Progress July 27, 2007

So, I’ve been reflecting on what exactly I have been doing well and what i haven’t in my efforts to reduce my ecological footprint. when we got our electric bill this month, it had gone down $15!! and that’s in spite of the fact that we started cloth diapering and are dealing with the summer heat now. Anyway, here’s what i’ve changed:

Energy

• turn off lights when i leave the room and re-think turning them on in the first place. (like during the day or if i’m just passing through a room. i thought i was doing this before, but i don’t think i was really putting much effort forth.)
• when i do use the dryer, i always clean out the lint trap.only run full loads of laundry (it uses the same amount of energy to run a full load as it does to run a small load)
• unplugged small appliances in the kitchen when not in use (coffee maker, toaster oven, food processor)
• turn off power strips for entertainment center and computer desk when not in use.
• unplug phone chargers. apparently these are big energy suckers.
• use the dryer less (sometimes i need it to shrink my stretched out clothes, but other than that i don’t use it. it makes me feel old fashioned)
• turn stove/oven off before food is completely cooked (food will continue to cook for a few minutes with the heat that’s already in there, and i figure it won’t make the house as hot.)
• don’t preheat, i never cook anything that actually needs preheating (i’m not much of a baker, i would weigh 300 lbs.)
• always put a lid on what i’m cooking on the stove. things cook much faster. the watched pot actually does boil!
• stopped watching TV during the day. (it’s so nice to be free of the commercials dancing in my head.)
• use the toaster oven rather than the big one for cooking small batches of things.
• eating more raw food, buying less processed food.

Garbage

• recycling (compostables go in the green bin, recyclables in the blue bags, etc.)
• cloth diapering! i actually really like it!
• broke the paper towel habit (i no longer grab them for toast or fruit or use them for cleaning or killing bugs
• trying to buy things with less packaging/in bulk, but i’ll be working on this more
• using my reusable shopping bags (and getting my 5 cent discount, haha)
• making some baby food myself (i need to do more of this too, now that i’m more comfortable with it)
• cloth baby wipes – i cut up an old pair of flannel pajama pants = free!
• trying to reduce disposables – especially at restaurants and such.

Emissions

• i’ve been walking a lot! it’s been so wonderful! i walk to the carrot to pick up our CSA box, i walk to save mart, to go get coffee, to the farmers market and to the library. fun fun, but only before noon.
• i’ve reduced my trips to target, which is across town. i think i only went once this month, which is good for me. i’m addicted to that place.
• i often don’t even take the car anywhere during the day. if i get out for a walk in the morning, it keeps me from feeling house-bound and like i need to go somewhere.
• combining trips
• buying local produce

Water

• i have successfully weaned myself from my addiction to long showers and hot baths. it’s nice to have that time for other things now.
• turn off the water when i brush my teeth
• turn off the water in between dishes when rinsing.
• i’m experimenting with watering the lawn less/using dirty water on the lawn, but so far it’s turning pretty brown. i need to give it some more love (and dirty water).
• stopped eating meat. i never intended to stop entirely, but it just kind of happened after reading up on it. (read Diet for a New America if you’re interested) side note: i feel better since i’m eating more veggies and fresh foods and it’s cheaper i think. plus, you reduce your pesticide intake and it’s all around better for you, but you’re free to disagree with me.

Other

• started with the all natural cleaning products – works a lot better than i thought! works great, actually
• started an experiment with washing my hair with baking soda and rinsing with apple cider vinegar. i’ve read that you have to do it for 2 wks before deciding to stick with it or not, so we’ll see! (so far it’s interesting, i’m not sure how i feel)

all in all, since it’s only been a couple of months since i started paying attention, i’m pretty proud of myself. i was afraid of embarassment in a few cases, but i got over that real quick and people don’t look at me as funny as i thought they would when i hand them my reusable bags. i feel like i still have a long way to go, but it’s actually been quite pleasant to make these changes (as you may be able to tell from all of my comments in parentheses) which was kind of unexpected. so, i’m looking forward to hopefully having some more progress in the future. i’m excited! especially as we begin packing for the big upcoming move, i hope to downsize in some ways to make things easier. yay! for those of you who actually read this, feel free to send me more suggestions.

Trendy July 24, 2007

I heard someone say recently that caring about social justice issues is trendy. Someone else said recently that people talk about “being green” just to be cool. I had two reactions to said statements:

1. WHAT?! how can caring about people be trendy? hollister is trendy. skinny pants are trendy. urban outfitters is trendy. or maybe i don’t know what’s trendy, but i can tell you one thing: caring about the world and the people in it is not allowed to be labeled as trendy. What is wrong with the world? does that mean mother theresa was just ahead of the times, trying to be cool?

