Accentuate the Positive

The problem (well maybe it’s just my problem) with being “green” is that as soon as you start thinking about things – whether it’s your personal contribution to the carbon in the atmosphere or the oil running out – it quickly gets too depressing to bother getting out of bed in the morning.

There’s just too much to do and often it’s hard work pushing against the cultural norms which we live with. Sharon has some interesting insights and I agree with her conclusion that the struggle is “worth undertaking, if for no other reason than the health of myself and my family, and for the little drop in the ocean (or atmosphere) that I can save for the future.”

Anyway, while I was wallowing in “what’s the point” thoughts, Rag Grrl posted a list of things she’s doing to green her life and world. And so, in the interests of my mental health, I’ve shamelessly stolen the idea:

Things I’m doing to green up my life and world

1. Cloth nappies. They’re just nicer in so many ways.
2. Reusable menstrual products (Mooncup and washable panty liners. Cloth feels nicer for me too ;>).
3. Minimise my use of commercial chemical-laden cleaners. Not difficult – I’m a bit of a slattern anyway. I use the more eco-friendly types of commercial cleaners but as they run out I’m finding you can often do the same job with hot water, baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice (not all together at the same time of course).
4. 1/2 flush toilet (easy because the tank is broken and the tap has to be turned on to fill it for each flush. With screaming children in the next room I don’t often bother unless I have to!)
5. Front-loader washing machine with cold water washes.
6. Short showers – often shared with one or more child!
7. Turned off the heated towel rail and all appliances in ’stand-by’ mode.
8. I use energy efficient light bulbs in all the sockets which will take them. In the 2 light fittings with dimmer switches I use normal lightbulbs but only 40W.
9. Resist the purchase of unnecessary appliances (easy when you have no money for such frivolous things anyway)
10. I try not to use my dryer too much. It gets a lot harder in winter with a small and sunless house.
11. I use cloth shopping bags.
12. Angst over packaging. I try to buy stuff with less of course! I try to make things like hummus and bread which bring unrecyclable packaging with them.
13. We compost our kitchen scraps and farm worms. More on my sad little worm farm later!
14. I’m trying to make more things from scratch and grow my own vegetables. Well, you know I’m trying.
15. I try to buy New Zealand made/grown.
16. I don’t eat meat.
17. I try to recycle everything I can.
18. I try to buy recycled stuff-clothes, furniture, books etc. Again, this is easy when you have no money for new stuff anyway…
19. I try really hard not to want new stuff.
20. I have a “No Circulars” sign on the letterbox which helps with the trying not to want new stuff.
21. I use the car minimally. It helps that we have a tight petrol budget and I always have an eye on the tank. Right now I’m pushing myself a little further – with Car-Free Tuesdays and walking to Playcentre more often.

Rag Grrl’s follow up post is a list of things she’d like to do next. I started one, but it quickly got too depressing.

I just want to bask in the feel-good glow of the “I’m doing” before I bog myself down with with the “I should be doing” list.