Do I think that I can change the world? No, I don't. Do I think I can change the way you feel about global warming or recycling? No, I can't, but I can change myself. The first step on this list is to stop wasting things. This includes every area of my life. I will only buy a half gallon of milk; if that is all we will drink before the expiration. Even in winter, I will continue to gather items for my compost pile. I will freeze it in reused gallon sized Ziploc bags until the weather warms. I will not be too lazy to rinse out metal cans so that they can be reused rather than thrown out in the trash. Organization to maintain the items I want to recycle will be more important though to prevent the hoarding issues my family has inherited. I will reduce the amount of gasoline spent on trips to the store that are a big waste of gas and time. As I mentioned in a previous post, I will avoid buying more stuff. Stuff can take over your life. It contributes to the feeling of greed, to want more and more.
Next for this spring, I am installing things to cut down on household water usage. I am installing a rain barrel. It will be one that blends into the landscape that has a place on the top to put plants. Garden beds will be installed under the house overhang. Unfortunately for now though, I have to make do without having gutters. In addition, I will plant foundation plantings at least a foot from the house along the North side. There is currently nothing there to help curb some of the winter winds. This should help with winter heating costs too.
Finally I will start purchasing less out of season food. (At the bottom of my blog, there is a spot where you can check out what foods are in season in your area.) Foods that I know are available locally I will get from the farmer. For me things like apple cider, honey, sweet corn, and grape juice can all be bought direct. This will mean I must do better planning during the months when things are available. I will also focus on growing more of my own food. In the past, I have allowed too many other things to take priority over this.
Do you have some ideas of things to do to cut waste? Post your tips on the comment section.
Another benefit for buying local: a friend of mine with asthma says that her allergist recommended that every day she should have some honey harvested within 10 miles of her home, to promote immunity to local allergens.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! Honey is a lot cheaper than allergy medicine. Tastes better too.
ReplyDeletei like to shop at thrift stores, goodwill etc, when i need/want new clothes. i've found some of my favorite shoes in the world at goodwill, and they cost about $5! less carbon and sweat shop impact, too, obv.
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