2. i guess that’s true, to an extent. lots of us want to care about these issues because it seems good or feels good, but we just end up talking about it, wearing our ONE bracelets or something and buying a bunch of environmentally friendly products we never use and we never go out of our way to make actual sacrifices to support what we claim to believe.

So, I guess it’s just like anything else – there are people who will just talk about things and never do anything and in so doing, leave a funky taste in people’s mouths when it comes to environmentalists or activists or whatever it is that we claim to be but aren’t. i’m working on making sure i don’t live like that.

images courtesy of joshuawallis, apologists, on flickr and the blood:water mission website

HOMELESS July 23, 2007

Homeless. Resource-less, food-less, family-less. I can’t imagine what it would be like. my family has had issues over the years – times when one of my parents didn’t know if or how the bills would get paid – but i know nothing of what it would be like to truly be homeless. nowhere to go. unimaginable.
i’ve been reading this book called the irresistible revolution by shane claiborne and thinking about homelessness (it’s an absolutely incredible, life-altering book that addresses a lot more issues than just homelessness). i agree with him that our tithe belongs to the poor, that we are detached as a culture and as a church from the poor and that we ignore the endless passages in the bible that insist that following Jesus entails caring for and living among the poor. we are desensitized as a culture. i have found that it has been ingrained into me to look at the homeless population as dangerous, irresponsible alcoholics who cannot be trusted with charity. that’s tragic. while i certainly cannot claim that no one is homeless due to their own irresponsibility, there is a part of me that keeps asking, “who cares?” since when is charity and grace and love dependent upon worthiness? I need to let he who is without sin cast the first stone, not me.
last night brian and i rented the the pursuit of happyness. you know, that movie with will smith and his son that chronicles the true story of the struggles of a single dad. i watched it and bawled right in the middle of it (and i really don’t usually cry at movies) watching that movie was the last straw in realizing how ugly my attitude and lack of action has been.
i don’t want to just sit in my comfortable house with my comfortable family, watching Extreme Makeover:Home Edition, tearing up and feeling good that someone else is taking care of the struggling and homeless while i do nothing. Jesus is changing my heart and now the way i live my life is certainly in need of reform.
any ideas as to what a broke, 23 year old stay at home mom can do to give her time and love away to the homeless and underprivileged while taking care of an eight month old?

photo courtesy of steven mcdonald on flickr

Fair Trade July 19, 2007

What is this fair trade business about, you ask?

Well, it’s Trade that is fair. Decent wages. Safe working conditions. A global marketplace that works for all. Natural resources that will be around for our children’s children. Helping everyone—even people we may never meet. Fair trade is a commitment to social justice in which employees and farmers are treated and paid fairly, sustainable environmental practices are followed and long-term trade relationships are fostered.

(From the TransFair USA website)…
Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
Fair Trade is much more than a fair price! Fair Trade principles include:
Fair price: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic products. Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.
Fair labor conditions: Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.
Direct trade: With Fair Trade, importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
Community development: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.
Environmental sustainability: Harmful agrochemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.

Products widely available Fair Trade Certified:
Coffee – liguid planet is my favorite so far, available at our local Save Mart grocery
Tea – i’m not a big tea drinker, i tend to buy whatever looks good at Trader Joe’s
Chocolate – I love love love Endangered Species chocolate (available at Target) it’s a little expensive, so i try to just buy less, so that i can still support the company.

Things that i have yet to buy fair trade, but seem to be available in some places:
Bananas
Crafts and Jewelry

Chashews, Olive Oil

Sugar

Rice

Vanilla

Beauty Products (Shea Butter, Coconut Oil)

Beer & Wine
Mangoes

flowers

For more information on fair trade, check out these organizations:

Fair Trade Federation

Fair Trade Certified

Fair Trade Foundation

New American Dream (my favorite)

image courtesy of New American Dream

No Impact Man and Inspiration July 19, 2007

I found the blog of this guy who calls himself “No Impact Man”. I had to go back to the beginning of his blog to understand what he and his family are doing – and let me tell ya, it’s amazing. He and his wife and 2 year old daughter live in an apartment in New York city. “No Impact Man” is a project for them which began last November. They are going in stages, dealing with different aspects of their life, trying to live for a year with as little ecological impact as possible (hence the name “No Impact”). I got hooked on reading about their journey. They only eat food that comes 250 miles or less, they don’t use anything disposable, they ride their bikes/scooters everywhere and they even turned off their electricity (they use a little solar panel for a few things). He talks about their journey and how much they’ve learned and the fact that they are enjoying this process (for the most part), rather than feeling deprived like you might expect. Anyway, if you are in the mood for some reading and inspiration, check him out!

