Going green doesn't simply refer to neutralizing your carbon footprint and combating global warming; those are merely factors, albeit big ones, in living a greener life. There are a host of things you can do that are free (and/or can actually save you money), help others, and contribute to saving and enjoying our environment.
Here are three ideas that accomplish all of those goals.
#1: Recycle your grocery bags, if nothing else.
Recycling your grocery bags can be big, utilizing re-usable cloth grocery bags is even bigger! Bill Avant, Tennessee State Park's GIS Director says, "About 40 billion grocery bags are used each year in the United States: 30 billion are plastic, 10 billion are paper." He goes on to say that in 1999, 14 million trees were felled to produce those 10 billion paper bags. Plastic bags are made from high-density polyethylene which is a petroleum product. Petroleum, if you didn't know, is a non-renewable resource. You might as well be rolling your fruit and veggies in oil, for that matter. In addition, no recycled materials are used in the production of plastic bags.
#2: Buy organic, locally produced food.
Buying organic and naturally grown products not only taste better, but they cost less to purchase and to produce while also helping small-scale agriculture. Around twenty five percent of the fossil fuel used on farms goes to the production of fertilizers. Buy from local growers and you also cut down on the amount of diesel fuel used to ship that produce as well. Stop by your local neighborhood market and see if they carry locally grown and organic produce. If you live here in Nashville, TN, check out the Farmer's Market in the Bicentennial Mall.
#3: Attract birds with a birdhouse to avoid pesticides.
Avoid harmful and pollutant pesticides and pick up a bird house (or if you're a DIY'er like me, build one yourself). Doing so will utilize nature's natural pesticide...birds. See, now you can sit outside in the evenings with some iced tee or other beverage of choice and enjoy that garden you've always wanted, complete with song birds.
Can you think of some other free ways to live a greener and more sustainable life?
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Jim, thanks man. I'm looking forward to exploring it further myself! ;-)
Abby. thanks for the warm welcome! I'm glad to be in the FTG network! What a great example you gave of how much you can accomplish in such a small amount of time! It doesn't take much, just a lot of people taking small steps...
Jeffrey,
Welcome! I'm thrilled to see you're here talking about something that's important to me.
In addition to recycling at home, I started collecting the aluminum cans at work (where there was no previous recycling) by purchasing a large (and cheap) plastic can. I keep plastic bags in the can, and pick up the bag and take it with me when I leave on a Friday afternoon. On Saturday morning, I drop it off at the neighborhood elementary school. They raise money on the cans, and they're not going in the trash. Not bad for 20 minutes of my time every couple of weeks.
Good luck, and I look forward to checking back regularly!
Abby
hey man, great practical thoughts on living green. looking forward to more. peace/love/freedom - jim