opted out of credit card pre-screens - such a huge waste of paper! You can do that here.
  • And I'm trying to be more conscious of what I buy - before buying anything new I try to use what I already have (go "shopping" in my own closet/home, if you will) or hit up Craigslist (the greatest website ever created!) or local thrift stores. 

I'm really loving the Radical Homemaking series over at La Maison Boheme. She's also a great artist and her home is amazing.

Plus, I really need to get my hands on the book Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture by Shannon Hayes and re-read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.

You can find advice on ways to be more Green here, here, here, here, and here.

I'd love to hear about what you're doing to be more Green!

8 comments:

  1. Hey, Melissa that sounds wonderful. You go girl. I am going to check out some of the sites you talked about. Love ya. Xoxoxoxo. :-)

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  2. I checked all the websites you listed and was pleased to find that that I did some things on each site. :-) I had seen the quote on the last site (“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.“) and seeing it again made me realize how important that statement is.

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  3. this is such a good reminder for me, thank you! so important! Xo

    the well-traveled wife ♥

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  4. I found the entire quote.
    Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.
    ~ Ancient American Indian Proverb

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  5. Great post. I use reusable shopping bags and have been trying to cut back on unnecessary paper mailings (online banking is more convenient, anyway!). But I'm always looking for more ideas on how to be "green" that are actually doable!

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  6. This is a great post! We recently moved across the country in Canada and have found the disposal system to be much more evolved than what we were used to. It's forced us to start composting and sort all of our recycling and I must say we're really benefiting from it. It's made us take a closer look at the way we live our day to day lives and we are slowly but surely making changes in our lifestyle that are good for us, our community and the environment. I checked out the link to the book by Shannon Hayes and have added it to my must-read list. Thanks for the post!

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  7. Those are all really amazing ways to be more green. I WISH NYC was as "crunchy" as California!

    http://www.melindadiorio.com

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