And you know, it’s funny how a couple of months ago, people like this seemed crazy radical to me and now it’s just exciting to read about what they’re doing. It makes me happy. It makes me want to continue learning how to live small and simply… Brian even told me this week that he hopes someday we won’t really need our car anymore – wouldn’t that be amazing?! Living simpler and smaller just seems right. I can’t believe I wasn’t even thinking about this stuff just a few months ago. Jesus is definitely changing me, thank God!

Oh and something else that’s been inspiring me lately is Another World is Possible. These people are wonderful, they are where I stole the label “becoming an ordinary radical”, but more on that later.

picture courtesy of the No Impact Man blog, it is him and his family

Fake Plastic Trees July 18, 2007

Starting this post got that radiohead song stuck in my head. I don’t know how much the song has to do with what I’m about to say. Nevertheless, I read this really disturbing article the other day, that made me want to never purchase another piece of plastic anything – ever. Not that I really think that’s even possible, but seriously – the article speaks for itself. I wonder if it’s what drove this “Eviro-Woman” (that’s what she calls herself) to swear off plastic for 2007. I don’t know that I could ever go that far, but I’m certainly cutting back as much as possible. For that matter, I’m still trying to get in the habit of keeping my reusable shopping bags on hand and now also trying to get that song out of my head.

photo courtesy of hangdog on flickr

Water July 17, 2007

Water. It symbolizes a lot of things – life, redemption, renewal, recreation… It is the substance of our bodies, our earth, our food; it’s everywhere. It is essential for every living thing. Yet, how often do we think about how we treat water or what happens to what we put down our drains and in our sewers? Most of us probably don’t think about it at all. We just hope that a waste water treatment plant does a good job of cleaning up after us and we go on about buying our bottled “mountain spring” water and put whatever we like, or more likely don’t like, down our drains. In America, and perhaps the rest of the western world, we take for granted all of the clean water that we have right at our fingertips and doing so is harmful. 1.4 million die each year from lack of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. A mere 12 percent of the world’s population uses 85 percent of its water, and these 12 percent do not live in the Third World. so, i’ve been thinking about this whole process and reading up on what i can do to be more responsible in my handling of this essential substance.
Some facts about water and water pollution:

• Water from rain, storm drains, and ditches flows directly to streams and bays with little or no treatment. Storm drains and ditches are DIFFERENT than sewers. They are NOT CONNECTED to a treatment plant.
• We all live in a watershed. What you do personally does affect streams, even if you don’t live on a stream. A watershed is an area of land which drains to the lowest point, usually a stream or bay.
• Small amounts of contaminants from all over the land add up to cause pollution in our water. Yes, even the little things matter. You will make a difference, no matter how small, if you change the way you do some things.

Here are some tips:

• Use less fertilizer. Instead, mulch grass clippings to enrich your lawn and create a compost pile that will provide natural nutrients for your gardens.
• Keep harmful runoff and litter out of storm drains.
• Plant trees. Trees contribute to clean water; they are the oceans’ best filters.
• Don’t use the toilet as a trashcan or garbage disposal. Doing so contributes to overload sewer and septic systems, which release their effluent into local waterways and the ocean.
• Sweep walks and driveways rather than hosing them down. Water picks up chemicals and transports them to the nearest storm drain, creek, or waterway. Often, these hard surfaces contain oil, antifreeze, lawn chemicals, and other substances.
• Empty your swimming pool or hot tub on the grass, not into the street. Chlorinated water is harmful to aquatic life. By emptying it into a wooded or grassy area, you are making use of nature’s natural filtering action.
• On trips to the beach, carry out whatever you carry in. Wildlife can ingest, or become entangled in, trash left behind.
• If you decrease your water use at home, you’ll decrease the amount of water that must be treated with chemicals before entering rivers, streams, and the oceans:
• Fix leaky faucets and plumbing joints. Saves 20 gallons per day for every leak stopped.
• Don’t run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end. Saves 150 gallons each time.
• Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors. Saves 500 to 800 gallons per month.
• Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. Saves 300 to 800 gallons per month.
• Shorten your showers. Even a one or two minute reduction can save up to 700 gallons per month.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks. Saves 150 gallons or more each time. At once a week, that’s more than 600 gallons a month.
• Capture tap water. While you wait for hot water to come down the pipes, catch the flow in a watering can to use later on house plants or your garden. Saves 200 to 300 gallons per month.
• Don’t water the sidewalks, driveway or gutter. Adjust your sprinklers so that water lands on your lawn or garden where it belongs–and only there. Saves 500 gallons per month.
• If you’re taking a shower, don’t waste cold water while waiting for hot water to reach the shower head. Catch that water in a container to use on your outside plants or to flush your toilet. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Saves three gallons each day.
• Turn off the water while shaving. Fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of water to rinse your razor. Saves three gallons each day.
• If you wash dishes by hand–don’t leave the water running for rinsing. If you have two sinks, fill one with rinse water. If you only have one sink, use a spray device or short blasts instead of letting the water run. Saves 200 to 500 gallons a month.
• When washing dishes by hand, use the least amount of detergent possible. This minimizes rinse water needed. Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.
• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. This beats the wasteful habit of running tap water to cool it for drinking. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.
• Don’t defrost frozen foods with running water. Either plan ahead by placing frozen items in the refrigerator overnight or defrost them in the microwave. Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.
• Use the garbage disposal less and the garbage more (even better–compost!). Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.
• Water during the cool parts of the day. Early morning is better than dusk since it helps prevent the growth of fungus. Saves 300 gallons.
• Don’t water the lawn on windy days. There’s too much evaporation. Can waste up to 300 gallons in one watering. Cut down watering on cool and overcast days and don’t water in the rain. Can save up to 300 gallons each time.
• Set lawn mower blades one notch higher. Longer grass means less evaporation. Saves 500 to 1,500 gallons each month.
• Have an evaporative air conditioner? Direct the water drain line to a flower bed, tree base, or lawn.
• Drive your car onto a lawn to wash it. Rinse water can help water the grass.
• Dispose of hazardous materials properly! One quart of oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water, effectively eliminating that much water from our water supply. Contact your city or county for proper waste disposal options. And don’t flush prescription medications!
• Use natural soaps and cleansers in your home.

sources:

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ta_choiceshttp://www.monolake.org/socalwater/wctips.htm

image courtesy of randy shelton on flickr

CSA Love July 16, 2007

Ok, so the picture isn’t ours, but recently, Brian and I did join a CSA(Community Supported Agriculture) program. So far, after a month, we love it. I can’t imagine going back to not having it! Basically what the CSA entails is that we pay ahead (for us this is monthly, but you can also pay by the quarter) and for $60 a month, we get fresh organic vegetables (and a little fruit) that is grown locally at Silveira Farm in Merced. A box of fresh organic goodness is delivered to The Carrot Healthfood store downtown every Thursday, which is awfully convenient since Brian works about 2 seconds from that store and I can walk there from home. I get excited every week about what treasures our box will hold. We get enough for two people of whatever is in season. Right now that means a lot of zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, green beans, sweet corn and lots of things i had never heard of before (like peruvian purple potatoes). There is nothing like getting fresh, organic, local produce practically delivered to your door. If you live in Modesto, make the little journey over to the Carrot, pick up a brochure and check it out. You won’t be sorry, I promise!

Don’t live in Modesto? Try looking here for a CSA program in your area.

picture courtesy of mikaela on flickr

Individual Action July 14, 2007

So, i feel that there’s this tension in life. it’s between what you believe and how you live. some of us, or maybe most, believe that the world should be different or that we should be different from the world at least and yet our lives are quite similar to the status quo. it’s because of this other tension: Does my life and my little individual actions make a difference? i don’t see anyone around me (or maybe hardly anyone) living out what i believe. —
but i’ve been thinking about this lately and what i hope is that as we change our individual actions (be it whatever it is that you would like to see happening in the world around you) others will see your life and maybe the reasons you live the way you do and become inspired. even if that didn’t happen (which i think it would) i still think that individual actions make a difference. your life is not so small that it doesn’t affect anyone or anything around you. that’s why we ought to listen to the words…

“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise, but as wise making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” -Ephesians 5:16-17

photo courtesy of Adamk0310 on flickr

Becoming Who I Am July 13, 2007

I had an epiphany recently. You see, oftentimes i’ve thought things such as:
“I admire when people are [into that or like that], but i’m just not that way.”
“I wish i had the courage/energy[insert virtue here]to do that.”
“If only i had the time for that”
“i would like to do [this or that] someday.”
and i’ve realized that i don’t want to live that way anymore. I want to be who I am without hesitation. I want to be someone who cares about things, who loves people and who takes their life and uses it to change the world (as much as is possible). i don’t want to get stuck thinging that it’s not possible or probable or just “not me”. what an ugly phrase “that’s just who i am” or “that’s just the way i am, sorry”. i want to be who i am in the good sense. i want to be who i’ve longed to be. I want to be like jesus. i don’t want to ignore that homeless person in the park, forget about people suffering overseas in third-world countries or pretend my life and my actions don’t affect the world. if that makes me a vegetarian, tree-hugging, activist-hippie extremist, then so be it. oh well. i’m freeing myself up to become who i am.